方舟 生存進化 李美盈的畸變筆記內容

李美盈的筆記共30篇，講述了她來到畸變，遭遇地表炎熱，遭遇無名怪，遭遇萌萌噠的閃角鹿（曉），馴了劫掠者（蝕），然後送了狗頭馴岩龍（敖越），遇到地球聯邦（URE）的戴安娜（Diana），賣了岩龍幫助戴安娜找到神器開啟傳送門的故事。
並沒有提到之後再次遭遇海蓮娜，以及戴安娜被殺，村子被毀，找羅克韋爾復仇的故事，這些內容記載在海蓮娜的筆記中。

1
Where have I been taken? When I tried to pull my sword from that machine, there was a bright flash and suddenly I was in this desolate place. Whatever that device was, I must have broken it.

Nerva’s corpse travelled with me, blood still seeping from the wound I left in his chest. Despite what he’s done, part of me thinks that I should bury him. He was a tyrant, but he still died a warrior’s death.

For now, I will bandage the wound on my face and rest. It is night here, and it will be safer to explore in the light of day.

吾被帶何往矣，吾欲於機器處拔吾劍，忽見一道光，然至此荒地。不論其機為何，吾必破之。
內爾瓦（之前翻譯是涅爾瓦，不知官方翻譯人員腦子是否傳送壞掉了）之屍隨我，血猶漉于左胸。無論其所為也，吾當葬之，其雖為爲暴，然壯士之死也。
吾暫以繃帶裹面之傷，息片刻，夜深，白日出行更安也。

2
I was fortunate today. The sun was rising as I finished bandaging my wounds, and had I not glanced at it, I would never have seen Nerva’s body. It was three hundred paces away, right where I left it, and it was smoldering. The sunlight was burning it.I remembered a cave that I had spotted earlier, and ran for it as fast as I could. My legs ached and smoke was rising from my armor by the time I arrived, yet I was still alive.So now the sun was trying to kill me. Perhaps I was delirious, but I laughed at the notion. Monsters and armies have failed, so let the sun have its chance. I will defeat it too.

今日幸哉，日升之時已裹吾傷，若非吾望之，吾將不見內爾瓦之屍。三百步外，吾離其屍之地煙起，日燃其屍也。
猶記一穴，奮力奔之，吾腿疼矣，煙從甲升，吾猶存。
現日欲殺我，吾許狂矣。笑也，獸與軍皆敗，日得此機，吾亦可勝之。

3
Yesterday, I realized that I could rest no longer. I had no more spare cloth for bandages and had eaten nearly all the moss nearby. Rather than risk the heat of the sun on the surface, I ventured deeper into the caverns.

It was a treacherous descent, but I am glad I went. This cave is larger than I could have imagined. In fact, it is hardly a cave at all. A great forest flourishes down here. It is as if this whole land is backwards.

However, there is one thing that is familiar to me. The air is thick with the sound and smell of wild beasts. I must remain on my guard.
昨日吾知吾不可休。無餘之衣料以包紮，亦無餘之苔蘚以供食。與其冒日灼之險，吾寧願深入入穴下。
此乃艱險之途，甚喜吾之往也。此穴甚寬，近乎非穴也。此處有林，如同土地之倒也。
然吾熟與一物，氣息交雜與聲頗厚，聞之皆野獸。吾需時時戒備。

4
The light down here does not burn like the light on the surface, even the light that comes from the ceiling. I do not understand why, but I am glad for it.I was attacked by a pack of small monsters with spines on their backs. In another life, they would have terrified me, but now I fear no beast. I slew many of them, but more kept appearing. Even after killing the largest of them, they did not hesitate. Only when I neared a strange, glowing pillar did they retreat. They seem to fear the unusual light it emits. I should use that weakness against them.
此處之光不同於地表之光，來自頂處。然不灼生靈。吾雖不解，但喜之。
吾被一群小獸而攻。其獸背有刺，于他時吾畏獸也，然今日無所畏懼。吾弑多獸，然其不絕。雖吾殺其最巨者，獸仍不退。
有光柱怪哉，惟吾近之，獸才退。吾料獸懼其光也，當以其弱而敵之。

5

吾終 去 面 之 繃 帶。雖無 感 染，然已留 痕。吾不以為然，吾之新 伴 亦不介 懷。
吾初去繃 帶時，始 見其貌。彼於大樹之枝上，以好奇之目視吾。吾回視之，亦好奇：此乃何物？其有幼鹿之體，多彩之毛，通體異光。念 麒 麟 之畫，然其甚小矣。
無論其為何 物，彼近吾 身 貌 善，吾怎可留其與荒 蕪之地？故名其為“曉”，乃吾暗夜之光。

6
Navigating the forest has been easier with Xiao at my side. His light has both guided and protected me. The small, spined monsters that I fought before returned in numbers, but they cowered and fled before Xiao’s light, as they did from the glowing pillar. So long as Xiao is with me, I need not fear them.Yet Xiao’s power is not an endless well. If he does not periodically extinguish his light to rest, it will fade with time on its own. I must be careful when wandering into the darkest parts of this forest, lest Xiao’s light go out and we are both put at risk.
曉在吾側，吾游走林間更易。其光既引吾向前亦護吾周全。小而帶刺之獸群見之。然其在曉光之前，皆逃竄，如在光柱下。凡曉與吾共行，則吾不必懼也。
然曉之光非無止盡也。需暗其光而休，不然其光則式微。入林之暗處之時必慎，若曉之光滅，吾皆危也。

7
Even with X iao’s help, I can only do so much on foot. I need a reliable steed that can carry me swiftly through the forest and help me gather resources. Fortunately, I may have found such a beast.

The other night, I heard many howls in the distance. When I investigated, I found a pack of strange beasts that looked like hairless wolves. They are ugly, vicious creatures but they are the perfect size for riding.

For now, I shall stalk the pack. When one of the wolves is separated from the others, then I will knock it out with my arrows, and claim it for my own.

雖有曉助，吾之徒步僅能至此，吾需一可靠之馬，可速過林，助吾採集。幸者，吾或已尋至此獸。
次日夜聞野獸之嚎，聞聲而去，見奇獸，似無毛之狼也。形醜面惡，然正宜騎行。
吾暫且暗從之，待一狼與群分，吾定以矢擊之，占為己有。

8
I have named my wolf Shi, for he is so black that he seems to swallow all the light around him. No beast can replace Wuzhui, but Shi is swift and fierce. Upon his back, I can travel across the forest with ease.

Yet I know that Shi alone is not enough. In these lands, the strong will dominate the weak, and they will try to destroy those who do not submit. I am reminded of this every time my scar aches. To survive I must grow stronger. It is time to rebuild my army.

吾名吾之狼為“蝕”。其甚黑，噬周之光。雖無獸可替烏騅（孤島中的李美盈坐騎，迅猛龍，當然，更像是精英迅猛龍）。然蝕即速又勇。於其背上，吾可速穿林。
然吾知，獨蝕不足也。于此地上，強將主弱，其將欲摧弱者。當吾之創般痛時，吾常自省。欲生，吾須更強。而今，正是吾重建師之時也。
蝕：意為日食，為天狗之語也。

9
Yesterday, I stalked a giant shelled beast, with large claws that it could use like hands. Though slow, it seemed strong. I decided it would be a good addition to my army, but before I could attempt to bring it down, something swooped down from the sky to attack it.

It was a great lizard, but not one like the ones I had seen before. No, this beast was a true dragon, long of body with a feathery mane. It used the feathers on its arms to ride the wind and tore its prey’s shell asunder with iron claws. When it was finished with its meal, it scaled the cavern wall and became one with the shadows, vanishing entirely from my sight.

I have found my new prey. Soon, I shall command the might of a dragon.
昨日吾隨一巨殼獸，其巨爪若掌，雖其移動甚緩，似頗壯焉。吾忖馴此獸其可壯吾軍。然天降一物，攻此獸也。
乃巨蜥也，然與吾往昔所見之蜥皆不同。非哉！此獸乃真龍也。身長而有鬃毛，以臂羽乘風，以鐵爪碎獸之殼。巨龍食畢，攀於穴壁之上，化為一影消於眼前。
吾有新獸待捕，不久後吾將由控龍之力。

10
The dragon was even more formidable than I expected. At first, Shi was able to dance around the beast while I riddled it with arrows, but I underestimated how far its feathered arms could take it. Its sudden leap left Shi’s leg wounded and I was flung from the saddle.

The crippled wolf did not last long after that, and I only survived myself by taking to the trees. By the time the dragon succumbed to my knockout poison, its hide was full of arrows.

I buried Shi where he fell. Though he did not serve me long, he did so loyally. Thanks to him, I possess the strength of a dragon. I am the Beast Queen once more.

此龍比吾預之益強。初，蝕可繞獸而舞，我以箭揮之。忽，其以驚人之速進躍。其擒蝕在股，我亦為拂出鞍座矣。蝕逝，我只因攜樹而逃生。吾以毒弑龍，其皮皆為箭。
吾埋蝕在其倒之地。雖其事我不長，卻甚忠，謝之。今吾有一龍力，吾再為群獸之王也。

11
Travelling through the cave is easy thanks to my dragon, who I have named Ao Yue. I have discovered that the cave is even larger than I imagined. Beyond the forest, there are tunnels that lead further down into the earth, to a land of glistening water and plants that glow like Xiao does.

How far down does it go? If I keep going, will I find the end of the world? I do not know, but I will press on. I cannot return home, or even to the island I came from. My enemy lies dead far behind me, and I have found no friends or allies. I have no aim beyond simply surviving. So for now, all I can do is move forward.

幸有龍，穿穴易，名之“敖越”。吾見一穴，甚寬甚廣。穿林越木，有多道深至地下。其處有閃光之水域及草木，皆亮如曉也。
其有幾何深，若吾前可至當世之盡乎？吾不知。但吾應向前也，不得歸家，亦不可至來時之島。吾敵早死，吾亦不得盟友。除生外，吾無所期，故今吾只能前行。

12
The beasts of this land grow stranger the deeper I go. Yesterday I was attacked by a swarm of flying demons with writhing tentacles in place of heads. I think they were after Xiao. Where some monsters feared his light, these ones hungered for it.

However, they were no match for Ao Yue’s fangs and my blade together. Still, I will keep Xiao close and have him extinguish his light for now. I could not bear it if he came to harm. Of everyone I have met in these lands, only Xiao has stayed by my side of his own will. Even Wuzhui had to be laid low first.

I suppose there was that woman from the island too, but she is gone. Besides, I struck her. I doubt we were friends
吾越去越遠。此地之獸愈猛。昨，群飛獸擊吾。其頭似鐮刀，其為曉而來也（閃角獸等的電荷光能趕走無名怪但會吸引追尋者seeker）。彼獸（指無名怪）雖懼曉之光，然彼（指追尋者）亦饑矣。
然，其不勝吾之刀與敖越之牙也。凡吾近曉，則其為安。吾不忍其傷。吾在此地所遇之人中，惟曉自願伴吾左右，烏騅排第二。
吾想亦有一女。（指海蓮娜）然其去也。又，吾擊之（指在孤島TEK洞穴李美盈打暈了海蓮娜）。吾疑其為友也。

13
I am not alone in these caves after all. The footprints I found today belonged to no beast, that much is certain.Yet if humans left those footprints, they move like no one I have ever seen. They are deep, as though their feet hit the ground with great force, and they often have huge gaps between them. No man can leap that far, yet there are no beast tracks that accompany them.Perhaps if I move carefully, I can track and observe them. Whether they are friend or foe, I should learn more about them before I act.

然吾不孤於穴。今吾見之足跡，非獸也。
然此若人之足跡，行跡前所未見：甚深，似其足以重力擊地；跡間之隔甚遠，無人可躍，亦無獸跡伴之。
若吾慎行，可追而觀之。無論其為友或敵，皆需多觀而後行也。

14
Where did I make my mistake? I moved in silence and never once left the shadows, but somehow they saw me. I mounted Ao Yue in an instant, but somehow they still caught up to me.

Had we fought, the battle may have been difficult. There were only four of them and I had Ao Yue, but their weapons and armor glowed like moonlight and their movements were swift.

I was about to strike first when one of them raised her hands and took off her helmet, revealing a human face and hair the color of sunset. She convinced her friends to lower their weapons, but even as I write, I keep one hand on mine. We may share a camp tonight, but I dare not sleep.

吾於何處過？吾默默移，未嘗離暗之地。但不知何，彼見吾矣。吾速乘敖越矣，未知何故，彼仍獲我。
若戰鬥，戰將難也。彼唯四人，而吾有敖越。然，其器甲閃如月之光，且彼移之速。
吾正欲擊之也。其一舉手，去頭盔，露面發，色如日也。其說其友放低其器。然，當作此字時，吾猶一手持器。吾今得一營，卻不敢寐。

15
The armored ones had many questions when they awoke. They were surprised that I had raised Ao Yue myself, and even more surprised that I came from a different land of monsters. That seemed important to them.

I asked questions too. They say it is their armor that lets them see at night and move with such speed. I did not believe it until the orange haired woman let me wear her helmet. With it I could see through darkness as though it were bathed in green light, or see the red shadows of distant creatures. It was like magic.

They asked if I wanted to stay in their village for a time. I doubt I will stay long…but I want to see more of this magic.

帶甲之人醒時，多疑問也。其驚吾之一人馴服敖越，其驚吾之來於異獸之地，此於其謂之甚重。
吾亦多疑問。其曰神甲令其可夜視速移。橙發女使吾帶其盔，吾始信。有甲矣，吾可視物於暗處，似有綠光，或見遠物之紅影，若仙法也。
其問吾可願居其村。吾料不可久居也。然欲見更多仙法。

16
This village is as strange as the armor its residents wear. They use tools containing light and sleep in glowing metal cases. They offered one to me, but I refused. I have slept outside with Ao Yue and Xiao instead. I have no desire to sleep in something that looks like a coffin.

They claim that their tools are not magic, but machines. I do not understand how that is possible. On the island, there were many weapons and tools that were new to me, but they were made of real things. How does one touch light, much less shape it?

It is wondrous and beautiful, but I wish I understood it. I will have to try harder.

如其民之甲，此村亦怪矣。其以光為具，臥于金甕中。其與吾一，而吾拒。在外，吾與敖越、曉共寢矣。吾實不願臥於一似棺之物內。
民曰，其具非眩（魔法），乃器（機器）也。此怎可能？吾惑也。吾于島上，多見新器具也，然，其皆為物之所造。民如何觸光，而造之光具者？
其具奇美，但願吾解之，吾將更勉。

17
It is no use. These machines are beyond my comprehension I cannot even make the simplest of their tools work properly. Compared to this, training with a spear or sword seems simple.

I have tried to earn my keep by helping with chores and other tasks, but I usually get in the way or slow things down. Compared to the others, I am like a child, and they treat me as such.

This was a mistake. I belong in the forest with the beasts, not among these people in their glowing metal halls. I will ask them for supplies and depart within the week.

無用也，此器不為吾左右。吾尚不能用其最簡之具。矛劍相練較之更易。
吾欲助瑣事以保生，然吾時有滯慢。于他人，吾若一小兒，人亦待吾如此。
誤也，吾應于林中與獸伍。不願流連此民之光華之廳也。吾將問其得所需，一周後去此地。

18
I asked the woman with orange hair if I could take some supplies when I left, but she refused to do so for free. She said if I wanted the supplies, I had to try to use their armor first. It seemed like a trick, but I wanted to try the armor anyway, so I accepted.If I have been tricked, then I have never been so glad to be fooled. When I am in that armor, my blood dances in my veins and I can feel the world around me. It is as if I was asleep for my whole life, and I only awoke when I put the armor on.I cannot leave after feeling that, not until I at least master the armor. Perhaps then, but not now.

吾問橙發婦人：當吾離時，可否帶諸物？其曰：可，卻非無償也。如吾欲物，需試其甲。此似一技，而吾正欲試甲，故應。
若吾被欺也罷。吾從未如此悅之。當吾在彼甲也，吾之血舞，可感天地。如吾一生在臥，惟吾配甲時，始醒。
吾不能去，直至吾可執甲。或彼時，然非今。

19
Discretion is the key to the armor. When I started, I would leap further than I intended, turn too sharply or grip objects too tightly. Now I am in complete control. I could scale a mountain while carrying an egg and never break it, but also smash stone or fight a beast bare handed.Once I got used to the armor, my experience as a warrior helped me learn quickly. I can already outpace Juzi in a race and beat her in the sparring ring. I try to go easy on her now. She helped me a lot so I do not wish to shame her.I should call her by her proper name too, but Diana sounds too serious for a woman that laughs so much. Juzi fits her better. She doesn’t mind it, but I don’t think she knows I’ve named her after an orange.

判斷力乃持甲之要。初始吾之跳躍過遠，轉向過急，握物過緊。而今吾可禦器也。可攜卵攀山而卵不破。亦可空手碎石或鬥獸矣。
當吾習於用甲，士者如吾，可速習之。吾已於較量中超“桔子”（李美盈給戴安娜起的外號）矣，亦可擊敗之。今起吾將從容待之，其助吾甚多，不願使其蒙羞。
吾當以其之名喚之，然其多笑也。喚其戴安娜甚肅也，桔子更宜。其不以為然。吾聊其不知吾以桔子名之。

20
Three days ago, I was asked to help the villagers obtain a clutch of dragon eggs. Only then did it occur to me that they did not have many creatures at their command. They relied far more on their tools. Perhaps this is why they were so impressed with Ao Yue.

The hunt went well. I had to do much of the work and explain many things, but the others were grateful. It also let me test the limits of my armor. By now, using it is no different to me than wielding a sword, and I welcomed the challenge.

After the hunt, no one treats me like a child anymore, even when their tools confuse me. I suppose we all have different things that we excel at.

三日前，村人請吾馴龍。惟其時，吾方悟其馴獸甚少也。村人多賴其器，此敖越于彼，非凡也。
馴獸之旅，吾勞其筋骨。村人感之。其亦請吾試其甲之極，至此，吾用甲與刀，已無異也。吾亦易迎戰。
馴後，雖吾仍惑之器。無人待吾若子也。此乃吾之擅者與異也，而已也。

21
I have turned into something of a stable master. The others are still unused to the presence of so many beasts, and have to be taught how to care for them. It is a lot of work, but I do not mind. It has been comforting to be around so many beasts again.I have also taught them some lessons in close quarters combat. While their weapons are powerful, most of these people are not warriors. They have not tasted war. Juzi claims she was a soldier, but that she fought by flying metal ships through the clouds. She says she will show me how if we ever escape these caves. I doubt it, but it is nice to imagine.
吾已成一主。村人未嘗養獸，必教其何以。此勞甚重矣，然吾不喜之。有獸環吾，吾覺甚慰。
吾亦教村人之戰法。雖其甲強，然其非士，未嘗戰也。桔子自稱為一卒，然只戰於雲上飛船中。桔子言其將示吾何離此穴。吾疑之，但亦喜之。

22
Juzi has finally convinced me to start sleeping in the metal pods the others use. I must admit, I slept more soundly, though perhaps that was because I knew she could no longer pester me about it.I do many things like the other villagers now. I eat like them, I dress like them, and I work with them. I still struggle with their tools and I know that I can never truly be one of them, but that was true during the Yellow Turban Rebellion too. Those who I fought beside were my comrades, but I could never be a true soldier like they were. If that is my place in this village, then I do not mind staying for a while longer. It is not so bad.
今，吾為桔子說之，寢于金匣也。吾睡甚好也。雖吾知，此乃皆因吾可不受桔子之纏也。
吾今勞作，若村人也。吾與其同食之，與其同服之也。然，吾仍惑其器，吾知吾實乃外人也。然黃巾戰中，吾與村人之情，亦實也。雖與吾戰者乃同志，其乃士也，吾不然。若是此乃吾之位，居無妨，非壞也。

23
I must move quickly. The tribe sent a party into the depths of the caverns, where rivers of violet fire flow freely and nothing grows. They sought something important, something that could help the whole village, but they have not returned.

There is no response when we call for them through our messenger boxes. The other villagers fear them lost to the terrible demons that lurk there. I refuse to believe that. Juzi is with them.

I have equipped Ao Yue with armor and weapons like my own, and donned armor that will protect me from the violet fire. Whatever beasts or demons lie in our path, we will destroy them utterly, and bring Juzi’s team back.

吾須速進！村人潛入以深穴，彼處，紫火之水自流，無一物長。其村人求之者，可助一村，然其未返。
吾以信呼其時，其不應。彼有怪也，潛伏於地。村民懼其輸於怪。吾不信，桔子亦其同往。
吾與敖越配甲器，甲將保吾穿紫火之水。無論何等之獸或怪，吾將滅之，且帶桔子歸。

24

This is a place of death. The ground is scarred and barren, and there is no light or movement save that of the violet fire. Even Ao Yue does not seem to like it. The living should not tread here.

Why would Juzi come here? What was so important that she would risk this place, and why would she not tell me? Whatever the reason, it has already cost some of her teammates their lives. I found their bodies earlier today, mangled and partially devoured beside the remains of their beasts. Thankfully Juzi was not among them.

Great towers of crystal loom ahead, where the violet fire has frozen solid. Perhaps she has found shelter there.

此乃一荒地也。除紫火外，無光無影，雖敖越亦不好此地。
何故桔子至此？何物如此重要以致桔冒險至此，卻不告吾？無論何也，其友已為此喪命。今晨，吾見其屍骨，為怪所蹂躪分食。幸哉，桔子非其中。
水晶柱前，紫火凝矣。桔子或尋一所也。

25
I shall have to find whoever forged this gun and thank them with all my heart. Its strength saved the day.

With my weapon’s enhanced sight, I spotted two survivors running from a huge monster, but a crystal formation stood in my way. Rather than go around it, I sent Ao Yue ahead and fired through it. My aim was true, and the demon reeled. By the time it recovered, Ao Yue was upon it, and we finished it together.

I knew one of the survivors was Juzi when she ran up to hug me. I am unused to such gestures, but I think she understood how grateful I was for her safety. Her teammate is wounded, but alive. With rest, he will survive.

吾需知誰人制此槍，定謝之，其力甚強矣。
與吾之甲，吾見二人，為怪所追。然一水晶柱立於吾前。與其繞而行之，吾使敖越躍而燒之（這個感覺是根據英文翻譯成的漢語，英文的意思是讓岩龍前行，而李美盈穿牆射擊，估計用的是泰克狙擊槍）。吾計成矣。怪趔趄而走，及水晶之柱複也，敖越即在其上，吾等共成。
吾知其二者之一乃桔子也。其奔於吾。吾雖不慣之，但喜，其知吾意也。其友雖傷，但尚存，稍加息者，其可生。

26
Even now, I cannot convince Juzi to leave. I even tried using her real name, Diana, to show her I was serious, but she will not hear it. She says the plans she was looking for are too important, but what could be worth what happened to her teammate?

It was disgusting. He started spasming in the middle of the night, and then a smaller version of the monster that was attacking them burst from his chest and tore out his heart. Blood and bone sprayed everywhere, and I was too stunned to act until it leaped at me. Fortunately I was able to hold it off until Juzi could shoot it.

Whatever we are seeking, I fear we will face even worse dangers to obtain it.

現如今桔子仍不願離此。吾試喚其名戴安娜以示吾之誠。但其不聽吾言，曰其所求之物甚重。然何物可值友命？
惡哉！夜半其友始發痙攣。其胸爆出小怪，撕裂其心。其血與骨噴至四處。吾愕然不知如何。怪向吾一躍，幸吾擒之。桔子然射。
無論所求何物，吾恐危機將至也。

27
Juzi said that the item she sought was in some ruins not far from where we were camped. However, when she called them ruins, I had not expected to see buildings like the ones in our own village. It was puzzling, to see buildings that looked at once ancient and new.

I had little time to dwell on the ruins, for we were quickly set upon by more of the great demons. They rushed us, slobbering and gnashing as Juzi scrambled to find what she was looking for. I was able to hold them off with Ao Yue’s cannons, but by the time Juzi found her prize, we were being overrun.

To my shame, I had to leave Ao Yue behind to hold the demons off while we escaped. It pained me to hear his roars as we fled, but his sacrifice saved our lives. Forgive me, my loyal friend.

桔子曰：其所求之物正於墟中。其墟雖離吾所居不遠，然當吾見其口中之墟，吾實驚也。此竟是村中之居，僅新舊之分。吾見舊與新之居所，實惑也。
眾怪至，吾不暇居於墟上。桔子忙於求之物業。彼沖向吾，咬牙而垂涎。與敖越之攻下，吾尚能禦之。然當桔子得其所物時，吾等為怪之困矣。
吾逃時，吾不得不使敖越蟄後以遏怪。此之吾恥也。吾聞其痛苦之嗥，知其以其命救吾。善哉，吾之忠友也。

28
Without Ao Yue, we had to move cautiously. Another battle with the demons could prove fatal, but we managed to avoid their sight. All that was left was the climb.

With no mount, we had to use climbing picks to slowly make our way upwards. It was a long and treacherous ascent, and we both nearly fell several times. Fortunately, we were there to catch and support each other, and through our combined strength, we safely reached the caverns above.

After the climb, we lay there for a long time. I cannot remember if we laughed or cried. Perhaps both. Juzi says that the item she found could help the entire village, but I do not care. I am just so glad we are both still alive.

無敖越，吾須慎行。與怪再戰致命也。吾設法避之。所余之法僅攀登也。
無坐騎，吾不得不以登鎬徐上。此旅長而危。吾等諸次幾墜，幸哉吾於桔子相持相扶，合吾等之力，終登上穴。
然後吾久臥於此，不記吾等是啼是笑，或皆有矣。桔子曰所尋之物可助全村。然吾不以為意，吾等尚存，喜也。

29
We received a hero’s welcome when we limped back to the village. The others say that Juzi’s treasure will help complete a magic door that can take us out of this place. They speak of escape and of returning home.

That should excite me more. I used to long for those things, yet what comforts me most is that when they speak of their future, they include me in it. I am finally one of them, not as a mercenary or out of desperation, but because I am wanted.

I owe it to Juzi, I think. No, to Diana. She trusted me before anyone else. I will not forget that.

吾還村時得英雄之迎。他人曰桔子尋得之物可啟仙門。攜吾等離此地。其言逃離與歸家。
本應更喜，吾思家久已，然今吾甚慰。因村人言其之未時（未來），吾亦在其中。吾終為其一也，非雇兵也。蓋吾為其所需也。
吾欠桔子，否也，欠戴安娜。于他人前信於我，吾將不忘。

30
I have been thinking of home lately. It is so far away now. I think that perhaps, it is out of reach. Even if the others can complete their magic door, I do not think I will ever see it again.

I can accept that now. I can move past it. I have a new home now, I think, and while I am still not used to its oddities, I feel as though it is mine. Each day I grow more adept with the tools here, and more used to my routine. It has become normal to me.

And now that this place is my home, I swear that no harm will come to it. I shall protect it with my life.

吾思家也。去今甚遠，無法及之。雖村人可以眩門歸家，吾恐不能。
吾已認矣。今，吾有一新家。雖吾仍不習村之怪處，然吾知其為家也。每日吾更熟此地也，亦更安於常務也。
而今，其乃吾家也，吾誓以身護之，不使之傷。

（完）