Chapter 357

Fate。

-> "Fate."

Oh? Another one died?

Gilgamesh lounged in the chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the golden cup filled with wine, amusedly watching the lingering pain on Zhigengniao's face.

-> "Gilgamesh lounged in the chair, his fingertips lightly tapping the golden cup filled with wine, amusedly watching the lingering pain on Zhigengniao's face."

amusedly watching the lingering pain on Zhigengniao's face

"That mad dog is interesting—it even killed the one who raised it." Gilgamesh narrowed his scarlet eyes, "I really don't know what expression Sunday would have, hehe..."

-> "That mad dog is interesting, even biting the owner who raised it to death." Gilgamesh narrowed his scarlet eyes, "I really don't know what expression Xingqiri wears, hehe..."

We need to keep the quotes and punctuation. Let's produce: "「That mad dog is interesting, even biting the owner who raised it to death. 」Gilgamesh narrowed his scarlet eyes, 「I really don't know what expression Xingqiri wears, hehe…」"

But we need to keep the Chinese quotes? The source uses Chinese quotes 「」. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, but we are translating to English; we should convert quotes to English style? Usually we keep the meaning but we can use English quotes. The instruction didn't specify to keep Chinese quotes. It says translate faithfully, never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs. It didn't say to keep the Chinese quotation marks. So we can use English quotes. However we need to preserve the structure: lines with dialogue. We'll use English double quotes.

Thus: ""That mad dog is interesting, even biting the owner who raised it to death." Gilgamesh narrowed his scarlet eyes, "I really don't know what expression Xingqiri wears, hehe…""

But we need to keep the ellipsis and punctuation. We'll keep as is.

Kirei Kotomine stood in the shadows, his low voice coming from behind the Heroic King: "No, looking at it this way, that Memesis has nothing to do with the family; perhaps —"

-> "Yanfeng Qili stood in the shadows, his low voice coming from behind the Hero King: "No, looking at it this way, that Memory Meme has nothing to do with the family; perhaps—""

We need to keep the dash at end. We'll keep "——" as an em dash.

"Kirei." Gilgamesh took a light sip of wine, coldly interrupting: "Don't tell me you're going to spout another boring conspiracy theory again."

-> ""Qili." Gilgamesh took a light sip of wine, coldly cutting him off: "Don't tell me you're going to spout another boring conspiracy theory again.""

Don't tell me you're going to spout another boring conspiracy theory again.

"You first guessed that the Underworld Fire Duke was the puppet master behind the scenes, playing a grand chess game, but he ended up being trampled by Yellow Spring like a roadside insect. Everything that's happened in Pinoconi has far exceeded your expectations… your conspiracy theory isn't amusing."

-> "You first guessed the Duke of Netherfire was the mastermind behind the board, but he got trampled by Yellow Spring like a roadside bug. All developments in Pinokangni exceeded your expectations… Your conspiracy theory isn't funny."

got trampled by Yellow Spring like a roadside bug

"Yes." Kirei rubbed the cross on his chest, slowly lowering his head.

-> ""Yes." Qili rubbed the cross on his chest, lowering his head slowly."

"Kirei, you don't need to speculate about this Pinoconi dream; just enjoy it."

-> ""Qili, you don't need to guess about this Pinokangni dream; just enjoy it.""

Gilgamesh chuckled lightly, his golden earrings swaying slightly with his movement: "I've grown quite fond of that Fool; the woman's appearance has made this slaughter much more entertaining. I'd love to see her send more and more people into this primal dream… to tear at each other with that mad dog, perhaps even more entertaining than the mongrels' beast fights."

-> "Gilgamesh chuckled softly, his golden earrings swaying with his movements: "I've grown rather fond of that Fool; the woman's appearance has made this slaughter much more fun. I'd love to see her send more and more people into this primal dream… to tear at each other with that mad dog—perhaps even more entertaining than the mongrels' beast fights.""

perhaps even more entertaining than the mongrels' beast fights

——

-> "——"

Meanwhile, elsewhere…

-> ""Meanwhile, elsewhere…""

Sunday stood alone on the street at golden hour, gazing into the distance at the floating theater.

-> ""Xingqiri stood alone on the street at golden hour, gazing into the distance at the floating theater.""

「「……」」

-> ""……""

Accompanied by his long sigh, a familiar voice came from behind him.

-> ""With his long sigh, a familiar voice came from behind him.""

The deceased nightingale reappeared: "Brother, I'm back."

-> ""The dead Zhigengniao appeared again: 'Brother, I'm back.'""

Sunday switched to a light tone: "Welcome back. How are the performance preparations going?"

-> ""Xingqiri switched to a light tone: '…Welcome back. How are the performance preparations?'""

"All right, don't worry," the nightingale said gently, nodding.

-> """It's fine, don't worry." Zhigengniao nodded gently.""

"All right?" Sunday's gaze suddenly turned cold: "Well, this isn't good… you're the family's pride; don't let those extra emotions ruin your perfect timbre."

-> """Just fine?" Xingqiri's eyes turned cold: "Hmm, that's not good… You're the family's pride; don't let those extra emotions ruin your perfect tone.""

"I… I understand." The nightingale switched to a concerned tone: "Brother, you look a bit down… what happened? Is it those guests who received the 'Watchmaker's' invitation?"

-> """I… I know." Zhigengniao switched to a concerned tone: "Brother, you seem a bit down… What happened? Is it the guests who received the 'Clockmaker' invitation?""

"Yeah, I got the report… 'Death' took some of them. Perhaps it was under someone's orders. Ah, sorry. I forgot you just came back, so you probably don't know about this." Sunday lowered his eyes: "I don't know when it started, but the nightmare called 'Death' has descended upon Pinoconi, indiscriminately attacking people, bringing mental death equally to everyone…"

-> """Yeah, I got the report… 'Death' took some of them. Perhaps someone ordered it. Ah, sorry. I forgot you just came back; you wouldn't know about this." Xingqiri lowered his eyes: "Since when did the nightmare called 'Death' descend on Pinokangni, indiscriminately attacking people and equally bringing spiritual death to everyone?""

"But in the beautiful dream constructed by the family, no misfortune should occur. It seriously undermines the dream's order and peace… how hateful."

-> ""But in the family's beautiful dream, no misfortune should occur. It seriously disrupts the dream's order and peace… How hateful.""

The nightingale worried: "Actually this happened… is someone else killed again?"

-> ""Zhigengniao worried: 'Such a thing actually happened… Is someone else harmed again?'"

"Well, there are two. One is a stowaway, and…" Sunday closed his eyes: "... you."

-> """Hmm, there are two. One is a stowaway, and…" Xingqiri closed his eyes: "…you.""

"Enough, Fool. Your actions chill me."

-> """Enough, Fool. Your actions chill me.""

Sometime later, the nightingale behind him had turned into a black‑haired twin‑tailed girl, and Hanabi smiled brightly, praising: "You're so perceptive~ chicken‑wing boy."

-> ""At some point, the Zhigengniao behind him had turned into a black‑haired twin‑tailed girl; Huohuo laughed and praised: "You're so perceptive~ chicken‑wing boy.""

——

-> "——"

Fullmetal Alchemist

-> "Steel Alchemist."

"That bastard woman…" Edward's mechanical armor screeched, "She actually turned into his sister's form right in front of his brother—this joke is going too far!" He took a deep breath, "If she were in front of me, I'd definitely smash her disgusting face with a punch!"

-> ""That bastard woman…" Edward's mechanical armor screeched, "She actually turned into his sister's form right in front of his brother—this joke is going too far!" He took a deep breath, "If she were in front of me, I'd smash that disgusting face with one punch.""

Alphonse's armored hand gently rested on his brother's shoulder: "Stay calm, brother. The masked Fool is just that kind of existence…"

-> "Alphonse's armored hand lightly rested on his brother's shoulder: "Stay calm, brother. The Masked Fool is just like that…"

"What do you mean 'that kind of existence'? She should know about the nightingale, right? Taking pleasure in others' pain… Indeed, from the start the family shouldn't have invited the masked Fool; these people are just here to cause trouble."

-> ""What do you mean 'just like that'? She should know about Zhigengniao's situation, right? Taking pleasure in others' pain… Indeed, from the start the family shouldn't have invited the Masked Fool; these people are just here to stir things up."

"When she made Star and Flowing Fire fall into the primal dream, she didn't even care whether it would kill them! The Fools are basically a bunch of lunatics!"

-> ""She didn't care whether letting Xing and Liuying fall into the primal dream would kill them when she did it! The Fools are just a bunch of lunatics!"

Alphonse said, "But brother, think about it carefully: the Fool is also a double‑edged sword. Although she put Flowing Fire and Star in danger, she also brought them one step closer to the truth of Pinoconi."

-> "Alphonse said, "But brother, think about it: the Fool is also a double‑edged sword. Although she put Liuying and Xing in danger, she also brought them a step closer to the truth of Pinokangni."

Alphonse, so you mean… this double‑edged sword is going to cut down Sunday?

-> ""Alphonse, do you mean… this double‑edged sword is about to fall on Xingqiri?""

Just a possibility. Alphonse's voice echoed hollowly inside his armor, "But it's clear that if the nightingale dies, the Harmony Festival will likely fail to proceed smoothly; once this news spreads through Pinoconi, it will probably cause a significant disturbance. Figuring out how to calm this may well be what Mr. Sunday needs to solve most."

-> ""Just a possibility." Alphonse's voice echoed hollowly in his armor, "But it's clear that if Zhigengniao dies, the Harmony Grand Ceremony will likely fail to proceed; once this news spreads through Pinokangni, it will surely cause a major disturbance. How to calm this is probably what Mr. Xingqiri must solve."

——

-> "——"

Sunday slowly turned back: "The Hymn of Harmony never lies—'The words of the Fool begin with folly and end with wicked arrogance.'… Please return; His dream does not welcome you."

-> ""Xingqiri turned back slowly: 'The Hymn of Harmony never deceives—'The Fool's words begin with folly and end with wicked arrogance'… Please return; His dream does not welcome you.'"

"Oh come on, don't put on such a stern face~ still quoting scriptures dead seriously, why so grave?" Hanabi giggled, "I just wanted to ask—by now, isn't the family going to intervene? Your poor sister has already sacrificed herself, you know?"

-> """Aw, don't put on a straight face and quote scriptures so seriously—why so grim?" Huohuo chuckled, "I just wanted to ask—by now, isn't the family going to act? Your poor sister has already sacrificed herself.""

still quoting scriptures seriously

Hanabi's tone gradually turned cold: "You… you don't want to avenge her, do you?"

-> ""Huohuo's tone turned chilly: 'You… don't you want to avenge her?'"

Sunday glanced aside: "It's not the time yet. When the destined day comes, I will carry out judgment with integrity."

-> ""Xingqiri looked down sideways: 'It's not the time yet. When the destined day comes, I will carry out judgment with integrity.'"

Hanabi's eyes lit up, and she kept praising: "Awesome, you can actually endure that~ you're such a cold‑blooded guy. Hey, we might get along great!" Hanabi hooked her finger, "How about this: I can stand in for your sister at various events—you definitely don't want people to find out… the Harmony Festival can't be held anymore, right?"

-> ""Huohuo's eyes lit up, and he praised repeatedly: 'Awesome, you can actually endure this~ you're really a cold‑blooded guy. Hey, we might get along well.' Huohuo hooked a finger, "How about this: I can attend various occasions in place of your sister—you definitely don't want people to know… the Harmony Grand Ceremony can't be held anymore, right?""

Sunday turned away with a look of disgust: "The family has its own arrangements. Stop using your deceitful tongue to defile my dear sister, Fool."

-> ""Xingqiri turned away with a disgusted face: 'The family has its own arrangements. Stop using your deceitful tongue to defile my dear sister, Fool.'"

Hanabi pouted, wearing a hurt little expression: "Fine, fine~ I'm just saying… if you need help, I'm always here, okay? Who could resist a boy who wears nail decorations on his chicken wings?"

-> ""Huohuo pouted, a hurt expression on his face: 'Alright, alright~ I'm just saying… if you need help, I'm always here. Who could resist a boy who puts nail studs on his chicken wings?'"

Having said that, Hanabi left with a bright smile.

-> ""Having said that, Huohuo left with a smile."

"No need; the culprit has already shown his hoof in His light. Before long he'll trip over his own schemes."

-> """No need. The culprit has already shown his flaw in His light. Soon he'll trip over his own schemes.""

"If he doesn't turn back, His blade will be sharpened, His bow strung, and the poison the wicked inflict will come back on their own heads."

-> """If he doesn't turn back, His blade will be sharpened, His bow drawn, and the harm the wicked inflict will rebound on themselves.""

Sunday lifted his gaze to the neon‑streaked night of that dream: "By then, those who disrespect the gods will realize they are merely mortals, destined to fall into the underworld…"

-> ""Xingqiri looked up at the neon‑speckled night in that dream: 'By then, those foreigners who disrespect the gods will realize they are merely mortals, destined to fall into the underworld…'"

"... I will become His vanguard, personally announcing good news (funeral) for you — 【Clockmaker】"