Kara no Teikoku : The Empty Empire
written and illustrated by Naoe Kita
translation by ryuuen yanagi

Chapter Two: The Empty Empire II

--page 55

Towards the end of the year 2500 AD, suddenly and for the
first time in the world, mankind was united.

Emperor Idea

---however, because of the chaos caused by his sudden death, the
palace created a clone of Idea. 

---but, the clone escaped.

Now, he is living in the royal city of Jioria with two individuals.

They thought he was a mistake because he was like Idea, but also
not like him, but----

Ririka: "Rose."


--page 56

Rose: "Ririka. Eiri."

Ririka: "Rose-kun, you were here? The palace has called, you know."

Eiri: "Let's go together."


--page 57

[The Empty Empire II]


--page 58

Dust: "Hey, Eiri, long time no see. You really came, huh? Welcome 
to the palace."

Eiri: "Hey, Dust. You've really been keeping things from me, I hear.
You copied Idea, didn't you? I heard it said that you did research
exactly like mine.*"

*he's implying that Dust copied Eiri's work

Ririka: "Eiri, you know this guy?"

Eiri: "We were classmates."

Dust: "But that doesn't give you any indication of how many times
Eiri's class performance was genius-level... Where's the copy? Hurry, 
I want to see it."

Eiri: "I understand. Rose-kun, over here."

Rose: "Whatcha want?"


--page 59

Dust: "What the hell is this------? This get-up!? This casual stuff
makes Idea's copy look like a streetkid!"

Rose: "What the hell... what a loudmouth..."

Dust: "He's got a foul mouth, Eiri! Is he really Idea's copy!?"

Eiri: "You're the one made him, aren't you? He's not an exact copy, 
but he can use Idea's power. I'll unfasten the ESP-shield... try and
show us."

Dust: "Waaa~~"

Rose: "Okay, I'm done."

Dust: "......."

Eiri: "But he really can't move heavy objects, hm. His control is
based more on emotions than anything else, so it's a little dangerous.
So we always use the shield."

Rose: "Eiri, is it okay if I go home, now?"

Dust: "Wait."


--page 60

Dust: "Going home is going to be a problem. Eiri, you've had quite a
hassle, haven't you... Wouldn't you prefer to hand over this copy-kun to
us?"

Eiri: "!"

Rose: "Eiri! What does he mean!?"

Dust: "Idea's clone is confidential information. You're walking a thin 
line between peace and trouble. Gather your things and leave."

Rose: "Youu~~~ let gooo~~~!! Leggooo~~!!"

Ririka: "Hey! What are you trying to say?! Let Rose go!!"


--page 61

soldiers: "Uwaahh~~ waa~~ yooouuu!! Arrest that girl!"

Ririka: "You think you're going to defy me? I'll catch your wrist and
squeeze it!*"
*with her whip

Dust: "Waa~~!?"

Eiri: "Ririka! Please stop."

Ririka: "Eeeh... but..."


--page 62

Eiri: "You were also owed an apology. Let's stop quarelling, Dust."

Dust: "......" (What the hell is that girl?)

Ririka: "Are you okay, Rose?"

Rose: "Yeah..." (ow, ow)

Eiri: "You want Rose-kun, right? Fine. Take him. I'll give you the
key to the shield, as well."

Ririka: "Eiri---?"

Rose: "Eiri!? I... I don't want to!"

Eiri: "Please just go and try it out, once."

Dust: "Greaaaat. Enough talking. Ah, that's right, let's put him in
Idea's clothes and see how similar he is~~~~~"

"And so...."


--page 63

Dust: "Ooh! Definitely Idea!"

Eiri: "....Idea..."

Ririka: "Eeh? You're saying Idea wore stuff like this?"

Rose: ".....n?"


--page 64

Dust: "What's this thing on your forehead!? It doesn't work with the
outfit, give it here!"

"Ah~" "!"

Dust: "What's this? This scar?"

Eiri: "It's the scar that was given to Rose-kun when the palace tried
to rectify their mistake. It's something that you people did."

Dust: "It... it won't heal? I can't forgive myself for making it so
that we have a scarred emperor... I'm a perfectionist, you know..."

Eiri: "It's probably better if the scar doesn't disappear. Because of
that scar, Rose-kun acquired his power, so it's probably best to
leave it alone."

Dust: "Hmmmmm? Well, I don't know if we can find a big enough forehead
decoration, but... it's urgent, so we can have a designer design 
something of the highest quality..."

servant: "Yes, sir."

Dust: "But if you overlook that, he's exactly like Idea!"


--page 65

Rose: "I'm not Idea!"

Dust: "Wa~~"

Eiri: "-----you don't know anything about Idea, do you?"

Rose: "!? Eiri!?"

Eiri: "If you don't know anything about Idea, then how can you
say that you're nothing like him?"

Rose: "I know about him! I saw a picture of him, and I've heard
people talk about him."

Eiri: "But you haven't seen the real thing, have you?"

Rose: "-----he's dead, isn't he??"

Eiri: "Idea's body is being preserved by the palace. Even now he
looks just like you. You can go look if you want."

Rose: "It's on display?"


--page 66

Eiri: "Go ahead and look. I leave the responsibilty up to you. We're
leaving. Ririka?"

Rose: "!"

Ririka: "Eiri, is this okay~~~~~?"

Eiri: "There's no way that boy can continue knowing nothing about Idea... 
Rose-kun can't keep running away from who he is. He just needs to get
used to it a little more."

Ririka: "?"

Dust: "Idea lived in this palace. Eiri doesn't think so, but you living 
here will be for the best. You have the same figure, but you and Idea
differ completely on personality, don't you. It's okay... you'll get
there eventually."

Rose: "..."

Dust: "Ah, that's right. Let me introduce you to your manservant. This
is Iriya."

Iriya: "I am Iriya. It's been a long time... "Idea"-sama." 


--page 67

Rose: "HAJIMEMASHITE*! I'm called Rose. (because of this scar)"
*"it's a pleasure to meet you", but lit. "this is our first meeting"

Iriya: "....."

Dust: "Iriya served Idea for a long time... you can't remember him?"

Rose: "I'm not Idea! Can't you understand that?!"

Dust: "Ah, that's right, you have no memory, do you..."

Rose: "If only it was that simple... where the hell are we going?"

Iriya: "This is your room*."
*lit. "please accept this room"

Iriya: "He's a very lively person, isn't he?"

Dust: "You think so? But he can use the same power as Idea."

Iriya: "No! He is absolutely different from Idea-sama."


--page 68

Rose: "It's such a big and pretty room, isn't it... (I can't get 
over it...)"

Iriya: "Are you getting settled? This is the second most beautiful
room in the castle."

Rose: "The second most? Really? Where's the most beautiful one?"

Iriya: "Shall we take a look at the castle grounds? Over here is the
entrance to the library. Over here is the observation tower. And 
continuing on..."

Rose: "Hmm... huh? What's that extravagent blue door?"

Iriya: "That is Idea-sama's room. It is still in the condition that it
was in when he was alive and using it. Would you like to go inside?"

Rose: "Ah... no, that's okay."

Iriya: "It is the most beautiful room in the castle."

Rose: "Ah~"

Iriya: "Come."


--page 70

Rose: "It's okay! I don't want to see!"


--page 71

Iriya: "All the furniture is blue."

Rose: "A mirror..." (For a minute there, I thought I could see Idea...
but he's dead, so this room must be empty.)

Iriya: "Looking at this room is truly splendid. Here."

Rose: "Wa~~"


--page 72

Iriya: "Are you alright? If you fell from here you would probably
die... --------Even up close, you look exactly like Idea, don't you? 
Ah~... forgive my rudeness. I'll leave you alone in the room."

Rose: "....." (This is Idea's castle.)


--page 73

Dust: "Hmm..... if we can't mess with his brain, it's going to take
awhile to teach him all this... but it will throw off the balance 
of the palace school if we put him in the compulsory education class..."

Rose: "I'm hungry."

Dust: "Wrong! Idea did't say it that way!"

Rose: (Oh, really.) "I'm about to fall over I'm so hungry. Is it
time to eat yet?"

Dust: "Well... I'll have a meal prepared. Iriya!"

Rose: "Itadakimaaaaasu."


--page 74

Dust: "You~~~~"

Rose: "What? (Want some?)"

Dust: "Eat more elegantly! Don't pick up your plate! Use a napkin!"

Rose: "....."

Dust: "Iriya, I'm sorry, but the first thing you have to do is teach
him some manners."

Rose: "...." (I really kinda don't like Iriya...)

Iriya: "No. There are two things suitable to do with a napkin. Wipe
your hands, and wipe your mouth..."

Rose: "A----h. I'm fed...."


--page 75

Iriya: "Idea-sama always read after a meal."

Iriya: "...."

servant: "Idea-sama never did anything like this, did he..."

Rose: "Mmmm, I really slept. Huh? Nobody's here.... (go and see Idea)
... (even if I see him, I really can't go home, huh...)


--page 76

Rose: "It's okaaaay! I'll stay at the castle forever! It's a lot 
nicer here than at Eiri's place, and the food here is better than
what Ririka makes...."

Ririka: "Hey, Eiri... is Rose okay, do you think? He's not crying
or anything?"

Eiri: "....Ririka. What do you think about that boy?"

Ririka: "Hm? I like him. (Here! I made it!)"

Eiri: (Oh~) 

Ririka: "But the one I like best is Eiri~"

Eiri: "Oh, well, thank you."

Ririka: "But the person you like best is Idea, huh... although it
seems like you don't go visit him anymore nowadays..."


--page 77

Ririka: "Wouldn't it be much better to like someone who's alive?
(They're a lot more fun than dead people. I don't really like
dead people...)"

Eiri: "Oh, well, I just haven't been able to get into the palace..."

Ririka: "Huh? I thought you were given a freepass to go anywhere 
you wanted?"

Eiri: "That's why it's strange. I'm starting to get the feeling that
possibly Idea has..."

Ririka: "?"

Eiri: "-----but I'm the one who thought that it would be good if 
Rose went to see Idea, aren't I..."

Rose: "?"


--page 78

girls: "Kyaaa---"

Rose: "??"

girl 1: "This is the first time I've seen Idea-sama's clone, but
he's exactly the same, isn't he... I wasn't expecting it."

girl 2: "But, but! Don't you get the feeling that he's a little
younger than Idea-sama? I mean, his face is still as pretty, but..."

girl 1: "But, to see someone who already died once, it's a 
strange feeling..."

groundsmen: (whisper whisper whisper)

Rose: "What? Do you want something?"

groundsmen: "No, it's nothing. (oi, the way he talks is different...
but it's the same voice...) Please forgive our rudeness~~~~"

Rose: "...."


--page 79

Iriya: "Year 2312: the Rakini War. Year 2415: the Battle of Rastemine. 
In the year 2510, the world was brought together by the Treaty of 
Bohem....... Are you listening, "Idea"-sama?"

Rose: "I told you, I'm not Idea. How many times do I have to tell you
before you understand?"

Iriya: "Nevertheless, you still have to learn all this within the week."

Rose: "I learned that all the first time I read it."

Iriya: "Eh? This entire book?"

Rose: "Eh? Didn't you tell me to read that one? I learned it."

Iriya: "The Nujini Treaty?"

Rose: "Year 2421. Page 310, fourth line. The treaty between Old 
Japan and Old America. Um, there was a typhoon that year."

Iriya: "The Battle of Amine?"

Rose: "Page 261, line 25. Year 2332. Old Europe's battle that
allowed today's Sajide and Deoru to form."

Iriya: "The year 2531?" 

Rose: "The Treaty of Muell. Old Agea's treaty... and~~~~~... it's
on page 438, line 17... this is boring... (Can I lay down?)"

Iriya: "....that time... He was able to read it all in five minutes?"


--page 80

trainer: "How are your reflexes? Please bout with us."

Rose: "Ah~"

trainers: "Just what you'd expect from Idea-sama's clone! There's
no doubt about it, is there?"

Rose: "......"

trainers: "Huh? He's become weak all of a sudden? It's weird, his
movements changed..."

Iriya: "Today... you lost on purpose, didn't you?"

Rose: "What do you mean?"

Iriya: "It's no use playing innocent. You were not this weak when 
you escaped from the palace guards."

Rose: "...but. I hadn't learned the truth back then. I was too
caught up in it... (it's true)"


--page 81

Iriya: "There is no point to today's false show of weakness and 
inability."

Rose: "!"

Iriya: "If you recall, you are merely a replacement to Idea-sama. Your
power will impress no-one compared to his. Pretending to be weak has
no meaning, because compared to him, you are already weak. You forget
that you are a clone. If you cannot replace Idea-sama, you have no
meaning. Having no meaning does not mean that you will be released. 
Being Idea-sama's clone means that you are too dangerous for that..."

Rose: "You mean... they'll kill me?"

Iriya: "That's right."

Rose: "!"


--page 82

Rose: "What the hell is this!?! So if I don't become Idea's replacement,
I'm going to die!?!"

Iriya: "It would seem that way, wouldn't it?"

Rose: "Certainly... nobody in this castle really sees me. Everyone... 
confuses me with Idea! No matter what I do, everything is either the
same as Idea, or different than Idea... even when I'm just walking!
Idea is alive! In this castle! Inside everyone! It's such a scary
feeling!"


--page 83

Rose: "Even though he's dead... this is Idea's castle. He's dead, but...
he's still in control... his reign continues... the eternal, everlasting
king. ----I am not Idea.....!! I'm not Idea~~~~"

Iriya: "...eh... ah.... I-.. Idea-sama?"


--page 84

Iriya: (What am I doing? It's wrong... this person isn't the real Idea-sama.
His face is the same, but there's no mistake that it's the only thing. 
There's something else I should do... but I can't stop now.) "Tea... please
call me if you need me."

minister: "However, it's good that Idea's copy has been returned."

servant: "It is, isn't it, minister. But at one o'clock, you didn't know what
was going to happen."

minister: "Be that as it may, it is urgent that we hurry and bring him
in... ------do the criminals know?"

servant: "No, not yet... but, we intercepted this letter from them."


--page 85

servant: "The work of religious fanatics, I assume?"

letter: (only portions are visible) Emperor Idea... only one... here...

Rose: ".....I'm gonna try and leave, already..." This place! If I could have
just seen Idea and left, I should have. I kinda know the layout of this 
castle... Maybe my body is remembering? ---Idea's memory? "....here!......"
Idea--- what kind of person is he...? Is he really identical to me? Every
part of him the same? The same as me but different---- !?


--page 86

Rose: "? It's empty. There's nothing here."

???: "Idea-sama's body has been stolen."

Rose: "Who's there? Iriya? ~~~~?"

Iriya: "......"

Rose: "Did you come to check on it?"

Iriya: "Yes."

Ririka: "Heeeyyy---- Gatekeeper-san?"

gatekeeper: "Eh? Wa~ Who are you?"

Ririka: "I'm whatever you want~. Hey? Can't we go into the palace? I
think that would be really nice, you know..."


--page 87

gatekeeper: "Eh... eh... I really can't, really, no..."

Ririka: "Ehh.... well, that's okay. We'll just let ourselves in."

Eiri: "Ririka, you're clever." (That poor gatekeeper...)

Ririka: "It was easy~ But this is unusual, isn't it... you coming 
in this way..."

Eiri: "I've just become a little worried about Rose-kun. You should
also be careful. Don't get hurt, alright?"

Ririka: "It's okay~! It'll be fun seeing if I can get you to
forgive me!"

Eiri: "....."

Dust: "Eh? Eiri's here-?"

servant: "Yes; our gatekeeper is lazy..."

Eiri: "Excuse me."

Dust: "Waaaa~~ what are you doing here?"

Eiri: "You should know that better than anyone, shouldn't you?"


--page 88

Eiri: "I would have made an appointment, but I thought I had free
access to the palace..."

Dust: "~~~~~"

Eiri: "What has happened to Idea!? What's wrong with him!? Hurry 
and tell me!"

Dust: (What a scary guy...)

Rose/Iriya: "......."

Rose: "Really... if Idea has been stolen, they must have moved him
out of the palace very quickly..."

Iriya: "Slow or fast, it called you, didn't it? Although, if Idea-sama's
body hadn't been taken, another clone could have been created. You have
been very valuable."

Rose: "But I'm not Idea."

Iriya: "Right. You are not Idea-sama."


--page 89

Iriya: "Then why do you speak with the same voice, and smile with the
same face? At least, if you didn't resemble him so much, I could forget
these feelings."

Rose: "What is this? My eyes...?" 

That tea!

Rose: "It can't be! Iriya, you---- you stole Idea?"

Iriya: "That's right."

Rose: "....!"


--page 90

Eiri: "Ririka!"

Ririka: "It's true... Idea isn't here... (There's nothing here...)
Hm? What's this? Isn't this what they made for Rose...? It can't be
that they stole Rose, too, can it?"

Eiri: "! Idea's religious fanatics be protesting the creation of 
Rose-kun the copy!"


--page 91

fanatic 1: "Why haven't you killed him already?"

fanatic 2: "You didn't say anything else but to kidnap him..."

fanatic: "It's good that we had someone from the palace helping us
with Idea-sama, but... he's really identical to him, isn't he..."

fanatic 1: "What's with this big fear?! Idea-sama is one of a kind!
God would never forgive the reproduction of Idea-sama! No one but God
should be reproducing anything!"

fanatics: "Ohh... he's waking up!"

fanatic: "So, Fake Idea-sama! Do you have any last words?"


--page 92

Rose: "I am not Idea."

fanatic: "Well, that... that's true, so... we can't forgive you."

fanatic 2: "Kill him!"

fanatic 3: "Kill him! Hurry up!"

fanatic 1: "He's blasphemy to the name of Idea-sama!"

Rose: "Iriya... you, too?"

Iriya: "....."

Eiri: "They can't have gotten far! They are the same people who have
committed crimes against Idea! Give me the list of the cult members!
Check in the nearby sheds, and abandoned houses, and any of the apartments
and houses that have recently been rented out! Ask all the surrounding
villagers and any travellers and see if you can find any eyewitnesses!
Get going!"

Ririka: "Hurry and find Rose!" (There's not much time...) "At least, if we
could get the ESP Shield off of him..."


--page 93

servant: "It's strange, but... they've found a clone. About thirty 
minutes from the inlet in a shed... Iriya-san was seen bringing someone
in there but... it couldn't be that..."

Eiri: "! Where is it?!"

servant: "Eh?"

Eiri: "Where is it?!! Give me the location of the shed!"

There's no time!

fanatic: "You... don't you dare speak with the same voice as Idea-sama!"

"Kill him!"

fanatic: "Die!!"


--page 94

*gunshot noises*

Rose: "..........! ! They didn't hit me..."

fanatic: "You... whaddaya think you're trying to do?!"


--page 95

Rose: "Iriya."

Iriya: "You... you aren't hurt, are you?"


--page 96

Rose: "No, but... but...!!"

Iriya: "Thank God..."

Rose: "Iriya! Why...!?"

Iriya: "No reason, just... that I didn't want to see the same face
die twice..."


--page 97

Iriya: ".....Idea-sama. ...... ........you are still the same as
Idea-sama... as my beloved king.... please save yourself!"

Rose: "Iriya!"

Ririka: "Rose!"


--page 98

Ririka: "I've come to save you!"

Rose: "Ririka!"

fanatics: "Iriya betrayed us?! Shit!!"

Ririka: "You guys are finished!"

fanatics: "Aaaaahhh!! This woman!!"

Rose: "You bastards!"

Ririka: "Rose! Here's the key to the shield!"


--page 99

Rose: "Ririka, cover yourself."

Ririka: "!"

fanatics: "?!"


--page 100

fanatics: "GWAAHHH!!!"

Eiri: "Huh? Rose-kun, is that blood all over you? Are you hurt
somewhere...?"

Rose: "Eiri!"


--page 101

Rose: "Hurry, it's Iriya! Iriya protected me!"

Dust: "'Idea'! I told you not to wear those clothes!!"

Rose: "Iriya! Is Iriya okay?"

Dust: (Take off those clothes~~~~)


--page 102

Ririka: "Be quiet! He's sleeping."

Rose: "Oh. Thank God."

Eiri: "Of course he's okay... I performed the surgery myself.
Now, get out of here; he's resting, he's resting."

Ririka: "Okay..."

Eiri: "...how long are you going to fake sleep like a tanuki*?"
  *tanukis are mythological creatures in Japan... kinda like racoons.

Iriya: "You caught on, huh?"

Eiri: "What did you do with Idea?"

Iriya: "The coffin is hidden carefully in a cave, on a mountain 
to the south."

Eiri: "Got it. We'll go get it."

Iriya: "What happened to the cult members?"

Eiri: "It concluded such that they are all dead."

Iriya: "You can't mean that...?!"


--page 103

Eiri: "Rose-kun didn't kill them. I took great pains to make sure
that they all lived, but they killed themselves with poison. Excessive,
wasn't it..."

Iriya: "That person... I thought he wasn't anything like Idea-sama, but...
he's a strange person."

Eiri: "He's a sweet boy, Iriya. Why do you think I worked on you myself 
to make sure that you would be saved? You, the person who stole Idea. You,
the person who put Rose-kun in such danger. It was because that boy asked
me to. He said 'help you'."


--page 104 

Iriya: "You are a person who doesn't do anything unless it's an order 
from Idea-sama, aren't you..."

Everyone is waiting for you...




Kara no Teikoku II - fin

translations copyright ryuuen 1999
reproduction in whole or in part is absolutely forbidden
furthermore, if you do, i'll send Himmel after you
and THEN you'll be sorry... ufufufu