yoshidaeri, posts by tag: side story - LiveJournal

(Notes: Here is the new, better, and most importantly, complete, translation of Hanji's 'Good Night Sweet Dreams Dear' au Smartpass story!
I wanted to re-do this story translation because when I originally worked on it; long before it was publicly published in the first Short Stories booklet, I only had bits and pieces of the story to work with and the pieces I did have weren't in any order so it was difficult to figure out where each piece went in the story. 
The full story makes a lot more sense(at least for a story from the 'Goodnight Sweet Dreams Dear' series which seem to be notorious for being vague and difficult to follow in terms of scene changes and character dialogue).



Shingeki no Kyojin au Smartpass
‘Good Night Sweet Dreams Dear’ series - Hanji Zoe

----------------

“Squad Leader! …… Please wake up, Squad Leader Hanji!!”

“Nnaaah!?”

Hanji Zoe woke up in a tent set up in the courtyard of the Survey Corps barracks.
It was still midday.

“How long….. have I been asleep?”

“You ordered me to wake you up if you weren't already awake after 2 hours”

“Aah….. I see”

Ecological study of the captured Titans.

In a tent set up specifically for the research, Hanji became tired while working on the experiments… and at the strong urging of her assistant… decided to take a break and have a nap.

“Are you all right? Your complexion looks a bit pale”

“...... I had a dream, Moblit”

Hanji lowered the goggles that she had pushed up and scratched her head.


In her dream, Hanji was watching the Titans in front of her.

“Hey, Hanji…..”

Strangely, there was no fear.

So when one of the Titans opened its mouth and spoke clearly and like a human, it did not seem strange.

“It does not taste good……”

“Human beings, they do not taste good ……”

Suddenly, Hanji was behind a wagon cart full of food.

She grabbed a potato at the top of the pile and held it out to the Titan.

“Well then, how about vegetables? There’s also cattle and pigs and bread. Here, eat ……”

However, the Titan showed no interest at the food in Hanji’s hands.

It held its head and spoke in a groaning voice.

“Uuuhh….. No like ….. I do not want it …..”

Pulling at the skin on its own head, as if trying to tear it off, the Titan looks at Hanji with its big eyes.

“Help me, Hanji”

“...... Well, lets get this shitty morning experiment started already”

It's Levi, who is lending a hand to assist with the experiment, that's speaking. Moblit is nearby to write down the experiment data and information.

“Certainly. In today’s experiment we will be testing more than 30 food items to see if Titans are interested in eating any foods other than humans.”

“Aah…… So, it was from that strange dream…… Okay, lets continue. Moblit, please hand me the food items”

Hanji shakes off the continuation of the dream, and turns to the Titan subject that has been tied down with ropes and stakes.

“Look…… It's a boiled pumpkin…… Nearly as big as a human. Go on, eat it……”

The vegetables are tied to the end of a stick and held up to the Titans mouth. But, like in the dream, the Titan did not respond to it at all.

“Oi, you're getting too close……”

“Uwaahh!!”

As she slowly stepped closer to the Titan, she was suddenly grabbed by the scruff of her neck and pulled back. The Titan was not trying to eat the vegetable, but was trying eat Hanji’s head instead.

“Ha ha, dangerous!!”

“Squad leader, please don't reduce your life to food!!”

As her assistant pleads with her, Hanji just laughs and continues the experiment.

“Haa …… It’s as I thought. Titans will not eat anything other than people. Are humans tasty?”

As Hanji was finally released, she sat down on one of the wooden food crates to talk to the Titan.

“I do not want to eat, Hanji”

“Eh…… ?”


“...... Get up, Shitty Glasses! Unless you want to be eaten!”

“Haa!?”

Hanji awoke to the feeling of being smacked in the back of the head.

“(Was it a daydream?)”

It was a moment of absentmindedness. However Hanji, who had gotten close to where the Titan was tied down with rope, seems to have become the prey again.

“Sorry. Lets continue on with the experiment”

“No, we finished all the foodstuff that was prepared for the experiment”

Moblit calmly showed her the list, growing increasingly concerned for his superior officer.

“But more importantly, Squad Leader, maybe we should take a break for a while…… before an accident happens”

“...... yeah, okay”

Upon thinking about it, Hanji realized that she had not gotten much sleep over the last few days. Hanji stretched and reluctantly turned away from the Titan.

“Hey, Levi”

“Aah?”

“...... even though I only saw it in my dream, I still can't help but wonder. Do you think they really want to eat people?”

Levi stated the interruption of the experiment to the subordinates, then glanced awkwardly to one side before looking up with a sullen expression in his eyes.

“If that isn't the case, don't let the possibility of it make you hesitate while doing your research. You yourself are the only one that can find the answer”

Hanji was taken aback by his words, but then nods quietly.

“Aah…… you're right”

“I do not want to eat, Hanji”

The words that the Titan said in her dream remained in the back of Hanji’s mind.

“(...... That voice remains in my ear. It may just be my mere wish ……)”

Hanji turned back and looked at the face of captured Titan.

“(..... However, it could also be the start to a clue to helping us be able to understand the Titans some day)”

Still caught in the afterglow of her strange dream, Hanji removed her goggles and started walking toward her room.

( End )

Shingeki no Kyojin au Smartpass
‘Good Night Sweet Dreams Dear’ series - Moblit Berner

----------------

It’s late at night in the Survey Corps headquarters. Working away, two soldiers trot down the hallway.

“ …… Eventually, it was observed for how many hours after sunset?”

“7 hours. The Titan stopped being active after 4 hours.”

“ I see…… So it likes to stay up at night”

“Yes, it seems that way Squad Leader”

Hanji, the head researcher of the captured titans, and her assistant beside her.

He recorded the data, being acutely aware of Hanji’s behavior.

“Lets stop our observation of the Titan subject today.
After all, 3 hours has passed"

“I mean, It will still be on my mind …… Oh, let’s prepare the schedule for tomorrow’s experiments”

“I have the reports. Please sign them and go to sleep”

After receiving the documents passed to her, Hanji thanks her assistant for his work.

“Keep doing good, Moblit!”

“ ( Indeed ……Being aware of your surroundings and protecting yourself is a job you do not have. )”

Now sleep and dream deeply and soundly.

“(Dream…… It’s always that dream about the experiment) “

Although it’s a common dream amongst Survey Corps soldiers, no one wants to see their superiors get eaten.

“(When Hanji is gone …… it will be a big blow to the Survey Corps.
…… Definitely , I must try to keep an eye on her) “

With a shudder, Moblit has new resolve in his job as assistant.

“Wait …… Perhaps, the dream came true!? “

“Hey hey, nothing is happening? I’m here, Are human beings delicious?”

“ What are you doing, Squad leader!! “

Moblit went to the tent where the experiment was to be held and tightened the Titans restraints,
Hanji was observing the Titan by candlelight and getting close to it.

Even with scolding from her assistant, she seemed indifferent.

“I guess, I couldn’t sleep. I wondered why you stay up all night watching the test subject”

“ The experiment is scheduled for tomorrow night. So be ready to go to bed early tonight “

“ Is that so?”

“(Everyday, about to be eaten many times) “

In his room, shoulders slumped over, Moblit is dressed in sleepwear, gets into bed with a sigh.

Mumbling pent up thoughts and complaints about superiors.

“( Basically, Squad leader is too crazy. Biological study of the Titans is important, but you’re no different from everyone else when you’re eaten by one ) “

In front of his eyes, the view of today’s experiment comes to mind.

Waiting until the last minute to restrain the Titan during a communication attempt by Hanji.

“What is it! I don’t understand? “

“ Squad Leader! “

…… You’re too close. Are you that indifferent to my warnings.
The Titan opening its big mouth, getting closer to Hanji’s head.

“What are you doing! You still …… “

Moblit takes a step forward, prepared to put a stop to things by force as usual…… But his body does not work for some reason.

And slowly Hanji’s head goes into the titan’s mouth.

“ u …… uWaaAAAA!! “

“ Aaaaa …… Haa ? “

Moblit awoke to the sound of his own cries.

When he got up, he was always in his own quarters. With a headache.

“Please do not forget the plans set up for today”

Ready to fulfill his duty, Moblit pats his chest.

At least, his superior had not been eaten.

“( …… for most soldiers, they don’t have to worry about their comrades being eaten when they are safely within the walls) "

Pulling a sleepwear-clad Hanji back into the barracks, Moblit looks up to the heavens ready to fulfill his own work.

( End )

Shingeki no Kyojin - au Smartpass
'Round About Midnight' series - Moblit Berner

‘A Tale of Drunks and Drinking’
-----------------

“Uuwaa ......Hanji-san this 、 Hanji-san that ...... If you like Titans so much, why don't you just become one”

At a certain bar within the inner wall, seated at a large table, it seems a small group has gathered.

“I don’t usually get this drunk. It's rare。 I know it is said that I drink a lot”

“He is supposed to have a tolerance to alcohol …… You've probably had a hard time with that superior officer”

It was a group of soldiers

Survey Corps soldier Moblit Berner is celebrating his promotion to deputy leader to the fourth squad、so they celebrated by gathering colleagues and other soldiers.

“Originally, I couldn't understand why you would want to work under that weirdo.
Did you not apply for transfers?”
A voice rose up, a classmate of Moblit’s that chose to go to the Garrison.

Of course, the weirdo, who’s name is known amongst the Corps and beyond, is Hanji Zoe.

“Please don't be foolish... …Hanji-san…..

Battle capability is valuable….”

But、I heard you were trying to make friends with the titan and talk to it

“Researching out in the field and inside the walls are different”

Moblit’s colleague, a soldier with bowl-cut hairstyle goes to assist.

“The survival rate of the soldiers assigned to Hanji-san's squad is high.

It is because they are under the instruction of a person who is familiar with the behavior pattern of the titan”

“Umm、Moblit is on break”

“Well… On the day when I noticed some abnormal material in my data, I will pursue my research to the end of the earth”

Moblit suddenly fell down on the table, spilling his glass of alcohol.

Even as they listen to the story, the Garrison and the Military Police soldiers who have never actually encountered a Titan can only scratch their heads in confusion.

"But, when you are back inside of the walls, when you are studying the Titans, don't you have more work than other soldiers?"

"We are compensated for our work.

Our research is approved by the commander."

"But, for money alone, why would you go through such dangerous experiments? What other reason...."

“...That person、Is a bit of a wild card”

“Eh?”
Everyone of his classmates saw Moblit as someone who was subdued and muttered a lot.

“Hanji-san is...... outstandingly smart、 her idea’s are different from an ordinary persons, if you keep continuing your research, discovering new goals for humanity - Freedom from the Titans is attainable.

But...... A single, thin, unsupported object is unstable. It will wobble and you do not know when it will collapse.

So, in that sense, anyone can be weak. Which is why they need firm, solid support."

Everyone was listening to the(normally quiet) Moblit’s speech.

“Moblit-san is not weak. He provides a strong foundation. Like a rock.”

The soldiers smiled earnestly. Moblit and his colleagues nodded and raised their glasses.

“That's right. You always have been good at providing support for your colleagues from the sidelines. It is a perfect job position”

And, on that note,

Everyone raised their glasses.

“So then, now. To the new Squad Four Deputy Leader Moblit Berner、Cheers!“

Moblit toasted and gave a rare relaxed smile.

Remembering,

It seems she just fell asleep at the desk.

“Anyway, squad leader Hanji?”

“Aah, this isn't due for 5 days so I'll do it the night before. Just drop it off outside the break room.
Moblit should be able to rest easy about today "

The soldiers from other squads gave a bitter smile, as the soldiers from Hanji’s squad finished their work without delay.
It was a celebration.

( End )

(I realized that I did some SnK translations last year that I never posted here. And since putting them up here is a good way for me to archive them and makes them easier for me to find later, I decided that I need to get caught up.)
----------------

Here it is. The translation of Mike's 'Round About Midnight' story from the Shingeki no Kyojin au Smartpass side-story collection.
It is also my own personal way of paying tribute to Mike Zacharias - Survey Corps Squad Leader & Humanities Second-Strongest Soldier.

(Personal note: I decided to translate this story after watching Mike's death scene in the anime. The more I worked on it the more I felt that I absolutely had to translate it, despite feeling like I was getting punched in the stomach with a fist full of feels every time I worked on it. Because I want the fandom to know how Mike spent his final hours before all hell broke loose inside Wall Rose.
In Mike's last moments we see his emotions greatly fluctuate between screaming and crying in defeat and doing whatever he can to fight until the very end. I felt like this story was important because it shows that; despite falling into a pit of despair during points of his final moments, his ultimate mindset was to fight and fight hard. And that's how he should be remembered.)




Shingeki no Kyojin - au Smartpass
'Round About Midnight' series - Mike Zacharias

“A Story to Keep Fighting"
----------------

Wall Rose Southern side, at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Survey Corps.

“How are the recruits?”

“Everyone is quiet for now. Although some of the kids seem a little untrusting, but that is to be expected”

The Survey Corps gathered the new recruits from the 104th graduating class at a location for a certain purpose, they were kept waiting as their 3DMG-equipped superiors watched over them.

The group leader Mike, nods in response to the report.

“All right”

“...... Just waiting around, it's boring”

The older Survey Corps soldiers take turns being on guard duty, but otherwise everyone is gathered in one room, just waiting.

"It would be nice to have a drink" says Gelgar as he yawns and stretches, which seems to irritate Lynn.

“I'm not going to help you out if you're drunk”

“I'm joking. But… Mike-san and Nanaba are still going at it”

On the other side of the room, as the recruits sat around killing time, there was a figure of a superior officer and a colleague staring across a fighting board game.

“Well, my piece is effective from many positions. So Mike, why don't you just accept your defeat?”

“....But still. As long I keep fighting…. I cannot lose”

“Of course….. that is more or less the key to surviving in the Survey Corps, you cannot give up…. Squad Leader Mike is special”

Upon hearing the words of his subordinates, Mike sits up, sniffs, and then opens his normally quiet mouth.

“...... I learned it while outside of the walls”

“Mike. Is it possible for the Corps to gain anything by continuing to fight like this, or is humanity destined for defeat?”

This was before Mike had achieved the rank of squad leader. When he was a young soldier.
The wall had not yet been breached.
The primary objective of the Survey Corps was the study of the Titans and the world outside of the walls.

Erwin, who happened to be nearby, first posed this trivial question, Mike says.

“Defeat…… is a word I feel oddly about”

Shaken by his horse, their efforts in the expedition were fruitless. On the road headed back to the walls; following a carriage that only carried the dead bodies of their fellow soldiers,
Mike quietly thinks about that question he was asked.

“Still, Even if I collapsed in the middle of the battle... Others can carry on if that fighting spirit is still there. Even if you lose your life,
if that fighting spirit is there,
it will be carried on..... Until the day when you can grab victory; you can keep on fighting”

“So, it is not…… a defeat after all”

“.... You don't think that is trivializing the matter?”

“No. To me, the determination of a mighty soldier can still be heard.”

The young Erwin laughs and as the horses lined up, he reached out to Mike and patted him on the shoulder.

“In other words, unless you stop fighting, you won't lose”

“I don't usually talk a lot..... There are many difficult matters to think about”

The soldiers present gave a voice of admiration to the old tale from the normally quiet squad leader.

“Aah…. As is to be expected. So, I will move my knight piece here.”

Nanaba was also listening to Mike’s story. Nevertheless she ruthlessly moved her piece on the board, trapping Mike’s piece.

But, Mike quickly counteracted her move.

“....At the expense of my infantrymen, I must protect the king”

“!.... So I see. You intend on persisting until you're down to your last soldier“

Mike nods, as if to confirm the statement.

“.... Say, don't you think it looks a bit unsightly? “

“No …… It is the essence of a Survey Corpsman “

The appearance of a superior soldier who does not give up no matter how bleak the battle situation may look;
giving strength to their fellow soldiers.

Having the strength to fight until the very end.

( End )

I take no credit for this translation. Here is the original.



Good night, sweet dreams, dear. - Erwin


Erwin Smith doesn’t dream.
Actually he doesn’t have enough sleep, and he sleeps deeply, so he barely realizes that he was dreaming.

“Well, it’s not a nightmare right~”
“You sure sleep efficiently.”
“And, once you wake him up, then he’ll wake up. He’s really a man who’s born to be a commander.”
When they talk about this with Hanji of the Survey Corps, it was surprising.

“Not like I don’t have any dreams at all… It’s just that I try to rest my brain, in order to gain some consciousness.”
“Then, Erwin used to have strange dreams as well?”
A strange dream… Erwin thought of something.
When Erwin just joined Survey Corps, he often had nightmares thanks to his regrets and horrors.
During those times, he saw people being ‘eaten’ by titans – a gruesome way to kill people, especially from Survey Corps.

“So… I barely sleep. If I do sleep, I’ll have scary dreams about titans.”
“Me too. I’ll feel really scared and angry.”
“That’s our experience as newbies in the Survey Corps… by the way, recently there are many volunteers who know about titans.”
Listening to Hanji and Mike’s conversation made Erwin laugh, as he took his red tea.
“Soon after I became commander… I hardly ever dream.”

Erwin stood there, holding half of his dead comrade’s arm.
“From the beginning until now… I haven’t made any progress…”
That’s a dream Erwin had shortly after he became commander. A dream left a deep impression in his memory.

“Commander… it’s your fault…”
The titan opened its big mouth, and from inside its throat, a soldier who should be dead appeared, with half of his face gone.

“You killed us…”
“Right, that’s my decision… I did it!”
His hands trembled, almost dropping the arm he was holding. Suddenly the arm moved, grabbing Erwin’s neck.
“You too, atone with your death.”
“Uh…”
The titan saw that he was no longer moving, and as it opened its mouth to eat Erwin –

“You over there, what happened!”
“It’s really dangerous, come up!”
Suddenly the head of the titan that was going to eat Erwin fell, and someone stretched out his hand to grab Erwin to the horse.
“Levi, Hanji?”
“You guys are supposed to keep moving forward.”
Mike gave a nod, a warning.
“Mike… right…”
Right… just as Erwin thought so, the blue sky faded away~
And the dream ended.

“Ah, right… by sacrificing their happiness, I can keep doing what I am supposed to do.”
Pausing his nostalgia, Erwin smiled.

“What? You were about to be attacked by a titan, then?”
“No… in that dream, I was scolded by a comrade, and then I thought about my own mission. Becoming a commander requires me to make ruthless decisions.”
The comrade he talked about was Levi and the others, however he said nothing about it.

“Oh… so you can sleep in peace now. I envy you~”
“You’re too distracted.”
“Levi too! When your comrade is hurt, you have nightmares, one of your teammates told me so.”
“You guys are fine the way you are… only I need to lose people.”

Erwin Smith doesn’t dream, he only faces reality.
If you say he’s not human, he has no objectinos.
Because no matter what, the current person he is must rely on his friends in order to stand tall.

I take no credit for this translation. Here is the original.



Good night, sweet dreams, dear. - Levi


In his blurry vision, he was standing before a big door.
Night had fallen; the stars were shining in the sky.

“Where… is this?”
He hopped off the horse, and the thick heavy door automatically opened.

“What am I doing…?”
He had no idea about anything, but he walked towards the door anyway.

“Levi, welcome. Thank you for coming here.”

“What’s with that appearance… Erwin.”
The one who appeared in front of him was a familiar figure, completely different from usual.

It was before an expedition outside the walls.
On the streets, the policemen walk around, uselessly condemning people.

“Hahaha, the policemen are still extraordinary like usual.”
Hanji casually ignored everything they said, and Levi asked.

“The police… only brats with good achievements during training can become one, right?”

“Yes, the top ten.”

“Now that we’re talking about them, Hanji, you and Erwin had really good scores too, right? If you want to, you can be a police as well…”

“I guess.”
Hearing Levi’s question, Hanji laughed as if surprised.

“Wearing expensive clothes, hanging out with nobles, enjoying luxurious stuff… things like that don’t suit me! But it probably suits Erwin, right? Since he always looks so serious.”

Whether it was because she taught what she said was funny, Hanji laughed even harder, ignoring Levi, who was expressionless.

 “Ahh, so I can only dream something boring like this.”
In the dream, Erwin appeared, dressed handsomely, and brought Levi into the building.

“A red carpet… you’re not supposed to walk on this, right…”
        
“Come, Levi, you should enjoy yourself too.”
On the red carpet, Erwin’s shadow opened another door.

“You guys…!”

Holding glasses of expensive wine in their hands, some people came to greet Levi. They are his comrades from Survey Corps who had fought with him from then till now…

“Levi! you’re late!”

“Corporal… we were waiting for you.”
The illusions suddenly shook.

Some expensive-looking well tailored suits that don’t suit them.

 “I can’t even laugh anymore… what’s with their appearances.”
Levi was impatient, as if he wanted to say something to destroy the dream.

“I know you guys… you guys won’t make such disheartened faces.”

“But, Levi.”
Was it Hanji’s shadow speaking?
Something fell from her lips.
A red bead of water fell on the floor and expanded, soon the red carpet became a sea of blood.

“Rather than this, wasn’t things better the way it was just now?”

“Wha…”

Only then did he realize that the comrades around him were bleeding and lying on the ground.

“!?”
He was sweating when he woke up to realize that he was in the walls of a shelter.

“U, um… corporal?”
        
“…is it Petra.”
The subordinate who took care of him looked very concerned.

“Corporal, are you okay?”

“…I’m fine, sorry… get me some water.”

“Yes, I’ll be right back!”
The shadow of his subordinate who went to get some water piled on the dream he just had – soldiers whose peaceful life turned into a life in a sea of blood.

“Nobody knows… whether the choice they made is correct or not. But…”
After he drank the water that was brought to him, Levi wiped his lips.

“…I will protect. At least I can defend… their will to move forward.”

Was it his heart’s will? Or is it to show his strength to that dream that might happen in the future?
He couldn’t verify that, he could only lie down.