[Game] Umineko no Naku Koro ni - Ep. 3 Banquet of the golden witch

[Christen]

This talk of Battler's killer gave me an idea, but it's still farfetched due to Eva's dialogue.

Spoiler for Eva's dialogue:

"You've just noticed now, Battler?"

..or something like that. It just shows, Eva was talking to Battler before she shot him. Battler did indicate the he figured out that Eva was the culprit (of some of the murders of course, but not all of them. Though I doubt Battler thought of it like that.).

[Keriaku]

Not to interuppt in the middle of the discussion, but after finally looking through all 51 pages, is there any chance some could translate or even just paraphrase the interviews that were discussed earlier?

http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/107/107667/
http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/109/109077/

And I think there is a Part 3 too.

Another request would be Berun's letter that was apparently included with the game, though I'm more interested in the interviews.

[theacefrehley]

Here's Bernkastel letter, half-assed translation

There's also much more stuff, like lamda-delta's diary and other things

Spoiler:

小冊子

コミックマーケット７４で配布された小冊子の抜粋です。
原文そのままなので誤字もあります
[編集]前文

■この小冊子は、『うみねこのなく頃に』エピソード３をクリアされた方を前提にしています。


　先に読んでもよくわからないだけです。
　どうかぜひ、エピソード３を終えてからお読み下さい。


　読んでもいいけど、どうせ意味、わかんないわよ…？
　まぁ、エピソードを終えてから読んでも、どうせわからないと思うけど。
　くすくすくす。



ベルンの手紙
Bern's letter
　親愛なる友へ。
To my beloved friend

　お元気ですか、というお約束的な挨拶は、今の貴方にはきっと皮肉。
　だからこう聞く方がきっと親切。
　まだ生きてる？親愛なる友よ。
'Are you feeling well?'; such a conventional greeting would most certainly sound like sarcasm to you now.
That's why it'd be more kind of me to ask like this.
Are you still alive, my beloved friend?
　先日はお返事をありがとう。
Thanks for the reply the other day.

　まさか貴方に、未だ筆を取るだけの気力が残っていたとは驚きです。
　まぁ、返事を書くように促したのは私なのだけれど。
　それでも貴方が、私の為に筆を取るだけの気力を奮い起こしてくれたこと自体がとても驚き。
あるいは奇跡。
I got very surprised that you still had energy to at least write to me.
Well, the one who urged you to write an answer was me, though.
Even so, the fact that you mustered energies to at least write for me, for my sake, was a great surpise.
Or a miracle.

　そして貴重なる助言をありがとう。
　私も貴方の意見に同感。
多分、黒幕はラムダデルタ。
　あの子は私に復讐するためだけに、私ともっとも相性の悪い魔女を見つけ出し、私が誘き出されてくるのを待 っていたのでしょう。
　まんまとあいつの罠にはまったわけです。
　…なるほど。
それが可笑しくて貴方は筆を取ったのかしら。
貴方の意地悪な笑い顔が、手に取るようにわかるわ。
And also, thanks for the valuable suggestion.
I agree with your opinion too.
Perhaps, the wire puller is indeed Lamda-Delta
That girl probably found a witch who has the worst affinity with me just to take revenge on me and awaited for me to be lured.
And I fell to her trap like a duck.
... I see.
I guess this is so ridiculous it made you write to me.
I feel you're wearing your malicious smile.

　ただ、貴方の病気を考えると、私にとって彼女は貴重な存在かもしれない。
　彼女が私よりもはるかに高位の魔女であるならば、つまりそれは、それだけあなたの病気に近い ということ。
　つまりそれこそが、貴方を、いえ、私たちを蝕む病気から逃れる唯一の方法であり、彼女はそれを実践してい るということ。
…そして皮肉にも、彼女はそれを私に教えてくれているということ。
　まぁ、どうでもいいことかもね。
でも、あの子の茶番に付き合うことで、貴方の病気が少しでも快方に向かうのならば。
どうかぜひ、私に力を貸してほしいの。
But, when I think about your disease, maybe she is a precious being to me.
If she is a much more high ranked witch than me, it means that that is very close to your disease.
In other words, it means that that is the only way to escape from the disease that eats into you, no, into us, and she is putting it into practice.
... And ironically, it also means she is teaching it to me.
But, if by getting on with that girl's farce, your disease will get better.
I'd like you to please lend me your strenght.

　ラムダデルタは、このゲーム盤に私は“絶対”に勝てないと豪語している。
　その時点で逆説的にルールＸは判明しているの。
本当に馬鹿な子ね。
　つまり、物語が常に６月２０日から始まるようなもの。
恐らくこれが、ベアトリーチェなる魔女の心臓部でしょう。
Lambda-Delta boasted that I will 'absolutely' not be able to win in this game board.
At that time, I paradoxically identified the rule X.
She's really a stupid girl.
In other words, it's like the story that always starts from June, 20th.
Probably, this is the core of the Witch Beatrice.

　なるほど、だとするとこのベアトリーチェという魔女は確かに面白い。
　私もあの子も、そして貴方も知らなかった世界を、彼女は切り拓いている。
　それを魔法の根源とするルールＹ。
　ラムダデルタも少し触れたようだけど、彼女の域には到底及んでいない。
　もしこれこそを魔法と呼ぶならば、ベアトリーチェを除き、私たちは誰一人魔女などと名乗れないに違いない わ。
　その意味において、自らの魔法体系を組み上げた彼女は、魔女としては初心の部類に入りながらも、その域は 魔女をすでに凌駕して、…貴方の域にまで踏み込み掛けていると言えるかもしれない。
　もし彼女がそれを強く意識し、理解したならば。
　私は愚か、ラムダデルタさえも足元には及ばない。
……そして多分きっと、貴方と同じ病に冒されることでしょう。
　しかしそれにしても、実に面白い。
このルールＹこそが、魔女ベアトリーチェの存在そのものではないかと見ているの。
Indeed, if we consider it that way, this Witched named Beatrice certainly is interesting.
She opened up a world that I, that girl and you didn't know.
The rule Y that makes it into the source of the magic.
It seems Lamda-Delta touched it a bit but too, but she can't possibly reach her level.
If we call this very thing as magic, except for Beatrice, certainly no one of us can be called a witch.
In that sense, we may say that since she put together her own magic system, even if she enters the begginers class, as a witch, her level already surpasses the witches, ... and she is starting to step even into your level.
If she were strongly aware of that and comprehended it.
Not even Lamda-Delta would be a match for her, and I even less.
And most probably, I'll be afflicted from the same disease as you.
However, even so, this is really interesting.
I see this rule Y as the very existence of the witch Beatrice.

　そう。
ここまでは私も解析できた。
　そしてもう一つ、ルールＺがあるのは間違いないの。
　だってルールＸとＹだけでは説明できない現象が余りに多数、観測されているから。
That's right.
I managed to analize so far.
And certainly there's one more rule, the rule Z.
Because the number of phenomenona being observed that can't be explained with rules X and Y alone is way too big.

　ルールZの正体は不明。
　ラムダデルタの言動から探るに、どうもこの要素が私にとって致命的に相性が悪いものの様子。
　“それ”がヒントなのだとしたら、……いったい何なのかしら。
Rule Z's true colours are unknown.
By Lambda-Delta's speech, it seems that this component has a lethally bad affinity to me.
If we take 'that' as a hint, ...... what on eath would it be?

　私は取り合えずこのルールＺを、真相から煙に巻く、迷路的な存在だと仮定してみた。
　つまり、ルールＸとＹに私を近付けまいとする迷路ね。
For now, I assumed that this rule Z is a maze-like existence putting haze over the truth.
In other words, a maze to not let me come close to rules X and Y.

　私の力は、百年を掛けて迷路の全ての分岐を確かめて地図を書き上げるのに似ている。
　つまり、どんなに複雑な迷路であろうとも、いつかは必ず攻略できるということ。
（ちなみにラムダデルタの場合だと、出口に辿り着くまで、千年を掛けようとも右壁に沿って歩き続けるような ものなのかしら。
いいえ、出口まで一直線に一切回り道をせず、全ての壁に穴を開けて通り抜けていくような感じね ）
My power is just like writting up a map, making sure of all the forks of the maze, spending a hundred years.
In other words, no matter how complex is the maze, one day, I'll certainly be able to walk through it.
(By the way, if it was Lambda-Delta, I guess she'd just keep on walking along the walls until she arrived at the exit, even if it took a thousand years.
No, it feels more like she would cut through all the walls, by making holes, in straight line, until the exit, without taking detours at all.)

　そんな私と“相性の悪い迷路”とは一体何…？
　考え付くのはひとつしかない。
　つまり、……地図を書いていくことが意味のない迷路。
　例えば、ぐにゃぐにゃと常に形を変える不定形の迷路とでも言えばいいのか。
　なるほど、この概念なら、ラムダデルタの言うジャンケンでも説明できるかもしれない。
…私の力でも攻略できない迷路でも、壁を貫いてゴールに向かえる彼女にはまったく障害ではないわ けだし。
What on earth would be such a maze with bad affinity with me...?
There's only one thing I can think of.
In other words, ...... it is a maze where it's meaningless to write maps.
Would it be alright to say that, for example, it is a maze of indefinite shape, that constantly changes the shape, flexibly?
I see, if it is this general ideal, I may be able to explain it with the Jan-Ken-Po game that Lamda-Delta speaks of.
... Even if it is a maze I can't walk through with my power, it must not be an obstacle for her, who can go towards the goal through the walls.

　……概念では理解できるの。
でもルールとして捉えようとすると、全く理解ができない。
　だってルールとは本来、不変なものでしょう？
　不定形なるものがルールであるなんて、私の知る常識を超えている。
　固体でなければならないのに、液体である一面を持つなんて。
……まるで水銀ね。
　水銀はラテン語で“生きた銀”。　
そして不老不死に通じると信じられ、錬金術師たちの研究対象として珍重された。
　皮肉ね。
つまりはまさに、彼女の自称する魔女や錬金術につながるということ。
　このルールＺが解けない限り、……いいえ、解けないからこそ、ベアトリーチェはまさに魔女であるというこ と。
... I can understand through this general idea.
But, if I try to grasp it as a rule, I can't undestand it at all.
Because, originally, rules are immutable things, right?
Indefinite things being rules are beyond my common sense.
Even though it should be solid, it possesses a fluid face.
...... Like mercury.
In latin, mercury means 'living silver'.
They believed it lead to perpetual youth and it was highly valued as research object of the alchemists.
It's ironic.
In other words, it links to the alchemy and the witches, as she calls herself.
Unless I can unravel this rule Z, ...... no, just because I can't unravel it, Beatrice will be exactly a witch.

　……あぁ、ここまで書いていて腹立たしくなっていったわ。
　あなたはここまでを読んで、絶対に笑っているわ。
えぇ、賭けてもいい。
　そろそろ私の困り顔を見て、さらに嘲笑ってやりたくなってきたころでしょう。
...... Aah, after writing so much, I got irritated.
If you did read until here, you must be laughing.
Eeh, you can bet.
Very soon you'll want to sneer at me even more after seeing my troubled face.

　近いうちに貴方のところへお見舞いに行くわ。
　見舞いの品は私。
好きなだけ嘲り笑うといい。
好きでしょう？そういうのは。
　だから久し振りの友人を迎える為に、どうか生き返ってちょうだい。
Before long, I'll go to pay you a visit.
The get-well gift will be me.
You can sneer at me as much as you want.
You like it, right? To do that.
So, so that I can meet a friend I haven't seen for so long, please, revive.


　　　　　　　　　　まだ親愛であると信じている貴方の友人　　　ベルンカステルより
From Bernkastel, your friend who still believes to be dear to you



Then there's a lot of text of Ryuukishi talking about anti-fantasy x anti-mystery
The some babbling with Beatrice and Ronove.

And then, some poems.



愛とは幻想、勘違い。
相思相愛とは、互いに愛されているという相互の勘違い。
そして婚約とは、その勘違いから生涯目覚めないことの誓いである。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　────Ｒｏｎｏｖｅ

Love is an illusion, a misunderstanding.
Mutual love is a mutual misunderstanding of being mutually loved.
And engagement is a vow to not wake up for your whole life from that misunderstanding.
Ronove



彼の部屋からいろいろなものが見付かった。
それらの証拠から、私はあなたに愛されていると推論できる。
Many things were found from his room.
From those evidences, it is possible to deduce that I am loved by you.

私の部屋からいろいろなものが見付かった。
それらの証拠から、私もあなたを愛していると推論できる。
Many things were found from my room.
From those evidences, it is possible to deduce that I also love you.

彼女の部屋から何も見つけられなかった。
しかし未発見の浮気の証拠Ｘの存在を、私は否定できない。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　────Ｆｒｅｄｅｒｉｃａ　Ｂｅｒｎｋａｓｔ ｅｌ
Nothing was found from her room.
However, I can't deny the existence of an undiscovered evidence X of unfaithfulness.
Frederica Bernkastel

[Exilon]

That letter is weird << kinda bugs my mind, though, is it safe to consider what she's writing as hints, or is it just something like a side-note, which has no real meaning?

[Haruyan]

I think it's more like a series of letters. 'Cause it seems like she's responding to someone. Also, it seems at the beginning that the game has not started, but halfway through it's like she's already inside the game, or at least seen it.

[Christen]

I believe there's one more letter from Lambda, now I'm curious on what that her letter says.

The poems intrigue me, specially Bern's. Her earlier poems always hinted at what's happening behind the scenes of each chapter.

Spoiler for Early poems and their meanings from Higurashi:

All poems are in this thread.

Onikakushi - Possibly Rena's thoughts. It hints that Keiichi is the one at wrong and not his friends.
Watanagashi - Shion's quest for the truth of the Sonozaki system. She blindly believes the Sonozaki is behind it even if people around her are telling they had no influence on Satoshi's disappearance.
Tatarigoroshi - This is mostly directed to the player in my opinion. "What was outside the well" is the truth behind the Hinamizawa Disease and the events happening around it. The Great Hinamizawa Disaster was introduced in this episode, something that happened in every chapter except for Watanagashi, Meakashi, and Matsuribayashi.
Himatsubushi - Pretty self explanatory.
Meakashi - A very slight hint on Satoshi's disappearance. Shion thought that Satoshi is dead but in reality, he is at the Irie clinic getting treated.
Tsumihoroboshi - It just tells about Bern's feeling about the loop.

Now when we get to this particular poem, I can't help but think there's something to it.

[theacefrehley]

Bern's poem is just a devil's proof example, applied to romantic affairs (that's what my level of stupidity allows me understand)

[ClockWorkAngel]

I have a feeling that the engagement has some sort of new found significance. That or Ryu trying to mindscrew us again. For the last poem which room is she refering to with "my"? May prove useful.

[theacefrehley]

Here's Lamda's diary
.....

Spoiler:

ラムダデルタ卿による回想記
Memoirs by Lady Lambda-Delta


――先日の手紙のお礼に、何か適当なカケラでも。
-- In gratitude to the letter of the other day, with some suitable kakera too.

　退屈は私たちには毒だから。
　私は気まぐれにニンゲンたちの望みを叶えることがあるわ。
Boredom is poison for us.
So, by caprice, I happen to grant desires of the humans.

“ひとつだけ願いを叶えてあげる”
" I will grant you one wish"

　あぁ、本当に甘酸っぱい響きよね。
この言葉だけで、私なら七年の間、紅茶にお砂糖を 入れないでも甘く甘くいただけるに違いないわ。
　私からその言葉を与えられたニンゲンも、それだけの甘酸っぱさを楽しんでくれてるといいんだ けれども。
Aah, it really sounds bittersweet.
With these words alone, I'd certainly be able to have my black tea very very sweet even without putting any sugar in it, for seven years.
Even the humans who receive those words from me should enjoy that much of bittersweetness, though.

　もちろん、私も楽しいわ。
彼らがどんな願いを聞かせてくれるのか。
　私の想定しない、思いもしない、そして私たちが未だ出会えなかった新しき同胞に出会えるチャンスかもしれ ないのだから。
　もっとも、残念なことに私の期待は常に裏切られるの。
Of course, I enjoy it too.
What kind of wish will they tell me.
After all, it may be an unexpected chance, that I did not assum, to come across a new brethren we still had not come across.
Naturally, my expectations always end up being betrayed, unfortunately.

　期待は茶葉と同じようなものだとあの子は言ったわ。
　なければ紅茶にさえならない。
ただのお湯ね。
　だからどんな世界にも、適量な期待や希望、夢は必要だってこと。
……あの子らしい例えだこと。
　そして、茶葉が多すぎればとても飲めたものではなくなる。
それは多分、茶葉の一つまみも入れない、ただのお湯よりも飲めたものではない。
　だから私は、あの子に教えられた程度に適量に、……まぁ、そこそこ少なめにね。
私、あまり苦い紅茶は飲めないの。
……少しだけ、茶葉を混ぜてみる。
That girl said that expectations are the same as tea leaves.
Without it, you don't even get black tea.
It's just hot water.
That's why, in any kind of world, it's necessary a proper quantity of expectations, hopes and dreams.
...... An example fit for her.
And if there are too many tea leaves, it won't become something you could drink at all.
Perhaps, it won't be any more drinkable than just hot water, without any tea leaves inside.
That's why I'll use a proper quantity, the amount she taught me, ...... well, a little bit less than it.
I can't drink a black tea that is too bitter.
...... I'll try mixing just a bit of tea leaves.

　本当にどんな願いでもいいのかとか、何か裏があるのではないかとか、退屈な疑りは飽き飽きし てるの。
　だからこっそり砂時計を引っ繰り返してるわ。
５分掛けても願い事ひとつ思いつけないつまらないニンゲンからは、どうせ大した紅茶なんか出来 やしない。
だから、砂時計が尽きたら時間切れでさようなら。
'Can I really wish anything?', 'Isn't there anything undersurface here?', I'm sick and tired of such boring doubts.
That's why I secretly turn an hourglass upside down.
If the dull human can't think of one wish in 5 minutes, I won't be able to make a significant black tea out of him anyway.
So, if the hourglass runs out, it's time-out, goodbye.

　そして悩みに悩んで出てきた願い事で一番多いのがコレ。
And the most numerous among the annoying wishes that came up are these.

“叶える願い事を増やして欲しい”
'I want you to increase the number of wishes you'll grant'

　１つだけという有限を、無限に増やすという創造性。
…浅はかなニンゲンたちは、そこに造物主的な深遠を感じ、優越感でも感じるというのだろうか…？
　でも、私の印象はまったく逆。
It's their creativity to increase the finite of just one to infinite.
... Could it be that the frivolous humans feel a creator-like depth and a sense of superiority in that...?
However, my impression is exactly the opposite.

　“何でも叶う願い”は、それ１つでつまりは宇宙をも易々と創造できるほどの奇跡。
' A wish to grant anything', with just one, it means a miracle that allows you to easily create an universe.

　はっきり言い切ろう。
　“何でも叶う願い”とは、１つ２つと数えられるものである必要がないのだ。
　だから、それを個数で数えた時点で、そのニンゲンが思い描く奇跡は、その程度の規模のもので しかない。
　そんな下らないニンゲンが、仮に１００に増やした願い事でどんなツマラナイことを願っていくのか、観察す るにも値しないだろう。
　これは紅茶と同じ。
同じ急須で１００杯も紅茶を作ったら、どんどん薄く不味くなっていくのは当たり前。
I'll state it more clearly.
'A wish to grant anything' doesn't need to to be something you can count as 1 or 2.
So, when they count it in numbers, the miracle that human imagines is nothing but something of that scale.
Such worthless humans probably do not deserve my attention to what kind of boring things they will wish with their wishes increased to 100.
This is the same as black tea.
If you make 100 cups of black tea from the same small teapot, it's obvious it will become more and more diluted and unappetizing.

　だからそんな退屈な願いを口にしたならば私は、「えぇ、叶えてあげる。じゃね。」と言い放って姿を消して しまうだけの話。
　彼らは残りの人生を、自分でも数え切れないくらいたくさんの願い事を考え続け、そのひとつも叶えることも なく死んでいけばいい。
……あぁ、マヌケ！
So, if they ask such boring wishes, I just declare 'Yeah, I'll grant it to you. See you.' and disappear.
They should just keep on thinking about the countless amount of wishes, for the rest of their lives, and die without even granting any one of them.
...... Aah, idiots!

　それから次に典型的なのが、“たくさんのお金が欲しい”
After that, the next typical wish is 'I want a lot of money'

　言うに及ばず、これもとても退屈な答え。
　お金ってそんなに素敵なものなの？
　飢えと乾きに苛まれた砂漠の旅人が、札束の山に躍り上がるとでも？　
お札なんて食えも飲めもしないのに。
　貨幣制度というルールの範囲内でしか得られない狭い自由。
そんなモノを欲する視野の狭さにも、あぁがっかり。
　日本の自動販売機に２５¢玉が入るの？　アフリカの露店で百円玉が使えるの？　
愛する人を殺され嘆き悲しむ貴方は、いくらのお金をもらえればそれをケロリと忘れてくれるの？
Needless to say, this is also a boring answer.
Is this money such a wonderful thing?
Do they think a traveller in a desert, tormented by hunger and dryness, would leap in joy because of a mountain of wads of bills?
When he can't even drink or eat the bills.
It's a narrow freedom that can only be obtained within the range of the rules called currency system.
The narrow-mindedness to desire something like that, aah, it disappoints me.
Does a 25cents coin go in a vending machine in Japan? Can a 100 yen coin be used at a streel stall in Africa?
Would you, who do grive and moan for the loved one who was killed, forget completely about it if you got a lot of money?

“愛が欲しい”
“幸せが欲しい”
' I want love'
' I want happiness'

　これも私を失望させる願いね。
　だって、私が一言、「安心して。貴方、幸せよ。愛されてるわ。」って言ってあげれば、それで叶っちゃうん だもんね。
あぁ、下らない。
These are als wishes that disappoint me.
After all, if I just tell them the single words, 'Don't worry. You are happy. You are loved.', it'll be granted.
Aah, it's stupid.

　愛も幸せも、どちらも空気と同じようなもの。
それは世界を満たしているけれど、理解しなければないも同じ。
　だから、そんな当たり前なものを欲しがる程度の人間にもやっぱりがっかり。
Both love and happiness are the same as the air.
Even though it fills the world, if you don't understand it, it's the same as if it doesn't exist.
So, people who desire something obvious like that disappoint me as well.

　そしてね、さらに言わせてもらえば、愛も幸せも、そのカタチは人の数だけ千差万別。
それら不特定多数なものの総称が「愛」や「幸せ」なの。
そんな抽象的な単語を使わないと、自分の愛や幸せを説明できないような、つまらないニンゲンなんて、どうせ 何十年生きたって、本当の愛も幸せも見つけられるわけがない。
あぁ、マヌケマヌケ！
And then, if you allow me to say more, bith love and happiness are as extremely varied in shape as the number of people.
The general term for those things of an unspecified large number is 'love' and 'happiness'.
Such boring humans, incapable to explain their love and happiness without using abstract words like that, no matter how many decades they live, they will never be able to find true love and happiness.
Aah, idiots!


“誰にも負けない力が欲しい”
'I want a power that doesn't lose to anyone'

　ちょっと面白い願いかなとは思ったけれど、前置詞の“誰にも”がちょっと余計。
　誰かに勝ちたい気持ちは、つまるところ、相手たる誰かの存在がないと自分を確立できないとい うこと。
そんな程度のニンゲンじゃ、その誰かを負かした時点で、生きていく気力を失ってしまう。
　宇宙をも創造し、あるいは宇宙をも無に帰せるほどの願いを与えられながら、なぜにニンゲン社会という狭い 枠の中から発想が飛躍できないのか。
　あぁ、だからこそニンゲンなのか。
魔女ではないわけか。
I thought it to be a bit interesting wish but, the term 'anyone' is a bit in excess here.
The will to win over someone, in short, can't keep itself without the existence of someone to be the opposition.
Humans of such level will end up losing the willpower to keep on living once they defeated that someone..
Even though I can present them with wishes to create even an universe, or even to send an universe back no naught, why their ideas can't leap out from inside the narrow limits called human society?
Aah, that's why they are humans, huh.
Meaning they're not wicthes, huh.





　そんな退屈なニンゲンたちの中で、少しは骨があると思う少女にあったことがある。
　彼女はじっと悩んだ挙句、私にこう言ったわ。
Among boring humans like those, I met a little girl I thought to have a bit of knack.
After being motionlessly troubled, she told me this.

「私の努力が、絶対に叶うという保証を下さい。」
"Please, give me guarantee that my efforts will definitely come true."
「……はぁ？ 何それぇ？　この私が願い事を叶えてあげるというのに、自分でそれを叶えるというの？　
その為の保証？　わけわかんない。」
" ...... Haa? What is it? even though I tell you I'll grant your wish, you say you'll grant it yourself?
A guarantee for that? I don't get the meaning of this."


　たまに、哲学的と称して、自分でも意味がわかってないに違いないおかしなこをと言い出すニン ゲンはいる。
この少女もきっと、そういう類の子だろうと思ったわ。
Once in a while, there are humans who propose strange things that not even them understand the meaning, feigning to be philosophical.
Certainly, this little girl is also that kind of kid, I thought.

　“私の努力”は個数を限定しない。
聞き方によっては、叶える願いの数を無限に増やして下さいと言っているのとよく似ている。
　でも、彼女の瞳の深みが、それを口にしてきたニンゲンたちのそれと少しだけ違うように見えた から。
私は砂時計が尽きたけれど、もう少し話を聞いてみることにした。
'My endeavors' doesn't limit a number of things.
By the way she asked me, it is just like she is saying: please, increase the number of wishes to be granted to infinite.
But, the depth of her eyes looks like it's a bit different from that of the humans who have been asking that.
Even though the hourglass ran out, I decided to give a try and listen to her story a bit more.

「私に願えば、努力などなく、何でも今すぐ叶えてあげると言ってるの。
まぁ、１つだけだけどね？」
" If you wish to me, I'll grant you anything at once, without any endeavor, that's what I'm saying to you.
Well, just one thing, though, right?"
「……私の願い事は、１つとか２つとか、そういうものじゃないからです。」
" ...... I'm telling you my wish is not something that can be counted as 1 or 2 wishes."
「叶えたい夢の数が、いくつもいくつもあるということ？欲張りな子ねぇ。」
" You mean the number of dreams you want to come true is of a very very large number? What a greedy girl."
「違います。私の至るべき到達点はたった１つです。でも、そこへ至る道は複雑で、いくつもの峠を経るでしょ う。きっと、数え切れないくらいたくさん。でも、私はたった１つの到達点を誤ることなく目指し、必ず必ず辿 り着いてみせるでしょう。」
" That's not it. The arrival point I must reach is just one. But, I guess the path to reach that place is complicated and pass through many difficult parts. I'm sure they are countless. But, I think I am able to aim at that only one arrival point, without making mistakes, and definitely, definitely, arrive there."

　必ず、辿り着く。
　それはもはや願いでない。
ニンゲンの言葉で言うなら「決意」。
魔女の言葉で言うなら、……「運命」。
　絶対叶う願いを口にすることは決意と呼ばない。
それはもはや、“約束された運命”と呼ぶ。
　運命を生み出すのはニンゲンの範疇ではない。
　私はその時、少女の瞳の奥に、紛れもない私の同胞の輝きを見たわ。
Definitely, arrive.
That is not a wish anymore.
If I were to say it with human words, it'd be 'determination'.
If I were to say it with witch words, ...... it'd be 'fate'.
Speaking about a wish that will definiely come true is not called determination.
That is already called 'predestination'.
To bring forth fate is not for the category of the humans.
At that time, I unmistakenly saw the radiance of a brethren of mine deep into the eyes of the little girl.

　……少女が望んだ願いは１つ。
　彼女が必ず叶える願い、約束された運命。
……“それを信じさせて欲しい”
...... The wish she desired was just one.
The wish she'd definitely grant, the predestination.
...... 'I want you to make me believe in it'

　面白いと思った。
叶えてやってもいいかなと思った。
　でも、その前にもうひとつだけ確認することにした。
　彼女が、自ら絶対に叶えると豪語する“約束された運命”の終着点を知りたかったのだ。
　結局はニンゲンの域を出ない、つまらないものかもしれない。
Interesting, I thought.
I guess I can grant that for her, I thought.
But, before that, I decided to make sure of that once more.
I wanted to know the final goal of her 'predestination', that she boasts that she'll definitely grant heself.
In the end, she may not leave the level of the humans, she may be a boring person.

　……しかし、私は“茶葉”を積んだ。
　彼女は期待に応えると、“この私が【絶対】に確信”した。
...... However, I piled more 'tea leaves'.
I 'definitely' had conviction that she'd live up to my expectations.

「教えなさいよ。貴女の本当の願いは何？　貴女が絶対に叶えるという、約束された運命とは何… ？」
"Tell me. What is your true wish? What is your predestination you say you'll definitely grant...?"
「私は、神になります。」
" I will become a god."


　その一言で。私の心は決まったわ。
With those single words. My heart was settled.



　私は彼女の願いを叶えた。
彼女の努力が絶対に叶うという保証を与えた。
I granted her wish.
I gave her guarantee that her endeavors would definitely come true.

　彼女の語った決意は、私にとってはもはや「運命」。
　そして私が与えた保証は、彼女にとっても「運命」。
　だから彼女が描くこれからの物語はすべて「運命」。
The determination she spoke of, to me, was already 'fate'.
And the guarantee I gave, to her too, was 'fate'.
That's why all the tales she will draw from now on will be fate.

　まぁ、彼女の運命にも弱点はある。
　自身の努力が根底にある以上、それが揺らげば運命も揺らぐ。
　それに、努力が必ず叶うとは保証したけど、どこまで努力すれば叶うのかは保証してない。
　だから少女に永遠が生み出せたわけではないだろう。
　彼女が挫けない限り永遠に、というのが正しいのかしら。
Well, her fate also has a weak point.
Since her own endeavors are on the roots of it all, if they shake, so will her fate.
Besides, I gave guarantee that her endeavors would definiely come true but, I did not give guarantee as to how much endeavor she'd need for it to come true.
So, I guees it meana eternity could not be brought forth in her.
I guess it'd be correct to say that, as long as she doesn't lose heart, it'll be eternal.

　まぁ、でも。
「私を神にして下さい。」と、素直にお願い出来たなら、私的には百点満点だったのだけれどね。
Well, however.
If she could have honestly wished "Please, turn me into a god", she'd have gotten a perfect score from me, though.

　…まぁ、ニンゲンを急に神にしても、精神が霧散しちゃうだけだし。
　努力というステップを確実に踏みながら、徐々に全能なる世界への気圧に体を慣らしていくのも必要かもしれ ない。
　私たちの世界は、底無き深遠へ続く無限の梯子を降りるのに似ているかもしれない。
　臆病にビクビクと降りてもいいし、どこまで深みに至れるのか、ワクワクと急いで降りてもいい 。
　しかし踏み外せば。
……底無き奈落への永遠の墜落。
... Well, even if I turn a human into a god all of a sudden, their minds would just end up dispersing.
Maybe it's also necessary for them to gradually accustom their bodies to the atmospheric pressure of the almighty world, while treading on the steps called 'endeavors'.
Maybe our world is just like going down an infinite ladder that leads to the bottomless depths.
You can go down fearfully and cowardly, you can also go down in a hurry, nervously wondering until where will you reach in the depths.
However, if you miss your footing.
...... You'll fall forever towards the bottomless hell.

　彼女はその意味において、きっと慎重だったに違いない。
　ただ、まぁ。……慎重過ぎで少しがっかりしたのは否定しないの。
In that sense, certainly she was prudent.
But, well. ...... I won't deny that she disappointed me a bit with her excess of prudence.

　――早く、私のいる深みまで、降りてきて欲しかったから。
-- Because I wanted her to hurry and come down until the depths I was in.

　その少女は、よく頑張ったと思うわ。
　ただ、私も少し買いかぶっていたところがあったかもしれない。
残念ながら、私の期待した世界へは遥かに及ばなかった。
　でも、それでもいいの。
　だって彼女が新たな魔女を生み出し、私のもとに送り届けてくれたのだから。
That little girl tried hard, I think.
But, maybe I also overestimated her a bit in some aspects.
Unfortunately, she was far from reaching the world I hoped.
But, even so, it's alright.
Because she created a new witch and sent her to me.

　そして長い日々、無数の世界を漂った。
　時折、面白そうなニンゲンを見つけては同じ問いを投げかけたわ。
　でも、あの子を超える願いを口に出来るニンゲンとは、二度と出会えなかった。
And then, for long days, I drifted through countless worlds.
Sometimes, upon finding a seemingly interesting human, I threw at them the same question.
But, never again I came across a human capable of asking a wish that surpassed that girl.

　そう。あの子に出会うまではね。
That's right. Until happen to meet that girl.



「自分を魔女に、して下さい。」
" Please, turn me into a witch."


※訳者注：厳密には男性であっても魔女（witch）と呼びます。
よって、この“自分”の性別が魔女になりたいとの発言を以って女性だと断じることは出来ません 。
　X Translation note: strictly speaking, even if it's a male, you can still call him a witch.
Therefore, you can't conclude that the gender of this 'person' is female by means of the speech 'I want to become a witch'.


それはあまりに直球な、……そう。…私が待ち焦がれていた言葉。
　でも、私は焦らずに先を促すことにしたの。
That's quite a straight ball, huh, ...... That's right. ... I was longing for those words.
But, I decided to urge more without rushing.

「……魔女に。へぇ。…箒に跨って空を飛びたいの？　
それともポケットに入れたビスケットを２つに増やしてみたいのかしら？」
" ...... Into a witch. Hee. ... Do you want to fly through the skies straddling a broom?
Or could it be that you want to try to multiply biscuit inside your pocket to 2?"

「魔女はそんなことが出来て当たり前です。
……自分は魔女になって、全てを思うがままに生み出します。
人も、心も、何もかも。
そして今や、自分に出来ないことはありません。
…自分はもう、魔女だからです。」
" It's obvious that a witch can do thins like that.
...... Becoming a witch, I'll bring forth all the things I wish.
People, hearts, everything.
And now, there's nothing I can't do.
Because I am already a witch."

　その子の瞳には、あの懐かしい少女が浮かべていたのと同じ輝きがあったのを、私は覚えてる。
　スパイスの効いた、そして千年に何度も出会えない芳しい茶葉の香りを感じたわ。
I remember that the eyes of that kid had a radiance similar to the radiance that little girl I miss used to wear.
I felt an aroma of sweet tea leaves that worked as spice and that I could not come across many time over a thousand years

　そう、あの少女とまったく同じ。
　自らが全てを叶える。
生み出す。
成し遂げる。
約束された運命を持つ強い瞳だった。
　そしてあの少女でさえ、到達点だと言わしめたモノを、この子はすでに至っていると言ってのけ たのだ。
　私はこの子に大いなる関心を持った。
That's right, it's just like that little girl.
She will grant everything on her own.
She will create.
She will accomplish.
They were strong eyes that had predestination in it.
And what made even that little girl say it was an arrival point, this kid boldly spoke that she had already arrived there.
This kid caught my interest.

「ほざいたわね。あなたがもはや魔女ですって…？　
この絶対の魔女であり、卿の称号を持つ私に、並ぶ立てる存在だとあなたは言い切れるの？　
身の程を知りなさいな、矮小なニンゲン風情が…！」
" You babbled it, right. That you are already a witch, huh...?
Can you assert that you are a being that can stand side by side with me, the witch of the absoluteness, who possess the title of lady?
Know your own place, you stunted and insignificant human...!"

「はい、自分はもう、魔女です。
自分が求めるものはたったひとつ。
自分と異なる魔女による、自分を魔女だと認めるとの推薦だけです。」
" Yes, I am already a witch.
There's only one thing I seek.
And that is just the recommendation by a different witch from me, stating that she recognizes that I am a witch."

　それはまさに、あの少女と同じ願い。
That is exactly the same wish as that little girl.

「……実にたくましい魔女だこと。
なるほどね、あなたがそうだと自称する限り、誰にもあなたが魔女でないと否定することは出来ないでしょうね 。
……でも聞かせて欲しいの。
神も造物主も、誰に認められずとも神であり造物主よ？　
そしてそれは魔女も同じはず。
…誰が認めずともあなたが魔女であるならば、私が認めずともあなたは魔女であるはず。
そうでしょう？」
" ...... You're really a burly witch.
I see, as long as you have a title that says you are that, nobody will be able to deny that you are a witch, huh.
...... But, tell me.
A god and the Creator are still a god and the Creator even without anyone recognizing them, you know?
And it should be the same for the witches.
... Even if nobody recognizes you, if you are a witch, you should be a witch even if I don't recognize you.
Am I correct?"

「はい。
自分がニンゲンの領域を超えかけていることは理解できています。
自分から観測して、全てのニンゲンたちの最上位にいると断言できるからです。
しかし、自分の今いる位置が、ニンゲンの域を超えていることを観測するには、私よりも上位にいる存在の観測 が必要です。」
" Yes.
I understand that I have started to transcend the human territory.
From my view, I can declare that I am in the highest position among all humans.
However, I need the view from a being who is in an even higher position than mine passing sentence that the position I am in now transcends the human level."

「………ニンゲンの域を超えたことはニンゲンに認定できるけれど、魔女の域にまで至ったかどうかは、魔女に しか認定できないということ？」
" ......... It's possible for a human to acknowledge that one transcended the human level but, only a witch can acknowledge whether you reached the witch level, is that what you mean?"

「はい。
私はニンゲンの世界を超え、魔女の世界に至ったと自覚しています。
それを魔女の立場からも至っていると認めて欲しいのです。」
" Yes.
I am aware that I transcended the human world and reached the world of the witches.
I'd like you to recognize that I reached that, from the standpoint of a witch."

「……魔女は、魔女になるのにも魔女の推薦がいると？　
面白いけど、じゃあ、世界で最初の魔女は誰が認めて成ったというのかしら？」
" ...... You mean that a witch needs the recommendation from a witch to become a witch?
Interesting but, then, I wonder who recognized the very first witch in the world?"

「ニンゲンたちが、自分たちの域を超えた存在を、魔女だと呼んで称えたのでしょう。」
" The human beings probably called witch the being that transcended their own level, and gave her that name."


「なら、私が認めなくても、あなたはすでに魔女だということになるわね。」
" Then, even if I do not recognize you, it means you are already a witch."

「はい。
だから私はもう、魔女です。
……だからこそ。
私が願うものはそれ。
私が魔女であると、私より上位の存在から認められたいのです。」
" Yes.
That's why, I am already a witch.
...... For that very reason.
What I wish is that.
I want to be recognized as a witch by a being who is in higher position than mine"

「……小難しい屁理屈で誤魔化されてる気がするわぁ。
嫌だと言ったら？」
" ...... I feel like I'm being deceived with tortuous sophisms.
What if I say no?"

「無理に認めてくれなくてもいいです。
ならば、あなたにも認めさせるだけですから。
……あなたにだって、私が魔女であることを否定など、出来ないのだから。」
" You don't need to recognize against your will.
Because, in that case, I'll just make you recognize me as well.
...... Not even you will be able to deny that I am a witch."

「……くっくっくっく、うっふっふっはっはっはっは…！　
ニンゲン風情がどのような魔法大系を生み出せたというの？　
……それを私に試させると？　
…………くっくっくっく！」
" ...... Kuukuukuuku, Uuhuuhuuhaahaahaaha...!
Would you tell what kind of compendium of magic an insignificant human could create?
...... You say you will let me try it?
............ Kuukuukuuku!"

　あの少女を遥かに超える、春の日の小鳥の囀りにも似た芳しき紅茶の香り。
　私は、長い長い旅を経て、久しぶりに気骨のある魔女に出会えたことを知ったわ。
An aroma of sweet black tea, that transcends by far that little girl, that is just like the chirp of a little bird in a day of spring.
After a very, very long trip, I realized that I had happened to meet a witch with a backbone I didn't see for a long time.

　そして、その魔法大系の組成式に飛び込み、………彼女ならではの独自の解釈により、それまでの私が知り得 なかった、広大な魔法世界が生み出されていたことを知る。
　確かにまだこの子は拙い。
魔法世界はまだまだ生成されている途上にある。
しかし、その生成に至る組成式は、完璧かつ無限の可能性を備えている。
　その無限を使いこなすには、まだまだ長い時間を掛けるだろうが、すでにその扉を開き、その向こうに至って いることに疑いの余地はなかった。
And then, I plunge into the composition formula of her compendium of magic, ......... and through peculiar explanations only she could give, I realize that a huge compendium of magic had been created, one I could not realize until then.
Certainly, this kid is still clumsy.
Her magical world is still half-way of its formation.
However, the composition formula to reach that formation is endowed with flawless and infinite possibilities.
Probably it will still take a long time for her to be able to deal with that infinite but, there was no room to doubt that she had already opened that door and was reaching the other side.

　そして何よりもこの“魔女”の個性的な点は、その魔法大系を人間界にて組成することに成功していたことだ 。
And above anything else, the idiosyncrasies of this 'witch' succeeded in constituting that compendium of magic in the human world.

　魔女は自由と力を求めれば求めるほどに、あらゆる制約から比例的に解放されていく。
　制約とは即ち、物質的な世界のこと。
つまり、私や同格の魔女たちがそうであるように、人間界・物質界からどんどん遠くへ漂流していくようになる 。
The more a witch seeks freedom and power, the more she is freed from all restrictions proportionally.
Restrictions here meaning the physical world.
In other words, they will be steadily drifting towards a distant place, away from the human world, the material world, like me and the other witches of the same rank do.

　しかしこの魔女は、それを人間界で成し遂げたのだ。
　即ち、ニンゲンの身でありながら、私たちと同じ世界に足を踏み入れている…！
However, this witch accomplished that in the human world.


　いや、……それどころか、彼女の組成式はあまりに深い。
　私が深遠の井戸の梯子を、一段一段、千年掛けて降りてきた深みを、まるでパラソルを開いて落下傘のように して舞い降りてくるように、…あっさりと…！
No, ...... far from that, her composition formula is too deep.
It's as though she'd fly down the depths, opening a parasol and using it as a parachute, the depths that I've been coming down over a thousand years, step by step, through the ladder of the profound water well, ...and quickly...!


　……もちろん、そのパラソルが破れて、そのまま奈落に墜落していくかもしれない危うさも持っ ている。
　その命知らずさに、…私は若さゆえの無謀と、ニンゲンのくせにという蔑み、……そして、この魔女がどこま で至るのかという関心と、私が未だ知らない世界を照らし出し、まったく味わったことのない紅茶を香らせてく れたことへの敬意を感じたのだ。
　これは私の持論だが。
　全ての存在は、運命に翻弄される側と運命を生み出す側の二極の間のどこかに位置していると説 明できる。
　運命に翻弄されるのがニンゲン。
愚かで哀れで、何も生み出せない。
　……しかし、足の下には踏みしめる大地がある。
そしてその大地は決して裏切らず、生涯、奈落への墜落の恐怖に怯えることなく暮らすことが出来 る。
　運命を生み出すのが、神々。
そして造物主。
全知で全能で、全てを生み出す。
...... Naturally, there's the danger that that parasol might break and she might fall to hell just like that.
Because of that recklessness, ...with the impulsiveness of the youth, the despise for the likes of the humans, ....... and with the interest for how far this witch would reach, I started to throw light on a world yet unknown to me and felt honoured to have a black tea I never tasted smell sweet.
This is my pet view, though.
It can explain that all the beings are placed somewhere between the two extremes, the side who is tossed about by fate and the side who creates fate.
The ones tossed about by fate are the humans.
Fools, helpless, can't create anything.
...... However, they have a ground to firmly step under their feet.
And that ground will never betray them, thus, they can live their whole existence without the fear of the terror of falling to hell.
The ones who create fate are the gods.
And the Creator.
Omniscience, almighty, create everything.

……しかし、全てを生み出し、全ての制約から解放されているということは、足元に大地という制約すらないこ とを意味する。
　全ての制約を完全に失った存在は、……全てを手にする代わりに、それらの“意味”という制約 すら失う。
……生死の概念すらなくなり、存在の意味さえもなくなり、……ゼロの域に達する。
あるいは、転落する。
墜落する。
崩壊する。
雲散霧消する。
...... However, the fact that they create everything and are freed from all restrictions means they don't even have a restriction such as the ground under their feet.
Beings that completely lost all restrictions, ...... in exchange for obtaining everything, they lose even the restriction of their own 'meaning'.
...... Even the notion of life and death disappears, even the meaning of the existing disappears, ...... they reach the limits of the zero.
Or fall.
Crash.
Crumble.
Vanish like mist.

　その中間に位置するのが、私たち魔女なのではないかと思う。
　私たちは運命を生み出し、弄ぶ。
その狭間を回遊する。
　しかし、ある一定の制限と限界に甘んじ、自分が転落しない程度の足場を残す。
I think the ones placed in the middle are us, the witches.
We create fate and play with it.
We fool around that valley.
However, we have to accept some definite restrictions and limits and leave some footing so that we won't fall.

　この怖いもの知らずの魔女は、私よりも遥かに遥かに、…その制限がないのだ。
The witches who are not afraid of this have far, far less of those restrictions, ... than me.

　彼女は私の、千年の旅路の退屈をひと時紛らわせてくれるだけの一杯の紅茶なのか。
　それとも、臆病な私如きでは永遠に至れないかもしれない深遠を照らし出し、私に未知の世界を見せ付けてく れる、私より遥かに上位の魔女たりえるのか…！
　どちらでもいい。
Would she be the one cup of black tea capable of diverting for a moment my boredom in this thousand years journey?
Or would she be a witch far superior than me who will shed light over the depths where cowards like me might never be able to reach and show me an unknown world?
Any of the two is fine.


　私が奈落を目指す旅人でなく、大海原に投げ出され溺れまいともがく遭難者なのだとしたら。
　私にとってこの子は、しがみ付くに値する立派な木片だ。
If we assume that I am not a traveller aiming for hell, but a disaster victim thrown into the ocean and struggling to not get drowned.
To me, this kid would be a splendid block of wood worth of clinging on.

　私を未知なる世界へ導く救いの船となるのか。
　それとも、私の午後をわずかの時間だけ優雅にする一杯の紅茶止まりなのか。
Would she become a rescue ship showing me the way to an unknown world.
Or would she be no more than a cup of black tea to make my afternoon more elegant for a brief time?


「気に入ったわ。
………いいでしょう。
私の名において、あなたを魔女だと認めてあげる。
我が名、絶対の魔女ラムダデルタの名において！　
あなたの“絶対なる魔法世界”が【絶対】であり続ける限り！　
私は永遠にあなたの後見人であり続けるわ…！！」
" I liked it.
......... I guess there's no problem.
Upon my name, I recognize you as a witch.
Upon my name, the name of Lamda-Delta, the witch of the absoluteness!
As long as your 'Absolute Magic World' continues being 'absolute'.
I will continue being your guardian forever...!!"

　……この素敵な紅茶を、私ひとりで味わうのは本当に本当にもったいない。
...... To savor this wonderful black tea alone would really, really be a waste.

　お友達もぜひ呼んであげなくちゃね？
　素敵なお茶会にして驚かせてあげなくちゃ。
I have to call a friend too, right?
I have to surprise her with a wonderful tea party.

　くすくすくすくす、あっはははははははははは……………！
*giggle, giggle*, Aahahahahahahahahahaha...............!


..Λ　Δ
（＞ｗ＜）ノ

※訳者注：ラムダデルタ卿の署名？
XTranslator note: Lady Lamda-Delta's signature?


07th Expansion Presents

うみねこのなく頃に

Tips
Memoirs of the ΛΔ

Hmm
I don't know if her signature came out alright, but it should look like a cat.

[theacefrehley]

later, I'll try to translate more of those extra stuff.

[Haruyan]

So, as long as Lambda wills it, Beato is a witch? Lemme, rephrase that, as long as Beato keeps winning, Lambda will support her (against Bern?) What happens when Beato loses?

I think Lambda's letter is a clue to Beato's origin. If we think of them as personalized concepts, Lambda is the certainty that something will always happen (Absoluteness), Bern could be the random chance for something to happen (Miracles), then what could Beato be if her supposed power is Endlessness. It could reveal the motive for the murders (if we remember Higurashi, Lambda's Absoluteness was expressed by Takano's will), and thus, the real culprit.

These are just my thoughts though.

[Exilon]

From what I know, Beato's power is being able to "kill a human a thousand times"; which, in my opinion, is the power to makie the same thing with minor differences happen over and over again (in Higurashi, this was caused by takano's will, in Umineko, since Lambda's power isn't present, no one has the determination she had, so the fact that everything happens at the same time in this year (like the typhoon) is probably caused by Beato's power).
I wonder, if we couple the power to repeat things for an endless time with the power to always win (Lambda's absoluteness), what could happen?
...they'll never get bored.

[Haruyan]

I think Beato's power has to do with "having the same thing happen over and over again", and Lambda's power is "have the same result always come up."

Together, it comes up a bit like "have the same result happen over and over again." Maybe?

Bern mentions that she and Beato have the worst combination (that's not the word I was looking for), since Bern looks for chances in variations, it would make sense that she has little power against Beato, who can repeat things (while Lambda only looks for the same result, not the way to get to that result).

[Marion]

Okay I am still VERY confused about one thing in this episode.

Spoiler for Episode 3:

I mean, everything is confusing overall, what with Nanjo's death, Jessica's vanishing act, the dying over over again with Rosa and Maria, etc...

But the one thing that confuses me the most is Eva-Beatrice. For starters, if we are to hypothetically believe in witches, how did she get out of Eva? Just solving the riddle and it happening like that seems a little odd to me.

And, if we are to believe witches are not real, then who IS Eva-Beatrice for that matter? A representation of Eva? If so then why was Ronove tagging along with her. Not to mention the battle between Rudolph and Belphegor (sp?)

Also: For Lambda's memoirs:

Spoiler for Lambda's memoirs, Higurashi spoilers:

As far as granting the wish goes, the first part I think she refers to Miyoko/Takano from Higurashi. In Higurashi, Takano referred to herself as a God at the end of Minagoroshi, when she was gassing Hinamizawa. According to Lambda's memoirs, the first girl wished to be a God.

The second person is probably Rika, since Lambda talks about a witch being born from the girl. Looking at the Tea Parties from Umineko 1 and 2, Bernkanstel claims she was born from the game in which she beat Lambda. Lambda also supported this in the tea party episode 2, when she calls herself a big sister to Bern in a sense (it might have been the other way around).

And finally:

Spoiler for Episode 3 Hidden Tea party:

I think was Lambda meant when she said she controlled Beato was that she was her guardian. Remember Eva-Beatrice's banquet? Lambda said she recommended Eva-Beatrice to be a witch, making her Eva-Beatrice's guardian. She also said that she could remove her recommendation at anytime. This is what she meant.

If we think of Beatrice as a title, rather than a name, then Lambda would be the person who recommended Beato to be the new endless witch. Virgilia was Beato's teacher, but Beato became Endless Witch via a recommendation from another witch. Lambda recommended her and became her guardian. And as Lambda said, if she takes away her recommendation for Beato at any time, then Beato is no longer a witch. Endless Witch is a temporary witch spot in a sense, since there can be successors.

Tl;DR: Virgilia might be Beato's teacher, but Lambda controls her being a witch.

As for sending Beato to a miserable kakera/world: Does she mean that she can send Beato back to her old life before being a witch (whatever that is?) and make it even worse? Like a Higurashi chess board or something?

I haven't played 3 in a while and I've been busy with school to look back to it :P Forgive me if I got some things wrong.

[Klashikari]

@ Exilon + Haruyan:
To be more exact, Beato is special because she can sentence to death, regardless of the dice roll, which is why she is such an affinity trouble with Bern.
Bern basically resets the world every time, which can have a result that is factored with random and preordained points. Lambda has a power that will force the dice to have the result she wants, hence certainty.
Since bern can create a situation as long the probability of it happening not being 0, it doesn't conflict with Lambda's power, and on the long run, if the dice is favorable to Bern, she can overcome Lambda's certainty, as Lambda's result is always fix.

Beato, however, is tricky because she ignores these requirements and goes on rampage, regardless the situation (hence, the rules are: the culprit either change or goes in the flow). If the situation changes, the modus operandi as well, etc.
That is why Bern has trouble, since not only she can't read Beato's strategy or even tactics (due to her being fickle), but the dice is basically almost irrelevant.


@ Marion:
1) Regardless if supernatural exists or not, what is shown to use doesn't mean it exists (otherwise, you have no room for arguing against Beato's ostentatious magic tricks).
Therefore, on the fantasy side, Eva-Beatrice might be simply Beato's creation. Even if it isn't the case, another entity isn't out of question considering the setup.
As for the reality, since we cannot take granted with everything, we can conclude that:
a) Eva-Beatrice shows Eva acting as the culprit
b) Someone framing Eva, or completely unrelated
c) does not exist at all

2) huh... Lambda's memoires?
And no, she didn't consider herself as Bern's sister, especially considering ep3 and ep4.

3) That is actually what was explained weeks ago yes.
Both Virgilia and Lambda were required for Beato's status. The magical arts and the other tribe recommendation. That is, it is hinted that Beato is on her own, for personal reasons.

[Marion]

Message 1009 - theacefrehley translating Lambda's diary XD Sorry if that was confusing.

Thanks for answering my questions.

Spoiler for Ep 3:

Although I still find Krauss's death odd then >> Especially the way it was explained in game...

[theacefrehley]

Would you guys prefer anti-fantasy x anti-mystery or stakes's valentine day first?

[natyo2]

Anti-fantasyxAnti-mystery please!
And thanks for these translations

[Haruyan]

To be more exact, Beato is special because she can sentence to death, regardless of the dice roll, which is why she is such an affinity trouble with Bern.
Bern basically resets the world every time, which can have a result that is factored with random and preordained points. Lambda has a power that will force the dice to have the result she wants, hence certainty.
Since bern can create a situation as long the probability of it happening not being 0, it doesn't conflict with Lambda's power, and on the long run, if the dice is favorable to Bern, she can overcome Lambda's certainty, as Lambda's result is always fix.

Beato, however, is tricky because she ignores these requirements and goes on rampage, regardless the situation (hence, the rules are: the culprit either change or goes in the flow). If the situation changes, the modus operandi as well, etc.
That is why Bern has trouble, since not only she can't read Beato's strategy or even tactics (due to her being fickle), but the dice is basically almost irrelevant.

....that's what I said...or what I was trying to say.

This is turning out to be a multi-level game. We have the game between Battler and Beatrice, the game between Beatrice and Bern, and I think that on a larger scale, it's also a game between Lambda and Bern.

I still think that the three witches (Beato, Bern and Lambda) are personalized concepts in the Umineko world, and thus related to the real culprit and motives. Beato mentions that she can deny witches, and confesses to Eva-Beatrice how it could be done without magic, I interpreted that as "it wasn't done with magic, but I did it anyway, I'm just lying to Battler to keep playing with him".

I think Bern's and Lambda's diary/letters could be a big clue, or a red herring...or maybe even both...

[Chadauw]

Okay, now that I've read all EP3 and the entire topic, I'm going to post what I came up with (sorry if my English isn't correct, I’m French).

Let's start with the suspects.

Spoiler for Suspicious people:

For the three games:

I also think there are different culprits in the island, with different goals.

I suspect the servants, particularly Genji and Kumasawa, and also Nanjo (perhaps bribed) to be behind the epitaph ceremony. They are all pretty close to Kinzo and could be aware of the whole "human Beatrice" thing from 18 years ago. Kinzo could be the mastermind, and is surely aware of a lot of things, but I think he is used by the real culprit, as he doesn’t seem to be aware of who is going to be killed.

In addition to those who kill for the ceremony, some other characters are taking advantage of the situation for their own goals. Which could be to settle a grudge or to gain money, or something else we don’t know about yet? The parents are the most suspicious here but maybe also some servants.

I don’t think one of the children could be the culprit. The only possibility is one of them killing someone s/he suspects to be the culprit. And also Maria who can help the culprit, but she can’t kill someone I suppose…

I won’t examine the possibility of a 19th person, mostly because of EP3’s red text.

Now, let's take a look at the previous episodes.

Spoiler for ep1:

Well, I have some trouble finding good theories with ep1 but whatever. For this episode, I don’t really suspect different culprit. I have the feeling that all went like the mastermind wanted, or that he is the only one doing the killings. Well, at least, things were less fucked up than in ep3

Spoiler for First twilight:

Let’s start with the first twilight. I agree that Shannon must not have been planned. The scratches on Natsuhi’s door were left in order to make them think about the witch. Maybe somebody witnessed Jessica and Natsuhi? As for whodunnit, I think the blood stains on the floor which were found, iirc, where the members of the family were found are an important clue.

The fact that Eva and Hideyoshi are unarmed sure is strange. Iirc, Eva says that she left because she was exhausted? She is certainly the one who wants the most to win against Krauss, so I find it hard to imagine her leaving, it seems more likely to me that she would continue to harass Krauss even if she felt exhausted. So maybe a fight happened during the meeting, Eva and Hideyoshi killed the others, and decided to make it look like the epitaph so they killed Gohda then planned to kill Natsuhi in order to have six sacrifices, but Shannon happened to see them and they killed her.

I don’t really think somebody faked his death in the first twilight. I mean, even if the face is destroyed, you need another body with the same sex, the same type of body and all. And it seems that the bodies were exanimate by a lot of people. But maybe they were too disgusted to take a close look… The only ones who could have prepared a body are those who live in Rokkenjima, and it’s neither Krauss nor Shannon, so it should be Gohda.

Spoiler for Second twilight:

Not much to say about Kinzo’s disappearance.

Eva and Hideyoshi were then killed by, I think, the true culprits. Iirc, Kannon and Genji were the first to the door, they were no responding and Kannon went searching for help? Eva and Hideyoshi announced that they were going to lock them with a chain.

I suspect Genji here, maybe with Kannon as an accomplice, as this scene could have been faked. But maybe Eva and Hideyoshi were not dead, just drugged and that’s why they aren’t responding? Then Genji broke the chain, killed the two (maybe moving Hideyoshi’s body), and substituted the chain with a new one (as he is a servant, he should know where to find one, plus he knew they were using one). He could have thrown the old chain, and then drew the magic circle. I don’t remember what Genji did Kannon left, so I don’t know if the timing matches…

About Kannon and Kinzo in the boiler room, I don’t really know… Maybe Gohda who faked his death?

Spoiler for Genji, Nanjo and Kumasawa:

Now the letter in Kinzo’s study… The culprit left it in order to have a good reason to leave the room with his new victims… Well, any of the four could have put the letter, the most suspicious being Genji and Maria.

Genji should also know how to disconnect/connect the phone. He then killed Nanjo and Kumasawa, and faked his death with either one of the corpses of the first twilight, or maybe he betrayed Gohda and killed him, if we consider Gohda faked his death. They don’t really have the same body, but the kids and Natsuhi didn’t really check the corpse, and this means Nanjo and Kumasawa’s death could have be faked too (but they would need the body of an old woman an of a overweight old man…).

For Natsuhi, I think the theory about her being shot by another gun then switch is probably correct. And for the kids, no clue.

This turned out to be longer than I thought, I will post my comments about ep2, ep3 and the epitaph in another post...