#mbreijidarkepilog

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers GRAND EDITION for Switch ;; More, Blood ー Reiji Dark [Epilogue]

Monologue

ーー Is there a point in doing this?

When asked said question, I can only reply with

‘I have no answer.’

This dance party is nothing but a manisfestation of all ridiculous things 

in this world, put together in one.

Everything is a lie, yet everything is reality.

Exactly. In short, in this world deceit and truth,

exist as two sides of the same coin.

That might sound like a contradiction,

but it is in fact the case.

If you fail to comprehend this,

you shal lose your composure, and resort to displaying

shameful behavior, I suppose.

Those who have witnessed the truth of this world,

should have realized this long ago,

or so I thought.

ー The scene starts with a flashback at the ballroom 

Reiji: ( Ridiculous...A birthday party? Why are we holding this farce...? )

( A birthday is nothing but the start of a tragedy...Especially, to Vampires such as ourselves... )

♫♫♫♫

Female aristocrat B: ...Wonderful...Shuu-sama...~

Female aristocrat C: What a stunning melody...

Female aristocrat B: Somehow it’s so very touching...It is making me emotional... (1)

Reiji: ( ...So what exactly is so beautiful about that tune...? I can’t comprehend in the slightest. )

Beatrix: Reiji.

Reiji: ...Mother. Is something the matter?

Beatrix: I heard you were gifted something wonderful by your Father?

Reiji: Aah...Although it does not compare to the violin given to Shuu.

Beatrix: Fufu. Please don’t sulk like that.

Reiji: Sulk?

Beatrix: Shuu was born before you, making him the eldest son of the family after all.

Reiji: ( Gee. (2) Is she implying I’m sulking because I did not receive as nice of a gift as Shuu did? )

I am already aware of that. Well then, mother, if you’d excuse me now.

Beatrix: Oh dear. Are you leaving so soon?

Reiji: The star of the party being here is plenty, right? ...Well then.

ー Reiji steps away

Beatrix: Reiji...

ー The scene shifts to the balcony

Reiji: Haah, good grief...I might be able to act in a way which is fit for the occasion, I just can’t bring myself to like this sort of thing.

Why does Father insist on continuing to play pretend and hold these human-like events...?

Someone of Father’s caliber...Why...?

*Cling*

Reiji: A watch which counts down the remaining time in this world, huh...? Why did Father decide to gift me such a thing...?

( Father’s decisions always puzzle me. Although I am certain he is always thinking several steps ahead... )

( Yet, I fail to understand him. Am I just too shallow-minded? Or perhaps...? )

( The Great Vampire gazed too long into the abyss (3)...and became an ordinary person, or something...? )

I simply cannot feel joy from someone with the potential to become extranordinary...choosing to lower himself to the level of a commoner...

( Who cares about this family or inheriting the throne. You have to dream big...Fulfilling all ambitions and desires. )

( It would be such an easy feat...So Father’s decision to refrain from doing so seems incredibly foolish to me... )

*Cling*

*Tick tick*

♫♫♫♫

Reiji: ...Oh dear...Is that guy still playing the violin?

( Not thinking is very sly way of living since it allows you to burn a blind eye to everything... )

( Simply laying the blame on someone else... )

...This melody makes me want to gag.

ー The flashback ends

Yui: Haah...In the end, I can’t sleep even after returning to the manor.

As to be expected, my mind feels foggy...

ー She gazes up at the moon

Reiji: Tonight’s moon is remarkable, don’t you think? So very big...It makes me tingle with excitement.

Yui: Reiji-san.

Reiji: Are you not resting? You look rather exhausted.

Yui: I just can’t seem to fall asleep...How about you?

Reiji: Me neither. I was...recalling several things from the past.

Yui: The past? Now that’s new.

Reiji: Hmph. Coming here, I finally realized that this moon must be to blame.

Yui: Reiji-san?

Reiji: Whether we want it or not, Vampires are extremely sensitive to the moon, you see.

We are different from you foolish, lowly animals. (4)

Yui: Animals, you say...?

Reiji: Ah, my apologies. I suppose beasts are actually more sensitive to these kind of natural phenomena, are they not?

In that case, I suppose we can conclude that you humans are below animals in that regard.

Yui: Haah...

Reiji: Fufu...A sigh, huh?

Yui: ...Just like you said, it is true that animals and insects are more in touch with nature...

Reiji: Hmph. So you admit it.

Well, to prove my point, you did not seen to sense anything about the people we met this afternoon...

Yui: Eh?

Reiji: For Vampires, did you not feel like something was slightly off about them?

Yui: When you mention it...They did seem somewhat odd.

Their aura seemed different from the people living in this house...

Reiji: I finally realized after getting the chance to talk to them for a while but...I am almost certain that they are former humans.

Yui: Eh!? Human!?

( I have heard about humans slowly turning into Vampires as a side effect of having their blood sucked by one... )

...Is that the ‘awakening’ you told me about before?

Reiji: I wonder? However, I believe those people became Vampires all at the same time.

Usually, an awakening proceeds progressively, with the moment of completion happening very suddenly, which makes it very difficult to pinpoint exactly.

Yui: In that case...

Reiji: Most likely, someone intentionally turned them into Vampires...

On top of that, all four simultaneously, get it?

Yui: ...Who would do such a thing?

Reiji: Hm...It has been rather tricky to deduct the answer to said question.

Although I am certain it has to be a Vampire who holds a certain amount of power...

*Cling*

Yui: Reiji-san...?

( He’s looking at a pocket watch, that’s a sight you don’t see very often... )

Reiji: ーー Well, either way...The fact we found something which can serve as a clue is something worth rejoicing over.

Now, your hand, please.

Yui: Eh?

ー Music starts playing in the background

Reiji: Please do not make me wait. It’s a wonderful night...Somehow I’m in the mood to dance.

Yui: Y-Yes...

Reiji: Exactly...You are doing great.

Yui: ...What happened? Reiji-san...

Reiji: The fact I’m dancing like this?

Yui: That is part of it as well but...You seem rather cheerful.

Reiji: Hmph. Of course I am?

Yui: ...?

Reiji: You see, Vampires are creatures who live in boredom by default.

Yui: ...

Reiji: Amidst all of that, those guys suddenly showed themselves...This feeling that something might be about to happen...Fufu...

Yui: I-I think it would be better if this all passes peacefully though...

Reiji: I am sure hypocrites such as yourself are the only ones who would feel that way.

It is only normal for all living things to fight amongst, devour or even bring ruin upon one another.

Yui: ...I simply don’t understand...

Reiji: I would assume so. Which is why you only ever get devoured.

Yui: ...

Reiji: Oh well. In that regard, you could say that the existence of someone such as yourself...is exactly what gives us a thrill.

Yui: Is that so...?

Reiji: Don’t you think it is only natural for us to get excited if after days and days of boredom, a delicious feast suddenly comes waltzing in?

Yui: Feast...Are you referring to me?

Reiji: Oh? You will admit it yourself?

Yui: Yes...I keep on being told I’m a prey after all...

Even if I were to deny it, I still would not be able to fight back against you and the others...

Reiji: Makes sense. There is an overwhelming difference in power after all.

Yui: That’s a given but, mentally as well...I simply can’t stay that strong.

Reiji: However, if you do not like being overpowered by the strong...You have no other choice but to become stronger yourself, don’t you think?

If there’s a logic of the weak, there is a logic of the strong as well.

It is simply unthinkable that all living beings in this world live by the same logic.

After all, someone such as yourself who can find satisfaction with being devoured, looks very silly from my point of view.

Yui: That’s...

Reiji: It seems like you are not aware of this yet yourself, but there are also those who fail to awaken as a Vampire and drop to the lowest pits of hell (5) instead.

Yui: ...Is that so?

Reiji: Fufu...A little late but have you perhaps become scared?

Oh well, I suppose all you can do is pray that will not happen to you.

Or rather, show me some determination. It is exactly that attitude of yours which grinds my gears.

Always trying to rely on others for something to happen. It is very impudent, you know?

You are gravely mistaken if you believe things will turn out as you wish, without you having to make any sacrifices yourself.

If you do wish to sacrifice anything, you have no other choice but to keep quiet and...continue to have your blood sucked by me.

ー Reiji steps closer

Reiji: See, like this...

ー He bites her

Yui: ...! Reiji-san, sto...

Reiji: ...Nn...

Yui: Kuh...

Reiji: Fufu...Like this, step-by-step, you should just come closer to becoming one of us...

That might be your true path in life after all...

To make up for the overwhelming difference in power...You have no other choice but to awaken.

Yui: ( ...Kuh...At this rate, I’ll...become a Vampire? )

( However, there’s a possibility I can’t even do that... )

( What should I do...? I hate how I’m always so indecisive... )

( While I don’t like being toyed with as they please, part of me still wants to be accepted by them... )

( My feelings, wishes and desires are all mixing together, I just don’t know anymore... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) She refers to 胸騒ぎ or ‘mune-sawagi’ here, which means ‘an uneasy feeling’ in your chest.

(2) In current-day Japanese, まいったな or ‘maittana’ is a very casual way to express surprise, or to admit defeat depending on the context. As is the case with many expressions, I assume that in the past, it was actually a very formal and common, which is why Reiji uses it here. 

(3) I had to look up this expression as well, but it basically means that you worry too much about the past, or feel burdened by your demons from the past.

(4) The word 畜生 or ‘chikushou’ is most commonly used as a curse word nowadays, meaning something like ‘damn it!’. However, it’s original meaning is ‘beast’ or ‘brute’. 

(5) The term 外道 or ‘gedou’ literally means you have ‘strayed away from/been removed from the path’ and originates from Buddhist teachings, where it refers to someone who failed to reach enlightenment.