《The Mark Carved in the Dark Night》 Chapter 17: The Blank Report (Part 1) / 《The Mark Carved in the Dark Night》 Chapter 17: The Blank Report (Part 1) (with Japanese translation)

First Part

Author's Note

Japanese Translation

[Chapter 17: The Blank Report (Part 1)]

The headquarters in the royal capital is filled with the scent of paper and ink.
For Kurma, who has awakened once again in Elul's body,
the light of the magic devices and the laughter of his companions were nothing more than a fleeting moment of silence.
However, an envelope that arrived from afar shatters that equilibrium.
It is an "Execution Report"—but the contents are blank.
It is not a missing record, but a silent warning.
On it, those who were not executed and the erased truths are lined up.
Beyond the white surface of the paper, the darkness was beginning to move once again.

"...Ah, this garden... it resembles that place I saw when I first came to the royal capital. How many hundreds of years ago was that..."
That whisper echoes in the depths of his consciousness, and the scent of flowers and the mist fade away at the same time.

"...Yeah, I'm about to wake up. Where is this?"
Kurma slowly opened his eyelids.
What brushes across his vision is a pale, twilight light.
A meteor emblem with silver trim on a black background is hung on the wall,
and on the bookshelf beside it, letters and books are piled up so high they look like they are about to collapse.
And, in front of the desk by the wall, a young boy is hunched over,
making the magic device in his hand glow faintly.

"Kurma, good morning."
Elul's clear voice rings out in his head.
"Ho... so I am borrowing your body this time."
The Demon King laughs softly.

"How long was I asleep?"
"About two weeks, I think? Your magical power is stable, and your legs are fine too."
"That is good."
Kurma stretches his back within his consciousness.
"Are we at headquarters now? Are you on duty?"
"That's right. —And also, if you move on your own, I'll lock you up again."

"Ugh... that's a shame."
Kurma laughs mischievously while rubbing his hands together.
"But that uniform... it makes me want to touch it a little, doesn't it?"
"Hey! Don't mess around! I'm telling you, the magic device will really break!"
Elul glares at him, but can't help but burst out laughing.

At that moment, Rainor, who had been concentrating on the repairs, suddenly stopped his hands,
and the tools made a small sound.
He looked up, his pale purple eyes harboring red and gold light.

"...Demon King, are you awake?"
"Indeed."
Kurma replies through Elul's consciousness.
"I am awake. What is it?"
"Your Majesty, a technical problem has occurred with this magic device, and I would like to consult you..."
"Are you not my knowledge base? You should be able to fix it yourself."
Kurma said, sounding annoyed.

"W-well, that is..."
Rainor blushes slightly.
"When it comes to actual repairs, experience is necessary."
"Bring it here, let me see it."
Just as Rainor was about to hand the magic device to Elul—
there was a "click" sound from outside the door.

The door to the great hall opened, a cold wind blew in, and the stack of papers swayed slightly.
An executioner carrying a bundle of documents entered quietly.

"Executioner, what brings you here today?"
Rainor looks up while adjusting the magic device in his hand.
"To return the execution reports that arrived from the provinces to the storage room."
The executioner answered indifferently and placed a thick envelope on the desk.
A dull thud echoed.
As she lined up the documents on her station—the desk beside the reception—
she suddenly turned her gaze toward Elul.

"...Is the Demon King awake? —It seems so."
She takes a small card out of the pouch at her waist and hands it to Elul.
"I have been entrusted with this from the Princess for His Majesty."
Elul and Kurma inside his body look at the card at the same time.
On it, written in the Princess's neat handwriting, it said:

"...In that case, I have no choice but to touch it."
Kurma says, laughing while borrowing Elul's mouth.
"Besides, this magic device—it seems it needs to be fixed by my own hands.
Elul, hold it steady. I'm going to borrow your body for a little while."

"Sigh... it can't be helped. There's the magic device repair, too."
Elul sighs.
"But I'm telling you first, if you touch anything weird, I won't forgive you!
—Rainor, you stand still too, don't move!"
"Y-yes, I understand!"

The moment Reynold finished his reply, Elul's hair turned silver-white in an instant, and a crimson light flickered deep within her eyes.
She, who should have been sitting in a wheelchair, slowly stood up.
The movement was as quiet and unwavering as a ritual.
As Kurma took over control of the body, she first bowed her head deeply—and then lightly pressed a kiss to Reynold's forehead.
"Synchronization complete. System, stable."
The voice was low and sultry, carrying a faint smile.

"This is fine—now, let's start by checking the uniform."
Saying this, she began to carefully check the texture of the fabric from top to bottom.
The movement of her fingertips was surprisingly serious.
"Your Majesty, my magic device is—"
"Yes, yes, wait until I am satisfied."
"H-hey... don't touch strange places...!"
(Elul's protest echoed in her consciousness.)

The executioner couldn't help but let out a bitter smile at the sight.
And just as she was about to turn on her heel, the door to the living quarters opened.
It was Helen who entered.
Having witnessed the 'kiss on the forehead' scene right in front of her, she clearly froze—
She then gave an awkward greeting while wearing a strained smile at the doorway.

The executioner shook her head slightly, sighed, and
returned to her work as if nothing had happened.

She placed the envelope on the desk, put on her gloves, and broke the seal.
The moment she pulled out the documents, a faint smell of iron rust pricked her nose.
"...A beheading, then."
The executioner muttered softly and spread out the documents wrapped in cloth.

The bloodstains were already dry, but the dark red color still seeped deep into the paper.
The cover bore the signatures of the executor and the mayor,
and the following pages contained the execution progress, excerpts from the verdict, and the list of criminals.
She flipped through them one by one, tracing the stains with her fingertips while checking the seals and dates.

Next, she took a thick ledger from the shelf behind her.
The cover was inscribed with—
《High Court (Outside the Royal Capital) Death Penalty Case Records and Execution Copy》.
She opened the corresponding page and filled in another ledger while cross-referencing.
The sound of the pen nib scratching the paper echoed vividly in the silent room.

"Murder... date of verdict... date of finalization..."
She filled in each column one by one while repeating the words in a low voice.
When all the entries were finished, she closed the ledger and checked the consistency of the documents again.
—No abnormalities.
The executioner placed the report in its designated spot on the shelf and
tapped the spine of the paper twice lightly, as if concluding a ritual.

When she looked up, in her line of sight was—
Elul with silver hair and red eyes.
It seemed Kurma was still in control of the body.
She was silently adjusting the structure of the magic device,
while Reynold and Helen watched over her from the side.
The scene was quiet, had a steady rhythm,
and felt like a moment of peace sealed within time.

"...I have to sharpen it today. The sharpness that day felt a bit off."
The executioner muttered to herself, recalling the execution from a few days ago and the feel of the axe she had used.
(I'll go back to the execution room and maintain it.)
Having finished her document organization task,
she stood up quietly and was about to leave the Dark Night Knights' headquarters—.

"Clack."

The sound of the large door opening echoed, cutting through the silence.
Everyone's gaze turned toward it at once.
A girl wearing the uniform of the Armed Maid Corps rushed in, out of breath.

"Chena?"
The executioner stood up immediately to meet her.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"We... we were organizing the documents we received earlier, and—"
Chena caught her breath and took an envelope from her chest.

It was a clean envelope without a single stain.
Only one line was written on it—the place of dispatch: 《Arbakki》.
There was no addressee or seal.

The seal had already been opened once,
but the resealing stamp of the receiving office and Chena's own signature were properly affixed.
—The inside was unopened, and the contents were unaltered.

"It was mixed in with a bundle of financial documents."
Reynold handed her some water, and after Chena took a sip, she continued, still breathing heavily.
"At first, it just felt off... but when I opened it, it looked like 'your documents.' So I brought it here immediately."

"What's inside?"
The executioner took the envelope and skillfully took out a letter opener.
Her voice was quiet, but there was a slight tension in her fingertips.
"...It's an execution report."
Chena bit her lip slightly and looked down.
"However—it was 'blank'."

The executioner's expression froze in an instant.
She cut the envelope open completely without a word.
The sound of paper rubbing echoed sharply in the tense air.

Three stark white documents slid quietly onto the desk.
No crime, no criminal's name, no seal—nothing was written.
Every column was completely blank.
The executioner stared at the paper, and the light deep in her eyes slowly faded.
"...Impossible."
Her low, stifled voice leaked out, quiet enough that no one could hear it.

The continuation is

The above translation is provided based on a translation by ChatGPT, which I have personally proofread and supervised.
If there are any unnatural parts in the writing style or tone, I would be very grateful if you could point them out.
If you have any thoughts or questions, please let me know in the comments section. I will do my best to reply.
Once again, thank you very much for reading this work.

Chinese Original Text

Chapter 17: The Blank Report (Part 1)

In the regiment headquarters of the royal capital, even the air smelled of paper and ink.
When Kurma awoke once again in Elul's body, the world seemed to have returned to peace—
The faint glow of magic devices, the sound of laughter, and the rustling of documents created a brief moment of tranquility.
However, a letter sent from afar shattered this normalcy.
It was an "execution receipt," yet it was completely blank.
A blank report was not a mistake, but a warning.
It meant that someone who should have died did not, or someone who should have been recorded was erased.
In that void, the lurking truth was slowly beginning to emerge.

“Ah... this garden... it looks like the one I saw when I first arrived at the royal capital. Was that hundreds of years ago...”
The whisper echoed in her consciousness, and the scent of flowers and the mist faded away together.
“...Hmm, it seems I'm about to wake up. Where—where is this...”

Kurma slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over a dim, yellowish light.
A meteor emblem with a silver border on a black background hung on the wall, and the bookshelf next to it was piled high with files and books that were about to topple over.
And at the desk against the wall, a young man was hunched over, the magic device in his hands glowing faintly.

“Good morning, Kurma.”
Elul's clear voice echoed in her mind.
“Oh... so this time I'm in your body, huh?” the Demon King chuckled. “How long have I been asleep?”
“About two weeks? Your magic power is currently very stable, and your legs are fine too.”

“That's good.” Kurma stretched in her consciousness. “Are you at the regiment headquarters now? Are you on duty?”
“Yes, I am. —Also, if you try to move around recklessly, don't blame me for locking you back in.”
“Ooh... what a pity.” Kurma rubbed her hands together, her tone filled with a mischievous smile. “But your uniform still looks like it really wants to be touched~”
“Stop messing around! If you keep this up, that magic device is really going to be ruined!” Elul glared, but couldn't help but laugh.

At this moment, Lenore, who was concentrating on repairs, suddenly stopped, his tools making a soft clinking sound.
He looked up, and reflections of red and yellow flashed in his pale purple pupils.
“...Is the Demon King awake?”

“Unh-huh,” Kurma replied through Elul's consciousness, “I am awake. Is something the matter?”
“Your Majesty, this magic device has a technical problem, and I would like to ask for your advice...”
“Aren't you my knowledge base? You should be able to fix it yourself, right?” Kurma retorted lazily.
“Well...” Lenore blushed slightly at being snapped at, “I'm afraid I still need practical experience.”
“Bring it here, let me take a look.”
Just as Lenore was handing the magic device to Elul—

A "click" sound came from outside the door.
The door to the hall was pushed open, and the cold wind caused the pages to rustle.
The Executioner walked in, carrying a bundle of document bags.

“Executioner, why are you coming in today?”
Lenore asked, looking up while adjusting the magic device in his hands.
“I'm here to file the execution receipts sent from the regions.”
The Executioner answered briefly, the thick document bag in her hand making a dull thud on the desk. She placed the documents on her own designated spot next to the counter, but her gaze involuntarily fell on Elul.

“Is the Demon King awake... it looks like she is.”
She took a small card from her hip pouch and handed it to Elul.
“The Princess asked me to pass this on to Your Majesty.”
Elul and Kurma within her body looked at the card together.
On it was the Princess's neat handwriting:

“...Then I must touch it.” Kurma said with a smile through Elul.
“And that magic device, it seems I'll have to fix it myself. Elul, hold it steady, and lend me your body for a moment.”
“Sigh... alright, since there's also the issue with the magic device.” Elul sighed, “But let's get one thing straight, no touching strange places! —Lenore, stand still and don't move around.”
“I, I understand!”

As soon as Lenore finished answering, he saw Elul's hair turn silver-white in an instant, and red light flickered in her pupils.
She should have been sitting in a wheelchair, but she slowly stood up, her gait as steady as a ritual.
After Kurma took over the body, she first lowered her head and gave Lenore a light kiss on the forehead.
“Synchronization complete, system stable.”

Her voice was low and amused, “This should be fine now—so, let's start with the uniform.”
After saying that, she really began to feel the texture of the new fabric up and down, her expression extremely serious.
“Your Majesty, my magic device—”
“Alright, alright, we'll talk after I've had enough of touching.”
“Waaah, don't touch strange places...!”

The Executioner looked over and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Just as she was about to turn away, someone else entered from the living area—it was Heron.
The other party was clearly startled by the sudden "forehead kiss" Kurma had just given, and could only freeze at the door, awkwardly greeting them.

The Executioner shook her head, sighed softly, and began to attend to her task.
She placed the document bag on the desk, put on her gloves, and pulled open the seal.
As soon as she pulled out the documents, a faint smell of rust wafted toward her.
“...Beheading, huh.”
She whispered to herself and opened the cloth wrapping.
The bloodstains had already dried, but they still revealed a dark red color.
On the cover were the signatures of the executor and the mayor, and the following pages contained the execution process, excerpts from the verdict, and the list of executed persons.

She flipped through them one by one, checking them, her fingertips occasionally pausing over the ink stains to verify the seals and dates.
Afterward, she pulled open the cabinet behind her and drew out a heavy register.
The cover was stamped with:
《Summary of Confirmed Death Penalty Cases and Execution Receipt Copies (Regions Outside the Royal Capital)》.
She opened to the corresponding page, comparing the information as she filled out another ledger.
The sound of the pen nib scratching against the paper was unusually clear in the room.

“Murder... date of judgment... date of confirmation...”
She whispered to herself, filling in each column one by one.
Once finished, she closed the ledger and double-checked the completeness of the documents.
Everything was correct.
She filed the receipt in the designated section of the bookshelf, tapping the spine of the paper twice as if finishing a ritual.

When she looked up, her gaze fell to the other side.
Eluer had returned to her silver hair and red eyes—it must have been Kurma still in control of the body.
She was looking down, adjusting the structure of a magic device, while Lenore and Heron watched from the side.
The scene was quiet and orderly, like a peace sealed away in time.

“I’ll probably have to sharpen it today... The feel of the cut that day was a bit strange.”
The executioner thought about the execution that day and the axe, planning to return to the execution room to maintain her tools.
With the filing task finished, she was just about to leave the headquarters—

“Click.”

The sound of the main door being pushed open was particularly jarring in the silence.
Everyone looked up almost simultaneously.
A girl wearing the uniform of the Armed Maidens Corps burst in, gasping for air.

“Chena?” The executioner immediately walked up to her, “What’s wrong? Why are you here?”
“We... were just organizing the documents we received,”
Chena panted as she pulled an official envelope from her chest, “And then we found this.”
It was a clean, plain envelope.
It only had the place of origin—‘Arbakki’—on it; other than that, there was nothing.

Although the seal had been broken, it was resealed by the mailroom and bore Chena’s own signature,
indicating:The contents inside have not been touched.

“It was tucked inside the settlement documents,” Chena took a sip of the water Lenore handed her, her breathing still unsteady,
“At first, I just felt something was wrong... After opening it, I realized it seemed to be your documents, so I brought it over immediately.”
“What’s inside?” The executioner took the envelope and reached for a letter opener.
Her voice remained calm, but her fingertips applied slight pressure.

“It’s... an execution receipt.” Chena bit her lip, “However, it’s blank.”
The executioner’s expression froze for a moment.
She silently sliced the envelope open completely—the sound of paper rubbing against paper was exceptionally loud in the air.

Three snow-white execution receipts slid out quietly.
No crime, no name, no seal; all the fields were empty.
She stared at the three sheets of paper, the light in her eyes dimming inch by inch.
“...How is that possible.”

Continued: