Twisted Wonderland: Usurper from the Wilds, English Translation

A word-for-word comparison of the official English-language translation of Twst the second novel.

▶︎ Quick Notes

Note: The English-language adaptation mistranslates character names at least 11 times, mistakenly assigning them the names of other, unrelated characters.

Note: The English-language adaptation added the word “friend” to the novel over 50 different times. The word friend is, canonically, used only six times in the original story. Friendship is a significant theme in the novels, with Yuuya having never before made a friend. Yuuya being uncomfortable with the concept of friendship is a significant part of his character.

Note: The English-language adaptation rewrites the word “lonely” in narration and dialogue involving Malleus (and, once, Leona), but loneliness is a significant theme in the main story.

Note: The English-language adaptation adds actions that do not exist in the original story, such as “a smile spreads across the boy’s lips,” “Ace frowned thoughtfully, then slapped his knee,” “Trey said as he took the paper,” “Leona said gleefully,” etc. These are possibly the personal interpretations of the localizer and might not reflect the intentions of the original author.

Note: The English-language adaptation will often add the word “boy” to narration and dialogue. The word “boy” is, canonically, only used to refer to three characters in the book: Epel, Lilia, and Cheka.

Chapter 1

The following content was added to the English-language novel and does not exist in the original book:

…and a bit of an oddity at the university. Yuya had been suddenly and mysteriously whisked away from his home world to this magic-filled place known as Twisted Wonderland. Yuya was an utterly average human with no magical abilities, and no one could understand why he was here or how to send him back home.

Grim, meanwhile, was a furry gray creature with a round face and a round body. He vaguely resembled a weasel or a cat standing on two legs. He had magical abilities and the ambition to become one of the greatest mages who ever lived, though his impulsiveness often got him into trouble.

Despite Yuya’s lack of magic and Grim’s volatile temperament, the two had managed to prove their mettle, and the school’s headmage, Dire Crowley, had allowed them to matriculate into the student body as one joint student, meaning that Yuya was supposed to keep Grim in line while Grim performed the magical tasks Yuya could not.

The following content was added to the English-language novel and does not exist in the original book:

Riddle had become so enraged when the Heartslabyul Dorm students had pushed back against his authority, his overuse of magic coupled with his poor mental state had resulted in his overblotting, causing an enormous destructive monster to materialize, which then started wreaking havoc on the Heartslabyul garden.

Even in the magic-filled world of Twisted Wonderland…

Riddle had survived the event but was now forced to face hard truths about his actions as housewarden.

The following text was added to the English-language novel and does not exist in the original book:

Though Yuya had not had a major part in directly confronting Riddle, his presence at the battle and the unusual circumstances of his admittance to the college had ignited a flurry of rumors presuming Yuya was an exceptional and potentially powerful first-year the other students needed to watch out for.

Chapter 2

Removed from EN: Even though it’s only been half a year since then, it now feels like a very long time ago.

Original Novel: “When he refused, saying ‘Even if it’s just a game, competition is the last thing I want,‘ his parents had laughed in exasperation and…”
EN Novel: “…though games, still felt like a form of fighting to him, and he was definitely not interested in that. His parents had laughed…”

Changed on EN: Possibly in a call back to his delinquent days, Deuce refers to Riddle as the “head” of Heartslabyul in the original novel, changed to “warden” on EN. More here ▶︎

Added to EN: “Yuya supposed Grim had been so focused on trying to gain entry into Night Raven College in the first place that he had never paid any mind to the sport.”

Original Crewel: “Good boy.”
EN Crewel: “‘Good,’ Crewel said.”

Original Novel: “When he refused saying, ‘Even if it’s just a game, competition is the last thing I want,’ his parents had laughed in exasperation and said, ‘Well, we figured that’s what you’d say.’ Even though it’s only been half a year since then, it now feels like a very long time ago.”

EN Novel: “He’d refused because soccer and football, though games, still felt like a form of fighting to him, and he was definitely not interested in that. His parents had laughed, half in exasperation, saying they guessed he might say that.”

Added to EN:

“It reminded Yuya that he was a stranger in this land. For him, some unexplained magic was automatically translating this world’s language into his native language, Japanese. He remembered the moment when he had first arrived in Twisted Wonderland and had realized that his ears were hearing Japanese, but his mouth was forming different shapes and syllables than what he was expecting, apparently speaking this world’s language.”

Original Crewel: “A group of puppies who can’t even understand commands, led by an owner incapable of giving clear instructions….”

EN Crewel: “A leader who is unable to communicate orders accurately to a group of puppies unable to understand commands to begin with…”

Original Novel: “…and all he can see is the top of Grim’s head, his ears drooping in dejection. He looks just like a grey ball.”
EN Novel: “He could see only the top of Grim’s head because the monster’s dejected ears were drooping and hiding his face.”

Removed from the EN novel (Yuuya): “‘I think you know already, but we don’t have that much money.'”

Original Novel: “…minced meat cutlets several times thicker than the bread itself are visible through the wrapping. The paper has darkened where meat’s juices have soaked through.”

EN Novel: “…generous slices of ham and cheese. The sandwich looked positively delicious.”

Original Novel: “Ruggie was the beast-person student whom…”
EN Novel: “Ruggie was the Savanaclaw student Yuya and Deuce…”

Added to EN: “…and the Savanaclaw Dorm housewarden, Leona Kingscholar.”

Added to EN: “…and had kept the encounter from escalating to dangerous levels.”

Original Novel: “It’s like cream bread…”
EN Novel: “…like a jelly donut.”

Original Novel: “…even if the world were turned upside down.”
EN Novel: “Pigs would fly before…”

While adapting idioms to the local market is common in localization, this was maybe an unfortunate change as “turn the world upside down” is a reference to Scar’s song in the Japanese-language adaptation of the Lion King, recreated faithfully in EN game(and elsewhere in the EN novel), and was possibly written intentionally here as another reference both to the movie and to Ruggie’s often reiterated ambitions: turn the world upside down is exactly what he is trying to do.

“Kind underclassman” changed to “kind soul” in the English-language adaptation of the novel.

Original Novel: “That anpan is real good, too. So good, in fact, you’ll wish that it wasn’t so small.”
EN Novel: “You enjoy that anpan. It’s so delicious, you’ll find you won’t be dissatisfied even if it’s small.”

(A backwards reinterpretation on EN: Ruggie is mocking Grim while emphasizing their upperclassman > underclassman hierarchy.)

A line about Savanaclaw students being used to fighting positions was misattributed to Yuuya.

It was actually said by Deuce, who would know about brawls due to his past while Yuuya would not, as he has always actively avoided them, which is a major part of his character.

A conversation between Ace and Deuce was rewritten for EN, with a line by Deuce misattributed to Yuuya:

Original Novel: “Deuce furrows his brow. ‘But last year, the dorm that won was……'”
EN Novel: “‘Yeah,’ Deuce said, ‘but the winning dorm the last two years was—'”

Original Novel: “If you’d watched the broadcast of the tournament last year, you’d know that.'”
EN Novel: (removed)

Original novel: “‘Ah.’ Deuce blinks.”
EN: “‘Ohhh,’ Yuya said.”

Chapter 3

In the English-language adaptation of the novel Ruggie says Leona is going to fail “more” of his classes, as though he is already failing at least one this year.

In the original novel Ruggie says Leona will fail his classes “again,” possibly in a reference to how he repeated a year.

Original Novel: “When Riddle enters the Mirror Chamber, the other housewardens cast open and obvious glances his way.”
EN Novel: “When he entered the ornate room, the other housewardens pointedly averted their eyes…”

Added to EN: “…the large multipurpose room that housed the Dark Mirror that chose which dorm students would join, for the housewarden meeting.”

Originally the novel describes Azul and Riddle as 2nd-year students, accurate to the game, the manga, and the anime.

In the English-language adaptation of the novel, Azul and Riddle are described as 3rd-year students.

Added to EN novel:

“Crowley cut an imposing figure in his top hat, long coat, and conspicuous black mask, which had a sharp-pointed nose and covered his face from his forehead to below his golden eyes.”

Canonically, Crowley’s eye color is undefined. More here ▶︎

In the original novel Idia is referred to only as “the Ignihyde Housewarden.”

The English-language adaptation of the novel added “Idia Shroud” to the narration, but it is possible the original author did not want him to be referred to by name, which is why he wasn’t.

Original Novel: “Leona smiled in satisfaction. It is a smile that seems to praise Riddle for having bravely faced adversity.”

EN Novel: “His satisfied grin seemed to praise Riddle, to say, ‘Way to push back, pal.'”

(Not a big change, but canonical uses of the word “friend” (and its synonyms) in Twst are being tracked, and this is not one of them. More here ▶︎)

Chapter 4

Content added to the EN novel:

“…Yuya mused, thinking of the Heartslabyul Dorm’s traditional formal high tea parties that were held on a day that wasn’t anyone’s birthday. The Heartslaybul housewarden could throw one of these parties whenever he chose to.”

Added to EN Novel: Yuuya saying “Us?” When Crowley asks him and Grim to investigate the incidents. Originally he says only, “Me?”

Removed from EN Novel: Suspecting that Crowley himself has been spreading the rumors about him around the school, there is the line, “Yuuya’s shoulders droop,” removed from the English-language translation.

Crowley repeats “Since I am so kind” often in the original game/novel, almost always with the exact same wording.

On EN this is written in different ways, such as “how marvelously generous I am” and my “magnanimity knows no bounds.” More here ▶︎

Added to EN Novel:

Without that benevolence, Yuya would have had nowhere to go, lost in a foreign world with no way home.

Added to EN Novel:

“…who had allowed Yuya and Grim to matriculate as one student. Grim would perform any tasks that required magic and Yuya would keep Grim’s ferocious personality in line.”

Original Novel: “The headmage remains silent—which makes Yuuya anxious—but rather than upset, he seems to be deep in thought.”

EN Novel: “The headmage said nothing, deep in thought, which made Yuya anxious.”

Grim says “Pardonnez-moi?” in the English-language adaptation of the novel, when in the original novel he just says, “What?”

Ace saying “Merci” was also added to the first novel. In the original novels, Rook is the one and only character who ever uses any French.

Original Crowley: “‘By my authority as headmage, I will simply work something out.'”
EN Crowley: “As school headmage, I will simply perform a magical miracle to fill out your team.”

Original Novel: “Yuuya finds this suspicious…”
EN Novel: “He raised a dubious eyebrow…”

Original Novel: “Ace joined the basketball club. His reason was simply, ‘Because it looks cool and seems like it’d make me popular.'”

EN Novel: “Ace was in the basketball club, which he’d joined for two simple reasons: It looked cool, so girls would be impressed.”

Original Ace: “…there’s an upperclassman with really intense quirks.”
EN Ace: “I just checked which cool senior guys were on the team.”

EN sounds as though Ace joined basketball to follow “cool senior guys,” but he did not. The conversation was about his struggles on the team, because of Floyd. EN loses the reference made to this scene in the next chapter:

Original Novel: “Could it be that the ‘upperclassman with really intense quirks’ Ace had mentioned was this Floyd?”
EN Novel: “Was Floyd the upperclassman Ace was talking about?”

Added to EN Novel:

“…a small building that housed seven mirrors that transported students to each of the seven primary dorms. Ramshackle Dorm was located within the school’s grounds, unlike the other dorms, and thus had no mirror in the hall.”

Removed from EN: “…please believe me, housewarden, vice-housewarden!”

(Rook’s follow-up line of “Of course we believe you” was retained on EN, despite how the previous line of the student begging to be believed was removed.)

Rook does not originally say, “Mon dieu!,” he originally says, “Oh,” changed on EN.

Original Novel: “Deuce, who had heard the story from another Heartslabyul student in his club, had apparently told Ace, who had remained in the classroom.”

EN Novel: “He explained that he’d heard the news from another Heartslabyul student, and then he told Ace.”

Added to EN novel: Grim telling Trey, “It’s cool. Don’t get up.”

Added to EN Novel:

“…that was their final year before they left the campus for their fourth-year offsite fieldwork.”

The EN novel retained the EN-game localization of Cater’s nickname for Adeuce: “Hunting Season.”

Added to EN Novel: In a scene where Riddle stops himself from berating Grim, EN added the line, “He looked at the injured student.”

If you thought it was odd for Trey to roll his eyes at Riddle and for Riddle to roll his eyes at Yuuya, you are correct: while added to the EN novel, Trey and Riddle rolling their eyes did not happen in canon.

Original Trey: “‘That’s exactly what you told me at lunch today. I’m fine, really—it’s all right.'”
EN Trey: Trey rolled his eyes before responding. “You asked me the same thing earlier. I’m good. You don’t need to fuss over me like this.”

Original Riddle: “Riddle responded with an exasperated, ‘So that’s what it is’…”
EN Riddle: “Is that it?” Riddle asked, rolling his eyes.”

In one place in Chapter 4, a line said by Ace was misattributed to Deuce.

In two places a line said by Deuce was misattributed to Ace.

Original Novel: “…Cater, who is so close to Trey.”
EN Novel: “Trey’s good friend Cater.”

EN added “the college’s social media app, Magicam,” to narration, but there is never any insinuation that Magicam is exclusive to Night Raven College (in the game, Magicam seems to be used by both NRC students and non-students alike).

Cater is a “yaeba” character (八重歯), with one or more crooked teeth, which can make him seem as though he has a fang in official art.

The EN game also seems to have struggled with how to localize references to Cater’s yaeba (more here ▶︎). In the novel, “crooked tooth” was written as, “a toothy smile.”

Original Novel: “Is it really possible for a human being to hold such strong anger and sorrow?”
EN Novel: “He’d had no idea a human being could hold within themselves such anger and sadness that it would manifest in such a huge, destructive monster that had practically leveled the Heartslabyul garden.”

Chapter 5

In the original story Floyd comments on Riddle’s “head” standing out and drawing attention to himself, presumably due to his hair color.

In the English-language adaptation this was changed to Floyd saying Riddle has “a face that really sticks out,” instead.

The original novel references a line said by Ace in the previous scene where he talks about an “upperclassman with really intense quirks,” who is then revealed to be Floyd.

EN changed the original line in Chapter 4, and then removed this callback line in Chapter 5.

Original Novel: “As Riddle and Floyd converse, another man approaches them.”
EN Novel: “While Riddle and Floyd talked, the other twin, who must be Jade, ambled toward them.”

Yuuya smiling at Jade was added to the English-language novel. Originally, he does not.

Floyd sneering at Riddle was added to the EN novel.

He also compares Riddle to “a little kitty cat,” but it is possible that Floyd has canonically never compared anyone to an animal that is not marine-life-adjacent.

Original Yuuya: “I’m sorry! It was a misunderstanding!”
EN Yuuya: “I’m sorry! You’re totally misunderstanding everything!”

A line said by Floyd in the original novel was misattributed to Jade in the English-language translation.

Jade’s line in response was misattributed to Floyd.

Original Novel: “When they reach the Main Street, Yuuya breathes a sigh of relief.”

EN Novel: “He finally let out a sigh of relief when they came out onto Main Street, the wide road lined with large stone statues of the Great Seven, located in the center of campus.”

Removed from EN Novel: “Yuuya asks anxiously, but Riddle’s reaction is opposite to how he responded before.”

The EN novel added the explanation of Briar Valley being “a land north of here” to Riddle’s dialogue. Originally, Riddle does not specify where Briar Valley is.

In the original novel (and game/manga) Lilia’s speech patterns are old fashioned: he uses phrasing associated with older/eccentric male characters in fictional stories, like Samurai-era or fantasy settings. (More here ▶︎)

Lilia’s characterization seems to have shifted in the English-language translation of the novel where he uses words like “y’all” and says “my bad.“

In the scene where Riddle approaches Silver in the woods, the line, “He seems most intent upon continuing their investigation” was removed from the EN novel.

Lilia tells Riddle that Malleus becomes “lonely” quite easily. This was written as “he really feels the sting of these things,” which is not incorrect, but emphasizing Malleus’ loneliness in particular was likely intentional in this scene.

Original Novel: “Riddle speaks of himself in the same tone he used to criticize Malleus, his expression unchanging. Unable to agree or disagree, Yuuya can only watch Riddle in silence. ‘Oh, my apologies. I have been speaking on a topic to which you cannot relate. There’s no point in telling you this, after all, Riddle says.”

EN Novel: “Yuya didn’t know what to say. He was shocked to hear Riddle be so introspective and self-critical. ‘Aah, apologies, Yu,’ Riddle said, waving a dismissive hand. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s got nothing to do with you. I’m mostly talking to myself.'”

Original Novel: “…he wants them all to meet up at Savanaclaw.”
EN Novel: “…he wanted everyone to rendezvous at the Hall of Mirrors and then go together to Savanaclaw Dorm.”

Original Novel: “It appears that, in his own mind, he seems to think he is improving.”
EN Novel: “Apparently, promising not to use his signature spell, Off with Your Head, was an improvement.”

Chapter 6

The EN novel changed narration to say that Cater and Grim went to Pomefiore, but they didn’t. Ace and Deuce went to Pomefiore, confirmed in the following paragraph.

EN also added “Yuya, Ace, and Deuce rolled their eyes at Grim,” which they didn’t.

EN has been showing a pattern of adding characters rolling their eyes at one another when they’re not, also adding “Grim rolled his eyes” to Chapter 6.

EN added the description of Grim dashing onto the spelldrive field at Savanaclaw like “a cat hearing a can opener.”

Added to EN:
・”Grim lashed out, not one to learn a lesson.”
・”Ace sighed, rolling his eyes.”

Original Novel: “…Deuce forms his hands into fists. Grim seems poised to lunge, and Yuuya desperately holds him back with both hands.”

EN Novel: “Deuce frantically gripped Grim with both hands, clenching them into fists to keep him from lunging forward. The air crackled with tension as a fight brewed.”

Original Novel: “‘Hey. What are you all doing.'”
EN Novel: “Then Yuya heard a familiar voice. ‘What’s all the fuss for?'”

Original Novel: “While only natural for Ace and Grim, even Yuuya and Deuce—who have met him before—are left awestruck.”
EN Novel: “Yuuya and Deuce knew Leona from their first encounter will him and Ruggie earlier in the month when they were on their way back from Mister S’ Mystery Shop. Ruggie and Leona had kept Deuce from getting into a fight with other Savanaclaw students. But Ace and Grim had never met Leona and, upon seeing him, they gasped.”

Original Novel: “He could be surrounded by dozens, by hundreds of people, and would still, instantly, draw attention.”
EN Novel: (removed)

Original Novel: “Shi-shi-shi!’ Ruggie laughs like air is escaping from him—a unique sound.”

EN Novel: “‘Shyeheehee!’ Ruggie’s laughter was a singular sound, enough to cause the air to flee from Yuya’s body.”

Removed from EN: “Even so, a risk-free competition is far preferable to a brawl.”

Added to EN:
・”Since Yuya had no magic, he couldn’t play.”
・”…so Savanaclaw agreed to use only four players, rather than the usual seven players per team.” ・”…his friends.”
・”The teams also agreed to use modified Spelldrive rules to account for the smaller teams.”

Changed on EN: Deuce saying “Damn it” was rewritten as “Curse them!”
Removed from EN: “He may have cut the inside of his mouth when he fell.”

Original Leona: “This barely counts as practice for our team. We need you to at least stand in as targets for the disc.”
EN Leona: “Lying on the ground’s not gonna help you win.”

In the original novel Yuuya is described as crying out “in pain,” rewritten on EN to, “causing Yuya to shriek in terror.”

Original Novel: “…watch this violence, this conflict—it is terrifying.”
EN Novel: “…watch his friends continue to be mocked and pushed around-engaging in what felt like a fistfight without fists.”

Original Novel: “As he moves towards the exit…”
EN Novel: “Yuya shook off the hand on his shoulder and started to walk away.”

Added to EN: “He must have just come to the field; Yuya would have noticed someone so tall much earlier.”

Jack did not refer to the other characters as “herbivores;” the insult was added to EN.

Original Novel: “Jack is uninterested in returning to the group.”
EN Novel: “Yuya had no interest in finding out, not after what his friends had been through.”

The original novel describes the walk to Ramshackle dorm as a “lonely path,” removed from the EN novel.

While a small change, people and places being described as “lonely” has proven significant to Twst’s overall story.

Removed from EN: “Apparently, Jack had inadvertently been glaring at the two of them.”

Original Novel: “But that doesn’t mean he can compromise his beliefs.”
EN Novel: “…their leader didn’t seem to share his principles.”

Original Novel: “It was three years ago, when Jack was still in middle school.”
EN Novel: “When Jack was younger…”

Removed from EN: “…but then Leona had repeated his second year.”

(This is the one and only confirmation that we have received in any official media (as of this writing) that it was Leona’s second year that he repeated at NRC; information that has not reached EN’s audience.)

Added to EN: “Was he disgusted with Ruggie, like he didn’t know what he was doing?”

Chapter 7

Original Novel: “Thinking about what lay ahead made him anxious, especially at times like this.”
EN Novel: “Thinking about the future only made him anxious, especially at times like this when he was alone with his thoughts.”

Yuuya comments on Malleus sounding lonely, changed in the EN novel to “sad.”

The EN game made this same change, despite the significance of “loneliness,” specifically, in Twst.

Original Novel: “…and just a few steps ahead of him something seems to move, partially obscuring the dim gate light.”
EN Novel: “…stopped a few paces in front of him.”

Original Novel: “The school grounds are vast, and he hardly has the time to cross paths with anyone besides his own classmates.”

EN Novel: “The school was big, and he had no time for anyone or anything beyond his classes, his classmates, and their Spelldrive investigation.”

Ace and Deuce both greet Yuuya in the morning, Ace’s greeting misattributed to Deuce and Deuce’s greeting misattributed to Ace in the English-language novel.

Original Novel: “Before parting, they had said that they would report the results of the investigation once they returned to the dorm.”

EN Novel: “He wanted to know what Riddle said when his friends reported back to their housewarden about the results of their investigation.”

Original Deuce: “‘Clover-senpai stopped him.'”
EN Deuce: “‘Cater stopped him.'”

Original Novel: “Grim looked exasperated, but there was nothing for Yuuya to say. He was remembering the words Riddle had murmured after they parted ways with Lilia and Silver the previous day.”

EN Novel: “Grim said, rolling his eyes, but Yuya didn’t agree. He remembered what Riddle had said after they had talked to Lilia and Silver from Diasomnia the day before, about how he had things to learn from Malleus about being a better housewarden.”

Original Novel: “‘I’m not freaked out!'”
EN Novel: “‘The Great Grim’s not freaked out by that shrimp!’ the monster interjected.”

Original Novel: “No matter how he phrases it, it would damage Riddle’s pride.”
EN Novel: “No matter how Yuya worded it, Riddle might not want him sharing what he’d said to him in private.”

Original Novel: “As Grim messes around with Ace without so much as taking out his textbook, a nearby Heartslabyul student says…”

EN Novel: “He leaned back in his seat, not even thinking about opening his textbook. A nearby Heartslabyul student looked at him and said…”

Original Novel: “Grim reluctantly allows himself to be coerced into facing forward, and Yuuya opens his reference book, ‘Coming to Know Twisted Wonderland.’ It is a thick book, but at long last he is more than halfway through. Still on his first read-through he cannot remember much…”

EN Novel: “After forcing the reluctant Grim to study, Yuya opened his own book, a thick reference volume on Twisted Wonderland itself, including its history and geography. Yuya had only a few more pages to get through. He hadn’t memorized everything so far…”

Original Novel: “Ace, Deuce, Trey and Riddle are from the Queendom of Roses…”
EN Novel: “Ace, Deuce, along with Trein and Riddle, were from the Queendom of Roses.”

Original Novel: “Cater is from the largest country, the ‘Land of Pyroxene’ Due to what his family does for work he has moved frequently…”

EN Novel: “Cater was from the Shaftlands, the largest landmass in Twisted Wonderland, located to the far west of Sage’s Island. Cater had moved frequently because of his parents’ work…”

Original Novel: “Leona, from yesterday, is a member of Sunset Savanna’s royal family according to what Deuce has said.”

EN Novel: “The section in the book Yuya was reading now was about Sunset Savanna. That was where Leona was from, as a member of the royal family of Sunset Savanna.”

Original Novel: “The book also contains details about the country: in the past, there were lawless territories where the rule of its own kings did not reach. While, now, there are beautifully developed urban areas, there are also large slum towns, and significant economic disparity.”

EN Novel: “The book noted that Sunset Savanna had once been a lawless land, but the region’s cities were now well-functioning and fully modern.”

Original Novel: “…so I brought him something to eat from the school store for him to have in the classroom.'”

EN Novel: “So I brought him some lunch I picked up at the shop. That way, he can eat in the classroom and rest his poor leg.”

Original Novel: “Perhaps Kalim considers Jamil to be particularly trustworthy.”
EN Novel: “Why would Kalim say that? Yuya wondered.”

Original Novel: “Sensing someone’s eyes upon them, Yuuya and Ace glance over to Riddle.”
EN Novel: “The pair grinned at each other and then gasped as they felt Riddle’s hard eyes on them.”

Original Novel: “It’s true that Grim had been acting strangely. Ace and Deuce look just as surprised as Yuuya.”
EN Novel: “It was true, Yuya thought. That sandwich trade was very out of character for Grim.”

Original Novel: “‘Behind them, is that Riddle Rosehearts? Didn’t he cause a huge uproar the other day?'”
EN Novel: “‘Isn’t that Riddle Rosehearts behind them? The guy from the tea party and the overblot thing?!'”

Original Novel: “‘Got Riddle-kun with ya today, huh—brought a guardian to settle yesterday’s grudge for you?'”
EN Novel: “‘You even brought Riddle today? You trying to get your mommy to finish your fights for you? Force me to say sorry for yesterday?’“

Original Novel: “While they encourage Ruggie to sit down, he refuses with the assurance that he is fine with standing. It seems that he does not intend to linger for long.”

EN Novel: “He urged Ruggie to sit, but the boy refused. ‘Nah, I’m good,’ he said.”

Original Novel: “After hearing Riddle’s plan for the first time during lunch, Yuuya had become extremely nervous. Seeing this, Riddle had acknowledged him with a nod.”

EN Novel: “In the cafeteria earlier, right before the group left to go to their afternoon classes, Yuya had asked Riddle about the ethical dilemmas his plan had raised.”

Original Novel: “Stubborn and inflexible, but a fundamentally straight-forward person who will take your word at face value to a surprisingly naive degree. Yuuya wonders if this is a result of Riddle’s limited experience with interpersonal relationships.”

EN Novel: “Stubborn and inflexible, but straightforward by nature. He was surprisingly simple in a way. He took people at their word.”

When Ruggie steals Ace and Deuce’s magical pens, Deuce’s reaction was misattributed to Ace, with Ace’s reaction misattributed to Deuce.

Added to EN: “He gave them a casual salute with two fingers and turned to go.”

Original Novel: ‘”This is nothing compared to the back alleys of the slums, Ruggie remarks, hopping nonchalantly over a bench that trips up Cater and Riddle.”

EN Novel: “Compared to the backstreets of Sunset Savanna, this is a cakewalk.” Ruggie leaped over a bench and tripped up Riddle and Cater.”

Original Novel: “Even Riddle, who is in Ruggie’s own grade, seems to be caught by surprise, his eyes going wide.”
EN Novel: “This surprised them all, and the Heartslabyul housewarden’s eyes grew wide in shock.”

Chapter 8

Original Grim: “‘I’m gonna enter the tournament and get real popular!'”
EN Grim: “Grim grinned broadly and announced, ‘I wanna catch the guy so I can get my glorious mug on TV!’

Original Yuuya: “‘And Riddle-senpai told Ace and Deuce that if they help look for the culprit, he’ll consider adding them to the roster as replacements for the injured athlete(s).'”

EN Yuuya: “And Riddle said that if Ace and Deuce help look for the culprit, he might give them the spot on the team left empty because Trey Clover, a Heartslabyul player, got hurt.”

Original Novel: “‘A man needs a proper reason if he is going to speak frankly. Prove to me with your fists that you’re not just all talk, Jack says. He speaks as if if it is the most obvious thing in the world, leaving Yuuya at a loss for words. He had doubted his ears when he heard the word ‘fight,’ and hearing the reason only leaves him more dumbfounded.”

EN Novel: “‘If I’m gonna open up and come clean, you’ve gotta earn it. I gotta know I can trust you,’ Jack explained. ‘I’ll size you up with my fists, make sure you’re not just talk.’ Yuya was stunned. Jack’s reasoning baffled him into speechlessness.”

Original Novel: “It was exactly what Yuuya had expected.”
EN Novel: “Yuya gasped and whirled to look at Deuce.”

Removed from EN: “Only Jack was nodding along as Deuce spoke.”

Removed from EN: “Given the time of year, most students are probably at spelldrive practice.”

Removed from EN: “Seated at Jack’s side, Deuce pats him repeatedly on the back with his palm.”

Original Leona: “‘Getting that irritating, Octavinelle octopus-bastard’s cooperation took a serious payoff. You know very well what’ll happen if that goes to waste, don’t you, Ruggie?”

EN Leona: “I gave that Octavinelle creep a serious payoff to do that job for us. You know what’ll happen to you if you mess this up and make me waste all that cash, right, Ruggie?”

(It is not actually confirmed that Leona compensated Azul for his services in cash. When asked in the game, Leona refuses to answer.)

Chapter 9

Original Novel: “‘Excellent. So we’re all here?’ Vargas’ booming voice echoes throughout the auditorium.”

EN Novel: “‘Excellent. So we’re all here?’ said Professor Vargas, the gym teacher. His booming voice reached each and every corner of the lecture hall.”

Original Novel: “It is early on the morning of the spelldrive tournament, and Yuuya and the other students have been gathered in the auditorium, as they knew they would be, for a final review of the day’s agenda before the spectators begin to arrive.”

EN Novel: “Yuya and Grim had joined the rest of the student body in the lecture hall. Vargas wanted to review the entire program for the Spelldrive tournament with everyone before the guests and spectators arrived at the school.”

Original Novel: “And everyone is dressed in their dorm uniforms, with the exception of Yuuya and Grim. This is to demonstrate their authority in this match of rivals.”

EN Novel: “All the students wore their dorm uniforms in a show of force and solidarity.”

Original Novel: “He has looked over the crowd, but there are too many students for him to identify Ace, Deuce, or any of the upperclassmen with whom he has become familiar over the past few days.”

EN Novel: “He glanced around, looking for his friends, but there were so many people that he couldn’t find anyone, not Ace, Deuce, Riddle, Cater or any of the other students he’d met during their investigation of the injured students.“

Original Novel: ”You’ll travel down Main Street, pass through Side Street, and enter the coliseum. Athletes, be aware that you are all to meet up in a different place than in previous years.'”

EN Novel: “Then we continue onto Main Street past the statues of the Great Seven before turning onto Side Street toward the coliseum. That means the player mustering point is different from last year’s, so make sure you remember where to go,’ Professor Vargas continued.”

Original Novel: “The parade itself had been proposed by the chair of the spelldrive tournament management committee, the housewarden of Octavinelle. He is likely the student wearing glasses, standing diagonally to Vargas back. He smiles as he nods along, looking more satisfied than anyone else. The thought of having to sit through such a spectacle was originally met with displeasure, but complaining students were mocked for being envious of those who had made the team.” By this point opposition had almost entirely disappeared…”

EN Novel: “The parade itself had been proposed by Azul Ashengrotto, the Octavinelle housewarden, who was also the head of the Spelldrive tournament planning committee. Initially, some students had grumbled about the extra work the parade involved, but most students liked the idea and were simply jealous they couldn’t be in it because they didn’t make their dorm’s team. Grinning broadly and nodding in satisfaction, Azul stood behind Vargas as he talked.”

Original Novel: “While Vargas and his impressive physique do have their fans…”
EN Novel: (removed)

Original Novel: “Their dorm uniforms—which Yuuya has not seen in quite a while—suit them.”
EN Novel: “He’d never before seen them in their dorm uniforms—they looked sharp.”

(Yuuya saw Ace and Deuce in their dorm uniforms in the first novel.)

Original Novel: “Several students descend the long stairs before them, lit by white morning light. Most students will be going straight to the coliseum, the location of the tournament, to cheer from the school’s designated seats. Only the athletes themselves will be allowed on the field. Ace takes a step down the stairs, looks down towards the coliseum, and sighs.”

EN Novel: “For a moment, they watched the flood of students pouring down the stairs in the pale morning sunlight, everyone heading for Main Street and then Side Street, where they’d shop the kiosks and cheer on the player parade, before continuing to the coliseum for the opening ceremony and the Spelldrive tournament. As the group joined the other students walking toward Main Street, Ace looked out at the coliseum and sighed.”

Original Novel: “‘Saying he should stop causing so much trouble for his vice-house warden, that kind of stuff. Yuuya unconsciously stops dead in his tracks. If he were to be honest, he can certainly imagine Riddle receiving such criticism.”

EN Novel: “Like, ‘Stop messing with the vice housewarden,” Ace responded. Yuya could imagine Riddle being criticized, but…”

Original Novel: “In response to Ace’s contemplative tone, Yuuya can only nod and say ‘I see. It seems odd to say anything now to Ace, who is always so much more level-headed than himself.”

EN Novel: “‘Yeah, I guess so,’ Yuya said, nodding. It was hard to tell if Ace was criticizing Riddle or defending him.”

Original Novel: “To tell the truth, what he remembers with far more clarity is Ace’s response of, ‘That was all because of the hard work of the students themselves—not something for you to be boasting about.'”

EN Novel: “However, if he was honest, he remembered harsher responses more clearly, like how he’d snapped that the students had only done the work they were expected to do and so their achievements were nothing for the housewarden to praise.”

(A curious mistranslation, the subject changes from Ace to Riddle.)

After being mentioned once, the stairs in the scene of the group walking to the festival are removed from four places in the EN novel.

Removed from EN novel: “Deuce himself has admitted to doing a lot of bad things, so it’s only natural.”

Original Novel: “As Yuuya walks before the Great Seven statues 7 admiring the beautiful decorations, the lion statue appears last, on his left. Yuuya comes to a stop, his eyes passing over the words carved into its pedestal.”

EN Novel: “As they passed before the beautiful statues, Yuya naturally came to a stop in front of the lion. He lingered over the words carved into the pedestal.”

Original Novel: “Looking up at one of the stalls selling these more curious items Yuuya sees a sign that reads, ‘Mr. S’s Mystery Shop. ‘It is about half the size of the school store’s usual sign, but the shape remains the same.”

EN Novel: “Yuya noticed a tent selling strange goods. The sign read ‘Mister S’s Mystery Shop.’ Yuya had been to the actual shop before—when Ruggie and Leona’s intervention had stopped Deuce from losing control…”

Removed from EN Novel: “Grim seems mostly surprised by how Jack never grows bored of exercise, but Yuuya and the others shake their heads. It is unquestionably strange for Jack to have intentionally strayed so far from the meeting point for the procession, and now Jack himself is glancing about with shifty eyes. Deuce and Ace exchange a sly grin.”

Original Novel: “Yuuya has been unconsciously using formal speech with Jack in response to the intensity of his first impression, but they are classmates, after all. It must have seemed rather odd, and then made even odder in contrast to how he speaks with his other fellow first-years, Ace and Deuce.”

EN Novel: “Yuya realized he did tend to be more formal with Jack, perhaps because he could be so intimidating. But Yuya didn’t talk to other first-years that way. He was much more casual with Ace and Deuce, for instance. And certainly with Grim.”

Original Novel: “‘Oh, a thousand apologies. Grim-san, the boss,’ Azul corrects himself immediately, without even a hint of turning Grim’s rudeness back upon him.”

EN Novel: “‘Oh goodness! I beg your pardon,’ Azul said and corrected himself. ‘Boss Grim, then…'”

Removed from EN Novel: “Smiling at Grim’s sudden change in mood, Azul winks at Yuuya, as though to reassure him that he understands the situation perfectly.”

Original Novel: “Whether the spectators all had the same idea, or whether they were kindly guided by the event committee chairman, the roadsides are packed with onlookers.”

EN Novel: “This was the best place to see the players up close, and many people who had come to watch the tournament felt the same way. Spectators were packed together like sardines on either side of the road.”

(An important change: the original novel is possibly insinuating that Azul was more deeply involved in Leona’s plan than only providing a potion.)

Original Novel: “Sure enough it tastes like rotten stew…”
EN Novel: “Just as he’d feared, it tasted like old stew simmered in a gym sock…”

While the EN novel (and EN game) added “gym sock” to Ruggie’s description of the potion, possibly for humor, the original novel (and original game) say only “rotten stew.”

Ruggie’s official disliked food is “anything rotten” and, given his background, it is possible that Ruggie was comparing the potion to rotten stew because the flavor of rotten stew is something he is familiar with, possibly from a point in his life when it was his only option (unconfirmed, conjecture only).

Original Novel: “Riddle did confront Leona, but it seems he—of course—brushed it off, claiming he does not know.”

EN Novel: “Riddle wrote that he’d grilled Leona, but, of course, the king had denied knowing anything.”

Original Novel: “There are so many people that Yuuya, too, struggles to make any progress as they search. They decide to put some space between themselves and the boisterous festival grounds.”

EN Novel: It was so packed even Yuya had a rough time moving forward. Finding Ruggie seemed impossible, if he was even there. Yuya told Grim they needed to get away from the congested area near the booths.

Original Novel: “Even with his magic, the small Grim will be easily crushed in this human avalanche of a stampede. Of course, Yuuya is also powerless against it. With no options, anyone would be trampled here.”

EN Novel: “The monster would be helplessly mowed down if he got caught up in this avalanche of people. The crush of people was trampling anyone and anything in its path.”

Chapter 10

Original Novel: “Leona took advantage of the confusion to slip away, and has been waiting here with the members of Savanaclaw selected for their spelldrive team—waiting for Ruggie.”

EN Novel: “Leona clutched a staff with a carved lion on top that held Leona’s yellow magestone in its mouth. The other Savanaclaw players were also there, having taken advantage of the confusion to slip away from the parade.”

A description of Leona’s housewarden staff had a reference to its beads removed from En, and the section itself was relocated to the beginning of the chapter when originally it did not appear in the story until Leona first accuses Jack of being a traitor.

Original Novel: “Ace and Deuce bite their lips and mutter about Leona’s mockery. There they’d been, on high alert, and yet they had done nothing to prevent that horrible panic. They regret it extremely—as does Yuuya.”

EN Novel: “Ace and Deuce bit their lips in frustration. ‘Who’s he callin’ an idiot?’ Ace grumbled, narrowing his eyes at the lion boy. Yuya knew exactly how his friends felt.”

Original Novel: “Ruggie wears a smug smile, as though having reached his goal at long last. If one did not know what it is that he’s done, a look of such genuine pleasure would be refreshing. ‘Just like Leona-san’s said, it’s too late. Those Diasomnia losers must be wrecked by now!'”

EN Novel: “Ruggie said, smiling smugly. ‘Leona’s right. You’re too late. Those Diasomnia guys are pancakes by now.'”

Original Novel: “‘Here!’ The dorm-uniform clad Lilia appears out of thin air. He floats upside down, peering into Ruggie’s eyes. Ruggie’s expression is hidden from Yuuya by the angle of Lilia’s head, but with the sudden trembling of his voice, it is easy enough to imagine. ‘Li-Lilia… Vanrouge…what are you doing here?'”

EN Novel: “Right here!” Lilia exclaimed, popping into existence in midair. Wearing his dorm uniform, he was floating upside down and peering at Ruggie. “L-Lilia…Vanrouge…” Ruggie stammered. “What? How…”

In the original novel (and game/manga/anime) Deuce consistently refers to his upperclassmen as last-name-senpai. This was localized in the EN novels as Deuce referring to all older students just by their last names alone, except in Chapter 10 where he refers to Cater by his first name, instead.

Sebek saying “humans” was written in the English-language novel as “people,” instead.

Original Novel: “Leona is silent. Arms crossed, he does not so much as blink, as though in deep contemplation. While he does appear troubled, there is no hesitation in his stare. Growing impatient with Leona’s silence, the students that surround him begin to clamber for attention.”

EN Novel: “The lion boy was silent. Arms crossed, eyes not even blinking, he seemed to be thinking long and hard, turning the question over in his mind. Frustrated by his silence, his dormmates raised ragged voices.”

Much like the English-language adaptation to the game, several characters had the word “boss” added to their dialogue when referring to Leona, despite not actually saying it. More here ▶︎

Much like the EN game, Leona had “hated” removed from his dialogue in a scene leading up to his overblot. Later in the novel, the same word in the same context was translated accurately.

Original Novel: “One person’s hands are nothing but skin and bone, while another’s are red and sunburned from training. All of them are clinging to him, pleading for his help.”

EN Novel: “A hand red with sunburn from days spent practicing clung to Leona, begging him to help.”

Original Novel: “The sand dances through the air as though to protect him, with the very sandstorm itself that was raging around Yuuya and the others just moments ago now waiting, subdued, at Leona’s side…”

EN Novel: “Then the raging sandstorm danced around them as if protecting them and curled up quietly at their feet.”

(The English-language translation sounds as if the sand was protecting the group of Yuuya and the others when it was actually attacking them, protecting Leona himself.)

Original Novel: “A magic that turns things into sand. That is how Leona explains his unique magic. Indeed, the air around them is bone dry, making it hard to even breathe. Plants and soil, to say nothing of the moisture in the air—it seems to have all turned to sand. ‘Magic like this exists?’ Yuuya coughs.”

EN Novel: “A spell that changed the world to sand. Indeed, the air was so dry, it was hard to breathe. Leona’s spell sucked moisture even from the air itself. ‘How can magic like this exist?’ Yuya murmured.”

Original Novel: “Students from Heartslabyul and Diasomnia alike are stunned by Leona’s unique magic, but the same is also true of his own dorm members. It must be magic he rarely ever uses. ‘Leona-san, what are you thinking!?’ Ruggie steps in front of Leona.”

EN Novel: “Leona’s signature spell shocked the Heartslabyul and Diasomnia students, but his own dormmates also seemed surprised. ‘Leona, what are you thinking?!’ Ruggie shouted and leaped in front of Leona.”

Original Novel: “Riddle and Silver shout ‘Stop!,’ but the sandstorm prevents anyone from getting close enough to intervene.”

EN Novel: “Riddle and Silver shouted at Leona to stop, but a storm of sand attacked anyone who tried to wrest his staff from him.”

Original Novel: “Leona knows exactly how to humiliate an opponent.”
EN Novel: “Leona enjoyed humiliating his opponents…”

Original Novel: “Yuuya shouted hoarsely, trying to stop Leona. Ace and Deuce turned toward him with shocked expressions, but his fear had burst loose—he couldn’t stay still.”

EN Novel: “His throat was dry, but the terror that had held him back had broken. He stepped toward Leona, determined to do something to stop him…”

Original Novel: “The wolf has white-silver ears tipped with black, and dependable, gleaming golden eyes. Both are unmistakably Jack’s colors. There is no doubt about it—the wolf is Jack. The sight of a beastman transforming into a wolf was no illusion after all. Like Yuuya and the others, Leona seemed to be seeing this magic for the first time as well. Before the shock in Leona’s widened eyes can give way to composure, Jack—now a wolf—lets out a low growl and lunges for him. Leona twists aside to evade the attack, but he fails to hide his hesitation.”

EN Novel: “It was a giant wolf, with a rippling, glossy silver coat, platinum ears with black-furred tips, and golden eyes shining with a steady light. In a day filled with shocking events, Yuya thought this might be the most incredible. Apparently, Leona felt the same way. His eyes grew wide, and before he could respond, the wolf that was Jack howled and lunged at him. Leona whirled to dodge the attack, but like everyone else, he was shaken. No one had seen this spell before.”

Original Novel: “‘I shall watch him. You all evacuate now and take the other injured with you.'”

EN Novel: “‘I shall watch him,’ Lilia said. ‘You boys go and evacuate those wounded in the stampede while we still can.'”

(Lilia is actually ordering them to help the Savanaclaw students wounded by Leona, not by the stampede.)

Original Novel: “Damn it…this!’ He clawed at the collar, trying to tear it off, but it does not budge. It is far too powerful a spell for that. It is the crystallization of Riddle’s effort, of the relentless training that he has undergone since childhood.”

EN Novel: “Leona writhed and twisted like a caged animal. “How dare you—!” he howled as he tore at his throat to try to remove the collar, but it didn’t budge. The spell, once successfully cast, was too powerful.”

Original Novel: “Yuuya remembers what Riddle said when they were discussing Malleus: a good housewarden. A respected housewarden. Riddle has always longed to know more. ‘I envied you, for how the students admire you.'”

EN Novel: “Yuya recalled what Riddle had said about Malleus. How he was a good, respected housewarden who inspired admiration and devotion. Riddle wanted to learn how to do the same, and apparently he regarded Leona that way, too.”

Original Novel: “His voice is trembling. The winds are strong and his words are intermittent, but there is no doubting what he has said. Who could have realized just how deep Riddle’s regret goes? Ace, Deuce, obviously Yuuya, and even the clever Cater certainly had no idea.”

EN Novel: “Riddle’s voice trembled. Yuya didn’t realize Riddle could be filled with such regret. He hid it from everyone, even friends like Ace, Deuce, and Cater.”

Original Novel: “It is what Riddle has wished for: what he wants to learn from Malleus, and to gain for himself.”
EN Novel: “Yuya saw in their eyes what Riddle had said he wished to learn from Malleus, and now Leona.”

Original Novel: “Riddle narrows his eyes, but makes no attempt to stop him.”
EN Novel: “Riddle narrowed his eyes in concern but didn’t stop him.”

Chapter 11

Original Novel: “If something is far away enough, you cannot long for it.”
EN Novel: “I didn’t have to fret and stew without my brother around.”

Chapter 12

Original Novel: “Jack grimaces at the thought of how that must have felt for Leona.”
EN Novel: “How’d you like it if someone did that to you?”

Original Novel: “Once the headmage arrived, Cater went to check on the people they’d evacuated. With no one to lighten the mood, the atmosphere has been incredibly tense until this moment. Aside from the headmage and Grim, they have all been almost entirely silent, but now that Leona has regained consciousness the tension seems to ease.”

EN Novel: “Once the headmage arrived, Cater went to check on the people they’d evacuated. Until Leona awakened, the mood had been heavy and tense, but Yuya felt everyone grow a little lighter at last.”

Added to EN Novel: “The headmage told them that the school had decided to go forward with the tournament as planned. They wouldn’t cancel it because of what happened.”

Original Novel: “So much harm has been done. The injured people, the uproar of the procession, Leona’s overblot.”

EN Novel: “A great deal of damage had been done—numerous people had been injured, property had been destroyed, and the event had been marred by the parade stampede and Leona’s overblot.”

Original Novel: “Out of everything, the thing that concerns Yuuya the most is Jack. While it did turn into a confrontation with his own dorm, for more than a few reasons he seemed to have been looking forward to the spelldrive tournament more than anyone. Yuuya remembers how Jack’s eyes had sparkled while he described Leona’s prowess on the field. The tournament will proceed properly, just as he had hoped. But Yuuya feels terrible that Jack himself is not to be a part of it, despite all his anguish and hard work.”

EN Novel: “At this point, Jack’s situation bothered Yuya most of all. He’d fought against Leona and his Savanaclaw dormmates, and his help had been essential to stop their underhanded tricks. It didn’t seem like he deserved the same punishment as his dorm—to be expelled from the Spelldrive tournament. In fact, no one had been more excited than him to be in the tournament, and Yuya was sad that Jack couldn’t be part of it, after he had struggled so much and worked so hardto prevent Leona’s cheating.”

Original Novel: “Cater is on a broom, and headed straight for them. Behind him there are others coming into sight as well, with Trey in the lead. The shadowy figures grow larger as they approach. And it seems that Trey has yet to fully recover from his injury…”

EN Novel: “Cater was riding a broom toward them with several other people on brooms trailing behind. Cater landed first. Next was Trey Clover, who winced when he hit the ground. His injured leg was clearly not completely healed.”

Original Novel: “And next to them is the Pomefiore student with whom Yuuya spoke about his incident.”

EN Novel: “Yuya also recognized the second-year Pomefiore student he had questioned about burning his hands on the hot cauldron.”

While the students regularly say “Headmage Crowley” in the English-language adaptation of the novel, it is possible that no one actually every does so in the original novel, game, manga or anime. He is referred to as either “headmage” or Crowley,” but never both.

Original Novel: “‘A stone?’ Yuuya looks around. ‘No, I haven’t seen one.’ Perhaps it is something that the headmage dropped somewhere. Yuuya asks if they ought look for it, but the headmage waves him off with, ‘In that case it’s no matter,’ and walks away.”

EN Novel: “”A black stone?’ Yuya asked, looking around. ‘No, I don’t see anything.’ Yuya asked if they should look for it, but Crowley shrugged casually. ‘If you haven’t spotted it, that’s fine,’ he replied as he walked off.”

Original Novel: “Yuuya keeps an eye on Leona as they hurry towards the coliseum. Leona walks at a slower pace, bringing up the rear. Yuuya does not intend to speak with him; he simply worries that Leona may collapse at any moment.”

EN Novel: “As they walked back to the coliseum, Yuya peered at Leona trailing behind them, worried that he might actually collapse.”

Original Novel: “Leona towers over Ruggie, but Ruggie glowers at him all the same. Ruggie lifts his head, exposing a prominent bruise upon his throat. I haven’t forgiven you, you know.'”

EN Novel: “Ruggie glared at Leona. ‘Don’t think you’ve earned my forgiveness,’ he said.”

Original Novel: “Ruggie follows with a self-deprecating, ‘I’ve gotten soft,’ acting as the more adult of the two.”

EN Novel: “‘I should’ve known better, too,’ Ruggie said quietly, and then he laughed at the sulking Leona.”

Original Novel: “Leona may understand, but he will not force it.”
EN Novel: “Leona understood.”

Original Novel: “They are both still frightening, but if he does not speak now, he will never be able to face Jack again.”
EN Novel: “Even though they scared him, he knew he had to speak.”

Original Novel: “Jack covers Yuuya’s mouth. He is strong and his voice is rough but, strangely, Yuuya is not afraid.”

EN Novel: “…Jack said, and slapped a hand over Yuya’s mouth. Jack was upset, but Yuya was strangely unafraid.”

Original Novel: “Yuuya must look quite pitiful; Riddle glances at him with slight surprise. Then, he seizes the Headmage with a cold stare.”

EN Novel: “Riddle looked disappointed and surprised, too. With exasperation, he said…”

Original Novel: “Realizing that this is not just someone else’s problem, Leona and the others also give the Headmage stern looks.”

EN Novel: “Knowing Grim was serious, all the students glared at the headmage.”

Original Novel: “Really…?” Grim narrows his eyes. Behind him, Leona, Ruggie, Jack, and even Riddle are glaring at the headmage. ‘Yes, absolutely. After all, it’s the match that will open the event…”

EN Novel: “‘Really?’ Grim said suspiciously. ‘B-but of course.’ Crowley bobbed his head up and down. ‘This game would launch the tournament…'”

Original Novel: “‘What, so Ace and Deuce wanna join my team now?’ Grim, joining Yuuya and the others, grins as if to say, ‘These guys are hopeless.'”

EN Novel: “‘What?’ Grim said, grinning with excitement. ‘Ace and Deuce wanna join the Great Grim’s team?'”

Original Novel: “The thought that Deuce is being sincere makes Yuuya happy. If Ace is being sincere, all Yuuya can do is laugh, because it is so much like the two of them. Sincere or not, their reasoning does not matter much to Yuuya. What matters is that they are offering their help, and Grim is going to be able to join the tournament. There is nothing that could make Yuuya happier than the the members of the group that is always together being able to play together as well.Watching Ace and Deuce chat soexcitedly with Grim makes Yuuya’s heart feel light. He hopes, from the bottom of his heart, that the match will be fun not just for Grim, but for the two of them as well.”

EN Novel: “Yuya was glad, whatever their motivations, that Ace and Deuce wanted to help Grim so he could play in the tournament. Yuya knew Ace and Deuce were also dying to play, and he couldn’t think of anything better than all his friends taking to the field together. As Ace and Deuce talked excitedly with Grim, Yuya felt his own spirits lift. A swell of gratitude rose from the bottom of his heart to have such wonderful friends.”

Original Novel: “He hates competing against other teams—other people.”
EN Novel: “He hated competition, which was too much like fighting.”

Across the manga, anime and novels, Crowley never refers to the prefect as anything except “Yuu-kun.”

The English-language adaptations can vary, however, with Crowley once saying “Ms. Hirasaka” during the Savanaclaw manga arc, and saying “Yuya” once in the Savanaclaw novel.

Added to the EN Novel: “Ace said, throwing an arm around his shoulder.”

(Canonically, Ace has never had such familiar physical contact with Yuuya.)

Original Novel: “Now it is Yuuya who is on the receiving end of disapproving stares. He tries to push back, but he is outnumbered, and in the end finds himself having been made a member of the team.”

EN Novel: “They needed him, and so he agreed to be the seventh member of the team.”

When Yuuya thanks Jack for his help in the original novel Jack responds, “I didn’t do anything for you.” This was removed from the English-language adaptation.

Chapter 13

Removed from EN: “It seems that no one knew the former champion was to appear in the exhibition match.”

Added to EN: “Ruggie said and slapped him on the back triumphantly.”

(Canonically, Ruggie has never had such familiar physical contact with Leona.)

Removed from EN: “Ruggie and Jack, too, move swiftly in response to Leona’s glances.”

Removed from EN: “Even in Leona’s battered state, no one hesitates to obey him.”

Original Novel: “It is hard to imagine that he has ever had time for merely watching sports, what with his strict schedule, back home.”

EN Novel: “Maybe he’d watched Spelldrive on TV when he was younger…”

Original Novel: “Looking up into the spectator seats…”
EN Novel: “…as they looked up at their friends.”

Original Novel: “‘Easy for you to say.'”
EN Novel: “‘You said it!'”

Original Novel: “Surely this is not a confrontation. It is the refreshing joy that is unique to playing a sport fair and square.”

EN Novel: “This was the difference between brawling to hurt someone and delighting in the challenge, found in sport, to be your best self, and wanting others to be their best selves at the same time. In that kind of contest, everyone could hold their heads high.”

Chapter 14

Original Novel: “He is certainly not a student; he must have come from outside the school.”
EN Novel: “…clearly must have come from Sunset Savanna for the tournament.”

Original Novel: “Jack, who had been asking ‘Where did you come from?’ while nonchalantly stroking Cheka’s head, jerks his hand back in surprise.”

EN Novel: “Jack had been tousling Cheka’s hair, but now he yanked his hand back like the little lion was on fire.”

Original Novel: “Leona’s brother, that is, the first prince of Sunset Savanna. Yuuya knows little about the country’s various circumstances, but he knows that the first prince seems to be a source of deep resentment for Leona, as the catalyst of Leona’s overblot.”

EN Novel: “Yuya knew that Leona’s older brother was the first prince of Sunset Savanna. He was someone Leona resented so powerfully that it had triggered his overblot.”

Added to EN: “One day, this ball of fur would be king.”
Added to EN: “‘Up up!’ Cheka cried.”

Removed from EN Novel: “Cheka seems to consider his grumpy uncle to be a great playmate who treats him as an equal.”

Original Novel: “In response to Leona’s terrifying expression, Yuuya feels a strange sense of relief, which surprises him. Faced with the rage that emanates from Leona, Yuuya realizes that he, himself, has been tense for quite some time. For how long? And why? Yuuya smiles without even realizing he does it…”

EN Novel: “Leona’s angry outburst was so ridiculous—as well as ineffective, since he couldn’t terrorize any of them into stopping—that it made Yuya smile.”

Added to EN: “‘I wasn’t laughing like that,’ he protested weakly…”

Removed from EN: “It is not the kind of commotion that one would expect to walk in upon in an infirmary.”

Original Novel: “Soon, people identified as Cheka’s guards come to retrieve him, and Yuuya heaves a heavy sigh, sinking back into his bed.”

EN Novel: “Eventually, Cheka’s guardians arrived and took him away, and the other visitors left, too. Calm was restored in the infirmary, and Yuya sank back into his bed to relax.”

Added to the EN Novel: “Yuya and Grim were thrilled to be back at Ramshackle Dorm.”

(Later in the same scene Yuuya says he wishes he were at the cafeteria.)

Added to the EN novel: “It was full of food.”

Added to EN novel: “‘As if I’d give up on my dreams!’ the monster sniffed indignantly.”

Original Novel: “With the banishing of that silence it seems Yuuya feels, quite simply, relieved.”

EN Novel: “So he was relieved to hear that Leona had been scowling and roaring in the infirmary. He didn’t actually mind when Leona growled at Cheka. It showed that Leona cared again, about himself and others.”

Original Novel: “He had never imagined or expected Grim to apologize so I honestly. Grim, of all people. This small, rough little troublemaker. He’d always thought Grim was nothing but selfish, never paying him any mind at all. But maybe, when they were in the infirmary during the others’ matches, Grim had been worrying about him, too.”

EN Novel: “He assumed that this little dictator was entirely self-absorbed. But Grim did care about him. He had been so worried about Yuya that he had stayed in the infirmary while everyone else played in the tournament. And he’d just taken responsibility for hurting Yuya, even if it wasn’t quite an apology.”

Original Novel: “It was really too bad that, even though Ace and Deuce had invited him with, ‘Yuu and Grim, come along with us,’ he wasn’t able to join in on the lively evening because of his injury. There are so many things he wants to ask and talk about with the three of them.”

EN Novel: “It was really too bad that Yuya couldn’t take part in the buddy banquet because of his injury. Yuya’s mind buzzed with all the questions he wanted to ask his friends about the tournament.”

Original Novel: “Tomorrow, he wants to eat with the three of them and talk a lot about what happened today. Feeling the happiness of having something to look forward to, Yuuya slowly drifts to sleep.”

EN Novel: “Tomorrow, Yuya was definitely going to have lunch with the three Heartslabyul boys* so they could talk endlessly about everything that had happened. For once excited to be at Night Raven College, Yuya gradually sank toward a blissful sleep.

※Note: Jack is not in Heartslabyul.

Chapter 15

Original Novel: “A night with ghostly laughter in the distance. Grim suddenly sits up. Hunger has awoken him.

EN Novel: “Later that night, the ghosts’ laughter echoed from elsewhere in the dorm, causing Grim to wake up. His rumbling stomach made sure he didn’t fall back asleep.”

Original Novel: “…and that is when he remembers that special thing he put aside.”
EN Novel: “…and then he remembered that he had set aside an even better feast for himself downstairs.

(Note: it is later revealed that Grim kept the stone hidden under his collar, not downstairs.)

Removed from EN Novel: “Yuuya had made a fuss last time, so today he does not want to be found out.”

Original Novel: “Careful not to make a sound, Grim leaves Ramshackle Dorm. Sitting on the stairs that lead to the gate he pulls out a black stone that had been hidden beneath his ribbon.”

EN Novel: “On careful paws, Grim went down the hallway, down the stairs, and outside Ramshackle Dorm. He sat down on the stairs leading to the gate and pulled out the black magestone* from where he’d hidden it.”

※Note: It is not confirmed that the black rocks are magestones.

Original Novel: “The stone does not reflect any light from the street lamp.”
EN Novel: “The stone was pitch black, almost crystalline, yet no light reflected off its glossy surface.”

Original Novel: “”The stone he found in Heartslabyul was sweet…”
EN Novel: “The magestone he’d found after Riddle overblotted in the Heartslabyul garden had been sweet…”

Added to EN: “It also tasted different from the black magestone he had found after their battle with the blot monster in the Enchanted Mine.”

Original Novel: “Looking closely, the two students are not completely identical after all. They each have an entirely different atmosphere, and their hairstyles are mirrored images of one another. Most distinctive of all is their mismatched eyes, different from left to right.”

EN Novel: “Grim realized the two boys weren’t exactly identical. Their hairstyles were symmetrically opposite, and their eyes were different colors and also symmetrically opposite, with a golden eye on one side and a pale green one on the other.”

Original Novel: “That simple laughter is deeply unsettling. Having encountered these two unknown entities in the middle of the night, Grim clutches against his own trembling body and shouts, I’m goin’ back to the dorm!'”

EN Novel: “Their laughter was extremely creepy. Grim resisted the urge to full-body shudder and shouted, ‘I’m gonna head back inside my dorm now!'”

Chapter 16

Floyd saying “tch” in the original novel was replaced in the English-language adaptation with, “Floyd said, sighing.”