How to read the Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Light Novels
I was recently reminded that there is a lot of people who simply don’t know that they can read the Case Files light novels, and that there are people who do know but have no idea where to find them. This is especially a problem when these people have only watched the anime and want to know where they can find more of the story. Since it kind of requires you to go through some hoops (not a whole lot but still), I decided to take a page out of @humbertozero‘s excellent Fate/strange Fake resource post and make one for my other favorite Type-Moon Fate spinoff, the dossiers of El-Melon.
Read the First Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.1 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Second Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.2 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Third Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.3 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Fourth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.4 (PDF) (EPUB1) (EPUB2)
Read the Fifth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.5 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Sixth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.6 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Seventh Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.7 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Eighth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.8 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Ninth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.9 (PDF) (EPUB)
Read the Tenth Volume: Lord El-Melloi II Case Files Vol.10 (PDF) (EPUB)
Important note!
It should be noted first that I am just the compiler here. I am neither the translator nor am I the files’ creator. So all credits go to...
Credits
Credits and thanks to TwilightsCall on the Beast Lair forums (from which the majority of the other creditors originally posted their contributions) for translating the first 4 volumes and some of volume 5, thus getting the ball rolling. Further thanks to azwhoisverybored for translating the rest of the series from volume 6 onwards, and thanks to Kneenaw for starting the translation for the rest of volume 5. Thanks to Dotelias for making EPUBs for volumes 1-3, thanks to cereal_ for making EPUBs of volume 4, thanks to u/confusedkuratowski on Reddit for making EPUB of volume 6, and thanks to ProtoformX for making PDFs and EPUBs for volumes 5 to 10 as well as for Adventures volume 1!
And big thanks to Makoto Sanda for writing Case Files in the first place!
Further explanations
Anime
The anime adaptation of Case Files, with the mouthful of a title that is Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note, is particular to use as an entry-point in the series, because it only partially adapts the series. See, the author, Makoto Sanda, said in interview that the two first arcs/cases in the series didn’t quite work as scripts for anime episodes, so the anime only adapted the third case/arc, Rail Zeppelin, which is more action oriented than the more mystery focused first arcs. But because they still needed to explain stuff like Gray, Reines, El-Melloi’s students, etc., many of whom are relevant characters to the arc, the first half/six episodes of the anime is about introducing them.
So to the question “where do I start reading after the anime?”, the answer is unironically to restart at volume 1. And then you may skip volumes 4-5 since they are the Rail Zeppelin arc and there are not much differences besides some characters not being present during that arc. This is why I think you can watch the anime first if that’s more your speed (I have my problems and criticisms of the anime but that’s irrelevant to this post).
And you can’t start with the anime and start reading with volume 6, the first 3 volumes have characters and plot points that come back for the final arc, so you’re gonna be incredibly lost if you think to consume the series this way.
Weirdly enough, despite being original episodes, the anime originals are most likely canon in some ways. Episode 0, the original OVA, is an expansion of an anecdote Gray mentions in the first volume’s prologue, and Episode 1 takes place during Waver’s travels before the story starts and is an actual story, one of the 3 incidents Sanda has in mind for Waver’s journey before he returned to London. Episodes 2 to 6 take place during the one month period between volume 3 and volume 4, and finally the special OVA take place on Christmas also in between arcs.
Manga
The manga has gorgeous art, but, at the time of writing, it is unfortunately only translated up to the second case right now. Still, go check it out.
The Adventures of El-Melloi II
The sequel series currently ongoing, started a year after the first Case Files ended in 2019. You might know it as “the (other) series where Rin shows up grown up and also a pirate”. @reignsan has been compiling pretty thorough chapter-by-chapter summaries of the volumes by @kaibutsushidousha if you don’t mind being spoiled. Or you can be patient and wait for azwhoisverybored to finish translating them on Beast Lair in this thread.
At the time of writing (27/07/23), the first volume of Adventures has been completed and compiled into PDF and EPUB forms.
Lord El-Melloi II Case Files material
This is absolutely not required reading in any shape or form, those lore books are usually of interest only to dumb nerds like me lol. A timeline of the Clock Tower? An explanation of its politics? Yes please. But it also has insights into the characters by the author that aren’t in the books proper, as well as behind-the-scenes explanations for some decisions (for example, why it’s Gray with the American spelling instead of Grey with the British spelling). Only the glossary/encyclopedia is translated, but give it a look...after you read the series, because it assumes you did and has some big spoilers.
Drama CD
What’s that? You heard something about a Buzzfeed quizz about the most handsome Clock Tower teachers and how it’s somehow a plot point? Look no further than one of my only posts that did numbers. Read the summary, it’s hilarious.
1K notes
·
View notes
⸻ TAKE IT EASY ও
tighnari x gn!reader | 1k+ words ; no pronouns used for the reader. reader has sprained ankle. mentions of reader having multiple unfortunate injuries before, due to being clumsy. mentions of reader having difficulty in breathing. fluff. slightly suggestive but nothing really happens — just tighnari being a tease. collei being a cutie.
YOU HAVE NEVER FELT THIS MUCH OF A BURDEN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.
You're currently sitting on the edge of Tighnari's bed. With your right foot placed on a chair so Tighnari could inspect your terribly sprained ankle.
The patrol for today was stopped because of you — your injury. When Tighnari saw that you were limping, he immediately told all the forest rangers to call it a day.
whole content under the cut!
When you once sprained your wrist, you thought you could never get any more guilty for being useless. But seeing how Tighnari was standing in front of you, examining your damn sprained ankle, you were feeling even guiltier. Today was one of the long days when you were supposed to have a long day of patrol. One of the most important ones. It just had to be put at a stop today because of you.
"Sorry..." You apologized for the nth time of the day. Yet, you never heard a response to your apologies from your companion. Perhaps, he was getting bored of you.
He sighed, seeing how swollen your foot was. He put an ice pack under your ankle to ease the pain — he said, but here you are, shrieking as the cold surface of the ice touch your foot.
"T-Tighnari... it hurts, can you remo— no! ow!"
Unfortunately for you, Tighnari pressed your foot on the ice pack harder. "That's what you get for not telling me about your injury sooner."
You pouted. You simply didn't want to be more useless to Tighnari; you didn't want to be a burden to him.
You mumbled a soft sorry to him, not bothered whether he heard it or not. He flicked your forehead, indicating that he heard your apology. "You're so stubborn, you know that?"
"Next time, don't wait for me to realize that you are injured. Got it?" It was neither a question nor a request. You are in no place to say no; it was an order.
"Yes, but you didn't have to stop the patrol today just for me. You could have just left me here and—"
"And what? Wait for your foot to be completely immobilized?" He countered your reason. Great. Now he's just not listening to you at all.
"Hey! I can take care of myself, excuse you." He only laughed sarcastically at your claim. He continued mixing the herbs — you could already feel the bitter taste of the medicine he was creating.
Why was he making medicine anyway?
You quickly shook your head, "No way I'm drinking that."
"Uh-huh. Sure. Then, I'll force-feed you."
You covered your mouth with your hands and continued shaking your head profusely while chanting no. Tighnari grunted, "Come on, you're so stubborn. You are not a child. Drink this, or I'll bite you!"
"Bite me!" You yelled subconsciously.
"What?" Tighnari looked at you with visible confusion expressed on his face.
Realizing what you have just said, you slapped your mouth and muttered, "Stupid. Stupid."
Before you knew it, Tighnari had pushed you on his bed — his small body towering over yours. "Oh? Are you challenging me?"
For the first time, you didn't know what to say. Tighnari has been your friend for years now. You were most comfortable in his presence; you didn't have to overthink whenever you'd talk to him. But, dear archons, this situation has rendered you speechless.
"N-No..?" You mumbled, your hand still covering your mouth
"Then if that's what you want, then..."
"Tighnari, wait, no—!"
Once you've removed your hands covering your mouth to push Tighnari away from you, the medicine has made its way into your mouth.
You choked dramatically — which Tighnari ignored. He stood up and acted as if he was shaking specks of dust off his hands and clothes. He smiled triumphantly, "Hehe. I win."
"Yuck! Don't ever make me drink that medicine again!" You glared.
"Maybe if you tell me next time that you injured yourself, then yes," he said with a sly smile on his face.
Menace.
"I just didn't want to burden you..."
"You're not a burden to me, never and will never be. And I apologized for not realizing it sooner. In that case, your injury wouldn't have worsened," he sighed.
"Hey, no, look. I'm going to be fine soon! I'll drink all the medicines you're going to give me. In exchange, don't blame yourself for it, okay? It's my fault for being clumsy," you explained. You don't want him to blame himself for every injury you get.
Tighnari couldn't hide the mischievous smile on his face, "Alright, you said that yourself."
"You tricked me!"
"I didn't! Collei! You heard it too, right?"
Collei, who was previously hiding, came into your view and fiddled with her fingers. "Uhm, well, uhm, yes! Yes, I did, master!"
Seeing your defeated face, Collei sent you an apologizing look.
Tighnari chuckled, "You'll be drinking your next medicine in two hours. I'll be informing Collei too. Bye, and take care!" He picked up the scrolls and immediately went outside the room.
"Hey! I'm injured, not sick!" You shouted back, but he didn't respond; instead, you heard him laugh.
Collei then went inside the room with a bandage in her hand. "Watching you bicker with master is always entertaining. Hehe," she teased.
"Hmph, stop following everything he says, Collei. Don't let him bully you," you teased in a soft whisper. Collei only laughed at your jokes.
"Master told me to put a bandage on your ankle. Please tell me if it hurts."
"Will do. Thank you, Collei."
Collei started bandaging your ankle carefully. "You know, master Tighnari really cares a lot about you. And, he's making you drink these medicines because he noticed that you were having trouble breathing these past few days. I'm pretty sure that master wants you to feel better soon and give yourself a rest. So please take it easy and listen to master! He's one of the sweetest people I know. He just wants you to stop being hard on yourself," Collei lectured you enthusiastically.
"Oops, sorry... I kinda rambled there. Anyways, I've bandaged your ankle! Take care now," Collei said with a bright smile on her face.
You felt as if your whole body felt energized by what she said and the look she had on her face. "No, thank you, Collei. Take care too!"
Maybe, taking a good rest for once won't hurt.
NOTE hii i got free time today LESGOOOO ik ik i haven't updated mixed signals yet but guess who sprained her ankle and still hasn't got it checked <3 i do have a sprained ankle and i think its not that ok lol. anw i was playing the new archon quest earlier and realized that tighnari is just so 😍 then i accidentally stomped my foot in excitement and realized that "OH I HAVE A SPRAINED ANKLE, TIME TO MAKE IT USEFUL!!!" then boom, this ff 🤲 OK TIME TO DISAPPEAR AGAIN <33
3K notes
·
View notes
@reining-disaster | continued from x
"How I've been-?" Rein tilted his head and looked over to his friends, "I mean it's only been a few months, but... Gale over there. He cooks and is amazing with magic and tells wonderful stories. Shadowheart is kinda dorky. Pretends she doesn't care, but always heals me. Karlach is warm and inviting. Can't always touch her, but she loves pretty much everyone. Halsin is patient with me. Helps me when I'm panicking. Astarion always fights by my side and loves listening to my gossip from my days in the upper city. Wyll is smart and loyal. He's brave and cool! And Lae'zel is a strong and capable warrior. She cares about her people and her passion is her love of them."
"I'm still friends with them because I love them. I care about them. They make me feel safe. And they're my family." He explained, "Why is it you're still friends with me?" He nudged.
Her gaze followed his as he turned to look at all of those he called his friends. There was a tinge of jealousy, really. Tavriel hadn't really had the chance to make that close of bonds, even in her youth. To know his companions in these short months was astonishing to her. All she had ever known was her family, her business, her captors, and strangers who needed her. Well, until that was that they were captured in the Nautiloid.
She envies the love he has to share. Still, there is a smile that finds her features as she burns into her mind the descriptors of their companions that he gives. But, at his nudge, does the young woman blink slightly and pause. Why was she still his friend? He considered them friends? She was taken aback a moment at that one, and in her near three hundred years of life, Tavriel was at a loss. "...I...didn't realize that you considered me a friend..." For so long had she wandered the world helping those in need that she had acquaintances, sure, but not friends. This was the longest time she had spent with any being longer than a week.
"...I think it's because traveling with you is...nice? You're caring and observant...and you make sure you take care of your friends...and maybe there's a part of me that...selfishly wanted to be cared about, too..." Sure, she was cared about. But long had she desired for a life like she had when she was young. "F-Forgive me if that sounds too forward. I-I don't mean it in any kind of way I mean! You're great, I just !" She covered her face now in embarrassment, curling in slightly as if she were a turtle trying to crawl back in her shell. "I'll just shut up now..."
51 notes
·
View notes
There's a snippet you wrote I wanted to read again but can't find. It's early on in the partnership where the Hunter and Lea are at an inn and Leas trying to drago ut leaving the table before going off to spend the night with one of the locals.
I'm particularly fond of the fact that the Hunter's eyes remain on Lea's mind right up until the woman they go off with is pressed against them. That haunting mark one leaves on another.
Will you be writing anything else like that, or by chance putting it in the story for us to see, regardless of what route we're on with them?
I like the idea that despite being on the rival reassignment route, these two are still, for lack of a better word, cursed to orbit/gravitate around one another.
You know, until the end of the story where they'll probably go their seeprate ways for good.
this one!
i don't plan on writing any alternate povs in the game, but we'll definitely see more of Lea & the hunter's relationship as the story progresses. Lea's story arc really kicks off with the end of this chapter, and it does revolve heavily around the hunter, and you'll still see all of it whether you're romancing them or not.
i enjoy both versions of the relationship with Lea, and even if you're rivals both the hunter and Lea will always have each other's backs. i really like the scene with Duncan in ch1, and then of course in ch2 there are certain scenes you can get with Merry or if Lea gets injured, the hunter always tries to protect them and vice versa.
36 notes
·
View notes