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apothecaryscript · 4 days ago

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Very sorry! I made a big mistake about Maomao's real name. She is a member of "La(羅)" clan, not "Kan(漢)." I revised accordingly.

Memo for Episode 12 (Ep.36) “Ka Zuigetsu”

馬閃（そんなわけがあるか、馬鹿(ばか)らしい！しかし、あの方(かた)が席(せき)を外(はず)されて２時間(にじかん)…部下(ぶか)を捜索に向(む)かわせてはいるが、進展(しんてん)はない。今(いま)は父上(ちちうえ)を頼(たよ)るわけにもいかん。先程(さきほど)あの下女(げじょ)に、何(なに)かを命(めい)じたようだが…やはり主(あるじ)に何(なに)を言(い)われようと、ついていくべきだった！形(かたち)だけの役割(やくわり)など、うんざりだ。せめて主催(しゅさい)が、この場(ば)をお開(ひら)きにしてくれたら…）

Basen (Sonna wake’ga aruka, baka-rashii! Shikashi, ano kata’ga seki’o hazusarete ni-jikan… buka’o sosaku’ni mukawasetewa iruga, shinten’wa nai. Ima’wa chichi-ue’o tayoru-wake’nimo ikan. Saki-hodo ano gejo’ni, nanika’o meijita-yoda-ga… Yahari aruji’ni nani’o iware-yoto, tsuite-iku-beki datta! Katachi-dake’no yakuwari-nado, unzari-da. Semete shusai’ga, kono ba’o ohiraki’ni shite-kuretara…)

Basen (That’s impossible, idiots. But he’s been gone for two hours now. I’ve already sent men out to search, but no updates. I can’t ask Father for help right now. He did seem to issue an order to that servant girl. I should have gone after him, no matter what he said! I’m sick of roles that are pure formalities! If the organizer could at least wrap up the party...)

うんざり（な）(Unzari-na): be sick of, be tired of

お開きにする（おひらきにする/Ohiraki’ni suru）: wrap up, break up, wind up

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猫猫（知(し)ってしまえば、墓(はか)まで持(も)って行(い)くことになる）

Maomao (Shitte-shimaeba, haka’made motte-iku-koto’ni naru.)

Maomao (Once I learn this, I’ll have to take it to my grave.)

秘密を墓まで持って行く（ひみつをはかまでもっていく/Himitsu’o haka’made motte-iku）: take/carry a secret to one’s/the grave

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猫猫（何事(なにごと)も、知り過(す)ぎては良(よ)くない。壬氏様と私は高官と下女。それ以上(いじょう)でも、それ以下(いか)でもない。必要(ひつよう)以上の秘密(ひみつ)なんて、いらな…）

Maomao (Nani-goto’mo, shiri-sugite’wa yoku-nai. Jinshi-sama’to watashi’wa kokan’to gejo. Sore-ijo-demo, sore-ika-demo nai. Hitsuyo-ijo’no himitsu-nante, irana…)

Maomao (I must now know too much. Master Jinshi and I are an official and his servant. Nothing more, nothing less. There’s no need to share any unnecessary secrets―)

それ以上でも、それ以下でもない（それいじょうでも、それいかでもない/Sore-ijo-demo, sore-ika-demo nai）: Nothing more, nothing less.

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壬氏「こたびの狩(か)り、飛発を持(も)ってきている者は？」

Jinshi “Kotabi’no kari, feifa’o motte-kite-iru mono’wa?”

Jinshi “Has anyone brought feifas to this hunt?”

こたび（Kotabi）: old and formal way of saying “this time” ＝この度（このたび/Kono tabi）

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下官「鷹(たか)狩(が)りの験担(げ��かつ)ぎに、こしらえた物(もの)でしょうか？」

Gekan “Taka-gari’no gen-katsugi’ni, koshiraeta mono desho-ka?”

Low-ranking official “Was it made to wish for good luck in falconry?”

験担ぎ（げんかつぎ/Gen-katsugi）: superstitious (for good luck)

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魯袁「だ…誰(だれ)かが私(わたし)の矢(や)と入(い)れ替(か)えたんだ！私(わたし)を陥(おとしい)れるために！」

Roen “Da…Dareka’ga watashi’no ya’to irekae-tanda! Watashi’o otoshi-ireru-tame’ni!”

Lo-en “Someone must have stolen my arrow to entrap me!”

入れ替える（いれかえる/Ire-kaeru）: switch, replace, swap

陥れる（おとしいれる/Otoshi-ireru）: frame, entrap, trick

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馬閃（うまく食(く)い付(つ)いてくれるといいが…）

Basen (Umaku kui-tsuite-kureru-to ii-ga…)

Basen (I hope he takes the bait.)

食い付く（くいつく/Kui-tsuku）: take a bait

Just like in English, it can be used to mean biting into food, or biting into a topic or a trap set by others.

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男「ハッ！…ハッ…それは！…くっ。返(かえ)せ！ぐっ！うっ…いっ…うう…貴様(きさま)、さっきの！」

Otoko “Ha! …Ha…Sore’wa! …Ku. Kaese! Gu! U… I… Uu… Kisama, sakki’no!”

Man “That’s… Give it back! You… You’re from earlier…”

貴様（きさま/Kisama）: “you”(a second person) used when looking down and insulting the person

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猫猫「中身(なかみ)は押収済(おうしゅうず)みです。飛発(フェイファ)が３丁(さんちょう)入(はい)っていました」

Maomao “Nakami’wa oshu-zumi-desu. Feifa’ga san-cho haitte-imashita.”

Maomao “We’ve already confiscated the contents. We found three feifas.”

丁（ちょう/Cho）: the counter word for guns

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猫猫（鎌(かま)をかけるためとはいえ、ダシに使(つか)われたおっさんたちには悪(わる)いことしたなぁ）

Maomao (Kama’o kakeru-tame-towa-ie, dashi’ni tsukawareta ossan-tachi’niwa warui-koto shita-naa.)

Maomao (I feel bad for that old man and his crew, who we used as bait.)

鎌をかける（かまをかける/Kama’o kakeru）: trick/trap someone

ダシに使う/する（だしにつかう・する/Dashi’ni tsukau, suru）: take advantage of someone/something, use someone/something for one’s own advantage

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高官「して…どうなのです？先(さき)の皇子(みこ)様の薨御(こうぎょ)以来(いらい)、誰(だれ)か身(み)ごもった妃(きさき)などは…」

Kokan “Shite… Do-nano-desu? Saki’no miko-sama’no kogyo-irai, dareka migomotta kisaki-nado’wa…”

High-ranking official “So, do you happen to know? After the tragedy earlier, have any of the concubines come to be with child?”

薨御（こうぎょ/Kogyo）: the death of someone royal or in a quite high-position

Although it’s translated as “After the tragedy earlier”, the original Japanese directly means “After the death of the price earlier.”

崩御（ほうぎょ/Hogyo）: the death of the current emperor, empress, or limited someone quite close to the emperor

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猫猫「ハァ…」（今日(きょう)の連中(れんちゅう)が何(なに)か吐(は)いてくれたらいいけど）

Maomao “Haa…” (Kyo’no renchu’ga nanika haite-kuretara ii-kedo.)

Maomao (I hope the culprits today can tell us something.)

吐く（はく/Haku）: it usually means “throw up/vomit”, but it’s also used when a criminal confesses wrongdoing.

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猫猫「私にとって、壬氏様は壬氏様です」

Maomao “Watashi’ni-totte, Jinshi-sama’wa Jinshi-sama desu.”

Maomao “No matter what, you will always be Master Jinshi to me.”

This is a commonly used expression in Japanese. Jinshi couldn’t tell her about his real status after all, but this line must have been the happiest one for him to hear from her.

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猫猫（壬氏様が宦官(かんがん)かどうかなんて、どうでもいい。ただ、牛黄(ごおう)分(ぶん)の恩(おん)はある。もし秘密(ひみつ)がバレて窮地(きゅうち)に立(た)たされたら、その時(とき)は…ちゃんと本物(ほんもの)の宦官にしてあげよう）

Maomao (Jinshi-sama’ga kangan-ka-doka-nante, do-demo ii. Tada, goo-bun’no on’wa aru. Moshi himitsu’ga barete kyuchi’ni tata-sare-tara, sono toki’wa… chanto honmono’no kangan’ni shite-ageyo.)

Maomao (I don’t care whether or not Master Jinshi is a real eunuch. But I do owe him for the ox bezoars. If his secret gets out and it gets me into trouble… I’ll make him into a eunuch for real.)

→Oh, no! This should be “him”, definitely! It means like “…and it puts him into a tough situation…”

The official translation of KNH has been always correct until now, and this is the first obvious mistake I’ve found. Judging from the context, the subject of this part of the sentence is Jinshi. If I add each subject to the original Japanese line, it’ll be;

壬氏様が宦官かどうかなんて、（私には）どうでもいい。ただ、（私には）壬氏様に牛黄（をもらった）分の恩はある。（だから）もし壬氏様の秘密がバレて（壬氏様が）窮地に立たされたら、その時は…（私が）ちゃんと（壬氏様を）本物の宦官にしてあげよう。

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語り「この国(くに)で、『華(はな)』の文字(もじ)を冠(かん)する者(もの)は、今現在(いまげんざい)2人(ふたり)のみ」

Katari “Kono kuni’de, ‘hana’no moji’o kansuru mono’wa, ima-genzai futari-nomi.”

Narration “There are only two people in this land with ‘Ka’-for ‘flower’- in their names.”

There is another Kanji, “花”, which means flowers. How to read is the same, “hana” and “ka”. But the image of “花” is simple flower, and that of “華” is more gorgeous and elegant.

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高順（壬氏様…いえ、月(つき)の君(きみ)。いつまでも仮初(かりそ)めの立場(たちば)ではいられませんよ。あなたは、この国(くに)の帝(みかど)の弟君(おとうとぎみ)、華瑞月(カズイゲツ)なのだから…）

Gaoshun (Jinshi-sama…ie, Tsuki’no-Kimi. Itsu’mademo karisome-no tachiba’dewa irare-masen-yo. Anata’wa, kono kuni’no mikado’no ototo-gimi, Kazuigetsu nano-dakara…)

Gaoshun (Master Jinshi… Or rather, the Moon Prince. You cannot stay in your temporary position forever. After all, you are our emperor’s younger brother, Ka Zuigetsu.)

仮初めの（かりそめの/Karisome’no）: temporary, provisional, tentative

月の君（つきのきみ/Tsuki’no Kimi）: the Moon Prince. That’s Ka Zuigetsu’s common name or nick name used by people. Because only the emperor can speak his real name, if anyone except for the emperor utters his real name without permission, it’s punishable even by death, apparently.

君(きみ/Kimi): you. In modern times, it’s a second person pronoun used for casual relationship, but in the past, it was used to address nobles and people of high rank with respect. I don’t really understand how names work in this country “Li,” but I guess that, of the three Kanji “華瑞月”, “華” is a character only the emperor or princes have, the second “瑞” is a character indicates something auspicious, and the third “月: moon” may be iconic for himself. Maomao doesn’t appear to have a surname, but I recall the original novel saying that her actual legal name has “羅""漢”(like 羅漢: Lakan) between her surname and first name. It’s very confusing… In Japan, we only have family name and first name. Most likely, 羅門: Luomen has a Kanji of surname which Maomao also has, so her real name may be 〇羅漢猫猫. (I’m not sure…)

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This episode was amazing! Maomao may have unconsciously sensed that Jinshi was an extremely special person, and she was afraid to face the fact, so she may have been suppressing her feeling for him so that they would not develop affection or romance. I thought that way the two of them communicated a little through the door, but not face-to-face, was particularly Japanese. My favorite scene is when Jinshi is rendered speechless by Maomao’s big smile.

Gaoshun’s monologue revealed some very important points. As a member of the Ma clan, he had been Jinshi’s attendant since he was a child. On the surface, he was made a eunuch for the false reason of “incurring the wrath of the empress,” and he abandoned the Ma name and changed his name to Gaoshun, and came to the rear palace with Jinshi. It has not been revealed why Jinshi went to such lengths to come to the rear palace.

Jinshi(Kousen) is participating in the hunt as the emperor’s younger brother, and he is wearing a mask so that no one will know that he is Jinshi, spreading a false rumor that he’s wearing a mask because he has a severe burn scar on his face. His attendant is Basen from the Ma clan.

Meanwhile, Jinshi as an eunuch is absent from the hunt, and Gaoshun is attending in his place. The reason is that Jinshi is too beautiful, and would be unpleasant to Kousen who has a burn scar on his face… Though he didn’t say so, people around him think so. Gaoshun is on the hunt in his capacity as the manager of rear palace, so even if Kousen goes missing, he’s not in a position to take the initiative and worry about him. Therefore, Basen cannot consult or rely on Gaoshun.

This was a bitter experience for Basen. It must have been humiliating to have Lihaku take complete control. Basen is a man of great strength, unmatched by anyone in physical strength, but he’s still too young and inexperienced. He has already accompanied Maomao and seen her solve several cases up close, yet he still looks down on her, which shows just how immature and clueless he is.

From the next episode, the story will enter the second half of Season 2. This is one of the best stories in the entire original novel. Let’s continue to enjoy it together!

#apothecary english #apothecary romaji #the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #learning japanese #japanese #薬屋のひとりごと #薬屋のひとりごと　英語 #薬屋　英語　学習 #japan #KNH #season 2

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apothecaryscript · 4 days ago

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Maomao no Hitorigoto Episode 36: Dogs / 猫猫のひとりごと　第36話『犬（いぬ/Inu）』

You can watch the video on YouTube, uploaded by the official Toho Animation account.

Please note that the English lines are just my translation.

猫猫「猫猫の豆知識(まめちしき)。犬(いぬ)の聴力(ちょうりょく)は、人間(にんげん)の約4倍(やくよんばい)あるらしい。また、人間には聴(き)こえない高��(こうおん)を聞(き)き取(と)ることもできるとか。耳(みみ)を動(うご)かし、音源(おんげん)の方向(ほうこう)も感知(かんち)する」

Maomao “Maomao’no mame-chishiki. Inu’no choryoku’wa, ningen’no yaku yon-bai aru-rashii. Mata, ningen’niwa kikoe-nai ko-on’o kiki-toru-koto’mo dekiru-toka. Mimi’o ugokashi, ongen’no hoko’mo kanchi-suru.”

Maomao “Maomao’s bits of knowledge. Apparently dogs have hearing that is about four times stronger than humans. They can also hear high-pitched sounds that human s can’t hear. They can also move their ears to sense the direction of the source of a sound.”

猫猫「狩(か)りは災難続(さいなんつづ)きだったなぁ…。だが…遂(つい)にアレを手(て)に入(い)れた～！ご・お・う！ご・お・う！」

Maomao “Kari’wa sainan-tsuzuki datta-naa… Daga…tsuini are’o teni-iretaaa! Go-o-u! Go-o-u!”

Maomao “I had one disaster after another in the hunt… But… I finally got it! Ox bezoar! Ox bezoar!”

壬氏「お前(まえ)は騒(さわ)がしい奴(やつ)だな。独(ひと)り言(ごと)を言(い)ったり、歌(うた)ったり…」

Jinshi “Omae’wa sawagashii yatsu-dana. Hitori-goto’o ittari, utattari…”

Jinshi “You’re a noisy person. You talk to yourself, and sing…”

猫猫「壬氏様(ジンシさま)！…失礼(しつれい)しました」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama! …Shitsu-rei shima-shita.”

Maomao “Master Jinshi! My apologies.”

壬氏「牛黄(ごおう)、異国(いこく)より取(と)り寄(よ)せた甲斐(かい)はあったようだな」

Jinshi “Goo, ikoku’yori tori-yoseta kai’wa atta-yodana.”

Jinshi “It seems like it was worth ordering the ox bezoar from a foreign country.”

～する甲斐（かい）がある（～suru kai’ga aru）: be worth ～ing

猫猫「はい。あの妙薬(みょうやく)を見(み)ているだけで、ひと月(つき)は不眠不休(ふみんふきゅう)で働(はたら)けそうな気(き)がします！」

Maomao “Hai. Ano myo-yaku’o mite-iru-dake’de, hito-tsuki’wa fumin-fukyu’de hatarake-sona ki’ga shimasu!”

Maomao “Yes. Just looking at that elixir makes me feel like I could work without sleep and rest for a month!”

不眠不休（ふみんふきゅう/Fumin-fukyu）: without sleep and rest

壬氏「それは体(からだ)に毒(どく)だろう…」

Jinshi “Sore’wa karada’ni doku daro…”

Jinshi “That would be toxic to your body…”

猫猫「では、私(わたし)は翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)に…」

Maomao “Dewa, watashi’wa Hisui-Kyu’ni…”

Maomao “Then, I’ll go back to the Jade Pavillion…”

壬氏「待(ま)ってくれ！先日(せんじつ)の話(はなし)の続(つづ)きが、まだ…！」

Jinshi “Matte-kure! Senjitsu’no hanashi’no tsuzuki’ga mada…!”

Jinshi “Wait! I still have more to say about what I talked the other day…”

猫猫（うわっ！至近距離(しきんきょり)はまずい！）

Maomao (Uwa! Shikin-kyori’wa mazui!)

Maomao “Whoa! Close range is no good!)

至近距離（しきんきょり/Shikin-kyori）: Close range

（口笛(くちぶえ)/Kuchi-bue/whistle）

壬氏「うわっ！…どこだ！？今度(こんど)は、どこから犬が降(ふ)って来(く)る！？…どこだ！？」

Jinshi “Uwa! …Doko-da!? Kondo’wa, doko’kara inu’ga futte-kuru!? …Doko-da!?”

Jinshi “Whoa! Where?! Where is a dog falling down from this time?! …Where?!”

猫猫「次回(じかい)、『湯殿(ゆどの)』。後宮内(こうきゅうない)にある大浴場(だいよくじょう)へ行(い)くことに…。乞(こ)うご期待(きたい)」

Maomao “Jikai, ‘Yudono.’ Kokyu-nai’ni aru dai-yokujo’e iku-koto’ni… Ko gokitai.”

Maomao “Next episode, ‘The Baths.’ We’ll be going to the large bathhouse in the rear palace… See you again!”

#apothecary english #apothecary romaji #the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #learning japanese #japanese #薬屋のひとりごと #薬屋のひとりごと　英語 #薬屋　英語　学習 #japan #KNH #maomao no hitorigoto

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apothecaryscript · 5 days ago

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Memo for Episode 12 (Ep.36) “Ka Zuigetsu”

うんざり（な）(Unzari-na): be sick of, be tired of

お開きにする（おひらきにする/Ohiraki’ni suru）: wrap up, break up, wind up

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猫猫（知(し)ってしまえば、墓(はか)まで持(も)って行(い)くことになる）

Maomao (Shitte-shimaeba, haka’made motte-iku-koto’ni naru.)

Maomao (Once I learn this, I’ll have to take it to my grave.)

秘密を墓まで持って行く（ひみつをはかまでもっていく/Himitsu’o haka’made motte-iku）: take/carry a secret to one’s/the grave

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Maomao (Nani-goto’mo, shiri-sugite’wa yoku-nai. Jinshi-sama’to watashi’wa kokan’to gejo. Sore-ijo-demo, sore-ika-demo nai. Hitsuyo-ijo’no himitsu-nante, irana…)

Maomao (I must now know too much. Master Jinshi and I are an official and his servant. Nothing more, nothing less. There’s no need to share any unnecessary secrets―)

それ以上でも、それ以下でもない（それいじょうでも、それいかでもない/Sore-ijo-demo, sore-ika-demo nai）: Nothing more, nothing less.

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壬氏「こたびの狩(か)り、飛発を持(も)ってきている者は？」

Jinshi “Kotabi’no kari, feifa’o motte-kite-iru mono’wa?”

Jinshi “Has anyone brought feifas to this hunt?”

こたび（Kotabi）: old and formal way of saying “this time” ＝この度（このたび/Kono tabi）

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下官「鷹(たか)狩(が)りの験担(げんかつ)ぎに、こしらえた物(もの)でしょうか？」

Gekan “Taka-gari’no gen-katsugi’ni, koshiraeta mono desho-ka?”

Low-ranking official “Was it made to wish for good luck in falconry?”

験担ぎ（げんかつぎ/Gen-katsugi）: superstitious (for good luck)

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魯袁「だ…誰(だれ)かが私(わたし)の矢(や)と入(い)れ替(か)えたんだ！私(わたし)を陥(おとしい)れるために！」

Roen “Da…Dareka’ga watashi’no ya’to irekae-tanda! Watashi’o otoshi-ireru-tame’ni!”

Lo-en “Someone must have stolen my arrow to entrap me!”

入れ替える（いれかえる/Ire-kaeru）: switch, replace, swap

陥れる（おとしいれる/Otoshi-ireru）: frame, entrap, trick

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馬閃（うまく食(く)い付(つ)いてくれるといいが…）

Basen (Umaku kui-tsuite-kureru-to ii-ga…)

Basen (I hope he takes the bait.)

食い付く（くいつく/Kui-tsuku）: take a bait

Just like in English, it can be used to mean biting into food, or biting into a topic or a trap set by others.

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男「ハッ！…ハッ…それは！…くっ。返(かえ)せ！ぐっ！うっ…いっ…うう…貴様(きさま)、さっきの！」

Otoko “Ha! …Ha…Sore’wa! …Ku. Kaese! Gu! U… I… Uu… Kisama, sakki’no!”

Man “That’s… Give it back! You… You’re from earlier…”

貴様（きさま/Kisama）: “you”(a second person) used when looking down and insulting the person

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猫猫「中身(なかみ)は押収済(おうしゅうず)みです。飛発(フェイファ)が３丁(さんちょう)入(はい)っていました」

Maomao “Nakami’wa oshu-zumi-desu. Feifa’ga san-cho haitte-imashita.”

Maomao “We’ve already confiscated the contents. We found three feifas.”

丁（ちょう/Cho）: the counter word for guns

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猫猫（鎌(かま)をかけるためとはいえ、ダシに使(つか)われたおっさんたちには悪(わる)いことしたなぁ）

Maomao (Kama’o kakeru-tame-towa-ie, dashi’ni tsukawareta ossan-tachi’niwa warui-koto shita-naa.)

Maomao (I feel bad for that old man and his crew, who we used as bait.)

鎌をかける（かまをかける/Kama’o kakeru）: trick/trap someone

ダシに使う/する（だしにつかう・する/Dashi’ni tsukau, suru）: take advantage of someone/something, use someone/something for one’s own advantage

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高官「して…どうなのです？先(さき)の皇子(みこ)様の薨御(こうぎょ)以来(いらい)、誰(だれ)か身(み)ごもった妃(きさき)などは…」

Kokan “Shite… Do-nano-desu? Saki’no miko-sama’no kogyo-irai, dareka migomotta kisaki-nado’wa…”

High-ranking official “So, do you happen to know? After the tragedy earlier, have any of the concubines come to be with child?”

薨御（こうぎょ/Kogyo）: the death of someone royal or in a quite high-position

Although it’s translated as “After the tragedy earlier”, the original Japanese directly means “After the death of the price earlier.”

崩御（ほうぎょ/Hogyo）: the death of the current emperor, empress, or limited someone quite close to the emperor

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猫猫「ハァ…」（今日(きょう)の連中(れんちゅう)が何(なに)か吐(は)いてくれたらいいけど）

Maomao “Haa…” (Kyo’no renchu’ga nanika haite-kuretara ii-kedo.)

Maomao (I hope the culprits today can tell us something.)

吐く（はく/Haku）: it usually means “throw up/vomit”, but it’s also used when a criminal confesses wrongdoing.

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猫猫「私にとって、壬氏様は壬氏様です」

Maomao “Watashi’ni-totte, Jinshi-sama’wa Jinshi-sama desu.”

Maomao “No matter what, you will always be Master Jinshi to me.”

This is a commonly used expression in Japanese. Jinshi couldn’t tell her about his real status after all, but this line must have been the happiest one for him to hear from her.

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→Oh, no! This should be “him”, definitely! It means like “…and it puts him into a tough situation…”

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語り「この国(くに)で、『華(はな)』の文字(もじ)を冠(かん)する者(もの)は、今現在(いまげんざい)2人(ふたり)のみ」

Katari “Kono kuni’de, ‘hana’no moji’o kansuru mono’wa, ima-genzai futari-nomi.”

Narration “There are only two people in this land with ‘Ka’-for ‘flower’- in their names.”

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Gaoshun (Jinshi-sama…ie, Tsuki’no-Kimi. Itsu’mademo karisome-no tachiba’dewa irare-masen-yo. Anata’wa, kono kuni’no mikado’no ototo-gimi, Kazuigetsu nano-dakara…)

Gaoshun (Master Jinshi… Or rather, the Moon Prince. You cannot stay in your temporary position forever. After all, you are our emperor’s younger brother, Ka Zuigetsu.)

仮初めの（かりそめの/Karisome’no）: temporary, provisional, tentative

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From the next episode, the story will enter the second half of Season 2. This is one of the best stories in the entire original novel. Let’s continue to enjoy it together!

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apothecaryscript · 6 days ago

Text

Episode 12 (EP.36): Ka Zuigetsu / 第12話（第36話）『華瑞月(カズイゲツ/Kazuigetsu)』

馬閃(バセン)（事態(じたい)を察(さっ)した数名(すうめい)の高官(こうかん)たちは、既(すで)に捜索(そうさく)に出(で)ているが…）

Basen (Jitai’o sasshita sumei’no kokan-tachi’wa, sude’ni sosaku’ni dete-iru-ga…)

Basen (Several high-ranking officials realized what’s going on, and immediately began a search, but…)

高官「一体(いったい)、どこへ行(い)かれたのでしょう？」

Kokan “Ittai, doko’e ikaretano-desho?”

High-ranking official “Where could he have gone?”

高官「侍女(じじょ)と2人(ふたり)で消(き)えたとか…」

Kokan “Jijo’to futari’de kieta-toka…”

High-ranking official “He took off with a servant girl.”

高官「逢引(あいび)きでは？」

Kokan “Aibiki-dewa?”

High-ranking official “Oh, perhaps a lover’s tryst?”

高官たち「ハハハ…」

Kokan-tachi “Hahaha…”

馬閃（子昌(シショウ)…相変(あいか)わらず、何を考(かんが)えているのか分(わ)からない男(おとこ)だ。だが、自分(じぶん)が主催(しゅさい)の宴(うたげ)で、厄介事(やっかいごと)を起(お)こしたくはないはず。とすると、子昌には関(かか)わりのない案件(あんけん)か？）

Basen (Shisho…ai-kawarazu, nani’o kangaete-iru-noka wakara-nai otoko-da. Daga, jibun’ga shusai’no utage’de, yakkai-goto’o okoshi-takuwa nai-hazu. To-suruto, Shisho’niwa kakawari’no nai anken-ka?)

Basen (Shishou. As always, there’s no way to tell what he’s thinking. But I’m sure he wouldn’t want trouble taking place at his own party. If that’s true, could he have nothing to do with all this?)

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猫猫(マオマオ)（温(あたた)かい。それに、かすかな香(こう)の匂(にお)いも…。しかし、そんなことよりも、これ…。何(なん)だ？）

Maomao (Atatakai. Sore’ni, kasuka-na ko’no nioi’mo… Shikashi, sonna koto-yorimo, kore… Nanda?)

Maomao (He’s warm. And he smells faintly of incense. But more importantly… What is this?)

壬氏(ジンシ)「ん!?」

Jinshi “N!?”

猫猫（さっきのカエルか？にしては大(おお)きいような…）

Maomao (Sakki’no kaeru-ka? Ni-shite’wa ookii-yona…)

Maomao (Is it that frog from earlier? But it seems too big for that.)

壬氏「う…すまないが、その手(て)をどかしてくれないか？さわりがあるんだが…」

Jinshi “U… Sumanai’ga, sono te’o dokashite kure-nai-ka? Sawari’ga arunda-ga…”

Jinshi “Sorry, but could you move your hand away? It’s touching something…”

猫猫「えっ」（さわり…？）

Maomao “E.” (Sawari…?)

Maomao (Touching…?)

壬氏「んっ」

Jinshi “N.”

猫猫「あ……ハッ」

Maomao “A……Ha.”

猫猫（あるわけない。後宮(こうきゅう)に立(た)ち入(い)る宦官(かんがん)に、あってはいけないものだ…）

Maomao (Aru-wake-nai. Kokyu’ni tachi-iru kangan’ni, atte’wa ike-nai mono-da…)

Maomao (It can’t be. It can’t be what a eunuch has prior to entering the rear palace.)

壬氏「んんっ」

Jinshi “Nn.”

猫猫（だが、ある！）

Maomao (Daga, aru!)

Maomao (But…it is!)

壬氏「はぁ…」

Jinshi “Haa…”

猫猫（宦官らしくない体(からだ)。思(おも)い当(あ)たることは、いくらでもあった。でも、考えるのを無意識(むいしき)に避(さ)けていたのかもしれない。天女(てんにょ)のような顔(かお)をしているが、壬氏様(ジンシさま)は…）

Maomao (Kangan-rashiku-nai karada. Omoi-ataru koto’wa, ikura-demo atta. Demo, kangaeruno’o mu-ishiki’ni sakete-itano-kamo shire-nai. Tennyo’no-yona kao’o shite-iru-ga, Jinshi-sama’wa…)

Maomao (His build is unlike that of a normal eunuch. There were so many other hints. But I might have been subconsciously avoiding the thought of it. He may have the face of a goddess, but Master Jinshi is…)

壬氏「ある意味(いみ)、説明(せつめい)する手間(てま)が省(はぶ)けたということか…」

Jinshi “Aru-imi, setsumei-suru tema’ga habuketa-to iu-koto-ka…”

Jinshi “In a way, I don’t have to go through as much trouble of explaining.”

壬氏「お前(まえ)に伝(つた)えたいことがある」

Jinshi “Omae’ni tsutae-tai koto’ga aru.”

Jinshi “I need to tell you something.”

猫猫（ダメだ。これ以上(いじょう)聞(き)いてはいけない）

Maomao (Dame-da. Kore-ijo kiite’wa ike-nai.)

Maomao (No, I must not listen.)

壬氏「今回(こんかい)ついてきてもらったのも、そのためだ」

Jinshi “Konkai tsuite-kite-morattano’mo, sono tame-da.”

Jinshi “That’s the reason I had you come along on this trip.”

猫猫（知(し)ってしまえば、墓(はか)まで持(も)って行(い)くことになる）

Maomao (Shitte-shimaeba, haka’made motte-iku-koto’ni naru.)

Maomao (Once I learn this, I’ll have to take it to my grave.)

壬氏「薬屋(くすりや)、俺(おれ)は…」

Jinshi “Kusuriya, ore’wa…”

Jinshi “Apothecary, I am―”

猫猫「申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません。カエルを潰(つぶ)してしまったかもしれません」

Maomao “Moshi-wake ari-masen. Kaeru’o tsubushite-shimatta-kamo shire-masen.”

Maomao “My apologies, I might have crushed a frog.”

壬氏「は？カエル…？」

Jinshi “Ha? Kaeru…?”

Jinshi “Huh? A frog?”

猫猫「突然(とつぜん)、上(うえ)から降(ふ)って来(き)て、姿勢(しせい)を崩(くず)してしまったんです。お怪我(けが)はありませんでしたか？」

Maomao “Totsuzen, ue’kara futte-kite, shisei’o kuzushite-shimattan-desu. Okega’wa ari-masen-deshita-ka?”

Maomao “It suddenly fell on my head, and I lost my balance. Are you hurt?”

壬氏「いや、カエルでは…」

Jinshi “Iya, kaeru’dewa…”

Jinshi “No, that wasn’t a frog―”

猫猫「カエルです！」（カエル。あれはカエルだ）

Maomao “Kaeru-desu!” (Kaeru. Are’wa kaeru-da.)

Maomao “It was a frog.” (A frog. Yes, it was a frog.)

猫猫「さぁ、早(はや)くここから出(で)ましょう」

Maomao “Saa, hayaku koko’kara de-masho.”

Maomao “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

壬氏「むっ……誰(だれ)がカエルだと？」

Jinshi “Mu……Dare’ga kaeru-dato?”

Jinshi “Who are you calling a frog?”

猫猫「カエルでなかったら、何(なん)なんでしょう？」

Maomao “Kaeru’de nakattara, nan-nan-desho?”

Maomao “What else could it have been but a frog?”

壬氏「カエルはもっと小(ちい)さいだろう？」

Jinshi “Kaeru’wa motto chiisai-daro?”

Jinshi “Frogs are much smaller, aren’t they?!”

猫猫「この季節(きせつ)、そこそこ大きいカエルなど、たくさんいます」

Maomao “Kono kisetsu, soko-soko ookii kaeru-nado, takusan imasu.”

Maomao “There are lots of somewhat large frogs this time of year.”

壬氏「くっ…そこそこ…」

Jinshi “Ku… Soko-soko…”

Jinshi “Somewhat…”

猫猫「ええ、そこそこです。そこそこのカエルでなかったら、そこそこの何ですか？」

Maomao “Ee, soko-soko-desu. Soko-soko’no kaeru’de nakattara, soko-soko’no nan-desu-ka?”

Maomao “Yes. Somewhat. If it wasn’t a somewhat large frog, what other somewhat large thing could it have been?”

壬氏「おい！何(なに)、手を拭(ぬぐ)っている！」

Jinshi “Oi! Nani, te’o nugutte-iru!”

Jinshi “Hey! Why are you wiping your hands?!”

猫猫「いや、カエルって気持(きも)ち悪(わる)いでしょう。粘液(ねんえき)を出(だ)しますし」

Maomao “Iya, kaerutte kimochi-warui-desho. Nen-eki’o dashi-masu-shi.”

Maomao “Well, frogs are pretty gross. They get all slimy, you know.”

壬氏「きもっ…誰が粘液だ！」

Jinshi “Kimo… Dare’ga nen-eki-da!”

Jinshi “Gross… Who are you calling slimy?!”

猫猫「とにかく！私(わたし)は何も知(し)りません」

Maomao “Tonikaku! Watashi’wa nani’mo shiri-masen.”

Maomao “Anyway, I don’t know anything.”

壬氏「むっ…」

Jinshi “Mu…”

Maomao (Nani-goto’mo, shiri-sugite’wa yoku-nai. Jinshi-sama’to watashi’wa kokan’to gejo. Sore-ijo-demo, sore-ika-demo nai. Hitsuyo-ijo’no himitsu-nante, irana…)

Maomao (I must now know too much. Master Jinshi and I are an official and his servant. Nothing more, nothing less. There’s no need to share any unnecessary secrets―)

壬氏「確認(かくにん)してみるか？」

Jinshi “Kakunin shite-miru-ka?”

Jinshi “Do you want to find out?”

猫猫（挑発(ちょうはつ)が過ぎた…！）

Maomao (Chohatsu’ga sugita…!)

Maomao (I provoked him too much!)

猫猫「あ…」（ど…どうする。蹴(け)りを入(い)れるべきか？）

Maomao “A…” (Do…Do-suru. Keri’o ireru-beki-ka?)

Maomao (W-What do I do? Should I kick him?)

猫猫「ハッ」

Maomao “Ha.”

壬氏「ん…何(なん)だ？」

Jinshi “N…Nan-da?”

Jinshi “What was that?”

猫猫（指笛(ゆびぶえ)）

Maomao (Yubi-bue)

壬氏「ぐえっ」

Jinshi “Gue.”

猫猫（よくやった…！）

Maomao (Yoku yatta…!)

Maomao (Good boy!)

李白「お～い、どうしたんだ～？いきなり走(はし)りやがってよ～！」

Rihaku “Oooi, do-shitandaaa? Ikinari hashiri-yagatte-yooo!”

Lihaku “Hey! What is it, boy? Why’d you suddenly take off like that?”

猫猫（この声(こえ)…）

Maomao (Kono koe…)

Maomao (This voice…)

猫猫「李白様(リハクさま)～！引(ひ)き上(あ)げて頂(いただ)けませんか！」

Maomao “Rihaku-samaaa! Hiki-agete itadake-masen-ka!”

Maomao “Master Lihaku! Can you pull us up?”

李白「えっ、嬢(じょう)ちゃん!? どうしたんだ、そんな所(ところ)で…！」

Rihaku “E, jo-chan!? Do-shitanda, sonna tokoro’de…!”

Lihaku “Huh? Little miss? What are you doing in a place like that?”

壬氏「むっ…」

Jinshi “Mu…”

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李白「なるほど。飛発(フェイファ)で狙(ねら)われて、滝(たき)に飛(と)び込(こ)まれたと」

Rihaku “Naru-hodo. Feifa’de nerawarete, taki’ni tobi-komareta-to.)

Lihaku “I see. Someone shot at you with feifas, so you jumped over a waterfall.”

壬氏「撃(う)った者(もの)の顔(かお)までは見(み)えなかったが」

Jinshi “Utta mono’no kao-made’wa mie-nakatta-ga.”

Jinshi “I wasn’t able to see the shooter’s face, though.”

李白「ご無事(ぶじ)で何(なに)よりです。で、何(なん)で嬢ちゃんがこの方(かた)といるんだよ？」

Rihaku “Gobuji’de nani-yori desu. De, nande jo-chan’ga kono kata’to irun-dayo?”

Lihaku “I’m glad you’re safe. So, little miss, why are you with him?”

猫猫「説明(せつめい)しづらいとしか…」

Maomao “Setsumei shi-zurai-to-shika…”

Maomao “It’s a bit complicated to explain.”

李白「あぁ？まぁ、いいけどよ」

Rihaku “Aa? Maa, ii-kedo-yo.”

Lihaku “Huh? Well, okay.”

壬氏「こたびの狩(か)り、飛発を持(も)ってきている者は？」

Jinshi “Kotabi’no kari, feifa’o motte-kite-iru mono’wa?”

Jinshi “Has anyone brought feifas to this hunt?”

李白「いえ、森(もり)の狩りには不向(ふむ)きですので、暗殺(あんさつ)のために隠(かく)し持ってきたと考えるのが妥当(だとう)でしょう」

Rihaku “Ie, mori’no kari’niwa fumuki-desu-node, ansatsu’no tameni kakushi-motte-kita-to kangaeru-noga dato-desho.”

Lihaku “No. They’re not suitable for hunting in the forest, anyway. I think it’s safe to assume they were smuggled in for the assassination.”

壬氏「荷(に)をあらためるか…。しかし…」

Jinshi “Ni’o aratameru-ka… Shikashi…”

Jinshi “Should we check everyone’s luggage? But…”

猫猫「客(きゃく)は子昌様に招待(しょうたい)された高官ばかりです。暗殺の道具(どうぐ)を手元(てもと)に置(お)くようなまねはしないかと」

Maomao “Kyaku’wa Shisho-sama’ni shotai-sareta kokan-bakari desu. Ansatsu’no dogu’o temoto’ni oku-yona mane’wa shinai-kato.”

Maomao “All the guests are all high-ranking officials invited by Master Shishou. I doubt that they would hold onto tools of assassination.”

猫猫「李白様。その犬(いぬ)は、笛(ふえ)で呼(よ)ぶ以外に、何かしつけをしていますか？」

Maomao “Rihaku-sama. Sono inu’wa, fue’de yobu-igai’ni, nanika shitsuke’o shite-imasu-ka?”

Maomao “Master Lihaku, about that dog… Does he know any other tricks besides following a whistle?”

李白「え？あ～…ウサギの穴(あな)を探(さが)すくらいは、できるみたいだが」

Rihaku “E? Aaa… Usagi’no ana’o sagasu-kurai’wa, dekiru-mitai-daga.”

Lihaku “Huh? Well, he can sniff out a rabbit’s burrow, I guess.”

猫猫（愛嬌(あいきょう)はあるが）

Maomao (Akyo’ga aru-ga.)

Maomao (He is cute, but…)

猫猫「じ…香泉様(コウセンさま)」

Maomao “Ji…Kosen-sama!”

Maomao “Master Ji―Kousen.”

壬氏「何(なん)だ？」

Jinshi “Nan-da?”

Jinshi “What now?”

猫猫（怒(おこ)ってる…まぁ、当然(とうぜん)か。あんな行動(こうどう)に出(で)られてつい、あおってしまったが、壬氏様は何(なに)かを伝(つた)えようとしていた。なのに、知りたくないからと、めちゃくちゃな言(い)い逃(のが)れをした。ご自分(じぶん)の姿(すがた)に大層(たいそう)な自信(じしん)を持(も)つお方(かた)だ。カエルもさぞやご立派(りっぱ)であろうに、『そこそこ』などと…）

Maomao (Okotteru… Maa, tozen-ka. Anna kodo’ni derarete tsui, aotte-shimatta-ga, Jinshi-sama’wa nanika’o tsutae-yoto shite-ita. Nanoni, shiritaku-nai-kara-to, mecha-kucha-na iinogare’o shita. Go-jibun’no sugata’ni taiso-na jishin’o motsu okata-da. Kaeru’mo sazoya go-rippa-de aroni, ‘soko-soko’nado-to…)

Maomao (He’s angry. I guess he would be. I got a little carried away, taunting him like that. He was trying to tell me something, but I made up some crazy excuses to avoid hearing him out. He’s someone who takes pride in his appearance. I bet his frog’s quite impressive too, and yet I referred to it as only ‘somewhat large.’)

猫猫「ハァ…」

Maomao “Haa…”

猫猫（気(き)まずいが、言(い)うべきことは言わねば）

Maomao (Kimazui-ga, iu-beki koto’wa iwa-neba.)

Maomao (Things are awkward, but I have to say what needs to be said.)

猫猫「もしか��たら、先(さき)ほど発砲(はっぽう)した人物(じんぶつ)を特定(とくてい)できるかもしれません」

Maomao “Moshika-shitara, saki-hodo happo-shita jinbutsu’o tokutei-dekiru-kamo shire-masen.”

Maomao “There might be a way to determine who shot at us earlier.”

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武官「失礼(しつれい)します」

Bukan “Shitsurei shimasu.”

Military officer “Excuse me.”

馬閃「何(なん)だ」

Basen “Nan-da.”

Basen “What is it?”

武官「こちらを」

Bukan “Kochira’o.”

Military officer “We found this.”

馬閃「ハッ」

Basen “Ha.”

高官「おい、それは！」

Kokan “Oi, sore’wa!”

High-ranking official “Hey, is that…?!”

馬閃「主(あるじ)の衣(ころも)です」

Basen “Aruji’no koromo desu.”

Basen “A piece of my master’s garments.”

高官「えっ!?」

Kokan “E!?”

高官「なんと…」

Kokan “Nanto…!”

High-ranking official “What?! No!”

武官「川(かわ)の岩場(いわば)に引(ひ)っかかっているのを発見(はっけん)しました。近(ちか)くには誰(だれ)もおらず、その先(さき)は急流(きゅうりゅう)。昨夜(さくや)の雨(あめ)で増水(ぞうすい)もしています。もし、流(なが)されていたら…」

Bukan “Kawa’no iwaba’ni hikkakatte-iruno’o hakken-shima-shita. Chikaku’niwa dare’mo orazu, sono saki’wa kyu-ryu. Sakuya’no ame’de zosui’mo shite-imasu. Moshi, nagasarete-itara…””

Military officer “We found it on a rock by the river. No one else was in the area, and there were rapids ahead, which were higher due to the rain last night. If he was washed away…”

高官「は…早(はや)く捜索(そうさく)しろ！」

Kokan “Ha…Hayaku sosaku-shiro!”

High-ranking official “H-Hurry! Send a search party!”

下官「はっ」

Gekan “Ha.”

Low-ranking official “Yes!”

高官「急(いそ)げ！」

Kokan “Isoge!”

High-ranking official “Go, now!”

馬閃（今更(いまさら)慌(あわ)てたところで遅(おそ)い）

Basen (Ima-sara awateta-torkorode osoi.)

Basen (It’s too late to panic now.)

武官（李白）「では、私も捜索に加(くわ)わってまいります」

Bukan (Rihaku) “Dewa, watashi’mo sosaku’ni kuwawatte-mairi-masu.”

Military officer (Lihaku) “I will join the search as well, then.”

馬閃（どういうおつもりです、壬氏様…！）

Basen (Do-iu otsumori desu, Jinshi-sama…!)

Basen (What are you thinking, Master Jinshi?)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

馬閃「ん？」

Basen “N?”

男「なっ、何(なん)だ!?」

Otoko “Na, Nan-da!?”

Man “W-What?!”

李白「あぁ…申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません！」

Rihaku “Aa… Moshi-wake ari-masen!”

Lihaku “Oh, my apologies!”

男「ふん！しつけのなってない犬だ。チッ」

Otoko “Fun! Shitsuke’no natte-nai inu-da. Chi.”

Man “Hmph. What a poorly trained dog!”

李白「よしよし…ニッ」

Rihaku “Yoshi-yoshi…Ni.”

Lihaku “Good boy!”

馬閃「ん…」

Basen “N…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

馬閃「どうした？」

Basen “Do-shita?”

Basen “What is it?”

下官「馬閃様！それが…」

Gekan “Basen-sama! Sore-ga…”

Low-ranking official “Master Basen! We found this…”

馬閃「主の衣だ。これは血(ち)か？辺(あた)りに人(ひと)は？」

Basen “Aruji’no koromo-da. Kore’wa chi-ka? Atari’ni hito’wa?”

Basen “It’s from my master’s garment. Is this blood? Any sign of people nearby?”

下官「河原(かわら)が濡(ぬ)れていないので、周辺(しゅうへん)にはおられないかと」

Gekan “Kawara’ga nurete-inai-node, shuhen’niwa orare-nai-kato.”

Low-ranking official “The riverbank isn’t wet, so I don’t think anyone’s climbed out of the water.”

馬閃「そうか…」

Basen “Soka…”

Basen “I see.”

下官「ですが、こちらも衣(ころも)と一緒(いっしょ)に」

Gekan “Desu-ga, kochira’mo koromo’to issho’ni.”

Low-ranking official “However, we found this near the cloth.”

馬閃「鷹(たか)の羽根(はね)…」

Basen “Taka’no hane…”

Basen “Falcon feathers…”

下官「鷹(たか)狩(が)りの験担(げんかつ)ぎに、こしらえた物(もの)でしょうか？」

Gekan “Taka-gari’no gen-katsugi’ni, koshiraeta mono desho-ka?”

Low-ranking official “Was it made to wish for good luck in falconry?”

馬閃「ああ。申し訳ないが、皆(みな)の荷(に)を確(たし)かめさせてもらえないか」

Basen “Aa. Moshi-wake-nai-ga, mina’no ni’o tashikame-sasete-morae-nai-ka.”

Basen “Yes. I’m sorry, but… could we check everyone’s luggage?”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

下官「見(み)つけました～！」

Gekan “Mitsuke-mashitaaa!”

Low-ranking official “I found it!”

下官「川辺(かわべ)で発見(はっけん)したものと同(おな)じ矢(や)です」

Gekan “Kawabe’de hakken-shita-mono’to onaji ya-desu.”

Low-ranking official “It’s the same arrow as the one found by the river!”

魯袁(ロエン)「し…知(し)らない！何(なに)かの間違(まちが)いだ！」

Roen “Shi…Shira-nai! Nanika’no machigai-da!”

Lo-en “I don’t know anything about that! This has to be a mistake!”

馬閃「ではなぜ、あなたの矢が、主の衣と共(とも)に川辺にあったのですか？魯袁殿(ロエンどの)」

Basen “Dewa naze, anata’no ya’ga, aruji’no koromo’to tomo’ni attano-desu-ka? Roen-dono.”

Basen “Then why was your arrow found by the river, along with a piece of my master’s garments, Sir Lo-en?”

魯袁「だ…誰(だれ)かが私(わたし)の矢(や)と入(い)れ替(か)えたんだ！私(わたし)を陥(おとしい)れるために！」

Roen “Da…Dareka’ga watashi’no ya’to irekae-tanda! Watashi’o otoshi-ireru-tame’ni!”

Lo-en “Someone must have stolen my arrow to entrap me!”

官「どういうことだ？」

Kan “Do-iu koto’da?”

Official “What’s going on? Could it be…?”

魯袁「私は知らん！知らんぞ！」

Roen “Watashi’wa shiran! Shiran-zo!”

Lo-en “I don’t know anything!”

馬閃（魯袁の動揺(どうよう)は本物(ほんもの)に見(み)える。部下(ぶか)たちの様子(ようす)にも違和感(いわかん)はない）

Basen (Roen’no doyo’wa honmono’ni mieru. Buka-tachi’no yosu’nimo iwakan’wa nai.)

Basen (Lo-en’s panic seems genuine. His men aren’t reacting unnaturally, either.)

李白「では、他(ほか)に落(お)ちている矢がないかを調(しら)べてみてはいかがでしょう？川辺(かわべ)以外(いがい)の、森(もり)の中(なか)もしっかりと」

Rihaku “Dewa, hoka’ni ochite-iru ya’ga naika’o shirabete-mite’wa ikaga-desho? Kawabe-igai’no, mori’no naka’mo shikkari-to.”

Lihaku “In that case, why don’t we try to see if there are any other arrows? We should search the forest as well, not just the river.”

男「う……」

Otoko “U……”

馬閃「分(わ)かった。しっかりと森の中を探(さが)せ！」

Basen “Wakatta. Shikkari-to mori’no naka’o sagase!”

Basen “Understood. Do a thorough search of the forest!”

官たち「はっ！」

Kan-tachi “Ha!”

Officials “Yes, sir!”

馬閃「フゥ…」

Basen “Fuu…”

李白「ニッ」

Rihaku “Ni.”

馬閃（うまく食(く)い付(つ)いてくれるといいが…）

Basen (Umaku kui-tsuite-kureru-to ii-ga…)

Basen (I hope he takes the bait.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

男「ハァ…ハァ…。クソッ、どういうことだ？矢なんて知らんぞ！あっ…フゥ…」

Otoko “Haa… Haa… Kuso, do-iu koto-da? Ya-nante shiran-zo! A… Fuu…”

Man “What’s going on?! I don’t know anything about some arrow!”

猫猫「そこに何(なに)かあるのでしょうか？」

Maomao “Soko’ni nanika aruno-desho-ka?”

Maomao “Is something there?”

男「ハッ！…ハッ…それは！…くっ。返(かえ)せ！ぐっ！うっ…いっ…うう…貴様(きさま)、さっきの！」

Otoko “Ha! …Ha…Sore’wa! …Ku. Kaese! Gu! U… I… Uu… Kisama, sakki’no!”

Man “That’s… Give it back! You… You’re from earlier…”

猫猫「随分(ずいぶん)犬に嫌(きら)われているようですね」

Maomao “Zuibun inu’ni kirawarete-iru-yo-desu-ne.”

Maomao “The dog really doesn’t like you.”

男「ハァ…ハァ…うっ…ハッ…ああ…うっ」

Otoko “Haa…haa… U… Ha… Aa…u.”

猫猫「この匂(にお)い、鼻(はな)のいい犬ならすぐ反応(はんのう)します。狩(か)りに犬を連(つ)れて行かなかったのは、このためですね」

Maomao “Kono nioi, hana’no ii inu’nara sugu hanno-shimasu. Kari’ni inu’o tsurete-ika-nakatta’nowa, kono-tame desu-ne.”

Maomao “Dogs will notice this smell right away, with their sharp noses. This must be why they refused to take the dog along on the hunt.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「中身(なかみ)は押収済(おうしゅうず)みです。飛発(フェイファ)が３丁(さんちょう)入(はい)っていました」

Maomao “Nakami’wa oshu-zumi-desu. Feifa’ga san-cho haitte-imashita.”

Maomao “We’ve already confiscated the contents. We found three feifas.”

壬氏「異国(いこく)の物(もの)だ。恐(おそ)らく、西方(さいほう)の最新型(さいしんがた)だろう。まだ煙(けむり)の匂(にお)いがする」

Jinshi “Ikoku’no mono-da. Osoraku, saiho’no saishin-gata daro. Mada kemuri’no nioi’ga suru.”

Jinshi “It’s foreign-made. Most likely the latest model from the west. I can still smell the smoke.”

李白「随分(ずいぶん)小型(こがた)ですね」

Rihaku “Zuibun kogata desu-ne.”

Lihaku “It’s quite small.”

壬氏「私もこの型(かた)は初(はじ)めて見た。（発砲音(はっぽうおん)）なるほど。金属(きんぞく)の部分(ぶぶん)で火花(ひばな)を起(お)こすのか」

Jinshi “Watashi’mo kono kata’wa hajimete mita. (Happo-on) Naru-hodo. Kinzoku’no bubun’de hibana’o okosu-noka.”

Jinshi “I’ve never seen this model before, either. I see, the metal parts create a spark.”

猫猫「炭(すみ)と硝石(しょうせき)と硫黄(いおう)を混(ま)ぜて作(つく)った火薬(かやく)が爆発(ばくはつ)すると、思(おも)わず鼻(はな)を押(お)さえたくなるような匂(にお)いを発(はっ)します。まるで卵(たまご)が腐(くさ)ったような…そう、崖(がけ)の上(うえ)で撃(う)たれた時(とき)と同(おな)じ匂いです。猟犬(りょうけん)に火薬の匂いを嗅(か)がせたら、すぐにこの飛発を探(さが)し当(あ)ててくれました。それを撃った人間(にんげん)についた火薬の匂いも嗅ぎ当てるのですから、賢(かしこ)い犬です」

Maomao “Sumi’to shoseki’to io’o mazete tsukutta kayaku’ga bakuhatsu-suruto, omowazu hana’o osae-taku-naru-yona nioi’o hasshi-masu. Marude tamago’ga kusatta-yona… So, gake’no ue’de utareta-toki’to onaji nioi-desu. Ryoken’ni kayaku’no nioi’o kagasetara, sugu-ni kono feifa’o sagashi-atete-kure-mashita. Sore’o utta ningen’ni tsuita kayaku’no nioi’mo kagi-ateruno-desu-kara, kashikoi inu desu.”

Maomao “Gunpowder’s made from coal, saltpeter, and sulfur. When it explodes, it emits a strong smell that makes you want to plug your nose. Like a rotten egg… Yes, the same smell as the one from when we were shot at on that cliff. When I let the dog take a sniff of the gunpowder, he found the feifa right away. Then he found the person who had the same smell of gunpowder on them... The shooter. What a clever dog.”

李白「お前(まえ)は偉(えら)いなぁ～！」

Rihaku “Omae’wa erai-naaaa!”

Lihaku “You’re such a good boy!”

猫猫（鎌(かま)をかけるためとはいえ、ダシに使(つか)われたおっさんたちには悪(わる)いことしたなぁ）

Maomao (Kama’o kakeru-tame-towa-ie, dashi’ni tsukawareta ossan-tachi’niwa warui-koto shita-naa.)

Maomao (I feel bad for that old man and his crew, who we used as bait.)

馬閃「香泉様！」

Basen “Kosen-sama!”

Basen “Master Kousen!”

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

壬氏「馬閃」

Jinshi “Basen.”

馬閃「先程(さきほど)の銃声(じゅうせい)は!? お怪我(けが)は!? 姿(すがた)を消(け)したかと思(おも)えば突然(とつぜん)、衣(ころも)の切(き)れ端(はし)を見(み)せられて、『この男(おとこ)に合(あ)わせろ』などと…私は一体(いったい)どうしたことかと…！」

Basen “Saki-hodo’no jusei’wa!? O-kega’wa!? Sugata’o keshita-kato omoeba totsuzen, koromo’no kire-hashi’o mise-rarete, ‘Kono otoko’ni awasero’ nado-to… Watashi’wa ittai do-shita-koto-kato…!”

Basen “What was that gunshot?! Are you hurt?! First you disappear, then you suddenly show me a scrap of cloth and order me to follow this man’s lead. I had no idea what’s going on!”

壬氏「すまない。状況(じょうきょう)は？」

Jinshi “Sumanai. Jokyo’wa?”

Jinshi “Sorry. What’s the status?”

馬閃「うっ…ハァ…。この者(もの)の関係者(かんけいしゃ)たちは、いつでも捕縛(ほばく)できるよう見張(みは)っております」

Basen “U… Haa… Kono mono’no kankei-sha-tachi’wa, itsu-demo hobaku dekiru-yo mihatte-ori-masu.”

Basen “We’ve got an eye on this man’s associates, so that we can apprehend them immediately”

壬氏「では、後(あと)は罪状(ざいじょう)を明確(めいかく)にするだけだな」

Jinshi “Dewa, ato’wa zaijo’o meikaku-ni suru-dake dana.”

Jinshi “Good. Then all we have to do is make their crime clear.”

馬閃「はっ」

Basen “Ha.”

Basen “Understood.”

猫猫（その後(ご)、覆面(ふくめん)の主賓(しゅひん)は山荘(さんそう)に戻(もど)り、狩(か)りの宴(うたげ)は散会(さんかい)となった）

Maomao (Sono-go, fukumen’no shuhin’wa sanso’ni modori, kari’no utage’wa sankai-to natta.)

Maomao (After that, the masked guest returned to the mountain resort, and the afterparty of the hunt wrapped up.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

官たち「ハハハ…」

Kan-tachi “Hahaha…”

魯袁「へへっ、フハハハ…」

Roen “Hehe, fuhahaha…”

高順(ガオシュン)（昼(ひる)の失踪事件(しっそうじけん)は、表向(おもてむ)きは覆面のお方の気(き)まぐれということで処理(しょり)された。その宴(うたげ)で、とある官(かん)の一派(いっぱ)が消(き)えたことは周知(しゅうち)の事実(じじつ)だ。今後(こんご)あの者(もの)たちが表舞台(おもてぶたい)に出(で)ることはあるまい。…何(なに)かあったのか、お疲(つか)れのご様子(ようす)だった。だが、壬氏様の代理(だいり)としてここにいる自分(じぶん)は、それを気(き)にする立場(たちば)にない）

Gaoshun (Hiru’no shisso-jiken’wa, omote-muki’wa fukumen’no okata’no kimagure-to iu-koto’de shori-sareta. Sono utage’de, to-aru kan’no ippa’ga kieta-koto’wa shuchi’no jijitsu-da. Kongo ano mono-tachi’ga omote-butai’ni deru-koto’wa aru-mai. …Nanika atta-noka, otsukare’no go-yosu datta. Daga, Jinshi-sama’no dairi-to-shite koko’ni iru jibun’wa, sore’o ki’ni-suru tachiba’ni nai.)

Gaoshun (The disappearance during the day was written off as the masked lord’s whimsy. It became public knowledge that, during that party, a certain official and his party disappeared. They will never be seen in public again. I don’t know what happened, but he seemed tired. But since I’m here as the surrogate for ‘Master Jinshi,’ I’m not in a position to worry about that.)

高順（まだまだだな…）

Gaoshun (Mada-mada dana…)

Gaoshun (He still has a ways to go.)

高官「宦官(かんがん)にはつまらない趣向(しゅこう)だったかな？」

Kokan “Kangan’niwa tsumaranai shuko datta-kana?”

High-ranking official “Was the entertainment not enjoyable for a eunuch?”

高順「いえ、楽(たの)しませて頂(いただ)いております」

Gaoshun “Ie, tanoshi-masete-itadaite-ori-masu.”

Gaoshun “On the contrary, I’m enjoying myself.”

高官「しかし大変(たいへん)ですなぁ。女帝(じょてい)の怒(いか)りを買(か)ったばかりに宦官になど」

Kokan “Shikashi taihen desu-naa. Jotei’no ikari’o katta-bakari’ni kangan’ni-nado.”

High-ranking official “It must be terrible, being forced to become a eunuch because you angered the empress.”

高順「終(お)わった話(はなし)ですから。それに、いい月見(つきみ)酒(ざけ)ですよ」

Gaoshun “Owatta hanashi desu-kara. Soreni, ii tsukimi-zake desu-yo.”

Gaoshun “The past is the past. More importantly, this drink suits the moon very well.”

高順（宦官となり、馬(マー)の名(な)を捨(す)て、高順と名を改(あらた)めた。だが宴(うたげ)の折(おり)には、馬の家(いえ)の者(もの)として扱(あつか)われる。そういうことになっている）

Gaoshun (Kangan-to-nari, Maa’no na’o sute, Gaoshun-to na’o aratameta. Daga utage’no ori’niwa, Maa’no ie’no mono-to-shite atsukawareru. So-iu koto’ni natte-iru.)

Gaoshun (I became a eunuch, discarded the Ma name, and changed it to Gaoshun. But at parties, I am treated as one of the Ma family. That’s how it is.)

高官「あ～…それにしても、麗(うるわ)しの宦官殿が今回の狩りに参加(さんか)されなかったのは、ちと残念(ざんねん)だ」

Kokan “Aaa…Soreni-shitemo, uruwashi’no kangan-dono’ga konkai’no kari’ni sanka-sare-nakatta’nowa, chito zannen-da.”

High-ranking official “Speaking of which, it’s too bad the beautiful eunuch couldn’t join us on this hunt.”

高順「こたびは覆面のお方(かた)が来(き)ていらっしゃいますから」

Gaoshun “Kotabi’wa fukumen’no okata’ga kite-irasshai-masu-kara.”

Gaoshun “The masked lord is with us this time.”

高官「あれだけ美(うつく)しいお顔(かお)が参加されたら、それだけで嫌味(いやみ)になってしまいますからなぁ。覆面のお方は、ご尊顔(そんがん)にひどい火傷(やけど)の痕(あと)があるとの噂(うわさ)。今宵(こよい)も部屋(へや)に引(ひ)きこもっていると聞きますし…帝(みかど)も心配(しんぱい)でしょう。あれが東宮(とうぐう)とは…」

Kokan “Are-dake utsukushii okao’ga sanka-sare-tara, sore-dake’de iyami’ni natte-shimai-masu-kara-naa. Fukumen’no okata’wa, gosongan’ni hidoi yakedo’no ato’ga aru-tono uwasa. Koyoi’mo heya’ni hiki-komotte-iru-to kiki-masu-shi… Mikado’mo shinpai desho. Are’ga togu-towa…”

High-ranking official “If that beautiful face joined us, it would be an insult to our lord. I heard the masked lord has a terrible burn scar on his face. I also heard he’s still locked away in his room. The Emperor must be worried too, to have that as the crown prince.”

高順「ええ」（『あれ』か…。東宮への敬(うやま)いは、どこにもない）

Gaoshun “Ee.” (‘Are’-ka… Togu’eno uyamai’wa doko’nimo nai.)

Gaoshun “Yes.” (‘That,’ huh? No respect at all for the crown prince.)

高官「して…どうなのです？先(さき)の皇子(みこ)様の薨御(こうぎょ)以来(いらい)、誰(だれ)か身(み)ごもった妃(きさき)などは…」

Kokan “Shite… Do-nano-desu? Saki’no miko-sama’no kogyo-irai, dareka migomotta kisaki-nado’wa…”

High-ranking official “So, do you happen to know? After the tragedy earlier, have any of the concubines come to be with child?”

高順「さぁ、私はあいにく。失礼(しつれい)、少(すこ)し酔(よ)いました」

Gaoshun “Saa, watashi’wa ainiku. Shitsu-rei, sukoshi yoi-mashita.”

Gaoshun “Unfortunately, I have no idea. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ve drank a bit much.”

→Shouldn’t this be “drunk” here? Just an error, or is my understanding wrong?

高順（皆(みな)、見定(みさだ)めようとしている…こたびの狩(か)りの主賓(しゅひん)、すなわち帝(みかど)の弟君(おとうとぎみ)が、皇位(こうい)を継(つ)ぐにふさわしい人物(じんぶつ)であるかどうか。壬氏様は、小猫(シャオマオ)に真実(しんじつ)を伝(つた)えられたのだろうか…。今後(こんご)起(お)こり得(う)る問題(もんだい)に対処(たいしょ)するためにも、知(し)らせておく必要(ひつよう)がある。それだけ、利用価値(りようかち)のある娘(むすめ)だ。非情(ひじょう)な言(い)い方(かた)だが、使(つか)える手(て)は多(おお)い方(ほう)がいい）

Gaoshun (Mina, misadame-yoto shite-iru… Kotabi’no kari’no shuhin, sunawachi mikado’no ototo-gimi’ga, koi’o tsugu’ni fusawashii jinbutsu’de aru-ka doka. Jinshi-sama’wa, Shaomao’ni shinjitsu’o tsutae-raretano-daro-ka… Kongo okori-uru mondai’ni taisho-suru-tame’nimo, shirasete-oku hitsuyo’ga aru. Sore-dake, riyo-kachi’no aru musume-da. Hijo’na iikata-daga, tsukaeru te’wa ooi-hoga ii.)

Gaoshun (Everyone is trying to determine if the main guest of this hunting party… that is, the emperor’s younger brother, is fit to take over the throne. Was Master Jinshi able to tell Xiaomao the truth? She needs to know, in order to deal with problems that could take place in the near future. She really is that useful. This sounds cold, but we need all the useful pawns we can get.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（今回(こんかい)もまた気持(きも)ちの悪(わる)い幕(まく)引(ひ)きだ。あの時(とき)みたいに…。飛発(フェイファ)の出(で)どころ、連中(れんちゅう)の目的(もくてき)…分(わ)かっていないことが多(おお)すぎる）

Maomao (Konkai’mo mata kimochi’no warui maku-hiki-da. Ano-toki-mitai-ni… Feifa’no dedokoro, renchu’no mokuteki… Wakatte-inai-koto’ga oo-sugiru.)

Maomao (Another uncomfortable ending. Just like the other time, so much is left unanswered, like where they got the feifa, what they really wanted, and so on.)

壬氏「異国(いこく)のものだ。恐(おそ)らく西方(さいほう)の最新型(さいしんがた)だろう」

Jinshi “Ikoku’no mono-da. Osoraku saiho’no saishin-gata daro.”

Jinshi “It’s foreign-made. Most likely the latest model from the west.”

猫猫（西方(さいほう)か…。鏡合(かがみあ)わせのように瓜二(うりふた)つの特使(とくし)たち。監視(かんし)の目(め)をかいくぐって部屋(へや)を抜(ぬ)け出(だ)したという話(はなし)も、恐(おそ)らく特使(とくし)たちのことだろう。部屋(へや)を抜(ぬ)け出(だ)して、一体(いったい)何(なに)をしていたのか…。子(こ)をはらんだ例(たと)え話(ばなし)の妹(いもうと)のように、姦計(かんけい)をもくろんでいたか、それとも……）

Maomao (Saiho-ka… Kagami-awase’no-yoni uri-futatsu’no tokushi-tachi. Kanshi’no me’o kai-kugutte heya’o nuke-dashita-to-iu hanashi’mo, osoraku tokushi-tachi’no koto-daro. Heya’o nuke-dashite, ittai nani’o shite-ita-noka… Ko’o haranda tatoe-banashi’no imoto’no-yoni, kankei’o mokuronde-itaka, sore-tomo……)

Maomao (The west… The special envoys, who were almost mirror images of one another… That story about the girls sneaking out and tricking their guards was probably about them. What were they doing, sneaking out like that? Like the metaphor of the younger sister becoming with child, were they after a man? Or…)

猫猫「ハァ…」（今日(きょう)の連中(れんちゅう)が何(なに)か吐(は)いてくれたらいいけど）

Maomao “Haa…” (Kyo’no renchu’ga nanika haite-kuretara ii-kedo.)

Maomao (I hope the culprits today can tell us something.)

壬氏「少(すこ)しいいか」

Jinshi “Sukoshi ii-ka.”

Jinshi “Do you have a moment?”

猫猫「えっ」（なぜここに！宴(うたげ)に出てたんじゃないのか!?）

Maomao “E.” (Naze koko’ni! Utage’ni detetan-ja nai-noka!?)

Maomao (Why is he here?! Isn’t he supposed to be at the party?!)

壬氏「開(あ)けなくていい。随分(ずいぶん)と驚(おどろ)かせてしまって悪(わる)かった。ん…」

Jinshi “Ake-nakute ii. Zuibun-to odoro-kasete-shimatte waru-katta. N…”

Jinshi “You don’t need to open the door. I’m sorry that I startled you so much.”

猫猫（どんな顔(かお)をしているのか、見(み)なくても分(わ)かる）

Maomao (Donna kao’o shite-iru-noka, mi-nakutemo wakaru.)

Maomao (I may not be able to see him, but I know what face he’s making.)

猫猫「気(き)にしておりません。こちらこそ申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありませんでした」

Maomao “Ki’ni shite ori-masen. Kochira-koso moshi-wake ari-masen-deshita.”

Maomao “I don’t mind. In fact, I’m the one who should apologize.”

猫猫（『そこそこ』なんて言って）

Maomao (‘Soko-soko’nante itte.)

Maomao (For calling it ‘somewhat large,’ and all.)

壬氏「う…」

Jinshi “U…”

猫猫（壬氏様は何を考(かんが)えているんだろう。私は昔(むかし)から、人(ひと)の心(こころ)の機微(きび)には疎(うと)い。育(そだ)ててくれた姐(ねえ)ちゃんたちは、仕事(しごと)第一(だいいち)の妓女(ぎじょ)だ。いくら泣(な)こうが、仕事が終(お)わるまで放置(ほうち)された）

Maomao (Jinshi-sama’wa nani’o kangaete-irun-daro. Watashi’wa mukashi’kara, hito’no kokoro’no kibi’niwa utoi. Sodatete-kureta neechan-tachi’wa, shigoto-dai-ichi’no gijo-da. Ikura nako-ga, shigoto’ga owaru’made hochi-sareta.)

Maomao (What is Master Jinshi thinking? I’ve always been slow when it comes to understanding human feelings. The big sisters who raised me were hard-working courtesans. No matter how much I cried, they left me alone until they were done with work.)

妓女たち「ハハハ…」

Gijo-tachi “Hahaha…”

猫猫（そのうち悟(さと)ったのか、泣(な)かない赤子(あかご)になったらしい。だからなのか、人(ひと)の好意(こうい)にも悪意(あくい)にも鈍感(どんかん)だ。こんな時(とき)に、何を言ったらいいかも分からない）

Maomao (Sono-uchi satotta-noka, naka-nai akago’ni natta-rashii. Dakara-nanoka, hito’no koi’nimo akui’nimo donkan-da. Konna toki’ni, nani’o ittara iika’mo wakara-nai.)

Maomao (I heard it didn’t take long for me to learn to stop crying. That might be why I’m slow to notice how others feel about me, good and bad. Even now, I also have no idea what to say in these situations.)

猫猫「私は何も口(くち)にしません」

Maomao “Watashi’wa nani’mo kuchi’ni shima-sen.”

Maomao “I won’t breathe a word of it.”

壬氏「あ…」

Jinshi “A…”

猫猫「私にとって、壬氏様は壬氏様です」

Maomao “Watashi’ni-totte, Jinshi-sama’wa Jinshi-sama desu.”

Maomao “No matter what, you will always be Master Jinshi to me.”

壬氏「フッ…」

Jinshi “Fu…”

猫猫（これが正直(しょうじき)な気持(きも)ちだ。タマがあるかないかの違(ちが)いなんて、別(べつ)に見(み)るわけでもないし、私には関係(かんけい)ない）

Maomao (Kore’ga shojiki-na kimochi-da. Tama’ga aru-ka nai-ka’no chigai-nante, betsu’ni miru-wake-demo nai-shi, watashi’niwa kankei-nai.)

Maomao (Those are my honest feelings. Whether he still has his balls or not has nothing to do with me, since it’s not like I’m going to see them.)

壬氏「フッ…お前(まえ)にとって俺(おれ)は俺か」

Jinshi “Fu… Omae’ni-totte ore’wa ore-ka.”

Jinshi “I see. I will always be me, in your view.”

猫猫「ん？…わっ」

Maomao “N? …Wa.”

壬氏「警戒(けいかい)するな。これを渡(わた)したいだけだ」

Jinshi “Keikai-suru-na. Kore’o watashi-tai-dake-da.”

Jinshi “Don’t be alarmed. I just want to give you this.”

猫猫「へっ？」

Maomao “He?”

壬氏「これを渡すと共(とも)に、ずっと伝(つた)えようと思(おも)っていた…。お前(まえ)には、迷惑(めいわく)をかけるかもしれないが…！」

Jinshi “Kore’o watasu-to-tomo’ni, zutto tsutae-yoto omotte-ita… Omae’niwa, meiwaku’o kakeru-kamo shirenai-ga…!”

Jinshi “For the longest time, I wanted to give you this when I told you a certain something. It might cause trouble for you, but…”

猫猫（これは…）

Maomao (Kore’wa…)

Maomao (This is…)

壬氏「今回(こんかい)の旅(たび)に来(き)てもらったのも…」

Jinshi “Konkai’no tabi’ni kite-moratta’nomo…”

Jinshi “I brought you along on this trip…”

猫猫（ご…ご…ご…）

Maomao (Go…Go…Go…)

Maomao (O-O…)

壬氏「そのためだ！」

Jinshi “Sono-tame-da!”

Jinshi “…all for that reason!”

猫猫「牛黄(ごおう)～～～～～！！！！！」

Maomao “Goooooooooooo!!!!!”

Maomao “Ox bezoars!”

猫猫（非常(ひじょう)に貴重(きちょう)とされる、牛(うし)の胆石(たんせき)！夢(ゆめ)にまで見(み)た秘薬(ひやく)が今(いま)、手(て)の中(なか)に～！！）

Maomao (Hijo’ni kicho-to-sareru, ushi’no tanseki! Yume’ni-made-mita hiyaku’ga ima, te’no naka’niii!!)

Maomao (The gallstone of an ox! The rarest of rare medicines I only saw in my dreams, now in my hands!)

壬氏「ああ！待(ま)たせてすまなかった。ようやく手(て)に入(はい)った。…って！そうではなく！」

Jinshi “Aa! Matasete suma-nakatta. Yoyaku te’ni haitta. …Tte! So’dewa-naku!”

Jinshi “Yes! I’m sorry they took so long to find. I finally got my hands on them… Wait! That’s not what I wanted to―”

猫猫「ありがとうございます！」

Maomao “Arigato gozai-masu!”

Maomao “Thank you so much!”

壬氏「あ…ああ…」

Jinshi “A…Aa…”

Jinshi “Y-Yeah…”

猫猫「フフ～」

Maomao “Fufuuu.”

壬氏「あぁ…あ…」

Jinshi “Aa…a…”

猫猫「フフフ～」

Maomao “Fufufuuu.”

壬氏「うぅ…」

Jinshi “Uu…”

猫猫「では、おやすみなさいませ！」

Maomao “Dewa, oyasumi-nasai-mase!”

Maomao “Well then, goodnight!”

壬氏「って！おい！勝手(かって)に閉(し)めるな！話(はなし)はまだ終(お)わってないぞ！」

Jinshi “Tte! Oi! Katte’ni shimeru-na! Hanashi’wa mada owatte-nai-zo!”

Jinshi “Wait! Hey! Don’t close the door on me! I’m not done talking!”

猫猫「あぁ！あぁ！！誰(だれ)にも邪魔(じゃま)されたくな～い！！ハハ～！フフ…」

Maomao “Aa! Aa!! Dare’nimo jama-sare-taku-naaai!! Hahaaa! Fufu…”

Maomao “Now no one will come between us!”

→Oh, no! This should be “him”, definitely! It means like “…and it puts him into a tough situation…”

壬氏「おい！聞(き)いているのか！おい！人(ひと)の話(はなし)は最後(さいご)まで聞(き)け！」

Jinshi “Oi! Kiite-iru-noka! Oi! Hito’no hanashi’wa saigo’made kike!”

Jinshi “Hey, are you listening?! Hey, I’m not finished!”

語り「この国(くに)で、『華(はな)』の文字(もじ)を冠(かん)する者(もの)は、今現在(いまげんざい)2人(ふたり)のみ」

Katari “Kono kuni’de, ‘hana’no moji’o kansuru mono’wa, ima-genzai futari-nomi.”

Narration “There are only two people in this land with ‘Ka’-for ‘flower’- in their names.”

壬氏「おい！薬屋！」

Jinshi “Oi! Kusuriya!”

Jinshi “Hey! Apothecary! Hey!”

語り「国(くに)の頂点(ちょうてん)に立(た)つ帝(みかど)。そして……」

Katari “Kuni’no choten’ni tatsu mikado. Soshite……”

Narration “The Emperor, at the top of the nation. And…”

Gaoshun (Jinshi-sama…ie, Tsuki’no-Kimi. Itsu’mademo karisome-no tachiba’dewa irare-masen-yo. Anata’wa, kono kuni’no mikado’no ototo-gimi, Kazuigetsu nano-dakara…)

Gaoshun (Master Jinshi… Or rather, the Moon Prince. You cannot stay in your temporary position forever. After all, you are our emperor’s younger brother, Ka Zuigetsu.)

(Continue to Episode 13/Ep.37)

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apothecaryscript · 10 days ago

Text

Memo for Episode 11 (Ep.35) “The Hunt”

馬閃(バセン)「茘(リー)、という国名(こくめい)は、その一文字(ひともじ)で、建国(けんこく)の物語(ものがたり)を表(あらわ)している。草(くさ)の下(した)に三(みっ)つの刀(かたな)…。草は華(はな)、帝(みかど)の先祖(せんぞ)である王母(おうぼ)を指(さ)し、その下の三つの刀は王母を助(たす)けた三人(さんにん)の武人(ぶじん)を示(しめ)す。三つの刀のうち、下二(ふた)つに比(くら)べて大(おお)きい刀は、北(きた)の大地(だいち)・子北州(しほくしゅう)を指(さ)す。子北洲一帯(いったい)は、高粱(コーリャン)や麦(むぎ)を栽培(さいばい)していて、さらに北に行(い)くと、山岳地帯(さんがくちたい)が広(ひろ)がり…て、聞(き)いてるのか！？」

Basen “Rī, to-iu koku-mei’wa, sono hito-moji’de, kenkoku’no monogatari’o arawashite-iru. Kusa’no shita’ni mittsu’no katana… Kusa’wa hana, mikado’no senzo-de-aru Obo’o sashi, sono shita’no mittsu’no katana’wa Obo’o tasuketa san-nin’no bujin’o shimesu. Mittsu’no katana’no-uchi, shita futatsu’ni kurabete ookii katana’wa, kita’no daichi, Shi-Hoku-shu’o sasu. Shi-hoku-shu-ittai’wa, kōryan’ya mugi’o saibai-shite-ite, sarani kita’ni ikuto, sangaku-chitai’ga hirogari…te, kiiteru-noka?!”

Basen “The character used to write the name of our nation, ‘Li,’ also depicts the story of its founding. Three swords under grass. ‘Grass’ is for ‘flower,’ representing the Mother Royal, ancestor of the emperor. The three ‘swords’ under it represent the three warriors who helped her. Of the three swords, the one larger sword represents the Shihoku-shu, the northern lands. That entire area grows sorghum and wheat. If you go further north, you enter a mountainous region… Hey, are you listening?!”

In this line, Basen explained the Kanji “茘(リー)” in detail. For your better understanding, please see below.

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馬閃「何でこんな娘を父上(ちちうえ)は…」

Basen “Nande konna musume’o chichi-ue’wa…”

Basen “Why does my father care so much about this girl?”

The fact that he said this to her shows how young and immature he is, although she is also at fault for dozing off while listening to his explanation.

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猫猫（はて？）「何(なに)か、変(か)わった趣向(しゅこう)でも？」

Maomao (Hate?) “Nanika, kawatta shuko’demo?”

Maomao (Huh?) “Is this some kind of strange rule?”

趣向(しゅこう/Shuko): There seems to be no word which directly refer to it in English… Idea, plan, or taste is used depending on the context.

趣味・趣向(しゅみ・しゅこう) is sometime used in Japanese. 趣味(Shumi) is “hobby”. For example, let’s say I have a hobby of Karaoke and I have a karaoke party with my friends once a month. And I say 「来月は趣向を変えて、コスプレでアニメソングのカラオケパーティをしよう！」. It means “Next month, let’s do something different and have a cosplay karaoke party singing anime songs!” In this case, 趣味(Shumi) is “hobby: karaoke”, and 趣向(Shuko) is “how we enjoy karaoke: cosplay and sing anime songs”. So I guess I can say 趣向(Shuko) is an idea to enjoy something based on your taste.

The word is also used in the following line later;

猫猫（狩りは、宿(やど)から30分(さんじゅっぷん)馬(うま)に揺(ゆ)られ、徒歩(とほ)で一時間(いちじかん)山(やま)を登(のぼ)った高台(たかだい)で行(おこな)われる。お偉方(えらがた)が捕(つか)まえた獲物(えもの)をその場(ば)で調理(ちょうり)するという趣向(しゅこう)のようだ）

Maomao (Kari’wa, yado’kara sanjuppun uma’ni yurare, toho’de ichi-jikan yama’o nobotta taka-dai’de okonawareru. Oera-gata’ga tsukamaeta emono’o sono-ba’de chori-suru-to-iu shuko’no-yoda.)

Maomao (The hunt takes place at a location half an hour away by horse, and then one hour up the mountain by foot. It seems like the point of the event is to cook the game caught by the nobles on the spot.)

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猫猫「そうですか…」（やっぱり壬氏様はいいとこの出(で)なのか…うん、うん）

Maomao “So-desuka…” (Yappari Jinshi-sama’wa ii-toko’no de nanoka… Un, un.)

Maomao “I see.” (So Master Jinshi is from a good family, after all.)

いいとこ(ii toko): good family, good place = いい所(ところ/tokoro)

The word is also used in the following line later;

李白「こんにちは？あ～！嬢(じょう)ちゃんか！どうしたんだ？こんなとこで」

Rihaku “Kon’nichiwa? Aaa! Jochan-ka! Do-shitanda? Konna toko’de.”

Lihaku “Hello? Hey! Little miss! What are you doing all the way out here?”

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高順「小猫は例(れい)のことを何一(なにひと)つ知(し)らない」

Gaoshun “Shaomao’wa rei’no koto’o nani-hitotsu shira-nai.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao knows nothing about it.”

例の（れいの/Rei’no）: the, that, it

This word is used in situations where the speaker and listener know what it refers to, or when they feel embarrassed to say it directly. It enables you to speak without a third party being able to understand.

The word is also used again in the following line later;

男１「これが例(れい)の…随分(ずいぶん)小型(こがた)だな」

Otoko-Ichi “Korega rei’no… zuibun kogata dana.”

Man-1 “Is this it? It’s quite small.”

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猫猫「はぁ。もともと壬氏様のお食事(しょくじ)です」

Maomao “Haa. Moto-moto Jinshi-sama’no oshokuji desu.”

Maomao “Well, it’s your food, after all.”

はぁ(Haa): casual and broken way of saying “はい: Yes”. It shows that Maomao is questioning why he asks such a question. Otherwise “はぁ” may be considered a rude response.

もともと(Moto-moto): originally

壬氏「本当にいいのか？！」

Jinshi “Honto’ni ii-noka?!”

Jinshi “Are you absolutely sure?”

Maomao has no idea why he’s asking so emotionally, but you all do, maybe. His condition is already not good at this point, and he seems to be unable to control his emotions.

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壬氏「ああ。むしろ食え」

Jinshi “Aa. Mushiro kue.”

Jinshi “Yeah. In fact, I order you to.”

むしろ（Mushiro）: rather

むしろ＋命令形(めいれいけい/Meirei-kei: instruction form): Or rather, do it.

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猫猫「なぜと言われましても…そういう体質(たいしつ)ですから」

Maomao “Naze-to iware-mashitemo… So-iu taishitsu desu-kara.”

Maomao “All I can say is that’s just how I’m built.”

体質（たいしつ/Tai-shitsu）: constitution, physical makeup

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猫猫（お若(わか)いとは大変(たいへん)である）

Maomao (Owakai-towa taihen’de aru.)

Maomao (It’s not easy being young and vigorous.)

If I translate it directly, it will be “It is tough to be young.” But Maomao’s way of saying is suggestive, such as “お若い” instead of “若い” even though it’s not necessary to add “お”(Keigo, honorific) for Basen in her monologue. And also judging from the context, we can understand that “…and vigorous” is hidden in her line.

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猫猫（湯(ゆ)あみまでできるとは…贅沢(ぜいたく)だなぁ…。明日(あした)は狩りか…。つつがなく終(お)わるといいけど）

Maomao (Yuami-made dekiru-towa…zeitaku-danaa… Ashita’wa kari-ka… Tsutsuga-naku owaru-to ii-kedo.)

Maomao (A bath, too? How extravagant. The hunt starts tomorrow. I hope it goes without incident.)

つつがなく（Tsutsuga-naku）: formal word which means safely, well, without any incident/trouble.

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男１「ここで、あの方には死んでもらう」

Otoko-Ichi “Koko’de, ano kata’niwa shinde-morau.”

Man-1 “This will be where they die.”

方（かた/Kata）: It’s like a Keigo of “人(ひと/Hito): person”, same as “お方(おかた/Okata)”. With “お” or without, it means honorific feeling to the person. And if it means more than two people, 方 becomes “方々（かたがた/Kata-gata）”, so this 方 only refers to the single person: Jinshi. I wonder why they translated it as “they”, which could lead viewers to mistakenly believe that Maomao was also a target. If I were to translate it, I would use “that gentleman.”

死んでもらう（しんでもらう）: It's hard to translate this expression into English. ～してもらう means “have someone do” and maybe “Here, (is the place where) that gentleman shall die (for us).” would be my direct translation. In Japanese, such expressions are often used, especially in movies or games, just before someone is going to kill the other person, as a softer way of saying.

This line can be more polite, if you change もらう to いただく: ここで、あの方には死んでいただく.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「ちょっとご指名(しめい)があったもので」

Maomao “Chotto goshimei’ga atta-mono’de.”

Maomao “I was asked to join.”

指名する(しめいする/Shimei-suru): ask for a certain person, appoint, designate

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（李白様も指名を受(う)けたのはいいが、地方出身(ちほうしゅっしん)の身(み)。他(ほか)の気位(きぐらい)の高い護衛たちに、追(お)い出(だ)された口(くち)だろう。最近(さいきん)どんどん出世(しゅっせ)しているようだが、その分風当たりは強(つよ)くなる）

Maomao (Rihaku-sama’mo shimei’o uketa-nowa iiga, chiho-shusshin’no-mi. Hoka’no kigurai’no takai goei-tachi’ni, oidasareta kuchi daro. Saikin don-don shusse-shite-iru-yodaga, sono-bun kaze-atari’wa tsuyoku-naru.)

Maomao (Master Lihaku got invited to join too, but he’s from the countryside. The other prideful guards must have pushed him out. He seems to be climbing the ranks recently, but that does tend to be met with resistance.)

～口（くち）だ(～kuchi da): be one of those who～

気位の高い（きぐらいのたかい/Kigurai’no takai）: have lots of pride, prideful

風当たりが強い（かぜあたりがつよい/Kaze-atari’ga tsuyoi）: windy, windswept, receive harsh treatment, greatly criticized

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（避暑地(ひしょち)とはいえ、今日(きょう)は天気(てんき)も良(よ)く暑苦(あつくる)しい。快適(かいてき)に過(す)ごすのも一苦労(ひとくろう)だな…。…こんな暑苦しいのに、ずっと覆面(ふくめん)をつけて…料理(りょうり)にも手(て)を付(つ)けないつもりか？どんなに怪(あや)しい覆面姿(ふくめんすがた)でも、上座(かみざ)に座(すわ)っていれば、この中で一番(いちばん)の上客(じょうきゃく)ということなのだろう）

上座（かみざ/Kami-za）: the top seat of honor, upper seat ⇔ 下座（しもざ/Shimo-za）: the bottom seat, lower seat

I don’t know how it is in China, but in Japan, there are usually 上座 and 下座 in each room, and the guests are guided to 上座. Normally, 上座 is located at the farthest from the door/entrance, and 下座 is at the closest. It depends on each room, and even if it’s not the farthest from the entrance, the seat near the 床の間（とこのま/tokonoma） alcove or one with a good view may be the 上座.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（あれが楼蘭妃(ロウランひ)の父(ちち)、子昌様。子北洲の長(おさ)で、この狩りの主催者(しゅさいしゃ)だ。…ん？何か言われたのか？…いや、あのやたら外面(そとづら)のいい宦官が、あんなあからさまな態度(たいど)を取(と)るだろうか…。もしかすると、この暑さのせいで…）

Maomao (Are’ga Roran-hi’no chichi, Shisho-sama. Shi-Hoku-shu’no osa’de, kono kari’no shusai-sha-da. …N? Nanika iwareta-noka? …Iya, ano yatara soto-zura’no ii kangan’ga, anna akarasama-na taido’o toru-daroka… Moshika-suruto, kono atsusa’no sei’de…)

Maomao (That’s Master Shishou, Concubine Loulan’s father. He is the leader of the Shihoku-shu region and the organizer of this hunt. Hmm? Did he say something to him? Would that infinitely well-mannered eunuch show such an obvious attitude? Wait, could it be, because of the heat…)

外面のいい（そとづらのいい/Soto-zura’no ii）: looks nice outside (but…)

It’s usually used in a negative sense, like “彼は誰にでも外面はいいが、家族には横柄だ（かれは、だれにでもそとづらはいいが、かぞくにはおうへいだ : He looks so nice with everybody outside, but he’s arrogant towards his family.”

あからさまな(Akara-sama-na): obvious, bald, bare, blatant

It’s also usually used in a negative sense, like “彼女はあからさまに私に意地悪だ（かのじょは、あからさまにわたしにいじわるだ/Kanojo’wa akara-sama-ni watashi’ni iji-waru da : She’s obviously mean to me.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

壬氏「自分でやる！お前のも貸(か)せ。俺の方(ほう)が力(ちから)があるだろう」

Jinshi “Jibun’de yaru! Omae’nomo kase. Ore’no-hoga chikara’ga aru-daro.”

Jinshi “I’ll do it myself. Give me yours, too. I’m stronger than you.”

猫猫「はあ」

Maomao “Haa.”

Maomao “Yes.”

Here is はあ instead of はい again, which shows Maomao is wondering why his mood seems worse. I think they just translated it as “yes”, because replacing by “yeah” or something would sound too rude.

猫猫（良かった…さっきより体調(たいちょう)は良さそうだ。機嫌(きげん)は悪(わる)そうだけど）

Maomao (Yokatta… Sakki-yori taicho’wa yosa-soda. Kigen’wa waru-soda-kedo.)

Maomao (Good, he looks healthier than earlier. His mood seems worse, though.)

It’s interesting that Maomao has no idea about his behavior, in spite that he’s just embarrassed.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「粗末(そまつ)な物(もの)で申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありませんが、食(しょく)していただけますか」

Maomao “Somatsu-na mono’de moshi-wake ari-masen-ga, shoku-shite-itadake-masu-ka.”

Maomao “I know it isn’t much, but would you like to eat any of this?”

粗末な物(そまつなもの/Somatsu-na mono): something shabby/poor/simple

That is a standard phrase to humble, which is used when giving a present in Japan, but in this case Maomao is saying that because butterbur is just a vegetable and it’s not something gorgeous.

～していただけますか(～shite-itadake-masuka): Would you mind if～? Could you～, please? Would it be possible to～?

Although they translated it into “would you like～,” I feel something is off a bit. I think “I’m afraid it’s just something simple, but could you please eat this, please?” is better, because she is not asking him if he’ll eat it, and actually, she’s asking him to eat it.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

I’m sure you all thought “Don’t end here!” The incident where he jumped into the waterfall wasn’t in the original web novel, so when I read this in the light novel first, I was so surprised and thought “What? What’s going on?!” I’m really looking forward to the next episode, but I’m also a little worried, because some online and YouTube posts have overemphasized the sexiness of the scene. (Sorry, it might be the opposite of what you expect!) Anyway, let’s enjoy the next episode together!

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apothecaryscript · 10 days ago

Text

Maomao (Gaoshun) no Hitorigoto Episode 35 : Softshell Turtle / 猫猫（高順）のひとりごと　第35話『すっぽん(Suppon)』

You can watch the video on YouTube, uploaded by the official Toho Animation account.

Please note that the English lines are just my translation.

高順「壬氏様(ジンシさま)は…いつ小猫(シャオマオ)に打(う)ち明(あ)けるのだろうか…。今日(きょう)も馬閃(バセン)が危(あや)うく口走(くちばし)るところだった…。隠(かく)しておくにも、限界(げんかい)がある。小猫に気(き)づかれてしまったら…！」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama’wa… itsu Shaomao’ni uchi-akeruno-daroka… Kyo’mo Basen’ga ayauku kuchi-bashiru-tokoro-datta… Kakushite-oku’nimo genkai’ga aru. Shaomao’ni kizukarete-shimattara…!”

Gaoshun “I wonder when Master Jinshi will tell Xiaomao… Basen almost blurted it out today… There’s a limit to how much we can hide. If Xiaomao finds out…!”

危（あや）うく～するところだった（Ayauku ～suru-tokoro-datta）: something almost happened.

口走る（くちばしる/Kuchi-bashiru）: blurt

猫猫「私(わたし)に何(なに)かご用(よう)でしょうか？」

Maomao “Watashi’ni nanika goyo desho-ka?”

Maomao “Is there anything I can help you with?”

高順「なっ…あ、いえ、…ひとりごとです。料理(りょうり)は、いかがでしたか？」

Gaoshun “Na… A, ie… Hitorigoto desu. Ryori’wa, ikaga deshita-ka?”

Gaoshun “Oh… no, I was just talking to myself. How was the food?”

猫猫「大変(たいへん)おいしく頂戴(ちょうだい)しました。あ、そういえば、どうしてすっぽん料理が出(で)てきたのでしょう？」

Maomao “Taihen oishiku chodai shima-shita. A, so-ieba, doshite suppon-ryori’ga dete-kitano-desho?”

Maomao “It was very delicious. Oh, by the way, why did they bring out a soft-shelled turtle dish?”

猫猫「ここで、猫猫の豆知識(まめちしき)。すっぽんは、歩(ある)く漢方(かんぽう)と言(い)われている。滋養強壮(じようきょうそう)の効果(こうか)があるとされ、男性(だんせい)の精力剤(せいりょくざい)としても食(しょく)される」

Maomao “Kokode, Maomao’no mame-chishiki. Suppon’wa, aruku kanpo-to iwarete-iru. Jiyo-kyoso’no koka’ga aru-to-sare, dansei’no seiryoku-zai-to-shitemo shoku-sareru.”

Maomao “Here’s Maomao’s bits of knowledge. Soft-shelled turtles are said to be a walking herbal medicine. They are said to have a nourishing and invigorating effect, and are also eaten as an aphrodisiac for men.”

食される（しょくされる/Shoku-sareru）: be eaten, formal way of saying “食べられる”

猫猫「宦官(かんがん)であられる壬氏様に、なぜ……」

Maomao “Kangan’de arareru Jinshi-sama’ni, naze…”

Maomao “Why would they serve it to Master Jinshi, who is a eunuch…?”

あられる(Arareru): Keigo(Honorific) of “ある”

高順「あっ…明日(あす)の狩(か)りに向(む)けて、栄養(えいよう)をということではないでしょうか」

Gaoshun “A… Asu’no kari’ni mukete, eiyo’o-to iu-koto’dewa nai-desho-ka.”

Gaoshun “Oh… I think it’s to get some nutrition for tomorrow’s hunt.”

猫猫「うーん…他(ほか)にも不可解(ふかかい)な点(てん)が…」

Maomao “Uuun… Hoka’nimo fukakai-na ten’ga…”

Maomao “Hmm… there are other puzzling things…”

不可解な（ふかかいな/Fukakai-na）: incomprehensible, mysterious, puzzling

高順（ドキッ）

Gaoshun (Doki.)

Gaoshun (heartbeat)

猫猫「頭巾(ずきん)に、偽名(ぎめい)……もしや…」

Maomao “Zukin’ni, gimei…… Moshiya…”

Maomao “The mask, the fake name… Could it be…?”

高順（ドキドキッ）

Gaoshun (Doki-doki.)

Gaoshun (more heartbeat)

猫猫「あっ…！なるほど！」

Maomao “A…! Naruhodo!”

Maomao “Ah…! I see!”

高順（バレてしまったか…!?）

Gaoshun (Barete shimatta-ka…?!)

Gaoshun (Has it been found out…?!)

猫猫「へぇ～、そういうことですか…」

Maomao “Heeee, so-iu koto desu-ka…”

Maomao “Oh, is that so…”

高順「…はい？」

Gaoshun “…Hai?”

Gaoshun “Huh?”

猫猫「すっぽんは、美肌(びはだ)や保湿効果(ほしつこうか)も期待(きたい)できると聞(き)いたことがあります。遠征先(えんせいさき)でも美(うつく)しさを保(たも)てるようにと、子昌様(シショウさま)のご配慮(はいりょ)なのでしょう」

Maomao “Suppon’wa, bihada’ya hoshitsu-koka’mo kitai-dekiru-to kiita-koto’ga ari-masu. Ensei-saki’demo utsukushisa’o tamoteru-yoni-to, Shisho-sama’no gohairyo nano-desho.”

Maomao “I’ve heard that soft-shelled turtles are good for skin and have moisturizing effects. I guess this is Master Shishou’s way of helping him stay beautiful even when he’s away on an expedition.”

猫猫（さては、帝(みかど)のお手付(てつ)きと知(し)らずに子昌様も壬氏様を狙(ねら)って…）

Maomao (Satewa, mikado’no otetsuki-to shirazu’ni Shisho-sama’mo Jinshi-sama’o neratte…)

Maomao (So, Master Shishou is also aiming for Master Jinshi, unaware that he is the Emperor’s favorite…)

高順（はぁ……一刻(いっこく)も早(はや)く、本当(ほんとう)のことを伝(つた)えていただきたい…！）

Gaoshun (Haa…… Ikkoku’mo hayaku, honto’no koto’o tsutaete-itadaki-tai…!)

Gaoshun ((Sigh)…I want him to tell her the truth as soon as possible…!)

一刻も早く（いっこくもはやく/Ikkoku’mo hayaku）: as soon/early/quickly as possible)

高順「次回(じかい)、『華瑞月(カズイゲツ)』。壬氏様が遂(つい)に……。お見逃(みのが)しなく」

Gaoshun “Jikai, ‘Kazuigetsu’. Jinshi-sama’ga tsuini…… Ominogashi-naku.”

Gaoshun “Next episode, ‘Kazuigetsu.’ Master Jinshi will finally… Don’t miss it.”

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apothecaryscript · 10 days ago

Note

I'm SO excited for next weeks ep!! :) Did you see that there's a spinoff manga from Xiaolan's POV that can be read here? https://x.com/93_310_22/status/1903461936769151256 and a celebratory illustration here https://x.com/7O_1KI/status/1903281688970661895 and here https://x.com/7O_1KI/status/1903462209721921676. We're ALSO getting a event with USJ. SO exciting!! Video about it here. https://x.com/USJ_Official/status/1902918096966521226 and a live event at animejapan. https://x.com/kusuriya_PR/status/1903699825184719100 So many amazing things happening for the series.

Thanks a lot for your information about Xiaolan's spinoff manga and the events in USJ and animejapan. Sorry for my late response. Xiaolan has been getting more and more popular since season 2 started, and I like her very much. I don't think I have a chance to go to USJ at the time, but I live in Nara city (close to Osaka) and I wish I could go!

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apothecaryscript · 14 days ago

Text

Episode 11 (Ep.35): The Hunt / 第11話（第35話）『狩り(かり/Kari)』

老宦官(ろうかんがん)「この際(さい)、血(ち)を薄(うす)めるのであれば、いっそこのような者(もの)を取(と)り込(こ)んでみては」

Ro-kangan “Kono-sai, chi’o usumeru-node-areba, isso kono-yona mono’o tori-konde-mitewa.”

Old eunuch “If you’re going to thin the bloodline, why don’t you add this one to it?”

安氏(アンシ)「お気(き)に入(い)りは隠(かく)しておかないと、誰(だれ)かに隠されてしまうわよ」

Anshi “Okini-iri’wa kakushite oka-naito, dareka’ni kakusarete-shimau-wayo.”

Anshi “You should hide your favorites. Or else someone may hide them from you.”

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高順(ガオシュン)「壬氏様(ジンシさま)、おはようございます」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama, ohayo gozai-masu.”

Gaoshun “Good morning, Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「明日(あす)からの準備(じゅんび)は整(ととの)ったか？」

Jinshi “Asu’kara’no junbi’wa totonotta-ka?”

Jinshi “Are you ready for tomorrow?”

高順「ええ、抜(ぬ)かりなく」

Gaoshun “Ee, nukari-naku.”

Gaoshun “Yes, everything is in place.”

壬氏「では、残(のこ)すはあの娘(むすめ)だけか…」

Jinshi “Dewa, nokosu’wa ano musume-dake-ka…”

Jinshi “So, all that’s left is that girl…”

高順「遠征(えんせい)に同行(どうこう)させるのであれば、隠し通(とお)すのは難(むずか)しいかと」

Gaoshun “Ensei’ni doko-saseru-node-areba, kakushi-toosu-nowa muzukashii-kato.”

Gaoshun “If you’re going to have her along on this expedition, I doubt that it would be possible to hide it from her.”

壬氏「分(わ)かっている。薬屋(くすりや)には、今回(こんかい)の遠征中(えんせいちゅう)に、自分(じぶん)の口(くち)から話(はな)すつもりだ。本当(ほんとう)の身分(みぶん)をな…」

Jinshi “Wakatte-iru. Kusuriya’niwa, konkai’no ensei-chu’ni, jibun’no kuchi’kara hanasu-tsumori-da. Honto’no mibun’o-na…”

Jinshi “I know. I plan to tell the apothecary the truth myself during this expedition. About what my true status is.”

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桜花(インファ)「猫猫(マオマオ)～、お呼(よ)びだよ」

Infa “Maomaooo, oyobi-dayo.”

Yinghua “Maomao, you’re being summoned.”

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「失礼(しつれい)します。玉葉様(ギョクヨウさま)、何(なに)かご用(よう)でしょうか？」

Maomao “Shitsurei-shimasu. Gyokuyo-sama, nanika goyo desho-ka?”

Maomao “Excuse me. Lady Gyokuyou, How may I be of service?”

玉葉妃「用があるのは私(わたし)ではなくて…」

Gyokuyo-hi “Yo’ga aru-nowa watashi’dewa nakute…”

Concubine Gyokuyou “It’s actually not me who called you.”

壬氏「私の方(ほう)だ」

Jinshi “Watashi’no-hoda.”

Jinshi “It’s me.”

猫猫「う…。どのようなご用件(ようけん)でしょう？」

Maomao “U… Dono-yona go-yoken desho?”

Maomao “How may I serve?”

壬氏「この者(もの)を数日(すうじつ)、返(かえ)していただきたいと思(おも)いまして」

Jinshi “Kono mono’o su-jitsu, kaeshite-itadaki-tai-to omoi-mashite.”

Jinshi “I would like for you to return this one to me for a few days.”

玉葉妃「返して？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Kaeshite?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “‘Return’ her?”

猫猫（…そういえば、翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)に戻(もど)ってきたのは、玉葉様の出産(しゅっさん)が終(お)わるまでの特別(とくべつ)処置(しょち)だったっけ…）

Maomao (…So-ieba, Hisui-Kyu’ni modotte-kita-nowa, Gyokuyo-sama’no shussan’ga owaru-made’no Tokubetsu-shochi dattakke…)

Maomao (I guess, technically, I’m only back in the Jade Pavilion as a special assignment, limited to the term of Lady Gyokuyou’s pregnancy.)

玉葉妃「まぁ…困(こま)るわ。その間(あいだ)、毒見(どくみ)はどうするの？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Maa…Komaru-wa. Sono-aida, dokumi’wa do-suruno?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Oh, no. Who will taste my food during that time?”

壬氏「うちの侍女(じじょ)を貸(か)しましょう」

Jinshi “Uchi’no jijo’o kashi-masho.”

Jinshi “I will loan you my servant woman.”

玉葉妃「信頼(しんらい)できる方(かた)かしら」

Gyokuyo-hi “Shinrai-dekiru kata kashira.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Is she trustworthy?”

壬氏「もちろん」

Jinshi “Mochi-ron.”

Jinshi “Of course.”

玉葉妃「数日というと、どこかへ出(で)かけるのかしら」

Gyokuyo-hi “Su-jitsu-to-iuto, dokoka’e dekakeruno-kashira.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “For a few days, though… Are you going somewhere?”

壬氏「断(ことわ)れぬ筋(すじ)から、狩(か)りに誘(さそ)われまして」

Jinshi “Kotowarenu suji’kara, kari’ni sasoware-mashite.”

Jinshi “I was invited to a hunting trip by someone I can’t turn down.”

玉葉妃「断れぬ筋？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Kotowarenu suji?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Someone you can’t turn down?”

壬氏「子昌様(シショウさま)のお誘いです」

Jinshi “Shisho-sama’no osasoi desu.”

Jinshi “An invitation from Master Shishou.”

玉葉妃「大変(たいへん)ねぇ、お付(つ)き合(あ)いも。それで、うちの猫猫を借(か)りたいというのね？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Taihen-nee, otsuki-ai-mo. Sorede, uchi’no Maomao’o karitai-to iu-none?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “It must be tough to keep up with all of that. So, that’s why you want to ‘borrow’ my Maomao.”

壬氏「ええ。返していただければと」

Jinshi “Ee. Kaeshite-itadake-reba-to.”

Jinshi “Yes, I would like to have her ‘returned.’”

玉葉妃「猫猫じゃなくてもいいんじゃない？うちには他(ほか)にもいい子(こ)がいるわよ？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Maomao-ja-nakutemo iinja nai? Uchi’niwa hoka’nimo ii-ko’ga iru-wayo?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Must it be Maomao? I have other good girls around.”

壬氏「いえ…その娘を返していただけたら、それでいいので」

Jinshi “Ie… Sono musume’o kaeshite-itadake-tara, sorede ii-node.”

Jinshi “No, just returning that girl to me would be fine.”

玉葉妃「えーっと…どの子のことかしら…」

Gyokuyo-hi “Eeetto… Dono ko’no koto kashira…”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Hmm… Which girl is it, I wonder?”

壬氏「ですから、その娘を…」

Jinshi “Desu-kara, sono musume’o…”

Jinshi “Well, that girl.”

玉葉妃「ふふっ、さっきから『その娘』としか言(い)わないのね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Fufu, sakki’kara ‘sono musume’to-shika iwanai-none.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “You keep saying just ‘that girl.’”

壬氏「あっ……それが何か？」

Jinshi “A……Sore’ga nanika?”

Jinshi “Is there a problem?”

玉葉妃「高順」

Gyokuyo-hi “Gaoshun.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Gaoshun?”

高順「はい」

Gaoshun “Hai.”

Gaoshun “Yes?”

玉葉妃「あなたは、猫猫のことを何て呼んでるの？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Anata’wa, Maomao’no koto’o nante yonderu-no?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “What do you call Maomao?”

高順「私は…小猫(シャオマオ)、と」

Gaoshun “Watashi’wa… Shaomao-to.”

Gaoshun “I use ‘Xiaomao’.”

玉葉妃「じゃ、あなたは猫猫のことを何て呼んでるの？」

Gyokuyo-hi “Ja, anata’wa Maomao’no koto’o nante yonderu-no?”

Concubine Gyokuyou “So, what do you call Maomao?”

壬氏「う…あ、ん…」

Jinshi “U…a, n…”

猫猫（うん？あぁ、そーいや一度(いちど)も名前(なまえ)を呼ばれたことないな。別(べつ)にいいけど。何(なん)で壬氏様はソワソワしてるんだ？ん？）

Maomao (Un? Aa, sooiya ichido’mo namae’o yobareta-koto nai-na. Betsu’ni ii-kedo. Nande Jinshi-sama’wa sowa-sowa-shiterunda? N?)

Maomao (Oh. Come to think of it, he’s never called me by name before. Not that I mind. Why is Master Jinshi so uncomfortable?)

玉葉妃「ウフフフ…」

Gyokuyo-hi “Ufufufu…”

猫猫（玉葉様の許可(きょか)が下(お)りたのは、30分後(さんじゅっぷんご)のことだった…）

Maomao (Gyokuyo-sama’no kyoka’ga orita-nowa, sanjuppn-go’no koto datta…)

Maomao (It took thirty minutes for Lady Gyokuyou to grant permission.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「…はっ。すみません、馬閃様」

Maomao “…Ha. Sumi-masen, Basen-sama.”

Maomao “Oh, I’m sorry, Master Basen.”

馬閃「これから行く場所(ばしょ)の説明(せつめい)をしてやってるんだぞ」

Basen “Kore-kara iku basho’no setsumei’o shite-yatterun-dazo.”

Basen “I’m explaining the place we’re going to.”

猫猫「確(たし)か北の…」

Maomao “Tashika kita’no…”

Maomao “The, uh, northern…”

馬閃「子北洲だ！壬氏様を狩りに誘った、子昌殿(シショウどの)の一族(いちぞく)が治(おさ)めている土地(とち)だ」

Basen “Shi-Hoku-shu-da! Jinshi-sama’o kari’ni sasotta, Shisho-dono’no ichi-zoku’ga osamete-iru tochi-da.”

Basen “Shihoku-shu! It’s controlled by Lord Shishou’s clan, and he’s the one who invited Master Jinshi on the hunting trip.”

猫猫（自分(じぶん)のお膝元(ひざもと)に、狩りと称(しょう)して呼びつけたわけか…。さすがに皇帝(こうてい)は来(こ)なかったが、そうそうたる顔(かお)ぶれらしい）

Maomao (Jibun’no ohiza-moto’ni, kari-to shoshite yobi-tsuketa wake-ka… Sasuga’ni kotei’wa konakatta-ga, so-so-taru kaobure rashii.)

Maomao (Using the hunt as an excuse to bring him to his own turf. He couldn’t get the emperor to come, but it’s still supposed to be quite a roster.)

馬閃「何でこんな娘を父上(ちちうえ)は…」

Basen “Nande konna musume’o chichi-ue’wa…”

Basen “Why does my father care so much about this girl?”

猫猫（父上…ねぇ。馬閃様は、高順様の息子(むすこ)らしい。今回、壬氏様とは別(べつ)の賓客(ひんきゃく)として招(まね)かれている高順様の代(か)わりに、付(つ)き人(びと)をするという。宦官(かんがん)と言っても、生(う)まれつき『無(な)い』わけじゃないし、年齢(ねんれい)からして子がいてもおかしくないか）

Maomao (Chichi-ue…nee. Basen-sama’wa, Gaoshun-sama’no musuko rashii. Konkai, Jinshi-sama-towa betsu’no hinkyaku-to-shite manekarete-iru Gaoshun-sama’no kawari’ni tsuki-bito’o suru-to-iu. Kangan-to ittemo, umare-tsuki ‘nai’ wake-ja nai-shi, nenrei’kara-shite ko’ga itemo okashiku-naika.)

Maomao (Father, huh? Master Basen is Master Gaoshun’s son, apparently. Master Gaoshun was invited on this trip as a guest in his own right, so Master Basen will serve as Master Jinshi’s aid instead. Eunuchs aren’t born that way, so it’s not strange for him to have a son, given his age.)

猫猫「うおっ」

Maomao “Uo.”

馬閃「そろそろ着(つ)くぞ」

Basen “Soro-soro tsuku-zo.”

Basen “We’re almost here.”

猫猫「ん？おお～」

Maomao “N? Oooo.”

猫猫（標高(ひょうこう)が高(たか)く涼(すず)しいこの場所(ばしょ)を、先帝(せんてい)は避暑地(ひしょち)として毎年(まいとし)訪(おとず)れていたという。今の帝になってから皇族(こうぞく)は訪れていないが、子昌様の一族が管理(かんり)しているらしい）

Maomao (Hyoko’ga takaku suzushii kono basho’o, sentei’wa hisho-chi-to-shite mai-toshi otozurete-ita-to-iu. Ima’no mikado’ni natte’kara kozoku’wa otozurete-inai-ga, Shisho-sama’no ichi-zoku’ga kanri-shite-iru-rashii.)

Maomao (With its high altitude and chilly weather, this region was the late emperor’s favorite summer resort, and he visited yearly. Members of the imperial family haven’t visited during the current emperor’s reign, but Master Shishou’s clan continues to manage the area.)

猫猫（ここに泊(と)まるのか…）

Maomao (Koko’ni tomaru-noka…)

Maomao (So, this is where we’re staying…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（この部屋(へや)…やたら暑(あつ)いな。それにしても、何なんだ、あのくつろぎようは。いつもより疲(つか)れているのだろうが、限度(げんど)がある。…あれは、頭巾(ずきん)？美(うつく)しすぎるから、遠出(とおで)をする際(さい)に覆面(ふくめん)が必要(ひつよう)なのか…）

Maomao (Kono heya… yatara atsui-na. Sore’ni shitemo, nan-nanda, ano kutsurogi-yo’wa. Itsumo’yori tsukarete-iruno-daro-ga, gendo’ga aru. …Are’wa, zukin? Utsukushi-sugiru-kara, toode’o suru-sai’ni fukumen’ga hitsuyo nanoka…)

Maomao (This room is strangely warm. And that aside, what’s with the way this guy’s relaxing? He might be more tired than usual, but still, there have to be limits. Is that a face mask? Does he need to hide his beauty whenever he leaves the room?)

馬閃「ここでは、何とお呼びすれば？」

Basen “Koko’dewa, nanto oyobi-sureba?”

Basen “What should I call you while we are here?”

壬氏「室内(しつない)ではいつも通(どお)りでいい。外(そと)では、香泉(こうせん)と」

Jinshi “Shitsu-nai’dewa itsumo-doori’de ii. Soto’dewa, Kosen-to.”

Jinshi “Indoors, you can use the usual name. Outside, call me ‘Kousen’.”

馬閃「かしこまりま��た、香泉様」

Basen “Kashikomari-mashita, Kosen-sama.”

Basen “Understood, Master Kousen.”

猫猫（はて？）「何(なに)か、変(か)わった趣向(しゅこう)でも？」

Maomao (Hate?) “Nanika, kawatta shuko’demo?”

Maomao (Huh?) “Is this some kind of strange rule?”

壬氏「それについては……」

Jinshi “Sore’ni tsuite’wa…”

Jinshi “About that…”

猫猫（…ん？）「今回、高順様も賓客として招かれているのですよね？」

Maomao (…N?) “Konkai, Gaoshun-sama’mo hinkyaku-to-shite manekarete-iruno-desu-yone?”

Maomao “Master Gaoshun was invited as a guest today, right?”

高順「そうですが…」

Gaoshun “So-desu-ga…”

Gaoshun “Yes, but…”

猫猫（それなら、なぜ同(おな)じ棟(むね)に配置(はいち)されたのだろう？本来(ほんらい)はもう少(すこ)し差(さ)がつきそうな間柄(あいだがら)だが…）

Maomao (Sore-nara, naze onaji mune’ni haichi saretano-daro? Honrai’wa mo-sukoshi sa’ga tsuki-sona aida-gara daga…)

Maomao (In that case, why was he placed in the same building? There seems to be a bit more difference in rank between these two…)

馬閃「馬(マー)の一族は、代々(だいだい)香泉様の一族にお仕(つか)えする。棟が同じなのは当然(とうぜん)だ！」

Basen “Mā’no ichi-zoku’wa, dai-dai Kosen-sama’no ichi-zoku’ni otsukae-suru. Mune’ga onaji-nanowa tozen’da!”

Basen “We, the Ma clan, have served Master Kousen’s family for many generations. Of course we’d be placed in the same building.”

猫猫「そうですか…」（やっぱり壬氏様はいいとこの出(で)なのか…うん、うん）

Maomao “So-desuka…” (Yappari Jinshi-sama’wa ii-toko’no de nanoka… Un, un.)

Maomao “I see.” (So Master Jinshi is from a good family, after all.)

馬閃「父上、どういうことでしょうか？まさかこの娘…」

Basen “Chichi-ue, do-iu koto desho-ka? Masaka kono musume…”

Basen “Father, what’s going on? Could it be that she…”

高順「ん……」

Gaoshun “N……”

高順「小猫は例(れい)のことを何一(なにひと)つ知(し)らない」

Gaoshun “Shaomao’wa rei’no koto’o nani-hitotsu shira-nai.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao knows nothing about it.”

馬閃「え？！」

Basen “E?!”

高順「いずれ壬氏様が直接(ちょくせつ)お伝えする。それまでは、この件(けん)には触(ふ)れるな」

Gaoshun “Izure Jinshi-sama’ga chokusetsu otsutae-suru. Sore-made’wa, kono ken’niwa fureru-na.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi will tell her soon. Until then, stay silent about it.”

馬閃「いや、しかし…いくら何でも…いて！くうーぅ…」

Basen “Iya, shikashi… Ikura nan-demo… Ite! Kuuuuu…”

Basen “But still, of all things…”

猫猫（何をやっているのだ？…とりあえず、荷物(にもつ)の片付(かたづ)けでもするか。仕事(しごと)しないと、後(あと)で水蓮様(スイレンさま)に怒(おこ)られる）

Maomao (Nani’o yatte-iru-noda? …Toriaezu, nimotsu’no katazuke-demo suruka. Shigoto shinaito, atode Suiren-sama’ni okorareru.)

Maomao (What are they doing? Anyway, I have to help unpack and clean up. I have to do some work, otherwise Lady Suiren will get angry with me later.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（あ～…外は宴(うたげ)で賑(にぎ)やかだというのに、なんで閉(し)め切(き)った部屋に閉(と)じこもっているんだ？）

Maomao (Aaa… Soto’wa utage’de nigiyaka-dato iu-noni, nande shime-kitta heya’ni toji-komotte-irunda?)

Maomao (It’s so lively outside with all the partying. Why is he hiding away in this sealed-off room?)

猫猫「あの…窓(まど)くらい開(あ)けたらいかがでしょう？」

Maomao “Ano… Mado-kurai aketara ikaga-desho?”

Maomao “Um, should we at least open the windows?”

壬氏「いや、いい。とりあえず、夕餉(ゆうげ)の毒見(どくみ)をしてみろ」

Jinshi “Iya, ii. Toriaezu, yuge’no dokumi’o shite-miro.”

Jinshi “No, don’t. Just taste the food for now.”

猫猫「あ…」

Maomao “A…”

壬氏「してみれば分かる」

Jinshi “Shite-mireba wakaru.”

Jinshi “You’ll understand when you do.”

猫猫「これは…スッポンですか？」

Maomao “Kore’wa… suppon desuka?”

Maomao “Is this… softshell turtle?”

壬氏「そのようだな」

Jinshi “Sono-yo-dana.”

Jinshi “Apparently.”

猫猫（食前酒(しょくぜんしゅ)も、果汁(かじゅう)の甘(あま)さでごまかそうとしているけど結構(けっこう)強(つよ)い。副菜(ふくさい)からデザートに至(いた)るまで…）

Maomao (Shokuzen-shu’mo, kaju’no amasa’de gomakasoto shite-iru-kedo kekko tsuyoi. Fuku-sai’kara dezāto’ni itaru’made…)

Maomao (The aperitif is really strong too, though they’re trying to hide it with the fruit juice. Everything, from the side dishes to the deserts…)

猫猫「何というか…精(せい)のつきそうなものばかりですね」

Maomao “Nanto-iuka… Sei’no tsuki-sona mono bakari desu-ne.”

Maomao “They all seem to be, well, invigorating.”

壬氏「分かっただろ」

Jinshi “Wakatta-daro.”

Jinshi “Now you see, right?”

猫猫（携帯食(けいたいしょく)？）

Maomao (Keitai-shoku?)

Maomao (Preserved food?)

猫猫「食べないのですか？毒ではありませんが」

Maomao “Tabenaino-desuka? Doku’dewa ari-masen-ga.”

Maomao “You’re not going to eat this? It’s not poisoned.”

壬氏「毒でなくても、食(く)うものではない」

Jinshi “Doku’de nakutemo, kuu-mono’dewa nai.”

Jinshi “Even if it’s not, it’s not anything I should eat.”

猫猫「では、残(のこ)しても怪(あや)しまれるので、私が食べてもよろしいでしょうか？」

Maomao “Dewa, nokoshitemo ayashimareru-node, watashi’ga tabetemo yoroshii desho-ka?”

Maomao “Well, it would be suspicious if it went untouched, so may I eat it instead?”

壬氏「勝手(かって)にしろ」

Jinshi “Katte’ni shiro.”

Jinshi “Do as you like.”

猫猫「うふっ」

Maomao “Ufu.”

壬氏「うまいか？それは」

Jinshi “Umai-ka? Sore’wa.”

Jinshi “Is it good?”

猫猫「おいしいですよ。スッポン以外(いがい)もおいしいと思いますけど、本当(ほんとう)に食べなくてよろしいのですか？」

Maomao “Oishii-desuyo. Suppon-igai’mo oishii-to omoi-masu-kedo, honto’ni tabe-nakute yoroshiino-desuka?”

Maomao “It’s delicious. The other dishes are probably great, too. Are you sure you don’t want any?”

壬氏「食べていいのか？」

Jinshi “Tabete ii-noka?”

Jinshi “Are you sure I can eat it?”

猫猫「はぁ。もともと壬氏様のお食事(しょくじ)です」

Maomao “Haa. Moto-moto Jinshi-sama’no oshokuji desu.”

Maomao “Well, it’s your food, after all.”

壬氏「本当にいいのか？！」

Jinshi “Honto’ni ii-noka?!”

Jinshi “Are you absolutely sure?”

猫猫（何なんだ？）

Maomao (Nan-nanda?)

Maomao (What’s with him?)

壬氏「…俺(おれ)はいい。馬閃、食っていいぞ」

Jinshi “…Ore’wa ii. Basen, kutte ii-zo.”

Jinshi “I won’t. Basen, you can eat it.”

馬閃「よろしいのですか？」

Basen “Yoroshiino-desuka?”

Basen “Are you sure?”

壬氏「ああ。むしろ食え」

Jinshi “Aa. Mushiro kue.”

Jinshi “Yeah. In fact, I order you to.”

馬閃「では…」

Basen “Dewa…”

Basen “In that case…”

馬閃「…美味(びみ)です！」

Basen “…Bimi desu!”

Basen “It’s delicious.”

壬氏「それは良(よ)かった…」

Jinshi “Sore’wa yokatta…”

Jinshi “That’s good.”

馬閃「ただ…」

Basen “Tada…”

Basen “But…”

壬氏「ただ？」

Jinshi “Tada?”

Jinshi “But?”

馬閃「…くっ。なぜこの娘は、平気(へいき)なのです？！」

Basen “…Ku. Naze kono musume’wa heiki nano-desu?!”

Basen “How is this girl not affected?!”

猫猫「なぜと言われましても…そういう体質(たいしつ)ですから」

Maomao “Naze-to iware-mashitemo… So-iu taishitsu desu-kara.”

Maomao “All I can say is that’s just how I’m built.”

馬閃「し、失礼(しつれい)いたします…私は、部屋に…」

Basen “Shi, Shitsu-rei itashi-masu… Watashi’wa, heya’ni…”

Basen “E-Excuse me. I’ll go to my room…”

猫猫（お若(わか)いとは大変(たいへん)である）

Maomao (Owakai-towa taihen’de aru.)

Maomao (It’s not easy being young and vigorous.)

馬閃「…あぁ…」

Basen “…Aa…”

猫猫「…どうしましょう？」

Maomao “…Do-shimasho?”

Maomao “What should we do?”

壬氏「ここで寝(ね)かせてやれ。俺はこいつの部屋で寝る」

Jinshi “Koko’de nekasete-yare. Ore’wa koitsu’no heya’de neru.”

Jinshi “Let him sleep here. I’ll sleep in his room.”

高順「ちゃんと部屋まで運(はこ)びますので…」

Gaoshun “Chanto heya’made hakobi-masu-node…”

Gaoshun “I’ll carry him to his room.”

壬氏「疲(つか)れているだろ」

Jinshi “Tsukarete-iru-daro.”

Jinshi “You must be tired.”

高順「そうおっしゃるなら…」

Gaoshun “So ossharu-nara…”

Gaoshun “If you say so…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

高順「護衛(ごえい)たちは私の部屋を使(つか)うので、小猫はこちらの部屋を使って下(くだ)さい」

Gaoshun “Goei-tachi’wa watashi’no heya’o tsukau-node, Shaomao’wa kochira’no heya’o tsukatte kudasai.”

Gaoshun “The guards will use my room, so Xiaomao, please use this room.”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

猫猫（湯(ゆ)あみまでできるとは…贅沢(ぜいたく)だなぁ…。明日(あした)は狩りか…。つつがなく終(お)わるといいけど）

Maomao (Yuami-made dekiru-towa…zeitaku-danaa… Ashita’wa kari-ka… Tsutsuga-naku owaru-to ii-kedo.)

Maomao (A bath, too? How extravagant. The hunt starts tomorrow. I hope it goes without incident.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

男１「これが例(れい)の…随分(ずいぶん)小型(こがた)だな」

Otoko-Ichi “Korega rei’no… zuibun kogata dana.”

Man-1 “Is this it? It’s quite small.”

男２「最新式(さいしんしき)だ。飛距離(ひきょり)と命中精度(めいちゅうせいど)も上(あ)がっている。これなら森(もり)の中(なか)でも狙(ねら)える」

Otoko-Ni “Saishin-shiki-da. Hi-kyori’to meichu-seido’mo agatte-iru. Kore-nara mori’no naka’demo neraeru.”

Man-2 “It’s the latest model. It has improved range and accuracy, too. With this, we can use them in the forest, too.”

男１「ここで、あの方には死んでもらう」

Otoko-Ichi “Koko’de, ano kata’niwa shinde-morau.”

Man-1 “This will be where they die.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（やることがない…。散策(さんさく)でもするか）

Maomao (Yaru-koto’ga nai… Sansaku’demo suruka.)

Maomao (There’s nothing to do. Maybe I’ll take a walk.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（なかなかいい森だな…いい感(かん)じに薬草(やくそう)やキノコが生(は)えていそうな…ん？…大きな滝(たき)でもあるのか？…あ）

Maomao (Naka-naka ii mori dana… Ii-kanji’ni yakuso’ya kinoko’ga haete-isona… N? …Ookina taki’demo aru-noka? …A.)

Maomao (This is a pretty nice forest. It seems like a good place for herbs and mushrooms… Hmm? Is there a large waterfall nearby?)

李白(リハク)「お～、偉(えら)い偉い。う～、よしよしよしよし…お～、フヒヒヒ…」

Rihaku “Ooo, erai erai. Uuu, yoshi-yoshi-yoshi-yoshi… Ooo, fuhihihi…”

Lihaku “Oh, good boy! Good boy, good boy!”

猫猫（あれは……）

Maomao (Are’wa……)

Maomao (Hmm? Is that…)

猫猫「こんにちは」

Maomao “Kon‘nichiwa.”

Maomao “Hello.”

李白「こんにちは？あ～！嬢(じょう)ちゃんか！どうしたんだ？こんなとこで」

Rihaku “Kon’nichiwa? Aaa! Jochan-ka! Do-shitanda? Konna toko’de.”

Lihaku “Hello? Hey! Little miss! What are you doing all the way out here?”

猫猫「ちょっとご指名(しめい)があったもので」

Maomao “Chotto goshimei’ga atta-mono’de.”

Maomao “I was asked to join.”

李白「そうか。実(じつ)は俺(おれ)もよ、ご指名で護衛に入(はい)ったんだけど、犬(いぬ)の面倒(めんどう)でも見(み)てろってさ」

Rihaku “Soka. Jitsu’wa ore’mo-yo, goshimei’de goei’ni haittan-dakedo, inu’no mendo’demo miterotte-sa.”

Lihaku “Is that so? Well, same here. I was invited to join the guards, but they made me take care of the dog instead.”

猫猫（李白様も指名を受(う)けたのはいいが、地方出身(ちほうしゅっしん)の身(み)。他(ほか)の気位(きぐらい)の高い護衛たちに、追(お)い出(だ)された口(くち)だろう。最近(さいきん)どんどん出世(しゅっせ)しているようだが、その分(ぶん)風当(かぜあ)たりは強(つよ)くなる）

猫猫「口笛(くちぶえ)、下手(へた)ですね」

Maomao “Kuchi-bue, heta desu-ne.”

Maomao “You’re bad at whistling.”

李白「黙(だま)らっしゃい。いいんだ、これがあるからな」

Rihaku “Damarasshai. Iinda, kore’ga aru-kara-na.”

Lihaku “Hush, you. It’s fine. I have this.”

猫猫「賢(かしこ)いですね」

Maomao “Kashikoi desu-ne.”

Maomao “He’s smart.”

李白「だろ？場合(ばあい)によっちゃ、何里(なんり)離(はな)れてもやってくるらしいぞ」

Rihaku “Daro? Baai’ni yoccha, nan-ri hanaretemo yatte-kuru-rashii-zo.”

Lihaku “I know, right? I hear that in some cases, he can be summoned from miles away.”

猫猫「へぇ～…」（犬が、犬をなでてる…）

Maomao “Heeee…” (Inu’ga, inu’o nadeteru…)

Maomao “Huh…” (The dog is petting a dog…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Maomao (Hisho-chi’towa-ie, kyo’wa tenki’mo yoku atsu-kurushii. Kaiteki’ni sugosu-nomo hito-kuro dana… Konna atsu-kurushii-noni, zutto fukumen’o tsukete… ryori’nimo te’o tsukenai tsumori-ka? Donna’ni ayashii fukumen-sugata’demo, kamiza’ni suwatte-ireba, kono naka’de ichi-ban’no jokyaku-to iu-koto-nano-daro.)

Maomao (Summer resorts should be cool, but the skies are too clear today, and it’s very hot. Getting comfortable isn’t easy. Even in this heat, he won’t take his mask off, and won’t eat the food. Despite his suspicious mask, given his seat, he must be the most important person at this party.)

猫猫（今は何もするな、と…）

Maomao (Ima’wa nani’mo suruna-to…)

Maomao (He’s telling me not to do anything?)

高順「小猫」

Gaoshun “Shaomao.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao.”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「これを頂(いただ)いてもよろしいでしょうか？」

Maomao “Kore’o itadaitemo yoroshii-desho-ka?”

Maomao “May I take this?”

使用人「ああ、いいよ」

Shiyo-nin “Aa, ii-yo.”

Servant “Oh, yeah, sure.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「壬…香泉様！」

Maomao “Jin…Kosen-sama!”

Maomao “Master Ji―, Master Kousen!”

壬氏「お前(まえ)か…」

Jinshi “Omae-ka…”

Jinshi “It’s you.”

猫猫「これを外(はず)してください」

Maomao “Kore’o hazushite-kudasai.”

Maomao “Please take this off.”

壬氏「ダメだ」

Jinshi “Dame-da.”

Jinshi “I can’t.”

猫猫「周(まわ)りには誰(だれ)もいません」

Maomao “Mawari’niwa dare’mo imasen.”

Maomao “There’s nobody around.”

壬氏「誰か来(く)るかもしれない」

Jinshi “Dareka kuru-kamo shire-nai.”

Jinshi “Someone might come along.”

猫猫（あ～、めんどくせぇ！）

Maomao (Aaa, mendo-kusee!)

Maomao (Ugh, what a bother!)

猫猫「そんなに人目(ひとめ)が気になるなら、見えない所(ところ)へ行けばいいでしょう」

Maomao “Sonna’ni hito-me’ga ki’ni naru-nara, mienai tokoro’e ikeba ii-desho.”

Maomao “If you want so badly to go unseen, let’s just move somewhere we won’t be found.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「失礼します。顔を拭(ふ)きますね」

Maomao “Shitsurei-shimasu. Kao’o fuki-masu-ne.”

Maomao “Excuse me. Let me wipe your face.”

猫猫（熱(あつ)い。やはり、のぼせている。早(はや)く持(も)ってきた水(みず)を…）

Maomao (Atsui. Yahari, nobosete-iru. Hayaku motte-kita mizu’o…)

Maomao (It’s hot. I bet he’s dizzy. I need to make him drink the water I brought…)

壬氏「薬屋(くすりや)…お前に話したいことがある…」

Jinshi “Kusuriya… Omae’ni hanashi-tai koto’ga aru…”

Jinshi “Apothecary, there’s something I want to tell you.”

猫猫「今ですか？」

Maomao “Ima desu-ka?”

Maomao “Now?”

壬氏「いつかは言わねばと思っていた…。俺は…本当は…」

Jinshi “Itsuka’wa iwaneba-to omotte-ita… Ore’wa…honto’wa…”

Jinshi “I was going to tell you at some point. I’m… I’m actually…”

猫猫「あっ！」（何だ？）

Maomao “A!” (Nan-da?)

Maomao (What was that?)

猫猫（硫黄(いおう)の匂(にお)い…？）

Maomao (Io’no nioi…?)

Maomao (The smell of sulfur?)

壬氏（飛発(フェイファ)か？！）

Jinshi (Feifa-ka?!)

Jinshi (A feifa?!)

壬氏「悪(わる)い！」

Jinshi “Warui!”

Jinshi “Sorry!”

猫猫「え？」

Maomao “E?”

壬氏「少(すこ)し驚(おどろ)かせる！」

Jinshi “Sukoshi odoro-kaseru!”

Jinshi “This may startle you a bit!”

猫猫「えぇっ？！」

Maomao “Ee?!”

猫猫（少しどころじゃねえだろ！！）

Maomao (Sukoshi-dokoro-ja nee-daro!!)

Maomao (You call this a bit startling?!)

男１「滝壺(たきつぼ)を探(さが)すか？」

Otoko-Ichi “Taki-tsubo’o sagasu-ka?”

Man-1 “Shall we search under the waterfall?”

男２「この高さなら、どうせ助(たす)からん。それより、飛発を隠(かく)しておけ」

Otoko-Ni “Kono takasa-nara, dose tasukaran. Sore-yori, feifa’o kakushite-oke.”

Man-2 “There’s no way he’d survive this height. More importantly, go hide the feifa.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「うっ！…ごっ！」

Maomao “U! …Go!”

壬氏「泳(およ)げなかったなら、すまなかった…」

Jinshi “Oyoge-nakatta-nara, sumana-katta…”

Jinshi “I’m sorry if you couldn’t swim.”

猫猫「…あれで、泳げるわけ、��りません…」

Maomao “…Are’de, oyogeru-wake, ari-masen…”

Maomao “I don’t think it matters if I could swim or not in that situation…”

猫猫（50(ごじゅう)メートル近(ちか)くある崖(がけ)を飛(と)び降(お)りるとは無茶(むちゃ)なことを…）

Maomao (Goju-mētoru-chikaku-aru gake’o tobi-oriru-towa muchana koto’o…)

Maomao (The cliff was easily 50 meters high. Jumping that was crazy.)

猫猫「錯乱(さくらん)したのかと思いました…」

Maomao “Sakuran-shita-noka-to omoi-mashita…”

Maomao “I thought you went mad.”

壬氏「ここの滝壺は深(ふか)いから、うまく飛び降りれば、溺(おぼ)れない限(かぎ)りそうそう死(し)なない」

Jinshi “Koko’no taki-tsubo’wa Fukai-kara, umaku tobi-ori-reba, obore-nai-kagiri so-so shina-nai.”

Jinshi “This waterfall basin is very deep. If you jump correctly, you probably won’t die, unless you drown.”

猫猫「ええ、溺れない限り」

Maomao “Ee, obore-nai-kagiri.”

Maomao “Oh sure, unless I drown.”

壬氏「うぅ……」

Jinshi “Uu……”

猫猫「はぁ…」

Maomao “Haa…”

壬氏「う…何だ？！」

Jinshi “U…Nan-da?!”

Jinshi “What are you doing?!”

猫猫「見苦(みぐる)しい姿(すがた)ですみませんが、このままだと風邪(かぜ)を引(ひ)きますので」

Maomao “Mi-gurushii sugata’de sumi-masen-ga, kono-mama-dato kaze’o hiki-masu-node.”

Maomao “I apologize for the indecent display, but I don’t want to catch a cold.”

壬氏「う……」

Jinshi “U……”

猫猫（前掛(まえか)けと腰布(こしぬの)はやめとくか。貧相(ひんそう)なあばら骨(ぼね)でも、隠せるものは隠したい）

Maomao (Mae-kake’to koshi-nuno’wa yametoku-ka. Hinso-na abara-bone’demo, kakuseru mono’wa kakushi-tai.)

Maomao (I’ll leave my undergarments on, I guess. Even though it’s just a set of skinny ribs, I’d like to hide what I can.)

猫猫「壬氏様のも絞(しぼ)りますので、脱(ぬ)いでいただけますか」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama’nomo shibori-masu-node, nuide-itadake-masu-ka.”

Maomao “I’ll wring your out too, if you take them off.”

猫猫「…あ…」

Maomao “…A…”

壬氏「自分でやる！お前のも貸(か)せ。俺の方(ほう)が力(ちから)があるだろう」

Jinshi “Jibun’de yaru! Omae’nomo kase. Ore’no-hoga chikara’ga aru-daro.”

Jinshi “I’ll do it myself. Give me yours, too. I’m stronger than you.”

猫猫「はあ」

Maomao “Haa.”

Maomao “Yes.”

猫猫（良かった…さっきより体調(たいちょう)は良さそうだ。機嫌(きげん)は悪(わる)そうだけど）

Maomao (Yokatta… Sakki-yori taicho’wa yosa-soda. Kigen’wa waru-soda-kedo.)

Maomao (Good, he looks healthier than earlier. His mood seems worse, though.)

猫猫（薬草(やくそう)はもう使えないな…何か他(ほか)に……あ）

Maomao (Yakuso’wa mo tsukae-nai-na… Nanika hoka’ni……A.)

Maomao (These herbs are useless now. Is there anything else?)

猫猫「壬氏様」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama.”

Maomao “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「あ？何だ？」

Jinshi “A? Nan-da?”

Jinshi “What?”

猫猫「粗末(そまつ)な物(もの)で申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありませんが、食(しょく)していただけますか」

Maomao “Somatsu-na mono’de moshi-wake ari-masen-ga, shoku-shite-itadake-masu-ka.”

Maomao “I know it isn’t much, but would you like to eat any of this?”

壬氏「…何かの薬か？」

Jinshi “…Nanika’no kusuri-ka?”

Jinshi “Is this some kind of medicine?”

猫猫「朝餉(あさげ)に出(だ)された蕗(ふき)です。おやつにしようと持(も)ってきた物ですが…今の壬氏様には、塩(しお)が足(た)りないようなので」

Maomao “Asage’ni dasareta fuki desu. Oyatsu’ni shiyo-to motte-kita mono desu-ga… Ima’no Jinshi-sama’niwa, shio’ga tari-nai-yo-nanode.”

Maomao “It’s butterbur, from our breakfast. I brought it as a snack, but I think you need salt right now.”

壬氏「…塩？」

Jinshi “…Shio?”

Jinshi “Salt?”

猫猫「追(お)いかけてくるときに、醤(ジャン)や砂糖(さとう)を混(ま)ぜた水を持ってきたのですが…滝の上に置(お)いてきてしまったので…。とにかく、覆面をつけたまま狩りに出て、食事も水も摂(と)らなければ、体(からだ)がおかしくなります。暑さと水分不足(すいぶんぶそく)で、頭(あたま)が痛(いた)かったのではありませんか？」

Maomao “Oikakete-kuru-toki’ni, jan’ya sato’o mazeta mizu’o motte-kitano-desuga… taki’no ue’ni oite-kite-shimatta-node… Tonikaku, fukumen’o tsuketa-mama kari’ni dete, shokuji’mo mizu’mo tora-nakereba, karada’ga okashiku nari-masu. Atsusa’to suibun-busoku’de, atama’ga itakattano-dewa ari-masen-ka?”

Maomao “When I was chasing after you, I brought some water with soy paste and sugar in it, but I left it at the top of the waterfall. Anyway, since you went out hunting with your mask on, and refused to eat or drink, you must be in bad shape. Aren’t you getting a headache from the heat and lack of hydration?”

壬氏「…ん…」

Jinshi “…N…”

猫猫「のぼせは引(ひ)いているみたいですが、念(ねん)のために塩を摂ってください」

Maomao “Nobose’wa hiite-iru-mitai-desuga, nen’no tame’ni shio’o totte-kudasai.”

Maomao “Your fever seems to have come down, but please take some salt, just in case.”

壬氏「…そういうことなら…。…思ったより悪くないな」

Jinshi “…So-iu koto-nara… …Omotta-yori waruku-nai-na.”

Jinshi “If you say so… It’s not as bad as I thought.”

猫猫「…あ」

Maomao “…A.”

壬氏「フフ…お前も食え」

Jinshi “Fufu… Omae’mo kue.”

Jinshi “You eat some, too.”

猫猫「む…ふんっ。いただきます」

Maomao “Mu…Fun. Itadaki-masu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

壬氏「フフッ」

Jinshi “Fufu.”

猫猫「あれは一体(いったい)何だったのでしょうか？」

Maomao “Are’wa ittai nan-dattano-desho-ka?”

Maomao “What was that back there, anyway?”

壬氏「飛発だな」

Jinshi “Feifa dana.”

Jinshi “A feifa.”

猫猫「飛発？」

Maomao “Feifa?”

壬氏「戦(いくさ)で使(つか)う、火薬(かやく)を使った武器(ぶき)だ。一回(いっかい)撃(う)つごとに準備(じゅんび)が必要(ひつよう)になる。それが間(ま)を置(お)かずに、2発(にはつ)撃たれた…」

Jinshi “Ikusa’de tsukau, kayaku’o tsukatta buki-da. Ikkai utsu-goto’ni junbi’ga hitsuyo’ni naru. Sore’ga ma’o okazu’ni, ni-hatsu utareta…”

Jinshi “It’s a weapon of war that uses gunpowder. It requires preparation after every shot. However, they shot twice in quick succession.”

猫猫「犯人(はんにん)は複数(ふくすう)いた、ということですか」

Maomao “Han’nin’wa fukusu ita-to iu-koto desu-ka.”

Maomao “So, does that mean there were multiple assailants?”

壬氏「ああ。少(すく)なくとも2人(ふたり)。他(ほか)にもいたかもしれない」

Jinshi “Aa. Sukunaku-tomo futari. Hoka’nimo ita-kamo shire-nai.”

Jinshi “Yes, at least two. Perhaps more.”

猫猫（…一体(いったい)誰(だれ)に何(なに)を恨(うら)まれているんだ？）

Maomao (…Ittai dare’ni nani’o uramarete-irunda?)

Maomao (Who holds a grudge against him, and why?)

猫猫「壬氏様。ここから出る方法(ほうほう)はご存知(ぞんじ)ですか？泳(およ)ぐ以外(いがい)で、ですが」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama. Koko-kara deru hoho’wa gozonji desu-ka? Oyogu-igai’de, desu-ga.”

Maomao “Master Jinshi, do you know how to exit this place? Besides swimming, of course.”

壬氏「奥(おく)の天井(てんじょう)に穴(あな)がある」

Jinshi “Oku’no tenjo’ni ana’ga aru.”

Jinshi “There’s a hole in the ceiling, deeper in.”

猫猫「それは、高順様は知っているのですか？」

Maomao “Sore’wa, Gaoshun-sama’wa shitte-iruno-desu-ka?”

Maomao “Does Master Gaoshun know about that?”

壬氏「…知らないかもな。馬閃なら知っているが、すぐに気づくかどうか…」

Jinshi “…Shiranai-kamo-na. Basen-nara shitte-iru-ga, sugu’ni kizuku-ka-doka…”

Jinshi “He might not. Basen would know, but I don’t know if he’ll notice right away…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「穴に向(む)かって、大声(おおごえ)で助(たす)けを呼(よ)ぶのはどうでしょう？」

Maomao “Ana’ni mukatte, oogoe’de tasuke’o yobu-nowa do-desho?”

Maomao “Can we shout from here to call for help?”

壬氏「よほど近(ちか)くに寄(よ)らないと聞(き)こえない。一日中(いちにちじゅう)叫(さけ)び続(つづ)ければ、誰かが気付(きづ)くかもしれないが…」

Jinshi “Yohodo chikaku’ni yoranaito kikoe-nai. Ichi-nichi-ju sakebi-tsuzukereba, dareka’ga kizuku-kamo shire-nai-ga…”

Jinshi “They would have to be very close to hear. Maybe if we kept yelling all day, someone might notice, but…”

壬氏「…何(なん)だ？」

Jinshi “…Nan-da?”

Jinshi “What?”

猫猫「…いえ、何(なに)も」

Maomao “…Ie, nanimo.”

Maomao “No, nothing.”

壬氏「高(たか)いが…片方(かたほう)が足場(あしば)になれば届(とど)くかもな」

Jinshi “Takai-ga…kataho’ga ashiba’ni nareba todoku-kamo-na.”

Jinshi “It’s high, but if one of us stacked on the other, we might be able to reach.”

猫猫（壬氏様を踏(ふ)み台(だい)にしたことが水蓮様にバレたら…！）

Maomao (Jinshi-sama’o fumi-dai’ni shita-koto’ga Suiren-sama’ni baretara…!)

Maomao (If Lady Suiren finds out I stepped on Master Jinshi…)

水蓮「う、ふ、ふ、ふ、ふ」

Suiren “U-fu-fu-fu-fu.”

壬氏「お前が下になったら潰(つぶ)れるぞ」

Jinshi “Omae’ga shita’ni nattara tsubureru-zo.”

Jinshi “I would crush you if I stood on you.”

猫猫「しかし…」

Maomao “Shikashi…”

Maomao “But…”

壬氏「やれ！」

Jinshi “Yare!”

Jinshi “Do it.”

猫猫「うっ…うぅ…」

Maomao “U…Uu…”

壬氏「お前、もっと太(ふと)ったらどうだ？」

Jinshi “Omae, motto futottara doda?”

Jinshi “You should gain some weight.”

猫猫「今言うことじゃないです。ん…あっ」

Maomao “Ima iu-koto-ja nai-desu. N…A.”

Maomao “Now is not the time.”

猫猫（ヌルヌルして湿(しめ)っているが、指(ゆび)を引(ひ)っ掛(か)ければ…）

Maomao (Nuru-nuru-shite shimette-iru-ga, yubi’o hikkake-reba…)

Maomao (It’s wet and slippery, but as long as I can get my fingers hooked…)

猫猫「立(た)ちます」

Maomao “Tachi-masu.”

Maomao “I’m standing up.”

壬氏「よし！」

Jinshi “Yoshi!”

Jinshi “Right!”

猫猫「ん…んん。ふっ…うぅ…、んっ…うぅ…ハァ。あっ…何だ、カエルか。ん、わ、うわ、うわ～！」

Maomao “N…Nn. Fu…uu…, n…uu…haa. A… Nan-da, kaeru-ka. N, wa, uwa, uwaaa!”

Maomao “Oh, a frog.”

壬氏「えっ、お…おい！あっ！」

Jinshi “E, o…oi! A!”

Jinshi “Hey!”

猫猫（あ～…痛(いた)…く…ない…）

Maomao (Aaa… Ita…ku…nai…)

Maomao (It… doesn’t hurt.)

猫猫「あっ…失礼しました。壬氏様…」

Maomao “A… Shitsurei shima-shita. Jinshi-sama…”

Maomao “Excuse me, Master Jinshi―”

(Continue to Episode 12/Ep.36)

11 notes · View notes

apothecaryscript · 17 days ago

Note

For the new shrine collab their are a few videos on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLxr5usSopA and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptCqhwpxpEU . the new shrine art is SO nice. Especially seeing Gaoshun's hair out.

Thank you for your information. I watched the video and Mr. Otsuka looked nice in his kimono. Yeah, it may be first time I saw Gaoshun's hair out. I'd never thought of it before, but he has long hair that he wears up on top of his head, perhaps. I wonder what he'd look like if he let his hair down. The 3 ladies in "Miko(巫女/みこ)" costumes are also very cute!

1 note · View note

apothecaryscript · 20 days ago

Text

Maomao no Hitorigoto Episode 34: Poisoning / 猫猫のひとりごと　第34話　『中毒(ちゅうどく/Chudoku)』

Please note that the English lines are just my translation.

猫猫(マオマオ)「ふぁ～あ…　桜花様(インファさま)が自分(じぶん)の部屋(へや)に戻(もど)らなかったせいで、すっかり寝不足(ねぶそく)だ…」

Maomao “Fuaaaa… Infa-sama’ga jibun’no heya’ni modora-nakatta-sei’de, sukkari nebusoku-da…”

Maomao “Ahh… I really have a lack of sleep because Lady Yinghua didn’t go back to her room…”

寝不足（ねぶそく/Nebusoku）: lack of sleep, sleep deprivation = 睡眠不足（すいみんぶそく/Suimin-busoku）

子翠(シスイ)「おはよ～！昨日(きのう)は災難(さいなん)だったねー…」

Shisui “Ohayooo! Kino’wa sainan datta-neee…”

Shisui “Good morning! Yesterday was a disaster, wasn’t it?”

災難（さいなん/Sainan）: disaster, mess, tough, unfortunate

It’s used when something bad happened without your intention.

猫猫「あぁ、でも、無事(ぶじ)で良(よ)かった」

Maomao “Aa, demo, buji’de yokatta.”

Maomao “Yeah, but I’m glad we’re safe.”

子翠「どうしてみんなの具合(ぐあい)が悪(わる)くなったのかなぁ？」

Shisui “Doshite minna’no guai’ga waruku-nattano-kanaa?”

Shisui “I wonder why everyone became sick?”

具合が悪くなる（ぐあいがわるくなる）: become sick, become bad

猫猫「ここで、猫猫の豆知識(まめちしき)。密閉(みっぺい)された空間(くうかん)で物(もの)が燃(も)えると、有毒(ゆうどく)な空気(くうき)が発生(はっせい)することがある。この空気は無味(むみ)無臭(むしゅう)。頭痛(ずつう)やめまいを引(ひ)き起(お)こし、死(し)に至(いた)ることもあるとか」

Maomao “Koko’de, Maomao’no mame-chishiki. Mippei-sareta kukan’de mono’ga moeru-to, yudoku-na kuki’ga hassei-suru-koto’ga aru. Kono kuki’wa mumi-mushu. Zutsu’ya memai’o hiki-okoshi, shi’ni itaru-koto’mo aru-toka.”

Maomao “Here’s Maomao’s bits of knowledge. When something burns in an enclosed space, toxic air can be produced. This air is tasteless and odorless. It can cause headaches and dizziness, and can even be fatal.”

死に至る（しにいたる/Shi’ni itaru）: fatal = 死に(しに): to the death ＋至る(いたる）: reach, arrive, achieve

猫猫（あんな危険(きけん)なことが起(お)こったんじゃ、今後(こんご)催(もよお)しが開催(かいさい)されることはないだろう…）

Maomao (Anna kiken-na koto’ga okottan-ja, kongo moyooshi’ga kaisai-sareru-koto’wa nai-daro…)

Maomao (Now that such a dangerous accident did happen, the event probably won’t be held in the future.)

子翠「私(わたし)、次(つぎ)の会(かい)を企画(きかく)しようと思(おも)うの」

Shisui “Watashi, tsugi’no kai’o kikaku-shiyo-to omou-no.”

Shisui “I’m thinking of planning the next event.”

猫猫「えっ？」

Maomao “E?”

Maomao “Huh?”

子翠「せっかくの集(あつ)まりがなくなっちゃうのって、もったいないじゃない？」

Shisui “Sekkaku’no atsumari’ga naku-nacchaunotte, mottai-nai-ja nai?”

Shisui “Wouldn’t it be a shame for this wonderful gathering to be ruined?”

猫猫「確(たし)かに、子翠は怪談話(かいだんばなし)がうまかったしなぁ…」

Maomao “Tashika’ni, Shisui’wa kaidan-banashi’ga umakatta-shi-naa…”

Maomao “It’s true that you’re so good at telling ghost stories, Shisui…”

子翠「エヘヘヘ…。でも、もっとみんなが安心(あんしん)して楽(たの)しめる会(かい)がいいと思(おも)って」

Shisui “Ehehehe… Demo, motto minna’ga anshin-shite tanoshimeru kai’ga ii-to omotte.”

Shisui “Hehe. But I think it would be better if the event was one where everyone could feel at ease and enjoy themselves.”

安心する(あんしんする/Anshin-suru): feel at ease, relieved ⇔　心配する(しんぱいする/Shinpai-suru): worry

猫猫「…と言(い)うと？」

Maomao “…To-iuto?”

Maomao “What do you mean?”

子翠「名付(なづ)けて！『虫(むし)の可愛(かわい)さについて語(かた)る会(かい)』！！…なんてどうかなぁ？」

Shisui “Nazukete! ‘Mushi’no Kawai-sa’ni tsuite Kataru Kai’!! …Nante do-kanaa?”

Shisui “Let’s call it a ‘Meeting to Discuss the Cuteness of Insects’!! How about that?”

名付ける（なづける/Nazukeru）: name = 名(な): name ＋つける: put on

猫猫「あぁ……」

Maomao “Aa……”

Maomao “Ahhh…”

子翠「朝(あさ)まで寝(ね)ないで語(かた)り明(あ)かすの！一度(いちど)やってみたかったんだぁ！せっかくだから三夜(さんや)連続(れんぞく)とかにして、飲(の)まず食(く)わずの極限(きょくげん)状態(じょうたい)で虫(むし)の魅力(みりょく)について話(はな)し合(あ)うんだ～！」

Shisui “Asa-made nenai-de katari-akasu-no! Ichido yatte-mitakattan-daa! Sekkaku-dakara san-ya-renzoku-toka’ni shite, nomazu-kuwazu’no kyokugen-jotai’de mushi’no miryoku’ni tsuite hanashi-aundaaa!”

Shisui “We’ll talk until the morning without sleeping! I’ve always wanted to try this! Since we have the chance, let’s do it for three nights in a row or something, and discuss the charms of insects under extreme conditions, without food or drink!”

連続（れんぞく/Renzoku）: in a row, continuity

極限(きょくげん/Kyoku-gen): extreme, limit

猫猫（かなり危険(きけん)な会(かい)だ…！さささささ…）

Maomao (Kanari kiken-na kai-da…! Sasasasasa…)

Maomao (That is a quite dangerous meeting…! Sneak, sneak…)

子翠「猫猫！まだ話(はなし)は終(お)わってないよ～～～！」

Shisui “Maomao! Mada hanashi’wa owatte-nai-yooooooo!”

Shisui “Maomao! I’m not finished yet!”

猫猫「次回(じかい)、『狩(か)り』。壬氏様(ジンシさま)の遠征(えんせい)にお供(とも)するらしい…。あぁ～…」

Maomao “Jikai, ‘Kari.’ Jinshi-sama’no ensei’ni otomo-suru-rashii… Aaaa…”

Maomao “Next episode, ‘The Hunt.’ It seems I’ll be accompanying Master Jinshi on his expedition… Ahh…”

遠征（えんせい/Ensei）: expedition

お供する(おともする/Otomo-suru): accompany, go along with

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apothecaryscript · 20 days ago

Text

Memo for Episode 10 (Ep.34) “A Ghost Story”

白羽「これからは、名前(なまえ)と同じ色(いろ)の髪紐(かみひも)を使(つか)うから、それで見分(みわ)けて」

Hakuu “Kore-kara’wa, namae’to onaji iro’no kami-himo’o tsukau-kara, sore’de miwakete.”

Haku-u “From now on, we’ll all wear hairbands that match the colors in our names, so that you can identify us.”

白 in 白羽(はくう/Haku-u) means “white”, 黒 in 黒羽(こくう/Koku-u) means “black,” and 赤 in 赤羽(せきう/Seki-u) means “red.”

Maomao’s father, Lakan, has the characteristic of being unable to distinguish between people’s faces, and Maomao herself is also very bad at remembering people’s faces and names. Quack Doctor’s real name is Guen, but Maomao hasn’t remembered it yet.

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桜花「別(べつ)にいいけど…ねぇ猫猫、少(すこ)しは反省(はんせい)してる？」

Infa “Betsu’ni ii-kedo… Nee Maomao, sukoshi’wa hansei shiteru?”

Yinghua “Well, I don’t mind that much. Hey Maomao. Do you regret what you did, even a bit?”

反省する（はんせいする/Hansei-suru）: reflect, looking back on your past actions and admitting to yourself that what was not good was not good

後悔する（こうかいする/Kokai-suru）: regret, looking back on your past actions and feel bad to have done such things

In this line, 反省 was translated as “regret,” but I feel that’s a bit too strong.

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女官「それからというもの、夜(よ)な夜な北門(きたもん)の堀(ほり)では、身投(みな)げを繰(く)り返(かえ)す下女(げじょ)の姿(すがた)が…。哀(あわ)れに思った女官が堀に花(はな)を浮(う)かべると、どこからか声(こえ)が聞(き)こえてきます。ハッ！として堀を覗(のぞ)き込(こ)むと、下女の白(しろ)い顔(かお)が浮(う)かび上(あ)がり、女官が慌(あわ)てて逃(に)げようとすると、突然(とつぜん)足(あし)を掴(つか)まれて…水(みず)から這(は)い上がって来(き)た下女は言(い)いました。『あの日(ひ)、私を突(つ)き落(お)としたのは…お前(まえ)か～～～！！』」

Nyokan “Sore-kara’to iu-mono, yona-yona kita-mon’no hori-dewa, minage’o kuri-kaesu gejo’no sugata’ga… Aware’ni omotta nyokan’ga hori’ni hana’o ukaberu-to, doko-kara-ka koe’ga kikoete-kimasu. Ha! to-shite hori’o nozoki-komu-to, gejo’no shiroi kao’ga ukabi-agari, nyokan’ga awatete nigeyoto-suruto, totsuzen ashi’o tsukamarete…. Mizu-kara hai-agatte-kita gejo’wa ii-mashita. ‘Ano hi, watashi’o tsuki-otoshita-nowa… omae-kaaaaaaa!!’”

Court lady “And from then on… Every night, at the moat at the north gate, the servant could be seen throwing herself into the water, over and over. When a court lady who pitied her came to scatter flowers on the moat, she heard a voice from somewhere. And when she gazed into the moat to find the source… The servant girl’s pale face came floating up… When the court lady tried to escape, something suddenly grabbed her feet! The servant girl rose up from the water, and said… ‘The one who pushed me in that day… It was you!’”

The last part is a classic and well-worn way to scare the listeners when telling ghost stories. Speaking only of translation, however, お前か～！means “was it you?!”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

子翠「食(た)べる？」

Shisui “Taberu?”

Shisui “Want a bite?”

What Shisui was eating was dried squid called スルメ(Surume). It’s chewy and the more you chew it the more flavor it releases, making it a delicious snack.

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僧侶「夜分(やぶん)に失礼(しつれい)。ごめんください」

Soryo “Yabun’ni shitsu-rei. Gomen-kudasai.”

Monk “Excuse me, sorry to disturb you so late at night.”

夜分に（やぶんに/Ya-bun’ni）: (late) at night.

It’s mainly used in order to apologize to visit or call someone at night.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

妻「どうされました？お坊様(ぼうさま)」

Tsuma “Do sare-mashita? Obo-sama.”

Wife “What is the matter, venerable one?”

どうした？(simple form)

どうしました（か）？(Keigo – polite way)

どうされました（か）？(Keigo – honorific & polite way)　どうなさいました（か）？ Is also correct.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

妻「さぁ…やるよ！どこだ？あの僧は…ハァ…ハァ…逃(に)げたのか…？いない…いないよ！見つけないと…でないと、あたし…あたし！あんたを！」（咀嚼音(そしゃくおん)）

Tsuma “Saa…yaru-yo! Doko-da? Ano so-wa… Haa…haa… Nigeta-noka…? Inai… Inai-yo! Mitsuke-naito… de-naito, atashi…atashi! Anta’o!” (Soshaku-on)

Wife “Come on, let’s do this. WhERe iS thAt moNK? Did hE esCaPE? He’S nOT hEre… hE’s noT hERE! I hAvE to find Him! OtHErwiSe, I… I HaVE to tAKe YOU INSTEAD!”

I was very surprised when I saw this English translation. It’s like subtitles in a horror game. Sentences with unnatural capital letters are effective for writing the lines of monsters, like unnatural Katakana in Japanese. The original Japanese lines are not directed in this way, but the words are quite rough. It’s hard to believe that the same person is saying the line, “What is the matter, venerable one?”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

子翠「僧侶は、咀嚼音(そしゃくおん)が聞こえなくなるまで経を唱(とな)え続(つづ)けた。音(おと)が止(や)み、僧侶は外(そと)へ出た。若(わか)い夫婦(ふうふ)の姿(すがた)はなく、そこには、虫(むし)の羽(はね)が落(お)ちていた。僧侶はそっと手を合わせ、経を唱えたまま、夜明(よあ)けまで歩(ある)き続(つづ)けましたとさ」

Shisui “Soryo-wa, soshaku-on’ga kikoe-naku-naru-made kyo’o tonae-tsuzuketa. Oto’ga yami, soryo’wa soto’e deta. Wakai fufu’no sugata’wa naku, soko-niwa, mushi’no hane’ga ochite-ita. Soryo’wa sotto te’o awase, kyo’o tonaeta-mama, yoake’made aruki-tsuzuke-mashita-tosa.”

Shisui “The monk continued the chant until the chewing sounds stopped. Once it was quiet, the monk stepped outside. The young couple was gone, and instead… All he found there were the wings of insects. The monk clasped his hands together and continued to walk, chanting the sutra, until dawn.”

～とさ(～tosa): It’s used at the very end of the story-telling.

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年嵩の女官「先帝は、年端(としは)もいかぬ少女(しょうじょ)を選(えら)んではその花(はな)を散(ち)らし、手折(たお)られた少女たちは、外に出ることを許(ゆる)されぬまま、時を過(す)ごしました。その中(なか)に、一人(ひとり)身(み)ごもった少女がおり、先帝に訴(うった)えましたが…少女は後宮を出ることも許されず、死ぬ間際(まぎわ)に一言(ひとこと)…『次はお前たちの番だ！』」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Sentei’wa, toshi-ha’mo ikanu shojo’o erandewa sono hana’o chirashi, taorareta shojo-tachi’wa, soto’ni deru-koto’o yurusarenu-mama, toki’o sugoshi-mashita. Sono naka’ni, hitori migomotta shojo’ga ori, sentei’ni uttae-mashita-ga… shojo’wa kokyu’o deru-kotomo yuru-sarezu, shinu-magiwa’ni hito-koto… ‘Tsugi’wa omae-tachi’no ban-da!’”

Old court lady “The late emperor chose the youngest girls, deflowering them one after the other. The girsl spent their days in the rear palace, barred from ever leaving. One of these girls became pregnant. She petitioned the late emperor, but… She was never allowed to leave the rear palace. Right before her death, she said… ‘It’s your turn next!’”

年端(としは/Toshiha)もいかぬ/いかない = 幼い(おさない/Osanai) : very young, not old enough

The specific age that this refers to varies depending on the situation.

身ごもる（みごもる/Migomoru）: get pregnant = 妊娠する（にんしんする/Ninshin-suru）

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紅娘「まぁ…やっぱり…不慣(ふな)れな人が仕切(しき)ると、色々(いろいろ)あるわよね」

Hon’nyan “Maa…Yappari… Funare-na hito’ga shikiru-to, iro-iro aru-wayo-ne.”

Hongniang “Ah, I expected as much. I guess things could happen when the organizer is new.”

不慣れな（ふなれな/Funare-na）: inexperienced, unaccustomed, unfamiliar

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The young couple who appeared in the story that Shisui told were probably bell crickets, because the monk said “Is that the sound of a bell…? No, it sounds like a bell, but is actually a human voice?” It seems that female bell crickets have a tendency to eat males during the egg-laying season.

In the next episode, we’ll finally get to the story that Jinshi & Maomao fans have been waiting for!

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apothecaryscript · 21 days ago

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KNH White Day Visual Image / ホワイトデービジュアル・スペシャル映像

You can find the original picture with short line by Jinshi on YouTube, uploaded by the official TOHO Animation account. Please note that the English line is just my translation.

壬氏「ハッピーホワイトデー！バレンタインのお礼には、飴を贈るのが風習と聞いてね。日頃の感謝の気持ちとして、受け取ってくれ。とっておきのお茶も入れるから、少しだけ一緒に過ごさないか」

Jinshi “Happī howaito dē! Barentain’no orei’niwa, ame’o okuru-noga fushu-to kiite-ne. Higoro’no kansha’no kimochi-to-shite, uketotte-kure. Totte-oki’no ocha’mo ireru-kara, sukoshi-dake issho’ni sugosa-naika.

Jinshi “Happy White Day! I heard that it’s customary to give candies as a thank you for Valentine’s Day. Please accept it as an expression of my daily gratitude. I’ll also make some special tea, so why don’t we spend a little time together?”

#apothecary english #apothecary romaji #the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #learning japanese #japanese #薬屋のひとりごと #薬屋のひとりごと　英語 #薬屋　英語　学習 #japan #KNH

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apothecaryscript · 21 days ago

Note

Toho animation released a white day video. Jinshi's outfit is SO nice. I hope one day they release the outfit designs. Especially for the Halloween version. Fox Jinshi is the BEST.

Thank you for your information. I'll post the translation soon. I like especially the colors in their pictures, that is always so beautiful, as is the color scheme in the anime.

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apothecaryscript · 22 days ago

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Episode 10(Ep.34): A Ghost Story / 第10話（第34話）『怪談(かいだん/Kaidan)』

紅娘(ホンニャン)「猫猫(マオマオ)、紹介(しょうかい)するわ。翡翠宮(ひすいきゅう)に来(き)た新(あたら)しい侍女(じじょ)たちよ。三姉妹(さんしまい)なの」

Hon’nyan “Maomao, shokai-suru-wa. Hisui-Kyu’ni kita atarashii jijo-tachi-yo. San-shimai nano.”

Hongniang “Maomao, let me introduce you. These are new ladies-in-waiting who’ve joined the Jade Pavilion. They’re all sisters.”

白羽(ハクウ)「白羽です」

Hakuu “Hakuu desu.”

Haku-u “I am Haku-u.”

黒羽(コクウ)「黒羽です」

Kokuu “Kokuu desu.”

Koku-u “I am Koku-u.”

赤羽(セキウ)「赤羽です」

Sekiu “Sekiu desu.”

Seki-u “I am Seki-u.”

猫猫（よく似(に)た姉妹(しまい)だな…）

Maomao (Yoku nita shimai dana…)

Maomao (Wow, they look alike.)

白羽「お元気(げんき)でしたか？」

Hakuu “O-genki deshita-ka?”

Haku-u “Have you been well?”

愛藍「はい。お久(ひさ)しぶりです」

Airan “Hai. O-hisashi-buri desu.”

Ailan “Yes, long time no see.”

猫猫「ん？お知(し)り合(あ)いですか？」

Maomao “N? O-shiri-ai desu-ka?”

Maomao “Do you know each other?”

桜花(インファ)「ええ。みんな同郷(どうきょう)で顔(かお)なじみなの。長女(ちょうじょ)の白羽さんは、玉葉(ギョクヨウ)様(さま)と同(おな)い年(どし)よ」

Infa “Ee. Minna dokyo-de osana-najimi nano. Chojo’no Hakuu-san’wa, Gyokuyo-sama’to onai-doshi-yo.”

Yinghua “Yes, we’re all from the same hometown and know each other. Haku-u, the eldest, is the same age as Lady Gyokuyou.”

猫猫（同郷の人間(にんげん)だけで固(かた)めるのか。暗殺(あんさつ)されかかったことのある玉葉様には、その方(ほう)が安心(あんしん)だな）

Maomao (Dokyo’no ningen-dake’de katameru-noka. Ansatsu sare-kakatta koto’no-aru Gyokuyo-sama’niwa, sono-hoga anshin dana.)

Maomao (Limiting the staff to only those from the same hometown, I see. That’s a safer way to go about it, especially for Lady Gyokuyou, who was almost assassinated before.)

白羽「あなたは？」

Hakuu “Anata’wa?”

Haku-u “And you are?”

猫猫「毒見役(どくみやく)の猫猫です、黒羽様」

Maomao “Dokumi-yaku’no Maomao desu, Kokuu-sama.”

Maomao “I am Maomao, the taster, Lady Koku-u.”

白羽「私(わたし)は黒羽じゃないわ」

Hakuu “Watashi’wa Kokuu-ja nai-wa.”

Haku-u “I am not Koku-u.”

猫猫「あれっ…じゃあ、赤羽様…」

Maomao “Are… Jaa, Sekiu-sama…”

Maomao “Huh? Um, well, Lady Seki-u?”

白羽「白羽よ」

Hakuu “Hakuu-yo.”

Haku-u “It’s Haku-u.”

猫猫「あぁ…」

Maomao “Aa…”

白羽「これからは、名前(なまえ)と同じ色(いろ)の髪紐(かみひも)を使(つか)うから、それで見分(みわ)けて」

Hakuu “Kore-kara’wa, namae’to onaji iro’no kami-himo’o tsukau-kara, sore’de miwakete.”

Haku-u “From now on, we’ll all wear hairbands that match the colors in our names, so that you can identify us.”

猫猫「はい、分(わ)かりました」

Maomao “Hai, wakari-mashita.”

Maomao “Yes, understood.”

猫猫（全(まった)く見分けがつかない…。まぁ、追(お)い追い覚(おぼ)えればいいか）

Maomao (Mattaku miwake’ga tsuka-nai… Maa, oi-oi oboe-reba ii-ka.)

Maomao (I can’t tell them apart at all. I guess I’ll have plenty of time to learn.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（それよりも問題(もんだい)は…）

Maomao (Sore-yorimo Mondai’wa…)

Maomao (More importantly, the issue is…)

桜花「猫猫！ちゃんと部屋(へや)に戻(もど)りなさい！」

Infa “Maomao! Chanto heya’ni modori-nasai!”

Yinghua “Maomao! Go back to your room already!”

猫猫「いえ、物置(ものおき)で問題ありません。紅娘様にも、ここが私の部屋だと言(い)われましたし、このまま使わせて頂(いただ)きます！」

Maomao “Ie, mono-oki’de mondai ari-masen. Hon’nyan-sama-nimo, koko’ga watashi’no heya-dato iware-mashita-shi, kono-mama tsukawasete-itadaki-masu!”

Maomao “No, I’m quite comfortable in the storage shed. Lady Hongniang also said that this is my room now. I’ll continue to use it!”

桜花「ダメに決(き)まってるでしょ。また冗談(じょうだん)を真(ま)に受(う)けて。ぐぬぬ…」

Infa “Dame’ni kimatteru desho. Mata jodan’o ma’ni ukete. Gununu…”

Yinghua “There’s no way that’ll work! You took the joke too literally!”

猫猫「いや、でも、荷物(にもつ)も全部(ぜんぶ)部屋から持(も)ってきましたし…」

Maomao “Iya, demo nimotsu’mo zenbu heya’kara motte-kimashita-shi…”

Maomao “But I already moved all of my things to the shed…”

桜花「新しい侍女たちにも示(しめ)しがつかないわ！ふっ…うぅ…」

Infa “Atarashii jijo-tachi-nimo shimeshi’ga tsuka-nai-wa! Fu…uu…”

Yinghua “You’re setting a bad example to the new ladies-in-waiting!”

猫猫「ぐぬぬ…うぅ…」

Maomao “Gununu…uu…”

紅娘「何(なに)やってるの、あなたたち！」

Hon’nyan “Nani yatteru-no, anata-tachi!”

Hongniang “What do you think you’re doing, you two?!”

桜花「うぅ…」

Infa “Uu…”

猫猫「うぅ…」

Maomao “Uu…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

玉葉妃「あらあら。物置は、すっかり猫猫の巣(す)になっていたの？小屋(こや)は好(す)きにしていいわよ」

Gyokuyo-hi “Ara-ara. Mono-oki’wa, sukkari Maomao’no su’ni natte-ita-no? Koya’wa suki’ni shite ii-wayo.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Oh, so the storage shed is Maomao’s nest now? You can do as you wish with that shed.”

紅娘「でも、寝(ね)る時(とき)は元(もと)の部屋を使ってちょうだいね」

Hon’nyan “Demo, neru-toki’wa moto’no heya’o tsukatte-chodai-ne.”

Hongniang “But please sleep in your original room.”

猫猫「分かりました」

Maomao “Wakari-mashita.”

Maomao “I understand.”

猫猫（いい上司(じょうし)たちだな…）

Maomao (Ii joshi-tachi dana…)

Maomao (They are such good bosses.)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（新しい侍女が来て、一人当(ひとりあ)たりの仕事(しごと)の量(りょう)はぐんと減(へ)った。玉葉様が懐妊(かいにん)して、今以上(いまいじょう)に人手(ひとで)が必要(ひつよう)になる翡翠宮にとって、人材(じんざい)の補強(ほきょう)はありがたいことだが、これは、多数(たすう)の侍女を連(つ)れている楼蘭妃(ロウランひ)の柘榴宮(ざくろきゅう)と釣(つ)り合(あ)いを取(と)るためでもあるのだろう）

Maomao (Atarashii jijo’ga kite, hitori-atari’no shigoto’no ryo’wa gunto hetta. Gyokuyo-sama’ga kainin-shite, ima-ijo’ni hitode’ga hitsuyo’ni naru Hisui-Kyu’ni-totte, jinzai’no hokyo’wa arigatai koto-daga, kore’wa, tasu’no jijo’o tsurete-iru Roran-hi’no Zakuro-Kyu’to tsuri-ai’o toru-tame-demo aruno-daro.)

Maomao (With the new ladies-in-waiting joining, the amount of work per person went down dramatically. Given Lady Gyokuyou’s pregnancy, the Jade Pavilion needs more workers than ever. So, these new arrivals are helpful, but… This is also to balance things out with Concubine Loulan’s Garnet Pavilion, which has a huge headcount.)

猫猫「お疲(つか)れさまでした。では私は小屋へ…」

Maomao “O-tsukare-sama-deshita. Dewa watashi’wa koya’e…”

Maomao “Thank you, everyone. Well, I’m off to the shed now…”

桜花「あっ、猫猫！」

Infa “A, Maomao!”

Yinghua “Hey, Maomao!”

赤羽「桜花さん、猫猫さんは部屋ではなく小屋に住んでいるのですか？」

Sekiu “Infa-san, Maomao-san’wa heya’dewa-naku koya’ni sunde-iruno-desu-ka?”

Seki-u “Yinghua, does Maomao live in the shed, not her room?”

黒羽「本当ですか？玉葉様の侍女なのに…」

Kokuu “Honto desu-ka? Gyokuyo-sama’no jijo nanoni…”

Koku-u “Really? Even though she’s Lady Gyokuyou’s lady-in-waiting?”

桜花「いや…えっと、ウフフ…」

Infa “Iya…etto, ufufu…”

Yinghua “No, um… Haha…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

桜花「ん…」

Infa “N…”

猫猫（桜花様が、小屋に引(ひ)きこもるのを止(と)めたのは、お節介(せっかい)だけど私のことを考(かんが)えてのことだろう。早(はや)く新しい侍女たちに慣(な)れてほしいという、桜花様らしい気配(きくば)りだ）

Maomao (Infa-sama’ga, koya’ni hiki-komoru-no’o tometa-nowa, osekkai-dakedo watashi’no koto’o kangaete’no koto daro. Hayaku atarashii jijo-tachi’ni narete-hoshii-to-iu, Infa-sama-rashii kikubari-da.)

Maomao (I don’t appreciate Lady Yinghua pulling me out of the shed, but I know she did it out of benevolence. She wants me to get comfortable with the new ladies-in-waiting quickly. Very considerate of her, as always.)

猫猫「フゥ…。すみません。勝手(かって)なことばかり」

Maomao “Fuu… Sumi-masen. Katte’na koto-bakari.”

Maomao “I’m sorry to be so selfish all the time.”

桜花「別(べつ)にいいけど…ねぇ猫猫、少(すこ)しは反省(はんせい)してる？」

Infa “Betsu’ni ii-kedo… Nee Maomao, sukoshi’wa hansei shiteru?”

Yinghua “Well, I don’t mind that much. Hey Maomao. Do you regret what you did, even a bit?”

猫猫「え？してますけど…」

Maomao “E? Shite-masu-kedo…”

Maomao “Huh? Yes, of course.”

桜花「本当(ほんとう)に？私に悪(わる)いと思(おも)ってる？」

Infa “Honto’ni? Watashi’ni warui-to omotteru?”

Yinghua “Really? So, you feel like you owe me one?”

猫猫「ええ、それはもちろん…」

Maomao “Ee, sore’wa mochiron…”

Maomao “Oh, yes, certainly…”

桜花「だよねぇ！じゃあ早速(さっそく)今夜(こんや)、付(つ)き合(あ)ってもらうわよ！」

Infa “Dayo-nee! Jaa sassoku kon’ya, tsuki-atte-morau-wayo!”

Yinghua “I know, right? In that case, you’ll be accompanying me tonight!”

猫猫「えっ？」

Maomao “E?”

Maomao “Huh?”

桜花「今晩(こんばん)暇(ひま)なのは、私と猫猫だけなのよ。ちょうどよかったわ！ウフッ」

Infa “Kon-ban hima-nano’wa, watashi’to Maomao-dake-nano-yo. Chodo yokatta-wa! Ufu.”

Yinghua “You and I are the only ones free this evening. Perfect timing!”

猫猫（やられた……）

Maomao (Yarareta…)

Maomao (She got me…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「あの、今夜の外出(がいしゅつ)、紅娘様は…」

Maomao “Ano, kon’ya’no gaishutsu, Hon’nyan-sama’wa…”

Maomao “Um, does Lady Hongniang know about our excursion tonight?”

桜花「大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)よ。許可(きょか)はもらってるわ」

Infa “Daijobu-yo. Kyoka’wa moratteru-wa.”

Yinghua “Don’t worry. I got permission.”

猫猫（後宮(こうきゅう)の北側(きたがわ)…この辺(あた)りは、古(ふる)い建物(たてもの)しかないはずだけど…）

Maomao (Kokyu’no kita-gawa… Kono atari’wa, furui tatemono-shika nai-hazu-dakedo…)

Maomao (The north side of the rear palace… There should only be old buildings out here.)

桜花「あっ、猫猫、これ。こんな感(かん)じでかぶって」

Infa “A, Maomao, kore. Konna kanji’de kabutte.”

Yinghua “Oh! Maomao, put this on. Like this.”

猫猫「暑(あつ)くないですか？」

Maomao “Atsuku-nai-desu-ka?”

Maomao “Aren’t you too warm?”

桜花「いいの。涼(すず)しくなるから」

Infa “Iino. Suzushiku naru-kara.”

Yinghua “Don’t worry, it’ll get chilly really soon.”

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

桜花「ここよ」

Infa “Koko-yo.”

Yinghua “Here we are.”

年嵩(としかさ)の女官(にょかん)「いらっしゃい。参加者(さんかしゃ)は2人(ふたり)ね」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Irasshai. Sanka-sha’wa futari-ne.”

Old court lady “Welcome. Two of you will be joining us?”

桜花「はい。よろしくお願(ねが)いします」

Infa “Hai. Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.”

Yinghua “Yes, thank you.”

猫猫「お願いします」

Maomao “Onegai-shimasu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

年嵩の女官「行灯(あんどん)は消(け)して、これを代(か)わりに」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Andon’wa keshite, kore’o kawari’ni.”

Old court lady “Put out your lamp, and take this instead.”

猫猫（綺麗(きれい)だけど、ずいぶん年(とし)のいった女官だ…）

Maomao (Kirei-dakedo, zuibun toshi’no itta nyokan-da…)

Maomao (She’s pretty, but quite old for a court lady.)

年嵩の女官「では行(い)きましょう。…ここは先帝(せんてい)の時代(じだい)に使われていた場所(ばしょ)なのよ。昔(むかし)に比(くら)べて女官がだいぶ減ったけど…こういう時にはぴったりよね…」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Dewa iki-masho. …Koko’wa sentei’no jidai’ni tsukawarete-ita basho nano-yo. Mukashi’ni kurabete nyokan’ga daibu hetta-kedo… ko-iu toki’niwa pittari-yone.”

Old court lady “Now, let’s go. This place was used during the era of the late emperor. Compared to then, the number of court ladies has gone down quite a lot. But for occasions like this, this place is perfect.”

年嵩の女官「空(あ)いている所(ところ)に座(すわ)って」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Aite-iru tokoro’ni suwatte.”

Old court lady “Sit in an open spot.”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

年嵩の女官「揃(そろ)いましたね」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Soroi-mashita-ne.”

Old court lady “We’re all here.”

猫猫（こんな暑い日に、閉(し)め切(き)った部屋に12人(じゅうににん)も集(あつ)まって…）

Maomao (Konna atsui hi’ni, shime-kitta heya’ni ju-ni-nin’mo atsumatte…)

Maomao (Twelve people on such a hot day, in a closed-off room…)

年嵩の女官「皆(みな)さん…お話(はなし)の準備(じゅんび)はできていますか？今宵(こよい)は、肝(きも)が冷(ひ)える十三(じゅうさん)の話を楽(たの)しみましょう」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Mina-san… o-hanashi’no junbi’wa dekite-imasu-ka? Koyoi’wa, kimo’ga hieru ju-san’no hanashi’o tanoshimi-masho.”

Old court lady “Did everyone come prepared with your stories? Tonight, let us enjoy the thirteen spine-chilling tales.”

猫猫（十三の話？）

Maomao (Ju-san’no hanashi?)

Maomao (Thirteen tales?)

桜花「ひぃ…！」

Infa “Hii…!”

女官「それからというもの、夜(よ)な夜な北門(きたもん)の堀(ほり)では、身投(みな)げを繰(く)り返(��え)す下女(げじょ)の姿(すがた)が…。哀(あわ)れに思った女官が堀に花(はな)を浮(う)かべると、どこからか声(こえ)が聞(き)こえてきます。ハッ！として堀を覗(のぞ)き込(こ)むと、下女の白(しろ)い顔(かお)が浮(う)かび上(あ)がり、女官が慌(あわ)てて逃(に)げようとすると、突然(とつぜん)足(あし)を掴(つか)まれて…水(みず)から這(は)い上がって来(き)た下女は言(い)いました。『あの日(ひ)、私を突(つ)き落(お)としたのは…お前(まえ)か～～～！！』」

女官たち「キャ～！」

Nyokan-tachi “Kyaaa!”

女官たち「ひぃ～！」

Nyokan-tachi “Hiiii!”

桜花「うぅ…うぅ…」

Infa “Uu…uu…”

猫猫（どっかで聞いたような話…。怖(こわ)がりだけど、好(す)きなわけね、桜花様…）

Maomao (Dokka’de kiita-yona hanashi… Kowagari-dakedo, sukina wake-ne, Infa-sama…)

Maomao (Sounds kind of familiar. So, Lady Yinghua is easily scared yet enjoys these stories.)

女官「ふっ」

Nyokan “Fu.”

猫猫（どうやらこれは、座(すわ)り順(じゅん)に怪談話(かいだんばなし)をして、話し終(お)わったら火(ひ)を吹(ふ)き消(け)すという催(もよお)しらしい。しかしまぁ、話は後宮内(こうきゅうない)の噂程度(うわさていど)のもので、肝(きも)が冷(ひ)えるほどではない）

Maomao (Do-yara kore’wa, suwari-jun’ni kaidan-banashi’o shite, hanashi-owattara hi’o fuki-kesu-to-iu moyooshi-rashii. Shikashi-maa, hanashi’wa kokyu-nai’no uwasa-teido’no mono-de, kimo’ga hieru-hodo-dewa nai.)

Maomao (Seems like this event involves taking turns telling ghost stories, then blowing out the candle when you’re done. However, the stories are more like rumors heard in the rear palace. Not sufficiently spine-chilling.)

猫猫（なにせ後宮は娯楽(ごらく)が少ない。こういう語(かた)らいも認(みと)められているようだ）（あくび）

Maomao (Nanise kokyu-nai’wa goraku’ga sukunai. Ko-iu katarai’mo mitome-rarete-iru-yoda.) (Akubi)

Maomao (It’s hard to find entertainment in the rear palace. Speaking together like this is allowed, it seems.)

子翠(シスイ)「こんばんは～」

Shisui “Konbanwaaa.”

Shisui “Good evening!”

猫猫「子翠」

Maomao “Shisui.”

子翠「食(た)べる？」

Shisui “Taberu?”

Shisui “Want a bite?”

猫猫「もらう」

Maomao “Morau.”

Maomao “Thanks.”

女官「さて…これは、私の故郷(こきょう)の話なんだけど…。そこには、古くから『入(はい)ってはいけない』と言われている森(もり)があった。もし入れば、呪(のろ)われて、鬼(おに)に魂(たましい)を食(く)われてしまう。でも、ある時、一人の子供(こども)が禁忌(きんき)を破(やぶ)った。その年(とし)は作物(さくもつ)が不作(ふさく)で、あまりにもお腹(なか)が空(す)いた子供は、食べ物を求(もと)めて森へと入った。子供は母親(ははおや)に告(つ)げた。『いいこと教(おし)えてあげる。あの森には、たくさん食べ物があるよ。』けれど、森に入ったことが村人(むらびと)たちに知(し)られて、母子(おやこ)は村八分(むらはちぶ)になった。孤立(こりつ)した母子は食べるものもなく、痩(や)せ衰(おとろ)えていったけれど、誰(だれ)も手(て)を差(さ)し伸(の)べようとはしなかった」

Nyokan “Sate…kore’wa, watashi’no kokyo’no hanashi-nan-dakedo… Soko-niwa, furuku-kara ‘haitte’wa ike-nai’to iwarete-iru mori’ga atta. Moshi haireba, norowarete, oni’ni tamashii’o kuwarete-shimau. Demo, aru-toki, hitori’no kodomo’ga kinki’o yabutta. Sono toshi’wa saku-motsu’ga fusaku-de, amari-nimo onaka’ga suita kodomo’wa, tabe-mono’o motomete mori’e-to haitta. Kodomo’wa haha-oya’ni tsugeta. ‘Ii-koto oshiete-ageru. Ano mori’niwa, takusan tabe-mono’ga aru-yo.’ Keredo, mori’ni haitta koto’ga mura-bito-tachi’ni shirarete, oyako’wa mura-hachibu’ni natta. Koritsu-shita oyako’wa taberu-mono’mo naku, yase-otoroete-itta-keredo, daremo te’o sashi-nobeyo-towa shinakatta.”

Court lady “So. This story is from my hometown. Near the village, there existed a forest, which the villagers had always been told not to enter. If you went in, you would be cursed, and demons would eat your soul. But one day, a child broke the rule. That year, the crop yields had been low. The child was so hungry, he wandered into the forest in search of food. The child told his mother, ‘Let me tell you a good secret. There’s lots of food in that forest.’ But when the other villagers found out that he’d gone into the forest, the boy and his mother were ostracized. The two, now alone, had nothing to eat and grew thinner every day, but nobody tried to help them.”

女官「ある夜(よる)��こと。母子の家(いえ)に、ゆらゆらと光(ひかり)が入っていくのを見(み)た者(もの)がいた。翌日(よくじつ)、その知(し)らせを聞いた村長(そんちょう)が母子の家を訪(たず)ねると、子供は既(すで)に死(し)に、母親も亡(な)くなる寸前(すんぜん)だった。母親は村長にこう言った。『ねぇ、いいこと教えてあげる…。』そこまで言って、母親は死んだ。その死に顔は、不気味(ぶきみ)に笑(わら)っていたの。結局(けっきょく)、何を伝(つた)えようとしたのか分からないまま、今も森は禁忌の地(ち)と恐(おそ)れられ、破(やぶ)った者の家には鬼(おに)が現(あらわ)れ、魂を食われると言う…。ふっ」

Nyokan “Aru yoru’no koto. Oyako’no ie’ni, yura-yura-to hikari’ga haitte-iku-no’o mita waka-mono’ga ita. Yoku-jitsu, sono shirase’o kiita soncho’ga oyako’no ie’o tazuneru-to, kodomo’wa sude-ni shini, haha-oya’mo nakunaru sunzen datta. Haha-oya’wa soncho’ni ko itta. ‘Nee, ii-koto oshiete-ageru…’ Soko-made-itte, haha-oya’wa shinda. Sono shini-gao’wa, bukimi-ni waratte-itano. Kekkyoku, nani’o tsutae-yoto shita-noka wakara-nai-mama, ima-mo mori’wa kinki’no chi-to osore-rare, yabutta mono’no ie-niwa oni’ga araware, tamashii’o kuwareru-to-iu… Fu.”

Court lady “One night, someone saw a light floating into the family’s house. The next day, the village elder heard the news and went to visit them. The child was already dead, and the mother was on the verge of death. The mother said to the elder, ‘Let me tell you a good secret.’ But at that moment, she died. She had a strange smile on her face as she passed. And so, no one knows what she was trying to say. The locals still fear the forest, regarding it as forbidden land. Anyone who entered would be attacked by a demon in their homes, and their souls would be devoured.”

猫猫「う～ん、なるほど」

Maomao “Uuun, naru-hodo.”

Maomao “Ah, I see.”

子翠「なるほどって、何が？」

Shisui “Naruhodotte nani-ga?”

Shisui “You see what?”

猫猫「後(あと)で教える」（あくび）

Maomao “Ato-de oshieru.” (Akubi)

Maomao “I’ll tell you later.”

猫猫（なんか眠(ねむ)い…。狭(せま)い所に大人数(おおにんずう)だし、少し人酔(ひとよ)いしたかな…）

Maomao (Nanka nemui… Semai tokoro’ni oo-ninzu-dashi, sukoshi hito-yoi shita-kana…)

Maomao (I’m sleepy for some reason. I guess it’s a lot of people in a small space. Maybe I’m dizzy from being around too many people.)

年嵩の女官「あなたの番(ばん)よ」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Anata’no ban’yo.”

Old court lady “It’s your turn now.”

子翠「は～い。…これは、遠(とお)い遠い東の国(くに)のお話…。とある国の僧侶(そうりょ)が、遠方(えんぽう)での葬儀(そうぎ)を終(お)えて帰(かえ)る途中(とちゅう)、いつの間(ま)にか日(ひ)が暮(く)れてしまった。辺(あた)りはススキだらけの平原(へいげん)で、どうやら野犬(やけん)の群(む)れもいる様子(ようす)。焦(あせ)る僧侶の前(まえ)に現(あらわ)れたのは、一軒(いっけん)の古びた民家(みんか)だった」

Shisui “Haaai. …Kore-wa, tooi tooi higashi’no kuni’no o-hanashi… To-aru kuni’no soryo’ga, enpo-deno sogi’o oete kaeru tochu, itsuno-ma-nika hi’ga kurete-shimatta. Atari’wa susuki-darake’no heigen-de, do-yara yaken’no mure’mo iru yosu. Aseru soryo’no mae’ni arawaeta-nowa, ikken’no furubita minka datta.”

Shisui “Yes. This is a story from a distant land, far to the east. A monk from a foreign nation finished performing funeral rites in a distant land. On his way home, he realized the sun had set at some point. He was surrounded by tall grass, and wild dogs could be heard nearby. The monk was eager to get out of danger, and suddenly, an old house appeared in front of him.”

僧侶「夜分(やぶん)に失礼(しつれい)。ごめんください」

Soryo “Yabun’ni shitsu-rei. Gomen-kudasai.”

Monk “Excuse me, sorry to disturb you so late at night.”

妻「どうされました？お坊様(ぼうさま)」

Tsuma “Do sare-mashita? Obo-sama.”

Wife “What is the matter, venerable one?”

僧侶「山(やま)を越(こ)える前に、日(ひ)が暮れてしまって…納屋(なや)の隅(すみ)で構(かま)いませんので、一晩(ひとばん)泊(と)めていただけませんか」

Soryo “Yama’o koeru-mae’ni, hi’ga kurete-shimatte… Naya’no sumi’de kamai-masen-node, hito-ban tomete itadake-masenka.”

Monk “I was trying to cross the mountains but couldn’t make it before nightfall. Would you allow me to stay overnight? Just a corner of your shed would be fine.”

妻「まぁ…それは、お疲れでございましょう」

Tsuma “Maa… sore’wa otsukare-de gozai-masho.”

Wife “Oh, you must be so tired.”

子翠「妻(つま)は僧をもてなし、寝床(ねどこ)まで用意(ようい)してくれた。心(こころ)を尽(つ)くしたもてなしに、何も持(も)ち合わせておらぬ僧は、せめてものお礼(れい)にと経(きょう)を上げることにした」

Shisui “Tsuma-wa so’o motenashi, nedoko-made yoi-shite-kureta. Kokoro’o tsukushita motenashi’ni, nanimo mochi-awasete-oranu so’wa, semete-mono orei’ni-to kyo’o ageru koto’ni shita.”

Shisui “The wife welcomed the monk with food and bedding. The monk was grateful for the heartfelt welcome, but had nothing to give in return. He thought the least he could do was to chant a sutra for her.”

僧侶（鈴(すず)の音(ね)か？いや、鈴の音に聞こえるが、これは…人の声か？）

Soryo (Suzu’no-ne-ka? Iya, suzu’no-ne’ni kikoeru-ga, kore-wa… hito’no koe-ka?)

Monk (Is that the sound of a bell…? No, it sounds like a bell, but is actually a human voice?)

妻「それで、あんたどうするの？」

Tsuma “Sorede, anta do-suruno?”

Wife “And what are you planning to do?”

夫「どうもしない。それでよかろう」

Otto “Domo shinai. Sorede yokaro.”

Husband “Nothing. It’s fine.”

妻「そんなんじゃダメだよ、あんた！あたしは一人になりたくないんだ」

Tsuma “Son’nan-ja dame-dayo, anta! Atashi-wa hitori’ni nari-taku-nainda.”

Wife “You can’t. Come on. I don’t want to be left alone.”

夫「じゃあ、どうするつもりだ！」

Otto “Jaa do-suru-tsumori-da!”

Husband “Then what do you suggest we do?”

妻「もう耐(た)えられない…！」

Tsuma “Mo tae-rare-nai…!”

Wife “I can’t take this any longer.”

僧侶（言い争(あらそ)っているのか？止(と)めに入(はい)った方(ほう)がいいか？いや、経は止(や)めてはいかん。そんな気(き)がする）

Soryo (Ii-arasotte-iru-noka? Tome’ni haitta-hoga iika? Iya, kyo’wa yametewa ikan. Sonna ki’ga suru.)

Monk (Are they arguing? Should I intervene? No, something tells me I must not stop chanting the sutra.)

夫「あの僧を代(か)わりにするんだ」

Otto “Ano so’o kawari’ni surunda.”

Husband “Let’s use that monk as a replacement.”

妻「それしかない…」

Tsuma “Sore-shika nai…”

Wife “It’s the only way.”

Tsuma “Saa…yaru-yo! Doko-da? Ano so-wa… Haa…haa… Nigeta-noka…? Inai… Inai-yo! Mitsuke-naito… de-naito, atashi…atashi! Anta’o!” (Soshaku-on)

Wife “Come on, let’s do this. WhERe iS thAt moNK? Did hE esCaPE? He’S nOT hEre… hE’s noT hERE! I hAvE to find Him! OtHErwiSe, I… I HaVE to tAKe YOU INSTEAD!”

猫猫（話(はな)し方(かた)がうまいなぁ…）

Maomao (Hanashi-kata’ga umai-naa…)

Maomao (What a good storyteller.)

子翠「ふっ」

Shisui “Fu.”

猫猫（まるで別人(べつじん)みたいだ。ん？この横顔(よこがお)…何か見覚(みおぼ)えがあるような…）

Maomao (Marude betsu-jin-mitai-da. N? Kono yoko-gao… nanka mi-oboe’ga aru-yona…)

Maomao (It’s like she’s a different person. Hmm? Her face at this angle… why does it seem familiar?)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

子翠「猫猫、次(つぎ)だよ」

Shisui “Maomao, tsugi-dayo.”

Shisui “Maomao, you’re next.”

猫猫「え？あぁ、そっか」

Maomao “E? Aa, sokka.”

Maomao “Huh? Oh, right.”

猫猫（何を話そうか…）

Maomao (Nani’o hanasoka…)

Maomao (What shall I talk about?)

猫猫「養父(ようふ)から聞いたのですが、墓地(ぼち)に人魂(ひとだま)が出(で)るという噂(うわさ)が立(た)ちました。いかにも怪(あや)しいと、勇敢(ゆうかん)な若者(わかもの)たちが正体(しょうたい)を探(さぐ)りに行きました。すると…」

Maomao “Yofu’kara kiitano-desuga, bochi’ni hito-dama’ga deru-to-iu uwasa’ga tachi-mashita. Ikanimo ayashii-to, yukan’na wakamono-tachi’ga shotai’o saguri’ni iki-mashita. Suruto…”

Maomao “I heard this from my adopted father. Rumors went around that floating spirits had been seen in a graveyard. Suspicious, a group of brave young men stood up to investigate. Then…”

若い男たち「ハッ…」

Wakai otoko-tachi “Ha…”

猫猫「同じ町(まち)に住(す)む男(おとこ)が、たいまつを片手(かたて)に歩(ある)いていただけでした」

Maomao “Onaji machi’ni sumu otoko’ga, taimatsu’o katate-ni aruite-ita-dake-deshita.

Maomao “It was just another man from the same town, walking with a torch.”

桜花「あ……それだけ？」

Infa “A……Sore-dake?”

Yinghua “That’s it?”

猫猫「はい。男の正体は墓荒(はかあ)らしで、怪(あや)しげな呪(のろ)いにはまっていて、墓地を掘(ほ)り起(お)こして死体(したい)の腹(はら)を割(さ)いては、万病(まんびょう)に効(き)くという人の肝(きも)を…」

Maomao “Hai. Otoko’no shotai’wa haka-arashi-de, ayashigena noroi’ni hamate-ite, bochi’o hori-okoshite shitai’no hara’o saite’wa, manbyo’ni kiku-to-iu hito’no kimo’o…”

Maomao “Yes. The man was a graverobber. He grew an unhealthy interest in a strange curse, and went around digging up graves to cut up corpses and harvest human livers which he believed were cures for―”

桜花「もういい！」

Infa “Mo ii!”

Yinghua “Enough!”

猫猫「うわ！う…以上(いじょう)です…ふっ。次、桜花様ですよ」

Maomao “Uwa! U… Ijo desu… Fu. Tsugi, Infa-sama desu-yo.”

Maomao “That’s all. You’re next, Lady Yinghua.”

桜花「ん？あぁ…え～っと…ある所に男が…いや、老婆(ろうば)…だったかなぁ…？えっと…あ～えっと、その…」

Infa “N? Aa… Eeetto… Aru tokoro’ni otoko’ga… Iya, roba…datta-kanaa? Etto… Aaa etto, sono…”

Yinghua “Huh? Oh, um… Once upon a time, there was a man… Or… was it an old woman? Um…”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

年嵩の女官「では、次は私が」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Dewa, tsugi’wa watashi’ga.”

Old court lady “Then, I will go next.”

猫猫（そういえば、この女官は最初(さいしょ)に「十三の話」と言っていた。ここに集まったのは12人なのに、どういうことだろう…）

Maomao (So-ieba, kono nyokan’wa saisho-ni ‘Ju-san’no hanashi’to itte-ita. Koko’ni atsumatta-nowa ju-ni-nin nanoni, do-iu koto daro…)

Maomao (Coming to think of it, she said ‘thirteen stories’ at the beginning. There are only twelve of us here. What does that mean?)

年嵩の女官「先帝時代の話です。その頃(ころ)、後宮は次々(つぎつぎ)と人が増(ふ)え、区画(くかく)を広(ひろ)げておりました。何(なん)のために？その頃強大(きょうだい)な権力(けんりょく)を振(ふ)るっていた女帝(じょてい)である太皇太后(たいこうたいごう)が、先帝の嗜好(しこう)に合う娘(むすめ)を揃(そろ)えるためでした…」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Sentei-jidai’no hanashi-desu. Sono-koro, kokyu’wa tsugi-tsugi-to hito’ga fue, kukaku’o hirogete-ori-mashita. Nan’no tame’ni? Sono-koro kyodai’na kenryoku’o furutte-ita jotei-de-aru tai-kotaigo’ga, sentei’no shiko’ni au musume’o soroeru-tame deshita…”

Old court lady “This was during the late emperor’s reign. Back then, the rear palace was always growing, constantly adding new sections. For what reason? At the time, the Great Empress Dowager, also known as the Empress, wielded immense power. She was trying to find girls who would fit the late emperor’s tastes.”

猫猫（ん…何だ…？）

Maomao (N… Nanda…?)

Maomao (What is this…?)

猫猫「ハッ」

Maomao “Ha.”

桜花「猫猫？！」

Infa “Maomao?!”

Yinghua “Maomao?!”

猫猫「ハァ…！」（頭(あたま)がボ～ッとするわけだ！）

Maomao “Haa…!” (Atama’ga boootto suru-wake-da!)

Maomao (No wonder I was getting dizzy!)

猫猫「桜花様！子翠！ぐったりしている女官を、窓(まど)や扉(とびら)の近(ちか)くへ！」

Maomao “Infa-sama! Shisui! Guttari-shite-iru nyokan’o, mado-ya tobira’no chikaku’e!”

Maomao “Lady Yinghua! Shisui! Move the unconscious ladies near the door and windows!”

桜花「えっ、一体(いったい)どうしたの？」

Infa “E, ittai do-shita-no?”

Yinghua “Huh? What’s wrong?”

猫猫「早(はや)く！消(き)えずに残(のこ)った火(ひ)のせいで、体(からだ)に害(がい)をなす空気(くうき)が部屋に充満(じゅうまん)しているんです！」

Maomao “Hayaku! Kiezu’ni nokotta hi’no-sei’de, karada’ni gai’o nasu kuki’ga heya’ni juman shite-irun-desu!”

Maomao “Hurry! The smoldering fire is filling the room with bad air!”

桜花「わ…分かった！」

Infa “Wa…Wakatta!”

Yinghua “G-Got it!”

猫猫（気付(きづ)くのが遅(おそ)すぎたな…）

Maomao (Kizuku-noga oso-sugita-na…)

Maomao (It took me way too long to realize.)

年嵩の女官「あぁ、もう少しだったのに…」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Aa, mo-sukoshi datta-noni…”

Old court lady “Oh, I was so close…”

猫猫「ハッ！」（あの女官は……）

Maomao “Ha!” (Ano nyokan’wa……)

Maomao (That court lady…)

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

桜花「ハァ…何かバタバタだったわね。主催者(しゅさいしゃ)の女官もいなくなって」

Infa “Haa… Nanka bata-bata datta-wane. Shusai-sha’no nyokan’mo inaku-natte.”

Yinghua “What a night. The organizer disappeared, too.”

子翠「猫猫～！」

Shisui “Maomaooo!”

Shisui “Maomao.”

桜花「さっきの？」

Infa “Sakki’no?”

Yinghua “You’re from earlier…?”

猫猫「知り合いの女官です」

Maomao “Shiri-ai’no nyokan desu.”

Maomao “She’s an acquaintance of mine.”

子翠「ねぇ、猫猫。さっきの話は何だったの？」

Shisui “Nee, Maomao. Sakki’no hanashi’wa nan-datta-no?”

Shisui “Hey, Maomao. What was that story about?”

猫猫「さっきの？」

Maomao “Sakki-no?”

Maomao “The story?”

子翠「ほら、禁忌(きんき)の森(もり)の話だよ」

Shisui “Hora, kinki’no mori’no hanashi-dayo.”

Shisui “You know, the forbidden forest.”

猫猫「あぁ…『禁忌の森』なんていうのは迷信(めいしん)でしょうが、禁忌になったいわれが全(まった)く無(な)いとは言い切れないって思って」

Maomao “Aa… ‘Kinki’no mori’ nante iu-nowa meishin desho-ga, kinki’ni natta iware’ga mattaku nai-towa ii-kire-naitte omotte.”

Maomao “Ah. The ‘forbidden forest’ is probably just a superstition. But some things have a reason to become forbidden, and this could be one of those.”

子翠「へぇ…？」

Shisui “Hee…?”

Shisui “Huh?”

猫猫「森は食べ物が豊(ゆた)かですが、食べられない物も豊富(ほうふ)にあります。他(ほか)の土地(とち)から来た人間が、森にあるものを食べて体を壊(こわ)してしまう。すると『森のものをむやみに食べてはいけない』…と言われるようになるでしょう。そしてそれは年月(としつき)を経(へ)て禁忌になります。その後(あと)も飢餓(きが)が起(お)こった時には、誰も食べていいものと悪(わる)いものの区別(くべつ)がつかなくなっていた。あの話の母子は、不作(ふさく)の年で飢(う)えていました。掟(おきて)を破(やぶ)るのだから、暗(くら)くなり始(はじ)めに森に入り、食べ物を採(と)って、日が落(お)ちると家に帰ったのでしょう」

Maomao “Mori’wa tabe-mono’ga yutaka desu-ga, tabe-rare-nai mono’mo hofu’ni ari-masu. Hoka’no tochi’kara kita ningen’ga, mori’ni aru mono’o tabete karada’o kowashite-shimau. Suruto ‘Mori’no mono’o muyami’ni tabetewa ike-nai.’ to-iwareru-yoni naru-desho. Soshite sore’wa toshi-tsuki’o hete kinki’ni nari-masu. Sono ato’mo kiga’ga okotta toki-niwa, daremo tabete ii-mono’to warui-mono’no kubetsu’ga tsukanaku-natte-ita. Ano hanashi’no oyako’wa, fusaku’no toshi’de uete-imashita. Okite’o yaburuno-dakara, kuraku nari-hajime’ni mori’ni hairi, tabe-mono’o totte, hi’ga ochiru-to ie’ni kaettano-desho.”

Maomao “Forests are full of food, but also full of inedible things. If someone from outside entered the forest, ate something, and got sick, it would be natural for word to get around that you should be very careful when eating things from the forest. This, over many years, could morph into something ‘forbidden.’ Later, by the time famine broke out, people no longer knew what could and couldn’t be eaten. The mother and son from that story were starving from the bad harvest. They must have entered the forest as it grew dark, since they were breaking the rules. Then they foraged for food, and went home as night set in.”

猫猫「ツキヨダケ、という、ヒラタケに似たキノコがあります。とてもおいしそうですが、毒があって、暗くなると光(ひか)る特徴(とくちょう)があるんです。夜道(よみち)を歩くところを村人が遠目(とおめ)に見たら、人魂(ひとだま)に見えたかもしれません。毒性(どくせい)は強(つよ)くありませんが、飢(う)えて体力(たいりょく)が落(お)ちた母子が食べたらどうなるか…。母親は死に際(ぎわ)に、こう言いたかったのかもしれません」

Maomao “’Tsukiyo-dake’ to-iu, hiratake’ni nita kinoko’ga ari-masu. Totemo oishiso-desu-ga, doku’ga atte, kuraku naru-to hikaru tokucho’ga arun-desu. Yomichi’o aruku tokoro’o mura-bito’ga toome’ni mitara, hito-dama’ni mieta-kamo shire-masen. Doku-sei’wa tsuyoku ari-masen-ga, uete tairyoku’ga ochita oyako’ga tabe-tara do naru-ka… Haha-oya’wa shini-giwa’ni, ko iitakattano-kamo shire-masen.”

Maomao “There’s a type of mushroom called the moonlight mushroom. They resemble oyster mushrooms and look delicious, but they’re poisonous and glow in the dark. If a villager saw someone carrying these mushrooms from a distance in the dark, it might have looked like a floating spirit. It’s not a powerful poison, but if eaten by a starving, weakened person… Maybe, as she was about to die, the mother was trying to say…”

母親「おいしいキノコが森の中にあるよ…」

Haha-oya “Oishii kinoko’ga mori’no naka’ni aruyo…”

Mother “There are delicious mushrooms in the forest.”

猫猫「自分たち母子を見捨(みす)てた村人への復讐(ふくしゅう)として」

Maomao “Jibun-tachi oyako’o mi-suteta mura-bito’e-no fukushu-to-shite.”

Maomao “As a way to take vengeance against the villagers who abandoned her and her son.”

子翠「そういうことだったんだ！うん！スッキリした！じゃあ、私こっちだから～！」

Shisui “So-iu koto dattanda! Un! Sukkiri-shita! Jaa, watashi kocchi-dakaraaa!”

Shisui “So that’s what it was! Great, it’s all cleared up now! Okay, I’m going this way, bye!”

桜花「ふん！タネが分かれば、大(たい)したことないじゃない。きっと他の話も、そういう裏(うら)があるんだわ」

Infa “Fun! Tane’ga wakareba, taishita-koto nai-ja nai. Kitto hoka’no hanashi’mo, so-iu ura’ga arunda-wa.”

Yinghua “Hah. Now that I know the truth, it’s not scary at all! I’d bet all the stories have backgrounds like that.”

猫猫「さぁ…どうでしょう？」

Maomao “Saa… Do-desho?”

Maomao “Well… who knows?”

桜花「そこは頷(うなず)いてよ！」

Infa “Soko’wa unazuite-yo!”

Yinghua “Humor me just this once, would you?!”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

桜花「戻(もど)りました」

Infa “Modori-mashita.”

Yinghua “We’re back.”

紅娘「あら、思ったより早かったのね」

Hon’nyan “Ara. Omotta-yori haya-katta-none.”

Hongniang “Oh, you’re earlier than I expected.”

桜花「ちょっとした騒(さわ)ぎがありまして…」

Infa “Chotto-shita sawagi’ga ari-mashite…”

Yinghua “There was a bit of a commotion.”

紅娘「まぁ…やっぱり…不慣(ふな)れな人が仕切(しき)ると、色々(いろいろ)あるわよね」

Hon’nyan “Maa…Yappari… Funare’na hito’ga shikiru-to, iro-iro aru-wayo-ne.”

Hongniang “Ah, I expected as much. I guess things could happen when the organizer is new.”

猫猫「不慣れな人？」

Maomao “Funare’na hito?”

Maomao “New organizer?”

紅娘「去年(きょねん)までやっていた女官が亡くなったから、今年(ことし)は誰(だれ)が引(ひ)き継(つ)いだのか心配(しんぱい)だったのよ」

Hon’nyan “Kyonen-made yatte-ita nyokan’ga naku-natta-kara, kotoshi’wa dare’ga hiki-tsuida-noka shinpai datta-noyo.”

Hongniang “The court lady who organized that event passed away last year. I was a little worried about who was taking over for this year.”

桜花「え？」

Infa “E?”

Yinghua “Huh?”

紅娘「気の利(き)くいい人で、私もお世話(せわ)になったのよ。結局後宮から出られなかったのよね。実(じつ)は先帝のお手付(てつ)きになった方(かた)で、あの集(あつ)まりが唯一(ゆいいつ)の楽(たの)しみだったそうなのよ。亡くなった翌年(よくとし)から集まりがなくなるのも、いかがなものかと思っていたから」

Hon’nyan “Ki’no kiku ii hito-de, watashi’mo osewa’ni natta-noyo. Kekkyoku kokyu’kara derare-nakattano-yone. Jitsu’wa senteii’no otetsuki’ni natta kata-de, ano atsumari’ga yui-itsu’no tanoshimi datta so-nano-yo. Nakunatta yoku-toshi’kara atsumari’ga nakunaru’nomo, ikaga-na-monoka-to omotte-ita-kara.”

Hongniang “She was a nice person, very helpful. I got a lot of help from her as well. I guess she never got to leave the rear palace. She actually had relations with the late emperor. She said that gathering was the only fun she ever had. It would have been too bad if the event ended the very next year after she passed away,”

桜花「うわ～～～！」

Infa “Uwaaaaaaa!”

紅娘「続(つづ)けてくれる人がいて良(よ)かったわ」

Hon’nyan “Tsuzukete-kureru hito’ga ite yokatta-wa.”

Hongniang “so I’m glad someone took over.”

桜花「い～～～っ！あぁ…あっ…あの話…」

Infa “Iiiiiiii! Aa…a…ano hanashi…”

Yinghua “That story…”

猫猫「ハッ」

Maomao “Ha.”

年嵩の女官「先帝は、年端もいかぬ少女を選んではその花を散らし、手折られた少女たちは外に出ることを許されぬまま…」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Sentei’wa, toshi-ha’mo ikanu shojo’o erandewa sono hana’o chirashi, taorareta shojo-tachi’wa soto’ni deru-koto’o yuru-sarenu-mama…”

Old court lady “The late emperor chose the youngest girls, deflowering them one after the other. The girls spent their days in the rear palace, barred from ever leaving.”

猫猫（あの女官の話は、己(おのれ)の身(み)の上(うえ)だったのか、それとも、事情(じじょう)を知る誰かのいたずらか…。世(よ)の中、よくわからないことは、たくさんあるものだ）

Maomao (Ano nyokan’no hanashi’wa, onore’no mi’no-ue datta-noka, sore-tomo, jijo’o shiru dareka’no itazura-ka… Yono-naka, yoku wakara-nai koto’wa, takusan aru-mono-da.)

Maomao (That court lady’s story was her own experience. Or is it a prank pulled by someone in the know? The world is full of things I can’t fully understand.)

年嵩の女官「今宵は、肝が冷える十三の話を楽しみましょう」

Toshi-kasa’no nyokan “Koyoi’wa, kimo’ga hieru ju-san’no hanashi’o tanoshimi-masho.”

Old court lady “Tonight, let us enjoy the thirteen spine-chilling tales.”

猫猫（あの時、あの場(ば)には年嵩(としかさ)の女官を含(ふく)めて12人しかいなかった。とりあえず、13(じゅうさん)番目(ばんめ)の怪談(かいだん)にならずに済(す)んでよかった…）

Maomao (Ano toki, ano ba’niwa toshi-kasa’no nyokan’o fukumete ju-ni-nin-shika ina-katta. Tori-aezu, ju-san-banme’no kaidan’ni narazu’ni sunde yokatta…)

Maomao (Including her, there were only twelve people there. I’m glad we didn’t end up becoming the thirteenth ghost story.)

桜花「ま…猫猫…」

Infa “Ma…Maomao…”

Yinghua “M-Maomao…”

猫猫「はい…」

Maomao “Hai…”

Maomao “Yes?”

桜花「今晩(こんばん)、一緒(いっしょ)に寝(ね)て～！」

Infa “Kon-ban, issho’ni neteee!”

Yinghua “Please sleep with me tonight!”

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

桜花「うっ…うぅ…うぅ…」

Infa “U…uu…uu…”

猫猫（背筋(せすじ)が凍(こお)るどころか、寝苦(ねぐる)しい夜(よる)になったのだった…）

Maomao (Sesuji’ga kooru-dokoro-ka, ne-gurushii yoru’ni nattano-datta…)

Maomao (Instead of becoming a spine-chilling night, it turned into a hot, stuffy night.)

桜花「うぅ…うぅ…」

Infa “Uu…uu…”

猫猫「暑苦(あつくる)しい……」

Maomao “Atsu-kurushii…”

Maomao “So hot…”

(Continue to Episode 11/Ep.35)

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