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Episode 21 : How to Buy Out a Contract / 第21話『身請け作戦(Miuke Sakusen)』

武官「どうした李白？集中しろ！」

Bukan “Doshita Rihaku? Shuchu shiro!”

Military officer “Come on, Lihaku. Focus!”

李白「ああ…すまん」

Rihaku “Aa…Suman.”

Lihaku “Oh, yeah. Sorry.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

やぶ医者「掃除？わざわざ嬢ちゃんがやらなくても…他に頼めば…」

Yabu Isha “Soji? Waza-waza Jochanga yara-naku-temo… Hokani tanomeba…”

Quack Doctor “Cleaning? You don’t have to do that, you can ask someone else to―”

猫猫「他に頼んで、もし薬をすり替えられたら、どうしましょうか？」

Maomao “Hokani tanonde, moshi kusurio surikae-rare-tara, do shimashoka?”

Maomco “If we asked someone else to do it, and they swapped out the medicine, what would we do?”

やぶ医者「うっ…」

Yabu Isha “U…”

猫猫「宮廷の医局では、薬の管理が不十分だったことで、減給の罰を受けた医官もいるそうですよ」

Maomao “Kyuteino ikyoku-dewa, kusurino kanriga fu-jubun datta kotode, genkyuno batsuo uketa ikan’mo iru-sodesuyo.”

Maomao “There was a doctor at the court pharmacy that got a pay cut as punishment for not managing the drugs properly.”

やぶ医者「ひっ！ひぃぃぃぃぃ…」

Yabu Isha “Hi! Hiiiiiii…”

猫猫「にゃ～」

Maomao “Nyaaa.”

猫猫「湿気が多くなる前にきれいにしてやらないと、後の祭りですよ」

Maomao “Shikkega ooku naru maeni kireini shite yara-naito, atono matsuri desuyo.”

Maomao “We have to clean this up. It’ll be too late once the humidity goes up.”

やぶ医者「はい…」

Yabu Isha “Hai…”

Quack Doctor “Yes…”

やぶ医者「フウ…やっと一段落。やっぱ、疲れた時は甘い物だね！」

Yabu Isha “Fu… Yatto ichi-danraku. Yappa, tsukareta Tokiwa amai mono dane!”

Quack Doctor “Finally, a good time for a break. Sweets are always great when you’re tired!”

猫猫（このおっさん、ボンボンだよな～。この季節には手に入らないサツマイモもそうだが、当たり前のように紙を皿に…）「ん？いい紙使ってますね…！」

Maomao (Kono ossan, bon-bon dayonaaa. Kono kisetsu-niwa teni haira-nai satsumaimomo so-daga, atari-maeno

yoni kamio sarani…) “N? Ii kami tsukatte-masune…!”

Maomao (This guy must be from a rich family. Sweet potatoes aren’t in season, and he uses paper like a plate, like that’s completely normal…) “Hmm? That’s some good paper.”

やぶ医者「おっ、分かるかい？うちの実家が村をまとめて作っているんだ。宮廷に納めている御用達なんだよ。すごいだろ？」

Yabu Isha “O, wakaru-kai? Uchino jikkaga murao matomete tsukutte-irunda. Kyuteini osamete-iru goyotashi nan-dayo. Sugoi daro?”

Quak Doctor “Oh, can you tell? My family back home leads our village in making it. We’re the palace purveyor. Impressive, huh?”

猫猫「すごいですね…」

Maomao “Sugoi desune…”

Maomao “It is indeed impressive.”

猫猫（知り合い価格で安くしてもらえないだろうか）

Maomao (Shiri-ai-kakakude yasuku shite morae-nai daroka.)

Maomao (I wonder if I can get an acquaintance discount.)

やぶ医者「昔は、作れば作るほど儲けられたんだ。他国にもどんどん輸出して、子供の頃は好きなお菓子を何でも買ってもらえたなあ…。でも…先帝の母君が木の伐採を禁じてからは、うまくいかなくなってしまってね…。違う素材で作り始めたら、貿易もダメになって、私たち家族は責められたものだよ…。先立つものがなくて、姉さんが後宮に行っちゃって、妹まで行くなんて言うから、代わりに私がここへ来たんだ。なり手が少ない宦官の方が、高く売れたんだよ。結局、姉さんとは会えずじまいだけどね…」

Yabu Isha “Mukashiwa, tsuku-reba tsukuru-hodo mouke-raretanda. Takoku-nimo don-don yushutsu shite, kodomono korowa sukina okashi’o nan-demo katte moraetanaa… Demo…sen-teino haha-gimiga kino bassai’o kinjite karawa, umaku ika-naku-natte shimattene… Chigau sozaide tsukuri-hajime-tara, boekimo dameni natte, watashi-tachi kazokuwa seme-rareta mono-dayo… Saki-datsu-monoga nakute, neesanga kokyuni icchatte, imoto-made iku nante iu-kara, kawarini watashiga kokoe kitanda. Naritega sukunai kanganno-hoga takaku uretan-dayo. Kekkyoku, neesan-towa aezu-jimai dakedone…”

Quack Doctor “We used to make limitless profits as we produced more. We exported it to other countries, too. My family bought me any snacks I wanted as a child. But when the previous emperor’s mother banned the cutting of trees, things started to go downhill for us. We started using alternate materials, which ruined trade. Our family took the blame for that. Since we had no money left, my older sister went to the rear palace. When my younger sister said she’d go too, I volunteered to come instead. Becoming a eunuch was less popular and was worth more money. I never got to see my older sister, though.”

猫猫（ふーん…思ったより苦労してんだな…）

Maomao (Fūn… Omotta-yori kuro shiten-dana…)

Maomao (Hmm. He’s been through more than I imagined.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白「ああ…」

Rihaku “Aa…”

白鈴「ウフッ」

Pairin “Ufu.”

李白「うあ～～～！」

Rihaku “Uaaaaaaa!”

猫猫「失礼します。掃除の続きを…」

Maomao “Shitsurei shimasu. Sojino tsuzuki’o…”

Maomao “Excuse me. I’m here to continue cleaning.”

やぶ医者「ああ、嬢ちゃんか」

Yabu Isha “Aa, Jochanka.”

Quack Doctor “Oh, hey, little lady.”

猫猫「うん？」

Maomao “Un?”

Maomao “My little sister sent me a letter.”

やぶ医者「妹から手紙で、うちの紙が御用達でなくなるかもしれないって…」

Yabu Isha “Imoto-kara tegamide, uchino kamiga goyotashide naku-naru-kamo shire-naitte…”

Quack Doctor “Our family might not be the palace purveyor anymore.”

猫猫（これは確かに…宮廷に卸せる質じゃないな…。御用達って付くと付かないとでは、売り上げが大きく変わる）

Maomao (Korewa tashikani…kyuteini oro-seru shitsuja naina… Goyotashitte tsukuto tsuka-naito-dewa, uriagega ookiku kawaru.)

Maomao (True, this isn’t palace quality. Losing purveyor status would be a big deal in terms of sales.)

やぶ医者「どうしてなんだろう？せっかく、もっとたくさん紙を作れるようになるって言っていたのに…」

Yabu Isha “Doshite nan-daro? Sekkaku, motto takusan kamio tsuku-reru-yoni narutte itte-ita-noni…”

Quack Doctor “I wonder why? They just told me they came up with a way to produce more paper.”

猫猫「たくさん作ると言うと、手間を省いたということですか？」

Maomao “Takusan tsukuru-to iuto, temao habuita-to iu-koto desuka?”

Maomao “Produce more paper? Did they cut some corners?”

やぶ医者「そんなことするわけないよ。力仕事を牛に任せるようになったんだ。材料も工程も昔から変えてないのに…」

Yabu Isha “Sonna koto suru-wake naiyo. Chikara-shigoto’o ushini makaseru-yoni nattanda. Zairyomo koteimo mukashi-kara kaete-nai-noni…”

Quack Doctor “Of course not! They started using oxen for hard labor. They didn’t change the ingredients nor the process…”

猫猫（これでは掃除どころじゃないな…そこらの店に出回っている粗悪品と違い、不純物もなく、繊維も均等に砕かれていて、厚みにムラがない。問題は表面の毛羽立ちと…ハッ、強度か！）

Maomao (Kore-dewa soji-dokoroja naina… Sokorano miseni demawatte-iru soakuhinto chigai, fujun-butsumo naku, sen’imo kintoni kuda-karete-ite, atsumini muraga nai. Mondaiwa hyomenno keba-dachito… Ha, kyodoka!)

Maomao (Not the time for cleaning, I guess. Compared to the shoddy stuff sold everywhere, this has no impurities, the fibers are evenly crushed, and it’s got consistent thickness. The only issues are scuffing on the surface, and… Its strength!)

猫猫「昔ながらの工程とは？」

Maomao “Mukashi-nagarano kotei towa?”

Maomao “What exactly is this unchanged process?”

やぶ医者「普通の紙作りと一緒だよ。ただ、うちは材料を砕く方法と糊作りにこだわってて…あっ、それは言えないよ」

Yabu Isha “Futsuno kami-zukurito issho-dayo. Tada, uchiwa zairyo’o kudaku hohoto nori-zukurini kodawattete… A, sorewa ie-naiyo.”

Quack Doctor “It’s the same as normal papermaking. However, our family has a special way of crushing the ingredients and creating glue… Oh, but that’s a secret.”

猫猫（こういうのはベラベラ話さないんだな）

Maomao (Ko-iunowa bera-bera hanasa-nain-dana.)

Maomao (So, he doesn’t blab about that.)

猫猫「水なんかもこだわっているんですか？」

Maomao “Mizu nankamo kodawatte-irun-desuka?”

Maomao “Is there special attention paid to the water?”

やぶ医者「ああ、糊が適度に固まるように、湧き水を汲み置いているよ。湿度を調整するためだけど…これ以上は秘密だよ」

Yabu Isha “Aa, noriga tekidoni katamaru-yoni, waki-mizu’o kumi-oite-iruyo. Shitsudo’o chosei suru tame dakedo… Kore-ijowa himitsu-dayo.”

Quak Doctor “Yes. We use stored spring water to make the glue harden properly. It’s for managing the humidity, but… The rest is a secret.”

猫猫（牛…そして、汲み置いた湧き水…ぴきーん！）

Maomao (Ushi…Soshite, kumi-oita waki-mizu…Pikīn!)

Maomao (Oxen, stored spring water…)

猫猫「糊は、米のとぎ汁でも煮込んでいるのですか？」

Maomao “Noriwa, Komeno dogi-jiru-demo nikonde-iruno-desuka?”

Maomao “Do you use boiled rice water for glue?”

やぶ医者「いや、ちゃんと小麦の粉を溶かしているよ。じゃないと固まりが悪いから…あっ！嬢ちゃん、今の話は忘れてくれないかい？」

Yabu Isha “Iya, chanto komugino konao tokashite-iruyo. Ja-naito katamariga warui-kara…A! Jochan, imano hanashiwa wasurete kure-nai-kai?”

Quack Doctor “No, it’s wheat flour, the way it’s supposed to be. Otherwise, the hardening is… Oh! Hey little lady, forget I said that, okay?”

猫猫「はい。…では、牛はどこで飼っていますか？」

Maomao “Hai. …Dewa, ushiwa dokode katte imasuka?”

Maomao “Yes. So, where do you keep the oxen?”

やぶ医者「そんなことまでは分からないよ」

Yabu Isha “Sonna koto-madewa wakara-naiyo.”

Quack Doctor “I don’t know about that.”

猫猫「そうですか…どうぞ」

Maomao “So desuka… Dozo.”

Maomao “I see. Here you go.”

やぶ医者「葛湯かい？…嬢ちゃん、分量間違えているよ。湯のみに張り付いて飲めないじゃないか」

Yabu Isha “Kuzuyu kai? …Jochan, bunryo machigaete-iruyo. Yunomini hari-tsuite nome-naija naika.”

Quack Doctor “Arrowroot gruel? Little lady, you got the ratio wrong. It’s stuck on the cup and hard to drink.”

猫猫「すみません。飲みやすくする方法を教えますので、まねしていただけますか？」

Maomao “Sumi-masen. Nomi-yasuku suru hoho’o oshie-masu-node, mane shite-itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “Oh, sorry. I’ll teach you how to make it easier to drink. Can you repeat after me?”

猫猫「こうして、舐めた匙で混ぜるのを繰り返します」

Maomao “Ko-shite, nameta sajide mazeruno’o kuri-kaeshi-masu.”

Maomao “Like this, you lick the spoon and mix.”

やぶ医者「なんか行儀悪いなあ…」

Yabu Isha “Nanka gyogi warui-naa…”

Quack Doctor “That seems like poor manners.”

やぶ医者「おや、とろみがなくなったねえ」

Yabu Isha “Oya, toromiga naku-natta-nee.”

Quack Doctor “Oh, it’s no longer sticky.”

猫猫「そうでしょう。葛湯と糊って、よく似ていますよね」

Maomao “Sodesho. Kuzuyuto norite, yoku nite-imasu-yone.”

Maomao “Right? Isn’t arrowroot gruel kind of like glue?”

やぶ医者「んん…似てなくもないねえ。唾液を混ぜたら、糊もドロドロじゃなくなるのかねえ」

Yabu Isha “Nn…Nite-nakumo-nai-nee. Daeki’o maze-tara, norimo doro-doroja nakunaru-noka-nee.”

Quack Doctor “Hmm, I suppose so. Maybe mixing saliva into glue would make it less sticky as well.”

猫猫「そういうことです」

Maomao “So-iu koto desu.”

Maomao “Exactly.”

やぶ医者「そういうことって？」

Yabu Isha “So-iu kototte?”

Quack Doctor “Exactly what?”

猫猫（察しの悪いヤブだ…！）

Maomao (Sasshino warui Yabu da…!)

Maomao (This quack really can’t take a hint.)

猫猫「牛って、口の中にたくさん唾液をためていますよね。念のため、どこで水を飲んでいるか、確かめてはいかがでしょうか？」

Maomao “Ushitte, kuchino nakani takusan daeki’o tamete imasu-yone. Nenno-tame, dokode mizu’o nonde-iruka, tashikamete-mitewa ikaga deshoka?”

Maomao “Oxen have lots of saliva in their mouths. Perhaps you should check where those oxen are getting their water.”

やぶ医者「ハッ！妹に手紙を出さないと！」

Yabu Isha “Ha! Imotoni tegami’o dasa-naito!”

Quack Doctor “I must send a letter to my sister!”

猫猫「今日は失礼しますね」

Maomao “Kyowa shitsurei shimasune.”

Maomao “I’ll take my leave for today.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「ただいま戻りました」

Maomao “Tadaima modori-mashita.”

Maomao “I’m back.”

紅娘「あっ、猫猫。すぐ来てくれって、あなたに連絡が…」

Hon’nyan “A, Maomao. Sugu kite-kurette, anatani renrakuga…”

Hongniang “Oh, Maomao. Someone sent a message that you’re needed urgently.”

猫猫「ハッ…場所はどこでしょうか？」

Maomao “Ha… Bashowa doko deshoka?”

Maomao “Where should I go?”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白「妓女の身請け金って、いくらくらいだ？」

Rihaku “Gijono miuke-kintte, ikura-kuraida?”

Lihaku “How much would it cost to buy out a courtesan?”

猫猫（あ…。翠苓の件かと思って来たのに…！やはり駄犬だ）

Maomao (A… Suireino ken-kato omotte kita-noni…! Yahari daken da.)

Maomao (And here I thought it was about Suirei… What a dumb dog.)

李白「聞いてくれよ、嬢ちゃん！こないだ緑青館に行ったら、三姫の一人が身請けされるって聞いてさあ…」

Rihaku “Kiite-kureyo, Jochan! Konaida Rokushokanni ittara, San-Himeno hitoriga miuke sarerutte kiite-saa…”

Lihaku “Hear me out, missy! At the Verdigris House the other day, I heard rumors that one of the Three Princesses is getting bought out!”

猫猫（それで白鈴姐ちゃんのことが心配になったと…）

Maomao (Sorede Pairin-neechanno kotoga shinpaini nattato…)

Maomao (And so he got worried about Pairin.)

猫猫「ピンキリがありますけど…」

Maomao “Pin-kiriga ari-masu-kedo…”

Maomao “The cost really depends.”

李白「超一品で」

Rihaku “Cho-ippin de.”

Lihaku “Give me the max.”

猫猫「分かりました。とりあえず、相場は時価なので、あくまで目安ということで」

Maomao “Wakari-mashita. Toriaezu, sobawa jika nanode, akumade meyasuto iu-kotode.”

Maomao “Understood. Please understand that market prices fluctuate a lot, so this is just a rough estimate.”

李白「単刀直入に頼む…いくらだ？」

Rihaku “Tanto-chokunyuni tanomu… Ikurada?

Lihaku “Give it to me straight. How much?”

猫猫（難しいよな…身請け金は、妓女があと何年妓楼で稼ぐかという逆算に、多少色を付けた金額、その倍ほどの値をつけられるが…）

Maomao (Muzukashii yona… Miuke-kinwa, gijoga ato nan-nen girode kasegukato-iu gyakusanni, tasho iro’o tsuketa kingaku, sono bai-hodono ne’o tsuke-rareruga…)

Maomao (This is a tough one. The cost of buying out a courtesan is based on how much she could make at the brothel, plus a little extra, then doubled. So…)

李白「嬢ちゃん…」

Rihaku “Jochan…”

Lihaku “Little missy…”

猫猫「もし、白鈴姐ちゃんが身請けされるとしたら、古い馴染みで候補が2人」

Maomao “Moshi, Pairin-neechanga miuke sareruto shitara, furui najimide kohoga futari.”

Maomao “If someone were to buy out Pairin, there are two candidates who are long-time favorites.”

李白「ふ…2人？」

Rihaku “Fu…Futari?”

Lihaku “T-Two…”

猫猫「一人は、交易商の大旦那。緑青館が傾いた時も通ってくれた好々爺です。もう一人は、お得意の上級役人。まだ若く、三十過ぎ。夜の遊戯のお相手として、なかなか馬が合うそうですが…翌日少し疲れている点が気になります。身請けした後の生活を考えると、どちらも…うーん…」

Maomao “Hitoriwa, koeki-shono oo-danna. Rokushokanga katamuita-tokimo kayotte kureta ko-ko-ya desu. Mo-hitoriwa, otokuino jokyu-yakunin. Mada wakaku, sanju-sugi. Yoruno yugino oaite-to-shite, naka-naka umaga au-sodesuga…yokujitsu sukoshi tsukarete-iru tenga kini nari-masu. Miuke shita atono seikatsu’o kangaeruto, dochiramo…Ūn…”

Maomao “One is a wealthy merchant, a pleasant older man who continued to visit the Verdigris House while it was in trouble. The other is a high-ranking official, still young, in his thirties. She said he’s a good partner for bedtime activities, but it is a little concerning how exhausted he seems the next day. Thinking about life after being bought out, neither are… Hmm.”

李白「疲れる？どういうことだ？」

Rihaku “Tsukareru? Do-iu kotoda?”

Lihaku “Exhausted? What do you mean?”

猫猫（白鈴姐ちゃんは、舞踏を得意とすると同時に、夜に負け戦がないことで有名だ。欲求不満になると、誰彼なしに食指を動かす、つまり色欲魔だ）

Maomao (Pairin-neechanwa, buto’o tokuito suruto dojini, yoruni make-ikusaga nai-kotode yumeida. Yokkyu-fumanni naruto, dare-kare-nashini shokushi’o ugokasu, tsumari shikiyoku-ma da.)

Maomao (Pairin is not only a great dancer, but is also famous as an invincible warlord in bed. When her “hunger” grows, she’ll pounce on anyone… In other words, she’s extremely lustful.)

白鈴「いや～ん」

Pairin “Iyaaan.”

Pairin “No!”

猫猫「けれど…」

Maomao “Keredo…”

Maomao “But…”

李白「けれど？」

Rihaku “Keredo?”

Lihaku “But?”

猫猫（私がおやじに引き取られるまで、緑青館で面倒を見てくれたのは、やり手婆と三姫だ。特に、出産経験はないが母乳の出る特別な体質だった姐ちゃんは、‘かあさん’に近い存在である。姐ちゃんがどう考えているかは分からないが、あの日々を思い出すと、もったいないと思う。彼女は色欲の強い女であるが、それと同じくらい母性を持った女である）

Maomao (Watashiga oyajini hikito-rareru-made, Rokushokande mendo’o mite-kureta-nowa, Yarite-Babaa to San-Himeda. Tokuni, shussan-keikenwa naiga bonyuno deru tokubetsuna taishitsu datta Neechanwa, ‘kaasan’ni chikai sonzaide aru. Neechanga do kangaete-irukawa wakara-naiga, ano hibio omoi-dasuto, mottai-naito omou. Kanojowa shikiyokuno tsuyoi onnade aruga, soreto onaji-kurai bosei’o motta onnade aru.)

Maomao (Until my dad took me in, the ones who took care of me at the Verdigris House were the old lady and the Three Princesses. Pairin, who was able to lactate despite never having given birth, is almost like a mother to me. I don’t know what her thoughts on the matter are, but… Thinking back on those days, I do think it’s a bit of a waste. She’s definitely lustful, but she’s at least equally maternal.”

李白「けれど、何だ？」

Rihaku “Keredo, nanda?”

Lihaku “But, what?”

猫猫（李白様は、姐ちゃんの仕事を十分理解した上で惚れている。多少駄犬っぽいが、根は真面目そうだし、女のために出世しようという、愛すべきバカなところもある。何より、体力は絶倫だ。身請け先としては悪くない…）

Maomao (Rihaku-samawa, Neechanno shigoto’o jubun rikai shita uede horete-iru. Tasho daken-ppoiga, newa majime-sodashi, onnano tameni shusse shiyoto-iu, aisu-beki bakana tokoromo aru. Nani-yori, tairyokuwa zetsurinda. Miuke-sakito shitewa waruku-nai…)

Maomao (Master Lihaku understands what Pairin does for work, and is still in love with her. He can be a dumb dog, but seems like an honest, hard worker. Trying to get a promotion for his girl is adorable, if stupid. Most of all, he has astonishing stamina. Hmm? He wouldn’t a bad choice, all considered.)

猫猫「李白様。お給金は、いくらもらっていますか？」

Maomao “Rihaku-sama. Okyukinwa, ikura moratte imasuka?”

Maomao “Master Lihaku, may I ask how much you’re paid?”

李白「いきなり何言い出すんだ？」

Rihaku “Ikinari nani iidasunda?”

Lihaku “What’s with that question all of a sudden?”

猫猫「年に銀800ほどですか？」

Maomao “Nen-ni gin happyaku-hodo desuka?”

Maomao “Perhaps 800 silver a year?”

李白「おいおい…」

Rihaku “Oi-oi…”

Lihaku “Come on, now.”

猫猫「では1200？」

Maomao “Dewa sen-nihyaku?”

Maomao “More like 1200 then?”

李白「うっ…」

Rihaku “U…”

猫猫（年に銀1000枚といったところか）

Maomao (Nen-ni gin sen-maito itta-tokoroka.)

Maomao (So, roughly 1000 silver or so a year.)

李白「足りないか？」

Rihaku “Tari-naika?”

Lihaku “Is that not enough?”

猫猫「足りません。即金で一万は欲しいところです」

Maomao “Tari-masen. Sokkinde ichi-manwa hoshii-tokoro desu.”

Maomao “Afraid not. They’d ask at least 10000 in cash.”

李白「なっ…い…一万？！」

Rihaku “Na…I…Ichi-man?!”

Lihaku “T-Ten thousand?!”

猫猫「安い妓女なら400ですが、緑青館の三姫の一人となれば、少なくとも一万は欲しいところです」

Maomao “Yasui gijo-nara yon-hyaku desuga, Rokushokanno San-Himeno hitorito nareba, sukunaku-tomo ichi-manwa hoshii tokoro desu.”

Maomao “A cheap courtesan would cost around 400. One of the Three Princesses of the Verdigris House? 10000 silver, at the very least.”

李白「一万…」

Rihaku “Ichi-man…”

Lihaku “Ten thousand…”

猫猫「あら～」

Maomao “Araaa.”

李白「なあ…仮に一万集めてきたとして、それで身請けができると思うか？」

Rihaku “Naa… Karini ichi-man atsumete-kitato shite, sorede miukega dekiruto omouka?”

Lihaku “Hey, so… let’s say I find that much somewhere. You think I’ll be able to buy her out with that?”

猫猫「李白様が、姐ちゃんにこっぴどく振られる可能性ですか？」

Maomao “Rihaku-samaga, Neechanni koppidoku furareru kanosei desuka?”

Maomao “How likely do I think it is that she’d dramatically turn you down, you mean?”

李白「うっ！くっ…くうう…うう…」

Rihaku “U! Ku…Kuuu…uu…”

猫猫（…仕方ないなあ）

Maomao (…Shikata-nainaa.)

Maomao (Fine, fine.)

猫猫「李白様。服を脱いでいただけますか？」

Maomao “Rihaku-sama. Fukuo nuide itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “Master Lihaku, could you take off your clothes?”

李白「え？脱いだら、振られないか？」

Rihaku “E? Nuidara, furare-naika?”

Lihaku “If I do, am I less likely to get dumped?”

猫猫「私が知っているのは、白鈴姐ちゃんの好みの体くらいです」

Maomao “Watashiga shitte-irunowa, Pairin-neechanno konomino karada kurai desu.”

Maomao “One thing I know for sure is the body type she likes.”

李白「脱ぐ！」

Rihaku “Nugu!”

Lihaku “I’ll strip!”

猫猫「下もお願いします」

Maomao “Shitamo onegai shimasu.”

Maomao “Your pants too, please.”

李白「下もか？」

Rihaku “Shitamo-ka?”

Lihaku “Pants, too?”

猫猫「下もです。脱いだら、両手を肩の位置まで上げて、力こぶを作っていただけますか？」

Maomao “Shitamo desu. Nuidara, ryote’o katano ichi-made agete, chikara-kobu’o tsukutte itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “Yes. Then, can you raise your arms up to your shoulders and flex your muscles?”

李白「ふんっ。こうか？」

Rihaku “Fun. Koka?”

Lihaku “Like this?”

猫猫（白鈴姐ちゃんは、何でも食べる悪食だが、それなりに好みというものもある。…ふむ、これはなかなか…）

Maomao (Pairin-neechanwa, nan-demo taberu aku-jiki daga, sore-narini konomito-iu monomo aru. …Fumu, korewa naka-naka…)

Maomao (Pairin’s not a picky eater, but she does have preferences. Hmm, not bad…)

猫猫「では次。腕を下げた状態で、力こぶを…」

Maomao “Dewa tsugi. Udeo sageta jotaide, chikara-kobu’o…”

Maomao “Next, lower your arms, then flex again.”

李白「こうか？」

Rihaku “Koka?”

Lihaku “Like this?”

宦官「あ…」

Kangan “A…”

猫猫（武官だけに、よく鍛えられた体躯だ。実にいい筋肉…！これはいけるかもな？あとは…）

Maomao (Bukan dakeni, yoku kitae-rareta taikuda. Jitsuni ii kin-niku…! Korewa ikeru-kamona? Atowa…)

Maomao (As a good military man, he trains often. Good musculature. He might stand a chance. Now…)

猫猫「では、最後の一枚も脱いでください！」

Maomao “Dewa, saigono ichi-maimo nuide kudasai!”

Maomao “Now, please remove your final garment!”

李白「おうっ！ハッ…」

Rihaku “Ou! Ha…”

Lihaku “Got it!”

猫猫「えっ…」

Maomao “E…”

壬氏「お前ら…一体何をやっている…？」

Jinshi “Omaera… Ittai nanio yatte-iru…?”

Jinshi “What in the world are you two doing?”

猫猫「ごきげんよう、壬氏様」

Maomao “Gokigen-yo, Jinshi-sama.”

Maomao “Greetings, Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「んっ、むうう…」

Jinshi “N, muuu…”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

壬氏「お前は何をしていたのだ？」

Jinshi “Omaewa nanio shite-itanoda?”

Jinshi “Now, what exactly were you up to?”

猫猫（美人は怒ると怖いなあ…）

Maomao (Bijinwa okoruto kowai-naa…)

Maomao (Pretty people are so scary when they’re angry.)

猫猫「何をしていたと言われましても…呼び出しに応じて相談を受けておりました」

Maomao “Nanio shite-itato iware-mashitemo… yobi-dashini ojite sodan’o ukete-ori-mashita.”

Maomao “What, you ask? Well, I was summoned to give my opinion about a matter.”

壬氏「なぜあの男は、あんな格好をしていた？」

Jinshi “Naze ano otokowa, anna kakko’o shite-ita?”

Jinshi “Why was that man undressed like that?”

猫猫「やましいことはありません。じっくり見ていただけです」

Maomao “Yamashii kotowa ari-masen. Jikkuri mite-ita dake desu.”

Maomao “Nothing improper was going on. I was just taking a good look.”

壬氏「あっ…。じっくり見ていたのか…？」

Jinshi “A… Jikkuri mite-itanoka?”

Jinshi “A good look? You?”

猫猫「はい、見ていただけです」

Maomao “Hai, mite-ita dake desu.”

Maomao “Yes, just looking.”

壬氏「何のために？」

Jinshi “Nanno tameni?”

Jinshi “What for?”

猫猫「何のためと言われましても…好みの体か調べるには、実物を確認するのが一番でしょう」

Maomao “Nanno tameto iware-mashitemo… konomino karadaka shiraberu-niwa, jitsubutsu’o kakunin suru-noga ichiban desho.”

Maomao “What for, you ask? To see if his body is good enough. What better way to know than to inspect him myself?”

壬氏「こ…好みの体だと？！」

Jinshi “Ko…Konomino krada-dato?

Jinshi “If his body is ‘good enough,’ you said?!”

猫猫「はい。見た目は人間の一要素に過ぎませんが、好みであるに越したことはないので…」

Maomao “Hai. Mitamewa ningenno ichi-yosoni sugi-masenga, konomide aruni koshita kotowa nai-node…”

Maomao “Yes. Appearances are only a part of what defines a person, but being suited to one’s taste is always a plus.”

猫猫（最後に一番大切な部分を確認して、今後どう姐ちゃんに訴えかけようか考えていたのだが…）

Maomao (Saigoni ichiban taisetsuna bubun’o kakunin shite, kongo do Neechanni uttae-kakeyoka kangaete-itano-daga…)

Maomao (I wanted to get a final look at his important parts to determine how to appeal to Pairin, but…)

壬氏「それで、あの男の見た目はどうだったのだ？」

Jinshi “Sorede, ano otokono mitamewa do-datta-noda?”

Jinshi “So, what did you think about that man’s appearance?”

猫猫「実に均整の取れた肉体でした。毎日訓練を欠かさない真面目な方だと見受けられ、武官の中でもかなり腕が立つ方ではないでしょうか」

Maomao “Jitsuni kinseino toreta nikutai deshita. Mai-nichi kunren’o kaka-sanai majimena kata-dato miuke-rare, bukanno naka-demo kanari udega tatsu-ho-dewa nai-deshoka.”

Maomao “It was a very well-balanced body. He seems like a hard worker who trains diligently. I’d guess he’s quite a skilled fighter, even compared to other military men.”

壬氏「ん？お前は、人の体つきで、どんな人間か分かるのか？」

Jinshi “N? Omaewa, hitono karada-tsukide, donna ningenka wakaru-noka?”

Jinshi “You can read a person’s personality just by their build?”

猫猫「生活習慣は、体に如実に表れます。薬屋をやっていると、自分のことを語らぬ客もいるので、嫌でも会得します」

Maomao “Seikatsu-shukanwa, karadani nojitsuni araware-masu. Kusuriya’o yatte-iruto, jibunno koto’o kataranu kyakumo iru-node, iya-demo etoku shimasu.”

Maomao “A person’s appearance reflects their daily routines quite accurately. As an apothecary, it’s not rare to get customers who won’t tell us about themselves. So you learn this naturally on the job.”

壬氏「私の体を見ても、同じように分かるか？」

Jinshi “Watashino karadao mitemo, onaji-yoni wakaruka?”

Jinshi “Can you tell from looking at my body, too?”

猫猫「は？」

Maomao “Ha?”

Maomao “Huh?”

猫猫（もしかして…李白様に嫉妬しているのか？なんという男だ…自分の方がきれいだと誇示したいなんて！）

Maomao (Moshika-shite… Rihaku-samani shitto shite-irunoka? Nanto-iu otokoda… Jibunno-hoga kirei-dato koji shitai nante!)

Maomao (Wait, is he jealous of Master Lihaku? Oh, wow. I can’t believe this guy. He just wants to brag that he’s prettier!)

猫猫（美しい体なのは知っている。実際、意外なほど引き締まっていたし、でも…）

Maomao (Utsukushii karada nanowa shitte-iru. Jissai, igaina hodo hiki-shimatte-itashi, demo…)

Maomao (I do know he has a beautiful body. I was quite surprised by how well-toned it was. But…)

猫猫「壬氏様の体を見たところで、何の意味もありません」

Maomao “Jinshi-samano karadao mita-tokorode, nanno imimo ari-masen.”

Maomao “There’d be no point in learning about your body.”

猫猫「残念ながら、壬氏様は…私の姐とは合わないと思いますので」

Maomao “Zan’nen-nagara, Jinshi-samawa…watashino ane-towa awanaito omoi-masu-node.”

Maomao “I don’t think you would get along with my sister.”

壬氏「は？」

Jinshi “Ha?”

Jinshi “Huh?”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白（こんなことをしている間に、白鈴が身請けされてしまうかもしれない…。しかし、今の自分には…何もできない）

Rihaku (Konna koto’o shite-iru aidani, Pairinga miuke sarete shimau-kamo shire-nai… Shikashi, imano jibun-niwa…nanimo deki-nai.)

Lihaku (As I waste time like this, Pairin could get bought out. But I’m not yet capable of doing anything about it…)

李白「白鈴…」

Rihaku “Pairin…”

Lihaku “Pairin…”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白（何がどうなっているんだ…名は確か壬氏だったか…皇帝のお手付きとも噂されているが…）

Rihaku (Naniga do natte-irunda… Nawa tashika Jinshi dattaka… Koteino otetsuki-tomo uwasa sarete-iruga…)

Lihaku (What in the world is going on? Jinshi, I think his name was? He’s rumored to be the emperor’s favorite…)

壬氏「先日はうちの侍女が世話になったね」

Jinshi “Sen-jitsuwa uchino jijoga sewani nattane.”

Jinshi “Thank you for your hospitality with my attendant the other day.”

李白「いえ、それほどでも…」

Rihaku “Ie, sore-hodo-demo…”

Lihaku “Oh, you’re quite welcome…”

壬氏「君は今、意中の相手がいるようだね」

Jinshi “Kimiwa ima, ichuno aitega iru-yodane.”

Jinshi “I hear you’re romantically pursuing someone.”

李白「え…」（もしかして、あの娘、話したのか？ハッ、だからやたら笑いかけてくるのか…）

Rihaku “E…” (Moshika-shite, ano musume, hanashita-noka? Ha, dakara yatara warai-kakete-kuru-noka…)

Lihaku (Did that girl talk? Is that why he’s smiling so much?)

壬氏「フフフッ」

Jinshi “Fufufu.”

李白（この若さで国一番と言われる美貌を持ち、覚えめでたき地位に就いていれば、妓女の身請けなど笑い話に過ぎないだろう…。俺をコケにするのはいい。だが、白鈴をバカにするのであれば、話は別だ。もし彼女を侮辱するなら…）

Rihaku (Kono wakasade kuni-ichibanto iwareru bibo’o mochi, oboe-medetaki chiini tsuite-ireba, gijono miuke-banashi-nado warai-banashini suginai daro… Oreo kokeni suru-nowa ii. Daga, Pairin’o bakani suru-node areba, hanashiwa betsuda. Moshi kanojo’o bujoku suru-nara…)

Lihaku (At his young age, high status, and being called the most beautiful person in the nation, the matter of buying out a courtesan must be a joke to him. I don’t mind being made fun of. But if he insults Pairin, that’s a different story. If he insults her…)

壬氏「２万」

Jinshi “Ni-man.”

Jinshi “20000.”

李白「えっ」

Rihaku “E.”

壬氏「身請け金を、私が肩代わりすると言ったら、どうする？」

Jinshi “Miuke-kin’o, watashiga kata-gawari suruto ittara, do suru?”

Jinshi “What would you say if I offered you the money to buy out your girl?”

李白「はっ…それは、どういう意味ですか？」

Rihaku “Ha… Sorewa do-iu imi desuka?”

Lihaku “What do you mean?”

壬氏「そのままの意味だよ」

Jinshi “Sono-mamano imi dayo.”

Jinshi “Precisely what I said.”

李白「うっ…。お言葉は嬉しいのですが、見ず知らずの官に、いきなりそんなことを言ってもよろしいのですか？」

Rihaku “U… Okotobawa ureshiino-desuga, mizu-shirazuno kanni, ikinari sonna koto’o ittemo yoroshiino-desuka?”

Lihaku “I appreciate your generosity, but is it alright for you to suddenly offer that to an officer you barely know?”

壬氏「うちの猫は、かなり警戒心が強いのだよ。それが君の相談を受け、なおかつ、姉に等しい人間の伴侶としてどうか…などと考えている」

Jinshi “Uchino nekowa, kanari keikai-shinga tsuyoino-dayo. Sorega kimino sodan’o uke, nao-katsu, aneni hitoshii ningenno hanryoto-shite doka…nadoto kangaete-iru.”

Jinshi “My cat can be quite cautious. And yet, she’s willing to give you advice, and consider you as a candidate for her sister’s life partner.”

李白「つまり、用心深い猫が懐くのなら、それだけで信用できると？」

Rihaku “Tsumari, yojin-bukai nekoga natsukuno-nara, sore-dakede shin’yo dekiru-to?”

Lihaku “In other words, if your cautious cat lets her guard down around me, I’m trustworthy.”

李白（うっ…何かマズいことを言ったか？）

Rihaku (U… Nanika mazui koto’o ittaka?)

Lihaku (Did I say something bad?)

壬氏「君の話を、いくつか周りから聞かせてもらった。地方官の子とはいえ、都で武官になるというのは、苦労したのではないか？聞けば、目利きの軍師殿に見いだされて、隊を任されたと」

Jinshi “Kimino hanashi’o, ikutsuka mawari-kara kikasete moratta. Chiho-kanno ko-towa-ie, miyakode bukanni naruto iu-nowa, kuro shitano-dewa naika? Kikeba, mekikino gunshi-dononi mi’ida-sarete, taio makasareta-to.”

Jinshi “I’ve heard some stories about you. You do come from a good family, but it still must have been hard for you to become a military officer here at the capital. I hear you were discovered by our sharp-eyed strategist and assigned to lead a squad.”

李白「はい」

Rihaku “Hai.”

Lihaku “Yes.”

李白（表向きは、小隊長が辞めたことによる繰り上げのはずなのに…）

Rihaku (Omote-mukiwa, sho-taichoga yameta kotoni yoru kuri-ageno hazu nanoni…)

Lihaku (The official story was that the prior squad leader retired and I was simply pushed up, but…)

壬氏「有望な官と仲良くなっておきたいというのは、誰もが思うことだろう？」

Jinshi “Yubona kanto naka-yoku natte okitaito iu-nowa, daremoga omou koto-daro?”

Jinshi “Wouldn’t anybody want to have a good relationship with a promising officer?”

李白（とはいえ、銀２万は大盤振る舞い過ぎる…！必要なのは、その半分…いや、そのまた半分でもいい）

Rihaku (Towa-ie, gin ni-manwa ooban-burumai sugiru…! Hitsuyo-nanowa, sono hanbun…iya, sono mata hanbun-demo ii.)

Lihaku (Still, 20000 silver is way too much. I only really need half as much… no, even just a quarter would do it.)

李白「自分のことを買ってくれているのは、正直嬉しいですし、申し出にも喉から手が出てしまいそうになります。ただ、ここで銀を受け取るわけにはいきません。あなたにとっては妓女の一人かもしれないが、私にとってはたった一人の女なのです」

Rihaku “Jibunno koto’o katte kurete-irunowa, shojiki ureshii-desushi, moshide-nimo nodo-kara tega dete-shimai-soni narimasu. Tada, kokode gin’o uketoru-wake-niwa iki-masen. Anatani tottewa gijono hitori kamo shire-naiga, watashini tottewa tatta hitorino onna nano-desu.”

Lihaku “I’m very glad to hear that you think so highly of me. I also find your offer quite hard to resist. But I can’t accept that silver here. For you, she might just be a local courtesan, but for me, she’s the only woman in my world.”

李白「妻として迎えたい女を、自分で稼いだ金で請けずして、それで男と言えましょうか！」

Rihaku “Tsuma-to-shite mukae-tai onna’o, jibunde kaseida kanede ukezu-shite, sorede otokoto ie-mashoka!”

Lihaku “To welcome a wife with someone else’s money… What kind of man would that make me?”

壬氏「…なるほど。それは失礼した」

Jinshi “…Naruhodo. Sorewa shitsurei shita.”

Jinshi “I see. Pardon me.”

李白「え？」

Rihaku “E?”

Lihaku “Huh?”

壬氏「今後、話をしたいことがあるかもしれないが、よろしいかな？」

Jinshi “Kongo, hanashi’o shitai kotoga aru-kamo shire-naiga, yoroshii-kana?”

Jinshi “I may need to speak with you soon. Is that alright with you?”

李白「あ…。御意」

Rihaku “A…Gyoi.”

Lihaku “Yes, sir.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

高順「壬氏様」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「ああ。心配なかったな」

Jinshi “Aa. Shinpai nakattana.”

Jinshi “Yes. There was nothing to be worried about, yes.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白「ハァ…何だったんだ、一体…。どうすっかねぇ～…。とりあえず、次の修練でちっとばかしいいところを見せてやるか…それとも仕事を増やしてもらうか…いや。よし！」

Rihaku “Haa… Nan-dattanda, ittai… Do-sukka-neeee… Toriaezu, tsugino shurende chitto-bakashi ii-tokoro’o misete yaruka… Sore-tomo shigoto’o fuyashite morauka… Iya. Yoshi!”

Lihaku “What was that all about?! Now, what to do? I guess I should show off at the next training… Or perhaps I should ask for more work… Or…Right.”

李白（いつ会えるかも分からない女に、文を送ろう。ただ一方的に迎えに行くのではなく、彼女の意思を聞こう）

Rihaku (Itsu aeruka-mo wakaranai onnani fumi’o okuro. Tada ippo-tekini mukaeni ikuno-dewa naku, kanojono ishi’o kiko.)

Lihaku (I’ll write to her, even if I don’t know when I can see next. I can’t force my will on her. I should hear what she thinks.)

李白（社交辞令でもいい。それを信じて、日々の糧にするのだ）

Rihaku (Shako-jirei demo ii. Soreo shinjite, Hibino kateni suru-noda.)

Lihaku (I don’t care if her response is purely diplomatic. Believing in her words will help me get through my days.)

李白「自分の信じた道を、突き進むだけだ」

Rihaku “Jibunno shinjita michio, tsuki-susumu dakeda.”

Lihaku “I just have to pursue her in a way I believe in.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

白鈴「おばばは何とか言っているけど、私はまだまだ現役よ。それに私、いつかどこかの王子様が迎えに来るのを待っているもの」

Pairin “Obabawa nan-toka itte-iru-kedo, watashiwa mada-mada gen’ekiyo. Soreni watashi, itsuka dokokano ouji-samaga mukaeni kuruno’o matte-iru-mono.”

Pairin “Despite what the old lady thinks, I’m still in the game. Besides, I’m still waiting for my prince to come for me.”

猫猫「…そんな感じはしたけどね。白鈴姐ちゃんに気に入られさえすれば、身請け金は銀1万も必要ない。あとは運次第。ん？」

Maomao “…Sonna kanjiwa shita kedone. Pairin-neechanni kini-irare-sae sureba, miuke-kinwa gin ichi-manmo hitsuyo-nai. Atowa un shidai. N?”

Maomao “Yeah, that’s what I thought. If Pairin likes him, he won’t need 10000 silver. Beyond that, it’s just luck.”

白鈴「あの人が来て、身請けの話をし��いたから、それで禿が勘違いしたのだと思う」

Pairin “Ano hitoga kite, miukeno hanashi’o shite-ita-kara, sorede kamuroga kan-chigai shitanodato omou.”

Pairin “When a certain someone came and talked about buying people out, I think one of the servant girls got the wrong idea.”

猫猫（あの人…）

Maomao (Ano hito…)

Maomao (That man.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

陸孫「羅漢様。こんなところにおいででしたか。羅漢様、会議が始まりますよ」

Rikuson “Rakan-sama. Konna tokoronin oide deshitaka. Rakan-sama, kaigiga hajimari-masuyo.”

Rikuson “Master Lakan. I finally found you. Master Lakan, the meeting is starting.”

羅漢「青い薔薇…」

Rakan “Aoi sobi…”

Lakan “Blue roses.”

陸孫「ん？何ですか？」

Rikuson “N? Nan-desuka?”

Rikuson “What did you say?”

羅漢「フッ」

Rakan “Fu.”

(Continue to episode 22)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count people in Japanese

1 person : 一人（ひとり/hitori）  ×いちにん

2 people : 二人（ふたり/futari）　×ににん

3 people : 三人（さんにん/san-nin）

4 people : 四人（よにん/yo-nin）　×よんにん、しにん(Never read as “しにん”, as it means 死人： dead person)

5 people : 五人（ごにん/go-nin）

6 people : 六人（ろくにん/roku-nin）

7 people : 七人（ななにん/nana-nin or しちにん/shichi-nin）

8 people : 八人（はちにん/hachi-nin）

9 people : 九人（きゅうにん/kyu-nin or くにん/ku-nin）

10 people : 十人（じゅうにん/ju-nin）

11 people : 十一人（じゅういちにん/ju-ichi-nin）×じゅうひとり

12 people : 十二人（じゅうににん/ju-ni-nin）×じゅうふたり

13 people : 十三人（じゅうさんにん/ju-san-nin）

14 people : 十四人（じゅうよにん/ju-yo-nin）×じゅうよんにん、じゅうしにん

15 people : 十五人（じゅうごにん/ju-go-nin）

16 people : 十六人（じゅうろくにん/ju-roku-nin）

17 people : 十七人（じゅうななにん/ju-nana-nin or じゅうしちにん/ju-shichi-nin）

18 people : 十八人（じゅうはちにん/ju-hachi-nin）

19 people : 十九人（じゅうきゅうにん/ju-kyu-nin or じゅうくにん/ju-ku-nin）

20 people : 二十人（にじゅうにん/niju-nin）

21 people : 二十一人（にじゅういちにん/niju-ichi-nin）×にじゅうひとり

22 people : 二十二人（にじゅうににん/niju-ni-nin）×にじゅうふたり

　　 :

There is one more way of counting, with “名（mei）”.

For example, when you enter a restaurant for dinner, the waiter will ask, “何名様ですか？(なんめいさまですか？/Nan-mei-sama desuka?)” which means “How many people are there?”

The difference between “人(nin)” and “名(mei)” is that “人(nin)” is just for counting, and “名(mei)” is used for groups or organizations whose members are identifiable, such as number of attendants of the meeting, number of guests reserved at the hotel, number of guests at the wedding, etc.

In case of “名(mei)”, reading way of counting is simply number + 名(mei).

1 person : 一名（いちめい/ichi-mei）

2 people : 二名（にめい/ni-mei）

3 people : 三名（さんめい/san-mei）

4 people : 四名（よんめい/yon-mei） ×しめい

5 people : 五名（ごめい/go-mei）

6 people : 六名（ろくめい/roku-mei）

7 people : 七名（ななめい/nana-mei） 〇しちめい/shichi-mei(It’s right but confusing with いちめい/ichi-mei)

8 people : 八名（はちめい/hachi-mei）

9 people : 九名（きゅうめい/kyu-mei）　×くめい

10 people : 十名（じゅうめい/ju-mei）

　　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

Episode 20 : Thornapple / 第20話『曼荼羅華(Mandarake)』

猫猫（白檀の香…壬氏様の寝室…なぜ、こんなところに…）

Maomao (Byaku-danno ko…Jinshi-samano shin-shitsu… Naze, konna tokoronin…)

Maomao (Sandalwood incense… Master Jinshi’s bedroom… How did I end up here…?)

水蓮「あら、目が覚めたのね。無理しちゃだめよ？15針も縫ったんだから…。医局で寝かせるのも何だって、壬氏様が連れてきたのよ。はい、どうぞ」

Suiren “Ara, mega sameta-none. Muri-shicha dameyo? Ju-go-harimo nuttan-dakara… Ikyokude nekaseru-nomo nandatte, Jinshi-samaga tsurete-kita-noyo. Hai, dozo.”

Suiren “Oh, you’re awake. Don’t push yourself. You had fifteen stitches. Master Jinshi brought you here, since it’s better here than at the infirmary. Here you go.”

猫猫「ありがとうございます」

Maomao “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

水蓮「フフフッ、起きたところで悪いけど、着替えられる？皆さんを連れてくるわ」

Suiren “Fufufu, okita-tokorode warui-kedo, kigae-rareru? Mina-san’o tsurete-kuruwa.”

Suiren “I’m sorry to bother you after you just woke up, but can you get dressed? I want to bring everyone in.”

猫猫「分かりました」

Maomao “Wakari-mashita.”

Maomao “Understood.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

馬閃「一体どういうことだ！」

Basen “Ittai do-iu kotoda!”

Basen “What in the world is going on?!”

高順「馬閃！」

Gaoshun “Basen!”

Gaoshun “Basen!”

馬閃「チッ」

Basen “Chi.”

猫猫（そりゃ、主人が危険にさらされればね…だからとて、どなられる筋合いはないのだが）

Maomao (Sorya, shujinga kikenni sara-sare-reba-ne… Dakara-tote, dona-rareru sujiaiwa naino-daga.)

Maomao (I mean, his master’s life was at risk. That said, I don’t deserve to be yelled at.)

猫猫「無作法ですみません」

Maomao “Bu-sahode sumi-masen.”

Maomao “I apologize for my lack of manners.”

壬氏「気にするな。それで、どういう経緯であの場所にやってきたのか、なぜ柱が落ちるのが分かったのか、説明してもらおうか」

Jinshi “Kini suruna. Sorede, do-iu keiide ano bashoni yatte-kita-noka, naze hashiraga ochiru-noga wakatta-noka, setsumei shite-moraoka.”

Jinshi “Don’t worry about it. So, how did you end up there, and how did you know the pillar was about to fall? Do explain.”

猫猫「フゥ…分かりました。…あれは、偶然が重なり合った事故です。しかし、まるで意図的に、偶然が引き寄せられたようでした。そういう意味では、事故ではなく事件と言えるでしょう」

Maomao “Fu…Wakari-mashita. …Arewa, guzenga kasanari-atta jiko desu. Shikashi, marude ito-tekini, guzenga hikiyose-rareta-yodeshita. So-iu imi-dewa, jiko-dewa-naku jikento ieru-desho.”

Maomao “Understood. That was an accident caused by multiple coincidences converging. But it’s as if the coincidences were drawn together intentionally. In that sense, it’s a conspiracy, not an accident.”

猫猫「一つ目の偶然は、去年、礼部の高官である浩然様が亡くなったことです」

Maomao “Hitotsumeno guzenwa, kyonen, Reibuno kokan-de-aru Konen-samaga naku-natta koto desu.”

Maomao “The first coincidence is the death of Master Kounen, a high-ranking official at the Board of Rites, last year.”

壬氏「あっ…」

Jinshi “A…”

猫猫「二つ目に、倉庫で小火が起き、同時に別の場所で祭具が盗まれたこと」

Maomao “Futatsumeni, sokode boyaga oki, dojini betsuno bashode saiguga nusu-mareta koto.”

Maomao “Next, the fire at a warehouse, and the theft of some ceremonial tools at a different warehouse.”

馬閃「ハッ…」

Basen “Ha…”

猫猫「そして三つ目は、ほぼ同時期に祭具の管理者が食中毒で倒れたことです」

Maomao “Soshite mittsumewa, hobo dojikini saiguno kanrishaga shoku-chudokude taoreta koto desu.”

Maomao “And the third is the manager of ceremonial tools falling ill due to food poisoning at around the same time.”

壬氏「そのどれもが、誰かの思惑で起こされたと？」

Jinshi “Sono doremoga, darekano omo-wakude oko-sareta-to?”

Jinshi “Those were all caused intentionally by someone?”

猫猫「恐らくは。さらにもう一つ、重要なことがあります」

Maomao “Osorakuwa. Sarani mo-hitotsu, juyona kotoga ari-masu.”

Maomao “Probably. There’s also probably one more important factor.”

壬氏「何だ？」

Jinshi “Nanda?”

Jinshi “What is it?”

猫猫「盗まれた祭具です。祭事では、祭壇の柱を金属線でつり上げ、床の金具に固定していました。もし事故に見せかけるのであれば、要である金具を狙うでしょう」

Maomao “Nusu-mareta saigu desu. Saiji-dewa, saidanno hashira’o kinzoku-sende tsuri-age, yukano kanaguni kotei shite imashita. Moshi jikoni mise-kakeru-node areba, kanamede-aru kanaguo nerau desho.”

Maomao “The stolen ceremonial tools. During the ceremony, the pillar above the altar was pulled up by metal wires, and fixed on to the floor with metal parts. If the goal was to make this appear as an accident, aiming for those metal parts would be effective.”

馬閃「そんなものが盗まれたら、作り直さないわけがないだろう！」

Basen “Sonna monoga nusumare-tara, tsukuri-naosa-nai wakega nai-daro!”

Basen “If someone stole those, they’d just make replacements!”

猫猫「当然、作り直したでしょうね。祭事にふさわしい、凝った装飾をすると考えられます。その職人に心当たりがありました」

Maomao “Tozen, tsukuri-naoshita-deshone. Saijini fusawashii, kotta soshoku’o suruto kangae-rare-masu. Sono shokuninni kokoro-atariga ari-mashita.”

Maomao “Of course they did. Since they’re used in ceremonies, I’m sure the design was elaborate. I can think of one artisan who might have been tasked with it.”

壬氏「亡くなった彫金職人か？」

Jinshi “Naku-natta choking-shokuninka?”

Jinshi “The metalworker who passed away?”

猫猫「はい。盗まれた金具は、彫金細工師によって作り直されたのです。もし、この金具が熱で壊れるようになっていたとしたら…」

Maomao “Hai. Nusu-mareta kanaguwa, choking-zaikushini yotte tsukuri-nao-saretano-desu. Moshi, kono kanaguga netsude kowareru-yoni natte-itato shitara…”

Maomao “Yes. The stolen ceremonial pieces were rebuilt by the metalworker. So, what if those metal parts were designed to break when heated?”

馬閃「バカか！金属だぞ！そんな程度の熱で…あっ」

Basen “Bakaka! Kinzoku dazo! Sonna teidono netsude…A.”

Basen “Idiot! What kind of metal would…”

猫猫「亡くなった彫金細工師の秘伝の技術を使えば、火のそばにあるだけで溶けてしまうのです」

Maomao “Naku-natta choking-zaikushino hidenno gijutsu’o tsukaeba, hino sobani aru-dakede tokete-shimauno-desu.”

Maomao “Using the late metalworker’s secret technique, the metal could be made to melt just by being near an open fire.”

壬氏「彫金細工師も、この計画を立てた一味ということか？」

Jinshi “Chokin-zaikushimo, kono keikaku’o tateta ichimito-iu-kotoka?”

Jinshi “Are you saying the metalworker was part of this conspiracy?”

猫猫「いえ、恐らく何も知らず、依頼された通りに金具を作ったのだと思います。“これと同じものを、あの特殊な金属で作ってくれ”…とでも頼まれて。しかし祭事で事故が起きれば、職人も不審に思います。その前に消してしまえば、依頼人の名も、低温で溶ける金属の技術も闇に葬られ、とても都合がよかったでしょう」

Maomao “Ie, osoraku nanimo shirazu, irai sareta-toorini kanagu’o tsukuttano-dato omoi-masu. ‘Koreto onaji-mono’o, ano tokushuna kinzokude tsukutte-kure’…to-demo tano-marete. Shikashi saijide jikoga okireba, shokuninmo fushinni omoi-masu. Sono maeni keshite-shimaeba, irai-ninno namo, tei-onde tokeru kinzokuno gijutsumo yamini homu-rare, totemo tsugoga yokatta desho.”

Maomao “No, I think he didn’t know anything, and just built the metal parts as ordered. Perhaps he was asked, ‘Please build one of these, but using that special metal.’ But if an accident occurs at a ceremony, of course the metalworker would have doubts. If the artisan is eliminated before the incident, both the identity of his commissioner and the secret of the easily-melting metal vanish with him. That would have been ideal for the mastermind.”

壬氏「…まさか、殺されたのか？」

Jinshi “…Masaka, koro-sareta-noka?”

Jinshi “Was he killed?”

猫猫「それは分かりません…。ですが、そう見せかけた事件の可能性もあります。少なくとも、死んだ職人に金具の制作を頼んだ人間は、その技術が何であるか知っていた…。私が言えるのはここまでです」

Maomao “Sorewa wakari-masen… Desuga, so mise-kaketa jikanno kanoseimo ari-masu. Sukunaku-tomo, shinda shokunin’ni kanaguno seisaku’o tanonda ningenwa, sono gijutsuga nande aruka shitte-ita… Watashiga ieru-nowa koko-made desu.”

Maomao “That I can’t tell. It could be a crime made to look like an accident. The customer who had the metalworker remake the parts knew the technique that made that metal possible. That’s all I can say.”

壬氏「分かった」

Jinshi “Wakatta.”

Jinshi “Understood.”

猫猫（…それにしても、まさかあの場に壬氏様がいるとは…あのまま祭事が続いていたら…何者なんだよ、こいつ…こんな大掛かりな事件で命を狙われるに値する人物……知ったところで面倒なだけだ。もう、私には関係ない）

Maomao (…Soreni-shitemo, masaka ano bani Jinshi-samaga iru-towa… Ano-mama saijiga tsuzuite-itara… Nani-mono nan-dayo, koitsu… Konna oogakarina jikende inochi’o nera-wareru-ni atai-suru jinbutsu……Shitta-tokorode mendona dakeda. Mo, watashi-niwa kankei-nai.)

Maomao (Anyway, who would have thought Master Jinshi would be at that ceremony? If that ceremony continued… Who is this guy? If he’s someone worth trying to kill with such a complicated scheme… Knowing the truth would just get me in more trouble. It has nothing to do with me anymore.)

水蓮「小猫」

Suiren “Shaomao.”

Suiren “Xiaomao.”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

水蓮「お客様よ」

Suiren “Okyaku-samayo.”

Suiren “You have a guest.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

李白「例の事件、翠苓という官女が関係していたんだが…」

Rihaku “Reino jiken, Suirei-to-iu kanjoga kenkei shite-itan-daga…”

Lihaku “About that incident. A court lady named Suirei had something to do with it…”

猫猫（やはり翠苓か…）

Maomao (Yahari Suireika…)

Maomao (Suirei. I knew it.)

李白「死体で見つかったよ」

Rihaku “Shitaide mitsu-kattayo.”

Lihaku “They found her corpse.”

猫猫「えっ…」

Maomao “E…”

Maomao “Huh?”

李白「刑部が部屋に乗り込んだ時には、毒をあおって倒れていたらしい。医官による検視も済んで、死亡も確認された」

Rihaku “Keibuga heyani nori-konda toki-niwa, doku’o aotte taorete-ita rashii. Ikanni-yoru kenshimo sunde, shibomo kakunin sareta.”

Lihaku “When an officer of justice entered her room, she’d already drunk poison and was collapsed on the floor. The doctors have already finished examining her, and she’s confirmed dead.”

猫猫「どうなるのですか？」

Maomao “Do naruno-desuka?”

Maomao “What next?”

李白「明日には、棺に入れたまま、火刑に処されるんじゃないか？」

Rihaku “Ashita-niwa hitsugini ireta-mama, kakeini sho-sarerunja naika?”

Lihaku “I think they’re going to cremate her corpse tomorrow, coffin and all.”

猫猫「他の関係者は？」

Maomao “Hokano kankeishawa?”

Maomao “Any other co-conspirators?”

李白「他にはいない。翠苓一人だけだ」

Rihaku “Hoka-niwa inai. Suirei hitori dakeda.”

Lihaku “Nobody. Just Suirei.”

猫猫(あれほど細々としたことを全部一人で？)

Maomao (Are-hodo koma-gomato shita koto’o zenbu hitoride?)

Maomao (She did all of those complicated things by herself?)

李白「とにかく、一件落着だな。それじゃ」

Rihaku “Tonikaku, ikken-rakuchaku dana. Soreja.”

Lihaku “Anyway, it’s solved. See ya.”

猫猫（毒をあおって死んだ…？本当にこれで終わりなのか？いや、それ以前に翠苓は自殺するような女だろうか？無気力な顔、投げやりな態度は先がないと分かっていたからか？でも、あの時の試すような口ぶり…）

Maomao (Doku’o aotte shinda…? Hontoni korede owari nanoka? Iya, sore-izenni Suireiwa jisatsu suru-yona onna daroka? Mu-kiryokuna kao, nage-yarina taidowa sakiga naito wakatte-ita-karaka? Demo, ano tokino tamesu-yona kuchi-buri…)

Maomao (She poisoned herself and died? That’s really it? No, more importantly, was Suirei the type of person to commit suicide? Was she behaving apathetic and unemotional because she knew she had no future? But the way she spoke, as if testing me…)

翠苓「ここに朝顔を植えるわ」

Suirei “Kokoni asa-gao’o ueruwa.”

Suirei “I’ll be planting some morning glories here.”

猫猫「…蘇りの薬」

Maomao “…Yomigaerino kusuri.”

Maomao “Resurrection medicine…”

猫猫（憶測じゃダメだ。断言できない）

Maomao (Okusokuja dameda. Dangen dekinai.)

Maomao (I can’t leave it as conjecture. I have to know for certain!)

猫猫「壬氏様！」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama!”

Maomao “Master Jinshi!”

壬氏「ん？」

Jinshi “N?”

猫猫「お願いしたいことがあります！」

Maomao “Onegai shitai kotoga ari-masu!”

Maomao “I have a request for you!”

壬氏「な…何だ？うっ…ああ」

Jinshi “Na…Nanda? U…Aa.”

Jinshi “W-What is it?”

猫猫「翠苓を検視した医官とお話がしたいのです…死体置き場で」

Maomao “Suirei’o kenshi shita ikanto ohanashiga shitaino-desu… Shitai-okibade.”

Maomao “I’d like to speak to the doctor who examined the corpse. At the morgue.”

壬氏「お前は何を笑って…」

Jinshi “Omaewa nanio waratte…”

Jinshi “Why are you smiling…?”

猫猫「えっ…」（好奇心に負けた）

Maomao “E…”(Kokishinni maketa.)

Maomao (Curiosity got the best of me.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

高順「何も壬氏様まで中に入らなくても…」

Gaoshun “Nanimo Jinshi-sama-made nakani haira-naku-temo…”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi, you don’t have to go in there with her…”

壬氏「薬屋が入るなら、俺も行く」

Jinshi “Kusuriyaga hairu-nara, oremo iku.”

Jinshi “If the apothecary is going, I’m going too.”

高順「ハァ……分かりました」

Gaoshun “Haa……Wakari-mashita.”

Gaoshun “Understood.”

猫猫「ハハ…」

Maomao “Haha…”

高順「小猫、こちらへ」

Gaoshun “Shaomao, kochira’e.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao, here.”

猫猫「ありがとうございます」

Maomao “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

医官「お待たせして、申し訳ありません」

Ikan “Omatase-shite, moshi-wake ari-masen.”

Doctor “My apologies for the long wait.”

猫猫（…やはり、この医官が検視を。親しげに話していた官女が死んで、なおかつ罪人扱いされたのだから、やつれもするだろう…。でも、それだけだろうか…）

Maomao (…Yahari, kono ikanga kenshi’o. Shitashi-geni hanashite-ita kanjoga shinde, nao-katsu zainin-atsukai saretano-dakara, yatsuremo suru-daro… Demo, sore-dake daroka…)

Maomao (I knew it. This doctor did the examination. A court lady he seemed close to is dead, and she’s accused of crimes on top of that. No surprise he seems worn out. But is that really all?)

猫猫「単刀直入に聞きます。官女が飲んだ毒に、曼荼羅華が使われていませんでしたか？」

Maomao “Tanto-chokunyu-ni kiki-masu. Kanjoga nonda dokuni, mandarakega tsuka-warete imasen deshitaka?”

Maomao “I’ll be blunt. Did the poison ingested by the court lady include thornapple?”

医官「それは…」

Ikan “Sorewa…”

Doctor “That’s…”

猫猫「厩の上の小高い丘。あそこに曼荼羅華を植えたのではありませんか？毒性は強いですが、適量なら麻酔薬として作用します。医局にそれがな��とは思えません」

Maomao “Umayano ueno kodakai oka. Asokoni mandarake’o uetano-dewa ari-masenka? Dokuseiwa tsuyoi desuga, tekiryo-nara masui-yakuto-shite sayo shimasu. Ikyokuni sorega nai-towa omoe-masen.”

Maomao “The small hill near the stable. Did she not plant thornapple there? It has a strong poison, but in right amounts, it can work as an anesthetic. I’m sure the pharmacy stocks plenty.”

猫猫（曼荼羅華は、白い朝顔の花に似ている）

Maomao (Mandarakewa, shiroi asa-gaono hanani nite-iru.)

Maomao (Thornapple looks like a white morning glory.)

医官「断言はできない。症状から見て、その可能性は高いが…特定はできない」

Ikan “Dangenwa deki-nai. Shojo-kara mite, sono kanoseiwa takaiga… Tokuteiwa deki-nai.”

Doctor “I can’t say for certain. It’s quite likely, given the symptoms, but I can’t say for certain.”

猫猫「では実際に、確かめてみましょう」

Maomao “Dewa jissaini, tashikamete-mimasho.”

Maomao “Let’s confirm with our own eyes, then.”

猫猫「んん…んっ！」

Maomao “Nn…N!”

医官「な…何をする？！」

Ikan “Na…Nanio suru?!”

Doctor “W-What are you doing?!”

猫猫「黙って見ててください！」

Maomao “Damatte mitete kudasai!”

Maomao “Just shut up and watch!”

医官「や…やめろ」

Ikan “Ya…Yamero.”

Doctor “S-Stop!”

猫猫「…フゥ…開きました」

Maomao “…Fu…Aki-mashita.”

Maomao “It’s open.”

医官「あ…ああ…ハッ…翠苓…じゃない…？！そんな…！確かに…確かに翠苓だったんだ…！」

Ikan “A…Aa…Ha…Suirei…ja-nai…?! Sonna…! Tashikani…Tashikani Suirei dattanda…!”

Doctor “That’s… not Suirei?! It can’t be… It was… It really was Suirei…!”

猫猫「本当に翠苓でしたか？」

Maomao “Hontoni Suirei deshitaka?”

Maomao “Are you certain it was Suirei?”

医官「私が翠苓を見間違えるわけがない…脈も、心の臓も動いていなかった…きれいなもんだったよ…」

Ikan “Watashiga Suirei’o mi-machigaeru-wakega nai… Myakumo, shinno-zomo ugoite inakatta… Kireina mon dattayo…”

Doctor “There’s no way I’d mistake her. She had no pulse. Her heart wasn’t moving. She was so clean.”

猫猫「つまり、いいように利用されたんですね。毒の正体を解明するために、死体を切り刻もうとは考えもしなかった」

Maomao “Tsumari, ii-yoni riyo saretan-desune. Dokuno shotai’o kaimei suru-tameni, shitai’o kiri-kizamo-towa kangaemo shina-katta.”

Maomao “In other words, you’ve been exploited. You didn’t think to cut open her corpse to find out what poison she used.”

医官「うっ…」

Ikan “U…”

猫猫「翠苓もそれを見越していた」

Maomao “Suireimo soreo mikoshite-ita.”

Maomao “That’s what Suirei expected.”

医官「お前！」

Ikan “Omae!”

Doctor “You!”

猫猫「翠苓が使ったのは、曼荼羅華だけではありません。医局の薬の在庫数を調べれば、何を使ったか分かると思います」

Maomao “Suireiga tsukatta-nowa, mandarake dake-dewa ari-masen. Ikyokuno kusurino zaiko-su’o shirabe-reba, nanio tsukattaka wakaruto omoi-masu.”

Maomao “It wasn’t just thornapple that Suirei took. If we investigated the drug stocks at the pharmacy, we should be able to tell what she used.”

猫猫（この医官を責めるとすれば、薬の管理が不十分だったことだろうか）

Maomao (Kono ikan’o semeruto sureba, kusurino kanriga fu-jubun datta koto daroka.)

Maomao (I guess the only thing we can fault this doctor for is not keeping track of the drugs properly.)

壬氏「どういうことだ？」

Jinshi “Do-iu kotoda?”

Jinshi “What do you mean?”

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

壬氏「遺体が違うというのは」

Jinshi “Itaiga chigau-to iu-nowa.”

Jinshi “That the corpse is wrong.”

猫猫「棺桶を燃やすにしても、中身が空だと怪しまれます。新しい棺の中に、代わりの死体を入れて持ち込み、すり替えたのでしょう」

Maomao “Kan’oke’o moyasuni shitemo, nakamiga kara-dato ayashi-mare-masu. Atarashii hitsugino nakani, kawarino shitai’o irete mochi-komi, suri-kaetano-desho.”

Maomao “Even if the coffin was supposed to be burned, it would be too suspicious if it was empty. She must have placed a different corpse in a new coffin to replace her.”

壬氏「だが、翠苓の遺体はどうなる？持ち出すにしても、目立つだろう」

Jinshi “Daga, Suireino itaiwa do-naru? Mochi-dasuni shitemo, medatsu daro.”

Jinshi “Then what about Suirei’s corpse? Carrying it out would have caused a scene.”

猫猫「持ち出す必要はありません」

Maomao “Mochi-dasu hitsuyowa ari-masen.”

Maomao “There’s no need to carry it out.”

壬氏「どういうことだ？」

Jinshi “Do-iu kotoda?”

Jinshi “What do you mean?”

猫猫「自分で歩いて帰ったのですから」

Maomao “Jibunde aruite kaettano-desu-kara.”

Maomao “She walked out by herself.”

壬氏「なっ…」

Jinshi “Na…”

高順・医官「えっ」

Gaoshun to Ikan “E.”

壬氏「死んでいたのではないのか？！」

Jinshi “Shinde-itano-dewa nai-noka?!”

Jinshi “But wasn’t she dead?!”

猫猫「人を、死んだように見せる薬があります。ご存知ですか？」

Maomao “Hito’o, shinda-yoni miseru kusuriga ari-masu. Gozonji desuka?”

Maomao “There is a certain drug that can make a person appear dead. Are you aware of it?”

医官「聞いたことはあるが…そんなのは幻想だ」

Ikan “Kiita kotowa aruga… Sonna-nowa gensoda.”

Doctor “I’ve heard about it, but that’s just fantasy.”

壬氏「どんなものだ？」

Jinshi “Donna monoda?”

Jinshi “What is it like?”

猫猫「遠い異国にあるというその薬は、人を一度殺し、しばらくののち、蘇らせるそうです。詳しくは分かりませんが、材料に曼荼羅華とフグを使うと聞きました」

Maomao “Tooi ikokuni aruto-iu sono kusuriwa, hito’o ichido koroshi, shibarakuno nochi, yomigae-raseru-sodesu. Kuwashikuwa wakari-masenga, zairyoni mandaraketo fuguo tsukauto kiki-mashita.”

Maomao “That drug, which is said to exist in a faraway land, is able to kill a person, then resurrect them later. I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard thornapple and pufferfish are used as ingredients.”

高順「小猫」

Gaoshun “Shaomao.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao?”

猫猫「高順様、空の棺桶を調べていただけますか？」

Maomao “Gaoshun-sama, karano kan’oke’o shirabete itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “Master Gaoshun, could you investigate the empty coffins?”

高順「はい」

Gaoshun “Hai.”

Gaoshun “Yes.”

高順「あ…。釘の跡です」

Gaoshun “A… Kugino ato desu.”

Gaoshun “Fingernail marks.”

猫猫「恐らく、死んだ翠苓が入っていたのでしょう。そして、助けに来た者が棺桶を開ける頃に、息を吹き返した。別の死体が入った棺桶を代わりに置き、業者の格好に変装して出て行った…」

Maomao “Osoraku, shinda Suireiga haitte-itano desho. Soshite, tasukeni kita monoga kan’oke’o akeru koroni, ikio fuki-kaeshita. Betsuno shitaiga haitta kan’oke’o kawarini oki, gyoshano kakkoni henso shite dete-itta…”

Maomao “That must have been the one with the dead Suirei in it. By the time her rescuer arrived to open it, she came back to life. They set up a different coffin with another corpse to replace it, then disguised her as a vendor to walk out.”

壬氏「そんな確証のない方法を取ったというのか？」

Jinshi “Sonna kakushono nai hoho’o tottato iu-noka?”

Jinshi “They employed such a risky method?”

猫猫「どのみち見つかれば死罪になるのでしょう？私なら、喜んで賭けますよ」

Maomao “Dono-michi, mitsu-kareba shizaini naruno desho? Watashi nara, yorokonde kake-masuyo.”

Maomao “If she got caught, she’d get executed anyway. I’d take that bet any day.”

壬氏「いや、お前の場合、違うだろ…」

Jinshi “Iya, omaeno baai, chigau daro…”

Jinshi “I think with you, it would be different…”

猫猫「ここに遺体がないということは、翠苓は賭けに勝ったということです。代わりの死体が燃やされた後なら、完全勝利だったはずですが…」

Maomao “Kokoni itaiga naito-iu kotowa, Suireiwa kakeni kattato-iu koto desu. Kawarino shitaiga moya-sareta-ato-nara, kanzen-shori datta hazu desuga…”

Maomao “Since there’s no corpse here, Suirei must have won her bet. If the replacement corpse got burned, it would have been a complete victory, but…”

猫猫（ヒヒヒ…そんな真似はさせない…）

Maomao (Hihihi…Sonna manewa sase-nai…)

Maomao (Not on my watch.)

猫猫「フフフ、生きていたら、会いたいですね…」

Maomao “Fufufu, ikite-itara, aitai desune…”

Maomao “If she’s still alive, I’d like to meet her.”

猫猫（捕まえるためじゃない。数々の事件を事故に見せかけた知識…それをやってのける度胸…何より自分の命を賭けの代償にしてまで皆を騙そうとした、したたかさ…。こんな人物がさっさとくたばっては面白くないだろう！蘇りの妙薬、絶対に作り方を教えてもらう！）

Maomao (Tsukamaeru tameja nai. Kazu-kazuno jiken’o jikoni mise-kaketa chishiki… Sore’o yatte-nokeru dokyo… Nani-yori jibunno inochi’o kakeno daishoni shite-made minao damasoto shita, shitatakasa… Konna jinbutsuga sassato kutabattewa omoshiroku-nai daro! Yomigaerino myoyaku, zettaini tsukuri-kata’o oshiete morau!)

Maomao (Not to arrest her. The intellect that allowed her to make so many crimes look like accidents. The courage she had to pull it all off. Most of all, the nerves of steel it took to bet her own life to trick us all! A person like that dying so soon would be such a loss! Medicine to bring people back to life! She will teach me how to make it!”

猫猫「ハハハハハ！…あっ、すみません」

Maomao “Hahahahaha…! …A, sumi-masen.”

Maomao “…Pardon me.”

壬氏「な、なんだ？」

Jinshi “Na, Nanda?”

Jinshi “W-What is it?!”

猫猫「足を縫ってもらえませんか？傷口が開いたようなので」

Maomao “Ashio nutte morae-masenka? Kizu-guchiga hiraita-yonanode.”

Maomao “Can we get my leg stitched up again? I think the wound reopened.”

壬氏「それを早く言え！！」

Jinshi “Soreo hayaku ie!!”

Jinshi “Say that sooner!”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

侍女「楼蘭様」

Jijo “Roran-sama.”

Lady-in-waiting “Lady Loulan.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

壬氏（結局、翠苓のことは秘密裏に終わらせた。翠苓という官女についても、曖昧な点が多い。医官によると、彼の師が彼女の後見人だったという。数年前、彼女の才能を見抜き、養女に迎えたらしいが、それ以前のことはよく分からないと言う…）

Jinshi (Kekkyoku, Suireino kotowa himitsurini owaraseta. Suireito-iu kanjoni tsuitemo, aimaina tenga ooi. Ikanni yoruto, kareno shiga kanojono koken’nin dattato iu. Sunen-mae, kanojono saino’o minuki, yojoni mukaeta rashiiga, sore-izenno kotowa yoku wakara-naito iu…)

Jinshi (We ended up taking care of the Suirei incident in secret. Many things remain unclear about the court lady Suirei. According to the doctor, she was backed by his teacher. He took note of her talents a few years ago and brought her in as an adopted daughter. Not much is known about her past before then.”

壬氏「…長丁場になりそうだな…」

Jinshi “…Naga-chobani nari-sodana…”

Jinshi “This is going to take a long time.”

高順「小猫を送り届けてきました」

Gaoshun “Shaomao’o okuri-todokete kimashita.”

Gaoshun “I helped Xiaomao get home.”

壬氏「いつも悪いな」

Jinshi “Itsumo waruina.”

Jinshi “Sorry to trouble you, as always.”

高順「また傷口が開くようなことをされてはいけませんから」

Gaoshun “Mata kizu-guchiga hiraku-yona koto’o saretewa ike-masen-kara.”

Gaoshun “We can’t let her open up her wound again.”

壬氏「ああ」

Jinshi “Aa.”

Jinshi “Yes.”

壬氏（しかし、心配なのはケガだけではない…変人こと羅漢のこともある。父親であることは確かなようだが、薬屋の態度を見る限り、事情があるのだろう）

Jinshi (Shikashi, shinpai nanowa kega dake-dewa nai… Henjin-koto Rakanno kotomo aru. Chichi-oyade aru kotowa tashikana-yodaga, kusuriyano taido’o miru-kagiri, jijoga aruno-daro.)

Jinshi (But it’s not just her wound that worries me. There’s also the matter with Lakan, the weirdo. It’s clear that he’s her father, but given the apothecary’s attitude, there must be some issues there.)

壬氏「明日は後宮だな」

Jinshi “Ashitawa kokyu dana.”

Jinshi “To the rear palace tomorrow, right?”

高順「はい。…問題ないかと。いつもと同じです」

Gaoshun “Hai. …Mondai nai-kato. Itsumoto onaji desu.”

Gaoshun “Yes. There seems to be no problem. It’s the same as always.”

壬氏「すなわち微妙な味だと」

Jinshi “Sunawachi bimyona aji-dato.”

Jinshi “Meaning it tastes bad.”

高順「嫌なら飲まなくてもよろしいのに…」

Gaoshun “Iya-nara noma-naku-temo yoroshii-noni…”

Gaoshun “You don’t have to drink it if you don’t like it.”

壬氏「一応のけじめだ。宦官としてのな」

Jinshi “Ichiono kejimeda. Kangan-to-shiteno-na.”

Jinshi “It’s a responsibility of mine, as a eunuch.”

高順「鼻をつまむのは、人前ではやらない方がよろしいかと。ずいぶん幼く見えます」

Gaoshun “Hanao tsumamu-nowa, hito-mae-dewa yaranai-hoga yoroshii-kato. Zuibun osanaku mie-masu.”

Gaoshun “You shouldn’t hold your nose like that in public. It makes you look very young.”

壬氏「分かっている」

Jinshi “Wakatte-iru.”

Jinshi “I know.”

壬氏（洗練された所作、天女の笑み、蜂蜜の声。後宮が現帝のものになった5年前に宦官となった、齢２４の男、それが壬氏なのだ。壬氏の仮面をかぶると決めてから、こうして毎日、男でなくす薬を飲み続けている）

Jinshi (Senren sareta shosa, ten’nyo’no emi, hachi-mitsuno koe. Kokyuga gen-teino mononi natta go-nen-maeni kanganto natta, yowai niju-yon’no otoko, sorega Jinshi nanoda. Jinshino kamen’o kaburuto kimete-kara, ko-shite mai-nichi, otokode nakusu kusuri’o nomi-tsuzukete-iru.)

Jinshi (Refined mannerisms, heavenly smiles, and a voice like honey. The ‘twenty-four-year-old’ man who became a eunuch when the rear palace became the current emperor’s, five years ago. That’s ‘Jinshi.’ From the day I decided to wear this mask. I’ve been drinking this medicine to suppress my manhood every day.)

高順「そのうち、本当に不能になりますよ…」

Gaoshun “Sono-uchi, hontoni funoni nari-masuyo…”

Gaoshun “It will make you actually impotent one day.”

壬氏「ぶーっ！お前だって同じだろ」

Jinshi “Buuu! Omae datte onaji daro.”

Jinshi “Hey, same with you!”

高順「子はもう成人していますし、先日、孫がもう一人生まれました」

Gaoshun “Kowa mo seijin shite-imasushi, sen-jitsu, magoga mo-hitori umare-mashita.”

Gaoshun “My children are adults now. I even have another grandchild.”

壬氏「孫って、上の息子の方か？」

Jinshi “Magotte, ueno musukono-hoka?”

Jinshi “A grandchild? From your older son?”

高順「はい。末の息子も、そろそろ嫁を貰ってもいいのですが」

Gaoshun “Hai. Sueno musukomo, soro-soro yomeo morattemo iino-desuga.”

Gaoshun “Yes. My youngest son is ready to get married too, but…”

壬氏「末子って馬閃だろ？まだ１９じゃないか」

Jinshi “Masshitte Basen daro? Mada ju-ku-ja naika.”

Jinshi “By youngest, you mean Basen? He’s only nineteen.”

高順「ええ、あなた様と同じ、１９です」

Gaoshun “Ee, anata-samato onaji, ju-ku desu.”

Gaoshun “Yes, nineteen, just like you.”

壬氏「あ…宦官壬氏は２４だが？」

Jinshi “‘A…Kangan Jinshi’wa niju-yon daga?”

Jinshi “‘Jinshi the eunuch’ is twenty-four.”

高順「ハァ…」

Gaoshun “Haa…”

壬氏「さっさとお手付きを作って、こんな仕事終わらせろとでも言いたげだな？」

Jinshi “Sassato otetsuki’o tsukutte, konna shigoto owa-rasero-to-demo iitage-dana?”

Jinshi “Your look is telling me to find a wife and end this work.”

高順「早く孫を抱かせてください」

Gaoshun “Hayaku mago’o dakasete kudasai.”

Gaoshun “I’d like to have time to spend with my grandchild.”

壬氏「…努力する」

Jinshi “…Doryoku suru.”

Jinshi “I’ll do my best.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

楼蘭妃「ごきげんよう、壬氏様」

Roran-hi “Gokigen-yo, Jinshi-sama.”

Concubine Loulan “Greetings, Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「今日もまた、素敵な衣装ですね」

Jinshi “Kyomo mata, sutekina isho desune.”

Jinshi “Another wonderful outfit, I see.”

楼蘭妃「ありがとうございます」

Roran-hi “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Concubine Loulan “Thank you.”

壬氏（主上は楼蘭妃のもとに通ってはいるが、あまり食指が動かないという。楼蘭妃はかなりの洒落者で、髪も化粧もころころ変わる。訪れるたびに妃が誰か分からなくなり、混乱するそうだ。それでも10日に一度は通うことにしているらしい。楼蘭妃の父親が、先の皇太后に気に入られた重臣であり、下手に扱うわけにはいかないからだ。）

Jinshi (Shujowa Roran-hino motoni kayottewa iruga, amari shokushiga ugoka-naito iu. Roran-hiwa kanarino share-monode, kamimo keshomo koro-koro kawaru. Otozureru-tabini kisakiga dareka wakara-naku-nari, konran suru-soda. Sore-demo tookani ichidowa kayou kotoni shite-iru rashii. Roran-hino chichi-oyaga, Sakino kotaigoni kini irareta jushinde ari, hetani atsukau wake-niwa ikanai karada.)

Jinshi (The emperor does visit Concubine Loulan often, but apparently, he doesn’t find her very appealing. Concubine Loulan is very fashionable, changing her hairstyle and makeup often. Apparently, he can’t tell who she is every time he visits her, and gets confused. Still, he visits her once every ten days. Concubine Loulan’s father is an important high-ranking official who was the previous empress dowager’s favorite. He needs to be careful around her.)

壬氏（乗り気でないと言えば、里樹妃も同じだ。先の帝の幼児趣味を嫌悪している今の皇帝は、里樹妃に手を出すつもりはなさそうだ。少女のころに今の皇帝を産んだ皇太后は、その十数年後、もう一人子を産んでいる。その際、医官は皇太后につきっきりになり、何事もなく無事に出産を終えた。だが、阿多妃の出産は皇太后の出産と重なったためにないがしろにされ、結果、阿多妃は子宮を失い、今の皇帝の初めての皇子も、まもなく亡くなった。もし、その時の子が、今、生きていれば……くだらぬ妄想だ。さっさと次の東宮をこしらえてしまえばいい…）

Jinshi (Nori-kide-nai-to ieba, Rīshu-himo onajida. Sakino mikadono yoji-shumi’o ken’o shite-iru imano koteiwa, Rīshu-hini teo dasu tsumoriwa nasa-soda. Shojono koroni imano kotei’o unda kotaigowa, sono ju-su-nengo, mo-hitori ko’o unde-iru. Sono-sai, ikanwa kotaigoni tsukikkirini nari, nani-gotomo naku bujini shussan’o oeta. Daga, Āduo-hino shussanwa kotaigono shussanto kasanatta-tameni naigashironi sare, kekka, Āduo-hiwa shikyu’o ushinai, imano koteino hajimeteno mikomo, mamonaku naku-natta. Moshi, sono tokino koga, ima, ikite-ireba……kudaranu mosoda. Sassato tsugino togu’o koshiraete shimaeba ii…)

Jinshi (In terms of lacking appeal, Concubine Lishu is similar. The current emperor despises his predecessor’s taste for younger girls. He doesn’t intend to lay a finger on Concubine Lishu. The empress dowager, who gave birth to the current emperor when she was just a girl, also gave birth to another child, some ten-odd years later. At that time, the doctor spent all his time tending to the empress dowager, so the birth took place without an issue. However, Concubine Ah-Duo, who gave birth at around the same time, received no attention, resulting in the loss of her uterus. The current emperor’s firstborn child was lost soon after. If that child had survived… No, it’s just a silly delusion. He just needs to make himself a new prince.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

玉葉妃「ああ…来たのね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Aa… Kita-none.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “Oh, you’re here.”

壬氏「ずいぶんとお疲れのようですが…」

Jinshi “Zuibunto otsukareno yodesuga…”

Jinshi “You seem exhausted.”

紅娘「はいはい、あなたたちはお仕事に戻って」

Hon’nyan “Hai-hai, anata-tachiwa oshigotoni modotte.”

Hongniang “All right, back to work with you all.”

3人「は、はい…」

San-nin “Ha, Hai…”

Three ladies-in-waiting “Y-Yes.”

玉葉妃「実は…」

Gyokuyo-hi “Jitsuwa…”

Concubine Gyokuyou “To be honest…”

壬氏「あ…」

Jinshi “A…”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「後宮ですか？」

Maomao “Kokyu desuka?”

Maomao “The rear palace?”

壬氏「ああ。玉葉妃の月の道が途絶えているらしい」

Jinshi “Aa. Gyokuyo-hino tsukino michiga todaete-iru rashii.”

Jinshi “Yes. Concubine Gyokuyou’s lunar cycle has stopped.”

猫猫（月の道…すなわち妊娠の可能性があると）

Maomao (Tsukino michi… Sunawachi ninshin’no kanoseiga aruto.)

Maomao (Lunar cycle. In other words, she might be pregnant.)

猫猫「いつからでしょうか？」

Maomao “Itsu-kara deshoka?”

Maomao “Starting when?”

壬氏「今日からでも行けるか？」

Jinshi “Kyo-kara-demo ikeruka?”

Jinshi “Can you start today?”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

壬氏「頼んだぞ」

Jinshi “Tanondazo.”

Jinshi “I’m counting on you.”

猫猫（むしろ都合がいい。後宮内は男子禁制。名前も聞きたくないあれと顔を合わせることはないだろう。…もしかして、気を遣ってくれたのだろうか？どちらにせよ、また毒見役…フフッ）

Maomao (Mushiro tsugoga ii. Kokyu-naiwa danshi-kinsei. Namaemo kikitaku-nai areto kao’o awaseru kotowa naidaro. …Moshika-shite, kio tsukatte kuretano-daroka? Dochirani seyo, mata dokumi-yaku…fufu.)

Maomao (This is a good opportunity for me. Men aren’t allowed in the rear palace. There’s no chance I’d run into that man whose name I can’t even stand to hear. Does this mean Master Jinshi is looking out for me? At any rate, more tasting for poisons!)

水蓮「あら、機嫌がいいのね？」

Suiren “Ara, kigenga ii-none?”

Suiren “Oh, you’re in a good mood.”

猫猫「えっ、いえ、そんなことは…」

Maomao “E, ie, sonna kotowa…”

Maomao “Huh? No, not at all!”

水蓮「フフッ、残念ね…せっかく鍛えがいがある子が入ってきたと思ったのに…ねえ？」

Suiren “Fufu, zan’nen’ne… Sekkaku kitae-gaino aru koga haitte-kitato omotta-noni…Nee?”

Suiren “It’s unfortunate. I thought I’d finally found someone worth cracking the whip on. Right?”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（久しぶりの後宮生活は、以前と変わらず。毒見の毎日を過ごしている）

Maomao (Hisashi-burino kokyu-seikatsuwa, izento kawarazu. Dokumino mai-nichi’o sugoshite-iru.)

Maomao (Life at the rear palace is similar to the last time, tasting for poisons every day.)

猫猫「問題ありません」

Maomao “Mondai ari-masen.”

Maomao “This is safe.”

猫猫（月経が来ていないこと以外、これといった確証はない。阿多妃の件でも思ったが、ただの好色おやじじゃないのかもしれない…）

Maomao (Gekkeiga kite-inai-koto-igai, koreto itta kakushowa nai. Āduo-hino ken-demo omottaga, tadano koshoku-oyajija naino-kamo shirenai…)

Maomao (Besides the pause in her menstrual cycle, there’s no definite evidence. I’d had this thought during the events with Concubine Ah-Duo, but perhaps he’s more than just a lewd middle-aged guy.)

猫猫（相談役としても心強かった阿多妃が去り、代わりに入内してきたのは、宮廷にすら影響を与えかねない変わり者の娘…むげにもできず、だからといって子ができても厄介。頭の痛い話だろうな…）

Maomao (Sodan-yakuto-shitemo kokoro-zuyokatta Āduo-higa sari, kawarini judai shite-kita-nowa, kyuteini-sura eikyo’o atae-kanenai kawari-monono musume… Muge-nimo dekizu, dakarato itte koga deki-temo yakkai. Atamano itai hanashi darona…)

Maomao (With Concubine Ah-Duo gone as a trusted adviser, and replaced by a quirky girl who could cause political issues, as well… Someone he can’t just ignore, yet would cause trouble if she birthed a child… It all sounds like a headache.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

禿「ねえねえ、聞いた？」

Kamuro “Nee-nee, kiita?”

Serving girl “Hey, did you hear?”

禿「えっ、三姫の一人が？」

Kamuro “E, San-Himeno hitoriga?”

Serving girl “What? One of the Three Princesses?”

禿「そう、身請けされるんだって」

Kamuro “So, miuke sarerun-datte.”

Serving girl “Yes! She’s getting bought out!”

李白「身請け…」

Rihaku “Miuke…”

Lihaku “Bought… out?”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　

(Continue to episode 21)

[apothecaryscript]

Calendar and dates

・Year/month/week/date

[apothecaryscript]

Japanese words about "time"

< second : 秒（びょう/byo) >

one second : 一秒（いちびょう/ichi-byo)　→More!

for one second : 一秒間（いちびょうかん/ichi-byo-kan)

several seconds : 数秒（すうびょう/su-byo)

5 meters per second : 秒速５メートル(びょうそく5メートル/byo-soku go-mētoru)

< minute : 分（ふん/fun) >

one minute : 一分（いっぷん/ippun)　→More!

several minutes : 数分（すうふん/su-fun)

for one minute : 一分間（いっぷんかん/ippun-kan)

Wait a minute. : ちょっと待って（ちょっとまって/Chotto matte.)

*Because Japanese people are very punctual, if you say "Wait 'a minute:ippun'", maybe we think you'll really come back within 2 minutes. So it's better to say "ちょっと(chotto)：a little”.

< hour : 時間（じかん/jikan) >

for one hour : 一時間（いちじかん/ichi-jikan) →More!

several hours : 数時間（すうじかん/su-jikan)

How many hours does it take from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen？；

東京から大阪まで新幹線で何時間かかりますか？

とうきょうから おおさかまで しんかんせんで なんじかん かかりますか？

Tokyo-kara Osaka-made Shinkansende nan-jikan kakari-masuka?

It takes 2 and a half to 3 hours: 2時間半から3時間かかります（にじかんはんからさんじかんかかります/Ni-jikan-han-kara san-jikan kakari-masu.)

< time : 時刻（じこく/jikoku) >

one o'clock : 一時（いちじ/ichi-ji)

two o'clock : 二時（にじ/ni-ji)

three o'clock : 三時（さんじ/san-ji)

four o'clock : 四時（よじ/yo-ji) 　×よんじ

five o'clock : 五時（ごじ/go-ji)

six o'clock :六時（ろくじ/roku-ji)

seven o'clock : 七時（しちじ/shiji-ji or ななじ/nana-ji)

eight o'clock : 八時（はちじ/hachi-ji)

nine o'clock : 九時（くじ/ku-ji) 　×きゅうじ

ten o'clock : 十時（じゅうじ/ju-ji)

eleven o'clock : 十一時（じゅういちじ/ju-ichi-ji)

twelve o'clock : 十二時（じゅうにじ/ju-ni-ji)

a.m. : 午前（ごぜん/gozen)

p.m. : 午後（ごご/gogo)

morning : 朝（あさ/asa)

noon : 正午（しょうご/shogo) 、昼の１２時(ひるのじゅうにじ/hiruno ju-ni-ji)

*We say "昼（ひる/hiru)" for around noon - afternoon.

evening : 夕方(ゆうがた/yugata)

*It depens on the person, but I mean around 16:00 - 18:59 by 夕方（ゆうがた/yugata).

night : 夜（よる/yoru)

*It depends on the person, but I mean after 19:00 by 夜(よる/yoru).

What time is it now? : 今は何時ですか？(いまはなんじですか？/Imawa nanji desuka?)

It's 9:30 at night. : 夜の9時半です(よるのくじはんです/Yoruno kuji-han desu.)

It's 7:45 in the morning. : 朝の７時45分です（あさのしちじよんじゅうごふんです/Asano shichi-ji yonju-go-fun desu.)

*We usually say "shichi-ji" for 7:00 and say "nana-ji" only when we want to emphasize that it's 7:00 and not 1:00.

< day : 日（にち/nichi) >

one day : 一日（いちにち/ichi-nichi)　→ More！

half day : 半日（はんにち/han-nichi)

everyday : 毎日（まいにち/mai-nichi)

today : 今日（きょう/kyo) or 本日（ほんじつ/hon-jitsu)

tomorrow : 明日（あした/ashita or あす/asu)

the day after tomorrow : 明後日（あさって/asatte or みょうごにち/myo-go-nichi)

two days after tomorrow : 明明後日(しあさって/shiasatte or みょうみょうごにち/myo-myo-gonichi)

yesterday : 昨日（きのう/kino or さくじつ/saku-jitsu)

the day before yesterday : 一昨日（おととい/ototoi or いっさくじつ/issaku-jitsu)

two days before yesterday : 一昨昨日（さきおととい/saki-ototoi or いっさくさくじつ/issaku-saku-jitsu)

three days later : 三日後（みっかご/mikka-go)

five days before : 五日前（いつかまえ/itsuka-mae)

< date : 日付（ひづけ/hizuke) >

1st day of each month : 一日（ついたち/tsuitachi)　→More!

January 1st : 一月一日（いちがつついたち/Ichi-gatsu tsuitachi)

What is the date today? : 今日は何月何日ですか？（きょうはなんがつなんにちですか？/Kyowa nan-gatsu nan-nichi desuka?)

＊You can ask just ”今日は何日ですか？（きょうはなんにちですか？/Kyowa nan-nichi desuka?)" if you don't need month.

*You can ask "今日は何年何月何日ですか？（きょうはなんねんなんがつなんにちですか？/Kyowa nan-nen nan-gatsu nan-nichi desuka?)" if you need year, too.

When is your birthday? : あなたの誕生日はいつですか？（あなたのたんじょうびは、いつですか？/Anatano tanjobiwa itsu desuka?)

It's December 30th. : 12月30日です（じゅうにがつさんじゅうにちです/Ju-ni-gatsu san-ju-nichi desu.)

< week : 週（しゅう/shu) >

one week : 一週間（いっしゅうかん/isshukan)　→More!

every week : 毎週（まいしゅう/mai-shu)

every two weeks : 隔週（かくしゅう/kaku-shu)

this week : 今週（こんしゅう/kon-shu)

next week : 来週（らいしゅう/rai-shu)

the week after next : 再来週（さらいしゅう/sa-raishu)

last week : 先週（せんしゅう/sen-shu)

the week before last : 先々週（せんせんしゅう/sen-sen-shu)

the 2nd week of next month : 来月の第二週（らいげつのだいにしゅう/rai-getsuno dai-ni-shu)

< day of the week : 曜日（ようび/yobi) >

Please remember kanji "月火水木金土日” and the pronunciation "Getsu-Ka-Sui-Moku-Kin-Do-Nichi" in the right order. "ようび(Yobi)" is also said as just "よう(yo)", like "げつよう(Getsu-yo)", and we often even omit ようび(yobi) when we talk, like "土日(Do-Nichi):weekend" or "月水金(Getsu-Sui-Kin or Gessuikin):Mon, Wed, Fri".

Monday : 月曜日（げつようび/Getsu-yobi)

Tuesday : 火曜日（かようび/Ka-yobi)

Wednesday : 水曜日（すいようび/Sui-yobi)

Thursday : 木曜日（もくようび/Moku-yobi)

Friday : 金曜日（きんようび/Kin-yobi)

Saturday : 土曜日（どようび/Do-yobi)

Sunday : 日曜日（にちようび/Nichi-yobi)

Weekday : 平日（へいじつ/hei-jitsu)

Weekend : 週末（しゅうまつ/Shu-matsu)

What day is today? : 今日は何曜日ですか？（きょうはなんようびですか？/Kyowa nan-yobi desuka?)

Tomorrow is Sunday so I have the day off: 明日は日曜日だから、私は休みです（あしたはにちようびだから、わたしはやすみです/Ashitawa Nichi-yobi dakara, watashiwa yasumi desu.)

< month : 月（つき/tsuki) >

one month : 一か月（いっかげつ/ikkagetsu）or ひと月(hito-tsuki)

two months : 二か月（にかげつ/ni-kagetsu) or ふた月(futa-tsuki)

three months : 三か月（さんかげつ/san-kagetsu) or み月(mi-tsuki)

Beyond that, we usually use ”かげつ(kagetsu)" and hardly use "つき(tsuki)" which is the old way of counting.

→More!

January : 一月（いちがつ/Ichi-gatsu)

February : 二月（にがつ/Ni-gatsu)

March : 三月（さんがつ/San-gatsu)

April : 四月（しがつ/Shi-gatsu)

May : 五月（ごがつ/Go-gatsu)

June : 六月（ろくがつ/Roku-gatsu)

July : 七月（しちがつ/Shichi-gatsu or なながつ/Nana-gatsu)

*We usually say "shichi-gatsu" for July and say "nana-gatsu" only when we want to emphasize that it's July and not January(Ichi-gatsu).

August : 八月（はちがつ/Hachi-gatsu)

September : 九月（くがつ/Ku-gatsu)

October : 十月（じゅうがつ/Ju-gatsu)

November : 十一月（じゅういちがつ/Ju-ichi-gatsu)

December : 十二月（じゅうにがつ/Ju-ni-gatsu)

< year : 年（ねん/nen) >

one year : 一年（いちねん/ichi-nen) 　→More!

for one year : 一年間（いちねんかん/ichi-nen-kan)

half a year : 半年（はんとし/han-toshi)

every year : 毎年（まいとし/mai-toshi)

this year : 今年（ことし/kotoshi)、本年（ほんねん/hon-nen)

next year : 来年（らいねん/rai-nen)

the year after next : 再来年(さらいねん/sa-rainen)

last year : 去年（きょねん/kyonen) or 昨年（さくねん/saku-nen)

the year before last : 一昨年（おととし/ototoshi or いっさくねん/issakunen)

*When you say きょねん/kyonen, don't say きょうねん/kyo-nen although it looks almost same in romaji, because we have the word kyounen（享年/きょうねん）which means the age when the person died.

in 2024 : 2024年に（にせんにじゅうよねんに/nisen-niju-yo-nen-ni)

[apothecaryscript]

How to read calendar dates in Japanese

I’m writing with regular numbers here, but we also use Kanji numbers for dates. Either is OK, but if it’s a two-digit number, regular numbers are easier for us to read.

1st : 1日（ついたち/tsuitachi）　　×いちにち

2nd : 2日（ふつか/futsuka） 　　×ににち

3rd : 3日（みっか/mikka）　　　×さんにち

4th : 4日（よっか/yokka）　　　×よんにち、しにち

5th : 5日（いつか/itsuka）　　×ごにち

6th : 6日（むいか/muika）　　×ろくにち

7th : 7日（なのか/nanoka）　×ななにち、しちにち

8th : 8日（ようか/yoka）　　×はちにち

9th : 9日（ここのか/kokonoka）　×きゅうにち、くにち

10th : 10日(とおか/tooka)  ×じゅうにち、とうか(Although the pronunciation is almost same, don’t write とうか.)

11th : 11日（じゅういちにち/ju-ichi-nichi）

12th : 12日（じゅうににち/ju-ni-nichi）

13th : 13日（じゅうさんにち/ju-san-nichi）

14th : 14日（じゅうよっか/ju-yokka）×じゅうよんにち、じゅうしにち

15th : 15日（じゅうごにち/ju-go-nichi）

16th : 16日（じゅうろくにち/ju-roku-nichi）

17th : 17日（じゅうななにち/ju-nana-nichi）　〇じゅうしちにち（Ju-shichi-nichi） It’s right but confusing with 11th.

18th : 18日（じゅうはちにち/ju-hachi-nichi）

19th : 19日（じゅうくにち/ju-ku-nichi）　×じゅうきゅうにち

20th : 20日（はつか/hatsuka）　　×にじゅうにち

21st : 21日（にじゅういちにち/niju-ichi-nichi）　

22nd : 22日（にじゅうににち/niju-ni-nichi）

23rd : 23日（にじゅうさんにち/niju-san-nichi）

24th : 24日（にじゅうよっか）　×にじゅうよんにち

25th : 25日（にじゅうごにち/niju-go-nichi）

26th : 26日（にじゅうろくにち/niju-roku-nichi）

27th : 27日（にじゅうななにち/niju-nana-nichi） 〇にじゅうしちにち(Niju-shichi-nichi) Right but confusing with 21st.

28th : 28日（にじゅうはちにち/niju-hachi-nichi）

29th : 29日（にじゅうくにち/niju-ku-nichi） 　×にじゅうきゅうにち

30th : 30日(さんじゅうにち/sanju-nichi)

31st : 31日（さんじゅういちにち/sanju-ichi-nichi）

[apothecaryscript]

How to count years in Japanese

one year : 一年（いちねん/ichi-nen）

two years : 二年（にねん/ni-nen）

three years : 三年（さんねん/san-nen）

four years : 四年（よねん/yo-nen）×よんねん、しねん

five years : 五年（ごねん/go-nen）

six years : 六年（ろくねん/roku-nen）

seven years : 七年（ななねん/nana-nen）〇しちねん(It’s right but confusing with いちねん)

eight years : 八年（はちねん/hachi-nen）

nine years : 九年（きゅうねん/kyu-nen or くねん/kunen）

ten years : 十年（じゅうねん/ju-nen）

　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count months in Japanese

*Although I’m writing “か月” here, we can also use “カ月” “ヵ月” “ヶ月” “ケ月” “箇月”, and we read as “kagetsu” in any way. (“ケ” is usually read as “ke” but in this case we read as “ka”.)

one month : 一か月（いっかげつ/ikkagetsu）　　×いちかげつ

　　　　　or ひと月（ひとつき/hito-tsuki)

two monts : 二か月（にかげつ/ni-kagetsu）

　　　　　or ふた月（ふたつき/futa-tsuki)

three months : 三か月（さんかげつ/san-kagetsu）

　　　 or みつき（mi-tsuki)

four months : 四か月（よんかげつ/yon-kagetsu）　×しかげつ

five months : 五か月（ごかげつ/go-kagetsu）

six months : 六か月（ろっかげつ/rokkagetsu）　　×ろくかげつ

seven months : 七か月（ななかげつ/nana-kagetsu）△しちかげつ

eight months : 八か月（はちかげつ/hachi-kagetsu or はっかげつ/hakkagetsu）

nine months : 九か月（きゅうかげつ/kyu-kagetsu）　×くかげつ

ten months : 十か月（じゅっかげつ/jukkagetsu or じっかげつ/jikkagetsu）　×じゅうかげつ

　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count weeks in Japanese

one week : 一週間（いっしゅうかん/isshukan）  ×いちしゅうかん

two weeks : 二週間（にしゅうかん/ni-shukan）　

three weeks : 三週間（さんしゅうかん/san-shukan）

four weeks : 四週間（よんしゅうかん/yon-shukan）　×ししゅうかん

five weeks : 五週間（ごしゅうかん/go-shukan）

six weeks : 六週間（ろくしゅうかん/roku-shukan）

seven weeks : 七週間（ななしゅうかん/nana-shukan）　×しちしゅうかん

eight weeks : 八週間（はっしゅうかん/hasshukan）　　×はちしゅうかん

nine weeks : 九週間（きゅうしゅうかん/kyu-shukan）　×くしゅうかん

ten weeks : 十週間（じゅっしゅうかん/jusshukan）　　×じゅうしゅうかん

　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count days in Japanese

1 day : 1日（いちにち/ichi-nichi）　

2 days : 2日（ふつか/futsuka）　 　×ににち

3 days : 3日（みっか/mikka）　　　　×さんにち

4 days : 4日（よっか/yokka）　　　　×よんにち、しにち

5 days : 5日（いつか/itsuka）　　　×ごにち

6 days : 6日（むいか/muika）　　　　×ろくにち

7 days : 7日（なのか/nanoka）　　　×ななにち、しちにち

8 days : 8日（ようか/yoka）　　　　×はちにち

9 days : 9日（ここのか/kokonoka）　×きゅうにち、くにち

10 days : 10日（とおか/tooka）　　　×じゅうにち、とうか(Pronunciation is almost same but don’t write とうか)

11 days : 11日（じゅういちにち/ju-ichi-nichi）

12 days : 12日（じゅうににち/ju-ni-nichi）

13 days : 13日（じゅうさんにち/ju-san-nichi）

14 days : 14日（じゅうよっか/ju-yokka）×じゅうよんにち

15 days : 15日（じゅうごにち/ju-go-nichi）

16 days : 16日（じゅうろくにち/ju-roku-nichi）

17 days : 17日（じゅうななにち/ju-nana-nichi）　〇じゅうしちにち（Ju-shichi-nichi） It’s right but confusing with 11.

18 days : 18日（じゅうはちにち/ju-hachi-nichi）

19 days : 19日（じゅうくにち/ju-ku-nichi）　×じゅうきゅうにち

20 days : 20日（はつか/hatsuka）　×にじゅうにち

21 days : 21日（にじゅういちにち/niju-ichi-nichi）

22 days : 22日（にじゅうににち/niju-ni-nichi）

23 days : 23日（にじゅうさんにち/niju-san-nichi）

24 days : 24日（にじゅうよっか/niju-yokka）×にじゅうよんにち

25 days : 25日（にじゅうごにち/niju-go-nichi）

26 days : 26日（にじゅうろくにち/niju-roku-nichi）

27 days : 27日（にじゅうななにち/niju-nana-nichi）  〇にじゅうしちにち(Niju-shichi-nichi) Right but confusing with 21.

28 days : 28日（にじゅうはちにち/niju-hachi-nichi）

29 days : 29日（にじゅうくにち/niju-ku-nichi）

30 days : 30日（さんじゅうにち/sanju-nichi）

31 days : 31日（さんじゅういちにち/sanju-ichi-nichi）

Beyond that, we don't have a clear answer because we don't have so many opportunities to use it, as we can count with month, for example "1 month and 5 days", etc.

But I've seen some information about 〇4 numbers such as 34 or 44 are read as さんじゅうよんにち、よんじゅうよんにち, not さんじゅうよっか、よんじゅうよっか that confused me a lot... So I stopped thinking about it for now.

[apothecaryscript]

How to count hours in Japanese

one hour : 一時間（いちじかん/ichi-jikan）

two hours : 二時間（にじかん/ni-jikan）

three hours : 三時間（さんじかん/san-jikan）

four hours : 夜時間（よじかん/yo-jikan)　×よんじかん、しじかん

five hours : 五時間（ごじかん/go-jikan）

six hours : 六時間（ろくじかん/roku-jikan）

seven hours : 七時間（ななじかん/nana-jikan）  〇しちじかん(It’s right but confusing with いち.)

eight hours : 八時間（はちじかん/hachi-jikan）

nine hours : 九時間(くじかん/ku-jikan) 　　　×きゅうじかん

ten hours : 十時間(じゅうじかん/ju-jikan)

　　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count minutes in Japanese

one minute : 一分（いっぷん/ippun）　　　×いちふん

two minutes : 二分(にふん/ni-fun)

three minutes : 三分（さんぷん/san-pun）　　△さんふん

four minutes : 四分（よんぷん/yon-pun）　　△よんふん

five minutes : 五分（ごふん/go-fun）

six minutes : 六分（ろっぷん/roppun）　×ろくふん

seven minutes : 七分（ななふん/nana-fun）〇しちふん(It’s right but confusing with いち)

eight minutes : 八分（はっぷん/happun、はちふん/hachi-fun）

nine minutes : 九分（きゅうふん/kyu-fun）×くふん

ten minutes : 十分（じゅっぷん/juppun）　×じゅうふん

　　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

How to count seconds in Japanese

one second : 一秒（いちびょう/ichi-byo）

two seconds : 二秒（にびょう/ni-byo）

three seconds : 三秒（さんびょう/san-byo）

four seconds : 四秒（よんびょう/yon-byo） ×しびょう、よびょう

five seconds : 五秒（ごびょう/go-byo）

six seconds : 六秒(ろくびょう/roku-byo)

seven seconds : 七秒（ななびょう/nana-byo）　△しちびょう (confusing with いちびょう/ichi-byo.)

eight seconds : 八秒（はちびょう/hachi-byo）

nine seconds : 九秒（きゅうびょう/kyu-byo）   ×くびょう

ten seconds : 十秒（じゅうびょう/ju-byo）

　:

(The last digit of any number beyond that is the same as above.)

[apothecaryscript]

Unlucky Numbers in Japan

When we count something, we read it in slightly different ways depending on the combination of the number and unit. One reason is that some words that were difficult to pronounce have changed to become easier. Another reason is that Japanese people dislike the numbers 4 and 9, because the pronunciation of 4(shi) is the same as 死(shi: death), and 9(ku) is the same as 苦（ku: suffering）.

I think 13 is said to be unlucky in Christian countries such as Europe and America. Here in Japan, 4 and 9 are often excluded from room numbers in apartments, hospitals, and hotels.

Even Japanese people often make mistakes in the different pronunciations of the counting methods I’m going to introduce, so I don’t think you foreigners need to memorize them all. In fact, some of the information posted here may be incorrect due to my own misunderstanding that I haven’t recognized yet.

But anyway, I hope these information will be useful for your understanding of Japanese.

Next, I will post how to count units of time from seconds to years in Japanese.

Please note that Kanji numbers are often only used from 1 to 10. Beyond that, we use regular numbers just like you.

[apothecaryscript]

Episode 19 : Chance or Something More / 第19話『偶然か必然か(Guzenka Hitsuzenka)』

高順「それから、本日の予定ですが、午後に中祀が行われますので」

Gaoshun “Sorekara, hon-jitsuno yotei desuga, gogoni chushiga okonaware-masu-node.”

Gaoshun “Also, regarding today’s schedule, there will be a medium ceremony in the afternoon.”

壬氏「ああ」

Jinshi “Aa.”

Jinshi “Yeah.”

高順「何をお考えかは大体想像がつきますが、��事のこともお忘れなく」

Gaoshun “Nanio okangae-kawa daitai sozoga tsuki-masuga, shigotono kotomo owasure-naku.”

Gaoshun “I think I know what’s on your mind. But please, don’t forget about work.”

壬氏「分かっている」

Jinshi “Wakatte-iru.”

Jinshi “I know.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「李白様…どうしました？」

Maomao “Rihaku-sama… Do shimashita?”

Maomao “Master Lihaku, what’s wrong?”

李白「困ったことが起きた」

Rihaku “Komatta kotoga okita.”

Lihaku “We have a problem.”

猫猫「困ったこと…ですか？」

Maomao “Komatta-koto…desuka?”

Maomao “Trouble, is it?”

李白「前に、倉庫で小火(ぼや)があったろ？」

Rihaku “Maeni, sokode boyaga attaro?”

Lihaku “Remember that fire at the warehouse?”

猫猫「あ…」

Maomao “A…”

Maomao “Ah.”

李白「同じ日に、別の倉庫で盗みがあったみたいなんだ。あの時の騒ぎに乗じたとしか考えられない」

Rihaku “Onaji hini, betsuno sokode nusumiga atta-mitai nanda. Ano tokino sawagini jojita to-shika kangae-rare-nai.”

Lihaku “Apparently, a thief broke in to a different warehouse on the same day. I’m sure they were taking advantage of all the chaos at that time.”

猫猫「火事場泥棒ですか…何が盗まれたんです？…ん？」

Maomao “Kajiba-dorobo desuka… Naniga nusumare-tan-desu? …N?”

Maomao “A looting. What got stolen?”

猫猫（人目を避けた方がいい話題か…ちらっ）

Maomao (Hitomeo saketa-hoga ii wadaika… Chira.)

Maomao (Not something to discuss openly, it seems. Sneak.)

李白「祭具がなくなったんだよ…しかも、一つじゃないらしい」

Rihaku “Saiguga nakunattan-dayo… Shikamo, hitotsuja nai rashii.”

Lihaku “Ceremonial tools. And not just one.”

猫猫「そんなずさんな管理だったんですか？」

Maomao “Sonna zusanna kanri dattan-desuka?”

Maomao “Were they being managed that haphazardly?”

李白「いや、俺も分かんねえんだよ…ちょうど今詳しい管理者がいなくてな。去年亡くなったらしいんだよ」

Rihaku “Iya, oremo wakan-neen-dayo… Chodo ima kuwashii kanrishaga inakutena. Kyonen nakunatta rashiin-dayo.”

Lihaku “Well, I don’t really know. There’s no knowledgeable managers right now. The last one passed away last year.”

猫猫「今の管理者は？基本は把握しているのでしょう？」

Maomao “Imano kanrishawa? Kihonwa haaku shite-iruno-desho?”

Maomao “What about the current manager? He must know the basics, right?”

李白「それが、ちょっと前に食中毒になっちまったらしくて…」

Rihaku “Sorega, chotto maeni shoku-chudokuni nacchimatta rashikute…”

Lihaku “Well, he got food poisoning awhile back.”

猫猫「食中毒？」

Maomao “Shoku-chudoku?”

Maomao “Food poisoning?”

李白「好物の海藻に当たったまんま、意識が戻んなくて、仕事に復帰できねえ状態だから、困っちまったよ」

Rihaku “Kobutsuno kaisoni atatta manma, ishikiga modon-nakute, shigotoni fukki deki-nee jotai dakara, komacchimattayo.”

Lihaku “His favorite seaweed made him sick and he hasn’t woken up. He can’t come back to work. Trouble, right?”

猫猫（…どこかで聞いた話だ）

Maomao (…Dokokade kiita hanashida.)

Maomao (Where have I heard that before?)

猫猫「それってもしかして、珍味好きの官吏の話ですか？」

Maomao “Sorette moshika-shite, chinmi-zukino kanrino hanashi desuka?”

Maomao “Was it that official who likes rare foods?”

李白「なんで知ってるんだ？」

Rihaku “Nande shitterunda?”

Lihaku “How did you know?”

猫猫「いろいろありまして…」

Maomao “Iro-iro ari-mashite…”

Maomao “A lot happened.”

猫猫（小火と同時に起きた窃盗…倉庫の管理者は同じ時期に食中毒で不在…偶然にしては不可解だ）

Maomao (Boyato dojini okita setto… Sokono kanrishawa onaji jikini shoku-chudokude fuzai… Guzenni shitewa fukakaida.)

Maomao (Theft at the time of a fire. The warehouse manager is missing due to food poisoning. It’s a bit too suspicious to be a coincidence.)

猫猫「その、去年亡くなった管理者は、どのような方でしたか？」

Maomao “Sono, kyonen nakunatta kanrishawa dono-yona kata deshitaka?”

Maomao “Who was the manager who passed away last year?”

李白「うーん…堅物で有名なおっさんだったのは覚えてるんだけど…名前が出てこねえ。甘党だったとか、そういうのは覚えてるんだけど…」

Rihaku “Ūn… Katabutsude yumeina ossan datta-nowa oboeterun-dakedo… Namaega dete-konee. Amato datta-toka so-iu-nowa oboeterun-dakedo…”

Lihaku “Hmm. I remember that he was famous for being really by-the-book. I forgot his name. I remember he had a sweet tooth and things like that, but…”

猫猫「もしかして…浩然様ではないでしょうか？」

Maomao “Moshika-shite…Konen-sama-dewa nai-deshoka?”

Maomao “Was it Master Kounen, by chance?”

李白「あっ！それだ、それ！…っておい、なんでお前知ってんだよ」

Rihaku “A! Soreda, sore! …Tte oi, nande omae shitten-dayo.”

Lihaku “Oh, that’s it! Hey, how’d you know?”

猫猫「いろいろありまして…」

Maomao “Iro-iro ari-mashite…”

Maomao “A lot happened.”

猫猫（以前、壬氏様から聞いた甘党の堅物高官、塩の過剰摂取で死んだ男だ。…これが全て偶然の重なり？一つ一つは事故に見えるが、もし何かの目的のために、わざと引き起こされたものだとしたら…）

Maomao (Izen, Jinshi-sama-kara kiita amatono katabutsu-kokan, Shiono kajo-sesshude shinda otokoda. …Korega subete guzenno kasanari? Hitotsu-hitotsuwa jikoni mieruga, moshi nanikano mokutekino tameni, wazato hikioko-sareta-mono dato shitara…)

Maomao (Master Jinshi told me about the tough official with a sweet tooth. The man who died of salt overdose. These are all coincidental? Each incident looks like an accident, but if they were all done in pursuit of some goal…)

猫猫「それで、私に何かご用ですか？」

Maomao “Sorede, watashini nanika goyo desuka?”

Maomao “So, what can I do for you?”

李白「それだ！本題！嬢ちゃんから預かってたこれなんだけどよ」

Rihaku “Soreda! Hondai! Jo-chankara azukatteta kore nanda-kedoyo.”

Lihaku “Right! The main point. Remember this? You gave it to me back then.”

猫猫「ああ、小火の時の」

Maomao “Aa, boyano tokino.”

Maomao “Ah, from the fire.”

李白「返そうとしたら、持ち主に突き返されちまってよ…要らないってさ」

Rihaku “Kaeso-to shitara, mochi-nushini tsukikae-sare-chimatteyo… Iranai-ttesa.”

Lihaku “I tried to give it back, but the owner declined. He doesn’t want it anymore.”

猫猫「上等な品なので大切なものかと思ったのですが…」

Maomao “Jotona shina nanode, taisetsuna monokato omottano-desuga…”

Maomao “It seems very expensive. I assumed it was important.”

李白「なんか、どっかの官女にもらったらしいんだ」

Rihaku “Nanka, dokkano kanjoni moratta rashiinda.”

Lihaku “Apparently, he got it from some court lady.”

猫猫「官女にですか？」

Maomao “Kanjoni desuka?”

Maomao “From a court lady?”

李白「変だと思わないか？なんで倉庫番にわざわざこんなもんをやるんだ？なんでも倉庫番のやつ、暗い中一人で歩いてた官女を城外まで送っていってやったらしいんだよ。このキセルは、そん時に礼でもらったんだと」

Rihaku “Hen-dato omowa-naika? Nande soko-banni waza-waza konna mon’o yarunda? Nandemo soko-banno yatsu, kurai naka hitoride aruiteta kanjo’o jogai-made okutte-itte-yatta rashiin-dayo. Kono kiseruwa, son-tokini reide morattandato.”

Lihaku “Sounds weird, right? Why give this to a random warehouse guard? Apparently, the guard escorted the court lady outside the castle, because she was walking alone in the dark. She gave him this pipe as a token of gratitude.”

猫猫「こんな立派なものをもらったら、すぐに使いたくなるかもしれませんね」

Maomao “Konna rippana mono’o morattara, suguni tsukai-taku-naru kamo shirema-senne.”

Maomao “Receiving such an expensive item might compel him to use it right away.”

猫猫（小火を起こして警備が薄くなった隙に、別の倉庫に忍び込む。初めからそれを狙って、官女が倉庫番にキセルを渡したとしたら…）

Maomao (Boyao okoshite keibiga usuku natta sukini, betsuno sokoni shinobi-komu. Hajime-kara soreo neratte, kanjoga soko-banni kiseruo watashita-to shitara…)

Maomao (Start a fire to divert the guards’ attention, and break into another warehouse. If the court lady gave the guard the pipe for that purpose…)

猫猫「李白様、その官女って…」

Maomao “Rihaku-sama, sono kanjotte…”

Maomao “Master Lihaku, about that court lady…”

李白「ああ、一応詳しく聞いたんだが…襟巻きをして顔が隠れていたらしい」

Rihaku “Aa, ichio kuwashiku kiitan-daga… Eri-makio shite kaoga kakurete-ita rashii.”

Lihaku “Yeah, I tried to get the details about her. But she was wearing a scarf that hid her face, apparently.”

猫猫「もしかすると、あらかじ��顔を隠していたのかもしれませんね」

Maomao “Moshika suruto, arakajime kao’o kakushite itano-kamo shirema-senne.”

Maomao “Maybe she was hiding her face intentionally.”

李白「ああ。ただ、女にしては上背があって、何か、薬の匂いがしたそうだ」

Rihaku “Aa. Tada, onnani shitewa uwazeiga atte, nanika kusurino nioiga shita-soda.”

Lihaku “Yeah. But she was ‘quite tall for a woman, and smelled like medicine.’”

猫猫「あっ…」

Maomao “A…”

李白「身長からして、お前じゃないのは分かってるんだが…心当たりはないか？」

Rihaku “Shincho-kara shite, omaeja nai-nowa wakatterun-daga…kokoro-atariwa naika?”

Lihaku “I know it’s not you, given the height. Can you think of anyone else?”

猫猫（薬の匂い…長身の官女…）

Maomao (Kusurino nioi… Choshinno kanjo…)

Maomao (A tall court lady smelling of medicine…)

羅門「憶測でものを言っちゃいけないよ」

Ruomen “Okusokude mono’o iccha ikenaiyo.”

Luomen “Don’t speak based purely on conjecture.”

猫猫「さっき挙げた事故や事件のほかに、何か不可解なことはなかったでしょうか？」

Maomao “Sakki ageta jikoya jikenno hokani, nanika fukakaina kotowa nakatta-deshoka?”

Maomao “Were there any more strange incidents other than the events we mentioned?”

李白「うーん、そう言われてもなあ…調べたら何かあるってわけか」

Rihaku “Ūn, so iware-temo-naa… Shirabe-tara nanika arutte wakeka.”

Lihaku “Hmm. I can’t say… Do you think there’s something to find out here?”

猫猫「何かあるかもしれません。何もないかもしれません」

Maomao “Nanika aru-kamo shire-masen. Nanimo nai-kamo shire-masen.”

Maomao “There could be. Or there might not.”

李白「どっちだよ」

Rihaku “Which is it?”

猫猫「偶然が2つ重なることはよくあります。３つ重なることもあるでしょう。そうした偶然がいくつも重なって、やがて必然になったとき…ここに、その長身の官女に似た人物がいたら、どうでしょうか？」

Maomao “Guzenga futatsu kasanaru kotowa yoku arimasu. Mittsu kasanaru kotomo aru-desho. So-shita guzenga ikutsumo kasanatte, yagate hitsu-zenni natta-toki… Kokoni, sono choshinno kanjoni nita jinbutsuga itara, do-deshoka?”

Maomao “Two coincidences can often occur simultaneously. Three at once isn’t that rare, either. But when several of them pile up and become clearly intentional… What if a person who fits the description of a tall court lady appeared here?”

李白「ハッ…」

Rihaku “Ha…”

猫猫（これで、翠苓という官女が浮かび上がったところで、関係ない話だ…）

Maomao (Korede, Suirei to-iu kanjoga ukabi-agatta-tokorode, kankei-nai hanashida…)

Maomao (This way, even if Suirei’s name comes up, it has nothing to do with me.)

李白「ハハハハッ、なるほど！お前は見た目によらず賢いな！フフフフフッ」

Rihaku “Hahahaha, naruhodo! Omaewa mitameni yorazu kashikoina! Fufufufufu.”

Lihaku “Wow, you’re a lot smarter than you look!”

猫猫「李白様は見た目通りバカ力なので、もう少し手加減して下さい。ん？」

Maomao “Rihaku-samawa mitame-doori baka-jikara nanode, mo-sukoshi tekagen shite kudasai. N?”

Maomao “Conversely, Master Lihaku, you’re as big a brute as you look, so please go easy on me.”

壬氏「楽しそうだな…」

Jinshi “Tanoshi-so-dana…”

Jinshi “Looks like fun.”

李白「え？うわっ！」

Rihaku “E? Uwa!”

壬氏「楽しそうだな…楽しそうだな…」

Jinshi “Tanoshi-sodana… Tanoshi-sodana…”

Jinshi “Looks like fun.”

猫猫「別に楽しくありませんけど」

Maomao “Betsuni tanoshiku arimasen-kedo.”

Maomao “There’s nothing fun here.”

李白「では！俺はこれで！」

Rihaku “Dewa! Orewa korede!”

Lihaku “I’ll take my leave!”

壬氏「あの武官とは、随分仲が良いようだな？」

Jinshi “Ano bukan-towa, zuibun nakaga yoi-yodana?”

Jinshi “You seem very close to that officer.”

猫猫「そうでしょうか？気になることがあったので、私に話を聞きに来ただけのようです」

Maomao “So-deshoka? Kini naru kotoga atta-node, watashini hanashio kikini kita dakeno-yodesu.”

Maomao “Do I? He just came to talk to me about some concerns he had.”

猫猫（今回の話、壬氏様にも関係がないとは言い切れない…）

Maomao (Konkaino hanashi, Jinshi-sama-nimo kankeiga nai-towa iikire-nai…)

Maomao (I can’t say for certain that this has nothing to do with Master Jinshi.)

壬氏「ん？」

Jinshi “N?”

猫猫「詳しくお話ししてもよろしいでしょうか？」

Maomao “Kuwashiku ohanashi-shitemo yoroshii-deshoka?”

Maomao “May I explain the details to you?”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

壬氏「…妙なつながりがあったものだな…」

Jinshi “…Myona tsunagariga atta mono dana…”

Jinshi “What a strange way they connect.”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

壬氏「それで、何があると思う？」

Jinshi “Sorede, naniga aruto omou?”

Jinshi “So, what do you think is behind them?”

猫猫「分かりません。一つの事件を確実にというより、いくつか罠を仕掛けて、どれかが成功すれば良い…という具合にも見えます」

Maomao “Wakari-masen. Hitotsuno jikan’o kakujitsuni-to iu-yori, ikutsuka wanao shikakete, dorekaga seiko-sureba yoi…to-iu guai-nimo miemasu.”

Maomao “I don’t know. None of those incidents are certainties. It’s more like setting several traps in the hopes that some of them work out.”

壬氏「そうなると、他にも仕掛けてある可能性があると」

Jinshi “So-naruto, hoka-nimo shikakete-aru kanoseiga aruto.”

Jinshi “In that case, do you think there are other traps?”

猫猫「断言はできませんが…どれも事件か事故か判断のつかない案件ばかりです。まだ、偶然が重なっただけの可能性も捨てきれません」

Maomao “Dangenwa deki-masenga… Doremo jikenka jikoka handanno tsukanai anken bakari desu. Mada, guzenga kasanatta-dakeno kanoseimo sute-kire-masen.”

Maomao “I can’t say for certain. It’s hard to determine which are accidents and which were plotted. It’s still possible that these are all just coincidences.”

壬氏「ん？乗り気ではないのか？」

Jinshi “N? Noriki-dewa nai-noka?”

Jinshi “You’re not excited?”

猫猫「乗り気？ハア…私は単なる下女ですので、言われた仕事を行うだけです」

Maomao “Noriki? Haa… Watashiwa tannaru gejo desu-node, iwareta shigoto’o okonau dake-desu.”

Maomao “Excited? I’m just a servant. I only do what I am told.”

壬氏「ふーん…あっ。なら、こういうのはどうだ？先日、交易商人のところを回った時、面白い物が出ていると聞いてな…こういう名だったんだが」

Jinshi “Fūn… A. Nara, ko-iu-nowa doda? Senjitsu, koeki-shoninno tokoro’o mawatta-toki, omoshiroi monoga dete-iruto kiitena… Ko-iu na dattan-daga.”

Jinshi “Hmm. In that case, how about this? The other day, I visited the trader. He told me there’s an interesting item in stock. This is what it was called.”

猫猫（牛黄とは、薬の一種であり、牛の胆石！千いるうちの一頭しかないとされる、薬の最高級品！！）

Maomao (Goo-towa, kusurino isshude ari, ushino tanseki! Sen iru-uchino itto-shika naito sareru, kusurino saikokyu-hin!!)

Maomao (Ox bezoar, a medicinal gallstone from a cow! The most exquisite medicine only found in one in a thousand cows!)

猫猫「もしかして、それをくれるというのか？！本当か？！嘘じゃないだろうな？！ハァ、ハァ、ハァ…」

Maomao “Moshika-shite, soreo kureruto iu-noka?! Hontoka?! Usoja nai-darona?! Haa, haa, haa…”

Maomao “Are you going to give me that?! Really?! You’d better not be lying!”

壬氏「要るか？」

Jinshi “Iruka?”

Jinshi “Do you want it?”

猫猫「要ります！！！」

Maomao “Irimasu!”

Maomao “I do!”

高順「小猫」

Gaoshun “Shaomao.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao.”

猫猫「ハッ…失礼しました」

Maomao “Ha… Shitsurei shimashita.”

Maomao “Excuse me.”

壬氏「やる気になったようだな」

Jinshi “Yarukini natta-yodana.”

Jinshi “Looks like you’re excited now.”

猫猫「本当に頂けるのでしょうか？」

Maomao “Hontoni itadakeruno-deshoka?”

Maomao “Will you really give me this?”

壬氏「仕事次第だ。情報は逐一やろう」

Jinshi “Shigoto-shidaida. Johowa chiku-ichi yaro.”

Jinshi “Depends on how well you work. I’ll keep you updated.”

猫猫「分かりました！壬氏様の思うままに！」

Maomao “Wakari-mashita! Jinshi-samano omou-mamani!”

Maomao “Understood. As you wish, Master Jinshi!”

壬氏「ということで高順、手配を頼む」

Jinshi “To-iukotode Gaoshun, tehaio tanomu.”

Jinshi “And so, Gaoshun, take care of it!”

猫猫「フフ～ッ！」

Maomao “Fufuuu!”

高順「ハァ…」

Gaoshun “Haa…”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（これは先日の事件だ…食中毒を起こした官は、礼部の者だったのか。礼部とは確か、教育や外交をつかさどる部署だったはずだが…うう…官女の試験勉強を真面目にしていれば…）

Maomao (Korewa senjitsuno jikenda… Shoku-chudoku’o okoshita kanwa, reibuno mono datta-noka. Reibu-towa tashika, kyoikuya gaiko’o tsukasadoru busho datta-hazu-daga… Uu… Kanjono shiken-benkyo’o majimeni shite-ireba…)

Maomao (This is the incident from the other day. The officer who got food poisoning was from the Board of Rites. Which one was the Board of Rites, again? The education and foreign affairs one…? If only I’d studied for the court lady exams properly…)

文官「ここに置いておくぞ」

Bunkan “Kokoni oite-okuzo.”

Civil official “I’ll leave these here.”

猫猫「ん？ありがとうございます」

Maomao “N? Arigato gozai-masu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

文官「いや、何か分からないことがあれば、いつでも聞いてくれ」

Maomao “Iya, nanika wakara-nai kotoga areba, itsu-demo kiite-kure.”

Civil official “No problem. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.”

猫猫「あの、これはどんな官職ですか？」

Maomao “Ano, korewa donna kan-shoku desuka?”

Maomao “Um, what does this division do?”

文官「ん？ああ…これは祭事をつかさどっているんだよ」

Bunkan “N? Aa… Korewa saiji’o tsukasa-dotte-irun-dayo.”

Civil official “Hmm? They deal with ceremonies.”

猫猫「祭事ですか…ハッ…何か書き物はありますか？」

Maomao “Saiji desuka… Ha… Nanika kaki-monowa ari-masuka?”

Maomao “Ceremonies? Do you have anything to write with?”

文官「あ…ああ」

Bunkan “A…Aa.”

Civil official “Huh? Y-Yeah.”

猫猫「祭事…祭事…」

Maomao “Saiji…Saiji…”

Maomao “Ceremonies, ceremonies…”

猫猫（食中毒の官も、浩然様も、祭事に関わる官吏だった。そして、あのキセル騒ぎが、より確実に祭具を盗み出すためのものなら…偶然に見せかけられたこれらの事件が重なり合う、必然が起こる場所があるはずだ）

Maomao (Shoku-chudokuno kanmo, Konen-samamo, saijini kakawaru kanri datta. Soshite, ano kiseru-sawagiga, yori kakujitsuni saigu’o nusumi-dasu tameno mono-nara… Guzenni misekake-rareta korerano jikanga kasanari-au, hitsuzenga okoru bashoga aru hazuda.)

Maomao (The food-poisoned official and Master Kounen were both were related to ceremonies. If the incident with the pipe was a way to help steal ceremonial tools… Three events, disguised as coincidences, must line up to form an intentional incident, somewhere.)

猫猫（ここまで手をかけて盗んだ祭具が使われるとすれば、祭事でもそれなりの規模…中祀以上だろう。いつ行われるのか、全て調べた方がいいな）

Maomao (Koko-made teo kakete nusunda saiguga tsuka-wareru-to sureba, saiji-demo sore-narino kibo…chushi-ijo daro. Itsu okona-wareru-noka, subete shirabeta-hoga iina.)

Maomao (If someone went through so much trouble to steal ceremonial tools, it has to be a ceremony of some importance. Medium or higher, most likely. I should find out when all of these ceremonies take place.)

猫猫（…そういえば、壬氏様もよく禊(みそ)ぎをしていた…）

Maomao (…So-ieba, Jinshi-samamo yoku misogi’o shite-ita…)

Maomao (Come to think of it, Master Jinshi did purify himself often.)

文官「祭事に興味があるなら、ここにいいものがあるぞ」

Bunkan “Saijini kyomiga aru-nara, kokoni ii monoga aruzo.”

Civil official “If you’re interested in ceremonies, here’s something good.”

猫猫「これは、祭事場の絵ですか？」

Maomao “Korewa, saiji-jono e desuka?”

Maomao “Is this a picture of a ceremonial building?”

文官「ああ、外廷の西の端にある、蒼穹(そうきゅう)檀(だん)って言ってな。なかなか変わった造りだろう？天井に大きな柱をぶら下げているんだ。中央の祭壇の上には、ひれが垂れ下がっていて、毎回柱を下ろして、祝いの言葉を足していくんだ」

Bunkan “Aa, gaiteino nishino hashini aru, So-Kyu-Dantte ittena. Naka-naka kawatta tsukuri daro? Tenjoni ookina hashirao burasagete-irunda. Chuono saidanno ue-niwa, hirega tare-sagatte-ite, mai-kai hashirao oroshite, iwaino kotobao tashite-ikunda.”

Civil official “Yes. It’s at the west end of the outer court, and called the Altar of the Sapphire Sky. Quite an interesting design, don’t you think? There’s a large pillar hanging from the ceiling. There are these banners hanging above the central altar. They lower the pillar to add festive texts every time.”

猫猫「お詳しいのですね」

Maomao “O-kuwashiino-desune.”

Maomao “You’re very knowledgeable.”

文官「ああ、恥ずかしながら、書庫に来る前は、礼部でもっとちゃんとした仕事をしていたのさ。上に余計なこと言ったら、こちらに飛ばされてしまってね、ハハハッ。最初は強度が心配だったんだが、問題ないみたいで安心したよ」

Bunkan “Aa, hazukashi-nagara, shokoni kuru maewa, reibude motto chanto-shita shigoto’o shite-itanosa. Ueni yokeina koto ittara, kochirani toba-sarete shimattene. Hahaha. Saishowa kyodoga shinpai dattan-daga, mondai-nai mitaide anshin shitayo.”

Civil official “Yeah. I’m ashamed to admit it, but before I got assigned to the archives, I was doing more important work at the Board of Rites. I talked back to my superiors once, and got demoted to this role. I used to be worried about the build strength, but I’m glad to know it’s fine.”

猫猫「何のことですか？」

Maomao “Nanno koto desuka?”

Maomao “What are you talking about?”

文官「こんな風に、天井から柱をぶら下げるだろ？それが大きなものだから、もし落ちたらと思うと心配で…強度について進言したら、こんな場所に飛ばされてしまったんだ」

Bunkan “Konna-funi, tenjo-kara hashirao bura-sageru-daro? Sorega ookina mono dakara, moshi ochitara-to omouto shinpaide… Kyodoni tsuite shingen shitara, konna bashoni toba-sarete shimattanda.”

Civil official “You see how the pillar is hanging from the ceiling like this, right? It’s big, so I was worried about it falling down. When I voiced my concerns about the parts’ strength, it got me sent to this place.”

猫猫（確かに恐ろしい話だ…もし柱を固定する金具が壊れて、天井から柱が落ちてきたら…一番危ないのは真下にいる祭事を行う者。やんごとなき方が犠牲になる）

Maomao (Tashikani osoroshii hanashida… Moshi hashirao kotei-suru kanaguga kowarete, tenjo-kara hashiraga ochite-kitara… Ichiban abunai-nowa mashitani iru saiji’o okonau mono. Yangoto-naki kataga giseini naru.)

Maomao (That is indeed scary. If the metal parts fixing the pillar in place broke, and the pillar fell… The person directly underneath performing the ceremony would be at the highest risk. Someone of truly noble birth could be lost.)

猫猫「強度の問題。強度…」

Maomao “Kyodono mondai. Kyodo…”

Maomao “Strength issue… Strength…”

猫猫（しかし、一体どの祭具が盗まれたんだ？こんな重要な祭具がなくなれば、必ず作り直すはず…作り直す…ハッ！）

Maomao (Shikashi, ittai dono saiguga nusu-maretanda? Konna juyona saiguga naku-nareba, kanarazu tsukuri-naosu hazu……Tsukuri-naosu…Ha!)

Maomao (What was the stolen ceremonial tool, anyway? If something so important went missing, surely they’d make a new one. Make a new one…)

猫猫「すみません！この会場で、次に祭事が行われるのはいつですか？」

Maomao “Sumi-masen! Kono kaijode, tsugini saijiga okona-wareru-nowa itsu desuka?”

Maomao “Excuse me! When is the next ceremony taking place at this venue?!”

文官「いつって…ああ、ちょうど今日だな」

Bunkan “Itsutte… Aa, chodo kyo-dana.”

Civil official “When? Well… Oh, today, actually.”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（予想が正しければ、これは長い時間をかけて練られた計画のはず。一つ一つは確実じゃない。でも、いくつも仕掛けることで、どれかが重なり合う。そして、ようやくここまで結びついた。…あくまで予想だ。予想に過ぎない。でももし、その予想が的中していたとしたら…）

Maomao (Yosoga Tadashi-kereba, korewa nagai jikan’o kakete nerareta keikakuno hazu. Hitotsu-hitotsuwa kakujitsuja nai. Demo, ikutsumo shikakeru-kotode, dorekaga kasanari-au. Soshite, yoyaku koko-made musubi-tsuita. …Akumade yosoda. Yosoni suginai. Demo moshi, sono yosoga tekichu shite-itato shitara…)

Maomao (If my predictions are correct, this is a plan that was concocted over a long period of time. Not ever piece is likely to work. But by placing numerous traps everywhere, some are bound to work and overlap. And finally, it connected to this. It’s just conjecture on my part. But if I happen to be correct…)

猫猫「ハァ、ハァ、ハァ。あそこか！」

Maomao “Haa, haa, haa. Asoko-ka!

Maomao “There!”

武官「あっ！おい！お前、何をしている！」

Bukan “A! Oi! Omae, nanio shite-iru!”

Military officer “Hey! What are you doing?!”

猫猫「通してください！」

Maomao “Tooshite kudasai!”

Maomao “I need to get inside!”

武官「ダメだ」

Bukan “Dameda.”

Military officer “No.”

猫猫「緊急事態です！」

Maomao “Kinkyu-jitai desu!”

Maomao “This is an emergency!”

武官「お前のような下女が、祭事に口を出す気か？」

Bukan “Omaeno-yona gejoga, saijini kuchio dasu kika?”

Military officer “What right does a servant like you have to interject in this ceremony?”

猫猫（もっともだ。こちらはただの下女で、何の権力も持たない。でも、何か起こったあとでは遅い。取り返しのつかないことは、いつもそうだ…）

Maomao (Mottomoda. Kochirawa Tadano gejode, nanno kenryokumo motanai. Nanika okotta ato-dewa osoi. Tori-kaeshino tsukanai kotowa, itsumo soda…)

Maomao (He’s absolutely right. I’m just a servant with no authority at all. But if something happens, it’ll be too late. That’s always the case with things that can’t be undone.)

猫猫「命の危険があります。祭事を取りやめてください」

Maomao “Inochino kikenga arimasu. Saiji’o tori-yamete kudasai.”

Maomao “There are lives at risk. Please stop the ceremony.”

武官「お前が決めることじゃない。言いたいことがあるなら、投書箱に文を入れるところから始めるのだな」

Bukan “Omaega kimeru kotoja nai. Iitai kotoga aru-nara, tosho-bakoni fumio ireru tokoro-kara hajimeruno-dana.”

Military officer “That’s not a decision for you to make. If you have something to say, put it in the suggestion box.”

猫猫「それでは間に合いません！」

Maomao “Sore-dewa mani ai-masen!”

Maomao “That will take too long!”

武官「ダメだ！」

Bukan “Dameda!”

Military officer “No!”

猫猫「あの祭壇には、致命的な欠陥が見つかりました！誰かが工作した可能性があります！ここで私を中に入れなければ、後悔することになりますよ？！こうして、私が危険を説いているのに、それを拒んだのであれば…あっ、もしかして、そういうことですか？なるほど、あなたは私を邪魔して、事が起こるのを待っているのですね？」

Maomao “Ano saidan-niwa, chimei-tekina kekkanga mitsukari-mashita! Darekaga kosaku shita kanoseiga arimasu! Kokode watashio nakani ire-nakereba, kokai suru-kotoni nari-masuyo?! Ko-shite watashiga kiken’o toite-iru-noni, soreo kobanda-node areba… A, moshika-shite, so-iu koto desuka? Naruhodo, anatawa watashio jama shite, kotoga okoru-no’o matte-iruno-desune?”

Maomao “A fatal defect was discovered in the altar! There is reason to suspect that someone tampered with it! If you don’t let me in now, you’ll regret it! If, after listening to my warnings, you still reject… Oh, I get it, so that’s what it is! I see. You’re obstructing me and waiting for the incident to happen!”

猫猫「つまり、工作した輩と繋がっているとか…」

Maomao “Tsumari, kosaku shita yakarato tsunagatte-iru-toka…”

Maomao “In other words, you’re in league with the ones who tampered with the―”

武官たち「ああっ…」

Bukan-tachi “Aa…”

猫猫（気を失いそうだ…こんな小娘にあんな物言いをされたら、腹が立つだろう…わざとそう仕向けたのだから、しかたない…騒いでもダメか。こんな小さな騒ぎでは、祭事は止まらない…。大したことはない。まだ気を失うわけにはいかない！）

Maomao (Kio ushinai-soda… Konna komusumeni anna mono-ii’o sare-tara, haraga tatsu-daro… Wazato so shimuketano-dakara, shikata nai… Sawaidemo dameka. Konna chiisana sawagi-dewa, saijiwa tomara-nai… Taishita kotowa nai. Mada kio ushinau wake-niwa ikanai!)

Maomao (I’m about to lose consciousness. It’s only natural for him to get upset, hearing a girl talk to him like that. That was intentional, so it’s fine. It’s no use. This isn’t a big enough of a commotion to stop the ceremony. I’m fine. I can’t lose consciousness now.)

猫猫「気は済みましたか？通してください…中にやんごとなき身の方がいらっしゃるのでしょう？何か起きたら、飛ぶのはあなた方の首ではありませんか！」

Maomao “Kiwa sumi-mashitaka? Tooshite kudasai… Nakani yangoto-naki-mino kataga irassharuno-desho? Nanika okitara, tobu-nowa anata-gatano kubi-dewa arima-senka!”

Maomao “Do you feel better now? Please let me through. There is a person of the most noble birth inside, isn’t there? If something happens, you all will be the ones to lose your heads.”

武官「うっ」

Bukan “U.”

猫猫「祭事を中断しろとは言いません。私を見逃してください。偶然ネズミが入ったとでも言って…それなら、飛ぶのは私の首だけで済むでしょう！」

Maomao “Saiji’o chudan shiro-towa ii-masen. Watashio minogashite kudasai. Guzen nezumiga haitta-todemo itte… Sore-nara, tobu-nowa watashino kubi-dakede sumu-desho!”

Maomao “I won’t ask you to cancel the ceremony. Please just let me through. Just say a rat got in accidentally. In that case, the only person getting beheaded will be me!”

武官「お前のような小娘の言葉を信じろと言うのか！」

Bukan “Omaeno-yona komusumeno kotobao shinjiroto iu-noka!”

Military officer “Why should I trust the words of a girl like you?!”

羅漢「では、私の言葉ならどうだい？」

Rakan “Dewa, watashino koboba-nara do-dai?”

Lakan “What about my words, then?”

猫猫「ハッ…」

Maomao “Ha…”

武官「あ…あなた様は…」

Bukan “A…Anata-samawa…”

Military officer “S-Sir, you’re…”

羅漢「それにしても…年若い娘を殴るとは、どういうことだろうね？」

Rakan “Soreni-shitemo… toshi-wakai musumeo naguru-towa, do-iu koto darone?”

Lakan “Now, why would you strike a young girl like that?”

武官「うっ…」

Bukan “U…”

羅漢「ケガをしているじゃないか…」

Rakan “Kegao shite-iruja naika…”

Lakan “She’s hurt.”

武官「ハッ…ハッ…」

Bukan “Ha…Ha…”

羅漢「ともかく、その娘の言うとおりにしてやるってのはどうだい？私が責任を取るよ」

Rakan “Tomokaku, sono musumeno iu-toorini shite-yarutte-nowa do-dai? Watashiga sekinin’o toruyo.”

Lakan “At any rate, why don’t you just go ahead and do as the girl says? I’ll take responsibility.”

猫猫「くっ…」（誰がいるのか見たくもない…こんな謀ったようなタイミングで…いや、今はそんなことを気にしている場合じゃない。声の主が誰かなんて、どうでもいい！）

Maomao “Ku…” (Darega iru-noka mitakumo nai… Konna hakatta-yona taimingude… Iya, imawa sonna koto’o kini shite-iru baaija nai. Koeno nushiga dareka nante, do-demo ii!)

Maomao (I don’t even want to see who’s behind me. It’s perfect timing, as if everything was planned… No, I can’t concern myself with that right now. It doesn’t matter who this voice belongs to.)

猫猫（ひどい格好だろうな…高順様にでも頼んで、全て終わったらゆっくり湯あみをさせてもらおう…その前に、首をはねられないようにしないと…！）

Maomao (Hidoi kakko darona… Gaoshun-samani-demo tanonde, subete owattara yukkuri yuami’o sasete morao… Sono maeni, kubio hane-rare-nai-yoni shinaito…!)

Maomao (I must look terrible. I’ll ask Master Gaoshun after all this is done, and take a nice, long bath. But first, I have to avoid getting beheaded.)

猫猫「ハッ！」

Maomao “Ha!”

猫猫「ああ…間に合った…うっ！…縫わなきゃ…」

Maomao “Aa…Mani atta…U! Nuwa-nakya…”

Maomao “I made it… Gotta stitch that…”

壬氏「おい」

Jinshi “Oi.”

Jinshi “Hey.”

猫猫「ん？」

Maomao “N?”

壬氏「なんで…こんな状況になっている？」

Jinshi “Nande…konna jokyoni natte-iru?”

Jinshi “What’s going on here?”

猫猫「壬氏様…牛黄をいただけますか…？」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama… Goo’o itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “Master Jinshi… Can I have the ox bezoar now?”

壬氏「それどころじゃないだろう…どうしたんだ…！その顔は…！」

Jinshi “Sore-dokoroja nai-daro… Do-shitanda…! Sono kaowa…!”

Jinshi “This isn’t the time for that. What’s happened with your face?”

猫猫（どうして…壬氏様がここにいるんだろう…なんで、そんな顔をしているのだろう…）

Maomao (Doshite… Jinshi-samaga kokoni irun-daro… Nande, sonna kao’o shite-iruno-daro…)

Maomao (Why is Master Jinshi here…? What’s that look on his face?)

猫猫「うっ、うう…すみません。先に足を縫わせ…」

Maomao “U, uu…Sumi-masen. Sakini ashio nuwase…”

Maomao “Sorry, I need to stitch up my leg first―”

壬氏「お、おい！おい！しっかりしろ！目を覚ませ！おい、しっかりするんだ！おい！おい…」

Jinshi “O, Oi! Oi! Shikkari shiro! Meo samase! Oi, shikkari surunda! Oi! Oi…”

Jinshi “H-Hey! Hey! Wake up! Wake up! Hey! Hey! Stay with me. Hey!”

(Continue to episode 20)

[apothecaryscript]

Japanese daily life

・Bath time

[apothecaryscript]

Bath Time

From the episode 18…

梅梅「久しぶりに背中流そうか？」

Meimei “Hisashi-burini senaka nagasoka?”

Meimei “Let me scrub your back. Haven’t done that in ages.”

猫猫「えっ、いいよ…」

Maomao “E, iiyo…”

Maomao “Huh? No thanks.”

梅梅「いいから、いいから」

Meimei “Iikara, iikara.”

Meimei “Come on, come on.”

白鈴「フフッ、流しっこなんて懐かしい！」

Pairin “Fufu, nagashikko nante natsukashii!”

Pairin “Yeah, it’s been a while!”

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

In Japan, we take a bath every day. Some people just take a shower, but most people take a soak in the bathtub. When children are still young, their parent or elder sibling takes bath with them and helps them to wash their hair and body, especially the back which is the most difficult.

As for myself, my children are now teenagers and take baths by themselves, but I remember we could talk about a lot of things that were normally difficult to talk about there. Maybe it’s because we feel warm, relaxed, and so honest in the bath, and I guess that’s why there are many bathing scenes in this anime.

In this scene, Maomao tried to refuse at first, but in the end she blushed slightly and looked very happy.

Although the circumstances in which Maomao was born were not normal and happy, we can clearly see that she has been loved and cherished by her older sisters and madam as well, in place of her real parents.

As those three big sisters are old enough to retire, she may not have much of a chance to take bath together. I’m sure she will miss this time in the future.