#TRY方言

[shanks]

TRY方言

[rennebright]

ちょっと遅れたハロウィン…🎃 by TRY方言 [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

[arctic-blade]

TRY方言 on X: "ハロウィン https://t.co/6OZGhNzf0d" / X

[kyousukebei]

クリスマスオルタ🥰🥰🥰

TRY方言C103日曜 東F45ab (@TryTrylsc)

[dummy-dot-exe]

by TRY方言@TryTrylsc

[yoga-onion]

"In a crazy world, you can live more happily without having any ‘hope’."

- Hiro Sachiya (b. 1936 – d. April 7, 2022) was a Japanese buddhist scholar and a popular contemporary writer of Buddhism.

"The big lie of “making the world a better place”

The world has never been a ‘good place' for its inhabitants. Regardless of the era, the world is always a‘bad place'.

'The three realms are not at ease, they are still like a house on fire', says the Lotus Sutra. The three realms (Ref) are the worlds of greed, colour and colourlessness in which human beings reincarnate through repeated births and deaths. You could think of it as the world we live in.

The Lotus Sutra says that there is no security in this world, that it is full of anxiety, like a house engulfed in flames and burning. What is required now is to learn from this Lotus Sutra and recognise that the world is a house on fire. Politicians are trying to plant the wrong perception in the minds of the people with their nonsense. Thus we must not fall for such tricks to deceive people and must first face up to the fact that the world is always a house on fire.

That is to clarify, therefore to give up.

And you have to take a hard look at the state of the burning house in our time. People who work and have a decent income are all in debt hell. That is the state of a house on fire today.

“Let's admit that the world is on fire. If we live in an age of debt, which is on fire, then don't we need to make more efforts to extinguish the flames?” There are probably people who think this way. However, Buddhism strictly warns against the short-sighted idea that if a fire is raging, it is natural to put it out.

“Get out of the burning house immediately.”

In other words, Buddhism teaches that one should not stay in a house on fire to extinguish it. It teaches that you should leave the fire immediately. 

To think "let's make the world a better place" or "let's get rid of debt hell" is, on the contrary, to be attached to this rotten world. The modern way of reading this phrase is, “Don't do that, just leave the world as it is.”

Banks are surviving comfortably, while individuals are exhausted with debt. Look at this current situation. If you stay in the fire forever, the harder you try, the worse the situation gets.

When I say 'don't work hard, don't work hard', some people argue that they bought the flat for their family and cannot afford not to work hard to pay back the loan. The conversation ends there when I say, "Then why don't you just not buy a flat?"

If you remember the basics of living within your income, you don't have to work hard and you won't be taken in by the burning house called the world. The landscape of our times is that everyone has forgotten these basics and as a result is groaning.

“狂った世界では「希望」など持たない方が楽しく生きられる。”

― ひろさちや (1936年 7月27日 - 2022年 4月7日) は、日本の仏教思想家。多数の一般向けの解説書を執筆。

「世の中をよくする」という大ウソ

世の中が、そこに住む人たちにとって「良いもの」であったためしは無い。時代を問わず、世の中というのはいつも「悪いもの」なのだ。

「三界は安きことなし、なお火宅のごとし」と法華経の中には書かれている。三界（参照）というのは、人間が生死を繰り返しながら輪廻する三つの世界（欲界、色界、無色界）のことだが、まぁ、わたしたちが生きている世界と考えればいいだろう。

その世界には安心などなく、炎に包まれ燃え盛る家のように不安に満ちている、と法華経はいうわけである。

いま求められているのは、この法華経に学び、世の中が火宅だという認識を持つことだ。政治家は能天気な御託を並べ、間違った認識を植えつけようとしているが、そんな手練手管に乗ることなく、いつの時代も世の中は火宅だということを、まず正視しなければならない。

それは明らめることだ。

[註: 仏教の世界では「諦める」を「明らめる」と書く。つまり、あきらめるとは断念するということではなく、事実をはっきり見ることであり、現実を直視し、それをありのままに受け入れるという意味にほかならない。]

そして、この時代の火宅のありようをしっかり見極めることだ。きちんと働いて収入のある人がこぞって借金地獄にいる。それが現代の火宅である。

「世の中が火宅であることは認めましょう。いまが借金時代という火宅の時代ならば、その業火を消すべく努力を重ねる必要があるのでは？」そう考える人はいるだろう。しかし、火が燃え盛っているなら消火活動をするのが当然だ、という短絡思考は、仏教が厳に戒めるところである。

速やかに火宅を出よ。

すなわち仏教では、火宅にとどまって消火活動などするな。すぐさま火宅から出てしまえ、と教えているわけだ。

「世の中をよくしよう」「借金地獄を無くそう」などと考えることは、逆にこのロクでもない世の中に執着することになる。「そんなことはせず、世の中なんてものはうっちゃっておけばいい」というのが、この文言の現代流の読み取り方なのだ。

銀行はぬくぬくと生き残り、個人は借金でヘトヘトになっている。この現状を見てください。いつまでも火宅の中にいたら、頑張れば頑張るほど、状況はますます悪くなるばかりなのだ。頑張って収入が上がったとしても、もっと高い買い物をローンでしたら、高い金利を払うことになる。

わたしが「頑張るな、頑張るな」と言うと、自分は家族のためにマンションを買ったから、ローンを返すためには頑張らないわけにはいかない、と反論する人がいる。「だったら、マンションなんて買わなければいいじゃないの」というと、会話はそこで終わる。

収入の範囲で生活する、という基本を忘れずにいたら、頑張る必要などないし、火宅に取り込まれることもない。誰もがその基本を忘れた結果、あえいでいるというのが、この時代の風景なのだろう。

[codenamesazanka]

TV Interview with Horikoshi Kouhei, 7/19/2024

Summarized Thread by shibuyasmash on twitter; (incomplete!) Japanese is from subtitled screenshots I found online

Horikoshi draws in a room alone, and there is another bigger room where his assistants work

『大きい部屋でアシスタントさんがやっています』

The reporter guesses that maybe Horikoshi sometimes spends 24 hours straight working at his desk, he corrects her that sometimes it’s 36 hours

『何時間ぐらいこの部屋で作業する?

多い時だと24時間中…

36時間』

The desk he uses was brought from his parent’s house, he’s been using it since he was a kid

Reporter: Your 10 year manga is ending soon.

『10年の連載がいよいよ終わる』

Horikoshi: It’s surprisingly sad. For example, sometimes I’ll think about how I’ll only be drawing a character for another 10 panels or so. But at the same time I feel like I’m finally reaching the goal.

『意外と寂しいっていうのはありますね。��例えば）このキャラ、あと10何コマしか描けないんだって思ったり、やっとゴールできますねって思いながらっていうのもあるんですけれど』

Horikoshi: I don’t draw with the intention of conveying a message because of current social situations or the real world. I draw with a sense of responsibility towards the world of MHA, I’m always thinking about how I can make the manga interesting.

『世相がどうこうとか現実世界でもこうだから

こういうメッセージを込めてやろうと 描いたことはない

あくまでヒロアカ世界に対して責任を持���て描く

常に面白いって 言ってもらえることだけを考えている』

Reporter: What does “interesting” mean to you?

Horikoshi: Looking back, I wasn't into manga for the cool special moves or cool characters. ONE PIECE made me cry.

I think my heart shaking & being emotionally moved makes something interesting to me. Crying becomes an experience, and I want my readers to have that experience.

『心がグーって震えて感動したのが「面白い」

読んだ人の心がグラッと揺れて泣いちゃう

泣くと体験になる読者にそういい体験をもたらしたい』

Reporter: Has your impression of what a hero is changed?

Horikoshi: It’s changed quite a bit. At chapter 1, I thought heroes were someone beyond reach, but even if you don’t do something that amazing if you try to do good then you’re already a hero.

There was a time I felt like I couldn’t draw anymore and my editor just kept telling me it’d be okay, really positive. That really saved me.

『僕は「もう描けねえ」って なっちゃった時に

編集担当さんが「大丈夫っすよ」って 明るいテンションでずっと言ってくれた

それがものすごく助かった』

People like Toriyama-sensei (Dragon Ball), Oda-sensei (One Piece) were the people I admired when I started drawing manga, but the person who saved me was my editor who was right beside me. So I thought to me, he was a hero.

『鳥山明先生(DRAGON BALL)尾田栄一郎先生(ONE PIECE) そういう方に憧れで漫画を描いていたけれど

助けてくれたのって隣にいた編集担当さんだった

「この人がヒーローだよな僕にとっては」』

Reporter: Everyone can be someone’s hero.

『誰しもが誰かのヒーローになれるってこと』

Horikoshi: The person who reaches out to you and pats your shoulder and tells you it’ll be okay becomes the person who saves your life. So I think My Hero Academia might end somewhere like that.

『実際に手を差し伸べてくれて

「大丈夫だよ」って肩たたいてくれた人は本当に命の恩人になる

(『僕のヒーローアカデミア」も)そういうところに着地すると思っています』

[ffxivtranslations]

Thoughts Unspoken

My direct translation of Haurchefant's unsent letter from "Thoughts Unspoken". There are some things in the Eng localisation that aren't in the Jpn, so I thought I should retranslate it for completeness. The original localisation is here for comparison: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/special/2016/short_stories/#sidestory_08

親愛なる友へ

お前は、変わらず元気にしているだろうか？

ドラゴン族による皇都再襲撃の予測……それを受けて、お前やアルフィノ殿が西へ旅立ってから数日が過ぎた。今どこにいるかもわからないお前に、この手紙が届くとも、届けようとも思っていない。つまりは、書き記しただけの独り言だ。

それでも、遠くの空を見ては旅の無事を願う想いを、一度くらいは吐き出さずにいられない。

万が一、これがお前の目に触れるようなことがあったら、まあ、そういうものだと思ってひとつ頼む。

To my dearest friend,

Are you doing well?

A few days ago, after hearing the prediction of the dragons attacking the capital again, you and Alphinaud travelled to the West. I don’t know where you are now, nor do I intend to try to send this letter. In other words, I’m just writing this down for myself.

Nevertheless, I feel compelled to at least once express my feelings of looking to the distant sky and praying for your safe journey.

In the unlikely event that you ever read this, well, please just think of this letter as that.

さて。お前は、イシュガルドに招かれて幸せだっただろうか？

それとも、仕方なく逃げ延びた先で、また誰かの戦いに巻き込まれることになり、うんざりしているのだろうか。たとえそうであったとしても、お前は戦い抜いてしまうのだろうと、容易に想像がついて苦笑している。

Now then. Are you happy that you were invited to Ishgard?

Or are you fed up that after you finally made your escape, you once again got embroiled in someone else’s war? Even if that was the case, I’m bitterly smiling while easily imagining that you would still fight to the very end.

私はといえば、お前がイシュガルドに来てくれたことを、心から嬉しく思い、感謝するばかりだ。それは、お前の実に逞しくイイ冒険者ぶりを、近くで見られる機会が増えたという喜びでもあるのだが……何よりも、頼れる友と同じものを目指し、ともに戦えるのだ。心躍らないわけがない！

As for me, I am so very happy from the bottom of my heart and extremely grateful that you came to Ishgard. That is to say, of course I am delighted that my chances to see your really strong splendid adventuring up close have increased, but also… More than anything, to share a goal with my dependable friend and to fight by their side. There’s no way I couldn’t be excited about this!

お前たちが、ウルダハから逃げ延びて、雪の家に転がり込んできた日。「暁」が灯火を消さんとしていたように、私もまた、お前という友を燻らせてはならないと思った。そこで、どうにかお前たちをイシュガルドに招き入れることができないか、フォルタン伯爵に……父に直訴に行ったのだ。

The day that you two escaped from Ul’dah and came to stay at the House of Snow.

I thought that in the same way that I couldn't let the light of the "Dawn" go out, I couldn’t let your flame be dampened either, my friend. So that was when I went and directly appealed to Count Fortemps... my father, if there wasn't a way to invite you into Ishgard.

……白状すると、私は父のことが苦手だ。恨んでいるわけではない。母にしたって、正しい人であったが故に、己の立場に耐えきれなくなり、私を置いて失踪しただけのこと。父は母のことも、私のことも、愛してくれていたと思う。ただ、それを互いに上手く伝えあえず……私は、フォルタン家に仕える騎士としてしか、あの人と話ができずにいたのだ。

… I must confess that I am not good at dealing with my father.

I don’t mean that I hate him. Even with regards to my mother, even though he tried to do right by her, but she was unable to stand her situation and simply just left me with him and disappeared. I do believe that he loved my mother and loves me too. It’s just… neither of us are very good at communicating this to each other… For me, I was unable to talk to him except from the position of being a knight of House Fortemps.

お前のことを頼みにいったとき、当初、父の返事は渋かった。

それまで開拓団への支援などには積極的だった父でも、指名手配中の人物を受け入れるのには、家を預かる者として懸念があったらしい。

諦められずに懇願する私に、父はそこまで固執する理由は何なのかと問うた。私は、お前との思い出を心のままに語った。それは量としては乏しくとも、ひとつひとつが私にとってかけがえのない、驚きと輝きに満ちたものだ。故に、我が友がどのような人であるか、そして私が友を救いたいと願う気持ちを伝えるには、それが一番だと考えた。

思えば、父とあれほど長く話したことはなかったかもしれない。語り切った私をしばし見つめていた父は、ふと目元を緩め、「明日まで考えさせてほしい」と言った。

そしてその翌日、正式に後見人になると、返事を寄越してくださったのだ。

When I went to ask him to help you, at first, his answer was quite harsh.

Even though he had been very positive when it came to supporting the Reclamation Corps, it seemed the idea of harbouring wanted fugitives was quite a worry for the head of the household. In response to my insistent pleading, he asked me why I wasn’t giving up. I simply told him straight from my heart my memories of you and I. Though they may be meagre in number, each one of them is irreplaceable, overflowing with surprise and shining light! I thought therefore, that this was the best way to explain to him just who you, my dear friend, is- and also how much my desire to save you was. Now that I think of it, this was probably the longest conversation I ever had with my father. When I had said all that I could, he suddenly smiled warmly and said “Let me think on this unto the morrow”. Then the next day, he sent word to me that he would officially become your guardian.

以降のことは、お前も知るところだろう。

おかげさまで、私は以前よりも、本家に顔を出すのが少しばかり楽しみになった。

とはいえお前は大概不在で、また七面倒な役目を背負ってどこかへ旅立っていると聞くたび、私はお前を祖国のいさかいに巻き込んでしまっただけなのではないかと思ったりもする。それについては、文句があったら、いつか酌でもしながら聞くとしよう。

The rest, I trust you already know.

Thanks to you, unlike before, I now actually look forward to visiting Fortemps Manor. However, you aren’t there very much, and each time I hear you are off fighting some great trouble, I sometimes think I have done nothing but get you involved in the troubles of my homeland. If you have complaints about that you are welcome to tell me them over a drink sometime.

それでも、友よ。

私は、一片の疑いもなく、信じてしまうのだ。

いかなる困難も、決してお前を挫かせることはできまい。

それは今回の旅だけではなく、この先、お前がどこを目指したとしても変わらない。

ひとりで越えられない壁があったとしても、お前が進もうとする限り、必ず誰かが手を差し伸べるだろう。私が今、そうしたいと願っているようにだ。

そしてその困難の先には、必ず新しい景色が待っている。

それを見つけたときにはきっと、大いに、笑ってほしい。

お前の旅路が、最良のものであるよう……

無事を祈っている。

―― オルシュファン・グレイストーン

Nonetheless, my friend.

I, without a trace of doubt in my heart, trust in you.

No matter what troubles come, they will never dampen your spirits.

Not just on your current journey, but in the future, no matter what you try to do. Even if there is a wall you can’t climb by yourself, as long as you keep trying, there will be someone to lend you a hand. Just as I, right now, am praying to do.

And on the other side of those troubles, certainly there will be a new day waiting for you.

And when you find it, I want you to do so with a huge smile on your face.

I pray that your journey will always be a good one.

Haurchefant Greystone.

[ruiconteur]

li lianhua's final letter to di feisheng

i hear the official eng subs weren't great so here's my own attempt at a translation (under a read more bc fuck it's Long)

edit: translated qiao wanmian’s letter to li xiangyi as well, which mirrors this one!

十年前

Ten years ago,

东海一决

during the duel of the eastern sea,

李某蒙兵器之利

this unworthy Li made benefit of whetted blade

借沉船之机与君一战犹不能胜

and capsizing boat whilst battling thee but was yet unvictorious.

君武勇之处

Thy martial prowess and valiance

世所罕见

are unexampled in this world.

心悦诚服

Mine heart delights in it, and by mine own will yields to thine eminence.

今事隔多年

The affairs of today are by many years separated.

沉疴难起

By pains alone would a lingering malady be cured.

剑断人亡

The sword hath broken—the man hath perished,

再不能赴东海之约

and can no more honour the accord to duel by the eastern sea.

谓为憾事

Such is the cause for most sincere regret.

余感念君所赠之忘川

I recall in deepest gratitude the flower of oblivion bequeathed by thee,

然终���负君之所望

yet did forsake all thou hadst longed for in the end.

江山多年

The rivers and mountains of this land have many years endured,

变化万千

their changes reckoned in the tens of thousands.

去去重去去

Partings upon partings, farewells upon farewells;

来时是来时

the coming times shall be the coming times.

方多病习我之功法

Fang Duobing hath been studied in my skills,

资质上佳

and his own endowments of the utmost excellence.

不暇多日

Shouldst he not keep idle days,

定不在明月沉西海之下

he shall surely be not beneath the bright moon sinking into the western sea.

君今无意逐鹿

Thou hast not now any desire to pursue the throne,

但求巅峰

but instead to seek the height of skill.

李某已去

This unworthy Li hath since gone;

若君意不平

if thy desire be not appeased,

足堪请其代之

he shall suit, shouldst thou bid him succeed me.

李相夷绝笔

Thus end the last words of Li Xiangyi.

footnotes

i've translated this letter into (my best attempt at) early modern english to try and reflect the formality li lianhua is writing in. also because he uses 君 for di feisheng throughout, which is a literary second-person pronoun, and i wanted to emphasise that. i know thou is actually the informal pronoun, but given how archaic it sounds in comparison to you, the actual formal pronoun in early modern english, i thought it a better fit. (for all the feihuas out there: 君 was also used by women to address their husbands, so actually i thought the informality might work in my favour here LOL)

if you saw this post before, you might have noticed that my translation of the third and fourth lines changed slightly lmao. ty to @/presumenothing for the reminder and ofc my fav @/bat1lau4can4 for talking through it with me and being the 文言文 expert i need <3

for the purposes of my goal in the above footnote, i've had to take some creative liberties in my choice of vocabulary. for example: unexampled is not quite an accurate translation of 罕见, which actually means rarely seen.

i phrased 心悦诚服 as mine heart ... yields but that's a somewhat liberal interpretation of the phrase lol. there is a heart in it; it's just maybe not the thing that's yielding, to be precise. close enough imo though!

江山 literally translates to rivers and mountains but is often used as a metaphor for a country as a whole, hence my translating it as the rivers and mountains of this land.

grammar is not as important as Vibes.

逐鹿, which i've translated as pursue the throne, literally means to chase the deer, and stems from the 《史记》 / records of the grand historian.

绝笔, rendered here as last words, specifically refer to the last words written by one before their death.

[doctorbunny]

Mahiru's birthday flower tweet

(Tweet Links)

I'm terribly sorry for being a few days late again, there were several project updates coming out around the same time...

Happy Birthday to everyone born on the 17th of January. Today is also the birthday of Mahiru Shiina from #MILGRAM. Her birthday flower is Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepard's Purse/Nazuna). It is one of the seven spring herbs. For aeons, Shepard's Purse has been an invaluble source of food and medicine to humans, because it is able to flower and fruit in all sorts of inhospitable environments, as long as there is sunlight. It's hanakotoba is "I will devote everything to you."

色んな更新で漏れてしまって。数日遅れで大変申し訳ないですが改めて… 1月17日お誕生日の方おめでとうございます。 #ミルグラム では椎奈真昼の誕生日でもあります。 誕生花はナズナ。春の七草のひとつ。陽当たりさえあれば、どんな荒地にも花と果実をつけ、冬の貴重な食糧としても生薬としても古くから人々に重用されてきました。花言葉は『あなたにすべてを捧げます』。

[Yay the task I put off for months was completed in one evening! Between me and Maristelina, I think this is all the birthday tweets translated, I'll try to compile a masterpost of links some time]

[shanks]

TRY方言

[rennebright]

メアリー(メディカルラビット) by TRY方言 [Twitter/X] ※Illustration shared with permission from the artist. If you like this artwork please support the artist by visiting the source.

[nihongoseito]

RADWIMPS 「スパークル - movie ver.」 - 歌詞と英訳

wow, what a throwback! my friend became (rightly) obsessed with this song recently, so i translated the lyrics for her. enjoy this classic :)

まだこの世界は僕を飼いならしてたいみたいだ 望み通りいいだろう 美しくもがくよ

it seems this world is trying to tame me again as you wish, and i’ll struggle beautifully too

互いの砂時計眺めながらキスをしようよ さよならから一番遠い場所で待ち合わせよう

we’ll kiss while watching each other’s hourglasses let’s meet at the place farthest from goodbye

辞書にある言葉で出来上がった世界を憎んだ 万華鏡の中で8月のある朝

i hated this world that was make from words in the dictionary one august morning inside a kaleidoscope

君は僕の前ではにかんでは澄ましてみせた この世界の教科書のような笑顔で

you seemed shy and reserved in front of me with a smile like one out of this world’s textbooks

ついに時はきた 昨日までは序章の序章で 飛ばし読みでいいから こっからが僕だよ 経験と知識とカビの生えかかった勇気を持って 未だかつてないスピードで君の元へダイブを

it’s finally time, until yesterday it was the preface to the preface you can just skim it, because i’ll take it from here with my experiences and my knowledge and my moldering courage with never before seen speed i’ll dive to where you came from

まどろみの中で生ぬるいコーラに ここでないどっかを夢見たよ 教室の窓の外に 電車に揺られ運ばれる朝に

inside a dozing dream in a lukewarm soda i saw someplace that wasn’t here outside the classroom window in the morning being swayed and carried by the train

愛し方さえも君の匂いがした 歩き方さえもその笑い声がした

even the way you love smells like you even the way you walk sounds like your laugh

いつか消えてなくなる君の全てを この目に焼き付けておくことは もう権利なんかじゃない 義務だと思うんだ

some day you’ll disappear and be lost so burning your everything into my eyes is no longer my privilege, i think it might be my duty

運命だとか未来とかって言葉がどれだけ手を 伸ばそうと届かない場所で僕ら恋をする 時計の針も2人を横目に見ながら進む そんな世界を2人で一生いや何しょうでも 生き抜いていこう

we fall in love at the place where no matter how much i grasp at them words like fate and future will never reach the clock hands watch us out of the corner of their eye as they march on in this life—no, in any life, the two of us will survive such a world as that

mada kono sekai wa boku o kainarashitetai mitai da nozomidoori ii darou utsukushiku mogaku yo

tagai no sunadokei nagamenagara kisu o shiyou yo sayonara kara ichiban tooi basho de machiawaseyou

jisho ni aru kotoba de dekiagatta sekai o nikunda mangekyou no naka de hachigatsu no aru asa

kimi wa boku no mae de hanikande wa sumashite miseta kono sekai no kyoukasho no you na egao de

tsui ni toki wa kita kinou made wa joshou no joshou de tobashiyomi de ii kara kokkara ga boku da yo keiken to chishiki to kabi no haekakatta yuuki o motte imada katsutenai supiido de kimi no moto e daibu o

madoromi no naka de namanurui koora ni koko de nai dokka o yume-mita yo kyoushitsu no mado no soto ni densha ni yurare-hakobareru asa ni

aishikata sae mo kimi no nioi ga shita arukikata sae mo sono waraigoe ga shita

itsuka kiete naku naru kimi no subete o kono me ni yakitsukete oku koto wa mou kenri nanka janai gimu da to omounda

unmei da to ka mirai to ka tte kotoba ga dore dake te o nobasou to todokanai basho de bokura koi o suru tokei no hari mo futari o yokome ni minagara susumu sonna sekai o futari de isshou iya nanshou de mo ikinuite yukou

[1way2mars]

Pazuribe Event Translation - “Super Delicious Camping Food Road” Part 1

The guys are going camping on this event! Takemichi has to work along Sanzu, Muto and Hanma to prepare the meal. What will happen? Click on Read More to find the translation!

─────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────────────────

☆ I'm not a professional translator and I'm still learning Japanese. This is a great way for me to learn and I also try my hardest to make the translations as good as they can be!

☆ Please give credit in case of use.

☆ Find more pazuribe translations here!

☆ If you have any comment, question, correction or suggestion, please let me know! (It's my first time posting something like this so everything is welcome! Please bare with me).

OPENING STORY

武道：ま、まじで・・・？

Takemichi: F-for real...?

半間：飯係とかダリィ～

Hanma: Lunch duty, boriing～

三途：・・・・・

Sanzu: ......

武藤：カレーが・・・・作ったことあるやついるか？

Muto: Curry... Has anybody prepared it before?

武道：この4人キャンプ飯を作る！？不安しかない・・・！

Takemichi: I have to prepare the camping lunch with those four!? I'm full of anxiety...!

～数分前～

～few minutes earlier～

マイキー：全員いるか？誰もはぐれてないな

Mikey: Is everybody here? We haven’t lost sight of anyone.

マイキー：じゃあここでテントはってキャンプ始めるぞ！

Mikey: Then, we’ll tent and start camping here!

ドラケン：作業担当決めっからくじす引けー

Draken: We’ll decide who’s in charge of each task by drawing lots.

武道：オレは・・・・飯担当か。千冬は？

Takemichi: I’m... in charge of the food! Chifuyu?

千冬：オレはテント担当だ！

Chifuyu: I’m in charge of the tent!

武道：べつべつかなぁ～

Takemichi: We aren’t together～

千冬：すっげーテント立ててやっからよ。タケミっちもすっげー美味い飯作ってくれよ！

Chifuyu: I will put an incredible tent up. Takemicchi, you also have to prepare some reeally delicious food!

武道：自信はないけど、頑張るよ！

Takemichi: I’m not confident, but I’ll do my best!

武藤：飯担当はこっちに集まってくれ

Muto: The ones in charge of food, let’s gather here.

武道：���んか向こうで集まるみたいだ。行ってくる！

Takemichi: Seems like they’re gathering over there. I’m off!

千冬：おう！頑張れよ！

Chifuyu: Yeah! Good luck!

・・・

武道：それでまさか。この4人なるなんて・・・

Takemichi: There’s no way. I can’t believe it’s us four...

三途：きたねぇ・・・・・まさかここで作業するのか？

Sanzu: Here he comees... There’s no way you’re working here?

武藤：メシが出来上がるまで辛抱してくれ、三途

Muto: Be patient until the food is ready, Sanzu

半間：オレ、味見係やるわ～出来上がったらよんでくれ

Hanma: I’ll do the food tasting～ Call me when it’s finished.

武道：ごはん、無事にできるんだろうか・・・・・

Takemichi: I wonder if we’ll be able to do the meal safely...

STORY BEFORE THE BOSS

半間：はぁ～枝集めダリィ〜

Hanma: Haa～ Collecting branches is duull～

三途：しゃべってねぇーで。さっさと集めろ

Sanzu: Stop chatting. Gather them quickly.

半間：こんなんで火おこしするよりガスコンロ借りた方が早くねぇ？

Hanma: Isn’t it faster to rent a gas stove rather than to start a fire with this?

三途：マイキーの指示だ。黙って従え

Sanzu: Mikey’s instructions. Shut up and obey.

半間：はいはい。これでいいだろ

Hanma: Yeah, yeah. Here we go.

三途：・・・・だめだな、全部使えねぇ。探しなおせ

Sanzu: That’s no good, all of them are useless. Search again.

半間：あぁ？言われた通り木の枝集めてきだだろうか

Hanma: Hah? Haven’t I collected the tree branches as I was told?

三途：オマエが集めてきた全部湿気てる。これじゃあ火がつかねぇ。さっさと集めなおせ

Sanzu: All the branches you have collected are damp. They won’t catch fire. Collect them quickly.

半間：・・・・・ダリィ

Hanma: How dull.

三途：おい、待て。どこ行く気だ

Sanzu: Oi, wait. Where are you going?

半間：こんなことやってられっかよ。テメェー人でやれ。じゃあな～

Hanma: How can I do this? Do it by yourself. See ya～

三途：あぁ！？逃すかよ！！！！

Sanzu: Haah?! I won’t let you go!!!!

STORY AFTER THE BOSS

三途：はぁ・・・・はぁ・・・オレの・・・・勝ちだ。大人しく・・・枝を・・・集めろ

Sanzu: Haa... Haa... I catched... you. Keep quite... And pick up... The branches.

半間：はぁ・・・はぁ・・・わかったよ、ただ・・・・ちょっと、休憩にしねぇ？

Hanma: Haa... Haa... I know... but... Can we rest a little bit?

三途：・・・・そうだな

Sanzu: ...Alright.

STORY AFTER DEFEATING BOSS LVL. 2

半間：なんでオレがてめえの言うことに従わなきゃいけねぇんだよ

Hanma: Why should I have to follow what you tell me?

STORY AFTER DEFEATING BOSS LVL. 5

半間：なかなかやるじゃねぇーか。面白くなってきた

Hanma: Way to go. It’s getting interesting.

STORY AFTER DEFEATING BOSS LVL. 10

半間：もう枝とかどうでもいいだろ？決着つけようぜ！

Hanma: Do the branches matter anymore? Let’s settle it!

[shantihtown]

"Do or do not. There is no try." 「やるかやらないかだ。挑戦などない。」 "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." 「恐れは暗黒面への道。恐れは怒りを生み、怒りは憎しみを生み、憎しみは苦しみを生む。」 "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?" 「大きさなど問題ではない。私を見るがいい。私の大きさで判断するか？」 "When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not." 「900年の歳月を経たら、お前もこんなには見えないだろう。」 "The greatest teacher, failure is." 「最も偉大な師は、失敗である。」 "Always pass on what you have learned." 「学んだことは常に伝えるべきだ。」 "Patience you must have, my young Padawan." 「忍耐が必要だ、若きパダワンよ。」 "In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way." 「私たちは暗い場所にいるが、少しの知識が道を照らす。」 "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is." 「本当に素晴らしい、子供の心は。」 "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack." 「ジェダイは知識と防御のためにフォースを使う。決して攻撃のためではない。」 "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." 「見えにく���ものだ。未来は常に動いている。」 "Named must your fear be before banish it you can." 「恐れを追い払う前に、その恐れを名付けなければならない。」 "Much to learn, you still have." 「まだ学ぶべきことが多い。」 "The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see, the future is." 「暗黒面がすべてを覆う。未来は見えない。」 "Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things." 「冒険や興奮。ジェダイはこれらを渇望しない。」 "To be Jedi is to face the truth, and choose. Give off light, or darkness, Padawan. Be a candle, or the night." 「ジェダイであることは真実に直面し、選択することだ。光を放つか、暗闇を選ぶか、パダワンよ。ろうそくであれ、夜であれ。」 "On many long journeys have I gone. And waited, too, for others to return from journeys of their own. Some return; some are broken; some come back so different only their names remain." 「多くの長い旅をしてきた。また、他の者が自分の旅から帰るのを待ってもいた。帰ってくる者もいれば、壊れてしまう者もいる。名前だけが残り、まったく違う者として帰ってくる者もいる。」 "Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not." 「死は生の自然な一部だ。フォースに変わる周りの人々のために喜べ。悲しむな。惜しむな。」 "Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you." 「力強くなったな、君の中に暗黒面を感じる。」 "Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose." 「失うことを恐れるすべてから手を離す訓練をしなさい。」

ヨーダに学ぶフォースと英語【スターウォーズ 名言20選】 | 旅する雑貨屋の作り方

[apothecaryscript]

Drama CD of The Apothecary Diaries vol.9 (2/3) / 薬屋のひとりごと 9巻 ドラマCD (2/3)

Please note that the English lines are just my translation.

This post cannot be reblogged, and please do not repurpose it, since I have no intention of infringing the copyright of this drama CD and I don’t want this post to be distributed to an unspecified number of people.

So if you’d like to share this post with someone, please advise them to visit my blog. I’ll put a link to this post on the home page of my blog.

(back to 1/3 part of the story → Click here)

猫猫（無茶言うなよ… こんなの一人でできるか！―って、投げ出しても終わらない。とりあえず、情報を整理するか）

Maomao (Mucha iu-nayo… Konnano hitoride dekiruka!―tte, nagedashi-temo owara-nai. Tori-aezu, joho’o seiri-suruka.)

Maomao (Don’t be ridiculous… How can I do this alone? But even if I just give up, it won’t end. Let’s organize the information first.)

無茶を言うな(むちゃをいうな/Mucha’o iu): Don’t be ridiculous, Don’t be absurd

猫猫（長らく後宮にいた先帝の妃、佩芳が死んだ。名のある楽人であった彼女は、最後に作った曲を誰かに譲るつもりであったが、相続人を口にする前に亡くなってしまった。残されたのは、後宮外の者との文のやりとり。文の多くは宛名が無く、楽団名のみ。筆跡で探ろうにも、代筆を使っている場合が多く、難しい…）

Maomao (Nagaraku kokyuni ita senteino kisaki, Beifanga shinda. Nano aru gakujinde atta kanojowa, saigoni tsukutta kyoku’o darekani yuzuru-tsumoride-attaga, sozoku-nin’o kuchini-suru maeni nakunatte-shimatta. Noko-sareta-nowa, kokyu-gaino mono-tono fumino yaritori. Fumino ookuwa atenaga naku, gakudan-mei-nomi. Hissekide saguro-nimo, daihitsu’o tsukatte-iru baaiga ooku, muzukashii…)

Maomao (The former emperor’s concubine Beifang, who had been in the rear palace for a long time, passed away. She was a famous musician and had intended to pass on her last composition to someone, but she died before she could name an heir. All that was left was correspondences with people outside the rear palace. Many of the letters were unaddressed, only with the name of the orchestra. Even if you try to find out the handwriting, it is difficult because in many cases someone else wrote it for them…)

猫猫（かろうじて分かるのは、佩芳が気に入っていた曲。結構あるんだよなぁ… あの侍女頭が、もっと意見を言ってくれたらいいのに…。大事にしているように見えて、案外雑な保管方法だよな。たまには日陰干しもしないと虫食いだらけ…あ…）

Maomao (Karojite wakaru-nowa, Beifanga kini-itte-ita kyoku. Kekko arun-dayo-naa… Ano jijo-gashiraga, motto iken’o itte-kure-tara ii-noni… Daijini shite-iru-yoni miete, angai zatsuna hokan-hoho dayona. Tama-niwa hikage-boshimo shinaito mushi-kui-darake… A…)

Maomao (All the information I got are the songs that Lady Beifang liked. There are quite a lot… I wish the head lady-in-waiting would give me more opinions… They seem to treasure the scores, but they’re storing them carelessly. She needs to dry them in the shade every now and then, or they’ll get eaten by moths… Ah…)

猫猫「すみません、嬌嬌様」

Maomao “Sumi-masen, Kyokyo-sama.”

Maomao “Excuse me, Lady Kyokyo.”

嬌嬌「どうされました？」

Kyokyo “Do sare-mashita?”

Kyokyo “What happened?”

猫猫「工尺譜に、わざと穴が開けられているようですが。原文ではなく、写しにばかり」

Maomao “Koshakufu-ni, wazato anaga ake-rarete-iru-yodesuga. Genbun-dewa naku, utsushini bakari.”

Maomao “It seems like holes have been intentionally made into the gongche notations. Not into the original, but all into copies.”

わざと(Wazato): intentionally, deliberately, on purpose

猫猫（手紙には虫食い痕はほとんどない。譜面にばかりだ。形と配置からして、あえて穴を開けられていることが分かる。十年くらい前の物からか…）

Maomao (Tegami-niwa mushi-kui-atowa hotondo nai. Fumen-ni-bakarida. Katachito haichi-kara-shite, aete ana’o ake-rarete-iru-kotoga wakaru. Ju-nen-kurai maeno mono-karaka…)

Maomao (The letters have almost no holes. Holes are in the scores only. Judging from its shape and placement, I can tell the holes were deliberately made. It must be from about ten years ago…)

あえて(Aete): deliverately (わざと and あえて are very similar. Strictly to say there are differences but if I explain here simply, わざと sounds a little bit negative, and あえて sounds positive.)

嬌嬌「あ…申し訳ありません。伝えておりませんでした。佩芳様が読み返せるようにと、指先で触れて分かるように、紙に穴を開けていました」

Kyokyo “A… Moshi-wake ari-masen. Tsutaete ori-masen deshita. Beifan-samaga yomikae-seru-yoni-to, yubi-sakide furete wakaru-yoni, kamini ana’o akete imashita.”

Kyokyo “Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you that. I made holes in the papers so that Lady Beifang could feel them with her fingertips and read it again.”

猫猫「穴を開けたのは、全てあなたが？」

Maomao “Ana’o aketa-nowa, subete anataga?”

Maomao “Were you the one who made all the holes?”

嬌嬌「はい。こうして…穴を開けます。他の侍女たちは、佩芳様は一度聞けば曲を覚えてしまうので意味がないと、やってくれなかったんですけどね」

Kyokyo “Hai. Ko-shite…ana’o ake-masu. Hokano jijo-tachiwa, Beifan-samawa ichido kikeba kyoku’o oboete-shimau-node imiga naito, yatte-kure-nakattan-desu-kedo-ne.”

Kyokyo “Yes. Like this… This is how you make the holes. The other ladies-in-waiting didn’t want to do it because Lady Beifang would memorize the tune after hearing it just once and they thought there was no point in doing it.”

猫猫（ふん…穴を開けた位置の組み合わせで音階を表すわけか… これなら読めるな）

Maomao (Fun… Ana’o aketa ichino kumi-awasede onkai’o arawasu-wakeka… Kore-nara yomeruna.)

Maomao (Hmm… So the musical scale is expressed by the combination of hole positions… She must have been able to read it.)

猫猫「清書した物のみ、穴を開けているのですね」

Maomao “Seisho-shita mono-nomi, ana’o akete-iruno-desune.”

Maomao “You only make holes in the clean copies, don’t you?”

清書(せいしょ/Seisho): clean copy, fair copy

嬌嬌「はい。清書は二枚用意し、一枚は、送られて来た楽団へと返します」

Kyokyo “Hai. Seishowa ni-mai yoi-shi, ichi-maiwa, oku-rarete-kita gakudan’eto kaeshi-masu.”

Kyokyo “Yes. I prepare two clean copies and return one to the orchestra that sent it.”

猫猫「確か、証拠として残しておくと」

Maomao “Tashika, shoko-to-shite nokoshite-okuto.”

Maomao “You said you would leave it as evidence.”

嬌嬌「はい。先程も言いましたが、佩芳様の作曲、または変奏・編曲を、全て自分の手柄にしている方がいらっしゃいました。今後そのようなことが起きないようにと、送られて来た譜は、こうして楽団の印を押してもらっており、それを添削したものを保管しています」

Kyokyo “Hai. Saki-hodomo ii-mashitaga, Beifan-samano sakkyoku, matawa henso, henkyoku’o, subete jibun’no tegarani shite-iru kataga irasshai-mashita. Kongo sono-yona kotoga oki-nai-yonito, oku-rarete-kita fuwa, koshite gakudan’no in’o oshite-moratte-ori, sore’o tensaku-shita mono’o hokan shite-imasu.”

Kyokyo “Yes. As I said earlier, there were some people who were taking all of Lady Beifang’s compositions, variations, and arrangements for themselves. To prevent this from happening again, we have the orchestra stamp the scores that are sent to us, and we keep the corrected versions.”

添削する(てんさくする/Tensaku-suru): check and correct

猫猫「聞いているとどんどん質問が湧いてくるのですが…構いませんか？多少不躾な内容があるので、答えられる範囲で構いません」

Maomao “Kiite-iruto don-don shitsumon-ga waite-kuruno-desuga… kamai-masenka? Tasho bushitsuke-na naiyoga aru-node, kotae-rareru han’ide kamai-masen.”

Maomao “As I listen, more and more questions come to mind… Is that okay? Some of the content may be a little rude, so you don’t have to answer the questions any more than you desire.”

どんどん(Don-don): more and more, rapidly

嬌嬌「どうぞ」

Kyokyo “Dozo.”

Kyokyo “Please go ahead.”

猫猫「こちらの宮には、多数の楽器があるようですが、正直、先帝の妃の扶持(ふち)で用意できるとは思えません。だからと言って、女官たちが個別で楽器を持ってくるのは難しいと思います。作曲・編曲などで見返りに金銭は受け取っていますか？」

Maomao “Kochirano miya-niwa, tasuno gakkiga aruyo-desuga, shojiki, senteino kisakino fuchide yoi dekiru-towa omoe-masen. Dakarato-itte, nyokan-tachiga kobetsude gakki’o motte-kuru-nowa muzukashii-to omoi-masu. Sakkyoku, henkyoku-nadode mikaerini kinsenwa uketotte-imasuka?”

Maomao “It seems that there are many musical instruments here, but to be honest, I don’t think that the former emperor’s concubine’s stipend would be enough to provide them all. That being said, I think it would be difficult for the ladies-in-waiting to bring their own instruments. Did she receive money in return for composing and arranging music?”

だからと言って(だからといって/Dakarato-itte): that being said

猫猫（先程の話では、実家からの仕送りは期待できない。子がいない先帝の妃となれば、さほど重視しないもんだ）

Maomao (Sakihodono hanashi-dewa, jikka-karano shiokuriwa kitai deki-nai. Koga inai senteino kisakito nareba, sahodo jushi shinai-monda.)

Maomao (According to what Lady Kyokyo has told me, Lady Beifang had not been able to expect any money from her parents. In the position of the concubine of the previous emperor without children, she would not have been given as much attention.)

仕送り(しおくり/Shiokuri): money to be given among family members to support

嬌嬌「お察しの通りです。佩芳様は対価と見返りに曲を作っておられました。受け取った金銭については、音楽隊の運営に使っていました。やましいところはありません」

Kyokyo “Osasshino toori desu. Beifan-samawa taikato mikaerini kyoku’o tsukutte-orare-mashita. Uketotta kinsen’ni tsuitewa, ongaku-taino un’eini tsukatte-imashita. Yamashii tokorowa ari-masen.”

Kyokyo “As you may have guessed, Lady Beifang composed the songs in return for money. As for the money she received, she used it to run her music band. There is nothing shameful about this.”

やましい(Yamashii): feeling a guilty conscience

猫猫「仕事によって受け取ったのであれば、問題ないかと思います。それと…嬌嬌様以外の古参の侍女はいらっしゃらないのですか？」

Maomao “Shigotoni yotte uketotta-node areba, mondai-naikato omoi-masu. Soreto… Kyokyo-sama-igaino kosan’no jijowa irasshara-naino-desuka?”

Maomao “If she received it for work, I don’t think there’s any problem. Also… are there no other senior ladies-in-waiting besides you, Lady Kyokyo?”

古参の(こさんの/Kosanno): veteran, senior

嬌嬌「佩芳様のもとに、先の帝が通われたのは、二年程。その間、子を授かることはありませんでした。当時は、二十人を���える侍女や下女がいましたが、皆離れていきました。お通りが無くなれば、妃としての扶持も減りますので、皆年季を終えると実家へと帰っていきました」

Kyokyo “Beifan-samano motoni, sakino mikadoga kayo-wareta-nowa, ni-nen-hodo. Sono aida, ko’o sazukaru-kotowa ari-masen-deshita. Tojiwa, niju-nin’o koeru jijoya gejoga imashitaga, mina hanarete iki-mashita. Otooriga naku-nareba, kisaki-to-shiteno fuchimo herimasu-node, mina nenki’o oeruto jikka’eto kaette iki-mashita.”

Kyokyo “The previous emperor visited Lady Beifang for about two years. During that time, she did not have any children. At the time, she had more than twenty ladies-in-waiting and servants, but they all left. When the emperor stopped visiting, her stipend as concubine would decrease, so they all returned to their parents’ homes when their term was over.”

猫猫（世知辛い話だ…）

Maomao (Sechi-garai hanashida…)

Maomao (It’s a tough story…)

猫猫「嬌嬌様は、ご実家に戻られようとは思わなかったのですか？」

Maomao “Kyokyo-samawa, gojikkani modorare-yotowa omowa-nakattano-desuka?”

Maomao “Lady Kyokyo, haven’t you ever thought about returning to your parents’ home?”

嬌嬌「私は…引き取られた身です。実家などありません。帰ったところで、私に居場所はないでしょう」

Kyokyo “Watakushiwa… hikito-rareta mi-desu. Jikka-nado ari-masen. Kaetta-tokorode, watakushini ibashowa nai desho.”

Kyokyo “I…was adopted. I don’t have a family home. Even if I went back, there would be no place for me.”

猫猫（…もしかしてこの人の出身って…いや、確認するのは野暮だ）

Maomao (…Moshika-shite kono hitono shusshintte… Iya, kakunin-suru-nowa yaboda.)

Maomao (…Could it be that this person is from… No, it would be rude to check.)

野暮な(やぼな/yabona): rude, boorish, inappropriate, senseless

嬌嬌「それに」

Kyokyo “Soreni.”

Kyokyo ��And”

猫猫「それに？」

Maomao “Soreni?”

Maomao “And?”

嬌嬌「自分で言うのも何ですが、佩芳様の笛と私の琴は、とても良く合っていたんです。できればもう一度、佩芳様と合わせてみたかった…」

Kyokyo “Jibunde iu-nomo nan-desuga, Beifan-samano fueto watashino kotowa, totemo yoku atte-itan-desu. Dekireba mo-ichido, Beifan-samato awasete-mitakatta…”

Kyokyo “Even if I do say so myself, Lady Beifang’s flute and my koto matched extremely well. I wanted to play it with Lady Beifang once again, if possible…”

自分で言うのも何ですが(じぶんでいうのもなんですが/Jibunde iu-nomo nan-desuga): (Even) if I say so myself

猫猫（悲しい笑いだ…）

Maomao (Kanashii waraida…)

Maomao (Sad smile…)

猫猫「込み入ったことを聞いてしまいました」

Maomao “Komi-itta koto’o kiite shimai-mashita.”

Maomao “I’ve heard something complicated.”

This line means almost the same as “I’m sorry to ask you such private questions.” But Maomao didn’t say “sorry,” so I didn’t translate it. Actually Maomao expressed her feeling of apology and Kyokyo understood it. That’s why Kyokyo will say “No.” in the following line.

嬌嬌「いえ。これで終わりなら、私は少し席を外しますが、よろしいでしょうか？他の女官を寄越しますので、何かあれば言って下さい」

Kyokyo “Ie. Korede owari-nara, watakushiwa sukoshi seki’o hazushi-masuga, yoroshii deshoka? Hokano nyokan’o yokoshi-masu-node, nanika areba itte kudasai.”

Kyokyo “No. If this is all you need, I will leave my seat for a while. Is that okay? I’ll send another lady-in-waiting, so please let her know if you need anything.”

寄越す(よこす/Yokosu): send, forward

猫猫「お忙しいですよね」

Maomao “Oisogashii desu-yone.”

Maomao “You’re busy, aren’t you?”

嬌嬌「はい。この宮も、近いうちに引き揚げないといけませんので」

Kyokyo “Hai. Kono miyamo, chikai-uchini hikiage-naito ike-masen-node.”

Kyokyo “Yes. Since we will have to withdraw from here soon.”

引き揚げる(ひきあげる/Hiki-ageru): withdraw, leave

猫猫（そうか… 妃がいなくなれば、宮も解体しなくてはいけないか）

Maomao (Soka… Kisakiga inaku-nareba, miyamo kaitai shinakutewa ikenaika.)

Maomao (I see… If the concubine is gone, the building will have to be dismantled as well.)

猫猫「分かりました。もう少し、私はこちらにいますので」

Maomao “Wakari-mashita. Mo-sukoshi, watashiwa kochirani imasu-node.”

Maomao “Okay. I’ll stay here for a little while longer.”

嬌嬌「失礼します」

Kyokyo “Shitsurei-shimasu.”

Kyokyo “Excuse me.”

猫猫（…とは言いつつ…本当に終わるのだろうか？楽団一つ一つをあたれば、誰がどの曲を作ったか分かるかもしれないが、時間と労力が半端ない。原文に何か書いてあればいいのに……ん？なんかやけに赤字が多いな、この曲。…これも。さっきと同じ楽団。この楽団は確か…それに、同じ音階ばかり訂正が入っている。これは…もしかして…！）

Maomao (…Towa ii-tsutsu…hontoni owaruno-daroka? Gakudan hitotsu-hitotsu’o atareba, darega dono kyoku’o tsukuttaka wakaru-kamo shire-naiga, jikanto roryokuga hanpa-nai. Genbun-ni nanika kaite-areba ii-noni…… N? Nanka yakeni akajiga ooina, kono kyoku. …Koremo. Sakkito onaji gakudan. Kono gakudanwa tashika… Soreni, onaji onkai-bakari teiseiga haitte-iru. Korewa…moshika-shite…!)

Maomao (…That said…will it really be finished? If I go through each orchestra one by one, I might be able to find out who composed which song, but it would take an incredible amount of time and effort. I wish there was something written in the original… Huh? There seems to be a lot of red ink in this song. …This one, too. They’re from the same orchestra. I’m sure this orchestra is… and only the same scale has been corrected. This… could be…)

とは言いつつ(とはいいつつ/Towa-ii-tsutsu): that said

半端ない(はんぱない/Hanpa-nai): incredible, awesome, amazing (It’s youth slang.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫（あ～～、目が痛い。気になったところを調べていたら、もう真っ暗だ）

Maomao (Aaaaa, mega itai. Kini-natta-tokoro’o shirabete-itara, mo makkura-da.)

Maomao (Ahh, my eyes hurt. I was checking something that caught my eye, and now it’s pitch black outside already.)

真っ暗(まっくら/Makkura): pitch black

猫猫「よくもまあ下っ端をこき使う…」

Maomao “Yokumo-maa shitappa’o koki-tsukau…”

Maomao “How dare you work me of lower position hard…”

こき使う(こきつかう/Koki-tsukau): work someone hard, drive someone hard

壬氏「何だ？弱音か？」

Jinshi “Nanda? Yowaneka?”

Jinshi “What is it? Are you whining?”

猫猫「うわ！」

Maomao “Uwa!”

Maomao “Whoa!”

高順「小猫…」

Gaoshun “Shaomao…”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao…”

猫猫「高順様」

Maomao “Gaoshun-sama.”

Maomao “Master Gaoshun.”

高順「夜食にと、ザッ茶?と煎餅、肉入り饅頭と、ついでに葛をお持ちしました。冷えますので、温かくしてください」

Gaoshun “Yashoku-nito, zaccha?to senbei, niku-iri-manjuto, tsuideni kuzu’o omochi-shimashita. Hiemasu-node, atatakaku shite-kudasai.”

Gaoshun “I’ve brought some tea, rice crackers, meat buns, and arrowroot as well for your midnight snack. It’s cold, so please stay warm.”

葛(くず/Kuzu): arrowroot, kudzu

壬氏「そうだぞ。夜は冷えるからな」

Jinshi “So-dazo. Yoruwa hieru-karana.”

Jinshi “Yes. It’s cold at night.”

猫猫「壬氏様… その言い様ですとまるで、私に夜なべして調べろと言っているようですが…」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama… Sono iiyo-desuto marude, watashini yonabe-shite shirabero-to itte-iru-yodesuga…”

Maomao “Master Jinshi… the way you say it sounds like you’re telling me to stay up all night and find out…”

夜なべする(よなべする/Yonabe-suru): stay up all night (to work or study)

壬氏「ん？しないのか？」

Jinshi “N? Shinai-noka?”

Jinshi “Huh? You won’t?”

猫猫「私に、寝るなと？」

Maomao “Watashini, neruna-to?”

Maomao “Are you telling me not to sleep?”

壬氏「そうは言ってないが、ちょっと急いでもらいたい。ここで調べられる時間は限られるからな」

Jinshi “Sowa itte-naiga, chotto isoide-morai-tai. Kokode shirabe-rareru jikanwa kagi-rareru-karana.”

Jinshi “No, I’m not telling that, but I’d like you to hurry up a bit. We only have limited amount of time to investigate here.”

高順「夜でしたら私も手伝いますので」

Gaoshun “Yoru-deshitara, watashimo tetsudai-masu-node.”

Gaoshun “I can help out at night.”

壬氏「わ・た・し・も・な！」

Jinshi “Wa, ta, shi, mo, na!”

Jinshi “Me, too!”

猫猫「げ…」

Maomao “Ge…”

Maomao “Ugh…”

壬氏「何か言ったか？」

Jinshi “Nanika ittaka?”

Jinshi “Did you say something?”

猫猫「いえ、何でもありません。しかし、壬氏様は明日も忙しいのではないでしょうか？」

Maomao “Ie, nan-demo ari-masen. Shikashi, Jinshi-samawa asumo isogashiino-dewa nai-deshoka?”

Maomao “No, it’s nothing. But I think you will be busy tomorrow too, Master Jinshi.”

高順「私からも、壬氏様にはしっかり睡眠を取っていただきたいのですが…」

Gaoshun “Watashi-karamo, Jinshi-sama-niwa shikkari suimin’o totte itadaki-taino-desuga…”

Gaoshun “I also want you to get a good night’s sleep, Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「何だ、高順？仲間外れか？」

Jinshi “Nanda, Gaoshun? Nakama-hazureka?”

Jinshi “What? Gaoshun, do you make me outcast?”

仲間外れ(なかまはずれ/Nakama-hazure): outcast, black sheep, odd one out (This word has a nuance of bullying or harassment.)

高順「いえ、そういうことではなく…」

Gaoshun “Ie, so-iu koto-dewa naku…”

Gaoshun “No, that’s not it…”

猫猫（従者を���らせるなよ）

Maomao (Jusha’o koma-raseru-nayo.)

Maomao (Don’t bother your servant.)

猫猫「急いでいるのではなかったのですか？」

Maomao “Isoide-iruno-dewa nakattano-desuka?”

Maomao “Aren’t we in a hurry?”

壬氏「そうだったな。三日以内に片をつけたい」

Jinshi “So-dattana. Mikka-inaini kata’o tsuke-tai.”

Jinshi “That’s right. I want to settle this within three days.”

片をつける(かたをつける/Kata’o tsukeru): settle, get done with

猫猫「三日って…ほとんど情報も無いのに探せと言うのですか？」

Maomao “Mikkatte… Hotondo johomo nai-noni sagaseto iuno-desuka?”

Maomao “Three days… Are you telling me to find with almost no information?

猫猫（嬌嬌が近いうちに出て行くって言ってたけど、そんなに早いのか）

Maomao (Kyokyoga chikai-uchini dete-ikutte itteta-kedo, sonnani hayai-noka.)

Maomao (Kyokyo said she was leaving soon, but is it that soon?)

壬氏「残念ながら、お役所の仕事に理不尽は付き物だ。葬儀を終えたら、宮から出て行け。処分できない荷は置いて行けと、先程言われた。荷物の中には、例の最後の曲も含まれる」

Jinshi “Zannen-nagara, oyakushono shigotoni rifujinwa tsukimono-da. Sogi’o oetara, miya-kara dete-ike. Shobun deki-nai niwa oite-ike-to, sakihodo iwareta. Nimotsuno naka-niwa, reino saigono kyokumo fuku-mareru.”

Jinshi “Unfortunately, unreasonableness is an inevitable part of bureaucratic work. I was just told to leave the palace after funeral and to leave behind any belongings that they cannot dispose of. That includes the final song.”

理不尽(りふじん/Rifujin): unreasonableness

例の(れいの/Reino): In English, it will be “the”, but this sentence actually means like “That includes the final song, which we were talking about.” 例の(Reino) can indicate the meaning of “which we were talking about.” It’s used for a something special or something which they don’t want to say its name clearly.

猫猫「言われた、ということは…壬氏様の命では、ないんですよね。何だか、どなたかの思惑が感じられるのですが」

Maomao “Iwareta, to-iu kotowa… Jinshi-samano mei-dewa, nain-desu-yone. Nandaka, donatakano omowakuga kanji-rareruno-desuga.”

Maomao “So…if that’s what you were told… then it wasn’t your order, was you? I can sense that someone else has their own plans.”

命(めい/Mei): order.  In case we read as いのち/Inochi, it means “life.”

壬氏「佩芳殿の曲が、それだけ価値があるということだ。急がせて遺言を有耶無耶にし、遺された曲を戴こうとしている輩がいる。生前、文のやりとりで一番多かったのは、宮廷音楽隊だからな」

Jinshi “Beifan-donono kyokuga, sore-dake kachiga aruto iu-kotoda. Iso-gasete yuigon’o uya-muyani shi, noko-sareta kyoku’o itadako-to shite-iru yakaraga iru. Seizen, fumino yaritori-de ichi-ban ookatta-nowa, kyutei-ongaku-tai dakarana.”

Jinshi “That just goes to show how valuable Lady Beifang’s music is. There are those who are rushing to obscure her will and take the music she left behind. When she was alive, the people with whom she exchanged letters most often were the palace orchestra.”

有耶無耶にする(うやむやにする/Uya-muya-ni-suru): obscure, leave unsettled

猫猫「つまり、三日以内に相続人が見つからなければ、宮廷音楽隊が全て曲を持って行ってしまうのですね」

Maomao “Tsumari, mikka-inaini sozoku-ninga mitsukara-nakereba, kyutei-ongaku-taiga subete kyoku’o motte-itte-shimauno-desune.”

Maomao “So, if we don’t find an heir within three days, the palace band will take all songs, right?”

壬氏「ご名答」

Jinshi “Gomeito.”

Jinshi “You’re right.”

ご名答(ごめいとう/Gomeito): excellent answer, good answer

猫猫「火事場泥棒みたいですね」

Maomao “Kajiba-dorobo mitai desune.”

Maomao “It’s like a looter at a fire.”

火事場泥棒(かじばどろぼう/Kajiba-dorobo): someone who commits theft where there is a fire or in such a messed situation.

壬氏「気に食わないのは分かるが、こういうものだ。というわけで、ほんの少しの手掛かりでもいい。誰か、気になるところは見つかったか？」

Jinshi “Kini kuwanai-nowa wakaruga, ko-iu monoda. To-iu wakede, honno sukoshino tegakari-demo ii. Dareka, kini naru tokorowa mitsukattaka?”

Jinshi “I know you don’t like it, but that’s how it is. So even the slightest clue would be nice. Have you found anyone with something that caught your attention?”

猫猫「とりあえず…折角ですので、お茶を用意してもよろしいですか？」

Maomao “Tori-aezu… sekkaku-desu-node, ocha’o yoi-shitemo yoroshii-desuka?”

Maomao “For now… since you brought some food, may I prepare some tea?”

折角(せっかく/Sekkaku): This means “since” in “since you brought some food,” and we often omit other words and just say 「折角なので」. We can only guess what words are following, but it has a nuance of “since we have a chance to do…” or “since you kindly did….”  

猫猫（正直、腹が減った。饅頭食べたい！目も休ませたい！）

Maomao (Shojiki, haraga hetta. Manju tabe-tai! Memo yasumase-tai!)

Maomao (Honestly, I’m hungry. I want to eat some buns! I also want to rest my eyes!)

高順「それなら女官を…」

Gaoshun “Sore-nara nyokan’o…”

Gaoshun “Then let’s have the lady-in-waiting…”

猫猫「いえ、気分転換も兼ねて、用意してきます」

Maomao “Ie, kibun-tenkan’mo kanete, yoi-shite-kimasu.”

Maomao “No, I’ll go prepare as a change of pace.”

壬氏「ならば、白茶と月餅で頼む」

Jinshi “Naraba, hakuchato geppeide tanomu.”

Jinshi “Then I’ll have white tea and mooncakes.”

猫猫「この宮にあるか知りませんよ」

Maomao “Kono miyani aruka shiri-masen’yo.”

Maomao “I don’t know if those are here.”

高順「用意してきましたので、これを」

Gaoshun “Yoi shite-kimashita-node, kore’o.”

Gaoshun “I’ve prepared this, so take it.”

猫猫「さすが高順様ですね」

Maomao “Sasuga Gaoshun-sama desune.”

Maomao “As expected of Master Gaoshun.”

さすが(流石/Sasuga): As expected.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「すみません」

Maomao “Sumi-masen.”

Maomao “Excuse me.”

嬌嬌「どうかされましたか？猫猫様」

Kyokyo “Doka sare-mashitaka? Maomao-sama.”

Kyokyo “Is something wrong, Lady Maomao?”

猫猫「嬌嬌様。お茶を入れたいのですが、食器と茶器を貸していただけないでしょうか？」

Maomao “Kyokyo-sama. Ocha’o ire-taino-desuga, shokkito chaki’o kashite itadake-nai-deshoka?”

Maomao “Lady Kyokyo, I’d like to make some tea. Could I borrow some tableware and tea utensils?”

嬌嬌「まあ…それでしたら、下女に言ってくれたらご用意しましたのに…」

Kyokyo “Maa…sore-deshitara, gejoni itte-kure-tara goyoi shimashita-noni…”

Kyokyo “Oh, my… If that was the case, you could have just told the servant and we would’ve prepared it for you…”

猫猫「いえ、気分転換も兼ねております。壬氏様がいらっしゃっているので、席を外すわけにはいかないでしょうから」

Maomao “Ie, kibun-tenkan’mo kanete-orimasu. Jinshi-samaga irasshatte-iru-node, seki’o hazusu-wake-niwa ikanai-desho-kara.”

Maomao “No, it’s also a way to refresh my mind. Since Master Jinshi is here, she can’t leave her seat.”

嬌嬌「かしこまりました。お湯は用意しますので、食器は棚の物を、好きにお使いください」

Kyokyo “Kashikomari-mashita. Oyuwa yoi shimasu-node, shokkiwa tanano mono’o, sukini otsukai kudasai.”

Kyokyo “I Understood. I’ll prepare hot water, so please feel free to use the dishes on the shelf as you like.”

猫猫（お？）「あの…」

Maomao (O?) “Ano…”

Maomao (Oh?) “Um…”

嬌嬌「どうかしましたか？」

Kyokyo “Doka shimashitaka?”

Kyokyo “What’s wrong?”

猫猫「薬草が置いてありますが…佩芳様に煎じていたものでしょうか？」

Maomao “Yakusoga oite-arimasuga… Beifan-samani senjite-ita mono-deshoka?”

Maomao “There are some medicinal herbs here… Are they the ones brewed for Lady Beifang?”

猫猫（あれは…当帰(トウキ)か？横のが知母(チモ)だとすると、牛蒡(ゴボウ)みたいなのは芍薬(シャクヤク)に見える。葛根(カッコン)もあるな。加工した葛粉はあるかな…）

Maomao (Arewa… Tokika? Yoko-noga Chimo dato-suruto, gobo-mitaina-nowa Shakuyakuni mieru. Kakkon’mo aruna.  Kako-shita kuzukowa aru-kana…)

Maomao (Is that…Angelica? The one next to it is Anemarrhena Rhizome? If so, the burdock-like thing looks like a peony. There are also Kudzu roots. I wonder if there is some arrowroots starch that were processed already…)

I’m not sure if these herb names are correct…

嬌嬌「はい。私も体のあちこちが悪いので、使わせてもらっておりました」

Kyokyo “Hai. Watashimo karadano achi-kochiga warui-node, tsuka-wasete-moratte-ori-mashita.”

Kyokyo “Yes. I have a lot of body aches, so I also have been using it.”

猫猫「えっと、やぶ…あ、…医官様が調薬を？」（一気に不安になった… 変な物渡して、それで寿命を縮めたとか、ないよな？）

Maomao “Etto, Yabu…a, …Ikan-samaga choyaku’o?” (Ikkini fuan’ni natta… Henna mono watashite, sorede jumyo’o chijimeta-toka, nai-yona?)

Maomao “Um, Quack…no, the Doctor prepared the medicine?” (I’m feeling worried all at once… I hope he didn’t give her something strange and shorten her lifespan, right?)

嬌嬌「いえ。材料をこちらで指定して、いただいておりました。毎日使う物なので、自分でこさえた方が早いと思いまして」

Kyokyo “Ie. Zairyo’o kochirade shitei-shite, itadaite ori-mashita. Mainichi tsukau mono-nanode, jibunde kosaeta-hoga hayaito omoi-mashite.”

Kyokyo “No. I specified the materials and they were given to me. Since it’s something I use every day, I thought it would be quicker to make it myself.”

猫猫「あ…そうですね。あの…折角なので、葛湯を作りたいのですが、葛粉があればいただけないでしょうか？」

Maomao “A… So-desune. Ano… Sekkaku-nanode, kuzuyu’o tsukuri-taino-desuga, kuzukoga areba itadake-nai-deshoka?”

Maomao “Oh… that’s right. Well, I’d like to make arrowroots gruel. Could you give me some arrowroots starch if you have?”

嬌嬌「葛粉ですね。ちょっと待ってください」

Kyokyo “Kuzuko desune. Chotto matte-kudasai.”

Kyokyo “Arrowroots starch, right? Please wait a moment.”

猫猫「お願いします」

Maomao “Onegai shimasu.”

Maomao “Thank you very much.”

猫猫（他にもたくさんある。どんだけ調薬してるんだ？）

Maomao (Hoka-nimo takusan aru. Dondake choyaku shiterunda?)

Maomao (There are many more. How many medicines do they prepare?)

嬌嬌「どうぞ」

Kyokyo “Dozo.”

Kyokyo “Here you are.”

猫猫「ありがとうございます」

Maomao “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Maomao “Thank you.”

嬌嬌「あ…お湯が沸きましたね。他に何か要る物はありませんか？」

Kyokyo “A… Oyuga waki-mashitane. Hokani nanika iru monowa ari-masenka?”

Kyokyo “Ah… The water is boiling. Is there anything else you need?”

猫猫「いえ、問題ありません。ありがとうございます」（それより、気になることができたかな…）

Maomao “Ie, mondai ari-masen. Arigato gozai-masu.” (Sore-yori, kini-naru kotoga dekita-kana…)

Maomao “No, there’s no problem. Thank you.” (Other than that, a new concern has arisen, maybe…)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「どうぞ」

Maomao “Dozo.”

Maomao “Here you are.”

壬氏「ああ」

Jinshi “Aa.”

Jinshi “Thanks.”

高順「ありがとうございます」

Gaoshun “Arigato gozai-masu.”

Gaoshun “Thank you.”

壬氏「お前は飲まないのか？」

Jinshi “Omaewa nomanai-noka?”

Jinshi “Don’t you drink?”

猫猫「お二方が飲み終えた後に」

Maomao “Ofuta-kataga nomi-oeta atoni.”

Maomao “After you two finish drinking.”

壬氏「気にするな。飲め」

Jinshi “Kini suruna. Nome.”

Jinshi “Don’t worry about it. Just drink it.”

猫猫「はい、分かりました」（最初から言ってくれると助かるんだがなぁ～。何はともあれ、いただこう）

Maomao “Hai, wakari-mashita.” (Saisho-kara itte-kureruto tasukarun-daga-naaa. Naniwa tomo-are, itadako.)

Maomao “Yes, I understand.” (It would have been helpful if you had told me that from the beginning. Anyway, I’ll drink it.)

壬氏「ん？何だそれは？めちゃくちゃにかき混ぜて」

Jinshi “N? Nanda sorewa? Mecha-kuchani kaki-mazete.”

Jinshi “Hmm? What’s that? Stirring it up thoroughly.”

猫猫「葛湯です。お湯が冷えないうちにかき混ぜないと、どろどろにならないんです」

Maomao “Kuzuyu desu. Oyuga hienai-uchini kakimaze-naito, doro-doroni nara-nain-desu.”

Maomao “It’s arrowroots gruel. You have to stir it before the water gets cold, otherwise it won’t melt and become sticky.”

壬氏「楽しそうだな…作りたい！」

Jinshi “Tanoshiso-dana… Tsukuri-tai!”

Jinshi “That sounds fun… I want to make it!”

猫猫（目をキラキラさせている！）

Maomao (Me’o kira-kira sasete-iru!)

Maomao (With sparkling eyes!)

高順「小猫…」

Gaoshun “Shaomao…”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao…”

猫猫（準備してやってくれと、目で訴えかけている！）

Maomao (Junbi-shite-yatte-kureto, mede uttae-kakete-iru!)

Maomao (He’s begging me with his eyes to prepare it for his master!)

猫猫「ああ…お湯をもう一度沸かさないと無理ですよ」

Maomao “Aa… Oyu’o mo-ichido wakasa-naito muri desuyo.”

Maomao “Oh… I’ll have to boil the water again.”

高順「火鉢で沸きますが…かまどで沸かしてこなくていいですか？」

Gaoshun “Hibachide waki-masuga… Kamadode wakashite-konakute ii-desuka?”

Gaoshun “It will boil in the brazier, but do I have to go boil it in a stove?”

猫猫「お湯も残ってますし…すぐに沸くと思います。少々お待ちください」

Maomao “Oyumo nokotte-masushi… Suguni wakuto omoi-masu. Sho-sho omachi kudasai.”

Maomao “There’s still hot water left…so I think it’ll boil soon. Please wait a moment.”

壬氏「ああ」

Jinshi “Aa.”

Jinshi “Okay.”

猫猫（たまに変な所で興味を持つから困る）

Maomao (Tamani henna tokorode kyomi’o motsu-kara komaru.)

Maomao (It’s annoying because sometimes he gets interested in strange things.)

壬氏「うん…へぇ…ふっふっ、うんうんうん、ああ…結構楽しいな。てっきり葛湯は、湯を入れるだけでできるものだと思っていた」

Jinshi “Un… Hee… Fu,fu, un-un-un, aa… Kekko tanoshiina. Tekkiri kuzuyuwa, yu’o ireru-dakede dekiru-monodato omotte-ita.”

Jinshi “Yes… Hmm… Yeah, yeah, oh, it’s quite fun. I thought that arrowroots gruel could be made just by adding hot water.”

猫猫「そうですか良かったですね（棒）」

Maomao “So-desuka, yokatta-desune.”

Maomao “I see, that’s good for you.”

壬氏「なんか雑じゃないか？返事」

Jinshi “Nanka zatsuja naika? Henji.”

Jinshi “Isn’t that a bit sloppy reply?”

雑な(ざつな/Zatsuna): sloppy, careless, rough

猫猫「いえ、滅相も無いです～。それより、先程の続きを調べたいのですが」

Maomao “Ie, messomo nai-desuuu. Sore-yori, saki-hodono tsuzuki’o shirabe-taino-desuga.”

Maomao “No, not at all. Anyway, I’d like to continue what I looked into earlier.”

壬氏「ああ…その前に」

Jinshi “Aa… Sono maeni.”

Jinshi “Yes… Before that,”

猫猫（何だ？高順に目配せか？）

Maomao (Nanda? Gaoshun’ni mekubase-ka?)

Maomao (What’s this? Are you giving a signal with his eyes to Gaoshun?)

目配せ(めくばせ/Mekubase): a signal with eyes

壬氏「寒くなったので、戸を閉めようか」

Jinshi “Samuku-natta-node, to’o shimeyoka.”

Jinshi “It’s getting cold, so shall we close the door?”

高順「かしこまりました」

Gaoshun “Kashiko-mari-mashita.”

Gaoshun “I understood.”

猫猫（ああ…あまりこの宮の連中に聞かせたくない話か。演奏の音も途絶えたし、宮にはほとんど人がおるまい��

Maomao (Aa… Amari kono miyano renchuni kikase-taku-nai hanashika. Ensono otomo todaetashi, miya-niwa hotondo hitoga oru-mai.)

Maomao (I see… This is not a story they want the other people to hear. The music has stopped, and there is probably hardly anyone around here.)

壬氏「まずは情報交換だな。何か分かったことはあるか？」

Jinshi “Mazuwa joho-kokan dana. Nanika wakatta kotowa aruka?”

Jinshi “Let’s start by exchanging information. Have you found out anything?”

猫猫「分かるも何も、とりあえず、時系列順から、楽団ごとに並べ替えてみました。おかしいと思ったことは…あると言えばあるのですが」

Maomao “Wakarumo-nanimo, tori-aezu, jikeiretsu-jun-kara, gakudan-gotoni narabe-kaete mimashita. Okashiito omotta kotowa… aruto ieba aruno-desuga.”

Maomao “Well, I don’t know but first I tried to sort them by orchestra, starting from chronological order. There may be some things that I thought were odd…”

壬氏「どこか気になることがあるようだが？」

Jinshi “Dokoka kini-naru kotoga aru-yodaga?”

Jinshi “It seems there’s something that bothers you, isn’t it?”

猫猫「敢えて言うなら、こちらでしょうか。この譜面なのですが、壬氏様は何かお気づきになりませんか？」

Maomao “Aete iu-nara, kochira deshoka. Kono fumen nano-desuga, Jinshi-samawa nanika okizukini nari-masenka?”

Maomao “If I had to say, perhaps it’d be this one. Don’t you notice anything about it, Master Jinshi?”

敢えて言うなら(あえていうなら/Aete iu-nara): If I had to say, If you ask me, If I was to say it.

壬氏「ふむ… 特に気になることと言えば、どことなく、歌詞が下手だな」

Jinshi “Fumu… Tokuni kini-naru kototo ieba, dokoto-naku, kashiga heta dana.”

Jinshi “Hmm… If there’s one thing that bothers me, it’s that the lyrics are somehow poor.”

下手な(へたな/Hetana): bad, poor, unskilled

高順「韻の踏み方が雑ですね」

Gaoshun “Inno fumi-kataga zatsu desune.”

Gaoshun “Its rhyming is sloppy.”

韻を踏む(いんをふむ/In’o fumu): rhyme  韻の踏み方(韻の踏み方/In’no fumi-kata): the way of rhyming

猫猫「なんで気づくんですか？」

Maomao “Nande kizukun-desuka?”

Maomao “How did you notice?”

壬氏「歌を作る時、ダメ出しされていた内容に似ていたからな。何より、赤字も入っているし」

Jinshi “Uta’o tsukuru-toki, dame-dashi sarete-ita naiyoni nite-ita-karana. Nani-yori, akajimo haitte-irushi.”

Jinshi “Because it is similar to the things that were being criticized when I was writing songs. And what’s more, it even has some red ink in it.”

ダメ出しする(だめだしする/Dame-dashi-suru): point out faults, criticize, disapprove, demand better work

猫猫（歌を作るって…どこの雅(みやび)な生まれだよ？）

Maomao (Uta’o tsukurutte… Dokono miyabina umare-dayo?)

Maomao (Writing songs… where are you from, elegant background?)

壬氏「…で、何が問題なんだ？」

Jinshi “…De, naniga mondai-nanda?”

Jinshi “So, what’s the problem?”

猫猫「音を変えることは依頼にあっても、歌詞を勝手に変えるのはどうかと思いまして。気になったのです。すると、同じ楽団ばかり、歌詞に赤字が入っていました。ここの楽団です」

Maomao “Oto’o kaeru-kotowa iraini attemo, kashi’o katteni kaeru-nowa dokato omoi-mashite. Kini nattano-desu. Suruto, onaji gakudan-bakari, kashini akajiga haitte-imashita. Kokono gakudan desu.”

Maomao “Even if the request was to change the sound, I wondered if it was Okay to change the lyrics without permission. So it bothered me. Then, I noticed that the lyrics for the same orchestra were written in red. It is the orchestra here.”

壬氏「リュウリュウタオ楽団？聞いたことないな…」

Jinshi “Ryu-Ryu-Tao-Gakudan? Kiita-koto naina…”

Jinshi “Ryu-Ryu-Tao Orchestra? I’ve never heard of it…”

I don’t know the correct Kanji and spelling of the orchestra name.

高順「大衆向けの楽団ですので、壬氏様は聞いたことがないのかと。大きな楽団ではありませんが、良い曲を奏でます。先帝時代に一度だけですが、宮廷に呼ばれたこともあったくらいですから…」

Gaoshun “Taishu-mukeno gakudan desu-node, Jinshi-samawa kiita-kotoga nai-nokato. Ookina gakudan-dewa ari-masenga, yoi kyoku’o kanade-masu. Sentei-jidaini ichido-dake-desuga, kyuteini yobareta kotomo atta-kurai desu-kara…”

Gaoshun “It’s a mass-oriented orchestra, so I think you’ve never heard of it, Master Jinshi. It’s not a big orchestra, but they play great music. They were even invited to the palace once during the reign of the previous emperor…”

猫猫「高順様が知っているのは意外でした。ちょっと特殊な楽団ですのに」

Maomao “Gaoshun-samaga shitte-iru-nowa igai deshita. Chotto tokushuna gakudan desu-noni.”

Maomao “I was surprised that you knew about it, Master Gaoshun. It’s a bit of an unusual orchestra.”

意外な(いがいな/Igaina): unexpected, surprising

高順「えっと…付き合いで何度か聴くことがありまして」

Gaoshun “Etto… Tsukiaide nandoka kiku-kotoga ari-mashite.”

Gaoshun “Um… I’ve listened to their music a few times socially.”

付き合いで(つきあいで/Tsukiaide): socially (It means he does not do it in private but in his social or business relationship.)

壬氏「特殊とは…どういうことなんだ？」

Jinshi “Tokushu-towa… do-iu koto nanda?”

Jinshi “What do you mean by ‘unusual’?”

猫猫「あ…所属している団長が女性でして…」

Maomao “A… Shozoku shite-iru danchoga josei deshite…”

Maomao “Ah… the leader of the orchestra is a woman…”

壬氏「ほう、それは珍しいが、別に全くないわけでもあるまい。どうして言いにくそうな顔をする？」

Jinshi “Ho, sorewa mezurashiiga, betsuni mattaku nai-wake-demo aru-mai. Doshite ii-niku-sona kao’o suru?”

Jinshi “Oh, that’s unusual, but it’s not completely unheard of. Why do you look so reluctant to say it?”

猫猫「花街を中心に活動している…と言えば、お察しいただけますか？」

Maomao “Hanamachi’o chushin’ni katsudo shite-iru…to ieba, osasshi itadake-masuka?”

Maomao “If I say that they are mainly active in the pleasure district… would that give you an idea?”

壬氏「ああ…つまり、団長というのは妓女か」

Jinshi “Aa… Tsumari, dancho-to iu-nowa gijoka.”

Jinshi “Ah… So the leader is a courtesan.”

猫猫「はい。正しくは、元妓女ですね。妓女を引退し、楽団を作ったとのことで、所属の団員にも、元妓女が多くいます」

Maomao “Hai. Tadashikuwa, moto-gijo desune. Gijo’o intai-shi, gakudan’o tsukutta-tono-kotode, shozokuno dan’in-nimo, moto-gijoga ooku imasu.”

Maomao “Yes. To be precise, she is a former courtesan. She retired from being a courtesan and started the orchestra, and there are many former courtesans among the members.”

猫猫（花街にいた時、何度か演奏を聞いたことがあった）

Maomao (Hanamachini ita-toki, nandoka enso’o kiita-kotoga atta.)

Maomao (I’ve heard their play a few times when I was in the pleasure district.)

壬氏「元妓女の楽団が、拙い歌詞を書いたのが、どこかおかしいのか？」

Jinshi “Moto-gijono gakudanga, tsutanai kashi’o kaita-noga, dokoka okashii-noka?”

Jinshi “Is there something strange about a former courtesan’s orchestra writing poor lyrics?”

拙い(つたない/Tsutanai): poor, unskillful, clumsy

猫猫「妓女の世界は、生存競争が厳しいのです。楽団に所属するような女であれば、芸を極めた、元高級妓女です。そんな人が後宮の、ましてや妃あてに下手な歌詞を送り付けるのかと思いまして…」

Maomao “Gijono sekaiwa, seizon-kyosoga kibishiino-desu. Gakudan’ni shozoku suru-yona onna’de areba, gei’o kiwameta, moto-kokyu-gijo desu. Sonna hitoga kokyuno, mashiteya kisaki-ateni hetana kashi’o okuri-tsukeru-nokato omoi-mashite…”

Maomao “The world of courtesans is a tough place to survive. A woman who belongs to an orchestra is a former high-ranking courtesan who has perfected her art. I was wondering why such a person would send such poorly written lyrics to the rear palace, let alone to the concubine…”

壬氏「たまたま作詞が下手だったのかもしれんぞ」

Jinshi “Tama-tama sakushiga heta-dattano-kamo shirenzo.”

Jinshi “Maybe she just happened to be weak in writing lyrics.”

猫猫「ならば、作詞が上手い者に依頼するくらいできるでしょう。妓女の中には、詩歌に秀でている者もたくさんいますから。なので、ついつい確認してしまいました」

Maomao “Naraba, sakushiga umai mononi irai-suru-kurai dekiru-desho. Gijono naka-niwa, shiikani hiidete-iru monomo takusan imasu-kara. Nanode, tsui-tsui kakunin shite-shimai-mashita.”

Maomao “In that case, she can probably ask someone who is good at writing lyrics. There are many courtesans who excel in poetry, after all. So I couldn’t help but check.”

壬氏「で？確認したらどうだった？」

Jinshi “De? Kakunin-shitara do-datta?”

Jinshi “So, what happened when you checked?”

猫猫「妙な共通点に気が付きました」

Maomao “Myona kyotsu-ten’ni kiga tsuki-mashita.”

Maomao “I noticed a strange similarity.”

壬氏「どんな？」

Jinshi “Donna?”

Jinshi “What is it like?”

猫猫「赤字で添削されている歌詞にあたる音が、全て同じなんです。これだと、同じ「ハ」の音にあたる歌詞ばかり添削されているんです」

Maomao “Akajide tensaku sarete-iru kashini ataru otoga, subete onaji nan-desu. Kore-dato, onaji ‘Ha’no otoni ataru kashi-bakari tensaku sarete-irun-desu.”

Maomao “All the sounds for the lyrics that have been corrected in red are the same. In this case, only lyrics that have the same ‘Ha’ sound have been corrected.”

壬氏「ん？ああ…本当だが、偶然というわけでは…」

Jinshi “N? Aa… Honto-daga, guzen-to-iu wake-dewa…”

Jinshi “Hmm? Ah… That’s true, but isn’t it just a coincidence…?”

偶然(ぐうぜん/Guzen): coincidence, by chance

猫猫「だと思ったのですが…気になって、「ハ」の音にあたる歌詞を書き出してみました」

Maomao “Dato omottano-desuga… kini natte, ‘Ha’no otoni ataru kashi’o kaki-dashite-mimashita.”

Maomao “I thought so…, but I was curious, so I wrote out the lyrics that correspond to the ‘Ha’ sound.”

壬氏「ニー…ハオ…マ…って、文章になるぞ」

Jinshi “Nii…hao…ma…tte, bunshoni naruzo.”

Jinshi “How…are…yo… it makes a sentence.”

猫猫「お元気ですか。と…ごく普通の、挨拶の定型文ですね」

Maomao “Ogenki desuka. To…goku futsuno, aisatsuno teikei-bun desune.”

Maomao “‘How are you?’ That’s a very ordinary, standard greeting.”

壬氏「暗号文か！」

Jinshi “Ango-bun-ka!”

Jinshi “Ciphertext!”

猫猫「はい。でも、後宮の検閲を避けるための暗号かと思いきや、随分のんびりとした内容で唖然としました。歌詞が下手だった理由は、暗号を成立させるためだったようです」

Maomao “Hai. Demo, kokyuno ken’etsu’o sakeru-tameno ango-kato omoi-kiya, zuibun nonbiri-to shita naiyode azento shimashita. Kashiga heta-datta riyuwa, ango’o seiritsu-saseru-tame datta-yodesu.”

Maomao “Yes. However, I was surprised at how leisurely the content was, as I had thought it was a code to avoid the censorship of the rear palace. It seems that the reason the lyrics were poorly written was to make the code work.”

壬氏「なんでまた…。もしかして、さらにここから暗号になっている…というわけでもなさそうだな」

Jinshi “Nande mata… Moshika-shite, sarani koko-kara angoni natte-iru…to-iu wake-demo nasaso-dana.”

Jinshi “Why on earth…? Maybe it’s going to be coded further from here… No, it’s not like that.”

猫猫「リュウリュウタオ楽団は、二十五年程前から文を送っていたようです。内容といい相手といい、文が恋文という訳でもない。一体何の意味があって、いつから暗号でやりとりをしていたのか気になるのですが、初期の原文が見つからないのです。写しで、文の内容が書き換えられているのなら、暗号を読むことは不可能です」

Maomao “Ryu-Ryu-Tao-Gakudanwa, niju-go-nen-hodo-mae-kara fumi’o okutte-ita-yodesu. Naiyo-to-ii aite-to-ii, fumiga koibumi-to-iu wake-demo nai. Ittai nanno imiga atte, itsu-kara angode yaritori’o shite-ita-noka kini-naruno-desuga, shokino genbunga mitsukara-naino-desu. Utsushide, fumino naiyoga kaki-kae-rarete-iruno-nara, ango’o yomu-kotowa fukano desu.”

Maomao “It seems that the Ryu-Ryu-Tao Orchestra has sent messages for about 25 years. Judging by the content and the recipient, it’s not like the letters were love letters. I’m curious as to what the significance is and when they started exchanging messages in code, but I can’t find the original texts. If they’re copies and the content has been altered, it’s impossible to read the code.”

壬氏「最初は原文を添削し、そのまま返却していたと言っていたな」

Jinshi “Saishowa genbun’o tensaku-shi, sono-mama henkyaku shite-itato itte-itana.”

Jinshi “She said that at first they corrected the original text and returned it as is.”

高順「佩芳様が、依頼で編曲を始めたのが、二十五年ほど前。初めの5年程は、原文が残っていません」

Gaoshun “Beifan-samaga, iraide henkyoku’o hajimeta-noga, niju-go-nen-hodo mae. Hajimeno go-nen-hodowa, genbunga nokotte-imasen.”

Gaoshun “Lady Beifang began arranging songs as requested about 25 years ago, and no originals text remains for the first 5 years or so.”

猫猫「二十年前の時点では、もう暗号でやりとりをしていたようです。一度聞いただけで曲を覚えてしまうという佩芳様なら、何度もおかしな歌詞を送りつけてくる楽団の意図を、読めたのかもしれません。あれだけ牧歌的な内容であれば、返信も、一筆書き添えるくらいで終わりましょう」

Maomao “Niju-nen-maeno jiten-dewa, mo angode yaritori’o shite-ita-yodesu. Ichido kiita-dakede kyoku’o oboete-shimau-to-iu Beifan-sama-nara, nandomo okashina kashi’o okuri-tsukete-kuru gakudan’no ito’o, yometano-kamo shire-masen. Aredake bokka-tekina naiyode areba, henshin’mo, ippitsu kaki-soeru kuraide owari-masho.”

Maomao “It seems that they were already communicating in code twenty years ago. Since Lady Beifang could remember a song after hearing it just once, she may have been able to read the intention of the orchestra that kept sending her strange lyrics. If the content was so idyllic, the reply would have been as simple as adding a line.”

壬氏「ふむ… では、仮に、後宮の検閲を欺くように文通していたとしよう。それが何になる？」

Jinshi “Fumu… Dewa, karini, kokyuno ken’etsu’o azamuku-yoni buntsu shite-ita-to shiyo. Sorega nan’ni naru?”

Jinshi “Well… Let’s say that they were exchanging letters to deceive the censors at the rear palace. What would that mean?”

仮に～としよう(かりに～としよう/Karini～to-shiyo): let’s say that～

猫猫「私には分かりません。私は、佩芳様とは立場が違います。解読できる文の暗号を見る限り、怪しいものでも何でもなく、親しい姉妹にでも話しかけるような内容が多いです」

Maomao “Watashi-niwa wakari-masen. Watashiwa, Beifan-sama-towa tachibaga chigai-masu. Kaidoku dekiru fumino ango’o miru-kagiri, ayashii mono-demo nan-demo naku, shitashii shimaini-demo hanashi-kakeru-yona naiyoga ooi-desu.”

Maomao “I don’t know. I’m not in the same position as Lady Beifang. From what I can decipher from the codes in the messages, they’re not suspicious at all, and most of them seem like they’re being spoken to by close sisters.”

猫猫（…あ？姉妹？）

Maomao (…A? Shimai?)

Maomao (…Huh? Sisters?)

壬氏「相手��意図は分からないが、他の楽団と扱いが違うことは明らかだな」

Jinshi “Aiteno itowa wakara-naiga, tano gakudan-to atsukaiga chigau kotowa akiraka-dana.”

Jinshi “I don’t know what their intentions are, but it’s clear that they’re treated differently from other orchestras.”

高順「早速楽団を調べてみます」

Gaoshun “Sassoku gakudan’o shirabete-mimasu.”

Gaoshun “I’ll check out the orchestra right away.”

早速(さっそく/Sassoku): right away, at once, immediately

猫猫（さすが…マメな男は動きが早い）

Maomao (Sasuga…mamena otokowa ugokiga hayai.)

Maomao (As expected… a diligent man moves quickly.)

壬氏「これで相続人がはっきりすればいいが…」

Jinshi “Korede sozoku-ninga hakkiri-sureba iiga…”

Jinshi “I hope this will clarify who the heir is…”

猫猫「そのことで、一つ質問が」

Maomao “Sono-kotode, hitotsu shitsumonga.”

Maomao “About that, I have a question.”

壬氏「何だ？」

Jinshi “Nanda?”

Jinshi “What?”

猫猫「佩芳様が作った曲が、宮廷楽団に渡されるとして、ここにある残りの譜面も文も一緒に送られるのでしょうか？」

Maomao “Beifan-samaga tsukutta kyokuga, kyutei-gakudan’ni wata-sareru-to-shite, kokoni aru nokorino fumen’mo fumi’mo isshoni oku-rareruno-deshoka?”

Maomao “If the piece composed by Lady Beifang is to be given to the palace orchestra, will the remaining music sheets and letters here be sent along with it?”

壬氏「宮廷楽団はそう主張しているが…恐らく焼却処分する気だろう」

Jinshi “Kyutei-gakudanwa so shucho shite-iruga…osoraku shokyaku-shobun suru-ki daro.”

Jinshi “That’s what the palace orchestra claims, but they probably plan to incinerate it.”

猫猫「どうしてですか？」

Maomao “Doshite desuka?”

Maomao “Why?”

壬氏「曲を自分だけの曲にするなら、証拠は残したくないだろ。それに、曲によっては、佩芳殿の編曲がなければ、凡庸すぎるものもある。原曲を大っぴらにされたら、恥をかく人間はいくらでもいよう」

Jinshi “Kyoku’o jibun-dakeno kyokuni suru-nara, shokowa nokoshi-taku-nai-daro. Soreni, kyokuni yottewa, Beifan-donono henkyokuga nakereba, bon’yo-sugiru monomo aru. Genkyoku’o ooppirani sare-tara, haji’o kaku ningenwa ikura-demo iyo.”

Jinshi “If you make a song your own, you don’t want to leave any evidence behind. Besides, some songs are too mediocre without Lady Beifang’s arrangements. If the original song were made public, many people would be embarrassed.”

猫猫（なるほど…。このままだと主の功績がなくなってしまうのに、嬌嬌はいいのだろうか。…いや、もしかすると…！）

Maomao (Naruhodo… Kono-mama-dato arujino kosekiga naku-natte-shimau-noni, Kyokyowa iino-daroka. …Iya, moshika-suruto…!)

Maomao (I see… If things continue like this, the master’s achievements will be lost, yet is it okay for Kyokyo? No, maybe…!)

壬氏「何か言いたそうだな？」

Jinshi “Nanika iitaso-dana?”

Jinshi “You seem to have something to say, don’t you?”

猫猫「いえ、何でもありません」

Maomao “Ie, nan-demo ari-masen.”

Maomao “No, it’s nothing.”

壬氏「本当か？」

Jinshi “Hontoka?”

Jinshi “Is that true?”

猫猫（顔近い！顔近い！）

Maomao (Kao chikai! Kao chikai!)

Maomao (Your face is so close! Your face is so close!)

高順「小猫…。黒光りする虫を前にした表情はやめてください」

Gaoshun “Shaomao… Kuro-bikari-suru mushi’o maeni-shita hyojowa yamete-kudasai.”

Gaoshun “Xiaomao… Please stop making that face as if you’re faced with a shiny black insect.”

猫猫（高順…まだいた。…フッ。ああ、いかん、いかん。顔の体操っと）

Maomao (Gaoshun…mada ita. …Fu. Aa, ikan, ikan. Kaono taisotto.)

Maomao (Gaoshun…he was still there. Oh, no, no. Time to do some facial exercises.)

壬氏「高順の言うことなら聞くのか？」

Jinshi “Gaoshun’no iu-koto-nara kiku-noka?”

Jinshi “Do you follow only if what Gaoshun says?”

猫猫「そういう訳ではないのですが」

Maomao “So-iu wake-dewa naino-desuga.”

Maomao “That’s not the case though.”

壬氏「情報が足りないか」

Jinshi “Johoga tarinaika.”

Jinshi “Is there not enough information?”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “You’re right.”

壬氏「何が必要か？」

Jinshi “Naniga hitsuyo-ka?”

Jinshi “What do you need?”

猫猫「もう少し時間と…あと、やぶ…あ、じゃなくて…医官様に聞きたいことがあります」

Maomao “Mo-sukoshi jikanto…ato, Yabu…a, ja-nakute… Ikan-samani kikitai kotoga ari-masu.”

Maomao “I need a little more time and… Also, Quack… Ah, no, I mean… There’s something I’d like to ask the Doctor.”

壬氏「医官殿にか？別にいいが、明日でも問題は無いか？許可は出しておこう」

Jinshi “Ikan-dono-nika? Betsuni iiga, asu-demo mondaiwa naika? Kyokawa dashite-oko.”

Jinshi “The Doctor? That’s fine, but is there any problem with doing it tomorrow? I’ll give you permission.”

猫猫「問題ありません。今日は、他にやることがありますので」

Maomao “Mondai ari-masen. Kyowa hokani yaru-kotoga ari-masu-node.”

Maomao “No problem. I have other things to do today.”

壬氏「それで、何が分かる？」

Jinshi “Sorede, naniga wakaru?”

Jinshi “What will we know by that?”

猫猫「分かるかもしれませんし、分からないかもしれません」

Maomao “Wakaru-kamo shire-masenshi, wakara-nai-kamo shire-masen.”

Maomao “We may be or may not be going to know.”

壬氏「はっきりさせてほしい」

Jinshi “Hakkiri-sasete hoshii.”

Jinshi “I want to be clear.”

猫猫「私にも、できることとできないことがありますので。むしろ、壬氏様こそ、妙にこだわっているように思えますが」

Maomao “Watashi-nimo, dekiru-kototo dekinai-kotoga ari-masu-node. Mushiro, Jinshi-sama-koso, myoni kodawatte-iru-yoni omoe-masuga.”

Maomao “Since there are things I can and cannot do. Rather, it seems to me that you are the one who is strangely particular about this matter.”

猫猫（故人の意向を聞きたいというのは分かるが、お偉いさんが出張ってすることだろうか？ましてや徹夜してまで）

Maomao (Kojin’no iko’o kikitai-to-iu-nowa wakaruga, oerai-sanga debatte suru-koto daroka? Mashiteya tetsuya shite-made.)

Maomao (I understand that he wants to know the wish of the deceased, but is this something that a high-ranking official should do? Especially even by staying up all night.)

壬氏「皇太后は、佩芳殿の曲を好まれている。もし子がいなければ、皇太后もまた、佩芳殿と同じ道を辿ることになったのだ」

Jinshi “Kogaigowa, Beifan-donono kyoku’o konomarete-iru. Moshi koga ina-kereba, kotaigomo mata, Beifan-donoto onaji michi’o tadoru-kotoni natta-noda.”

Jinshi “The Empress Dowager likes Lady Beifang’s music. If she had no children, she would have followed the same path as Lady Beifang.”

猫猫（皇太后の意向…。なら、こだわるわけか。元はどちらも、幼女趣味の皇帝に人生を狂わされた人たちだものな…）

Maomao (Kotaigono iko… Nara, kodawaru-wakeka. Motowa dochiramo, yojo-shumino koteini jinsei’o kuruwa-sareta hito-tachi damonona…)

Maomao (The Empress Dowager’s wish. So, that’s why he’s very particular about it. After all, both of them had their lives ruined by the former emperor’s taste for young girls…)

猫猫「できる限りのことは、させていただきます」

Maomao “Dekiru-kagirino kotowa, sasete-itadaki-masu.”

Maomao “I’ll do everything I can.”

壬氏「頼んだぞ」

Jinshi “Tanondazo.”

Jinshi “I’m counting on you.”

(Continue to 3/3...)