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apothecaryscript · 1 month ago

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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.

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(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��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��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��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��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��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、二十人を超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（従者を困らせるなよ）

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��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��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��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「相手の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...)

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

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apothecaryscript · 4 months ago

Text

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��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、��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��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、身請けの話をしていたから、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)

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

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