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apothecaryscript · 2 months ago

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Episode 23 : Balsam and Woodsorrel / 第23話『鳳仙花と片喰(Hosenka to Katabami)』

鳳仙(フォンシェン)「♪ねんねこね…ねんねこよ…あのこはいずこと…ないている…」

Fonshen “Nen’nekone… Nen’nekoyo… Ano kowa izukoto… naite-iru…”

Fengxian “♪Sleep, my baby, sleep. Where is she? She cries.”

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猫猫「お相手できないでしょうか？」

Maomao “Oaite deki-nai deshoka?”

Maomao “Would you join me for a few games?”

羅漢「ん～っ！断る理由などなかろう。可愛い娘の頼みとあらば…」

Rakan “Nnnn! Kotowaru riyu-nado nakaro. Kawaii musumeno tanomito araba…”

Lakan “How could I possibly decline a request from my lovely daughter?”

猫猫「勝負は変則なしの5局勝負。つまり、先に3勝したほうが勝ちです」

Maomao “Shobuwa hensoku-nashino go-kyoku-shobu. Tsumari, sakini san-sho shita-hoga kachi desu.”

Maomao “A best-of-five match, no special rules. In other words, the first to win three rounds is the victor.”

羅漢「ハンデはどうする？どの駒を落とそうか？」

Rakan “Handewa do suru? Dono koma’o otosoka?”

Lakan “How about handicaps? Which pieces should I drop?”

猫猫「必要ありません」

Maomao “Hitsuyo ari-masen.”

Maomao “There’s no need for that.”

壬氏（もらっておけばいいものを…）

Jinshi (Moratte-okeba ii-mono’o…)

Jinshi (She could’ve just accepted.)

猫猫「それより、賭けの褒美を決めませんか？」

Maomao “Sore-yori, kakeno hobi’o kime-masenka?”

Maomao “More importantly, let’s place a bet. A reward.”

羅漢「それは話が早い。私が勝てば、うちの子になってくれるね」

Rakan “Sorewa hanashiga hayai. Watashiga kateba, uchino koni natte-kurerune.”

Lakan “Great, right down to business! If I win, will you come live with me?”

壬氏「なっ…あっ…！」

Jinshi “Na… A…!”

高順「何も口を出さない約束でしょう」

Gaoshun “Nanimo kuchi’o dasa-nai yakusoku desho.”

Gaoshun “You promised not to interfere.”

壬氏「しかし…！」

Jinshi “Shikashi…!”

Jinshi “But―”

猫猫「構いません。ですが、雇用中の身ですので、年季が明けたあとになりますが」

Maomao “Kamai-masen. Desuga, koyochuno mi-desu-node, nenkiga aketa atoni nari-masuga.”

Maomao “I don’t mind. However, I’m under hire right now. You’ll have to wait until my contract expires.”

羅漢「雇用中？ほんとに雇われているのかい？」

Rakan “Koyochu? Hontoni yatowarete-iruno-kai?”

Lakan “Hired? You’re actually employed right now?”

猫猫「はい」

Maomao “Hai.”

Maomao “Yes.”

羅漢「へえ～…」

Rakan “Heeee…”

Lakan “Huh…”

壬氏「うっ、うう…」

Jinshi “U, uu…”

猫猫「その代わり、私が勝てば、緑青館の妓女を一人、身請けしてもらえないでしょうか」

Maomao “Sono kawari, watashiga kateba, Rokushokanno gijo’o hitori, miuke shite morae-nai-deshoka.”

Maomao “In exchange, if I win, could you buy out a courtesan at the Verdigris House?”

羅漢「ふーん…何を言い出すのかと思えば」

Rakan “Fūn… Nanio iidasuno-kato omoeba.”

Lakan “Of all the things you could ask…”

猫猫「誰とは言いませんが、やり手婆が年頃の妓女を片付けたがっていますので」

Maomao “Dare-towa iimasenga, yarite-babaaga toshi-gorono gijo’o katazuke-tagatte-imasu-node.”

Maomao “I won’t say who, but the old lady wants to get rid of an aging courtesan.”

羅漢「そう来たか…それでいいと言うのなら、飲むしかないのだがね。それだけでいいのかい？」

Rakan “So kitaka… Sorede iito iuno-nara, nomu-shika naino-dagane. Sore-dakede iino-kai?”

Lakan “So that’s your first move. If that’s what it takes, I suppose I must accept. Is that all, then?”

猫猫「では、ルールを後2つ」

Maomao “Dewa, rūru’o ato futatsu.”

Maomao “I’d like to add two more rules.”

壬氏（匂いからして、きつめの蒸留酒か？）

Jinshi (Nioi-kara-shite, kitsumeno joryu-shu ka?)

Jinshi (From the smell of it, that’s a distilled hard liquor?)

猫猫「フフン」

Maomao “Fufun.”

壬氏（ものすごく嫌な予感がする…）

Jinshi (Mono-sugoku iyana yokanga suru…)

Jinshi (I have such a bad feeling about this.)

羅漢「それは何だい？」

Rakan “Sorewa nan-dai?”

Lakan “What is that?”

猫猫「少しなら薬です。三口も飲めば、猛毒になりますけど。小瓶の液体を3つの杯に入れて、どれに入れたか分からないようにします。勝負一回ごとに、勝った方が１つ選び、負けた方がそれを一息に飲む。これが一つ目のルールです」

Maomao “Sukoshi-nara kusuri desu. Mi-kuchimo nomeba, mo-dokuni nari-masu-kedo. Kobin’no ekitai’o mittsuno sakazukini irete, doreni iretaka wakaranai-yoni shimasu. Shobu ikkai-gotoni, katta-hoga hitotsu erabi, maketa-hoga sore’o hito-ikini nomu. Korega hitotsumeno rūru desu.”

Maomao “A medicine, in small amounts. Three sips turn it into a deadly poison, though. I’ll pour it into three of these cups, then make it so that we can’t tell which is which. After every match, the winner picks one cup, and the loser drinks from it in one breath. That’s the first rule.)

壬氏（えぐいことを考える…）

Jinshi (Egui koto’o kangaeru…)

Jinshi (What a brutal rule…)

猫猫「そして2つ目は、たとえどんな理由があろうとも、試合を放棄したら負けということでお願いします。よろしいですか？」

Maomao “Soshite futatsumewa, tatoe donna riyuga aro-tomo, shiai’o hoki shitara maketo-iu kotode onegai shimasu. Yoroshii desuka?”

Maomao “The second rule is that no matter the reason, if a player abandons a match, they lose. Do you accept?”

羅漢「うむ…構わないよ」

Rakan “Umu… Kamawa-naiyo.”

Lakan “That’s fine.”

壬氏（これは、揺さぶりか？確かに普通の相手ならひるむかもしれない。しかし…相手は奇人と言われる軍師殿である。ただの揺さぶりで心乱れるとは思えない…一体何を考えているんだ…）

Jinshi (Korewa, yusaburika? Tashikani futsuno aite-nara hirumu-kamo shire-nai. Shikashi…aitewa kijinto iwareru gunshi-donode aru. Tadano yusaburide kokoro-midareru-towa omoe-nai… Ittai nani’o kangaete-irunda…)

Jinshi (Is she trying to shake him? I guess a regular person would be scared by that. But… This is the famous weirdo strategist we’re talking about. I doubt he’d lose his composure from being pressured this way. What is she thinking?)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

猫猫「うん…」

Maomao “Un…”

羅漢「うーん…ん～んっ　んっ」

Rakan “Uuuun… Nnnnnn. N.”

猫猫「ぷは～…」

Maomao “Puhaaa…”

壬氏（また負けた…！これで2連敗だ。象棋(シャンチー)で負けなしの軍師殿に挑むのだから、多少は心得があるのかと思いきや、ルールを知っている程度で実戦の経験はないようだ…。既に２杯…おいしそうに飲むせいで、毒入りかどうか、傍目には分からない…）

Jinshi (Mata maketa…! Korede ni-renpaida. Shanchīde make-nashino gunshi-dononi idomuno-dakara, tashowa kokoroega arunokato omoi-kiya, rūru’o shitte-iru teidode jissenno keikenwa nai-yoda… Sudeni ni-hai… Oishi-soni nomu seide, doku-irika-doka, hatame-niwa wakara-nai…)

Jinshi (She lost again! That’s two games in a row. Since she chose to challenge the invincible chess master in chess, I thought she had some skill in the game. It seems like she just knows the rules and has never played a real game before. Two cups… She drinks it so eagerly, I can’t tell if it’s poisoned or not.)

猫猫「３戦目も、私からでよろしいですか？」

Maomao “San-senmemo, watashi-karade yoroshii desuka?”

Maomao “May I play first in the third game as well?”

羅漢「ああ、いいよ」

Rakan “Aa, iiyo.”

Lakan “Sure, fine by me.”

壬氏（一体何を考えているんだ！３戦目の結果も見えている。もし、既に飲んだ２杯が毒入りだとすると、3杯目を飲むのは危険すぎる…この状況、羅漢はどこまで読んでいるのか…ん？）

Jinshi (Ittai nanio kangaete-irunda! San-senmeno kekkamo miete-iru. Moshi, sudeni nonda ni-haiga doku-iri-dato suruto, san-baime’o nomu-nowa kiken sugiru… Kono jokyo, Rakanwa doko-made yonde-iru-noka… N?)

Jinshi (What in the world is she thinking? She’s not going to win the third match, either. If the two cups she already had were poisoned, drinking a third would be too risky. Did Lakan predict this situation already?)

猫猫「詰みです」

Maomao “Tsumi desu.”

Maomao “That’s checkmate.”

壬氏「なっ…あ…」

Jinshi “Na…A…”

羅漢「参ったよ」

Rakan “Maittayo.”

Lakan “I yield.”

猫猫「お情けでも、勝ちは勝ちということでいいですね？」

Maomao “Onasake-demo, kachiwa kachito-iu kotode ii-desune?”

Maomao “A win is a win, even if you let me win, correct?”

羅漢「ああ。間違っても、娘に毒を勧めるわけにはいかんからね。どれを選んでくれる？」

Rakan “Aa. Machigattemo, musumeni doku’o susumeru wake-niwa ikan-karane. Dore’o erande kureru?”

Lakan “Yes. I can’t risk feeding my daughter poison. Can you choose a cup?”

猫猫「好きなものをどうぞ」

Maomao “Sukina mono’o dozo.”

Maomao “Please take whichever one you like.”

羅漢「薬というのは、味はあるのかい？」

Rakan “Kusurito iu-nowa, ajiwa aruno-kai?”

Lakan “Does this medicine have a special taste?”

猫猫「一口飲めば、嫌な味だと思うでしょうね」

Maomao “Hito-kuchi nomeba, Iyana aji-dato omou-deshone.”

Maomao “One sip and you’d notice that it tastes bad.”

壬氏（羅漢は2回まで負けることができる。そのうち一つでも味が違えば、娘に毒が及ばないと分かるだろう。そのためにわざと負けるとは…やはり、抜け目のない男だ）

Jinshi (Rakanwa, ni-kai-made makeru kotoga dekiru. Sono-uchi hitotsu-demo ajiga chigaeba, musumeni dokuga oyoba-naito wakaru-daro. Sono tameni wazato makeru-towa… Yahari, nukemeno nai otokoda.)

Jinshi (Lakan can lose up to twice. If even one of those cups has a different taste, he’d know that his daughter can avoid the poison. He really does know what he’s doing, losing on purpose to do that.”

羅漢「うん、ではこれを。…ああ、嫌な味だ…」

Rakan “Un, dewa koreo. …Aa, Iyana ajida…”

Lakan “This one, then. What an awful taste.”

壬氏（毒入りだ…これで薬屋が3杯目に毒を飲む心配はなくなった。それは同時に、羅漢がこれ以上負ける必要がないということ…薬屋に勝ち目はない…）

Jinshi (Doku-irida… Korede kusuriyaga san-baimeni dokuo nomu shinpaiwa naku-natta. Sorewa dojini, Rakanga kore-ijo makeru hitsuyoga naito iu-koto… Kusuriyani kachimewa nai…)

Jinshi (It’s poisoned! Now there’s no risk of the apothecary drinking the third poison. That means Lakan no longer needs to lose on purpose. The apothecary has no chance of winning now.)

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羅漢「私が勝てば、うちの子になってくれるね」

Rakan “Watashiga kateba, uchino koni natte kurerune.”

Lakan “If I win, will you come live with me?”

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羅漢「それに、暑いな…うう…ううう…あっ、ああ…」

Rakan “Soreni, atsuina… Uu… Uuu… A, Aa…”

Lakan “Also, it’s quite warm out.”

壬氏「これは一体…一杯では問題ない薬なのだろう？いくら憎らしいからと言って本当に毒を盛るなんて…」

Jinshi “Korewa ittai… Ippai-dewa mondai-nai kusuri-nano-daro? Ikura nikurashii-karato itte hontoni dokuo moru-nante…”

Jinshi “What’s going on? I thought one cup of it was safe! Did you actually poison him?! Do you really hate him that much―”

猫猫「薬ですよ。酒は百薬の長と言いますから」

Maomao “Kusuri desuyo. Sakewa hyaku-yakuno choto iimasu-kara.”

Maomao “It is medicine. Alcohol is the king of all medicines, isn’t it?”

壬氏「酒？どういうことだ？」

Jinshi “Sake? Do-iu kotoda?”

Jinshi “Alcohol? What do you mean?”

高順「壬氏様」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi,”

壬氏「あ…」

Jinshi “A…”

高順「酔っているだけのようです」

Gaoshun “Yotte-iru-dakeno yodesu.”

Gaoshun “It seems like he’s just drunk.”

壬氏「は？」

Jinshi “Ha?”

Jinshi “Huh?”

猫猫「下戸(げこ)なんですよ、この人」

Maomao “Geko nan-desuyo, kono hito.”

Maomao “He completely abstains from alcohol.”

壬氏「そういえば…いつもジュースばかりで、酒を飲むのは見たことがない��…。では、さっき入れた液体は？」

Jinshi “So-ieba… itsumo Jūsu bakaride, sake’o nomu-nowa mita-kotoga naina… Dewa, sakki ireta eki-taiwa?”

Jinshi “Come to think of it… He always just drinks fruit juice, I’ve never seen him drink alcohol. So, what was that liquid earlier?”

猫猫「アルコールです。さてと…さっさとこの男を運び出して妓楼の花を選ばせましょう」

Maomao “Arukōru desu. Sateto…sassato kono otoko’o hakobi-dashite girono hana’o erabase-masho.”

Maomao “Spirits. Anyway… Let’s drag this guy out of here and have him pick a flower from the brothel.”

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羅漢（生まれた時から、人間の区別がつかなかった。乳母と母を間違えるどころか、男女の区別もつかなかった。父は私に呆れ、これでは役に立たぬと、愛人のもとに通うようになった。母はそんな父を取り戻そうと必死だった。そんなわけで、名家の長子でありながら、手すさびで覚えた碁と象棋にのめり込み、奔放に生きることができた）

Rakan (Umareta-toki-kara, ningenno kubetsuga tsuka-nakatta. Ubato haha’o machigaeru-dokoroka, danjono kubetsumo tsuka-nakatta. Chichiwa watashini akire, kore-dewa yakuni tatanu-to, aijinno motoni kayou-yoni natta. Hahawa sonna chichi’o tori-modo-soto hisshi datta. Sonna wakede, meikano choshide ari-nagara, tesusabide oboeta goto shanchīni nomeri-komi, honponi ikiru kotoga dekita.)

Lakan (From the day I was born, I couldn’t differentiate between humans. Not only did I mistake my nanny for my mother, I couldn’t even tell men and women apart. My father believed me to be useless, and ran off to his mistress in disgust. My mother was desperate to get him back. Because of that, despite being the eldest son of an important family, I was able to live freely, devoting myself to go and chess, which I learned in my spare time.)

羅門「顔ではなく、声やそぶり、体格で人を覚えるんだよ。お前なら、象棋かな」

Ruomen “Kao-dewa-naku, koeya soburi, taikakude hito’o oboerun-dayo. Omae-nara, shanchī kana.”

Luomen “Differentiate people based on their voices, behavior, and build, instead of their faces. In your case, you can use chess pieces.”

羅漢(叔父貴だけは自分を理解してくれた。要領は悪いが優秀な叔父貴のおかげで、次第に人の顔が駒に見えるようになった。叔父貴が車に見えた時に、やはり優秀な男なのだと再確認できた)

Rakan (Ojiki-dakewa jibun’o rikai shite-kureta. Yoryowa waruiga yushuna ojikino okagede, shidaini hitono kaoga komani mieru-yoni natta. Ojikiga shani mieta tokini, yahari yushuna otoko nanodato sai-kakunin dekita.)

Lakan (My uncle was the only one who understood me. Thanks to my uncle, who is clumsy but very intelligent, I gradually learned to see people’s faces as chess pieces. When I started to see my uncle as a Chariot piece, I reaffirmed that he is indeed a great man.)

羅漢(成長してからは、武の才はないのに、家柄のおかげでいきなり長を任された。自分が弱くとも、部下を無駄なく使えばお釣りが来る。人が駒となる象棋は、何より面白いゲームに違いなかった。仕事でもゲームでも無敗が続く中、付き合いで行った妓楼で、噂の妓女と対決することになる。無数の白黒の中、そこだけが鮮やかに輝いていた)

Rakan (Seicho shite-karawa, buno saiwa nai-noni, iegarano okagede ikinari cho’o maka-sareta. Jibunga yowaku-tomo, buka’o muda-naku tsukaeba otsuriga kuru. Hitoga komato naru shanchīwa, nani-yori omoshiroi gēmuni chigai-nakatta. Shigoto-demo gēmu-demo muhaiga tsuzuku-naka, tsuki-aide itta girode, uwasano gijoto taiketsu suru kotoni naru. Musuno shiro-kurono naka, soko-dakega azayakani kagayaite-ita.)

Lakan (After I grew up, thanks to my family name, I was suddenly assigned to lead a squadron, despite having no talent in combat. Even if I was weak, I could more than make up for it by using the men under me effectively. Most of all, playing chess with human pieces was the most fun game I had ever played. As I continued my lossless streak in both work and games, I followed my colleagues to a brothel to take on a famous courtesan. In a world full of black and white, that was the only bright color I saw.)

羅漢(女の名は、鳳仙。妓楼で負けなしの妓女と、軍部で負けなしの自分。どちらが負けても、観客は面白いことであろう)

Rakan (Onnano nawa, Fonshen. Girode make-nashino gijoto, gunbude make-nashino jibun. Dochiraga make-temo, kankyakuwa omoshiroi kotode-aro.)

Lakan (Her name was Fengxian. The undefeated courtesan of the brothel, versus me, undefeated in the military. The audience would have had a good time no matter who lost.)

羅漢(確かに強い。けれど、所詮は井の中の蛙(かわず))

Rakan (Tashikani tsuyoi. Keredo, shosenwa ino nakano kawazu.)

Lakan (She’s strong, but she only fights in her own small world…)

羅漢(負けた…それも圧倒的に。こんなに負けたのは、いつ以来だ？)

Rakan (Maketa… Soremo atto-tekini. Konnani maketa-nowa, itsu-iraida?)

Lakan (I lost. I was absolutely thrashed. When was the last time I lost so badly?)

羅漢「フフフ… ハハハハハ…！あ…」(ああ…人とは、こういう顔をしているのか)

Rakan “Fufufu… Hahahahaha…! A…” (Aa… Hito-towa, ko-iu kao’o shite-iru-noka.)

Lakan (Ah, so that’s what a human face looks like.)

羅漢(まるで、鳳仙花の実のような、触れたらはじけそうな、人を寄せ付けない目)

Rakan (Marude, hosenkano mino-yona, furetara hajike-sona, hito’o yose-tsuke-nai me.)

Lakan (Her defiant eyes, like a balsam flower that would burst if touched…)

羅漢「フフッ…次は負くるまい」

Rakan “Fufu… Tsugiwa makuru-mai.”

Lakan “Next time, I won’t lose.”

羅漢(それから、ひたすら碁と象棋を繰り返すだけの逢瀬が、何年か続いた。妓楼で生まれた鳳仙は、誇りだけを固めたような性格だった)

Rakan (Sorekara, hitasura goto shanchī’o kuri-kaesu dakeno ousega, nan-nenka tsuzuita. Girode umareta Fonshenwa, hokori-dakeo katameta-yona seikaku datta.)

Lakan (For several years after that, we continued to meet to play go and chess. Fengxian, who was born at the brothel, had a personality that was almost purely made of pride.)

鳳仙「母はおりません。私を産んだ女ならいますが。花街では、妓女は母になれませんので」

Fonshen “Hahawa ori-masen. Watashi’o unda onna-nara imasuga. Hana-machi-dewa, gijowa hahani nare-masen-node.”

Fengxian “I have no mother. A woman did give birth to me, but in the pleasure district, a courtesan can never become a mother.”

羅漢(才能ある妓女は、ある程度人気者になると、売り惜しみが行われる。鳳仙もその一人だった。きつすぎる対応が万人向けではないものの、一部の好事家に受けていたらしい。次第に値もつり上がり、三月に一度会うのがやっとになった)

Rakan (Saino-aru gijowa, aru-teido ninki-mononi Naruto, uri-oshimiga okona-wareru. Fonshenmo sono hitori datta. Kitsu-sugiru taioga ban-nin-muke-dewa nai-monono, ichibuno kozukani ukete-ita-rashii. Shidaini nemo tsuri-agari, mi-tsukini ichido au-noga yattoni natta.)

Lakan (Once a talented courtesan gains popularity, the brothel becomes reluctant to sell them. Fengxian fit that profile exactly. Her harsh attitude wasn’t for everyone, but she became the favorite of several dilettantes. Her prices gradually rose, and I could only afford to see her once every three months.)

羅漢「鳳仙花と…何だ？それは」

Rakan “Hosenkato… Nanda? Sorewa.”

Lakan “Balsam flower, and… What’s that?”

鳳仙「片喰…別名ねこあしです。解毒や虫刺されに効く生薬だとか。鳳仙花と同じで、成熟した実に触れると、種がはじけ飛ぶんです」

Fonshen “Katabami… Betsumei neko-ashi desu. Gedokuya mushi-sasareni kiku shoyaku da-toka. Hosenkato onajide, seijuku-shita mini fureruto, Tanega hajike-tobun-desu.”

Fengxian “Woodsorrel, also known as cat’s foot. I hear it’s a medicine that helps treat poisons and insect bites. Like the balsam, touching a ripe fruit causes the seeds to burst.”

羅漢「ほう、それは面白い」

Rakan “Ho, sorewa omo-shiroi.”

Lakan “Interesting.”

鳳仙「次は、いつ来られますか？」

Fonshen “Tsugiwa, itsu korare-masuka?”

Fengxian “When can you come next?”

羅漢「ん？また3か月後に」

Rakan “N? Mata san-kagetsu-goni.”

Lakan “Three months from now, as always.”

鳳仙「分かりました」

Fonshen “Wakari-mashita.”

Fengxian “Understood.”

羅漢(鳳仙の身請け話を聞いたのは、その頃だった。鳳仙の値は、好事家たちの競り合いでつり上がっていった。武官として出世したものの、異母兄弟に跡継ぎの立場を奪われた自分には、到底太刀打ちできる額ではなかった)

Rakan (Fonshenno miuke-banashi’o kiita-nowa, sono-koro-datta. Fonshenno newa, kozuka-tachino seri-aide tsuri-agatte-itta. Bukanto-shite shusse shita-monono, ibo-kyodaini ato-tsugino tachiba’o uba-wareta jibun-niwa, totei tachi-uchi dekiru gaku-dewa nakatta.)

Lakan (That was when I heard about Fengxian being bought out. Fengxian’s price was being hiked up by the dilettantes competing against each other. I was on a good career path as a military officer, but since I’d lost the title of heir to my half-brothers, her price was well outside my reach.)

鳳仙「たまには賭けをしませんか？」

Fonshen “Tama-niwa kake’o shima-senka?”

Fengxian “Would you like to place a bet, for a change?”

羅漢「ん？」

Rakan “N?”

鳳仙「あなたが勝てたら、好きなものを与えましょう。私が勝てたら、好きなものをいただきましょう。お好きな盤を選んでください」

Fonshen “Anataga kate-tara, sukina mono’o atae-masho. Watashiga kate-tara, sukina mono’o itadaki-masho. Osukina ban’o erande kudasai.”

Fengxian “If you win, I will give you anything you want. If I win, I will take anything that I want. Please choose a board.”

羅漢(ふと悪いことが頭をよぎった)

Rakan (Futo warui kotoga atama’o yogitta.)

Lakan (A terrible thought crossed my mind.)

鳳仙「碁でよろしいですね？」

Fonshen “Gode yoroshii desune?”

Fengxian “Go, isn’t it?”

羅漢「ああ」

Rakan “Aa.”

Lakan “Yes.”

鳳仙「梅梅。試合に集中したいから」

Fonshen “Meimei. Shiaini shuchu shitai-kara.”

Fengxian “Meimei, I want to concentrate on this game.”

梅梅「はい」

Meimei “Hai.”

Meimei “Yes.”

羅漢(気づけば、手が重なっていた。鳳仙からは、甘い言葉も何もなかった。自分もそんな柄ではなく、ある意味、似た者同士の2人だった)

Rakan (Kizukeba, tega kasanatte-ita. Fonshen-karawa, amai kotobamo nanimo nakatta. Jibunmo sonna gara-dewa naku, aru-imi, nita-mono-doshino futari datta.)

Lakan (Before I knew it, our hands touched. There were no sweet words from Fengxian. I wasn’t the type to offer any, either. In that way, we were quite similar.)

鳳仙「碁がやりたい」

Fonshen “Goga yari-tai.”

Fengxian “I want to play go.”

羅漢(自分とて象棋がしたいと思っていた)

Rakan (Jibun-tote shanchīga shitaito omotte-ita.)

Lakan (I’d been thinking about how I wanted to play chess, myself.)

鳳仙「♪ねんねこね…ねんねこよ…あのこはいずことないている…何にも知らず…小鳥たち…お空に遠く…飛んでった…」

Fonshen “Nen’nekone… Nen’nekoyo… Ano kowa izukoto naite-iru… Nan-nimo shirazu…kotori-tachi…osorani tooku…tondetta…”

Fengxian “♪Sleep, my baby, sleep. Where is she? She cries. Little birds are so innocent. Off they fly to somewhere far.”

羅漢(その3か月後、優秀だった叔父貴が失脚した)

Rakan (Sono san-kagetsu-go, yushu-datta ojikiga shikkyaku shita.)

Lakan (Three months later, my supposedly intelligent uncle was ousted from his position.)

羅漢の父「後宮の医官になったと思ったら、追放だと？！一族の面汚しだ！」

Rakan no chichi “Kokyuno ikanni nattato omottara, tsuiho dato?! Ichi-zokuno tsura-yogoshida!”

Lakan’s father “First you became a doctor in the rear palace, and now you’re exiled?! You bring shame to our family!”

羅漢(優秀なのに、相変わらず要領が悪い)

Rakan (Yushu nanoni, ai-kawarazu yoryoga warui.)

Lakan (For all his intelligence, he really is clumsy.)

羅漢の父「お前は、やつと親交が深かっただろう。家を出て、しばし遊学しろ！」

Rakan no chichi “Omaewa, yatsuto shinkoga fuka-katta-daro. Ie’o dete, shibashi yugaku shiro!”

Lakan’s father “You used to be close to him. Leave the house for a while, go study abroad!”

羅漢「遊学？」

Rakan “Yugaku?”

Lakan “Study abroad…?”

羅漢の父「念のためだ」

Rakan no chichi “Nenno tameda.”

Lakan’s father “Just in case.”

羅漢「しかし…」

Rakan “Shikashi…”

Lakan “But…”

羅漢の父「何だ？」

Rakan no chichi “Nanda?”

Lakan’s father “What?”

羅漢「いえ…何でもありません」

Rakan “Ie… Nandemo ari-masen.”

Lakan “No, it’s nothing.”

羅漢(親であり、上司である父に逆らえるはずがなかった)

Rakan (Oyade ari, Joshide aru chichini sakaraeru hazuga nakatta.)

Lakan (There was no way I could speak up against my father, who was also my boss.)

羅漢（同じころ、身請け話が破談になったと鳳仙から文があり、私も半年ほどで戻れるだろうと高をくくっていた）

Rakan (Onaji koro, miuke-banashiga hadanni nattato Fonshen-kara fumiga ari, watashimo han-toshi-hodode modoreru-daroto taka’o kukutte-ita.)

Lakan (Around the same time, Fengxian wrote to me that her buyout agreement fell through. I assumed I would be back in six months or so.)

羅漢(その時は…まさか戻るのに3年もかかるとは思いもしなかった)

Rakan (Sono Tokiwa… Masaka modoru-noni san-nenmo kakaru-towa omoimo shinakatta.)

Lakan (But, back then… I had no idea it would take three whole years for me to return.)

羅漢「あ…鳳仙からの文が、こんなに…」

Rakan “A… Fonshen-karano fumiga, konnani…”

Lakan “So many letters from Fengxian…”

羅漢「あ… ん？」

Rakan “A… N?”

羅漢「ん？土くれ？」

Rakan “N? Tsuchi-kure?”

Lakan “Mud?”

羅漢「いや…小枝か？しかも、2つ？…違う、これは…」

Rakan “Iya… Koedaka? Shikamo, futatsu? …Chigau, korewa…”

Lakan “No, a branch? And there’s two of them? No, this is…”

羅漢(指切り…そんな呪いが流行っているのは知っていた。身請け話が破談になった原因…あの袋に入っていた

もう一つの小さな指は…なぜ気づけなかったのか！)

Rakan (Yubi-kiri… Sonna noroiga hayatte-iru-nowa shitte-ita. Miuke-banashiga hadanni natta gen’in… Ano fukuroni haitte-ita mo-hitotsuno chiisana yubiwa… Naze kizuke-nakatta-noka!)

Lakan (Finger severing… I knew that was a popular way to curse someone. The reason why her deal fell through… The other small finger in the bag… Why didn’t I notice?!)

羅漢(碁と象棋しか頭になかった。こんな簡単な答えにすら、辿り着けなかった！)

Rakan (Goto shanchī-shika atamani nakatta. Konna kantanna kotaeni-sura, tadori-tsuke-nakatta!)

Lakan (All I had in my head was go and chess. I couldn’t even reach that simple conclusion!)

羅漢「フォ…鳳仙は？！」

Rakan “Fo…Fonshenwa?!”

Lakan “Where’s Fengxian?!”

やり手婆「お前…！鳳仙ならもういない！今さら何しに来たってんだい！3年も放っておいて！価値が落ちた妓女がどうなるかなんて、知ったこっちゃないんだろ！」

Yarite Babaa “Omae…! Fonshen-nara mo inai! Ima-sara nani shini kitatten-dai! San-nenmo hotte-oite! Kachiga ochita gijoga do naruka-nante, shitta-koccha-nain-daro!”

Madam “You! Fengxian is gone now! Where have you been all this time?! You left her for three whole years! You don’t care one bit what happens to a worthless courtesan, do you?!”

羅漢（少し考えれば分かったはずだ…身請けの破談、その原因は…鳳仙の腹には…！）

Rakan (Sukoshi kangae-reba wakatta hazuda… Miukeno hadan, sono gen’inwa… Fonshenno hara-niwa…!)

Lakan （If only I’d put even a little thought into it! The reason why she wouldn’t get bought out… The reason was in her belly…）

羅漢（店の名を汚(けが)し、信用と価値が地に落ちた妓女が辿る末路…夜鷹(よたか)のごとく客を取り、いずれ…）

Rakan (Miseno nao kegashi, shin’yoto kachiga chini ochita gijoga tadoru matsuro… Yotakano gotoku kyaku’o tori, izure…)

Lakan (By soiling the name of her brothel, her trust and reputation fell to nothing! All she could do was to take customers like a streetwalker, and…)

羅漢（どんなに嘆いたところで、時は戻らない。何もかも、短絡的だった自分が招いたことだ…）

Rakan (Donnani nageita tokorode, Tokiwa modora-nai. Nanimo-kamo, tanraku-teki datta jibunga maneita kotoda…)

Lakan (No matter how much I lamented, there was no way to turn back time. It was all my fault, for being so short-sighted.)

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

羅漢「ああ…ここは？緑青館か？うっ…うう…」

Rakan “Aa…Kokowa? Rokushokanka? U…Uu…”

Lakan “This is… The Verdigris House?”

梅梅「お目覚めですか？」

Meimei “Omezame desuka?”

Meimei “Are you awake?”

羅漢「ああ…梅梅」

Rakan “Aa…Meimei.”

Lakan “Meimei.”

梅梅「どこぞの貴人の使いの方��連れてきたんですよ。それにしても、ひどい顔色…赤いと言うか、青いと言うか」

Meimei “Dokozono kijinno tsukaino kataga tsurete-kitan-desuyo. Soreni-shitemo, hidoi kao-iro… akaito-iuka, aoito-iuka.”

Meimei “Some noble’s servant brought you here. Your face looks terrible. I don’t know if it’s more red or blue.”

羅漢「私とて、こうなるつもりはなかったよ。まさかあんなに強い酒だとは思わなくてね」

Rakan “Watashi-tote, ko-naru tsumoriwa nakattayo. Masaka annani tsuyoi sake-datowa omowa-nakutene.”

Lakan “I didn’t think I’d end up like this, either. I wasn’t expecting it to be such a strong liquor.”

梅梅「フフフフフ…」

Meimei “Fufufufufu…”

羅漢（梅梅は昔、鳳仙のもとで禿をしていた。梅梅とはよく遊んでやった。筋がいいと褒めたら、もじもじしていた）

Rakan (Meimeiwa mukashi, Fonshenno motode kamuro’o shite-ita. Meimei-towa yoku asonde-yatta. Sujiga iito hometara, moji-moji shite-ita.)

Lakan (Meimei used to be Fengxian’s servant girl. I used to play with her a lot. When I complemented her talents, she seemed abashed.)

羅漢「そういえば…」

Rakan “So-ieba…”

Lakan “Come to think of it…”

梅梅「どうかなさいましたか？」

Meimei “Doka nasai-mashitaka?”

Meimei “What is it?”

羅漢「いや、何でもない」

Rakan “Iya, nan-demo nai.”

Lakan “No, nothing.”

梅梅「はい、どうぞ」

Meimei “Hai, dozo.”

Meimei “Here you are.”

羅漢「ああ…ぶーっ！がっ…苦っ…！何だこれは…！」

Rakan “Aa…Buuuu! Ga…Niga…! Nanda korewa…!”

Lakan “Yes. So bitter! What is this?!”

梅梅「フフフッ、猫猫が作ったそうですよ」

Meimei “Fufufu, Maomaoga tsukutta-sodesuyo.”

Meimei “Something Maomao made.”

羅漢「んっ…」

Rakan “N…”

猫猫「混ぜ混ぜ、混ぜ混ぜ、混ぜ混ぜ…」

Maomao “Maze-maze, maze-maze, maze-maze…”

Maomao “Mix mix, mix mix, mix mix.”

羅漢「そうか、猫猫が…」

Rakan “Soka, Maomaoga…”

Lakan “I see, it was Maomao…”

梅梅「それと、こちらの箱も猫猫が…」

Meimei “Soreto, kochirano hakomo Maomaoga…”

Meimei “Also, Maomao left this box for you.”

羅漢「枯れた薔薇？」

Rakan “Kareta sobi?”

Lakan “A withered rose?”

梅梅「たとえ枯れたとしても、形を保つことができるんですね」

Meimei “Tatoe karetato-shitemo, katachi’o tamotsu kotoga dekirun-desune.”

Meimei “Even when withered, it can retain its shape.”

禿「梅梅姐さん」

Kamuro “Meimei-neesan.”

Serving girl “Big Sis Meimei.”

梅梅「あ…失礼します」

Meimei “A… Shitsurei shimasu.”

Meimei “Excuse me.”

(Continue to episode 24)

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

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