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apothecaryscript · 3 months ago

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Episode 9 : Suicide or Murder? / 第9話『自殺か他殺か(Jisatsuka Tasatsuka)』

官僚「やつはとても信用ならん」

Kanryo “Yatsuwa totemo shin’yo naran.”

Bureaucrat “That man can’t be trusted!”

官僚「そうなると、別の問題が出てくるんじゃないか？」

Kanryo “So-naruto, betsuno mondaiga dete kurunja naika?”

Bureaucrat “That’d create other issues.”

浩然(コウネン)「酒だ！酒を持ってこい」

Konen “Sakeda! Sakeo motte koi.”

Kounen “Drinks! Bring more booze…”

官僚「ずいぶんと変わっちまって…」

Kanryo “Zuibunto kawacchimatte…”

Bureaucrat “Wow, he’s changed a lot.”

官僚「しかし、あの顔を見ていると、酒がまずくなる」

Kanryo “Shikashi, ano kao’o mite-iruto, sakega mazuku naru.”

Bureaucrat “Seeing his face makes the drinks taste bad.”

官僚「それは同感だ」

Kanryo “Sorewa dokanda.”

Bureaucrat “On that, I can agree.”

浩然「ん？悪いな…」

Konen “N? Waruina…”

Kounen “Hey… Thanks.”

ーーーーー

高順「いつまでいじけているのですか？」

Gaoshun “Itsu-made ijikete iruno-desuka?”

Gaoshun “How much longer are you going to sulk?”

壬氏「いじけてない」

Jinshi “Ijikete-nai.”

Jinshi “I’m not sulking.”

高順「仕事中だということを忘れないでください」

Gaoshun “Shigoto-chu dato iu-koto’o wasure-naide kudasai.”

Gaoshun “Please don’t forget that you’re still on the job.”

壬氏「分かってるよ」

Jinshi “Wakatteruyo.”

Jinshi “I understand.”

高順（ハア…分かってない。壬氏という人物は、そのような子供みたいな返事はしない。壬氏という人物は、おもちゃに深く執着しない）

Gaoshun (Haa… Wakatte-nai. Jinshi to-iu jinbutsuwa, sono-yona kodomo mitaina henjiwa shinai. Jinshi to-iu jinbutsuwa, omochani fukaku shuchaku shinai.)

Gaoshun (He doesn’t understand. The one known as Jinshi does not respond in such a childish way. The one known as Jinshi does not attach himself so strongly to a toy.)

高順「新しい仕事です」

Gaoshun “Atarashii shigoto desu.”

Gaoshun “Here is some more work.”

高順（あの日、笑い転げる玉葉妃から、事の詳細を聞くのに苦労した）

Gaoshun (Ano hi, warai-korogeru Gyokuyo-hi-kara, kotono shosaio kiku-noni kuro shita.)

Gaoshun (It took considerable effort to get Concubine Gyokuyou to stop laughing uncontrollably and explain.)

ーーーーー

壬氏「勘違い？」

Jinshi “Kan-chigai?”

Jinshi “Misunderstanding?”

ーーーーー

高順（身元引き受けの見返りとは、スターとの面会だったという。娘にそんなツテがあったとは…。そして、主はどんな想像をしたことやら…ハァ、若いって恐ろしい。まあ、でも…あれだけ急いで仕事を終わらせて、いざ会いに行ってみれば、知らぬ男と里帰りしているなんて、青天の霹靂には違いあるまい）

Gaoshun (Mimoto-hikiukeno mikaeri-towa, sutā-tono menkai dattato iu. Musumeni sonna tsutega atta-towa… Soshite, arujiwa donna sozo’o shita-koto-yara… Haa, Wakaitte osoroshii. Maa, demo… Aredake isoide shigoto’o owarasete, iza aini itte-mireba, shiranu otokoto sato-gaeri shite-iru-nante, seitenno hekireki-niwa chigai arumai.)

Gaoshun (The payment she gave in return for acting as her guarantor was a meeting with a star courtesan. Who knew that girl had such connections? Who knows what image the master had in his mind? Youth is a scary thing. That said, to put so much effort into finishing work quickly, and going out to meet her… Only to find out she had left for home with another man… That must have been quite a shock, for sure.)

高順「もう少し頭をひねればよいものを…」

Gaoshun “Mo sukoshi atamao hinereba yoi-mono’o…”

Gaoshun “They should put more thought into these…”

高順（多くの官僚は、自分の利益につながる法案を通そうとする。そんなくだらない法案のために仕事が増えるのは、哀れに思う）

Gaoshun (Ookuno kanryowa, jibunno riekini tsunagaru hoan’o toosoto suru. Sonna kudaranai hoan’no tameni shigotoga fueru-nowa, awareni omou.)

Gaoshun (Many bureaucrats try to pass bills that benefit them personally. I feel sorry for my master, who has to do extra work for those useless bills.)

下官「壬氏様！」

Gekan “Jinshi-sama!”

Low-ranking officer “Master Jinshi!”

高順「もう時間外だ。あとにしてくれないか」

Gaoshun “Mo jikan-gaida. Atoni shite kure-naika.”

Gaoshun “It’s already after hours. Can this wait?”

下官「いえ、仕事のことではなく…それが…」

Gekan “Ie, shigotono koto-dewa naku… Sorega…”

Low-ranking officer “It’s not about work… Well…”

壬氏「浩然殿が？！」

Jinshi “Konen-donoga?!”

Jinshi “Sir Kounen?!”

高順「壬氏様」

Gaoshun “Jinshi-sama.”

Gaoshun “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「行くぞ」

Jinshi “Yukuzo.”

Jinshi “Let’s go!”

ーーーーー

玉葉妃「それは、大変なことね」

Gyokuyo-hi “Sorewa, taihenna kotone.”

Concubine Gyokuyou “That’s terrible news…”

猫猫（お偉いさんが、死んじまいましたとさ。冷たいようだが、顔も��前も知らぬ��間に同情できるほど、感傷深くない。年齢は五十路(いそじ)を過ぎ、死因と言えば酒の飲みすぎ。完全に自業自得だ。この御仁(ごじん)がわざわざ侍女頭を別の用事で外させたということは…）

Maomao (Oerai-sanga, shinjimai-mashita-tosa. Tsumetai-yodaga, kaomo namaemo shiranu ningenni dojo-dekiru-hodo, kansho-bukaku-nai. Nenreiwa isojio sugi, shiinto ieba sakeno nomi-sugi. Kanzenni jigo-jitokuda. Kono gojinga waza-waza jijo-gashirao betsuno yojide hazusasetato iukotowa…)

Maomao (Someone high up bit the dust. Maybe this is callous, but I can’t sympathize with anyone who I’ve never met or heard of. A man past the age of fifty, who died from drinking too much. Clearly self-inflicted. Since he went out of the way to make the head lady-in-waiting leave…)

壬氏「薬屋、本当に死因は酒だと思うか？」

Jinshi “Kusuriya, hontoni shiinwa sake-dato omouka?”

Jinshi “Apothecary, do you think the alcohol was really what killed him?”

猫猫（やっぱり聞いてきた）

Maomao (Yappari kiite-kita.)

Maomao (I knew he’d ask.)

猫猫「酒好きの人間なら、飲みすぎは毒であると分かっているはずです。慢性的に飲み続ければ、臓腑を病ませ、一度に大量摂取すれば、死に至る場合もあります」

Maomao “Sake-zukino ningen-nara, nomi-sugiwa dokude aruto wakatte-iru hazu desu. Mansei-tekini nomi-tsuzukereba, zofuo yamase, ichidoni tairyo-sesshu sureba, shini itaru baaimo arimasu.”

Maomao “Anyone who likes alcohol should know that overindulgence in drink is poison in essence. Drinking constantly can sicken the organs. Drinking too much in one sitting can lead to death.”

壬氏「仲間内の宴席で、大量の酒をあおったと聞いている」

Jinshi “Nakama-uchino ensekide, tairyono sakeo aottato kiite-iru.”

Jinshi “It was a party for a group of co-workers, and I heard he had a lot to drink.”

猫猫「それなら死にますね」

Maomao “Sore-nara, shini-masune.”

Maomao “That could kill him.”

壬氏「だが、浩然殿は酒に強い。飲みすぎで死んだとは思えん」

Jinshi “Daga, Konen-donowa sakeni tsuyoi. Nomi-sugide shinda-towa omoen.”

Jinshi “But Sir Kounen could really handle his drink. I don’t think overindulgence would kill him.”

猫猫（死んだ男の名は、浩然。酒をかめごと飲み��す豪快な武人で、人柄もよかったという）

Maomao (Shinda otokono nawa, Konen. Sakeo kame-goto nomi-hosu gokaina bujinde, hitogaramo yokattato iu.)

Maomao (The man who died was named Kounen. He was a dynamic warrior who drank entire jars of alcohol, and had a well-liked personality, to boot.)

壬氏「高順」

Jinshi “Gaoshun.”

高順「はい」

Gaoshun “Hai.”

Gaoshun “Yes.”

壬氏「宴席で飲まれていた、酒の残りだ」

Jinshi “Ensekide nomarete-ita sakeno nokorida.”

Jinshi “This is the drink from that party.”

猫猫「おおっ、酒！」

Maomao “Oo, sake!”

Maomao “Ooh, booze!”

壬氏「浩然殿が飲んでいたものは、かめがひっくり返って全部流れてしまった…」

Jinshi “Konen-donoga nonde-ita-monowa, kamega hikkuri-kaette zenbu nagarete shimatta…”

Jinshi “The specific jar that Sir Kounen drank from got dropped on the floor and the contents were lost.”

猫猫「では、そのかめに毒が入っていたら分かりませんね」

Maomao “Dewa, sono kameni dokuga haitte-itara wakari-masenne.”

Maomao “So, if that jar had poison in it, we’d have no way of knowing.”

壬氏「そのとおりだ」

Jinshi “Sono toorida.”

Jinshi “Indeed.”

猫猫（しおらしい。無茶なことを言っているのは承知の上か。いつも通り、無駄にキラキラしてればいいのに。ここ最近の壬氏様は、以前よりもずっと子供のように見えて仕方ない）

Maomao (Shiorashii. Muchana koto’o itte-irunowa shochino ueka. Itsumo-doori, mudani kira-kira shitereba iinoni. Koko saikinno Jinshi-samawa, izen-yorimo zutto kodomono-yoni miete shikata-nai.)

Maomao (How modest. He realizes he’s asking for the impossible. He should just be excessively shiny like his usual self. For a while now, Master Jinshi has seemed much more childish than before.)

猫猫（ん？甘さとしょっぱさが混在している。もともと甘みのある酒に、塩味をつけているような…）

Maomao (N? Amasato shoppasaga konzai shite-iru. Moto-moto amamino aru sakeni, shio-ajio tsukete-iru-yona…)

Maomao (It’s both sweet and salty. Like someone took a sweet drink and added salt to it…)

壬氏「どうした？」

Jinshi “Doshita?”

Jinshi “What’s wrong?”

猫猫「変わったお味ですね…」

Maomao “Kawatta oaji desune…”

Maomao “It’s a distinct taste.”

壬氏「ああ、甘いだろう？浩然殿の好みなんだ。大の甘党で、いくら上等の燻製肉や岩塩を用意しても、手を付けない人だった」

Jinshi “Aa, amaidaro? Konen-donono konomi nanda. Daino amatode, ikura jotono kunsei-nikuya gan’en’o yoi-shitemo, teo tsukenai hito datta.”

Jinshi “Yes. Sweet, isn’t it? That’s how Master Kounen liked it. He had a serious sweet tooth. He’d never lay a finger on even the finest smoked meats and rock salts.”

猫猫「へえ…」

Maomao “Hee…”

Maomao “Huh…”

壬氏「昔は辛い物好きだったが、ある日突然、甘党になったと言っていた。食事もほとんど甘味にするくらいに…」

Jinshi “Mukashiwa karai-mono-zuki dattaga, aru hi totsuzen, amatoni nattato itte-ita. Shokujimo hotondo kanmini suru kuraini…”

Jinshi “I heard he used to love spicy foods, but suddenly developed a sweet tooth one day. Even his meals became all sweets.”

猫猫「糖尿になりますね」

Maomao “Tonyoni nari-masune.”

Maomao “That’ll cause diabetes.”

壬氏「思い出話を現実に戻すな。…まだ飲む気か」

Jinshi “Omoide-banashio genjitsuni modosuna. …Mada nomu kika.”

Jinshi “Stop spoiling my nostalgia with reality. You’re having more?”

猫猫（辛い物好きが、甘党にね…）

Maomao (Karai-mono-zukiga, amatonine…)

Maomao (From spicy to sweet, huh?)

猫猫「宴の肴に、塩は出ましたか？」

Maomao “Utageno sakanani, shiowa demashitaka?”

Maomao “Were there salts available at the party?”

壬氏「ああ、岩塩と月餅と干し肉が出たそうだ。同じものを用意するか？」

Jinshi “Aa, gan’ento geppeito hoshi-nikuga deta-soda. Onaji mono’o yoi suruka?”

Jinshi “Yes, Rock salts, moon cakes, and dried meat. Do you want those, too?”

猫猫「いえ、その前に飲み終わりますので」

Maomao “Ie, sono maeni nomi-owari-masu-node.”

Maomao “No, I’ll be done with the drink by then.”

壬氏「いや、そういう意味じゃ…」

Jinshi “Iya, so-iu imija…”

Jinshi “That’s not what I meant…”

猫猫「浩然様の飲んでいたかめは手に入りますか？」

Maomao “Konen-samano nonde-ita kamewa teni hairi-masuka?”

Maomao “Can you get the jar that Master Kounen was drinking from?”

壬氏「割れて破片になっているが…」

Jinshi “Warete hahenni natte-iruga…”

Jinshi “It’s broken and in pieces.”

猫猫「構わないです」

Maomao “Kamawa-nai-desu.”

Maomao “That’s fine.”

猫猫「それと、ひとつ調べてもらいたいことがあります」

Maomao “Soreto, hitotsu shirabete moraitai kotoga arimasu.”

Maomao “Also, there’s one thing I want you to look into.”

ーーーーー

猫猫「失礼します」

Maomao “Shitsurei shimasu.”

Maomao “Excuse me.”

高順「報告書です」

Gaoshun “Hokokusho desu.”

Gaoshun “Here is the report.”

猫猫「ありがとうございます。…やっぱり…」

Maomao “Arigato gozaimasu. …Yappari…”

Maomao “Thank you. …I knew it.”

壬氏「酒瓶だ」

Jinshi “Saka-binda.”

Jinshi “Here’s the bottle.”

猫猫「ふん…」

Maomao “Fun…”

壬氏「な、なめて平気なのか？」

Jinshi “Na, Namete heiki nanoka?”

Jinshi “Is it safe to lick that?”

猫猫「これに毒はありません」

Maomao “Koreni dokuwa arimasen.”

Maomao “There’s no poison here.”

壬氏「ハッ…塩か？」

Jinshi “Ha… Shioka?”

Jinshi “Salt?”

猫猫「そうです。壬氏様、言いましたよね。浩然様は、ある日突然、甘党になり、以来甘味しか口にしなかったと」

Maomao “Sodesu. Jinshi-sama, iimashita-yone. Konen-samawa, aru hi totsuzen, amatoni nari, irai kanmi-shika kuchini shinakattato.”

Maomao “Yes. Master Jinshi, you mentioned how Master Kounen suddenly developed a sweet tooth, right? And that he only ate sweet foods after that?”

壬氏「ああ」

Jinshi “Aa.”

Jinshi “Yes.”

猫猫「しかし、酒瓶には乾いて粒が残るほどの、たくさんの塩が含まれていた。塩は人体に不可欠なものですが、取りすぎると毒になります」

Maomao “Shikashi, saka-bin-niwa kawaite tsubuga nokoru-hodono takusanno shioga fukumarete-ita. Shiowa jintaini fukaketsuna mono-desuga, tori-sugiruto dokuni narimasu.”

Maomao “Yet this jar contained so much salt that left crystals behind when it dried. Salt is essential to the human body, but too much salt can also be poisonous.”

壬氏「つまり、死因は…」

Jinshi “Tsumari, shi’inwa…”

Jinshi “So, the cause of his death is…”

猫猫「飲んだ酒の量と、溶け込んだ塩の量を考えれば、これが原因であってもおかしくはないでしょう」

Maomao “Nonda sakeno ryoto, toke-konda shiono ryo’o kangae-reba, korega gen’inde attemo okashikuwa nai-desho.”

Maomao “Given the amount he drank, and the salt included, it’s easy to conclude this was the cause.”

壬氏「いや、だが…それだけ塩辛い物を飲んだら、普通は味で…」

Jinshi “Iya, daga… Sore-dake shio-karai mono’o nondara, futsuwa ajide…”

Jinshi “Yes, but you should be able to tell if something tasted this salty―”

猫猫「気づかなかったんです。これを見てください。浩然様の生活習慣について書かれています。それを読む限り、恐らく浩然様は、塩味だけが分からなくなっていたかと」

Maomao “Kizuka-nakattan-desu. Koreo mite kudasai. Konen-samano seikatsu-syukanni tsuite kakarete-imasu. Soreo yomu kagiri, osoraku Konen-samawa, shio-aji dakega wakara-naku natte-ita-kato.”

Maomao “But he didn’t. Please take a look at this. It’s a report on Master Kounen’s lifestyle. Judging from what’s written here, it seems like Master Kounen lost his ability to taste salt.”

壬氏「まさか…」

Jinshi “Masaka…”

Jinshi “Oh, no…”

猫猫（浩然という男は、真面目で有能な官僚で、ストイックな性格だったようだ。そして随分前に、妻と子を流行り病で亡くした。それからは仕事一筋。唯一の楽しみが、酒と甘い物だった）

Maomao (Konento-iu otokowa, majimede yunona kanryode, sutoikkuna seikaku datta-yoda. Soshite zuibun maeni, tsumato ko’o hayari-yamaide nakushita. Sore-karawa shigoto hitosuji. Yui’itsuno tanoshimiga, saketo amai mono datta.)

Maomao (Kounen seemed like a serious and skilled bureaucrat, with a stoic personality. Many years ago, he lost his wife and child to an epidemic. From that day on, he was all work, all day. His only forms of entertainment were drinking and sweets.)

猫猫「味覚がなくなる病があります。原因は、食の偏りやストレス。真面目な人間ほど心を抑制し、その負荷は病へ変わってしまう」

Maomao “Mikakuga nakunaru yamaiga arimasu. Gen’inwa, shokuno katayoriya sutoresu. Majimena ningen-hodo kokoro’o yokuseishi, sono fukawa yamai’e kawatte shimau.”

Maomao “There is an illness that eliminates the sense of taste. It can be caused by an unbalanced diet or stress. Serious people will sometimes repress their feelings, and that stress could lead to illness.”

壬氏「では、一体誰が酒瓶に塩を入れたのだ？」

Jinshi “Dewa, ittai darega saka-binni shio’o ireta-noda?”

Jinshi “So, who put the salt in the bottle?”

猫猫「それを調べるのは、私の仕事ではありません。ただ、昨日いただいた酒にも塩は含まれていました。甘口の酒が口に合わない人間が肴に出た塩を入れたか、あるいは、真面目な人間を毛嫌いする者は多いです。酒の席のちょっとした嫌がらせのつもりで、気に入らない人間の酒瓶にいたずらを仕掛けたのかも…。なのに相手が平気な顔で飲み続けるので、気づくまで加えてやろうと思うかもしれない」

Maomao “Soreo shiraberu-nowa, watashino shigoto-dewa arimasen. Tada, kino itadaita sake-nimo shiowa fukumarete imashita. Amakuchino sakega kuchini awanai ningenga sakanani deta shio’o iretaka, aruiwa, majimena ningen’o kegirai suru monowa ooi-desu. Sakeno sekino chotto-shita iyagaraseno tsumoride, kini iranai ningenno saka-binni itazurao shikaketano-kamo… Nanoni aitega heikina kaode nomi-tsuzukeru-node, kizuku-made kuwaete-yaroto omou-kamo shirenai.”

Maomao “That’s not for me to determine. However, there was also salt in the drink I had yesterday. It could have been put there by someone at the party who didn’t like sweet drinks. Alternatively, there are many who resent overly serious coworkers. Maybe they put some salt in the drink, because they didn’t like him and wanted to pull a little prank. But because he kept drinking seemingly without issue. Perhaps they kept adding more, hoping he would notice.”

壬氏「高順」

Jinshi “Gaoshun.”

高順「はい。…御意」

Gaoshun “Hai. …Gyoi.”

Gaoshun “Yes. …Understood.”

猫猫（卑怯だよな…ここまできっかけを与えたなら、犯人を教えたも同然なのに。私は、誰かが罰せられる直接の原因になりたくない）

Maomao (Hikyo-dayona… Koko-made kikkakeo ataeta-nara, han’nin’o oshietamo dozen nanoni. Watashiwa, darekaga basse-rareru chokusetsuno gen’inni naritaku-nai.)

Maomao (I’m a coward. I’ve practically named the culprit at this point, given the amount of hints I dropped. But I don’t want to be directly responsible for someone getting punished.)

壬氏「すまなかったな。助かった」

Jinshi “Sumana-kattana. Tasukatta.”

Jinshi “Sorry for your trouble. Thank you.”

猫猫「いえ」

Maomao “Ie.”

Maomao “It’s fine.”

猫猫（黒曜石の房飾り…喪に服しているのか）

Maomao (Kokuyo-sekino fusa-kazari… Moni fukushite irunoka.)

Maomao (An obsidian tassel… He’s in mourning.)

猫猫「そんなに立派な方だったのですか？」

Maomao “Sonnani rippana kata dattano-desuka?”

Maomao “Was he such a person of high esteem?”

壬氏「ああ。小さいころ、世話になった」

Jinshi “Aa. Chiisai-koro, sewani natta.”

Jinshi “Yes. He helped me a lot when I was younger.”

猫猫（あ…普通の青年のようだ…。この人も一応、人間なんだな）

Maomao (A… Futsuno seinenno yoda… Kono hitomo ichio, ningen nandana.)

Maomao (He seems like a normal young man. I guess he is human, after all.)

壬氏「そうだ」

Jinshi “Soda.”

Jinshi “Oh, right.”

猫猫「え？」

Maomao “E?”

Maomao “Huh?”

壬氏「礼だ」

Jinshi “Reida.”

Jinshi “Here’s your reward.”

猫猫「ひょうたん？」

Maomao “Hyotan?”

Maomao “A bottle?”

壬氏「ああ。昨日のものとは違うが」

Jinshi “Aa. Kinono mono-towa chigauga.”

Jinshi “Yes. It’s not the same as the one from yesterday.”

猫猫「あっ、酒？！」

Maomao “A, sake?!”

Maomao “Booze!”

壬氏「バレないように飲めよ」

Jinshi “Barenai-yoni nomeyo.”

Jinshi “Don’t drink it out in the open.”

猫猫「はい！ありがとうございます！」

Maomao “Hai! Arigato gozaimasu!”

Maomao “Yes! Thank you!”

壬氏「フフッ…感謝している顔に見えないが」

Jinshi “Fufu… Kansha shite-iru kaoni mienaiga.”

Jinshi “You don’t seem all that grateful.”

猫猫「そうでしょうか？それよりも、真面目にお仕事なさってください」

Maomao “Sodeshoka? Sore-yorimo, majimeni oshigoto nasatte kudasai.”

Maomao “Is that so? Perhaps you should return to your work.”

壬氏「なっ…」

Jinshi “Na…”

猫猫（この反応は…サボってるな？）

Maomao (Kono hannowa… sabotteruna?)

Maomao (That reaction… I bet he’s slacking off.)

猫猫「ため込まないうちに、終わらせては？」

Maomao “Tamekona-nai-uchini, owara-setewa?”

Maomao “Perhaps you should finish it before it starts piling up.”

壬氏「真面目に仕事はしている…」

Jinshi “Majimeni shigotowa shite-iru…”

Jinshi “I am working seriously.”

猫猫「どのような？」

Maomao “Dono-yona?”

Maomao “What kind of work?”

壬氏「ああ！そういえば、こんな法案があったな。年若い者が酒に溺れるのを防ぐために、年齢制限を付けるべきだと」

Jinshi “Aa! So-ieba, konna hoanga attana. Toshi-wakai monoga sakeni oboreru-no’o fusegu-tameni, nenrei-seigen’o tsukeru bekidato.”

Jinshi “For example, there’s a certain bill. The idea is to set an age limit for alcohol consumption.”

猫猫「え？」

Maomao “E?”

Maomao “Huh?”

壬氏「酒は20歳になるまで禁止せよ、と」

Jinshi “Sakewa hatachini naru-made kinshi-seyo, to.”

Jinshi “The bill proposes a ban on drinking alcohol until the age of twenty.”

猫猫「うえ～！壬氏様…」

Maomao “Ueee! Jinshi-sama…”

Maomao “Master Jinshi…”

猫猫「それ、絶対に通さないでください！」

Maomao “Sore, zettaini toosa-naide kudasai!”

Maomao “Please, please don’t pass that bill!”

壬氏「フフッ」

Jinshi “Fufu.”

猫猫「うううう…」

Maomao “Uuuu…”

壬氏「さあ？私の一存では、何もできない」

Jinshi “Saa? Watashino ichi-zon-dewa nanimo dekinai.”

Jinshi “Hmm. Well, it’s not something I can decide on my own.”

猫猫「じ、壬氏様！」

Maomao “Ji, Jinshi-sama!”

Maomao “M-Master Jinshi!”

ーーーーー

宦官「先生！」

Kangan “Sensei!”

Eunuch “Doctor!”

宦官「こちらです！」

Kangan “Kochira desu!”

Eunuch “This way!”

やぶ医者「で、出た！あううう…」

Yabu Isha “De, deta! Auuu…”

Quack Doctor “There it is!”

猫猫「冬場でよかったですね…水死体の割には、きれいな姿です」

Maomao “Fuyubade yokatta desune… Sui-shitaino wari-niwa, kireina sugata desu.”

Maomao “We’re lucky it’s winter now. She’s still in good shape, despite being a drowned corpse.”

やぶ医者「よく直視できるね？！」

Yabu Isha “Yoku chokushi dekirune?!”

Quack Doctor “How can you look directly at her?”

猫猫「どこで見つかったんですか？」

Maomao “Dokode mitsukattan-desuka?”

Maomao “Where was she found?”

宦官「外の堀に浮いていた。恰好から、後宮の下女に間違いないだろう」

Kangan “Sotono horini uite-ita. Kakko-kara, kokyuno gejoni machigai naidaro.”

Eunuch “She was floating in the outside moat. From her dress, we assumed she was a servant at the rear palace.”

猫猫（なるほど…それでおっちゃんに。検視すべき医者がこれとは、まったくもってヤブである）

Maomao (Naruhodo… Sorede occhanni. Kenshi subeki ishaga kore-towa, mattaku-motte yabude aru.)

Maomao (I see. That’s why they called our doc. But a doctor in charge of autopsies acting like this… He truly is a quack.)

やぶ医者「嬢ちゃん、代わりに見てくれないかい？」

Yabu Isha “Jochan, kawarini mite kurenai-kai?”

Quack Doctor “Little lady, can I leave this to you?”

猫猫「ダメです。死体には触るなと言われているので」

Maomao “Dame desu. Shitai-niwa sawarunato iwarete-iru-node.”

Maomao “Nope. I’ve been ordered to not touch corpses.”

壬氏「それは意外なことだな」

Jinshi “Sorewa igaina koto-dana.”

Jinshi “That’s unexpected.”

やぶ医者「壬氏様！」

Yabu Isha “Jinshi-sama!”

Quack Doctor “Master Jinshi!”

猫猫「ごきげんよう、壬氏様」

Maomao “Gokigen-yo, Jinshi-sama.”

Maomao “Greetings, Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「死体は見慣れているようだが？」

Jinshi “Shitaiwa minarete iru-yodaga?”

Jinshi “You don’t seem to be uncomfortable around corpses.”

猫猫「慣れた光景です。花街は、一歩裏に入れば、無法地帯ですから」

Maomao “Nareta kokei desu. Hana-machiwa, ippo urani haireba, muho-chitai desu-kara.”

Maomao “I’ve gotten used to them. The pleasure district is just one street away from lawless chaos.”

壬氏「死体に触れられないのはなぜだ？」

Jinshi “Shitaini furerare-nainowa nazeda?”

Jinshi “Why can’t you touch corpses?”

猫猫「薬の師匠に言われているからです」

Maomao “Kusurino shishoni iwarete irukara desu.”

Maomao “My teacher told me not to.”

壬氏「忌みを嫌うからか？」

Jinshi “Imio kirau karaka?”

Jinshi “Is it an aversion to death?”

猫猫「いえ。…人間も、薬の材料になるからです」

Maomao “Ie. …Ningenmo, kusurino zairyoni naru-kara desu.”

Maomao “No. It’s because humans can become medical ingredients, too.”

ーーーーー

羅門「好奇心旺盛なお前のことだ。一度でも手を出したら、墓荒らしくらいするだろう。絶対に一線を越えるな」

Ruomen “Kokishin oseina omaeno kotoda. Ichido-demo teo dashitara, haka-arashi kurai suru-daro. Zettaini issen’o koeruna.”

Luomen “Given your curiosity, once you give that a try, it wouldn’t be long before you start digging up graves. Do not cross that line, ever.”

猫猫「は…はい」

Maomao “Ha…Hai.”

Maomao “Y-Yes.”

ーーーーー

壬氏「なるほど…」

Jinshi “Naruhodo…”

Jinshi “I see.”

猫猫（失礼な反応だ…）

Maomao (Shitsureina hannoda…)

Maomao (What a rude response.)

壬氏「先生、ちゃんと見てもらえないだろうか？」

Jinshi “Sensei, chanto mite morae-nai-daroka?”

Jinshi “Doctor, could you please do a proper autopsy?”

やぶ医者「分かりました…ひょえ～！」

Yabu Isha “Wakari-mashita… Hyoeee!”

Quack Doctor “Understood…Eek!”

猫猫「やれやれ…」

Maomao “Yare-yare…”

Maomao “‘Eek,’ indeed…”

猫猫（背が高い…硬い木の靴…片足には包帯…指先は真っ赤…。水の中は、冷たかっただろうな…）

Maomao (Sega takai… Katai kino kutsu. Kata-ashi-niwa hotai. Yubi-sakiwa makka. Mizuno nakawa tsumeta-katta-darona…)

Maomao (She’s tall. Hard wooden shoes… Bandages on one foot… Fingers are all red. It must have been cold in that water.)

壬氏「娘は尚食の下女で、昨日まで普通に働いていた。衛兵の見解では、昨夜、塀に登り、堀に身を投げた。いわゆる投身自殺だろうと」

Jinshi “Musumewa shoshokuno gejode, kino-made futsuni hataraite-ita. Eiheino kenkan-dewa, sakuya, heini nobori, horini mio nageta. Iwayuru toshin-jisatsu daroto.”

Jinshi “The girl was a servant and was working normally yesterday. The guard believes she climbed the wall last night and threw herself in, a suicide.”

猫猫「投身自殺…」

Maomao “Toshin-jisatsu…”

Maomao “Suicide…”

壬氏「どう思う？」

Jinshi “Do omou?”

Jinshi “What do you think?”

猫猫「自殺かどうかは分かりませんが、少なくとも、一人では無理だと思います」

Maomao “Jisatsuka dokawa wakari-masenga, sukunaku-tomo, hitori-dewa muri-dato omoimasu.”

Maomao “I can’t tell if she committed suicide, but I think it was impossible for her to do it alone.”

壬氏「どういうことだ？」

Jinshi “Do-iu kotoda?”

Jinshi “What do you mean?”

猫猫「壁にハシゴはなく、傍らに登るための道具もなかったからです。後宮の城壁は、私の身長の4倍ほどあります」

Maomao “Kabeni hashigowa naku, katawarani noboru-tameno dogumo nakatta. Kokyuno johekiwa, watashino shinchono yon-bai-hodo arimasu.”

Maomao “There were no ladders on the wall, and no other climbing tools. The rear palace walls are at least four times my height.”

壬氏「道具がないと無理というわけか」

Jinshi “Doguga naito murito iu-wakeka.”

Jinshi “So, you mean she couldn’t have climbed it without tools.”

猫猫「たいていの場合は」

Maomao “Taiteino baaiwa.”

Maomao “In most cases.”

猫猫「厳密にいうと、道具を使わずとも登ることはできます。以前あった、幽霊騒ぎは覚えていますか？」

Maomao “Genmitsuni iuto, doguo tsukawazu-tomo noboru kotowa dekimasu. Izen atta, yurei-sawagiwa oboete imasuka?”

Maomao “Strictly speaking, scaling the wall without tools is possible. Do you remember the ghost issue from a while ago?”

壬氏「芙蓉妃の件か？」

Jinshi “Fuyohino kenka?”

Jinshi “Concubine Fuyou?”

猫猫「はい。どうやって芙蓉妃が外壁に登ったのか疑問で、城壁を丹念に調べてまわりました。そこで、職人が利用したと思われる突起を見つけたのです。…ですが、たいていの女性は難しいでしょう。ましてや、あの妓女のような纏足(てんそく)の者は」

Maomao “Hai. Do yatte Fuyo-higa gaihekini nobotta-noka gimonde, johekio tan’nen’ni shirabete mawari-mashita. Sokode, shokuninga riyo-shitato omowareru tokkio mitsuketano-desu. …Desuga, taiteino joseiwa muzukashii-desho. Mashiteya, ano gijono-yona tensokuno monowa.”

Maomao “Yes. I was wondering how she climbed the wall, so I did a thorough investigation of it. That’s where I found the protrusions that I believe the craftsmen used. That said, it would be difficult for most regular women, especially those with bound feet, like that servant.”

猫猫（纏足とは、足が小さいほど美しいとされる風習だ。全ての女性に行われるわけではないが、後宮でも、特有の歩き方をたまに見かける）

Maomao (Tensoku-towa, ashiga chiisai-hodo utsukushiito sareru fushuda. Subeteno joseini okonawareru wake-dewa naiga, kokyu-demo, tokuyuno aruki-katao tamani mikakeru.)

Maomao (Foot binding is a custom where small feet are considered beautiful. It’s not done on all women, but I do occasionally see the distinct walking style in the rear palace, too.)

壬氏「自殺でないなら…他殺だというのか？」

Jinshi “Jisatsude nai-nara, tasatsu-dato iunoka?”

Jinshi “If it’s not suicide, are you saying it’s murder?”

猫猫「それは分かりません。ただ、生きたまま堀の中に落ちたのは、確かだと思います。這い上がるために、何度も堀をかいたのでしょう。死体の指先が、赤く血に染まっていました」

Maomao “Sorewa wakari-masen. Tada, ikita-mama horino nakani ochita-nowa tashika-dato omoimasu. Hai-agaru-tameni, nandomo horio kaitano-desho. Shitaino yubi-sakiga akaku chini somatte imashita.”

Maomao “I don’t know that. But I think it’s fairly certain that she was alive when she fell in the moat. She must have clawed at the walls to try to climb out. Her fingers were bloodied and red.”

壬氏「うむ…」

Jinshi “Umu…”

Jinshi “Yes…”

猫猫「自殺か…他殺か」

Maomao “Jisatsuka…tasatsuka.”

Maomao “Suicide, or murder…”

猫猫（私なら、自分から命を絶とうとは絶対に思わない。他人から殺されるのも、まっぴらだ。死んでしまえば、薬も毒も試せない。でも、もし自分が死ぬとするなら…）

Maomao (Watashi-nara, jibun-kara inochio tato-towa zettaini omowanai. Tanin-kara korosa-reru-nomo, mappirada. Shinde shimaeba, kusurimo dokumo tamese-nai. Demo, moshi jibunga shinuto suru-nara…)

Maomao (I would never think to take my own life. I’d hate if someone killed me, too. If I died, I wouldn’t be able to test any more drugs or poisons. But if I were to die…)

壬氏「何を考えている？」

Jinshi “Nanio kangaete-iru?”

Jinshi “What are you thinking about?”

猫猫「死ぬなら、どんな毒にしようかと」

Maomao “Shinu-nara, donna dokuni shiyokato.”

Maomao “About what kind of poison I would use to die.”

壬氏「なっ…死ぬ気か？！」

Jinshi “Na… Shinu kika?!”

Jinshi “Are you thinking to die?!”

猫猫「めっそうもありません。ですが、人はいつ死ぬか分かりません。たとえ望まなくとも、他人の悪意が加わることで、不本意な死を遂げることがあります。浩然様のように…」

Maomao “Messomo arimasen. Desuga, hitowa itsu shinuka wakari-masen. Tatoe nozoma-nakutomo, taninno akuiga kuwawaru-kotode fuhon’ina shio togeru kotoga arimasu. Konen-samano yoni…”

Maomao “Not at all. But nobody knows when they’ll die. Even if it’s not something they wished for, a malicious third party can cause an undesired death. Like with Master Kounen.”

猫猫（それがいつ訪れるのか、誰にも分からない。運命には、抗うことはできない）

Maomao (Sorega itsu otozureru-noka, dare-nimo wakara-nai. Unmei-niwa, aragau kotowa dekinai.)

Maomao (Nobody knows when it could happen. There is no way to resist fate…)

猫猫「壬氏様」

Maomao “Jinshi-sama.”

Maomao “Master Jinshi.”

壬氏「ん？何だ？」

Jinshi “N? Nanda?”

Jinshi “What is it?”

猫猫「も��私を処刑する場合、毒殺にしていただけませんか？」

Maomao “Moshi watashio shokei suru baai, doku-satsuni shite itadake-masenka?”

Maomao “If you’re ever tasked with executing me, can you make sure it’s with poison?”

壬氏「な…なんでそうなる！」

Jinshi “Na… Nande so naru!”

Jinshi “Where’d that come from?!”

猫猫「もし私が何か粗相をした場合、処分を下すのは壬氏様でしょうから」

Maomao “Moshi watashiga nanika soso’o shita baai, shobun’o kudasu-nowa Jinshi-sama desho-kara.”

Maomao “If I made a mistake, you would probably be the one to give the order.”

猫猫（…早速粗相をしてしまったのか？）

Maomao (…Sassoku soso’o shite shimatta-noka?)

Maomao (Did I step in it just now?)

猫猫「すみません、調子に乗りました。縛り首でも斬首でも、文句は言いません」

Maomao “Sumimasen. Choshini nori-mashita. Shibari-kubi-demo zanshu-demo, monkuwa ii-masen.”

Maomao “I’m sorry, it’s not my place to say. I won’t complain if it’s a hanging or beheading.”

壬氏「いやだから、なんでそうなる！」

Jinshi “Iya, dakara, nande so naru!”

Jinshi “No, really, why are you saying all this?!”

猫猫「私が平民だからです。些細な失敗で、簡単に吹き飛ぶ命です」

Maomao “Watashiga heimin dakara desu. Sasaina shippaide, kantanni fuki-tobu inochi desu.”

Maomao “Because I’m a commoner. My life is easily taken away over the slightest mistake.”

壬氏「そんなことはしない！」

Jinshi “Sonna kotowa shinai!”

Jinshi “I would never do such a thing!”

猫猫「する・しないではなく、できる・できないですから」

Maomao “Suru-shinai dewa naku, dekiru-dekinai, desu-kara.”

Maomao “It’s not a “would-or-would-not” type of issue. It’s “can-or-cannot.”

猫猫（面倒なことを言ったみたいだな…）

Maomao (Mendona koto’o itta mitai-dana…)

Maomao (Looks like I struck a nerve there.)

猫猫「ご用が済んだのなら、失礼します」

Maomao “Goyoga sundano-nara, shitsurei shimasu.”

Maomao “If there’s no further business, I’ll excuse myself.”

猫猫（その後、風のうわさに聞いたのは、死んだ下女が園遊会の毒殺騒ぎの場にいたことだった。それらしい遺書も見つかり、自殺ということで事件は幕を閉じた）

Maomao (Sonogo, kazeno uwasani kiita-nowa, shinda gejoga en’yu-kaino dokusatsu-sawagino bani ita koto datta. Sore-rashii ishomo mitsukari, jisatsuto iu-kotode jikenwa makuo tojita.)

Maomao （Later, I heard through rumors that the dead servant was at the garden party where the poisoning took place. They found a will with some relevant content in it, so the case was closed as a suicide.)

ーーーーー

高順「先日の報告が、ようやく届きました」

Gaoshun “Senjitsuno hokokuga yoyaku todoki-mashita.”

Gaoshun “The report from the other day is finally ready.”

壬氏「腕に火傷を負った者を探せと言ってから、ふた月も経っている。時間のかけすぎだ」

Jinshi “Udeni yakedo’o otta mono’o sagaseto itte-kara, futa-tsukimo tatte-iru. Jikanno kake-sugida.”

Jinshi “It’s been two months since I asked for you to find someone with burns on their arms. You took too long.”

高順「申し訳ありません」

Gaoshun “Moshi-wake ari-masen.”

Gaoshun “I’m very sorry.”

壬氏「で？一体誰だ？」

Jinshi “De? Ittai dareda?”