So I know it’s been a long while since I’ve posted anything here. The last several months (actually pretty much the entire past year) has seen a lot of significant changes in my life which have cut into my time for my projects. Even so, I was able to pour effort into what I’ve been working on, and at long last I can announce that I have a couple things to share.
A Certain Long Awaited Translation
For all of you who’ve been waiting for me to finish the Railgun PSP translation, I have excellent news: thanks again to the efforts of Kotcrab and the hard work of ItsumoKnight and IgorAkou (plus my own translation efforts), I can present to you all a complete translation patch for Railgun PSP!!!
By following the link below, you can download the necessary files needed to patch the Japanese version of the game to create a playable English version. Simply drag a copy of your game ISO file onto to indicated BAT file and wait for the program to do its thing. Those of you who take advantage of this may also notice a second file included in the download. This is to patch the DLC content for the game’s special DLC chapter. If you have the DLC content, simply drag the entire folder (it should be named ULJS00354) onto the BAT file and the program will produce a folder with the updated files. If you’re using an emulator like PPSSPP, place the patched DLC folder into memstick/PSP/GAME.
Edit: If you’re having issues playing on real hardware open Recovery Menu, go to Advanced and make sure the option “Force High Memory Layout” is disabled.
Emerging from the shadows…
Before anyone complains of me forgetting, I have been getting back into Slashdog as well. Given the length of the next chapter, I’m presently inclined to release blog postings of individual scenes and only publish the completed chapter page at the end. This differs from my prior approach of completing a chapter before publishing it. With that in mind, here’s the first bit of Chapter 4:
Dog God and Zhūquè/The Seclusion God and the Dying Sky
1
With the ‘Inner Sanctuary’ under attack by a group of Youkai, it was decided that Suzaku and the other Four Divine Beasts would take the other practitioners on standby at the residence, other than the chiefs, and endeavor to take control of the situation.
Tobio, the other students of Nephilim, Lavinia, Vali, and Mephisto had been told to remain in the in residence, however…….
Tobio and the others had gathered in a guestroom. This was because that’s where the servants had told them to standby.
Tobio sought clear confirmation from his companions.
“……To me, it seems that we should have fought together with the people of the Four Divine Beasts.”
Natsume and Samejima smiled bitterly at this.
“Well, with those witches of ‘Oz’ acting behind the scenes, it’s possible we were also being targeted, so our responsibility might not be zero.”
“We don’t know truth, but in any case, even waiting here calmly, ain’t that strange?”
In response to this, Lavinia and Vali also stepped forward.
“Ufufu, we have offered. Protecting Director Mephisto is my role after all.”
“I was hoping for something like this after all. I didn’t get to go all out earlier, so perhaps I could be allowed to vent my frustrations with those tanuki and oni as my opponents.”
It seemed the four of them had the same opinion as Tobio.
Shigune also timidly raised her hand.
“……Though I might not be all that helpful, shouldn’t we do something?”
Tobio spoke.
“Shouldn’t Shigune remain at a distance together with Sae at the rear? There are still an unknown number of aspects to Poh-kun after all.”
Sae was decisively saddened by Tobio’s statement.
“……Don’t be reckless.”
Tobio nodded.
“Yeah, I’ll be counting on you if I turn into Balance Breaker, Sae.”
With that confirmed, Tobio looked Mephisto as well. The ”Grau Zauberer’ shrugged.
“I would very much like to demonstrate my power, however I’ll entrust it to you all this time.”
Having obtained Mephisto’s permission, Tobio and the others immediately turned towards the entranceway. Upon leaving through the entrance, they discovered Suzaku who had left with the group of practitioners just before.
Tobio made a proposal to Suzaku and company.
“We will fight too.”
“——!”
Suzaku considered Tobio and company’s proposal for a moment.
Kushihashi Seiryuu smiled bitterly.
“As much as I’d like to say that you shouldn’t poke your nose into other people’s business, seeing as there’s no help coming from outside, their power might be necessary. Ouryuu isn’t here right now either.”
“The Nakiri’s……that person isn’t here right now?
Suzaku answered Natsume’s question with a nod.
“Yeah, that’s a matter for a separate discussion, but after his match with you, he suddenly departed from here.”
Tobio found this to be a staisfactory reason for we they hadn’t seen Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu for a while.
Off to the side, Shinra Byakko one thing to Samejima.
“Heh, so you’re voluntarily putting yourself into a dangerous situation, are you?”
Samejima spoke frankly to Byakko.
“Well, it seems your so busy you’d accept the aid of a cat.”
Seeing these exchanges, Doumon Genbu spoke to Suzaku.
“……Though it seems to me that Papa——that the heads of the houses would get angry afterwards, if the inner sanctuary were to be destroyed, that would be even more so the case, Suzaku-san.”
Suzaku nodded in response to what Genbu was saying.
“Yeah, I understand. ——Tobio.”
Suzaku spoke to Tobio.
“I’d like to borrow your power.”
“Sure, that is what I desire.”
Having received an appeal of cooperation from Suzaku, Mephisto spoke.
“Now then, if I entrust this place to you all, should I also act to the extent that I am able? Though I cannot use my power here due to various treaties……I wonder if it’s just the witch of ‘Oz’ who’s behind this incident. If they’re the adversaries, well, then that much wouldn’t be a violation of treaty.”
Saying this, Mephisto struck the ground once with the tip of his staff. Thereupon, a magic circle expanded beneath his feet. Mephisto raised the magic circle into the air to serve as a platform.
“Well then, let’s track down those witches.”
Doing as he said he would, Mephisto alighted on the magic circle and flew into the sky.
Having seen him off, Tobio and Suzaku groups nodded to each other.
Thus, Tobio, the Four Fiends, Lavinia, and Vali formed a tag team with the Four Divine Beasts.
That’s all for now. I’ll try to keep the updates coming as quickly as I can.
At long last I can say that Slashdog volume 3 chapter 3, the longest chapter I’ve ever translated, is done. And yes, I’m very sorry it took so long. With this there’s only one numbered chapter to go, plus the epilogues. On the other hand, even with as long as chapter 3 was, the remaining portions make up a full 40% of the total volume, so there’s still plenty to look forward to.
As for when the volume will be done, I can’t make promises unfortunately. Without going into details, the next few months are going to see a lot of things change for me. Moreover though, I’m going to go all out on finishing Railgun PSP, which is nearly done, before continuing with Slashdog. I’ve changed my approach to this project for simplicity (details will be forthcoming) and will be posting all of the remaining parts at once as a result. Chapter 4’s story is already done and Chapter 5 is well underway. Neither is very long compared to earlier chapters, especially 3, so I might be able to finish it before the fall, though with how busy my September is looking I can’t promise anything.
So I’m still working on completing the 3rd chapter, but since I’ve finished part 1, I decided to provide a preview. This hasn’t been edited yet, so there might be more minor errors than usual.
And so, without further ado, I present Slashdog Chapter Part 1 (Preview):
Five Principal Clans/Inner Sanctuary
Part 1
Tobio and the others had been given a ride in a limousine.
The windows of the limousine, which had been fogged over, were such that not only from the outside, even from the inside one couldn’t identify anything.
In other words, while in transit, measures had been taken so that they wouldn’t know where they were heading to.
Within the vehicle——there was silence.
At the onset Mephisto and the raincoat girl——Doumon Genbu, had lightly discussed the schedule going forward, however……. The gang member-looking man——Shinra Byakko, his arms folded, had been releasing an vibe from his whole body that he was refusing excessive conversation.
The result of that was an interval in which neither Tobio and company nor Genbu and company had started a conversation.
——Then, having noticed this and likely having sensed the atmosphere, Genbu reached into a refrigerator that had been installed in the limousine and retrieved drinks from inside.
“We have chilled beverages, so everyone feel free to take one.”
Chuckling while making a forced smile, she was trying to lighten the situation.
With that interaction, Tobio thought that Doumon Genbu seemed to not be a bad young girl. She was gently stroking the head of the turtle placed on her knees——the sacred beast ‘Genbu’.
As she accepted a beverage, Natsume inquired of Genbu.
“The Five Principal Clans’s……’Inner Sanctuary’ was it, just what sort of place is it?”
Genbu spoke.
“As you might expect, the the five families’ respective main clans and branch families each have their own mansions and main shrines, however there are also several strongholds in this country for authorized members of the Five Principal Clans to gather, and even from among those the ‘Inner Sanctuary’ is ranked as the main base.”
Natsume nodded.
“I see. So it isn’t for any one family of the five families. I’d thought that surely we were being taken to the main residence of the Nakiri family that heads the Five Principal Clans.
Byakko spoke in response to this.
“It ain’t so simple to go to the Nakiri’s place. Even for sacred beast contractors like me and Genbu, we haven’t been called there all that often. When it comes to the Nakiri Family, that’s the way things are.”
The chief Nakiri family was special even within the Five Principal Clans.
Genbu spoke.
“That being the case, in an event such as this involving a discussion with the entirety of the five houses, rather than going to each one’s respective homes, holding discussions at the ‘Inner Sanctuary’ has been deemed appropriate.”
Mephisto, who had requested the conference with the other party, was cheerful.
“Even to have just been invited by the pillars of Japan’s supernatural power users, that alone is an honor, is it not? I am very much looking forward to it.”
Replying to this, Lavinia continued with a smile.
“Yes. Genbu’s system may be different, but anyone who practices magic would also be looking forward to the ‘Inner Santuary’.”
Genbu was smiling bitterly.
“As for the actual location, given that there are also numerous scary people opposing it from the outside, I will ask you to be forgiving on just that point.”
Young though she may be, Tobio felt that Doumon Genbu was an exceedingly level-headed girl.
Even as such a conversation was had, the car was advancing.
In regards to the location of the ‘Inner Sanctuary’, they’d heard about it from Azazel, although it was indirectly.
The territory considered to be the origin of the Five Principal Clans——of the users of supernatural powers, is considered to be in Nara prefecture. They’d heard that that territory had been dotted with bases of the Five Principal Clans since antiquity.
They hadn’t received a detailed explanation from Genbu or Byakko, but based on the conversation with Azazel, it seemed they’d be travelling across the entire prefecture.
In reality, since they had started travelling, a few hours had passed.
After stopping for a toilet break at an old Japanese-style tearoom house (even this was apparently connected to the Five Principal Clans), the car proceeded once more.
There was one occasion. They’d experienced a sensation that assailed their bodies with feverish chills.
Thereupon, Genbu spoke with a smile.
“We will arrive very soon.”
Genbu asserted as much despite not being able to observe the outside. Likely, there was some relationship to the feverish chills they’d felt.
Suddenly Mephisto spoke.
“Hmm. Seems we’ve crossed the first mystical barrier.”
In response to Mehisto’s statement, Byakko started smiling cynically.
“As one would expect of a leader of magicians, or should I say an ancient being? You’re quite composed for passing through a mystic barrier.”
In response to Byakko’s remark, Mephisto displayed a suggestive smile.
“Well, it’s the sort of mystic barrier that allows someone like me to pass.”
While folding his arms, Byakko
“You quite fearsome huh.”
Made such a statement.
When it came to the church agents who had attacked them just before——David and Freed[?], he had provided meaningful support, and yet…….
After that they again experienced feverish chills several times, after which the car temporarily stopped, and from outside they heard the creaking sound of something heavy moving.
Genbu spoke.
“The main gate is opening.”
It would appear that the heavy sound was the sound of the main gate opening.
The gate presumably having opened, the car resumed operation, and from there they once again journeyed forward for several minutes.
Natsume spoke.
“……Even though we’ve passed through the main gate, the car’s continuing forward?”
Genbu spoke apologetically.
“……The ‘Inner Sanctuary’, it is pointlessly spacious. It will only take a little longer.”
A few minutes after her statement, the car finally came to a stop.
The door was opened from the outside.
Being prompted, Tobio and the others exited——and what had materialized in front of them was an old and elegant gigantic residence.
Moreover, there were people lined up on either side leading from the car door to the residence. On one side people wearing the attire of Shinto priests were lined up, while on the opposite side people dressed up in what looked like military uniforms were lined up.
Beyond them——there stood some familiar people. They were Himejima Suzaku and Kushihashi Seiryuu.
As Tobio and company proceeded through the gap between the officials of the Five Principal Clans, they finally reached Suzaku’s party.
Suzaku was ushering in Tobio and the others with a smile. She greeted Mephisto.
“Mephisto Pheles-sama, you who has come from a distant country, welcome and please come this way. We have prepared a reception for you.”
“The honor is all mine, I shall be in your care today.”
After that Suzaku turned to face Tobio and the others.
“It’s good that you have come, Tobio. And everyone else as well.”
Whereas Suzaku turned a smile upon Tobio’s group, Kushihashi Seiryuu greeted Byakko’s group.
“Many thanks, Byakko. Genbu-chan.”
Byakko spoke while leisurely scratching his head.
“In accordance with the report that had just been dispatched, the guest had been assailed. Those guys from the Vatican had sent in some tiresome one.”
Seiryuu spoke while pushing up on the bridge of his glasses.
“So those guys over there are even investigating over our way. Well, where the church warriors are concerned, all the family heads have been enraged.”
At this Byakko sighed, and Genbu was fed up.
“……I-I have made Papa worry again.”
Seiryuu smiled bitterly.
“Genbu’s father is prone to worrying after all……”
During this back and forth between the next family heads, Suzaku and company were being urged to enter the residence.
“Well then everyone, if you’ll come this way——“
Before setting foot in the residence’s entryway, Tobio and the other former Ryoukou students were addressed.
“Before entering we’d like to attach these to your familiars.”
The objects Seiryuu had produced from his attendant——were rings. It seemed there were ones that could be placed on an arm, a leg, or a neck. There were patterns drawn on the rings loaded with magical power, and before even putting them on they were already exuding aura.
When Tobio and the others hesitated for a moment, Mephisto spoke.
“Please relax. I can assure you all that no harm will come to you.”
After that statement, Lavinia as well,
“Since the Director has said so, it will surely be fine. If push comes to shove, let us just break them and escape.”
was saying such a turbulent thing with a smiling face…….
Tobio and the other exchanged glances and nodded.
A Seiryuu instructed they placed the rings on the neck and legs of Jin and the rest. As soon as they did, their familiars’ reactions became languid……
Uniquely, only Poh-kun’s state didn’t appear to change significantly when wearing the ring. He was entirely calm about it.
Tobio and the others finally reached the residence’s entryway. It was an old Japanese house, however……it was so huge that, from the end of the entry hall, they couldn’t see the end of the hallway beyond.
The entry hall was surprisingly spacious. The entry hall alone was at least 2 twenty tatami mats in size.
More than anything though, as Tobio and the others approached the entry hall, their skin sensed an intense pressure.
The one who was standing in front of the entryway——was a man clad in a powerful aura and a stinging atmosphere. This man was the the possessor of that pressure. They could sense from the military uniform he wore and the sharp gaze he directed at them that, compared to the men who were lined up outside, he was a class above.
“Mephisto Pheles-dono. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I am the current head of the Nakiri family. Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu. I am here as the chief of the sacred beast bearers.”
——.
……Tobio and the other former Ryoukou students were stunned at the man’s self-introduction.
This uniformed man was the center of the Nakiri family, chief among the Five Principal Clans. As the current family head, he was the one who’d contracted with the sacred beast ‘Huánglóng‘——.
“Nice to meet you, I’ve heard of the outstanding talent by which you succeeded the ‘Nakiri family at such a young age. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“It is I who should say so, for it is the greatest honor to be able to meet the Pheles-dono.”
Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu exchanged a handshake with Mephisto.
Then Ouryuu’s gaze shifted to Tobio and company.
ZOKU!
They had a sense that he was seeing through everything with just a glance, that it pierced straight through them.
Ouryuu spoke.
“The Four Fiends, their companions, and then the black dog. ——Come, the elders are waiting.”
Under the guidance of Ouryuu, Suzaku, and the rest, Tobio and company set foot inside the residence——.
Ten minutes of walking down a long passage——.
The interior of the residence was so excessively spacious that they already had no idea how to get back out.
Finally they were lead through a fusuma into, as expected, an excessively spacious room. It appeared to be over a hundred tatami mats in size. It was a banquet hall.
They were lead to area where numerous one-person rectangular carpets (one’s with the family crests of the Five Principal Clans woven in) were lined up. Since they weren’t zabuton mats, they gave an impression of being items of high social standing.
In front of Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu, Suzaku, and the other’s of the Four Divine Beasts who sat on them, there was a place one step above the room——a part of the room with a raised floor, that faced them.
A curtain was hanging down in front of the raised floor area, making it so that they couldn’t tell who was sitting on the raised floor.
Suzaku, Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu, and the rest, sitting respectfully in place, bowed their heads. Even Shinra Byakko, who’d been giving off such an aggressive attitude, was bowing his head respectfully.
Ouryuu reported to the people on the raised floor area.
“We have accompanied Lord Mephisto Pheles, as well as Ikuse Tobio and various companions.”
Subsequently, there were voices from the other side of the curtain. It wasn’t just one person.
“Good good. Your efforts have been much appreciated, Ouryuu and all of the Four Divine Beasts.”
“Lord Pheles, and everyone else as well, please be seated.”
“Hohoho, to have visitors from outside the country here, just how long has it been?”
They were elderly voices. There were both men’s voices and women’s voices.
Mephisto said, “Then if you’ll excuse me,” and sat upon the carpet, and next Lavinia took a seat behind him.
Vali was the first to take a seat on his behind though…….
Tobio and the others subsequently sat down in the seiza position. Samejima was sitting cross-legged actually…….
With everyone having taken a seat, one of the elderly people behind the curtain spoke.
“However, as one would expect it’s the first time someone so strange-looking has been dragged over——let alone a demon.”
Tobio and company were bewildered by the elderly voice. However, Lavinia and Vali were composed as though they were already aware of what the elder had said.
It seemed that Suzaku and other Four Divine Beasts were also aware of the significance of the statement.
As the gazes of Tobio and the rest gathered upon him, Mephisto spoke cheerfully.
“Ahh, it seems Ikuse and the Four Fiends kids weren’t informed by the Grigori. That was quite impolite. ——I am what you call a demon. A genuine one. Well, I haven’t returned to the underworld in for a while though.”
………….
……The eyes of Tobio, Sae, Natsume, Samejima, and Shigune all widened in amazement at the sudden confession.
An instant later, as their comprehension caught up——.
‘E-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehh!?’
At Mephisto’s confesssion, Tobio, Samejima, Natsume and Shigune all raised voices of astonishment at the same time. Having not raised her voice, Sae was covering her mouth with her hands, her eyes widened in shock.
At this confession of Mephisto’s, Vali snorted through his nose.
“I thought that you were aware of it. When speaking of ‘Mephisto Pheles’ he’s naturally a demon. At least read some books. He’s a famous demon.”
Natsume spoke while flustered.
“I-I also learned of Mephisto Pheles when I was reading a book on my own but……h-he’s the real thing? I’d been thinking it was just some sort of alias.”
Mephisto nodded in response to Natsume’s inquiry.
“I don’t know what was written in that book, though most likely, it was probably about me.”
……Mephisto Pheles.
From what Tobio knew, he was the demon of legend summoned by Georg Faust, the renowned astrologer, necromancer, and alchemist.
Lavinia spoke.
“Even as an ‘Extra Demon’, he’s from the same generation as the original Four Great Demon Kings, a demon from antiquity. Moreover, Director Mephisto has been the board chairman of the magicians’ association the whole time since the olden days.”
Mephisto spoke.
“My true identity isn’t fundamentally public. In the association, it’s only ever revealed to practitioners who have obtained a certain degree of privilege.”
Having learned of this, Tobio came to understand the attitude David and the other church exorcist had shown a short while earlier. They’d behaved as though they somehow knew that Mephisto was a demon.
Seiryuu spoke.
“We were also aware of the rumors.”
In the midst of this back and forth conversation, one of those sitting on the raised floor area spoke.
“Now then, Lord Mephisto. Regarding the events that you and us have been participating in with the fallen angels, shall we begin the discussion?”
“Sure, that was my plan in coming here after all.”
When Mephisto replied as such, Suzaku stood up and faced Tobio and the others as she spoke.
“Since the discussions of those at the top are starting, everyone will be on standby with us in a separate room.”
In the reception hall, Mephisto, the aged people on the raised floor area, as well as Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu, all remained, while the others all moved to a separate room.
Thus, the superiors of the Five Principal Clans ‘Inner Sanctuary’ and Mephisto Pheles the Director of ‘Grau Zauberer’ each proceeded to exchange information about the incident caused by the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, as well as the people who’d participated in it——.
About thirty minutes later——.
A notice saying that, “The discussion seems to have ended” having been delivered to the room, Tobio and the others once again proceeded towards the reception hall from before.
At present, Tobio and the next heads of the Five Principal Clans were all sitting together.
Seemingly having something they needed to convey to Tobio and the others as well, the people seated on the raised floor area were speaking.
“In truth, the Five Principal Clans are experiencing an internal difference of opinions.”
——!
……It was a sudden confession. The Five Principal Clans were experiencing opposition from within.
The man wearing the military uniform——Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu spoke.
“There is a difference of opinion between the sect centered around this ‘Inner Sanctuary’, and the four houses of Kushihashi, Shinra, and Doumon centered around the Himejima.”
The Five Principal Clans were houses of traditions, respecting ancient customs, who maintained as little connection to outside influences as possible; until now they had protected this country from behind the scenes in accordance with their own rules, and had strictly disposed of anyone who broke their laws. That was undoubtedly their history.
It was in the midst of this history that the present series of events had occurred.
In relation to this, the sect centered around the ‘Inner Sanctuary’, even as they were exchanging information with ‘Grau Zauberer’ as well as the people related to the incident, depending on situation, the view that they ought to cooperate to resolve the situation was strong.
However, the camp of the current family heads from the four houses of Kushihashi, Shinra, and Doumon with Himejima at their center were insisting that they remain resolute about settling it on their own. There was also a sense of self-reflection that this was what gave rise to the treachery of the “Utsusemi Agency”.
As their chief, the Nakiri house, while considering the opinions of both factions, deliberately abided by their neutrality. Nonetheless, the one who proposed the idea to the heads of every house that they should listen to the first-hand accounts from the people who were involved in the current incident, and had further obtained their acknowledgement, was Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu.
The context that brought about the split in opinions on this matter was the consideration that, in the modern era in which supernatural powers had become so unnecessary, even the Five Principal Clans were in the midst of losing their authority.
An earlier appeal of cooperation from ‘Grau Zauberer’ had been rejected once, due to pushback from the violently opposed opinions of four houses of Himejima, Kushihashi, Shinra, and Doumon.
However, this time, having been received by just the ‘Inner Sanctuary’, after having told the senior management of ‘Grau Zauberer’ to come to Japan, if they were to reject them a second time, then in the future they’d be judged by other groups from a foreign practitioners organizations as harboring needless suspicions.
Even now, the Himejima, Kushihashi, Shinra, and Doumon deep down considered the current discussions to be amusing at best. At present, while showing deference to the ‘Inner Sanctuary’, it was out of deference that they weren’t raising unnecessary strife.
The elders on the raised floor area each spoke.
“……Such were the circumstances.”
“Being in a state of affairs such as this, the young sacred beast bearers of the Four Divine Beasts are mediating with both factions.”
“For the youngsters to be mediating between us is an unbearable outcome.”
“Be that as it may, Suou, the current head of the Himejima, is more obstinate in his views than we are.”
From the way the people on the raised floor area were talking, it seemed that the Five Principal Clans were dealing with considerable complexities internally, something Tobio and the others were learning about for the first time.
Suzaku who had been listening to this——.
“……………………”
She had her eyes closed, not showing anything. Neither denying nor affirming it. Even from her standpoint, it seemed that she had absolutely nothing to say.
Natsume inquired of the elders on the raised floor area.
“……I’ve come to understand their complaint. Given that, what was your intention in deliberately inviting us here?”
Indeed, if it was just for this explanation, they’d only need to have a quick word with the other party.
Why would they have summoned Tobio and the other students of Nephilim for a second time? They were only Mephisto’s escorts after all. If Mephisto’s conversation had ended, the next thing that should have happened was them going home.
Subsequently, having heard Natsume’s remark, the elders on the raised floor area began speaking about the main issue.
Though unseen, Tobio sensed that the gazes of the elders beyond the curtain had turned towards himself.
“——We would like to find out about the dog.”
The elders spoke from beyond the curtain.
“That is something which issued from our bloodline. Though it is a power received from a pagan god, that it dwells within one who inherits the blood of the Himejima is of extreme concern to us.”
“It is a foreign contagion as far as we are concerned——if it were to become a threat, we wouldn’t be able to ignore it.”
“On the contrary, if there is even the slightest benefit, we would like to evaluate that ability.”
“It’s due to our opinions being divided. Among those opinions, there are those who’ve voiced the radical position that we should dispose of you without discussion.”
Someone raised their voice at this. As for who, it was Sae.
Her voice and body trembling, Sae inquired of the people on the raised floor area with a mighty expression.
“……Was that, a threat, just now? What I just heard was that, if Tobio’s……if everyone’s power can’t be useful, then there’s problem with just killing them.”
Sae had commented for Tobio’s sake.
Sae continued.
“For myself, Tobio, Natsume, Shigune, Samejima-kun, and Koga-kun, were it not for that incident, had we not awoken to our miraculous powers, we’d probably be spending everyday……as ordinary high school students.”
Everyone was listening to Sae’s words.
“I won’t say that we’ll return to those ordinary days. ……However, for Tobio and all of us, any more than this is……”
Sae——lost her words at this point, her eyes having filled with tears. Natsume was embracing her and patting her on the back.
She must have been bottling up a lot of things until now.
Always showing a friendly smile, she was a young woman who’d never exposed herself before now, but upon hearing the present conversation, it had exploded out of her. That was the impression Tobio had.
Tobio had known Sae since they were young, and she was a patient young woman, yet when she spoke she was a young woman who spoke with courage.
His childhood friend having spoken to that degree, Tobio chose that moment to rise to his feet.
“I……what is it I should do? Since you want to measure my ability, would I be right to presume you want to test something?”
Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu responded to Tobio who had boldly commented.
The heads and seniority of every house wish to understand Ikuse Tobio’s——your power. Whether the power of your black dog that emerged from the blood of the Himejima is, where we are concerned, where this country is concerned, right or wrong. I’m also one of those people who wished to know. ……Therefore it’s faster to test your skills against me. Honorable elders, how does that sound?”
Ouryuu inquired of the people on the raised floor area.
“Yea. Let us entrust this to Ouryuu.
Such was the statement that came in response.
Ouryuu stood up and explained it once again to Tobio.
“——That’s how it is. Depending on the ability that you show, you may be able to call yourself a Himejima.”
After letting out a sigh, Tobio made a declaration directly towards Ouryuu.
“……That doesn’t matter. It’s enough for me to be an Ikuse. However, if it’s acceptable to all of you, then there should be no possibility of any strange interference.”
Facing the figure of Tobio who was calmly releasing an aura of fighting spirit, Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu showed a fearless smile.
“That degree, it appears you’ve accumulated actual combat experience. ——It’s a good experession.”
With Tobio and Ouryuu’s battle having been decided upon, there was one more person who stood up at that moment.
“If it’s alright with Grandpa, Grandma, and Ouryuu, I also have something I want to put to the test.”
It was Shinra Byakko. He had directed his gaze at Samejima.
“A comrade with the same cat familiar, and the power of the rumored Four Fiends, I want to become acquainted with them.”
Seemingly having jumped on Byakko’s provocation, Samejima stood up, and stared daggers at him from ultra-point-blank range. Faced with speech, actions, and attitude of being completely looked down upon from above, Samejima couldn’t endure in silence.
“Sounds fun. I’ve also been feeling displeased for some reason ever since we met.”
Thus was how the matches began between Tobio and Ouryuu, and between Samjima and Byakko——.
Having changed locations from the banquet hall, Tobio and Samejima were respectively competing against Ouryuu and Byakko under a clear sky, in an area resembling a middle courtyard, as their comrades, the Four Divine Beasts, Mephisto, and the old ones watched over them (as before the elders were watching from behind a hanging curtain).
The courtyard, having the fundamental aspect of a Japanese garden, had rocks placed here and there, a pond, and had various trees growing.
Tobio was confronting Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu.
Tobio had produced a scythe from his own shadow and had taken a stance with it held in both hands. Jin also had had the magic power ring temporarily removed, and was taking a stance beside Tobio.
Ouryuu, while in the gesturing with the gloves he’d equipped, spoke to Tobio.
“——Feel free to come at me whenever you want.”
Ouryuu calmly made that declaration.
It appeared to be a short statement born from composure, but by no means did that mean he was being complacent. The reason being, his was body being clad in an uncanny aura with a degree of calm that produced a strange ambience, and not even the slightest opening could be found.
Before the fight he’d been given advice from Mephisto.
——I believe you are aware of this, but the Nakiri house are thoroughly trained in Onmyoudou, Shinto, Shugendou, and can bring out the power of Buddhism with those. And then, the sacred beast ‘Ouryuu’ is earth, meaning it rules over the ground. You should remember that, just by placing their feet on the ground, they can release substantial supernatural power.
……Since choosing the middle courtyard also meant that they were standing on the ground, Tobio was being prudent.
Examining his opponent’s openings and movements, it seemed that he’d make no progress with just an idle stare.
Resolving himself, Tobio tightly grasped the handle of the scythe, and at that instant charged forward together with the black dog——together with Jin.
Having rushed out together with Jin, each of them moving in zigzags, Tobio examined the opponent’s movements even as he used a strategy of variating his attacks.
As they were moving in high-speed zigzags, Tobio and Jin’s (it wasn’t clear which one was first, or even if it was simultaneous) judgement faltered.
Against almost any opponent this would have gotten through. During their missions, it had gotten through even against Abyss Team members.
However, Ouryuu wasn’t at all perturbed by Tobio and Jin’s movements. He didn’t even focus his gaze on them.
Since he had failed to comprehend the opponent’s attitude, Tobio remained vigilant even as he moved to strike from a blind spot together with Jin.
He ought to have slashed nearly simultaneously as Jin, but the instant he swung downwards——.
Ouryuu, his feet floating slightly, stepped lightly upon the ground. Immediately after that, the earth around him instantly swelled up to a bizarre degree, becoming similar to a wall that defended against Tobio and Jin’s slashing attacks.
Once more, Ouryuuu tread upon the ground, and the earth that had risen up returned to its original state as though nothing had happened.
——And then, at that instant, Ouryuu fired a sharp middle kick into Tobio abdomen! Without evading, Tobio received a blow to his flank.
“Gahah!”
While letting out a voice of having taken damage, he was blown backwards. To avenge Tobio his master, Jin tried to slice Ouryuu from the side——but Ouryuu’s figure was already no longer there, and the black dog’s slashing attack ended up missing.
“Slow.”
As he said that, Ouryuu circled behind Jin with a velocity that exceeded the speed of a beast. Before Jin, who noticed this, turned his body around, Ouryuu tread upon the soil, and the earth rapidly swelled up beneath the black dog’s feet!
Sensing this as well, Jin instantly moved to evade the swelling earth, however——. Perhaps having read his evasion ahead of time, Ouryuu got there ahead of him, and he ended up taking a palm strike to the abdomen. Having taken that one blow, Jin was also blown away!
Tobio stood up and corrected his posture.
Demonstrating supernatural power with just the smallest of movements by treading on the ground, defending against their simultaneous attacks, and them ending up receiving an attack.
With just this exchange, Tobio finally understood.
——He’s far above me.
The opponent had completely seen through their simultaneous assault. Even their movements were fully observed. The wall of earth he’d invoked with just a step wasn’t even a major spell.
Nevertheless, Ouryuu spoke to Tobio.
“What, is it over when this was just the beginning?”
After temporarily putting some distance between them, Tobio rushed in for the second time.
He was focusing on growing a blade from the shadows at Ouryuu’s feet.
From the shadows at his feet grew a twisted blade——‘Night Haken’. Ouryuu dodged the blade that emerged from his shadow with the slightest of movements, and with a light kick from his toes smashed the twisted blade of ‘Night Haken’.
Tobio once again employed ‘Night Haken’ from a shadow in the opponent’s blind spot, but Ouryuu, without so much as turning around to look, avoided even that with defensive body movements, then broke the blade with a swipe from his hand.
Closing the distance during that time, Jin slashed at Ouryuu with the sword held in his mouth. As though in sync with the beast’s movements, Ouryuu lightly avoided Jin’s slashing attack.
In addition to the attack from a blind spot, even his coordination with Jin showed no indication of hitting.
Our movements are being read perfectly——.
Tobio had reached this conclusion.
Ouryuu spoke to Tobio who was showing a stern expression.
“Since there’s such a clear difference in ability, let me reveal one of my skills. I, through the flow of the earth, can understand the opponent’s movements. Your spirit, what you’d call aura, I perceive it through the soil. For this reason, even if I can’t see your movements, I can predict your next move.”
——!
……Tobio was at a loss for words.
In other words, just from having their feet upon the surface of the ground, their opponent could perceive their intentions, and would understand their movements and their next action.
Therefore, they’d ended up taking his blows so easily with him not being hit by their attacks.
No, unrelated to whether he had that ability or not, it was also his defensive movements that produced such a distinct difference. Likely, the opponent hadn’t even shown a tenth of his true strength.
As someone who’d taken lessons in supernatural power since childhood, he had displayed a distinct difference compared to one who’d only been aware of such things for less than a year.
Ouryuu showed off a fearless smile.
“Now then, Ikuse Tobio. The ability considered to cut down even the gods, how about you show it to me?”
Hearing his provocation, Tobio adjusted his grip on his scythe, and was pondering his means of offence.
On the other side, the battle between Samejima and Shinra Byakko had also begun.
The tail of Byakusa who’d been placed on Samejima’s shoulder, having twined around Samejima’s right arm, formed a lance. The lance, having been charged with electricity, was sparkling with electric sparks.
If one was pierced by that——no, just by being touched with that flow of high voltage electric current, one’s body would be roasted.
Samejima was rushing forward lunging in with his lance straight from the front. Byakko avoided the lance with only the slightest evasive movements, and avoided entering the range of the electricity charged into the lance.
Byakko, who had started running immediately, using light steps unbefitting his personal physique, closed the distance, and was unleashing dozens of punches and kicks at Samejima.
Since Samejima was also getting better at brawling, he was avoiding Byakko’s attacks with defensive body movements.
From what they’d been told, the Shinra house primarily drew upon the flow of Shugendou, and were famous for having their young men study strict asceticism while in seclusion in the mountains from childhood (there were even young men from the other houses who would try to study Shungendo for themselves for the sake of asceticism).
For that reason, his body, trained in asceticism, excelled in Taijutsu. Within the power of Buddhism cultivated with that asceticism, it was said the power to exorcise demons resided.
After that, Samejima and Byakko attacked one another over and over at close distance, and when Samejima let loose a high kick, Byakko abruptly stopped moving.
Samejima’s kick that wasn’t avoided cleanly struck the left side of Byakko’s neck, however——.
Byakko’s thoroughly trained thick neck took Samejima’s kick without moving an inch.
“Chih!”
Samejima clicked his tongue when his straightforward kick did no damage. Samejima immediately drew back to keep his foot from being caught and leapt backwards to gain some distance.
Byakko cracked his neck and sighed.
“Well, since you can do this much, perhaps I should become that. Yo, cat familiar. Let’s some him a little bit of the power of the sacred beast ‘Byakko’.”
Byakko’s body——gradually swelled.
“From the west of the four cardinal directions, respond to my voice!! The one of Four Divine Beasts that governs metal, BYAKKOO!!!”
Shinra Byakko recited this chant. On his body there appeared a magic circle——a pattern of Gogiyou[?].
His arms, shoulders, chest, back, feet, and neck all swelled to more than double in size. His clothes that couldn’t withstand the sudden expansion were completely ripped apart. Only his undergarments withstood his enlarged form.
Furthermore his whole body grew what seemed to be fur, and his head also completely changed.
The eyes had become large and staring, the mouth had split open, and from it fangs had grown.
Thus, what had manifested there——was a bizarre-looking humanoid with the appearance of a beast. The physique was at least double that of the original body.
A white tiger therianthrope——. It was a mutation that should be described as such.
Mephisto who had been spectating spoke.
“I’ve heard there are several types of sacred beast summoning. The standard is to manifest the sacred beast itself. And then, there’s the type where it possesses the contractor’s body. This seems to be the latter.”
Shinra Byakko, having taken the form of a therianthrope, let out a deep breath and then spoke.
“Behold the power I can put out in correspondence with this form!”
The earth at Byakko’s feet exploded! It was due to the force at which Byakko had started dashing.
Byakko himself displayed such speed that the eye couldn’t follow his large frame, completely exceeding Samejima’s category of perception.
Samejima couldn’t perceive his opponent using sight, and even if he had sensed him, Byakko would already have disappeared from that location.
Utilizing the fighting standards taught by Barakiel, Samejima calmly discerned his opponent’s movements using his five senses——not just vision, he also employed his sense of hearing.
“There!”
Just as he turned to face behind, he stabbed sharply with his lance.——But, the lance was avoided. However, if the distance was close enough he’d still receive the electric attack.
“Paralyze!!”
Samejima fired his strongest lightning attack from the lance! Byakko’s entire body was enveloped by the electricity all over——.
But despite such a lightning attack, his opponent lifted the corner’s of his mouth and was smiling calmly.
“——Kakaka! That was a good lightning attack. However, well, it isn’t good enough.”
Even as smoke rose from his entire body, Byakko grabbed Samejima’s lance, and with him no longer able to get away——hammered him in the stomach with a mighty palm strike.
BANG! A dry sound like the very air being snapped resounded through the vicinity. Samejima, having taken the blow, was sent flying and plunged deep into the walls of the residence. Samejima, having broken the wall when he smashed into it, stopped responding.
Byakko, being uninterested in that, turned to face Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu.
“Ouryuu. That one is——“
However, Byakko realized something. There was something like a white rope had, without him realizing it, wound itself around large garden rock that was close to him.
It was growing from the direction of the wall.
By the time Byakko turned towards the wall Samejima had flown into, it was too late.
“Byakko!!! Go and shrink!!”
Together with those words, the tail wound around the large rock came to life, and an instant later, Samejima forcefully shot out from inside the wall. The number of tails growing from Byakusa was two, with the other one having wrapped around the large rock, and by using that as an axis to pull himself along, he had forcefully launched himself.
When Samejima’s lance had been caught be Byakko, having instantly realized what that meant, he had put such actions into motion without his opponent noticing.
“How fun!!!”
Against Samejima’s straight-from-the-front lance strike, the joyful Byakko took a posture of lying in wait for it. Lowering his center of gravity, he tried to knock it down with his fist, however——.
As Byakko tried to intercept the charging Samejima with a palm strike, in that very instant Samejima took his lance which he had aimed straight ahead——and stabbed it into the ground, killing the momentum of his charge. Byakko’s palm strike, which appeared as though it should have intercepted Samejima and sent him flying, cut through empty air instead.
After killing his momentum, Samejima planted his foot on the ground and immediately took a posture to attack during Byakko’s unguarded moment, when he was recovering his posture, by twining Byakusa’s tail around his own right leg. The right leg was clad in electricity——.
Like that he launched a high kick at Byakko’s head.
It happened in an instant. With Byakko’s head having been perfectly attacked when his guard was down, Samejima’s kick and the electricity connected solidly.
Having attacked his opponent in an unguarded moment, Samejima displayed a satisfied smile……but with a “Gahah!”, he spat out blood from his mouth.
He had taken the full measure of that single blow from the earlier palm strike, and had clearly not been undamaged from it. The blow had reached the innermost depths of his abdomen——.
Samejima collapsed at that moment and was breathing roughly.
Byakusa, who was on his shoulder, extended the tail that was attached to the foot on the ground to feel Samejima’s affected area. Byakusa was beginning to recall the technique where, by assimilating his tail into Samejima, he could heal his master’s wounds.
As for Byakko who’d been on the receiving end of the kick——smoke was pouring out of his mouth and nose.
The corners of his mouth lifting, he spoke with amusement.
“Heh. It would seem you’re no ordinary Yankee. And this is without awakening the Four Fiends huh.”
Samejima also spoke through labored breaths.
“……And you’re certainly no ordinary teamer. You tiger bastard.”
While Samejima and Shinra Byakko were having that sort of battle, the battle between Tobio and Nakiri Nakagami-no-Ouryuu had risen to the next level.
In the battle with Ouryuu, Tobio and Jin’s attacks had been completely seen through and had all been evaded to the point that no a single one had connected.
Since their movements could be read so long as their feet remained on the ground, it always ended with them being counterattacked.
——If I had wings on my back like and angel or fallen angel, I could probably attack from the sky.
He inadvertently had such thoughts.
However, I am human——. One that possesses supernatural powers perhaps, but only human. At least currently——.
Tobio focused strongly on Jin, and using his own thoughts——issued an instruction.
Having received that, Jin leapt back after exchanging a single set of blows with Ouryuu. After that, he then sank into the shadow of a rock. He had passed into the shadows.
Several seconds later, Jin leapt out of the shadow of a different object, and this time passed into the shadow of a tree. No sooner had he appeared from the shadow of yet another object and he dove into the shadow of a rock.
He had started moving from shadow to shadow.
If his presence was being sensed through the earth’s surface, then by passing through shadows, could Jin’s movements be read when he emerged from the shadows?
Ouryuu smiled.
“I see, come to think of it, that dog was capable of transferring through shadows.”
Having spoken thus, Ouryuu, who’s expression had been composed thus far, couldn’t even follow with his gaze.
Against Ouryuu who was like that, Jin materialized like a bullet from an object’s shadow, slashing with the sword he held in his mouth!
Even if Ouryuu couldn’t sense his movements through the earth, he nimbly evaded Jin’s high-speed strike with defensive body movements. Jin immediately passed into an object’s shadow, and appearing from yet another shadow, slashed at Ouryuu.
Tobio was also counting on this, and had rushed forward. Simultaneously he focused his mind!
——From the shadows of objects, produce a blades!
From the shadow of every object in Ouryuu’s vicinity, warped blades manifested. The blades reached towards Ouryuu, but even those ended up being evaded.
However, Tobio was dashing unperturbed by this, and leapt into the air at that moment. Several blades rushed out of the shadows of objects one right after another, and he used them as footholds.
In accordance with Tobio’s movements, blades would be created wherever he went, as he’d jump from one to the next.
Without his feet touching the ground, he moved using the blades emerging from shadows as footholds. With this, with his opponent unable to discern his location, it should be possible to a small gap in his opponent’s guard!
Using the blade that emerged from the shadow of the nearest object to Ouryuu as his final foothold, Tobio tightly grasped the grip of his scythe, and without pause rushed out slashing!
Ouryuu made as though to evade this but——.
“COME OUT!”
Together with Tobio’s shout, a ‘Night Haken’ instantly appeared from the shadow at Ouryuu’s feet!
It was Tobio’s simultaneous strike. However, Ouryuu evaded even this by leaping backwards with defensive body movements.
——This is it!
“JIN!!!”
Tobio’s command flew from his lips. A two-meter ‘Night Haken’ appeared from the shadow at Ouryuu’s feet, and from that warped shadow of the blade, the black dog appeared.
Jin’s attacking while passing from shadow to shadow, Tobio’s repeated generation of blades, leaping one them as footholds as a method of attacking, ‘Night Haken’ from underfoot——and then, the black dog emerging from the shadow of ‘Night Haken’!
Finally, after follow-up attack upon follow-up attack using atypical attack methods, at last Ouryuu——widened his eyes in surprise.
——But, nevertheless his opponent was the Five Principal Clans’ next in line to be the future head of the Nakiri house.
He instantly affixed his feet to the ground, caused the earth to swell up, and protected himself by forming it into a wall. However, the force of Jin who had emerged from the shadow of ‘Night Haken’, faster than the wall could form, had reached Ouryuu’s body!
“Hah!”
Ouryuu gave a shout of defiance, a powerful golden aura entwined around his body, and he intercepted Jin with a kick.
Exchanging blows with that kick, Jin temporarily put some distance between them…….
Having taken the recent series of attacks, Ouryuu——bore a sword cut on his left forearm.
——Tobio and Jin’s continuous attacks had finally reached Ouryuu.
Seeing this outcome, the elders behind the curtain raised voices of surprise.
“……Nakagami-no-Ouryuu has taken a single sword strike.”
“Though neither has brought out their true power……or rather, they did this without bringing it out……!!”
“Terrifying……the black dog is terrifying.”
Genbu spoke with her mouth agape.
“……I-It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Ouryuu-san’s blood being shed. Even with the majority of practitioner and monster opponents, he’s usually unscathed!”
While fighting off to the side, even Byakko who’d been watching was smiling widely.
“Hahahah! You really did it huh! As expected of a ‘Longinus’ possessor! However, from this point on, things might get scary.”
In accordance with what Byakko said, Ouryuu——even as he showed an intrepid smile, was further elevating the golden aura his body was clad in.
Ouryuu spoke while adjusting his gloves.
“Even without using the prohibited form, you’re displaying power beyond the ordinary, huh. ——In that case, when you assume the form of a black beast, just how much of a monster do you become? I’ve heard that you can already reach it. Would you be willing to show me? I’ll also show off my sacred beast.”
Ouryuu was saying that he’d be putting in his best effort. In that situation, I’d have to put in my best effort too, meaning——.
……The prohibited form, in other words being able to transform into the Balance Breaker. ——But, due to the danger it also brings, the prayer beads control devices are also needed.
In regards to the prayer beads strings, after various experiences, he had taken to carrying at least twn of them.
However, with this man as his opponent he wasn’t sure that even ten would be enough. He was a different type of warrior compared to Augusta of the Purple Flames after all——.
Listening to this, opinions were flying between the elders.
“W-Wait, Ouryuu! Y-You mustn’t unleash the sacred beast “Ouryuu” and the Longinus’s forbidden move here!”
“There’s a possibility you could blow away the enchantments that have set up here together with the ‘Inner Sanctuary’……”
“Rather, there’s Nakagami-no-Ouryuu who is our possessor of the greatest fighting potential, and there’s the taboo dog that emerged from the Himejima. ……Don’t you wish to see with your own eyes which one will come out on top?”
With there being a difference of opinions even among the elders of the ‘Inner Sanctuary’, Ouryuu assumed a posture of not backing down, and him being like that was creating an unforgiving atmosphere.
Tobio let out a breath and made as though to resolve himself. ——It was at that moment it happened.
“Ah.”
Shigune who had been watching the fight suddenly raised her voice.
“W-What’s the matter Shigune?”
As Natsume began to question her, Shigune directed her gaze towards her familiar——towards Poh-kun who was held in her arms.
“W-Well……it’s just that Poh-kun has eaten the ring……”
Just as Shigune had said, Poh-kun had boisterously begun chewing through the ring of magical force that should have been applied to his body.
‘——!’
At this sight, everyone present showed shocked facial expressions.
The area around Byakko’s eyes was spasming.
“Seriously? A magical tool that not even superficial demons or youkai could forcibly remove!?”
Kushihashi Seiryuu half closed his eyes as he adjusted his glasses.
“As expected, it really is the strongest of the Four Fiends, even with its childish body.”
Doumon Genbu, who’d become completely flustered, voiced her opinion to her seniors.
“O-Once more, should we apply a ring to it? O-Or else, would something like a direct seal be more applicable……?”
The staff of the Five Principal Clans were exceedingly frightened over the matter of Poh-kun——Toutetsu achieving liberation. If a ring of strong magical power were to, without warning, be calmly eaten, it’s only natural they’d be horrified.
Under such conditions, Poh-kun continued to crunchily eat the ring, the sounds of his chewing clearly audible.
The atmosphere had ended up becoming one unsuited for battle, and Mephisto, who’d been spectating silently up until now, applauded as he addressed the elders.
“A word of advice to you all. Shouldn’t we breakup the contests at this point? ——Toutetsu is now in a released state. Are you not aware of just how significant something like that is?”
In response to this proposal, the elders also voiced consenting opinions of “……To be sure” and “Hmm, so this is all.”
From the far side pf the curtain, the eldest of them gave orders to Ouryuu’s group.
“Ouryuu, Byakko. That’s enough. We have learned enough about the dog and Four Fiends’ abilities.”
In accordance with his superior’s decree, Ouryuu immediately bowed, after which he completely dispelled his fighting spirit.
Byakko also relaxed his pose and reverted to his original humanoid state.
Byakki spoke to Samejima.
“It was amusing. If there’s another chance then let’s have at it.”
Samejima showed a smile and said, “I’ll buy any fight that’s being sold.”
Tobio also had finished fighting and, likely experiencing sudden exhaustion, took several deep breaths.
As he walked past Tobio, Ouryuu informed him of a single matter.
“I would have liked to face the existence sleeping within you. ——You were concentrating so as not to be engulfed huh. Even so——“
Ouryuu directed his gaze towards Sae.
“……That girl, where your humanity is concerned, she is the existence who continues to personify that which you consider ordinary, right? I guess that’s none of my business huh.”
Leaving him with those words, Ouryuu walked away.
Thus, the matches between Tobio and Ouryuu and between Samejima and Byakko were declared to be over——.
I’ve decided to start posting quick progress reports about once a month. In the future these will list all current projects, but for the moment only Slashdog is being reported.
Slashdog Volume 3 Chapter 3 progress: 29/70 pages
Overall Volume 3 Progress: 115/259 (44%)
Chapter 3 still needs a lot of work as you can see. It is far longer than the existing chapters for this volume, and is in fact longer than just about everything posted for this volume to date (chapter 3 started on page 86, a count which includes all the illustration pages and the table of contents). Moreover, chapter 4 is just as long, going all the way until the epilogue without break, so the bulk of remaining story is going to drop in just 2 updates, which means longer waits between chapters.
Vol 3 Ch2 of Slashdog is finally finished. You can find it here, but if you haven’t read the previous mini-chapter, Hidden God/Youkai, that comes first (I actually published that one a while back but didn’t post anything about it).
With this chapter we’re introduced to some new characters, the pair that’s been teased since the end of volume 1 finally takes action, and some familiar faces (to DxD readers) have shown up. We even get a return of a one-off sacred gear (also from DxD) that’s seeming more and more to be something like a non-Longinus version of Incinerate Anthem.
Going forward, since I’m juggling 2 projects, I’ve decided to rotate projects I’m working on month by month instead of setting milestones like I have been. This way neither project gets neglected for too long. I’m going to have December be Slashdog for now just so I can make up for lost time, but I intend to do more Railgun PSP come January.
Chapter 1 of Slashdog 3 is now live. And with Coronavirus keeping people home, you’ll all be done reading it in half a day I suppose.
Most of my delays in this chapter are from getting involved with other things. My pace has actually improved a lot since I first started translating when it would take me 2 months to translate a chapter. This time, I think I wrapped up the entirety of part 2 in this chapter in less than a week.
I am juggling another project, and even with the lockdowns my day job is still considered essential. I’d like to aim for updates at least once a month though. Stay tuned.
So the Loli Akeno——I mean, Slashdog volume 3 prologue is now posted. Be advised that I have changed the navigation menu to try and clean it up for easier navigation (apparently on mobile devices it simply lists every submenu item instead of sorting them into sub-submenus like it does on desktops). While this reduces the amount of scrolling you’d need to do on a mobile device, you will have to access the Slashdog chapters through their respective volume’s parent page.
For example, to find the new chapter, go under DxD universe, and under Slashdog Series select Slashdog Volume 3. Then click on the link to the prologue once the page loads.
Please note that I have only applied this to Slashdog so far. I may simplify the VN menu later. Vandread will stay as is until I find time to devote to that series.
All except the Afterword that is. The final chapter and all the subsequent mini-chapters are now fully translated. I’ll apologize in advance for any inconsistencies with terminology or titles. I plan to try to establish some consistency when I do my readthrough prior to adding it to the DxD novel database.
Some thoughts I’ve been having about terminology. I’ve already taken to using a slightly unorthodox approach to the names of the Four Fiends and the Four Divine Beasts and the Yellow Dragon. While I originally used the Japanese names exclusively, sometimes annotated with the English translation, during my work on this volume I decided to use the Chinese names with the Japanese readings appearing as rubies above. I did this primarily due to Koga’s forced artificial Balance Breaker specifically using the Chinese name of his Fiend, thereby drawing readers’ attention to the name usage. The Japanese name is still technically the reading in all cases except for Koga’s BB, so I’ll be including both readings to in order to indicate as much.
I’m still using the Japanese names for the Four Divine Beasts and Ouryuu when they’re speaking of the characters instead of the beasts themselves though and plan to keep it that way. The Japanese pronunciation is how you say their names after all, even if the characters are the same as the Chinese name. This is also an easy way to tell the difference between whether the character or the beast is being referenced.
What I am debating though are the terms Four Fiends and Four Divine Beasts themselves. I could arguably write them as Sì-xiōng and Sì-shén, which would also match with how Si-xiong is used in activation of Koga’s BB. (As an aside, Ishibumi indicates that the latter term is read Shishin, but most other sources I’ve checked have it pronounced Shijin). On the other hand, readers are probably more accustomed to the current forms (plus I’d rather not rename the ‘Four Fiends Project’).
Going forward, I’ll be finishing the afterword first, then transcribing the text onto the Occult Research Club website where it’ll be open to editors. October promises to be a crazy month unfortunately, but I do want to try and knock out a chunk of Railgun PSP chapter 4, which is fortunately nowhere near as long as chapter 3 (though who knows how complex it’ll be). I’ll move onto Slashdog 3 no later than December if all goes well, possibly earlier. Vandread volume 1 is still on hold but I would like to finish it someday.
This may have been the longest chapter in the volume. At the very least, it was the longest segment yet to be translated. The remaining 3 or 4 segments include only a few subchapters and the afterword. Overall, the volume has now hit 91% completion.
A lot happened in this chapter, and a lot more has been revealed over the course of this volume. Look forward to the conclusion.
Here it is. Slashdog 2 chapter 6 is done. Things are really heating up. And cooling down I suppose.
The thing that really gets me though is……did I really just finish a whole chapter in only a month? How long have I been capable of this? I wasn’t even devoting 100% of my free time. I went to movies, rewatched the entire TWGOK anime, and I even just recently finished playing Rinne Utopia.
Am I setting standards that people will hold me to now? What have I done?
JeruTz Translations 