Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 17. Brothers of the Sky ------------------------------------------------ [007] 17. Brothers of the Sky Taikoubou: Sipu, have you heard a rumour? People say that Seihakukou Kishou has been incarcerated by Dakki. Taikoubou: Actually, I was planning to go meet him. Sipuxiang: ................ Taikoubou: This guy is really incorrigible. He can sleep anywhere! Taikoubou: Eh---? [008-9] 17. Brothers of the Sky Taikoubou: Eh? What was that? Is that a man or a bat...? Taikoubou: Sipu! Sipu!! Wake up!! Sipuxiang: *snore* ~ ~ ~ ~ [010] - A nearby town - Sipuxiang: You must have been mistaken, Goshujin. I've never heard of any Bat-Man before. Taikoubou: That's why I'm here to find out the truth! Taikoubou: Why is it so crowded here? Girl: Oh! Are you a sennin-sama? Taikoubou: Well-------- [011] (Wall: Brothers of the Sky, RULES!!) Taikoubou: Brothers of the Sky? Sipuxiang: Maybe it was just kids graffiting the wall? Girl: Sennin-sama, don't you know? Taikoubou: I'm only a doushi. Girl: "Brothers of the Sky" are a band of bandits. But, their targets are only those arrogant rich people, I suppose they're like righteous bandits! Taikoubou: (thinking) Righteous... [012] Girl: Their leader is named Raishinshi, he's a strange creature! His skin is really black, and he has a pair of black wings! Sipuxiang: The Bat-Man!? Taikokubou: See?! I told you I wasn't mistaken! Girl: They've written the words on the wall, That means they will make an appearance tonight. Girl: This time, they will rob from this house, we'll get a share too, I think. Taikoubou: Of money...? Girl: No...it is water this time... Taikoubou: Water? [013] Farmer: We are suffering a drought this year... If we push it, there's barely enough water for survival... but we don't have enough for farming so all our crops have died. Farmer: Still, there is a rich man who has stored up a lot of water. That rich man is called Rishin, he was actually extorting money from the farmers to buy his water. Farmer: So, Raishinshi must go and steal the water from his house for us! He is our saviour! Taikoubou: All you need is water, right? Well, that is a simple matter! [014] Sipuxiang: Goshujin...? Taikoubou: Quiet! Taikoubou: I'm digging the ground! Since that rich man's house has water, there must be underground water around here. Taikoubou: If I can find the underground water table... and follow it to its source, I'll be able to find the natural spring! Sipuxiang: ............. You look like a cockroach! [015] Taikoubou: I've got it! If I dig down from here, I'll be able to find the water source!! Taikoubou: MWAHAHAHAHAHA!! Farmer: Wh...what are you doing? This is my land!! Farmer: My land... Farmer: Land... [016] Taikoubou: Wheeeeeeeeeee~~!! Farmers: Thank you very much, doushi-sama! We'll have a great harvest this year! Farmer: My land... Rishin: Ah! That was really wonderful!! [017] Did you gain your intelligence and powers from the Sennin World? Please, you must come and visit me, and tell me all your interesting stories! Farmer: Doushi-sama, that is Rishin! He is always making use of others to do things for him, it's best you avoid him. Taikoubou: All right! Let's go! Sipuxiang: Goshujin!? Sipuxiang: ............ He must be up to something again! [018] Taikoubou: Oh! He really stored up a lot of water! Rishin: Besides water, I also have a lot of gold and treasures! Come, try some of these excellent peaches. Taikoubou: So... What did you wish to ask me? Rishin: I have both wealth and power. But I am still unable to have the one thing I most desire... [019] Taikoubou: The secret of immortality, right? Rishin: How...how did you know!? Taikoubou: Because it is something all men with wealth and power want. Rishin: I beg of you! Teach me the secret of immortality! Taikoubou: ..... Taikoubou: Forget it! That's just not possible! Rishin: But---!! Taikoubou: Why don't you think about how to deal with the bandits instead? They will rob your house empty. Rishin: Well... I'm not worried at all. [020] Rishin: I've hired a hundred mercenaries to guard the house. With so many people and the tight security, they'll never get in! Rishin: Money solves everything!! Money!! Money!! Sipuxiang: Goshujin, why did you come here with that man?! I find him very hateful! Taikoubou: I didn't come here for him. It's because those guys will come tonight... [021] Taikoubou: Raishinshi... I would like to meet him... Sipuxiang: But why...? Taikoubou: Oh...nothing really, I just want to have a look. Sipuxiang: Is this fated? Taikoubou: Oh no! Not that big a deal... Taikoubou: ! Taikoubou: He's here!! Over there!! [022] Raishinshi: Ahahahahaha!! Taikoubou: Ah! [023] Taikoubou: Heheheheh... He went straight for Rishin's room... Rishin: ............!? What is going on!? Raishinshi: Hi there! Rishin: Ahh! [024-5] Raihinshi: I'm here! Didn't I tell ya I'd come? I am Raishinshi!! Raishinshi: Bastard! I'm taking everything here! Raishinshi: Let's go, boys! Bandit: eh... Taikoubou: Well, he certainly comes straight to the point. Taikoubou: This guy is quite interesting. Such a waste of talent to simply be a leader of bandits. o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o Translation (c) 2000 Koushi - all rights reserved. No part or whole of this document may be broken up or published on a web-page without the express permission of the author. It may be freely distributed for _personal_ use ONLY on the condition that it is distributed in its entirety and no changes of ANY KIND are made, leaving all original author and copyright information intact. o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o