Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 48. One's Own Present, Past and Future 3 - BATTLE COOKING!! Kou Hiko VS. NanKyuukatsu - ------------------------------------------------ [105] Kishou: Kou Hiko... Kishou: Your position in Chouka was pretty high. Kou Hiko: Yes! My position was Chinkoku Buseiou. (* Chinkoku = to calm a country) Kishou: But, it will not be the same here in Seiki! Kishou: You will be "Kaikoku" Buseiou! (* Kaikoku = to open a country) Kou Hiko: Yes! Nankyuukatsu: ............ [106-7] 48. One's Own Present, Past and Future 3 - BATTLE COOKING!! Kou Hiko VS. NanKyuukatsu - [109] The Great Earl of the West, Kishou's, health has been diwindling steadily. Ever since his first son, Hakuyuukou, was turned into meat patties by Dakki, he has been abstaining from food. ??: Ah! ??: Kishou is not eating anything at all...!? Taikoubou: Yes... nothing at all. Especially meat, he won't even touch it. [110] Bukichi: But aren't Master and Tenka the same, you're vegetarians too, right? Tenka: I'm only a vegetarian to save Shishu's expenses. Taikoubou: But, Kishou's abstination is in his mind! Taikoubou: The meat patties incident was too great a blow to him... Bukichi: Kishou... Taikoubou: Sipu is sleeping and eating the grass at the same time... Tenka: This guy's the total opposite of abstination! ??: Aaahh~~~ it's spicy~~~!!! [111] KouMei: Why is the food in Seiki so spicy? Ryuukan: Yeah...we can't live on this everyday! ??: The flavours of Chouka are rather mild... Kou Hiko: Hmm... Kou Hiko: The Yin Dynasty is indeed huge, even the cuisine differs among different regions... Nankyuukatsu: Hey! You people!! Nankyuukatsu: I heard that you're dissatisfied with Seiki's food! Kou Hiko: You are... [112] Nankyuukatsu: If it tastes so bad, you don't have to eat it! Buseiou!! Nankyuukatsu A major general in Seiki. But, since Kou Hiko's arrival, he's been dropped to the pitiful position of Second. KouMei: Well... then, excuse us, Nankyuukatsu-sama... KouMei: We'd be glad to obey your orders! Nankyuukatsu: To become Buseiou again, is indeed different... [113] Nankyuukatsu: Huh---!? Kou Hiko!! Kou Hiko: So what~~~~? Taikoubou: Hey~~ don't argue! Don't argue! Kou Hiko: Taikoubou! Kou Hiko: Ahh...please excuse me... Nankyuukatsu: It's all their fault, how dare they criticise the food here!! ??: How can we keep eating such spicy food! ??: What's wrong with spicy!? ??: It makes my tongue burn... ??: It's not good for your health... ??: Idiot!! [114] Taikoubou: *sigh* In that case... Taikoubou: It won't do if this goes on... Kishou: Oh dear! Are they arguing, Taikoubou? Taikoubou: Kishou. Taikoubou: The Kou family hasn't adjusted to living in Seiki yet. Kishou: Ah! Not being able to get used to the food is quite a problem. Taikoubou: That's it! I have a good idea! (sign) First Round Gourmet Battle [115] Kou Hiko: Oi...Taikoubou-dono! Why do I have to cook!? Taikoubou: Because this whole matter started because of food. So, we'll have a little comparison of whether the food from Seiki or Chouka is the best. Taikoubou: We'll have to two of you cook, whoever's food tastes better wins!! Nankyuukatsu: Would that work... Taikoubou: The ingredients must be vegetations gathered from nearby. Taikoubou: You can't use any meat or fish. Taikoubou: The judges will be myself, Kishou, and the vegetation-loving Sipuxiang! (sign): Judges [116] Kishou: Is that alright? Kou Hiko, Nankyuukatsu! Kishou: After the competition, you can't fight anymore. Kou Hiko: Yes... Nankyuukatsu: Yes!! Nankyuukatsu: You better watch out, I'll never lose to you, Kou Hiko! Kou Hiko: Give it your best shot! Kou Hiko: I'll show you the real talent of cooking! KouMei: Ready!! Kou Mei: Begin!! [117] Bukichi: All right! So, firstly, the two contestants have to gather their ingredients. Bukichi: I'm your host for today, Bukichi! Nankyuukatsu: Ah! Nankyuukatsu: There're mushrooms, excellent!! Nankyuukatsu: Eh!? Bukichi: Wow~~! That's great, Buseiou! Bukichi: He's gathered a lot of ingredients!! There's green onions and (something)! [ note: I'll find out what it is later. ^^;] [118] Nankyuukatsu: Eergh.... Nankyuukatsu: Just you wait, Kou Hiko!! Kou Hiko: Right, now to use my knive to... Kou Hiko: Ack!! Bukichi: Whoo! That's brilliant, Nankyuukatsu! Bukichi: Isn't that a skill of Lightning Strokes? Nankyuukatsu: Hahah!! Stronger and stronger!! Nankyuukatsu: Now, to use strong heat to fry this... and then... [119] Nankyuukatsu: Spicy... Nankyuukatsu: Sauce! Nankyuukatsu: Sauce!! Nankyuukatsu: Sauce!! Kou Hiko: Opps! Excuse me! Nankyuukatsu: Aiyah!! Nankyuukatsu: What...what a large wok... Bukichi: Woo...! That's a special huge wok!! [120] Nankyuukatsu: Damn it... I'm going to lose!! Nankyuukatsu: I'll use this large wok too... Nankyuukatsu: This wok... Nankyuukatsu: This... Nankyuukatsu: Aaaah!! Bukichi: Looks like it's almost over!! Bukichi: Buseiou's dish is Almond Tofu!! Bukichi: And Nankyuukatsu's dish is Spicy Vegetables!! Bukichi: How will these dishes which have been prepared from the ingredients gathered by these two turn out? [121] Nankyuukatsu: This is a dish cooked by a macho man such as me! Taikoubou: You two idiots! Why are both dishes so cold? Bukichi: So, let the judges make their decision! (sign): Judges Bukichi: Eh----!? (He likes spicy stuff) Bukichi: Sipuxiang has voted for Nankyuukatsu~~! Bukichi: As for Master... he's voted for Kou Hiko's desert~~!! Bukichi: So, that means that Kishou-sama's vote will be the deciding vote!! Bukichi: Which side will Kishou-sama vote for!? [122] Taikoubou: Kishou!! Kishou-sama!? Kishou-sama!? [123] Kishou: As the Seihakukou, I'm so useless... Taikoubou: No... it was my fault... I thought this would convince you to eat something... Kishou: Thank you for your thoughtfulness... Kishou: But now, I feel quesy whenever I see any food. Kishou: It's an illness of the mind, I suppose... Taikoubou: In that case, even medicine from the Sennin World won't be able to cure it. Kishou: Taikoubou. Taikoubou: Yes? [124] Kishou: If I die... Kishou: Will you still stay in Seiki? Taikoubou: .............. Yes...! [125] Kishou: Is that so... Kou Hiko: Hey... Nankyuukatsu: Huh--? Kou Hiko: Let's not argue any more in the future. Nankyuukatsu: Right! 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