Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 52. Sipuxiang is Fed to the Birds ------------------------------------------------ [007] 52. Sipuxiang is Fed to the Birds Taikoubou: Kishouu, I would like to make a trip to the North. - Seiki - [008] Shuukoutan: North...? Where the Northern Earl is? At this time when we're going to attack Chouka? Taikoubou: Precisely because of that, now is the time to go! Taikoubou: The Northern Earl, Suukouko is a traitor who sells information to Dakki. I'm afraid that they will undermine us during our attack on Chouka. Kishou: What's true...to avoid fighting on two fronts, it would be practical to talk the Northern Earl around to our side... Taikoubou: Right! Taikoubou: I will go with Buseiou! I also wish to borrow 100 soldiers from you. [009] Shuukoutan: Borrow soldiers!? Won't bringing 100 soldiers there aggravate the Northern Earl? Kishou: No! Kishou: Taikoubou won't treat the situation lightly, he has his own strategy. That's why I appointed Taikoubou as Military Strategist. Taikoubou: ......... Taikoubou: How is Kishou's health? Suukoutan? Shuukoutan: It's getting worse, because he won't eat anything... Despite his poor health, he continues to work. [010] Taikoubou: Is that so...he has a sense of responsibility even til the end. Let him be, then... (Come on! I'll teach you how to chase girls!) Taikoubou: Eh? Hatsu: Firstly, commend her beauty~! Taikoubou: Oi---Bukichi, Sipu, let's go!! Hatsu: Going to the North?! I want to go too, I've got nothing else to do anyway. Kishou: .......... Kishou: Taikoubou... It might be too dangerous for you to go alone, this time... [011] A few weeks later --------- North - Capital of the North - - Suujou - Suukokuko: Suukouko is still not back yet? Hohakukou Suukouko Appeared in Chapter 16, one of the survivors among the Four Great Earls of Dakki's Shichi Nikurin. Suukokuko: I heard that he's using the taxes from Suujou to indulge himself in Chouka with Dakki... The people have lost their trust in him! [012] Suukokuko: We must think of some way to deal with this guy! Shinyou! Suukokuko Younger brother of the Earl of the North. He became a doushi when he was a teenager because he had sennin bones. His reijyuu is Shinyou. Man: Suukokuko-sama! Terrible news!! Suukokuko: What is it? There's nothing in this world that warrants such anxiety... Man: An army from Seiki has attacked!! Suukokuko: Uhh...that's bad indeed. Shinyou: Are you worried or not!? [013] Taikoubou: That's the capital of the North, Suujou. Taikoubou: But our aim is not to invade this city! Taikoubou: Our most glorious aim is simply to... Hatsu: Camp out right here!! KouHiko: What? [014] Suukokuko: Oh my... How could they have raised their tents right outside the city! Shinyou: How can they invade with merely 100 men? What is Seiki planning? Suukokuko: That's right! I wonder what they are planning... Man: Suukokuko-sama, please think of something quickly! Man: Even though there's only 100 men, but merchants from the West are afraid of coming... The farmers in the city are afraid to go out too. Man: If this continues, our economy will suffer... Suukokuko: Hmm... [015] Suukokuko: Why don't we go out and get rid of them? Shinyou: Seiki are enemies of Chouka! Bukichi: ! Bukichi: Eh~~? Master! What are you cooking? Hatsu: Whatever he's cooking stinks and it's disgusting! Sipuxiang: Bukichi, can't you smell it? [016] Bukichi: My sense of smell is as sensitive as a dog's but right now, it's gone numb! Soldier: What is that smell? Soldier: Urgh...I'm going to throw up... Soldier: Sir~~~ please do something about it! Taikoubou: Alright! I'll put it into the bag... KouHiko: Taikoubou... Taikoubou: What? Are you going to complain too? KouHiko: No... I just have a strange feeling... There's something wrong about the sky... Bukichi: Now that you mention it! Taikoubou: Do you hear something!? Taikoubou: From the sky? [017] Taikoubou: Eh? Taikoubou: Um... Taikoubou: Birds~~~!!!!! KouHiko: WHAT!? Suukokuko: Heh heh... Suukokuko: What do you think of the power of my reijyuu? [018] Suukokuko: This reijyuu is called Shinyou, King of Birds! All the birds will obey his every command!! Taikoubou: Suukokuko! The doushi brother of the Northern Earl... Just as I thought, you've returned to Suujou. Suukokuko: You know of me? Taikoubou: Because your reijyuu is well-known! Suukokuko: Whatever! What is this all about? Taikoubou! Suukokuko: I know about the Houshin Project, That is to get rid of all the evil sennin in Chouka, and build a new empire, right? Taikoubou: That...that's right! But Hohakukou conspired with Dakki and is interfering with our project! If this continues, we will have no choice but to take up arms against Suujou. [019] Suukokuko: Really? Look at your army, they've all been chased away by the birds! (Eeee~ Let's run~~) Taikoubou: Aaaaaaaaah!! Suukokuko: Besides, with such a small army, you can't possibly defeat Suujou. And you didn't prepare any ambushes either, it looks like you're not serious about attacking, are you? Taikoubou: How infuriating...if it were his brother, he'd have fell for it... Taikoubou: Where's your brother, Suukouko? Suukokuko: He's been with Dakki since seven years ago. Taikoubou: What...he's been gone for seven years...?! Suukokuko: I'm also from Kongrong, I don't wish to get in your way... But if we betray Dakki, she will kill our brother!! [020] Suukokuko: So, I can't let you have your way! Suukokuko: I can't stand by and watch my brother be killed! Taikoubou: ........... Suukokuko: Go forth, Shinyou!! [021] Taikoubou: Take that!! Taikoubou: Uh! Taikoubou: Hey, wait~~!! Suukokuko: We won! [022] Sipuxiang: Ah~~ What bad luck... Sipuxiang: Thankfully, Bukichi managed to communicate with the birds, or more of them would have come. Bukichi: *squak* *squak* *squak* Bukichi: *squak!* *squak!!* *squak!* *squak!!* Bukichi: *squak!* *squak!!* All right? Thank you~~!! Bukichi used to work in a zoo, so he knows how to talk to the birds... Taikoubou: ! Sipuxiang: Goshujin! Taikoubou: Oi! Sipu, you're just in time!! [023] Taikoubou: My Dashinben was snatched away by Shinyou, give chase! Sipuxiang: Shinyou!? No way~! He flies faster than I can!! Taikoubou: It'll be fine! Look, I have this! Sipuxiang: Ack! That smelly thing from earlier? Taikoubou: This is the best bird feed, it gives off a smell that birds love the most! Shinyou will be drawn by this smell as well... Taikoubou: I cooked this precisely to deal with Suukokuko!! Sipuxiang: Really!? Shinyou: Oops... [024] Sipuxiang: Eeeee~~!! Taikoubou: It's coming again, give me back the Dashinben!! Sipuxiang: It smells! It really smells!! Suukokuko: What are those two up to? (fooling around again) Suukokuko: Anyway, that's taken care of, finally! Time to go home! KouHiko: What is moment! [025] KouHiko: The show has yet to begin!! Suukokuko: Buseiou!! What do you want!? KouHiko: Heh! Since we can't talk things over, we'll have to resort to arms!! 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