Houshin Engi by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. ------------------------------------------------ 53. The Curtain Falls on the Elderly Sage 1 ------------------------------------------------ [027] Kokibi: Sister Dakki! 53. The Curtain Falls on the Elderly Sage 1 Kokibi: There's a corpse in the underground cellar. Dakki: Corpse? Kokibi: It's already reduced to a dried shell. Dakki: Oh...now, I remember! Isn't that Suukouko? Dakki: He loved to drink, so I locked him up in the cellar! Oukijin: Sister, then all that wine must be well matured by now! [031] - Suujou - KouHiko: Come on!! Suukokuko!! Suukokuko: Ah! Buseiou, please wait!! KouHiko: Hya--!! [032] Suukokuko: ......... KouHiko: Why did you ask me to wait? Suukokuko: Surely you wouldn't attack an unarmed man!! KouHiko: Haha--so your reijyuu has been lured away by Taikoubou! KouHiko: You've fallen into his trap! Suukokuko: Trap? KouHiko: Without your reijyuu now, you have no defense! This was the trap laid out by Taikoubou!! [033] KouHiko: Alright! Fetch your weapon!! Suukokuko: Thank you...Buseiou! Suukokuko: Hey~~give me a weapon, hurry--!! Soldier: Yes sir! Suukokuko: A Sword... It's too weak, compared to Buseiou's great staff...but being light may have its advantages too... Suukokuko: All right! We'll determine victory using my Kongrong swordplay!! KouHiko: ........... [034] KouHiko: Suukokuko... You're standing on Dakki's side because your brother is in Chouka? Suukokuko: That's right... Because if there's even the slightest rebellion against Dakki, he'll be killed for sure! KouHiko: Because of your brother alone, the entire North has become Dakki's minions? Suukokuko: Mind your own business! Do you understand what it feels like to have your loved one held as a hostage!? KouHiko: I understand! Suukokuko: ! [035] KouHiko: Of course I understand... I've had the same experience before... Suukokuko: !! Suukokuko: Ahh... [036] Suukokuko: Is that so... KouHiko: That's why this is not right!! We have to try our best, to take back those things we love!! [037] Suukokuko: Hmm... Suukokuko: Should I do what you could not do yourself?! That's asking for too much!? Suukokuko: Ah! [038] Soldier: Wow! impressive! Soldier: This way, us normal people won't have to fight... Soldier: To defeat the Yin Dynasty, we only need the sennin. [039] Nankyuukatsu: No such thing!! KiHatsu: Eh? Nankyuukatsu!! Nankyuukatsu: The sennin only fight the evil sennin!! So, we have to deal with the 100,000 army from Chouka!! Soldiers: ................ General Nan... [040] KiHatsu: Nankyuukatsu, why are you here? Nankyuukatsu: Ki Hatsu-sama, I'm here as a bodyguard... KiHatsu: Bodyguard? For who? [041] Suukokuko: *thinking* He's strong!! Without a paopei, he can even defeat a sennin!! Suukokuko: ! [042] KouHiko: You're finished, Suukokuko! I will ask one more time, will you help Seiki? Suukokuko: ..................!!! Kishou: Wait please, Buseiou!! [043] Taikoubou: Oh!! Taikoubou: That fool!! Kishou? Taikoubou: Sipuxiang, I'm leaving this to you!! Sipuxiang: Hey! Are you escaping on your own? You idiot!! [044] Suukokuko: Seihakukou Kishou!! Kishou: Please rise! No need to pay respects! Suukokuko: Yes sir... Suukokuko: !! Kishou: If the Northern Earl joins with Chouka, our army will be divided... We can't defeat Chouka this way... [045] Suukokuko: Please get up! Seihakukou!! KiHatsu: ................. Kishou: Your brother Suukouko is also a leader of the people... Even though this course of action will cause suffering for the people, but please bear with this for once. Kishou: I'm about to retire myself. Kishou: This is my final duty. [046-7] Kishou: For the sake of the youth who will shape our history in the future... I would like to set this path for them!! Taikoubou: Kishou!! KiHatsu: Father!! Kishou: Hatsu... KiHatsu: Your health is poor, you shouldn't have come here!! Suukokuko: Seihakukou... Suukokuko: I've been ignorant... I feel very ashamed of myself. 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