8. THE EPILOGUE OF THE PROLOGUE    
------------------------------

7.
Eight - The Epilogue of the Prologue

-Dakki: Now, let's start the Taibon Party!
------------------------------

8.
-People: AAAAAH!
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9.
-Soldier 1: Now, the next forty people get up here!!
-Soldier 2: Hurry up!!

-Dakki: By the way, Taikoubou-chan, you're today's main event!
We'll put you through a special course -- First we'll grill your 
limbs with the Houraku, and then we'll drop you in the Taibon!
------------------------------

10.
-KouHiko: Your Majesty!!

-KouHiko: Repeating such cruelty will separate the people's sentiments
from the royal family.
I think this is enough. Please stop this at once!!

-Dakki: Aren't you saying a little too much, Buseioh?

-Dakki: Have you forgotten that your younger sister is in my hands?

-Taikoubou: ............!!
-Soldier: Hey, don't move!!!
------------------------------

11.
-Taikoubou: Everyone......
Run! Get out of here!!

-Boy: What are you saying?

-Boy: Who do you think caused this mess!!?
You!
It's because you agitated the Empress when you didn't have any power!
------------------------------

12.
-Soldier A: Hey hey, cut the chit-chat!!
You all smell!!

-Soldier A: Now come on, start falling!!

-Soldier A: Ah...

-Soldier A: Aaaaahhh---...

-Soldier B: You...
-Boy: SHUT UP!!

-Boy: We can't die like this!!
You guys!! We have to abandon our slave spirits and fight back!!
------------------------------

13.
-Slaves: OK!!

-Slaves: Let's g...
...huh?
------------------------------

14.
-Dakki: Oh!

-Dakki: How barbaric!! Let's go, SiPu-chan!

-KouHiko: *thinking* Now's my chance!!
------------------------------

15.
-KouHiko: Yo!
------------------------------

16.
-KouHiko: You're up.
You want something to eat?

-KouHiko: Your ribs are broken. And your other wounds are terrible.
You should stay here and recuperate for a while.

-KouHiko: This is my secret hideout.
Even the Empress won't find you here.

-KouHiko: ............

-KouHiko: Uh... Let's see.
I dumped your clothes in the snakehole.
They think you're dead.

-KouHiko: The Kyou people were all killed...
by the Empress's Sendous.

-Taikoubou: ..........
Why did you help me?
------------------------------

17.
-Taikoubou: I can't make up for what I have done.

-KouHiko: Taikoubou-dono!

-KouHiko: When I first met you, something struck me. 
---That this guy's gonna do something!
I didn't save you! I let you live for the sake of the world!

-KouHiko: You still have to live!
I won't allow you to act like a spoiled kid!
------------------------------

18.
-Taikoubou: .............
A spoiled kid, huh...?

*I had this made so it'll look like the one you were wearing. If you 
like, please wear it. And I put that scroll on top of the shelf.*
------------------------------

19.
-Taikoubou: I've lost...
many things...
------------------------------

20.
-Shinkouhyou: I'm very disappointed in you.

-Shinkouhyou: What are you smiling for?
*Strange guy...*

-Shinkouhyou: Kokutenko!
-Kokutenko: Ye---s!
------------------------------

21.
-Shinkouhyou: I swiped him from Dakki while she was using the 
restroom.
I removed the poison from his body, too.

-Shinkouhyou: Now you owe me one.

-Shinkouhyou: You accepted the Paopei, which means you haven't become
depraved yet. 
I'm relieved.

-Shinkouhyou: You yet have to entertain me.
If you do, I'll write off your debt completely.
------------------------------

22.
-Shinkouhyou: This time, Dakki defeated you without doing anything
herself.
I won't allow you to lose in such a humiliating way again.

-Kokutenko: Geez...
Shinkouhyou, you're so capricious.
------------------------------

23.
-SiPuXiang: Uh....

-SiPuXiang: Goshujin...?
Huh? Where are we?

-Taikoubou: ---Goodness, how long do you have to sleep?
Now, let's go!!

-Taikoubou: While you were asleep, SiPu, I had a lot to think about.
I know now that I can't defeat Dakki alone.
So I'm going to make allies who are able go against Dakki.

-SiPu: Allies?
-Taikoubou: Yes.
------------------------------

24.
-Taikoubou: While we're at it, we might as well make an enormous one!

Later on,
Taikoubou will
gain the support of
a huge region
called Seiki

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Translations 1999ŠAkane Araragi