nebulancer

Tsukiuta. Tale – Taikyoku Denki

Bonus Track - “Until the day that golden orchid blooms.”

Iku: I’m back~!

[The pandas squeak.]

Iku: Ah. Hey, hey, don’t do that. Ruirui, Fuumin. It’s dangerous for you to climb up on the chair like that. And no, the tables are off-limits, too!

This is where the customers are going to eat, all right?

Come on~ It’s nice that you’re full of energy, but it’d be bad if you fell, okay?

You might get injured. ...There we go. Whoop! Phew.

Rui: Ah, Ikkun, welcome back. Thanks for delivering so far away.

Iku: Yeah, I’m back! Yoru’s special peach buns were well-received, as they always are!

I can’t count the number of times they told me that they’d want a Kuroneko Tei close by, so that they could eat the buns freshly baked.

Rui: Fufu.

Iku: By the way, these little guys were climbing around on the chairs again.

Rui: Not again... I’d just set them down, too.

I wonder if the pandas have an instinct to climb up into high spots?

Iku: Not sure. *laughs wryly* Hey, come on. And right when we’re talking about it happening... Ruirui...

[The panda squeaks as Iku carries him.]

Iku: There, there. Customers come here, so let’s go into the back.

Rui: Let’s go, Fuumin. There we... go.

[The panda squeaks as Rui lifts him.]

Rui: Ghh~... I feel like Ikkun’s panda, Fuumin, got heavier.

Iku: I’d prefer it if you said that he didn’t get heavier, but rather, that he grew.

I’m sure that the heavier my fist gets, the heavier my panda does.

Rui: Sounds possible, since you’re training every day and getting more reliable by the day.

Iku: It’s thanks to the Gokuzoku helping me out by sparring. I’m training with my opponents being the strongest species, so there’s no way I wouldn’t get stronger.

Rui: True. Ah. Those same strongest guys are in the back.

Iku: All of them? Like, Kai-san and Shun-san, too?

Rui: Yeah. They’ve just gotten back from the fourth journey that the two of them went on, the “Steam Particle Unexplored Frontier Saga.”

Iku: The “Steam Particle Unexplored Frontier Saga”... Did they go to some sort of hot springs deep in the mountains?

Rui: But what they brought back was an assortment of seafood.

Iku: Did they go to the mountains!? Or the oceans!? Er—Did they go to some hot springs near the ocean away from civilization... Is that possible?

Rui: It’s those two we’re talking about, so they go however the wind blows, however their urges take them. I bet their destinations change again and again. If the only choices are the mountains or the oceans, don’t you think that they went to both?

Iku: Th-that’s possible... Haah...

Rui: Hm? Ikkun?

Iku: It’s nothing. Just that in the past, going to the next city would have to require a bunch of detailed preparations, to save as much time as possible to move during the daytime. It was lots of work, but look here we are now. We’re able to go and see the oceans now, too.

Rui: That’s true. It’s peaceful.

Iku: Yeah.

[The pandas squeak.]

Iku: ...Ah, shoot! Sorry, sorry. I got all caught up in my thoughts about peace so earnestly.

Rui: Fufu. Ikkun, let’s go into the back. Since lunchtime’s over, Kuroneko Tei’s on break. Aoi and Yoru said they’d pour some tea.

Iku: Sure! Let’s go!

Arata: *yaaAaAAAaaAwwwWWwn*

Panda: *yaaAaAAwWwn*

Shun: *yaaaawn*

Panda: *yaaawn*

Kai: Heh. Listen up, Demon Lord, Arata... and for the record, the pandas too. Those are some huge yawns you’re letting out. *chuckles*

Gokuzoku are born from the crystallization of natural energy that drifts through the atmosphere.

*teasingly* That’s why I thought you didn’t require sleep, hmm~?

Shun: Mm~. That’s right. That’s true, but~ Even so, we’re still sleepy... It’s quite the mystery—*yawn*

Isn’t that right, Shunshun?

[The panda squeaks in agreement lethargically.]

Arata: *yawn* I understand wholeheartedly, Shun-san. We Gokuzoku are originally nocturnal. Up until now, the long time we’ve been around, we’ve been spending daytime asleep, so there’s no way we could suddenly fix that lifesty— *yawn* *yawns again* ...Mm.

Kai: Don’t lose to your drowsiness~ At least finish your sentence properly~

Heh. Well, I guess, if we summed up this situation in one word, it’d be... “Peaceful,” eh?

Shun: Mmhmm.

Arata: Mmhm. Mm?

Yoru: ...Whoa. It feels incredibly relaxed here.

Aoi: To put it in simpler terms, it feels drowsy through and through.

Arata: Yoru-kun, Aoi-kun too~ Let’s all laze around together~ Laze around~

Aoi: All right, all right, I fully understand that you’re taking it as easy as can be.

We brewed some tea. Want it?

Arata: Yeah, thanks.

Yoru: Here you go. Shun-san, Kai-san, you two as well.

Kai: Oh, nice. Thanks!

Shun: Thank you, Yoru, Aoi~

Arata: Ngh... *stretches* HaaAAAGH! Ah.

Panda: *stretches*

Aoi: As always, Kuroneko Tei’s business is booming. Even though lunch feels like a battlefield, it’s done now, so we get to take a break.

Yoru: I’m grateful for that. Both the booming business and also getting to discuss what today’s daily special will be, without having to struggle and put food on the table.

Aoi: For sure. There are also customers who accept the Gokuzoku as they are.

Yoru: That as well. No doubt about it.

Aoi: At first, the city was in a huge uproar about it, almost as if bears had been let loose inside, remember?

Yoru: Hahaha!

Kai: *laughs* Bears, huh? True, it was like that.

“It’s Gokuzoku!! Run for your lives!!” And all that.

But in reality, instead of bears, they’re more like... sunbathing cats?

Arata: I don’t mind being a cat. It’s absolute bliss to laze around sunbathing with a cup of tea in hand. *yawn... yawn... yaaaawn*

Shun: Exactly so. It’s bliss, true bli— *sips his tea*

Ah, hot!

Kai: A-are you all right? Shun, are you sensitive to eating hot food? Didn’t know that.

Shun: Looks like I am...

Kai: *chuckles* Well, you don’t really consume hot things, do you?

Shun: Hmph. It’s more that I don’t need to eat or drink in the first place.

Kai: Is that so?

Arata: Shun-san, you all right there? *sips* Ah, frick, that’s HOT!

Aoi: *sighs* Typically, we’re supposed to learn from mistakes that others make.

Arata: And Aoi-kun’s so cold.

Yoru: Mmgh... A conversation is unfolding which makes it exceedingly difficult to believe these guys are the strongest species in battle...

Arata: Oh, yeah, by the way, Yoru-kun. Where’s your own attendant from the strongest species?

You: Whooooo areeeee youuuuu callinggggg an attendant!? Say that again, agh!?

Kai: Oh, hey, You! Working hard as always, I see.

Arata: The stuff inside that bowl You’s holding...

Shun: Yep, it’s the peach bun dough. He’s kneading it with a finely controlled level of strength, huh?

Kai: Peach bun-making going well? I hear you’ve been getting fired up over making new types of peach buns these days.

You: Yeah, listen up and listen good! The surprise’ll knock your socks off!

The ones up till now haven’t been bad, per se, but by kneading wild grasses that’ve been fertilized in the valleys into the dough, like I’m doing right now—

Wait, don’t make me talk about it, dammit!

Kai: Says the guy who went off talking his head about it in the first place! *chuckles*

Yoru: We’ve found out that You’s quite the passionate chef.

Shun: Ooh, really? I didn’t know that~

You: Not like I particularly like it. Just that, once I got started doing it, I realized it’s deeper than I thought.

Arata: So that means you like it.

You: Like hell I do! I’m just fixated on it for the time being!

Hmph... By setting the dough to rest for thirty minutes here, the post-steam expansion will change.

Arata: He’s got some preferences.

Yoru: I like how You’s both sweet and sour.

Shun: Yoru, you’ve got good taste~

Aoi: Thanks for always helping out. Want a break too? Ah, I’ll pour you a cup of tea.

You: Ooh, thanks, Aoi-chan, Yoru.

Everyone: Haaah~...

You: Mm... It’s bright out.

Shun: It sure is.

You: I didn’t know... the world... had so many colors in it...

Yoru: I see. ...Isn’t that nice?

You: Mm? About what?

Yoru: Your red hair’s beautiful. It’s pretty enough during the nighttime, but it’s even more vivid during noon. It’s nice that you get to see it for yourself.

You: Never even thought about my hair color. ...Maybe I should let it grow a little more.

Shun: Fufufu.

Arata: Having awakened to the joys of cooking, learned about colors... Thinking about it again, aren’t you glad that you made a contract, You-kun~?

You: Could say the same right back to the guy sunbathing in front of me.

Arata: Yeah, buddy~ Feels heckuva fantabulous and all warm’n fuzzy~ Sun’s da best, babey~

Kai: Ah, gotcha. That’s another joy you guys can experience thanks to the talismans.

Shun: Exactly. We Gokuzoku are crystallizations of Yin energy. Meanwhile, the sun’s rays are made of pure Yang energy.

Let me describe what would happen if we didn’t have the Jinzoku’s specially-made talismans to neutralize it.

The very instant we basked in the sunlight, an explosive reaction would occur, causing us to evaporate with a quick little “shoon!”

Aoi: ...”Shoon!” ...He said it so casually, but it’s terrifying imagining that happening...

Yoru: Y-yeah...

Arata: Thus, I’m nothing short of grateful for Aoi-kun since he made the contract with me.

Aoi: Er... No, no, it’s not... We’re the ones who’ve gotten reliable friends-slash-the strongest bodyguards we could have. I couldn’t thank you enough.

Yoru: Thanks to you guys, the demons and beasts that attack the city have decreased significantly.

Kai: And that’s something I feel myself, as someone tasked with guarding the city. Should be referring to you guys as Gokuzoku the Gracious.

Shun: Beasts and demons live on their instincts, after all. They wouldn’t enter a territory belonging to those they know are significantly and overwhelmingly stronger than they are, let alone pick fights with us.

Arata: We’re like bug repellent.

Aoi: *laughs wryly* That makes it easier to understand, but... the way you phrased that made the value of your being here go way down.

Shun: We made the contracts because they were advantageous to ourselves in their own ways. However, when the time is ripe, they will lose their shape and instead metamorphosize into bonds.

And, one day, a beautiful golden flower shall bloom...

Kai: Hm? Shun?

Shun: Fufu! It’s nothing, Kai. Ah, it seems we’ll be adding people to our tea party.

Aoi: Huh? ...Ah!

Rui: Ah, they’re here.

Iku: I’ve just gotten back~

Kai: Welcome back, Iku!

Shun: Welcome back, Ikkun~

Yoru: Thanks for looking after the shop, Rui. I’ll pour you two a cup of tea.

Servant 1: Then, Hajime-sama, we will be excusing ourselves here.

Hajime: Yes. Thanks for the report.

When the chief... ...When my mother comes back, I’ll inform her first of all.

She’ll surely be glad that the city’s development is visible to the eye, just as you informed in your report.

Servant 1: I look forward to it. Haru-dono.

Haru: Hm?

Servant 2: Hajime-sama is the cornerstone of us Jinzoku... as well as the world. From now on, we entrust him in your care.

Haru: ...I don’t need you telling me twice.

With him being the cornerstone of the world and Crux of Yang energy... Such a perplexing enigma is so intriguing that I can’t take my eyes off him.

Servant 2: Haha. I suppose so. I hope you’ll excuse us, then.

[The servants leave.]

Haru: ...That was a surprise. I didn’t expect them to be the first ones to reach out to me.

Whenever we lock eyes, they’re always the ones to look away.

Hajime: It’s because you’re the one glaring at them.

Haru: I don’t glare! Though I do think they’re hindrances.

Hajime: That way of thinking is clearly present in your gaze.

...And, wait. Who are you calling a perplexing enigma?

Haru: Huh? You’re unaware of it?

You’re way stronger than the average riff-raff of Gokuzoku despite being just a Jinzoku; just by being alive, you’re constantly emitting Yang energy...

You’re just so perplexing that you’re so interesting! You’re amazing, Hajime. This is the first time anything’s captivated me this much.

Hajime: *sighs, then laughs wryly* Well, then. Since you’ve started taking note of me like this, you’re no longer bugging me in strange ways, and the attacks from demons have decreased in number. It’s true that you’ve helped me out.

I suppose it’s best that I’ve captured your attention.

Haru: Yes, yes, it is. Isn’t it~? See? Recall what I said when we made the contract? I’m handsome, intelligent, and powerful. My sales pitch wasn’t just for show.

Hajime: *chuckles* Okay, got it. There we go.

Haru: Hajime! Where are you going?

Hajime: The main road. I’m setting up a barrier to ward off monsters.

Haru: Didn’t you already do that yesterday?

Hajime: I went south last time. I’m going north today. I’m not doing it just within the city; I also want to secure the safety of the paths leading into the city.

Haru: All you do is work~ Are you a workaholic?

Hajime: No. Capable people just do what they can. That’s all there is to it.

Haru: If that’s the case, then all you’ll be doing is working constantly.

Hajime: Heh. Maybe so.

...Ah... Haru. This job isn’t one you need to help out with. You’ll have free time just waiting, right?

Take Haruru and Haju and go to Kuroneko Tei or the like.

Haru: Mm... I’ll take Haruru and Haju and follow you.

Hajime: But why?

Haru: Because I want to watch you for as long as I can.

Hajime: I do wonder just how long that passion of yours will continue.

Haru: Probably until I die? It’s what my instincts desire, after all.

Hajime: *sighs* ...

*kindly* ...Haruru. Haju.

[The pandas squeak.]

Hajime: *chuckles* I’ve kept you two waiting. Have you been good? I’ll be going outside right now. Get Grandpa Haru to dote on you.

Haru: Gokuzoku don’t age. The only one who’ll end up becoming a grandpa is you, Hajim...

[The pandas squeak.]

Haru: Wah! You’re making me carry both of them!?

Hajime: Don’t you dare drop them.

Haru: Bloodlust... Hajime, aren’t you too soft when it comes to dealing with animals?

Aah! Come on, wait up!

Koi: Umm... So, I guess I should compile the books in this area...

Kakeru: There we... go! Ah. Another strange orb popped out~ Where were we keeping those again...?

Koi: I think it was at the entrance!

Kakeru: Got it. *sucks in breath* Seriously, what kinda orbs even are these...?

Koi: *groans* Are all of these part of Shun’s cherished collection?

Kakeru: Yeah. Apparently, they’re all “the fascinating fantastic hidden treasures I accumulated within millennia of living.”

*sighs* The house owner, Hajime-san, went in outrage mode, saying that it’s about time to get cleaning this place up, and then...

Koi: *sighs* With an all-you-can-eat of peach buns being suggested your reward, you ended up accepting the job...

Kakeru: Y-yeah... But I didn’t expect there to be this many things just spilling out...

Koi: It’s because you accepted the offer without properly checking what it entails. Your gluttony controls your brain, jeez...

Kakeru: From the bottom of my heart, I beg your forgiveness.

Koi: Okay, okay, I’m helping you clean up, so let’s get it done!

Kakeru: *sobs* KOIIIIIIII~~~! You’re a LIFESAVERRRRR~~~ THANK YOUUUUUU~~~ *whimpers*

Koi: Yeah, got it. This is also the duty of a partner who’s contracted with you~

Kakeru: Partner... Hehe. You’re right.

Koi: So what’s next...?

Kakeru: Ah, Koi. I know this is late in mentioning, but there are things that we have to be careful in dealing with, so be extra cautious.

Koi: Whuh.

Kakeru: Like the cursed orb, the bloodstained sword, tools for spells, or a lamp with a demon god sealed inside?

Shun-san was really into collecting those sorts of lucky items for a while.

Koi: Those don’t sound like lucky items AT ALL!

Go look up what “lucky” means in a dictionary! Dude, that’s terrifying! Say that stuff beforehand!!

Kakeru: Ahaha! There are things here that are actually lucky, though!

Koi: ...Like what.

Kakeru: Like, er... *rummages through the heap*

This one. You’ll absolutely get the one you aim for using this! The red wire!!

Koi: ...It’s not a string, huh? Don’t you think that’s more like a curse?

[T/N: The red string of fate (unmei no akai ito) is an East Asian belief that an invisible red string is tied around one’s finger to their true love. The two connected by the string are destined to be soulmates and lovers.]

Kakeru: By pounding on this, anyone and everyone begins dancing! Some mysterious drum!

Koi: It’s feeding into my desire to play it a little...!

Kakeru: A doll whose hair gets longer...?

Koi: GAHHH! That’s clearly some sorta psychic phenomenon!! Some kinda ghost is in it! That’s way too scary!!

Kakeru: *laughs* You’ve fought demons, but ghosts are what scare you?

Koi: Demons and ghosts are completely different! Ghost stories send chills up my spine!! I need my feelings to get through to you~~~!

Kakeru: It’s not getting through~~~

Koi: SHOOT! I wonder if there are any things that are lucky items, in the most correct sense of the word? I’m feeling so chilly, I want some sort of little reward!

Kakeru: *giggles* With this much stuff, I get the feeling that you’ll actually get something if you ask.

Whew... Still, I didn’t know that the world was filled with these many mysteries.

Koi: Hmm... Hey, you know. After I train and get stronger...

Kakeru: Yeah?

Koi: I’d like to travel all around the world!

I want to see all sorts of things, meet all sorts of people, discover all sorts of mysteries, and go on a journey!

I’m sure it’ll be fun.

Kakeru: A journey...?

Koi: Yeah, a journey!

Up until now, the environment’s been too dangerous for Jinzoku, so I haven’t been able to really leave my hometown very far.

But I get the feeling that I can go just about anywhere once I get stronger, and if Kakeru-san’s with me!

Kakeru: Me?

Koi: Yeah! You’re going to go on a journey with me, right?

Kakeru: Journey... A journey, you say... Heh. Yeah, that sounds good. I’ve also never gone that far, either! I’m going, definitely going! It’ll totally be fun, for sure!

Koi: All righty, then! That’s settled! Just wait a little, ‘kay?

I’ll get a bit stronger, and I won’t just be the one being helped. I’ll become a real, genuine partner to you!

Kakeru: Well, from a Gokuzoku’s standpoint~? I’m absolutely fine with you letting me handle the fights~

Koi: When it comes to that, see~ I have my own sense of pride too~

Kakeru: Is that how things go?

Koi: Yep, that’s how things go.

Kakeru: Hehe. Then I’ll wait for you. Actually, lemme rephrase that. I’ll keep helping you train, ‘kay?

Koi: Yeah! I look forward to working with you. ...But even though we’re talking about our futures...

Kakeru: For now, we’re being cornered by cleaning up the task right in front of our eyes, is what you were gonna say?

Koi: You got it. Ah. Found another strange orb.

Kakeru: Doesn’t it seem like, if we collect seven of those, a wish-granting dragon will pop out?

Koi: I’ve heard about that sorta item before...