Koori no Mamono no Monotagari volume 1, part 1

Koori no Mamono no Monogatari by Shiho Sugiura
Translations by Sumeragi, March 2002

Legend
words - thoughts/unspoken
(name) - someone else speaking in person's thoughts
<words> - actions
[words] - side dialogue in small print
[arrow - words] - an author's comment arrow at speaker
{words} - my comments

Volume 1, pp 7 - 46

Pg 7

The Ice-cold Demon's Tale

Narration
Long ago to the far west of a certain village
There was a lone cavern
Inside of it
There was a demon that was like ice without blood or tears

Man
Save me…I beg you, please
Don't kill me…

Narration
Those that enter the cavern never return again.

Pg 8

Demon
…He was wrong as well…
Is there anyone who has the Tear Jewel

Demon
Again, prey (a human) is coming near
This time as well
One the way to death, full with the flavor of fear
At that moment, the purest thing of the world
The Tear Jewel will flow

Pg 9

The Ice-Cold Demon's Tale (note: this is the author's translation of the title, so it's the one I'll use)

Pg 10

Young Man
Ah
It's here
It's pretty big
In this cavern

Pg 11

Young Man
Eh?
Uwah
Live a demon like ice without blood or tears
!!
No person who has set foot in this cavern has yet to return safely

Pg 12

Demon
You've come, human

Pg 13

Young Man
---The…
The ice-cold demon!!

Pg 14

Young man
Wow---

Demon
Eh?

Young man
You are really here!!

Demon
Wha
What's with this human?
To this point of those that have come
(Man) Mon…monster!!
Once they see me, their faces fill with fear
But this guy isn't scared whatsoever!!

Young Man
[Wow]
[Amazing, the real thing]

Demon
What is with him
Hey!! You!!

Young man
It's "Ishuca"
[nice to meet you]

Demon
Shut up!!
[I didn't ask for your name]
Look down!!

Ishuca
"Down"?

Pg 15

Demon
How about that
At this, humans generally start shaking
Do you understand? Since you've come here, that is your fate

Ishuca
…Those people were…

Demon
Many have also been in this position ended up filling my hunger
Now, become more frighten

Pg 16

Ishuca
…Are you hungry

Demon
Don't say that

Ishuca
…I'm sorry, I don't have anything

Demon
I don't want to hear this!!
…What is with this human!?
Is he an imbecile
Clueless
…Do you not have a fearful heart!!

Ishuca
Eh?
[Whee, empty air---]

Demon
[Listen to me!!]
I've heard that what humans fear most is "Death"!!

Ishuca
Uh…I guess that's true, but
But I'm different since I'm not afraid of death.

Pg 17

Demon
That makes things difficult

Ishuca
Eh?
Difficult? What is difficult

Demon
…I am searching for the Tear Jewel which should flow from a human fearing death at the time near death!

Ishuca
What's that.

Demon
You don't know!? It's the jewel that grants any wish!!
[I don't care, don't ask anymore with that stupid voice!]

Ishuca
"Grants a wish"?
[Arrow - He asks]

Demon
…That's right
[Arrow - He gave up]
The purest tear drop in this world that becomes the jewel that can grant but one wish
I am looking for it.

Ishuca
…But…what is this so-called "Pure Tear"?
[What's it called?]
How do you find it

Pg 18

Demon
The most pure tears in this world are those tears flowing from the depths of despair of a human who is near death.
The sadness at death, shivering with fear, with despair
This certainly form the most pure, gentle tears of the human's lifetime
So I search among those tears cried from fear

Ishuca
…He---h, amazing! I didn't know anything about that!
[He's a pretty cool person]
[Arrow - He isn't a person (human)…]

Demon
…What's with his brain…
I feel like dropping him…

Ishuca
And then? What happens to the tear that flows?

Demon
Bastard, listen to a person's story!! I said I'd get a wish with the Tear Jewel!!

Pg 19

Ishuca
…What would you wish for?

Demon
…Look, you…
What do you think about my situation
[It should be obvious]
I can't get free of this aggravating ice spell!!
[I can't use either of my arms or legs]

Ishuca
Ice!? Can't…it be melted?

Demon
There wouldn't be a problem if it melted!!
How many decades has it already been
(Priest) …It's impossible, Blood. This ice spell cannot be broken

Pg 20

Demon
(Priest) While in that unmelting ice, think of yourself
(Priest) Stay there quietly for a while
Damn that priest who put this curse on me
"Think of yourself" he said, but what's wrong
Is a demon supposed to live for someone else's sake!!

Ishuca
…How about…fire? Can't it heat it up? Wouldn't it melt?

Demon
It wouldn't melt!!
Even with a flame nearby, nothing would melt
This type of ice is stronger than diamond
It wouldn't be dented!

Ishuca
Is that so…
That's…troubling…
…What could I do

Demon
---This…This guy…

Pg 21

Demon
Doesn't he understand his own situation!?

[Arrow (Ishuca) - First, currently caught and may be on the brink of being eaten (killed)]
[Arrow (Demon) - And then, the instigator of catching]

Ishuca
[U-n, so it doesn't melt]

Demon
…
Shouldn't a person be worrying in this situation!!
[I am a demon]
…How far does his stupidity go

Ishuca
Ah!! Hey, hey

Demon
…What is it

Ishuca
Don't you get frostbite? Are you okay?

[Background - Earnest.]

Demon
Would I get such a thing
[I'm a demon!!]
…I'm bored with this talk with you
I shouldn't associate with him

Ishuca
!!

Demon
Enough

Pg 22

Demon
I should quickly eat this guy

Ishuca
Ah, say, do you have a name?

Demon
If he isn't scared of death, then he won't cry the Tear Jewel
I have nothing to do with him
…Blood

Ishuca
Blood? [Ah, that's right] Didn't you say you were hungry

Blood
What?
[I didn't say such a thing]

Ishuca
Just wait a moment!

Blood
Wha?

Ishuca
There were some delicious looking fruits at the entrance of the cave! I'm going to collect some, so hold on!

Blood
Eh?
Go…going to get some…why…
…Ha

Pg 23

Blood
He
He ran away!!
[Right before my eyes]
I…I did that when he was so easily in my grasp!!
I'm a fool
He's probably running home!!
…I underestimated him
Under that airheaded idiot, did he really have a clever mind!?
…Defeated!!
…It's been a long time
He was different
Young…soft hair as well as white skin

Pg 24

Blood
His face wasn't that bad either
Chi…

Ishuca
Blood! I'm back!

[Background - Large catch]

Ishuca
Here, they are probably good [It's a large drop]

Blood
…

Ishuca
Here… [Nice place for a rock ledge]
Ah, you can't move your arms

Blood
...

Ishuca
Here, [Ah---n]

Blood
Is…

Pg 25

Blood
Is he a fool!?

Blood
…
…He is a fool
Why did he come back with food for a demon
…Shouldn't he have escaped!? It would've been best
For a person he doesn't know who will eat him
More so, is he asleep!?
Did he fall asleep right in front of a demon!! [Lovely!!]
[Arrow between the two - About three meters]
[Easily within attacking reach of my hair]
(Ishuca) I've been walking since morning, so I'm tired
(Ishuca) I'm going to take a little nap!
(Ishuca) Good night, Blood!
Don't give me "Good night" [Guess it was good night]

Pg 26

Blood
Defenseless, unsafe
Unafraid of anything, this strange guy
[…There's a touch of drool]
An airhead
Stupidity

Ishuca
…Funi

Blood
[What's "Funi"]
…
I haven't killed him
---Doesn't matter, even if I said it
Not that I don't feel like it
It'd be boring to get a defenseless guy, especially since his stupidity would reflect on me if I ate him!
…Well, next time
I'll bide my time until the next prey (human) comes along…

Pg 27

Ishuca
Ah, morning Blood

Blood
!?
I…

Ishuca
So demons sleep, too---

Blood
I fell asleep!? [Me, with this human]
When I've never slept all this time alone!!

Ishuca
…What is it?

Blood
Ah, nothing…
Well, with him as a foe, my life isn't in danger

Ishuca
Ah, say, Blood. Is it okay for me to touch you?

Blood
Wha?

Pg 28

Ishuca
Ah! I knew it. Your body is cold
The blood circulation is bad!

Blood
I’m getting used to this airhead talk
…Look, you…

Ishuca
It's Ishuca

Blood
…Ishuca… …don't you know I'm a demon?

Ishuca
Eh? Yeah [I know, but]
Ah…could it be your blood doesn't flow?

Blood
…no, I'm not sure
Nothing flows

Ishuca
Fuh---n…ah, I just remembered
My dead grandmother told me a lot about that

Pg 29

Ishuca
"Don't go near the cavern since there is an ice-cold demon who doesn't have blood or tears," she said
[Although, she said ice ghost, not an ice demon]

Blood
Ho! I'm that infamous.

Ishuca
Ne!

Blood
…Oh, damn! I'm slipping into his pace!!
…However
Why did he enter this cavern
…There were chances to leave
I also fell asleep earlier
…Why
Unless he seriously

Ishuca
Blood,
If I die, it's okay to eat me

Pg 30

Blood
…
…That's the first time a human has said that

Ishuca
Eh!? Really!? [Huh? They don't say it?]

Blood
It's normal to not say that!!
…Your body is important and you should treat it that way! You are an idiot!

Ishuca
…Blood is kind…

Blood
What!?
It's…not
I said it because you are too much of an idiot!
[Don't misunderstand me!]

Ishuca
Ah-ha-ha, it's the truth
It's true, thanks!
Ah…that's right

Pg 31

Blood
!?

Ishuca
It's not good to have a cold body, after all, right? Just giving a little warmth

Blood
…How many times do I have to tell you that I'm a demon!!
[I'm fine!!]
[So stop hanging on me]

Ishuca
Maybe I could melt the ice!

Blood
As if you could melt it, idiot!

Ishuca
But, isn't it a little bit warmer

Blood
…I guess

Pg 32

Blood
…

Ishuca
…I am glad I met you, Blood

Blood
What?
[What are you saying]

Ishuca
Thought you're a demon, you are kind

Blood
I told you, it's not that I'm kind…

Ishuca
You know, it really is okay to eat me
I like Blood

Pg 33

Blood
…Hey? Don't grab like that…

Ishuca
Ow
Ow-ow-ow…ow

Blood
…Ishuca?
Hey, what is it. What hurts [why out of the blue]

Ishuca
Ah, ah-ha-ha-ha…sorry

Blood
!

Ishuca
I

Pg 34

Ishuca
My death is coming
I
I have a weak heart…it can't be cured
[It's not strange in my village]
I don't have family and I don't want to bother others

Blood
…And so…you came here…?
Alone? Near death? To not bother others?

Ishuca
Un, so
So I'm no longer afraid of death

Pg 35

Ishuca
And so, I'm sorry
I can't cry the Tear Jewel you are looking for
Ah, however
I can give you some more warmth for awhile!

Blood
…Ishuca

Pg 36

<Ishuca's grip on the demon loosens and the young man slips>

Blood
Ishuca!!
He's falling

Pg 37

<Surprisingly, the ice breaks as Blood goes to catch Ishuca.>

Blood
The ice

Pg 38

Blood
…Why did the ice
…no
This is more important right now
…Hey!
Ishuca!? Hey!!
His body is still warm
Get a hold of yourself!! Ishuca!! Hey!!
His heart

Pg 39

Blood
It's already stopped
Why
…are you such an idiot, this guy
Worrying people too much with a body so close to death
You brought your death
(Ishuca) And so, I'm sorry
(Ishuca) I can't cry the Tear Jewel you are looking for, Blood
…It's not that you

Pg 40

Blood
That you

Narration
---The ice-cold demon without blood or tears who

Pg 41

Narration
Always and always
Was searching for the Tear Jewel that grants wishes…

<Blood, with cut hair, is looking at someone who is holding a finger to his own wrist>

Voice
…
…There
There isn't a pulse after all…

Pg 42

Ishuca
Eh…Wh
Why!? [Why isn't there a pulse---!?]

[Arrow - Hair was cut since it was bothersome]

Blood
…Who knows…
It can't be, I can't say
Surely it can't be that I, a fearsome ice-cold demon

Ishuca
[E-eh---]
[E-eh---]
[Why don't I have a pulse---?!]

Blood
That I cried for him
And the thing I've always searched for

Ishuca
[Uwah-ah-ah]
[It's really not there!!!]
[Does this mean I'm a zombie---]

Blood
The Tear Jewel
Foolishness
I've gone over this again and again, and I!!

Ishuca
[Ha!!]
[Does this mean I'm a comrade to demons!?]

Blood
I saved a human's life!!

Pg 43

Blood
However, since he regained consciousness
Ishuca

Ishuca
…It is okay if I go with you?
…I don't really understand what happened, but I seem to be something like a zombie, and I can't go back to the village like this
[I'm a legitimate demon]
…Would it be impossible for me to go with you?
…Ah!!

Pg 44

Ishuca
I'll give my entire body to you!
Whenever I'm bothersome
Eat me
If you're hungry, it'd be okay for you to eat me

Blood
…so it'd be okay to eat you?

Ishuca
…Un
It's okay, if it's Blood
You can eat me

Blood
…I see

Pg 45

Ishuca
…Huh?

Pg 46

Ishuca
Eh?…Blood, when you say you'll eat…eat me
…You meant that!?

Blood
…Let's go

[Arrow - The guy said something like "eat everything of me" earlier]

Narration
The story of the ice-cold demon ends here
And the second part of the demon's tale begins

Continue on to Part 2, Volume 1

Back to Koori no Mamono no Monotagari