KnMnM volume 4, part 1

Koori no Mamono no Monogatari by Shiho Sugiura
Translations by Sumeragi, January 2003

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 4, pp 7 - 56

Pg 7

Calm
The night when the body sleeps
Moon of the night
Silver of the moon
Silver and gold

Pg 8

The demon of golden color

Pg 9

Blood and Ishuca Series
The Voiceless Call

Pg 10

Blood
--- Drops of stone
Are here---!!

Pg 11

Blood
Here

Ishuca
They are really jewels!
[How~~~ Amazing~~~]
These beautiful jewels are what Wild-san wanted as a favor of Blood
[Ah, the one called "Wild-san" is the demon jewel seller who is Blood's long time friend]

Blood
[He's not really my friend]

Ishuca
(Wild) Alright, Blood
(Wild) I'll be three times more grateful if you would go get those at the Toei cliffs, as well
---And so, we've come to the Toei cliffs to get him these jewels

Pg 12

Ishuca
[Though I was listening, I didn't get anything]
Those words from before, where are they from?

Blood
...You mean the incantation just now

Ishuca
Un

Blood
[A-ah] Where are the words from... More than 'what words', they are words that accurately describe certain "things" [that is]

Ishuca
"Accurately"?

Blood
They are words that can express things accurately, and thus have the power to bring "things" into existence
[Naturally, only if the person has powers]
The words of power are necessary to create some kind of "form"

Ishuca
Why?

Blood
Without the words, I'd be unable to express "how it is there"
An item can't be created from the mind's imagination alone, but created from the words I speak [or the incantation]

Ishuca
Fuhn...

Pg 13

Ishuca
Do demons speak with those words [always]

Blood
No. Only when incanting or creating a contract.

Ishuca
Contracts, too? [fuhn]

Blood
A-ah, that's why contracts first formed between us can never be broken [until the deal is done]

Ishuca
[Heh---] Because of the words of power

Blood
[A-ah] If it's broken, death could follow

Ishuca
[Eh] You'd be killed!?

Blood
[Right] From the "words"

Ishuca
The "words"?

Blood
With the right words combined, a contract becomes a spell of the soul
The words of the contract cling to the person's bodies in an observable chain
In the case that the contract (the words) is betrayed, it upsets the correctness of the words, and then a denial reaction occurs

Ishuca
Denial reaction?

Pg 14

Blood
The wording of the contract slices through the body
Specters of sharp thorns that pierce the flesh of the body and stab into the heart

Ishuca
[...Ha?] That would kill you!!

Blood
That's what I said earlier [you]
Therefore, a contract must be protected since life and death is at stake

Ishuca
Why go so far...

Blood
Isn't it obvious that it's because a demon isn't a creature to be trusted?
Especially by fellow demons

Pg 15

Ishuca
...That's not...

Blood
You trust too much!

Ishuca
[You were fast with that interruption...]
Ah, does your contract with Wild-san also involve the body? [Where is it?]

Blood
A-ah... this is his
[This]
However, he didn't want to do a true marking
(Wild) I'll give you this fixed accessory
(Blood) [Hya]
(Blood) What happens if it's broken [How is it different]
(Wild) [Nh~~~?] It'll pass through the vein on your wrist--- It's a slow acting poison that will eventually spread to the heart and eat it away
(Blood) You've got a bad personality... [You know...]
(Wild) It's alright
(Wild) No matter, you wouldn't break the contract

Ishuca
How about that, he trusts you after all

Pg 16

Ishuca
Are these it for everything in Wild-san's contract for the jewels?

Blood
After one more spot. We'll rest for today and travel further tomorrow

Ishuca
Un.
[Ah!] There is someone's home over there! [Someone could be there]

Blood
[Ah, you're right] That works fine enough. Shall we sleep there

Ishuca
[Didn't you hear me...?] Isn't that someone else's home? [Or is it vacant? There's a chance]

Blood
No one lives there anymore

Ishuca
Uh, but... [empty]

Blood
Wait here a moment

Ishuca
?

Pg 17

Pg 18

Ishuca
Uh... what were those?

Blood
Demons that clung to the house. Seems they were waiting for some prey to come

Ishuca
They disappeared?

Blood
They fled... With my barrier erected, they can't enter anymore [into this house]

Pg 19

Ishuca
I can't enter either?

Blood
[Arrow - forgot his lines]
... [Listen] You can enter... so go in...

Ishuca
[Ah, is that right]

Blood
!

Ishuca
Blood? [What is it]

Blood
Nh [nothing]
Hurry up and go inside
---He's here

Pg 20

Blood
Always watching me---!

Pg 21

Zaha
...That human
He's quite the gentle one...

Nei
You can eat him soon enough. A bit more patience

Zaha
And you? You won't eat him

Nei
It doesn't matter

Zaha
He looks delicious. So young.

Nei
Do as you like. As for me

Pg 22

Nei
I'm doing this
Because I don't want to give up on him again

Ishuca
Eh?
You're going our again for jewels?
[From here?]
You aren't going tomorrow...

Blood
I changed my mind and decided to get it over with quickly
You'll stay here...

Pg 23

Ishuca
...un...

Blood
I can't help but want to end this sooner
To meet with Nei and the others
...Since those demons can't enter through my barrier, you should be fine here
The question is...
Why are they here...

Ishuca
... ...
What kind of shield stops things from passing...

Blood
Once I close the door, don't open it! And isn't it obvious that you shouldn't go outside either? Do you understand that the door isn't to be opened until I return!? [Got it!?]

Ishuca
...Why?

Blood
...That doesn't matter!
For me to say that the demons of the Northern Realms could be targeting us
...It'd be wrong to make him worry foolishly
...I'll only do what I need to and then hurry back [later]

Pg 24

Ishuca
... ...
...I have a somewhat strange feeling about this
Why shouldn't I be allowed outside
...If he wants me to understand, then explaining to me would have been best
Blood, he doesn't say much about anything
... ...
Leaving to get jewels...
Once he returns... we'll leave here
Then to Wild-san's place... sell the jewels... the contract will be completed
E---to...
...What happens after that?

Pg 25

Ishuca
Thinking about it, there's no place to return to
It seems like that we won't have to go in search of jewels anytime soon
...Huh?
... ...
... ...
Things of the future
It's obvious that everyone is clueless about that
So it's natural that there should be some worry about that fact
...But it's okay
Since for me
What would be best for me to do...?

Pg 26

Blood
---...

Nei
...Doesn't it bring back memories?

Pg 27

Nei
Good afternoon

Blood
He came
...Nei...

Pg 28

Nei
I want to thank you for the last time

Blood
...This guy that time

Nei
With all of our power, we had created that clone
And you so easily killed it
[It was so very difficult, that spell]

Blood
Has no foundation---... [of course...]
...It was because the lot of you selfishly created a duplicate of me
[And so I got rid of it selfishly]

Nei
But
It was for what we wanted
You

Pg 29

Nei
Forgive us, anyhow
Since you must have had a reason to destroy it
...To decisively kill it
[Fuh]

Blood
Do you have business with me today
[Hurry up and state your business!]
[Why do you have to start off so lengthily]

Nei
[A-ah] ...I have... a little request

Blood
A "request"?

Nei
Within this forest before us, something strange has taken residence there since a short while previous (some decades ago)
...It's troublesome

Pg 30

Blood
After I was no longer here

Nei
It lives within its own barrier... drawing living things inside and then quickly draining their life energy [being its food] Because it somehow draws things in there, no one can thoughtlessly go near those woods
[To avoid becoming food]
In truth, when you came back, I thought to cover you immediately about the situation, but
Since you travel with a human child, I thought it best to wait for another opportunity to tell you

Blood
... ...

Nei
...Should I have not informed you of this situation?

Pg 31

Blood
...Don't give me that tone!
Anyhow, why should I have to deal with this annoyance

Nei
...Why did it have to come to this?
Leader

Pg 32-33

Nei
...Deal with me
Please, Leader

Pg 34

Blood
---...

Nei
That thing in the deep forest
Either seal it or defeat it for us
And then we won't approach that human a second time
...This is
An unwanted gamble
Recklessly desperate

Pg 35

Nei
We know that there's no way for us to enter your barrier
But you
However small the threat that people make
It must be nipped in the bud
For instances, if it were you
No matter how trivial, how small the fangs---...

Blood
...In return
Once I take care of it, no one will get close to Ishuca

Nei
For his sake

Pg 36

Nei
Since you hold that human dear to you---...
...E-eh
If you destroy it...

Blood
Understood. It's a deal
I'll destroy it immediately

Nei
...Please
In the thousand to one chance you fail in this contact, that human in exchange...

Blood
You will not touch him!!

Pg 37

Blood
I will do it... understood?

Nei
Eh?

Blood
Do you object?

Nei
Eh... no... [I couldn't]
This wasn't my wish... however

Blood
Then, it's a contract

Pg 38

Blood
...Until that seal breaks, no one goes near Ishuca

Blood
---Upon the mediation of words for a proper contract
I pledge to give to thee what thou desires

Nei
...I also pledge to give to thee what thou desires
---Then evidence

Pg 39

Blood & Nei
In substitute of a signature to the words of the contract, this etching on our bodies!

Pg 40

Blood
You there!!
Didn't you hear!?
The contract is formed!!

Pg 41

Blood
How long are you planning to stand there!!
You all are bound to the words of the contract as well!!

Demons
Hee...

Blood
---Immediately leave that spot!!

Pg 42

Blood
...I have a previous contract to fulfill before getting to this one
Tomorrow

Nei
...Alright

Nei
Zaha

Zaha
Hee---
Our leader is upset---... [Only with his voice was he able to force us to scatter like little fish]

Pg 43

Zaha
Only you are able to get a word in to the leader
[You've got nerve]
[As usual]
Say, say, is it true that the leader travels with the human, but doesn't intend to eat him?

Nei
...Yes

Zaha
Fuh---n?
[Neh] Why? Does he like him after all
What's so good about that human? [For that kind of special privilege]

Nei
Zaha
Don't speak about it
Letting too much escape your mouth will get others upset

Pg 44

Zaha
...You love our leader too much, Nei

Nei
There's isn't love for him. Not anymore

Zaha
Horrid liar
...But even our leader was taken easily by that story! What you said was the truth and nothing but, technically. And for that human

Nei
Zaha!!

Zaha
...Look... [already upset]
...Sorry, Nei
Nei~~~ What... are you that angry---
[About the original discussion] Didn't you just say it---

Pg 45

Zaha
It'll be okay since it's going as you had expected! [Rather simply at that]

Nei
... ...
... After this
Leader
Holds that human dear
...In truth, if there's anything to thought about is
The joy it'll be to kill him
With unknown amounts of hardships
That human taking what I want
Something anyone would want---

Pg 46

Zaha
Given that, wouldn't you say that the leader will be angry from more than the just failure? That at the best, he'll return like that to us

Nei
...That may be true, but

Zaha
It's okay, since most of all
Our leader will be returning to us

Nei
...Yes
...I must be patient

Zaha
And then at some point, we'll kill that human

Nei
Yes
Truly

Pg 47

Nei
As soon as possible, I'll do away with him---!

Blood
Hey

Ishuca
Blood? [Welcome home---]
That was quick... did you already get them? [I thought you'd be out longer]

Blood
A-ah
We're leaving again tomorrow

Ishuca
Eh?

Pg 48

Ishuca
Where is it this time... [cliffs again]

Blood
I need to make a kind of side trip

Ishuca
A side trip?

Blood
Well, don't worry about it

Ishuca
...Say, Blood
I don't get it---...

Blood
Eh?

Ishuca
You're quite the enigma... [your actions...]

Blood
Ha?

Ishuca
Even though you say don't worry, you make me worried---...

Blood
Don't worry about...

Ishuca
See, again---

Blood
Ah
...What it this? Aren't you acting strange

Pg 49

Ishuca
...Sorry

Blood
Eh?

Ishuca
When I'm alone... I worry a bit... over various things I don't understand
Sorry

Blood
Ah
Of course, damn it
I left him alone here
[Id...] Idiot, you aren't to blame. It's my fault
...Those guys (demons) won't come near you anymore [be assured]

Ishuca
[Eh?] What's this about

Blood
...Nevermind
[Never even noticed what happened... just like him...]
...Anyhow

Pg 50

Blood
I'm sorry... for leaving you alone

Ishuca
Uh...un [It's nothing]
...A-ah
...Something's wrong
It's unreasonable [no good, no good]

Blood
I made a contract with Nei and the others today

Ishuca
...I thought I had gotten used to living alone...

Blood
It seems like a demon within the deeper forest is being a problem, so I'm going to go clean up the situation [tomorrow]
...A-ah, before that
Here, I got there (jewels) just now

Ishuca
Wah [pretty]
They look like beads

Blood
Listen you... these are rare, thus expensive jewels... [Beads, he says...]

Ishuca
[Eh? These are?]

Pg 51

Ishuca
Saying so, how much are they? I wouldn't know since I've never compared jewels... [Eh?]

Ishuca
E-eh!?
There are things like that!?

Blood
[Ah?]

Ishuca
[Dang! These now!!]
That isn't the same level as my living expenses
That's a fortune!!
[What do demons do with that kind of income!!]

Blood
Eh? Isn't it normal?
[About that much]
For two people

Ishuca
For two people?

Blood
Two people

Pg 52

Blood
Enough to maintain your share [I did it for you]
I'll hurry up and finish this business, and then we'll go home!

Ishuca
...Return home where?
I don't have that, but

Pg 53

Ishuca
Of course
I said for now on
I'd always be with Blood...
Somehow...
It's funny to say so
A family?
...This isn't a family
Since a while ago, there's been something I haven't understood between us
It's fine
Though I may not know or understand what is coming in the future

Pg 54

Ishuca
Or what's even coming tomorrow
If I'm with Blood
I won't have to worry at all
... ...
Am I your lover?

Blood
...[However]
This guy sleeps so defenselessly---...

Pg 55

Blood
No matter what, he can fall asleep... [like here between my spread legs]
I wonder what he thinks I am [here] [Arrow - probably a sofa]
He has no survival instincts... [certainly, he can't]
Hey, you... can you really sleep in front of others?...
...It should be fun when tomorrow comes

Pg 56

Nei
If only tomorrow would hurry and come---...

Continue on to Part 2, Volume 4

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