Jugglus Juggler Chronicle: Ja no Michi wa Hebi/Full Translation

This article contains the full translation of the novel .
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It’s year 3069 of . The Interstellar Alliance’s resource transport ship is heading to the while delivering the Enmanium Ore from Planet Centaurus.
Right now, the Interstellar Alliance is in a strained relationship with the emerging . The Aprohols is navigating in a region of space that’s just near the Imbat Federation’s territory. Hence, precisive aerospace guidance is necessary.
It was at that moment that an astronavigator yelled.
"An unidentified flying object is approaching from the starboard front!"
The incoming object is initially thought to be a space debris- just appearing as if a giant sphere of inorganic matter. On its surface however, it has something akin to a shining blue blood vessel.
“Commencing Neutrino scan!”
The captain ordered his inspecting engineer.
“That object consists of 50% special alloy… another 50% has the reading of a living being.”
The giant sphere suddenly begins to transform. A horned head appears first, then followed by a giant turret appearing from its slimy reptilian skin!
This monster’s name is the Cyborg Monster: Grigio Raiden.
The hump on the monster’s back shines while pulsing lights gather on the turret.
“It’s a monster! Fall back!”
The Aprohols desperately try to turn its rudder.
But it’s too late.
The cyborg monster fires its EMP cannon, the Raiden Destroy Cannon from its turret to the Aprohols as it explodes upon contact.
The Aprohols laid waste without even the time to send in a distress call.
Grigio Raiden approaches as she munches on the Aprohols’ damaged hull.
Through recovering data from the Aprohols, the Interstellar Alliance learns that this is basically a planned disaster, as in terrorism.
The Interstellar Alliance fiercely denounces Imbat Federation to be the perpetrator behind this sabotage.
But on the contrary, the Imbat Federation strongly protested said action and declared it as a baseless hoax made by the Interstellar Alliance.
Tensions between the planets are rising here, and the crisis of space war is imminent.
T’was an era.
====
“The Interstellar Alliance welcomes new colonists to the planet. Right now, there’s plenty of perks, such as exemptions from space taxes. And now everyone can fly to various worlds on amazing planets!”
That announcement echoes through towering buildings.
This is Planet Kanon’s space airport.
The bubbling acid rain has turned into a fog, oozing out poisonous neon lights.
A man in a black suit from Earth, an umbrella, and black sunglasses steps down from a spacecraft. In his hand is a Shisa plushie, a souvenir from Okinawa.
His name is Jugglus Juggler.
Juggler stares at the giant structures on the now-changed Planet Kanon.
The era when the planet Kanon was ravaged by war-
Several centuries have passed since Gai and Juggler visited this land, and now Planet Kanon is under control of the Interstellar Alliance. Once blessed with an abundance of nature, Planet Kanon has now turned into one of the most luxurious resorts in the universe.
On the vast site where the once grew, the Interstellar Alliance has set up a general leisure building that looks exactly like the Tree of Life. A shopping mall is situated on the first floor.
“The Tree of Life, huh? It’s gotten pretty flashy.”
A 3D hologram began casting propaganda images in the air.
“The Tree of Life structure is a universal monument that celebrates the wonders of life. Once the Flower of Life/いのちの花 blooms, the universe is enveloped with the light of hope…”
Juggler’s face turns into a frown.
Jugglus Juggler himself was the very man who cut down the Tree of Life and massively changed the fate of this planet.
Juggler is massively hated by the people of Kanon, who were used to living with the Tree of Life since ancient times, hence he is incapable of slipping into this planet unless he wears a pair of sunglasses and a suit from Earth.
So why is Juggler even here in Planet Kanon in the first place?
It’s still raining.
Juggler stands still in a cemetery on the town’s outskirts.
This is the grave of the .
Juggler puts a single flower and the Shisha plushie souvenir from Okinawa.
Micott was a female warrior who once admired Juggler and aspired to become his apprentice, only to die in a moment of weakness.
In the midst of the chaos, Jugglus Juggler failed to contain his outbursts of anger and cut down the Tree of Life.
In the shadow of the great circulation of life posed by the Tree of Life lies the space demon Bezelb. Juggler cut off the Tree of Life itself in order to exterminate those demonic Bezelb. The crime that Juggler committed has become immeasurable in the universe. He becomes wanted by the Interstellar Alliance and the rest of the seven universes for his other misdeeds such as the aforementioned destruction of Tree of Life and escaping the space prison.
But Juggler makes sure to visit Micott’s grave at times, even when he’s at the risk of being arrested.
“Jugglus Juggler, surrender immediately!”
Juggler turns his eye around to see the figure of an Interstellar Alliance garrison jumped out. A platoon has already surrounded him.
It’s useless for him to act uncharacteristically like a saint.
“Shut it. Don’t make a fuss in front of someone’s grave.”
“It’s useless to resist. If you do, we’ll shoot you.”
“Don’t do it. You’ll get a pay cut, right?”
Armed with laser rifles, the troops steadily approach him. Juggler unsheathes his Jashin Blade.
The Jashin Blade is a blade that splits ice even when simply pulled out.
Rain and laser bullets rain down on Juggler.
Then Juggler simply spins his Jashin Blade like a pinwheel as he knocks away the laser bullets.
He dives straight into the middle of the formation. After slicing an Interstellar Alliance’s laser sword with his own Jashin Blade, Juggler starts running into the pouring acid rain.
He runs. And keeps running.
Someone tries to aim him with a high-powered rifle in sight.
That person. They are a sniper whose face is covered in a helmet.
The sniper pulls the trigger of their electromagnetic rifle aimed at Juggler.
BANG!
Juggler gets shot with an EMP bullet on his right chest.
“Ugh!”
His muscles and nervous system are paralyzed, and Juggler falls to the ground.
Kasha... Kasha... That’s the sound of footsteps akin to someone walking on metallic prosthetic legs.
The approaching sniper stares down at Juggler.
Juggler asks in a heavy breath.
“Who are you?”
“I am .”
The next moment, Juggler swings his Jashin Blade with his left hand.
The sniper changes their rifle into a sword mode. Juggler’s Jashin Blade and the sniper’s electromagnetic rifle clash as it emits a spark. Sagittari then proceeds to beat Juggler on the floor with their electromagnetic rifle.
The last thing Juggler sees is Sagittari turning their back and walking away.
The sniper is gone when the rest of the Interstellar Alliance troops arrive.
X X X
Dozens of Gai Kurenai are playing Orbnica.
“AAAAHHHH!!!!!”
Juggler quickly wakes up from a nightmare that gives him unimaginable headaches.
His hands are tied to an electronic lock.
“You looked like you’re having a nightmare.”
Juggler finds himself in a room covered in thick rugs and surrounded by mahogany filing cabinets. Kanon’s skyscrapers can be seen from the windows on the entire wall.
This is the top floor of a megastructure modeled after the Tree of Life. It’s the office of the Interstellar Alliance’s .
Standing in front of Juggler is the consul, .
A bureaucrat from the Interstellar Alliance with a gentle smile. Surrounding them are Interstellar Alliance guards, armed with guns.
“You’re Juggler-kun, aren’t you? The man who once cut down the Tree of Life. You became the bodyguard of numerous space terrorists and even carried out assassinations at times. You even led the Lord Monsters on Earth to run wild, causing an enormous amount of damage.”
“That sure is quite nostalgic. So… are you going to punish me?”
Rebeshie looks out the window at the traffic jam of air buses.
"The Tree of Life gives birth to the light that creates life and the shadow that threatens it. Light and shadow are brothers. And the Tree of Life spreads the , bringing wisdom to the universe."
Juggler starts to speak.
“That stupidly massive tree shaped like a pile of salad sure is a big deal to you guys, huh?”
Rebeshie grins and says, "I respect your point of view."
Juggler secretly tries to free himself from the electronic lock.
"Even on the earth where I used to live, there's a story about humans who ate the fruit of wisdom and were expelled from paradise. Do you want to know who tempted those humans to eat it?"
“Who?”
“A snake.”
Juggler lets out a poisonous snake, a Habu that he brought from Okinawa out of his sleeve cuff.
This Habu is , who becomes Juggler’s pet after getting attached to him and has since joins him in his interstellar travels.
“Aahh!!”
He tosses that snake and scares one of the guards. He then draws out the Jashin Blade from the void and points it at Rebeshie’s neck.
“Freeze!”
Rebeshie remains calm.
“Juggler-kun, you’re a little too flashy. Drawing out your Jashin Blade like that.”
“What?”
“A good katana should remain sheathed, you know?”
Rebeshie’s gentle smile persists.
“I have no real reason to detain you. I’d like to make a bargain with you.”
“A bargain?”
Juggler let go of his sword.
Rebeshie then projects a 3D image to the air.
It projects an image of a man wearing a golden helmet. He is a big, muscular man. The helmet has large horns resembling a cow.
“He’s the . Also known as . He sells monster weapons to both the Interstellar Alliance and our opposing force the Imbat Federation. He’s literally known as .”
Rebeshie continues.
“At some point, Phalaris appears to have obtained the .”
“Seed of Life?”
“It’s the seed from the Tree of Life. If a Tree of Life dies in one universe, a new Seed of Life will sprout somewhere else. The Seed of Life, which brings life and knowledge to the universe, is the circulation of life itself. If he were to exploit that circulation, he can create a that can destroy an entire world.”
The screen then projects a schematic diagram of the DNA and genetic sequences of life.
“A genetic bomb is said to be able to read the DNA of living organisms, rewriting their genetic sequences and destroying them. In other words, it’s a bomb that either annihilates a specific species or turns them into a monster.”
“Did he really make something dangerous like that? Quit pulling my leg.”
“I retrieved this information from a reliable source. So this info is extremely accurate.”
“So…”
Juggler cracks his neck.
“In short, you’re asking whether I can get that thing for you, right?”
“How can we turn a blind eye on something like this inhumane weapon? Tons of innocent people will get hurt.”
“There’s nothing like that when you’re in a war. I’m tired of hearing this.”
“You used to be on the side of justice.”
“Justice, huh? Wars are mostly fought in the name of justice. Justice has a far greater scope of destruction compared to evil. But still, this has nothing to do with me.”
His pet snake then slithers back into Juggler’s sleeve cuff.
“See you. I have to go home or else my mommy will get worried sick.”
Juggler makes his way to the exit.
“You don’t seem to be interested in this, huh?”
Rebeshie says that as he prevents his guards from pointing their guns.
“But I still have another interesting image.”
Another image appears on the 3D screen.
It’s a video of a girl being restrained and wearing headgear.
Pale sparks fluttered, and the girl screamed.
“Jugglus-sama, help! Please save me!”
Juggler’s eyes wide open.
“Isn’t that…”
“Long ago, there was once a prisoner named Biranki who was detained by the Interstellar Alliance. She’s a dangerous princess whose brainwave is connected to another dimension and can summon monsters, reports have it that she escaped captivity with you.”
“What’s the meaning of this?!”
“She’s a unique asset for the monster weapon controller, Phalaris. Right now, she’s being imprisoned somewhere in the Imbat Federation, where Phalaris is hiding.”
“What is she even trying to do?”
“If you can rescue her and bring the Seed of Life, then I will terminate your criminal charges.”
Juggler spits it out.
“She’s been nothing but a nuisance to me. How should I know?”
Rebeshie looks up to Juggler.
“A weak-looking girl is seeking your help. Don’t you want to rescue her?”
Juggler gets furious.
“Are you thinking of me as some kind of a good guy? No way I’m going there! I am not going to the Imbat Federation!”
====
Juggler has slipped into the Imbat Federation.
The . There’s a space bar located at the town’s outskirts. The shady place has gamblers, mercenaries, outlaws and deceivers from all over the galaxy as well as spies from various planets, that are enough to be placed under the watchful eyes of Imbat Federation’s secret police agents.
A pair of zero-gravity dice stop in the center of the globe.
Both dice show the digit number one.
“. I’ll be taking them all.”
Dressed in a black frock coat, Juggler takes all of the .
“Darn it! I want a rematch!”
The losing gunman Alien Nackle leans his body forward.
On the stage is an Alien Salome who dances while bathed in the seven multicolored lights.
The distorted speakers are playing a hit song from the old space network.
English Translation	Original Japanese Text	Japanese Transliteration
After the burning sun has set down
Nothing will shine afterward
Without your light
Without any glittering stars
A wanderer, will be lost	
燃える太陽 沈んだあとは
輝くものは何もなし
あなたの光が無かったら
キラキラ星が無かったら
さすらい人は 迷い人	
Moeru taiyō shizunda ato wa
Kagayaku mono wa nani mo nashi
Anata no hikari ga nakattara
Kirakira hoshi ga nakattara
Sasurainin wa mayoi hito
Baphomet is a desert planet, which initially started as a desolated planet with several nomadic settlements, but after the discovery of a massive amount of rare metals buried underground, developments proceeded at once.
In just a span of a few years later, mines, processing factories, cities for the space immigrant workers and giant chimneys were built together.
Thus the is born after the appearances of red light districts, as well as crime and space drugs are running rampant.
The initial puppet government under the Interstellar Alliance fell victim to the revolution, with multiple attempts at coup d'etat followed. The now takes control of the planet and establishes Imbat Federation with neighboring planets. They are currently at odds with the Interstellar Alliance.
A space war is imminent.
Phalaris’ hideout must be somewhere in Baphomet where mercenaries from all over the galaxy are hanging out. And so Juggler snuck into this tavern near the space airport to get the information needed.
“Aww come on, I’ll treat you over for a drink.”
A twin-headed alien who looked like someone from the Altair System is messing around with the Alien Salome dancer. He's one of the mercenary groups that hang out in this town for the sake of war.
“Stop it! Don’t do that in my store, please!”
“Kehkehkeh, you sure about that? You’re going to make my mad. Don’t you know that?”
One of that alien’s two heads smirks.
The twin-headed alien punches the Alien Godola. All the other mercenaries are cheering.
“Let go of me! Don’t touch me!”
Alien Salome then bites the twin-headed alien’s hand.
“Ouch! You darn woman!”
The twin-headed alien tries to beat Alien Salome. But someone grabs and twists his hand in the nick of time. He’s Juggler.
“Owowow! What are you doing?”
“You guys are too young for . Grab yourselves some milk and get out of here.”
“You jerk!”
A group of five/six space mercenaries surround Juggler and draw their electromagnetic knives and laser guns. Everyone makes their move at once.
Juggler draws out his Jashin Blade.
In the next moment, the Jashin Blade slices the twin-headed man’s laser gun into two.
“Eeeek!!!”
Then Juggler grabs the frightened alien’s two heads and slams them into one another.
He kicks and hurls one soldier after another that’s coming for him. This shatters a glassware made from .
“You’ll remember this!”
The rest of the mercenaries run as they spew their curses.
“You okay?”
Juggler lifts up the Alien Salome woman.
“Thank you, Onii-san. Did you come all the way from Earth?”
“Sort of.”
“Would you like a cup of ? It’s from the Black Star.”
“Apologies, but it’s in my policy not to drink a coffee that’s offered to me as a treat.”
“Then perhaps, are you a drifter too?”
“I’m on a carefree trip on my own, riding the tide of the galaxy and letting the solar wind blow.”
“Then it’s the same case as myself too.”
The Alien Salome glances her eyes towards Juggler.
“If you don’t have a place to stay, would you like a night’s stay at my house?”
The Alien Salome leans on Juggler.
“Cut it out.”
Juggler dodges her advances.
“I’m only good at killing and slicing, but not at making something.”
“Tch, you’re not a thirsty man.” said the Alien Salome.
Then Juggler watches as the Alien Godola throws an unconscious mercenary out in the open.
“By the way, the fact that those mercenaries were here means that there’s probably somewhere they’re aiming for a ruckus. You know anything about this?”
“I did hear something along the lines about this…”
Said the Alien Salome.
Beyond this desert after days of traveling, there’s a leftover ruins called .
It’s the ruins from a legendary demon who once ruled this land.
The nomads of this land are afraid to go near that area, but there’s some reports of flying saucers going to the ruins from time to time.
X X X
Juggler decides to ride the nomadic (a giant terrestrial snail) to cross the desert and reach the Gigan Castle.
Bagraba glides lazily across the desert sands.
Juggler has arrived at a place beyond the desert, where the ancient ruins are located.
Nothing seems to be out of place for now.
Juggler draws out his Jashin Blade and reflects it to the Sun. A gigantic building--- the Gigan Castle is reflected on the surface of his sword.
“Hmm. So it uses a fake holography to cloak itself from those Interstellar Alliance guys.”
Juggler does a slashing attack using his Jashin Blade.
The machine that was projecting the hologram split in two, revealing a gigantic and ominous fortress.
The nearby nomads and Bagraba are fleeing the scene at a tremendous speed.
This strange building is grotesquely erected on top of the ancient ruins.
A number of steel domes resembling giant eyeballs are connected by sky corridors, and the exposed gears are constantly rotating, mechanically changing the shape of the entire building.
At the center of the dome group stood a remarkably tall clock tower.
“Truly a Gigan (Artificial Eye) Castle is this.”
Juggler steps on one of the cogwheels exposed on the outer wall, followed by the next cogwheel and climbs up the fortress.
There is a device with a huge fan rotating at high speed.
“So this is the ventilation system.”
Juggler enters the Gigan Castle through this giant spinning fan.
====
The inside of the Gigan Castle is intricate and mysterious, with what appears to be an endless corridor lies ahead.
Juggler then climbs Escher's picturesque stairs. But as he thought that he’s climbing up, he’s actually going downwards without knowing it himself. The light appears from the source which appears to be a giant evil-looking pupil.
This one appears to be one of those many domes.
Right now, the snake in his chest, Crowley, is wriggling.
“Darn it, it’s a trap!”
The masked sniper approaches him from behind.
Sagittari swings their laser sword against Juggler.
The Jashin Blade counters the attack and sparks emitted.
“I was on the receiving end of a surprise attack the other day, but I won’t let it happen again this time.”
Juggler’s Jashin Blade is akin to a living snake, it sneakily dodges the opponent’s swordsmanship and at times tangles them in an instant.
Juggler’s Jashin Blade then knocks away Sagittari’s helmet.
A beautiful woman with long hair appears from the inside.
“You’re a woman?”
For some reason, she has sad eyes.
Juggler had seen her eyes somewhere, he thought to himself.
The next moment, a pit opens under his feet, and Juggler is engulfed in the abyss.
X X X
Gai Kurenai appears holding his conductor baton, and a few other people play the melody of Orb no Inori (Ultraman Orb’s opening song).
Juggler shakes his head and screams in his headache.
“GAI, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! CUT IT OUT ALREADY! CAN’T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE EVEN WHEN I’M BLACKED OUT?!”
Juggler regains consciousness with a streak of light that penetrates the abyss.
Before he knew it, the giant eye peeking through the skylight had turned into a real, bloodshot 3D image. That image is the person who’s staring down at him right now. He must have been that arms dealer Phalaris, judging by that bovine armor.
“....So you must be Phalaris, huh?”
Phalaris's voice is gentle, but has an unfathomable implication.
"You finally made it here, Juggler."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"The actors are now complete. I welcome you. You are one of the most poisonous insects/毒虫/dokumushi in the universe."
Juggler frowns.
“Poisonous insect (dokumushi)?”
“Since you came all the way from Earth, you should have heard of what a Kodoku supposed to be, right?”
“...Kodoku, huh?”
Kodoku is a ritual in which scorpions, spiders, snakes and all the other poisonous creatures are trapped together for them to fight each other in order to create the strongest poison through the last surviving animal.
“A poisonous insect will call the other poisonous insects. Right now, notorious terrorists, assassins and mad scientists from all over the galaxy are gathered here to seek the gene bomb made from the Seed of Life. Let’s start the battle royal to choose the greatest villain of them all. The strongest weapon, the Seed of Life, shall be given to the last one standing.”
The stone door on one side of the room swings open.
There are stone steps inside. Is it imploring him to walk into this route?
Juggler begins to move his legs.
Juggler finally reaches the first arena (coliseum) through a long corridor that could lead nowhere.
In the center of the room stands a skinny man dressed like a playing card’s Joker or a court jester.
“I am .”
His dull purple skin color seems to indicate that this man is an .
Cards with monster patterns are surrounding him.
“I got this power through contacting the darkness when I was young. Now Juggler-kun, I’ll be taking your life.”
The next moment, the cards begin to spin at a dizzying pace, and one card flies into Doman Seman's fingertips.
He confirms the card through its picture.
“Volcanic Monster Birdon, huh? Then I’ll roll in with this!”
An image of Birdon appears above Doman Seman’s head and shoots ferocious flames from its beak.
Juggler spins above the sands to avoid these incoming fireballs.
He gets it, this man draws the power of monsters from selected cards.
Juggler instantly transforms into his Demon Form.
However, Birdon’s flames are too strong to get one step closer. If he can get a single step closer to the opponent, then there’s a probable chance at winning.
Monster Cards spinning in the air at a dizzying pace.
The next card falls onto Doman Seman’s hands.
“Hmm. Subterranean Monster Telesdon, huh?”
In the next moment, Doman Seman disappears.
“Khh. Where did he go?”
Juggler moves forward cautiously with his Jashin Blade in hand.
In an instant, Doman Seman jumps from the ground behind him.
He’s about to aim for Juggler’s neck with a saber in hand.
KASHIN!
The Jashin Blade counterattacks.
The flies through the air and lands a short distance away.
He then holds the third card against Juggler.
“The Coin Monster Kanegon? Why did it have to be this card of all timing…”
A large amount of coins rain down from the ceiling and splash on the floor.
“Could it be… you have no real control over which Monster Card to choose? So it’s all at random, right?”
“SHUT IT! THE NEXT ONE SHALL BE YOUR LAST!”
The next card flashes on Doman Seman’s hand.
“Here it is! The Light Monster Pris-Ma! NOW DIE!”
A beam of light fired from Doman Seman’s fingertips.
Juggler intercepts the beam with his Jashin Blade. The beam reflected on his Jashin Blade like a polished mirror and headed towards Doman Seman.
That beam bursts into Doman Seman.
“GYYYAAAHHH!!!”
Doman Seman falls onto the floor.
The last card flies down onto his fingertips.
“Void Monster Greeza…”
Hyo hyo hyo hyo hyo… a shrill, ghostly laugh echoes.
“NO…. DON’T DRAG ME INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE VOID!”
Something that resembles a pale, translucent hand stretches out from the void and begins to drag Doman Seman.
“NOOOO!!!!!!”
Doman Seman vanishes in front of Juggler’s eyes.
Good grief.
And so Juggler leaves this dome behind.
Juggler suddenly stops while journeying in the complicated passage.
A dead end.
Juggler touches the stone wall with his bare hands and finds a slight step.
“So this is a secret door.”
Juggler kicks it and tries to take a step outside, but…
“THIS IS THE END!”
But there’s no room outside, only open air with a sheer cliff below.
A rumbling wind blows.
Reaching his own hand, there’s a response. There’s rivets welded to a steel.
Juggler climbs that wall with the welded rivets as his stepping stone.
Once he reaches the aerial corridor, Juggler aims for the next dome.
As he enters the second dome, a voice echoes from somewhere.
“We’re finally going to face off together. Juggler-kun. I am Alien Chibull Mabuze.”
“Show yourself!”
“Fufufu… in the end you’re just like a moth flying to that sorta thing.”
“A flame.”
“SHUT IT! I KNOW THAT! THE FULL SENTENCE OF IT!”
Gogogogogo… A giant that seems to pierce the clouds appears from the ground.
Juggler squints his eyes as he bears witness to the giant with a truly bizarre appearance.
The arms came from Alien Baltan, the swords came from Alien Tsuruk, and that mono eye that shines on the center looks like that of Alien Zamu… this figure is a patchwork akin to a poorly-made plushie for kids.
“His name is . He’s made of various aliens’ body parts. I put together the corpses I obtained in the battlefields from various parts of the universe and breathe life into him.”
The next moment, an Alien Baltan’s arm fires a Freezing Beam!
“Ahh!”
Juggler quickly avoids that beam. Now the stone pillar that stood behind him collapsed.
Zigzag slashes Juggler using Alien Tsuruk’s sword.
He counteracts with the Jashin Blade, but Juggler is gradually pushed behind by the monster’s inhuman strength.
Alien Chibull Mabuze’s voice echoes somewhere.
“I have a lifework.”
“A lifework?”
“My lifework. It’s to unravel the mystery of the universe, the mystery behind the creation of life. I shall obtain the Seed of Life, and give birth to a more beautiful, smarter and stronger life! And then, I shall become the new god of creation in the universe!”
“I see.”
Juggler sneers while fending himself against one of Zigzag’s attacks.
“This is a big topic, but aren’t you blaspheming life itself by creating a creature that’s both ugly and pathetic?
Alien Chibull Mabuze gets furious.
“SHUT IT! A SCIENTIST’S WAY OF THINKING SHOULD BE DEVOID OF ETHICS AND MORALITY”
Juggler realizes the voice he heard is unexpectedly close.
“Crowley, I’m counting on you!”
The Okinawan Habu Crowley jumps out of Juggler’s sleeve cuff.
Crowley slithers up on Zigzag’s neck. Prying open the seam line, Crowley enters Zigzag’s body.
Not long after, Zigzag’s giant body begins to rumble.
“Uhi… uhyohyohyohyohyo… It tickles! Stop it!”
Zigzag’s head then pops open.
In the part which corresponds to the brain, there’s a cockpit of a similar model to an Alien Chibull’s Power Unit, aka. , where the strangely miniscule Alien Chibull Mabuze is located at.
“S- S- S- S- SNAKES! I REALLY HATE SNAKES!”
Alien Chibull Mabuze quickly leaves the scene by floating in the air through a jet propulsion at the bottom of his cockpit.
Losing its control component, Zigzag’s body falls to the ground with a single “thud!”.
Juggler once again continues running at the outside of the coliseum.
====
Juggler jumps out into the air corridor leading to the clock tower, then whistles at the sight of what awaits him.
Roaring cries can be heard. Nearly 100 mercenaries are engaging in a battle royale above the corridor. The two-headed alien from Altair is also among them.
“Quite a showy party don’t you think?”
All the mercenaries who engage in swordfighting turn their sights to Juggler at once.
“IT’S JUGGLUS JUGGLER! LET’S SLICE HIM UP FIRST!”
A battle of 1 vs 100 people begins.
Juggler takes out his Jashin Blade to repel the bullets fired by all mercenaries at once.
He slashes left and right at opponents who try to approach him with laser blades.
But no matter how many he slices them, new assassins just keep coming.
“EIIH, MOVE IT, YOU’RE GETTING IN THE WAY! CRESCENT MOON SHOCKWAVE!!”
JAKIIN! For a moment, a red crescent-like lightning bolt is emitted from the Jashin Blade.
Juggler cut the aerial corridor itself in two.
GOGOGOGOGO… GARAGARAGARA!!!
“AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!”
All mercenaries at the aerial corridor scream and fall down with the corridor itself.
Juggler then makes a jump at the bridge.
Ponpon. Reverting to his human form, Juggler shakes the dust on his clothes and leaves the corridor behind in ruins.
A huge clock tower stands before him.
“The princess must be here.”
Juggler climbs up the clock tower using giant clockwork-like mechanisms as his stepping stones.
GAAN!
Kicking the iron cover of the vent, Juggler enters it inside.
“It appears that this is the last room for now.”
Judging from the outside view, this room must be the top floor itself.
The entrance is sealed with a strong steel door, guarded by two mercenaries.
The guards prepare their guns once they become startled by a noise.
“JAKKIIINN!”
The Jashin Blade slices both the heavy steel door and the guardsmen in half.
Inside the door is a lab-like place with complex electronics.
There’s a bed in the center of the room, and there’s Princess Biranki with a headgear.
The sleeping Biranki opens her eyes.
Biranki smiles and says.
“Ah Jugglus-sama, I know that you’re here to save me, right?”
As Juggler is about to take a step forward, Phalaris' voice suddenly echoes.
“Don’t move, Juggler. The headgear which is attached to Biranki is a device that resets her brain. If she doesn’t control her brainwaves, nobody knows when a monster will be summoned to her aid.”
Phalaris is watching the situation of this room from somewhere.
“If you take a step forward, then she’ll lose all of her memories.”
Biranki’s appearance suddenly changes.
“SHUT IT, YOU FOOL! DON’T DISRUPT MY REUNION WITH JUGGLUS-SAMA!”
Juggler suddenly laughs.
“Huhuhuhu… HAHAHAHA!”
“What’s the matter, Jugglus-sama?”
“Stop acting, Biranki. You get yourself captured here on purpose, right? All for the sake of luring me here.”
Biranki’s expression changes again.
“W- What are you talking about, Jugglus-sama? There’s no way I-”
Juggler reaches the Jashin Blade from his shoulder and says.
“Jeez. Only a delusional princess with a shallow way of thinking would do something like this.”
“No way. I genuinely love you, Jugglus-sama. Please get me out of here.”
There’s no way for Biranki to hide her impatience within her voice anymore.
Phalaris' voice echoes in frustration.
"Hey. Do you guys understand the situation? Don't get any closer."
Biranki gritted her teeth.
“Darn you lowlife excuse of an arms dealer… I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU NOT TO INTERRUPT US OVER HERE!”
Biranki’s eyes begin to mysteriously glow. Her breathing becomes heavier.
“Hah…. Hah…. NOBODY DARES TO DISRUPT THE LOVESICK MAIDEN’S DREAM!”
This time Juggler begins to panic.
Oi oi oi oi! Not in this crampy place! Don’t summon a monster here!”
Biranki becomes overexcited and screams incomprehensible words.
“A KING SEES HIS OWN DELUSION IN HIS DREAM… EVERYONE IS POWERLESS BEFORE THE KING HIMSELF!”
A door to another dimension appears above Biranki's head, and a meteorite-like object flies out from inside.
The meteorite begins to take the form of a monster.
“STOP HER! STOP THIS LITTLE GIRL AT ONCE! BRAINWAVE CONTROL DEVICE, FULL POWER!”
Phalaris begins to scream. Mercenaries from every direction try to hold her down, but she’s out of control.
Juggler mutters.
“I have no idea.”
Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzt! The meteorite becomes larger, breaking through the ceiling and transforms into the Brainwave Monster Gango. Juggler evacuates the collapsing room, holding the fainting Biranki in his arms.
Gango destroys the clock tower and lays its hands on the dome-shaped building as if it is its next prey.
Seeing that figure, Sagittari rushes over.
Sagittari let down her hair and growls.
Something like a glowing blue blood vessel of sorts emerges from her beautiful face.
A black aura envelops her whole body, and Sagittari becomes gigantic. She looks like a dinosaur from an old century. A huge turret sticks out from her back.
Grigio Raiden’s true identity was Sagittari all along.
“Are you… a Cyborg Monster?”
Bzzt-bzzt-bzzt!
Grigio Raiden’s whole body charges blue lightning and begins spewing flame like Raiden Breathtar attack from her mouth.
Juggler assumes Demon Form to protect Biranki from the incoming fire.
The Brainwave Monster Gango engages in a fight against Grigio Raiden.
Two giant monsters, Gango and Grigio Raiden, clash while destroying the desert castle.
Grigio Raiden's Breathter explodes upon direct hit on Gango, but since Gango is a Brainwave Monster, it does little damage. To defeat Gango means to do something against its main controller, Biranki.
Juggler gets stunned from seeing these two monsters fighting.
“There’s nothing I can do from here.”
He says so when he looks around. So where’s Phalaris.
The Gigan Castle is about to collapse due to the struggle between two monsters.
BATAN! An unexpectedly thin wall collapses to reveal a small control panel where Phalaris the Bull appears sitting at the control panel.
He is wearing a bull-themed helmet, but his body looks like one to an emaciated old man. The muscular figure which Phalaris is often associated with is nothing more than a 3D image.
“You edited the video quite well. But it’s too exaggerated.”
Juggler grabs the arms dealer’s breastplate.
“Now, I’ll be taking the Fruit of Life just as you promised me.”
The next moment, Phalaris fires his electromagnetic gun.
“Tch”
Juggler dodges it in the nick of time. The beam grazes through his left arm.
“Wahahaha! This is an . So you can’t repel the attack with your sword alone.”
Phalaris slowly takes his steps backward while holding his gun.
“In regards to weapons, Juggler-kun, once you make them, you can never go back to the old days when you didn’t. Another war shall begin when new desires are born from the advancements of science and technology. There’s no stopping it.”
Phalaris' eyes were bloodshot, and his skin had old age spots.
“I’m so tired of this. Wars are terrible.”
“Huh? You’re saying this even though you’re an arms dealer?”
“When you’re reaching my age, all you want is nothing but peace. You’ll understand it right now.”
Phalaris continues speaking in a hoarse voice.
“At that time, I was given a gift from a certain someone.”
The word “certain someone” catches Juggler’s attention.
Phalaris takes something out of his sleeve and says.
“With that provided gift, I used it to create an amazing product.”
It’s the gene bomb with the Fruit of Life attached to it.
“All that’s left is to put a detonator to this device. Using this bomb, those planetary superpowers, no, those poisonous insects will kill each other! The winner shall be granted with the gene bomb. But losers get to keep the blueprints.”
At the center of that gene bomb, the Fruit of Life emits a mysterious light.
“It’ll be a war through the gene bombs used against one another. This weapon will destroy all living beings! Then there’ll be no wars anymore. Peace will come for the first time!”
Phalaris points his gun to Juggler. Juggler moves slowly to close that gap.
Phalaris catches up while aiming towards Juggler.
“I shall pull the trigger to achieve peace. Using the fruit that a certain someone gave to me!”
“Then who is it.. That certain someone?”
“He has an intellect that’s equal to a god. There’s no need for you to indulge further.” He applies strength to the trigger on his finger.
“NOW DIE, JUGGLUS JUGGLER!”
Juggler holds his finger above his head.
Phalaris stares at that finger.
“What?”
“Only fools will look at my finger. The wise ones however…”
Phalaris looks above the sky.
In the next moment, a heavy stone ceiling that was crumbling turns into rubble that crushes the old man. Phalaris gets crushed without anything left to say.
Juggler simply shrugs his shoulders.
He takes the gene bomb away from Phalaris. Juggler then removes the Fruit of Life from its core and slips it into his pocket.
He hears Biranki’s voice.
“JUGGLUS-SAMA, LOOK OUT!”
Grigio Raiden’s EMP cannon explodes.
Juggler narrowly avoids the pulse cannon.
However, a large amount of electromagnetic waves causes damage to the surrounding area.
The electromagnetic waves causes Biranki's headgear to malfunction when a large amount of electric current flows through it.
“AAAAAHHHH!!!!!”
Biranki faints.
Juggler picks up Biranki.
“Hey, get up princess.”
Biranki slightly opens her eyes and says.
“.....who are you?”
Biranki looks around.
“I don’t know what happened, but it appears as if you’re the one who saved me.”
Juggler lets out a sigh of relief.
Biranki is no longer who she used to be. That electric current causes the headgear to activate and resets her brain!
“By the way… who am I?”
All of Biranki’s memories about Juggler have disappeared from her brain.
Gango also disappears as it was empowered by the brainwaves.
“THOOM!”
Grigio Raiden still continues to fire her EMP cannon.
Juggler embraces Biranki and teleports away.
Faraway from Planet Baphomet in outer space.
Alien Chibull Mabuze thinks to himself while inside his escape pod.
Oh well. I am an excellent scientist. Even if I’m giving up the Fruit of Life, I’m assured that one day, I’ll be able to create the ultimate life form.
Besides, Mabuze also has a new product. It's a Monster Bomb made by compressing a monster and attaching a timer. It will be coveted by terrorists and militants throughout the universe.
For now, how about I sell this to the Villain Guild as they plot their evil antics in a particular dimension’s Planet Earth to make money? Alien Mabuze then maneuvers his escape pod to that other dimension’s planet Earth.
====
This is the , surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes.
Juggler visits the , who lives on this planet.
The old man Jinobe is a genius swordsmith who is frequently asked to reforge the Jashin Blade. Only the ol’ pops knows how to adjust the fire, since the Jashin Blade cannot be reforged without the cold waters of Planet La Rochefoucauld. The ol’ pops then throws the Jashin Blade into the flames in his forge.
“You sure spent quite a lot of time slicing up things while bloodstained and laughing.”
Juggler’s face isn’t showing any signs of calming down.
I can’t forget the sad look of that woman who just turned into Grigio Raiden. And the alien princess Biranki who I initially thought to be someone that’s a pain in the neck. She also lost her memories, all because she chose to follow wherever I go. Neither happy nor sad memories are what is left of her right now.
“So who’s that girl?”
The ol’ pops laughs cheerfully.
“Oh, she’s just a good little girl who’s been helping me out.”
Juggler replies.
“She no longer has a home planet to return to. Are you willing to keep an eye for her sake?”
And Biranki just arrived. She has a bright expression that makes her look like someone else.
“Oji-san, here’s the firewood that I chopped down for you.”
“Thank you. Can you put them over there?”
Juggler and Biranki are at the hill overlooking the Rochefoucauld mountains.
Juggler's pet snake, Crowley, has taken a liking to Biranki.
"It's cute, don’t you think?"
Juggler said.
“Aren’t you afraid of snakes?”
“A "snake"? So this kiddo is what you call a “snake”?”
“You still can’t remember anything as always.”
The girl who used to be Biranki says while overlooking the mountains.
“Yes. And I worry about it at times. Where did I actually hail from?”
Juggler says while he stares at the Jashin Blade.
“Where did you come from, and where are you going after this, that’s a question which nobody can answer.”
Juggler stands up.
“Nothing good comes from being stuck in the past while wondering about one’s future. What’s important right now is the present day. There’s no choice but to live your life to the fullest.”
Juggler entrusts his snake to the girl.
“Take care of Crowley as if I’m the snake itself.”
An Interstellar Alliance’s patrol boat can be heard blaring its siren from over the mountains.
Biranki lowers her eyes.
“Are you leaving this instant?”
“Yes.”
“Will we meet each other again?”
“I don’t know what’s ahead of us. You’ll hear about me if you ever come across a bad rumor about Juggler’s exploits somewhere in the universe. Farewell.”
Biranki sees Juggler leaving.
“Thank you very much!”
Biranki says while stroking the snake.
“But I’m sure that we’ll meet each other again… won’t you agree, lil’ snake?”
X X X
A massively-designed satellite city that floats in high orbit above .
Juggler is in the colony known as where pirates and galactic outlaws gather. He’s here to investigate the root cause of this incident through the dark network from the space underworld.
Who gave Phalaris the Fruit of Life?
So the first clue must be the Monster Weapon Grigio Raiden. When it comes to monster weapons, only someone knows about it more than anyone else. To ask about a merchant of death requires the help of another person with a similar job.
It’s an Alien Markind, who sells weapons to space scoundrels.
Alien Markind knows about Phalaris the Bull, as well as being familiar with his origin. This topic also applies to that woman, Sagittari.
Sagittari was once a refugee from a century-long interplanetary conflict.
Sagittari has no choice but to become a child soldier on a battlefield of a desolate planet. From there, Sagittari turned into a diligent and ruthless fighting machine, eventually getting herself recruited into the Interstellar Alliance’s .
One day, the Special Force troop led by Sagittari were assigned with a mission to assassinate the leader of an organization that opposes the Interstellar Alliance. But due to an internal conflict within the Interstellar Alliance, their actions were exposed by the armed forces from the opposing side.
Sagittari’s team was nearly annihilated by the opponents’ attack that awaited them. Sagittari tried to signal the Interstellar Alliance for reinforcements, but the Alliance removed the Special Force from existence in order to save face. She became embroiled in the Interstellar Alliance’s internal conflict.
Sagittari blamed herself after narrowly escaping death. She had been someone else’s pawn since the day of her birth. If only she had power… Then her comrades would never die. If only said power existed…
Sagittari aimed for the Crusader’s Peak, said to be on Planet O-50. She believed in the universal legend that if she went there, she would have gained the power of light.
She risks everything to reach the peak, even if it’s her own life.
Once she was finally at the peak, Sagittari reached out to the Ring of Light that appeared.
However, Sagittari can’t transform into a Warrior of Light, perhaps because the grudges against the Interstellar Alliance had transformed this great power.
Sagittari instead transforms into the monster Grigio.
To take revenge on the Interstellar Alliance, Sagittari collaborated with the arms dealer Phalaris. Phalaris was young back then and had yet to obtain the Fruit of Life. He didn’t retire to Gigan Castle yet and had been flying around to massive superpower nations and acting in behind the scenes. Sagittari turned into Phalaris’ minion and began her covert operations. She transformed into the monster Grigio and wreaked havoc as Phalaris sold weapons to counter it.
Phalaris eventually obtains the Fruit of Life and uses the DNA technology that he analyzed to transform Grigio into the mighty combat cyborg, Grigio Raiden. Her brain can no longer think of anything except to attack and destroy her opponents.
Sagittari changes from being a weak soldier to one of the strongest chess pieces to ever exist.
“I see. Those sad eyes were the same as mine from a long time ago.”
The eyes of the kind of people who didn’t get to be as a Warrior of Light while nobody tried to understand their pain. Those were also the same eyes when I was blamed for chopping off the Tree of Life.
It’s to stop the war. I did this as part of my own form of justice. Otherwise it’s also the same face as Micott had when she died in vain.
There’s no way those fools from the Land of Light could ever understand the dangers of justice when they have never lost in a fight.
Alien Markind’s antennae start to vibrate.
“We arms dealers never really wished for the destruction of a world. If that happens, our business will go belly up. There will always be a small conflict somewhere, hence it’ll be nice to sell monster weapons for them.”
“That arms dealer tried to destroy an entire planet and civilization. He tried to kill those important customers.”
“Well, he’s just an out-of-control ol’ geezer. While the Phalaris from the past was always a dangerous guy, he only turned crazy once he obtained the Fruit of Life.”
Creating interplanetary conflicts and selling monster weapons had always been Phalaris’ business. As he grew older and shuts himself away in the Gigan Castle, Phalaris was given the Fruit of Life by a certain someone. Phalaris used it to create a gene bomb. Old and exhausted, Phalaris might have created a weapon capable of severing the very circle of life and erasing the world itself. Who is it that gave him the Fruit of Life? And why did they do that?
“Do you have any clue as to who might’ve given him the Fruit of Life?”
“No idea… that kind of thing is too strong to even be sold for commercial purposes. How much does that thing cost is even too hard for me to understand. An arms dealer often spent the remainder of their lives with loneliness. Perhaps he was targeted through that gap in his heart.”
X X X
Juggler continues to solve this mystery, relying through his connections with the .
His next interviewee is Alien Borg .
She is the female boss of an alien gangster which consists of all-female Alien Borgs. Her armor, which used to be shining bright silver, is now in dull color and has to resort to using silver manicures to hide some rust spots here and there.
“I prefer things the way they were in the past. Back in our younger days, subversive activities were more urgent. It became a case of life and death once our home planet reached its destruction. Invasion activities used to have more weight to it and were simpler forms of beauty.”
If there’s anything bad about this boss lady is that she talks a lot more about her backstory. Stories from old days and complaints about recent trends in an endless loop. Madam Graia sighs.
“Today’s invasion attempts had been treated by youngsters as a form of entertainment. As if they’re playing a game.”
Juggler frowns.
“A game, huh…”
A game.
What if this series of incidents is a magnificent game which someone plans from behind the scenes?
What if Phalaris, the Interstellar Alliance and the Imbat Federation are just chess pieces?
You give Phalaris the Fruit of Life for him to construct a gene bomb, then leak this information to Rebeshie of the Interstellar Alliance. And then gather an entire team of space terrorists and mercenaries who search for the Fruit of Life to participate in a battle royale.
The faction that obtains the gene bomb has a strategic advantage. But soon the opposing forces will make the same bomb. And poisonous insects kill each other with their poison.
And what if someone wants to enjoy the process as a pastime while lying on the couch?
Could it be that they’re aiming to make kodoku as a form of pastime?
“By the way, nobody has seen his face, but I’ve heard of this certain person.”
Madam Graia tells Juggler about this rumor from the underworld.
Somewhere in the universe there is an unidentified parasitic life form.
He has a high level of intelligence, but his fragile body means that he cannot sustain himself without possessing someone. Regardless if the action is interesting or not, he is always looking for a simulation. He invades planets like it’s some sort of a game. There was never really any purpose to begin with.
So here’s how his plan works. First, he provides an over-technology weapon to a civilization. Its people will use this very weapon to arm themselves against an incoming threat. Using that technological knowledge, its people will soon use it to advance their civilization’s science and technology. Eventually, the civilization will produce a weapon more powerful than the one they received in the first place.
Ultimately, this very weapon will destroy said civilization and he will send it to another planet to repeat the cycle. And so that’s how he travels into the multiverse. The details are different in comparison to this incident, but the method of “inciting wars, creating weapons and watching the destruction from a safer distance” is still the same.
“He calls it the Civilization Self-Destruction Game. If it’s up to us, we’ll call it with sillier names.”
“Do you even know who that jerk’s name is?”
“I have no clue if it’s even his real name though, but from what I heard, his name was…”
Madam Graia beckons Juggler. Juggler puts his ear closer…
“...Celebro.”
“Celebro, huh…”
It was at that moment. A holographic image floating in Madam Graia's hideout conveys the extraordinary news of the destruction of Baphomet, the capital of the Imbat Federation.
X X X
Juggler returns to Planet Baphomet.
“.......This is horrible”
Residential quarters and industrial facilities are all burned to the ground, and the entire sky is dyed red with raging flames. Baphomet is completely destroyed by the Bombing Thunder Monster, Grigio Raiden.
Grigio Raiden returns from its disappearance following Phalaris’ death, having recharged her energy through an underground rare metal vein. Now that she lost her chain of command that was Phalaris himself, her brain can only think of nothing but destruction and annihilation.
There is no trace of that space tavern either. What if those good guys, the dancer Alien Salome and the bartender Alien Godola died as well? Then he wished that those two managed to escape somehow.
After finishing its final attack, Grigio Raiden curls up and falls into a slumber.
A whirlpool of light wraps around the monster’s body and Grigio Raiden begins to float airborne.
Juggler shouts.
“Celebro you jerk! You’re probably trying to start a new game, right?”
Juggler takes on his Demon Form and hop onto Grigio Raiden’s back.
I don’t know where you are heading, but I won’t let you do as you please. If this is about a new game, then mind if I join in the ride too?
Grigio Raiden. No, Sagittari. I'm sorry but you're no longer yourself. I'll let you sleep for now while we're on a journey to a new planet. Once we have to fight, I'll show you no mercy.
A universe from another dimension. On a certain planet.
This planet is in the midst of a world war. Both sides use monsters as weapons and are engaged in a fierce battle.
Within the managed by its planetary government, a monster is quietly growing to 17 in animal age through biotechnology. It has a giant mouth and serrated fangs. This creature can be said to be a space shark.
The is seen giggling as he begins to collect the monster’s data. He bends his neck at a strange angle while his left eye shines red.
“Kiete Karekareta”
Technical officer 5648 mutters those words, but nobody seems to pay attention.
X X X
And here it is, Planet Earth. A new earth exists infinitely as many times as the number of possibilities.
Grigio Raiden fell as a meteorite in a place called Yamanashi Prefecture in the local language.
“.....Planet Earth again? This is a planet that I can’t get away from even if it keeps rotting.”
During an atmospheric entry with Grigio Raiden, Juggler suffers massive damage as a result of the adiabatic compression. He has to get away before the humans find him first.
As Juggler walks down the mountain road, he casually slips his hand into his pocket.
“Is this….”
His fingers probe the Fruit of Life.
The Fruit of Life has sprouted and a small leaf is growing from it.
It seems that the Tree of Life that grew somewhere in this universe has quietly reached its end of life. Each universe has one Tree of Life. If the tree dies, a new fruit will sprout from it.
“If a Fruit of Life sprouts, then this planet is worth saving.”
Someone told him about it before.
I’m skilled at killing, slicing and destroying things, but perhaps it’s fun to grow something once in a while.
Juggler plants the Fruit of Life in a single pot.
This Fruit of Life will become a small bonsai tree which Juggler take care of during his pastimes, but that’s a story for another day.
[The end]
Category:Novels
Category:Ultraman Z