Main Story/Chapter Four

*Taishakuten, Kannon Bosatsu and the others had decided to retreat to Bonnouji Temple and report the developments so far to Shaka Nyorai and their fellow deities.*

帝釈天と観音菩薩たちは 釈迦如来たちに状況報告するために梵納寺へ帰還していた。

It was such tough work hauling Bonten all the way over here! And some vice even decided to come play somewhere in the middle-

梵天を運ぶのに苦労したぞ! 途中、煩悩に襲われてだな一。

...

……。

Looked to me like you were just having a fit over there in the sky.

お主はピーチクパーチクと 騒いでおっただけじゃろうが。

Lord Kokuuzou, I have caused you no shortage of trouble on this occasion. I'm ashamed...

虚空蔵様、 色々とお手数をおかけしました。

Don't mention it. I'm off to that meeting in the main hall. Come git, Karura.

なんの。本堂の会議に先にいっておるぞ。行くぞ、迦楼羅。

I should not like to attend any meeting, no thank you! Ugh! Don't put your grubby hands on my beak-!

会議、行きたくない！ギャー！クチバシ、掴むのはやめろ一！

...

……。

Bonten...

梵天……。

*Wh-!? Do whatever you want! I can complete the investigation all by myself if I have to!*

*くっ......勝手にしろ！調査は私一人で十分だ！*

Bonten... I'm sorry...

梵天……すまない。

It would seem the real mastermind behind everything is Mara. Though, most of it is based on what we know from Ashura...

災いの首謀者はマーラのようです。あくまで阿修羅の発言ですが……。

It must be Mara. There are few others who could bring about disaster on this scale.

マーラに間違いないだろう。これだけの規模の災いをもたらせる者はそういないからね。

They've already caused considerable disaster... it can only mean they've been preparing for it for a long time now. Why would they even want to...

ここまでの災いを起こせたとなると、前々から準備していた可能性が高いですよね。なぜこんなことを……。

Think he still has a bone to pick with Lord Shaka Nyorai after losing miserably to him? That gloomy bastard...

釈迦如来様に敗北したことをまだ根に持っていやがるんだ。あの根暗ヤロウ。

So, what can we conclude about the possibility of Ashura collaborating with Mara?

それで阿修羅がマーラと結託している可能性は？

In regards to this particular incident, I believe the chances of it are low.

今回に限って言えば、その可能性は低いと思います。

On what basis?

根拠は？

*The one I'm after is Mara.*

*……俺の獲物はマーラだ。*

*Mara!?*

*マ一ラ……！？*

*Yep. You and your buddies aren't even on my radar.*

*そうだ。 貴様らは眼中にねぇよ！*

...Just a gut feeling.

……自分の勘です。

Feeling? Well that sure is very factual and not subjective at all...

勘？ そいつはなんとも心もとないな……。

Taishakuten. Is your response based on a primarily emotional basis?

帝釈天。そこに私情はありますか？

No. I simply believe in the truth of what I have seen with my own eyes.

いえ。自分は、己の見たものを信じるのみです。

Very well. If that is your assertion, then we will have faith in it.

わかりました。あなたがそう言うのであれば、信用ましょう。

Yay! I also have a lot of faith in Taishakuten's gut feeling!

うん、おれも帝釈天の勘を信じるよ。

Setting Ashura aside for now, I'm more concerned about this demon, Pazuzu's movements. What exactly led to his joining forces with Mara?

阿修羅はよいとして、気になるのはパズズとかいう悪魔だ。どういう経緯でマーラと組むことになったんだ？

We weren't able to establish that.

そこまでは把握できませんでした。

A demon that uses strong winds to propagate the spread of illnesses... what a piece of work.

強風を使って病気を撤き散らす悪魔か……。厄介だな。

If you guys get sick, I'll nurse you back to health with the warmest care ♡

みんなが病気になったら、あたしが手厚く看病してあげる♡

I'll pass on that, thanks...

いや、遠慮しとくわ……。

Leave Pazuzu... to me...

パズズは……僕がなんとかする……。

As a deity who cures disease, I think you're just the right one for the job.

薬師は病を治す仏。適任だね。

Nikkou... Gakkou...

日光……月光……。

About darn time! Well then, Yakushi Triad! Let's get this demon-slaying mission on the road!!

お声がけ、待ってましたでー！そんじゃ、薬師三尊！悪魔退治にしゅっぱーつ！

Nicchan... your voice is way too loud. You have to get better at reading the room...

日ちゃん……。声が大きすぎますよ。場の空気を読んでもらわないと……。

Hahah, my bad! Got just a mite too fired up about all this.

すまんすまん、つい高ぶってしもうて。

And what do we plan to do about the broken seal on the Ancient Vice?

解かれてしまった古の煩悩の封印は どうするの？

Allow me to rise to the occasion.

それは俺が対処しよう。

You are able to do something about it?

できるのですか？

Well, I *was* the one who sealed that thing in the first time.

あれは元々、俺が封印したものだからな。

Additionally, we should station at least one deity at each key region, to avoid spreading the vice's influence to the humans nearby.

これ以上、衆生を煩悩に汚染されないよう、各拠点に仏を配置する必要がある。

I have finished assigned the deities their respective areas.

仏の配置は完了しています。

Very well. Now all that remains is deciding the main force that will be up against Mara.

結構。では、残るはマーラの対策だが。

As long as the chosen members can pull together and activate the mandala, I believe Mara's ambitions should not pose a threat to them.

どのような思惑であったとしても、曼荼羅さえ展開できれば、 マーラの野望を挫けるでしょう。

Where is Dainichi?

大日はどこに？

If I had to guess? Probably on another one of his journeys for self-discovery or whatever.

どうせいつもの自分探しの旅だろ？

...

……。

Without Dainichi, we cannot activate the mandala, after all. Retrieve him immediately.

大日がいなければ曼荼羅を展開できないからな。すぐに連れ戻しにいくぞ。

Superstar Dainichi Nyorai the fabulous is making his smashing entrance!

スーパースター大日如来様、参上！

...

……。

...Let's move.

……いくぞ。

Huh?! Y'all are so cold to me! It's been ages since the last time we met, so you could stand to rejoice a little more, you know!?

なんだなんだ、釣れない反応だなぁ。久しぶりにオレ様に会えたんだから、もっと喜ぶべきだろ。

The fate of humanity hangs precariously on the scales as we speak... are you certain you want to be shooting the breeze over here?

衆生の事態は切迫しているようですけど、 貴方はこんなところで油を売っていて大丈夫なんですか？

'Course I am! Anyway, why don't you guys come on a lil trip with me? For training purposes, of course.

大丈夫大丈夫！それよりもさ、オレ様と一緒に修行の旅に出ようではないか。

A Nyorai has no need of further training... what are you plotting?

如来に修行は必要ない。……なにを企んでいる？

So mean! Too darn mean of you, Fukuu! And here I just extended a warm hand hoping to help advance your spiritual prowess as a nyorai...

ひどい！ひどすぎるぞ、不空！オレ様は単に如来として精進するため、君たちを誘っているだけなのに。

Stop your crocodile tears...

ウソ泣きはやめろ……。

Rather odd to plan a training excursion at a time like this, but... I suppose at least it shows that Dainichi's motivated.

このタイミングで修行というのも変な話ですが、大日がやる気になっているようですし。

Wouldn't it be alright to go along with him just this once, Fukuu? We are part of the Five, after all.

五智如来の一角として付き合ってあげてもよいのでは？

Not you too...

……やれやれ。

Yesssss!

やった！

But consider yourself warned. The moment I catch even a whiff of something fishy from you, I'm personally hauling you back to Bonnouji.

ただし、変な真似をしたら すぐに楚納寺に帰らせるからな。

I'm always at my gravest, most sincere level of seriousness☆

オレ様はいつも真面目だぜ☆

Go back to Bonnouji right now!

今すぐ帰れ！

Whyyyy do I also have to go search for Dainichi...!

ったく、なんで俺まで大日を探しに行かなきゃいけねーんだ……。

Because you seemed conveniently jobless when we needed someone.

ちょうど手が空いてそうだったじゃん。

You know, I was also out there busting my ass to get those vices dealt with...

あのな、俺だって煩悩退治に勤しんでただろうが。

If that's your angle, then Taishakuten has been on the field without a break since the very start of all this.

そんなこと言ったから帝釈天なんてずっと出ずっぱりだぞ。

Ah, I'm still something of an amateur, I couldn't possibly compare...

自分は修行中の身なので……。

You're as straitlaced as they come, aren't you?

お前って本当にまじめだな……。

Well, are we headed in the right direction towards Dainichi, then?

で、大日の居場所は、こっちの方角で合ってるのか？

Well, Taishakuten?

どうなんだ？帝釈天。

Huh? Pardon me, but I simply assumed Fudou knew where he was...

いや、てっきり不動が知っているかと……。

Eh? I'm just following wherever you guys are going...

え？オレは、ふたりについてっただけだぞ。

Huh?! Why would anybody think I had the faintest idea of where Dainichi could be?!

はぁ！？俺が大日の居場所なんか、知ってるわけねぇだろ。

And why would you think I would?! I don't know *every* damn thing about him!

オレだって、大日のことを何でも知ってるなんて思うなよ！

...I will scout ahead.

……情報収集してきます。

I sure hope we're going the right way *this* time!

今度こそ大丈夫なんだろうな……。

A letter was delivered to Bonnouji not long ago, from Lord Houshou Nyorai.

煩悩寺に宝生如来様から文が届いたそうで、

It mentions that he is together with Lord Dainichi Nyorai.

大日如来様と一緒にいると。

What's Dainichi up to with Houshou?

大日は宝生となにやってるんだ？

Apparently, at Lord Dainichi Nyorai's behest, they have decided to train their spiritual merit.

大日如来様の発案で、修行をしているらしい。

A *Nyorai* training?!

如来が修行！？

Fudou's right. Whatever Dainichi's up to, it all smells fishy as hell.

やっぱり不動の言う通り、大日の奴、怪しいな。

Perhaps he has come up with a method to defeat this demon.

悪魔を倒す秘策を思いついたのかもしれません。

Yeah, no.

ないな！

Not a chance.

ない！

...

……。

Aren't these vices growing more powerful as we go on?

煩悩の強さが増してねーか？

They're coming out in larger numbers, too... Maybe it's a consequence of the seal being broken?

煩悩の数もだ……。封印が解かれた影響だろうな。

...I'm terribly sorry.

申し訳ありません。

It ain't your fault, man.

帝釈天のせいじゃねぇって。

It's Dainichi's fault for goofing off when we need him over here.

肝心な時に、大日がいないのが悪いんだよ。

Couldn't have put it better myself.

そうそう。

So between the two of you, it's definitely more Dainichi's fault than yours.

だから、どっちかっていうと、大日のせいだな。

...

……。

So, I've been thinking, right?

なぁ、オレ思ったんだけどさ。

Why don't we just get the Four Heavenly Kings to get his ass back?

四天王に大日を連れ戻してもらえば、いいんじゃないの？

Oh, yeah... they were also called down to this world, weren't they?

あぁ。そういや、あいつらも衆生に呼んでるんだったよな？

That is so. However, in my place,

はい。ですが自分の代わりに、

they are currently tasked with the protection of a sacred mountain, one of humanity's spiritual strongholds.

衆生の砦のひとつとなる、 霊山を守っています。

Aw. Guess they can't do this on top of that, then.

そっか。頼むのは無理かー。

With them around, searching for Dainichi would have been a cinch.

四天王がいれば、少しは楽に探せると思ったんだけどな。

Certainly, they are indispensible assets.

確かに、あいつらは頼りになる。

However, relying on them for most things will inevitably end up dulling your own prowess.

しかし、なんでも頼りっきりだと、自分の体が鈍るからな。

Man, you really are way too hard on yourself.

お前、やっぱり自分に厳しいよな。

Your skills have gotten even better, Taishakuten!

帝釈天、また腕をあげたな。

As have yours.

そういう不動も。

With the brawny folks here, this'll be over in a jiffy!

武闘派がいると、早く終わるな。

The vices are acting up really weirdly...

妙に煩悩どもが騒がしいな。

Shh! Jizou, keep it down.

しっ。地蔵、静かに。

What's your damage...

なんだよ。

I hear someone.

声が聞こえる。

Huh?

あん？

That voice...! Zoujouten?!

あれは！増長天！

Taishakuten! Lend me your strength!

帝釈天！手を貸してくれっ！

Ah... I'm finally saved...!

ふぅ……助かった……。

Zoujouten, you were supposed to be working together with Tamonten and the others. Why are you out here alone?

増長天は多聞天たちと一緒のはず。なぜここに一人で？

I was dispatched to request aid from Bonnouji, where I was headed.

煩悩寺に救援を要請するために、向かっていたんだ。

Aid?

救援？

The fort on the sacred mountain we were charged with protecting was suddenly under attack by a whole regiment of vices.

霊山の砦が煩悩の軍団に急襲された。

What? And what of Tamonten and the others?

なに！？それで多聞天たちは？

They've barricaded themselves inside. The vices are laying siege to them as we speak, and they're in a royal pinch.

砦に立てこもってる。煩悩の軍団に包囲されて大ピンチだ。

Lord Jizou.

地蔵様。

I know what you wanna say, Taishakuten.

帝釈天の言いたいことはわかってる。

Let's get going and save Tamonten and the others already!

多聞天たちを救いに行くぞ！

What wonderful shows these dieties put on!

仏どもが楽しませてくれるじゃねーの。

Iblis! What the hell are you doing here?

イブリース！なにしに来やがった！

'What the hell am I doing here'? Why, just a friendly visit, of course.

なにしに来やがったとは、ごあいさつだね。

I've come to see how things are going on your end. Even staying holed up in the Sixth Heaven gets tiresome after a while, you see.

様子を見に来たんだよ。第六天にいても退屈だからね。

So, what was it that you were having difficulties with?

それで苦戦している理由は？

I ain't having difficulties with shit! I'm having a damn good time watching these dieties inch ever closer to defeat inside that fancy fort of theirs.

苦戦なんかしてねぇ！砦に立てこもった仏どもをゆっくり痛めつけてんだよ。

A cornered rat will bite a cat, you know. Best fight with caution. Well then, enjoy your 'damn good time'.

窮鼠猫を噛むって言うからね、用心した方がいいよ。それじゃ楽しんで。

That bastard... he's waiting for me to fail.

あの野郎、俺様が失敗するのを期待していやがる……。

But that's not going to happen. Hyahahahah!

だが、そうはならねえけどな。 ヒャーッハッハッハッ！

Tch... this place is swarming with vices. I can't even get close to Pazuzu...

ちっ……。煩悩の数が多すぎて、パズズには近づけないか……。

In that case...

だったら……。