Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's Awakening Story

## Chapter 1

 "Though a soul may perish, its feelings shall never fade away."  たとひ魂は砕けても、想いは砕けない

 These words... What were they again? この言葉は……なんだっけ

 Right, they are my words... And their meaning is... そうだ、これは僕の言葉だ。その意味は……

*A Memory Gear falls down from the sky, glowing and making Akutagawa recall a conversation between him and Kikuchi Kan (see "Akutagawa & Kikuchi" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 Heey, Kan... Geez, what a hopeless guy.
I told him over and over again to watch out for the enemy's attack... おーい、寛……全く、仕様の無い奴だな
あれだけ敵の攻撃には気をつけろと言っておいたのに

 ...Hngh. ……うーむ

 Are you awake? 気がついたかい？

 ...Shut up, Ryuu. ……うるさいぞ、龍

*The flashback ends...*

 Just now that was... 今のは……

 They were memories from the time when I had just been transmigrated... How nostalgic. 今のは、転生したばかりの頃の記憶……懐かしいな

 Deeper in this endlessly continuing world of the Ensouled Book... Further beyond it, there will be the World of Souls. どこまでも続く有魂書の世界の、さらに奥……この先に、魂の世界が

## Chapter 2

*A Flashback to earlier conversation between Chief Librarian, Cat and Akutagawa (see Awakening Story Prologue for full recollection)...*

 I see, I understand the situation. なるほど、事情はわかったよ

 That being the case, I will do everything I can. So, where can I get to that World of Souls? そういうことなら、僕は協力を惜しまない、その魂の世界にはどこからいけるんだい？

 Akutagawa, you will be delving into your own Ensouled Book. As soon as you've completed the preparations, please do head to investigate. 芥川、お前の有魂書に潜書することになるだろう。準備ができ次第、調査に向かってくれ

 We want to know what there is in that world. We rely on you. その世界に何があるのか、確かめたい。頼んだぞ

 It's a crisis to everyone, so even if the World of Souls is unstable, I'm not hesitating to go there.  みんなの危機なんだ、魂の世界が不安定だとしても、行くことにためらいはないよ

 Yup. But don't fret it please. If danger is imminent, we want you to come back right away. ああ。だが焦らないでくれ、危険が迫ればすぐに帰還するように

*The flashback ends...*

 I've made progress deeper into the book than usual, but...
Where is that "deepest end" that Cat was talking about? いつもよりもずっと奥深くまで進んで来たけれど……
ネコさんが言った、「深淵部」っていうのはどこだろう？

*Suddenly there is disturbance in the air...*

 Ha... はっ……

*The environment turns dark, and before Akutagawa's eyes there is a world with a starry sky. Random letters are floating everywhere...*

 This is... The deepest end? ここが……深淵部？

## Chapter 3

 All kind of notions are floating around and disappearing... 色んな概念が浮いては消えていく……

*A shadow of familiar figure shows up...*

 You there...! そこにいるのは……！

*Akutagawa attacks the shadow, which changes its form to a Taint. The Taint disappears right away...*

 Ghh... That was the Taint from that time. くっ……あれは、あの時の侵蝕者

*Akutagawa recalls how the giant crab-looking Taint injured him previously (see Prologue (2021) for further context)...*

 That time I was beaten. But this time I don't intend to repeat the same mistake. あの時は、やられてしまったけど。もう同じ轍を踏むつもりはない

 Right, it should be something I can do all by myself... そう、一人でもやれるはず……

*Another Memory Gear appears, making him recall a conversation between Shiga Naoya (see "Shiga and Akutagawa's Testimony" from the event Purify "The Setting Sun" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 Yes... But I can't be a god like you, Shiga-san. はい……でも僕は志賀さんのように神様でいることはできませんから

*The flashback ends...*

 Just now that was... っ、今のは……

 ...The past me. ……昔の僕、だよね

 Up until this occasion I've also picked up gears before... But the gears in this world seem a little different than previous ones. これまでも、歯車を拾うことはあったけど……この世界にある歯車は、今までとは少し違うみたいだ

## Chapter 4

*A Memory Gear appears, making Akutagawa recall the time when he delved into his work "Cogwheels", and faced the Taint "Phantom of Death" (see event story Purify "Cogwheels" for full context)...*

…………………………………………

 W-when did it... っ、いつの間に……

 Disappear! You are my anxiety... The phantom that I created! 消えろっ！　君は僕の不安だ……僕が創り出した幻影だ！

 This whole time I've observed you... ずっと、お前を見ていたぞ……

\*gathers dark mist and surrounds itself with it\*

 I won't let you do that! そうはさせない！

*The Taint gets slashed by someone, and the flashback ends...*

 Right, that time I fought with that Taint inside "Cogwheels". そうだ、この時僕は「歯車」で侵蝕者と戦ったんだ

 It was one I had created... Could it be that the Taint waiting ahead is also the same...? あれは僕が創り出した……もしかして、この先にいる侵蝕者も同じ……？

 Did it find its way to here by following traces of my negative emotions...? 僕の負の感情をたどって、ここにたどり着いたのか……

## Chapter 5

*Yet another Memory Gear appears with a more vivid memory of previous conversation between Akutagawa and Shiga Naoya (see "Shiga and Akutagawa's Testimony" from the event Purify "The Setting Sun" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 Hey Ryuu, why do you put yourself down so much?
You were acknowledged by, seriously, a ton of people. なあ龍、お前はどうしてそう、自分を否定するんだ？
アンタは大勢の奴に認められているじゃないか

 ...I don't want to stay as Akutagawa Ryuunosuke anymore. ……僕はもう芥川龍之介でいたくはないんです

 ...Ryuu, no matter where you go, you'll always be Akutagawa Ryuunosuke.
However, there's no need to live up to a certain persona people desire from you. ……龍、アンタは何処までいっても芥川龍之介なのは変わらない
だが、別にみんなが求めるような人間である必要はないんだぜ

*The flashback ends...*

 ...Shiga-san. ……志賀さん

 That time Shiga-san must have had thought a lot, and he said a lot of things to me, yet... あの時、志賀さんはきっと沢山考えて言ってくれたはずなのに

 His words didn't reach my heart... 僕の心には響かなかったんだ……

## Chapter 6

*A Memory Gear with memories of another conversation with Shiga appears (see "Shiga & Akutagawa" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 Shiga-san... What can I do to write novels like yours? 志賀さん……僕はどうすれば志賀さんのような小説が書けるのでしょうか

 Not this again!
Look, I'm me, and you're you, Ryuu. I can't write novels with your delicate touch, and vice versa! またその話かよ！
あのな、俺は俺、龍は龍。俺には龍みたいな緻密な小説は書けねーし、逆もまた然りなんだよ

 My works are all failures.
I even write things that have no point in being written. No, I'm unable to express myself apart from writing pointless things. 僕の作品なんて全て失敗作ですよ
書く必要の無いものまで書いてしまうのです。いや、書く必要の無いものを書かないと表現できないのです

 Like - I - said, everyone sees it differently! だーかーらー、そんなのは人それぞれだっつーの

 Maybe... Shiga-san, weren't you literally called a god? そうでしょうか……実際、志賀さんは神様と呼ばれていたじゃありませんか

 "Even if gems shatter, roof tiles will remain whole," you're the one who said this, right, Ryuu?
Ryuu, beyond all doubt, your works are birthing forth the next generation.
Like that insolent red one, for example.  「たとひ玉は砕けても、瓦は砕けない」龍の言葉だろ？
龍の作品は、確実に次の世代を生んでるじゃねーか
あの生意気な赤いの、とかさ

 That's right... I may have failed, but I suppose I may have become their cornerstone.
I'll just think of it that way... そうですね……僕は失敗でしたが、彼らの礎にはなれたのでしょうか
そう思うことにしておきます……

*The flashback ends...*

 Right. I was aspiring for Shiga-san the "God of Novels". そう。僕は「小説の神様」の志賀さんに憧れていたんだ

 Admiring him too much, I saw my own works only as pointless things... 憧れすぎて、自分の作品がつまらないものにしか見えなくなっていた……

## Chapter 7

*A Memory Gear with a flashback of Natsume Souseki appears (see "Akutagawa & Natsume" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 ...That's right.
There is nothing I feel confident enough about to show you, though. ……そうですね
先生に自信を持ってお見せできるものばかりではありませんが

 Is that so? What do you mean by that? そうなのですか？　それはどういう意味でしょう？

 ...No, please forget what I said. ……いえ、今の言葉は忘れて下さい

*The flashback ends...*

 For a while now I've recalled only some bad memories. Is it also because of this world and that Taint...? さっきから、嫌な記憶ばかり見る。これも、この世界とあの侵蝕者のせいか……

 Self-hatred and self-denial. I always worry about myself. 自己嫌悪、自己否定。僕はずっと自分のことを気にしてばかりだ

 And surely, I'm causing the people around me also be worried about me. Despite how it's the most unpleasant thing to me... きっと、周りにもたくさん気を使わせてしまったんだろうな。そんなの、一番イヤなことなのに

## Chapter 8

*Akutagawa picks up another Memory Gear...*

 Yet another one. But this one seems different compared to the earlier ones... まただ。でも、この歯車はさっきまでのものとは違う……

*Akutagawa has a flashback (see event story Purify "Cogwheels" for full context)...*

 The moment when I least expected it, the bare me could be seen.
I wonder when it was when I stopped feeling resistance towards it? ふとした瞬間、等身大の僕を見られてしまう
そのことに抵抗を感じなくなったのは、いつからだろうか

 There are no people deemed as Gods here. That's because they are fellow authors who are experiencing hardships. ここには神様とみなす人はいない。同じ物書きとしての苦悩は経験しているから

 It's that sensation that has helped me continue this fight. その感覚がこの戦いを続けていくのを助けてくれた

 My past won't disappear. But holding to it, I've gained courage to fight on. 過去はなくなりはしない。でもそれを抱えて戦っていく勇気は出てきた

 Right now I have possibly reached the point when I can face my deepest self. 今、自分の一番深いところに向き合うときが来ているのかもしれない

*The flashback ends...*

 ...Yup, that's what I thought also back then. ……うん、あの時もそう思ったんだった

## Chapter 9

*A Memory Gear with a flashback of Hori Tatsuo appears (see "Akutagawa & Hori" for full, voiced recollection)...*

 Tacchanko... Thank you...
You're a good kid... There, there. 辰ちゃんこ……ありがとう……
本当に君は良い奴だね……よしよし

 Hey, please stop treating me as a child all the time... もう、いつまでも僕の事を、子ども扱いしないでください……

*The flashback ends...*

 Tacchanko... He's always been concerned about me, and stayed by my side. 辰ちゃんこ……いつも僕のことを心配して、そばにいてくれたよね

*Akutagawa has another flashback, this time about Kume Masao from the time when they were purifying the book "Cogwheels" (see event story Purify "Cogwheels" for full context)...*

 I'm here, too. The others will also join us soon... 僕もいるよ。すぐにみんなも来る……

 ...Got it. ……ああ

*The flashback ends...*

 Kume...
Our friendship that I thought I could never regain was something I could get back in the end. 久米……
もう取り戻せないと思った友情だって、取り戻すことができたんだ

*Akutagawa thinks about all the people who surround him, including the Neo-Thought writers, Natsume Souseki, Hori Tatsuo and so on...*

 Yup, this whole time I've had friends. うん、僕には仲間がいるんだったね

## Chapter 10

*Akutagawa has returned to the library to discuss about matters with Chief Librarin and Cat...*

 I've figured out the identity of the enemy. The negative emotions born in the World of Souls... Those are also mine. あの敵の正体がわかった。魂の世界で生まれた負の感情……それも、僕自身のね

 Up to this point I've faced them many times before, so I know it. *He* has blocked my way time after another, and tried to deceive me. 今まで何度も相対したことがあるからわかる。彼は何度も僕の前に立ちはだかり、惑わそうとした

 Negative emotions that the writer himself has... 文豪自身が持っている、負の感情か……

 Could it be that this Taint, which has appeared before Akutagawa, would have something to do with the world's instability? もしや、この侵蝕者が芥川の前に現れたことは、世界の不安定化と関係が？

 If that's the case, it means that the Taint is causing the instability of the World of Souls too. あるとすれば、あの侵蝕者が魂の世界を不安定にしているということだな

 I think it has sucked in many Taints that have appeared in literary works up until now, and that's why it has become a mighty being... 今まで文学に現れた数多くの侵蝕者を取り込んで強大なものとなったからだと思う……

 For this very reason I'm the only one who can beat it. だからこそ、倒せるのは僕しかいない

 ...You're right. We leave it to you, Akutagawa. ……そうだな。頼んだぞ、芥川

 We heard the news. The Taint you are looking for... Is a tough one, right? 聞いたぞ。探している侵蝕者……強敵なんだろ？

 ...Will you really be fine? Isn't going all alone rather reckless. ……本当に大丈夫なの。一人で行くなんて、無茶じゃないかな

 I don't know... But what I'm sure about is that only I can defeat it. わからない……でも、僕にしか倒せないことは確かだよ

 That's why I've got no other choice than give it a try. だから、やるしかないんだ

 It seems that you are determined. Well, you've come this far, so you've gotten stronger. 意思は固いみたいだな。まあ、お前もここに来て強くなったもんな

 I didn't expect you to praise me so openly, Kan. 寛が手放しで褒めてくれるなんてね

 Huff, I have faith in that you can do it. ふっ、俺はお前がやれるって信じてるよ

 ...If Kan says so, maybe that's the case. ……寛が言うなら、そうかもね

 Haha, I'll try my best. Both of you, stay here and root for me. はは、頑張るよ。ふたりとも、ここで応援しててよね

## Chapter 11

*Akutagawa delved once more, and is now exploring the area where he previously had been...*

 The presence of that Taint... Is very near! あの侵蝕者の気配だ……すぐ近くにいる！

*A shadow looking like Akutagawa appears, but it changes its form...*

\*appears\*

 ...So it was you after all. ……やっぱり君だったんだね

 My hands are shaking... To think I'm nervous now out of all moments... 手が震える……今さら緊張するなんて

 But I won't waver anymore. Let's settle this. でも、もう迷うことはない。決着をつけよう

## Chapter 12

*The Taint is defeated, followed by a light appearing and a gear falls down from the sky. The gear turns into a ring in Akutagawa's hands...*

 The gear turned into a ring...? 歯車が指環になった……？

 Somehow it's giving me strength... Power like this was buried deep in this Ensouled Book. 不思議と力が湧いてくる……こんな力が有魂書の奥深くに眠っていたんだ

 Should I take it to the library? It should be fine. 図書館に持ち帰れるかな、きっと大丈夫だよね

 \*bzzzt\*... ｻﾞｻﾞｯ……

*Akutagawa!? Can you hear us...?* 芥川！？　聞こえるのか……？

 You surprised me. That voice is Chief Librarian's. びっくりした、その声は館長さんだね

*Us being able to hear Akutagawa's voice means... It seems that the world has stabilized. That's a relief.* 芥川の声が聞こえるということは……どうやら、世界も安定化したようだな。一安心だ

*I can feel a strong force of alchemy from the book... Did something happen?* 本から強い、錬金術の力を感じるのだが……何があった

 Eh, is that so... Is it perhaps because of the gear just now? えっ、そうなんだ……さっきの歯車のせいかな？

*You mean that the gear became source of energy...?* その歯車が力になっているということか……？

 Yup, the gear turned into a ring... うん、歯車が指環になって……

*Let's talk about the details when you get back. We're waiting for you at the library.* 詳しい話は帰ってからしよう。図書館で待っているぞ

 ...Right, I guess I'll return then. ……そうだね、帰ろうか

*Akutagawa looks at the ring...*

 Fufu, should I boast about this to Kan? ふふ、寛に自慢しようかな