A Spectacular Service! All Pray For A Good Harvest/Story/Chapter Nine

Hey…! Isn’t this pretty bad? That cloud just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

はわわ……！大変、大変〜！！ねえねえ、あの雲ますます大きくなってるよお……！

If this keeps up, we’ll…

このままじゃ……。

Yeah… We need to get that oni chasing ritual a success ASAP.

うん、まずいね。鬼追いの儀式を成功させて、巨大雲を晴らさないと。

Sanshi, are you clear on what you’re gonna need to do?

散脂、やることはわかってるな？

Yes. I just need to put on this mask and pretend to be rampaging like an oni.

わかってます。オレがこの鬼の面を被って暴れるフリをすればいいんですよね。

Correct. The rest of us will drive away the rampaging oni – namely, you – with this torch. When the fire in this torch goes out, that’s when the ritual will be complete. It’s all on you now, man – don’t mess up, alright?

ああ。鬼役の散脂を俺達が松明で追い払い、その火が消えれば儀式終了だ。成功させるためにも、しっかりやれよ。

I would not *dare* fail, not with Lord Tamon’s likeness here with me.

多聞様の面があるんだから、成功するに決まってるんでしょ。

Whew. A lot happened, but I think we’re finally about to see the ending to all of this.

色々あったが、なんとか終わりそうだな。

You can say that again! As always, me and my perfect plans are worthy of the greatest praise…

そうだな！そしてオレ様の活躍はやはり素晴らしいものだった。

…I have a lot of things to say, but as long as this ends well and all is well, whatever.

…言いたいことはあるが、無事に終わりゃそれでいいよ。

Of course it’s going to end well! It *has* to!

当然、つつがなく終わるに決まっているだろう！

Hm… but then, why do I feel as if I’m forgetting something…

……ん？あれ、でも何か忘れてるような……。

What nonsense are you up to this time…

また何か企んでたのか？！

 *The earth trembles violently…*

Rooooooar!

うおおおおおお！

Sanshi!? What’s wrong-

散脂！？どうしたの……！？

What just happened?!

何があった！

Something feels very off about Sanshi! It’s as if he’s an actual, flesh and blood demon-

散脂の様子がおかしいんです！まるで本当の鬼みたいに……！

No… did he lose himself to the oni within!?

まさか、あいつ……。面に飲まれたのか！？

Huh?

なんだって？

Exceptionally well-made masks have a tendency to swallow their wearers.

出来がいい面は、つけたものを 取り込むことがあるんだ。

Sanshi made this mask while thinking about Tamonten… I think his feelings were so strong they imbued the mask with their very nature.

散脂は多聞天のことを考えながら思いを込めて鬼面を作った……。 その思いがあまりにも強かったんだろう。

Well, that’ll probably never happen to beings on a level like myself, though!

まあ、オレ様ほどの存在になれば、面に取り込まれるなんてことは 起こらないんだがな！

This isn’t the time for gloating, Dainichi! We have to stop Sanshi! Start the ritual – now!

悠長にそんなこと言ってる場合か！散脂を止めるぞ！このまま儀式を終わらせる！

Sanshi! Get a hold of yourself!

落ち着け、散脂！

Rooooooar!

ぐおああああああ！

Argh! He smashed the torch to pieces! What brazen power…!

うわっ！松明を吹っ飛ばしやがった！なんて力だよ！

Jizou! I’ll help!

地蔵！オレも力を貸すぞ！

We’re coming to assist too!

オレたちも行くぞ！

Right behind you!

うん……！

Catch me if you can!

オニハウチイイイ！

No…!

うわああ！

Argh!

うわああ！

Hi eve- Wait, huh?! No – why is he coming this way!?

うっそお……え、ちょ、こっちくる！？

Just try it!

フクハアアアア！

*Sanshi is actually chanting a reversed traditional chant used at Setsubun: oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi (lit. out with the demons, in with good luck!) He has reversed it to say oni wa uchi, fuku wa soto (lit. in with the demons, out with good luck!).*

We’ve got good luck in spades inside! … I mean, this isn’t anywhere near the right time of year for that chant!

福も内だな！……じゃなくて、今は節分の時期ではないぞ！

Don’t just stand there! Use your strength to stop him!

ツッコミ入れてねえで、散脂の動きを止めろ！

Oh, right! Sorry about that, Jizou!

そうだった！地蔵、すまん！

I’m coming for you!

マメハアアアアアア！！

One step ahead of you! Now, Jizou!

させるか！今だ、地蔵！

Come OFF, damn mask!

おう！外れろ、鬼面！

Huh? Where am I…

……あれ……オレは……。

Are- are you back to normal?

も、元に戻ったのか？

I have no idea what you’re referring to. Anyway, what happened to that torch on the floor?

はあ？意味わかんないんですけど。それより、その松明はどうしたんですか。

Eh? Oh, would you look at that! I was brandishing this thing around like a weapon and I’ve smashed it to pieces…

え？あ、やべっ！ 武器代わりにしたせいで、松明がボロボロになっちまった……。

I don’t think we can finish the oni chasing ritual with the torch in that condition.

これじゃ鬼追の儀式が終わらせられないですね。

Aw, darn it… What are we supposed to do now…

くそ……どうすりゃいいんだ……。

Oh! Oh! I just remembered the thing I was forgetting! Alright, sit tight you guys! I’m gonna get this all fixed up in a jiffy!

そうだ、忘れてたと思ったらあれか！よし、待ってろ！これですべて解決だ！

Dainichi?!

おい、大日！？