Main Story/Chapter Six

...

……

Lord Bonten?

梵天様。

Gattenshi...? How is it that I now find myself at Bonnouji...?

月天子か……。私はいつの間に、煩悩時に……。

Lord Kokuuzou Bosatsu bore you all the way back here.

虚空蔵菩薩様が運ばれたんですよ。

Ah, that's right. I was defeated by Ashura...

そうだ。私は阿修羅にやられて……。

That might not be the case, as I hear it.

聞くところによると、梵天様は阿修羅にやられたのではないようです。

Hm?

？

I see... so Dainichi hasn't been found yet?

そう……。大日はまだ見つからないか……。

Shall I join the search myself?

私も探しに行きましょうか？

No, let's wait for news from Taishakuten's party.

いや、帝釈天たちからの朗報を待つとしよう。

*Why* is Lord Shaka Nyorai, at this most critical of moments, so very *laid-back* about the situation, I wonder?!

この危機的状況に、なぜ釈迦如来様は呑気なことをおっしゃっているんですか！?

Haste makes waste... the mandala lies at the root of everything, you see.

焦っても仕方がない。曼荼羅はすべての理だからね。

So true, Lord Shaka Nyorai! I feel the exact same, coincidentally!

さすがは釈迦如来様！オレも同じ気持ちです！

Fugen!!

普賢！！

Lord Shaka...

お釈迦様……。

Ah, you're okay to walk around now?

もう動いても平気なのかい？

Thanks to Lord Yakushi's medicine, yes, I'm alright...

薬師様にいただいた薬のおかげでもう大丈夫です。

I'm terribly sorry for blundering as I did on this mission.

調査中に失態を犯してしまい、申し訳ありませんでした。

There's no need for apologies. Taishakuten took up the baton you left for him.

謝罪は不要だよ。梵天が進めてくれた調査は、帝釈天が引き継いでくれたよ。

Taishakuten did...?

帝釈天が引き継いだのですか……。

I had heard that you were the one who asked it of him... is that not true?

梵天が頼んだって聞いたけど……。違うのかい？

I... have no memory of it.

記憶に……ありません。

I see...

そうだったのか……。

Lord Shaka, please allow me to return to the frontlines.

お釈迦様、どうか私を戦列に復帰させてください。

It's not good to over-exert yourself. Focus on recovering from your wounds. Do I make myself clear?

無理はよくないよ。今は体を休めることに専念するんだ。いいね。

Understood...

御意……。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-2.png

What a letdown that Pazuzu proved to be! Defeated by a deity who wasn't even a nyorai!

パズズには失望したぞ。如来ですらない仏にしてやられるなんて。

What's his condition at present?

それで、パズズの状態は？

Not in fighting shape anytime soon, I'd say. Though he's still raring to go in terms of sheer will to fight.

しばらく戦線復帰は無理だろうね。戦意は相変わらず旺盛だけど……。

Ah, it almost slipped my mind. A humble present for you, Lord Mara.

そうだ、忘れるところだった。マーラ様にプレゼントが。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-4.png

Hm?

？

パチンッ！

You call this a present? I think you meant to say garbage.

プレゼント？ゴミの間違いじゃないのか？

Heheh...

ふふふ……。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-2.png

What's so funny?

なにがおかしい？

Just thought I don't really fancy being called garbage very much.

ゴミ屑に言われたかねーなと 思っただけだ。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-2.png

You dare?!

なんだと！？

I'll eliminate him.

処刑します。

Just a moment, Satan.

待って、サタン。

Lord Mara, I think we can figure out a different use for him. In our experimental ritual, for instance...

マーラ様、このゴミにも使い道があるかと。たとえば最終儀式の実験とか……。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-4.png

!

！

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-1.png

Hahahah...! I'd expect no less from you, Iblis.

ふふふ……。イブリースあさすがだね。

Most honored by your praise.

お褒めに預かり光栄です。

File:Mara-Enemy-Story-1.png

Oh, things are going to get so very interesting around here. Ashura, come here.

面白くなりそうだ。阿修羅、こっちに来い。

Urgh...!

くっ……。

Well, I'm glad he liked it in the end. All's well that ends well.

最終的に気に入ってくれて良かった。

Iblis.

イブリース。

Hm?

？

You seem to be scheming something behind the scenes, but I'll have you know you can't fool me.

いろいろと画策しているようだが、俺の目はごまかせんぞ。

Whatever could you mean by that?

画策ってなんのこと？

Didn't you dispense some medicine from Hell to that deity, the one called Yakushi?

薬師とかいう仏に魔界の薬を提供しただろう。

How could you possibly prove anything as far-fetched as that?

証拠はあるのかな？

Abide by the terms of the contract you have with Lord Mara. The next time I find you up to something, I will pass judgement with my own hands.

マーラ様との契約は遵守しろ。次におかしな真似をすれば、俺がお前を処断する。

Oh, what a damn snob he is.

やだねぇ、気取り屋さんは。

Ashura was sighted here?!

ここに阿修羅が現れた！?

Yeah! He was leading the vices!

あぁ！あいつが煩悩を手引きしたんだ！

...

……。

I don't think we have enough information to say for sure, one way or the other. He was genuinely trying to put that demon down, from what my clairvoyance showed me...

そうとは一概に言えないな……。俺の目には悪魔を本気で倒そうとしたように見えた……。

Then what, you trying to tell me he was trying to join forces with us? Pigs'll fly next.

阿修羅が俺たちに加勢しようとしたってことか？それはありえないっしょ。

...

……。

Yo, Taishakuten!

よっ、帝釈天！

Are you fully cured of the miasma's effect?

瘴気の影響は残っていないのか？

Yeah, I never breathed in too much of it in the first place. One dose of Yakushi's medicine and I'm good as new.

あぁ、元から軽かったし。薬師の薬のおかげでバッチリだ。

Tamonten's wounds are... more severe. But he'll be fine... if he gets his rest.

多聞天は……重症……。けど……休めば大丈夫。

You have my deepest gratitude.

ありがとうございます。

Well then, let's get this Dainichi hunt back on the road.

じゃ、大日探しを再開するか。

You and the others fall back and continue defending the sacred mountain. Watch over Tamonten as he recovers, too.

広目天たちは霊山の守りを。あと、多聞天のことをよろしく頼む。

Understood.

御意。

That sure took up a lot of time. I hope Dainichi's stayed in one place and made our lives easier...

だいぶ時間食っちまったな。大日の居場所が、変わってなきゃいいけど。

...

……。

What seems to be troubling you, my lord?

どうかしたんですか、薬師の旦那。

Something eating at your brain?

なにか気になることでも？

The medicine we used against Pazuzu... is worrying me... Just who left that for us to find...

パズズに使った薬のことが……。気になって……。一体、誰が……。

That one that cancelled out his miasma?

パズズの瘴気を打ち消した薬のことか？

Pazuzu called it medicine from hell... where did you get hold of it?

たしかパズズは魔界の薬と言ってましたが……。どこで入手を？

We quite simply picked it up by the wayside.

道で拾ったんですがねぇ。

By the... wayside?!

道で！？

As you do.

まぁ、日頃の行いやろうなぁ。

Not quite as commonly as that.

そんな単純ことではありませんよ。

Well, we're lucky it all worked out for the best anyhow. What's up, Fudou?

なんにせよ役に立って良かったじゃねぇか。どうした、不動？

Crap... was that what you fed me earlier?

げぇ……さっきオレに飲ませたのって魔界の薬？

No... What you drank was a brew of wolfsbane and turmeric... and...

ううん……不動に飲ませたのはトリカブトとウコン……それに……。

Of *what* and *what*?! That sounds disgusting... I think I'm gonna throw up...

えぇ！?汚ねぇじゃん！気分悪くなってきた……。

I always prepare them... hygienically... so it's alright...

ちゃんと……洗ってるから……大丈夫。

...

……。

I wonder if it is just my imagination... the number of vices seem to have gone down...

気のせいでしょうか……。煩悩の数が減少しているような……。

I think it's your imagination. Come on already, Fudou.

気のせいじゃないか？ほれ、行くぞ不動。

Ugh...

おえ……。

How long are you gonna feel like throwing up for?!

いつまで気分悪くなってるんだよ！

Would you like a brew to... make you feel better?

気分良くなる薬……飲む？

No thanks... Ugh...

いらない……。おえ……。

I'm finally restored!

ようやく復活！

How much farther until we get to Dainichi's supposed location?

大日がいる場所ってのはあとどれくらいだ？

We're very nearly there.

もう間もなくです。

I hope... he's there...

いるといいね……大日……。

Jeez. I hope and pray with everything I have that he's there...

まったくだ。いることを願うぜ……。

Forget it. The moment you start expecting something from him is the moment you'll be let down the hardest.

あいつに期待するとすぐに裏切られるぞ。

*(You can just feel the unmistakably true real-life experiences that made him say that...!)*

*(実感がこもってるな……。)*

Up ahead is the location where Lord Houshou mentioned he planned to do his ascetic training under the waterfall.

この先の山で滝行をする予定と、宝生如来様の文には書いてありました。

There's nothing *but* waterfalls here.

滝だらけだな。

Okay, let's split up and hit up every single one of them!

虱潰しに片っ端から捜索するぞ！

We'll go down south. Yakushi, you and your homies go search the north end.

俺たちは南側の滝を。薬師たちは北側の滝で捜索してくれ。

Okay...

わかった……。

Where... the heck... *is* Dainichi...?

はぁ……はぁ……。どこにいるんだ……大日は……。

This... ain't what... I signed up for...!

はぁ……はぁ……。話が違うぞ、帝釈天。

?!

！？

What's up, Taishakuten? Dainichi got your tongue?

どうした帝釈天？大日が見つかったのか？

No, a vice-

いえ、煩悩です。

...Ah.

……はぁ。

We're only wasting time keeping this up..

このままじゃ時間を浪費するだけだぞ……。

Do we meet back up with Yakushi's team?

薬師たちと再合流するか？

Koumokuten would be perfect for this job, and yet...

こんな時に広目天がいれば、便利なのですが……。

Koumokuten, the clairvoyant...

広目天は千里眼の持ち主……。

That's it! Why didn't I think of it sooner!

それだ！どうして、思いつかなかったんだ！

Huh!? We going back to get him?

えっ！? 引き返すの？

Well, now that you mention it, I suppose we don't really have the time to go back and get him...

さすがに引き返す時間はないか……。

Okay! I'll fish him out with instinct!

わかった！オレが勘で探す！

Instinct...?

勘……？

Pisses me off, but he and I share a connection I can't sever, no matter how hard I wanted to.

しゃくだけど、あいつとは腐れ縁なんだよな。

I can pick up on where he's at.

なんとなくわかるんだよ。

...This way!

……こっちだ！

Confirming contact with a vice.

……煩悩と遭遇。

Huuuh, that's weird! Guess my instinct rusted away cuz it's been a hot minute since we met!

あれっ、おかしいな〜。しばらく会わない間に勘が鈍ったかな。

*Fudou...*

ふ〜どぉ〜……。

Hey there, Yakushi. Any luck finding Dainichi?

おう、薬師。大日は見つかったか？

No... sorry...

見つからなかった……。残念……。

We searched every possible nook and cranny.

片っ端から捜索したんですけどねぇ。

What are the odds they've already left this place?

もう移動したとかねぇだろうな？

We aren't getting nowhere fast at this rate!

もう、埒が明かへん！

What's gotten into you?

どうしたんだよ？

It's getting late. Why don't we officially give up for today and hit the hot springs nearby?

だいぶ暗くなってきたし、今日のところは捜索を中断して温泉に浸かるッ！

Let's gooooo!

賛成〜！

There's a hidden one... just past this point...

この先に……秘湯があるよ……。

Doesn't sound half bad an idea to me. Yakushi, lead the way.

悪くねぇな。薬師、案内を頼む。

I'll be continuing the search for Lord-

自分ば大日如来様の捜索を――

Loosen up, Taishakuten! You're coming with us.

固いこと言いっこなしですよ、帝釈天。

Yakushi... how frickin' far is this hot spring?

薬師……どこだよ、その秘湯ってのは……。

Right here...

こっち……。

Don't take us on a goose chase for this hot spring on top of the one for Dainichi...

まさか秘湯探しまでさせるんじゃねえだろうな。勘弁してくれよ。

?!

！？

What's up, Taishakuten? You spot another vice?

どうした、帝釈天？また煩悩か？

Ohhh, this hot spring hits just the spot after a hard day of ascetic training!

いや一、修行の後の温泉はサイッコー！

You didn't do a moment's worth of what could be called training.

修行なんて一切してないだろうが……。

I did too! When you weren't looking! Tell him, Houshou!

陰でこっそりしてたよ！ね、宝生!

Who knows...

さぁ……。

That sounds like-

その声は……。

Dainichi!

大日!

Oof! Scared the daylights out of me... look, there's a man here who's the spitting image of Fudou!

わっ！不動に似てる人がいてビックリ！

You absolute idiot! I *am* Fudou! Looked everywhere for you, Dainichi!

馬鹿野郎！オレは不動だ！ 探したぞ、大日！

Awww, did someone miss lil' ol' me to tears?

そんなにオレ様が恋しかったのか？

In your dreams! Quit your journey to find yourself and get your ass back to Bonnouji!

んなわけねーだろ！自分探しはもう終わりだ！煩悩寺に帰るぞ！

Journey to find himself...?

自分探し……？

I don't wanna! I'm never going back to Bonnouji!

嫌だ！オレ様は絶対に煩悩寺には帰らない！

Well it's too frickin' bad we can't activate the mandala without you! Quit yapping and come back with us!

お前なしで曼荼羅が展開できればいいが、そうはいかねぇんだ!いいから、帰るぞ！

No! Let go!! I am the law of the cosmos! I am Lord Dainichi Nyorai!!

嫌だ一！離せ一！オレ様は宇宙の摂理！大日如来様だぞ！

Is the situation so dire that activation of the mandala is necessary?

曼荼羅を展開させるような事態に発展しているのですか?

We need it to... seal Mara...

マーラを……封じるため……。

Mara?! I see, so that's how it is...

マーラを！？なるほど、そういうことでしたか。

You and your buddy feel like lending us a hand about it?

宝生たちも手を貸してくれるか？

Most assuredly.

それはもちろん。

No! I'm gonna keep on doing nyorai training with Houshou!

却下だ！オレ様は宝生たちと如来修行を続ける！

None of what you're been doing can be called training. Enough with your weeping.

修行なんてまったくしてなかっただろ。いい加減にしろ。

I was gonna start the really serious training from tomorrow!

修行は明日から本格的に開始するもん！

You-

こいつ……。

Hold it!

まった！

Huh?

ん？

Hey, Dainichi... There's something you aren't telling us, isn't there?

なぁ、大日……。お前、なにかオレたちに隠し事してるだろ？

I- Well- No, I... uh, look! A shooting star!

！？えっ……いやっ……その……。あっ！流れ星っ！

Don't dodge the question. Answer me.

ごまかすな……どうなんだ？

Ahaheh... Well, you see... Fudou, come close for a sec.

イへへ……実は……。不動、耳をかせ。

Huh?

なんだよ？

*\*Whisper, whisper\**

ゴニョゴニョ……。

YOU ***WHAT***?!?!

ええええええええええっ！？

Aaaaaargh!

うぅ……あぁぁぁぁっ！

What a lovely scream.

いい叫び声だ。

...Dirty bastard...

……げ、下種野郎……。

You yet have strength enough to talk back to me? Nothing if not tenacious...

この俺にまだ生意気な口を利けるんだ。しぶとい奴……。

Iblis! Release some more vices!

イブリース！煩悩の量をもっと増やせ！

As you command.

了解。

Aaaaaah!

あぁぁぁぁぁっ！

Hahah! Scream louder! Suffer!

あははっ！もっと叫べ！もっと苦しめ！

Aaaaaaaaah!

あぁぁぁぁぁぁぁっ！

How would you describe your feelings at this moment?

どうだ、気分は？

Give me... more vices... I hunger for strength...

もっと……煩悩を……。強くなりたい……。

Heheh... I'm the only one who can bring out your true strength. Kneel, Ashura...

ふふっ……お前の力を一番引き出せるのは俺しかいない。さあ服従せよ、阿修羅。

As you... command, Lord Mara...

マーラ……様……。