Houshin Engi
by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu
published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. 
------------------------------------------------ 

84.  Luxurious Cruise Ship Queen Joker II Code Name
------------------------------------------------

[087]
84.  Luxurious Cruise Ship Queen Joker II Code Name


[088]
ChouKoumei: --- I've even prepared a glorious venue especially 
for this battle...

ChouKoumei: That's the cruise ship on Isui River...

ChouKoumei: The time is noon today, don't forget to attend!

ChouKoumei: But be careful!!
If you're late even a second, the heads of the hostages will 
fall under the guillotine!!

<imaginary picture>

[089]
ChouKoumei: I'm waiting for you!  
See ya!!

ChouKoumei: Ha...haha........
Haa...ha......

KouTenka: He's getting away!!!
Youzen: --- come back, Tenka!!

KouTenka: Why!?  
If we can beat him now, we can rescue the hostages!!

Youzen: Chou Koumei is a very dangerous person...

[090]
TouSengyoku: Taikoubou, that guy is really something...
Taikoubou: Sengyoku, you know too?

TouSengyoku: Yeah!  I was originally on Kingou Islands...
I was there as a spy working for Bun-taishi...

TouSengyoku: In Kingou Islands, only the "Three Greats" have 
power above that of the Juttenkun...
One is Bun-taishi.  
One is Dakki.  
And the other...

Taikoubou: ...is that Chou Koumei...?
TouSengyoku: Yeah... but I don't really know that weirdo...

Youzen: Bunchuu and Dakki, like Shinkouhyou have broken off 
from the Sennin World...
So, he should be the only one in Sennin World still gathering 
disciples...

[091]
Taikoubou: ......

Taikoubou: Dakki...
Bunchuu...
Sinkouhyou...

KouTenka: They're really powerful...
Youzen: But we still have to fight them!

Taikoubou: Then, let's test chou Koumei's power with a simple 
method!!

All:  Right!!

[092]
Bukichi: Good morning everyone!!!
Taikoubou: Oh!

Bukichi: Forgive my lateness!!
I have to run here every morning from Houyuu, that's quite a 
strain!

Bukichi: Eh?

Bukichi: Taiitsu Shinjin is here too!!!
Taikoubou: Huh?

[093]
Taikoubou: Ack!!!  
I didn't even notice!!!

Taiitsu: Well, that's because I sneaked in just then!!!
Taikoubou: Why did you have to sneak in...

Taiitsu: You've all gone through a lot during the recent 
battle, right?
Especially you, Taikoubou!  You've even lost your arm!!

Taiitsu: So I've constructed this interesting thing, 
especially for you!!!
It's called "Taiitsu All-Purpose Artificial Hand"!!!

[094]
Taiitsu: It's not so convenient, right?
(Here...put it on!)
Taikoubou: Wait...Taiitsu!!

Taikoubou: Actually, it was because I overused the paopei and 
lost my powers...
that means, I've become like a normal human...

Bukichi: Humans can't use paopei, right?
Taiitsu: Yes...

Taiitsu: Paopei create miracles by absorbing the energy from 
Sennin bones...
If a human used paopei, he would be sucked dry like a mummy!

Bukichi: What about me?

Taiitsu: It's a pity, but you can't!
Becuase natural born doushi channels the energy from sennin 
bones into their power...
<Sennin bones>
<They're missing a few bones.>
Taiitsu: In other words, doushi channel that energy into their 
paopei, and are therefore not as strong as natural born 
doushi.

[095]
Taiitsu: But, this artificial hand is not a problem!
Taikoubou: Aiyah!!

Taikoubou: Alas!  Farewell everyone...
I'm going to turn into a mummy...

Taiitsu: I just said that is not a paopei...
It's an artificial hand powered by hydraulics.

Taiitsu: For example, if you press this button...
Taikoubou: Whoa!  A water gun!!

[096]
Taikoubou: Idiot!  Don't use my arm as a form of joke!!

Taiitsu: Gyaaa... I've been beaten even before I finished my 
explanation...
Taikoubou: Um... I... only pressed a random button...

Taikoubou:  ---- whatever!
Let's go!!

Nataku: ... wait there.
My Kenkonken is broken!

Nataku: Fix it for me in 3 minutes!
Taiitsu: 3 minutes? We're not cooking instant noodles here!

Nataku: Fix it now!!!
Taiitsu: Ri...right!!!

[097]
Taikoubou: Is this Isui River?
What a huge river... it's like the sea...

[098]
Taikoubou: Chou Koumei said he would wait here...
But where is he?

KouTenka: Without the paopei-human, we have to fight one of 
the "Three Greats" ourselves, that's quite a worry...
Taikoubou: He'll be here once he's repaired!

Bukichi: !

Taikoubou: --- and Bukichi, return and tell Nankyuukatsu to 
stand guard with the soldiers!  Hm...
Report to me immediately if anything happens!!

Bukichi: Yes... Yes...

[099]
Sengyoku: ...the other side of this river is a city closest to 
Chouka.
Chouka is only a little further on...

KouTenka: We're getting very close to Chuuou's palace, aren't 
we?
Our enemies are getting stronger too, this is rather 
exciting!!

Taikoubou: Ohh!!

Taikoubou: There's something coming up...

[100-1]
Taikoubou: What is that?
TouSengyoku: That...that is Chou Koumei's island on Kingou 
Islands!!  He actually brought the whole thing here!!!

ChouKoumei: Heh... welcome to the glorious battlefield!

Taikoubou: Eh!?

[102]
ChouKoumei: don't you think that this glorious cruise ship 
"Queen Joker" is the only stage that is appropriate for our 
battle?

Taikoubou: ........
This guy is really weird...

ChouKoumei: Let's check on the condition of the hostages!
They've been trapped within sand hourglasses!!

Sipuxiang: Goshujin~~~  I can't take it anymore!!
I'm going to be suffocated by the sand!!!

Taikoubou: Suupuu!!
KouTenka: Hippo... That's so cruel...

[103]
ChouKoumei: The other hostages are on the lower decks...
This ship has five floors, every floor has a sand hourglass...

ChouKoumei: The hourglass on the first floor has another 30 
minutes left...

ChouKoumei: The 2nd floor has 1 hour, the 3rd floor has 1.5 
hours...
The time limit on every floor is 30 minutes...

ChouKoumei: --- and every floor also has one of my minions 
guarding the hourglasses...
Come!  Defeat them quickly, rescue your companions from the 
hourglasses!!

[104]
ChouKoumei: And when you've reached the top, you will face me, 
the Prince Chou Koumei!!
Haaa~~hahahahaha~~!!

ChouKoumei: Haahaa~~!!

Taikoubou: Damn!  It'll be troublesome with a time limit...
Suupuu's life is counting on us...

KouTenka: Well... this will make it more exciting!!
I won't let my father die!!!

All:  !!

[105]
<Entrance>

Taikoubou: Is that the entrance?
We're running out of time, everyone, prepare your paopei!
All:  Right!!!

Taikoubou: Then, let's go!!!




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Translation (c) 2000 Koushi <http://houshin.net/> - all rights
reserved. No part or whole of this document may be broken up
or published on a web-page without the express permission of
the author. It may be freely distributed for _personal_ use
ONLY on the condition that it is distributed in its entirety
and no changes of ANY KIND are made, leaving all original
author and copyright information intact.

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