Mahou Sensei Negima! 231

1
Period 231: Episode 1: "Rakan Sets Out~!♡ II"
[insert text: It was fate in more ways than one? Nagi meets the Princess!♡]
Rakan: Wahahahahah! Oh man, you've hit the jackpot this time, brat!
Nagi: Huuuuh?! What're you goin' on about?!
Rakan: Oh, don't play dumb with me! I saw you over there having a little chat-chat flirt-flirt with the lovely Princess!
Nagi: I was not! What part of that looked like flirting to you, dumbass?!
Rakan: Aw, come off it. You saw how she was with me...
Flashback!Arika: Do not address me in that way, you churl.
Rakan: ...Ya know~~~~~~? ...Oh, that's a fine lady all right, fine an' proper.
Nagi: Is there something wrong with your head, Rakan? Or are you just a maso? / I don't think I've ever met a more intimidating woman...
Rakan: Guahahahahahah! Ahh, you're such a cute lil' kid sometimes!
Nagi: The hell's that supposed to mean?! And get off me already! Are you looking for a fight?!
Eishun: [aside]they get along so well...[/aside]

2
Rakan: But hey... the princess of Vespertatia, huh? / Wouldn't that make her a certain other lil' Princess' big sister?
Nagi: No... / I get the feeling she doesn't want to talk about Princess-chan.
Racan: Ohhh...?
Nagi: Princess Arika... Hm.
[Mahou Sensei Negima!]
[insert text: Those cool yet sorrowful eyes bring out the true spirit of Ala Rubra!]

3
Eishun: Her Highness Arika Anarchia Entheophysia, Princess of a nation ever caught in the middle of the struggles between the two great powers of the Empire and the Confederation. // She acted as arbitrator between the two herself, tried to put an end to the war, but failed; that's why she's come to us for help.
Nagi: In other words, there's someone who does want to keep this war going, right? / Is it "them" again?!
Eishun: Cosmo Entelecheia... / It seems they have sympathisers not only in both the Empire and the Confederation, but even in Ostia itself, fount of history and tradition.
Imma: It would appear they are manipulating the entire world... As I thought, this goes even deeper than we suspected.
Voicover!Rakan: Cosmo Entelecheia. Initially, we suspected that this mysterious organisation was formed by an international Mafia, or an arms dealer... // In other words, some kind of organisation to whom war would bring nothing but profit. // However, their true identity remained a mystery.

4
Voiceover!Rakan: As such, we used this free time... // ...to initiate a private investigation into Cosmo Entelecheia. // ...Well, I say "we"... // But, well, me and that idiot obviously weren't cut out for that kind of stuff...
Takamichi: [RAW's too low-quality for me to read that tiny text]
Voiceover!Rakan: ...so we left it all up to these guys. // As for me, I enjoyed my unexpected vacation...
Nagi: [aside]Go shopping with you? Why do I have to - ?![/aside]
Voiceover!Rakan: And that idiot, too...
Nagi: [aside]that woman...[/aside]
Voiceover!Rakan: ...enjoyed his vacation in the capital in his own way. // At least, that's how I see it, yeah?
Arika: [aside]what is that?[/aside]
Nagi: [aside]who cares...[/aside]

5
Gatou: This is... impossible...
Rakan: Yo, Gatou! What's up? // You look crazy serious.
Gatou: Ah... Rakan. Well, we've finally managed to get our hands on some files that bring us closer to the truth about them... // But the contents are nigh-on unbelievable... / I mean, our sources are rock-solid, but... Mmmm... // I don't know what to believe any more... but if this were true, their actions would make sense...
Rakan: C'mon, Gatou, get to the point. Tell me what you're goin' on about!
Gatou: Oh, I doubt you'd find it that interesting anyway. // More importantly, take a look at this. // We've uncovered the possibility that this man has links with Cosmo Entelecheia... and he's a big shot.
Rakan: This is...!

6
Rakan: But this is the Consul himself!! // You're telling me the Number 2 of all Megalomesembria is in with those guys?!
Gatou: We don't have proof of this yet, so don't go telling people, all right? // ?!
Rakan: What the - ?!
Nagi: Are you all right, Princess?!
Arika: Quite.

7
Nagi: Ugh... using a huge-scale spell like that right in the middle of town...! / [aside]there better not be any casualties...[/aside]
Arika: So you think that was...?
Nagi: Yeah, it must've been them. Though I don't know it was me or you they were after. // Either way, they're finally showing themselves! // I can't let 'em get away!! / [aside]I've got a tracking spell on 'em now![/aside] // Princess, you head back to the others. / I'm gonna find their base and tear it apa - // Guah!
Arika: ...I will go too.
Nagi: Whaa?
Arika: Obviously it would be far more dangerous to simply leave me here alone, you fool. // Besides which, my magic could be of use to you, surely... or have you forgotten that as well, birdbrain?
[TN: Okay, it's official - if this ever gets animated, Arika clearly has to be voiced by Yukana. ~_~]
Nagi: ...... // Heh... all right then, Princess! // Follow me!!

8
Eishun: ...So... // ...you're telling me that after spending the last day and night dragging Her Royal Highness Princess Arika around Lord-knows-where...
NewsAnnouncer: Early this morning, a mysterious man calling himself an "ally of justice"...
Eishun: ...you actually found and annihilated the enemy's base?!! / [aside]Is this what you call a night out?!![/aside]
Nagi: Well, yeah... / [aside]you guys can handle the rest...[/aside]
Eishun: What point is there in wiping out one of the enemy's lower branches?! Why do you think we are carrying out a secret investigation...?! // And what on Earth were you going to do if you managed to get the Princess injured?!!
Nagi: But the Princess was totally into it, y'know? / [aside]she was enjoying the whole thing...[/aside]
Eishun: You little liar! / I'm sure you dragged her around that whole time against her will! You can't just do this kind of thing to a Princess, you know! How do you intend to apologise?! This is an international -
Takamichi: EISHUN-SAAAN! // That scary cold-blooded Princess was just walking along the corridor and she was s - smiling...! / I was just so shocked... ah, she said something about thanking Nagi-san for her... / ...But... she was smiling, right?!
Kid: She was. I was taken aback myself.
Eishun: ......!
Nagi: See? // Oh, and also...

9
Nagi: We did make sure we brought back some proof!
Image!Consul: [my chances of reading that are approximately minus twenty-four thousand]
Eishun: Wha...? / [aside]that's...[/aside]
Arika: With this proof in our hands, we should be able to put an end to the war, yes?
Nagi: Mm, I guess.
Arika: Well, then... // Let us see how this works out.
Nagi: But man, you're really something, huh? / I mean, man, going to meet the Third Princess of the Empire in a battered old ship like this, and in wartime too...
Arika: What's this? // Are you actually worrying about me?
Nagi: Huh? Worrying? / [aside]about what?[/aside]

10
McGill: The Consul is conspiring with terrorists?! // And you're sure about this, Former Agent Vandenburg?
Gatou: Oh, yes. We have absolute proof.
McGill: Excellent work. If we handle this properly... // ...we may be able to put a stop to this meaningless ever-expanding warfront once and for all. // We must follow proper accusation procedures. I will call the Praetor. You bring Nagi-kun and the proof and come to see me.
Gatou: Understood.
Voiceover!Rakan: And then, he appeared...

11
Gatou: Senator McGill.
McGill: Good work. And this proof is the original artifact?
Gatou: Yes. Will the Praetor not be joining us yet?
McGill: I'm afraid the Praetor... // ...will not be coming.
Gatou: ...... / What...?
McGill: ...I've been doing a little thinking... // And well, we're winning this war. / After coming this far... why bother trying to throw water upon the flames of conflict now?
Nagi: ...
Gatou: I see...
McGill: To be more precise... // This is not my personal opinion. This is simply... the popular opinion. The time is not right. // For now, we should wait. I'm sure you will find this a little disappointing, but this is no time for rash moves...
Nagi: Wait.
McGill: ?
Nagi: You're not Senator McGill at all. Who are you?

12
Rakan/Garou: Wha...?!
Garou: Wait......! Nagi, what... What are you doing?! // Suddenly setting the Senator's head on fire, are you crazy - ?!
Nagi: Ah, shaddup. Take a closer look, old man.
Garou: Wha...?!
Fate?: ...Impressive deduction, Man of a Thousand Spells. / I see more research will be necessary if I can be seen through so easily.

13
Fate?: I'm afraid the real Senator McGill is already sleeping with the fishes down in Megalo Bay.
Nagi: Why, you...!
SomeGuy1: Not so fast.
Nagi: ?!
SomeGuy2: Take this.
Nagi: Ngh...!

14
Nagi: Ugh! // These guys are tough!
Rakan: Hahah... but we've finally got flesh-and-blood enemies to fight! / Compared to going up against politicians and guys who won't come out and fight like men... // ...This way's... // ...a hell of a lot easier!!
Fate?: Tch... // I - It's me! This is Senator McGill... We have traitors in the building! // Yes... I'm sure... I was almost assassinated by them... P - Please, send help quickly! / It's Springfield, Rakan and Vandenburg! They're all Imperial spies! Their friends as well! They're after me right now - please, contact the military...!
Nagi: Agh...
Gatou: Well, this isn't good.
Nagi/Rakan: Hyaaaahhh!
Fate?: ...I'm afraid you went just a little too far. I'm afraid I'm going to have to remove you from the picture.

15
Voiceover!Rakan: Maybe if we'd defeated them back then, none of the stuff that came afterwards would have had to happen... / But, well, that's hindsight for you. // We couldn't possibly fight against the military who'd been our allies up until that moment... // We were chased out of the Capital, and then out of the Confederation itself, as traitors.
Rakan: Yesterday we were heroes, and now we're traitors... / Heheheh... I like it. Life's all about the crazy ups and downs!♪
Gatou: [aside]I do hope Takamichi-kun and the others escaped safely...[/aside]
Nagi: ...... // The Princess is in trouble...
[Pin label: Hideout]
[TN: ...Wait, do I see Olympus freaking Mons on that map? I guess Mundus Magicus really is Mars... *checks Google Mars* Ooh, I can see where we are~! ^^]
[Arrow label: Rescue Operation]
[Label above Noctis Labyrinthus: Princess Arika Imprisoned]
Voiceover!Rakan: Caught in a trap, pursued by both the Confederation and the Empire, we fought our way across the frontier regions... // ...making our way towards the ancient ruin of Noctis Labyrinthus, where Princess Arika was being held captive.

16-17
Rakan: All right~! Time for a toilet break!
People: Whaaaa?! But it was just getting good~! / Was the Princess all right~aru?! / Hahahahah... Traitors, huh? How are they going to get out of that one~? / What was with Fate being so... big?! And those others... // Why are you pulling that face, Chisame-chan? / Well, come on. This is ridiculous. / It's just so far removed from ordinary life back in Japan...
Rakan: Anyway, what did you think, huh?! Wasn't I awesome in my prime?! // [aside]hahahah![/aside]
People: Dude, you barely even did anything! // You really didn't~!
Rakan: Whaaat~?!
Asuna: Is there something wrong, Negi?
Negi: Wha - ? N - No, nothing at all - ! // ...... // (Princess Arika... // That woman... // Could it be...?
[insert text: From the moment a mental connection is made / everything begins to change...]
[bottom text: Next issue, Negima will be taking a break so that the author can collect data. See you again in Issue 50, on sale 12th November!♡]