Wild Life 26

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Chapter 26: Hippo's Swordsman

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Tessho: Africa?

Ryoto: Yup, tomorrow, you, me and Seno will be going there.

Seno: Again, that's so sudden~~~~
Ryoto: It has always been like this.

Tessho: I see, Africa! I've always thought of going there someday!

Seno: Doctor, do you really know about Africa? (You didn't even know about India...)
Tessho: Yeah!

Tessho: I'll definitely take part in treating the wild animals,
Tessho: also, I'll definitely check out Africa's Amazon!!

Ryoto: .......


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Ryoto: Amazon is not in Africa.
Tessho: Eh....

Tessho: Then, where is it?
Ryoto: It's troublesome to explain things to him so I don't want to.

Tessho: Hey Ms. Seno!?
Seno: .....
Ryoto: Anyway....

Note: * Amazon is in South America.

Ryoto: Our job this time is in West Africa, a request from the local community of

Ghana.... // to help out in protecting the hippopotamus.

Tessho: *Hippopotamus.

Ryoto: Yup
Ryoto: You on the otherhand is an *idiot

[T/N: In Japanese, BAKA = idiot; KABA = hippo.]


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Ryoto: Hippo's *teeth are like ivory.... These can be sold at a very high price, thus poachers are trying to get them.
Ryoto: Now, hippos are considered endangered species whose numbers are getting fewer.

Tessho: Is that so....

Tessho: ......

Tessho: What is this hippo's *swordsman?
Ryoto: That I wonder?
Ryoto: I wish the idiocy inside your head becomes extinct instead of the hippos

[T/N: In Japanese, the word for tooth and swordsman sounds the same (Kenshi). Here, Ryoto used the word kenshi which means tooth and Tessho is asking what is this kenshi referring to swordsman.]

Ryoto: Moreover.... since hippos eat 45 kilos of plants every night, they not only eat the wild grass but also devastate the crops in farms.... // That's why, even if they are killed, no one would complain.

Tessho: .........killed....

Ryoto: In the case of farmers, even in Japan, no matter how many hardships they face, they make sure to let their plants mature and bear fruits. // So if something destroys their plants, isn't it natural for them to hold a grudge?

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Seno: So, if people like us protect the hippos, the local folks will hate us...

Ryoto: Exactly, you're excellent Seno-chan.
Seno: Ehh...not really....
Tessho: .......

Ryoto: Well, that's why even if it's said that this activity is to protect them, with the hippos situation, it's not as simple as that.
Ryoto: You two should keep that in mind.

Seno: Uhmmmm.... what's that...? (I'm worried~~~)

Ryoto: Don't worry, even if it's unusual...
Ryoto: It is a simple job (that even Idiots can do) // I'll explain it in further detail once we get there

Tessho: Somehow, I've been hearing the word idiot from you....
Ryoto: It's just your imagination. The departure is tomorrow morning; don't be late.


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Infobox: North-West Ghana~~~~

Tessho: Wow~~~!
Tessho: It's huge~~~!


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Tessho: Uhmm, that's a giraffe, right!?

Tessho: We're here, Africa!!
Ryoto: This area around here is said to be one of the most beautiful places in Africa.
Seno: Hehhh~~~!

Tessho: So, what are we gonna do here?
Ryoto: Oh, right, this one.

Tessho: What's this?


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Tessho: This is a tour guide itinerary.
Ryoto: (In your case) you can't speak English so I had it written in Katakana. // That way, it would be like reading Japanese.

Tessho: So what we'll be doing is...
Ryoto: .......

Tessho: A Tour Guide!? // We're gonna be doing that!?
Ryoto: Stupid......

Ryoto: Just like what Seno said before, the locals hate the hippos.
Ryoto: For the sake of making them care for the hippos, they need to understand that hippos are not just a nuisance, but are actually valuable.

Ryoto: "Hippos are not hindrances"// "Keeping them alive generates money" that's how it is.
Ryoto: However, it's not like the hippos can help with the farm work,
Ryoto: The only thing that hippos are recognized for is that they're a tourist attraction....

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Ryoto: That's why, the local organization that protects the hippos, the travel agency and us, a private organization that is knowledgeable of wild animals, come together....
Ryoto: so we better brace ourselves in the seight-seing tour of wild hippos.

Seno: Ehmm, so the job in Ghana is...
Ryoto: Yup

Ryoto: Our job this time is...
Ryoto: to be a Tour Guide

Tessho: Really!? (R.E.D. is sure doing all sorts of jobs)
Tessho: But, I don't understand English at all.

Ryoto: It's OK, just look at the tour guide itinerary I gave you. It has everything you need to know on there, like greetings, introduction and FAQs
Ryoto: Seno, you can somehow speak English, right?
Seno: Yeah, a little...
Tessho: .....

Ryoto: Then, let's hurry to the wharf for the tour.// We're still quite far from there.
Tessho: Ok!

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Infobox: Black Volta River wharf~~~~~

Tessho: Ehh, there are quite a few Japanese people here too~~~
Ryoto: Yeah, now a days there are a lot of Japanese people at sightseeing places~~~~

African guy: Dr. Ryoto!
African guy: Wait~~~!!

Ryoto: It's been a while Mr. Anan.
Anan: For you to help us again makes me happy! It's quite difficult to find a capable guide!

Anan: Look at this huge number of tourists! After hearing the R.E.D. will be coming here, the Tourist Bureau has been accepting a lot of tourists!
Ryoto: It's good to see this business flourishing!


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Ryoto: Oh, let me introduce my colleagues. This is Dr. Iwashiro Tessho. // She's Nurse Seno Mika.
[T/N: In Japanese language, when introducing someone, the family name is mentioned first before their given name.]
Anan: Hello! Welcome here!

Ryoto: For now, let's go to the boat used for observing hippos and guide the guests. // See that boat over there.

Ryoto: One more thing Tessho, if you see a hippo that is in a bad state, inform me.
Ryoto: We'll treat them later.
Tessho: Got it!

Ryoto: I'll go ahead then. You and Seno should go to the other side of the boat.
Ryoto: Miss Seno, I'll leave Tessho to you!

Seno: Ok.

African guy: Tss... Lots of people gathering here....


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Tessho: Ehmm.... Everyone, may I get your attention please.
Tessho: Ahh~~~ We'll sail along the great Black Volta River! I hope we will see some~~~~~

Tessho: Eh, *Kaba is called hippopotamus in English!?
[T/N: Kaba is the Japanese for hippo]
Tessho: Wow! It's like a tongue twister!
Seno: Doctor, you're a guide!

Tessho: Ahhhh...Ehhh~~~ Here on the river course, you'll see many hippopotamus~~~~

Tessho: Do you think this is OK, Ms. Seno. (I'm just reading these notes out...)
Seno: Actually, I think it wasn't that bad. // It was pretty good.

Tourist lady: Wow!

Tessho: Hehehe. They're carefree~~~ (Even if a lot of people are looking at them)
Seno: Yup! They look good~~!
Dog: Woof

Tessho: ...this sightseeing is turning out well...
Seno: Yeah...

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Tourist: Hey Mr. Guide.

Tourist: The hippo that I took a picture with looks like there's blood coming out from it, will it be alright?
Tessho: Ehh!?

Tessho: Wh..Where!?
Seno: Ah...!
Seno: Isn't it that hippo in the tree shade!?
Tessho: !!


Tessho: Hippo's teeth are like ivory.... These can be sold at a very high price, thus poachers are trying to get them.

Tessho: Don't tell me that hippo was targeted....

Tessho: Just wait a little!!
Seno: Hey...doctor, wai....

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Tessho: I'll help you right now...!!
Seno: Wait...

Seno: Wait doctor!

Tourist: What the...The guide jumped to the river!

Small text over ryoto's head: really...
Ryoto: ...Tessho?

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Tessho: Whoahh!

Tessho: Are you alright, hippo?

Hippo: ?

Tessho (small box in the middle): Ehh?

Ryoto: Ha ha ha ha ha!

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Seno: Really doctor! That's why I told you to wait~~~~

Tessho: ........

Tessho: You're laughing too much!

Ryoto: Well, as I thought, you're the best, that's why I like you
Tessho: Stop saying that while laughing in tears! (you asexual...)

Tessho: But, if it's not a problem, what is it.
Tessho: That hippo was bleeding!

Ryoto: You see, occasionally, hippos secrete a substance which is red-colored to protect themselves from too much sun heat. That red substance is sometime called "blood sweat" and serves as a natural sunscreen.
Seno: You're still in tears...
Ryoto: It's not like they're wounded, you see.


Tessho: .....eh.... (really?)
Ryoto: What you did a while ago was risky, for hippos are surprisingly brutal animals.


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Tessho: ......what...
Seno: Ehh, isn't it over already~~~~

African: All of you,
African: Leave!

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Seno: Kyaaaaa!

African: This is what you get for saving the hippos!
African: Get out of our land NOW!

Seno: Doctor....

Tessho: What do you think you're doing!!
Tessho: This is no laughing matter!!

African: Shut up....

Ryoto: Just relax and be still,

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Ryoto: or I'll kill you.

Tessho/Seno: There's blood.
Above Tessho's head: Why resort to this, you're the one who needs to relax...

Ryoto: ~~~~so, what was that all about... explain it properly.

African: .......
African: Them...

African: Those animals are not needed in farm fields! // Those wild animals eat everything; all of the plants in the fields!
African: Yesterday too, all of my brother's hard work were lost!

African: It's their fault that the village children have nothing to eat...
African: I can't forgive you people, who save the source of our suffering!!


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Ryoto: But, you know, hippo sightseeing is for those farms.
Ryoto: Like I've mentioned before, sightseeing business of wild animals is going well in Kenya.

African: What does that have to do with us farmers!?
African: Hippos are destructive animals! It's better if all of them die!!

African: After all, there's no meaning in letting them live!!

Tessho: Hey old man!

Tessho: I understand your hatred for the hippos...
Tessho: but!

Tessho: It's not true that having them alive has no meaning!
Tessho: I'll prove that to you!