Ashe of Purgatory Oneshot : Rengoku no Ashe

And for my 900th translation I bring you Endou Tatsuya's One shot from the June issue of Jump SQ, Rengoku no Ashe. While Endou's not up there in my blind fan worship list as Fukuchi, I am quite fond of his art and stories, Ashe being no exception. I don't think it has the chops to be a series in it's own right, but I'd definitely like to see Endou back in the game. Plus it was fun writing 'Damn Pope' and being completely serious about it.

Ironically this actually fits with my translation 'theme' this month. Reality truly is stranger than fiction...



Ashe of Purgatory –Rengoku no Ashe-
(Side text- People fear the unknown…)
(Side text- Fear is what invites people into despair….)
(Bottom text- A Gothic witch trial fantasy)
ENDOU TATSUYA
(Bottom text- The talent behind ‘Tista’ and ‘Gekka Bijin’ makes a return appearance with a new one shot!)


???: The Nemi high courts have concluded that this was a deed done with the assistance of the black magical arts!
(Side text- Madness! Judgment…!!)
(Handwritten- Kill her!)
(Handwritten- Kill her!)
???: The accused, Ashe has been found to be a ‘Witch’…!!
She shall be executed by burning!!
{This is…}

002
{A story of an age where ‘Witch Hunting’ is required by society…}
Dude: Agh!!
???: Geez, just stop coming here!
Are you ladies okay?
(Handwritten- I was so scared.)
Old lady: Oh dear recently the amount of brigands around has risen….

003
???: No need to worry, we’ll ensure you all reach town safe and sound!
{We are the Saint Beneze hospital knights. A gathering of monks who carry swords.}
Now let’s go! Brokken brook is only a little further ahead!
Serving as protection for pilgrims who are injured and sick as well as giving them medical care is what we do.
Although there aren’t that many believers around now…

004
People: Oh not the pilgrims again…
They’re so dirty..
If you get close to them you’re bound to get sick.
{And there aren’t many people in cities who like us much either.}
Lady: Keh. Normals.
{Well that’s fine. With this we can at least get food to eat.}
Dude: We’re going to go ahead to the inn and training grounds. You just make sure to go shopping, Bel.
???: Okay.
Umm..
That just leaves wheat flour and…
There are a lot of Inquisition guards around..
I wonder if they’re witch hunting in this town too….
Guy: Hey! Wait dammit!
???: Whoa! Is it a fight?!
(Handwritten- That’s big trouble!)
Dude: Heh…I don’t care much for those eyes of yours…

005
Dude: You do understand the situation you’re in right?
If you want to remain free then you need to pay up all of your taxes to the church!!
???: A girl?
Dude: Say something dammit!
(Sfx- Gashaaan *crash*)
???: Ah! Idiot!
What are you doing!?
Dude: Wawaahh…
???: Stand still!
(Sfx- Chaahh *sfft*)

006
(Sfx- shuuhh *ssssss*)
???: Hooot!!
Dude: Who the hell are you?!
Dude 2: Bro, check out his clothes! He’s a Knight of the religious order….
???: That’s right. And God with all of his benevolence is willing to forgive the lot of you….if you go home now and leave things as is.

007
Dudes: Damn you stranger!
(Handwritten- Bye bye!)
{This girl…}
{Her hair was on fire, and she didn’t even bat an eyelash.}
???: Um…
???: Thank you.
???: Eh? Oh…yeah..
{Ah, that figures as much.}
(Handwritten- I am wearing these.)
???: Ah..
By the way I’m sorry for cutting your hair like that…being a girl and all…
See you.
A hospital….?

008
???: Um…this’ll be fine, really! I don’t have any money….
And if you’re worried about me getting treatment, I can do so at the training in…
Guy: Oh, you’ve returned home Ashe…
(Handwritten- Oh my.)
Guy: What happened to your hair?
Ashe: Sit.
???: Is this your home?
Guy: So that’s what happened!
We have to give you something as a token of thanks…
???: It’s fine..
(Handwritten- I just did what came naturally..)
Guy: The medicine she makes works exceedingly well. She’s actually got quite the reputation.
Lately the pilgrims have welcomed our home as a landmark.
The church doesn’t find this amusing however…
And I’m sure they’ve been sending people to attack Ashe…
???: Ooh..
Ashe: Johan-sensei…over there.
(Handwritten- Sensei! My bone is…!)
???: ‘Johan-sensei’? Then you aren’t his…
Ashe: He’s just my foster parent.
(Handwritten- All done.)

009
Ashe: If the festering doesn’t stop then come back tomorrow.
???: Eh….?
Ashe: If you don’t want to that’s fine.
???: No, that’s not it…
Do you really want a guy like me coming in and out of this place?
I’m sure it’ll be nothing but trouble for you…
(Handwritten- Oh my, a killer is here in the hospital….)
Ashe: It doesn’t bother me…
???: I’m a Sacred Knight of Beneze, Bel Teinburen!
Thanks for the food and fixing the injury on my arm! I’ll be back tomorrow!
Ooh?!
The pain is completely healed!
(Handwritten- Awesome!)
(Handwritten- Is this magic?)

010
Bel: She’s a little strange, but I’m sure she’s a good person!
Now all that’s left is secretly escorting those old lady pilgrims safely..
Ah!! I forgot to go shopping!!
Bel: Old man, I’d like an apple!
Old dude: Huh?
You got some cash?
(Handwritten- So you showed up huh?)
Bel: I—I do…?
Ashe: I’ll buy all of your apples.
Bel: Ashe…
Chan.
Old guy: Well well! Of course! Anyone from Talton-san’s place is welcome.
Bel: I was thinking that we could bring all of the pilgrims to your hospital for now on!
(Handwritten- You’re going to eat that many?)
(Handwritten- That’s foolish.)

011
Bel: I’m sort of sorry…I guess it’d be better if we weren’t traveling together….
Ashe: Doesn’t bother me.
Those white clothes that you wear seem to attract all sorts of attention.
Everyone at the hospital wears black so that blood and dirt don’t show up so easily.
Bel: I get it! But this is the only one I have…I do wash it on occasion.
Ashe: Do you think you could back away about 10 cm?
Kids: Ah…
Sis!!
Kid: Thanks for coming before with the free medication!
(Handwritten- You’re giving this to me?)
Ashe: Keep it a secret from Johan-sensei, or he’ll get angry.
Kid: Okay!
See you soon sister expressionless!!
(Handwritten- Bye bye!)
Bel: Welp, I guess I’ll see you later too, sister expressionless!
Ah, so you do have one.

012
Bel: I’ll help!
Ashe: Wah!
You sure have a lot of free time…
(Handwritten- Gathering medicinal herbs today?)
Bel: Well, it’s just as long as the pilgrims are in town.
Ah look! There are whitethorns growing sporadically all over here!
The May festival will be soon then, huh?
Oh! In the South there is a festival known as May’s queen. On the day of the festival, one girl in the town is chosen to wear a decorative crown of flowers.
Ashe: I know.
They used to do that in the village I lived in a while back.
{Inadvertently at that time…}
{The eyes she had were odd…at an age beyond her years…gazing at something far away.}

013
{Upon seeing this I couldn’t help but feel a slight tinge of sadness.}
Bel: Hehe.
{A feeling unbecoming for a monk like myself…}
{Forcefully and silently held me down..}
Bel: You certainly are cute…
Queen Ashe.
{Like a heathen brigand.}
Bel: I hope we get to stay in town long enough for the festival.
Ashe: Brokken brook doesn’t have a festival.
Bel: R—really?
Knight: Ah! There you are Bel!!
What are you loafing around for?!
The church is depending on us for guards!!
You have to come too!!
{There is a festival, however it is…}

014
{The mad festival known as witch hunting!!}
People: Kill her!
Damn witch!
Witch: I didn’t do anything!!
People: Kill her!
{Where innocent people are denounced by the fingers of the devil.}
Council: It has been decided that this person has used black magic and will be put to death!
{The civilians who’s anxieties and dissatisfactions which have been built up over time is released…}
{In addition…}
(Handwritten- Bishop!)
(Handwritten- Use the iron and steel!)

015
{The one being executed has all of their things…}
Judge: The sentence is…
Death by fire!!
{Claimed by the church.}
Person: Hiii!!
Please stop this!!
STOOOOP!!!
Judge: This isn’t enough!
If we have to continue to settle for the slim pickings we’re getting from these plebeians then my monetary standings will never rise!
Priest: Ah…
If the Bishop would stop using such heavy handed tactics perhaps this wouldn’t happen..

016
Bishop: Tell this to the guards of the inquisition…
For now on they are to take a wider and much more aggressive stance.
???: Maan, but last night’s festival sure was something wasn’t it Johan-sensei?
Yohan: Ah…
Yes…
Those witches always end up being the young lasses don’t they?
Bel: Sorry to start your morning off like this Ashe…
When I saw that fire burning my pain returned…
Ashe: How surprising…you haven’t gotten used to that yet?
(Handwritten- You can see this kind of thing in any city after all.)
Bel: Yeah…

017
Bel: I’m an orphan raised by the monastery…
The only thing I’m good at is swinging a sword, so I figured becoming a part of the military order was the obvious thing to do…
I don’t have anything else…
And someone like me who doesn’t know much may not have what it takes to discern between good and evil but..
It just seems…
So sad…
Ashe: Your wounds aren’t serious.
This is a pain..
That medicine cannot heal…
I’m sorry.
Bel: I see….I suppose that rather than coming here I should go to a confessional huh?
(Handwritten- This is nothing you have to apologize for.)
{But you…}

018
{For just a little bit seemed like the Holy mother…}
{Incredibly kind and soft hearted.}
Bel: The pilgrims..
Will be leaving this city tomorrow.
Will I…
Be able to see you again?
If this burn hurts again…
Would it be okay for me to visit this city…this hospital again?
But of course if it’s too much trouble…
Ashe: It doesn’t matter to me.

019
Ashe: I’ve said it may times that you’re not a bother to me.
Are you an idiot?
{Yeah…}
{I’ll definitely come to see you again.}
Bel: Before I go, I should thank you somehow…
Johan(?): Wh—what do you people want!?
Monk: C’mon…! The court is asking for more guards!
(Handwritten- They’re asking us to come right away!)
Monk: Geez! Didn’t they just off someone the other night?
Seems like Bel is already there…

020
Bel: You’re…
Kidding…
And now…
Ashe Talton’s witch trial will begin!!
Bel: Why?!
What is this?!
Ashe isn’t a witch!!
Johan: You have to have made a mistake, sir Bishop!!
{They made a flimsy decision with fabricated evidence.}
{They can’t do this….I can’t wrap my head around this at all…}
(Handwritten- The medicines she administers to others are actually poisons…)

021
Lady: I had suspected that girl from the start.
To begin with she’s an outsider isn’t she? She just wandered in from nowhere.
Ever since she came that place has been making a major provide too.
She has to have done something wrong…
(Handwritten- She has scary eyes.)
(Handwritten- She is a bit cute though.)
Bel: What’s with all of you…?
Hasn’t she done all kinds of good things for you all…?
Monk: Stop it Bel! If you get involved it’ll mean terrible things will happen to you too!
Council: The father daughter team of the hospital has been testing their suspicious medicines on people…we have plenty of testimony here.
Bishop: Hmm…so it seems we will have to raise the same charge against Johan.
{So they were aiming for the hospital and me…!?}
{Robert the Bishop’s witch trials have a 100 percent conviction rate.}
Johan: It’s all over…
Bel: What is…?
This is a farce…
There’s no way Ashe would do anything like killing people…
Aghhh!!
(Handwritten- Ah…I just want to end this quickly.)
Bishop: Witches need no reason for their misconduct! Righteous people shouldn’t waste time thinking about it!

022
Ashe: Just…
Stop this…
(Sfx- Jiwaaah)
Monk: Hm? What’s that stench?
H..hey look at that girls face…
What is that?
A bruise?
Someone: The bruises…
Are moving…
Bishop: Hiii!?

023
Things: Kikikiiii
Bel: Wha?
What the heck is that?!
People: Uuuh?
Priest: B-B—B-Bishop!!
Bishop: ah…
Ahh..

024
Bishop(?): Demons!!
Bloody Demons!!
This is unmistakable evidence of witchery!!
The accused, Ashe Talton…
Will die by fireeeeeeee!!!

025
{And Ashe…}
{Became ashes.}

026
Child: Mama, someone drew on that man’s face!
Lady: Don’t look at him!
{Three years had passed since then.}

027
{And so the trial ended in a frenzied panic.}
{In the end, Johan-sensei was executed a few days later.}
{And I who had recklessly spoke against the church was branded a renegade and exiled.}
{It goes without saying I was also released from my position with the knights.}
{I heard in Brokken brook that a plague spread, and without the presence of doctors, people died one after another.}
{The Bishop’s greed only grew amongst the chaos and soon the witch hunts included the wealthy, the poor, women and even men. He devastated everyone indiscriminately.}
{Neighbors would inform on each other, parents would inform on children and vice versa…and so would people who once believed in the same thing. They’d all spread betrayal and send each other to hell.}
{I really could…}
{Care less about all of that.}
{That day had done a number on my sense of reality.}
{As if entranced to pursue Ashe’s ashes…}
{I began days of drifting around the contentment aimlessly.}

028
{No matter where I went, witch hunts and trials…}
{And the stench of burning humans…}
{Each time they’d float up to my eyelids.}
{Ashe.}
{Why did she have to be killed…?}
{Why?!}
{Why was I unable to do anything to save her….!!?}

029
{However…}
{I found myself wondering just what happened then…?}
{I began to hear rumors from cities here and there…}
{About a ‘Genuine Witch.’}
{The stories all closely resemble each other…}
{A charred smell….a black devil..}
{And the accused disappearing once the trial had ended and before anyone could notice.}
{The citizen’s memories were foggy at best.}
{They just remember being gripped by a strong fear upon seeing it.}
Bel: Could Ashe have…
{Speaking of which…}
{When I had been waiting at the hospital…}
Bel: Wow! As expected they’re filled with medical books!
Hm?

030
Bel: What’s with this solemn looking book…
‘Surgery for Witches’…?
(Handwritten- What’s that?)
Bel: Tarantera…
The release of a neurotoxin by parasites in the blood when the host is agitated by stress…
There are different types of ‘Witch’ pathology…?
The contractors are mostly women…
And there is no cure.
What is this stuff?
Oh, hey Ashe.
Ah! Sorry for reading without permission…
Whoa, how scary~ Could you be an actual witch Ashe?
(Handwritten- Because the medicine you make works so well..)

031
{Back then her face…}
{Could that have been…}
{No.}
{It doesn’t matter one damn bit.}
{Ashe is no longer…}
{Anywhere in this world.}
???: Now, now everyone! Please wait!

032
Dude: After a long respite, there will finally be a trial by fire festival here in God’s capital Guligorli!
This time the prisoner is none other than the Bishop himself! He has involved the city with his illegal witch hunting, and it seems fate has deemed it time for payback!
Someguy: Looks like someone’s getting their just deserts!
{He’s….}
Guard: Ngh…What are you…
Bel: GIVE ASHE BAAAAACK!!

033
Guard: Who the devil are you?!
You aren’t the one who will judge him, that’s the Pope’s duty!!
(Sfx- Gugahh!!)
Council: Have him executed afterward.
Guard: Sir.
Bel: Let me go!!
I have to get revenge for Ashe!!
Pope: Bishop of Brokken brook Robert…
Thou vocation has been used for many a year to illegally hold court and council and plunder money and goods from the city folk.
You have been found to have heavily deviated from the churches’ teachings of esteemed poverty, and thusly have been recognized as a heretic.
Robert: That’s wrong your excellency the Pope!
I was simply acting on behalf of them…
Priest: No, this was all his will…!!
Pope: Hohoho…
All of you…
Try as you might cannot talk your way out of this…the over decadence you live in is apparent.
I pity you all, being lured in by the temptation of the devil and allowing that to sully your beings…

034
Pope: I will give all of you…
The sacred flame.
{Damn you Pope!!}
{You plan to seize all of our stored wares don’t you…!!}
{Just as we did before you…!!}
Robert: Please forgive me!!
Cough..
If it’s the money, we can give it all back!!!
Someone!!
Kaff
You!!
You’re a knight monk aren’t you?! Save me!!
Bel: Thanks to you I’ve been excommunicated…
Heheh…that’s right…

035
Bel: A Knight? I’m supposed to be a Knight?
That’s wrong.
I’m nothing of the sort…
After all…
I couldn’t protect anything…
(Sfx- Jiwaah *ssssssh*)
{The burn from 3 years ago…}
???: That’s…
Enough.
I’m begging all of you…
To stop this.

036
Robert: Impossible!
You’re without a doubt dead….!!!
Bel: A…
ASHE…

037
Everyone: Eh…?
{The court….}
{In Brokken brook?}
Ashe: …Just now…
What you saw was your future.

038
Ashe: If you wish for me…a witch to die…
Know that your fate too will be death.
{This is my accursed power…}
{Tarantera.}
{The parasites that live within and eat at my body…}

039
{Have allowed everyone here to see a mass illusion.}
{When the host undergoes a strong stressor, the ‘parasites’ act as a defense against their will. This is chiefly through scattering illusions in those who are in the host’s immediate surroundings.}
{Fear, despair, death.}
{Anyone who dares to harm the host will soon live to regret that choice.}
{That’s right…}
{Those expressions…}
{I’ve seen them countless times.}
{Fear, confusion, and distain…}
{That’s fine.}
{As long as I can continue to live, I will continue to play the role of the ‘fearsome witch.’}
{That’s fine…there’s no other way.}
{But…ahh…}
{It’s this side of myself…}
{That I especially didn’t want you to see….}

040
{Wha…}
Bel: Ashe!
Ashe!!
{Why is he making that face?!}
Guard: Ah
Uwah!!
(Sfx- Kakoon *clatter*)
{It’s not a dream…}
(Sfx- Yaah!)
(Sfx- SHuuraahh *shffft*)
{This pain from my burn…this is proof…proof that day three years ago…}
{Wasn’t a dream!!}

041
Bel: Asheeeee!!!
{This time I swear…}
{I’ll save you!!}

043
Bel: Thank God…
Thank God…
That you’re alive Ashe…!!
{I don’t understand this..}
Ashe: You’ll get burned again..
How…
Foolish..
{This kind of person…}
{Actually exists…}
Bel: Ashe?
Ashe?!

044
{The Hospital…?}
Ashe: Bel…?
{Of course he wouldn’t still be here…}
{Maybe that was…}
{An illusion too.}
{Even I am not entirely sure of what kind of ‘reality’ is in those illusions…}
{Whether that was the real future or not I couldn’t say…}
{It may just be a hallucination inspired by thin wisps of memory.}
Johan: Uuun…

045
{After this, I’m sure fear of the ‘witch’ will be engraved in their minds..}
{It is that ghastliness that will fuel the continued persecution of witches.}
{And from there more illusions from stress will be born.}
{This city…}
{Doesn’t want me here anymore either.}
{Thus…}
{The illusion repeats itself as time waxes long and I continue to wander in reality’s solitude.}

046
Bel: If you’re planning on traveling…
Feel like hiring a knight as your escort?
Ashe: ….Are…
Are you a fool?!
Have you already forgotten the horrible future that awaits you if you get involved with me?!
Didn’t you see it?!
(Handwritten- Move!)
Bel: Hup!
Bel: Yup! I Totally forgot that!
I don’t need or care about a useless illusion where you die Ashe!
Besides, I gave up the whole Pilgrim aspect of my job and I don’t have anywhere to go!
And then there’s this burn of mine that’ll need more of your medicine! If you don’t make more I’ll be in so much pain that I won’t know what to do!
Ashe: I don’t care!

047
Ashe: I’m…
A witch you know!
Bel: Yeah.
But you’ve never given up have you Ashe?
You’ve chosen to be around people regardless of that…
Which is why you’re in the city right?
That’s why you’re looking for a cure too, yeah?
Then I’m going to help you!
Though I’m an idiot who’s only got strength to boast about.
In any case, I might be an idiot but I’m well prepared to accompany you.
To find a cure.
And if a time comes up where your disease flares up…

049
Bel: And you’re in pain, then I’ll protect you…
From everything, Ashe!!
{Eh?}
{The smell of something burning….no way…}
(Sfx- Kikiii )
{Could the idea of me accompanying her be a source of stress too?!}
(Handwritten- Eeeh?!)
Bel: Ah! Um…sor—

050
Bel: Dowah?!

051
Ashe: Wha..
What is this?!

052
Bel: An illusion?
(Side text- Is that what this is?)
Ashe: Probably…
It’s beautiful…
(Sfx- Kii)
Bel: Oh yeah! I heard that when you’re happy that’s a kind of stress too!
Ashe: Wh—who’s happy?!
Bel: If there’s magic like this…
(Sfx- Tsun)
Then Witches can’t be…
All that bad can they?

053
Ashe: Yeah…
Bel: All righty, if we’re going to head to a medical scientist, we should head to the kingdom in the north right?
Ashe: No…South would be better.
It’s a warm place where lots of flowers bloom.
Bel: Okay your majesty!!
(Side text- With the magic known as hope, it’s certain their wishes will come true…!)
ASHE OF PURGATORY…………END.