Billy Bat 72

The number of manga I've done recently that involve kamishibai is staggering recently.

[Billy Bat 72 Translation by Kewl0210]
Page 1:
Zofuu: Come on now, boys and girls!!
Gather 'round, gather 'round!!
Kids: What? What is it?
Is something starting?
What is that, mister?
Zofuu: Oh, this?!! This is what they call a kamishibai!!
Kids: Kamishibai------!?
T/N: A kamishibai, literall "paper drama" is an old form of storytelling using picture scrolls to convey stories. This came before manga became prevalent in the 50's.
Narration: Tokyo
1920-----
Kids: Are you gonna show it to us for free?
What a generous old man! Hurry and start!!
Zofuu: Ah, right.......
Next time I've gotta sells some mizuame or something or I'm gonna be ripped off by these kids......
T/N: Mizuame, literally "water candy" is a clear syrupy sweetener made by converting starches to sugar and is it eaten like honey.
Side: The new invention of the great up-and-coming mangaka, Karama Zofuu! With the turn of a page, you'll split your sides laughing. Will it have a lot to offer for entertainment?

Page 2:
Zofuu: Eh---- Ahem.
Well, today, in commemoration of the first presentation in the country, I'm having a special free big exhibition!!
Kids: Ooooooh!!
You kids really are lucky!!
Anyhow, this kamishibai!! It's something that'll become really fashionable 10 years from now during a worldwide panic.
So you're getting to see it before anyone else......
Sign: Karama Zoufu's [Top]
Kamishibai [c enter]
Gather good kids around [Left side]
Kids: Hurry up and start-----!!
Your introduction's really looooong!!
Zofuu: Woah now, we can't rush this. There's a procedure.
This kamishibai I'm about to tell you
isn't an old legend like the kinds you hear a lot, it's a story about something a little ahead...... Yes, a near-future story!!

Page 3:
Kids: Near-future..........?
Yes, it's a science fiction adventure story!
Kids: Science.......
Fiction.......
Adventure..........
Zofuu: Noooow then, let us beging "Koumori Santou Hei"---------!!
TL Note: Koumori Santou Hei = Third-Class Soldier Bat
Title: Chapter 72 Various Lives
Sign: Koumori Santou Hei
By Karama Zofuu

Page 4:
Zofuu: The time period is 20 years from now, with Japan having gathered strength from the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and the Siberian Intervention......
the military has run wild, oh no!!
Unless someone protects this land of Japan, it will become nothing but a burnt ruin.
This is the story of the actions of Third-Class Soldier Bat!!
SFX: GOH
Zofuu: GUFUA!!
SFX: GAH

Page 5:
Soldiers: Stand up, traitor!!
Zofuu: GEHU!!
Soldiers: What military has run wild?!!
Japan's going to turn to burnt ruin, you say?!!
Zofuu: But... The bat is the one saying it, so there's nothing I can do.............
Soldiers: you're still saying it?!!
SFX: GAH
SFX: GAKU...
Soldiers: Lock him up for insurrection.
Yes, sir.
SFX: ZUZU...
Someone: How's it going?

Page 6:
Soldiers: Yes, no matter how much we try to squeeze out of him, he keeps giving the same answer.
That he couldn't help it because the bat told him to..........
Hmph.... Making light of us...... It makes me sick.
Perhaps its that Aka that's become prevalent recently.
T/N: I really have no idea what this refers to. Maybe Akahons which were a form of children's comic books from around this time.
But as things stand, it won't turn into a major crime..........
Should we let him test his luck?
Sir?
I'm asking what you think about we acquit him
if he comes back alive?

Page 7:
Soldiers: Ah...... Yes...... Coming back alive from there may be impossible.
That's why I said let him test his luck.
Sign: Third Penitentiary
Soldier: Can't you hurry up and walk?!!
SFX: KAH KAH KAH
Soldier: Get in!!
GUHA!!
SFX: BASAH
Soldier: That's the beret that seems so important to you. We went out of our way to bring it to you!!

Page 8:
Guard: Because we think maybe it's a souvenir.
Zofuu: Souvenir......?
Guard: It could be good article of the deceased.
Zofuu: !?
Guy: Kekekek.......
Zofuu: What's that supposed to mean?
Guy: Nobody who goes into that cell gets out okay.
Zofuu: Huh?
Guy: Because the real deal's in there.

Page 9:
Zofuu: Real deal?
Guy: Deeper inside there.
A murderer who's killed who knows how many people.
Someone: GUOOO!!
Zofuu: !!
Guys: HIII!!
Someone: GUOO!!
Guys: HII!!

Page 10:
Guy: GEEHO GEHO GEHO
GUE
SFX: KATA KATA KATA KATA KATA KATA
Guy: Yo......
Zofuu: Hih......
Guy: So you're finally here?
Zofuu: Eh......
Guy: I've been waiting for you......
Guhu guhu.

Page 11:
Zofuu: Y...... You're that......
Guy: So your eyes have finally adjusted.......
Kamishibaiya-san...
T/N: A Kamishibaiya is somebody who puts on kamishibais.
Zofuu: H...... How do you know about the business that I started......?
Guy: GEHEHEHE
Zofuu: Hm......?
Ya...... Yayah.

Page 12:
Zofuu: M...... My bat!!
Guy: Mine came first.
Zofuu: Wh........ What did you say?!
That's the bat manga I came up with!!
WAH!!
Guy: If you start saying bullshit I'll kill you.

Page 13:
Zofuu: Hih.......
Guy: Where'd you get that picture from?
Zofuu: G...... Get it from.......?
Guy: It looks like the one drawn on the telephone pole in front of horsemeat shop near the Shin Yoshiwara Oomon, doesn't it?
Zofuu: A---------

Page 14:
Zofuu: Gu......
Gu... GUHOH!!
Why don't you just kill me?
Devivie: I will. Once I've heard everything.
Now then, the continuation of that story........?
Zofuu: Very well.
Why is it that if something happens to me, you'll disappear, you mean.......?
I'll tell you so
you understand it veeeery well.......

Page 15:
Zofuu: I'm very sorry.
I had no ill intent. But I've accidentally
imitated your bat picture without permission.
Guy: Well, it's okay.
Anyhow, though I may look like this, I'm also a bit of a mangaka.
Take a look at my latest work.
Zofuu: Latest work?
Ooh...... Th...... These are
other magnificent.......

Page 16:
[Spoooky.]

Page 17:
Guy: Somehow, a man from a foreign country proposes to a woman from a foreign country......
They get married publicly......
But the child they give birth to somehow......
seems frightening.
And finally this child grows up to look like a monster......?
Mmmmm, it's actually skillful artwork and a striking story.
Would it be all right if I called you my master?
Guy: Anyhow, this bat that it looks like he's about to kill.......
Who do ya think that is?
Zofuu: Eh?

Page 18:
Zofuu: It looks like he's gonna be eaten.......
And then finally he's being hanged by the neck......
Guy: This is you.
Zofuu: Eh?
Guy: Eventually, you'll meet this fate by the hands of this kid.
Zofuu: Wh...... Why would this happen to..........
Guy: ......And the bat told me this.
To protect you.

Page 19:
Zofuu: Protect me? How..........?
Guy: He's concerned about the scroll you'll have at that time.
Zofuu: Scroll......?
Guy: Yeah......
The scroll is a rubber eraser.
Zofuu: Eraser..........?
Guy: Like with a drawing error.......
Only the person with the scroll can erase it.
Zofuu: I...... I'm not sure I understand..............
What do you mean concerned about the scroll.......
Guy: Your voice from the future will reach me.
And then I'll break out of here.......

Page 20:
Guy: I'll go to where these Cissie and Gary are,
and kill the two of them.
Zofuu: K...... Kill...........?
These two's names are Cissie and Gary.......?
Guy: I kill these two before the child is born.
And so of course, the child won't be born.
Then this Henry child won't exist in this world.
Zofuu: Henry..........
I'm quite sure you said your name is Henry Charles something.

Page 21:
Zofuu: So what do you think?
Quite a story to be a coincidence, don't you think? Henry-san?
By the way, there's no such thing as a coincidence in this world.
Everything is consequential, Henry-san.
Devivie: And the scroll?
Where is the scroll?
Zofuu: Hohoh. The look in your eyes has suddenly changed.
You had better hurry. My master should be escaping from the jail cell right about now......

Page 22:
Zofuu: He may be appearing in front of Cissie and Gary around now.
Devivie: Don't say those names so casually.
Zofuu: Heheeeh. Your ever so beloved parents Cissie and Gary!!
Devivie: Stoooooop!!
Zofuu: Oops.
What'll happen if something happens to me, I wonder......?
Undo this noose and I'll lead you to the location of the scroll.

Page 23:
Guy: Just as the bat told me to......
I'll protect you.
Zofuu: ......
Guy: For that end, I'll kill as many people as it takes.
Zofuu: N...... No, uh......
I'm thankful for the sentiment, but......
it's my life, so......

Page 24:
Devivie: AGUAAAAA!!
Zofuu: It's my life, so I can manage it somehow.
SFX: PYOOON
Zofuu: See ya, Henry.
Side: An eraser to erase history. Can Zofuu protect the powerful scroll to the end?!
Bottom: Billy Bat Chapter 72 / End
Next chapter goes on sale in issue 6 going on sale 1/4! Look forward to it!