Liar Game 3a

All of my translations are RESERVED


Liar Game, Roots of A, Chapter 3 (pp. 82~126)


<82>
Three Phase
~The Forbidden Divination~ ❶


<83>
=A certain street in Yokohama.

=Here, the famous fortunetellers from TV and magazines jostle for space to set up their desks, and many youngsters throng to have their fortunes told.
=The place is also known as "Fortune Street."

=Gee—z, how many hours do we have to wait in line!!
=Can't help it. All of the fortunetellers here are famous.
*impatience*

=Hey hey,
=Look at that.

=No one's standing in line for that shabby-looking fortuneteller over there.
Looks like he's asleep
[x2]SNORE—
*emptiness—*
=Wanna try that one?
=No way—! That one's definitely no good! He won't get anything right!

=Hey!
=Someone wants to give it a shot—!
SWUP

WHAP
[sign]Palm Readings

<84>
=Read my fortune.

=I'll pay 1 million.
=But first,

=I'm going to test you to determine whether you truly have the ability to tell fortunes.
=No money unless you pass the test.

=Test...?
=It's easy.
=Just answer this one question.

=Why do I want my fortune told?

=Alright... Then...
=Both hands, please.

=I got it.
TI—NG

=You want to do something about the relationship with your boss,
=...Right?


<85>
=Absolutely wrong.

=I don't have a boss to begin with.
=I may not look it, but I'm the CEO of a company that handles imported goods.
=Don't group me in with those stupid "office ladies."
=Ah-hah-hah... Is that right.

=Sorry, just pretend this whole thing never happened.
SWIP
=Oh...

=And also,

=If you worked for my company,
=I would fire a worthless man like you in the blink of an eye.

=Don't bothering standing in line for him.
=He won't get anything right.
[x4]CLACK

=See, I told you he's a fraud.
=And he has the nerve to set up a desk here!? How shameless!


<86>
=Say that one more time!!

=A canceled flight!?
=That's your excuse for delaying the shipment!?

=But...
=No buts.
=Your people are to blame for not having a backup plan in case something went wrong.

=Clause 1 of Article 3 in the contract.
WHIP
=Should there be a unilateral delay caused by any of the parties involved, the party that caused the delay shall be charged half of the total shipment cost as a penalty.


<87>
=So we'll only be paying half of the original price for your shipment.
=Whaaa—t!?
=Write up the documents immediately, Kaneko.
=Y-Yes ma'am.

=...Man, that boss is harsh...
=Well,
=There's a reason why they call her the woman of steel.

The woman of steel.
That's what they call me.

Cold... And unyielding. They meant it as a snide remark.

But I've actually taken a liking to this nickname.
After all, I always wanted to be a strong woman.

My parents separated when I was three, and my mother raised me all by herself by working at a nightclub. I love my mother, and I'm deeply grateful for all that she's done for me.
...But, I hated the fact that she had to make a living by fawning upon men.


<88>
To live strong, without having to rely on anyone—
That was always my childhood dream—

*waves*

PHEW—
*waves*

=Huh—?
ZWUP
=Well well, if it isn't the lady from yesterday!!

=...Wh-Wh-Wh-
=Where the hell did you come from!?
=Oh I'm just taking my daily stroll around town.
=I stop by here pretty often.

=...Ohh
=I get it.


<89>
=I exposed your complete lack of ability as a fortuneteller yesterday,
=So you've followed me here to try and get revenge.
=Ahh...!
Yeah—I guess that would be a possibility

=Then this situation must be quite terrifying for you.
=Not at all.
=I'll just call the police with my cellphone.
=Besides, I take karate and self-defense classes. I'm fairly confident I could take care of you by myself.

=Whoaa
=Now I'm getting scared.
=You sound pretty strong—Miss Kaori...
=You're not the type of woman that starts crying for help, huh.
Of course not
=You have to be strong if you want to run a company.

=Do you come here often, Miss Kaori...?
=Huh? Oh... Sort of.
=I'm busy with work every day,//So it's just a little breather. The view here is nice.

=Ohh—
=So yesterday's excursion was also a little breather?

=No.
=I really did want my fortune told yesterday,

=By a certain individual.
=Who?


<90>
=The legendary fortuneteller—
=Asuka Kiryu.

=Legendary fortuneteller...?
=So this person get his fortunes right?
=More than just right.

He can figure out anything about a person's past like a psychic, and everything he says about the future becomes reality.
His abilities were so stunning that people began to refer to him as the center of the universe.


<91>
=The public took interest, of course.
=And powerful people began to seek out his supernatural abilities.

Influential politicians, powerful businessmen
Even the big-wigs of the criminal world.

=But one day, Asuka Kiryu disappeared without a trace.
=No one knows why.
=Wow

=...So where is he now?
=Who knows.
=Everyone's trying to find him.
=Even I have no idea what he looks like. Not even a photograph.

=But recently, I came across a rumor that someone had seen Asuka Kiryu on that street.
=That got my hopes up, and I went there during my free time.

=But to no avail.
=All I found were a bunch of bogus fortunetellers who couldn't even tell what I was there for.
=Oh... So,
=I'm one of those bogus fortunetellers?

=I didn't expect anything from you to begin with.
=Hey!! That's harsh—


<92>
=I was wrong that one time,
=But my fortunes are usually pretty good—!!

=Want me to get something exactly right?
=...Hmph
=I'm not paying you.

=I got it!

=You have a boyfriend, don't you??
=Pfft

=Ah-hah!! So I'm right!?
=Awesome—!!
=Look

=Does it really surprise you that a woman my age has a boyfriend?
=You wouldn't call that a fortunetelling.


<93>
=Start over from square one.
=Bye
=Oh...

=...Huh?

=How did that fortuneteller know my name?

=...So
=He's such a weird fortuneteller.

=He can't get anything right,
=But he's all full of confidence, and what do you think he says?

=He goes, "You have a boyfriend, don't you?"
=Even I could guess something like that.
=Hey!


<94>
=What a coincidence—! We meet again!
TAH
DAA—H

=Wh-Wh-What is up with you!?
=That's no way to talk to somebody.
=Ohh
=So this is the fortuneteller.

=Oh!! Nice to meet you.
=Yes, I am the fortuneteller.
=Please, allow me to introduce myself by doing a fortunetelling on your relationship.
=What are you even talking about.

=Now now, this sort of thing doesn't happen everyday.
=But...
=Hmm—

=Oh!!


<95>
=Wonderful!!
=Great things are in store for the two of you—!!
=...See?
=He's got no idea what he's talking about so just ignore him.

=Oh shoot.
=This late already!

=I have to head over to my next appointment.
=Alright
=Ah—That's too bad. Right when we got to know each other.

=Oh yeah, why don't you take this opportunity to ask him for advice about your work?
=Very funny.//I won't talk business with a weirdo even if hell freezes over.

=Hah-hah-hah...//Right, see you tomorrow.
=Good luck
=Umm—

=Am I the weirdo you were referring to?
=Of course you are.

=Seems like your boyfriend is a pretty busy guy.
=Don't call him my boyfriend.

=He's more like a partner... I guess.
=Sometimes a friend, sometimes a rival.
=He's the only person I can ever open my heart to.


<96>
=His name is Daisuke Hanamura.
=He's also a CEO. He runs a computer software company.

=Wow—
=Two top executive dating each other, huh—
=...Anyways...
=Why don't you go tell some more bogus fortunes instead of fooling around here?

=Gee—z
=So I'm forever branded as the "Fortuneteller who can't tell fortunes?"
=It's true though.

=You people are lucky. You don't need to take any responsibility for what you say.
=In my line of work, you're a loser if you can't pull through with what you say...

=...But you see,
=Fortunetelling is so wonderful because oftentimes, it does turn out wrong.


<97>
=Everyone wants to see their future,
=But we're able to dream because we don't know what's in store for us.

=Don't you agree?

=What is that.
=An excuse for bad fortunetelling?
=That's not really what I meant.

=Actually, I already knew
=About that legendary fortuneteller you were talking about.

=I even know why he disappeared from the fortunetelling industry so suddenly.
=Huh!?


<98>
He uses a technique known as the Three Phase Divination.
Three Phase refers to the physiognomy of the face and the two hands. The belief is that all aspects of an individual's life will be imprinted in those areas in some way shape or form, and reading those signs will reveal everything about that individual.
It's a powerful divination that was developed in China during the Han Dynasty—
And because of that, people have constantly sought its guidance throughout the ages.

=The technique even has the potential to alter the course of history itself.
=Therefore, it was decided that the Three Phase Divination would only be passed on to one individual with an upstanding moral character.

From then on, the Three Phase Divination disappeared from the front pages of history.
But the technique itself continued to be passed on through each generation.
Quietly, but accurately...
The technique was passed on for thousands of years.

=...And Asuka Kiryu is the current successor.
=Exactly.


<99>
=But unfortunately,
=Asuka Kiryu was not a man with moral character worthy of inheriting the technique.

He chose to announce his skills to the world in extravagant fashion, and immediately became the darling of the fortunetelling world.
The rest is history... The powerful and the wealthy flocked to him for advice...

=And before he knew it,
=He was attempting to amass power and wealth to his heart's content by abusing this sacred technique.

=But this didn't continue for long.
=His misuse of the technique
=Came at a tremendous price.

True fortunetellers never attempt to read their own fortune,
But one day, the man took a casual look at his own features and came to a terrible realization.

CRA—SH

=...N-
=No way...


<100>
Remaining lifespan: One year—
The fate was clearly engraved in his own palm.

=Death...!?
=Can't he change his own future!?

=A person's destiny can change quite drastically depending on the individual's effort.//The Three Phase Divination expresses the likelihood of changing a destiny as a "fate number," which can range from one to one hundred.
=For instance, a fate number of three represents a destiny that has a higher likelihood of changing than a destiny with a fate number of ten...

=But in his case, the fate number for his remaining life span—
=Was "One hundred."

=Then...
=His death is unavoidable!?
=That's right.

=So that's why...
=He disappeared so suddenly...

=...And where is he now?


<101>
=Who knows.

I see—
So Kiryu is going to die—

Guess I won't be seeing Asuka Kiryu after all—
I wanted to meet him.
I would give anything to learn this one thing about my future, but—

Guess that wish is never going to be granted...

THUD
=Ouch!


<102>
=Y-//You...!
=Ah-hah-hah-hah! We meet again, Miss Kaori!

=Gosh, this really is an amazing coincidence—!!
=This is the third time we've ran into each other, isn't it?
=Wh-Wh-Wh-

=What in the world is wrong with you...!?
=I told you, I'm just taking my daily stroll around town.

=What about you, Miss Kaori?
=A breather?
=Th-That's right.

=That's odd—It's a new moon today, so there's absolutely no sign of that nice view that you always look forward to...
=Hmm—Don't know if this is gonna be much of a breather—

=Miss Kaori,
=I know
=The exact reason why you're here right now.


<103>
=You came here to die, didn't you?


<104>
=..Wha...

=What are you talking about...?
=Of course not!
=Is it because I'm standing on a cliff? You're such a simpleton.//Don't just say stuff out of impulse.
=Impulse?

=Do you really think I've been saying all this out of impulse?

=I knew you were going to be here.

=Not just today.
=The first time I saw you here,
=And the time we met at the restaurant.

=What...?
=What...?
=That's not all.


<105>
=I know your name...
=That your birthday was July 2nd,
=That you have Type O blood,
=That you're a single child, and your parents divorced when you were three,
=That you won a debate contest when you were in high school.

=And that you have this hidden in your coat pocket.

[envelope]Will
WHAP

=That day—When you showed me your palms at the fortunetelling street in Yokohama,
=I learned your destiny...


<106>
=My name is Asuka Kiryu.
=I'm the practitioner of Three Phase, the forbidden divination.

=Y-
=You!?

=As I said before, I'm destined to die within the next few months.
=Even though I still want to live...

=That's why,
=I can't just sit back and watch you take your own life like this.

=The Three Phase Divination allows me to see an individual's life span.
=But it doesn't allow me to see what's going on inside the heart—

=Can you explain to me,
=What you're feeling right now?


<107>
=I think...
=Humans ought to be stronger.

=When I say strong,
=I mean independent.
=Not causing other people trouble.
=Being able to take responsibility.

=See...?
=Sounds obvious, doesn't it?

=But still,
=Don't you think there's too many weak adults in the world right now, who can't even do the things that sound so obvious?

"Recessions, layoffs, bankruptcy... It's society's fault that my life is difficult! It's the government's fault!
I did nothing wrong. I'm just doing my best. It's someone else's fault, not mine!"

The incompetent ones complain the most.
"What are those politicians doing!! Improve the economy!! Create more jobs!!"


<108>
=Idiots.

=They're busy coming up with excuses while they make others do the work.
=They're babies.
=Weak human beings looking for the easy way out.

=Not me. I never want to live like that.
=I may be a woman, but I will always live strong... That's my policy.

And that's why I've never relied on others.
I've always shouldered the responsibility on my own. I've never made excuses.


<109>
I've never stopped reminding my employees to be strong, either.
They often called me a cruel woman behind my back,
But I would rather be cruel and strong, than gentle and weak.

=At any rate...
=Our company began developing at a tremendous pace.

=The profits kept piling in, even during the recession.
=The company got bigger and bigger,
=And we eventually became the leaders of the industry.

=That's when I got a little ambitious,
=And decided to take a huge gamble.

One monumental project that would determine the very fate of our company.
I was confident, of course.

=But you know—
=Things never work out the way you want them to.


<110>
The project turned out to be an absolute failure—
It put the company into an irreparable amount of debt.

=I tried my best to recover the losses.
=But... It was too late.
=Our funds had gone straight down the drain.//We received a notice from the bank.

=The second notice should be coming in soon—
=Our company... Is going bankrupt.

=But I didn't run.
=I took all the criticism head-on... And I did my best to compensate our business partners and employees.

=But you see,
=There's one person that I haven't been able to repay yet.

That person is,
Daisuke Hanamura.


<111>
He helped me out so much when I was starting up the project,
And he even signed on as a guarantor for the corporate loan.

=But I ended up betraying his trust.
=If I'm forced to declare bankruptcy, the debt on his part is going to be—

=300 million.
=Whoa,
=That's tough.

=However—
=There is one simple solution to this problem.

=My death.

=I have a 300 million yen life insurance policy, with him listed as the beneficiary.
=So... If I die, he won't have to suffer from my debts.

=What...!?//That's insane!!
=You don't need to throw away your own life just for the sake of responsibility...!!


<112>
=There's no other way!!

=This is my life!! My aesthetic!!
=I can't just stand by and watch him suffer because of me!!

=So leave me alone!!
DASH
=Miss Kaori!!

=Wait!!
=Please, think this over!!

[x2]TRRR

=Yes?
=Hello, is this Mr. Daisuke Hanamura? I'm calling on behalf of Sunny Life Insurance...

=Uhh—This is regarding Ms. Kaori Matsumura...
=? What about her?

=Huh? Haven't you heard?
=Oh—You see...


<113>
=Ms. Kaori Matsumura... Passed away last night.

=Huh...!?
=S-She's dead!?
=She committed suicide. We've found her will.
=We believe she threw herself off a desolate cliff near Yokosuka...

=No... I can't believe this...
=...Uhh—

=I understand this isn't the best time to talk about this... I'll contact you with the details on the insurance payment at a later date.

GACHUK


<114>
SMIRK

=Hey!! Get up, Takahashi!!
=I just got a call from the insurance company!!
[arrow]Takahashi the roommate

=We did it!!
=Kaori committed suicide!!

=For real!?
=What about the 300 million?
=It's ours, of course.

=Phew—
=But man, that woman looked smart, but she went down pretty easily, huh.
=Heh-heh-heh, that's 'cause we planned everything out real carefully, unlike last time.


<115>
=I go in pretending to be the CEO of a computer software company, making me the ideal business partner.
=Then I give her a taste of my amazing skills in bed, and get her to fall for me.

=After that, it was easy.
=I make her indebted to me by lying about signing on as a guarantor.//Then I sabotage the project from behind the scenes.

=That woman is headstrong when it comes to responsibility.
=She was bound to commit suicide out of guilt if the project failed.
=—It was the perfect plan!!
=Heh-heh-heh, but I never imagined it would go this well.

=Remember when we faked that car accident to collect some insurance money?
=That kinda stuff ain't gonna work twice.
=We gotta use our heads from now on.

=Either way, that 300 million is gonna be all ours tomorrow!!
=That should last us for quite a while!!


<116>
=Ohh—
=So that's what it was.
BLA—M

=Wh-Wh-Wh-Who the hell are you—!?
=When the hell did you sneak into this room!?
=When...?
=I've been here for quite some time.
=Hey...
=You're...


<117>
=You're that...
=Fortuneteller!!

=Oh, so you remember me?
=I'm honored.
=...And?
=What do you want!?

=Well, you see...
=When I read your palm the other day,
=I came across one very compelling fate line.

="On this day, at this very location, Daisuke Hanamura will be telling someone a very interesting story."
=...Something like that.

=Gee—I really am a good fortune teller, if I may say so myself.
=That was a very interesting story you shared just now.


<118>
=...In fact,
=It was quite a horrifying story.

=Well well, that was truly an incredible story.
=Seducing Miss Kaori and planning out her suicide in order to collect the insurance money.
=This is quite the intellectual crime.

=And... What else...?
=You've also faked a car accident in order to collect insurance money...?
BWHUP
=Shh!


<119>
=What do you want?
=Money?

=...Alright... I'll give you 10 million.
=So forget about everything you heard just now.

=Wow—You're a smart man, Mr. Hanamura.
=10 million!!//Sounds good—I'll forget about this.
Phwee—
=Forget all about the things I heard you discussing today.

=But only if,
=You can really pay me that much money.

=Hey hey, weren't you listening to our conversation?

=I'm the beneficiary for Kaori's life insurance. I'll be getting 300 million tomorrow.//10 million is nothing. Sure you can have it.
=...But there's just one big problem...


<120>
=Miss Kaori isn't really dead.
BLAM

=Wha...
=Wha...
=Wait a sec... Then that call just now—
=Oh, that was me.//Didn't you notice?
=I made a call right here from my cellphone.

=Sorry
=For not being dead.

=...Wha...
=...Wha...
=Thank you, Mr. Fortuneteller. You really do get your fortunes right.


<121>
=You accurately predicted this man's every move.
=And I was able to record every last word of that conversation just now.

=Sorry, but you're not getting that 300 million.
=In fact...

=Once I hand this tape over to the police, you won't even be able to live in the outside world any longer.
=...Uck...
=...Uck...

=You biiiitch—!!
DASH


<122>
GRACK

THUD
=...EEK...!

=...I'll see you,
=In the courtroom.

=...Miss Kaori,
=You were truly strong today.

=...Honestly, I was a bit worried.
=Being betrayed and then having to hear all those horrible things...


<123>
=But you were strong till the very end, Miss Kaori.
=You were great.

=That was nothing.
=Slander... Betrayal...
=That's life in the business world.

=You won't get anything done if you can't take the pain.

=That reminds me... I never gave you my real answer.
=The answer to the question you asked me when we first met.

=Huh?
="Why do I want my fortune told?"//I actually knew the answer to that question.

=The answer was, "Will Daisuke Hanamura be able to live happily even if I die."
=...Isn't that right?


<124>
=You were prepared to end your life, but you just couldn't get that question off your mind.
=I know, Miss Kaori.

=Your strength is brilliant, but what's truly wonderful about you...
=Is your kindness...
[x2]=...Uck

=WAHHHHHHHHHH


<125>
=You're going already?
=Yes.
=I'm quite short on time.

=Why do you have to continue traveling?

=It's written in the hidden scrolls of the Three Phase Divination,
="A fate number of one hundred is an unwavering destiny. However, it may be negated through association with another individual bearing the same fate number."

=...So you see, in order to strike out my own fate number, I need to find a person with an equally strong fate number as myself. If I can accomplish that, I still have some hope left.
=Well, I'm not even sure if there is such a person in all of Japan.

=But I'm not giving up!
=I'm going to find that one person no matter what.


<126>
Ahh—What a refreshing smile this person has.
I can hardly believe he's destined to die in a few months.

=I feel like I've finally met someone who's stronger than me.
=Hmm?
=What was that?

=Ohh, nothing...
=Alright then.

=Bye
=Wait!!

=Promise me, Asuka!!

=One year from now, we'll see each other again at this very spot! And we'll both be smiling!
=No matter what!
=Yes! Of course!!

Three Phase ~The Forbidden Divination~ ❶ (END)