Hell Teacher Nube 96

When a problem occurs at Doumori Elementary, then Nube is always there to help. But when a potential victim is sent to Doumori Hospital, Nube should be helping out...except there is someone very familiar whose on the case!

Vol. 12: The Secret of the Oni no Te
#96: The Return of the Youko: Tamamo

7.
Narrator: --It suddenly attacked on a sleepless night…
(TN: “Sleepless” isn’t actually “without being able to sleep” but “Negurusii”, which is “unable to sleep well”)
SFX: Kotsu kotsu kotsu kotsu
SFX: Muku muku
SFX: Buwa
Woman: !
SFX: Moko moko moko moko
Woman: Gyaaaa…

8.
Nube: It’s “Nebutori”.
(TN: The youkai name, “Nebutori”, literally translates into “sleep-fattening”)
Sign: Doumori Hospital
SFX: Chon chon…
Nube: According to this book of the Edo Period, a famed beauty was possessed by this in the 11th year of Bunsei. She became a mass of flesh that filled up her room and had to run away from her husband. This was one possession.
(TN: “Bunsei” is the period of the Japanese emperor Ninkou-tennou between 1818 to 1830; thus Bunsei 11 is “1828”)
Book: Ooedo Kawaraban
Kyouko: She’s a neighborhood college student girl; I see her always studying. Save her.
Nube: OK, leave this to me.
SFX: Kira!
Nube: (to himself) A girl college student? Uhyohyo! What are her three-sizes? Does she have a boyfriend…
Hiroshi: As expected of Nube!
Kyouko: That’s right: an ally of justice will help out anyone.

9.
Kyouko: She was immediately hosiptialized with a sudden illness of unknown origin but…
SFX: Ka—
Kyouko: She couldn’t be healed by a doctor because she wasn’t sick.
Receptionist: You can’t interview her.
Sign: Information Desk
Nube: Is there something there?
Hiroshi: She can’t be healed in a hospital.
Kyouko: This is the act of an evil spirit.
Receptionist: Tell that to her physician in charge.
Nube: So then, Please let me meet that inflexible physician in charge.
Receptionist: You’re an annoyance.
Receptionist: Eh? You want to meet with him?
“Voice”: Oh brother: an evil spirit? I want you to stop this speech and conduct that will excite the patients.
SFX: Gachi…
Nube: !! The scent of a beast…
Nube: !!

10.
Tamamo: This is a hospital…we don’t have use for suspicious spirit medical treatments. Please leave us.

11.
Nube: Tamamo!! Youko Tamamo…why is he here!?
(TN: Yeah…that looks perfectly like him)
SFX: Gogogogogogo
Narrator: Tamamo…he is a 400-year old youko who has taken the form of a human! He possesses almost even spiritual power of Nube’s and was defeated when facing him in a struggle to the death. Since then, he had been deceptive of his whereabouts…
Caption: Consult manga vol. 2!!
Tamamo: Pardon, I have to make my rounds from here. Adios.
(TN: “Rounds” is “kaishin”, which is a doctor’s hospital rounds)
Nube: Wa…wait! You fox-guy…
(TN: Just to clear it up like I did when Tamamo first appeared: “youko” will remain as is since it is a notable youkai in a fox form; but “kitsune” will be translated into “fox”, even though foxes are known to have spiritual power in Japanese culture and many keep their Japanese name)

12.
Nurse 1: What are you doing to Tamamo-sensei!
Nurse 2: You drunkard!
Nurse 3: Get away from us, bushy-brow!
(TN: “Bushy-brow” is “Gejimayu-otoko”, with “Gejimayu” being short for “gejigejimayu” or “bushy eyebrows”)
Kyouko: Uuuh…it’s hard to say they’re even regarding their popularity with females…
Nurse 1: Tamamo-sensei, do you know him? This vulgar man.
Tamamo: No…
Nurse 2: Can you throw him out?
Tamamo: Is that alright? Our nurses hate vulgar men. (Kusu…)
SFX: Gush gush (Dokudoku)
Nube: A…are you sold to that—
Tamamo: Have I met you somewhere?
Nube: Don’t feign ignorance!
Nube: And yet you’re a youkai! What’s going on in taking the form of a doctor!?
SFX: Gacha
Nube: What are you scheming?

13.
“Woman”: Uh…uh…
Tamamo: It will be fine even if you don’t cry. I certainly will heal your sickness.
SFX: Niko
Nube: Wh~~at a fake doctor.
“Woman”: Please, I believe in you, Tamamo-sensei.
Kyouko: Miss, this is Nube. I’m certain he’ll have the power for you.
“Woman”: Kyouko-chan.
Nube: You shouldn’t believe in anything said by Tamamo! You will certainly be saved by me!
“Woman”: No, get away from me! I’ll be cured by Tamamo-sensei!
Kyouko: Pathetic…

14.
“Woman”: Gyaa! Hiii!!
Tamamo: --This occurred in the hospital room last night. What do you think of it?
SFX: Kasha | Puchi
Nube: What do I think? Hmph: this is a complete possession.
Nube: It seems like the swelling of her flesh, but…That is ectoplasm (a spirit medium substance). Perhaps the evil spirit in her body is spewing from her pores the ectoplasm of the woman’s body, enveloping her body. It’s an evil spirit threat, so you say.

15.
Tamamo: Fufu…as expected of Nueno-sensei, the spiritual-ability geek. That is correct.
Nube: You—you’re not Tamamo after all! (You—liar! Conceited fox!!)
Tamamo: So then, the evil spirit in the body in question is…!
Tamamo: When you look at the X-ray…there’s a swelling on the side of the heart...medically, it’s a mysterious tumor…but when it’s looked at by us, it’s a Hyouirei at any rate. This is nothing but the true form of “Nebutori”…!
(TN: Reminder: “Hyouirei” = “Possession Spirit”)

16.
Tamamo: This afternoon…there will be a surgical operation to remove the tumor!
Tamamo: But surgery would almost be a mistake.
Nube: Naturally; if you tear it off unreasonably, then it will just anger the Hyouirei.
Tamamo: But if you exorcise it with your spiritual power before the operation…that will save the woman 100%!!
Nube: Why…would you that hates humans to that extent, do this act of mercy…
Nube: Ha!
Nube: I…I got it: you’ll save the girl, come to get along with her, and then do “beep” and “boop”… (no way—lewd—lecher—pervert~~)
(TN: The “beep” and “boop” are “pi—“ and “pu—“, which…well, you can draw your own conclusions)
Tamamo: …Please do not think of those things with my own scale.

17.
Tamamo: I was defeated by you. What was the source of it…I was pondering it for a long time.
Tamamo: No matter how you were defeated or went down, you stood up so you could save your students…that spiritual power gained strength infinitely…There is only one virtue that is possessed by the creature called human that is filthy with selfishness…the human instinct to protect weaker beings…if in a smelly way of speaking, it’s “love”!!
(TN: Tamamo does literally say “kusai iikata”, which is “a smelly way of speaking”)
Tamamo: If I could comprehend the emotion called “love” that is not in I, a youko…then I should obtain an infinite spiritual power that’s like yours…! I…want to become stronger!
SFX: Gu
Nube: Eh; so, you became a doctor for…

18.
Tamamo: For saving other people like you do and to comprehend the emotion called “love”. And then, I will surpass you!
Nube: Ri…right: that’s a good thing. However, can human love be understood by a fox?
Tamamo: Fufu…you will see: when I rescue the woman.
Nurse: ? Tamamo-sensei, was your surgery from this afternoon?
Tamamo: Understood.
SFX: Gara gara gara
SFX: Batan!

19.
SFX: Shu—
SFX: Gasha gasha
Tamamo: Nueno-sensei, this will be my exorcism. I want you to not help me at all.
Tamamo: God of Ursa Major, start to release the wicked spirit that dwells in this being’s body.
SFX: Shaki—n!
Tamamo: Hinrou Kyomon Reidai Bunkyoku Rentei Bukyoku
Tamamo: Hagun!
SFX: Boko
“Woman”: Gyau!!

20.
SFX: Shuba
Nebutori: I’m jealous~~I’m jealouuus~~a beautiful woman~~a woman who will enjoy her life~
SFX: Oooh oooooh…
Tamamo: An ugly woman…she hasn’t been loved by anyone as consequence of her ugliness. Did she posses her because she was jealous of the beautiful woman…this surely is an evil spirit…
Nebutori: I’m jealouuus~~~I’ll kill~~this woman~~

21.
Tamamo: You’re an eyesore! Disappear, monster!!
Nebutori: Hiii~~
SFX: Gakiiiin

22.
Tamamo: Fu…fu…what is this behavior, Nueno-sensei?
Nube: Stop this! I will not forgive the murder of this sorrowful spirit!
Tamamo: Stupid!! How could you get in the way!? Aren’t I suitable to save humans!? Are you dreading that I’ll know of human love and become much stronger than you? You coward!!
SFX: Go
Nube: No!! I’m saying it can rest in peace without being killed! There’s no use in arguing!!
SFX: Ga ga ga

23.
Tamamo: !!
SFX: Gaku
Nebutori: Uaa…!!
Nube: No matter the spirit, you need compassion…if they rest in peace and are reborn, then they can start over again…
Nebutori: U…uuh…thank you…
SFX: Shuuu
Tamamo: Ku…it’s returning to the woman…

24.
Tamamo: I’ve misjudged you, Nueno-sensei! You too are a selfish, filthy human after all…this woman can’t be saved anymore! This is the same as being killed by you!
Tamamo: ……………….
Nurse: Tamamo-sensei!
SFX: Batan!
Tamamo: What is it; you’re noisy.
Nurse: This X-ray photo taken before the surgery…
Nurse: The tumor had disappeared!

25.
Tamamo: It found peace…and terminated itself? ……..
(TN: Unfortunately, “rest in peace” didn’t work for the “joubutsu” Tamamo said here, so I said “it found peace”)
Tamamo: Fufufu…hahaha…
Nurse: Do…doctor?
(TN: I never had the chance to say this before, but the fact that Nube and Tamamo have “sensei” as their title is strange but slightly ironic, considering that “sensei” can be used either for “teacher” or “doctor”)
Tamamo: Fu…I need to study the hearts of humans much further.
Nurse: Huh?
Tamamo: But someday I certainly will obtain the spiritual power to surpass you…by betting my youko pride!
Sign: Doumori Hospital
Hiroshi: Getting hurt at a hospital, really…
Nube: Owow
Kyouko: Clumsy!

26.
RETURN OF THE GREAT YOUKAI ENCYCLOPEDIA

#28: Tamamo-no-Mae

Youko Tamamo. He was in a separate volume and is being reintroduced after 10 volumes. This time, I’ll give commentary about “Tamamo-no-Mae”, the youko that (I think) is the ancestor of Tamamo.

Tamamo-no-Mae is called “Sangoku Denrai Konmou Kyuubi no Kitsune” for an alias. The “Three Nations” (Sangoku) points to China, India and Japan. Since it traveled around and greatly raged around those three countries, it was given that name. It was born in Ancient China. They say the energy of Yin crystallized and came to take the form of a fox. It comprehended the Human-Transformation Jutsu, took the form of Daji, a woman unequalled in beauty, and became the empress of King Zhou of the Shang Empire. This was in the 11th Century B.C. Daji tempted Zhou and tormented people with cruel misgovernment, but before long, when the Shang Empire was overthrown by King Wu of the Zhou, she ran to India and took the form of Kayouten, queen of Maghada’s Honsoku Taishi. Afterwards she once again returned to China and hid for a little while, but they said that envoy Kibino Makibi came from Japan and it boarded his boat, coming to Japan.

Several centuries later, the youko, who took the guise of a beautiful woman called Tamamo-no-Mae, schemed to murder emperor Toba, but it’s true identity was seen through by an onmyouji and ran to Nasuo of Tochigi Prefecture. It was there that it fought in a fierce battle that went through two days and nights with 15,000 allied forces of Miura-no-Suke Yoshiaki and Kazusa-no-Suke Hirotsune, was finally defeated and became “Sesshouseki”, a giant stone mass. Even afterwards it spit out poisonous gas for a short while and tormented the people in its circumference, but before long due to the noted priest Genou splitting the rock by his Buddhist power, the youko spirit finally was terminated.

Furthermore, since Sesshouseki has become a sightseeing place now, it’s fine for people who are interested to go there. There are numberless stone Jizous and it’s quite an eerie place.

(TN: I did not expect all this for the final note this time but...well, you are going to get a massive amount of notes this time around!:
1. While “Sangoku Denrai Konmou Kyuubi no Kitsune” has a literal meaning, I kept the Japanese title out of respect. It fully translates into “The Three-Nation Ancestral Gold-Fur Nine-Tailed Fox”.
2. “Energy of Yin” is a literal translation, in reference to the side of the balance that refers to “negative” or “shadow” energy.
3. Trying to sort out everything regarding ancient Chinese history, especially of this period mentioned in regards to the youko, is a really difficult matter because there are multiple meanings and interpretations that can be taken, either the Chinese or the Japanese name. For the sake of explanation, I’m going to go with the Chinese name as opposed to the Japanese. With that said, the next couple of notes are both going to be a bit of a Chinese history lesson with both the Chinese and Japanese names.
4. The Shang Dynasty, also known in Japan as the “In” and can also be called the “Yin”, is stated by tradition as the “Second dynasty” in Chinese history after the Xia. While there is a lot of artifacts regarding the Shang due to centuries of archeological work in China, some of what is believe is less history and more possibly fiction. It is true though that they were overthrown by the next Chinese dynasty, the Zhou, in the 11th Century BC.
5. Daji, also known as “Dakki”, is the central figure leading to the downfall of King Zhou (Chuu-ou) and the eventual rise of the Zhou Empire lead by King Wu. Born of a noble family, Daji eventually became Zhou’s favorite concubine and would be a crucial figure seen in his fall, with his obsession over her leading to outlandish and torturous things occurring in the Chinese court. According to history, she was executed once Zhou fell, but legend could say otherwise…
6. Though this is a weird side-comment, the year of the publishing of this volume (1996, since the chapter was written in ’95) was the year that a version of Daji and the fall of the Zhou was depicted in WSJ by way of the manga “Houshin Engi” by Ryu Fujisaki, a strange fictionalized version of the “Fengshen Yanyi” novel [also known as “Houshin Engi”] that is seen as a fantasy in itself (with the interaction of regular people and gods) in this period of Chinese history.
7. Try as I did, I had a hard time looking up the youko’s time in India, since it is rather hard to find info about Kayouten, Maghada and Hansoku Taishi.
8. The note from Chp. 12 about youko in general should give you a good idea about the whole situation regarding Emperor Toba and the onmyouji who actually stopped Tamamo-no-Mae's reign of terror on the Japanese court.
9. Miura(-no-suke) Yoshiaki and Kazusa(-no-suke) Hirotsune were both notable 12th century Japanese warriors, not merely just fictional ones for the tale of Tamamo-no-Mae. In fact, Kazusa Hirotsune of Kazusa Prefecture was notable in fighting against Minamoto no Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura Shogunate.
10. "Sesshouseki", literally known as the "Killing Stone", is the stone that literally exists in Nasuo that is stated to be the "remains" of Tamamo-no-Mae.
11. "Meisou" is "Noted Priest", but it was not used as an occupation or a title but as the first part of "Meisou Genou"; whose real name is "Gensou Shinshou". I decided just to use "Noted Priest Gensou" so we wouldn't get too confused about what his name is.)

TN: I think we're going to go with this for the moment...considering the notes this time around...that just didn't seem to end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNFk8uZFFjM

(Yet another Jump series I need to read...though one admission: I have seen the anime...and actually own it...)

It's hard to say whether or not this was actually expected...but Tamamo is back...he's here for the rest of the series' run...and I'm happy to have him there. While the youko does cause a lot of problems and there are still some things Nube wants to forget about the last time those two crossed paths, he's a valuable and interesting ally who brings a different aspect to the story compared to the human, one that is older, wiser and way more...smug. Though at this point Nube and Tamamo aren't quite rivals...sure they may still disagree on things and there will still be screw ups along the way, but the fact that Tamamo is "researching love by living in society" shows him on an interesting path that will just bring a lot of development for him as the series goes on from here. Of course, a lot of Tamamo's concepts are still sort of raw as we saw with this chapter...but in a way you could say Nube brought out that part without never warning him first. When Nube fought Tamamo, for the most part the youkai were still the bad guys. Sure there were some friendly ones but the spirits seemed more trouble than something to respect or help out. But now everything has changed: not all youkai are problems, many of them just want to find peace for themselves...and that's something Tamamo really can't quite get a hang on yet. Having Nube talking to Nebutori to understand its jealousy and come up with that sort of solution goes against what Tamamo saw with something like, say, Remugyo: you see an evil spirit and you kill it. But of course, when you've been away for nearly 10 volumes, you sort of miss out on those sorts of things. Though I do find it strange that he gave up being a teacher and decided to be a doctor instead...sure it gives us more variety of "assistance" in this world, but last he was around he was going to be a teacher so...well it's not really a screw-up but it is worth noting. And at the same time...the cold Tamamo gets the ladies while the passionate Nube keeps getting zip...what is with females and those types?