Hell Teacher Nube 110

Once, a yukionna fell in love with a human man and did anything in her power to win him over. But the human believed in a mantra that human and youkai can't be together. Until a certain day...when feelings and spiritual powers collided!

#110: The Yukionna who Vanished in the Winter Wind

107.
SFX: Hyuuuu…
Voice: Yukime…Yukime……
Mountain God: You are my child…the child of the Mountain God…called a yukionna and yet…amidst loving a human man and living in a human town, you’ve lost your heart of cold ice…

108.
Mountain God: Yukionna are youkai…they have no need for a warm heart…call it back: have Yukime remember her heart of ice—
Mountain God: Ippon-Datara…go.
SFX: Byuuuu…

109.
(Title page…and thus begins one of the most important chapter of the Nube/Yukime story arc…)

110.
SFX: Byuuuuuu…
Nube: Uh~~it’s cold somehow suddenly. It feels like it’s become winter—
Yukime: (heart)
(TN: It speaks for itself)
Woman: Well—is this warm?
Yukime: !
Woman: Fu—fu—
Man: Hahaha, it’s warm, it’s warm.

111.
SFX: Pito
Yukime: Well, is this warm? (Fu—fu—)
SFX: Paki—n | Pari pari
Nube: Uwa~~~
Nube: You~~youkai.
SFX: Guri guri guri
Yukime: Kya—monster—

112.
Nube: You’ll understand this if I tell you many times: Don’t attack me, touch me or embrace me from behind!
SFX: Goki goki
Nube: --So, what’s your business?
Yukime: Yes, I wanted you to eat my home cooking…
SFX: Goki
Yukime: Here! It’s shirko, sweet and tas—ty.
(TN: As I explained prior, shiruko is a sweet red-bean soup that is served cold)
SFX: Kachin kochin
Nube: That I say is par for azuki beans in this world but.
(TN: Azuki beans are the sweet beans usually used for meals like Shiruko.
Nube: Yukime-kun…I’m sorry but, in the end, you’re a youkai and I’m human…even if you love me this much, the difference of the two of us is too large…
Yukime: But recently these letters from the readers that say Nube-sensei seems like a youkai have…
Letter 1: Nube ate manjuu of three years ago and was fine.
Letter 2: Nube somehow entered into the crevice of a narrow wall.
Nube: Eeh~~!?
Kyouko: In truth…

113.
Nube: At any rate, youkai and humans shouldn’t associate with each other! (turning) Ah.
Ritsuko: Achoo.
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei, he—re: please use my coat.
Ritsuko: Eh!? Nueno-sensei’s coat…was it made by the head hair of your ancestors…
SFX: Zo~~
Nube: It’s Ki-rou’s vest.
(TN: The comment that Nube is making here is in reference to the vest worn by the lead character of “GeGeGe no Kitarou”, which can have the ability of attacking people with the spiky hair that it is made of)
Yukime: By all means, a human woman is better after all. That Ritsuko-sensei person is…
Kyouko: I…think that isn’t it. Nube also has you, Yukime-san.
SFX: Tobo
Kyouko: Yukime-san.

114.
Sign: Maison Shiroyuki
Yukime: Nueno-sensei…he really does hate me…
Caption: Hand-made Nube doll.
Yukime: It’s because I’m a youkai…isn’t it…?
“Voice”: Hi hi hi…that’s foolish…
SFX: Kara—n
“Voice”: There should be a law of the mountain that when a yukionna turns 16, they will kidnap a human male and lead them back to be put on ice.
SFX: Koro—n Kara—n
Yukime: Who is that!?
“Voice”: Your heart has been stolen by a human man…you washout yukionna; ku ku ku.

115.
Ippon-Datara: If it’s come to this…then I’ll teach you a tying method. You should become human.
SFX: Kara—n Koro—n
Yukime: Ippon-Datara…why is the familiar spirit of the Mountain God here…!?
Ippon-Datara: You can’t return to the mountain in that state. In that case, the Mountain God has said that you might as well become human.
Yukime: Eh!?

116.
Yukime: Re…really!? What absolutely is the law of the Mountain God on that really…
Ippon-Datara: Ku ku ku: you are special. Right…
Yukime: I really can become a human!? I can become tied to Nueno-sensei…what do I have to do…!?
Ippon-Datara: For a yukionna to become human…they should put a beautiful woman on ice and steal their soul.
Yukime: Would that kill the human!? That’s…
Yukime: A beautiful woman…
SFX: Gogogogo

117.
Voice: Ritsuko-sensei---!
Nube: Did you see that movie on TV last night?
Ritsuko: Yes, but I wanted to see it with subtitles.
Nube: Eh?
Nube: You wanted to see “Jibakurei”? That’s easy.
(TN: This is a weird pun that only works in Japanese: Ritsuko-sensei said she wanted to see a movie “jimaku de”, or “with subtitles”. All Nube did was change the letters a bit to make “jimaku de” to “jibakurei”)
SFX: Ooooo…
Ritsuko: Kyaaaa!!
Kyouko: What sort of virtual hearing
(TN: I had a hard time trying to figure out “Mimishiton” at this point, but the best I could make out is “virtual hearing”, as in Nube screwing up what he heard by misinterpreting Ritsuko’s words)
Ritsuko: I hate you!!

118.
SFX: Fu--…
Ritsuko: But…even if I deduct his constant stupidity, the real Nueno-sensei is dreamy…I’ve become aware of this and Nueno-sensei hasn’t thought even an atom of this…ehe! (Laugh)
Voice: Hey—Nube, how long are you going to go after Ritsuko-sensei?
Nube: Huh?
Kyouko: You’ve been absolutely unsuccessful with Ritsuko-sensei.
Miki: You’ve been continued to be rejected for 100 consecutive times.
Kyouko: Shouldn’t you give up and think seriously about Yukime-san?
Nube: Du—mmy, you can say that easily but Yukime-kun isn’t human.
Kyouko: Is that thing really an important matter?

119.
Nube: It’s important: my life-span is different from a youkai; and what will happen with kids!? The commute to work would be three hours by Touhoku bullet train. Ye—p.
Kyouko: Ridiculous; you’re doing that as you please. Enough!
Nube: H—mm…
SFX: Pi—
Ritsuko: Alright, the person for the third flight will get on—
SFX: Wa—wa—
Ippon-Datara: Hoo, you’ve decided on that woman? Understood; she’s a beautiful woman.
Yukime: Wait, you’ve decided already?

120.
Ippon-Datara: Kukuku…you’ve lost your nerve? You’re a washout after all. A yukionna should possess a heart of ice.
Yukime: Shut up!
Ippon-Datara: Don’t talk meaninglessly. I’ll do this.
SFX: Hyuuu…
SFX: Ka
SFX: Byuoooo
Ritsuko: Kyaaaa!
Students: Ritsuko-sensei!

121.
Nube: What’s that!? Ritsuko-sensei taken by a snow youkai!?
Sign: Staff Office
Kyouko: Is the snow youkai Yukime-san!?
Miki: Kya—is this the revenge of a yukionna maddened with jealousy!?
Nube: Idiot, does she have a reason for that!
Nube: Yukime shouldn’t be doing this…that’s…that’s…
Caption: Kitayama Shrine
122.
Ritsuko: It’s cold…I’m freezing. Save me…why are you doing this, Yukime-san…
Yukime: You will be frozen and your soul taken. When I do that, I…will be human.

123.
Ritsuko: Why…do you want to be human…
Yukime: Why…
Yukime: A youkai…is a being that can’t be tied to Nueno-sensei…I like teacher! I love him!

124.
Yukime: Therefore…I will be human and Nueno-sensei will…Nueno-sensei is worried that I’m a youkai…
Ritsuko: A pitiful child…it’s about Nueno-sensei like this…
Ippon-Datara: A strong energy is coming near. A strong energy that is like a spiritually powered being.
Yukime: Nueno-sensei!!
Ippon-Datara: Well, when he enters this cave of ice, the end will be as natural as an ant who has fallen into an ant lion… (Ku ku ku)
(TN: The “fallen into an ant lion” part refers to the attribute of the ant lion, an insect whose larva is notable for creating pits to capture ants in order to eat them)
Ippon-Datara: Well do it, Yukime: while the intrusion hasn’t entered.

125.
SFX: Hyuuuu
Yukime: …I can’t. Killing a human…I…
SFX: Gaku…

126.
Yukime: I’m sorry, Ritsuko-sensei; I…do this somehow…
Ritsuko: Yukime-chan…
Ippon-Datara: Kukuku…you seem to be a washout after all, Yukime.
Ippon-Datara: Becoming human by killing a human is a lie. If you kill a human, you will take back your heart of ice and would have come to be lead back to the mountain having become a full yukionna, but…you can’t do that. You’re incapable of being a youkai and the Mountain God has been said to suck your youki dry and return you to snow. This had been the final exam to test you.
Yukime: Cruel, you deceived me!!
SFX: Ka
Yukime: Run! Ritsuko-sensei!!
SFX: Baki baki

127.
Nube: There’s a powerful youki from this shrine.
Hiroshi: Hie, it’s frozen.
Nube: Ri…Ritsuko-sensei!?
SFX: Bu!
Nube: What exactly happened; were you really taken by Yukime…?
Ritsuko: Yes, Yukime-chan is inside…
Ritsuko: She had been deceived into becoming a human by a youkai…now she’s getting killed…
Nube: What’s that?! (to himself) That…she was brooding on that this much…
Ritsuko: Inside there seems to be a powerful barrier for ice youkai…if you go in, you’ll be killed.
Nube: But if I don’t rescue Yukime
Ritsuko: Wait!
SFX: Gu!

128.
Ritsuko: Don’t go…it’s extremely dangerous in there, you may die.
Nube: But I can’t ignore this!
Ritsuko: I…you…Nueno-sensei…I like you.

129.
Ritsuko: That’s why…you can’t go…you can’t die…
Nube: It’s been 110 chapters of serialization and finally…it’s been long—
Nube: Ritsuko-sensei…th…thank you.
Nube: But…I like Yukime…I’ll save her even in exchange of my life…

130.
Ritsuko: Nueno-sensei…
SFX: Da
Nube: That stupid girl…she would become a human…for me. Right; she had always been serious. For me somehow…
Nube: She destroyed the laws of the yukionna and lived in the towns of the humans of summer that she exceedingly couldn’t endure.
Nube: And yet, I had been stupid…without giving even an answer for her feelings, just saying that she’s a youkai! I finally understand now her feelings…what is youkai; what is human; I…and Yukime…
Nube: !!

131.
Nube: Yukime—
Ippon-Datara: Chi…in a bit longer, her youkai would have been sucked exhausted and this waste would have returned to snow and yet..
Yukime: Tea…ch…
Ippon-Datara: You’re the priority!
SFX: Bun

132.
Nube: Guaa!
SFX: Dosu Zaku Zudo
Ippon-Datara: Kukuku…the icicles in this cave move by my thoughts. Become skewered and die, human.
Yukime: Teacher…!! (out loud) Uuh…
Ippon-Datara: Guhaha, die! Die!

133.
Yukime: Drop dead, figurehead-monster!
(TN: Yukime uses the term “Kutabare”, which could have several meanings including “go to hell”, “f**k you” or, in the way I used it “drop dead”; somehow I just didn’t feel right in her cursing thus the word I used)
SFX: Doka
Ippon-Datara: St…stupid…you shouldn’t have youryoku anymore.
Yukime: Humans…are said to have hearts that love. Even from zero, they strain their power: youkai-san.
Nube: Ha!!

134.
Nube: Yukime!!
SFX: Su su
Yukime: Nueno-sensei…
Nube: I’m sorry…I warded you off by just saying you’re a youkai…this made you suffer…
Nube: But I finally realized your feelings. You like me. You love me.
Yukime: Re…really…!?
Yukime: Will you eat my home-cooking from now on.
Nube: Alright.
Yukime: Can we go on dates once a week?
Nube: Alright, if we go Dutch.
Yukime: You won’t get angry even if I coerce you from behind?
Nube: Alright.

135.
Yukime: Aah, I’m glad…I…am happy…but I…have already…used up my youryoku…
Nube: Eh…he…hey…Yukime…!?
Nube: Yu
Yukime: Good-bye, teacher…

136.
Nube: Yukime—

137.
Hiroshi: Yukime-san…did she really die……?
Ritsuko: That girl…returned to snow…I’m certain she’ll fall to some mountain and be reborn there again…
Ritsuko: I’m certain…on some mountain.

138.
NUBE’S WEIRD FILES

#5: Ippon-Datara

Ippon-Datara, who is called Yukinbo as his alias, rarely shows itself to humans. However according to tales of humans who eyewitness it by chance, it is said to has a form that resembles a person with one eye and one leg. Again there are also people who say it’s nude with the upper-half of its body and it’s clad in a white cloth.

Datara had been called Master Tatara (Master Kaji/Kajishi). The ghost of Master Tatara, who had weakened a leg due to continuing to step on a bellow and had one eye close due to continuing to watch the fire patiently, is said to be the true identity of Ippon-Datara. And thus, it seems to have wandered around within the mountains where there were mines since the ancients.

The legend of Ippon-Datara has been distributed that has come to throughout Japan. He is a major youkai. Even its form, which has varied into being a giant or a child, and it’s given name has differed by region.

Within the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture in the next morning after the falling of snow, there has been discovered a footprint of just one foot that has continued to anywhere. Clearly this was the act of Ippon-Datara. The Ippon-Datara of Mt. Hidataka is called Yukinyuudou and ultimately leaves behind footprints in the morning of snow. The approximation of the foot is somehow 30cm. The Ippon-Datara of Kouchi Prefecture is called Yamajii and seems to have a form that resembles an old man, but ultimately it has one eye and one leg.

(TN: A few things:
1. A “tatara” is a specific type of Japanese furnace used for smelting iron and steel. The bellows mentioned in the tale allows for air to blow in, usually in order to smelt or weld iron.
2. A translation for all the names we had here:
-“Yukinbo” = “Snow Priest”
-“Yukinyuudou” = “Snow Priest” [“Nyuudou” is another word for “Priest” like “Bou”]
-“Yamajii” = “Old Man Snow”
3. A few bits of locations mentioned here:
-Wakayama Prefecture: on Honshu island at the end of the Kii Peninsula
-Mt. Hidataka/Hidatakayama: mountain in Gifu Prefecture near the town of Takayama
-Kouchi Prefecture: The prefecture on the southern coast of Shikoku island. Though on the coast, most of the prefecture is mountainous and only has a coastal area in a few points)

TN: Sniff...Yukime...it's really hard to say what happened to her and what this means after this chapter (without spoiling), but this really was a heart-breaking chapter. Nube finally seems to have accepted the idea of Yukime's love, only to lose her because of Ippon-Datara and the Mountain God. And meanwhile we now have Ritsuko-sensei confessing her love and Nube flat out turning her down for the yukionna! Two cans of worms are literally opened in one chapter and it's just impossible to go back now. This really is one of the major turning points of the series thus far and one that is going to have massive implications from here on out!

The confession and acceptance of Nube's love of Yukime is in a way less Nube finally realizing she loved him and more or less probably him admitting it to himself in an honest fashion without any weird matters or scenarios getting in the way. We had seen from Yukime's first appearance that Nube did respect and like the yukionna...but it was different then. He saw her just as a girl he saved once and a more moderate youkai who wasn't evil...and was essentially a kid. It was Yukime who made it into "love", misinterpreting kindness or thinking through her yukionna obligations that this was what she was looking for and letting it build (or fester dependent on your POV) into what happened way back in the first appearance. Once Nube got the "freezing men is bad" out of her, that's when it became interesting and in a way where we did see that Nube did respect and like Yukime...but didn't admit it as "love" not just because of the human/youkai thing but probably because he saw her as a crazy "kid" compared to himself. Sure he had feelings for her, but he probably kept the whole aspect of the human/youkai feeling due to Yukime's lack of maturity and probably also the fact that he figured she would grow out of it...or that he couldn't admit to it because he wanted things to be more "normal". Maybe deep inside before this moment Nube loved Yukime, but it probably needed a crisis like this to admit this to himself because of how she was little more than a cute nuisance prior to this chapter.

Likewise along with the Yukime climax for this moment, this chapter sort of allowed for the development of the matter with Ritsuko-sensei that had sort of been brewing since at least the start, if not vol. 8. It's really hard to say what she was thinking in this chapter, but I think it was both two matters: the acceptance of Nube as a heroic figure outside his insane goofiness...and merely a last-ditch attempt to keep him from going after Yukime and going in over his head for her. Sure she probably admitted he liked her as well as heard Yukime's own confession in the ice cave, but she just didn't want to see him get in over his head just for some yukionna. But of course in Nube's case, it was both a matter of his own feelings finally realizing the truth that "someone wanted me all this time...even if she's a youkai" as well as protecting one of the "kids" that he had protected at one point. I guess in a way, Yukime is a personification of Nube's own creed, while Ritsuko is a more recent phenomenon...and it is this protection that comes first, even if love is something that came out of it.

And then there's the Mountain God...oh boy. Prior to this chapter, the Mountain God was merely in the background, a potential threat due to it's connection to Yukime. It is the mountain that creates yukionna and it is the omnipotence of the same mountain that can realize quickly when one has strayed. The Mountain God has no realization of feelings or emotions, merely bound by duty and tradition, so of course it wants Yukime to follow along with it's will instead of her own. But of course love is a strange thing and that's why it became forced to use Ippon-Datara and it's deception to make her sacrifice Ritsuko-sensei and bring her "back her icy heart". Of course, this isn't the same Yukime that went down after Nube back in vol. 4: she knows of true love as opposed to "youkai obligatory love" and is willing to fight...and even die...for the one she does love. For the moment there seems to have been a draw: Datara is done for knocking away one of the Mountain God's figureheads...but Yukime is "dead" as well. Of course, what the future holds is anyone's guess: maybe the yukionna will return, but who knows how or what shape Yukime will be in. And...who knows how willing Nube will be in taking her back and accepting her "love"...but that's for the future to find out.

Let's hope he doesn't cheat on her with Ritsuko in the meantime though.