Hell Teacher Nube 116

Even great geniuses known for their works sometimes dive into the stranger aspects of life outside the realm of knowledge. As self-proclaimed genius Akira discovers a strange device, he may gain knowledge from someone just as great...

#116: The Great Inventions of the Spirit-World Communicator!

47.
(While I don’t usually mention title pages often, I just wanted to alert you of the similarity of Nube on this page to the title character from Mitsumeru Yokoyama’s seminal work “Tetsujin 28-gou”, also known in the US as “Gigantor”)

48.
SFX: Wreeeeen
SFX: Gachan | Gachan | Gachan
SFX: Supa Supa
Hiroshi: Uhaha, amazing: it cut them, it cut them.
Akira: That’s natural. I made it.

49.
Caption: Yamaguchi Akira: the genius of art and handicrafts of Nube’s class (Self-Called)
Old Man: Heeey! Who’s there?
SFX: Supa
Hiroshi: Oh no.
SFX: Gashan gashan
Akira: Withdraw---!
Hiroshi: Alright, it got away.
Katsuya: He won’t know who did it and no proof will be left because it’ radio-controlled.
Akira: Fufufu: I’ve waited for this. My finishing touch.
SFX: Puchi
SFX: Pon popon pan pakapa—n
Flag:
Doumori Elementary 5-3
Great Inventor
Yamaguchi Akira, Genius!!
(TN: The last line in the flag was in Japanese “Yamaguchi Akira Tensai” which would generally be “The Genius Yamaguchi Akira”, but blame me for having Wil. E. Coyote’s business card on my mind when I translated that part)

50.
Hiroshi: Why did you attach that thing; it even had your name and school…
Akira: You dummy: if I didn’t do that, then wouldn’t he not understand that this was done by the genius Akira-kun?
Katsuya: You’re a mass of craving the limelight~~
Akira: I’ll show them now. In ten years, I’ll have my name roared as the great genius at the end of the century. (Fu fu fu) The voices of praise saying “Akira the Genius” will echo through the town!
“Bubble”: Akira the Genius, Akira the Genius
Hiroshi: He’s a dangerous—guy.
SFX: Hiso hiso
Katsuya: His kind causes wars.
(TN: Well as long as he isn’t Ghiren Zabi)
Voice 1: See ya.
Voice 2: Bye-by—e
Akira: ?
Sign: Gomiyama Curio
(TN: Though it uses other kanji, the name of the curio shop, “gomiyama”, can also have a meaning with other kanji as “Trash Mountain”)

51.
Akira: What is this…this suspicious machine is…!!
Sign: Communicator (Seems Like One): Special Price: 2000 yen sum
Akira: According to the shop person’s story, they didn’t know the maker and it is broken and doesn’t project. It seemed like it didn’t have value as an antique for just it’s strange design.
Sign: Yamaguchi
Akira: Hee, the insides are merely strange vacuum tubes, but it’s greatly different from a mere television…perhaps it’s some sort of TV-phone?
Akira: I’ve fixed it. It was just its wiring was disconnected.
Akira: Alright, turning it on.
SFX: Puchi

52.
SFX: Za—za—
Akira: ………
SFX: Pi---… | Gaga—
Akira: Seems like some blueprint. Is someone…sending it from somewhere?
SFX: Kyu—pi--…
Nube: Fua---…

53.
Flag: Celebrate!! A Great Invention
Blackboard (right to left, top to bottom): The Genius Akira | Great!! | Best Under the Heaven! | As Expected!
Nube: What did you invent?
Flag: Akira the Genius
Akira: Teacher, you’re the perfectly cracker tamer. Because I’m making an announcement.
Akira: For this!!
Captions:
Right: Tester Rods
Bottom: Grip
Left: Adjustor
Nube: What is that?
Akira: Unreservedly, it’s a “Spirit Detector”. It detects the whereabouts of evil spirits. It’s an item that applies the fundamental principal of dowsing…
Akira: It’s a superior thing greater than Nube which can detect spirits and can even give fortunes and do searches all with this one thing! It lights up! It spins! Established price 1500 yen; how about it, toymaker-san!
SFX: Piko piko | Kyui—n
Nube: Hahaha, ridiculous; it’s greater than Nube!?
Akira: Then a contest!

54.
Akira: Whichever finds an evil spirit first wins!
SFX: Pi pi
Nube: That’s fine; so, this match will show you.
Akira: Ah! It’s here!
SFX: Piro piro piro…
Akira: An amazing reaction; it’s a powerful evil spirit.
SFX: Pipipipipi…
Nube: Ha ha ha; that’s absurd. Whatever. Spirit that is here, show yourself!
SFX: Baku | Guwaaa

55.
Hiroshi: Amazing, Akira!
Katsuya: That machine is for real!
SFX: Wai wai | Bashi Gyaaa
Nube: Akuryou Taisan; I force you to rest in peace.
Nube: ………
SFX: Ze—ze-- | Shuuu…
Makoto: You’re amazing, Akira-kun, a genius.
Akira: Noo, hahaha…
Akira: Amazing: when I made it just like the blueprint, it actually was done. Who exactly was that…
Akira: Ah, another blueprint is coming.
Caption: Can print it out by connecting it to his computer’s printer.
SFX: Ji—
“Voice”: Fu fu fu, it’s like peeling potatoes.
SFX: Nyari
Akira: Th…thank you.
Akira: Amazing! I’ve got several types this time. All—right, I’ll make all of them!

56.
Caption 1: Spirit Automatic Picture Device
SFX: Gasha gasha
Akira: It amplifies the Automatic Clerical Phenomenon and makes a drawing of what is being thought within the heart.
(TN: The “Automatic Clerical Phenomenon” here is most likely in reference to a phenomenon known as “automatic writing” or “automatism”. This is a phenomenon where someone writes [or in this case, draws] material that the proponent claims does not come from the conscious thought of the writer)
Caption 2: Shugorei Clairvoyance Device
Nube: They’re all items that use spirit power but
Akira: Ri…right: my science has finally understood spirit power. (to himself) in truth I’ve just been making them according to the blueprints but…

57.
Akira: You really are a surprising mechanic on this and that. But who and where exactly are you? Tell me thoroughly.
SFX: Ga—ga—
SFX: Ga—ga—ga—ga—ga—
“Voice”: Here is…spirit…world…I am…
Akira: Eh, what? Once more…
SFX: Ga--…
Akira: Ah! Another blueprint! This now is the biggest up to now!!
Akira: Amazing, amazing; whoever or wherever you are, I’m fine with it already.
SFX: Ji—

58.
Caption: Spirit Robot: Akira Tensai 1-Gou (Primarily Uses Bicycle Parts)
(TN: The translation of the robot’s name is “Akira Genius #1”)
SFX: Zawa zawa zawa…
Hat: Akira Tensai 1-Gou
Hiroshi: Wi…will this work? It feels bad…
Akira: Obviously. I made it.
Miki: This isn’t just a skeleton; what sort of arrangement is it for?
Akira: At…at any rate, it does work. (to himself) I don’t understand well it’s arrangement either…
SFX: Pachi
SFX: Hyuuu…hyuuu

59.
SFX: Gigi…gigi…
Miki: Waa, it’s moving, ama—zing…
Flag: Akira the Genius
SFX: Gashi
Miki: Hi…
Kyouko: Kyaaa, Miki!!
SFX: Wa—wa—
Akira: What’s wrong, Akira Tensai 1-Gou? Stop that, Akira Tensai 1-Gou. Somehow, Akira Tensai 1-Gou.
Hiroshi: You somehow have a taste for that name!!

60.
Hiroshi: You thing!!
SFX: Gasha
Akira: Did you do it!?
SFX: Doka
Hiroshi: Guwaa!!
Hiroshi: It’s…it’s absurdly strong in spite of it being just bones!! From where is that power from!?
“Spirit”: Kekekeke…

61.
SFX: Guaaaa
Nube: What’s wrong!?
SFX: Gara
Akira: Nube
Nube: Wh…what, is that a Gundam--?
(TN: The “Gundam” comment obviously refers to the long-running Sunrise anime mecha series, which originally aired in Japan in 1979. Around the time of this chapter, the popular and notable “Gundam W” [Gundam Wing] series was on the air in Japan as the 1995-1996 series)
Akira: It’s Akira Tensai 1-Gou. My Akira Tensai 1-Gou has
Hiroshi: That’s why you have to stop with that name.
Nube: ! Wh…what is that strong aura? No…that spirit has the duty of the robot’s mind…

62.
Nube: It doesn’t surpass a doll that was made, like one that gets easily possessed by a spirit. It sucked in a wandering spirit of the area and made it its intellect. Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan…
Nube: Ha
SFX: Gyaaaa
SFX: Pita…shu

63.
Nube: It’s stopped.
SFX: Wa—wa—
Kyouko: Miki—
Nube: Akira! What’s going on? Explain! That device doesn’t have reason to be made by a grade schooler.
Akira: Ye…yes, actually
Nube: What, a mysterious communicator?
Sign: Yamaguchi Dentistry
Nube: That’s?
Akira: Yes, I’ll turn on the switch now.

64.
“Voice”: Ha ha ha: how was it? My spirit robot
SFX: Gaga—ga—ga—gagagaga—
Nube: Was it you that sent these strange blueprints to Akira and been making these dangerous mechs? So you’re not a person of this world!?
Akira: Eh
“Voice”: …It seems like it was a failure with that aspect…right…that was regrettable…sorry.
Nube: Are you possessing this communicator, evil spirit!
SFX: Ga—
“Voice”: Hold on…this is a Spirit-World Communicator. I am talking from the spirit world.
Nube: !? It can’t be…this thing is!?
SFX: Gagagaga
“Voice”: This machine was my final invention on the Earth. How about I well show myself for a bit more?
SFX: Gagagaga

65.
“Old Man?”: Ha ha ha, I’m sorry for being threatening but I was worried I’d be going away as an evil spirit. I have admiration in the enthusiasm confronting the inventions of Akira-kun and presented them to him.
Nube: A foreigner…?
Akira: Y…you’re!!
Nube: What, is he an acquaintance?

66.
Akira: You don’t know him! Even though you’re a teacher!? Here!
Nube: Eh, eeh~~
Nube: He was a scientist who had a major contribution to mankind with his 1300 inventions such as the light bulb and the gramophone. These were left behind in textbooks everywhere and he is known by everyone.
Nube: However it’s unexpectedly unknown that he was thoroughly participating in spirit research from 1916, 15 years before his death. What he was contending for was telecommunication with the spirit world…and thus, at the same time, he became a topic around the world and people instantly believed he was selling a Spirit-World Communicator.
Nube: But in 1931, in the midst of his research, he died. The Spirit-World Communicator wasn’t left to history, having not been announced…if it had been completed, it would have been his final invention.

67.
“Old Man”: These inventions I thought up in the spirit world will take another twenty years until they’re accepted by mankind. Hahahaha…at that time, you’ll push the switch here again, Akira-kun.
SFX: Gaga…
Akira: Yes…certainly!
Nube: I give up. He was your partner? I can’t complain.
Caption: His name was
SFX: Puchi
Caption: Thomas Alva Edison, the greatest invention king in this century…

68.
46.
NUBE’S WEIRD FILES

#9: Edison’s Spirit-World Communicator

The following was spoken by Edison, who was 73 at the time, in the October 30th issue of “Scientific American”, an American science magazine, in 1920.

“If our personality survives, then it is strictly logical or scientific to assume that it retains memory, intellect, other faculties, and knowledge that we acquire on this Earth. Therefore … if we can evolve an instrument so delicate as to be affected by our personality as it survives in the next life, such an instrument, when made available, ought to record something.

His speech raised one large sensation throughout the world. Various rumors and popular myths flew about and he himself ended up frightened by them. Afterwards, his theory became severely criticized from his fellow scientists and before long he gradually came to not talk to people on his spirit experiments.

And thus, on October 18th, 1931, he left this world. Within his room there remained notes that had written a massive quantity of experimental devices and research contents, but the strange thing was that there wasn’t left even one trace that was related to the Spirit-World Communicator. Did he revoke it himself or was it taken away by some person? This is entirely engulfed in mystery even today.

(TN: A couple things:
1. Since I really didn’t think I translated the words correctly from Edison’s quote, I actually just found it from another website (http://www.mikepettigrew.com/afterlife/html/evp___itc_history.html) and put them in the entry here.
2. There are some hints that Edison did make some progress regarding the device and communicating with the spirit world, but the only true hint behind any possible success was one of his dying words: “It is very beautiful over there.” It is unknown what he was speaking of, but some believe it could have been a hint that Edison did actually make some contact with the other side prior to his death.)

TN: When this chapter started, I sort of nearly feared how it would turn out. After the Hieronymus Machine chapter, I sort of figured Akira should have been humbled by his play into the bizarre aspects of science and wouldn't try to go the "super-genius route" again. Heck, the beginning nearly brought that fear back to me: it worked in the former chapter because of Akira's growing ego with the way the machine scenario played out, but here it just felt like "he's at it again and thinks he's a genius with Hiroshi and Katsuya rumoring on his madness". But...intros can be deceptive: this turned out to be a nice surprise of a chapter and one really cool and interesting with how it turned out. The whole idea that it's based on Thomas Edison's ideas of creating a communication link between our world and the spiritual one as he approached death was a really neat one, allowing for Akira to use his practicality and Edison's genius to create bizarre machines that neither would have known about until Edison himself died. And while some would say maybe Akira was haughty towards his classmates showing off Edison's work as his own, this actually had something that the Hieronymus chapter didn't have in him: doubt. The insecurity of the spectacled student in making these things and calling them his own when he knew he was getting the blueprints from beyond the grave brought humility back to him instead of just making him an arrogant genius character. Sure he had a bit of his show, but I think here it was less Akira being declared a genius and more a show to make it seem like he was greater than he really was with these devices that he was being literally handed to him. And heck...the fact that we actually get Thomas Edison in a manga chapter was just awesome...it's a neat weird cameo that works compared to...well, that SMAP guy from two chapters ago that felt more like something from "The Simpsons" than "Nube"...yeah I should have said it then but I forgot to. (OK it worked for that chapter's context cause Miki was testing the Kesaran Pasaran's power but it just felt so different compared to...well, Thomas Edison in a weirdly-shaped TV)