Hell Teacher Nube 130

While Doumori is notable for it's spiritual problems, it is also known for it's spiritual teachers. But the latest to arrive at Doumori Elementary may have a power that could be dangerous...and an obsession that could drive Nube utterly insane!

#130: Hateful! Suspicious!! A Witch Teacher!?
(TN: The title of this chapter actually uses the word “kirai” twice, but does so to make it seem like two different words. The first I used as “hate”, the other as “suspicious”)

164.
Nube: N?
Man: Good morning.
(TN: Don’t even make me try to understand the words there)
Nube: What? This paper bag…
SFX: Gasa gasa

165.
Nube: ………
Letter: I made this putting my love in it…please put this on the Oni-left hand!
Nube: Long ago…I exorcised an Oni that had possessed a student. But since it was too powerful, I inevitably sealed the Oni into my left hand…
Nube: Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan Koudai Reikan…Go.
Nube: Oni no Te—
SFX: Baba—n

166.
SFX: Hyu-----…
Nube: Who is this? These characters I don’t think are really the characters of an adult but…N? Kuroi Mami?
Nube: --So, do you know her?
Ritsuko: What are you saying? Isn’t she the charge of the 1st graders who came due to a change of post recently? She’s here, that short person…she already seems quite popular with the students.
Nube: Eh? A teacher?
Nube: ! (To himself) Th…that’s a teacher!? However—I look, she’s a child…

167.
Nube: I’m extremely glad that I whose not popular received this thing but I…and Yukime-kun is alive…
Nube: Um
SFX: Gusa
SFX: Dopyu—
Mami: Aah
SFX: Dosa dosa dosa | Boki baki goki
Mami: Hey hey, where did it go? Is it here?
SFX: Guru guru | giri giri | Baki baki | Gusha boki baki bushu—
Ritsuko: Kyaaaa!!

168.
Mami: You’re fine…are you?
Mami: You’re fi—ne, you’re fi—ne, it’s a scratch.
SFX: Goki boki
Nube: I’m fi—ne, I’m fi—ne, it’s a scratch.
Nube: I was about to die---!!
Mami: I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
Mami: I’m Kuroi Mami, I can see you read the letter.
SFX: Kyapi!
Nube: Yeah.
Mami: Since I was a child, I’ve wanted to be a witch; I went abroad to a German university and did research on witches; I investigated books of witchcraft that were scattered in every part of Europe and studied in depth real witchcraft. Now I can use witchcraft quick simply and am a witch-expert in the making.
(TN: I didn’t quite know which term to use for “Majou” here since it had multiple meanings including “magic” and “witchcraft”, but I ended up going with “witchcraft” due to Mami’s research in the matter)
Nube: A…a witch!?

169.
Mami: I’m certain I’ll get along with Nube-sensei because you seem like you’re extremely a maniac of the occult. Here and now I made a doll of you with a mandragora* and, so you say, manipulated you…that wasn’t it; my love has been realized.
*Mandragora: A plant that witches use for raw materials of their secret medicines. They are said to raise a shriek when they are extracted from the ground. Their root appears like the lower-half of a human. Also known as Mandrake.
(TN: A later chapter is going to go further into Mandragora/Mandrakes, so there is nothing to say right now on the subject)
Nube: I’m sorry…There is already a person whom my heart has decided on for me…so…
Nube: Sorry.
Nube: Wha-t’s that, I was joking, hahaha. Let’s keep compa—ny, baby.
SFX: Goki baki!
Mami: Wha-t’s that, I was joking, hahaha. Let’s keep compa—ny, baby.
Nube: Can’t you stop! At any rate, I’m sorry!
SFX: Dota dota dota dota

170.
Mami: Nube-sensei…
SFX: Ki—n ko—n ka—n ko—n…
Nube: Therefore, the area of a trapezoid is—
Nube: Ah~~my neck hurts…that doll was effective. It wasn’t powerful but the witchcraft seems real.
SFX: Koki koki
Nube: Well…I’m not that knowledgable on witches being Western beings but they are said to borrow the power of devils and perform arts…
Nube: Devils are evil existences that rival the Oni of the East. The borrowing of this power itself is a dangerous deed…will the girl be fine? (out loud) So, do you understand the problem, people?
(TN: While usually I seem to generalize “demons” that aren’t “Oni” when it is said, it’s comparison here with the actual Oni allowed for me to keep the Japanese term for good measure)
Nube: N?

171.
Nube: Eh—
SFX: Wasa wasa wasa
“Students”: Ye—s
Nube: Wa—it’s witchcraft. It’s witchcraft—
SFX: Gan gan gan
Nube: You~~~
SFX: Dopyu~~
Nube: I’ve heard witches have deep tenacity, but what exactly is she…
Nube: Is the witch’s class here?
SFX: So--…

172.
Mami: Fero Fero Omnis Shera Shera Zamnis. Project only me in his eyes, project only me in his eyes.
SFX: Donga bunga donga bunga | Oooh…Ooooooh
Nube: I saw a bad thing…
Nube: You!
SFX: Gara
Nube: I beg you: I have another person I like…I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. Please give up on me. (Uh uh)
Mami: Well well, I’ll place a charm on you immediately that won’t be so painful and you’ll come to like me.

173.
Nube: Further, it’s best that you don’t overuse your witchcraft. I’m saying this for you.
Mami: Wh—y?
Nube: The witchcraft of witches are done by borrowing the power of the devil. If you truly practiced by looking in those witchcraft books, then anyone can use witchcraft of a certain level. But if you overuse your witchcraft too much, then you will draw closer to an agreement with a devil so you can become a true witch…know of their ways of agreements.
Mami: I’m making a promise to a devil. (In other words, a lecher…)
(TN: Yeah…Mami-sensei really doesn’t get what Nube is saying)
Nube: Right! And thus, those who make a promise to a devil once will become a demonic being down to their soul and lose their human heart!
Nube: Understand this; please stop this already!
SFX: Pisha!
Caption: Folding-style hat.
Side Bar: *The Witch’s Oath…become fully naked, place your right hand on top of your head and your left hand holding your right leg and put it between both hands. Everything must be vowed to serve Satan.
Caption: That night.
Nube: Ah, it’s great that the night-watch room has food. The night-watch mood is happiness.
(TN: No, your eyes are not deceiving you: Nube is actually watching “Hell Teacher Nube” on his TV…actually, a good chunk of this volume had chapters released around the time in 1996 when Nube actually began its animated rendition as aired on TV Asahi as of April, 1996. Though…when it premiered, Nube was actually on Saturday nights airing after, of all things, the final season of “Bishoujou Senshi Sailor Moon”…so my guess is that most of this chapter took place on Saturday which makes some sense since some schools in Japan do have Saturday classes)

174.
SFX: Donga bunga Donga bunga
Mami: Fera Shera Agamemunon Ogamemunon. My blood and flesh, change into the form I desire—
Caption: Completely inexperienced.
Narrator: --On occasion, a witch has a forte where they varnish their entire body with balm
Narrator: And transform into an animal.
SFX: Goki goki goki
“TV Nube”: Take this! Kani no Te---!!
(TN: “Kani no Te” is “Crab Hand” as opposed to “Oni Hand” of the “Oni no Te”)
Nube: Ahaha…

175.
SFX: Pari—n
Nube: !?
“Mami”: Garurururu…Fufufu…Nube-sensei, with my wild blood…you will be mine my force…
Nube: Huh?
Mami: Beast-Transformation Phenomenon…my body hair has thickened and even my form and my spirit is closer to a beast! I can use witchcraft even to here!
(TN: “Beast-Transformation Phenomenon” is a literal translated as “Juuka Genshou”)
SFX: Fugyaaaa!
Nube: There.
Mami: Nyan nyan nyan
Nube: He—re here.
SFX: Goro goro

176.
Nube: You’ve returned.
SFX: Shu--…
Mami: Huh?
Mami: I’ve told you I’ve come to use witchcraft.
SFX: Dopyu~~~
Nube: Whatever this comes to, I don’t want to know!!
Mami: I’ve failed, I’ve failed. (to herself) I thought he’d fall for me much more simply and yet…surprisingly his conduct his steadfast.
Sound: A—h a—h
Student: I can’t fall down--! I’ve been entirely here since after school…hikku…hikku.
Mami: Stupid, what are you doing? Hold on, I’m now calling Nube-sensei.

177.
Student: Waa--!!
SFX: Baki baki baki
Mami: I won’t be in time! !
SFX: Gag a
Mami: Miretta Massaaru Suuparomi Nuuparumi
SFX: Paa
Nube: Nu…what is that strong youki…
Nube: Ah!!

178.
SFX: Don
Nube: She’s flying!? That’s…stupid…
Mami: Here, put out your hand!

179.
SFX: Gogogogogogogo
Mami: !! The magic circle is…
(TN: Didn’t go into it earlier, but a “magic circle” is a space of a circle or sphere shape that is generally used either for ritual magic or as a sacred space. It is traditional both for witchcraft as well as for many Eastern rituals)
Nube: It can’t be…that strong youki is a real devil…she summoned a devil so she could use strong match?
Mami: Run!
SFX: Don
Boy: Hi—
“Devil”: You…being who has borrowed my power…
SFX: Bari bari bari bari
Mami: Kyaaaa!!

180.
“Devil”: Make an allegiance to me. Pledge to me, become a true witch and your heart will be one with mine…
Mami: Hiii
SFX: Ooooh.
SFX: Ba
Nube: Hold on! You can’t do that.
Mami: Nube-sensei!
Nube: Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan Koudai Reikan: Oni sealed in my left hand, show your power!

181.
SFX: Gogogogogo
Nube: This devil has a rebellious youki, but the power of the Oni of my hand exceeds it. There is a difference in the West and East, but he should understand the difference in status of the same kind…

182.
SFX: Shuuu…
Nube: Ho…
Mami: Th…thank you, teacher.
Nube: If the devil that left was stronger than my Oni, it would have become terrible.
Nube: How’s that? You can’t use witchcraft anymore. Someday you’ll truly come to make an agreement with a devil!
SFX: Me!
Mami: Nube-sensei…though I had finally met a man who would understand me…
Nube: But…with how you saved that student…you’ll be splendid as Mami-sensei the teacher. Well done.

183.
Mami: Well then…even so, it’s not like I’ve done teaching for six years. (Ho ho ho)
Nube: Heh? (6 years…)
Nube: Six years…well, since you’re 22 when you graduate from university…perhaps…Mami-sensei…
(TN: That is more a general comment: since most high school students enter university at 18, it generally takes 4 years to go through there, leading to 22)
Nube: You’re older than me~~!?
Mami: Please call me big—sister!
Narrator: From then on
Narrator:: Nube would occasionally come to be troubled by spasms of unknown origin.
Mami: Fero Fero Omnisu Shera Shera Zamnisu. Make Nube-sensei’s heart mine—
Narrator: She wasn’t experienced at all.

184.
NUBE’S WEIRD FILES

#17: Witch

Majou is “Witch” in English, but it has an etymology of “to know” in the Anglo-Saxon language. In brief, sorcery is a thing that is researched with knowledge and wisdom by supernatural power. Among witches, there are good witches which use white magic and bad witches that use black magic. Good witches devote their bodies to god and gain spiritual powers from saints and the souls of seriously faithful people. Converse to this, bad witches are bound to a pact with Satan and gain spiritual powers from devils and the power of evil spirits. Generally bad witches can use much more powerful sorcery.

There is evidence that Isobel Gowdie, a 17 year old witch who existed in 17th century Scotland, made a Witch’s Oath. From doing this, after the administration of the oath like what was introduced in this chapter, witches enter into arrangements of a witch’s assembly, which occurs four times in a year. Those four times are the eve of the Candlemas Festival in February, the night of Walpurgis in May, the eve of the harvest festival in August and the night of Halloween in November. There occurs a bawdy night banquet that is extremely immoral, but I’ll omit it since it isn’t proper to further educate about the contents.

Bad witches are presented youth and beauty and gain prediction, levitation and transformation abilities. And they can comprehend advance witchcraft by mysterious rune characters. However, their initial beauty immediately fades and they come to be taken by Satan without going to heaven after death. Their end is tragic.

(TN: A few things:
1. The first line about “Majou is witch” is more or less directly translated because it was trying to explain a bit about the origin of “witch” to Japanese people.
2. It’s really tough to say if “witch” comes directly from the Anglo-Saxon language, but there is a key word that is used in Anglo-Saxon witchcraft called “haegtesse”, as well as other notable words such as “hag” or “wicca” which are still used today.
3. The line about “white magic/white witches vs. black magic/black witches” originally used the Japanese term “majutsu”, which is either “sorcery” or “black magic”. But somehow with it not exactly “black magic” and with sorcery too grand a term, I ended up using much broader terms of “white magic” and “black magic”. Likewise, “akumajou” is better as “evil witch”, but somehow I had this weird “Wizard of Oz” mentality of “good witch vs. bad witch” so just translate it as you see fit.
4. Isobel Gowdie was a Scottish housewife of the 17th century mostly noted for her confession regarding witchcraft in Europe around the time that the witch hunts ended. Her confession included aspects of her witch life including being able to change into a hare and being entertained by the queen of the Fairies, also known as the queen of Elphame.
5. Though Halloween is rather known and respected for the supernatural aspects, I think we should go a bit into two of the more unique holidays mentioned here:
-“Candlemas” is a traditional Christian festival held on February 2nd, which is the date upon which baby Jesus was originally presented to the temple. Thus, the witches’ coven meeting would occur the night before, on February 1st.
- Walpurgis Night is a traditional festival held on April 30th or May 1st in many Central and Northern European nations, in connection to Saint Walburga and notable for many bonfires held around her celebration. In many places, it is seen as a celebration of spring, but in countries such as Germany and Estonia, it is notable as a holiday of witches. In fact, the German interpretation of Walpurgis involves where witches hold a large celebration on the mountain of Brocken (located in the Harz Mountain and always connected to witches and devils) and await spring’s arrival.)

TN: You know the weirdest aspect of this chapter thinking it over? The factor that it's essentially about a teacher who is older than Nube...but is essentially acting and performing like a little girl. And by thus, we have our "child" for the chapter...even though we do see Hiroshi and Kyouko (and they actually have no lines whatsoever...but it's not like the werewolf chapter where they don't show up at all). In a weird way, I do like Mami-sensei and her weird witch powers and obsession, even if I could see where some could probably find her annoying. In some ways, this chapter really feels like it could have gone in a completely different direction had it come before Nube met up with Yukime earlier in the volume. From how Mami obsessed with Nube, it could have lead to even more complicated and interesting love matters, with another female who is interested in Nube...who is actually human...and not repulsed by certain aspects of his behavior. But since it came after the Yukime reunion, it turned into merely here being a bugging annoyance Nube has to put up with and deal with her "deals with the devil" to prevent her from going too far. I did know a bit about witchcraft before the chapter, but the whole aspect of all witches gaining power from the devils was something that never really dawned upon me having known about how wiccans usually get their powers from nature in general and the gods. But...I guess that one person's devil is another person's god so we really can't say one way or another about it. The good news is we will see some more with Mami-sensei in the future but until then...well, keep your eye on the Kani no Te! (yeah, maybe not that but at least it was funny to see them finally acknowledge their own anime)