Hell Teacher Nube 190

If stuck with a curse, how far are you willing to go: do you want to eliminate the problem yourself or pass it on to save yourself? When a certain young student gets caught in the curse of a peculiar youkai, will he take it on...or pass it on!?

#190: The Gamer Youkai: Mekurabe

91.
Narrator: Doumori Middle
Caption: Um~~doing from this, that is…
SFX: ZZZ…
Boy: U…uuuh~~~
SFX: Nu
Boy: Hi
Mekurabe: I am Mekurabe. Shall I bring challenge to your eyes?
(TN: This youkai isn’t going to have a supplemental explanation so I might as well go over a bit here before Nube gets to more: originally one of the many youkai of Toriyama Sekien’s many works, “Mekurabe” is a skull-like youkai whose name literally translates into “Staring Contest”. In fact, when he approaches the boy here, Mekurabe literally asks “Mekurabe shou ka?” or “Shall we have a staring contest?” However, since there is an actual “staring contest” term and it isn’t literally a staring contest, I changed his inquiry into “shall I bring challenge to your eyes”, which is close to “staring contest” but brings open the concept of other possible game challenges)
Boy: Mekurabe?

92.
Mekurabe: Red, blue, yellow, green and purple skulls will fall. If you can connect more than four up and down, left and right, they’ll disappear.
Boy: Eeh? Th…that’s…
Mekurabe: The skulls move in the direction you think. We—ll, hurry: we’ve already started.
SFX: Hyu | Pushu | Hyu
Boy: Right, left, right, left!
Boy: Uwaa, left, left, there…
SFX: Don don don
Boy: Aaah…

93.
Boy: Uaaaa

94.
Boy: Aaah.
SFX: Gata
Boy 2: He…hey, what’s wrong?
Boy: (Weird symbols)…
SFX: Suu…
Boy 2: Eh?
Boy 2: He…hey, Imada!? What’s wrong, hold on!
SFX: Gaku
Sign: Doumori Middle School
Voice: This is…a psychic phenomenon?
Nube: It’s Mekurabe.
Middle Principal: Mekurabe?

95.
Nube: Mekurabe is a youkai that appears within dreams. It challenges to a game within dreams and if you lose, the inside of your head becomes filled with skulls and that person comes to not be able to think, becoming similar to dead…In ancient times, it appeared in the dreams of Taira no Kiyomori at the closing years of Heian and said to challenge in a stare-down game…The contents of the game change by the era but…it generally is a foolish being that challenges in quick wits.
(TN: A couple things:
1. Taira no Kiyomori was a general of the late Heian notable for taking control of the Taira clan and establishing the first samurai-dominated administration in Japan but ultimately brought down by many of his allies before dying of a fever. He is seen as the main character in the Tale of Heike and even is seen more sympathetically in Osamu Tezuka’s “Phoenix”.
2. The “stare-down game” mentioned by Nube here is a true staring contest, referred to in Japanese as “niramekko”. It’s because of this term that I ended up changing the “Mekurabe” in the actual translation of the youkai’s challenge)
Middle Principal: Can this boy be saved?
Nube: Yes, if we defeat the real thing.
Nube: But it isn’t in his head anymore. It seems to have moved to another person.
Middle Principal: Eh?
Nube: It uses quick-wit even when it moves.
Nube: It moves to the head of a person who hears a spell.

96.
Boy 2: Damn it…when I took a nap, a strange monster appeared in my dream. I played his game, somehow won and was saved but…I’m certain Imada lost in the game. It’s because I heard that spell…that was the base for my position.
Boy 2: --For doing that, if I tell to some person that spell… (out loud) Hey, um well.
Boy 3: Eh?
Katsuya: A youkai called Mekurabe has appeared. It’s come to have been spread from the middle school.
Miki: That’s strange: it appears in dreams when you hear a spell. The spell is taught to only just one person and if it’s said by an adult, they’ll cursed to be killed.

97.
Hiroshi: But then—if he hears this sort of tale, “He” truly will--…
Miki: That’s right—he’s the biggest coward in the school…
Makoto: Who is it…?
(TN: This bit is a really weird set-up leading to a silly gag that only works in Japanaese. When Hiroshi speaks regarding “hearing this sort of tale”, he makes particular emphasis of the word “makoto”. The “Makoto” here obviously could refer to the student in Nube’s class, but it actually has another meaning that Hiroshi is using for the pun: on its own “makoto” has a meaning of “truth”, “sincerely” or “reliably”. But of course, Hiroshi is saying this about how “he’ll truly be…” but the “Makoto” is also somewhat speaking in regards to the student Makoto himself, therefore leading to the silly revelation of Makoto in the next panel. I couldn’t quite make it work in English, with the best I could do being the “he will truly” emphasized in Hiroshi’s comment to infer Makoto without playing with the Japanese)
Makoto: I’m scared—it’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming—(Wa—wa—noda—noda—da---)
(TN: Yeah, as I mentioned before, Makoto now actually says the same “-no da” as the Makoto of the “Makoto-kun” manga, but this is the only time I really had an incentive to write it with Makoto’s freakout here)
Kyouo: It’ll be fine. You’ll be fine—as long as you don’t hear the spell.
Makoto: Even if you say that I’m scared and I can’t stop shaking.
SFX: Puru puru Gata gata
SFX: Kata kata kata kata kata kata kata kata
Shizuka: Ew—

98.
Kyouko: Really…can he fix his cowardice whenever it comes to this?
Nube: Um…yes…
Makoto: I’m on goldfish duty.
Noriko: Watch~~out, you’ll spill it.
Nube: Has the spell come to here already……if I don’t search for its real form quickly
Principal: Ah—is Kurita Makoto-kun here?
Nube: Yes.
Kyouko: What it is?
Principal: Actually
Kyouko: Eeh—
SFX: Buru buru gata gata gachi gachi
Middle Schooler: He—y, shrimp over there!

99.
Middle Schooler: (Strange noises)!!
Makoto: Eh, eh?
SFX: Suu
Makoto: !?
Middle Schooler Uhyahya, with that, I’ve been saved. See you.
Makoto: Ju…just a moment!
Makoto: What was those strange words now? It can’t be.
Makoto: U…uh. Uuh~~

100.
Mekurabe: Let’s bring challenge to your eyes.
SFX: Do~~~n…
Makoto: It’s appeared--~~~
Mekurabe: Game start!
Makoto: Wa—
SFX: Hya hyu
Makoto: Right! Right! Left! Turn! Left! Left!
Makoto: Chi…
SFX: Shu

101.
SFX: Gaba!
Makoto: Haa haa haa
Caption: The next day…
Makoto: Wa~~
Makoto: I…I want someone to hear the spell. Help me—
SFX: Gara
Kyouko: Ah, good morning Makoto.
Makoto: I…I can’t do it if I can’t speak to just one person…but…I’ll bother the person I tell it to…
Makoto: But if I don’t say it, I’ll get killed. I have no choice.

102.
Makoto: Ah—Hiroshi-kun, I have to talk…
Hiroshi: Oh, I have morning practice.
Makoto: Kaneda-kun, I have to talk about next week’s Gameranger.
(TN: Obviously Makoto has moved forwards to the next Super Sentai series, but unfortunately we really don’t have any connection regarding what the theme of the season is. “Gameranger” is obviously a parody of the 1997 Super Sentai series “Denji Sentai Megaranger” (Electromagnetic Sentai Megaranger). The problem is what does the “Game” means considering there isn’t anything to set up its name. There are several Japanese words it could be refer to, including “Gamen” (Screen, Photo) or “Gametsui” (Greedy, Calculating), but with nothing we can follow, all we really have is a name this time)
Kaneda: Let’s play badminton.
Makoto: Hey—a moment, Genius-kun, Rich Boy-ku—n.
Makoto: Please listen to what I say. I’ve kept it wrapped up for just a number of years.
Caption: 8 Heads Tall
(TN: As I explained prior, 8 heads tall, or 8 “toushin” is an ideal body size, which we’ve seen Makoto in before…sort of, it was in Kyouko’s “future dream”)
Makoto: …………

103.
Makoto: Th…that’s right. Everyone knows that I heard the spell. Since they don’t want to listen due to that, they’re ignoring me.
Makoto: They’re cruel! I don’t have friends or anything anymore. I’ve been suffering like this and yet!
Makoto: What can I do? It will appear again tonight. I’m scared.
Makoto: I can’t tell an adult. I can’t even speak of this to teacher. Should I tell a kid in another class?
SFX: Haa~~~
SFX: Kara…

104.
Students: Makoto, congratulations--!
SFX: Wa~~~~
Sign:
Congratulations, Makoto-kun
Silver Medal in the All-Nation Calligraphy Tournament
Makoto: Th…that’s……
Hiroshi: Yep: yesterday, the Principal brought in the honors certificate—
Kyouko: Everyone prepared this in secret.
Makoto: Is…is that so? Everyone was going to surprise me…and yet I spoke ill that everyone wasn’t my friend…
Makoto: I was going to make a sacrifice of a friend since I wanted to save myself…I’m miserable…

105.
SFX: Da!
Hiroshi: Makoto!?
Nube: Hey, Makoto isn’t here?
Kyouko: Ah, Nube.
Hiroshi: He had gone rushing out now but
Nube: I did hear it from this 6th grader earlier now but he said that the Mekurabe spell was heard by Makoto.
6th Grader: Mekurabe is attached to him…
Kyouko & Hiroshi: Eeh!?
Nube: Makoto.
Makoto: Everyone…I’m sorry…that’s how it seems. This Mekurabe will be stopped by me…
SFX: Pua—n | Gatatan gatatan…
Makoto: I’ll fight it.
SFX: Gon!

106.
Makoto: Hey, Mekurabe! Have a match with me!
Makoto: I’ll clear two consecutive skull-clear games! If I do, promice that you won’t do bad ever again!
Mekurabe: Hoo.
Mekurabe: Amusing: I really love those sorts of games. Fine then: if you win two straight, then I’ll disappear. Let’s go.

107.
Makoto: Right! Right! Left! Turn! Right!
SFX: Pikyun | Hyun
SFX: Bashu
Makoto: Alright, I’ve cleared the first!
Makoto: Start the 2nd! Left, right, left left.
Makoto: Left! Left! Left! Left, right, left, four connected!
SFX: Pikin bashu puyon
SFX: Dooon
Makoto: I’ve done it—

108.
Makoto: Well! Disappear as you’ve promised!
Mekurabe: Unununu, you’re brazen~
Mekurabe: Idiot! Do you know of the promise!! The one who will disappear is you!
SFX: Kuwa
Makoto: Th…that’s unfair!
Mekurabe: You’re noisy; die—
SFX: Dododododo
Makoto: Uwaa~~~
Nube: Makoto! Makoto!
Nube: No…his consciousness is disappearing! Were we late in finding him…
Hiroshi: Makoto!

109.
Nube: Makoto! Can you hear me!? I’m sorry, but I can’t go to save him within the dream.
Kyouko: That’s~~
Nube: But just the Oni no Te can enter within his thoughts as a body of energy.
Nube: Namu Daiji Daihi Kyuugu Kyuunan! Oni no Te! Lend a hand to Makoto!
SFX: Bari bari bari bari bari
Makoto: …It’s too…late…
Makoto: …? What? Power is swelling up…
Makoto: The…Oni no Te……

110.
(TN: I just have to say it: Makoto with the Oni no Te in the first panel…is epic)
Makoto: Let’s go, Youkai!
Mekurabe: Wh…what?
Makoto: Return to nothing---!
SFX: Zubaa

111.
Makoto: Uu~~h.
Kyouko: Makoto!
Kyouko: Really, in spite of being the biggest coward
Hiroshi: For some reason you weren’t talking to us.
Makoto: I didn’t want to be saved to the point of sacrificing my friends.
Nube: Hmm, that’s right: they were feelings of friendship.
SFX: Nyoro
Makoto: Gyaaa~~I’m scared~~bite over there~~~
Hiroshi: Where are those thoughts of friendship!

112.
Nube-sensei’s
(Useless) SUPPLEMENTAL EXPLANATION

#29: Byakue-Kannon Sutra (Part 2)

I introduced the full text of the Byakue-shin Ju on pg. 90.

If you remove the portion of the phonetic-equivalent characters in Sanskrit (Ancient-Indian language) in the section, then I think you’ll understand the general meaning.

Sutras and incantations of Buddhism as such are those which things which were written in originally Sanskrit were translated into the kanji in China. When these were imported to Japan, since they’re wasn’t work in translating it into Japanese, the current sutras of Japan have come to have a strange form which these things that were written in Chinese was transliterated into Japanese with the Japanese kanji reading. Therefore, you will have no inkling of the meaning of what is being said by just hearing it with the ears.

With the point of view speaking of “kotodama”, where souls are lodged in words themselves, I think that if the sutra isn’t read entirely in Sanskrit, it won’t be effective. However for average people, the gratitude of the sutra is great with it from the good voice of a Buddhist priest and there aren’t many people, it seems, who think about the contents. The famed star Jack Nicolson is said to deeply move people by just reading a restaurant menu; but if it’s from a highly respected Buddhist priest, it may disperse evil spirit even by just reciting a manga. (of course that was a joke)

Well then, whatever this is about, but the rest will introduce the spell for the anime version. The anime came to have a work that was entirely by the staff that didn’t use an actual sutra, but in truth they finished with a nice thing that echos in smartness. Further, the anime didn’t even one bring out the name of “Byakue-Kannon” (they should have.) You can confirm it with the video.

Uchuu Tenchi Yoga Rikiryou
Koubuku Gunma Gourai Shoukou
Gojin Sashu Shohou Hyakuki
Songa Gourei Shizai Hikou

(TN: The only real note to bring up with the conclusion of the talk of “Byakue-Kannon” is the particular word used here of “yomikudasu”, which is a term in regards to the translation of classic Chinese into Japanese. This was mentioned during the transliteration section of the talk but I couldn’t really just mention “Chinese” twice considering it was already essentially mentioned prior earlier in the explanation)

TN: Can an entire chapter be redeemed by one or two pages of content? I ask that because...well, let me admit this: the scene where Makoto weilds the Oni no Te and kills Mekurabe for all of it's deceptive ways...was awesome. It is peculiar to see how many ways Nube has used the Oni no Te and letting Makoto dream he had the power to crush youkai was just a great moment. But...to get to that moment...we had to put up with a lot of crap. Probably the biggest problem of all is simple: the whole "assumption" by everyone that Makoto chose to not tell anyone the Mekurabe spell just so he could face it on his own. Sure...ultimately after being confronted with another calligraphy award he ended up doing that...but what about before that moment? Makoto spent two pages trying his hardest to remove the curse from himself and just gets ignored by nearly every student in the class. And let's make it stupider: they all claim afterwards it was all tied to that surprise party! Are you really sure that everything was connected to that calligraphy award, especially since Hiroshi and Kyouko only found out about the award that previous afternoon...and the trouble it would have been to tell everyone before Makoto even shows up at school? Heck, wouldn't they just hold off on anyone finding out until, you know, Makoto shows up at school the next day? It just feels like they did it behind his back...and because of this stupid idea to surprise him like that, Makoto didn't get the chance to transfer the Mekurabe spell...and if he transfers the Mekurabe spell, he'd be just like the creep 6th grader who gave it to him...and have the scruff of his neck carried by Nube! And then who would have been a hero? I know...it really isn't something to make that big a deal about, but this whole thing about treating Makoto as some sort of hero for standing up to Mekurabe when he nearly made it worse...it just felt out of line)