Hitogatana 4

[This chapter has already been scanlated by Maigo. This is just the original translation.]

Hitogatana
Chapter 4


p.01
Io: They’re so… persistent…

Io: ……
Io: It may be inevitable that they will find [ i]that[ i] here.

Io: That’s, fine…
Io: I –
I just have to erase them, is all…


p.02
Sis: A collector, huh.
Inu: Yes. He gloats in collecting Katana and lining them up.

Sis: He really ran this way?

Inu: There’s no mistake.

Sis: ——And,
You’re saying this is where he disappeared.
Togs: …Isn’t he completely trying to lure us in?
Inu: That’s exactly why I was too scared to go alone and called you guys.


p.03
Sis: I guess we gotta go.
Togs: This feels like confronting a haunted house…

Chapter 4: (Howdy,World)


p.04
Sis: ——So,
Who the heck are you?
Inu: Oh, that’s mean!

Inu: We met at that meeting earlier, right?

Inu: I’m Inuzuka, from the fourth squad.

Sis: Ooh, right,
That can’t-read-the-mood guy.
Inu: Seriously?
Inu: Wait, wait, bad first impressions are beneficial in the long run.

Togs: ——Now then,


p.05
Togs: Should we get going?
Togs: You can’t catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den… they say.

Inu: You say some neat things. You know, my katana’s inscription –
Is “Gokotai.” [Literally “five tiger retreat,” from fabled katana Gokotai Yoshimitsu. In case you haven’t caught on, all of them are named after famous katana.]

Tsuki: ——Yachiyo,
Togusa,
Tsuki: About the enemy’s katana,

Tsuki: It’s a shoddy image, but you can tell from the silhouette –

Tsuki: This is “Iwatooshi.”*
*[Iwato’oshi (or Iwatohshi bleh)]


p.06
Its whereabouts have been unknown ever since its theft two years ago…
And it seems to have been stolen by a depraved collector.
——Hey, are you listening?

Sis: Yeah, yeah, we don’t have time for that now …
You know.


p.07
Sis: What an impressive basement you’ve got here.
Sis: Is the normally the collection room?

Sis: But luring us to a place like this –
Sis: How is it, really?


p.08
SFX: scrape
Sis: ——God,
All these little attacks…
It’s annoying!


p.09
Io: !!


p.10
Togs: ——He’s quick for how big he is…
Sis: He’s on familiar ground, too.

Sis: This basement’s structure* is confusing as well.
*[layout]

Sis: ——But still,

Sis: What a tasteless collection room.

Inu: I’m sorry, I got lost~!!
Sis: What a perfect timed enterance.


p.11
Inu: Well~ I’m surprised he was able to collect so many Katana.
Sis: Aren’t most of these stolen?

Inu: Togusa, how about you? Doesn’t this scenery make you feel any…
Togs: Not at all.

Sis: ~~~~

Togs: Just because I’m half Katana doesn’t mean I’ll be moved by the “decorations” displayed here.
Togs: Even if they were used for crimes, at most “they unfortunately didn’t have a good owner.”

Inu: Is that really it…
Inu: Ow!

Inu: What was that for?
Sis: Shut it!

Inu: ~~~At any rate,
I’ve figured out a lot regarding the enemy.


p.12
Unu: Inscribed “Iwatooshi”… It’s a large android that makes use of the 99 small blades held within its body as weapons.
Inu: The operator may not be a kenshi, but judging from its movements he is very familiar with the machine.
Besides the dagger, we could expect “that.”

Togs: !
His last resort* (Final Armament)?
*[Like “trump card.” “Final armament” is written in kanji. Try not to change it to final weapon just because it sounds cooler >.> at most change final to ultimate.]

Inu: Yes.
Inu: Well, Tsurumaru’s traits* match up well** with Iwatooshi’s final armament.
*[abilities]
**[Lit: are compatible]

Inu: So for now, it would be opportune if we could corner him until he uses it.
Sis: ——You’re pretty knowledgeable on Katana, aren’t you…


p.13
Inu: In the fourth squad,
Inu: Under our squad leader’s orders, we all have apprentice swordsmith qualifications.

Togs/Sis: I see~
Inu mutter: Tee hee!

Togs/Sis: …Wait, this bastard must’ve been hiding and observing us just now.

Inu: I’ll leave dealing with the final armament to you.
Sis: ——So you’re saying
We can leave the “cornering” to you?

Inu: ——Yup.
Inu: That’s one of my Gokotai’s specialties.


p.14
Box: Wh –
What should I do?

Box: Sh –
Should I eliminate them here?

Box: No,
R – rather than that…

Box: Maybe I should
Box: Just run away with this…


p.15
Io: …That,
Would be good.

Box: If things escalate here,

Box: Those guys may take notice of this place…

Box: O –
Okay.
SFX: scurrying


p.16
SFX: flip

Io: !!

Inu: ——My familiars
Attack stingingly and annoyingly.

Inu: It’ll gradually wear the enemy out…
And limit the actions he will finally take.


p.17
Io: *huff
Io: *huff

Inu: He will come

Inu: To crush the main body.*
*[host, maybe]

Sis: ——And then we take care of him after he’s provoked…
Sis: How convenient for you——


p.18
Togs: !

Io: Y –
You bastaaa
Sis: On the money!

Io: Aaaards [try to imitate the increasing font size please :3]


p.19
Sis: Come at me——
Sis: I’ll make sure to hug you with all I’ve got.

Io: D……

Io: Die!!


p.20
Sis: Yaa!!

Io: !!


p.21
Sis: ——I,

Sis: I see,
Io: ……!!
Sis: It really does seem to match up well…
Togusa!

SFX: Shink


p.22
Sis: ——Oh my.
Inu mutter: \Teamwork wins the day/
[Alt: \Score one for teamwork/]
Togs: We blew him away too far…

Geezer: !

Geezer: ——Hmm,
Can’t do anything about what’s already happened.

Inu: Do you think this is an escape route?
Sis: Looks like it. How thoroughly prepared.


p.23
Sis: Well, with that much damage, he should be incapacitated.

Togs: ——What? Is that……


p.24
Togs: A girl…?


p.25
Io: ——Ha
Box: Th –
This is the worst.
Box: T – to think that in the end I would relinquish* “that.”
*[lose]
Box: B –
But,

Box: First I must escape from…

Io: !!


p.26
Geezer: ——Hey.

Geezer: It’s been a while,
Tomomitsu-kun.

Geezer: What have you done
Geezer: With my daughter?


p.27
Inu: No,

Inu: It’s very well made, but –
This is a Katana…


p.28
Sis: …H –
Sis: Hold on a sec…

Geezer: The fact that a researcher such as yourself had stolen my daughter,
Geezer: And how that the AKCD has likely found that out… Nothing can be done about these things.


p.29
Geezer: However,
Geezer: You shall pay for this.

Geezer: “Aoe,”
[pronounced ah-oh-eh]

Geezer: ——Kill him.


p.30
Box: About an hour later,
Box: “Iwatooshi” was discovered in a wrecked condition.
The AKCD determined this was perpetrated with an inscribed Katana, and by a kenshi.

Box: Meanwhile——

-Hitogatana- 1 END


p.31
(STAFF)
Onigunsou
Kuro usa Ou
Yuu Kato
Fuumin
(HELP)
Rui Tamachi

-Hitogatana- (1)

(SPECIAL THANKS)
Taishi Tsutsui
Keiji Mizoguchi

Sis mutter: Eeee, tomato!!
Congratulations on the release of -Hitoganata- volume 1!
Taishi Tsutsui


p.32-33
Girl: About the outside world———

“——I want to stay here. That’s probably what I’m feeling.”
What her father bestowed upon her was only pain and sorrow.
What she could see with her own eyes, was only the darkness.
The girl whose very existence was forbidden: “Amano hahagiri.”*
*[Traditionally read Amenohabagiri]
Togusa, who saw his own past in her situation,*
*[plight]
Wishes for Hahagiri’s freedom, but…

-Hitogatana-
Tankoubon volume 2 slated for release around February 2010