Hitogatana 13

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

Hitogatana
Chapter 13
Languid


p.01

Gogyou: No biggie.
Gogyou: You’ll see right away when we fight.

Gogyou: Try to remember. You guys are Artisan too—
Gogyou: You’ll know that your true nature cannot be hidden when we face each other.

Chapter 13: Languid


p.02-03
Chapter 13
Languid


p.04

Shikoku: A declaration?

Hakobera: —That’s right.
Hakobera: ‘Cause there’s no meaning in beating someone who has his guard down.

Suzushiro: We’re only declaring war this time.

Minamoto: ......!


p.05
Tabirako: We will specify the place and time.
Let’s fight to our heart’s content there.

Kaori: ...What a pain...
Kanou: Aye.
Finishing this here
Kanou: Is easier.


p.06
Todoroki: —And so
Even though we were all told to be so cautious,
Todoroki: You guys were completely beaten by the Tenka Goken.

Shikoku/Minamoto: ...Our apologies.
Kaori: .........

Todoroki: ...Well, if you’ve reflected on your actions, I don’t have anything to add.
Todoroki: Just apologize again to Sakura-kun, who will be reprimanded.
That aside...

Todoroki: Kaori-kun.


p.07
Todoroki: I heard that the damage to Gonta-san’s Katana was severe.
How is he?

Kaori: There is no problem with Kenshi Kanou Gonta.
Kaori: They said inscribed Katana Midare Mitsukane’s* repairs probably won’t make it for “the designated day.”
*[A short sword/dagger passed down in the Tokugawa Shogunate, known for its disordered blade. Mitsukane was a sword maker in the Kamakura period.]

Todoroki: ...I see.

Todoroki: Submit a report regarding the battle with the Tenka Goken for now.
Todoroki: We’ve requested Takemoto-san of the investigation department to investigate.


p.08
Todoroki: They came into contact with you using the ATM robbery as a decoy,

Todoroki: But those robbers are saying they worked for an advanced payment and the three Katana they used.
Todoroki: It was an expensive ruse.

Todoroki: We’ll have Takemoto-san find the source of that money.
Todoroki: There must be a patron for the Tenka Goken or something.

Todoroki: I’ve asked Tsutomu-kun of the Seventh Squad to guard Takemoto-san.
Todoroki: And according to the call we got earlier from Seri-kun and Shinobu-kun,


p.09
Shikoku: ...The operators
Are the Artisan...?

Minamoto: ...I see.

Kaori: .........

Todoroki: For this case, there’s a need to investigate how the remnants of Artisan gained a patron
Todoroki: And became the operators of the Goken.
—Other than that,

Todoroki: Tell me in detail about those silly love letters... or rather
Todoroki: Letters of challenge you guys were given.


p.10
SFX: fshhh

Gogyou: Yo, good work.

Suzushiro: Gogyou, you’re the only one who didn’t do anything, not fair~
Gogyou: Hey, hey, I went too.

Gogyou: Right, Suzuna?
Suzuna: ...Really?

Gogyou: That’s mean...
Gogyou: !


p.11
Gogyou: Good work
Gogyou: Tabirako.

Tabirako: Yep... But would they really accept something like that?

Gogyou: Something like that?
Tabirako: The conditions we gave.

Gogyou: Ask our sponsors who planned it.
Sponsor: They’ll accept.
What do you think I had you work for until now?


p.12
Sponsor: They must have understood from this surprise attack.
You guys can move without your enemy knowing,
Sponsor: And can escape individually even while facing the enemy.

Sponsor: You’re such elusive stalwarts, you know?

Sponsor: For the AKCD, it’s more convenient to accept our duels in order to catch you.
Suzushiro mutter: That’s right
Suzuna: ...What a whimsical man.


p.13
Sponsor: Whimsical is completely fine with me.
Sponsor: I just want to see the ultimate show.

Sponsor: ...By the way,
Where’s Hakobera?

Suzushiro: Must have gone out again.
Suzuna: How incorrigible...
Gogyou: ...Tabirako.
Tabirako: Yep?

Gogyou: I can’t handle it if Hakobera goes on a rampage.
Please.

Tabirako: Sure.


p.14
Sis: —Now,
Where shall I begin?

Sis: I guess first, you see, our enemies this time, the operators of the Tenka Goken,
Called Artisan,
Sis: Are my colleagues.

Sis: They’re enhanced humans who were specialized to pilot Katana
Pretty much.

Sis: I might have talked with Togusa about it a little before.


p.15
I have heard of it before.

I remember
About that time well.

Girl: Um... Onee-san,
Girl: Are those people called Artisan different from normal skilled Kenshi?

Sis: ...They’re different.

Sis: Raising harmonization rate with Katana.
Sis: Implanting combat skills and motivation early on.


p.16
Sis: With those goals, they bought nameless children
Sis: And thoroughly carried out a medication and training curriculum... They were created.

Sis: There were many victims.
I was
Gramps: There were seven

Gramps: Successful subjects.
Of those, including Yachiyo, there were two
Who were able to suppress their destructive impulses and were permitted to go out into the world like this.


p.17
Girl: ...Then,
The ones they are calling Artisan in this incident—

Gramps: They’d be the remaining five.
Gramps: The numbers match as well.

Gramps: The Artisan research was carried out in secret by a group of people.
Gramps: It was brought to light later by swordsmith Hiyama Kimiko and those involved were disposed of...

Gramps: It’s true that I feel bad for the Artisan children who became test subjects,
Gramps: But


p.18
Gramps: If they indulge themselves with power and stand in our way now,
Gramps: We’ll have to punish them by smashing that weakness in their hearts head on.

Gramps: Togusa,
I won’t forgive holding back, even if they are Yachiyo’s colleagues.

Togs: Yeah right.
Togs: If they’re Ane-san’s colleagues,
I’ll be the one killed if I pull punches.


p.19
Gramps: Well, that’s true.
Girl mutter: Are we supposed to laugh here?

Gramps: You too.
Gramps: Scold them a bit harshly as a senpai* in society.
*[Senior, someone who has been doing something longer and therefore should have more experience and seniority blah blah blah]

Sis: Well
Sis: I’ll let you handle what Eighth Squad will do on this matter, Tsuki-chan.

Gramps: Hey
Sis: I’ll go write up a report for a bit.


p.20
Togs: Like I thought... Defeating acquaintances from long ago is too...
Gramps: No, that’s not the case.

Gramps: It’s just that there’s Artisan blood flowing in Yachiyo too, after all.

Gramps: There’s the possibility of returning to her former self
Gramps: By fighting one of the others again... that’s probably what’s getting to her.

Girl: .........


p.21

Mook: Ow!

Mook: !!

Scientist: It’s over, it’s over Seri!
Scientist: Medical team, hurry!


p.22
Scientist: Isn’t the new drug too dangerous?
Scientist: Still, we can’t afford to quit from something like this.
Gogyou: Seri.

Gogyou: It seems you beat five people in a row with that one.
Gogyou: Tied with me.

Sis: ...Ha.


p.23
Sis: I’m different from back then.

Sis: The “me” that I’ve built up over these past several years
Sis: Is not an imposter ...... But,

Sis: I can’t be sure “absolutely.”
Sis: I wonder... if we can sortie.
Both Shinobu and I—


p.24

What a crybaby
—Die.
Pitiful.

—Nazuna.

So even now you’re still being protected by others and hiding behind people’s backs like that?
You haven’t changed at all.

Shinobu: —Suzuna...


p.25

Shinobu: ......Grandma.

Granny: I heard about it.
Granny: It seems Artisan is the enemy.

Granny: If it’s hard for you to fight,

Granny: You don’t have to push yourself, all right?

Shinobu: I... can’t do that,
Shinobu: ‘Cause I’m the AKCD Second Squad leader.


p.26
Shinobu: Besides, this past
Must be something I have to overcome.
Shinobu: That’s what I was thinking.

Shinobu: It’s just that I’m still a little short on courage...

......An emotional scar, huh.

I heard that for Shinobu, when she was in Artisan,
She was just condemned by those around her every day.

With her skill now... but—
Granny: —I got it.


p.27
Granny: Then as your granny,
Granny: I’ll put Kogarasu Maru in the best condition.

Shinobu: Uh huh.
Shinobu: I’ll leave it to you, grandma.

For this cute granddaughter
To have the strength to shake off her past and bring out her full potential... she’s still too young.

Should I... let her be deployed?


p.28

Tabirako: —Mm.

Man: Shut it.
Give it up already, you bitch.
I’ll kill you!!

Tabirako: ......Again, eh.

Man: —You little
You’re the one who came along and followed...


p.29
Tabirako: Hey, Hakobera.

Man: —Huuh!?

Tabirako: In a place like this, well, you know,
Tabirako: Your method of stress release by luring people out and inflicting violence on them
Is bad taste.


p.30
Man: —Wha?

Man: Who the hell...

Man: M...my arm
Man: My arm!
Hakobera: Bring it on, Tabirako.


p.31
Hakobera: I’m ticked off over here
Hakobera: That it seems they were such a measly main dish.

Hakobera: Let me vent by beating you to a pulp.

Tabirako: Well, I do think that way’s still better. However,
Tabirako: We’ll know whether the main dish was rotten or not in three days.


p.32
At 3 p.m. in three days

Todoroki: So even the time is determined.
Todoroki: ...It’s tough that we have to go with it.
Also, Kaori-kun.

SFX: tsuuun
Todoroki: Fix your mood.

Tenka Goken will wait in their respective places.

Todoroki: There’s a chance for you to vent that frustration
So come on.
Shikoku: Yamashiro’s pretty competitive.
Minamoto: It’s not just her.

Minamoto: Me too.
Shikoku: As am I.


p.33
Suzushiro: Ahh
Those two are definitely fighting again.
Gogyou: It’s proof that they’re close.
Sponsor: Aren’t you guys moving around too freely?

Furthermore, our brethren will be hidden in the city.

Do your best not to take thoughtless actions—

Girl: ...Togusa?

Togs: .........


p.34
We only desire one thing:

A duel with the AKCD.

SFX: knock knock

Togs: ...Ane-san?


p.35
-Hitogatana-


p.36
Tsukiyama Juuzou – belongs to the Anti Katana Crime Division Eighth Squad
(Personality)
Although normally there is a kenshi in the AKCD Squad Leader post, he had been present since the early days of the AKCD in order to manage the half human half Katana Togusa and the Artisan Yachiyo, members with histories behind them, and Tsukiyama, a swordsmith with deep insight into Katana, is appointed as the squad leader of the Eighth Squad. He holds quite a bit of charisma within the Swordsmith Association. His right eye is mechanized and is able to share the vision of a bee robot used for reconnaissance. He supports Togusa and Yachiyo’s battles with this ability, as well as his knowledge and technical expertise as a swordsmith.
Sword Maker / Gassan*
(Sord Creator / Gassan)
[Gassan uses the same kanji as Tsukiyama]
The Gassan that he was based off is a sword maker and his group that was active from the Kamakura era. The characteristics of swords with the Gassan inscription were the high practicality, and the beauty of their textures (the patterns that appear on the surface of katana) that were called “Ayasugi hada” (enough to also be called “Gassan hada”). Though they once discontinued in the Edo period, they migrated to Osaka during the Bakumatsu, and are a clan that currently still continues to engage in sword making practices based in Kansai.