Liar Game 121

=Page1=

負けられない－－－
I can't lose here...
負けたくない－－－
nor I want to lose here...
ここが、正念場－－－
because from now on is the critical point...

第１２１　傀儡
Chapter 121: dummy


騙し合いは、いよいよ終盤へ!!権謀渦巻く「イス取りゲーム」!!
The battle of the "Chairs Fetching Game" that is filled with scheme has finally reach the final stage !!



=Page2=

アキヤマァ！？
A... Akiyama!?

ヤンジャンは実は　ガヤ連合のダミーのリーダーで本当に仕切っているのはアキヤマですって－－－！？
The truth is Yanjan is just the dummy leader of the Shadow Alliance and the one that do the set up is Akiyama!?

フォルリのビックリ！！　アキヤマの策！！
Surprised Forly!! Akiyama's plan!!

ふふふ　その通り
fufufu... yes it is.

ガヤ連合をつくったのもコントロールしているのも実はアキヤマなんですよ
The one that set up and control the Shadow Alliance is none other than Akiyama.

一体どういう事なんですか！？
How can that be!?

ヨコヤとハリモト（作務衣）が共闘関係を結んだ時アキヤマグループは本当に追い込まれていました
By the time Yokoya and Samue make the pact to join force, Akiyama's group is trully cornered.

しかしそれがあくまでも「部分的」共闘であることにアキヤマは気づきます そして　それにつけ込み「親決め投票棄権」という奇策にでてハリモト（作務衣）　ヨコヤを仲間割れさせることに成功しました
But Akiyama realized that no matter what, their relation is being only "partial". And calculating that fact, he used the scheme of "abstaining from the voting process", thus he successed in breaking the relation between Yokoya and Samue.

あの時
And that time...

アキヤマはすでに「ガヤ連合」作りに動いていたのです
Akiyama has started his process to build the "Shadow Alliance"



=Page3=

え！？　そんな早い段階で！？
Eh!? That fast!?

ふふふ
fufufu...

第７ピリオドになるとヤンジャンがガヤに転落します 彼は１人で２個のイスを持っていて賞金１人占めの可能性もあった …だから　その落胆は大きかった
By the 7th period, Yanjan became one of the Shadow. Being formerly a player with 2 chairs, he were capable to take all the prize by himself. That's why having that situation he became heavily despondent.

くっそ…
Damn it!!

天国から地獄とはこのことだっ…
So this is what it feels being dragged straight to the hell from the heaven...

まだ地獄に落ちたわけじゃないぜ
You haven't been in hell yet

アキヤマ…！？
Akiyama...!?

助かる道はある
There's still a way to save you...

俺の言うとおりやれば…な
but only if you do what I say.

アキヤマは自分のグループの４人のプレイヤーのメダルを２枚ずつヤンジャンに渡し協力を約約させます
Akiyama then gave Yanjan 2 pieces of each his group members' medal to have him helping the group.

そして「ガヤ連合」の構想を彼に話し始めたのです
Then Akiyama unfold his plan to make the "Shadow Alliance".



=Page4=

４人全員のメダルを２枚ずつヤンジャンに渡したんですか？
Why did he give Yanjan 2 medals from each of the member?

ええ
Well...

そうすればアキヤマグループ誰が最終勝者になってもヤンジャンは儲かるじゃないですか
it is to ensure that Yanjan will be able to earn the prize no matter who win from Akiyama's side.

結果　ヤンジャンは必ずアキヤマグループの勝利のために行動する …つまり完全にアキヤマの手下になったということです
And as a result, Yanjan will surely do everything he can to make Akiyama's group win. To put it simple, Yanjan has completely become Akiyama's servant.

同時にアキヤマは釘を刺す意味でヤンジャンに　こう言っています
At the same time, to make sure that Yanjan won't betray them, Akiyama said,

ハリモト（作務衣）グループやヨコヤグループのこのあとの作戦は見え見えだ
I can foresee what strategy will Samue's group and Yokoya's group use from now on.

メダルを使ってガヤを買収する …親決め投票で自分達が勝っために…な
They will surely bribe the Shadows using their medals to ensure their win at the voting process.

しかし　それはあくまで「捨てメダル」… 最終的に誰を勝たせるかはそれぞれのグループに決めてあってそのメダルは絶対に放出しない
But, those are nothing more than "abandoned medals"... Those group will not use the medals from the one chosen as last standing person in the team.

あ－－－っ！！きったね－－－　ヤツらの味方したって絶対に儲からないって事じゃね－－か！！
Ah!! What a cheappo!! Doesn't that mean that we will have no merit helping them?

そういう事だ
Yes, you are correct!

分かった
Alright!

絶対にアキヤマグループを勝たせるように動くよ
I promise that I will help your group to win this game.

…で？　具体的にどうすればいい？
But... what should I do?



=Page5=

「ガヤ連合」をつくる
Make the "Shadow Alliance".

形態は相互扶助的な組織ではなく
I want its shape not to be a mutually supporting,

お前がトップとなり残りのガヤを束ねる…というものだ
but rather to be the one with you as the top managing all other Shadows.

ええっ！？　俺がトップ！？
Eh? I am as the top?

できないよそんなの
I won't be able to do that...

できる！！
You can!!

ここにいる連中は大概は利害で動く
The people here are mainly will only be motivated by advantages and disadvantages.

ガヤ連合のメリットをお前が　ちゃんと説明しさえすれば簡単にヤツらはお前の下に結集する
As long as you can explain the merit of being in the Shadow Alliance, it won't be hard to gather those people under you.

ヤンジャンはすぐにガヤたち接触しアキヤマに言われた通り「ガヤ連合」のメリットを語った
After that, Yanjan immediately contacted the other Shadows and told them the merit being in the Shadow Alliance just as Akiyama told him to.

俺達が組んで親決め投票の票をコントロールするんだ
If we join forces, we will be able to control the voting result.

そうすれば作務衣グループもヨコヤグループもあちったけのメダルを吐き出す…って寸法さ
This way, it will force Samue's group and Yokoya's group to give their medals.

この時ヤンジャンは２つの嘘をついた
That time, Yanjan makes 2 lies.

=Page6=

１つは…
The first one is...

この作戦を続けていれば最後は連中は本命メダルを出してくる…　そうなればしめたもの
Using this strategy continously, the time those group give their true medals will surely come. That is our aim.

俺達は最終的にカネを手にする事ができるんだ
So finally we can gain our money.

そうかっ！！
I see!!

本当はヤンジャンは「ハリモト（作務衣）やヨコヤがそう簡単に本命のメダルなんか出すはずはない」…そう思っている
But the truth is, Yanjan believes that Samue nor Yokoya will hand over their true medals that easily.

だが　それを言ってはガヤは動かない
Yet he must speak that way to make those Shadows motivated.

「頑張ればガヤだって必ずカネを手にできる」その希望を示すからこそガヤは動くのだ
Because the Shadows can only motivated by pointing out the hope that "even Shadows can earn money as long as they work hard enough".

そしてもう１つの嘘が…
And the other is...

アキヤマグループはとっくに勢力争いに敗れた
Akiyama's group has lost in the contest of influence.

見ろ！親を取れる可能性はゼロだから親決め投票を棄権して　そのわずかな時間で１個でもイスを探そうというヤケクソの作戦をしているんだ
Look there! They are now being abstain from the voting because they know that they have no chance getting the dealer status and out of desperation, they prefer to use that little time to search another chair.

いってみりゃ　もう末期状態敗北は時間の問題だ
Just see, their defeat is just a matter of time.



=Page7=

ガヤの最大の弱点は戦況を全く把握できない事
The greatest weakness of being Shadows is that they can never understand the battle situation fully.

例えばアキヤマは親のコールの瞬間に誰のイスが外されたかすぐ分かるのに対し
Take Akiyama as an example, the time the chair number being announced by the dealer, he will know in an instance whose chair that is removed.

２５番
Chair number 25!

25番はうちのじゃない　…ってことは作務衣のイスが1個消えたって事だな
That number is not mine... it must be one of Samue's.

ガヤは全く分からない
But Shadows will never know whose is that.

だから今　誰が優勢なのか実はさっぱり分かっていないのだ
That's why they don't know at all who is currently at advantageous position.

なるほど…　アキヤマはそれを逆手に取ったのかっ！！
I see... so Akiyama use it to turn the situation!!

う－－－む確かに親決めに参加しないなんて追い込まれてヤケクソになったと考えてしまうな…
Hmm... you are right, that when a group doesn't participate in dealer voting it seems that they are desperately cornered.

…というわけで…
Anyway,

アキヤマ・ヤンジャンの思惑通りガヤは両グループからメダルを巻き上げ続けた
just as Akiyama and Yanjan's expectation, those Shadows gradually racked up their medals.

現在は両グループのほとんどの捨てメダルはガヤの手に渡った状態
And now both team's abandoned medals has almost depleted.

それって…
Isn't that means...

戦局は完全にアキヤマが掌握したって事じゃないですか－－－！！
that the current of the game has been controlled completely by Akiyama?

そうなりつつありましたね
Yes it is,

しかし…
but...


=Page8=

残念ながらヨコヤが見破ってしまった
Yokoya has seen through it.

もう少し粘れたら戦局を完全に掌握できたのですが
Too bad, eventhough it is only a bit more until they can completely control the current.

え－－－っ！？
Eh!?

ガヤ連合を仕切っているのがアキヤマだって－－－！？
It is Akiyama that set up the Shadow Alliance!?

ああ間違いないヤンジャンとアキヤマが密かに会って話している現場を目撃した
Yes it undoubted, I see it myself that Akiyama and Yanjan secretly meet and talk.

さすがアキヤマだよ
That is very clever of you, Akiyama,

ヤンジャンをダミーのトップにしてガヤ全員を騙している
using Yanjan as the dummy leader and deceive the whole Shadows.

敵ながらうまいやり方だよ
A very good move as an enemy,

ヤンジャン１人にメダルを払うだけでガヤ１０人を動かせるんだから
that by giving solely to Yanjan he can control all 10 Shadows.

さすがヨコヤガヤ連合のシステムまで完全に見破っている
As expected from Yokoya, he can see through completely the system of the Shadow Alliance.

アキヤマにとってはまずい展開だ
This development must be hurt for Akiyama.

そんな事ないでしょう こうなってしまっては戦局は完全にアキヤマのものじゃないですか！？
I dont think so. Even if this happen, isn't the current still in Akiyama's favor?


=Page9=

だってガヤ１０人は今やアキヤマのコントロール下にあるんでしょ
Afterall those 10 persons are still in Akiyama's control,

勝負のタイミングが来ればアキヤマは一気に親を取る事だってできるじゃないですか？
once the timing decisive battle come, won't Akiyama able to take the dealer status at once?

それは違いますよフォルリさん
It is a bit of mistake there, Forly-san.

ガヤ達は今でも最終勝者がヨコヤグループかハリモト（作務衣）グループだと信じているからヤンジャンの指示しに従うんです
Those Shadows still believe that the last winner will be someone from either Yokoya's group or Samue's group just as Yanjan told them earlier.

ヤンジャンが指図できることは２つのグループのどちらかに親投票させる事だけ
So Yanjan can only give them order to vote to one of those group.

アキヤマグループのメダルを持たないガヤにアキヤマ側に投票　という選択肢はないです
There is no way for the Shadows that haven't gained any medal from Akiyama's group to vote for them.

…つまりアキヤマができるのは両グループのメダルを吐き出させる所まで
To put it simply, Akiyama can only use them to the extent of depleting those two teams' medals...

親決め投票まで支配することはできないんですよ
and he can't use them to win the vote.

と言ってもまあ…
But even if I say so,...

アキヤマの事ですからちゃんとこの次の事は考えているでしょうし
afterall it is that Akiyama, I am sure he has thought of something to do next.

ヨコヤはここで動かなければ負ける公算は高いでしょうね
If Yokoya doesn't make any move here, he will be very likely to lose.


=Page10=


そうなったれもう一度手を組むしかないでしょう作務衣グループと
In this rate, we have no other choice but to once again join force with Samue's group.

マジかよ！！
Are you serious?

現在　場はプレイヤー１２人に対しイス１２個
Right now, there is 12 players and 12 chairs remaining.

ここから先はピリオド毎に確実にプレイヤーが１人ずつ死んでいくですよ
It means that from now on in every period someone will be eliminated.

確かに
That is true...

ハリモト（作務衣）とヨコヤがもう一度手を組めれば一気にアキヤマグループをつぶす事も可能でしょう…が
If Yokoya and Samue once again join force, they might completely destroy Akiyama's group now.

できますか？そんな事
But can it be done?

できる？
Can we do it?

作務衣ともう一度手を組むなんて…
I can't think that we will have to join force once again...

組まなければ我々も作務衣グループも破滅です
If we don't do it, both our team and Samue's team will be surely destroyed.

問題はアキヤマグループが戦局を握っているという現状を作務衣が理解してくれるかどうか…
The problem is how to make Samue grasp the situation that Akiyama's group is controlling the flow of this battle.


=Page11=

お断りする
I refuse!

もう一度共闘関係を結ぶ…と言ったて　先のようにそちらが３つの数字を渡しこちらが差し障りのない番号をコールする…って方法でしょ
To join force once again will mean that you will give us another 3 number set to be chosen, and making call to the number we don't take, right?

またそうやって　あなたはこちらのイスの番号を探る気なんでしょう？
I know that you want to dig out our chairs' number by doing the same trick earlier.

じゃ　私はこれで
Well then, excuse me.

ちょっと待って下さい
Wait for a moment.

アキヤマはガヤ連合をコントロール下に置いているんですよ！！　このままではあなた法も敗者となってしまう！！
Akiyama is currently controlling the Shadow Alliances!! In this rate your side will also lose!



=Page12=

そもそも　アキヤマがガヤ連合を仕切っていると言うのが疑わしい
In the first place, it is very doubtful if that Akiyama is the one that set up the Shadow Alliances.

手を組みたいならまずその証拠を示してからにしなさい
If you really want to join force with me, show me that evidence before hand.

あ－－－あ　　交渉決裂か…　まあ無理だよな　今さら　この両者が手を組むってのは
A...ah... the negotiation is fruitless. Well probably it is impossible now for those two teams to join forces.

これでますます戦局はアキヤマ優位になっちゃた
Now the dominance of this battle falls into Akiyama.

親決め投票まではコントロールできていないもののそれすらアキヤマが攻略したら　ヨコヤ　ハリモト（作務衣）の敗北は決定的じゃないか
If only Akiyama can seize the voting which he can't control now then Yokoya and Samue's loss is definite.

その親決め投票であるがこのピリオド終了後－－－
And at the end of this period, at the dealer voting session ...


=Page13=

劇的に動く
A dramatic move is made

第１４ピリオド終了－－－
The end of 14th period...

え－－－　第１４ピリオドも１２人のプレイヤー全員が無事着座しました
Hmm... in this 14th period, all of the 12 players have safely taken a seat.

マジかよ
Is this for real?



=Page14=

ここに来て　アキヤマグループが…
Akiyama's group come here?

親決め投票に参加ァ～～～！？
They participate in the voting!?

……なんだよ突然…？
...why do they so suddenly?

どいうつもりだ…？
What are they planning?

…ではこれより親決め投票を行います
...Then, we will hold the dealer voting process.

投票機の前に一列にお並び下さい
Ladies and gentlemen, please make a line infront the voting machine.

ああああああああ！？
Ahhhhhh!?


=Page15=

ガヤ共が…　投票もせず退場していくぞっ！！
Those shadows... they are leaving without even making a vote!!

今度はガヤ連合が投票ボイコットォォ！？
This can't be... now it's the Shadows that boycott the voting!?

待ってェ！！
Waittt!!

待ってくれェェ！！
Hold on!!


=Page16=

そうかっ！！
Ah I got it!

さすがアキヤマこの手があったかっ！！
As expected from you Akiyama, to have such a method!!

どういう事ですか？
What are you talking about?

これってアキヤマの仕業ですか？
Could this be Akiyama's doing?

もちろん
Of course!

さっきヨコヤがハリモト（作務衣）にガヤ連合の存在と　そして　それをアキヤマが仕切っている事を説明してたでしょ？
Do you remember that previously, Yokoya told Samue about the existence of the Shadow Alliance that is set up by Akiyama?

ハリモト（作務衣）は信じられないと言っていましたが警戒したのか　ガヤに一切メダルを渡さないようチームのメンバーの指示しています
Samue said that he didn't believe such a thing existed but as a precaution, he ordered his team member not to give any medal to the Shadows.

…って事は　このピリオドガヤ連合は全然メダルを手にできなかった…と
...So, in this period, those Shadows didn't earn any medal at all?

そう
Yes.

そしてその事はヤンジャンを通じてアキヤマの耳に入っています
And through Yanjan, that news reached Akiyama.


=Page17=

それを聞いたアキヤマはここが勝負所と判断したのです
Upon hearing the news, Akiyama concluded that from now on it is the time to make the conclusion to the decisive battle.

次の親決め投票はガヤ全員にボイコットさせるんだ
Order all the Shadows to boycott the next voting.

「そうすればしびれを切らした作務衣グループやヨコヤグループから本命メダル必ず出る」　…そう言えばガヤ連中は必ず同意する
"Doing so will break the stalemate and it will lead Samue's group and Yokoya's group to spend their true medals that we have longed for"... saying this, the Shadows will surely approve your order.

…おそらく　こんな事を言ったのでしょう
...probably that is what Akiyama said.

のどから手が出るほど本命メダルを欲しがてるガヤ達は　すんなり　その作戦を実行したんですね
Wanting those true medals so badly, those Shadows will surely follow this strategy.

そう
I see...

そして代わりにアキヤマグループが久々に親決め投票に参加した
And in their place, Akiyama's group finally participate in the voting process after a long break.

…そうなると何がおきるか…と言うと
What will happen next...


=Page18=

このピリオドの親決め投票はアキヤマグループが取ってしまう…
is that Akiyama's group will certainly take the dealer status in this voting.

５票
5 vote

３票
3 vote

６票
6 vote

あ－－－っ！！
Ahh!

ついに…ついに　　アキヤマグループが完全に戦局を掌握した－－－っ！！
At the very last... Akiyama's group has completely control the current of this battle!!

ついに追いつめた…！！
Finally they have catched up!!


=====================
TL note:
- Chair Fetching Game is also known as Musical Chair.
- The characters name and nick are used interchangingly.
The list of the name/nick appeared in this chapter:
- Shima Takahiro, nick: Yanjan ( ヤンジャン　－　this nick come from the　abbreviation of ヤンッグ・ジャンプ <young jump>, the magazine which Liar Game is being serialized. Look at his cloth xD)
- Samue, nick: Harimoto



For those who are interested to learn some japanese proverb, there are a few japanese proverb that came in this chapter:
- 釘を刺す (kugi wo sasu - to stuck a nail) means: to restrain someone from thinking of taking back his/her word or violating of a promise.
- しびれを切らした/しびれを切らす (shibire wo kirasu - to sever the numb/ to end a sleep) means: feeling of cannot wait any longer.
- のどから手が出る (nodo kara te ga deru - arms coming out from the throat) means: iillustrating something that someone want so badly.


Feel free to use this translation as long as you put proper credit and let me know that you use this translation. ^^