Vagabond 198

And here we go, starting off chapter 23. My translations, but feel free to scanlate with them so long as you give me credit for the translation. A link to my group Bakafish @ www.bakakage.net would be nice.

Page 000a
Nothing.

Page 000b
Nothing.

Page 000c
All text here is on the other pages, (inside/outside cover)

Page 000d (Inside Front Cover)
又八の危機に現れたのは、あの佐々木小次郎であった。
Sasaki Kojiro appears during Matahachi's crisis.

降りしきる雪の中、又八の苦悩と野望が、小次郎の心に、ついに届く。
Matahachi's agony and ambitions reach out to Kojiro amidst a torrent of snow.

Page 001
Nothing.

Page 002
Nothing.

Page 003
ほ・・・本物・・・!?
It's... It's him...!?

Page 004-005
#198|草・雪・血
#198 | Grass, Snow, and Blood

Page 006
アウー
Aww.

Page 007
兄さん・・・
Sir...

佐々木小次郎さんかい?
Are you Sasaki Kojiro?

耳・・・
You...

聞こえんのかい?
Can't hear, can you?

アウア
Awah.

Page 008
つまり・・・
Basically...

当主と一介の牢人者ではつり合いがとれぬ
There's no point in a fight between our family head and a mere rounin.

勝ったところで得るものの何もない勝負
Even if we won, we'd gain nothing.

馬鹿正直に伝七郎先生が出て行くことはないと
So we won't let our naive Master Denshichiro fight,

そこで佐々木小次郎という代役を立てると
And we'll replace him with Sasaki Kojiro.

Page 009
でー、その小次郎とやら
So, this Kojiro...

腕は確かなのか、植田さん
Is he really that good, Ueda?

四年前に伝七郎さんと立ち会ってる
Denshichiro fought him four years ago.

すまん、蔵人、今まで黙っていたが実は
Sorry for keeping quiet about it, Kurando, but the truth is...

伝七郎さんその時一度死にかけてる
Denshichiro almost died.

Page 010
気に食わんな
I can't stand this.

我々を前にして何故少しも動じておらんのだ?
Why is he so calm when we're standing right here?

御池殿
Miike.

「長身」
"Tall."

「耳が聞こえん」
"Can't hear."

でも、それだけではまだ小次郎かどうかわからんだろう
But, we don't know if it's really Kojiro just from that information.

本当に小次郎ならば
If it really is him...

伝七郎先生の代わりが勤まるほどの腕があるということだろう?
He will be strong enough to be a fitting replacement for Master Denshichiro, correct?

御池殿!
Miike!

植田さんには客人として連れ帰るように言われています!
Ueda told us to bring him back as though he were our guest!

ここで立ち会ってはー
If you fight him here...

わかってる、斬り合いはせん
I know, I won't fight him.

斬り合わずとも
You can feel,

強さというのは
someone's strength,

Page 011
感じるものだ
Without fighting them.

何だその眼は
What's with that stare...

Page 012-013
抜けと言っている
It's telling me to draw.

御池殿!!
Miike!!

どうしてだ?
Why?

あのとき死んだ
He died...

あれが小次郎じゃなかったのか!?
Or, that really wasn't Kojiro!?

ならあの侍は誰だったんだ?
Then who was that samurai?

なぜ、この印可状を持っていた?
Why did he have that certificate?

小次郎が持っているべき印可状をー
A certificate that Kojiro should have...

Page 14
たっ・・・
Pl-...

・・・たのむ・・・
... Please...

「頼む」
"Please."

Page 015
あいつに・・・
Give this to...

Page 016-017
Nothing.

Page 018
ずっと俺を見てたのかい
Was he just staring at me this whole time?

そうなのかい
I see now.

恥ずかしいや
I'm embarassed.

さぞイライラしたろうね
He must be irritated with me.

ようやく俺は行き当たったってことなんだな、本当のー
I've finally run into him, the real...

Page 019
本物の佐々木小次郎に
The real Sasaki Kojiro.

Page 020
Nothing.

Page 021
御池殿
Miike.

大丈夫だ、抜きはしない
Don't worry, I won't draw.

俺はそれほど若くも青くもない
I'm not that young or inexperienced.

自分より強いものなら何人も見てきた
And I've seen many men more skilled than myself.

この男もそんな一人だと感じたならその瞬間に土下座もしよう
And once we know that this man is him, we should get down on our knees.

無礼を詫び、客人として丁重にお連れする
Ask for his pardon, and take him with us as our guest.

抜きはしない
I will not draw.

ただ・・・
However.

感じたいだけ・・・
I want to know...

Page 022
この男の強さを
To know his strength.

アー
Ahh.

Page 023
御池殿!!
Miike!!

抜いてるじゃないですか!
Didn't you say you wouldn't draw!?

き・・・斬ってくれそいつを小次郎
Ki-... Kill him, Kojiro.1

俺の屈辱を・・・晴らして
And clear away... My disgrace.

よそう
Enough.

土下座するんだ
I will kneel down.

Page 024
強い
But how strong,

一体どれほど
How strong is he...

Page 025
知りたい
I want to know.

そのために生きてきた
That is my reason for living.

気がする
I know it is.

知りたいッ
I want to kno-

Page 026
Nothing.

Page 027
Nothing.

Page 028
Nothing.

Page 029
Chapter End.

Page 030
Omake.

1Not entirely certain.


Done, enjoy. First chapter of volume 23.