Suzaku Ibun: Mount Koku Arc, Pt. 3
Ni-hao, minna-san!
Phew! This week has been nonsense, you guys. NONSENSE. Major releases at work had me clocking late hours, final edits on my thesis had me clocking even later hours, and a three-day-long tension headache had me hating just about everything for a while there.
But the thesis is completed! Printed! Bound! And ready to be turned in on Monday! Everybody dance!
Thank you, Gif Party.
And what better way to celebrate (besides a Gif Party, of course) than with a super-sized portion of Ibun? Let's go Wolf Huntin', y'all!
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==Scene: Cave, with Boulder==
Nuriko: Hm... oh, my... this is...
You: Find something?
Nuriko: Mm-hm… A door...
Nuriko: See, it’s hidden behind that boulder.
You: You’re right… Do you think it could be...?
Chiriko: This doorway... looks fairly old.
Chiriko: If I’m not mistaken, this is the doorway to the cavern that houses the Shinzaho!
Tamahome: Guess we’ll have to head inside, then.
You: Yeah...
Nuriko: ...Well, it’s not like we’re in that great of a hurry.
You: We’re not? What do you mean?
Nuriko: I mean that first we should see to that persistent guest of ours.
Nuriko: Come out and face us!
Ashitare: *growls*
You: ...Ashi...tare...
Ashitare: I’m going to eat you all... Starting with the bitch who burned me.
Nuriko: ...Tch.
Ashitare: I’ll devour all of you. And I’ll save the Priestess of Suzaku for last.
Nuriko: …You’ll have to go through me first.
Tamahome: Don’t fight him alone. We all feel the same.
Tasuki: I must’ve heard wrong. Yer gonna do what to our priestess, now?
Chichiri: …What kind of warriors would we be if we just stepped aside no da?
Mitsukake: If it’s to protect someone important to me, then I’ll gladly join in the fight.
Chiriko: ...I will not lose. I’ll protect the priestess!
Nuriko: …It sure is nice to have teammates, don’t you think?
You: Mm-hm.
Nuriko: ...And what are you going to do?
Ashitare: Obviously... I’ll fight you!
Nuriko: ..You’re a bold one, I’ll give you that.
Ashitare: H’ohhhhhhhh!!
-!
Ashitare: …*growls*
Ashitare tried to sink his fangs into Nuriko’s throat, but-
Tasuki: REKKA... SHIN’EN!
=screen flashes red=
-!!
Ashitare: Gwahh!
Tasuki: Oh-ho... He slowed down as soon as he saw fire.
Tasuki: This mutt really does act like an animal. I’m gonna light him up again!!
Ashitare: Don’t get cocky, boy!
*swoosh*
As Ashitare moved in front of Tasuki...
Ashitare: I’ll crush you!
Tamahome: Oh no you won’t!
*smack*
Ashitare recoiled from Tamahome’s blow.
Chichiri: Now’s my chance no da!
Chichiri: Hah!!
=screen shakes, turns dusty=
Ashitare was caught in Chichiri’s shockwave. The explosion sent a flurry of dirt into the air.
Chichiri: Did I hit him no da!?
Ashitare: You gods-damned flies just won’t stop buzzing!
Right before my eyes, Ashitare appeared and got a stranglehold on Chichiri.
Chichiri: Ggh... nngh...!
You: Chichiri!
Chichiri: As long as the Priestess of Suzaku is with us, we can’t lose no daaaa!!
=flashes=
Here comes the boom!
The shockwave hit Ashitare point-blank and sent him flying backwards. (1)
Chichiri: I’d prefer it if… you didn’t underestimate me no da!
You: You… you’re all incredible…
Ashitare: Huff... huff...
Ashitare: Have I no choice… but to retreat...?
Tasuki: So ya finally get just how much stronger we are, huh…?
Ashitare: Mwahahahahahahaha!!
Nuriko: ...He’s laughing?
Chiriko: ...Impossible...
Chiriko: ...P-please be careful! He hasn’t given up anything yet!
You: Eh... what? What do you mean?
Chiriko: He’s after the Priestess of Suzaku!
Ashitare: Before I make my escape...
Ashitare: I’ll devour this bitch! Priestess of Suzakuuuuu!!
You: M... me…?
Tamahome: What’re you doing!? Run! Now!
My legs... were frozen...
Ashitare: H’ohhhhhhhh!!
=screen flashes red=
You: Wha... I’m not hurt...
Nuriko: Quit screwing around...
Something red was sprinkling the ground near Nuriko’s feet.
You: Nuriko... you protected me...
Nuriko: I, the Lady Nuriko… am just that kind of person!
Nuriko: You can’t possibly expect me...
Nuriko: To keep quiet and let someone hurt my priestess-no, my friend.
*smack*
-!!
Ashitare: Ugh...!!
Nuriko: You won’t lay one finger on... my little sister!!
*smack*
-!!
Nuriko hammered Ashitare with a furious blow.
You: Nuriko...
Ashitare: Ugh...
Ashitare collapsed... and he didn’t even stir.
Nuriko: We won, [Your Name].
….
Tasuki: Y-you’re so strong...
You: Nuriko, are you gonna be okay?!
Nuriko: I’ll be fine.
You: But you’re bleeding...
Nuriko: I’m telling you, I’m fine.
Mitsukake: I’ll heal you.
Nuriko: ...That’d help. Thanks.
You: ...Nuriko...
You: And... everyone...
You: Thank you for protecting me.
Nuriko: What are you talking about, silly?
Nuriko: That’s the job of a Celestial Warrior.
The others all nodded without hesitation.
=screen flashes white=
….
Mitsukake used his power to heal Nuriko’s injuries...
Mitsukake: You’ll be all right now.
Nuriko: Mm. Thanks...
Chichiri: Nuriko-kun. Now that your wounds are healed, I’d like to ask a favor no da.
Chichiri pointed at the massive boulder.
Nuriko: Right, right. My boys just can’t do anything without me!
Tasuki: Yer a man too, y’know...
Nuriko: Shall I move this boulder for you, then?
Nuriko: Hnnnngh!
Nuriko lifted the massive boulder up in both hands little by little-
And used the last of her strength to toss the boulder to one side.
=The boulder disappears from the doorway=
Nuriko: Well, you think that’s far enough away?
Tasuki: In… incredible...
Tamahome: Right? If we get careless and piss her off, we're dead men.
Nuriko: What did you saaay!?
Mitsukake: They’re fighting again...
Chiriko: N-Nuriko-san! You really shouldn’t fly off the handle!
You: Stop fighting you gu~ys! Can’t we all just get along?
You: Let’s go! To look for the Shinzaho!
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Walkthrough Notes:
(1) Chichiri gets to be the badass regardless of which romance you’re playing (although obviously this scene will change if you brought Hotohori with you instead).
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I do hope that was a satisfactory amount of Ibun to slake your thirsts. Now that the long march to MFA-dom is (mostly) over, I'm hoping I can turn my attention more fully to translation work for a while. I'm also working as an editor on the missing Chihayafuru chapters, so I can't devote all my time to Ibun, but maybe we can look at postings once a week? I'd love it if I could get myself on a schedule. (And I'm sure you'd all love that, too!) We'll make that a tentative goal and see how the month of April shakes out.
The Genbu Ghosts make their appearance next time! See you then!
Cheers,
Dee