muramasa
48 lines
If universal gravitation is the sustenance that allows satellites to orbit planets, and planets to orbit stars, then the lifeblood that keeps stories in motion is none other than the human soul.
衛星が惑星を、そして惑星が恒星の周囲を巡る 糧 かて が万有引力であるならば、物語が巡り続ける糧は人の魂に他ならない。
So long as the sun, the moon, and the earth exist, and so long as the principle that all things are transient endures in this world, this is an ironclad rule. Fate and destiny, though they may intertwine, are forever repeated, forever woven anew.
太陽と月と地球があるかぎり、そして世に諸行無常の 理 ことわり が続くかぎり、これは鉄則である。運命と因縁は絡み合いなが
If that is so, then this story, too, must begin with the words that follow—.
も、常に繰り返し、紡がれていく。
The stage for this day was set for four acts in total.
であるならば、やはりこの物語も次なる言葉から始める必要があるだろう──。
The first act was a duel.
この日の舞台は、計四幕。
A crowd thronged the coastal land that served as the stage.
第一幕は、決闘であった。
They numbered some 600,000. The faces that, until the day before yesterday, had shone with hope were now as dark and sunken as those of wraiths. Hunger and fatigue had reached their zenith, intensely amplified by doubt and fear.
舞台となる海沿いの地には群衆がひしめいていた。
They were people who had fled their country in search of freedom, but they were not a perfectly united monolith. They were divided into four groups.
その数、約六〇万人。一昨日まで希望に輝いていた表情は、さながら幽鬼のように暗く沈んでいる。空腹と疲労は極に達しており
There were those who, suffering from starvation, wished to return to the land where they were oppressed. There were those who sought life in the midst of death and craved battle. There were those who simply prayed, seeking salvation in the world after death…
疑念と恐怖がそれを強烈に後押ししていた。
And the smallest faction was of those who believed in a miracle. Yet even among them—those who believed themselves the chosen people—the number of those growing weary of a God who seemed only to keep His silence was, slowly but surely, on the rise.
自由を求め、国を逃げ出した者たちであるが、完全な一枚岩ではなかった。彼らは四つの集団に分かれていた。
"I ask the Spokesman of God. Where is our salvation?"
飢餓に苦しむあまり、虐げられた国に戻ろうとする者たち。死中に活を求め、闘いを欲する者たち。ひたすら祈り、死後の世界に
The man who hurled this doubt, filled with anger, was named Disan. From his experience as a former slave broker, he was skilled at manipulating crowds—a vulgar opportunist who schemed to usurp the leader's position if the chance arose.
済を求める者たち……。
The leader, thus addressed, was well aware of Disan's ambition. For that very reason, he deliberately kept his silence. To cross swords verbally with an eloquent man was far too reckless. No matter how he responded, Disan would find a way to twist his words and sow seeds of anxiety among the people.
そしていちばんの少数派は、奇跡を信じる者たちであった。己こそ選民なりと思い込む彼らの中にも、沈黙を決め込むだけの神と
"Why do you not answer? Revelation is a privilege granted to God alone. You, who are but a spokesman, can have no right to exercise it. There is only one reason for your silence: there is no salvation to be found on this path!"
う存在に辟易する輩が、徐々にではあるが数を増やしていたのだ。
At Disan's booming cry, a murmur ran through the crowd, and their heavy feet came to a halt. The moment someone let out a grief-stricken sob, the atmosphere of pessimism spread like wildfire.
「神の代弁者に問おう。救いは 何処 いずこ に？」
Another appeared to compound their misery. A scout who had been sent ahead returned, gasping for breath.
怒気と共に疑念を投げつけてきたのはディサンという名の男であった。かつて奴隷斡旋業者であった経験から群衆の誘導には 長 た
"My lord! The sea… the sea is still there! The work of God has not yet been seen!"
けており、あわよくば指導者の地位を 簒 さん 奪 だつ しようと画策する俗物だ。
Though it was half-expected, they could not simply accept the ominous report. To ascertain the truth, the Spokesman of God gave an order to the black jackal, Wepwawet, who waited at his side.
問いかけられた指導者はディサンの野心を承知していた。だからこそ、あえて口を開かなかった。弁舌鮮やかな男に言葉で斬りか
"Nate. Go. Burn all that you see into those pure eyes of yours."
るのは無謀すぎる。どう応じても揚げ足を取られてしまい、不安の種を民に蒔くことになりかねない。
In that instant, four jet-black legs kicked off the earth. This was the Kepeshu bestowed upon the Spokesman of God.
「 何 なに 故 ゆえ にお答え下さらぬのか。黙示は神にのみ与えられた特権ぞ。代弁者に過ぎぬ貴公にそれを行使する権利などあろ
In a narrow sense, Kepeshu refers to a crescent-shaped scimitar, but in a broader sense, it is a word for swords in general.
はずもない。答えられぬ理由はひとつ。この道に救いなどないのだ！」
In other words, it was a "Kepeshu."¹
声量に秀でたディサンの叫びに、群衆はどよめき、重い足を止めた。誰かが悲嘆の泣き声を発するや、悲観的な雰囲気は一気に伝
It was the strongest form of armor, which, after more than a dozen centuries, would come to be called a Tsurugi in the East and a Crus in the West.
していった。
Before being donned by its covenanted master—that is, in its standby form—it maintains an independent form and moves on its own according to its master's commands. The Kepeshu, housing the soul of its smith, possesses a high degree of intelligence and is even capable of conversation. And the Kepeshu that served the Spokesman of God normally took the form of a black jackal, Wepwawet.
それに追い打ちをかける者が現れた。先行させていた物見が、息を切らせながら戻って来たのだ。
The metallic voice of its counterpart echoed only within the mind of the spokesman, its contractor.
「申し上げます！ 海は……海は依然として健在なり！ 神の御業、いまだ見えず！」
《Understood. I shall now proceed to carry out my reconnaissance duties.》
半 なか ば予期していたとはいえ、不吉な報告を鵜吞みにはできない。神の代弁者は真偽を確かめるべく、傍らで控える 黒きジャ
The steel beast, Nate, wove its way through the crowd and in an instant reached the peak of a distant mountain. A report immediately resounded within his skull.
カル ウプウアウト に命ずるのだった。
《It is regrettable, but the scout's report was not mistaken. The northern part of Lake Manzala remains flooded. I judge it to be too deep even for an adult to cross on foot.》
「ネイトよ。行くがよい。その清き瞳にすべてを焼き付けてまいれ」
Though it was grim news, there was no time for despair. He continued to communicate with Nate, seeking more details.
その途端、漆黒の四本足が大地を蹴った。それこそが神の代弁者に授けられたケペシュであった。
"The aftershocks of the earthquake that destroyed our beloved Crete must have washed over the coast. But this also eliminates the chance of being ambushed by Pharaoh's army. All that's left is to find a way to make the sea recede, and we can cross on foot…"
ケペシュとは、狭義では三日月の形をした曲刀を指すが、広義では刀剣類全般を示す単語である。
His voice was inaudible to the people around him. Disan, sensing their expressions turn ashen, declared triumphantly:
つまりは〝 劒冑 ケペシュ 〟だ。
"Do you see now! We should have taken the southern route across the 'Red Sea,' just as I argued! And to think I went to the trouble of spending a fortune to prepare a fleet of ships! The failure to choose the shortest path to the promised new land is entirely the fault of the Spokesman of God. Surely you will not deny this!"
十数世紀を経たのち、東洋では〝 劒冑 つるぎ 〟と、そして西洋では〝 劒冑 クルス 〟と呼称されることになる最強の 甲 かっ 冑
There were two conceivable escape routes to the "promised land" the people yearned for: one via the north and one via the south. The southern route was shorter, but the Spokesman of God had deliberately chosen the path north.
ちゅう であった。
The reason was simple: to outwit the enemy.
誓約した仕手が装甲する前、すなわち待騎時は独立形態を保ち、仕手の命令に基づいて各個に動く。鍛冶の魂を宿した 劒冑 ケ
The enemy was massing two legions east of the great city of Avaris. If they advanced south along the main roads, it would take less than half a day for them to catch up. The people would be, quite literally, annihilated.
シュ は高度な知性を持っており、会話さえ可能だ。そして神の代弁者に付き従う 劒冑 ケペシュ は、通常は 黒きジャッカル ウプ
The northern route, on the other hand, had poorly maintained roads and was desolate. As a result of a great earthquake in recent years, the coastline was in disarray, and Lake Manzala, which once formed a bay, had connected with the "Great Sea" and been half-swallowed by it. This would prevent even Pharaoh's vaunted chariot corps from being deployed.
アウト の姿をしていたのだった。
However, if blessed by the tides and the wind, the sea could dry up, opening a path. He had made the decision to press through that narrow window and challenge the strait, but for now, it seemed his gamble had backfired.
金属質な相手の声が、契約者たる代弁者の脳内にだけ響く。
Disan, who shamelessly conflated friend and foe, proclaimed loudly:
《承知いたしました。これより 私 わたくし は 哨 しょう 戒 かい の務めを果たしてまいりましょう》
"Did the Spokesman of God not declare this? That the 'Great Sea' before us would surely be parted by a divine act! And what is the reality! The waters have not receded. This man has spoken falsehoods and deceived us. You no longer have any right to call yourself the Spokesman of God! All of you, do you still intend to follow this charlatan?! There is no salvation on this path. It is no different from marching into hell itself!"
鋼の獣 ネイト は群衆の間を縫うように走り抜け、たちまち遠山の頂に達した。すぐさま報告が頭蓋に響いてくる。
Disan pointed at the Spokesman of God with a white finger that had never known a day of tilling the soil, but he would soon regret his words.
《残念ですが、物見の報告に間違いはございません。マンザァラ湖北部は冠水したままでございます。大人でも歩いては渡れぬ深
The very person he had just reviled was glaring back at him, wearing an expression that could be taken as either enlightenment or murderous intent.
と見ました》凶報だったが、絶望する余裕などない。詳報を求めるべく、ネイトと交信を重ねた。
"…God has not forsaken us. He has merely bestowed upon us another trial. If that is so, there is but one path to walk. I, the Spokesman of God, shall now act as God's Agent and invoke a miracle. All of you, stand clear of me."
「懐かしの 故郷 クレタ を壊滅させた地震の余波が海岸を洗ったのだろう。だが、これでファラオの軍に待ち伏せを食らう公算も
Translator's Note:
なくなった。あとはどうにか海水を引かせれば、徒歩で渡れよう……」
¹ The original text uses the kanji 劒冑 (Kenchū, literally "Sword-Armor") with different phonetic readings (furigana) to denote the specific terms.
その声は居合わせた民には聞こえない。彼らの表情が土気色に変化していくのを悟ったディサンは、勝ち誇ったように言い放つ。
劒冑 with furigana ケペシュ (Kepeshu, the ancient Egyptian sword).
「そらみたことか！ やはり私が主張したように南回りで〝紅い海〟を渡るべきだった。せっかく金をばらまいて船団を用意させて
劒冑 with furigana つるぎ (Tsurugi, the term for the armors in Muramasa).
たというのに！
劒冑 with furigana クルス (Crus, the Western term for the armors).
約束された新天地への最短路を選ばなかったのは、すべて神の代弁者の責任だ。まさかそれを否定はなさいますまい！」
This translation preserves these specific terms as they are central to the Full Metal Daemon Muramasa lore.
民が渇望する〝約束の地〟への脱出経路は、北方経由と南方経由の二種類が考えられていた。距離的に短いのは南方だったが、神
代弁者はあえて北方に針路を取った。
理由は単純明快。相手の裏をかくためだ。
敵は大都市アヴァリスの東側に二個軍団を集結中だった。彼らが幹線道路に沿って南進して来たなら、追いつかれるまで半日とか
らない。民は文字通り根絶やしにされよう。
いっぽうの北路は道が整備されておらず、荒れ果てている。先年勃発した大地震の結果、海岸線は乱れに乱れ、かつて入り江を形
していたマンザァラ湖は〝偉大な海〟と連結し、半ば吞み込まれてしまった。これではファラオ自慢の 戦車 チャリオット 隊も繰
出せない。
しかし潮と風に恵まれたならば海が干上がり、道が開けることもある。その 間 かん 隙 げき を突き、 隘 あい 路 ろ に挑む決断を
したわけだが、現状では裏目に出たようである。
敵と味方を混同して恥じないディサンは、声高らかに宣言する。
「神の代弁者はこう断言なされたではないか。懸案の〝偉大な海〟は必ずや神の御業によって吹き分けられようと！
現実はどうだ！ 海水は引いておらんぞ。この者は虚言を弄し、我らを 誑 たぶら かしたのだ。もはや貴様に神の代弁者を名乗る資
などない！
皆の者はまだこのペテン師についていく気か！ この道に救いなどない。地獄へと進軍するも同然なのだぞ！」
一度も土いじりをした経験のない白い指で神の代弁者を指したディサンだが、彼はすぐに発言を悔いることになる。
罵倒した人物は、悟りとも殺気とも解釈できる表情を携え、睨みつけていたのだ。
「……神は我らを見放したのではない。さらなる試練を与えたもうただけ。であるならば歩むべき道はひとつ。神の代弁者たる
は、これより神の代理人として奇跡を発動する。全員、私の側から離れるがよい」