-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ah! Megamisama Chapter 47 (from Manga Frontier Afternoon 7/92) Written and illustrated by Fujishima Kousuke -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Translation by the Amatran Group, Copyright (C) 1992, all rights reserved. No part of this translation may be quoted, published or distributed by any commercial venture without the express permission of the translators. It may be distributed on a non-profit basis provided the text is maintained as it was originally released. "Ah! Megamisama" is Copyright (C) 1989-1992 by Fujishima Kousuke and Koudansha International Ltd., published monthly in Manga Frontier Afternoon and reprinted in collected volumes by Afternoon KC. Number of collected volumes available at the time of this writing: 6. This translation is distributed as is, without any claims to accuracy. Last revised July 3, 1992. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 47 - Sayonara & konnichiwa Skuld pushes a panel closed on some piece of equipment. Skuld: (wiping hands) Filter set, done. Verdandi comes around, broom in hand... Verdandi: (smiling) My... Did you build something again? Skuld: (smiling) Look, sister!! It's Banpei-kun attachment Dilligent Service Type I--!! Skuld gestures at her newest creation: a small four-wheeled vehicle which her previous creation, the anti-Marler guard robot Banpei-kun, is presently seated in. The vehicle is fitted with rotary brushes at the front, and controls for Banpei-kun to steer with. A thick power cord is attached at the vehicle's rear. Skuld: (beaming) Well, I'll switch it on. Skuld pulls a lever on the rear of the vehicle. Skuld: Banpei-kun begin!! In the kitchen, Uld samples her own concoction... Uld: (smiling) Hm--nice smell. This love potion is - a little different. A sudden noise outside puts a dubious cast on Uld's face. UId: She's started building strange things again. Well, since I'm not watching TV today... An old-fashioned hand pump in the kitchen gurgles. Seconds later, water begins to well up from the pump. It begins to overflow... Uld: Wha... wha-wha-what's this? The flow of water renews its intensity, flooding the kitchen and streaming outside the window. Uld screams... In his room, Keiichi notices something odd with his barely-functional computer equipment... Keiichi: Wha... what? Is it Skuld again--!? As he steps out of his room, Keiichi sees Uld, soaked to the skin, stomping outside. Uld: (annoyed) That's right. That troublesome, bomb-ridden, mechanized kid--! Uld trembles with barely-controlled anger as Keiichi watches from behind a panel... Uld: (shouting) SKULD! You did something again! The well water backed up!! Keiichi: (thinking) Uld's about to blow her stack. Skuld: (embarassed) Ah... ahaha. Even the pump reversed, huh? Even Verdandi seems slightly upset at the broken tree, cleft boulder and other damage caused by Banpei-kun and the Dilligent Service Type I vehicle running amok in the garden. Skuld: (embarassed) Yeah - ha, ha, ha - I wasn't thinking clearly - when I reversed the switch, the whole thing went into reverse. Skuld doesn't seem to notice Uld working herself into a rage... Skuld: After all this mechanism was just finished so I was careless. Uld: (breathing hard) Oh? Skuld: Well, it was an unhappy accident, nothing else. Uld: (furious) Skuld! You - is that all you have to say about this!? In her wrath, Uld begins to chant a spell: When we are angry The heavens are angry When our anger gives way Thunderbolts that have shattered great trees Smite the ground!! As Uld finishes her spell in a language known only to those from above... Verdandi: (alarmed) Uld, stop!! Skuld, eyes closed, waits resignedly... Skuld: (thinking) Hmpf. Anyway with the situation now she can't use the height of her power... She's only got the one ring. Uld: (furiously pointing) Lightning strike!! A powerful lighting bolt strikes the Dilligent Service Type I. Verdandi is surprised; Skuld is incredulous; Keiichi, holding a shattered panel, is shocked; and Banpei-kun is still in one piece, having exited Dilligent Service Type I just before the strike. Smoke rises from the stricken vehicle... Uld: (surprised) Oh... It's... back? Uld's face lights up in an expression of absolute delight. Uld: (smiling) Oho - ohohohoho! Alright! My powers are back! Joyfully, Uld calls down more lightning bolts, some of them striking the temple... Uld: (happy) Alright, alright! How about that!? Banpei-kun and Skuld panic as the lightning bolts continue to hit. Verdandi: (thinking) I'm so happy for you... Uld. The phone begins to ring. Verdandi: (smiling) Coming, coming. Verdandi picks up the phone. Verdandi: Hello, Morisato residence. Why... God. It's been a while. Huh? The sytem? Mostly back up!? That's great. The conversation takes an unexpected turn for Verdandi... Verdandi: Huh? Uld - you say? Ouside, both Keiichi and Skuld react with dismay as Verdandi relays the news. Keiichi: Eh? Skuld: Eh!? Uld walks in, beaming sunnily. Uld: (happy) Yeah - being able to use my powers - it's great. It's been a while since I got to work off some stress. Uld sees Verdandi, Skuld and Keiichi looking apprehensively at her. Uld: Well? What's the matter with you all? Your faces are so gloomy. Verdandi: (sadly) Uld, listen carefully. Uld: (stunned) Eh!? In 6 hours - I'm being involuntarily recalled? Skuld pulls out a stopwatch and consults it. Skuld: Contact came at 12:00 PM so... it'll be after 5:30 PM. Uld: (slumping down) Ha ha... Uld slinks away towards her room, totally demoralized. Uld: (weakly) Ha ha ha ha ha. Verdandi and Keiichi watch as Uld slinks off. Keiichi: Ah, she's losing it. Skuld: (shrugging shoulders) Oh well. Unbeknownst to everyone, Marler, shrunk down to a few centimeters in height, has been listening. Upon hearing about the recent turn of events, she gloats... Marler: (smug) This is great. Uld's really going through the wringer so, it's a perfect reward!! Marler joyfully exults in Uld's misfortune... Marler: (laughing) Serves you right, Uld! I shrunk down, sneaked in and this was the result! Ha ha ha ha ha! The pendulum clock in the living room bongs twice, for it's now two o'clock. Verdandi kneels at the table, sadly contemplating. Keiichi stands uneasily... Keiichi: (desperate) Isn't there something that can be done? There's 4 hours to go. Keiichi watches Skuld working on some diminutive piece. Keiichi: Skuld, what are you wasting your time on? Skuld: (looking up) What's got you all worked up? Especially since there's no reason you can't meet. Skuld gets up and begins to walk out, a melancholy look about her. Skuld: When we do badly even we get recalled. Keiichi sits down at the table in thought. Keiichi: That's true... If I think things over carefully there's no reason. She'll be able to come again. Verdandi: (sadly) Yes... but - will God's dispensation come after a hundred years pass or after a thousand years pass? The pendulum clock now shows five past three. Keiichi: Oh no... Then - I'll never be able to see Uld's face again? Keiichi thinks about Uld... Keiichi: Uld - always willful - selfish - meddling in business not her own... Delighting in treating people like toys just for fun. Keiichi clenches his fists as he realizes... Keiichi: Suddenly she won't be around for me to have a chance to get back at her. The injustice of it all makes Keiichi rather distraught... Keiichi: Uld - if only you could return. Keiichi is surprised as Verdandi suddenly hugs him from behind. Verdandi: (smiling) Thank you - for being concerned about Uld. As the sky darkens outside, a single shaft of light seems to be fixed on the temple courtyard... Verdandi: But the Lord God's decision is absolute. When the involuntary recall gate opens, we-- Verdandi anxiously eyes the pendulum clock. Verdandi: In 3 1/2 hours the gate... the gate opens. Keiichi: (curious) Well... If the gate opens and she doesn't return through it - what happens? Verdandi: (blank) Eh? In her room, Uld looks over old pictures while enjoying some wine. Uld: Foolish school festival fun - the airplane rebirth-- Uld lets out a sigh. Uld: So stupid - that I - should fall - isn't it. Loud noises outside bring Uld out of her reverie. A hammer drives a post into the ground of the temple courtyard. Uld: (walking outside) What are they doing? Uld is stunned by the sight that awaits her. Keiichi stops his hammering for a moment as he and Verdandi notice Uld's presence. Verdandi: (smiling) Ah... Uld. Uld: (shocked) "Ah... Uld..." You... that's... A complex pattern of circles and triangles is etched into the ground, with posts and wire at certain spots. Around the edge of the largest circle are some sort of runes... Uld: ...An extreme binding circle magic formation, isn't it!? Uld is astonished by the sight. Uld: This... such a large-scale thing... what the blazes... Skuld abruptly enters the conversation. Skuld: (sternly) 25 lines 16 terms. At involuntary recall time, if circumstances prevent the recall, that decision's effect - should then be suspended. Isn't that it? Skuld approaches Verdandi. Skuld: (pleading) You intend to use this binding circle to prevent the gate from working, aren't you? Stop it, sister! If you do this you will be involuntarily recalled! Verdandi: Skuld - you're wrong. The Lord God will not oppose this. Verdandi, smiling, gestures at the pattern... Verdandi: This is an anti-Marler binding circle. Marler is necessary for such a binding circle. Keiichi: (smiling) The effect will probably be that the gate won't work. Uld: (stunned) Ah... that's a great idea you came up with... Uld smiles. Uld: Ha ha... Sounds interesting. Here... Uld suddenly looks up at the sky, fist in the air... Uld: (smiling) Thus I vow not to go - how about that!? Uld puts an arm each around Keiichi and Verdandi and begins to walk off... Uld: Ha, ha, ha - leave it to me! Skuld sits dumbstruck for a moment. Skuld: Wait up - I want to help too! Two hours later... Banpei-kun, in the Dilligent Service Type I (now equipped with a large pincer at the front) moves a boulder into position as directed by Skuld. Other boulders, at points of intersection, are already in position. Skuld: (pointing) Yes, a 72 kg stone right there. Some time later... Uld, with her arms held out, begins to chant. Dance You host of nobles Verdandi, in a similar pose as Uld, continues... We, the three goddesses Past - Present - Future Skuld, long hammer held out, does her part... Uld - Verdandi - Skuld Will pledge to follow The three sisters stand atop three boulders at the vertices of a triangle within the pattern. Simultaneously, they conclude the chant... The shape of the extreme binding circle magic formation In the dim sky, shafts of light begin to illuminate the pattern from above, to the pattern boundary. The three sisters rejoice... Uld: Ha ha - we made it in time. The three sisters put their hands down, touching them together... Three sisters: (joyfully) We did it! An odd expression comes over the three women's faces as Keiichi comments... Keiichi: (sarcastically) It couldn't be... this isn't your first time? That you 3 have cooperated...? Inside the temple, the clock strikes six. The dark clouds above suddenly open above the temple and a wide shaft of light descends... Keiichi: (looking up) The gate's open!! As the light reaches above the temple, some sort of spherical field prevents it from getting any closer. The conflict of energies makes a loud sound... Uld: (looking up) Ohh... it's... it's taking effect... Unnoticed by Skuld, something drops behind Banpei-kun, still seated in his vehicle. Two tiny hands pull a lever, and Banpei-kun moves, picking a boulder up. Skuld and Verdandi suddenly notice... Verdandi: (alarmed) Banpei-kun!? As Banpei-kun moves the boulder from its original position, Skuld runs over... Skuld: (distressed) What's the matter, Banpei-kun? Marler, revealed, laughs loudly at her handiwork. Marler: (gloating) Ha, ha, ha! Stupid goddesses! If I've been within this so-called binding circle from the start, it's the same as if it didn't exist! Verdandi: Marler! Keiichi: Skuld!! Hit the reverse switch! Skuld tugs at the lever... Skuld: (grimacing) Ugh! It's no good! It won't budge!! Marler shows off a complex spell she has written down... Marler: (smirking) It's futile! That lever is sealed closed--! I made my creation walk the path of destruction--! Keiichi: Pull the cord off! Skuld: That won't work! Banpei-kun has accumulated a full charge! The shaft of light penetrates into the pattern. The air around Uld seems charged with energy as small particles around her float up. Uld is a study in serenity as her feet leave the ground. Keiichi: D... damn!! Verdandi runs toward her older sister, hand extended... Verdandi: (desperate) Uld, my hand--!! Take my hand--!! Keiichi tries his best to move the boulders back... Skuld: Hold on!! The stones are being returned to their original places! Skuld loses heart as she watches her sister ascend... Skuld: (sadly) Too late... As Uld floats up, she smiles gently, eyes closed. Uld: That's fine... that's enough. Thanks. Skuld: (crying) Uld--!! Don't give up--!! As Banpei-kun finishes changing the position of the last boulder, a terrific surge of energy takes everyone by surprise. Marler is drawn upwards towards the gate, unable to resist... Marler: (incredulous) It can't be!! The formation--!! There is a flash of light, accompanied by an explosion. Cloud fragments swirl around lazily in the sky. Uld, fallen to the ground, looks up at the sky... Uld: (amazed) It's... it's disappeared. Skuld: (tearful) Uld... Skuld runs to Uld's lap as her tears begin to flow. Skuld: Idiot! Why did you give up!? Skuld begins to cry in earnest as a glorious sunset is in evidence. Uld: (surprised) He-hey... What are you crying for, stupid!!? Some time later... Uld: (embarassed) Yeah... Unbelievable that when we put the stones in their original positions, we hadn't thought that it could change to a gate-destroying magic formation. Uld, Verdandi and Skuld kneel before the phone and listen miserably to their Lord God... God: Well... alright. I see it was an accident. But why did you do it to me - in the aftermath you've put the system out of order again, haven't you!!? Standing at the side, Keiichi smiles. Keiichi: (amused) It can't be that this is the first time? All 3 getting angry together... I can't hear anything at all... --------------------------------------------------------------------------