Maiden Spirit Zakuro (おとめ妖怪 ざくろ)

P R E P A R E T O

B E B E W I T C H E D

C R I M S O N

B R I L L I A N C E

Note: "Youjin" is a more polite word for "youkai" (demons).

Note: On January 1st, 1873, Japan began using the Gregorian Calendar (the calendar used throughout most of the Western world).

Note: Naru is one of the twelve words used to described what actions might be auspicious on a certain day.

Note: A chorogi is a Japanese/Chinese artichoke.

asore

watashya hana ka

chouchou ka oni ka

aware mi mo yo mo

araryou mono ka

beni no kawari ni

sasu no wa yaibaja

tanto homete kudashanse

asore appare appare appare ga

あそれ

私しゃ花か

蝶々か鬼か

あはれ身も世も

あらりょうものか

べにの代わりに

さすのは刃じゃ

たんとほめてくだしゃんせ

あそれあっぱれあっぱれあっぱれが

Ah, there it is!

Am I a flower, or

a butterfly or a demon?

Should I no longer be concerned

about my body or this world?

What I wield is not a lipstick,

but a piercing blade.

Would you be so kind as to give me plenty of praise?

Ah, there it is! Well done!

asore

watasha hana ka

chouchou ka oni ka

aware mi mo yo mo

araryou mono ka

beni no kawari ni

sasunowa yaiba ja

tanto homete kudashanse

asore appare appare appare ga

あそれ

私しゃ花か

蝶々か鬼か

あはれ身も世も

あらりょうものか

べにの代わりに

さすのは刃じゃ

たんとほめてくだしゃんせ

あそれあっぱれあっぱれあっぱれが

Ah, there it is!

Am I a flower, or

a butterfly or a demon?

Should I no longer be concerned

about my body or this world?

What I wield is not a lipstick,

but a piercing blade.

Would you be so kind as to give me plenty of praise?

Ah, there it is! Well done!

You're welcome.

Ministry of Youjin?

Yes.

You know that the strange events involving youkai have become more frequent recently, don't you?

Lieutenant General,

I think it's better to say "youjin".

Don't worry about the small things, Hanadate!

They don't like the changes we made to the calendar either.

So, in order to deal with those incidents, we are forming a new organization with representatives of the youjin.

That's the Ministry of Youjin.

I see.

But why have we been gathered here?

You're not very smart.

It's because you've been assigned to the Ministry of Youjin, of course!

I said no!

Definitely not!

I don't want this place to become the Ministry of Youjin!

And there's no way I'm fighting alongside humans either!

Oh my!

Won't it be interesting?

Right?

Hey, today the calendar is "naru", which means you'll be lucky in love.

It's "naru"?

Ah, how amazing!

Could that mean they'll come here today?!

The calendar is something humans decided on by themselves, right?!

I can't accept our ways being replaced by that Western stuff humans are crazy about!

I hate it!

I'm going to go sprinkle some salt!

Zakuro...

They look just like normal girls.

But when the time comes for them to fight,

they'll open their mouths wide! Bite and crunch!

Then you'll have to keep them under control!

What's the matter?

You look pale, Second Lieutenant Agemaki.

N-No...

Please leave it to me.

I'll have no problem taming the youjin.

That's just what I'd expect from Admiral Agemaki's son! I have great expectations of you!

So this is the Ministry of Youjin?

Youjin are old fashioned beings.

I'll set them straight if they don't listen!

No!

Agemaki-san?

Aggravating them would only make things worse.

Be stylish and gentle, through and through, Hanakiri-kun.

I see.

That's right, gently.

Don't aggravate them.

Just look the other way.

So those are the animal girls?

Apart from those ears, aren't they just normal girls?

I'm scared they'll bite!

Crunch!

Please introduce yourselves, everyone.

Come on. You go first, Zakuro.

My name is Zakuro.

My name is Susukihotaru.

Second Lieutenant, Yoshinokazura Riken.

I'm Hozuki.

My name is Bonbori.

I'm Hanakiri Ganryuu. I may not look like it, but I'm a second lieutenant!

Becoming the youngest admiral ever isn't just a dream!

Oh my!

Ah!

What a proud person!

Oh.

What's the matter?

Agemaki.

It's all or nothing!

Imperial Army Second Lieutenant, Agemaki Kei.

I feel honoured to share the same intentions as you all.

I hope we'll work well together, lovely young lady.

Hey, mister!

Play with us!

Come on! Sakura, Kiri!

Hey!

Agemaki?

Ah, no...

I was just feeling slightly dizzy.

I'm sorry that I frightened you.

Well then, please partner up with the person opposite of you.

Help each other and make progress.

So that's a soldier?

I'm glad they seem like good people.

What's good about them?

Especially that Agemaki guy!

Being so arrogant and annoying!

It's alright, isn't it? He seems kind.

You're lucky to be with him.

Your partner is... umm...

Yoshinokazura Riken-san.

I'm scared of such a tall man.

What should I do?

He heard me!

Got nothing to do with me!

Zakuro, wait a minute!

Ah, good timing, Zakuro.

You seem to have a considerable dislike of youjin.

But will you be alright?

We'll be living together with them from now on.

I don't have a choice!

My father wouldn't be pleased if he found out I was afraid of youjin.

I only hope that you don't try too hard and regret it afterwards.

Well then, excuse me.

Hello.

Kushimatsu told me to bring you some medicine.

Thank you.

D-Don't eat me!

Eat you?

No... If a lovely young lady like you touched me,

it'd be like you were devouring my whole heart!

That was close!

Zakuro, your tea is getting cold.

Zakuro?

This might be right.

Oh my!

It seems that you're fond of the soldier, Zakuro.

That's not it! I just...

Hot! Hot!

It's no good after all.

I'm already at my limit.

Stay calm!

At this rate...

Did you hear something just now?

Never mind that! The cockroach went that way!

Crush it!

I hate them!

Just now...

Mister!

Let me introduce myself! I'm Mamezo!

I also wanna see the one Zakuro likes!

No, it's no good!

If I lose now...

It'll be the most embarrassing thing for a soldier. No...

The most embarrassing thing for a human!

You're the soldier?