XD Translation Corner #3

The third installment of the 3.5 translation picks up where we left off. Maria and Tsubasa chase an alchemist in London, while Hibiki and the others deal with the Cursed Pharaoh his Philosophical Armament.






 Episode 5: Daily Lives of Pop Stars

We rejoin Tsubasa and Maria in the London Underground in pursuit of the Alchemist. They find themselves struggling to cover enough ground, the subway being full of passages that they had no knowledge of. Initially they thought they had the upper hand, they planned to search the area before any of the secret passages could be covered up. But they soon realize their search is fruitless because there are too many passages to trace someone through in the first place. The underground functions like a maze and they are stuck in it, facing constant attacks from the Alca-NOISE. After coming to yet another dead end the two discuss their options on how to proceed. As they talk, Maria comes to realize that there’s no way the Alchemists could easily carry supplies to their hideout through this maze, which means there must be another way through. They both come to the conclusion that there must be a maintenance elevator for the subway staff that directly connects to the surface. They decide to prioritize getting in contact with Ogawa, so he can help them determine which elevator would best suit the needs of the Alchemists to narrow down the location of their hideout.

Sometime later we join the two back in London city proper.

Tsubasa: I wonder, is it really alright for us to be doing this? 
Maria: Doing what?
Tsubasa: This “window shopping” thing…
Maria: It’s fine, sometimes a change of pace is important. 
Tsubasa: But with Ogawa and the others all hard at work we can’t just be-
Maria: Don’t fuss over it, we just have to wait for their results. 
Maria: Once they’ve finished, it’ll be our turn to do the hard work. So until then, a little break is fine, no? 
Tsubasa: That may be so…but weren’t you the one in a rush to figure out the truth behind this whole thing?
Maria: Well, yes…but they say “every man knows his own business best” right? Instead of us, it’s better to leave this to Ogawa. 
Tsubasa: …That’s true. 
Maria: We’ll get the Alchemists next time for sure. But in order to do that we have to make sure we’re in good shape when the time comes. 
Tsubasa: Alright, you’ve convinced me.
Maria: So, we’re taking the day off until later this evening alright? 
Tsubasa: Huh? Oh, well okay…

Maria: Fufu. I wonder what we can do? Seems like a good opportunity, do you want me to pick out some new clothes for you?
Tsubasa: M-my current casual clothes suit me just fine thank you. 
Maria: You know…you’re a huge pop star so you really should consider what fans will see, even in your private time. 
Maria: Haven’t you noticed? We’ve been attracting a lot of attention for some time now. 
Tsubasa: I-I’m just one singer among many. Even in Japan I’m not that much-
Maria: The judging eyes of people who are used to seeing Western celebrities is harsh, you know.
Tsubasa: Ugh…I-is that so? …No, I’ll have to pass on your suggestions for now. 
Tsubasa: Rather than mine, let’s buy clothes for you. 
Maria: Mine? 
Tsubasa: Yes, I think this is a good opportunity. It’s soon isn’t it? Your birthday. 
Tsubasa: In our line of work, it’s hard to meet up like this so casually. So let me give my gift a little early while we have the chance. 
Maria: Tsubasa…you remembered my Birthday? 
Tsubasa: Yes, of course. Despite how it may seem, I consider you an important part of my life. 
Maria: ?! *blush*
Tsubasa: Hm? What’s wrong, Maria? …Would you prefer not to celebrate?
Maria: T-That’s not the problem! I was just a bit….surprised is all. 
Maria: (How can this sword say all that with such a straight face?!)
Tsubasa: Hm? 
Maria: …Then, I suppose I will take you up on that offer.
Tsubasa: Great, whatever you’d like. 

Later…

Maria: We've found some good stuff so far. So next up is-
Tsubasa: W-wait a minute. You’re going to buy more? 
Maria: Of course. Next is…Tsubasa, I’m going to pick out your clothes! 
Tsubasa: N-No, I don’t-
Maria: It’s fine. I want to pick some out for you!
Maria: Earlier, you said we’d do whatever I’d like didn’t you? You just need to abide by me for today. 
Tsubasa: …Fine, I get it. Then, I’ll leave it up to you. 
Maria: Good girl. 

Later…

Maria: Well that’s enough from this place. 
Tsubasa: Finally…I can’t take it anymore. I’m tired. Emotionally exhausted. 
Maria: How pitiful…well then, shall we partake in tea at a cafe? 
Tsubasa: Sigh…you’re too tough, Maria. 
Maria: Geez. Getting tired on your day off, what good will that do? Besides, we had everything delivered so there was nothing to carry.
Maria: Well, I suppose I did drag you around to quite a number of places. 
Waiter: Welcome. What would you like to order?
Tsubasa: Let’s see…do you have any green tea? I’d like it hot. 
Waiter: We do. 
Maria: I’ll have an iced cafe au lait. 
Waiter: Very well. It’ll be just a few minutes. 
Maria: Fufu…green tea. Are you getting homesick?
Tsubasa: No, that’s not- …Well, actually maybe I’m missing it just a little. 
Maria: Oh? You’re being honest for once.
Tsubasa: But, thinking about it…it’s quite luxurious. 
Maria: Luxurious, what do you mean?
Tsubasa: Being able to come back to London, with my father’s permission….
Tsubasa: And getting produced by Mr. Tony Glazer, my career is coming along smoothly….
Tsubasa: Just being able to chase after my dream like this again, I feel so incredibly fortunate…
Tsubasa: But despite all that, my life in Japan, my friends…sometimes I just suddenly miss it all. 
Tsubasa: Wanting both this and that, I can’t help but feel I’m being far too greedy. 
Maria: Sigh…I wonder if a rock-head can realize how silly they sound. 
Tsubasa: Wh-What exactly are you saying is silly about that?
Maria: Feeling that way is natural for anybody. What reason is there to look down on yourself for it? 
Maria: Listen up. The reason you’re here right now is because you worked for it, you put all your effort into it. 
Maria: Of course, there are plenty of people who helped you or gave you a push forward. 
Maria: But if you hadn’t put yourself on this path in the first place, none of that would have mattered. 
Maria: It’s not as if God just popped in and dropped all this in your lap. You already paid your dues, so don’t beat yourself up for it. 
Maria: I can’t speak on the past, but all the effort you’ve put in lately, I’ve been able to see it all up close. 
Tsubasa: M-Maria? 
Maria: Chasing after your dreams…that doesn’t mean you have to throw anything else away. 
Tsubasa: Really, is it that simple...?
Maria: Well, maybe that’s not so convincing coming from someone like me.  

Waiter: Sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s your green tea and cafe au lait. 
Tsubasa: T-Thank you. Here’s a tip. 
Waiter: Thank you. Please enjoy yourselves. 
Maria: Ah, I’m not using to preaching like that. My shoulders are all stiff now.
Tsubasa: Sorry about that, but thank you. I feel a little better now. 
Maria: That’s good. So, how have things been since then? Have you been in touch with your Papa? 
Tsubasa: Yeah, I got a letter from him the other day. It was short…but it gave me the encouragement I needed.
Maria: I see…that’s great. 
Tsubasa: Have you been in touch with Tsukuyomi and Akatsuki? 
Maria: Nearly every day. Even if I don’t call, they always do. 
Tsubasa: They miss you. 
Maria: Well, we’re the only family we’ve got left.
Tsubasa: Yes, that’s true…
Maria: It’s gotten late. Let’s get back before it gets dark. 
Tsubasa: Yes, let’s. 
Maria: *Notices something* …Tsubasa, I’ll head back first. See you later. 
Tsubasa: Okay. See you, Maria. I’ll head out after I’ve had another cup. 
Maria: Alright. Oh, by the way, today was really fun. Thanks, Tsubasa. 
Maria: Next time, when it’s your birthday, I’ll be paying you back in full. So prepare yourself. 
Tsubasa: Haha, I’m looking forward to it. 

Maria goes to an isolated part of the subway and dons her gear. She calls out to the person who has been tailing her. The robed man appears, surprised that she noticed. She tells him that she can tell the difference between the gaze of a fan and the gaze of someone else. She is happy he came out of hiding, instead of having to go and find him herself. He attacks, but Maria easily repels it. He starts summoning Alca-NOISE, but they pose no problem. The robed man continues to summon them, hoping to wear her down but Maria just laughs. Suddenly the man finds himself unable to move, of course this is due to Tsubasa’s Shadow Weave technique. They’ve got him cornered.

Tsubasa: Seems safe to say that Alchemists have no knowledge of Japan’s ninja techniques. 
Robed man: W-what?! You’re-
Maria: Took you long enough. Just how much tea were you planning to drink? 
Tsubasa: Just enough. I read your ploy pretty well, I’d say. 
Robed man: No way…you set me up! 
Maria: That’s right, we set up a trap to catch you. 
Robed man: But, the way you were acting…?! The tea?!
Robed man: You planned this just from that conversation?!
Maria: Just sit there and watch. Once we clean up these Alca-NOISE we’ll be asking all the questions. 
Tsubasa: I’ll have you know, the ticket price to watch us perform isn’t cheap! 

They clean up the Alca-NOISE with relative ease and prepare to interrogate the Alchemist, but before they can he collapses. He’s killed himself by ingesting poison. Maria searches the corpse for any clues, noting the emblem she finds on his robes. Tsubasa is skeptical he would chose death if he was holding on to anything important but Maria notes that he attacked her thinking he wasn’t going to lose. As she suspected, Maria finds a memory chip that may contain information. They decide to take it back to Ogawa and the rest of the SONG crew.

Episode 6: Those who struggle onward

Hibiki and the others return to SONG HQ to get the most recent information on the ship. From the live video they can hardly see anything, as its covered in a thick black mist. The curse is starting to spread outward from the ship. The SONG members who stayed aboard evacuated when they noticed the change, and they worry that anyone who approaches the ship will be in danger. Elfnein says that she’s figured out the details of the Philosophical Armament thanks to the information sent from London by Maria and Tsubasa. The datachip from the Alchemist had a strong level of protection, but they were able to decode some of it which contained information not only about the armament but also Tutankhamun. Elfnein says that the Philosophical Armament’s power is the ability to bring death upon those who trespass in his territory - just like the real curse. However, Hibiki is confused because she learned from her friends that the curse was nothing but a fairy tale. Elfnein says that indeed, the “Pharaoh’s Curse” is nothing but a rumor, however that fact is irrelevant. The power of the curse comes from the number of people who believe in it and the more there are, the stronger the effect is. Elfnein says this is the effect of rumors across history - the longer they thrive the more people begin to hold them as truth. She says the true power of the Philosophical Armament is to surpass the laws of our reality and establish that which is normally thought impossible. Hibiki thinks to herself how unfair it is that Tutankhamun’s own will and thoughts have been warped by other people, and she believes that is the true curse at work.

Hibiki, Chris, Shirabe and Kirika make their way to the harbor once again. However, before they even get close they encounter Balloons on the road and start clearing them out. They reach the ship and discover that their communicators still work properly thanks to Elfnein’s upgrade. Elfnein tells them that even with the Symphogear on they won’t last long inside the ship under the curse’s influence. Slowly, but surely, it will lead them to their death.

Hibiki: Even so…we can’t just leave it like this. We’re going in. 
Chris: Yeah, we’ve already come this far and we can’t let those two across the sea pull all the weight around here. 
Kirika: Yes, we made a promise with Maria.
Shirabe: We promised that we’d never lose to our weakness again. 
Elfnein: …Those feelings might be the only way of finding a way through this situation. 
Hibiki: What do you mean?
Elfnein: A Philosophical Armament cannot be defeated by sheer power alone. The only way to fight is on philosophical grounds - by putting your own strong emotions up against it. 
Kirika: I get it, if it’s a curse created by the impressions of many people…
Shirabe: Then in the same way, our feelings should be able to break through it. 
Chris: Heh, so in other words we just need to go in there armed with nothin’ but our will and guts. 
Hibiki: Hasn’t that always been the case for us? 
Hibiki: We’ve always come up against opponents we should never have been able to beat, and still won.
Hibiki: That’s because we all have strong hearts that believe in ourselves! 
Chris: Yeah!
Kirika: You said it!
Shirabe: That’s right!
Hibiki: So this time, too…everything’s okay! Totally fine!

Despite their efforts there are too many Balloons for them to break through to the ship. So Chris uses a new move, SPREAD ZEPPELIN, to lock on and simultaneously defeat all the Balloons blocking their way. They enter the storage hold and slowly begin to feel their power being sapped from them due to the curse, however it isn’t enough to affect their fighting capabilities. They aim for the main hall, where Tutankhamun’s mask should be. Kirika and Shirabe start to struggle as they worry over LiNKER’s time limit. Hibiki encourages them with her signature phrase “everything’s okay, totally fine!” To which Chris responds that kind of straightforward stupidity doesn’t work on everyone. Hibiki explains that they are magic words her father taught her to help get through any situation. Chris says that her simple minded strategy might be the most effective in this situation. Kirika and Shirabe marvel at Chris and Hibiki's unwavering strength - realizing that the Symphogear is responding to their strong wills. They rejoin the fight, however the Balloons once again join together into a bigger enemy which begins to wear down on Chris and Hibiki’s stamina. Kirika and Shirabe summon up their combined strength and forge a path open and urge the other two to proceed. Despite their reservations, Hibiki and Chris leave them behind and move forward to the hall. They all promise to survive and get dinner together later.

Kirika and Shirabe use their new moves: "Restricting Steel Death - Final Beta Type" and "Raving Murder: Mad Hatter" to defeat hoards of the Balloons. However they keep coming.

Kirika: Way to go, Shirabe! You got 'em! 
Shirabe: Yeah, but more just took their place…
Kirika: Even so, we’re not letting them get past us.
Shirabe: Right….not even one step towards those two. 
Shirabe: Kiri-chan, are you okay? 
Kirika: Everything’s okay, totally fine dess! 
Shirabe: Wait…are you copying Hibiki? 
Kirika: Those are “magic words” you know!
Shirabe: Magic…words….
Shirabe: You’re right, Kiri-chan. Words, songs…they can become magic. 
Shirabe: So let’s sing…together. Let them hear our song!
Kirika: Okay, Shirabe. If I was alone my heart would have given out by now, but-
Kirika/Shirabe: As long as you’re here with me!

After the fight…

Kirika: Did the two of them make it out?
Shirabe: Yeah, it’s okay, they’re gone.
Kirika: It feels like, we’ve accomplished our mission…
Shirabe: No, Kiri-chan, we still have a promise to fulfill…
Kiria: Shirabe…?
Shirabe: Everyone…together…we’ll go home and eat…
Kirika: That’s right, a delicious meal is waiting for us…
Kirika: But I’m a little tired right now, so…
Shirabe: Yeah…me too…so tired…
Shirabe: Hey, Kiri-chan? If Mom saw us now…what would she think? 
Kirika: She would praise us, wouldn’t she….?
Shirabe: Yeah…it would be nice if she did…
Kirika: Until those two come back…let’s just take a quick rest…
Shirabe: Yeah…just a little…
Kirika: Those two will handle what's left…
Shirabe: Yes, we’re counting on them…

They collapse. Meanwhile, Chris and Hibiki arrive at the main hall and feel the full effect of the curse, but it doesn’t stop them. They find Tutankhamun’s Death Mask and suddenly the power of the curse surges. Once again a strange mark appears in front of them, then the Cursed Pharaoh appears for a second time.

Hibiki: Everyone’s selfish misconceptions have turned you into this, Pharaoh…
Hibiki: But I’m going to save you now so just wait, your Highness. 
Hibiki: I can do it…because I will never fall to a fake curse like this!

TO BE CONTINUED