Arachnid 69

Arachnid Chapter Translation Script by Nitori

[73]
Chapter 69: I Want It To Be You

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100 years ago,
the little girl
lived under Taisho imperial reign.
She was a premature baby who was born not even 1.5 kg,
but afterwards, she grew up healthy without any issues at all.
...Or so it seemed, but...
The problems began to reveal themselves when she was about 10 years old.
The little girl's body

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stopped growing
when she became six.

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The original diagnosis
was a growth impediment caused by malnutrition.
Seeking a cause for it, her father blamed her mother's negligence, and her mother blamed her father's low income.
Their marital relationship deteriorated
and their stagnated feelings became hatred.
The weak little girl who was the cause of it
was seen to blame,
and she was physically abused by her father and scolded by her mother.
The hellish days continued.
However,
after a particular day,

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the situation completely changed.
Her father's aggression towards the little girl ceased,
and on the contrary,
he was constantly worried about her as he protected her.
As a person who had reflected on himself as a father,
it looked as thought he had a fresh start in life.
However,
that wasn't the case.
She placed her real father

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under her control
as "Suzumebachi".
When did she become aware of the existence of that power?
The little girl herself doesn't recall either.
It was not something she was taught.
The little girl
already knew the art of controlling people.
Eventually, her mother, who noticed her husband's strangeness,
deemed the little girl as a kind of witch
and formulated a plan to kill her, but...
The little girl, who sensed her intent,
saw this as a good opportunity,

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to make her father commit suicide
after making him kill her mother.
Why did she kill them?
Surely it's not just from a grudge.
The little girl discovered a rule
for using her own powers.
In order to turn people into "Suzumebachi",
two requirements need to be met.
They are

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an intent to become "Suzumebachi"
and an aptitude for it.
The intent isn't a big deal.
The problem is the existence of an aptitude.
The criteria is uncertain, but...
The little girl realized that
just like a hornet,
extreme aggression and strong vitality are essential.
And, only one is capable of being controlled
at any given time.
There cannot be two "Suzumebachi" at the same time.
In other words,
depending on who becomes Suzumebachi,

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her own life changes.
So,
the little girl carefully selected people one after the other,
occupying them and then killing them, occupying them and then killing them,
and switching to many different "Suzumebachi".
With that small body of hers,
she ascended the stairs of power.
And then,
20 or so years flowed by,
and the little girl,
no, she,

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turned the most powerful person at the time
into "Suzumebachi".
Under her control,
he strengthened his political speeches,
and Japan thereafter
pursued the path of war.
Ending up in a reckless war against the Allies
went out as history was told.
Boss.
The current circumstances are not favourable.
If the battle continues on like this,
the annihilation of Japan by the Allied Forces will be inevitable.
Is that so?

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It was still too early then.
That's too bad.
Looks like being able to read somebody's mind
isn't enough to win a war, huh?
If it's come down to this,
then in the end, I believe that surrender-
No.
If we surrender like this,
once our defeated Japan
is overrun by the Allied Forces,

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it'll be divided between America, Britain, and the Soviet Union,
and completely ruined.
Yes.
That being the case, what do you suggest we-
If we're going to lose anyway,
we're going to lose with a bang.
In such a spectacular way
that winning will make them feel inferior!
And then on 1945,
the United States Armed Forces suddenly
made Japan, which was on the brink of surrender,

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their testing grounds
for their newest experimental weapon.
This operation
was an experiment taken by the Allied Forces and the Japanese Army through a secret agreement.
It was a proposal she made
in order to make Japan's defeat flawless.
Afterwards, the most powerful person of Japan was sentenced to capital punishment in the Tokyo Trials
and was executed by guillotine.
She then

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ventured on her own
in a black market that was on par with post-war Tokyo.
There's considerable liveliness
for a defeated country, huh?
But well,
it's time for me to find the next "Suzumebachi", though.
Since I'm tired of old men already,
I'll go with a young man next
who will probably live a long life...
Hey!

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Here.
Take it.
Eh?
Why?
Aren't you selling that?
We-well,
you...

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look like
my mother who died...
She wasn't as small as you, but...
How should I say it...
Your aura...
Your mother.
What was her name?
Yo-
Yoriko.
Hmm...
Is that so?
What was she thinking at the time?
She

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welcomed this young orphan as her son
and made him "Suzumebachi".
Afterwards, together with the boy,
she established "The Organization".
She assembled people who were proficient at assassination,
and eventually she,
as the invisible "Boss",
the most powerful being in Japan who regulated the size of its population,
reigned for a long time
at the summit of underground society.
And furthermore,
50 years later...

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This is an excellent gravesite.
I had it made it just for you.
Pick a spot that isn't too conspicuous-
Boss.

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I mean,
Mother.
[box] Minister for Foreign Affairs [linebreak] Ushijima Masashi
Please allow me to call you that
this time.
Do as you wish.
You are my faithful servant.
A brilliant son.
I've always thought of you like that.

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From now on, always,
I'll think that way.
Even after you die
and Togawa Jin becomes "Suzumebachi".
I'll be going far away from here on.
And from here on,
you'll be on your own.
Isn't it nice, Masashi?
Yes...

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Oh-
ohh...
Hey...
Don't cry.
Are you afraid of dying?
I'm just letting you know now,
but it's actually several times scarier not being able to die.
I'm not afraid.
It's just...
I would be leaving Mother behind alone,
and I, rotting away,
would feel overly miserable
and overly tantalizing...
That's right.

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I'm
always alone.
My families and comrades
all die, leaving me behind.
And that's natural.
It's just common practice for me.
Therefore, even this time,
I didn't cry.
However,

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I felt a slight sensation.
A weird "thought" which
I couldn't tell whether it was sadness or pity.
It was probably a "sign."
After that happened,
my ability as "Nejirebane"

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began weakening
albeit gradually.
After turning Togawa Jin into "Suzumebachi",
I wasn't able to completely control him as well.
I gradually started to feel irritated
by this "Suzumebachi" who couldn't sever his affection towards his family.
And,
now,
in order to catch up,

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my body
began growing again.

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There's no doubting it anymore.
This life which I thought could last forever
and this ability,
the day for them to end
will someday come for sure.
I don't know when that'll happen,
but I've got a hunch.
Chances are,
the next person
is the last one I can turn into "Suzumebachi".
And
for that last one,

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I want it to be you,
Fujii Alice.

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Wh-
why...
Such a thing...
Everything up until now has been,
so to speak, a touchstone.

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You succeeded Kumo,
drove away Dinoponera,
staved off Sasori,
slaughtered the Army Ants,
and defeated
Suzumebachi.
It's obvious now.
There is nobody

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more suitable than you
for becoming my companion.