Eat-Man Manga Translations - Volume 3, Act 7 "The Past and Now" Original Story and Art by Akihito Yoshitomi Translation by Justin Coole (cronusz@bellsouth.net) Volume 3 Print date : 7/15/1997 Eat-Man Volume 3 published 7/15/97 by Mediaworks through Dengeki Comics ISBN4-07-306495-9, cost 550 yen. * - indicates a new page Guys: Yo, yo, Marina-chan! You look so cute when you're working! Marina: Oh, shut up! Why don't you guys take a bath? You reek! * Marina: Big sis Hilda! Why am I the only one working?! Hilda: The juice is your specialty, right? If you just treat them like friends, they'll quit acting up. Marina: Geez! Why do so many of them come here all the time? Hilda: They just like you, that's all. * Grandpa: Them again?! I can't stand this noise! Marina: Grandpa! Grandpa: And they're only here to check out Marina. They should just get lost! Hilda: Whoa, Grandpa. They ARE customers, you know! Marina: Oh it's okay! I've got homework to do anyway! Guys: Hang on a sec! We came for that challenge! Yeah! When are you going to do the engagement ceremony!? Marina: MORON!!! It's too early for me! * Grandpa: Hmph! You want Marina, do you? You toddler! You intend to be a Mercenary? Guy: Yeah, the World's Greatest! (Grandpa thwacks him with his cane) Grandpa: I'm sure you know about the the monsters that live on the mountain behind the store, correct? Back when I was a youngster we could have to go and catch them. * Grandpa: If you can go and steal a scale from the largest one up on the mountain... ...you can become Marina's groom! Marina: W-Wait a sec, Grandpa!! Hilda: Ah, I got married the same way. Marina: I know that, but...no way... Grandpa: And if you can escape from there, your true strength will be well known! Marina: No way! You're doing this now?! ARE YOU NUTS?! * Grandpa: Before you go to the mountain, come and sign this! Marina: WAH! Don't you dare! Grandpa! Why now of all times?! My life isn't so easily decided! Grandpa: I think it's a suitable time. Hurrying is a kind of virtue. Marina: Grrrrrrr...this list is full of nothing but smelly jerks! * Hilda: That's the rule of the ceremony around here. Been that way since Grandpa's time, too. Marina: Wh-Who are you?! Hilda: Bolt-san participated during my ceremony. * Grandpa: You again, eh? Don't get any ideas! I won't let you participate this time. Bolt: Uh-huh. (Eats pencil) Grandpa: Hm, Hm. 23 people. Not as popular as your sister but...Eh? * Grandpa: Why if it isn't little Tom. Don't bother, boy. You'll simply get hurt. * Grandpa: Remember, if you don't get a scale, you can't be her man! Tom: Yes, I know. Grandpa: Well, I suppose I should get things ready. * Marina: This is so stupid. Why can't I just marry the one I love? Hilda: Don't you believe in him? I was able to marry the one that I loved, you know. (Marina rushes outside) Hilda: You've met Koya, right Bolt? Bolt: Yeah...2 years ago, now he has a great business. Hilda: Hm Hm... Do you remember? Back then it was just the same, 8 years ago... * (in the past) Hilda: Grandpa, the one my heart is set on is..! Grandpa: This is the family custom! If they return with a scale then so be it! Bolt: I don't plan to. * Hilda: I've heard you're the World's Greatest Mercenary! Bolt: So what? I think you'll do. Koya: Hilda, don't worry. I'll come back with a scale no matter what. I don't know who or what the World's Greatest Mercenary is, but.. I'm not going to hand you to anyone! * Bolt: We'll see. Hilda: Koya! * Hilda: Koya...please...please come back with it... Koya: I will. Don't worry. * (back to the present) Marina: You got it? If youdon't come back with a scale I won't forgive you! * Tom: D-Don't worry! I can handle it! Marina: Really? Tom: Hopefully! Marina: What do you mean 'hopefully'? You'd better, you'd better get it! * Hilda: If I remember it right, it was a cloudy day like this one... (in the past) Grandpa: Understand? Those who retire halfway must return by the river! If you do that, the monsters will not attack you! * Grandpa: However, you won't be considered eligible to marry Hilda! Hilda: Please, don't go! If you think you're doing this for me... Bolt: Persistent, aren't you. * Grandpa: All right, GO!! * Tom: Ow! Y-Yaaah!! Marina: It's probably useless... * Bolt: Back then, you and the old man didn't think he'd make it... * Hilda: It's because of you. If you hadn't shown up... Bolt: But, he still did it... * (the past) Bolt: You're doing pretty good. No one else is left. Koya: Except you. * Koya: There it is! * (Koya fights the monster, getting really beaten up in the process) * Bolt: Hold it right there. * (Back to the present. Tom is laying in front of the monster, much like Koya was in the past, all beaten up and unconscious.) Monster: It's you again. * Bolt: Yeah. It's been 8 years, hasn't it? Monster: Hahaha...I just can't win, can I, Bolt Crank... (The monster takes a scale off it's hide and leaves it beside Tom.) * Bolt: Hey, kid. From what I saw you didn't do too shabby. (He reforms the wood he ate before, making Tom a raft to get back to the village via the river.) * (The past) Man: Look! Over there! Hilda: Koya! * Man: He's returned with a scale!! Hilda: (sees the raft) This is...! * (Back to the present) Hilda: If you had really wanted to, you could have married me. But...you didn't. Why? Bolt: You said this was just like 8 years ago. Hilda: Eh? Yeah... Bolt: You wanted to see the two of them be happy... So I was hired. * Grandpa: Yes...recently youngsters have had less and less faith. If you're with a faithless person, it makes things difficult. Hilda: So you're saying...8 years ago you hired...!! Bolt: You got it. (Grandpa winks at her while Bolt takes his leave. Hilda starts laughing.) THE END