Eat-Man Manga Translations - Volume 4, Act 9 Original Story/Art - Akihito Yoshitomi Translation by Justin Coole (cronusz@bellsouth.net) Eat-Man Volume 4 published 10/15/97 by Mediaworks through Dengeki Comics ISBN4-07-306992-6, cost 550 yen.[Page 3] Act-9 Tachiagaru kage The Standing Shadow (Bolt is sitting on a narrow rock overlooking what appears to be a massive wasteland.) [Page 4] (There is a young man, named Randy, being forcefully taken into a vehicle while a nearby crowd watches.) Randy: Let go!! It's not me! I didn't do it!! Crowd: That's Randy, isn't it... Crowd: He was framed! (A girl is in the crowd, rather angry and obviously about to go after Randy.) Girl: Kuh...! Guy1: No way, Annie! Guy2: We can't do anything about it now! Annie: ...Brother... [Page 5] (A large TV on a building is broadcasting a man dressed in what appears to be some sort of armor. He has long hair and a thick beard and mustache.) King: Is this the hero of our people?!! One who pays women to fulfill his desires?! In addition, he commits the crimes of murder and destruction! This man has deceived you with his words, and his men who have come to this country will see him disgraced!! Tomorrow at noon, this man's base will be destroyed! [Page 6] King: The tunnel will be sealed off. It is the only way to communicate with the outside world. This country is magnificent! It's paradise! There is no reason why anyone would leave here. All that exists out there is the freezing cold desert. All of you wonderful people and your way of life is where this country's good comes from. (The king shuts off his broadcast, as there is only one person left watching him babble :P ) [Page 7] Shadow: You're the only one who speaks about breaking away from paradise, My lord... King: ! So you've come back...? (The King throws a large amount of money on the desk nearby.) It's like you said. Killing more people has a big effect. Besides, prostitutes are the only victims... (The King pushes a button, and a picture of Bolt pops up on the display.) [Page 8] (Shadow looks genuinely surprised. He has long hair, his face obscured by a hood.) Shadow: ...! King: The foreign escape group's greatest crime is part of 'oddbull.' This is the killer that they've hired to get me. Shadow: Leon... is not a killer. King: This job is the main dish. Kill this man. Shadow: As you wish. [Page 9] (We now see Shadow's face, which very much resembles Bolt, without the glasses.] Shadow: I'm...so sick of having to live in his shadow. King: Oh by the way... I never did get your name... (As he turns to face the man, he has already left without a trace, leaving the money the king offered on the desk.) [Page 10] (In another place in the city, Bolt is talking with Annie and her men.) Annie: Will you...kill the king of this country? Bolt: I'm afraid not. Annie: Hear me out. My brother...Randy has not killed anyone. The King set him up. The King here thinks of his people only as slaves. But, we have been unable to muster the strength to fight back. [Page 11] Annie: The tunnel is the only way you can get in. Bolt: ..... Annie: Please. You're the only person we can count on now. Guy1: What the hell, Annie!? This guy's really suspicious! Guy2: Yeah! I don't like it how he's not from this country! Annie: Stop it! What, do you know another way?! What else can we do?! Guys: ..... [Page 12] Bolt: Shadow... Annie: Eh? Bolt: A shadow of Randy killed that girl... Annie: Randy's...shadow? (As Bolt speaks, a TV behind him shows the news, along with an image of him on the screen.) Bolt: Shadows are producers of other shadows... Then they retreat into the darkness from whence they came. (Annie's men are shocked to see Bolt's image on the TV.) Guys: ...!!! [Page 13] News: ..man's name is Leon. This man is responsible for murdering a young girl, along with 14 other people. (The Guys look furiously at Bolt, as he hears the news.) Bolt: ! ..... Looks like even I have an annoying shadow giving me attention. [Page 14] (The men shove Bolt harshly into a large safe nearby, and lock it.) Annie: Wait! This man is our last hope! Guy: Our hope...may be dead tomorrow at noon. Along with the tunnel. [Page 15] (On top of a building, the mysterious man clutches a bloody knife.) Shadow: Where have you disappeared to, Leon? I'm right here. [Page 16] (Annie is sitting in a chair, her legs up to her chin, her agitation rather evident. She looks at Bolt's face on the TV again and gets up to open the room where her men threw him. She is shocked to see that the safe is missing, and Bolt is sitting in a corner.) [Page 17] Annie: W-Where is the safe...? Bolt: Ate it. Annie(rather puzzled): You...who or what are you? Bolt(smiles): I'm a Mercenary. (Boukenya) (Later that night. Bolt is tapping the walls, which are made of steel.) Annie(sitting on a bed): Are you Leon? Or are you Bolt? [Page 18] (Bolt seemingly ignores her, simply continuing to tap on the metal walls. Annie is a bit confused.) Annie: ..... So a Mercenary will take any job, as long as money is involved, right? Bolt: Do you have money, then? (Bolt tears off a piece of the wall, and eats it.) Annie: Please! Bolt: ! [Page 19] (Annie has taken her clothes off, and stands in front of Bolt, her clothing covering her body while she stands.) Annie: Kill the King! [Page 20] (Bolt looks straight back at her, unreadable) Annie: I don't have money, but... You can do whatever you want... Bolt: I'm not a killer. Annie(sighs): I knew it. It's no use, I guess... [Page 21] (Bolt walks up to her, reaching out.) Annie: ...! Bolt: But...I can send something else his way. Annie: ...Eh? (Bolt takes her clothing from her. She closes her eyes and waits for the inevitable to happen.) [Page 22] (Bolt, however, is now eating her clothing ^^ ) Annie: Umm... Bolt(walking out the door): You can pay me later. [Page 23] (Annie sits in shock.) (The next morning, Bolt is at the table with the usual bolts and assorted metal items for breakfast, along with what appears to be coffee, but Bolt fans know it's probably motor oil :P ) [Page 24] (Annie watches him eat, as Bolt eats another bolt) Bolt: Do you...trust me? (Annie stands up.) Bolt: ! Annie: My clothes. You didn't return them, you know. And that neat ability of yours makes you stand out... Bolt: Wait. [Page 25] (Bolt opens his hand, bringing the clothing he ate out of it.) Bolt: You need to go. If you're involved with me, bad things will happen. (Annie takes the clothing and puts it on, and is about to leave the house.) Annie: Well, bad things have already happened! (Bolt simply watches as she leaves. Outside, the mysterious man is around a corner, watching.) Shadow: So there you are... [Page 26] (Annie is running down the street.) /Bolt: Do you...trust me?/ Annie: Ha ha..I guess I do. [Page 27] (Shadow is waiting in front of Annie, wielding a gun.) Shadow: Good morning. Annie(stops): !! Shadow: Thanks for leading me to Leon. (Annie is shocked) [Page 27] (A shot is heard, and Bolt rushes out when he hears it. When he arrives at the scene, a group of people have crowded around something.) Man: How cruel... (Another man looks and sees Bolt approaching.) Man2: ...! Look! Man: Ah! [Page 28] (Annie lies dead in the street, a bullet wound piercing her chest.) [Page 29] (Bolt sees a note on her body, picks it up and reads it. Upon finishing, he begins to walk away.) Man: A...Ahh...Run! Man2: The cops are coming! [Page 30] (The outskirts of town. The base that will be destroyed at 12 Noon. Shadow is waiting by it.) [Page 31] (Bolt stands not too far from him.) Shadow: Oh..Leon. Been wanting to meet you. We haven't seen each other in a while, eh? Bolt: Yeah. It's been 10 years. [Page 32] (Back at Annie's death site, police and tanks have gathered at the scene.) Crowd: Leon did it! I saw him on TV! Hurry up and capture him! Troop: Get BACK! Troop: I found this letter on her... Troop2: Hn? "Border...base"? [Page 33] Shadow: Was that girl your woman? That's too bad, you know. Bolt: So you're the shadow that's behind all of this. Shadow: I guess you could say that. I'm your shadow, Leon. Bolt: I'm Bolt now. Bolt Crank. Shadow: So you say. Your name has changed...but not your shadow. Bolt: Is that all you wanted to talk about? [Page 34] (Bolt produces a handgun from his right hand.) Bolt: Sorry, but I have a job to do. (Shadow also brings out a gun, aiming it back at Bolt.) Shadow: As do I. (A camera has zoomed in to the pair.) Man: There, over there! Man2: Those two...what the hell are they doing out there?! Man3: It's almost noon! [Page 35] Shadow: I've been your shadow for 10 years now. Who do you think would want this? You're not listening, are you? Bolt: I don't have to listen to this. (Shadow is silent, then smiles.) Shadow: Of course not. Bolt: !? [Page 36] Bolt: !! [Page 37] Shadow: Ha ha... You know, I'm tired of existing only as your shadow. I can't kill you, and you cannot kill me. That's because I'm your shadow. Those who relied on us 10 years ago may not have been happy, but... here, I will finish this job. [Page 38] Shadow: I've wanted this for so long... Am I you, or are you me? We'll never have to separate.. Bolt: You aren't me. I'm Bolt Crank. [Page 39-40] BOOM [Page 41] Annie: ! (Realizing she is alive, she checks her wound, only to find nothing.) Guy: Finally awake? We found this piece of metal sewn into your jacket... [Page 42] (Annie remembers the piece of metal that Bolt ate from the wall, and how he had eaten the jacket shortly thereafter. Put two and two together and...) Annie: Where is Bolt?! Guy: .... They say he's dead... Blown away in the explosion of the base... Annie: N...No way... [Page 43] (Someone rushes into the room.) Man: B-Big news!! Guy: What're you fussing about now? Man: T-t-t-the king has disappeared! (Everyone looks at him shocked.) [Page 44] (The scene switches to a reporter on TV live on the scene.) Reporter: Stay tuned! In front of the palace, citizens have gathered in full force! 3 days have passed since the destruction of the base... (Annie is rushing out to the ruins of the base.) ...which has changed our country's situation for the first time! Whomever were the guards of the palace is being determined...(? Not sure, email me if you know - Justin) [Page 45] Reporter: The new king is coming out of his room talking about his new reforms! *(I am just not sure about this one...) (A picture of Randy, along with supporters is shown.) Reporter: It appears that he says the old king has lost his power! (Annie begins to laugh as she reaches the rubble.) Reporter: This man's ability has yet to be seen, but... (Annie laughs hysterically.) [Page 46] Reporter: It also appears that peace has come to our country... (Amongst the rubble, the safe that Bolt had eaten before sits, banged up, open and with footprints walking away from it.) END If anyone can help me with the errors, please don't hesitate to email me. You'll be given credit, naturally. Send comments to: cronusz@bellsouth.net