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第百十九季 長月の二

Season 119, 2nd of the Long Month (September)

蟲の知らせサービス開始

The New Insects' News Service

蟲の地位向上を目指し

For Improving the Status of Insects

蛍の妖怪リグル・ナイトバグさん(妖怪)が、大量の蟲を遣った『蟲の知らせ』サービスを開始すると発表した。

The insect spirit Wriggle Nightbug (Youkai) has begun sending out huge amounts of insects for the "Insects' News Service."

(Note: "虫の知らせ" (bug's notice) originally means "presentiment / foreboding".)

これはぞんざいに扱われがちな蟲の地位向上が狙いだ。

This is hoping to improve the low social status of insects.

  

蟲というと何を想像するだろうか。

What comes to mind on the subject of bugs?

恐らく多くの方は食糧かゴミとしか思わないだろう。

Maybe most people don't think of anything beyond food rations or garbage.

(Note: it seems this crow tengu thinks bugs are food rations.)

今ではその程度の認識しか持ち合わせていない。

These days, they have no more than that degree of recognition.

その現状に憂えた蟲のリーダーが、現状打破のために発案したのが今回のサービスである。

The leader of the bugs who are bothered by the present condition, in order to distrupt the status quo, has proposed the idea for this service.

  

このサービスは、予め予定を伝えておくと決められた時間に大量の蟲がお知らせにやって来る、という物だ。

The idea behind this service is that, if given plans and a time in advance, a huge number of insects would come and make announcements.

  

例えばモーニングコールをお願いすると、朝に大量の蟲が布団の上にびっしりと集まり、優しく起こしてくれる。

For example, if someone asked for a morning call, a huge amount of insects would gather together on their futon and gently wake them.

蟲は羽のあるタイプだけではなく、足が無数にあるタイプも用意されており、そのバリエーションは豊富だ。

The bugs aren't just winged types; insects with many legs could also be used, allowing for plentiful variations.

  

リグルさんは、今回のサービスに対してこう語る。

I asked Ms. Wriggle to speak about this service.

  

「蟲だって役に立つって事を思い知らせたいのよ。最近、蟲がなめられてばっかで腹立たしいの。蛍だって松虫だってただの見せ物扱いよ。いつから人間はそんなに偉くなったのかねぇ。だからといって、人間に危害を与えると駆除されてしまうのかも知れないし……。だから生きていく上で蟲が不要と思われている現状を打破すれば、もっと蟲の地位が向上するって思ったの」

"I want people to realize that bugs are helpful, too. These days, everyone just makes fun of us, and it's getting annoying. They think even fireflies and pine crickets are just for display. When did humans start thinking they are such superior beings? However, if we harm humans, they might exterminate us... Therefore, if we can put an end to the idea that we aren't necessary in their lives, I think our social status would improve."

  

リグルさんは、蟲を操る事が出来る能力を使い今回のサービスを運営している。

Ms. Wriggle is managing this new service with her ability to manipulate insects.

利用者も「冷や汗が出る位良く目が覚める」「耳元でカサカサ音が鳴ると居ても立ってもいられない」と好評のようだ 。

Users are saying things like "I broke out in a cold sweat and woke up right away" and "With that rustling sound next to your ears, you can hardly contain yourself", so it seems to have a favorable reputation so far.

  

ただ、リグルさんは最後に「飽きたからもうそろそろ止めよかな」と付け加えた。

However, Ms. Wriggle added "We got tired of it, so we will probably stop soon." afterward.

蟲の命は儚い。蟲の知らせもまた儚いものである。

The life of insects is short, so it makes sense that the life of the Insects' News Service would also be short.

射命丸文

(Aya Shameimaru)

古道具・美術・民具等々、広く売買いたします 古道具「香霖堂」 魔法の森出てスグ

We buy and sell all kinds of used furniture, art, and household goods. Second-hand shop Kourindou, located right outside the Forest of Magic.

Interview[]

Wriggle

あれ? こんな事やってたっけ?

What? We're doing something like this?

Aya

貴方の記事ですよ? ついこないだ取材したじゃないですか

You mean your article? It was only the other day I was collecting data for it, wasn't it?

Wriggle

覚えてないなぁ

I don't remember.

Aya

蟲の頭の中って、どれだけ小さいのでしょうか

I wonder how small the brains of insects are?

Wriggle

違う違う、不要になった情報はすぐに切り捨てるようにしてるだけ。ほらそうじゃないと蟲の知らせサービスだって出来ないしー。お客のスケジュールが覚えられないから

It's not like that, we omit information as soon as it's no longer in use. Otherwise, we can't provide the Insect News Service. Because we can't remember the schedules of our customers.

Aya

なんだ、覚えてるじゃないですか

What, you remember that after all.

Wriggle

覚えてないなぁ

I can't remember.

Aya

昔は蟲の力ももっと強かった様な気がするのです。人間に寄生したりしたし、毒性だってもっと高かったし……。一刺しで妖怪をも倒せる蟲も少なくありませんでした

I feel that in the past the power of insects was stronger. They would act as parasites on human beings, and they had stronger poisons... There were quite a few that could defeat even yokai with a single sting.

Wriggle

今の蟲が弱いとでも?

So the ones now are weak?

Aya

弱いですね。昔は大量の毒蟲同士闘わせて、それで最後に残った蟲が最強としてその後妖力を身につけていった物です。それそれは恐ろしい物でした。その時代に比べれば、今の貴方レベルの妖怪では今の蟲もたかが知れています。貴方なんてただの見せ物でしょう?

They are. In the past many poisonous bugs would battle, and the last one standing would earn the knowledge of magical power. That was a dreadful thing. If you compare it to then, we only discover insects now to be of your level. So, you're all show aren't you?

Wriggle

そこまで言われるとへこみます……うう

It makes me sad that you'd say it like that...... ooh...

Aya

うちの鴉は蟲が大好物です

But this crow loves insects.

(Note: Aya is with a crow in the picture.)

Wriggle

げげ、こんな所にも天敵が~

Heh, we have another natural enemy here~

Aya

人はそれを益鳥と呼ぶのです

That's why humans call them beneficial birds.

Wriggle

勝手な事ばっか言わないでよ~!ただでさえ最近年々と蟲の数も減ってきた様な気がするのに

Don't assume things like that! I feel that recently, to make matters worse, the number of bugs is decreasing year after year.

Aya

良い事じゃないですか。あ、でも蟲が減ったら鳥たちも困るわねぇ

Isn't that good? Well, if the number of bugs decreases, the birds have something to worry about.

Wriggle

減っても喰われても困るけど……それより問題なのが殺虫剤よ!

Whether there's not enough of us or we're being eaten we're worried... but more than that the problem is insecticide!

Aya

殺虫剤? ああ人間が作った便利な道具の事ですか?

Insecticide? Ah, that handy tool created by humans?

Wriggle

アレのお陰で私の可愛い蟲達がカサカサと減っていくの

Thanks to that my sweet bugs have turned to nothing.

Aya

弱いわね

They're weak.

Wriggle

昔の蟲だったら死ななかったとでも言いたいの? そんなレベルじゃないのよあの攻撃は

You said that bugs used to survive things like poison, right? These attacks aren't at that level.

Aya

何を言っているのですか。それはチャンスなのですよ?

When did I say that? Isn't this a chance?

Wriggle

チャンスって何よ

What chance?

Aya

殺虫剤程度では倒れなかった蟲だけ集めて行けば、殺虫剤の聞かない蟲だけが残る。それで暫く世代を重ねて数を増やす

If you keep collecting the bugs that survive the insecticide, only the bugs who aren't affected by the insecticide will remain. You make new generations increasing their number for a while in this way.

Wriggle

ふむふむ

Oh-ho...

Aya

そうしている間に、人間はもっと強くて洒落にならない殺虫剤を作る

But in the meantime, the humans can make a stronger and savage insecticide.

Wriggle

……

......

Aya

それでも効かなかった蟲だけを集め、また数を増やす、それを繰り返していくと……

And then you collect only the unaffected bugs, and increase their number again, and if the pattern continues...

Wriggle

無敵の殺虫剤が作られるだけじゃないのー?

Won't it only help making an invincible insecticide?

Aya

殺虫剤だって、人間に影響ない訳が無いのです。だから殺虫剤の効果には限界があります。殺虫剤の強さが限界まで言った[sic]ときに、蟲は人間の手に負えない力を手に入れる事になるのです

But the humans have to make sure the insecticide won't hurt them as well, so there's a limit to how strong they can make it. Once that limit is reached, bugs will no longer be defeated by humans.

Wriggle

そうかー。気の長い話だけどもっと頑張らないとー

I see. It sounds like it would take quite long, so I should work harder...

Aya

でも、鳥には食べられてあげてくださいね

But please feed the birds too, OK?


リグル・ナイトバグ

Wriggle Nightbug

蟲を操る能力を持った妖怪。

A youkai who has an ability to control insects.

自身も蟲だけに、寒さと殺虫剤に弱い。

Since she is also an insect herself, she is vulnerable to coldness and insecticide.

出演作:『東方永夜抄

Appearances: Imperishable Night


紙面から
2 幻想郷に響く怪音
9 古いお茶に注意
  茶毒による食中毒が散発的に発生中
29 深夜の助け鬼大会でハプニング発生

From page:
2 - Gensokyo's Mysterious Vibrations
9 - Old Tea Warning
Tainted tea causing sporadic food poisoning
29 - Outbreak in Late-Night Demon-helping Rallies

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