竹藪の中
takeyabu no naka
In a Bamboo Grove
Vocals: Φ串Φ (Kushi)
Lyrics: RD-Sounds
Arranged by: RD-Sounds
Album: 密 (Hisoka) [Official site]
Circle: 凋叶棕 (Diao ye zong)
Event: C89
Original theme: Plain Asia [プレインエイジア]
Requested by: Nii Chii
This time, RD has given us not one, not two, but three arrangements of Plain Asia. Firstly, some background information. This song cycle is based on our candid friend Akutagawa Ryuunosuke’s short story ‘In A Grove’ [藪の中, yabu no naka]. The story follows various different accounts of a single murder, which gradually make the overall narrative more confusing. It deals with the theme of transmitting and accepting objective truth. Which is the perfect fit for Keine’s ability of seeing and modifying history.
Like the original story, the three different accounts presented here contradict each other in various ways, and the identity of the victim is ambiguous. Try and work out what’s going on – it’s like solving a mystery. The booklet images are the keys to the plot, as well as the hair colours mentioned in the descriptions. しろがね (platinum, shirogane, spelled as 銀髪, ginpatsu) is probably used to refer to Keine, and 銀の髪 (silver hair, gin no kami) is probably used in reference to Mokou. But when reading it, 銀髪 and 銀の髪 are similar, which makes it all the more ambiguous.
Unofficial translation/非公式の英訳
Part 1: ‘The Tale of a Florist Questioned by the Maiden of Are’
Sleep.
There is no such thing as a being who cannot be pardoned.
‘The Tale of a Florist Questioned by the Maiden of Are’
It was unfortunate, but a child
Lost their life.
The copper-coloured beast came and attacked.
They could do nothing but cry in fear.
Fortunately, another child who happened to be present
Narrowly escaped death.
Was the beast satiated by its prey? It disappeared somewhere…
…Through some sort of trick of fate, only the child that was hated passed away.
Keine’s perspective
I gaze up at the form of that beloved child
Who returned to the sky.
My platinum-coloured hair waves in the wind…
“You mustn’t come near me!” Those words,
Heard in the bamboo grove.
Part 2: ‘The Testimony of the White Rabbit Questioned by the Person of Hourai/The Hakutaku’s Soliloquy’
Sleep.
There is no such thing as an offence that will last forever.
Sleep.
There is no such thing as a being who cannot be pardoned.
‘The Testimony of the White Rabbit Questioned by the Person of Hourai’
It was unfortunate, but the child was alone
Because she was of a noble upbringing.
The limits of uncontrollable cruelty
Do not discriminate between adults or children.
Was good fortune her death itself?
Is that what all in the village had longed for?
You know, I think I’ve seen the platinum-haired beast that came to attack them somewhere before…
…Through some sort of trick of fate, a full moon shone upon the corpse.
Mokou’s perspective
I gazed up at my companion’s eyes reflected in the sky.
Her platinum hair swayed…
“You musn’t hide what I have done!” Those words, heard in the bamboo grove.
Sleep.
Sleep for eternity…
There is nothing that can be forgiven.
‘The Hakutaku’s Soliloquy’
I spin the thread of all things
So I may weave and knit it together again.
I do it so, somehow or other, this abominable history –
My memories – will never torment another
I just stay silent.
Nothing remains in the bamboo grove.
Part 3: ‘Their Lament’ (1)
It was unfortunate, but two children
Were fooling about at the edge of the village.
A copper-coloured beast came to attack them.
There was nothing they could do but cry in fear.
Fortunately, somebody came to help them.
Their silver hair was thrown out of order.
Through the crimson flames bursting from her body,
Perhaps she sought to protect them…
Through some sort of trick
Of fate,
The spreading hands of flames attacked someone.
Lamenting the sin of her companion, she gazes upwards.
Silver hair sways.
“You must never forgive me!” Those words echo through the bamboo grove.
Translator’s note
(1) The title of the final section has been partly removed in the booklet. Several characters are supposed to come before 人. It is possible that the full word is meant to be 蓬莱人 (Person of Hourai, houraibito), though other possibilities may exist.
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