Disclaimer: This translation is for any body that wants to read manga. Don't redistribute this translation for your site, commercial use, or anything I consider inappropriate. If you like this story, you could be supporting the author by buying this manga^-^ "Slayers" is copyrighted to Shoko Yoshinaka. It is then translated into Chinese by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. Signs: (THINKING) [ACTION] *Emphasis* ***** = change in time or place Slayers Volume 1 Chapter 2 Page 54 [they're in a huge room with lots of sparkling statues and accessories within it] Gourry: Wow... These are really expensive items. Lina: ( What bad taste in decorations... ) Man: What's the matter? Isn't this luxurious? It'll beat even the luxuries of Atlas City. Page 55 Lina: What job is the merchant lord hiring? Lord Bei: suddenly very serious It's like this.... Next week is my 60th birthday. Before that day arrives, however, I want you two guard a certain object. Lord Bei: The pay is 5 silver coins. Will you two accept the job? Lina & Gourry: [ immediately turn around to leave with an outraged look on their faces ] Lord Bei: Then--10 GOLD coins. Lina & Gourry: [ immediately turn to face the merchant ] We are but your humble servants. Page 56 [ a close up view of an large SOLID GOLD muscled version of Lord Bei ] Lina & Gourry: [ very shocked but still trying to look impressed and failing miserably ] Lina: Pro...protect this thing? Page 57 Lina & Gourry: [ their eyes have contracted into two dots ] (Rethinking over their rushed decisions maybe? ^_^) Lord Bei: What do you think? It looks just like me. Isn't it cute? If you would like one, I have bunch of smaller ones. Off the side: Only 3 gold coins each! Lord Bei: I have especially prepared two good but low priced rooms especially for you two. If you two don't mind, you can eat my house's special first class meals before working. Lina: ( LUCKY!! ) Lord Bei: Don't forget to pay! Lina & Gourry: [ very disappointed and shocked look on both of their faces ] Lina: Out of all the~~! We just had to meet that stingy merchant lord!! Page 58 Gourry: [ holding a plate of food and a pair of chop sticks ] Don't be mad! It's because of his wealth that we got to eat this delicious food. Lina: That 'especially prepared rooms' and 'special first class meals'. slams her cup onto the wooden table Hump! Lina: But the food here is really great. [ turns toward the restaurant owner and in a cuter tone of voice ] Old sir, I would like some more. Restaurant owner: [ laughing happily ] Thank you! Restaurant owner: Hearing my customers compliment on my food makes happier than anything else. [ putting more food onto Lina's plate ] Page 59 Restaurant owner: I don't know how long it will take but once I've borrowed enough money I intend to open my own restaurant. Lina & Gourry: [ stops eating to stare at the restaurant owner] Restaurant owner: [speculative look on his face as a flash back occurs] ***** Begin Flashback Lina: Old sir, if you don't disapprove... Gourry: ...let us help you open a restaurant. ***** End Flashback Restaurant owner: Aya! I'm so sorry. I'm always talking about nonsense. Gourry: Ah yes! I would like more that and that dish over there. Lina: I would like some of the same as well. Restaurant owner: [ giving a deep bow to the two Slayers in front of his wagon--the restaurant ] Please come as much as you like. Page 60 Lord Bei: [ slams his hands onto a table ] You two are late! Lord Bei: [ points his forefinger at them ] Where did you run off to play? And how come your stomachs are stuffed that full? How can you two do guard duty with stuffed stomachs!? Lina & Gourry: burp! Sorry. Lord Bei: From now on, your pay will be decided on how much work you two do. Lord Bei: [ leaves the room and slams the door behind him ] You only need to eat at my house. Then the bill can be paid through your salary. What idiots! Can't see a good deal when it's staring at them in the face ... Page 61 Lina: [ angrily sits down on a nearby sofa ] If we really had eaten the more expansive but better food here, our salary would have been long gone. Gourry: [ also sitting down ] You said it. Lord Bei: [ suddenly opens the door ] What you two mumbling about? Lina: [ the two of them immediately sprang onto their feet at attention ] The statue is completely safe and secure, ... Gourry: ... please feel safe in leaving it in our care! Lord Bei: All right then. I'll go back to bed. Guard diligently! Lord Bei: If even one hair on my precious statue is harm, I'll never let you two off the hook! Lina & Gourry: ( Ah ) Page 62 [ picture of oil lamp ] Lina: Ah~~~ This is so unfair! Isn't even one robber going to come and play? Lina: When one comes, we'll capture one. But only if we catch lots of robbers, will our pay increase. Gourry: The way this is going it'll be next week before we even earn half a penny. Lina: [ looking extremely bored ] I really hate waiting in this very comfortable place. Page 63 Gourry: How about listening to one of my gallant adventures to pass the time? Just imagine the atmosphere of the time when I had a fight with a two-headed tortoise. It's sure to teach you the gratifying pleasure of snoring. Lina: Hum? Gourry: To tell the truth, it was really impossible to tell which end was the head and which end was the tail. Lina: [ there is picture of two-headed tortoise with the words "Lina's imagination" in the background of the bubble ] Gourry: eh? Isn't this story exciting? Lina: [ looking very uncomfortable with a large sweat drop on one side of her head ] No, it isn't. Lina & Gourry: ! [ the front door to the mansion opens with a loud click as someone steps in with several others behind the first one ] Page 64 Lina: [ dressed in a maid's outfit including the hat and holding a tray ] Welcome honored guests! You came so early *heart* I've been wishing for you come for so long now!! Robbers: [ sweat drops with surprised/shocked/disbelieving looks on their faces ] Gourry: [ with a large sweat drop turns to Lina ] Stupid. Lina: That's strange! They didn't react to this greeting. Robber boss: Ah ha! Upon closer look, [ looking very confident and cocky ] ...it's only white-faced weakling scholar and a flat-chested little girl. Are you sure you two can guard the golden statue? Lina: [ very angry and gritting her teeth ] Hey! What did you say? Gourry: Weak...weakling? [ a disbelieving look on his face ] Page 65 Lina: [ dramatic pose ] How insensitive! Not only did you insult my sidekick Gourry but also you didn't even respect the powerful sorceress Lina. Gourry: Sidekick? [ in the background of Lina's heroic pose with a small sweat drop and an offended look on his face ] Robber1: What branch of sorcery would have you! [ drawing their weapons] Robber2: Hump! If you want to talk big, at least wait until you have bigger chest before you say such things! Therefor, get out of our way! Lina: If you listen to us, we'll let you go unharmed, otherwise.... Go get them, Gourry! Gourry: [ holding his sword--the plain one ] I just don't understand this girl.... Page 66 Robber1: [ charging at Gourry Ha! ] Gourry: [ runs past robber1 ] Robber1: [ staring in shock at his broken sword ] Robber2: Bastard! [ also charges at Gourry ] Gourry: You're too late! Page 67 Gourry: [ makes one broad swipe with his sword ] Robber3: & Robber4: Ah! ha? [ staring at their respectively broken sword] Robber3: How skilled! Robber4: [ running away ] Quickly, escape! Page 68 Lina: [ takes off her maid's cap with Gourry sheathing his sword and looking grim in the background ] Can't let you get away with this! Time to wake up! You bunch of toasted robbers!! MEGA BRANDO! [ lots of stick figures flying into air ] Page 69 Lord Bei: [ suddenly gets up from bed wearing a Scrooge-like nightdress and cap ] What is all the ruckus? Is my golden statue all right? opens a door [ smaller picture of the golden statue ] Lord Bei: [ with an enchanted look on his face ] Oh.. [ someone holding a HUGE mallet coming up silently from behind] [ The mallet hits the merchant with a loud thump ] Page 70 Gourry: [ tugging at a bunch of rope his holding in his hand ] Come on! Don't just stand there! [ view of several toasted bandits with swirls for eyes and tied up with the ropes ] Lina: Just in time! A big harvest! [ Lina and Gourry laughing happily ] Page 71 Lina: [ see the unconscious Lord Bei ] Merchant...merchant lord? Lord Bei: [ mumbles in his sleep ] Statue...my statue... Lina: [ her bangs hiding her eyes and looking VERY serious and insulted ] We were so intent on catching the robbers that we lost sight of our job. While we were bagging this bunch of robbers, someone came in and stole the statue. [turns to Gourry] Lina: Gourry, find the robber quickly! Gourry: Right! Page 72 [ view of footsteps] Gourry: [ opens a door where the foot steps on the floors goes out ] Lina, here! [ but then disappeared when it's on the street ] Page 73 Lina: This is impossible. How can anyone carry off such a heavy statue in such a short period of time? Lina: Gourry, search that side. I'll look on this side. Gourry: Understood. Lina: [ the restaurant owner from earlier packing up stuff onto his wagon/restaurant ] Old sir! Did you see any suspicious persons around? Restaurant owner: Ah--- It's that adorable little miss from before. Page 74 Lina: ! [ closer at the wagon's wheels which have caused two deep trails on the soft dirt of the street ] Restaurant owner: I didn't see any suspicious characters around. It's too late in the night for any more customers. I'm just starting to close shop. Page 75 Lina: This really sucks! It seems the robber has really gotten away. Restaurant owner: Did something happen? Lina: Aye! I've been running so much that I'm starting to feel hungry again. [turns and opens the flap to the back of the weapon--where the food was stored] Restaurant owner: [ shocked at Lina's unexpected action] Lina: Is there any leftovers here? What's this? Page 76 [ view the golden statue wrapped up in a blanket and placed within a box of sort--it almost fit ] Lina: [ eyes have contracted into dots] Restaurant owner: little...little miss, let me explain. Lina: [ the background has gone all black and Lina is drawn with the a pair of accusing eyes turned toward the restaurant owner] Restaurant owner: let me...finish my words...the story of an unfinished business. Page 77 Restaurant owner: You see, the person who sabotaged my restaurant and forced me to close is in fact merchant lord Bei. Lina: [ calmed down ] Uh? Restaurant owner: A long time ago, this street was world famous for the great food served. Back then, the first and second best restaurant was Lord Bei and I. [ holding onto the bar that is used to pull the wagon along] Restaurant owner: [ angry look on his face ] However, Lord Bei switched my sesame oil with a poisoned one. I didn't know and used the bottle to cook food. That night, all of the customers who ate at my restaurant threw up. That's why I'm only opening a small, traveling restaurant. It's all because my old restaurant was forced to close after that incident. Page 78 Lina: Aww... her eyes have gone starry-- You stole the golden statue in order to take revenge... The feeling of begin betrayed by that merchant lord I understand perfectly. Restaurant owner: [silently starts to pull away his wagon ] You understand why I'm doing this, don't you? Right, little miss? Lina: [ deep in thought] Restaurant owner: Well that's all then! Bye! [far away now with a big smile on this face] Lina: ( Uh? ) [ eyes contracted into dots as realization hits her] Lina: [popping a vein and looking angry ] ( Urggg! ) Page 79 Lina: Not...it's not... That's all then! DILL BRANDO! [ view of a torn up wagon flying into the sky along with a certain ex-restaurant owner ] Page 80 [ close up of the face of the restaurant owner with swirls as eyes ] [ big picture--he is sitting with the other robbers all tied up with rope and all looking well-done] Lina: OK! Caught another one. [ dusts her hands] Gourry: [ looking a bit uncertain ] But... is the capture of this surprise robber justified? Page 81 Lina: Lord merchant! Lord merchant! [ shacking the still sleeping merchant] Lord Bei: [immediately gets up when he realized why he was asleep ] My golden statue---!! Lina: Is completely safe. [points to the wrapped up golden statue Gourry is holding] Gourry: ( So...so heavy ) [ straining to hold it up ] You see? It's right here. Lord Bei: My huge golden statue has been returned! And it's all because of you two. Lina: [ shaking hands eagerly and very hard] That's right. Ah! How much are we getting paid for this? Lord Bei: [ still shaky from the 'handshake' with swirls for eyes as he hands over a bag of coins] Eh~~~ speaking of about your pay, hum. It's here. shaky Lina: That'll cover it. We still have things to do so goodbye now! Lord Bei: looking around in confusion and still shaky from before Hum? Ah? Wait a moment! Page 82 [ big picture of the merchant's huge mansion... with a part of its side completely blown away ] Lord Bei: Ah~~ My beautiful luxury house!! [He was lying outside of his house through out the talk with Lina ] Lina and Gourry: running away urgently with Gourry looking a bit resigned at Lina