Arkased – Translation, Editing
Mango – Translation, Editing
A quick note:
As far as we can tell, Master of Monsters (or MoM) is told as a story of the past, i.e., it’s written in past tense. However, in addition to after-the-fact reflection, the narration also includes in-the-moment thoughts, essentially what the protagonist and narrator is thinking to himself, with no distinction in the actual raws beyond for subtle shifts between present and past tenses. For clarity’s sake, we will have reflections written in roman type (no formatting) and thoughts written in italics. (You’ll see what we mean.)
Author’s note:
This is my first submission; my humble work will be in your care.
~~~
Human beings — such things are merely trash.
Cowering inside a deep cave, I was tormented by incessant pain as I continued to mutter curses — that was all I could do.
Completely exhausted, I was totally unable to move my exhausted body. I was made even dizzier by my burning stomach acid. My breath was feverish and unstable. Assuming I also got sick, my future would become even more grim — I couldn’t deny being in a desperate situation.
Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch.
Am I going to die lonely and alone in this unknown place? What kind of crime did I commit being forced to suffer like this?
No, that’s wrong; I didn’t do anything. They were the ones who sinned. To the very end, I am no more than a victim.
This is why I choose to swear.
With that, I held onto my fading consciousness. I think this hatred was the only thing keeping my conscious; the moment it fades would have been the moment my existence ends.
However, as if sneering at my great effort, from the entrance of the cave, a sound of something being dragged along became audible: a soul-wrenching, ominous, abrasive noise.
Don’t come. Don’t come, don’t come, don’t come!
Despite screaming in my heart, the sound neared closer and closer.
It’s already impossible. I can’t escape.
While cowering in fear, I turned my gaze toward the sounds. There, with a semi-fluid body, was a two-meter tall visage.
“ah…”
A monster — that was what we called them, the natural enemies of humans. This monster we called “slime,” without even a single eye, seemed to have found me. It approached with an agility belying its appearance. There was no escape. To begin with, I lacked the strength to even stand up.
“Son of a bitch.”
First, my hand would be broken down by strong digestive fluids. My high-school uniform1 would melt, and the pain wouldn’t even register in my exhausted brain; only numbness would persist. Whatever the case, it seemed that my life would end here.
No, no, no. I don’t want that!
“…someone, save me.”
With these miserable last words, my consciousness slipped away.
All this happened the morning three days after I despaired of the creatures known as humans.
~~~
This is the prologue. The story will begin from the next chapter.
1. The raw has 学ラン, the standard uniform worn by male high school students. You might have seen it depicted in anime or manga before. Here’s a picture of what one looks like.
Fourtrans 