--MANGA TRANSLATIONS--
--TRIGUN MAXIMUM VOLUME 5, CHAPTER 6--
--"LET US WALK THE PATH TO REDEMPTION"--

Translation by sumire
First draft
Note: This chapter is was originally printed as chapters 35 and 36 in Young King Ours magazine.

Page 153

In his mind, Vash is reaching out, trying to catch something.

Vash (thinks): If I save one life, will it be as though I was born alone?

Will that life be a good one?

Page 154

A huge bolt impales the hand of Legato's bearer as s/he is reaching out to counter the Angel Arm. S/he lets out a roar, and some life returns to Vash's blanked-out eyes.

Page 155

A huge airship hovers overhead. A woman holding a large case is standing on a platform.

Elendira: Honestly! He was on the verge of setting it off! What a nightmare.

This is why I hate people with suicidal tendencies!

A bolt of lighting flashes by her, and she lets out a shriek.

Elendira: Engines, stand by at full power!

Be prepared for a full-speed retreat at any time!

　

Page 156

The Angel Arm is going wild, energy emerging from Vash's body and shooting up into the sky. Meryl cringes beneath him.

Wolfwood: This is bad! He's out of control!

All that unreleased energy... it's looking for another way out!

　

Page 157

Wolfwood: Run for it, Small Girl!

Meryl struggles, but she's pinned under the mass of Angel Arm matter.

Wolfwood: You can't!? You're stuck!?

Vash's energy blows up, blasting Wolfwood several meters away. Meryl ducks.

Pages 158-159

A young Vash walks. He seems to have a black eye.

Vash (thinks): I've lost Rem

I'm all alone
To make her smile in my memory
I keep walking
I become sure of how to live
Then I lose my resolve again
Tears of joy and tears of sorrow
Amidst tens of millions of bullets

My scars multiply

Pages 160-161

Vash (thinks): And then, the destination I reach at last--

The destruction of July. Vash is screaming in anguish, tears running down his face.

Vash (thinks): Brought on by my monstrosity

Deepening despair

　

Page 162

Legato's sarcophagus is tipped backwards. His eyes are wide, his teeth bared in a horrible grin.

Legato: I'm saved.

I'm as bad as bad can be today.
I was just about to destroy that which He holds so dear.

Page 163

Watching from the airship, Elendira gulps.

Legato: However...

I will not let traitors remain.

In the foreground, Midvalley's body lurches forward, gun drawn.

Pages 164-165

Hopperd can only stare at Midvalley's gun.

Vash (thinks): The name I have tried to forget

The mistake I have tried to seal away
That which cannot be undone

In his heart, Vash is crying.

Page 166

Flashback: Knives forces the Angel Arm on Vash in July.

Vash (thinks): I've got to...

...go on...

Page 167

Vash struggles to regain control of himself.

Page 168

Hopperd, Meryl, and Wolfwood stare.

Vash (thinks): I'm sorry...

I'm sorry...
I'm sorry...

Page 169

Flashback to July: Blood vessels burst open on Vash's skin. His right arm is a grotesque amalgam of eyes and mouths and deformed limbs.

Vash (thinks): I'm sorry

I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry...!

Page 170

July. Knives stands over Vash, who clutches at his deformed arm.

Knives: And now?

Do you intend to cling to your old way of life again?

Knives: Was she truly in the right?

Haven't you tried to save the scum of the earth?

Page 171

Vash: I don't know. I don't know!

How can I know!?

Vash: But...

...I can say only this.

Page 172

Vash sees all his July friends smiling.

Vash (thinks): All those lives I extinguished...

Page 173

Hands of various sizes reach out to him.

Pages 174-175

Vash envisions his friends gathered around him.

Vash (thinks): They were so kind...

Pages 176-177

Vash shields Hopperd, blocking Midvalley's bullets with the Angel Arm.

Pages 178-179

Vash winces as a bit of blood spatters.

Legato keeps Midvalley firing until he runs out of ammunition, then Legato's bearer attacks with a huge blade that emerges from his/her arm.

Page 180

Suddenly, there is a huge spike running from the top of Legato's bearer's head, down through his/her tongue, and emerging behind his/her chin.

Page 181

Everyone stares.

Page 182

Elendira: Oucheeeee!

Damn that lousy helmsman! I'll gut him alive!

She has fallen flat on her butt.

Meryl (thinks): A transvestite!?

But he's kind of got a better figure than I do...

　

Elendira: Put that dangerous thing away, Bluesummers.

Oh, sorry. You can't move it any more, can you.

Page 183

Legato: Crimsonnail... You...

Wolfwood (thinks): Legato... What did you just say!?

It can't be... Are you saying that's...
THE STRONGEST OF THE GUNG-HO-GUNS--THE LOST NUMBER 13!!
No, think... No mistake about it...
After all, I only heard a single shot.
Cripes... So we finally meet at last...

Page 184

Wolfwood (thinks): Elendira... The Crimsonnail.

Behind Elendira, we see over a dozen giant spikes impaling Legato's bearer.

Page 185

　

Elendira stands before Legato.

Elendira: We're leaving.

She--er, HE steps on one of the bolts. Legato's bearer jerks in pain.

Elendira: You've been losing it lately.

You need to remember...

Page 186

Elendira: ...your place as a pawn.

If you don't, I'll disembowel you. I mean it.

Flashback: Knives and Elendira talking on the phone.

Elendira: Don't worry, I'll take good care of your little brother. Go ahead and push him to the edge.

Knives: No need. That's not what I'm talking to you about.

That stubborn streak is in his bones.
But that'll go away when he doesn't have anyone to protect anymore.

Page 187

Knives: It took me a while to make up my mind, but I've seen the whole picture.

I need Bluesummers. Bring him back.

The present time.

Elendira: Honestly. What's so special about this little defect?

He cocks his suitcase gun.

Page 188

Elendira fires a nail through Legato's torso at point-blank range.

Page 189

The airship hovers overhead.

Elendira: So, you're all saved.

But not for long.

Page 190

Legato and the upper portion of his bearer are hauled away by the airship, the bearer's spinal cord dangling in midair.

Elendira: Maybe you would have been happier dying on the spot, never knowing what hit you, but...

In a few years...
You know those rescue ships coming from Earth, don't you?

Page 191

Elendira: Knives is taking them out.

Page 192

Elendira: The last hope of humanity--

He intends to destroy every last one of them before your very eyes.

Meryl gulps.

Meryl (thinks): Knives... his twin brother...

I know now... He can do it.

Page 193

Wolfwood: What kind of stupid are you? What are you so happy about?

You're dying right along with the rest of us.

Elendira smiles sweetly, a cable from the ship before him.

Elendira: I suppose so...

But we all have our own ways of living out our remaining days.

Page 194

Citydwellers gawk at the airship rumbling overhead.

Elendira: Until then, I'll take everything I can get my hands on.

Elendira: Well, so long.

Page 195

Hopperd and Vash lie in the rubble.

Hopperd: Hey, you dead? Mr. Handsome.

Page 196

Vash stirs.

Hopperd: Huh. What the hell are you trying to do...

You don't know how to treat a dying bad guy.

Hopperd: Sorry, but this is it for me.

Vash opens his eyes and turns to Hopperd.

Hopperd: I can finally have a little peace. Finally...

Page 197

Hopperd: You, live and suffer.

　

Hopperd: I won't kill you.

I want you to go on living, spitting up blood day by day, in this fucked-up world.

Page 198

Hopperd has a vision of his blind love... he smiles... then darkness.

Page 199

Vash takes Hopperd's hand.

Meryl: Vash-san... your arm...

Vash: Yeah.

Page 200

Vash: It's all right. It's all right now.

Page 201

A single feather floats in darkness.

Long shot of the city.

Page 202

Milly and Meryl have a boisterous reunion in the hospital.

Milly: Senpai!!

Meryl: Milly! Milly! *Kyaa!!*

Wolfwood: How're you feeling, girl?

Wolfwood: We were worried--you were asleep for three days.

Doctor?: I see your recovery is going well...

Their voices carry out into the hall, startling the Beast, who is standing there on crutches.

Page 203

The Beast stumbles into her room and hastily begins disguising herself.

Beast: That was a close one! They were right in the next room!?

But a human doctor is best for fixing a human body...

A sandworm rumbles across the desert.

As the sun nears the horizon, Vash and Wolfwood stand by two graves outside town.

Page 204

Wolfwood: You're bowing with your palms together?

Take a look at those crosses--you're in the wrong faith, aren't you?

　

Vash: I can put more feeling into it this way.

What's so wrong about that?

　

Wolfwood: He was right, you know?

You just don't know how to treat the bad guys.

Wolfwood: If you do this for every last one of them, there'll be no end to it.

Page 205

Vash: Well, then, why did you come here with me?

Wolfwood: Stupid question. Because I'm a priest, of course.

Vash strikes a comical pose.

Wolfwood: Don't even think of laughing.

Wolfwood remembers Midvalley.

Wolfwood (thinks): I don't feel sympathy for you.

Those fangs you never used were supposed to have been your responsibility.

Page 206

Vash: Wind's coming up.

Wolfwood: Yeah.

Vash: Well, we'd better get back and get to work.

Wolfwood: Huh?

Vash and Wolfwood at work with picks and shovels, clearing debris in the city.

Wolfwood: What is this!? What are we doing? I demand an explanation!

Vash: Shut up and keep working! You break it, you fix it!

To be continued...

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