Akatsuki no Yona [Chapter 97]

Yona calls out to Jeha who collapsed. She tells approaching Haku about it. Using the bottom of his halberd, Haku pokes Jeha’s head and asks if he’s dead. Jeha weakly asks if he was mistaken about Haku being very violent on him. Haku denies it by saying that he’s treating him nicely. While Yona wonders if the same sickness with Kija, Haku keeps on poking Jeha’s head and asking if he’s going to die. Jeha weakly complains that Haku isn’t being lenient on him when he has a fever. On the second day, Jeha is in bed together with Kija. Kija asks if he infected him. Jeha says that it seems to be like that. Kija asks Yona to quickly leave or else, she’ll also get infected. Yun agrees with him and tells Yona not to stay there. Yona asks if she can do anything to help. Yun assures her that it is okay and he would be relieved if he knows the sickness then, he can put his all-out effort to heal them. Yona is a bit puzzled by that. K’s father got worried about them bringing some illness from Kouka. He got Kalgan [correction again by Na-chan; used to be Kilgan] to move away since he fears that the illness will spread.

So, with Jeha’s lead, they start to get out of the house. Kalgan tearfully apologizes to Yona but Yona says that it isn’t his father’s fault. While Yona bows in apology to K’s father, Yun tells everyone that they first bring the sick to the tent. Zeno helps out Jeha. Jeha tells him not to get too close to him but Zeno assures him that not to mind. While helping Kija, Shina says that there are horses and soldiers, something is happening in a faraway place. Outside the house, the people are talking about the war. Yun wonders if it is some small dispute among bigwigs. Then, someone is shouting that it is bad for Kouka has gone to war against Kai. Yona looks surprised about this. The villagers wonder why, is it because a new king ascended to the throne. Then, Yona notices that even Shina has fallen ill. At some place, Suwon tells everyone that everything is ready. Gunte tells him to leave everything to them for this land is earth tribe’s territory that was snatched from them so their morale has ignited to its peak. [<- Ah, so it belongs to earth tribe but Suwon’s father ruled it? ^^; Or they are talking about some other place of what they are going to take back?]

He calls out to Kyouga as ‘small young master’ if he’s okay since this is his first frontline battle. Irked Kyouga tells as a military person, it isn’t proven with talk but rather with one’s sword. He asks him to quit calling him ‘small young master’. Gunte laughs and says that he’s reliable, small young master. This irks Kyouga again but Judo advises him not to take Gunte seriously or it will disturb his mood [/psyche]. Gunte tells Judo that isn’t he the one who always beautifully think that what he said is true. Gunte offers to introduce Judo to some girl because he believes that Judo couldn’t calm down because there’s no girl beside him to heal him. This angers Judo. Suwon tells them that is enough and if they want healing, go raise a cat. While they are fussing about, the soldiers start to wonder if there’s no problem with these generals. Suwon then seriously tells them that it is time to depart. Dong. The gong is rung. Everyone raise their swords and got ready to attack. K’s father asks if it is coming again and it would be good if it didn’t spread to this village.

Yona listens to him saying that the king and the might ones would definitely not get hurt, the ones who are hurt and trampled are them, the weak ones. So, in order to take back that place, Kouka and Kai went to war. And Kouka’s overwhelming power gave them the victory in the end. It seems that the army of Kai has a weakened state system due to some northern ethnic group problem so they weren’t able to send enough troops to the border. Judo says that the Kai soldiers had retreated. Keishuku comments that compared to the plan, it is over half a day earlier. Thanks to that, they were able to save on army provisions. After Keishuku talked about the plan winning them a single-handed win, Suwon says that the goal is to leave an impression that Kouka is formidable. Suwon praises Kyouga for doing beautifully and it made Kyouga thank him for believing in him. Suwon says that it is nothing. Upon turning around, Suwon looks serious and thinks that the northwest defense should also be increased, then he made some agreement with some other place [千洲], and some group that is pressuring the people no longer exists [<- sorry, I’m don’t know what he is referring to but probably those foreign troublemakers in their land] so what’s left is...

Back at the village, the people are glad that the war is over. It happened nearby but in just a number of days, Kouka had an overwhelming victory. They are glad that they didn’t get involved in it. Upon hearing this news, Yona goes back to the tent and asks about the dragons. Yun says that the fever still won’t leave. Yona is sad about this but Zeno assures her that it is okay. Even if the four dragons can use mighty strength, but at the same time, their bodies easily weaken so right now, they need to recuperate a lot. Yun asks him if he is okay. Zeno tells him that his body is sturdy, which is his strong point. He also tells Yun to leave it to him to take care of the sick. Yona quickly goes into the tent and Haku joins her. She informs him that Kouka won the war. She wonders out loud if it is because of that thing with the water tribe that he sent out the soldiers. Haku tells her no, for he thinks that since the start, it is already planned to take over the place and [they] just use that water tribe thing as some righteous excuse. Grabbing back earth tribe’s territory would also strengthen Gunte’s trust, and the five tribe’s morale will surge up.

Haku says that this battle’s goal is only to expand the territory. Yona comments that he really understands [/knows] what Suwon is thinking. Haku replies that he doesn’t understand and he also doesn’t want to understand. Yona starts wondering if her father’s death didn’t happen and he approved of the war, would Haku and Suwon fight alongside each other in battle and she definitely pass the days within the royal palace without worries.. Yona says that if there is a gap that exists within Kouka because of her father, she wants to fill that gap. She is surprised when Haku tells her that there’s no need for her to assume [responsibility] for everything for she doesn’t have a reason to continue this kind of journey because of atonement. This make Yona slightly flustered. She tells him that she only wants to put her all-out effort but is it fine if only Kouka is okay? Is it or is it not, she has been thinking over this. Recalling what K’s father said earlier about the weak being trampled, she says that for the people in this place, the enemy is ‘war’ itself. Even if for Kouka, Suwon is a good king..this battle, whether it is Kouka or Kai, she won’t participate in it [/join either side]. Haku looks at her in surprise.

In the tent, Kija whines about his headache. Jeha tells him not to say it out loud for it makes it hurt more. Carrying in a huge bowl of water, Zeno asks them if they’re lively. Jeha asks if they look lively. He considers it hell to be with male patients in a tent without a cute girl visiting. Zeno offers to dress up as a girl for him but Jaeha declines. Kija says that it is embarrassing that the dragons become like this- Zeno tells him that it is because they left Hiryuu castle. Kija asks if the four dragons leave Hiryuu, they’ll get sick. Zeno says no, but Hiryuu has a very strong dragon god[?] protecting it. So basically, aside for him, the other dragons’s bodies aren’t that good [/strong] so when faced with sickness, their resistance becomes weak like that of a child. Jeha says that is why dragon villages cannot move outside the country. Zeno tells them that youngsters always get well so they shouldn’t be reckless and they’ll survive. Jeha isn’t assured with that ‘survive’ part.

Someone comments that Zeno unexpectedly really knows about dragons, did his village pass that knowledge down from generation to generation. Zeno says that it can be considered as that. Kija says that it would be good if that is also passed down in his village. Zeno tells him to sleep and puts the wet cloth on his head. Kija looks Zeno and says that he gives him a nostalgic [/cherished] feeling. Zeno asks if it is like a mother. Kija exclaims how it can be a mother. Zeno tells him to be quiet and he is referring to making him feel at ease, okay, if something is up, call him and he’ll rush to him. Kija is falling asleep when he says that Zeno as a dragon, isn’t he a long way from being strong.. [<- not too sure on this one] Smiling Zero says yes, even if he is the lowest ranking dragon, but he will absolutely protect them well. There is a gush of wind so Zeno goes out and looks at the dark skies. Scowling Zeno says that obviously the war is already over, but this atmosphere, makes him unhappy.

Comment: The war is over..that’s fast. Of course, it turns out that the dark sky isn’t referring to that one but something else. I guess it is whatever Suwon is planning to deal with..Yona and others or something else? This part could be a turning point for Yona in re-thinking of what she wants to do with her life. That journey seems like she wanted to make up to the people over her father’s philosophy which Haku told her that she doesn’t need to do. With that, she is focusing on ‘war’ as the enemy which is what the red dragon is for, iirc..for peace. It seems that she is also no longer aligning herself with any country. She and her gang would most probably be an independent group. She might think beyond Kouka but it seems that the dragons cannot go beyond their country since they are exclusive to Kouka. It seems what without the dragon god or castle protection-whatever, dragons easily get sick. I guess, if Zeno is saying the truth, it depends on what sickness they got to know what their chances of survival are. ^^; Of course, it would make sense plotwise if they don’t die here. =P Basically, this seems to be time for Yona to reassess things while the dragons are sick and the two countries are killing each other.

For Zero to say that he is the weakest dragon, maybe that is physical power-wise and there ought to be something else compensated for it like in this case. Hm..so ‘strong body’ meant that? ^^; It seems that he also knows a lot than the others. Is it really just because his village passed it down to him? Kija is sensing something from Zeno so he ought to have a lot of secrets the way he seems to be evading answers. I guess if he keeps some secrets from the dragons, all the more from Yona or else, why didn’t he warn them about the danger of going out of the country? But then, they might not believe of how grave it is unless they went. ^^; Anyway, it is amusing how Haku is getting back at Jeha for that stolen hug. And, in either Yona and Suwon’s group, there are always some bickering teasing guys. =P For Suwon to suddenly be serious after talking with Kyouga, it makes me realize if they are fools to trust a guy who can easily betray his king and childhood friends. Of course, for the others, they have their own motives and reasons for cooperating. So, they must probably be cautious in a way but it is quite definite that Fire, Earth and Sky are for him. So, it makes sense that Suwon brings these guys to the battlefield with him rather than Water and Wind. Lastly, seeing Yona with that hood most of the time, it makes me think that it would be nice to see her when she no longer hides her red hair but flaunts it, as well as true identity. ^^ Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

In war, truth is the first casualty. ~ Aeschylus