Futsuu to Bakemono - Vol. 3 Ch. 21

[MangaDex]

 

[Cogito3]

Thanks for waiting! We should be able to get out future chapters relatively quickly until the end, but as always, no promises. (We also may or may not be working on a hentai yuri oneshot, so stay tuned for that as well!)

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

 

[CyberneticSusurrus]

You really should switch to referring to the teacher with 'sensei' instead of "Mr".

The author made it explicit in previous chapters that the entity in question is genderless.
Constantly referring to it with masculine terms is both incorrect and messing with one of the themes of the work.

 

[Raptorofwar]

Damn, wow.

 

[almostdeaf]

“Even as I do as Niehara says, abandon my territoriality, and think of a way to flee…”

“I’m cut from the same cloth as Mister N, you know? There’s no way I’d ever be sad”

something something takahashi finally admitting something to herself

thank you for your hard work on this translation! a delightful surprise notification

 

[TrashRatMo]

Thank you for translating!! I wonder why Mister N is able to control corpses like that

 

[Serenata]

Oh nice! is back and oh no... she's dead, very much so, is easy to forget they're monsters.

 

[GLFanatic]

Yeah, no. Mr. creepo needs to go.

 

[Serenata]

You really should switch to referring to the teacher with 'sensei' instead of "Mr".

The author made it explicit in previous chapters that the entity in question is genderless.
Constantly referring to it with masculine terms is both incorrect and messing with one of the themes of the work.

The translator explained this choice in ch12's credits https://mangadex.org/chapter/60e13adb-407d-473d-b4de-f5746ad4007b/21 which basically comes from the 2 protagonist's perception of Niehara as the male teacher (the character the monster decided to mimic), this perception also works for Itou san to see Takahashi san as a girl and not a giant worm monster and by doing so, this becomes a yuri work... It is complicated.

 

[Cogito3]

You really should switch to referring to the teacher with 'sensei' instead of "Mr".

The author made it explicit in previous chapters that the entity in question is genderless.
Constantly referring to it with masculine terms is both incorrect and messing with one of the themes of the work.

I understand this perspective, and I appreciate the constructive criticism, but I disagree. Itou and Takahashi use the same exact terms to refer to Niehara before and after learning they're a monster, so it's not like the work is explicitly drawing attention to such things. Furthermore, even if I had them use "sensei" instead I'd still have to decide on which pronouns to use for Niehara, any choice of which carries its own set of issues.

All translations involve constant decisions about how much to make the text "feel like it was written in English." I certainly don't go all the way in this direction, since I keep things like "-san" and "-kun" and Japanese name order. "Sensei" is a widely understood enough word that it would be totally justifiable to use it, and maybe I should have from the beginning, but I don't think it's important enough to change at this point.

 

[onedumninja]

That was vile 0_0

So she's just a puppet now? Dead but still moving according to the puppeteer's will

 

[beThereShortly]

Volume 3 baby. Here we go... I can't see how this could have a happy ending anymore. Hope I'm in for a surprise.
Thank you very much for the chapter!

Thanks for waiting! We should be able to get out future chapters relatively quickly until the end, but as always, no promises. (We also may or may not be working on a hentai yuri oneshot, so stay tuned for that as well!)

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

So... Can we expect translation notes for the hentai too? And if so, is it weird if I keep my dick out while reading it? What the correct etiquette in that scenario?

 

[Cogito3]

So... Can we expect translation notes for the hentai too? And if so, is it weird if I keep my dick out while reading it? What the correct etiquette in that scenario?

Yes, I actually learned something pretty interesting myself during the course of translating it. As for the correct etiquette, whatever helps you focus on my genius insights is fine.

 

[Bobbyyyyy]

I THOUGHT HE JUST SNAPPED HER NECK THIS IS WAY WORSE

 

[shemper]

Thank you for your work!

 

[Colonel-Picquart]

You know I kind of feel like Mr N.'s storyline almost functions as an allegory for a male teacher assaulting his students under the guide of a relationship. Hiraizumi is now functionally and literally dead inside and that's changed her relationships with her friends and everyone around her for the worse. Add in to this Mr N.'s whole "monster hiding in plain sight" deal and I feel like it's a well done allegory.

 

[CyberneticSusurrus]

The translator explained this choice in ch12's credits https://mangadex.org/chapter/60e13adb-407d-473d-b4de-f5746ad4007b/21 which basically comes from the 2 protagonist's perception of Niehara as the male teacher (the character the monster decided to mimic), this perception also works for Itou san to see Takahashi san as a girl and not a giant worm monster and by doing so, this becomes a yuri work... It is complicated.

The reasoning is faulty, and goes against clear authorial intent.
It also conflicts with exploration of identity - and differing points of view on such - being a core theme.

Doesn't appear very complicated either.
"Niehara" is a shapeshifting monster, and readily embodies both masculine and feminine identities.
"Takahashi" is a giant worm monster, and yet is shown to exclusively favor taking girls as hosts.

Referring to "Niehara" with exclusively masculine terms - and pretending as though gender-neutral pronouns don't exist in English - is just incorrect; it doesn't accurately reflect the character or the narrative.

Just as referring to "Takahashi" with anything but feminine terms would be incorrect; she's clearly and consistently shown her preferences there.

 

[Cogito3]

The reasoning is faulty, and goes against clear authorial intent.
It also conflicts with exploration of identity - and differing points of view on such - being a core theme.

Doesn't appear very complicated either.
"Niehara" is a shapeshifting monster, and readily embodies both masculine and feminine identities.
"Takahashi" is a giant worm monster, and yet is shown to exclusively favor taking girls as hosts.

Referring to "Niehara" with exclusively masculine terms - and pretending as though gender-neutral pronouns don't exist in English - is just incorrect; it doesn't accurately reflect the character or the narrative.

Just as referring to "Takahashi" with anything but feminine terms would be incorrect; she's clearly and consistently shown her preferences there.

I think you're confusing how Niehara views itself with how the other characters view them. What matters in determining the terms Itou and Takahashi use for Niehara is how they view Niehara, not how I or you or the author or Niehara themselves views Niehara. I've already explained why I felt it made sense that they are still identifying Monster Niehara with Human Niehara, since they use the exact same words to refer to both. If you disagree with that position, that's fine, it's why I explained it in the translator's note so the reader could have full context for their own interpretations. But claiming your interpretation aligns with "clear authorial intent" is, frankly, baseless.

Of course gender-neutral pronouns exist in English, but having Itou and Takahashi use them would also be imposing my own interpretation onto the text. It's not like we have reason to believe either of them are well-versed on gender identity, after all. If I didn't have them use he/him pronouns I'd probably have them use it/its pronouns to emphasize Niehara being a monster, but of course that would also carry its own connotations that weren't there in the original text. Again, I don't mind if you think an alternate translation would be superior, but your alternative isn't objectively correct. Translation is an art, not a science.

 

[MacinteuchPlus]

That murder and puppetry scene was so unnerving, poor Hiraizumi

 

[MelonManic]

Oh that poor soul
And that DAMNED MONSTER

Am sad now
I vote we touch the monster back

Begone to whence you came...
Have a nice day