Translation: The Great Moon Race! (1907)
A classic Japanese sci-fi short story by Shunrō Oshikawa, translated by Kevin Kodama w/ assistance from various computer models
NOTE: The following story was translated by a non-Japanese speaker using LLMs. There may be hallucinations or other inaccuracies in the text!
Shunrō Oshikawa (1876-1914) is considered the father of Japanese science fiction. He wrote in a pulpy style for several boys’ adventure magazine, and some of his plots are reminiscent of Jules Verne. But despite his cultural importance, very little of his work can be found in English translation.
I have recently been thinking about how AI might be used for translation. While AI could have the effect of watering down the translation market with low-quality output, it could also lead to far greater access to and interest in foreign works. Not only that, but it could also open up translation as an activity to monolingual readers, which I believe would produce unexplored consequences.
I wanted to see what it would be like to translate something as a monolingual reader, and whether I would be able to make choices that would improve the text based on what the AI said about potential interpretations of the text. So in service of a future article, I used an Oshikawa’s short story to conduct an AI translation experiment. I used Google Translate, DeepSeek V31, and ChatGPT-4o with my assistance to create three different translations of the story.
You can read the final article here, which also has an addendum here. This was overall quite an interesting experience, and I would highly recommend trying it yourself with the original text. It definitely got me to think about writing in a new way.
Unassisted Google Translate
Departure of the Doctor Search Team
The Tokyo Shimbun on October 10, Meiji 40, the first thing that caught the attention of readers was the title "Moon World Exploration of the Competitive Airship of Love" in the first letter, and there were many second issues in the text, which was an unprecedented article.
About half a year ago, that is, May 1st of this year, readers still can't remember that Dr. Sasayama, a professor at the University of Tokyo, was able to leave the earth with an airship he could invent himself to explore the lunar world, but after that, today There is not even a piece of news, or because of the incompleteness of the airship, it is not halfway to achieve the purpose, and there is even something that is not dedicated to research, and the flying theory is mixed, and the clan's confidant is worried day and night, The most pitiful thing here is the daughter who lost her mother at a young age, who lost her mother at a young age, did not use one doctor in heaven and earth as a strength, and there was no one to lament, the day was the day, the night was the night. She is so considerate that she makes her cry, and her beauty, who deceives her flowers, is not so beautiful that she can't be scattered in the midnight storm. There are two young gentlemen who can't bear to ignore that, and who are lucky enough to explore the doctor's life and death as a reward, who can entrust the young lady's body and apply to the young lady. One of them is Baron Akiyama, and the other is a young gentleman named Fumihiko Kumoi, who is a distant relative of the doctor, but both of them are deeply devoted to the young lady than before the doctor was not yet to leave, and even if the young lady is bound by their feelings. I can't answer the wrong answer, but for this application of the two people now, the thick girl who thinks about her parents finally accepts that word. Then the two of them finally decided to die, and the young lady decided to get rid of her sadness and fulfill her daily thoughts. Finally, it was twelve o'clock today, and they should take their own airships from Hibiya Park and set off. That's right...............
And, after reading such a novel article, the people of Manchu City, with great curiosity and sympathy, looked at the head of today's two warriors, pushed them like avalanches from all directions, and already around nine o'clock that day, the wide park was also these It was buried with people.
Around eleven o'clock, Baron Akiyama and Fumihiko Kumoi drove a carriage with one servant each and gradually came in. He inspects each part of his airship in detail, bows to the people who sees him off, crawls into them, and quietly waits for the gun to sound. The audience is all holding their breath and looking at it.
Eventually, when the long and short hands of the clock became one and pointed to twelve o'clock, a gunfire roared from the top of the music hall. When I think about it, the airship, which spread its wings like a great eagle, gradually begins to rise.
"Hood-hold?!!"
"Congratulations on the success of Baron Akiyama."
"Long live Fumihiko Kumoi!!!"
There was applause that were about to tear at once and the voice of "Ho-ho-say" sounded, and all of them threw their hats and waved their handclesto celebrate their head.
At first, the airship was gradually rising while quietly moving its wings, but gradually accelerated its speed. Baron Akiyama took a direction to the east and Fumihiko Kumoi took a direction to the west.
Every moment, the people on the ground gradually became smaller, and finally, even the top of the highest mountain could not be seen. After that, the four sides were just vague, and no matter which way you look at it, there were only clouds, and even the two airships were moving at any distance, and they could not be seen in shape or appearance.
Just dive through the clouds, rely on the compass placed in front of the boat, and ascend without a target.
Arrival of the Lunar World
It has been a week since Fumihiko Kumoi's airship left Earth. But I still can't see the shadow of the moon. The things I see every day are the same, and there are only white clouds, and it's time for his servant Tosuke to start worrying,
"Young master, it's been a week since today, but I still can't see anything. Maybe I've got the wrong direction."
"That won't happen. Certainly, as long as you go in this direction, you will never be wrong.
"By the way, what did Mr. Akiyama do? I'm sorry to let the young master win this game, I don't feel like it. And first, according to the rumors of the world, Mr. Akiyama is a very bad person, so I hope there is nothing wrong with you, but the old man is only worried about that.
"Don't worry about that. Because the other side is also a person who has a title......
While talking to each other, Fumihiko admitted something from between the clouds,
"Oh,"
I immediately took out my binoculars and looked at it,
”It's the moon! ......It's the moon!”
”What? Is it the moon?”
"That's right. It's difficult. You'll be able to arrive in a few hours.”
"Are you the left, please come out safely, I hope the great master of Sasayama comes out safely."
The speed of the airship gradually increases, and it begins to descend to be sucked into the moon. Fumihiko is, "Please brake, everyone." I ordered Tosuke, and I was taking the kaji with one mind while carefully adding or subtracting the voltage.
Eventually, the ship gradually approached, and the two of them landed safely on the moon.
"Young master, is this the world of the moon?"
"That's right."
"Then it's finally time for the husband of Sasayama to be here, if it's a little early that Akiyama-sama can't find it..."
"Yes, it can't be helped to rush like you, first of all, you have to find a suitable place to settle down."
"That's it. That's also reasonable.
The two of them took the airship again, and this time they rubbed against the ground, and looked down here and there, there was a dense forest at the foot of a mountain, and a stream flowed through it.
"That place is good."
He lowered the airship there, took out a tent prepared in advance, built it on the shore of the forest, dissected the airship, folded it into small, and put it in it, and prepared it.
The Disaster of Tsukinomiya
Fumihiko Kumoi and his servant Tosuke went out to search for Dr. Sasayama with rifles on their shoulders.
I crossed the fields, crossed the mountains, and looked for people everywhere, but there was no more help. Even though it's been five days and a week, I still don't know the direction at all.
The two of us were disappointed and disappointed, and sat down in the shade of a tree, "What's wrong? Or maybe he went to another planet in the wrong direction on the way.
"It's the left. In some cases, it may have been like that. However, if you have come this far at the last minute, please be patient and look for it now......
"Of course, I'm determined to look for him until I die." And answer with enthusiasm, "It's getting a little cold, but is there anything to make a bonfire?"
"I'll pick it up."
Tosuke left, but eventually he came back with a handful of fuel, so he burned it and warmed it up, and talked about it one by one, but Fumihiko can't get used to this moon world when he looks at the tree he has now. , and it's made like a sculpture.
If you look closely, it is an accessory of Dr. Sasayama's airship Tsukinomiya, which is pseudo-the decoration of the airship's room.
"Ya!!! There was a hand."
"Huh?"
"See this." And stick it out in front of Tosuke's eyes,
"This is the decoration that was worn on my uncle's airship. If there is this, my uncle must have come here, but he can't go back to Earth because the airship is broken, so he's staying here. It's difficult. This is what heaven gave.
"Then the master must have finally come out here. Now, find out where you are as soon as possible......
"Even so, I don't know the direction, so if you first examine the area where this tree had fallen, there may be something clear."
I set up Tosuke first and went to the place where I had collected the firewood earlier, but nothing else had changed. When I passed through the forest next to it to go out to the other side, I came out in a slightly wider open space.
"It's an airship!!!"
"Tsukinomiya-go!!!"
The two of them were so surprised that they couldn't help but shout. Look, Dr. Sasayama's airship Tsukinomiya, which has collected the essence of Japanese science, is scattered into tiny pieces.
Tosuke raised his voice and cried rather than seeing this,
"Young master, at this time, Sasayama's husband is no longer very helpful, if I tell you this situation, the young lady will be stunned and faint. What should I do, young master?
"But it's not enough to be so disappointed yet. The airship is broken like this, but if you look at a place where you can't see your uncle, you must be somewhere else safe. On top of that, his assistant Sugita is also with him, but if the two of us are not there, he will surely be escaping from this neighborhood.”
While gaining strength, "Finally, if I have such a solid hand, it won't be far to see my uncle again. Now let's do it.
And, he stood up first and started walking, so Tosuke also stopped crying and continued.
The Strange Sound in the Cave
As we went three or four miles, the four sides gradually became dark.
"I can't find it at night anymore, so let's stay somewhere today and look for it early tomorrow morning."
I looked around for a suitable place, but there was no place around here that was enough to overcome the dew with a bald mountain and field.
And suddenly, Tosuke, "Young master, there is a cave over there."
Because I shouted, "Which one."
When I look at the person who is swaying his fingertips, there are caves at the foot of the mountain just facing Jumachi.
"Let's stay there for a night."
When I went there, it seemed that the cave was wider than I thought and the back was also much deeper.
While unloading my luggage and sitting down, I took out a biscuit and ate it.
Mysterious!!! Strange!!! There is a growling voice in the back of the cave!!! The two were surprised and looked at each other, but Tosuke kept his voice down, “What is that voice?”
"Come on."
And, at first, I thought it was empty ears, but if I listened carefully, I could still hear the growl. The quiet, damp, weak, sad voice could be faintlyheard in the cave, and the two of them shuddered involuntarily.
Fumihiko took the rifle from Yaniwa and Niwa, stood up while loading, and invited Tosuke. Tosuke also followed his master in a ball cage. The two of them held their breath as if they were looking at the cat's mouse, and crawled towards the sound of the sound.
If you go two or three rooms, the road will turn to the right. The roar came from there correctly, so I thought it was too far away because the voice was too faint and weak.
When I came to the front of the big protruding rock, the voice finally became clear.
Correctly, it's a human growl!!
When I hurriedly went around the rock, in the middle of a large room, a candle lit as if it was about to go out, and under it, illuminating the four sides with a faint white, there were two black shadows lying under it. The growl comes from one of them, so the black shadow is growling painfully while moving its body from time to time.
Fumihiko threw his gun there, ran to the side, and turned on the electric lamp.
The four sides suddenly brightened up at one o'clock. The servants are two boys in western clothes.
Fumihiko glanced at their faces in the light of the lamp,
"Ah"
That's all, I dropped the western lamp there and ended up. Tosuke was stunned by this appearance and rushed over, "What if the young master did you do? If the young master.
When Fumihiko was told, he regained his composure and came to his senses, but he clung to that person again,
"Uncle. It's me, Fumihiko. Please be careful. I'm Fumihiko. I'm Fumihiko.
I pick it up while saying that.
Tosuke also started and was attached to it,
“Oh, are you the husband of Sasayama? Please be firm. The young master and Tosuke came up to welcome you. If," I cling to him and call out in my ear. "Medicinal!! Water quickly!!!"
"Yes."
When I put the notice that Tosuke said in his mouth and let him swallow the water from the suction tube, the doctor, who had been growling out of breath until now, opened his eyes like that.
"Uncle. Did you notice? I'm Fumihiko. It's me.
"Oh, Fumihiko?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Sasayama! Did you notice?
"Thank you for coming."
I said a word, but I was relieved for a while, and I relaxed my tension until now, and I tried to be there again.
"Uncle, please be sure to be firm."
When I poured brandy into my mouth, I finally came back to my senses,
"Okay. I'm fine now. Sugita, Sugita,"
And, because I will instruct,
"Yes." When Fumihiko picked up his assistant Sugita, who was being beaten by his side, he was already dying and his body was as cold as ice.
Even so, I took care of various things by taking medicine, but I couldn't help it anymore.
"Uncle. Sugita is no longer good. It's very helpful.
"I see. Poor thing, I did something pitiful.
The doctor couldn't help but shed tears.
Doctor's Guard
After a while, Fumihiko remembered,
"Uncle. Now our tools are placed about fifteen miles from here. I'd like to take you that far, but I can't move you very much with this appearance, so I'm thinking of carrying all the luggage here and taking care of you here for a while. So I'm going back to get it now. In the meantime, I'll keep this Tosuke by your side, so please be patient for two or three days.
Whispering in his ear, the doctor nodded quietly.
Fumihiko stood up and turned to Tosuke,
"Well, I'll go now, so please make sure you're away."
"You're all right. Thank you for your hard work.
“Then please take care of the rest."
And left the cave again and returned to the original road.
On the morning of the second day, I finally returned to my tent, first assembled the airship, cleaned up the tent, etc., and put it in it. I hurriedly got on the airship and returned to another cave.
As soon as you get off the airship,
"Tosuke, Tosuke."
I called, but there is no answer.
"What's wrong?"
When I went to the back while muttering to myself, the light went out and the four sides were true darkness that I didn't even know the black and white Ayame.
"Uncle!! I just got home. I'm Fumihiko. Tosuke. Isn't Tosuke here?”
I shouted, but still the only thing I could answer was the terrible echo of my own voice.
Fumihiko's anxiety arose for a while, and when he hurriedly lit the pocket lantern,
"Ya. Ya.
No one is there!!!
The inside of the cave is empty!!!
Only one person left is Kigara without the corpse of Sugita.
"I missed it!!!" I shouted and forgot myself for a while and was at a loss, but as soon as I regained my composure and took my gun that I had thrown aside, I tried to run out, but I stumbled over something and fell into it.
When I thought about it and looked at the foreign fire lamp again,
It's Tosuke!!! Tosuke is lying on his stomach with a gun!!!
Fumihiko picked it up in Yaniwa,
"Tosuke!!! What's wrong, be firm."
While talking to him, when he thought he had breathed back, he suddenly,
"Damn it, can I let you escape?"
I hugged him and stopped him from trying to stand up,
”This is Tosuke. It's me, Fumihiko. What the hell is going on?”
When asked, as soon as Tosuke heard this voice, he clung to Fumihiko,
"Young master!!! I'm sorry."
"What's wrong? What happened to your uncle?
Tosuke squatted up,
"I'm taking care of it, and I'm not sorry, but after you leave, I'm taking care of the master, and on the evening of the second day, there will be some footsteps at the entrance, and it's inevitable that you I know you're going home, so if I go out to pick you up right away, you'll come back,"
”What?”
"That hateful Baron Akiyama."
"What? Baron Akiyama?
"Yes. I'm going to crawl in with my servant.” What happened after that?
"It's here, but I couldn't see it because of the darkness, I didn't even look at me, and the two of us will go deep inside, so what should I do? I'll go from behind, and it's too early to see the ancelord," with Dr. Sasayama Suka, Akiyama came up to welcome me with Tsukiko's words, so I jumped into the garden, and my husband said that my young husband had already met me two days ago, and he should come here after putting away his tools. ......"
"Yeah. What happened after that?
"Akiyama's bastard. He seemed to be stunned to see me unexpectedly, but if he did something to his companion Heizo, Heizo would violently try to run away with that weakened husband......
"What is Heizo?"
"Yes. I also fought hard to see if I could let it escape, but sadly, one in two of them will finally leave the cave, so at least I'm going to kill it with a gun, so I'm going to chase you out, and Baron Akiyama's milk area I was made to eat myself, and then I was unconscious, and now I started with your voice that I came to my senses.” I said with tears in my eyes.
After listening, Fumihiko seemed to be disappointed and disappointed,
"Oh, I've done something disappointing while working so hard."
I threw it away as if I was throwing it, and I looked up to the sky with sigh and took a long breath, but I stood up again decisively,
"Tosuke, if this happens, I have to get my uncle back even if I'm good at it. Anyone can bring his uncle back safely, but if he leaves it like this, he's Baron Akiyama, who is a treacherous and evil, and he may play with Tsukiko, who is like a pigeon, tormenting us with some evil plan. Now I'm leaving now, so you should come after me too.
"Please take this enemy. Even if I die, I will not let Akiyama be punished without him.”
The two of them hurried out and rose at full speed as soon as they got on the airship. This is to make sure that Akiyama has already set off for Earth with his uncle on an airship.
The Live Drama of the Lunar World
The figure of Akiyama, who is aiming for, looks around, but there is no sign of departure yet. First of all, I was relieved, and this time I looked around the area of the front cave with binoculars,
"It's difficult. I'm still here!!!"
There is an airship about a mile away from the cave, and two people are standing on the side.
Without a doubt, it is Baron Akiyama's party.
But there is no more delay. The fact that they are working so standing up must be a taxim preparation for departure.
When Fumihiko accelerated and approached, the other party suddenly jumped up and there, and the airship began to move its large wings slowly to prepare to fly away.
The distance between the two is still one mile.
The moment at present is difficult for Fumihiko for a ten million years. He released the maximum current and fired an empty gun while rushing forward.
Baron Akiyama, who was holding the handlebar to reach full speed, let go of his hand involuntarily at the sound of gunfire, and the handle rotated inverted, and the airship descended a little. When I recovered, Fumihiko's airship was already close enough to reach.
"Baron Akiyama!!!"
Fumihiko spoke sharply,
"I haven't seen you in a long time."
He nodded politely.
"Mr. Left." Baron Akiyama replied arrogantly.
Fumihiko took over the words, "Baron Akiyama. Once again, I came to receive my uncle.
"Uncle? Do you mean Dr. Sasayama by uncle?
"Mr. Left." Baron Akiyama suddenly blurted out his words, “Don't say stupid things. Even if you say good things about insects, you should leave it generally. Why did I come all the way to die here? It's just to find the whereabouts of Dr. Sasayama. How many doctors can I give you so much? Stupid!!! If you want that much, why don't you look for it yourself?” And brazenly eat the reverse twist or screw,
"I'm a doctor who risked my life to get it. If you want it, you can risk your life and take it.
"That's fine. Duel!!! Get ready. I'm a two-year-old with a cheeky mouth. Now let's be your opponent.”
While they were guarding each other's guns, with an unexpected gunshot, Baron Akiyama,
"Oh no!!!"
I shouted and turned around. When Fumihiko is surprised like this, Baron Akiyama glared at Konata painfully, "Kumoi, you've been cowardly.”
Tosuke stood up quickly, "I'm not a young master who shot you. The young master doesn't have the guts like you. I'm the one who hit you. Before I took my life with the young master, I gave you the gift I received from you in the cave just now. And I let it go hatefully.
Baron Akiyama heard these words,
"Che, I'm sorry!!"
When I thought I shouted a word, I ended up dying for the injury at the key point.
Although Fumihiko mourned the death of the baron, he buried him generously in the lunar world with Sugita, built a monument on it, and then stopped there for about a week, waiting for the doctor to recover a little, and expressed his intention to change after the death of the doctor, Tosuke, and his master. Heizo, who obeyed, and two people each boarded two airships and left for the earth.
Unassisted DeepSeek-V3
The Search Party Departs
On October 10, 1907, the Tokyo News captivated its readers with a bold headline in large font: "A Rivalry of Love: Airship Expedition to the Moon." The article, filled with sensational details, reported an unprecedented event:
Approximately six months ago, on May 1 of this year, Dr. Shinozaki, a professor at Tokyo University, embarked on a journey to explore the moon aboard an airship of his own invention, accompanied by an assistant. Since then, not a single word has been heard from the doctor. Rumors swirl—perhaps the airship malfunctioned, leaving him stranded, or worse, he may have perished in his quest for knowledge. His friends and colleagues worry endlessly, but none are more grief-stricken than his beloved daughter, Tsukiko. Having lost her mother at a young age, she relied solely on her father. Now, faced with this tragedy, she weeps day and night, her beauty withering like flowers battered by a storm.
Unable to bear her sorrow, two young gentlemen have stepped forward, vowing to search for the doctor. In return, should they succeed, Tsukiko has pledged her hand in marriage. One is Baron Akiyama, the other a distant relative of Dr. Shinozaki—a young man named Fumihiko Kumoi. Both had long harbored feelings for Tsukiko, but she, torn between them, could not choose. Now, moved by their devotion, she has accepted their proposal. Determined to ease her grief and fulfill their own desires, the two men have resolved to set off today at noon from Hibiya Park, each in his own airship.
The article, reading like a novel, stirred immense curiosity and sympathy among the citizens of Tokyo. By nine in the morning, the vast park was already overflowing with spectators eager to witness the two brave men's departure.
At around eleven, Baron Akiyama and Fumihiko Kumoi arrived in carriages, each accompanied by a servant. After meticulously inspecting their airships, they bowed to the crowd, boarded their vessels, and waited silently for the signal.
The crowd held its breath.
As the clock struck twelve, a cannon roared from the music hall. Like great eagles spreading their wings, the two airships slowly ascended.
"Banzai!!"
"Long live Baron Akiyama’s success!"
"Fumihiko Kumoi, banzai!!!"
Cheers and applause erupted as hats and handkerchiefs waved in the air. The airships, their wings flapping gently at first, gradually picked up speed—Baron Akiyama heading east, Fumihiko Kumoi west.
Soon, the figures on the ground grew smaller and smaller until even the tallest mountain peaks vanished from sight. All that remained was an endless expanse of clouds, with no trace of the two airships. Guided only by their compasses, they soared higher into the unknown.
Arrival on the Moon
A week had passed since Fumihiko Kumoi’s airship left Earth, yet there was still no sign of the moon. Day after day, all they saw were the same white clouds. His servant, Tōsuke, grew uneasy.
"Young master, it’s been a week, and we still see nothing. Could we have taken the wrong direction?"
"Impossible. As long as we follow this heading, we cannot be wrong."
"Still, I wonder what happened to Baron Akiyama. I won’t rest easy unless you win this race. And from what I hear, the Baron is a man of ill temper. Heaven forbid he causes you any harm."
"No need to worry. A man of his rank would never—"
Just then, Fumihiko spotted something through the clouds.
"Wait—"
He quickly grabbed his binoculars.
"The moon! The moon!!"
"Eh? The moon, sir?"
"Yes! Thank goodness. We’ll arrive in a few hours."
"Praise be! If only Dr. Shinozaki is safe when we find him..."
The airship accelerated as if drawn toward the lunar surface.
"Engage full brakes!" Fumihiko ordered.
Adjusting the voltage regulator, he gripped the controls tightly. Soon, the ship descended, and the two men safely landed on the moon.
"Young master, is this really the moon?"
"Yes."
"Then Dr. Shinozaki must be here somewhere! We must find him before Baron Akiyama does!"
"Rushing won’t help. First, we need to find a suitable place to set up camp."
They boarded the airship again, skimming low over the terrain until they spotted a dense forest at the foot of a mountain, with a small stream running through it.
"That looks perfect."
They landed, set up a tent, disassembled the airship, and stored it inside. Their preparations were complete.
The Tragic State of the Lunar Palace
Unai Fumihiko and his servant Tōsuke set out to search for Dr. Shinozaki, rifles slung over their shoulders.
They crossed fields and mountains, scouring every possible location, but found no clues. Five days passed, then a week—still no trace of the doctor.
Disheartened, the two sat down in the shade of a tree.
"What could have happened? Could they have taken a wrong turn and ended up on another planet?"
"That might be the case, sir. But since we’ve come this far, let’s persevere a little longer..."
"Of course. I’ll search until my dying breath," Fumihiko declared resolutely.
He shivered slightly. "It’s getting cold. Do we have anything to make a fire?"
"I’ll gather some firewood," Tōsuke said, heading off.
Soon, he returned with an armful of kindling. As they warmed themselves by the fire, chatting idly, Fumihiko absentmindedly picked up a piece of wood—only to freeze.
It was an unfamiliar material, unlike anything native to the moon. Worse, it bore deliberate carvings.
Examining it closely, he realized it was a decorative piece from an airship cabin—a fake, but unmistakably part of Dr. Shinozaki’s Lunar Palace airship.
"Ah! A lead at last!"
"Eh?"
"Look at this!" Fumihiko thrust the wood into Tōsuke’s hands. "This was attached to my uncle’s airship. If this is here, he must have made it to the moon. But his ship must have been damaged, leaving him stranded. This is heaven-sent!"
"Then the doctor must still be here! We must find him quickly—"
"But we don’t know the direction. Let’s search the area where this wood was found. There might be more clues."
With Tōsuke leading the way, they retraced their steps to where the firewood had been gathered. At first, they found nothing unusual. But as they cut through a nearby forest, they stumbled upon a wide clearing.
"There! An airship!!"
"The Lunar Palace!!"
The two gasped in shock. Before them lay the shattered remains of Dr. Shinozaki’s airship, once the pinnacle of Japanese science—now scattered in fragments.
Tōsuke burst into tears.
"Young master... With the ship like this, there’s no way the doctor survived! If Miss Tsukiko hears of this, she’ll faint from grief! What do we do?!"
"Don’t despair yet," Fumihiko said firmly. "True, the airship is destroyed, but my uncle’s body isn’t here. That means he must have escaped to safety. And his assistant, Sugita, was with him—if both are missing, they must be nearby!"
Strengthened by this realization, he added, "This is our best lead yet. Finding my uncle is only a matter of time. Let’s press on!"
He strode forward, and Tōsuke, wiping his tears, followed.
Strange Sounds in the Cave
After trekking three or four ri (about 7–9 miles), the surroundings grew darker.
"It’s too late to search now. Let’s camp for the night and start again at dawn," Fumihiko suggested.
But the area was barren—just bald mountains and plains, with nowhere to take shelter.
Suddenly, Tōsuke shouted, "Young master! There’s a cave over there!"
Fumihiko turned. About a thousand yards ahead, at the foot of a mountain, was the mouth of a cave.
"Let’s stay there tonight."
They hurried over and found the cave far more spacious than expected, with a deep interior.
After unloading their gear, they sat down and ate biscuits from their leather bag.
Then—
Strange... Strange...
A low, groaning sound echoed from the depths of the cave.
The two exchanged startled glances.
"What... was that?" Tōsuke whispered.
"Not sure," Fumihiko murmured.
At first, they thought it was their imagination. But the groaning continued—weak, pitiful, and eerie in the damp silence. A shudder ran through them.
In an instant, Fumihiko grabbed his rifle, loaded it, and motioned for Tōsuke to follow.
Like cats stalking prey, they held their breath and crept toward the sound.
After twenty feet, the path curved right. The groans grew clearer—not distant, just faint.
Rounding a protruding boulder, they saw a dim candle flickering in a wide chamber, casting pale light over two dark figures lying motionless. One of them was writhing, groaning in pain.
Fumihiko abruptly dropped his rifle, rushed forward, and lit an electric lamp.
The chamber flooded with light.
The figures were two men in Western clothing.
Fumihiko held the lamp closer to their faces—then gasped, dropping it in shock.
Tōsuke rushed over. "Young master! What’s wrong?!"
Fumihiko, trembling, steadied himself and clutched one of the men.
"Uncle! It’s me—Fumihiko! Stay with me! Fumihiko!"
Tōsuke finally recognized the man. "Dr. Shinozaki! Please, stay strong! We’ve come to rescue you!"
"Medicine... Water, quick!" Fumihiko ordered.
Tōsuke handed him a flask, and they poured water into the doctor’s mouth. Slowly, the barely conscious man opened his eyes.
"Uncle! You’re awake! It’s me!"
"Fumi...hiko...?"
"Dr. Shinozaki! Can you hear me?"
"You came..." the doctor whispered weakly before slumping again.
"Uncle! Stay with us!" Fumihiko forced brandy between his lips.
The doctor stirred. "I’m... alright now. Sugita... Sugita..."
Fumihiko turned to the other man—Sugita, the assistant—but his body was already ice-cold.
Despite desperate attempts to revive him, it was hopeless.
"Uncle... Sugita is gone."
"...A tragedy," the doctor murmured, tears streaming down his face.
The Doctor’s Whereabouts
After a moment, Fumihiko suddenly remembered their supplies.
"Uncle, our equipment is about fifteen ri (≈35 miles) from here. I’d like to take you there, but in your condition, it’s impossible. I’ll bring everything here instead. Tōsuke will stay with you—please endure for a few more days."
He whispered this into the doctor’s ear, and the latter gave a faint nod.
Fumihiko turned to Tōsuke.
"I’ll leave now. Guard him well."
"Understood. Be careful, young master."
"Take care of things here."
With that, Fumihiko left the cave and retraced his steps.
By dawn of the second day, he reached their tent. He swiftly reassembled the airship, packed the tent, and hurried back to the cave at full speed.
The moment he landed, he called out:
"Tōsuke! Tōsuke!"
No reply.
"What’s going on?" he muttered, stepping into the darkness.
The cave was pitch-black, the candle extinguished.
"Uncle! I’m back—it’s Fumihiko! Tōsuke, where are you?"
Only his own echo answered.
A wave of dread hit him. He lit his pocket lamp—
Empty.
The cave was deserted.
Only Sugita’s corpse remained.
"Damn it!" he roared, momentarily paralyzed. Then, snatching up his discarded rifle, he sprinted—only to trip over something.
He relit the lamp.
Tōsuke.
The servant lay face-down, rifle still clutched in his hands.
"Tōsuke! What happened? Wake up!"
Fumihiko forced brandy into his mouth. Tōsuke gasped awake, then suddenly lurched up, snarling:
"Bastard—I won’t let you escape!"
Fumihiko restrained him. "It’s me! What happened?"
Recognizing the voice, Tōsuke clung to him, sobbing.
"Young master…! I’ve failed you!"
"Where’s my uncle?"
Tōsuke wept as he spoke:
"After you left, I tended to the doctor. But on the second night… footsteps came from the entrance. I thought it was you, so I went to greet them—"
"And?"
"It was him. That damned Baron Akiyama!"
"What?!"
"Him and his lackey, Heizō. They barged in, ignored me, and headed straight for the doctor. The moment they saw him, Akiyama said: ‘Ah, Dr. Shinozaki! I’ve come at Miss Tsukiko’s request.’ I rushed in, shouting that you had already found him and were returning with supplies—"
"Then what?"
"That bastard Akiyama panicked when he saw me. He ordered Heizō to carry the doctor away—"
"Heizō dared to—?!"
"Yes! I fought like hell, but it was two against one. As they dragged him out, I grabbed my rifle, thinking I’d shoot them before they escaped—but Akiyama struck me here—"
Tōsuke clutched his chest.
"—and I blacked out. I only woke when I heard your voice."
Fumihiko slumped, then glared at the sky.
"After all this effort…! That scheming Akiyama won’t stop here. He’ll torment us—and toy with Tsukiko’s heart!"
He stood, jaw set.
"Tōsuke, we force my uncle back. If we don’t, Akiyama will twist everything. We leave now."
"Let me at that bastard! I’ll make him pay!"
They raced outside, launching the airship at full throttle—scanning the horizon for Akiyama’s vessel.
Moonworld Duel
No sign of the baron. Yet.
Then, through binoculars, Fumihiko spotted it:
There!
A mile away, near the cave, two figures bustled beside an airship—undoubtedly Akiyama’s crew preparing for departure.
Not a second to lose.
Fumihiko accelerated. The enemy ship’s wings began to stir—
Too slow.
At a mile’s distance, he fired a warning shot.
Akiyama, gripping the controls, flinched. The ship lurched downward. By the time he recovered, Fumihiko was upon him.
"Baron Akiyama!" Fumihiko called coldly. "Long time no see."
Akiyama smirked. "Indeed."
"I’ve come for my uncle."
"Your uncle? You mean my prize, Dr. Shinozaki."
Akiyama’s voice turned venomous.
"Fool. I risked my life to find him. Why would I hand him over? If you want him, take him by force."
"Then a duel it is."
"Arrogant brat. Draw your weapon."
As they raised their rifles—
Crack!
A gunshot rang out. Akiyama staggered, clutching his chest.
"You—!" he snarled at Fumihiko. "You coward—shooting me from the side—!"
Tōsuke stepped forward, rifle smoking.
"Not the young master. Me. This is for the cave, you twisted bastard."
Akiyama’s face contorted.
"Damn… you…!"
He collapsed, dead.
Epilogue
Though Akiyama was a villain, Fumihiko buried him honorably beside Sugita, erecting a memorial on the moon.
After a week, once Dr. Shinozaki recovered, they departed for Earth—two airships now, carrying the doctor, Tōsuke, and a repentant Heizō, who swore loyalty after his master’s death.
ChatGPT w/ Kevin Assist
The Departure of the Professor’s Search Party!
In the October 10th, 1907 issue of the Tokyo Shimbun, it was impossible to miss the headline screaming across the top in giant type:
“ROMANTIC RIVALRY IN THE SKIES: AIRSHIPS DEPART FOR THE MOON!”
The story that followed had oversized type and bold declarations to match. It was, by all accounts, a story unlike anything seen before:
Half a year ago— May 1st, to be exact— Professor Shinoyama of Tokyo University left Earth— aboard an airship of his own making, with just a lone assistant by his side— for the sake of lunar exploration. It was a momentous event, no doubt still fresh in the minds of our readers. Since then, not even the slightest word has been heard from the professor. Some claimed that a flaw in the airship may have prevented the professor from completing his mission—might he have lost his life in the name of science? Rumors and speculation about the professor abound, with friends and colleagues worrying day and night about his unknown fate.
Yet the one most deserving of pity is his beloved daughter, Tsukiko. She had lost her mother in childhood, and ever since, her father had been her only support in all the world. Now, with this sudden calamity, her grief knew no bounds. Day after day, night after night, she wept for his safety, unable to rest. Her delicate beauty—once so radiant it could put flowers to shame—had grown pale and withered, as though a single gust might scatter her like petals in a storm.
Unable to bear the sight of her suffering, two young gentlemen came forward. Each vowed to risk his life to uncover the professor’s fate—should he succeed, Tsukiko would give her hand in return.
One of them was Baron Akiyama; the other, a young gentleman named Kumoi Fumihiko, a distant relative of the professor. Both had long harbored feelings for Tsukiko, and both had confessed their affection even before the professor's departure. But Tsukiko, touched by the sincerity of both men, could not bring herself to choose one over the other.
Bound by filial duty to her father, Tsukiko saw no choice but to agree. Thus, the two young men prepared to risk their lives and readied themselves for departure— hoping to ease her grief and, in doing so, realize the longing they had long carried in their hearts. The hour was set: at exactly noon that day, they would each depart aboard their own airship from Hibiya Park.
The story felt like something out of a romance novel, and it captured the imagination of the entire capital. Residents streamed in from all directions like an avalanche, eager to witness the departure of the two brave young men. By nine that morning, even the vast expanse of the park had been completely filled with onlookers.
Around eleven o’clock, Baron Akiyama and Kumoi Fumihiko arrived, each seated in a carriage accompanied by a single attendant. With solemn dignity, they conducted a thorough inspection of their respective airships, bowed to the gathered onlookers, and climbed aboard. Once inside, they waited quietly, anticipating the sound of the signal cannon. The crowd watched in breathless silence.
As the clock struck twelve, a single cannon shot rang out from atop the music hall. The airships, wings spread like mighty eagles, began their slow ascent.
“Banzai!”
“Success to Baron Akiyama!”
“Long live Kumoi Fumihiko!”
A roar of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd like an explosion. Hats filled the air and handkerchiefs fluttered like flags as the crowd gave them a heroes’ send off.
The airships rose slowly at first, their wings stirring the air with a gentle rhythm. But soon they picked up speed. Akiyama turned east while Kumoi veered west, each charting his own path through the sky:
Below them, the onlookers became specks, then vanished altogether. Even the tallest mountains had soon disappeared from view. All around them stretched an endless, shifting sea of clouds. The two men could no longer see the airship of the other—near or far, it was impossible to say. They climbed through the haze—relying only on the compass fixed to the prow—with no clear destination in sight.
Arrival in the Lunar Realm!
It had been a whole week since Kumoi Fumihiko's airship left Earth. Yet there was still no sign of the Moon on the horizon. Day in and day out, they saw the same sight: nothing but pure white clouds. Tōsuke, Fumihiko's attendant, was beginning to worry.
“Master Fumihiko, it’s already been a week, and we still haven’t seen anything…mightn’t we have got turned ’round the wrong way?”
“Impossible. As long as we stay the course, we can’t possibly fail.”
“Still… I can't help worryin’ about that Akiyama fellow. I swear, sir, if you don’t come out on top in this contest, it just won’t sit right with me. Folks say he’s got a real mean streak in him—bad blood, from what I hear. Your father’s been worried sick back home, sir, thinkin’ somethin’ might happen to ya…”
“You worry too much. A man of Akiyama’s rank would never stoop to anything underhanded.”
As they spoke, Fumihiko noticed something between the clouds.
“Hm,” he murmured, quickly raising his binoculars for a closer look.
“The Moon! It’s the Moon!”
“Really? You’re sayin’ that’s the Moon, sir?”
“Indeed. Thank goodness. We’ll make landfall in just a few more hours!”
“Is that so, sir? Well, here’s hopin’ the old professor is waitin’ safe and sound for us when we get there…”
Not long after, the airship began to pick up speed, descending as though the Moon itself were pulling it in. The vessel shuddered gently, its course tilting lower and lower.
“Apply the brakes—all of them,” Fumihiko ordered.
Tōsuke moved at once to obey. Meanwhile, Fumihiko kept both hands firm on the helm, carefully adjusting the voltage regulator as he steered—every ounce of attention fixed on the descent, every movement deliberate. The ship dipped closer and closer to the surface as the great disc of the moon swelled to fill the horizon.
The vessel slowed as it neared the surface. Moments later, the two men stepped down safely onto the strange new world.
“So… this is the lunar realm, sir?” asked Tōsuke.
“That’s right.”
“Then that must mean Professor Shinoyama is here too, huh? We’ve gotta find him fast, before that Akiyama fellow—”
“There’s no sense in rushing straight into action. First, we need to find ourselves a good spot and get settled.”
“Right. That’s good thinkin’, sir.”
The two of them boarded the airship once again, skimming low over the ground as they scanned the terrain. Before long, they spotted a thick grove at the foot of a mountain, with a single stream winding through the trees.
“That spot should suffice,” Fumihiko said.
They brought the airship down near the grove. From the ship’s hold, they pulled out the tent that they had prepared in advance. Together, they pitched it by the forest’s edge; then they disassembled the airship, folded it down small, and stowed it inside.
With that, their preparations were complete.
The Wreck of the Gekkū-go!
Fumihiko and Tōsuke shouldered their rifles and set out to search for Professor Shinoyama. They crossed plains and hills, searching high and low, but there was no sign of him. Five days went by, then a week, and still they had made no progress.
Disheartened, the two of them sank down beneath the shade of a tree.
“What do ya suppose happened?” Tōsuke asked. “Could it be that he went the wrong direction and ended up on another planet?”
“Perhaps… it’s plausible that something like that may have happened. But since we’ve come all this way, you must stick with it a bit longer and continue the search.”
“Of course—I’ll keep lookin’ until the day I die, sir.”
“I’m feeling a bit cold— do we have anything to make a fire?”
“I’ll go see what I can scrounge up.”
Tōsuke wandered off and soon returned carrying a handful of kindling. They lit a fire and warmed themselves by it. As they chatted, feeding sticks into the fire, Fumihiko happened to study a particular piece of wood more closely. It was unfamiliar in this lunar realm, and it appeared to have carved markings.
Upon closer inspection, Fumihiko realized it was an ornamental fitting from inside Professor Shinoyama’s airship, the Gekkyū-go.
“Ah! I’ve found something!” shouted Fumihiko.
“Huh?”
“Look at this,” Fumihiko said, showing Tōsuke the piece of wood.
“This was a piece of Uncle’s airship. If it’s here, it means—without a doubt—that he made it this far. His ship must be damaged, unable to return to Earth, stranded here. This piece of wood was serendipitous. It truly is a gift from heaven.”
“Then the professor’s got to be here! Come on—let’s find him, we can’t delay…”
“Still—we have no idea which direction. First, let’s comb the area where this wood was found. Maybe we’ll uncover another clue.”
Fumihiko sent Tōsuke ahead toward the spot where they’d gathered firewood— but they found nothing else worth noting.
As they left the brush beside them and walked through a nearby wood, they came into a relatively open clearing.
“Ah! An airship!”
“The Gekkyū-go!”
The two men were so astonished that they involuntarily exclaimed aloud.
Indeed… there, mangled almost beyond recognition, was Professor Shinoyama’s airship. The pride of Japanese science, scattered to pieces.
Seeing it, Tōsuke burst into tears and cried out.
“Master Fumihiko, lookin’ at this… there’s no chance Professor Shinoyama survived. If we tell Miss Tsukiko, she'll surely faint! Sir, what should we do?”
“Let’s not lose hope just yet. True, the ship is destroyed, but since Uncle himself isn’t among the wreckage, he must be somewhere safe nearby. And he had his assistant Sugita with him—if neither are here, they’ve likely fled to a nearby safe spot.”
Fumihiko straightened, his voice firm. “With this solid lead, it won’t be long before we find Uncle. Now, let’s act!”
He pressed forward, and Tōsuke, wiping his tears, followed close behind.
The Noise Inside the Cave!
By the time they had traveled three or four ri2, the light had already begun to fade, and dusk was setting in.
“We won’t be able to see anything once night falls. Let’s camp out somewhere tonight and resume our search first thing tomorrow,” said Fumihiko.
They looked around for a suitable spot, but there was nothing but bare hills and open plains—not a single place to shield them from the dampness of the lunar night.
Suddenly, Tōsuke cried out.
“Master Fumihiko—there’s a cave up ahead!”
“Let me see,” said Fumihiko.
Looking in Tōsuke’s direction, he saw a cave at the base of a mountain, about 10 chō3 away.
“Let’s spend the night there.”
They approached the cave and found it to be much larger than they expected, as its depths extended far beyond the entrance. They set down their packs, sat down, and began eating biscuits from a leather bag.
Suddenly— what strangeness! What dreadful strangeness! A low moaning sound could be heard from deep inside the cave!!!
Startled, the two men looked at each other.
“That noise, sir— what could it be??” Tōsuke whispered.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it,” Fumihiko whispered back.
At first they thought it was a trick of the imagination, but when they strained their ears, they could still hear the moaning. In the quiet, damp cave, a frail, anguished voice echoed faintly—sending a shudder through both of them.
Fumihiko immediately grabbed his rifle, loaded it as he stood, and motioned for Tōsuke to follow. Tōsuke also loaded his gun and crept in behind his master. Like cats stalking a mouse, they held their breath and crept toward the source of the sound, careful not to make a sound. After creeping forward several paces, the path bent sharply to the right.
The moaning was clearly coming from just around the corner. They thought it had been farther away only because the voice was so faint and feeble. As they reached a large, protruding rock, the voice grew clearer. It was unmistakably a human moan.
The two men rushed around the rock and emerged into a wide chamber. In the center, a single candle was on the verge of going out, casting a dim light around the room. Two dark figures were sprawled beneath the flickering flame. One of them— the source of the moaning— occasionally stirred, letting out tortured groans.
Without thinking, Fumihiko threw down his rifle and dashed over, switching on his battery lamp. The surroundings lit up all at once. Lying there were two men in Western garb. Fumihiko, looking at their faces in light, cried “Ah!” and immediately dropped the lamp in shock.
Startled by this, Tōsuke rushed over.
“Master Fumihiko, what’s wrong? Sir, what’s happened?”
Regaining his composure, Fumihiko clung to the professor once more and said, “Uncle! It’s me—Fumihiko. Please, hang on. I'm here!”
Tōsuke, now realizing who it was, exclaimed, “Ah! It’s Professor Shinoyama! Hang in there! Master Fumihiko and I, Tōsuke, have come for you, sir!”
Clinging to Tōsuke, the Professor whispered in his ear.
“Hurry… water…”
“Yessir!”
Tōsuke held smelling salts to the professor’s nose and let him drink water through a sipper tube. At last, the professor—who until then had been moaning with fading breath—slowly opened his eyes.
“Uncle, are you awake? It’s Fumihiko. It’s me.”
“Ah… Fumihiko.”
“Yes.”
“Professor Shinoyama! Thank heavens!” Tōsuke exclaimed.
“You really came...”
The professor said this in one breath, but now that relief had set in, all the adrenaline gave out, and he began to collapse again.
“Uncle, please stay with us—stay strong!” cried Fumihiko, gently pouring brandy between his lips. Gradually, the professor regained his senses.
“Good… I’ll be fine now. Sugita… Sugita…”
“Yes,” said Fumihiko, going to lift the assistant Sugita, who lay collapsed nearby—but the man was already dead, his body cold as ice.
They gave him medicine and tried everything they could, but it was no use.
“Uncle, Sugita is gone. There’s nothing we can do.”
“I see… poor man… what a tragedy.”
Unable to help himself, the professor began to weep.
The Professor—Vanished Without a Trace!
After a moment, Fumihiko suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Uncle. Our equipment is stored about fifteen ri from here. I’d like to bring you there, but in your condition, moving you would be impossible. So I plan to bring all our supplies here first and nurse you back to health for the time being. I’m going back now to fetch them. In the meantime, I’ll leave Tōsuke by your side. Try to hold out for two or three days.”
He whispered this into the doctor’s ear, and the professor silently nodded.
Fumihiko turned to Tōsuke. “I’m setting off now. I’m leaving things in your hands—take good care of him while I’m gone.”
“Yessir. Forgive me, sir, for bein’ more burden than help.”
“I’m counting on you.”
With that, Fumihiko exited the cave and retraced his steps down the path they had come.
On the morning of the second day, Fumihiko finally returned to camp. He wasted no time. First, he unfolded the airship and packed up the tent and supplies. Then, without further delay, he climbed aboard and set off once more for the cave.
The moment he disembarked, Fumihiko called out.
“Tōsuke! Tōsuke!”
But there was no reply.
“What on earth…?” he muttered, hurrying toward the cave.
It was pitch black. The lamp had gone out, and he couldn’t see a thing.
“Uncle! I’m back! It’s me—Fumihiko! Tōsuke, are you there? Tōsuke!”
Fumihiko was shouting, but the only answer was his own voice, echoing eerily in the darkness.
Suddenly gripped by dread, he flicked on his battery lamp. The beam cut through the shadows—
And he gasped.
“What—?!”
The cave was completely empty. Sugita’s body was still there, but there was no sign of Professor Shinoyama. No sign of Tōsuke.
“No!” he cried out.
He stood there in shock, speechless.
Then, jolting to his senses, he grabbed the rifle he had left at the cave wall. But as he turned to run, his foot caught on something, and he went sprawling.
Fumbling, he raised the lamp again—
There, sprawled on the ground, was Tōsuke.
Tōsuke lay face-down on the ground, still clutching his rifle. Fumihiko dropped to his knees and turned him over.
“Tōsuke! What happened?! Get a hold of yourself!”
He pressed smelling salts to Tōsuke’s nose. Slowly, breath returned to the man’s body.
As he opened his eyes, Tōsuke suddenly lurched upward and cried, “Damn him! He’s not getting away!”
Fumihiko grabbed him firmly and held him down.
“Hey! Tōsuke, it’s me—Fumihiko! What happened? Where’s my uncle?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Tōsuke clung to him and broke into sobs.
“Master Fumihiko! Real sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“Tell me! Where is he?”
Between sobs, Tōsuke recounted what had happened:
“After you left, I stayed by the old professor’s side. On the second night, I heard footsteps at the cave entrance. I thought for sure it was you returnin’, so I rushed out to greet ya. But it wasn’t you—it was that cursed Baron Akiyama.”
“What?! Baron Akiyama?”
“Yessir. He came in with a servant.”
“Then what happened?”
“He said, ‘Ah, Professor Shinoyama! I’ve come to bring you back on Tsukiko’s behalf,’ and headed straight into the cave. I followed ‘em and told ‘em you’d already found the professor two days ago and were on your way back with the equipment. But then—”
“Yes?”
“He seemed shocked to see me. Then he whispered something to his servant, and the man suddenly tried to carry the professor off— in his weakened state, too! I couldn’t let ‘em get away with that, so I tried to stop ‘em. But it was two against one, and as I chased after ‘em, Akiyama struck me in the chest. That’s the last thing I remember. I only came to just now when I heard your voice.”
Fumihiko listened intently, his anger rising. “All that effort… and now this. Damn!”
He clenched his fists, eyes burning with frustration. Then he stood tall, renewed resolve in his eyes.
“We’ll find him, Tōsuke. Whatever it takes. That snake Akiyama won’t get away with this. Who knows what foul schemes he’s planning now—not just for my uncle, but for Tsukiko too. Come on. We’re going after him.”
“Please, sir. I’m with you to the end. I’ll do anything to make that bastard pay.”
They rushed outside and boarded the airship, lifting off at full speed—determined to find out whether Akiyama had already left for Earth with the professor in tow.
Final Showdown in the Lunar Skies!
Fumihiko scanned the surroundings, searching for Akiyama. There was no sign he had departed yet. Relieved for the moment, he raised his binoculars and looked toward the area near the cave.
“Thank goodness—he’s still there!”
About a ri from the cave, he spotted an airship. Two figures were scrambling around it with urgency. It was, without a doubt, Baron Akiyama and his party. And there was no time to lose— they were clearly making final preparations for liftoff.
Fumihiko fired up the engine, accelerating. Akiyama must have noticed, because he and his attendant jumped aboard in haste—the airship’s great wings began to stir, ready for flight. But they were still nearly a mile apart.
For Fumihiko, every second felt like an eternity. He set the engine to full throttle, surging forward—and fired a warning shot into the sky.
Baron Akiyama, hands on the throttle for takeoff, flinched at the gunshot. His hand slipped off the control, and the ship dipped slightly. By the time he recovered, Fumihiko’s ship was nearly within arm’s reach.
“Baron Akiyama!” Fumihiko called out. He gave a crisp, formal bow. “It’s been a while.”
“Indeed,” Akiyama replied haughtily.
“I’ll say this plainly, Baron Akiyama: I’ve come to retrieve my uncle.”
“Your uncle? You mean Professor Shinoyama?”
“That’s right.”
Baron Akiyama’s voice suddenly rose with fury. “What nonsense! Even wishful thinking has its limits. I came all this way for one reason only: to find Professor Shinoyama. And now that I have him, you think I’d just hand him over? Foolish boy! If you wanted him so badly, where were you when he needed saving?”
Akiyama continued, spitting his words with scorn. “I risked my life to find the professor. If you want him—then you’ll have to take him by force.”
“So be it. I accept your challenge!”
“Arrogant child. I’ll make you regret this.”
As both men raised their guns, a shot rang out—unexpectedly.
“Ngh—!” Baron Akiyama gasped, staggering back.
Stunned, Fumihiko watched as the Baron glared at him in pain. “Kumoi… You coward… You shot me from behind…”
Tōsuke stood tall, unwavering. “That wasn’t Master Fumihiko, bastard! He ain’t the type to pull a stunt like that. It was me. Remember what you did to me back in that cave? Well, consider this payback.” He spat the words with undisguised contempt.
Baron Akiyama hissed, “Tch… how irritating…”
With that final curse, Akiyama succumbed to his wound.
Though he had been an enemy, Fumihiko gave the Baron a proper burial. He buried him alongside Sugita in a solemn lunar funeral. They raised a humble stone marker over the grave, then stayed for another week as they waited for the professor’s condition to improve. Finally, Professor Shinoyama, Tōsuke, and Heizō—the Baron’s former attendant, now repentant and loyal—boarded the two airships in pairs and began the long journey home.
It definitely would have been better to use unassisted ChatGPT as a comparison, but I polluted the context window by doing the assisted translation first. I also didn’t have a separate paid account to test the same model. Thus, DeepSeek-V3.
The ri was an Edo period unit of measurement. One ri is about 3.93 kilometers, or 2.44 miles. One
There are 36 chō in a ri, making 10 chō approximately equal to 1 kilometer.