Gouging In The Night

Gouging In The Night
Kanji	剔抉の夜
Romaji	Tekketsu no Yoru
Voice Drama Information
Characters	Mukuhara Kazui Es
Released	March 19, 2021 (Digital), March 31, 2021 (Physical)
Length	17:39
Label	Universal Music Japan

"Gouging In The Night" (剔(てっ)抉(けつ)の夜(よる), Tekketsu no Yoru) is eighth voice drama featuring the prisoner Mukuhara Kazui. It's the first trial interrogation between Kazui and the prison guard Es, right before the song starts.

Track Listing

1. half
2. half (Off Voice)
3. Yowamushi Montblanc (弱虫モンブラン) [KAZUI Cover]
4. Yowamushi Montblanc (弱虫モンブラン) [KAZUI Cover] (Off Voice)
5. Gouging In The Night (剔抉の夜) -Voice Drama- Kazui & Es

Featured Characters

• Mukuhara Kazui
• Es

Transcript

-WIP-

Translations by @onigiriico

• Romaji
• Japanese
• English

Kazui	Now, then… I wonder how this will turn out.
*Door opening*
Es	Sorry for the wait. Prisoner number 7, Kazui. …Hm?
Kazui	Excuse me. Hmph!
*Kazui restrains Es*
Es	What!?
Kazui	Sorry, just let me restrain your body for a second.
Es	*Struggling* Y-You…! That's rude!
Kazui	Now, now… I won't hurt you, so do not resist… H-Huh…?
*Es breaks free from Kazui*
Kazui	What's this…? I've suddenly lost my strength…
Es	*Heavy breathing* Prisoner number 7, Kazui...! Do you understand the meaning of what you've just done?! This is a serious violation of guidelines!
Kazui	Hm~...
Es	Hey! Are you listening to me, Kazui!?
Kazui	If someone tries to hit you, their fist will suddenly stop in mid-air... From Fuuta's accounts, I had the mental image of an invisible wall. So I was wondering about what would happen if I tried to restrain you. But the moment I tried it, I lost my strength. I wonder why? It was almost like I, myself, became opposed to attacking you.
Es	Hmph. I don't know the details either. I just know that a prisoner can't attack the guard.
Kazui	I see… *Laughs* But knowing that it's not like a magic barrier reassures me, as an old man. So there is a way to realistically explain it, at least… it might be something similar to hypnosis.
Es	Hey! That doesn't matter!
Kazui	Hm?
Es	Sit down there, Kazui!
Kazui	*Chuckles* Okay, okay.
Es	For a prisoner to try and restrain the guard… just the idea of it is offensive. I might just decide not to forgive you for that. If you have anything to say to defend yourself, then go ahead.
Kazui	Hmm… *Claps* Sorry!
Es	H-Huh?
Kazui	Really – sorry, sorry! I really had no intention of causing you harm, guard-kun. I was simply looking to safely gather some information and assess the situation in this prison a little better.
Es	Huh?
Kazui	You see, depending on who they are, once someone is here it might be impossible for them to break out. I'm the oldest here, so naturally, I should be the one testing how far we can go against you.
Es	You're really just going to say that much to my face?
Kazui	Mm? I assumed you'd be the type of kid that I can trust with this.
Es	Oh? So you're underestimating me.
Kazui	Oh, no no, don't think so ill of me. Well, this is speculation on my part, but if we can't attack you, maybe you can't attack us, either.
Es	Hmm?
Kazui	What about it?
Es	Hm!
*Slaps*
Kazui	T…that hurts…!
Es	Hey, what's wrong? I just attacked you.
Kazui	That's not what I–! Geez, you're so quick to take action…
Es	What? If you don't get to the point soon, I'm gonna slap you again.
Kazui	Aw, I get it! Please wait a moment… *Clears throat* It's likely that while you're the prison guard here, there are no means for you to inflict lethal violence on us, like corporal punishment or any kind of torture. Otherwise you'd easily be able to punish me for what I just did in any way you want. And judging from your earlier words, you don't fully understand the situation either – you're just acting by someone else's orders.
Es	What are you trying to say?
Kazui	In other words, we're divided into the positions of guard and prisoner, but we're both playing our roles due to our lack of information. I think it's "fair" in that sense.
Es	Me and you guys… we're "fair"?
Kazui	Well, that's my speculation at least. I was hoping that we'd get to exchange our impressions on the matter if I shared my thoughts with you.
Es	Hmm… you're a very chatty man, though.
Kazui	*Laughs* Oh, that's true. Talking too much to you young ones is a bad habit of mine.
Es	Well, what you're saying is pretty interesting. It's true. There are things that even I don't know about MILGRAM.
Kazui	Hm, hm.
Es	But! I am the Prison Guard of MILGRAM, and you're a prisoner, there's no mistaking that.
Kazui	Hmm...
Es	I only have this one single task. Now then, Prisoner number 7, Kazui. Let's get started.
Kazui	Alright, very professional for your age, I see. *Laughs* Well, you've told me a lot, so let me return the favor. We haven't really had this kind of self-introduction, so it's kind of refreshing. Once again, I'm Mukuhara Kazui, age 39. Nice to meet you, guard-kun.
Es	Hm. You guys are all murderous prisoners. Kazui, you're no exception to that.
Kazui	Murderous, huh...? Well, I won't deny that.
Es	Mm? You're acknowledging it, huh?
Kazui	I do. At the very least, I believe I'm a murderer. And I regret it. Not that there's any use to that remorse.
Es	'Use to your remorse'…?
Kazui	Putting that aside, what even is your source of information? I don't think there are many people other than myself who would consider me a murderer.
Es	What is that supposed to mean?
Kazui	For example, I thought there could be someone who gather a bunch of acquitted murderers together and try to judge them. That's something a crazy person would do. But if what I did makes me a murderer, then... Honestly, the definition of "murder" is too broad.
Es	Hey, Kazui. It's not your turn to be asking questions.
Kazui	And even if you recognize me as a murderer, that would be a conclusion that only someone deeply familiar with my circumstances could reach. What kind of things even lead to us being here? It's a mystery.
Es	That doesn't matter, and I don't care. I just need to decide whether to forgive you or not.
Kazui	Oh, you're not interested at all? When you don't even really know who you're working for?
Es	I don't need to know. And I'd lose my mind thinking about it.
Kazui	Hm..? Is that how it is?
Es	Anyway, stop playing detective, it's unpleasant.
Kazui	Okay, okay.
Es	*Sighs* Kazui. How is your relationship to the other prisoners?
Kazui	Oh, I think it's pretty good. Don't worry, everyone is getting along well. The younger ones seemed very stressed at the beginning, of course, but they seem to have adjusted by now.
Es	That answer seems to be mostly the same no matter who you ask. So there's no conflicts between prisoners…
Kazui	At least not for now, that is. There's lots of kids where you can't really tell what they're thinking… Depending on your judgment, who knows how this will develop.
Es	Hmm…
Kazui	Ah, the environment in this prison is great though. Some of us would probably be okay with living here forever. How did you prepare such an environment...?
Es	Hey! Stop trying to casually get information from me while answering my questions!
Kazui	*Laughs* I got caught, huh. Well, forgive me, alright? Since I'm an adult, I've got to bring some information back for the kids.
Es	You're the same as Shidou. I don't like it. Are all adults like this?
Kazui	*Laughs* Was Shidou-kun like this as well? Well, he's really calm and relaxed, isn't he? He seems like the type who doesn't easily get unsettled by unfamiliar situations.
Es	Are you any different? You've been acting all cheerful as well.
Kazui	Mmm… Do I seem that way? That's good.
Es	What's so good about it? I don't like this. It's just a fake smile that you've consciously crafted to show yourself in a certain way. You're acting based on how you want others to see you – your face clearly shows that you're lying.
Kazui	This is, this is… You're pretty strict. *Laughs* It's not like I'm not scared at all, either. But I've got the responsibility that comes with being older, too – even in an abnormal situation like this, there's no way I could just let myself panic in front of the kids. Well, even if it's fake, adults need to keep up a smile… in order to not let you young ones down, you know.
Es	Is that so…
Kazui	If you say that I'm lying… You might just be right. Unfortunately, once you're an adult, you get very good at lying.
Es	Adults, huh?
Kazui	You keep figuring me out, though. Maybe you have some mysterious power.
Es	*Laughs* Hey, Kazui…
Kazui	What is it?
Es	That's a lie, too.
Kazui	Eh?
Es	Showing a hint of weakness and trying to get on my good side like that… Is that another one of your "adult techniques"?
Kazui	*Laughs* What are you saying?
Es	Stop laughing, it's unpleasant.
Kazui	Hey, hey, what's gotten into you...
Es	Ignoring your pain, pretending that everything's fine, and taking your losses well... Is that what adults do? Has that helped you with anything? Is there anyone who lets themselves get fooled by a specifically prepared "weak" side of yourself? I see, I see… So these are the kinds of skills that you gain when you've lived for a long time. I know it – that your lies have killed someone.
Kazui	......
Es	Well, that's just speculation on my part, though.
Kazui	Are you trying to get revenge on me?
Es	What about it?
Kazui	Well, I won't deny that part either. This is just how adults are.
Es	*Laughs* Being an adult, huh… Don't use that as an excuse for your own weakness, coward.
Kazui	…!
Es	In this place, it doesn't matter whether you're an adult or a child. MILGRAM will find your true self anywhere, and you can't run from it.
Kazui	I... see. It might be as you say. We just become more and more passive to avoid causing pain. Yeah… that's right. It's true that my lies killed her, and even now, I still haven't changed. No, that's not it – I can't change because I was already born this way. But… don't talk big without even knowing a thing about my feelings, kid.
Es	...Nice to meet you, Kazui Mukuhara. It feels like I've finally come face to face with you. Well met. I am Es, the prison guard of MILGRAM.
Kazui	*Exhales, chuckles* Such a fashionable way of greeting, huh? Well, hopefully you won't come to regret this. These kinds of relationships tend to bring pain with them.
Es	That doesn't bother me. It's my job to experience pain with you.
Kazui	Mm, you really are a pro.
Es	Surely, in order to judge other people's sins, one needs to be prepared for this much.
*Bell rings, mechanical sounds in the back*
Kazui	What's this?
Es	It's time to end the interrogation. It's a pity – we were just starting to get serious.
Kazui	Haa… What a relief. I've had enough of this.
Es	Oh, right, Kazui. You accused me of "not knowing a thing" about your feelings earlier, didn't you?
Kazui	Aha… Now that you're repeating it to me, I'm kind of embarrassed to have said all that while talking to a child…
Es	Rest assured. I'm going to figure out your feelings from now on.
Kazui	Turning our inner feelings into songs and videos, huh? Alright.
Es	That's right.
Kazui	Ah… oh, Guard-kun?
Es	What is it?
Kazui	As you know, with this personality of mine… I have trouble talking to others about myself openly. I guess, despite physically being as big as I am, I've still got a cowardly side to myself.
Es	I'm not interested in your self-deprecation.
Kazui	There's something I'm thinking about now, with this situation… I… all of my sins and weaknesses that I've been hiding… I might have been subconsciously waiting for someone to forcibly uncover them all along.
Es	Kazui…
Kazui	How's that? Adults are pretty awkward, aren't they?
Es	Shut up. You're the only one who's awkward.
Kazui	*Laughs* You're strict, aren't you? But that's not bad.
Es	Prisoner number 7, Kazui. Come now, sing your sins!
Continued on Half MV