Sailor V Manga Translation

"Thank you!" Minako calls. "Thanks so much, everyone!"

"Sailor V! Sailor V!" chants the audience.

"Today, for you, I'm going to sing!" she says. "I'm an idol! I'm so happy!"

Artemis hangs his head as he sits by the sleeping girl.

The boys are on stage, at the Dark Guys concert. "Thank you everyone!" they say. "We'll definitely come back again!"

Minako and Hikaru leave. "Oh, that concert was the best!"

"It was so cool seeing the Dark Guys live!" says Minako. "I'm so happy!"

"Aren't you tired from the concert?" asks Hikaru. "I feel faint."

"Well, you were yelling too loud, Hikaru-chan."

"What! You were yelling a lot louder than I was."

"Right!" says Minako. "I was cheering the whole time. And I feel great!"

"You're really cheerful, Mina."

"Being an idol must be fun. I wish I could be one."

"You want to go to your house and listen to the new Dark Guys CD?" Hikaru asks.

"Really!? That's...!"

"What?"

"Well... I have to keep the concert secret," Minako says. "I wasn't supposed to go..."

"Why? Will your mom get mad?"

"No, the mad one will be..."

"Mina!!"

"Huh? Did someone call you, Mina?" asks Hikaru.

Artemis glares at Minako. She grabs him. "Bye, Hikaru-chan. See you at school!" She leaves. "Artemis... Are to trying to make a spectacle of yourself, being a talking cat?"

"Exactly!" he says. "You're always going off by yourself and playing around." This is the talking tomcat, Artemis. "If you keep acting like that, you'll never bring peace to the world. What!? An idol concert!? You should be careful with idols. Remember Pandora and Petite Pandora? All the enemies we've defeated here have been idols. Haven't you learned anything!? If you want to be a soldier of justice, you should consult with me and investigate before you go to a concert."

"Oh, Artemis. You worry too much. The Dark Guys aren't evil. Come on, look." She shows him a picture. "Aren't they cool!? These triplets are the hottest idols! Anyway, they're great. Their faces, their voices, all together..."

"Dark Guys... They belong to the Dark Agency... The Pandora and Petite Pandora we defeated both belonged to the Dark Agency's idol talent."

"Hey, members in the fan club get priority for buying tickets to the next Dark Guys concert!"

"Ohh..." says Minako. "I want to go, but I don't have any money."

"If that's the case..." says Amano. "You can listen to the concert with me!"

"Amano! What, are you a Dark Guys fan too?"

"No, no," he says. "Now the number one requested group is the twin idols, Twin Dark. They're cute! Look, they're in this literary magazine, and lots of info is available using computers. Did you know? They're the triplet Dark Guys' younger sisters."

"Hey, they really do look alike," says Minako.

"Come on," says Wakagi. "Why do I have to cover this idol singer's concert?"

"Don't talk like that, Wakagi-senpai," says an officer.

"She's the most popular singer for karaoke," says another. "The Dark Princess is the salaryman's goddess!"

The idol sings on stage: "Over your job choose me kneel to me and down to your bones you will receive my love."

"Ohh..." says Wakagi. "I'm crazy about her... My head's spinning. I'm exhausted."

The woman sits back in her chair, in the Dark Agency Office, taking a puff from a cigarette. "Heh heh. For the next new idol, we've got commercials and a trendy drama series, followed by a movie and events. If we aim under the Dark Guys and Twin Dark, and over the Dark Princess, we'll have every age group covered. Things are turning out well."

The door opens. "Boss," a man says. "You have a call."

"Okay," she says. She presses a button, and a clear screen is lowered. A silhouette appears on it.

"Fluorite," says the figure. "I take it you are progressing well."

"Danburite-sama," she says. "Leave it to me."

"Pandora and Petite Pandora have already failed. I can't overlook that."

"I understand," says Fluorite. "This time I am sending out many cloned copies as idols, to perform the brainwashing. I will soak up lots of energy, and bring about the destruction of the humans! Using the idol talent is the best method to brainwash people. I can soak up a mountain of energy, and take in lots of money. After the brainwashing, they'll be slaves, and I can use them for anything. Then all Japan- no, the whole planet Earth will be ruled by us!"

"It's time for school to end," says Artemis. "If I don't come to meet Mina, she'll go off to fool around. A lot of ads for Dark Agency idols have popped up lately... All these people look strange. They're worn out. There's no life in their faces... A pattern. Mina doesn't know about this emergency situation!"

The students pack up their bags. "Dark... Dark..." "I have to hurry home to watch the Dark Guys on TV." "I need to listen to my CD..."

"Hikaru-chan?" says Minako.

Hikaru leaves, and her CD falls from her bag.

"What's with her?" Minako says. "She dropped this, and didn't notice. Weird." She picks it up. "Th- This is-! The Dark Guys new CD!! I gotta hear it! Nerd! You have a good CD player. Give it to me!" She grabs the Discman from Amano and plays the CD.

"Dark... Dark..." chants the singer. "Dark Agency..."

"Ohhh...." says Minako. "Yes, Dark Agency..."

"Mina!" calls Artemis. "That's an enemy's brainwashing CD! Don't listen to it!" He yanks the headphones from her ears. He starts batting at her face. "We have to be careful. Come on, Mina!"

"Ow! Ow! Owww!" Minako cries. "What are you doing, Artemis!?"

"You're back to yourself," he says. "You fell into the enemy's trap! Mina, you haven't been doing your job. You're a soldier of justice!"

Minako hits her hand on the desk. "Artemis!! Do you remember!? I've been doing what I can, but there's no reason for me to be a soldier of justice! And about the enemies! And about my employer!! I don't know anything! You haven't told me a thing, Artemis! You've been using me unfairly!"

"...Ohh..." says Artemis. "I can't take this anymore. Mina! Come!!"

Minako and Artemis enter the Crown Game Center. "What!?" Minako says. "What are we doing here!?"

Artemis hits a button on the Sailor V game machine, and a hole opens in the floor underneath Minako. She screams as she falls through it. She lands on the floor of a basement. Computers line the walls, with a large monitor in the center.

"Hey, Mina!" says a voice. "I've been waiting."

"That voice... Boss!? Boss, this place..."

"This is the command center," the voice says. "Since you need to train a little more as a soldier, I'd rather Artemis hadn't brought you here."

"Boss!" says Minako. "It's all right! I wanted to know! You always give me orders. Just what is your real form? Tell me!"

"That... I can't tell you yet."

She grimaces.

"But, Mina, about the enemies. It's the dreadful plan of an organization called the Dark Agency. They're not human! They want to soak energy from humans, and cause the downfall of mankind. They're planning to conquer Earth! All the previous enemies were sent out from there!"

"Soak energy!? Conquer Earth!?"

"Mina! Take action! Go fight, to foil the Dark Agency's plot!"

"Understood, boss!"

Minako and Artemis stand outside the Dark Agency Dream Idol Fair. "A day ticket's 10,000 yen!!" Minako says. "Ten thousand yen!? I don't believe it! No way I could afford that! So... Crescent Moon Power Transform! Change me into an army foot soldier!" She appears in a camouflage suit, holding a rifle. She kicks open the door and runs inside. "Charge!" she calls.

The crowd cheers.

"Thank you!" say the Dark Guys. "And now, our sisters! The Twin Dark!" The spotlight shines on a smiling girl with long, blond hair. "You're not the Twin Dark! Who are you!? You're cute!"

"Who's that!?" calls Fluorite. "You!"

"You use idols!" says the girl. "Boys, girls, regardless of age! You brainwash people! Such greed! The taxation office won't allow that! I was an army foot soldier, and a newcomer beautiful idol. The real me is... Moon Power Transform!" She changes. "Code name: Sailor V. The soldier of justice, the sailor-suited beautiful soldier, I am Sailor Venus!" She knocks the door open with her boomerang. "Everyone! Take shelter!"

"You're interrupting me, Sailor V!" Fluorite says. "Put an end to her!"

The Dark Agency's idols go after her. She kicks a Dark Guy away. "I don't have business with you small fries. Crescent Beam!" She blasts them.

"My pretty clones!" says Fluorite. "I'll stop this!"

"Crescent Boomerang!" The boomerang hits her, but she doesn't stop. "Ohhh! She's still attacking! I've got a bad feeling..." She lifts her compact. "Venus Power! Love Crescent Shower! Pour down rain!" The rain falls, melting Fluorite to the ground.

"Mina!" Artemis says. "You did it!"

"Hehe! I guess I showed I can do it, for once."

"I understand. I will practice more and more, for the day I defeat that powerful enemy. Right?"

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Minako passes two girls looking at a poster as she leaves the Crown Game Center.

"Wow! The Sailor V game!" says the one with two long, blond ponytails.

"Yes," Minako thinks. "For that day."

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Original manga copyright © 1992 Takeuchi Naoko.
English translation copyright © 1996 Alex Glover.

The alarm clock buzzes loudly. Minako hits it with her foot and falls back asleep.

I'm Aino Minako. I'm 13 years old, in 7th grade. Just an ordinary, gentle girl.

"Miiina!" yells her mom. "Get up this instant! I don't want you to be late!"

Minako groggily looks at the clock. "What!? Eight o'clock!? Why didn't you call me!?"

"I did call you."

She kicks her cat off the bed. "Get up, Artemis!!" she yells. "It's morning!" Artemis sighs as Minako runs out the door.

I'm Artemis. I can use language, and I'm a clever and bright tomcat. This is my partner, Mina. She's lazy, short-tempered, and she hates studying.

"We're late, Artemis!"

Her one advantage is that she's fast.

Two boys approach some small kids. "Well, well," one says. "You didn't bring the money after all!? Your time's up."

"Mina! Those cruel boys! Bullying little kids!"

"They're blocking the way!" Minako says. "I'll be late!"

"Mina..."

She holds her pen. "All right. Quickly! What are you doing!" she calls. "You're bullying of the youth of the 21st century! I won't allow you to delay my morning! Code name: Sailor V! I am Sailor Venus!" She jumps at one of the boys. "Sailor V Kick!" The school bell rings. She grabs the little kids and runs. "Oh no! I'll be late!" She drops them off at their preschool.

"Thanks for your trouble!" says the woman.

She reaches her school as the second bell rings. She stops at the closed gate. "I didn't make it..."

"This is the 36th time you've been late this year," says the teacher.

Artemis follows Minako as she walks through the school hall. "It's because you were playing video games until late at night," he says.

"Morning, Mina!"

"Oh, Hikaru-chan!" Minako says. "Hey, did you get the FamiFami software on sale yesterday?"

"Well, I went to reserve one," says Hikaru, "but it's so popular you can never buy it. At the store, there was such a crowd. I couldn't get past it."

"That's probably this game!" The boy holds up a magazine. "'Electronic Fighter Girl Luga'! Is this the super-popular game? You fight with the hero, Luga!" he says. "Doesn't the image look great! It's polygon graphics! So of course it's really popular."

"You know a lot about it, Amano," says Minako. "Have you played it already?"

"No, I read it a magazine. Oh, Mina-san, they have the same game at the game center you go to."

"Really!?"

"They have the popular Sailor V game there too. I love it!" This guy recently revealed that he's a bishoujo otaku. "V is really cool," he says.

"She is, isn't she!" says Minako. "Sailor V-chan is everyone's favorite."

The sun shines on the Metropolitan Police Office. "They've risen recently. Lots of mysterious incidents. Brainwashing programs, missing schoolboys and schoolgirls. Then underwear thieves with counterfeit bills, bank robbers, arsonists captured. This stuff is happening all over. All the incidents are in your jurisdiction. All done by the soldier of justice, Sailor V. So, Special Officer Wakagi Toshio! Your incompetent behind is fired!"

"Bu- But-!! Superintendent-General!! It's not me! Every time, Sailor V takes all the credit!"

"If you don't want to be fired for real," she says, "distinguish yourself once more. Capture that annoying Sailor V." She boots Wakagi out of her office.

"Damn that V..." he mutters.

She shuts the door and sighs. She walks to her large poster. "I'm so sad, V-chan. Because of what I have to do as superintendent-general of the MPO. It's hard being a fan of yours. But I don't think Wakagi can really capture you, V. I will win you over to the police force. I want you here with me."

A man sits in the Dark Agency Office, reading a newspaper. "Hmm," he says. "Even in this business recession, the game companies are making money. Well now. Luga! Let us proceed according to the plan."

A woman in a battle suit steps forward. "Danburite-sama," she says. "I'll arrange to soak up lots of human energy, and conquer mankind. Entrust the job to me, the Electronic Fighter Girl Luga."

Two girls look at a poster outside the Crown Game Center. "Hey, Naru-chan!" says the one with two balls of blond hair. "I wanna play this Sailor V game. It's coming soon!"

"You can't, Usagi," says the other. "It's the game center! What'll happen if our teacher catches us here!? Look inside. Only boys."

"Wow, amazing!" Usagi says. "What a crowd. There must be popular game in there."

Minako walks down the street, licking an ice cream cone.

"Mina!" says Artemis.

She sees Wakagi staring at the Sailor V poster outside the game center.

"Soldier of justice..." he says. "Suspicious character. Someday I'll unmask you!"

"He's so cool!" says Minako.

Motoki steps outside. "Hey, Mina-chan!"

"Oh, Furuhata o-nii-san!" This is Furuhata o-nii-san. He has a part-time job at the game center I come to. He's a happy, nice guy.

"They come here a lot," Motoki thinks. "The odango girl and the ribbon girl. Till now the game center's image has been pretty dark. It would be good if more girls like Mina-chan come."

Minako enters the game center. "He definitely doesn't know," she says. "About the command center below the game center."

"It's a secret, Mina!" says Artemis.

People gather around a game machine. "Wow! You're great!"

"This is the most popular new game!" Motoki says. "It's 'Electronic Fighter Girl Luga'. You know it? The heroine, Luga, is cute!"

"I want to play it!" says Minako. "Huh?" She sees a boy playing another game. She slaps him on the back. "Amano! Did you come to play that game too? What're you doing?"

"No," he says. "I can't beat Luga-chan, so I don't play."

"That Luga game uses virtual reality," says Motoki. "It's like you're actually fighting."

"Wow! Amazing!"

Minako crawls on her knees through the crowd to the game. She sees the game woman punching at her. "Wow! The image is so real! This is a game!?" She ducks, the woman hits the player.

"Luga-chan beat me again!" he says.

Another guy yells at Minako. "You cheater! It's my turn! Move!"

"Are you trying to cut in front of me?" says another.

The people in the crowd start fighting with each other.

"What's wrong!?" says Motoki. "Everyone! Calm down!"

Minako runs out.

A girl with long, black hair stands outside, looking in.

"What is it, Hino-san?" asks her friend.

"An unsettled air is hanging here," the girl says. "Ominous."

"Come on, Hino-san. It's a game center. It's not ominous, just dirty. You shouldn't go in there. Let's get going."

Minako walks away from the game center. "Ohhh... I wanted to play the game too!"

Amano holds up a bag. "This is Luga software for the FamiFami. I just got it through secret channels. If you want, I could lend it to you, Mina-san."

She clasps her hands together. "Amano! You're so sweet!"

Minako unpacks the headset from the box.

Her mom reads a newspaper. "Wow!" she says. "People all over are fighting to get the super-popular game, 'Electronic Fighter Girl Luga'. And lots of fights are occurring at game centers. These games sound scary." She grabs the game from Minako. "Mina!! How long are you going to do this!? You need to study! Don't play these games!"

Minako lies on her bed. "She's so mean! My stupid mom! I finally got the game, but..."

Her parents sit in front of the TV downstairs. They fervently play the video game.

Minako runs downstairs. "Ohhh! I overslept again! Huh?" She sees her parents arguing.

"You're just a poor loser!"

"What did you say!? I can't take this anymore!"

"What's wrong with them?" thinks Minako. She enters her classroom at school. All the kids are brawling.

"I've got things to do!" says one.

"I'm going home to play my game!"

"Me too!"

"Hey!" says Minako. "Everyone!? Come on!"

"Out of the way!" "I gotta get home!"

"People!" Minako says. "Come to your senses!"

The pen in her pocket beeps. She takes it out. "Boss!?"

"Mina! It's the enemies! This is the Dark Agency's plot!"

"What!? They're still alive!?"

"That game!" the voice says. "Electronic Fighter Girl Luga! Find out the game's secrets at once, and take out the enemies!"

"Understood!"

"Mina!" calls Artemis. "The game center!"

A huge crowd gathers outside the game center. "It's my turn next!"

"We can't get in," says Artemis.

Someone looks at the poster. "What's this, the Sailor V game!? No one's better than Luga-chan!" He rips it off the wall and throws it on the ground.

"What!?" says Minako. "Hey! Hey! Don't do that!"

"Heh heh..." says Luga. "Rage! Rage! The energy of human anger is the strongest. Put that anger into game, and fill it with your money." She watches a store. "Here I can sell the Luga software, too. I'll get even more money. Then everyone will become slaves, and we will conquer Japan."

Amano walks into the used game store.

"Hi!" says the woman behind the counter. "Welcome, Gurikazu-kun."

"So?"

"Hehehe. We just got it in."

"Here," Amano says. He places his bank card on the counter. "All my savings. Five hundred thousand yen. Is that enough?"

"I can't accept such a large amount of money from you. So, I'll let you have it for 5,000 yen."

"Thanks!"

Amano leaves the store with a package. "Mina!"

"Amano!" says Minako. "You're okay!? This is serious!"

"Hey, Mina-san, want to come to my house? I just got the coolest thing!"

"The coolest thing!?" Minako says. "What? What? What is it!?" Minako watches Amano take a control board from the package. "What's that?"

"The game base."

"Base?"

"The contents of the game at the game center is the computer part," he says. "The super-popular game, Luga! We can use the intense game from the FamiFami!" He sits down in front of the TV and puts the headset on his head. "Huh?" he says. "Strange connection. It's not coming through."

The image of Luga appears out of the control board behind him. "Who...? Who is analyzing me!?"

"An enemy!?" says Minako. "Artemis!"

"Mina!"

"Ohh..." she thinks. "But if I'm here with Amano, I can't transform. I got it!" She runs out and shuts the door.

"Mina-san!?" says Amano.

"Heh. I'm the strongest soldier of the electronic world. Think you can beat me?"

"Huh?" Light flashes around Minako, and she's sucked into the TV screen. "Wh- wh- What the-!? My body's shrinking! I can't move it freely!"

"It's no use, Sailor V!" Luga says. "You're now a character inside the game! Well, let's see if you can defeat me!"

Amano pulls and pulls on the door, and finally gets it open. "I'm here! New maid!? Are you okay!? Huh?" He looks at the TV.

"Amano! Amano!" calls the miniature Minako. "I'm here! Help me!"

"That's unbecoming, Sailor V," says Luga.

"Th- this is..." Amano says.

"Amano! Hurry! Hurry! If you don't come play, I'll be beaten!"

"The game's Sailor V is calling to me..."

"Luga Shock!" A beam of light shoots at Minako.

Amano puts on the headset. "Let's go!"

"You're attacking!" says Luga. "How impudent."

Minako runs at her. "Sailor V! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!"

"Ow ow ow ow ow! Damn!"

"Nice, Amano!" says Minako. "Oh! I'm getting damaged! Amano, attack some more!"

"My hands are so sweaty!" Amano says. "Handkerchief... Handkerchief..."

"Ah! I got it out!" says Minako. "The compact! Now, Amano! Death move!"

"She has the compact," he says. "Come on! V's death move! Crescent beam!"

She opens it. "I'll see your true form!" she says. "Merely using electricity isn't mystical! Crescent Beam!" Luga is destroyed. Minako flies out of the TV, onto Amano. "I'm out! Amano! Nice one! It's thanks to you!" He falls over. "You're fainting! Oh, I'll stop this damn game. Sailor V Chop!" She breaks apart the control board. It explodes, blowing through the roof.

Wakagi bursts into the room. "An explosion! Is everyone all right!? The criminals!? Sailor V!"

"I'm all right," she says. "When I destroyed the game, it kinda blew a hole in the ceiling."

"V! This explosion--! You--! Hey! Wait!"

"Goodbye!" Minako calls.

"I was saved thanks to Sailor V!" Amano says. "More than the police, the teachers, the managers, we rely on Sailor V!"

"V..." says Artemis. "You have an important mission..."

"Fighting together with Sailor V..." thinks Amano. "That was my fantasy. It was great. My life, V... I live for you."

"Damn that V...!" Wakagi mutters.

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Original manga copyright © 1992 Takeuchi Naoko.
English translation copyright © 1996 Alex Glover.