Chapter 58: The Funeral Cavern of the Dogu Kingdom

The never-ending racket of pounding nails! The fluttering foxfire of human spirits! It's hard work being a Zami fisherman! Just wait. Once I finish this up, I'll make sure they never hurt you or your friends again! Hehe!

Ahahaha... That tickles!

What on earth is he doing?

It looks as though he's taking care of that straw dummy...somehow?

Are you sure he's taking care of it?

My database currently contains no information whatsoever about straw dummies. I regret to say that I must admit to absolute ignorance of any details about them!

Are you folks travelers? Then you must not know about our straw dummies here in Zami. They're a famous regional craft!

If you devote yourself body and soul to looking after a straw dummy, you can imbue it with a soul of its own. If you're interested, why not head over to the Straw Dummy Shell Palace? They'll be happy to teach you all sorts of things.

Uh...we just came here looking for a fisherman from Zami...

That's perfect! You'll get faster results if you ask about that at the Straw Dummy Shell Palace while you're there. The straw dummies and the fishermen have a deep connection. I'm sure they'll know this fisherman you're looking for.

The Straw Dummy Shell Palace, huh?

I have never been there myself, either. At last, a glimpse of the true nature of the straw dummies!

True nature? They are mere bundles of tied-up straw, no?

Well...I think you'd better go and see for yourselves. Seeing is believing, as they say.

Yay! This sounds like fun! Come on, Aldo! Let's hurry up and go!

All right. Let's go have a look, right away.

So, this is the Straw Dummy Shell Palace!

Wow, it's amazing!

They look to be straw dummy children.

Yes... But why would straw dummies need to have children?

Major discovery observed! We may win the Xander-Eccle-Patzneale Award for this! Only one interpretation exists in such a situation. To summarize I...

What, that there are two kinds of straw dummies? Big ones and small ones?

......

She means to say, that straw dummies are living creatures.

Whaaaat?! Straw dummies are alive?!

Hahaha! What are you talking about, Guildna? That's ridiculous!

No, it's obviously true. Straw dummies are not just bundles of straw. They are living creatures that are born into this world and grow to maturity.

Exactly.

Are straw dummies really alive?

W-Well then, what about the straw dummies in the era we're from? None of them can speak a single word.

Aldo, I hypothesize that those specimens are merely straw dummy fossils. It is only natural that a fossil would not speak!

Fossils?

Nevermind that for now. Chief, we have come in search of someone. Do you know of a fisherman from Zami who recently picked up a mysterious mirror in the Dragon God's Swamp near here?

A mysterious mirror? In the swamp? Oh! You must mean Gonjuro. Yes, indeed. If it was him, then he's in the middle of tending to the straw dummies right now, so you may have to wait until he's free.

Look, we've got important business with this Gonjuro person. We need to see him right away...

The straw dummies are part of his own family as far as Gonjuro is concerned. He always takes very good care of them.

He lost his parents to the sea as a child... He's been living all alone ever since. I'm sure the living straw dollies that come from the sea feel like his own parents reborn, to him. The brief moments when he tends to them are a very precious time for Gonjuro.

That is why I must ask you not to bother him while he is tending to them.

I acknowledge the unusual circumstances. If it is as you say, we shall refrain.

Yeah... We can at least wait until Gonjuro is done with his job. That's no big deal.

Indeed. Why don't you all take a break here until Gonjuro reaches a good stopping point in his work?

Take a break, huh?

Hmm... What do you say? Would you folks like to try raising a straw dummy of your own?

Huh?! Our own straw dummy?!

Permission to raise one, Aldo! Chance of this magnitude may never appear again!

You do seem interested. Well, then... I would be happy to let you try, as I said. First, you must go to the seashore, find a straw dolly and a vortex turtle's egg, and bring them back here.

A straw dolly and a vortex turtle's egg? Okay! We'll go to the shore and search.

A dolly... A straw dolly...

Wait, like a child's toy? So... Are they like children?

So it seems.

You mean it's a little baby straw dummy?! That's so cute!

Cute you say...?

Hey, now...we have to look for a vortex turtle's egg, too!

Huh? It looks like there's something over here...

This must be a vortex turtle's egg! We did it! We found them both.

Then let us return to the Straw Dummy Shell Palace and give them to the chief!

Yeah, let's do that!

Oh, you're back again? How did it go? Did you find the perfect one?

Yeah. We brought back a straw dolly and a vortex turtle's egg, just like you asked.

Oho! Yes, indeed! Well, well! What a lively straw dummy this will make! Now, we just need...soil and water. You can't begin raising a straw dummy without those basics.

Huh... Are soil and water really that important?

Oh, yes. They say that the type of soil and water you use can affect the straw dummy that will be born.

Straw dollies must be very impressionable.

Hahaha! I suppose you could say that. That's all the things you'll really need. Now, explore Zami to find the soil and water and bring them here. Then your preparations will be complete.

Aldo, patience level declining! Urge to see the straw dummy rising!

Yeah, no kidding. Soil and water, huh? Let's explore Zami and find them!

Oho, it looks like you've brought them. Let's begin cultivating your straw dummy at once, shall we? Put the soil and water you've brought into that pot over there.

So, you've explored Zami and brought the soil and water, eh? Put them in that pot over there and we'll get started.

You've all done very well. Your little Strawboy is quite a surprise!

Strawww yeeeaaah!

However, Gonjuro is taking quite a while. He should have finished his work and returned here some time ago...

We'll go check on him, then!

Let's go, everyone!

Huh? You're looking for Gonjuro? He went to the Funeral Cavern when he finished tending the straw dummies. He said he had business with the king of the dogu that lives there.

Oh, no...we spent too much time goofing around. So, he went to the Funeral Cavern?

A dogu king, eh? I have a bad feeling about this.

A while back, those nasty dogu broke some of the straw dollies that Gonjuro had lovingly raised...

Who would do such a thing to a cute little straw dolly?! That's the last straw for the dogu!

Yeah. But...it seems like he's held a grudge against them ever since. I sure hope he hasn't lost his head and done something rash.

So, where is this Funeral Cavern?

The entrance is about halfway up the Talgana Mountain Trail. You can climb down into their underground kingdom from there.

All right. We'll go check it out. Just leave the rest to us.

If anything bad has happened to Gonjuro, we'll do something about it, don't worry!

What an eerie place... Something about it gives me the shivers.

And just think, Gonjuro came here alone...

The guy must have nerves of steel... I wonder if that mysterious mirror has something to do with this after all?

Well...it could be merely due to the bitter feelings he harbors toward the dogu king.

I estimate the likelihood of dangerously volatile behavior on the part of the delusional fisherman, Gonjuro, at 124%. I believe the situation requires immediate action!

What's this? It seems we merit a welcome party. You, there... Show yourself!

Dear me, dear me! What are you doing here in the Dogu Kingdom? You must have snuck in while I was having myself a teeny-tiny nap! My, what naughty children you are!

Wh-What? Who's this joker?!

"Joker"? What a rude thing to say! And to my exalted self, His Honorable Earthiness, the Dogu Minister!

Th-The Dogu Minister?!

His Honorable Earthiness, you say?

He's a very wicked dogu, for sure! It's strawn all over his face!

Here he comes! Watch out, everybody!

Ministeeerrr... SMASH!

It's no good! We'll never get anywhere at this rate! Let's retreat for now!

Dear me, going so soon? But our game was just getting started! Do come back! Do!

I don't like to turn my straw back on that dogu, but I guess it can't be helped. We'll meet again, you wicked dogu!

You dumb straw dummy! One of these days I'll crush you for real! And don't you forget it!

Nyah-nyah! Kiss my straw!

Oof...what a mess. We won't be able to sneak a toe past him until we find a way to deal with that shield thing.

With regards to that... I might have a bit of an idea...

Huh? What, really, Cyrus? You have something in mind that would destroy that dogu's shield?

In my school of Enku Jizai-ryuu, a secret katana has been passed down since ancient times that triumphs with a single strike. The katana was bequeathed to my master's ancestors by the royal family...Lady Himika's ancestors. With the spirit katana of the royal family, surely we could defeat the power of that suspicious shield of the Dogu Minister's.

Well, then... Where is the katana now?

My fellow student, Varn, inherited the Tenkiri Maru katana from our master. But he was not wearing the Tenkiri Maru when we met again in the West. Perhaps he hid it somewhere when he left this country and went West. Even I am unsure why he would have left it behind in this country...

Then, if we can find that katana somehow...

Mmm... But that is easier said than done. We do not even know where to begin searching...

Hey, can I interrupt?

Huh? Is something wrong, Strawboy?

It's just...I think there's somebody calling for Cyrus from Purgatory.

Calling...for me? From... Purgatory?

Dollies like me can't open the gates of Purgatory, but we can hear the voices from inside.

Come to think of it, straw dummies like that Onodera fellow could open the doors to Purgatory for us. Your people do come from the sea... You must have a deep bond with that dimension.

There's a problem, though. The voice sounds very faint and far away, and I can't hear it very well. Is there a place somewhere that's closely connected to your past, Cyrus? If we went there, it would strengthen your bond with the owner of the voice so we could make contact with them.

A place that's closely connected to my past, eh? Could that be the house where I once lived?

Let's go check out that house, then! Oh, one more thing...I've been wondering about this for a while. What's that strong spiritual power coming from you, Cyrus?

Spiritual power? Coming from me? Oh! It must be Lady Himika's comb. We found it recently near my former home. Lady Himika's power dwells within it.

Then you finding that comb must be what called up that voice in Purgatory, Cyrus!

My finding Lady Himika's comb... Caused this?

Yep. You're chasing after that mirror of Lady Himika's, aren't you? The comb and the mirror must be calling out to each other and strengthening each other's powers. The owner of the voice must have awakened from their slumber in Purgatory in response to them.

......

I can feel spiritual power coming from deep inside this cave, too. It must be that mirror, I'm sure of it!

All right! Let's go back to Cyrus' house in Gadaro for now. It looks like we can't go any further until we take care of the Dogu Minister, anyway.

There. This is my former house, Strawboy.

Yes...I can hear the voice of that wanderer in Purgatory a lot better now. Let me try something.

Abra-straw-dabra... Abra-straw-dabra... Come to me... Set right what once went wrong with me!

Huh? Lady Himika's comb! It's...!

...rus... Cy...rus...

What?! That voice...!

Ahh!

You... Is that you, Varn?!

"Varn"? Wasn't he that guy Cyrus studied with?

...go...to the stone...memorial, Cyrus... ...our forefather's...memorial...

Our forefather's stone memorial? What good will that do, Varn?!

...go to...the memorial...

Varn?!

*sigh* That's all I can do...he's gone.

Varn...

Cyrus, what did he mean? What memorial?

Hmm... It's a stone memorial dedicated to the founder of Enku Jizai-ryuu. It stands in Hokishi Forest.

So, let's go to the Forest right now and check out that memorial!

Understood. Well, then, let us depart.

The memorial is just in there.

Gotcha. Thanks, Cyrus.

What?!

I know not who you are, but I demand that you show yourself!

U-Riiii!

Wh-What? What is it?!

This monster must have settled here while I was far from the East.

"This monster," eh? Don't underestimate the great Lord Uri-Uri in such contemptuous terms, you foolish frog!

The great Lord Uri-Uri? Somehow I feel like I'm having flashbacks.

Your sense of deja vu is most likely caused by a resemblance to Lord Ukulele. Or so I presume.

That's it! Lord Ukulele!

What's this? Are you lot acquainted with Ukulele? Ukulele's my little brother, but I couldn't care less for that idiot! Whether you're pals of his or not, get your big ugly faces off my turf!

We have vital business just beyond this place. If you refuse to step aside, we will force our way past you!

Ha! How funny! Lord Uri-Uri moves for no frog!

Fine, then! I'll engrave my dance of death on those eyes of yours! Here I come!

Uri-ri-ri... It can't be... The great Lord Uri-Uri cannot lose...

...... What's the matter? Why aren't you finishing me off? I lost, didn't I? Grit your teeth and do it.

Would that not be a waste of life? We do not destroy others pointlessly.

You intend to spare me? Hah! You're soft... Soft... As soft as a honey melon! How could the great Lord Uri-Uri lose to such a pack of soft-hearted simpletons?

I enjoyed this battle more than I expected.

Come challenge me again, when you've polished your skills somewhat.

...... What's your name?

I am known as Cyrus.

Hmph... Cyrus, huh? I've never met a frog like you before...

Very well... I guess I'd better retreat, for now. But I won't go easy on you next time we meet! Remember that!

Indeed! I shall look forward to that day.

Hah... How far do you think you can underestimate me? I won't forget it, either...

What an interesting fellow.

Aha... The memorial is this way.

So, this is the memorial to the founders of your school, Cyrus?

Yes, indeed. Not a single detail of it has changed in all these years.

Oh, Founder...long have I neglected you. Your student Cyrus has returned at last. Unavoidable circumstances have transformed my body, and kept me far from you... But I have been blessed with companions good and true, and I thrive despite it all.

The power of your bond is strawnger here, too, Cyrus. I think I can summon Varn from Purgatory.

Excellent. In that case... Varn! I have come! It is I, Cyrus! Why have you called me here, to our founder's memorial?!

...the...memorial...doesn't matter... ...it's...this place...the Tree of Eternity...

Varn...!

Cyrus... That day...the last day before leaving this continent...I visited...this place... To say farewell...to Enku Jizai-ryuu... And...to entrust it...to you...

O Founder...and all the masters who succeeded you. This is my final farewell. After this, I will set sail for the West... I have resigned myself never to see these lands again.

But I never dreamed the day would come when I would leave my country like this... Oh, Himika... Can you ever forgive me? For betraying Cyrus…for running away, and leaving you behind! Everything you foresaw that day has come to pass... I am truly sorry! But, despite it all, I still long to grow stronger! He is the only one I refuse to lose to. I cannot afford to lose to him... Never!

I am not the man that I was before. The man who was called Varn yesterday has already perished. But...there remains one final thing that I must do, as the man I was before... At least I can entrust it to him... To Cyrus... The last shred of my better nature!

Cyrus...I daresay that we two shall never meet again... If a time comes when our paths do cross, I expect our blades shall cross as well... Farewell, Cyrus... Farewell, Himika!

Varn?

Cyrus... Very well...take it now... My...better nature!

Varn... Eh?! What's this?!

This is...the Tenkiri Maru! It was left inside the Tree of Eternity!

Varn! Are you passing this on to me?!

I meant to tell you...when we met for the last time... That katana... You are truly...worthy to carry it...

You have my gratitude, Varn.

Cyrus... Please...take care of Himika...

Varn?! Varn, wait!

I'm sorry. He's gone...

Brother...

Well, we found the Tenkiri Maru... Now we don't have to be afraid of the Dogu Minister's shield, huh?

Yeah. Let's go to the Funeral Cavern. To the depths of the Dogu Kingdom!

Yup! We need to track down Gonjuro soon.

Dogu Minister! Where are you?! Show yourself! We've come for a rematch!

Dear me! How persistent you all are! Back again for another cuddle with me, eh? I'm taking quite a fancy to you! You must be suckers for punishment. What cute little children, heehee.

What are you talking about? Are you a fool, as well as wicked? If you want to babble nonsense, do it in your sleep!

Always quick with a comeback, aren't you, you little scamp? Fine then. I'm more than happy to beat you to a pulp again!

This time will not go so well for you as the last, Minister.

The secret katana of Enku Jizai-ryuu, entrusted to me by Varn... The Tenkiri Maru... Dogu Minister. I shall exorcise your evil from the world with a single strike! Prepare yourself!

Oh, my!

You really are a talented little bunch... I'd better fall back for now. But there's more to us dogu than this... And don't you forget it!

Looks like we got rid of him.

Then let's hurry up and look for Gonjuro!

But where could he have gone?

They call it a Kingdom, so there must be a dogu king. Maybe he went to talk to him, wherever he is.

The boss of all the wicked dogu must be the most horrible dogu of all! They call this the Black Kingdom, after all.

The Black Kingdom... I find myself suddenly very interested in their GNP and GNH!

Riica. How do you intend to find out about the productiveness and happiness of the dogu?

Come, let's be on our way. No time for idle questions and slack-jawed gaping.

Yeah. All right, let's go... Straight to the heart of the Dogu Kingdom! Be careful, everyone. If that Minister was anything to go by, we shouldn't expect them to roll out the welcome wagon for us.

Just leave it to me!

Hey, you dogu brutes. How dare you bully my cute little straw dollies?! Today, I'm gonna collect on the debt you owe me for what you did...with interest!

Why, you... A mere Zami fisherman! What a witless fool, to dare so! My people are born of the earth! We shall destroy all of those cursed creatures that wash up upon your wretched shores! If you go home quietly now, I might find it in my heart to have mercy. Otherwise, there shall be consequences, human!

Shut up, you monstrous clod! You're the one who's gonna face consequences! Take a look at this!

Nrgh! Th-That mirror, what is it?! It can't be... Is that Lady Himika's mirror?! How did a wretch like you get ahold of it?! Nngh... Arrghh!

Hahaha! What's wrong, you dogu brute? You can't lift a finger in the face of my mighty power, can you?! Take that! I'll burn you until you shatter to pieces! Go back to the earth you came from, you clod!

Stand down, Gonjuro! You must stop this! That mirror is too dangerous!

Hmph! Who are you folks, anyway?! Can't you see I'm busy? Stay out of my way! You'd have to get here earlier than that to stop me! Hahahaha!

Why, you... You cursed human! Don't be so sure of yourself! Rrrgh... Rrrraaaahhhh!

What?! He...he can still move?!

Take this, you little brat!

Arrrgh!

Gonjuro?! You okay?!

Human filth... You must be desperate to provoke my wrath! You'll never get out of here alive!

Wait. We are not affiliated with that man.

Why should I care?! I'll crush every last one of you like the fleas you are! Here I come!

Phew... Looks like we made it somehow.

Haha! Take that, you dogu brute! Now you know the true magnificence of my mirror! You may have knocked me down once when I wasn't ready, but a little blow like that is nothing to me!

Hey, Gonjuro. Hand that mirror to me for a moment.

What?! So, you're after my mirror, huh?!

I meant no harm by asking. That mirror is dangerous. In fact, you may have already begun to fall under the influence of its power.

Tch! You're just feeding me a line to get your hands on my mirror... But I won't bite! How stupid do you think I am?! This mirror belongs to me! I won't give it up to anybody! If you're scheming to steal it... I'll take you all out, without even blinking!

Huh?! Hey, wait! Gonjuro?!

This is bad... We must find some way to take the mirror away from Gonjuro. If we leave him alone like this, to be seduced by the power of the mirror, there is no telling what could happen.

Gotcha. Let's follow him, quick! I'll bet he must have gone back to Zami.

Ugh, this guy is causing us a lot of trouble for nothing.

Poor Gonjuro. I hope he'll hand over the mirror peacefully.

It seems like you're all right now. I'm glad.

Well, I ought to be going now. My brother and the others are waiting for me. You know, Feinne and I met for the first time in a forest. I twisted my ankle and couldn't walk, and Feinne helped me, even though I was a beast... A sworn enemy of humans. And I met you here in the forest, when your heart was aching, and we became friends. That's why it's going to be all right. We'll be friends forever and ever. No matter when or where we are...

Well, take care of yourself. Goodbye.