Chapter 70: Itoise: The Feast of Drifting Snow

Ah, it's you all... Welcome! This is my master's shop. But not just that, it's where I train. Relax, and take a load off.

I see, so this is where your master works. So where's this master?

And who are ye? I'm Tem Tem's master.

Huh? Covered in hair, and a tail... The master Tem Tem was talking about is a cat!

I'm no cat, I'm a catman. I've a right and proper name, too, Nekomasa. This ain't no place for kids to play. If ye got no business here, ye can find the door.

Master! There you go again being unsociable... These people saved me from a monster attack. Please treat them a little nicer.

What's that? Ye saved Tem Tem? Why didn't ye say so sooner?

Sir Nekomasa... It's been a while.

Oh, Puppet Princess! Have ye been well?

Yes, thank you for the concern.

You two know each other?

Back when the Land of Ro still existed, Master Nekomasa occasionally worked with the doll maker who made me.

Yes.

Well I'll be... If there's anything I can do for ye, drop by any time. I'll lend ye me strength.

Thank you so much, Sir Nekomasa. I'll be counting on you.

O'course. Take care now, ye hear.

If that's the case, I s'ppose I should lend ye my strength! I ain't one to brag, but I'm quite the swordsmith. Just give me the word if ye need me help.

Ah! Thank you so much, master!

Thanks. I feel like we've made a reliable ally.

Oh, that's right. We can use the ore we gathered at this workshop. Want to try a Grasta upgrade?

Talk to that artisan over there when you want to do a Grasta upgrade!

Leave your Grasta worries to me. I'll draw out some new powers.

The most common are "dormant ore." You can upgrade these kinds of Grasta to draw out their dormant powers. How they grow stronger depends on the original Grasta. If you try to upgrade already upgraded Grasta, their attributes aren't added, but are overridden, so be careful. The previous Grasta's abilities and materials will disappear. If you don't want to overwrite them, you need "revision ore." It'll give you back your original Grasta and upgrade materials. There are also all kinds of different materials. Bring back any you find here. Well then, come talk to me when you want to give upgrading a try!

Well then, now that we've got some new tools at our disposal, we should probably start searching for Phantom.

This is the hidden specter village. 'Twould likely be faster to begin searching for the specter that was with him, Shokera.

Ye mean to tell me ye've met Shokera?

You know of him?!

Aye. I've heard naught but unsavory rumors about him.

We're searching for him now. Anything will do, do you have any clues to his whereabouts?

Hm... Might be quicker to take a direct look at his stronghold.

He has a...stronghold?

If ye cross the Demon Sea Caverns near this village, ye'll find a huge fortress known as the Specter Citadel. There ye'll find the place where Shokera, Mizuchi, and Hoe Ko, known as the three great specters, reside.

I see... So if we go there, we might find Shokera.

Yep. But ye can't get near it.

How come?

We've sealed off the surrounding roads until the village festival is over, so that no evil folk can come in.

I see. The specters in this village could never forgive anyone who tried to eat them while they enjoyed the festival.

Ye've no need to rush. The time will come for the roads to open. How about ye help the townsfolk prepare for the festival and make sure it goes off without a hitch?

Was the first one the Laughing Jizo? I'm pretty sure it was the statue on the right with the red hood and apron.

Ah! So that's it...

If you close your eyes and put your hands together... Like this?

Nice. Next is the Angry Jizo.

Ah! It's the same statue as before. That's the Angry Jizo.

Huh? It's called the Angry Jizo, but it's not making much of an angry face...

But if it's here, that must mean it's the Angry Jizo. I should put my hands together.

Great! Last...is the Crying Jizo.

......

That's weird... I can't find the Crying Jizo.

The old lady said it was supposed to be around here...

......

Huh? It can't be...that lump of snow?

It is! I can see its red hood. It's been buried by snow.

It must have been cold... I'll thaw it out.

Whoa! This snow is freezing. And it's heavier than it looks...

But I just can't leave it like this. Just a little more...

Whew... This looks about right. Now I've just got to put my hands together.

And close my eyes... Good.

That takes care of all the jizo.

But...even though it's called the Crying Jizo, this one seems to be laughing, too. What's with these names?

Huh?

Hello there, traveler. You haven't gotten frostbit, have you? Good work clearing the snow.

The old lady from before! What are you doing here?

It would be a long story...and this place is too cold for it. I'll light a fire in the hearth. Come warm yourself up.

Thanks, that'll be a great help. I guess I should head back to Itoise.

Huh?! You were following me as I searched for the jizo?

Yep. The whole time you were looking for the three of 'em.

I didn't notice... Why go through all the trouble?

That is the custom of this village. Traveler... Did you take care to remember the face of every jizo?

Um... The Laughing Jizo had a smile on its face. But the Angry Jizo and the Crying Jizo wore the same expression.

That's right. But some who visit this village give a different answer.

What do you mean?

If the first jizo is laughing, one can imagine what the others look like without visiting them. Every visitor who grows bored half-way decides that the Angry Jizo must have an angry face, and the Crying Jizo must look sad.

Wow, I can't believe there are people that lazy.

The Angry Jizo stands where small fires often break out. The Crying Jizo, where blizzards often howl and scream. Hence, their names.

Without actually visiting them, anyone might make that mistake.

This village refuses neither specter nor human... But that relationship relies on trust.

In the past, all sorts of folks got lost and found their way to this village... Amongst them were those who made their living through stealing or violence. Those with evil hearts do not hesitate to lie. Visiting the jizo is a rite to ascertain such types.

I see... So it's to protect this village. But why did you come along? If you just wanted to test us, all you had to do was ask about their faces, right?

Of the travelers I've seen, many have been liars... Because of that, I've come to be mistrustful. I could only believe you visited the jizo if I watched you with my own eyes. That's why I tagged along today.

Haha! And I did as I was told, right?

That you did. And what's more is... I saw that you have a truly kind heart.

It is! I can see its red hood. It's been buried by snow.

It must have been cold... I'll thaw it out.

I never thought the Crying Jizo would be buried in snow... That area is known for heavy snow, but... You saved the jizo from the snow with your own hands... I'm ashamed for having ever doubted you.

Old lady...

Before I knew it, I came to mistrust people... Somehow, I forgot how to trust them. But there are still people in this world with kind hearts that deserve to be trusted... You taught me that.

I-I really didn't do anything all that special...

But... I'm glad that you're able to trust people again.

Thank you, traveler. You didn't just save the jizo, you also saved this old lady's heart from despair. We can't offer much hospitality, but we welcome you to this village from the bottom of our hearts. Please, take a load off.

Thank you. But first...I think I'll warm up a little more.

The specter village's festival, huh? I'm excited to see what it's going to be like.

Ah, you surprised me... So you're the human?

Yeah. Tem Tem invited me to come while on my travels.

I see. We don't get many visitors these days. If you've come to the village, that means you've already visited the jizo?

Visited the jizo?

Visitors new to the village must visit each jizo with a greeting. It's an old tradition.

Oh... I had no idea.

It's all thanks to the jizo's protection that you were able to arrive here without getting swallowed up by the blizzard. Perhaps you should visit them to pray for safety on your coming travels. It's the custom.

I see... If it's the custom, I suppose I should go. Where are these jizo you mentioned?

The jizo are enshrined in three places along the Kunlun Mountains. Look for a red hood and apron. From the closest to the farthest, they're called the Laughing Jizo, the Angry Jizo, and the Crying Jizo.

The Laughing Jizo, the Angry Jizo, and the Crying Jizo? Haha, those are some interesting names.

You just have to close your eyes and put your hands together to offer a prayer. When you've finished, come let me know.

Got it. I'll make it back before the festival starts.

......

Is that...Cyrus?

Whoa! You're covered in snow and leaves... Just how far did you go looking?

Hehehe... Rewards await those who search in places others do not look. With these materials, we can make our snowman a peerless swordsman!

Swordsman?! What kind of snowman are you planning on putting together?!

Thanks for the help!

What were you talking about?

I was asking the village children if there was anything to decorate a snowman with.

They said they had some ideas, and that they would bring back some stuff right away.

That sounds great.

......

What's wrong, Tsukiha? You've been staring at the snow for a while now...

This snow is...somehow familiar. Every time I touch cold snow, I feel my heart warming up. What is this sensation?

......

That was...

These parts are much more refined than those parts.

Negative. I have determined that these parts should be attached to the head.

I'm shocked... Do you not know the charm of an adult when you see it?

I have already sampled the "charm of an adult" from this woman!

This are getting heated... Have you found some good materials?

Of course. Please inspect this crystal technology from KMS!

A snowman making competition? Is there anything an apprentice swordsmith like me could help with?

Um... I want you to cut some more icicles from the eaves and shape them like this.

Icicles?

Oh... I see! I think I know what you want to do. Hehehe.

It's sure to be cute, don't you think? I'm going to make it like me and Guildna.

Like...Guildna? What kind of snowman would that be?

You'll just have to wait until it's finished!

Oh, Aldo!

Have you found materials to make a snowman with?

Teehee... Yeah! It's sure to be a snowman that's really good at cooking!

A snowman...that's good at cooking? I can't even imagine such a thing...

But I'm sure the snowman will end up looking just like you, Feinne!

Huh?

You always make the most delicious food, right? I should thank you more often.

A-Aldo!

All right, let's finish this snowman.

We shall use my materials! Aldo, do you not wish to see the most powerful snowman?!

Nope! You should leave it to me!

If we put this on its head, it's sure to be cute.

Negative. This is the cranium component we must use.

This would be cute to put on it, too!

This is no good... We've got too many parts to come to a decision. It would probably be best to decide on one person to be a mediator...

All right, I'm leaving it to you. Make it the best snowman ever!

Let me see! How's the snowman coming along?

Great timing, Gramps! Take a look at this!

Th-This is...

With that glint in its eyes, and these fierce wooden katana arms...This must be a master swordsman of the snowman world!

Indeed. This is a work of art. Who would have thought such an avant-garde snowman could be put together from such mundane objects!

What a romantic snowman. These shining eyes and iron arms! It speaks to my inner child. The hair-like ornament is so charming.

Ho ho... A snowman with a horn. It's a somehow pleasingly familiar form for us specters to look upon.

Who'd have thought you could make a lovely snowman with things in the kitchen! It's a family-oriented snowman I'd like to marry!

Yes, yes... Thank you for making these wonderful snowmen. Now I'm even more excited for the festival.

We also had fun making them!

Oh... Wait! I'm convinced this one is cuter!

Hm? We must certainly use these items instead!

Negative. We must use these parts!

I think I prefer these parts...

I found this earlier...

F-Fine... If you can't decide, I'll gather all the materials and hold on to them.

Ho ho... I'm glad to see the youth so full of energy. Come by any time if you change your mind and want to change the decorations.

Hehehe...

Feinne, you seem to be enjoying yourself.

Yeah. It's been a while since we've all been able to have fun like this.

I'm happy that you're in good spirits. It's not all that bad taking time off to relax sometimes.

I agree.

Every day people give it everything they've got, even when times get tough, they have to keep moving forward.

I'm sure festivals exist to occasionally let people like that take a load off their shoulders and relax.

Hehe... You're probably right. I'm glad to have come to this village with everyone.

......

(Why? When I met her, she seemed so familiar... Like something was trying to jog my memory...) (Do I know her from somewhere?)

It's almost time for the Star Spirit Festival to start. The festivals here are so lively, it's nice.

I agree!

......

Something wrong, Feinne?

Huh? N-No... It's nothing!

I just want to hurry and find where the Phantom went... We were prevented from going to the Specter Citadel... But we've kept busy gathering information in this village!

Huh? Yeah, I suppose you're right.

......

Haha... I think I have an idea of what Feinne's thinking about.

Huh?

Feinne. You are an earnest girl. But holding yourself back has its time and place.

Wh-What are you talking about? I'm not holding anything back...

There's no need to hesitate, Feinne.

It's a girl's right to be selfish sometimes, you know.

Aldo... As her brother, you should know.

I haven't the foggiest...

*beep* Scanning Feinne's feelings... Searching for true motives... Slight increase in heart rate. Body temperature slowly rising. Significant increase in eye movement.

*beep* Interest in festival: 100%! Desire to have fun quickly fluctuating!

H-How could you tell?

Huh? You just wanted to check out the festival? If that's all, you should have said sooner!

It's not such a simple thing to ask. After all, it was Feinne who worked so hard to pin down Professor Madoka's whereabouts.

Despite all that, she couldn't help but be drawn in by Itoise's festival. That wouldn't be so easy to say.

*sniff* So it was that obvious... How embarrassing...

Feinne. You must remember that, no matter the times, festivals are meant to draw on our heartstrings. It must be fate that we became stranded here. It would be befitting, even gallant, to resign ourselves to enjoyment now.

Y-You really think so?

Agreement! The festival of the hidden specter village... Potential for rare and valuable data is high.

You should try to have a little fun sometimes, Feinne! You're always giving it your best, so sometimes you forget you're giving too much...

Altena...

It's decided. Today we're going to enjoy Itoise's festival!

Thanks, Aldo! And thank you everyone!

Having said that, everyone seems quite busy with preparations. Maybe we should help out.

There's some unfamiliar faces... Are you from outside the village?

Yeah. If there's anything we can help with, just let us know.

Hm... Maybe we could ask you to help make some snowmen?

Making snowmen?

Yep. Just so happens we don't have enough decorative snowmen right around here. If you make the most amazing snowmen you can, everyone at the festival is sure to get excited.

That sounds like fun!

It's decided. Let's make them together!

Snowmen...

Tsukiha. Have you ever made one?

Perhaps... I can feel the faintest of memories tucked away in the back of my mind...

Great! Then we'll have you help, too!

Huh?! B-But I...

Wouldn't it be boring if the one with experience just sat back and watched?

I much desire to see your skill. I will go search for materials. Come with me.

I don't know if I will be of any help...

Well then, Guildna and I will start making snowballs here.

So you planned to include me...

If big brother's helping, it should be a piece of cake. Make some big snowballs and wait for us, okay?

......

We should get going, too!

Okay!

If this is how it will go, let us have a contest to see who can bring back the best materials!

Here we...nngh...go! This looks like a good snowball to me.

Whew... I never thought you would have me participate in these childish games.

Haha, so you say, but you've went and made snowballs way better than mine.

Everyone should have found some materials by now. Let's go check up on them.

So this is the hidden specter village!

Um... Excuse me. Are you perhaps outside visitors?

I'm Little Snowman. I was born from snowflakes that fell from the heavens.

Hoho... Set your eyes on this frigidly coolheaded personage.

Hi there, Little Snowman... Nice to meet you!

The pleasure's all mine. Apologies for the inconvenience, but the village is in the middle of a festival... Visitors from the outside are not allowed in during the Star Spirit Festival...

So they are having a festival! Seems interesting. C'mon, Little Snowman. Can't you let us in the village? We're not suspicious or anything. We won't do anything bad. On the contrary, if any people... Er, I mean, if any specters are in trouble, we'll help them out. We'll even offer our services to snowmen!

Little Snowman. We must gather important information in this village. Proposition: we ask for your kind understanding from the depths of our hearts.

Hmm... Even if you put it like that, there's only so much a snowman like me can do...

Get out of the way, or get melted.

Wait a minute, Little Snowman!

You're that boy from before...

These people saved me on the mountain. They're my very special guests, so there's no problem letting them through.

Hmph, so they're your friends, Tem Tem? Then I guess it's okay to let them in the village.

Thank you for before. Welcome to my village! It's called Itoise. I'll introduce you to everyone. Take a load off and stay a while.

Strawboy...

Strawboy from the sea...

Snow happy to meet you too, Strawboy.

An infinite number of spirits descend from the heavens... They fall silently, and gathered thickly upon me... That is when I awoke... Amongst the incessantly falling snow.

An infinite number of spirits descend from the heavens... They fall silently, and gathered thickly upon me... That is when I awoke... Amongst the incessantly falling snow.

Welcome home, Tsukiha.

Welcome home, Tsukiha.

You know me? Who are you?

I'm Yukino. Tsukiha...do you remember? You came to this village before, when you were a child.

A happy family...

And at the very end... That snow woman watched silently as you smiled, and waved your hand. You said "see you again!" and left that place.

I...don't remember. I don't remember anything. Who are you?

That night...it snowed. All through the night, the snow just kept falling... It fell and fell, for what seemed like an eternity... A great many spirits fell from the sky, and gathered thickly upon that snow woman...

And when dawn came... That snow woman had become a young girl. Yes... I am that very same snow woman.

You're the snow woman from back then?!

I was waiting for you, Tsukiha. From that day until now... Because you smiled, waved your hand, and said "see you again."

And let me tell you something nice, Tsukiha. Today's the Star Spirit Festival. Deep in the recesses of your heart, you still have something very important to tell someone, don't you?

That's right... You have trouble putting what you really want to say into words. But that's why...a time comes when you must try to put those feelings into words. The Star Spirit Festival is when the spirits of those important to you return, after all.

The spirits of those important to me? Huh?!

Suzaku?!

Suzaku... I'm sorry, I... There's so much I never had the chance to tell you...

Tsukiha... You don't have to say a thing. Even without putting it to words, I could hear your feelings... Your memories rest here, within my heart...

You don't need to worry about that any more... I told you, didn't I? You must live for yourself... That's all I wish of you.

Thank you... But I still want you by my side.

I'm already always by your side...

Thank you, Suzaku...

Huh... Yukino?

All right... Let's chase after that specter. We have to question Phantom about the dimensional darkness that swallowed the Chapel, and about the Tomb of the Gods!