Slaying the Great Centipede

Battle complete, Master. Good work.

Yeah, good work. Fujimaru and Mash, I see you're both getting the hang of this.

While you can't attack outright, you've gotten much better at analyzing and adapting to the situation as it unfolds.

After all, your objective in battle is to sustain as little damage as possible. Never forget that.

Yes. I'm getting more confident on the defensive front.

When we were in Camelot, and I finally learned that the True Name of the Servant I fused with was Galahad...well, that has helped me so much...

The way I bear down...and instead of repelling the enemy's attack, it's like I ward them off, or even return the move...

That's so eloquent, and it embodies the spirit of martial arts. That should be the motto for all Heroic Spirits.

No, it's not all about skill. Sometimes a defense must be unyielding as steel.

C-counter? Well, I hear Galahad was skilled at such things...

But I... It's still hard for me to read the enemy's movements...

If you're talking about a reversal technique, maybe aikido. Swordsmanship, karate...those types of martial arts all focus on responding to the enemy's moves.

？！

Oh hey, Master. I've been looking for you. I wanted to let you know it's almost dinnertime!

Oh, so you're in charge of dinner today, Touta?

Haha. Sorry to disappoint you. But hey, at least my cooking is simple and manly!

I'll let the others make varied and exquisite dishes. Nobody can beat me when it comes to sheer quantity!

Actually, the rice that you cook is delicious, Touta. The grains come out so fluffy.

Fluffy, huh? Well, now that puts a smile on my face. You'd make a good wife, Mash.

I don't carry around a bag of rice for nothing. White rice is always a source of power!

There's nobody who could best me in any dish that pairs with white rice.

And you can always come back for more! Salted salmon, seasoned nori... Eat it with whatever!

？！

Actually, if everyone just ate Touta's rice, it'd be a big help with our operating budget.

Yeah, right? Oh, hey... So this is the seemalayter that I've heard so much about.

I heard it's a strange contraption, but how does it actually train you?

Oh right, you've never used it before. This device can take you anywhere around the world or to any strange land.

Since you're famous for killing all kinds of strange things, this device would probably entertain you.

Legend says that you once defeated a giant centipede, Touta. I'd be very interested to see what it looked like!

Heh, cut it out. You're making me blush. I'm not used to so much praise, or talking about myself.

But conveniently, there's this contraption that could help us out. I'd be happy to show you what you want to know.

Are you going to show us how you defeated the giant centipede?

I'm always in favor of eating good rice. And no meal tastes better than the one you have after facing a life-or-death experience!

Now then, Lord Peach Hair. Give us the biggest centipede you have. I'll show you a proper bug hunt!

Is that what you want? The simulator is useful, but unfortunately, we don't have any data on giant centipedes.

Now that you mention it, we've never fought a giant centipede in any of the Singularities...

On top of that, the centipede you're talking about was big enough to have coiled seven and a half times around Mt. Mikami. Recreating something like that would take a while.

Shucks. So no giant centipede... Pity, since it was quite the sight.

If only we had an abundance of funds. If all we ate was Touta's rice...maybe one day...

？！

Hm...I would love to do that, but now that we've started this conversation, I'm not in an eating mood...

I'm terribly sorry. I started all this with my impossible request.

No, no. My own immaturity's got me riled up and now I can't calm down.

But you know what, Mash, Fujimaru. Even if we don't exactly have what we want, it's just a matter of improvisation.

I may have been blessed with many things during my lifetime, but that doesn't mean I had everything.

Rather, working around a situation like that is my forte. And, Lord Peachtree, if you don't mind a small request...

That could work. That shouldn't take too much resources.

Then I ask that you prepare accordingly. Wait right there. I'll bring in the proper actors.

This is turning into quite the spectacle...

？！

...And so you're all inside the simulator. I'll try to use what we have to simulate the period in Japan for you...

But, you know, if there's anything off, just...let it slide, please!

Thanks, Lord Roman. Sorry to rope you into my selfish whims.

？！

Heh. Don't sweat the details. Just sit back and watch. I hope you enjoy it.

Now then. Let me tell you the tale of the giant centipede. It was when I journeyed to the province of Shimotsuke.

When I arrived at Seta in Oumi, I ran across some civilians who seemed to be distressed.

Oh, there are people gathered in front of a bridge. Did it collapse?

Nope! It was a giant snake about sixty meters long lying on the bridge.

It wasn't doing much, really, just sitting on top of the bridge. But the civilians were all terrified and nobody was willing to try getting over or around the snake.

Hiiisss!!!

？！

But no mere snake could hinder me. I simply ignored the giant snake and crossed the bridge.

Hup!

Did you just step on me? You told me you were only going to step over me during the rehearsal...

Uh, well, I just remembered...back then I was quite intoxicated...and so the giant snake and I...well...

So, you picked a fight with the snake. No one told me about that part.

Therefore, I, Kiyo...I mean, the giant cute snake atop the bridge will not tolerate such lies!

Ha! That's the spirit, Doujouji! You sure know how to liven up an act!

This is act one, Fujimaru! Tawara Touta, heading out!

(Pant, pant)...

When I lost my temper, I feel I crossed a line unbecoming for a heroine...

Master? Did you happen to witness my transformation?

？！

Yeah. Even Fujimaru says so, so why don't you cheer up?

I apologize for messing up the plan. Very sorry.

？！

Well... If you insist, my dear Anchin...

(Gasp!) (This is my moment in the spotlight. It's time for Kiyohime to shine!)

(It's time to monopolize Master's burning gaze!)

Ahem... Your fighting was truly impressive. I'm sorry if it looked like I was testing you.

Actually, I was here on this bridge because I was waiting for a strong individual like you to come.

(Good save.) Oh? And who exactly are you?

I am a dragon deity who has lived in this lake of Oumi for years.

I see. I knew you were a metamorphing being, but I didn't expect you to be a dragon deity. I'm glad I didn't kill you.

Recently, a giant centipede that lives in Mt. Mikami have been wrecking havoc on the neighboring village.

It would have been ignored had it only hunted down wild beasts, but now it has begun to prey on livestock and even on my own kind.

That giant centipede is nothing but a headache to us. I ask of you: Would you slay this wicked beast?

You may call it a giant, but a centipede is still just a bug. Squashing it should be easy. I'll head over to Mt. Mikami and slay that thing in no time flat.

At the request of the dragon deity, I headed to Mt. Mikami right away.

Really? Right away?

If I heard the centipede was huge beyond all imagining, I would take time to plan before I went...

If one had a cool head, yes, that would have been the logical move. But for some reason, I was riled up.

Hm. It must have been because the battle against the dragon deity was so intense. I'd pretty much put all of this at her feet, really!

Either way, I had also forgotten that I only had three arrows in my possession.

So you faced a great monster that overwhelmed even the dragon deity...with just three arrows!?

Master! Something's coming toward us!

It's here! The giant centipede of Mt. Mikami has finally made its appearance!

？！

We couldn't replicate a giant centipede, but I wanted to create something that would frighten someone to their core with just a single glance.

And, well, those three fit the bill. So, I asked them to consent to being put in the bizarre position of forming a centipede like this.

...Yes. We are lined up holding a jump rope, and we are running in unison. We look like a group of children at play, and so it is a bit embarrassing.

But if Lord Tawara Touta is requesting this, we cannot refuse.

I am a little conflicted about playing a demonic role...but I shall become a centipede for Master!

And if this be entertainment for Master's enjoyment...then tonight, the three of us shall play the part the very best we can!

Yeah, it's good for 'ol Raikou to act like a kid sometimes! Can't be a general all the time!

And so...lemme hear some NOISE for Minamoto Tribe feat. the Golden Genji Power Train! YEEEAH!

Hm. I was the one who planned all this, but it's actually still a terrifying sight. We went too far.

Lord Raikou is especially...scary. She's not really getting the whole "play" aspect of this.

(Don't tell me... Did she not have any friends to play with during her youth...?)

(No, no. I should leave that alone. Nothing good would come of it!)

Okay! Now let me show you some proper monster slaying! Come on Fujimaru, let's enjoy this!

Uh, just to clarify...we agreed that I would "win" the moment my arrow hits Lady Raikou's headpiece, correct?

Of course. That is, IF the arrow manages to get around my sword and hit the target.

Hm. This may prove to be more difficult than the actual slaying of the giant centipede! Ha!

Halt! As long as I'm around, your arrows will never reach Lady Raikou!

Heh. That's some big talk. But hey, if you have that covered, I'll focus on ATTACKING! Ha!

Leave the frontline defense to us! Touta, please focus on getting Raikou off our back!

I'll just get her from here. Mash, hold your position!

Eh...but...

Right there is fine...the angle and position of your shield are perfect!

Huh? Where the heck is that Tawara fella aiming at? He's not the one for make-or-break moves

Oh my...

Seriously? He ricocheted against Mash's shield and managed to hit Boss's headpiece!

It's one thing to do it with bullets, but that just ain't how arrows work!

Rather than reflecting the arrow, he actually corrected the arrow's course... What a fantastic demonstration of his superior skill, even with only a single arrow!

Well, Mash also mentioned she was getting the hang of using her shield, so I knew it would work.

And that Round Table shield of yours is pretty impressive. To see it just deflect my strongest shot... Man, I might lose confidence in my abilities!

No, that's not true, Lord Tawara... The sensation of the arrow flying by was like a wave in the air itself!

And when it hit my shield, well, there was no doubt in my mind that you could shoot down even a god!

(But...as skilled as it is, how come he usually throws bales of rice?)

Phew. So the theatrical recreation of the giant centipede battle has ended. It was an honor to have witnessed the Great Hachiman Bodhisattva move there.

Yes. An intentional miss resulting in hitting the target. This is truly what you call a bull's-eye.

Wonderful, Lord Tawara. The stories of your valor I heard in my youth were indeed true.

It's nothing. All I did was catch everyone off guard. I would never be able to do that a second time. More importantly, my compliments to the head of the Genji. Now that it's over, I'm trembling.

Had I missed, you would have rushed in and lopped my head off in one stroke, am I right?

Oh my. Whatever do you mean, Lord Tawara?

Even if you were correct, I am sure you would have easily repelled the attack!

Uh...yeah, let's go with that, and leave it there!

To think even my trembling would get a reenactment... I didn't expect something like that to happen!

Your body trembling... Was it really that terrifying? Even though you fought so valiantly?

Of course I was scared. Even I could be spooked by things that frightening!

To realize after the fact that one fought a great demonic insect that would devour even the gods...there's no way one would NOT be scared.

But that was the last thing on my mind back then. After all, I was blessed by one like a heavenly maiden.

I was so focused and fired up, I could have risen to the heavens. Motivation surpassed any fear I had.

After all, adventure and lethal battles are for the young. It was a good experience for me.

Dauntless, yet brisk... I suppose if it wasn't for that kind of characteristic, the dragon deity wouldn't have asked for your help.

Totally. Ya just gotta wait until god-devouring insects pass by on its own. Yet to get rid of it with just some dinky arrows...

But as you can see, boss Tawara ain't someone who brags, but you saw that he's a super scary monster killer if he gets serious.

After all, that Masa...

Ahem. Kintoki, my dear, I cannot walk. Perhaps it was because I hit my head.

Would you mind carrying your mother? I hear that the cafeteria has breakfast ready for us.

I'm sure everyone is hungry after this battle. How about we all head over for a meal?

？！

Sounds good! I love rice balls!

Let's have a breakfast buffet, Master! Knowing boss Tawara, he'll prepare tons of seafood dishes too!

I shall accompany you as well. Soup made from fish scraps does indeed sound appetizing.

Hahaha! You guys are all too much! Putting in orders already!

But that's how it should be. A good meal is better than battle anytime. That's the way of the world!

Fujimaru and Mash, that's the end of my giant centipede story.

If you're satisfied, then I'm satisfied. Now, let's all eat together!

Yes! Thank you for the meal, Touta!