Kintoki's Bear Extermination on Mt. Ashigara

Bored. I'm so bored I might just nod off to sleep. Still, not that bad a night.

City noise isn't bad, but the silence of the wilderness at night is something else altogether.

Specifically, it's like, uh, you know...healing or therapeutic or whatever you call it?

Well, whatever, who cares. Which do you prefer, Boss?

A woman of the night, or a woman of the wilderness? A showy woman, or a reserved and quiet young lady?

That's surprising. Guess I didn't read you right.

But you know, I also like the cities of your era.

If we're lucky enough to save the world, I'll take you to a good place. Not quite gold, but platinum.

It's a favorite I found in a previous materialization. Nice place. Both the booze and the food were pretty good.

As expected! I had a feeling you did, buddy! We really do see eye to eye on everything!

But, aren't you a city mouse? Your face says you clearly weren't raised in the mountains.

I grew up in the mountains. You can say the forest was my garden. I used to run around all the time.

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Anyway... That sky ring is such a nuisance.

The stupid thing ruins the night scenery. Really uncool.

Yes. We still don't know what the sky ring is. It's an unexplained phenomenon.

Both the Doctor and Da Vinci have been attempting to analyze it, but

Fou, fou...

We can't figure it out. Not at all. That guy said that it was a Noble Phantasm, but...

Fou, foou, fou...

I don't like it. Geez, the moon and stars are all you need in a night sky.

That thing's up there, lookin' like the stars, the moon, and even the sun's getting in its way.

I don't know who, but

Well, this ain't the time for idle chatter. Seems we got more insensitive dudes.

They do say the moon goes good with a drink, but what? Even monsters want something with their booze?

Huh?

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No magical energy readings detected. It's just a quiet forest.

I don't think anyone's sensed us either. I mean, I guess there're a few wild animals out there,

but I don't sense anything that would be a particular threat to

GAAAAAAAAA!!

Huh!? What!?

Roaring of an unidentified creature confirmed from the southwest! It's outside of the magical energy detection radius, but...

There's no doubt! It's the roaring of dragonkin!

I-I see. So that's why! The reason why you, the Heroic Spirit Sakata Kintoki, were out "strolling" tonight!

...Tch. It's bigger than I thought. And this job's a bigger pain in the ass now.

The Second Singularity, was it? I felt something roaring away in this era.

Man, it's gotta bebears.

Bears?

The only huge beasts that roar in the mountains are bears. These ones are particularly noisy!

I wouldn't call them bears! Well, I guess it does no harm to perceive them that way?

Dragonkin, the strongest Phantasmals. In a way, they're at the top of the ecosystem...

Leave it to me! Time for a bear-extermination party. Boss. I'll lead you there!

Multiple magical energy readings approaching at high speed! Judging from the speed and energy, most likely wyverns!

Perhaps they chain manifested due to the presence of the dragonkin. Unfortunately for us, there're a lot of them!

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Yes, Master! Preparing for battle!

Remember to roll up your sleeves! It's not cool to get splattered with blood during battle!

That was boring. I don't think I even worked off my last meal.

Ending battle. ...All Phantasmals eliminated.

I don't think that was one of his skills, but Sakata Kintoki was just tearing those Phantasmals apart.

Stories say he's a hero that took a bear down as a child, so it makes sense that he's this strong as an adult.

Sakata Kintoki, are you hiding any Anti-Phantasmal skills?

Fou, foou.

Huh?

What're you talking 'bout, Doctor? I'm the source of my own strength.

I'm a golden man, glittering like gold. You need a different reason?

Uh, no, not really...

All right, we're good then. Oh, and stop calling me by my full name.

Huh? Wh-Why is that?

U-Umm, just try to get it, would you? ...I mean, "Kintoki." It's a pretty lame name.

An enormous magical energy reading is approaching! It must have noticed us during the last battle.

I can see it from here too! No doubt about it, it's huge, a Fafnir-type dragonkin!

Judging from its speed, it seems to be flying. Get ready for an attack!

This is so fun! I bet a flying bear is even stronger than a brown bear!

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Only a few seconds left until encounter. Senpai, orders please!

GAAAAAAAAA!!

Oh, how bold! I'm totally awake now. I'll send you on a tour of hell as thanks!

...Target defeated! Ending combat. Disappearance of the large dragonkin confirmed!

Master, that was a good workout before a late-night snack! Western brown bears aren't that bad!

To be so calm against a dragonkin is really something... He must really be the child of a thunder god.

Or, perhaps in this case I should say, child of a red dragon? He's obviously not a run-of-the-mill Heroic Spirit

I'm just me. Ugh, it's really too bad though.

What is?

My class, you know. Why did they summon me as a Berserker?

If I materialized as a Rider, I coulda clashed midair with them on my "Golden Bear."

Huh, what's that!? What's this Golden Bear?

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You're close, Boss. Oh, so close!

You see, the Golden Bear can transform itself between car form

and bear form.

Wh-What! I want to see that! I really do! Doesn't a transforming Noble Phantasm sound amazing!?

Fou, fou, foou!!

Oh, even the blue squirrel here gets it. If I had the Bear, even Nikola Tesla would beg me in tears...

"I want that too!" he'd say, and I'd make him get mad like a sorry little brat.

Even Fou is quite excited... Senpai

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...also seems very happy.

Well, I'm sure there'll be a chance to show you all someday. Anyway, let's hurry on home and have a drink!

A celebration for driving off the bears! Doctor, get your best booze ready for us!