The Evening Bell of Death (1/2)

We're going our separate ways now. I'm going back to the wastelands to prepare for our attack on the Holy City.

...There are still some villages that might possibly join us. I'm determined to recruit a thousand more soldiers.

Let's meet in the eastern village. Cursed Arm, I'm leaving the rest to you.

...So, it's been two days since we parted with Hundred Personas. We can finally see the eastern village, Senpai.

It's been a whole week since that crazy Arash incident... It seems like a distant dream that I don't want to remember.

Hm? Talking about something fun, are you?

They sure are! The laughs are coming nonstop!

I did suggest we fly again on our way back, but they turned me down. How disappointing.

Oh well, in reality, we do have more people this time. We might've lost speed and had to make an emergency landing.

I think you call that a crash... Time is valuable, but I believe safety is also important...

Lady Mash is right. If you are careful you won't run into any enemies. There, you can see the village now.

Welcome back, Mash, Fujimaru!

Wow!

Fou!

Hahaha. Rushd, I know you're excited, but I don't think jumping out from the shadows is a good idea.

Had it been Serenity or Sanzang, you would be suffering in pain right now.

No need to worry about that! I'm choosing who I do it to!

All right, that's good. If you can tell the difference between safe ones and dangerous ones, I have no other worries for you.

Um... Even so, it still startles me when you jump out and hug me...

But I'm glad to see you're doing well, Rushd. Is everything fine in the village?

Yeah, it is! Although, people were anxious that Arash and the village leader were gone.

...Hm. I suppose we made them worried... But this time we've brought you back something nice.

Well, Lord Touta, could you show them? You know... That. It's been two days since the last feast. I assume it's charged?

Sure, I got this! It's not as much as the last one, but I was saving up!

Here you go! A shower of tasty rice!

Wooooow! He's sooooo awesome!

He's a bow guy like Arash, but cooler!

Yeah, Lord Touta is our savior! I have a lot to learn from him!

...Well. We would normally stay overnight in the village and get some rest...

But this time, we will keep going. Our destination is deeper into the mountains.

I ask you to accompany me to a place even the mountain people stay away from: the Shrine of Azrael.

Azrael? Do you mean Azrael, the Angel of Death?

...Yes. The archangel Azrael who, under divine command, comes to tell people of their death...

There we will find an assassin who earned a title he didn't even wish for: The very first "Old Man of the Mountain." The guardian of our sect.

He has no equals. The Knights of the Round Table would be no match for him. Not even the Lion King would pose a threat.

The first Old Man of the Mountain... In other words, your ancestor! Indeed, it would be encouraging if he could join our side!

Hmmm, I'm not sure about that.

He may be the first Old Man of the Mountain, but he is, after all, an Assassin Servant, isn't he?

I'm sure he's powerful against individuals, but can he stand up to the Knights of the Round Table with their Gifts and their master the Lion King...

I mean, if he's that capable, why hasn't he assassinated the Lion King already?

...

...Um...that's kind of true, but...

？！

No, Lord Mage. Serenity's description is accurate.

The Servant at the Shrine of Azrael is special. To him, all Servants are equal.

Whether powerful or weak, any Servant is merely "one life" before his blade.

That Servant doesn't kill his opponents per se. Rather, everyone who opposes him is killed by "their own fate."

By their own fate? Senpai, what does that even mean?

？！

...Sir Bedivere. While I am glad that you show so much respect to our founder, now I find you even more of a mystery.

You are a Knight of the Round Table. How do you know so much?

It is secondhand knowledge. Something I learned from a mage before coming here.

I am just an inexperienced knight who was once at the Round Table.

...All right. Let's leave it at that then. Still, you are a terrible liar.

Right, I am sorry...

No no, I wasn't lying! It wasn't a lie! I heard about the first Old Man in France!

？！

Foooou...

Ahem. In any case, I agree with the idea that you guide us to the Shrine of Azrael.

If the legends about the Old Man of the Mountain are true, then that's great. If not, we will still gain an ally. Right?

That much is true. Hassan, how long will it take to reach the shrine?

With my guide, it will take about two days to get there and come back. What do you think, Fujimaru?

You got it. I'm sure the great founder would consider lending you his strength.

(Master, that could be rude to Hassan! Please be careful when you talk to their founder!)

？！

I understand. I'm also interested in that shrine, but I have to stay again this time.

There's that thing with Mordred, too. Somebody has to protect the people.

I can see the bottom of the mountain from here. If my eyes can reach it, so too should my arrows.

Even if the Holy City's troops come up, I can get by for about two days. Don't worry about us.

Yes, he's right. Arash's arrow did reach the western village from here...

Wow, the village to the west?! If Mash says it, then it must be true!

You're awesome, Arash! You're like the real Arash Kamangir!

Hey, I told you I'm the real one. Once the dust settles, I'm going to teach you the basics of archery, okay?

Yay! We start with arrow-making, right Arash?

That kid... Look at the sparkles in his eyes. I didn't know Arash was so good with kids.

Yeah, I guess I'll give him that. I like kids too, just not as much as women.

(Well, that comment will certainly get him in deep water... But Sanzang's just standing there smiling? She sure is laid-back...)

Well... Shall we leave then? Rushd, go back to the village.

Sure. Safe journey, Mash. ...This won't be goodbye, will it?

Of course not. See you, Rushd.

Take care. I'm looking forward to the good news.

Also, Sir Bedivere... You didn't end up telling everyone.

...Lord Arash. ...Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

However, this problem is mine... It's not worth talking about.

...All right. I will respect your decision.

But don't force yourself. I also told this to Mordred, but you Knights of the Round Table all fight in the wrong way.

You need to make a choice anyway, so make it one where everyone survives. That's the best way to finish any fight.

Yes, I agree. It's especially meaningful coming from you, Lord Arash.

What a steep cliff it is! I was not informed about this, Master!

Could I be perfectly honest with you!?

Of course they are. It's a survival instinct. If I'm not careful, I'll crash and never be able to get back up again!

Haha, that much I believe.

That whole affair was done against your will. Mountaineering, on the other hand, requires you to move with your own two feet.

Advancing of your own free will can be terrifying if you're not used to it.

？！

If you're scared, you can hold onto me. ...I won't let go, no matter what.

No, I'm okay, I think I got used to it. Serenity, you can focus on what's ahead of us.

All right. Then I will be right by you, Fujimaru, while I pay attention to what's ahead.

Hey hey... Hold on. Fujimaru's arm is mine! MINE!

Oh, I'm getting dizzy just by looking ahead! I'm going to fall! I don't do well in these situations!

Ugh, here we go again! Can't handle the heat, can't handle the cold, bad with underground spaces, bad with heights... And you call yourself Monk Sanzang!?

How did you get through all those demonic realms and reach the Far West!?

I pumped myself up for that beforehand! I worked hard! I received plenty of blessings!

But I did not expect this! I'm not good when I'm thrown into the deep end, no matter what the situation!

...I never expected the day would come when going to that shrine would be this lively...

How interesting. Destiny has its own way.

Huh. Not "life has its own way"?

Well, I am now a Heroic Spirit. I already saw the conclusion of my life as a human.

...Indeed, it was a life full of disappointment, and there's nothing I can do to change that.

Alas, I thought I lived a successful life, but I was just being naive.

Now that I've become a Heroic Spirit, I was made aware of my own foolishness.

It was a hollow life, but I do feel joyous having lived it. That's why "destiny has its own way."

...

Hold on, I am detecting a hostile presence. Hassan, does anything live at this altitude?

No! Normally neither man nor beast would come near this place, as they fear the sound of the bell!

Seems like the situation is a lot more dire than we imagined! Fujimaru, prepare for battle!

These people have already lost their sanity!

We managed to put them down... But why were they in a place like this?

They probably ran away... from the Lion King's wastelands.

Deep in these mountains, no plants grow. No birds come. There's not anything to eat besides worms.

They had no other choice. Well, that aside...

Because... I was protecting your back. It was very... Warm...

Because! I'm scared of heights!

Hey, that's your only excuse!?

？！

...In any case, we should wait for dawn before we go to the shrine. Let's climb up to where we can set up camp.

We should be able to get to a lodge for pilgrims by early evening. It's not in great shape, though, since it's rarely used.

That's fine, as long as we can keep out the rain and wind. And I'll take care of the food!

It looks like we have more work to do before that.

They're stragglers from the earlier group. Let me see you guys fight for real this time!

Sanzang, are you still awake? Everyone is asleep now...

Hm? I was just writing down what happened today before I go to bed.

How about Fujimaru? Is everyone asleep already?

Yes, they're all sound asleep. Even Doctor Roman left his staff in charge and is taking a nap.

I see. Chaldea's work is tough. No, it's not just tough... it's incredible.

I mean, it's Chaldea's job to send Fujimaru and you back and forth through time, right?

Their Servant System efforts are equally incredible. Normally, Heroic Spirits don't appear like this, you know.

When someone in this world summons a Heroic Spirit, all they're doing is temporarily invoking phenomena related to that spirit.

For example, in my case they'd say: "I've summoned Sanzang! Now I'm smarter!"

A Singularity created by the likes of the Holy Grail may indeed contain Servants like Touta and me...

But summoning Heroic Spirits without space-time distortion and then using them as familiars is impossible normally.

So when I found out Chaldea was able to perform such a miracle... Well, you can imagine my surprise.

...I don't know much myself, but...

Right up until the issue of the Grand Order, it was actually failure after failure.

Chaldea only succeeded in summoning three Heroic Spirits... the second of which lent me their strength.

Hmmm. Whoever it was, they certainly have a good eye.

I suppose that Heroic Spirit probably thought it'd be a waste not to.

After all, to us Heroic Spirits, being summoned as a Servant is a miracle in itself.

Really?

Yes, really. As I said, Heroic Spirits are nothing more than "strength" to be harnessed.

We were never summoned as individual beings before. This is incredible.

Every Heroic Spirit who gets summoned as a Servant probably has the same thought: "This sort of miracle will never happen again."

That's why most of us follow our own path after being summoned.

Because this is like a second dream, a continuation that never should've happened. One we'll wake from if we're not careful.

Some follow the principles they lived by in their previous lives. Some try to erase their own regret and disappointment.

In my opinion, neither path is evil. It's simply behavior based on one's alignment as a Heroic Spirit.

However, I do feel it's a little bit cruel.

I mean, we're given the chance to live as individuals, albeit temporarily. But in the end, even then we're just guests.

We don't get to become residents of the era into which we're summoned. We will always be outsiders from a different time.

That's not true... I never thought of you as outsiders...

Thank you. But don't worry. Feelings of alienation only come from within.

I do feel that you and Fujimaru totally rely on me!

...Yes. I was very happy when you joined us.

Right!? I know a thing or two about traveling, you know?

Ah, yes! Your journey to Tianzhu! A long, long adventure with your three companions: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.

Um... Can I ask you something? There was one thing that bothered me when I was reading Journey to the West...

Sanzang, why would you go to such lengths to continue your journey?

Your legends don't really mention your motivation...

Why? To get the Buddhist scriptures, make a name for myself, retire, and live happily ever after in Leiyin Temple, of course!

...Just kidding, although it's partially true.

The thing is, I just don't know when to quit. I really don't. I can be reincarnated three or nine times and still won't learn my lesson.

Also, it was never a case of me just going, "I think I'll go to Tianzhu!" No, it was a vow: "I'll make it to Tianzhu no matter what."

...Is that like the Bodhisattva's vow in Buddhism? One of the conditions required to reach nirvana?

No, that's a little bit different. ...You see, sometimes I can hear the Buddha's voice.

Once I do, there's nothing that can stop me.

I'm normally a cowardly, selfish crybaby... But when you hear the voice of the Buddha, what choice is there but to obey to the best of your ability?

"Go to Tianzhu." "Discipline Wukong." "Get out of this Holy City." "Go across the desert."

Things like that. So this time, I walked across the desert.

Wukong once told me: "It's the voice of the Buddha, but not one from on high: it's from inside your heart."

"You're the one who said every human can become a Buddha, after all."

"So what you hear is your own voice. The voice of your future enlightened self."

That silly disciple... He says something cool like that once in a while. Hmm, either way...

The point is, my actions cannot be explained by reason. I just do whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want.

It's more like... I just genuinely believe in what I feel is the right thing to do.

The same must be true for you too. As a high priestess, I can tell.

...You may be right. It's not the first time I've heard that.

Captain Drake, an individual we spent some time with, said something similar: that I already have a wish.

...But also that I'm better off not realizing what it is. I'll know in the end, she said.

...I'm not sure what that means, but could it be something like this?

Those who realize what they live for after you give them a shove,

as opposed to those who only realize what they have lived for at the end?

They're nice words, but that Drake sounds like the complete opposite to who we are. She must've been insanely materialistic!

Yes, she was an amazing person. She saved the world by following her own greed.

...Umm. Sanzang, you have joined our side, yes... But we never asked about your intentions.

Is the Lion King an enemy to you?

Yeah about that... I don't dislike the Lion King. I'm actually not interested in fighting against the Holy City.

Or against King Ozymandias in the desert.

In the end, some annoying lady prevented me from meeting him, but...

I saw how that desert nation was run. It was under a strict dictatorship, but it was peaceful.

The Lion King and Ozymandias are the same. They both strive to protect the people of their nation.

I understand both sides' sense of justice, but... Actually, wait, no. That's not right.

Let me say that again: I understand both sides' wrongdoings. That's why I can't take a stance. But...

But?

But I have a dream now. As a Servant who was summoned.

As someone who ended up meeting you and a Master named Fujimaru.

Mash. After bringing peace to this era, I want to go to Chaldea.

There, I want to mentor Fujimaru. Together we'll laugh, cry, and laugh some more.

Uh... the King of Mages, was it? My dream is for us to have an overwhelming victory over him.

That's the voice I hear coming from the bottom of my heart. That's what I want to do the most.

Even if this life is temporary, that's what I desire. That's why I will fight... with you guys.

Sanzang...

...Yes. You definitely will. I am looking forward to that moment.

Well, now Mash is asleep too. I guess I'd better follow suit.

...I'm really glad I was summoned as on my way back from Tianzhu.

After all, I found a purpose that seems even more exciting than my journey there.

Oh well. It'll take longer for me to become a Buddha now, but I'm sure the Lord Tathagata will let it go this time, right?