Prima Cantica: Purgatorio (Ending)

...Okay, we should have put a good amount of distance between us and them now.

But we definitely can't let our guard down yet. Won't exactly be shocking if they can just blow right through bamboo forests like some kind of freaky wind.

Still, I think we can take a quick break. Enough for Fujimaru to catch his breath.

That was so scary... I've never seen anything as scary as those shadow people before...

You were scared too, weren't you, Tasuke...

(Sniff)... Hic, hic...

？！

...I do too, but we shouldn't get our hopes up.

He was up against six highly skilled opponents, each of them exuding a demonic aura beyond anything any normal person should ever possess.

It all depends on how far his...uh, Noble Phantasm, was it? How far he can get with that.

Lord Inshun's skill with a spear far exceeds that of any normal beast, oni, or person. If he were only up against ordinary swordsmen, he could easily defeat a hundred, or even a thousand of them.

...But those people were anything but ordinary. They were like demons...they didn't leave a single opening.

Just thinking about them gives me the creeps. Even Lord Inshun would have a hard time defeating them all.

？！

Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

For now, we should keep running. I don't know if whatever keeps evil spirits out of villages will work on those guys...

...but right now, I don't see any other option.

So if they won't run away from us, we'll just have to run away from them! Like they say, she who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day!

Hm? So, running away can be a good thing?

That's right. Remember that; it might come in handy one day.

Okay!

...What a good girl you are, Onui. You must have been so scared, but you've already stopped crying.

I'm still scared, but I have to be strong for Tasuke. I'm his big sister, and he's still just a baby.

Goo goo ga.

That's the spirit! Here, why don't I carry you two from here on!

？！

All right, let's get going then.

Wait... Okaaay, looks like I spoke too soon. Didn't figure we'd bump into someone else here...

But we did, and they're right over there.

Fujimaru, take care of Onui and Tasuke. Whoever's hiding over there, show yourself.

...

Mr. Monk!

？！

... ...

...Now I see.

This...this is bad. This is very, very bad. There is no way to fight creatures like these.

Lord Inshun?

...Run away.

Run away, Musashi. Onui. Tasuke. ...Run away, and do not stop, Fujimaru.

...Whatever you do, do not let yourselves be caught.

...Do not let me catch you after I've been transformed!

Hrnnnnnn... I have become one of the blades of the Curse of Annihilation.

Lord Inshun...!

No. You are wrong. That is no longer my name. I do not belong to Houzouin, nor do I walk the path of the Buddha.

I am Lancer of Purgatorio. My merciless jumonji spear shall tear you all to pieces.

H-huh...? Mr. Monk...?

Children. Babies. Both are precious treasures, the purest sorts of innocent life.

？！

You know why.

... ...

Both children and babies are wonderful things. They must not be mistreated, nor taken for granted.

They are the treasures of all mankind.

That is why...I must kill them.

...Inshun!

...Your defense is impenetrable, and your movements quick as lightning.

You've gotten a lot stronger in the short time since I last saw you. Though I'm afraid you're not nearly as good-looking now...!

Not at all. It is I who am impressed by your skill! The keen flashing of your blades is truly worthy of admiration. But it is futile, all for nothing!

I have been chosen to serve under the Curse of Annihilation! Not even Shinmen Musashi's dual blades shall stand in my way!

Now move aside! I must kill every human that still draws breath!

I will not suffer babies to live. I will not suffer children to live.

Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die die die die die die diiieee!!!

？！

Fujimaru. That's not Inshun anymore.

Indeed! Indeed indeed indeed indeed!

All that remains of Houzouin Inshun is his body! Now, enough! The time for talk is over!

Musashiii! Fujimaru!

Hrnghhh...!

This...is...nothing! Grrraaaaaahhh!

Ha!

Ghk...!

？！

Huh...? Mister, I can't see anything. Why are you covering my eyes?

...That was a clean cut. It's over.

Your body must have been slow to react. I guess it couldn't keep up with your mind.

...It's so sad we ended up facing off like this.

I don't know why you ended up this way. Well, not exactly.

At least I know it happened because you helped us escape. One of us had to stay behind, after all.

...Farewell, Lord Inshun. I'm sorry it came to this. I only wish I could have laid you to rest with techniques surpassing your own.

...

... ...

...Why do you look so sad, Musashi?

Do you think you've won just because you've cut off my head? Oh no. No no no no. We Heroic Spirit Swordmasters are invincible!

There, good as new. You can cut our heads off all you like with those pathetic little knives of yours; it affects us not the least bit.

？！

..."Pathetic little knives," you said? I put everything I had into that swing, you know.

So you were testing your newfound immortality, huh. In other words, you could have avoided it if you wanted, but you chose to let me cut off your head.

Hmm. I see, I see.

...So you think my swordsmanship is no threat to you, huh!? Is that what you think, you pissant stick-wielder!?

Heh... Hahahahaha! That's it, Musashi! That's the kind of humiliation I want to see!

Very well, now that I know the wonders of this body, I shall see how sharp this jumonji spear is by shoving it through your heart!

Hmph. Not if I have anything to say about it. I'm gonna have to turn you down there!

Don't bother. You have no choice in the matter.

... ...

...Fujimaru! We're making a break for it!

？！

Wah! What is it now, mister? Ah! You're going to carry us again!?

Ga ga!

How unfair can you get, staying alive even after your head goes flying!? There's no way I'm fighting an opponent who won't die even if you kill him!

Welp, here's stratagem number thirty-six: she who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day!

...Heh.

Hehehehehehehahahahahahaha! You have made a wise decision by running away, Musashi!

Good, good. Keep running as far as you can go! Unfortunately for you, I have your scent now!

Try as you might...you'll never get away from me, little girl!

...For the moment, let's try making a break for the village.

We don't know what that thing that looks like Lord Inshun is made out of, so we can't be sure it won't be able to follow us in there.

Still, it's the only option we have right now. At least, it's the only one I can think of.

I'm so tired of those things getting in our way.

？！

Seriously! Can't we catch a single break!?

Yeah yeah, here we go again. Onui, hang on tight to Tasuke!

O-okay!

We're kinda in a hurry here. And on top of that, I'm still kinda pissed.

...You might be too, if you'd just had one of your strongest blows laughed off as a practice swing.

I'm not ashamed to run away, but I've got my pride as a swordsman, and that really sucked!

I'm not gonna try to contain my anger, or listen to anything you might have to say!

Right now, I'm as angry and annoyed as you are. Don't expect me to hold back while I cut my way through!

Umm, ahh...okay, we're almost at Grandpa's hermitage!

Just turn right ahead, then go straight!

？！

I agree. Okay then, let's run for it! Here, I'll carry Onui and Tasuke.

No worries. You've been a huge help. If you hadn't been here, I'd have lost it and paid dearly.

I know it's hard, but hang in there. It'll just be a little longer now!

？！

Okay, let's get a move on!

The village is right over there! You should see it after we cross that slope!

We made it!

I wonder if everyone's sleeping, since it's already nighttime...

Oh, but should we tell them scary things have showed up? Or maybe we shouldn't wake them up right now?

Hopefully, whatever it is that keeps the evil spirits away from villages will work on Lord Inshun too.

But it might not. In which case, we should probably have everyone evacuate in a hurry.

The way Lord Inshun is now, I'm sure he won't hesitate to

？！

Yeah, you're right.

...No, wait. We're too late!

I should have known that a Servant could outpace a normal human! Damn it all! Quick, get in that haystack! We have to hide!

Wha...!?

I'm so sorry, but please stay quiet. I don't know if we'll be able to hide from him, but we have to try.

...Hmph. I know I saw someone here just a moment ago.

They must have hidden themselves in that hay, where they tremble with fright even now! Haha, hahahahaha! So you've turned coward, have you, Shinmen Musashi!?

No matter!

Even though I have only just been reborn as a swordmaster, I cannot abide the stench of life! This place positively reeks of it!

... ...A village, huh?

I see it will be a trifle difficult to pass through the entrance, but that's hardly cause for concern.

It may stop the dark weaklings, but for us Heroic Spirit Swordmasters, it may as well not exist at all. Now then... Musashi! Are you listening!?

If you won't come out, then I'm afraid I have no choice...

W-what's going on!? Who are you!? Wh-wh-why would a monk attack us?

...Gh-ghk, urk...! M-my arm!

Honey! Honey!!! Aieee! N-no, please! Please!!!

H-his head! Oh god, what happened to his head!?

Ah...

Oh well, nothing to be done now. If Musashi and the other humans refuse to serve as my quarry, these villagers will just have to serve in their place!

Hahaha! What a grand, lovely feeling!

If you and Fujimaru are hearing this, Musashi, then remember it well!

Thanks to your decision to hide, my spear has grown so delightfully drenched! I never knew that blood was such an effective lubricant!

Now my spear has become sharper than ever! Hehe, heh haha, hahahahahaha!

You have my thanks! Not only do I already possess an invincible body, but now an invincible spear as well!

？！

...I'm so sorry. That must have been so hard for you.

I know you wish you could have gone out there and helped. It must have been excruciating, not being able to do anything for them.

But, there really was nothing we could do. Please understand.

I can't stop Lord Inshun. There's no way to defeat a demon who doesn't blink at getting his head cut off.

Even if I were to try and fight him, I have no weaponsno blade capable of killing him.

So once he caught up...this was inevitable.

...Not that that makes any of this easier to swallow.

？！

I'm with you there. So we'll just have to do whatever we can.

Hm? Are you done plugging my ears now?

Hey, what sort of game is this? Uh, I mean, I guess we shouldn't wake everyone up after all, should we?

？！

...Are you sure?

Yes. Come on, let's hurry over there. Even if I have to carry you all myself...

...I'll make sure you, Tasuke, and your grandfather stay safe! Now let's go!

...There! That must be it!

We're here! Wow, that was so fast!

It's okay, you don't have to carry us anymore. Tasuke and me must be really heavy, right?

Nah. You're both still featherlight. I could carry you all the time without breaking a sweat.

There we go. Thank you again for carrying us, Ms. Samurai.

...Would you carry me again sometime?

Sure! I'd be glad to carry you again if I have to, or even if you'd just like me to.

Wow, Ms. Samurai, you're so strong! Much stronger than any man I've ever met!

Hehehe... Uh, I mean, no I'm not. I'm actually just an ordinary girl like you.

That's why both Fujimaru and I are at our limits. Onui, think you could ask your grandfather for some water?

？！

Sure! Oh, and I still have some water in my bamboo flask too! I guess Mr. Monk didn't drink it all.

... ...

Right. Of course Lord Inshun would do that. We may not have known each other long, but I could tell that's the sort of person he was.

Here's some water, mister.

？！

Hey, you look a lot better now! Before you were really pale, but now you look normal!

Ga ga goo.

She's right, Fujimaru. You DO look a lot better. I wonder if this hermitage has anything to do with that.

...It's hard to explain, but I feel a strange power here...one that's nothing like that evil aura.

It could also be a powerful barrier at work.

I bet it could have been this hermitage that was keeping monsters away from the village all along. Not that I have any evidence.

Still, this one might just be strong enough to even keep Lord Inshun out.

？！

Feh. Absurd. The only thing here is my smithy.

None of the village folk come by either. Outta all the things making a racket outside my window, never in my years would've thought they'd be a lady samurai and a boy in strange garb.

You travelers, I take it? The hell brings you two here?

Hi, Grandpa! We're back!

Ga ga!

...Tch, so you're Onui's guests. Shoulda just said so. Could've saved me a lot of trouble.

？！

Huh...?

Wait. Huh? Aren't you awfully young to be anyone's grandfather? You barely look older than me!

And then there's that bare katana in your hand...

(I don't have an eye for judging the craftsmanship of swords, but even I can tell that's something special!)

Don't give me your lip. Think I don't know I look young?

I was born with this face y'know. And of course I have a katana. I'm a swordsmith.

Take a look around. There's a bunch of them lying all over the place.

N-now that you mention it. Wait, you're just leaving them out like this!?

They're failures. But never you mind that. Onui, you and Tasuke head inside.

What about Ms. Samurai and the nice man?

I need to talk to them first. Now get.

Okay! Come in soon, Ms. Samurai! You too, mister!

Ga ga goo!

Hmph, nothing ever gets them down. ...Thanks for saving 'em.

When I saw the sky turn dark in the middle of the day, and the moon shining bloodred, I was afraid for their safety.

Thanks for saving them and bringing them back to me. I'd like to invite you in right now...

But first, you need to tell me about yourself and your clan. That's the condition for letting you inside.

... ...

...I wish I could.

I'm so sorry. It looks like I made a bad call.

I mean...not that. I was just hoping against hope that he wouldn't follow us to the village.

But he did. And now...he's caught up to us again!

？！

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha! Here you are! I knew I smelled your stench!

Living creatures positively reek! But at last I can now distinguish your stench from all others, Musashi!

So...

You decided to run HERE!? Hahahahahaha, so there WAS another besides us!

But no matter, no matter! My jumonji spear is more than capable of felling any being that is not a Heroic Spirit Swordmaster!

Oh no! Grandpa, get out of here!

One strike is all it will take!

Who're you calling "Grandpa"?

Die!

Shaddup!

...!

(At a glance, it looked like he swung his sword the way an old man would wave a cane around...and yet, his speed and power were incredible.)

(Just dodging Lord Inshun's thrust was an amazing feat in itself, but then the blow he struck afterwards destroyed his entire upper body!)

(He doesn't seem like a swordsman. In fact, I'm certain he's a smith. So then, how did he pull that off like it was nothing?)

Fujimaru, am I seeing things, or did that actually just happen?

？！

...Didn't expect much anyway. It was just another experimental blade.

Dammit, another failure. I've gone and wasted another sword.

So you were just testing it? But, a sword that breaks after just one blow is

Shaddup. They're not defective; that's just how I made them!

Forget it. Look! That fellow's still no worse for wear!

It is no use...

Our body is not flesh and blood, but merely a means to an end. There is no gruesome technique, no Mystic blade, that can hope to reach our Spirit Core.

Is that so!

...It is no use. None whatsoever!

...This fellow's like somethin' out of a bad dream. Would be my luck the kids had to bring an immortal monster back with 'em.

Maybe I shoulda just stayed inside. This fellow's even worse news than he looks.

You have nothing to be sorry for, smith. Your blades were useless to begin with.

Human blades could never hope to stop us. Human power cannot hope to contain us.

For example, I killed everyone in the two villages lying west and north of here before I came to this hermitage. It was all too easy.

!

？！

I killed men...women...every person that breathed. Old, young, male, female...it made no difference.

I did spare the dogs and livestock, though. Haha, who knows? Perhaps they'll enjoy feasting on their former owners' remains.

... ...

...Y'know...right, never mind whether that's true or not.

You ain't right in the head, especially for a monk. Not even the monks who took part in the wars would lay their hands on common folk.

Or is that getup just some sort of bad joke?

Heh.

Hehe, hahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am now nothing less than Purgatorio itself!

I have no mercy for the living, and have lost any interest in pursuing ascetic practices in order to improve my Soujutsu. Every fiber of this body, every drop of its blood, has become one with the Curse of Annihilation!

...That's enough. Just shut up, Purgatorio.

Houzouin Inshun is already gone. You don't get to use his body anymore. You don't get to spew those vile words in his voice anymore.

Oho. At last, you're using my Cursed Name!

But what you say rings true, for I am no longer human nor monk. Now that I am a Heroic Spirit Swordmaster, I have no need of this body's former name.

All I want is your lives. Nothing more.

... ...

？！

...I know not.

？！

...I know not.

？！

...No, I cannot.

Musashi is correct; Houzouin Inshun is dead. All that remains here is his body, a puppet animated by karma.

The only way to stop me is to kill me! To destroy me! To leave not a speck of me behind! Leave but an arm, a finger, and I shall return to slay all living things!

Hmph, big talk.

...

？！

...Sure thing. Make sure you back me up, Fujimaru!

We have just one opponent: a monster wearing Houzouin Inshun's skin! There may not be any money or fame to be gained from this duel...

...but that doesn't mean I'll hold anything back. I won't sheathe my blades until he's good and dead!

Usually I try to take it as easy as I can. Duels are such a hassle that I try to avoid them as much as possible...

But in this case, there's clearly no other option.

Not only is our opponent incredibly strong, he's also a monster out to kill us, one who doesn't bat an eye at having his head cut clean off, no less.

So all right. I give in. If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he'll get!

If he means to risk his life by standing before me, I'll do everything in my power to cut down the monstrosity wearing his skin!

Grandpa! I'm going to borrow this sword you made!

(I can feel it tingling with a divine aura! I knew it. This sword is on a whole other level!)

Wait. Stop! Trust me, leave that one alone! It's one of my worst failures!

It'll cut through stone, armor, even diamond effortlessly. But you can't use it on people!

I admit, in some ways it's some of my best work! But it's too terrible to use on any decent folk!

I fear I went overboard, and pushed it into the realm of demons!

It's a twisted thing that I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of!

Really? You don't say... In that case, I'd say that just makes it better for this.

I'm a flesh-and-blood person going up against a monster. I have to get a little reckless if I'm gonna beat him.

Hah! It matters not what manner of weapon you may have procured. No blade exists that can slay the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters.

Care to find out for yourself, Musashi?

My body will regenerate from any wound, as many times as it needs! Will you still attempt to cut it down with your Niten Ichiryu!?

Of course. Truth be told...I've been waiting for this.

I do usually try to avoid fighting when there's nothing in it for me, but only when it comes to fighting for fun. If there's some real purpose behind the fight, well, that's another matter.

Why do I train? Why do I wield a blade? Why do I slice, or sever, or at times stop in my tracks?

It's all to reach the apex of mastery. I could never hope to reach the void alone.

That's why I wanted to fight you. A no-holds-barred battle between two experienced swordsmen is a treasure that outshines even gold.

I shall gain more knowledge from this duel than I would from a thousand meditations, or ten thousand battles.

...My only regret is that my opponent is no longer human. That the great Houzouin, with his incredible divine aura, has fallen to darkness!

You may still be a foe I could not hope to surpass, but that is also where the key to my victory lies!

Face me, monster! I shall use my Fifth Force to smash your spear to splinters!

That's the spirit! Very well then! In the name of Lucifer, the great Satan himself, we shall do battle!

(This feels like that thing Lady Kannon does, but it's also different somehow!)

？！

Come forth, my blood-soaked frontier! This mound of bodies and river of blood shall serve as the stage, and consume the loser's soul upon their defeat!

My blade's Cursed Name is Lancer of Purgatorio! My vessel's True Name: Houzouin Inshun!

Prepare yourself, Shinmen Musashi! Our final battle is upon us!

...Let's do this!

...!!!

...Well done. Truly, well done.

I attempted to pierce you with my spear's essence, but it seems you too wield free-flowing techniques.

Or perhaps... Had you already come up with a strategy to defeat me, after we had crossed blades but once?

Did you already have a plan for how to evade my Soujutsu? For how you could kill me?

...

... ...Not exactly.

It's true, in my mind's eye I faced you in a no-holds-barred duel over and over, and thought about what I could do to defeat you.

Out of the thirty-two duels I imagined, I died in thirty-one of them.

You were strong, without a doubt. But I could still see a way to win. All I had to do was choose it.

The will of the heavens. The laws of this world. Fujimaru's help.

And the final decisive factor: this sword you laughed off as worthless.

Khh... A final trump card, eh. That sword is most impressive.

I never thought there would be a blade that could reach my Spirit Core in the ether.

So, my body truly was nothing but a dead vessel... Hmm...

This experience has been invaluable. I am fortunate to have fought you at your most serious.

What are you doing, woman? That thing is still moving.

Remember what he said earlier? If you leave even one finger moving, he won't hesitate to cut you down.

Kill him.

I already have.

Oh?

...You have my thanks, Lady Musashi. Farewell.

...I know.

...Yeah, we do.

？！

Farewell for good this time, Lord Inshun. I swear that someday I will reach the same heights you did.

Until then, I hope you can rest in peace. In one hell or another, we shall continue this someday...

Hey, this feels like morning.

？！

What a weird feeling. Also, someone in one of the worlds I visited said that sleeping during the day and being awake at night was terrible for your skin!

If you don't mind, I'm hoping you can lend us a place to sleep so we can get some rest. But first, I really need to stuff my belly.

I've never heard anyone's gut growl so loud before. How many days have you gone without food, anyway?

...Well, all right. I confess, that was fairly impressive.

The least I can do is feed you.

Hooray! I was hoping you would agree, but this is even better than I could've wished for! I'm so grateful!

But before that, I have to ask you about this katana! It really DOES cut through anything!

It's so light, too. No, that's not it. It's real hefty and substantial, but it feels as light as a feather when you swing it.

Um, you ARE Onui and Tasuke's grandpa, right? This katana is amazing. I can't believe how good it feels in my hand.

I usually don't like to carry around more than four katana, but I could easily make an exception for this!

...Good grief. One minute you're all weepy-eyed, the next you're laughing and smiling. Makes my head spin.

Go on then, take it. It's all yours.

I needed to thank you for bringing Onui and Tasuke back anyway. If you're happy with a katana no one else can use, that sure makes things easy on me.

Huh? You're really giving this to me?

Ears, open. Don't make me repeat myself.

Like I said earlier, that thing's a failure. An evil blade that ended up reaching the demonic realm.

The ultimate blade I seek isn't one that cuts flesh and bone.

Any sharp, metal thing can do that. An axe or knife works just as well as a sword.

A person who dedicates their life to the forge shouldn't be satisfied with something like that.

The sort of katana I seek is one that can terminate enmity... One that severs bonds, certainty, karma.

After all, if I couldn't make a katana like that, what right would I have to call myself a swordsmith?

A sword that severs bonds, certainty, and karma... Now I see. That's what freed Lord Inshun from his karma.

Now that I think of it, he and those shadowy people even said something to that effect.

Well then, it's no coincidence this sword helped me defeat him.

You may think it's a failure, but it succeeded at cutting the karma of someone who had been taken by the Curse of Annihilation, or whatever they called it.

I mean, I definitely couldn't have beaten him all on my own! It was thanks to this sword!

Huh. So victory was all thanks to that katana, you say? Then maybe you get it.

Never you mind what I said earlier. Not only will I feed you, I'll give you a place to sleep.

Go get some shut-eye once you've eaten up. You too, kid.

？！

That said, doesn't change that the sword's a failure. You can't cut bonds or certainty with a katana alone.

Well, this one still seemed to work for karma. Don't you think?

I suppose it did. Guess it just goes to show how good its wielder was.

Damn straight. So, does this katana have a name?

...Tch. If I had to choose one, I'd call it Myoujingiri Muramasa.

？！

"Myoujingiri" means it can cut things that are beyond human. Means it's a god cutter!

Muramasa...

Yeah?

Muramasa?

Yeah. What?

Then, you wouldn't happen to be...

...Tch.

That's right. Name's Senji Muramasa, a Saber. A Servant, just like that monk from earlier.