Terza Cantica: Paraíso (Beginning)

...And now, I am alone. Through the void, I have attained emptiness.

No. No... This is...my...

Oof, I'm exhausted. I'm so tired I can't even take one more step.

... ...

...Phew. Hey, Tasuke, can I vent to you a bit? You don't gotta say anything, just listen. Cool? Cool.

You wouldn't believe what a jerk old man Tajima is! Instead of rewarding me for my hard work, he just stuck me with another job!

As if taking down Inferno wasn't enough, now he wants me to go around checking all of Shimousa to make sure those monsters that scattered aren't causing any trouble.

At least he lent me a horse so I don't have to do it all on foot, but that's not the point, you know?

I took down a major baddie. He should be giving me a medal or something!

I mean, I know I'm just a vagrant who's not tied down to anything, so I'm sure it's a lot easier to use me up than an officer.

Ugh, I'm exhausted. There's not a single monster to be found anywhere.

All that riding around Shimousa, and all I have to show for it is a sore back.

Maybe monster hunting is one of those things where you only find what you're looking for once you stop looking for it.

Anyway, this should finally take care of the second job he gave me...

...Hmm.

Then again, I can't say this was a complete waste of time. It's all part of my training to reach the void.

I've been to all sorts of places and fought all sorts of opponents, but I still haven't been able to reach it.

The void is really different from fire and water. It's all about clearing your mind, counting your blessings, and how you live your life.

They have the same idea in the Shinkageryu, although there, they call it "Suigetsu." Basically, the idea is that nothing is something, and vice-versa.

Anyone can cut something with shape and form.

But the void that I'm trying to reach...

...is about being able to use your blade to cut the formless, the shapeless.

...The word "Muni" in my father's name means "second to none."

Munisai was truly number one when it came to the sword. Now, I'm trying to achieve a sword of nothingness, of zero, that surpasses him.

But, I don't know if I'll ever get there. (Sigh)... I bet even Lady Kannon must be pretty fed up by now.

I've wandered across all sorts of different time periods and places...

...faced more opponents and overcome more trials than any other swordmaster, and I still can't reach it.

Still... This might be my best, my FINAL chance...

The Heroic Spirit Swordmasters. Servants. Purgatorio. Inferno.

Ordinarily, I'd never be able to handle them all on my own. If I can face off against those demons and survive...

...that's when I'll find out what fate has in store for me. The point when I'll find out who I am, and who I'll be when I meet my end...

However it turns out, I'm sure I'll be satisfied.

？！

Welcome back, Fujimaru. Bleargh! I'm so exhausted! I've been all over Shimousa and back.

I couldn't find any of the monsters that disappeared after the battle with Inferno, but I also didn't hear about them attacking anyone. Or about the other Heroic Spirit Swordmasters, for that matter.

Anyway, it's good to be back. I was just looking up at the sky while I reported to Tasuke.

Otama's out at work, and Onui's in the lavatory. She should be back pretty soon, I think?

I'm back♪

Oh, there you are, Onui. Here, you can have Tasuke back now.

Welcome back, Ms. Samurai, and sorry to have kept you waiting, Tasuke! Oh, you too, mister!

I wish I could have gone on your walk with you, Ms. Samurai. Oh, but I guess it wasn't really a walk, was it?

Fujimaru's the one who went walking around town. I was out on horseback riding all over Shimousa.

Horseback!

I'd be happy to give you a ride sometime, Onui. Well, assuming old man Tajima lets me borrow the horse again.

Okay! I can't wait♪

Ga ga♪ Goo♪

？！

Yes, I do.

Master, I gave the inn staff the dried fish souvenir you asked me to. They were very happy with it.

They said it would go great with their dinner drinks. Oh, hello, Lady Musashi. I see you're back too.

I sure am. Thanks, Kotarou. I was really tired, but I feel a lot better after seeing all your faces.

You look a lot better too. Just last night you seemed like you were barely managing to keep from collapsing.

But today, you're full of energy. Is that because you've been with Fujimaru all day?

To be honest, I'm not certain, but I think it has to do with my Spirit Origin adjusting to this world.

I'm still not fully recovered, but I should at least be able to take part in combat now.

Although ninja primarily specialize in espionage, I'm still a Servant. I may not be one of the knight classes, but I can still hold my own.

I'll be glad to help Master out in any way I can.

Knight, huh? Odd word, but it somehow speaks to me. Where'd you pick up a word like that?

Oh, it's nothing special. Servants gain some knowledge automatically, since our Master is from the 21st century.

As far as I know, that's true for most Chaldean Servants.

Hmm, so Servants all have knowledge of the time period they're summoned to, but don't have to be people who lived in that time?

I don't really get it, but, basically, you're all better now, right?

In that case, let's go for a test run, right now!

？！

Heh. How could I not be interested in seeing the Fuuma ninja arts firsthand!? I'm a master swordsman and strategist, remember?

Now come on, Kotarou, let's go out front and do this thing!

Wait. Huh? What's this about?

Are you going to play with the red-headed ninja, Ms. Samurai? I want to play too!

Sorry Onui, I want you and Tasuke to watch from up here. Me and the redhead are going to put on a great show!

Yay, a show!

Ga ga ga♪ Goo goo♪

Um, Lady Musashi? If this is a joke, I think it's gone far enough...

I mean, this is a public street, right? I admit, your sword ki seems very fired up...

...but surely you're not serious, are you? It's not that I mind fighting so soon after recovering, but...

I just don't see what reason we have to fight, Lady Musashi!

That's true. In general, I never fight battles I don't stand to gain from. I'd hate to get injured with no money or fame to show for it, after all.

Right!?

But you're the fifth head of the Fuuma ninja clan, right, Kotarou? So there's plenty to gain from dueling with you!

There's no better way to train, no better learning experience, than facing off against another skilled opponent!

So, to reward me for all that horseback riding...show me what you've got, Fuuma Kotarou!

Hey, did she say Fuuma? That's the name of an old ninja clan, isn't it? Are you gonna put on a show for us, youngsters!?

Oh, that sounds lovely! There have been so many ghastly rumors and things about lately. It would be wonderful to see something fun!

See? Can't back out now that we got an audience! Now get those kunai and let's BATTLE, Fuuma Kotarou!

My ki already has my sword rattling in its scabbard! I can hardly keep it in there!

Are you sure you don't want to draw your kunai yet? You may want to hurry up, before I get in striking distance.

...Err... What should I do, Master!?

？！

...Very well, Master, if that is your wish. All right, Lady Musashi. Or should I say Shinmen Musashi, of the Niten Ichiryu style.

I am indeed Fuuma Kotarou, the fifth head of the Fuuma ninja clan!

I am not accustomed to engaging in fair fights like this, but I shall do my best to serve as your opponent!

Now you're talking! I knew the head of a ninja clan wouldn't let me down!

(Her footwork is nothing like a samurai! On the surface she's very calm and composed, but beneath that, she's more like some hooligan.)

(She's fast, skilled, and sly! What's more, those two sides of her are in perfect harmony.)

(So this is the skill of the legendary swordsman...Shinmen Musashi!)

Gotcha!

Hey, that looked like Utsusemi-no-Jutsu! Body replacement! It was, wasn't it!?

Wow, I've never seen such beautiful ninjutsu before! That move where you guys substitute a log for your body doesn't even compare!

Ah, you mean Mokuton-no-Jutsu. We use that to switch a puppet in for ourselves to make the enemy think they've killed us, so that they let down their guard.

I didn't think it would work on you, so I didn't bother with that.

I guess you had plenty of stamina to spare. Completely recovered then, huh? It looked to me like you were trying out all sorts of different things.

Yes, I was. Once I accepted that we were really doing this, I thought I would take advantage of it to test out all of my techniques. But that was only true for the first round. I held nothing back on the second.

Samurai who have devoted themselves to the politics of the imperial court and have come to neglect their training are no match for us.

But ninja techniques have no effect on those who live by the sword, those who continue to train day in and day out even in times of peace.

...I don't care for samurai, but I also know all too well how fearsome a true samurai can be.

The reason we refer to them as hooligans isn't because we despise them.

It's because compared to a swordsman, ninja are no better than the bales of straw they use for practice.

If we were to try one of our illusions on someone who had truly reached the pinnacle of sword mastery, they would see right through it immediately.

That's true. I'd say old man Tajima is just one step away from reaching that pinnacle himself.

Hmm... Now that I've said that out loud, it seems strange. His skills should more than put him at the pinnacle...so why does he still seem like he's one step away from it?

Your skills are nothing to scoff at either, Lady Musashi. There is no doubt that you are a true swordmaster yourself. I will never forget what it was like to face the fearsome Shinmen Musashi.

And thank you for not holding back on that last strike.

You helped me to shake off the last vestiges of the fog that had been hanging over my mind! For but a moment, I thought it was curtains for me.

？！

Anything for you, Master! For my part, I learned a lot from this as well!

Ahaha, no need to exaggerate, Kotarou. I never stopped holding back during our fight. I wasn't actually trying to kill you, after all.

... ...

Um...what? Are you sure...?

Absolutely. I'm real sure. Now come on, I finally got paid for all my hard work, even if it was just chump change! We need some drinks. DRINKS!

Then again, we can't go out and leave Onui and Tasuke on their own... Never mind the drinks. Let's just buy an ichimai-zuri and head back to Otama's room.

？！

There's an ichimai-zuri seller just over there. He's drawing quite a crowd.

So that's where our audience disappeared to. It's one thing to see ichimai-zuri in Edo or Osaka, but I'm surprised to see it being sold here in Toke.

This version of Toke's castle town is like a second Edo. It was never this prosperous in our timeline.

Emergency! The monsters that terrorized all of Shimousa are back and threatening villages everywhere!

As you all know, Lord Matsudaira resides in Toke Castle! What's more, he is now joined by Lord Tajima-no-Kami, a great samurai who hails from Edo!

And yet, this morning, the castle received a shocking letter!

None could have guessed at its grim contents!

...Someone is coming to murder Lord Matsudaira's beloved daughter, Lady Kiyohime!

...What?

Would YOU like to know more? It's all here in this ichimai-zuri! Now now, no jostling! First come, first served!

Isn't Kiyohime that strange princess we ran into the other day?

The one who was head over heels for Fujimaru?

Does this mean someone is threatening to assassinate Lady Kiyohime at Toke Castle, Master!?

？！

Agreed. We may not know for sure that the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters are involved with this, but we also don't know for sure that they're not.

Ordinarily, they'd never let us into the castle...but if old man Tajima is there, maybe he'll be willing to fill us in.

Okay, let's get going. Right after we buy an ichimai-zuri, of course!

...I have delivered the letter warning them of our plans to assassinate Matsudaira's daughter.

By now, ten of Tajima-no-Kami's samurai should be guarding her, and rumors should be circulating throughout the town.

Everything is as you commanded. I shall see that the next steps are carried out to your liking as well, Lord Sorcerer.

Good. Sow chaos in the humans' minds.

Inferno's efforts have planted the seeds of unease in Shimousa. No matter how much Shinmen Musashi or the one from Chaldea swing their blades...

No matter how many dogs Edo sends...they will not easily be able to rid the populace of their fears.

Now, we shall nurture those seeds. Make sure the populace knows you intend to kill their princess, let the panic spread, and then assassinate her. Do that, and the fear will take hold of them all.

They will quail with fright, and stare helplessly at their impending deaths. Once they do, their souls will become even better sacrifices.

Become fear itself, Paraíso. All you need do is stay true to the serpent within.

As you wish.

Then go, and see that it is done.

...Looks like the Lord Sorcerer is gone now.

So, Lady Paraíso. As I have no understanding of sorcery, could I ask you to explain something to me?

What did he mean by "the serpent within"? You certainly do not look as if there is a snake within you.

As far as these eyes can see, you are but a fair maiden with beautiful black hair. There is no serpent here.

It is none of your business, bodyguard. All you need worry about is keeping the Lord Sorcerer safe.

My my, you're no fun either, are you? If I must, I will get out of your hair.

If you happen to have a message to pass along to Lord Sorcerer, I'd be happy to give it to him.

I do not. Now go.

Understood. Farewell, Lady Paraíso.

Oh, one last thing. It is said if a snake peers too long at something lustrous, it will put its eyes out.

So take heed to avoid that which gleams. I would hate for something to happen to your elegant countenance.

Hehe, hehehehehehehe. "Now go," huh. How adorable. Here's a tip: the next time a cutie talks to you, all you have to do is smile.

I wonder what's got your panties all in a twist. What's going on in that too-cool head of yours?

Something about how a proper ninja should conduct herself? Or maybe how a proper Heroic Spirit should behave?

I'm close. I can tell. Ahh, what a joke. You're a descendant of Saburou, who the god of Ooe cursed, right?

Why are you even thinking about this?

... ...

Don't waste time agonizing over it, just kill them all. Consume them all. All you have to do is murder everyone.

After all, this whole world's nothing but a dream. In that case, why not go ahead and do whatever you feel like?

...Be silent, Saṃghāta Hell.

What's the matter, Paraíso? Hehe, I didn't say anything, you know?

Oh, right, it must be that curse of yours again. Sorry, there's nothing I can do about that.

I don't have the faintest idea what it is you're seeing or hearing. Okay? I didn't say a thing.

I'm not trying to be mean here, you know? I hope you understand that.

...I only included the princess's name in the letter I delivered to the castle.

But I will not settle for just her. I will stake my claim on more sacrifices before the night is over.