Epilogue: Shinsengumi

Mr. Hijikata... Why...?

It's simple. That Hijikata Toshizo guy is also a Heroic Spirit that the Demon God Pillar summoned.

...Am I right?

...After hearing your conversation, it seems that way.

On that fateful day, I was shot at Hakodate...and the next thing I knew, I was here. Does that mean the Demon God Pillar consumed me, too?

Not necessarily. That thing called out for those who share its desires, and maintained this space.

You're just one of the keystones that made this space, all the while being a Rogue Servant who didn't need the power of the Demon God Pillar.

If it had consumed you, I'm sure this place would have been a much more hellish battlefield.

Anyway! Your version of immortality doesn't seem to quite match up with the Demon God Pillar's.

Isn't that right, Hijikata? You're the epitome of stubborn refusal to back down. Besides, you're not the kind of wuss who'd let someone else control your Spirit Origin.

Heh. I suppose I should be honored to get a seal of approval from the lord of the Sengoku period.

Oh hey. Now that I've got a good look at you, I can see you're quite a beauty.

This is no time to joke around!

Actually, if we can just talk Mr. Hijikata down, this'll sort itself out, and he'll come back to his senses, right?

That's not possible. Even the Demon God Pillar couldn't release the man from madness.

Hey, Hijikata... You didn't even realize you turned into a Heroic Spirit after you died, did you?

You wandered that strange battlefield, all that time projecting your desires toward the Grailtoward the Demon God Pillar.

The whole time, all you were thinking was: "I can't die here. I won't be killed until I win."

Probably. The Grail grants people's wishes. As the one who wished on it, his desire was what shaped that realm.

That can't be... Does that mean Mr. Hijikata intended to continue living, to embody the Shinsengumi forever...?

I get it now... There was something...odd that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Now it's all clear.

...In other words...

You're all trapped here until I die.

Am I right, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven?

...Yeah.

So what are you going to do, Okita? If it's too hard for you, I can do it...

Please be quiet, Nobbu!

Mr. Hijikata! Why!? Do you not realize that you've died!?

That's not right! Because... Because the Shinsengumi's already

Shut up, Okita!!!

Listen to me! The Shinsengumi will never end...

Kondou...Nagakura...Saitou... In the end, they were all gone.

...But don't worry.

Me... As long as I'm around, the Shinsengumi will never end...

Right here...!

I am...!

...THE SHINSENGUMI!

No...!

You're... You're wrong...!

？！

Master!?

Wh-what do you mean...?

Well, well... You've got guts, newbie.

Or rather, Fujimaru!

You stand here, before ME, the Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizo...

...and YOU dare to tell ME where the Shinsengumi is!?

Master...!

That's right...! Right now, I am Master's sword!

Mr. Hijikata!

My makotomy sincerityis right here!

Hey Okita, for someone who quit because she was sick, you're talking awfully big now.

So be it. If you're ready to live and die by that belief, then rest assured, you'll have no mercy from me!

Your banner or my Shinsengumi... We're going to decide which is the real Shinsengumi right here!

Let's go!

SHINSENGUMI, ADVANCE!

... (Pant, pant, pant)

...Your sword is still as deadly as ever.

Ever since we were kids, I've always known the power of your sword...

Mr. Hijikata...! I... I...!

I see... So, you've planted your banner at his side, then...

But no matter what happens...

...my Shinsengumi...will NEVER die!

...!

I'll be seeing you, Okita...

You keep that makoto banner of yours flying high, Okita. Always.

Sheesh. He didn't change one bit; not even at the end. Guy had some serious conviction, especially for a Berserker.

Mr. Hijikata...

Eh!?

Wait a minute! Mr. Hijikata was a Berserker?

？！

What? No! He was definitely a Saber, or even an Archer, right!? What kind of group would the Shinsengumi be if the vice commander were a Berserker!? Huh!?

Hellooo! Chacha's being completely left out of the loop! Don't you think that's bad? BAD???

No matter how you look at it, Chacha's obviously the real heroine here. So...really!?

Senpai, now that Hijikata has been defeated, the space around you is starting to collapse! Get back to Chaldea now!

Oh, I forgot! Everyone, follow me! If we all get back safe and sound, we'll have a barbecue at the temple!

Chacha wants to see Auntie's strange Atsumori play!

It's creepy, but Chacha loves it!!

...

...Mr. Hijikata...

As long as my banner is still here...

I'll... I'll keep on fighting!

？！

Yes, Master!

...Well... I guess there's nothing left.

I can't hear the sounds of the battlefield. I can't even see the road that leads back to Hakodate.

Damn. That idiot Okita claims I died...

...I see. So it's true; I did die...

I took off my haori, picked up a gun, and just...fought.

But in the end, I was driven to the far north...and wound up like this.

Pathetic. This feeling makes my stomach churn with rage so much, it feels like it might even be able to bring me back to life.

I haven't failed my makoto, yet my body has failed me. And that is...infuriating.

...But not half as much as the fact that Okita, idiot that she is, defeated me...

Well, yeah...

The stupid girl, who sat on the veranda that day just staring absently up at the sky, acts like such a big shot now.

That's just how I remember her from Kondou's dojo... The girl we all laughed about because none of us ever thought we could beat her.

I'm glad I could see her like that again. Might as well steel myself and go... Hm?

...Are you still here? This space is collapsing. You should leave before you get stuck.

You're a Demon God Pillar, right? I would have expected you to try and drag me down with you. But...are you concerned about me?

If only I'd been more compatible with you, this world would've been better fortified and defended.

Correct. That's nothing more than a regret now, though. But thanks to you, I did learn one thing.

To die while lamenting the life that has been lost...

That was the one saving grace I received as I gained self-awareness.

...

But you are different.

I will disappear at the end of my drifting, while you will disappear at the end of your battle.

That is the fate that was engraved onto your Spirit Origin. And so, it is not yet time for you to die.

My beacon. My horizon. O Berserker soldier who witnessed the end of my drifting.

Keep fighting. Fight for the sake of your makoto, even though you know you cannot be saved.

This shall be your punishment for redeeming my evil, even for a brief moment, and my final wish made in this life.

...Hmph.

...There's no need to point it out. No matter how much I get beaten down, I'm the sort of stubborn ox who will keep fighting until I win.

I'm aware that the Shinsengumi may never win in history. I remained a Wolf of Mibu until the very end.

But myno, the Shinsengumi'smakoto will never fall. No matter what battlefield we find ourselves on, no matter what kind of hell it's in.

...Fine. Dead or alive, I'll show them what it means to be a Berserker.

Should a voice ever call out to me in a summoning, I'll charge in and roar with all my might!

You went through a lot this time around, Senpai.

？！

Anyway, let's take a break until our next assignment. Why don't I make you some tea since we have a bit of time?

？！

Wh-what is this...!?

Oh hey! Why, if it isn't Fujimaru!

Plain and boring rooms are not Chacha's style, so I tried reproducing that golden tea room from the other day. Chacha did good, huh?

Well...this is no good. Needs more wabi-sabi.

No, that's not what I mean...! First of all, why is everyone messing around in Master's room!?

Well you see, I used up all my NP during our last battle...

I can't go anywhere for a while, so please let me recuperate in Master's room.

Oh, if you're going to be making tea, go light, please. And some sweets would be nice.

Chacha too! Chacha too! U-um, cups, cups, cups...

Well, I guess this thing I stole from the Demon God Pillar right before we left might work...

？！

What? You can have it if you want it.

That cup is not Chacha's style anyway.

So! Fujimaru! Now that Chacha's at this Chaldea place, you'll never be bored!

Now you have luxurious barbecued meals with Chacha every day to look forward to!

You're already looking forward to it, right? Right!?

...Sooo! Mash, or whoever you're supposedta be! Chacha is already bored! Entertain Chacha! Do something fun!

Vee-are? I hear there's something called Vee-are?

Senpai! Please say something!

？！

Well, it can't be helped!