Section 4: Freedom and Justice

...I wonder how much time has passed...

It feels like it was only yesterday... Then again, it feels like ten years have passed.

Ever since "that person" from the distant land was defeated, Bunyan expanded the city in a fervor.

She chopped down trees, broke up mountains, and changed the course of the river. It was as if the city of Chicago was moving, like a living being.

The people who gathered came from various places eventually grew to number in the hundreds of thousands, and in time created a megalopolis.

Chicago's eastern end had already crossed the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the Iberian Peninsula, while the western end reached Japan's Nerima District.

Master and I have been in this city the whole time. I feel we've been enjoying our stay here.

Except for Edison...who has been cooped up in a laboratory at the Japanese pavilion.

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Senpai!

Where shall we go today? To India Town? Or maybe to Little Italy?

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Then let's do that! We might as well enjoy our vacation with enthusiasm!

Fooou!

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Yes! We just need to be patient until Edison fixes the Spiritual World Communicator so we can get back in contact with Chaldea.

...Oh? Is that Geronimo heading our way?

Fooou?

Master, Mash! There you are!

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Edison's laboratory has exploded!!!

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I-it's completely engulfed in flames!

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Master...?

Don't come over here...!

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Edison's dead.

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I am not Altera. I have borrowed her body, but I am not the one you know as Altera.

Senpai, this Altera...

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I am the goddess Columbia. The guardian of this land.

Columbia?

A goddess who is a symbol for the United States. She is related to the Roman goddess Libertas.

Rather than being a deity for worship, she's more like a personification of the nation. Like Uncle Sam.

Treating her as a goddess is actually quite insulting to indigenous people like me. I never imagined that I would actually see her in person...

I guard all those who live on this land. Geronimo... You and I are of the same ilk.

Great Spirit, I only pray that you are the same goddess who brought forth corn and great harvest.

So why was Edison...

He...got too close to the truth.

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Edison and I were investigating the truth behind this world and Bunyan...

His Spiritual World Communicator opened up the door to this world, and the giant Spirit Bunyan is the core of this world. Am I correct?

...Correct.

If your theory has gotten you this far, I suppose there's no need to hide it any longer.

Have you not noticed? This place is not a Singularity that the other Master created.

This world is Paul Bunyan's own consciousness. It is similar to what you call a Reality Marble...

Impossible. Paul Bunyan's Spirit Origin could not possibly maintain a Reality Marble of this caliber.

Living beings exist in this world. Sentient people are living day-by-day here.

It's neither a dream nor illusion. This world is real. It exists. So you're saying it's a Reality Marble that can contain something of that sort?

You know perfectly well of just what could make that possible.

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Which means that the nameless Master turned out to be a formidable Master, after all.

That Master possessed a Grail. And mixing it with udon dough...created Bunyan.

The Third Magic that can grant any wish... That Master did not understand the meaning of it at all.

The Grail's wish was distorted by the udon dough, which is how Bunyan manifested.

So you're saying...that this unnatural world itself is Bunyan's inner world?

Correct, Medicine Man...wise one. It is the memory of the States.

Because it's a memory, it was warped into something ideal, into a mere fleeting dream.

That other Master meant to seal Bunyan in here. But the opposite happened. It brought her here as well.

Bunyan possesses an infinite potential for destruction and creation. It's potential the United States as a nation has in itself.

Thus, Bunyan will continue to shape and develop this world... And once it reaches its limit, all will be destroyed.

Is that why that Master took away her axe?

Correct. Though it was a futile effort. This loop is already at its 12,520th cycle.

And now that you have given Bunyan an axe, the cycle of creation and destruction has resumed.

And Bunyan has seen outside this world. She has seen your Chaldea through that Spirit World Communicator.

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Yes. At this rate, Bunyan's world will begin to encroach upon your world as well.

The humanity that you all worked hard to restore will tolerate even a fabricated Heroic Spirit like Bunyan.

And as such, some manner of chaos must ensue.

Exactly. Do you understand now, Master of Chaldea?

Um... I hate to tell you this...but you were no exception, Senpai...

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Thus, you must live here as part of Bunyan's world forever. Just like that other Master.

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...I see. I knew you would say that, Master of Chaldea... Strong one.

Then I have no choice. I must destroy you, then remake you to incorporate you all into this world.

I must maintain balance in the multiverse. For nine people to be happy, one must always be sacrificed!

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We will never give up, no matter what!

Ungh... I cannot believe how strong you are!

You fought valiantly even against my true self... The me not veiled by history's memories!

...But I must still seal Bunyan away! She is...too dangerous!

Dangerous? I'm dangerous?

I'm too big. That's why I can't live in a city. That's why I wanted to expand and make the city bigger.

I thought there would be somewhere I would belong as long as I searched for it. That's why I created, created, and created...

But...that was all for...nothing?

I get it. I'm just something added on to this world. An extra. Just a piece of parsley put on a plate of hamburg steak as garnish...

That's why...

I'm going to end all this.

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Hnnng...where are we?

...We are probably in Bunyan's inner world.

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The area before was just her consciousness on the surface. But now we are deep in her unconscious. This is a realm even I cannot fathom.

This is a world so deep in her heart, that only a tremendously knowledgeable mage, an experienced spirit-tamer, and the guidance of the Spirits could help you reach such a place.

Were you to be swallowed by such darkness, no mere layman could help you escape.

Master, Mash, I mean no offense, but do not leave my side.

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Kyaaah!

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Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

...! No...don't...kill...my friend...!

Jack! Stand back, Jack! You're still a child! I don't want you hurt just for my sake!

You're my friend. You. And Bunyan.

...That's why...

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Fujimaru...! You came for us.

Wendigo...! I get it now. Those Spirits were being created within Bunyan!

Let's do it, Master! First, let's protect those two!

Waaah! Thank you, everyone! You saved us!

That was a close call. Whitechapel flashed before our eyes.

No, Jack. Remember, your Mommy is not there.

...Yeah, you're right.

Let's go look for Bunyan. She must be around.

She should be, yes. Let's go!

Take this!

And THAT!

One hundred... Two hundred...! The wendigos just keep multiplying!

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If they are, we'll be up against more than a million of them!

The fear and sadness within Bunyan have turned them all into monsters, and they're gathering here.

Master, I'm going to fully unleash my Noble Phantasm.

I will open up a path. Then run. Don't hesitate, and don't turn back.

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In the end, Heroic Spirits are simply familiars. Mages should not hesitate. Soldiers should not fear.

Let's go!

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Yes, exactly! Hold that thought, Geronimo! Your actions are ungentlemanly.

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Edison!

Haven't you heard of the phrase: a genius strikes when you least expect it!

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Self-sacrifice is indeed a noble thing to do. It's much like Davy Crockett at the Alamo.

But he would also say something like this: a true gentleman's triumph would be to come back from the dead to rejoin the group!

A hero does not become so by dying, but by pursuing their hopes and dreams till the very end!

...You never cease to surprise me. Despite your clownish face, you always have a resolve for truth...guide of the lion Spirit.

I'd rather be called the incarnation of the thunderous lion!

I was merely playing dead, a truly ungentlemanly thing to do, for this very opportunity!

And all the better with all the monsters now gathered here! Allow me to show you my Noble Phantasm!

The brilliance of my light shall erase all ignorance, and free those trapped in the prison of imbecility!

Illuminate the girl's darkened heart!

"WFD: World Faith Domination!" ANNIVERSARY EDITION!

Huh...? Where am I? Why am I in a place like this?

What the...? I thought I was at a Cubs game. Why the heck am I here?

Aw, crap, I'm late for the handoff. I don't know what the boss will say if I mess this up!

The Wendigos are turning back to people! And the city...!

Precisely! My Noble Phantasm strips away all things mysterious, and exposes all hidden truths!

The scene of this peaceful city is precisely the truth that Bunyan pursued.

I will use my WFD™ to continue to keep things this way.

Go, Master! Bunyan should be at the edge of the city!

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She has awoken from her dream. Bunyan can never return to her endless loop.

Cooperate with me. Seize Bunyan's Grail, and destroy it before she is given status as a Heroic Spirit in the Throne of Heroes.

She is merely a being from folklore unworthy to be a Heroic Spirit. Destroying her should be possible.

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That's right! Once a story's been told, it's real! Nobody can say it didn't happen... Not even the original author can do that!

That's the rule of storytelling. It's an absolute rule that can't be broken. Why? Because here there are people who also believe in us.

I cannot accept a world where minorities are trampled upon.

We're going to be here. Even if we can't be with Mommy, we're going to stay. With Master.

Please... Let's think of a way to save Bunyan!

...I understand. But I am also a fabricated goddess...a divinity who resides within the hearts of those who yearn for freedom and equality.

Even if it be an audacious wish, or an impossible fabrication...I shall manifest such an illusion!

In order to let ten million people live, I will kill one! The greatest good for the greatest number... That is the truth that I cling to!

I, the Goddess Columbia...in the name of freedom...shall make you change your mind!

...So you would even defy a goddess to achieve your aims. I see. That is a kind of freedom, too.

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I suppose. Your destiny is yours alone.

Go. Bunyan is deep in the forest.

...It may not be my place to say... But I have been watching over her since the beginning.

She was always crying. But then you all became her very first friends.

If instead of just watching over her, I hadIf only

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Right!