Nansei: Third Arrow - Party of Four, Joy of Creation

(Sniff, sniff... Sniff...)

...pai!

...ake up...Senpai!

Good instincts. Or maybe you want to hear more stories about the king?

However, Fujimaru-senpai, I really must advise you to open your eyes and be on your guard now.

The enemy is approaching, you know. You can get back to a peaceful night's sleep after your present story has reached its end.

？！

(Staaare)

？！

Senpai! You're awake! Don't worry, you've only been out for a few moments.

Our connection is stable again, too.

The artillery impact sent a shockwave through space-time, which knocked out our comms.

The blast wave is dispersing now, so there shouldn't be any more danger for the moment.

Phew. Hope I never have to go through anything like that again. Orion and this Tametomo guy could do with a lesson in restraint.

？！

So it'd seem. Especially since they've also got more of those Eight Virtues beads.

If you're looking for the living dustcloth and his owner, they're passed out over there.

Guess this faux Rayshift thing used up all their strength, 'cause they did the whole dramatic collapse thing right after.

Hnn... Gnn...

Oho. Sousuke? Shino? Is that you?

Woof!

...(Snort)

？！

Are the others nearby, too?

Took a quick look around, and not that I could see.

I also stepped in to look after these guys here right after I arrived, though.

I see... Thank you so much, Izo.

Okay, let me catch you up.

You're currently on the minute island Singularity we've designated "Shimotsuke" for the time being.

It looks like your ability brought us to the next destination, just like you said, Omichi!

I'm guessing this is one of the abilities of the Dog Warriors' beads.

Indeed it is! And these fine Dog Warriors here...

...are Dousetsu and Kobungo!

...

...The hell!?

What's wrong, Michi!? Did you hit your head or something?

？！

You think I am Omichi? Wrong!

A pleasure to meet you! I am Kyokutei Bakin, Rider-class Servant!

I am known only for "Hakkenden," and even if you don't know me, you know "Hakkenden"!

And you must be the Master of Chaldea!

Delighted to make your acquaintance, bizarre though the circumstances are!

Oh, worry not! I'm up-to-date on what's been happening.

I have, in fact, watched everything unfold from behind Omichi's eyes!

？！

That I am! Touto Kyokutei Shujin Bakin, at your service!

Huh? So, you're actually Kyokutei Bakin?

Thought my eyes were gonna start bleeding from all that shrill yelling.

And frankly, it's hard to take you seriously when you're looking like that. Can't you go back to being Michi!?

No, I cannot! Not right now, anyway!

I'm afraid you'll just have to accept this latest twist of fate! Hahahahaha!

Ugh, keep it down, would you!? I can hear you just fine! You don't have to shout!

Oh, sorry. Force of habit.

I wonder why Omichi and the real Bakin suddenly switched places...

Wait. I just had a thought.

There are four puppies here now, with the beads for Tei, Kou, Chu, and Gi, meaning respect, piety, loyalty, and justice, respectively...

That is half of the eight beads.

Maybe that had something to do with this.

Well spotted! That must be why! It would also explain how I now have such great spiritual enerHuh!?

Arf arf! Arf!

Well, well. I see we have more ugly creepy-crawlies to deal with.

(Whiiine...)

We'll never be able to look for the others with those things around. And you only have Izo around to protect you right now...

No, wait! That's not right. Right now, you also have

...

Monstrous insects that dwell in darkness accompanied by actual monsters, hm? I see...

These must be the creatures who have been chasing poor Dousetsu and Kobungo all over this island.

They must have howled for help, and fortunately, Sousuke and Shino must have responded.

So that's how we got here? That's good to know and all, but what about everyone who got left behind!?

Okay. Master, get behind me. You too, shouty old man.

WhaDid you just call me an old man?

Don't go underestimating me, wolf pup! I'm a perfectly capable warrior in my own right!

And now that I'm my own Servant, I really don't need anyone's protection!

That so!? Glad to hear it, Gramps!

Well, guess that means I can focus on doing what I do best: man-slaying!

...Hm, so this is how it feels to fight when you're a Servant.

The heart and soul of the brush I used to make my mark on this world reside within this body.

In this slender form...which belongs to...Michi...

...(Whine...)

Are you okay, Bakin? Were you injured?

No need to worry about me. I just have yet to regain my full strength, unfortunately.

...

Great. We got more of 'em comin'. A lot more!

Figures cutting these things in half would just double their number.

？！

What do you mean by

We're here! Apologies for the delay, Master!

We had to break through enemies surrounding us to reach you!

Sorry we're late, Master. Looks like you've been doin' fine without us, though.

Whoa, Omicchan? You're helpin' out, too?

!!!

Oei? No, Tetsuzou? Is that you!?

Hey, I recognize that tone!

Haha. Afraid this ain't really the time!

Gotta take care of these overgrown creepy-crawlies first!

Of course! Leave it to me!

That's about the last of them.

But we are no closer to locating Tametomo. He's either hiding somewhere, or he's much, much smaller than we thought...

No, that can't be right. As massive as his attack on Chaldea was, he must be a mountain of a man.

Hey, don't worry! He's Japanese! How tall can he be?

Besides, I doubt there's any Heroic Spirit out there who's bigger than YOU!

...

...We can talk more about Tametomo later. Mash, where should we look next?

Right. Well, Hitachi and Awa have been destroyed, so we can rule them out. That leaves...

...Kouzuke, Sagami, Kazusa, and Shimousa. Four islands he could be on.

Do not worry about transport between islands. I shall be your ferry for that.

I can't exactly control the destination, but I will still make sure we all get there safely!

？！

Arf!

... (They're even cuter now that there are four of them.)

E-er, may I say something?

S-strong, you say? Well, I suppose they are all wagging their tails quite, ah, vigorously...

(So Master thinks they look strong, hm... Maybe he means of heart, rather than body.)

Heh. Of course they are. That hardly need be said.

There's also just something so indescribably charming about the way they go at their own pac

B-but, uh, that's not what I was going to say.

？！

This may not be relevant to our mission, but

...Hm? What's up, Lady Barghest?

You're not usually one to be mincin' words like this.

...You're right. I'm sorry. I was so distracted by the Dog Warriors, I lost myself for a moment.

But, I am this mission's, well, watchdog. If no one else is going to point this out, then I must.

What happened to the girl? To Michi?

Ruff!

Bark!

...(Snort)

Woof?

Omichi is right here.

Though this body is obviously hers...

...as a single Servant, she and I are parts of the same whole; our fates are connected, much like the wheels of a carriage.

I expect she has elected to turn the spotlight over to me now that there are enough Dog Warriors present for me to reveal myself.

However, it seems I am not entirely free to come and go as I choose.

Perhaps Omichi willed it so.

Hmm. Gotcha.

Not usually bein' able ta speak for yourself sounds just like the situation with me and Toto-sama. I mean, he IS an octopus now.

It's a real shame, though. Still had plenty I wanted to talk with her about.

Indeed. I did as wel

...Hold on. Did you just say your Toto-sama is an octopus now!?

Then, does that mean THAT bizarre creature is Tetsuzou!?

Yeah, what about it?

Oh, right! I guess I never got 'round to mentionin' that part, huh? Ahaha!

And based on your reaction, I'm guessin' Omicchan didn't completely believe me.

Tetsuzou, an...octopus!? TH-THAT Tetsuzou!?

Ugh, enough with the "Tetsuzou" already!

(Phew... Well, at any rate...)

(It's a relief to know Michi hasn't disappeared.)

...Understood. I may have been taken by surprise and lost sight of you once, but I won't be letting you out of my sight again.

...Understood.

？！

Very well!

...I can sense other Dog Warriors on the islands of Kouzuke, Sagami, and Shimousa.

But, I do not sense anything from Kazusa.

So, there are four dog warriors scattered across three islands?

If their beads are each as powerful as a Holy Grail, isn't it possible that Tametomo is keeping some of them for himself?

Well, there bein' one bead per island was never a sure thing. Beyond that, I dunno what he might be thinkin'.

Unless one of you's got a better idea, why don't we just head to the nearest island and search it for one of the missing pups?

...

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You mean, which island do I think should be your next destination? Th-that's a lot of responsibility.

...All right, what about Kouzuke?

It's a relatively large island among these minute Singularities, but it's also right next to Shimotsuke, where you are now.

That should make it easier to avoid any more accidents along the way.

It's also a good distance from the islands the energy wave destroyed.

？！