07: Rise, Bizarre God

...

Get out. It's time.

...

Any last words for the people of Japan?

I go now to die for my country. Even in death, I betray neither my lord nor my parents. The affairs of heaven and earth are vast and eternal, the truth known only to the gods.

...

Please deliver these writings to the people of my hometown.

...It shall be done. Now come on, let's go.

...Thank you.

Even if my life ends on the Musashi Plain, the Yamato spirit will still remain.

The Tokugawa regime? Then...you don't mean

Indeed. IWe, are an amalgamation of those who died in the Restoration. At this point, not even our personalities remain.

So you were the ones controlling Shouin-sensei.

Yes, though it is not quite so simple.

After the Bloody Opening of Edo Castle, we were no more than a mass of hatred and resentment writhing in the Restoration's ground.

After you left, we had a chance to make our move, but we had no vessel in which to manifest.

So we used this Holy Grail to summon one that could hold us: this man, Yoshida Shouin.

You what...? THAT'S why you summoned Sensei here!?

Unfortunately, things did not go as we planned.

Yoshida turned out to have an iron will. He repressed everything within himself, even cutting off our shared consciousness.

As if that weren't bad enough, he then began working on something completely contrary to our objective. All we could do was helplessly gnash our teeth.

So, what? You're saying we helped set you free?

Indeed you did. Thank you, Takasugi of Choushu. We especially appreciate you bringing us a brand-new vessel.

With this, we can once again consume the populace and live our lives in peace and quiet.

You truly are the hero who saved the Tokugawa.

Vessel...? Wait. You don't mean

That's right. We speak of this ship...this threat from the accursed outside world.

Once we claim it, our closed-off Tokugawa world will at long last be complete and permanent.

I haven't heard a peep out of the Kurofune for a while now. Did they pull it off?

Hmm, if you have to ask, I'd say that means no.

There, see?

Ah yes, magnificent. So this is the destructor from the outside world. The threat of Western civilization we had always feared, given form.

But, now that we have claimed it for ourselves, we shall fear nothing.

What the actual hell? Is the Kurofune freakin' TALKING now?

Watch out! This isn't over yet! In fact, this is actually the real Kurofune!

Well, this is gonna suck.

Fuhahahahaha! Now then, let us close off this Singularity and resurrect the city of Edo into a permanent Tokugawa regime.

Hmm, yes. We no longer remember our names, but we should go by something nonetheless.

You may call us...

...Tokugawa Kurofune, the Sixteenth Shogun!

Hey, what the hell's going on here? Tokugawa Kurofune? As in Takechiyo?

Quick version: just when we thought we'd beaten the bad guy, the ACTUAL bad guy came out to play.

Dammit, actually being the bad guy was fun. Having one sprung on me sucks!

Once I have eliminated all of you, this Singularity...

No, this new land of Tokugawa, shall forever be ours to do with as we like.

At long last, the times are changing to favor warriors like us, and only us.

Ah, to think a hero of the Restoration would become the cornerstone of a new Tokugawa regime...

Hehehe. It seems the Mouri clan has been destined to serve as our stepping stone since that Battle of Sekigahara.

Takasugi Shinsaku, you will be known as the champion of the new Tokugawa regime for generations to come!

All because you were the greatest fool to ever come from Choushu!

Oh, so these guys are just assholes.

Hey, Kippoushi, Tokugawa Ieyasu was your serf, right? Can't you do something about them?

Yeah, Takechiyo and I formed an alliance, sure.

But I'm pretty sure he'd be real upset if he saw guys like these running around doing whatever they wanted in his absence.

Aaanyway, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to keep powering us up with your Noble Phantasm.

If you already know that, can't you come up with a plan or something, Conqueror of the Warring States? Just between us, I always had a ton of respect for Oda Nobunaga.

Unfortunately, I was actually never any good at dealing with the unexpected. How about you, Greek guy? Got any bright ideas?

So we're just playing hot potato with this problem, then? Hey, Kojirou, your turn!

Oh come now. The only thing I know how to do is swing a sword.

Kind of a one-trick pony, aren't you, Kojirou?

Hey, mage. No need to hide it anymore.

You totally put together a plan with Sakamoto or the Shinsengumi to come bail us out at the last minute, right?

Oh, but you had no trouble pulling that off back when I was the bad guy!

So our only choice is to pray to the gods for help then!? Screw that!

？！

All right. Guess it's up to us to figure this out. Worse comes to worst, maybe we can all come together for one big body slam.

Hahahaha! That could be interesting, finding the joy in a world of pain!

There's still a way to fight back, Shinsaku.

Shouin-sensei!? You regained consciousness?

I've been conscious the whole time. Even while they had control of my body.

Why else do you think I was able to work toward my dream of obtaining Chaldea for myself?

Huh? Then, does that mean everything you did was what you really wanted all along?

Of course it was. I'm not about to let anyone interfere with my dream. It's my dream, after all.

The only one who can deny it is me.

...You haven't changed a bit, have you?

Is the same not true of you, Shinsaku?

Well...yeah, I guess it is.

That's it. I knew I was right to summon you.

You summoned me? Shouin-sensei, does that mean

Now that we are accustomed to this new body, we think the time for idle chatter has ended.

We need the Kishin.

The Kishin?

Yes. Your Kishin is our only hope of defeating Kurofune.

But you beat Arahabaki like it was nothing...

I will explain later! Just hurry and get to the Kishin!

Come on, Rooster-Head! If you've got a way to fight this thing, then hurry up and get it! We'll hold it off in the meantime!

Looks like I've got no choice but to put in some oh-so-fun overtime. Just make sure to buy me a round on the way home.

Defeating this Kurofune may be beyond my ability, but that could be an interesting challenge in itself.

You guys...

？！

Did you really think we would let you escape!? We'll blow you all away at once!

Defense isn't exactly my specialty, but lucky for us, we've got an expert here! This one's up to you, Hektor!

Well thanks! All right, Takasugi, you heard the man! Go on, get out of here! We'll handle this in the meantime!

This way! Come on, mage! You too, Shouin-sensei!

Damn, I knew it. It's no use. My Kishin's already beat to hell.

Would it have killed you to hold back a little, Sensei?

You know me. I don't do anything by halves.

Besides, if you couldn't defeat me, then neither you nor Chaldea would have had a hope of defeating Kurofune.

Well...I guess you've got a point there.

But fine, what do we do with this beat-up Kishin now?

You couldn't defeat me before because you lacked the will to fight.

The will to fight...

That's right. Back when you were dead set on accomplishing something on your own...

...you were also filled with regret, weren't you?

Regret at being unable to save Kusaka, or your other compatriots.

Shouin-sensei...

Your Kishin may be a heartless iron giant now, but I'm certain that isn't its true form.

Well yeah, but it can't use its true form without a Divine Spirit-class Spirit Origin as its power reactor...

Wait. Shouin-sensei, you don't mean

That's right. I will be the Kishin's soul.

I-impossible... The Kurofune...

The last bastion of our shogunate... How!?

Shall we teach you one last lesson?

A-aaaaaah!

No matter how far they try to go...

...trash will always be trash!

Super Restoration, Kiheitai!!!

Waaaaaaaaaah!!!

The shogunate... Our eternal, carefree paradise...

...It's over.

So it would seem. And with that, I...

Ghh!

Shouin-sensei! Are you okay!? Gurk!

Haha, I could ask you the same. You look to be in much more pain than I am.

...Well, this is a hell of a way for things to wrap up.

No, wait. "If one can achieve immortality in death, one should be ready to die at any time," right?

Precisely. But do not forget that if one can achieve great things in life, one should always be ready to live on.

...Yes, Shouin-sensei.

...

...Before you go, could you please tell me one last thing?

Why did you summon ME?

Have you not figured it out? I suppose you still have a long way to go.

I summoned you because, if you're going to go to war with the shogunate...

...then Takasugi Shinsaku is your only choice.

Isn't that right?

...!

Ha... Haha! Yeah. Of course.

I might not have accomplished anything of note, but I definitely showed those shogunate bastards what for.

Hehe...

Really, if anyone here can be said to have failed to accomplish anything, it would be me.

After all the time I spent sounding the alarm on Japan's impending crisis, and the incredibly foolish risks I took...

...all I had to show for my efforts was my own execution.

That's not true!

Sensei, you showed Choushuno, all of us, the path forwar

...!

Yes, that's right. It is not what you accomplished that matters, but how you lived your life.

What's more, the path we tread will never disappear.

Those who believe in their path, and follow it as far as it goes...

...become the guideposts for the next generation on their journey into the future.

Guideposts... I-I'm sorry, Sensei. I should have seen how you truly felt...

Heh. True, it is a difficult thing for a teacher, having a fool for a student.

But even so, Shinsaku...

...you were, without question, my greatest student.

...!

Now go on, Shinsaku. Go back with the boy from Chaldea, and his compatriots.

Heroic Spirit or not, it doesn't matter.

No matter what others may say about how you live your life, as long as you believe in it, that's all that matters.

Besides, the true path you find within yourself will surely be the guiding light for those who follow in your wake.

So go, tread your own path, one only Takasugi Shinsaku can walk.

Yes...

I will, Shouin-sensei.

Even if my life ends on the Musashi Plain, the Yamato spirit will still remain.

...

My life was defined by setbacks and failure.

I never let that stop me from acting, though to say I didn't have my share of regrets would be to lie.

But, this...

...was the most fun setback I've ever experienced.

Shouin...sensei...!

？！

...

...Welp, you heard the man. Sorry, but it looks like I can't go dying just yet.

Guess I'll just have to stick around as long as our contract is still in effect.

Since Sensei never managed to see Chaldea for himself, maybe you can show me instead.

That way, I'll see enough of a brand-new world for both of us!

Phew... All right, Master, what do you say we get out of here? This old man hasn't worked so hard in a long time. He needs a smoke.

Indeed. I also recall a promise to have a round together on the way home. Unless you have forgotten?

Oh please, as if I'd ever forget a promise to go drinking. Just make sure you ask the new CEO there to buy.

Wahahahahaha! Great idea!

Anyway, guess that's another case closed.

No, wait.

Yeah, it's gotta be this. No two ways about it.

It can't be helped!

W-we're not done for yet... We can wait as long as it takes...

That is how we survivedby clinging to the shogunate, this country, its people...

...and we will continue to do so!

...You sure took a beating.

In a way, I'm impressed you used the Kurofune's remains to stay aliveor dead, in this case. You're damn determined, I'll give you that.

Oh, right. We still have you, don't we? And since you're still under the effects of our daifuku, we retain control over you.

...

That's it. Kill them now, while they're exhausted. Shoot them in their backs, as you've surely done countless times before!

So that's your final order, huh? Got it.

Guh!? Wh-what are you doing!?

I never mentioned this before because it didn't matter...but I don't have any sense of taste.

So I'd never eat daifuku just because I was in the mood for something sweet.

I was never brainwashed. I was just acting out of respect for the Holy Grail and Yoshida Shouin's objective.

The geas he imposed on me compelled me to fight against Takasugi Industries. Nothing more.

And Takasugi Industries is gone now.

All that's left is my usual jobscrubbing the Holy Grail clean of filth.

Wh-why you... But still, if you think you can get rid of us with mere bullets, then

Unlimited Lost Works.

Wha...!? This blade... It came from inside our body...!?

Gh-ghh!

Gaaaaaaaaah!!!

...Well, what do you know. My Noble Phantasm works just fine after all.

Guess this means Sasaki Kojirou and Takasugi Shinsaku were just bad matchups for me.

...I swear, they've got to be two of the shrewdest pretty boys I've ever met.

Is that all you've got!? I still have plenty more ammunition where that came from.

(Huff, huff...) Damn, it's morning already? Are Master and Rooster-Head still not back yet!?

I might be young and hot-blooded, but this is really starting to wear me down!

Hehehe! So even Oda Nobunaga, the supreme warlord of the Warring States period, has his limits.

It's just as we thought. This is the perfect power for us, the new Tokugawa shogun!

As good as this old man might be at defense, everyone has their limits!

I mean, I've still got magical energy and stamina to spare, but I'm getting sick and tired of not having any way to finish this thing off.

...Wait. They have returned.

Hm? What's that rumbling?

Good news, everyone! Your patience has been rewarded!

It freaking better have been!

Hahahahaha! Don't worry! You're in good hands now!

All right, just sit back and watch as I, Takasugi Shinsaku...

...lead you all to an incredible victory!

What's this? You actually think that pile of junk is a threat?

Did you forget that it could not so much as scratch this Kurofune?

Nah, I remember. But the thing is, back then, it was just me.

Honestly, I don't know how I forgot this. The whole reason I made the Kiheitai in the first place was so I could accomplish with my compatriots what I could never hope to alone:

Saving this country and all my compatriots who have the will to fight for it!

Hmph, what a joke. If the will to fight was all one needed to win, wars would be trivial. Now die!

In the end, principles and ideals mean nothing in the face of power. Ours were no help when we were forced to submit to the West.

How do you expect to win a battle if you resign yourself to losing before it even begins?

'Course, that might be tough for a bunch of cowardly shogunate retainers to understand.

What!? But we landed several direct hits!

My Kishin's true power shines when it has a Divine Spirit-class Spirit Origin in its reactor.

A Divine Spirit? But there's nothing like that anywhere arou

That's where you're wrong.

Th-that voice... Shouin!?

You turned your own mentor into the Kishin's reactor!?

He did nothing of the sort. I did this of my own accord.

I may not be a Divine Spirit, but if I can achieve immortality in death, then I am ready to die at any time.

If I can help my student forge a path forward, then I will gladly do so, even if it should cost me my life!

Th-this makes no sense... What is wrong with you people!? Fighting so you can die? A-are you both insane!?

Hahahaha! You obviously never spent any time at Shokasonjuku Academy! Going insane was practically a tradition!

Master! All you other amiable employees! Listen up!

Sensei and I might both be dying here, but we won't be fighting alone! I've got one last power-up for all of you!

Check out what us Choushu boys are really made of!

Kiheitai Ultra Enhancement... Overboost!!!

Wahahahaha! That's the spirit! Like I always say, fifty years of human life is nothing but a dream compared to heaven!

But just so you know, once you're dead, I'm taking this company for myself!

Man, this company really is full of fools, huh? But hey, this old man's in no position to talk!

Foolish though it may be, I have always been fond of those who appreciate life's beauty even in the midst of a crisis.

You got that right. Guess this means I'm not as old as I thought. Maybe it's time I did something truly foolish for the first time in a long while!

All right, everyone, we're about to fight another great war of Restoration!

So make sure you fight it with style!