Section 4: May Those Who Fight Be Blessed

Ahh...

It's so peaceful out here.

Whoa there, missy. What're you doing draped over the side like that?

For a moment, I thought you were laundry that'd been hung out to dry.

Can you blame me? It's just so nice out.

？！

True, you gotta take breaks so you don't burn out.

...So you don't much care for peace?

Are you kidding? I love it! You can't enjoy anything unless it's peaceful!

As long as I don't have any gods angry at me, or monsters trying to eat me...

...or creepy older guys trying to arrange marriage with me, I don't need anything else.

For someone claiming she wishes to be a hero, you certainly say a lot of useless things, girl.

Huh? Did I say something wrong?

I don't think so.

Many of the people we call heroes love peace as well.

Do not be ridiculous. No hero can possibly be born from the lukewarm water of peace.

Hmm, I never thought about it like that before. Now I'm not sure what to think again.

What IS the most important thing you need to be a hero...?

Whoa now, don't look at me. I can't help you with that.

I'm no hero. I'm just a sailor who gets ships where they need to go.

？！

Very well then. I do not know if this is the most important thing, but I do know it is absolutely crucial.

A hero needs to be strong. Your husband certainly was, was he not?

Indeed, how can one hope to be a hero without the strength to defeat one's enemies?

I...guess you might be right.

But I also think there's more to it than that. It also depends how you define "strength" and "defeating enemies."

Well, I mean, it's true that Perseus was super-duper strong.

He was the son of Zeus, and he was blessed by both Athena and Hermes.

I remember the very first time I saw him, I thought "Oh, so that's what moving faster than the eye can see looks like"...

... ...

Uh, is this helping? I'm not just coming across like some lovesick housewife bragging about her hubby, am I?

You're doing fine! I'd love to hear more about how Perseus fought!

...Tch...

I knew it! You just clicked your tongue at me big-time! Oh gosh, I'm sorry!

No, wait! That wasn't me!

Saber Medusa was passing by and went out of her way to make sure the mic picked her up!

What do you think you're doHey! Get back here!

Ugh, I swear...

Ahaha, I see. I only knew her head, so I didn't know she could be such a scamp.

Medusa, a scamp? I never thought about her like that before...

Anyway, I know that you need to be strong enough to defeat your enemies...

...but in my case, I basically spent my whole life around a hero whose level was already maxed out...

...so I don't really have any idea what's normal for most heroes.

I mean, you have to be strong in the first place for the gods to bless you, right?

So, exactly how strong do you have to be for that to happen?

(I guess for people from ancient Greece, having support from the gods is a pretty clear-cut way to tell who the heroes were.)

(In her case, she definitely seems to be affiliated with Poseidon, but I think it's more of a curse that she managed to turn into a strength.)

Whup, we've got another river collision incoming! Everyone brace for impact!

Damn. I didn't know it was possible for a river to smell scorched.

Hahaha, gyahahaha! I thought I heard talk about defeating enemies coming from here!

Is it time for battle? It is, isn't it!?

It's Kālī!

？！

And look. Her ship appears to be custom-made as well.

Oh gosh, oh gosh! Please don't stomp on the deck too hard!

Yes, please don't! Even the Takarabune can only take so much!

That's the Daikokuten's Takarabune!

Takarabune... That means "treasure ship," yeah? Must be a whole lot of coin on board to warrant a name like that.

Kālī is another Choco Servant, as you might've guessed...

...but the Daikokuten actually look to be regular Chaldean Servants.

They must've gone to that Singularity on their own at some point, just like Columbus did.

So why're you guys helping that Kālī out, Daikokuten?

We're still Big Boss's loyal Servants, of course...

...but when Boss Kālī here gave us an order, we just couldn't bring ourselves to refuse.

Hey. What's that supposed to mean, rodents?

I would never force anyone to work against their will.

I only asked for your help because you smell like Shiva, and I like you.

Gyahahaha. You rodents are so precious. (Nuzzling) (Head patting)

Eeek! We're flattered, but also terrified!

Please, stop before we faint! We'll do anything you ask if you just spare us!

Whoa, an Eastern god! And she looks like a really powerful one, too! We're getting gods like her now, too!?

It would seem so. Durgā is one of Chaldea's Heroic Servants.

She's a war goddess who was born from the wrath of numerous Indian gods for the sole purpose of destroying evil.

And Kālī there is another, even more powerful aspect of Durgā's Spirit Origin.

Of course, that Kālī is only a Choco Servant, not the real Kālī...

...so I don't know how helpful this information will be.

Well, at least now I know she really is an incredible god. She looks really tough!

So you are my opponent!

The one I wish to see again is, of course, Shiva. I was told I could do so if I made my way down this river!

So that is exactly what I will do, together with these adorable rodents!

But, if only one river can continue on past this point...

...then that makes this a battle, and you, my enemy.

Battles must be won. Enemies must be defeated!

That is who I am! That is my purpose as a god! Gyahahahaha!

Guess that rules out a nice, peaceful discussion. Can't say I'm surprised. So, what's your river's trait then?

Enemies, of course.

For I subsist on the blood of my fallen foes!

Please don't lick my cheek and audibly gulp when you say things like that!

Good grief. So that goddess's river contains the blood and body parts of the various monsters she has killed.

Damn. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, seeing how her portfolio is of war and slaughter.

All right, so that means the things we need to use to give our river an advantage during this battle...

...are enemy parts.

I think the rampaging chocolate monsters we've defeated up till now should count as enemies.

Yeah, they should. And right now, I bet the chocolate they drop...

...will be even more effective fuel for the river than regular chocolate.

So, like, we fought other, nonchocolate monsters too, right? Does this mean we can use their wings and horns and stuff in my river as well now?

Indeed. In the end, it seems our task remains much the same as before.

No... Arguably, we will now be competing on speed and numbers even more directly than before.

That's true. I think there's going to be an especially large focus on battling this time!

Well, I've still gotta keep an eye on my boat, so I won't be of much help with the fighting. Sorry 'bout that.

That's okay! We've got our job, and you've got yours. We can handle these enemies on our own just fine!

...Although, I am a little scared of what happens if that goddess tries to attack us directly.

I mean, just look how many arms she has.

You lot are not monsters, so I will not fight you directly.

This will simply be a contest to see who can slaughter more enemies faster!

Let us begin!

It sounds bad when you use the word "slaughter"...

But putting that aside, we'll be doing the same thing as before, Master.

We need to defeat chocolate monsters and other hostile creatures and get as many battle drops from them as we can!

？！

(Huff, huff...)

O-okay, I think we killed a lot of them. How's that!?

Gyaha, gyahahahaha!

Khh... Kālī's river still has more momentum than ours does!

Oh man, I guess having so many arms really does give you an advantage! Now I get why the hundred-handed Hecatoncheires were such tough opponents!

Ugh, stop that! If you have time to whine, you have time to work!

Even my feeble-bodied Master is doing his best to focus on the battle at hand. Surely you can

Hm?

？！

Oh boy. Is he experiencing a fighter's high or something?

If I were to paint this scene myself, I think I'd make his eyes into dollar signs!

This kind of focus is not good at all.

M-Master! I think you should take a little break and catch your breath! Here, have some water!

O-okay! I guess I can hang in there for one more stretch in his place!

How's the river looking now, Da Vinci!?

Still as deadlocked as before!

Khh...

？！

But if we take a break now, we might never be able to catch up to her.

We'll just have to do our best to hold our ground!

I agree. Kālī may be strong, but we still outnumber her.

Especially with the Daikokuten preoccupied with taking care of their ship.

So if we all keep working and fighting together, there's still a chance we can gain an advantage!

？！

？！

Wh-who's that!?

(Dumbfounded)

Gyaha, gyahahahaha! I have slaughtered my enemies! I have drank their blood!

Victory is mine! It makes me want to dance about in joy!

I'm glad you're in such high spirits, Boss Kālī...

...but I'm afraid you were a little too focused on killing and not enough on adding to your river.

I guess you could say you won the battle and lost the war?

R-right...

Well, I appreciate it. She really helped us out in that last battle.

I'm quite sure she didn't mean to. She was just focused on killing enemies to the exclusion of anything else.

Gyaha, gyahahahaha! I feel great!

I'm not surprised her magical energy's running out, after all the times she used her Noble Phantasm.

But at least she seems genuinely happy!

I don't know how I feel about this.

I was a little more fired up than usual at first since this river looked pretty dangerous and bloody...

...but now I feel like all the wind's been taken out of my sails. Uh, figuratively.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm really glad we won, but still.

Hm?

You're wrong, girl that smells like the sea.

My river is the right one. I can tell from its smell.

Huh?

... ...

But then, I suppose it is too sweet for that. Yes. Too sweet by far...

Well, no matter!

You have defeated me, which makes you a warrior! Be proud!

H-huh!?

But, um, I'm really not the warrior type...

I'm more on the weak side than anything, and I don't have any amazing weapons or cool techniques.

I don't mean now. I'm talking about the color of your soul. You are undoubtedly a fighter.

You HAVE fought, haven't you?

Being weak is no excuse not to fight when fighting is called for.

If you know that, then you, too, are a warrior.

Oh...

In that sense...yeah, maybe I am then.

I fought even though I was weak. Or at least, I tried to.

But...

Then remember how you tried to fight, and be proud. That is all you need to do.

Now, as the goddess of slaughter, I shall commend your victory by endowing you with my blessing and protection!

Gyaha, gyahahahaha!

Oogh. (Dazed)

Please don't worry about us. We'll just absorb a little of her dance's aftermath and see ourselves home.

...Phew.

So this is a divine blessing AND protection, huh? Now that I've actually got them, it feels awkward.

Not to mention I don't know what they actually do.

So, I think I'll just consider them something of a good-luck charm, and not rely on them too much.

I didn't really get the other things she said, but for now... Oh, hey, she dropped a chocolate, too.

I'll hold on to it, just in case.

Please accept these rice balls, too. You'll need your strength for a long voyage, after all.

Ooh, they look yummy! Thanks!

Farewell!

Well, there's definitely been some complications, but it looks like you can get the ship moving again.

...Hm? Hang on a second.

I see... Yeah? Well, sure, why not?

So, just like with Rama, it looks like the real Kālīor rather, Durgā, in this casewould like to say something.

...(Staaare)

Do not misunderstand me, Communicator.

？！

My normal goddess selfthat is, my usual self, is not constantly thinking about seeing Shiva again.

Well, strictly speaking, I suppose I am, but I would never let it interfere with my divine duties.

That version of me you just encountered was a unique form of one of my Ascensions.

And on top of that, she had only acquired her form by merging with chocolate.

...Perhaps there was something in play that made it more likely for her to break apart from me like that, but this goddess knows nothing about it.

What I am trying to say is, don't worry. As my normal self, I would never cause a disturbance just because I wish to see Shiva again.

I'm glad to hear that. As my communicator, I knew you would understand. Have a gold star.

... ...

Don't worry. Is that clear?

？！

？！

Good.

Um, Durgā? Since you're here, can I ask you a question?

Do you know what Kālī was talking about?

Specifically, what she said about her river being the right one.

...I do not.

Even I cannot tell much about that river from here.

But, I will say that if Iif Kālī, said that, then it must be true.

Kālī is a goddess of death and slaughter that resides within me, and she is far more instinctual and impulsive.

So while I can't say for sure, it may be that she sensed something there that I can't from here.

I see... Understood! Thank you!

I'm still kind of astounded that a real goddess showed up here, even if it was through a human vessel.

But for now, I'm even gladder that I was able to beat her!

You sure did. Well done.

All right then, let's get back to chucking in chocolate and boulders and keep making headway down this river!