Act 5 "Of Oni and Men"

This...is where the humans working on this island live?

This is like a slum... I should have known that they'd only be provided with the bare minimum.

Most likely they've been brought here from the mainland. With this many, there's really nothing we can do for them.

We can't prepare a ship to take them to the mainland anytime soon, and we're not equipped as a rescue team to begin with.

With our limited numbers, the best we can do is eliminate the cause. To rescue all these captured people, we need to make preparations.

...You are right.

If we were to release them from these settlements and the labor camps, the oni would just bring them all back.

Yes. All we can do now is collect information. Before any more troublesome oni arrive.

If we run into any oni, we'll just kick their asses. Man, why do the people here look like a bunch of wimps anyway?

When the environment gets too harsh, sometimes humans give into despair... In the end, they just don't even think about it anymore.

...I'm sure the people here have fallen into that state.

Most of them just sit on the ground and hang their heads. They look like defeated soldiers.

But you would think that there was at least one person that we could talk to...

Ah! There's one now that's walking with a firm stride.

...Hmm? W-Wait a minute. That's

Oh! Master, and Lord Yoshitsune. How fortunate. Ho ho!

...

Who the heck are you?

Ha ha mua ho ha ha! Don't you recognize me? We met several times in Chaldea already.

Ho ho! I am Benkei, Musashibou Benkei.

Really? You're that very same Benkei?

If that is true, then I cannot conceal the shame that I feel before everyone.

Benkei...I wouldn't mind calling you that... But aren't you just the one I pretend to ignore, Kaison

The name is Benkei. Yes, Benkei.

？！

That's it! Benkei! Aren't you a little too muscular!?

What are you talking about? Benkei is synonymous with a brawny build. This is the way I have always been. Ho ho!

Oh, nice bodybuilding! How about us having a round of sumo wrestling?

Oh...then you'll need a referee... If you don't mind, allow me...

I would be overjoyed to match strength with the peerless Sakata Kintoki! What a blessing it would be! Ho ho!

I know that Benkei is already quite powerful... but he seems a lot more powerful than usual...

Sumo matches aside, please answer my questions first. Why are you here?

A retainer must follow his lord at all times. Of course, I am here to aid the Master and Lord Yoshitsune.

There is another settlement higher up, so I went looking for you there, but couldn't find you.

I went elsewhere and searched about for you, and eventually ended up here.

I am very glad we could meet up. Let us march forth and exterminate these oni!

...

Oh, there's no need to worry. I have no interest in being either a dog, monkey or pheasant.

I am merely Lord Yoshitsune's weapon. Use me as you wish.

I see. If you are just a disposable weapon then I have no problem keeping you around.

Something still feels off about you, but I can just dispose of you when I am done.

(Ushiwaka can be quite cruel when it comes to anyone other than you, Fujimaru...)

That sounds fine by me. The more the merrier, right?

Our weapons pack a helluva punch to boot. I love this dangerous feeling. It totally feels like a war!

Oh... So you do understand. The aura given off by this seemingly meaningless... Actually, make that a literally meaningless collection of weapons.

Sakata Kintoki. I had heard that you are a reckless individual, but it seems like you are a man of refined taste!

Ho ho! ...I would like to have a sumo match here to deepen our friendship

But, unfortunately, it seems others have come who wish to test their strength against yours.

It's like Benkei says, there is an oni patrol approaching! There is no time to hide.

？！

I was once known as Oniwaka, the Young Oni. Sit back and watch as I rampage as hard as any of them!

If Buddha has ears for oni, may these prayers reach him. Namo...

Even after defeating the oni, the people here won't even move a muscle.

They don't even have the will to resist. In the end, all we can do is get rid of the one behind everything.

Tch! ...They've all got eyes like dead fish. The food here must be pretty damn awful...

If I had the time, I'd go around and knock some golden energy into every single one of them.

Actually before that, they need breakfast. You can't get any energy if you got nothing to burn.

If only Tawara was around... That way I could at least make some rice balls...

...Kintoki...making...rice balls!? Kintoki can cook!?

S-So what, you got a problem with that? It's just rice balls, of course I can make them. I'm a man after all.

I mean, despite the way I look, I was brought up by a wealthy samurai general.

Even if we did nothing, we'd get served one hellavuh meal for breakfast. That just ain't my style.

I get really nervous if I gotta worry about table manners starting from breakfast, ya know? Rice balls are enough for me.

Yes, I know how you feel!

I always say something simple for breakfast is best, yet my subordinates somehow always got obsessed over it and would bring me too much!

Ain't that right! I wanted to get out and play as fast as I could. I didn't want to just sit around eating all day!

Yeah, sounds like the kind of things said by boys that really gave their mothers a headache...

At any rate, Kotarou, you and Kintoki seem to get along well. Are you fine with that?

You are the head of the Fuuma clan, right? Don't you think it would be bad for you to be getting along with an outlaw?

Oh...well, I..I guess so... But, I mean, Kintoki is, well...

(Good, good... I am not being lumped in as one of the outlaws. That's only natural, but still...)

...

(Again, someone is watching us...)