Act 13 "And What of Momotarou"

Finally, we've arrived! This is the summit of Onigashima!

A wonderful view as you would expect from the summit... But this place is overflowing with a really sinister air.

The weather is getting worse as well. That's a ominous black cloud there. Namo...

Now this is more like Onigashima. So finally we can face the one behind all this.

Precisely. This is the climax of my lord's oni extermination. It's almost time for the conclusion.

Uh! Look, everyone. Over there...!

In the center of that open space, something...

...What a sinister cup. Hmm? The one standing in front it is

That is Raikou. I thought she went after Shuten-Douji. I wonder if she has finished them off...

Raikou, what in the world are you...

...Hold on.

Kintoki?

Don't get too close. They're different.

...Ahaha. Kintoki, you're finally here.

Tch! Now I see. I should have know this was the case if Shuten was here.

Thinking 'bout it, I knew that selfish oni wouldn't show up here for something as trivial as fighting over a territory.

The only opponent she couldn't ignore would be a true standout of an oni.

You Why? Why have you returned!?

Hehe, hehehe, hehehehehehehe! You can tell? So is that the power of love!?

Wha...

Th-This evil presence...

Raikou... What are you?

...That's not Raikou. She might look the same, but her existence is completely twisted.

Isn't that right, boss of all demons? Suzugamori's Ushi Gozen!

Hehe. Raikou and I are not so different. You should know that, no?

No, you're wrong. You lost and were sealed away. By your own hand, even.

Ushi Gozen!? I've heard of that name before. If I remember correctly, Ushi Gozen is Minamoto-no-Raikou's brother

A cursed child born from prayers to Gozu Tenno. The story goes that ultimately Raikou eliminated him

Yeah, that's the story. Ushi Gozen here is something similar to Lord Raikou's older brother.

But Gozen is the title for a woman. You should be able to figure the rest from that.

...Lord Raikou has never talked about her origins. Even I had to do a little digging myself.

I will tell you the truth. A child was born as the child of the god Tenjin. Her power was feared so much that she was seen as a cursed child, and thus sent to a temple.

If only that was where it all ended. That child's father... Well, he probably had some regrets.

He regretted letting go of her talents. It's predictable what would happen. He welcomed his imprisoned daughter back as his newborn son.

You all know the rest of the story. Minamoto-no-Raikou lived up to her father's expectation, and became a warrior who protected Kyoto.

You mean Ushi Gozen and Raikou weren't siblings, but one and the same person!? But there is a tale that Raikou exterminated Ushi Gozen!

Right. That is actually true. I know because I was there.

Just a moment ago you said...she had been sealed away.

Yes, when she became the leader of the Minamoto family, Boss Raikou tried to cut away that deranged side of her.

Well, after a lot of trouble, it ended with her sealing Ushi Gozen deep inside of herself.

...

...Tch. That's enough. I can't believe I let you see a lame side of me.

That's Boss Raikou's story, and you ought to hear it straight from her. I shouldn't be yammering about it.

What needs to be handled now is right here. Why? Why are you here? You should've been sealed away.

You want to know why your mother is here? Easy. To declare "I am here."

...You're the one who made this Onigashima, aren't you?

Eh!

Yes. I, the one who acquired that cup, made it. I made it to build a kingdom entirely for oni.

I said that you'd need Authority like that of the gods who created this island nation, but... Now I see, if you had the power granted to the incarnation of Gozu Tenno then...

A kingdom of oni? That doesn't sound peaceful at all. Why would you create a demonic kingdom like that?

...Hmmm, you want a reason? Well... Umm... Oh, how about this?

What if I said it is to be a place where the uncelebrated ones, like myself, can take back their rights?

Even though we have lived here since ancient times, oni and spider-yokai alike are exterminated because of their strange appearance.

Raikou somehow thought that this was terribly cruel.

For that reason, she decided to create this demonic kingdom... Does that sound believable enough?

But Raikou exterminated all the oni on this island. Including Ibaraki-Douji and Shuten-Douji.

Yes, well, that's because both Raikou and I hate oni.

They're a workforce to create this demonic kingdom, but if I see them, I kill them. Humans are worth keeping around as food, but...

Oni, you see, are only ugly and have no value at all.

...Are you saying that your own subordinates are worthless? Even though they follow you and work for you?

Of course they're worthless. After all, all the oni on this island are nothing more than my own creation.

The ones that I happened to draw well I dubbed Onimaru, the rest are just disgusting scribbles.

It's difficult to observe your own incompetence. As soon as this island is completed, I plan on destroying them all completely.

So that's what they are... Damn, I completely forgot about them.

I knew that I'd seen them somewhere before... They were the drawings of oni that Lord Raikou drew for me when I was a kid...

Then what about Ibaraki-Douji and Shuten-Douji? I know they aren't oni you made, but...

Oh, Shuten-Douji... That was just an insect.

An evil insect that tried to get close to my dear boy. It's only natural I would crush them, stomp them, and then kill them, right?

By the way, I beheaded Ibaraki just a moment ago, and cut open Shuten's belly. That felt good.

Tch...

What do you think, Kintoki? This island is really quite something, isn't it?

You and I both are the whims of gods and men. It's been difficult living in the human world, right?

But here on this island you need not worry about the eyes of anyone. I really didn't want to have to go to all this trouble, but...

If I had turned Honshu into a demon land without thinking, then I'm sure you would have come to despise me, Kintoki.

One must do everything they can to protect their child's playground.

There's not much I can do about what happens on Honshu, but the least I can do is intoxicate these evil insects with evil wine so they kill each other off.

So you're the culprit of the Rashomon incident!

...A Heroic Spirit that creates a fake Singularity with their own desire... No, as Ushi Gozen, you're just an evil spirit.

This is a disaster of the same class as a Demon God Pillar! Kintoki! I hate to say this, but

...No, I should be the one apologizing, Doc. Both these times are my responsibility.

Kintoki? Why are you so hostile toward your mother?

I told you that I built this island for you, didn't I?

To tell the truth, ever since the main castle keep was built, I've wanted to brag, but I can only keep this a secret so long.

O Four Heavenly Kings! My limbs, my armor, my pawns. Do not worry, the time has come for you all to return to your lord's place.

Kintoki... Your mother, that

I know. Sorry I got you worried, Kotarou, but I'll handle this. It doesn't change what I gotta do.

Isn't that right, Boss? This is the climax of the oni extermination!

Kintoki

You, Ushi Gozen! I know well that you and Lord Raikou are pretty much the same.

Minamoto-no-Raikou's great feats are thanks to you, and Ushi Gozen's wicked deeds are Minamoto-no-Raikou's sins.

...And I got a huge debt to you that I can never repay. You raised me, so you've got my respect.

However... Let me say this one thing You're not needed anymore!

What... What did you say?

I mean that I'm not afraid of you in the least! When Boss Raikou gets seriously angry, that's a million times more frightening!

What are you talking about, making this island for me? It's nothing more than a place for a loner like you to hide.

Even if Raikou grew horns and became an ox god, she'd never really run from anything!

Minamoto-no-Raikou would cry, lose her nerve and throw a tantrum, but she would eventually get it together and make Kyoto her home!

You're nothing but a loser cow, an oni that's eating dirt! Hurry up and bring back Raikou!

...All right then. I understand the image of Raikou that you hold inside yourself.

I thought you would understand me, since you are a fellow demigod. But if you cannot be convinced, then you are nothing more than a human.

Normally I would overlook such a thing... but I know that you won't allow me to just go.

To protect the human world means that you will only allow humans to rule it.

I can't tell which one of us is the oni anymore.

You have reached the conclusion that wiping out everyone is the only solution too, right?

Hey! Now you've said it, you fiend. All right, Ushi Gozen.

I'm gonna thrash you good! But don't get the wrong idea.

That's not because I am the oni-slaying Kintarou, nor is it because I am MomotarouBoss's comrade.

As a son, I must stop my mother's crazy nonsense. Don't be mistaken about that.

Ah!

...Ah, ahhh... Dear me, this is no good... Even though I am your mother. Ohhh... Deep inside me... I feel so hot... So hot!

I'm so glad, so glad, so glad, Kintoki! That truly islove!

With that, I can get serious! The reason being that I can completely accept your feelings

and therefore love you...to death!

Uh!

...Here it comes! An opponent that I can't defeat if I hold back.

My lightning is Golden But Boss Raikou's lightning is the pitch black threads from the Naraka hells!

I'll need to finish this before I'm burned to a crisp. I'm counting on you, Boss Momotarou!