Act Three: Path of Insincerity, Part Two

Hmm, so they managed to free that old guy who's been holding out all this time, huh.

...(Cough) Forgive me, my lady. I have no excuse.

Well, that's okay. These things happen, right? Thanks for filling me in.

Aren't you going to punish me?

Huh? Why would I do that? Do you get off on pain and suffering or something? I didn't know you were such a perv, Matsudaira.

No... I have no wish to be punished. But it has been my experience that both punishments and rewards are a government leader's means of keeping their people in line.

Oh please. Do I look like someone who cares about silly rules like that?

I think of you like I do all other humans...brainless, worthless, and utterly hopeless.

Yes, you're only human, so of course you're going to screw up. Of course things aren't going to go as planned.

Being weak and incompetent is what defines you humans. Honestly, I hate every last one of you.

But, even so...I still love you all.

The love this girl had was a onetime deal...but Pārvatī's the one who got that pure and beautiful part.

Me, on the other hand...I can love all of you, no matter how worthless you are.

Teehee. Teeheeheehee. I am the god of love, after all...

Huh? You know ChachaI mean, Lady Yodo too?

Yes, I'm sure she is. I've heard she can be quite a handful.

Of course, I suppose she had to be to properly support the Toyotomi clan after they lost Lord Hideyoshi.

Well of course she is. Out of all the three Azai sisters, her beauty was renowned throughout the country.

？！

You mean you never met her yourself, Tsubone?

Me? Oh no, I could never! I do have some history with Lady Oeyo, Lord Hidetada's wife and Lord Iemitsu's mother...

...but I don't think the Azai princesses like me very much, so I never tried to meet with them.

？！

Really! My father was a retainer for Akechi, who killed Lord Nobunaga, and my husband was a retainer for Kobayakawa, who betrayed the Toyotomi clan.

I'm sure they must see me as this horrible woman who was part of all the worst things in their lives.

So...even if I had the chance to meet with Lady Yodo, I think she would be much happier if I kept my distance. I don't have any hard feelings towards her or her sisters myself, but I can understand how she must feel.

？！

You do!? Oh my! I can't decide if I would love to meet him, or if I would prefer he never even knew I existed!

I was sure you would say it was nonsense.

But even when you learned I am now a shadow engraved in human history, and that Master is on a quest to save the world...

...you seemed not the least bit surprised.

Oh, I was certainly surprised, Lord Munenori, but I have no trouble believing that someone as skilled as yourself may be able to undertake such a quest.

Even the late Lord Ieyasu became a revered gongen, a manifestation of the Buddha after he passed onward.

Well, I'm glad you were so understanding.

To be honest...there are still a lot of things about this we don't understand ourselves.

For example...why did Kama choose to build this Ooku out of people?

？！

Yes. I feel the same way, even though I'm just helping you navigate it. Still...

We were able to meet up with the greatest swordsman in Edo.

Now we know that it's possible to save people here, as long as we're not too late. So...

？！

...Right. I don't know how much help I can be with that, but I'll do whatever I can!

All right, that is enough filling in for now. As we expected, it looks like there are more enemies on this floor.

Oh? But these aren't attacking.

Be on your guard, Lady Sessyoin. Even one such as you could still be in danger if you are taken by surprise.

Yes, I suppose you're right. Thank you for the warning...

(Yes, I can see you practice what you preach. You have not lowered your guard the least bit, not even toward me. Perhaps his instincts tell him not to...)

(Hehe, I don't think he would hesitate to cut me down if he suspected I was up to something. What a good, upright man...)

(Ahh, I do so wish I had met him in my deep-sea haven rather than here...)

Ah, AH. Welcome, welcome, MY lords.

The Ooku IS meant for the shogun, our LORD. If you ARE all here, you must all be our lord...

Please, PLEASE, this way. We will SHOW you inside.

I could tell this floor felt different somehow, but this is still a surprise...

So these dolls consider you their lord, without fighting. What do you think? It does look like we may have an easier time making our way in if we play along.

AHH, I knew it...

Hey! That's not true, and you know it! I will not tolerate lying!

Besides, regardless of what the situation is, even if it's only meant as a joke...

...So long as I draw breath, I will not allow anyone to falsely claim to be the shogun!

I agree that lying is wrong, of course!

But, um, if it will let us avoid fighting, maybe you could consider this a helpful white lie?

Absolutely not. I don't believe there's any such thing.

There is only one lord fit to enter the Ooku...

The Tokugawa shogun who leads all of Japan!

Welp, I saw that coming!

Fujimaru is nothing if not honest to a fault, no matter how much it may get him in trouble!

Well said! No matter what the circumstances, there can be no excuse for lying.

I appreciate your honesty, Lord Fujimaru.

I'd want every child I raise to be as honest as you! What a good boy you are! (Pat pat)

？！

？！

Your purity of heart is wonderfully refreshing.

You must have been raised by an excellent wet nurse. No doubt she takes after another excellent one I could name!

So...you ARE not our lord...

THIS will not do. This is. THE Ooku. We are not MADE...to welcome anyone else...!

Well, it seems you've rather agitated them. Life has a funny way of taking these little twists and turns, doesn't it...

It IS not. Too late. ADMIT that you. Are our lord. THE shogun. And we will BE. Happy to welcome you...

As a goddess, I usually like to take people at their word, but this just reeks of suspicion.

If this is a trap, we're not falling for it. If you won't get out of our way, we'll just go on without you!

Nghhh... I feel sick. And it's even worse if I try to keep my mouth shut...

Are you okay, Tsubone? Do you need to lie down?

I don't mean like that! I mean this floorthis whole fake Ooku is making me sick!

I always thought it was strange that it had turned into an underground labyrinth, but now it's even stranger!

This kind of structure shouldn't even be possible for the Ooku...

Places that used to have a lavatory are now just hallways, and many of these sliding doors just lead to dead-ends.

？！

This floor seems to be using its own bizarre labyrinthine construction to impede us.

I can tell how unique it is just from mapping it out.

And as a result, your walking speed has been getting slower and slower...

But thanks to Kasuga-no-Tsubone, you have been able to avoid getting completely lost.

We are lucky to have such a capable guide leading us around. I am reminded again how essential navigators really are!

Well, I guess my basic knowledge of the Ooku still applies, no matter how bizarre its new structure may be.

After that, it all just comes down to figuring out the architect's habits, and a little bit of intuition! It's nothing that impressive, really.

Surely there can be none more familiar with the Ooku's workings than you, Lady Fuku.

Your knowledge easily surpasses the shogun's or Lord Doi Toshikatsu, to say nothing of myself.

You did well choosing the Ooku's most knowledgeable person for your guide, Master. Perhaps the heavens are on our side.

？！

Oh, I just got lucky. But I suppose it goes to show how it's always worth your time to help others in need.

Oh, sorry, I guess you don't need me on this floor, do you? I'd just slow you all down.

Okay, Tsubone, you take it from here!

Now that you mention the heavens... Hmm, you do have a rather virtuous face, Lord Fujimaru.

I suspect you still have some wonderful latent talent lying dormant... The kind with lots of room left to grow.

I do!

Oh? I've spent much of my life watching over a child who grew up to become a great shogun. Do you really think I don't know what I'm talking about?

？！

All right, I've made up my mind. If fate brought us together, then I'm going to make the most of it!

While we're down here walking this labyrinth, I'll take you all under my wing and educate you as is any good wet nurse's duty!

If there's anything you'd like to know more about, just say the word!

I'm excellent at cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, sewing, and mediating between the worlds inside and outside the Ooku if I do say so myself.

I can take care of anything that needs doing in a flash, and I'm also the type who needs to keep busy all the time.

Honestly, it's been depressing for me to go through this labyrinthine Ooku in silence, especially with this bizarre layout.

Of course, I'm happy to completely devote myself to finding a way through it if it means rescuing the shogun...

...but that doesn't mean there's no time for a few diversions along the way. In fact, I'd even say they're necessary.

Spoken like a skilled multitasker and workaholic. I can sympathize very well.

There's a good boy. That's just what I like to hear. (Pat pat)

(Those head pats are practically second nature to her at this point...!)

If there's something you want to know or don't understand, you should ask about it right away. That's very important.

Better to ask the way than to go astray, after all!

...So on that note, I might have a few questions for you myself from time to time, if you don't mind answering them.

Oh my, you're rather shrewd, aren't you...

Honestly, yes, I am intensely curious to hear what things are like in the future.

？！

But, as you said before, there are some things I'm just not meant to know.

Well, as long as we don't tell you anything that directly pertains to you...

...I don't think it would hurt to tell you about modern day life and customs in general, or about Chaldea.

Thank you, Lady Mash. That would be a great help in staving off boredom on the way.

Nothing brings me more joy than raising talented people, which is why I'm also very passionate about self-improvement.

Now let's move quickly, but not so quickly that we can't have a nice conversation on the way!