Section Three: To Slovakia? (2/2)

Hey Master, we're back. You snap out of it yet?

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Still!? What have you even been doing all this time!?

I-it's not as bad as it seems. Master, what month is it now?

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See!?

Indeed, that was a most reassuring answer.

What're you guys talking about!? That barely even qualified! He's obviously still under Halloween's spell!

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It's okay, Master. Look around. There's no sign of Elisabeth anywhere!

This is an ordinary town that just happens to have a lot of pumpkins out for some reason!

Puppy! What are you doing here?

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B-but, that can't be right... Halloween is a long ways off...

...Heh.

I don't know what you're talking about, or what you guys are doing here...

But there is one thing I do know, Mash.

Halloween is forever. Even death can't keep it down.

Hehehe.

I know we haven't had a proper Halloween event since the whole Csejte Pyramid Himeji Castle thing...

But that all changes this year!

In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is gonna be the Year of Halloween!

Spring! Summer! Autumn! Winter! Halloween's gonna be the star of all of them!

Cut that out! They're called seasonal events for a reason!

I would certainly not put it past Lady Elisabeth to attempt such a thing.

Hmm, all right, maybe I wouldn't go quite THAT far.

Anyway, I wonder why I suddenly started thinking about this. I can't deny October's still a good ways away.

Oh well, I can just use this head start to begin collecting Halloween Power early!

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Never mind that now.

Given how much magical energy you have, I'm sure you weren't summoned here for no reason at all.

If you know anything about the Mallet of Fortune, I suggest you tell us now.

The what now? Mallet of...Fortune?

Oh, right. It might not be well-known in the West. It's like a hammer.

Hmm. I still don't know what you're talking about, but I definitely got bopped with something.

The next thing I knew...

I'd transformed from my usual sweet self into this Japan-themed version.

I see. All right then, Elisabeth, here's my next question.

Where did the one who hit you run off to?

Beats me.

Oh, but right before she left, I asked her why she gave me this power, and she said:

Oh, I am just conducting a little experiment. Consider the power my thanks for your assistance.

Use it if there is something you desire.

Hehe! I still have so much to see, and so much to do.

In fact, now that I think of it, I do have one request. I would like you to buy me as much time as you can, impossible though may be.

So there you have it, Puppy! You're gonna help me buy the nice mallet bopper some time!

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I'm not usually one to feel indebted to someone just for putting me up for a night...

But when someone says something's impossible, I just have to prove them wrong!

Now, come on! Fight me!

...Yiiikes.

That other Ushiwakamaru knew exactly what buttons to push.

I'll say.

She must have figured asking El-El more directly would just make her renege on the deal.

Which means we're dealing with someone who knows Chaldea inside and out.

What a pain in the ass!

That said, I know I can't take you all on by myself, so...

Elisa-Split!

Aah! E-Elisabeth, please turn yourself down! It's so bright we can't see a thing!

Sorry, can't. A star that shines as bright as me only knows how to move at light speed!

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I'm Elisabeth Báthory!

I'm Elisabeth Báthory Caster!

I'm Elisabeth Báthory Brave!

Nnnooowww llleeettt'sss dddooo ttthhhiiisss ttthhhiiinnnggg!!!

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Sssooorrrrrryyy, bbbuuuttt wwweee cccaaannn'ttt hhheeelllppp iiittt!!!

Aaafffttteeerrr aaallllll...

Wwweee cccaaarrreee aaabbbooouuuttt ooouuurrr iiinnndddiiivvviiiddduuuaaallliiitttyyy tttoooooo mmmuuuccchhh!!!

Did they just say...individuality...?

Master, let's just kill them and be done with it.

Like the great Lord Tsuna used to say, "Always leap before you look, and kill before you cut."

There you go again... I've never heard him say anything of the kind.

Whatever. Let's just get 'em.

Fine by me!

When did you get back here!? Well, anyway, I think that's the way to go, too.

Just imagine what would happen if they started gathering Halloween Power or whatnot like this.

Every bone in my body is telling me it'd lead to an autumnal catastrophe like we've never seen before!

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Right. I know we might be too late...

...but if there's any chance we can get rid of this Halloween Power now, we have to try!

You got us!

You beat us!

We've been defeated!

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Heh. I guess this means I still have a lot of Halloween Power left to collect.

But just remember this, Puppy. This fall...

I'm gonna put on a Halloween extravaganza that'll make all the others seem like nothing!

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Hehe. I can see you're so astonished and ecstatic that you're at a loss for words, Puppy.

Okay then, I'm gonna get back to collecting and leave you to bask in anticipation! Later!

It looks like Elisabeth has returned to Chaldea...

... ...

So... Fall, huh?

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Master?

I'm going on paid leave starting September. Just letting you know.

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All that aside, I wonder what it is I'm planning...

Beats me.

Hm, here's a thought, Shana-oh. Ask yourself: What would you do if you got your hands on the Mallet of Fortune?

How would you use it, and what would you wish for?

Hmm...

Well, it'd be perfect for making my enemies small enough to take all their heads with a single swing of my sword!

That way, we could wipe them out without taking any casualties ourselves!

Pfft.

Why are you laughing at that!? Geez, is fighting really all you can think about?

Shaaanaaa-ohhh! This is exactly what I've been talking about!

H-huh!? But I only said that because you told me to, Mentor!

Shana-oh!

Y-yes!?

Even if you did call me "Mentor," I can only take so much impudence. You're not to call me that any longer.

I've officially demoted you from student to village idiot after your little theft.

If you wish to ever call me "Mentor" again, you'll have to claw your way back up to normal student status first!

Huh!? Nooo!

Don't you "Nooo" me!

So, then...does this mean you're not teaching anyone right now, Mentor?

I suppose it does.

Then, you are no longer one of the greatest swordfighters and teachers ever to live...

...but simply an everyday, ordinary, legendary Kiichi Hogen?

Y-yes, I suppose that's true, too. Why? Is there a problem with that, Monk?

Oh, no, certainly not. I was just thinking it may be harder for you to stand out that way.

Hand out? Hand out what? (Expression that says "What the hell's the little big guy talking about?)

We know you are a free-spirited practitioner of Shugendou, Lady Kiichi Hogen. That is all well and good.

However, given that heroes from all places and times gather in Chaldea, I worry that that may not be enough to leave a lasting impression.

I don't mind myself, of course, but I suspect you would not be very happy with a less...attention-grabbing role.

To be blunt, being a mentor to young people with promising futures is your fetishI mean, your life's work.

So are you sure you're ready to give up on such a juicy position as mentor to Lord Ushiwakamaru?

Gnn...! Nnn...!

(Dammit, Hitachibou, you picked a hell of a time to defend Shana-oh! You ARE just like the real Benkei!)

Well, Lady Kiichi? Does this mean you're ready to resign yourself to being the ordinary onmyouji next door?

...Hmph, of course not. I still have a student, after all.

Right?

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The Master of Chaldea here! That's who I'm mentoring nowadays.

I see, uh, great potential in him.

After all, anyone who refuses to give up in the face of humanity's total eradication should make a much better student than Shana-oh there!

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(Hush, fool! Just play along! I thought young people today were all about going with the flow!)

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Indeed, I believe you have mentors in the areas of combat, Buddhism, and Santa, if I am not mistaken.

Oh, so that's what the whole "Reindeer" thing was about earlier.

He already has several mentors? Really? Hmm... No, don't think I like that...

Well, that just means having one more shouldn't be a problem! Kanra kara kara!

Besides, I bet I'm the only one eccentric enough to have a modern kid pour their drinks for them!

All right, my student, let's get back to finding Evil Ushiwaka!