First Cup: Let's GO to the Other World!

Don't worry about your injured companion. I treated her wounds and am letting her rest in the tatami room next to us.

So you said you're Rikyu? I haven't heard that name in forever.

Indeed, this is our first meeting since Honnoji, Lady Nobunaga. I'm pleased to see you in such good health.

Not sure you can say a Servant is in "good health," really. But thanks.

Wait, hold up. There's no way Rikyu could possibly be a woman!

？！

I'm surprised to hear that from a mold-breaker like yourself, Lady Nobunaga. Surely you of all people should know that the form a Heroic Spirit takes is an inconsequential matter.

Well, what do you expect!? I still remember how you used to tower over me as a man!

And now you look like a teenage girl or something!

Just so you know, that kind of thing is NOT in style these days!

Be that as it may, this is what I have become. You and I both need to accept that.

I am what I am. That is what makes me who I am.

Well, you're still not much of a listener... Achoo!

Please, have some tea.

Oh, thanks. I could use a hot drink after being in that cold, muddy water. Whoa, this is fantastic!

What's in this tea, anyway? Nothing bad, right?

Go on, everyone. Please, enjoy.

Uh, okay. Thanks...

This looks like the same green as the tea Nagayoshi sometimes gives me. It's a little too bitter for my tastes.

No, wait... This tea isn't bitter at all. In fact, it's kind of sweet. This is yummy.

I'm glad. And I'm very impressed by the fortitude with which you drink it, especially at your young age.

No need to be so formal. All you have to do with tea is drink it.

？！

No, seriously, this tea is REALLY good.

Oh, I get it. So you drench your visitors in cold, muddy water to make sure your hot tea really hits the spot.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you of all people saw through my little hospitality trick so easily. I'm a little embarrassed, Lady Nobunaga.

Yeah, whatever you look like now, you're definitely still Rikyu. I never liked those tricks you pulled even when we were alive.

I'm so pleased to see they had the intended effect.

Wahahahaha! You're lucky this tea is so good, or I might've just had to kill you!

All right, now that you've had some tea, it should be just about time.

？！

...Huh!? Wh-what's going on!? I-I can't breathe...

No, wait. I think it's affecting my Spirit Origin directly...!

You okay, Normal Me? Did you eat too many snacks?

Oho. Poison, huh?

？！

No, that can't be it... I didn't even

Right you are. It is, in fact, because you did not drink any.

I thought the intent behind my hospitality was clear, but apparently not. I'm ashamed I believed it was adequate.

So, what does this mean?

The poison isn't in the tea. It's in the air.

Isn't that right, Rikyu?

I'll explain in a moment. For now, why not have a cup yourself?

Wahahaha! This is what happens when you venture too far outside your comfort zone. Don't worry, Okita, it's safe. We already tasted it for poison.

Okay then...in that case...!

...

...Phew. You're right; this IS really good. I feel like I'm brimming with energy now.

I can hardly believe how much better I'm feeling!

Okay, so what's going on?

This areaor perhaps I should say, all of this place...

...is permeated with poison that is invisible to the naked eye.

Poison so strong that even a Servant would be rendered immobile within half a day.

I see. So that's where the tea comes in.

Correct. My tea can keep any who drink it healthy by harmonizing both their body and soul.

So not only does it taste great, it also saves lives by neutralizing this poison, huh? You must have customers beating down your door for a drink.

I thought I would, which is why I installed those vending machines. Unfortunately, they've only been taking up space.

As a merchant from Sakai, I am deeply ashamed.

Those dumplings were really good, though.

Man, now I feel like an idiot for being worried about drinking it.

Did you have it all figured out from the start, Nobbu?

Nah, not at all. I'm pretty dense about that kinda stuff. Why do you think I got Honnojied?

I'm impressed you didn't have any concerns about drinking it, Fujimaru.

If that tea HAD been poisoned, we'd both be Honnojiing it up already.

I'm glad to hear that.

The best tea is the tea most delicious to you, regardless of your reasons for drinking it.

Wow. Careless, much?

You're lucky things worked out this time, but please try to be more wary in the future. It's not like you're completely immune to poison, right?

？！

Anyway, you still haven't told us why you're out here running a tea shop in the first place.

Ah, yes. I was summoned here some time before the rest of you.

But, as I said earlier, this place is very inhospitable, even for Servants.

I therefore hastily erected my Bounded Fieldthis teahouseand began preparing tea with the Magic Resistance needed to endure the atmosphere outside.

Even then, I still couldn't leave. Not with all those beastmen strutting about.

I'm merely a tea ceremony master. There's nothing I can do against creatures like that.

Man, being summoned somewhere you're basically doomed to die? Talk about a no-win scenario.

At any rate, at least we know there's definitely something wrong with this place.

I'm hungry. Can I have my lunch now?

Oh, my apologies. I've been so caught up in our discussion that I didn't realize I was neglecting my duties as your host.

Go get dinner ready for our guests.

Tea Nobbu!

First tea, now dinner, huh? That's really nice ofHang on.

What the hell do you lot think you're doing!?

Welp, mystery solved. This whole Singularity was Nobbu's doing, again. Come on, Master, let's go home before things inevitably take a turn for the worse!

Hey, I haven't actually caused THAT many Singularities, have I? ...You know what, don't answer that.

But what are YOU doing with these things, Rikyu!?

I hope you're paying me the royalties I definitely deserve?

I happened upon these mysterious creatures when I first arrived here.

I gave them some tea, which let them endure the air in this place, and now they help with my tea ceremonies.

Tea Nobbu!

I'm not sure why, but something about the way they move is just more...beautiful than typical Mini Nobbus.

Never mind that. What were these things doing wandering around here in the first place?

I can explain that, good Chaldeans.

Oh good, you're awake. I'm glad my tea seems to have worked on you.

Yes, thank you for that. I feel much better now. You said that drink is called "tea"? It was delicious.

I've never drank anything so...green before.

I recognize your voice. You're the one who came to talk to me when we were dealing with that last mess in Yamataikoku.

Yes. I am Iyo, the second queen of Yamataikoku.

And the beast-headed man you fought earlier? He is both the king of Kunakoku and the sword of beasts...

...Kukochihiko.

Ugh. This tea stuff is still nasty.

I know we have to drink it to survive here, but isn't there anything we can do about the taste?

Why worry about the taste? The effects are what matter.

If you don't like it, don't drink it. Just don't blame me when the muck of this place swallows you whole.

Hmph, you're no fun. But fine, I understand. We don't have any choice.

More importantly, how are things coming along?

We ran into trouble.

Trouble?

Chaldea.

Ah, the ones you told me about.

Well, no matter. No ordinary Heroic Spirits will be able to affect much here.

They're probably sinking helplessly into the muck even as we speak.

If it was that simple, we'd already have won.

Is that the voice of experience I hear?

Yes. I fought the Chaldeans alongside Lord Kukochihiko once before in Yamataikoku.

Ha! You've got a lot of nerve saying you fought with us, traitor.

You pretended to be on our side before you literally stabbed your former leader in the back.

Say what you like. I make no secret of my history.

Enough squabbling.

I am well-acquainted with how truly abhorrent loyalty can be.

The two of you only need to do what I tell you. If you think betraying me is an option, by all means, try.

Just as long as you understand what doing so would mean.

...I'll remember that.

So, now what? I hate to agree with the traitor, but Chaldea's definitely no pushover.

I see. If they managed to outpace you, then it wouldn't hurt to be cautious.

Then as the vice-administrator of New Yamataikoku, I must give them a proper welcome...

...or my title isn't Jibu-no-Shou Ishida Mitsunari.

Kukochihiko? Who's that?

Wasn't he that monster partnered up with Kamo?

WHAAAT!? You mean that skeleton-looking monster!?

What the hell was that thing!? How did it GET like that!?

I thought Kukochihiko had disappeared into the light...

...but somehow, he's now come back to life.

It looked like we'd purified him, but I guess not.

Still hard to believe he came back to life, though. I know we're in a Singularity, but damn.

I think it's because of this place.

It is the path souls must travel to reach the underworldthe liminal space between the worlds of the living and dead.

So, this place is where people go when they die?

Essentially, yes. Though it should not exist under normal circumstances.

Unfortunately, I don't yet know how or why things have happened this way...

Well, it IS a Singularity.

So, what does all that have to do with these things?

Tea Nobbu!

After you and Lady Himiko left Yamataikoku after the last incident...

...I stayed behind to guide the souls of the dead.

At one point, I found that many souls had strayed from the right path and been taken prisoner here.

Among them were fragments of the purified Ominous Gods.

Shards of the Ominous Gods... Do you mean those Haniwa Nobbus?

Yes. It appears they made their way here and underwent some changes to survive in this place.

And they ultimately ended up like...that, thanks to Rikyu's tea, huh?

Just as I thought. I don't get any of this crap.

Tea Nobbu!

Yeah, well, let's not pretend anything about the Mini Nobbus ever made sense anyway.

In any case, if this is the road to the underworld, then what's this child doing here?

Ulp...

I found them when I first arrived here after acquiring this temporary Spirit Origin.

Their name is...

My name's... I think my name's Shusha. I'm not sure, but I feel like that's what I was called.

Shusha, huh... If your hair color is anything to go by, you're from pretty far away, right?

Any idea why those creatures were after you?

You steal their lunch or something?

I was running 'cause some scary people were chasing me.

Scary people?

Yeah. I don't remember them too good, but I think they were all really scary.

What about your parents? Do you know where they are?

Ghh... N-no, I don't.

Stop that, Normal Me. You're scaring them.

It's okay. Take all the time you need to remember. Here, why don't you have some sweets with me?

Okay. Thanks, lady in white.

Huh? Don't you mean "lady in black"?

Nope. White.

Well, her hair is, sure... Weird kid.

I've got somewhere I need to go.

Uh... I don't remember where it is, but there's something important waiting for me there.

I can't get there by myself... But then, I met Iyo, and she said she'd help me.

So that's what that was about.

Wait, so you didn't even ask before agreeing to help?

Well, whatever. So where is it you need to go?

I don't know, but it's really far away.

The liminal space, somewhere far away... Do you mean Nirai Kanai?

Nirai Kanai?

It's long been said to be a mystical land where souls go to return home.

Though I don't know if it actually exists or not.

Nirai Kanai... Yeah, that must be it. I think I've heard that name before.

That's where I have to go.

Uh, in that condition? You're pretty beat up, kid. I don't think you're in any shape to go far on your own.

I'm fine. My legs still work.

Oho. Is that so?

Well, if you wanna go so bad, be my guest. I'm not your mother.

So, what are you going to do, Fujimaru?

Figures.

Of course not, Master. Whatever you decide is fine with me.

Me, too.

？！

You'll all come with me, too?

Th-thanks!

Would you mind if I accompanied you as well?

Between the souls of my people, Shusha, and Kukochihiko, I really have my work cut out for me.

Nah. We gotta do something about this Singularity if we want to go home, anyway.

Hey, Rikyu. How long do your tea's effects last?

They should persist for an entire day.

So we're gonna have to keep coming back here every day? That's gonna be a pain.

You needn't worry. I shall accompany you, and I will be bringing my teahouse.

Th-the teahouse, too? How's that going to work?

You three. The Rikyu Scramble. Go.

Tea! Tea! Tea Nooobbu!

An earthquake?

During my lifetime, I opened many different teahouses, beginning with Tai-an.

I was inspired to create my newest teahouse when I first came here. We now stand in the result.

I realized that merely waiting and entertaining would never be enough to spread word of my tea far and wide.

So I decided to go out into the world and find guests to welcome on my own accord.

Now, instead of the Tai-an, which is written with the character for "wait," I'll be running a new teahouse called...

...the Go-an!

Whoa, whoa. Is this teahouse actually flying!?

Yes, it is. In this place, there are a few safe islands surrounded by that dark muck, making passage between them impossible.

The Go-an is a brand-new type of teahouse that can bypass the muck entirely by flying, then deploying itself in each area.

So it's a portable teahouse you can take anywhereor rather, it can take YOU anywhere, huh? I think Monkey had a portable golden teahouse, too. Pretty sure his couldn't fly, though.

Lord Kanpaku's golden teahouse was a prototype for the Go-an. I should know, I was actually the one who invented it.

A-anyway, this should make getting around easy.

Yup! Okay, Rikyu, let's get going.

One moment. Before we leave...

I take it you're the leader here, Lord Fujimaru?

He's our Master, so yeah, I'd say so.

Understood. Very well then, Lord Fujimaru, whenever you'd like to use the Go-an from here on...

...I would appreciate you paying my usage fee.

You're CHARGING us!?

At least give us half off! You're not gonna be able to get out of here without our help either, you know!

I may be a Servant now, but I am still a Sakai merchant at heart. I can't compromise on this.

Besides, just giving things away is a terrible idea.

People simply do not respect what they don't have to pay for. If something has any value, it warrants compensation.

This is a societal rule which has governed interpersonal interactions since ancient times. I hope you understand.

What a pleasant surprise to see you agreeing so readily. I see now why you've been able to command Lady Nobunaga.

Ah, allow me to explain.

？！

Though I have called it a fee, I am not actually looking for monetary compensation. I would like you to do some errands for me.

You see, the tea I served you is actually still incomplete. Once you've drunk it, you should never need to worry about when your next cup will be.

As a tea master, I can think of nothing worse. Rikyu tea is not true Rikyu tea unless every sip fills you with bliss.

I want but a single cup too be enough for you to live your whole life in this place. Only then will it be true tea.

If you help me make this tea, I will accept that as your payment.

You want us to help make tea? So, we just have to bring you ingredients to make it then?

Exactly.

Furthermore, bandits and rogue Mini Nobus have stolen some items from my precious tea set.

I would pay handsomely for their return.

Sure, that should be fine. Right, Fujimaru? Especially since it doesn't seem like we can go any further without this tea.

And thank you. Rest assured that I will do whatever I can to help in my role.

Oh! You're absolutely right. I couldn't have said it better myself. Delicious tea is the most important thing.

？！

All right, now that we're all on the same page, we might as well get going. Which way is it, Shusha?

Hmm...

That way. Probably.

"Probably?" Eh, fine. We'll find out when we get there.

Then let's go, Master.

Yes. Let us be on our way to that far-off land to which souls return...

The land of Nirai Kanai!

By the way, where's Lady Himiko?

She could take care of this whole ordeal in no time, easy-peasy.

We could even get some of that yellow sparkling juice to celebrate on the way back! Ahh, I love early out Fridays!

No more drinking alone for me!

Oh, we can't contact Chaldea right now.

'Course we can't.

Aw, man...