Third Cup: Straight to Your Heart

Your Imperial Majesty, are you sure it's wise to let Rikyu go around doing whatever he likes?

It's fine. There are still plenty of ways to make use of Rikyu's tea.

But sir, it's not just tea. He's also been lining his pockets by selling food and weapons.

If we don't expose his crimes and do something about them now, he's only going to get bolder.

And why should that be a problem? The more money he makes, the more we make.

But sir!

Rikyu's been a great deal of help to me over the years.

If not for his tea, I might never have achieved my present position.

He's like a father to me. And I'm not about to disrespect my father.

...Yes, sir.

All right. Enough of that. I'm off to see my son. Bye!

Damn you, Rikyu... Don't think you'll get away with this forever.

Hey, Sakichi!

Oh, hello again, Your Imperial Majesty. What is it? Did you forget something?

Forget what I said earlier.

You mean, about dealing with Rikyu?

I've thought about it some more, and I've decided I don't need him anymore. Go ahead and kill him.

Huh? Y-you want me to kill him, sir? Just like that?

Surely that can wait until I've investigated him and found proof of his wrongdoing, no?

Never mind that crap.

B-but sir, if we have him killed without any evidence, that could create dissent among the other generals.

Eh, I'm sure there's something you can pin on him. Just use that shady business stuff you were talking about.

All right, I'm counting on you to handle it!

Y-your Imperial Majesty!

...

What's the point of making it to a new area if we can't see a damn thing with all this fog!?

Heeey! You guys still there?

I'm here.

Me too.

First Unit Captain, present.

Yamataikoku's second queen is here too!

I'm glad to seeuh, hear you're all right too, Master. But man, how long is this fog going to last?

It blew in pretty suddenly, huh? We'll have to take care not to get separated.

Good idea. There's nothing to be afraid of if we all hold hands.

Yeah, yeah! I wanna hold hands! You too, Nobbu!

Who's Nobbu!? Oh, right, it's me! But I don't remember saying YOU could call me that!

？！

For the moment, it looks like we're all here. Wait. Where's Rikyu?

She said she was going to look for some tea ingredients on her own.

She really thinks she's gonna find tea growing around here? Then again, I guess it must be, since you can buy it.

Oh hey, the fog's clearing up.

About time. So where are we, anyway?

Huh? Isn't this

N-no way... I know this place!

Er, this is the same Yamataikoku we visited last time, isn't it?

It can't be, though...

I know that Yamataikoku fell to ruin shortly after my reign ended.

Oof. Even saying that still hurts. (Sniff)

Hey, someone's here.

You're right. Is it one of those beastmen? No, wait. It's a person.

Lady Iyo? Is that you?

H-huh? Y-yes, I'm Iyo.

Ooh! Lady Iyo! You've really returned to us!

Everyone, look! It's Lady Iyo! Our Lady Iyo is back!

Whoa, you're right! I can't believe she's here! This calls for a celebration!

Long live Lady Iyo! Long live Lady Iyo! Long live Lady Iyo!

Looks like the people still love you, second queen.

Don't think I ever got such a warm greeting. Not even back home in Owari.

Y-yeah, I guess so...

That goes for her companions too, of course. Please, follow us.

No wonder Lady Iyo chose you to accompany her! You're all so brave and gallant!

W-well, I am technically captain of the Shinsengumi's First Unit, so... Say, why don't we take this opportunity to rest, Master?

Now that you mention it, I'm getting kind of hungry.

What's wrong, Master? Is your stomach hurting?

？！

...

That really was an amazing welcome, wasn't it? I loved all the tasty food.

The rice was yummy! I haven't eaten that much in a long time.

I think I ate a little TOO much rice and meat.

Eh, I've had better wine! But yeah, overall, it was a very warm welcome, Iyo.

You're a lot more popular than I'd have thought.

Yes, I guess IWait. What's that supposed to mean? Do I seem unpopular?

I like you, too! You're so popular!

Y-you think so? Thank you, Shusha.

Still, all that aside, something doesn't quite feel right...

Wahahahaha! No point whining about it now. Eat when you can, and sleep when you can. That's my motto.

On which note, I'm turning in. If anyone wakes me up, death.

Seems kinda disproportionate as responses go.

(Yaaawn...) I'm actually pretty beat too, so I think I'll do the same.

Good night...

I'm sleepy, too... Good night...

Don't worry. You can rest easy with me here.

Now that you mention it, no. I'm usually kind of absent-minded, but today, I'm feeling pretty sharp.

It's okay, Master. You can rest, too.

？！

Hm? What is this? Ah well, I'm sure it's no big deal.

Huh!? Oh no! This is a VERY big deal! Everyone, please! You have to stay awake!

Why're you so worked up? Evil auras like this pop up all over the place.

Now please be quiet. I'm trying to sleep.

Oh no! There's no time! Excuse me, Future!

Hey. Why're you hugging our Master?

Are you okay, Future? Do you remember what happened?

Oh, thank goodness. It looks like I just made it. I'm sorry for grabbing on to you so suddenly.

B-but never mind that. It's not important.

It was just a necessary expenseI mean, necessity. Yeah, I had to do it.

Th-there was nothing I could do about that! I-it was, um, out of my hands! So you can go ahead and forget that if you want.

Oh gosh, oh gosh! Iyo Waaave! There, you should have forgotten it now!

Ahem. Let's start over, shall we?

？！

Phew...

Okay, as I was saying, that was a curse that was supposedly lost a long time ago; it was a secret art passed down among the denizens of Kunakoku, who worship a beast god.

It's a type of mental interference spell that casts its targets into darkness and gradually eats away at their hearts.

It starts by dulling your perception, goes on to numb your mind, and finishes you by putting you to sleep, leaving you defenseless.

W-well, I am still the second queen of Yamataikoku. These sorts of curses are kind of my specialty.

This curse is designed to dull perception and senses, so yes, it makes you stupid.

？！

Anyway, this is still only the first phase. The real problem is what comes next.

Lady Iyo... Where did you go, Lady Iyo?

Here we go...

Why didn't you stay with us? Why did you abandon your kingdom?

What you did was unforgiveable, Iyo. You need to make amends to Lady Himiko.

The only way you can make amends is with your life, cursed, ruinous shrine maiden!

See what I mean? While we sleep, the resentment takes physical form and eats away at our hearts.

Die! Die, foul shrine maiden! Die, vile woman of Kuna! Die! Die! Die!

Ghh... Even when you know how the curse works, it's still hard to hear things like that said to your face.

Anyway, we need to hurry and get out of here, or we won't be able to rescue the others.

Would you mind stepping back, Future? I need to get serious for a bit.

Haaaaaa...

Ha!

H-huh? That's weird. I should be able to handle curses like this, no problem...

？！

I-I'm sorry. I guess I'm weaker than I thought. Maybe my injuries from the other day still haven't healed?

Or maybe it's because this is a temporary Spirit Origin that doesn't qualify as a full Heroic Spirit...

(Sigh) Of all the times to fall down on the job... Why does this always happen to me?

It's so hard, not having any talent...

If only I could be more like Lady Himiko...

...and have tons of magical energy to work with without even doing anything... (Glance)

Or if there were someone willing to form a contract with me, that would put an end to my magical energy worries.

I know I'm only the second queen of Yamataikoku, but if someone would just put their trust in me...

...I'm sure I could be useful as a real, proper Servant.

If only there were SOMEONE here who could help me out... (Glance)

Huh!? You mean it!? A-and here I thought I'd never get the chance!

Ulp... I'm sorry. Would you please do this miserable failure of a queen the honor of extending your hand in loveI mean, magical energy?

？！

？！

？！

W-wow! So this is the power of a Master from the future!

This is amazing! I barely had any magical energy of my own, but now I'm raring to go!

No wonder Himiko was so taken with you. This seems kind of unfair!

Oh yes! I shouldn't have any problem now!

Oh, never mind. Just thinking out loud.

？！

All right, here goes!

To me, wisdom of eternal darkness!

A-aaaaaah!

...

Come on, Future, let's go.

Running away again, shrine maiden of ruin?

Are you going to abandon the people of Yamataikoku, like you did the denizens of Kuna?

？！

Kukochihiko...

Yes, that's right. He's an illusion created from my own heart. We'll have to defeat him to escape the spell.

That's how it's always been...

Sacrifice yourself to the pits of darkness, shrine maiden of ruin. Sacrifice yourself to our ancient beast god!

Stand back, Future. It was my heart that created this illusion, so it's my problem to deal with.

？！

Future... Thank you!

Here I come, Kukochihiko. No... My past self!

It doesn't matter how hard you fight it, Iyo. You will never escape your fate.

...Kukochihiko.

You are a cursed child, destined to destroy everything. There is no path of light for you. Not now, not ever...

...

I'm sorry you had to see that.

？！

...Thank you, Future.

All right! Now that that's done, let's go save the others!

Hold on to me, Future. We're getting out of here!

... ...I'm so sorry, everyone.

There we go. It's okay now, Future.

？！

The village and all the people we saw earlier were fake.

It was a vision of Yamataikoku being projected into our minds, meant to dull our perception.

Hm? You're awake too, Master? That was fast.

Huh!? Um... Alter, was it? Were you not affected?

Oh, I fell asleep for a little bit, but I woke up pretty quickly.

I feel like something happened, but I can't really remember what.

No way... You have no defense against curses, and you were still unaffected?

And Shusha. They woke up quickly, too. We've been chatting this whole time.

Shusha, too!? Are you sure you're okay? Did you dream about anything scary?

I heard grown-ups nearby saying something, but I couldn't really make out what it was.

Then they started arguing, and I got scared and ran away.

I'm glad Alter was here when I woke up.

I-I see. Well, I'm glad you're okay, though I do feel a little silly for hurrying to escape now...

Wait! What about Nobbu and Okita!?

I knew it, they're still asleep. Ohh, this is bad! No, not just bad. It's really dangerous!

All right! The time has come to show what the second queen of Yamataikoku can really do!

And I need to do it soon, or else resentment will eat away at their hearts until they become empty husks!

？！

Huh? What do you mean?

Wahahahahahaha!

Gonroku, Hayashi, Sakuma, Takki, Goro... What are the odds that every one of my retainers would betray me!? Talk about bad luck!

Huh? Monkey's coming here to get revenge on me? And he was seen shaking hands with Micchi on Mt. Tennou?

Now that's a Nobunaga dragnet if I've ever seen one!

Oh well, it can't be helped! Wait. That's no consolation here!

So what are you going to do now, Lord Nobunaga? Actually, would you mind if I went home?

Not you too, Ranmaru!? I don't know what I'll do if you turn your back on me, too!

Just how many enemies did I make, anyway!?

...Is that it? Did you really think you could get to me with tricks like these?

Huh!?

A-aaaaaah!

Hey, solid scream. That's what I'm talking about. Now things're getting interesting.

Let's see what everyone else's screams sound like, shall we?

Wahahahaha! That's it, Sakuma! Run away like you always do! And you! Hayashi! Pull your weight, dammit!

(Smack, smack...) Wahahahaha!

Sh-she's laughing. I can't believe it, but she's...actually enjoying herself.

Wh-what about Okita, then!?

Why are you still alive, Captain? Why are you alive when we all died for nothing?

Why are you still alive, Captain? Why did you make us slit our stomachs?

Why did you cut off our heads, and stack up our corpses?

Why are you still alive, Okita SoujiCaptain of the Shinsengumi's First Unit!?

Were we nothing more than human tools to you? Why? Why did we have to die!?

...Why? You want to know why?

Probably because you guys were weak.

Ah... Aaaaaaaaah!

Hmm. I don't know what that was all about...

...but, since they're getting in my way, I might as well cut them all down.

Come now, Okita. This is cold, even for you.

Shouldn't you have at least a little compassion for your former comrades?

You...!

Yamanami? Is that you?

Long time no see... Well, maybe "we meet again" is more appropriate here.

Wha...!? Hang on. Can't you at least hear what I have to say first?

Damn, I missed.

I can't seem to focus, and I can't move as well as usual, either.

Wait, you call that not moving well? I might as well be a scarecrow stuck on a pole by comparison.

What are you doing here pretending to be Yamanami?

You haven't changed a bit, have you? Friend or foe, you just charge in all the same.

Yamanami died in Yamataikoku last time we were here. That makes you an imposter. We have nothing to talk about.

You're right. I did die.

But what if I told you I came back from hell?

From hell, huh.

Yes, that's righ

Mumyou Sandanzuki!

Wha

It's no use. My Sandanzuki is an unblockable demonic technique. You would know that if you were actually Yamanami.

Of course I know that. Why do you think I got away with just barely losing an arm?

Still think I'm an imposter?

I'll find out for sure with this next move.

I really didn't expect you to be quite THIS unreasonable.

Now I know why Serizawa always said he didn't want to get on your bad side.

No... I should have seen this coming. This is what I get for relying on these curses I'm not familiar with.

I kind of got carried away since they turned out to work better than I expected.

No more talk.

I'm afraid it's not that simple... Ha!

What the...!?

...From hell, huh.

Even so, it's good to see you again, Okita.

Yama...nami...?

Yamanami! Wait! Yeow!

Ow! Why did you bolt up like that, you idiot!? Geez, that smarts.

...Huh? What's going on? Did something happen?

N-no way... You all managed to escape on your own?

Oh man, I can't believe it. And after I practically begged Future for a contract just so I could escape myself...

I know how you feel.

That voice...

It came from outside!

Hey there, Master of Chaldea. Long time no see.

Hmm... Weren't you part of the man-slayers club?

Yamanami!? What are you doing here?

Well, look at you. You're like a completely different person, Okita. Maybe now we can finally talk.

Or maybe I should thank you for this, Master.

It used to be that Kondou and Hijikata were the only ones who could keep her in check.

Answer the question, Yamanami.

I already told you. I came back from hell.

How are you able to use this curse? It should have been lost when Kunakoku was destroyed.

There shouldn't be anyone left who could pass it on.

Yeah, well, I had a good teacher.

Teacher?

I believe you know him quite well yourself: Kukochihiko, Kunakoku's sword of beasts.

I knew it!

So, can we kill him or what? I feel like he used to be on our side, though.

Or was it the enemy's...?

I get the sense he was with someone who made a strong impression, but I'm drawing a blank...

Yamanami is...

Ah, whatever. If it's too hard for you to kill him, I'll do it.

I probably should have expected that from Lady Oda Nobunaga, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. You gobbled up all that resentment like it was nothing at all.

I don't know what Serizawa was thinking, using someone as terrifying as you as a sacrifice.

Wahahaha! You flatterer, you.

Now die.

Unfortunately, I can't kick the bucket again that easily. Not after coming all the way back from hell.

So instead, I'm going to take my leave, for now.

Damn, he got away... Or rather, we got lucky. You're having a pretty hard time too, right, Okita?

You too, Nobbu? Yeah, I am.

It took a lot out of me to stay conscious during that curse, or whatever that was.

Really? You both seemed like it wasn't affecting you at all. Was it just an act?

More of a bluff. When you're feeling your weakest is when you have to be the most brash, in war and everything else.

All that aside, what was with that guy, anyway?

Nobody told me there was a sorcerer in the man-slayers club!

I thought you guys only had Sabers and Assassins. Oh, and Berserkers like Hijikata, I guess.

The Shinsengumi had some shady tacticians at times, but we never had anyone who could use magecraft.

Still, Yamanami was always smart. Maybe he actually did learn how.

If Kukochihiko really did teach him, then that's definitely possible.

I swear, what's with that beast head, anyway!? There's eccentric, and then there's...whatever he is!

I mean, how does he even stand up with that big, honking skull of his?

That's what he looked like in his youth, before the Dark Blight consumed him. Back then, he was known as the sword of beasts, and the hero of Kunakoku.

And...

...it's how he looked when he taught me.