Section 1: M51, License to Kill

Are you all right, Master?

？！

I was doing my best to hide my wound from you, but I guess it didn't work.

To be honest, it's pretty bad.

I knew Yoshimoto was said to be the greatest archer of the Highway, but I'm sure he was never this ridiculously strong.

It looks like healing this wound with magical energy is going to take a very long time, too.

I'm sorry to be such a burden to you, Master. Some Echigo god of war I turned out to be...

Well, it looks like this is as far as I go.

Shinano is just beyond this mountain pass. Hurry up. Get there before the enemy finds you, Master.

Try to contact Chaldea however you can...

This may not be how Nobunaga would put it, but as long as our leader is still alive, we haven't truly lost...

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Huh? No, you're supposed to leave me behi

You're not going to listen to me, are you? You can be so stubborn sometimes...

Well, I guess that's what makes you my Master. Okay, then.

Now come on, let's go.

Wh-what in the world?

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Hey, you two! Get moving or get run over!

(Cough, cough...) Was that...a truck?

I could have sworn we Rayshifted to the Warring States period Japan. This doesn't make any sense.

Did the Holy Grail do this, too?

We might as well rest a little before we figure out our next move. I wonder if there's a teahouse here...

Well, it's no teahouse, but it should do.

Welcome. What can I get you?

Hmm... I doubt you have any alcohol here, so I'll just have a green tea and dumplings.

Here you go. Green tea and dumplings.

Ahh...

Finally, a chance to catch our breath.

...

...Yes?

You're pretty banged up. We sell medicine too, if you'd like some.

Ahahaha, I just lost my footing while we were hiking up the mountain. Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Say, can I ask you a few questions about this area?

...Okay.

We're actually on our way home from a trip, and we just got back to Shinano after a long time away.

Do you know why it looks so...different than the last time we were here?

...It's been like this ever since Imagawa changed Kai Shinano to Makai during the Holy Grail Rebellion.

Ma...kai? The Holy Grail Rebellion?

You really don't know? Then you'd better be careful. The weak can't survive in this new Makai.

Huh? What do you mean by that?

...See for yourself.

N-nngh...

Hurry up and get on the wagon. You're holding up the line.

P-please, let me go back to my village. My elderly mother is all alone there.

What was that? Why the hell should I care about some useless old broad?

P-please, I'm begging you. She can't even stand up by herself anymo

Who the hell cares!? If she can't even stand anymore, she can just die and save everyone the trouble.

Hey, where's the rest?

They should be here soon, Bro. Looks like we got a whole bunch of kids this time, too!

Hey, that's great. That oughta get me a nice promotion. Then I can make sure you guys reap the rewards too, of course.

Woohoo! Thanks, Bro!

Are they

That's one of Imagawa's manhunts. They round up locals and turn them into their soldiers.

But that's terrible. And...why? There's no point rounding people up if you can't turn around and deploy them as soldiers quickly.

You're right. Which is why they don't keep them as people. Everyone they round up gets taken to a factory and pumped full of magical energy, which turns them into Imagawa soldiers.

That's how Imagawa got enough manpower to take over the province.

...Now I see.

Ooh, here comes the truck full of kids. Hey! Over here!

I got a nice big haul for you this time, so don't skimp on the reward, yeah?

Don't you worry. Once I get a promotion, I'll share the wealth.

Hey, there's adults mixed in here, too. Put the kids over here and the adults over here. They go to different places.

Adults to the factory, kids to the sorting center.

No! Daddy! Don't leave me, Daddyyy!

P-please, I'm begging you! Take me if you must, but spare my son!

Shut up! Get moving! Today's your lucky day. This is the first day of the rest of your life serving Lord Imagawa.

Daddy... Waaaaaah!

...

As you can see, if you want to live a long life, you'd better keep your distance.

...What do you say, Master?

I heartily agree. Don't worry. I can handle riffraff like that in my sleep.

Huh? You're not thinking of starting something with them are you? And while you're seriously injured at that?

Oh yes, don't worry about my wound. A few scumbags like that won't be a problem.

Huh? You're not thinking of starting something with them are you? And while you're seriously injured at that?

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Why yes, we are.

But there's so many of them, and they're not just ordinary foot soldiers. The Imagawa ones are especially dangerous.

Picking a fight with so many when it's just the two of you is...really reckless.

Yes, you're right. My boss here's always getting into trouble over things like this. But, that's also why I follow him.

You'd better step back, ma'am. There's no need for you to get caught up in this.

I see...

...

You there. Before you go, I really recommend purchasing one of these M51 tickets.

I promise it'll come in handy if you're ever in trouble, and I can offer it to you at a pretty big discount right now.

As luck would have it, we just started a new limited time promotional campaign right before you got here. I wouldn't pass up this chance if I were you.

This is an extremely good deal. You won't regret it.

What the hell just happened?

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Thank you for your purchase.

...Well, bye.

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...There she goes. I wonder what that was all about?

Oh well, at least we don't have to worry about getting her mixed up in this now. Let's go, Master.

Oh? What's going on over there?

(Sniff... Sob...)

Cut that out, kid. No tears.

Crying never solved anything.

B-but, they took my dad... Waaah! And you're scary-looking, toooooo!

C'mon, I said no tears.

Ah, forget it! I knew it. I just ain't cut out for this sort of thing.

What's all the commotion over here!? Everyone shut up and get on.

Hm? What's this old fart doing here? He shouldn't be mixed in with the kids.

...What was that?

Huh? I don't remember catching an old guy.

Didn't I tell you to kill the elderly? They're useless.

Hey. Who're you calling an old fart?

You, Gramps. You old AND deaf? Ugh, fine, guess I'll just kill him myself. If you want something done right...

What the...!?

Who're you calling an old fart!?

Gh-ghh!

Hey! What do you think you're doing!?

Ah, great, now look what I did. I just can't seem to control my temper as well in my old age.

Oh well, what's done is done.

Damn. And that is why you're supposed to leave the boring work like this to investigators.

You old coot! What do you think you're doing!? Nobody defies Lord Imagawa and lives!

Eh? Imagawa? Don't know him and don't care to!

Wh-what the...!? Who is this guy!?

You want to know who I am? Then prepare to be amazed! I'm the strongest member of the Shinsengumi...

Nagakura Shinpachi!

Shinsengumi...?

What's that?

Huh? Are you saying you louts have never heard of the Shinsengumi!?

Hell no. What the hell is a shinsen gummy, anyway? Some kind of candy?

...

Tch, stupid old fart.

...out it.

Huh? What was that?

If you don't know what the Shinsengumi is, then I'll tell you all about it!

Arrrgh!

H-hey! The old fart's fighting back!

All right, you young whippersnappers! Let's see what you've got! You're about to learn you picked a fight with the wrong man!

The hell? You guys got beat by an old man?

Oh, I see. If you're daring to defy us, you must be a Rogue Servant or something.

Huh? And what if I am?

This is great. Now I'll get an even bigger promotion.

All right, boys, let's gang up on Gramps here and make an example of him.

Servant or not, he's still just one old man. He can't take us all.

Wrong. He's not alone.

Guh!

Oh?

Huh!? Dammit, he brought friends!

Hello. I'm Bishamonten. I just happened to be in the area.

Bishamonten? Wait. Does that mean you're

I have taken up my spear at my Master's behest.

Master? So, that kid over there must be

If you like, I'd be happy to help ouno, actually, I'm joining in whether you like it or not, so please, don't mind me.

Yeah, sure, whatever you want. God, Buddha, whatever you are, I'm happy for the help!

Now let's show these punks who's boss! Take this!

The hell? How's this chick so strong!?

Not bad, miss. Where'd you come from?

The west.

The west? Not the north?

Well, yes, I do originally hail from up north, but it's a long story. How about you?

Me? I'm from Ezo!

Sh-shit! This old fart's tough, too!

Stop calling me that!!!

Quit your griping! It's just a woman and an old man! I'll crush them myself!

Master! That soldier there is packing far more magical energy than you'd expect!

Please be careful!

Hyaaah!

Khh! Damn, you Servants are stronger than I thought.

Survived my attack, huh? I guess you really aren't just another foot soldier.

Wh-what do we do now, boss?

Kill the guy controlling the Servants.

Someone's controlling them? ...Oh!

That's right. He's over there, giving them orders from the rear!

Oh, no you doGhh!

What's wrong, girl? ...Wait just a damn minute. You've been fighting with a wound that serious!?

Never mind me! Save my Master!

That kid!? Tch! C'mon, legs! Get to moving!

Too late! Die!

...

Gurk!

You!?

...You must be my client.

Yes, that's Killer Sign M51 all right.

What are you talking about? I'm just here because I got your Killer Sign M51 request.

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Killer Sign...?

M51...?

I'm Saika-no-Hotaru. We can talk more after I've taken care of these guys.

Twenty targets confirmed. Deploying close-range weaponry.

...Commencing Saika.

D-dammit...

Saika complete... Are you okay, client?

Good. Glad to hear it.

Aww, darn! So you DID figure out that it was me.

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Saika... As in, the Saika Group from Kishu?

Yes, that's right. I'm Hotaru, of the Saika Group.

Well, whoever you are, thanks for the help.

...Are the children okay?

Hm? Oh, yeah, they're fine. Though it might've been a different story if you hadn't shown up.

I see... Thank goodness.

Allow me to thank you for your help, too.

The Saika don't take sides. I didn't come here to help. I just fulfilled your request.

Request? You mean, that ticket you sold us earlier?

That's right. The M51 is the Killer Sign, a code for calling on the Saika.

I usually travel as a merchant, but I do Saika jobs on request as well.

Though I didn't expect you would figure out my identity this quickly.

I mean, you look exactly the same as befoactually, never mind that for now.

By the way, Nagakura...whatever it was, you said you were with the Shinsengumi?

Oho! Have you heard of the Shinsengumi before?

Well, that's nice to hear. Kids these days just don't know theirno, never mind.

That's right. I'm Nagakura Shinpachi, Captain of the Shinsengumi's Second Unit.

Hahahaha! You really know your stuff. That's right. I'm Nagakura Shinpachi, Captain of the Shinsengumi's Second Unit.

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But never mind that.

Right now, I gotta get these people somewhere safe.

Have you got somewhere in mind?

Yeah. It's a little far, but I can manage with one of their trucks. How 'bout you two? What're you gonna do now?

We're being pursued too, so what do you say to going with them, Master?

Then that's what we'll do.

By the way, what about you, Saika-noHuh? She's gone again.

...She's gone again. I have to say, I have no idea what she's trying to do here.

Now, what should we do for transpor

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I run a taxi service, too. If you need a lift, I can rent you the car for a very good price.

Oh, uh, okay. Thanks.

So, Lord Nagakura, where is this place you have in mind?

Most of Shinano's under Imagawa control now, but there's a guy out east who's still putting up a good fight.

Who's that?

His name's...

...Takeda of Kai.