Act 4: The Sickness of the Sword, or the Skin of a Woman

This town is just as beautiful as I remember.

Still, as beautiful as it is...

Right. All that beauty and not a soul in sight.

This place is really creepy as a ghost town.

You can tell? Yeah. It's Edo's red-light district.

Indeed. Not all is as shiny as it seems around here.

For many women, Yoshiwara is a living hell where they're forced to sell their bodies to survive.

I think that's why Takao Dayu wanted the Waxing Moon... To save her fellow prostitutes from their fate.

Between Iori, Yui Shousetsu, Chiemon, and Tsuchimikado, there are already four Masters from the last Waxing Moon Ritual present.

So it stands to reason that the other Masters would be here, too.

We can't say anything for sure, though. Iori isn't a Master anymore...

And Tsuchimikado was a hideous monstrosity. Even if Takao Dayu is here, we don't know if she'll be friend or foe.

？！

Nonetheless, she was always more willing to listen to reason.

And Musashi is still Iori's master, even if this one is a female version from another world.

If those two are occupying Yoshiwara, I doubt they'll simply attack us on sight.

If you say so...

Knowing my master, if heshe, has decided to go on the attack, she won't think twice about it.

That's...that's right. I agree.

Now, now, even she wouldn't go so far as to... Hmm. Then again, you may have a point.

Oh? You sound awfully certain.

Why? Do you know something we don't?

...Hmm.

(Fujimaru really wears his heart on his sleeve, doesn't he?)

(It looks like he's either hiding something...or he can't bring himself to say what he's thinking.)

(Either way, probably better not to pry.)

？！

？！

...True. We don't know for sure if we'll find either Takao Dayu or a lady version of my master in this Singularity.

Saber. Gramps. Is there anything else we should watch out for in Yoshiwara?

Good question. The only thing I can think of is Rogue Berserker.

Rogue? You mean, there's a Berserker besides my master here?

He's a mountain of a man with Monstrous Strength, dedicated to protecting Yoshiwara! But he's also imbued with a Madness Enhancement, so it's very difficult to communicate with him.

He's certainly one of the last people I'd want to have as an enemy.

Well, that didn't take long!

Sounds pretty intense.

It must be a Servant.

Hraaaaaaah!

S-skreee!

Whoa! That monster just got sent flying over here!

Take my love, oppressor!

Skree!?

Who are you!?

Yes...I hear them. I hear the wails of poor souls sobbing under the yoke of oppression!

You foul monsters have grown fat on the blood and tears of the weak and downtrodden. That makes you oppressors!

Now meet your rapturous end in my embrace!

？！

He's definitely a mountain of a man with Monstrous Strength. I guess this must be the Rogue Berserker then.

No, that's not him.

I've never seen him before.

You haven't?

But it seems you know who he is, Master of Chaldea.

Clearly.

I don't sense anything divine about him, like I did Rogue Berserker, but his strength is unmistakable.

He seems to be the polar oppositean ordinary person who accomplished something great thanks to his ordinariness.

At least, that's how he seems to me.

Is something wrong? You seem troubled.

？！

Looks like we have monsters here, too!

I am concerned about Berserker, but we need to take care of these things first, Iori!

I know, Saber!

Oho, a group of oppressors all flocking together! This is wonderful! Wonderful!

I will pile up their corpses and use them to make an oppressors' grave! Hraaah! Combo attaaack!

Wahahahahaha! What is rebellion? An explosion!

Did they really just literally explode!?

They did! When it comes to sheer ferocity, he's every bit a match for the two Berserkers we know!

Hrah! Hraaaaaah!

The rain of tears has yet to end! The endless well of resentment overflows!

My muscles cry out in anguish at the sight of this hellish oppression! This is no perspiration! These are tears of joy!

Behold my rebellion, oppressors from beyond!

...

...He's looking at us now.

You...

...you're an oppressor too, aren't you?

Huh!?

Ghh... Gaah!

Saber!

Mwahahahahahahahaha!

Come on, Fujimaru, after him!

...He can't hear you at all. That's a Berserker all right.

？！

Damn! Now there's more monsters, too!

Of all the times!

...

？！

This bloodlust is on a whole other level. This must be the monsters' leader.

We definitely can't turn our backs on this thing!

Let's take care of these monsters, Fujimaru!

Ghhh!

Iori!

(I landed a solid blow. I know I did. And yet...!)

That thing's covered itself in magical energy armor! It's no ordinary monster!

？！

(No, it's not that. I'm just weak.)

(Saber was right. That special technique would make short work of this thing.)

(I've honed my Niten Ichiryu, learned foreign arts from Gramps...)

(...and I'm still nowhere close to being the best swordfighter in the world.)

？！

(My sword just isn't enough.)

Haha! Hahahahahaha!

Love! Love! Love, love, love, loooooooooveee!

Khh! Stop this, Berserker!

I am not your enemy!

Hahahahaha! Your honeyed words won't work on me, oppressor!

My rebellion will never waver in the face of soulless statements!

What are you talking about!?

I can see your bloodstained hands with my own two eyes!

Huh!?

That sword of yours is meant for slaughtering dissidents! You walk the path of annihilation; YOU are an oppressor!

I-I...

And so, you leave me no choice but to rebel! Hahahahahahahaha!

Khh...!

Fine! If you insist on getting in my way, then...!

... ...

Hm?

...You're right, Berserker.

I am a conqueror. I've killed people... Monsters... Gods... Even my own brother.

I am no more than a sword meant for taking life.

...Oppression!

And yet...even so, I...

...I want to do good in this world.

O...ppression...?

No matter the world, no matter the time...

...I swear on all the lives I've taken that I will do what must be done.

Berserker, I can't understand most of what you're saying...

...but you fight for the weak, who cannot fight for themselves, and that makes you beautiful.

...

That is why...I will not kill you.

I may be your enemy, but you are not mine.

You...aren't an oppressor?

Huh!?

Oh no. That bloodlust... It's coming from Iori's direction!

Oho! I smell the lingering scent of a far-off oppressor!

Huh? What are you talking about?

An oppressor who would impose their will on all, even from a great distance! Rebellion! Rebellion is the only answer!

Hahahahahahahaha!

... ...

N-never mind him now!

Please be safe, Iori!

... ...

I...

...

...!

With every fiber of my being, I devote myself to the heavens in pursuit of the ultimate path.

I am the one who was chosen to inherit Niten.

I am the one who swore to my master that I would perfect Niten.

I am the one who will discover the spiral interweaving zero and infinity at the end of Niten.

...

I... I am the one who

Begone, my excess.

Huh!?

...

Oho! Way to go, Iori! You got your swordplay back!

Iori's unique swordplay combines Niten Ichiryu with his own style of magecraft.

And that move he just used is one of his most special.

Let's just say Iori's swordplay consists of more than just Niten Ichiryu alone.

？！

Iori...

Looks like you're okay, Saber.

Iori... That technique...

...

...Does this mean you've regained your memories?

No. I still don't remember anything about the Waxing Moon Ritual.

That technique...well, I can't do it in a peaceful frame of mind. So I changed who I am.

That's all there is to it.

A warrior's mindset. Thinking of yourself as always being on the battlefield! Doesn't make much sense to me, but I'm glad it works for you.

...I see.

This isn't over yet, oppressI mean, not-oppressors!

Behold those monstrosities, twisted by the weight of oppression!

Good question... Maybe?

I'm really not sure.

Never mind that now! Berserker is right! We're still not out of the woods!

？！

...!

That monster... It's using the telluric energy for itself.

I see. That explains why it's as strong as a Servant.

？！

Hmm... I'm not sure. Something about this seems fishy to me...

...!

Damn! It even brought in reinforcements!

Hmph. It doesn't matter how many of them there are. I'll cut them all down just the same!

Oho! I can feel the rebellion surging throughout my body! Now is the time to experience the bliss of cracking oppressors' skulls!

Let's goooooo!

Did that do it, Gramps?

It did! Now, the leyline in Yoshiwara is under our control.

This should make it at least a little easier to fight.

？！

Do not worry about me. I am always happy to meet anyone willing to join the fight against oppression.

What's more...

...What? What is it, Berserker?

Facing the oppression of your past is a beautiful act of rebellion in itself!

It seems you are all great rebels in your own way. I feel so fortunate and rebellious to have met you!

I-I see. I...guess that's good to hear...

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Really?

If that's true, it would be a big help.

Hahahahahahaha! Love!

We never did find Takao or Musashi here. I guess this was all for nothing.

It wasn't. Confirming that there are no other Masters in Yoshiwara was worth the trip.

And don't forget that we've secured the Yoshiwara Spirit Font for ourselves. That's a major achievement.

The more Spirit Fonts we secure, the more magical energy we can feed to our Servants.

Once we have enough Spirit Fonts, you should even be able to hold your own against Rider.

？！

Not to mention, I had a breakthrough of my own here.

Ah, yes. You mean that technique?

Yeah. With that sword, no monster will ever force me to give ground again.

So I should be at least a little help from now on, Fujimaru.

？！

(Now that I think about it...)

(...that sword was meant for achieving an impossible wish.)

(It'd have to be, or skills as pitiful as mine would never have taken me to those heights.)

(I see... I guess this means...)

(...I had the passion I needed to pull off a technique like that after all...)

...

(Iori...)

(If you were able to use that sword, then...)

(...it must mean you)

Man...

The moon sure is bright again tonight.