The First Dream of Edo: A Dream that Comes True in Chaldea

Yaawwwn...

...D-don't get the wrong idea.

Master's yawn was contagious.

？！

Hey, Oei. Aren't first dreams of the year supposed to only be dreams you see on the night of January 1?

Yeah. You're not wrong.

But, in certain regions of the country, I hear it's the January 2 ones.

After all, Edo has tons of people from so many parts of the nation.

It doesn't matter when the first dream is, as long as there's more opportunity to sell our paintings.

She's a bona fide businesswoman. But now that I know the practical side of these paintings, I feel like I can't appreciate them as much anymore...

...Hm? Sounds like something is rummaging around through my room...

？！

Oh.

Hey, little Octy is trying to paint.

Octopuses are pretty smart, you know.

Really? Hey, you're right.

It's wrapped its tentacles around a brush and now it's trying to paint on one of Toto-sama's IOUs.

(But...it's a really bad drawing...)

？！

You're pretty bad, Octy... I think you should give up.

Ack!

What's the big idea, you dumb octopus!? I'll throw you into a boiling pot and eat you up!

...Sheesh...but...(wipe, wipe)...I think this little Octy has some potential.

Is that a picture of Mt. Fuji?

Ah, no... I'd say it's more like a twisted-up castle.

Your depth perception is all over the place... It's strange... What an odd perspective...

...Ph'nglui...Ph'nglui...

...? Oei? What's that? Ph'n...glui...?

...Oh. Yeah, it doesn't mean anything in particular.

It's an incantation that Toto-sama began chanting recently. I don't know, it popped into my head just now.

？！

He kept saying that it was useful because pushy salespeople wouldn't get near us...hahaha!

...Another day, and he still isn't home...

Dammit, Toto-sama...

Now, tomorrow is the performance at Sensou-ji. But, I'm ready. I've resolved myself.

I need to put on makeup, which is something I don't usually do, so tomorrow's gonna be an early day. Best to go to bed.

Here! Take this!

What is this? It's just a blank piece of paper!

You wouldn't want to have a dream within a dream, right? So instead of having a picture under your pillow...

...you put a blank piece of paper there so your dreams don't go wanderin' somewhere bad.

Eh!? That's boring! I want you to draw me a picture of a hot spring or a Ferris wheel!

？！

...

Bow! Bow! You are in the presence of the great shogun himself!

(I didn't think...the shogun would be here... What a surprise...)

(I thought the exhibition was supposed to be in the great hall. What made him change his mind...?)

(Besides...)

(So he has finally shown his face... That...Utagawa...Hiroshige...!)

...

The town painter, Katsushika Hokusai's daughter: Katsushika Oui! Similarly, we have the Utagawa school's rising hope: Utagawa Hiroshige!

Both parties, show yourselves!

Yes!

Sir!

？！

(Eh? Is that...Da Vinci!?)

Hmm...that's probably Toyokuni. He was the most important person within the Utagawa school during the time that Hokusai was at his most active.

Both Hokusai and Oei totally hate that creep!

？！

...Heh.

Oui... A special nomination from the magistrate in the northern town has allowed you to be here today.

I have a message from him: "Show off your extraordinary talent. It's your glorious day to shine."

...A personal message from the magistrate himself!?

I am deeply in his debt.

I shall express my deep and unwavering gratitude for all that has he done for me in my paintingwhich I paint with my all my energy and skill!

Hm. Make sure that sentiment is not lost within your heart.

Now, let us begin. Both parties, take your brushes and line up.

Today we have a most suitable theme for our New Year's celebration. It will be a contest...

...of whose Treasure Ship painting is able to fully satisfy our great Shogun's taste! So give it all you got!

Yes! We will humbly submit to your viewing pleasure!

...

Halt! Both parties, put down your brushes and rest.

...Pant...pant...

...This is fine.

It was my first time doing a Treasure Ship painting, but I think it turned out pretty good.

...

...Understood.

The shogun had this to say:

Hiroshige, Oui...you both have performed extremely well. Your skills are exceptional, and it's a shame you two are mere town painters!

Our lord has also graciously decided to elevate you both to new positions...

...with as much prestige as the Kanou school of painters, who continuously served the household of the great Oda Nobunaga himself.

!?

Y-yay! Way to go, Oei! That's amazing!

Oh? Is this like suddenly getting invited to become a court musician or something?

This promotion seems wonderful, but it also feels too good to be true.

On that note, what about you, Oui? Are you one to snap up the bait?

...I actually agree. Such a promotion sounds impossible, even if the world were ending tomorrow.

However...there is one more thing I must add.

For the next painting competition, the shogun is requesting the contest be done in all earnest...with your lives truly at stake.

You shall take your brush and paint with your lives hanging in the balance. And those whose paintings do not meet with his approval...

...are to commit seppuku! This is why the Sumida River was chosen as the site for the contest!

Wha...!? This isn't supposed to be a duel between swordmasters!

？！

If I may interject... I am Utagawa Toyokuni, and I am in charge of the entire Utagawa school.

While this contest has been the utmost honor for us, Hiroshige is a painter who our school has high expectations for.

There is no way we can risk losing him now.

Therefore, I ask that you allow him to receive assistance...

Assistance...?

...The hell. What's the big idea?

Oui...you of all people shouldn't require an explanation here.

Paintings by a town painter are made possible through the collaborative efforts of multiple artisans.

Therefore, support is even more necessary when there is so very much riding on the work itself.

Yes, yes. I like that. I'm more versed in writing music than handling paints and brushes, anyway.

...

The shogun has agreed. Do whatever it takes, as long as fine paintings are created.

Katsushika Oui. What will you do?

...

This isn't fair! This is like comparing the reach of someone with a thousand followers versus one with ten!

？！

Heh...what's wrong? Can't decide, Fujimaru?

You do have the option to help out Oei, you know.

But if you're going to participate in this match, your life will be riding on it, too.

？！

Sure. I'm the Da Vinci that you know SO very well.

Because the role of "Toyokuni" is played by the one that you yourself think is most skilled in painting.

？！

Ah, you already know the answer to that question.

This is your dream. Without a doubt, this is your dream.

Didn't you see a bunch of familiar faces playing the parts of the townspeople of Edo? They're all near and dear to you.

？！

H-hey! Don't look at me like that! I'm different! I would never betray Master!

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...

Oei's just a girl who hasn't made anything of herself yet.

She's been behaving like a Servant because that's what you wanted, and you've been projecting that on to her.

But the one the evil god of the Abyss had set its sight on was always Katsushika Hokusai.

...

？！

Ah...that's the big question.

Let's review that golden playboy's words. It was Hokusai himself...Hokusai's soul.

Hokusai desired growth.

Even after death, his soul desired to walk the path of the artist, and he rejected being added to the Throne of Heroes.

That kind of stubbornness likely opened up an opportunity for someone to take advantage of him.

Many of his sketches still remain in the modern world. Mermaids, kappa, water tigers...and the sea devil.

It's quite detailed and realistic... It's painted as if he actually saw the superstitious creature in person.

Yes...

He pored over numerous romantic and fabled tales from around the world. He possessed a vast collection of resources. And within that collection...

...it wouldn't be a surprise if one of the books from overseas was a grimoire of spells on the topic of the Sunken Spiral Castle...

The monsters of Edo that Hokusai drew seemed dry, and almost fake. They seemed to pale in comparison to other painters' expansive imaginations.

Why? Because he knew. He knew of true evil and horror.

The evil god of the Abyss desires...

Using your dream as the door, the god desires to descend upon Chaldea...into the real world...

...and this is only the beginning of what's to come.

...Toto-sama... The evil god set his sights on Toto-sama?

So Hokusai...died...

？！

...If he's dead, he should stay that way! He shouldn't be so bullheaded, trying to dig his way out of his grave!

That's a lie. You're wavering between your struggle to act all strong and your true feelings from within.

Listen, Oui. I'll be blunt with you. You're in the way. You're a burden.

It's become quite clear that the biggest obstacle to the evil god's plan to use Katsushika Hokusai as a vessel to enter this world...

...is you, Oui.

Bad girl. You're a bad, bad, bad girl.

...Ungh...

Da Vinci and the others are getting consumed by the evil god... This is...

Master, we're in big trouble! You're going to get swallowed up by the nightmare's corroding effects, too!

？！

I get it...

Toto-sama...left me again...

If that's the case, I have no more regrets...

Oei! What are you talking about!?

Master! If this is Master's dream, don't get weak-spirited...or else you'll lose!

And Oei, you're nobody's burden!

You're the one who's been preventing the evil god from descending! You...! Katsushika Oui!

Besides, the evil god from the Abyss doesn't even exist in the first place! It's just superstition!

It's just a super realistic fantasy that Hokusai thought up!

Even that Da Vinci over there isn't really its pawn!

It's just the temporary materialization of Hokusai's greedy pursuit of madness in this dream!

The evil god of superstition doesn't have ambitions! There's no heart that needs to be fulfilled!

It is nothing more than a fantasy humans cooked up, something to cling to in their obsession.

But Oei...! Your feelings...your emotions are REAL!

That's why...don't give in!

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Aaahhh...I...am...

...It makes no sense for the master to interfere in a match between their disciples.

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Yes, that's right...individuals of Chaldea. I am Katsushika Hokusai.

Using Oei's body... He's...?

Is that the evil god painter? So she finally gave in to it...and they've merged!?

Fools! I don't care if it's the dragon god of the sea, or the celestial octopus god...!

My one and only god is the great Northern Myouken Bosatsu! I ain't going submitting myself to any others!

...But it's true that I was susceptible. I was tempted...and that's how things ended up like this.

Listen. All of the world's wondrous nature, up to the last wave of the sea...I'm going to paint with the strokes of my brush.

That's my wish. I don't need no evil god, nor any Holy Grail's help for that.

After I sunk deep myself, I finally get it. Think about it...if I turned into a vessel for whatever evil god...

...that thing's not going to want to paint the world's nature as it is... It'll all get painted in its twisted perspective!

That ain't what a true and proper painter is!

...So father and daughter mean to keep lying.

To keep painting is your desire. Isn't that right, Mr. Hokusai?

...Hmph.

Hey, Old Man Toyokuni. Or rather...Da Vinci...

You of all people, who chose the form of that beautiful lady, should understand.

Oei's my best disciple.

After my wife died, she's always served me as my right hand.

She's a great daughter that I'm not worthy to have. So of course I would take her anywhere!

Ph'nglui...Ph'nglui...wgah'nagl fhtagn...! That's the phrase.

Right before I died, I saw it. The face of the evil god... I took a good look with my own eyes.

So I'm gonna paint it! I'll paint a god, and I'll keep my humanity doin' it!

How interesting.

Then why don't we commence this painting contest. Should I be the victor...

...channeling through Fujimaru's consciousness, I shall reach Chaldea's Da Vinci...

？！

That's not happening!

As long as I'm around, I'm not going to let Master do anything cringeworthy!

This is my time to shine! I'm putting my high school girl powers to the MAX!

？！

Got it!

Ah, what an auspicious sight. She's like the goddess Benten.

You're free to show more skin, you know?

I don't have time dealing with pervy old guys! Hurry up and beat up the enemy, and give us back Oei!

Shout, Tower Storm!!! New Year's Cherry Blossom Version!!!

The evil god's presence...is gone...!

Whew...

The fun we've had during this New Year's dream is coming to its end.

Here you go... I'll draw you a path home. Think of it as the staircase of your dream.

Now go home to your Chaldea.

？！

You got put through the wringer this New Year's. No thanks to me.

There's no use wanderin' around too much. No more tryin' to bait you with offers too good to be true.

I need to go pay my respects to the great Myouken. If I take too many stops, I'll get in trouble.

？！

...

Hm. That's obviously going to be up to the great Myouken.

But didn't I tell you earlier?

Oei's a part of me. As long as I keep painting, she'll be next to me.

Unless Oei gets tired of me and leaves, that is! Ah-hahaha!

Whatever, Hokusai! Just turn back into your little Octy form! Give us back Oei!

...Sheesh, you remind me of my late wife, always badgering.

Anyway, the two of you helped us out. See ya.

...

Sh-she's back...

Oei? You okay? Do you remember our names?

Yeah...I know. Suzuka, Fujimaru.

I have all my memories, even from when I transformed.

But...Toto-sama...

You turned into such an ugly octopus...though you were never exactly easy on the eyes from the get-go...

Oooh, no inking! Haha!

We weren't in a dream, but an a even more fleeting illusion.

Oei...

Ahaha. Stop it! I hate sad goodbyes.

Come on, Fujimaru! You're going back to Chaldea, right? Don't make that kind of face!

If you keep hanging around here, New Year's will end, and this won't count as a first dream.

I don't like downer endings either. But, this is farewell...

I'm happy we met. And I had fun.

I can't paint to save my life, so I'm going to take a selfie to put in my story!

Selfie? What a weird

That looks good!

The background makes the picture shine! By the way, I should introduce you to videos from this lady about room clutter

Shut up. That's none of your business.

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Yeah. Right back at you, Fujimaru. You handsome sage you.

And thanks for reuniting me with Toto-sama. It felt nostalgic...and I was happy...

S-see you... Take care!

...

I'm in your debt, Mr. Hokusai.

Huh? What...you again?

Where the hell've you been? Or were you just a spectator for all this?

Hey, I've done my fair share of helping behind the scene.

To reach the very depth of the Abyss, I had no choice but to leave my physical body in another place.

Indeed...a certain Demon God had sought out superstition. It tried to have the god from the Abyss descend upon this land...

This attempt ended in failure, but for an existence that was empty in the first place, the momentary opportunity was enough.

Enough, as far as the course of time and space is concerned, by learning of this earth and merging with Mr. Hokusai's soul.

The Demon God has not given up, and it is pursuing another attempt. I did not see or understand this until I was submerged within the abyssal void.

We must prevent it. But it appears that this is not something that happens in the future, at least not from Chaldea's point of view...

Well, anyway...

Mr. Hokusai. As unintentional as it may have been, you have spearheaded the Demon God's conspiracy...

I'm impressed you managed to prevent it from going out of control and rampaging across reality.

You and Oei have my deepest gratitude. Not to mention the mage of the real world.

...It's truly a puzzling thing. Someone who is neither a mage nor a fallen saint...

...was able to wield the power of the great evil god, even if it was just a part of it, for themselves...

Heh. Demon God, time and space... Your behavior is more far-fetched and nonhuman to me.

...Well...I suppose...

Let me guess...you're under the false impression that you're human. Am I right?

That's beyond superstition. You're more like an artifice of the world, or the law of nature...

...Hm?

Well, no matter.

Hey...

Do you think I...along with those guys...could see more of those phantasmal creatures or beat up more monsters?

I bet it'll give me a boatload of ideas for painting themes, and I'm really interested. What were they called again... Servants?

I thought you weren't going to use the power of the Holy Grail?

Heh. Don't get smart with me. If I ever had money problems, I wouldn't hesitate to beg.

My daughter, the one within me...my little Ago...seems to want the same thing...

I hardly think this is a situation that can be embraced with open arms...but...

...nobody can tell what the future holds... I suppose miracles like that can happen.

I see...heh...

Well then, ain't that just the best New Year's gift I've ever received.

...Ph'nglui...Ph'nglui...

...Ah...to melt and merge to be a part of the mythos... Yeah...I say, bring it on!

Falsehood and fiction are all part of my job... I reckon that's the ultimate dream for an ukiyo-e painter!

Whenever the Hokusai family is called upon, it will gladly work for free!

...Isn't that right, my little Ago?

...Fhtagn...fhtagn...