Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Chapter 9 Episode 20: Borderline 2

We start things off with a flashback right off the bat as Furufumi is hanging around in front of the old schoolhouse one starry night with a book. He narrates about how he isn’t actually taking in any of the words he’s looking at, while Mononobe is sitting next to him.

Furufumi comments that Mononobe has a lot of time on his hands to be accompanying him every night on his reading hobby. Mononobe says he likes looking at the stars while enjoying a book. Furufumi narrates that he thinks the book Mononobe looks back to was a book about the stars. He doesn’t have any idea of what to say himself, so he just looks at his book of poems again.

Mononobe makes an observation about Furufumi liking books, who starts to answer that books won’t hurt him, and that books can have anything written in them. He trails off though and leaves that to his narration. He also narrates that people are beings who repeat the same mistakes. If they knew the past, they could understand the future. If they followed what the book says, they’d know what will happen next.

Furufumi finally gets out the bit that books won’t hurt him. Mononobe asks if he hates other people before amending it to asking if he’s afraid of other people. Furufumi says any book would say so.

He narrates again about how books write down what sorts of terrible things people have done in their history and what terrible mistakes they’ll repeat. The world itself is full of terrible, awful things. He also says the world is filled with things that hurt him, people who laugh at him and look down on him.

Furufumi says aloud that he is afraid of the world, saying it’s painful and only has enemies. It’s difficult, oppressive, and saddening, and most of all dreadfully terrifying. Mononobe is quiet for a second before asking him just what are his enemies.

In his head he lists the people who harm him, the people who mock him, the people who pity him. There’s one other category that he doesn’t get to, but Mononobe seems to understand. He says there’s something he wants to teach him as a teacher, which he calls an amazing secret most adults don’t know. And that thing is that Furufumi is the one who decides who his enemies are.

Furufumi argues against the point, saying there are people everywhere who will hurt him despite him not doing anything. He’s then surprised when Mononobe makes no attempt to deny that and even agrees. Mononobe then clarifies his own point, saying the thing he wants to get across is that he doesn’t actually have to consider those people his enemies.

Mononobe starts talking about Those People that Furufumi was referring to probably have their own excuses that they give him. Like someone who would hit him while saying it’s for his sake. Or someone else who would hurt him saying it’s for everyone’s sake as they detain him. Mononobe however advises him to not be trapped by that, and that he should just go wherever he likes.

He has no obligation to be a part of someone else’s world. No one’s excuses or world have any need to stop him either. Furufumi is shocked speechless for a second before eventually asking a question: even if he were to do that, what should he do if he doesn’t know where he wants to go?

Mononobe tells him he should think about that while he’s in school. That’s what school is about up to this point. Furufumi goes quiet again, so Mononobe decides to impress one particular point onto him. That master of his heart is himself, even if part of it is cut off to somewhere. Only his heart can decide who he is, and...

Flashback ends as Furufumi is hanging around outside the old schoolhouse again. As he thinks about that day the title of the book Mononobe has with him comes to his mind. And that book is Ars Almadel Salomonis. Furufumi describes it as the name of the one who is spread out into space and covers the world. And it is an old, old book on reading the stars that tells about the light that covers the world.

Scene shifts to your side as it picks back up at the point where you ask Tezcatliman to show you why things happened if he’s going to show you things so you can prevent a reoccurrence. Tezcatlipoca stares in silence as his cage thing is dispelled, and Arc remembers that you guys swore to something that day.

Arc talks about how Surtr was someone who lived in battles and had probably bathed in the blood of many back in his home world. But even so, he was sad within. He hoped there would be a future after the war ended. Arc then turns back to Tezcatlipoca and says they won’t fall for their provocation.

Arc says that even if they incite hatred amongst you guys, neither she nor you will rise to the bait. She swears upon Surtr’s pride and tears, and if the Warmongers know the past, she intends to make them tell you guys what happened. She wants to see the reason why war had happened before and whatever it is they’ve hidden from you guys in the memories.

Tezcatlipoca makes no move, but even without that his wrestler mobs start to surround you guys. More reinforcements on their side appear, and they steadily corner you guys. Despite the odds stacking badly against you, Arc stays calm as she challenges Tezcatlipoca.

Amatsumara is impressed with her stance and says he’s liking you guys more. He readies his own artifact as he stands up too, then offers to polish your skills or weapons for you guys if you all make it out okay. Arc says she’ll take him up on it, assuming you guys do make it work. Xolotl, as ever the hysterical one, questions whether you guys can make it as he points out the numbers are growing against you.

The numbers advantage they have is crystal clear, and that’s not even taking into account that your side has been tired out. There’s also the fact that you cannot win against Tezcatlipoca. All looks hopeless...which is when Surtr seems to show up.

Arc and Tezcatlipoca are shocked to see him, and you initially think it’s him too before you start to twig onto it not being him. Arc picks up on it too and says that as his summoner she can tell it isn’t him. The artifact he’s using is real though, and the helmet shines as if he’s the real owner.

As Arc asks what’s going on, Surtr starts laying out the mobs quickly with his sword. After a bit of that he transforms to your surprise, turning into Azathoth next. He cackles about seeing the Warmongers again and says they’re doing their stupid provocations as always. And that’s where the episode ends.

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