Construction Chronicles of the Heartbroken Carpenter Episode 2

Title card pops up right away, and this chapter is called Takkoku no Iwaya.

Then we tune in at Asakusa as Shuten takes you to some dump of a temple there after school. You guys walk in past the gate and just look it’s falling apart. Ibaraki asks why Takemaru would be hanging around here.

Shuten doesn’t know all the details but he heard that Takemaru was planning on fixing up the place. You ask Shuten how he knows Takemaru and if Ibaraki knows him too. Ibaraki never met him directly, but he did hear rumors of him before coming to Tokyo. He starts framing this as a ghost story about the evilest oni who ruled the oni of the east. You either ask if they’re just rumors, gulp, or ask to go home.

Shuten tells Ibaraki to knock off trying to scare you and assures you Takemaru is awkward but not someone so terrible. Ibaraki complies and says there are dumb rumors out there too. He talks about how Shuten and Takemaru were treated as equal in ranks, Takemaru of the East, and Shuten of the West. He adds that Shuten is totally the one on top.

Shuten finds this embarrassing and undercuts Ibaraki by saying he’s never heard of this title before. He says that while the two of them were referred to as organizers, they just gave places for aimless drifters to be. Oni get labeled as disobedient or heretical, and the two of them wanted to be free of it.

He describes Takemaru as someone who likes taking care of others, so he’ll do whatever it is Takemaru will ask of him. When it comes to management of the oni, he says Takemaru is better. Ibaraki loudly protests this, so Shuten sighs about hitting that sore spot of his and suggests going in.

Oniwaka speaks up and assures you that he doesn’t sense anything bad from the temple. He does find it weird that there aren’t any spirits hanging around in a place so run down. Motosumi walks over and demands to know why you guys are there, wondering if you’re here to toss beans again.

You apologize for intruding, introduce yourself, and say you aren’t here for that. He comments on your manners and introduces himself. Ibaraki starts mugging at him ready to start a fight, which Motosumi is up for so long as they take it outside to not wake the kids.

You can apparently see them from where you are as you comment on there being a lot of them and that a certain boar would be jealous. Motosumi starts tripping over himself trying to explain they’re his kids but not his *kids* kids and he didn’t pop them out and what in hell did you make him say.

Said kids actually wake up as the girl comes out asking what’s wrong since he’s yelling so loud. The others join her and they try to protect him by saying they’ll fight you if you’re bullying Motosumi. Shuten and Ibaraki laugh it off saying they can’t win against the kids, and Ibaraki apologizes for scaring them.

Ibaraki and Motosumi still put on some bravado saying each just escaped with their life, though Motosumi decides not to pursue this line any further with the kids there. He then asks how you guys got in since the gate should have been barred.

Takemaru walks in at this point calling to Motosumi and carrying a bunch of wood with him. Motosumi sighs saying he told him to shut the door when he leaves, because what if some weirdoes came in for the kids? Takemaru apologizes and says it’s inconvenient opening and closing it every time he brings lumber in.

Takemaru then notices Shuten and says he thought he smelled another oni. When he turns to the rest of the group and asks if he brought you all, you ask if he’s Takemaru and comment he’s different from what you imagined. Shuten introduces you and Ibaraki as his kouhai. Oniwaka just names himself.

Shuten comments on Takemaru getting along with a human and asks if he didn’t need to bring you over. He responds by saying he’s just paying Motosumi back and doesn’t plan on getting buddy buddy. You politely introduce yourself to him, and he seems confused by you.

He twigs on that you’re mostly human physically, but he seems to sense some oni in you. When you try to ask about what he’s talking about, he says he won’t be tricked and insists that you being any part human qualifies you as human. He demands you stay away from him or he’ll eat you, despite that he’s the one pulling up to you.

You either point out how close he is, point out he’s the one getting closer, or just pucker up. Going with A he backs off in surprise and apologizes, saying he was startled. He calls you cute, then turns around and insists he won’t be tricked again.

Shuten asks if Takemaru is getting a cold since he’s blushing so hard. He answers by saying he feels like he told Shuten way back when on why he started to hate humans. Shuten says he remembers and assures him that you won’t betray them.

Takemaru says he doesn’t doubt his judgment, but he’s still drawing a line against humans. Shuten points out that he seems to trust Motosumi well enough, so Takemaru says it’s a special one time thing since Motosumi is taking care of some oni.

Shuten asks if that’s why he’s doing all this and says he’s still carrying too much on his shoulders. He tries to tell him he doesn’t need to carry everyone’s problems, but stops himself thinking this might result in contrarianism.

Takemaru quotes an expression about mutual sympathy among fellows with the same ills, then says he can’t hide anything from him. Shuten responds saying that Takemaru has always been like that and ask if you think so too. You either offer to help Takemaru, say you’ll do it for Shuten, or resign yourself to help.

Going with A if it matters, Takemaru says Shuten has changed and asks what happened. Shuten says things just happened when he came over, so now he’d do high pressure salesmanship like this too. Takemaru gives in and rolls with things, then says he’s been requested to build barricades. He admits it’d be a bitch to carry everything by himself.

Shuten starts talking about how he wants Takemaru to get on better with people who aren’t oni, and he hopes that maybe he might fall in love again or something. I’m not quite sure as Takemaru covers Shuten’s mouth partway through that thought. But in any case he’s shocked Shuten still remembers That Time as he was wondering what his deal was earlier. Shuten points out that he already told him he remembers it all.

You question how Takemaru plans on getting materials in Asakusa, asking if he’ll be getting them from Sumida Park. Takemaru explains that his artifact can connect to his old home of Takkoku no Iwaya. It does so by creating another world as I understand, and it allows him to collect what seems like infinite resources. You express shock or disbelief over this.

In any case Takemaru decides to give you fair warning. In Takkoku no Iwaya there’s a bunch of human begrudging oni around. He’s fine taking you there but he says you need to get into your head how dangerous it’ll be. He’s not going to take responsibility for what happens to you there.

Oniwaka says that he’ll keep you safe and that Takemaru didn’t need to say so. He sighs about what you’ve gotten yourself into again when Takemaru asks to talk to him in private. He goes along anyway, and Takemaru asks straight out if he’s an oni. Oniwaka gets defensive and asks if he’s threatening him, saying you don’t know about this fact.

Takemaru says he doesn’t need to be so on guard, he just wanted to be frank with someone of the same race. Then he asks if you’re his husband/lover. Oniwaka is shocked at the question and protests even answering. Takemaru calls him a kid and says he likes people like him, then says he probably didn’t even need to ask if he acts like this. He apologizes for the question and asks him to pretend nothing happened.

The two return to the group and Takemaru says he misunderstood something. Motosumi says the kids went back to sleep a moment ago, then asks to come along to grab building materials too. It’s his temple so he ought to help with the fix up, he feels. Takemaru decides to let him, then says it’s time to go.

Outside the temple Takemaru says he’ll explain in further detail when you get there, then asks Shuten to grab his hand. Shuten complies, to Ibaraki’s loud consternation. Takemaru says it’s just so he doesn’t get separated when they go. Shuten suggests he should hold your and Motosumi’s hands then.

Takemaru tries to argue against it, but Motosumi says to get on with it so they can get back by dinner time. You take a more polite tack and hold out your hand. Takemaru claims he’s not nervous or anything and talks to himself about being gentle. Narration compares the way he grabs your hand like the way he’d pick up a glass construct.

Takemaru then does the activation chant. His class is Builder and his concept is Earthbind. He swings his hammer to create a crack in space, which causes a cave to appear. You compare this to Shirou’s ability, and Takemaru pulls you along.

Motosumi is pleasantly surprised by what’s on the other side, and you comment on it being peaceful and how nice the air is. As everyone seems to be there okay, Takemaru starts explaining the plan. He says the area you arrived in will be the point where you put the raw materials together, and you’ll get them by stealing them from the oni around.

Shuten is surprised he’d say that so casually and asks if the oni here aren’t his family. Takemaru says he was surprised at first too, saying on the outside they look exactly the same. There’s nothing inside them though, and when he tried to talk to them it didn’t work.

When Ibaraki asks further about that, Takemaru says the oni didn’t respond to him at all, and only seem concerned with doing their jobs. Cutting trees, ploughing the fields, guarding the gates, that stuff. He compares them to the robot Hephaestus made, Talos.

He gets into a tangent about robots with emotions and confuses himself, then sets that aside to say they aren’t real oni. You ask if that means this isn’t really Takemaru’s old home either and compare it to a memory.

He snaps and tells you not to call it a dream, then says to get on with things. An oni shows up, so Takemaru says they might have noticed the scent of humans. You ask if humans stink or ask if it’s you. Oniwaka denies it and says you’re weirdly stupid on some things. Shuten explains that humans and oni have different scents/presences, though he figures you wouldn’t know much.

Motosumi asks if it’s fine to not change locations, and Shuten asks if they should take the oni out. Shuten holds off saying making noise might draw more of them out. And with it being mixed company it seems they can’t tell for sure what’s happening. Time is of the essence though so he asks Takemaru what the plan is.

Takemaru says he saw some of this happening and brought some stuff to prepare. Shuten is impressed and asks what it is. Takemaru pulls out tiger striped cloth in response. Motosumi gets pissed and demands to know how that’s supposed to help.

Takemaru says they’re daily use goods for oni, so if you put them on the oni might not think you’re human. Maybe. You either express shock about this maybe or say he should wear them too. Going with A he says he thought it was a good idea, but says it isn’t going over well.

Shuten says it might be a problem since it doesn’t cover much, so a human might catch cold. Ibaraki thinks the problem you guys have with it might be the pattern. Maybe it’s culture clash, but he and Suzuka like tiger patterns and leopard patterns.

You can either say you like tiger stripes, say that’s not the issue, or suggest he’s actually talking about thug culture. Going with A, Takemaru says he’ll model it for you guys and changes. He asks what you think, thinking it looks cool himself. You either say it looks good, say it looks like a Setsubun oni, or say you’re gonna fall for him.

Going with B which I suspect ties with A, he agrees for a bit before stopping and claiming he doesn’t get happy when humans compliment him. Motosumi says it looks better than expected so he goes to change too. You either say you will too, sigh and go along with it, or ask if delinquents really do like tiger patterns.

Motosumi comments about it not being cold here despite it being so in Tokyo. Then he asks if the disguise is really working. You either say you’re done changing, say Motosumi looks cool, or compliment his body.

Going with A he tells you to stop staring and asks if you want a fight. Apparently no one in Asakusa will try to embarrass him anymore, but he’ll still put ‘em up if it comes to it. Oniwaka asks Takemaru if he has any more since he can’t let you be embarrassed by yourself.

When he comes back, you can either say you match, say he looks cool, or say it’s time to go. Shuten says you guys should split up, and he’ll go get materials. He asks you and Takemaru to find a place to put down everything they pick up. He also decides to take Motosumi with him and Ibaraki since he seems confident in a fight, which Motosumi says he needs to be to defend the kids.

Shuten then asks what Oniwaka will do, and he says he’ll go check the surroundings for danger. Plus he doesn’t want to hang out with other oni. Takemaru tries to protest being left with you, but everyone heads off. You either ask if being alone with someone is bad or ask if he hates humans that much.

Takemaru says it isn’t just that he can’t handle being around humans. Since he lost his prided weapons, he can’t protect others by himself. And since Shuten brought you along he can’t let you be hurt. Then he tells you to come along so the oni don’t see you.

Scene shifts over to Suzuka’s side as she asks about the oni looking for you and how he relates to you. The oni talks about the beginning of the game where he attacked Ryouta. Suzuka asks partway through if Kagutsuchi’s knee is fine since this could go on a while. He says he’s fine.

The oni notices and gives him some ointment. Suzuka asks where he got it from, so the oni says he took it out of his hair. Then he tries to get back on point and says he has to go meet you...because you said oni in earlier. Unfortunately he turned up in the wrong place and doesn’t know where you are.

Kagutsuchi is amazed you said that, and Suzuka calls you reckless. Anyways she offers to take the oni to you, starting with Shinjuku Academy. She asks what Kagutsuchi will do, and he says he wants to come along because of the oni in thing.

Scene shifts back to your side as a lot of time seems to have passed here. You guys continue to work as you keep on guard of the oni. You have been hurt somehow in the meantime, so Takemaru tells you to say something if it hurts badly. Turns out you slipped and fell when the oni saw you, and he comments on humans being weak.

You thank Takemaru for giving some aid with it and bow your head to him. He tries to claim it’ll be a problem if you become a drag. You change the subject to the oni and say you’ve been watching them for a while. Takemaru prompts you to say what’s on your mind. Narration compares the oni to ghosts that repeat an action forever.

You ask if they’re always like that, saying it saddens you even if they aren’t real. He’s surprised you’d pity them and says oni deeply resent humans. Him too, and as a leader he can’t ever get along with them. You say it doesn’t have to be now, but you want to get along with him anyways.

He stares into your eyes, then says you really are different from others. Despite being a mix of things your heart seems new. Maybe even as though there wasn’t anything to begin with. He sighs saying there’s no point in expressing that grudge to you, then gets frustrated that as an oni he can’t hide anything.

You ask what he’s talking about, so he tells you the oni have not been after you this entire time. They only attacked you because you’re with him, so he says you don’t need to thank him for helping you.

He figures if the oni still have any memory fragments left, they’d actually be resenting him. You ask why that would be, so he vaguely says he was tricked and done in by enemies. He lost three swords dear to him and the oni lost their home.

He admits that Takkoku no Iwaya doesn’t exist anymore and all that’s left is in his dreams, so in Fate terms this would be something like his Reality Marble. He says you were right earlier and he was upset when you pointed it out was a dream.

He still feels guilty for what had happened and says the oni should want to crush him. The oni finds him and attacks, so you jump in to save him. He’s surprised since this never happened before. You ask if it’s because he wants to be attacked by them, which he finds unbelievable.

More oni come in to attack Takemaru, so you tell him you guys should run or take his hand. You guys find a place to hide, but the amount of oni around increases steadily. Takemaru wonders about the reason the oni ignored him before when he tried to talk to them.

He starts crying as he seems to realize, and you start to talk to him. He says he gets it and admits he was afraid of how they’d respond, so he wished they wouldn’t. He calls himself stupid and says he was afraid of being hated by his family. So them being around anyway is because he wanted them to be.

He reasons that that’s why his artifact creates a version of his old home from before it was lost. He cries about his family being gone, and you can either pat him or hug him. He asks you not to be nice to him, or else he might mistake it for something else like before.

After some time, he says he’s okay now and thanks you. And he apologizes for looking uncool. He says he shouldn’t look any more disgraceful as a leader, especially not in front of a human. Now isn’t the time to be miserable either as the oni start surrounding you. You call out to him and take his hand. He says to watch for his good points, then launches the episode battle.