Onsen Jamboree Episode 3 Part 3

Shirou starts up with some narration as he talks about how he once had something similar to him, where his will went out of his body while he was made a substitute for someone else. Shirou is talking about the ones who once fell to this physical world from beyond, and among them was the viceroy Yog-Sothoth who served the center of the world. He is the one who knows everything in the universe and controls it all, and at the same time he is the one who offered his entire being to his ignorant and omnipotent king. And this being that sees across timespace once looked at Shirou from within his body.

 

Shirou says he couldn't tear his eyes away, and he screamed as the terror that ravaged his very self maddened him. He mentions that the meaning of terror wasn't something he learned from a book, but something he learned firsthand. Shirou became very familiar with Yog-Sothoth, and he feared him more than anything. He learned that the boundaries defining himself and someone else are paper thin and malleable, and that such things can assault him from the material world innumerable times.

 

Shirou talks about how he had thought he had gotten to where he was by his own will, but he suggests the possibility that even that might be due to someone giving him a role to fulfill. His sense of self wavered. Learning that nothing in this universe is certain filled him gave him a sense of massive horror, a sense of cosmic terror if you will. And yet...every time he felt this fear, you were there to give him courage.

 

You being near Shirou was enough to remind Shirou that he wasn't alone. You helped give definition to some of his feelings, which then served as support for him. You are always walking forward, and Shirou would take off chasing after you in your footsteps. You relying upon him made him happier than anything, though Shirou feels he might be greedier than he realized. If he were able to share in your burdens, maybe you'd pay more attention to him. Maybe you'd see him in the same way he sees you. He wanted to be more important to you, he wanted to change you. He wondered if he ever truly had such impure feelings, but as he is now he can't deny it.

 

Things tune back into the present as Kagutsuchi talks about how nice and cool it feels heading for the top of a mountain. He then asks why it's getting colder even though you guys are getting closer to the sun. Shirou explains the sun isn't getting closer, but the atmosphere getting thinner the higher the elevation is, which in turn also drives the temperature down. Kagutsuchi doesn't seem to understand but says he does.

 

Kimun Kamui asks Kagutsuchi to slow down a little since he might end up tiring himself out before reaching the second checkpoint at the rate he's going. Aizen reminds Kagutsuchi to keep hydrated as he hands him a water bottle, and Kagutsuchi thanks him before noticing a good sightseeing vantage point. Maria laughs and comments on how innocent Kagutsuchi is running around, which she attributes to your team welcoming him on and decides to thank everyone for again as the guildmaster's representative.

 

Shirou plays modest and says that's really down to you and Kimun taking the initiative to invite him along. He goes quiet as he thinks for a bit, then decides to ask Maria if she has time for a question. Maria offers to answer as best she can, so Shirou says it may be hard to answer but asks why Maria took up being the guildmaster's representative. Maria is surprised by the question, and Shirou clarifies to ask if Maria went in prepared for all the responsibilities.

 

Maria ends up answering that she did it because no one else could. Shirou is clearly not expecting such an answer, and Maria says that if they're talking about managers it doesn't have to be a native, but everyone else has a habit of wandering. You ask if she's talking about how there's someone prone to slipping off even now, someone who tends to get imprisoned, and someone who can teleport away. Maria says yes to that and talks about how the guild is one big family, though there's not much consistency. Kimun's judgment was the same way, with it coming not from the moderates but from the armed forces.

 

Maria asks if you and Shirou have been introduced to Jacob yet, and she starts describing him as the guildmaster who started up the Missionaries and the NPO they run. He's blind but people rely upon him, and he's the one who pulled the who organization together. Unfortunately he also has a penchant for wandering off. He suddenly stopped by and was supposed to be helping with this event, but he's disappeared just as suddenly at some point. She's not too worried about him though.

 

Shirou asks Maria if she feels afraid about having to be his representative. She seems surprised at first but eventually answers that she never did. Shirou follows up by asking if she was confident in herself, but Maria responds that it's more the opposite. She says she feels she can never be Jacob's replacement. She can only do the things she can do, and she can't change the way she lives for the sake of someone else who is alive. But still, she'll do all she can within that range, and Shirou seems surprised.

 

Time skips a little as you all take a break at some point that's halfway towards the second checkpoint, and Maria sits down somewhere to continue with the discussion. She says she feels she doesn't normally have the ability to bring the whole guild together, and her being the representative now is thanks to everyone's help. Kimun points out that this is still a great achievement as a leader. Maria is surprised at him joining in the conversation and asks about everyone else in the party. Kimun says that Kagutsuchi and Moritaka are resting, and that he brought some water he got from Aizen.

 

Kimun drinks another bottle up in one shot, then continues on by talking about how Maria has strong determination and a generous heart of love. Those are what makes people who agree with her stand with her. Everyone draws courage from looking at her, and Kimun assures her she's doing a great job. Maria is touched by this, though she tells him that all she can thank him with is pudding no matter how much he talks her up. Kimun laughs as he says that's great news since he loves her pudding.

 

Since Kimun is here Shirou decides to ask him a question too. Specifically, he asks what he defines as a leader. Kimun wonders if this is payback for all the pop quizzes and laughs about being the one to answer a question this time. Shirou quickly denies that he's trying to get revenge and explains he wanted his opinion since he manages the ciramantep.

 

Kimun thinks on it for a little bit, then eventually answers that he thinks of a leader as someone who makes use of all of nature's gifts. They accept what is already there and can develop such blessings. Looking for something something in others or yourself that you don't have to begin with will end in vain. All you can do is be thankful for what you do have, and Kimun says he feels that's the most important thing of all.

 

Shirou is quiet, and Kimun says that's all he can say on the subject as he asks if it helped. Shirou thanks him and says it's given him something to think about. Kimun laughs and says that's good then. As Kimun laughs, one of the Evils suddenly hugs his leg. Kimun says Shirou is doing good and notes that he can do everything he can for someone else. That is Shirou's strength as a leader, which he says he can see in the way the Evils are. The Evil chirps in agreement.

 

Maria suggests talking to Jacob if Shirou happens to run across him later since he might see something they can't. She then suggests it's about time to get back on the trail and is about to call to the party when she notices something wrong with Kimun. Wen Kamui starts switching in which you notice to your surprise, and Aizen runs in telling all of you to hurry and restrain him. You are either too confused to pick up on this or respond and say you'll do so.

 

Wen is quickly bound, and Aizen says you guys just barely made it in time before saying his third eye sees all. Aizen then describes his three eyes as his physical eyes, the heavenly eye, and the discerning eye of insight, and they are even able to see through spiritual beings. It was how he was able to see Wen waking up from within Kimun.

 

Anyways, the scene shifts over to behind the trees where you guys have taken Wen over to, and he complains about the thorns binding him. He demands his release as he says he's just not into this kind of thing, and also thorns hurt. Maria says Aizen was right in calling for her to use her artifact to restrain Wen. Shirou says neither she nor Aizen were wrong to make this decision, saying that if you guys fought on the main road you might end up hurting the other participants. Besides that, Wen seems to be after you guys in particular anyway.

 

Wen says nothing, and Shirou talks about how the rest of the party has been sent on ahead, Once you guys get there too you'll all probably fill them in. Maria asks Wen to not resist in the meantime. Shirou starts talking to Wen intending to ask him some questions, which Wen finds funny but isn't completely shutting down. You tell Shirou to be careful as you get ready behind him.

 

Shirou starts off by asking Wen who he is. Wen laughs at this question and doesn't really answer it at first, so you follow up to ask if Wen was hiding within Kimun and if he's possessing him. He mocks you too, though he does actually give more of a response this time as he says "that's how it is from what can be seen." Shirou doesn't understand the meaning of this, so Wen decides he will answer after all and refers to himself as the one hidden inside Kimun. He describes himself as a servant of the great heavens in the world of Kamuy Kotan. If Kimun is the one to give gifts and bring about growth in people, then Wen is the opposite in that he is the one whose given purpose is hunting those who grow to bring eternity to the world.

 

You ask about any of the points Wen brought up. Wen starts describing Kamuy Kotan as a world of ice that prevents change and is surrounded by eternally frozen walls of ice. He then describes people as growing despite not wishing for it and end up changing the world. They are liable to destroy the world as it exists now, which is why he hunts them. He takes the manslaying sword handed down by that world, and if he can get someone's skin or even a scrap of their clothes, he can manifest their past through it and have them attack their present selves. Then it's a battle between past and present with the person's growth on the line. That's how it works.

 

Shirou wonders if it's a coming of age ceremony type of thing, commenting that it doesn't sound too dangerous when put like that. You agree and say the self that's grown is stronger, pointing out that Kagutsuchi won when he went through that. Wen doesn't respond to that, and Shirou brings up that Arslan talked about trials to surpass in the beginning. Wen starts laughing again at the idea of calling this a trial, then reveals he was talking to stall you guys while waiting for his trick to unfold.

 

Possessed ciramantep appear and cut Wen from the thorns holding him, and Maria is surprised at how they popped out of nowhere. Wen laughs that they're everywhere "thanks to you guys," and you take note of him saying this, confused. Shirou tells you that the more pressing thing is that you're now surrounded, but he swears as leader to get you guys out of it. Wen cackles at Shirou's bravado as he calls the Evils little brats that Shirou carries around. He asks if they really listen to him as he compares Shirou to a preschool teacher.

 

The mood shifts for the cold as Shirou is pissed by this remark. He dares Wen to say it again and asks if he's suggesting that the Evils are unreliable. Wen stands by his statement and laughs, saying that strong and reliable minions and familiars would be like the ciramantep. Nature operates under the law of the jungle, so you have to look threatening. Shirou then throws down a challenge at Wen saying he'll show him how great the Evils are. Wen accepts it and says he'll show Shirou in turn how amazing his own minions are. 

 

Shirou calls for a command battle contest, and Maria turns to you as she says this is going in a strange direction. You either try to get Shirou to calm down or throw in your support for this course. In A, Shirou apologizes but says he won't back down if someone insults his Evils. In B, Maria is shocked you're mad on the Evils' behalf too, and either way the episode battle starts.