Thursday, July 30, 2020

Onsen Jamboree Episode 6 Part 1

Wen Kamui starts narrating about how he hated his other self for forgetting about him. He hated his past self so much for forgetting the thick swirling bundle of emotions within his chest he couldn't stand it. Wen then spells out that he's narrating things if you haven't picked up already, the "evil" kamui who attacked people. Wen says that the thing is, in a frozen hellhole of a world there's a need to cut down on the mouths to feed. Somebody has to do it, so he did. It is what it is, yet some sort of emotion still built up in Wen. He's not sure what it really is, but the pain of it quickly turned to hate.
 
The only thing Wen was sure of was hating Kimun Kamui for knowing nothing and remembering nothing. He looked only on the bright side of things, and Wen couldn't stand for this. Wen was the only one to carry this pain, and he found it intolerable. Kimun went on not knowing of the truth that nobody was saved, and this fed into Wen's grudge. Wen then declares that he wouldn't be able to exist without hating Kimun for looking away from him.
 
Wen then awakens from his dream lying face up in the blizzard in a bad mood. He remembers that he was pulled down the cliff by Kimun, then notes with irritation that he's nowhere in sight. He casts his angry gaze around when suddenly the blizzard lets up, and Wen notices that someone is looking at him.
 
This turns out to be Koropokkur in all his pint sized child stature holding that butterbur leaf, and Wen is slightly disappointed as he asks if he came to see eat crap. Narration says that Wen knows exactly who the weird little boy looking at him the entire world with a cold expression is. Koropokkur is the one who remembers Wen's memories when he ought to have disappeared after the cycle of reincarnation. He is the one who decides where the world's growth can reach, he is the one who sees all in this frozen world, and he is the one who carries the Pillar that pins down memories. He is the eternal boy who represents the will of Kamuy Kotan.
 
Wen scoffs at Koropokkur for looking coldly at things like he always does, but narration points out that if he weren't around Wen would have disappeared as a shadow of the world. Koropokkur just stares quietly like he's done for most of his screentime so far, and Wen says he knows what it is he wants to say. But before he gets to whatever that is, Wen says he's going to fulfill his own goals first, which would be tearing Kimun to shreds. Wen screams out Kimun's name with a bundle of packed emotions. Normally it's impossible for a past self to attack their future self, but here in a past area is where he can manifest separately apparently. He doesn't know what would happen as a result of going through with the attack, but he just can't let things go...
 
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called something like Escort, Kamuy Kotan Festival! I dunno.
 
Anyways, things tune back to your end of things as narration recaps how you guys got caught up in an overworld shift on the last day of the scout jamboree. Out there is a view of the world of Kamuy Kotan, complete with blizzard and falling ice shards. And as a reminder, Kimun jumped off a cliff and dragged Wen down with him when he showed his face here. You guys have found a cave soon after and gotten some rest while worrying over Kimun's safety.
 
Kagutsuchi is quiet, and he's in the middle of focusing to light the fire with the wood the rest of the party had gathered. He then starts talking to you as he wonders if Kimun is doing okay. You agree but mention there's something else to worry about too. Kagutsuchi is surprised by this, then asks you what that is. You ask why Wen was inside of Kimun, and Shirou notes that the thought occurred to you too. If what Wen was saying was true, then he's the memories of Kimun's forgotten past. If so, why was he inside Kimun then? Why Did He Remember?
 
Kagutsuchi realizes that you guys have a point, but Shirou says there's still not enough information to go on, so he decides to change the subject. By this point Kagutsuchi has lit the firewood in his hands, creating a bright red flame. The orange light of the fire lights everyone's faces and warms everyone's bodies, bringing with it a little bit of hope. Everyone gathers around and puts some food near the fire, and Shirou picks back up with speaking. He asks everyone to listen to him as he moves to start a briefing on the current situation. You ask him to do so since you guys need to understand the current status, or you just stay quiet and look at Shirou.
 
Shirou starts by recapping how you guys got trapped in an overworld shift while descending the mountain. The overworld is Kamuy Kotan, which Kimun has told you is the world he came from, a harsh world sealed in snow and ice. Kagutsuchi speaks up to say he's not familiar with overworld shifts and asks if you guys get into them often since you guys seem to know a lot. You can either dodge the question, say you get into them once in a while, or say you bump in to them practically every day. B and C has Kagutsuchi react with awe and says he respects you for being so experienced with them.
 
In any case Aizen speaks up to say that while he is listed as a Missionary for now, he was never told about this overworld shift. He also points out that so far there's no sign that anyone else aside from your party has been trapped in this shift. Again, this happened on a mountain where tons of people have joined for an event. He asks if anyone else thinks this is a little too convenient. He suggests that the shift was made to trap you guys with Wen specifically.
 
Shirou talks about how it's believed that for an overworld shift to form, the area it forms in must resemble a place in the core Transient's memories. Moritaka points out that Kimun himself said he doesn't recognize this area. Shirou agrees and says there's too much unknown, but for now finding Kimun takes priority. Aizen raises no objections and says that's how it should roughly go in a situation like this. Narration says Shirou takes a moment to check whether anyone has any questions before continuing.
 
Shirou outlines that you guys currently have two main objectives. The first is to find Kimun, wherever he is. It'd be one thing if he's still at the bottom of that cliff, but if he walked off since then it'll be tough. Moritaka suggests trying to use his nose to try tracking him down, but Shirou says that might not help since the blizzard will likely cover any tracks or scent. Aizen sums it up as it being difficult to do anything right away. You wonder what you guys should do and worry over Kimun some more.
 
Aizen agrees that the danger can get even more complicated and suggests that Kagutsuchi keep his wits about him. Kagutsuchi is disappointed but agrees. Shirou then brings up the second main goal for the party, which would be to escape the overworld shift. Normally the thoughts of the core Transient is the key to solving the overworld shift, but as Moritaka points out again, Kimun has no apparent memories of this part of Kamuy Kotan. You wonder if Wen is the core or if it's someone else.
 
Aizen says that arguing the point any further would be armchair theorizing, so he suggests to Shirou that you guys eat if there are no other issues. Shirou agrees and says he'd like to head out as soon as the blizzard dies down. Until then, he'd like for everyone to rest up and conserve their strength. You say you guys need to eat and do your best, so you say time to eat.
 
Kagutsuchi is quiet, and Shirou tries to talk to him. Kagutsuchi says he knows, and that he'll need to be ready to roll out whenever. He then sits down to eat, which he says is for Kimun's sake. The Evils cheer up at seeing Kagutsuchi smile and start hopping, which lifts everyone's spirits.
 
Some time later, the party starts sleeping in shifts. One person keeps watch while everyone else gets some rest. Kagutsuchi sleep talks about asking Kimun (or maybe some other teacher) to wait and saying he'll be coming to stand by them. Aizen sleep talks about unacceptable indecency. The Evils wake up a little bit, and Shirou tells them it's okay as he puts his hand on them and says they can go back to bed. They go back to sleep holding his hand, and Shirou pats their head with his other hand.
 
Scene then shifts over to Kimun, spending the night in some other cave. He separated from Wen sometime during the fall from the cliff, and he made it to this cave to take shelter. He curls up in his thick fur and starts dreaming of old times, a dream of a small Mortal Child Hero he had given his kindness to in his home world.
 
This hero's name is Aynurakkur/Ae Oyna Kamui. In the Ainu language, this name means human-like kamui. He was given many names like Ponyaunpe the Little Foreigner, and he was a small yet great hero. His sword had the divine protection of dragons and could even cut this stopped world apart. This hero was raised by the wolf kamui, and Kimun gave him his fur so that he wouldn't be cold. Even now Kimun happily remembers the warmth of the small hand he held and the young smile he brushed. At that time, Kimun's heart beat hard and fast. It felt as if something was moving within this frozen world. He wanted to see the hero grow up, no matter what he would become. That was the beginning of Kimun's charity, an unforgettable shining memory.
 
Kimun wakes up with a start wondering where he is, then remembers he fell off that cliff. He comments he was sleeping and dreaming of olden days. He closes his eyes and starts thinking about what Wen said. Kimun starts thinking on the idea that he attacked the children he raised with his own hands. He remembers their smiles and their hands he held. Did he darken their smiles? Or did he stain their hands? And did the same thing happen with all the other children he gave his kindness to after that...?
 
As the snow falls outside the cave, phantoms of those beloved children appear. The unchanging pinned down memories in his heart disappear. Is it an illusion produced by the cold, or is it something else...? Whatever they are, the mental stress they cause Kimun is real. He thinks about the cherished sword hanging from his waist and wonders if he hunted the growth of children with it. The episode section ends with Kimun musing to himself that there's only one thing to do with the sword.
 
 

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