Sunday, August 2, 2020

Onsen Jamboree Episode 6 Part 4

The story starts narrating about how Kimun Kamui is thinking about Kamuy Kotan. In a world of harsh cold where living is difficult, it was his job to give warm clothes to the weak in front of him. The days come and go, and Kimun would continually cut at himself and give out his kindness. He believed that that was the only form of love and the most splendid thing in the world. But for reasons he didn't understand, muddled complicated emotions stirred up his heart and gnawed at him. The best he could make sense of it was a constant feeling of overlooking someone. And then, one day he left Kamuy Kotan and came to Tokyo.
 
Since then Kimun came to meet many new people and see many new forms of love. He learned that there wasn't just one way to express love. Everyone carries their own kind of love and direct it at others. Everyone takes a light and walk down their long, long paths.
 
Kimun has then gone to a far off location where he then thinks about his home world once again. He thinks that yes, there truly is wonderful love there, but he also realizes that it wasn't everything, and that he didn't notice that fact while he was still there.
 
At the end of his road, Kimun met himself, a self that went by Wen Kamui. He was covered in wounds, and for the first time ever he was looking at himself. Kimun takes over narration directly and says that he was surely in pain since he had always been shaving parts of himself away to give things to others. Why did he never give anything to himself? Once he thought that, he felt some sort of warmth bloom within himself. But on second thought, he realizes it was always there. He just never looked at it before. A different kind of energy from the compassion he had for the weak was what drove him on. If one form of love isn't enough to help endure the cold, then by shining different kinds of love on one another, maybe you can go anywhere you want. That's how he started to think that way.
 
Now back to what was happening, Kimun has stabbed himself with his sword and is using its power on himself. One by one, memories start peeling off of him. You either point out that Kimun used his sword on himself, ask what's going on, or quietly watch him. Kimun says he's okay because that's how his sword is supposed to be used originally. It's a sword meant for him to cut himself and give of himself to others who are hurt. He muses that someone seeing him do this must think he's stupid. Here he is, trying to help his hurt self by hurting himself. But this is all he knows how to do, so he asks his past self to please accept it.
 
Kimun gives Wen a warm smile, apologizing for making him wait as he refers to him as his frozen, wounded, and weak self. He then activates his NP, saying he'll give him unlimited compassion. Four new copies of Kimun appear, which you either react with shock to or ask Kimun what's going on. Kimun tells you that those are his past selves, much like how everyone else had to face off their Shadow past selves. Koropokkur had made him remember some old memories, so he's brought them out as a trial.
 
Wen demands to know what Kimun is doing, and narration says his face looks as if he was the one who was cut. Kimun says he thought it was strange how Wen never tried to attack him with his sword, but now he understands. They are one and the same. You either ask Kimun to explain what he means by that or wait for him to elaborate on his own. Kimun talks about how he had always lived by cutting himself to give things to people. He made that his one joy in life and looked away from all other possibilities. He never once looked at his own pain.
 
Wen makes a little noise but doesn't say anything. Kimun says the time has come for him to face himself, then asks his past selves to speak. Wen desperately begs for things to stop, for them to not reveal what his anger is about. Copy 1 voices his regret about becoming a monster that hurt the ones he loves around and his regret over his assigned class. Copy 2 talks about how he wanted to save the grown children and to help them. He didn't know how to do that though, which left him depressed. Copy 3 talks about how loving someone is to treat them as special, which also means giving up on everyone else. He was frightened, terrified of that love. Copy 4 talks about how all of the above feelings left him at a loss, and with no one to turn to to vent it all, he suffered. Confusion turned to frustration, so he decided to vent it all on his past self. He thought it'd be better if he erased himself.
 
You comment on understanding that he didn't hate anyone, he was just lost. Kimun says he ended up hating himself over his unease at emotions he felt but couldn't identify, and he sadly notes that's like him. He wanted to share that discomfort with someone, so he made himself remember it. However, he hesitated to hurt himself, which was only natural. He always looked away from himself. Kimun figures that's why Wen tried to make him feel the suffering of hurting someone else by making him stain his claws with Wen's blood.
 
Wen yells for him to stop, demanding that he not steal away his hatred and his enemy. The four copies react by siding with Wen against the party, and Kimun apologizes for adding to the enemy count. Shirou tells him there are no enemies here; just his self to overcome. He turns to the rest of the party looking for agreement, and everyone including the Evils who aren't shown on screen nod. You agree vocally and call this the last trial of the Jamboree, then tell Kimun you'll all pass it together. Kimun agrees and thanks everyone, and narration says the love alight in his chest is a new warmth that isn't the love for the weak. Kimun calls the party to join him in clearing the last trial of the Hot Spring Jamboree, and everyone calls back as the episode battle starts. More story after that.
 
After the battle, narration picks up with you noticing that the blizzard in Kamuy Kotan is intensifying again. All that stands in your way is the ciramantep mobs and the five Wens. Aizen says love is energy and something to be feared, yet that isn't everything to love. Narration says Aizen is using his power to burn everyone's love and heat them all from within in the midst of the all freezing snowstorm. Kimun is surprised as he says he feels something new burning inside him, then asks in realization if this is what self-love is.
 
Wen also feels what Kimun is feeling as he yells about feeling something hot inside his chest and asks what it is. Kimun tells him he should already know, calling him Wen before changing that to his other self. He tells Wen that what he felt inside isn't hatred, but love that had lost where it was supposed to go to. All that's happened is that his fears, regrets, and sadness melded together and buried it.
 
Kimun comments to himself that this is what self-directed love is, and Wen freaks out telling him to shut up and tries to insist he's full of hate, not love. Wen then rips the fur off the four copies flanking him, and each one he puts on makes him grow bigger and bigger. Within the frozen passage of time, the directionless emotions pile up. The weight of these feelings from countless transmigrations become thick, muddled energy, and Wen stands before you as a giant monster. Kimun is shocked by this, and you ask everyone to step back and support you as you get ready.
 
Kimun attempts to stop you as he says attacking from the front would be too dangerous, but Shirou assures him it'll be okay because you're strong in times like these. You take a stance, then start running at Wen as you call out the invocation spiel to use your NP on him. When you slash, you cut not at flesh and blood, but just at the frozen time. Time starts moving within Wen, and the love he once held within pulses. In that moment, Wen sees someone's form over you, a single dragon who ran the snow fields of Kamuy Kotan. He sadly notes that he remembers something, and he says you're that...something.
 
There was once someone raised by wolves in the frozen lands, carrying the divine protection of dragons, wearing the fur of a bear, and running across the snow. That would be the hero of Kamuy Kotan that Wen saw when he was still Kimun. However, there is no belief in a legend about a Hero in Bear Fur in Kamuy Kotan. The reason for that happened one day when the hero set out on a journey and talked to Kimun. The hero said, "you must be cold having given me your fur, so I'm giving it back to you." He smiled as he put it back on Kimun.
 
Kimun tunes in to his soulsphere or whatever as he asks where he is and where the party is. Wen shows up and tells him he doesn't need to worry about you guys, and that they're inside his heart or something. Wen says he remembers everything now. He hated Kimun for forgetting things, but he realizes that he's forgotten things now too, things he remembered before he became Wen. Kimun says he's in the same boat what with having forgotten his past selves, but he resolves to carry on all the memories cast off from his reincarnations.
 
Wen hangs his fur on Kimun's shoulders, and Kimun comments on how warm it is, a warmth he had forgotten. That warmth gives him the energy to move, and it'll probably become the energy to help him go forward. He starts thinking about learning of more kinds of love and sharing them with even more people. As he thinks that, he thinks of the past disappearing into him, and he starts looking to the future. Back outside, Wen and Kimun take each other's hands, then fuse back into one being.
 
Kagutsuchi asks if things are over now and if this means you can all leave. Shirou answers that he thinks it'll be okay, then points up to the sky. Kagutsuchi is surprised to see cracks forming in the sky, but Aizen corrects him and says while it's hard to tell, the sky is actually another wall of ice covering the world. He figures that means the boundaries of the overworld are lifting, then comments you guys should be able to return now.
 
Kimun agrees as he says Wen is telling him as much inside him. Shirou notes that this would mean Wen was the core to the overworld shift. Kagutsuchi points up to the sky and says the clouds are parting away. Aizen declares it's hydration time, which is something you shouldn't forget no matter what time it is. Moritaka laughs at how much of a stickler Aizen is over their health, but he thanks him for said concern. Shirou suggests making a toast to completing the trial even if it is just water. The Evils are excited at the idea, and you lead the toast.
 
After you all make the toast, you guys notice some sort of rumbling sound coming from the mountain top, and you have a sinking suspicion as to what that is. Kimun realizes it's an avalanche, and Aizen is frustrated it's happening so close to the overworld shift closing as he wonders if you guys fought too loudly. The Evils freak out, and Kagutsuchi tells some to grab onto him. Moritaka offers to let some get on him too, but then he quickly tells whichever one grabbed his tail to climb a little higher. Kimun says from the rumbling that the avalanche is much closer than he thought and tries to think of something. Shirou calls you and Moritaka to come help him, then tells Aizen to Bring the Luggage fast. You react with surprise and ask if he has a plan, then say you'll help.
 
The giant avalanche covers everything soon after, and sitting on the crest of it is a familiar bathtub. Kimun sighs in relief at you guys barely managing to avoid getting crushed under the snow and voices his surprise that the tub is what saves you all in the end. Everyone is sitting in the hot water in the tub celebrating their safety, and Kagutsuchi mentions his surprise at the tub's anti-spilling function. Aizen describes it as an auto-balancing feature to keep water from spilling out while the tub is on when people get in or out. He comments that the tub is a bundle of surprises from beginning to end, and he considers sending the Crafters a thank you letter.
 
Kagutsuchi asks how everyone is and talks about how warm the water is. Moritaka sighs at how pleasant the water and notes the Evils seem happy with it too. Kagutsuchi says that's because he's using his fire power to heat the water and focusing on keeping it at a moderate temperature. Shirou sighs and says that it feels like his cold blisters are melting off. You comment on how nice it feels too.
 
Aizen yells in shock that you're too close and asks if you're really going to try getting hot and steamy inside the tub. He says it's because you're all in this overworld shift that he's using his power to turn everyone's worldly desires into energy and using that to heat the water too, then yelps about the water getting too hot. Kimun also yells that the water is getting really hot and says love is terrifying.
 
Eventually the avalanche stops, leaving you guys to float down a river in the tub. Kagutsuchi points out to everyone that the shift is starting to lift before he notices something else. As the area starts to revert back to the mountain, a miraculous view emerges. Flower petals dance in the wind, and plants start budding. The snow melts, revealing the view of Kamuy Kotan from Wen's mental landscape. Kimun expresses his amazement that spring has come even to Kamuy Kotan. To be continued in the epilogue!
 

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