Sanmoto Gorozaemon is the great youkai leader of the Night Parade, who would ride wanyuudo down the streets and make whatever the beep beep analog noise is at everyone who happens to be up at night. As a youkai they are Not Clearly something, and they indulge in games of scaring people in the night. People fear the unclearly delineated, things unreasonable, and things not part of a hierarchy, so Gorozaemon being someone even youkai fear obviously makes them The Least Comprehensible Thing in the World. Other youkais have a true form like a magical teapot like Shukaku or a transforming tanuki like Gyoubu. But not Gorozaemon! People can barely tell Gorozaemon has feet and question if they're human or not because in Japanese tradition, ghosts don't have feet. They Were Believed To Be a certain way, which is why they're a youkai boss. They live for entertainment in Tokyo because they only have a nighttime fictional self. That's why they're in the Zero element. Everyone Believes that they do not exist.
Present
Shocked silent party! Except for...
Gorozaemon: Well this is a surprise!
MC: WHAT
Smoky God: Oh, did I surprise you? Let me explain. First things first, that is not Tokyo Bay. Have you heard of overworld shifts before?
MC: Yes / Sort of / N-no...
Oz: I think I've heard about those from my student council president... It's when a part of Tokyo is is literally shifted to become part of another world, with memories of this other world being overlaid on the original landscape or area in Tokyo. A single Transient's unforgettable memories become a core of fiction that overwrites reality. I don't understand it, but that's what she said. No one knows why it happens.
Smoky God: I can't talk about the laws of incomprehensible mysteries and fiction, so I'll just say I can't answer (re: it's unregistered). I'm sure Gorozaemon being a type of supernatural phenomenon would say something else though.
Gorozaemon: I see. So you Don't Exist in This World just like me. You're always carting around that bodyguard/other self with you. Okay I finally get what's going on. That one is the real body...except that's not quite the right term here. You're reinforcing yourself with another version of yourself to force your summoning to Tokyo. Long story short, you're someone who'd Normally Exist in Tokyo. Right?
Smoky God: (smile)
Oz: What? So you're like me? ...wait. What is this sea overlaid with then?
Gorozaemon: Oooh, I see. So that's why you're cooperating with us Entertainers.
MC: *(nod)* / wait what
(A) Gorozaemon: Ha! I'm glad you're quick on the uptake.
(BC) Yamasachi: ?
Jormungandr: ??
Gorozaemon: Welp! Lemme explain then.
Gorozaemon: Hey Smoky God, you connected Yurakucho to the sea, didn't you?
Oz: What?
Gorozaemon: Oh you'll get it if you look at the details. He pulled Tokyo Bay to Yurakucho. Back when Tokyo was Edo, there was a big trench or moat that connected the land to Tokyo Bay. That's enough of a fictional premise to form an overworld shift!
MC: ...wait
Smoky God: Heh. The Yurakucho Theatorium isn't the only thing I've invested in. I also invested in all the land that made up that old trench or moat or whatever from here to Tokyo Bay. Nothing much.
Oz: THAT'S STILL LAND ACROSS TWO WHOLE CITIES! How much did you spend!?
Yamasachi: W-what are rich people...?
Oz: ...hmm, that still seems off to me some how. Even if you brought in Tokyo Bay to Yurakucho through an underground channel...
Gorozaemon: It wouldn't normally cause an overworld shift by coincidence, right? That's where the Entertainers come in. There's a production making things look like it's a Shangri La banquet, and the Urban Shangri La was made just to set up a specific world's overworld shift.
Smoky God: Very perceptive. Above, a recreation of a Shangri La banquet. Below, a connection to Tokyo Bay. Then the core Transient, the sun of the Horizonless World, me. The World Representative of Shangri La. This was fate, not a coincidence.
MC: You intentionally created an overworld shift?
Gorozaemon: Ha! An artificial overworld shift experiment! I've never HEARD of something so interesting before! Becoming an Entertainer was worth it! Anyways, where are you going with all this?
Smoky God: I thought I was clear about that earlier. But I want to save my old friend Asura from this wheel of reincarnation...well let me rephrase that. I want to bring you out from Tokyo.
MC: You can do that?
Oz: Wait! But the Walls!
Yamasachi: I can't keep up with all this
Heracles: S-same
Oz: Um, Tokyo is surrounded by walls. Not just physically, but conceptually too because that's how the System is. But how can Smoky God say they'll take MC outside?
Jormungandr: ...hmm...I think I might be remembering something important there.
Gorozaemon: Heh! Normally I'd take that as a joke, but...how are you going to do it, Smoky God? You had to be going somewhere with all this setup, right?
MC: Oh yeah... / (...)
Smoky God: Oh, it's nothing complicated. This sea is currently overlaid with Shangri La, and our underground cave world once accepted visiting foreigners that came from the sea. The city of Shangri La exists on the northern coast of the Sita River, just like how Yurakucho is north of Tokyo Bay. The faith once put on me as the Smoky God is what connects Tokyo to the sea in Shangri La. Then if our faith quits the game as your terms would express it, then everything works out. Now take my hand friend, and let us go back to our paradise beyond the sea.
Smoky God: My old friend, I remember the day we first met like it was yesterday. We met in the Empty world beneath the earth with the unrevolving sun. We talked, we fought, we aimed to reach the same heights one day. But it couldn't be, for I alone was the only one honored in the world. Our ideals would differ too much one day. You turned back on what we believed and were exiled from Shangri La, and I did nothing but watch you go. The nameless thing I felt that day stayed in me as a smoky smoldering thing.
Smoky God: Even after coming to Tokyo, that feeling continued smoldering as a smoky illusion, Mayamoha, an empty thing that brought me here. I was always a spectator, doing nothing but illuminating enlightenment. But I wanted to save you. Now I've finally come down to where you are after many days and nights.
Smoky God: I've always been watching you, MC. I've watched you choose to fight even after dying so many times. This time I tried to let loose a little bit to get you out of this cycle. Just a bit more, and we can cross Tokyo Bay and go to Shangri La.
MC: WHAT / You can do that!? / *(ready sword)*
Yamasachi: WAIIIIT! I have no idea in hell about what you said, but you wanna take MC away, right!? Not on my watch, rich dude or not! You wanna save them? Then you're missin' somethin' important! You never asked what MC wanted! If they wanna leave, I'll support them with everythin' I got! If not, we throw down!
Heracles: Agreed. You may be sponsor, but if MC is unwilling to go then I will not let them be taken, just as they did for me once.
Oz: ...I was pulled along here by my other self, so I can't speak against your intentions. But I also do not think that's the whole world. MC, what do you want to do?
MC: I can't go with you, Smoky God. It wasn't my choice, and I don't want to be taken away like this.
Smoky God: I see...so that's your answer. No wait, it's only the answer of someone inside you. No choice has been presented for you as you are now. Thoughts and feelings have been forced into the self inside you in this sealed land. And because of that, only I can give you a true choice, outside these loops. Whatever people may say, I will not pull afterwards. That's what I decided tonight when letting loose tonight.
Gorozaemon: Welp, things are getting interesting! There's only one thing left to do!
Yamasachi: YEP!
Heracles: RIGHT!
Oz: M-ME TOO!
Gorozaemon: Good! I'mma join Smoky's side.
Yamasachi: Alright guys, follow m--wait what
Yamasachi: Gorozaemon like what the hell! I thought I was being really cool there for a sec and now you made it weird....
Heracles: Brother Yamasachi, I believe your war cry was truly daring. Be proud of it.
Yamasachi: O-oh, ya think? Leave it to me!
Oz: ...Gorozaemon, are you helping Smoky God because of your guild?
Gorozaemon: The Entertainers? I'm not that commendable! There's only one reason why I'd be helping him. Because IT'S COOLER THAT WAY!
Party: (stares in shock)
MC: Welp, I saw that coming / ...is that really it?
(C) Gorozaemon: ...heh, who can say? Don't go cheapening it.
Gorozaemon: Awesome, Moneybags! I really do have to take my hat off to you!
Smoky God: Is that commonality sympathy?
Gorozaemon: Heh, nope! But never mind me. Just do whatever you're gonna do. I'm just gonna be me. Fights that go big are better for watching! ...also, you know about the void inside you. You'd deceive even the laws of the world to fill that hole, right? Mwehehe, good! It's time for the shining night pool! ...oh no wait, Rider Gorozaemon coming in from the deepest night! Come, Chimimouryou! (summons demons)
MC: OH MY GOD THERE'S EVEN MORE OF THEM
Gorozaemon: Arise, arise! Oh right, Mr. Rich Boy here is struggling hard, don'tcha know! He struggles with how he should have been, and he's given up on changing. If he's doing his utmost to destroy the mold, then I gotta help him out. That's just who Sanmoto Gorozaemon is!
Demons: RAAAAWR
Oz: Oh no there's too many! Gorozaemon was going easy earlier, but I can't...!
Heracles: We can't get close with how many there are!
Yamasachi: O-okay this is gettin' tough! Jormungandr, you help out too and...
Jormungandr: The outside of Tokyo...the Wall System...
Yamasachi: W-what are you feeling okay? No wait we're under attack!
Oz: I-I'm sorry. If only I were stronger and braver! I want to protect everyone too...but I can't move my legs!
Heracles: Do not worry, brave lion! I know you have courage! Strength does not equal bravery! You have chosen to stand here, and I believe that desire is courage and strength! My war comrade, if you stay there then I swear to protect you!
MC: I'm your comrade too! If protectors have someone to protect, they'll never stand to lose!
Gorozaemon: It's heating up around here. Chimimouryou, kick it up a notch!
Smoky God: Behold my martial arts! I will bring everything to fulfill my goals!
Demons: REEEE
Heracles: The numbers disadvantage is getting to us!
Yamasachi: And Jormungandr being out of it isn't helping!
MC: We need someone to help!
Oz: No, no...I finally made a friend outside, I don't want them to disappear outside Tokyo even further beyond the stars! How could I choke at a time like this...
Demons: RAAAAA
Oz: !! Please, my other self, I want to save everyone. I want to stand at the same spot as everyone! I don't know why you're staying in the depths or if Heracles has anything to do with it, but please listen... You guided me...no wait... Please! I want you to fight together with me!
Gorozaemon: Are you really looking away at a time like this? Maybe I'll eat you up!
Demons: SCREEEE
Oz: !!
MC: NO OZ
Reaction shot of the party!
Oz's NP activates!
Zo: Goddammit, I can't stand watching this anymore!
End of Episode Half
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