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ARJUNA SECOND INTERLUDE
Congratulations on your character development, Arjuna. I knew you could do it. This interlude was a dear one, to the point that even Pako was getting upset over the fact that you’d dragged him through Solomon without helping him confront his inner turmoil.
Arjuna: … you’re here, Karna… !
Karna: — Arjuna.
Arjuna: There’s naught a thing left to stand in our way. Every obstacle has been destroyed.
Arjuna: This is our final battle. Berate me for my cowardice all you want. Here is where you die.
Arjuna: I must kill you! You know the true me, after all!
Karna: … this is karma, then. Certainly having two of the greatest archers is quite unnecessary.
Karna: My lance alone is enough to sunder the earth.
Karna: No words needed for the one whom first makes his exit first. It is a useless effort for a loser.
Karna: Come at me seriously, Arjuna. Show me how you truly feel!
Arjuna: Acting like you know me – here I go!
A FLASH OF LIGHT.
Karna: … well done.
KARNA COLLAPSES TO THE GROUND.
Arjuna: Hahah… hahahah! Hahahahahah! I’m the victor! My win, mine, my very own — !
Arjuna: ….. …….
—- could this even be called victory? —- could this even be counted as defeat?
There was no satisfaction. Not even a tremor of delight in the face of such success.
I couldn’t even feel relieved knowing it was finally over. All I had left was to walk an unconscionable path of nihilism.
I killed the only person who truly understood me in this world.
I had no regrets, let alone ones regarding the inevitable destiny that I must fight with my sworn rival. Ahh, but even then…
That dazzling golden armor. Adorned in that, he went flying across the battlefield –
He was a hero, as well as the only soul who knew the truth about how disgusting “I” was.
Arjuna: … why, Karna.
Arjuna: Why were you smiling!?
I lived beyond my days while grasping tightly onto that very question.
As the blessed hero Arjuna, in order to protect the future.
BACK IN CHALDEA, FLASHBACK OVER.
Arjuna: I was summoned as a Servant and joined them in many battles. I trust my Master.
Arjuna: Though she is a bit ordinary and her perspective is quite naive at times… despite all that, she still happens to be a fine Master.
Arjuna: Her judgments are made in good faith without looking down on us. There are no reservations when it comes to honoring our names as well.
Arjuna: For many of the Servants, she was surely the ideal. Of course, I felt similarly.
Arjuna: For that very reason, I lifted the ban on my Noble Phantasm. And yet…
Arjuna: I still had yet to let her see my “face”. No, I couldn’t afford it.
Arjuna: I couldn’t expose that ugliness of mine… !
OUT IN AMERICA SOMEWHERE.
Mashu: Master, I’m getting a reading for a large amount of enemies. It seems to be a surprise attack.
Arjuna: A satisfying battle. The fulfilling sense of myself standing under the banner of true justice.
Arjuna: Using such a wonderful pretext as to save the world. Ahh – I can’t help but laugh.
[CHOICE]
1. What’s wrong? 2. Arjuna?
Arjuna: … no, it’s nothing. Come, let us raze our foes.
BATTLE BEGINS AND ENDS.
Mashu: Zero enemy readings. No problems recognized. I recommend returning to base.
[CHOICE]
1. Good work! 2. Let’s go home, Arjuna.
[ANSWER 1]
Mashu: Yes, Master. Job well done. I’ll get started on those sesame seed manjuu.
[ANSWER 2]
Arjuna: Yes, certainly.
Arjuna: By the way, Master. You didn’t see anything on my face just moments ago, did you?
Arjuna: Nothing at all? Not even an ounce of something wrong?
Mashu: I don’t see anything erratic in the Saint Graph numericals on my end. Could he just be experiencing… fatigue?
Mashu: Arjuna-san did take the initiative in battle here, after all.
Mashu: The more bloodthirsty Servants who’d come with us seemed to be calling it inconsiderate.
Arjuna: … it seems I was a bit too eager.
Arjuna: Very well. I’ll leave the rest to the others, then.
Mashu: Thanks for all your hard work!
BACK IN CHALDEA…
Mashu: Phew, Senpai. Looks like another win at cards for me. I’ll be taking that sesame manjuu as my war trophy, then.
[CHOICE]
1. Are you having a snack before bed… 2. Go right ahead.
[ANSWER 1]
Mashu: … S-Servants don’t get any heavier, so. Demi-Servants are the same way.
Mashu: … I think.
[ANSWER 2]
Mashu: Heheh. Don’t pout like that, Senpai. I made sure to prepare your share.
Mashu: Alright then, Senpai. Sweet dreams…
[CHOICE]
1. Good night! 2. Good night to you too, Fou.
[ANSWER 1]
Mashu: Yes, good night.
[ANSWER 2]
Fou: Fou!
IN THE DREAM WORLD…
[CHOICE]
1. …. ?
Arjuna: … he’s down. I defeated him.
Arjuna: Hahah… hahahah! Hahahahahah! I’m the victor! My win, mine, my very own — !
[CHOICE]
1. Arjuna… ?
Arjuna: ….. ! Master……you’re …….
Arjuna: You, saw, my face?
A BLACK SPIRAL EMERGES FROM THIS ARJUNA AND YOU PASS OUT. YOU WAKE UP IN A CAVE…
Arjuna: You’re finally awake, Master.
Arjuna: … I’m surprised.
Arjuna: As I gaze into your eyes, I can tell you’re not at all confused about this unpredictable situation.
Arjuna: It seems we’ve fallen into a Servant’s dream. A someone who seems to have connections to me.
Arjuna: If that’s truly the case, then I apologize.
[CHOICE]
1. I’m pretty much used to it. 2. This is the usual dream, isn’t it?
[ANSWER 1]
Arjuna: … that’s just like you. But this isn’t the sort of thing you should grow accustomed to.
Arjuna: Someday you may get caught up in some twisted nightmare… And if you died in it, your very own soul would perish as well.
[ANSWER 2]
Arjuna: By the “usual”, do you mean to say that you’re familiar with this sort of thing?
Arjuna: This isn’t an instance of rayshifting, nor are we in the middle of an instantaneous transition.
Arjuna: It’s an intriguing phenomenon…. At least, this is my first time experiencing it.
Arjuna: In any case, there’s not much we can do about this darkness. First, we need to gain an understanding of our surroundings.
Arjuna: Master, please stay still. It’d be exceedingly difficult to find each other if one of us were to get lost.
Arjuna: … though it’s a bit weak, I can feel wind-flow coming from that direction. Let’s head that way, shall we?
YOU WALK A WAYS UNTIL YOU FIND AN AREA LITTERED WITH BONES…
Arjuna: This is… it seems to be a labyrinth. An exceedingly deep and winding one, at that.
Arjuna: Moreover – no, one moment.
Arjuna: This is rather odd. … what does it even mean?
[CHOICE]
1. What’s wrong?
Arjuna: Though I can’t express very well as to why I’m able to sense it, there seems to be nothing above us.
Arjuna: We can only descend further and further down.
[CHOICE]
1. Which basically means there’s no exit? 2. It’s like some kind of nightmarish dungeon…
[ANSWER 1]
Arjuna: That seems to be the case. It’s the sort of outrageous structure you’d only find in a dream.
[ANSWER 2]
Arjuna: Truly. …. my sincerest apologies. This is most likely my very own nightmare.
Arjuna: If it’d been one of yours, I’m sure the circumstances would be far less harmful.
[CHOICE]
1. To the extent of Eli-chan cooking up that Manchu Han Imperial Feast. 2. To the extent of being sterilized by Nightingale-san.
[ANSWER 1]
Arjuna: Ah, by Eli-chan, do you mean that crude dragon Servant? Hahahah, that Manchu Han Imperial Feast of hers was rather inspiring.
Arjuna: Eh? It was actually nightmarish? Since you didn’t eat your fill, yes? Eh, I’m off?
[ANSWER 2]
Arjuna: That’s… certainly dreadful…
Arjuna: Though if anything, my Mother also had times where she was far more stern than sweet. Still, I feel a motherly quality in that relentlessness of hers.
Arjuna: That is to say, I believe she’s just concerned for you… I would say that’s a good thing.
Arjuna: It was a dream where she was chasing you around with her sterilizing tank? … I see, that really is a nightmare…
Arjuna: At any rate, let’s try heading down. Though I’m merely acting on my own intuition, it seems the best course.
ENEMIES APPEAR.
Arjuna: Letting them strut about may only serve to complicate things. …. well, no, they won’t be much of a problem.
Arjuna: It’ll be but a simple matter for me to penetrate their group. Let us attack and end this swiftly.
AFTER THE BATTLE YOU WALK INTO ANOTHER OPEN LABYRINTH AREA.
Arjuna: … Master. I have two bouts of unfortunate news.
Arjuna: First, the miasma in the area seems to be getting stronger. And second, it’s at a level far above the enemies we just faced.
Arjuna: … this place couldn’t be…
[CHOICE]
1. What does it mean?
Arjuna: …. anyhow, let’s continue on.
YOU END UP BACK AT THE ROOM WITH BONES.
Arjuna: For an underground labyrinth, the air is rather dry. … ahh, so that’s why.
Arjuna: This is a place close to the world I lived in. Though I’d never heard of a labyrinth that existed quite like this one.
Arjuna: And –
Arjuna: I feel a strong aura. If this is a space with a certain degree of closeness towards my world, then it must be…
Rama: Ohh, so you’ve finally arrived, Arjuna!
Arjuna: No doubt it was you – The Great King of Kosala, Rama.
Rama: To think a great hero like yourself would introduce me with such renown! What an honor!
Rama: Now then, answer this before proceeding to the antechamber.
Rama: Are you truly a proud kshatriya? Or could it be – you’re something else entirely?
Rama: Come! Let me hear your thoughts after our battle!
BATTLE WITH RAMA COMMENCES AND ENDS.
Arjuna: — to which I respond. I’m as much of a kshatriya as I am a Servant.
Arjuna: I embrace my pride as a warrior. I embrace my duties as a Servant.
Arjuna: This way I’m able to be loyal to my convictions as a warrior without sacrificing my pride.
Rama: Your logic is sound. This answer is just like you.
Rama: However, that alone shows just how unforgivably content you are. I wonder if you’ll be true to your word the next time tragedy strikes.
Arjuna: … do you dare insult me?
Rama: — make your way to the next trial, Hero. Your sworn enemy is waiting for you!
RAMA VANISHES.
Arjuna: … I know very well who it is. There’s only one warrior in the world who could give off such a fighting spirit.
YOU ENTER ANOTHER OPEN CAVE AREA.
Karna: So you’ve come, Arjuna.
Arjuna: Karna… what’re you doing here? There’s no way you could possibly be here!
Karna: — you don’t seem to feel that way.
Karna: I am the enemy who has always stood against you. That is my important role.
Karna: And so I ask of you, my bitter enemy: “Who are you?”
THEY FIGHT. KARNA IS OF THE ARCHER CLASS, WITH A SPECIAL SKILL “THE BATTLE OF MAHABHARATA”.
Karna: ….!
Arjuna: Got you!
— ahh, that’s right. I remember it clearly.
I remember this feeling and that exact moment in time. In an instant, I had lifted my finger and shot that arrow.
It was a sure-death arrow. And after I’d fired it, I came to harbor a lifetime of regret.
— and yet. — even now, as a Servant…
Arjuna: Farewell, Karna…. !
[CHOICE]
1. Wait!
Karna: ….. …..
Arjuna: Master… ?
[CHOICE]
1. I don’t want you to do something so painful. 2. You don’t really want to shoot him, do you?
[ANSWER 1]
Arjuna: Painful?
Arjuna: Don’t be foolish. To me, Karna is nothing more than my fated enemy.
Arjuna: And even as Servants, we’ll still lock blades countless times.
[ANSWER 2]
Arjuna: …. that… couldn’t be farther from the truth. Karna is my arch-enemy.
Arjuna: An existence that I cannot despise enough.
Arjuna: Though you and I exist as we are now, I have no reason not to kill him where he stands.
Arjuna: … however.
Arjuna: Karna, our battle is over. Even one as shameless as you wouldn’t see it right to have a rematch here.
Arjuna: Leave this place. Do that and I’ll let you go with your life.
Arjuna: But allow me to answer your query. My name is Arjuna.
Arjuna: And I am my Master’s – Gudako’s Servant.
Karna: …. that’s a lie.
Arjuna: … what’d you just say?
Karna: Don’t resort to such deception, Arjuna.
Karna: You’ve long forgotten one critical thing we Servants must remember.
Karna: As long as that limits you, you are no true Servant.
Arjuna: …. !
Arjuna: I….
Karna: Gudako, Arjuna. From this point on, you have no choice but to head further towards the Abyss.
Karna: It’s fine to stop now. To disregard the matter entirely wouldn’t be inconsiderate.
Karna: Think of what’s coming as the worst possible conclusion. What lies ahead will only hurt the both of you. It’s a place laden with grief.
[CHOICE]
1. … even so, I have to go. 2. Something important is there.
Arjuna: Master….
Karna: Your Master’s resolve is firm. Arjuna, what will you do?
Arjuna: …..
Arjuna: That goes without saying! I fear not the depths ahead! Master, let us move on!
Arjuna: To whatever demons lie ahead, may I face a road of strife. I walk with justice!
Karna: I see. Then let’s proceed.
— Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me.
— “Krishna” lives deep within my heart.
Those wicked whispers. They goaded me on, guided my course, and held all the weight of my sins.
… what terrible excuses. I’m so wretched, so shameful, so disgusting, so much that I can’t bear to look at myself…
Ahh, however.
YOU ARRIVE AT THE RAVINE, THE ABYSS.
Arjuna: … I see. So that’s me.
Karna: There he sits upon his throne, looking down on us with a scornful smile. He isn’t the least bit afraid of straying from his path as a warrior.
Karna: That in itself is “Krishna”. Arjuna, that is the darkness you’ve been holding onto for so long… am I wrong?
Arjuna: You’re correct. Though for it to be this hideous…
Ah, how enviable they are – But is that not what it is to be human?
Despicable yet they endure. Gallant yet they quake with fear.
Lamenting in their desire for salvation as they cry, lamenting as they risk their lives fervently to save one another.
That this is what it is to be and what must be.
Within them, something beseeches so.
[CHOICE]
1. Krishna… ?
Karna: That’s right. Krishna.
Karna: An avatar of Vishnu, as well as the man who was once Arjuna’s companion throughout the Mahabharata.
Karna: Without a doubt, that man existed. He was a great hero who toyed considerably with our army.
Karna: He was also the one to steer Arjuna’s chariot.
Karna: … but this and that are two different matters. Another Krishna has rooted himself here within the heart.
Arjuna: Krishna! I, who have crowned myself with the name of my dear friend!
Krishna: Feedback from Arjuna? No… an expedition, perhaps?
Krishna: Have you come to repel the darkness, to seek the light?
Arjuna: Naturally!
Krishna: You’re far beyond redemption, my friend!
Krishna: Only the innermost darkness would ever be capable of saving I who was once called “Kiriti, the Shining Diadem”.
Krishna: — what a pathetic sight you are. It’s ironic, really. To think you’d go so far in your search for strength as to forge bonds.
Krishna: There’s just no way around it. I’ve got to kill those shackled to you as soon as possible.
Krishna: To which I say, does it not seem like there are two I ought to kill right by your side?
Arjuna: That’s …
[CHOICE]
1. Arjuna. 2. Krishna.
[ANSWER 1]
Arjuna: Please, don’t look at me! I’m a hero. I truly am one. This isn’t right. This isn’t the real me!
Arjuna: No matter what… I needed to be a righteous hero. That is why I so desperately had to hide away this “me”.
Arjuna: Even from my very own Master!
[ANSWER 2]
Krishna: Let’s commence with your slaughter, shall we? Smoothly, quietly, peacefully.
Krishna: … what’d you just say?
Arjuna: Master…. !?
[CHOICE]
1. What does it even matter!? 2. Everyone’s got a little hate in their heart!
Arjuna: But I…. – I! I had such a fortunate upbringing!
Arjuna: I revered all that was good, detested all that was evil, and lived out my life as a proud warrior!
Arjuna: There’s no feasible way such wicked thoughts could’ve flourished!
Arjuna: No… I couldn’t have let them!
Krishna: That’s exactly right, Arjuna!
Krishna: And let there be no exceptions. No matter who or what, if they witness the real me, they must die.
Krishna: I couldn’t remain a hero otherwise. In order for me to remain as I am, sacrifices are necessary…!
Karna: You’re as unruly as ever, Krishna.
Karna: It’s only right for you to be this unsettled, what with this being the first time three individuals had ever gotten this far.
Karna: Like how various symbols stood in the way of Rama during his lifetime, I will always stand in Arjuna’s way to symbolize an antagonist.
Karna: And to you Krishna, who are Arjuna’s companion… You exist here also as a symbol of evil.
Karna: A black shadow strongly rooted within his heart since childhood…
Karna: A personality that lurked under the surface always giving counsel, with a different systematic thought process, priorities, and retained code of ethics.
Karna: Even I am but a body composed from Arjuna’s memories.
Karna: The only one who differs from us in this realm is you, Master. You who worried for Arjuna and answered his summons.
Arjuna: ….wha….. worry….?
Karna: Arjuna.
Karna: At the very end, we weren’t able to race together with our chariots nor clash with our weapons.
Karna: For that very reason, I felt it was best to oppose you for all of eternity.
Karna: But things have changed. Evolved, even.
Karna: At that stage in America, you finally came to understand my feelings… or at least, you’d begun to.
Arjuna: I…
Krishna: Shut up…. shut up, shut up, shut up! Know your disgrace, Karna!
Krishna: Just like I’ve become, you are evil itself! Therefore I must destroy you… !!
Karna: I’d like you to lend me a hand, Master. With you, and Arjuna’s help…
Karna: First, we need to silence Krishna. Persuading him will have to come after…!!
YOU FIGHT AND DEFEAT “KRISHNA”.
Krishna: Ghh…. ! This isn’t over! Help me, Arjuna!
Krishna: We’re to stand together and contest all evil!
Arjuna: ….. …..
Arjuna: … no, we aren’t. You’re wrong, Krishna.
Arjuna: That won’t do.
Krishna: … what, do you mean?
Arjuna: I’ve always… always thought this. That because you were with me, I was able to fire that arrow.
Arjuna: That cowardly behavior that strayed from the warrior’s path – You were responsible for it all.
Arjuna: …. that seemingly perpetual combat with Karna. All I’d wanted at the time was to be put at ease.
Arjuna: My very existence had become so stunted that I was seized with despair over whether I was truly worthy of the warrior name.
Arjuna: Nevertheless, I have to accept it. No matter how much I try to deny it, the one who truly shot that arrow was –
Krishna: Hold your tongue, Arjuna! If you speak, a thousand-year curse will befall you!
Karna: You have to say it, Arjuna.
Karna: There is no proper answer. All you can do is cling desperately onto that belief of yours until the end.
Karna: You may lose your way at times. But that is why we walk side-by-side with our Master.
Karna: We Servants must walk alongside hesitation as we live out these second lives.
Karna: Even if it prevents you from going back to being the ‘you’ that you were in your lifetime.
Arjuna: — the one who shot that arrow, was me.
Arjuna: I clutched it tightly, I nocked it. The one who shot that arrow was I, Arjuna.
Arjuna: Forgive me.
Arjuna: Krishna, at that time, you weren’t fighting with me on the chariot…
Karna: Precisely.
Karna: At the time, Krishna was fighting somewhere else. He learned of your residual shame and yet probably kept his silence.
Krishna: … so you’re capable of recognizing your evil nature now. In life, and even in death as a Heroic Spirit, you know nothing will change.
Krishna: All your life will be spent in regret.
Arjuna: Of course. That may very well be. But I’ve made up my mind. No longer will I fear my own regrets.
Krishna: ….. …..
Krishna: I see… Then all you’ve left is to entrust them to me.
Arjuna: Krishna… ?
Krishna: Maybe, just maybe… My very existence will prove a problem to you yet.
Arjuna: I haven’t a clue as to what you mean...
Krishna: Oh, it’s not important. Pay me no mind. … now, it’s about time you awakened from this dream, Gudako.
Krishna: I can’t imagine me having another part to play. It’d be best if you just forgot this entire matter.
Karna: This spells the end of my appearance as well. Farewell, Arjuna. Farewell, Master.
Arjuna: It seems I’m to disappear soon as well –
Arjuna: Let me apologize before that, Master. It’s my fault you were thrust into such a risky situation.
Arjuna: All thanks to the fact that our bond had grown so strong.
Arjuna: This whole time I’d been afraid of deepening that bond, of letting Krishna’s existence be known.
Arjuna: That’s why you were lured into my dreams — to be killed.
Arjuna: What a fool I am. And the worst kind of traitor, as well. I’d have no complaints if you were to have me executed.
Arjuna: … Master. You know everything there is to know about me.
Arjuna: Through all my wickedness, my good and my evil, my everything as I am – you’ve taken all my burdens upon yourself.
Arjuna: No longer will I fear the darkness nor your smile. Never again, I swear…
TO THE MY ROOM…
[CHOICE]
1. That… wasn’t a dream, was it?
Arjuna: — I see you’ve finally awoken, Master. I hope you were having pleasant dreams.
Arjuna: Above all, I must apologize once more for putting your life in danger.
Arjuna: I’m at a loss. Though I wish more than anything to offer you my life in exchange for this sin, I would then be unable to fight.
Arjuna: What should I do?
[CHOICE]
1. Good morning, Arjuna.
Arjuna: …………. good morning.
Arjuna: I’ll hesitate no longer. From now on I’ll put my heart and my soul, my everything into serving you.
Arjuna: And yet, even then…
Arjuna: Though my journey to reach this point was a long one, in others ways it felt particularly short.
Arjuna: Nothing in this world is inevitable. In every aspect it can be said that all is flux, and nothing stays still.
Arjuna: One’s emotions are no exception. Love and affection may warp into hatred and sorrow.
Arjuna: The contrary also being possible…
Arjuna: Still, there’s one thing I’m certain of.
Arjuna: … I’m glad I had the chance to meet you.
I am an Archer. My name is Arjuna.
A Servant, as well as a kshatriya –
I lend my Master my power in order to take back the future. I’m nothing more than an average Heroic Spirit.
A man descended from gods, and yet isn’t one of their kind. A prodigy with power that no ordinary human should have.
Just someone who fights. A man who fights alongside his Master. Whose only purpose is to tackle the battles yet to come, to serve.
With that in mind, I was finally able to perceive myself as a Heroic Spirit. For that reason I was able to accept my “darkness”, to no longer think of it as shame.
I am an Archer, and I am Arjuna.
I am Gudako’s Servant.
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