Making Amends

Raid Event: Fortune from Afar

Episode 9

Making Amends

Previous Quest

Rescue Botan!

Next Quest

Moonlight March

Summary

Ieyasu defeats the fiends and reveals the truth of the Twelve Wyrmclans to Botan. Thus having reconciled, they return to the castle with the prince, where the New Year's party gets a fresh start. The gift-gathering then begins anew, with Hinomoto challenging Alberia.

Dialogue

RAAAGH! GRAAARGH! Ha! You're far too slow! What, back again? You got pluck, I'll give you that—but this ends now! I wield the blade of daybreak to drive back the wicked! Back to the dust with you! Daybreak Flurry! It is over. Seems that way. ...Ah! Botan! You're hurt! Just a scratch. I'm totally fin—OWWW! Come. I will see to your wounds. I don't need any help from you! Be silent and let me see! ...Fine. There, that should do it. I'm glad it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Just to be safe, we'll have Cleo take a closer look when we get back. I am in your debt. Now then, Botan—are you a fool?! Have you any idea how rash your actions were?! I'm no fool! And yet, taking on a vast number of fiends alone is foolishness itself! Whatever. I've done it before. Then what say you about your injury? I was just...careless. Those who misread their own strength are not strong, but instead the basest of fools. ...But in this case, it is I who am the fool. For you only attempted this dangerous game because of my actions. Look, I don't know if— I now realize the great truth of Euden's words. For your sake as my friend, I put you at a distance, but in the end this brought only sadness upon you—which was the very thing I wanted to avoid. Let me explain the truth of the Twelve Wyrmclans to you now. Is this the reason you abandoned me? Yes. The heads of the Twelve Wyrmclans are permitted to forge pacts between a dragon and their own soul—a soulpact. The strength of a dragon is mighty indeed. But alas, there must by necessity be an equivalent price paid for such power. I don't like where this is going... The soul provides an intermediary for the soulpact. This is inescapable. Thus, those who form this pact are doomed to a shortened life. They...what? So you aren't just joining your soul to the dragon? You're actually offering it up as some kind of...sacrifice? Essentially, yes. This is why the successor family has twelve branches—so when the shogun dies, there is assured to be at least one heir ready to take their place. You make it sound like you're disposable! No one can replace you, Ieyasu! Why would you ever agree to this?! It is because I love Hinomoto. My family is there. My people are there. And my dearest friends will live on there. I would sacrifice my life without regret if it allowed me to protect them thus. And so that was the reason...? Indeed. I could not bear for you to face the pain you feel at this very moment, which is why I separated from you. Not to mention that being a successor candidate to the shogun is fraught with many dangers unrelated to my soul. You cared not for the trappings of house and title, and for that, I fervently wished to avoid involving you in such dangers. That's just you being self-indulgent! You thought I was so weak that you couldn't just tell me the truth? It had nothing to do with strength; I simply couldn't bear your sadness. And there it is! I do not understand. You are SO thickheaded sometimes! Er, I am? So yes, this is all a huge shock. And yes, it makes me very sad. But I'm not the kind of girl who sits around WALLOWING in her sadness! You decided to put your life on the line for your people and your friends, right? Well, I'm going to support you in that so you can fulfill your duty without regret. And if you'd just told me all this earlier, I never would have tried to make you fail your assignment! My dear Botan... I am so terribly sorry for ignoring your feelings. Could you possibly find it within yourself to forgive me? You're an idiot. I came after you so we could have the kind of friendship we used to! So yes, idiot! Of COURSE I can forgive you! I...see. In that case, I, too, hope that we might rekindle our old ways. Master Ieyasu! Botan! Is everyone all right? Botan hurt her arm. Could you take a look at it, Cleo? Oh, it's nothing. Look, see? Doesn't even hurt anymore. Let's just have her examine it anyway. Fiiine! Do your thing. Come here, please. Well, she's being uncharacteristically cooperative. Right? I figured she woulda bitten off Ieyasu's head by now. Have you and Botan worked things out, Master Ieyasu? I believe we have—and it's thanks to Euden. I had simply never considered trying to overcome our sadness together. If it makes you feel better, I understand where you were coming from. But I met your friend and realized there are some troubles we have to overcome with the help of another. In good times or bad, it's always better to face them with someone you like. Hmm... Mutual exchange, rather than unilateral service... I believe I had forgotten this truth since taking on my role as head of my clan. Though you are yet young, Prince, I know you will make a splendid king. Wait, that's not what I meant. It's just... I guess I was just trying to explain what I was thinking. And your thinking is splendid indeed! Now then, my Alberian friends! I pray you can forgive me for exposing a rather unsightly side of myself to you. If it is acceptable, perhaps we might begin our New Year's hospitality anew? Though this time, I believe we may all enjoy the boons of said hospitality. Let us share in a delightful party! Of course! Let's do it! I'm gonna give out a TON of New Year's gifts to celebrate this mended friendship! Count me IN! Botan? What about your injuries? Aw, Cleo fixed me up good. Besides, there's no injury that could keep me from a rockin' party like this! So, let's do the gift-gathering contest again! I mean, it'd be super boring to just hand 'em out after all this. Great idea! I mean, how often are we gonna get a chance to face off against a big ol' dragon like yours? Bwa ha ha! I could go for a little Alberia versus Hinomoto action. Sounds interesting. How about it, Master Ieyasu? If my counterpart is willing to participate, then I shall do so gladly. But I must hear the challenge accepted by Euden. Heh. We'll give you everything we've got. Then it is decided... Let the second New Year's gift-gathering contest begin!