Strength VS Technique

Raid Event: Fortune from Afar

Episode 6

Strength VS Technique

Previous Quest

A New Year Dawns

Next Quest

Shishimai Showdown/Beginner

Summary

The second round of the hospitality face-off is a demonstration of traditional skills. When it can't be settled, Ieyasu suggests they determine a winner by seeing who can gather more New Year's gifts from Shishimai in an otherworld location known as the Kagura Stage.

Dialogue

Hospitality Face-Off Round Two: Traditional Skills Botan VS Addis What are you doing in the courtyard? I thought we would demonstrate some Hinomotoan skills to everyone. Those who study the martial arts in Hinomoto seek not brute strength, but exceptional technique. And now, we shall provide a little entertainment to demonstrate those skills. Well, that sounds like fun! Looks like I'm first. Right then... He just closed his eyes and sheathed his sword. Am I supposed to be impressed? Such incredible focus. I can actually feel the tension in the air... HAH! Huh? What did he just cut? Nothing changed on the striking post. Did he miss? Go on. Touch it. Okay. Where should I—WAAAAH! It just fell to pieces! He cut the post so fast, the pieces actually stayed together! Pretty fascinating, ain't it? It's cut, and yet not. Yes, we're all super impressed... but now it's MY turn! Next up, the amazing Botan will demonstrate her naginata skills! Aaand...HAH! YAAH! It's beautiful! She's flows from one motion to the next, and yet never leaves herself open to a possible attack. This kid seemed a bit scatterbrained before, but look at her now! HIII-YAH! Oh wow! She just cut through all of the training posts at once! Moving like that with such a long weapon is impressive indeed. She is quite skilled. No more joking around—this round's mine for sure! I don't know—that sword thing Addis did was pretty darn impressive. This is going to be a difficult one. Well then? Which of the two is our winner this time, Euden? This is tough. They were both impressive. In that case, we'll have to settle this the simple way! Can't believe I was thinkin' the same thing, yet here we are. What are you two talking about? We settle it with a duel. A duel between naginata and sword! Watch closely, Euden! It's gonna be totally obvious which one of us is better. Now, let's make this... A fair fight! Ah! Ieyasu got between the two of them and stopped it! He sidestepped Botan's naginata strike and deflected Addis' sword blow at the same time! That's enough from both of you. For what reason are we even having this hospitality face-off? Sorry, master. Somethin' about her just gets me all riled up. What's the problem here? Fighting each other directly just makes it clear which one of us is more awesome! Those who study the martial arts in Hinomoto seek not brute strength, but exceptional technique. You can show off your strength in a duel all you like, but it will not demonstrate the brilliance of your skills. That would be a poor way indeed to demonstrate hospitality to those of a foreign land. You're so thick-headed sometimes, Ieyasu! It's fine to be strong AND skilled! How DARE you speak to him like that?! I'll cut you down! Then come at me, bub! Both of you, stop that this instan— NOOOO FIIIIGHTING! Ugh! If you're gonna start fighting, I'm calling this whole thing off! Whaaaaat?! But it was gonna be so cool! The whole point of having a face-off was to AVOID a true fight. Both sides are to blame here; canceling the face-off is the only proper decision. And bad kids who fight on this great day don't get any gifts! The gifts... That's it! What if we were to determine the winner of this bout by seeing who can gather up the most New Year's gifts? Whoever steals more gifts from Shishimai will be declared the victor. Well, there will be a clear winner and loser, at least. But Master, I thought the gifts were for Euden. Which is why he and his friends will also be joining in. But aren't we supposed to be judging? We came up with this plan in the hopes you might have some fun. Now please, go forth and enjoy yourselves while gathering up New Year's gifts. Any you obtain will be yours to keep. That sounds super fun! Now hold on a moment! We can't very well engage in such shenanigans with a dragon; the castle will be ruined! Which is why I prepared a special venue for the event. It is called the Kagura Stage, and it is an otherworld borne of Amaterasu. Which means we can be as rowdy as we like without doing any damage. But how are we going to GET there? ...Ooooh! We use theeeeese! Just so. The gleamshards—or otherworld fragments, as you call them—will serve as passage to the Kagura Stage. They will cut a path through space in order to guide us there. Then what are we waiting for? Let's score ourselves some gifts! All right. We'll do our best! Hee hee! I'm not gonna give 'em up that easily! Addis? Botan? Is this plan acceptable to the two of you as well? I obey you in all things, master. Throw whatever you want at me— I'm not gonna lose! Then we're off for the Kagura Stage! I can't wait to see what it's like!