Houzouin Inshun
A Fight Against the Self (Literally)
Inshun:
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
I see, I see.
Inshun:
So he is somehow me, but also not me...
Inshun:
...Lancer of Purgatorio.
Fujimaru 1:
I'd rather not think about him too much...
Inshun:
I understand.
I am very sorry about this, Fujimaru.
Fujimaru 2:
Sorry we don't really have much on him...
Inshun:
Not at all. This is more than enough.
Hmm, I see he was quite the monster.
Mash:
Can I ask what brought this up, Inshun? What made you want to see the information on Shimousa now...?
Inshun:
A fair question.
Inshun:
As I see it, one could make a compelling case for Lancer of Purgatorio's sins being my own.
Inshun:
Despite being summoned as a Heroic Spirit...
Inshun:
...it was my own strength that made me a target–a catalyst to facilitate my fall to Lancer of Purgatorio.
Inshun:
That will never do. It is a far more miserable fate than I could have ever imagined.
Fujimaru 1:
But, that wasn't your fault...
Inshun:
Indeed not.
Fujimaru 2:
You have a pretty intense sense of personal responsibility!
Inshun:
I am a monk first, you know.
Even before I am a hero.
Inshun:
Of course, I have no memory whatsoever of the time I spent as Lancer of Purgatorio.
Inshun:
So, from my perspective...
Inshun:
...it is no different than having a doppelgänger going around causing destruction in my name.
Inshun:
However, Master, there is one aspect of this in particular that I absolutely cannot abide.
Inshun:
This evil doppelgänger of mine cannot–must not be stronger than me.
Inshun:
For if giving myself over to evil made my spear techniques that much sharper, I would have no choice but to do so.
Inshun:
Of course, I would see it as a failure, as I would have given up my humanity.
Inshun:
But had I learned of it while I was alive...I cannot say for certain that I could have resisted the temptation that would have offered.
Inshun:
Indeed, I cannot be certain at all.
And that worries me!
Inshun:
Lady Musashi was kind enough to assure me that I was definitely stronger than Purgatorio...
Inshun:
...but that is not enough!
Inshun:
No, I believe the only choice left to me now is to prove it in the simulator.
Inshun:
It is possible to do that, yes?
If I can converse with him there too, so much the better.
Inshun:
This way, I can find out which of us is stronger...me, or my evil doppelgänger.
Fujimaru 1:
...All right, I can see you've made up your mind.
Inshun:
Indeed, I have.
Thank you for indulging me, Master!
Fujimaru 2:
Okay, let's do it!
Inshun:
Wonderful! No evil version of me will ever get the better of my true self!
Mash:
...Now I see. Fighting Lancer of Purgatorio really is something you need to do for yourself.
Mash:
Understood.
I'll boot up the simulator right now!
--BATTLE--:
Inshun:
Too easy!
Inshun:
In fact...they all seemed strangely weak.
Fujimaru 1:
Yeah, the real one was way stronger than that.
Inshun:
I thought as much.
Fujimaru 2:
Maybe you're just that good...?
Inshun:
Thank you, Master, but I know that the Purgatorio I saw in Chaldea's database was capable of more than this.
Inshun:
Lady Mash, I appreciate your thoughtfulness,
but there is no need to hold anything back.
Inshun:
Please, give me something closer to the true Purgatorio.
Mash:
R-right!
Mash:
Okay, let's see...
I know, I'll try raising the difficulty!
Mash:
I'll also increase his base stats, unlock his Noble Phantasm, and give him more subordinates to command...
Mash:
There, that should do it.
Commencing second battle now!
--BATTLE--:
Inshun:
Hmm. That was certainly a more challenging foe...
but still a far cry from what I was hoping for.
Inshun:
His spear technique was lacking in both refinement and bloodlust.
Mash:
I see... I'm sorry. I'm afraid this might be as close as the simulator can get.
Inshun:
What a shame. Then I suppose it will not be possible to compare our skills in this manner.
Inshun:
I apologize for wasting your time with this, Master!
Fujimaru 1:
Don't worry about it. All part of the job.
Inshun:
Hahahaha. Spoken like a true leader.
Inshun:
Very well then, let us call it a day.
Thank you again, Master!
Fujimaru 1:
Anytime, Inshun.
Fou:
Fooou...
Narration:
The sky is stained red as blood.
Crimson crows caw eerily in the distance.
Narration:
Blood drips from the tip of my spear. I will not relax my grip until those before me are dead.
Narration:
...Rejoice. Your offerings are all here.
Narration:
I will kill all manner of innocents.
Children, the elderly, infants, invalids...
Narration:
Why, you ask? To sharpen my spear. Spears are meant for killing, and so only killing can hone their edges.
Narration:
The time for the massacre is at hand.
Fujimaru 1:
Wh-what the hell!?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Hahahahahaha!
Hee... Heeheeheeheehee!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
What a delightful discovery! I can feel my skills sharpening with every life my spear takes!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Thinking back on it now...
my life could not have been more dull!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Behold, behold, behold, Fujimaru!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
The more bodies pile up,
the keener my spear grows!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Now, you will bear witness as I kill hundreds, thousands, all to propel my spear into the realm of the gods!
A：???:
Ahem... I apologize for interrupting your speech,
but I take it you are Lord Lancer of Purgatorio?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
...So, you've come...
Houzouin Inshun...!
Inshun:
Of course. Now that I have heard your third-rate villainy for myself, I cannot simply stand by and do nothing about it.
Inshun:
My name is Houzouin Inshun.
Now, let us have a good, fair fight.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Hahaha! You, Inshun?
At best, you are a pale imitation.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
You live in a dreamworld, whereas I live in reality. Refusing to take life? The Buddha's mercy?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Foolishness! Complete and utter foolishness!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
You reached your limit the moment you allowed such pointless notions to hold you back!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
There will be no fight!
Only a slaughter!
Inshun:
If killing truly made one stronger, the Warring States period would have overflowed with masters of the blade.
Inshun:
Hmm... Be honest with me, Master.
Inshun:
Between him and me, who do you think is stronger?
Fujimaru 1:
You!
Inshun:
Hahahaha! You have a good eye indeed, Master!
Fujimaru 2:
Us!
Inshun:
O-oh, right. It is a bit embarrassing to have it pointed out so bluntly, but I cannot deny it!
Inshun:
That aside, if anyone here should be laughing, it is me!
Inshun:
Purgatorio, you have been going on and on about making your spear sharper, which leaves me a bit confused.
Inshun:
Which is it? Do you wish for your spear to grow sharper, or do you wish to grow stronger?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
What was that...?
Inshun:
The best mouse-catching cat in the world would be no good to anyone if it also went around eating people.
Inshun:
After all, a cat's most important duty is to be cute. Would you not agree?
Fujimaru 1:
Meow.
Inshun:
Exactly. All a cat need do to be cute is meow.
Fujimaru 2:
Yeah, I guess that's true.
Inshun:
Unfortunately, it seems Purgatorio here has gotten his priorities mixed up.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
What are you even talking about!?
Inshun:
It's simple.
Inshun:
If all you want is a sharper spear, there is a better way to obtain it than by slaughtering people.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
What...!?
Inshun:
All you need do is let someone stronger handle it.
What could be easier?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Ridiculous, Inshun!
You're not making the least bit of sense!
Inshun:
And what sense is there in causing others unnecessary pain and suffering?
Inshun:
Is your desire merely to brag about all the lives you have taken?
Inshun:
If so, I can think of no more hollow or foolish endeavor than the one you undertake.
Inshun:
I imagine the corruption makes it impossible for you to know any better, but I cannot help but laugh when I think how you truly believed that was all you needed to grow stronger.
Inshun:
All right. I've learned all I wanted to know.
Now the only thing left to us is a duel.
Inshun:
Indeed, I consider this an act of mercy, for I have never in my life met a more pitiable opponent!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Enough of your foolish prattling, Inshun!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
You will see for yourself how sharp my spear has become...as it slices you to ribbons!
Inshun:
Come then, Master.
Inshun:
Let us bring this to a speedy end and be on our way back to Chaldea!
--BATTLE--:
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Mwahahaha! Is that all you've got!?
None can match this body and its sheer techni–
Inshun:
It's over.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Wha...!?
Ah... Ahhh!?
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Impossible! This can't be right! Your strike had all the strength of a house cat swatting at a reed! How could I not parry it...!?
Inshun:
You have wasted so much power; power that already exceeded your limits. Of course it would leave you vulnerable.
Inshun:
You completely failed to understand your own body, Purgatorio.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
No... No! This cannot be true!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
I haven't even avenged my defeat at the hands of that Musashi woman!
Lancer of Purgatorio:
My miraculous resurrection was meant to be my chance to exact my reven–
Inshun:
Hmm, I suppose you may fare a bit better against an opponent with swords since that has been your focus...
Inshun:
...but the rest is quite sloppy. You may have gained in one area, but you have lost much in others.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Wha...
Inshun:
Whether they reach the level of the Buddha or become an oni, everyone eventually hits their limit.
Inshun:
Speaking for myself, I find it an incredible waste.
Inshun:
Your spear may have grown sharper,
but as a Lancer, you have grown weaker.
Lancer of Purgatorio:
How... How dare yoooooou!?
You'll pay for this, Inshun!
Inshun:
Farewell, Purgatorio.
Inshun:
...What a disappointment. To think I would be no more than a common highwayman if I fell from grace...
Lancer of Purgatorio:
Urk... Ghh...
Inshun:
Phew, there we go.
Now that was a good simulation.
Inshun:
Lady Mash, would you be so kind as to turn the simulator off now? ...Lady Mash?
Fujimaru 1:
I don't think we're in the simulator.
Inshun:
...Are you sure?
Inshun:
They called me here so suddenly that I simply assumed this was some sort of emergency training...
Fujimaru 2:
I think this is just a dream.
Inshun:
I see. Just another dream sequence, huh.
...Wait. A dream!?
Inshun:
Ahh...
Inshun:
I never thought this would only turn out to be a dream I shared with you, Master!
Inshun:
Hmm... Well, I suppose that is all right.
Inshun:
If the only life I took was my own,
surely no one could be upset about that!
Inshun:
Indeed, I believe they refer to this as a win-win-win!
Inshun:
...No?
Fujimaru 1:
All's well that ends well!
Inshun:
Right!
Inshun:
Now then, I think I will have to try dueling Lady Musashi as soon as I wake up...
Inshun:
Otherwise, all the effort Purgatorio put into his anti-Musashi techniques will go to waste.
Inshun:
Still, there is one thing this incident has assured me of, Master.
Inshun:
I am now certain that I truly am the best version of myself!