William Shakespeare

Curtain Call

Shakespeare: Hm...Master, can I have a minute? This town lacks something. What do you think it is?


Fujimaru 1: Smiles.


Fujimaru 2: Happiness.


Shakespeare: Exactly! The world is a stage, and the men and women coming and going on it are performers.

Shakespeare: Regardless, there is no smile in this town. No happiness. Why is that–?

Shakespeare: It's because there is no drama! If so, shall we put up an improv for people to see?

Mash: An improv? ...And you said "we."... By "we", you mean...

Shakespeare: Why, of course I mean myself, Mash Kyrielight, and Master Fujimaru.

Mash: I-Impossible! I've never seen or performed a play!

Shakespeare: Oh, you haven't?

Mash: Y-Yes. I'm sorry for my inexperience... But there was never any need for me to...

Shakespeare: Hahaha, what are you talking about? That need is more apparent than ever for you!

Shakespeare: What you need right now is love, words and poetry! A kindled passion is exactly what you need!

Mash: Ohhhh, but...

Shakespeare: Oh, and a shield and weapon, too. It's kind of sudden, I know–

Citizen: Monsters! Monsters are coming–!

Shakespeare: But monsters are coming all of a sudden, you see!

Mash: W-Why is that–?


Fujimaru 1: W-We should deal with them.


Fujimaru 2: Let's protect everyone!


Shakespeare: Oh, what a courageous line! But I wish you'd made your delivery a bit more complex.

Shakespeare: "Hear your death bell ringing! Are you going to heaven, or to hell!" ...How about that?

Mash: Uh, excuse me. Please join the battle!

--BATTLE--:

Shakespeare: Oh, how valorous you were. You are majestic even when standing behind me, Master.

Shakespeare: Well, the Holy Grail War is a fine thing. It's a war that contains elements common to historical plays, tragedy and comedy!

Mash: I'm...glad to hear that.

Shakespeare: See, hear the thunderous applause.

Citizen: You were so cool, kid!

Citizen: I love you, let's make a baby!

Citizen: Who's giving out the orders behind that girl... A king, emperor, or a general...?

Mash: Wh-Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa...

Mash: L-Let's get going, Master!

Shakespeare: I wish I could work out the lines a little more there...

Mash: Give me a break...!

Shakespeare: Well, it's important to select words with care. I hope you'll work harder next time.

Mash: Wh-What? Did you say–Next time?

Shakespeare: Yes. Listen, Mash, Master.

Shakespeare: You two are the protagonists of this play. A girl and her master rise up to save this town.

Shakespeare: The girl is a steel knight with a fragile heart. The master is a vulnerable human with a steel heart.

Shakespeare: By going hand in hand, the two characters begin to transform from craven to courageous.

Shakespeare: And standing in their way–

Shakespeare: Are diabolical beasts beyond human understanding. Unable to communicate, they are incompatible.

Shakespeare: Their sad existence is fated to be hostile to humans. By delivering the final blow, the two heroes are able to move on.

Shakespeare: It is a treacherous path denying them even sleep, the one balm for their wounded bodies and souls.

Shakespeare: Regardless, they have no regret, despair, or resignation.

Shakespeare: Even if what they fight against is the great existence constituting the framework of the universe–

Shakespeare: You two shall march onward!

Mash: ...Excuse me, but I have one question.

Shakespeare: Sure, what is it?

Mash: Sorry if I'm wrong, but are you summoning those enemies–?

Shakespeare: ...Well! It's time to fight, Master!

Mash: Answer my question!

--BATTLE--:

Mash: (panting...)

Shakespeare: And now it's time for the climax!

Mash: Uh, are you sure you didn't summon them? With the power a Caster might use, maybe?

Shakespeare: Sorry, but I'm not skilled in magecraft at all. I'm a writer, after all.

Mash: Right. You do have a point there–

Shakespeare: Anyway, there's a villain who's feeling frustrated. Let's say, his initial is 'S.'

Mash: S? Um, Mr. Shakespeare? So it is you–

Shakespeare: The villain named S grows impatient with the town's neverending peace, curses the people, and to top it all off, he comes up with a plot!

Shakespeare: It was to use the townspeople! To incite the townspeople, and turn them into daemons so he can make them attack our heroes.

Mash: What!? Shakespeare, is that–!?

Mash: No way...!?

Shakespeare: They have no people to protect, no friends to share laughter with.All they do now is shiver with loneliness–

Shakespeare: "You can give in." The demon whispers. "You can rest now." The nightmare murmurs.

Shakespeare: Well, well, well, what are you going to do, Mash Kyrielight? Indeed, what are you going to do, Fujimaru–My Master!?

Mash: Ugh... Master!


Fujimaru 1: We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Shakespeare: Ha! I didn't expect that answer!

Shakespeare: It essentially means transience, that everything you struggle for in life is merely what happens in your dream.

Shakespeare: But, however–you are different. You've perceived a different meaning in it.

Shakespeare: A dream is hope. Hope is what is laid with courage and determination.

Shakespeare: Then, your battle speaks for itself. For you are the dream!


Fujimaru 2: I don't care about philosophy.

Shakespeare: Heheheh, I knew you'd say that! What you just said is absolutely true, Master!

Shakespeare: A demon's whisper, reasonable conclusion, and compelling valid argument.All those kinds of things–

Shakespeare: You're welcome to get over them simply by saying, "I don't care!"

Shakespeare: Because it is evil in the name of a valid argument. It is a cowardly trick trying to camouflage the evil with a facade called theory.

Shakespeare: Just go ahead and do it!


Shakespeare: You are great, Master. You are fantastic and invincible!

Mash: ...Yes. He's absolutely right, Master.

Mash: I have no doubts. If there's no way to turn them back, we just need to defeat them.

Mash: I'm coming with you, Master!

--BATTLE--:

Mash: We defeated them...!

Shakespeare: Oh, we must hail your victory! ...Now that they won the battle, the end of their dream comes.

Mash: Huh–?

Mash: O-Oh? The town...is gone!?

Shakespeare: Excellent job, Master. And you, Mash Kyrielight...the shield and sword.

Shakespeare: The dream is now over. You gathered the beautiful threads of your story.

Shakespeare: Now, let's walk toward the rest of the story. I am certain the transient dream and illusion shall satiate your mind.

Shakespeare: ...And of course, for me, too.

Mash: From...where to where was it a dream...?

Shakespeare: –Heheheh. Of course, that's a secret. Playwrights never reveal their methods so easily.