第十三幕『そして桃太郎は』

Dr. Roman:

We’re finally at the summit of Onigashima!

Mash:

The summit has quite the view… But I can feel it brimming with a terrible aura.

Benkei:

The weather has grown worse. Ominous black clouds, namu….

Sakata Kintoki:

At last, it’s how you’d expect Onigashima to look. Are we finally going to meet the Big Bad?

Ushiwakamaru:

Indeed. This is the culmination of our oni-slaying. I anticipate a dramatic showdown.

Fuuma Kotarou:

…! Look, everybody. That’s…!

Mash:

In the middle of the clearing, there’s something…

Benkei:

What an ominous chalice. Hm? Someone’s standing in front of it…

[Raikou.]

Ushiwakamaru:

It’s Lord Raikou. She should have been pursuing Shuten-douji. Has the battle concluded?

Lord Raikou, what-

Sakata Kintoki:

Wait.

Mash:

Kintoki?

Sakata Kintoki:

Don’t approach carelessly. That isn’t her.

Minamoto no Raikou:

…Heh heh. So you’ve finally come, Kintoki.

Sakata Kintoki:

Tsk. I see. So that’s what Shuten was up to.

When I think about it, that hedonist wouldn’t have bothered with a simple turf war among oni.

But, she couldn’t ignore an enemy that’s a big shot even among the oni.

Why? Why are you back?

Minamoto no Raikou:

Heh. Heh heh heh. Hee hee hee hee hee hee!

You understand. This can only be love, of course!

Dr. Roman:

Wha-!?

Mash:

W-What is this wicked aura?

Ushiwakamaru:

Lord Raikou… what in the world…?

Sakata Kintoki:

…That isn’t Chief Raikou. It’s Raikou, but distorted.

Isn’t that right, demon chieftain? Ushi-gozen of Suzugamori!

Ushi-gozen:

Heh heh. We’re one and the same. You know that.

Sakata Kintoki:

Wrong. You were defeated and sealed by your own hands.

Dr. Roman:

Ushi-gozen!? I-I’ve heard that name. Minamoto no Raikou’s brother, right?

An oni child born as the blessed offspring of the Ox-Headed Heavenly King, Gozu Ten’ou. The stories say that Raikou defeated him in the end…

Sakata Kintoki:

Yeah, that’s right. Ushi-gozen was Lord Raikou’s sibling.

But “Gozen” is a female title. You can guess why that didn’t get written down back then.

…Lord Raikou never spoke about his origins. Even I could only guess at them.

What I know is that a child was born to Tenjin, but turned into an oni by her divine power, and entrusted to a temple.

If only that had been the end of it. Of course, the child’s father was rattled by his daughter’s power, so the rest was simple. The girl would be confined to the home and raised as the newborn son of the Minamoto clan.

You know the rest. Minamoto no Raikou protected the capital as a samurai, as her father wished.

Dr. Roman:

Ushi-gozen and Raikou weren’t siblings, but the same person!? But the stories say that Raikou defeated Ushi-gozen!

Sakata Kintoki:

Yeah, defeated. I was there, too.

Ushiwakamaru:

You said she was supposed to be sealed?

Sakata Kintoki:

Right. When it came time to succeed the master builder of the Minamoto clan, Chief Raikou tried to cut out the aberrant part of herself.

Well, stuff happened and it ended up being sealed deep within the Chief, but…

Ushi-gozen:

……

Sakata Kintoki:

Tch. That’s enough. This is lame.

Chief Raikou should be the one to tell you about herself. This ain’t the time for long stories.

We’ve got a job to do. You should’ve been sealed, so what are you doing here now?

Ushi-gozen:

Does your mother need a reason to be here? Simple — it’s because I’m here.

Mash:

So you were the one who created Onigashima.

Fuuma Kotarou:

…!

Ushi-gozen:

Yes. I obtained this cup and created the island. It was all to establish a perfect kingdom for the oni.

Dr. Roman:

You’d need the Authority to create countries and islands… I see. It’d be possible with your power as an avatar of the Ox-Headed King!

Benkei:

A country of oni? How disquieting. And what were your plans for such a demonic nation?

Ushi-gozen:

*sigh*. You want to hear my reason? That’s… erm… Ah, yes.

What if I said it was to restore the rights of the oppressed?

Long have we lived on this land, yet people like the oni and the spiders have always been hunted as abominations.

On some level, Raikou always thought that was unfair.

That’s why I created this demonic nation. Does that make sense?

Ushiwakamaru:

We saw you attacking the oni on this island, including Ibaraki-douji and Shuten-douji.

Ushi-gozen:

Well, you see, Raikou and I both hate oni.

They’re necessary manual labor to build the kingdom, but I dispose of them on sight. Humans have some value as a food source…

But oni are simply cruel and worthless, don’t you think?

Fuuma Kotarou:

…You call your own subjects worthless? Even though they worship you and labor for you?

Ushi-gozen:

They’re worthless. After all, I created all of the oni on this island.

I named some of the better-drawn ones Onimaru, but the rest are just sloppy sketches.

It pains me to look upon my own failings. Once I’ve finished with my work on this island, I plan to scrap it all.

Sakata Kintoki:

Right… Shit, I forgot.

I thought those things looked familiar. They were the sketches of oni that Lord Raikou made as a kid.

Fuuma Kotarou:

Then what about Ibaraki-douji and Shuten-douji? They weren’t your oni…

Ushi-gozen:

Yes, Shuten-douji… is an insect.

A filthy vermin that dared to approach my precious son. It’s only natural of me to crush, pulverize, trample, and kill her, isn’t it?

By the way, I cut off Ibaraki’s head earlier, and I disemboweled Shuten. It was refreshing.

Sakata Kintoki:

Grr…

Ushi-gozen:

How about it, Kintoki? Isn’t this island rather nice?

You and I were products of the whims of gods and men. It was so difficult living among the humans.

But here, we don’t have to worry about any of those busybodies. I didn’t actually want to go to such lengths, but…

You’d hate me if I just turned the whole of Honshu into a demon realm, right?

I have to take good care of my child’s playground.

All I did on Honshu was have the bugs get drunk on liquor and start killing each other.

Mash:

You were behind Rashomon after all!

Dr. Roman:

A Heroic Spirit that creates imitation singularities to sate her desires… No, as Ushi-gozen she’d be an Evil Spirit.

This is already a disaster on par with the demon god pillars. Kintoki, I’m sorry, but-

Sakata Kintoki:

No need to apologize, Doc. It’s just like last time — this is my responsibility.

Ushi-gozen:

Kintoki…? Why are you going against your mother?

Didn’t I say I made this island for you?

I actually wanted to show it off to you after I completed the castle keep, but the time for secrets is at an end.

Come, Four Heavenly Kings — my hands and feet, my armor, my pawns. Worry not, for the time has come to return to your lord.

Fuuma Kotarou:

Lord Kintoki, your mother…

Sakata Kintoki:

Yeah. Sorry to worry you, Kotarou. Don’t panic — our job hasn’t changed.

Isn’t that right, Chief? This is the climax to top all of our oni-slaying.

Ushi-gozen:

Kintoki-

Sakata Kintoki:

Ushi-gozen. I know well that you and Lord Raikou are fundamentally the same.

Minamoto no Raikou’s feats were possible thanks to you, and Minamoto no Raikou will forever bear the sin of your evil deeds.

I have a debt to you that I can never repay. You saved me, and I respect that.

But I still have to say this — I don’t need you anymore.

Ushi-gozen:

What… did you say…?

Sakata Kintoki:

I’m sayin’ I ain’t scared of you! You’re nothing compared to Chief Raikou when she gets pissed off!

Like hell you built this island for me! You’ve got nowhere to go, so you made it to please yourself.

Even if Raikou sprouted horns and turned into an ox god, she’d never run from your stupid country! She’d cry and throw a tantrum, but then she’d suck it up and look after the capital! That’s who Minamoto no Raikou is!

You’re just a loser cow that’s sunk to being an oni! Hurry up and turn back into Raikou!

Ushi-gozen:

……Very well. Now I know how you see Raikou within yourself.

I thought you of all people would understand, as a fellow demigod. But you’re just another silly, mindless human.

I didn’t mind letting you lot go free… but I doubt you’d agree to it.

The protection of the human world includes intolerance for inhuman power.

Honestly, who is the real demon here?

If you’re just going to kill us all, then doesn’t that make us the same?

Sakata Kintoki:

Whatever you say, monster. Listen, Ushi-gozen.

I’m going to kick your ass. But don’t get me wrong…

I’m not doing this because I’m Kintarou of the oni-slaying Four Heavenly Kings. I’m not even doing it because I’m Momotarou’s- the Chief’s faithful companion.

A son has to stop his mother from going nuts. That’s all this is.

Ushi-gozen:

……!

Ah… Ahh… No, you shouldn’t, I can’t! But I’m your mother! I’m feeling so hot, hot, all the way inside me!

I’m so happy! I’m so happy, Kinoki! This must be love!

That means I can get serious, too! I’ll accept all of your feelings…

Because I’m the one who can love you to death!

Mash:

…!

Sakata Kintoki:

Here she comes. This isn’t an enemy we can afford to hold back against.

My lightning is golden, but the Chief’s lightning is a black, hellish aura that razes whatever it touches.

We have to settle this before we get burned to a crisp. We’re counting on you, Chief Momotarou!