Overluck MC

Sai is currently walking that stairs leading to Ninth Floor while holding his daughter's hand. The stairs are quite long. To entertain himself and his daughter, Sai taught Jenseits how to sing some songs.

"Sekai no hajimari no hi inochi no ki no shita de." (Jenseits)

"Kujiratachi no koe no tōi zankyō futari de kīta." (Sai)

"Nakushita mono subete aishita mono subete." (Jenseits)

"Kono te ni dakishimete ima wa doko wo samayoi ikuno." (Sai)

"Dotae no hisomu kohaku no taiyō." (Jenseits)

"Deawanakereba satsuriku no tenshi de irareta." (Sai)

"Fushinaru matataki motsu tamashī." (Jenseits)

"Kizutsukanaide boku no hane." (Sai)

"Kono kimochi shirutame umaretekita." (Jenseits & Sai)

"Ichimannen to nisennen mae kara aishiteru." (Jenseits & Sai)

"Hassennen sugita koro kara motto koishikunatta." (Jenseits & Sai)

"Ichioku to nisennen ato mo aishiteru." (Jenseits & Sai)

"Kimi wo shitta sono hi kara boku no jigoku ni ongaku wa taenia." (Jenseits & Sai)

(Author's Note: The lyrics are from Genesis of Aquarion by AKINO)

Well, they are having a father-and-daughter bonding while exploring an extremely dangerous temple. Jenseits got her father's habit of treating dangerous places the same as a peaceful park. It can't be helped, like father like daughter.

He opened his eyes and see the father-daughter duo. He chuckled and said:

"Oho, today's guests are quite the carefree bunch. It's not like I hate such guests, in fact it is rare for such encounter. Welcome to the Ninth Floor of the Martial Pursuit Temple." (Buddhist Monk)

"Pardon the intrusion. Jenseits, say the same thing." (Sai)

"Please pardon our intrusion, Old Person." Jenseits bowed and spoke to the old Buddhist.

"Remember Jenseits, you must treat a person depending on the attitude they show you. If they show the proper one, treat them with manners. If they show the awful one, don't stoop to their level and just ignore them. That kind of people is not worth of action. Unless they don't take action against you, there's no need for retaliation." (Sai)

"Un, got it Papa." (Jenseits)

The old Buddhist looking at the duo with approval and speak.

"If there is knowledge that appears, you will immediately teach it to your daughter. Regardless of time, place, and situation, you will not waste the opportunity to teach the lesson. That is attitude of yours shows how dedicated you are in raising your daughter. You want her to learn how the world works and the methods to deal with the ill intent of humans that she will encounter. The way you raise your daughter is to be commended. Young girl." (Old Buddhist)

"What is it, Old Person?" (Jenseits)

"I know that you are a weapon. A weapon that has given human shape and human personality. A weapon is a weapon regardless of what it became. That's how the human society works. You are still a weapon, no matter what." (Old Buddhist)

"...…." (Jenseits)

"However, your father is different." (Old Buddhist)

"....." (Jenseits)

"I see your father is someone who is similar to the God that people worship in the West. Just as a certain philosopher has said, 'he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god'. Your father is obviously the latter. He views the majority of living beings with indifference and he has no need for them. A person like that will surely treat you as a tool that is slightly better than the ones created by humans." (Old Buddhist)

"....." Jenseits keeps her silence and hanged her head down.

"But that isn't the case. When I saw your exchange of words earlier, what I saw is not a god but a father." (Old Buddhist)

"Although there is still the air of emotionlessness in him, I see that he regards you as his flesh and blood. It is a sight that is unbelievable unless they saw it themselves. It is a contradiction between empathy and apathy. And that impossible contradiction was caused by you." (Old Buddhist)

"Ohohohoho! To think that you were able to grab someone in the vantage point of god and make their feet touch the land of humans. This is a feat that far outclasses god-slaying!" the old Buddhist heartily laughs while praising the young girl.

"!!!!" (Jenseits)

"Young girl. Make sure to be filial with your father and show him piety." (Old Buddhist)

"Yes!" Jenseits nodded her head while she responded to the Buddhist's words.

Sai, on the other hand is thinking.

(Eh? I'm like that? I'm just acting natural, though.) (Sai)

Indeed, ignorance is a bliss.

"Now that our leisurely talk is done, let's get to official business. Old Buddhist, I want to know the truth about this place."

"Hmmm. Before I tell you what I know, I'm curious about what you think."

"Very well. Since I already have Baritsu, Hypothetical Reasoning, and Natural Insight, I guess I will role-play as a detective." (Sai)

"I already have doubts when I entered this forest. The name of the forest and the nature of that barrier. Sealed Forest. Why is the forest named like that? What is sealed in this forest? And if the purpose of this forest is to seal something, then why does the seal allow entry and forbids exit?" (Sai)

"When I was exploring this forest, I noticed that the monsters have faint traces of corruption. The deeper I go and the traces of corruption in monsters becomes denser." (Sai)

"And the all the Floor Guardians that encountered, except the Eight Floor Guardian, possess a Cursed Object. Those Cursed Objects are capable of Mental Encroachment and corrupted the minds of their wielder. Since they weren't able to perceive my presence, I was able to observe them for a while. Not only that, most of the items I found in this forest are all Cursed Objects. And the nature of the Cursed Objects and corruption in this forest is not Darkness, but Evil." (Sai)

"Many people thought that Darkness and Evil are just the same, but in reality, they are not even similar." (Sai)

"The original nature of Darkness is nothingness. It doesn't harm nor it has personality. And the Evil is a nature of sentient beings that brings harm to everything and anything it encounters." (Sai)

"And on my way to this forest, I noticed extremely faint traces of corruption with that nature." (Sai)

"If you add the fact that there is no other human or living being besides the monsters here makes it more suspicious." (Sai)

"If it is someone else, they will just ignore this. But it is different in my case since I witnessed my planet's destruction with my very own eyes." (Sai)

"This planet has been brought to the brink of destruction by something. It has a similar concept with the Cursed Objects and it is powered up by Cursed Objects. And before it could destroy this planet, someone interfered and evacuated the people of this planet. And that something is sealed in this forest, no, it is sealed in this temple." (Sai)

"If I had more experience in detective work, I would have been able to expose everything. Unfortunately, I'm not one. If detectives actively participate in the incident to get the answer, then I'm one who just watches the spectacle and enjoy the entertainment it provided." (Sai)

"No, you really have done well. You were able to see the reality of this planet despite such a short time. Indeed, it's just as you said." (Old Buddhist)

"The people of this planet are ones who pursue the martial way. Along the way they discovered many things, such as Qi and Spiritual Energy. And there are many remarkable ones who reached the greatest of heights. Among them, there is an individual who is not satisfied with what he reached and d.e.s.i.r.ed more. Pursuing the Martial Way with his d.e.s.i.r.e made him twisted and ruined him. He utilized the Evil natured Qi and Spiritual Energy. He created countless Cursed Objects that you spoke of. After producing countless number of Cursed Objects, he finally created his greatest masterpiece. That masterpiece is that 'something' that you said. Don't ask its name, even the seven individuals along me who sealed that object is ignorant of it. Because before the Cursed Object Creator revealed its name to us, the masterpiece killed its creator and killed and devoured him." (Old Buddhist)

"Even though we are able to seal the item, it corrupted the world and anything it corrupted went berserk and slaughtered anything they saw. That is when an almighty being showed up and lent us aid. The almighty being offered refuge the people. I remained in this world, since I want to die in here along with my allies that has been victimized by that item." (Old Buddhist)

"When the people of this world were evacuated, that almighty being changed this world resulting its state now. They strengthen the seal we made and sent two individuals in this tower." (Old Buddhist)

"Is that so." And Sai responded acting this-got-nothing-to-do-with-me-attitude.

"By the way, Old Buddhist. Tell me about the second individual that this so-called almighty beings of your sent. It doesn't matter how insignificant the detail, just tell me." (Sai)

"Your attitude really amazes me. The Cursed Object Creator should intrigue you, no?" (Old Buddhist)

"Ah that. I'm a little intrigue to his Cursed Object Creation, but that's all there is to it. Although we have the similar concept in our goals, but our methodologies are different. He seeks what is the apex and made path using the material called Evil. While me, the materials that I will only use are the greatest materials of all. What I seek is what is beyond the Apex. Do you really think it can be reached using such crude materials?" (Sai)

"Indeed, the two of you are different. You d.e.s.i.r.e is more arrogant and the obsession it possess is more intense. Very well, you might be able to face 'it'. About the second individual, the almighty being sent her to the Tenth Floor where we sealed the item. That individual, is a teenage girl with unruly blonde hair and emotionless blue eyes. I only caught a glimpse of her but I can tell that she is a state of madness caused by deep despair. She chosen the path of madness to relieve her grief and guilt that caused her to despair." (Old Buddhist)

(With the Old Buddhist's description, I already knew who the second individual is. But she was in a maddening state by despair that comes from grief and guilt? With Kosaka-san's empty body, this blonde girl's madness, and the cause that is describe by the Old Buddhist. I guess my hypothesis on what happened with Kosaka-san is wrong. There's no use in deducing things, I need to came out with a plan that can defeat that Cursed Object. Those two's circ.u.mstances are no concern of mine.) (Sai)

"I already said what I must said. It's time for me to go." The Old Buddhist's body becomes a little transparent.

"Thank you." (Sai)

"No, it must be me who must be thanking you. You have sent off my comrades in my stead. Come close to me and hold out your hand. I want to give you a gift as a token of my gratitude." (Old Buddhist)

Sai said nothing and did what the Old Buddhist said.

"I already done everything I can. I can rest peacefully." The Old Buddhist's body, no, his soul has dispersed.

"Rest in peace, Old Buddhist. I will deal with that Cursed Object for you." (Sai)