Part 125: How Very Oedipal of You

After the Dog Shrine is finished, we need to leave Inugami Village and come back to trigger the rest of Kurando's personal quest.

What is it? What's going on?

Nanna: Saki seems really strange. Since early morning she's been all by herself at the Fountain of Sukune.

Well, what are you worried about? She's always doing that.

Nanna: No, it's different this time!

All right, then. I'll go see how she is. You don't have to worry.


Heading over to the Fountain, Kurando suddenly stops outside the cave.

I'll go alone. I've got an uneasy feeling about this...



Don't worry! I'll be back before you know it. Just wait here and relax.
Be careful, okay?
Of course.


AND HE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN...


Just kidding.



Kurando...
Mother? What is it? What's happened?



Haha... Last night, your dead father appeared to me in my dream.
M-my father?
Yes. He showed me the enemy that you and the others must ultimately face. And he said this to me: "Open Kurando's Seal."



My Seal?!
The power of the Dog Guardians that guard the eight million gods of Japan. That power is in your blood, given to you to protect this world.



Kurando, I must follow the law. It is my duty to prepare you. You must defeat me, and break out of the box that contains your power.



I understand.



I cannot hold back. If you lose, you will die. Please, forgive me my son, my beloved.



You needn't apologize. I'm Inugami, too. My blood is your blood.


This is a weird family.



Awaken now, the true form which lives behind the facade! Awaken now, Spirit of the Ogre!






Saki transforms into Kouenki for this fight. She's stronger this time, and on top of that, we only have Kurando to face her with.


Right away, Kurando is forced into a Fusion.


Meet Jutendouji. If Kurando defeats his mother using this form, he gets to keep it. If he loses, it's game over. Saki wasn't lying about that.


As long as you keep an eye on Kurando's health and sanity points, the fight isn't too difficult.







W-what the...?! I feel a burning in my chest... And an urge to go wild...
That's the Spirit of the Ogre you have awakened. Your life will now be a struggle to keep it under control. But I know you're capable of it. Make your father proud now, as the young Inugami leader.




After the scene, Kurando automatically leaves the cave and rejoins the rest of the group.


We immediately head back to Saki's house. Hey, how'd she beat us back here?



I-I, uh... Well... I wanted to talk to you, Saki...
To me? What about? Speak up, and don't be shy, now.
Well, I... I'm not really sure what to say... I'm worried about Kurando. He seems to have...changed somehow.
Kurando?
Yes. ...He seems to have gotten more...manly...more adult lately...
Tee hee hee! I'll let you in on a little secret. Kurando has recently become a man!



That's right. Don't tell anyone, all right? But Kurando has just passed his coming-of-age rite. He was swinging that big, hard thing around so roughly! I was just amazed to see what a man he'd become!

I love when this game does my job for me.





Oh, my goodness! Heavens, no! What were you thinking of, my child?! Ho ho ho! ...Actually, I guess I'm the one that was thinking something weird! Ho ho!



Uh, I don't think so...



Huh?



Let me give you this. It'll look just marvelous on you!

You got Autumn Kimono

My husband ordered this coat before Kurando was born, in case it was a girl. The leading weavers of the day purified raw silk in the holy fountain to create it, the ultimate garment! I kept it safe all these years, to give to the woman Kurando would someday marry.



That's right. ...And that should do the trick to repair my image, don't you think? And what is my image supposed to be? You remember, now, don't you?
...Um, "the beautiful, mysterious widow," was it...?
There you go! And that's what I want you to say, whenever anybody asks you from now on, you got that?



And now you and Kurando are officially engaged! Take good care of my son!
Y-yes, ma'am!


Scary lady.


Anyway, we've got Kurando's 2nd (and final) Fusion form now.


This form is more focused on physical attacks.


We also picked up Anastasia's alternate costume.


And we have all the Crests to complete the Bastion of Riches. It's bordered on the north by the Wilderness of War, the west by the Palace of Transgressions, and the south by the Spring of Wisdom.

Here's the layout:
And the clues:
Andromalius: A nobleman in gold clothing, a snake coiled around his arm. Able to expose robbers and their loot, he guards two treasure hoards.
Valefor: A double-headed lion, he lives next to the watchtower in the Bastion. He lives in the Wilderness of War to trade in plunder.[/b]
Cimeies: Devil with coal-black skin, with black horse and black armor. He has made it his duty to protect the watchtower and his friend Seere.
Zagan: Appears as a bull with eagle wings. He lives by the Palace and studies alchemy. He abhors the violent Cimeies and tries to avoid him.
Shax: Appears as a giant duck. Robs others of their understanding and makes them like farm beasts. Guards west side of watchtower.
Seere: A beautiful, blond, blue-eyed demon. He has great curiosity, and every day, with his 3 attendants, he studies the Spring of Wisdom.
Decarabia: A blue star protected by a fire pentagram. Able to harness the power of gems, he lives in the crystal forest next to the Palace.
Haagenti: Red bull with eagle wings and golden horns. One of four watchtower guards, he talks with the demons of the Spring of Wisdom.
Belial: A golden angel, the most graceful of all hell's demons. A lover of beautiful things, he lives near an overflowing treasure hoard.
Malphas: Appears as a gentleman in black velvet. An architect, he built the watchtower in the Bastion of Riches where he lives.