Hanafuda cards

Seeing that it was impossible to hide the truth any longer, Yagyu Tajima-no-Kami Munenori finally told Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone the fact that the Tokugawa Shogunate had perished after two hundred years. Kasuga-no-Tsubone was a person who lived in the early days of the shogunate and was about to die.

Telling her something like this would make her feel like she'd never have peace, even in death.

However, Kasuga-no-Tsubone only took a few deep breaths before revealing a slightly relieved smile.

"I'm not a teenager anymore. Although I hope the Tokugawa will last forever, I know it's impossible. I just hope for a peaceful transfer of power and peace in future generations."

Although she appears to be a young girl, Kasuga-no-Tsubone is undoubtedly a woman full of maternal love. Having experienced a tragic childhood, she knows the hardships of ordinary people's lives, and these are her heartfelt words.

However, after these words were spoken, everyone present fell into an extremely strange silence.

"Um... why is everyone silent, Mr. Bai Mo? Why are you silent too, Japan of the future... has something terrible happened?"

Even the usually outspoken Bai Mo seemed to only be able to describe the later Japan with silence. Kasuga-no-Tsubone no Tsubone suddenly felt that Japan after the shogunate might have become some kind of Japan on earth.

"Let's put that aside for now and explore the Ooku first, shall we? Sessyoin even had us collect Hanafuda cards before."

Everyone tacitly avoided discussing the topic and entered the Ooku again. As soon as they entered, Bai Mo smelled a very strange fragrance, which seemed to be some kind of incense. Moreover, the decoration of the entire Ooku was not in the traditional Japan style, but rather in the India style.

"We've already ventured into the entire Ooku, but there are still quite a few unexplored areas. The kata cards that Sessyoin needs us to find might be in those places."

However, it's probably just another trap to lure us into breaking our vows. In the end, Kama never intended to use these five levels of battle to hinder us.

These five layers correspond to the five human desires: murder, lying, drunkenness, theft, and adultery—the Five Precepts. Breaking these precepts, whether in action or in consequence, ultimately leads to the Tokugawafication.

This is an unsolvable puzzle from the start, like needing to open a door, and the key to that door is right there. But whether you steal it yourself or instigate others to steal it, it is still theft.

Previously, Sessyoin attempted to prevent her Master from triggering the transgression, such as having Scheherazade's familiar steal it or having Mata Hari's Noble Phantasm fake the effect of being drunk, but ultimately failed.

"This maze cannot be destroyed?"

"Brother Bai, these are basically constructed using Servant transferred from Chaldea and humans of this era as materials. It's best to avoid them if possible."

"Alright, in that case, let me go first and confirm that the first floor is completely safe before you all go in to collect the flower cards."

Bai Mo spoke up, saying that Ritsuka was disgusted by the idea of sending Bai Mo deep into enemy territory alone.

"But this is the best option. Your corruption has already gone deep enough. If it gets worse, it will be troublesome. With the fate you have, if you were to become something like Tokugawa Ritsuka, that guy would probably be able to make a big deal out of it."

That's settled then. Don't worry, the experience you've given me is the best help I can get.

Turning back to Ritsuka with a "trust me" smile, Bai Mo stepped into the first floor of the Ooku. On the floor of the long corridor, which was filled with paintings, were the remains of various female official puppets.

Although damaged, they were neatly arranged on the ground, like corpses being collected after a battlefield.

"These are their masterpieces."

A voice as clear and melodious as an orchid in a secluded valley, like a kitten running through a long corridor, reached Bai Mo's ears. Lights lit up along the corridor, and at the end of the passage, a beautiful figure stood there.

Her short, silvery-white hair, adorned with black and purple stripes, clung tightly to her delicate, youthful body. A semi-transparent purple veil hung across her chest, inspiring endless imagination.

The gold pendants shone brightly on her body, and the girl's purity was like a lotus flower, making her seem sacred and inviolable. But this attire also stirred a strong sense of guilt in one's heart.

The being before us, without a doubt, is the controller of this Tokugawa Kaiten Labyrinth —the goddess of love Kama.

Looking at his young face, Bai Mo was slightly taken aback; it did indeed evoke memories. Earth was now reduced to Bleaching, and most of Kiritsugu Emiya and the others had probably already vanished into thin air.

Seeing Bai Mo slightly stunned, Kama's lips curved into a cute smile.

So easily swayed! My goddess charm is truly irresistible!

She didn't know that it was only because of the connection with the possessor that Bai Mo was somewhat moved; she only felt that her charm was exceptional. However, Bai Mo's next words made the corners of her mouth, which had just curved upwards, instantly collapse.

"Kama, the god of love? Aren't you a man?"

Despite experiencing a series of events including King Arthur, Bai Mo's understanding of Kama was limited to the primitively artistic depiction of Kama shooting Shiva in the mythological book.

He thought he was going to meet a male god.

Kama was taken aback by his words, but she still tried her best to put on a sweet smile like an insurance salesperson.

"The first thing you said to me when we met was this... What's wrong with women? Is this your first time meeting India deity?"

"Rati..." (Kama's wife in mythology)

"Are you here to cause trouble?"

Veins were visibly appearing on Kama's head. She didn't want to talk about the past. Rather, after the Shiva incident, she had almost no goodwill towards the India deities who had been encouraging her.

And isn't your focus misplaced? Faced with me, the embodiment of lust, this is your first reaction? And I came out barefoot this time, without even wearing shoes.

You should be concerned about my platinum-silver hair, my apple-red lips, and my jade-like slender fingers, not why I'm not a man!

Kama thought angrily to himself, "I dressed up carefully, ready to corrupt this guy, and this is the first thing he said?"

"Why are gender labels so rigid? That just shows how conservative those guys from the East are."

Meanwhile, the inner Mara within her seemed puzzled, asking, "What are you doing? Why are you getting emotionally affected by his few words?"

Upon hearing this, Kama coughed twice and resumed her previous pure and sweet smile.

"Instead of worrying about my situation, shouldn't you be more concerned about yourself?"

As she finished speaking, one identical figure after another appeared, all of them Kama, just like her, as if they were clones, each stepping out one by one.

"Although Ritsuka completed this trial, you haven't. I can't let you get through so easily. Hehe, we've used up almost all the puppets we had before, but when it comes to entertaining you, we can't treat you like those guys from Chaldea."

Come on, let's fight each other and kill each other...

"If you're not going anywhere, don't block the way. I need to check if there are any other traps."

Bai Mo seemed to completely ignore Kama and walked straight past the group of girls.