Taira no Fumikado

平（たいら）　（の）文門（ふみかど） Taira no Fumikado ta̠iɾ̠a̠ no̞ ɸɯᵝmika̠do̞
Fumikado in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle
Character Titles
The Vessel for the New Emperor
Information
Species	Homuncular oni (formerly human)
Abilities	Transferring souls
Music Themes
ムーンチャイルド　～ Homunculus Dream (RMI) 月には届かぬ手　～ Moon Child (BPoHC)
Appearances
Reactivate Majestical Imperial Stage 5 Boss Extra Prologue Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle Prologue Playable Character Possible Stage 5 Neutral Boss Possible Final/Extra Stage Midboss

Taira no Fumikado (平　文門) is a homunculus that aims to become the "True Emperor" of Mugenri. They used to be human, but they transferred their soul onto a homuncular oni.

General Information

Fumikado is the stage 5 boss of Reactivate Majestical Imperial and later became a playable character in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle, as well as a possible stage 5 boss.

Fumikado was born in a noble family from the Capital City, but they were orphaned after their parents were murdered during a political power dispute. They were raised by their single grandfather Taira no Iwakado and used to work as a spirit medium. Said grandfather was an alchemist who wished to resurrect the "True Emperor", Taira no Masakado. He used a body from an oni that he hunted alongside Fumikado's blood, adding the vital energy and some special qualities from a lot of other living things to manufacture a new life-form. Grateful for taking care of them, Fumikado agreed to transfer their soul to the homunculus so stimulate its growth. When the body was completed as a "vessel", their grandfather had already passed away.

They continued his plan with their fellows and vowed to realize it on their grandfather's tomb. They continued to work on the "vessel" planning to improve its physical and spiritual strength, relying on the force of the Taira clan's Saeda flute that had the power to command spirits. Fumikado's servant, Taira no Chouki, offered to sacrifice their life in order to become "a being closer to death" and help Fumikado to control the flute. However, Chouki's death was a senseless sacrifice, since they lost their ability to breathe after coming back to life, and thus couldn't play the flute.

Fumikado went to the capital to look for a certain informant.

To escape from assassins sent by their enemies, they decided to cross the Gloomy Straits and met the boater Fujiwara no Iyozane. The latter tried to break the ice and make conversation by telling about their story, which concluded with Iyozane playing the flute for them. After that, they learned each other's names and realized that they belonged to enemy families, but at that point, it didn't matter anymore. Fumikado explained what they had learned from the informant, that a big hole would open in the internal side of the Mugenri Barrier, and lots of spirits would enter the barrier. They decided to work together, Fumikado giving them the Saeda so Iyozane could control the spirits and guide them.

Personality

Fumikado comes across as a haughty yet dignified person who has the ambition to become an emperor and rule Mugenri. Their lackeys, Fujiwara no Iyozane and Tsugumi Umatachi, spend much of their time complying with Fumikado's whims, but they treat them with respect. Despite their haughty and condescending personality, they acknowledge if someone has more power than their own or when someone is being noble. As shown in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle, they dislike being involved in secular affairs and mostly leave all the work to their lackeys. The reason why they are so obsessed with ruling and becoming an emperor is because of their promise to their beloved grandfather.

Abilities

Transferring souls

They have the power to transfer spirits to anything and everything, but they mostly use that power on themself. It was last used to transfer their own soul into Para's body, and Para's into their original, human body.

Background Information

Origin

According to JynX, Fumikado is based on three characters. They are Taira no Masakado (平　將門), and possibly Taira no Yoshifumi (平　良文), Taira no Yoshikado (平 良門) or Taira no Atsumori (平　敦盛).

Taira no Masakado

Taira no Masakado was a samurai of the Heian period who led a rebellion against the central government of Kyoto and was said to be favoured by Myōken. His childhood name was Sōma no Kojirō (相馬　小次郎) and his daughter continued living within the lands of the Sōma clan even after her father's death. This explains Fumikado's connections to the Sōma clan, such as the use of the clan's Kuyo (九曜, Lit. "nine stars") emblem in spell backgrounds.

Additionally, Fumikado's position as a descendent of Masakado means that they are a descendent of the Chiba clan as well, as the Sōma clan descended from them. The Chiba clan is famous for their Tsuki ni Hoshi (月に星, Lit. "moon and star") emblem. According to JynX, this is why Fumikado is sometimes referred to as the "Moon Child", as seen in their music themes.

The title also makes reference to Moonchild, a novel by famed occultist Aleister Crowley. In it, it is written that homunculi are not produced from inorganic materials through alchemical means but created when a demon or a soul is incarnated into a baby. This is referenced in Fumikado's becoming a homunculus through transferring their own soul into the newly born Para's.

Taira no Yoshifumi

Taira no Yoshifumi was Masakado's uncle, while a comparatively less notable Taira in Masakado's rebellion, he was granted sovereign over Masakado's territory of the Sōma Province after Masakado was killed. While the details of the story vary, it is said that he was favoured by Myōken after Masakado became too arrogant. The fact that both Masakado and Yoshifumi have been in Myōken's favour might explain the references to Myōken and Buddhism in Fumikado's spell cards. This may also explain Fumikado's relationship with Yago Ametsukana.

Taira no Yoshikado

It's doubtful whether Taira no Yoshikado actually existed, but he shows up in many legends. Yoshikado was believed to be the hidden eldest son of Masakado raised without knowledge of his origins, who later somehow learns of it and attempts to avenge his father. Whether he is a human or a youkai varies from telling to telling, which may be referenced in how Fumikado was originally a human but became non-human after transferring his soul in Para's body.

Additionally, Yoshikado is sometimes paired with and even said to be raised by his elder half-sister Nyozou-ni (如蔵尼), where she is said to have told him about his past after he grew up, setting him on the path to avenge his father. Nyozou-ni is additionally sometimes said to later have become Takiyasha-hime (滝夜叉姫), the basis for Taira no Chouki, this may thus explain the relationship between Fumikado and Chouki where they grew up together.

Taira no Atsumori

Taira no Atsumori was a samurai famous for his death in single combat at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani. He is notable as he was the original owner of the Saeda (小枝) flute, also known as the Aoba (青葉), and was said to be an excellent flute player. This would explain why the Saeda was in Fumikado's possession. Fumikado being based on Atsumori is however not as likely compared to Yoshifumi and Yoshikado, as JynX stresses that Fumikado belongs to the overall Taira clan (平氏) but not the more specific Heike Taira (平家), which Atsumori is a part of.

Name

Their full name is Taira no Fumikado (平　文門), their given name being a combination of Yoshifumi and Masakado. The hiragana character no (の) used here indicates a "belonging", thus the English equivalent of their name would be "Fumikado of the Taira". In ancient Japan times, it was common for aristocrats with a clan's name to have no between their clan's name and first name. Fumikado's first name contains a play on the word mikado (御門 みかど), which means emperor. It is thus possible that Fumikado (文門, ふみかど) is a pun on the word 不御門 (ふみかど), which means "not Emperor".

From an in-universe perspective, Fumikado's name is a combination of their mother's and father's names. Combining Fumina (文奈) and Onikado (鬼門) to give Fumikado (文門).

Design

They have long green hair that reaches past their waist. They wear a brown hairband on their head, geta shoes, a red top tank with a blue hakama skirt. The red portion of their headband is roughly over their temple, the one place Masakado is said to have been vulnerable, according to the "Iron Body Legend". They have red eyes, pointy ears and fangs, because the homunculus to which they transferred their soul is a homuncular oni.

Appearances

Fumikado in RMI

Reactivate Majestical Imperial

Main articles: Reactivate Majestical Imperial: Yabusame and Tsubakura's Scenario, Yaorochi and Sukune's Scenario, and Kuroji and Saragimaru's Scenario

Fumikado decides to take advantage of the abundance of spirits for their ceremony, where they plan to revive the soul of Taira no Masakado and transfer his soul to their body. They ally with Iyozane (since they were able to use the Saeda flute) and Tsugumi Umatachi, hired by Iyozane. They're tasked with using their powers to herd the spirits and guide them to where Fumikado is making their resurrection ceremony. Unfortunately for their plans, Tsugumi and Iyozane are defeated by the heroes and the latter confesses about Fumikado's plans. The heroes go to the resurrection ceremony in order to stop Fumikado, who is upset that their lackeys have failed their mission and that there are no spirits. After their defeat at the hands of the heroes, Fumikado reveals that their plan didn't work because, despite the power of the flute, the spirits are being attracted to another location, which happens to be the Withered Grove, where the Harujion is.

Even though their plan failed, Fumikado is still friendly and cordial to the heroes and even visits the shrine to explain that they were not involved in the sudden fluctuation of spirits.

Fumikado in BPoHC as a Player

Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle

Despite their fall from grace, Fumikado plans to take over Mugenri and together with Iyozane and Tsugumi, they go to resolve the incident. They find out that they are a wanted criminal in the Capital City and their main supporters, the Dragonfly Army, have turned against them because they didn't complete the ritual in the previous game.

Relationships

Fujiwara no Iyozane

Although they are enemies of each other's families, they have allied themselves together. Iyozane hopes to become the Chief Advisor by allying with Fumikado. Iyozane is often annoyed by Fumikado's haughtiness and lack of social intellect, but they do see Fumikado as someone who wouldn't abandon their friends.

Tsugumi Umatachi

One of Fumikado's lackeys. Like Iyozane, Tsugumi is often annoyed by Fumikado's general personality. They're unable to understand Fumikado's ambitions but obey them in hopes of one day getting their promised payment.

Family

Fumikado's family is known; they had a grandfather‎ named Taira no Iwakado, a father named Taira no Onikado and a mother named Taira no Fumina. The grandfather was the one who raised Fumikado because they didn't have their parents. He was also the one who wanted to resurrect the "True Emperor", having Fumikado follow his dream after he died.

Taira no Chouki

Chouki was raised by Fumikado's grandfather to become Fumik‎ado's servant. They were good friends and Chouki assisted with the plan to resurrect Masakado, but they needed to control the Saeda. After taking their own life, Chouki made a deal with the Spirit Realm's master in order to have a body "in the verge of life and death". However, their sacrifice was in vain. When resurrecting Chouki, the Spirit Realm's master took their legs and breath, and thus, Chouki was unable to play the Saeda. Fumikado decided to dismiss Chouki afterwards (possibly out of concern for them), but Chouki felt betrayed that they had been discarded by Fumikado and started to despise them.

Fumikado does feel guilt about Chouki's fate and is devastated to see that they became their enemy and rival for the title of the emperor. When Chouki expresses their desire to kill and get revenge on Fumikado, they say that they don't mind being killed by them.

Garaiya Ogata

Garaiya once trained Fumikado as preparation for their rise to the position of True Emperor, along with Chouki. However, Fumikado's failure to revive Taira no Masakado during the events of Reactivate Majestical Imperial, along with the Dragonfly Castle's revelation to Chouki had caused Garaiya to lose faith and stop supporting Fumikado.

Yago Ametsukana

Yago had long been a patron of the Taira clan and was particularly close to Iwakado. Prior to his passing, Yago promised him to make sure Fumikado grows up into a fine and capable ruler. Yago appears to heavily honor this promise and is willing to make sure it's fulfilled no matter what, offering to let Fumikado become their puppet so as to ensure they can become the New Emperor. Despite Fumikado's refusal, they respect their choice and offers them advice instead. Fumikado's spiked iron club, a weapon commonly used by the oni in Japanese mythology, was also made by Yago Ametsukana.

Taira no Masakado and the Adagumo Siblings

Fumikado is a distant descendant of Taira no Masakado, whose mother was said to be a giant snake. Adagumo no Yaorochi claimed that they were distantly related to Masakado through his mother, and is thus distantly related to Fumikado as well. It also stands to reason that Adagumo no Saragimaru is related to Fumikado in the same way.

Additional Information

• According to JynX's music room comments, Fumikado was originally meant to be the stage 6 boss.
• JynX is particularly fond of Fumikado's name, as all three kanji in the name are left-right symmetric.
• The horse that shows up behind Fumikado in Reactivate Majestical Imperial is called "Tsunagi-Uma" (繋馬, lit. "Tethered Horse"), which can control its own size and is usually about the size of a piece of candy. It can be called upon when needed. Its design is derived from an emblem of the same name that belongs to the Sōma Clan, as seen here.
• Fumikado enjoys eating Pocky and Pretz. Coincidentally, the European brand name for pocky is "Mikado".
• Fumikado is good at cooking fried eggs, although they don't cook too much in the first place.

Gallery

• 

  Illustration of Fumikado with Iyozane and Tsugumi for Len'en Project's 2nd anniversary.[1]

Spell Cards

Spell Cards

Name	Translated	Comments	Games	Stage
Total: 11
妙見「剣の雨」	Wonderous Sight of Myōken "Rain of Swords"		RMI BPoHC	St. 5: E/N St. 5: E/N
仏力「天眷の妙剣」	Dharmatic Power "Strange Sword of Myōken's Heavenly Blessing"	Bomb	RMI BPoHC BPoHC	St. 5: H/U St. 5: H/U Use
剛体「鉄の肌」	Rigid Body "Skin of Iron"		RMI BPoHC	St. 5: E/N St. 5: E/N
剛心「受け継がれし鉄身伝説」	Rigid Mind "Inherited Iron-Body Legend"	Flash bomb; The Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle upgrade is simply titled Inherited Iron-Body Legend (受け継がれし鉄身伝説).	RMI BPoHC BPoHC BPoHC	St. 5: H/U St. 5: H/U Use Upgrade
七星「北に輝く光」	Seven Stars "Lights Shining in the North"		RMI	St. 5: E/N
妙光「皇を護りし星」	Wonderous Light "Stars Protecting the Emperor"		RMI	St. 5: H/U
身替「七つの影」	Substitution "Seven Shadows"	The Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle upgrade is simply titled Seven Shadows (七つの影).	RMI BPoHC BPoHC	St. 5: E/N St. 5: E/N Upgrade
幻影「北極星の影」	Phantasm "Shadows of the Pole Star"		RMI BPoHC	St. 5: H/U St. 5: H/U
「帝が産まれし温床」	"The Hotbed for the Emperor's Birth"		RMI BPoHC	St. 5: E/N St. 5: E/N
「フラスコ越しの世界」	"The World Seen Through the Flask"		RMI BPoHC	St. 5: H/U St. 5: H/U
フラスコの庇護	Flask's Protection		BPoHC	Upgrade

Notes

Official Profiles

Official profiles

Reactivate Majestical Imperial - Official Profiles

◯５面ボス　新帝の盃 　　平　文門（たいらのふみかど） 　　Taira no Humikado 　　種族：ホムンクルス 　　能力：魂を遷す的な能力 　　その昔、"都"との権力抗争に巻き込まれて両親を亡くした文門を 　　祖父が独り身で育ててくれた。 　　負債の恩があるその祖父の望みの為、文門はその身の全てを捧げた。 　　祖父等にとっての『真の皇』の復活の為、 　　錬金術師であった祖父が狩ってきた鬼の体、そして文門の血、 　　その他多くの生物の能力や特質を付加させた生命体を創り出した。 　　魂の入ってない空っぽの幼く小さなソレに、自らの魂を遷し、 　　年月を積み重ねて肉体を活性化、成長、鍛錬させ続けた。 　　肉体が『器』として完成したときには、すでに祖父は病没していた。 　　文門は仲間と共に計画を続行し、その成就を祖父の墓に誓った。 　　祖父と共に作り上げたこの『器』の膂力と霊力。 　　そして、代々伝わる数々の『家宝』の効力と魔力を頼りに。 　　しかしその計画の途中、信頼できる重要な仲間の一人を失い、 　　計画は頓挫していた。 　　―――――これは、闇夜に朧げな月が浮かんでいた日のことだった。 　　无現里内にある、波の穏やかな海峡。 　　濃霧や蜃気楼の影響で空や陸からの光が届きづらく、 　　昼夜問わず年中薄暗いことから『幽暗海峡』と呼ばれていた。 　　文門は敵対者の刺客からの目を避けて海峡を渡るため、 　　大型船での移動は避け、夜の港の端の方で暇そうに 　　ウニを食べていた船頭を雇い、そいつの无帆船に乗って 　　海峡を渡ることにした。 　　「"都"へ行かれたんで？」 　　舟の上での会話は、船頭の方から切り出すことが多かった。　 　　「ちょっと前まではこの船もお客さんが多かったんですけどねぇ 　　　港で見たでしょ？　アノおっきな帆船！ 　　　『聯絡船(れんらくせん)』とか呼ばれてましたっけ？ 　　　あれが来てからめっきり客足が遠退きましてね～ 　　　そんでもって今度はあの大橋が出来ちゃうでしょ？ 　　　ここんところ一ヶ月間ぐらいは手紙や荷物ぐらいしか 　　　運んでませんでしたよー 　　　同業者もどんどん辞めていっちゃうし、 　　　もうこの仕事じゃあ食っていけなくなっちゃうのかなー」 　　船頭は頼んでもいないのにつらつらと喋り続ける。 　　長い間、相当暇を持て余していたようだ。 　　「本当は海賊が夢だったんですけどねぇ～、 　　　けど先駆者がいる以上、船乗り一人じゃなにも出来ないし」 　　本来、どちらかといえば客の愚痴でも聞く立場にあるはずの船頭は、 　　自分の仕事の愚痴を遠慮なく漏らしていた。 　　「渡し舟の船頭をやめたら、何をするつもりなんだい？」 　　文門がそう聞くと、"待ってました"といわんばかりの 　　笑みを浮かべて、船頭は懐から細い竹で出来た笛を取り出した。 　　なるほど、芸の道ってわけね。 　　それにしても趣味や仕事に節操のない奴だ。 　　「お急ぎでなければ、一曲どうですか？ 　　　いや、別料金をとるなんて言いませんから」 　　計画が滞っていた文門にとって、特に急ぐ用事はなかった。 　　ここのところ心がささくれていたから、 　　少し和ませたほうがいいだろう。 　　そう思い、奏でてみるように頼むと船頭は嬉しそうに、 　　そして誇らしげに笑った。 　　では一曲だけ・・・ 　　っと言う声は、自信と緊張とが折り重なって少し震えていた。 　　人前で吹くのは慣れてないのだろうか・・・？ 　　―――その曲は今までに聞いたことのない曲だった。 　 　　いささか気味の悪い音が多かったが、不快感は無かった。 　　酒の苦味と同じで、その苦味が旨みとなっている。 　　様々な辛い経験をした者にのみ分かる味・・・ 　　暗闇の中、水面に響くその音色は、 　　二人以外の誰の耳に届くこともなく、波に呑まれていった。 　　別にそれほど気になったわけではなかった。 　　いい曲を聞かせてもらった礼儀として 　　一応名を覚えておこうかと思い、尋ねてみただけだった。 　　船頭が少しばつの悪い顔をしたあとの返答は、文門を驚愕させた。 　　『藤原』という響きは、无現里において特別であるのだから。 　　そしてそれは文門の『敵』の名でもあった。 　　少し間を置いて、文門は返事として自らも名乗ると、 　　その船頭も文門の名に驚愕したようで、 　　その後しばらく黙り込んだ。 　　―――――今夜は珍しく空気が澄んでいた。 　　多少の霧はあるものの、蜃気楼もなく、 　　遠く陸の方では小さな明かりが海岸線沿いに鏤められていた。 　　それも二人を照らすには敵わず、星々の光だけが 　　二人の輪郭をなぞるなか、 　　さらに遠くに見える都の仰々しい光は、 　　暗闇に慣らされた目には直視し難かった。 　　舟に打ち寄せる波は一定の間隔で舟底を響かせた。 　　まるでこれから始まる変革の胎動の音のようであり、 　　その心地よい脈拍は静寂の時を永く感じさせた。 　　二人の間に確認は不要だった。 　　文門はふと思い出し、丁度手元にある家宝の一つである 　　『小枝』を船頭に渡した。 　　この笛はあるべき場所を探していたはずだ。 　　自分以外の、誰かの場所を。 　　小枝を船頭に吹かせてみると、まるで魂を抜き取るような音色が 　　海面の波を震えたてた。 　　舟を中心に小さな波紋が広がり、 　　当たりに立ち込める薄い霧が晴れていった。 　　脱帽した。 　　持つべき者が扱えば、道具というのは 　　ここまで力を発揮するものなのか？ 　　「それで、"都"には何の用だったんで？」 　　今回もやはり、船頭が話を切り出した。 　　「・・・計画の成就の為、ある情報屋を探していた」 　　「情報屋ですか？　それで、目当ての情報は得られたんですかい？」 　　「近いうちに、内側の結界に大きな穴が開き、 　　　外部から様々なものが流れてくるらしいが、 　　　その中でも取分け霊魂が多く流れ込み、无現里内に充満するんだとさ」 　　「ほぉ、そりゃ例の神社さん達が大変だろうに、 　　　新人だとか、代理だとか聞きましたが」 　　「別にそんなこと知ったこっちゃないけど、 　　　その霊達を利用しよっかな、ってね」 　　「へぇ～、それで、どうなんですかい、状況は？」 　　「・・・・・・丁度、駒が揃ったところ」 　　これが平文門と藤原伊代真との出会いだった。 　　「よーそろー....」 　　小さくそう呟く伊代真の過去を文門は知らなかったが、 　　その心情はなんとなく分かった。 　　帆のなかった伊代真の舟で、 　　文門と言う名の帆がようやく夜の順風を受け始めたのだ。 　　―――――ここは幽暗海峡。 　　東の空が、少し明るくなってきた。

〇 Stage 5 Boss — The Vessel for the New Emperor Taira no Fumikado Species: Homunculus Ability: Something like transferring souls A long time ago, they lost both parents due to a political power dispute in the "Capital" and was raised by their single grandfather. Fumikado offered everything they could to help realize the wish of their grandfather, to whom they were indebted. This wish was to resurrect who their grandfather and his associates considered the "True Emperor". As an alchemist, he used the body of an oni that he hunted, added to it Fumikado's blood, as well as the vital energy and some special qualities from a lot of other living things, to manufacture a new life-form. Fumikado transferred their own soul into the young, small, empty and soulless lifeform, and for many months and years kept stimulating, developing and training its physical body. When the body was completed as a "vessel", their grandfather had already passed away. Fumikado continued his plan with their comrades and vowed to realize it on their grandfather's tomb. Using the physical and spiritual strength of the "vessel" that their grandfather created, and by relying on the effects and magical powers of the various "heirloom" transmitted through various generations. However while this plan was being executed, they lost an important and trustworthy partner, and the plan reached an impasse. —————This is a story that happened on a dark night, were a faint moon floated in the sky. Now, there is a strait with gentle waves in "Mugenri". Due to the influence of heavy fogs and mirages, light from the sky and land barely reaches the strait. Thus, regardless of day or night, the strait was dim and gloomy the entire year and is hence known as "The Gloomy Strait". To escape from the hands of assassins sent by enemies, Fumikado decided to go across the strait. They avoided using a big ship to get across, and instead hired an idle boater who was eating sea urchin at the end of the harbor at night. They planned to use their sail-less boat to cross the strait. "Did you come from the 'Capital'?" Most conversations on the boat were started by the boater. "Y'know, just a while ago there used to be lots of guests taking this boat... But then you saw that thing at the harbour, right? That biiig sailboat?! It's called a 'ferryboat', I think? Ever since that boat appeared, the customers have almost disappeared. And as if that wasn't enough that big bridge is gonna be complete soon as well, right? It's been one month since, and I've been only carrying things like baggage and letters. Consequently, the number of people in this job started to decrease too, perhaps it's getting impossible to get enough food with only this job..." Even without being asked to do so, the boater kept on talking attentively. For a long while, it seemed they had more free time than they knew what to do with. "Y'know what I really wanted was to become a pirate, but what with the pioneers already there, there's not much a single person on a boat can do." Traditionally, sailors should be prepared to listen to the grumbles of their clients, but instead of that, they were revealing all of the problems with their own job. "If you were to retire from the job of boater, what would you do after that?" When Fumikado asked that question, they smiled slightly as if thinking "I was waiting for you say that," then the boater retrieved a thin flute from their pocket made of bamboo. "Going for the art path, I see," Fumikado thought. Even with that they still looked like a person without integrity on their work or their hobbies. "If you aren't in any rush may I play one song for you? Don't worry, it won't add any extra cost to your toll." Since the plans were already delayed, there was no special reason for Fumikado to be in a hurry. Lately they were starting to feel irritated, so it'd be better to calm down a bit. Therefore, they asked the boater to try and play a song. They accepted the request happily with a proud smile on their face. "So... just one song..." Their voice trembled a bit with a mix of confidence and tension. Fumikado wondered if they were used to playing for other people....? ———It was a song that they had never heard of before. There were a lot of notes that sounded a bit off but it wasn't discomforting. It was like the saké's bitterness, with time such bitterness became good. It was a taste that only a person who had been through a lot of bitter experiences could understand... The darkness of the night, with only the two of them there to listen to the water surface's timbre, the rest of the music was swallowed by the waves. However they weren't feeling this kind of sensation. They thought that it was a good idea to ask their name and express their gratitude in a proper way after listening to a good song. After doing an awkward face, the boater answered their question and surprised Fumikado. This happened because the name "Fujiwara" is a very special name in Mugenri. Moreover it was the name of Fumikado's "Enemy". After a little pause Fumikado said their name as well, and the boater was also surprised after hearing it. Then they remained in silence for a moment. —————That night was a rare night with a clear sky. There was a light mist but nothing that could resemble a mirage. Far away in the direction of the shore there were small lights mounted along the shoreline. But those lights weren't able to reach them, only the lights of the stars were able to trace their silhouette. Even with their eyes already accustomed to the darkness of the sea, it was difficult to look straight at the exaggerated lights from the capital that was even further away. The ship's bottom was shaking with the waves breaking on it in a well-defined pattern. Its sound was like an announcement of a change. That pleasant pulsation persisted for a long while. And there was no need to make it certain between the two of them. Fumikado recalled one item amongst their heirlooms that they happened to have in their hands and handed the "Saeda" over to the boater. They were looking for a better place for that flute. And that place was with anyone but themself. It seemed that their soul was being taken away from their body when they asked the boater to try to play the Saeda. Its timbre was able to make the sea waves shiver. Small ripples spread around the boat, and the thin fog dispersed alongside the ripples. They took off their hat. If handled by the correct person, would tools be able to release so much power? "So, what were you doing in the 'Capital'?" This time again, the boater was the one to break the ice. "...In order to fulfil my plan, I was looking for a certain informant." "An informant huh? So, did you get the information you wanted?" "Soon, a big hole will be opened on the inside of the barrier, and it seems all sorts of things from the outside will flow in. Particularly, among those a great number of spirits will flow in, filling up Mugenri." "Ho, that will be a big problem for those at the shrine, I heard they were new guys or substitutes or something." "That's none of my business. What I'm thinking is, why don't I use those spirits for something?" "Heh~. So, how is it? What's your current situation?" "......I've just now collected the needed pieces." That was the meeting between Taira no Fumikado and Fujiwara no Iyozane. "Steady as she goes...." Fumikado didn't know of Iyozane's past, who murmured so, but they somehow understood their feelings. Then Iyozane's boat, without a sail, had finally started to receive favorable winds after receiving a sail named "Fumikado". —————This is the Gloomy Strait. The eastern sky thus became a bit brighter.

Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle - Official Profiles

新帝の盃 平　文門 Taira no Humikado ●種族 ホムンクルス ●能力 魂を遷す 　　　　的な能力 新帝になることを夢見るホムンクルス。 以前目論んだ計画は邪魔をされ失敗したが、 まだまだ諦めずに、一応霊魂を集めている。 今回は自らが属する部隊が知らずの間に出動しており、 事の真相を知るために動いている。 自分勝手で結構バカ、オマケにもう新帝気分でえばってる。 こんなのが王になったら大変だわ。

The Vessel for the New Emperor Taira no Fumikado ●Species: Homunculus ●Abilities: Something like transferring souls A homunculus who dreams of becoming the New Emperor. Although their previous plan failed due to outside interference, they still haven't given up, and are still doggedly collecting souls. This time, forces from their own organization have started mobilizing without having contacted them at all, and they're working to find out the truth of the matter. On top of being selfish and pretty stupid, they typically act like they've already been made Emperor. It'd be a real pain if they actually became royalty.

Official Sources

Official sources

• 2014/10/09 Reactivate Majestical Imperial - Official Profiles, Stage 5 Boss
• 2016/12/01 Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle - Official Profiles, Prologue, New Emperor Team scenarios, Possible Stage 5 Boss