Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 4, Part 3

[Oldmansour]

>"Even back then, you loved her?"

>"Didn't I say that already?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I guess victory won out in the end, then...."

[Oldmansour]

>"I guess victory won out in the end, then...."

>"And she loved me, too. Never would have dreamed I'd send her to die. Not in a fight she couldn't win. Not just so I could win a war. That I'd lie to her to do it. Any one of those people I sent to die has a case for their revenge. But that woman, she should be first in line. She deserves her revenge. And I deserve to die." Kanako says, echoing her earlier sentiment before taking another drink.

[DracoOmega]

>"You said Suwako was the one who ordered that she suffer before she died. How could the two of you have ended up together, after all that?"

[Oldmansour]

>"You said Suwako was the one who ordered that she suffer before she died. How could the two of you have ended up together, after all that?"

>"Time changes a lot of things. And besides, I didn't hold that order against her. I understood why she gave it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Moreso than your own?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Moreso than your own?"

>"What?"

[DracoOmega]

>"More understandable than your own order, I mean?"

[Oldmansour]

>"More understandable than your own order, I mean?"

>Kanako blinks owlishly at you before asking again, "What?"

[DracoOmega]

>"There were two orders that led to Sanae's death - one issued by Suwako, and one by yourself. Why is one of them forgivable and the other not?"

[Oldmansour]

>"There were two orders that led to Sanae's death - one issued by Suwako, and one by yourself. Why is one of them forgivable and the other not?"

>"Oh. Because before I betrayed Sanae, Sanae betrayed Suwako. It's understandable Suwako wanted her to pay for it."

[DracoOmega]

>"Is it really? Do you truly think the proper response to betrayal is to make the other party suffer dearly for it?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Is it really? Do you truly think the proper response to betrayal is to make the other party suffer dearly for it?"

>"It's certainly understandable, isn't it?"

[DracoOmega]

>"No more or less understandable than a warlord using their troops in the most effective way they see to secure victory. Morality has little to do with how clearly motive can be seen."

[Oldmansour]

>"No more or less understandable than a warlord using their troops in the most effective way they see to secure victory. Morality has little to do with how clearly motive can be seen."

>Kanako nods shortly at White Rose. "Then you'd be okay with lying to her and sending her off to die, if it meant you'd beat the Champions quickly and efficiently?"

[DracoOmega]

>"That is not what I said. Just because a thing can be understood does not say anything about whether it is right or wrong. I would sooner give my own life than deceive another into sacrificing theirs; 'efficiency' means nothing to me if people have to die for it."
>"My point is that even if you understand her motives, Suwako still caused terrible suffering to a woman you loved - and for no purpose but to satisfy her own desires. If that can be forgiven, then so can you."

[Oldmansour]

>"That is not what I said. Just because a thing can be understood does not say anything about whether it is right or wrong. I would sooner give my own life than deceive another into sacrificing theirs; 'efficiency' means nothing to me if people have to die for it."
>"My point is that even if you understand her motives, Suwako still caused terrible suffering to a woman you loved - and for no purpose but to satisfy her own desires. If that can be forgiven, then so can you."

>"It's not yours to forgive me. It's Sanae's. And she won't. She deserves revenge on her mothers."

[DracoOmega]

>"Blood never heals a wounded soul."

[Oldmansour]

>"Blood never heals a wounded soul."

>With her cup half raised to her lips, Kanako pauses. "What did you say?" she asks quietly.

[DracoOmega]

>"Blood never heals a wounded soul."

[Oldmansour]

>"Blood never heals a wounded soul."

>"That's what I thought you said." Kanako murmurs.
>"That mean something to you?" White Rose asks her.
>"Woman I knew long ago, smart woman. She used to say that, too. Just struck me." She gives you a nod. "You'd probably have liked her."

[DracoOmega]

>"Who was she?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Who was she?"

>"A writer. Poet. Or novelist, I forget. Maybe both? Her name was Giada. Odd name for here, I think was from somewhere in Roma. Snake youkai, I think." Kanako smiles an unsteady smile. "I've always had a way with snakes." Then she frowns. "Except that Aztec snake."

[DracoOmega]

>"...I recently met a woman by that name - a miko of the Dragon Shrine, with green hair and slitted yellow eyes. A curiously serene woman, almost ethereal, in a sense."

[Oldmansour]

>"...I recently met a woman by that name - a miko of the Dragon Shrine, with green hair and slitted yellow eyes. A curiously serene woman, almost ethereal, in a sense."

>Kanako throws her head back and laughs. Once again, the act almost sends her sprawing backwards, but she catches herself. Just. "You've got a talent for meeting my old friends!" she says expansively. "I suppose she gave you a piece of jade?"

[DracoOmega]

>"As a matter of fact, she did. Is this... something of a habit of hers?"

[Oldmansour]

>"As a matter of fact, she did. Is this... something of a habit of hers?"

>"It means she was curious about you. If she let you keep it, that means she likes you."

[DracoOmega]

>"She did. I... wasn't entirely sure what to make of it at the time; I'm still not, I guess."

[Oldmansour]

>"She did. I... wasn't entirely sure what to make of it at the time; I'm still not, I guess."

>"She hasn't changed much, then."
>"Do snake youkai normally live that long?" White Rose asks. "You said 'long ago', you mean when you were still a God?"
>"Yeah I do. And normal snake youkai? No, not that I know of.  But like your mistress there said, Giada is a strange woman. Doesn't surprise me she's still around. Unless she's a reincarnation of herself, too."

[DracoOmega]

>"That, I wouldn't be able to answer; I've only spoken to her briefly. Though she did mention knowing someone 'a very long time ago', however long her frame of reference is."