I suppose that depends on how you look at it. We were technically summoned as part of an ongoing war with the History Retrograde Army, but it's not fought in quite the same way as human wars. We have plenty of time away from the front lines when they aren't actively interfering with history.
Yes. History is like a river - it can be altered, in the right circumstances. Usually, that means the Revisionists will target important figures or events in history, such as assisting one side of a battle to change the victor.
Sometimes history will correct itself, but we're sent to prevent it from going off course at all, and redirecting what we can if it does.
...Fascinating. And a bit beyond what I'm understanding to be possible in my world, but I guess I wouldn't really realise it if history was changed while I'm in it?
[ In 60 years, Daan's world will be making radical theories and stuff about 'what if we went back in time and killed the Kaiser as a baby'. ]
Mm, it's rare for humans to realize. I haven't met one yet that has, myself.
It is. And we often have to wait for our enemies to show themselves, too, so this isn't completely unfamiliar, in that way. [ so he can handle the burden, probably. ] Though I'd still prefer fighting them directly.
I've never seen it happen myself, but from what I've heard, it depends on the degree to which it's been changed. If it's something we can recover and get back on track, then history will continue more or less how it should. But if it's beyond recovering, there's a chance that the government will cut off that timeline to isolate it, and keep it from affecting others. It would be abandoned entirely.
Timelines split on their own - branches of a river, like I said before. And my master isn't the one with the power to cut them off, if they get to that point. It's a last resort, one the government only uses when they're certain there's no way to save it.
[ he nods. ]
Lavi-dono has asked me a little about it, yes. If he has more questions, I'll be happy to explain what I can.
Mm... it sounds pretty complicated... and the idea of the government being involved in managing time and history itself is a concept that admittedly goes pretty far over my head...
It just sounds like it'd be the exact kind of thing he'd be interested in though.
The government doesn't get directly involved very often. Usually, we and our master are enough to handle it on our own. They only step in when things get desperate.
He's not the only one. A number of you have been curious about it.
[ HELP i guess it depends on the swords explaining it... iwatooshi has nothing to hide. ]
I suppose it can be. [ thoughtfully, as he turns his eyes away. ] I don't always understand my master's intentions in why they choose who they do for certain missions, but I know they mean well.
Regardless, we exist for our current master, and our duty is to follow their orders. It's not that difficult, when you think about it that way.
When my former master was killed in battle, I was claimed by the enemy army as a trophy and put aside. [ or something? we don't know. don't think about it too hard. ] I wasn't used for centuries afterward.
But my current master used their magic to summon my spirit. They gave me this body, so I'll serve them until they no longer have need of me.
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I know you said you mostly do fieldwork, and then some other things. What are those, exactly?
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[ a faint smile. ]
As for our missions, we're used to protect the history of our country - both the good and the bad.
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[ He has his naginata back... ]
Would that usually not mean being in wars?
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[ hmmm. ]
I suppose that depends on how you look at it. We were technically summoned as part of an ongoing war with the History Retrograde Army, but it's not fought in quite the same way as human wars. We have plenty of time away from the front lines when they aren't actively interfering with history.
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[ What da fuck. ]
As in change the course of history itself?
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Sometimes history will correct itself, but we're sent to prevent it from going off course at all, and redirecting what we can if it does.
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[ In 60 years, Daan's world will be making radical theories and stuff about 'what if we went back in time and killed the Kaiser as a baby'. ]
It sounds like a very important job.
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It is. And we often have to wait for our enemies to show themselves, too, so this isn't completely unfamiliar, in that way. [ so he can handle the burden, probably. ] Though I'd still prefer fighting them directly.
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[ Is it familiar, Iwa... is it. ]
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Yeah, if we're comparing to those kinds of standards -- I mean. I really do guess it's like nothing at all.
...
What happens when they successfully change history?
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Timelines...? [ Jesus, what. ] If you could just separate timelines to begin with, why bother with keeping that kind of order?
...
Have you spoken to Lavi about this? I feel like he'd find this fascinating.
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[ he nods. ]
Lavi-dono has asked me a little about it, yes. If he has more questions, I'll be happy to explain what I can.
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It just sounds like it'd be the exact kind of thing he'd be interested in though.
[ Touken Ranbu is wild actually. ]
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He's not the only one. A number of you have been curious about it.
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Must be rough, trying to keep a level head in all of that. Or is that not your job, as a weapon?
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...It's our mission. Sometimes it can be difficult, but it's something we must do, or we won't be any better than the Revisionists.
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Sounds like a pretty heavy responsibility, Mr. Iwatooshi.
[ I'm not gonna lie I think I learned more about what TKRB is actually about in this single thread than I have from any other sword in mg so far. ]
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I suppose it can be. [ thoughtfully, as he turns his eyes away. ] I don't always understand my master's intentions in why they choose who they do for certain missions, but I know they mean well.
Regardless, we exist for our current master, and our duty is to follow their orders. It's not that difficult, when you think about it that way.
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But my current master used their magic to summon my spirit. They gave me this body, so I'll serve them until they no longer have need of me.
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What happens when you aren't summoned? Is it like being asleep?
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Mhm. Regardless...
You're worried about others, and others look to you too, for a spot of... brightness, let's say.
...
Let's keep it that way.
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