Crimson Lord Secret Conference (紅世の王、極秘会談 Guze no Ō, Gokuhi Kaidan ) is the fourth track and second audio drama of the Shakugan no Shana Assorted Shana Vol. III soundtrack.
Yūji found a piece of squid on Alastor's Cocytus along with the smell of liquor, and imagined a wild night Alastor had with Marchosias and Tiamat.
Summary[]
On an ordinary morning like any other, there was a piece of dried shredded squid on the Cocytus.
Alastor told Yūji that it wasn't dried shredded squid and said he would overlook Yūji's training that morning instead of Shana, as she had other things to do. As Yūji was putting Cocytus around his neck, he smelt alcohol, but Alastor claimed it was just a coincidence in a Yoshida-like manner. Yūji thought that Alastor was stressed from always hanging at Shana's chest, talking like he understood what the squid and alcohol were for. Alastor got more and more angry, wanting to know what Yūji had imagined he had been doing.
Late last night, in a Misaki Municipal High School classroom, Alastor was introducing a Crimson Lord conference and wanted to exchange information with the other Lords about things like developments concerning Bal Masqué, but he was interrupted by Marchosias, who felt that Alastor was exaggerating things because only the two of them and Tiamat were present. Marchosias wanted to be more carefree and Tiamat wanted the discussion to be quicker. Marchosias laughed at the fact that the conference was merely a book, a pendant, and a piece of cloth lying about. Alastor tried to talk about the balance of existence in Misaki City, but was interrupted again by Marchosias, who was curious about how Alastor had made it to the classroom by himself, as Marchosias could fly and had taken Tiamat with him. Alastor tried to change the topic, but Marchosias suggested that a stray dog he had spotted earlier had taken Alastor there and laughed at him. Marchosias looked for Tiamat's support when criticized by Alastor, but she wanted to continue the conference and Alastor ordered Marchosias to be quiet. Alastor stated that the city's balance was perilous due to repeated attacks from Crimson Denizens, that there were also an extraordinary number of Torches, and that things would be grave if something wasn't done soon.
Marchosias brought out a tub and some bottles from Grimoire and poured the bottles into the tub. He grabbed Alastor's Cocytus and Tiamat's Persona and dropped them into the tub before diving in himself. The liquid was alcohol; since it was always Margery who got to have fun, he wanted to drink and had taken some of her bottles. He insisted that Alastor and Tiamat drink with him even though they didn't want to. Alastor was concerned that Tiamat couldn't keep her shape while soaked, but she felt refreshed, pleasing Marchosias. Tiamat prompted Alastor to continue the conference. Alastor wanted to keep a watchful eye on the city and be vigilant of Denizens drawn to it by its Distortions, but was interrupted by Tiamat's hiccuping. Alastor tried to make Tiamat snap out of it but started hiccuping himself. Drunk, Alastor yelled that there was nothing wrong with the Demon God getting drunk, as sake had been an offering to God since time immemorial, while Tiamat laughed. Marchosias was annoyed that the two had gotten drunk first. He also got drunk and became depressed about his personality and the fact that he was a book, calling out to "Sakai-kun" like a certain someone. Though Alastor drunkenly tried to cheer him up, Tiamat called him an "old book". Tiamat also insulted Alastor's appearance, to which he complained that he didn't choose to be a pendant. Marchosias understood how he felt. The three continued drinking.
Later, Alastor was still drunk as he revealed he hadn't thought it was a good idea when Shana wanted her Divine Vessel to be a pendant when they were forming their contract and resented hanging at the chest of a girl despite being an important figure. Similarly, Marchosias complained about being a book and not being able to do what he wants and have a sense of self separate from Margery. He thought that Tiamat had it the hardest of the three, as though products like them were hard to find in stores, he had seen TV advertisements with ones that looked exactly like Tiamat. Tiamat stated that she was satisfied as she was positioned over her contractor's head and was thus superior to her. Compared to Tiamat, Alastor was positioned below and Marchosias was always ridden on with dirty feet, so they started drinking again. Getting even more drunk, Alastor ordered Tiamat to buy snacks from the convenience store, but she refused. Marchosias recalled that he had some dried shredded squid in Grimoire but wondered how they could eat it, and they all burst out laughing. Alastor started bragging that Shana was the best Flame Haze, but Marchosias argued for Margery being the best. They started arguing, with Marchosias pointing out that Alastor had been complaining earlier about being a pendant. Alastor was reduced to blabbering due to being drunk while Marchosias voiced his appreciation at being able to support his contractor from underfoot. Marchosias criticized Tiamat for trying to stand out from above, only to start getting choked by Tiamat's ribbons. As Tiamat tried to shred him, Marchosias called out to Alastor for help, but he drunkenly started singing. Marchosias was in pain and was about to throw up.
That was what Yūji had imagined Alastor had been doing last night. Alastor stated that he would never do something so foolish, though he couldn't vouch for Marchosias. However, he couldn't explain the dried shredded squid or smell of alcohol to Yūji. Shana entered the room and claimed that Chigusa had spilled cooking sake in the kitchen and that it wasn't dried squid but katsuobushi. Though Yūji confirmed that it was katsuobushi, he found it hard to believe his mother would make such a mistake. Shana pushed Yūji out of the house so he could do his training. Shana had been the one who had spilled the sake while Chigusa had been teaching her how to make bentos. She thought Yūji's story about the Lords was weird.
Yūji sprinted as Alastor urged him to go even faster. He stopped to listen to two girls, who were talking about a new rumor regarding Misaki Municipal High School. The rumor was that in the middle of the night, voices could be heard within an unoccupied classroom having conversations. A guard had heard two men and a woman. Yūji was thinking about the rumor, but Alastor made him go back to running.
Characters[]
- Yūji Sakai
- Alastor
- Kazumi Yoshida (mentioned)
- Marchosias
- Tiamat
- Margery Daw (mentioned)
- Shana
- Chigusa Sakai (mentioned)
- Two girls
Powers and Abilities Used[]
Unrestricted Spells[]
- Ribbons - Tiamat
Locations[]
Quotes[]
- Marchosias: "Looking at it from outside, it's just a book, a pendant, and a piece of cloth lying together... Nhahahahahahahaha, how surreal!"
- Marchosias (to Alastor): "Woah, before getting into that... there's something I'm really curious about. It's you. How the heck did you get here by yourself!? I was just wondering and, thahahahaha!"
- Alastor (to Marchosias): "Whaaattt? Are you saaaaying there's a law stating that the Demon God caaaan't get drunk? You fool. Since time immemorial, when offerings are made to Gods, it's common to offer sake! Are you listening? You're listening, hmmmmmmm!!"
- Marchosias: "Shitttt, they got drunk first. This is no different than when I'm with Margery. Alright, I'm drinking too! I'm bathing in it! I'm getting drunk!"
- Alastor (to Tiamat): "Is that... referring... to me? Hmm? You're referring to me. You think I look like this because I want tooooo!!?"
- Alastor: "I'm gonna say this suddenly, but Shana's the only one I would've made a contract with. Sorry, but she's the best Flame Haaazeeee!!"
Marchosias: "Wait up, wait up you, wait up, ok? The best, the best is reserved for my beautiful goblet Maaaarrrrgery Daw. It's her title." - Marchosias (to Alastor): "What's with you, how's a kid Flame Haze the best? You were just complaining about being turned into a pent, pendant, huh, pen, pendant, weren't you?"
Trivia[]
Cultural References[]
- While drunk, Tiamat mentioned Kizakura and Sho Chiku Bai, two sake manufacturers in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto.
- Alastor referred to the offering of sacramental sake, o-miki, to Gods, a practice in Shinto purification rituals.
- Tiamat called Alastor a "Gli[censored] omake", referring to little toys and accessories which come with Glico products.
- Marchosias used the phrase "become a mackerel" to describe having a sense of self, which is derived from a motivational quote by former professional tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka.
- Alastor made a pun regarding Margery's title, "Chanter of Elegies" (弔詞の詠み手 Chōshi no Yomite ), saying that she "get's carried away" (調子に乗りて chōshi ni norite ).
- Alastor announced that he would sing the song Earthly Stars in a manner resembling amateurs on singing contest shows such as NHK Nodo Jiman.
- The girls mentioned the conversations at night within Misaki Municipal High School as a new rumor for the school's "seven wonders or mysteries" (七不思議 ), urban legends centered around the school.