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Brad: “Momotaro’s Journey to New Million—”
Narrator: Once upon a time, there lived an old man and woman. Every day the old man headed to the mountains to collect firewood, while the old woman headed to the river to do the laundry.
One day, the old woman was doing the laundry when she saw a large peach drifting down the river.
Old Woman: Oh ho, what an impressive peach! I should bring it home for my old man as a gift.
Narrator: While saying that, the old woman took the peach that had been splashing down the river, and hastily took it back to their house.
───
Old Man: I’m back~
Old Woman: I’ve been waiting for you, dear. I have here something I gathered today, hurry and open it.
Old Man: Gathered…? Didn’t you head out to take care of the laundry? It sounds like you went out to gather—
Old Woman: Look at this giant peach!
Old Man: A peach?! How’d you head to the river to the laundry and end up bringing a peach home?
Old Woman: The peach was floating downstream, so I took it and brought it open. I’ve never seen a peach this big before, so I’m sure it’s delicious!
Old Man: A peach that was drifting through the river sounds a little scary… I mean, normal peaches are definitely not this big! Are you really going to eat it, dear?
Old Woman: I will. I feel like I must. Alright, dear, you cut it!
Old Man: I-I’m cutting it? …Okay. I’m pretty nervous about this, though…
Well then… huh?!
Old Woman: What’s going on?! The peach suddenly started shaking!
Old Man: See, I told you it wasn’t a normal peach! What do we do… and what’s gonna happen to us?!
Momotaro: Momotaro Bomb! VOLTAGE MAX!!!
Old Man: Uwaaah?!
Old Woman: A-An energetic infant—rather, a red-haired child popped out!
Momotaro: Huhuhu. I’m Momotaro, the boy who was born from a peach! There must be some meaning to my birth taking place here! Please raise me here as your child!
Old Man: W-Why do we have to raise you?! “Momotaro, the boy who was born from a peach”? What the hell does that mean?!
Old Woman: Calm down, dear. It can’t be helped now, let’s be the ones to raise Voltage max-taro.
Momotaro: My name’s Momotaro, not Voltage max-taro!
Old Man: What are you saying, dear?! First you take a peach from a river, and now you’re saying we raise this mysterious child?!
Old Woman: I don’t really understand myself, but I feel like we must.
I'll take all the responsibility for this, so please.
Old Man: Um, hmm…
Narrator: And that how’s Voltage ma—... Momotaro was born from a peach and came under the old couple’s wings.
Momotaro was of a friendly and genuine character, so even the old man, who at first objected to raising him, came to cherish him.
Momotaro was good at fighting and had an overwhelming sense of justice, so the whole village had started to rely on him.
Narrator: And one day, when Momotaro had turned 18...
Momotaro: Ah, that’s right. Gramps, granny, I’m gonna head to New Million for a little to eliminate some demons!
Old Woman: W-What are you saying all of a sudden, Momotaro?!
Momotaro: You see, I heard from a black kite that was flying over there that across the ocean, there live a bunch of evil demons who wreak havoc on the surrounding lands and pilfer treasures.
I can’t just sit still and do nothing after hearin’ something like that!
I was thinking the genius Momotaro-sama could head out and take care of them in a flash!
Old Woman: Eliminating evil demons, huh… That sounds just like you. I approve, get out there and kick some butt, Momotaro!
Momotaro: I knew you’d understand, granny!
Old Man: I’m against it.
Momotaro: Geh, of course you’d say that…
Old Man: Why do you have to go? You might be considered the strongest in this village, but there’s bound to be loads of people even stronger than you are once you leave!
And you shouldn’t be taking the words of “a black kite that was flying over there” seriously… wait, how could a black kite even speak?
Old Woman: Dear, that’s something you shouldn’t go around questioning!
But well, your worries are reasonable, but Momotaro’s already 18. Don’t you think we ought to start respecting his ability to make his own decisions?
Old Man: H-However…!
Old Woman: I understand how worried you are about him. Momotaro, you also understand your grandfather's feelings completely, don’t you?
Momotaro: Of course, I do! I promise I’ll dash over there, take out the demons, and head straight back!
I’ll bring treasures back home for both of you!
Old Man: M-Momotaro…
Narrator: With that, Momotaro’s mission to go and eliminate the demons was finalized.
And soon came the day that Momotaro set out for New Million…
───
Old Man: Make sure to watch out for yourself, you can never be too careful. Come home as soon as you finish taking care of the demons, okay? If you run into a weirdo with his bangs swept back, you better not stick with him!
Momotaro: A weirdo with swept-back bangs? What the hell are you talking about?
Well whatever, don’t fret so much, gramps!
Old Woman: Momotaro, take this with you!
Momotaro: What’s this?
Old Woman: Some premium jack dango I made. It’ll fill your stomach up, and is supposed to give you give the power of one hundred men, so you’ll be able to defeat the demons for sure.
Momotaro: Woah, thanks, granny! You even prepared a cloak and a sword for me… I have nothing to fear now! Voltage Max!
Narrator: After being sent off by the old couple, Momotaro began walking towards New Million.
Once he reached the outskirts of the village, something jumped out of the grass.
Dog: Woof woof!
Momotaro: Woah, don’t surprise me like that! Huh, a dog…
Dog: Momotaro-san, Momotaro-san! Wherever are you going?
Momotaro: I’m headin’ to New Million to eliminate some demons!
Dog: To eliminate some demons…? That sounds fun! If it’s okay with you, may I tag along?
Momotaro: You have weird tastes for a dog… I don’t really mind, but can a normal dog like you even stand a chance against an oni?
Wait a sec… I have just the thing! The jack dangos that granny made!
Apparently you’re supposed to gain the power of one hundred men if you eat it! Try one!
Dog: Wah, thank you so much! Well then, I’ll try one… *chew*
Dog: Amazing… my whole body is brimming with power!
Momotaro: Woah, that’s sick… You look completely different now.
Dog: I feel like I could take down anything right now, even a demon. Let’s hurry to the demons, Momotaro!
Momotaro: Huh, even the way you speak changed…
Narrator: And like this, the dog was given one of the jack dangos, and became Momotaro’s friend.
After that, he met a monkey in the mountains, and then met a pheasant in a prairie. As he did with the dog, Momotaro gave each one of them a jack dango, and they became his friends.
Momotaro: I can see New Million across the ocean! It’s finally time!
Dog: Momotaro! I’ll go secure us a boat.
Momotaro: Thanks, dog!
Monkey: Momotaro! I’ll steer the boat.
Momotaro: Ah, okay. Thanks, monkey.
Pheasant: Momotaro! We’ve almost reached New Million. I’ll fly over and have a lookout.
Momotaro: T-Thanks, pheasant…
Narrator: Leading his friends who had gotten quite burly from the dangos along, Momotaro finally reached New Million.
Momotaro: Woah, what a huge tower! We haven’t caught sight of Pheasant ever since he went to have a lookout, but I’m sure he’s fine.
Well, let’s just head in for now!
Huff, puff… Ahem, I’m Momotaro, the strongest guy around! Hurry up and open the door!
Hm, no reply… I gave you a chance! Don’t be scaredy-cat and open the door—
Ah, it opened… Someone’s comin’ out.
! Pheasant!
Pheasant: I-I apologize, Momotaro… I thought I’d be able to defeat the demon on my own, but… gah!
Dog & Monkey: Pheasant!
Pheasant: It seems the person we were trying face off against is not someone to be taken lightly!
Momotaro: What the hell do you mean, “not to taken light—
???: So you’re Momotaro.
Momotaro: ! Who’re you?!
???: Isn’t it proper manners to introduce yourself before demanding the names of others?
Well, I wasn’t expecting much from the man who was going around claiming he was going to eliminate demons.
Momotaro: W-What’s with this guy… he seems so intimidating. Could he be the demons’ leader! Tch, I can’t be getting cold feet now!
Oi, you two! Let’s take him down!
Dog: I-I can’t! Such a thing is impossible!
Monkey: Me too! There’s no way we can do something as foolish as attempt to defeat this person!
Momotaro: What the hell are you saying! This guy’s the leader of the demons! He’s a bad guy who’s going around wreaking havoc and stealing treasure!
Dog: That’s not true! Do you not who this person is?! This person is… he’s…!
Brad: I’m Brad Beams, member of Helios’s 10th generation and mentor leader.
Momotaro: Eh? Mentor leader…?
───
Old Woman: Dear, dear! Big news! We’ve got a letter from Momotaro!
Old Man: Huh, from Momotaro?
Old Woman: Yeah. Some impressively built pheasant flew by earlier and dropped it.
Old Man: Let’s check it quickly! What did Momotaro say—
Momotaro: Dear gramps and granny,
Sorry for taking so long to reach out. I probably made you worry, but I’m doin’ great!
I set out to take care of the demons in New Million, but to tell the truth, I was completely fooled by the talk about there being evil demons.
Instead of evil demons, New Million has a bunch of cool heroes that protect the peace of the town! All the super strong heroes are polishing their craft there, and I’m working my hardest in hopes of becoming the strongest hero ever.
The mentor leader, Brad, is a total bastard, but takin’ him off guard is my current objective.
I’m gonna knock Brad off his pedestal and become the strongest hero there ever was, so cheer me on, okay?
Old Man: W-What is he talking about… Why on earth is he stuck there?!
Old Woman: To those who are interested in Momotaro—no, Otori Akira’s fate and his relationship with Brad-sama, it’s recommended that you read the first chapter of HELIOS Rising Heroes.
Old Man: Dear?! What’s gotten into you?!
Old Woman: ! What on earth am I saying…
Old Man: Get a hold of yourself, dear! What on earth will happen to Momotaro?!?!
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