01x09 - The One Who Controls the Demons

[bunniefuu]

So this is how rice is planted?

That's right.

The seedlings we've grown

are carefully placed
one by one into the field.

Hey, Kinta!

They're crooked!

No they're not.

The crooked ones are yours.

What are you talking about?
Mine are perfectly...

As you can see, lining up the seedlings
just right is no easy task.

I see.

This is much easier!

Now we know exactly where to plant them.

It's a sight for sore eyes.

That's the goddess of inventions for ya!

Harvest goddess my butt.

Some gods have more to do
than just lounge around like you!

You know what? You talk too much.

I hope you'll continue to support us,
Princess Kokorowa.

What was that?

This is...

No! We can't do that!

A demon is a demon!

Your Highness is right.

All demons are wicked and evil.
That's why they're demons.

If we don't finish it off now,
there's no telling what could happen.

That's true, but,

what could it even do
with wounds like this?

We have k*lled and eaten plenty
of Demon Rabbits until now.

That is true as well.

However...

I will bring medicine.

Myrthe!

I agree with you, Sakuna.

But I can't just leave it like that.

Just look at these wounds.

It looks as if it's been cut with a sword.

Was it betrayed by its comrades?

If that's true, then this
isn't a normal demon.

Please.

Say something, Kinta.

Kinta?

I made medicine.

We ought to finish it off.

Kinta?

We can't take this lightly.

What if we heal it

and it decides to attack one of us?

That's...

Kinta is absolutely right.

But k*lling it just to protect ourselves

would make us no different than Ishimaru.

Even so...

We'll chase it out as soon as it can walk.

Until then, we wait.

Goddess!

Let's go thank her later.

Gimme a break.

What a bunch of selfish whiners.

Kokorowa?

You surprised me.

How?

The Sakuna I used to know

wouldn't have been
so open to other's opinions.

Like I had a choice.

If I don't say something,
the matter will never be settled.

What a pain.

I always have to do everything.

Is that so?

As soon as we came to the island
I've been hunting, exploring,

and planting rice all by myself.

Can you believe that?

By yourself?

Yeah.

Well,

although he may be clumsy,

Tauemon uses the scrolls
to help us make better rice.

Myrthe works hard to learn Yanato recipes.

Yui and Kinta are still bratty kids,

but are surprisingly crafty.

They make tools and clothes for us.

Kaimaru is young too,
but always encouraging us.

Despite not knowing a thing

when they got to the Lofty Realm,
everyone continued to do their best.

They're all good people.

What's this?

It's a thresher.

We use it to remove
the grains from the plant.

I see.

What's going on?

Don't worry about it.

It happens all the time on the island.

But it has been more frequent lately.

Alright. Let's take this
to the lower field.

Tama? What's wrong?

Your Highness.

It's nothing.

I'm just wondering
how that demon got here.

What do you mean?

You see, this mountain pass

is protected by illusion magic
cast by Lord Takeribi.

Demons shouldn't be able
to get in here at all.

So the magic has weakened?

I thought that might be the reason,

but I believe it isn't
that the magic has weakened,

but that the malice has grown stronger.

So the demons might eventually attack?

If the malice continues
to grow in strength, yes.

However, if the malice
is appearing more strongly,

that should make it easier
to locate its source.

This might be a chance to find out
where the demons come from

and investigate their origins.

Don't you think so?

You're right.

You're suggesting we use
this chance to take initiative?

That might not be a bad idea.

We should be able to find them.

Kinta.

You're a strong, grown man.

I'm leaving that demon to you.

If it acts suspicious,
you have to take it out.

Way ahead of you.

Sorry to keep you.

Where'd you get that thing?

I received permission
from Lady Kamuhitsuki.

Let's go.

Think I could get a ride
on the other shoulder?

All things are done better
on your own two feet.

Easy for you to say,
flying around like that!

This way?

This isn't the same volcano
the Homusubi Specter was in.

Let's continue.

This is...

Ashigumo?

What is it?

Who are you?

I'm Princess Kokorowa.

We ended up here after following the scent
of a demon that entered the pass.

Over there.

The fog is stagnant over there.

It's completely still.

Here?

Mother.

The fog!

What's a castle doing here?

Just like our pass, this castle
was hidden behind a barrier.

Do normal demons
have the ability to do that?

There must be someone else
bound to the demons,

responsible for bringing
them to the island

and defeating the Ashigumo Clan.

What the...?

We've been surrounded.

They're everywhere.

It's an ambush.

They must have been expecting you.

But how?

That wounded rabbit...

Was it a trap to lure you here?

You stay here, Kokorowa.

Let's go, Ashigumo.

Indeed.

Automaton!

Incredible.

Have you forgotten?

I've been issued a decree
by Lady Kamuhitsuki.

The same as yours.

Kokorowa.

-Ashigumo!
-Your Highness!

What is it?

It's a trap by that Demon Rabbit...
I'm worried about the mountain pass.

But...

I'll return to the mountain pass.

Kokorowa. Will you be all right alone?

I've put in a lot of effort
to not be outdone by you.

Don't worry about me.

Be careful.

RICE, HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Rice provides energy and protein
for the brain and body.

Combined with other dishes,
it makes a healthy meal.

This is...

Ashigumo!

The demons here
far outnumber the previous group.

They must be inside.

Their master.

I'm on it!

Let's go.

They must be in here.

What's that?

Your Highness!

You're...

I told you, didn't I?

I won't let you better me!

Kokorowa.

Hurry!

There's nothing here.

No, that can't be.

The Homusubi Specter!

But we saw him fall into a sea of fire!

With the eternal flame,
he weaves the malice of the dead

to recreate a new body.

The powerful malice
must have summoned him back.

Hate... Hate...

I'll handle this.

Ashigumo.

His hatred is that of the Ashigumo
who were slaughtered by demons.

I remained on this island
to settle the score.

You can't fight him alone.

It's time to put an end to this!

Your Highness.

Who is that?

Are they sleeping?

The malice is overwhelming.

I can feel it in my whiskers!

That voice.

I know who you are.

You're the kid I met on the bridge.

You...

You're the guy I kicked off the bridge.

It's been a while, huh?

So you think you're all tough now, do you?

Maybe I do.

I've been on this island
far longer than you.

What does he mean?

What is he doing here in the first place?

What about that half-dead fool Katsura?

Did he kick the bucket?

He was here before us?

The bridge?

What do you mean?

The Floating Bridge of Heaven
was built by the first Lady Kamuhitsuki

to connect ambiguous times and places.

The fog surrounding it

is devoid of time and place.

An empty space
serving as the base of the two worlds.

So the fog sent him
back in time to this island.

The countless years
I've spent here on this island

have given me
plenty of time to build my strength.

If you knew we came to the island,

why didn't you try to attack us?

I've been busy, you see.

And k*lling you isn't my main goal.

The Lofty Realm and the Lowly Realm.

I'll destroy them, alongside him!

Him?

Here he comes.

It's time I pay you back for last time!

Then I'll k*ll Katsura,

the woman and those kids!

You think you can k*ll me like that?

Your Highness!

Don't worry.

Ashigumo and Kokorowa
gave me their strength.

Kinta and Yui made my equipment.

Myrthe cooked rice to give me strength.

I can't be beaten!

Take this!

Your Highness. Finish him.

Finish him?

As long as he's alive,

the demons will continue to
regroup and attack us.

We must prevent that!

Leave this place.

Your Highness!

Don't you remember what Tauemon said?

k*lling someone just to save ourselves

would make us no different than him.

Katsura said that?

As irritating as always, I see.

It seems like you and Tauemon
have some connection.

Now might not be the time,
but I think you should talk to him.

How naive.

If I had the chance,
I'd chop his head clean off.

What's that?

Look!

The mountain.

It's burning!

So it begins.

Don't you know what this is?

It's the awakening of the Great Omizuchi!

Omizuchi?

Impossible!

Omizuchi was cut down by Lord Takeribi,

using I, the Blade of Hoshidama!

True, he has been slowed down
by gods and the Ashigumo,

but he won't die so easily.

He's been waiting in silence
deep beneath these lands.

When I arrived on this island,

I was led to him by the malice.

The scent of a grudge, of hate.

I thought of him as an equal.

In exchange for healing his wounds,
I was granted this demonic power

to destroy the Lofty Realm
and attack the Lowly Realm!

This man...

Tell Katsura

that he's going to regret being so naive!

Hey!

He got away.

Your Highness!

The island!

I can see fire in the mountain pass!

We must return at once!

-Oh no.
-Your Highness, look!

Demon tracks.

And so many of them.

Did the Demon Rabbit lead them here?

Kokorowa!

Tauemon!

Kinta! Yui!

Myrthe!

Kaimaru!