01x06 - Gathering of Factions

[bunniefuu]

[epic choral music playing]

[narrator] The True Demon King has died.

The enemy of the world

that filled the horizon with fear,

was defeated by somebody.

To this very day,

that lone Hero remains unknown,

both in name and existence.

Now the age of fear has come to an end,

that person has to be chosen.

[theme music playing]

ISHURA

Mage City

[narrator] Mage City is the satellite city

closest to the New Principality of Lithia,

serving as an outpost

for Aureatia to monitor

Lithia's movements.

Episode 6

Gathering of Factions

[footsteps thudding]

[Hidow] Have our guests arrived?

[guard]

Yes, it seems they arrived this morning.

So I'm the one who's late.

Well, visitors aren't usually the type

to care about good manners.

[door creaking]

- [gasps]

- [door closes]

[breathes sharply]

Sorry about this.

I called you out and yet I was late.

I'm the Twentieth Minister,

Hidow the Clamp.

M-My name is Yuno the Distant Talon.

Back in Nagan,

the Nagan that got destroyed,

I was an apprentice scholar.

I want to thank you for hearing us out

Let's skip the introductions.

If a new visitor has appeared,

Aureatia must take that into account.

You did well to inform me.

No

Not at all.

So then,

you must be the Willow-Sword.

[groans]

Do I have to add that to my name?

I'm Soujirou.

Willow-Sword is a pretty good second name.

Anyway, let me get to the point.

[grunts]

The enemy is the former

Twenty-Third General of Aureatia,

Taren the Guarded.

[Hidow] She has a wyvern army,

and is rounding up

magic items and mercenaries.

I want to put a stop to all this

before w*r breaks out

between Aureatia

and the New Principality of Lithia.

[Hidow] And I want you two to help.

What about the competition

to decide the Hero?

That will come later.

At any rate,

it's the largest event in the world.

[Hidow] Needless to say, only those

of the highest prestige can participate.

[sighs]

[Hidow]

Consider this a test of whether or not

you're cut out to be a Hero candidate.

If you make a significant impact

against the New Principality of Lithia,

then one of the Twenty-Nine Officials

will probably support your candidacy.

Whatever you say.

So long as I get a decent fight.

[worried breath]

[whispers]

S-Soujirou,

Lord Hidow is a very important person.

Try to be more polite.

Uh

- How do you want me to speak?

- Oh.

How about

W-We are deeply grateful

for your generous consideration of us,

mere wandering visitors.

How about that?

Sure.

Let's just pretend

that I greeted you like that.

You guys.

You're lucky I'm a tolerant man.

[Hidow] Yuno, this fight against Lithia

holds particular significance

for you, right?

Y-Yes, my lord.

[Yuno] Lord Hidow

Are you certain that a follower

of the self-proclaimed Demon King Taren

was in the Great Labyrinth of Nagan

on that day?

I'm certain.

His name is Dakai the Magpie.

A swordsman

who carries a blue, enchanted sword.

[uneasy music playing]

Then, did the Dungeon Golem activate

because this man named Dakai the Magpie

entered the depths of the labyrinth?

That is nothing more

than a guess on your part.

[Yuno grunts]

[Yuno] I don't want to simply accept

that tragedy as a mere disaster,

thinking it was all unavoidable,

and blaming my own weakness.

Lord Hidow,

I would like to ask your permission.

[Hidow] My permission?

I'd like to accompany Soujirou.

[Hidow chuckles]

Fine.

Go for it.

New Principality of Lithia

[wind howling]

[wind howling]

If I remember correctly,

she's eating dinner with Taren tonight.

Don't move.

[Regnejee] Move and I'll k*ll you.

- [Dakai] It's me.

- [gasps]

[soft grunt]

No need to be on guard.

I'm investigating here too.

I have Miss Taren's permission.

I don't remember giving my permission.

And I don't plan to get along

with some daft swordsman.

Swordsman, you say.

[laughs]

Well, you're not alone.

I doubt I could get along

with the likes of some wyvern.

[Regnejee grunts]

[Regnejee] A man like this

can move into attack from any stance,

faster than my Word Arts.

Do you know of diaries?

[Regnejee] Diaries?

[Dakai] Aren't they popular in this world?

You write down daily events in a notebook.

- Did you know Curte keeps a diary too?

- [grunts]

- [tense music playing]

- No, I didn't.

Do you foolish minians

get pleasure out of such a pastime?

I suppose so.

In any case, it seems that Curte does.

[Regnejee] What of it?

[Dakai] There are no letters

written in this thing.

Holes are made at regular intervals.

It's read by touch.

[Dakai blows air]

What would you do if that princess

was recording things like the weather,

or the times she spoke to you?

[tense music continues playing]

Were you deployed today too?

I just got back

from chasing off some rotten outlaws.

I've not got time to mess around

every day like you.

I doubt you're careless enough

to discuss military information,

but it seems

information is leaking to Aureatia.

What of it?

[Regnejee] If you put one finger on Curte,

I'll tear you into nine pieces

and end your life.

Oh, dear,

you think you have a chance of beating me?

[Regnejee] You fool!

[tense music playing]

[music fades]

- [Dakai] Tell me, Regnejee.

- [gasps]

About your swarm.

What's up with that?

My swarm?

What about my swarm?

Wasn't your swarm wiped out

by the True Demon King once before?

[angry grunt]

[tense sting]

[despondent music playing]

[Dakai] Just four years ago,

around the time Curte lost her sight.

How did you build

such a big swarm in just four years?

What would you do if I told you?

Being a minia such as yourself.

Relax.

I still don't plan to do anything yet.

[Dakai] Not to little Curte, or to you.

If you're going to interrogate Curte,

I want to be there.

[Dakai laughs]

[Dakai]

There's no point in interrogating her.

I doubt she'd speak anyway.

Suppose someone had been filling

Curte's head with information,

it's not like she ever saw who they were.

[pensive music playing]

[Regnejee] I must protect my swarm.

Even if Curte turns out to be a traitor.

I will make the right choice,

like always.

Ishura

Commanding Entity

[Curte]

It seems that Regnejee accidentally

snagged my shawl on his way out.

I can't find it anywhere.

I searched my whole room.

That's a terrible misfortune.

[Taren] I'm sure he brazenly denied it,

but you should forgive him.

[Curte] I know.

[giggles softly]

Delicious.

Is that so?

[Curte] Mom.

Don't I keep telling you

not to call me that?

I feel bad for your real mother.

The thing is,

I was hoping you could keep Regnejee

from doing any dangerous work.

Regnejee's duty

constantly puts him in danger.

Will there be a w*r again?

[Taren] It looks that way.

I'm the self-proclaimed Demon King.

Aureatia don't hold back on anybody

who takes the title of Demon King.

They will send their army.

When that happens, I must protect Lithia.

Yes, I know.

[soft music playing]

[Taren] Ever since I first found her,

she and Regnejee have been together.

Curte wishes to believe

that Regnejee is an angel

who saves people.

That is why

I cannot tell Curte

the truth about Regnejee.

Regnejee doesn't work without me.

Is that why you're sheltering me?

That's right.

You play a crucial role in this w*r.

Do you think we can ever find happiness?

Are you talking about you and Regnejee?

And you, Mom

I mean, Master Taren.

If Lithia wins the w*r and prospers,

and there's no more danger,

then do you think

we can all live in peace?

[Taren] Fear not.

I've never lost a battle.

I am Taren the Guarded.

I'll finish off this little skirmish

with Aureatia in no time.

Mm.

You should go to bed now.

[Curte] Okay.

Goodnight, Mom.

I thought I told you

not to call me that, Curte.

[indistinct chatter]

This place isn't all that great.

You think so?

There were taller trees in Eta.

[Kia] Well, I didn't think there'd be

so many different types of fruit for sale.

The city of Aureatia is even more amazing.

You're lying again.

[soft chuckle]

[Elea] The reason I've come to Lithia,

is not for tourism,

nor is it for Kia's lessons.

The World Word is my exclusive trump card,

unknown to Aureatia.

I must remove anybody who might trace

the link between myself and Kia

before the competition starts.

Even if it requires drastic action,

I must eliminate them at this stage.

[Kia] Who are we supposed to be meeting?

[Elea] An old acquaintance of mine.

We might be talking for a while.

Even so,

it's boring to stay at the inn by myself.

- [Elea] Kia, look at that.

- Hmm?

A ship?

[soft chuckle]

Why don't you go take a look?

B-But

Play your cards right

and they might let you on.

Really? I'll go see!

I'll be waiting at the park!

Okay!

[footsteps approaching]

[Elea] Sorry for the wait.

[Lana] No, you're right on time, Elea.

[Elea] Lana the Moon Tempest.

Lana is the only one who knows

about the World Word besides me.

She infiltrates Lithia

as a spy for Aureatia,

and she passed on information

about the World Word to me.

It's a shame about the World Word.

[Elea] Yes.

It seems it was just a rumor after all.

I heard a lot has happened

back in Aureatia.

[whispers]

When is Taren's assassination

set to take place?

Hmm?

So you already know about that?

Your ears are as sharp as ever.

I didn't simply wander to Lithia

looking at the clouds.

The target has secured the star already.

I can release

the wyvern deployment records soon too.

[Lana] In my work in Lithia,

I've won over two who are very capable.

Higuare the Pelagic

and Shalk the Sound Slicer.

Competent mercenaries

can spark internal conflict.

[Elea] You truly are formidable.

Of course,

nobody suspects my true identity.

I'm a highly skilled spy, after all.

Yes.

I'm fully aware of your excellence.

- [Kia] Ms.!

- [surprised grunt]

- They didn't let me on the ship!

- [light music playing]

They said

they couldn't let a lone child on.

[Kia] You big liar!

I-Is that right?

"Ms."?

Ah

So that's the identity you've assumed?

And I suppose she's one of your students.

[pants]

Is this your acquaintance?

Y-Yes.

I'm Lana the Moon Tempest.

A former student of Ms. Elea.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Kia.

Kia, want to come sightseeing with me?

Ms. Elea isn't much fun, right?

Well, there's not much to see here

in this city.

I know a delicious restaurant.

There are dishes you eat with rice.

It's different from bread. You'll like it.

I-Is that right?

In that case

Kia, are you still awake?

I'm awake.

[chuckles]

[Lana] Just barely.

[patron 1] Come on, you can still drink.

Give me a break, I've got work tomorrow.

[patron 2] Your work's not that important.

[patron 3] Jeez, thanks.

Taren must be a good ruler.

I guess so.

That's exactly why

- she feels she has to do all this.

- [pensive music playing]

If she hadn't been so popular,

things wouldn't have turned out like this.

Lithia's independence

and Taren calling herself

a monarch happened

because her people wished for it.

[Lana] They felt she was most fit to rule,

and they wanted their own country.

They put that pressure on Taren.

[Elea] Everybody at the tavern

was celebrating like it was a festival,

even with the impending w*r with Aureatia.

[Lana] Right.

They think they can win so long as

they have the invincible wyvern army

and the undefeated Taren.

The idea that they might be attacked here

hasn't entered their minds.

[Elea] I was taught by Taren

on numerous occasions.

But in the end,

I was never able to thank her.

[Lana laughs]

Don't start feeling sorry for her now.

If we don't k*ll her,

there'll be full-scale w*r again.

The True Demon King has died,

yet starting another w*r

is pointless for everyone.

[pensive music continues playing]

[Elea]

Lana was in a spy guild during the w*r.

She carried out a lot of dirty work

as a member of Obsidian Eyes.

Even after she came to Aureatia,

she had no choice

but to continue on that path.

Anyway, I'm nearly done

with this awful job.

I'll live in peace in Aureatia.

[soft groan]

Are we back at the inn?

[Elea] Nearly.

I'm a little tired too,

so you keep on sleeping.

[soft groan]

[soft grunt]

You'll be heading to Aureatia soon.

I'll go buy Kia a toy

as a souvenir from Lithia.

[Elea] Now's my chance

[soft gasp]

[Dakai] According to Miss Taren,

there's an informant in our ranks.

[Lana] An informant?

[Dakai] What if I told you it was Curte?

What if?

It would be a huge incident.

Are you saying

Taren's adopted child leaked information?

That girl was keeping a diary.

Would you believe it?

She used braille.

Even blind people read and write with it.

We have it

in the Distant World I come from.

Is that so?

[Dakai] Normally, one would assume

that Curte is the informant, right?

But that girl believes in Miss Taren.

She would never betray her.

In that case

[Dakai] It means

there's somebody who enticed Curte.

What a clever idea.

To use a blind girl

by making her record information.

And succeed in making the perfect alibi.

The informant was outside the city

this whole time,

searching for mercenaries

like Shalk and Higuare.

[Lana] What are you trying to say?

You're the one who enticed Curte.

- [dramatic music playing]

- [Dakai] You used to be in a spy guild.

Creating a code using braille

must have been easy for you.

All right.

Where's your evidence?

The transcriptions.

[Dakai] Since you got back to the city,

you've been transcribing the diary

and leaking those transcriptions.

I pinched those transcriptions

before your comrades came for them.

Of course I've already checked

that the same information

had reached the spies of Aureatia.

[Dakai] Well, I'm a bandit after all.

I find every hiding spot,

and there's no lock I can't open.

I'm always telling this to Miss Taren.

Well, what do you think?

Impressed?

[breathes shakily]

[Elea] The situation has changed.

Simply hiding the World Word

won't be enough.

[Dakai] Get in. Miss Taren is waiting.

[breathes shakily]

[suspenseful music playing]

[Elea] If Lana speaks,

I'll be investigated too.

No matter how invincible Kia is,

- I

- [footsteps approaching]

- [Kia] Ms. Elea?

- [gasps]

What are you doing? I was looking for you.

Lana was taken by a bandit.

[Kia] What?

We have to save her.

- [whip cracks]

- [horse neighs]

W-Wait up, Ms.!

[Elea] Could it be possible?

With Kia's almighty Word Arts,

could one k*ll Lana

and escape from Lithia

without leaving a trace?

[closing theme music playing]

Next: Episode 7

w*r Commences