01x05 - If You Want to Quit, Talk It Out First

[bunniefuu]

So what happened?

There must be something bothering you.

Come on. Tell your big brother.

Don't hold things in.

You can talk to me.

Age...

Age?

Now that you mention it,

I remember Steina saying
it was his birthday not long ago.

If I'm not wrong, you're 16 or 17, right?

Is it because you don't have any
same-age friends in the army?

Are you feeling lonely?

I'll hold a birthday party for you.

Stop acting like you're older than me.

We're around the same age.

That's the first thing
you' choose to say, you punk?!

Unbelievable.

I went through
a lot of trouble just to get here...

-What?!
-What?!

I'm going on a journey.
Please don't look for me.

I will take responsibility for failing
to educate my subordinates

and take my own life.

What the heck is going...

Er, I mean, what is the meaning of this?

Mernes and Edvard?

"Don't look for me,"

"I will take my own life,"
You can't be serious!

Why is everyone causing
problems one after the other?!

Where are they?

Edvard is at the training ground.

Mernes is already gone, without a trace.

I'll go after Mernes.

I'll leave it to you. We'll go to Edvard.

Steina and Lily.

-Got it.
-Yes!

-Echidna!
-Queen Echidna!

Your legs are wobbling.

Lean on us!

Don't worry. I'll sober up right away.

Let's go!

Looks like I'll have to solve
these issues before I come clean.

Good. I can still sense
his magical strength.

I thought Mernes and Edvard
would be okay, at least.

But looks like they have
their worries, too.

Still, this is going too far.

Do they have to go from one
extreme to the other?

He's nearby.

Hey!

Hey!

Wait! It's me!

I saw the note you left.

What do you mean, "a journey"?

At least think of a better lie.

It's not a lie.

I just want to do some traveling.

Did you think we could let one of the
Four Generals disappear

for a reason like that?

If even one of you is absent,

the entire army
will need to be restructured.

What? Does this mean you want to quit?

Or is something troubling you?

Just tell me the reason!

If Mernes is serious about escaping,

I probably couldn't catch up to him.

It'll be impossible to track him
if he hides his presence.

But I can't let him run away without
knowing the real reason he wants to quit.

If you really want to quit,

I won't stop you.

I know you can hear me!

There's nothing wrong
with quitting your job, in principle.

Some even say it's best to quit
when you feel the urge.

Depending on the reason,

I can even tell Echidna
that I didn't find you.

But...

But?

Listen.

The most important thing
to do when quitting

is to make sure you won't regret it.

Deciding what you want to do next,

ensuring continuity for your replacement,

beating up the superiors
whom you don't get along with.

All of those things are important,

but the most important thing is to
make sure you won't regret it someday.

Even if everyone around you opposes it,

what matters is that
you are fine with your decision.

But if you have the slightest hesitation,

you should calm down
and take a breath first.

Mernes,

what exactly is troubling you?

You don't actually want to quit
the demon army, do you?

It's just me here. You can tell me.

I won't laugh.

Well...

Don't just say "well."

This may take a while...

The interviews...

Three days from now,

I have to handle the interviews by myself.

As a superior,

it'll be no good if I can't speak
clearly and with authority.

This time, we're recruiting spies
or undercover agents...

Guys who have a way with words.

Talking isn't your best skill, huh?

Seriously, it's hard to believe
you were a guild master.

I left that stuff to the ones
who were good at it.

I did the same
after joining the demon army.

I see where this is going.

I sent them all back
to the demon world, right?

I thought going on a journey

and visiting different cities

would teach me something.

You came at the right time.

I'll give up on traveling.

Leo, you'll be my communication teacher.

Make me a master
of communication in three days.

Are you serious?

Communication, huh?

Well, it is one of the most important
skills to have when working with others.

And yet, you don't know how
to build those skills.

Well, have you discussed this with anyone?

I'm discussing it with you now.

Meaning you haven't said a thing!

I didn't know how
to talk to them about it.

Everyone is already
busy with their own work.

I can't bother them.

And so you left that note, instead?!

That's some unusual logic.

Forget it.

Okay, okay.

Three days from now, right?

That about covers it.

We don't have to worry about
Mernes leaving again, for now.

Thank you for your hard work.

It's nothing.

You've been a great help, Lord Onyx.

Way to go, L...

So that's it.
That's what Mernes is worried about.

Why the laugh, your highness?

Pardon me. The fact that Mernes
is worried is a serious matter.

But even so, it's amazing to think

that the Mernes I know is now
doing his best for the demon army.

Indeed.

Mernes is such an awkward boy.

Perhaps you didn't know,

but each of The Elite Four
came to me for their own reasons.

Mernes and I used to be hostile to humans.

I didn't know that.

I've lost. Just k*ll me now.

If you don't, I'll end up annihilating
all of humanity one day.

He does seem different
from before he came here.

And how was Edvard?

We went straight to the training ground,

and found that fool
seriously trying to wound himself.

For goodness sake.

There's no way ordinary
weapons could hurt him.

Who knows what would have
happened if he'd chosen poison.

We're lucky he's a warrior
through and through.

I believe he wrote something about
failing his subordinates in his note.

He kept saying how useless he was.

So we didn't get to ask him what happened.

Julietta is watching over him now.

His daughter is his only Achilles' heel.

It shouldn't be a problem.

Once he's calmed down,

Edvard will probably
tell us what happened.

Understood.

When the issue with Mernes is solved,
I will try to talk to him too.

Thank you, Onyx.

Here you are. Dig in!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Table 8!

Two dwarf-style
stir-fried mushrooms are ready!

-Coming!
-Coming.

-Sorry to keep you waiting.
-Enjoy.

You have been a great help.

Because of you,
our dishes are tastier now.

We've gotten so much busier.

I'll teach you more dishes soon.

A culinary guild master's
skills don't end here!

I look forward to it.

Your sister Mel is adorable too.

Soon, we'll be so busy,
I'd even accept a cat's help.

She said you're cute.

Isn't this a bit odd...

This is for Table 10. Goblin-style salad!

Got it! Mel, if you could.

Right.

Here's your Goblin-style salad.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Enjoy.

Leo.

Yes?

I asked you to teach me
how to communicate well.

-That's right.
-This is strange.

Didn't you want to learn
how to talk to people?

What's strange about it?

Why make me serve in the dining hall?

You made me wear this, too.

Put yourself in your subordinates' shoes.

Do you think they could enjoy their meals
being served by one of the Four Generals?

Disguise is a must.

You're a hero yourself,
but you don't look much different.

No one here remembers my face.

But you're different.
Everyone can recognize you.

You could have given me the same uniform.

I told you, this is the only
uniform that fits you.

You have such a slim figure.
It looks great on you!

What about conversation practice?

I explained everything earlier.

Hospitality work will teach you
all you need about communication.

The dish for Table 34 is ready!

Roasted hare!

Coming!

All right. Let's get going.

Right.

Mel, you'll scare the customers
making faces like that.

Smile a little!

That's even scarier.

It's not like you're a member
of the assassin guild.

Facial expressions are important
for hospitality too.

You can teach me all the basics,

but that won't make up for the fact
that I've no talent for communication.

I wish you'd factor that in.

What are you talking about?

Communication has
nothing to do with talent.

I was bad at it too, at first.

Even to the point that I loathed myself.

Liar.

It's no lie.

Do you know how many people
I've failed at talking to?

But that's how it is with communication.

Speak more and gain experience.

The best place to do that
in this castle is the dining hall.

Your communication skills
will definitely improve.

Hmm... That hurts.

Your first step is to stop
responding to everything with "hmm."

12 bowls of soup noodles for Table 2!

Listen, Mel.

Conversation is a joint operation.

Fully absorb the volley
of words from your partner

and then return it.

That's the most important thing.

That's too vague. Be specific.

You have to show the other person
that you're listening.

Listen to things from their perspective.

For instance,

imagine you're having
noodles just like them.

These are good!

Y-You're right.

It's so good!

There are countless ways to reply
to the first "these are good."

Agreeing with them might be the answer.

Right?

Or saying they taste horrible
might be the answer instead.

It's not really to my tastes, either.

Or saying that you'd prefer to eat steak
might be the answer.

I prefer meat, too!

In the end, to answer properly,

you have to consider
the person's feelings.

What is the other person trying to say?

What lies behind their words?

No matter if it's work or personal life,

communication is about
considering the other person's feelings

and putting yourself in their shoes.

Keep the conversation moving
in the direction they're hoping for.

At the assassin's guild, they told us
to rid ourselves of consideration.

That's a crappy guild.

Don't you have any tips?

Secret conversation
techniques or something.

Secret techniques?

Secret techniques, you say...

He's right.

It's pointless to ask someone who trained
as an assassin to be considerate.

All right. I'll teach you
one of the secret techniques.

Shut up and listen
to what people have to say.

Are you messing with me?

That hurts, idiot!

That's no conversation at all!

I'm sincerely asking
for your advice, here.

Don't they say a good talker
is a good listener?

Staying silent is what I always do.

You do that as a way
of waiting until it's over!

I keep telling you.

Communication goes both ways.

Listening is also a form of conversation.

I felt the same way when I had
a human conversation for the first time.

A human conversation...

You'll understand, eventually.

When someone is willing to listen,

people come from all around
to talk to them or seek advice.

Really?

Yeah.

They probably feel better
after getting things off their chest.

Like complaining about work
or interpersonal issues.

Besides, aren't you going
to be the interviewer?

Instead of speaking,
you should get better at listening.

It will go well then, for sure. I promise.

Put myself in the other person's shoes...

Be a good listener...

Hey, the waitress over there!
We're waiting to order!

Yes, coming right up.

Quit being a moron!

-Sorry to keep you waiting.
-You're too slow!

My big brother has been
calling you forever!

We are the Moonlight Night Howling Pack!

You'll be in trouble
if you don't watch your step.

Newly recruited mercenaries?

Maintaining security was supposed
to be Edvard's job.

But he's in no shape for that now.

Well, rookie here. We got ourselves
a cute little girl as our server.

What would you like?

Wine and meat!

Hurry up with it!

That's not an order.

There are many types
of wine and meat, you know.

"There are many types
of wine and meat, you know."

Hear that? What a cutie!

"There are many types
of wine and meat, you know."

"There are many types
of wine and meat, you know."

What about this dish?

Bell peppers stuffed with meat.

They're good for stamina
and go well with beer...

I'd like to eat a woman, myself.

Tell me girlie, are you free tonight?

I'll promise you a good time!

That sort of thing
is not included with our service.

Don't be so dull.

Even succubi are pleased
with what I've got!

What's wrong with you?

You're just standing here doing nothing.

If you don't do go, I'll do it myself!

Don't worry. It will be fine.

What?

If you touch me again,
I'll break your arm.

It's already broken! Really!

Not yet.

It will only break

-It hurts!
-if I bend it more this way.

You cunning woman!

Hands off our big brother!

Goodness.

Had enough?

You can all come at once, if you like.

Want some more?

-No!
-We're very sorry!

Hey, isn't that Lord Mernes?

Why would he be here?

Hey, did you see that?

It's unbelievable.

-He'd better learn the art of disguise.
-She's as strong as Lord Mernes.

I'm tired.

You worked hard.

Not bad at all for your first day.

Especially what you did to those morons.

I merely inflicted pain on them.

When dealing with guys
like them, that's the answer.

Besides, you did recommend them a dish.

Did I get a little better?

Yes, you did great.

Much better than I expected.

Really?

It's not that hard.

Just like with Lily's leadership skills,

these guys all have talents
they don't know how to make use of.

I think that's all it is.

What do we do next?

We'll summarize what you've learned.
Come to my room after you get changed.

Okay. Have a seat there.

What are we doing?

Simulation is the fastest way to learn.

I will be the interviewee.
Pretend that this is the interview.

I am the interviewer
and you are the interviewee?

That's right.

The training today

should have improved
your communication skills.

Say whatever you like.

Ask me questions,
as if this were a real interview.

I can ask you anything?

Anything!

Use the techniques that I taught you.

Okay. What will he ask?

Will it be about undercover
work or espionage?

Or the candidate's
motive for joining the army?

Put yourself in their shoes.

Keep the conversation moving
in the direction they're hoping for.

People come from all around
to talk to them or seek advice.

I can ask you anything?

Yes, I'll answer it honestly.

Wait. What's with that look?

That's how an assassin looks
when they've found out someone's secret.

This is bad. I have
a bad feeling about this.

Did I let my guard down?

In that case, I want to know
your reason for joining.

Looks like I got worried for nothing.

Because after all...

When you said you were joining
to annihilate all humans...

You were lying, weren't you?