02x18 - Fall of the Academy City

[bunniefuu]

Has your young master finally decided
to intervene in the world's affairs?

Perhaps.

I think he underestimates his own strength.

He could've acted a long time ago.

He has his own previous
experiences and values.

Values, huh?

So, will he undergo a major
transformation soon?

He hasn't changed dramatically
on the inside yet.

He hasn't yet established
who he'll be in this world.

Oh? That's disappointing.

But his abilities have fully blossomed.

Even as a greater dragon,

merely scratching him is
the most you can manage.

I see. So he's become that strong.

Someday, he might become strong
enough to actually k*ll the goddess.

Season Two

Night Eighteen Fall of the Academy City

Night Eighteen Fall of the Academy City

I wasn't expecting Abelia
to defeat Ilumgand.

I failed to save one of the knights.

I'm also terribly sorry about
what happened to Ilumgand.

Kuzunoha, you have nothing
to feel sorry for.

Your students were impressive, as well.

I'd love to employ all
of you as mercenaries.

You're too kind.

Kuzunoha-dono.

We should talk later.

It can wait until after this
commotion has been settled.

V-Very well.

I wonder if anything's
going to happen with that.

It's not like I'd tell anyone about it.

You should flee to a safe place now.

We plan act immediately to lead
an evacuation of the citizens.

Lead an evacuation?

Shouldn't someone as strong as you
be exterminating the monsters?

I will, if necessary.

But if the academy is acting
to exterminate them,

then we'll lead the evacuation
and rescue efforts.

You're just like the hero
was back when he descended.

I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?

Don't worry about it. Joshua.

Yes?

Send our troops waiting at
the border into Rotsgard.

Use telepathy to notify the kingdom, as well.

Very well.

The closest troops are the Hopleys domain's
forces at the southern edge of the kingdom.

Kuzunoha, will you teleport me?

Please assist Hopleys, as well.

Very well.

Young Master!

Are you all right?

I'm fine. Looks like you're
having a rough time over here.

It will heal right away.
It won't even leave a scar.

O-Okay.

Applying a completed spell to
an arrow was a reckless move.

Yeah. I'm impressed they
managed to pull it off.

Sir...

Nice work, Jin.

I didn't care about him.

If anything, I was mad at him.

But when it came time to k*ll
him, I just couldn't do it.

You were fighting a hyuman, not a monster.
That's a normal reaction.

I wish we could've turned him back.

Do you think I'm naïve?

If you lament your own naïveté,

then you can spend the rest of your
time at the academy fixing it.

Of course, I believe it's
one of your strengths.

But my naïveté put everyone in danger.
I'd hardly call it a strength.

In any case, rest for now.

I've heard quite a few mutants have
appeared in Rotsgard and surrounding cities.

Th-They're in the city?

No way. What's going on?

We should help exterminate them.

You're still only students.

It's not your responsibility to fight them.

Also...

You two.

Your parents are all right.

I've assigned dependable escorts
to them, so don't worry.

You won't fight me on
evacuating, will you?

Very well.

We'll flee for today.

They're still worked up from the battle.

I'll tell them about the king's
kind words another day.

I want you two to escort the
students to a safe place.

Guard the place for the night.

What?

What will you do, Young Master?

I'm going to check out the city.

It's dangerous that way!

Flee quickly!

Hurry!

M-My shop...

The merchandise and inventory have already
been sent to a warehouse in the demiplane,

and it seems like they saved the sign, but...

This is depressing.

Is this a sign to embark on a new venture?

I have to think positively,
or my spirit will be broken.

That scream...

It came from the red-light district.

No!

Help!

Stop!

Is that an octopus?

A mollusk assaulting prostit*tes?
How very niche.

I'll defeat this creature.
You should head outside.

I'll take you someplace safe after—

I don't know where to look.

Kid, help the women escape.

I'll handle things here.

Despite my appearance,
I'm a former adventurer.

I'm a temporary instructor
at the academy.

I'll meet up with you soon.

You're an academy instructor?

That's awful.

Please head outside.

If possible, lead the others still
inside the other buildings.

Fine. Try not to die, Teach.

Come on, quickly! Hurry up!

Got it!

Boy, was I nervous.

I'm not used to seeing
women dressed like that.

The women around here frequently
purchase my energy drinks.

I've gotta take good care of my regulars.

Brid.

I'll use brute force.

That looks bad.

You're all right.

Yes. I defeated the monster.

I guess academy instructors
are nothing to sneeze at.

Is this everyone who's evacuating?

Yeah. What safe places do you know of?

The closest would be the slums.

The slums? Where all the
demihumans congregate?

Fortunately, some people I know
are coordinating the effort.

I'm a merchant.
I know them through my business.

Oh! Are you with the
Kuzunoha Trading Company?

Yes. I'm Kuzunoha, the
company representative.

You are, huh?

My girls buy your revitalizing
drinks all the time.

I appreciate your business.

You're a strange guy.

I'll talk to everyone so there's
no trouble once we arrive.

Thank you. This commotion should
be resolved eventually.

Please wait a while longer.

Sorry for the trouble.

And pardon the delay, but I'm Estelle.

Good to meet you.

Nice to meet you. I'm Kuzunoha.

Your shelter is nearby. You can rest there.

Yes, sir.

We know.

Mio-dono?

Go without me, Shiki.

What are you going to do?

I remembered I have some
business to attend to.

Very well. Don't wait too long to meet us.

Now, then...

Regeneration is one of my strengths
as well, so I can sense it.

There are signs, like your
smell and breathing.

Your core has been completely
shattered, and yet...

You poor thing.

I remember you. You're Kuzunoha's woman.

Oh, you can speak?

I assumed there'd be nothing
left of your personality.

I am Ilumgand Hopleys.

You were, you mean.

They manipulated me.

They turned me into a
monster, and I still lost.

What a disgrace.

Yes, truly.

The destructive impulses and
uncontrollable emotions I felt

until a moment ago are
now unbelievably quiet.

Of course they are.

You're now no more than a fleshy blob
containing remnants of your memories.

That's fine. No matter what my body looks
like, I will make my thoughts known.

Don't worry. I won't harm the Gotetsu or Luria.

Gotetsu? Luria?

I wonder why.

I was obsessed with her,

but now I care more about achieving
my own ideals than my love for her.

I could hide this body if I
covered myself with armor.

Even if I can't pursue
my ideals under the sun,

I can at least act as a shield for Hibiki-sama.

Hibiki? Did you say Hibiki?

Yes. She's the hero who
descended upon Limia.

Oh, you're talking about a hero?

Then she's not the Hibiki I know.

Poor girl.

It can't be easy for someone so
powerless to share a name with a hero.

As long as Hibiki-sama is around,
the demons can be defeated.

She will create a peaceful
world for hyumankind.

It was a happy miscalculation on my part
that you still have your memories.

Now I can punish you.

Wh-What are you doing?

I told you, I'm punishing you.

But I have no intention
of harming you anymore.

So what?

You caused trouble for the young
master and insulted him.

You've not yet made amends for that.

Amends?

B-But I have nothing to offer you right now.

Your life will do.

Though it's not nearly enough to make
amends, I'll settle for only your life.

May you take your unfulfilled
wishes to the grave.

Oh, my.

I was trying to destroy every trace
of you with a single attack.

I'm surprised you're
resistant to dark attacks.

D-Does Kuzunoha really hate me that much?

The young master, hate you?

It's cute when people are so foolish.

The young master sees you as no more
than a pebble he happened to kick.

Then why are you...

Because I couldn't forgive you, obviously.

Eighty mutants have been confirmed so far.

Teleportation circles are being
destroyed one after another,

and communication networks are disabled.

Communication with nearby cities
has been cut off, too.

Even within the city, you have to
get pretty close to use telepathy.

On top of that, road traffic is
at a standstill due to congestion.

Efforts to leave the city are
being hindered by the mutants.

So the city's cut off from
the rest of the world.

Well, this is a problem.

At least we don't have
to worry about food.

This magical device is responsible
for the communication interference.

Several were placed within
and outside the city.

The demons worked hard to hide them.

I failed to discover them, as they were
undetectable before they activated.

Forgive me.

But they're only interfering with
the hyumans' telepathy, right?

There's nothing wrong with ours.

That's because ours is based
on the telepathy demons use.

They can probably still use theirs.

They put a lot of thought into this.

The remaining Purple Coats and some of
the instructors have formed combat units

and begun acting according to
the headmaster's instructions.

Other nations will begin sending
reinforcements and armed forces.

We should act immediately, as well.

We can't allow them to steal our glory.

They know you can teleport, right?

They haven't demanded your cooperation?

I've been asked several times to
transport relief supplies and soldiers,

but I told them this sword's use was limited

and that it would shatter
if I used it too much.

After that, they stopped asking for help.

I see. That's why you decided to tell
them you use your sword to teleport.

Indeed. Luto came up with
the idea on the spot.

To make matters worse, the number
of mutants is increasing.

Apparently some evacuees are mutating.

Quite a few people accepted medicines
and accessories from demons.

We should immediately search for accessories
similar to the amulet Ilumgand was wearing...

Confiscate them, and isolate their owners.

It seems the humanoid experiments
were connected to that.

What?

The samples we retrieved from a mutant and
the demihumans experimented upon...

The same drugs were found in both.

In other words, demons were connected
to Bright-sensei's organization?

That we don't know, but there's
no doubt their roots extended

to the center of the academy
and they were well-prepared.

But why would demons use mutants
to attack the academy city?

Is there some reason
they caused this commotion

besides throwing Rotsgard into chaos?

What is the demons' goal, then?

Bowl-san.

Kuzunoha-san.

It's a quiet day today.

No disturbances to speak of.

Good. Seems like friction with
the hyumans is diminishing, too.

There weren't any conflicts
as bad as we feared,

though things outside are
as dangerous as ever.

Sorry for making you worry.

I hope this makes the hyumans of this city
reconsider their relationship with you.

Then this commotion would end as no
more than an unpleasant memory.

Cats are truly great.

Of that there can be no doubt.

Cats are truly great.

Good morning, Young Master.

We sense no mutants in the area.

Good work. Starting today, we'll meet
up with the extermination forces.

It's finally time.

I'm itching for a fight.

I'm counting on you.

If anything happens,
contact me telepathically.

Yes, sir.

Kuzunoha.

Good morning, Estelle-san.

That's a rather formal greeting.

You don't need to be
so considerate of me.

Forgive me. It's my nature.

Honestly. Are you outside today?

Yes. The slums have calmed down, so I
thought I'd check on the rest of the city.

I see. I'll tell my boss
about you once this is over.

I bet it'll lead to business
opportunities for you.

My little trading company isn't much
to speak of, but I appreciate it.

You can count on me. Later.

The boss of a brothel?

Does she mean mafia?

Evacuate the citizens?

You should be following my instructions!

Two nearby cities have
fallen completely silent.

We have no idea what's going on.

This is the worst emergency that's happened
in the academy city since it was established!

But you... you...

Just how much does this old man
expect from a temporary instructor?

Headmaster.

Princess Lily.

Not only did he help us evacuate,
but he returned amidst the danger.

Please, cease your reprimands.

For now, his assistance in resolving
this commotion is essential.

You, too, Sairitsu-dono?

I understand what you're trying to say,

but as the headmaster of this academy—

Out of respect for us.

Please.

If you insist.

Kuzunoha!

Yes, sir.

You're in charge of exterminating the
mutants in the northeastern section.

Use your trading company employees
and students if you wish.

Try redeeming yourself!

The two of you saved me. Thank you.

You needn't thank us.

The empire's hero should
be heading this way.

I'm sorry he hasn't arrived yet.

If the telepathic message we
sent the first day got through,

reinforcements and supplies should
be arriving by dragonrider.

Tomoe was right. The other nations
have already begun to act.

Don't worry.

I will also do everything
I can for this city.

Thank you.

Before I return to the empire,
I'd like to speak with you.

May I send a servant once
things have calmed down?

Of course. I shall have
Tomoe join me, as well.

Good. I look forward to it.

Remaining calm while dealing with
that headmaster was a good start.

Yeah. The merchant's guild is
in the northeastern section.

I hope I can remain calm there, too.

Oh, please. You'll be fine.

You're actually quite skilled despite
seeming rather unimpressive at first glance.

I have high hopes for you.

Maybe Tomoe just wants to pretend
she's in a historical drama,

but regardless of how, the Kuzunoha Trading
Company will leave an impression on this city.

Night Nineteen: "The Unruly Merchant."

Next Time

The Unruly Merchant