01x19 - A Brave's Motivation

[bunniefuu]

Sensei, three stoplights ahead...
I think there's a gunfight!

Pretty sure they've got machine
g*ns or something.

Well, that'd k*ll us, stupid!

We're going around, got it?

Jogamine! Move up!

You can read both Sara's detection
and my orders, right?!

Yes, sir! I'll try!

This road's closed due to
the t*rror1st warning!

Go around! Around!

Master! Which way do we go now?

I saw on a television program yesterday
that Tokyo has over 900 named hills!

But running into so many
steep ones like this...

Might this speak to karmic payback
for your daily deeds, Master?

What do you think?!

You seem too exhausted to even reply!

That's the reason I'm not saying anything.

It's... been a while since I've
exerted myself this much without E3.

You gonna be okay?

Did we lose those damned dogs yet?

I think so.

Are we close to the bar yet?

Yeah. As long as we don't run
into any more weird roadblocks,

we should hit it soon.

I'm lying. We're only about halfway there.

But without some hope,

morale's gonna fall apart.

Oh, damn.

No signal.

Not a surprise, considering.

This is getting crazy.

You shouldn't be playing with your phone.

We've gotta figure something out!

Figure what out?

Even if we k*ll the
Coffin Count of Storms,

it's not gonna wrap up
the fighting instantly.

You think you can do anything about that?

We're talking about a crisis where even
King Arthur doesn't know what to do.

Look, all I'm saying is...

Our efforts to stop the wrongdoing we
see before us will never be wasted!

My father taught me that mundane
efforts are always vital!

Your father was...

Y'know what, say we
follow your bright idea.

We k*ll a hundred or two hundred Dark
Lords. What does that accomplish?

It'd leave their minions without jobs,

and they'd probably turn to
some other form of crime.

A Brave's greatest duty is to
encourage Dark Lords to reform.

Even if it's one person at a time,

it will eventually lead to a better world.

Jogamine.

Every damn thing you say

gets on my nerves.

But I believe it also gives you hope.

Like hell.

You wanna die?

I understand.

And I'm sure whatever path you
take, Master, it will be painful.

You seem to only grow close
with people you dislike.

It's an unfortunate part of your nature.

This little sh*t...

She's right, though.

I don't like them.

I get fed up with Malta's
lack of common sense.

Joe and Ed are both rude th*gs

and seem to love pissing me off.

I've been genuinely disgusted
by Ishino at times.

But despite all that...

Sensei...

Those two from before,
they're getting closer!

Straight this way, so I think
they know where we are.

We've gotta run.

Nope.

I'm betting this is the
girl's ether perception.

Even if we run, they'll catch up.

You know how to use a g*n, Sensei?

More or less.

I suck pretty bad without any E3, though.

But I've got some good news.

Salt Joe is nearby.

I guess he decided to have some
fun instead of waiting at the bar.

He knows where we are.

Should show up in fifteen.

Which means you've got to
either steal their E3

or do whatever it takes to buy time.

Easy enough, right?

Yes, sir!

Let's confront the Dark Lord's
minions directly!

Well, that was a real mess
we went through.

I've gotta ask, but I don't suppose
you'd be willing to surrender?

Our client's request was to
take you alive, if possible...

After all that? Hell no.

Besides, being "taken
alive" usually just means

you're gonna end up wishing
you had died, anyway.

Really? That's a shame.

I honestly don't like fighting...

They're pretty passive.

Are they trying to buy time too?

Could they be waiting
for our E3 to wear off?

In that case, I'll play along.

You don't wanna fight?

Then what am I supposed to make
of those spears she was tossing?

You two need to study up on how we
do things here in civilization.

I get it. I've gone through enough trouble
running with these mountain monkeys...

Seki! He's up to something!

We gotta k*ll them, now!

I guess I'll take the one
with the black hair—

Mine! I'll finish her off in a flash,

and then we two-on-one the blonde!

Damn it all.

All right, don't freak out
and try and win this fast.

Especially you, Sara!

I'm surprised.

You look pretty stupid,
but you're a decent fighter.

Of course! I am my Master's
first apprentice, after all!

You're Jogamine, right?

The way you act so serious is hilarious.

So scary...

Would you look at that...

I can't see sh*t.

I guess this is what happens without E3.

Jogamine can read her
opponent's intent and feints.

She should be able to hold out pretty
well while she's focusing on defense.

Sara might actually
have a slight advantage?

Could be getting over-aggressive
from anxiety,

but she's doing better than when she
tried to end fights with one strike.

Even if Joe did get my message, there's
no telling if he'll show up in time.

But... we still have to do this.

Courage is a liar's greatest weapon.

Sometimes you've gotta
lie to yourself to fight.

Should be fine.

As long as no major tendons
or blood vessels are hit—

Master!

You—

She really is hilarious!

Aki!

Huh, restraints, restraints...

Oh, thanks, Teach!

Levi!

Haven't seen you in a week.

You can either walk
or have me escort you.

You're free to choose.

Levi the Wild Wolf.

Overdosed on E3 and went nuts,

so she started exclusively
taking jobs for Dark Lords.

She can't be called a Brave anymore.

But she's always waited for the moment

her target was most vulnerable
to go after them.

Which is textbook Brave tactics.

You seem like you're having fun.

Do I?

You might be right.

This does feel nice,

after the trouble
you people have given me.

Back at the party,
Ido's death was a real setback.

Oh, that's right.

I k*lled the sh*t out of
your stupid little buddy.

I bet you coulda saved him,
if you tried. Poor guy.

You wanna know what he said in the end?

You said you were looking for us.

Was moving on the facility in Hokkaido
part of your revenge for the Musician?

More or less.

What a joke.

Yashiro the Reaper, motivated
by cheap sentimentality.

What's so cheap about it?

You ever consider you might
just be frigid?

I think of it as being moderate.

Because I intend to live a long life.

What about you?

Is this just you coming up with an excuse?

There are some Braves who take risks
for obligations, friendship...

It's all because...

they want an excuse to use E3.

You and me are not the same, you junkie.

Besides, big jobs always come with risks.

Yet k*lling Ido wasn't a job, for you.

It was for your own
amusement—a personal k*lling.

Am I wrong?

I understand the feeling.

Without ether enhancement,

we're about as durable as water
balloons when facing men with g*ns.

Being able to k*ll people
you dislike is wonderful.

Which is why we can never
quit this "job."

The exaltation that comes from violence...

that's what really makes E3 addictive.

It seems to me you and
the Musician are both addicts,

who would come up with excuses to take
jobs that weren't worth the risk.

Fair enough.

I hadn't thought of it that way.

You win!

Sensei!

The E3's wearing off!

Leave her, Seki.

The client only wants this one.

I'll k*ll her.

k*ll her dead!

I bought a watch.

Had some cash to spare after k*lling
the Count of the Radiant Serpent.

Enough that I could get choosy
about which jobs I'd take.

I wonder what my Master'd say?

Probably talk about how it's
too good for me and make fun.

I did try and show it off pretty hard.

I thought it was proof
that I was my own man.

What is this? You not ready to open yet?

We're closed today.

What the hell? But it's Monday.

That's a nice watch.

You noticed, huh?!

Still weird hearing praise from you.

Is it gonna snow or something?

Takamiya's dead.

It was four days ago.

Took a b*llet in the head
after his E3 had worn off.

It was some random punk that did it.

He'll be caught in no time.

He said he wanted you to
have his dojo and car.

He gave me the keys.

That's—

Hey, Ed?

Oh, I see.

Everyone's gone.

I figured it'd turn out like this someday.

Everyone's dead...

Everyone's...

Where am I?

Arms...

Legs...

Hurting pretty bad.

But they're working.

Oh, you're awake already?

That didn't take long.

I was out for two hours, huh?

That's a decent nap.

Considering I didn't get
much sleep yesterday.

I wouldn't do that, if I were you.

Too much E3 can wreck your brain.

You don't wanna end up like Levi, right?

People who don't give a sh*t
anymore don't live long.

You could say that about
all of us, couldn't you?

Maybe.

See, this all started when
I got fired from my job.

I was an office worker, y'know?

White collar...

And this is honestly an improvement.

I came down with depression.

I'd say it was a pretty nasty case.

My wife took the kids and left me.

Ended up a drunken wreck in an alley,

when a Dark Lord's minion
nearly k*lled me...

Before Levi saved my life. And here I am.

With E3, I can k*ll people.

Even a guy like me is capable of that.

Anybody can k*ll anybody, man.

All it takes is a hammer and someone
facing the other direction.

It's so great.

The other person dies, but I go on living.

It makes me feel like, compared
to them, I'm a superior life-form.

That sentiment is what saved me, I think.

You're deluding yourself.

A venomous bug can k*ll a human being,

but it's still just a bug.

The same applies to Braves and Dark Lords.

We're pieces of sh*t who
do violence for a living.

I get the feeling Tomoe would
k*ll you if she heard that.

E3 and Braves are
something special to her.

She enjoys the fighting.

I can't understand it.

k*lling is no problem for me,

but I dislike risking my life
in a struggle.

You're a smart guy.

If you don't know when to fold,
you end up like Ido.

Yeah. I get the feeling he
wanted to impress Levi.

But he didn't have to be such a tryhard.

How about sharing some E3?

I'm starting to feel the withdrawal.

You know I can't do that.

Then what about giving me
my phone back? I'm so bored.

Do you play Medallion?

How about we play a few games?

That attitude of yours...

to put it in Levi's words, is
what our client likes about you.

They're coming to see you,
so just be patient.

Not my style.

This is Mitsuhashi Tower
Hotel in Ikebukuro, right?

Six months ago, I had a job that involved
k*lling a Dark Lord in this hotel.

Your client was there, too.

What about it?

That doesn't mean you have
a way of getting free.

Not my point.

I'm just complaining about
the lack of hospitality.

You tell the Coffin Count of Storms...

That Yashiro the Reaper is pissed.

And she'd better bring beer and
pizza if she wants me to calm down.

We awaken in a Dark Lord's lair!

Master! Where are you, Master?!

I'm on my way to rescue you!

Man, could you go back to sleep?

Next time: Episode 20, "A Brave's Rescue."