Fire!
Ga Gangte,
you seem to be in quite the terrible mood.
The weather getting to you?
Yoo Ran.
They were all killed with a blow to the neck.
The Clan of the Sword is known for this killing style.
The butterfly...
Hey there, Madam.
Oh, hi there.
I haven't seen you around for a while.
I've been busy.
You don't have to worry about me.
We can take some time later to catch up.
Have a good time.
Welcome to Tomon Inn.
Do you have any rooms on the second floor available?
Let me check on that for you.
Huh?
We are here on urgent business from the Palam Empire.
Huh?
The air here is filthy.
Why are you wearing those weird mask—
I apologize for his disrespect.
I do realize you represent the Palam Empire.
However, I can't have you disturbing my customers here.
We are searching for a woman with this mark on her shoulder.
Does anyone recognize this?
What did this woman do?
She is wanted for the crime of murdering her master.
Her bounty asks for her dead or alive!
Bounty?!
7000 gold!
I'll do it!
Hazuki's getting that bounty!
A bounty, huh?
Looks like Palam is losing its edge.
Take revenge.
Wait. Wait.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
I was only looking.
Just looking!
Whoa.
Calm down.
He was just taking a peep.
Why not let him go?
B-Bro...
How about you do some work for me?
I could get some good use out of those skills.
I'm having some trouble with Palam.
Put something on.
Hey, Masa.
Give her your—
Use this to cover yourself.
What are you going to do with these?
We can leave them.
I'm from Moshiri Village. The name's Koga.
This guy's called Masa.
What's your name?
Alka.
Koga, welcome back.
Right.
Why is she naked?
Well...
She's a soldier I hired.
Is she now?
And why is this soldier naked?
Oh, hey, Nagi.
Nagi, that new girl's our soldier.
Huh?
That girl?
Hm?
She any good?
I recommend her.
She's pretty impressive.
Look at this.
I was pretty scared.
It just looks like you pissed yourself to me.
You get scared at every little thing, don't you?
Look. She almost killed me—
Change out of those clothes already. They smell like piss.
And get Alka something to wear, too.
R-Right.
Miss, I'm back.
Welcome back.
Going over the mountains didn't work out.
Hm? This girl's...
Yeah. I hired her on the way back.
She goes by the name of Alka.
Introduce yourself.
Well, Masa's getting changed—
Miss!
Y-You're good.
You've killed before.
It's my job.
That's more like it.
You're all I wanted.
My name is Morii.
I'm the village chief's daughter.
I run the place.
My father was afflicted by an epidemic, a few years back.
Nobody's sure a little girl like me can handle things around here.
I've got my pop's village-hands helping me out.
The chief asked us three to see to things.
Got everything.
Hm?
What's this?
What were you thinking?
You only have one shoe each.
She won't be able to balance!
I'll let you borrow some of my clothes.
What?
Anyway, come with me.
I think it works.
The land here is pretty fertile,
but Palam's taken their interest in us for exactly that reason.
Have you heard of the heaven's spirit flower?
It's the flour that lets out a sweet smell when you burn it.
I know of it.
People say that unearthly things appear
when you're surrounded by the smell of heaven's spirits.
There's a rumor going around
that Palam increased their might because of heaven's spirits,
that they use supernatural powers.
I don't believe it, though.
They want to use this land to cultivate heaven's spirits,
but our ancestors forged this land.
We can't just hand it over to them.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, an official from Palam will be here to negotiate.
Your job... is to protect me.
You can get my back.
We've got a deal.
I hope you're not expecting a lot of pay, though.
An imitation won't be able to...
Your work is beautiful,
thus I am unable to condemn you for failing to eliminate one individual.
We mustn't underestimate the Code of the Sword Clan.
So long as she draws breath, she will target us.
My Impurity will stop her.
We'll be fine tomorrow, right?
We won't have to leave here, right?
It'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about.
We have someone to help us, too.
We'll drive Palam away from here.
But I heard that Palam's buying up all of the villages around here.
I'd never be able to forgive myself for betraying Pops like that.
It'll be fine.
We'll figure something out.
Hey there, Ms. Soldier.
That's an interesting shape there.
You don't say much, do you?
Look at her.
She gets along with everyone.
I mean the chief did raise her.
I think she's taking care of the village pretty well.
She's pretty young, and still...
You know, I wanted to leave this village one day.
I was born a man, so I thought I needed to climb my way up to the top.
But you know...
We're out of sweetener.
Oh, yeah. The merchant hasn't been around for a while.
You're right.
I'm sure he's hitting up the other places first.
You're right.
Anyway, keep those.
Sure. Thanks.
Drink up.
We were talking about our merchant friend.
Merchants are pretty important to a closed-off village like ours.
Well, you saw our village today.
Everyone's like family here.
We eat, laugh, fight...
It's like this every day.
Pops entrusted me with this place.
I have to protect it.
That's what it means to lead a village.
Hey, have you seen the ocean before?
The ocean.
I'd love to see it!
Though, I'm sure I never will.
There you are.
We're counting on you today.
Understood.
You need to loosen up a bit.
Are you the leader?
For the time being, yes.
Aren't they dressed kinda weird?
Shh.
The Palam Empire will buy this land.
Leave. We already know our answer.
We will not sell our land.
In that case...
Damn you...
You're going to try to force us...
We told you to leave!
Our empire rates this land very highly.
We will resort to violence if necessary.
Try it.
We had the same thought.
Hmph.
Wait!
The butterfly!
Take that!
You were awesome out there.
How did you do that?
Were you in Palam?
What now?
They knew Alka.
Their expressions changed.
Is what Koga is saying true?
I was in the employ of the Palam Empire.
I'm sorry.
It was my fault.
You know... She might be a spy...
A spy? For what reason?
It might have been bad she let one of the empire's servants go.
They might come back in force.
What?!
Miss, how about we sell the land?
We can make do if we have some money.
Our ancestors have protected this land!
I've told the villagers they'll be okay because we're here for them!
We promised them!
I think it's also important to know when to give up.
Nagi!
Maybe we should just kick her out...
Alka protected us.
Yes, but she may get us into deeper trouble.
The chief would have kicked her out already.
It'll be too late to fix it if something happens.
If we make the wrong choice here, we'll fail our ancestors.
I understand. I'll think it over.
Give us your decision now, for the sake of everyone here!
I said I would think about it!
Understood.
It's possible the butterfly
will leave the village since she has come in contact with you.
We need to hurry.
I ask that you leave that to me, Ganza.
Oh, it's quite rare for you to volunteer.
It would be a perfect opportunity
to test this vial of heaven's spirit on the Clan of the Sword.
Very well.
What is this?
We're no match for them.
We should run...
Alka is fighting them.
Miss...
So you're the one...
the girl from the Clan of the Sword.
How dare you?!
That's enough!
I'll sell this land!
I'm only here to capture that woman here.
That woman is a member of the
Clan of the Sword, guilty of killing her master.
And you're guilty of sheltering her!
No one will ever forgive me for this.
Take revenge.
I can't.
Is it true you killed your master?
It was them.
So you'll be getting your revenge, then?
I shall follow the Code.
Time for Review
It's time for Blade & Soul's "Time for Review."
I'm your guide to this world.
Our first topic is the Clan of the Sword.
They're a specialist group that accepts jobs to manipulate information
or preform assassinations, from anyone or any country that's willing to pay.
Everyone says that these guys are always behind big events in history.
They don't have human emotions and are very dangerous!
Time for revenge!
Our next story is: "Desire."
Next Time "Desire"
Alka encounters human greed?