Episode 43
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West, Chapter Three
En
Atsuyu seized the provincial lord's title...
...for the sake of the people of Gen Province.
It was certainly a crime.
Meanwhile, there was another man who had a fool for a father.
Great misfortune was drawing near.
His father was not capable of coping with it.
And his son was well aware of it.
This man did not commit a crime...
...but defeated by the misfortune, his family lost their land.
Atsuyu killed his own father to avoid misfortune...
The other man was scared of becoming a criminal and let his father live...
...he ended up letting his people die.
I wonder which man was better...
I think...
I don't think it was Atsuyu.
Oh?
He wasn't afraid to break the laws...
...and that's why he committed an even greater crime in the end.
I wonder if that's true.
King En, do you think Atsuyu should've become king?
Ganboku, Rokusui
What is the number of the Royal Armies?
They are probably about 20,000 strong.
What?
That's three thousand more than the last count.
Word has it that the provincial army of Sei in Kankyuu has exceeded 30,000.
What happened to the lord of Kou Province?
He's been appointed to the post of Chousai.
The provincial lord of Kou has left for Kankyuu.
Impossible...
We may have underestimated the power of the throne and the Heavens.
The townspeople are also confused.
Have we really done the right thing?
Hakutaku!
What are you saying?
Ribi...
What a waste.
She must've forgotten that blood is like poison to a Kirin...
I'll probably have to put spell on him again.
Please take great care to clean him up.
Yes, sir.
Young Master, the Murakamis have began to move.
I bet the Murakamis want this land badly.
If they control the area from here to the opposite shore...
...it'll be like a barrier across Setouchi bay.
They're going to make an attack sooner or later anyway.
How can you say that so lightly?
I told my father to surrender to the Murakamis...
But I think he has too much pride for that.
Young Master!
Father!
Where's Father?
Father...
Young Master, I'm the last one...
Everyone fought well.
Young Master!
We've come to help you!
Young Master!
Fools! Why did you come back?
Young Master!
Stop it!
Until recently, while other provinces were falling into chaos one after another...
...only Gen Province flourished, thanks to Lord Atsuyu.
I'm not from around here, but...
...I remembering thinking Ganboku was a beautiful place when I came here.
And then a new king ascended the throne.
Since then, there have been more trees, more people and more harvest.
Gen was supposed to be ten times more prosperous than the other provinces.
Gen would become a utopia, or so everyone thought...
But Gen was soon left behind, and the other provinces flourished just like Gen.
Everyone believed that Lord Atsuyu would take action, gain power...
...and that Gen would prosper, but he's now called a rebel.
I don't know how all this happened...
Well, I bet there is a reason for everything.
That's what they say.
But why isn't the Royal Army attacking?
Indeed.
What's that?
The Royal Army is starting to move!
Oh yeah, they are!
Oh?
What are you guys doing?
Can't you see? We're building a levee.
Oh really? That's good to hear...
...but why?
We'd like to know too. But it's an order.
What?
Are they trying to fix things by building an embankment at last?
I wish that were so.
But the Royal Army is constructing a levee from...
...the other side of Rokusui river, Shineki, to the lower reaches, Sugo.
Could it be...
Are they planning to flood us?
Hakutaku, if we need to move into the castle, how many soldiers can fit inside?
The bigger problem is food.
There are not enough supplies to stay inside the castle for a long time.
We've no choice. Gather supplies from the neighboring provinces immediately.
Fortunately the harvest was just recently.
Are you saying we should collect beyond the normal tax?
The food the people keep in their homes and the town's warehouses...
...is to help them survive the coming year.
So you don't care if our soldiers starve?
That is not what I am saying.
In any case, it's probably too late to collect enough food.
And even if we're able to obtain food, we don't know how long it will last.
Those are my orders. Just go and collect it.
Understood.
Hakutaku has lost his nerve...
Kouya, we're going to flood Shineki.
When it starts to rain, break the...
...embankment on the other side of the river at the upper reaches.
You're going to flood Shineki?
We have no other choice.
Understood.
I will dispatch the provincial army's elite soldiers.
One more thing...
Send me twenty of your best soldiers.
Yes, sir.
Do you not believe in the king you chose?
His Majesty is neither a fool nor irresponsible.
He thinks when he needs to. He takes action when he needs to.
He just does not always show all his sides.
Ribi?
Please, return to the palace...
How long has it been?
Taiho, you slept for seven days.
Seven days...
What about the Royal Army?
They are building an embankment at the other side of Rokusui river.
Shouryuu, are you trying to humor Atsuyu?
It's not over the horn...
Kouya...
Taiho.
Please take this.
Huh?
Everything you need is in here.
Please take this and escape.
But...
We rebelled against his Majesty to bring happiness upon the people.
We never thought of putting the welfare of the kingdom at risk.
We did not think twice about what the king was planning...
...or the consequences of our actions.
We were just furious from the devastation around us...
...and acted recklessly.
Please go to the Royal Army, return to the palace...
...and tell his Majesty how we sincerely regret what we've done.
But if I do that, Atsuyu will...
His Lord has changed.
He used to care so much for his people...
What?
If you turn right at the first corner, you'll see stairs.
Go through the underpass to the inner palace...
Then go to the deep end of Choumei Palace, and climb down the castle stairs.
On the lowest floor is the path to go outside the castle.
But...
I beg of you.
Please do not let Ribi's sacrifice be in vain.
T-Taiho.
What is it, Rikaku?
Someone's there.
Is it a guard?
No.
Who's that?
The area over there is still higher.
Keep on stacking!
Yes, sir!
This is great.
Really.
We can get through the rainy season without worry this year.
Forward!
Ow, ow, ow...
What's the matter, sir?
My stomach suddenly started hurting...
But what are we supposed to do?
Move forward!
Must you break the embankment?
What do you want me to do then?
In order to win, there is no other way.
Or are you saying that I should be defeated?
You raise your flags above the embankment...
...and now you're going to smear mud on them?
Is that all you have to say?
You have risen up for your people, have you not?
How would you explain yourself if you flooded Shineki?
Is there another way, then?
Please surrender.
My Lord, you have taken his Majesty too lightly.
Kouya. Take her away.
Yes, sir.
It's coming from over there...
Is he asking me to get him out?
He can't talk?
It seems that his tongue's been severed.
Can you break the bars?
No. There's a spell on the bars and the lock.
Why?
Are you the provincial lord of Gen, Genkai?
No?
I can't help you right now...
...but I promise I'll get you out of here later, so just hang on for now.
Even if the cell is in the depths of the palace...
...there is no way Atsuyu doesn't know about it...
Atsuyu, what are you trying to do?
Sit down.
My friend used to be an official here.
We were childhood friends.
She used to wonder, she used to ask me...
...if it was all right for a director to govern Gen Province.
"Lord Genkai has been ill and in no condition to attend to government affairs."
"But shouldn't the director report his lord's condition to the Royal Court?"
"Isn't he supposed to discuss this with the six ministers?"
"But why has he not done so?", she wondered.
And where is your friend now?
That's what I'd like to know!
She's been missing since you took her away! Where did you take her?
I wouldn't know.
You fed her to that Youma, didn't you?
And now you're going to feed me to it...
You monster!
It's my duty, that's all.
Atsuyu ordered you to do this, didn't he?
No. If he found out what I was doing, he'd never forgive me.
My Lord is too kind.
Especially when it comes to eliminating enemies.
You must be certain your enemies are out of the way.
Rokuta, it's time to eat.
Kouya, what did you do with the prisoners I asked you to take care of?
I-I have banished them from the castle.
Good work. You really are reliable.
You understand what's on my mind without asking me.
You know what I want you to do.
I could not ask for a better commander. I'm very fortunate.
From now on, you will be in charge of the treatment of criminals.
Thank you, sir.
I'm used to it now.
Such things no longer bother me.
Where are we?
I wonder.
Yokuhi.
It seems we have wandered off into a different underground passage.
If I travel through the shadows, I might be able to figure out where we are...
...however, I have not fully recovered yet...
Save your strength. ...however, I have not fully recovered yet...
Is someone there?
Who goes there?
Taiho.
Well, I kind of got lost in here.
Lost? How in the hell did you get in here in the first place?
I was just taking a walk. Where am I?
This is hell.
So, old man, who are you?
How dare you call me an old man! You've forgotten the voice of your master?
Are you Genkai?
Since when are people allowed to address me like that?
Well, Genkai, I mean...
Lord Genkai, I heard that you've been ill.
That's right, I have.
I've been here years without food or water.
But because I'm a Sen-nin, I will not die.
I haven't spoken in years...
...since that bastard threw me in here.
That bastard...
You mean Atsuyu?
Of course. Who else would it be?
So, how is his Majesty?
He fell a long time ago.
I heard that you tyrannized the people under his reign.
He said I served his Majesty like a dog, to keep my position.
Who said that?
Who do you think I'm talking about?
I want you to give me the position of the provincial lord!
That's not something I can decide.
Only His Majesty has the authority to do that.
Then I want you to become the king.
Why do you have to be so unreasonable?
Have you lost your mind?
That's what I'd like to ask you.
You flatter the king and execute citizens so you can live...
When he claimed there weren't enough executions and suspected you of conspiracy...
...you even killed innocent civilians to clear yourself.
I have no doubt that you are unworthy to be a lord.
There is no need for a lord that cannot care for the people.
What's the matter? You've become quiet all of a sudden.
Nothing.
He just wanted to be a lord, and nothing more.
What?
He didn't need a reason to imprison me.
Does he look like a great leader to you?
Um, well...
He does, doesn't he? He's a great son.
There's nothing he cannot do.
He knows what is right, has a compassionate heart, and he's brilliant...
...but there's one thing he lacks.
What is it?
Just think about it.
He is so perfect, yet he never embarked on a Shouzan.
Why didn't he meet Enki to find out if he was the chosen one?
I'm not interested in the throne.
So I did not go on a Shouzan when Kyou-Ou died.
The welfare of the people is all I care about.
But I know that wasn't the true reason.
If it turned out that he wasn't the ruler, he would be humiliated.
He wouldn't be able to take that kind of humiliation.
Did you know that he's a skilled archer?
He never missed the target, even at ceremonial events.
Except one time...
The one time he missed...
...he claimed that the servant who prepared the target...
...used an enchantment to wish misfortune upon us, and had him executed.
He cannot admit the slightest failure.
Of course, he seems like a great man.
He blames others for his failures, and pretends that he never failed.
No, that's not it.
He actually believes that he's perfect and never makes a mistake.
Or that's what he wants to believe...
He's that kind of man.
What is the matter?
I thought Atsuyu had a valid point...
That's why I willingly became a captive and stayed here in Gen Province.
But there was something I didn't understand...
He cares for his people so much, and yet he's trying to start a war?
Why is he so anxious to raise an army?
Whenever I tried to persuade Atsuyu, I felt so helpless...
But it might have been because Atsuyu believes there's no true justice...
Was that prisoner...
He must be Genkai's double.
Atsuyu, that bastard...
You've done well.
Not a problem.
They may have three times the soldiers we do, however...
...we cannot lose this battle, for the sake of the people!
I, Kouya, shall place my faith in you, and follow you.
Very well.
I was counting the sands of time without realizing.
In a false dream I became speechless.
I would stare into the fire...
...as I swore to be true forever.
Let my prayers be heard, I will overcome hardship...
...and keep my oath until the end of the world.
He sees a strange ray of light behind the man who approaches.
Shouryuu is the king.
The Twelve Kingdoms episode 44.
Episode 44
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West, Final Chapter
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West, Final Chapter.