I finally finished a whole term here without any trouble.
Okumura-kun!
Konekomaru!
All the normal students here will be heading to their hometowns for the summer.
You guys are all from Kyoto, right?
It must be pretty sophisticated there.
"Sophisticated"? It's just normal.
That aside, we're not even sure if we'll be going back there...
Izumo-chan, try to drop by if you have time.
I'll try my best to.
So you're visiting your folks too, huh?
It'll be lonely without you.
Until next term again, okay?
Stay healthy now.
Whenever you want to hear my voice, feel free to call me anytime.
Are you an idiot?!
Thank you.
Everyone's planning for a fun vacation, right?
That's not going to happen
because all Esquires will participate in a training camp.
The camp will primarily focus on combat training.
Kirigakure-sensei and I will be the ones in charge of it.
We'll give you strength training in the first half, then test each of you in the second.
All right, let's move.
Yes!
A Fun Camp
The Fourteenth Story
This is just like a picnic! I feel so excited!
When nightfall comes, we'll start a campfire, then maybe do a folk dance too.
Hey, is Shima...
Yeah, he's had a problem with bugs since way back.
Man, it's hot.
This is heavy.
This forest is peaceful during the day,
but once dusk arrives, lower-tier demons show up around here.
We need to set up camp before that.
Let's speed up.
What's with him? Can't he tell how hot it is?
He can, so keep walking!
Huh? Sensei, where's your backpack?
There.
Oh, it's cold!
I wonder if I can drink this.
Okumura-kun's stamina is unreal, isn't it?
All right, we'll set up camp here.
The boys will be setting up the tents and the campfire with me.
The girls will prepare dinner and draw defensive magical arrays around the camp with Kirigakure-sensei.
All right, let's begin.
He finally took his coat off.
I guess he couldn't handle it after all.
This is feeling more and more like a picnic now!
This is a camp, you know?
And also, stop hitting that—
What did I just tell you?!
That looks fun.
What does?
It only looks hot and tiring to me.
Boys are pretty mysterious, aren't they?
You're the mysterious one here though, right?
Huh?
I really hate you.
Umm, can you please show me how to wear this uniform properly?
Shouldn't you normally avoid people who hate you?
What is it?
Nothing! Just hurry up and finish your part already!
Okay!
Sheesh. There are a lot of weird people here.
Ya done yet?
She's one too.
Just a bit more.
Ouch!
Koku Koku Curry
You guys are a pain to watch. Give me those.
Let's eat!
What the... Is this for real?! It's delicious!
This taste isn't something anyone should be ashamed of.
Okumura-kun, you're really good at cooking.
Rin, it's delicious!
It's nothing, really.
This is Okumura-kun's only special skill.
Shut up, you four-eyed mole-boy.
I can keep eating this stuff all night long.
You sure eat a lot, Moriyama-san.
I think this is the first time I've experienced something like this.
Try using your powers for someone else's sake.
Try doing something gentler with it.
Cultural Festival
Nii-san, where are you going?
Nii-san!
I see.
I never got to experience these sorts of things
because I didn't really show up at school that much.
Hey, Okumura! What drink do you want?
Is this what having friends feels like?
I'll just go there and choose one myself.
Shiemi-san?
Rin seemed a little off lately, so I was getting worried about him.
He seems to be having fun now though.
Thank goodness.
You've been watching him for a while, haven't you?
It's nothing. Forget about it.
All right, I'll start explaining the camp activities.
It's gonna be a test of courage. A test of courage!
Shura-san, we're working now.
Hey, didn't that woman say she was just eighteen?!
She's still underage!
Eighteen?
Where'd you get that stupid idea?
She just turned twenty-si—
Oh snap, my hand slipped.
Hey, we're working right now.
He's pissed! He's pissed!
Anyway, back to the explanation.
You guys will have to search the forest for a lantern to light up.
You can find a few at around fifty meters away from our camp.
Only those who manage to light a lantern and bring it back to camp within three days
will be given the right to join in actual missions.
However, there are only three stone lanterns out there.
Simply put, only three chances to get that privilege are available.
So that means...
Moving on, the contents of your backpack will include...
Three days worth of food and water, a sleeping bag, daily necessities,
a compass, a flashlight, some flares, a single matchstick, and various other things.
The quickest way to accomplish this is by using your own strengths and abilities to their fullest.
So, all we have to do is find a lantern, light it, then come back with it, right?
Isn't that too easy?
Do ya really understand what ya gotta do?
This isn't gonna be the same as yer Esquire authorization exams, ya know.
Hey!
It's a pretty dark forest, so even the smallest light will stand out.
Huh?
I'm telling ya not to let yer flames out.
Don't forget that I'm still observing ya as an inspector.
If anyone ever finds out about ya having Satan's flames, I'll have no choice but to report ya to the higher-ups.
When that happens, the Arc Knights and the current Paladin will all come after ya.
Well, all ya havta do anyway is fight using yer head.
Where did you go off to?
What? You scared?
Bon!
This training camp is our key to advancing to the next level, right?
However, as soon as we start this...
We'll be at each other's throats.
The only way to get through this is to only think of yourself.
No one's going to save anyone.
Knowing there are only three lanterns is a bit of a relief for me actually.
No hard feelings, okay guys?
Without using my powers...
All right, ready...
Get set...
Whoa, that's a lot!
Like I said earlier, lower-tier demons come out in this forest when evening falls.
Considering your current skill levels right now, I think it's fair to say that not all of you will make it.
These things suck blood?!
Are they a kind of moth?
If you feel like you're in danger, signal us with the flares we gave you.
Kirigakure-sensei or I will immediately come to save you.
Excuse me, you only gave us one match, so...
If you light the flare, you won't be able to light the lantern anymore.
Think carefully before using it.
O Harvest god, I humbly pray to thee...
Please grant me my wishes, as I have asked with my plea!
On behalf of thy God's will, lay them with our ancestors in their eternal rest.
Return them to where they shall decay!
Nii-chan, get the insect repellant Ru out!
Nii-chan!
Shiemi?
Sheimi!
What happened?!
Shiemi!
Out of my way!
Shiemi!
Get lost!
Calm down, calm down, calm down!
I'm such an idiot. I did it again.
Letting my flames out is becoming a really bad habit of mine.
You... What was that just now?
What was that just now?
Did he see me?
Is Moriyama-san all right?
P-Probably, but she's unconscious right now.
Hey, turn your light off.
You're attracting those moths to it.
Oh, I see.
Maybe he didn't see after all.
Anyway, what was that blue light earlier?
It was really bright, so it blinded me for a bit back there.
Who knows? I didn't see it that well either.
Maybe it's that...
Uh, what were we talking about again?
Thank goodness he didn't see me letting those flames out.
Why did you come here, by the way?
"Why did I come here?" To save you guys, of course.
Didn't you say no one's saving—
Shut up! There's no way anyone could have ignored a deathly scream like that!
Well, Shiemi looks fine now, so just leave this to me and get moving.
"Leave it to you"?
I'll just drop her off in our camp.
I'll go out again after that.
You...
Rin!
Shiemi!
Nii-chan!
Calm down!
You can summon him again by redrawing the same magical array on some paper.
I see!
Huh? Some of my stuff is gone.
Did I drop them while I was getting chased?
It looked like a really big moth.
Back off!
Shima!
Bon!
Huh? What's everyone doing here?
I'd like to ask you the same thing!
And turn your light off!
Well, a bunch of moths started to attack me out of nowhere. My memory kinda fades a bit after that.
I knew it.
I got one too.
It's Konekomaru.
He found a lantern!
Phone Contents: I found a stone lantern. I know this is going to be impossible for me to accomplish alone, so let's all team up!
"I can't do it myself. Let's team up."
What did I tell ya?
It hasn't even been ten minutes, and he's already let his flames out!
It's really dark in there though, so they'll probably be too blinded to see it anyway.
I feel like he's already tapped out from trying to hide his abilities.
What are ya saying such silly things for?
What are your real intentions anyway, Shura-san?
All you do is bum around without reporting anything to the Vatican.
I'm here to teach him how to fight with a sword. That's why I delayed the report.
Really?
But why?
He told me he wanted to become a Paladin.
I like boys who dream big.
I thought Shiro was messing with me when he asked me to do this.
Father did?
While I'm not really interested in all of this, I think that bastard probably thinks this is also the way to go.
That woman knows we're here.
How cheeky of her.
Amaimon, have you greeted the master of this forest yet?
Yes. I've killed so many of his kind already, so I'm pretty sure he'll cooperate.
I'll make sure I'm watching you next time.
That woman hid the Fallen Demon sword.
I wonder how I should cut her up.
Hey!
It's great that you're really motivated and all,
but try to move only under my orders this time.
He's not listening, is he?
Well, this really isn't something you can carry on your own.
Is this really a lantern?!
It's huge!
Maybe it's a "great stone" lantern?
It's a peg lantern.
It waits for people to light it up so it can start moving.
Once it's lit, it'll consume any living thing it sees to fuel itself.
It really likes eating women in particular.
It can only move as long as it has fuel, or until morning comes. It's that kind of demon.
After seeing that thing, I think we might have taken the wrong approach to this.
Yeah. We'll need everyone to cooperate if we're going to get through this.
What was that, Bon?
Didn't you say earlier that no one's gonna help anyone?
I only said that because we were told there were only three lanterns available!
He only mentioned the number of the lanterns, but not the number of people who could succeed.
In any case, let's do this with everyone.
Does anyone have Kamiki's or Takara's phone numbers?
I've asked for Izumo-chan's number lots of times already, but she always turned me down.
Umm, for the time being, I've thought of a formation where even just the five of us can carry it.
KosNekomaru Formation
We'll put seals like this on it to make sure it doesn't move after it's lit.
We'll also need to keep up the effectiveness of the seals with Bon's chanting.
The peg lantern always needs refueling, so we'll be using moths for that.
It's Moriyama-san's job to ensure that the peg lantern gets a constant supply of fuel.
Crap, here they come!
Shima-san and me will both act as guards to keep the moths at bay.
And finally, the most powerful person in our group will pull the cart.
Rin, you're amazing!
What planet did you come from, Okumura-kun?
Let's go!
Someone gave up already?
That was fast.
Go get this one.
Fine, but make sure you stay awake.
Who was that?
Was it Kamiki-san, or Takara-kun?
What happened?
Hey, what now?
A-At the bottom!
Something's squirming around!
I c-can't handle t-this.
I t-think I just w-wet myself.
Doesn't it feel better now that you've done it?
Don't tell him something like that, Okumura-kun.
You've already lost everything once you wet yourself.
Bon!
What are you doing?!
That's the character for "Khan".
Something is probably sealed off here.
Everyone, please be careful!
I came up with a plan.
We'll make the peg lantern cross on its own.
But how?
I see. I think I get it.
I'll draw it for you.
Konekomaru and I will move the cart to the other side first.
I'll have to carry it through that bug pit?!
Once we get across, I'll be waiting there with a seal in hand.
Back on the other side, Shima-san will be waiting with Moriyama-san on his shoulders.
Bon will remove the seal to make the peg lantern move.
After that, I have to...
Run to the other side with Moriyama-san on my shoulders?!
The peg lantern will then chase Moriyama-san across because it loves eating women.
Once it gets across, I'll put another seal on it to immobilize it, right?
Yes, right.
That's a great plan, Suguro!
So you guys are telling me to go inside that bug pit?
Well, that does mean that I'll have my head between Moriyama-san's thighs though.
I'm going to die.
You should try to act a bit more like Bon.
That was mean, Koneko-sama!
Fine, I'll do it myself. You guys are too much trouble.
H-Hang on tight!
Yes.
It's so high!
Be careful!
Sorry.
It's going all squish, squish, squish there.
We're good here!
We're ready here as well!
All right, go!
It saw us!
Here I am!
What the hell are you calling it for?!
Khan!
We did it!
Rin, we did it!
Grab on to me, Okumura-kun.
I'm fine, I'm fine!
Wow, what a relief!
Rin, behind you!
Next Episode
Nii-san, it's a trap!
Don't get on it!
I'm not good at telling lies or fooling others after all.
That's why I'll...
Act of Kindness