Chaika the Coffin Princess
Well, today's the end of war anniversary festival...
Have you seen all the pyrospheres going up all over the continent?
All the wizards are saying they need magic fuel to make those,
so they bought up tons of it.
This is all I've got left.
That's it?
Very, very little...
Then, would you be able to grind us some fossil fuel?
Just hang on. When I finish with these customers,
I'll take you to the festival.
Stop that!
Grinding it will take some time.
Could you come back tomorrow?
Tomorrow?
Are there any other shops around here that sell magic fuel?
Well, there are...
But they're most likely all closed today,
or just as low on stocks as I am.
That's a problem...
I guess I can direct you to a few of them, though.
Welcome! Hey, there!
This isn't good.
I want enjoy festival!
They may be circulating wanted posters.
We'd best not.
Extreme disappointment...
If we could only get a tiny bit of magic fuel
and there are no rumors of any heroes,
we may want to think twice before rushing blindly ahead.
I don't expect much,
but we might as well try these other shops.
The Value of Memories
Chaika,
how far will the vehicle go on the magic fuel we've got left?
About half day, probably.
I see...
Little magic fuel...
But another way possible.
Another way?
Can use own memories.
You mean you can use your own
memories as a substitute for magic fuel?
Yes.
Can operate Gundo, vehicle, using thoughts, memories.
You did mention...
Memories missing.
Have memories before war.
End of war, vague.
How many of your memories did you use before now?
And when was the last time you used them?
Before you met me? Or have you used them since then?
Not after, probably.
Don't use them again.
That can't be good for you, right?
In that case, we should get together as much magic fuel as we can.
Shall we visit the shops we were directed to before it gets dark?
Yeah.
We'll leave the vehicle and search on foot.
Understood.
We've got just about everything on the list.
Yes.
It's been a long time since we went anywhere for any purpose besides Chaika.
That's true.
It looks like suppressing the civil disputes up north will take some time.
Yes... But if a peaceful solution can be—
Thief!
Stay still!
You little...
Now, return the wallet you stole from this woman.
I didn't steal it! I only took it back!
Wh-What are you talking about?
That wallet is undoubtedly mine!
Shut up!
You squeeze all you can out of us commoners!
You want to get defiant now?
Honestly!
No harm can come of taking a little from you damn nobles
who only care about protecting your own cozy, little lives!
Based on your looks, you're a noble, too, aren't you?
A cavalier, at that?
You wouldn't understand how we feel!
You're right that I don't understand,
but your actions make your desperation quite clear.
If you are struggling with money,
then send the Guild a request for commercial—
I did that months ago!
But there's no decent work for a has-been soldier!
Still, stealing a wallet is—
Shut up!
Hearing that from people like you, out here shopping without a care,
just pisses me off more!
Be quiet already!
Ow...
Your backtalk and excuses are pathetic!
Before you curse your own fate,
try searching for the path you should follow!
Vivi, let him go.
We should be celebrating the end of the war today.
Justice alone won't fill a man's belly!
His sense of justice?
Yeah. Sometimes, when I'm watching the captain,
I get an anxious feeling.
What do you mean?
It's like he's too straightforward.
You know, no matter who he's up against, he faces them head-on.
That is true...
But it was the captain's straightforward nature that saved me.
That's why I decided to work for this team.
You're being unusually frank, Leo.
I'm a demi-human soldier created for war.
My purpose is to take dangerous positions,
like the front line and ambushes, so humans don't have to.
That's the kind of treatment I've received all my life.
But the captain is different.
He doesn't force any dangerous missions on me alone.
Well, I do agree with that.
Being a mercenary, I spent every day fighting
for whoever hired me, regardless of justice.
The captain's sincerity gives people a favorable impression.
But the captain hasn't been himself lately.
That's true...
Since he met that Chaika, was it?
Just recently, he said he was going to research Chaika and Emperor Gaz,
and shut himself in the office for a whole day.
Maybe his heart is wavering?
Like, his sense of justice is clouded?
No, more like vague doubts as to what that "justice" is.
Hey, aren't we being unusually serious today?
Especially you, Leo.
I wonder why...
Probably because it's the end of war anniversary.
Hey, by the way, where are the captain and Vivi?
Zita gave them some time alone.
I hope Vivi's feelings get through to him, at least a little.
It won't happen.
The captain is really dense about those things.
You said it.
Curren-san?
Where's Captain Gillette?
He's not here, but he should return soon.
Is something the matter?
Urgent orders from Chief Konrad.
Gillette-sama?
There are those in the world
who can't rejoice in the end of war anniversary.
Um, I'd like to buy some snacks before we return. May I?
Yes, that's fine.
It's okay every now and then, right?
I'll get enough for everyone.
Would they like something sweet?
"Fortune cookies"?
Would you like some? They tell your future.
Gillette-sama, shall we get these?
Okay, we'll take some.
Please feel free to choose your own.
"A sword drawn at night can never again be sheathed."
That's rather cryptic.
Yes...
But I'll take this fortune to heart and live by it.
What does yours say?
Mine says...
"It is your unchanging love that will save your loved one."
What does that mean?
Whomever you love must be very fortunate.
Urgent orders.
Let's head back, Vivi.
Yes, sir!
No luck at this shop, either?
Oh, well. Let's try the next one.
Excuse me!
Can I help you?
Do you have any magic fuel?
No, I'm already sold out today.
I thought as much...
Peddlers, huh?
That brings back memories.
Yeah.
Toru, Akari, past, peddlers?
We never had a past like that.
What past like?
When Brother and I were children,
peddlers like them came to our village.
Village? When children?
Yes.
What like when children?
We had saboteur training every day.
Training? What training like?
What was it like?
That result of training?
Any other training?
What village like?
We were born in a remote, hidden village called Acura.
Kids there started training as soon as they could walk.
As kids, we dreamed only of proving our worth on the battlefield.
We learned saboteur techniques from older mentors, one by one.
Every day was like that.
What are you doing?
Why are you in such a hurry?
Shin...
I want to get on the battlefield and kill enemies as soon as I can, too!
I want to—
And as an inexperienced half-wit,
you'll be killed by someone even stronger.
You're not cut out to be a saboteur.
You'll understand someday.
I just hope it won't be too late by the time you do.
Ow...
Brother!
Brother! Brother! Brother! Brother!
Akari, get off! Get off me!
My mentor always said
I was a half-wit who wasn't cut out to be a saboteur.
Half-wit?
It means not good enough.
And he always called her stubborn.
Don't praise me, Brother. You'll make me blush.
That wasn't praise.
Strict, harsh training?
It was indeed harsh,
but I competed with Brother in many things, and that was fun.
In the end, I always won.
Only because you wouldn't let a contest end until you won.
What? You mean you were losing on purpose?
I can't let this go! Fight me right now!
I don't think so.
I see. So you casually soak my clothes
in a wicked scheme to plaster them to my body?
What are—
Cut it out, Akari!
Sorry, but my clothes are not the type
that will turn see-through when wet as you desire!
Huh?!
You're not making sense!
Playing dumb won't help you!
I can plainly see your true intentions!
Toru, Akari, look like fun.
Many fun memories.
Yeah, I guess.
So that's it?
The sun's going down. We'd better hurry.
Right.
I'm worried about leaving Fredrica to watch the vehicle.
I will head back first.
Good idea.
I'll make preparations for dinner, as well.
Chaika, if Brother should transform into a wolf,
blow this whistle right away.
Why would you give her a dog whistle?!
I thought, if you made any worrisome movements,
she could get dogs to eat you.
Just get going!
Are they open?
Damn... What is this?
I'm sorry.
It only opens from the inside.
I didn't think any more customers would be coming today.
So, what is it you're looking for?
Well, uh... Do you have any magic fuel?
What do you need it for?
Gundo ammunition, and a vehicle.
Ah... One moment, please.
All the other shops are sold out or closed.
Today's been hell.
I'm sure.
You're not going to the festival, sir?
Will this do?
Yes!
If you have your cartridges, shall I fill them for you?
Yes.
Please.
Everyone's so excited over the so-called end of war anniversary,
but I just can't feel the same way.
Why?
I have nothing but bad memories of that time.
I lost everything in that war, including my wife and two sons.
Apology...
Oh, it's nothing you need to apologize for.
I just can't let go of the past, that's all.
Give me just a moment.
Toru, have bad memories, too?
Well, I think everyone has a few of those.
Like what?
It was back when I still lived in the village.
When child?
Yeah.
Training?
No.
Peddlers like the ones we saw earlier
brought all kinds of goods and information to the village regularly.
One of them was a girl named Hasumin.
Hasumin...
For those of us who spent every day training,
seeing Hasumin and the other peddlers was all we had to look forward to.
Every time I learned a difficult new technique,
I mastered it so I could show it to her.
Isn't that awesome, Hasumin?!
I'm gonna slaughter our enemies with this!
I worked hard
because I wanted her praise, and I wanted to please her.
First love?
I-It wasn't like that!
Hasumin-san, praised? Pleased?
No, she never praised me once.
She just watched me with a sad look.
Then?
That's the end.
End?
Hasumin died.
Why?
She was killed by bandits.
Hasumin, her parents, her husband...
They were all killed.
Not one left?
I still remember clearly
what happened.
When I heard the caravan had been attacked,
I ignored everyone trying to stop me
and went to look for Hasumin.
Hasumin...
It's all right...
I don't know if she was trying to put me at ease,
or if she said it because my shock worried her.
After that, the adults of the village slaughtered all the bandits.
Attacking a caravan that regularly visited us was the same
as showing hostility toward our village.
But, of course, slaughtering the bandits didn't make us feel better.
There's no point in just throwing them blindly.
I can't just sit around!
You still can't let go of that?
You really aren't cut out to be a saboteur.
My mentor was sick of me obsessing over Hasumin.
It wasn't like I wanted to cling to her memory.
But I can't forget.
I couldn't save Hasumin.
That awful feeling never...
Couldn't save... wrong.
Because of what happen to Hasumin,
Toru saved me.
Unicorn appear, Toru save me.
I just happened to...
Toru, that memory painful, but important.
I think, valuable memory.
Maybe you're right.
Have memories... happy thing.
Yeah... it is.
Thank you for waiting.
Will this be all right?
Grateful.
Thank you very much.
Do you know where I could buy it in large quantities?
Well...
All the shops will be low for two or three more days...
Ah, you should visit the neighboring territory, Duke Gavarni's domain.
There are mines there.
How far is it from here?
You said you're traveling by vehicle?
I'd say about a day, then.
Ah, right. They say the lord
of the domain has some of Emperor Gaz's remains, too.
Has remains?
Is he one of the heroes?
Well, there are lots of mines there.
My friend and I think he may
have bought the remains from some hero with the mining profits.
Still, those things are powerful magic fuel,
so it must have cost him a fortune.
Last shop, big success!
Yeah.
I wasn't expecting to find out where more remains are, too.
Let's head straight there.
Yes!
Pyrospheres with Toru... New memory.
Yeah.
Hey... When you use memories in place of magic fuel...
Can you choose which memories to use?
Most likely impossible.
I see. That sucks.
I think it'd be better to save the good memories.
The floating fortress Soara
is currently revolving around Duke Gavarni's domain,
but it seems to anchor at given intervals.
We could get in during that time.
I'm counting on you, Zita and Vivi.
Yes, sir. We'll find out what's going on inside immediately.
But make sure you don't overdo it.
Leave it to me!
Floating fortress, huge!
And creepy!
Get remains safely, escape quickly, possible?
Toru and I, separated!
Full of danger!
Fortress in the Sky
Next week, episode 10: "Fortress in the Sky."