I want to shine on you, and always like that dazzling sun.
I will defend you from all the darkness.
This is the truth from my heart.
If only our hearts could connect, I could get you to believe me.
Even if you can't see it now, don't lose it.
Your kindness won't be in vain.
You'll be carried aloft by the wind to somewhere that isn't here.
You'll cross the sea and cross time, and I know you'll blossom one day.
Whatever the day, I'll be there for you.
I hope I can watch over you like the sun for all time.
This is the truth from my heart.
Moribito Guardian of the Spirit This is the truth from my heart.
Episode 6 To Die in the Misty Blue
Now I look nothing at all like a prince.
Are you sure that you'll be all right?
Yes.
Torogai?
I've decided to leave with them.
Master, where did you get that donkey?
I'm going to build up his legs until he's good and sturdy.
Tell your uncle I said that.
Let's go.
Balsa.
Thank you for everything,
Make sure that you don't catch cold. Take care.
Balsa.
Don't get yourself killed.
Right.
As long as you stand there paralyzed by your lingering affections...
...the more their chances of dying increase!
Such a fool!
At that pace, I doubt that they'll make it...
...to the Misty Blue Pass before the sun goes down.
We have 100 men between her last known location and Yashiro village...
...and 350 men on each of the mountains...
...that divide the Aoyumi into east and west.
They have been ordered to search for her.
Reports suggest that the woman appears to be gravely injured.
I do not believe that locating her will prove difficult.
What makes you so certain?
Sir?
I have a report, sir!
We have had reports from the Yashiro village area...
...that last night some farmers saw what appeared to be a Kanbal woman.
What direction was this woman headed?
As for that... Some farmers claimed that she was traveling to the west...
...while other reports say that she was heading south.
She's doubling back towards Kosenkyo?
We've located her!
Where?
There are reports of a suspicious-looking woman...
...being spotted in the lands east of the Yakoo rice terraces.
To the east this time?
Commander?
Send the men who left to join the manhunt to the east!
No, to the west as well! And assign lookouts to Kosenkyo's city gates!
Yes, sir!
Follow me!
Yes, sir!
It looks like the woman anticipated that there would be a manhunt for her.
These multiple sightings are most likely a diversion.
What do you two think?
I believe them to be a diversion as well.
I concur.
As do I.
I believe that to be the case as well.
I thought I ordered you to get some rest.
Lying still doing nothing only frustrates me.
I believe it only slows down the healing process.
There is but one option left open to us.
And that is to deduce what that woman is thinking.
We put ourselves in her place...
...and we deduce what action she is likely to take.
Perhaps I am physically incompetent...
...but my mind is in perfect working order!
Taga and Sun, gather the intelligence that has come to the manhunt teams.
Yes, sir!
Zen, Yun, and Jin, the rest of us will analyze that woman's thoughts!
Yes, sir!
The first order of business is to counterthe woman's next ploy...
...with a certain and resolute move of our own.
Let us determine what path the woman is taking!
Begin silent meditation!
About those hunting dogs that attacked us both...
As you say, surely there can't be a great number of men of that caliber.
That said, those people are tenacious.
They'll keep coming and coming until that boy is dead.
No need to worry.
If you can manage to give them the slip, you'll live to see the next spring.
Chances are, that egg won't hatch anytime soon.
Eggs don't hatch until what's inside has developed to a certain degree...
...and is fully prepared to emerge and face the outside world.
From what I saw, the egg inside you hasn't finished its preparations yet.
I will go and find us some answers.
Make sure that you get away safely, you hear?
Good luck to your own task, then.
Right.
Hey! You there!
The north. The woman will cross the Misty Blue Mountains.
My conclusion was north as well.
She was born in Kanbal. She will go north.
Yes, but she is wounded. And that wound is no mere scratch.
And most importantly, the prince is with her.
At a glance, it certainly appears to be a suicidal move.
Awise man would avoid the Misty Blue Mountains.
That is the conclusion that she expects us to make.
She will do the opposite and will go to the Misty Blue Mountains.
That's right.
Misdirection is commonly employed by any skilled tactician.
True. During our skirmish, she feigned escape.
She also discarded her spear and instead attacked with a throwing stone.
She misled us both times.
But you could say she merely used any means necessary for her goal.
There is one thing that does concern me.
That she refused to strike any of us with a fatal blow...
Underthose circumstances, we all could have been struck dead.
If that was another case of subterfuge meant to throw us into confusion...
...then it is entirely possible that she will double back and go south.
Jin.
That detail has troubled me ever since the battle as well.
This is a woman who will stop at nothing to escape with the prince...
...so why is it that she did not kill us?
Surely that would have been the soundest course of action, and yet...
It is most baffling.
And yet, I think there was some other motive at work behind that action...
...that is separate from her objective of escaping with the prince.
In which case, the woman's destination is...
Commander!
The manhunt teams have received reports of a woman...
...resembling a Kanbal native heading west on the Tosei highway.
That is a diversion.
We just concluded that she is going to the Misty Blue Mountains.
But sir, they say that she is carrying what appears to be a short spear...
...and, what is most noteworthy, she has a child in tow.
Well played. Not only has that woman divided the manhunt's forces...
...she's also kept us pinned down here.
Moribito Guardian of the Spirit
Are you in pain?
I'm all right.
Forthe time being anyway.
What did I tell you? Aren't you glad we didn't join the manhunt teams?
I knew all along that she was going to go west.
Commander! Please, follow the path that you believe to be best.
I will take Taga with me and scourthe road to the west.
Therefore, you...
I'll go. You're in no condition to ride.
But I...
She may be our enemy, but I admire this woman.
If the woman on the road does indeed turn out to be her...
...use blowgun darts dipped in poison to kill her.
Whatever you do, don't get inside her striking range.
Yes, sir!
Zen.
You and I will make for the Misty Blue Mountains.
Excuse us.
Can I help you?
Has a woman been by here? An injured woman?
Oh, yes, plenty of them. Because of my profession, you see.
But every woman I receive is gone...
...the moment their business with me is concluded.
Well, why not?
Why come to me unless they need medicinal herbs?
Even a man like me knows that it's a man's role to keep women safe.
But for as long as I can remember...
...it's the girl who's always gotten herself hurt and always ends up here...
...so what can I do?
No wonder my first thought is always to heal her wounds...
Am I wrong?
Forgive us. Perhaps our question was inappropriate.
Commander?
The front hoofprints aren't the same size as the back ones.
A Kokkou stallion, eh?
Even a horse that can gallop across three kingdoms in one night...
...is of no use if you don't let it run.
We shall capture them before nightfall!
Yes, sir!
The mountains seem farther away than ever.
Is Kanbal really that far away?
Kanbal lies beyond the mountains beyond that mountain.
We've a long way to go.
Are you tired?
Balsa...
What sort of place is Kanbal?
Well...
Compared to Yogo, it's a harsh place.
The air is thin there, and the soil is rocky and barren.
But there are meadows where you can give free rein to your horse.
Once you're there, it's not such a bad place.
Does your family live there, Balsa?
Balsa?
Cut across the stream! The paths branch off for a while, but...
...there's an outcropping ahead where you can get back onto this trail!
Do whatever it takes to get there ahead of her!
Yes, sir!
Balsa!
Go faster!
I have you now, Spear-wielder!
Commander!
It's no use!
But the prince!
I know that, sir! But we can't afford to have you die here too!
I was sure that a horse like that would be able to climb back up on his own.
Forgive me.
This arrived from the Hunters.
When the time is right, I shall inform the mikado myself.
You may go.
Yes, sir.
Master Shuga!
Master Shuga, this is for you!
Do you have any medicine?
You said you'd gore me to death if I followed you, so I could only wait.
What am I, a warrior's wife?
So, I see you're still in one piece, Balsa.
Sorry about that.
For now, though, I just want to get a little sleep.
As I sat huddled and alone, holding back the tears on those nights...
When it felt like I was about to succumb to my doubts...
...there you were, at my side before I knew it.
It was none other than you who was there for me.
I keep wishing, "I want to be strong." I stumble and hurt myself again.
But because I have you to believe in, I can get back to my feet.
I simply want to tell my dear one, "Thank you."
At the top of my lungs, again and again.
I call out to my precious loved one.
Is my voice reaching you?
In this world that always changes, human warmth never does.
I'm certain I sensed the presence of the one that I hold dear.
Chagum tries to acclimate himself to the life of a commoner.
A vague sense of unease begins to blossom in his young heart.
Next time, "Chagum's Resolve."
Episode 7 Chagum's Resolve
The waterwheel turns...
Episode 7 Chagum's Resolve
...carrying his emotions with it.
Episode 7 Chagum's Resolve