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.
What I think doesn't matter.
They lost their home because of me.
Besides, the uproar has mostly died down, so I don't think there will be any problems.
You think? Well, I'm sure Toya's going to be ecstatic.
Really... I know he's a town boy and all...
...but I never imagined that he'd have such a hard time getting used to village life.
Compared to him, Chagum's done an admirable job.
Where's Toya now?
I promised that I'd find a place for him, so we're supposed to meet up later.
That's perfect. Take us along with you.
There's something I want to ask him to do for me.
Some drastic measures are called for here.
Episode 10 Soil and Heroes
"Drastic measures," huh?
As far as I can tell, he seems to be fitting in well enough.
That's because Chagum isn't the introverted type, and he's not timid.
The thing is, he's too clever for his own good.
Also, since he was already accustomed to isolation...
...he would never complain even if he was feeling lonely.
But that's not going to help him live his life here in town, will it?
Unless he becomes a true commoner, he'll always feel stifled.
You really think so?
In that case, I guess the real issue is whether Toya will make a good instructor.
Balsa!
You're really alive!
They said you were alive, but you really are!
Sorry about everything.
I've put you through a lot of trouble. I hope you can forgive me.
Don't be like that... Just seeing you two alive and well makes it all worth it.
What's Saya up to? Is she okay?
Sure, of course!
She can master anything, so she can get by anywhere.
She's such a hard worker in the village that they're bringing her marriage offers.
Isn't that right?
I guess they are.
But you're coming back to town anyway?
Yeah. We still have all the money that you gave us, so I thought we'd ...
In that case, I know you just got here, but would you mind doing a job for me?
You mean it? Sure, just name it! I'll do anything!
The thing is...
...I want you to teach this boy how to be an errand runner.
What do you say?
I'm up for it, but...
Well...
It'll be all right. I'll be watching nearby.
In that case, I guess we'll be okay.
Come on, you don't need to be so tense. It's not that hard a job.
I don't know... I just can't seem to get into it.
Hey, I've got it! I just came up with a great idea.
From now on, let's pretend that you're my little brother!
That way, if anybody gets suspicious, we won't have to make up any lame excuses.
So from now on, call me "big brother."
Big brother?
Yep. Big brother, that's me.
Let's start with that.
Delicious hekimooms fresh off the grill and piping hot!
Hekimooms?
It's a grilled candy that's a mixture of egg whites, sugar, and pine nut flour.
They're a favorite of the kids here in Ogi no Shimo.
Listen up.
As long as you have these on you, you can get anything you want around here.
A hundred of these han coins... equals one lugal.
Got that?
Okay, we're going to buy a 40-han bag of hekimooms...
...but just with these.
But that is 10 han short.
What can I get you?
I'd like one bag, please.
That'll be 40 han.
That's pretty steep.
If you go to that stand overthere, you can get them for 30.
Really? Where is it?
The food stand in the alley overthere.
All right, then. I think I'll buy mine over there too.
Hey...hold on a minute!
Just give one of mine a try, and you'll see! They're delicious!
Still... I think I'll go with the cheaper ones after all.
Wait, wait, wait!
Okay, I'll give you a special discount just this once! How about 30?
Worked like a charm, I see.
I did not believe that he would lowerthe price so easily.
You need to learn how to do what we just did all by yourself.
Don't worry about it now. For yourfirst time, you did great!
Good, aren't they?
Now you're an official resident of Ogi no Shimo.
Huh? Where's ...
Well, I guess she's around here someplace.
Ready for your next lesson?
Mon Jin Zen...so exciting you'll shout yourself hoarse!
Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets!
What is that?
Mon Jin Zen. It's what you'd call a game of chance. Gambling.
It's a game for grown-ups.
Hey, wait a minute...
This might count as social education too.
Come on, place your bets! Who will bet a han?
Who will bet a copper lugal?
Place your bet, and leave it to the mercy of the gods!
Mon Jin Zen...so exciting you'll shout yourself hoarse!
Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets!
Mon!
Jin!
The man over there spins foreign coins that have a white face.
He spins a total of three of them...
...and the object of the game is to bet how many of them will come up heads.
If it's one, it's Mon. If it's two, that's Jin.
If all three come up white, that's Zen, and you get back twice what you bet.
But if three blacks come up...
...that's called "house takes all" and the house wins everything.
All right, the final coin is about to be spun!
Are there any other bets?
My, this young man is a big better!
We have a last-minute bet on Zen!
A perfect place to close the betting! The time for speculation is over!
Whether it's heads or tails... it's up to your prayers!
Pray that the coins will come your way!
Stuff like this doesn't really make sense unless you try it for yourself.
Okay, let's see a Zen!
Yes! Yes!
Two whites! Jin!
Anyway, that's how the game works...
Come on, place your bets! Who will bet a han?
Who will bet a copper lugal?
In this game, does one have to bet before the third coin is spun?
No, you're allowed to place your bet until the first coin lands...
...but it's not as exciting if you wait that long, you know?
You gotta be ready to bet before he spins the first coin.
Otherwise, you're never gonna win.
Oh, I'm such a moron!
Do you know how many lunches I could've bought from Nogi's with that lugal?
Crap! I wanna get it back!
You were better off losing.
What're you talking about? Winning is always better!
That is true enough, but you could not have won.
It seemed like the coin spinner could make the coins come up any way he wanted.
Come on, how could he possibly do that?
Wait, how could you possibly know that the first time you saw the game being played?
I do not know how I know. I just know.
Are you serious?
Moribito Guardian of the Spirit
One white! Mon!
Wow, you're right!
See? If this goes on, these people will lose all of their money.
Do you see that large carpenter sitting there?
He will most likely lose in the next round as well.
The old woman overthere is winning for the time being...
...but I suspect that she will be their next target.
What makes you say that?
Because she will bet more than one lugal.
M-More than one...
When one bets using han coins...
...losing does not seem so bad.
But anyone who loses a lugal would definitely want to win it back, right?
That's for sure...
But to win back one lugal, one would have to win ten bets of 10 han.
Even betting 50 han, one would still have to win twice to recover that lugal, see?
With that in mind, the impulse is not to bet on Mon or Jin, whose odds are 3-in-8...
...but ratherto bet on Zen's double return in spite of its 1-in-8 odds.
But that person is manipulating the outcome of the final throw...
...making it so that they make a profit in the end.
That is also why Zen comes up so often when no one has bet on it.
H-Hey, waitjust a minute!
If they can really do that, wouldn't that make this... a rigged game?
But for those men, it is also their livelihood, so it can't really be helped.
Well, no, but...
Also, the majority of the people here seem to be enjoying the gambling.
If one's objective were to earn money, it would be insanity to play such games.
It is difficult to spot individually because of the difference in their wins and losses.
But seen as a house-versus-player game, even if the house does not cheat...
...the odds are so heavily stacked against these people that they cannot win.
Goodness, I lost.
If you'd kept winning, we would've been driven out of business by one little old lady.
Looks like luck is still on our side.
I'll win for sure next time, just you wait!
Come on, place your bets!
I'm going over there.
I can't let this go.
Who do you think you are, you big, fat cheat?
You're playing dirty! Run the game fair and square!
What are we going to do with that boy?
You're slandering our good name.
I can understand that you're angry because you lost all your money...
...but if you're penniless, you'd better leave.
Yeah, beat it!
It's no use. Let's go.
I hoped that I could at least keep them from losing all their money...
...but I guess it's beyond me.
Wait a moment.
I thought that you wanted to recover your money, Toya.
I played with fire, and I got burned.
It's okay. Let's go.
Let's stop them.
If you want to help these people, I will do it for you.
Hey! Chagum!
This is exactly why commoners are looked down upon as fools.
They delude themselves into thinking that a game is fair...
...even when that game is rigged against them.
Truly, what a bunch of fools!
Do you not see?
This man can make the coins come up whichever way he wants.
If you continue playing, you will be the first to lose.
Then you will lose, ma'am. And then you, miss.
They are simply letting you win for the time being.
But before you know it, your pockets will be empty.
You cannot see through such a simple scam, and that is why...
...you will always remain the ignorant masses.
Who does this kid think he is?
Honestly! Don't talk like you know everything, boy.
He's justjealous of us. It's because his big brother lost his money.
You better hurry home, boy.
Or you'll get into trouble with your mama.
Wait, that's me!
You have guts, little man.
Seeing as how you're so sure of what you say...
...I assume you can prove that this man can control what side comes up?
Balsa...
Very well. I shall prove it to you.
What are you saying? You can't prove it!
Balsa isn't around, either! C'mon, let's go!
It is all right. Leave this to me.
You ready, big brother?
Y-Yeah!
One white... Mon.
I have won the argument, I take it?
That was just one round.
Wait a minute.
I'll bet for the boy.
That okay with you?
There it is! A double return!
We did it!
He can tell how they'll land?
Keep playing.
I want in too!
We should bet on Jin, right?
No. That will not work. Do not bet on anything.
What do you mean?
No one can win this round.
Three black! House takes all!
Not betting on the last one was a smart move.
Yes, but the money you bet on the first throws is...
That's all right. You have to tell us. How do you know?
I'm dying to know! Please, tell me!
This man can control the outcome of the first two coins using the third coin.
When he throws the third coin...
...one can tell the outcome by looking at this man's hand.
When he grips his sash with the thumb on top, it signals Mon.
When he grips it with the thumb tucked into the sash, that signals Jin.
When he clenches his fist, that is the signal for the roller to produce Zen.
Now I get it... That's unacceptable.
Here in Yogo, we call that a fixed game.
I want my money back!
What are you trying to pull?
You damned con artists!
I do understand that you are running a business here.
But these people are enjoying your game.
From now on, please run your games according to official guidelines.
Right, big brother?
Yeah, that's right.
Wait a minute.
How about a one-on-one match?
After what you've done, we can't show ourfaces around here again.
So let's play an all-or-nothing round with no tricks.
I'll throw the coins myself.
If you win, I'll return all of the money that we got from these people today.
But if I win, I walk away with that necklace of yours.
No, don't do it! You can't bet the necklace!
You got that from your...
I accept.
Here we go.
He won! He won!
That was awesome! He did it, he did it!
He did it!
H-Hey, I'm not the one you should be picking up!
C'mon, brother! Wait for me!
Big brother!
You're the big brother, you fool!
Hey! Come on, mister! Put me down!
Well, that was a surprise... I thought I was waking a sleeping child...
...but I might have aroused something more formidable than I thought.
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.
Next Time
Toya has disappeared. Saya has lost consciousness.
And then Tanda...
Next time, "Flower Wine for Tanda."
Episode 11 Flower Wine for Tanda