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.
Spear-wielder! Are you listening?
You won't get away like you did before!
We'll do everything in our power to bring you down!
I don't know what your motive is, dragging the prince around with you...
...but your work is done!
Come out peacefully!
Quiet, you noisy brats! What's all this shouting about?
Wait a minute, isn't he...
Episode 20 To Hunter's Hole
You there. Are you a star reader?
I am. Torogai, I wish that we had had the chance to meet sooner.
That's the last thing I expected to hear from a star reader.
Ah, now I see.
It was you who had the second queen write a letter to me, wasn't it?
Indeed it was.
In that case, we might be able to have a proper discussion.
Young star reader, I want to hear your thoughts on this matter.
Torogai?
Your prince has been made the Nyunga Ro Chaga.
Apparently, when next year's spring day of equality arrives...
...he will set out for a place called the land of feasting...
...just like a migratory bird taking flight on its journey.
Also, I have learned that an egg-eater will also come here from Nayug.
Egg-eater?
Just like a brown bear coming to feast on toburya...
...that are swimming upstream to spawn.
And according to Yakoo legends, the guardian of the spirit...
...is destined to be killed by the egg-eater at this time.
You're saying that the prince will die?
Yes, that's what I'm saying! Don't make me repeat myself!
What is the extent of your knowledge regarding the Nyunga Ro Chaga?
Are there no stories about the guardian of the spirit...
...escaping this fate in the past?
No, at least not in Yakoo oral traditions.
Magic weaver of Yakoo...
If what you say is true...
...is it not all the more reason to turn the prince over to us?
I don't know what sort of creature this " egg-eater" is...
...but the army of Yogo is in excess of 10,000 men.
Even if a demon like the one described in the official history should appear...
...it will be a simple matter for us to defend the prince.
Will it still be a simple matter if it's a monster from Nayug...
...that can be neither seen or touched by human beings?
To something from Nayug...
...the walls and spearmen surrounding your palace won't mean a thing.
No matter how hard you try to hide the prince, in the end...
...it will reach out from Nayug with its invisible claws and tear him apart.
Knowing this, are you still telling me that you'll be able to do anything...
...to stop the egg-eater if we give him to you?
I have access to the epitaphs left by the original master star reader.
If we can read and decipher them, perhaps we...
What the... You've had something that important all this time...
...and you haven't even read it all yet?
That insolent whelp Hibi Tonan must have gone senile.
This proves we can't hand over the precious Nyunga Ro Chaga to that nitwit!
You're saying that the Yakoo can protect him, then?
Of course!
That's why the spear-wielder...
...has already taken the prince to a secret location.
If you think I'm lying, feel free to search the village from top to bottom.
But you must understand that she isn't simply refusing to hand over the prince.
It just means that she wants to protect both the prince and the egg.
If you people want to save the prince...
...go back and read those epitaphs or whatever...
...and come meet us at the land of feasting on the spring day of equality!
We will be waiting for you there.
Enough of this! Prince Chagum is our prince of Yogo.
We'll protect him ourselves! We don't need help from you Yakoo!
Will you cut down everyone in this village?
If you think that will save your prince and this land, then do it!
But if you blindly return with the prince...
...the Nayug creature will follow you to the palace.
Wait! Pointless slaughter will accomplish nothing here.
Put away your swords!
Torogai, it would appear that we star readers...
...have become quite arrogant over the years.
Compared to your people, our knowledge is sorely lacking.
Your men don't seem to be of the same opinion.
For now, I will leave this place with my men.
But by the time of the spring day of equality...
...I will find a way to save Prince Chagum, and we will surely return here.
When we do, I expect that you will return Prince Chagum to us!
Master Shuga!
Silence!
You tried with all your might, and still you couldn't kill this bodyguard.
Entrusting the prince to her until spring is the safest course of action.
Jin, perhaps what Master Shuga says is right.
For now, put away your sword.
Magic weaver, is His Highness in good health?
In that case, Torogai, let us meet again in the land of feasting next spring.
Are you Torogai's apprentice?
That's right...
Thank you for your assistance that day.
Your information regarding mantis eggs was the key that led me here.
I am grateful.
We haven't a moment to lose.
As soon as we return to the palace...
...I must organize a team to read through the epitaphs.
He remembered me. I'm surprised.
You've met that star reader before?
Yes, once. On the outskirts of Ogi no Shimo.
I have to admit, Torogai...
...l'm amazed you managed to come up with a lie like that on the spot.
Once Balsa gets back, we'll set out for Hunter's Hole.
Are you sure that you can't stay here?
Thank you, but no.
There are certain preparations that I want the boy to make.
I see.
Thank you for helping us.
We have no intention of spending the winter idly.
Leave the Nyunga Ro Chaga to us.
We are all counting on you.
This is shikul honey that Nimka collected.
Please enjoy it while you are holed up in the cave.
Thank you.
Please take care.
All right, we should get going.
Be careful.
What's this? They're seeing us off?
What are they bowing for?
They do it to show their respect toward the one...
...who shoulders the destiny that someone had to bear.
Moribito Guardian of the Spirit
Whoa!
It is Shuga.
Master Gakai, are you there?
Master Shuga?
Master Gakai is currently...
It's all right. Come in.
Pardon the interruption.
What do you want?
I have come because I wish to ask for your help.
With Crown Prince Sagum dead...
...I have been removed from my post of tutor-governor.
While you, on the other hand...
...now hold authority on par with the master star reader himself.
That being the case, why not simply give me an order?
After all, I have no right to refuse.
Master Gakai, I traveled to Toumi village.
There, I learned to my chagrin...
...that star readers' knowledge pales in comparison to that of the Yakoo.
Nevertheless, we must now surpass even their knowledge.
That doesn't concern me.
I beg to differ. This concerns not only Shin-Yogo...
...but everyone who lives on the Nayoro peninsula!
Master Gakai, do me the honor of assisting me...
...by taking charge of our epitaph-deciphering efforts!
You are conversant in every field of knowledge...
...and you possess a deeply inquisitive mind.
Only one man is capable of keeping this project running smoothly!
Master Gakai, that man is you!
This area is colder than it is in Kosenkyo...
...so the leaves change color much earlier.
He's been like that ever since we left Toumi.
Yes, but at least we're almost at Hunter's Hole.
We'll worry about Chagum after we get there.
True.
I swear, you leave this place vacant for a while and look what happens.
Torogai and I made a few improvements...
...in the cavern here beneath the rock.
Wait here. We'll go light some fires.
Jiguro...
I'm back.
Okay, we've got some lights going! Try making your way down.
I have to get him to hold his head high like he used to.
Surprised? We call this part of the cave the entry hall.
But it's too open and cold out here, so we set up the rooms further in.
Follow me.
The hole on the right extends so far that it's like a maze, so don't go in there.
There's a spring in the middle one. The one on the left is our home.
This is the living room.
Over there is a room where we smoke meats or whatever.
Over there is the storehouse for supplies and water.
There doesn't seem to be any obvious damage.
This place never changes, does it?
Every last detail is exactly like it was.
This is the first time I've been back here since Jiguro died.
We'll be penned in here once it starts snowing.
There's a lot that we need to see to before then.
We need to get ready to hole up for the winter right away.
You give it a try too.
If we don't prepare them like this, they won't smoke properly.
Okay, I think I'll go make us some tea.
Once we're done with these, we'll turn in early.
We're going out first thing in the morning to set traps.
All right.
You clean it just like you would a hare.
Give it a try on your own.
This place is pretty much full.
This should be more than enough to keep us fed through winter.
Tanda, do you have any insect galls?
I want to tan some hides.
Sure.
I'm going to borrow this mortar and pestle too.
Go ahead.
Balsa, is this enough?
That'll be plenty. Thank you.
It looks to me like that boy has toughened up quite a bit.
He's enduring Balsa's tough training too.
True, but I'm worried that he hardly ever says anything.
He has to work that through on his own.
We can try to talk to him as much as we want, but in the end...
...it's the boy who has to accept the fate of the Nyunga Ro Chaga.
What's the matter?
Let me see.
Your hand is chapped.
Wait, I'll put some salve on it.
Hang in there. This medicine might sting, but it works wonders.
Back when I was your age, my hands were rubbed raw a lot too.
And every time, Jiguro rubbed this salve on them for me.
He was usually very strict...
...but whenever my hands were chapped, he became gentle for some reason.
This Jiguro person... Was he the man who raised you?
Yes, he was my foster father, and the man I owe my life to.
The man you owe your life to?
Right.
Come to think of it, I never did tell you about him, did I?
If it weren't for Jiguro, I probably wouldn't be here today.
I would have been killed when I was six, no question.
Will you tell me about him?
You know, maybe this is the right time to tell you.
As you know, my homeland of Kanbal...
...is a small country that lies beyond the Misty Blue Mountains.
Even in a place like that, people constantly want to start conflicts.
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.
With pleading eyes, he begged his friend.
"Look after my daughter," he said.
Next time, "Jiguro Musa."
Episode 21 Jiguro Musa
Why did I quit the King's Spears?
Episode 21 Jiguro Musa