Wow! How beautiful!
Welcome to my domain.
Lord Yorunami, Shiotsuchi is old! Please forgive him!
Failure is a crime.
I ordered Shiotsuchi the Sho to take control
of all the salt supplies in this nation,
yet he did not even make a move into
the domains of the other Shinsho.
But, if he had taken their salt,
the people would suffer just as the Sho...
I am well aware of that.
Are you saying you all won't mind if I don't become king?
Of course not...
If you are going to serve me, you must be flawless in your duties.
I have no need for flawed Zokusho.
They are unnecessary.
This path leads to Tamayori, where Yorunami is.
Admiration
All right, let's go!
Arata?
I don't want to see Yorunami yet.
Huh? What are you talking about?
I don't want to defeat Yorunami.
So, before I meet him face to face,
I want to know what he's like.
That's why I want to meet Yorunami's Zokusho first.
I agree!
Arata doesn't make others submit by fighting.
He calms their desire to fight and
accepts the life force they give him.
Kotoha...
Y-Yeah! I'm with Kotoha-chan!
Have you no pride?
Hm? Arata, your sleeve is fraying.
Oh, you're right.
I just realized...
Kotoha-chan is all chummy when she talks to Arata now.
What happened?
They've crossed the line.
Line?! You mean...
Kannagi, what's the closest town to here?
This is the most prosperous city in Amawakuni, Suzukura.
Wow...
Yorunami's Zokusho rules this city.
I've never met him, but I believe his name is Hiruko.
This is all you've got between the four of you?
It's nowhere near enough.
It's not right!
Why do we have to pay just to get into the city?!
There's a passage tax for both entering and leaving the city.
That's the rule here in Suzukura.
If you want to enter the city, you'll work off what you owe.
I don't like it!
Now, where shall we have you work?
Hey, old man!
Hey.
I'll take these guys.
Suehiro-san...
There's so much to see!
What do you think? This is the center of Suzukura.
You can find anything you desire here.
Too flashy for my tastes.
There you go, trying to sound cool again, Kanna—
Idiot. Don't call me by name.
Why do you think I covered my mark of the Twelve Shinsho?
What beautiful hairpins!
You can shop later.
You can buy all you want with the money you make working.
Men work in the quarry, women in the textile workshops.
We'll make sure you work hard.
Aww, man, a quarry?
Man, this is killing my back!
You there!
What are you doing? No slacking off!
I'm just resting for a second!
Hey, you! What are you doing?!
I was told to transport rocks, so I am.
Those are too small!
I received no directions about size.
That little...
I'm never going to meet the Zokusho at this rate.
Suehiro-san, we're finished with our part here.
Quick work as always, Chief.
Your reputation with Master Hiruko is soaring, too.
Maybe that Suehiro guy is the shortest path to the Zokusho.
Quit your slacking!
Even such a little kid...
Can't even do decent work...
You little wage stealer.
Arata... Taking a break?
Uh, yeah.
How's your work going? It must be hard.
Yeah, kind of...
I'm still not used to talking to you this way.
You're Hinohara Arata.
Not the Master Arata I know.
Even though you look exactly the same...
I, um...
Sorry, it's nothing.
Haniyasu?
Hinohara is there?
Well, first, there's someone I want you to meet.
A man who has experienced something similar to what happened between you and Hinohara.
In order to conquer the barbarians,
the Kamui of the Twelve Shinsho under the control of the princess
were temporarily unleashed.
These are the records of that time.
This is one of the Twelve Shinsho.
Akachi.
Akachi...
What is Lord Yorunami like?
How should I know? He's one of the Twelve Shinsho.
Forget that, bro. I've got some nice stuff here.
Oh, I don't have the money for...
Oh, you've got a good eye, I see.
What's this?
Already going shopping with today's pay?
Suehiro-san...
Was it for that girl you brought with you?
You're quite the nice guy.
Don't blame me if it gets you tricked.
That wouldn't...
Um, Suehiro-san...
Have you ever met Lord Yorunami?
What's this all of a sudden?
I mean, I heard he was an amazing man.
I was just wondering what was amazing about him.
He is noble and benevolent, and he sees all things.
And right now, he seeks perfection in everyone, including himself.
That's what he's like.
Right now?
It was Lord Yorunami who came up with Suzukura's laws.
Thanks to him, it has grown into the most prosperous city in Amawakuni.
Well, shall we head back? It gets cold at night.
A perfect city?
What are you doing?!
What are you gonna do about this?!
Hey! Are you okay?
What's going on here? What did he do?
He broke a valuable wagon!
It wasn't me!
No excuses!
Man, we can't use this anymore.
You said it.
You're fired.
Please, wait!
I don't need useless kids here!
It hurts my reputation!
Wait! He says he didn't do it!
This has nothing to do with you! Stay out of it!
I understand.
Then, if I could have my pay up to now...
That's gone. We'll be using it for repairs.
But...
You bastard!
That's enough.
Suehiro-san...
Have you forgotten, Chief?
Fighting is forbidden.
Sorry, sir. Please don't tell Master Hiruko about this.
I'll let it slide this time.
Next time you disrupt the public order, you're on your way to jail.
Yes, sir!
It's kind of...
...shabby, huh?
I'm sorry.
So there's a place like this just behind this city's lively facade.
Everyone comes to Suzukura hoping to get rich quick.
But the reality isn't that simple.
Ruka, where are your parents?
They died last year.
They were wholesale textile dealers on the main street,
until they got sick.
Then everyone working in the shop quit.
We went bankrupt, and shortly after that, my mother...
That's cruel of them.
They owed your dad a lot, didn't they?
That's how this world works.
Damn! Is money all people think about?
That guy from before, too. All he cared about was his reputation!
The chief was the head clerk at our shop.
Him?! That bastard!
How...
How is this a perfect city?
This city is nowhere near perfect!
Ruka, why don't you just leave this place?
But...
If you're worried about money, I'll pay for you!
The passage tax is ten silver.
I don't have that much money.
That's a ripoff!
So knock others down until you reach the top.
That's what Suzukura is all about.
Who do you think you are?
I'm just a stingy control freak, Lord Kannagi.
More importantly, what do you think of Arata the Sho?
Master Hiruko is interested in him.
What do I think?
Oh, I was just wondering why
a man of your status is traveling with him.
Just because. No particular reason.
You want to become king, too, don't you?
Is it his Hayagami you're after?
You said your name's Suehiro?
Trying to provoke me won't work.
You seem to be having a good time toying with us,
but don't take us lightly.
Especially Arata. He is formidable.
Hang in there. It's almost ready.
Thank you, Kanate-san.
You'll feel better once you drink this!
Y-You wanted to talk?
Drink up first.
I made the consommé soup you love.
I've decided.
Arata, you should do what you want to do.
I'll wait as long as it takes until you can act on your own will.
I believe in you.
No matter what may happen,
I'm on your side.
It's good!
It is good.
You see? Have all the refills you'd like!
Thank you, Kanate-san.
Wh-Why are you crying?
I wanted to just disappear.
How can you say something so stupid?!
Because I was alone, and it was so hard...
I understand.
I was the same.
When bad things keep happening,
you just want to run away.
I wondered why it all happened to me, when I'd done nothing wrong.
But if I had thrown everything away then,
I'd never know why I had been born.
Since you were born into this world, you can't just end your life.
There's no one the world would be better off without.
I want to leave this city.
All right.
Kanate and I will get you out of here.
Leave it to us!
But if you do that...
You're a nice kid.
Go on living, and never forget those feelings.
Okay! We leave when the city is quiet!
We'll help, too.
Kotoha-chan!
Even you, Kannagi?
She brought me here. That's all.
It was Lord Kannagi who told me what was going on.
Your wounds have closed up completely!
I'm so glad!
How...
...can you smile for me?
How?
Because I'm happy, too!
Is that strange?
The power chamber is damaged!
Temporarily disconnecting!
Wait! Bring the ship closer!
Leave.
I have no business with the Six Sho.
Akachi...
Appear, Orochi!
You're not one of the Six Sho.
Akachi, I saw your battle.
You're incredible!
Hey, wanna team up with me?
What did you say?
Your nemesis, Kannagi, is with my nemesis, Hinohara Arata.
Working together would benefit us both.
Why should I team up with a rug rat like you?
Anyone who lacks the resolve to fight alone
will only slow me down.
Go home.
Wait!
Hold it!
I just want to beat him!
If I don't, there was no point in me coming here!
I don't want to think he's ahead of me
by a single second, or a single millimeter!
I want to win!
I want to beat him!
I see. However...
You cannot defeat Arata.
Let me tell you why.
Because you are trapped.
You are trapped
by the phantom of the bond reflected in your eyes.
That's why you can't win.
I will set you free.
Let's go!
Suehiro!
Let us go! Please!
Suehiro is only an alias.
My real name is...
Lord Yorunami's number one Zokusho, Hiruko.
Suehiro-san is Master Hiruko?!
So that's it.
This city is not perfect.
It does not see people as people.
This city is heartless!
Heartless, eh?
Why did you attack me?
I made a fortune, and people flocked to me.
But all they want is the money.
I'm not even needed.
Come on! Destroy me with your Kamui!
Hiruko the Sho...
Become my Zokusho.
Where exists a human who is not needed?
Appear, Takara!
Appear!
Money?! That's his Kamui?!
Maybe it's you.
I've been watching you.
Lord Yorunami's orders, you know.
I've seen you suffering, fighting,
and turning into a demon.
That's why I wanted to find out
whether you're really the right man for the job.
Ruka.
There's no need for you to leave.
I will change this city.
No more pretending it's perfect.
I will defy Lord Yorunami.
He's...
Arata, bring back the Lord Yorunami I know.
I believe you can return him to the way he once was.
I've seen quite enough...
The Hayagami Tsukuyo, the origin of all things.
Once I obtain it, the throne is as good as mine.
This time, I know my mother will be pleased.
Life Force
Appear, Nakisawa!