There is a land where dragons dwell.
While it may seem unfathomable to think that a sacred pact between man and dragon could exist,
it is undeniably true that even in this age of great scientific progress,
hidden away beyond an impenetrable veil,
these dragons, and the dragon dentists who devote their lives to protecting them,
do indeed exist.
International treaties have strictly forbidden the direct military use of dragons for decades.
As such, dragons no longer stand as national displays of power.
Yet still, the pacts made with the dragons continue on to this day.
N Survey Report
Restrooms Located to the Rear
Would you like me to get rid of that coffee for you, ma'am?
Oh...
I'm okay, thanks.
Doesn't look like I'll be getting any more work done tonight, though.
We're unfortunately right in the midst of this year's worst typhoon.
In a place like this?
I've never seen one in real life before...
Everyone please remain calm.
You are all perfectly safe now. There's no need to worry.
Yes. Everything is perfectly fine.
Wait... Yes. Everything is perfectly fine.
What happened to the typhoon?
It looks like that dragon ate it for us.
It ate it?!
THE MfiQQfifiki
Hup!
Ouch...
You dead?
Very much alive. You?
I'm perfectly fine.
It's floating?
Godo said that dragon's teeth will never touch the surface of the earth...
So this is what he meant?
It must be too far away from the dragon.
It's just a tiny little bulb, now.
Do you think it...?
It's trying to get back to the dragon.
The dragon must be somewhere in that direction.
We better get it back home.
But it's already dark.
It's too dangerous to roam around out in the middle of nowhere at night.
Do you have any idea how much pain the dragon must be in right now?!
I know! But still...
It's a boy and a girl! Just a couple kids!
No sign of the tooth!
I saw it fall that way.
Search harder!
Those are soldiers from back home...
What are they doing here?
Hey, kid, what are you doing out here?
Wait a second...
Bell is that you?!
Branco! I found Bell! Get over here!
How the hell are you still alive?!
What's that about that little brat Octavius?
Branco...?
He's supposed to be dead, right?
I saw the body with my own eyes!
What's going on here?!
So the rumors that the dragon dentists are a bunch of dead folk are true, huh?
Hold it, girl.
What's that?
A dragon's tooth, isn't it?
Nonoko!
Branco! We've got company!
Where's Branco?!
Guy doesn't think he can die. Just look at 'im.
Captain Branco!
There are too many of 'em!
The dead walk the earth again...
That's what this dragon is capable of, huh?
Well tonight's no night to die.
We're pulling out!
It's an honor to be able to be of service to dragon dentists like yourselves.
We got word of covert enemy forces in the area, and just got out here to investigate.
Is that the dragon's tooth?
We need to get this back to the dragon as soon as possible.
We've sent word on ahead already, but it's far too late to move out tonight.
So they just fell off that dragon?
Don't ya think dragon dentists can fly or something?
I'll tell ya, they look like youngins, but they probably ain't. Don't ya think dragon dentists can fly or something?
I'll tell ya, they look like youngins, but they probably ain't.
Ya think other countries have dentists like those kids, too?
Enough! Have some respect for our guests here!
Please forgive them.
They're all from Sagoro out in the Northern Province and they've never seen the likes of dentists before.
If it weren't for that dragon,
me and my men here probably never woulda made it back from the front alive.
Here, use this.
In you go...
By the way, can you ride a horse?
Huh?
I can.
Huh?!
You're really something, Bell.
It's just something they taught at school.
You're the impressive one, what with the way you'd do anything for that dragon.
We've made preparations to send you two off from the airfield in Hokoadama tomorrow.
Try and get some sleep here for tonight.
Some other units have convened for a hunt out in the nearby mountains.
My unit will stay here to watch over you though, so rest at ease.
Pardon me!
Please, use this to wash your feet.
Thanks!
We've already informed the people living here of the situation.
We'll get some food for you right away, too.
We've only got field rations, though.
Aren't you gonna eat?
I guess the food's the same no matter which side you fight on, huh...
You mean-
Want some?
Hey!
I tol' ya not ta go in there!
Hello.
Sorry for troubling you all like this.
Oh no, hostin' the likes of dragon dentists is an honor, it is.
Why don't you join us?
No, no.
I've got the bath heatin' up now.
Feel free to use it when you're done.
I ne'er thought dentists'd be so young. Ya think they're married?
This wait is killing me!
Why do you think those guys knew about the dragon's tooth?
Shibana ratted us out.
Those guys were supposed to get the tooth, don't you think?
No way...
Being inside the dragon's mouth is its own battlefield.
Full of just as much treachery.
Lieutenant! Lieutenant Starpo!
Somebody get over here and help him up!
What's wrong? That's an order!
Get over here and carry him!
We keep trucking along like this and we're all gonna end up like that.
Dragging around invalids like that is the whole reason we're still stuck in this mess.
So you're just gonna leave him behind, then?!
As your vice-captain, I order you to carry the lieutenant!
Do it yourself, then.
Octavius, you little brat.
A dragon?
It's a dragon...
It's huge...
Wait, if there's a dragon up there, then that means we're still right in the middle of enemy territory!
Do you bastards know what will happen if you disobey a direct order?
Hands off yer guns! We're right under the dragon!
We don't want any misfires!
Now, now, no need to call the enemy over this way with any gunfire.
I've had my eye on you.
You haven't fired a single shot out here.
You couldn't even pull that trigger if you wanted to.
Now, I don't know if you're a coward or maybe just an idiot,
but this is your last mission.
Keep your screams to a minimum.
All my regrets. All my misery.
I remember it all bright as day, yet none of it feels real.
Sleeping with you in a stranger's house like this, it's hard to tell what's a dream and what's real.
They thought we were a couple, didn't they?
I hope that didn't bother you or anything!
You remember what you said about my hair...?
It's beautiful. I like it.
It's like a field of golden ears of rice, just after the rain.
It looks just like...
Just like...?
Are you talking about your...
Oncoming Verge?
Good night.
These Cavity mushi sure aren't holding back now that the dragon's in no shape to fight back.
The buggers aren't even afraid of the daylight anymore.
Does anyone seriously think we can head out to battle like this?
I guess that answers my question.
This is it! The real deal! Use everything we've got and rain hell on them!
Trying to buy themselves some time, are they? Not if I have anything to do with it.
No reports of misfires or duds at this time, sir!
The reports were right. That dragon's as good as useless right now.
That pact or whatever they have with that thing means it won't engage us directly.
This is our chance! Kill as many of them as you can!
Those are 15cm shells coming in from the fortress.
I know as long as we've got the dragon's barrier we don't have to worry about it much up here, but...
They've found the tooth.
Nonoko and Bell should be back with it soon.
Why won't you come back with me?
Are you just trying to avoid the war?
No. It's not that.
I just...
It's how you all know about the Oncoming Verge.
You know, but you don't do anything!
I can't stand how you all just accept your own deaths!
Everyone dies someday.
Why can't you even try to live any longer, though?!
You think I want to watch you die out there?!
What are you going to do?
I don't know, but...
I'm not going to become a dragon dentist.
You sure about this?
Alright! We're off!
It's them!
The plane is waiting out on the airstrip.
This place could be sucked into the battle any moment now!
Make haste!
Bell's not with 'em... Must've run off.
It's that group from last night. They don't give up, do they?!
The enemy is here! I'll hold them off here. Take the dentist on ahead!
Yessir!
The rest of you, on me!
We're gonna ride straight through! Hold on tight!
What are the guards out here doing?!
Get that tooth and kill the girl.
I'll go get that plane.
That son of a...!
Dentist, move up front!
H I KO-3 Wha-?
I-I I KO-3 Wh..what are-?!
Can you fly it?
Maybe. This thing is an old Bossa craft.
Get it ready. We're taking off soon.
Keep your head down!
Gotcha!
What about the girl?
Forget about her!
Present for ya, Boss! Got that dragon tooth!
Gaeri and Rhodrey still aren't back yet.
All according to plan.
Nonoko!
Get to that plane!
Hurry!
It wasn't the tooth that they were after!
What?!
They're gonna use that tooth to get onto the dragon!
What are we supposed to do now?
Nonoko!
That's crazy!
C'mon, Bell!
Seriously, what are you trying to do?!
Nonoko!
What's wrong?
Nothing. Just thinking how we're in the clear now.
That dragon has some sort of barrier that protects it from all outside attacks.
But, it's a different story with that tooth now.
That tooth's trying to get back to the dragon.
As long as we're carrying that thing back to it, the dragon should just let us through.
What the-?!
That way! Over there!
What's going on here?!
Secure the tooth!
Don't let her get away!
Danger She's crazy!
She's amazing...
Shibana?!
Still just the same old Shibana to you, am I?
Don't drop that tooth!
I owe you one for that.
You botched this, didn't you?
Why would you team up with thugs like these?
Not everyone is a fan of that dragon.
Not even every dentist.
Now tell me, what happened to the other little brat?
After today, there will be no more dragon dentists.
Huh?
Whoa, now! Easy there.
The right Wing's been wiped out!
We didn't expect them to come out of that fortress guns blazing.
Without that artillery in Arane, we're as good as done for!
That dragon won't be backing us up.
Take the men and circle around the city to flank them!
Say farewell to your precious little dragon.
There it is...
So it really does have some kinda magical barrier, huh?
Pull up on it from below.
We wouldn't want them to spot us before we land.
Can't we get radio contact with that aircraft?
Why aren't they following procedure?!
We're gonna get wiped out by our own forces at this rate!
They'll never hit us; we've got Branco the Undying here with us!
Now then, time for this thing to go to work.
We made it!
Here's our stop.
Take down anyone out there you see.
Get ready!
Yessir!
Got it.
Bell!
Nonoko!
What's going on?!
It overcame the barrier and the dragon's power has returned?!
Gimme that tooth!
The hell is going on back there?!
We've lost our main wing!
Just land this thing already! I don't care where!
Branco, you okay?
Where's the tooth?
We don't need it anymore.
The real prize is waiting for us right up there.
How many men do we have left?
I take it the tooth is back.
Nonoko's back too, then?
Something's off, though.
Nonoko, grow up to be a good girl, okay?
You've gotta be kidding...
Shibana, what's this all about?
Are you the one who led those guys here?!
All of you better get off this dragon fast.
Unlike you, some of us have work to do here.
Not for long, I promise.
How could you do this? Your beloved Takemoto, he...
"Beloved"?
He faced his own Oncoming Verge in order to protect this place.
That's exactly what I hate most about this place.
All of us end up on the other side of those teeth when we die, right?
That means he's still inside these teeth somewhere!
Are you...? Don't tell me...!
You want to...
The dead don't just come back to life like that!
Only the dragon can bring them back!
We humans don't have that sort of power!
I am not a human!
Shibana!
What is WITH this guy?
It's like he's got his own barrier! Why can't we hit him?!
Dammit!
Huh?
Let's move, Bell.
Okay, that'll do it!
Hey Hama, did you actually stand still this time?
Come on, Takemoto, at least pretend to smile!
Sheesh! Always such a grump.
I don't think I've ever seen him smile even once.
Alrighty then.
Here, carry this.
Hey, so about before...
Hup!
The wife must've chewed him out.
Hey...
The dead... They don't come back.
Get back!
Something's coming our way!
This is bad!
That thing is WAY too big!
The dragon won't be able to handle this!
Charge! Charge!
What's going on out there?!
It's down.
The dragon's down?
Nonoko, are you alright?
How could the dragon have fallen?
Is that...?
They're headed for the dragon sanctuary.
Well then, let's have a look at these "treasures of the dragon sanctuary" or whatever.
Leave now.
These are holy grounds.
You know, I never was keen on you religious types.
Are those men really planning on climbing up here?!
This thing just keeps growing and growing!
What the heck are we gonna do, Goh?!
This is bad.
It's gonna blow!
Is this thing a Cavity mushi too?
I've never seen anything like this before!
This is terrible...
But it's not killing everyone out there...
It's not attacking the dentists either.
It's just killing those with murderous intent.
What the hell is happening?!
Don't stop now! Fire!
The 15cm shells aren't doing a thing?!
That's impossible!
Sounds like things are really picking up out there.
This is the dragon's wisdom tooth...
The mirror and the boundary.
They've got the dragon blinded so it can't see.
But why a wisdom tooth?
The wisdom tooth is the only one that can be pulled from the dragon without hurting it.
These guys used this to start their pact with the dragon.
If we can just get rid of this little thing,
that thousand-year-long pact should just disappear into thin air.
And all this crap about people coming back from the dead will end, too!
Hold it!
We were supposed to sell this thing off for a fortune-!
Normal guns won't work, huh?
How many people are going to die out here today?
Is this thing just gonna keep going until there are none of us left?!
The mushi is solely intent on slaughter.
Look at this thing...
How far do you think it reaches?
Nonoko, how do you think this mushi grew to be this huge?
BY eating people?
It's not eating them, though.
It's just killing those intent on killing others.
Which means it's probably not taking in nutrients from those tentacles out there, but...
Its root!
That thing might look scary, but it's still just a Cavity mushi.
It's killing all those people out there with murderous intent,
and then it's feeding off their souls as they pass on into the dragon's teeth.
It's like it's feeding directly on that killer instinct itself.
Do you think this is all because the dragon lost its tooth?
I need to get this thing back in place quick.
Good idea.
Then you can cut this monster off at the root.
That should stop it from feasting on any more souls and put an end to it.
Aren't you coming with me?
No! We're both dragon dentists!
Come with me.
Inn:
Sure enough, I can't be a dragon dentist.
There's something else I've got to take care of.
You go on, Nonoko.
Ouch!
You ARE a dragon dentist!
I'm the one who trained you, remember?!
That hurt...!
I'll be waiting for you down below!
Hurry up and finish whatever you gotta do!
I've got something to ask you.
I'm guessing the dragon brought you back to life here,
but how did it choose you?
The dragon decides all.
Well, fine.
The pact with the dragon is over.
I thought I told you already.
You're just a useless coward who couldn't even pull the trigger if you wanted to.
After all I've been through, I know.
But tell me, did you know this?
You're not the kind of man who can stand having a gun pointed at you
and hold back your murderous rage.
Well, you're right about that.
And now, dentist... Die!
I will die here, suffocating, lungs full of my own blood.
This is the second time I've drowned.
The first time was when I was twelve.
I tried crossing the pond in our yard on horseback,
but halfway across, at the deepest spot, my horse threw me off its back.
The horse swam off by itself, leaving me there unable to breathe or call for help.
All I could do was just flail helplessly.
One of our servants came out to rescue me,
but to be honest, I couldn't even tell you their name.
My older sister never let me live the incident down.
And from then on I never spoke to her again.
That horse had tried to kill me as if it were just swatting flies away with its tail...
but I still loved it.
Because it was beautiful,
and so long as I didn't do something foolish like try to cross some giant pond,
it would remain a loyal friend.
As I watched it climb out onto that shore alone, shaking its body dry in the afternoon sun,
and slowly turn to stare out at me in my helplessness,
I couldn't help but be overcome by the sheer majesty of it.
If all Cavity mushi come from the remnant memories of those who have died,
does that mean even feelings of joy and happiness can become mushi, too?
I feel such sorrow for this big, lonesome dragon now.
I wish I could at least find a way to prevent any mushi from being born of my own death.
But, unfortunately, I don't think there's any way to put a damper on these sorts of emotions.
Even if I do become a Cavity mushi myself, I know all the dentists here will handle it for me.
They'll watch over the dragon for me.
Will she laugh again as she hears my voice ringing out among those rocks?
Or will her face just grow cold as she turns away and heads back to work?
I can't quite say why,
but for some reason, you and that horse of mine are one in the same memory to me.
Whenever I think of you, I feel a rush of something different race through my heart.
Did you find Takemoto in there?
Look, Shibana, love isn't just about finding someone to be with.
We have to keep alive the memories of those who have passed, too.
Are you really going to preach to a monster about love?
Just look at that mark.
You might not look like your old self anymore, but as long as that's there, you're still a dentist.
Don't think I've given up yet.
She's a brave one, for sure.
I never would've come up with a plan like that.
She might still even pull it off someday.
She's still so beautiful.
What's she gonna do from here on out?
Who knows? But whatever happens next...
It sure is fun being alive, huh?
Wait, where's Nonoko?
I died once below the dragon to be brought back to life again through its teeth.
Now I die here atop the dragon to be returned once again to its teeth.
Did I accomplish anything worthwhile in this mysterious cycle I found myself in?
I suppose there's no need to even ask as much now, is there?
Still, I feel like I finally understand.
I may not know why the dragon decided to choose me of all people, but...
I think now at least I understand why I was given a second chance at all...
It was an honor to have had the chance to meet someone like you.
Thank you, Nonoko.
My dragon dentist.
Where did you go, Bell?
Hurry up and finish whatever you're doing and let's go get some dinner!
Bell!
Wow, would you look at all this?
Huh?
Soshite kimi wa matenrou de
Boku ni ate hagaki o kaita
Konna ni tooku hanareteiru to
N wa mata iukumatteku no to
Sore de boku wa ude o furutte
Kimi ni ate henji o kaita
Totemo suteki na nagai tegami sa
Nani o kaita ka wa naisho na no sa
Tooku made tabi suru koibito ni
Afureru shiawase o inoru yo
Bokura no sumu kono sekai de wa taiyou ga itsumo nobori
Yorokobi to kanashimi ga toki ni tazuneru
Tooku kara todoku uchuu no hikari
Machijuu de tsuzuiteku kurashi
Bokura no sumu kono sekai de wa tabi ni deru riyuu ga ari
Dare mo mina te o futte wa shibashi wakareru
Soshite mainichi wa tsuzuiteku
Oka o koe bokutachi wa aruku
Utsukushi hoshi ni otozureta yugure toki no shunkan
Setsunakute setsunakute mune ga itamu hodo
Tooku made tabi suru hitotachi ni
Afureru shiawase o inoru yo
Bokura no sumu kono sekai de wa tabi ni deru riyuu ga ari
Daremo minna te o futte wa shibashi wakareru