Hello, this is Arima!
Oh, yes, yes.
Otomi-san from Narukami.
Good to hear from you.
Arima-sama, there's something I wanted you to know.
In Narukami, there's—
An incredibly powerful Kegare, right?
You already knew?
Is it...
Could it be...
It's a Basara.
Your Courage, My Courage Zero Millimeters Apart
Benio-sama!
Benio!
Who're you?
You're interrupting my fun.
You call this fun?
Run...
Get out of here.
Why?
You mustn't fight him...
That Kegare...
is not a normal Kegare.
He's... a Basara.
Basara?
Despite their human appearance, they are not human...
And although they are Kegare,
they are far stronger than the typical kind.
They have devoured the spell power
of their prey to the point that they evolve into
a superior class of Kegare.
That is a Basara.
Currently the Exorcist Union has confirmed the existence of a handful of Basara,
one of which is in Narukami.
Their spell power is off the charts,
and only someone on par with the Twelve Guardians stands a chance.
If an exorcist runs into a Basara,
what should they do?
Avoid battle.
That is the wisest choice.
You mustn't fight him.
Hurry and r—
Benio!
Benio-sama! Hang in there!
That's an interesting arm you've got there.
Not that it really matters.
All I want to know is whether you're strong or weak.
You're still alive?
They sure took off fast.
You won't even make a decent snack,
you damn pipsqueak.
Benio-sama!
I need to borrow your gear!
Om tathagata udbhavaye svaha.
Hey! Where are you going?!
Back to Magano.
You...
I have to defeat him.
What exactly happened?
Who is that Basara?
He killed my mother and father.
Six years ago,
my parents died battling that Basara.
It took me six years to find him...
I have to...
I have to defeat him,
no matter what.
If the alternative is running away... and living in shame...
I'd rather die fighting!
Idiot! What are you talking about?!
If you die, there's no point!
And you've been shaking this whole time.
You're actually scared, aren't you?
You can't beat him fighting like that, idiot!
You keep calling me an idiot.
I don't want an idiot like you calling me an idiot!
Well, if an idiot calls you an idiot, that makes you twice the idiot!
Do you realize you're not making any sense?
You tell me not to fight,
but are about to do just that.
You say you'd rather die, but are obviously scared.
You need to calm down and think this over!
Father... Mother...
I swear I'll avenge you!
Revenge...
Isn't this so pathetic, it's almost shocking?
I...
I don't know...
what to do...
I've been looking for him for so long,
so I could defeat him.
But I couldn't even touch him.
And the thought of dying without being able to do anything terrifies me...
I realize I don't stand a chance,
and that I'm scared,
but if I run away now,
I won't be able to face my mother and father...
And if that happened...
Then there would be no point in me being alive.
What's with this girl?
She's just...
like me.
Here, eat!
It's my specialty oyakodon,
the Rokuro Super Deluxe!
Eat this and cheer up!
I'll slow him down in the meantime.
We're gonna exorcise the hell out of that Basara, you and I!
You want to beat him, right?
If you can't do it alone, maybe we can together.
This is my battle...
You have no reason to fight.
I do.
Because I'm an exorcist.
Before I met you,
I was running from my bad memories.
I was scared to fight, and I didn't want to feel that pain again.
But...
Now I realize that even this accursed power
can be used to help people.
And the one who helped me realize that... was you.
So don't say you'd rather be dead.
I'm pretty sure your mom and dad
want you to go on living.
How patronizing can you get?
Like he understands anything!
Is it cat food?
Not even a snack...
Still hungry?
I guess Basaras have big appetites.
I'll take you on if you want.
Here's hoping you're up to the challenge.
Don't talk big if you can't back it up!
If you die...
You don't get to eat ohagi anymore.
Thank you, Adashino Benio!
I'm glad you were there!
Let's get stronger, Benio.
Is it any good, Benio-sama?
Thanks!
Disgusting!
How dare he feed someone this garbage?!
Is something wrong with his tongue?!
But it's strange...
Somehow, I feel braver.
Damn it, he looks totally unfazed...
I keep punching,
but it's like there's no chance he'll be exorcised!
Not bad. You've got potential.
I'm starting to think it'd be a waste to kill you.
What're you talking about?
I like fighting strong exorcists.
Plus, the stronger they are,
the more spell power I get when I kill them.
Enough of your crap!
I know... I'll let you decide.
We can keep fighting if you want, or I can let you go.
I'll give you ten seconds to decide.
You say that now, but you plan to attack me once I turn to run, don't you?!
I always keep my word.
Because, honestly, either way works for me.
Letting humans have options is just a hobby of mine.
A hobby?
It's pretty interesting to see how a human on the brink of death reacts.
While I'm counting, some attack me, and some cry and beg for mercy.
Some have even sacrificed their comrades to save their own skin.
When it comes down to it,
hardly anyone has ever sacrificed themselves for someone else.
Oh, that's right.
I remember that girl now.
I see... So she's the kid from back then.
I had her choose whether I'd spare her mother or her father.
But she was so scared, she couldn't choose either one.
So then I asked her parents...
I believe it was...
Should I spare their lives, or that of their child?
I gave them ten seconds to decide.
They both answered without hesitating that I should spare the child.
Yeah, they were the rare exceptions.
And what did you do then?
I killed them, of course.
That was the deal.
That was six years ago...
Six years ago, she'd have only been eight!
How...
How could you do that in front of a kid?!
Just how corrupt are you?!
Well, that's why I'm a Kegare.
I am going to exorcise you right here!
How was that?!
Good.
That was good...
Very good.
I haven't been this excited in a long time.
He can still move?!
Right...
Maybe with you, I can actually use this.
Let's see, where'd I put it?
Oh, there it is.
A spirit talisman?!
A curse talisman.
I'm gonna get a little serious now, so don't disappoint me.
Talons that rend gods, come forth at once.
Wrap them in a filthy death shroud.
How can you use enchantments—
Blocking won't do any good against this.
The impact is transmitted through your entire body from the point of contact.
And seriously, what's up? You're not done already, are you?
I brought out my curse talisman. Make this a little more entertaining.
Beni...o...
Why did you come back here?
Get lost.
Fighting you is boring.
What is this? She seems completely different now.
Father, Mother, give me courage...
The courage to overcome my fear!
Benio!
Run.
The courage to move forward!
The courage to respond to his courage!
Dance of the Tiger Lily on the White Path!
Dance of the Tiger Lily on the White Path
I don't know if this is some last-minute desperation or what...
But you need to understand that
pluck and determination can't make up the difference between us.
With your spell power,
you could hit me hundreds of times and it wouldn't help.
Then even if it takes a thousand, or ten thousand,
I will keep striking until you fall!
I am going to purify you!
So close...
I'm so close!
Rokuro?
I'm not gonna just watch.
I suddenly feel lighter...
Let's purify this guy right now,
with our pluck and determination!
Right!
I guess we can agree once in a while.
Yes. Once in a century, maybe.
The sword...
...changed shape?
Their spell powers are resonating?
I get it... It's you... You two are...
Your sins and and corruption...
Entertain me more!
We'll wipe you and all of them away!
D-Did we get him?
We got him, right?
B-Benio...
I was careless.
I should've figured it out sooner.
No way...
That didn't exorcise him, either?
Hey, you two are the Twin Star Exorcists,
are you not?
How do you know about the Twin Stars?!
Of course I know.
The Kegare and exorcists have been fighting for over a thousand years.
What do you...
What do you Kegare want?!
You exorcists want to eradicate the Kegare, right?
Well, that would make our goal the exact opposite.
If this Miko is actually going to have the power to eradicate us,
I really ought to kill the two of you, who shall bring forth the Miko.
Though I must say...
I don't really care who gets eradicated.
What?!
All I really care about is whether I'm entertained.
Wait!
This fight isn't over ye—
Huh?
Rokuro?
Today was the most fun I've had in a while.
For our next encounter,
at least gain enough power to force me to use half my strength.
Oh, you can give birth to the Miko and I'll fight them instead, if you want.
Don't give me that bull!
Either way, you two are my quarry.
Don't let the others catch you in the meantime.
Hey! Wait!
Benio?
We need to get out of Magano...
Benio...
Nicely done.
Father, Mother, are you not afraid of fighting Kegare?
We're afraid.
No exorcist fights because they want to.
Which is why we do it for the future.
So that when you're grown up,
you won't have to go to Magano.
Your father and I have a duty to make the future a place like that.
It's okay to be afraid.
Because...
We're not alone.
Not alone...
This is that room...
I'm positive he's behind this!
Yes, I did it!
Ultimately, I wasn't able to manage anything on my own...
I need to re-train and become much stronger,
so that next time, I can strike down that Basara!
If it weren't for him,
I wouldn't be here, thinking about this.
Thank you, Rokuro.
The strongest exorcist husband and wife give birth to the ultimate exorcist.
You can give birth to the Miko and I'll fight them instead, if you want.
No! Not happening! That cannot happen!
Benio...
He's talking in his sleep?
Dreaming of me?
You know...
I know you like red bean jam, but bathing in it?!
That's messed up! Talk about gross!
Maybe you have red bean jam where your brain should be?
What?
Oh, a dream...
A terrible one, too.
Ow!
What the— Benio?
What are you so mad about?!
Stop!
I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry!
Next Episode
Hesse said,
"Only one with the courage to shoulder the burden of
their own fate can be called a hero."
Are you talking about me?
No. I'm talking about someone I look up to.
The new hero who'll be showing up next time.
Huh? Who?!
Yukatas, Stars, and Wishes Tanabata Special
Boys and girls, be sure to watch next time.