The recovery team was attacked?
Yes, and the noro was stolen.
By aradama?
No, not them.
They were attacked by a Toji.
After an aradama has been destroyed,
the noro recovery team has been attacked at several locations.
By aradama?
Well, the culprit is also a Toji.
A mysterious Toji wearing a hood.
Stop!
We will cut you down if you resist!
Damn it, the hits just keep on coming!
Then...
Curse you,
that's the Niten Ichi style!
I knew it, you're—
Shidou Maki.
Katana Maidens
Episode 16 Audience In the Prison
There's no mistake. That is Maki-san.
Then do you know who this is?
What kind of ties do they have to each other?
Are they companions or collaborators of some kind?
Not possible.
Maki-san set out to settle things with her past.
She would not ally with a stranger now.
One of them is definitely Shidou Maki.
But we have no idea who the other one is.
Perhaps it's the former Origami head?
Just because she possesses an okatana does not make her a Toji.
What do you mean?
Wanna go one more round?
Sure.
Kanamin, Hiyoyon, I'm back!
Hey!
Ellen-chan!
The others are with me, too.
We're back!
'Sup.
Welcome back, everybody!
Is everyone at Minoseki doing well, Mai-chan?
Yes, as usual.
Also, I brought back your assignments, too.
Good luck with that.
Kaoru, I've brought back our homework from the director, too.
Not us, too.
She's been working my fingers to the bone. She could at least exempt me from this.
Those are two separate things.
Things will be getting lively again.
It's Etou-san and the others.
Weren't they the ones who...
That's the first time I've seen them all together.
Shall we be going, then?
Today's Star
Happy Birthday!
Kaoru-chan planned all this, since we knew the next time we'd all be together
would be on your birthday!
It's a surprise party. Well, were you surprised?
Okay, time for the cake!
Happy Birthday Sayaka-chan
We got it from a shop that Hiyori-chan recommended.
Shouldn't we have gone with the chocolate mint cake instead?
This is for Sayaka-chan.
You're the only one who likes chocolate mint.
That's not true.
You'd make someone eat toothpaste on their birthday?
It's not toothpaste!
Please blow the candles out with one breath.
This is the main event for today. Give it your all!
Got it.
Wait, wait, wait, what're you doing?
Relax your shoulders more. You're going to crush the cake!
Congratulations!
Thank you.
So that hooded Toji who's been stealing the noro
was definitely Shidou Maki.
Yes, I saw her, too.
I thought as much.
Please wait a moment!
Mai-mai and I also fought the hooded Toji that stole the noro at Nagakute,
but that wasn't Maki-maki.
Yes, Shidou-san uses the Shindo Munen style.
I believe that person was using a different style.
Does that mean that she's using other techniques
to try and hide her identity, then?
I don't think so.
Well, we'd know it was Shidou if we saw her.
Which means the hooded Toji is not alone.
Perhaps Sana-sensei would know something?
Sana-sensei, we have something we'd like to know.
What's with all the fuss?
Who is the hooded Toji?
That's not entirely up to me to say...
Why not?
I was just thinking it was about time that we told you all as well.
For now, we have confirmed that there are two of them.
One is without a doubt Shidou Maki.
And the other was never even a Toji.
Not a Toji? Then...
It is Princess Tagitsu.
Princess Tagitsu should've been driven back into the netherworld
in the battle five months ago.
Has she been revived already?
Who has she possessed?
No, Princess Tagitsu has not possessed anyone this time.
She has manifested as an aradama in human form.
Is that even possible?
Please enter.
Excuse me.
There is a message from Ichigaya for you, Deputy Director.
Top Secret
This is...
We finally have permission.
Etou-san, Juujou-san...
Please accompany me tomorrow to the Ministry of Defense in Ichigaya.
On an escort mission.
Um, why do you need an escort to the Ministry of Defense?
I will be meeting with an important person.
Important person?
A very important person.
Honestly, anything could happen.
That is why I wanted you both to come along.
Will we be useful to you somehow?
It has to be the two of you.
It has to be us?
Does that mean...
Ministry of Defense
We've been expecting you.
Things are really tense here.
There are even Toji.
Good work.
Takako-san! Satomi-san!
It's been a while.
Why are you both here?
We were assigned here yesterday.
Be careful.
Please stand down.
We are honored to be granted an audience with you,
Princess Tagitsu.
That name is used by another.
What shall I call you?
You are permitted to call me Princess Takiri.
As you wish. I am—
Origami Akane, along with Etou Kanami and Juujou Hiyori.
Princess Takiri, I will speak frankly.
Do you mean to do us harm?
Questions are not permitted.
Give me Princess Ichikishima.
I know that she is in your keeping.
The true ruin of humanity is Princess Tagitsu.
And humans cannot bear the ideals of Princess Ichikishima.
Why should we do as you ask?
I am Princess Takiri.
A deity who leads those lost in fog.
Humans, I will bring you the best value that you seek.
Princess Tagitsu is gaining strength.
Time is limited.
Akane-sama!
I am all right.
My sister suppressed something like this all by herself.
Akane-sama, well, just what is going on?
Please tell us!
All right, then.
After you destroyed the great aradama inside my sister,
it was split into three parts.
The one we just met was Princess Takiri,
the one gathering the noro from various places is Princess Tagitsu,
and one other is Princess Ichikishima.
Our thinking was wrong.
My sister's body was not just being controlled by the great aradama.
She was using her body to suppress it all this time.
And now that they are acting freely of their own will,
each seeking their respective objectives.
It is an extremely dangerous situation.
A portion of the government does not want to let Princess Takiri go.
But that makes things difficult.
That is not something humans can do anything about.
Is it true that we have Princess Ichikishima?
Yes, she is being kept absolutely safe.
Ayumu, it's break time.
You've been working really hard lately, Ayumu.
I made a promise to Etou-san that we'd fight together someday.
So I need to keep practicing and get stronger, just like Etou-san!
You really admire Etou-san, don't you?
Yep.
We were pretty useless in our first battle, weren't we?
You're right, we couldn't really do anything.
But next time will be different!
I'll be able to fight properly.
Okay, then. I'll thoroughly spar with you today!
Thanks, Miya.
What is going on with the candidate selection process?
They are being reviewed.
How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?!
The princess is already making her move!
I am aware.
You haven't lost your nerve this late in the game, have you?
I won't be kept waiting any longer!
You are an unfair person.
Let's stop for now.
You're not into practicing at all, are you?
That's not like you.
What's wrong with you today?
I wonder if what we did was pointless.
Defeating Yukari?
Yeah.
Why do you think that?
I mean, things have gotten even more mixed-up than before.
It's made me even more unsure.
Would you rather have abandoned your friends like that, then?
No!
Then it's fine.
I guess...
Besides, when you say that,
it makes me feel bad for not defeating the great aradama at Enoshima.
It's not your fault, Mo—Master!
Then you're not to blame, either.
See and feel things for yourself,
and if you still don't understand, try fighting.
Worry is also an important part of training.
Okay.
Hang in there.
Today is the security mission at Ichigaya with Hiyori-chan!
Shidou-san...
So if she came here, does that mean she's after Princess Takiri?
We'll need to stop her before she makes a mess of things.
I can't believe it's turned out like this.
Yeah.
You okay?
If I'm being honest, I still haven't sorted out how I feel yet.
I thought things were over when we tore Princess Tagitsu away from Origami Yukari.
Hiyori-chan, do you think Princess Takiri has to be cut down?
I do, but what do you think?
Me?
I...
I tried to remember what I felt yesterday,
and I can't really explain it,
but Princess Takiri somehow felt different from the Princess Tagitsu
that we fought before.
Oodenta and Onimaru? Princess Tagitsu?
Chidori and Kogarasumaru...
It must be fate that keeps bringing us together.
I will destroy you this time!
I can see everything.
I won't let you!
Why do you protect Princess Takiri?
I will not allow you mere humans to come between us.
Kanami!
Princess Tagitsu!
Shidou-san?!
She disappeared?
This is...
What does this mean?
There's another one?
Shidou-san, wait!
Juujou...
Princess!
Don't concern yourself.
Chidori, hm?
There were hindrances. Prepare the pieces immediately.
Yes.
Princess Tagitsu has learned where Princess Takiri is.
Nee-sama...
Next Episode The Goddesses' Madness