Good morning, Mother!
Good morning, Milady.
Good morning.
Good morning, Father.
Sisters, you returned home?
I came because I wanted to talk to you about something.
It's about...
Can't you do something about that outfit of yours already?
What do you mean by "that outfit"?
Those garments which gentlemen should be wearing.
It's a requirement for soldiers to wear this, though.
At this rate, your heart and soul will become those of a man.
Elice is just concerned what your fiancÃ© might think if he sees you like that.
There are no differences between men and women in the army-
How long do you plan on playing your army games?
The Malvin family prides itself on its military tradition,
so it is all but natural I hold a commission in the army.
The war has come to a close for some time, Alice.
The real struggle has just begun.
Because of the war damages,
the land and the people living there are impoverished.
The Imperial Army S.S. III brings relief to the land and-
That's enough about that cheery unit of yours.
There are much more suitable posts for nobles.
With all due respect, Father,
I take pride in myself from Section III's mission of bringing war relief!
It has always been the duty of the nobility to safeguard and guide the people.
I have taken the lead and immersed myself amongst the people...
...and have spared no effort in accomplishing that duty.
We nobles should try to bring down the barriers between us and the people.
Bring down the barriers, eh?
Yes.
What a shallow thought.
Father?
I...
Look at the table.
Hearing what you just said when you are being served bread every day in these impoverished times...
...that sounds even more shallow.
What? The LT isn't here yet?
Yes.
You're kidding me.
I should've taken my time coming here then.
Yeah, I'm sure you would've been able to take care of that kiss mark if you'd done that.
But man, that stubborn head is actually late...
Rare things do happen.
Well, maybe something happened.
I'm worried!
The Lieutenant isn't a habitually late person like you, Oreld-san.
Watch what you're saying!
Who are you calling a habitually late person?
You little...
My apologies for being late!
Alice-san, what happened?
Did you run all the way from your house?
Of course.
Commoners do not have carriages that bring them to work and back home.
Here, have a cup of water.
Thank you.
Do commoners drink water?
Of... Of course we do!
She's saying weird things again.
This tastes delicious.
I never thought water would be so delicious.
Something must've happened to her.
My apologies for being late.
We have a mission.
The location is the southern part of the Empire - the Su-13 Tunnel.
We've been asked to repair this tunnel after its collapse during the war.
...we are part of the State Section, right?
Yeah?
But now, they're telling us to drill a hole with this?
What's the meaning of all this?
Restoring the transportation system is crucial to the revival of the nation.
In turn, the profit gained will benefit the country.
Exactly!
The restoration of the rail tracks,
a very fitting job for Section III!
It's a good opportunity!
We'll be doing hard labor, too!
Aren't we supposed to tell the local contractors what to do?
No, if we can work with pickaxes together,
I'm sure we would be able to appreciate each other more.
That's what you think aswell, right, Corporal?
Y-Yeah...
Did you hear that?
N-No... I...
You didn't eat anything?
I ate a little...
I ate...
Are you fasting or something?
Can't we take care of all this with the shield train?
Just charge right in and...
It looks like it could collapse any moment.
It will cave-in if we do anything reckless.
So we need to reinforce the sidewalls and the ceiling first...
Hold it right there, kiddo!
Quit squirming already!
Let go!
What's the matter?
I said let me go!
He appears to be from a nearby village.
He was caught stealing some rations for our workers.
It's only a little!
The army gets all the good things to eat!
You little rascal, you scratched me!
Are you trying to inflict violence on civilians, huh?
Stop talking so arrogantly, you thief!
Wait.
Eat it up properly.
LT?
Neechan?
I have a favor to ask of you.
Could you take me to the leader of your village?
I would like to contract some workers for this construction.
What's your name?
Peter.
What about you, Neechan?
Alice.
We refuse.
Come on, Dad!
You said we needed work because we had a bad harvest!
No means no.
The opening of the tunnel should be profitable for this village, too!
Yet, why are you-
Five years ago...
This place was turned into a battlefield, too.
The battle destroyed all the crops,
and the tunnel crumbled due to explosions.
Then, just like today, we were commissioned for the restoration of the tunnel.
Oh, we worked with all our hearts...
...because we were promised enough money for the village to prosper for a whole year.
With that money, we wouldn't have to be hungry anymore.
Finally, we finished the construction...
...while paying a dear price.
We never got our money though.
There was a loophole in the contract.
The money meant to be our ray of hope...
...was replaced with the "privilege" of being exempted from military draft.
Oh, I am so thankful!
Thanks to that, twelve from this village died from famine or disease instead of bullets that year.
I won't let you say that's a small number.
This kid is the only kid that's still alive from that.
But, Alice isn't that kind of a person!
Quiet!
Don't be interfering with the problems of grown-ups, kid!
But Dad...
Apparently it crumbled again around the time of the ceasefire,
but that's none of our business.
We're not going to work for nothing anymore.
Things will be fine this time.
The renumeration has been properly stated on the papers.
When?
When are we getting paid?
Umm, it's...
...one month after construction has begun...
Forget it.
I can't trust that at all.
Yo, man...
Yeah?!
Couldn't you trust us?
Oh, right! We'll work together with you!
We will eat the same things and work the same times.
We're prepared to go through the same joy and pain as you all.
Let the people and the army join forces in times of hardships?
Out of the question.
Neechan.
Is preaching those dreamy ideas all you can do?
This kid here can do the same thing.
Go home.
Ahh, we're not trusted at all.
The gap between us is very large...
LT?
I must advance the construction progress even by a little.
I understand how you feel,
but you won't accomplish anything by yourself.
Then you guys help me, too!
Shouldn't have said that...
This is all because of what you said, yo.
Food is ready.
I don't need any!
You should eat something.
Yeah, food, food.
You know the saying "can't fight a war on an empty stomach"-
You think I can eat?!
Especially after hearing their story?!
So, since this morning...
So many people are suffering from hunger...
...yet for the past eighteen years, I have taken my food for granted.
I am a fool...
Lieutenant...
But still...
Wow, what's this machine?
Hey, kid!
Don't touch anything without our permission!
Hey, pops!
Is this a tank?
Who are you calling "pops"?
Besides, it's all because of your dad that we're in trouble-
Don't blame it on the child!
LT...
Does this look like a tank, Peter?
Alice!
This thing is awesome!
A mega-drill!
It's called a shield train.
It travels in front of the foot soldiers...
...and was developed to destroy barbed wire and sandbags.
So, it's like a tank?
It's different.
Right now, it's just a machine for drilling tunnels.
It'll be a problem for you if the tunnel doesn't reopen, right?
Your superiors will scold you and...
Kids shouldn't worry about that.
I'll be fine.
Since you came all the way here, eat this before you go.
But this is your lunch, right?
Don't worry; just eat it.
Okay then... I'm digging in!
Yummy!
This is the first time I've eaten something this good!
That's nice.
Alice, you're not hungry?
Don't worry about me.
I ate enough...
Even when you guys were struck with hunger...
Alice, don't worry about what Dad said.
The villagers didn't really care about that either,
but they just found a place to unload,
and that's why they were all worked up.
No, your father was admirable.
He can't say yes easily for the sake of the village.
But-
Besides, it seems as though your father couldn't trust me more than the Empire.
Alice!
Pardon me...
Let me be by myself...
Leave that over there when you're done eating, okay?
I'll help out if you guys need it!
Okay?!
I am a noble...
...but an inferior one!
I lived through my life ignorant...
...of the suffering of the people!
He must have seen that in me.
I...
Grandfather, Grandfather!
What is it, Alice?
Don't you get lonely living in such a big mansion by yourself, Grandfather?
But you're here right now.
Besides...
What?
Nobles are all somewhat lonesome.
Lonesome...
Why...?
I don't know.
It seems like I...
...fell asleep...
...something soldiers should not...
Your dinner.
I said I don't need it.
Do you want to collapse again?
My determination is very strong-
Th-This is because you're showing it to me!
Take it away!
This country is wretched.
Everyone is suffering from the disease known as "war damage".
"War damage" is the disease.
"People" are the patients.
I guess Section III plays the part of the "doctor".
Lieutenant.
Do patients want doctors to endure the same disease as them?
Patients do not necessarily want others to understand their pain and suffering...
Nor do they want to be friends with the doctors.
They just want to be saved; that's it.
Even though that's kind of an empty way of thinking...
You know...
This smells good.
Please eat, then.
Gathering us all together this early in the day...
I told you guys to go home!
What now?
You're gonna use force after we won't just do as you want?
Now we know your real intentions.
Although the handle makes it look like a military sword...
Behold!
The Emperor's Seal that was bestowed upon me,
the treasured sword of the Malvin family, one of the Thirteen Appointed Families!
The proof of the next master of the family - "the Successor"!
The Thirteen Families?
Those special nobles that are allowed to attend the Imperial Assembly?
A young girl like her?
No matter how high of a person you are-
I swear an oath by this Successor.
The renumeration for your work five years ago and this time...
I swear I will make the army pay it to you,
even if it means putting my family's house up for auction!
I don't like how you're wielding your authority,
but you seem more trustworthy than yesterday, at least.
Then-
LT, we've got a problem!
That kid got on the shield train by himself and...
Why didn't you stop him right away?!
Well, I heard a loud noise, and when I woke up, the entrance was already...
I'll help out if you guys need it!
Peter...
Lieutenant, what are you doing?!
I'm going to go in and stop the shield train.
That's crazy!
You'll be buried alive!
He's my son!
I'm going!
Silence!
We are the Pumpkin Scissors!
This is our task!
Damn it!
Whoa...
She's some woman...
That's a noble?
It's too dangerous!
Civilians must stay outside-
Didn't you say that the people and the army should join forces in times of hardships?
Hurry!
Peter!
Alice! Dad!
Are you all right?
Stop the engine now!
This place is going to collapse!
I... can't... move...
Peter!
Watch out!
Are you all right?
Forget about me.
Get my son!
The collapse stopped?
Alice...
Thank God, you're all right.
I'm... I'm sorry...
I... just... wanted to help you...
Don't worry.
Everything's okay now.
You stupid kid.
Dad!
I've got bad news.
I can't see sunlight anymore.
We're completely trapped inside.
Can't we get him out at least?
Don't worry; my subordinates will come and get us out.
That's some confidence you have in them.
And you sure are an idiot.
You're a very well-off person,
yet you're doing something that puts your life at risk.
It's precisely because I'm well-off...
...that I must throw away my life in certain situations, as well.
And I thought you nobles never treated us like humans even though you can say that whitewash.
There was a cave-in incident five years ago also.
They abandoned us back then and ran away.
That's why I hate nobles.
I am sorry.
But if you weren't a noble,
you probably wouldn't have done something this stupid.
It's starting again...
Looks like we won't be saved in time.
No, they will come for us.
The time has come.
Careful!
Run!
A blue light?
It's him!
W-We're saved?
Yeah.
There's nothing to worry about anymore.
Oh, they're doing their job, all right.
Although it may have been an accident, it showed these people that the LT was serious.
Well, this is all thanks to us leaving our posts.
Weren't you sleeping?
We went on a little piss break.
No wonder...
That was such a big mistake on my part...
Hey, the three of you over there!
Pick up your axes once you're done eating!
We shall be working together with them!
No, umm...
Shouldn't we just stand tall here?
Our prestige won't fall just because we're doing hard work!
Doesn't she seem energetic...
Hurry up!
Soldiers should eat their meals as quickly as possible!
Yes, sir...
Did she stop fasting or something?
I will save this Empire from this disease called "war damage"!
Mer-kun, remember that tank Section III confiscated last episode?
It looks like there's something special about that tank,
and something bad is about to happen.
Next time, "The Deteriorating Portrait".
Come get us if you're not scared!