How awful...
Those locusts must've eaten up all the rice before it was harvested.
Young Master.
I checked the neighboring villages.
How are they?
Some have had their fields overrun by rats.
All are suffering from some form of misfortune.
Some villages have even been struck by epidemics.
Those near the borders are hit the worst.
It seems to be spreading inwards.
Could it be the demons?
Because we couldn't kill him?
We must find out.
To the Hall of Hell.
Please, sir.
Could you spare a morsel of food for this child?
Is that good, Sakichi?
There's still more. Chew well now.
I promise you as the man who looks over this land.
I will never forsake you.
Betrayed this world
And it simmers within
Rupturing my innards
Swelling a reddish black
Until the sun burnt skin ruptures
There is a light in the depths of the seething darkness
Confirming each other's voices in the distance
As if to stroke with wet fingertips
I'd like to touch you one day
There is a light in the depths of the darkness
Confirming each other's voices in the distance
As if to stroke with wet fingertips
I'd like to touch you one day
#20 The story of the Nue
Wow! It's all bright red everywhere I look.
Dororo.
Oh yeah.
We're here to defeat a demon.
Seems like lots of people have been killed around here.
That's funny. I've been to the mountains in the fall before.
Why am I so amazed now?
Guess I was too busy trying to stay alive to notice when I was on my own.
I'm going to eat one too.
Is this for me?
For you, Dororo.
Bro got me some food...
There are four seasons, you see? Spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Right now, it's fall.
In the fall, the mountains turn bright red.
But not red like the color of demons, I don't think.
It makes you feel so great just gazing at it.
That's what you call "beautiful."
I only just learned about it, too.
You'll be able to see it some day. I know you will.
Not just mountains. Lots of beautiful stuff like the sun and clouds.
You're just nodding. Are you really listening?
I want to hear more. More of your stories.
Bro.
You've changed.
Yeah, you really have changed.
You're nothing like when I first met you.
I got a lot of stuff I want to tell you about, too.
But first, let's go beat that demon.
Looking for the demon?
Who are you?
Hey, relax.
I came to kill the demon, too.
I'm Dice-spot Saburota.
I've been hunting the demon for about 6 months now.
It's a pretty tough beast.
I've gone after it many times, with only this to show for it.
Why are you so fixed on killing it?
It ate my ma.
Right in front of my eyes.
Your mama, huh.
I'll never forget it.
It's like I've had an empty hole right here ever since that day.
Yeah...
Those arms. I see you've been through a lot with them, too.
Must've been pretty frightening.
Let's go, Dororo.
It comes here on certain days.
Today is one of them.
Don't worry, bro is really tough.
He'll avenge your mama.
Yeah, glad to hear that.
It's coming.
What the heck? Its body...
It's a jumble of animal parts.
Demon!
Go away!
Bro!
What the heck are you doing?
I see you're pretty good.
Why are you siding with the demon?
Didn't it kill your mama?
Killing the demon won't bring Ma back.
So I'm taking others' lives away instead.
I let this guy eat up everyone that passes through here.
They all cry and plead for help.
It's only then that I don't feel empty in here.
You...
Something is strange at the Hall of Hell.
One of the demon statues lets out something like a heartbeat now and then.
It's faint, yet distinct.
I felt it, plain as day, when the Goddess's head was smashed.
That among the 12 demons, there was one that failed to eat my son.
Now that the Goddess of Mercy is cracked, your deal has been broken off.
The days of prosperity for this land are over.
...Dororo.
Bro...?
Oh yeah, we fell from that cliff.
That guy...
Dororo.
It's nothing. I'll get up.
I can't.
Dororo.
Don't worry, it'll come out in time.
No, below you.
You can't with those arms, bro.
I will.
We're almost there, Ma.
Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach the doctor.
I'm sorry for putting you through this, Saburota.
I'll make a name for myself with this some day.
And we won't have to sell pelts anymore.
I'll make a good living for us.
Oh, Saburota.
Saburota...
The next one.
I'll bring another.
Or should I feed myself to it?
No, you'll break your arms.
You need them.
Don't worry, I'll find my way out of this.
Dororo.
Move over a bit, son.
You're okay now.
I thought I heard a familiar voice.
I'm glad I made it in time.
You want a body?
I do.
Why?
Because it's mine.
Bro...?
You're alive?
Demon...
So, you have an empty hole here too, eh?
But give it up.
Saburota...
Saburota!
What's that...!
He left her to die, all alone.
Acting like a samurai all the time, but what a coward.
I couldn't help it...
I couldn't, I couldn't...
Let's go, Saburota.
We'll get revenge.
S-Save me!
Huh.
It's the same for everyone.
No!
Why? Why don't you run for your life?
Aren't you scared? Scream!
Cry! Beg for your life!
I...
I wanted to be like you...
But...
It's too late now.
Bro...
I see.
Give it back.
You're...
Give it back.
You're not human. That's why...
It's just like with the ghost fox.
He beat a demon, but isn't getting any body parts back.
Oh dear...
-Give it back! -Stop it, bro!
It's my body!
No, this isn't right.
Young Master.
What the...?
Please bro, stop...
Bro?
Where are you going?
Daigo.
That's where my body is.
Wait, bro!
One cannot escape one's fate.
Such a heavy burden.
Is it his fate to bear it?
Born into this world
There is no salvation
The distorted shape of the heart
Yet it beats courageously
There is no turning back
Even from the path of evil
Witnessing the withering seasons
We search for the truth
In our ugliness
We don't even recognize the pain
As we peel back the skin
We are forever tormented by our stupidity
But if the dawn never comes
Through the painful night
You who distrusts nothing
You will be able to love this accursed world
Now that we carry the world on our shoulders
It's time to take it back
"Nue"