Episode 32
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Nine.
Why...
Why, Seishuu...
Asano...
Why wasn't he with him?
Here.
Thank you.
We have to get him out of the way.
Wait, can you tell me what happened?
Who ran him over with a carriage?
I don't know.
But...
No one saw anything.
Hey, does anyone know what happened to this kid?
Forgive me, Seishuu...
Why did I have to trust Queen Kei?
I should've taken you to a doctor as soon as we arrived in Kei.
I should've...
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry, Seishuu...
Miss...
The gate is closing soon. You should get inside the town.
Leave me alone.
You shouldn't cry for yourself.
You're disrespecting his memory.
I realized that there are two reasons why someone cries.
Crying when you feel sorry for yourself is something a child does.
Did you know Seishuu?
I didn't know his name.
But everyone in Takuhou knows him now.
That's not true! I was told that no one saw what happened to him.
Well, nothing can be done about that.
Let's go inside.
You have to look ahead when you walk, otherwise you'll fall into the pit.
Into the pit?
The pit of self-pity.
You're right.
Thank you.
I'm Suzu.
You are...
I'm Sekki.
That's my brother over there, he's Koshou.
Will you take me to the town office?
I want to ask them if they found the carriage that ran over Seishuu.
You shouldn't mention it.
Why not?
I'm sure there are people who saw it.
You can't catch that bastard.
Bastard?
Who is he?
Everyone in this town knows that the Town Chief killed the traveling boy.
He was killed?
By a town chief?
The Town Chief, Shoukou.
He is the most dangerous man in the town of Shisui.
The boy stumbled in front of Shoukou's carriage and caused it to stop.
That's it?
For Shoukou, that's enough of a reason.
But Seishuu was very sick!
He could barely see.
He couldn't even walk straight...
I should've just carried him.
He was so light...
Don't hold a grudge against Shoukou.
Why not?
Because opposing Shoukou means you'll be killed by Shoukou.
You can stay here tonight.
And you should return to where you came from.
No, I won't! I have a friend.
We're going to avenge Seishuu's death together!
I knew it...
I shouldn't have told you about him.
Kokei
How horrible!
The carriage didn't stop, and no one even tried to stop them.
It was strange.
Oh, it must've been Shoukou.
What?
He is the Chief of Shisui.
I'm pretty sure it was him.
The Chief?
He is a beast who doesn't think of commoners as human.
It always worries me to think that I may get sent to Wa Province...
...especially to Shisui, when I turn twenty...
...not to mention the seventy percent tax.
It can't be!
The standard tax is supposed to be ten percent!
They say it's for the cost of building bridges...
...and a nominal charge for protection from Youma.
That adds up to seventy percent.
Ridiculous!
Those services are provided by the kingdom, besides...
I don't know why the Queen lets a guy like Shoukou dominate.
I never allowed such a thing!
These times are very difficult for the citizens...
...so taxes are supposed to be reduced to eight percent!
There is no point in getting angry.
Youko, even here in Hokui, the tax is thirty percent.
But this place is under the direct control of Keiki?
It does not matter how benevolent the person in charge is...
...if he cannot see what is going on.
One ruler cannot conduct all the affairs by herself.
From the seventy percent tax, forty percent goes to Gahou...
...who governs Wa Province, where the town of Shisui is located.
Shoukou is favored by Gahou.
But if that is true, it means that Gahou is disobeying the ordinance, doesn't it?
Then if we captured Shoukou, wouldn't Gahou have to admit it?
Most likely, Gahou would defend Shoukou, and keep him from being arrested.
It is the privilege of a provincial lord to judge the chief of a town.
Besides, Gahou and Shoukou are not the only officials who enrich themselves.
If you did arrest them, still...
But it's better than doing nothing!
What will you arrest them for?
I witnessed Shoukou killing a child!
I see...
However, are you certain you can really take him in?
What?
What if he says that it was not him in the carriage?
But I saw it!
The Queen herself is the witness.
Because you are Queen, if you abuse the law, the law loses its meaning.
That is far worse than doing nothing to stop the corrupt officials.
Um...
I regret what happened to Kaki...
However...
What is it?
It's nothing...
Because Suzu will cry...
I am such a helpless ruler...
Suzu...
Is it a name from Hourai?
It's an awfully big cemetery, isn't it?
What?
Not only the people of Takuhou...
...but also a lot of people from the neighboring villages are buried here.
Were they killed by Youma?
Some of them were.
But there is a beast who is more heinous than Youma.
Shoukou...
Right...
Shoukou hunts villages.
He attacks the village if they can't pay the seventy percent tax.
Women and children are taken away, and the rest are killed.
But if he keeps doing that, eventually there will be no one to work.
The strange thing is...
Once in a while, a group of people is brought to a deserted village.
They are probably refugees from other kingdoms.
That's awful...
Do you understand now? Shoukou is the ruler around here.
Is that why you're telling me to forget what he did to Seishuu?
Are you a craftsman?
Huh?
I am asking you if you could make more of this thing that you have.
Well...
...I know how it works but not the gunpowder...
I see.
I wanted to try it on my next hunt.
Hunting?
That's right.
The prey is people.
What? Can you do that in this world?
It is not allowed.
The teaching of the Heavens forbids oppression of the citizens.
However, it seems that the Heavens have yet to punish me.
I have committed every sin you could imagine.
The only sin I have not committed is, perhaps, killing a ruler.
But sooner or later...
How could one be so evil?
If the way of this world is truly just, then I am evil.
However, to my eyes, this world is itself evil.
A Kirin receives the revelation from the Heavens and chooses a ruler.
But is it really the will of the Heavens to choose a Kaikyaku as a ruler?
If they do not wish to oppress people...
...why do the Heavens give us queens to ruin this kingdom?
I will remain evil until the day the Heavens punish me...
So I have decided.
Well...
I don't know what's going on...
...but I don't want to be controlled by stupid rules anymore.
So I understand you want to do as you wish.
Do you not resent me anymore?
I don't know...
I don't even know if the people in this world are alive or dead.
This was the first time I saw a child die...
That's right!
Is it okay if I go back to the town once?
I had someone with me, and she must be worried...
And the kid is dead, so...
Gantou
I talked to the official. You can enter Kei with them.
Wow, thank you.
And here...
Take care.
Thank you.
Has Kei become so desolate?
Maybe we shouldn't have returned after all...
It's a queen again?
Queens are useless.
They are incompetent and will devastate the kingdom.
Hey, did you hear about the ship?
What ship?
About a ship transporting refugees from Tai.
Have you heard about it?
No.
I hear there are still ships transporting refugees to Kei from Tai.
Well, where is the place...
Oh I remember, it's Shisui!
The Town Chief sympathizes deeply with the refugees from Tai.
I heard that refugees will be provided with land and citizenship.
That sounds too good to be true.
You must be taken in by someone.
I've heard about it, too!
It was a rumor...
...but a man I met in Ryuu told me about the ship, too.
Shisui, eh?
I could give it a try.
There's no village for me to return to anyway...
What about yourself?
I was going to Gyouten, but I do need a job, so...
I think I'm going to the town, Shisui.
Has the Taiho also gone off somewhere, too?
He went to En to visit her Majesty to ask her to look over some papers.
There are some matters that still need her Majesty's consent.
Is her Majesty really in En?
There is a rumor that she had been abducted by Koukan.
It's a shame...
I have a feeling that I will never see her red hair again...
Anyway...
...about renewing the personnel in the Administration of Ceremonies...
Kokei
Youshi!
Welcome home, Keikei.
How was school?
Youshi, you have a visitor.
Huh?
It was a young man! He is waiting for you at Eika inn.
Was he from Takuhou by any chance?
I can't believe you'd forget about your "good" friend.
He said you'd know if I said your "servant" came by.
My servant?
I knew it was you.
Forgive me for asking you to come.
An absurd visit indeed.
Excuse me?
Forget it.
So, what brings you here?
I need your consent on these papers.
I see, that's why you're here.
You should've told me.
I don't carry around anything that reveals that I'm a ruler.
Well, I will leave them with you.
Fine.
And about the chief of the town of Shisui you asked me about...
You mean Shoukou?
It seems that he has a fairly bad reputation.
Nonetheless, the Lord of Wa Province often defends him...
...so he is never blamed for any crimes.
Your Majesty, do I smell blood on you?
I happened to be at the scene of an accident.
It does not feel like it's tainted with hate, but you must be careful.
I know.
There are rumors amongst the ministers in the palace that...
...you ran away from Koukan.
Is that something you came to ask me?
It doesn't matter who doubts me, because I doubt myself.
But that's why, even if the world is against you...
...you must have faith in me.
Because I have my total faith in you.
Yes, your Majesty.
Do you know if Enho is connected to Koukan?
That is...
Even if he is, Enho is still a great person.
So like I said, I trust you.
Enho told me something interesting.
Yes?
If your name starts with the same letter as the last ruler, you cannot succeed her.
Yo-Ou's name was Jyokaku.
So Jyoei could not be chosen as the new queen...
Correct.
I wonder if Koukan knew about this.
Perhaps that's why he didn't surrender to Jyoei's army.
I do not know...
Either way, I'm not going to run away from Koukan.
Takuhou
What are you talking about? He was lying right here yesterday!
You buried him, remember?
Did you see anything, Kakugo?
I did see a kid lying on the ground.
He was all skin and bones, I bet he starved to death.
Seishuu was sick, but he died because he was run over by a carriage!
But no one saw any carriage.
It was Shoukou's carriage!
The Chief stayed inside his castle all day yesterday.
He didn't use his carriage.
I'll ask Queen Kei to punish him.
Don't be ridiculous!
Queen Kei would never see someone like you.
What if she did?
If I get to meet Queen Kei, she will punish Shoukou for sure!
You should forget about it.
Why?
Everyone knows how cruel the Chief of Shisui is.
Why do you think he's still left unpunished?
Someone protects him?
Yeah, that's right...
Someone who's high up in Gyouten.
That's a lie...
It's not a lie.
The Lord Gahou was an awful lord, but...
...he kept bringing gifts to her Majesty, then he was given this Wa Province.
That's how it is.
I am so foolish...
Suzu!
Hey Suzu!
Asano?
Where have you been?
Seishuu is...
I know.
He's dead, isn't he?
I'm going to Gyouten.
Do you still want to meet Queen Kei?
You shouldn't bother, in fact, Queen Kei is...
I know, it's stupid, isn't it?
I can't believe I thought Queen Kei would actually help me.
What happened, Suzu?
I can't go with you anymore.
What?
You said that Queen Kei could be someone you know.
Then that would make you my enemy.
What do you mean?
Seishuu was killed, by that beast Shoukou.
And if Queen Kei doesn't punish Shoukou...
...that means she is also responsible for Seishuu's death!
I will never forgive them, both Shoukou and Queen Kei.
H-Hey...
Suzu!
Kokei
Why does Suzu want to go to Gyouten? That's so stupid...
Queen Kei had nothing to do with it, Seishuu was just destined to die there.
That's...
Keiki?
So, the man named Keiki...
You're saying that he is the one who brought you from Hourai?
What should I do?
If he is here, does that mean my game will end?
Or...
Keiki...
Why are you in Hokui?
I see...
Gyouten
Can you ride a bird?
No, I prefer something like a horse if it's possible.
Then a Sansui is perfect.
It's a horse with a blue coat. It doesn't jump that high...
...but you could jump over a river on it.
I'll take it.
Everyone says you can tame any Youjyuu with these Touki we have here.
Touki has an enchantment to hunt Youma, right?
That's right. Anyone you know hunt Youma?
One more thing...
I heard that you can slay Sen-nin with Touki...
Yeah, so people say, but...
I'll take this.
Excuse me, but I'm not allowed to sell these items to just anyone.
Here.
I'm traveling under the order of Queen Sai, and this knife is for my safety.
Seishuu, this is Gyouten...
There we'll find Queen Kei, who took your life...
I was counting the sands of time without realizing.
In a false dream I became speechless.
I would stare into the fire...
...as I swore to be true forever.
Let my prayers be heard, I will overcome hardship...
...and keep my oath until the end of the world.
Shoukei grabs a stone by her foot at that instant.
There are so many people here, why is no one stopping this?
The Twelve Kingdoms, episode 33.
Episode 33
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Ten.
A Great Distance in the Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Ten.