Takuhou
Suzu attempted to assassinate Shoukou...
...but was stopped by Koshou and his brother Sekki.
She then decided to join their movement.
Meikaku
When Shoukei witnessed a man being executed for a...
...petty crime in the capital town of Wa Province, Meikaku...
...she threw a stone at the soldiers and ended up being chased.
Meanwhile, Youko learned that the lord of...
...Wa Province, Gahou, had been running a despotic regime.
Episode 34
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Eleven.
Meikaku
Y-You!
Let go!
It's Youma!
An unpleasant smell is in the air.
It does seem to be coming from your Majesty...
I'm sorry.
I had Hankyo carry an injured man.
Just like you said, Meikaku is filled with the smell of blood.
Go to Kokei with my men.
I want you to visit the Rike the Taiho visited.
There are Sen-nin among my men, so you can communicate with them.
None of my men knows what her Majesty looks like.
What a brave girl you are, throwing a stone at soldiers.
I am Kantai.
I work as something like a mercenary in Meikaku.
I'm Shoukei.
So you are a mercenary?
Yeah, there are a lot of robberies around here, so I protect goods for money.
My friends and I rent this place.
We're a bunch of savages here...
...so a pretty girl like you will liven this place up.
But is it really okay?
To harbor me here like this.
I also have many questions about the way they do things here.
What do you mean?
The tax here is seventy percent, and the mandatory public labor is very hard.
If you try to oppose them...
...you'll be crucified...
Sorry, I haven't even offered you tea yet.
Geez, everyone usually eats out, so...
To thank you for letting me stay, I'll clean up this place.
I appreciate it.
Frankly, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.
You must've been born to a rich family.
Are you really a mercenary?
So, where are you trying to go, coming all the way from Hou?
The town of Shisui.
Shisui?
I heard that I could get land and citizenship in Shisui.
They are also helping the refugees from Tai...
Right?
I don't know if that's true.
But you shouldn't go there.
Why not?
Like I said the tax of Wa Province is seventy percent...
...but actually in other towns, they can barely collect fifty percent tax.
But there's one town that will collect exactly seventy percent tax.
And that's Shisui.
The Chief of the town of Shisui, Shoukou...
...is a beast who is supported by the Lord of Wa Province, Gahou.
If they're accepting refugees in Shisui...
...that's because the town's population is decreasing.
In Shisui, if you are short of even one percent...
...your entire family will be executed.
Not only that...
...sometimes an entire town gets burned down in one of Shoukou's raids.
But...
...I've already told other people about Shisui...
What is the new queen of Kei doing?
The Queen is useless.
The rumor is that she's letting the ministers run the Royal Court.
Just like the last ruler did.
Why does no one say anything to the Queen?
Someone must make her realize what's going on.
Even if she's just unaware about this...
...in the end, she's going to have to pay for her sins.
Ignorance isn't an excuse!
You said you came from Hou, right?
Yes...
But I heard Queen Kei is about the same age as I am, so I feel connected...
Someone must let her know that what being a ruler means.
How?
She is all the way back in Kinpa Palace.
You're right...
If there's a fire in Wa Province, it may get her attention.
What?
If a rebellion arose in Wa Province, and caused a fire...
...she might look for the kindling around her.
I don't know...
...but we have to do something about Wa Province.
I agree.
There you are.
Hello.
You are...
He's one of us.
You mean he's a mercenary?
Or...
May I introduce you to everyone else?
Sure.
Takuhou
We don't have a name for our group.
But if you ever get into trouble, look for the ones with this ring.
And ask them where they come from like this...
If they say they're from Shikin, San Prefecture in Baku, they're on our side.
You tell them you are Otsuetsu from Roushou.
What does that mean?
Hundreds of years ago, during the reign of Tatsu-Ou...
...there was a Hisen called Roushou.
Tatsu-Ou invited him into the Royal Court when he was teaching in a village.
But he disappeared shortly after that.
His name was Otsuetsu...
Well, I'm not sure if he really existed.
Is Shoukou your only target?
No, I want to drag out the bigger game who's behind him.
You mean Queen Kei?
God no! I'm talking about the provincial lord.
He bought Wa Province with a bribe.
And the Queen supports Gahou...
That's what some people say...
And that she fired the Lord of Baku, and let Gahou free.
What?
The Lord of Baku was beloved by the citizens.
When the false queen appeared, while the other lords supported her...
...he resisted until the very end.
And he was still dismissed?
While Gahou and Shoukou go unpunished?
She just took the throne, so some people say she needs some time...
She is no different from the last Queen.
Hey...
You weren't thinking about doing something to the Queen, were you?
I can't forgive myself...
...so perhaps I'm taking it out on Shoukou.
Still, we have to do something about Queen Kei and Shoukou...
Don't you agree?
To be honest, I don't know.
Shoukou and Gahou might have some value to the kingdom...
...and maybe there's a reason for the dismissal of the Lord of Baku.
But...
...it's difficult, especially when I think about him...
Difficult?
My brother, Sekki...
He's very smart.
He could become an official if he wanted.
But when he got a recommendation to a higher school...
...I couldn't be happy for him at all.
What would he do when he became an official?
Would he be working for Shoukou?
Would he be supporting Gahou?
Sekki didn't want to be like that, either.
It makes you angry when you hear about an innocent kid who was killed.
It's so infuriating and frustrating, I can't stop thinking about it.
There are things you want to forget but you can't.
There are times when you want to feel happy about but you can't.
I just hate feeling like that.
You're born to live the fullest, right?
You want to be glad that you're born, right?
But you won't be as long as Shoukou is around...
No, I won't.
If I could just punch him down and solve the problems, I would.
But if we really want to get rid of Shoukou, we need a lot of people like us.
If he still won't change, I'll chop off his head if I have to.
Maybe what I'm trying to do is outrageous...
...but I just can't take it anymore.
I know how you feel.
You do?
I thought it would be easy to spot a new grave, but...
Is it the child who was ran over by Shoukou?
I didn't know crucifixions were still done in Kei.
Crucifixion?
People get executed for small crimes in Shisui.
There are so many things that neither you nor I know about in Kei.
I need to check out something.
I'm going back to Takuhou.
I will come with you.
No, there are people who might recognize your face.
Your Majesty...
I know, I should return to Gyouten as soon as possible.
But if I say I won't go back until I've become wise, I'll probably never be able to return.
I've realized that I just don't know that much.
Is that right?
I really needed to see the kingdom for myself.
I just wanted some kind of closure...
...not as a ruler, but for myself.
Ei Province
You go in first.
And tell them you come to visit her Majesty.
Yes.
Welcome...
Oh, it's you.
You're...
...Suzu, right?
Thank you for trying to help Seishuu the other day.
Seishuu!
Well...
He was originally from Kei.
He came back here because the new Queen ascended the throne.
My name is Suzu Ooki.
What's yours?
Youshi.
Are you alone here today?
There was a tall man and a boy named Sekki here last time.
Oh, Koshou?
That's strange, he was just here...
Are you here to see them?
No, don't worry about it.
I came from Sai.
The Queen of Sai was such a nice person.
I feel sorry for a kingdom that isn't blessed with a good ruler.
I don't understand why Queen Kei is letting such a horrible chief or lord rule.
She is a puppet.
What?
She's ignorant, so she cannot do anything on her own.
She just has to do whatever the ministers tell her to do.
Is that true?
I mean that's the rumor.
There's also a rumor that Queen Kei is supporting Shoukou.
While she was letting the Lord of Wa loose, she dismissed the Lord of Baku.
But from what I heard, the Lord of Baku was a very good lord.
He was well liked by his people.
But he was somehow fired by Queen Kei...
I have to go.
Is something wrong?
No, I just remembered something...
Oh...
You were here?
Is she checking on us?
What?
We've been gathering Touki weapons.
Maybe she knows.
Suzu.
Would you go to Lou's and pick up goods again tomorrow?
We should move out of here soon.
She didn't look like a bad person, though...
But she isn't an ordinary person, either.
Kokei
I wonder when Youshi is coming back...
She'll be back soon.
Do you think Youshi is going to get married?
I don't know about that...
...but she's here for now.
Right!
Who would've thought you'd be hiding out in a place like this.
Enho!
You look familiar...
You were there the day Shoujyuku was burned down...
Get him!
What are you doing?
He speaks my language, maybe I could ask him about Queen Kei...
He is a felon.
We're taking him to Takuhou.
The Chief of Shisui has been looking for him for a long time.
What's the matter?
Kill them.
They oppose Queen Kei.
Kill them.
He hates us Kaikyaku...
Run!
What are you doing to Enho?
Stop it!
Keikei!
Capture him, too.
Rangyoku, run!
Don't move!
I-Is he dead?
I see...
Why would you have to do such a horrible thing?
Because this world is trying to kill me...
I'm going to save Queen Kei, and go back to my world...
Are you a friend of Youko?
Youko?
Did you say Youko?
What are you guys talking about?
Stop talking!
No...
No way...
Keikei...
Enho...
Why does she have this?
Youshi?
Youshi...
Help...
Help us...
Save the people of Kei...
Your Majesty, what happened in Takuhou?
Keiki, what is the Lord of Baku, Koukan, like?
You should know more about him than I do.
I'm asking you because I don't.
You dismissed him without knowing him?
I heard that the people loved Koukan.
So I have heard as well.
Why didn't you tell me if you knew?
If I supported Koukan, people would have said I was just being merciful.
You trusted the ministers more than you trusted me, did you not?
I have already told you that...
...Koukan was not the kind of man to plan an usurping.
Why would you ask about him again now?
What did you think of Koukan?
He seemed a very respectable man.
Then why didn't you...
If I did, would you have made a different decision?
Forget it.
Your Majesty, are you upset with me?
I'm just angry with myself.
Gahou was the first to bring up the suspicion of Koukan.
There was no evidence that Koukan was part of the assassination plot, either.
I'm sorry I got upset with you.
Huh?
I just took it out on you.
I should have explained myself better.
No, I should've listened to you.
I'm sorry.
So who is Enho really?
I heard from the Lord of Baku that he is a man of wisdom.
However, someone was after Enho, so I was asked to hide him in Ei Province.
I see...
What's the matter?
Blood...
I smell blood...
Rangyoku!
Keikei!
He's still breathing.
Take him to Kinpa Palace!
Kaiko!
Take him to Kinpa Palace with Hyouki.
Keikei told me that he saw suspicious men...
I thought those men were after me...
Why...
Keiki, go back to Kinpa Palace.
Your Majesty...
You shouldn't be here.
Take care of Keikei.
Where is Enho?
He is nowhere to be found.
Not even his body.
Was he captured?
And the girl is already...
Rangyoku!
Rangyoku?
Is that...
You tried to hide it from them, didn't you?
Did they know?
I'm sorry...
There's no need for you to apologize.
Why would you be sorry?
Please forgive me...
I'm such a useless queen.
I'm so sorry...
I'm not going to let anyone else die anymore...
Enho, Keikei...
I will save them no matter what.
Takuhou
What's that?
At this hour...
It's Shoukou.
Shoukou can open the gate after dark.
He must've come back from another "hunt."
He probably killed more children...
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.
I want to tell to the Queen in Gyouten.
She is the only hope of the citizens.
The Twelve Kingdoms, episode 35.
Episode 35
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Twelve.