Episode 37
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Fourteen.
Was that a scream?
What's going on in the woods?
They aren't attacking...
But why?
Why do we need such a large force to handle a mere hundred rebels?
Excuse me.
What is it?
What?
Armed citizens have attacked the town castle?
I see, so this is a diversion...
We're done here!
We're returning to the town castle!
Will they be okay?
Yes, the enemy forces should be decreased by half.
You're pretty good.
You're not bad yourself.
For a woman, you're quite a fighter.
I suppose.
The throne must be won with blood.
To maintain the throne, blood must be shed, one way or another.
Suppressing rebellions, executing criminals, disposing of the false rulers...
...so King En said, too...
I don't want to be a coward anymore.
Your Majesty...
Let's split up.
We mustn't let Shoukou escape!
R-Right.
But on your own...
Good work.
Your friend is with the rest of the captives.
I see...
Should I take him to Kinpa Palace?
Wait...
He's my responsibility after all.
But I don't know what kind of damage it'll cause in the other world...
I cannot just bring forth a Shoku.
And if he's the one who shot Keikei...
Right now, there are other things I need to do.
Do you know where Shoukou is?
He is escaping with his bodyguards.
Stop him!
Shoukou!
Where is Enho?
If he's still alive, I'll spare your life for now.
Spare my life?
You think you can kill me?
Even the Heavens cannot punish me!
I've burned down villages!
I've killed innocent people!
I've killed women! I've killed children!
I have committed every single sin the Heavens forbid!
But the Heavens have not punished me!
Nor has the Queen!
And you think you can kill me?
Why did you get Asano involved?
In your foolish scheme!
Asano?
Are you a Kaikyaku?
Your Majesty!
I see you remember me.
But, why is Your Majesty fighting with the rebels?
Because I couldn't forgive your tyranny, or myself for being blind to it.
So this is how it ends!
The Heavens have been watching me after all...
...and sent Your Majesty to me...
I didn't come here by Heaven's will.
That's exactly why this is the will of the Heavens! And this is my punishment.
You are indeed a great ruler...
And you are to bring me to justice.
Now take my head.
Youshi!
Shoukou...
Where is Enho?
He is in Meikaku.
After all, he is a survivor from that Shoujyuku...
Gahou has been looking for him all this time.
So I offered Enho to him.
But he is alive, isn't he?
Now, take my head!
Let me feel the justice of the Heavens!
I understand your grudge, but just bear with it for now.
Why?
My father was killed merely because he couldn't pay his taxes!
Kill that bastard!
He is connected to Gahou.
We need him to expose all the corrupt officials of Wa Province!
But he is...
The soldiers should be returning from the safe house soon!
The provincial army as well!
There's no time for this now!
Let's go!
Suzu?
I know.
I have my own reasons, I'm not doing this for Seishuu.
You murdered a child in Takuhou!
I will never forget it.
Hey, this is the chance to liberate Takuhou!
They'll just send a new town chief...
...someone like Shoukou!
That's why we'll let them know that the people of Takuhou aren't all cowards.
Let's help the guys at the town castle!
You're the leader of this town, aren't you?
If you stand up, so will the townspeople!
Even if we defeat Shoukou, the provincial soldiers will move in.
If everyone in the town rises against them, they can't slaughter us all.
I have to protect my family!
It's no use, the people of Takuhou are nothing but cowards.
If we don't do anything...
Hey!
Koshou and the others are doomed.
Shoukou has probably been defeated.
No need to rush.
We will wait for reinforcements from Meikaku and attack from four sides.
There's about a thousand men...
Just like you guessed, only about half of them returned.
We'll have to hold out until sunrise.
How are the prisoners?
Fine.
They've lived in fear of Shoukou, but...
...now that they don't have to worry about his wrath...
...they're willing to become our prisoners.
Youko?
Suzu...
Asano?
Why are you here?
Youko brought me here.
Youko?
You know, the Kaikyaku with red hair.
Youshi?
Why were you on Shoukou's side?
He killed Seishuu.
I didn't know what I was doing.
I still don't know...
Stop it!
Youko told me the same thing.
So, what are you going to do now?
We were going to leave for Ei Province, but it looks like plans have changed.
Why?
There are still about fifteen hundred soldiers on the border.
If the townspeople in Takuhou had revolted...
...those soldiers would've return to Takuhou, and we could've escaped...
But at this rate, by the time we get to the border...
Do you have any allies?
This is all of us here.
A thousand people are all we could gather.
Actually...
...there are sympathetic people in Meikaku.
Are you talking about the guys at the Rokurin-En in Hokkaku?
What?
The guys who saved us from bandits before...
They said they were gathering people.
Yeah, they were strong...
Maybe they would join you guys.
But even on a Sansui, it takes a full day to get there.
Besides, the town is surrounded by provincial soldiers.
Shoukou gave me this.
He said I could pass any gates in Wa Province with this.
If you lend me your Kijyuu, I'll bring them here, I promise.
But this has nothing to do with you...
But if we don't do anything, Youko and you might end up dead...
...so I want to do it.
Asano...
Just one thing...
I want you to tell Youko something...
Hold it!
You're one of the rebels, aren't you?
I-I have been ordered by Lord Shoukou to go to Meikaku...
What? By Lord Shoukou?
I see...
It's a bit risky, but I forged a letter with Shoukou's seal, so...
...he should be able to pass the gate.
Besides, the general of the provincial army should be able to communicate with him.
I'm sorry for acting on my own.
It's okay.
You are his friend...
...so I thought maybe it would be hard for you to let him go, so...
But I don't think the rebels in Meikaku will make it in time.
We have to leave here by sunrise before the provincial army gets here.
To be honest, I'm not really counting on Asano.
I just hope he'll be able to escape safely.
He's the same as me...
Washed up here from the other world...
So at least, I wanted to save him.
Youshi, are you a Kaikyaku?
Yes.
You came here with Asano?
Yes.
Asano told me to tell you that...
...he shot a child.
He said he just couldn't bring himself to tell you.
I see...
Come on, just listen to me!
We serve the Minister of Military Affairs in the town castle.
We heard about the rebellion in Takuhou, and rushed back here.
Identify yourself.
I-I serve Lord Shoukou...
Here is the proof.
It's you, that Kaikyaku.
An official letter from Lord Shoukou?
Why are you carrying it?
I-I was delivering it to Meikaku on Lord Shoukou's orders...
Let me see the letter.
Um, but this letter is to Lord Gahou...
It's forged, as I suspected.
You probably got scared by the rebels and decided to run away, didn't you?
What a sorry trick.
You won't be of any use on the battlefield anyway.
Perhaps I could let you go this time...
Why don't you plead for your life?
Kneel before me, and beg for your life.
If you do, I will not report to Lord Shoukou that you tried to escape.
What's the matter?
Get on your knees.
Now, grovel and beg for your life!
Seishuu was killed!
Enough!
What's wrong?
I...
What are you going to do with that?
There must be some reason I'm here!
It's sunrise, let's go.
We just didn't have luck in this town, that's all.
At least we brought down Shoukou.
He'll be held responsible for all this.
That's good enough.
We'll take minimal supplies and go north.
To Ken Province?
But Ken Province has its own provincial soldiers, too.
If Gahou has sent an alert there...
There's no other way.
We've lost.
Now we have to think about allowing as many people as possible to escape.
I guess, the people in Takuhou were cowards after all.
Except for the people here!
That makes all of us the heroes of Takuhou, huh?
All right, let's put up a good fight and get the hell out of here!
Yeah!
It's Tenba!
That's the air cavalry from Meikaku! Why so soon?
Everyone, take cover!
They're good.
Fire the ballistas!
Damn, they're fast!
We can't hit them with the ballistas!
Use stone arrows!
Go find javelins, too!
Don't let her in!
Wait!
She's not an enemy!
I met her at Lou's!
I've met her in Meikaku before...
W-What's that?
Who are they?
A-Amazing.
Something's coming!
I can't believe it, people are showing up on all four sides!
That's not just a thousand or two...
Who the hell are they?
Are you Suzu?
I'm Kantai.
Shoukei's ally.
So are they your...
We got here before the provincial army.
There are five thousand of us.
But how did you get here so fast?
We left Meikaku two days ago.
What?
I bet the Shu-On of Takuhou will strike the town castle within a couple of days.
When they do, we're going to back them up.
And while we're at it, we'll take advantage of the situation ourselves.
What do you mean?
In order to overpower the Shu-On...
...Gahou will probably send the majority of the provincial army to Takuhou.
In other words, Meikaku will be defenseless in a day or two.
Then we are going to send an army in Meikaku, right?
Well, that's the plan, and...
I'll take care of Meikaku.
You want to go to Takuhou, don't you?
Am I that obvious?
I know you're fond of the people there.
Our goal is not necessarily to defeat Gahou.
We have to make her Majesty aware that there is corruption in Wa Province.
I should be able to cause a commotion big enough for that.
Please let me go to Takuhou as well, I have a friend there.
Can you ride a Kijyuu?
Yes, I can.
The remaining soldiers have surrendered.
The air cavalry has retreated.
But the main provincial army should be arriving here soon.
There may be a chance for you guys to escape right now, but...
...we need to keep the provincial army in Takuhou for a couple more days.
And you guys will strike Meikaku, huh?
There are always people who aim higher.
I never thought there was anyone trying to get Gahou.
We just want to make an impression on him.
We didn't think that you guys would actually take over this castle.
I couldn't do it by myself.
All of my people did their best.
So you've met Youshi before?
She saved me in Meikaku.
Thank you for helping me that time.
Well...
I wonder what happened to Asano...
Who is it?
We sent him to deliver a message to you.
He left last night, so you probably missed each other.
Is he a Kaikyaku by any chance?
Yes.
We've met him.
What?
What the...
Who the hell are you?
I've met him before!
Yes, he's that Kaikyaku...
Please, take me to Rokurin-En in Hokkaku...
I have to tell the people there to help the rebels in Takuhou...
What is he saying?
That's us.
Were you trying to get to us?
Don't worry, we're going to back them up, that's why we're here.
What?
Then why was I brought to this world?
I'm going to die for nothing, huh?
A-Asano...
We immediately sent him to Meikaku, I hope he's okay.
So he was stabbed because he wouldn't grovel to the minister?
Yes...
That's fine then.
Now there's something I have to do...
Youshi...
I know now...
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 and Suzu stare at the Dragon Flag and the Violet Banner of the army.
The only soldiers that can bear both flags are the imperial guard.
The Twelve Kingdoms episode 38...
Episode 38
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Fifteen.
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn, Chapter Fifteen.