King En, do you believe that Atsuyu should have been king?
Perhaps. I don't really know.
But I do believe that Atsuyu just wanted to be a good leader.
In his heart, there was no contradiction.
Rather I should say that he didn't have any doubts in his beliefs.
Episode 44
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West, Final Chapter
Ganboku
Gen Province
It has already begun to rain in Kankyuu...
It's just a matter of time.
The water's getting higher, isn't it?
But this isn't too bad.
Maybe we don't have to worry about anything this year.
Found him?
No sir, he is nowhere to be found.
Okay, you go search for him on the upper floors one more time.
And you, come with me.
He's probably lost.
The Kirin is an idiot, you see.
What do you mean by that?
Because a Kirin is just a cross between horse and deer.
Quit joking around. You're the idiot.
All right, let's go.
Sir, this little brat...
I mean, is this boy the one we're looking for?
What?
I probably shouldn't have come out, huh?
Taiho...
Taiho, I'm so glad that you're safe.
You had everyone worried.
Lord Atsuyu and all other officials have been worried sick.
I got lost when I was looking for Kouya.
You take the Taiho back with great care.
Yes, sir.
My feet hurt. I can't walk.
Carry me on your back.
Well, let us go then, Taiho.
Don't make me worry like that.
Commander, we have found the Taiho!
It seems that he got lost.
How is he?
I don't know. It looks like he's about to drop dead.
Take him to his room quickly.
He is not well.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Kankyuu, Sei Province
It looks like it's starting to come down pretty hard out there.
Yes.
I should've gone to Ganboku as well...
It's killing me to wait for news from so far away.
But I wonder if we made the right choice.
We're depending on that fool...
Let's have faith in him and wait for now.
Have faith and wait, huh?
Ganboku
Gen Province
Rokuta.
How are you feeling? Are you in pain?
I'm fine.
But you...
Rokuta?
Kouya, you reek of blood.
You've killed someone, haven't you?
I didn't smell blood on you when I saw you before.
It's a state of emergency.
If Rokuta turned against my Lord, I would kill you too.
Why would he order you to kill someone?
You used to hate killing...
You told me that when we first met.
I tell him not to eat people, but he doesn't listen to me...
But Atsuyu orders you to kill.
It doesn't bother me anymore.
Besides, that was a long time ago.
I serve Lord Atsuyu now...
...so if he wants me to kill someone, I will... no matter who it is.
Kirins are the same, right?
You follow the king's orders no matter what...
Shouryuu would never order me to kill.
You don't know what people are capable of!
It's the same with your master.
I wouldn't make him do that.
It'd be easier to do it myself.
King En...
You must be Kouya.
It looks like you really are Rokuta's friend, so I'm going to ask you this...
Will you let him go?
He's nothing but trouble, but the people would suffer without him.
Without a Kirin, you'd lose your way. Is that it?
No, I'd have to listen to all the nagging ministers without him.
Why did you come to Gen Province?
Are you after Lord Atsuyu?
Stop it!
If you hurt Shouryuu, I'll never forgive you.
Why are you defending the king now?
I've pledged my loyalty to him!
It's the same with me. I serve Lord Atsuyu.
I like you, Kouya.
But while you smell of blood, I can't even get close to you.
It can't be helped.
Just like you want to protect Shouryuu, I want to protect Atsuyu.
That's how you protect Atsuyu? By killing people?
If Atsuyu asks you, is it okay to kill?
Is it okay to raise an army and revolt?
Even if it destroys the kingdom?
Do you want to create more orphans like you?
I don't care about anyone else.
Why does it upset you when people die?
What's the tragedy if the kingdom falls?
People die eventually.
Every kingdom falls into ruin someday.
It doesn't matter how hard you try to stop it, because you can't.
I don't care as long as Atsuyu is happy.
Are you afraid to let the kingdom fall?
Are you scared of devastation and death?
You want to know how you can be free from all that fear?
Let everything be destroyed.
You don't care if Atsuyu dies along with it?
If that's what Atsuyu wants, then so be it.
Give me a break.
You don't care if the kingdom falls into ruin?
You say you don't care whether the people die or not?
You are one of my people...
...and if you say such things, what am I supposed to do?
This is your kingdom too.
Atsuyu isn't the only one you have left.
This kingdom belongs to you as well.
What good can a king do without his people?
I could become king only because my people entrusted the kingdom to me.
And now one of my citizens tells me to let the kingdom fall.
Then what purpose do I have here?
I've lost my land once.
I should've died along with my people then, but I didn't...
Because I was told there was a kingdom that needed me.
I was put here to provide a prosperous kingdom for you, Kouya.
I'm not...
I'm not so naive I'd believe a story like that.
Kouya!
I'm going to forget the conversation we just had.
Kouya!
You bastards!
Go back to the village and tell everyone.
That the provincial army is trying to destroy the embankment.
Everyone listen!
We're going to protect our embankment!
I have a message!
The provincial army of Gen has engaged the citizens in the North.
Take the field!
Defend the embankment and the people!
Taiho!
What are you doing here?
I want to go back to Kankyuu.
Forgive me, but I cannot let you do that.
I smell blood in every corner of this castle.
I can't rest in here.
I understand, however...
By the way, Atsuyu... why have you imprisoned your own father?
I heard that Genkai had fallen ill...
...and that he retired, giving you full authority. But he seemed fine.
Imprisonment is a little different from retirement, don't you think?
My father is very ill, if the man you saw did not seem so, then...
...he must not have been my father.
Then who was that in the inner palace?
That would be my father, however...
Why did you have to chain up your father?
Well, that is...
Did you all know about this?
You said you wanted to do the right thing, didn't you?
Do you consider kidnapping and imprisonment the right thing to do?
I did not come up with the idea of bringing the Taiho here...
It was Kouya!
It certainly wasn't my idea.
Please, you must forgive me.
I truly did not know about my father.
I will send my men to investigate...
They'll find out who did such a cruel thing to my father immediately.
My Lord!
What have you done?
Why did you give the order to break the embankment?
What are you trying to do?
Hakutaku, stand down!
It's the citizens who will decide if you are just.
Why do you not understand?
It's the citizens who are fighting our Provincial Army!
What?
Oh mother!
The Royal Army is here!
Build an embankment on Rokusui river, and see what Atsuyu will do, huh?
He's not as stupid as he acts.
The men who heard the rumor started leaving the castle.
It's over for us, my lord.
I suggest you all leave here as well.
Surrender to the Royal Army and confess your crimes...
...and ask for his Majesty's mercy!
Hakutaku!
You're the traitor who's turning against the Heavens!
You convinced us to trust you...
...and once the situation turns sour, you abandon us all?
Same goes to you all.
You all wished for the embankment, didn't you?
Or perhaps that was all your doing.
I would never wish for this to happen, my Lord.
You are nothing but a traitor.
You ungrateful bastard!
You knew how much I cared for my people, and you took advantage of it.
Not only did you betray us, but you put blame on someone else?
Perhaps it was my fault for not being able to see it.
Kouya. Take this traitor away.
My Lord...
Taiho. I shall accompany you to Kankyuu.
I would like to personally report this to his Majesty...
...and leave this matter to his Majesty's discretion.
I'm going back to Kankyuu.
I don't need an escort.
I'll explain the truth to his Majesty by myself.
Hakutaku, you must've plotted this with his Majesty and the Taiho.
I see it now...
You knew you could be killed, yet you requested to go to Kankyuu alone.
More strangely, you returned alive...
His Majesty must have been jealous of my popularity among the citizens.
He isn't that kind of man.
As if you would know!
He isn't like you!
You're mere dirt compared to Shouryuu!
Well that's nice to hear.
Just so you know, I didn't mean it as a compliment.
Who are you?
Naotaka Komatsu.
Also known as Shouryuu, King En.
What?
No one moves.
Kouya, you too.
Trying to overthrow the king is the same as trying to overthrow the Heavens.
There's no need to involve the citizens.
Instead, why don't we settle this man-to-man?
If, by any chance, you were to take my head...
...then that's the will of the Heavens.
If anyone here wants to risk his life for Atsuyu, come to his defense.
What's the matter? No one?
Atsuyu, how insulting it must be to see that no one's on your side!
Why you...
Let him have a weapon at least.
Permit me to speak, Your Majesty!
As you can see, this is the end of the rebellion.
My lord has already been defeated by his Majesty!
Spare us unnecessary bloodshed and please sheath your sword.
Please be compassionate.
I see...
Surrender the castle and disband the provincial army for starters.
Understood.
Take him into custody just in case.
I will be extremely compassionate.
Have the guards keep an eye on him. Don't let him commit suicide.
Shouryuu!
Rikaku!
Rokuta! Rikaku!
I'll put you out of your misery.
I wasn't trying to save you...
...but Atsuyu...
But somehow, that moment, I stopped Rokuta.
No, I didn't try to...
You made me stop him.
Kouya. I told you before.
I'm here to look after the well-being of the kingdom and its citizens.
Look after someone else, there are plenty who would appreciate it.
Well, I'm pretty greedy.
Between a million people and a million and one people...
...I'll take pick the latter.
There's no place for Big One and me.
Because I'm a child of Youma.
Big One will never attack someone against my order.
He's always listened to me.
I've been able to restrain him.
Kouya...
Then I will give you and the Youma a place to live.
What, some kind of luxurious prison?
I'll bet it has silver bars.
How about a kingdom where the Youma don't attack people?
Give me some time, Kouya.
I promise that I'll give you a land where two will never be hunted.
Will a time like that really come?
That's why I became the king, Kouya.
We'll wait.
We'll wait in the Koukai until the kingdom becomes such a place.
Until the day comes... We'll be waiting.
Thanks.
For what?
For forgiving Kouya.
I didn't do it for you.
Are you mad at me?
Well, I guess I deserve it.
I told you to leave everything to me.
Yeah...
Shukou, Itan, everyone, including you...
None of my men has faith in me, huh?
Shouryuu.
What is it?
Will you make a place for me, too?
...like you promised Kouya?
Well, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of En after all...
So, what kind of place do you want?
A land filled with green meadows.
A prosperous kingdom where no one has to starve.
Houses where no one freezes or suffers the elements.
I want a peaceful land...
...where the citizens feel safe and don't have to worry about famine or war.
Those are the things I've always wanted.
I want a kingdom where no parents have to abandon their child to survive.
You did your duty, and gave me this kingdom.
So I will promise you.
I'll definitely give you a green, peaceful kingdom in return.
Okay...
Then I'll keep my eyes closed until you say when.
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.
In the first year of Taigen, a new Poultry and Livestock Law was announced.
En becomes the first kingdom to allow...
...Youma to be kept for domestic purposes.
The Twelve Kingdoms episode 45.
Episode 45
The God of the Sea in the East, the Mighty Ocean in the West, Interlude