Isn't this...
I'm coming in.
You're awake?
Lemiya? Why am I back at your place?
Episode 5 A Hint of Schemes
Man, I'm full!
Thanks for the meal!
You easily ate enough for five people.
That much?!
I knew I was eating more than usual,
but I didn't realize it was that bad.
The reason you were able to eat so much is also related to why you're here.
Long story short...
Taichi, you depleted your magic power and fell comatose.
Huh?
You consumed all the magic power within your body.
You've been asleep for an entire week.
A whole week?!
Generally, you can recover expended magic power overnight.
But when it's completely spent, it takes significant time to regenerate from scratch.
I didn't know.
Rin and Myura both assumed you passed out from exhaustion and injury at first.
They had a doctor look at you to be sure, and they believed the same.
Yet one day and then another passed...
By the third night, they couldn't take it any more
and carried your unconscious body back here.
I've never seen those two panic like that.
They're both looking into something back in town right now.
Make sure you thank them when they're back.
Yeah, of course I will.
Also, Lemiya...
Thank you, too.
Don't worry about it.
On that note, though, Taichi...
What in the world happened in the northern forest?
I knew it.
That was the Crimson Pact.
Crimson Pact?
It's magic that uses the blood of men and beasts.
It's considered forbidden magic now due to its cruelty.
Feed an orb imbued with that magic to anyone,
and it'll draw out several dozen times their normal magic power.
I couldn't even make a dent in it.
To be honest, I thought I really was going to be a goner this time.
But then in that moment...
My name is Aerial.
I'm the Wind Spirit.
Aerial?!
You're sure that's what the voice said to you?!
Y-Yeah?
How can this be?
I don't believe it.
Hey, Lemiya...
Could you explain it to me so I can understand, too?
Taichi, you remember how I told you
that you're a Unique Magician who uses sorcery, not magic, right?
And that we didn't know what type you were?
Yeah?
Well, now that's clear.
Seriously?
Listen carefully, Taichi. You're a—
Oh?
He eliminated the Red Elemental with only the power of wind?
That young man is truly intriguing.
This was worth the great price you paid, Cassim.
Now, I have another job for you to do.
What? It's just a little prank.
A trivial affair of no strategic importance.
Though I think it'll relieve some of your indignation.
Hmm...
Aren't her reins a little loose?
But I think she's performed adequately for her pay.
And I'm telling you that's not enough.
We need you to continue serving as Cassim's pawn,
so I've made some slight modifications.
Remember, what's about to begin is but our first step.
The grand first step toward realizing our goal.
I understand, Your Eminence.
I'm sick of waiting.
Let's hurry up and start the carnival.
In that case, I suppose it is time for the carnival to begin.
We'll have to send him an invitation.
Summoner, huh?
Listen carefully, Taichi.
You're a Summoner.
A Summoner?
A Shaman would be most similar to it.
You forge pacts with specific spirits,
and you're granted the right to use stronger magic based on your bond with them.
Shamans and Summoners are both the same in that regard.
Now, can you tell what actually separates the two of them?
It's simple.
It's whether or not they can hear them.
Whether or not they can see them.
In our world, spirits are a higher order of being.
They're above even dragons, which are superior to humans.
Because of that, they're fundamentally invisible to us.
So if you heard the voice of a spirit,
then it's almost guaranteed.
Also, there's one more thing
that makes Summoners different from other magicians and Shamans.
That's the fact that spirits execute magic on the sorcerer's behalf.
Since the magic doesn't use the sorcerer as a catalyst,
it gets released with the spirit's full undiminished force.
That couldn't sound more like cheating.
But if the voice I heard really was a spirit...
Taichi!
Almeda.
Are you okay now?
Rin and Myura said you weren't waking up, so I got worried.
Yeah, I'm good now.
That's great. What a relief.
Sorry to worry you.
By the way, do you know when Rin and Myura should be back here?
Sorry, I haven't heard.
They haven't been back since they left early this morning.
I see. Thanks.
I'll go look for them outside, then.
Take care.
Don't push yourself, okay?
Now, where would those two have gone?
Let go of me!
Sorry, but I don't have time to deal with you people.
Don't say that, lady.
That's right! What's wrong with spending some time with us?
Those guys!
Given your getup, you want it too, right?
Yeah, that's right!
Hey, you need to cut it out already!
Jeez, you're late!
Huh? Uh?
You made a promise, didn't you?
That you would keep me up all night long.
Hey, brat!
Don't just show up out of nowhere and butt in on us!
That's right!
Don't interfere!
What was that about showing up out of nowhere?
Get up!
Let's beat it!
Thank you for saving me.
Did I?
It looked to me like you could have handled that by yourself.
Huh?
When that guy grabbed you,
it looked like you just slipped free, instead of breaking his hold with force.
Also, you easily kept up with me when I suddenly spun around.
More than anything, you weren't frightened when you saw me send that guy flying.
I knew you'd notice.
You knew?
We've actually met before.
That was the first time anyone's been so rough with me.
Rough?! Huh?!
You knocked me out with a single blow to the stomach.
Wait, you're...
I'm Anastasia.
The former assassin that you two captured on the back streets that night.
So you've joined up with the guild now?
Yes.
An assassin who's failed their mission has no other choice.
So after doing some additional investigation
into the case of stolen food and goods that we were looking into...
This manor stood out.
Still, I'm surprised you dug up that much.
Well, yeah. I am a former assassin.
Now, is there anything we could use as evidence?
What's the matter?
You've got to be kidding me!
It's nice to enjoy the nightlife every now and then.
Yeah.
Still, I can't believe these go for eight coppers apiece.
Yeah.
You're thinking about Taichi again, aren't you?
Yeah.
Huh?!
I knew it.
You're like an open book.
Uh, it's not that...
Don't worry.
He'll be fine in Lemiya's care.
We have to focus on finishing what we need to do right now.
Yeah.
That's just way too expensive!
There's nothing I can do about it, either!
But that's three times what it cost yesterday!
Prices won't stop skyrocketing, huh?
We'll need to see if it's related to the increase in monsters, as Lemiya suspects.
By the way...
Yeah.
There are a few too many people around to take them on here.
We should lead them to the outskirts...
Get away from here!
Right now!
You're finished!
Aero Armor!
Two versus four, huh?
But with you here...
No, it's two versus five.
Grammy?!
Myura!
I really hate relying on this thing...
Myura!
But boss's orders.
Don't blame me.
Hold on!
I know you guys won't be able to beat her.
So delay her and you've done well!
Hold up!
Myura!
I knew it.
It looks like this underground tunnel was constructed using earth magic.
If what's written here is true,
then a horde of goblins enhanced by Crimson Pacts
are hiding out here under Azpire.
If they were to be unleashed on the city...
We have to stop them!
This smell!
Oh, man...
They must be up ahead!
Wait!
It might be trapped.
I'll open it.
Phew.
It's safe now.
O-Okay.
What's the matter?
Well, just realizing that you really are an assassin.
So late?
Yeah.
I mean, when I handed you over to the guild,
I had this idea in my head that you'd be able to live a normal, proper life from now on.
Huh?
So I have mixed feelings
about the guild asking you to do all kinds of jobs like this.
To be honest, it doesn't sit right with me.
But that's just my ego talking.
Let's go, Anastasia.
Call me Ana.
Anastasia's a mouthful, right?
Just call me Ana.
Sure. Nice working with you, Ana.
Would you just stop getting in the way!
That was fast.
Grammy!
Don't worry, I don't plan on fighting you right now.
The elf girl's in that building.
Why would you tell me that?
For one thing, I didn't do that underhanded job because I wanted to.
I mean, it's not really any of my business if anyone else dies,
but you two are my prey.
I can't have you dying on me.
Now hurry up and go.
My employer plans on using the Crimson Pact on that girl.
The Crimson Pact?
You saw it, didn't you?
That red monster.
Get going.
You should be able to take on every single person in there without issue.
Don't think I owe you for this!
Don't lose, now.
Myura!
Are you that elf's friend?
What are you doing to Myura?
The elf will be our sacrifice.
For the special ritual we're about to conduct.
What are you doing to Myura?
What are you doing to Myura?!
Don't move.
Would you mind staying put for me?
Myura!
Rin?
Hold on, I'll save you!
Can I break it?
The floor's made of stone.
So if I use earth magic...
Myura!
Rin, I'm sorry.
I let my guard down.
No, it's fine.
That doesn't matter now.
Rin...
Wonderful.
You disabled everyone without killing them?
That's easy to talk about doing, but difficult to actually achieve.
You're...
I'm amazed you so easily exceeded my expectations.
Cassim, it seems your subordinate is awfully talented as well.
She's discovered the loophole in her geas.
Right...
Are you the one who did this?
I am.
Though they're the perpetrators,
I'm the one who predicted this result and worked to make it happen.
You'll pay!
Wait a moment.
I haven't shown myself for the sake of doing battle with you two.
I came here to inform you.
Inform us?
I'll keep this brief.
An army of monsters will be attacking this town.
Huh?
They number two... no, three thousand.
Th-Three thousand?!
Do you understand what that means?
Yes, that's more than enough to destroy everything.
All that is precious to you. Everything and anything.
Taichi...
Unfortunately, that boy won't be coming.
We've prepared a different stage for him in this town.
What do you mean?!
Taichi's here in Azpire?!
Now then, what can the two of you do?
How well can you protect this town?
I look forward to finding out.
I'll check that one, too.
Sure.
Huh?
Ana!
Defense of Azpire
Next episode: "Defense of Azpire."