It's been a while since that huge invasion of monsters.
The scars left by that battle to defend the city ran all too deep.
But...
The town of Azpire is slowly going back to normal.
Because we believe that moving on and regaining our smiles
is the best possible send-off we can give the lives that were lost that day.
I hope you're watching, Ana.
Here I go...
Summon Aerial!
You called, Taichi?
Oh!
She's cute!
I'm not, really...
You can easily summon a spirit and manifest them now?
You've improved, Taichi.
Oh, you flatter me.
Taichi's grown, too.
We can't let him outshine us like this.
Yeah.
We'll need to train more and grow even stronger.
Yes.
You're all heading in the right direction.
Someone you know?
That crest...
A messenger from the royal family.
Huh?
Nice to meet you.
Episode 8 Royal Capital Wennifix
I'm Alsena Norman, daughter of Marquis Norman.
I've come on behalf of His Majesty, King Gilmar.
King? Like, the king?
On behalf of his majesty?
What is it?
I've been hearing some fishy rumors for a while now.
I've come here to see you all today in hopes that you would lend us your strength.
Would you please come with me to the royal capital, Wennifix?
I can't believe we're suddenly being summoned by royalty.
It's foreboding.
How long are you going to sleep?
What was that for?
Please, relax and rest up.
We still have a ways until we reach Wennifix.
I'm wide awake now.
That's perfect.
We can get this woman to explain what's going on in our country to us, then.
Um, is there trouble brewing in the court?
Yes.
For a little over the past thirty years, the Elistain Magic Kingdom has been governed
by a balance between factions supporting the current king or his younger brother.
While His Majesty, Gilmar, has obtained power
through diplomacy and proactively reaching out to other nations,
his younger brother, Duke Dortesheim, has continued to oppose him at every turn.
So it's a king aiming for internationalization versus his conservative younger brother.
And during all of that,
His Majesty had planned to dispatch magicians as part of his foreign policy.
As the name "Magic Kingdom" suggests,
our nation has the most and best magicians in the world.
But the younger brother's faction believes that letting our magicians
and their knowledge past our borders will weaken our nation's dominance there.
So they've finally risen up in revolt.
Their rebellion is beginning as we speak.
War could break out an any moment now, which puts us in a very precarious state.
That is why we have summoned you all.
So what you're saying is you want us to go join the battle?
You want us in this battle? In a war?
It's coming into view.
This is the royal capital, Wennifix?
It's practically a ghost town.
It's been like this for a good while now.
It would be a wonderful, beautiful city if there was life to it.
Lemia, is something the matter?
You've been lost in thought since we were in the carriage.
A few things.
Sorry for the abrupt question,
but did the king say anything about Taichi and Rin?
No, not particularly.
But he was insistent that I bring those two here no matter what.
We should be getting back to the carriage.
That was a violent greeting.
You failed?
My apologies.
So there was truth to the rumors about them.
Duke Dortesheim, please make a prompt decision.
You are the only one who can protect this nation.
I know.
Everyone's really glaring at us.
Looks like we're not all that welcome here.
Allow me to introduce you.
This is Bella Lafuma, Head Royal Magician,
and this is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Army, General Sumella.
That over there is Her Highness, Princess Charlotte Elistain.
Raise your heads.
You must be tired from your long journey.
I am Gilmar.
I have heard of your achievements during the Defense of Azpire the other day.
Truly magnificent.
That's enough small talk.
Hey, Gilmar, can you get to the point already?
How insolent!
Settle down.
Sumella, Bella, please dismiss the others.
Yes, sir.
As you wish.
You haven't changed, Lemia.
Nor you.
Lemia?
Man, you're on casual terms with the king?
I heard the details.
Sounds like things are on a hair trigger with Dortesheim right now.
Yes.
Well, it's not like you're a stranger.
I can help.
But...
We'll have a few conditions of our own.
If you can't accept them,
we'll turn around right now and head back to Azpire.
How demanding.
Very well. We'll grant your wishes.
Then we have a deal.
Glad you're understanding.
Alsena, please handle the rest.
This way, please.
Oh, one more thing.
I forgot to confirm something important.
Give me a straight answer.
You're the one behind Taichi and Rin's summoning, aren't you?
Huh?
What?
In order to quell this rebellion,
you desperately needed the might of people with overwhelmingly powerful magic.
Am I wrong?
No, you are correct.
Seriously?
I was the one who had you summoned.
I am sorry for doing that.
You're sorry?
Rin and I...
We had our lives suddenly taken from us because of you.
We nearly died, too.
And you're saying you summoned us here to kill people for you?
Taichi!
With all due apologies, Your Majesty,
Taichi and Rin come from a peaceful world
where war and murder were not a part of their lives.
Never forget that two such innocent kids have become adventurers
who are now about to fight for the sake of this country.
I shall bear full responsibility.
Ah, I was so nervous.
You spoke awfully boldly to the king despite that.
Well, of course.
He's telling us to settle his sibling quarrel.
Still, finding out who summoned us here is a step forward for us.
Yeah.
Yes?
You're in Taichi's room too, Rin?
Yes. Lemia and Muller are in meetings with the generals.
To be honest,
I've brought someone who insists on speaking to the two of you.
To us?
Princess Charlotte?!
I'm terribly sorry.
Huh?
The truth is,
I'm the one who summoned you two!
I'm a magician capable of manipulating time and space.
Not only did I summon you two,
but I also ended up dropping you both into a field full of monsters,
and it took me too long to find the two of you.
Please accept my apologies for my incompetence.
You needn't!
Your Highness only followed the orders of His Majesty Gilmar.
I know how much you agonized over it before conducting the spell.
No, Alsena.
He wishes to save the citizens of our beloved nation.
I felt that same desire quite strongly myself.
I decided that I should do what was expected of me as the princess.
Your Highness...
I constructed the summoning spell in great detail,
so it would reach some life form that met all the appropriate conditions.
Conditions?
Yes. One who could learn magic,
convey their intentions, and understand our language...
I see.
So Rin and I fit those conditions perfectly.
No, only you, Taichi.
To be honest, while I was conducting the summoning...
No way! Don't! You can't!
The younger brother's assassins had already slipped in by that time?
I thought I had been careful to keep anyone from entering.
But the magic went berserk, and I couldn't control it anymore.
So that's why I...
So how do we go back?
Summoning magic can only be conducted once a lifetime.
I know I can never apologize enough to earn forgiveness
for doing something like this to you when I have no means of returning you.
I'm truly, truly sorry.
But please believe me.
When this rebellion is over and peace returns to our nation,
I will find a way to send you two back to your world.
Even if it costs my soul!
Your Highness...
Taichi, Rin, please! Please!
Raise your head.
We believe you.
You must've suffered quite a bit before you could tell us all this.
I wish we could have met sooner.
Well, sure, our lives certainly were in danger,
but hey, our powers are practically cheating, and what's more...
Because we came here, we've met irreplaceable friends.
Both Rin and I want to protect our friends.
That's the same desire you have, to protect this nation, right?
In that case, let's hurry up and finish this fight.
Going back home can easily wait until after that.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much!
Taichi, get outside right now.
Hey, what's going on?
Aren't you the Supreme Commander of the Army....
General Sumella?!
His Majesty King Gilmar seems to highly value your strength,
but I want to see how strong you really are.
So I'll test you directly myself!
Attacking straight away?!
Hey!
What incredible force!
I'm fighting to kill!
You're supposed to be way stronger than me, right?
Then I have no intention of holding back!
Huh?!
Lemia, you're the one who proposed this practice duel against General Sumella?
Well, yeah.
To the royal army's soldiers under Sumella's command,
Taichi and the rest of us are complete outsiders.
They're full of doubt about our ability to fight.
So we need to rapidly earn their trust.
Yes.
So having them watch us in real combat is the best way.
Why, you!
Is that all you've got?
Fine, I'll...
Summon Aeri—
No, I can't summon Aery.
I'm fighting a person. I might kill her.
Why are you spacing out?
I thought I told you!
I'm prepared to kill you!
I'll just have to get through this on physical enhancement alone.
Blinding me?
What if you blinded me permanently?
I don't want to hear it from someone out to kill me!
This is getting interesting now.
I can't believe he's faring so well against our invincible General Sumella!
His attacks grow sharper with every exchange.
It's my first time meeting a man like this.
Tsk!
Why, you!
I yield.
You've beaten me.
I apologize for testing you.
That was splendid.
No, it makes sense.
I'm an outsider, and I'm clearly just a kid.
By the way, I have a proposal.
U-Um?
Would you like to take me as your wife?
Wha?!
Huh?!
My...
If you've already decided on a wife,
Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?
then I wouldn't mind being your concubine.
You're a perfect fit for what I'm looking for in a man.
Wh-What?!
I may not look it, but I'm the devoted type, and I earn a high salary.
Not a bad deal, right?
I want at least three kids, and don't worry about the age gap.
My family is always slow to show their age.
No, um...
No!
That was one intense day.
Summon Aerial.
Good evening, Taichi.
What is it?
Well...
The scenery is beautiful, so I wanted to share it with you, Aery.
You're asking me out on a date!
A date?
Well, I guess you could call it that.
I'm kidding.
Taichi, I can see through you.
Something's troubling you.
My force is too strong.
My power's almost guaranteed to kill when I'm fighting people, and that's too brutal.
I see.
You're scared of hurting anyone.
Scared?
Yeah, maybe so.
I've only fought monsters so far.
But now, it's people.
And if we go to war, I'll be up against normal soldiers.
Plus, there's Rin...
I don't want her to hurt anyone.
Even if this is another world,
I want her to be able to return
to her normal high school life when we go back to our original world.
So if it would mean getting blood on her hands, then I'd rather...
You're so kind, Taichi.
Are you asleep already?
Rin? Your door's unlocked.
Hers is several times bigger than my room.
Just how many doors are there?
Rin?
I didn't see! I didn't see anything!
It was a mistake! I'd never—
Oh, noble goddess that governs heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech your aid.
Please grant your blessings to that young man and woman from foreign lands.
You're still here?
Cardinal Lodra.
All I can do right now is offer up my prayers like this.
Great power resides in the prayers intoned by beautiful souls.
I'm sure Your Highness's prayers will reach her.
Thank you for your kind words.
Still, that's enough for tonight.
Your body needs rest.
Yes.
Good night to you.
Commencement of Battle
Next episode: "Commencement of Battle."