The SDF was dispatched to the Special Region.
Zolzal uses the unexpected fall of Emperor Molt to seize control of the government.
Casel and Sherry ran to the Japanese embassy to escape the oppression,
and Foreign Officer Sugawara accepted her request.
Thus, Zolzal's dark forces are about to take on the Rose Knights defending Jade Palace.
Annihilate them!
Charge!
Attack!
Ready spears!
Advance!
D-Don't fall back! Stay on the attack!
Don't let them escape!
Begone! This is no place for amateur soldiers!
You won't get away with this!
Hey, Morita-san.
Why the serious expression?
Episode 21 Deadline
A battle between different imperial factions has broken out
at Jade Palace, where Vice-Minister Shirayuri is stationed.
We'd like permission to rescue our citizens immediately.
No.
What? Why?
We've invited ambassadors from various countries to the Special Region.
They insist on being allowed to see it.
And the media's there, too.
All the information will be leaked, you understand?
We can't worry about that.
It's more important to get Shirayuri and her group out of a dangerous place like that.
Am I wrong?
It'll be fine.
They're not completely defenseless.
I'm sure the knights there will do their best.
Are you serious, Morita-san?
I don't want to say this, either.
And your plan involves what amounts to a temporary takeover of the capital.
And if we do that, you know what they'll say.
Just take over the entire Empire,
and end the war.
But Japan doesn't have the power to take over the entire Empire right now.
So we explain that to the people.
I'm not simply talking about the people.
The media's there right now.
A lot of different countries are watching.
Then what is your plan for this situation?
Please don't act while the ambassadors and media are in the Special Region.
Once they're gone, you can do what you like.
That'll be a week from now.
Just hang in there until then.
You're crazy!
If they break through the knights,
just imagine what will happen to the Japanese and the pro-peace faction in the palace.
You're the one who'll be under fire if that happens.
I know, I know.
You still intend to protect these criminals?
This building is an embassy protected by treaty.
We will kill anyone who tries to enter,
in the name of the emperor!
I will watch.
Sugawara-sama,
if this upsets you, feel free to despise me.
I came here knowing this would happen.
So I will not look away from the people who are dying because of me.
Is something wrong?
Though it's a little late, I just understood the consequences of my actions.
Do you regret it?
No.
If I didn't interfere, I would've regretted leaving you to your fate.
Sugawara-sama...
I rejected that,
and I started this battle to save your life.
It was my sin that resulted in these victims.
No matter which you chose,
you would've borne a sin either way.
Marquess...
Those who look away from battle and choose humiliation
will someday find themselves visited with both battle and humiliation.
All a man can do is choose the sin he feels most satisfied with.
Under Imperial law,
I am Sherry's guardian.
I was told to take care of her.
In other words, I'll be your father-in-law from now on.
F-Fall back!
Retreat!
Hang in there.
Mochizuki Noriko-kun,
look at this lack of discipline.
That's the true nature of the SDF.
You understand, right?
We citizens need to keep a close eye on the SDF,
or that's what happens to them.
They don't look like they're slacking off to me.
Mochizuki-kun,
the SDF saved you, right?
Yes.
It feels like a long time's passed since then.
Then I can understand your being fond of them.
Right now, I'm trying to be neutral, as a coordinator for you reporters.
What bewilders me is the fact that it's the media team from Japan
that's most skeptical of the SDF's activities.
That's just how journalists are.
The reason the people at Alnus seem grateful to the SDF is simply
because it's a Potemkin village made to look good for the press.
If we go to another region, I'm sure their responses will be exactly the opposite.
Of course, if we did, it's possible that we'd only see the places the SDF wants us to see.
Reporting under the assumption that there has to be negativity
doesn't seem very objective to me.
There's no such thing as objective journalism.
But...
Then who are we readers supposed to trust?
That's not the media's responsibility.
This is a business.
Excuse me!
Mochizuki-san, can I have a moment?
Yes, is something wrong?
The French team's having some trouble with the locals.
All right.
I'm going to take all the pictures I can...
...of the SDF slacking off and wasting taxpayer dollars in the Special Region.
Oh? Weren't you in the middle of peace negotiations?
We haven't signed a ceasefire yet.
The Empire is currently refusing to advance the peace talks.
At the moment, it'd essentially amount to unconditional surrender.
The problem is how it's done.
Yes.
According to our information, the Empire's decided to switch to guerrilla tactics.
Which means this is going to be a long, hard fight.
By the way, it's about 600 kilometers from here to the capital, right?
I believe we passed out maps of the Special Regions.
I don't think you could call what you gave us a map.
I'm shocked you haven't done more yet.
This is a map of the entire Empire!
How much is it?
380,000 yen.
Okay, got it.
Oh, no, you don't!
Gone to the SDF officer!
I protected the information!
It's been a while since we've been to Rondel.
Did we really need to come back?
What are you talking about? You've got your dissertation, right?
If I give up on my Master title,
we can avoid conflict.
But there's no guarantee that will keep the assassins at bay.
That's right.
Even if we go back to Alnus we'll still have to fight them.
That's right.
Let's go, Lelei.
And so, the Self Defense Force fought
They're coming.
Listen, Shanti.
Don't open your eyes, no matter what.
O-Okay!
Promise.
Something terrible will happen if you open your eyes.
O-Okay!
Okay!
We got them!
Too bad!
One, two, and three!
My eyes...
My eyes!
It's okay now.
There's no sign of anyone else approaching us, Dad.
What about the assassins?
They're fine.
They're all breathing.
Hey, I know these guys.
They're the servants at this inn, right?
Why?
We were tricked!
Tell me what happened.
A person we met at a bar told us that they were fakes!
They said they were heinous murderers after the merchants staying at this inn.
We heard they were wanted criminals, with a bounty on their heads.
And you believed that?
They showed us the warrant and split the money for the bounty with us.
And that was enough for you to sneak into their rooms?
We didn't do anything!
We were caught, even though we didn't do anything!
You did stab knives into our beds.
We're sorry.
This is how the Pied Piper does things.
The Pied Piper?
Sometimes they're a human man.
Other times, an elven woman.
Sometimes, a dwarf.
No one knows who they really are.
What makes him difficult is the fact that
he's a master of manipulating the human heart,
and can turn innocent girls who wouldn't hurt a bug
or even old men who can't walk,
into assassins.
So he's the type who doesn't get his hands dirty?
I assume that until we defeat the Pied Piper,
there'll be no end to the assassins.
So these people were simply his victims, then?
I feel so sorry for you guys!
Your Holiness, and everyone else,
what they did was wrong,
but all they wanted...
The only thing they wanted was to protect this inn and its customers!
The Sea of Books has betrayed your trust,
but please, forgive these promising young men!
Hamel-san!
Please, don't hurt them!
You're forgiven.
But as owner of the inn,
make sure to educate them so this never happens again.
Thank you!
Hamel-san!
Well, if you say so, Rory.
Then I'll talk to another inn owner I know so you can move.
There's no need.
Someone who's been tricked once will likely be more cautious.
So we're safer here.
Which means...
We'd like to stay here.
If you say so, Lelei.
C-Certainly!
We'll do our best to serve you.
Still, are we really sure about those servant boys?
The locks on the heart that make murder a taboo are not simple to undo.
The Pied Piper is probably skilled at finding people whose locks can be easily broken.
I see.
So he's good at finding chuunibyou cases.
Chuunibyou?
People whose thought patterns and values make it easy to break their locks.
There was no word like that in the dictionary.
It's convenient, so I'll remember it.
No, I don't think you need to.
Someone who can be deceived by others will be deceived again and again.
We can narrow down our opponent's identities by staying here.
They are chuunibyou cases.
The Pied Piper will probably make contact with them again.
Is that why you forgave them?
You let them go as bait so we could ambush the Pied Piper?
But how do we watch them?
They know all our faces.
Well, about that, Itami-dono.
Fortunately, there's someone whose face they never saw
because they were rolling around on the floor.
It was so bright.
What's going on?
The bridge repairs were completed this morning and a messenger arrived,
so the story of the Fire Dragon's head appearing at the capital,
along with the fact that you killed it,
has been spreading like wildfire.
And the tales of my acts in Alnus have been blown out of proportion.
I'm so embarrassed.
I'm embarrassed, too.
They're talking about what happened when I went insane.
I don't like the fact that they're saying
I played a big part in the Fire Dragon battle when I wasn't even there.
And the stories have been distorted in a nasty way.
Distorted?
They're saying it was Lelei who finished the Fire Dragon.
Oh?
The desire for a human hero is very strong in the Empire.
I see.
Some people want to make Lelei into a hero,
and some want her life, huh?
What's wrong, Itami-dono?
But wait a minute...
You guys already knew about us and the head by the time you got here from the capital.
But it just became public knowledge now.
Well, it was only this morning that bridge repairs were completed and a messenger arrived.
Is there only one bridge on the river between the capital and Rondel?
No, there are at least three.
More if you include the smaller bridges.
Someone knocked them all out.
Which means...
Something happened in the capital after I left, and they don't want us knowing.
There's no info from the SDF?
This area's still outside wireless range.
But I can try to get in touch.
The plan is to go on and tell all the areas that you,
Crown Prince Zolzal, are leading the Empire.
By the way, Luflus,
aren't you forgetting to report something?
What do you mean?
His Majesty is very confused as to why the skilled soldiers of the Oprichnina
were driven away by a random collection of women and old men.
I-I have no excuses, sir.
I've already executed Gimlet, the man who was leading that group.
I'm ready to finish this immediately with a reorganized group.
I'm waiting for good news.
Sir!
Lord Casel there is one of the most important members of the pro-peace faction.
We can't let him be free.
Take care of it.
So that's what happened in the Jade Palace...
Bozes and Beefeater's actions were in line with the will of the Emperor.
But...
The senate won't accept that, now that my brother controls them.
I'm told that even the Capital Defense Force
is being summoned to the Oprichnina.
I will go to the Jade Palace as well.
Excuse me.
How dare you!
She's in the middle of a bath.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Orders from Zolzal-sama.
Princess Pina,
come to the Crown Prince's palace immediately.
Morale's good for now, Bozes.
Sheesh.
Part of me wants to ask why you did that.
Did I do something wrong?
No.
But we knights are servants of Pina-sama.
Our actions could affect her.
But right now, we have to protect this palace.
If nothing else,
this battle is to protect the treaty,
and consequently, the will of the Emperor and the honor of the Empire.
Indeed.
Beefeater-sama!
The enemy has returned.
What?
That's—
I know!
The enemy this time is our own comrades.
There are 800 of them.
No, up to a thousand.
Pina...
You know what's happening at the Jade Palace, right?
Yes.
I don't want there to be any more casualties.
But I can't let the people who escaped there go free.
How about it?
Will you tell your knights to stand down?
We won't lay a finger on the ambassadors.
We'll simply have them leave until the political situation is stabilized.
I cannot hand over Lord Casel.
The Knights were entrusted with defending the Jade Palace.
You're always so stubborn.
This is what I expected.
This country belongs to you now.
Do what you want with it.
I'll do what I want, too.
I'm heading to the Jade Palace.
Farewell.
What are you doing?
Sorry, Pina.
It'll cause too many problems to let you go free right now.
Stay here.
Don't worry.
I'll free you soon.
I told you, I need you to wait until the visitors and media have left Alnus.
They won't last that long!
They're fighting right now!
They've got people from the pro-peace faction there!
That's your responsibility, Kanou-san.
I thought we weren't going to accept any of them.
It's our job to clean up the messes caused by the people on the field.
If we cause trouble here,
the media and the other countries will criticize us!
We'll lose the election!
Do you want that?
I'd rather lose the election than not do the right thing and regret it.
I believe it's our responsibility to be decisive when it's time to make a decision.
All right.
I'll give permission.
But you're taking responsibility.
Yeah, that's fine.
Begin the operation!
Episode 22 The Empress in Slave's Clothing
Next time on Gate:
"The Empress in Slave's Clothing."