That concludes our true baptism.
Please have a seat.
The tea will be ready soon.
Cardinal Hohenheim...
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for inviting one
as young as I to partake in a true baptism.
I have heard that such a baptism is a great honor that is typically
bestowed only upon the chosen,
so I could not be more grateful that you
have granted me such an honor.
This is merely a trifle,
but please accept my offering.
Baronet Baumeister, may God grant you protection.
Yes, enter.
Please excuse me.
This is my granddaughter.
Go on, introduce yourself.
I am Elise Katarina von Hohenheim.
I'm Wendelin von Benno Baumeister.
So you've noticed, have you?
She possesses magic power, doesn't she?
Yes, she can use holy healing magic.
Healing? That's incredible.
The only holy magic I can use is purification.
Oh, no, it's impressive that you can use any all.
So do you heal the wounded here at this church?
Yes.
We have several other nuns in training who perform charity and distribute food, as well,
so many of the people call her the "Saint" Hohenheim.
That's wonderful.
So she'll become a member of the clergy?
Personally, I would prefer for her to get married, like a normal girl.
Elise is quite beautiful, though.
Wouldn't there be competition for her?
To be honest, there are many families asking for her.
Oh? Then maybe I should join the running, too.
Oh? You would take my granddaughter to be your wife?
I'm still underage,
so it would just be an engagement.
That's true. Elise is also only 12,
so what would you think of having the proper wedding once you're of age?
I guess that means I'd be bidding the bachelor life farewell in three years.
Then it'd finally be time to pay the piper, huh?
All right, then, so it shall be.
So it shall be?
Yes, so it shall be.
Huh? I thought we were just having a chat about business...
One minute after I met her, we were engaged.
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
Episode 5 Political Marriage?! Are You Kidding Me?!
Inviting him over for a true baptism and securing the engagement right there...
Perhaps I was too pushy?
I believe it was very fitting of you, my lord.
But I do wonder what we're going to say to
Duke Bleichröder, the Lord of the Baumeister family.
That is why I first obtained His Majesty's pledge.
Even the Duke won't be able to object when I have His Majesty's backing.
Impressive, my lord.
More importantly, look at this offering.
It couldn't be more unbelievable.
For a young boy, he has a good understanding of the power the church wields.
I guess using magic isn't all he's capable of.
The Hohenheim family holds the rank of viscount,
so you always said the man to marry Lady Elise must be at least a Baron,
but now I understand why you would choose Baronet Baumeister,
even if it took me some time to see it.
Your judgment is quite sound, my lord.
For now, at least.
I can't believe you went to get baptized and came back engaged.
And to "Saint" Hohenheim of all people.
Lineage and a good personality—she's perfect!
But it happened just a minute after I met her.
Is that really enough to determine the partner I'm supposed to share a long life with?
But isn't that just how marriage is?
Yeah. It's unusual to even have one minute with them first.
No, no! You're supposed to spend more time cultivating love and...
We didn't meet our wives until the very day we were wed.
Huh?
It was the same for my parents, too.
I think it was the same for Brother Kurt and Amalie.
Really?
Yes.
Okay, now, close your eyes.
I see. There's no such thing
as romantic marriages for nobles.
Hey, look at that.
So... what's the deal with this disguise?
I mean, you said you wanted to see the sights of the capital without
being noticed by the guy who wanted to be your retainer.
I know...
And no one is noticing who I am, but...
Just enjoy yourself!
Maybe buy a souvenir for the wife.
Wife, huh?
I'm sure she's thinking,
"I'm marrying the Dragon Slayer? Lucky me!" right about now.
You really think she is?
I mean, you said she was smiling the whole time, right?
But that was in front of her grandfather. Who knows...
what she really thinks deep down?
That's the guy who keeps asking to be my retainer!
Don't worry. He'll never realize it's you.
Sir Baumeister!
You're dressed quite comically,
but those teeth belong to Sir Baumeister,
so I noticed right away!
Um, could you keep the volume down?
I knew it! That man is the Dragon Slayer!
Sir Baumeister! Please make me your retainer!
Here they come! Here they come!
Then behold!
The third form of my Spinning Spear!
I can't believe you can't see any of the sights when it's summer break.
I feel bad for you.
Why don't you actually hire a retainer?
Then you could have them turn down all those asking to be one.
Oh, then how about I be your retainer?
Huh? Oh...
Let's go with that, then.
For real?
Hold on, are you serious?
Huh? Wait, wait... What?
Well, I'm heading out for a bit, so I'll see you later.
Um, did I just become a retainer?
I did, right?
Yeah.
Congratulations, Erwin.
I did it.
Baronet Baumeister?
What are you doing there?
I'm sorry about that.
It's all right.
I bought these earlier. I thought we could share them.
Huh?!
They're all crushed...
Um, the truth is, I wanted to talk.
In that case, let's go down.
I'll prepare us some tea.
Oh...
I meant just the two of us, if possible.
Very well.
It's about our engagement this morning...
I wanted...
I wanted to ask you how you felt about all this.
I think it's a nice arrangement.
A nice arrangement?
What do you mean?
I can see why my grandfather has chosen you.
But you don't know anything about me, do you?
There isn't a soul in the capital
who doesn't know about the heroics of Baronet Baumeister, the Dragon Slayer.
The... heroics?
I'm happy that I'll become the wife of such a man.
Then I'm glad.
I can't believe Er became Well's retainer.
All while we were out buying fancy clothes, too.
Though I kind of thought something like this might happen after Well became a baronet.
There's still time!
Let's have Well hire us, too!
I see. So you're hoping to be his retainers, too.
It's my job to tell you to take a hike,
but okay, roger that.
I'll put in a good word for you with Well.
Thanks.
I'm glad, though.
I always wanted to have juniors.
Wait, wait!
So we'll be his juniors?
No way!
If he tries to treat me like I'm beneath him,
I'll beat him to death on my first day of the job!
I'll murder him by morning!
But at this rate...
C'mon, isn't there anything we can do to get above him?!
Hello? Is there anyone here who could help me peel potatoes?
Yes!
I'll help peel them, too.
Iina!
That's it!
That's how we get above Er!
You don't mean...
Yeah!
We aim to be his wives!
But there's Elise...
So we aim to be concubines!
That's true. It's common for nobles to have concubines.
Since we're daughters of military retainers, it might be impossible
for us to be official wives,
but we can still become concubines!
It might be possible.
Then, once we're with him,
we can use our privileged position to work Er like a cart horse!
I'm home.
Okay, time to commence Operation Concubine Seduction!
Operation Concubine Seduction?
Just watch.
Dinner is ready!
Okay.
What are you doing? You just bought that.
I'm making a new outfit for Operation Concubine Seduction II.
You're remarkable, Louise.
I can't be that aggressive about things like this.
I can't, either.
But if I manage to become Well's concubine,
then one day, I might be able to open a school to teach my own style.
Then my family might finally recognize me.
I'm sorry.
You're right. I'll do my best, too.
There, all done!
This one's yours, Iina!
Huh? There's one for me?
Thank you!
Here, try it on!
Okay!
Absolutely not.
Huh? Why not?
It covers what it needs to!
It reveals nearly everything!
Huh? But this is what mine's like.
That's just a few strings! No, threads!
Your invitation.
To have dinner with Elise tomorrow night.
All right...
Tonight, we have prepared a course of several original dishes
inspired by the achievements of "Saint" Hohenheim and the Dragon Slayer.
We hope you enjoy them.
It's sea bream.
Yes, it's sea bream.
It's good, isn't it?
Yes, it's good.
Right?
It was good, wasn't it?
Yes, it was good.
Then I suppose I should...
Sir Baumeister...
This is your first date.
Why not be a gentleman and give her something to commemorate it?
Commemorate?
Dragon Slayer and "Saint" Hohenheim...
Today we have prepared this selection of items to suit you two and your betrothal.
He meant an engagement ring, huh?
By the way, how much are these?
Well, they range from 10 to 50 gold coins.
So one to five million yen...
That's nobility for you.
Even though they're so ostentatious and unrefined...
Um, Baronet Baumeister...
You don't have to buy me something this expensive.
It's all right.
I received a substantial reward for defeating that bone dragon.
This is...
An engagement ring is something that "Saint" Hohenheim will wear frequently.
I think that one might be too plain.
Still, I'll take this one.
As you wish.
How much is it?
This one will cost 300 gold coins.
300 million yen?!
It's specially crafted using a magic stone.
Still, that's...
I'll take it.
Thank you very much for your purchase.
Baronet Baumeister...
Yes?
The truth is that you were able to see that this ring had a magic stone, isn't it?
Huh?
According to the shopkeeper we just spoke to,
this ring is capable of storing great magic power.
So wearing this would surely
allow me to be useful to you in the future.
So understanding all of that, you...
No, to be honest, I didn't realize that was a magic stone.
Then why did you choose this one?
Huh?
Well, I just chose a ring I thought would look good on you.
Oh, was it too plain?
No...
Oh, that's a relief.
Anyway, you're incredible, Elise.
I mean, these past few days,
I've been feeling the pressure of suddenly being called a hero or the Dragon Slayer.
Pressure, you say?
Even today, part of me is wondering if I'm actually acting like a hero.
I'm not even that brave.
But you've been called a saint ever since you were little, right?
No, I wasn't...
It must have been hard.
Oh, right.
They said this ring would glow when you put magic into it, right?
Can I see it a moment?
Incredible...
So?
What did you think of that boy?
He's a bit hard to discern.
Most men before him have treated Elise as "Saint" Hohenheim,
but Sir Baumeister treated her like a normal young girl.
I have no idea what he's thinking.
That sea bream we had earlier...
It would have been great with some soy sauce.