Mom!
Hina, pay attention. There's no time.
Take this. Take this, and...
The legendary...
Find the legendary Ace.
Mom!
Find...
The Ace...
Hey, where are you from?
I'm from Fieni.
--Wow, from so far away? --On foot?!
I love walking.
Are you traveling across all of Alcia?
I'm searching for someone important.
You mean like a boyfriend?
The legendary Ace.
Ace? Where have I heard that before?
You know, it's that, uh...
Runs faster than horses and flies in the air type thing.
Oh, yeah, I heard those stories when I was little!
It can't be true, can it? Flying and all?
It's just a rumor, isn't it?
--It's Licht! --Licht is here!
Hello.
Um... Hello.
My name is Licht.
I hate to be so blunt... And so out of the blue...
Please give me some money!
M-Money?!
I haven't had anything to eat for a week! I'm about to die...
My story is a true tragedy. Please hear me out.
I was tasked with shopping duty by a certain individual,
but the money I received for that got spent in a naughty store--
I mean, got lost in an unfortunate accident....
There was no ill intent, no succumbing to a moment of passion.
Just the tragic existence that is manhood, if you know what I mean...
I need to bring back the money, at the very least...
Otherwise my meal would be taken from me, and I would starve.
I can't hold back any longer!
So soft! I mean, modest? I mean, money...
No!
Wait, wait, wait!
Boobs? Money? Food? Wait, you're very cute.
Let's get married! Or eat? Or marry for money?
Someone, help!
Money? Marry? Mo-- ma-- boobs? Which is it?!
Enough!
I was wondering what's taking you so long. What the heck are you doing?
I'm sorry. Are you okay?
I, um...
I'm Nana. I run that mobile tavern over there.
Do you want to stop by? It's on the house, as an apology.
Nana... Feed me, please...
The money.
The money for shopping...?
That is, um... But I haven't eaten for a week.
Ever heard of "He who does not work, neither shall he eat"?
But... But... Food!
Um... I can buy him food.
Don't bother. There's no point in spoiling that idiot.
Food, food...
So, what's your name?
My name is Hina.
Hina? That's an interesting name. How do you spell it?
Oh, um...
Kanji? That's quite...
...rare.
Where were you born?
I'm from this area around here.
That's quite deep in the mountains. I didn't know there was a town there.
Oh, there isn't. I lived out there alone with my mother.
But... One day, my mother suddenly got dragged into the ground.
How unfortunate. She got sent to the Abyss.
The Abyss?
Wait, you don't know what that is?
Okay, look around you.
You see how everyone has a number on some part of their body?
This world is ruled by numbers.
Ruled by numbers?
Every person living here is forced to Count something from the day they are born.
Count?
For example, this "77" on my body.
This is the number of times a customer said "delicious."
If they say "disgusting," the number goes down.
You should have a number somewhere on your body too.
Oh, this one.
Now... Open wide.
No!
How stubborn these legs are!
No, stop...
What are you doing?!
--As I was saying, your Count could go up or down. --It's Licht!
I see...
--You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero... --The enemy of women!
--You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero... --Lecher!
--You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero... --Pervert!
...you get sent to the Abyss.
The Abyss...
That's why everyone is so focused on raising their Count
and making sure it doesn't go down.
They say when you're sent to the Abyss, you die there in the ground,
or you're sent somewhere worse than death.
Sorry, I didn't mean to...
No, don't worry.
And one more thing about the Count.
You can't disobey an order given to you from a person with a higher number.
Can't disobey...?
Yes, remember that. The difference in Count is the difference in social standing.
That's another way this world is ruled by numbers.
So, what's yours?
What are you counting?
Well, um... I think it's the distance I've walked.
Huh?!
That's what my mother told me.
W-Wait! Walking distance is only counted every 100 kilometers!
If you're at 441, does that mean you've walked over 40,000 kilometers?!
Yes, I've been traveling in search of an important person for five years now.
That's incredible. It must be terribly tough.
Oh, no, it's not so bad.
Those were my mother's last words, to find this person.
Whenever the number goes up, I feel like I'm traveling with my mother.
It's like she's cheering me up, telling me I'll find this person soon.
Well, whoever it is you're looking for, they should appreciate how serious you are.
So who is this special someone?
It's the legendary Ace.
The Ace...
Yes, a legendary hero wearing a shining white star.
Have you heard of someone like that?
That's... just a legend, like a fairy tale, isn't it...?
No! I heard it during my travels that the legendary Ace is here, in this town!
That's why I traveled here...
That's news to me.
I've been in this town for a while now, but I've never heard that before.
But...
Licht, the legendary Ace.
Ring a bell?
I... see...
Thank you for everything.
Wait, Hina! About the Ace...
Looking for me?
A white star?!
Yes, the hero of the Waste Wars, bearer of the shining white star.
The legendary Ace!
That's me.
Huh? You?
Y-You...
The Ace...
Hina?
I'm sorry... I've been searching for so long, and...
For so long...
I'm flattered, young lady.
I am also a sergeant major in the military.
Let's discuss this further at the guard house up ahead.
Y-Yes...
Hey, Hina!
Are you interfering with military business?
Excuse us.
Nana, Licht, thank you for everything!
Hina...
Is Hina going to be okay?
I do hear rumors about someone who poses as the Ace to do terrible things to girls.
If you knew that, then why...
The rumor about the Ace being in this town has spread further than I thought.
It's foolish to believe such things.
Are you sure you want to let her just...
--What's this thing? --What's this? What's this?
Hey, you!
--Hey, wait! Just wait, you! --Oh, no! A monster!
Licht!
Um, excuse me...
I like you.
Yes... Very much.
I-- My mother told me to look for you, Mr. Ace. I've been searching for five years.
What's your name?
Oh, it's Hina.
I see... How cute.
Oh, I remember!
Um, Mr. Ace... This...
A Ballot?!
Huh? Um...?
Miss Hina.
Yes...?
Are you a Ballot Holder?
Ballo--? What is that?
I see... You're not...
In that case...
Hand it over!
Huh?
But this is my mother's memento.
You're wasting my time.
Why?
W-Wait!
What?
Your Count! It's 320, isn't it?
Yes, and?
My Count is 441!
You have to obey the person with a higher count, right?!
Yes, indeed...
In that case... Bet your stars.
Bet? My stars?
Yes! I will exercise my privilege as a member of the military
and challenge you to a Star Stake!
Wh-What are you talking about?
I guess you wouldn't know, as a commoner.
If you don't bet your stars, I have no obligation to obey you!
So, what'll it be? Will you bet your stars?
Y-Yes! If that will make you stop this!
So it's official.
The person with a lower Count must obey a person with a higher Count.
But there is one exception, that is the Star Stake!
It's a battle, wagering one's Count!
I suppose you commoners may have heard the term, but don't know the details.
The Star Stake is the ultimate privilege given exclusively to us soldiers,
and our greatest pleasure!
A duel between chosen ones!
Yes, I love your expression.
S-Stop...!
"Stop"? That means you admit defeat.
In that case...
...I win this Star Stake!
Behold, your Count!
The winner takes the loser's Count...
...and adds it to his own!
This is the Star Stake!
No...
So, what are you left with now?
One! You've gone down to a measly "one"!
Now do you feel like handing over the Ballot?
Hand over the Ballot, and submit yourself to me!
Or would you prefer to attempt another Star Stake?
Next time, you'll certainly be sent to the Abyss!
Why...
Why would you do such a terrible thing?
You're the legendary Ace.
Do you even know what the legendary Ace is?
O-Of course I do! The legendary Ace is a hero from the Waste Wars...
He wears a bright white star, and carves the number of vanquished foes on his body.
He is capable of superhuman feats...
You are correct.
And that legendary Ace is none other than myself.
Or...
Not! You idiot!
Don't you even know when the Waste Wars took place?
Listen. It was 300 years ago!
Three hundred years! Even if the legend of the Ace was true, he'd be long dead!
There is no such thing as the legendary Ace, at least not anymore!
No such thing? How...
What a waste! Your mother was a fool to make you look for a 300-year-old man,
but you're just as big of a fool to believe her!
Mom...
Five years? 40,000 kilometers? All that, wasted, on some fairy tale from your mom!
Now hand over the Ballot!
Or bet your stars again!
What will it be?! A bet?!
It's a bet.
Licht...
Did you say you're going to bet your stars?
I did. I will be her proxy in this Star Stake.
What kind of Count is that?! Negative 999?!
You're lower than the lowest of lows!
Challenging me with such a number is beyond foolish...
It's an insult to me!
I'll have you sent straight to the Abyss!
Licht!
Licht... Licht...!
What is this? Not even an attempt at resistance?
You trash!
Isn't it strange?
Negative 999?
That's impossible, isn't it?!
Sergeant Major David! There's something wrong with that guy!
What?!
He's at negative 999!
Yes, he's lower than the lowest of lows!
Sir, I mean his Count is lower than zero, yet he hasn't been sent to the Abyss!
He's cancelling it out! All 999 of his negative Count!
He's holding a separate Count!
He's...
He's a Ballot Holder!
Thanks for the haircut.
Y-You! Who are you?!
Hey... Hina.
Y-Yes!
You!
Stop looking for the Aces.
They're not heroes, they're just...
...murderers.
So stop looking for them, and try to find a normal, happy life.
That's the best idea.
--But... --You!
I asked you, identify yourself!
But...
The five years you spent traveling to realize your mother's words...
The 40,000 kilometer journey...
Nobody has the right to mock that.
So... You're going to give back the Count you took from her...
No, this guy isn't just some ordinary Ballot Holder!
That... That star!
Wearing a bright white star
with the number of vanquished foes carved on his body.
Capable of superhuman feats...
The legendary... Ace.
"Episode 1: The Legendary Ace"
Hey, I'm Licht!
Plunderer 's next episode is a panties festival!
Panties, panties, panties, panties, panties, panties...
Do you really love panties that much?
Yes! I'd love to see yours, Hina!
Next episode, "I Hate You!"