Somali.
You are awake?
Is it still night?
No.
Episode 2 Edible Herbs and the Oni's Dwelling
Got you!
Dad! I caught breakfast!
Striking starmaker rocks together creates fire.
I wanna try!
Unacceptable.
We will gather plants at the riverside until the flame has stabilized.
Fine...
Down the hatch!
Exercise further caution during consumption.
No way! It's too good to hold back!
A sentiment difficult to grasp for one who lacks a sense of taste.
What is the matter?
That's the saddest thing I've ever heard...
Never feeling happy, or tasting good food... there'd be nothing to live for!
Your statement is an overreaction.
Look! Bunnies!
Horned rabbits.
Likely drawn here by the smell of breakfast.
Hey, c'mon! C'mon!
We will do you no harm.
You are invited to join us.
It's so warm and sweet and fluffy!
Forgive the inquiry, but is there a city in this region?
I see.
Just outside this forest, then?
Understood.
Thank you.
Dad, you can talk to animals?
Correct.
Communicating with animals to keep order in the forest
is an ability unique to guardians.
That's amazing!
That's my honey mushroom!
Wait, you! Wait!
Somali.
It is dangerous to run on such uneven ground.
Somali, have you suffered any damage?
Dad.
What is it?
I'm not an object!
Then I will rephrase.
Were you injured?
Nope!
The wound is deeper than it first appeared.
Our medicine stores are depleted.
Dad...
It hurts.
It hurts a lot all of a sudden...
Medicine!
Say, could anyone here use any medicine?
You passed by earlier.
You are a member of the oni clan, correct?
Aw, heck. You spotted me there, huh?
I'm the dwarf oni, Shizuno.
We don't see many golems around these parts.
That sure looks painful.
Let's see... It's not too bad, so...
This should do it!
What is it?
Ointment.
Leave this to me.
I'm a healer!
Making medicines from nature is basically my job.
This'll sting a little.
Can you be strong for me?
Okay.
There's a brave kid!
Are you a minotaur?
Yes.
A golem father with a minotaur kid.
What a funny combination!
There, first aid complete!
You might want to get it properly looked at, though.
Why don't we finish up at my house?
That would be appreciated.
And while we're there...
You think I could get a good look at that golem body of yours?
Here we are!
That there is my house!
You live in the forest?
Is there not a town nearby?
Well, it was hard going into the forest every time I needed herbs.
So I decided to move out here!
I'm home—
Shizuno!
You skipped out on tidying up aga—
M-My eyes!
My eyes! My eyes! My eyes!
Is this a fruit?
What a rude thing to do, Yabashira!
Throwing things at customers. Honestly!
Shizuno!
There, all done.
Try standing up now, Somali dear.
It doesn't hurt a bit now, Dad!
Thanks! You're amazing, Shizuno!
Child's play for the wondrous ointments of the great Shizuno!
It doesn't hurt!
Somali. Your recovery is not yet assured.
You kids and your energy!
Shizuno, aren't you a kid, too?
Dwarf oni remain small even when grown.
Like he said!
Dwarf oni might not be as strong as normal oni,
but we're way better at using our heads!
I smell something!
I'm sorry about before.
I'm Shizuno's assistant, Yabashira.
It's not much of an apology, I guess, but help yourself.
Down the hatch!
It appears delicious.
Yabashira's sweets are always first-rate.
You made all of this, Yabashira?
More or less. I suppose I don't look the type...
No, it's amazing!
You must be a genius if you can make sweets this good, Yabashira!
Well, thank you.
But your household appears quite disorderly.
Yeah, Shizuno can't handle tidying up.
He ran off earlier without cleaning again,
which is why I lost my temper.
Well, you're my assistant. You should do that stuff.
An assistant isn't the same thing as a maid.
My job is to assist you in your work.
Because making medicines is the only thing you're good at.
It's not the only thing...
Shizuno.
Would you instruct me in the art of making medicines?
The ability to create medicine even when our supplies are exhausted
would be invaluable in emergencies.
Sure thing!
But in exchange...
Can I have a piece of you?
A piece of me?
Yes...
I'd like to learn about golem bodies, to help me in my study of medicine.
Hey!
Don't say scary stuff like that.
You're scaring the little girl!
Oh, but I was just joking.
Right, Somali dear?
O-Oh, just joking!
Is this acceptable?
Oh... Sure.
Dad... doesn't that hurt?
There is no issue.
Golems do not feel pain.
Yabashira!
Hey!
Sorry to ask for your help like this.
No, helping is fun!
Is it?
Will you help me with the drying, then?
Yes!
Somali will do it all!
You're sure you can handle it?
Yes!
I'll go get a chair!
Well, then...
The great Shizuno's medicine class shall commence!
Indeed.
Now, Mr. Golem, do you know Hypericum erectum?
It is a grass seen frequently on our journey.
Yep!
It happens to be the most basic herb you'll need when you're making ointment.
To start...
You wash it really well!
Then...
Try to cut it up as finely as possible!
Then add about 0.3 liters of water to the cut-up leaves,
boil for twenty minutes in a pot, and after it cools...
It's done!
Just smear that on the wound.
If you're in a big hurry, you can also just squeeze the leaves and use the juice.
Understood.
Will you now teach me the preparation of cold medicine?
You'll want Pueraria for that.
It's a kind of kudzu with powerful antioxidant abilities.
First, you peel the skin off the root...
Huh?
Allow me.
Thanks so much!
I'm no good at detailed work like that.
I see.
Once it's peeled, you'll want to chop it and dry it in the sun.
Dry it in the sun?
That will take time.
That's why...
I have some dried ones right here!
We'll need to boil these too, but...
Huh? Where'd my measuring cup go?
I'll just have to guesstimate!
Is this method not overly reckless?
It's fine. It's not an exact science.
All is explained.
This will increase the workload for Yabashira.
Yabashira!
I dried all the laundry!
Hey, great job.
Then next, let's—
What do I do next?
I wanna help more!
Don't push yourself too hard.
You must be tired.
You're still a kid.
You should just go play while we wait.
I don't wanna!
Huh? Why not?
My dad is always doing things for me.
He makes food, he makes medicine...
And earlier, he said it didn't hurt, but...
So I'm gonna work hard, too!
You really do love him, I suppose.
Yeah!
Okay, then I'll put you to work a little longer!
Say, why did you want to learn to make medicine so much?
As I explained earlier, it is more efficient.
You've got a lot of clothes on, too. The cloth wraps, the boots, the vest...
You're trying to keep more of your skin from breaking off, right?
This isn't something you can afford to lose, is it?
But I had to go and ask for it...
You currently resemble Somali.
When Somali was hurt in the forest earlier,
she wore the same expression that you wear now.
The muscles in her face distorted, and moisture filled her eyes.
Somehow, that expression disrupted my thoughts.
This part, in particular, became agitated.
I never want to see that expression on Somali's face again.
That is why I need medicine.
A part of my skin is a small price to pay
for lessons that ensure it never happens again.
Do not concern yourself.
What is the matter?
Has something happened that amuses you?
No...
I think you suffered a little heartbreak, is all.
Your statement is erroneous.
Golems lack both hearts and emotions.
Yeah, but... you didn't like seeing Somali cry, right?
I hear you...
You're a very nice golem, aren't you?
Your interpretation is mistaken—
Dad!
Yabashira is making sweets!
I did the laundry and the cleaning and the dishes!
I see.
And I wiped the table, too!
And I watered the flowers, too!
Cake... More cake...
You have my gratitude for offering her a room.
No problem!
Anyone would be tired after all that work.
She ate her dinner and dessert half-asleep as it was.
She got plenty of crumbs on her face, didn't she?
She was as bad as you, Shizuno.
My apologies.
I have requested in the past that she take greater care when eating.
Hey, seeing her pack it in like that makes me feel like I did my job right.
And it's nice to see kids act like kids.
Is that so?
Hey.
I've been wondering...
What would motivate a golem to leave the forest
and go on a journey with a kid like that?
Yeah, I've been wondering that myself...
I am searching for Somali's parents.
I will find them and return her to them.
I see. So that's it...
But where are her parents, then?
I do not know.
You don't know? How are you gonna find them, then?
You'll at least need to get some info first.
She's still a little kid. You really shouldn't force it.
There's a reason, isn't there?
A reason you need to hurry.
What are you...
Your body... Why...
Do you know the lifespan of a golem?
I read in a book that you live a long time, but...
Yes. We live one thousand years.
And our lives end precisely at the thousandth year.
End?
I have lived 998 years and 253 days.
My life functions will cease in one year and 112 days.
That is why I must return Somali to her real parents before that time comes.
Does Somali know you're reaching the end of your life?
No.
That'd be hard to tell her, I bet...
A journey to say goodbye, huh?
That's a pretty cruel fate.
Somali seems so content with you, too...
Content?
Is that how Somali feels?
You sure are dense.
You think she'd smile like that if she weren't content?
Here. This should hold you a while!
You have my gratitude.
And this is for my little dear.
What is it?
Sweets? I can have these?
Yeah, eat them if you get hungry.
Okay! Thanks, Yabashira!
Refrain from overindulgence.
Well, if you run out, just have him make some more!
Dad? You can make these?
I will adapt.
Come on, you're supposed to promise!
I can do so much helping now!
I'll even wash your clothes next time, Dad!
Quite an unusual golem, wasn't he?
Yeah. I hope those two have a nice journey.
I'll say.
And I think he still has a few secrets hidden...
Nothing.
I hope we meet them again someday...
That mysterious father and child.
Episode 3 The Sea at the Bottom of the Cave