How about this, then? 20 monee.
20 monee, eh?
All right. Climb aboard.
Appreciate it.
It's so good, Dad!
But I'm still hungry...
What are you doing, Somali?
Yabashira's sweets!
They're all gone now, but the bag still smells good!
I fail to comprehend.
How can aroma sate the appetite?
Are there any towns nearby?
It seems a significant distance remains.
Dad, are we gonna ride that there?
No.
Our travel funds remain limited.
Although a carriage would conveniently hasten our journey...
Don't worry about me! I'll walk!
There's no hurry!
I like walking with you, Dad!
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.
Dad?
It's fine.
Let us walk, then.
Yeah!
Episode 3 The Sea at the Bottom of the Cave
I said I'd be okay walking, but...
It's really tough.
Dad, my legs are all wobbly.
We are nearly there.
Look.
Come one, come all, and feast your eyes!
The gap in the mountain is the main thoroughfare!
Anything can be found, and everyone's welcome!
Welcome to Anthole City, everyone!
I've got high-quality wine here!
I'll mend anything on the spot!
Seaweed-grilled sticky sweet potatoes!
Piping hot and fresh! Come on by!
Anthole City appears to be a popular marketplace for travelers to visit
before crossing the desert.
"Anthole"?
It is so named because the streets wind in a manner similar to an ant colony.
If one is lost in this town, one will remain lost forever.
Do you understand my meaning?
Uh-huh!
Welcome, sir!
Now, how can I help you?
I wish to sell.
Yes, of course!
Hypericum erectum, honey mushrooms, and...
The lights are all floaty...
Hey.
What are you doing there?
What is the matter?
Nothing!
How about this, sir?
A smaller sum than I expected.
Yeah, sorry about that.
These just don't fetch a high price here.
The city's well-stocked as it is, so...
Trying to make money in a hurry?
Yes. I wish to resume my journey as quickly as possible.
You might have better luck doing odd jobs, then.
This is Anthole City, after all.
Someone's always understaffed.
Regardless...
That matter must be dealt with immediately.
Do we have enough money?
We have enough to purchase a meal.
Is this location acceptable?
Yeah!
Are they closed?
Dad...
What?
That box is moving.
It appears that someone is hiding inside.
They are?!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Who are you?
I'm Somali!
My apologies, sir.
We're not quite ready to open—
Hey! Kikila!
Oh, no!
What?!
You look fluffy and snuggly!
Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle! Cuddle, cuddle!
Preparing
I'm so sorry about all the fuss.
No, the fault is entirely ours.
Don't be absurd.
My son and I are woolly shurigara.
I'm Kokilila, and this is—
Shucks. I almost got away, too!
Enough, Kikila!
"Got away"?
Well, my wife hurt her back,
so our son is supposed to help with the shop.
But as you can see, he doesn't like to stay put...
That is a common tendency in children.
Kids his age should be out playing, so it's not like I want twist his arm...
But I just can't seem to hire workers.
You require workers?
In that case...
You look cool, Dad!
Isn't that nice?
It suits you so well—ouch, ouch.
Hey, I told you to take it easy.
This is my wife, Giina.
We really do appreciate it.
If anything gives you trouble, just ask.
Understood.
Somali.
You must remain inside the restaurant until my work is complete.
Understood!
Can I go play, then?
Yes. Go play with Somali.
Yay!
Let's play over there!
Okay!
I'll explain your duties, then.
It's sucking up the color!
How do you like to play, Somali?
I explore!
And I chase animals and cuddle them!
But my favorite is playing with my dad!
Yeah, I like playing with my dad, too!
We always kick a ball around!
I like it when my dad picks me up and runs real fast!
What kind of game is that?!
And we play hide-and-seek, too!
One time, I found him hiding at the top of a really tall tree!
Was that really hide-and-seek?!
It's been so boring lately, though...
We haven't played any new games.
Oh, yeah?
Well, we're ready to go now!
You're drawing!
I like drawing, too!
Long, long ago, in a land far away...
A strange visitor came.
The traveler crossed the sea,
and saw a person with horns and a tail...
That's a neat song!
You've never heard it?
It's a really old song! Everyone knows it!
It almost seems like it's about us, huh?
I have horns and a tail, and you're a visitor!
Oh, yeah! That's true!
Right?
What about cuddles?
Are there any cuddles in the song?
No way!
I see they've bonded very quickly.
It does appear that way.
Open
I see. Interesting.
Your order, sir.
That's some amazing balance you've got...
Hey, be careful with those!
No need for concern.
I have carefully assessed the dishes' weight and balance.
Well, maybe the performance will draw in customers...
Green eggs over rice and corn salad with herbs.
Total calories: 595.
Of that, 20.94 grams are protein.
16.31 grams are fat.
And—
You don't have to tell them all that!
Oh?
I've seen a lot of things on my travels,
but a golem waiter is a first.
What brings you here?
I am on a journey, searching for humans.
Humans? To eat?
No.
There was a traveler we met who mentioned humans, wasn't there?
Yeah, that's right!
He thought he saw them on the west end of the Osuna Desert.
Well, crossing the desert is no easy task.
You said it!
The desert?
I appreciate the information.
Your dad can do anything, Somali!
I wish he'd stay and work with us forever.
Then I could always play with you!
You think you'll come back when your journey is over?
Oh, but I guess when it's over, you'll just go home.
That stinks...
When our journey is... over?
If you want to cross the desert with a child,
you'll need all this at the bare minimum.
I lack the funds to purchase it all.
Your order, sir.
Gliding lizard in cream.
We hope you will come back again.
Waiter! Water, please!
I will bring it immediately.
Boy, that golem's such a big help.
Yes! He deserves twice what we're paying him, at least!
Your order, sir.
Dad, I just—
I am working.
Tell me later.
Hey, Somali.
Let's play outside today.
But Dad said I couldn't go outside...
That's why we won't tell him!
Where are you going?
T-To play outside!
That is not permitted. You must play inside the restaurant.
How come? What's the big deal?
That was the agreement.
Somali, do you understand?
Yeah...
What's his problem?
Your dad's way too strict!
Your order, sir.
Hey! Hey, Somali!
Somali?
Kikila!
Could you and Somali pick up a few things for me?
Sure!
Let's go, Somali!
Wait.
Somali is not permitted to go.
I cannot allow her to leave my supervision.
I'll be with her!
I promise I'll watch over her!
I'll protect her if she gets in trouble! So please, let her come along!
Very well. You have my permission to go.
Isn't that great, Somali?
See that you return before nightfall.
Okay...
You're the worrying type, huh?
Did I overstep by asking her?
No. Our entire journey has been only Somali and me.
Kikila is the first friend she has made.
I do not wish to take that lightly.
Here you go.
Thanks!
I added your usual special treat.
Yay!
Careful on your way back, now.
Here, a baked apopo!
The shopkeeper always gives me one.
It's good...
Right?!
I really love these—
Wh-What's wrong?!
I think my dad wants to leave me.
He's trying to get money so we can finish our journey as soon as possible.
And when it's over, he might leave me.
But I wanna stay with him forever...
I know!
Let's ask the yozame flowers!
There's a legend in this city, see?
There are flowers growing beneath the city, and if you bring one back alive,
it'll grant you a wish!
It'll grant a wish?
Yeah! Let's go find one!
Kikila... You're so nice!
Stop it, Somali!
I say thanks with cuddles!
Stop! Stop it! Stop!
Kids really aren't supposed to come down here alone...
But there are lots of secret ways in around the city,
so kids still come here to play in secret all the time.
Why do you need a grown-up with you?
Because...
This world is nothing like the world above.
It belongs to the underground creatures!
Those are the things I saw the first day!
Wanna go?
Yeah!
It's really bright for underground.
That's the mushrooms' spores glowing.
They use the light to lure in bugs and eat them!
The mushrooms eat bugs?!
Yeah!
Say...
Just what are you and Mr. Golem to each other, Somali?
You call Mr. Golem "Dad,"
but even for an interclan foster family, it just seems different somehow.
I call him Dad 'cause he's my dad.
When I'm in danger, he protects me.
When we might get separated, he holds my hand.
When I can't sleep at night, he counts stars for me.
He's there when I need him.
So... that means he's my dad.
Oh, okay.
It's a starry butterfly swarm!
Let's go, Somali!
The starry butterflies feed on the pollen of yozame flowers!
So if we follow them, we'll find yozame flowers!
Somali?
Hey, wait up!
Wow, a whole field of yozame flowers!
Let's find the biggest one!
There! That big one!
Please... let me stay with my dad forever!
Now my wish will come true...
Look out, Somali!
Damn... What a waste of my time.
I finally found you.
Dad...
Somali.
Episode 4 The Wishing Flower and the Promise Request