Ow! That hurts!
Pick a fight somewhere else next time.
Oh, got that one, too?
I apprehended a thief in the act.
Whew. My shoulders are getting stiff, and my back aches.
This job'll be the death of me.
Is that possible?
I guess a golem wouldn't understand.
Goodness gracious me!
What a fine set of bodyguards you are!
Oh, it's you.
Thanks for the supplies you delivered before.
Not at all.
Take all you like.
But is this the last day of your job?
Tomorrow morning, we will depart for the next city.
Does that mean you're taking the western road?
That is our current plan.
I see.
That road's not safe this time of year. It'll be filled with robbers...
Don't you worry, though.
I'll show you another route that only villagers know about.
We wouldn't want anything happening to Somali.
Episode 11 Those Who Protect and Those Who Threaten
How's it going, Somali dear?
Almost done!
It must be hard, given how big Golem's hands are...
It's okay...
It's done!
I finished it, Shizuno!
Let me see!
Wow, that looks really good!
You think so?
Yes, I'm sure Mr. Golem will be very pleased.
I hope Dad comes back soon!
Food and daily supplies...
That should about cover it.
We should not lack for supplies in the near future.
And our pay should cover travel expenses.
Now, if we could just get a wagon...
What is it?
Oh, a present for the little miss?
That's pretty cute.
It'd be great for her.
It is perfect.
I have never seen such wonderfully protective clothing before.
Perhaps Somali would like this.
I don't think that's such a good idea.
Should I prioritize insulation over defense, then?
Or perhaps...
Never thought I'd see you stressing over kids' clothing.
Is it particularly amusing?
Not really.
I do kinda like you this way, though.
Do you?
We have returned.
Um... Dad?
Yes?
Um... Um...
This is for you!
For me?
Yeah!
It's a present from Somali to you.
Oh, a fita band?
Did you make this yourself?
Yeah, I worked on it a little every day!
Did you?
Is that for me?
I found it in the market.
I did not make it myself, I fear.
Well, well! Like father, like daughter.
You even think the same way.
It's done!
Now we match!
Yes.
That makes me really happy.
Thanks a lot, Dad!
It is I who am grateful.
Okay!
Well, it's a bit early for dinner, but I guess I'd better start now.
Surely you jest.
I think you're all forgetting something important.
Something important?
Yeah! Something important!
Shizuno, that's cold!
Oh, come on!
This is your "something important"?
Okay, then! You won't beat me!
Well, we got so much snow!
It'd be a waste not to play in it even once.
Shizuno! Get out from behind there!
You're wide open!
You'll pay for that! Take this, and this, and this!
What a kid.
Shizuno!
I am grateful to Shizuno for accompanying Somali while I was away.
Are you okay, Somali?
I'm not gonna lose!
Here it comes!
I just hope she doesn't pick up his messy habits.
Hey! Stop!
Dad! You gotta help me!
Understood.
What?!
M-Mr. Golem, that's too much!
That's so cool, Dad!
Hey! Don't lead him toward me!
This way?
Just like the tip said.
Once we catch it, we'll split it evenly, right?
Don't let it get away.
It's our first human in a long time.
Human?
Can it be...
Huh? A human hunt?
Yes.
They will arrive here shortly.
What would they be doing here?
It can't have anything to do with us.
We don't have any humans—
We do.
Huh?
There's a human right here.
The kid? No way...
I'm going to run away to keep her safe.
Because she's my friend.
Shizuno...
Yabashira, what will you do?
You said you liked my sweets, right?
Uh-huh.
You want to eat them again?
Yeah...
I want to eat them... with all of you guys!
More than enough reason to protect someone.
Hey, you!
Don't you know what time it is?
What a brutish bunch of late-night visitors...
Have some tea and calm down.
Oni Clan?
I heard there was a human in this house.
Human?
Gimme a break.
I think you've been reading too many old stories.
Search every nook and cranny!
Nothing here.
Where's it hiding?
See?
I told you, it isn't here.
He's going for the human, I bet!
Follow him! Don't let him get away!
Now, then...
Make it through, okay, guys?
It's like a maze in here, Dad.
An old, abandoned mine.
I am told it will take us past the mountains without requiring us to use the city road.
Yabashira has agreed to meet us at the exit.
You think Yabashira's okay?
Oh, he'll be fine.
He knows better than to be caught that easily.
Really?
Funny how he thought volunteering as the decoy would make him seem cool.
Yabashira's super cool!
Is he?
And he makes good sweets!
And Shizuno, you're funny, and fun to be around!
You're both my really good friends!
Let's go!
Yabashira's waiting for us!
What is the matter, Shizuno?
Nothing. I think I'm just starting to understand how you feel.
Dad! Shizuno! Hurry!
I think I would do anything to protect that smile.
Somali is a mysterious girl, isn't she?
Yes.
We've come rather far in, haven't we?
There is a stone bridge ahead that will take us past the ravine.
After we cross it...
Hunter approach detected.
We must run.
Then you think... Yabashira might...
They are different hunters this time.
Let us proceed.
Oh, no...
Why?
Got 'em! This way!
How does this keep happening?
How did they find us?
Is that the human?
It's pretty small, but it looks tasty.
Now, give us the kid!
Shizuno, be careful not to bite your tongue.
Stop!
W-We're alive!
So cool!
Dad, you're so cool!
They will catch up again soon.
We must hurry.
Okay!
Perhaps I used too much power...
The creaking in my body will not cease.
What's the big deal?
Humans ain't good for nothing but selling and eating!
That's enough out of you.
That's a bad sign...
I hope they're all right.
Are you tired, Somali?
I'm okay!
Makes sense. It would normally be your bedtime by now.
But look! Once we climb these stairs, we'll be right by the exit.
Okay!
After we leave, we must find a place to hide immediately.
That's true.
We can reunite with Yabashira, and—
Who is it?
Goodness gracious me!
Auntie Rosa!
I completely forgot the bridge had collapsed, you see,
so I came to bring you a new map.
So that's what happened!
Thank you, Auntie Rosa!
The way out is right here.
Thank goodness!
What?
What is this?
Auntie Rosa?
Why? Why did you lock us in?
Release us at once.
Don't you worry.
You two will be out very soon.
But... Somali stays.
How come?
Because... humans have value, don't you know?
It can't be...
You're working with the human hunters?
Dad...
I can destroy the cage.
But if I use my power again, it will further reduce my operation time.
I cannot allow it.
I must preserve all the time I can.
Let's get ready.
Right.
Now, it will take some time until the preparations are complete.
I'll tell you a story you've never heard.
Once upon a time...
One hundred or two hundred years ago, perhaps,
back when I was still a child,
a secret settlement of humans lived nearby.
Our villages lived in peace, never interfering with each other.
One day, a human child was attacked by wild wolves.
A kind man from our village caught sight of it.
He risked his life to save the child.
But...
The humans killed him.
But surely that was a misunderstanding.
No, that wasn't the only time.
It had happened many, many times before.
How could someone be so cruel just because we were different species?
I couldn't understand it.
Before long, I learned it was a word known as "prejudice."
And then, the war started.
It taught us that some species simply aren't compatible.
Persecution of the humans would make us safer.
We persecuted you, murdered you,
sold you, consumed you...
And you brought all of it
on yourselves.
Somali!
But... I...
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...
"How different they look," they whispered.
And so they threw them all in a pot.
And then, to season the soup,
they ripped up red flowers and dropped them in.
That's the song Kikila taught me...
It's an old children's song.
Do you know another word for something that looks different?
"Grotesque."
We didn't look like humans, so you grouped us all under that term.
Even though to us, you were the grotesque ones...
And that's why we hunt you all equally.
Now, enough talk.
It's time to cut up the cake!
I'll take the eyes.
I want the brain. It's the tastiest part!
I want the guts. Give 'em to me!
All of you protect your share.
The meat of children fetches a very high price.
Oh, and...
Get me the liver, would you?
It's true that humans in the past might have sinned.
But Somali has nothing to do with—
Shizuno!
Now, give us the kid.
You leave me no choice.
What the—
You will not have Somali—
Mr. Golem!
Gave me a scare for a second there.
Dad! Dad!
Dad!
Get up! Please!
What has happened?
My body is...
Somali.
Stop it.
Do not take Somali!
Dad! Dad!
Stop it! Let me go!
Shut up!
Dad! Dad!
Such a scrawny little neck.
Looks easy to cut through.
What's going on there?
M-Mr. Golem?
What... What the hell is he doing?
Dad?
Next Time: Bonded Father and Child