Exorcists.
Priests who eradicate demons that have possessed people and objects.
Or exorcists who belong to the True Cross Order.
But because the general public doesn't believe that demons exist,
exorcists are viewed more as faith healers or counselors or the like.
I'm taking attendance now!
Echizen!
- Echizen! - Well, not like I believed in them, either, back when I couldn't see them.
- Here.
Well, not like I believed in them, either, back when I couldn't see them.
- Well, not like I believed in them, either, back when I couldn't see them. - Okumura!
Well, not like I believed in them, either, back when I couldn't see them.
- Well, not like I believed in them, either, back when I couldn't see them. - Okumura!
Okumura!
Here!
Next, Godaiin.
If they could all see that thing right now...
- If they could all see that thing right now... - Here!
If they could all see that thing right now...
I bet they'd totally panic.
- I bet they'd totally panic. - Hishinoe.
- I bet they'd totally panic. - Here!
Bantoku?
Here.
What's the matter, Godaiin?
Uh...
Y-You see...
I-It's like...
I was having a dream...
That kid... No way!
EPISODE 1: THE WORLD'S ASTIR
- Why only me?
EPISODE 1: THE WORLD'S ASTIR - Other people can see them, too.
Other people can see them, too.
If he can see demons, then he must've received a Temptaint.
Anyway, listen.
When you first started seeing them, was there anything weird going on?
Like, did you hurt yourself, maybe?
I haven't gotten hurt lately.
Really? That doesn't make sense.
What about you, Okumura?
Can you see them?
Uh, yeah. I am...
an exorcist-in-training.
Huh? You...
Yeah.
So, I'll ask about you at the cram school.
Thanks. You're a good guy, Okumura.
Huh?
Y-You think so? Awww, stop it!
Anyway, if something happens, you tell me, okay?
Thanks!
Good luck with your exorcist training!
Sure thing! You cheer up, too!
This might just mean...
that for the first time ever, I'll have a friend in the same class!
Okumura! Morning!
Morning!
Hey, right. There's something I—
- Okumura! Th-Th-That can't possibly be... - Huh?
It's a love letter!
What?
TO RIN OKUMURA
- Wh-Wh-What do you know? I have a secret admirer now!
Wh-Wh-What do you know? I have a secret admirer now!
FROM MEPHISTO
- Morning, guys!
What's up?
It's from Mephisto for crying out loud!
Could he have used a creepier envelope?
Well, that's a bummer.
Shima, you pest!
- Keep your hands off me! I mean it! - Hey, don't break out your flames.
Dad...
Who ya callin' "Dad"?
It may look kinda freaky, but it might be important.
Go on and read it.
What does this mean?
ABOUT THE DEATH SENTENCE YOU RECEIVED FROM THE VATICAN THE OTHER DAY... IT'S BEEN STAYED!!!
- Let me see.
ABOUT THE DEATH SENTENCE YOU RECEIVED FROM THE VATICAN THE OTHER DAY... IT'S BEEN STAYED!!! - It says your execution's been stayed!
What execution?
Okumura!
You used your blue flames in Kyoto and went berserk and got sentenced to death, remember?
Did that really happen?
Forgot all about it.
How could you ever forget?
Hey, there's another page.
PLEASE COME AT AROUND 6 PM IN FORMAL ATTIRE TO THE HOME OF JOHANN FAUST.
- Huh?
PLEASE COME AT AROUND 6 PM IN FORMAL ATTIRE TO THE HOME OF JOHANN FAUST.
What does it mean? This?
Oh man!
I'm getting nothing but bad vibes.
"Come to my mansion for a ban..."
What does it say here?
- That's what you're stuck on? - Banquet!
Blanket?
Hit the books!
Dad...
You're kidding me? Knock it off!
What's wrong?
I'll go get a teacher!
Godaiin!
Help me!
Get lost!
What just happened?
Godaiin...
I've had it!
I can't take this anymore!
Help me!
Anyway, do any of you know if there's a way to stop someone from seeing demons?
Beats me. I've never heard of one.
Well, normally, you can't sever the bond created by a Temptaint.
But the thing is, that guy says he hasn't gotten any Temptaint-like wounds.
What? Is that even possible?
Is that Godaiin kid a friend of yours?
No, I just want to be friends with him.
- I mean, he seems like a real softie. - Hey!
Izumo! Paku!
Wanna have lunch together?
Ugh! What a pest!
Give me a break, will you?
Am I so pathetic that I have to have lunch with you guys?
Izumo...
I see you're business as usual today!
He's gone past positive and into masochistic territory.
Hey! Izumo!
Do you know how to stop someone from seeing any demons?
H-How should I know?
You little...
juvenile freak!
Hey! Keep your voice down!
Hah! So, I'm gonna have to grab Yukio or Shura at the cram school after all?
Shiemi?
Yes?
I'll be heading out now, so when you're done eating, look after the shop for me, okay?
Okay!
You've really been studying hard lately, haven't you?
Yes! I'm going to have Yuki tutor me again soon!
Right.
Right. Talk to you later.
Shura?
You seem pretty swamped, Yukio.
Calls to the True Cross Order helpline have been up lately.
I'm getting a bad feeling about that.
Watch your back.
You, too, Shura.
Hey, that reminds me! You've been ducking your annual physical, right?
Yeah, I've been too busy.
You'd better get yourself over there!
Medical Engineering can be a real pain in the butt!
All right!
TRUE CROSS ACADEMY
- That Mephisto might know how to keep someone from seeing any demons.
That Mephisto might know how to keep someone from seeing any demons.
MOE - I've been waiting for you.
Listen, there's something I wanted to ask you about.
Eins, zwei, drei!
Whoa!
Let us have dinner!
My favorite dish! Matekiya brand extra-rich, extra-spicy pork bone miso ramen in a cup!
This is a...
banquet?
I did say "formal attire" in that letter.
I'm the one who has something to say.
At this moment, you are fit to converse with me.
Huh? Listen to you, talking like a big boss!
Well, I actually am a big boss, you know.
Eins, zwei, drei!
"Mephisto Pheles"...
is what I've been going by for the last 200 years in Assiah.
A moniker that doesn't reflect who I truly am.
I am the second most powerful person in Gehenna...
the King of Time, Samael.
A member of demonic royalty, Baal.
What? You're...
You're a demon?
Isn't it a little late for that?
I believe you're the only one who didn't know.
Anyway, where are we?
What did you do?
This is Gehenna.
Damn you!
I always thought you were shady!
So, you're finally showing your true colors now, huh?
Settle down.
I am the master of time and space.
What I've done now is to transport our minds to another dimension. Gehenna.
Just for five minutes, that is.
I am not the enemy.
Because I am quite fond of humans and what humans create.
I won't do you any harm.
If that's true, then you'd better...
let me out of here now!
A demon's tail is his Achilles' heel.
The other one being...
his heart!
When did you...
I did take my time borrowing it.
I stopped time, you see.
Your demon heart has been sealed inside this sword.
A demon's heart is where he's most vulnerable.
If it's destroyed, he'll die without fail.
It's also the source of his power.
Most demons conceal their tails and hearts.
That's demonic manners.
It's called "etiquette."
And yet, look at you.
You wear them both on your sleeve!
Beholding such a sight...
embarrasses me.
Yes, I commend you for your budding self-awareness that you are the son of Satan.
But just look at the state you're in now.
Just because you enlisted Ucchushma's aid to defeat the Impure King...
you can't let that go to your head.
Huh? Huh? What?
These eyedrops will prevent one from seeing any demons.
H-How did you know about that?
There's nothing that escapes me.
Gimme!
As if I'd give it to you for free!
I'm going to charge you with a task.
A task?
Once you've accomplished it, I shall gift you these eyedrops.
Evil is slowly creeping its hands on Assiah now.
What's happening to the Godaiin boy is a sign of that.
Whoops! Five minutes already! Let's partake of this ramen!
Seriously, man, you can at least hit me back when I text you!
Like, "Do you need dinner today?" or "Need lunch today?" That's the kind of stuff I need to know!
Sorry, Mom.
You really made your mom worry!
Hey, I wish I had a mom, too, you bastard!
I really was slammed, okay?
We've been getting tons of calls to the True Cross Order helpline lately.
Meaning there are more and more cases like Godaiin's, huh?
I have to clear Mephisto's mission and get him those eyedrops.
Actually, he should just hand them out to everyone who calls in.
Talk about holding out on them!
Must be nice to be so simple.
Huh?
Thanks for the meal!
Hey, listen.
You're hiding something from me, aren't you?
What?
Why?
Whenever you look cheery, that's when you're hiding something.
You've been like that until recently.
Nothing to hide.
See you later.
Yukio's hiding something.
I can smell it!
Hah! Darn him!
It's something he can't talk to me about, huh?
Doggie!
You're so cute!
Tell me, doggie, just where did you come from?
It's always been my schtick to turn up in the most unexpected ways.
Izumo?
- Ms. Kamiki? - Mephisto?
Wh-What's Lord Pheles doing in a place like this?
Where's the doggie?
Everyone, thank you for your hard work!
A special extracurricular class will now begin!
I am going to have you all battle the demons lurking all over this academy.
What? It's gonna be just us?
Correct! I will be watching over you, but I will not interfere.
You're to get it all done by helping each other out.
Damn you, Mephisto, I get it!
So, this is the task!
Your target today...
is this!
"Family Portrait."
It was part of my prank...
...part of a set in my collection...
but there's been a recent spate of mental anguish suffered by students who've viewed it.
Now that it's become so dangerous, exorcism won't be effective.
And now, let's begin!
He has a gaming device.
We should start by analyzing the enemy.
The thing is, that painting doesn't look like a family portrait to me.
It's a painting of a woman. Why would anyone call it "family"?
I'm only seeing one woman, too.
M-Me, too.
Then, the same goes for me!
What do you mean, "then"? How about you, Kamiki?
Might be a woman.
"Might be"?
Are you all saying what you really think?
Hey!
Wouldn't it be faster if I just slashed it first?
Jeez! There you go again!
But if it works...
you guys won't have to face any danger, right?
Your suggestion sounds good to me, Okumura!
Shima!
I'll make quick work of this!
Dear me.
D-Did I do it?
What's going on?
You guys! Are you okay?
Satan's spawn!
S-Stay away from us!
H-Hey...
Y-You guys...
Okumura!
K-Konekomaru?
This way!
We need to get inside that barrier now!
Wh-What's going on here, exactly?
Don't look over there!
Everybody huddle up and only look at each other!
Now, I'm sure you've all seen something, but I need you stay strong!
That's a spirit that's possessed the painting! A shape-shifter!
Right.
Shape-shifters are demons that can project the fear felt by humans who see them.
They're a handful. So, how come you're okay?
When Okumura unleashed his assault, I took my glasses off just in case.
My poor vision saved the day for me.
That's our Konekomaru!
Now that we know what the enemy is, this should be a cinch!
I know five Fatal Verses that can take down a shape-shifter.
If I chant them all, one of them should—
- If I chant them all, one of them should— - Bon!
What?
This barrier...
won't hold up for long!
Everyone, will you listen to what I have to say?
Bon...
You've got a one-track mind!
Your knowledge of arias is too expansive,
so you have a bad habit of trying to resolve everything by chanting an aria!
Also...
I don't think you have to try so hard to lead us all the time!
Whoa! Koneko!
Are you gonna be okay after this?
Shima!
If you don't shape up, you're going to flunk your aria qualification exam!
Why won't you give it your all?
Ms. Kamiki!
Wh-What is it?
I don't know why you feel the need to distance yourself from us,
but we need you to kick that habit when we're in battle!
- And Ms. Moriyama, be more confident! - R-Right!
In terms of talent, you can hold your own against any of us here,
so I think you should speak up more!
As for Takara...
since we can't expect him to be of any help to us, I'm not going to comment.
Hey...
Wh-What about me?
Okumura, if the rest of us all just leave everything up to you...
and the day comes that we can't rely on you, what are you going to do?
Tell us to go on being idiots?
N-No, I wouldn't!
We have to get stronger, too!
So, we want you...
to always be our ace in the hole!
Ace in the hole?
The one we set loose at the end of the battle or at the right moment. Our strongest trump card!
As long as we have that, you'll be giving us moral support while we battle.
That's what I want you to be for us, Okumura!
You've got it!
Everyone, please leave all of today's strategizing to me!
Please let me do it!
Fine.
Let's see what you can do!
Right, then, Ms. Moriyama, can you produce a barberry plant? Any kind will do.
- Sure! - Nee!
First, we're going to use this barberry plant to cast an Awakening spell on you all.
You cast the spell, Bon!
Kokuriko kikkire!
Now you should be safe to look at the shape-shifter!
Whoa! I-Is that what it really is?
It's a lot bigger than we thought!
It's about to breach the barrier, too!
Also, this spell will be nullified if the spellcaster dies!
Shima and Okumura, do all you can to protect Bon from the scrubs!
Oh, man! We're just gonna have to do it, huh?
And Ms. Moriyama, could you create a barrier with some kind of plant?
Sure! Nee-chan, use a Tengu hornbeam!
Nee!
Hey, you're in the princess position again!
If you say that again, I'm gonna curbstomp you, all right?
Bon! Hold yourself back!
Ms. Kamiki, please inflict an Expel Spirit onto the shape-shifter!
Humph! With all that bossing around you're doing, if you make me regret anything...
I'm so going to make you pay!
Expel Spirit!
It reverted? How could it not have had any effect?
What are we going to do?
As you are now, we won't be lending you anything stronger than Expel Spirit.
Stay calm!
No way can we stay calm! There are too many of them!
This reminds me of the Impure King battle!
Why is it called "Family Portrait"?
"Family Portrait."
It was part of a set in my prank collection.
I see it!
Three paintings with the same frame!
Ms. Kamiki! Up there!
- What? - Straight up from here!
The second one from top, straight ahead!
The seventh, counting up from the chair on the right!
The one that's vertically long, above the entrance on the left!
Aa a set, all four of them could be a family!
You're kidding me, right?
Expel Spirit!
It's not working!
It's no different! It'll regenerate right away!
Koneko!
Hurry it up!
I'll fight, too!
You can't! You have to stay there, Suguro!
They might really all be one set.
If we attack all four at once...
Ms. Kamiki, you and the white foxes take on the two at the upper right!
Okumura, you take the one at the top left! Shima, you take the one straight ahead!
All three of you, time your attacks!
So, it's my turn to step up, huh?
All right!
Let's go!
Hey! Wait a—
You're crazy—
On my count!
SOMEWHERE IN YEMEN
Revival of the Impure Princess, huh?
Lightning.
Huh?
Have you heard who it was that defeated the Impure King in Japan?
Yeah.
Of all people, to have the son of Satan bring him down...
Now is the time for me to put my powers as Paladin on display!
To protect the people from the demons!
Wow, could you be more zealous?
I'm flabbergasted!
Caliburn. Awaken.
Oh, wow! We have a contract!
Let's go! Angel Slash!
Whoa!
Everything will be in complete harmony!
The day the humans open their eyes is near!
Here!
Eyedrops that will keep you from seeing any demons.
Good for you!
Okay, see you later!
O-Okumura!
Huh?
Uh, well...
the other day, it looked to me as if you had a tail.
Oh... Well, I guess it's no use hiding it.
I'm a half-demon.
What does...
What does that mean for you?
Aren't you scared?
Sure I'm scared.
But I'm lucky, because I'm surrounded by some great people!
That's why it doesn't bother me!
It sure is hard, making friends.
Hey, there you are! Finally!
Huh?
Come on, we're gonna have some monja!
We were all waiting for you because we were worried about you!
I wasn't worried!
It's just that I didn't want to be alone with Lord Pheles and Nemu Takara!
I didn't want him to forget about the monja and head home, so I stayed.
Well, you could've just texted him, then.
Assiah is under constant threat by invaders from Gehenna.
The demons.
Those fighting on the front lines are known as...
"exorcists."
However...
that border is now starting to blur into ambiguity.
Now then...
time to move on to the next space.