What's this now?
Just remembering yesterday.
When you put your care for Shea over the labyrinth.
I'm happy you care about Shea.
I'm happy there are more people you care about.
I'm so happy…
Is Shea special to you now?
Well, you know…
She's in the top one or two things I care about in this world,
but you're the only one special to me.
I wouldn't mind if it's Shea.
But also, hearing that makes me happy.
You're not satisfied?
Haji…
Hey, Nagumo? Are you here?
Butting in at the worst time.
He's a pain in a lot of ways.
Hajime, you're not getting away.
Koki, did you find Nagumo?
Yeah, I heard someone this way, so I think…
Hey now!
What are you up to so early in the day?!
Shea, wanna join in?
Huh? Is that okay? In that case…
It's not okay at all!
Get off of him!
Making your move so early, how nic-
Wait no, how absurd!
Mind if I join you?
ARIFURETA: FROM COMMONPLACE TO WORLD'S STRONGEST SEASON 3
EPISODE 3: THE PRINCESS'S ORDEAL
Thank you for coming all this way, Princess Liliana.
Quite the sudden visit, but I hope that means some exciting tales for us.
I'm afraid I won't meet your expectations.
I see.
King Eliheid, Loggins,
and even that pope who seemed practically immortal…
They're all gone, huh?
It really does sound like a dreadful situation.
So that's how powerful that man named Hajime Nagumo is?
He fundamentally practices mutual non-interference.
So it's best not to involve yourselves with him.
You're here for more than just a status report, right?
Yes.
To get to the point, I'm here today to ask for your aid,
and to come to an agreement on future cooperation.
I see.
I'm happy to offer you a single army division.
If your kingdom falls, we'd have to allot some of our men to the west.
Thank you very much.
The issue is how to publicly display our strengthened ties.
Princess Liliana, you'll have to take part in that.
I understand.
Don't give me that look. It's simply a betrothal.
Baius may be what he is, but well, you're a princess.
Whip him into shape.
Incidentally, Princess.
Last night, we were ridiculously attacked by four people wearing ridiculous masks.
What do you make of it?
Could they have been demons?
I don't think they're the type to don such ridiculous masks.
Well, the possibility's not zero.
Even if one of them was swinging a sword that resembles the Holy Sword.
How startling.
What are Koki and the others doing?!
Those masks are pointless, too!
Yes, absolutely.
Hopeless fools going on about better treatment for demi-human slaves…
They're so senseless, I can't help but be scared.
It's like they're not from this world.
An encounter of the third kind.
I'll say…
-Princess Liliana. -Yes?
Wasn't the hero headed to the Sea of Trees with Hajime Nagumo?
-That's right. -I see, I see.
That reminds me, we captured some interesting demi-humans recently.
Some very, oh so very unique rabbitmen for sure.
Even outside the Sea of Trees, they can hold their own against Imperial soldiers.
Killer instinct and drive that seem a far cry from other rabbitmen.
My word, rabbitfolk are known for their gentle nature.
To think there are clans like those…
How frightening.
Those rabbitmen escaped from the dungeons last night.
At the same time those masked men showed up.
He's here!
He's here for sure!
No one else could free them from the dungeons without being noticed!
By the way, Princess Liliana.
Yes, Your Majesty? What is it?
Hajime Nagumo had freakishly strong allies with him, did he not?
I hear one of them is a rabbitman.
Yes, he does have a rabbitfolk with him.
What of it?
He knows that the blame would fall on me!
How wicked of him!
-What do you want? -Yes!
There are a number of people here to see Princess Liliana.
Me?
The hero and his party.
Why did they show up at his front door?!
I heard the hero's party is here.
Would that be you?
Ah yes, that's right. That's us.
I'm Grid Half, Commander of the Third Regiment.
It's my pleasure to meet you.
Princess Liliana has received word of your visit.
Is that right?
By the way, Hero, who's that rabbitman?
I don't see a slave collar on her.
No, she's…
Hey there, rabbit girl.
I want to ask you something.
Haven't I seen you somewhere before?
Huh? What are you…
It can't be…
I sold off your friends for a good price to a slave trader.
Though I'm sure you'd have brought in more.
What's with those eyes?
You think you're safe because you're with the hero?!
Dirty demi-human!
Don't you get cocky with me!
If I may, Hero.
Would you mind handing over this rabbitman?
If you need a female rabbitman, I can get you another.
So if you would…
-I can't… -Hey, lackey.
What?
-Show us in already. -You…
We don't have even a second to spare on you.
Know your damn place.
So? Including that charade in the capital,
exactly why in the world are all of you here?
Please explain in a way that satisfies me.
I won't allow you to avoid the question.
Especially you, Nagumo!
You've got to be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes!
That's really loud.
I'm right here. I can hear you.
Then how come you're not listening to what I say?!
C-Calm down, Lily!
Princess, give us some slack.
There are reasons for that.
Shea's feeling a bit unstable at the moment.
Unstable? Are you feeling sick?
I'm fine!
Why did you come here?
What about the Great Sea of Trees Labyrinth?
Emperor Gahard will summon us to an audience with him soon.
In order to get our stories straight,
I'd like to hear the bare minimum of what's going on.
Don't be so worried.
Everything will be clear by night.
Just say that we finished our business early,
so we decided to drop by before our long journey.
H-How careless…
Everything will be clear by night?
Are you going to go on another rampage in those masks?!
I'm well aware, you know!
Nagumo, you forced Shizuku and the others into those embarrassing outfits!
Don't be so cranky. You'll go bald, Princess.
I will not! How dare you say that to a lady!
-Bald princess. -Yue?!
Last night, separate from the mask commotion,
there was a prison break from the palace dungeons.
With you as the perpetrator.
Accusing people of being criminals so casually.
How awful can you get?
You have no right to say that.
I haven't heard all the details,
but the prisoner rabbitfolk were Haulia, were they not?
I understand you rescued them for Shea's sake.
What I don't get is why you've marched in here now.
What are you planning?
I don't know what you mean.
Wh-Wh-Wh…
Why don't you know?!
His Majesty wants to see all of you.
So you're Hajime Nagumo?
Yes.
I'm Hajime Nagumo.
-Whoa! No way! -It's an honour to be here, Your Majesty.
I'm scared…
Um, I'm royalty, so why am I treated so differently?
Hey now, what's with those reactions?
You can act like you usually would.
Princess Liliana has told me all about your outrageous insolence.
I want to see it for myself.
Let me see what you're really like.
Is that so? Then normal it is.
I've taken an interest in you.
You've cleared great labyrinths,
and I hear you've gained the power to create artifacts from them.
That let you easily defeat the demon army,
and cover distances that would take two months in under two days.
Artifacts of that extent.
-Is this true? -Yeah.
And that you have no intent of giving said artifacts to either Heiligh or Hoelscher.
Yeah.
A single individual monopolizing such power…
Do you really think such an act would be permitted?
Whose permission do I need?
And even without permission, what can you do?
E-Emperor Gahard!
Time to call it quits! He saw right through me.
This guy's a certified monster, like you say.
If we fight here, all of my men will end up slaughtered.
Why do you sound so excited?
Hey now! I'm the head of the empire.
I'd be a faker if my heart didn't skip when facing someone strong.
That being said…
The women who serve you are something special, too.
Where'd you find them?
Let me have at least one, Hajime Nagumo.
Don't be stupid. I'll crack your skull open!
No, wait…
-Tio's fine to let go… -Wh-What was that?!
Oh, such horrid treatment! I need more!
She's got her problems, but isn't she a fine one?
In looks, that is.
Sorry, but even an emperor has his limits.
I'm more interested in that rabbitman.
I've never seen a rabbitman with hair her colour,
and she doesn't back down at all when I provoke her.
That attitude of hers reminds me of some toys I got recently.
What do you think?
Don't ask me about your toys.
Doesn't ring a bell?
I could show you after this.
Truth is, I still have a few.
Women and children, but quite impressive.
Not interested.
They're packing equipment and some real sharp short swords.
Still not interested, genius alchemist?
I'm not one to use swords, you see.
By the way, I had some prisoners escape from my dungeons.
Easily entering and leaving my palace.
Do you know of any artifacts or special magic that could do that?
Not a clue. I'd love to know.
This is my final question.
What would it take to get you on the Empire's side?
A way to return to my world.
Once I get back, I'll cheer on the Empire.
You really are just like I'd heard.
Difficult little brat.
Well, I confirmed the bare minimum I needed to.
For now, I'll leave it at that.
The Empire's real busy at the moment.
Tonight, we're having a welcoming party for Princess Liliana.
I'd love it if you'd all attend.
It's also an engagement party for the princess and my son.
Lily! What did he mean by engagement?!
With our king gone, and the governance of the kingdom in question,
we must strengthen our ties with our allies.
No way…
Don't tell me you were prepared for this…
He was already my fiance in effect,
but it's made official with tonight's party.
This is the right time, with all the concerns from the demon invasions.
What about Heiligh?
Don't you need to discuss it with them?
It will end up being retroactive approval, but I'm sure none will object.
Lily, do you love that person?
It's not about whether I love him or not.
This marriage is for the diplomacy of our two nations.
H-How can you be so calm?!
This is a fact of life for royalty.
A fact of life?! You're a girl like anyone else!
Don't you want to marry someone you really love?!
Hey, Nagumo! You don't think anything of this?!
And what should I think?
This is just politics in the form of marriage, right?
Novices should just stay out of it.
B-But…
There are things we need to accomplish now.
Don't go and mess things up.
Damn it! He always makes it sound so easy…
Calm down.
And you might not need to take this so seriously.
Y-Yeah, she's right.
That might end up being the least of their concerns.
A welcoming party, huh?
My stomach's starting to hurt for some reason.
You could call it a party, alright.
Don't think they'll exactly welcome us, though.
Hey, everyone. What's all this about?
I can't help but feel anxious about this…
Oh, how wonderful, Princess Liliana!
Really! You look like a fairy!
I'm sure His Highness will love it.
Thanks.
I leave the kingdom in your hands, Lundel.
Prince Baius.
Oh, is that your dress for tonight? Not too shabby.
Entering a lady's room out of the blue?
I don't take too kindly to that.
I'm the man who's going to be your husband.
Don't you talk back to me.
Hey. All of you, get out.
Please leave.
You should train your guard dogs better.
They're not guard dogs.
They're my loyal retainers.
-Defiant as ever, huh? -No!
They're pretty big.
Not quite there yet, but I can enjoy them just fine.
S-Stop…
Cry and scream all you want.
Even if your guard dogs come in,
they can't do anything against me, the crown prince.
Heck, why not have them knowing you lose your first time?
Why are you doing this?
Those eyes. Those defiant eyes.
I want to see them drown in agony. Despair. Pleasure.
The thing I love most is seeing those who oppose me humiliated and made to obey me.
Once you get a taste of that high, you can't give it up…
You're awful…
Hey, Liliana.
Losing of your chastity before your engagement party,
long before your wedding…
How will you face everyone at the party?!
Ow! What's that? Just now, my neck…
What? Everything's spinning…
A metal spider?
Could it be…
Thank you, Nagumo.
How are preparations, Hajime?
Fine and dandy.
Do you think there'll be lots of traps?
Not a problem.
We're lucky there's a party tonight.
The more people gather here, the easier it'll be to move around.
Will everything go well?
E-Everyone…
Okay.
Let's get this party started.
Next time, "The Empire VS The Strongest Rabbits".