[♪ epic choral music playing]
[narrator] The True Demon King has died.
The enemy of the world that filled the horizon with fear,
was defeated by somebody.
To this very day,
that lone Hero remains unknown, both in name and existence.
Now the age of fear has come to an end,
that person has to be chosen.
[♪ theme music playing]
ISHURA
Episode 5
Higuare the Pelagic and Nastique the Quiet Singer
Central Citadel of Lithia
Shalk the Sound Slicer.
Higuare the Pelagic.
[Taren] You did very well to secure these two prestigious names, Lana.
Thank you, Master Taren.
[Taren] However,
it seems finding the World Word was asking a bit too much.
Surely that's just a rumor that's been blown out of proportion.
If someone with almighty Word Arts really existed,
they could easily win any war.
Say they do exist,
we'd have to think of a way to control them.
[Taren] I've heard rumors of you too,
Higuare the Pelagic.
You never lost once when you fought as a Gladiator in the remote regions.
That's right.
I fought for a fairly long time.
In minian years,
it would be 13 or 14 years.
A slave Gladiator?
There are barbaric cities in the remote regions that place bets
on the lives of people and beasts.
[Taren] Of course, this practice is illegal.
[Lana] In the era of the True Demon King,
many places must have slipped past the reach of the kingdom.
[Shalk] Something doesn't sound right here.
Some slave traders bossed you around for 14 years,
yet you're supposed to be invincible or something?
He has a point.
Would you care to provide an explanation,
Higuare?
[Higuare] As you wish.
I was born in the far west,
in a place unknown to the minian races.
[slave trader] Here they are!
Mandrakes!
This will be a huge haul.
- [keys rattling] - [door unlocks]
[footsteps thudding]
[Higuare] What am I to do here?
[slave owner] Isn't it obvious?
You're to fight.
[Higuare] Fight?
Simply killing a defenseless mandrake
won't get the crowd going.
[♪ melancholy music playing]
[clinks]
[Higuare] I understand.
I will fight.
[crowd] Fight!
- Make a move! - Kill that thing!
[crowd cheering]
[fierce grunt]
[grunts]
[pained groaning]
- [groaning continues] - [crowd cheering]
[clatters]
[panting]
[screaming painfully]
[screaming continues]
[loud thud]
[♪ somber music playing]
[Higuare] Who am I to fight in the next match?
Three high-ranking fighters.
Put on a good show when you die.
Die?
What is the meaning of that word?
I'm sorry to tell you this, Higuare,
but in this arena, you either kill, or you die.
[Higuare] Kill
or die?
[Gladiators groan]
[painful groaning]
[both gasping]
[clinking]
[Higuare] Kill or die.
[slave owner] I'm selling you to another city.
Will I be made to fight even stronger opponents?
[slave owner] That's right.
The crowd wants to see you get killed.
It simply looks more spectacular when the minian races defeat the monster.
Am I to die?
Well, probably.
[door opens, closes]
No.
I do not wish to die.
[crowd cheers]
- Kill it! - You can do it!
[crowd yelling]
[Higuare] In addition to hip rotation,
they use their spines to increase the speed of their thrusts.
To recreate that movement,
I'll twist my fibrovascular bundles together.
[footsteps thumping heavily]
[growls]
I might match him in speed, but he beats me in strength.
But if I use my vine arms…
Check the muscles of the fingers.
Will my slash attack reach before the bullets are fired?
Perhaps if I disappear from view using the recoil from a vine shot…
[Higuare] Who will I be fighting next?
You've now made your name as the strongest Gladiator there is.
Not a single spectator
is wishing for the fall of Higuare the Pelagic.
If I don't keep up my training,
I might be defeated eventually.
[scoffs]
For an invincible slave, you're not much fun.
[creaking]
[♪ melancholy music playing]
[Higuare] Do I wish to keep living?
What would be the meaning
in living on like this?
It's not like I'm fixated with life.
I just…
don't wish to die.
[hurried footsteps]
[pants]
[keys rattle]
Come on! You're fighting too!
Has something happened?
The Demon King!
The army of the True Demon King!
[demons roaring]
[roaring continues]
[all roaring]
[minian races screaming frantically]
Shoot. They're running riot.
- [gasps] - [weapon pierces flesh]
[pained groan]
[demons exclaiming]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[Higuare] I see.
It's kill or die.
[fierce scream]
[swooshes]
[♪ ominous music plays]
I've killed so many up to now.
[all scream]
After all that, I won't be killed by this level of enemy.
[demons roar]
I see.
This is what they call pride.
[demons groan]
[laughing maniacally]
[demons exclaiming]
[laughing maniacally]
- [swords clanking] - [laughing maniacally]
[laughing maniacally continues]
[Lana] When I found him,
they told me he'd been slaying the Demon King's army.
I've never heard of anybody who would charge head first
right into the Demon King's army.
- [door opens] - Hm?
Mm. Oh.
Oh, Miss Taren.
It seems we have more unusual guests today too.
Introduce yourself, Dakai.
Is that skeleton a spear wielder?
[Shalk] The name's Shalk the Sound Slicer.
As for the mandrake,
well, he seems like an unpredictable fellow.
I can't even tell where your face is.
[Higuare] My name is Higuare the Pelagic.
Nice to meet you.
[Dakai] It looks like a normal knife.
He probably has several hidden in his body.
Both are strong and trustworthy fighters, just like yourself.
Much like the True Demon King,
I believe we require unique powers that fill enemy armies with dread.
Feeling up to that task, Shalk?
Sorry, but unlike Higuare, I'm a mercenary.
Until I receive my reward in advance,
working would be a breach of my principles.
I know that.
The reward you're after is information on the Final Land
where the True Demon King died, right?
- Mm. Hm? - [Dakai laughing]
[laughing continues]
I know your trick.
You get your reward and then run off, don't you?
And I know yours.
You thought I'd work for free just because I'm dead, right?
Not bad.
I don't dislike someone who knows how to talk.
You, on the other hand, are strangely quiet.
[Dakai] Tell me, what do you usually eat?
[whooshes]
I don't eat fruit.
[gasps]
Is that so?
[Higuare] If you wish to see my power,
then you've just seen it.
Splendid.
Unbelievable skill.
So that means mandrakes can use three arms at once?
- [Higuare] Not quite… - Huh?
[creaking]
[♪ tense music playing]
[Lana gasps]
[Higuare] I can use 42 arms.
[narrator] He is the one whose dueling skills have been honed
through immense bloodshed.
The one who harbors an absolute and lethal poison,
that no living thing can stop.
The one who boasts infinitely brilliant swordplay,
perfected by his bizarre physique.
He obeys all, yet is ruled by none.
A most free slave.
[♪ tense music playing]
He is a Gladiator. He is a mandrake. He is Higuare the Pelagic.
Ishura Mandrake
[loud thumping]
Raishi Mountain Village
[transporter sighs]
[Hidow] All this luggage is really slowing us down.
It will probably take three and a half days from here.
-Huh? - [Hidow] Kuze.
Are there enough beds for the whole squad?
If beds are all we need,
the Religious Order's poorhouse has spare rooms.
But I'm not sure about food…
You won't catch my soldiers begging for food from the Order.
How pathetic.
They say you're a cleanup guy for the Religious Order,
but are you really strong?
[laughs]
Well, of course, I am.
[tuts]
Because I have an angel by my side.
[door opens]
Mr. Kuze, how many years has it been?
I've come back, Ripel.
And I've brought a lot of guests. Sorry about this.
Good evening.
Nice to meet you.
Let's see… you must be Ripel.
Yes.
My second name is Ripel the Frost Leaf.
Um, who are you?
Nihilo the Vortical Stampede.
Kuze is my escort.
Escort?
For a girl like her?
I'm her escort, nothing more.
[giggles]
I know.
Mr. Kuze, you never did have much luck with the ladies.
[sheepish laugh]
Oh, boy, is it really that obvious?
I'll go get changed.
She's a good girl.
She didn't ask about my body.
I heard you were being held prisoner.
Did you get out because you made up for your crimes?
Nope.
I simply promised to help Hidow, in exchange for my release.
Then, what if you never made that promise?
Who knows?
I might have fought my way out.
I was created to fight, after all.
[Nihilo] What about you, Kuze?
[Kuze] I'm not the fighting type.
You don't carry a weapon, do you?
You look like you're scared of hurting another person.
Come on now.
Don't bully this weak, old man too much.
Still, you're just like me.
You survived the era of the True Demon King.
[Kuze] It's nothing to brag about.
I have an angel by my side.
That's why I survived.
That's all.
Hmm…
[children exclaiming]
[child 1] Amazing!
[child 2] Wow!
[child 3] It's made with sheep's milk!
I heard we're getting this thanks to Mr. Kuze.
Quiet down.
You'll talk the food off the table.
[soft gasp]
[Ripel] I feel terrible. You didn't have to do all this.
It's no problem.
Churches everywhere help each other out these days.
This was all so sudden,
but you did well to prepare rooms for all the merchants.
Well,
a little while back, soldiers from Aureatia camped here.
Soldiers from Aureatia?
The merchants you brought today
are a lot more polite than the soldiers from Aureatia.
They're actually helping me out.
Why did those soldiers come here?
[Ripel] Soldiers under the command of Sir Harghent,
the Sixth General of the Twenty-Nine Officials of Aureatia
said they were going to defeat that Vikeon the Smoldering.
Vikeon?
A black dragon from the age of legends.
[child 4] Roar!
My name is Vikeon!
Be very afraid!
If we're playing dragon hunting,
shouldn't I play the role of Vikeon the Smoldering?
Then who am I?
You're Rosclay the Absolute.
Here I come. [roars]
[children exclaim]
- I won't lose! - [Kuze grunts]
Not bad! [Kuze laughs]
- [Ripel] Mr. Kuze hasn't changed. - Huh?
- [Kuze] I'm not done yet! - [Nihilo] Was he always like this?
Yes. He's always been so laid-back.
[Ripel] No grandeur at all.
Even though he has to take on so many problems with the Religious Order,
he's always laughing.
[Kuze laughing]
[Nihilo] An angel, huh?
[footsteps thudding]
The corridor is the only way to enter the room.
[Kuze] I'll take a rest on this bench.
As ever the gentleman.
I don't mind you sleeping in the same room as me.
[Kuze chuckles]
[Kuze] You mustn't tease an old man.
Go to sleep. You're in safe hands.
[creaks]
[sighs]
Mm.
I'm glad everyone seems well.
It was around four years ago.
I used to live here.
[Kuze] The shoddy window fittings
haven't changed at all.
- [floorboard creaks] - [grunts]
Ripel?
Mr. Kuze.
[Kuze exclaims]
Won't you cooperate with Lithia?
[Kuze gasps]
[Ripel] After the Sixth General's soldiers came,
people from Lithia came to investigate.
They said if we help them, then they would support our church.
I can't fight, but you can, Mr. Kuze.
You're extremely strong, Mr. Kuze.
[Kuze] I see.
I knew I'd caused you pain.
Mr. Kuze?
But I'm sorry, Ripel.
I can't help you.
The way I'd help just won't work.
I really am sorry.
Huh?
[Kuze gasps]
[shatters]
[gasps]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
Wait! Please don't kill him!
You're in the line of fire!
That man has dealings with Aureatia!
I guess it's the Sixth General and his pointless antics I have to thank for this.
The world truly is a dangerous place.
The people with you aren't really merchants, are they?
Kuze the Passing Disaster!
[Ripel gasps]
[fierce groan]
[Kuze grunts]
His defense is good.
Give up on taking him alive.
[soldier 1] Understood.
[gasps]
[chimes]
I'm begging you, don't kill them.
[shouts]
You're mine now!
- [gasps] - [groans]
[thuds]
I thought I told you not to kill them.
- [soldier 2] Poison? - [soldier 3] Maybe a concealed weapon.
Keep your distance and shoot him down!
[Kuze gasps]
- [groans] - [chiming]
- [thuds] - [crossbow clanks]
- [pained groan] - [chimes]
[thuds]
[breathing shakily]
[stammering] Just who is this guy?
[Kuze chuckles]
Didn't you ever learn?
Didn't you take lessons at church when you were little?
If you do something bad,
you'll be punished by an angel.
[terrified gasping]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[screaming fiercely]
[pained gasp]
[pained grunt]
[body thuds]
He nearly had you there.
[Kuze] Thanks, Nihilo.
[Ripel] I'm sorry, Mr. Kuze.
I never thought they'd try to kill you.
[sighs] I know.
You didn't do anything wrong, Ripel.
[Ripel] I-I'm sorry.
Ripel, can you show me your stomach?
[gasps]
The kidney has been pierced.
I thought if I could make everyone happy,
then I'd be like you.
Ripel, I'm sorry.
I'm the one who's sorry.
[cries quietly]
[birds chirping]
Nihilo, you've died once before haven't you?
Yeah.
Did you see an angel when you died?
An angel?
I think someone just made them up.
[Kuze] Well,
I think so too.
Even so, angels do exist.
[♪ somber music playing]
[chiming]
[chiming continues]
You know, I think angels are lonely too.
[♪ somber music playing]
This whole time,
were you watching an angel?
[chuckles]
Perhaps.
Or maybe it's the angel who is watching me.
[Kuze] That's why she kills whoever tries to kill me.
[Nihilo] What's her name?
Her name?
[Nihilo] The name of your angel.
[Kuze] Right.
I've never told anyone before.
Not even Ripel.
But I do know it.
Her name is…
[narrator] She is the one who is undetected by anyone in this world,
except for a single person.
The one who is immune to interference by any means,
an immaterial consciousness.
The one who, since the dawn of the world,
has possessed the absolute authority to end life.
But she comes silently,
and takes everything without ever being seen.
The embodiment of the fate of death.
[♪ somber music playing]
[Kuze] The name of my angel is…
[♪ somber music ends]
[narrator] She is a Stabber. She is an angel.
She is Nastique the Quiet Singer.
[♪ closing theme music playing]
Translated by Zacarias Hicks
Next: Episode 6 Gathering of Factions