01x11 - The Assassin Reads Standing Up

[bunniefuu]

Whoa!

So this is Uruk City!

Lady Latticenail, while I'm sorry to say

this as soon as we arrived

I know, I know. We need to score

some intel on the guild, right?

Yes, precisely.

This is pretty good. I think you'd like it too.

Um, what about the mission?

I can just feel some valuable intel

over there! Let's go investigate!

Lady Latticenail!

Gosh, what a pleasant breeze.

Lady Latticenail?

What?

Is it just me, or are we ignoring

gathering intel in favor of sightseeing?

Pretty bold accusation there, Night.

I am observing the town as we speak.

I'm taking all this visual information

and sorting it out in my head.

Then I must apologize.

I'm not entirely sure I was

in the wrong, but I apologize.

Hey, guide! Could you take us

to the most popular tourist spot?

You got it.

There's nothing I can say at this point

MY STATUS AS AN ASSASSIN

OBVIOUSLY EXCEEDS THE HERO'S

This is a beautiful tourist town,

just like you said before we got here.

I shouldn't have let your praise for my

knowledge goad me into revealing that tidbit.

I've always wanted to experience

something like this.

Running away from home is the best!

It would've been even best-er

if you didn't drag me into this.

Now

Where to next?

Can we please start investigating now?

Here's our chance.

Huh?

Hello!

You're an adventurer, right?

I see your sword.

Yeah, what about it?

I hear the guild here's got

real nice-paying jobs on offer.

What're they like?

I wouldn't if I were you.

They're all either criminal activity

or involve demons.

What kind of criminal activities?

You really expect me

to say in public? Still

I wouldn't mind telling you privately.

I take it you've fallen for me, then?

I mean, you are pretty.

Thanks! But I'm aiming to be everyone's star,

so I can't get into any relationships.

I could've got us some intel

if I'd taken him up on that.

It's not easy being so popular.

What is she even saying?

What's up?

Master just gave me new orders via telepathy.

They're urgent.

Okay. You've done a lot for me,

so I'll help out in earnest.

That's where Gram the guild master

lives, huh? The place is huge.

He must've wanted to show he has

more power than the church next door.

Our mission is to secure proof

of Gram's evildoing.

It'd be easier to search

this huge mansion at night.

Right. Let's check out

the other spot in the meantime.

Sure.

The Adventurer's Guild

Now then, how do we sneak in?

Here goes.

Huh?!

What's up, missy?

The guild's closed for the day.

What are you still doing here, then?

Isn't that obvious?

Adventurers who do Sir Gram's

dirty work get to stay and drink.

You're an outsider, so beat it.

Nah, hold on.

Girl, you're fine.

Why don't you and I have some fun?

Now that's not nice.

What're you doing?

She pushed me down! Ow!

Sorry to bother ya!

I simply can't keep up with your spontaneity.

Oh, come on.

I discovered something interesting.

This should be a good angle.

Look.

The ground floor ceiling

doesn't line up with the next floor.

There's a hidden space in there.

You're right. I see it.

And that's your mark.

What?!

What am I, a projectile?

Could this be?

Master.

Here's what you asked for.

You helped out, Latticenail? Thanks.

Oh, I'm a hero.

I only did what any hero would.

I'm not certain if she helped

or hurt the cause

You say something, Night?

Nothing at all!

The production schedule for the boosters,

supply routes for their ingredients,

a trafficking inventory categorized by race,

records of deals made with demons,

and memos on mercenaries

rented out to the kingdom of Retice

Looks like everything you said was true.

I'm no liar,

though I suppose you wanted to verify my claims

before taking my assassination request?

More or less. However

Something's off.

Do the documents seem suspicious?

Nah, they're probably real.

You couldn't fabricate such detailed reports.

Then what do you mean?

I don't like how easily

we were able to get these.

I found them in a hidden room in the ceiling.

Perhaps they never expected

anyone to go there?

It's been bothering me a little too.

Why wouldn't he hide such incriminating

documents at his place?

True. We would've had a hard time

finding them in that huge mansion.

The answer is quite simple.

He left them somewhere easy to get

so that they'd be stolen.

Do you understand why

you've been summoned here?

You were the only ones who knew

the documents were in that room.

And now they've been stolen, which means

one of you is a traitor.

But Night nabbed them

before the target took the bait.

So Gram's plan has failed, right?

Yes. Nevertheless, he can still use the

disappearance to achieve his goal.

I-If I may speak, we know nothing

You didn't steal them.

We've caught the actual thief.

I'll get him to reveal who leaked

the location of the documents.

Will you all arrange

for some t*rture implements?

End him.

Now that the traitor has been dealt with,

shall we find the thief?

Didn't you say you captured him?

I'll reward whoever finds

the culprit handsomely.

Just look for them in your spare time.

That makes sense,

but how do you know all this?

I have my leads. There's a conspiracy

afoot to start a w*r with Uruk.

Bribing Gram's men must be part of it.

Retice is behind it all.

Retice?

If they uncover their

own citizens being trafficked,

that's cause to go to w*r.

Though he has no real political

power anymore, Gram's still a royal.

It'd certainly be justified

Hang on.

Before anything else, I want to know

why they're itching for w*r.

Do you not know that the king of Retice

wishes to bring his dead wife back to life?

Our king is broken beyond repair.

He's willing to pay a horrific price

to break the rules of our world.

In no uncertain terms.

That's impossible!

Even my Resurrection Magic only

works within days of someone passing.

There's a skill called Equivalent Exchange.

It apparently enables the sacrifice of a great

many lives in order to revive one person.

Regardless of how long

they've been dead, no less.

That's what this is about?

He wants to start a w*r to k*ll

tons of people in one fell swoop?

That's just wrong.

Nobody should be allowed to do that.

Never ever.

Crow, you seem awfully

knowledgeable about Retice.

Gilles was part of their knightly order.

He said he stopped the king

from going to w*r with Yamato

and was relieved of his duties

for his trouble.

Ripping those up will only

buy you a small amount of time.

So long as Gram continues to traffic people,

Retice will eventually find evidence of it.

I know that.

Most of the kids who were summoned with

you are still in Retice's royal palace, yes?

If w*r breaks out, they'll be

talked up as potential heroes,

get sent to the front lines,

and die before anybody else.

I don't really care about them,

but I can't in good conscience let them die.

Will they be sent to their deaths

or return to your world alive?

Their fate rests in your hands.

Yeah, I know.

I know that k*lling Gram will prevent

one w*r from breaking out, at least.

Actually, I wanna report that I got

my hands on some crucial intel too.

There's a restaurant in a nearby

back alley that specializes in meat dishes.

Every day, they offer twenty servings of

an extra-meaty, extra-cheap lunch special.

What's more

A bookstore on the street to the central

fountain plaza is doing a closing sale!

Believe it or not,

all the books are 70 percent off!

The princess loves eating,

and Night told me that my man loves reading!

Could there be any more pertinent

information for the two of you?

Nay!

Nay, I say!

Indeed, that's very useful info.

Right?

Let's go, Akira.

I think we need to get some fresh air.

I agree with Lady Amelia.

You're right.

You brought your bag?

I see you're going for a big haul.

Yeah, might as well.

It'd be better to line up

for the limited lunch special early.

And if you don't hurry to the bookstore,

the good books may sell out.

Shall we split up, Master?

Cool with me. Latticenail

I'm sure it'll be fine, but keep Amelia safe.

You got it! A hero

always protects the princess!

Night, take care of Akira.

Understood.

Lady Latticenail

actually has a nice side to her.

Seems that way.

Master!

Tch!

Eek!

I-I'm sorry!

This isn't like you, Master.

How could you let a punk like that

steal your belongings?

I was reading a book,

but none of it was registering.

I didn't realize I was that beside myself.

I can guess why.

Master.

Why don't we go have a little chat?

Take that!

Now you've done it!

As long as I know that you're

distracted by something,

I can keep a better watch

on our surroundings.

Sorry to make you do that.

It's nothing. That said

Whenever something is bothering you,

I want you to talk to me about it.

I am your familiar, after all.

We can communicate through

telepathy whenever we need.

That won't do.

If we assume we have that leisure anytime,

time will get away from us

without saying what's important.

You're human. Your lifespan is short.

As is mine as your familiar.

We should make our feelings clear

so as not to leave any regrets behind.

Yeah, you're right.

If I never end up making it back home,

I'm sure I'll regret

not talking to my family more.

You understand, then.

Okay, here goes. I'm apparently

a lot weaker than I thought.

Latticenail said that k*lling someone

means putting an end to their story for them.

How like her.

k*lling Gram is the sensible thing to do.

And I'm an assassin,

the perfect class to take on the job.

Though I guess I'm not much of one,

seeing as I haven't k*lled anyone yet.

Still

I dunno if I can deal with the gravity

of ending someone's life story.

I didn't even k*ll the demon

who was out for my head back then.

I couldn't do it.

And yet you still survived.

I think that's enough.

Trying to make me feel better

about my weakness?

Absolutely not.

I just don't want you to end up

like I did in the past.

When you take a life, it frays your heart.

Slowly but surely.

When you take countless lives,

it wears your heart thin.

That's true even for a monster like me.

I never want you to experience that.

That said, there may be times you must k*ll in

order to protect yourself and those you love.

Should that happen,

there is no reason to beat yourself up.

This must be one of those times.

But I just can't seem to make up my mind.

That's what makes me weak.

You're strong, Master.

You're the one who gave me

a brand new life story.

While I want to know why

the Demon Lord changed his mind,

I've decided I'll be on your side

until the bitter end.

I'm willing to do anything for you.

Even k*ll in your stead.

If I make you do my dirty work,

I'd really be an irredeemable scumbag.

I'm not going down that route.

I had a feeling you'd say that.

I'll take a look at Gram and see

for myself if he truly deserves to die.

I'll decide what to do after that.

As you wish, Master.

That aside, I want you to stop

hiding things from me, too.

I hide nothing from you.

When we fought Mahiro,

you shapeshifted into Commander Saran.

You never told me you'd met him.

I'll tell you about it someday.

Make it sooner rather than later.

Also

you think far too highly of me.

Master?

I love cats.

That's the only reason

I made you my familiar.

You're too good, Master.

Gram is likelier to be

at his mansion than here.

We'd just get turned away if we went there.

He runs this place. I'm sure

he comes here every now and again.

We can ask the staff when he's

due in next and come back then.

Yeah. Besides, there's a good chance

he'll show up if we stick around for a while.

Why's that?

You'll see later.

Someone might recognize me inside,

so I'll wait out here.

Much obliged.

What? This is no place for kids.

We have no business with you.

We just want to know when

the guild master will be in next.

Well, I don't like your attitude,

so I'm not telling you.

Listen, kid. I wanna teach this stuck-up

girl a lesson in how to talk to people.

Outta my way.

I'm afraid that won't be necessary.

I told you to get outta my way!

Why, you!

That's enough, Raul!

Don't stop me, Kerria!

These brats looked down on me,

silver-ranked adventurer Raul the Whirlwind!

My name is Kerria. I'm guild staff.

I apologize for our adventurer's behavior.

Princess Amelia?

And might you be the Silent Assassin?!

Wha—

What?!

I'm terribly sorry for my behavior,

Silent Assassin, sir!

Please, feel free to have

as much of our tea as you want!

Come now, Raul.

Didn't you see the profile the Ur branch

sent about the Silent Assassin?

I did!

Heck, I was in Ur at the time!

I saw him with my own eyes!

And the moment when his dark magic

consumed that whole horde of monsters?

I was an instant fan!

Then why pick a fight with Akira?

I never thought such a plain dude was—

Er, my apologies.

I never dreamed he was so adept

as concealing his strength.

So, uh

Someone's an open book.

Sorry. Raul may be a fool,

but he's not a bad guy.

Who're you calling a fool?!

Only fools pick fights with people,

clueless as to what they're capable of.

He's a big fan of yours, Sir Silent Assassin.

Please forgive him.

Heck, please make me your disciple!

Cut that out. I don't take students.

Maybe make an exception?

What's all the fuss about?

He's here.

You're Princess Amelia Rosequartz, I take it?

I am the guild master of

the Uruk City Adventurer's Guild,

Gram Cluster.

EPISODE 11: THE ASSASSIN BROWSES

Translation: Sriram Gurunathan

Timing: Krzysztof Kunc

Editing: Riley Dalton

Quality Check: William Haggard

EPISODE 12: ODA AKIRA BECOMES AN ASSASSIN