02x16 - A Certain Student's Secret

[bunniefuu]

Kaleneon / Aensland Domain

I see. You were thinking the same thing?

Yes.

Then swear to me that we'll
fight together someday.

My name is Ilumgand Hopleys.

I am the second son of the Hopleys
house of the great nation of Limia.

I lament the corruption of our
nobility and seek reform.

Those born with noble blood must
behave in a manner befitting nobles.

On our lands granted to us by the king,
we must protect our weak people,

acting as their sword and shield.

How was that?

That sight was more beautiful to me
than any blessing from the goddess.

The memory still remains with me.

Season Two

Night Sixteen A Certain Student's Secret

Night Sixteen A Certain Student's Secret

Zara-san refused to treat
me like a merchant.

I hate to admit it, but it's true
that I'm not a very good one.

He was right about me being naïve, too.

And ultimately, I'm trying to
establish a relationship with demons.

I'd be betraying this city.

I may not be able to stay
in Rotsgard anymore.

The last thing I can do
for my students is...

Kuzunoha, I'm glad to hear from you.

Forgive me for contacting
you telepathically.

I actually have a request for you, Rona-san.

Let's hear it.

I've been tolerating it until now,

but by the time the tournament ends,

could you have the demons hidden
in Rotsgard leave the city?

May I ask why?

It's for Jin and Abelia.

A certain student has been
acting in a threatening way.

I don't want there to be any more
trouble at the academy festival.

I didn't know them long,
but I still studied alongside them.

In that case, I'll do what I can, Kuzunoha-dono.

Now all I have to do is
set that plan in motion.

Forgive me for not sending someone
to escort you at this hour.

All my employees are out today.
It's just me here.

I don't mind an invitation from
you at any hour, Kuzunoha-sensei.

I'll accommodate whatever demand he makes.

After all, he's finally
asking me for something.

By the way, congratulations
on your students' victories.

Everyone was wondering who taught them.

It was the fruits of their
talent and hard work.

The credit belongs to them and them alone.

You're as modest as ever.

More importantly, regarding the
reason I invited you here...

Sensei...

Rather, Kuzunoha-san. Are you serious?

Yes.

Now there's no turning back.

I'll probably have to leave the
academy, so at the very least...

Combat Tournament Team Final

I need to observe my students'
efforts until the end.

What did you two think of
the students' fighting?

They're not as good as Toa and the others,
but they've got a knack for it.

Jin and Mithra's battle was impressive.

You mean how he won the
fight but lost the match.

Personally, I've told Mithra
I'll grant him a reward.

His choices are a duel, a duel, or a duel.

So there's only one choice.

Did you know?

Tomoe-san and Mio-san are over level 1,500.

Yes. By the way, Mithra-senpai...

Why do you look so troubled?

Tomoe-san said she'd train with
me after the academy festival.

Seriously?

She told me not to die
with a straight face.

Again, she's level 1,500.

It's time, everyone.

Let's begin the battle for a spot in the final.

Let's do this.

I will win.

I'll win the team battle, as well.

You're not taking my spot.

I've got a secret strategy.

I've got a strategy of my own.

I will participate in the final
with Shiki-san in the audience.

What is that?

He's using some kind of magic
to enhance his abilities.

It's probably a side effect of that.

He looks like he'd taste disgusting,

like some kind of adulterated hyuman.

Shiki, how were the students?

They fought fiercely for
the right to participate

using the rock-paper-scissors
game you taught them.

Anyway, that student they'll be facing...

You noticed?

He's using some type of magical medicine.

But I'm more interested
in that amulet of his.

It's disguised to seem like it
increases his magic resistance.

Disguised?

That's certainly odd.

In reality, I believe it absorbs something.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

Indeed. The entire city gives
off a strange feeling.

Give the students any
weapons they might need.

Understood.

Let's go. Don't hold back against Ilumgand.

We know.

We finally get to test your temporary
enhancement skill in a real battle.

If you let your guard down,
we'll steal your thunder.

Why did I go with rock?

I'd be in the final if you hadn't drawn.

Who throws paper four times in a row?

I didn't get to participate
in a single team battle.

I'll crush them.

I'll crush them.

I'll crush them!

What are you getting so worked up about?

It's too late for that.

There's clearly something wrong with him,
but the ref is pretending not to notice.

Yuck.

Hidden behind the student's strange behavior

was a truth unknown even to Misumi Makoto.

There are two people I can't forget.

One is Otonashi Hibiki.

I wish I could've left school to help you.

Your studies and the connections
you'll make there are important.

Once you graduate and return to
the kingdom, we'll fight together.

Hibiki-san...

I'd feel encouraged to have your help.

As fellow warriors,
I'll wait for the day you return.

As the hero of Limia, she gave
shape to my dreams and ideals.

And the other is...

Luria?

Is that you, Luria Aensland?

Who are you?

It's me, Ilumgand.
Of the Hopleys family of Limia.

We used to play together in Kaleneon.

I remember the flowering fields of Agarest.

Ilum-san, we learned about
Kaleneon in our recent lecture.

It fell at the start of the major invasion.

Yeah.

She's the daughter of the Aenslands,
a noble family that prospered in Kaleneon.

But weren't they destroyed by demons?

All the nobles of Kaleneon were k*lled.

Hey, cut it out.

Sorry.

She's Luria.

You used to wear that same choker.

Yes.

It's true. I am Luria.

You probably met me once, as well.

You're a noble.
What are you doing in this city?

I was young, so I don't remember clearly,

but apparently my parents
sent me to safety.

She was alive. That was enough for me.

But I couldn't suppress the rage-like
emotion I felt at the thought

that she might've forgotten the oath
we made in the flowering fields.

You abandoned your people and lands to flee?

Nobles should engage the enemy.

Are you so desperate to live
that you'd become a waitress?

You should be ashamed.

Yeah. You're an embarrassment
to hyumankind.

Both the Aensland family and you yourself.

How dare you abandon your noble
responsibility for your own survival?

You've never truly faced death before.

You have no idea how I've lived.

You've no right to speak to me like that.

What was that?
You dare insult us, you coward?!

We wouldn't cling to life and
flee from battle like you did!

Those who arrogantly make such bold claims
are only capable of bullying the weak.

You couldn't possibly risk your lives in w*r.

No, I just—

I'm in a hurry.

Excuse me.

Wait! Listen to me!

Don't be rude!

That's enough.

I don't even want to recall
what happened next.

I should've gone to see Luria again, but...

Why does he have to keep getting in my way?

You're Ilumgand-sama, aren't you?

Don't worry. I'm a student at the academy.

There's something I'd like
to discuss with you.

This is a magical medicine being
developed at the academy.

It dramatically improves your
physical and magical abilities.

Would you like to try it?

I wanted power so I could defeat
Kuzunoha and see Luria again, but...

Ilum-san!

Are you all right?

You seem unwell of late.

I'm fine. It's nothing.

I need more. Don't you have
a more effective medicine?

I could get you some,
but there are some side effects.

I don't care what it is.

Bring it to me right away.

Very well.

I'll also give you this amulet
that increases magic resistance.

It's a gift from me.

That's not enough to earn my gratitude.

Of course it isn't.

I shall continue to provide
all the assistance I can.

I humbly beg your pardon.

I had no idea what was happening.

I didn't realize I was being used or that
there was something wrong with my body.

Izumo, Yuno!

Got it!

They've increased their speed
through physical enhancement.

Those two will handle the six nobodies.

Th-They're coming!

Prepare yourself.

I'll crush you!

So heavy!

Damn. You've embarrassed
me in front of our teacher.

Sorry, Izumo and Yuno.

I'm starting without you.

You nuisance. I'll crush you!

Kuzunoha!

Take this!

Bull's-eye!

Satania, bind them!

One!

Two!

Three!

And then...

Four!

Got my spear back, too.

Looks like I win, Izumo-kun.

You beat me.

The short incantation reduces
the power of the wind blade.

That just leaves...

Jin, you were supposed to wait!

We promised we'd fight him together!

You've gotten pretty tough, Ilumgand-senpai.

But don't give up yet!

Aw, shucks. There won't be
anything left for us to do.

Wait! His dolls...

They're hardly damaged! What's going on?

Jin's mixing in attacks
that should knock him out.

Seriously?

That student...

There's something wrong with him.

If not...

If not for him...

Ref, are we good to keep fighting?
He's acting weird.

H-He seems to want to continue the match.

His dolls are hardly damaged.

Continue.

I-I was supposed to achieve
my ideals with the hero.

Kuzunoha! Stay out of my way, Kuzunoha!

That's not my problem. I'm not my teacher.

And the ideals of someone
who'd fight dirty in a match...

aren't worth hearing!

Izumo, Yuno! With me!

Let's wrap this up!

You've lost your mind!

Yuno, I'm counting on you!

Got it!

Aeriel!

You've got 20 seconds!

I know! Here I come!

A jump kick and aerial combo.

Though I'm far from home,

something about that move seems

vaguely Japanese.

Since you love weapons enough to eat them,

here's a gift for you!

Got him.

Crap! She's falling!

Yuno!

Don't worry. Even I can use
a bit of floating magic.

Oh, yeah?

You could've said so sooner.

Either way, that was a terrifying attack.

He can't defend properly in the air.

I figured it'd be effective against
someone who hadn't seen it before.

Our current goal is to pull
that off against Zwei-san.

Th-The match is over!

The girl who finished him off
has some impressive moves.

Indeed. That mid-air flurry
of blows was something else.

Perhaps I'll try it, as well.

I'm glad I got to see their match.

I was worried about the magical medicine.

I'm going to go honor the winners.

I want to check on Ilumgand, too.

Young Master, look.

They're on alert?

What's going on?

It's releasing some rather nasty waves.

This alien mana...

It's binding to the old
emotions in his memories.

Young Master, it's too late for him.

Huh?

He's no longer hyuman.

He's begun to mutate.

Mutate? Who would do that,
and for what purpose?

There's only one who would do that.

You know who I mean, don't you?

That can't be.

But Rona-san complied with my request.

She said she studied with
Jin and the others, too.

Young Master, did she say she
wouldn't do anything in Rotsgard?

Well...

Then even if this were her doing,
she wouldn't be breaking her promise.

At the very least, that's what she'll say.

That's just how demons operate.

Was I wrong to think I could
associate with demons?

These demons aren't easy
to get along with, either.

Everyone's always trying to use
or deceive the young master.

They'll pay for this.

Given the circumstances,
is it even possible?

Would you like to retake your homeland?

I wanted to restore Kaleneon and
hide everything related to myself

and the Kuzunoha Trading
Company there, but...

Damn.

Damn, damn, damn.

So far, so good.

I wasn't expecting to catch both the
King of Limia and Princess Lily in this.

Kuzunoha, if you're interested in demons,
then I recommend you let this one go.

Luria.

I... I just...

I just wanted to apologize to you.

Night Seventeen: "Mutation Hazard."

Next Time

Mutation Hazard