02x11 - The Value of Flesh

[bunniefuu]

To prepare for the battle
against the Nokkers a year from now,

Fushi made various attempts
to become stronger

but all of them were to no avail.

Seeking a change of pace,
he enters the city and meets a girl.

After communicating with Eko,
he is inspired by a new idea.

I see.

So you've created a miniature earth,

Fushi.

Fushi's senses have been broadened.

Renril.

This is the largest city I've been to.

It'll take some time to prepare this city.

I hope everything goes well.

Joaan, I found us a place to stay!

Let's get something to eat!

How's your left hand?
Do you feel anything?

Any new information from it?

No.

I remember it said it learned to write.

Yes.

How do the Nokkers
communicate among themselves?

They can't write or speak, can they?

"We communicate with each other
through shared mental images."

"There is no need for words."

Just like the Doki.

Does that mean you can see
what we imagine in our minds?

"Unfortunately, no."

"Your bodies restrict those images
from leaving your vessels."

"Even between Nokkers, we cannot peek
into each other's thoughts one-sidedly."

Is that true?

We have no means of verifying that.

The black-hooded guy said that too.

The mind is beyond control.

So, Fushi, what do you think?

Can this city be protected?

Well, if the Guardian Force's
methods work,

it should be fine.

You left your clansmen in charge
of things in your absence, didn't you?

I'm thankful they followed your will.

We must hurry and retrieve Parona
and the others who were taken.

Yes, I'll do my best.

Thank you for doing this for me.

For you?

Well, it's for everyone's sake.

Yes, I know that.

Bon is bringing immortals back…

People just like me.

I'm looking forward to meeting them…

My new allies.

Now, I will select those who will carry
the burden of protecting our future!

The Nokkers have forewarned
that they will attack the capital, Renril.

We have six months left until the date.

Our kingdom will provide aid
without question.

As such, I intend to select the finest

of the Uralis Army for this mission.

This is a mission that requires you
to put your lives at stake.

I don't know how many of you will stay

nor will I inquire about your abilities.

But you must be prepared to sacrifice
your life if you choose to stay!

Now, I will ask you a few questions.

If it applies to you, stay.

If not, leave.

Gods of Bennett, Monjo, and Zumla,

I am about to commit a sin.

Please forgive me.

I shall begin.

Do you love your kingdom, Uralis,

and your prince,
Bonchien Nicoli La Tasty Peach Uralis?

Do you love Fushi?

What? Do all of you support him?

Master Bon's will is our will.

Unless Master Bon says no,

neither will we.

Next.

Do you have family, friends, lovers,
or anyone you must protect?

Will you give your life to this mission

even if it will take everything from you?

Do none of you fear
leaving behind those you love?

Will you really not leave?

All right!

Those of you who have chosen to stay,
prepare yourselves and leave for Renril!

Brother,

those who passed are waiting for you.

Why are both of you still here?

Do you mean us?

My grandfather and grandmother
left for the other world immediately.

When I died, I could feel
that paradise was waiting for me.

But I've done nothing deserving,

so I did not wish to go there.

The same goes for me.

Perhaps this is what
they call lingering regrets.

Right now, it is you
who is keeping me in this realm.

Lingering regrets…

If things go according to my plan,

I'm sure the gods
will punish me this time.

It is an honor to meet you.

You must be the one leading us to Renril.

Kai Renald Rawle!

Those questions will eliminate no one,

Prince Bonchien
Nicoli La Tasty Peach Uralis.

How did you know?

You are the only one who can identify us

without seeing our faces, Master Bon.

Why were we asked those questions?

What were you planning to do
after identifying the disloyal ones?

In a sense,

a task worse than death
might await those selected.

So I wanted to give them an excuse
to run away if that time came.

I see.

I knew it wouldn't be so simple.

It seems that I was right
to choose the opposite.

Rest assured.

My loyalty is not so weak
that I would abandon you

simply because a worse fate awaits me.

But,

I remember your sickly father
being bedridden!

He passed away two months ago.

My life belongs to no one now.

Now, Your Highness,
dare I ask you who gave you yours?

The devil, Fushi.

Within the Church of Bennett,

there are those who believe
he was not sealed away too.

I am one of them.

And I heard that he is capable
of bringing back the dead.

If you truly are Prince Bon,

then it must be he
who granted you another life.

If that is true, he might be a new god.

I'm sorry!

I didn't mean to bring a guest over

when you're in the middle
of something important!

It's all right, Pocoa.

I brought him here from
the Church of Bennett's main temple.

We will be leaving for Renril together.

This secret will be
revealed sooner or later.

It is better I do it now,

for Renril's sake.

I have recruited three allies.

In addition to the two of you,
the other resides in Renril.

He will be our intermediary.

He'll tell us how to deal with
the royal family

and Renril's organizational structure.

You're here. Long time no see.

Are they trustworthy?

Who?

The allies you recruited.

One is loyal to me.

One betrayed the church.

One has his own interest in this.

We can trust all of them.

I'm coming in.

Bon!

It has been a while.

Come with me.
I have people I would like you to meet.

You mean the immortal allies
you told me about?

Yes, but they are not immortal yet.

Rather, they have
the potential to become immortal.

What do you mean?

I cannot be certain until they die.

In other words,
right now, they are mere mortals.

I invited them here as ordinary humans.

Listen well, Fushi.

Before the Nokkers strike,

you must acquire the three people
you are about to meet.

For what purpose?

Insurance.

In case you run out of vessels.

So that's what you meant
by immortal allies?

If that's the case, I can't accept them!

I've told them about you.

You will meet them as the immortal.

Wait! Bon!

These are your new allies.

Kai Renald Rawle of Uralis.

I've seen you several times before this.

I shall be in your care once again.

Hairo Lich, former troop leader
of the Church of Bennett's army.

So this is the terrifying devil?

Isn't he just a kid?

Are you for real, Bon?

He is Messar.

I am Fushi. I will do my best
to protect this city with all of you.

Thank you.

We'll be counting on you, Great Immortal.

Everyone, the petition is ready.

Let us go and meet the princess.

So you are the ones
who have gathered to protect Renril.

Your numbers are fewer than I expected.

Yes, as of the moment.

We hope more will join us
in our quest in the future.

That is what we hope as well.

So what is it that you seek from us?

We require the cooperation
of the people of Renril.

We ask that you
appeal to them, Your Highness.

We'll need the cooperation
of the soldiers as well.

Give us the blueprints of the entire city.

The underground too.

All of Renril.

I see.

Since you have made requests,
you must give before you can take.

If you require the people, the soldiers,
and the city, you must earn their trust.

Do so, and Renril will be yours.

Is this the time
to be so lax about all of this?

The Nokkers could k*ll everyone
in this city at any moment.

When they grow to about
this size, they start moving.

It wouldn't be a surprise
if they are hiding in the walls right now.

You might be dead by then.

Insolence! How dare you
speak to Her Highness like that!

I apologize! He is still young.

I accept what he said.

However, I've just given you my answer.

I hope things have changed
the next time we meet.

Fushi! What was with that attitude?

We needed to earn her trust!

There is no trust to speak of.

Not even among ourselves.

Are you angry?

To this day, I've repeatedly
used the people I've met to fight.

But the guilt has never left my mind.

You should be well aware of that.

Yet, you want me to use the three of them.

I would do it if I were you.

If you don't use your powers,

then you'll save no one.

Did something happen?

His eyes were twitching.

I can't trust him anymore.

A fight?

No need to force yourself
to be around him.

I've always thought
he wasn't a suitable company for you.

You still have me.

I'll always be here for you.

I'm losing again!

It's not over yet.

Messar, right?

Bon told me to ask you about Renril.

I want to build a stronghold
from scratch. What should I do?

You need the princess's permission.

And mind your tone.

Then, I'll do it myself.
I've got no time to dawdle.

What do you plan to do?

I have money. I'll figure something out.

Stop it!

The princess is strict with outsiders.

You've got to do things by the book.

I don't want to hear that from someone
wasting their time playing games.

Would you care to join us?

It's almost mealtime.

If you go to the towns now,
you'll only inconvenience the people.

Join us for a few games.

Have at it. You can take my place.

Have three pieces in a row
vertically or horizontally,

and you can take your opponent's piece.

When a player has only two pieces left,

they lose.

I only have three pieces.

Just like the Nokkers and us.

You can play
using the rules of flying chess.

Until I have only three pieces left,
I can only move along the sides,

but your pieces can move freely.

Come. If you put your piece here,
you can prevent me from taking it.

Messar likes this game,
but he is poor at it.

What was that?

In this game, haste does not pay off.

Did you get that scar in the Uralis Army?

This? No.

Can you heal it with your powers?

No, I can't.

How much do you know about me?

If you remember me,

I'll gain eternal life after I die.

That's an exaggeration.

Don't you dislike the idea
of me using your body?

I don't.

Master Bon told me that our enemies
believe we should be free of our flesh.

Mind or body. Which will take control?

This w*r requires immortal flesh.

I used to live
with my father and grandmother.

My father was a blacksmith
who made weapons in our small village.

Occasionally, I would help him.

Forging swords for the soldiers of Uralis

was something we were proud of.

Idiot!

But as my grandmother's
condition worsened,

my father started taking out
his frustration on me.

Every day was like living in hell.

I couldn't wait to leave.

One day…

I thought the Nokkers
would be my salvation.

Let's get out of here, Mother!

But the Nokkers did not save me.

-Hey! Over here! Hurry!
-Over there too!

We're lifting this.

Be careful.

Your village was destroyed.
It's a tragedy!

If you would like, you can come with me!

I joined the Uralis Army
as if I was running away.

As time passed,
my grandmother passed away.

Then…

It was my father's turn.

Kai, I'm sorry for everything.

Thank you.

At that time, I thought to myself,

"I'm glad I didn't die that day."

If I had,

my life would've ended
on a dull note where I died holding on

to my resentment for my father.

From then on, I've begun thinking

that it's not a bad thing
to live a little longer.

Sometimes, the flesh guides the heart.

That is why I do not agree
with the Nokkers,

even if my body was taken

and I became one of them.

It's over.

But your superpowers

allow you to revive your pieces.

Eko!

What's the matter?

Dust cloud?

Eko has been concerned about that place.

I've heard that the Doki
are sensitive to changes in objects.

Shall we go, Fushi?

To earn the people's trust.

I know it was an old building,

but how could it have just collapsed?

The foundation is probably all rotten.

What should we do?

I acquired that on our third day here.

So you can rebuild it?

Yes.

I intend to rebuild the entire city.

As expected.

Sir.

If you're all right with it,
will you let us handle this?

Fence off the perimeter before nightfall,

and we can rebuild it in an instant.

Really?

Do you want something in return?

We've got no money to pay you.

We don't need money,

but let me use the area behind.

We're finally starting.

What?

The watermill was rebuilt overnight?

Those people…

They received permission from the people?

Yes, but only one of them went inside.

It's the talk of the city.

NEXT EPISODE

Princess Arume

tells the group to earn their trust.

Messar and Arume.

Hairo and the soldiers.

In their conversation,

Fushi learns of their past.