02x12 - Secret Behind the Veil

[bunniefuu]

Spare vessels.

Those were what the new allies
Bon brought were meant to be.

So what is it that you seek from us?

All of Renril.

To prepare for the Nokker's attack,

Fushi's plan to rebuild Renril begins.

Hey.

Why won't you show your face?

Mother said that a queen
must always wear a veil over her trust.

I don't really understand,

but I think it means I'm not supposed
to open my heart to just anyone.

Will you become queen?

It would appear so.

In our system,
the youngest child becomes the ruler.

So the person I marry will become king.

You play with me every day
because you want to become king, right?

Everyone is saying that.

I guess that's not a bad idea.

It's not easy to be a king.

A king must always put his people first!

I lost.

You've got a long way to go.

Very well. I'll give you another chance.

A chance for what?

To get what you want.

If you can defeat me in a game,

I'll grant you a wish, any wish.

Princess Arume!

I've told you many times
not to play with the child of a servant!

They're so annoying.

Please come here.

Your Highness, please!

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Yes? What is it?

We intend to use the plan
as discussed to defend the capital.

What does Your Highness think?

I think it will do.

Are you serious?

You can handle wood-based
Nokkers with flame arrows

and stone-based Nokkers
with crossbows, I suppose.

As long as you aim from above the walls.

But what about those
that appear from underground?

Pray?

Who are you? How did you get in here?

Messar Robin Bastar.

He is an old friend of mine.

Leave us.

Hurry up and hand over the map
of the castle and the underground.

As I've said, I cannot put
my faith in your people yet.

Forget it.

I'll just grab an architect
and do it our way.

Amazing!

Whose house is this?

It belonged to Grandpa Beer.

I lived here for four years.

The four of us lived together.

Grandpa Beer, Pioran, me, and…

Rean often came over to play too.

That's Grandpa Beer's old mask collection.

Fascinating, isn't it?

Eko!

You shouldn't simply touch other's things.

O' Great One!

Thank you so much.

The water mill has been
restored to exactly how it was.

This house will be able to
resist the Nokkers' attack

as I have imbued
special powers into the walls.

O' Great One,

please do the same for my house too!

Mine as well!

Very well.

But I cannot show anyone my powers,

so please fence off the buildings first.

I'll handle the details.

Those who wish to seek protection
for their houses, please come to me.

Hey, are you sure this is all right?

Is what all right?

You merely restored
the buildings to their original state.

How is that going to fend off the Nokkers?

Wow! That's a fancy house you built.

Liquor!

Not bad, kid.

Kai, let's continue our game
after we get some drinks!

What the heck is this?

I see. So that's what it is.

Eventually, you'll do this
to the castle too, won't you?

Of course.

You'll need permission from the princess
and the people in the castle first.

I'll leave that to you.

I don't have time
to go along with her whims.

There are several other houses
left on this street I must work on.

I wonder if I can finish
before the Nokkers arrive.

Either way,

we can't do everything on our own.

In times of w*r, we'll need
the cooperation of the local soldiers.

Soldiers? I would rather not.

They will do me
a bigger favor by staying home.

At least I won't have to run around
trying to keep them from getting k*lled.

But Hairo has already left
to liaise with the soldiers.

So that's why I haven't seen him around.

Where did that guy go?

No idea.

Fushi, you look for him.

Don't order me around. I'm busy.

We've got things to do too.

You're the best person to go, so go!

Do you need my help?

Look after Eko for me.

All right.

Great!

Not bad!

That's it!

This kind of training
won't help them fight against the Nokkers.

Get him!

Don't run away, Camu!

Get up, Camu!

What's the matter? Is that all you've got?

Are you all right?

Thank you.

I'm Camu. That was some great sparring.

Is your hand all right?

It hurts!

I'm heading to the infirmary.

That sort of training is futile.

You're right.

But it's necessary
to gain the soldiers' trust.

On the contrary,
I think trust that is too easily gained

will only become a disadvantage in battle.

I disagree.

Then why did you pretend
that you were hurt and weak?

So it is true that the immortal can sense…

the pain of others.

You're right.

It would be easy to win their trust
if I came off as strong and formidable.

But in reality, it's not that easy.

I'm not really strong.
I just give off the impression that I am.

I don't understand.

Tell me more about yourself.

I used to live in the church.

My oldest memories are…

Does it hurt, boy?

…of all my teeth getting pulled out.

Whenever a new tooth grew,
they would pull it out.

No one told me the reason for that.

I could only eat foods that were
mostly liquid, like porridge and soup.

I lived in a small room…

with a narrow courtyard
surrounded by tall walls.

The teacher will be mad
if you hurt yourself again.

This happens all the time.

My foster mother, Tassett,
was always by my side.

We ate the same food,

read the same books,

and enjoyed the same topics.

She was my friend.

I was permitted to go out once a week

to study the teachings
of the Church of Bennett

in a hall 50 meters away
from where I stayed.

What is that person eating?

Is that what's written in the holy books--

Pay it no mind. Let's go.

What is it? Tell me!

Every day, I did the same things,

but I was happy.

What are you doing, Hairo?

Nothing!

From now on, I'm a swordsman!

A swordsman?

Where did you learn that from?

I saw it in a book!

Come! Let's spar!

Raise your sword!

You're weak, Tassett!

Do you think I can become a swordsman?

Yes, of course.

Of course.

What's this?

Dentures. This is your birthday present.

Come. Eat up.

My world went from zero to one.

When I took my first bite,

I tasted a mouthful of happiness.

Hairo Lich.

From today onwards,
I will be your foster mother.

Where's Tassett?

Yesterday was your birthday, wasn't it?

I'll give you a gift.

Where is Tassett?

Answer me!

She committed a sin,
so she had to be punished.

She was strong.

She didn't scream
or make a fuss throughout it all.

That was when I realized I was different.

They brought me here

because they thought
I was possessed by the devil.

Time passed by.

Eventually, I was made leader
of the troops by the archbishop.

That was also when I decided

I would leave when
the opportunity presented itself

and do what I wanted to do.

I would like you to lend me your strength.

Someone who can fight fearlessly

and overcome pain

will surely win over
the trust of the soldiers,

but that isn't me.

All I can do is pretend to be strong.

If you're not tough, you can't be strong.

If you had known pain,

maybe you would've been able
to save your foster mother.

How long have you been there?

From the beginning?

Wait! Hold… Don't k*ll me!

I won't tell a soul about what I heard!

I swear! I was just worried about Hairo.

Someone who doesn't know pain
can't protect those in need of protection.

Will I still be needed?

Hairo, I'll protect you

and you too, Renril soldier.

I… You… I've been listening,

and you talk as if you're our mother!

Do you want us to stay home
and fight with each other?

Don't be absurd!

We have people we want to protect too!

Let us protect them!

I'm not sure if we need you,

but it looks like you need us.

Come, Hairo!

Let's continue our training!

Trust is something
we need to foster right now.

Hairo, I'm leaving this to you.

Got it.

This way!

You built several houses in a single day.

The people are calling you
and your group magicians.

How did you manage such a feat?

I can't answer that.

I can't trust you yet, either.

One day, the Great One will tear down
the city and the underground canals too.

Don't tell me you've forgotten our past!

A past? With you, who hides behind a veil?

What's all that ruckus?

What's with that noise at this hour?

My children are sleeping!

We apologize for the inconvenience.

What on earth are you guys doing?

We're constructing new homes

to better defend against the Nokkers.

What will rebuilding the houses do?

I heard they rebuilt
the watermill in one day.

That's impossible.

At this rate,
we won't be able to finish in time

before the Nokkers attack
three months from now.

We'll need to work throughout the day too.

But if we do that,
it'll draw too much attention.

Then, we'll find a way
to keep the people busy.

We'll have the residents
tear down their own homes

so Fushi can concentrate
on rebuilding them.

But not everyone
will be amenable to that idea.

I would like to put
the soldiers on the job,

but I'll need more time
to earn their trust.

Sorry. They're a stubborn lot.

Who are you?

This is Camu of the Renril soldiers.

Due to my negligence,
he found out about some things.

I'm keeping him near me
to prevent him from spilling them.

What should we do?

It looks like we'll still need
the princess's cooperation.

Messar, how are things
on your end coming along?

Beats me.

Can't you be more specific?

Done.

You used 12 minutes
to construct one house.

Please try to halve that time.

That's not the most
important thing right now.

Kai, I need you to teach me
how to win that game tonight.

Sure.

Again?

You should do some
serious work once in a while.

You're annoying, kid.

Kids shouldn't butt in
when adults are working.

Fushi is at least


You're the child here.

And what about it?

I'll take you somewhere nice next time.

Let's have dinner first.

Even in the face of danger,
rest is necessary.

I apologize on his behalf, Fushi.

That guy has always had a foul mouth.

Always?

Have you known him for long, Bon?

In this situation,
placing a piece here will serve you well.

Why did you recruit him?

I wanted to give him an opportunity
to do his best at a shot of becoming king.

King?

You must be joking. Him? No way!

Don't say that.

Rumor has it that he was
the son of a servant or a prost*tute.

Well, he does seem quite well-off.

He can even enter the castle at will too.

I wondered who he was.

But might he actually be a noble?

This is delicious!

Thank you.

To be honest,
I don't know his true identity either,

but he is likely a nobility.

I say this because the first time we met

was at the annual
summer tea party for elites

that my mother held.

That was almost 20 years ago.

She would invite nobles from allied cities

and hold week-long talks.

Messar would be in attendance too.

Hey.

Are you going to become king?

Yes. You?

Who knows?

More importantly, want to fight?

No. Mama will be upset--

Since we were close in age,

we bonded in no time.

They're certainly lively.

Those are boys for you.

I heard from Mama

that the youngest heir
succeeds the throne in your kingdom.

I think so.

So the one who wins
Princess Arume's heart will become king?

How about it?
Do you think you stand a chance?

You guys are close, aren't you?

Well, we do get along, but I don't know.

You can do it, Messar!

Let's make our kingdoms
the best of friends!

He always gave vague answers,

but I could sense that he cared
very much about the royal family.

I think it's because they're close

that he is so indifferent toward her.

That makes them friends too, huh?

I'm going back to work.

Hey, Your Highness,

let's play a game.

You said it before, right?

If I win, you'll grant my wish.

So you remember.

Very well.

All right.

So? What do you want from me if you win?

The throne?

Well…

I want your trust.

You know what that means, don't you,

Arume?

O' Great One, could you please move?

Excuse us. We need to move the rubble.

I've torn down my house.
Please come over and rebuild it later.

Transport the rubble
through the west entrance.

Bon!

What's going on?

Messar convinced the princess.

Messar?

Don't get carried away

just because you won.

I only fulfilled a childhood promise.

True trust needs to be built
over time on a solid foundation.

What was that for?

You're a rather cute one.

Bon.

I want to protect her.

I guess I'll use this chance to tell you.

I hold no power in this castle.

That's why I'm working with you guys.

Basically, I can't be the king

because the king chose her mother.

Arume and I are half-siblings
that share the same father.

She doesn't know this,
and I don't plan on telling her.

But if her father and brother die,

I'm the only one left to protect her.

That's why I want to stay
as close to her as I can.

Messar, don't you have feelings for her?

Don't be ridiculous.

This is why I don't like kids.

Who knows?

NEXT EPISODE

Slowly but gradually,
the plan is taking shape.

The mysterious saint
has rebuilt the city of Renril.

But how will the people react
when they discover that Fushi

is the immortal regarded as the devil?