01x05 - Forest of Spirits

[bunniefuu]

Is she having another nightmare?

Now she won't have any scary dreams.

What?!

This is bad! My vision's been taken out.

Was that a demi-human?

What do I do? My sight isn't coming back.

Hey, wait! Please!

I guess I have no choice.

Careful, Uzuma. I think he's

using some kind of spirit art!

Don't worry. It's a spirit art that

detects the od in the area, that's all.

But we should probably assume

that he knows our numbers.

Wait, please!

Are you demi-humans?

If you are, I'd like to talk!

Sara, humans are a dishonorable lot.

I know. But we need to

learn what his aims are.

In that case, we should prepare

for the worst case scenario

Orphia, Alma, for now, investigate in there.

Understood.

Will do, Sara.

Uzuma, stand by.

Understood.

We shall accept your proposition.

However

We would rather you not refer to us by

the derogatory epithet "demi-human."

I thank you for your ready consent.

I am called Rio.

With regard to the term I used,

it was not my intent to cause

any offense. I apologize.

Sara!

There's a child of the beast people here!

It looks like spirit arts have

been used to make her sleep!

Uzuma!

I haven't given any orders yet!

He's a marauder who has kidnapped

one of our kin. And

Watch out! He's using

some kind of spirit art!

What?

It seems like some kind

of healing spirit art.

Hey!

Wait, please!

What's the meaning of this?

We have ascertained that you

have one of our kin in there.

As we have questions about this situation,

we will have you restrained.

This is a misunderstanding!

I was hoping that you would take

her under your protection!

Who would trust a human's

much less a kidnapper's word?

I didn't kidnap her! Listen to—

What's this?

Your actions are needless.

Seirei Gensouki

Forest of Spirits

Haruto?

You Who are you?

Me? I wonder who I am

You don't know?

No.

But you know about me, don't you?

About you, Haruto?

Haruto is Haruto.

That's not really an answer.

In that case, why do you know about me?

Because I'm connected to you, Haruto.

Connected to me?

Yes. It's still too soon

But I belong only to you.

What do you mean?

I'm sorry. It seems our time is up.

Time?

Yes. This is all I can do.

It isn't much, but

At least you'll have sweet dreams.

Haru-kun?

Haru-kun, wake up!

Mii-chan? Mii-chan!

Mii-chan!

Mii-chan?

Mii-chan—

Are you all right?

Onii-chan!

Latifa

Why are you crying?

You were gone, Onii-chan!

I don't want that! Don't leave me.

Ow!

Could you please hug me a little more gently?

Huh? Are you hurt? Why?

What's this?

Who did this?

Dear, dear. Can you not walk a little slower?

As I thought.

Human boy, our apologies.

I would like to hear about that young girl.

Can I ask for your cooperation?

More importantly, were you the ones

who did this to Onii-chan?

That's right.

Sir Rio!

I offer my sincerest apologies!

Please, allow us to apologize, too!

Sir Rio, truly, you have

our most sincere apologies!

If the misunderstanding has been resolved,

that's the most important thing.

Uzuma will take full responsibility

for her thoughtless actions.

As will these girls.

Yes, I understand.

But for now, everyone,

please raise your heads.

Orphia, quickly now. Aren't you going

to release his shackles for him?

Y-Yes!

Sir Rio, tomorrow morning,

the Elders will gather

to give you a formal apology.

For tonight, I apologize that all we

can offer is this humble room,

but I hope you and Miss Latifa will

be able to rest well here.

Thank you very much.

We will accept your kind offer.

Good. I have many preparations

that must be made as well.

If you'll allow me, I'll excuse myself.

What is that?

That is the World Tree in which the great

Dryas, a spirit of mighty trees, resides.

Big, isn't it?

Yes.

Heading for that tree is

what brought me this far.

Impressive.

A high-level illusion magic barrier

is erected around that tree.

Without considerable knowledge

of the spirit arts,

one should not be able

to see through it, but

Really?

Sir Rio, you were not apprenticed under

anyone in the spirit arts, correct?

If what I use is the spirit arts,

then I'm basically self-educated.

I see.

What an outrageous talent you have.

Here we are.

Sir Rio, please sit here.

Well, shall we commence

this council of the Elders?

As we have asked the human boy

to be present on this occasion,

we shall proceed using

the language of humans.

I am one of the Eldest, who bring

together the People of the Spirits

who live in this village.

I am called Syldora.

These two beside me are also of the Eldest.

You already know Ursula.

This dwarf man here is—

I'm Dominic! Nice to meet you, human kid.

As you can see, he has quite

a forthright personality.

I apologize if he causes any offense.

I thank you for your courtesy.

I am pleased to meet you.

I am called Rio.

Please, there is no need for

such deference, Sir Rio!

Considering our misunderstanding

caused such great troubles from our kin,

and that you freed one of our kin

who had been taken into sl*very,

we offer you our apologies and

our most heartfelt thanks.

I am honored by your words

of apology and gratitude.

The fault lies also with me, for so

thoughtlessly setting foot in your domain.

Please, raise your heads.

Your generous understanding

makes our hearts ache.

We were hoping we might be able to do

something as a sign of our gratitude, but

What do you mean?

As we are of different peoples,

it is difficult for us to determine what

would show our gratitude to you, Sir Rio.

I see. In that case

Would you take Latifa into your care?

Sir Rio, that is our wish.

It is something we should be bowing

our heads and asking of you.

Though you say that

Please, tell us what you desire.

If it were possible, right now, she

I think she's grown attached to me, so

Sir Rio, please, you do not

need to say anything more.

For Latifa's sake, won't you live here

with her in the village for a while?

You wouldn't mind?

We would not.

All of the Eldest here are in agreement.

We would like to ask you to stay.

That's right! Quit being so polite!

You're an even better man than

Ursula made you out to be.

I like you, kid.

Yes, it's just as Ursula and Dominic say.

We intend to take every measure to make sure

living in this village

poses no inconvenience.

If you discover anything you want in the

meantime, please don't hesitate to tell us.

That's right! And it doesn't

have to be an object.

You can even marry one of

the girls from our village!

Dominic, don't get so carried away!

Are you drunk already, you scoundrel?

Sir Rio, that's the way things stand.

All right.

While I live in the village,

then, the spirit arts

And any knowledge that seems

useful for daily life

If I could be taught such things

I see.

Something like that should be

no trouble at all.

Indeed. We'll need to find

an accomplished teacher.

Well, it seems that conversation

has come to a close.

Would it be all right to

move on to my business?

Why Lady Dryas.

Sir Rio, the personage before you is the

spirit of the World Tree, Lady Dryas.

What? A spirit?

Pleased to meet you, Rio.

Yes, pleased to meet you.

Hmm, just as I thought.

It's very weak, but I sense the

presence of a spirit within you.

Is it sleeping?

A spirit? Inside me?

Yes. Do you have an idea what it might be?

I think you've probably made a covenant with it.

A covenant? No, I don't have any

particular memory of that

I see. That's strange.

If you make a covenant with a spirit,

things like an inability

to use magic often occur,

which can be difficult for a human.

Oh. In that case, I've definitely

There is one person who can't use it.

You're a hindrance who can't even use magic,

but we've prepared a job that even you can do.

Say, would it be all right

if I looked into it a little?

Yes, I'd appreciate that.

Then, please excuse the intrusion.

My! You have an incredible

amount of od hidden inside you!

It looks delicious! Are you really a human?

What?

Did you find something?

More than something, it's

It's like there's a person-shaped spirit

sleeping inside you.

A person-shaped spirit?

Hmm, with that reaction, I'd guess you don't

know how rare a person-shaped spirit is.

N-No, I don't.

To put it simply

Spirits that can take the

shape of a person, like me,

are of the second-highest class or greater.

So one of these person-shaped

spirits sleeps within Sir Rio?

Yes.

The spirits of the highest class,

once called the Six Great Spirits,

all went missing in the Divine-Demon w*r

over a thousand years ago.

The spirit sleeping within Rio

may be one of those

high-class spirits, don't you think?

If If it is a high-class spirit,

would that cause some kind of problem?

I don't think so, but

Oh, but for the children of the village,

it might be a matter of great importance.

I'm only a spirit of the second-highest class,

and they've gone and

deified me, after all.

That's

What does that mean?

It would mean that

we must once again rethink the manner

in which we treat you, Sir Rio.

What?

To put it plainly, Sir Rio,

we would discuss whether it would

be better to treat you as a saint.

A saint?

Don't worry about the details!

Just think of it getting extra-special

treatment while you're in our village.

I'll do that, then.

Onii-chan!

Welcome home, Sir Rio.

Onii-chan! This house is amazing!

It has an open-air bath!

A kitchen!

A beautiful view.

Yes.

It's delicious!

Is that

This?

Oryza grains are threshed to remove

the hulls, then cooked with saffron.

Oryza?

Yes.

It's a foodstuff that originated

in the Yagumo region.

Do you not have it in the Strahl region?

No.

That's right! They have rice here!

Rice! Rice!

What are you saying? You're so strange.

But, I mean, it's okome!

Um I was wondering, Sir Rio,

which rooms would you like us to sleep in?

I'm sorry?

Huh? Um The Eldest

Lady Ursula didn't mention anything to you?

About what?

The three of us are to live here in this

house and look after both of you, Sir Rio.

What?

All of you are going to live here, too?

Yes. Would you rather we didn't?

I-I don't know

It's just

Sir Rio, forgive the intrusion.

Mistress Ursula

Regarding Sara and the others

living here with you,

I humbly ask your permission.

Though you say that

Won't it cause problems for them?

Living with a human like me

That's precisely why they should.

Talk of you and Latifa has already

spread among the villagers.

If the higher-ups in the village approach

you as they might some kind of abscess,

that would be far worse.

I see.

This is for Latifa's sake, too.

Someone besides you who can

be her guardian, her friend

She needs someone who will

stay by her side, correct?

That is true, but

Then we shall consider

the matter settled.

Oh, well, I am grateful for

what it means for Latifa.

As long as we aren't imposing

on Miss Sara and the others.

That's wonderful, isn't it, everyone?

Thank you so much, Sir Rio!

Not at all. It is I who

should be thanking you.

I will be counting on you from now on.

Of course, Sir Rio!

Oh and

I would be grateful if you

would stop using "sir" with me.

Well, in that case

Would Master Rio be acceptable?

Yes, that will be fine. Please go with that!

We will now begin the rites

for the Grand Spirit Festival!

Here, under the profound

grace of the great spirits,

we hope that blessings

and divine protection

shall forever accompany us, the People

of the Spirits, on the path we travel.

Lady Dryas!

Now, then, I believe it's

about time to descend.

Let's go.

Y-Yes, sir!

A-Are we going in there?

Yes.

Around this time, the master of that

cave will be out looking for food.

It won't be returning for a while,

so please, don't worry.

You wait here.

Well done in making it this far in your

effort to join the Celestial Lion Brigade.

If you clear this next test,

you will receive permission to officially

join the brigade as a member.

Sir!

Oh, good! Now all that's left is to get back.

M-Master Reiss, what is that?

It's obvious, isn't it? It's an egg.

Wh-What kind of egg?

What's this? Would you really like to know?

Oh! Um No!

We are considering what, after griffins,

might be used to newly augment

the Celestial Lion Brigade's military strength.

What?

You will carry this egg, please.

I must manage the griffin, after all.

Y-Yes, sir.

Well then, let us return.

The parent won't get angry and come

to take back the egg right?

The distance between here and the Strahl

region is considerable, is it not?

That's true

Next Time

Festival Night

"Festival Night."

Spirit Chronicles

Exciting Bonus Manga

Beast-eared.

By Minazuki Futago

Hello

Elf.

Yes

Dwarf

probably.

Yup

Fantasy

enthusiasts

probably love

this to bits.

HISS

Latifa,

calm

down