02x06 - The Nature of This World Floats Upon the Dragon King's Spring

[bunniefuu]

We're nearly there.

At long last!

I wonder what it's like.

A hidden land, inaccessible
without the guidance of an elf...

It's hard to contain my excitement!

Come on. The Lord Crown should
be visible from here, too.

Hello, there. It's me, Arc.

We are currently headed for a spring
located near the Lord Crown.

It could lead to breaking
the curse upon your body.

There is said to be a spring near the
Lord Crown that can break any curse.

I've never seen a finer view!

There's no better example
of untrodden territory!

It definitely wasn't an easy trip to make.

Considering everything we ran into...

Being nearly digested
by man-eating plants...

Caught in the blast of
an exploding monster...

Getting lost in a cave...

It's this way! I'm sure of it!

This way! It's this way! I'm telling you!

I'm certain it's this way!

And after all those countless
struggles, we're finally here!

Now, Lady Ariane,
where is this spring we seek?

Wait, is that...?

Arc? Is something wrong?

Forgive me! I'm going on ahead!

Wait, Arc?!

There's no doubt about it... This is...

A torii gate!

Perhaps it has some connection to

the Hanzo the First
that Lady Chiyome mentioned.

Wh-What the—?

You dare to step on me...?

How very bold of you,

boy!

While this would normally
be a breach of etiquette...

Since there's no one else around,

Ponta, my friend! In we go!

Could this be—?

You were able to withstand the pressure
of my roar and remain standing?

Maybe you are worthy of
challenging me after all.

Please, hold!
It's not my intent to fight—

Oh, no! That has to be...

Dragon Breath!

Well, that was a close one!

You were able to withstand that?

Then expect my full power with the next.

I ask you to halt your duel,
O mighty Dragon Lord!

Then he really was a Dragon Lord...

You're one of the elf clan that
makes their home in the woods

on the other side of the mountain.

And the other is one of Hanzo's people.

That's right! My name
is Ariane Glenys Maple,

and my clan makes its home
in the Great Canada Forest.

I'm Chiyome—a descendant of the
Jinshin clan that Lord Hanzo founded.

We ask only that you hear us out...

And this was shaping up to be my
first enjoyable battle in an age.

What a shame that it must end early.

All the same, I very much appreciate it.

My name is Villiers Fim.

And you are?

I am Arc. A traveling mercenary.

I see. So, you've sought out
the spring in these lands

in order to repay your debts to this Arc.

It is certainly true that there is
something distinct about you, boy.

Be that as it may,
stepping on a Dragon Lord...

No matter. It seems I jumped
to conclusions, as well,

when I assumed he was a mere scoundrel.

The torii had caught my attention,
and I wasn't minding my surroundings.

I ask your forgiveness.

I understand your situation.

The spring is past the torii.
You're free to make use of it.

There's a shrine near it that
Hanzo used in the past—

that can serve as a landmark for you.

Lord Villiers Fim, may I ask
you a question as well?

What is it, child of the Jinshin clan?

The members of my clan

have been searching for Lord Hanzo's
hidden village for an age.

Sir Arc once aided in the
rescue of many of my kin...

but their numbers were greater than what
we could offer refuge in our village.

I believe they could
live here without fear.

I ask for your leave to create a hidden
village here, where they can all live.

Hanzo dwelt here long here
before I made this land my den.

I'm in no position to
refuse such a request.

Thank you so much!

This is great, Chiyome.

I owe you all so much for your help!

Well, let's be on our way to the spring!

This must be the shrine that
Hanzo the First made use of.

I have to say, at this distance,
it resembles a mountain more than a tree.

I wonder how old it is.

I have no idea.

They say it's been around for as
long as the world has existed...

What an incredible sense of scale!

Genuinely worthy of a
name like "Lord Crown!"

The spring should be nearby.

Let's go.

This is less like a spring...

...and more like a massive,
secluded, open-air bath!

The curse is being broken!

This is great, Arc.

You have my thanks, Lady Ariane!

I suppose I'll need to
soak in it for a while.

That's quite the strange sight.

Well, there's no time like the present!

I can't deny that being watched
is... a bit unsettling...

Even with my skeletal nature,
I still retain a sense of modesty!

That makes sense!
Of course you'd be embarrassed!

Lady Ariane, since we're at a hot spring,

why not wash away some of the
exhaustion from our journey?

We can use a different spring
until Sir Arc is done bathing!

Right.

See you later then, Arc!

Okay, I'm all ready!

In we go!

Carefully, now.

This feels fantastic!

I must say, you really do have
an impressive body, Lady Ariane.

May I see how it feels?

A-Again?! It's so embarrassing—

This feels great, Ponta.

It's growing back! Look at it go!

And while this would normally
be a breach of etiquette...

Since there's no one else around,

Ponta, my friend! In we go!

I wonder what Arc's going to
look like once his body is back?

It's hard to imagine at all,
based on how he currently looks...

But considering how strong he is,
maybe he's rather muscular?

Good point.

Maybe he's... really incredibly handsome?

As if we could be that lucky!

I wonder if, once he gets his body back,
our journey will be at an end.

Now, do I have a proper body?

Well, this isn't much like the
body I had in my past life...

Are you all right, Arc? What's wrong?!

I'm fine, Lady Ariane...

So please... don't look so worried.

Arc!

Episode 6

The Nature of This World
Floats Upon the Dragon Lord's Spring

I have news, Emperor Domitianus.

We've learned that these stones were
embedded in the bodies of the monsters

that have been causing havoc
in the kingdom of Rhoden.

Our analysis has revealed that they
have much in common with the

Employ Ring that Fumba used.

Either it was smuggled from
our empire, or possibly...

What of Pontiff Hilk?

The investigation continues, sir.

It seems that apart from Rhoden,

he has also been gaining followers
in the southern continent, Tajiento.

In Tajiento, eh?

Are you sure it's okay for us to barge
into the house the first Hanzo used?

Given Sir Arc's current state,
I'm sure he'd forgive us.

He still hasn't woken up...

What could've happened to him?

I'm not sure.

I would think it's an effect
from the hot springs, but...

He's not... dead or anything, right?

He doesn't seem to be breathing.

Do we know for certain that he breathed
in the first place, Lady Ariane?

I'm not sure.

He's sighed before, and he eats, so...

There's so much about him that we
don't understand in the first place.

Perhaps we should ask
someone more knowledgeable?

I thought as much.

You needn't worry.
He will awaken in due time.

Really?!

Think of it as a particularly
strong case of heat exhaustion.

Thank goodness.

Lady Ariane, I'll stay at
Sir Arc's side so that—

That's okay. You should go let
your people know about this place.

I'll keep an eye on Arc.

Understood. I leave him in your care.

Right. Good luck with
founding the new village!

Arc, the new village is almost finished.

Everyone in Lalatoya is
worried about you, too.

It's about time you woke up.

You're not going to just...
pass on like this, are you?

We may be forced to resort
to extreme measures.

Do you have an idea about
what to do, Chiyome?

A friend of mine from the
village mentioned to me...

that there's supposed to be an
effective method for times like these.

Well, what is it?! Don't
hold out on me, come on!

A kiss!

You must kiss Sir Arc.

Kiss... Kiss?

As in a kiss kiss?!

What are you saying, Chiyome?!

There are countless legends
where someone in an endless sleep

was awakened with a kiss,
from a variety of sources!

Is that true?! How's it work?

I'm not sure of the specifics.

But it's guaranteed to work
with someone that shares

a deep bond with the sleeper!

Do we share a deep bond...?

Besides, I...

It'd be... my first time.

Would you rather Sir Arc be
stuck like this forever?!

Sir Ponta, please, say something!

You too, Ponta?

Steel yourself!

Go on, Lady Ariane!

Arc...

F-Fine. I'm not sure
about this, but I'll try.

U-Um...

H-How are you awake?!

A-And for how long?

I heard a commotion, so I opened my eyes.

And you were there...

Stone of flames, heed my call...

Lady Ariane?!

Strike my enemy down!

I'm going to be burned to cinders!

Egads! I was asleep for such a long time?

We were really worried.

But I'm glad to see you've
regained consciousness.

I'm sorry to have put you
through such trouble.

m 0 0 l 380 0 l 380 50 l 0 50

There's no response...
It's just a corpse...

I appreciate you not assuming
"There's no response. It's just a corpse."

Unbelievable...

I was really worried.

You have my thanks, Lady Ariane.

This is good.

The Primas specialty, pineapple salad
cake, lives up to its reputation.

Owner, that was a great meal.

If I want to head to Tajiento,
I'll need to take the land route.

A second blade?!

It won't change back?!

I'd wager your curse has developed a
resistance to the spring's effects.

Oh, Sir Dragon Lord!

You seem to be doing better.

The elf girl asked me to
look into your condition.

You're a wanderer, aren't you, boy?

A wanderer...?

It is what it sounds like.

You're not from this world originally.
You found yourself here from elsewhere.

That does sound right, yes.

Wanderers themselves aren't that rare.

But it seems you are unique
even amongst their number.

What do you mean?

It seems your original body
exists in some other world.

And it is your soul alone that
inhabits your current body.

Bathing in the spring seems
to have restored that body...

That wasn't my original
body, either, though.

It seems that the memories and
sensations of your time in this world

suddenly flooded from your
transitory body into your own.

Memories

Sensations

Think about it. Such an overpowering flow

rushing into a vessel all
at once risks destroying it.

In other words...

It was unable to handle the strain...

Which is why I lost consciousness.

I see! And I understand now.
Thank you, Sir Dragon Lord.

I suppose this means the spring
won't be able to restore me anymore.

Sorry to interrupt,
but you are Sir Arc, yes?

Sir Goemon! And...

Who're you?!


Next Time

The Spirit of Chivalry
Blooms at the Shinobi Village!

Imagine traveling on the back of a Dragon Lord...
#PontaIsOut&About