EPISODE 4: IN TOWN, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE KNIGHTS' FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT
Still researching the ancient magics, huh?
I'm amazed you never get tired of it, Grandpa.
ARNOLD'S GREAT-GRANDFATHER ANDRASIA EMPIRE'S 29TH EMPEROR GUSTAF REKS ADLER'S MENTAL PROJECTION
The true nature of magic remains a mystery, even after all these years.
And that magic research led to your body being taken by a demon
and your soul being locked inside a book, yet you persist.
I definitely shouldn't have let that happen.
You're so casual about it, too.
And then the demon used your body to make a mess of the capital.
Thanks to that, the royals were banned from using ancient magic.
And now I have to hide the fact that I use ancient magic.
Think about it the other way.
It's because I was sealed away
that you had the opportunity to learn ancient magic.
And the treasured silver mask is proving quite useful too, is it not?
Yeah, somewhat.
My great-grandson is lacking in gratitude.
You must be here for my advice. Hurry up and ask.
My kid brother's caught up in the fight over the throne.
Anyone who is capable will inevitably be drawn into it.
That's how these competitions work.
Oppose it, and you'll be done away with in broad daylight.
I've been at risk of assassination countless times.
In fact, your eldest brother, the late first prince...
What was his name?
Wilhelm.
Wilhelm himself was probably done in by one of his siblings too.
He died in battle.
There was no trace of an assassination, even after Father investigated.
It makes little sense that the frontrunner
to become the next emperor would die on the battlefield.
Would you not risk your life to protect Leonard,
your younger brother, if he were to go to war?
Of course.
There's your answer.
Plenty would have thought that way.
Yet, they couldn't protect him, which suggests a conspiracy.
It wouldn't be unheard of in the history of succession battles.
With no evidence of an assassination, either they were especially cunning,
or the Emperor himself was involved.
In that case, we would have to assume everything that happens going forward
is some kind of conspiracy.
Of course.
Say, Gramps...
Is there any magic that could manipulate monsters?
You're here to ask about magic?!
There's been a lot of monsters around the capital lately.
I thought maybe someone's controlling them.
Mm-hm! It ought to be possible to control just a few.
There's no magic that could manipulate a large herd of them.
Ah.
But there are tools that can.
Tools?
Ancient items of magic.
Yes, this one.
A Hamelin.
Blow this pipe, and anyone with enough magic power
could draw monsters toward them from quite a broad area.
I see.
The Knights' Festival of the Hunt is about to be held.
The royals are going to be commanding the knights.
Oh? Well, well, Johannes sure is full of interesting ideas.
What is the reward?
Ambassador Extraordinary.
Leo and I have no choice but to win this contest.
But if the enemy has the Hamelin, we don't stand a chance.
I don't know who it might be,
but assuming they've taken the risk of attracting monsters to the capital,
they wouldn't be satisfied with just the title of Ambassador Extraordinary.
Oh dear, oh dear.
It seems this has gone beyond a matter of simply needing to win.
How do we stop the Hamelin?
You would have to destroy it.
So long as it's emitting sound waves
that only monsters can hear, stopping it will be difficult.
In other words, there's no sense competing normally in the festival.
But that holds for them as well.
There've been more monsters since before the Knights' Festival was announced, yes?
Yeah. I see!
So they've been intent on doing something
using the monsters, regardless of the festival!
And you're aware that I'm Arnold Reks Adler?
Of course.
I didn't expect them to be so quick.
Relax. I won't kill you.
Why, thank you.
Unfortunately, however, you won't be competing in the Knights' Festival of the Hunt.
I see.
I've become a strong contender thanks to Elna.
But I can't just oblige.
What's wrong? Aren't you making your move?
Or can you not move?
Wh-What have you done?
A-A barrier...
You weren't so insipid after all!
Relax. I won't kill you.
But I'll have you answer some questions.
Who let you into the Castle of the Imperial Sword?
You underestimate me.
I'd rather die than name my client.
You let your guard down.
Do it!
Do what, now?
I've captured three.
He's the last one.
What?
Thanks.
Well? Who ordered this?
I won't say, even if you torture me.
I'm not that brutish.
Forgive me! Forgive me!
I haven't told him!
I have not, Miss Zandra!
Looks like Zandra's engaging in some harsh training.
Binding a man by fear seems like something she would do.
Though, the fact that she tried to off me now
would suggest she isn't behind the monsters.
Which leaves Gordon, Erik, or...
Who could be the mastermind?
What should we do with the assassins?
Lock them up.
We might have a use for them later.
Understood.
Prince Arnold...
While you were being bullied—I'm sorry,
put to work—by Lady Elna,
the venue was announced for the Knights' Festival of the Hunt.
Where is it?
As expected, it's to be held at the largest town
in the eastern part of the Empire, Keel.
HALF A MONTH LATER KEEL, EASTERN ADRASIA EMPIRE
Heya, knights! Tomorrow's the big day, huh?
Good luck at the festival!
The monsters are tormenting us!
Go give them a good beat-down!
Hunt, hunt, hunt the hell out of them!
I heard the Emperor arrived yesterday.
My, I'd love to get a glimpse of him.
The princes and princesses are all making their way here too.
Wow, I'd love to meet them.
You? There's no way.
What's wrong?
No, it's just my ring...
Where'd it go?
Your mom's gonna kill me.
Weird...
With these glasses?
I gave them a dash of magic.
Anyone who doesn't know you well would think you're just an ordinary girl.
I'm an ordinary girl, though.
Just put them on.
Okay.
How do I look?
That'll keep you from drawing attention.
Are you sure, though?
About what?
I know I was the one who invited you, but you just seem so busy lately.
I thought you could afford to take a break.
Don't worry about it.
You want to check out the shops, don't you?
Let's go.
Thank you.
We'll have to go to every shop.
I don't know if we can manage that.
We can!
Well, shall we give it a try?
Yes!
I'm so full...
I can't take anymore.
You could have eaten just a little from each shop so we could go to all of them.
It would be rude to the people making the food if I left any.
I get that, but...
You'd never expect to hear that out of a duke's daughter.
You may have been sneaking out of the castle to have fun since you were little,
but I wasn't like that.
All I could do was watch from afar as children my age were enjoying the shops.
I was jealous.
But I can't eat anymore!
I was so eager to try all the shops!
Don't force yourself.
Just looking at the shops is pretty fun too.
Is that another way to enjoy them?
Sure.
Let's rest a bit more and then go for a walk.
That'll get your appetite going a little too.
Okay!
It doesn't seem like he's here for the shops. Perhaps he's here on business?
The knights are with him too.
He's supposed to have been taking a look around the villages
and towns around Keel until yesterday.
He sure is engaged in his work, unlike me.
Brother. Lady Finne.
Isn't that Prince Leonard?
It is. I'm sure of it.
He's so good-looking!
So then the one with him is that twin brother of his?
Ah, his insipid brother!
He's going to hear you!
Doing work?
Yeah. Are you on a date?
We're on a date!
Is that how it looks?
Hard to say.
What are you getting yourself involved in now?
There've been thefts happening all over.
Right now? When knights from all over the nation are gathered here for the Festival?
They've got some courage, that's for sure.
They're practically picking a fight with the Emperor.
No kidding.
So all of the regiments are being asked to investigate and stand guard.
Which means...
Elna should be around here somewhere too.
Huh?
They're so adorable!
Look, Master Arn, they're so cute!
Leo, what are these things again?
I remember seeing them a long time ago.
Those are bletts.
That's it!
Though I thought they lived in the western part of the continent.
Why are they out here in the east?
Don't do that! That tickles!
Stop it!
No!
Wh-What do we do?
It's not like we can just shove our hands down their dresses.
They got you.
They got me.
No, it wasn't them.
The thieves are the ones using the bletts to steal.
The thieves are going after expensive jewelry.
Th-The hairpiece I received from the emperor!
Eh, I'm sure my father won't make a big deal about it if you apologize.
In fact, he'll take it upon himself to find the thieves.
B-But...
You're right, though.
It'll be better if we don't turn this into a big deal.
The two of us will find them ourselves.
I'll help Marie look for it.
Marie, do you have all your things with you, still?
Yes.
All right.
We're going after the bletts.
Sir.
I'll go back.
I brought you here because I wanted you to have some time to relax.
I've only caused more trouble for you again.
You'll be better off without me.
I feel less tense when you're around.
We'll find the hairpiece.
Don't worry.
Can you really?
Those kinds of animals are clever, but they're still animals.
Think of it that way, and you'll notice some things.
Okay!
They must have run away by now, though.
Never mind the bletts.
We're looking for the people who called the bletts.
Called them?
To go into clothes, to go after jewelry...
That's all stuff you could train them to do.
But training them to bring things back a fair distance is a bigger challenge.
So the thieves are nearby?
They wouldn't have bothered using bletts if they were willing to take that risk.
There has to be a trick of some sort.
What's that?
A phonostone.
Phono...?
It regularly emits sounds that've been stored inside of it.
Store female voices—spaced out at regular intervals—in here,
and you can guide males to a destination.
I see.
So he must have taken my hairpiece as a gift to his mate.
Someone's making use of their behavior to engage in theft.
How could they abuse their innocent gestures?!
They won't get away with this!
I don't know if the bletts can be described as innocent,
but the people manipulating them are definitely no good.
We're going to catch them.
Right!
I found another one.
They seem to be leading us towards the west.
F-Found it.
I got it!
I-I'm sorry!
No, sorry about that.
Look!
At what?
I can't really look right now.
A blett!
The thieves must be nearby.
Over there, huh?
It seems so.
Time to catch him, then.
You, there.
I-It's Prince Leonard!
What brings you here, Your Highness?
Could you gather the knights?
We found the thieves' hideout.
Y-You did?
Impressive as always, Your Highness.
At once!
That should do it.
What's the matter?
You were the one who found it, Master Arn.
The knights won't do as I say.
We don't want them to get away, do we?
I know, but...
The public is going to give Prince Leo all the credit again.
What's the matter with that?
It works in our favor if Leo receives praise.
A band of thieves, apparently.
I heard Prince Leonard found them.
He sure knows what he's doing.
Very well done!
I'm sure the emperor is proud too.
There it is!
Yeah.
Um, Prince Leonard...
We've been instructed not to allow stolen items to be touched.
The investigators will be here shortly.
It'll be fine.
I'll make it quick.
Finne.
Yes.
Blau Mowe!
Yup.
Her hairpiece was stolen.
So we were looking for it.
This secret stays with me.
The knights on guard and patrol would be in hot water
if a gift from my father were to have been stolen.
You're free to tell someone,
but understand that you would be the ones in trouble if word got out.
Yes, sir!
I saw nothing!
Likewise!
May I ask you to return these little ones to the forest?
U-Understood!
As you wish! I shall see to it that they are!
No, I shall see to it!
I'll do it!
Thank you, both of you.
Well, we'll be off now.
Have yourselves some good booze after work.
Now we just need to tell Leo.
Thank you very much.
This is all thanks to you, Master Arn.
I didn't do much.
I don't mind if people don't know about your work.
I already know.
I'll always remember that you're great and capable.
Now, and going forward too.
Yeah?
All right, I'm counting on you, then.
I'll write a book someday, too.
I'll make sure that future generations—the entire empire—
knows about your furtive deeds— your spectacular deeds.
You don't need to do that.
Why not? I'll do it!
You don't need to.
What I'm trying to say is...
Cease your fighting!
Lady Elna.
Got it?
Now, stop fighting and shake hands.
No way! I'm not letting him off the hook until he apologizes.
That's my line! It's your fault, and you know it.
Shake hands!
And you! Stay out of this!
I don't care if you're a guard, missy.
Stop fighting and shake—
Get lost!
Yeah! Yeah!
Now!
Commander, relax!
I'm just teaching them a lesson!
Now, get up!
No fighting! Stop!
Fighting?!
I'm just telling them nicely!
Now, get up! Now!
I-I'm sorry.
No one would need guards if "sorry" was enough!
Get up!
Let's go.
Shouldn't you say hi to her?
I don't want to get involved!
Besides...
I'm going to be stuck with her once the festival starts tomorrow anyway.
That's true.
Well, shall we get back to checking out the shops?
Really?!
You must be hungry again after all that walking.
Yes!
Let's go eat at all the shops!
I'm so full...
I can't eat anymore!
TRANSLATION: REI MIYASAKA
TIMING: EDGAR CRUZ EDITING: ZACHARY CARLYSLE
QUALITY CONTROL: WILLIAM HAGGARD