Father!
I'm going to fall!
Father!
I can't hold on.
Father.
Kanna-chan, are you up?
Hmm?
Kanna Kamui
(Actually a dragon)
Morning, Kobayashi.
Kobayashi-san
(Normal human)
Morning, Kanna-chan.
Dragons...
Dragons.
The most powerful creatures there are.
An imaginary creation that breathes fire, flies, and sometimes uses magic.
Or so I used to believe...
Now I live with said dragons.
A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved
The cuckoo mother lays her eggs in the nests of other birds and then leaves them.
Whoa!
Newly-hatched cuckoo chicks
will then push out the other eggs that were there.
Whoa?!
They're unbelievable.
The parental birds remain unaware of this and diligently bring food back,
feeding the cuckoo chick so it grows big and strong.
Go on, Miss Kobayashi. Please eat this and grow big and strong!
Don't be rude.
Jeez.
Tohru
(Actually a dragon)
If you ate this, your hangover would see Armageddon
and go from chaos to cosmos in a flash.
It already looks like Armageddon.
Kobayashi, are you hungover?
Well, I wound up drinking too much after I was freed from my death march.
Miss Kobayashi!
If your death march is over, then you should take paid leave
so we can go soak in a hot spring together, just the two of us!
No!
Huh?!
I don't want to use my precious PTO on something like that.
Why are you treating it like some Japanese person would?!
Because I am Japanese.
Going by yourselves would be unfair!
You want to go too, right, Kanna?!
Ilulu
(Actually a dragon)
I want to go.
All right! Then let's all go together!
Let's go right now!
Yay! Yay!
Not today.
I promised to meet Saikawa and the others.
I have my part-time job, too.
I also have my part-time job.
Take care.
I'm heading out, Miss Kobayashi.
I'm heading out.
Hmm?
Kobayashi.
Buy me a smartphone.
A smartphone?
For an elementary schooler?
Plenty of the kids that come to the shop have them.
Kids these days...
Everyone at school has one.
Having one is convenient.
I could record videos.
I could record audio, too.
Free Spirit
Yeah, but it's too early for you.
Ehh!
I want to record the voices of aliens!
Aliens?
What are you talking about?
Her and her friends are going to go listen for the voice of aliens.
Kanna.
Stop being selfish and let's go.
I've given up.
I'm heading out.
Okay, take care.
Kanna-chan! Hold on a moment.
Getting to see Kanna-san on our day off is just the best!
Saikawa, Saikawa!
Kanna-san?!
Where? Where are you?
Saikawa, Saikawa!
Ta-da!
Kanna-san!
Jeez, Kanna-san.
You sure love your pranks.
Big success!
What is that?
A voice recorder.
Kobayashi lent it to me.
You can record audio like this, and then replay it.
Paused
Stop Record
Play
Saikawa, Saikawa!
Wow, I didn't know there was a thing like this.
Hey! Kobayashi!
What's going on with this project?!
Do what I've ordered you to handle first!
You're so useless!
That's an old recording.
That surprised me.
Hey!
Everyone's here.
Don't push!
It's too cramped!
It's too hot!
Did you know?
This is a machine that lets you make phone calls by putting money into it.
If you put money in, press the button,
and hear an alien's voice,
then you'll get abducted!
That's how the urban legend goes.
Hachisuka, hurry up.
What was that voice just now?!
It was them?! It was them, right?!
It's just an urban legend.
I haven't even called them yet!
Then just hurry up and call them!
Call them.
Are you ready?
Give us a good video.
All right, here I go.
Here's the forecast for August announced by the Meteorological Agency.
What was that?!
That's crazy!
Aliens?
Huh?!
Maybe we'll get abducted now.
Huh?!
Oh!
It's an urban legend.
Would you stop?!
Hey, Ren!
Dad!
It's time for us to head out.
Oh, that's right!
See you all later!
Good work today.
Bye-bye.
See you later.
This is a secret!
Were you able to make your call?
I might get abducted now.
What's that about?
Stop it!
Fine then.
I had a dream today.
A dream? About what?
It was a dream of me riding on my father's back while he ran.
Just when I think I can't hold on, and that I'm going to fall,
my father stops and cradles me.
That kind of dream.
So Shouta's been so busy studying magic that he won't pay any attention to me.
Magic, huh? That sounds tough.
The mana in this world is thin, so it would be a little difficult,
Quetzalcoatl
(Actually a dragon)
but even you could learn to use magic if you trained, Miss Kobayashi.
I'll pass.
I don't have anything I'd use it for.
I feel a little bad, being the only one drinking here.
I'm the one who dropped in to hang out on your day off,
so don't worry about it.
More importantly, listen to this, Miss Kobayashi.
Yes, yes.
Miss Kobayashi.
I'm sorry.
I just remembered something I have to do, so I'll be going.
Huh? Oh, sure.
Beer, beer.
Hmm?
Oborozuka Shopping District
What's this?!
Ilulu-oneechan! The game broke!
This one, too!
No, no, no!
A blackout?!
That's strange.
Faf-kun, are you okay?
Faf-kun?
Tch. This is troublesome.
My smartphone's down, too.
The breakers are fine.
This isn't good.
Why?
What a shock.
That was scary.
Wow, that was surprising.
That thunder was insanely loud.
Oh, it's on again.
Ah, I'm out of beer.
I smell good liquor.
That's a huge old man.
Hey, want a drink?
No, I shouldn't be accepting things from old men I've never met before.
You're curious about this liquor, right?
I give it to those who understand a good liquor.
Just a little then.
Yay!
Man, you sure can drink, young lady.
I can't handle that much.
You seem like a nice person yourself, old man.
Hmm? Do I?
Oh, guess we're out of liquor.
Oh, that's a shame.
All right, I'll be going then.
I should be, too.
He's huge.
Hmm?
Are we heading in the same direction?
Shall we go together then?
I might have mentioned this before,
but I came here to see my daughter again after some time.
I have some business with her.
Weren't you lonely not being able to see your daughter?
Lonely?
I don't understand that.
Hmm.
Huh? Are we heading to the same apartment building?
Seems so.
It's cramped.
The same floor?
Huh?
Tohru, I thought you were at your part-time job?
What did you come here for, Kim-un-kamuy?
Huh?
My daughter.
I came to see Kanna.
You're Kanna-chan's father?
Then... have you come to take Kanna-chan?
That's...
Allow me to explain from the beginning.
Who?
Oh, you're here?
This is the strategist of my army.
Explaining things like this is a pain, so I'll leave it to you,
Azad.
A dragon orb.
Are you familiar with it?
It's a tool that a dragon spends several centuries sealing power into.
If it's used in combat, it allows one to gain tremendous power.
I don't really understand why, but Kanna broke one of those.
My allies insisted that she take responsibility, so I cast her into the wild.
He never imagined that she would slip through dimensions and wind up here.
You said it.
You were exiled for a prank?
Kanna does love pulling pranks.
So you've come here because you've forgiven her for that, then?
It was never about forgiving her or not.
Huh?
We need her now.
Perhaps that's the way to put it.
He needs her?!
The harmony faction has built a base
near the lands of our chaos faction, and skirmishes have started breaking out.
The White Dragon Duke, Luminaes, has come.
He's a difficult opponent.
Well, that's a rather strong one to be there.
Even I would struggle with him.
That's why we need the dragon orb.
I thought Kanna broke it?
Yes.
However,
breaking it means the power of the dragon orb should have flowed into Lady Kanna.
Thus, we'll extract it.
There you have it.
So I'm taking Kanna home with me.
If you'd like a reward for caring for her until now, ask away.
No.
You've explained the situation...
But how do you actually feel about Kanna-chan?
She's an ally!
An ally who will fight alongside us to defeat our enemies.
Not your family?
I told you I don't understand that.
Why do you glare at me?
Perhaps because your values are too different from those of humans?
Is that true?
So you understand that?
Now, bring Kanna to me.
Kanna is currently out playing with her friends from elementary school.
Elementary school?
What is that?
This place is completely different from our world.
One could argue that Lady Kanna was pulling her pranks
because she wanted to be needed by Master Kim-un-kamuy.
So, now that she is needed,
that should be a dream come true for her... should it not?
What? Who in the world is this man?
Right now,
I don't want to let you two even see Kanna-chan.
Hmm? Why is that?
Because I can tell you'll just hurt her.
From a human perspective, you abandoned and neglected your child.
You're the worst kind of father.
What are you trying to say?
Go learn some human values and change your attitude,
you damn bastard!
You're not frightened?
As expected from the one who defied the Emperor of Demise.
Withdraw your hand, Kim-un-kamuy!
Or I'll murder you!
Tohru!
Master Kim-un-kamuy,
I thought you said we'd handle this peacefully.
Miss Kobayashi, would you please stop, too?
My lord is merciless when it comes to battle.
Heh. It looks to me like fighting would be faster, Azad.
I would have preferred it this way from the start.
No, let us compromise on this.
What?
We just need to obtain the dragon orb.
We can accomplish that without fighting,
and without taking Lady Kanna.
We'll have her extract the dragon orb's power here in this world.
You'll ask Lady Kanna to do this for us, won't you, Miss Kobayashi?
It's a tool of war, isn't it?
Then—
I'll do it.
Kanna-chan?
I'm home.
Father. I'll do it.
So praise me?
When you were the one who broke it in the first place?
Don't act so spoiled.
Fulfill your duty as our ally.
When you produce results, then I'll reward you.
Our business is finished.
I'm going home.
Wait!
You can't be serious, can you?
What a shame.
We may share a taste for liquor, but it seems we can't get along.
On top of that, you don't even possess the power to give me a satisfying fight.
You can't do anything yourself.
Miss Kobayashi.
Well, then. We'll continue this again at a later date.
Please excuse us.
Good grief.
He just did whatever he pleased.
Let's eat dinner out tonight!
You're eating too much, Kanna!
How could he do that after ignoring me for so long?!
I'm enraged!
Infuriated! Wroth! Livid!
So, who was that man beside him?
I don't know either.
It looked like he was some kind of mage.
He called himself Azad, right?
Azad?
Sorry for the wait.
Here's your teppan yakisoba and stamina gyoza!
Bring us another cheese and sausage platter!
Come this way!
Hey, don't run, it's dangerous.
Come here.
Are you okay?
There!
You know, this isn't like you, Kobayashi-san.
Huh?
"We'll make this dragon orb of yours, but we're not handing over Kanna-chan."
Normally you would be the one to propose that.
You think so?
You view Kanna-chan like a human child.
And Kanna-chan wants you to view her that way, too.
You think I'm getting too serious about this?
That's not what I mean.
If you really have been enjoying that life with her,
then you should be even more serious about it.
That's what being a hardcore player is all about, right?
If that old man doesn't want her,
then you can just become Kanna-chan's father.
Kobayashi.
I...
I have you, and Lady Tohru,
and Saikawa and Ilulu,
and my friends from school,
all of you, so I'm okay.
I'm fine.
I don't care about that father.
I'm sorry
for saying such mean things to your father, Kanna-chan.
I think I let my ego take over.
I knew you wanted a family like normal humans have,
so I wanted that for you, too.
But that man just doesn't get it.
It makes me mad!
Right?
Though, I didn't understand at first either.
Someplace warm...
So that's what humans do to stave off the cold?
That looked warm, so I tried mimicking it.
Then, I realized it really was warm.
And it wasn't just my body.
So I thought there must be a way to grow even warmer.
We should head home.
I need to make the dragon orb.
You go on ahead of me.
I'll take my time coming home.
All right.
After risking my life several times,
I thought my sensibilities might not be in line with normal people anymore.
I know that I'm not strong myself.
I'm just a weak woman.
I see.
So these are for children.
Kobayashi.
What are you planning to do?
Why are you here?
To buy a newly-released game.
What did you mean?
You're expecting human values from Kim-un-kamuy.
Are you saying that's arrogant of me?
I'm saying that it's impossible.
Really?
There is no concept of adult or child in a dragon's mind.
Fafnir
(Actually a dragon)
Strength is the only thing they seek,
so parents don't protect their offspring either.
What humans know as parental love simply doesn't exist for them.
That's just mimicking humans?
That's right.
You once asked me before if I thought I was equals with dragons.
Yes.
Back then, I answered that I did.
But if I buried my feelings on this, then I wouldn't be able to say that anymore.
Then I'm telling you that you lack power.
Man, honestly, that's the one part that leaves me in a bind.
Then why don't you try getting stronger, Kobayashi-kun?
I'll help you.
Hey.
Director!
Here you go.
Thank you, Shouta-kun.
I haven't seen Lucoa-san around these past few days.
Yeah.
Lucoa's part of the spectator faction,
so she usually disappears when conflicts come up.
For a long time, both interfering and not
led to regrettable results for her.
So please don't blame her.
I never intended to.
Pardon me.
It sounds like a battle's about to break out between the chaos and harmony factions.
It seems so.
Man, I don't get it anymore.
Why would dragons do this to each other?
It doesn't make sense to you?
That a parent would think about using their own child?
That's right.
Though, it's just that I can't accept it.
Occasionally that feeling of acceptance leads to satisfaction and a sense of relief.
While some obtain it by gaining knowledge, others try to obtain it by force.
Humans live to accumulate results and build up what they can,
so they can accept the end known as death.
At least, that's my personal theory,
although I wonder how many ever achieve that acceptance.
The act of giving dragons a sense of values
is worth as much as obtaining that final acceptance in my opinion.
Are you saying it'll be impossible unless I work like my life depends on it?
That's right.
You'd need to train for around 200 years.
That would require me to stop being human.
I don't want that either.
Alternatively,
you could use a secret trick.
A secret trick?!
I'm home.
Oh!
Is this for me?
Come on, Kanna.
Where's your thanks for Miss Kobayashi?
Thank you, Kobayashi.
I'll treasure the things you've given me.
Sure.
I wonder if that helps her feel a little better.
Kobayashi.
I'm going to make the dragon orb!
Oh, sure.
The principle behind a dragon orb
is the same as a mage pouring mana into a vessel.
So, when you break it, you obtain the power stored up inside.
Then why didn't Kanna-chan obtain that power when she broke it with her prank?
The mass of power must have remained compressed
when it was absorbed into her body.
So it's like there was a compressed zip file inside a compressed zip file,
and she just transferred the contents of that folder?
I don't really understand that analogy.
What are you doing, Miss Kobayashi?
Writing a letter.
A letter?
I borrowed this grimoire from the Director,
and he said this single tome contains magic techniques that were refined over 200 years.
200 years?
No single human can live for very long,
but we're able to build up our ideas, thoughts, and values,
and pass them along to the next one.
We've even made the way we convey those things more efficient.
So I'm going to take what I've gained from our daily life in this world
and try to convey that to Kanna-chan's father.
Thus the letter.
Kobayashi!
I'll write one, too!
Sure.
Kim-un-kamuy is trying to retrieve the dragon orb because Luminaes is a nearby foe.
But what would cause the harmony faction to take such proactive steps?
Elma
(Actually a dragon)
Well...
Luminaes was part of the moderate camp to start with.
He wouldn't do anything unless the chaos faction
was planning an attack or committing an atrocity.
Even Kim-un-kamuy wants to save up his power for the war a century from now,
so he wouldn't be making waves with pointless violence that drew attention to himself.
Right.
Though, once the dragon orb is in Kim-un-kamuy's hands,
battle will break out in earnest.
Both sides will suffer a harsh blow.
I'll leave it to you, Azad.
Both sides, huh?
What's wrong?
Something's nagging at me.
Finished!
Now let's say we're reporting progress on the dragon orb's creation
and keep up a frequent exchange.
Yeah!
Tohru.
Yes?
Could I ask you to deliver them?
Yes.
Letters, huh?
All they need to do is send the dragon orb when it's finished.
She said she wrote about a good way to enjoy liquor as well.
Oh?
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Hold on.
Dear Mister Kim-un-kamuy
I see now.
This is packed full of complaints toward me while also mentioning their progress.
It's the first time a human has hit me with such violent emotion.
Even Kanna's letter is full of things that happened at this place called school,
and who is this Saikawa?
She's introducing strange fellows.
Hmm?
This really does sound like a good way to enjoy liquor.
I'll try it sometime!
All right!
Here's my reply.
Deliver it to Kobayashi.
I see you took the time to read all of it.
Hmm? Well, of course.
I'm not one to run from whatever some human wants to throw at me.
If she has something to say to me, then let her come out with it!
I'll take it all and give right back.
Why you...!
You'd be a very pleasant warrior to face in battle.
She's the one unreasonably demanding I change the nature of who I am.
So,
this is his response?
I don't get it.
Thanks for the tip on how to enjoy liquor!!
Thanks for the tip on how to enjoy liquor!
That damn old man!
That bad old man!
Kanna-chan! Let's send another reply!
Write down everything you want to write!
Yeah! Argument thread!
They sent letters again?
Yeah, I can't help reading them.
You're the great general here.
You shouldn't be spending too much of your time on this.
I know, I know.
But they always write about things I'm curious about, too.
Maybe I will come to understand them at some point as well.
There's no way you'll ever understand us.
Where did that guy go?
These are the harmony faction forces, aren't they?
He's with Luminaes.
The supreme general here.
Kim-un-kamuy's tyranny is too much to bear.
It pained my heart to witness while I was scouting.
When he found humans, he abused and killed them,
and he ravaged and ruined the bountiful land for no reason.
Hmm.
I came to this land after hearing rumors about that.
You should hurry.
The moment he obtains the dragon orb, he's sure to attack you all.
A dragon orb?!
Are you serious?!
I suppose I should take action before that happens.
Hmm.
What?
Luminaes will attack within the coming days.
Even though we currently have no intention of moving from this encampment?
Yes.
If it comes to battle, I have no intention of backing down!
I'll fight even if the dragon orb isn't ready.
How reassuring to hear.
Please allow me to offer what little help I may, as well.
Bingo.
He's infiltrated both camps and stoked them to war.
How could he do this?
I have to hurry and tell Tohru.
Uhh, the dimensional gate is located...
there.
Wha?!
It takes a great deal of mana to open a gate to another world.
It was easy to find you.
I see you've stooped to becoming a stray dog sniffing around in secret, Ilulu.
Why are you doing this?!
Hard to believe those are the words of a dragon who loves battle.
You dragons seek out battle, so I'm simply granting it to you.
You should even be grateful that I'm giving you all a reason to fight.
Why am I doing this, you ask?
Because I love it!
I love seeing dragons suffer!
Watching them tear themselves to ribbons and die is the greatest thing ever!
The fact that such crude methods are all it takes for them to fight
just proves how hopeless they are!
They're so easily manipulated because they have no intention of caring about others!
Now, time to silence you.
Instant movement?!
But a mage doesn't have the power needed to wound a dragon!
Wha?!
What?!
That's a bad habit of you dragons.
Because it's true for you,
you assume your opponents will fight with purely their own power, too.
A holy sword?!
It's made from a holy shroud.
None of your attacks can pass through it.
As you can see,
killing you all is all I ever think about, you damn beasts!
A holy sword and holy shroud?
I've never heard of a mage taking such thorough measures to kill dragons.
They're starting to pile up.
I do like this method,
but will this be enough to change Kim-un-kamuy's values?
I'm home.
You're late, you know.
What have you been out doing all this—
What happened to you?
I was playing around with cats too much.
I know that's not true!
...and so I barely escaped with my life.
He cut my nails too short.
So you knew about that man already.
When I heard you mention Azad,
I was planning to tell you after I made sure it was really him.
I'm sorry.
He was with the flight I belonged to long ago.
At the time, the head of the flight followed his advice.
And what happened?
Our leader's views became too extreme, and many of our allies left the flight.
The few who stayed with the leader would have suffered serious wounds.
Considering that he's repeating that all over again,
he must have quite the grudge against dragons.
At this rate, both sides will end up fighting a fruitless battle.
I'll go eliminate Azad and stop this fighting.
I don't think you'll be able to stop it without physical proof that
he's been inciting them to battle.
True, they might not believe us with just Ilulu's account.
Hey?
Can't we just choose to do nothing about this?
Huh?
What are you even talking about?
Well, look...
This is that world's fight.
I don't think it involves us.
And I don't want to drag Kobayashi into a world where those who want to fight
just fight and die.
Ilulu.
Kim-un-kamuy is the one who exiled Kanna here.
He can't just conveniently demand she come back now that there's a battle brewing.
So you're saying to let it be over once we hand him the dragon orb?
I don't trust humans!
You're plotting something!
You're trying to use me!
I'm sorry, Ilulu.
I want to do something about this,
although I'm still trying to think of what I can do.
I see.
Well, either way I'm getting payback against that Azad.
Tohru?
What's the matter?
Oh, nothing!
I imagine you'll want some thinking time, so I'll head to the convenience store!
This late?
There was something I forgot to pick up!
Excuse me!
Take care!
This is bad, isn't it?
Miss Kobayashi is trying to steel her resolve.
Her resolve to leap into a bloody battle for Kanna's sake.
I know Miss Kobayashi is trying to do something right now,
because her body has clearly started taking mana into itself.
But that won't be enough to do something about this when things are this serious.
Will I be able to fully protect Miss Kobayashi?
Hmm?
You seem carefree while I'm seriously worrying about things, Mr. Fafnir!
What are you talking about?
I'm about to start a long battle.
Raid bosses are a life and death struggle.
This is fuel to keep Takiya from giving out.
You're just talking about your games!
You're worrying about things, huh?
You always were quick to worry.
I don't want to hear it from a shut-in like you.
Hmm, well.
Perhaps we're both short on exercise.
Huh?!
Care to work out for once?
To Kanna
I see.
I understand the gist.
Though I also think,
"What's there to worry about?"
Kobayashi is trying to brave battle of her own volition.
If she were to die,
it would be because she leapt into the line of fire without appropriate strength.
Don't say such ominous things!
You have a long way to go.
Humans issue such provocations like it's nothing.
How deplorable.
Even when the old you worried, you worried about things on a grander scale.
Like how to slaughter all of the gods' forces.
Tohru, you've learned too much about humans.
You're starting to think on the same scale as them, aren't you?
What are you talking about?!
What is it that you can do?
It's fighting.
That's something you can do because you're a powerful dragon.
You should be utilizing the power you've gained
from trying to become as strong as possible.
I know that!
But the thought that my power might not be enough to fully protect Miss Kobayashi...!
You don't get it.
Remember when you attacked me the moment we met.
When you started a fight with Quetzalcoatl.
When you charged the gods' forces all alone.
I don't know why, but you're far stronger now than you ever were then.
You have the strength of someone who's found the treasure they need to protect.
So kill Azad!
So what if there's a skirmish?!
Then kill both Kim-un-kamuy and Luminaes!
Murder all of the forces on both sides!
Protecting Kobayashi is just a side matter to that.
If you have time to worry, then spend it on honing your strength.
You don't want to regret the time you've spent with humans, right?
Mr. Fafnir.
You're right.
So I'll start
by killing you!
Try me!
Ow...
I think that's the first time I've defeated Mr. Fafnir.
Well, I guess what I was meant to do was already decided from the start.
I'll figure something out in the thick of it.
I'm home now!
I had a bit of a long chat with Mr. Fafnir!
What's the matter?
Kanna-chan
is gone.
Her things are gone, too.
She left a letter.
Kanna, would you come back?
What I needed you to do, now and in the past, is fight with me as an ally.
We'll also need the dragon orb in the battle that's coming soon.
I can't afford to wait for you to extract its power over there anymore.
I'd like you to come here and do it.
I can't lie.
To be frank, I still don't really understand what it is you harbor toward me.
Though, if you're willing to return,
then I could give some thought to the importance of this parental love thing.
I'll make a dimensional gate for you.
Please use it to come home.
I'll be waiting, Kanna.
That's a hell of an unfair thing to say!
There was a note from Kanna, too.
I'm going.
With the dragon orb, my father and the others will win.
I'll help, too.
Then...
Then I'm sure...!
Kobayashi
You have a call from Kobayashi
I might not be able to see them again.
But...
Oh, my.
Kanna-san!
I was just thinking of coming over to play with you.
What's the matter? You're being quiet.
Saikawa, I'm sorry.
Huh?
I'm leaving this place.
I'm sorry.
I wanted to stay with you.
Kanna-chan
Calling
It's not working.
Kanna is concealing her mana.
The traces of mana from the dimensional gate are too thin as well.
Only Kanna, with her high perception, could follow them.
We're going after Kanna-chan!
Do you...
mean you're going to our world?
It's too dangerous.
We can't guarantee your safety.
We'll go by ourselves.
Your injuries haven't healed yet.
Please stay home and watch the fort.
Huh?!
I won't be able to protect both of you.
Please.
Protect our home.
You're sure about this?
I think I need to see that old man and talk to him once more.
But...
I know I'll be a burden to you, Tohru.
If it's too much, be frank with me.
If so, I'll keep watch on the house with Ilulu.
Will you trust me?
Is that even a question?
I'd bet my life on you.
We're heading out now.
Be careful!
Miss Kobayashi.
Hmm?
Until now, my reason for fighting has always been myself.
But fighting for the sake of someone else is kind of nice, isn't it?
Hey, that's inappropriate.
Miss Kobayashi, you have some kind of incredible secret weapon
to defeat Kim-un-kamuy in a single blow, right?
Of course I don't.
Huh?!
That's right.
It's my first time going to Tohru's world.
Neither common sense or the law will protect me there.
It's a bit too scary for a weak woman like me, but...
Here we go, Miss Kobayashi!
If Tohru says she'll protect me, then...
All right, let's go.
I sense a gate.
The Emperor of Demise's daughter?
My, my, even the human, Kobayashi.
I already have a grip on the flow of mana in this region.
I can't have you coming here now.
Whoa!
Miss Kobayashi, please hold on tight!
Miss Kobayashi!
He got me!
He sent me someplace completely different!
Miss Kobayashi!
Who are you all?
You're the Emperor of Demise's daughter.
Face us in fair combat!
I don't have time to waste dealing with you.
We won't let you get in Sir Kim-un-kamuy's way!
There's no way dragons would set a trap like this.
It's his doing, huh?
After her!
Yay!
She's fast!
Don't let her escape!
They're persistent.
I guess I have no choice but to deal with them.
She's shooting us from inside the clouds!
Stop, you fool!
Your position's as plain as day.
She took down Tosaka, too!
Spread out!
You go low!
Got it!
You go high!
Hey!
Ow...
I'm alive?!
Tohru?!
Where are you?!
Where's Kanna-chan?!
Right, the smartphone.
Ah! My smartphone!
Quit fooling around, you idiot!
Where did she go?
Ah?!
This woman!
What are you doing?!
The morning sun?
She got Samehada, too.
We're leaving the clouds.
Where did she go?
Clever girl!
Where is she firing from?!
From in the sun?!
This woman!
I need to hurry back to Miss Kobayashi.
Wait!
I said wait!
Hey!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Are you planning to eat me?!
Hey! No way?!
Stop, stop it!
I'm not tasty!
Stop it, stop it!
I'm dead!
I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead!
Miss Kobayashi!
Please follow me!
Who are you?
We'll talk later, yes!
You should be safe here.
Thank you for saving me.
You're Miss Kobayashi, right?
How do you know my name?
I owe Miss Kanna a great deal.
Ah! You're the old man from back then!
You did a lot to help my father then, yes.
This is my daughter.
It's a pleasure to meet you, yes.
Yeah. You, too.
Here.
This is yours, right?
We retrieved it for you, yes.
Thank you!
You came?
I didn't think you would bring it here yourself.
Father.
I was happy to receive that letter.
Hmm?
Even though I only wrote about liquor?
The dragon orb, huh?
It'll be complete in a few hours.
The battle will start soon. Hurry.
Then I'll prepare a room where you can focus.
Father.
Are you happy that I came home?
Yeah, I'm happy!
You'll be a great asset in battle.
Let's fight together!
That one's just a plain orb.
My hair would be unbalanced, so you can have it.
Dummy.
We heard that Miss Kanna was getting dragged into this battle,
so we've been very worried for her.
I came here to stop that from happening.
Facing a powerful man like Kim-un-kamuy is dreadfully frightening.
But we'll guide you to his castle!
Achoo!
So cold!
That's a big help!
Let's all go, yes!
You heard from Ilulu, didn't you?
You could have ratted me out to your father.
How kind of you.
My father trusts you.
I'm sure he wouldn't trust me.
You're happy that your father needs you and you're able to fight with him, right?
That's why you chose Kim-un-kamuy over that human.
You decided to stop mimicking humans and cast aside your friends, right?
You became cooperative so easily once your father wanted you.
Once the battle begins, I'll be leaving this land.
You can do as you please after that.
So you're just going to repeat this all over again?
Why?
I hate dragons.
What's best for humans
is for all dragons to die.
So let them fight amongst themselves all they want.
Until they're all gone.
Not all dragons are like that.
The ones around me—
Are you saying they understand human emotions, respect each other, and live in harmony?!
When all they're doing is amusing themselves by acting like humans?!
Is that why you rewrote his letter?
To Kanna
I could tell from speaking to him earlier.
My father isn't capable of writing something like that.
What would a dragon like you know about that?
I know.
Because we're family!
I don't know what you've learned around humans,
but you cast it all away in the end, didn't you?
You're wrong!
Humans possess more than just warm and kind emotions.
No, no! I'm never bidding you farewell!
No matter where you to move to, I'll chase after you!
Running won't work!
Even if you disappear, I'll hunt you down!
They can also be outrageously greedy.
So I'll take a lesson from that, too.
I'm going to stop this battle.
Then I'm going to make Father be more of a father.
I'll also defeat you, Azad!
I'm going to claim it all, and then I'm going home to Saikawa and Kobayashi!
Little twerp.
It seems you want to thoroughly irritate me.
But there's nothing you can do.
Miss Kobayashi!
Just a little further!
We received word from Azad.
He says the dragon orb will be completed soon.
Whoa!
Let's hurry!
This sword
isn't an ordinary sword either.
That was
the best you could do.
Your mimicry of humans is over now.
Hmm? That's earlier than planned.
It seems the human known as Kobayashi is nearby now.
But it's too late.
Kobayashi?
Miss Kobayashi,
Kim-un-kamuy's castle is just past that mountain.
That's right, yes!
That mountain?!
Dragons from the chaos faction!
The harmony faction's coming from behind us!
What is a human doing in a place like this?!
Were you sent by the harmony faction?
No, no!
Get her!
We'll protect...
...you, yes!
No!
They got me, yes!
Old man! Young girl!
Hey, look at that!
It's the harmony faction's main force!
Are they planning to go at it here?
The daughter of Kim-un-kamuy should be here!
What about her?
Give me back Kanna-chan!
Miss Kobayashi!
Tohru!
Tohru?
They weren't able to defeat her?
The Emperor of Demise's daughter...
Have you returned to fight us?
Miss Kobayashi! I'm sorry I'm late!
You sure are!
This is bad.
It's a powder keg.
Even if I were to fight, I'd be attacked from both sides here.
My priority should be...
Miss Kobayashi?
I was able to calm down some now that Tohru was here,
so I was fascinated
by all the dragons lined up before me.
It looked like a world out of a painting.
Miss Kobayashi?
Huh? Right.
We're getting out of here for now.
No, wait.
This is actually better for us.
Huh?!
Tohru, can you amplify my voice?
She might be the Emperor of Demise's daughter, but I don't care!
Get her with them!
Test, test.
I can't hold back anymore!
I'm going to do it!
No, we haven't gotten Sir Kim-un-kamuy's order yet!
Today's weather calls for clear skies. Today's weather calls for clear skies.
Go, go!
I'm going to seize the glory!
Get them!
Quiet down!
Uhh, I am!
A third party, come to propose a cease-fire!
I'm a simple human, called Kobayashi!
This battle between you all was a setup, and this is a major annoyance,
so I hereby propose to reveal the truth and call for cease-fire!
What?!
Huh?!
Oh?!
They're the ones who started this battle when we haven't even done anything!
Uh-huh.
You haven't done anything?!
We heard you were tyrannizing pious humans!
Yeah, yeah.
I've heard that the chaos faction has just been using this land
after the humans wiped themselves out in war,
while the harmony faction came here after hearing false information!
False information?
Azad lied?
Hold on, hold on!
This human suddenly came out of nowhere!
Why are we trusting her?!
But if what she says is true, then we'd be fighting for no reason.
Who cares?!
I want to fight!
Don't lose control!
Sir Luminaes!
Azad has served us as a spy for many years!
It's insulting to claim that he's been lying to us!
That is true.
We were nearly deceived.
What, she was lying?
I won't forgive this, human!
Huh?
But then... was Azad betraying us?
I'm shocked!
Aren't there far too many simpletons among you dragons?
This isn't the time to be talking about that.
Don't panic, don't panic.
Huh?
There's no signal here.
Don't worry, don't worry.
It's a spell I learned recently.
It creates and detects signal.
Kanna-chan
Calling
Kobayashi
You have a call from Kobayashi
What's this sound?
Oh.
What's that?
My phone.
It's from Kobayashi.
Oh, a tool for communication?
That's fine, talk to her.
They can exchange a few last words.
Kobayashi, I...
That wasn't good, taking my voice recorder without permission.
I'm sorry. But I got the recording.
You really do love pranks.
Could you let me hear that, too?
Yeah, I can.
Are you okay over there?
I'm fine. Have faith in me.
All right.
We'll be there to help soon, okay?
Are those your final words to each other?
Uhh, everyone, please be quiet!
I have something I want you all to hear!
What's that? A weapon?
Still, it doesn't look like something dangerous.
Play
In Call
Kobayashi
No matter what she throws at me, my defense is perfect!
I hate dragons.
What's best for humans is for all dragons to die.
So let them fight amongst themselves all they want.
Huh?
Until they're all gone.
That's decisive.
I couldn't sense any use of magic to create his voice.
Seriously?
Huh?!
I'm using magic to transmit his voice directly to you.
Azad!
You've betrayed us?!
What?
My voice?
Such a tool exists?
No, I can't believe a dragon could pull such a trick.
You're wide open!
I'll admit I underestimated you.
I'll be careful next time.
Anger?
Not that.
His eyes are sad.
Wha?! Why?!
You should be meditating before battle?!
I see.
You just threw a dampener on my upcoming fight.
You should have confronted me head-on.
Unfortunately, I'm not so great at that!
I'm rather shy!
I'll kill you, Azad.
Know that you have no allies who will grieve your death.
I'll show you
the power of the dragon orb!
The power of a dragon orb can do more than just improve a dragon's abilities.
What's wrong with you?!
It also allows a mage to wield power on par with a dragon.
Something's wrong with the dragons?!
And that's also created an unexpected side effect.
By altering the nature of mana
and pushing it into the dragons,
Father!
I can infiltrate their minds and bodies
to control them!
Tohru!
Miss Kobayashi!
I just struck my comrades.
They've used the power of the dragon orb?
The situation's taken a sudden turn.
Go! Leave this to us!
You two...
You're not in any position to just support a side.
You owe me a crepe from the shop by the station.
I demand the latest graphics card.
If Azad's taken action, that means Kanna is in danger!
Let's go!
Yeah!
Thanks, you two!
I'll deal with the chaos faction.
Then I'll kill all of the harmony faction.
Hey!
Tch! Half-kill, then.
We'll help, too!
We're here to aid you, yes!
Who are you?
The battle would have been avoided, if not for his interference.
Impressive as ever, Miss Kobayashi!
That's not true.
Dragons are just easy to deceive.
Since it's easy to deceive them, it's easy to open their eyes.
They must be pure.
Their hearts can easily change based on what they've experienced.
They're just past that mountain.
Wha?!
It's plain to see.
That's Kim-un-kamuy.
Where's Kanna-chan?
Over there!
Kanna-chan, are you okay?
I can't. Dying.
You've done well to come this far as a mere human.
Azad!
I suppose one could get that cocky when they have the protection of a dragon.
You're one to talk.
You're controlling the dragons with that dragon orb, right?
Unlike dragons, humans are sharp.
You can't control all dragons, can you?
You have to understand the nature of their mana,
so it only extends to these dragons you've spent a long time with!
Who is this woman?!
She only used rudimentary magic, but her foundation isn't that poor?
So even Kim-un-kamuy can be reduced to this state
if you understand the nature of his mana?
How pathetic.
Using a parent to attack their child is the lowest of the low.
They're just dragons.
They could never truly understand human emotions.
That's a lie.
You took advantage of parental love to summon Kanna-chan here.
You toyed with her emotions because you wanted to deny her even harder, right?
The chatter ends here. Now go!
Father!
Father, stop it!
Why, you...!
So he's completely under Azad's control?
It wasn't working.
I called out to him many times, but he didn't notice me.
Kanna-chan.
Is it really no use?
Can my voice not reach him?
We'll make it reach him.
It's impossible.
Even you can't stop my father right now.
So we use a secret trick.
A secret trick?
Yes.
Let's take the course that will let you defeat him
in one shot with three days of training.
Is there really such a convenient course?!
You can probably manage it on your own, so I'll just lend you the book.
Though it will require sacrificing something great.
So it really does come down to that in the end?
It might be a trifling sacrifice for you.
Shady people are quick to say things like that.
So? What is this sacrifice?
I can't believe she's an even match for Kim-un-kamuy.
What are Kobayashi and Kanna—
What?!
Huh?!
A dragon orb?!
Is that a dragon orb?!
But what's with that size?
A dragon orb would never reach such a size,
even if tens of thousands of mages poured in enough mana to leave them weak!
No, wait!
Hold on! Hey!
That will drain you completely dry!
You plan to sacrifice such talent for this single moment?!
You'll never be able to use magic for the rest of your life!
Yeah, well, I don't use it for work.
It does feel like a bit of a waste though.
But this is good enough...
For blasting away a parent that makes his child cry!
I see!
So that's what you were doing!
I'll imbue it with as much as I can, too!
Me, too!
I won't let you!
Blast them all away!
What?! Who?!
From where?!
Tohru!
I have it charged up!
Now, Tohru, get this to him.
Yes! Here we go, Miss Kobayashi!
Huh?!
I'm teleporting you.
Hey!
Huh?
Hey, where am I?
Hey!
Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!
I...
I have you,
and Lady Tohru,
and Saikawa and Ilulu,
and my friends from school,
all of you,
so I'm okay.
I'm fine.
I don't care about that father.
You bastard!
Whoa, whoa!
You stopped Kim-un-kamuy with a single blow?
Impressive as ever, Miss Kobayashi.
Who in their right mind suddenly sends someone that high up?!
Huh?
Well, I figured you could handle it.
Like hell I can, you idiot!
Serves you right.
You were only interested in fighting,
so you were easily deceived,
and exploited.
Serves you right!
Serves you right! Serves you right!
Yeah. You said it.
You're waking up?
I have a vague memory of it from partway through.
I can't believe you actually defeated me.
You sound surprisingly fine.
No, I can't stand.
That was the first time anyone's struck me down in one blow.
You're impressive.
What I did was only small part of it.
Though if you say I've won, then I'm going to boast about it over drinks.
I don't understand it.
Why were you able to go so far?
Was it for your ally, Kanna?
But she's not even the same species.
What is Kanna to you?
I'm...
her friend.
You answered that rather easily.
I gave it a lot of thought.
I even felt that I wouldn't mind being her parent.
But, in the end,
the most I am is a friend who can act as her foster parent.
And you were able to risk your life for that?
Because it makes liquor taste even better.
Now that...
I can understand.
Then let's make it taste even better.
Why?!
Why would you?!
I was just striking back
at those dragons!
You weren't wrong.
It's just that any choice you made would have been a right one.
So you should accept this outcome as the right one, too.
When it was me, there was no one like that, was there?!
There was no one to save me!
No one to protect me from dragons!
No one to protect my little sister from them!
That's right.
And without anyone to protect, no amount of defeated dragons
will ever make you a savior.
Now, your savior has arrived.
It's over.
I'm not done!
I'll still fight!
I will fight!
You should probably live with Kobayashi.
I'll never be able to be what you want me to be.
That's enough, Kobayashi.
Let's go home.
You sure?
Let's go.
I was always,
always so lonely.
I was so lonely!
I was lonely, lonely, lonely!
I was so lonely! So lonely!
Man...
This is making me lonely, too.
Now this commotion is over.
Huh?
What were we...
Hmph.
You've come to your senses?
You did it, Tohru.
It's over then.
It is, yes.
I've drained your capacity for magic,
although it seems you barely had any left already.
Now you're just an ordinary human.
That's because Kanna brought an incomplete orb.
I had to supplement it.
If she read that far ahead, then this Kobayashi is impressive.
Kanna didn't abandon her father.
Miss Kobayashi didn't give up on Kanna.
Those are the sentiments that you lost to.
How cliché.
They wouldn't have been able to believe in those anymore if even one part had failed.
That's just part of the process as well.
What?
I believe that our views never settle into their final place until the moment we die.
We'll grow to believe in what we never believed before,
and our views will change, and revert, and change again.
This continues until our life reaches its end.
Lies!
There's no way dragons can change their views so easily!
They don't even try to understand our feelings!
Just like how Kim-un-kamuy never paid any attention to his daughter!
Why don't you just use the condescending tone you always do?!
Call me an inferior, foolish human!
Wait!
Where are you going?!
Aren't you going to finish me off?!
I'll leave that verdict up to Kim-un-kamuy.
You can't move anymore, and you'll never use magic again.
Besides,
Miss Kobayashi would probably tell me not to kill you.
Kobayashi?
What's so special about her?
Just who is that woman?
She's the one who gave me a chance to change my views.
A single chance along the long, long path of my life.
I hope you meet someone like her one day, too.
Damn it!
Hey.
Being a spectator is tough.
What do you mean?
Nothing.
This has just helped me understand how you feel a little more.
I see.
More importantly, look.
Seriously, thank you.
It was nothing.
Miss Kobayashi!
Shall we go home?
Yeah.
Hmm?
Huh?
Where's Kanna?
Kanna-san!
Saikawa, calm down.
Ilulu-san! Where has Kanna-san gone?!
I'm sure she'll come home.
You mean it?!
Can I stay here until she does?!
That... I'd have to ask Kobayashi about.
We're home, Ilulu.
Thanks for watching the place.
Kanna-san!
Whoa!
Saikawa-san?
She's been like this the whole time.
You've done well, Ilulu.
So, where is Kanna?
That's right! Where's Kanna-san?!
Uhh, Kanna-chan's...
Kanna-chan won't be...
No way.
No way!
But Kanna-san told me!
She said she'd come home!
She told me she'd come home!
What was that voice just now?!
It was them?! It was them, right?!
It's just an urban legend.
I haven't even called them yet!
Then just hurry up and call them!
I'll always be here.
You should spend your time with those you can only be with right now.
You can come visit me every so often.
And I'll come visit you every so often, too.
Kanna-san...
You're sure?
I'm sure. I trust him.
Can I stay with you?
Welcome home.
I'm home!
Seeing you go this far for Kanna
honestly leaves me a little jealous.
How far would you go for me?
I'd take my paid leave.
You know, the thing about cuckoos
is that apparently they lay their eggs in the nest of the same species
of bird that raised them.
I bet it's because they loved the mother and father that raised them.
I think so, too.
Fin