4 - Watchdogs of the Spirit Tree

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:06] Gu
    I guess they deserve credit for
    arriving earlier than expected.
[00:09] Gu
    So, they took up a river-defense formation?
[00:12] Gu
    If we're both the same strength,
    the first side to attack loses.
[00:16] Gu
    We'll be staring at each other for a while.
[00:18] Gu
    Brother, why not have the men
    test the river's depth?
[00:21] Gu
    I know how deep the Kuriri river is.
[00:24] Gu
    The river's swollen from the rain now,
    so it's about chest high...
[00:29] Gu
    A squad is leaving the formation.
[00:31] Gu
    Solork's platoon?
[00:33] Gu
    There's a shallow spot upriver.
[00:35] Gu
    He's planning to send his men around
    and strike us from behind.
[00:39] Gu
    Warrant Officer Yatorishino!
[00:40] Y
    Yes, sir.
[00:41] Gu
    Your squad is to head upriver to intercept.
[00:46] Y
    Isn't it risky to split up our forces now?
[00:49] Gu
    There's a river between us.
[00:51] Gu
    As long as we don't make the first move,
    we have the advantage.
[00:54] Y
    The enemy chose this location.
[00:58] Y
    Don't you think it's too naive
    to assume it would help us?
[01:02] Gu
    Shut up!
[01:03] Gu
    Obey your superior officer's orders!
[01:06] Y
    These guys are child's play
    for you, aren't they, Ikta?
[01:14] I
    Okay, sadistic hottie.
[01:17] I
    Get ready.
SIGN    Watchdogs of the Spirit Tree
[01:26] Gu
    Warrant Officer, should we really stop
    instead of heading to the objective?
[01:31] Y
    If they're here, we can intercept them,
[01:33] Y
    and if they're not, we can get back
    to the main force in short order.
[01:37] Y
    Right now, we should wait
    for the scout report.
[01:41] Gu
    No sign of the enemy unit.
[01:43] Gu
    Was it a trap?
[01:45] Gu
    Let's tell Warrant Officer Yatorishino!
[01:48] Gu
    What?
[01:51] T
    They just sent scouts, huh?
[01:54] T
    But, if nothing else,
[01:55] T
    we've lured Yatori-san as far away
    from their main unit as possible.
[02:01] M
    That's the signal.
[02:02] M
    All troops, prepare to fire!
[02:10] I
    Okay!
[02:14] I
    All forces, charge!
[02:28] (Flashback) Gi
    Make a bridge in the river?
[02:30] (Flashback) I
    Yup. An underwater bridge.
[02:33] (Flashback) I
    This is called an Isu tree.
[02:35] (Flashback) I
    It's very heavy and sturdy.
[02:37] (Flashback) I
    We'll sink it in the water.
[02:39] (Flashback) I
    The water's muddy,
    so they won't be able to see it.
[02:42] (Flashback) I
    Basically, we'll be the only ones to know
[02:45] (Flashback) I
    that the river isn't protecting anyone.
[02:48] Gu
    It can't be that shallow!
[02:50] Gu
    Brother, your orders.
[02:52] Gu
    F-Fire! Open fire!
[03:05] Gi
    Just as the Warrant Officer said,
[03:07] Gi
    the enemy is unable to
    handle this sudden attack.
[03:10] Gi
    And we have three platoons,
    against their two.
[03:17] Gu
    Get out of the way if you're dead!
[03:19] Gu
    Retreat!
[03:20] Gu
    Keep firing as you retreat!
[03:23] Gu
    Gotcha!
[03:30] Y
    Looks like I made it in time!
[03:32] I
    Yatori's here already?
[03:34] I
    Okay, everyone! Fighting time's over!
[03:36] I
    Retreat!
[03:38] Y
    We're changing position!
[03:39] Y
    Defend our retreating allies and
    get to the northern forest!
SIGN    Two Hours After the Battle
[03:54] T
    I'm back, Ikkun.
[03:56] T
    From the look of it, things went well.
[03:59] I
    Yeah, I guess it was a success.
[04:00] I
    And don't call me Ikkun!
[04:03] I
    Hey, Matthew.
[04:05] I
    You still alive?
[04:06] M
    Yeah.
[04:07] M
    Somehow.
[04:09] M
    We took out a lot of their men,
[04:12] M
    so do you think they'll surrender?
[04:15] I
    With the sadistic hottie running things,
[04:17] I
    he might make them fight to the last man.
[04:20] I
    Unless we can kill him.
[04:24] I
    Let's change our formation.
[04:26] I
    Haro, tend to the wounded.
[04:29] H
    Y-You noticed us here?
[04:31] H
    Okay, since it looks like
    the battle's over...
[04:34] H
    Excuse us.
[04:37] Gi
    What was the plan if the enemy
    checked the depth of the river first?
[04:43] I
    He knows this training area so well
    that the odds he'd do that were low.
[04:47] I
    Well, if he'd tried,
[04:50] I
    our air guns would have chased them off.
[04:57] Gi
    I'll get the survivors together.
[04:59] I
    Yeah, thanks.
[05:01] C
    Looks like you got him good, Solork.
[05:04] C
    You should've seen the look on his face.
[05:07] I
    We're still doing our training exercise.
[05:09] I
    Get lost, please, Princess.
[05:21] Gu
    Damn it!
[05:23] Gu
    Yatorishino!
[05:25] Gu
    You should have been there sooner!
[05:27] Y
    I'm sorry.
[05:29] Y
    If you've got a squad that can move faster,
[05:31] Y
    I'd like to see it.
[05:34] Gu
    Brother.
[05:36] Gu
    What's our next move?
[05:38] Gu
    They should be coming for us.
[05:41] Gu
    We'll ambush them on the road to the west,
[05:44] Gu
    and then catch them in a pincer attack!
[05:46] Gu
    Enjoy your victory while
    you can, Ikta Solork!
[05:50] Gu
    I'll punch that smug grin
    right off your stupid face!
[05:55] I
    He's probably saying something like that
    and burning for revenge right now.
[06:00] I
    That said, we're not pursuing.
[06:05] Gi
    How do we win, then?
[06:08] I
    Suya, first get rid of the idea
    that we're chasing the enemy.
[06:13] I
    Chasing someone is tiring,
[06:15] I
    and being chased is mentally exhausting.
[06:17] I
    But making someone chase you can be fun.
[06:20] I
    War is just like love that way.
SIGN    One Hour Later
[06:27] Gu
    What's going on?
[06:28] Gu
    Do they not plan on actually fighting?
[06:32] Gu
    R-Reporting in!
[06:33] Gu
    The enemy's three platoons
    have deployed their troops
[06:37] Gu
    to seal the north exit of the forest!
[06:40] Gu
    What are they playing at?
[06:42] Y
    They got us.
[06:44] Y
    They've cut off our escape route, Captain.
[06:47] Y
    At some point, we have to use the
    north exit to get to the Central Base.
[06:52] Y
    If they've got the exit sealed
    at the end of the mock battle,
[06:56] Y
    we'll lose because we won't
    even be able to get home.
[07:00] Gu
    So they'll just win by default?
[07:05] Gu
    We're heading to the northern exit!
[07:08] I
    There they are.
[07:10] I
    Okay, all units,
[07:11] I
    make it look like you're ready to fire.
[07:13] I
    But in fact, be ready to charge.
[07:17] I
    Don't get too far ahead,
[07:18] I
    and be sure to work with
    the person next to you.
[07:22] I
    Compared to the value of teamwork,
[07:24] I
    the honor of being the first
    inside their lines is nothing.
[07:28] Gu
    Come on, line up!
[07:31] Gu
    Brother, we're charging?
[07:33] Gu
    Yeah.
[07:34] Gu
    The boundary line of the
    combat zone is behind them.
[07:38] Gu
    If even a single one of
    them crosses that line,
[07:40] Gu
    they lose for breaking the rules!
[07:43] Gu
    Listen up, men.
[07:44] Gu
    Even if you die,
    don't fall down immediately.
[07:46] Gu
    Pretend you didn't notice and push them back!
[07:50] Gu
    Now that's against the rules...
[07:52] Gu
    Shh!
[07:57] Gu
    Okay, all forces, charge!
[08:19] Gu
    Torway, you bastard!
[08:25] I
    All troops, charge!
[08:38] Y
    Lieutenant Sushuraf,
[08:39] Y
    the Captain has fallen.
[08:40] Y
    Take command.
[08:42] Gu
    Very well.
[08:44] Gu
    There's no way to win this battle.
[08:46] Gu
    We'll break through and escape!
[08:50] Gu
    Open us a path, Yatorishino!
[08:53] Y
    Understood!
[08:56] Y
    All troops, charge!
[09:08] Gu
    I can't believe it.
[09:10] Gi
    Does this mean we...
[09:14] I
    We couldn't wipe them out,
[09:16] I
    but you could say we won, yeah.
[09:20] Gi
    We really...
[09:24] I
    Okay, everyone, quiet down.
[09:28] I
    Now it's lecture time for my beloved men.
[09:32] I
    Private First Class Gwemp.
[09:34] I
    Private First Class Aigi.
[09:36] I
    Private Bio.
[09:38] I
    Corporal Tobai.
[09:39] I
    Come up to the front.
[09:42] I
    You guys,
[09:44] I
    I clearly warned you beforehand,
[09:46] I
    and you still charged too far ahead.
[09:48] I
    What the hell was that?
[09:49] I
    Ikta's platoon doesn't need heroes.
[09:53] I
    Instead of trying to win one-on-three,
[09:55] I
    come up with a way to fight three-on-one.
[10:00] I
    That's the scientific way of thinking.
[10:03] Gu
    "Scientific?"
[10:04] Gu
    What does that mean?
[10:06] I
    Logical, streamlined, and efficient.
[10:08] I
    And as a result,
    it allows you to be very lazy.
[10:11] I
    It's a wonderful way to think.
[10:13] I
    People started to grow crops because
[10:15] I
    going hunting without knowing if
    you'd catch anything was a pain.
[10:20] I
    People dug wells because going
    all the way to the river was a pain.
[10:26] I
    Laziness is the mother of human progress.
[10:31] I
    Of course, war is no different.
[10:34] I
    If you can slack off during a war,
    you're doing it right.
[10:38] I
    So follow me, Ikta Solork.
[10:42] I
    Ikta Solork's men fight easy, and win easy.
[10:47] I
    Hooray for laziness!
[10:48] I
    Hooray for sloth!
[10:51] I
    Everyone who follows me
[10:54] I
    gets an easy life.
[11:00] Gu
    Ikta Solork...
[11:04] Gu
    Ikta Solork...
[11:06] Gu
    Ikta Solork...
[11:07] Gu
    Ikta Solork! Ikta Solork!
[11:11] I
    H-Huh?
[11:12] I
    What's going on?
[11:15] I
    Huh?
[11:18] T
    We take our eyes off Ikkun for a second,
    and he's suddenly really popular.
[11:22] M
    No, it happened while I had my eyes on him.
[11:25] M
    I was moved, and I have no idea why.
[11:28] I
    I may have spread it on a little too thick.
[11:33] I
    Okay, everyone, quiet.
[11:35] I
    I get it. I get it.
[11:36] I
    Thank you! Thank you!
[11:39] I
    Torway.
[11:40] T
    What?
[11:42] I
    Did our war of attrition work?
[11:48] T
    I think we were able to wait for
    the best chance we could have gotten.
[11:52] I
    I see.
[11:53] I
    Good.
[11:54] T
    Oh, I saw Princess Chamille while
    I was hiding in the forest.
[11:59] T
    She was hurrying to the west
    with her royal guards.
[12:04] M
    She probably went to see Yatori, right?
[12:06] I
    That's totally the wrong direction, Matthew.
[12:09] I
    The princess should know that.
[12:12] I
    She should have no reason to head west.
[12:20] C
    Where...
[12:21] C
    Where is Solork?
[12:27] Gu
    You bastard!
[12:29] Gu
    Princess, flee!
[12:38] C
    So Solork's injury was a lure to draw me out?
[12:45] C
    Captain Ison Ho.
[12:48] C
    Why are you doing this?
[12:59] C
    Solork...
[13:06] Y
    The mock battle is about to end.
[13:09] Y
    Shall we send up the surrender signal?
[13:12] Gu
    Surrender?
[13:13] Gu
    Why would we do that?
[13:15] Y
    Captain, Lieutenant Sushuraf
    is in charge now.
[13:18] Gu
    I'm not letting that happen.
[13:20] Gu
    I'll never surrender!
[13:23] Y
    Refusing will simply damage
    your own reputation,
[13:26] Y
    as the commander who didn't
    know when to give up.
[13:30] Y
    If you surrender now, you can still say
    you succeeded in your final retreat.
[13:37] Y
    Make the right decision, sir.
[13:49] Y
    Sound instead of light
    for their communications?
[13:53] Y
    "West... The Princess."
[13:57] Y
    Yatorishino Igsem and her eight
    soldiers will head to the west.
[14:02] Gu
    That signal?
[14:03] Y
    Yes.
[14:04] Y
    It seems something has happened.
[14:06] Gu
    Take the remaining two from my squad.
[14:10] Gu
    You saved my older brother
    during the first battle.
[14:14] Gu
    I'm grateful for that.
[14:20] Gu
    If we can get to the road,
[14:21] Gu
    the carriage will be waiting for us.
[14:24] Gu
    And then the mission will be complete.
[14:26] Gu
    That's right.
[14:28] Gu
    We're almost done.
[14:30] Gu
    If it hurts to look at
    the princess, then don't.
[14:33] Gu
    You knew what you were in for at the start.
[14:38] Gu
    Yes, sir.
[14:48] Gu
    They whittled down the tip
    instead of using an arrowhead?
[14:51] Gu
    A light troop would've started
    by trying to blind us.
[14:55] Gu
    And you can't be medics.
[14:59] Gu
    Which means you're a fire troop
    that's low on equipment.
[15:03] Gu
    Correct, Warrant Officer Yatorishino Igsem?
[15:07] Gu
    Now, fire your second round.
[15:10] Gu
    Then we'll...
[15:13] Y
    Know where we are,
[15:16] Y
    Captain Ison Ho?
[15:19] Y
    Don't move.
[15:20] Y
    Try anything, and your head
    will hit the ground.
[15:24] Gu
    Very well.
[15:25] Gu
    All forces, shoot her now.
[15:33] Y
    You got lucky.
[15:35] Y
    It seems they don't want you dead.
[15:40] Gu
    I'd thought I'd trained them more thoroughly.
[15:46] Y
    Princess...
[15:47] C
    Yatori?
[15:50] C
    Where am I?
[15:52] Y
    Princess, are you hurt?
[15:55] C
    Let me go!
[15:58] Y
    Please calm down.
[15:59] Y
    I'll save you now.
[16:01] C
    But... But...
[16:02] C
    Solork is...
[16:05] Y
    Ikta will be here soon.
[16:08] Y
    Release the princess.
[16:14] Gu
    I will tell you our motive.
[16:17] Y
    Motive?
[16:19] Gu
    The reason we abandoned
    all our pride as soldiers
[16:22] Gu
    and resorted to committing this crime.
[16:24] Gu
    We are all students of
    Lieutenant General Hazaf Rikan.
[16:30] C
    Lieutenant General Rikan...
[16:32] Gu
    He was a talented commander.
[16:35] Gu
    However, he died during the
    battle at the Eastern Garrison.
[16:39] C
    Then, what you're after...
[16:42] Gu
    That's right, Princess.
[16:45] Gu
    We will avenge our teacher,
[16:49] Gu
    who died to cover up a political failure,
[16:51] Gu
    with your worthless life!
[16:55] Y
    Princess, please...
[17:09] Gu
    I don't like raising my voice,
[17:11] Gu
    but once in a while, it's worth it.
[17:14] Gu
    Watch our surroundings.
[17:16] C
    Stop it!
[17:16] Gu
    Fire Spirit.
[17:18] Gu
    Move, and your master dies.
[17:19] C
    Let me go!
[17:22] C
    Stop it! Let Yatori go!
[17:27] Y
    P-Princess...
[18:27] Y
    Princess, are you safe?
[18:32] Y
    I'm glad...
[18:34] C
    Y-Yatori...
[18:36] M
    Yatori.
[18:38] T
    Yatori-san...
[18:40] Y
    Huh? My hands won't let go of my sword...
[18:45] I
    Man, you sure made a mess again.
[18:48] I
    I won't be able to eat tomatoes for a while.
[18:51] Y
    Ikta...
[18:53] I
    Hey, Yatori.
[18:55] I
    You may already know this,
[18:57] I
    but you're extremely red right now.
[19:02] Y
    I don't mind being red,
[19:04] Y
    but I don't like the way my
    body smells like metal.
[19:08] I
    Smells?
[19:09] I
    That's not got nothing with you being red.
[19:13] I
    It's because you're holding these big
    hunks of metal in your hands, right?
[19:18] (Flashback) I
    No matter what happens,
    don't forget that I'm your left hand!
[19:28] I
    Okay, got them out.
[19:30] I
    Good work.
[19:38] Y
    Thank you.
[19:41] Y
    But, you know...
[19:44] Y
    I might be a little tired.
[19:48] I
    You always work too hard.
[19:51] I
    Like I keep telling you,
    you need to slack off more.
[20:03] I
    May I ask for an explanation,
    Captain Ison Ho?
[20:08] C
    Th-They said they were students
    of Lieutenant General Rikan.
[20:15] I
    I understand completely,
[20:18] I
    and I don't feel like condemning you.
[20:21] I
    Honestly, you could have
    asked me to join you.
[20:27] M
    Ikta!
[20:29] Gu
    Your tactics are somehow similar
    to Lieutenant General Rikan...
[20:33] Gu
    No, they resemble the tactics
    of his teacher, Bada Sankrei.
[20:40] Gu
    Is that a coincidence?
[20:43] I
    That's...
[20:54] M
    Ikkun.
[20:55] M
    It's over.
[20:56] I
    Yeah.
[20:58] I
    It's been a tiring couple of days.
[21:01] I
    Our little camping trip
    in Kioka was a lot easier.
[21:06] I
    Hey, Princess.
[21:08] I
    Looks like you've got a colorful new dress.
[21:11] I
    Or did you just spill a lot of
    tomato sauce on yourself?
[21:14] I
    It's hard to tell.
[21:16] I
    By the way, this is a secret,
[21:19] I
    but you're really red right now.
[21:25] M
    Ikta...
[21:38] I
    Wh-Why?
[21:40] C
    Solork! Solork, you jerk!
[21:48] Gu
    June, Imperial Year 906.
[21:51] Gu
    Very few know of this "parting gift"
    from Lieutenant General Hazaf Rikan.
[21:56] Gu
    But it's also true that those involved
[21:59] Gu
    were left with mental scars
     that would never fade.
SIGN    Next Time: "Two in One."
SIGN    Two in One