# 6 - At the Base of the Stairs of God
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GY8VJW08Y/alderamin-on-the-sky)
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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.)
**[00:01] M**
This is it!
**[00:06] H**
I concede.
**[00:08] H**
Matthew-san, you really are good at this.
**[00:11] H**
I bet you beat Ikta-san or
Yatori-san if you played them.
**[00:16] M**
No way.
**[00:18] H**
Huh? Is that kind of a sore spot for you?
**[00:21] M**
It's not just chess.
**[00:23] M**
It's everything.
**[00:26] M**
Don't you feel the same way, Haru?
**[00:28] M**
About how they're...
**[00:32] H**
On a whole different level?
**[00:35] H**
Sorry!
**[00:36] H**
I always say everything I'm thinking.
**[00:40] M**
I know.
**[00:42] M**
Anyway...
**[00:44] H**
Are you mad?
**[00:46] M**
No.
**[00:48] M**
I'm going to the War Records room.
**[00:50] M**
I want to know more about
the river-defense formation.
**[00:54] H**
I'm impressed.
**[00:55] H**
Good luck!
**[00:58] M**
A whole different level, huh?
**[01:00] M**
I know that, but I can't give up!
**[01:03] M**
Someday I'll show them what
Matthew Tetdrich is really capable of!
**[01:14] T**
I was able to hit them,
**[01:16] T**
from that distance!
**[01:20] T**
Being distant from the target
isn't always a bad thing.
**[01:24] T**
For one, it makes it harder
for them to hit you,
**[01:27] T**
and harder for them to find you at all.
**[01:29] T**
And more than anything,
**[01:31] T**
you don't have to worry when you fire.
**[01:34] T**
My flaw, my worries,
**[01:37] T**
and what I want to do...
**[01:39] T**
You've known for a long time,
**[01:42] T**
haven't you, Ikkun?
***SIGN*** At the Base of the Stairs of God
**[03:25] H**
Ikta-san,
**[03:27] H**
should you really be sleeping here?
**[03:31] I**
Don't worry.
**[03:33] I**
Wherever I sleep,
**[03:34] I**
I'll always save the right side
of the bed for you.
**[03:39] H**
Anyway, what were you reading?
**[03:42] I**
Oh, yeah.
**[03:45] I**
Anarai's box is about to open.
**[03:48] H**
Whose box?
**[03:51] I**
It's a safe, basically,
**[03:53] I**
with intellectual property inside.
**[03:55] I**
Did I tell you I studied under Anarai Kahn?
**[04:00] H**
The man who sought asylum in Kioka, yes?
**[04:03] H**
Science, was it?
**[04:05] H**
You said you learned from him.
**[04:08] I**
Yes. I'm one of his students.
**[04:12] I**
The results of the research
we all worked on together
**[04:16] I**
were first put into Anarai's box,
**[04:19] I**
and no one except us was
allowed to learn them.
**[04:22] I**
But, in exchange for
recognizing his asylum claim,
**[04:27] I**
Kioka wanted technology
with military applications.
**[04:31] I**
And so, to keep things balanced with Kioka,
**[04:34] I**
he told us what he was giving them.
**[04:37] H**
Um, what does that mean?
**[04:43] I**
Eh, guess I must be boring you.
**[04:46] I**
Well, it just means that the
battlefield's about to evolve again.
**[04:50] I**
What a waste of good knowledge.
**[04:54] M**
It's finally time to go to
the Northern Region, huh?
**[04:58] T**
We're heading to the garrison in Somin.
**[05:01] M**
It's at the base of a mountain range
in the sticks.
**[05:04] M**
Those Sinack hicks are everywhere,
**[05:06] M**
so it's not safe.
**[05:08] I**
Did I hear someone making fun
of the Northern Region?
**[05:12] I**
It's just simple prejudice to think there's
nothing worth seeing in the sticks.
**[05:16] I**
You, especially, Matthew.
**[05:17] I**
You don't understand
the wonders of the Sinacks.
**[05:21] T**
Huh? You know a lot about the Sinacks?
**[05:25] I**
I visited a Sinack village with old man
Anarai as part of a research expedition.
**[05:31] I**
We investigated the weather and
geological strata in the high mountains,
**[05:34] I**
but my personal favorite part
was getting to know the locals.
**[05:40] M**
They're mountain barbarians, right?
**[05:42] M**
What was fun about that?
**[05:45] I**
If I had to give you one reason,
**[05:47] I**
the girls are beautiful and energetic.
**[05:49] M**
I thought you liked older women.
**[05:51] M**
Your standards are different
than mine, so that's useless.
**[05:54] I**
I'm not just talking about their appearance.
**[05:57] I**
It's an extremely matriarchal society,
**[06:00] I**
and that's created its own unique traditions.
**[06:03] I**
For example...
**[06:06] M**
The girls visit your bed at night?!
**[06:08] M**
That's so lewd!
**[06:10] I**
The world's a big place, Matthew.
**[06:12] S**
You guys are in a good mood.
**[06:15] S**
What are you talking about?
**[06:18] Y**
It's probably best not to ask.
**[06:20] Y**
Nine out of ten times,
it's something indecent.
**[06:24] M**
I wasn't talking about anything—
**[06:26] I**
By indecent, do you mean something like
**[06:29] I**
the way Haro's sweaty
shirt sticks to her chest,
**[06:32] I**
so you can see every inch of her curves?
**[06:36] I**
Something wonderful like that?
**[06:41] M**
Apologize.
**[06:43] M**
Only a truly disgusting man would
say something like that to a woman.
**[06:47] S**
So?
**[06:48] T**
We were discussing the trip north.
**[06:50] S**
A six-month deployment, wasn't it?
**[06:53] S**
Outside of dealing with thieves and
monitoring the mountain people,
**[06:57] S**
it's a very dull post, I hear.
**[06:59] S**
Yatori, aren't you going to be bored?
**[07:03] Y**
No, it's perfect.
**[07:06] Y**
I want as many real battles
under my belt as possible.
**[07:10] S**
I wish a certain person
were that enthusiastic.
**[07:17] Gu**
Kanna!
**[07:20] Gu**
They're here! They're here!
**[07:23] Gu**
The brand spanking-new officer candidates!
**[07:27] Gu**
The ones who saved
the princess are here, too!
***SIGN*** Great Alafatra Survey Records
***SIGN*** Imperial Army Northern Region Garrison
**[07:43] Gu**
I welcome both the high-Level
Officer candidates,
**[07:46] Gu**
and their training units,
**[07:49] Gu**
once more this year.
**[07:51] Gu**
We at the Northern Garrison
are very glad you're here.
***SIGN*** Northern Garrison Commander
Lt. General Tamtooktsk Safida
**[07:57] Gu**
I'm reluctant to discuss
unpleasant matters so soon,
**[08:00] Gu**
but you're well aware of
the fall of the Eastern Region.
**[08:04] Gu**
If only I and a few of my men had been there
**[08:09] Gu**
when the Kioka barbarians dared
trespass on Imperial land...
**[08:16] Gu**
Our eventual counterattack on Kioka
**[08:19] Gu**
depends on the loyalty and
patriotism of us soldiers.
**[08:25] Gu**
As the future leaders of our military,
**[08:28] Gu**
I pray your patriotism is firm and pure.
**[08:31] Gu**
Sorry for the short speech,
**[08:33] Gu**
but that's all I have.
**[08:35] I**
How was that short?
**[08:40] I**
Eternal prosperity to the land
**[08:42] I**
the Emperor rules, and we soldiers protect!
**[08:47] I**
Cheers!
**[08:48] Gu**
Cheers!
**[08:54] Gu**
Continue your chats as you listen to me.
**[08:57] Gu**
I am the garrison commander's aide,
**[09:01] Gu**
Major Yuskshiram Toakk.
**[09:04] Gu**
I'll explain what you'll be doing here.
**[09:09] M**
Is he okay?
**[09:10] Background**
You can find the organizational hierarchy
posted in the barracks hallway,
**[09:12] M**
I could see him dropping dead at any minute.
**[09:15] I**
He's probably got a lot on his mind.
**[09:18] Background**
The chain of the command is posted
there, too, so make sure you look at it.
**[09:18] I**
Since he's working for
a boss who doesn't have one.
**[09:22] Gu**
That's all.
**[09:23] Gu**
If you have any questions, ask them now.
**[09:27] I**
It's so obvious who's doing what here.
**[09:35] Gu**
Hey.
**[09:36] Gu**
Having fun?
**[09:38] I**
Yes.
**[09:39] I**
Thanks.
**[09:41] Gu**
You have a light spirit, too, don't you?
**[09:44] I**
Warrant Officer Ikta Solork,
**[09:47] I**
Light Troops Platoon 3.
**[09:49] I**
This is Kus, my partner.
***SIGN*** Northern Garrison 1st Regiment
9th Illumination Company Commander
**[09:51] Gu**
First Lieutenant Senpa Sazaluf.
**[09:54] Gu**
I'll be your instructor for a while.
**[09:58] Gu**
This is light spirit Key, my partner.
**[10:00] Gu**
Nice to meet you.
**[10:02] Gu**
I hear there's a problem child mixed in
with the knights everyone's talking about.
**[10:06] Gu**
Would that be you?
**[10:07] I**
When I'm with them I don't fit in,
**[10:10] I**
so I'm keeping my distance.
**[10:13] Gu**
You sure don't look like a knight.
**[10:17] Gu**
That handsome boy over there might, but...
**[10:21] I**
You're harsh!
**[10:24] I**
I hate him!
**[10:26] I**
I hate all hot guys, who get
women coming to them
**[10:29] I**
even without saying a word!
**[10:30] Gu**
Oh, jeez...
**[10:34] Gu**
I've been waiting for this,
daughter of Igsem!
**[10:42] Y**
Do you need something from me?
***SIGN*** Northern Garrison 1st Regiment
22nd Breastplate Cavalry
Platoon Commander
**[10:44] Gu**
Listen well!
**[10:46] Gu**
My name is Deinkun Hargunska!
**[10:49] Gu**
I am 26 years old!
**[10:51] Gu**
My rank is Warrant Officer!
**[10:53] Gu**
I'm well aware of your name!
**[10:55] Gu**
Now, let our blades do the talking.
**[11:02] Y**
Lieutenant General Safida, I have
received a request for a duel.
**[11:05] Y**
Is there someplace we can use?
**[11:09] Gu**
What do we do?
**[11:10] Gu**
Here is probably fine.
**[11:12] Gu**
Very well. Do it here.
**[11:14] Gu**
However, Warrant Officer Hargunska's
skills with a blade
**[11:17] Gu**
are the finest in the Northern Garrison.
**[11:25] Gu**
Hey, what are you doing?
**[11:28] Y**
The two-blade style of the Igsem clan
is for fighting multiple foes at once.
**[11:33] Y**
If I have one opponent,
**[11:35] Y**
I only need one blade.
**[11:38] Gu**
You must not think much of my skills, then.
**[11:44] S**
What a vulgar display.
**[11:46] S**
Yatori's swordsmanship is not
meant to be gawked at.
**[11:49] I**
That's incorrect.
**[11:50] Gu**
Hey, you can't—
**[11:51] I**
The Igsem style *is* meant to be gawked at.
**[11:54] I**
This is a traditional farce put on whenever
**[11:58] I**
an Igsem arrives at another garrison.
**[12:00] S**
What?
**[12:01] I**
The two-weapon style is a special privilege
**[12:04] I**
given to the Igsem
at the behest of the Emperor,
**[12:07] I**
as a symbol of their invincibility.
**[12:08] I**
As long as they do not lose a swordfight,
**[12:11] I**
the military allows it.
**[12:21] I**
So, this is all just a show
for them to gawk at.
**[12:24] I**
The Igsems value order in
the Empire very highly.
**[12:27] I**
To continue carrying
two swords on their belt,
**[12:30] I**
they must show everyone their superiority,
**[12:35] I**
so as to protect that order.
**[12:40] H**
Is Yatori-san being pushed back?
**[12:43] M**
No, she hasn't hit back yet, but...
**[12:46] T**
Yes.
**[12:47] T**
Her position hasn't changed
since the start of the battle.
**[12:51] I**
The Igsems are the embodiment of
the legend of invincibility.
**[13:06] Y**
Your strikes were as strong as steel.
**[13:09] Y**
I am honored to have had
the opportunity to fight you.
**[13:13] Gu**
Splendid, Yatorishino Igsem!
**[13:21] S**
I suppose that's Yatori for you.
**[13:24] I**
It's all to protect the order of the Empire.
**[13:28] I**
She risks her life to protect you
because she believes,
**[13:31] I**
without doubt, that you
will fulfill your duties
**[13:33] I**
as a member of the imperial family
for the rest of your life.
**[13:40] I**
Don't forget that, Princess.
**[13:43] I**
No matter how great your dreams may be,
**[13:46] I**
don't forget that.
**[13:52] Gu**
Well, to be honest, you guys
came here at a great time.
**[13:56] Gu**
Things were pretty tense until a bit ago,
**[13:59] Gu**
since it was so bad at the Eastern Garrison.
**[14:02] Gu**
We thought they might ask for reinforcements.
**[14:05] T**
You didn't want to go?
**[14:08] Gu**
Who would?
**[14:11] M**
But, if there was a sizable
enough group of reinforcements,
**[14:14] M**
the course of the battle might have changed.
**[14:16] Gu**
In the North, we call courageous people
like you "central-type soldiers".
**[14:24] Gu**
The people who are motivated even
after coming up here to the north.
**[14:29] Gu**
People like that are a minority around here.
**[14:32] Gu**
It's all because of the Alafatra mountains.
**[14:37] H**
Why?
**[14:38] T**
That's right...
**[14:40] T**
Great Alafatra is the stairway to God.
**[14:44] T**
No enemy has ever crossed over these
mountains in the history of the Empire.
**[14:50] Gu**
Yes, that's right, Warrant Officer Remeon.
**[14:53] Y**
Even without external threats,
**[14:55] Y**
I think there are internal ones
who live there.
**[14:59] Gu**
Yeah.
**[15:00] Gu**
Our job is just that.
**[15:03] Y**
Keeping the Sinack mountain peoples
in check, correct?
**[15:07] Gu**
That's right.
**[15:10] Gu**
They're Imperials, but not Katjvarnans.
**[15:14] Gu**
We've had several small-scale
conflicts with them.
**[15:19] Gu**
But about two years ago
they stopped causing trouble.
**[15:25] Gu**
The last six months we haven't even
sent out any punitive raids.
**[15:30] Gu**
First Lieutenant, what is the
point of this exercise?
**[15:33] Gu**
We've been going over the same
area for three hours.
**[15:36] Gu**
This isn't training us for anything.
**[15:39] Gu**
That's right.
**[15:41] Gu**
This is a threat that
we're calling an exercise.
**[15:44] Gu**
We show them our forces and use
silent pressure to keep the peace.
**[15:51] Gu**
Warrant Officer Solork,
you have nothing to say?
**[15:57] Gu**
Reporting, First Lieutenant.
**[15:59] Gu**
I have a message from Warrant Officer Solork.
**[16:02] Gu**
"I have broken military regulations and
voluntarily entered the detention barracks.
**[16:06] Gu**
The regulation I broke was regarding
leaving the squad during exercises..."
**[16:13] Gi**
I refuse to accept this!
**[16:14] Gi**
Why are all the books in our
barracks being confiscated?
**[16:20] Gu**
Private First Class Kanna, is that how
you address a superior officer?
**[16:25] Gu**
Daring to lecture me with no rank?
**[16:28] Gu**
If you've got time to read books,
**[16:29] Gu**
go run and build up stamina!
**[16:32] Gi**
Wait!
**[16:33] Gu**
If you're reacting like that,
this must be yours.
**[16:36] Gu**
*Great Alafatra Survey Records*.
**[16:39] Gu**
Th-This was authored by
Anarai the Blasphemer!
**[16:44] Gi**
Th-The contents of the book have
nothing to do with the author!
**[16:48] Gi**
I've had it with you!
**[16:51] Gi**
Grit your teeth.
**[16:52] I**
Oh, no.
**[16:54] I**
That's not how you use that book.
**[16:58] Gu**
Who the hell are you?!
**[17:00] I**
A passing Imperial Knight.
**[17:03] I**
My task in life is to banish all the tears
from all the girls in the world.
**[17:08] Gu**
Imperial Knight?
**[17:10] Gu**
One of the knights everyone's talking about?
**[17:12] I**
I apologize for the rudeness.
**[17:14] I**
But there's something very interesting here.
**[17:18] I**
The invention of the printing press
has made books far easier to attain,
**[17:23] I**
and some books have become huge hits.
**[17:26] I**
They're still not exactly cheap
for the average person, though.
**[17:31] I**
Even used, this amount of books
is worth a fortune.
**[17:36] I**
That's what you thought,
wasn't it, First Lieutenant?
**[17:39] Gu**
What are you saying, you bastard?!
**[17:42] Gi**
So, you took them to sell for yourself?
**[17:46] Gu**
D-Don't be stupid!
**[17:48] I**
*The Rose of Miyakanne*,
**[17:49] I**
*The Life of Dalis*.
**[17:51] I**
Good choices.
**[17:54] I**
You already know who
you'll sell them to, right?
**[17:56] Gi**
You bastard!
**[17:57] Gi**
Enough with your yammering!
**[17:59] Gi**
I was going to let you off easy because
you're a favorite of the Third Princess.
**[18:06] I**
A question for you, First Lieutenant.
Do you like insects?
**[18:10] Gu**
I don't care about them! Bugs are bugs!
**[18:14] I**
But there are some of them
who are highly toxic.
**[18:18] I**
It's dangerous to try and handle them
without any knowledge.
**[18:22] Gu**
Like everything else, a soldier's heart is
strong enough to overcome those difficulties!
**[18:26] I**
One last thing.
**[18:27] I**
If you think the soldier spirit
grants you omnipotent powers,
**[18:30] I**
you're going to get hurt.
**[18:32] Gu**
Don't talk like you know anything!
**[18:40] I**
Here you go!
**[18:46] I**
Congrats on a successful mission, Sergeantula!
**[18:50] I**
They stay out of direct sunlight
during the day,
**[18:53] I**
so you can find them under eaves and roofs.
**[18:56] I**
If he'd read this book,
he would've known that.
**[19:01] I**
This is yours, right?
**[19:03] Gi**
Th-Thank you, Warrant Officer.
**[19:07] I**
Think you could call me Ikkun?
**[19:11] I**
What's your name?
**[19:13] Gi**
Northern Garrison 1st Regiment,
**[19:16] Gi**
Private First Class Kanna Temari.
**[19:18] Gi**
My partner is Tab the wind spirit.
**[19:21] Gi**
Nice to meet you.
**[19:23] Gi**
Um... Ikkun-dono.
**[19:25] I**
Ikkun-dono, huh?
**[19:27] I**
Well, I guess it works.
**[19:29] I**
Hey, Kanna?
**[19:30] I**
What was your favorite part of that book?
**[19:34] K**
Um... the analysis of
the Aldera religion, I think.
**[19:39] I**
The Aldera religion?
**[19:41] I**
Not the part on the spirit worship
of the Sinacks?
**[19:45] K**
C-Correct.
**[19:46] K**
It says that when you analyze
the Aldera religion of the Empire
**[19:50] K**
in light of the Sinack's spirit worship,
**[19:53] K**
you see many things that seem strange.
**[19:58] Gu**
I've never seen a guy ditch exercises
to go pick up girls before.
**[20:04] I**
Kanna! We'll see each other again!
**[20:07] I**
We're both students of science!
**[20:09] I**
If you're reading that book,
you're a student of Anarai like me!
**[20:14] I**
You and I are fellow students!
**[20:19] Gu**
I see you're having a good time.
**[20:21] Gu**
But, you know, I hope you're
still alive to see her again!
**[20:23] K**
*Fellow students?*
***SIGN*** Welcome to the world of science
**[20:30] Gu**
Try to endure this for three days.
**[20:32] Gu**
No food, no water.
**[20:34] I**
That'll kill me!
**[20:36] Gu**
Until you can stop talking
all the damn time, then.
**[20:41] Gu**
Listen, what were you thinking
when you got to where you are now?
**[20:46] I**
It was 100% bad luck.
**[20:49] Gu**
Sheesh...
**[20:51] Gu**
I heard you were weird, but...
**[20:55] Gu**
Hey! Hey, don't go that way!
**[21:00] Gu**
Hey!
**[21:07] I**
First Lieutenant,
**[21:10] I**
what is this?
**[21:18] Gu**
Nanaku Daru.
**[21:19] Gu**
When do we begin?
**[21:23] Gu**
Our war to recover the stolen Hahashiku.
**[21:28] Gi**
We won't wait for the next
Grateful Spirit Festival.
**[21:31] Gu**
Can we win against those
terrible demons of the plains?
**[21:37] Gi**
You know, Meraize,
**[21:38] Gi**
our world right now is only half.
**[21:42] Gi**
So we're going to get back
**[21:44] Gi**
the other half of the world that was stolen.
**[21:50] Narr**
Great Alafatra, the stairway to God,
**[21:53] Narr**
had protected the Empire from
external threats for years.
**[21:57] Narr**
Imperial Year 906, July.
**[22:00] Narr**
Dark clouds were gathering from within...
***SIGN*** Next time: The Northern Katjvarna Rebellion.
***SIGN*** The Northern Katjvarna Rebellion