E1 - Why the Weakest Aims to be the Strongest

Source: Crunchyroll
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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.)
[00:04] Noel
    A deep, dark Abyss manifests when
    the mana in the air reaches critical mass.
[00:12] Noel
    It opens a gate to the demonic realm of Void,
[00:15] Noel
    and the deeper it goes,
    the stronger the beasts that emerge.
[00:25] Noel
    On that fated night,
[00:27] Noel
    my hometown manifested an Abyss
    with a depth rating of 12...
[00:32] Noel
    Severe enough for beast lords to appear.
[00:37] (Flashback) Brandon
    Never thought I'd have
    to wield you again, buddy.
[00:43] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa...
[00:45] (Flashback) Brandon
    Noel.
[00:46] (Flashback) Brandon
    We're leaving the house at once.
[00:57] (Flashback) Brandon
    Listen up, Noel. You stay right here.
[01:00] (Flashback) Brandon
    You'll be safe in this underground shelter.
[01:03] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    But what about you?
[01:05] (Flashback) Brandon
    I must go buy us time until help
     arrives from the capital.
[01:08] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    You're lying!
[01:08] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    There's no telling when
     or if help will arrive.
[01:11] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    You're going to fight alone, aren't you?!
[01:14] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    You can't! You'll end up—
[01:17] (Flashback) Brandon
    Don't look down on me.
[01:21] (Flashback) Brandon
    Who do you think I am?
[01:23] (Flashback) Brandon
    You're looking at the feared Overdeath,
     the indomitable devil.
[01:28] (Flashback) Brandon
    Don't you worry.
[01:30] (Flashback) Brandon
    Grandpa will keep you safe,
    if it's the last thing I do.
[01:36] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa?
[01:38] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa!
[01:45] Brandon
    Noel, my boy...
[01:47] Brandon
    A man never lets anyone look down on him.
[01:49] Brandon
    No matter when, no matter where!
[02:10] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa...
[02:25] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa.
[02:27] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa?
[02:32] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Grandpa!
[02:38] (Flashback) Brandon
    Father Time comes for us all, eh?
[02:40] (Flashback) Brandon
    So much for being Overdeath...
[02:44] (Flashback) Brandon
    This is a Seeker's final destination.
[02:48] (Flashback) Brandon
    When you make battle your purpose,
[02:51] (Flashback) Brandon
    you walk hand-in-hand with death himself.
[02:56] (Flashback) Brandon
    Noel, do you still desire to be a Seeker?
[03:01] (Flashback) Brandon
    Would you tread the same path as this old man?
[03:12] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Yeah.
[03:13] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    I'm going to become a Seeker.
[03:17] (Flashback) Brandon
    Then you must be a Seeker
    who never accepts defeat.
[03:21] (Flashback) Brandon
    Can you promise me that?
[03:24] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    I promise.
[03:26] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    I will become the ultimate Seeker.
[03:31] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Attaboy...
[03:34] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    That's my grandson.
[03:38] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    Noel...
[03:40] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    I'll... always... love you...
[03:50] Noel
    My grandfather's name was Brandon Stollen.
[03:53] Noel
    In his heyday, he felled Cocytus the Silver,
    a beast from an abyssal depth of 13,
[03:59] Noel
    and came to be known as the indomitable devil
    Overdeath, the strongest Seeker ever.
[04:05] Noel
    It's now been two years...
[04:10] Noel
    and I've become a Seeker,
    just as I promised him.
[04:15] Noel
    Lloyd, Walter! Intercept the enemy!
[04:19] Noel
    Tanya, provide rear support!
[04:20] Tanya
    Gotcha!
SIGN    Eat it!
[04:29] Noel
    "Talker" is considered the weakest
    support class of all.
[04:33] Noel
    And that's what I am.
[06:06] Noel
    Lesser vampires...
[06:08] Noel
    As an inferior subspecies,
    they're incapable of using magic skills.
[06:12] Noel
    But the queen at the heart of them
    can reproduce by herself
[06:17] Noel
    and issue forth countless kin at will.
SIGN    So these things are all the main body's babies?
[06:26] Noel
    Yeah, but don't take them lightly.
[06:29] Noel
    They may only be kin, but they're capable
    of tearing an ox apart barehanded.
[06:37] Tanya
    And unless you lop off their heads,
    they recover as many times as they like.
[06:41] Tanya
    Isn't that right, Noel?
[06:43] Noel
    Yeah.
SIGN    Say, Noel.
SIGN    If there's a queen out there, why waste time on the kin?
SIGN    Why not go straight for the queen?
SIGN    If she dies, her kin stop moving, right?
SIGN    So pick the most efficient—
[07:01] Noel
    Bad idea.
[07:03] Noel
    Normally, this quest would be
    too much for C-rankers like us.
[07:08] Noel
    But if we clear out all the kin
    before we take the queen,
[07:12] Noel
    our odds of success shoot up.
[07:15] Noel
    Quit obsessing over speed and efficiency.
[07:17] Noel
    You'll die.
SIGN    Aye, aye, sir.
SIGN    You've got the final say on all battle strategy as our buffer.
SIGN    Wouldn't wanna buck Blue Beyond's iron-clad rule.
[07:29] Tanya
    Enough, Walter.
SIGN    The only reason we can even attempt this B-rank quest as C-rankers
SIGN    is thanks to Noel's skill and silver tongue, after all.
SIGN    We owe it all to our Talker here.
[07:41] Noel
    "Talker" is a specialized support class.
[07:44] Noel
    By invoking words with buff effects,
[07:47] Noel
    we jack up the combat strength of our parties.
[07:51] Noel
    But our own combat abilities
    rank among the worst.
[07:55] Noel
    We're dependent on our parties to survive,
[07:58] Noel
    which is why we're ridiculed
    as the weakest class.
[08:03] Noel
    Walter, just so you know...
[08:07] Noel
    Everyone take cover!
[08:10] Tanya
    What's that awful smell?
[08:12] Lloyd
    It's gas. Poisonous, at that.
SIGN    Noel's in trouble!
[08:15] Lloyd
    We need to rescue him, and fast.
[08:17] Lloyd
    Tanya, provide backup.
[08:19] Tanya
    Got it.
[08:22] Lloyd
    Tanya!
SIGN    Damn, I can't fight like usual.
SIGN    We're helpless without Noel... without our Talker's buffs.
SIGN    Give us orders, Noel!
SIGN    Say something, damn it!
SIGN    You call yourself a Talker?!
[08:49] Noel
    Don't look down on me.
[08:55] Noel
    Don't you dare look down on me.
[09:00] Tanya
    Noel!
[09:01] Noel
    Go ahead and take a good look...
[09:03] Noel
    at how a Talker fights.
[09:07] Noel
    Talker skill!
[09:08] Noel
    Begin strategy:
[09:09] Sign
    TACTICIAN
[09:10] Noel
    Tactician!
[09:15] Noel
    By giving the party orders,
[09:17] Noel
    I enhance all their abilities by 25 percent.
[09:21] Noel
    Area attack incoming!
[09:23] Noel
    You two up front, dodge!
[09:27] Noel
    Increase morale: Battle Voice!
[09:27] Sign
    BATTLE VOICE
[09:31] Noel
    This increases my party members'
    stamina and mana by 25 percent.
[09:35] Noel
    Tanya, deploy shields on those two!
[09:38] Tanya
    Got it!
[09:39] Noel
    Lloyd, Walter, resume attacking!
[09:41] Lloyd
    Roger!
SIGN    You got it!
[09:48] Tanya
    Noel!
[09:50] Noel
    There were more of them in hiding?
[09:51] Tanya
    No way... We're done for
    if reinforcements reach the queen!
[09:55] Noel
    Mental clarity: Peer Support!
[09:55] Sign
    PEER SUPPORT
[09:58] Noel
    This stabilizes the target's mental state
    and restores their will to fight.
[10:02] Noel
    Seventy-four seconds.
[10:04] Noel
    I'll take the small fry.
[10:06] Noel
    You three focus on the queen!
[10:08] Noel
    Tanya, keep deploying their shields!
[10:10] Noel
    Lloyd and Walter, focus on
    checking and dodging the foe
[10:13] Noel
    while you ready your biggest attack skills!
[10:18] Noel
    Halt!
[10:20] Sign
    STUN HOWL
[10:20] Noel
    Wolf's bellow: Stun Howl!
[10:25] Noel
    My magic gun, Silver Flame...
[10:28] Noel
    As a Talker, it's my only
    trusty anti-beast weapon.
[10:33] Noel
    Ice Bullet!
[10:41] Noel
    I missed one?
[10:43] Noel
    I only have one round left.
[10:45] Noel
    So far, 31 of the 74 seconds
    have elapsed, leaving us 43.
[10:48] Noel
    Its talons will pierce me in 28.
[10:51] Noel
    Right on schedule!
[10:56] Noel
    Limit break: Assault Command!
[10:58] Sign
    ASSAULT COMMAND
[10:59] Noel
    Now! Lloyd, Walter!
[11:01] Noel
    Activate your attack skills on the queen!
[11:04] Lloyd
    Aura Blade!
SIGN    Deadly Drive!
[11:13] Tanya
    All right!
[11:13] Tanya
    We did it, Noe—
[11:20] Noel
    When the queen dies,
[11:24] Noel
    her kin stop moving too.
[11:30] Noel
    Seventy-four seconds exactly.
[11:32] Noel
    Death of the enemy boss confirmed.
[11:35] Noel
    Battle complete.
[11:37] Noel
    Good work, everyone.
[11:39] Noel
    Blue Beyond's mission is accomplished.
[11:42] Lloyd
    We knew the kin would stop moving
    once the queen died, but still...
SIGN    That was too reckless.
[11:49] Tanya
    You idiot.
[11:54] (Flashback) Brandon
    Stop crying, Noel!
[11:56] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    But I got assigned the weakest class.
[11:59] (Flashback) Y. Noel
    I wanted to be a Warrior like you, Grandpa.
[12:04] (Flashback) Brandon
    Noel, you're the spitting image
     of your late mother.
[12:09] (Flashback) Brandon
    But I can tell...
[12:11] (Flashback) Brandon
    Unlike her and just like me,
    you have an innate talent to be a Seeker.
[12:17] (Flashback) Brandon
    So what if you're a Talker?
    I'll train you into the greatest Seeker.
[12:23] (Flashback) Brandon
    Trust me.
[12:28] Noel
    I trust you.
[12:30] Noel
    I'll be just like you... No.
[12:33] Noel
    I'll become the ultimate seeker,
    surpassing the notorious Overdeath.
[12:37] Noel
    Even as a Talker, the weakest of them all.
[12:41] Sign
    Why the Weakest
    Aims to be the Strongest
[12:46] Noel
    Etrai, the imperial capital
    of the Velnant Empire.
[12:49] Noel
    It's thriving in prosperity, and it has
    magi-engineering to thank for it all.
[12:53] Noel
    Velnant's lands are more
    susceptible to the Abyss than others.
[12:57] Noel
    Thus the empire spearheaded
    magi-engineering,
[13:02] Noel
    the research and use
    of materials harvested from beasts.
[13:05] Noel
    It's now grown into the
    empire's biggest industry.
[13:10] Noel
    And Seekers, those who hunt beasts
    and purify lands tainted by the Abyss,
[13:14] Noel
    have naturally become the people's champions.
[13:17] Tanya
    Cheers!
[13:19] Noel
    Once I turned fifteen
    and became certified as a Seeker,
[13:23] Noel
    I decided to move to Etrai
    and start looking for allies.
[13:26] Noel
    After all, Talkers can't fight without a party.
SIGN    That was a good day's work!
SIGN    We made a cool five million!
[13:36] Noel
    Walter the Warrior.
[13:37] Tanya
    Look how far we've come.
[13:40] Noel
    Tanya the Healer.
[13:41] Lloyd
    Given how well we're doing in just
    our first year, we can aim much higher.
[13:47] Noel
    And Lloyd, our Swordsman and leader.
[13:49] Noel
    To be honest, having a Scout would
    make things even better, but oh well.
[13:54] Noel
    For now, I'll focus on building
    experience with these guys.
[13:58] Noel
    That's step one to fulfilling my ambitions.
SIGN    Hey, what's wrong?
SIGN    I thought we came here to celebrate. You not in the mood?
[14:07] Noel
    It's not that.
SIGN    Come on, then what is it? If you've got a problem, you can talk to me.
[14:13] Noel
    Drop it.
SIGN    You still mad about our payout?
SIGN    You were so sure we could've haggled another 500 grand.
SIGN    You care too much about the money.
SIGN    Seekers gotta be bigger than that.
SIGN    I bet your darling gramps would say the same thing.
[14:32] (Flashback) Brandon
    Listen up.
[14:33] (Flashback) Brandon
    Seekers need to be particular about money.
[14:36] (Flashback) Brandon
    Always go into the field with
    the best gear and items you can buy.
[14:41] (Flashback) Brandon
    Without money, you're powerless.
    You can kiss your dreams goodbye.
[14:45] (Flashback) Brandon
    Pay no mind to the squawking
    of the people around you.
[14:47] (Flashback) Brandon
    Notoriety is but a badge
    of honor for us Seekers!
[14:51] (Flashback) Brandon
    Look at me! They call me a devil!
[14:54] (Flashback) Brandon
    Just remember: don't let anyone
    look down on you.
[15:00] Noel
    I'm not mad. That's a done deal already.
[15:04] Tanya
    Yeah, you're the one
    who keeps bringing it up, Walter.
[15:07] Tanya
    It's pathetic.
SIGN    He's the pathetic one, not me!
SIGN    Noel, your greed's gonna affect Blue Beyond's reputation!
SIGN    You better be sorry!
[15:18] Noel
    Yes, yes, I'm terribly sorry.
    My apologies for being wrong all the time.
[15:23] Noel
    But you, Sir Walter? You're always
    in the right! A brilliant example to us all!
SIGN    What's with the attitude?! I'm two years older than you!
[15:31] Noel
    What does age have to do with it?
[15:34] Noel
    Don't make me laugh.
    Skill is all that matters to a Seeker.
[15:38] Noel
    You think you can use your seniority
    to strong-arm everyone?
[15:42] Noel
    Stop being such a big baby, widdle Walter.
SIGN    Screw you! All you do is hide behind us and give orders!
SIGN    You get to chill in safety while we put our lives on the line out there!
SIGN    So watch your damn mouth!
[15:57] Noel
    Oh, so that's how you really feel, huh?
[16:01] Noel
    I guess that makes sense.
[16:03] Noel
    You're a veritable god of war out there,
    unlike me and my useless ass!
[16:10] Noel
    Really, a true Seeker among us!
SIGN    You're dead.
[16:14] Noel
    Bring it. You're on.
[16:18] Lloyd
    Knock it off.
[16:20] Lloyd
    We're in public,
    and you're making us look like fools.
[16:24] Tanya
    I swear, you two are such idiots.
[16:27] Lloyd
    Don't say that. They're our teammates.
[16:31] Lloyd
    Let's call it a day and split the reward.
[16:39] Tanya
    Is this all?
[16:42] Lloyd
    Party funds, equipment repair costs,
    and the contracting clan's commission...
[16:47] Lloyd
    After subtracting all that,
    we're left with 250,000 fil a person.
[16:51] Tanya
    But that was such a big job...
[16:54] Lloyd
    Our party's assets
    are growing steadily, though.
[16:58] Lloyd
    If we get another big job,
    we can bring home another good haul.
SIGN    Tch.
[17:04] Noel
    Lloyd, high-paying jobs
    like the last one are rare.
[17:08] Noel
    Unlike clans, who can get gigs
    from the government,
[17:12] Noel
    we're just subcontractors.
[17:14] Lloyd
    Yeah, I get that.
[17:16] Noel
    Normally, clans keep big jobs
    like Abyss purification for themselves.
[17:21] Noel
    And if they do subcontract them out,
     they charge a huge commission.
[17:28] Noel
    By the way, where do our
     party funds stand right now?
[17:31] Lloyd
    Huh?
[17:32] Lloyd
    Well, after today,
    we're up to 12.8 million fil.
[17:37] Noel
    Then let's use that money
    to start our own clan.
[17:44] Lloyd
    Noel...
[17:45] Lloyd
    You know the government charges
    20 million fil to start a clan.
[17:50] Noel
    Yeah, I do.
[17:52] Noel
    So I'll cover the remaining 7.2 million fil.
[17:56] Noel
    We'll still come out ahead having our own clan
     rather than taking other people's scraps.
[18:02] Lloyd
    But we'd also need a building in Etrai
    to serve as our clan base.
[18:08] Lloyd
    Think of the rent!
[18:09] Noel
    I know a place we can rent on the cheap.
[18:11] Tanya
    But we're still just rookies!
[18:13] Tanya
    We're only C-rank, and we're not
     ready to manage a whole clan.
[18:17] Noel
    Then when will we be ready?
[18:20] Noel
    How many years will it take for us
    to build the confidence to manage a clan?
[18:25] Noel
    How are we supposed to learn the ins and
    outs of management without starting one?
[18:30] Tanya
    Well...
[18:32] Noel
    As a Seeker, I've been
    studying clan structures for ages.
[18:36] Noel
    I have all the knowledge we need.
[18:39] Noel
    All that's left is experience, which we can
    only gain by actually doing this for real.
[18:44] Noel
    We'll never get it
    if we don't take the plunge.
[18:48] Lloyd
    But we're young and inexperienced.
    If we can't win the government's trust,
[18:53] Lloyd
    the big jobs will still
    go to established clans.
[18:56] Noel
    You've got it wrong, Lloyd.
[18:59] Noel
    We're young and good-looking.
[19:02] Noel
    That counts for a lot.
[19:04] Noel
    The empire is promoting Seekers.
[19:06] Noel
    It wants masses of citizens
    to aspire to be like us.
[19:10] Noel
    Famous Seekers become celebrities,
    heroes to the people.
[19:15] Noel
    Youth, looks, and charisma...
[19:18] Noel
    Most successful clans have
     members blessed in those areas.
[19:23] Noel
    And if we sign endorsement deals with
    companies, we'll also get sponsorship money.
SIGN    You're saying the bigwigs will favor us for jobs because you guys are young and hot?
[19:35] Noel
    Yeah. And no need to count
     yourself out, Walter.
[19:38] Noel
    You've got your own appeal,
    even if it's not for everyone.
SIGN    Huh?
[19:42] Tanya
    But I don't like the idea
    of selling myself like that...
SIGN    I'm on board.
SIGN    No point twiddling our thumbs.
SIGN    Let's start our own clan already.
[19:52] Tanya
    Walter!
SIGN    I'm serious, Tanya.
SIGN    I want fame, power, and money. Is that so wrong?
SIGN    I'll even get to bag all the babes I want!
SIGN    Do you have a better offer?
SIGN    Will you be mine if I side with you?
[20:10] Lloyd
    Walter!
[20:13] Noel
    That makes two against one.
[20:15] Noel
    Lloyd, you're our leader.
    Tell us what you think.
[20:19] Lloyd
    You really want to start a clan
    right away, no matter what?
[20:23] Noel
    It's one thing I won't back down on.
[20:25] Noel
    If you say no, then I want
    my share of our assets returned.
[20:29] Noel
    I'll leave the party.
[20:33] Noel
    I told you this when we joined up.
[20:35] Noel
    I have a dream...
[20:38] Noel
    to become an even greater Seeker
    than the great Overdeath.
[20:43] Lloyd
    A dream, huh?
[20:49] Lloyd
    Got it. Let's start a clan.
[20:52] Tanya
    Lloyd, are you serious?!
[20:54] Lloyd
    We had to make the call sooner or later.
[20:58] Lloyd
    Noel, this is my decision as leader.
    Are you satisfied?
[21:03] Noel
    Yeah. No complaints here.
[21:05] Lloyd
    Let's talk more tomorrow...
    No, how about the afternoon the day after?
[21:10] Lloyd
    Let's rest and sober up.
     Then we'll hash out the details at my place.
SIGN    Gotcha. See ya the day after tomorrow.
[21:16] Noel
    I'm glad you came around, Lloyd, Tanya.
[21:20] Noel
    See you.
[21:22] Tanya
    Noel...
[21:23] Noel
    Hmm?
[21:29] Tanya
    Good night.
[21:32] Noel
    Night.
SIGN    Big trouble, Noel!
SIGN    S-Stay calm and hear me out!
SIGN    L-Lloyd and T-Tanya...
SIGN    They screwed us!
[23:34] Sign
    This Talker Is Ruthless