E9 - The Snake Sharpens Its Fangs

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.)
[00:07] (Flashback) Noel
    Bribe the owner of this place.
[00:10] (Flashback) Noel
    It'll make future deals easier.
[00:12] (Flashback) Maid
    Right.
[00:17] (Flashback) Harold
    It's a pleasure to meet you.
[00:20] (Flashback) Harold
    I'm an inspector with the Seekers guild.
[00:22] (Flashback) Harold
    My name is Harold Jenkins.
[00:25] (Flashback) Harold
    I hope to be of some assistance.
[00:29] (Flashback) Harold
    Ah, this is exquisite.
[00:32] (Flashback) Harold
    It seems your winery is coming along well.
[00:35] (Flashback) Noel
    It helps make ends meet.
[00:38] (Flashback) Noel
    I owe it all to the inheritance
    my grandfather left me and to my staff.
[00:42] (Flashback) Harold
    You're too modest.
[00:43] (Flashback) Harold
    It appears you have a talent for managing
    people and running a business.
[00:49] (Flashback) Noel
    I'm not doing anything special.
[00:51] (Flashback) Noel
    Soon, I'll step down and leave
     things in their hands.
[00:56] (Flashback) Noel
    Anyway, what brings a guild inspector here?
[01:02] (Flashback) Noel
    I've already given up all the information
    I have on my hometown's tragedy.
[01:09] (Flashback) Harold
    This image was taken just the other day.
[01:13] (Flashback) Harold
    It is likely the same lord
    that destroyed your hometown.
[01:18] (Flashback) Noel
    That's the one?
[01:20] (Flashback) Harold
    You don't seem very surprised.
[01:23] (Flashback) Noel
    Well, I had an inkling it was still alive.
[01:27] (Flashback) Noel
    Two things were conspicuously
    missing that day.
[01:32] (Flashback) Noel
    The lord's dead body
[01:33] (Flashback) Noel
    and my grandfather's battle axe.
[01:36] (Flashback) Noel
    Have you defeated this lord?
[01:37] (Flashback) Harold
    A major clan, Night Rage, tried to subdue it,
[01:41] (Flashback) Harold
    but they were obliterated.
[01:43] (Flashback) Harold
    We sent in Supreme Dragon after that,
    but the lord had already left for the Void.
[01:49] (Flashback) Noel
    It left?
[01:51] (Flashback) Harold
    They say beasts are driven to invade
    this world by an irresistible instinct.
[01:57] (Flashback) Harold
    And yet this one appears to be acting
     freely of its own accord.
[02:02] (Flashback) Harold
    This is the lord that defeated
    the great Overdeath.
[02:06] (Flashback) Harold
    Its experience from appearing twice
    may help it reach a depth of 13...
[02:11] (Flashback) Harold
    There's now a possibility
    it will become a new Valiant.
[02:15] (Flashback) Noel
    Valiants are a group of ten powerful lords
    with abyssal depth ratings of 13.
[02:21] (Flashback) Noel
    Each of these ten dark lords wields power
    enough to destroy the entire world.
[02:27] (Flashback) Harold
    The last time one manifested
    in this world was forty years ago.
[02:32] (Flashback) Harold
    Cocytus the Silverfish wiped out
     three nations upon emerging, but...
[02:38] (Flashback) Noel
    The Bloodsword Federation,
    my grandpa's clan, defeated it.
[02:42] (Flashback) Harold
    And it was the first time in human history.
[02:45] (Flashback) Harold
    Before then, it was all we could do
    to drive a Valiant back into the Void,
[02:49] (Flashback) Harold
    and yet we were victorious.
[02:52] (Flashback) Harold
    However...
[02:54] (Flashback) Noel
    This lord may pose a new threat to humanity.
[02:58] (Flashback) Noel
    Is that what you're saying?
[02:59] (Flashback) Harold
    Unfortunately.
[03:03] (Flashback) Noel
    How amusing.
[03:07] (Flashback) Harold
    You resemble him.
[03:09] (Flashback) Harold
    Your eyes resemble Brandon's—
    your grandfather's.
[03:14] (Flashback) Harold
    I was in charge of the
     Bloodsword Federation, his clan.
[03:18] (Flashback) Harold
    He and I were close.
[03:21] (Flashback) Harold
    I wanted to come see
     how his grandson was doing,
[03:25] (Flashback) Harold
    but it seems my concern was misplaced.
[03:28] (Flashback) Harold
    You will be fifteen next year,
[03:31] (Flashback) Harold
    which will make you eligible
    to take the Seeker exam.
[03:37] (Flashback) Harold
    I'll be on my way now.
[03:42] (Flashback) Noel
    Remember this.
[03:45] (Flashback) Noel
    We will meet again someday, so...
[03:48] (Flashback) Noel
    Remember my face. I'm going
    to be the strongest Seeker ever.
[05:31] Koga
    H-Hey, you sure we'll be all right?
[05:34] Noel
    Yeah. They're not going
    to ask anything difficult.
[05:37] Noel
    Just answer normally, and you'll be fine.
[05:38] Koga
    But what if something I say
    rubs the inspector the wrong way
[05:44] Koga
    and our clan application gets rejected?
[05:47] Noel
    Won't happen!
[05:47] Alma
    Huh? But I heard that offending the inspector
    will get you rejected on the spot.
[05:53] Koga
    C-Crap! What do I do?!
[05:55] Koga
    If I mess up, Noel's dream is up in smoke!
[05:58] Alma
    Take responsibility by taking your own life.
[06:00] Alma
    We didn't work together long,
    but thanks for the memories.
[06:02] Alma
    You can leave the rest to me and drop dead.
[06:04] Noel
    Come on, you two...
[06:11] Harold
    Oh?
[06:11] Harold
    What seems to be the matter?
[06:14] Harold
    No need to be so wary.
[06:17] Harold
    It's been too long, Noel.
[06:26] Harold
    A clan house to serve as your base,
[06:28] Harold
    plus the 20 million fil collateral...
[06:30] Harold
    Everything seems to be in order.
[06:33] Harold
    You're still lacking in accomplishments,
    but I take no issue with your abilities.
[06:38] Noel
    I'll be moving up to B rank
    once my application goes through.
[06:43] Alma
    I'm ready to rank up to B, too.
[06:45] Alma
    Koga's the only one stuck at C.
[06:49] Harold
    Very good.
[06:50] Harold
    The clan name on your application
    isn't Blue Beyond. Is this correct?
[06:56] Noel
    I plan to start using that one
    once we become a clan.
[06:59] Harold
    Understood. That concludes my interview.
[07:03] Koga
    Huh? Already?
[07:06] Harold
    Yes.
[07:07] Harold
    I'm rejecting your application
     to start a clan.
[07:13] Seeker1
    I-I don't believe it...
[07:16] Seeker1
    How did he kill a lord with
    a depth rating of 12 all by himself?
[07:20] Seeker2
    Probably just another day for him.
[07:25] Seeker2
    After all, that's the submaster of
    the one-star regalia clan, Supreme Dragon,
[07:28] Seeker2
    who many consider to be
    the strongest man in the empire...
[07:32] Seeker2
    The Innocent Blade, Zeke Feinstein.
[07:37] Harold
    I'll be frank with you.
[07:39] Harold
    We're looking for even stronger Seekers now.
[07:43] Harold
    Simply meeting the clan requirements
    isn't enough to get approved.
[07:47] Harold
    Things have changed.
[07:49] Koga
    Hey, that's unfair!
[07:51] Noel
    How have things changed?
[07:53] Harold
    What I'm about to say is off the record.
[07:57] Harold
    A colossal amount of mana has been
    detected west of the empire.
[08:02] Harold
    The mana river flowing underground
    is close to reaching critical currents,
[08:07] Harold
    and it's only a matter of time
    before it erupts.
[08:10] Noel
    How long do we have?
[08:12] Harold
    A year.
[08:14] Harold
    When that mana explosion goes off,
    it will generate a supermassive Abyss.
[08:19] Harold
    In other words...
[08:21] Harold
    A beast lord with an abyssal depth rating
    of 13, a Valiant, will manifest.
[08:27] Koga
    C-Can't you stop it?
[08:30] Harold
    The underground channels are
    not unlike our blood vessels.
[08:35] Harold
    Disrupt the flow, and you'd
     see tremors and ruptures...
[08:38] Harold
    The land would no longer
    be able to support human life.
[08:42] Alma
    Can you win?
[08:44] Harold
    We defeated Cocytus the Silverfish last time.
[08:48] Harold
    That is why the empire
    prospers as it does now.
[08:52] Harold
    We must go all out in this battle.
[08:55] Harold
    The best Seekers in the empire, the regalia,
    will have to take part as well.
[08:59] Harold
    The first-tier Supreme Dragon,
[09:02] Harold
    the second-tier Kahn
    and Cave of the Universe,
[09:04] Harold
    and the third-tier Blade Flash, Goat Dinner,
    Pandemonium, and Lorelai...
[09:10] Harold
    Each of these clans
    is worthy of their regalia title.
[09:14] Harold
    However, and I say this as someone
    who has seen a Valiant in the flesh,
[09:19] Harold
    there is no guarantee of our victory.
[09:22] Harold
    Thus we're looking for clans
    that will be of immediate help.
[09:25] Harold
    We don't have the time or luxury
    to develop greenhorns such as yourselves.
[09:31] Harold
    Please leave.
[09:33] Noel
    Got it.
[09:34] Koga
    A-Are you sure?
[09:35] Noel
    He makes a solid point.
[09:37] Noel
    We don't meet the standards
    they're looking for.
[09:41] Noel
    Not yet, at least.
[09:44] Noel
    Let's go.
[09:45] Koga
    W-Wait, Noel!
[09:50] Harold
    Good grief. Who did he get that
    sore-loser temperament from?
[09:58] Brandon
    Who else but me? He's my grandson.
    My pride and joy.
[10:02] Harold
    Yes, of that I have no doubt.
[10:05] Harold
    Noel Stollen...
[10:07] Harold
    I have high hopes for the boy.
[10:12] Koga
    Noel! Why'd you back down
    on the clan application?!
[10:15] Koga
    You giving up on your dream?!
[10:17] Noel
    Giving up? Don't be foolish.
[10:21] Noel
    This is an incredible chance for us
    to shoot right up the ladder.
[10:29] Noel
    Listen, there's no arguing that a Valiant
     manifesting spells peril for humanity.
[10:34] Noel
    But it's also a great opportunity for us.
[10:37] Noel
    Defeating Cocytus the Silverfish rapidly
    advanced the empire's living standards.
[10:45] Noel
    Its heart was synthesized into a device
    that generated endless drinking water,
[10:50] Noel
    which was a boon to all the empire.
[10:53] Noel
    Hunting powerful beasts furthers
    our magi-engineering civilization.
[10:58] Noel
    That's why Seekers are hailed as heroes here.
[11:02] Noel
    We turn never-seen-before catastrophes
    into divine blessings.
[11:06] Noel
    That's what Seekers do.
[11:08] Almakoga
    I see...
[11:10] Noel
    We need to join the regalia
     as soon as possible.
[11:13] Koga
    Wait, we aren't even a clan yet!
[11:16] Koga
    We'll never make it in time.
[11:19] Alma
    You did say that we'd be
    part of the regalia within a year.
[11:23] Noel
    Make it half a year.
[11:25] Almakoga
    H—
[11:26] Almakoga
    Half a year?!
[11:28] Noel
    Yeah. We'll make the regalia in six months.
[11:32] Noel
    Over the next few, we'll produce
    results and improve our standing.
[11:37] Noel
    In the best-case scenario, we're assigned
    to supreme command in the Valiant battle.
[11:43] Noel
    And if we have a good showing,
[11:45] Noel
    we'll definitely go down in history
    as the strongest Seekers.
[11:51] Noel
    We're an invincible swordsman
     from the Far East,
[11:54] Noel
    the granddaughter of a legendary assassin,
[11:56] Noel
    and the grandson of Overdeath.
[12:00] Noel
    But that still isn't enough.
[12:02] Noel
    We don't have time to dilly-dally.
[12:04] Noel
    If we want to make the regalia quickly,
[12:06] Noel
    we'll need to make a name for ourselves
    before we even become a clan.
[12:11] Guy
    Extra, extra!
[12:13] Guy
    Zeke of Supreme Dragon has done it again!
[12:16] Guy
    He took out a lord with
    an abyssal depth rating of 12!
[12:20] Noel
    What we need is a story.
[12:23] Noel
    We need to instigate an event
     that will grab the attention of the masses.
[12:31] Noel
    Rest assured.
[12:34] Noel
    I'll come up with a plan.
[12:38] Sign
    The Snake Sharpens
     Its Fangs
[12:41] Gnome
    Mr. Noel, for your new
     Talker specialization...
[12:45] Gnome
    you've chosen Strategist, correct?
[12:47] Noel
    Yes, please.
[12:49] Gnome
    I will now commence
    the rank advancement ritual.
[12:53] Gnome
    I stand here that I may open
    new paths for you.
[12:57] Gnome
    You, who seeks greater power,
[13:00] Gnome
    must turn your eyes to the ocean within.
[13:04] Gnome
    It will be the light of wisdom
    that illuminates the water's surface.
[13:07] Gnome
    That light shall become
    a door leading to our world.
[13:12] Gnome
    And I open this new door for you!
[13:17] Noel
    Strategist is a B-rank Talker specialization.
[13:21] Noel
    Its main draw is its incredible
    augmentation of cognitive speed.
[13:24] Noel
    I'll be able to analyze battles in real time
[13:27] Noel
    and instantly predict what will happen
    with near-perfect accuracy.
[13:33] Girls
    You're so dreamy, Sir Zeke!
[13:35] Ladyb
    Care to get dinner with me? My treat.
[13:39] Noel
    Zeke Feinstein.
[13:41] Zeke
    Oh? Would you happen to be...
[13:44] Noel
    Well, well.
[13:46] Noel
    If it isn't Zeke, submaster of Supreme
    Dragon, the empire's strongest clan.
[13:51] Noel
    It's an honor to meet you.
[13:53] Zeke
    I've heard lots about you
    as well, Noel Stollen.
[13:58] Noel
    There are only three
    EX-rank Seekers in the capital.
[14:03] Noel
    The master of Pandemonium,
    Leo Edin, also known as Kingslayer.
[14:08] Noel
    The master of Supreme Dragon, Victor
    Krauser, also known as the Beginning One.
[14:13] Noel
    And, of course, the third...
[14:15] Noel
    is this guy, Zeke Feinstein,
    also known as the Innocent Blade.
[14:20] Zeke
    They say you're the grandson
    of the legendary Overdeath.
[14:25] Noel
    I am, yes, though I'm not very much like him.
[14:28] Zeke
    Really? Because rumor has it that you
     fought off the Gambino family.
[14:35] Noel
    No way! Have you mistaken me for someone else?
[14:37] Zeke
    Then was it also a coincidence that
    they got a new boss soon after?
[14:44] Zeke
    I'm very curious as to
    what sort of trick you used.
[14:49] Noel
    What a surprise.
[14:51] Zeke
    Hmm?
[14:52] Noel
    The great submaster of Supreme Dragon
     being so roundabout?
[14:57] Noel
    And all to recruit
    a no-name Seeker like myself?
[15:01] Zeke
    Oh, you figured me out?
    Then I'll cut right to the chase.
[15:05] Zeke
    Join Supreme Dragon.
    It's a good deal for you—
[15:09] Noel
    I refuse.
[15:11] Noel
    I don't intend to work under anyone.
[15:16] Zeke
    Is that so? But my policy is never to hold
    back when it comes to getting what I want.
[15:23] Noel
    So brute force it is?
[15:25] Zeke
    If that's what you wish.
[15:26] Noel
    Then let me see this great power of yours.
[15:31] Noel
    If I'm going to work under someone,
    they have to meet my definition of strong.
[15:37] Noel
    There are three EX-rank Seekers in Etrai.
[15:40] Noel
    Victor is aging, which leaves two...
[15:44] Noel
    You and Leo.
[15:46] Noel
    Which of you is stronger?
[15:49] Zeke
    You're saying your condition is that
    I prove myself stronger than Leo?
[15:55] Noel
    If you want to order me around, I want
     to see that you're the strongest of all.
[16:00] Zeke
    This guy...
[16:02] Zeke
    If Leo and I clash, one of us is sure to die.
[16:06] Zeke
    Which is why we can't fight,
    and he knows that!
[16:10] Zeke
    I see. You're a pretty nasty fellow.
[16:15] Noel
    I'll take that as a compliment.
[16:17] Noel
    Come see me again
     once you make good on my terms.
[16:21] Seeker3
    Hey, check it out.
[16:22] Seeker3
    That's Zeke, the second best Seeker in Etrai.
[16:25] Seeker4
    Wow.
[16:27] Seeker3
    He took out a depth 12 lord by himself
    just the other day.
[16:31] Zeke
    Did you just say something?
[16:33] Sekker
    Huh? E-Er, yeah.
[16:35] Zeke
    You said I was second best, right?
    Why is that?
[16:40] Seeker3
    Well, there's Leo...
[16:41] Zeke
    I've never fought Leo personally.
[16:44] Zeke
    How could you possibly know I'm weaker?
[16:47] Seeker3
    W-Well, everyone says
    Leo has soloed more lords...
[16:57] Noel
    "Second best."
[16:59] Noel
    I see. So that's a sore spot for him.
[17:03] Noel
    We need to form our clan before this
    becomes a troublesome mess.
[17:13] Alma
    Quick Attack!
[17:15] Alma
    She's gone?
[17:20] Lycia
    There.
[17:21] Lycia
    I win again.
[17:27] Lycia
    Yeah, you're not suited to the rear line.
[17:30] Alma
    Are my attacks too one-note?
[17:32] Lycia
    Hmm... I'd say you get a little too heated.
[17:35] Lycia
    You didn't notice that I snuck
    into your blind spot just now.
[17:39] Lycia
    The rear's job is to
    take stock and execute strategy.
[17:43] Lycia
    You need a bird's-eye view and a cool head.
[17:47] Lycia
    Think Noel. He's a good example.
[17:49] Alma
    Maybe Assassin really is
    the specialization for me.
[17:51] Lycia
    I think so, too.
[17:53] Lycia
    I mean, yeah, party balance is important,
[17:55] Lycia
    but I'm sure Noel will work things out.
[17:58] Ophelia
    Hey, Lycia!
[18:01] Lycia
    Ophelia!
[18:02] Ophelia
    It's been ages! Fancy running into you here.
[18:07] Ophelia
    Combat training?
[18:08] Lycia
    Yeah. Are you guys returning from a job?
[18:11] Ophelia
    Yep, that's right.
[18:12] Ophelia
    And is this... a new party member?
[18:15] Alma
    No, I'm—
[18:16] Lycia
    Oh, she's a friend of mine! My BFF!
[18:19] Lycia
    Her name is Alma.
    She only just became a Seeker,
[18:22] Lycia
    so I'm showing her the ropes and stuff.
[18:24] Ophelia
    Wow, it's your turn to be the mentor, huh?
[18:27] Lycia
    This is Ophelia. She's with the Winged Knights.
[18:30] Lycia
    We're from the same village,
    and she's an Archer like me.
[18:34] Ophelia
    Nice to meet you.
[18:36] Alma
    Likewise.
[18:37] Ophelia
    We're a party of four.
[18:40] Ophelia
    This scary-looking Lancer is Keim.
[18:44] Keim
    Did you have to add "scary-looking"?
[18:46] Ophelia
    This furry fellow is Vaclav, a Summoner.
[18:49] Vaclav
    Mm.
[18:50] Ophelia
    And here we have the
    Winged Knights' trusty leader...
[18:54] Leon
    Leon Fredric.
[18:56] Leon
    Don't believe her. They're the trusty ones.
[18:59] Leon
    I'm a leader in name only.
[19:02] Ophelia
    Feel free to talk to us
    if you ever need anything.
[19:05] Ophelia
    Since you're Lycia's BFF, I'd be
    happy to help. I'm rooting for you!
[19:09] Alma
    You're too nice.
[19:10] Ophelia
    We Seekers need to look out for one another.
[19:13] Ophelia
    Especially with the weirdos
     running amok lately.
[19:16] Lycia
    Uh, Ophelia...
[19:18] Ophelia
    Like Noel Stollen. Watch out for that guy.
[19:21] Ophelia
    He leads a party called Blue Beyond.
[19:24] Ophelia
    They say he sold his teammates into slavery
     and has ties with the mafia.
[19:28] Ophelia
    There's no end of shady rumors about him.
[19:31] Alma
    Wow, that's awful.
[19:33] Ophelia
    Isn't it?
[19:34] Ophelia
    Apparently, he has new teammates now,
[19:37] Ophelia
    but I bet they're awful too.
[19:39] Leon
    Ophelia.
[19:40] Leon
    You shouldn't judge people based on gossip.
[19:43] Leon
    Stop telling the newbie things
    that may or may not be true.
[19:48] Ophelia
    But...
[19:49] Leon
    I don't like badmouthing folks we don't know.
[19:53] Ophelia
    Sorry.
[19:54] Keim
    We should get going, Leon.
[19:56] Keim
    Let's grab a bite at Rockbird Beak.
[19:59] Leon
    See you around.
[20:03] Lycia
    Sorry about that, Alma.
    She's really a nice person.
[20:07] Alma
    It's fine. Most of it's true anyway.
[20:13] Loki
    So, boss,
[20:15] Loki
    what are you plotting this time?
[20:17] Loki
    A list of B-rank parties?
[20:21] Loki
    Surely you can't want that
     for any good reason.
[20:25] Noel
    This one is a cut above,
    both in track record and reputation.
[20:30] Loki
    Hmm? Yeah, I don't understand
    why they haven't formed a clan yet.
[20:34] Loki
    Though, apparently,
    their motto is "slow and steady."
[20:37] Noel
    This business is full of ruffians.
[20:40] Noel
    I guess a prim and proper
    goody two-shoes would stick out.
[20:43] Loki
    When it comes down to it,
    the masses love their righteous heroes.
[20:48] Loki
    He's basically a knight
    in shining armor, don't you think?
[20:52] Loki
    And not just in appearance.
    Has the strength to back it up, too.
[20:55] Loki
    He's probably the best
    B-rank Seeker out there.
[20:58] Noel
    "The best," huh?
[21:00] Loki
    Oh, right. You made B rank too, didn't you?
[21:03] Loki
    That's awesome. Congrats.
[21:05] Noel
    Quit it with the obvious flattery.
[21:08] Noel
    Okay, I've decided.
[21:10] All
    Cheers!
[21:12] Ophelia
    Leon, you stole the show on this mission again.
[21:15] Vaclav
    That was one splendid blow.
[21:17] Leon
    I couldn't have done it without you all.
[21:20] Leon
    It never would've gone
     so smoothly if I were solo.
[21:23] Leon
    Keim, your backup was a huge help.
[21:26] Keim
    Nah, that was all you, Leon.
[21:28] Ophelia
    By the way, Leon, during that last job...
[21:32] Noel
    Everyone has a sore spot. A weakness.
[21:36] Noel
    Even Zeke Feinstein, one of the strongest
    in the empire, is no exception.
[21:42] Noel
    When you attack his sore spot,
    his smile vanishes and his act crumbles.
[21:46] Loki
    Boss...
[21:48] Loki
    You've got one evil look on your face.
[21:50] Noel
    Well, I'm not like this goody two-shoes here.
[21:55] Noel
    I will leave no stone unturned.
[21:57] Noel
    I'll drag myself to the very top,
    and I'll do it my way.
[23:35] Sign
    The Haves and the Have-Nots