E2 - The Witch's Pastime: Opening Act

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] Narrator
    Forbidden Instruments.
[00:06] Narrator
    Merely possessing these sorcery tools
    grants might approaching that of a witch.
SIGN    Forbidden Instruments
SIGN    Sorcery Tools
[00:12] Narrator
    But while their wielders gain power,
SIGN    Payment
[00:17] Narrator
    they must make sacrifices in payment
    or else forfeit their lives.
[00:24] Narrator
    Thus, the use of Instruments
    is strictly forbidden.
SIGN    Sacrifice
[00:28] Narrator
    Yet those who turn to them
    are never in short supply.
[00:32] Narrator
    For you see...
[02:11] Woman
    What was that sound?
[02:13] Man
    Did you hear something?
[02:15] Woman
    Yeah.
[02:17] Woman
    I'm going home.
[02:19] Man
    If you're worried, I can walk you.
[02:20] Woman
    I'll be fine. It's not far.
[02:23] Woman
    Goodnight.
[02:35] Woman
    There sure are a lot of crows.
[03:23] Shulk
    Not yet. It's still not enough.
[03:27] Shulk
    I've got to add more.
SIGN    The Witch's Pastime:
    Opening Act
[03:35] Guideau
    Hey. Is there a witch around here?
[03:42] Ashaf
    Beats me. They're supposed
    to tell us the details in person.
[03:49] Ashaf
    So what would you like us to do this time?
[03:52] Servant 1
    Please keep this between us,
[03:55] Servant 1
    but the master of the house
    has a penchant for collecting.
[03:59] Servant 1
    And I'm ashamed to say that a specimen
     has escaped from his collection.
[04:04] Ashaf
    Escaped? So it's an animal?
[04:07] Servant 1
    Yes, sir. And quite a violent one at that.
[04:12] Servant 1
    It has claimed many victims already.
[04:17] Ashaf
    Since you called in the Order,
    I assume it's not just a rare creature.
[04:23] Ashaf
    Don't tell me you have a magical beast here.
[04:28] Servant 1
    Yes.
[04:29] Servant 1
    As you say, the creature is magical.
[04:39] Ashaf
    So you want us to subdue that thing?
[04:42] Servant 1
    You are to recapture it with the
     utmost haste, and without harming it.
[04:46] Ashaf
    Without harming it?
[04:48] Ashaf
    I see. That explains why you're struggling.
[04:52] Ashaf
    Hm? Where are you going, Guideau?
[04:54] Guideau
    I'm done with this bullshit.
[04:57] Ashaf
    Now, now. We're on the clock.
[04:59] Guideau
    As if I care about a plain old beast.
[05:02] Guideau
    You can handle the pet-sitting.
[05:05] Ashaf
    Dear me.
[05:07] Ashaf
    Who do you think you are, a king?
[05:16] Ashaf
    Excuse me. Pardon the intrusion.
[05:19] Ashaf
    Matter manipulation is the
    most basic of magic spells,
[05:22] Ashaf
    but controlling fluids
    requires a particular knack.
[05:26] Ashaf
    Honestly, I've always struggled with it.
[05:30] Guideau
    You're full of it.
[05:32] Ashaf
    You wound me, Guideau.
[05:34] Ashaf
    It's not nice to call people liars.
[06:09] Ashaf
    Will that do?
[06:15] Owner
    Splendid work.
[06:18] Owner
    I was right to call on you.
[06:21] Ashaf
    We're honored.
[06:22] Owner
    Magical beasts are illegal
    in this country, you see.
[06:26] Owner
    I wanted to handle this quietly.
[06:28] Owner
    I heard that you'd take on any job,
     and I see that info was correct.
[06:33] Ashaf
    Oh, not quite.
[06:35] Ashaf
    We only stick our noses into magical trouble.
[06:42] Ashaf
    An occult organization of magic,
    by magic, for magic.
[06:47] Ashaf
    If you have any more difficulties,
    call the Order of Magical Resonance.
[06:59] Ashaf
    Treating oneself after work
     sure hits the spot.
[07:04] Ashaf
    What's wrong? Not eating anything?
[07:07] Guideau
    Gimme a break.
[07:10] Guideau
    Tell me what our last job was, jackass.
[07:14] Ashaf
    We apprehended a petty burglar who had
    committed heinous crimes using magic.
[07:20] Ashaf
    Quite a good deed, if I do say so.
[07:22] Guideau
    And before that?
[07:24] Ashaf
    We exterminated a ghastly tree
    that fed on magical power.
[07:27] Guideau
    And before that?
[07:28] Ashaf
    Let me think...
[07:31] Ashaf
    Oh, yes. A stalker abusing magic—
[07:34] Guideau
    Before that?!
[07:35] Ashaf
    Babysitting a young magical beast.
[07:38] Guideau
    Are you screwing with me?
[07:40] Guideau
    What the hell do you think
    I joined your shitty Order for?
[07:44] Ashaf
    You don't need to remind me.
[07:48] Ashaf
    Oh, dear. That was good wine.
[07:51] Guideau
    Hurry up and find me a witch!
[07:53] Guideau
    If you can't do that,
    the Order's a waste of my time.
[07:56] Ashaf
    You must realize that cases
    involving witches don't grow on trees.
[08:01] Ashaf
    And our relationship is give and take.
[08:05] Ashaf
    In exchange for our full support
    in achieving your goal,
[08:08] Ashaf
    you agreed to serve
    at the Order's discretion.
[08:11] Ashaf
    We get priority when witch cases comes up.
[08:16] Ashaf
    So until one does, do your job.
[08:19] Ashaf
    If you slack off like you did today,
[08:21] Ashaf
    we won't give you witches,
    fine food, or anything else.
[08:27] Guideau
    You didn't need me today, anyway.
[08:31] Ashaf
    True enough.
[08:33] Waiter 1
    Excuse me, sir.
[08:35] Waiter 1
    I was asked to give you this.
[08:37] Ashaf
    Thank you.
[08:41] Ashaf
    It's from the Order.
[08:43] Guideau
    Is it a witch?! Gimme!
[08:47] Ashaf
    How many times must I tell you? You need
    an Order signet ring to break this seal.
[08:55] Ashaf
    Although you should have
    one of these brands, too.
[09:02] Ashaf
    Oh? Cheer up, Guideau.
[09:05] Ashaf
    Speak of the devil.
[09:27] Guideau
    A witch!
[09:28] Ashaf
    This lady is merely our client.
[09:31] Guideau
    So where's the damn witch, then?!
[09:33] Ashaf
    We represent the
    Order of Magical Resonance.
[09:36] Ashaf
    I believe you have a job for us?
[09:38] Old Woman
    I'm sorry to have you come
    all this way. Please come in.
[09:44] Old Woman
    I can't seem to open this case anymore.
    Can you do something about it?
[09:53] Ashaf
    I see. A runic inscription.
[09:57] Ashaf
    You're in luck.
    Undoing spells is my specialty.
[10:01] Old Woman
    Goodness.
[10:14] Ashaf
    Then what was that
    "Speak of the devil" about?
[10:20] Guideau
    Get ready for what's coming to you, asshole.
[10:25] Ashaf
    I never said anything about a witch, did I?
[10:28] Ashaf
    You should have realized that
    when I left the coffin behind.
[10:32] Guideau
    Then what was that
    "Speak of the devil" about?
[10:34] Ashaf
    I was just saying that you should
    take non-witch cases seriously.
[10:38] Guideau
    Bullshit!
[10:40] Ashaf
    If you feel you were fooled,
    consider it a learning experience.
[10:43] Ashaf
    It taught you a lesson.
[10:45] Guideau
    Like hell I will.
    Trusting you was my big mistake.
[10:50] Ashaf
    "Mistake" is another word for "experience."
[10:53] Ashaf
    They're both shortcuts to wisdom.
[10:55] Ashaf
    Sorry, but we don't have time to argue.
[10:58] Ashaf
    Our next job just came in.
[11:01] Ashaf
    Hope for better luck on this one.
[11:06] Guideau
    I'll let it slide, but only for the time being.
[11:09] Guideau
    As soon as my curse has been lifted
     and I don't need the Order anymore,
[11:13] Guideau
    the first thing I'm gonna do is kill you.
[11:16] Ashaf
    Glad to hear it.
[11:18] Ashaf
    I'm looking forward to that day myself.
[11:27] Ashaf
    A peaceful, witch-free month
     has passed since then.
[11:32] Ashaf
    What a tranquil afternoon.
[11:36] Ashaf
    I'd say the day you reclaim your
    real body is still a long way off.
[11:40] Guideau
    I'll kill you later,
    but I can always kick your ass now.
[11:44] Ashaf
    Temper, temper.
[11:47] Ashaf
    Anyway, eat your fill.
[11:49] Ashaf
    Good, isn't it?
[11:50] Guideau
    It's gross as hell.
[11:54] Waiter 2
    For you, mister.
[11:56] Guideau
    From the Order again?
[11:58] Ashaf
    Yes.
[11:59] Guideau
    More busy work, I bet.
[12:02] Guideau
    To hell with that crap. Rip it up.
[12:05] Ashaf
    No, you'll like this one, Guideau.
[12:09] Ashaf
    It came in a black envelope.
[12:12] Guideau
    So what?
[12:14] Ashaf
    They only send these when a witch
    is involved and central to the case.
[12:22] Ashaf
    It seems a witch is committing serial
    murders in Hayden, the capital of Pheres.
[12:28] Ashaf
    They even make a point of
    calling the case "grotesque."
[12:33] Ashaf
    Besides which—
[12:34] Guideau
    Enough. Gimme.
[12:36] Ashaf
    You're so impatient.
[12:40] Ashaf
    We're about to be busy.
[12:42] Ashaf
    There's an ocean between us and this case.
[12:45] Ashaf
    Pack your bags.
[12:51] Ashaf
    So a witch and a grimoire?
[12:56] Ashaf
    We won't have an easy time of it.
[13:07] Police Officer
    Ms. Haines, it's dangerous!
[13:09] Haines
    My children are in there!
[13:11] Haines
    Shulk! Loran!
[13:24] Detective
    You were groaning in your sleep.
[13:26] Detective
    Are you okay?
[13:28] Haines
    Yeah, I'm fine.
[13:30] Detective
    If you say so.
[13:39] Detective
    Sorry. She gave us the slip again.
[13:43] Haines
    How many dead?
[13:44] Detective
    At least five.
[13:47] Detective
    And the bodies were...
[13:51] Haines
    "Consumed, sacrificed,
    or something similar by a witch"?
[13:56] Detective
    How could anyone do something
    so horrible? She must be crazy.
[14:01] Haines
    "Crazy," huh?
[14:05] Haines
    I've seen plenty of perps with a screw loose.
[14:08] Haines
    They all had one thing in common.
[14:10] Haines
    Know what that is?
[14:12] Detective
    No.
[14:13] Haines
    Unfulfilled desires born
    from a sense of inferiority.
[14:18] Haines
    Losing control of them can turn even
    upstanding people into crazed villains.
[14:24] Detective
    You mean no person is born evil?
[14:27] Haines
    "Person," huh?
[14:29] Haines
    Is a witch a person?
[14:32] Detective
    Beats me.
[14:33] Detective
    But witch or human,
    anyone who can do this must be scum.
[14:40] Haines
    I couldn't agree more.
[14:42] Detective
    We didn't expect this fight.
[14:44] Detective
    Is that why you didn't set
    all your wards in time?
[14:48] Haines
    You mean she wouldn't
    have escaped if I'd finished?
[14:51] Detective
    Er, no.
[14:53] Haines
    Closing off the scene would've made
    no difference. She slips through wards.
[14:58] Detective
    What I meant was—
[14:59] Haines
    I know.
[15:01] Haines
    We need to box her in to make
    her cast as many spells as possible,
[15:07] Haines
    or we'll never figure out her magic.
[15:10] Haines
    But even if we solve that mystery,
    it's just the first step.
[15:13] Haines
    The full force of the Hayden Police
    still has to take this slow and steady.
[15:19] Haines
    A feeble police force can't
    fight a monster any other way.
[15:24] Detective
    Ms. Haines, I shouldn't have to tell you
[15:27] Detective
    that this goes way beyond
    regular serial murder.
[15:31] Detective
    You're the only mage we've got.
[15:34] Detective
    If you feel powerless, talk to the mayor.
[15:39] Detective
    Witches are the Paladin Corps' jurisdiction.
[15:42] Detective
    Unless something changes,
    the body count will just keep growing.
[15:46] Haines
    I know.
[15:49] Haines
    I know that.
[15:55] Detective
    I know it's easier said than done,
[15:57] Detective
    but try not to beat yourself up over
    what happened to Inspector Cole.
[16:01] Haines
    I've handled plenty of horrific cases.
[16:04] Haines
    I thought people always
    remembered the perpetrators
[16:08] Haines
    and forgot the victims in no time.
[16:12] Haines
    But then someone murdered
    people I cared about,
[16:18] Haines
    and I realized that I'd never
    forget the names of either.
[16:22] Haines
    Don't worry. I'll do my job.
[16:35] Ashaf
    Oh, dear. It appears we're too late.
[16:38] Guideau
    Don't give me that crap.
    You let her slip right out from under us.
[16:42] Ashaf
    Cut me some slack.
[16:44] Ashaf
    And rest easy. The witch
    in this case will be back.
[16:50] Ashaf
    Grotesque mass murder committed by
     a witch, a.k.a. the "Witch's Pastime" case.
[16:56] Ashaf
    As of last week, the victims
    numbered 36, including police officers.
[17:00] Ashaf
    Quite a tough nut to crack.
[17:02] Ashaf
    What did tonight make the body count?
[17:06] Haines
    Who are you two?
[17:09] Haines
    You're saying things
    I don't want to think about,
[17:12] Haines
    so I guess you know who I am.
[17:15] Haines
    And you look suspicious.
[17:17] Haines
    What's in that coffin?
[17:19] Ashaf
    Grilling us already?
[17:22] Ashaf
    Well, I can't blame you.
[17:24] Ashaf
    Rest assured, we're perfectly respectable.
[17:28] Ashaf
    So please, stay your hand.
[17:34] Ashaf
    We mean you no harm.
[17:36] Ashaf
    In fact, we'd like to help you.
[17:40] Haines
    Help how?
[17:41] Ashaf
    The Order of Magical Resonance sent us.
[17:45] Ashaf
    A major incident is disturbing your city.
[17:47] Ashaf
    If you suspect a witch is responsible,
    then we have much to offer you.
[18:02] Haines
    Hayden Police business.
[18:04] Haines
    We'll take a table in the back,
    but I'd like to set a soundproof ward.
[18:08] Waiter 3
    S-Sure.
[18:10] Haines
    I got confirmation.
[18:12] Haines
    It seems the mayor really did
    sign off on a request to the Order.
[18:16] Ashaf
    I would never lie to a beautiful lady.
[18:19] Ashaf
    By the way, could you hold off on that ward
     until we've ordered and gotten our food?
[18:24] Haines
    Of course. At least let me
     have a cup of coffee.
[18:28] Ashaf
    No, please wait for our full meal.
[18:31] Ashaf
    Replacing wards is a hassle, no?
[18:40] Ashaf
    For our part, we'd like to hear
    about the case as soon as possible.
[18:44] Haines
    Tell me your story first.
[18:46] Haines
    You may have the mayor's approval,
    but I don't trust you.
[18:50] Ashaf
    But you have a witch case on your hands.
[18:53] Ashaf
    Sooner or later,
    the Paladin Corps will step in.
[18:55] Ashaf
    But for some reason,
    the mayor is stalling them.
[18:59] Haines
    Making you our only hope?
[19:01] Ashaf
    Looks that way.
[19:03] Ashaf
    To begin with,
    this whole situation is strange.
[19:06] Ashaf
    Police forces aren't
    equipped to combat witches.
[19:09] Ashaf
    What you need is an army.
[19:12] Ashaf
    That's why global peacekeepers
    like the Paladin Corps handle witches.
[19:17] Ashaf
    The mayor is probably refusing their help
[19:21] Ashaf
    to claim the glory of
    solving the case without them.
[19:24] Ashaf
    Anyone can see how foolish that is,
    so why do you all go along with it?
[19:29] Ashaf
    As the Hayden Police's only mage,
    I believe you're in charge of the case.
[19:34] Ashaf
    You ought to protest. Why don't you?
[19:39] Guideau
    Who gives a shit?
[19:40] Guideau
    Just tell me everything
    you know about the witch.
[19:44] Guideau
    Then I'll kick all the witch ass you want.
[19:47] Haines
    Why are you so fixated on the witch?
[19:50] Haines
    Most people would steer clear
    of a witch serial killer.
[19:53] Guideau
    That's—
[19:54] Ashaf
    Guideau, have a bone.
[19:58] Ashaf
    For our organization, essentially.
[20:01] Ashaf
    We collect the essence of magic.
    Witches, naturally, and—
[20:05] Haines
    Don't hide anything unless
    you want to lose even more trust.
[20:09] Haines
    I came up with this ward myself.
[20:13] Haines
    Lies can't fool me inside it.
[20:17] Guideau
    Asshole.
[20:21] Ashaf
    Dear me. How shrewd of you.
[20:25] Haines
    Answer me.
[20:32] Ashaf
    Well, our circumstances aren't worth hiding.
[20:36] Ashaf
    We just want to undo a curse.
[20:40] Haines
    A curse?
[20:42] Ashaf
    A witch's curse. You must know of them.
[20:45] Haines
    Sure. Anyone who's even
    dabbled in magic does.
[20:49] Ashaf
    Then I'll be brief.
[20:51] Ashaf
    My friend here is under a witch's curse.
[20:55] Ashaf
    So we're looking for the
    witch who cast the curse.
[20:58] Ashaf
    And more or less at random,
    since we have almost nothing to go on.
[21:01] Guideau
    That's not all.
[21:03] Guideau
    I'll find her and kill her.
[21:06] Guideau
    This is revenge.
[21:08] Haines
    Revenge...
[21:13] Ashaf
    I don't believe we're lying.
[21:17] Haines
    Right.
[21:19] Haines
    No, I believe you.
[21:21] Haines
    You have extremely personal reasons,
[21:24] Haines
    but I can trust them over
    great and noble causes.
[21:27] Ashaf
    Oh? You need to use reasoning?
     I thought you could tell if we were lying.
[21:32] Haines
    I lied about that.
[21:34] Haines
    I can't cast a spell that good.
[21:37] Guideau
    What?! Screw you!
[21:39] Haines
    All right, fine.
[21:41] Haines
    I'll take your help.
[21:44] Haines
    Our partnership starts tomorrow.
[21:46] Haines
    Meet here at 9 AM.
[21:51] Guideau
    Hey, when you get down to it...
[21:53] Ashaf
    She found out what we knew
     and gave us nothing.
[24:01] Ashaf
    Now, shall we go see a witch?
[24:05] Ashaf
    Next time: "The Witch's Pastime: Final Act."
SIGN    The Witch's Pastime
SIGN    Final Act