Episode 11: Werewolf
It's Nobunaga's head! Bring it to me!
Mother!
It's absolutely cruel.
The entire family was killed?
Yes, even Ine wasn't spared. It's really pitiful.
Is it that gang of bandits again?
Judging the modus operandi, it should be them.
They've just killed the Hachiman family...
Besides, both victimized families have no survivors at all.
- Get on with your work! - Yes.
- Shochi. - Miss Sode.
Ine looks like she's in a deep slumber.
Look where you're going!
- I'm sorry. - Sorry?
You may have fractured your arm.
Lad, look at what you've done! What should we do now?
Get up!
How dare you!
Injured me? To hell with you!
I want you dead!
Wielding your power here, thinking you're a formidable gang?
The two of you bullying the weak?
You must be blind!
Master Iseya.
Look who's around!
- Are you all right? - I am fine.
Thank you.
Bear with it a little.
- Done! - Thank you, Master Iseya.
I heard something happened to the Maruya family.
Is it the doing of those bandits again?
- Yes. - They're worse than beasts!
Miss Sode must be devastated.
Ine was her childhood playmate.
- Did you console her? - Yes.
You're lying. Your expression has given you away.
At a loss for words to console her?
Yes.
Hey, take this and buy something to please her.
Girls like this.
I can't take your money.
Why this formality between us?
We're buddies. Take it.
Master Iseya...
Master Iseya!
Your guests have arrived.
I'll be there right away.
- That's it, Shochi. - Yes.
When your teacher is free, tell him
to arrange a fishing session.
All right.
Wait a minute, Master Iseya.
What should I get for her at a time like this?
Don't worry, I'm fine.
If Ine sees me in this state, she'll laugh at me.
Where have you been? Get back to work!
I'm sorry.
- Don't take it to heart. - I'm fine, Missy.
I told you not to be like this.
What do you mean, Missy?
Don't call me “Missy”.
Didn't you use to call me Sode?
We were still young then.
How many times must I repeat?
Cut the crap and get back to work!
Yes.
Teacher... This armor is. . .
Master Iseya sent this over for repair.
- Do visit again. - Thank you.
Sir, are you troubled over affairs of the heart?
If you wish to pray for happiness, come over here.
No, thank you.
This clip is really beautiful.
Wait a minute! Give it back to me.
Welcome.
Feel free to empty your woes to me.
Trust me, I can do some chanting to dispel your troubles.
Here, take it back.
Very good.
Quick, what's troubling you? Go on.
Just look at you.
What kind of expression is this?
Something must be wrong. Come on.
I wish to be stronger.
- What did you say? - I wish to be stronger.
Why do you want that?
If I were stronger and more courageous than I am now,
I could help to ease her pain.
Also...
Yes?
I could find the person who killed Ine.
I'm unaware of what happened.
But whatever you wish for, you must put your heart into it.
- Do you have the confidence? - Yes.
To be someone who is strong, you must be willing to sacrifice.
Only by overcoming hardship and pain
can you be considered to be someone strong.
Yes.
Father, you do make wise statements at times.
All right, that's 300 coins.
Father?!
That's too expensive!
You didn't do any chanting for me.
300 coins for a piece of advice. That's worth it.
300 coins.
Hand it over!
Surely not? Is this all you have?
Return me the balance next time.
May your wishes come true!
Sir, what's your profession? Why are you so generous?
We've had a big windfall!
What is it?
We're the bandits everyone has been talking about.
Don't pull my leg.
Why must you say that to scare us? You made my heart jump!
What a coward!
We're going off.
Who's that? Who is it?
That hurts.
- Get down, stop climbing. - What happened?
It's dangerous. Please step back.
Kanta, do you know who the deceased is?
Not so sure, but doesn't look like a good soul.
Get down! Stop climbing!
Step aside!
Shochi, what happened?
I've no idea,
but I feel weird.
I don't feel like myself.
Aren't all humans like this?
They always think they know themselves very well.
But that's just an illusion.
How then can they understand others?
Yes.
Come, fish with me.
No, thanks. I've to get back to work. Otherwise, Teacher would...
It'll only take a while.
- Fish like how we used to. - Yes.
Shochi, have you heard?
What about?
There was a murder last night, opposite the river.
The way he died was gruesome.
Is it those bandits again?
Doesn't look like it.
Because the deceased is a member of the bandit gang.
Really?
Rumors have it that the murderer isn't human.
What do you mean?
It was a beast.
A beast?
Yes, it might be a wild dog. There were claw marks on the deceased's body.
To think beasts can tell evil from good too.
- It has done mankind a favor. - That's right.
Don't be so anxious. To capture your prey,
you must have patience.
With your eyes fixed on the prey, approach it gradually.
There's no way it can escape.
What happened to Hei...
Those aren't dagger marks, but claw marks.
- He was attacked by a beast? - Yes.
Sorry for interrupting. Master is here.
How is it? Shochi...
- Shochi... - Yes.
Why are you daydreaming?
Sorry.
What's the matter?
Nothing, I came especially to...
I'm sorry, Missy.
What's that?
Oh, nothing.
- What can't you tell me? - No, nothing.
- What is it? Let me take a look. - No.
- Is that your safety amulet? - No.
All right...
I'll show it to you.
Missy...
What if...
What if I'm not who I am?
What are you saying?
You are Shochi.
Shochi!
Shochi, are you all right?
Shochi!
Wait... what are you doing?
- Shochi! - Don't follow me!
We're not afraid of beasts. Stealing is a pleasure!
That's right.
What happened?
What exactly happened?
It's you!
It's all because of you!
You're the cause of all the trouble!
Hitoshi has been killed.
Who asked you to act on your own?
I'm really sorry.
Did you see the murderer's face?
Yes.
Who did it?
He is...
Don't be too shocked.
The murderer is the rather handsome ironsmith.
I beg your pardon?
Shochi killed Hitoshi?
Yes.
Surely not. You were mistaken.
Impossible. I've known him since he was a child.
He would never do a thing like this.
He's incapable of taking Hitoshi's life singlehandedly.
But Master, I saw him on the roof-top with my own eyes.
He was shouting, “What happened?"
It's him all right.
I have no idea, but I feel weird.
I don't feel like myself.
Master, he's a beast.
The strength he displayed is far above that of an ordinary man.
I'm afraid, even you might not be his match.
Who said I'm not his match?
Who asked you to say I'm not his match?
Sorry to disturb!
Who is it? It is you!
Are you here to repay your debt?
Please take this off for me.
Can't you do such a simple task yourself? I am a busy man!
I beg of you...
- What happened? - I'd like to know it too.
It hurts!
- I'm back. - It hurts!
- Father, what are you doing?
This lad wants me to remove this for him.
This looks nice.
You're saying this horrid thing looks nice?
That's weird. It's been taken off.
Is this it?
It comes from a faraway land.
It will only land in the hands of the chosen ones.
With it, one will be as strong as a beast.
The chosen ones will be bestowed with overwhelming power.
The duty of eliminating evil will fall on his shoulders.
However, his determination will undergo a test.
Often, he'd have to uphold justice under dangerous circumstances.
If a good man uses it, it will shine. If an evil man uses it,
it will bind his arm tightly and lead him into darkness.
It might even lead to self-destruction...
and a road of no return.
What is this?
It has a detailed explanation.
Looks like you're the chosen one.
I've been chosen?
You must be joking. I'm but an ordinary ironsmith.
How can I shoulder the task of upholding justice?
Don't underestimate your own capabilities.
Eliminating evil forces is a noble mission.
Isn't it good that you've been chosen?
But why is it me?
Why me of all people to carry out this mission?
That I don't know.
But didn't you wish to become stronger?
Yes.
The book says to gain strength,
you must undergo a test of determination.
The bangle has been removed.
You can choose not to be under its control.
That's right.
What a pity!
Sayo, you removed it for him. That's no easy feat!
How could you do that?
Sayo, take a seat over here.
I pray that Shochi will resume his happy self soon.
Shochi!
Master Iseya? What brings you here at this late hour?
I've a favor to ask of you.
I'm sorry, Miss Sode.
I offended you the other day.
Teacher?
Teacher, what happened? Teacher!
- Shochi... - Who did it?
- Master Iseya... - Master Iseya?
Teacher, why did he do this?
Shochi, Sode...
Sode...
What's happened to Missy?
Where is she now?
I'll leave Sode in your care.
Teacher! Teacher!
For Shochi.
I resign myself to fate.
I say, I resign myself to fate!
No matter what my destiny is, I'll accept it all with no grudges!
Come.
To become strong, I have to sacrifice?
What exactly do you want?
Tell me what should I do?
What do you want me to do?
I beg of you. Please give me strength!
What a hideous face!
Don't tell me you're the little ironsmith, Shochi?
Shochi?
The beast standing here is the man who's carrying a torch for you.
Don't you step any nearer, Beast!
With you hideous looks,
you're not fit to love a woman!
You're now a beast- the prey soon to fall in my hands.
Shochi, quick, flee!
Shochi!
It's me. I am Shochi.
But I'm no longer your Shochi.
Even so...
Look, this is all your doing!
You didn't expect this, did you?
The result is, you can save no one,
including...
yourself.
Are you referring to yourself?
Even in this state,
you're still my Shochi.
It's been hard on you.
A storm is about to befall.