Episode 27: Conrad's Arm
Episode 27: Conrad's Arm
Need to see the episode? Have no fear, check out here. (At least I hope it will be there... Lena, let me know if I can help out by uploading my copy?)
First of all, as a warning I only have access to the fansubs, so I apologize if any names differ from the official Geneon translations and for any confusion that might result. I'm also going to use Conrad rather than Conrart just to be consistent.
I'm also afraid that I don't have many screencaps for this episode. ^^;; However - A lot of the scenes were fairly dark in color, so I brightened some of the screencaps to make it easier to see what is going on. That said, let's move onwards.
We start off with an ominous view of the Shinou temple. There's a flash of lightning, and it looks like it's about to storm.
Ulrike is looking into a glowing ball, and suddenly her eyes widen in surprise/worry. Something's happened with Yuuri's soul! She orders the shrine maidens to have someone report this to the Blood Pledge Castle immediately.
The scene changes to Earth, and we find Yuuri at a beach. Although he's not there enjoying himself; it appears that he's working. He passes by a very different looking Murata, annoyed that he's not working too. He's talking to someone on the phone... And it's Yuuri's mother! Jennifer tells him to remember that he should not go wild during summer vacation, and not to be a flirt with the girls. Murata, why are you being so friendly with someone else's mother? And what's with the new look and lack of clothes?
Not to mention the blue contacts. Why, Yuuri, the ocean is for hunting down girls! Duh. He's trying to look cool. Yuuri doesn't seem interested - he just wants to make enough money to afford playing on the baseball field.
It seems that Murata is in luck, though... A girl approaches them, asking if one of them could swim out and grab her friend's bikini top that has been washed away. Don't worry, Yuuri will get it! (And poor Yuuri is asking himself, "Why me?")
Murata talks him into diving into the water, the girls cheering him on. He grabs the top... but a whirlpool drags him under! Suddenly worried, Murata jumps in after him. Yuuri's kind of accepted the fact that he's switching worlds again, and doesn't try to fight it. Although his entrance isn't quite so usual - he appears again on the inside of a wine barrel, which falls to the ground and breaks open.
A cloaked man steps into the building out of the rain. Is it the owner? No, it's Gunter. He seems happy that Yuuri is alright, but he doesn't offer the usual glompage that comes with his greetings.
Greta has come with him, and she runs over to give her father a hug. "Yuuri, you smell like alcohol!"
Conrad enters behind her, and tells Yuuri that they need to get to a safe place. While Yuuri gets dressed into fresh clothes, they explain what's happening. Something is wrong, because they were not the ones that summoned him from Earth, and only came because Ulrike had sensed his arrival. Not to mention that the humans seem to be restless and preparing to fight against the Mazoku. As a precaution, they want to send Yuuri back to Earth to protect him. Yuuri agrees, somewhat unwillingly, and tells them that they are not to start any wars while he is gone. Outside in the rain, Greta rides on Conrad's horse, while Yuuri rides behind Gunter.
Only before they can get far, something knocks Gunter backwards into Yuuri.
Falling from the horse, Gunter collapses to the ground, unconscious. It seems as though he's been struck by an arrow.
Conrad tells Yuuri that he should quickly take Greta and wait in a nearby church. Yuuri is reluctant, worried about his fallen friend. Conrad insists that he is not dead, and Yuuri finally does as asked, leaving him behind. There's a moment where he looks down at Gunter, says goodbye, and leaves.
Yuuri and Greta run into the church, pausing to catch their breath. Conrad follows, barricading the door behind them. Soon after, the door is attacked as their opponents try to break it down.
Conrad grabs the hilt of his sword and tells Yuuri to hide Greta. Then he walks up to an alter containing a weirdly shaped bowl filled with water, placing the scabbord next to it. He says that he is fighting for Shinou, and in return will recieve protection.
Yuuri places his hand into the water, and a portal appears on the wall behind him. But before anything can be done, the door is broken through.
The attackers are rather strange looking, and carry different weapons. They have guns that shoot fire, swords, and crossbows with arrows. A startled Yuuri looks on as Conrad fights against them, trying to hold them back so that he can escape. But Yuuri's reluctant, worried about him, and seems to be unable to look away.
Just as one of them is about to attack Yuuri, Conrad jumps in the way, his arm being cut off in the process.
(SPOILER: Get used to seeing this image, because it will show up again numerous times in flashbacks.)
Conrad: "I told you before... that I would sacrifice my arm, body, or life for you."
After insisting that he would not die, and would not leave Yuuri alone, a blast of fire knocks Yuuri backwards, finally sending him into the portal, screaming out Conrad's name.
The scene changes to some point later on, the church burned down to the ground. Citizens have been evacuated, and Gwendal's men plan to start an investigation. Gunter is carried out on a stretcher. It is confirmed that he is not dead, but the arrow was poisoned, and now his body is in suspended animation to keep it from spreading.
Gwendal walks over to where Wolfram is apparently talking to/comforting Greta. When he asks her what happened, Wolfram tries to tell him that you shouldn't ask this of a child, but she agrees to talk.
She explains that Gunter and Conrad let her come because they didn't think the enemy was this far into the country, then goes on to worry about whether Yuuri and Conrad are alive. Gwendal tells her in his Gwendal-like way that what happened isn't her fault, and she is led away from the scene.
There is no trace of Yuuri's body, although they did find something else.
It's the abandoned arm. Wolfram looks rather upset by this discovery. Just as they are about to take it away, Gwendal stops them and pulls off the button from the shirt sleeve. He drops it into Wolfram's palm.
"Wolfram. Don't become like me."
Wolfram tightens his fist around the button, trembling, and screams loudly for Yuuri and Conrad - the first time in the series that he uses his brother's first name.
Elsewhere, Yuuri wakes up again on a beach, assuming that he's back on Earth. And there's Murata next to him, not quite awake.
First Wolfram, and now this? Why is it that only guys come on to him?! (Because you're special that way, Yuuri.)
Except a woman sees them, running away when she sees Yuuri's black hair. Uh oh... That means that they're not on Earth, but somewhere in this world in human territory. An apparently clueless Murata calls after her to come back.
Going into the ship harbor, Yuuri trades his coat for Murata's sunglasses to hide his black eyes. The hair is hidden by the hat he'd worn earlier. (Although how he got it back I have no clue... Hidden in a coat pocket, perhaps?) They start working to make some money, Yuuri planning on using it to get back to Shin Makoku.
They seem to be surrounded by strong old men, and they stop to talk to one.
(SPOILER: Yozak, you're far too talented with those disguises. Yuuri doesn't even notice.)
He tells them that the harbor belongs to Gilbit, and they are in the Caloria district of Sou Shimaron. The reason that there isn't anyone younger is because they've all been drafted into the army, the humans restless for a war. Murata surprises Yuuri by not only being able to understand what is being said, but by the fact that he seems so calm about this happening.
They ask about a mansion up on the hill. It belongs to their lord, who locked himself up and refused to see anyone after an accident some time ago. Deciding to go up there, they are almost turned away, until the guard comes back and apologizes.
"I didn't know you had the crest of Wincott."
What I want to know is when and how that symbol got inside of there, because up until now the necklace has been shown as a clear crystal. Anyways, Murata tells him to play along and they make it inside, waiting at a table for their host. Norman Gilbit arrives, wearing a mask.
Outside, the old man looks up at the mansion in concern.
And this is the end of the episode.
My thoughts? There is so much going on, and I consider this episode to be the turning point of the series. It is the start of a major story arc, and involves so many of the characters.
For one, we have Gunter. He seems to be in a rather critical condition, and we are left wondering if he will be okay or not. Conrad has disappeared without a trace (except for the arm), and no one knows what's happened to him.
Then there's Gwendal's comment to Wolfram, about not becoming like him. I think he was referring to the fact that Wolfram much more easily expresses his feelings and emotions, although he could be referring to the fact that he shouldn't hold a grudge/look for revenge like what happened with Hube. Wolfram himself... I still cringe every time I hear that scream. It's just so emotional and full of pain and worry for his loved ones, even those he doesn't want to admit that he cares about. And the fact that he called out his brother's first name in what is probably the first time in many years is definitely saying something.
Murata... has something going on for sure. He's traveled through the water along with Yuuri, and even though he doesn't know what's going on, he still gives off suspicious vibes. This will be discussed much further in future episodes, so I'll leave it at that.
This episode definitely gives us many new questions, and hardly any answers.
Next is episode 28, hosted by parsnip_chan.