Episode 48: Counterattack, Big Simaron!
Episode 48: Counterattack, Big Simaron!
If you need to watch the epsiode, go here (Community Locked).
Episode 48: Counterattack, Big Simaron!
The episode opens with a mysteriously blurred woman floating in a psychadelic sky.
We hear Yuuri wondering who she is, while a very insistent voice calls him in the background.
And then Yuuri opens his eyes to see…Greta! Looking all adorable as she wishes him good morning. He isn’t too happy to be woken up from his dreams of strange floaty ladies, though, even if it is by his darling daughter.
And in the background, Julia-Conrart-Yuuri’s necklace glows. Quite creepy.
Conrart’s voice is then heard, wishing Yuuri good morning. Honestly, does nobody knock before they just bound into the Maou’s room? First Greta, then Conrart…
Anyway, Conrart remarks that the three of them are lying quite peacefully in the shape of a ‘river’ character, which makes Yuuri question his sanity for a little bit before he remembers Wolfram is in the same bed with him.
And he looks so peaceful, too. ;)
Which segues into the title screen:
The scene then shifts to Shinou temple, where Murata and Ulrike are sitting on a bench and talking about how nice it is that there haven’t been any disturbances lately, and everything’s peaceful. Murata clearly hasn’t heard of the phrase ‘don’t tempt fate’, because he then says that he hopes this is isn’t the calm before the storm.
And as soon as he says it, one of the temple maids comes running in and tells him that the door to her room doesn’t fit right. No sooner are the words out of her mouth…and a whole passel of the temple maidens come running to Murata, telling him of all the little errands they need him to do.
I’m not buying it. Clearly, these are just excuses for the maidens to lure Murata away from Ulrike and keep him all to themselves, the little hussies.
Ulrike tells Murata that she thinks the storm has arrived. ;)
Meanwhile, at Blood Pledge, someone’s playing some sort of board game, with a lot of coloured tiles. We then see it’s Yuuri, and his opponent is…Morgif?
Wolfram wonders what he’s doing, but is told off by an impatient Yuuri who seems to be losing to Morgif. Yuuri, you’re such a dork. :D Greta explains to her other father that it’s Shogi, a Japanese form of chess, which Murata had handyman!Yozak make for Greta.
Wolfram then notices that Greta is wearing the pendant Yuuri normally wears, and she tells him she borrowed it from her father. Wolfram then wonders aloud why Conrart gave the pendant to Yuuri, and Yuuri reprises Episode one for us, and reminds us that Conrart gave it to him as a good luck charm. What’s wrong with that, he asks.
Oh, nothing. Hey, speaking of, where is Conrart?
Called away by Gunter, Yuuri replies. Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of Dorcas asking Anissina if ‘this is really alright.’ She tells him that they are going to test out a new household appliance, easily handled even by people with weak maryokou like him. Dorcas does not look too happy at the prospect.
Wolfram and Yuuri comment that it’s unusual for her to use Dorcas as a test subject instead of Gwendal or Gunter, and she tells them that apparently both of them and Conrart are too busy playing host to a foreign guest.
But who on earth could this ‘guest’ be?
Mr. Baldy Hristocryuff from Cabalcade, Dorcas tells them.
Yuuri is shocked.
Meanwhile, in the meeting room, everyone is pensively silent. Perhaps it’s something to do with those two letters.
Yuuri crashes the meeting, and is told that the letters ask the allies of Shin Makoku-like Cabalcade-to hand over the royal children to Big Simaron for an ‘overseas study exchange to promote better understanding’. Naturally, everyone has seen through Big Simaron’s dastardly plot, and realise that the children would be nothing but hostages if they were to be handed over. Gunter then tells Yuuri that a similar letter had arrived in Shin Makoku a while ago, and as the door opens and Greta enters, her parents turn worried eyes on her.
Greta wonders if she will be sent away, and Yuuri reassures her while Wolfram says that they should reject the study exchange proposal. Hristocryuff says that he advised the members of the alliance to do the same, but the countries bordering Big Simaron and the smaller countries that have just joined the alliance are uneasy and may give in.
Bummer. So what do we do now, Yuuri wants to know.
Gunter tells him that talks will be held with Big Simaron on Bandabia island in two days time.
Wait a minute…Bandabia…
It’s where Morgif was found, Conrart helpfully supplies.
That’s right! Yuuri cries. I’ll go out there, and thrash those Big Simaron jerks-
That’s not necessary, Gwendal interrupts.
I love this shot.
Um, why, your Grumpiness?
I’ll go alone, Gwendal replies. You all stay here in the castle. Baldy, Shin Makoku will settle this. Until then, ask all the members of the alliance to hang tight.
But whyyy, Yuuri wails. I wanna go!
A king should not just leave whenever it strikes his fancy, Gwendal rebukes him, while Gunter nods in the background. If something were to happen to you, what would happen to this country, or its people?
Yuuri is shocked to be reminded of this.
Gwendal then stands, and walks away from the table with a sotto voce instruction to Conrart, saying that he’s leaving everything else to him. Conrart does not look happy, either, but he does not reply.
The scene then shifts to a port, where a huge ship has just docked in. Then we move to a forest, and a very familiar looking carriage. It’s Belal, King of Big Simaron!
But he doesn’t know that Adelbert has seen the whole thing, hiding up in the trees. Yozak was right, these soldiers are poorly trained.
We then see Gwendal speeding off to Bandabia on one of Anissina’s superfast ships. Meanwhile, back at Blood Pledge, Yuuri is throwing a hissy fit expressing his displeasure with the current situation while Conrart, Wolfram and Gunter look on.
He rants and raves that he understands what Gwendal meant, but he can’t forgive Big Simaron for attempting to use children as hostages. Conrart is strangely silent, but this does not stop him from breaking out the sadface.
But that’s not Big Simaron’s goal, is it, Yuuri?
Um, what, Murata?
He says that Lord von Voltaire is troublesome, and if they don’t discuss things like this with him, he won’t be able to help them. Yuuri and Wolfram still do not get it.
So he explains: what do you want to do right now, Shibuya?
Yuuri replies that he wants to go to Bandabia. Which is what Big Simaron wanted all along, Yuuri. Oh noes! Then Gwendal walked into a trap to save Yuuri?
But that’s not all, Murata says. Doesn’t he plan to do some other task while he’s at it? Gunter is shocked at Murata’s omniscience, but Conrart assents.
Scene then changes to a misty dock, and a strange metallic sound. We then see Wolfram, Murata, Yuuri and Conrart sitting on what looks to be a giant banana, which also funtions as a boat. Anissina is standing nearby, and Gunter is seen pumping his maryokou into said banana thing.
Um, will this really be alright, Yuuri asks Anissina. Super High Speed Evil Fast-kun is perfectly safe, she assures him. Anyway, this is its test run, as well its maiden voyage, so any glitches are sure to be remedied for next time. You fail at reassurance, Anissina.
The boat seems to run fine, if a little too fast for its four passengers to handle, if their wails are anything to go by.
Back at Blood Pledge, Dorcas tells Gunter that all the Navy’s preparations are done. Gunter tells him they must remain on alert. Greta, who is in the same room, wonders if Yuuri and the others would have reached Gwendal by now, and Anissina tells her that they would reach him by the morning and not before. Besides, she gave Yuuri some useful items that would help them on their quest. Gunter is perturbed by this news.
We then see Adelbert, alone in the woods, presumably on Bandabia island, staring into a fire and musing. Two leaves fall from the trees around him, and he draws his sword in a flash, and one of the leaves falls to the ground, sliced in two. Adelbert sighs that his skills are rusty. But apparently he’ll still be waiting, boyo.
Scene then shifts to Gwendal landing at Bandabia island. He’s guided to a carriage, but his men are stopped from accompanying him. He tells them it’s alright, and continues on without them.
Elsewhere on the island, Yuuri and co. have landed as well, although their journey was not quite so peaceful.
Strangely enough, Wolfram seems fine. Murata surmises that he was too terrified to get seasick, which seems to be correct, judging by the reaction.
Forget that, Wolfram says. How do we find Gwendal?
He is not happy with the answer.
Apparently it’s one of Anissina’s inventions, which allows one to track people by their scents. But this is human territory, no maryokou, Conrart reminds them. But no worries, I know where Gwendal is. Because I’m just awesome like that.
At the designated meeting spot for the ‘talks’, Gwendal is asked to hand over his sword before he enters. A few minutes later, Conrart, Wolfram, Yuuri and Murata arrive at the same spot. They overpower the guards-via various methods-and sneak inside.
Meanwhile, Gwendal is being led somewhere in the castle, and Yuuri and co. are hot on his trail. Gwendal himself is ushered into a room where Belal waits. And then…
Oh noes, it really was a trap! Belal says that all he wanted was to capture the representative of Shin Makoku, because then they would have the upper hand.
Gwendal: Sucks to be you, then.
Gah, I love his smirk here.
Belal: Whaaa?
Suddenly, a sword falls out of the heavens, right into Gwendal’s hands. Assassination attempt on Belal commences. Until the door blows open right in their faces. It’s Yuuri and co. here to save you from a fate worse than death, Gwendal!
Gwendal is not amused.
And once Belal and the Big Simaron soldiers have run off like the little cowards they are, we get the explanation for the sudden rainfall of swords: it’s the Phantom of the Opera Yozak, hiding on the ceiling beams!
Yuuri is shocked when Yozak explains the Cunning Plan to them as they run away. Wolfram asks how they would have escaped, and Murata comments that it would most likely have been impossible. Gwendal tersely says that he was prepared for that.
Even as they’re running away, Belal orders the release of the Great Balls of Fire. No, I’m not making this up. These fireballs wreak havoc on the castle, and Belal seems quite pleased with the result.
Yozak can’t believe they’d burn the building down just to kill a ‘few Mazoku’, and Murata says that just goes to show how much Belal hates them.
Gwendal: Who gives a damn?! Let’s get out of here! Come!
Gwendal, I love you. Please do not ever stop being sensible.
Things do not look good for our heroes as they finally exit the burning building. The fiery ball things are still falling out of the sky, and there’s smoke everywhere. Scatter, Conrart says, we’re easier targets if we’re a group.
Obediently, Yuuri detaches himself from everyone else, and is promptly targeted by some Big Simaron archers.
But before they can fire…
It’s Adelbert to the rescue, with his Super Sharp Sword!
But then he makes a lunge for Yuuri, and even as Conrart and Wolfram watch, Yuuri is Maou-napped by Adelbert.
And because I laughed at the ending for the episode, here, have the screenshot:
Next episode by sagemuraken already up. =)
~
So. Thoughts.
How much do I love Gwendal in this episode? Muchly. =)
I don’t know, there’s something about the idea of grumpy Gwendal ready to sacrifice himself for Yuuri’s sake-who he doesn’t even really like to begin with-that just makes me want to squish him.
And, of course, there’s his awesome line when the burning building is falling on them and Murata and Yozak suddenly want to discuss motivations and revenge: Who gives a damn?!, because, OMG YES. Out of the burning building FIRST, people. Run away to talk motivations another day.
And, because I ended up with this random screenshot of him, here.
I found it interesting that Conrart just meekly bowed to Gwendal’s wishes, too. When Gwendal says he’s ‘leaving everything to him’, he doesn’t say a single word of protest, though he does look very sad-it made me wonder if Conrart was silent because he was just that obedient to his older brother, or if he knew the man was too damned stubborn to listen to anything he would have said.
And, gah, Murata’s omniscience. He just seems to have a handle on everything and everyone in Shin Makoku. Really, no one should even bother trying to keep anything a secret from him, rather, they should just take pointers from him. *shakes head*
I liked Yozak’s entrance, though it did make me laugh quite a bit. Also, how was he able to go sneaking up on the ceiling beams without anyone in the palace seeing him? Maybe he’s just that Super a Super Sekrit Spy. *shrugs*
And, speaking of skills: Adelbert. My god man, if you think your skills are rusty because you couldn’t slice some random leaves falling at you without even looking at it… Brr. I wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley someplace.
Well, that’s pretty much the end of my rambling take on this episode. The following epsiodes are already up, go take a look!
If you need to watch the epsiode, go here (Community Locked).
Episode 48: Counterattack, Big Simaron!
The episode opens with a mysteriously blurred woman floating in a psychadelic sky.
We hear Yuuri wondering who she is, while a very insistent voice calls him in the background.
And then Yuuri opens his eyes to see…Greta! Looking all adorable as she wishes him good morning. He isn’t too happy to be woken up from his dreams of strange floaty ladies, though, even if it is by his darling daughter.
And in the background, Julia-Conrart-Yuuri’s necklace glows. Quite creepy.
Conrart’s voice is then heard, wishing Yuuri good morning. Honestly, does nobody knock before they just bound into the Maou’s room? First Greta, then Conrart…
Anyway, Conrart remarks that the three of them are lying quite peacefully in the shape of a ‘river’ character, which makes Yuuri question his sanity for a little bit before he remembers Wolfram is in the same bed with him.
And he looks so peaceful, too. ;)
Which segues into the title screen:
The scene then shifts to Shinou temple, where Murata and Ulrike are sitting on a bench and talking about how nice it is that there haven’t been any disturbances lately, and everything’s peaceful. Murata clearly hasn’t heard of the phrase ‘don’t tempt fate’, because he then says that he hopes this is isn’t the calm before the storm.
And as soon as he says it, one of the temple maids comes running in and tells him that the door to her room doesn’t fit right. No sooner are the words out of her mouth…and a whole passel of the temple maidens come running to Murata, telling him of all the little errands they need him to do.
I’m not buying it. Clearly, these are just excuses for the maidens to lure Murata away from Ulrike and keep him all to themselves, the little hussies.
Ulrike tells Murata that she thinks the storm has arrived. ;)
Meanwhile, at Blood Pledge, someone’s playing some sort of board game, with a lot of coloured tiles. We then see it’s Yuuri, and his opponent is…Morgif?
Wolfram wonders what he’s doing, but is told off by an impatient Yuuri who seems to be losing to Morgif. Yuuri, you’re such a dork. :D Greta explains to her other father that it’s Shogi, a Japanese form of chess, which Murata had handyman!Yozak make for Greta.
Wolfram then notices that Greta is wearing the pendant Yuuri normally wears, and she tells him she borrowed it from her father. Wolfram then wonders aloud why Conrart gave the pendant to Yuuri, and Yuuri reprises Episode one for us, and reminds us that Conrart gave it to him as a good luck charm. What’s wrong with that, he asks.
Oh, nothing. Hey, speaking of, where is Conrart?
Called away by Gunter, Yuuri replies. Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of Dorcas asking Anissina if ‘this is really alright.’ She tells him that they are going to test out a new household appliance, easily handled even by people with weak maryokou like him. Dorcas does not look too happy at the prospect.
Wolfram and Yuuri comment that it’s unusual for her to use Dorcas as a test subject instead of Gwendal or Gunter, and she tells them that apparently both of them and Conrart are too busy playing host to a foreign guest.
But who on earth could this ‘guest’ be?
Mr. Baldy Hristocryuff from Cabalcade, Dorcas tells them.
Yuuri is shocked.
Meanwhile, in the meeting room, everyone is pensively silent. Perhaps it’s something to do with those two letters.
Yuuri crashes the meeting, and is told that the letters ask the allies of Shin Makoku-like Cabalcade-to hand over the royal children to Big Simaron for an ‘overseas study exchange to promote better understanding’. Naturally, everyone has seen through Big Simaron’s dastardly plot, and realise that the children would be nothing but hostages if they were to be handed over. Gunter then tells Yuuri that a similar letter had arrived in Shin Makoku a while ago, and as the door opens and Greta enters, her parents turn worried eyes on her.
Greta wonders if she will be sent away, and Yuuri reassures her while Wolfram says that they should reject the study exchange proposal. Hristocryuff says that he advised the members of the alliance to do the same, but the countries bordering Big Simaron and the smaller countries that have just joined the alliance are uneasy and may give in.
Bummer. So what do we do now, Yuuri wants to know.
Gunter tells him that talks will be held with Big Simaron on Bandabia island in two days time.
Wait a minute…Bandabia…
It’s where Morgif was found, Conrart helpfully supplies.
That’s right! Yuuri cries. I’ll go out there, and thrash those Big Simaron jerks-
That’s not necessary, Gwendal interrupts.
I love this shot.
Um, why, your Grumpiness?
I’ll go alone, Gwendal replies. You all stay here in the castle. Baldy, Shin Makoku will settle this. Until then, ask all the members of the alliance to hang tight.
But whyyy, Yuuri wails. I wanna go!
A king should not just leave whenever it strikes his fancy, Gwendal rebukes him, while Gunter nods in the background. If something were to happen to you, what would happen to this country, or its people?
Yuuri is shocked to be reminded of this.
Gwendal then stands, and walks away from the table with a sotto voce instruction to Conrart, saying that he’s leaving everything else to him. Conrart does not look happy, either, but he does not reply.
The scene then shifts to a port, where a huge ship has just docked in. Then we move to a forest, and a very familiar looking carriage. It’s Belal, King of Big Simaron!
But he doesn’t know that Adelbert has seen the whole thing, hiding up in the trees. Yozak was right, these soldiers are poorly trained.
We then see Gwendal speeding off to Bandabia on one of Anissina’s superfast ships. Meanwhile, back at Blood Pledge, Yuuri is throwing a hissy fit expressing his displeasure with the current situation while Conrart, Wolfram and Gunter look on.
He rants and raves that he understands what Gwendal meant, but he can’t forgive Big Simaron for attempting to use children as hostages. Conrart is strangely silent, but this does not stop him from breaking out the sadface.
But that’s not Big Simaron’s goal, is it, Yuuri?
Um, what, Murata?
He says that Lord von Voltaire is troublesome, and if they don’t discuss things like this with him, he won’t be able to help them. Yuuri and Wolfram still do not get it.
So he explains: what do you want to do right now, Shibuya?
Yuuri replies that he wants to go to Bandabia. Which is what Big Simaron wanted all along, Yuuri. Oh noes! Then Gwendal walked into a trap to save Yuuri?
But that’s not all, Murata says. Doesn’t he plan to do some other task while he’s at it? Gunter is shocked at Murata’s omniscience, but Conrart assents.
Scene then changes to a misty dock, and a strange metallic sound. We then see Wolfram, Murata, Yuuri and Conrart sitting on what looks to be a giant banana, which also funtions as a boat. Anissina is standing nearby, and Gunter is seen pumping his maryokou into said banana thing.
Um, will this really be alright, Yuuri asks Anissina. Super High Speed Evil Fast-kun is perfectly safe, she assures him. Anyway, this is its test run, as well its maiden voyage, so any glitches are sure to be remedied for next time. You fail at reassurance, Anissina.
The boat seems to run fine, if a little too fast for its four passengers to handle, if their wails are anything to go by.
Back at Blood Pledge, Dorcas tells Gunter that all the Navy’s preparations are done. Gunter tells him they must remain on alert. Greta, who is in the same room, wonders if Yuuri and the others would have reached Gwendal by now, and Anissina tells her that they would reach him by the morning and not before. Besides, she gave Yuuri some useful items that would help them on their quest. Gunter is perturbed by this news.
We then see Adelbert, alone in the woods, presumably on Bandabia island, staring into a fire and musing. Two leaves fall from the trees around him, and he draws his sword in a flash, and one of the leaves falls to the ground, sliced in two. Adelbert sighs that his skills are rusty. But apparently he’ll still be waiting, boyo.
Scene then shifts to Gwendal landing at Bandabia island. He’s guided to a carriage, but his men are stopped from accompanying him. He tells them it’s alright, and continues on without them.
Elsewhere on the island, Yuuri and co. have landed as well, although their journey was not quite so peaceful.
Strangely enough, Wolfram seems fine. Murata surmises that he was too terrified to get seasick, which seems to be correct, judging by the reaction.
Forget that, Wolfram says. How do we find Gwendal?
He is not happy with the answer.
Apparently it’s one of Anissina’s inventions, which allows one to track people by their scents. But this is human territory, no maryokou, Conrart reminds them. But no worries, I know where Gwendal is. Because I’m just awesome like that.
At the designated meeting spot for the ‘talks’, Gwendal is asked to hand over his sword before he enters. A few minutes later, Conrart, Wolfram, Yuuri and Murata arrive at the same spot. They overpower the guards-via various methods-and sneak inside.
Meanwhile, Gwendal is being led somewhere in the castle, and Yuuri and co. are hot on his trail. Gwendal himself is ushered into a room where Belal waits. And then…
Oh noes, it really was a trap! Belal says that all he wanted was to capture the representative of Shin Makoku, because then they would have the upper hand.
Gwendal: Sucks to be you, then.
Gah, I love his smirk here.
Belal: Whaaa?
Suddenly, a sword falls out of the heavens, right into Gwendal’s hands. Assassination attempt on Belal commences. Until the door blows open right in their faces. It’s Yuuri and co. here to save you from a fate worse than death, Gwendal!
Gwendal is not amused.
And once Belal and the Big Simaron soldiers have run off like the little cowards they are, we get the explanation for the sudden rainfall of swords: it’s the Phantom of the Opera Yozak, hiding on the ceiling beams!
Yuuri is shocked when Yozak explains the Cunning Plan to them as they run away. Wolfram asks how they would have escaped, and Murata comments that it would most likely have been impossible. Gwendal tersely says that he was prepared for that.
Even as they’re running away, Belal orders the release of the Great Balls of Fire. No, I’m not making this up. These fireballs wreak havoc on the castle, and Belal seems quite pleased with the result.
Yozak can’t believe they’d burn the building down just to kill a ‘few Mazoku’, and Murata says that just goes to show how much Belal hates them.
Gwendal: Who gives a damn?! Let’s get out of here! Come!
Gwendal, I love you. Please do not ever stop being sensible.
Things do not look good for our heroes as they finally exit the burning building. The fiery ball things are still falling out of the sky, and there’s smoke everywhere. Scatter, Conrart says, we’re easier targets if we’re a group.
Obediently, Yuuri detaches himself from everyone else, and is promptly targeted by some Big Simaron archers.
But before they can fire…
It’s Adelbert to the rescue, with his Super Sharp Sword!
But then he makes a lunge for Yuuri, and even as Conrart and Wolfram watch, Yuuri is Maou-napped by Adelbert.
And because I laughed at the ending for the episode, here, have the screenshot:
Next episode by sagemuraken already up. =)
~
So. Thoughts.
How much do I love Gwendal in this episode? Muchly. =)
I don’t know, there’s something about the idea of grumpy Gwendal ready to sacrifice himself for Yuuri’s sake-who he doesn’t even really like to begin with-that just makes me want to squish him.
And, of course, there’s his awesome line when the burning building is falling on them and Murata and Yozak suddenly want to discuss motivations and revenge: Who gives a damn?!, because, OMG YES. Out of the burning building FIRST, people. Run away to talk motivations another day.
And, because I ended up with this random screenshot of him, here.
I found it interesting that Conrart just meekly bowed to Gwendal’s wishes, too. When Gwendal says he’s ‘leaving everything to him’, he doesn’t say a single word of protest, though he does look very sad-it made me wonder if Conrart was silent because he was just that obedient to his older brother, or if he knew the man was too damned stubborn to listen to anything he would have said.
And, gah, Murata’s omniscience. He just seems to have a handle on everything and everyone in Shin Makoku. Really, no one should even bother trying to keep anything a secret from him, rather, they should just take pointers from him. *shakes head*
I liked Yozak’s entrance, though it did make me laugh quite a bit. Also, how was he able to go sneaking up on the ceiling beams without anyone in the palace seeing him? Maybe he’s just that Super a Super Sekrit Spy. *shrugs*
And, speaking of skills: Adelbert. My god man, if you think your skills are rusty because you couldn’t slice some random leaves falling at you without even looking at it… Brr. I wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley someplace.
Well, that’s pretty much the end of my rambling take on this episode. The following epsiodes are already up, go take a look!