The Promised Canaan Episode 3 Part 2

Astaroth picks things up by narrating their thoughts as The Analyst rolls out. When they first came here, they thought that they had finally found the place that would accept them for who they were, their own paradise. Even in a world where they could be themselves and be whoever they wanted to be, they always felt some sense of discomfort. They couldn’t accept themselves for the way they were after all.

Astaroth wonders when it was they started admiring beautiful things. When was it they wanted to be smaller and cuter? However, their body grew bigger by the day. Their throat stuck out, and their frame became angular. Astaroth then describes themselves as the demon/dragon of prosecution, a dragon noble known by all in Gehenna with great power. And against their will, their body changed by the day to become suitable for that title.

Astaroth did their best to hide these changes all the time, even though the next day could be the day their efforts would no longer be of any help. They wanted a cute, lovely body instead of the body they had that was all power. Their heart ached, and malaise spread through them like poison.

Astaroth then starts talking about Astarte, someone who held the same yet opposite feelings they did. She had yelled that she didn’t want a body that can only be loved, she wanted a body that was strong. When Astaroth heard all that they felt happy, odd as it may be. It was happiness over understanding and a shared sympathy.

Astaroth’s narration then flashes back to the point where Astarte calls out the invocation line for their NP to activate it. They recap that the words were a contract, a promise that she would accept their memories. In doing so Astarte also accepted the class and concept that was tied to Astaroth’s life. Both their memories became mixed as they became her and she became them.

Astaroth says they sank into euphoric gratitude, and yet a thought came to them all of a sudden. As things are they and Astarte have switched places. If so, then where did that poison inside themselves go? And where did the poisonous thoughts and feelings she held go?

The flashback continues as Robinson comes in towards the end of Astartaroth’s fusion as the light dies down. He looks around the place and wonders who Astarte was and where she went. The location she contracted with Astaroth has blown up like thunder had struck the place or something, blasting some trees to pieces.

Flashback then ends as Robinson finishes telling you his part in seeing Astarte and the aftermath of what happened. He did see her for a second and describes her as having long hair that was like the stars in heaven. You are sure that was Astarte and are glad she’s fine, then ask what happened after that.

Robinson answers that she was gone the next moment, though he doesn’t know where. He then stops for a moment as the meat he has cooking is ready and says it’s good after taking a test bite. He hands you some kebabs after that, telling you to be careful since they’re hot. You either take them and eat, calling them delicious, or you decline.

Robinson says you look pretty tired, though he guesses you might not have noticed yourself. He suggests that when you’re having a bad time, you should eat since you won’t be able to think well on an empty stomach. Eating, warming up, and resting should be the starting point for anything! You agree or give in.

Anyways Robinson starts talking about how he gets called commander and stuff when he sets up a hunting party for the forests closer to home. If you want you can call him that and rely on him too. You point out that the positions and ages have been reversed and say you want to act as the older one but admit that you can’t use your power now. Robinson just laughs.

You then ask if you guys will be camping out or whether it’d be better to get to town ASAP. Robinson takes out a map to show where you guys are and where Canaan’s central town is. It turns out you’ve come out a really long way. The direct path looks short, but there’s a sheer cliff or something unclimbable in the way, so you’ll have to go around.

You are surprised at how far you’ve gone and say it probably could have taken days to get here. Robinson says that’s why he’s telling you to eat, then informs you he’ll send a letter back to town so people won’t be worrying about you. That gets done by tying it to his bird and sending it off. In the meantime, he suggests that you take a moment to relax. He’s a recognized hunter after all. You agree and thank him, and you do have the choice of phrasing it as entrusting your body to him.

Not going C, Robinson comments that with how dark it is, even if you decided to try going in your own he’d stop you. He thinks you’re weak enough to trip nearby, so he can’t leave you by yourself. You either say you can’t argue against that or say you used to be strong.

In any case Robinson notices your hand is hurt. You realize it now yourself, and Robinson says it came from the grass cutting you. He tells you to show it to him so he can give some aid. You do so, either asking him to help or staying quiet. Either way Robinson says it’ll hurt and suggests you grit your teeth.

Whatever Robinson does only bothers you a little so you say you’re fine. Or you can say he’s good at it or he happy he’s taking care of you. Robinson says that hunting tends to lead to injuries, so he had to learn how to give aid. He then finishes and says it may still hurt, but you shouldn’t touch it for now. You either thank him or whine it hurt a lot.

Robinson says he’s had the same injury a lot too, so he knows how you feel. Then he notices you smiling and asks what was so funny about what he said. You say that him just saying it hurt made you feel a bit better, though it may just be your imagination. He doesn’t say anything, so you thank him again for that and other things.

Robinson tries to downplay what he did and suggests getting some rest soon because of the walking you’ll be doing. He promises to walk you back to town so you don’t have to worry about anything.

Time skips to the next day as you two reach town, and Robinson comments that it’s kind of loud there for some reason. He says it feels different from the last time he was around. You take a moment and agree and wonder what’s happening, then notice someone you recognize.

Nomad calls to you and notes with some irritation that you’re back. Asterius is glad you’re back safe. You greet them both and ask what happened, so Asterius says he saw your letter and knows you’re okay. Nomad cuts across him to tell you big things have happened while you were away.

When you ask what he means, Robinson is shown being quiet before the game picks up with a flashback or something as Dagon’s servants are delivering an announcement. Astarte has entered the competition to be World Representative, and you have been announced to become the new Beloved who decides who wins. After a reaction pan through the three of them, you either express shock about what Astarte did and that you’ve formally had your positions switched.

Astarte walks over, commenting on things changing a little about the return times before she welcomes you back. She also tells you she obtained the power she always wanted. Asterius and Nomad can feel it from her, and Nomad adds Dagon wasn’t being weird and whimsical for announcing that. When you start talking to her you notice something.

Astarte looks like Astaroth to you for a second, and she asks you why you’re looking at her like you’ve forgotten what she looks like. You start to ask about her body or appearance, but Astarte thinks nothing has changed in regards to that. She asks what you’re getting at, so you stop and say you were mistaken. She calls you a weirdo in response.

Anyways, Tangaroa welcomes Astarte to the contest and says he’ll take her challenge head on. He also declares that your love belongs to him. You’re either baffled by this or call him by his cast name. Nomad speaks up and says he’s got you reserved, to your increasing bafflement.

Asterius tells them to stop because they’re bothering you, all the while claiming you as his. He says he’ll stay with you, and you again react with more confusion or saying his name. Astarte takes the challenge and says she’ll bring it to them. Your head is spinning while you try to get Astarte to switch back places with you.

Astarte asks you to wait just a bit longer and tells you there’s nothing to worry about. She says if she wins then there won’t be any problems. You ask if she wanted to be World Representative, so she tells you she isn’t sure about that. She does wanted to be seen as a proper soldier at least once though. Astarte then tries to reassure you and tells you to stop looking like that.

Astarte swears to make everyone see her power and the suffering she felt up until she got it. You are either alarmed by this or ask if she intends to marry you. Going A, she doesn’t say anything more.

Time skips as you and Robinson are at the tower talking about how crazy things have gotten and about your position as spouse to be for whoever wins the position of ruler. You comment on the positions being switched and wonder what you’ll do, or you can be kinda happy to be fought over.

Going A, Robinson questions whether the guys really want to be World Rep, even if he doesn’t understand it much. He asks if you ever wanted to be the Rep. You can either answer yes, no, or that you’ve never thought about it. Whichever way you answer, Robison says he doesn’t want the position. He might not even be able to take it anyways.

You ask about his disinterest in being a king despite being a prince. Robinson says that despite being called a prince, his home amounts to some tiny village. If he really were a prince he probably couldn’t have become a hunter. Robinson is fine with that since he doesn’t want the part and thinks it’s pointless. He admits he’s been called a twisted guy a lot.

You either ask why Robinson isn’t interested in the title or stay quiet. Robinson needs a moment to explain himself, then starts talking about how an unremarkable weakling becoming strong and noted would mean they’ve gone to a whole new world. Robinson would rather not change.

Robinson feels that borrowing something someone else made won’t change anything for yourself. He talks about how people feel some people aren’t suited to certain things and could do it better themselves. But seeing things from a distance means you only see the good and pretty parts. It’s when you become what they are that you see the obligations and ties and unseen realities they deal with. So if someone becomes king, all that changes is who’s in the seat.

In becoming something else, you see all the ups and downs that come with it. Robinson says he’s come to this viewpoint from seeing his dad and the others get betrayed by people they trusted in. He then talks about how history repeats itself, so he feels it’s better for himself to be a solitary wandering hunter with little baggage to take along.

You say that there are things that can change and things you can understand by trying, but maybe it just applies to people’s minds. Robinson mulls over the idea of people changing even if the world doesn’t, then comments you make good points even if you’re a weakling. He likes that about you, among other things.

He talks about his disinterest in being king again and decides to leave it there for now. You ask if he’s going to leave now and maybe throw in wanting to spend some more time with him. Not going C, he asks if he can stick around some more. Even if he doesn’t want the World Rep position he feels he doesn’t want someone else to take you.

You’re surprised by this, and Robinson sighs about how he was just trying to be cool earlier before saying he’s like you. He feels he may have fallen in love with you and hands you a Promise Shell. You either ask what it is as you try to remember, say you like him too, or ask if this means he’s marrying you.

Going A, Robinson sighs about you not knowing and how nervous he was before calling you a kid. But he rolls with it and says he’ll teach you as an adult what it means.

Scene shifts back into town as Kurogane finds something puzzling. Narration says he’s doing some investigation for plans to make the next World Rep candidate’s palace under Dagon’s orders. The location is supposed to be ideal and far away from flood areas, but Kurogane is baffled by the results he collected.

Tangaroa walks by, so Kurogane asks him to take a look at the ground stratum he dug up. Based on the traces in it that he can see, there’s been many floods happening recently, yet no one around has any memories of such a thing happening. Kurogane says that if floods reached this particular area then the floods would have expanded across the whole world, so he asks if Tangaroa remembers any of that.

Tangaroa says he doesn’t but tells him that floods that cover the whole world do exist. The world mob runs up to Tangaroa to report to him about the findings they have on That King, though we don’t see what it is.

Elsewhere Dagon starts talking about how another person has fallen to the abyss, comparing it to sinking to the bottom of the world while flitting about in the pleasures of a sweet dream. Teacher Dagon refers to Canaan Dagon as someone who he might have been at one point before asking if he still remembers his promise with him.

Teacher Dagon talks about the thing that allowed Canaan Dagon to borrow his body and trade places with him was that promise. That promise they made said Canaan Dagon would show Teacher Dagon the thing he has always wanted to see. Canaan Dagon calls the other one Old Ones Dagon and someone he once was and confirms that he remembers.

Thanks to his body and his other self Triton, the memories are very familiar to C-Dagon. He also makes a point of describing the body as suited for debauchery and corruption before saying that having it will make his dream possible. When that happens, OO Dagon will probably see what he’s been looking for.

Teacher Dagon says that if that’s true, then he won’t regret exchanging bodies. He says he’s always been researching the meanings behind ruined and sunken world Systems. When his research came to an end in his home world, he was summoned to a new one where he was still unable to finish it.

Teacher Dagon says he wanted to know why it was that Old Ones was destroyed. He wanted to know why the World Pillar and a System like that was necessary. And why was it that Azathoth disappeared from Old Ones?

Dagon then brings back up the ruin of a chaotic world, the abyssal world System, and the meaning of World Representative before saying that the fate of his people should be listed in the deep and twisted castle. He feels that if another world of chaos that was destroyed in the past has its truth come to light, he might learn something. Elsewhere, Baal is laughing to himself as the episode ends.