The Afterschool Brave and Fantastic Party Episode 3 Part 1

We begin with Horus waking up in who knows where, some darkly shining dimensional space that seems to go down to forever. He attempts to get his bearings and notices he isn't in Tokyo anymore when he realizes something is up with his left eye. When he flips his eyepatch up to look, he realizes he can see through it now, which he gets upset by as he calls it the Left Eye of the Moon he lost in his battle with his uncle.

 

Narration explains that long ago in Aaru, the sun and moon were believed to be Horus's right and left eyes. But when the seat of the Representative of the World's Will came around, Horus lost his left eye in his battle with his uncle Seth. As a result of his relatives' assistance interference, Horus was Made to Win. The weight of the coffin holding his father's remains was as heavy as the weight of his relatives' expectations.

 

Horus demands to know who did this to him because he holds his left eye as proof that he had a fair and square battle against his uncle. Aside from the intervention at the end, Horus was proud to have stood in battle and show his bravery. Narration talks about Horus getting excited again as it mentions that was why he was summoned to Tokyo. He wishes to have a fair battle with his uncle from beginning to end and be recognized as having truly come of age. Even now Horus remembers the days where he spent time together and fought with his uncle. Horus starts talking about how he needs to get back as soon as possible to Tokyo when some weird light flashes. What he sees is...cut off by narration.

 

Scene shifts a view of Valinor's desert. By day, it is a scorching world overseen by the burning sun. By night, it is a chilly freezing world of death. That's the kind of place it is as the game shows a world map, placing the desert in between Valinor and Midgard. Sol is leading the party through here, and after days you all reach an oasis. There you are greeted by the beastfolk skilled in hand to hand combat, the Rycants.

 

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Rycants' Village ~ Sage's Tower.

 

We then tune back in to see Sol facing off the Rycants in battle. Eventually the Rycants concede and compliment Sol for getting better, and both sides shake as everyone else around applauds. Orgus is amazed that Sol could keep the Rycants pressured even though he's human. He's also impressed since none of the knights in Valinor could put up just as well empty-handed. Sol then comes back after talking to the Rycants.

 

Bacchus tells Sol that he looked amazing out there, and that he was a little surprised when they suddenly started up a fist fight. Sol reminisces about feeling the same back when he first came here, then explains that it's a sort of greeting with the Rycants. It's a custom of theirs to show how strong they are. Sol also explains that the Church has a sort of cultural exchange with them, with some of the Rycants becoming monks while they learn fighting from them. Yuuji is staring slackjawed, so Sol asks what's wrong. You can either call him strong, cool, or say you've fallen in love with him again.

 

In A and B, Sol thanks you but humbly says he's not worth the compliment. In C it takes him a moment to process his shock before stammering about how he's happy to hear that. Either way he thanks you, swearing to keep training so that he can serve you as the hero.

 

Orgus changes the subject to ask about whether the Sage's Tower Sol mentioned one time is around. It's a tower said to be built by Sylvester, the figure his faith believes in. Bacchus brings up that Sylvester is the one who summoned the first legendary hero, saying that as a mage/curse caster/whatever he's interested in the subject.

 

Sol adds that he's heard that the Sage's Tower is also where several of Sylvester's surviving memories are. The information you guys are looking for might be there, but Sol brings up that there's some unexpected news of things. According to the Rycants he talked to the tower has recently stopped showing itself, and that's been causing them all unrest since it's such an important object of worship for them.

 

Bacchus asks about the tower not showing itself, so Sol answers that the tower sometimes appears in the desert sky like a mirage. The Rycants offer their prayers to it for watching over them everyday, but as he said it hasn't shown up lately. Orgus thinks aloud about something strange happening. He suggests looking into it because maybe you guys might find something out, also suggesting that you guys stick around and take quests while you're at it.

 

Bacchus agrees, then asks what you and Sol think. Sol thinks it's a good idea but ultimately leaves the decision to you. Yuuji agrees and says he's interested in seeing their village. Orgus says they should get inn lodgings and quests, then figures you guys need new gear since your older stuff is getting worn out. Bacchus agrees with him but wonders if any good smith is around. Orgus asks Bacchus to come with him to look, who doesn't mind splitting up like that.

 

Yuuji thinks to himself about how Orgus is being cautious against Nekros and wonders if he intends to keep watch by himself. Sol turns to him while he's doing so to offer to show him around before noticing he seems distracted. Yuuji snaps back to things in surprise, then agrees with the suggestion.

 

Some time later, Yuuji comments excitedly how busy the place is, saying it's even busier than the bazaar. Sol says it's because the place is in the middle of the Midnor Highway, making it a great place to resupply. The place has also been getting more and more merchants from other lands. Speaking of, Sol mentions that a certain traveler from somewhere has become the talk of the town recently with the Rycants hailing him as the strongest warrior ever.

 

Yuuji is surprised into asking more, so Sol says the warrior sounds like he came from fairy tales the Rycants tell. They describe him as having claws that can reach the moon and having blood dark enough to blot out the light of the sun. Yuuji finds this amazing and/or freaky and asks for further details. Sol says that said warrior is staying somewhere in town and might bump into you guys at any moment. The Rycants want him to stay, but the guy himself would prefer to leave.

 

Said rumored warrior turns out to be Managarm, who insists that he needs to go back to the world he was at to get ready for a concert. He's going to get withdrawal symptoms if he doesn't hear Gabriel's voice man! HE HAS TO GET BACK TO SHIBUYA AS SOON AS HE CAN! Inside Yuuji you pick up on Managarm nerding out and partly recognize his voice. Sol notices and asks if something is wrong. Yuuji has noticed nothing, so Sol goes oh and says it looked like you were thinking about something. Bacchus stands there quietly, somewhere.

 

Sol decides to try asking you something, namely whether you've started thinking about wanting to go back to your original world too. Yuuji is a little surprised and says it's not a definite must thing for him. Sure it's dangerous around here, but he kinda wants to hang around some more. Sol is elated about that and expresses relief, and Yuuji thanks him. Meanwhile you think that it's fine if it's for a little bit since you'll need to find a way back anyways. You do wonder why you got stuck in Yuuji's body, why you were taken to this world, and/or wonder where the connection to Tokyo is.

 

Anyways, Yuuji says that if the overlord does show up then he can't talk about things so casually. And on that subject, Yuuji decides to ask Sol about the overlord. The Church put him up to supporting the hero to defeat the overlord, so he must know something right? Sol agrees to tell him whatever he knows.

 

Sol starts describing the overlord as an incessant rain of stars that bring about disaster. He (or it I guess) is said to use the power of the Black Stone to take control over the remains of those that lived and make them into tools and weapons. Yuuji asks more about this rock and its reanimation deal, so Sol says it's like obsidian, colored in a darkness that can swallow up light. It bides its time to awakening underground, and when the time comes it possesses a nearby corpse (or corpses) to take action. The stone is the overlord's core, comparable to a heart. In the end, the lands destroyed by it has its people turned into his slaves. Anyone who dies falls under his control, making him an enemy to all life.

 

Sol says the overlord must be destroyed, no matter what. No price, no sacrifice is too much he yells. Yuuji is shocked by this outburst, which Sol apologizes for as he calls it his lack of virtue. Yuuji downplays it and says he was surprised by how different he was acting.

 

Yuuji changes the subject and brings up that Sol refers to him as a hero, then asks if he thinks he has a chance since he doesn't think he can handle it. If more enemies pop up after being cut down, that seems like a bit much. Sol insists that the hero is the only one who can go up against the overlord, and that Yuuji's sword is the only thing that can stand against him.

 

Yuuji is surprised at the sword being so important, so Sol explains that it's made from from a material called White Stone (white stone?) that can release light on its own. It's also known as White Star, or in his hometown as silmaril. The light it gives off is the light of life, and it's the one thing capable of making the Black Stone powerless.

 

Sol mentions that White Stone ore is also used to make ornaments or accessories, though not much is used as in the sword. They're said to be on the level of protective charms that can guard oneself against the old overlord's power. If you give one such item to another person, then they're supposed to think positively of you. Sol's not sure that's actually true though, but that's what they say. The Rycants wear White Stone accessories too. Church doctrine holds similarly that White Stone's light is stronger than anything in the world, able to surpass time and space to draw life to one another and resonate.

 

Yuuji's big takeaway is that having White Stone makes you popular and expresses an interest in that part more than its anti-overlord properties. Sol mentions that the amount of White Stone ore in circulation now is less than a handful. The light it gives off is proportionate to its size, and he's about to make a guess about how effective an accessory would be when Yuuji interrupts and says he cares more about the part he mentioned about feelings. Then he asks if Sol has a White Stone accessory on him.

 

Sol is shocked by the question and tries to deny having any. There was that time when his father was a White Stone processor, but it's not like he feels guilty or anything! Yuuji is surprised and points out that Sol is sweating buckets now. Sol admits that on the way over he did see some store selling one of his father's products, but he most certainly did not take it with him for trivial reasons.

 

Sol pulls out a ring or something and is about to give it to you saying he wants you to take it as an ally he swore his life to when Orgus and Bacchus show up and comment how unusual it is for him to be yelling. Sol panics at this and stuffs the ring away, denies that anything is happening, then asks what's up on their end. Bacchus talks about picking up quests from the tavern, and conveniently enough there was a smith offering to pay in equipment for a job.

 

Sol tries to keep cool as he asks for details about the smith's job request. Orgus describes the smith as a man famous even in Valinor, and that the request is an escort request to a certain place, a cave known as the Rycants' holy land of fire. The place is supposed to have a forge specialized for hard to use materials even among smiths apparently. The new armor Orgus got the other day can be fixed up there. Sol asks about this hard to use material, and Bacchus answers that it's White Stone. Also, the cave you're all heading to is known as Brigid's Brazier. On that note, the episode part ends.