The Afterschool Brave and Fantastic Party Episode 3 Part 3

Narration kicks things off with a flashback as it talks about how there was a shining era of heroes in the sky with Odin, Thor, and Freyr. In that age, the movements of the sun and moon were left to a certain pair of siblings that served them. The siblings are said to be hard workers who protected the order of the world.

 

However, the era had to come to an end, and the bright legends were to disappear past the twilight. The Twilight of the Gods had eventually arrived, and one by one Odin's soldiers were taken off the stage. The siblings met their fate, devoured by monsters, and the sibling in charge of the sun was named Sol.

 

Flashback shifts a bit forward to a point in time in our Sol's past, a time when tragedy struck. Just like his namesake, his life was also altered due to an attack by monsters on his hometown. He was the only survivor. Sol was later found by the one who would become his master, and so he grew up to be a monk for the Church. He was taught boxing and magic, and that monsters and the overlord are enemies to be struck down. He was also taught to give his life for the world and the hero who would be the only one capable of defeating said enemies.

 

The hero is the one spoken of in legends, the one who would save all that lives. Sol was taught to give his life for that sake, that this was his duty, so he devoted himself to his training. But deep down, Sol feels that this devotion isn't about anything lofty like piety. It was for his redemption, an escape from the guilt he feels. He should have stayed with everyone in his village and gotten eaten with the rest of them. He ran away alone and survived alone, and the weight of it stayed with him ever since.

 

Even today during his morning prayers, Sol hopes for forgiveness for his horrible, unsightly self. The bodies of his family and the voices of the monsters that ate them still haunt his dreams. When he heard that the hero arrived and set out on his journey, there was a thought in Sol's mind. "At last the time has come for my life to be offered and my sins may be absolved."

 

Back to the present things tune back after the battle with all the zombies down and their remains returned, none of them having risen up again. Sol prays for their undisturbed rest, and that they won't be reanimated again. Narration says that the party putting all the bodies back was Sol's idea, and he does so according to their customs before bending a knee to pray over each body.

 

Gullinbursti moves to help too, but doesn't get very far before he stops as something in him acts up. Gennou reminds him that he just had his heart replaced not too long ago so he shouldn't push himself. Orgus comes over to suggest the party handle all the burials and asks Gennou to fix their things in the meantime. Gennou laughs as he agrees, then tells Gullinbursti to come with him.

 

As the two walk off, Yuuji works to move the dead, eventually asking Bacchus if that's all of them. Bacchus says it is, then compliments you on a job well done and pats you on the head like a kid. He laughs and wonders to himself if this is how a father feels like. You can either ask him to stop, laugh and accept it, or wish the two of you really were family.

 

In C there's slightly more where Bacchus asks if you'll really become his kid. He may have lost his memories and wandered around alone, but he'd be happy if there was a special name for the bond you've made with him. Just think about it. In any case he laughs a bit more.

 

Some time later, Sol thanks the party for helping and going along with what he calls his selfishness. He says he just couldn't bring himself to just leave all the bodies lying around and he looks into the distance. You either say you think it was a good thing to do, call his name, or say Sol is kind. C has an extra line with Sol denying the idea and describing himself as a crude and selfish man.

 

In any case, Sol starts asking if you remember seeing that light that came from the Sage's Tower earlier. Yuuji says yes and asks what it was. Sol talks about how the light had reanimated the buried remains of deceased Rycants, then says that power only belongs to the overlord. He suggests that the overlord has finally appeared, and that the tower meant to oppose him has fallen into his hands.

 

Yuuji gets a little nervous, and Sol talks about how his sword is the only thing that can stand against him. He asks that when the time comes, that you use him as a shield to move forward. Yuuji protests against the idea, but Sol chokes out that he feels that he's not worth being held up in such high esteem.

 

Sol tells you about how his village was attacked by monsters and that he ran away. Yuuji is shocked by that, and Sol says he threw himself into his training to hide his cowardliness. He doesn't believe that his true self is kind or brave, and Yuuji can't bring himself to say anything.

 

Bacchus walks over, but as it happens to be night time Nekros takes over and takes an interest in what Sol is saying, asking if he's saying he's a fake. Sol doesn't immediately know what's going on since he was never looped in about Nekros, but Yuuji recognizes him when he makes the switch in front of you guys. Sol is surprised and asks for an explanation, and Orgus is somewhere around watching silently.

 

Time skips past Sol being filled in about Nekros's deal, and he has a hard time believing it so suddenly. Nekros however laughs and says it's not like it's different from being him. Sol is confused by this, so Nekros points out that Sol described himself as having a cowardly self and a self that behaves as a righteous monk. If there's a difference, he asks Sol to explain.

 

Sol argues that he doesn't have two real selves like Nekros does, and narration points out that Nekros and Bacchus give off different vibes. When it comes to himself, Sol says there's one real self and then there's pretending to be someone else. To him his real self would be his cowardly self.

 

Nekros sighs saying that Sol is being depressing, which Yuuji is surprised by. Nekros insists that the two of them are the same in that there's no way to prove which self is the real one to the outside world. He believes this goes for him and for Sol. As far as you, Sol, and the world are concerned, Nekros says that he doesn't have a way to decide whether he or Bacchus is the real one. Everything is decided by the outside world, and he asks if Sol is really saying to him there is only one true self.

 

Sol doesn't have an answer to that. Nekros goes on to say that in his view Sol making a distinction between his cowardliness and other persona is just him running from his feelings. There are two different selves in him, and either can be real. Nekros says his own wish would be for Sol to keep both of them close, even if only one of them is ever expressed. Sol comments on Nekros getting philosophical but apologizes for offending him. Nekros laughs it off saying he's so earnest.

 

Nekros still says he'll accept Their apologies. He talks about how when the world will force a Role on him, only then will his will be free. Even if his ultimate fate stays the same, maybe he'll find new meaning in it. He believes it's a wonderful thing, and he hopes that the same will go for Sol. Whatever role the world gives him, only he can decide what it means. Sol doesn't have any response to that.

 

Yuuji speaks up at this point to talk to Sol. He admits to not getting much of the conversation, but he says he's not here with Sol because he's some perfect monk. He describes Sol as amazing, but also clumsy and sometimes self-absorbed. All things considered, you either call him a friend or say you like everything about him. Sol is touched and thanks you, and he's about to say something more when something catches his attention.

 

Light like the netherworld's moon starts shining on the desert again, and Yuuji quickly notices the Sage's Tower reappearing. Inside the tower, Horus is having a terrible time dealing with the voice he hears in his head that won't stop. The voice he hears is a voice he has a hard time going against, and his artifact on his back weighs heavily on him. That weight is the weight of the wishes his parents put upon him. Their wishes, their expectations, and the regrets of the dreams they couldn't fulfill themselves...with his father (at least) dead, the voice commands him to take up the head of house position as ruler of the world in his stead.

 

Horus asks if it's because of his eye being given back that he's in this state. Narration talks about how back in Aaru Horus's Eye of the Moon was meant to be offered to his father, who became the king of the underworld. His dead father's eyes looked back at him, telling him in his death there will be recompense. As the one to represent the world's will, Horus is to continue meeting the expectations of his parents and his friends from there.

 

Horus yells begging for the expectations to stop, and within he feels like he's splitting between the part of himself that is the 'good boy' that wants to meet those expectations and the part of himself that doesn't. His vision flickers, but he's not sure if it's actually doing so. He staggers on his feet, nauseous. Horus yells more, saying that he isn't his father. Narration talks about how the Pillar of Djed that is his artifact has his father's coffin sealed in it. It has the power to release the memories of the underworld to revive and control the dead.

 

Horus insists that he won't borrow anyone else's power as he tries to silence the voice. However he got this far by meeting the expectations of others because that was the role he had. In the end Horus obeyed, and he goes to open the coffin. Doing so overwhelms him, and just before he passes out he sees a memory of that day in the desert he spent with his uncle.

 

Back outside, zombies and mummies arise en masse to cover the desert. Some Rycants call out to the others as he talks about not knowing what the hell is happening with the tower. Even so, they need to keep all the undead away from their homes, so now they must take a stand to repel the monsters. Despite the numbers, he assures the rest that they have no need to fear...because the legendary warrior Managarm has come back to be their strongest ally! Managarm for his part insists that what he wants is to go back to Tokyo already and can't comprehend why he's in this mess.

 

Scene shifts back to your side as the party makes their way back to the village. Orgus and Sol had split up in the interim and have now come back, and Orgus reports that the Rycants are out intercepting the undead mobs. He says it's too hasty a plan since your sword is the only thing able to stop them. You guys have to hurry, so he asks if you're all ready to go.

 

Sol pulls something out, which Yuuji asks about. He explains that it's something that the village chief entrusted him with, a protector that is a treasure handed down by their people and holding the faith of their founder. Narration says it was given as thanks for the respect he showed for the ancestral remains at their sacred ground. Sol has also been entrusted with the futures of the younger Rycants who have leapt up to defend their homes.

 

Yuuji seems sad as he sees it, and Sol asks him to not make that face. He says he's okay being in a situation that mirrors his own past, what with monsters attacking a village. Sol puts his hand on his chest as he starts thinking. It's true that a part of himself stay that same scared child from back at that tragedy. He believed his monk self was a sham, nothing more than a mask to hide himself. But what if that weren't true? What if both sides are him? How is it that he can stand here and not run away?

 

Even if his old self couldn't take a stand here, he could join hands with his current self and push himself. Sol calls to the rest of the party and suggests going now. He puts on the legendary armor, then runs ahead leading the party as quick as a gale as the episode ends.