Chapter 11 Episode 9: Queen of the Nightless City 3

Narration starts off by waxing philosophical about the moon. The moon cannot shine on its own, and it can only shine at night. The moon is something that reflects the light of something else after all. Tanetomo then picks up on narrating again and says this is about that time he was pursuing his enemy back in Wa no Kuni. They were the one that killed his father and destroyed his family fortune, and they were the one that Tanetomo approached under the guise of a lady dengaku performer to gain their favor.

 

Tanetomo says that around this time, Yasuyori was invited to their enemy's residence as an invincible warrior and happened to be around. He was prompted to give him a warm welcome yet he didn't, and shunned for his inflexibility, he was meant to be disposed of. Tanetomo then says he had thoughts that he could have just lied or pretended to obey. But he was amazed that Yasuyori wouldn't lie, so he always watched him. And then that night, Tanetomo snuck into his room. He thought, couldn't he make Yasuyori a pawn for his revenge? Could he at least use him as a shield if things worked out?

 

Just as Tanetomo thought, assassins had come to try to dispose of Yasuyori. As easy as it looked to have him eating out of his hands, Tanetomo had thoughts that it didn't seem worth it to take risks for someone he'd just met. But still, Tanetomo threw one of his hairpins at the assassins to stop them. When Yasuyori woke up in surprise, Tanetomo stood in front of him and said, 'I fell for you at first sight. I love you. I can't live without you. Please take me, who dirtied my hands for you, with you or otherwise, kill me.' Presenting himself as weak to someone is Tanetomo's special trick, but then Yasuyori looked straight at him and responded, 'I may die at any time, so I cannot return your love. Forgive me.'

 

Tanetomo sighs as he calls Yasuyori a fool. Could he really not tell he was lying from just that? How can he look so sincerely distressed over Tanetomo being hurt? Did he really need to tell him later on that he was lying? Tanetomo just stood silent and gave a lovely, bashful smile. He calls it a satisfactory performance, one he's proud of even now.

 

Things then pick back up at the present where Tanetomo is stabbing Ellie repeatedly to prevent her from giving any orders. You call out to Tanetomo and try to get him to stop since he shouldn't need to go that far. When Tanetomo eventually chooses to respond, he acts mildly surprised that you think you have any room to give him orders. He says he knows who you are though as he calls you the trophy that all the World Representatives are fighting over. He then points out that this ought to be your first time meeting Ellie, so it's not like you have any reason to care about her. How soft of you...just like a certain someone else.

 

Anyways, Tanetomo comments on how casually you used his name, then asks if that's how you tricked Yasuyori. He notes that he might not have any room to go all 'how dare you' on you though. He did the same thing too. You remain silent then/or say his name again. Tanetomo then asks if Yasuyori asked you anything about him.

 

Flashback kicks in to some point in the past, which narration says is right after the military academy prison was destroyed and Yasuyori had returned to Yoyogi. Yasuyori talks about how he's chosen to leave the prison school and come back here, and he asks you to be careful though things may be rough for the both of you in the near future. He offers to help you in anyway he can if you need him, so you can ask him whenever.

 

Yasuyori then makes a request of you. If you ever run into Tanetomo, he'd like you to pass on that he's worried about him and wants him to pick up his calls. He smiles as he talks a bit about Tanetomo, saying he's someone who likes to tease and trick others. He also brings up that Tanetomo proposed to him one time only to coldly say later on 'you didn't realize that I was joking?' Yasuyori is about to say more on the subject when he decides he shouldn't and coughs.

 

But anyways, Yasuyori insists that Tanetomo isn't a bad person. He's someone who'd chose to take on the dirty work no one else would want for the sake of his friends. He's also someone who'd bottle up the pain of lying to himself while smiling, and Yasuyori worries that he may have saddled Tanetomo with something when he left the guild. He's worried his inadequacy put more of a burden on Tanetomo. So if you see him, tell him Yasuyori is okay.

 

Back to the present, Tanetomo goes 'oh did he say all that?' as he comments that Yasuyori never changes. He then says he unfortunately doesn't have the time to worry about someone who wasn't any help that he cut off. He's busy, so if you could tell Yasuyori that if you see him that'd be great. At this point, Ellie's slaves carry out their previous order as they grab you and pin you in place, so you try to break free and tell them to let go. Tanetomo assures you he doesn't plan on attacking you, at least for now. He'd have to explain himself to the East and West otherwise if he did, and he'd rather not deal with the Representatives' wrath.

 

Tanetomo narrates again saying that as a wise person, he knows that everything and everyone is replaceable. That is how the world is set up, and if something becomes a hindrance even he would be cut away and abandoned. He only has the time to think about himself. Tanetomo then starts talking about the Wa no Kuni Rep and says he bows to him from the bottom of his heart. When he made that wise plan to cut off his own younger brother, it didn't frighten Tanetomo in the slightest. If he was still of use, then that was good enough for him. He alone will be enough, and he'll be fine without needing some sort of replacement for Yasuyori.

Back to the action, Tanetomo continues with stabbing Ellie repeatedly while you are getting held in place by the mobs. You yell at Tanetomo to stop and the mobs to let go as you throw your sword at the former. Tanetomo thinks it's so unsightly of you to throw your weapon away to try and save someone you should've only just met. It's a foolish idea he could never understand. What could compel you to go so far for someone like that? Tanetomo then takes out his fan and bats down your sword with it and spares only a second to do so. You yell in response, wondering if your effort was a waste.

 

A voice calls out, saying it wasn't as that one moment allowed them to get closer to Tanetomo. Tanetomo is surprised as Tetsuya and Suzuka swing at him. After he steps back, Suzuka asks Ellie if she can stand, then apologizes as she says they're stepping in. Ellie asks if she's been tricked again, which Suzuka confirms but says is how it usually is. Ellie laughs as she adds that she'll stand up again, just like she usually does. You note that the other Outlaws are here and are glad Ellie is okay, but then you cut yourself off when you notice other Warmonger mobs are here, likely because Ellie took her slaves off the attack. You are alarmed since you threw your sword and can't defend yourself, but as the mobs move to attack, Kengo swoops in with his NP to stop them.

 

Kengo throws your sword back to you and tells you not to drop it. You thank Kengo for saving you, complain that he's late, or just take up a sword stance. He apologizes for keeping you waiting as he was trying to find the right time to show up. He comments on how he came at an awful time to have turned up at the same time as the Outlaws, but he stops himself when he sees the other side getting ready. You worry about being surrounded and call out to Kengo, but Kengo repeats that he turned up at the same time the Outlaws did, and Marchosias, Gyoubu, and Totally Not Ibaraki reveal themselves.

 

Marchosias notes that the Warmongers have made a mess of the two and swears he won't let them riot there any longer as he throws out his NP. Tetsugyuu laughs as he asks if he can go wild now, then launches his next. Not Ibaraki laughs and says the passing mysterious oni lady is here to help with the battle y'all everybody! Ellie turns to you, noting that you tried to save her and asks your name. You either tell her your full name, be confused that she's standing after her stab wound, or be baffled her wound is gone now.

 

Tanetomo is surprised to see the stab is gone now that his sword is out of Ellie's body. He asks if this is how far vampire powers can reach, but he still has his doubts. He shanked her good, and a normal student should have folded under that sort of pain. Ellie asks what's so strange about her being able to stand before telling him she can do so because she's queen. She declares herself to be the lady who can stand and walk alone in the nights of Kabukicho as she tells him to remember that. Tanetomo however laughs and says that's not really an answer, then comments that this is why he hates stupid kids as the episode battle starts. More happens afterwards.

 

After the battle, Ellie starts narrating as she talks about some time where she walks around Kabukicho with the gorgeous full moon out and the bright neon signs lit. While she does do this, she notes that there's a lot of people who seem to dislike her for walking around so conspicuously. A bunch of people would attack her and try to drag her down some alleyway.

 

Despite all that, Ellie says she never thought any of that hurt. There were people who pitied her for being turned into a vampire, but she never thought that way herself. Plenty of people came up to her and offered to cure her vampirism, but Ellie insists she wasn't made this way; she chose to be like this.

 

And so day after day, she walked down the dead center of the roads. She walked underneath the moon because she wanted to do so, because she thought the money was beautiful. It isn't that she can't walk around in the daytime, but since that's what everyone else thought of her, that's what she did. The moon shines alone too, so what's so wrong about her doing the same? What, the moon is really just reflecting the sun's light? Pfft, fake news. But anyways, she didn't go astray from her path in life. This is her path in life because she decided so. And as she did so, she started getting famous. And she then found someone she thought it'd be okay to hang around with as images of the other known Outlaws flash through.

 

That said, she apologizes and says she still walks alone. She wanted to be someone who could walk on her own. She likes walking around Kabukicho at night on her own looking up at the moon, because this is the town she chose. This big road is the path she chose, and it wouldn't be so weird if she liked it. She doesn't remember when she first started being referred to as queen, but she responded by asking 'in a good way, right?'

 

Back to the present, Gyoubu calls out and asks if both sides will stop for moment. He mentions overhearing that something is happening in one of the Warmongers' camps, then points out that they're supposed to be focusing on the Southern group. Do they really have time to be dealing with a bunch of hooligans then? Tanetomo stays quiet at this, then pulls out his phone to check something. He then agrees that Gyoubu has a point and decides he should pull out there. You however call out to Tanetomo and ask him to wait as you tell Yasuyori is worried about him. You can also ask him to call Yasuyori, and if you go with C, he repeats that Yasuyori doesn't need to worry about him.

 

Tanetomo says he'll repay you guys next time, then bids you and the Outlaws goodbye for now. You call out his name again or stay silent. After he leaves, the camera pans over the Outlaws for a bit until Ellie decides to speak again. Kengo tells you to get behind him as he stands in front of you. Ellie says she's not the dine and dash type, so she asks to hear why you guys are in town. Suzuka stays quiet, and Tetsuya attempts to protest and tell Ellie who you guys are. Ellie however tells him to shut his mouth because the queen is making the decisions here. Tetsuya is surprised by this, and Suzuka looks about ready to scold him when Tetsuya says he understands and backs down. You explain to Ellie about Mahakala and the ultimate weapon being aimed at the town, so Ellie asks for further details.

 

Scene then shifts over to the Warmongers fort at Nerima as Bertro laughs and greets Duo (his spare), asking why he's there. Duo greets Bobby Boy as the heaven-sent child of Plan B battling, then asks if he can call him Bertro like Karen Curren told him. He's here because she asked him to go there. Bertro laughs and comments that Duo showing up makes it sound like he's broken or something.

 

Duo doesn't respond to that remark and changes the subject to ask if something's up with the moon if Bertro is staring at it like so. Bertro says he's been doing some calculations and thinking about how to make the competition speed up. He talks about how war moves humanity along like a clock hand, then quotes that destruction of the present is tied to the creation of new possibilities. Through this line of logic, he thinks what he should aim for is the ultimate destruction. He's been running simulations as to where he could find that, and after checking all sorts of patterns he's come up with one answer. He points up at the moon, and the episode ends with Bertro explaining that the answer is to drop the moon on Tokyo.