Flashback opens up at Procy's bar at the end of the day as some random heroes start talking about their work. One guy talks about how tough their battles were today, and his friend points out that it's been like that for a while what with the monsters being numerous and big. Would be nice if there were less Kaibutsu attacking, thanks. But then they talk about how amazing it is that Justice helped them overcome the numbers disadvantage that they started with.
Procy joins the conversation and says that the heroes' win today came from the results of Justice and Faith's teamwork, then suggests raising a toast to them. Huckle tries to talk them out of it as he describes himself as powerless man who just jumps around everywhere, then says it's Ryekie who made the most effort and thanks him. Ryekie denies this and credits the results to Huckle being there with him as he thanks him back. Ryekie then turns to everyone present and leads a toast for everyone's efforts in bringing victory to them all.
Ryekie then takes over narration of the flashback, saying he swore to continue being the hero who represents justice. This is both a vow to the friends who have died in battle up to that point and his pride in continuing to be himself. He notes that his dream has changed a little since the time he first started being a hero, but there are parts that haven't changed of course. Ryekie talks about loving the work of the people who live in this world, which is why he wants to protect it. He also wants to drink some good booze with his comrades in arms with a sense of pride in his chest at protecting that world. After all, the thing he loves most is being able to spend time together with his friends and talking with them in peace.
Title card pops up, and this episode is titled Heroes and Dilemmas.
Back to the present, it is now night time as the party is fighting in a banquet hall in the resort inn. Akashi says there's only one Kaibutsu left to go and calls to Nessen, so Nessen moves in to strike it down. Once it's destroyed, the people that were eaten start reappearing, lying on the floor. You declare the battle here is over and thank the party for their work. Ryekie also compliments everyone's efforts and says that the view count is starting to climb, so you guys should keep this pace going. Akashi nods at this and is a little surprised that people are still keeping watch even with the broadcast range kept down.
Mokdai wonders if it's the hotel guests who are watching you guys on video since they probably don't have anything else to do. He's also been keeping watch on social media, saying he's glad it looks like the panic has been kept to a minimum. Nessen starts apologizing to everyone for getting involved to begin with, and he wonders what to say to the other heroes fighting that aren't with you here. There's a clear look of guilt on his face.
Akashi quickly tries to reason with Nessen saying that the rest of them butted in to this situation of their own accord. Mokdai agrees and says it should be them to apologize to Nessen if anything as he asks Nessen to stop bowing and scraping. Nessen is looks unconvinced, so Subaru bluntly says Nessen should just say he doesn't want your help if that's how he feels.
Mokdai protests to Subaru for putting it like that, but Subaru suggests it's best to be clear if you have something to say. It's not like anyone would be happy with insincere thanks. Mokdai uncomfortably says he has a point, and Nessen quickly denies the suggestion that he's not thankful for your help. He does look away and start trailing off though. Eventually he starts explaining that at the time he made this resort, he promised to Take On All Responsibilities. In his view everyone is helping him, so he has to uphold his promise. He started this resort out of ego and self-righteousness, so he doesn't want to shift any of the burden onto someone else.
Nessen starts thinking of all the people who smiled and said they're counting on him. He says that if there's anything that would threaten the town, he has to be the one to deal with it. Subaru acknowledges that Nessen isn't looking down because he was against you guys helping him, and Mokdai notes how strong Nessen's sense of responsibility is. You start talking about how if Nessen keeps this up, he's going to wreck himself one day.
Nessen doesn't have a response to that, and Huckle says it's an uncomfortable truth, but he agrees with it. There are limits if you take on everything yourself, never mind getting into the workload of someone managing a resort with so many facilities attracting so many visitors. It's unrealistic to think Nessen can handle everything on his own. Ryekie adds that when fighting against a lot of Kaibutsu, it's important to have extra people around and to divide the roles. If as many heroes as possible work together and fight efficiently, they won't lose even when outnumbered. Ryekie then asks if there was ever anyone around to tell Nessen he was being too reckless trying to hold things up on his own.
Nessen admits that he had staff who told him he was taking too much upon himself. He thought that was how it should be though, so he always told them that he was fine. Subaru points out that if whoever is on top says they're okay, no one else can say anything about it. If anything that would cause even more concern. Akashi points out that Nessen isn't literally running everything that goes on in the inn and asks whether he worked with other people to make the resort a reality. Huckle agrees as he says a manager's job is supervision. The other employees are players of a sport, so if the manager runs around covering everything the players in the game have no place and the supervision would be lacking.
A bunch of staff members run in, apologizing for being late and saying they'll give aid to the guests. They thank Nessen for his work in the battle, then ask him to leave the guests to them as they suggest he head to the next area. Nessen is surprised by all this and tries to say he needs to lead them like before, but the workers say this is also their job as they ask Nessen to do what only he can do. They then spread out and try waking the customers, leading any who seem ill or whatnot to another room.
Nessen stands quietly, and Huckle points out that the workers feel the same way while saying that being responsible for everything is not the same thing as having to do everything. It's not like it's a crime to delegate work you can't do yourself to someone else he says as he winks at you. You either agree with Huckle, suggest he could probably do a little more, or wink back. B gets an extra bit where Huckle is taken aback a little and says he'll keep in mind the work load balance more. C has a different bit where Akashi is weirded out as he asks when you got to the point you could talk to Huckle with your eyes.
In any case, Nessen gives in, then mentions his surprise that his staff and guests could still teach him something. He thinks might have gotten stubborn from acting so formally all the time, but the words everyone's said to him and the efforts of the staff members are taking touch him. Nessen starts commenting to himself that he's still inexperienced and how embarrassing that is. When you ask Nessen what's up, Nessen waves it off as nothing you need to care about.
Nessen readjusts his facial expression and stance as he bows, thanking everyone for helping thus far and asking everyone to continue helping with resolving this incident. He also questions if it's even okay for him to make this request. You tell him it's fine since you're already involved. Huckle agrees as well and asks Nessen to let you guys help finish things together. Nessen smiles as he says yes and thanks everyone.
Ryekie cheers and says that if that's settled, you guys should go to the next area. Subaru agrees, saying the more time you guys spend dealing with this crisis means the less time he has to coop up in his room away from everyone else. Mokdai is taken aback at how much importance Subaru is putting on that, and Sui thinks aloud about the idea of leaving things for others to do that you can't do on your own. Akashi notices and asks her what's wrong, saying she's making a funny face. Sui says it's nothing and denies making a face, saying he's the one making any. He sputters at this and swears he'll punch her one day.
As the party starts leaving the party hall, Ryekie takes a moment to look around at the mess. There are signs there was an eventful party earlier, and now there's a bunch of exhausted guests there. Ryekie looks quietly depressed, and Huckle asks him what's wrong as he mentions they're heading to the next place. Ryekie quickly apologizes and says he's coming, then that he has to do what he can do now as best he can. Huckle expresses some concern for him and sighs, having guessed at what he's thinking after knowing him for so long.
Some time later, Mokdai is throwing his finishing attack at more Kaibutsu at an open air bath. Some flee in the face of this, which Akashi notes with some annoyance as he says there's no end to things. Akashi also brings up that he gets the feeling you guys where there before, then asks Sui to check the map. Sui asks for him to wait since she's not used to looking at the map even though she has it. After she brings it up, she realizes Akashi is right. She didn't notice before since you guys went sweeping around a whole bunch of places, but you guys were in this location two hours ago. Mokdai says he had a feeling after coming down the mountain, then asks if that means the monsters are reviving. You say there's no end to this and wonder what to do.
Nessen is surprised and mentions there's been no word from the mountain top inn that the Kaibutsu are reviving, though he admits it's possible they did since two hours ago. Ryekie tells you guys that the Heroic Educators who are checking the station area have said that they keep going back to the central area. It doesn't seem like any monsters are reappearing in the areas near the station after they clear them out though. Apparently only the ones heading for the central area are reappearing, and Ryekie wonders why that is.
Subaru asks to look at the map which surprises Sui, but she complies. Subaru takes a moment to trace something on the map with his fingers as he thinks, and he eventually says that there's a small difference in the places where the Kaibutsu have been reappearing and where they've ran away from. He says this isn't a coincidence, then wonders if the ones running away are slipping into the groups that reappear. He also thinks aloud about their movement patterns.
You talk to Subaru and ask what he's talking to himself about. Subaru suggests that the Kaibutsu are converging on one location and asks if you guys think so too. He fiddles with Sui's phone to focus on the walls of the baths, and Mokdai agrees that the areas where the monsters manage to escape and where they're reappearing overlap near perfectly. Akashi asks why that is and wonders if they aren't just slipping away in the confusion of things. Mokdai suggests that maybe something is drawing the monsters in the center of the areas. Sui asks what could draw in Kaibutsu, so Mokdai says he doesn't know and wasn't thinking that far ahead.
Ryekie says that if that theory is true, it could mean that you guys could wait at the area and ambush them. Huckle suggests the alternative idea of dealing with whatever is the root cause of this incident since the very idea of Kaibutsu appearing in this area is unusual. You ask what's actually at the center, so Sui asks for a moment as she tries to look that up. She takes her phone back from Subaru and starts drawing lines on the map, which all converge on a particular point.
Ryekie says it looks like you guys are right and asks what's at the central point. Nessen is surprised when he looks and says it's pointing at the Christmas tree that he had brought in for the holiday season. He ordered it from another planet and brought it in the other day, describing it as a giant tree similar to a fir tree, given to prevent it from spreading. Akashi thinks on that and says that it wouldn't be weird for it to be doing something in that case, but Mokdai says he's never heard of a tree that attracts monsters. He does note that may be because he literally never heard of one before.
Subaru points out that it might not be the tree itself causing this since it's possible that one of the decorations or something put into the tree's trunk or roots could be it. In which case, Subaru suggests that someone actually set all this up to happen. Huckle brings up that someone could have stuck some sort of bait on the tree and let the amount of visitors coming in be the trigger for this. But anyways it looks like you guys should check it out, and Huckle suggests doing so after calling the other parties. You guys head out after doing so, and it turns out Exio is around silently watching.
Time passes as you guys head to the tree, where there's already a lot of mini Kaibutsu swarming around. Akashi is taken aback at you guys being right and at how bad the situation looks. Mokdai points out that the monsters are grouping at the tree, and Sui says they're being creepy. The things are swarming like a bunch of insects over some food as they start fusing into the tree. You say this is bad, wonder what they're doing, or say you don't like that.
Nessen asks in shock if the monsters are eating the tree, but Huckle sees that they aren't and points at the trunk, where you can see them jumping into it. Ryekie is surprised by this as he asks if they're fusing with the tree, and Mokdai has a bad feeling as he tries to ask about what that would mean. A quick flashback happens of the same thing happening at the Raidark incident, which narration brings up as the fusion Kaibutsu event he remembers. Mokdai starts to say it'd be bad if they manage to turn into a giant fusion, but Subaru notes that you guys are too late to stop it from getting there. The tree starts letting off a strange light as it grows and absorbs the surrounding monsters. When the light finally fades, the tree itself has turned into a giant monster that roars. You ask in shock what it is, say you've never seen one like it before, and/or call it evil looking.
Nessen shakes his head a little to clear his head, then thinks for a moment. He suggests destroying the tree, though he does feel apologetic to the people who paid to have it here. But with the tree being the way it is now, there's no other way of dealing with it, so he asks for everyone's help in doing so. Akashi agrees, saying the monster can't be left alone to go crazy. Subaru isn't thrilled with how much effort this is looking to take, but he notes that you guys can't run either. Mokdai tries to psyche himself up for this, then asks you and Huckle to transform and operate for them.
Huckle nods, then turns to you and says he'll assist, so he'll be counting on you. You acknowledge him, say it's a group transformation, then wish everyone good luck. The heroes in the party transform one after another, and once Nessen is done, he stands in front of the tree monster and glares at its face. He talks about how he's the one who had the tree brought in, so it is a little selfish of him to be saying it has to go. However, he can't let the thing cause any more damage to the people who are visiting and to the people doing their best to help with the place. He tells the thing to get ready for him to destroy it, and the thing roars in response. The episode battle then begins as Ryekie gets frustrated, wishing he could help fight too. More story happens afterwards.
Things pick up mid battle with the Kaibutsu's branch arms making loud noises as it swings at you guys. Akashi manages to dodge the strike, then complains it should act like a tree and burn as he bats a fireball at it. He's shocked when this turns out to have little to no effect, and the tree retaliates. Subaru says he tried to dry the ground at the tree's roots, but since that didn't work either he suggests the tree isn't really a tree anymore. Mokdai says he's been trying to punch the thing, but he hasn't done any damage to it and asks what to do now.
Nessen yells for people to get away before they get burned as swings his paddle thing Parallel Weapon, covering it in heated water to make it look like a sword. Said water is at 260 degrees according to him as he moves to bring it down on the monster. His attack pierces through the tree's trunk and cuts it in half, and you express surprise at either the cutting or the temperature of the water.
Huckle comments that the water being way higher than boiling point must be some quirk of how Nessen's Parallel Weapon works. Akashi gets pumped up at the tree being cut in half since he figures the battle will be over soon, but Ryekie yells for everyone to get back. The tree reaches for the half that fell off and presses it back against itself, shocking Mokdai at how it regenerated itself by doing so. Subaru calls the regen speed ridiculous and says this will never end at this rate, but the monster's roar cuts him off.
The tree then starts turning the ornaments on it into energy balls that it starts throwing at people, and the things rain down quick enough that it's a bullet hell upon the party as Akashi and Mokdai scramble to dodge. You are shocked that it can do this and call it nasty. Akashi calls out to you to be careful since some shots are heading your way. By the time you track with your eyes the attacks directed at you, you yell that it's too late for you to get away. Ryekie shouts out to you as he runs in and does a diving tackle to save you, holding you in his arms like the first time he saved you.
Huckle is shocked by this turn of events as he calls out to you and Ryekie, and you are wrapped in Ryekie's beefy body as you two roll until you bump into a storefront in the area. Subaru is taken aback by Ryekie's actions and calls him a fool for acting since he wasn't even transformed. Mokdai calls out to you two and asks if you're okay. Akashi gets pissed as he starts running at the tree monster, leading Nessen to call after him since it's dangerous to run out like that. Mokdai attempts to stop him too before he notices the store you and Ryekie bumped into and remembers something about it.
You and Ryekie are splashed by some liquid drenching you guys. The store
you guys hit seems to be a drink bar of some kind since there's a smell
of juice and alcohol mixing in the air. Ryekie gets up and tries to
show he's okay as he laughs a little before asking if you're hurt. You
either express more concern for him or ask why he did that, and A gets
an extra line where Ryekie says he's fine and used to this sort of
thing.
Either way, Ryekie is surprised he could tank the attack without being transformed. He knows that he can't act as a hero as he is now, but when he saw that you were in danger he moved without thinking about it because he couldn't leave you in that situation. Ryekie then looks down at the injury he has as he presses down on it, his face twisting in pain. Blood is starting to seep out from it and into his shirt.
Ryekie talks about how if his wound was healed, he could have helped out with this battle. He laughs about his frustration with this situation, but you can clearly tell he's just doing this to hide the pain despite not knowing him for that long. You refer to him as either Ryekie or Justice as you express concern for him, and Ryekie changes the subject to talk about the juice on you guys smelling sweet and something else he trails off on. Huckle attempts to ask you guys if you're okay, though he stops midsentence when he notices the smell.
Narration points out that the smell of the juice on you is the same bittersweet fruity smell of the juice Mokdai had bought earlier. You start to ask if this is that fruit, and Mokdai exclaims that it is that store he bought the juice from earlier that you two rolled into. Subaru notes that Ryekie is starting to act strange and shiver. And as you look at Ryekie, his face is starting to turn red. Ryekie for his part starts slurring and hiccuping as he says he's feeling weird, and you hear loud purring coming from him.
Huckle is starting to get alarmed as he says just giving Ryekie kiwis is dangerous on its own, but it's going to be so much worse having so much juice mixed with alcohol dumped onto Ryekie's head. You try to talk to Ryekie and point out his face is red before you realize what's up with him. He starts roaring after a moment, and your phone pops up with a notification that a new path has been found for Ryekie. Its current strength is being measured, and on that note the episode ends.
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