Hell's Hot Paradise Episode 1 Part 1

Flashback
Amaterasu: Okay that's all. You guys have to serve my envoy Takemikazuchi and the others. Resistance is futile. Sign away your lands to us for the Transfer of the Lands, yes...?

A disinterested voice speaks, modestly but resolutely. The strong child he was so proud of has already yielded, and his other would fall shortly after. Still, the land he owned meant so much to him. He grieved his loss of territory, asking where he was supposed to go. But she need not answer, for he knew he was to go where the sun could not reach. The land of the dead known as Kakuriyo, Yoru no Osukuni, and other names. But no matter the name, they all refer to a place ranked below the surface world. Here the ruler of the heavens Amaterasu establishes herself as above the former ruler of the earth Okuninushi. So long as he retains that name he has no chance of winning, and the lands have no merit in resisting.
Amaterasu: Thank you for not resisting. I...fear conflict. Do not worry we will have your lands peacefully under control after you leave. The heavenly deities will make your land a paradise.

Thus did Okuninushi lose everything to Takamagahara's World Representative. His role as master of the surface realm was gone, so he fell to the realm of the dead. He becomes king of the dead soon after. This is the legend of the Transfer of the Lands passed down in Takamagahara. These are the memories stained by disgrace and humiliation of Okuninushi. He soon thinks that if he could have his revenge for this, he would give up anything for it, even if that includes his own self.

 

Title card pops up, and this episode is called Daikoku's Battle.

 

Daikoku then wakes up in Hell, wondering how he got there and saying the last thing he remembers was doing paperwork in his office. He sees he clearly isn't there anymore, and that he's now in a place he recognizes from the past and knew so well he hated it. Daikoku refers to the place as Ne no Katasukuni, the netherworld and deepest part of the earth. He thinks on this, then notices there are people next to him.

 

Kamui notes that Daikoku has woken up and that he's said some interesting things to himself. Daikoku asks who he is, feeling he's seen him somewhere before. Kamui gives his name, at which point Daikoku remembers it from the rankers of the Ikebukuro Berserkers rankings. Daikoku then politely gives his own name, which he notably has a slight pause before saying, then says he's the headmaster of the police academy.

 

Daikoku notices that there's a bunch of other people lying around unconscious, then asks Kamui if he was watching over them all while he was out cold. He looks over and recognizes a bodyguard from the Roppongi Casino, the little boy who came to do an interview the other day, an Agent he recognizes, then sees you sleeptalking about Awakage-sama. He looks sad when he sees you, and he quickly looks away as if to put something out of his mind.

 

Kamui changes the subject back to how Daikoku seemed to know where you guys are, asking if he'll enlighten him about that. Daikoku is quiet for a moment before agreeing, thinking that while he's always looking for compensation for doing anything, telling him that much would be fine. He goes on to say that in simple terms, they are currently in the world of the dead. People call it things like Tokoyo, Kakuriyo, Ne no Kuni, or Hell, but it's all the same World Ranked Lower where sins and impurity go to. Kamui reacts in shock even having guessed as much as he calls the place Pokuna Moshir, which is a place he heard about in rumors.

 

Daikoku asks Kamui if he's going to stick around waiting around some more for everyone else. If he is, then Daikoku says he'll excuse himself since he'd like to leave as soon as possible. Kamui however stops him to ask if that means Daikoku knows how to get out, but Daikoku doesn't even bother to consider whether to answer to choose keeping silent on that. Everyone else only exists to be used, and opening up and revealing everything is preposterous.

 

Daikoku plays evasive by saying he's not denying the possibility, assuming the place lines up with how his memories say it is. He does say he can see from a quick glance that there are differences from what he knows, and while it could just be changes from time, he doesn't believe that is the reason why. He thinks to himself that in the worst case, the entrance Yomotsu-Hirasaka doesn't likely exist there. And while he runs the possibility in his head, faint transparent ghosts start showing up.

Kamui is surprised by the ghosts and asks about them, though he can already tell they're hostile. Daikoku explains that when a bunch of newcomers drop in to the world, the older dead ones come by to hunt them. Those who lose their original roles are considered as lessers and thus fall to the depths of the earth. The longer they stay, the weaker and thinner their existence becomes, assuming they aren't recognized by others. If they don't make a bond with someone else, they'll eventually vanish. So to keep that from happening, the ghosts take others into themselves, which Daikoku compares to taking sacrifices.

Kamui moves to protect the rest of the party and stands in front of everyone. Daikoku seemed like he was still willing to just ditch everyone, but the sheer offensiveness of the ghosts looking to attack him too changes his mind to stay and fight. Daikoku attempts to cast his NP, only to be surprised when his hammer does nothing. Kamui tries activating his own artifact too, but he doesn't have any better luck. Daikoku assesses the situation again, and he initially has an idea for what's happening. He soon dismisses it since it wouldn't explain Kamui's artifact not working, so his next thought is that something is sealing the power of roles and authorities that fill artifacts.

With no other options, Daikoku and Kamui face the ghosts with their baseline abilities. Daikoku thinks to himself about needing to find an opening to pull out, aghast at the idea that his old servants might do him in. He keeps an eye out while fighting, and in doing so catches another glimpse of you unconscious. Old dark memories he pushed away come back up to his irritation.

A flashback pops up of Daikoku questioning whether he really is fit to be called Okuninushi. Narration describes it as someone else's voice, someone honest and docile who has never known pretense or frustration. Okuninushi expresses doubts whether someone like him can actually build a great country like the name 'master of the land' would be appropriate for. But if the someone he's talking to is expecting him to do it, then he'll do his best to live up to that name and make that land.

Eventually, sharp arguments broke out, and it became impossible to go on. If he were to live on, he would have to force his brothers trying to kill him to obey him with his own strength. As a result of the trial his ancestors imposed upon him, he became stronger. His determination renewed, Okuninushi was then given three presents from his ancestors. They were the holy sword, the holy bow and arrows that could fight against the impure nature of Ne no Kuni, and a koto. Okuninushi was taken aback and asks if his ancestors were sure about giving him those artifacts. Those artifacts were proof of his martial skill, and they were also supposed to have an important power for his ancestors who controlled the world of the dead. Him being given them would mean him inheriting their will. Onamuji (Okuninushi's previous name) bowed deeply, then strode out back into the world of light. It was the fateful day the Transfer of the Land began.

Back to the present, Daikoku sighs unconsciously. He talks to himself that if he has to remember his old memories, then he'll just deal with it. Daikoku then calls over to Kamui, suggesting that he disengage first and take the other four of you away from this place while he holds the line. Even without his powers, he wouldn't lose to the ghosts. Kamui protests against leaving Daikoku to fight them all by himself, but Daikoku says he's saying Kamui being powerless around is also holding him back. He himself does have the most suitable power to use against the ghosts, but it isn't something he wants to reveal to everyone. He also prods Kamui to go by subtly threatening to affect you guys with what he'd do if he stays.

Kamui does pick up on something from what Daikoku says, so he complies and starts picking everyone up. He apologizes and promises to pay Daikoku back, asking that he pull through safely. He carries the party away, and the ghosts attempt to go for him. Daikoku however kicks them aside and draws their attention to himself, and he starts the episode battle asking they not take it personally because they stepped on his Shadow. More happens after that.

After the battle, the story tunes in midway through the fight. So obviously Daikoku isn't fighting them off with his actual power. He's using the vestiges of when he was Something Else, and it seems it's because he pushed the past he can barely stand into his Shadow that he can use it as pure force. It is the knowledge of martial arts his ancestors drilled into him, more than enough to make the spirits go away. Daikoku sighs about it being the mallet handle he once picked up, and he wishes he could keep his hands clean if he could. But he decides it's good enough to not embarrass himself here and leave it at that. By now Kamui should have managed to get away safely with everyone else, and when Daikoku looks he's far enough away that Daikoku can't see him anymore. On that note, the episode half ends.