Hell's Hot Paradise Episode 1 Part 2

Things tune in at the point where you wake up, where you first process the party being present, then ask in shock where you guys are. The red land spews out steam and flames in scattered places throughout, and far away in the distance you can see the needle mountains of a Buddhist hell. Kamui is the first to talk to you when he notices you awake, then answers that you guys are apparently at the bottom of the earth. It takes him a moment to remember that people in Tokyo call that hell. It turns out he's been carrying you on his back, but now with you awake he gently puts you down. You either freak out at the idea that you guys have died, ask for a status update of what's happening, or just casually comment that Kamui is with you. C gets an extra bit of Kamui saying it's his joy to be with you through thick and thin and protect you from any absurdity. If you're going to Pokuna Moshir, he'll walk into hell with you. He's noted to be holding some sort of emotion back, at which point Mineaki speaks up to move things along.

Anyways, Mineaki says the current situation can't really be described as good as he prompts you to look around. When you look over at where he's pointing, you see a bunch of ghosts and wandering oni. Xolotl tells you that they've been chasing after the party like they want to eat you all, and Mineaki says that on its own wouldn't be that big of a deal. However, Mineaki asks you to try activating your artifact. When you do, nothing happens to your shock. Mineaki says it could either be some trait specific to the area or some other reason he hasn't figured out, but that's how it is for all of them. He was hoping it wouldn't apply to you, but that just went out the window.

You change the subject to everyone's yukata, saying Kamui looks good in Japanese clothes, say Xolotl looks cool, or say Mineaki has the charms of a mature adult. In A, Kamui is surprised and tells you he was wearing it already when he woke up, but he kinda likes that you said that to him. In B, Xolotl laughs a little and thanks you as he says he had it on already when he woke up. But since you complimented him about it, he's feeling a little more confident now. In C, Mineaki laughs it off and thanks you, saying it was already on when he woke up. It makes him feel a little uneasy since he's so used to wearing his lab coat.

In any case, Kamui explains that he was the first to wake up and mentions everyone was in a yukata already when he did. There's no sun hanging around in hell, but based on everyone's own bodily feelings you've been asleep for what seems like days. No one else was able to come up with any ideas on what to do during that time. As the situation sinks in for you all, a bright cheery voice perks up from behind Xolotl as Zhurong wakes up, wondering when he fell asleep. He talks about how he lent Furufumi an album the day before, then realizes everyone is here and recognizes everyone. He apologizes about the article not being done yet since he's still picking out pictures, but then asks where you guys are.

The party gives Zhurong an explanation as to what's happening, and he is shocked to hear that everyone is dead. Xolotl comments that seeing Zhurong react that way made him feel a bit better, saying it's natural to freak out like that. It doesn't really feel like any of them died while he was talking with everyone though. Zhurong picks his camera up with both his hands as he looks around, and despite not quite processing what's up just yet his curiosity is winning out over his fear.

Xolotl talks about how he cried in shock when he first woke up, and he comments that while Kamui and Mineaki are just like that, he feels that everyone is taking things too calmly. Mineaki whispers to Kamui asking that he not mention he was confused when he woke up and tries winking to him. Kamui doesn't understand the signal at all. Meanwhile, Zhurong excitedly mentions never seen anything like this in his homeworld or in Tokyo. He wonders how big the needle mountains actually are close up and if touching them would hurt. Zhurong starts taking pictures of things, and everyone smiles as they watch. Soon after, Kamui and Mineaki sense something and react as such. You either ask them what's wrong, or you tell everyone to hide because you also realize someone is coming. In A, Mineaki asks Kamui if he noticed too, and both of them prompt everyone to hide just before someone comes by. In B, Xolotl freaks out while Kamui compliments you for noticing the presence.

Either way, two people walk by as one of them says Lord Enma said what they were looking for there was around that area. The second responds back that by confirming as much and that there was a really strong reaction they picked up on. The first says that they'll be mad if the sensor broke, and you recognize the voices as you watch from the shadows. Hakumen and Tadatomo turn up in their warden outfits, and Hakumen complains about the heat as she notes that Tadatomo doesn't seem bothered by it despite wearing more than her. Tadatomo sneers that he has ice abilities and can laugh off the heat, but Hakumen waves it off saying she won't carry him back if he faints.

You react in shock at seeing Tadatomo and Hakumen, though you pick up on them acting strangely as you keep your voice down. Xolotl doesn't notice anything as he jumps out yelling and crying about his relief at seeing her okay...ish. Mineaki attempts to stop Xolotl, but by then Hakumen and Tadatomo have already noticed and look your way.

Hakumen notes that she's found you guys, then orders you guys to not resist because she wants to enjoy things. Tadatomo however argues that there's more fun in tormenting people who do resist, which Hakumen actually agrees with as she switches to telling you guys to get ready. They clearly look hostile to you all, and it seems as though they're different people. Mineaki admits to only knowing Tadatomo a little bit, but it's enough to know it's odd for him to be hostile to you. Kamui agrees that something is wrong and says they aren't kidding. You either express confusion, agree that something's off, or you try to make Tadatomo shake your hand with a dog command. C has an extra bit of Tadatomo being taken aback before threatening to kill you extra hard. It's noted that he's not acting like himself at all, and it doesn't seem like he's pretending to act how he's currently acting.

Xolotl attempts to get Hakumen to recognize him, assuming she's mad at him for failing to protect her. Hakumen however has no idea who he is and calls him a dirty mutt. Xolotl freaks out and begs for forgiveness, but you can see in her cold eyes that she's not lying. Zhurong turns to you and asks if things will be okay since he's a little scared. You tell him it'll be fine since you'll protect him and/or offer to hold his hand. Zhurong thanks you, calling you kind. Narration points out how surprisingly calm Zhurong was about finding out he's practically dead, but now he's showing some fear from Hakumen and Tadatomo's aggressiveness.

Tadatomo notes that you must be the one they were sent after since he can sense way more than ten souls within you. Hakumen finds that interesting and offers to make you her pet, but Tadatomo complains saying she's going to owe him if her carelessness leads to you slipping away from them. Hakumen fires back that he's wagging his tail hard enough to kick up dust, so she asks him to stop. Tadatomo is surprised by this and is unable to explain it away, so he opts for declaring that he'll be the one to catch you. Hakumen takes issue with him trying to get in her way even if they are on the same side and threatens to fight him too. Tadatomo says he'll gladly accept, then claim she got lost in the Children's Limbo. You suggest to the party that you guys sneak away from whatever is happening, or you play the soap opera drama queen and ask that they don't fight over you. C gets an extra line of Mineaki telling you to stop being stupid and run while they're arguing.

As the party runs away, a voice calls out to you all from a nearby cave telling you all to get in quietly. The party complies instantly and hide inside, and it turns out that Sarutahiko is the one who called to you all. Zhurong is surprised to see him there, and you are briefly surprised about this but put the question aside to get in. Sarutahiko shushes Zhurong as he says you guys need to get away, so everyone goes deeper into the cave as the arguing voices die out.

Camera sticks with Hakumen and Tadatomo where Hakumen complains Tadatomo being rash all the time is why she got stuck with him. Tadatomo argues he never asked for her help in dealing with things, yelling that she should waste her time trimming her tails when they get back. Hakumen calls this an offensive low blow and turns to the party for agreement about Tadatomo being awful. Tadatomo in turn looks to the party to back him up, but both notice the party has ran out on them by then, leading them to freak out about Enma getting mad at them.

Scene shifts back to the party's side where Zhurong thanks Sarutahiko for saving you guys and noting he's turned up down there too. Sarutahiko plays it casual saying he sometimes goes over there to do laundry when he heard some familiar voices. He points over to a riverside area where there are towers of stacked rocks scattered around. Plenty of ghosts and oni are around, some of which you recognize.

Suzuka and Takemaru turn up, which you take note of before picking up that something is off with them and getting a bad feeling about it. Suzuka gets touchy about being stared at as she asks if you want to cross the river. If you do, she demands that you build a stone tower stack too as she points at the rocks on the ground. Suzuka also whispers to Takemaru to look threatening. He's caught flatfooted, so the best he can come up with his growling like a dog, causing her to yell at him for it. He apologizes and notes he's not cut out for this work. You either say you aren't interested in getting across the river, say their outfits are cute, or yell that something is wrong with them. B gets an extra bit with Suzuka getting embarrassed as she accuses you of trying to confuse her. She tries getting Takemaru to agree, only to get pissy when she sees him blushing. Takemaru calls you cute as he mumbles, and things go on as normal when the party tries to slip away.

Suzuka snaps at the party saying she won't just let you guys leave, demanding that you stack a tower twice as high as normal if you want to leave. You sigh about it coming to that, yell for everyone to run, then ask where to even go. Sarutahiko says punks always get mad like that, then tells you guys to stick with him while he leads. There's a relatively safe place elsewhere, so he tells you to not fall behind until getting there. Suzuka attempts to stop you, but everyone quickly flees. The running goes on for a while that no one can keep track of, but the pursuit eventually trails away. Eventually the party turns up at a hot spring resort town with Sarutahiko saying you guys made it as he catches his breath. You ask about the place and/or be taken aback at there being a hot spring resort town in hell. The episode ends with Sarutahiko welcoming you all to Paradise Hot Springs Town while the party looks surprised.