Hell's Hot Paradise Episode 3 Part 1

We pick up where things left off last time as Daikoku asks if you aren't going to get in the water with him, saying it's nice. You either ask him what he's been doing all this time since you've been worried about him, ask him about what he knows, or accuse him of being up to something. C gets an extra line of him laughing about how little trust you have in him but wondering if that actually is trust in another point of view.

But to answer any questions, Daikoku says he should do things in order starting with what's up with the world. He's told Kamui already, but he informs you that this is a place people generally call a world of the dead. More precisely, it'd be Ne no Kuni, a place he used to set up base in which he doesn't really like. You ask for elaboration since you've never heard of the place, or you do recognize the name and ask if he's talking about Ne no Katasukuni. C gets an extra line of Daikoku being surprised as he starts commenting that it wouldn't be odd for you to know, but he backtracks and compliments you for being so studious.

Either way, Daikoku says the place is accurately called Ne no Katasukuni, which he describes as a dumping ground of sin and impurity. There's also a story where a certain someone from somewhere in days past referred to the place as Haha no Kuni. But never mind that, he's found proof that this place highly resembles the place he knows. That's what he's been doing this whole time. You ask if Daikoku is denying being responsible for what's happening given how he phrased that, so Daikoku confirms and asks why anyone would willingly come here. He describes the place further as a prison isolated from the surface world and would never see sunlight. His voice rises as it becomes apparent he has opinions of this world most other people don't.

Daikoku moves the subject along to why he actually started talking to you. He asks if you'd help him if he said there was a way to escape the world alive and go back to Tokyo. You either readily agree or hesitate and say it'd depend on what you'd have to do. Daikoku assures you it isn't anything difficult, then says a certain Bow and Arrow should be somewhere in hell. He says it has a strong life force in it, strong enough to revive the dead. It should help if you guys find it, and Daikoku asks if you alone will go with him to search for the thing.

You bring up the idea that it'd be better for the whole party to go search for the bow and arrow and can optionally say you'd like to go with just him. Daikoku suggests against the idea given that nobody can use their powers right now. Moving too openly and in large groups is too dangerous, and he says it'd be better to cut down the number of people going around to the minimum amount necessary. It's why he secretly came to talk to you, and he asks if you understand his position.

You ask Daikoku why he wants only you to help and/or ask if it's fine that you can't use your power either. Daikoku says it's a simple story after a moment and explains that he needs someone with a connection to the bow and arrow. If a connection has ever been made, the power and hierarchy it has can cross even worlds. You have that connection as the person meant to possess that bow and arrow.

You ask Daikoku if this has anything to do with Susanoo, the guy people have often said you resemble. Daikoku is quiet for a second before deciding to go the no comment route on answering that question. You then ask about whether Daikoku himself has a connection to the bow and arrow, so he admits after a pause that he Does Not, at least Not As Daikoku. It's why he needs you and is putting his shame aside for a second to ask for your help. Also, if he and Mineaki meet each other it's going to be a fight. You awkwardly laugh at that and/or say it should be okay now, maybe.

Daikoku asks if you have any other questions, so you ask what the point in getting the bow and arrow would be if powers are unusable at the moment. Daikoku thinks on that and says that he still hasn't confirmed why no one can use their powers. He has ideas, sure, but he admits that it's highly possible that the power of the bow and arrow will be unusable too. He suggests you guys may as well go get the thing first and leave checking its usability a bridge to cross when you get to that point. If you happen to find any clues towards solving that problem, he asks that you let him know. And if you do agree to work with him, he tells you he'll be waiting outside town before excusing himself.

Title card pops up, and this episode is called A Ray of Bright Light

Time moves on to the point where you return to your room, where Zhurong and the others are having that pillow fight Zhurong got permission for. Kamui is pretending to be an overlord and laughs evilly and Xolotl is his minion, who seems kinda intimidated by his act. Sarutahiko and Zhurong are on the other side playing at being sentai rangers as they fling pillows, and you either think to yourself that you have to tell the party because it's important even though Daikoku wanted it to be a secret, or you think to yourself that you should keep quiet because Daikoku said so. In A and B, you stop the pillow fighters and call Mineaki together to talk about what you heard. They're confused at first, but then look serious when you explain things. In C, Kamui stops as he notices you looking like you're keeping something to yourself. Sarutahiko and Zhurong continue playing as they demand you to spill the beans, jumping at you to tickle the information out of you.

Either way time skips over as you explain the party what's up offscreen. Sarutahiko gets what's happening but asks if it's okay to believe it since Mineaki suspects Daikoku of causing all this. Kamui is shocked to hear about this and says he can't imagine Daikoku being responsible. Everyone turns to look at Mineaki, who awkwardly laughs and says he did suspect him before, but now he's not sure. Sarutahiko jokes that Mineaki is losing his confidence, and Mineaki laughs a little about it being a sore spot.

Sarutahiko puts his serious face back on as the conversation continues where it left off, and he asks that the party not inform Onamuji about any of this since he's a resident of hell. He has his 'work' here and apparently he's terrible at fighting, so Sarutahiko would rather not get him involved if possible. He'd also like for Zhurong to stay behind if possible. Zhurong objects to being the only one left behind, so Sarutahiko shrugs in resignation and says Zhurong wasn't the type to sit quietly.

The party ends up deciding to agree as Sarutahiko says and not talk to Onamuji, but Zhurong will be coming along as everyone goes to see Daikoku. Sarutahiko then brings up that Daikoku is going to object when they all show up since he only wanted you to come. Mineaki rechecks with you about whether Daikoku said going as a group should be avoided due to dangers given that no one can use their powers, which is his justification for asking you to come alone. You confirm and ask where he's going with that, so Mineaki says he understands and suggests it might work out if you try talking to Daikoku. Sarutahiko is shocked at how little of a plan there is to address that, but he suggests going now to talk to Daikoku while Onamuji is still out.

Time skips to the party meeting with Daikoku, who is predictably unhappy as he asks why you went against his wishes. You apologize but say you think it'd be better for everyone to work together and ask him to believe in the you who believes in everyone else. Daikoku rejects this as an explanation and repeats he had asked for only you, and he sighs about having believed in you.

Daikoku turns to leave, but Mineaki calls out to ask him to stop and help you guys. Daikoku is amused at this change in attitude and taunts Mineaki about having no pride to bow to him like this. Mineaki says it doesn't matter now, saying that saving the children takes priority over keeping face. The rest of the party starts pleading with Daikoku as well, though only Xolotl's is shown as he says he heard Daikoku helped when they were unconscious. He asks to be allowed to help him now. Daikoku looks sad and says he didn't want to expose them to danger, but if people are insisting so much he'll just have to go along with it.

Zhurong cheers about Daikoku agreeing to help after all, and Daikoku laughs. You cheer about this and say it's just as Mineaki said, though you note that Daikoku folded rather quickly. Mineaki asks Daikoku in a low voice if he had planned for this, and Daikoku plays dumb. Mineaki says it's hard to believe Daikoku would think you'd actually leave everyone else behind, so if they were coming anyways it'd be easier to manipulate everyone by framing the situation as being the one to give in first.

Daikoku comments that Mineaki is talking like he knows, then brings up that his eye shouldn't be working right. Mineaki says that's true, so his ability to discern things has gotten rusty. Right now he's just basing all this on 'the Daikoku he'd known from a long time ago,' which he says is shoving the work to someone else in a sense. Daikoku sighs about how he can't say it's all a misunderstanding to him, but he comments to being merciful, especially to people who have no ability to fight...like the little kid among you.

Daikoku turns to look at Zhurong, then says he likes who proudly believe they have the strength to bring others to heel. He asks if you're really going to bring a child like Zhurong along, and you are surprised at the question but consider leaving him behind. Zhurong however insists that he can fight and is going to accompany the party. Daikoku tells him that hell is a lot more dangerous than he thinks it is, and since no one can use their powers and artifacts it's likely no one can protect him.

Zhurong is mad at Daikoku's statement at first, but then looks confused as he says he can use his own power. Everyone else is shocked by this, and Mineaki asks him to show them. Zhurong is taken aback and says it's nothing special, and he makes various colors shake to create a fireball in his hands. Daikoku is shocked speechless at this, and Mineaki remembers they never got around to telling Zhurong about the power sealing or whatever when he woke up. Whatever happened had happened while he was asleep, and the party never thought to have him try using his ability. Mineaki then asks Sarutahiko if he can use his artifact then.

Sarutahiko shakes his head as everyone turns to him, saying he tried it out when he was going to clean the hot springs at the inn. He also mentions that Onamuji doesn't seem to have any powers either, which Daikoku is noted to be quiet about. Sarutahiko says he talked to Onamuji about it, and Onamuji said 'he was always borrowing someone else's power.' He didn't have any power to fight on his own until he came to Ne no Kuni, saying he was never any roles that involved it. Sarutahiko guesses he won't fight at all, so he doesn't want to drag him into any. Daikoku suggests after a moment that using strength as a reason to keep Onamuji away from danger could be disgraceful. Sarutahiko is offended at Daikoku speaking like he knows and demands to know what he'd know of Onamuji. Daikoku is quiet before agreeing, smiling as he declines to say any more on the subject.

Mineaki changes the subject to ask Zhurong if he has any idea as to why only he can use his ability. Zhurong is taken aback and says he has no idea, bringing up that he didn't know until now that nobody else could use theirs. Daikoku says if they could figure out why Zhurong kept his ability, maybe you guys can figure out how to get yours back. Zhurong thinks on it, but all he can think of is how powers are borrowed.

Mineaki asks Zhurong to go on, so Zhurong says he got his power from someone else, except he can't remember who. It just wasn't originally his, so he figures it must have been someone else's. You nod and say you understand, noting that it's not the same as training and making it your own skill and noting it's been like that from the start now that you think about it. Zhurong is happy you get it, then says he's just using something he borrowed. He just can't explain why he can use it. Mineaki thinks aloud on this, feeling there's something on the statement 'using something borrowed' is bothering him. Daikoku looks sad as he keeps quiet.

Nobody is able to come up with any theories explaining why only Zhurong can use his power, and Xolotl is off to the side looking unhappy. He thinks to himself that the idea that using something despite it being borrowed is mistaken, as it's actually Something is Usable Because It's Borrowed. He has an idea about that already, though he's not sure it's the same thing as what Zhurong was talking about. But he does think it's the same reason he was able to use His Brother's Artifact since coming to hell. He feels that he has to bring it up, but he's afraid of how people would react to him admitting he had something that he didn't use earlier. If it comes to it, he might be forced to use it despite his fear of it. Kamui notices that Xolotl is looking pale and asks if something is wrong. Xolotl is surprised but claims he was just thinking about something and is okay. Xolotl thinks about his memories of his time just before coming to Tokyo, and the flashbacks keep him from saying anything. In the end he is unable to bring himself to speak.

Anyways, Kamui asks Daikoku for more specific information on what they should be doing. Sarutahiko agrees, saying you never gave them any details. But if the place is somewhere in hell he knows about, he offers to lead you guys there. Daikoku is taken aback at this and looks to you, asking about you not telling the party anything. He sighs about how they were willing to go along with this between not having access to their powers along with not knowing what the plan is. But on further thought he realizes you can't use your powers either.

Narration skims past Daikoku explaining to the party about what he knows of the world based on his own memories and about the bow and arrow that can revive the dead. Mineaki brings up that Daikoku isn't someone who overlooks details and figures he must have an idea where the bow and arrow is. Daikoku says he's about 50% sure, and it's only a guess as to where it's likely to be. He brings up that you guys must have seen a large, gorgeous building in the distance on your way over, saying it's Enma's office. Nothing like that was around in his memories though when he was here. He's been gathering information up to this point, and he's learned there's someone called Enma ruling the hell and staying somewhere. If the bow and arrow actually exists, he isn't likely to leave it alone since it goes against the rules of the world. Daikoku then suggests that Enma is responsible for everything in this incident.

The party worries about whether they'd win in a fight with what they have now, and they are sure it's going to be a harsh one. The ones willing to go for it look determined, and the party decides to go back to Onamuji's inn to discuss the course of action. The moment you all turn back towards town, Kamui senses someone around, blocks an attack, and demands they reveal themselves. Two people walk out from the shadows accompanied by oni and spirits.

You are shocked to see Harlot and Tetsugyuu as you get a bad feeling about how things are going to go. Harlot calls you guys the people who escape their lower ranking guards, then says she'll ask Enma to punish Hakumen and Tadatomo. Tetsugyuu says they'll weigh your sins, which he does by ordering the mobs to get you guys starting with Xolotl. They all rush him, who freaks out as he asks what they're doing and begs them to not take his clothes off. You either quickly pass Xolotl a towel, pretend not to see, or wrap Xolotl in a towel yourself. A gets an extra line of Xolotl thanking you and just about ready to cry asking why this is happening. C gets a different extra line where Xolotl thanks you and says he would've caught a cold at that rate.

The mobs hand over the clothes to Harlot, who proceeds to hang it off a nearby wilted tree branch. This causes the branch to get bigger. Harlot and Tetsugyuu make game show noises and declare Xolotl guilty, which the mobs follow up with hopping around and chanting guilty. You react in shock and ask what's going on, ask Harlot to explain who she's supposed to be, or dance along (I think).

Tetsugyuu explains that the branch changes according to the weight of a person's sins, so if it's that big you have that many sins on your hands. Harlot says that running away from hell's guards is a huge crime against hell itself. Xolotl moans that if the realm of Mictlan in his homeworld made the same argument to him, he wouldn't be able to argue against it. You argue that anyone would run away when suddenly attacked, say you'll protect Xolotl, or argue that he's innocent because he's cute. B gets an extra line of Xolotl being moved to tears by your declaration. C gets a different extra line of Xolotl asking that you not shout about that. In any case, Harlot says it's everyone else's turn and tells you guys to sit there so she can measure your sins as she starts the episode battle.