Original subtitles

I see strange things from time to time. Ever since I was young.

Most other people can't see them at all.

They're most likely what people call yokai.

Hey! Mid-classes!

Nyanko-sensei!

Hello?

Ah, Natsume-sama!

What's the matter?

Oh.

Nyanko-sensei hasn't been back for a few days now.

I'm off to have some fun!

Hup-a-doodle-doo!

He was in a great mood when he left,

so while I'm not worried, I am wondering what he might be up to.

Now that you mention it, we haven't seen him.

But listen to this, Natsume-sama!

Rumor has it that a horned scoundrel all in black

has arrived from the east.

If they're up to no good, please do put a stop to it.

Farewell!

Huh? Hey, wait!

I'm nothing but a slightly squinty-eyed high-schooler!

I can't do what you're asking!

"Ishiokoshi"

A scoundrel, huh?

Wonder if that has anything to do with Sensei not coming home?

Eek!

A yokai?

But if it's a human...

It came from this direction.

A spiderweb!

That gave me a fright. Just some paper, eh?

Dammit!

Where'd that shrimp run off to?

Keep looking! Any luck over there?

If it wasn't a human who got attacked, I ought to stay out of it.

Yow!

I'm so sorry! Are you okay?

P-Please, do not speak! They will find us!

So this is who those yokai were looking for?

It seems they have left.

You appear to be a human child.

I am terribly sorry for getting you involved.

It's fine.

Why were you being followed?

Because I am an ishi-okoshi.

A rock-waker?

Oh, no! I was not to speak of it so freely!

Why am I always like this?

I see.

If I shouldn't ask, I'll just be on my way.

Please, wait!

As embarrassed as I am to ask,

might you have seen a map somewhere in the area?

A map?

It blew away in the wind as I was being pursued.

Without that map, I am...

I am done for...

No, I'm sorry--I haven't seen it.

About how big was this map of yours?

Oh, actually...

I did pick up this strange paper earlier.

That's it!

Thank you! Thank you so very much!

How on earth can I ever thank you?

--Thank you so much! --I'm good, really.

Oh, I know!

Once I have fulfilled my duty and received my reward,

I shall share it with you.

Your reward?

Oh!

Begging your pardon.

I am Mitsumi, the 89th follower of Gantetsu-sama.

Gantetsu-sama?

You know of the ninefold valley up ahead?

There is a period during which evil yokai traverse the valley,

desiring the powerful mystical energy there.

Gantetsu-sama is terribly strong,

and tears these evil yokai apart, bit by bit!

And yet...

Until that time comes, he waits at our shrine in quiet repose.

His sleep is so deep that he cannot wake from it himself.

So this "ishi-okoshi" you mentioned earlier...

Yes. The ishi-okoshi must wake Gantetsu-sama.

He chooses the ishi-okoshi from among his followers.

It is a role of much import and great honor!

I see. And your yokai pursuers wanted to stop you?

No, the opposite.

They were attempting to snatch my role away from me.

To take it away?

Yes.

To prevent evildoers from approaching the shrine where Gantetsu-sama sleeps,

it is in a place that's normally sealed away called the Hidden Marsh.

And this map right here--

This is the only guide to opening the path to that marsh!

It is a precious object entrusted only to the chosen ishi-okoshi!

However...

Gantetsu-sama is a tremendously generous individual,

and although he always selects his ishi-okoshi before going to sleep,

he awards with sak the one who wakes him--no matter who that may be.

What?

Whether by his ishi-okoshi or someone else,

he is simply overjoyed to have been awoken.

So there is no end of pursuers with eyes on that reward.

Terrible things befall every ishi-okoshi...

It must be rough having such a sloppy boss, too.

Yet he still chooses his ishi-okoshi with purpose.

And this time he has chosen me,

small unlovely failure that I am, to fulfill this role.

I wish to rise to the occasion.

I see. I hope it goes well for you.

Indeed.

Wanting to meet someone's expectations... hmm.

"Book of Friends"

West 30 at this thicket.

Left at the stone.

Oh! Worry not.

It is this.

West 30 at this thicket. Left at the stone.

Amazing! Is that a talking map?

Get going already, you damn slowpoke!

A trash-talking map!

This map is made with a tiny fragment of Gantetsu-sama himself.

Y-You don't say.

Not someone I'd much like to meet.

We're surrounded by a veritable haze of greed.

Huh?

Some ne'er-do-wells are approaching.

From beyond those bushes?

Something...

...is coming!

You there! The little squirt!

Oh, er... Nyanko-sensei?

Madara-sama! Did you find that ishi-okoshi?

The ishi-oko--ishi-okay?

Hey, now's our chance.

No, no.

Sheesh!

Could you be any more violent?

You didn't even bother to check who you were punching!

I said I was sorry.

But I was out here looking for you. You had me worried!

What are you doing here, anyway?

I'm looking for the ishi-okoshi. It's got nothing to do with you.

Don't tell me you're trying anything dirty--

like, say, poaching his job so you get the reward.

Oh! If it isn't Natsume!

Hinoe--and Mustache!

Joining the poaching scramble, are you? After that sweet, sweet sak, hmm?

You naughty boy!

There must be more to Natsume-dono than meets the eye.

Huh? No--

Now, now!

This is really a festival of sorts, Natsume-sama.

Gantetsu-sama protects the quarry, and many rely on him.

Let us show our appreciation by waking him!

That's the idea, anyway.

So you feel like you owe him a debt of gratitude?

Not that I expect some kid to understand,

but it's important to take part in festivals.

You just want that booze.

Obviously.

Just wait, will you, Sensei? I'll buy you a drink--

Well, there you have it!

--Later, Natsume! --Hey!

Find that ishi-okoshi, you mid-classes!

Hey, wait! Sensei!

Aw, man...

Now hang on, Natsume. Is this little one...

Yeah.

I'm sorry, Mitsumi.

Let's find that Hidden Marsh before they do

and get to the shrine first.

Thank you!

Hmm. This could be fun.

Very well. Natsume, I'm on your side.

Hinoe...

And I'll accompany you,

watching the back-and-forth of the masses from on high.

Um, Mustache...

All right! Move out, Team Littlebranch!

Crush that Team Bigboozer!

Yeah!

If Natsume's gotten involved in all this...

We can't let ourselves get distracted!

Bonito and plum.

--Tart. Yum! --Hey!

Yes, hello!

Yum, yum. Cow, cow.

This is serious business!

Aren't you the ones who told me some fine sak awaits

whoever wakes Gantetsu?

Why, I shoved Toko's food aside to come here!

Natsume-sama said he came looking for you. He was worried.

He really is a grade-A dummy.

I mean, it's me. What's there to worry about?

Say, wasn't Natsume-sama with some little tiny thing?

Hmm? Now that you mention it...

So?

Now which way do we go?

One moment, please!

Can't this go any faster?

That map! You must be the ishi-okoshi!

Hand it over! Where's the Hidden Marsh?

What's that? The ishi-okoshi?!

--Get him, gang! --That reward is ours! --Hand it over already!

Stop that!

Be still, my heart!

You look just like Reiko in profile when you put up your dukes!

A-Amazing. And with arms like withered branches, too.

You missed one.

If we don't hurry, they'll come back with friends in tow.

Right.

Well, Mitsumi?

J-Just a moment!

In all the kerfuffle, I'm afraid I've forgotten...

There he is! Over here!

Uh-oh!

Get a move on, you damn slowpokes!

Like that wasn't already the plan!

This might be tougher than I thought.

Listen up, you nobodies!

Come any closer and I'll curse every last one of you!

Give us the map!

Yeah, hand it over!

How positively captivating!

So strong... with that bean-sprout body of yours...

I'll curse all your roofs to leak right over your beds!

I wonder where Nyanko-sensei is right about now.

If we run into each other again,

he's sure to find out that Mitsumi is the ishi-okoshi.

I'm terribly sorry for dragging you into all this, Natsume-sama.

Not at all. It was my choice to get involved.

Being an ishi-okoshi is no walk in the park, huh.

Is it always like this?

I-It is.

It's been many years since an ishi-okoshi hasn't had their task

stolen out from under them.

Really?

To give someone such a difficult role... Out of affection, maybe?

Or maybe this Gantetsu-sama just enjoys all this hectic running around.

No.

You seem kind, so perhaps you are worried about me.

You appear to harbor some small distrust of Gantetsu-sama.

But he has chosen little old me from his myriad of followers.

Who's the next ishi-okoshi?

Did those small fry snatch the job away from this one, too?

What could she do? She was outnumbered.

They almost never do their jobs-- they're only ever humiliated.

You dullards. Will no one perform this duty?

Yes! I will!

I will come to awaken you.

What? Mitsumi will?

As if someone so small and ugly could get the job done.

I...

...ask no one who is not capable.

You shall fulfill your role splendidly.

Yes, sir.

Though it may be difficult to have been given a role I am unable to fulfill,

if you believe I can...

I must live up to that.

Isn't that right?

Yes, you must. I'm sorry.

You're strong, Mitsumi.

Gantetsu-sama must know that about you.

There are things I understand because we're together.

Why, hello...

Hmm?

Did you hear something?

Must be my imagination.

Hey, map, this is the place you were talking about.

Where do we go next?

Proceed to the southwest, then dive into a thicket beside a giant cypress.

That's where the marsh is hidden.

Start running, you laggards!

I'll rip you to shreds.

Hey! I heard that!

To the southwest!

A thicket by a huge cypress!

--The Hidden Marsh! --Hurry up!

Get that reward!

Sak! Sak!

Damn it! This is impossible!

I'll hold them back here--you go!

Thanks, Hinoe.

Let's run for it, Mitsumi!

A-All right!

Hey, look--it's him!

It's the ishi-okoshi!

After him!

A huge cypress!

Once we get through this thicket here...

I will... I will fulfill my duty!

I will, Gantetsu-sama!

I will!

Is this...

Yes! This is the Hidden Marsh!

The shrine...

That's where Gantetsu-sama is?

Yes.

It's a lot bigger than I'd imagined.

How are we going to get there?

It looks like we'll have to swim.

What? But... with all these weeds, we'll drown.

Please, take the map and keep it dry.

...fallen tree... a hole...

Did you say something?

There's somethin' weird in here with us!

Natsume-sama!

Look out!

How lucky to have come by a human child

before bathing in the valley's mystical energy!

You look delicious!

Natsume-sama!

Now's your chance! Run!

Mitsumi...

Stop... it's no use!

Ah, so this is the Hidden Marsh!

Hiding hidden marshy marsh!

--And that's where they're keeping the booze!

--Sensei!

I bet we can use that tree bark as a boat, Madara-sama!

Nyanko-sensei!

Hey, slowpoke.

You seem to be in a tight spot. What are you doing?

Thank you so much. Thank you so much!

Why do you have those?

Oh... right.

Their parents haven't returned-- they've been twittering for some days.

I was attempting to catch some insects for them

when I became stuck in that crevice, unable to move.

And to top it all off, I crushed their nest.

I am so embarrassed.

Ha! That's funny!

Hey, pokey! How long are you going to stay here?

You're not even fit to be Gantetsu-sama's follower!

Even so, my brothers, I ask that you leave me here.

I will remain here until I can repay Gantetsu-sama's kindness.

Were those Mitsumi's memories?

Mitsumi! Are you okay?

I am all right! And you?

I'm fine.

Thank goodness.

But... how long have I been out?

If that scoundrel has already made it to the ninefold valley...

Mitsumi.

Right now, let's focus on getting to the shrine.

Gantetsu-sama is waiting.

Right!

Looks like we fell a good distance.

How can we get up there?

Follow this underground passage straight to the east,

where it will dead-end at a stairway.

Climb that and you'll reach the shrine.

Now run, damn you!

Y-Yes, sir!

This underground passage...

A closer look reveals all kinds of things carved into the walls...

...a bunch of flowers blooming on what look like tree roots...

...things sparkling like a starry sky in the darkness...

Normally Sensei would be seeing all these things with me.

Oh! Natsume-sama, the stairway!

We're out!

Where are the others?

The shrine!

No one's here!

Hurry, Mitsumi!

Yes!

Open thou, open thou, O door of stone!

I am Number 89! Awaken, Gantetsu-sama!

Well done, slowpoke. You've fulfilled your role.

You shall have your reward, Follower Number 89.

Rats!

I waited to do the deed in front of all those nobodies dragging their behinds,

but they were so slow that I fell asleep!

Damn it! Where's that sak?

The ishi-okoshi did his job.

What?!

What a drag.

Some festival this turned out to be.

It's not a festival at all.

Hey, you know that black fellow with the horns?

What happened to him?

Good question.

I'm heading back.

This marsh is just a hop away.

Hang on a sec.

How about sneaking through the underground passage this time?

It was beautiful-- I think you'd enjoy it, too.

Natsume-sama!

Thank you so much!

Please, share in my sak reward!

Say what?! Sak! Sak!

Hey!

Madara-sama!

Natsume!

This is it! This is the place!

--Hear, hear! Here, here! --We did it, Natsume!

A big victory for Team Littlebranch!

A toast, to celebrate!

Moosic to my ears!

--How very auspicious indeed! --Moosic to my ears!

Come on, now!

Huh? Whoa!

Let's do it up big!

A feast, at least!

Hey!