Original subtitles

The Second Law of Thermodynamics:

Heat can never pass from a colder to a warmer body

without causing other effects,

or it is impossible to convert heat from a single source into work

without causing other effects,

or entropy always increases in an irreversible heat reaction.

Escaping the burden of an entropy increase

and to create something from nothing...

The witch's power is truly convenient.

Enter.

Good morning, Your Highness.

Barov.

Did you do what I asked?

It's done, Your Highness.

The witch was hanged at noon.

The prisoner wore a hood,

so no one noticed anything unusual.

Okay, very good.

Next, prepare some data for me.

Yes. What do you need?

I need a report summarizing Border Town's trade,

taxes, and fixed expenditures for the past decade.

Also, let me think...

For the workshops in the town,

such as ironworks, textiles, and pottery,

compile statistics on their numbers and scale,

and give me a detailed report.

Include the population distribution and

occupations in Border Town.

Your Highness,

what do you need those for?

Don't worry. Just give them to me.

Understood.

Your Highness, are you finally taking the Royal Decree seriously?

Royal Decree?

COLDWIND RIDGE

Gerald commands the military stronghold of Coldwind Ridge.

VALENCIA

Timothy oversees the economic hub of Valencia.

PORT OF CLEARWATER

Garcia controls the trade port, Port of Clearwater.

SILVER CITY

Tilly operates the cultural center of Silver City.

BORDER TOWN

And I've been banished to this desolate Border Town.

Barov, under these circumstances,

what do you think my chances of winning are?

It's fine. You can be honest.

Yes, each of Their Highnesses' domains have their own strengths.

In comparison, it would be very difficult to achieve anything in Border Town.

Furthermore, considering Your Highness's past performance

and standing among the nobles in the capital,

it's hard to see any real advantage.

You're right.

That's why I need to find another way to impress Father.

Barov, let me ask you this:

who truly rules this kingdom?

Well, of course it is

the Royal House of Graycastle, the Wimbledons, Your Highness.

That's just an illusion.

The true rulers of this kingdom are not in Graycastle,

THE ROYAL CAPITAL, GRAYCASTLE

but here.

THE HOLY CITY, HERMES

The Holy City, Hermes.

If only those crowned by the Pope were considered legitimate kings,

then this secular regime is nothing more than a puppet of theocracy.

No matter how prosperously my siblings govern their domains,

they ultimately belong to the Church.

If I can create a kingdom that is not bound by the Church,

then the throne will surely be mine.

Barov, you've always been a loyal supporter of the Royal House.

You can't stand the Church's excessive interference in secular governance, right?

You're right,

but the Church's power is deeply entrenched,

and it has the people's support.

What can we do?

The people's support for the Church originates from its lies.

If we can prove the Church is lying,

they will no longer support it.

For example, witches aren't actually the embodiment of the Devil.

So that's why you saved that witch.

Barov, you've been the Assistant Minister of Finance for twenty years, right?

Yes.

If I win the Royal Decree, the "Assistant" in your title can be dropped.

Or possibly even further. For example,

"Hand of the King."

Barov,

do not question my decisions.

What did His Highness say?

What's wrong?

Barov!

Did you even try to talk some sense into him?

Are you even listening to me?

Something's off about this witch business.

It's not just this witch business.

There's something wrong with His Highness Roland himself.

Yeah, something's wrong.

This is serious.

If the news leaks and Hermes finds out,

we'll be in big trouble.

Hey, don't leave! Explain yourself!

Contract?

I don't understand.

It's an agreement.

Once you sign the last page,

you and His Highness will be in an equal employment relationship.

Equal... employment?

Yes. His Highness specifically emphasized this point: equal.

You do work.

His Highness pays you one gold royal per month.

That's... more than what my father earns in a year.

Is there a mistake?

Your pay was set by His Highness Roland himself.

There's no mistake.

Then... what does the prince...

want me to do?

Someone like me?

Miss Anna.

How are you? Did you sleep well last night?

Yes, very well.

That's great.

After everything you've gone through,

you should've rested longer, but we don't have much time.

I'll make it up to you later.

What's wrong?

I don't understand.

Your Highness, why did you do this?

What do you mean?

Why did you save me?

And that contract...

What do you want me to do?

It's a beautiful afternoon.

Let's take a walk.

Huh?

Your Highness.

Why did you save me?

I killed someone. I should be punished.

You mean saving your father's life from a bandit?

I think that's just self-defense.

You did what anyone would do.

But even if you forgive my actions,

I'm a witch,

the embodiment of the Devil.

The original sin cannot be erased.

Miss Anna, this flower is for you.

Thank you.

A citrus flower... It's beautiful.

Yes.

But did you know the citrus flower is highly poisonous?

Just kidding.

How could a citrus flower be poisonous?

Isn't that common knowledge?

Yet when I said it was poisonous,

you instinctively let go of it.

The citrus flower is still the same citrus flower.

Its essence hasn't changed.

What changed is our perception of it.

So you mean it's the same with witches?

That's right.

In my opinion, a witch's power is like this flower.

Both are products of nature.

They're neither inherently good nor evil.

All this talk of the Devil and impurity,

it's just people's opinions.

Since it's an opinion, it can be changed, right?

Your Highness, your thinking is too simplistic.

This power... is truly terrifying.

Mother!

The Church is right.

A witch's power is the Devil's power.

Witches are the embodiment of the Devil.

This power will kill everyone who comes near me.

You should execute me immediately.

If you're determined to die, no one can stop you.

Dying won't solve the problem, though.

It's just avoiding it.

Your father won't change his attitude toward witches.

And everything you've lost won't come back.

Or you can choose another path,

and create a new world with me where witches can live freely.

In that world, you won't have to live in fear.

You won't have to hide.

You won't have to hide your power or be ashamed of your identity.

Instead, you can choose the life you want,

and use your powers to benefit others.

In my opinion, that alone could change this suffering world.

Just like this citrus flower,

which symbolizes strength within hardship.

That can never be the Devil's power.

The contract I gave you

is a request for you to do this with me.

I want to go back to school,

to read aloud with everyone in the classroom,

and to sing in the fields.

In future, I want to become like Professor Karl,

to be with children every day,

teaching them to read and write.

Your Highness...

Will that day...

truly come?

It will.

As long as we work together.

I'm willing to give it a go.

What do I need to do?

First, you must learn to control your power.

From now on, this will be your training ground.

You must completely master this power,

and control the temperature, angle, and every other aspect.

But don't burn your clothes again.

Or anything else, for that matter.

Last night, I reviewed last year's industrial reports

and discovered that

the only significant industry in Border Town is mining.

Not only does this include building stone,

but also a substantial quantity of metal ores and gemstones.

Now look at this financial statement.

Last year's fiscal revenue was nearly zero.

Not only that, but trade records show only a few ore transactions

and some deals for iron goods,

all conducted with Willow Town.

This meager revenue barely covers municipal expenses.

Most of the mining output wasn't recorded at all.

There's also nothing on daily living expenses or taxes.

Based on this, it seems Border Town has no agricultural production.

If everyone is engaged in mining work,

how do they manage their daily food supply?

Your Highness, did you spend all night reviewing these reports?

With so many reports, you must be...

Yes, it took a while.

I knew far too little about my domain before.

I left everything to you,

while I indulged in revelry all by myself.

I'm sorry. Thanks for your hard work.

Your Highness...

From now on, I will do what I need to do.

Please do your best to assist me.

I will obey your orders and do my very best.

Your Highness, actually, until last year,

all ore produced in Border Town

was exchanged for food with Longsong Stronghold.

Exchanged? Wasn't it sold?

LONGSONG STRONGHOLD

In the eyes of Longsong Stronghold,

Border Town is nothing more than their property.

They provide meager rations to keep the workers going.

BORDER TOWN

You can hardly call them a trading partner.

Before your arrival,

the original lord of Border Town, Baron Boris,

always obeyed the Stronghold's orders,

handing over all ores to them in exchange for meager rations.

Baron Boris... I remember him.

He was a weirdo.

I came and seized his territory.

It's understandable that he dislikes me.

But logically speaking,

since Border Town was his domain,

even if it was for his own benefit,

he should have wanted to trade the ores fairly, right?

These ores are valuable.

Although Boris and his knights, along with several other nobles,

are nominally lords of Border Town,

they actually own property in Longsong Stronghold.

Their personal interests and businesses are tied to Longsong Stronghold.

They never intended to manage Border Town,

and are merely acting as overseers for the Stronghold.

They couldn't care less about it.

They're happy as long as they do their job and exchange ores for food.

The Stronghold also gives them a share of the profits.

It's an exaggeration to call it an exchange.

No matter how much ore we give them,

the food they give us barely keeps us alive.

The town's daily expenses still depend on that meager trade with Willow Town.

The Stronghold doesn't contribute a single penny.

We can't carry on like this.

Cease all exchanges with the Stronghold immediately.

But what about our future food supply?

BORDER TOWN

Border Town will start genuine trade.

LONGSONG STRONGHOLD

Sell all the ore already loaded onto ships to Willow Town for currency,

WILLOW TOWN

then buy food directly there.

But what if Willow Town doesn't buy?

After all, they've never handled such a large ore transaction before.

We can sell to them at half the market price.

With such a large profit, they won't refuse.

Half?

That's right. We will immediately obtain substantial start-up capital

and quickly dominate the market.

But at such a low price...

What about the future?

In the future, we don't necessarily have to sell to Willow Town.

Look at this map, Barov.

BORDER TOWN

Border Town is the source of the Redwater River,

LONGSONG STRONGHOLD

which flows through the entire kingdom.

WILLOW TOWN

Once we have enough ships, we won't be limited to Willow Town.

REDWATER CITY

We can navigate the Redwater River and trade with the entire kingdom.

SILVER CITY

The Redwater River will become Border Town's Silk Road.

ROYAL CAPITAL OF GRAYCASTLE

But Your Highness,

Border Town doesn't produce silk.

That was just an analogy.

In any case, we can use the Redwater River

and comprehensively expand our trading partners.

Your Highness, although expanding trade is great,

doing so would be like snatching food from the Stronghold's mouth.

In that case, they probably won't take us in during winter.

Take us in? Why do we need to spend winter in the Stronghold?

Your Highness, how could you forget this?

Winter brings the Months of Demons!

The Months of Demons?

After the first snowfall each winter,

the Gates of Hell open within the Dragonspine Mountain.

Animals from the Misty Forest west of Border Town,

corrupted by demonic power,

will transform into ferocious and bloodthirsty demon beasts.

They surge forth in hordes from the Misty Forest, attacking eastward,

leaving devastation in their wake.

Border Town has no walls.

We cannot withstand the beasts' onslaught.

Therefore, every winter, the residents of Border Town

must evacuate to Longsong Stronghold for refuge.

Only the Stronghold's towering walls and elite knights

can withstand the demon beasts' onslaught.

Only after the beasts have retreated the following spring

can the people return to Border Town.

Every winter, the residents of Border Town must migrate.

In other words, without solving the demon beast problem,

it's impossible to establish a foothold in Border Town, develop trade,

resist the Stronghold,

or even think about the ambition of claiming the throne.

Summon Carter.

Your Highness, I've brought the men you requested.

All of them have lived in Border Town for over five years,

and have experienced the Months of Demons.

These two are the patrol captains of Border Town.

Every year, they light the beacon fires during the Months of Demons.

This hunter claims to have fought the demon beasts

and personally killed two.

What is the procedure for lighting the beacon fires?

Y-Y-Yes...

Y-Your... Your H-Highness...

If the demon beasts cross the Misty Forest,

we'd go and...

All right, don't be nervous. Relax.

Yes...

You speak for him.

Yes, sir.

Our patrol's outpost is located on the Dragonspine Mountain's southern slope.

The Misty Forest lies at the foot of the mountain.

Every late fall, our patrol closely monitors the Misty Forest.

When we spot any trace of demon beasts, we immediately light the beacon fires.

Then we take a fast boat along the Redwater River and meet at the Stronghold.

Fast boat? Wouldn't you get attacked by demon beasts in the water?

Your Highness, the Redwater River has fierce currents and is very deep.

In all these years, we've never recorded a single case of a demon beast crossing it.

The Dragonspine Mountain's beacon towers are very close to the river bank.

We're agile and usually aren't in danger.

How long are the Months of Demons?

Roughly two to three months.

Once it starts snowing in Border Town, it won't stop.

The snow only melts when the sky clears up again.

The Months of Demons only end when the snow melts.

The longest Months of Demons I experienced was two years ago.

That one lasted nearly four months.

Due to starvation,

many didn't survive that winter.

Starvation? But weren't you in Longsong Stronghold?

The Stronghold...

They provide food based on the amount of ore we give.

If we ration carefully, it lasts three months at most.

Food for a fourth month wouldn't be provided

until another batch of ore arrived.

But the Months of Demons hadn't passed yet.

There was no way we could return to Border Town to mine ore.

In that final month,

they watched us starve to death inside Longsong Stronghold.

You said you once killed two demon beasts.

Yes, Your Highness.

I killed a boar-type and a wolf-type.

Boar-type? Wolf-type?

What do you mean?

Demon beasts are mutated wild animals.

The mutation amplifies some of their primal instincts.

The fiercer the animal before mutation,

the more formidable it becomes afterward.

For example, the boar-type has incredibly tough hide on its back.

Even crossbows struggle to pierce it from 50 meters away.

The wolf-type can run extremely fast.

To kill one, you have to set traps in advance.

The strong get stronger, the fast get faster.

But they're still just animals, right?

That's correct,

so they're not the most terrifying foes.

The truly terrifying ones are the hybrids.

They are the incarnations of demons.

Only Hell could create such monstrous beasts.

Hybrids...

Have you seen one?

It has the strength of a lion,

bears the wings of an eagle,

and can fly short distances.

It knows where you are.

No matter how well you hide,

it can find you with its keen sense of smell and toy with you.

It's as if it takes pleasure in its prey's death throes.

There aren't many of these monsters, right?

Yes, Your Highness.

There are only two or three in each Months of Demons.

Fortunately, even though they have wings,

they can only glide at low altitudes.

Otherwise, even the walls

of Longsong Stronghold wouldn't hold them back.

What's your name? Why are you keeping your head down?

Raise your head.

He's from the Mojin Clan.

A Sand person in exile, Your Highness.

Sand person?

No matter who you are,

as long as you're in Border Town, you're my people.

Raise your head.

Tell me your name.

My name is... Iron Axe.

Well done, Iron Axe.

Your courage will be rewarded.

Also, thanks to the rest of you for your service and intelligence.

Each of you will receive ten silver royals as reward.

You may leave.

Yes. Thank you, Your Highness.

Carter.

Yes.

Come with me.

Yes, Your Highness.

Every winter, upon the first sighting of traces of demonic beasts,

the patrols light the beacon tower.

Then, they rush down the mountain

to the nearest bank of the Redwater River.

Carter, roughly how far would you say it is from here to the river bank?

Roughly...

around 2000 feet.

Your Highness, forgive my directness,

but why are you investigating this?

Don't tell me... you plan to spend the winter in Border Town?

That's right.

Not only will I not leave,

but neither will the 2000 residents of Border Town.

Everyone will spend the winter here.

This... This is crazy, Your Highness!

We only have a few dozen guards.

How can we defend against the demon beasts' onslaught?

Your castle can't fit over 2000 residents from Border Town!

Only Longsong Stronghold can hold all of us

and defend against the invasion of the demon beasts.

Enough, Carter.

Of course I don't want to die here,

nor will I abandon my people.

This is our battlefield.

We will stand our ground here.

We will crush the beasts and defend Border Town.

What are you saying?

I mean, we will defend against the demon beasts here.

We will build the strongest wall here.

Translator: Henry Lin Timer: Henry Lin Editor: Zachary Carlysle QC: William Haggard