Original subtitles

HISTORY'S PHANTOM

KEIO PERIOD YEAR FOUR (1868) EDO CASTLE

TALKS BETWEEN KATSU KAISHU AND SAIGO TAKAMORI BREAK DOWN

THE NEW GOVERNMENT ARMY LED BY SAIGO BESIEGED YOSHINOBU TOKUGAWA

I'm going to tell you a story about light.

Fire!

Charge!

Fire!

Where this was,

the darkness lasted for a long time,

and you could not even be sure where your body was.

Everyone was resigned to the fact

that the world would be trapped in darkness forever

and would not stop fighting.

Vykwarus.

And yet everyone, and more than anyone,

I was waiting and hoping for the light.

The light illuminated the world, revealing everything.

It shone on this beautiful, ugly, lovable, spiteful world,

and my own little foolish self.

A FEW YEARS LATER KYOTO

The old era melted into the darkness,

and the new era was shining in the dazzling light.

Old things disappeared rapidly,

and things that the world had never seen before started to appear.

People called it the Meiji Restoration.

-Our dear guest will leave now. -Okay!

-Hurry and clean up! -Take it there.

-Please! -Take this there, will you?

Take care, sir. We look forward to having you back soon.

Let go!

Let me go!

Be a good girl!

Stay still, you little… Don't make me…

What's this?

You want me to take this?

Just give her a bath and throw a kimono on her.

She'll look completely different.

Look! She's an elf, and a fine specimen at that.

She certainly is a novelty.

You don't come with strings attached, do you?

Heavens, no! She's an orphan with no strings attached.

Man, that hurts!

Let go of me, jerk!

What's with her?

She's just like a wildcat.

Let go!

Throw her in a cage in the basement.

Yes, sir.

-Stop it! -Hey, guard.

It's got water inside. Throw that on her if she gets out of control.

-Water? -Yep.

She almost drowned on the boat coming here.

She hates getting wet for some weird reason.

No hard feelings.

If you behave yourself, you should be let out soon.

Don't act like you're helping me! Let me out now!

Make yourself at home.

Hey! I'm telling you to get me out of here!

What did I tell you? Be a good girl.

Look!

Just because she's an elf, don't try to screw me over…

Why would I do that?

-This is the Great Asahiro, you know. -What's so great about it?

Top government officials flock here.

In other words, this is the brothel of their choice.

Plus, this is also the residence of the most beautiful woman in Kyoto.

It is said that guests become so comfortable, they forget to return.

This reputation granted her the nickname "The Forgetful."

You have in your possession the Great Courtesan Chihaya.

Hey, Izou!

I hear the newcomer is a gem.

Gem? Far from it.

Hey, careful!

A gourd?

FUYO

High Courtesan.

Are you awake?

I'm coming in.

High Courtesan.

Oh, it's you, Izou.

I brought you a rare treat.

Leave it there.

I also brought you what you asked for.

An English textbook?

Thank you, Izou.

Look at you. You must have broken her heart.

This?

Well…

That tomboy must have scratched me.

Tomboy?

A real wild one has arrived.

Hey, wake up.

You are an elf, aren't you?

-So what? -Don't dare speak to her like that.

She is the one I mentioned. She just came…

I was sold!

She just came here, but she thrashed around,

trying to run away.

Hey. Are you forgetting to greet the High Courtesan?

Why should I?

I'm just going be bossed around,

chewed up, and thrown out.

Isn't that what you're planning?

She talks, all right.

Izou.

Please give her to me.

Sorry? What do you mean?

She shall be my personal attendant.

What's your name?

Sonya.

Sounds Russian.

Your family may have come from the north.

So did hers.

She's a northern bird.

A bird in a cage?

You're no different from that!

I like rebellious girls.

Having trouble sleeping?

If you're still awake, come here.

What are you doing?

Studying.

Everyone calls me "Chihaya the Forgetful."

But my clients aren't the ones who forgot.

I did.

I hear it was soon after the Restoration

that I had forgotten everything.

I was all naked and out of it.

I possessed nothing

but this kanzashi hair pin. I didn't even remember my own name.

I am Chihaya,

the Forgetful.

You know something, Sonya?

There is a land of elves somewhere in the world.

Somewhere to the north, beyond the seas.

Land of elves?

Yes.

They call it Hakodate.

Hakodate?

There, elves are neither envied nor feared simply for being elves.

Everyone lives there as they are, so I hear.

You're lying!

Maybe.

But I can see it.

The dazzling light.

That light will guide me.

I believe that.

How about you?

You can see it too, can't you?

The light

and darkness.

ASAHIRO

Hey!

Open the door! We've got a problem!

-What? -It's about your whores!

What about them?

It's a raid! Someone help!

Izou.

Raiden!

You have a good nose.

Find the elf I am seeking.

This is your final mission.

I keep my promises.

In exchange, I expect you to fulfill your mission.

What's going on?

Stay in here.

This is bad! It's a raid! There must be more than 20 of them!

We've got to get out of here! Let's go!

We can escape from here.

Wait. What about the others?

Forget about them. We need to save ourselves.

High Courtesan…

I expected nothing less from an orc. You're strong like an animal.

You shall die!

I've always come close to dying, but never actually do.

What?

We can exit from here.

Chihaya!

Sonya!

I'm sorry! Stay with me!

Chihaya?

Look what we have here.

You are…

the great beauty of the Post-Restoration.

The courtesan Chihaya, aren't you?

Get out, you thug!

Isn't this a surprise?

You talk like a common whore.

Asahiro is history.

We can do whatever we want to you guys…

You brat!

Look what I found. An elf brat.

I'll take her.

Stop!

You…

What do you think you're doing?

You whore!

How dare you!

Chihaya!

This mission has cost me an arm, all right.

No.

It can't be!

Sonya.

Bring this to…

Hakodate.

Vykwarus.

Boss!

She's in here!

Go get that monster!

Yes, sir!

Sonya.

So her name is Sonya.

Move an inch and you're dead.

Let's get out of here!

You orcs don't feel the heat?

Just hurry up and go!

Hurry up!

Let's go!

Sonya.

You elves don't have this custom?

This is how we see the dead off to Heaven.

Chihaya is not going to a place like that.

She's going north.

The courtesan's hairpin.

Chihaya wanted to go to the land of elves. A placed called Hakodate.

Hakodate is the land of elves?

I will hire you with this.

You're asking me to take you there?

You can't say no.

Hey girl, would you like to hire me?

-You filthy hit man. -Hear me out.

My boss was after that girl.

He kidnaps every orphaned elf he finds.

If he finds out that she is alive,

he will hunt her to the ends of this world.

I see. This is how easily you betray your allies--

I'm not betraying.

This was my final mission.

He promised to set me free once I finished it.

I don't owe anyone anything anymore.

I don't want to be…

a hit man anymore.

I've had enough!!

This fang is a symbol of my vow.

Do you know how to go to Hakodate?

Of course.

Got it.

-You're hired! -Wait a sec.

Thank you, little girl.

You bet!

A Daurian redstart? That is a good omen to start our journey.

It is said that their call sounds like lighting a spark.

Look.

Before we take off, we use these

and make sparks to wish for safety, right?

No.

Elves don't do that?

I haven't introduced myself.

I am Raiden. You?

He is Izou.

YOKOHAMA

A pillar of light?

I don't care what it takes.

Go get her.

FUCHU-SHUKU, TOKAIDO

We do not allow orcs to stay at our lodge.

-Why? -Ma'am, we apologize for troubling you.

Let's go look for another place.

I'll ask you to leave right away if you cause any trouble.

Understood. We are just grateful to find shelter from the elements.

You are the first orc I've met who shows proper manners.

For a human, you fall short of them.

Let's go already!

Take it easy. I'm going.

You really have a soft spot for them.

Children, that is.

That would be elves.

I owe them.

Care to find out?

Keep it short.

It was before I came to this land.

We orcs are also considered a nuisance in that land.

But one girl

actually called me by my name.

Was she an elf?

Yeah.

She reminds me of that young girl.

When she held the courtesan and glared at me with rage,

I remembered that girl.

I left that land

because I hated those people who disliked and mocked orcs.

But even after coming to this land, I'm facing the same thing.

That's not it.

I bring it on myself.

Is that enough of a reason to turn your back on your boss?

When all is said and done,

our race is only useful for our strength.

We only get jobs where we kill or get killed. Such a simple task.

We struggle blindly in the dark muck day after day.

Is it so wrong to seek

the faintest sliver of light?

I found it.

The faintest sliver of light.

You are quite skilled with the sword. You are no stranger to battle.

How did you end up as a guard at a brothel?

I told you.

I failed to die.

And now I'm on borrowed time.

The Restoration?

Want a drink?

Even orcs have a drink or two.

SAKE

Come on!

What's the matter, Izou?

Nothing.

Adults have a lot on their minds.

A lot?

A lot.

That's not fair!

Tell me what "a lot" is!

Once you grow up, you'll figure that out all on your own.

Don't treat me like a little kid! I hate that!

Hey.

Be quiet.

There will be more people as we head down.

Shouldn't we take a side path?

What's the matter?

Maybe it's my smell.

Orcs can smell one another.

Let's go.

Let's hope this keeps them off our tracks.

Wait.

Who are we trying to keep off our tracks?

Is my single fang not enough for you?

Isn't it common sense that betrayal first requires trust?

Maybe for you.

I trust him!

You won't be able to go to the land of the elves!

Chihaya taught me this.

You can trust someone if you see a light.

Light?

I'll take the front.

Put that thing away.

This way.

Stay on your guard!

I know that!

Master Koketsu…

Why?

What…

were you looking at?

There is nothing

that you can do anymore.

Stay with Sonya!

Raiden!

Stop!

Boss…

What's the matter, Raiden?

Have you lost your mind?

I've had enough.

Set me free.

As you wish.

We made a promise.

If you hand that brat over, that is.

Don't listen to him!

In the end, you are just one of us.

Who besides us

would accept someone like you?

You rotten and hideous

orc.

Don't you dare!

Kill him!

We're jumping in!

No way! I'm scared!

Izou!

There's no way they would survive such a deep fall.

I rarely get guests.

Raiden.

Are you all right?

Sonya is missing.

Is this the first time you've seen a centaur?

Who are you?

Who knows?

Here.

People call me Tsukuyomi.

Just call me whatever you want.

I've heard about him.

A hermit living at the foot of Mount Fuji.

The half-man, half-horse sage.

I am no sage.

If anything, I am a fool.

A young woman should have drifted over here with us in the river.

No. I only found you two.

-Don't lie! -Calm down.

If he was after her,

why would he save us?

I cannot trust any freaks!

Don't forget…

that she is an elf, too.

Are you two looking for an elf?

Do you know anything?

Don't get ahead of yourself.

Follow me.

Whole creation.

Have you ever heard the name

of the Dark Lord, the master of all things?

No, never. This is the first time.

Is that so?

The Dark Lord is currently in a long sleep.

Waking him requires

the Wand.

A magic staff is needed.

We are certain

that this object is

in these lands.

What is your evidence?

The bloodless coup d'etat.

The Wand ended an intense civil war that divided these lands in a flash.

Thanks to its power.

Don't you agree?

Baron Okubo Toshimichi.

The Wand holds an unfathomable power.

If a man cloaked in light wields it,

the world shall be brightly lit.

But if a man cloaked in darkness brandishes it,

the world shall be covered in deep black.

Those who can use the Wand are called "Brights."

Brights?

Correct.

How is this Wand thing

and the Brights related to our young lady?

Because the number of Brights is finite.

Most of them are…

elves, you see.

Surely not all elves can use the Wand.

They just may.

No one knows who a Bright may be until one touches the Wand.

In other words,

my boss was searching for an elf that can use the Wand.

Did he not tell you anything?

His underlings are just shock troops for raids. He would not tell us anything.

What is the reason for him

to go as far as burning down Asahiro to find a Bright?

There are two groups at odds over control of the Wand and the Bright.

One group is called the Shield of Light.

The other is called the Inferni.

If we happen to find the Wand,

what are we supposed to do with it?

Nothing.

Do nothing. Say nothing.

Leave it all up to us Inferni.

If you find the Wand, we shall lend you its power.

In our country, we have a saying that a good deal is only offered

for ulterior motives.

Those pale-colored eyes.

I cannot read emotion in them at all.

He lacks any emotion to begin with.

Are you awake?

Izou! Raiden!

The pillar of light that appeared in Kyoto,

did you create that?

Power is power.

Will it manifest as heaven or hell?

That is not predetermined.

If you wish to learn about elves,

travel east from Fuji.

There is a community of elves in Yokohama.

Why are you helping us this much?

I have lived a long time.

Long enough to be bored by this world.

A world ruled by the shogun or a world that installed an emperor

cannot move my heart.

However,

if there is yet another new world waiting beyond this,

I want to see it.

A new

world?

What do you see?

I can read it in the stars

that the young elf girl should still be alive.

Really?

You bet.

Have a safe trip.

ODAWARA, TOKAIDO

Humans and Orcs.

Elves, dwarfs, goblins.

I can smell many races.

Orcs have good noses, huh?

And good taste.

Oh, I forgot.

I don't know anything about you.

Are you going to Yokohama

because you are worried about Sonya like me?

She did hire me.

I'm her bodyguard.

Pulled about by loyalty

and hounded by distrust.

You are quite the busy samurai.

What will you do when this is finished? You have nothing to go back to, right?

That is true.

I've lost everything with my right eye.

That's not what I meant.

Hey, little boy. Stop crying.

You can have this instead.

Oh, thank you!

There he is!

Let that boy go!

-Kotaro! -Mommy!

Hey, get back here now!

-It'll kill you! -Knock it off.

We are just travelers.

-We've done nothing wrong. -Like we believe you!

Outsiders like you two must be responsible for snatching and killing women and kids!

You guys must be behind that elf killing the other day, right?

-What did you say? -Wait.

These two are not bad men.

I apologize.

I will explain to them what really happened.

There have been so many frightening stories lately.

Everyone is on edge.

Tell me about the elf killing.

Many elves and humans with elf blood

have been snatched lately.

It was in the newspaper. Give me a second.

There was a report just the other day

that the corpse of an elf was found near Yokohama Port.

I don't know how to read.

It was a female elf around 18 years old.

Both of her feet had been severed.

So that she couldn't run away, right?

YOKOHAMA

So many people in this town.

Is there a festival going on?

First, why don't we go to the elf town and gather information?

What are you dawdling around for?

Unbelievable.

Everyone is in such a rush.

And rude, too.

What's the matter?

No, nothing.

Why end this?

We are

seeking the new world

that you will lead us to, Master.

I always liked that about you.

You are earnest like that.

However,

I don't need you anymore.

Are you all right?

You get some rest for now. I'll go ahead for you.

High Courtesan!

Who are you?

My apologies.

You are not her.

Wait!

You mistook me for someone else, right?

Yes.

She may be my twin sister.

Here.

Go on now.

The smell of elves is too thick everywhere I turn.

I won't be able to sniff out the smell of Sonya like this.

Stop right there!

What the? Hey, stop that!

What are you trying to do?

Where did you get this?

I bought them all from one of the estates in the Yamanote area.

Which estate?

I don't remember every little detail like that!

Hey! You need to pay for that, jerk!

Chihaya the Forgetful?

That was her nickname.

She seemed to have lost all of her memories.

Does this look familiar?

It's a memento from her.

The Wand!

Did you hear that a pillar of light appeared in Kyoto recently?

Asahiro.

It shot up to the skies from the courtesan's room.

It was my sister.

That was

the power of the Wand.

Izou! I found it!

That's Sonya's clothing!

This is my travel buddy.

Is she a ghost?

She's not.

She is her twin sister.

I just met her here.

-I see. -Now tell me about that clothing!

A goblin selling used clothes bought it from an estate in the mountains.

I could smell elves on all other clothing he had, too.

Sonya may be trapped in that estate.

Good guess!

An estate in the mountains?

Does it ring a bell?

Who is this Sonya?

A young elf girl.

She was the courtesan's favorite.

We were supposed to take her up to Hakodate,

but she was kidnapped on the way.

The people who kidnapped her have to be the Inferni.

Tsukuyomi spoke about them!

It appears we are going after the same enemy.

Are you a member of the Shield of Light?

I am.

Let's go.

I will fill you in on the details as we go.

My sister was a Wand wielder.

-A Bright? -Yes.

The Shield of Light

learned that the Wand was located somewhere in Edo Castle

and left for Tokyo from Hakodate.

My sister used the war between the new government forces

and the old Shogunate army to infiltrate Edo Castle.

She had to find the Wand before it fell into the hands of Inferni.

She must have been caught just after she found it.

She released the power of the Wand and then disappeared.

That was the courtesan Chihaya?

The Inferni is searching for the Wand with the help of the Meiji government.

The Wand and Brights are deeply intertwined.

By searching for elves everywhere, they are hoping to find the Wand.

So there are elves in the Inferni too? Why would they kill their own kind?

I bet to keep them quiet. To stop rumors that they are searching for the Wand.

I wonder if she hid it in there to keep it close to her.

She gave this to Sonya.

So this now belongs to Sonya.

We must give it back to her.

Our surveillance caught Inferni members going in and out of this estate.

Can you smell Sonya?

Faintly.

If I go to the land of the elves, can I really do whatever I want?

All of your wishes shall be granted.

Simply use your hidden power, and you'll even get to meet your dead friends.

Where are Izou and Raiden?

They are being treated in another place.

-Don't fret. -I see!

Having such skilled children as yourself in our ranks

is very reassuring to all of us in the Inferni.

I am certain that you will revive the Dark Lord for us.

They aren't dead?

She doesn't have the Wand, but she may be a Bright.

It may be best to bring her to our homeland.

Let's go.

I can smell Sonya!

My girl!

Who is that?

Master?

Izou.

I knew you were alive.

Master Koketsu.

Why?

He is an Inferni officer!

My girl!

I won't let you have your way!

Shield of Light?

What will you do with that girl?

She is…

a Bright, isn't she?

Izou.

Sonya!

Izou!

Now go.

There's Anna. Get the carriage!

Right away!

Raiden!

Anna!

Nakazo.

Let's go back to the hideout for now.

Agreed.

The Inferni plans to take that girl to their homeland.

-They should be sailing from the port. -How do we stop them?

We will chase them by ship.

The Shield of Light has a hideout at another port.

Let's go after them from there.

Izou, it seemed like you knew that man.

He used to be…

my mentor.

Is he the man you told me about at the lodge?

I would have been willing to give up my life

for Master Koketsu.

And I did take a lot of risks for him.

I was proud to be that way.

But I was wrong.

In the end, I realized that

I was just a pawn for him.

Who we should really be

changes quite easily depending on the circumstances.

Some things do not change.

I have

the flower that the elf kid gave me still blooming right in here.

You will keep the promise you made to Sonya, right?

Isn't staying loyal to one's lord until the end

part of the samurai doctrine?

I'm no samurai.

I am Sonya's

bodyguard!

She has returned!

Hurry up and prepare to sail!

Yes, sir!

Hey! Open up!

Open this door!

Turn starboard!

Don't flinch!

Let's do this.

Boss…

How dare you!

Is this how you replay me for taking you in?

Find Sonya!

Die!

Time to meet your maker!

Sonya!

Sonya!

Save me, Izou!

Izou!

-Izou! -Sonya.

Izou.

-Away from the door. -Okay!

Izou.

Are you all right?

Yes, thanks…

Sonya!

Izou!

Izou…

You have lost sight of the path you should walk.

Obey me again.

Pawns must live as pawns.

I'll take back Sonya.

Why are you so frantic

over a mere elf girl?

Because I made a promise!

A promise?

I will

keep my promise to Sonya!

It was my mistake back then

to not make sure you were dead.

But…

I can correct that error now.

Izou!

Izou!

Izou!

Izou!

Izou.

Sonya…

The Wand!

That girl. She's a Bright.

Where did you hide that?

Hand that over to me.

No way! This belongs to Chihaya!

Do it now.

You're not getting it.

Trust yourself!

Chihaya?

Give it to me.

Give it.

Give it now.

Give it to me!

No!

Vykwarus!

Having no place of your own

means that you can go anywhere you want to.

See? Anywhere.

A FEW DAYS LATER

No! I don't want to!

I'm scared of water! I hate ships!

By seeing the world, you'll be making the High Courtesan's wish come true.

Did you hear him? He's right.

Fine.

Don't treat me like a child!

I apologize, my lady.

Anna, please take good care of Sonya.

Yes.

I promise…

that I will come back!

We could not find any Wand.

We will have to bring together this land

with our own powers.

What the…

Hey!

Are you sure about this?

Humans will take care of things with their own abilities.

Isn't that the case in the world of orcs?

That's also how we do it in our world.

Light gives birth to darkness as strong as itself.

They both have a purpose and they both have a meaning.

Everyone emits their light and carries darkness.

Not being ashamed in front of light and not being afraid of darkness.

That is the way I live.

I wonder where the light will go in the end.

What will it shine on?

It's something that no one knows.

Sooner or later, someone will speak of it again.