Original subtitles

I quit. This is ridiculous.

Yukino, wait!

I joined the Rangers to fight monsters.

I didn't hear anything about fighting those guys!

And if you're going to keep running away like you did today,

it'll be more efficient to quit now.

Yukino.

Usukubo!

Oh, sorry... I guess the nerves finally wore off.

And this is just the first day...

We still have to do this for two more days?

Just run back home if you're scared, weaklings.

Your willpower is admirable, I'll give you that.

In any case, the reckless way you fought saved me back there.

I'll continue to count on you tomorrow. Let's both make our dreams come true.

Who's a weakling?

That tiny female Ranger... For how she looks, she's monstrous!

Damn it!

Eigen...

I didn't say I'm giving up!

Let's go, Ranmaru. We'll do a strategy meeting for tomorrow.

G-Got it!

Those two are always together.

I heard they're childhood friends.

How's Pink Squad doing?

Nope, not good!

Shippou said he lacked training,

so he cooped himself up in the training room.

Is that so? I knew it, those proctors...

They have no intention of letting us pass.

-That moron! -What's wrong, Hibiki?

Oh, man! Now I feel like training too!

All right!

Hey, Sakurama.

Huh? What is it?

I'm in a rush here!

We need to talk. Come with me.

I told you I'm in a rush! Let's talk later!

Tsk.

Hey!

Get back to the stronghold now!

This dusty hole ain't no stronghold of mine...

Go! Go! Loser Ranger!

Episode 7 The Zigzag Road to the Final Exam!

Sorry to keep you waiting. What did you want to talk about?

Sakurama. Why did you join the Rangers?

What's your intention behind that question?

The you spouting naive crap about reconciling with monsters,

and the you I saw during the exam...

Which is the real you?

I need to know what you really think in order to work together tomorrow.

Time's up! The first day of the final exam ends here!

This voice... Is it from that thing? That scared the hell out of me.

- Take this! - Huh?

Ain't no way we're stopping when things are getting this exciting, right?

Let's go into added time!

We're still a team despite how he acts, so I can't overlook this.

Team?

You're still having that misconception?

- What? - Sakurama!

Look at the belt wrapped behind him! The key's right there!

What?

Huh?

How long are you guys gonna keep this up?

Tsk. Remember this, Hisui.

Jeez, it's over already. Stop harping on it, will you?

Could it be... There was only one key.

Assuming Tokita's speaking the truth, each person needs a key.

It's a battle between two people from the same squad.

This is the true nature of this exam.

It's devised such that either Shion or I will fail the exam.

Shion... For the sake of us monsters, I'll end your dream here.

This is horrible.

Forget repairing, I'll need to replace the entire thing.

Here we go.

-Uh... -Wait, why's there a girl here?

That surprised me.

Why is there a Duster in Sakurama's room?

Be good and don't put up a fight.

It'll be disastrous if this causes a ruckus.

Not good. I'm gonna be killed!

I'll let you escape, so please be quiet.

Wh-What are you saying? Is this a trap? I won't be fooled!

You don't have to be so on guard.

I may have joined the Rangers, but I don't really like to fight.

Uh...

That's why I undertake the maintenance position underground.

It's just my ego talking here. You won't kill me.

I don't want to kill you.

13 years ago,

my older sister and I were in danger

when a monster by the name of God attacked us,

and Blue Keeper saved us.

I admired him, so I wanted to join the Rangers...

Is that true?

What?

- Tell me more about that God monster. - Not good!

I-I don't really know, since everything happened in an instant.

It's probably one of the boss monsters.

I guessed as much.

I've got a score to settle with them too.

They killed my older brother. I swear I'll find them.

Although my brother was a Ranger,

the brutality of boss monsters

are on a completely different level compared to the Dusters.

There was nothing I could do.

All I could do was watch as my brother got trampled on.

There was nothing I could do but watch.

But I'm completely different from back then.

No matter who my opponent is, I will bury them with my own hands.

Now I get why this dude just charges recklessly.

The desire for revenge. So that's the root of it all.

I know very well how such motivation gives you strength.

I have to stop him here, even if it means taking some risks.

But wouldn't that boss monster be dead now?

What?

Didn't that happen a long time ago?

If you haven't been able to find it,

then isn't there a chance

that the Dragon Keepers already defeated it?

There's no record of them appearing in Sunday Showdowns.

For some reason, only incompetent boss monsters appear during those times.

Well...

Those are just fake boss monsters we made using our mimicry technique.

I need them to be alive.

The only reason I'm alive now is because

I'm trying to clear my brother's name for the past four years.

Four years?

Didn't your older brother die 13 years ago?

No, it was four years ago.

But that's impossible!

I mean, the boss monsters... This has got to be a mistake...

You're saying the same thing as the Rangers.

There was no evidence that a boss monster was at the scene,

so they didn't believe my testimony.

No way. It can't be...

I don't get it. Is it possible that a boss monster could be alive?

XX... Do you know anything about this?

Let's search for a way to settle this without fighting.

I... I... I...

H-How...

Why are you here... Lord Peltrola?

What? "Why," you ask?

Weren't you the one who sent a distress signal through this pipe, XX?

S-Still,

I could have just left by myself if an escape route had been secured...

What? You don't like this?

N-Not at all!

It is truly a great honor for a boss monster

to come get me personally!

Hmm...

Dear me, how pitiful... You're trembling. You must have suffered.

To think that my lovely XX had been locked up in a place like this...

Before He died and ascended to heaven,

He left behind a wise saying that I deeply resonate with.

War is tragic. It should not exist in this world.

I wish for a peaceful world where we do not have to resort to violent means.

Fighter D, you have to undo your mimicry and escape now!

At this rate, you'll be in danger too!

If I pass, he'll fail?

All I could do was watch as my brother got trampled on.

This is getting more and more exciting!

Will I be able to see how he looks as I betray him at the very last minute?

He'll be all like, "You coward!"

Isn't that funny, XX?

Huh?

Come on, don't be put off. We're monsters.

He's late! We're way past the starting time!

Is that it? Is he using the toilet?

Huh?

What?

Huh?

Oh my, Koguma. Did they get you already?

So you're the one from Red Squad that Hisui mentioned?

-Huh? -No need to put up a guard around me.

The rules state that monster actors

who got their key taken cannot fight anymore.

What?

Does that mean that the battle within Blue Squad has finished?

So what happened to Blue Squad?

Well, I got done in by the cadets' teamwork!

That was well played!

We never had anyone pass this exam every year, but I think this is the year!

This takes me back! When I was young...

Sorry, but if you're just gonna chit-chat, can we do it after the exam?

Huh? I thought you're free since your partner bailed on you.

He didn't bail on me. He'll come, I'm sure of it.

Right.

If you two don't work together,

you won't be able to defeat the monster actor.

Forget about that already.

Oh, so you've noticed already?

Honestly, this is mean. You just want us to destroy each other.

What's this? Are you hesitant to fight Shion?

He's your friend?

What?

What? Ore? I mean, boku? No way!

I-It's just that we've built up trust on the first day.

I know that we can defeat the monster actor if we work together.

After we work together to grab the key,

I'll just cook up some convenient excuse and go into hiding.

Aww, I pity him.

Unlike you guys, I'm desperate.

I'm also not like my peers, who love to pretend play as allies of justice.

I'm the only one.

The only one who's fighting with my life on the line.

What I do will directly affect

the future of my comrades back at the fortress.

As if I'm stopping because of some cheap sympathy.

If that's what you intend to do, I guess I can help you.

- What? - Here's a big hint for you!

I saw Tokita over there.

And your friend too!

H-Hey, Shion! You're jumping the gun!

Are you listening?

You can't do this alone!

Dang.

Crap.

That hurt! There's five of us, and we only barely managed to do it?

But with this, we got Red's key.

- All right. - Three more left.

Shion. What's the meaning of this?

It's as you can see, Sakurama.

This exam is a battle of keys within the same squad.

I'm teaming up with these guys. From here on, you and I will part ways.

I'm not giving up my seat as an official Ranger, no matter what.

You... coward!

Hah! You still don't see it, do you?

That's why you're such a simpleton.

You're not allowed to lose even once to the monsters.

The day the Rangers lose is when humanity comes to an end.

That's why we don't hold back

and send the Dragon Keepers to the frontlines.

They're the five strongest Rangers from each of our squadrons.

This exam is just like a Sunday Showdown.

Be careful, Sakurama.

The guys around you are way, way more desperate

than you think they are.

I see.

So you guys were abandoned too.

I've been nothing but a burden to Ishikawa

ever since the final exam started, anyway.

I'm shocked, but I can understand why.

Still, it's unforgivable.

That's right, it's unforgivable.

Screw you, Shion.

It's okay for me to betray you, but if you betray me, you're guilty.

Shall we team up too?

-What? -What?

We're allowed to take keys that have been taken, right?

In that case...

Now that's interesting.

Koguma!

The exam isn't over yet! Let's try again!

It's impossible.

Those five have the highest scores among us during the training period.

There's no way we can win even if we join forces.

Dang. Seriously, this guy!

Why are you being all dejected? You've only lost once...

What do you know?

On the contrary...

Is there anyone else who'd know that more than I do?

Let's work together as fellow losers.

Yeah... You're right.

Sakurama!

The other team has already gotten into their fourth battle!

What colors were the third and fourth battles?

Pink...

...and Green.

So the remaining one is...

Yellow's monster actor.

Hmm...

One, two, three... Huh?

That's all? I heard that the other team has five members.

C-Can't we just form a team of three?

Well, I guess it's fine with you around.

You've been acting strange lately, Sakurama.

What's wrong?

You were being so cautious around me the other day.

I felt so sad.

Th-Thank you for your concern.

So, will you give me your key?

This is an exam. You think I'd hand it over that easily?

Now that's a shame.

You wouldn't be getting hurt if you'd just hand it over quietly!

That's what a bad guy would say!

I guess we're really doing this, Hibiki!

Dang.

-A direct hit! -Nice, Koguma!

That's why I said it's not gonna work!

You know, isn't it cheating to gang up and beat up one person?

Who's the one cheating here?

A toy like that won't work on me.

Didn't you hear about this from that boy?

I knew it. She's monstrous!

How much longer until the second day ends?

There's five minutes left!

It's boring when you use the same attacks over and over.

I'm tired of this.

Time for our last resort!

Right! That's our only hope!

Nice try!

But as for you... You're no good.

-Yamato! -I've been watching you.

Did you think that you won't be targeted

since you're standing right behind everyone else?

That's why your female partner yesterday talked trash about you, you know?

Did you forget?

You're timid, cowardly, and not suited to be a hero of justice.

Hibiki!

Suzukiri, I don't know how you think a hero should act.

But surprisingly, it seems like anyone can become one.

Even if they're a really bad guy.

I see.

Watch out, Hibiki!

In that case, you can have it. Here you go.

-Huh? -W-Woah!

What?

B-But why?

Since you say anyone can become a Dragon Keeper,

it'll be more interesting to let someone like you become one.

Now that's just complete nonsense...

Answer me this.

What will you guys do if you become official Rangers?

I...

I guess it'll be world domination...

-What? -Huh?

You're really the best. I'll be cheering you on.

Well then, see you!

Four more left. You can do it, Fighter-kun.

Thanks, Hibiki!

Compared to you, I... I'm ashamed of myself!

It's too early to let down your guard. We're just getting started.

You mean Ishikawa, Shion, and the others, right?

What's so great about them?

If the elite team is fashioned after the Dragon Keepers,

then this time, we're the monster actors, the Nefarious Monster Army!

Monsters, huh?

I don't know how to think about this.

I wouldn't want to go out of my way to be hated by people.

Snap...

I-I'm sure there's guys out there who love monsters!

Nah, I don't think so.

There are! I'm sure of it!

Hey, is the ending bell going to ring soon?

Y-You're right.

Tomorrow's the real battle. Let's not talk about that now.

Yes, you're right.

We're all here because there's something we want to achieve.

Let's create a miracle and make our dreams come true.

Mm.

Hey, sorry to barge in while you're all getting excited.

What?

Wha... Wait!

G-Guys!

You sure you guys aren't mistaken? This isn't a match, but an exam.

It's nothing but a rite of passage to show who's on top, and who's at the bottom.

Guys like you who rely on miracles have no tomorrow.

We win!

Just how many inhumane exams

and the likes have been conducted at this place?

I must grant them salvation.

Translated by Qianni Lu

I've got to hold it in.

Huh? What's wrong, Fighter-kun? Shout out loud!

No, I have to hold myself back here.

I said, shout out loud!

Next episode, "Shout Out Loud, Cadets!"

-Do this properly! -Ow! Wait, we already did this last week!

This is what we call a "Tendon"!