Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix- (火喰鳥 羽州ぼろ鳶組)

THE YEAR 1758 11TH MONTH

Ready?

Not yet!

Ready?

Not yet!

Ready?

Ready!

Now, where are you hiding, young mistress?

Where are you?

Princess! Princess! Princess!

They're here!

The Fire-Slayers!

The princess. The princess!

The princess is still inside!

Princess!

Someone save the princess!

You're not serious. In this blaze, she must already be...

Man is powerless in the face of flames.

Not even the greatest master of the blade can cut a flame.

Are you afraid?

I will...

devour your fear.

For the first time, I realized...

there are samurai in Edo who can slay the flame itself.

They are...

the Fire-Slayers.

OEDO FIRE SLAYER THE LEGEND OF THE PHOENIX

13 YEARS LATER

What does a samurai want out here in the country?

N-No, I'm no one suspicious.

What's going on here?

No idea.

Ah, my name is Orishimo Samon.

I'm here on the orders of the lord of Shinjou province, Tozawa Koujirou.

Matsunaga Gengo-dono.

We'd like you to become the leader of the Shinjou province firefighters.

Some tea.

Thank you.

If I recall, Torigoe Kuranosuke was Shinjou's head firefighter.

Well, he's the current head of the firefighters, true,

but he's been too ill to get out of bed for the last two months.

I see. So he's been sick.

He said he'd never be a firefighter again, and he wants you to be his successor.

I'm sorry, but I've retired from firefighting.

So I refuse.

Please!

Won't you help us to rebuild our firefighting team?

Rebuild?

Right now, the team is badly undermanned, and may be forced to disband.

With your help, I'd like to rebuild it.

Torigoe-dono says you're the only one who can.

I understand.

Putting aside the specifics of the role, how much does it pay?

We've prepared 300 koku.

300 koku?

In bales of rice, that's—

340 bales.

Wow, you could be an, uh, accountant.

Wait a second. Don't be so hasty.

Thank you. Please take good care of my husband.

Ow.

Um, well... Think about it for a day.

If you're willing to go to Edo, come to Shinjou province's Edo mansion.

Understood.

Father! Father!

Father!

Gengo, you're not like me.

Go save many people.

I guess I have to go, huh?

Hurry! Hurry!

Wait up!

Freshly caught this morning!

So he didn't come?

Gengo?

Um, Chief Retainer, if you'd wait just a little longer...

That's long enough.

Bring me another firefighter.

Chief Retainer!

Matsunaga Gengo is here.

I am Matsunaga Gengo.

I have come to speak with Torigoe Kuranosuke.

Matsunaga-dono, we owe you an apology.

There is no way for you to meet Torigoe Kuranosuke now.

He is no longer in this world.

That wasn't what you told me.

I'm so sorry.

He died in a fire in the line of duty. Two months ago now.

Don't blame young Samon here. I was the one who ordered him to lie.

If I hadn't, you never would have come, right?

Besides, it's true he spoke highly of you.

Even called your father the "ideal firefighter."

Didn't he, Orishimo?

Indeed.

Orishimo was the same.

He said you were the only one who could take the job.

He searched all over Edo and even found you hiding away in the countryside.

You think too highly of me.

Then, will you refuse the offer to become our chief firefighter?

If you haven't decided yet, let us continue.

You know of our province's plight, yes?

I know the firefighting team are in danger of disbanding.

Not just the firefighting team.

We are in such dire financial straits that the province itself is imperiled.

Do you know what that means?

I'm not sure I follow.

There's a limit to how much we can pay the firefighters.

200 ryou. No more.

200 ryou?

Is it not enough?

I believe it would be difficult.

I see.

So you're saying you can't do it?

Correct.

All right. I'll ask you to leave, then.

Wait!

Chief Retainer, he's the only one who can rebuild the firefighting team.

There are any number of other firefighters.

No. I know of no better firefighter.

Then who will take responsibility if he fails?

I will slit my own belly open.

But he himself says 200 ryou is insufficient.

He can do it!

I can't.

You can!

It's impossible!

It is not!

You two seem to be very good friends.

Well, whatever. I'll give you another day. Find your answer.

I look forward to it.

You're far more stubborn than you look.

Oh, uh, sorry. I let myself get excited.

I'd like to show you to the firefighter training ground. Would that be all right?

Sure.