Bungo and Alchemist -Gears of Judgement- (文豪とアルケミスト 〜審判ノ歯車〜)

Everyone, thank you so very much

for coming to our wedding!

I've honestly never been happier!

This wonderful moment wouldn't have been possible

without the incredible and generous efforts

of my beloved brother!

In a single day, he made my greatest dream come true.

I don't know how, but I'm eternally grateful.

Dear brother,

from the bottom of both of our hearts,

we thank you!

Uh... Uh, where'd he go?

What the hell is happening to me?

The banquet spirit got ahold of you.

You partied more than anyone. Drank more than anyone.

Not the best thing for a man who has to run ten leagues.

Unless, of course, you've changed your mind,

and aren't going back.

Are you going to abandon him,

your friend, in the king's dwelling?

How could you possibly know all this?

No time for that.

But you will get your answers soon enough.

Now, run, Melos.

What did you hope to accomplish with that dagger,

you filthy runt?

Saving the city from a tyrant!

A fool's errand.

What did you expect?

You don't trust anyone but yourself.

And you make the people suffer for it--even murder them!

A king like you needs to be taken out!

Such brazen insolence cannot be allowed.

Your death will serve as a warning for future dissidents.

-- Wait! --Hm?

Please, wait, your Majesty.

He has a younger sister.

I beg you. Allow him to see her one last time

before his sentence is carried out.

And give him the chance to escape his fate?

Never! Just look at the wretch.

He'll run like a coward the moment he's loose.

Then, I'll stay here in his place.

That way, if he runs, as you expect he will,

someone still pays for his crime.

My friend...

No. I won't abandon him!

Of course I was going to run right back!

But I saw all that mead and... Well...

Mm-hm.

All right, I hesitated a bit.

I mean, my sister was just so happy.

And there I was, about to march to my death.

Tell me, how was I supposed to go through with it?

I don't think anybody could

after seeing my sister smile like that, right?

I suppose.

And why are aren't you running, too?

Because I don't want to. Too tiring for my taste.

It's not fair, though--at least let me ride in the cart!

But you're supposed to run, that's how the story goes.

Story? You're a weirdo, you know that?

Be honest with me.

How do you know all of this stuff, anyway?

Have you been watching me, or what?

"Watching," you say?

I'm not sure that's quite how I would phrase it.

But... I will tell you this: I have found,

in certain situations, an outside perspective

is often much clearer.

That's not even an answer!

C'mon, I really don't have time for this crap.

It's not that I'm without sympathy.

It's just, I think you have more responsibility

in this than you realize.

Huh?

Yes, the king's a tyrant, and you're right to be angry.

But deciding to take his life?

I'm not sure anger is enough to justify that.

You're a little over-emotional, aren't you?

What?!

See? You got mad again!

Mad, mad Melos!

You'd make anyone mad!

There it is. Right on schedule.

I don't believe this! Just as I find my courage,

fate sees fit to throw another trial in my face?

How is this fair? Please forgive me, Selinuntius.

I... I did everything that I could,

but there is no way to pass these raging torrents alive.

Huh?

Ah! What was that?

A cloud thread.

If you had that all along,

why didn't you use it, you idiot?

Calm down, there's no need for that.

Hurry! Toss it to me.

I've wasted enough time over here as it is!

Sorry. No can do.

Say what?

You have to cross it.

Now hop in and put your back into it.

You are an idiot!

That current will swallow me up in an instant! It's suicide!

I think you'll be just fine.

Uh?!

Good luck down there.

Hey! Help me! Toss the thread!

Huh? He left?!

That's it. I'm gonna kill him.

Hey. Care to donate to our coffers, kid?

I'm sorry, my friend.

I can still make it! Just hold on, Selinuntius!

I'm coming back for you! To keep the promise I made!

You believed in me. I will not betray that trust!

Betrayal...

See? I told you I'd be back!

What the hell are you doing here, Melos?

You know why, geezer!

I'm here to save my friend, as promised!

And who is that friend?

Are you certain it's the man before you?

What d'you...?

Look carefully!

Is he truly someone that you can trust?

Is he really worth saving?

Selinuntius! He's my friend!

Wait. No. It can't be...

It's you! Why are you here?

One betrayal wasn't enough for you?

That's right, Melos.

He's already proven he can't be trusted.

Don't throw your life away for him. Instead...

Take your vengeance. Kill him.

You want me to...

That's it. All too easy.

The betrayed becomes the betrayer!

This world will crumble into dust!

Sorry, but that's changing the story

a little too much.

You came back.

Tragedy tales are fine.

But there's nothing worse than taking a story that should

end happily and turning it into a tragedy.

You can't be one of them.

Uh! What's going on here? What are these people?

The Taints. Stay back. I'll handle them.

Unreal. Who-- What are you?

Thought that was obvious. I am an Author, you see.

Of course. A Delver.

Damn you... I won't let you interfere!

No! Get down!

Dazai.

Teacher?

It's good to see you again, Dazai.

To be honest, I never thought we would get the chance

after what happened. Seems you recognize the place.

You should.

That morphine addiction of yours kept you in here quite often.

I suppose.

I'll spell it out for you.

You're Osamu Dazai. The student of Haruo Sato. Me.

At least, you could say that.

Anyway, you still don't remember?

I think it's coming back to me.

Still a bit hazy.

Give it time.

Teacher, you knew, right?

I wanted the Akutagawa Prize more than anything.

I did.

You looked up to Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

He was your hero.

And I still believe you should have won.

Against the Current was inspired,

and truly worthy of the prize.

But we know how that turned out.

Yeah, I walked away with nothing.

It couldn't be helped.

I wasn't the only one judging the competition, you know.

Oh, yeah?

Then why did you all but guarantee

that I'd win the next one?

I believed in those words, and in you!

That's why I kept telling you-- begging you--to give it to me!

But after that, I...

The next time you couldn't even qualify as a finalist.

Ah, yes. I see now.

You consider that a betrayal on my part.

Can you honestly tell me that it wasn't?

No, I can't. Not as long as you feel that way about it.

Damn you. It's your fault.

I couldn't trust in anyone after what you did to me.

Anytime I would try to open up,

your betrayal kept me closed off!

Listen closely. I hate that my actions

have held you back from believing in other people,

and I wish that I could fix it for you.

But it's your problem, and yours alone.

Huh?

You are yourself, and your works are your work.