## OP / ED ##
## SIGNS ##
## SCRIPT ##
The Hero Yoshihiko and The Demon King's Castle starts... right now!
Hold it!
We'll be taking those provisions of yours.
You're welcome to try.
Careful, sir. They appear strong.
And look at the leader's eyes.
It's like the Buddha said. He's under the Demon King's influence.
Ugh, those eyes are so creepy.
We're at a disadvantage here.
We should give them our provisions.
Don't be a fool. These men intend to kill us, no matter what we do.
Come at us!
Danjo!
Are you alright, sir?
Are you trying to get killed?
It's no use! They're professional killers.
There's no way we can take five of them.
Sorry, bro.
But a man's gotta eat.
Stop it, Yoshihiko! They're too strong for you!
I won't know that until I try.
Let us go. We'll really do anything you want.
I won't.
Yoshihiko.
I like it.
Take him!
Do it!
No!
Welp.
What's wrong?
Well... it's five o'clock, so...
Wait, what?
It's five, so... we're punching out.
Wait, wait a minute!
What do you mean, punching out?
Well, it's a nine to five job.
Contractually speaking, yes.
But look where we are. Just punch in some overtime.
Our union... doesn't allow overtime, actually...
Oh, that's ridiculous.
Come on! We totally had that guy!
You seem to be having a disagreement. Can we help?
We're fine. Could you just keep quiet a bit?
Right, sorry.
Hey. My other job starts soon. Can I go?
You got another job?
And I'm supposed to meet a friend for drinks.
You can be a little late to that.
No, I can't.
You can't be late to a drinking party!
Reeeeally...
What about you?
I have a personal matter to attend to.
Can't you take care of it later?
I'm afraid it's quite urgent, actually...
Well... what the heck is it, man?
Are you... sure you're alright?
WE ARE FINE!
But you seem to need help.
I SAID we're fine!
Look, maybe if we were on salary, instead...
C'mon, you know that's not up to me.
Look, man, I really gotta go.
-I'm leaving. -Bye.
C'mon, guys, just finish the job!
C'mon, guys!
You can't do this to me!
Now, four-on-one, I think we can handle.
Never rely on contractors!
I warn you. I am... not very strong.
Then you'll have a nice, long rest.
There's Fat J with his humpback letter
Gettin' pretty sick of these posers all around
Get yourself an afro if you wanna make a difference
The whole world needs you now, Funkanizer!
Internet, radio, and television
All pouring out information non-stop
It's just pulling me back and forth
My head's about to explode!
Love it! Love it! Evolution!
Love it! Love it! Revolution!
I want to see my true face in the mirror
I know that some day I'll wither away!
Get it up! Get it up! Haha, baby!
Get it up! Get it up! I can't sit still!
Let's do this with color and style! Hey!
A no-budget action-adventure series
You sure this'll be okay?
The Hero Yoshihiko and
the Demon King's Castle
He said to beat the Demon King, but where do we even find him?
Two
That's the journey, isn't it?
Yeah, but... I can't take this much longer.
I wanna sleep somewhere with a roof over my head.
Don't be a brat. First, we'd need a village, and second—
Hey, a village.
Well, then.
Yay! I can wash my hair!
m 396 122 l 551 99 l 572 163 l 409 192
Manya Village
What's going on here?
Was the village overrun by bandits?
It looks a bit too clean for that.
Excuse me, everyone!
Is anyone here?
I don't see anyone...
Will none of you come and speak to us?
X! X! X! X!
Um... one! One! One! One!
Safe!
One!
Safe!
One!
He's coming over.
Oh man, he looks pissed.
Man.
You moron! I was telling you to keep it down!
I totally didn't get that.
Why do we have to keep it — one? One?
There's a ritual in progress.
Ritual?
O hear us, gods who reign over all!
O hear us, goddess Amaterasu!
What's it about?
Once a year, the mountain god who lives across the mountain
demands the sacrifice of a girl from our village.
That time has come again.
Sacrifice?
So this mountain god is your patron?
Why does he demand these sacrifices?
Long ago, this village was attacked by monsters.
A young girl went to beseech the mountain god for aid, and the monsters went away.
Ever since, we send a girl to the mountain god once a year.
Poor girl.
It's a bunch of nonsense.
It is a pretty weird practice...
But it's not really our business.
C'mon, let's stock up on good stuff.
This is wrong. Who do we talk to?
Huh?
Who do we talk to about stopping this?
Stay out of it, Yoshihiko.
No. I refuse to back down.
If you insist, you may go to the mountain and speak to him yourselves.
Speak to the mountain god?
I dunno, sounds scary.
We have yet to find an escort for the sacrifice.
The men have all refused, for fear of mountain bandits.
Lots of bandits after the sacrificial girl, eh?
So just getting there is challenge enough.
I will drive back the bandits and speak to the mountain god.
If he agrees, I want you to promise that you'll give up this barbaric ritual.
Hey, it's a longstanding tradition. You can't just—
Oh, it's fine.
Woah, so flexible!
You just don't even care?
But if you go, you must take the sacrifice.
The way to the shrine will not open without her!
Do you hear me?
You must remain in the palanquin until you reach the mountain god's shrine...
... lest the ritual purification be undone!
Yes, Elder.
It will be just a bit longer.
We'll defeat the mountain bandits that are after you.
I'm thankful for your aid.
Might I ask your names, kind ones?
Yoshihiko.
Danjo.
Murasaki. And this wasn't my idea.
Don't tell her that!
I am Melub, the mage.
My name is Oshina.
Please take me to the mountain god. I wish to save my village.
I intend to persuade him to give up his folly, and return you safely here.
Gracious... no words can express my gratitude.
Let's go.
Here.
Right!
Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow!
Down, just down for a minute.
What's that jazz?
Monsters. Servants of the Demon King.
Guess those were the ones the Elder was talking about.
We'll defeat them.
Wait! No, man!
Why not?
I did some research back in the village. They're, like, really strong.
Nevertheless, we must fight them!
No, no, no!
We're probably not supposed to encounter those guys until we're on a way higher level.
This probably means we went the wrong way.
Makes sense.
They do look pretty strong. Let's just go around.
A Hero always triumphs.
No, man. You really don't.
They're gonna kick our butts and we'll wake up in a church.
It'll cost, like, all our money!
What are you babbling about?
I bet we could beat that rock dude, though.
Idiot. You sound so stupid right now.
That guy's strong. He just has to charge up first.
Right now he's just scoping us out.
Understood.
We should focus on ensuring Oshina's safe journey.
We'll take the long way.
Yeah, good idea.
It's fine. We'll have to fight them later, either way.
Hey, they saw us! Run! Beat it!
My name is Sauda. I'm here to take the girl.
I am the Hero, Yoshihiko. You will not have Oshina.
Then I'll take her with my blade.
Pretty confident, for one against four.
Let's do it one on one.
I can take all of you by myself.
I can't let you do it, Sauda dear!
Wait, just a minute.
Hold on, just hold on.
So very pleased to meet you. I'm Sauda's mother.
So sorry about this. He's just wanted to be a mountain bandit his whole life.
But he really is a good boy.
Cut it out, mom. Don't tell them that!
But it's true! He's always bringing back stray dogs to take care of.
Go home, mom! I can totally take these guys!
Don't be silly, you can't do anything by yourself.
"Mom, where are my shoes?" every single morning...
Would you stop embarrassing me in front of the enemy!
Excuse me, do you think I could ask you a favor?
It seems my son would very much like to kill you,
and he'd also like to take the girl in the box.
He really is a very good boy.
So if you wouldn't mind letting him kill you, I'd just be terribly grateful.
I do sympathize, but it would be somewhat inconvenient if he killed us.
Oh of course. I just thought I might ask.
Mom, would you just cut it out?
I can kill these guys without your help!
Well, of course, I know that you could, but...
What do you think, everyone?
That's a tough one...
There are four of us, after all.
Your boy doesn't seem very strong, so...
I'm afraid we really might beat him.
You don't know what you're talking about!
I've had three years of training with my fencing teacher!
I could kill ten guys if I had to!
He's really got the idea in his head, you see?
Now, now... seeing as this is my son's very first battle,
are you sure you wouldn't just let him kill you?
Why would we need rice if we're going to be dead?
Mom, I can kill them without your help!
Oh, I know. Go ahead and fight them, then.
Come at me, you worthless fools!
Oh, look out!
Oh dear, oh dear!
Oh, I just can't watch!
Oh, my heart!
Oh, look out! Oh, I just can't watch!
I just can't watch!
Oh dear, oh dear!
Excuse me, ma'am!
I can't do this with you yelling like that.
Oh, how rude of me. I'll be quiet.
It's a little hard to fight a man IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER!
I can see how you'd feel that way.
Well then, what do you propose?
Just go home, mom!
Do NOT tell me to go home!
After your father died in that mountain accident, you're the only family I have left!
Yeah, me and that strange man you bring home every night!
That's just the man who brings me mushrooms.
You're in love with him! I know you are!
That's ridiculous! He just brings mushrooms.
Liar!
I saw you making out in the bamboo grove!
I just jumped into his arms because a snake came out of the underbrush!
And then you stayed there for like a minute!
If it was just a snake, and you were scared...
you don't stay hugging for a full minute!
I'm allowed to fall in love! I'm still a woman, you know!
I don't want that JERK to be my new dad!
Excuse me...
Oh, how embarrassing. I couldn't be more mortified.
Why don't you go on without us?
I'm afraid we'll have to.
The mushroom man is a good man.
How would you know?
More bandits than I expected.
They just keep coming, too.
I can't take it anymore.
Try to hold on a little longer. The shrine isn't far from here.
What were you doing while we were fighting, anyway?
I was casting spells.
Give the Pigganose crap a rest.
Turning up our enemies' noses doesn't help us in a fight.
Foolish Murasaki. All the fighting with those bandits has taught me a combat spell.
Has it, Melub?
It has.
Good to hear.
What's the spell? Let's see it.
Very well. Watch closely.
Nothing happened.
Murasaki, what were you thinking just now?
I suddenly wanted some funnel cake.
Actually dorayaki
Right? There!
Huh?
What are you on about?
The target of my spell will gain an instant craving for sweet things.
I call this spell...
Sweets.
That's not a bad name.
But the spell is useless.
It's even more useless than Pigganose!
Foolish Murasaki. Can you not see?
You'll see. Your opponent gets a craving in the middle of a fight.
And while he's thinking that over, you can strike him down.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!
That's amazing, Melub.
You're far too easily impressed.
The woman will be mine!
I don't think so!
Sweets!
If you don't give me the woman, I'll...
Oh god...
I want donuts so bad, right now!
Donuts... I want donuts...
Donuts...
Actually daifuku
What the hell just happened?
Melub. We are now invincible.
Well, not quite invincible.
Melub. Please cast Sweets on me.
As you wish.
Sweets.
Oh man, I got the munchies so bad!
I need something sweet! Right now!
Let's go to bed.
Stop! Time out! Put it down, I can't take anymore!
I can't take it. I twisted my ankle before.
So, I've been thinking.
Why are we hauling this box around instead of fighting the Demon King?
Shh! She can hear you, man!
Sorry.
To be honest, I don't have many more fights left in me.
I'm terribly sorry, everyone.
Don't be. We volunteered for this.
I could walk the rest of the way.
But, the ritual purification...
It doesn't matter.
I'm sorry. I really am.
We were griping a little, but we really can fight.
Just leave it to us.
Everyone...
A Hero can't ignore the cries of a person in need.
I intend to put my life on the line to protect you.
Yoshihiko...
He just doesn't know when to quit.
I'll risk my life, too.
Me too.
My friends...
I do not know how to thank you for your kindness...
If I can do nothing else, let me walk the rest of the way to the shrine.
No, Oshina.
You have to stay in there!
The 'ritual purification' is mere superstition.
I shall walk!
Right...
Um...
Whatever troubles you?
Uh...
Nothing at all.
Right, so.
So, umm...
Whatever is the matter?
Let us finish our journey!
Just a minute.
What's come over you all?
You were raring to help her, a moment ago.
It's true. Oshina is hideous.
She's the most hideous woman I've ever seen.
But her hideousness is not the issue.
Hideous women are human, too!
... and I will risk my life for this one.
Right, yeah, you can stop.
I will not stop. I need you to get on board.
We are. We're totally on board, man.
What's the matter?
Have my accusations missed the mark?
No, no, it's not that, it's...
You hit the mark. Total bullseye.
That's why you have to stop talking.
Melub, Danjo. What's happened to you?
You won't risk your life for a hideous woman?
That's not what we said, man!
No one said we wouldn't do it!
Right, Danjo?
We never said we wouldn't do it, RIGHT?
Of course not!
It's true that Oshina is hideous.
But... this hideous woman is being offered for sacrifice!
It was we who assumed that the sacrifice must be beautiful.
Hideous people are human, too. Hideous people deserve protection!
That's what it means to be a Hero!
Not just despite, but because of her hideousness—
Would you stop calling her that, already?
Oshina... you really are...
Beautiful.
Why did you laugh, just now?
Well, then. Let's go!
Oshina.
I don't care if you're hideous. I will fight for you.
I know.
Okay.
Let's go.
It's nice, not having any more bandit attacks.
You're implying Oshina's hideousness drove them away. Stop it.
You said it, not me.
Don't worry, Oshina. It's alright that you're hideous.
I know.
I don't think he gets that he's the real problem here.
I wonder if we're close to the mountain god's shrine.
I believe it's just up that slope.
Well, let's talk to the mountain god and get this over with.
Do be careful!
Hm?
There is a monster which guards the way to the shrine entrance.
A monster?
You don't mean yourself?
No, I do not.
It's a ferocious beast that kills anyone who steps near it.
There it is.
Where?
There, clinging to that tree!
Oh, is that it?
That's a koala. It comes from a far-off land.
When it clings to a person, it is... extremely adorable.
It is pretty adorable.
It is. I want to hug it more than anything.
Maybe Oshina's got it wrong.
Let's have a cuddle...
Don't! It will kill you very easily—
Curses! You blasted koala!
Don't let it hug you! If it hugs you, it's over!
Ow ow ow ow ow!
We finally got it to sleep.
Let's hurry to the mountain god's shrine.
Hear me, Mountain God! We've brought your sacrifice!
We wish to speak with you.
I guess he's not in.
Mountain God! Are you there?
He ain't in. Let's go home.
Mountain God! Mountain God!
What is it? I'm right here.
He was there!
Why didn't you answer us before?
Didn't want to.
Didn't want to?
We've come a long way to bring you your sacrifice!
Yes, very kind of you. Now take it right back.
Huh? It's like he doesn't give a crap.
Well... she's just so hideous.
Mountain God!
Are you saying you won't accept a hideous woman for sacrifice?
Hey, don't put words in my mouth!
But... yeah, pretty much that.
It... looks like you're free.
It's a good thing, right?
Do you think... I should be happy?
Of course you should!
Didn't we have something else to ask?
Right.
It's why we came here, and all.
Mountain God! There's something I wanted to ask of you.
Stop demanding sacrifices from that village!
You got it.
They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel, so... I'm good.
You're certain we can take Oshina home, then?
I really wish you would.
I'm still processing how to feel... but, thank you for your help.
We owe it all to your hideousness.
Yoshihiko.
Saving people's all well and good, but in the future...
Can we look at the person before we accept?
You're talking to a brick wall, man.
I'm just glad that's over with.
Now, to avenge my father!
Listen, you...
Even prop knives hurt!
Would you please stop doing that?
Yoshihiko!
It's the Buddha! It's gotta be!
Where? I don't see him.
He's right there, plain as day.
So, I really can't see him...
Aw, c'mon.
Come on!
If the protagonist can't see me, it's just serious problems.
He's pissed. Put these on before he really starts sulking.
Right.
Gimme a break...
There he is.
Could you try to see me in the future? I'm the Buddha, here.
I'll try.
Well I hope you will, Yoshihiko.
It has come to my attention, that this week...
you took on a side quest irrelevant to slaying the Demon King.
I'm sorry. I couldn't leave those people in need.
Yeah, well, that's nice.
It's nice to be nice.
HOWEVER, Yoshihiko... um...
The longer... you delay...
the wider spreads the influence of the Demon King!
I understand.
Now, venture east, Yoshihiko!
East? What's east?
What do you mean?
East! Just head east!
It's kind of a vague instruction, though.
You got a problem with my instructions?
I'M THE FREAKING BUDDHA, MAN!
You jerk!
I think we'd appreciate a better tip.
A 'tip'?
Look, this is a message from the Buddha. It is not a 'tip.'
Come on, you guys.
Just go east already! You'll find stuff there.
What kind of stuff?
SHUT UP!
Why are you such a snarky jerk?!
I hate you!
Don't laugh at me, you jerk!
I'm not talking to you, anyway!
I'm talking to Yoshihiko!
I didn't know Buddhas could get pissy.
I'm not pissy, you are!
So... the Demon King's castle is to the east?
I'm not sure if I trust that guy.
Still, we should investigate the tip.
Brother... I am so worried for you.
I want to find you waiting for me
On the day, at the place we agreed upon
It's not much of a song, but I wrote it for you
And I'll play it for you now
Because I'm still in love with you
Because I still have things to say to you
In hope that my song might reach you
I'll keep singing it into the wind
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people or organizations is coincidental.
An ominous shadow hangs over a town
What happened, here?
It's the monster that lives in the cave.
Wimph.
We won't know until we try!
Wet's go!
Are you the one who forges the undaunted blade?
Witness, the soul of a true hero!!
Heya.
Did you just adjust yourself?
Creep.
Yeah, kinda.
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