GARO -VANISHING LINE- (牙狼＜GARO＞ -VANISHING LINE-)

I can't believe how chilly it is today.

It's been like this since this gate broke.

Cold wind keeps blowin' through the capital.

I'm sure you've heard the rumors.

Lotta people think spirits are invading the city.

It would make sense if they destroyed the gate next.

Uhh...

You're giving me the chills. Uh.

Hey!

Huh?

Break's over! Up off your lazy asses and back to work!

Yeah, yeah.

Worthless.

They slack off soon as you take your eye off 'em.

Not like it matters.

Not now that the sun's gone down.

That's all we can do for today.

Evil spirits. We're being attacked by spirits!

Spirits are nothing more than illusions

created by the human heart.

But some of these illusions are so tainted with misery

that they consume humans.

These are known as Horrors.

You may wish to enter the capital,

but you are forbidden from it.

Now return...

...to the darkness!

A Makai Alchemist?

Your power alone is not strong enough to banish us.

Whatever gave you the impression I was alone?

The Golden Knight?

The bloodlines of that armor

were presumed to have long faded from this world!

Which does help with the element of surprise.

So beautiful.

Even I, Michinaga,

would secretly visit you despite your age.

Thank you, that's kind of you.

You look glum, Kintou.

Something wrong?

Spirits have attacked the Rajou Gate again.

And many carpenters have lost their lives.

And what am I to do with this information?

I'm worried, sir. There've been numerous reports

of evil spirits throughout the capital.

Has a single spirit ever managed

to breach the walls of this Light Palace?

Never has such a thing happened.

The Light Palace is secure under the protection of the Onmyouryo.

We would never allow a spirit to so much as

approach these grounds.

Eternal glory to the Heavenly Emperor.

And to the Light Palace.

Yes.

The city may be safe during the day,

but is that so at night?

Only the poor travel by night,

the commoners who carry no status to speak of.

Therefore, it's nothing to concern yourself over.

Which is to say that the spirits own the night.

A gifted entertainer, but far too mysterious.

How long do you intend to allow her to stay in our home?

But the way she sways her hips.

I mean, her biwa! Plays her biwa!

The guests clearly love it.

This Seimei woman. She's indecent.

Please, Seimei, I'd like you to have this.

A tooth of a whale, for a toothsome lady.

Oh, from a whale? That is quite the rare gift.

Oh! Look at that, it even has a cavity!

Wonderful, it's exquisite.

A piece with such elegant depth and history.

No, you don't! Stop right now!

You're not giving away a treasured family heirloom!

Let go of me, woman!

No! Not until you come to your senses!

Well, then, I'll just take these sweets.

What? Is that really all you want?

So, Raikou, Seimei seems to have disappeared on us again.

I'm sure she's playing at another aristocrat's mansion.

Nothing to worry about.

It's done.

It's so beautiful.

So, this Nio statue won't stay put?

That's right.

We believe that he roams the land on a nightly basis.

We've chosen to insert a bodhisattva within him.

Hopefully such a measure will quell his anger.

Oh, wonderful, he's arrived.

This skilled young man is Junkei.

He is the finest Buddha sculptor in the capital.

Thank you, Junkei.

We are genuinely grateful for your assistance.

Think nothing of it.

It's no good.

Huh?

Why? Was that not enough to satisfy it?

Could that be what the Nio statue is telling us?

There was no life in that bodhisattva.

What?

Who's that woman?

Her name is Seimei.

Please, hold on!

Oh, just ignore me.

I simply deduced that that carving of yours

must have been lifeless.

But the only way to calm the Nio statue

is with a bodhisattva imbued with life.

Maybe if I use a more beautiful woman as a base.

But you can only imbue a bodhisattva

with your own life source.

You cannot depend on another for the strength that you lack.

What the hell did you just say to me?

It looks like we'll make it just in time. Don't'cha think so?

All we have left to do now is finish up this final batch,

and then we can go exchange them for some rice.

Almost done.

I could use a small break.

Kintoki, I'm feeling a bit parched.

Okay.

Just a minute, I'll make us some tea.

Sorry, Kintoki.

Hey, Raikou!

What're you doing in there?!

You can't pull a fast one.

You're sneaking off to examine the Nio statue, right?

You got me. You've heard the rumors.

A Nio statue that goes walking at night.

And you believe that a Horror might be causing it?

It's the job of a Makai Knight to investigate.

But then what are you gonna do?