The Beast Player Erin (Kemono no Souja Erin)

In ancient times, when the ancestor of the Queen descended from Ephon Noha to Tahai Aze,

the people met the Founding King, Je, who was tall and had golden eyes.

He was the holy God Himself.

The war against Larza has begun.

There will be more bloodshed, won't there?

As long as we have the Grand Duke's lionhearted warriors and Touda on the field, our victory will be absolute.

Please rest assured.

Touda means fighting serpents.

Ani-ue!

Calm down, Ngan!

Note: Touda, meaning "fighting serpent."

There are Touda!

Fire! Fire!

The Touda is a symbol of our Highness' authority.

The capital, which is governed by the Queen whom everyone honors, is protected by the Grand Duke's lionhearted army,

and has always maintained a zenith of prosperity.

Far from the battlefield is a small village.

The village's name is Ake.

It's a special village within the Grand Duke's quarter which raises Touda.

Have you seen Erin?

No.

I see.

She thinks she's a Touda beastinarian, even though she's a woman.

Stop that.

Erin-chan? Isn't she working?

She should be out of work by now...

Oba-san!

I saw Erin behind the medicine shack.

Yeah, she was there.

She's still at the medicine shack?

Thank you.

Was she sucked in by something strange again?

Probably.

She left them unfinished again.

Erin!

Where could she have gone to?

Oh, Erin...

Erin!

Hey, Mom!

Look, a togera hopper.

Forget that!

It's already noon.

Where did it go?

Weren't you supposed to make polish balls using capracide by noon?

I'm sorry.

I wanted to make some benetrophic water for the baby Touda, so I was looking for the ingredients.

When benetrophic water mixes with the mucus on a Touda's skin and enters its body,

it strengthens them and also gets rid of parasites.

But benetrophic water is made for adult Touda, so it's too strong for an infant.

So that's why!

So that's why you use a polish ball as bug repellent when they still aren't strong enough.

I'll help you too, so let's finish them up, shall we?

Yup.

Erin was happy to be with her mother.

It is the same for Soyon. Since they were the only ones in their family, she cherished their time together.

Mom, has the baby grown?

Let's see. I think it can eat solid food soon, but it may be too early to put it in the pond.

Once it's in the pond, can I look after it?

I want to become a Touda doctor just like you.

I'll think about it if you still feel the same way after you've grown a little bigger.

But not now.

Why not?

In the pond, it's not just baby Touda. There are scary adult Touda, too.

They're not scary. Touda are very tame.

They're like logs. They don't move much.

It's because I'm keeping them tame.

I'm suppressing them with something invisible.

Soyon! A Touda's been brought in from the war.

It's severely wounded.

I'll be right there.

I need to head out.

Okay.

Get the tail! Tie down the tail!

What are you doing?! Hold it down!

Soyon!

Soyon.

What are you looking at?

There's a Touda.

Your mom was so cool.

She made the wild Touda tame.

Douse it with water and cool it down.

All right.

Then cover it with wet straw so that its body won't dry out.

All right.

Make way! Make way!

Oh, it's Wadan-san.

What are you all doing? Didn't you hear me?

It's the baby Touda!

Get out of the way now. I need to put it in the pond.

Mom said that it's still too early.

Erin-chan?

Mom said that it's still too early.

What?

Green eyes...

You must be a daughter of the Mist People.

I've been working with Touda longer than that woman of the Mist People.

And I say it's time.

But...

What's the matter here?

Mom.

Look. It's about time we put it in the pond, no?

Please let me look at it.

Looks like it'll be able to eat food.

Okay. But before you put it in the pond, please coat it with mucus from the Touda over there.

Also, make sure to replace the straw mat with a new one.

All right.

Hey, let's go.

I'll be coming home late today, all right?

Okay.

Did I wake you up?

No. I smelled the scent of a Touda, so I knew it was you.

Did you?

Is the baby doing fine?

Yes, it's doing well.

That's great.

Can I sleep with you?

Sure. It'll be warmer if we sleep together.

Yup.

When the morning comes, men head to the pond in the mountain,

and the women and children are left at home to work on household chores and farms.

But this morning was a little different from the others.

Is it good?

Yup!

Soyon!