The Rescue (血酒天牢)

A long time ago, an arrogant human built a tower

to reach high above, where the gods reside.

to reach high above, where the gods reside.

In that moment, the gods handed out a punishment

in order to teach humans to stay humans.

Now, another man heads for the Divine Gate, the gods' territory, yet again.

The man punished himself.

Resisting the god's mischief, the Holy King, being human, fell into the darkness

in front of the holy Gate.

Hi, Arthur. You still have some consciousness left.

Loki, why are you here?

You seem to have forgotten about that pain.

Well, this is pathetic.

It's fun watching humans scrabble around.

I'll come see you again.

I did grant your wish to become a king. Don't be mad, Arthur.

This the World Council.

A special curfew has been put into effect today for the entire city.

Please refrain from staying outdoors after 8pm.

This is due to an issue from yesterday's large-scale system error.

Certain sections will be off limits for the time being as well.

Answer my question!

Ah, um, so as I said, it was almost as if Arthur had planned a coup d'etat,

so I merely tried to stop him by representing the World Council.

Hm. So Arthur decided himself to destroy the Divine Gate?

Yes!

And to stop Arthur, you called for the Norse gods?

Yes, that is correct.

You don't have the authority.

However, Loki...

Bring Loki! I'm wasting time talking to you!

H-However...

I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

Loki?!

Ladies and gentlemen of the Six Saints. Arthur, who planned a coup d'etat

and his personal army, Knights of Round, are all confirmed dead.

What?!

Jeez, all complaints and no help, it's their bad habit.

W-Was what you said back there true?

Which one are you talking about?

About the death of Arthur and Knights of Round!

Ah. What answer were you hoping to hear?

I'm being serious!

I'm serious, too.

You and I both conspired against the Six Saints.

We've already taken the first step.

We share the same fate now.

That being said, what is with your attitude?

You're not prepared to meet your fate at all.

I just want to know the truth!

They're alive, right?! There were even students from the Academy!

They were killed by the Norse gods you unleashed.

This hand is stained red with blood.

Don't pretend you're good like you didn't know anything.

Hey, are you guys okay?

You're late.

We made sure we weren't tailed.

I'm glad you're okay!

Midori! You're choking me!

Akane was really worried too, bon.

Shut up!

What's going on outside?

The Council seems to be on the lookout for you guys.

The expedition, the tower... nothing's being reported.

They're treating it like it never happened?

Like Blue Christmas?

See, the World Council can't be trusted.

Anyway, here's the dressing and medicine you asked for.

Good! We just ran out of dressing, too!

Hikari, how's your injury?

I'm fine, I'm fine.

But it looks painful.

We need to get going.

Huh? Already?

The Council may start suspecting us.

You're right. Thanks.

Take care.

We'll come back.

So, what now, Santa Claus?

Well, it's probably dangerous to go back not knowing the Council's plan.

Objectively, it's more logical to think of it as Arthur's betrayal.

You guys saw him kill Lancelot, right?

I don't think he was himself at the time.

And Loki was behind Arthur, too!

At the end of the day, no one knows what's happening.

Well, you probably can't trust me, either.

You're right.

But if Santa didn't come save us, we'd be...

Hikari!

We're done for at this rate.

Don't worry about me. Just go.

Who are you?!

I'm the children's ally.

Over there!

I appreciate you saving us.

But why did you do it?

It was a promise I made with him— with Arthur.

Hey, come over here! Lisa, you too!

Jeez, you're so impatient.

What is it, this early in the morning?

Take a look. It's a great view.

It's beautiful.

Yeah.

Geniuses of Divine! The prologue is over.

We shall now begin the main show, the Twilight Judgment.

I'm planning on having your son join the play as well.

Now, let me introduce you to the playwright. Come out!

I'm right here.

Well, hello, hello.

Long time no see, Shakespeare.

Will you entertain me again?

Of course. I came up with an interesting tragedy.

How does the story go?

Let's write a beautiful tragedy with your divine pen.

Okay!

Oz, are you okay?

I may have let the children die.

There were girls around your age, too. Ahh...

Midori?!

On that Christmas night, I saw the blue moon.

Blue Christmas?

Without telling Arthur the truth, the World Council kept everything a secret.

That's not all.

Your father's death,

your friend's whereabouts,

and you guys, too.

The Council continues to hide secrets.

Us, too?

What are you talking about?

Hold on, what secret is there behind my dad's death?!

Tell me! Do you know where Elena is?!

Even I don't know. The Council is hiding everything,

thanks to Loki.

Loki?!

After Blue Christmas, I followed Loki's movement.

In league with researchers called the Geniuses of Divine, he controls the Council.

It sounds like a conspiracy theory from the Internet.

If your story is true, what does Loki wish to achieve?

He probably wants to open the Divine Gate and start anew with the world.

How does that benefit him?

That's just the kind of man he is.

He enjoys watching people struggle to reach the Divine Gate.

That's why when Arthur tried to destroy the Gate...

Yeah, and I told Arthur about Loki's plan.

That's why he tried to destroy the Gate, so the world can have peace.

I knew that's what he would do, and yet, I...

What will you do now?

The one that reaches the Gate can decide what to do with this world.

I'm going to go save him.

I know I'm asking too much, but would you help me?

Are you asking us to go to the Gate again?!

It's suicide.

Why us?!

Because Arthur chose you.

All you do is think, and you never decide on anything.

I'll ask again: is it the past you want to change? Or the future?

It might be neither.

You're slowly getting closer to your heart.

Aoto.

We need to talk.

What's going on?

I'm going back to the Council.

What?!

There's no future in staying here.

We can't live in hiding forever.

It's dangerous to go back.

Loki tried to kill us!

But we're alive.

It's possible that Arthur's the bad guy.

But Santa saved us.

It's also possible that Santa's lying.

From the Council's perspective, we're traitors, accomplices of Arthur.

We're students.

We learned what Arthur had in mind for the Gate just before the departure.

That's right, we were mixed up in it. In a way, we're victims.

We won't get in trouble then?

No one knows what the truth is! So the only choice is to go confirm it!

He's right, let's go back to the Council.

Yes.

Well?

There is one other option.

We can go to the Gate again.

What?

You saw what happened to Arthur and the Knights of Round!

Even so, I'm going. Arthur's determination to protect something with his life,

the Knights of Round's faith to grant his wish,

and the world after that... I want to see it!

And I also want to know the truth about my dad's death!

I have a friend waiting past that Gate, too!

I need to go and talk to her!

Those are really personal reasons!

You're all completely insane.

Aoto, what about you?

I want to know the reason behind the incident on that day.

Do what you want. I'm going to do what I think is right.

We might not see each other again, but take care.

I'm sorry.

You guys take care, too.

Hey, you guys!

Don't worry. We won't tell them about you.