Saiyuki Reload Blast (最遊記RELOAD BLAST)

Shangri-la.

A land where harmony exists side-by-side

with chaos, science with magic,

and human beings with demons.

Alas, the delicate age-old balance has begun to erode.

A dark aura encroaches from the West,

sowing evil in its wake.

The soil has withered, demons have turned violent,

human beings live in fear.

A utopia, once upheld by the twin pillars

of Faith and Civilization,

lay in ruins, swallowed whole by darkness.

They're behind us! Hurry!

We were tryin' to be covert, but no,

you just had to notice us.

Is it me,

or do humans seem paranoid these days?

Don't you give me that look!

Where does a filthy animal like you get off

snarling your teeth at us?

What's it gonna be?

Wanna die like your buddy here? Or d'you fancy a deal?

Your life in exchange for showing us the rock

your village is hiding under?

Go! Run for it!

I see. Right then. Suit yourself.

Death it is.

What the--? Where'd these guys come from?

Get out of our way!

You talkin' to us?

You're the assholes blockin' the road.

Oh, shit.

C'mon! Let's go!

How? Wait? Who are you?

Uh...

Okay.

Damn it. What's wrong with you?

Why would you bring outsiders here?

Have you two idiots forgotten the position we're in?

I didn't have a choice.

They saved our lives. I had to!

Our donkey was killed in the fight

and these men were good enough

to let us load our things in their car.

But, they look so seedy. How old are they?

Word has it some great priest is heading out

West to slaughter demons.

Could be they have something to do with him.

You're talking about the one

they call Sanzo, right?

I mean, I hear he travels with a entourage,

but aren't they supposed to be the picture

of nobility and grace?

Who cares?

Can we focus on clearing out of here, please?

It's only a matter of time before the demons find us.

-- -- Exactly!

That smell. Is it from being on the road?

They reek.

Terribly sorry.

You were kind enough to feed a group of total strangers,

and we fall asleep.

I can't remember the last time

we had a proper meal, let alone a decent nap.

It's fine. You guys saved my dad, so...

Where'd you come from?

Chang'an.

Chang'an?

Way out East. Quite the place.

Biggest, liveliest city in all of Shangri-la.

Nowhere quite like it.

Surprised you managed to get this far in one piece.

Whew. Yeah, 's been pretty rough this time.

I thought I was a goner for sure.

Hah! From what? Starving?

You've survived a helluva lot worse than this.

I'm gonna have me a bath.

But, we've imposed on them quite enough.

It's no trouble.

The adults may not like it, though.

You're probably all right if you can stay quiet.

If you make too much noise, they beat you.

See? We're in trouble now!

Yeah? So why are you blaming me?

Ah, guess they prefer things on the peaceful side.

Seems a little tucked away, too.

Not many villages around here.

Populated ones, at least.

The few we saw looked like they'd been raided.

Most of folks cleared out of this region

a while back.

Huh. Now that you mention it,

we have been running into a lot of demons lately.

Gee, ya think?

'S why my clothes are all torn up.

Remember the drawbridge

you crossed to get here?

We only use it when we absolutely have to.

Demons would've found us ages ago if we left it open.

Still, though...

Damn shame.

As you can see, we tend to be suspicious

of outsiders nowadays.

Been living in fear so long,

we've forgotten how to be hospitable.

Hardly turn a light on once the sun goes down.

It's a modest place, sure,

but we were cheerful once upon a time.

I'm sure you were.

It's fine, We won't get comfortable.

We have some business to attend to.

Yes, well. Uh.

In any event, I'm afraid I have to ask you gents

to stay with us till tomorrow morning.

And why is that?

We only let the drawbridge down

at sunup and dusk. I'm sorry.

We just can't risk demons getting in.

Dad. They'd like a bath, if that's okay.

Ah. S'pose you could use one, eh?

Be my guest.

I suggest we split off into pairs.

Whoa. Hold on a sec.

So, I finally get to take a bath

and you're saying it has to be with one of you?

I'm bathing it alone.

You three knock yourselves out.

What?

How do we pick who's first?

Rock-paper-scissors?

Hey.

Ready? One, two, three!

Ah! This feels amazing!

'Least they have hot water, even if I have to share it

Huh. Look at this.

Hakkai should cut my hair.

Jeez. Gotta say, this place is a lot different

than what I'm used to.

Hey! Cheer up!

At least the food's delicious, right?

Ugh. Is that really all you ever notice?

What'd you expect?

We're in the western part of Shangri-la.

Things are supposed to be different.

Speaking of which, how much further to India?

What's the matter with you?

Uh, they asked us to be quite if you recall.

Help! There was a ghost!

What?

There! She was at the window! I swear!

She hasn't always been like that. Her husband died.

We basically treat her like a nuisance now.

What have we you told you about singing?

You have to be silent!

The thing about her husband, though...

He didn't just die-- he was murdered!

Demons attacked him on the road.

He was on his way back from a supply run,

just like my dad.

Talk about being between a rock and hard place.

He was so close to the village.

When they attacked, he led 'em straight to the drawbridge.

We all heard.

We all knew he was in trouble,

but do ya think we lowered it for him?

'Course not.

Well, can't say I blame them.

If they'd given him a chance, he might still be alive today!

We're monsters!

We sacrificed one of our own people!

This place. I hate it with ever fiber of my being.

That's the anger talking. He doesn't mean it.

Deep down, he understands the demons are responsible.

Hey. Put some clothes on.

You're scaring the locals.

Are those men naked?

We were fools to let them in.

-- Uh... -- My bad.

I told you to stop singing!

Darling, please! Don't be so harsh!

We have to be silent!

It's the only way to survive!

The demons find this place, that'll be it for us!

Do forgive me, Rei.

I feel for you, honestly, but we're all suffering here.

Her husband was a damn fool.

Tamuro's father made it back alive, didn't he?

What's done is done. It was him or us.

An actual futon!

Yeah, sorry the room's so cramped,

but it's all we've got.

There's nothing to apologize for.

Think fast!