Kurima-sama, Father. I've brought tea.
Kurima-sama!
Oh, uh, I...
Forgive me, Yui-dono.
Come now. The two of you are going to be married!
You know, Kurima-dono is so diligent in his training for the sake of our family.
Isn't that right, Raizo?
Yes, sir. I will wield this sword for Yui-dono...
no, for Hirata-sama's house. I swear it.
Liar.
Father and Raizo-sama are both gone.
I'm all alone...
Wait, Yui!
I shall join you both.
Traveler's
Inn
Hamano-ya
Yui...
Why did you die?
It should have been me.
Episode 2
In the words of almighty Deus:
"Those who shed the blood of life shall meet with my revenge."
But in time, the Lord's children would come to say:
"Holy father Deus does not mete out punishment,
for He has entrusted justice to His children."
And so, it became the duty of the children of men to dispense revenge.
Even if doing so is to take sins upon our own backs...
And in the spreading of false prophecy, the fallen world reveals itself.
O Deus, we beg you to forgive our sins.
Thy will be done.
Your latest act of revenge was splendidly done.
To split both the sin and the sinner asunder like that
was work befitting the servants of God.
That said...
I was a bit surprised to see that one of your number has that kind of skill with a sword.
Revenge is a sin intended to be shouldered by the disciples of Deus.
And should those disciples sin further by leading others down that path...
I'm certain that Deus's judgment will await them.
I'm aware.
But who would be so sinful as to do such a thing?
A good question. What could lead someone to commit such a grave act?
That said...
Deus sees all from his seat in Heaven.
You would do well to remember this.
Yo, where's the rest?
C'mon, boss. You know better than to try and skim off the top.
That's the correct amount.
There are also two bags with 50 mon apiece, one for each of you.
That's not right, though.
This is one, two, three pieces of silver, right?
Add 50 mon to that...
And between me, you, boss man Usui, the doc...
You're forgetting someone.
Wait, you don't mean that samurai bastard?!
He bags our target from the side, and not only do we let him live,
but we share the take with him? What the hell?!
That's right.
We oughta kill him before the Chapel finds out he's the one who killed the Satsuma boss.
The Chapel already knows.
Huh?!
So what do we do?!
Are we gonna get crucified? Boiled in oil?!
We're going to make sure all of our team get paid.
Merchants of all trades,
at your service
Wait, don't tell me...
Why should we let that guy join us? Can't we just kill him already?
Yeah! I'm with little Nio on this one.
We're talking about the kind of samurai asshole who doesn't just kill comrades,
but his fiancée's dad because of a false opium rap.
Why don't we just kill him?
Because he was deceived.
Kurima-san believed it was a lawful order from the daimyo.
That kinda excuse wouldn't even cut it at a gambling den!
You kill a bunch of innocent folks, but it's fine 'cause you can just say "I was tricked"?
Sure must be nice being a samurai!
What do you propose, then?
Should we reimburse the Chapel what we were paid
and let them know we failed in our revenge mission?
Damn it!
Where are you going, Soji?
I've got betting to do, damn it!
When your pay comes up short, ya gotta make up the loss somehow.
So, Doctor, how is my body holding up?
I know I've said it before, but you should really try to build up your strength.
If you don't, you won't get better, even if it is possible to.
Whether it's fish or meat, you should eat your fill of whatever it is you like.
So that I can enjoy my final days in extravagance?
Do I have that right?
Oh, come on, now. Stop it. That kind of thinking doesn't help.
You don't need to try and coddle me.
Due to the line of work I'm in,
I've gotten particularly good at knowing when men are lying.
Besides, I've already had my last meal.
There are rumors in the brothels about folks who will settle your score in exchange
for a gold mon with teeth marks on it.
Would you happen to know anything about that, Doctor?
Couldn't really say either way.
But who in the world could you hate that badly? If you don't mind my asking.
A certain waste of a man named Inohachi.
If you asked around, people would tell you he's my husband.
Revenge against your husband?
What's this all about?
He deceived me.
Mana-san, please.
Oh, what difference does it make?
Girls can be so stupid when we're young, you know?
He claimed to be the head clerk for this big-shot businessman, Tenmokuya.
A handsome thing whose words were all sweet, and I was his plaything.
But playtime only lasted until we were married.
He had more than his fair share of gambling debts.
But it wasn't a problem, because I was his collateral.
And when I found out he was in debt to his own employer, Tenmokuya?
I couldn't even bring myself to laugh.
It was a scheme between him and his boss the entire time.
They took everything my father, who raised me on his own, gave me for my marriage...
Except what I used to get this.
I wasn't even there for him when he died. Some daughter I turned out to be...
Mana-san!
So, Doctor, please...
If I'm going to Hell, I don't want to go alone, you know?
Two targets, then.
Steady as she goes.
How are you finding the lodgings? Were you able to sleep?
What's this?
Payment for services rendered.
I don't remember helping you with your lacquer art.
I thought we could discuss my other line of work.
This "riben-goto" odd jobs work, if I recall?
Merchants of all trades, at your service
There's actually another way to read it.
Which would be "revenge."
"Ribenji"?
It's an English word meaning retribution.
If someone has a vendetta they need taking care of,
they demonstrate this by leaving bite marks on a gold coin,
and we make it our business to take up the cause of reprisal in their stead.
This is why we are called "Revengers."
So you're a "ribenji-ya," huh?
Right.
That doesn't sound like legitimate work to me.
Nor should it.
No matter the justification, in the end, it's still murder.
But despite that, there are grudges in this world that must be settled.
Evils in this world that need to be punished.
Wouldn't you agree?
I'll admit I killed Matsumine for vengeance.
I wouldn't claim it was just.
If anything, it was faith in false justice that led me to kill my comrades,
and my future father-in-law.
That cannot be forgiven.
But I was the one who did it, with my own hands.
The idea of taking on some stranger's vendetta... and for money?
Not everyone in the world is in a position
to settle their own vendettas by their own hands.
That is why we're here.
Kurima-san, I ask you...
Would you be willing to lend your sword to those in need of vengeance?
You're asking me to kill... for money?
"The bite of vengeance."
The bitten gold is and isn't money at the same time.
We use it to gauge the depth of a grudge.
If, after seeing the kind of mark our clients leave,
you still say our business is simply a band of hired killers,
there's not much else I can do.
But... I...
Why don't we get some fresh air?
Hm?
Is this... a wake?
You barely sleep or eat.
Keep this up and you're gonna get sick.
If this is a wake, why are there no lights?
Isn't that a bit sad?
Because there's no money for that.
Not anywhere.
Not all red-light districts are like Maruyama. Most are like Hell on Earth.
People can work there for years with less than a pittance to show for it.
Mana-san got together everything she could,
including the cost of her funeral, and used it to get that gold coin.
Then that coin...
She didn't want incense, candles, sutras, or a coffin.
She had a vendetta she was willing to risk a restless death for,
and the result is the bitten gold she gave us.
She's not the only one who has been deceived by Inohachi and Tenmokuya, either.
A number of young women have already lost everything,
and been sold into prostitution.
I need some time to myself.
Discuss the matter with Yui-san.
You can't return to the domain you served.
You can waste away into nothing,
or wield that sword for another purpose.
Ask her what to do.
Thank you.
Suijin
Forgive me, Yui.
Let him know Inohachi's here!
I know the big man is around today!
Idiot!
I'm the one who's got business with you!
Took you long enough, man.
See, the thing is, I lost quite a bit...
And that Soji bastard was making noise about how he'd—
Who the hell is this?!
Someone is trying to find you.
He's going to escort you out of Nagasaki for a while.
But why?
Because you screwed around too much.
Would it kill you to at least keep your head down during the mourning period?
Whose mourning period?
Hey! Let go of me!
Where are we going?!
To the boat.
What boat?!
Murakami Clinic
Odd Jobs Consultation
All this under a local doctor's office?
The tour will have to wait. First, we have a job to take care of.
Okay, here we go.
The perfect tool for a guy like you.
They will come in handy.
Damn it. Why am I doing this?
Is all that muscle just for show?
I'm your bodyguard. I can't be distracted with the oar.
What difference does it make? Who's gonna attack us on a boat?
Whoever is after you might have guns. We can't be sure.
Guns?!
Relax. My armor can block any shot or arrow.
What difference does it make if you'll be okay?!
Protect me better, damn it!
About four and a half cho away...
A faint breeze from the northeast.
Well, then...
Better get started.
Four cho and forty-five ken.
Forty-six.
Steady as she goes!
You were just tryin' to scare me. I don't see no guns—
Now, let's see if you can put my gear to good use.
What the hell was that?!
Damn it... I should be in the clear now.
I've come for revenge.
Huh?
Well, looks like I just gave wings to a tiger.
What are you...
Look at you. Bloom's long gone.
Why don't you go entertain some dried-up widower?
I'm Tenmokuya, damn it. Like I'd settle for someone past their prime.
Is something wrong, mister?
You look so mad.
Wanna play with me?
Oh, you're perfect!
We'll have a good night or two together. Oh, yes, we will.
What should I do, I wonder?
If you wanna play, you have to catch me.
Come here!
Wait right there! I'll take good care of you!
There's no escape now!
Time for me to send you to paradise!
You're the one who's heading to Heaven.
Assuming you beg for forgiveness first.
Before the eyes of holy Saint Mary, full of grace,
for your sins and your misdeeds,
repent.
Episode 2
Next time, Episode 3