Original subtitles

Mom!

Hina, pay attention. There's no time.

Take this. Take this, and...

The legendary...

Find the legendary Ace.

Mom!

Find...

The Ace...

Hey, where are you from?

I'm from Fieni.

Wow, from so far away?

On foot?!

I love walking.

Are you traveling across all of Alcia?

I'm searching for someone important.

You mean like a boyfriend?

The legendary Ace.

Ace? Where have I heard that before?

You know, it's that, uh...

Runs faster than horses and flies in the air type thing.

Oh, yeah, I heard those stories when I was little!

It can't be true, can it? Flying and all?

It's just a rumor, isn't it?

It's Licht!

Licht is here!

Hello.

Um... Hello.

My name is Licht.

I hate to be so blunt... And so out of the blue...

Please give me some money!

M-Money?!

I haven't had anything to eat for a week! I'm about to die...

My story is a true tragedy. Please hear me out.

I was tasked with shopping duty by a certain individual,

but the money I received for that got spent in a naughty store--

I mean, got lost in an unfortunate accident....

There was no ill intent, no succumbing to a moment of passion.

Just the tragic existence that is manhood, if you know what I mean...

I need to bring back the money, at the very least...

Otherwise my meal would be taken from me, and I would starve.

I can't hold back any longer!

So soft! I mean, modest? I mean, money...

No!

Wait, wait, wait!

Boobs? Money? Food? Wait, you're very cute.

Let's get married! Or eat? Or marry for money?

Someone, help!

Money? Marry? Mo-- ma-- boobs? Which is it?!

Enough!

I was wondering what's taking you so long. What the heck are you doing?

I'm sorry. Are you okay?

I, um...

I'm Nana. I run that mobile tavern over there.

Do you want to stop by? It's on the house, as an apology.

Nana... Feed me, please...

The money.

The money for shopping...?

That is, um... But I haven't eaten for a week.

Ever heard of "He who does not work, neither shall he eat"?

But... But... Food!

Um... I can buy him food.

Don't bother. There's no point in spoiling that idiot.

Food, food...

So, what's your name?

My name is Hina.

Hina? That's an interesting name. How do you spell it?

Oh, um...

Kanji? That's quite...

...rare.

Where were you born?

I'm from this area around here.

That's quite deep in the mountains. I didn't know there was a town there.

Oh, there isn't. I lived out there alone with my mother.

But... One day, my mother suddenly got dragged into the ground.

How unfortunate. She got sent to the Abyss.

The Abyss?

Wait, you don't know what that is?

Okay, look around you.

You see how everyone has a number on some part of their body?

This world is ruled by numbers.

Ruled by numbers?

Every person living here is forced to Count something from the day they are born.

Count?

For example, this "77" on my body.

This is the number of times a customer said "delicious."

If they say "disgusting," the number goes down.

You should have a number somewhere on your body too.

Oh, this one.

Now... Open wide.

No!

How stubborn these legs are!

No, stop...

What are you doing?!

As I was saying, your Count could go up or down.

It's Licht!

I see...

You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero...

The enemy of women!

You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero...

Lecher!

You're fine if you can keep raising your Count, but if it goes down to zero...

Pervert!

...you get sent to the Abyss.

The Abyss...

That's why everyone is so focused on raising their Count

and making sure it doesn't go down.

They say when you're sent to the Abyss, you die there in the ground,

or you're sent somewhere worse than death.

Sorry, I didn't mean to...

No, don't worry.

And one more thing about the Count.

You can't disobey an order given to you from a person with a higher number.

Can't disobey...?

Yes, remember that. The difference in Count is the difference in social standing.

That's another way this world is ruled by numbers.

So, what's yours?

What are you counting?

Well, um... I think it's the distance I've walked.

Huh?!

That's what my mother told me.

W-Wait! Walking distance is only counted every 100 kilometers!

If you're at 441, does that mean you've walked over 40,000 kilometers?!

Yes, I've been traveling in search of an important person for five years now.

That's incredible. It must be terribly tough.

Oh, no, it's not so bad.

Those were my mother's last words, to find this person.

Whenever the number goes up, I feel like I'm traveling with my mother.

It's like she's cheering me up, telling me I'll find this person soon.

Well, whoever it is you're looking for, they should appreciate how serious you are.

So who is this special someone?

It's the legendary Ace.

The Ace...

Yes, a legendary hero wearing a shining white star.

Have you heard of someone like that?

That's... just a legend, like a fairy tale, isn't it...?

No! I heard it during my travels that the legendary Ace is here, in this town!

That's why I traveled here...

That's news to me.

I've been in this town for a while now, but I've never heard that before.

But...

Licht, the legendary Ace.

Ring a bell?

I... see...

Thank you for everything.

Wait, Hina! About the Ace...

Looking for me?

A white star?!

Yes, the hero of the Waste Wars, bearer of the shining white star.

The legendary Ace!

That's me.

Huh? You?

Y-You...

The Ace...

Hina?

I'm sorry... I've been searching for so long, and...

For so long...

I'm flattered, young lady.

I am also a sergeant major in the military.

Let's discuss this further at the guard house up ahead.

Y-Yes...

Hey, Hina!

Are you interfering with military business?

Excuse us.

Nana, Licht, thank you for everything!

Hina...

Is Hina going to be okay?

I do hear rumors about someone who poses as the Ace to do terrible things to girls.

If you knew that, then why...

The rumor about the Ace being in this town has spread further than I thought.

It's foolish to believe such things.

Are you sure you want to let her just...

What's this thing?

What's this? What's this?

Hey, you!

Hey, wait! Just wait, you!

Oh, no! A monster!

Licht!

Um, excuse me...

I like you.

Yes... Very much.

I-- My mother told me to look for you, Mr. Ace. I've been searching for five years.

What's your name?

Oh, it's Hina.

I see... How cute.

Oh, I remember!

Um, Mr. Ace... This...

A Ballot?!

Huh? Um...?

Miss Hina.

Yes...?

Are you a Ballot Holder?

Ballo--? What is that?

I see... You're not...

In that case...

Hand it over!

Huh?

But this is my mother's memento.

You're wasting my time.

Why?

W-Wait!

What?

Your Count! It's 320, isn't it?

Yes, and?

My Count is 441!

You have to obey the person with a higher count, right?!

Yes, indeed...

In that case... Bet your stars.

Bet? My stars?

Yes! I will exercise my privilege as a member of the military

and challenge you to a Star Stake!

Wh-What are you talking about?

I guess you wouldn't know, as a commoner.

If you don't bet your stars, I have no obligation to obey you!

So, what'll it be? Will you bet your stars?

Y-Yes! If that will make you stop this!

So it's official.

The person with a lower Count must obey a person with a higher Count.

But there is one exception, that is the Star Stake!

It's a battle, wagering one's Count!

I suppose you commoners may have heard the term, but don't know the details.

The Star Stake is the ultimate privilege given exclusively to us soldiers,

and our greatest pleasure!

A duel between chosen ones!

Yes, I love your expression.

S-Stop...!

"Stop"? That means you admit defeat.

In that case...

...I win this Star Stake!

Behold, your Count!

The winner takes the loser's Count...

...and adds it to his own!

This is the Star Stake!

No...

So, what are you left with now?

One! You've gone down to a measly "one"!

Now do you feel like handing over the Ballot?

Hand over the Ballot, and submit yourself to me!

Or would you prefer to attempt another Star Stake?

Next time, you'll certainly be sent to the Abyss!

Why...

Why would you do such a terrible thing?

You're the legendary Ace.

Do you even know what the legendary Ace is?

O-Of course I do! The legendary Ace is a hero from the Waste Wars...

He wears a bright white star, and carves the number of vanquished foes on his body.

He is capable of superhuman feats...

You are correct.

And that legendary Ace is none other than myself.

Or...

Not! You idiot!

Don't you even know when the Waste Wars took place?

Listen. It was 300 years ago!

Three hundred years! Even if the legend of the Ace was true, he'd be long dead!

There is no such thing as the legendary Ace, at least not anymore!

No such thing? How...

What a waste! Your mother was a fool to make you look for a 300-year-old man,

but you're just as big of a fool to believe her!

Mom...

Five years? 40,000 kilometers? All that, wasted, on some fairy tale from your mom!

Now hand over the Ballot!

Or bet your stars again!

What will it be?! A bet?!

It's a bet.

Licht...

Did you say you're going to bet your stars?

I did. I will be her proxy in this Star Stake.

What kind of Count is that?! Negative 999?!

You're lower than the lowest of lows!

Challenging me with such a number is beyond foolish...

It's an insult to me!

I'll have you sent straight to the Abyss!

Licht!

Licht... Licht...!

What is this? Not even an attempt at resistance?

You trash!

Isn't it strange?

Negative 999?

That's impossible, isn't it?!

Sergeant Major David! There's something wrong with that guy!

What?!

He's at negative 999!

Yes, he's lower than the lowest of lows!

Sir, I mean his Count is lower than zero, yet he hasn't been sent to the Abyss!

He's cancelling it out! All 999 of his negative Count!

He's holding a separate Count!

He's...

He's a Ballot Holder!

Thanks for the haircut.

Y-You! Who are you?!

Hey... Hina.

Y-Yes!

You!

Stop looking for the Aces.

They're not heroes, they're just...

...murderers.

So stop looking for them, and try to find a normal, happy life.

That's the best idea.

But...

You!

I asked you, identify yourself!

But...

The five years you spent traveling to realize your mother's words...

The 40,000 kilometer journey...

Nobody has the right to mock that.

So... You're going to give back the Count you took from her...

No, this guy isn't just some ordinary Ballot Holder!

That... That star!

Wearing a bright white star

with the number of vanquished foes carved on his body.

Capable of superhuman feats...

The legendary... Ace.

"Episode 1: 'The Legendary Ace'"

There once was a great war, called the Waste War.

During that long conflict appeared a group of heroes, called Aces.

Wearing bright shining stars,

they carved the number of enemies vanquished onto their bodies,

and displayed feats of superhuman strength.

However, it is said that when peace arrived, the Aces vanished.

The legendary Ace?!

Is he for real?!

Calm down, you fools!

It's a fake.

Think it through.

Aces were heroes from 300 years ago.

Do you think a human can live that long?!

But, sir...

No, the sergeant major is right!

Yeah, he can't be alive!

You fraud!

I'll beat you to a pulp!

Hina, close your eyes.

Huh?

Just do it.

Huh...?

What just happened...?

Where are you?! What did you do?!

Dammit!

What?!

Where... Where did he go?

Where are you?! You coward! Come out!

Sir! Sergeant major!

You!

What's wrong?

I'm just walking over here.

Now you'll give it back.

The Count you took from her.

Her trust in her mother...

The five years she spent...!

What's going on over there?

It's a rampage by a legendary Ace.

You... How dare you!

I won't just kill you, I'll shred you into tiny slices!

You!

Why?! I am the chosen one!

It cannot be possible to evade my strikes!

Impossible! My blade is the fastest in all of Illinis!

Too slow.

What?!

He's seeing right through the sergeant major...

Wielding a great sword as long as a man's height...

Engraved with a negative 999 count on his left hand, the legendary Ace...

Whose legs exert a force unfathomable by human standards...

His attacks are too fast to even catch a glimpse of.

As a result, he earned the name "Ace of Flashing Strikes."

How fast can he be?!

But his Count is negative 999, right?

He must be quite a weakling if it's negative.

Oh, that number...

It's the number of times he got rejected by girls.

Licht...

Oh, you opened your eyes.

I'm sorry...

No, it's fine.

Um... Am I in the sky? How...?

I'm sorry. Are you scared?

A little... No, I mean...

It's more like, unbelievable... That a person can fly in the sky.

Maybe.

It's incredible.

So you're truly the Ace that I've been looking for--

Let's wrap this up and get your Count back.

Licht!

You, um...

You're still hungry, right?

Huh? Hunger? Um... yeah.

In that case...

When we get back, I'll treat you.

So...

Don't worry, I'll get you your Count back.

No, I mean...

Don't worry, I'll get you your Count back.

Huh?

The Count is fine, just...

Please don't get yourself hurt!

You're the one that's injured.

I...

Please don't take any risks.

I promise to buy you food.

Hina... I understand.

I'll make sure I don't get hurt.

I'll get your Count back, go home,

and have a meal with you.

I promise!

So, what'll it be?

You want me to stop?

Stop...

I'm happy for you, Hina.

See? I'm not hurt at all. I can swing my arm wildly, too.

Y-Yes!

Hina...

Find the legendary Ace...

Yes... Yes... Yes.

Yes...

I've finally found him...

I've finally found him, Mom...

Well then...

I'll be taking this.

What a lucky find, I have to say!

A Ballot is worth a whole lot of money.

Now I'm a rich man, thanks to this!

Um...

Licht, what is this...?

You're such a pain, you know that?

Huh?

You still don't get it?

My Count is 5700. Yours is 760.

If you don't like how this is going...

Do you want to bet your stars?

But... But I... For so long...

Oh, you don't want to give it up for free?

Here, have this then.

It's a mini-Barfie doll.

But... Mom said, to find the Ace...

There are other people who are called Aces.

The one your mom said to look for...

It's not me.

Um... Licht?

Licht?

Hina!

I'm glad you're safe, Hina...

Are you okay?

What about Licht?

I see.

He took my mother's memento...

I don't understand what's going on.

What am I supposed to do from here on...?

Hmm...

Let's see...

Well, there's...

Hmm?

Hina.

Why don't you just... hold on to this doll for the moment?

A doll? But--

Just hold on to it.

But...

You'll know what to do soon enough.

What? Is this...

It's your Ballot.

But... Why...?

Just owning a Ballot is a huge crime.

One of the worst offences in Alcian law.

But...

Typical behavior for that idiot.

You probably wouldn't have been charged if you gave up the Ballot to the military.

But you refused... And there were soldiers witnessing you do that.

You would have been hunted down as a criminal by the military.

Not just the military...

There are countless thugs who would want to get their hands on a Ballot.

Unless someone "stole" it from you,

you wouldn't have survived three days in this world you know so little about.

W-Wait!

Wait! Please!

Licht!

I... I was looking for you for so long!

After my mother went away...

There was no one else!

For years and years!

I've been traveling alone...

I was so lonely!

Traveling from town to town, always alone...

I was afraid it would be like that forever!

I was lonely!

But I met you, and Nana, and I was...

I was so happy!

I... I...

I've never laughed so much in my life!

Licht!

We have to...

You promised you'd have a meal with me!

Licht! Wait! Please, wait!

Liar!

I hate you...

I see.

So you have the Ballot after all.

Y-You're...

Oh, please don't get the wrong idea.

I'm not interested in that silly Ballot at all.

In fact, I'm here to thank you.

Thank...?

Yes. Thank you. Because of you,

we were able to find the Ace.

Huh...?

Now I can finally file a good report

to my real commanding officer.

Real... commanding officer?

Seriously though, how cool was that?

Blowing people away just by walking? Is he moving faster than the speed of sound?

The finishing move... That strike from high altitude!

Or shall I say, that bombing run?

Given the acceleration by gravity, there's no hope of blocking such a blow.

A close dodge would still be negated by the shockwave generated on the ground.

How to defeat that... Oh.

Yes, it's me. Yes, yes... It was just as you said.

What is he doing...?

Yes, I'm certain, I saw him with my own eyes.

Identification code 001, the Ace of Flashing Strikes.

Licht Bach.

He is alive.

"Episode 2: 'I Hate You!'"