Original subtitles

I'm not picky about a lot of things.

Most things, I really don't care about.

But even so, I do have preferences.

Even if it's not really important to me, I like what I like, and I don't like

what I don't like.

I classify those things as insignificant things I like, and insignificant things

I don't like.

One of the insignificant things that I like are hot springs.

is is foreign

I'm sure the bones will drag you down.

I guess you're all healed now.

Yep, all better.

Good. I cut you up pretty badly when I lost my temper. I'm glad you survived.

Is that how a killing machine gives a compliment?

Did you say something?

Nope, not a word.

So what brings you to Linworm?

I'm a special guest for the Goddess Trial. And you?

A friend invited me. Said there was a really fun event going on.

I'm guessing the event is this Goddesses Trial thing.

So what exactly do people do there?

You came all the way here and you don't even know?

The Goddess Trial is an annual event held on the one day of the year when the

door to the sanctuary is opened.

It's a fighting ritual.

Fighting?

Ancient warriors awaken and come out of the sanctuary to compete against

challengers. So basically you're saying they're fighting ghosts?

I wonder if that's what Alpha was talking about.

If you were hoping to participate, then you're too late. You have to apply in

advance to fight.

The ancient warriors only answer the call of challengers they deem worthy.

Hundreds of hopefuls try their luck every year, but only about ten actually

get to battle.

Although a few years ago, the wandering swordsman Venom made waves by summoning

the hero Olivier.

Did he beat him?

Apparently not.

But it's not like I was there to see it, so I don't know.

I couldn't even say if the warrior he summoned was actually the real Olivier.

In case you were wondering, I won't be fighting. I have more important things

to do.

They haven't made this information public yet, but the archbishop at the

cathedral here has been murdered.

There were always unsavory rumors going around about him, and the reason I came

here was that I was supposed to audit him.

Oh, but I'm afraid I can't say any more to an outsider.

If you want to know more, you'll have to join the Crimson Knights. No, thank you.

You should join after you graduate.

No, thank you.

I'll fill out an application for you. Don't.

You're stubborn.

I had assumed you would ogle me like you were trying to eat me with your eyes.

But I see I was wrong.

I make it a point not to look at people much while soaking in a hot spring.

To keep us all more comfortable while bathing.

In that spirit...

Might I ask you to stop glancing over at my Excalibur?

You call that thing you have Excalibur? I think the word you're looking for is

worm. You mustn't judge a book by its cover.

You may come to find out that what you thought was a worm was a sword that was

merely still contained in its sheath.

When a holy sword is removed from its sheath This sparkling blade is set free

to plunder the garden of chaos

Legend says that long ago, to drive away the demon Diablos, the goddess Beatrix

bestowed her powers upon the esteemed and courageous hero, Olivier.

Olivier fought valiantly against the demon, eventually severing his left arm,

which is said to be sealed away in this very sanctuary.

And to this day, the ancient warriors who fought fearlessly at Olivier's side

in this crusade await you on the other side of the sanctuary door!

Every single one of you know what it is that these warriors are hoping for.

I don't like it.

Acting Archbishop Jack Nelson.

Freaking baldy. You might want to mourn at least a little.

You're canceling the audit? How can you do that?

How can I not?

The royal family sent you here to investigate His Grace the Archbishop.

But as you can see, he has met with grave misfortune.

We in the Church must find the vile fiend who committed this heinous act,

and apprehend them without delay.

And if we are to ensure that the Goddess' trial is carried out

successfully, then I have no time to indulge your hobbies, if you'll forgive

me. I ask that you please leave Church matters to the Church, as you always

have. I will personally compose a letter to His Majesty the King.

You are relieved of this task. So, Princess Alexia.

You may just sit back and enjoy the gobster's trial.

I need to get back to the royal capital and convince my father to give his

authorization again so the Crimson Knights can do the audit. Do you have

any idea how many days that will take just for the trip?

Obviously, all the important evidence will be disposed of while I'm gone.

I could do the audit anyway, but I don't want to sour relations between the royal

family and the divine teachings.

And Baldia's right here in front of me screaming, Prime Suspect, I just don't

like it.

Speaking of things I don't like... Thank you so much for your support!

Natsume Kafka.

She's supposedly a popular new author. But that perfectly polished demeanor?

That dignity could hardly come from a rookie writer.

I'm not buying it. Everybody knows that someone who looks like her on the

outside is actually corrupt on the inside.

I don't like it.

Alexia Midgar.

This woman is not worthy of the Chronicles of Lord Shadow complete

edition. Taking advantage of her position as princess and classmate just

to get close to Lord Shadow, the pest.

As if she weren't sadly lacking in talent, beauty, and love for Lord

Shadow. As if she weren't inferior in every way. The role she's taken is

vastly better suited to a charming, silver-haired, blue-eyed elf with a

beauty mark on her cheek.

Everybody knows women like her are the most corrupt on the inside. Of course,

Lord Shadow would never be attracted to a woman of such shoddy hair.

Princess Alexia!

My foot!

Oh my! Is something the matter?

My foot is... Oh my! Is something the matter?

You little...

Now, great and divine Beatrix, please hear our humble prayer!

Allow the warriors gathered here today to undergo your supreme trial!

goddess' trial begin!

Our first contender is a

challenger from the Orianna Kingdom, Top Materius!

Did you know? If an ancient warrior appears, you won't be able to leave that

dome of light until either the challenger or the ancient warrior is

down for the count. Last year, somebody died.

Seriously? Why?

Would you pay hundreds of thousands of zinni to potentially get yourself

killed? Because if you manage to beat an ancient warrior, you get a commemorative

medal. With one of those babies, you can go to any knight order in any nation in

the world, and they'll hire you for sure.

Wow. That is something to write home about.

I see.

Thank you for your perfect example of background character exposition.

But never mind that.

I don't suppose I'll get to do anything eminence and shadowy during this event.

Oh, ancient warrior!

Hear my call and answer my summons!

Now, from the Midgar Knight Order, we have next ten line!

I mean, it's such a big event.

Be ashamed to just accept my background character status and do nothing. I want

to, you know, make a dashing entrance, show off my imminent powers, and have

them all go, Who is that mysterious man?

Next from the Logus Vigilante Corps, Still Ain't Happening!

If only they would accept walk-in entries.

I mean, I could say rules be damned and jump into the competition anyway.

But I think I'd prefer to save a juicy appearance like that for a more

important and appropriate scene.

And is each fighter only allowed one battle in this tournament?

As Eminence and Shadow, what I really want to do is disguise myself as a

weakling nobody and win my way through under the radar.

Oh well.

Guess I'll just accept my role as background character this time.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen Alpha.

I hope this will be over soon.

After all that, it looks like someone named Anne Rose is the only one who

managed to summon an ancient warrior.

Next, from the Midgar Academy for Dark Knights, Cid Coggino!

Next is a guy named Cid Coggino. That is such a background character name.

Cid Coggino.

Wait! So we have a student of the Dark Knight Academy, do we? Then he must no

doubt be quite the skilled fighter to be chosen for this.

Once we've traversed the thorny path ahead...

Our contented future awaits us.

I can hardly believe it! A student attempting the Goddess' trial?

He must be so incredibly brave!

Yeah! You can bet he's one of the most popular kids in the whole school!

We're not gonna want to miss this!

Option 1.

Resign myself to fight in the trial.

But if a really powerful ancient warrior pops out, everyone will find out that I

have eminent powers.

They seem to match everyone's level pretty accurately, after all.

Option 2. Run away.

That's a hard pass.

They already know that I'm a student at the Dark Knight Academy.

If the administrators find out I incurred the wrath of the divine

teachings, I could get expelled.

What would my sister say?

Option three... Hmm... Sid Cargano!

Can we take this to mean you withdraw?

He isn't coming out?

No surprise, we do usually have two or three a year who get cold feet.

What is that bright light?

What is this? We were not planning to have a show.

Look!

What is that?

It can't be.

Shadow?

Option three.

Confuse the matter.

By my calculations, no matter how intense the fighting, confusion ensues

when a bomb goes off.

My name is Shadow.

He who lurks in and hunts the shadows.

Shadow? Why on earth would he be here?

Where could Sid be?

Shadow. The filthy rat that's been skittering around at our feet.

You've overestimated your power, young man, and will soon rue that foolishness.

Ancient memories lie slumbering within the sanctuary.

This night, we shall set them free.

How's this happening? I did not activate anything like this.

An ancient warrior is answering his call.

Well, well, this turned into a pretty big deal.

Can't be! There is just no way!

Aurora, the Witch of Calamity!

Miss Natsume, who is Aurora?

Aurora, the Witch of Calamity.

She once rained chaos and destruction down upon our world.

I've never heard of her.

And how is it that you know about her?

It comes from being an author, of course.

That being said, through the ages, they have called Aurora the Witch of

Calamity. But as to what chaos she caused or destruction she rained down

upon us, there are no records left that describe it.

Dear Archbishop, if you would be so kind, please tell me more about the

Witch of Calamity. Of course, I'd be glad to.

Yes, indeed.

It is only to be expected that your Highnesses wouldn't have heard of her.

In fact, I'm quite surprised that Miss Natsume recognizes her.

After all, even in the church... The name Aurora is known only to a very

select few.

Still, this Shadow person is rather unfortunate.

I can hardly believe anyone would summon Aurora. She was known as the most

powerful witch in all of history. A lowly bandit such as him will be utterly

helpless against her.

I'm not so sure.

If the Goddess Trial summoned this Aurora woman as an appropriate opponent

for Shadow, that can only mean one thing.

It means that Shadow's powers have reached the same level as one who

destroyed the world.

I doubt this will be over so quickly.

She feels the same way I do.

A battle is a conversation.

The shifting of a sword's point.

The movement of one's gaze.

The placement of the feet.

All of them reflect your opponent's will.

We read those cues to give each other better responses, back and forth, again

and again.

This is the real essence of battle.

Well, it appears that my prediction was right.

That's an ancient battle technique.

He's more persistent than I expected, but I think it's clear that he's

outmatched. But not a single one of her spears has come close to hitting him.

Huh?

Isn't that correct, dear Princess Alexia?

Yes, you're correct.

That woman is strong, and no ordinary Dark Knight could ever manage against

her attacks.

But Shadow is still only betching.

I'm loving this, my violet-eyed opponent.

Actually, let me call you Violet, with my deepest affections.

I haven't been able to have a decent conversation like this in a very long

time.

Which is why dear violet.

I'm so happy I get to speak with you

That's also how I know

It's too bad

I wish I could have fought you at full strength.

He won.

Yes, he did.

Impossible. You're saying that she lost?

But Aurora was doing all of the fighting on the offensive.

the sanctuary answered his call so shadow it is true that you are