Seirei no Moribito – ep5

I still continued to be awed by the level of animation. Anyway, in yet another build up, we discover more of what exactly is in Chagum, thanks to Torogai. An organisation “Blue Hand” dealing with slaves, is introduced as the key to Balsa’s escape as well.

Seems like what’s inside Chagum is the egg of Nyunga Ro Im, or what the people of Yogo will call a water fiend, and the Yakue a water spirit. The Nayug and Sagu exists together, where Sagu stands for “this world”. Nayug could thus be the afterlife. The water fiend could result in a large drought.
Thus the irony as a  descendant of Torgal had founded the nation by defeating a water fiend. Now an egg is inside a prince, because of which the emperor has to kill him. Laying the egg in the prince thus endangers the egg.

 Thus it would appear that Chagum is the Guardian of the Sacred Spirit (egg).

Torogai asks of how Balsa has been. Sure it sounds nice to save the same number of lives to redeem those who died saving Balsa. Yet in being a body guard, how many has Balsa killed. Balsa answers that she hasn’t killed any since leaving Tanda two years ago though. But Torogai questions that if Balsa protects Chagum, the drought will  kill millions, would Balsa still do it as the risk of so many lives. Balsa answers that she will, and will solve all the other problems at the same time.

Meanwhile, Balsa chooses to send away Tohya and Saya. Tanda escorts them out. But outside, they meet a group of men. From there, they find out that the emperor is recruiting tons of country men to search for Balsa. Thus it won’t just be ONLY one or two hundreds, but will be much more.

We see Shuga undergo a super complicated process to go into the secret vault, where even the emperor can’t enter. Entering, he discovers a humongous chamber filled with the ancient Yogo texts.

Tanda meanwhile has recovered the treasure given to Balsa. Going into a shophouse, he meets the leader of the “Blue Hand”, whom he tells that Balsa wanted to buy all their merchandise. What Tanda doesn’t know is that they deal with slaves.

The leader ends up going back to Tanda’s hut. After much negotiation, the treasure buys Balsa 30 slaves, as well as a horse. Balsa simply wants them to release the 30 slaves the very next day. She seemed to already have known that the emperor would send a massive manhunt.

However, after the Blue Hand leaves, Tanda is seen to be in anger. He is frustrated that Balsa just simply always never asks for help.

Thoughts

Lots of dialogue, and little action yet.  Yet there’s plenty of plot progession.

We now learn more of what exactly is in Chagum, and Torogai would be traveling to the knot to learn more.  At the same time, we see more of Balsa’s motivation in fighting. Tanda’s affection for Balsa seems to be revealed as well.

It appears that next episode would be one of action, with the start of the man hunt.