Mission 01. Nice to Meet You

“I got to experience the love of a lifetime. So much so that I didn’t care whether the world stayed intact or not.”

A young scientist reads these words on a big screen and finds herself feeling deeply emotional, despite the fact that she’s never fallen in love.

“Even if the whole world sees him as an enemy, our bond will stay strong. Before his soul is completely destroyed-... the time has come-...”

Your fate is being rebooted.

The scientist, Joshua Highland (Yoshua Hairando), wakes up in her sleeping bag to the sound of a small android. She’d fallen asleep reading a book her friend Yuuna had lent her, “My Great Love with my Husband.” She actually only managed to make it through one page. It’s a very popular book, and Yuuna wants Joshua to sprinkle some romance into her life… but she can’t be bothered, so she makes her android Gii analyze its contents so that it can summarize it to her later.

As if on cue, Yuuna calls Joshua and asks what she’s up to. Joshua says she’s repairing the upper duct of the royal capital’s energy core. Strong winds have been blowing from the polluted zone and damaging the device. Yuuna suggests she stop working and go on a date with someone instead, but Joshua’s never been into that stuff, and the entire capital is depending on this energy core. The core was made 400 years ago by Agartha City and is still being used today. But Agartha and all the wisdom belonging to its citizens have now disappeared. Joshua feels that she can “hear a voice” within these relics left from the ancient city state, and believes that listening to this voice will open up a path back to Agartha. Perhaps, beyond the polluted lands they live on, there lies an ancient form of technology that no one has discovered yet. Agartha ruled the world with its technology, but it can’t be replicated, at least not yet.

The war that occurred 400 years ago is now known as “the Doomsday War.” It is believed that it started because the weapons that humans had created started rebelling against them, and this led to the collapse of Agartha. The survivors of the war built new countries around the semi-permanent energy devices that stayed intact, and used these devices as their countries’ “cores.” Excavation projects are still being conducted to find more relics and ancient information. Joshua lives in Town 4 of the Pholus (Forusu) Kingdom, which was built over 300 years ago using the core of an excavated battleship. In the kingdom, they use automatic devices called “roids” as helpers and workers. They come in a variety of different shapes:

Joshua activates a device in her arm called “Arc” (Aaku), which allows her to dip her hand into the core and communicate with it. She asks if it knows where Agartha is, but doesn’t receive an answer.

Two figures walk up to Joshua, Captain Ortho (Oruto; the light-haired one) and Shiva (Shiiva), who both tell her she’s working too hard. Although Joshua feels extremely nervous around men, she’s fine with the guys on her team. 

She tells them it’s probably impossible to fix the energy control panel. Ortho tells her they’ll go excavate a new one. Shiva asks if she was able to learn anything about Agartha. Joshua tells him that the core stayed in use for so long that its voice has become distant. The roids they’ve dug up are losing their memories, but it’s alright; the Gods won’t give up on surviving humans.

---

Two human workers discuss the recent awakening of a weapon-type roid outside of Pholus’ borders. Luckily, Pholus has a barrier that makes it impossible for weapons to attack its residents. The large transport roid they were using breaks down, and before they can contact a repair team, Joshua sneakily fixes it, careful not to have to interact with the two men. The workers are surprised to see that the machine is working again, and one of them points out that broken machines have been getting mysteriously fixed around these parts, perhaps by a “repair fairy.” Joshua is happy to be called that. She’s never been to school, but she grew up in the Defense Roid Research Center’s Arc Laboratory surrounded by roids, so she can interact with roids more easily than she can with humans.

Joshua hops on her little scout plane and flies into the desert to find some spare parts, following the faint signals the ancient machines produce. She receives a call from Ortho who asks for an update, and she tells him that she’s received a signal from a large aircraft; they might be able to use it to fix the central core. Ortho reminds her not to get too close to the polluted zone because it might destroy her scout plane. Joshua is aware of this; what she’s really concerned about is that the signal is coming from an area near the Zirconia (Jirukonia) Empire, so she’s got to make sure they don’t reach the source of the signal first and use it for military purposes. Ortho says they’ll come to help her out once they’re done suppressing a weapon roid they’ve found in Area C8. Shiva aggressively tells her not to get close to the roid if it’s a weapon.

Joshua enters Area A14, where she finds three weapon roids. As per international law, once a weapon roid is discovered, it must be destroyed and dismantled. The weapon roids around her have all been deactivated, but she should still be careful. During the war, humans fought weapons using bombs that would destroy their cores, so the polluted zone still damages the weapons’ parts. Agartha City created a beautiful world, but war couldn’t be stopped. Joshua wonders why.

In Area A15, Joshua notices that the roid’s signal is coming from underground. Right after this realization, a large, flying roid called an Airscythe (Easaisu) appears near her, which had protected international borders 400 years ago. It’s Joshua’s first time seeing a functional one. Her roid Gii suggests that it probably got exposed when the ground cracked during a recent earthquake, got charged under the sunlight and started working again. Joshua is touched to see it trying to protect a country that no longer exists. Gii tries to warn her not to alert it, but it (Gii) abruptly stops working. A signal radiating from the Airscythe starts ringing in Joshua’s head and she hears a voice asking for help. The Airscythe’s eyes turn red like a weapon roid and it attacks Joshua’s scout plane. She falls into a crack on the ground.

Joshua wakes up underground, covered in a black web. She notices that she’s lying on top of a humongous weapon roid.

She’s amazed to have found a weapon in such a pristine state and wonders if she can find clues regarding Agartha within it, but the Airscythe tries to attack her from above. She hears a voice coming from the weapon.

“...firm… confirming… my master… our fates… together… contract…”

Joshua notices that the weapon is moving. She thinks she’s willing to sacrifice anything if it means she’ll get closer to Agartha, but she can’t afford to die yet.

She opens her eyes and finds herself in a white, empty space, connected with a string to a man who turns towards her and says he’s found her.

The machine attacks the Airscythe and destroys it. It changes from weapon to soldier mode, and its body turns into that of the man from earlier:

“OZ-009 will be guarding its master from now on.”

Joshua loses consciousness.

---

The Arc team have found a broken roid with its core intact, so they can use it to fix the central core of their town. They can’t figure out what’s broken the roid though. Shiva is furious at Joshua for going off on her own again, and the others tease him for how overly protective he is of her.

---

Joshua wakes up flying in her damaged scout plane, in the arms of the weapon roid in human form. He introduces himself as Guld Wing (Garudo Wingu), a transforming weapon roid. Joshua nervously asks what’s going on. Guld, operating the plane, says they’re going back to the capital of Pholus. He asks if she has to destroy and dismantle him since he’s a weapon. Joshua asks why he knows that and Guld reveals that he heard all about it from Gii. Guld says it’s sad that humans created weapons to satisfy their egos, forced them to fight their wars, and now that the weapons have become unmanageable, selfish humans want them all destroyed. With a creepy smile, he adds that Joshua had some nerve awakening an extremely powerful weapon like him.

Before Joshua can get scared, Guld pokes her cheek and says he likes her. He doesn’t have any memories from 400 years ago and he doesn’t hate humans. It’s thanks to Joshua inadvertently becoming his master that he was able to wake up, so he’ll act in accordance with their contract and dedicate his body and soul to protecting her. Joshua can’t understand why she’s become his master. Guld realizes that she didn’t choose him intentionally and pouts, which Joshua finds very human-like. As part of their contract, Guld has placed part of his core into Joshua’s head, so if she dies he’ll also die, and vice versa. Their contract is eternal, “til death do them part.” Joshua freaks out and tells him the system is ridiculous and people from 400 years ago must have been out of their minds. She demands that he cancel the contract, but Guld says she’s the luckiest person in the world. Guld is “widely celebrated as a God-like weapon,” so she must have done something amazing in her previous life to have earned this. Joshua thinks she’s dug up the worst thing imaginable.

Guld says he’s hungry and tries to bite Joshua’s face. Joshua pushes him away in panic and has to remind herself that Guld is not a man but a roid. Her arm has entered his torso and immobilized him; when Guld asks how she’s done this, she says she can use a lost form of technology called Arc, which lets her analyze roids and harvest their energy. She’s absorbed his remaining energy and noticed that his energy core is in a bad shape. She gives him a bit of the roid energy she’d absorbed in the morning. Guld smiles and says Joshua really is the type of person he’d thought she was, and refuses to elaborate when Joshua asks what he means.

Joshua wonders if Guld really is a weapon; she’d always thought that weapons were just violent machines that would massacre humans without question, but Guld seems to have feelings. This means he must have felt awfully lonely for 400 years.

Guld asks if the entire world is a desert. Joshua explains that there apparently used to be a lot of greenery. They’re flying past an explosion zone left from the Doomsday War, and Joshua notices that a Zirconian excavation machine is there.

A scout plane from Zirconia appears and starts shooting at them. Joshua is furious that Zirconians think they can attack vehicles from Pholus just because Pholus is a smaller country. Guld turns part of his body into a weapon and calmly tells Joshua that he’ll eradicate them. Joshua tries to stop Guld and makes him miss his target, so he shoots the plane’s wing off. He asks why she’s letting them escape when they tried to kill her. Joshua explains that attacking them will start a war and cause more people to die; they can’t give Zirconia a reason to invade Pholus. Guld says she should just let him destroy the whole empire. Joshua notes that he doesn’t understand the value of life, so he really must be a weapon. The pilot of the Zirconian scout plane escapes with a parachute.

Joshua tries to calm Guld down by saying she’s not hurt and she doesn’t hate Zirconia, which works; it seems like Guld’s actions are connected to her feelings. 

They’re close to reaching the capital of Pholus, where Guld will be destroyed and dismantled. Joshua tries to convince herself that this is the standard procedure, besides, he tried to eat her and arbitrarily put his core into her body. Guld interrupts her thoughts by apologizing for trying to kill the Zirconian pilot and scaring Joshua. He asks if she’s afraid of him. She says she isn’t; he was just trying to protect her. Guld explains that he was created for the sole purpose of destroying his enemies, but he’ll stop acting as a weapon if that’s what his master wishes. Joshua is touched that he’s willing to throw his life’s purpose away in order to coexist with a human, even though he’s about to be destroyed. But he’s not just a weapon; he has the soul of a human.

She tells him to call her Joshua, not “master,” and makes him pinky swear that he will never kill anyone. He’s not allowed to show anyone his weapon parts or to act in a way that may put others in danger. Otherwise, she won’t let him live with her. Guld happily accepts and says he’ll live with Joshua until they die, which Joshua says is inevitable thanks to his weird core-injection thing. She’ll have to teach him how to live like a human. Joshua thinks to herself that protecting a weapon like this may make the whole world see her as an enemy.

Guld says that what Joshua has just described to him is marriage. Joshua freaks out, and Guld explains that he learned about it from Gii. He starts reciting the book Joshua had made Gii memorize, “My Great Love with my Husband.” In the book, the characters recognize that they’re fated to be together right after they meet each other, and promise to be together until they die, which is similar to Joshua and Guld’s situation. Joshua doesn’t like the sound of that.

Mission 02. Meeting the Capital

Two people from the Zirconia Empire discuss who shot down their scout plane. The plane that attacked them was partially broken, so its national emblem wasn’t there; they can’t determine which country the plane was from, but based on the attack, they think their attacker may have been using a weapon roid. The authoritative figure with an eye patch says that Zirconia’s excavation work is the key to Agartha, so they can’t afford to let any strangers get their hands on it. He instructs the other person to find their assailant using spies and to obliterate them. Zirconia must become the first country to unveil the supreme wisdom of Agartha.

---

Having reached Town 4 of Pholus’ capital, Joshua explains to a local mechanic that her scout plane got damaged during an Airscythe attack. Guld proudly tells him that she landed on top of him and he promised to protect her with his life; Joshua tries to shut him up, but the mechanic finds this very charming.

Joshua thinks that Guld must be one of Agartha’s biggest masterpieces, so if she can manage to fully analyze him, she’ll be able to understand Agartha’s technology and perhaps even find hints to its whereabouts. Spending time with him might help her get over her fear of men as well. Joshua asks if she can analyze Guld in the laboratory, and he gladly accepts. She excitedly asks if she can cut his head open.

Guld says she should really consider letting him destroy Zirconia. Joshua, of course, rejects his proposal, and says they’re not in danger because their plane’s national emblem was broken, and Pholus’ scout planes are exported to many other countries. Even if they are found, Joshua can use the footage she has of the attack to claim that it was in self-defense. For now, Guld just has to do his best not to stand out.

As they enter the town, two guards talk behind Joshua’s back, saying she’s part of the Arc team; they shouldn’t make eye contact with her, or she’ll devour them. Her scout plane got destroyed, so who knows what sorts of dangerous activities she’s getting caught up in? Guld threatens the guards, saying “If this were a battlefield, you’d be dead.” His weapon parts start growing from his back. Joshua covers his back with her coat, tells the guards that he’s a newbie, and takes him away. She reminds him that he’s not supposed to let anyone see his weapon parts, but he wasn’t aware they were showing, and he’s too brilliant of a creation to lie.

Guld asks what the Arc team is. Joshua explains that it’s part of the Defense Roid Research Center’s Arc Laboratory. They mainly analyze and subjugate weapons. They’re all Arc users, and since their powers are so mysterious, some regular people find them creepy. Guld offers to destroy everyone that thinks that way. Joshua smiles and says the world wouldn’t be fun if everything was the way she wanted them to be. She thanks him for getting angry in her place.

The town is crowded. Joshua freezes, as she occasionally does in crowds.

Guld asks if she hates crowds. She says they kind of mess with her brain. Guld grabs her and tells her not to worry, she’s got the world’s strongest being by her side.

Guld carries Joshua on top of his shoulders and runs around town, which embarrasses Joshua, but she eventually notices that people are smiling at them. It’s like the world is sparkling. Guld points out that this is a fine, strong town, having come back to life after destruction. Joshua thanks Guld but asks to be put down now.

Guld starts feeling hungry again, so Joshua gives him a chocolate bar, which Guld describes as “a mass of lipids.” He likes it and offers to devote his life to protecting its maker, alongside Joshua of course. Joshua tries to drown his voice by asking the vendor for another bar of chocolate. She tells Guld that tons of people are making chocolate around town, so he can’t possibly protect all of them. Guld decides to protect the entirety of the capital.

Cute little roids appear and start demanding to see Guld’s ID. Joshua tells the roids that Guld isn’t a suspicious person, so the roids run away. These roids are Joshua’s own invention, “Mocchi-kun”s, and their job is to stop intruders. Guld will need an ID to stay in town, so she’ll arrange one for him in the laboratory.

A small boy runs past them, having stolen a rare human-like roid part from a man. Mocchis run behind the boy, which Guld finds adorable. As the boy is trying to cross the street, he falls, and an armored vehicle almost runs him over. Joshua runs towards the boy to grab him, but before she can, the kid disappears. Joshua notices that Guld has appeared behind her, holding the boy. Guld’s body is damaged but it immediately heals itself. Joshua is amazed that he saved the boy without her ordering him to do so. Guld says it’s a given that he’d do this, because no child deserves to die. Joshua realizes that he does know the value of life, and acts depending on his own understanding of good and evil, unrelated to his programming as a roid. She hugs and thanks him, and Guld asks her what “thank you” means. She says he did something very valuable and impressed her, so she said “thank you” to express that she is grateful and proud to be with him. Guld says he’ll work hard to receive more “thank yous” than any man in the world; after all, he’s trying to achieve a love story even greater than the one in “My Great Love with my Husband.”

The man thanks Guld for stopping the child and taking the roid part back. It’s an eye belonging to a human-like roid; the man’s dream is to acquire a roid like that, so he’s spent a lot of money on the eye. Unlike the roids used for labor, human-like roids haven’t left behind any remains other than their bones, so they must have had organic skin and organs. The man hopes that one day, Agartha’s secrets are revealed and these roids recreated. Joshua is very impressed and asks to see the eye.

A mysterious hooded figure watches Joshua and Guld from afar. When a Mocchi asks him for ID, the man is able to provide it. He notes that he wasn’t able to keep up with Guld’s movements when the armored vehicle hit him; the man may have found something even grander than what he was after. He shares information using a communication device: as part of the team that’s infiltrated Pholus, he has found the emblemless scout plane in Town 4. One of the two pilots of the plane may be a new type of roid. He will continue his investigations.

Mission 03. Going Down

Joshua takes Guld to the Arc team’s laboratory before the others come back, so that she can make a fake ID for him. She’s good at hacking, so she’ll be able to do it easily. He can’t get an actual ID because they can’t let him take a physical test. Pholus has great trade relations with other countries, so being a Pholus citizen is actually quite prestigious. But the energy cores of the country can only sustain a certain number of people, so receiving an ID is not easy.

They get on the elevator to the lab and Guld starts posing at a surveillance camera because “that’s what humans do.” Joshua says that after making him an ID, they have to report the Zirconian scout plane using the footage Joshua has on some sort of physical drive. The elevator doors close, and the mysterious figure from earlier watches them from afar and receives a message from his superiors: “We’ve contacted our spies in all 17 countries that use that type of plane. We’re certain that the only plane that’s engaged in battle with us and gotten damaged in the past 24 hours belongs to Pholus. Obliterate those pilots before they leak our information. If one of them really is a new type of roid, bring them to the Empire.”

---

In the elevator, Joshua tells Guld that the Arc laboratory is in a cave 100m underground. Guld doesn’t like the sound of that. Joshua receives a message from the rest of the Arc team: a weapon has appeared in Area F5, and they’ll come back once they’ve subjugated it. Guld is excited to hear that and tries to pry the doors of the elevator open so that he can go help them destroy the weapon. Joshua reminds him that he can’t let anyone see his true form. Guld dramatically declares that she’s wasting his unrivaled strength. The laws they must abide by are so sinful that he ought to destroy and write new ones. Joshua considers dismantling him there and then.

Guld asks if humans can even stand up against weapons, given how weak they are. Joshua tells him to get serious for a second: if the Arc team learns that he’s a weapon, they’ll devour him.

---

In Area F5, 20km north of the capital, two men run from weapon roids in their flimsy vehicle. Right as a weapon is about to shoot them, it’s destroyed by the Arc team.

---

Joshua explains that Arc is a power that lets its users eat weapons. Joshua can consume the energy of weapons and analyze them, so she eats weapons to discover their weak spots. Arc users are the predators of weapons. Joshua’s teammates specialize in combat, so Guld absolutely can’t afford to let them discover his identity. Guld doesn’t take this seriously at all and jokes about Joshua wanting his body instead. He says that in “My Great Love with my Husband” the protagonists have an accident on some mountain and the husband offers to let his hungry wife eat his body, which Guld thinks is the ultimate display of love. He tells her to eat him. Joshua punches him in the chest.

They reach the lab but Guld is annoyed that he has to be in a dark cave after being underground for hundreds of years. Joshua points out that the lab isn’t dark at all, it’s lit with a mineral that humans discovered after the war, called Blue Tear (Buruutia). It’s one of Pholus’ main exports. Guld is amazed, but he notices something ahead and pushes Joshua out of the way right as something shoots at them. She gets a cut on her face. Guld rushes towards the dark assailant with a gun, carrying Joshua, saying he won’t let them get away with hurting her. He says he’ll kill them and starts transitioning from guard mode to weapon mode. Joshua tells him to stop because there are people around. Lab workers inform authorities of an attack, and they speculate that the assailant may have been a foreign spy, or even a weapon roid.

Joshua assures Guld that she’s okay. Guld struggles to choose between killing the assailant and protecting his promise with Joshua. He starts freaking out, which Joshua explains to lab workers as “cave stress.”

The mysterious hooded figure from before, now in the lab, offers to treat the wound on Joshua’s face. Joshua, scared of men as always, kindly tries to get away. Guld, still confused and chanting something about killing, goes up to Joshua, having sensed her stress. To spare the man’s life, Joshua lies about knowing the man and agrees to let him treat her wound.

After placing a bandage on Joshua’s face, the man asks if she has any idea who could have attacked them in such a heavily guarded place. Joshua doesn’t know. She asks why the man isn’t uncomfortable talking to her, since she’s an Arc user. The man says she should ignore narrow-minded people like that; they’re trying to make themselves feel better by hating and rejecting things they don’t understand. The man is planning on using this moment as an opportunity to kill Joshua, but Guld suddenly grabs his hand and declares that he likes him, because he gets it! The man notes that Guld’s hand feels like that of a real human, so if he really is a roid, he must have been made with advanced technology on par with Agartha’s. He asks if Guld is an Arc user as well. Guld ignores his question and says he’s “Guld Wing, the only person who gets to share his fate with Joshua,” and asks for the man’s name while poking his cheek. He says it’s Virgil Hunt (Vaajiru Hanto).

Virgil asks if Guld is referring to Dr. Joshua Highland. Joshua says that is in fact her. Virgil says he’s read her thesis on how roid analysis can help unravel the mysteries of Agartha. He calls her a leading name in the research of roids. Joshua is excited to hear he’s read her work. She says that if they can acquire the power Agartha had back then, they can purify the polluted zone and make significant developments in grain production and livestock farming. They can also make it so that the cores they use can last forever. Perhaps governments will stop starting wars over small territories and they’ll achieve world peace. She believes that Agartha can make everyone’s wishes come true… and then apologizes for getting too excited and talking too much. Virgil tells her not to apologize. He says the assailant still hasn’t been captured, and he’ll go search for them.

He goes up to the dark figure that had attacked Joshua and absorbs him into the Arc symbol on his right arm. He is now certain that Guld is a roid; he may have been created by Dr. Joshua, so it will be a bit of a waste to kill him. He also believes that Guld is the one that attacked the Zirconian scout plane. Holding the drive that contains Joshua’s footage of the scout plane, he thinks that if Zirconia can prove that Pholus is creating roids that pose a threat to other countries, they can justify Zirconia destroying Pholus and obtain Joshua and her techniques.

Mission 04. You Make My Heart Flutter ☆

Joshua hacks her way into the kingdom’s database to create a fake ID for Guld. Guld says his fake job should be “king,” which Joshua promptly rejects. It should be a position that makes it seem logical for him to constantly be by her side. She offers to register him as her assistant or… her adopted child? Guld says he should be her husband. Apparently, the characters in “My Great Love with my Husband” get married the day they meet. Joshua rejects this as well because normal people don’t do that. She decides to go through with registering him as her adopted son because he acts like a newborn anyway.

The Arc team enters the building and Joshua starts to panic. If they figure out that Guld is a weapon, a literal war will begin. She rushes to finish Guld’s fake ID and completes it right as the elevator doors open and her teammates make their way in. They’ve heard of the shooting, so Ortho asks if Dr. Joshua is okay. Joshua greets them as Guld discreetly alters his ID settings on the computer.

Ortho asks why Joshua’s scout plane broke down, so she tells them about the Zirconian plane that attacked her. Shiva declares that he’s sick of Zirconia and they should just destroy them already, before noticing Guld and asking who he is. Before Joshua can present her lie about him being her assistant, Guld proudly calls himself her husband. Joshua panics and tells him that makes no sense, accidentally admitting that they’ve just met. One of her teammates, Crane (Kurein), asks if they arranged to met each other just so they could get married. Shiva angrily says that offering to get married right away is something a swindler would do. Guld once again calls himself “the only person who gets to share his fate with Joshua,” and Shiva calls this out as a stolen line from “My Great Love with my Husband.” Guld grabs Shiva’s hand and declares him his best friend for having read “Husband Love.” Shiva says that is not the official abbreviation of the series, so he’s got to be a faker. Crane says he’ll call it “Husband Love” from now on. Joshua wonders if she’s the only person in the world who hasn’t read the book yet.

A voice rings in the room ordering the Arc team to search for the assailant that shot Joshua, and for Joshua to go to the lab chief’s room. Guld still hasn’t figured out that Shiva hates him, so he’s very proud of himself for already having acquired a best friend. Joshua tells him to work hard to get the Arc team to trust him. Guld asks what “trust” means. Joshua says it’s believing someone, relying on them and feeling relieved around them. Humans trusted each other, worked together and rebuilt the world after the Doomsday War, so Joshua sees “living together in harmony” as her biggest goal. Guld kisses Joshua’s hand and says he’ll look into what “trust” is, become able to perfectly act like a human, and become a husband that Joshua will want to live with forever, even though they’ve only known each other for a day. Joshua gets flustered but calms herself down, thinking he’s probably imitating “Husband Love” again.

---

Joshua tells the chief of the Arc laboratory, Oz Highland (Ozu Hairando), that she got attacked by someone from Zirconia while flying near an excavation site, and that her assailant chased her into the capital. However, she notices that her small drive containing footage of the attack is missing, and realizes that Virgil stole it from her. Oz says whoever put Joshua’s life in danger has some nerve; the Zirconians don’t have to waste their time hiding whatever it is that they’ve excavated, because Oz will drill their heads open and ask their brains directly. They’ll beg for mercy in hell. Joshua explains to Guld that Oz is her legal guardian and a very important person in the research institution, so he’s got to be careful around him.

Oz adds Virgil to the database’s wanted list and offers to arrange a guard for Joshua to keep her safe until everything is sorted. Guld declares that he’s more than qualified to protect her. Oz says he would tell Guld to go ahead and protect Joshua… were it not for the fact that the two went and got married without even letting Oz know. Joshua thus finds out that the database now lists Guld as Joshua’s husband, not her adopted son. She, of course, gets very flustered.

As a roid serves them tea, Joshua explains to Oz that Guld saved her from an Airscythe. He didn’t seem to have any of his memories, so she decided to help him back, and they ended up forming a weird bond. Oz’s roid tells Oz that they faked an ID for Guld, and Oz scolds Joshua for doing something that would get exposed so easily.

Oz asks Guld what his hobbies and talents are. Guld proudly says they are “slaughter and destruction.” Joshua grabs his shoulder in frustration, livid that this is his so-called perfect impression of a human. Guld tries to backpedal by adding “...are the things I enjoy, like any other normal person.” He adds that he’s promised Joshua not to kill anyone, so there’s no need for Oz to worry. Joshua very loudly says that Guld is just nervous, he likes eating chocolate and he’s good at saving people. Oz tells the two that he’ll arrange a psychiatric evaluation session for Guld.

Oz asks if Guld is an Arc user. Guld says he isn’t. In this case, Oz is impressed that Guld was able to survive the desert. He reveals a photo he has of Guld striking a pose at the surveillance camera in the elevator. Even before Joshua talked to him, Oz had already arranged an investigation into who this mysterious new person was. But even after searching through every single country in their network, they weren’t able to find anything about Guld. He could be from a remote region not included in their network, but he could also be a foreign spy or part of a criminal organization.

Oz doesn’t understand why Joshua would protect a man suspicious enough to not even have an ID. Before he interrogates Guld directly, he demands that Joshua tell him exactly what happened between her and Guld. Joshua hesitates, knowing that Oz will learn that Guld is a weapon if he interrogates him. Oz asks if she’s hesitating because she’s so in love with Guld. Joshua decides that she really has to commit to the lie now, and declares that she wants to start a family with Guld. Her real intent, however, is to analyze his inner workings and find clues that will lead her to the lost technology of Agartha… at least, she thinks so. Guld holds his chest and folds in on himself. His self-destruct mechanism has been activated because he’s “dying of cuteness.”

---

The Arc team has excavated the head of an Airscythe. After a group of workers carry the head to a storage unit, it is suddenly activated.

---

Oz offers to call the medical team to help Guld. Joshua asks how she can disable Guld’s self-destruct mechanism, and he tells her to make it so that the atmosphere isn’t so romantic anymore, although Joshua argues it already isn’t romantic at all.

The Airscythe head appears by the window and demands to see its “God.” Joshua notes that it looks like a weapon. It shoots through the window, but Guld catches its attack with his hand, partially switches to weapon mode, and throws the Airscythe’s attack back to it. Oz is shocked and asks if Guld is a weapon.

Mission 05. Secret x Secret

Oz immediately forms a shield around Guld using his roids and informs authorities that a weapon has infiltrated the laboratory. He tells Joshua that she’s been fooled, and that she has to leave the rest to Ortho and the others. Oz notes that he didn’t know there were transforming weapon roids that could mimic humans. He’ll look into Guld’s abilities when he’s dismantling him.

Joshua destroys Oz’s shield roids with a stick and tells Oz that she won’t let him dismantle Guld. Oz asks if Joshua knew all along that Guld is a weapon. Joshua says Guld has used his powers to protect Joshua multiple times, and she can confirm that Guld is capable of living amongst humans. Guld’s body transforms back to its regular form.

Oz points out that Joshua is violating international peace treaty. If they don’t dispose of Guld right away, they will give other countries a reason to invade Pholus. Besides, weapons are programmed for slaughter and self-defense. Joshua insists that Guld is no ordinary weapon: he was able to form a bond with her. Guld tells Oz that he is aware the world sees him as something unwanted, but Joshua has sacrificed her own well-being to protect him, said “thank you” to him and accepted him as a human, not as a weapon. Her actions have swayed his goals, and he has decided that he wants to do whatever he can to protect Joshua, even if it destroys him. It may be hard for Oz to understand, but he is willing to dedicate his life to Joshua, the way a human would. Joshua realizes that she isn’t only protecting Guld to dig into Agartha’s secrets; she genuinely doesn’t want to lose him. Oz, however, can’t bring himself to accept that a weapon can know of sacrifice or love.

The dramatic tension is eradicated by Ortho and Shiva, who smash a hole on the wall of the lab despite the door being right next to them. Ortho asks if Oz is alright but is confused: where is the weapon he’d alerted them of?

Oz, much to Joshua’s surprise, introduces Guld as the man that defeated the weapon and saved him, and tells them that Guld will be working with them from now on. Oz admits that he, too, is able to see how human Guld’s soul is. Guld and Joshua are both very touched, and they jump on Oz in gratitude. Guld says Oz can use Guld for his studies as much as he wants. When Joshua thanks Oz, he says he’s aware that Joshua can almost-exclusively interact with roids, not humans, so he should have figured Guld’s identity out when he first showed up. Shiva notices Joshua’s happy tears and demands to know if Guld’s done something to hurt her.

Oz orders for Ortho and co to get rid of the remains of the Airscythe that Guld destroyed earlier. The team introduce themselves to Guld as they jump down to retrieve the remains. Crane warns Guld to be careful, since Joshua is Shiva’s favorite.

Oz tells Guld he’d like to talk to him. When Oz first took Joshua in as an orphan, she wasn’t able to speak and appeared to have aphasia, but her eyes would sparkle whenever she saw a roid. Her condition gradually improved and she became a talented roid developer. She became able to communicate with people, as long as roids were around. Having met Guld may change her life. Guld is touched to know that Oz “trusts” him. Oz does however pull out his drill and add that he loves Joshua like she’s his daughter, so he absolutely won’t let them elope or anything. 

Guld starts running out of energy, so Joshua takes him away. Her hand trembles as she holds his, her heart races so much it hurts, and she feels she may not ever get to go back to how she was before. Guld suddenly stops and kisses her. 

It takes Joshua a moment to realize he’s sucking her energy. She notes that she feels the same way she did in her dreams.

---

Six hours before these events, in the excavation zone in Area A15, two scientists converse: the emperor of Zirconia is awaiting an update about their progress. The core of the mysterious weapon they’ve been working on is not responding, so it may be impossible to reboot. 

The scientists are guessing this weapon was the main culprit behind the Doomsday War 400 years ago. If they manage to analyze this weapon, they may discover the exact coordinates of Agartha.

Much to the scientists’ dismay, Prince Sid (Shido) waltzes in with three beautiful girls, saying he’s glad he’s come all the way to this desert to see this “discovery of the century.” The scientists remind him that he’s promised to leave once he’s seen the discovery and tell him not to get too close, for his own safety. Sid, however, wants to add this weapon to his collection back at his palace. The scientists refuse, saying they must keep this as a secret from other countries. They’re quite annoyed that the “stupid prince” is refusing to leave.

The girls jokingly call the weapon scary, but Sid tells them there’s no need for them to worry since it stopped working 400 years ago; besides, if it somehow came back to life, Sid would use it as his personal guard.

Suddenly, Sid gets a headache and starts hearing a voice.

"Fate… together… contract… master recognized…"

Hungry for power, Sid declares that the weapon will serve him for eternity, and the area around him (and the girls) starts glowing red. He is officially recognized as the weapon’s master.

The weapon produces a huge shock-wave, which turns every regular roid in its vicinity into weapons. They demand to see their “God.” 

The big weapon tells Sid that he will be with it for eternity. Sid is overjoyed.

The weapon transforms from weapon mode to soldier mode, but instead of adopting its own body like Guld does, it possesses Sid. Having taken Sid’s body, the weapon no longer has a master that can stop it, and it can operate for all eternity. He hops on a scout plane to finish what started 400 years ago.

Bonus Content

Joshua’s Excavation Journal

Ignoring the workers telling her not to dig on her own, Joshua manages to excavate a roid equipped with exceptional cooking skills. But before she can analyze it, she trips and drops it in a pond. The pond itself, shaped like a big blob of goo (and adorned with a heavenly halo) rises up and asks Joshua what she’s dropped: a strong roid with the brain of an absolute meathead, or a yandere roid that will love Joshua to death. Scared, Joshua says she’s dropped a cooking roid. The pond determines that Joshua is an honest person and rewards her with a humanoid roid capable of all three things they’ve listed: Guld, who says they should die together 🖤

(As you may have noticed, this omake references Aesop’s “The Honest Woodcutter” fable, which was also referenced in the omakes of 07-Ghost volume 5!)

The Scout Planes

The planes have arm attachments for excavation, and their pointy bits can be swapped. The sides of the planes can be rotated to act as a gun meant to be used for self-defense.

These Pholus-made scout planes are exported to 17 different countries. They mainly operate using cores, but newer models have dual fuel engines that can also operate on blue tears, in order to ensure that the cores last longer. 10 grams of blue tear pellets can help operate the planes for 30,000 km. 

The planes are equipped with an anti-gravity system. They can carry up to one ton of excavated material. Their max speed is 380 km/h; it is thought that, after the Zirconian plane attacked them, Joshua and Guld flew at 380 km/h and destroyed the engine of Joshua’s scout plane.

Pholus

The city contains 6 towns built using remodeled battleships. In total, around 300,000 people live in Pholus. The Defense Roid Research Center is based in Town 4, where Joshua lives. Most researchers live in surrounding areas.

The weather is dry from April to September, and the capital and the north side of the state turn into a desert. Lake Rena on the south does not get affected by the polluted zone, so it is the state’s main grain-producing region. Water is brought from the lake to the capital using pipelines, but it is also possible to extract water from 2000m underground using the central core.

Pholus exists within the borders of ancient Agartha, so the scientists living here have many opportunities to excavate old roids in excellent condition. The machines and aircrafts they create using parts of these old roids are the most durable and intricate in the world, so they sell for a hefty price.

Blue tears, which are used for fuel, can be mined in Pholus, but also in the nearby countries of Zirconia, Barkley (Bakkuree) and Bisnio (Bisunio).

Products

Black bread: A stiff bread made using the Haimitsu flour grown in the east of Zirconia and south of Pholus. It has a uniquely sour taste. It’s often cut in thin slices and eaten with cream cheese, honey, or ham. It has more nutritional value than Roi flour and can last many days.

White bread: A soft bread made using the roi flour grown in the south-east of Zirconia and south of Tese. It’s one of the three big staple foods of the world and is particularly popular amongst the elderly population.

Tea leaves: Harvested from the south-east of Zirconia, south of Cavaros (Kavarosu) and north of Oz (Ozu). Zirconia tea can be in green, white or dark varieties, and older leaves are quite valuable. Cavaros tea is black and very fragrant. First flush Cavaros tea is seen as very luxurious and is often presented to royal families. Oz tea is also black, and very delicious; it’s perfect for milk tea. Since it’s used so much in daily life, it is sold more than the other types of tea.

Chocolate: Made using cocoa from a dry region to the south of Treden (Toreden). Pholus is home to many specialists of all sorts, so a lot of talented chocolatiers live here.

Roi snacks: Butter biscuits made with Roi flour. Joshua always has some on hand. Its jam, cocoa and plain varieties are popular, but salted butter flavored Roi snacks have been gaining popularity. Packages may contain coupons for a free pack.

Fresh Sasha leaves: Miere’s (Miire) special herb. Good for depression and stress when drunk after boiling for ten minutes. Tastes just like grass but is popular with people living in deserts and cold regions.

Cheese, dried meat, sausages: A lot of dairy products are imported from Coubel, although they are produced in Pholus as well. You can’t go wrong with Coubel cheese.

Vegetables: Mostly imported from warm climates with heavy rainfall like Tese and Crezel. Some drought-resistant vegetables are grown near Lake Rena in Pholus.

Neon Delivery: Drone delivery directly from the markets to any area within 25km. The drones emit light at night to remain visible. Costs around 50 chinos (1 chino = 10 yen).

Rein fruit: Grown in Crezel in September. Its skin is tough and inedible, but its insides are very sweet and squishy. They have a long shelf-life and are high-calorie, so they’re often brought on trips.

Joshua’s Excavation Journal 2

Guld is in pristine condition, so his body has parts that have decayed away on other high-level roids. The texture of his skin and the sparkle in his eyes are all top grade. Even the rate at which his hair regrows is excellent. So, Joshua believes that the scientists of Agartha were even weirder than she is! Thank you weirdos, long live technology!

Castor: Ugh!

Labrador: What’s wrong?

Castor: Teito is in trouble. I’ve received a signal from my doll in the southern tower’s greenhouse.

Frau: I’ll go. [Leaves his body]

Sister: All bishops performing baptisms, please come in.

Frau: You’ll handle the rest.

---

Aya!Mikage: Did you really think you could get away from the imperial military?

Teito: That wing… is the same as that old man’s! Are… are you a Kor?

Aya!Mikage: A Kor? I’m not as gentle as they are.

Teito: (Huh? The door…)

Aya!Mikage: (I see. That’s the Great Barsburg Church for you. It’s trying to keep the intruder away.)

Teito: I don’t know who the hell you are, but why have you done this to my friend? Why not just come after me directly? Or… is this some sort of exchange? If I return to the military, will you let Mikage go?

Aya!Mikage: An exchange? You don’t deserve such a thing. [Appears behind Teito] Truth be told, I’d much rather kill you.

Teito: [Gasps] [Gets hit] Agh!

Aya!Mikage: Don’t you dare cause me trouble again. [Strangles Teito]

Teito: Agh… Agh… (What the hell? I couldn’t see him move at all.)

Aya!Mikage: Put this control device on. I’m sure you already know what will happen if you defy your master.

Teito: Hngh…

Aya!Mikage: Let’s go.

Teito: Agh… 

[The bridge under Teito starts dissolving]

Teito: (Huh? Is the floor sinki-) Ahhhh! [Falls into the water] (What’s up with this church? Dammit! I’ve got to do something to save Mikage! …Oh, right!) [Charges his Zaiphon]

Aya!Mikage: So he fell...

Teito: [Attacks Aya!Mikage’s wing] If I break that wing… [Attacks the wing] Huh? My Zaiphon passed through it.

Aya!Mikage: Don’t waste your time. [Attacks Teito]

Teito: Aghh! [Gasps for breath] 

Aya!Mikage: [Strangles Teito] I am no Kor. If you cut my wing, this body will die.

Teito: [Gasps]

Aya!Mikage: By the way, you two were having quite the conversation just a while ago. So you think you’re the son of the King of Raggs? As far as we know, he had no children. 

Teito: (Struggling to speak) Return… Mikage…

Aya!Mikage: You can’t make me. Your sense of justice is futile without the power to enforce it. Foolish boy. Mikage’s soul will not return. This is his punishment for protecting you twice and betraying the military.

---

Castor: May God be with you.

Labrador: May the sacred seal placed on your forehead repel Kors.

Archbishop: May you be protected from Kors. Frau. Bring the next chi-

Castor: (Through Frau’s body) Archbishop.

Archbishop: Castor? What happened to Frau? For you to be manipulating his body, something must be going on. 

Castor: A Kor-like creature has appeared in the greenhouse in the southern tower. Frau has left his body to find it.

Archbishop: Kor-like?

Castor: Well… It’s a one-winged Kor in the body of a boy with half a soul.

Archbishop: What?!

---

Frau: (Weird. The southern greenhouse, the cathedrals, the dining hall… I’ve checked everywhere but I just can’t sense them. There are only so many places here that regular humans can enter. Ugh, where the hell has that brat gone?)

Spirit: Ah, it’s Frau!

Frau: Spirits!

Spirit: What’re you up to?

Frau: Have you seen a silly little brat?

Spirit: A silly brat?

Spirit: If you’re talking about the intruder, we’ve locked him away.

Frau: What?

Spirit: Those kids are bad news!

Frau: Teito’s not an intruder, he’s just some twerp! His life is in danger. Let me in!

Spirit: Aww, impatient as always. When we fixed the door and isolated the intruder, a cute little boy got locked in with him.

Spirit: But we’ll open the door for you, our dearest Frau.

[The spirits open the door]

---

[Aya!Mikage puts the collar on Teito]

Teito: Why?

Aya!Mikage: Hm?

Teito: Why won’t you kill me?

Aya!Mikage: I was told to bring you to the military alive.

Teito: Hah. In that case, you’d be screwed if I died. [Traps his own neck with Zaiphon] In exchange for my head, return Mi-

Ayanami: Suicide counts as a form of defiance.

Teito: Agh!

Ayanami: I’d never have thought Miroku’s pupil would be this weak.

Teito: Mikage… [Collapses]

---

Teito: Huh? Where am I? [Gets up] Are those stairs?

[Sounds of someone running up the stairs]

Teito: Is that… me? Is this… the path I’ve been on until now? And up ahead… Hah. What the hell is this wall? Why? Why am I trapped in the wall? Ugh! [Hits the wall] What am I doing? Why am I not moving?! Hey! My friend is in danger! Mikage risked his life to protect me! I can’t just give up! We promised we’d die together! [Breaks the wall]

---

Aya!Mikage: What are these? Tears? Hmph. Pathetic. …Huh?

Michael: Tch. Are you the one that put this collar on me?

[Collar gives off an “error” sound]

Aya!Mikage: There’s no way. No, that’s not-

Michael: [Attacks Aya!Mikage with Zaiphon]

Michael: Take it off. Unleashing level 10.

Aya!Mikage: Bind!

Michael: Ugh! [Collapses]

Aya!Mikage: How was he able to unleash this much power with the control device on?

[Sichel appears]

Frau: Are you the guy that took this brat’s friend?

Aya!Mikage: Are you certain you’ll be fine without your comrades?

Frau: To deal with you? Yeah, I’ll be okay on my own. Look at you, using our sanctuary like a playground.

Teito: U-ugh… [Coughs]

Aya!Mikage: Arrogant as always, Sichel.

Frau: Huh… Who are you? Nobody who’s seen my form has lived to tell the tale.

Teito: They say that when the Chief of Heaven gives humans life, he gives them the chance to make three wishes. Three wishes that they are willing to exchange their lives for. I’d never thought of having dreams. I believed I had no choice but to follow the path the military had laid out for me. 07-Ghost Drama CD: Michael.

Teito: [Opens the door] Mikage! How are you feeling?

Mikage: Teito! I’m feeling great, hehehe.

Teito: Thank god! [Closes the door] I was so worried!

Mikage: Sorry! The bishops have taken great care of me. I’m all good now.

Teito: What are all these gifts by your bed?

Mikage: Got ‘em from the sisters! And, look, Frau even gave me this!

[Oh yeah!]

Teito: Ugh! Porn!

Mikage: He said it’s a must-have for all men.

Teito: Damn that freak! I knew I should’ve been the one taking care of you.

Mikage: Hehe. Were you feeling lonely without me? [Pats Teito’s head] Haha!

Teito: No? Don’t get any wrong ideas! [Swats Mikage’s hand away] Huh? Your hand is… so cold.

---

Frau: So we really can’t save him?

Labrador: No. Mikage will die soon. And only half of him is with us right now. I’m sorry. We could try, but given past cases…

Frau: Ugh. I’ve never seen someone with half a soul before. How the hell did that even happen?

Teito: (Help! Someone please help Mikage! He’s my friend!)

Frau: (Something’s up. Weird things have been popping up left and right ever since that brat appeared.)

Frau: So we for sure can’t do anything to save him?

Castor: No, Labrador’s prophecies are absolute. I’d like to make sure Teito gets enough time to say his farewells. 

Labrador: Someone will come for Teito soon, hoping to destroy his world.

Castor: Are you referring to Mikage?

Labrador: It’s someone else.

Frau: Ugh. Well, you know these subjects are bit too complex for little old me, but if need be I’ll just skip mass and-

Archbishop: Cooking up evil schemes again, are we?

Frau: Agh!

Archbishop: Listen up. You absolutely cannot miss today’s mass. 

Frau: Stupid old fart…

Archbishop: Put your cap on! We’re holding our annual baptism today. Don’t you dare make a fool out of yourself in there.

Frau: Ugh, I get it, geezer.

Archbishop: Call me by my title! [Smacks Frau]

Frau: Ugh!

Castor: I’m observing Teito and his friend. Don’t worry.

---

Mikage: Dang! What a huge greenhouse. I didn’t know churches had these.

Teito: Yep! Oh, and you can eat this flower!

Mikage: Man, you’ve become a full-on church resident already. [Sighs] You look well. I’m really glad.

Teito: Heh. How did you know I was here?

[Castor’s doll makes a sound]

Mikage: (From a distance) Don’t be silly. You can’t just crash your Hawkzile into district seven and not expect me to start my search here.

Teito: Sorry. The people of the church are so nice to me. I haven’t told them anything about myself, but they’re letting me hide here. Ah! But the guy that gave you porn is bad news!

Mikage: Really?

Teito: He’s huge and he looks like a creep. Why would a guy like that become a bishop anyway?! But he does say some nice things sometimes… But no! I’m just not okay with someone like that!

Mikage: Teito?

Teito: Ah, sorry. I’ve been talking too much.

Mikage: Well, that’s why I’m here! You can tell me anything and everything you want.

Teito: Okay… (I told him about everything I’d remembered so far. The fact that I was from the Raggs Kingdom that the empire destroyed... That a Father took care of me as a kid, and that he also got killed by the empire... Mikage listened to everything I said without saying anything. It made me so happy. But there was still a weird pain in my heart.) …And that’s it. I know it’s weird that a slave like me is saying all this. Must be hard to believe. Sorry.

Mikage: I believe you.

Teito: Huh?

Mikage: I mean, you’ve always had some sort of nobility to you, or, like, a stuck-up attitude. It was a headache keeping up with you! I kept thinking “Man, is this dude a prince or something?” So I get it. You couldn’t befriend anyone but me like that. I was worried.

Teito: Gee, thanks. 

Mikage: When the Raggs war ended, I was only 5 years old.

---

Kairen: Hahaha! We did it! We did it!

Mikage: What are you so happy about, dad?

Kairen: Huh? We won the war! We’ve beaten our enemies!

Mikage: Enemies? Uhh… (Why is he happy that we’ve killed people?)

---

Mikage: I was born in the country that destroyed yours, so I may not have the right to say this, but I’m glad you’re still carrying your parents’ love in your heart. Teito Klein, you’ve never been alone a day in your life.

Teito: Heh… (I’ve only been here in the church for a couple of days, but our days back in the military academy feel so far away.)

Mikage: So, what do you want to do?

Teito: I- Ugh! Aghhh! Ah! [Falls on his knees] 

Mikage: Teito?

---

[Jingles]

Krom: Teito.

Teito: Dad?

Krom: I’ll only tell you this once, so please listen well. [Takes out the Eye of Michael] The Eye of Michael carries all of Raggs’ history. Teito, you must carry our legacy on. That is your mission.

---

Teito: Ugh… My mission… is to… learn the history of Raggs. Agh!

Mikage: Teito! Are you okay?

Teito: Mikage, I’m so sorry. I know you’re here to take me back to the military, but I can’t go. 

Mikage: Oh. Hm. Can you stand up, Teito? [Helps Teito get up]

Teito: Thanks.

Mikage: (He looks so much better than he did when we were at the academy.) I’ve got it. You’re putting your life on the line for this, right? In that case, you’d better see it through!

Ayanami: (Is that your answer?)

Mikage: Agh!

Teito: But will you be okay, Mikage?

Mikage: Ah… Teito, listen to what I’m about to say very carefully. [Grabs Teito] Listen as long as my voice is still able to reach you.

Teito: Huh?

Mikage: First off, don’t turn the military into your enemy. You won’t gain anything by taking revenge. Killing someone you hate won’t help you in any way. Always face forward. Walk the path of light. Second, I know you can’t bring yourself to accept help or to open up to people, but you’re the best friend I’ve ever had! I’ll always pray for your happiness. I’ll always be by your side. Don’t ever forget that.

Teito: M-Mikage? Why are you telling me all this?

Mikage: Heh. Well, I’m in a bit of a jam. I can’t return to the military either.

Teito: Oh! Then-

Mikage: I have one final request. Kill me, Teito.

---

Hyuuga: You were with Teito Klein when he ran away, right?

Mikage: How many times do I have to tell you this, Major Hyuuga? He was holding me hostage. Torture me all you want, but I’ve got nothing to tell you!

Hyuuga: Oh? Is this a photo of your family? You have such a cute little sister.

Mikage: Huh?

Hyuuga: On your application form, you said you wanted to join the military for your family. I was so moved when I read that. You’d make a fine soldier. So let us give you a choice. Your family or Teito?

Mikage: That’s such a…

Hyuuga: Right, Aya?

Ayanami: [Walks over] Bring either him or your family to me.

Mikage: [Gasps]

Ayanami: I’ll put a mark on you so that you can’t run away. Think carefully. If you can’t choose either, you will die.

---

Teito: What are you talking about? Like hell I can kill you!

Mikage: [Gasps] Then… run away! I can’t hold him back anymore!

Teito: Huh?

Mikage: It’s… not me, but… someone is after you! Ugh! Dammit! I couldn’t just sell you out! You’re like family to me!

Teito: [Runs towards Mikage] What’s going on?! I can’t just leave you here!

Mikage: [Pushes Teito away] Ugh!

Teito: Agh!

Mikage: What are you doing? Just go off on your own! (I’m so scared, Teito. Don’t leave me.)

Teito: Mikage…

Mikage: Ever since I met you, I’ve always felt so happy and warm. (Don’t let my family die.) Go away before I hurt you! 

Teito: [Gasps] Has the military done something to you?

Mikage: I love you, Teito. Farewell. / I won’t let you run away, Teito. You’ll be coming back with me. [Attacks Teito with his Zaiphon]

[Castor’s doll shields Teito from the attack]

Aya!Mikage: Oh? Looks like someone here likes making ugly dolls.

Teito: [Gasps] No, that’s… not Mikage!

Aya!Mikage: [Attacks Teito]

Teito: [Gasps] [Runs away] (Was someone from the military hiding within Mikage?! How?! How could they even do that?!) Agh! [Keeps running] (I’ve got to go outside, or else the people of the church will get dragged into this! Goddammit! How could they do this to my best friend?! Mikage! What should I do?!) It’s a dead end. Wait, no, there’s a door.

Person: Oh? Hey kid! That place is off limits!

Teito: Agh! [Kicks the door open]

Person: Woaaaah!

Teito: [Gasps for breath] Have I lost him? Huh?

Saiga (Teito): We’ve finished recording the drama CD "07-Ghost: The Seventh District". Good job, everybody!

Everyone: [Claps] Good job everybody.

Saiga: Yay, yay! I’m Saiga Mitsuki, the voice of Teito. Umm, the anime has started airing, and we've started putting out drama CDs as well! Well, the drama CDs are still covering the very beginning, but it feels really refreshing to have started from the first volume again, so I had a lot of fun recording. We’re working hard on the anime as well, but I think the drama CDs will keep coming out as the manga is being published, so please keep supporting us. I’m looking forward to recording the rest! Good job, everybody!

Everyone: [Claps]

Namikawa (Mikage): I’m Namikawa Daisuke and I voiced Mikage. Good job, everyone.

Saiga: Yo! Yo, Mikage!

Namikawa: Yes, um…

Saiga: Read the manga!

Namikawa: ...Uhh! 

Saito (Kuroyuri): [Laughs]

Namikawa: Umm, in this drama CD Mikage was a bit, um… Things were kind of concerning, so I wonder what will happen next! I’ll do my best then as well, so please look forward to it. Also, umm, Labrador gave me yakisoba flavored candy, but I’m really glad he did it after I was done recording my lines.

Saiga: Yay!

Namikawa: It was painful. Thank you. 

Everyone: [Claps]

Suwabe (Frau): I’m Suwabe Junichi, the voice of Frau. I hope you thoroughly enjoy both 07-Ghost’s anime and drama CDs. Please keep in mind that it’s not Fra/u/, but F/ra/u. 

Saiga: Ooh!

Suwabe: Please make sure you’re saying it correctly. ...That’s it. Thank you. 

Everyone: [Laughs and claps]

Chiba (Castor): I’m Chiba Susumu, voicing Castor. Umm, it’s really been a while since we last made a drama CD of 07-Ghost. We’ve finally started from the first volume, and the last CD was not canon, so I’m really excited and happy that we’re getting a fresh start and recording from the beginning. I think we’ll make more CDs, so please listen to them as well. Thank you.

Everyone: [Claps]

Saiga: Yay! Yakisoba!

Saito: Mr. Flower!

Miyata (Labrador): Umm, I’m Miyata Kouki, the voice of Labrador. Good job, everybody.

Everyone: Thanks.

Saiga: [Giggles]

Miyata: How did you like the CD? [Laughs] Umm, there was something I found interesting. On the cast list on the cover page of the script, it said “Labrador - Called ‘Rabu (Lab/love)’ in the script”. They could have just added the “-rador”.

Saiga: They also could have written “Mr. Flower”.

Miyata: That’s right. So, umm…

Hayami (Ayanami): It’s like “love”...

Miyata: His nickname is “Rabu”.

Saiga: Love! [Laughs] Love!

Miyata: It’s “love”!

Hayami: Love!

Miyata: [Giggles] Yes, umm…

Chiba: Dog!

Saiga: Dog!! [Laughs in the background]

Miyata: Please support Lab in both the anime and the drama CDs. 

Saiga: That’s good!

Miyata: And, of course, I gave Namikawa that yakisoba candy to show my love for him.

Everyone: Ooh!

Miyata: I wasn’t trying to harass him! Good job, everybody.

Everyone: [Claps]

Irino (Shuri): I’m Irino Miyu and I voiced Shuri. Good job, everybody.

Saiga: Yo! Huh?

Irino: Shuri…

Saiga: You couldn’t say it properly.

Irino: I couldn’t?! I think I did. It’s okay. Umm, Shuri acts all tough but he’s actually pretty weak. He’s a bad guy. I haven't voiced many characters like him but it was really fun. I hope I get to voice him again someday. 

Saiga: Say “if we get to make more CDs”!

Irino: If we get to make more CDs! I hope I’ll also get more lines! I’m looking forward to it. Please keep supporting us. Good job, everybody.

Everyone: [Claps]

Hayami: Good job, everybody. 

Everyone: [Laughs]

Hayami: I’m Hayami Shou, the voice of Ayanami. Umm, I had so many lines, it kind of tired me out.

Everyone: [Laughs]

Hayami: [Laughs] Well, not really. I mean, I’m trying to think whether this recording was fun or too long or whatnot, but, well, I’ll give you an answer when I get back home.

Everyone: [Laughs]

Hayami: But the people listening to this bonus track aren’t here to hear us pester each other, so please, umm, only listen to this track once. Thank you. Good job, everybody.

Saiga and Saito: [Giggle]

Everyone: [Claps]

Hamada (Hyuuga): Good job, everybody. I’m Hamada Kenji, the voice of Hyuuga. Umm, the previous drama CD was really different from the actual manga, so I’m glad the actual story has started now. Hyuuga was treated really badly back then, so…

Everyone: [Laughs]

Saiga: It was like a funny bonus strip.

Hyuuga: He was fed weird stuff and beaten up. He had a rough time. But if the CDs keep coming out like this, I’m sure we’ll have everyone from the military here someday! 

Saito: I hope so.

Hyuuga: So please buy a bunch of CDs! That’s it. Good job, everybody. [giggles]

Everyone: [Claps]

Kishio (Konatsu): Konats-ughhh… 

Saiga: Huh?

Everyone: [Laughs]

Saiga: Huh?

Kishio: I’m Kishio Daisuke, playing Konatsu...

Saiga: He’s so tired.

Saito: Hang in there!

Suwabe: Hang in ther-

Saiga: Hang in there!

Everyone: [Laughs]

Kishio: I wish Konatsu spoke more.

Saiga: [Laughs] He’s grumbling!

Suwabe: Pray for a second season!

Saiga and Saito: [Laugh]

Kishio: Also… Lab gave me yakisoba candy too. Against my will.

Everyone: [Laughs]

Kishio: Thank you…

Everyone: [Laughs and claps]

Saiga: It’s all Miyata’s fault!

Saito: [Giggles] Good job, everybody! I’m Saito Chiwa, the voice of Kuroyuri! It’s not /Ku/royuri, but Kuroyu/ri/. I don’t usually get to say their name out loud, so I’d always just said /Ku/royuri. Sorry about that. 

Saiga: [Giggles]

Saito: [Laughs] But everyone else says Kuroyu/ri/ the way they should, so please make sure you say their name like that as well. The anime’s also progressing pretty fast, and, yay, I’ve got such fun scenes!

Saiga: [Laughs]

Saito: [Laughs] It’s really a lot of fun! And we’ve gotten to see the Ayanami of my dreams...

Saiga: [Laughs]

Hayami: [Laughs]

Saiga: Of your dreams, huh?

Saito: The drama CD ended with a pretty serious scene, but please enjoy the anime as well! I think we’ll make more CDs, so I also want more lines in them! Thank you!

Everyone: [Claps]

Nakai (Katsuragi): I’m Nakai Kazuya, playing Katsuragi…

Saito: Hang in there!

Everyone: [Laughs]

Chiba: Hang in there!

Saiga: Hang in there!

Suwabe: It’s okay!

Nakai: ...I’m sorry about certain things.

Everyone: [Laughs]

Nakai: I’m really so sorry. But, yes, umm, I know it’s weird to alienate the audience in a bonus track, but I’ll refrain from explaining the situation on purpose. 

Everyone: [Laughs]

Nakai: Just know that Nakai messed something up. That’s all I will tell you.

Hayami: He’s talking about that thing.

Saiga: That thing…

Nakai: I’m so sorry. I’ve reflected on my actions.

Saiga and Saito: [Laugh]

Nakai: I do have motivation.

Everyone: [Laughs]

Nakai: Please give me more lines. Good job, everybody.

Everyone: [Claps]

Kiuchi (Kreuz): I’m Kiuchi and I voiced the Father. Ahh…

Saiga: [Laughs]

Kiuchi: This was really fun. 

Everyone: [Laughs]

Kiuchi: You know, I’m the Father-- as in a priest, but I’m called “the Father”... But Takahashi Hiroki is, like, the dad. The real dad. And… [Giggles] Neither Hiroki nor I are very energized…

Everyone: [Laughs]

Kiuchi: Umm, I’m the dad that raised him, right? So there’s his adoptive dad and birthive dad. In this showdow-, well, it’s not really a competition… [Giggles] But please compare our performances. Please support 07-Ghost.

Everyone: [Claps]

Takahashi (Krom): That was my first time hearing anyone say the phrase “birthive dad”. 

Saiga: [Talking to Kiuchi and making him laugh in the background]

Takahashi: I’m Takahashi Hiroki, playing the King of-... Shut up! 

Kiuchi: [Giggles] Sorry.

Takahashi: Umm, I’m Takahashi Hiroki. Like the Father, I’m also voicing a nameless characte-... well, he does have a nickname, but I've always wished someone would say his name. I had a lot of fun voicing my character. Umm, this is a CD so it’s something you can only hear, not see, so I hope I was able to create a memorable king. Was I? I’m excited to hear your opinions. Thank you.

Everyone: [Claps]

Saiga: So how did you like everyone’s comments? Some were feeling down, some were really tired after being forced to eat candy, but we all want to make 07-Ghost more and more lively as we go on, so please support us! Good job, everyone!

Everyone: [Claps]

Hayami: Merry Christmas.

Saiga: Huh?

Kor: [Grows its wings] Hahaha! You don’t know just how valuable this child is! My master would be overjoyed if I took him with me.

Frau: Nah, you can’t have the kid. Besides… [Whips out Verloren’s scythe] Wouldn’t this master of yours be happier with this?

Kor: Oh! Is that his scythe?!

Teito: Agh! What the hell is this?!

Frau: You can see it?

Kor: Why do you have that scythe?!

Teito: [Gasps] [Charges his Zaiphon]

Frau: No use attacking the dark! [Slashes the Kor]

Kor: I’m taking this soul! 

Castor: We won’t let you leave.

Labrador: You will return the elderly man’s spirit.

Kor: Aghh! How could I be defeated by humans?! But if that scythe is alive, he must be as well! Don’t you brats forget that!

Frau: Wish to God. [Slashes the Kor’s wings away]

Old man: Ahh… W-what was I-

Castor: Sir, you’ll catch a cold if you sleep in the garden like that. Would you like to stay in the church tonight?

Teito: (I’ve never seen powers like this…)

Frau: [Putting the scythe back into his arm] What the hell, man? You just won’t behave today, will you? Just get in my damn arm already. Ugh.

Teito: [Runs over to Frau] Doesn’t your arm hurt?!

Frau: Huh? Aren’t you scared?

Teito: What? Why would I be scared? 

Frau: Real tough for a kid, aren’t you? [Grabs Teito]

Teito: Stop picking me up!

Frau: We still haven’t fixed your problem. I’ll remove the mark on your chest.

Teito: (He’s so bad at being a bishop, why does he even bother helping me out?) What’s gonna happen to the old man?

Frau: I got rid of the thing that possessed him. He’s all good.

Teito: He said he didn’t have a home to return to. Could we search for his family at the church or something?

Frau: Heh, how thoughtful of you. We’ve got a real sweetheart over here.

Teito: I’m not thoughtful or a sweetheart!

Frau: Hahaha! You’re exactly like me when I was your age.

Teito: No way! Stop lying!

---

Castor: I really wasn’t expecting for a Kor to appear in the church.

Labrador: Yeah. The flowers are still restless.

---

Teito: (It’s my second morning since coming to the church. The outside world is filled with things I don’t know. I’d never left the military before. It’s all a little dazzling to me. This world is so bright and calm.)

Sister: Good morning, Teito. Would you like for us to wash this?

Teito: Yes, i-is that my underwear?! I-I-I’ll wash it myself! Ough!

Frau: Whoops. Didn’t see you there. You’re just so tiny!

Teito: What the hell did you just say to me you stupid bishop?!

Sister: Aw, Teito. We wouldn’t mind washing your underwear.

Frau: Oh, those are mine.

Sister: Eek! You’re supposed to wash your underwear yourself!

Frau: Ahh! [Starts crying] You’re so mean… Why are you okay with washing that stupid brat’s underwear but not mine? Ugh, well I’ll steal your underwear too, then! Here!

Teito: Ahh! What the hell kind of adult are you?! Okay, grabbed it.

Sister: Oh, that side is deep!

Teito: [Falls into the fountain] [Gasps for breath]

Castor: My, what are you up to?

Teito: Castor! That stupid pervert just-

Child: Grandpa! 

Old man: Ahah!

Man: Come on, don’t run.

Woman: Thank you for getting in touch with us, sister. 

Child: Let’s go home, grandpa!

Teito: It’s the old man from last night! So he did have a family. I’m so glad.

Castor: We believe that when the Chief of Heaven gives us life, we make three wishes. When all of our wishes are granted, our souls return to the Chief’s side. However, there are some bad parties that wish to mess this system up. One such party is a Kor, which you encountered last night.

Teito: So he was…

Castor: Kors steal dreams and drag people to darkness. 

Teito: So they eat our dreams?

Castor: Hahah, well, yes. When a Kor grants one of your dreams, you become unable to feel satisfaction. One more wish, and you’re filled with unquenchable thirst and hunger. And when they grant your third wish, your soul gets fully devoured by darkness. Such souls are not able to return to the Chief’s side. Kors take over these bodies, multiply by repeating this process and wait for the return of Verloren. Members of the church, such as myself, are tasked with protecting people from Kors.

Teito: U-umm… Your powers are… not exactly Zaiphon. So what are they?

Castor: Heh. Please keep what happened last night to yourself.

Teito: Uh…

Castor: Oh, right! Mikage has been feeling a lot better. Please visit him.

Teito: Really? Thank you! [Runs off]

Castor: By the way, Teito. What are your dreams?

Teito: …My dreams? 

Castor: Heh. Forgive me. Go on, take care.

Teito: Okay! [Runs] (I’d never thought of having dreams. I thought I had no choice but to follow the path the military had laid out for me.)

Castor: Looks like Teito doesn’t remember meeting that priest.

Frau: ‘Course not, I erased that memory. If he’d touched a dead man, he’d have to start his life over. 

Castor: You know there’s nothing the Chief of Heaven hates more than a disturbance in the equilibrium. He’ll punish humans and Kors alike for it. They say Kors only attempt to grant the three wishes humans make before they are born. So why would a Kor go this far? The boy has got to have something that the Kors want.

Sister: Bishops! It’s time for mass.

Frau: Okay.

Castor: Also… don’t go eating Teito.

Frau: Huh? Who’d want to eat that brat?

---

Hyuuga: Hmm…

Konatsu: What is it, Major Hyuuga?

Hyuuga: Hm? You’re not allowed to cross between districts without a pass, right? And when a criminal escapes, imperial guards are supposed to form shields near district borders that go up to 5000 meters, which is the Hawkzile flight limit. So there’s no way they’d miss anyone. But Teito Klein managed to escape to the seventh district without a single person seeing him.

Ayanami: A gross blunder.

Katsuragi: Yes. We’re reviewing the training that the guards received.

Hyuuga: Also, there were reports of a lost Wendy that day. A monster like that would destroy even the strongest ships of the military, let alone a Hawkzile!

Kuroyuri: Are you saying he made it past that?

Ayanami: Huh. The boy’s got spirit.

Hyuuga: So what do we do, Aya?

Teito: Mikage. 

Mikage: I’m okay, Teito. I’m just a bit tired.

Castor: It will do you well to rest for a while. 

Teito: Ah! I got this flower as a charm. Can I give it to Mikage? He’s my friend.

Castor: No. …There is no point to this flower unless you’re the one carrying it.

Teito: Then can I take care of-

Frau: You haven’t had a single bite since you woke up. We don’t want you fainting on us as well. Cafeteria, now. [Grabs Teito]

Teito: Let me go! I’m not even hung- [Teito’s stomach growls]

Frau: Ooh! You really got me there.

Castor: I think we’ve all calmed down a little now. Let’s go. Labrador will take care of Mikage.

---

Teito: Hey, you know I’m leaving once Mikage gets on his feet, right? I can’t keep being a burden to the people working here. Why are you so nice to me anyway?

Castor: We servants of God do not turn a blind eye to or betray those seeking help.

Teito: I-I am grateful for that! But I don’t want you guys to help me or anything.

Castor: Oh? Is that so?

Frau: Heh, twerp.

Castor: I happen to think it was fate that led you here. 

Teito: A-aren’t you gonna ask me about my background?

Frau: [Pats Teito’s head]

Teito: Hey, don’t touch my head!

Frau: Hahaha! But you’re the perfect height for it!

Teito: Why you- 

Castor: Hahaha!

Teito: You think you can get away with that just because you’re a bit taller than me?

Castor: Okay, okay, time for dinner.

Frau: You’re sooo so tiny.

---

Major General: Have you found out where Teito Klein is?

Soldier: Yes. We’ve found traces of a crash in the seventh district. We’re in pursuit.

Miroku: Care to explain why he ran away, Ayanami?

Hyuuga: Teito Klein was just feeling a bit homesick. Right, Aya?

Konatsu: Isn’t he a slave from the Raggs Kingdom?

Katsuragi: I’m sure he’ll miss his school and come back soon enough.

Kuroyuri: [Snoring]

Shiroki: Can’t you lot be serious?!

The Black Hawks: Okaaay!

Shiroki: He ran away because you decided to get involved, Ayanami!

Ogi: He’s a valuable candidate for when we find the Eye of Michael.

Nabiki: Will you be taking responsibility for this?

Miroku: Alright, that’s enough. We’ve got loads of other candidates. 

Major Generals: Chairman Miroku…

Miroku: I’d been planning on making that boy your Begleiter.

Ayanami: My apologies. May I ask why you took that boy in?

Miroku: Because there is no place on earth in which a child marked as a slave can find peace. You’ll understand my intentions soon enough. Speaking of the boy…

Ayanami: You want me to bring him back, yes?

Miroku: Heh, he’s strong. He was my best student after all.

---

Teito: (I hope Mikage gets better soon. There’s so much I have to tell him, where should I even begin? Can I even manage to tell him about my past properly? …Huh? How did Mikage know where I am anyway?) Hm? Sir! What are you doing here?

Old man: Mind if I have a seat?

Teito: Of course! 

Old man: Hah…

Teito: Did you miss the gates before they closed?

Old man: My wife passed away. They buried her here in this church. I can’t bring myself to go home and leave her all alone.

Teito: Huh?

Old man: Here’s a picture of me and my wife, and the house we lived in. But even if I go back home, there won’t be anyone in it but me. I don’t have anywhere I can return to.

Teito: Ah…

Old man: You have the same eyes as me. Why is that?

Teito: Sir…

Old man: Perhaps it was God that led us to meet here. If you’d like, you can tell me your worries.

Teito: I can only remember small bits of my past. 

Old man: Oh? Do your best to remember. Look. What’s on this photo?

Teito: It’s me and… the father.

---

Kids: [Mocking Teito]

Young Teito: [Running away crying]

Teito: (That’s right. I used to be one of the orphans living in the church.)

Young Teito: Father! Father!

Kreuz: What is it? Here you go again, clinging to me. This is why they keep making fun of you.

Young Teito: [Sniffles]

Kreuz: You have to be stronger. You’ll have to stand on your own one day.

Young Teito: I won’t be alone! I’ll have you!

Teito: (We were happy. Until the war with the Barsburg Empire started and the Raggs Kingdom was destroyed.)

Soldier: There may be more survivors!

Soldier: Find them!

Kreuz: Teito. You are the last hope of this country. You must not fall into the hands of the empire. I hope you alone manage to survive.

Young Teito: I want to stay with you, Father!

Kreuz: I love you, Teito. Glory to Raggs, and may God be with you.

Teito: (No. I shouldn’t remember the rest.)

Kreuz: Agh!

Soldier: Hey, there’s a kid here!

Soldier: Hold on. He looks weird. His eyes aren’t focused. 

Soldier: Maybe he doesn’t remember anything?

---

Teito: [Sobbing]

Old man: What have you remembered, boy?

Teito: The Father… that raised me… died…

Old man: If you wish with your soul…

Teito: Please stop. I don’t want to remember the rest!

Old man: …I will grant anything for you. What is it you wish for?

Teito: [Gasps] …I want to see the Father.

Old man: I shall grant your wish.

Kreuz: What is it, Teito Klein? You shouldn’t be in this realm.

Teito: Ah!

Kreuz: Please return to your world.

Teito: Father! [Runs towards Kreuz] Oh? The flower I got from Labrador is shining!

Frau: It is forbidden for a living person to meet the dead. Hah! [Breaks the illusion]

Teito: [Gasps]

Frau: Don’t let your heart be devoured by darkness, Teito Klein.

Teito: …Frau. Castor, Labrador…

Frau: You know you’ve broken a rule just now, don’t you, geezer?

Old man: Heh, I just like that boy so much.

Frau: Last I checked, letting the living see the dead was a big no-no.

Old man: Oh, so you don’t want to help this poor child?

Teito: Ugh… (As my consciousness faded away, I saw the snow of my hometown. It was so gentle that it was cruel.)

(He used to be a slave!)

(My name is Mikage.)

(Would you consider handing him over to me, Ayanami?)

(He doesn’t remember anything?)

(I hope you alone manage to survive.)

(Wait! Dad!)

(One day, you’ll finally learn what your true mission is.)

---

Frau: Wake up. Wake up already. 

Teito: Huh?

Frau: Hey, twerp! How’re you feeling?

Teito: [Gasps] 

Castor: Take it easy.

Teito: Who are you?

Castor: My name is Castor.

Labrador: I’m Labrador.

Frau: Frau. I was having a leisure drive on my Hawkzile when you decided to fall on top of me. I carried you to the church’s hospital. You’d better thank me for it, brat.

Teito: We’re in a church?

Castor: This is the Barsburg Church in the seventh district.

Labrador: Where did you come from?

Teito: Well…

Frau: Now that I take a look at this emblem on the collar of your shirt… Are you in the military?

Teito: [Moves away from Frau]

Frau: Huh?

Teito: Don’t touch me! I’m not one of them!

Castor: We’ve seen the mark on your back. You’re a slave, yes? I’m sure it was God that led you here. We will keep you safe.

Teito: What?

Castor: The military uses collars like yours on slaves. It can’t be taken off until you’re bought. 

Frau: Sheesh, if you really were part of the military I would’ve buried you alive. [Picks Teito up]

Teito: Ah! Let me go!

Castor: Where are you taking him?

Frau: The baths.

---

[Sisters squealing]

Sister: What a cute little lamb!

Sister: Come over here. We’ll clean you up!

Teito: S-sisters?

Frau: Yup! Take good care of him, girls.

Sisters: Oh, you’re hurt! Don’t worry, we’ll be gentle.

Teito: U-umm…

Sisters: And then we’ll show you around the church!

Sisters: Now go over there and take your clothes off.

Teito: Uh- wait- ah- stop- uhm- stop!

Frau: May I join?

Sisters: Surely a gentleman like yourself can clean himself. [Splashes Frau]

Frau: But he’s a guy too!

---

Teito: Woah, what a big building!

Sisters: The seventh district of the Barsburg empire is known as the district of God. The pope resides here, and he’s just as influential as the imperial government. Come over here, please.

Teito: Oh. A statue.

Sisters: It’s quite big, isn’t it? It’s the guardian of this church.

Teito: It’s amazing.

Sisters: According to a thousand-year-old legend, the death god Verloren committed a great sin in heaven and fled to earth. He filled people’s hearts with fear. Grieving over this, the Chief of Heaven sent seven rays of light from heaven, who we call the Seven Ghosts. It is said that they sealed the evil Verloren away on earth.

Teito: The Seven Ghosts…

Sisters: This statue is of Sichel, but there are six other statues that protect this land.

[Door opens]

Sisters: This is the district of God. It exists to support anyone and everyone that needs strength, and it belongs to no one.

Teito: [Gasps]

[Sounds of droplets]

Teito: (Huh? Why am I crying? Why? Why is this place so… nostalgic?

Frau: [Walks over] Huh? Why are you crying, twerp?

Teito: Agh!

Frau: My sheer beauty has moved you to tears, hasn’t it?

Teito: Why are you a bishop anyway?!

[Door opens]

Woman: [Runs in] Bishops! Please save my child!

Teito: What’s going on?

Castor: What happened?

Labrador: Oh, that mark…

Castor: Please come over here. Frau.

Frau: On it.

Person: A mark? Don’t tell me it’s Verloren’s curse.

Person: That’s just an old fairy tale.

Person: No, the curse exists. Although it’s been about a thousand years, the Kors that Verloren released still try to steal our souls in exchange for three wishes. A mark appears on the chest of those that enter a contract with them. 

Teito: A curse? A contract? What in the world are they talking about?

Frau: We’ve lifted the curse.

Castor: You can go home in ease.

Woman: Thank you! 

Person: Ooh! That’s the bishops of Barsburg for you!

Woman: It’s all thanks to the archbishop. Thank you so much!

Archbishop: It takes an exceptionally strong will to wish to protect a loved one so dearly. May God be with you and your child for all eternity.

Teito: Heh…

---

Soldier: So he crashed here? But [Kicks Hawkzile] surely it wasn’t Teito Klein that took the time to hide this Hawkzile. They gave the damn thing a burial.

Soldier: And I can’t see any footprints either.

Soldier: Crap. He may have gone to the church to hide.

Soldier: Then let’s send our men to the church right away.

Soldier: No, the church has a strict sanctuary policy. If someone asks the church for protection, even if they’re a criminal, neither the military nor the government can’t lay a finger on them.

Soldier: Hmm. Well, it’s the biggest church in the empire, after all.

Soldier: Either way, there isn’t anything for us to do past this point.

---

Teito: (I’m glad I’ve escaped from the military and all, but I can’t believe I’m from the ruined Raggs Kingdom. I’ve got to look into everything I wasn’t taught in school, and into my dad.) [Struggling] I want to grab that book but, dang, these are some tall shelves! Ah, thank you. Woah! Ah- ah! Aaaah!

Frau: [Catches Teito] Creepy doll, right?

Teito: T-thanks.

Castor: [Runs towards Teito] Are you alright?

Teito: I’m o… kay… (That’s terrifying.)

Castor: Thank God.

Teito: Uhh, how is that doll able to… move?

Castor: Hehehehe, through my love. I’ve made her. Isn’t she adorable?

Teito: Y-yes. Now that I look at her properly.

Castor: [Grabs Teito’s book] Imperial War Records of the Past Century…

Frau: Agh!

Castor: Is this what you were looking for?

Teito: Yes, thank-

Frau: [Grabs Teito and runs off]

Teito: Ow!

Frau: That was close.

Teito: What the hell was that about?

Frau: I’m impressed you’ve figured it out.

Teito: Figured what out? It’s just some book- [Gets a nosebleed] Is this porn?!

Frau: It’d be one hell of a problem for me if someone found these, seeing how I’m a bishop and all. And I’ve got no space for ‘em left in my room.

Teito: The real problem here is that you’re a bishop! [Smacks Frau]

Frau: They say the best place to hide a tree is a forest. You’re the first to find one of these bad boys. Wanna become my apprentice?

Teito: Are you planning on listening to me, you goddamn pervert?!

Frau: Just make sure that doll freak doesn’t fi- [Gets smacked] Oww! [Falls]

Castor: Sheesh. By the way, Teito. What are you planning to read up on?

Teito: …I want to learn about the war ten years ago. 

Castor: [Sighs] The books say that a thousand years ago, two equally powerful countries existed. One was the Barsburg Empire with the holy protection of the Eye of Raphael, the other was the Raggs Kingdom with the Eye of Michael. The two countries had made a peace pact, but ten years ago, Raggs broke the pact by attempting to get a hold of both Eyes. This started a conflict with Barsburg, and led to Raggs’ destruction. That’s the truth recorded in history books.

Teito: But…

(They’ve broken our pact!)

(King! Please flee!)

(I will not. We must evacuate our people first.)

Teito: Is… Is that really the truth?

Frau: Stop worrying your little head, brat. 

Teito: Huh?

Frau: There isn’t just one truth out there. There are as many truths as there are people that have witnessed these events. If you can’t get yourself to believe history, just go out and see the world for yourself.

---

Teito: [Walking] (Why did I have no memories of my past until now? Why am I here right now? Think. Think. I want to know the truth!)

Labrador: [Singing]

Teito: Labrador? Is he taking care of the gardens?

Labrador: Oh. Here’s a charm for you.

Teito: Huh? Thank you.

Labrador: May God be with you. [Walks away, singing]

Teito: (What is this flower? A rose, I guess?)

Mikage: Teito…

Teito: Huh?

Mikage: I’m so glad… you’re alive…

Teito: Mikage! [Runs over and hugs Mikage] Thank god! There’s so much I want to tell you!

Mikage: Ugh… [Faints]

Young Teito: Wait, Father! Where are we going?

Kreuz: We will be meeting up with someone very important today.

Young Teito: Someone important?

Teito: (For some reason, I was a child of the church in my dream. Weird. I was somewhere I’ve never been with someone I’ve never seen, yet it all felt sort of nostalgic…)

[Jingles]

---

Student: Yo, Shuri! I heard the most elite groups of the military will come to our graduation exam tomorrow!

Shuri: Really?

Student: Aren’t they just coming to scout you, Shuri?

Shuri: [Giggles] Aww, stop it.

[Footsteps]

Shuri: Hey, look. It’s chairman Miroku’s favorite. Good morning, young master Teito Klein! Hah, there he is wearing that sour look as always. He never even greets us!

Student: How can a tiny little shrimp like him keep up with our training anyway?!

Shuri: Hey now, don’t piss him off! He’ll get the chairman to expel you!

Student: Did you guys know he used to be a slave?

Shuri: Woah, really?! 

Student: Ssh, he’ll hear us!

[All laugh]

Teito: (You assholes… I can hear every single thing you’re saying.)

Mikage: [Runs up to Teito] Morning, famous young master!

Teito: Shut your trap, Mikage!

Mikage: Woah! Dang, you could tell it was me?

Teito: Duh, we’ve been friends for a year.

Mikage: Yo, let’s eat lunch together! 

Teito: Find someone else. They’ll make fun of you too if you’re with me.

Mikage: I’m so sick of hearing you say that.

[Something flies by]

Mikage: Oh! [Runs to the window] Woah, it’s so cool!

Teito: Hoburg fortress?

Mikage: We’ll get to join ‘em over there if we pass tomorrow’s exam! As students of the 315th class of the Barsburg Empire’s imperial military academy, we’ve gotta make sure we pass! I’m gonna fight for the empire and protect my family.

Teito: 07-Ghost Drama CD: “The Seventh District”

---

[People talking]

Mikage: Which team are you in, Teito?

Teito: A.

Mikage: Same here! (Whispering) I heard Shuri’s in Team A too.

Teito: Hmm.

Instructor: Attention. Of the 100 students here, only 20 will get to become Begleiters. Are you all prepared?

Students: Yes.

Instructor: Then let us start. Team A, come over here.

[Siren goes off]

Announcer: Team A, enter the arena!

[Doors open]

Mikage: What do you think they’re gonna make us do in groups of ten?

Teito: Dunno.

[Doors close]

[Prisoner walks up to the students]

Instructor: Your graduation exam is to kill this prisoner. You will fail if you are unable to defeat him or if you abandon your comrades. 

Student: H-hey, what the hell? He’s like a monster! 

Student: Calm down, dude. It’s one of those hologram things we’ve used for training. Watch! [throws rubber band at the prisoner]

Prisoner: Ooh! We’ve got ourselves some lively brats this year! What fun I’ll have!

Student: He’s real!

Announcer: Let the exam begin!

Student: W-what do we do, Shuri?

Shuri: We’ve just gotta do what we always do! I won’t lose to Teito Klei--

[A student is hit by the prisoner]

Shuri: Huh?

Prisoner: Don’t you dare look away!

[Students scream]

Teito: This guy’s-... [Attacks the prisoner with his Zaiphon]

Prisoner: Zaiphon, huh?

Teito: (Zaiphon is the power we elite students use to fight. We Zaiphon users transform the life energy that God gifted us into different forms, mainly using our hands. These abilities vary from person to person, but they’re usually innate.)

Prisoner: Interesting! Well, whenever I defeat one of you brats, my sentence gets shorter! Yeahhh!

---

Soldier: Attention!

Soldier: Welcome, chief Ayanami.

Ayanami: How are the cadets this year? Do any of them look even a little promising?

Prisoner: (Muffled) Gahh!

Hyuuga: Dang! Looks difficult! Oh, look, Konatsu! That prisoner looks super ferocious! Hahaha!

Konatsu: Major, even though most students drop out at this point, they’re all taking it seriously. Don’t laugh at them.

Soldier: They’re quite high-level this year. I hope seeing them has raised your expectations. I’m sure you’ll find someone of use right away.

Kuroyuri: No matter how great their training is, only a few of them can actually use these skills in battle.

Katsuragi: It’s exactly as the Lieutenant Colonel says. We need someone battle-ready.

Soldier: I-if you say so, Colonel Katsuragi…

Hyuuga: I wonder how many of those we’ve got in this bunch.

---

Shuri: [Running] He’s gonna kill me!

Prisoner: [Growls]

Shuri: Eek!

Teito: Look out! [Pushes Shuri] [Gets grabbed]

Prisoner: Got you!

Mikage: Teito!

Teito: …Ugh, you-!

[Teito surrounds the prisoner’s neck with Zaiphon]

Teito: Surrender.

Instructor: The exam is still not over. I’m quite certain I told you to kill him.

Teito: He’s not my enemy. I don’t need to-

[The prisoner gets killed]

Ayanami: You’re too soft.

Announcer: T-the exam is over!

Teito: Who the hell is that?

---

Teito: I heard 19 people passed today, us included.

Mikage: I’m still shaking. I never could’ve guessed you’d save Shuri.

Teito: I-I didn’t mean to! I just sort of… did it without thinking.

Mikage: Come on, bestie. I’m saying I’m proud of you.

Teito: …Mikage, you know I used to be a slave, right? A combat slave at that. I’ve been the military’s property ever since I can remember. So I’ve no clue what it’s like to have a loving family. But maybe getting to call you my best friend is, I don’t know, similar to- Huh?

Mikage: You dummy. Who told you you could make me cry?!

Teito: W-why are you crying?

Mikage: You just said something so huge, how the hell else am I supposed to react? But that’s the first time you’ve told me something like that, so I’m super happy. Okay! Let’s make a best-friend promise! If you ever get in trouble on the battlefield, I won’t even think of leaving you behind. I swear on God’s name that we’ll die together!

Teito: …Yeah! 

---

[Jingles]

Krom: Forgive me, Teito. I wish I could stay by your side.

Teito: (It’s that dream again.)

[Jingles]

Krom: One day, you’ll finally learn what your true mission is.

Teito: (Why’re you telling me all that? Who even are you?)

Krom: And when you do, you will-

Young Teito: Wait! [Falls]

Teito: (What is this? It’s red… it’s red…)

---

[Bell rings]

Teito: [Running] Crap! Forgot to turn my report in!

Officer: Teito Klein is immensely powerful, to nobody’s surprise.

Teito: (Who’s talking about me?)

Officer: He’s on route to becoming a fine candidate for the Eye of Michael.

Officer: I thought that thing disappeared during the Raggs War.

Teito: (What are they talking about?)

Ayanami: Raphael is reacting. The Eye is definitely out there. But we couldn’t find it anywhere, not even after searching the bodies of every member of the Raggs family. We may have glanced over some of their relatives. The king used to wear the Eye on this necklace, so by all means…

[Jingles]

Teito: (My head! What is-)

Krom: (I promise we’ll meet again.)

Soldier: (We’ve captured the king of Raggs!)

Teito: (That’s-)

[Krom gets stabbed]

Teito: (That’s my dad. And the person standing by my dad was…)

Officer: Is something wrong, Chief Ayanami?

Teito: Agh… Ah… [Charges Zaiphon]

Ayanami: Looks like a rat has snuck in.

Teito: Aghhh! [Gets tackled by Hyuuga] Ugh!

Hyuuga: Nuh-uh-uh! Lay a finger on Aya and you’ll die.

Teito: Agh! Agh!

Ayanami: Why did you try to attack me?

Teito: Agh!

Ayanami: This kid is the slave from Raggs, isn’t he? Lock him up until I return. Make him spit out everything he knows.

Teito: Urgh!

---

Mikage: [Running] What the hell does Teito think he’s doing, turning on Ayanami of all people? Oh, oops…

Guard: I guess that’s all. Time to patrol the other side.

Mikage: Phew. Okay. [Opens door] I think he’s still detained here. What was that? [Starts running] Teito! What are-

Teito: Mikage?

Mikage: Did you defeat that guard?

Teito: Sorry. I… can’t stay here anymore. Thank you for every-

[Mikage grabs Teito’s hand]

Teito: Mikage?!

Mikage: We’ve gotta run!

Teito: Let me go! I don’t want to drag you into this!

Mikage: Do you want to die, you idiot? Turning on Ayanami is a death sentence! You’ve got to run away to stay alive! Don’t think about anything else!

Teito: [Sobs] Mikage… 

Guard: The candidate has escaped!

Mikage: I've snatched a hawkzile, it's right ahead. Hurry up!

Soldier: You two! Halt!

Teito: Don’t move! If you move, I’ll kill this hostage!

Mikage: Teito…

Soldier: Shit.

Teito: Stand back! (Whispering) I can’t let you become a criminal too. I have to leave on my own. Mikage, we’ll always be… the bestest of friends, right?

Mikage: Of course. Go, Teito.

[Teito beats the soldiers and flies off on the Hawkzile]

Ayanami: What is all that commotion?

[Teito flies by]

Ayanami: Teito Klein. [Attacks Teito with Zaiphon]

Teito: Agh!