Well, I'm Hatonami Renjiro.
I'm the head of the Hatonami Union, a small group of yakuza.
I was locked up for about five years, I think.
My time in the slammer was supposed to last a little longer, though.
As for how I got caught?
Well, don't ask such rude questions.
The details aren't important anyway.
I was stuck eating shitty food when that Gibia crisis happened.
The officers who were supposed to be running the place
were no match for monsters.
It was actually safer in the cells.
The officers went down first, leaving nothing but crooks.
At that point, escape wasn't so hard, you know.
Gibia are dead men. We're the living.
I've heard Gibia run on instincts they had when they were human.
The urge to breed, was it?
Seeing dead men running on instinct, fighting even harder to survive than the living...
Talk about karma in this world.
Though, maybe struggling like that is the real nature of humans.
That good enough?
Ow.
I'm so sorry, everyone!
I'm finished!
"Desperate Situation"
Kathleen!
Are you all right, Kathleen?
Oh, my.
All right. How about this, then?
Hup!
So high!
I see our princess is in a good mood now.
Out of my way! Move!
Kathleen!
Kathleen?
Okay. Time to clean house.
Papa! Papa!
I'm heading out.
Take care, Robert.
When I get back, let's go see your father and mother back in Japan.
It's been a while since we last saw them.
Papa, off to work?
That's right.
I'll be back in a while.
Do your best to help your mama.
Yes!
Good girl. I love you.
Papa! Have a safe trip!
I'll be back!
Mama, don't cry.
Kathleen.
Did you hear?
Apparently he got shot by a stray bullet while photographing a battlefield.
How unfortunate.
His daughter is still so young, too.
Apparently they're going back to Japan after the funeral.
Kathleen, always keep your chin up in life.
Yeah.
When you look at the history of Earth,
there's never any disaster or war that doesn't end.
Every night comes to an end.
What if something bad happens?
It won't last forever.
The spot where you fell doesn't hurt anymore, does it?
You're right!
I'm... alive?
U-Um, who are you?
I'm Ayame. Former cop.
A cop?
I'm Kathleen. Thank you for saving me.
Save it for after, when we're actually in the clear.
Is there anyone else inside?
My mother and my friends are still in there.
Damn it, I can't make any progress!
Kathleen's in trouble!
Kathleen!
I pray you're still safe!
I'm coming to rescue you!
Sensui!
Eat this!
Are you all okay?!
What?!
Why, you...!
Take that!
Try this on for size!
I didn't think they were so...
Hmm.
It's finally over.
That reminded me of fighting Oda's army.
That was a crazy amount of them.
Hey, Sensui, you still think monsters are easier than cutting down people?
Everyone!
I'm so glad you're safe!
Oh, Kathleen!
Who might you be?
Huh?
Oh, uh...
She's Ayame-san. A former cop.
She saved me when I was in trouble a moment ago.
Really?
Ayame-san, thank you so much for saving my daughter.
No, I just did the right thing.
Ayame-san, are you all alone?
We're heading towards Niigata,
but would you like to come with us?
Huh?
That's a great idea! You should!
Having a strong person like you accompany us would be reassuring.
Gotta have companions when you travel, and compassion in life.
Ahh, I'm so glad you were rescued, Kathleen.
Guess that works, too.
Nice to have you with us, Ayame-san!
Same.
It's good to have you, Ayame-san.
We'll be at a disadvantage if we're surrounded in this tunnel,
so let's get out of here at once.
Finding a place we can rest would be preferable.
You guys see that?
Those guys... I knew they weren't just ordinary people.
Yes. That was some terrifying combat potential.
The facilities are old,
but it's a pretty good hot spring.
I've been here once before.
Wow.
I'm just grateful we can take a bath.
Right?!
Let's get going!
Uh, pardon me.
The men's bath is over there.
Well, I guess you're right.
Phew, this is refreshing.
How many years has it been since we visited a hot spring?
I know.
Those are incredible scars...
I know she said she used to be a cop,
but I'm sure Ayame-san's been fighting against the Gibia, too.
What?
Just thinking you're really muscular.
You must have been through a lot, Ayame-san.
Oh, well, uh...
It's good to see you two get along so well.
You think?
Maybe it's because it's always been just the two of us.
What about your parents?
My mother was killed by Gibia.
Ayame, make sure you stick to an honest life.
Yeah. I won't turn out like Dad.
I see. I'm sorry.
My father was a hopeless man.
He was yakuza, and I have no idea what he's doing now.
Huh?!
He caused some kind of incident, and I know he got thrown in jail for it.
I was planning to arrest him myself...
That's why you became a police officer, isn't it.
He doesn't matter now.
I can feel the fatigue blowing away.
Paradise, paradise.
Hot springs help wounds heal faster, too,
so you really should take a long soak, Sensui-kun.
That's the same thing my Master once said.
Oh?
Sensui's master, huh?
I must say, I'm very interested in the master of the Slayer of Thousands.
I bet he was a really skilled man.
I'll be heading back first.
Those are incredible scars.
They're old scars. Don't worry about them.
Never heard of any old scars looking that fresh.
He's being a man.
Boy, I'm on your side.
I'm sorry I couldn't save your mother and your father.
What's your name?
Sensui.
In the warring states era,
fierce battles for dominance of the land took place in every region.
The greatest force in the Kyuushuu region was the Ootomo Clan
and, as their vassals, the Kanzaki Clan was raided and destroyed
in a night raid on Shimazu.
The sole survivor, Sensui, was adopted by Halbert and raised as a swordsman.
Sensui, hot springs help wounds heal faster, too.
Why is that?
Because it warms your body and enhances its regenerative functions.
Yes!
You should gather as much knowledge as you can.
That's part of growing up.
Yes, master.
Sensui.
No matter what happens in life, there's always a reason.
Even if we don't understand it right now, we'll understand in time.
I understand.
However, even hot springs won't help my disease.
Please hang in there! Master!
Sensui.
Live, Sensui.
Master? Master?
In 1587, the Shimazu Clan plotted their conquest of Kyuushuu
and invaded Bungo no Kuni to attack the Ootomo Clan.
The head of the Ootomo, Ootomo Sourin,
called for reinforcements from Hideyoshi.
One of the Daimyo from the Toyotomi alliance sent to their aid in Kyuushuu
was Matsumoto Jouzen, the man Sensui later came to serve.
However, the Shimazu army was fierce,
and Ootomo suffered a great loss alongside their reinforcements.
Sensui himself served as the rear guard
to allow Matsumoto Jouzen's army to escape from Kyuushuu.
So you're known as Sensui.
Your feats during this battle were splendid.
I had something interesting presented to me.
I hear it's called Suigetsumaru.
I'm giving it to you.
I hear this sword can cut even the moon reflected on water.
With this and the sword I received from my master,
I would like to perfect my dual wielding.
Master...
I'm sure there must have been a reason for me to come to this era, too, wasn't there?
Sensui.
We'll be heading out soon.
Is that...?
What's the matter?
It would seem we're being followed.
Huh?!
Dad?!
"Dream Road to Death"