Episode -7 A

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A tremendously विशाल tree comes into view.

On its richly spreading branches hang clusters of mysterious fruits that emit light on their own.

And on the largest branch of that tree, someone can be seen lying back against it.

He has gathered the fruits in one place and is busy devouring them.

As one approaches closer, he is revealed to be the legendary guardian—the red rooster, EAT.

Beneath the tree, countless Olpins pass by… they stare at the red rooster EAT with eyes full of dissatisfaction and anger.

Unbothered by any of that, EAT keeps grabbing and swallowing the fruits. Perhaps because he is full,

he suddenly rolls over to his side and closes his eyes as if about to sleep.

Then, slightly opening his half-closed eyes, he lets out a deep sigh.

A few hours earlier, recalling the past at Rogi’s request had brought back long-forgotten memories, leaving his mind unsettled.

EAT closes his eyes again and recalls Ina’s incomprehensible behavior from those days.

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An ordinary day, nothing special—.

Ina kept pestering EAT and Enoi, who had been resting at home.

Because of her insistence that she felt suffocated, Enoi and EAT were eventually dragged out for a walk, half by force.

“Look at the trees, they’re so beautiful!”

“And the flowers! Oh my, the air is so fresh. I’m really glad we came out!”

Ina was noticeably more talkative than usual during the walk.

She kept exclaiming in admiration and smiling brightly…

But EAT didn’t feel entirely comfortable with her behavior.

“…?”

EAT found Ina’s behavior somewhat strange, so he kept signaling to Enoi with his eyes, asking “what is going on?”

But Enoi simply raised both palms upward and shrugged, signaling “I don’t know.”

‘¯_(ツ)_/¯’

A clear signal that even he had no idea.

The two men, only reading each other’s expressions, silently followed behind Ina, who continued chattering endlessly.

EAT: Haha… yeah, the weather really is nice. But what day is it today?

(EAT widens his eyes, urging Enoi for an answer.)

Enoi: Yeah… what day is it today?

Ina: What day?

Ina’s bright smile suddenly stiffened, and she raised her voice.

Ina: “Ah, I want to get tipsy. Let’s go drink Bitter!”

(Bitter is a nutty and aromatic beer.)

At the same time, she grabs both EAT and Enoi by the arms and tries to move quickly.

EAT glares at Enoi again, and Enoi, frustrated, finally blurts out his thoughts.

Enoi: Ina! What’s wrong? Do you have something to say?

Ina: Something to say? …No.

Enoi: Stop glaring at me, EAT~ I don’t know either! You ask her!

EAT leans his head back, placing a hand on his forehead in distress.

Ina: Bitter! Bitter! Hurry! Hurry!

EAT: Fine~ I don’t know anymore! Let’s go drink Bitter!

Ina: Yes, yes! Bitter! Bitter! (smiles brightly)

A short while later, at the Bitter house, EAT sits beside a slightly tipsy Ina, with Enoi sitting across from them at the table.

They enjoy their time drinking Bitter and eating delicious fried food.

Ina recalls her past memories with EAT, alternating between crying and laughing.

Ina is actually strong and does not cry easily.

EAT cannot even remember the last time he saw her cry.

But today, she sheds many tears, and EAT, feeling uneasy, speaks.

EAT: Nia… it feels like something’s been bothering you lately. Tell me. Maybe I can help?

(At the same time, EAT gestures to Enoi as if to say, “Back me up, hurry.”)

Enoi: Yeah! Tell us. We’ll help with anything.

Ina: …

After staying silent for a long time, Ina suddenly asks a question unrelated to the conversation.

“Ina: EAT… do you really not age… and not die?”

At her question, EAT glances at Enoi once and answers.

EAT: “Hm? …Ah… yeah. That’s right. Why all of a sudden?”

EAT forces a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hahaha. Are you sad that I won’t die? Is that something to be sad about? Hahaha.”

Enoi also laughs along.

“Hahaha. Not dying sounds good. I wish I were like that. Hahaha.”

But suddenly, Ina begins to cry out loud.

“Why are you crying, Ina. Don’t cry. Why are you like this.”

EAT tries to comfort her as if it’s nothing serious, but suddenly Ina shouts while crying.

“What are you going to do when we’re all gone! What will you do alone!”

Ina begins crying loudly again, as if her earlier tears were nothing—

crying with overwhelming intensity.

EAT responds with a weak expression and tone.

“…Don’t worry about me. I’ll probably live well anywhere… somehow.”

Ina glares at him immediately.

“How can you live well if no one is there! How can you live alone!”

Unable to suppress her overflowing emotions, Ina cries out at EAT.

Enoi, about to say something, pauses and mutters to himself.

“That’s true. Even if we’re gone, EAT will be left alone…”

EAT answers:

“Don’t worry. Even then, I’ll protect Seranoor and live happily… probably.”

At his answer, Ina says only one word:

“Idiot…”

and gulps down her Bitter drink.

A few minutes later, clearly very drunk, Ina asks EAT:

Ina: “EAT… when were you born? Where were you born?”

EAT: “That… I told you, I don’t know.”

Ina: “How… how can you not know that, you idiot!”

Enoi: “Why don’t you ever tell us about your past, EAT? I’ve always been curious…”

EAT: “Hmm…”

Ina: “Tell us. Hurry!”

EAT: “Why are you so curious about that?”

Enoi: “Of course we’re curious~ we’re family!”

Ina: “That’s right! We’re family!”

EAT: “If you know, you might end up hating me.”

Ina: “Why would we hate you, idiot! Tell us, hurry!”

After thinking for a while, EAT carefully answers.

EAT: “…You see, I was actually…”

EAT: “The worst thug in the universe!”

EAT: “A gangster! A bad guy everyone feared!”

He even adds exaggerated gestures with his hands as he speaks.

Ina looks at EAT as if he is ridiculous.

Ina: “That’s ridiculous! What’s so scary about you!”

(Ina suddenly stands up, grabs EAT’s beak, shakes it, and pulls on it, bothering him.)

EAT: “Ugh… help me, Enoi. What are you doing?”

Enoi: “Too bothersome…”

Enoi: “EAT being a thug…”

Enoi: “Well, judging by how he acts toward Rolan (the Emperor of Gordic) or Sage (the Queen of Barak)… he really is a space thug…”

Ina: “Really? Then you are a thug. A bad thug!” (Ina torments EAT even more)

Ina: “You deserve to be punished.”

Enoi: “Then what were you called back then? ‘Thug EAT’? Or something else?”

EAT: “Hey! ‘Thug EAT’? Watch your words!”

Ina: “You said you were a space thug!” (still not letting go of his beak)

EAT: “Even so, you can’t call me that. I’m still a guardian!”

Enoi: “Exactly! So what was it? Just EAT?”

EAT: “Me? …I was called…”

EAT: “‘Fatty’…”

EAT: “I was called ‘Fatty.’” (completely calm)

EAT crosses his legs and folds his arms, acting proud.

Ina: “Wow, ‘Fatty’! So you were really a chubby pig!” (Ina is completely drunk)

EAT: “Hey! Not ‘pig,’ it was ‘Fatty’! You keep getting it wrong.”

EAT: “What’s wrong with you two today!”

Enoi: “Why were you called ‘Fatty’?”

EAT: “Why would there be a reason? I was just ‘Fatty.’ Stop asking. I don’t want to remember.”

Ina: “Wow, how cold~ See? A space thug! So cold-hearted.”

Ina: “That’s why you’re a thug, hahaha~”

EAT: “How dare you! Even so, I—!”

Suddenly, Ina collapses forward onto EAT.

She goes limp.

EAT: “Nia! What— I was talking… huh?”

Ina begins snoring loudly.

EAT looks at her and says:

“Good grief… she’s gone to dreamland. Sigh.”

Enoi finishes his drink, stands up, and says:

“EAT, let’s go. She’ll stop eventually.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Looks like she’s troubled about something. She won’t tell us. Enoi! You pay.”

“Why me? You should pay, EAT!”

EAT, carrying Ina on his back with his left arm and showing his right hand to Enoi, says:

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

Ina, half-asleep on EAT’s back, murmurs:

“Mmm… hey… you… Fatty… you… thug Fatty…”

-7 A END