Episode 19

**The Friends** (親友 *Shin'yū* lit. *Close friend*) is the nineteenth episode of the *Dead Mount Death Play* anime.

## Official Blurb

A surprise visit from an old friend prompts the Corpse God to rethink how he fits into his new world. His first step? An overdue confrontation with Xiaoyu. Meanwhile, Iwanome, Clarissa, and Solitaire pursue the same mystery in their own ways.

## Synopsis

Koruto Ichinose wonders who the distinctly-dressed youth is. Meanwhile, Soara Habaki catches up to Civil A. Sabaramond and Lulu and complainins about having to do so. Civil stops in his tracks and, when Lulu asks what is wrong, tells her he sensed a strange presence.

**Opening credits.**

In the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department [TMPD], Tsubaki Iwanome apologizes to Kōzaburō Arase, Kayakusa, and three other Comps-3 members for dragging them into his problem. Arase says the problem is no longer only his to bear, though he does think Iwanome became over-emotional about Miyabi Hosorogi. Kayakusa backs Arase up by pointing out that Phantom Solitaire's involvement automatically makes the situation a Comps-3 matter. As a drenched Ranmaru Yatsu and likewise soaked Danjō Tozawa walk over, Yatsu adds that the Hideaki Habaki case is guaranteed to become big news, thus implying that all of Comps-3 will need to be prepared for the media coverage. Tozawa suggests that Iwanome lie low for a bit in case the media tries hounding him.

Yatsu then apologizes that neither him nor Tozawa managed to catch Habaki. Iwanome does not fault them—he just wants Habaki captured before he can flee Japan—and expresses more concern over the fact none of them know the scale and strength of the organization they will be up against. He warns everyone against taking chances. Tozawa, with his usual smile, expresses the hope that Comps-3 will be able to resolve the matter before that sort of thing becomes a problem.

On the rooftop, Corpse God pointedly tells His Imperial Majesty that he did not summon him. Emperor Framrodia Byandiraz replies that manifesting himself like this was not an easy feat and points out in turn that Corpse God (should) could have summoned him and the rest one hundred years ago but did not. "Is it not your turn to yield?" After a moment, Corpse God dematerializes the stakes embedded in Hideaki Habaki's spirit and withdraws the skeletal hands tormenting him.

Framrodia assures Corpse God that he will vanish swiftly due to autonomously manifesting, then, since he is here, remarks that he was delighted to learn Japanese through him. He smiles and waves at an imperturbable Lisa Kuraki and a charmed Koruto Ichinose, the latter of whom waves back, and says that "the others" long to see this fascinating world for themselves. At his friend's obvious reluctance, he assures Corpse God that he and "the others" will continue waiting until the time Corpse God comfortably seeks their presence. As Corpse God steps back, he quietly informs Lisa that the spirit is one of his otherworldly friends. She says he has a good friend in him and he agrees, though he privately doubts whether Framrodia will prove "good for this world." Framrodia conjures several golden Magic circles and declares that he and Corpse God are still themselves whether in life or death.

Flashback
While descending a long set of stairs, Framrodia tells Corpse God that when he told Corpse God to not think of revenge, he did not mean that Corpse God should abandon hatred for sainthood. He opens a set of doors to the sight of Easlies Swordfrail and Utsurojuza tormenting Corpse God's father who, as a grotesque elongated mass of extra limbs and flesh, screams for forgiveness. It is a sight that neither Utsurojuza or Easlies/Izliz wanted Corpse God to see, Utsurojuza says. Framrodia stabs one of the many flailing hands and declares that his own purpose is to shoulder his subjects' dirty work.

Present
Having echoed his past remark, Framrodia reminds his "dear friend" that he "needn't sully" himself as he flings a variety of gears in the air; these gears grind Habaki until he liquifies with a pop. Such egotistical thinking, says Corpse God, is what brought about Framrodia's assassination. Framrodia smiles and replies "Maybe so!" before dissipating. The sense of a strange presence leaves Civil, who decides to make a move tomorrow rather than observing a little longer as he had planned. In a city seemingly filled with troublesome residents, CIvil wonders whether he should first visit his compatriot or the troublesome Fire-breathing Bug.

To the now-vanished Emperor, Corpse God whispers that his wish remains the same as ever: we wishes for a peaceful world where Framrodia will have no need to dirty his hands. In pursuit of that wish, Corpse God resolves to involve himself hands-on and "reach where the shadows of that world mingle with this one."

At an earlier time in a moving bus, Higuro stares at his smartphone after his call with Habaki is cut short and wishes that the "higher-ups" shall "take care" of Habaki before he has the chance to snitch about Higuro. He mulls over the possible need he should lie low and the urgent need to dispose of his phone—which he abruptly drops as a spot on his finger burns hot. The elderly woman in the seat in front of him picks up his phone and begins fiddling with it. As he moves to reclaim his phone, a gentleman sitting on the other side of the aisle grips his hand and drones "Hands. Feet. Sabaramond's..."

"...Eyes. Ears. Catch him-im-im," chime the woman and the other passengers, who all turn to stare at Higuro. Higuro laments that he chose to run from the warehouse.

In the Abandoned Building, Misaki Sakimiya calls Corpse God to let him know that she and the rest have safely returned. She asks if he is all right, and he responds that he is with Clarissa. Takumi Kuruya bandages the wound on his thigh while Sayo Shinoyama prepares to duct tape Xiaoyu Lei's prosthetic right arm back together, the fact of which apparently does not faze her. When Xiaoyu comments on her lack of surprise, she explains that she has asked the Shinoyama tech branch to make her robot sharks, so she recognizes that Xiaoyu's high-quality prosthetic as Shinoyama tech. Furthermore, she has long suspected that Xiaoyu was keeping one or two secrets from her. (If one of those secrets was the ability to transform into a tiny shark, she would propose marriage.) She came to realize Xiaoyu has been acting to protect her, a role for which she now gratefully hugs him, having bandaged the forearm to the upper arm.

As she strokes Xiaoyu's hair, Xiaoyu remains stiff with guilt; all that he did, he did for himself, not her. Misaki passes her phone to Takumi so that Clarissa can instruct him to stop by the bar later so that Kazami Asaura can treat his hurt leg. Takumi tries to protest, uncomfortable with Kazami treating him, but Lisa brooks no room for argument. Insuries, she says, ought to scare him, for unhealed injuries shall haunt him. Hosorogi, nestled in Corpse God's pocket, affirms his suspicions about Clarissa's eyesight and asks Corpse God to ask Clarissa something on his behalf.

Corpse God asks how Clarissa knew that Habaki "was, well..." Clarissa replies that she could not have reached Habaki without "tips from a police insider" and that all she has done is put down roots. Hosorogi, alarmed, wonders who this insider is.

One Hour Ago
Lisa asks her remote interlocuter if he can locate Habaki. Tozawa, in the pouring rain, replies that he stuck a GPS chip on Habaki's sleeve. Lisa asks if he is "fine" with these circumstances and, Tozawa replies that he is, for he used his own judgment, asks whether the fact that her grandfather saved his wife is worth betraying Iwanome. Tozawa responds that *debts* are immaterial compared to the scope of this latest case, which he suspects dwarfs the usual troublemakers. He says he wants the strong but fragile Iwanome to remain an 'honest police offer' rather than go astray as he (Tozawa) did; more than that, he wants all of Comps-3 to "walk the straight and narrow until they mature."

Present
Iwanome announces that Comps-3's tasks are to to reexamine Habaki's call history, then check the security cameras within HQ and on the nearby streets, and to then follow up on "any contact with Habaki or the officer who committed suicide." He brandishes the note that Hosorogi wrote for him during the fortunetelling session and tells Arase that he will be investigating the message with him. At Arase's comment about Iwanome's notable enthusiasm, Iwanome apologizes and admits he is probably still emotional, having learned that he cannot track down Hosorogi-*san*. Instead, he says, he will simply have to make Hosorogi come to him. Yatsu asks how. "Strong-arm tactics," replies Iwanome, who elaborates that he shall "smoke out" the organization to which Habaki belonged by utilizing the "Sabaramond" keyword." Iwanome wishes to carve out a place to which Hosorogi can return.

Corpse God asks Lisa whether she has a message for Hosorogi in the hypothetical situation where Corpse God encounters Hosorogi's soul. Hosorogi is taken aback; Corpse God inwardly apologizes for acting without asking Hosorogi first. AFter thinking for a bit, Clarissa confesses that she "trampled on Miyabi-*san*'s wishes, for Hosorogi would have never wanted her to become what she is now: a mediator who has inherited the secret family trade per the wishes of her grandfather. Nevertheless, she remains herself and she does not regret it. She says that she would have just "one thing" to say in a message.

Iwanome tells his colleagues that he knows just what to say when Inspector Hosorogi finally returns.

"Hosorogi-*san*, goodbye, my love," says Clarissa, her face tender.

"Hosorogi-*san*, it's good to have you back!" exclaims Iwanome, his face lit with a bright smile.

In a vast, empty space reminiscent of a warehouse, Hosorogi blinks awake to find a group of umbrella-carriers assembled in front of him. He asks where he is. The Bugs part to let Solitaire approach him, with Solitaire chuckling "So you're awake" with significance. However, once Solitaire comes face to face with Higuro, he turns around and, with a dramatic gesture, asks "Who's he?"

With Clarissa and Koruto, Corpse God arrives at Youtoukorou (closed) to find Kazami monitoring Takumi. Misaki cheerfully greets him and affirms that she is just fine. At the sight of Kazami cleaning Takumi's most serious wound, Corpse God offers to repair Takumi's body by temporarily rending the wounded part as a corpse. Takumi insists he is content with using normal medicine, but adds that he is willing to accept Corpse God's offer in the event of a fatal wound.

While Misaki presents the plushified Polka Shinoyama to Takumi and Kazami objects, Corpse God tells himself that he ought to take the initiative to step up if he wants a world where he can live in peace with everyone.

Solitaire speculates as to Higuro's identity. He dismisses the possibility that Higuro is an "innocent bystander" who happened to uncover Bug's true self and instead speculates that Higuro works with Habaki. Higuro twitches. Solitaire holds up the simplifed emblem of the Byandy Empire and continues that Higuro is surely involved with said symbol, if he is involved with Habaki, and furthur speculates that Fire-breathing Bug has recently concluded that simply incinerating every member of "the organization" is a limited strategy. Since the situation is volatile now that the organization is exposed, Solitaire posits that Bug has tried a new approach: to incinerate the roots of the organization rather than its members. In order to achieve this, he suggests, Bug has endeavored to recruit himself, the likes of whom "flushed out" both Higuro and Habaki.

One of the Bugs, a slender brunet man dressed in a plain white shirt, acknowledges that Solitaire is precisely on the mark. While Solitaire plays cool, Higuro reassess his assessment of Solitaire: he had initially pegged Solitaire as a mere criminal with a screw loose, but now he is forced to consider whether Solitaire planned everything down to the last detail. Solitaire meanwhile is amazed that he "guessed" right (and therefore does not have to use his prepared pratfall). Higuro feigns ignorance futilely, for Solitaire grasps his shoulders and declares that Higuro smells like a murderer multiple times over—so therefore, Solitaire can "get away" with doing whatever he wants to him. Higuro challenges him by insinuating that his being a "normal guy" would be a blow to Solitaire's pride, but Solitaire laughs and says his pride is still in a jail cell. After all, multiple stocks nosedived after he kidnapped Prime Minister Kubikigawara.

Takeru Shinoyama, in his office, curses Solitaire for having infiltrated the police headquarters. At his acknowledgement of activity near "Polka's" building, Taipei reports that Miss Sayo's bodyguard has lost a prosthetic arm and that the "data broker" is wounded, all of which is likely the result of fighting a hostile force. Takeru remarks that Taipei sounds awfully detached despite the bodyguard being a fellow Heilei, at which Taipei stoutly says the two of them have cut ties but admits that Xiaoyu is rather capable. In that case, surmises Takeru, Xiaoyu et al. must have confronted uncommon foes. Taipei further voices his suspicion that "the enemy is already reaching for this place," followed by Bao elaborating that since last night, multiple sentries have been knocked out and their phones confiscated. As Takeru pulls up footage of of the assailant—Soara—manhandling one of the sentries, Taipei divulges that his savings have disappeared from his bank account. Takeru orders Bao to investigate.

Xiaoyu stares at the the receipt of a ¥237,380,000 ($1,614,280.86 as of 2023) deposit sent to him by his sister and rereads his sister's text message. He compartmentalizes this and texts Rozan Shinoyama about the latest news regarding his prosthetic. Rozan video calls him back and reveals he also knows that the damage was wrought by the Agakuras. Rozan praises Xiaoyu for staying alive and protecting the Building's residents in the process. Blushing, Xiaoyu thanks his master and reports that his other limbs besides the utterly destroyed one are fine. Faced with the prospect of carrying out his duties one-armed, Xiaoyu apologizes for breaking a gift from His Lordship. Rozan replies that the situation is a minor one and that "the guy behind you says he'll help with the arm."

Xiaoyu turns to see the fake Polka, who says he heard that Xiaoyu tried to save Takumi. Xiaoyu insists he only intervened on Sayo's behalf. Corpse God asks if he would allow him to procure a new arm on his behalf, and Xiaoyu retorts that he cannot trust him so long as his duty to guard the Shinoyamas remains in effect. Corpse God admits that he knows Xiaoyu was present during his talk with Rozan due to Xiaoyu's distinctive hue, and consequently knows Xiaoyu will have ascertained that he is a fake. Xiaoyu has no idea what Corpse God is talking about; Corpse God promises that he will explain, but first, he would like to challenge Xiaoyu to a serious bout.

The next day, Corpse God and Xiaoyu face off in the bowels of the Torture Building—the same room where Corpse God thwarted his would-be assassin Misaki. Two quadripedal eyeballs prop up Xiaoyu's phone so that Rozan can watch the proceedings. Xiaoyu considers this a prime opportunity to expose the Polka impostor before Rozan's eyes. However, Corpse God clarifies that Xiaoyu shall not be facing him, but a two-headed tiger. The two-headed tiger (heads Rafa and Gufa) charges at Xiaoyu out of the magic from which it emerged. Unsure if the tiger is an illusion or hallucination, Xiaoyu still bravely fights back. As he does, Rozan admits to Corpse God that he was "frightened" when Corpse God called him last night, for he feared Xiaoyu would lose control and put himself in harm's way due to the Agakuras' involvement. He describes Xiaoyu as the type who pushes himself harder if his master pushes himself.

Corpse God, recalling Framrodia and Shagrua Lugrid, replies that he has met similar people. Rozan boldly remarks that Corpse God might find himself further than ever from a peaceful life should he reveal his true self to Xiaoyu. Corpse God admits that Rozan has a point, but, rather than potentially "lose things" by holding back, he would rather postpone his desired peace for the time being. In the moment the tiger lunges at Xiaoyu, Corpse God halts it because by now he has "gotten the gist" of the circumstances. The tiger heads Rafa and Gufa affectionally lick Xiaoyu, for which Corpse God apologizes and adds that Xiaoyu might want a shower.

In the shower, Xiaoyu reflects on how his "all-out" power in the fight was nothing compared to Corpse God's "incomprehensible power," which XIaoyu is willing to assume is nowhere near Corpse God's best. He emerges from the shower wearing only his shorts so as to expose the joints binding his prosthetics to his core and asks if Corpse God can fix his arm. Once he sits on the floor, heedless of the real sharkified Polka hopping in excitement over his 'cyborg' state of being, he asks Corpse God's real name. Corpse God offers "Corpse God" as a name, though he states upfront that it is more like a nickname. Xiaoyu is still processing the fact that the bout was a mere means to tune his new arm, what with his life and pride on the line, only to panic as his right arm morphs into a scaled arm with dark fingers. He demands answers.

Corpse God explains that he has granted Xiaoyu the right arm of Urdwigia, a colossal dragon whose lightning once bathed the world. At Xiaoyu's bewilderment, he says that he, as the fourth-ranked imperial court sorcerer, wishes to ally with him in exchange for Xiaoyu's new arm.

## Adapted From

* Chapter 57
* Chapter 58
* Chapter 59
* Chapter 60

## Trivia

* When Xiaoyu was first introduced to Sayo, she had the impression he was a butler-in-training, not a bodyguard.

### Referbacks

* By "one hundred years ago," Framrodia is alluding to Geldwood's slaughter of Corpse God's found family in the mine and Corpse God's revenge.
* The joke about Solitaire's "jailed pride" is a recurring one.
* Xiaoyu is situated under Rozan's floorboards in Episode 07.