Chapter 78

The Curtain Pulled Back (剥がされたとばり, Hagasa Reta to Bari) is the 78th chapter of the To Your Eternity manga.

Summary
The kingdom of Uralis hosts a parade in honor of Bonchien and Todo.

Afterwards, Bonchien is seen alone talking to himself while sitting in a rocking chair. Fushi, as Rean, comes into the room and tells him he's ready and asks who he's talking to. Bonchien turns to face Fushi and says it's just his usual.

Outside, Fushi thanks Bonchien, his family, Todo, and Chabo for all they've done for him. Bonchien tells him that even though "Fushi" is gone, he still plans on protecting the kingdom from the Nokkers and asks if Fushi feels the same. Fushi agrees. Bonchien, talking in the third person, says to Fushi that Bon once said something about rewarding Fushi. Fushi says he remembers. Bonchien says that Fushi enriched his heart and that he wants to reward him in "Bonchien's" stead, but he wants to do so carefully. He then asks Fushi that if the friends he met along the way were immortal, would he be happy? Fushi is about to answer when a sudden pain strikes through his body. He tells Bonchien that he felt someone's pain nearby and asks where's Kahaku. Bonchien says he hasn't seen him all morning and they both rush into the stable. There they find Kahaku on the ground clutching his bloody arm next to a knife and spilled bottle of alcohol.

They rush to his side and ask if he's okay. Kahaku explains that he tried to kill the Nokker in his arm, but missed terribly. Kahaku rabbles about how it's his fault Fushi was declared a devil, and that the woman he loves hates him and thus he won't be able to have children, as well as the Guardians breaking up. Fushi tells him he doesn't know what he's talking about as he tries to bandage Kahaku's wound. And Bonchien picks up the bottle of alcohol and guesses Kahaku must be drunk.

Kahaku suddenly grabs the knife and exclaims that his hand is moving on its own. His Nokker arm begins using the knife to scratch something into the dirt. The scratches spell out "don't kill me" to the surprise of everyone. Kahaku's arm keeps scratching more words out and Bonchien asks if Kahaku is messing with them, he tells them he's not. The Nokker writes "Fushi said to learn to talk... and while I cannot speak yet... I learned as best as I could." Fushi is taken aback. Then threatens it to tell him what the Nokker's goals are. The Nokker writes, "to save everyone." Fushi is confused. The Nokker continues to write, "the Man in Black who made you...is imprisoning your friends." Fushi asks where and the Nokker points to Bonchien with Kahaku's arm and writes, "your bodies."

The Beholder appears and says he had a feeling that the identity of the those who cannot stand him are fye and it appears that he's correct. Fushi asks the for clarification. Kahaku asks Fushi who he's talking to and Bonchien tells him to quiet and questions what fye is. Fushi tells them that according to the Beholder they're the same as souls. Bonchien then asks Kahaku's Nokker if the Nokkers are just souls and that they want to free other souls. The Nokker writes "yes." Fushi responds and says that's just murder. The Nokker replies, "you are wrong. We wish to save you all. From you heavy... painful... suffocating flesh. If you go to the other side, that will all vanish." Kahaku points out that the concept of death freeing all is like the Yanome legends. The Nokker continues to say, "You who make the flesh eternal... The Figure in Black and Fushi... We will not forgive either of you." Fushi looks unsettled by this.

The Beholder tells the Nokker that he's disappointed. He asks if they plan on sending all the animals to that world then points out that they've only managed to kill 10,000 so far, so what could they do? The Nokker explains that saving as many of their friends as possible is there goal. Fushi asks the Beholder how it can hear him and the Beholder explains that he's manipulating things just so they can. Kahaku asks the Nokker to clarify what they meant by eternal since Fushi can't extend life. As the Nokker is about to explain, Bonchien quickly wipes the message away. Bonchien brushes off Kahaku's question and asks if its allies are watching their conversation and the Nokker replies with perhaps. Fushi asks where the Nokkers will attack next and Kahaku's Nokker says the Church of Bennett's main temple. Fushi notes it'll be hard for him to fight there and Bonchien says that's probably their plan. Bonchien tells Kahaku to halt the disband send the Guardians there immediately. Fushi tells them he'll meet them there. Before he leaves, Fushi tells Kahaku that he still needs him and that he should enjoy all these changes too. He then transforms into Ligard and takes off.

Pocoa spots Fushi flying in the air and panics that Fushi forgot his horse. The horse suddenly takes charge and runs off as Pocoa chases it.

Bonchien tells Iris that he has a new job and that he has to leave Uralis again. She tells him she'll wait for him in the castle no matter how long it takes. Though she tells him to come back soon so Chabo doesn't get lonely. He tells her alright. Iris then asks if Bonchien gave Fushi his reward yet and Bonchien says no. Iris asks if it's because he didn't like how Fushi answered his question, but Bonchien says he did like it but that he's gonna put off telling Fushi for a bit. Bonchien flashes back to right before Fushi left, Fushi tells him, in regards to his question, that of course he would be happy. Bonchien then speculates that Fushi would've said: "having these heavy, painful, suffocating bodies... is nothing compared to how bad it would be to never see each other again."

Meanwhile, Fushi lands in a tree and transforms back into the Nameless Boy. He asks the Beholder how much further north he has to go and the Beholder responds with another day and a half by Ligard. Fushi then asks the Beholder if what Kahaku's Nokker said was right. The Beholder tells him that everything the Nokker said was correct but it's not up to him to decide if it's "right." Fushi asks if the Nokker's plan succeeds, what would happen? The Beholder guesses that they would be happy and Fushi smirks. The Beholder comments that Fushi seems awfully lively today and Fushi tells him it's because his doubts are gone; even if he goes away, they'll just keep attacking, so now he can crush them freely.

Fushi, as Gugu, arrives at the main temple of the Church of Bennett to find the city already in chaos.

Language Translation
See the Language page for a full explanation on how it works.

Chapter Notes

 * Kahaku's Nokker arm learns to communicate/write.
 * The Nokker explains the Nokkers goals are to save everyone from Fushi and the Beholder who are imprisoning their souls in bodies.
 * The Beholder says the Nokkers are just as he suspected; they're fye.
 * The Nokker warns Fushi that the other Nokkers are going to attack the main temple of the Church of Bennett.
 * The Guardians temporarily halt disbanding to support the fight.