Chapter 87

The Value of Flesh (肉の価値, Niku no Kachi) is the 87th chapter of the To Your Eternity manga.

Summary
Bonchien, Fushi, and the Immortal Army, meet with the Princess of Renril. She tells them she was expecting more of them but Bonchien explains they'll have more people in the future. The Princess asks them what their current desires are and Kai says he wants the Princess to personally appeal to the citizens and get their cooperation; Hairo says they need Renril's army cooperation as well; and Messar asks for blueprints for the castle and its underground. Fushi says he wants all of Renril. Bonchien looks at him stunned. The Princess tells them to get what they want, they must give something in return and earn it. Fushi remarks that they don't have the time and that the Nokkers could attack at any moment. He then asks if the Princess is trying to die to which her guards are quick to her defence. Bonchien quickly apologizes in Fushi's stead but the Princess say it's alright and says her answer is only in response to their requests. She ends by saying she hopes that the situation will change by their next meeting.

Back in their lodging, Bonchien confronts Fushi about his attitude with the Princess. He stresses they're here to gain her trust. Fushi retorts that there was no trust at all, not even between themselves. Bonchien asks if Fushi's mad and he responds that he's always felt guilty about using people's forms to fight and that he can't believe Bonchien would ask him to use the Immortal Army's forms. Bonchien looks sternly at Fushi and replies that that's what he would do if he was Fushi. He tells Fushi that if he won't use every power at his disposal, he shouldn't bother trying to save anyone. Bonchien then exits the room just as Kahaku and Iddy were about to enter.

Kahaku asks Fushi what's the matter and Fushi says he can't trust Bonchien anymore. Kahaku muses at their fight and says he always thought Bonchien wasn't suitable for Fushi, so Fushi has no reason to force himself to be around him. Kahaku says Fushi has him and he'll always be with him. Fushi doesn't respond. Later, Fushi finds Kai and Messar playing a board game. Fushi tells Messar that Bonchien told him to ask Messar about Renril and then asks him what he should do if he wants to build a base from the ground up. Messar bluntly responds that Fushi would need the Princess's permission and then scolds Fushi on his manners. Fushi ignores Messar's advice and says he'll just build it his own way since he doesn't have time to wait for every little thing, then begins walking off. Messar asks how he plans to do that, then quickly stops Fushi, telling him that the Princess is strict with outsiders and to follow proper procedures. Fushi says he doesn't want a lecture from someone wasting time playing games.

Kai, who's been sitting the whole time, asks Fushi to join them in their game. He tells Fushi that around this time, the townspeople begin their meal so he would just be an annoyance to them if he went now. He asks Fushi to join him in a game again until that time is over. Fushi reluctantly agrees and sits down across Kai. Messar tells Fushi to go for it and pick up where he's left off. Kai explains the game and that the first person with only two pieces left loses. Fushi looks down at the board and sees that he only has three pieces left and Kai, seven. Messar tells him to think of the game as them vs the Nokkers. Kai lets Fushi take one of his pieces by using the flying rule. Kai says Messar likes this game but he's bad at it and that rushing towards victory will backfire.

Fushi notices the scar of Kai's face and asks if he got it in the Uralis army. Kai replies he didn't and asks if Fushi could heal it. Fushi says he can't and asks Kai how much he knows about him. Kai says he's heard that if Fushi memorizes his face, he'll gain eternal life after death. Fushi says it's an exaggeration and questions if Kai hates the idea of Fushi using his form to which he responds no. Kai tells Fushi that Bonchien informed him that the enemy says they don't need bodies. It's a fight to see whether minds or bodies will gain control. Kai says they'll need immortal bodies for the battle. Kai tells Fushi about his past living with his father and grandmother. His father was the blacksmith of a small village and he helped him occasionally. They made swords for the Uralis army. After his grandmother's condition got worse, his father started abusing him. He called it a living hell and that he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Then one day, Nokkers attack his village. He believed the Nokkers would set him free from his life. As his father was helping his grandmother flee, the Nokkers broke through their wall causing the rubble and swords to fall on them. However, he and his family survived. Afterwards, a young Bonchien came to Kai's village to give a condolences speech and told the survivors they could come with him. Kai ended up joining the Uralis army as if running away. Soon his grandmother passed away, then his father. Before passing, his father apologized to Kai at his deathbed and thanks him. Kai says that's when he realized he was glad he didn't die that day. Because then his story would've been a boring one where he still hated his father. He then says that he started thinking that living even a little longer isn't so bad. Kai is about to win the game but Bonchien suddenly appears and puts one of Fushi's pieces back on the board saying his power is to resurrect pieces.

Fushi then gets up and leaves. He bumps into Iddy who grabs him by the hand and points to a dust cloud in the distance. Kai appears behind the two and says they should go and win the townspeople's trust. He then comments that he's glad he kept an eye on the area Iddy was so interested in (shown briefly at the start of the chapter too). And says the Doki people appear to be quick on picking on up on changes.

Kai and Fushi head over to the area Iddy was looking at. Two townspeople exclaim that their building collapsed most likely due to rot. Kai whispers over to Fushi and asks if he could rebuild it and Fushi confirms saying he's already acquired the building's form on his third day in Renril. Kai and Fushi, as Booze Man, approach the townspeople and offer to help. Fushi says if they cover the area with a big tarp before dark, he'll rebuild it. The townspeople ask what Fushi wants in return and he says that he'd like to construct another building behind it and be able to use it. The townspeople agree and set up the tarp. At night, Fushi rebuilds their building.

The next day, citizens inform the Princess about Fushi's deeds and how he was able to rebuild their watermill in one night. The citizens call it a miracle.

Chapter Notes

 * Fushi says he is beginning to not trust Bonchien.
 * We learn about Kai's backstory.

Trivia

 * The game Fushi plays against Kai is called Mills. The rules are explained in a chapter divider in volume 10.