Episode 4

original air date: 4.24.02

Wanted

Mimiru warps into the main area, and she overhears some other players talking about a new skill. They mention summoning a monster and having it attack monster for you, and that the guy who is doing it is the same guy the Scarlet Knights are looking for.

Back in the city Subaru and Kinkan have met up with Bear, she tells him she has checked the log.  She tells him that if they log is correct that Tsukasa has been on for the last 10 days.  Bear asks her if she believes if, to which she says she doesn't want to. Bear then asks her what the chances are the log has been tampered with, she asks who would do such a thing - and for what reason.  Subaru goes on to say that she does not intend to doubt the log, and that if someone were to tamper with it- why would they leave something so suspicious.  Subaru begins to question why Tsukasa has been forced to stay on for so long.  Bear suggests they need to find out what he's been doing all that time, and that possibly Tsukasa doesn't know anything either.  Bear thinks to himself they will not get any answers by chasing Tsukasa on the net.

Tsukasa is again alone with the little floating girl, and tries to ask her what will happen when she awakens.  Finally the voice speaks to him and tells him something wonderful awaits, "You and I, and he, the three of us will be able to live on peacefully, undisturbed by anyone else.  In a world devoid of any harm or discomfort."  Tsukasa starts to tell her no, that worlds like that.... The voice interrupts him and asks why he says such things. Tsukasa asks her who she is, for she is just a voice- and will not show her face to him.  Tsukasa wants to know how he is to trust her. She tells him she is certain that he already knows her.  "The reason I do not show myself to you...." Begin flashback. A small child is kneeling next to an adult, tears coming from their face.  They are at a funeral memorial, the camera zooms in on the picture that is prominently displayed on the memorial, yet due to the glare on the glass- we are only able to see it is a woman.  End flashback.  Tsukasa is surprised/astonished and mutters, "Mom..." as tears begin to roll down his cheeks. 

Mimiru is sitting alone in the main area, when the sorceress shows up.  Mimiru asks her where Bear is, and she tells "the old man couldn't make it." "Sorry, but I can't make it today" is all the e-mail she got from him said.  Mimiru is sad, for she had something to ask Bear.  "About Tsukasa", the sorceress says.  She tells Mimiru that rumors are starting to spread, Mimiru has also hear them.  The sorceress points out there is no need to look for him when his actions are so lavish.  Mimiru doesn't understand him, and the sorceress asks if he has contacted Mimiru any more, she tells her none at all.  Mimiru is annoyed with the whole thing, when the sorceress receives an e-mail, and then asks Mimiru is she wants to meet, to which all she says is "Wha? Serious?"

In a field filled with giant mushrooms, the sorceress and Mimiru meet up with Sora.  Sora greets them, and Mimiru asks him to stop calling them over and over, because "it's damn annoying!"  The sorceress asks Sora where the Knights are- he tells her not with him today- it gets stuffy being with them all the time.  Mimiru tells him that he shouldn't have gotten involved with them then, Sora tells her that the sorceress knows why he did it.  "The  Knights get a lot of information." Sora adds they get information from both inside and out of the net.  Mimiru is surprised to hear this.  The sorceress tells her that they assist with system moderation and that when moderation is needed flows to the Knights.  The sorceress asks Sora if he thinks Tsukasa has obtained the Key of the Twilights- Sora thinks not yet.  "Based on?" she says.  "Instinct" is Sora's answer.  The sorceress announces her exit and vanishes.  Sora makes his move on Mimiru saying "let's go!", only to have Mimiru say "This sucks!"

Subaru and Kinkan, in the city, are questioning a merchant- but not finding out any information.   As they walk down the street, Kinkan stop and tells her that he has free reign over the servers, and that more and more players see him everyday.  "We can't stand by and let this continue."  Subaru doesn't not think they should, even though she says they must do something as soon as possible but that this is a problem she thinks they cannot handle.  She goes on to tell Kinkan that she has never doubted his loyalty as a Knight- but that there are things that just can't be solved.  She points out that even the system administrators can do very little against him and how can they, normal players, have any means to stop him.  Kinkan says they has to be, has to be something they can do. Subaru asks him if Kurim where here, what would he have done.  As she walks away, Sora jumps up from a nearby boat- and tells them they need to talk to Tsukasa.  Kinkan bursts in with "We will dispose of characters that violate the rules.  There is nothing we need to hear from them."  Sora, thinking he cannot, asks him if he can actually dispose of him.  Subaru tells Sora that system administrators have that right.  "If he can actually do that." Sora says, Kinkan replies with "What are you saying?" So suggests again that they need to talk to Tsukasa and suggests catching him.  He continues to say that Tsukasa is not on guard, that he goes about doing what he wants and has that monster with him wherever he goes. Sora suggests it may have all gone to his head.  Subaru asks him to continue. Sora suggests making it difficult for him to move around by putting up wanted posters- and perhaps even offering a reward.  Subaru tells him they cannot do that but Sora says "Sure you can, sure you can!!"  and with all the witness reports coming in on him- they will be able to track his actions and devise a plan.  Sora once again states that he wants to talk to Tsukasa, Kinkan does not understand what good that will do, and Sora calls him stupid.  Subaru asks him if he wants to talk to him about the Key of the Twilight.  Sora nods, and she once again tells him of her disbelief in it's existence, but that she does want to find out why he can... "Do as he pleases", Sora finishes for her.  "If you erase Tsukasa, even the answer to that will disappear."  "It's quite the dilemma Subaru says.  

Flashback.  A grown man stands in the rain and tries to light a cigarette.  Sirens begin to sound, and the man walks down the rainy street as the camera pans over to show a hospital.   

In a forest area Bear sits alone as Mimiru runs up to him and tells him how horrible it was without him the other day.  Mimiru asks what's going on and why they are meeting in the forest, Bear tells her because they will be seen to easily in the filed.  Bear tells her he doesn't know what's going on anymore, and they should get to the dungeon.  

Standing in front of a monster icon Bear mentions that Tsukasa is an interesting name. "Is it his handle? Real name? First name? Last name? Is it a guy or a girl?"  He goes on to say he may have found Tsukasa, and he may not have- for Tsukasa could be anyone.  Bear walks up to the icon and a large crab-like monster appears.  As Mimiru and Bear attack the monster they continue their conversation. Mimiru asks what he saw out there. He tells her that he saw a girl who was sprawled out on a bed due to an unknown reason, and just barley living thanks to the work of machines and medicines.  Mimiru listening to intently on what he's saying is knocked back by the monster.

Back in the city Subaru is finishing a conversation with another player, as he leaves and Kinkan walks up.  Kinkan asks her if she is ok, and she says, "yes... probably."  Kinkan tells her she can not lead them if she is in doubt. He asks her to tell him if something is wrong. Subaru tells him that she asked the system administrators to restrict Tsukasa access rights, to try and prevent any further problems.  Kinkan agrees with her decision, as it was really all they could do and that she should not feel guilty for doing so.  She tells him that is not the problem, and asks that he not repeat what she is about to tell him to anyone. She tells him that despite his access being prohibited, Tsukasa is still in "The World", and even the brutal forced disconnect did nothing.  Kinkan says that's impossible, Subaru says everything surrounding Tsukasa has been impossible, and she is sure there is a reason behind it all.  

Mimiru and Bear arrive at the church on the floating rock, Mimiru immediately notices that this field is different from all the others. Bear tells her it is just the tower sitting in the middle of nowhere, and he does not know of any other such place to exist.  Mimiru thinks that is why Tsukasa will be here, and Bear mentions that both this place and Tsukasa are both out of place in the game.  Sure enough after entering they run into Tsukasa. Bear tells him he's quite infamous.  Mimiru says she's sorry for the other day when Tsukasa called her, but she could not come.  Tsukasa says it's ok.  Tsukasa once again asks if they want to see, and summons his guardian.  Mimiru says she wants to ask him something, and Tsukasa tells her he cannot tell her where he got his guardian.  Mimiru agrees she is curious about that, but asks him if he is a girl.  Tsukasa tells her that is none of her business, but he is a guy, and asks why she wanted to know.   Mimiru and Bear give each other a look, which prompts Tsukasa to ask what they are plotting and why they think he was a girl.  Mimiru tells him she wanted to know what he was like IRL, and Tsukasa asks why she is snooping. Bear tells him it was him and Tsukasa goes on to say "I don't know what gives you the right to do that... But, good job, what a waste of time that must have been. I mean, what you investigated was falsified. I'm disappointed" and then he warps out.  Mimiru says he defiantly doesn't like us now, and Bear thinks he was not lying, and they are once again back where they started.  

Tsukasa is now sitting alone atop of a castle, as many footsteps are heard running, and his guardian begins to wail.  He tells it to behave, and asks if it understand his feelings which he doesn't understand. "What is this feeling?  All of a sudden Tsukasa is attacked by four female warriors.  One of them asks if he is the infamous sorcerer, and will fight him regardless. Tsukasa asks if they are sure, for he is in a bad mood at the moment. Tsukasa tells them he will not hold back against idiots like them, and summons his guardian.  The guardian starts attacking the women, and they find out quickly they can't fight it, and decide to ignore it.  Tsukasa says that is enough - come back.  He commands repeatedly to come back and then to just stop- but it won't and continues to attack the women.  

In the city Subaru has just found out what Tsukasa is doing. Kinkan says that if he is using the monster on other players then... Subaru tells him to be quiet, and that Sora may have been right after all, for even though Tsukasa access has been prohibited he is still there, and playing outside of the rules. Subaru decides she would like to talk to him. She gives an order to make Tsukasa a wanted on all servers of "The World" by the name of the Scarlet Knights.  "Capture him!!"

Tsukasa appears back with the little girl above the bed, and sees she is no longer swirling with colors, but some parts of her have been colored in. Also the landscape around her is no longer a pleasant forest but rather a wasteland with giant rock outcroppings and an ominous swirling sky.  He utters, "What's going on?"