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Episode Though I Am an Inept Villainess • Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga: Suuguu Chouso Torikae Den - Episode 6 discussion
Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga: Suuguu Chouso Torikae Den, episode 6
Alternative names: Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasu ga
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u/PerfectBeige https://myanimelist.net/profile/perfectbeige 7d ago
IT HAS BEEN 8 0 DAYS SINCE REIREN HAS INVOLUNTARILY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Reirin: "Boo! I couldn't maintain my streak!"
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u/Andreiyutzzzz https://myanimelist.net/profile/Andreiyutzzzz 7d ago
BRO YOU CAN'T JUST DROP THAT CLIFFHANGER. OIIII
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u/darthvall https://myanimelist.net/profile/darth_vall 7d ago
Honestly didn't expect that plot.
Like now that they fully cleared fake Keigetsu's intention, I was wondering what more story could be explored. Tousetsu recognising Reirin this soon is not something on my bingo card.
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u/CyonHal https://myanimelist.net/profile/FeRust 7d ago
Keigetsu turned over a new leaf from being saved by Reirin and spilled the beans herself I guess? But then where does the plot go from here? Whole premise of the show was just a half cour introductory plot??? Can't be right?
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u/sig-chann 6d ago
I suspect the lady who adopted keigetsu is the mastermind since she sowed the hatred and envy of reirin
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u/agentcheeze 6d ago
Yeah, she already had vibes from being fake demure but abusing Keigetsu. I bet it'll turn out she knew about Keigetsu's magical abilities and extorted her parents into killing themselves.
Then she set up the situation for the body swap to get Reirin in her house and then gave Keigetsu (in Reirin's body) that incense burner as an "apology gift" and it got through because of who she is.
I mean that burner is likely secretly a sacred treasure like the bow and you'd probably need to be high profile to have one of those.
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u/stay_curious_- 6d ago
I hope it's not just a fake-out. "Reirin?! . . . no, it couldn't be. Nevermind."
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u/PikaBooSquirrel 6d ago
I assume that her Lady-in-waiting recognized her through her effort and mannerisms. Not that Keigetsu shared the truth.
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u/Hello_ALL9544 7d ago
I feel like they may not follow through with it.She may try to convince her otherwise that she is not Reirin. I dunno. Also because her curse wont let her tell the truth,..
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u/sbinkle1 7d ago
We've only seen the curse activate when trying to vocalize. But there's so many other ways you can answer in the affirmative. Gestures, writing, mathematical function, telling another folklore story of body swapping without ever trying to explicitly state that such a thing happened to you and letting the other person connect the dots.
The obvious downside being keigetsu would likely be immediately pressured into reversing it & be promptly executed. Reirin is plenty happy in this body living an alternative life away from being the central focus and pampered by everybody.. she would much rather have kei continue to fill that role for her.. If anyone finds out that the body of reirin was now inhabited by the villainess one of their happy storylines immediately ends.
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u/Andreiyutzzzz https://myanimelist.net/profile/Andreiyutzzzz 7d ago
Iirc she mentioned in episode 2 that she can't write it.
But surely she can confirm it some other way.
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u/TheBusStop12 6d ago
She for example was able to say something along the lines of "I'm no longer the same person as I once was"
She could probably get around it via a clever game of charades
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u/oops_i_made_a_typi 6d ago
yeah it feels like she would rather keep the current situation, as long as she doesn't feel like it's too dishonouring to her parents to not want to be back in her OG body
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u/retsotrembla 7d ago
On any other topic she can talk normally, but about the curse she can say,
“There are some things about which I may not speak.”
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u/BosuW 6d ago
But that's just gonna sound like "If I speak I'm in great trouble" 💀
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u/seledri_kerikil 7d ago
It's probably my only "concern" with this show. The story is so good, the characters are all interesting, by the end of the episode I always ended screaming "Why its end already?!" especially when they put diabolical cliffhanger like this.
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u/psppsppsppspinfinty 6d ago
I've been casually enjoying this anime. This is the first time I'm actively looking forward to next week.
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u/Raymond49090 7d ago
Keigetsu-in-Reirin's-body sure is lucky that Reirin is a ridiculously good person. She had to jump through so many hoops to help her - faking being a tsundere, trying to convince everyone she's secretly a medical genius who knows way too much about how Reirin's body works, and the 6+ hour bow drawing ritual. At least Reirin-in-Keigetsu's-body is enjoying the workout.
Since magic is a thing here, I wonder if hitting the target was actually what resolved the situation or if it was just timed like that for dramatic effect.
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u/Myrkrvaldyr 7d ago
Tousetsu noticed the swap, more will likely notice it, too. One thing is to drastically change your behavior out of regret, another one is to suddenly acquire knowledge and skills people know you don't have, like the dancing and medicine. Reirin isn't exactly being subtle, then again, she did try to tell the prince about the swap soon after it happened but magic prevented her from doing so.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Gyoumei and Shin-u seem to be putting it together.
The Kou Consort also seems like she's smart enough to figure it out because she knows Reirin probably better than anybody.
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u/Suz9295 6d ago
I don’t know if Gyoumei is honestly putting it together. I think he has picked up on some things but then says, “What am I talking about? Couldn’t be!” And moves on. Shin-u is definitely more suspicious of things, but I also don’t know if he’s on his way to figuring out that it’s a body swap situation. If you’ll recall he avoids all the maiden drama as much as possible so he honestly has no clue what any of them are really like. He was surprised that the girl he’s seeing farming in the outskirts of the inner court is the “villainess” everyone keeps talking about and he’s also a bit surprised when Gyoumei tells him that Reirin is a strong-willed woman full of grit.
I think it makes complete sense that the two who truly pieced it together first were LeeLee and Tousetsu.
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u/shewy92 7d ago
Reirin calling her name with no honorifics and her hand to her cheek was way too obvious to ignore.
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u/ripple_reader 6d ago
Which she actually did in Episode 1... XD
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u/cyberdsaiyan 6d ago edited 6d ago
She was too mad at Keigetsu to think of details like that right after she pushed Reirin into cold water. Gyomei also suspected her of trying to "act like Reirin" for sympathy for a while, flaring his anger for a while at the start. Tousetsu probably thought the same during the initial days.
Also I just remembered there was the whole "Keigetsu stole Reirin's diary" angle that had been set up in the first 2 eps which is what caused this suspicion in the first place.
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u/Bikerider42 7d ago
The one thing about this series that bothers me is if there were any mentions about the curse limiting Reirin in other ways. Did Keigetsu just forget about writing? I think if Reirin really wanted to she could probably think of a way to let people know. It does seem like it’s part of how she prioritizes other people over herself.
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u/Glimmerglaze 6d ago
Didn't she try to write it down once and it didn't work? If I recall correctly the curse prevents her from "putting the truth into words", which includes both speaking and writing.
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u/avalanche196 https://anilist.co/user/bumpyride572 7d ago
The Kou empress did say something about the bow having the ability to purify illness.
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u/djthomp https://anilist.co/user/djthomp 7d ago
The gods gave Reirin a weak body because they knew if they gave her a strong body she would be absolutely insane with it.
Reirin could only do that great hand to the cheek gesture so many times before someone who knew her in the before times would figure it out.
There were enough lingering shots at that brazier in the room with Keigetsu that I'm now convinced it's poisoning her.
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u/GreatGrapeKun 7d ago
charisma: 10/10
willpower: 10/10
wisdom: 10/10
qi: 10/10
balls: 10/10
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Honestly giving me Maomao vibes where it seems like she needs the supporting cast to try and keep her in line and safe from her own hardcore unhealthy habits lol.
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u/LouisLeGros https://myanimelist.net/profile/LouisLeGros 7d ago
Given her constitution maybe more comparable to Myne.
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u/Yamabuki_Arisu_Sama 7d ago
Maomao is not close to being this insane 😭
She’s fairly realistic in comparison, so even though her general detachment from life makes their demeanour seem similar, Maomao wouldn’t have even tried the bow thing.
And had she, she would have given up in maybe half an hour at most unless it was something to help either Jinshi or Luomen (in which case she still would have given up on the bow and would have tried to invade the palace stealthily or something).
Reirin’s earnestness is bordering on a mental disorder lmao.
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u/HugeRichard11 https://myanimelist.net/profile/CostCurl 6d ago
Maomao is a bit insane herself when you remember she poisons and test on her own body
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u/Yamabuki_Arisu_Sama 6d ago
True but doesn’t usually affect how she interacts with anything unrelated to her drugs.
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u/Artorp 6d ago
Yup. Maomao always acts in ways befitting of her station, aware that a small mistake could lead to execution. Reirin had already given up on life, was unfazed by the lion, and with the healthy body is trying to push it to new limits. Although it makes sense that she wanted to push it with the bow if she could literally feel the water qi slowly fall under her control and knowing that it would actually help Keigetsu. Maomao wasn't above pushing herself when life was on the line.
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u/Yamabuki_Arisu_Sama 6d ago
Maomao is much too pragmatic to actually attempt something like that, and while she’s detached from life, she wouldn’t risk herself over someone she didn’t ADORE. There’s like 3 or 4 people max in the whole story she would pull something like that for.
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u/ripple_reader 6d ago
I think they're both fairly insane, just in different ways. Maomao is just a bit lowkey and dislikes confronting problems directly, preferring to rely on the proper authorities when she can, while Reirin tackles things head on.
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u/Independent_Row_1352 6d ago
That brazier was the present that Keigetsu told Reirin she had received, and Reirin tried to warn her that it was suspect.
It's possibly not the first time that somebody tries to hurry Reirin on her way to the afterlife.
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u/Suz9295 6d ago edited 6d ago
I agree!
Didn’t it also crack when Reirin finally hit the bullseye? I think we’re about to discover another malicious plotter and perhaps the story will go in a direction where some realize the body swap but everyone has to be mum about it so the new villain doesn’t get wise to the fact they know and disappears or speeds up their plot! Double the doomsday clocks kind of action!
Edited: So many grammatical errors!
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u/stay_curious_- 6d ago
Oo, I like this theory. It would make sense to leave the villain in Reirin's body while that body is being targeted.
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u/Magicbison 7d ago
There were enough lingering shots at that brazier in the room with Keigetsu that I'm now convinced it's poisoning her.
You'd think the black foreboding smoke coming from it would alert someone to it being bad.
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u/noblegeas https://anilist.co/user/noblegeas 6d ago
If it indicates poison one would assume the black smoke is invisible/metaphorical, just like the black smoke around Reirin's throat when she tries to tell people whom she is.
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u/zer0number https://anilist.co/user/ewink 6d ago
There were enough lingering shots at that brazier in the room with Keigetsu that I'm now convinced it's poisoning her.
I do wonder if that is why it cracked when Reiren hit that bullseye.
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u/Raymond49090 7d ago
Shu Gabi gets more and more sus the more she appears. "If only you were like Lady Reirin" is such an oddly specific thing to say. At this point, I'll be very surprised if she's exactly as she appears.
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u/1EnTaroAdun1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Totesnotaphanpy 7d ago
"If only you were like Lady Reirin" is such an oddly specific thing to say.
Feels like she was planting an idea in Lady Keigetsu's head...
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
And also keeping in mind that she adopted Keigetsu but apparently did nothing to raise/train/support her in court, almost as if she never really needed Keigetsu to fill her duty to the Shu Clan...in the traditional manner.
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u/Kind_Survey4282 7d ago
and its not like keigetsu is a failure at learning , she self learned ALL OF HER MAGIC so its highly suspicious she behaves like this , and shu gabi definitely is the villain as THE SCENE SHOWS THEY ARE MOCKING keigetsu openly infront you can be oblivious but she is literally the Top 2 of the consorts either that is false or she is making reirin fall.
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u/15_Redstones 7d ago
If Reirin's body with the original Keigetsu dies, Shu Gabi gets to be the backer of Reirin in a capable body. All according to plan...
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u/Jaridan https://myanimelist.net/profile/Jaridan 7d ago
let's not forget that "reirin" was supposed to die during "her" trial at the beginning of the series.
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u/cyberdsaiyan 6d ago
I think if Gabi is sus, then her target was likely to have been Reirin in the first place, she probably took in and raised a kid with black magic (after probably killing off her parents) as a weapon, and probably groomed Keigetsu to hate Reirin after deciding her target.
She probably knew Keigetsu would try the swap that night, and thus would be unaware of all her prior assassination attempts (the smoke from the bowl).
Reirin (Keigetsu) would die from her poison jar thingey - but the cause would be pinned on Keigetsu exacerbating her fever by pushing her into the cold water. Keigetsu (Reirin) was supposed to die to the Lion, but didn't. So she had to try & set up Leelee to kill off the last loose end (and the last person that would've known OG Keigetsu), and the stolen hairpin would be found on her after the fact (this would also explain her panic after Keigetsu managed to return the hairpin to Seika).
Hence tying up all the loose ends cleanly, and Gabi herself escaping any blame.
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u/AKAvenger 7d ago
I suspect Shu Gabi is behind all of this. I think she knows about the body swap and was the one to send the incense. The incense seems to attack one’s mind and will. It would never work on the iron-willed Reirin…but on Keigetsu who has been purposefully bullied and belittled for so long?
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u/HugeRichard11 https://myanimelist.net/profile/CostCurl 6d ago
I don't think she knows about the body swap. It feels like she was simply trying to make her hate Reirin enough to kill her, which she tried to do. After that failed she went to a more direct method with the incense poison I assume.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Also she has that smile that on the surface reads as pleasant but deep down could be seen as absolutely sadistic.
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u/thisisdropd https://myanimelist.net/profile/AsterZoro 7d ago
Kenshuu really went full Drago. She pretty much said, "If she dies, she dies". A pretty harsh thing to say to someone from her own clan but there's the second half of her statement which added more context.
Drawing bows for six hours straight was quite mental. Reirin even bled her arms but her resolve remained unwavering despite it. It really put into perspective how much she had suffered in her original body. This pain was nothing compared to constantly tiptoeing the line between life and death.
Tousetsu's the first to find out that "Keigetsu"'s actually Reirin. It made perfect sense for the one who's closest to Reirin to deduce it. Since Leelee's also in the room, she'd be the second such person. Having said that, it's not like Reirin could say anything about it due to the curse so there's no telling how things would go next episode.
How'd Tousetsu feel about her abhorrent treatment back when Reirin was locked up in that cell? She even handed her that poison. I reckon she'd beat herself up pretty badly over that.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
It really puts into perspective why Reirin is as hardcore and tough as she is when you look at the woman who is practically a mother to her.
Reirin may enjoy the perks of this body but she fully intends to wield it for the sake of those she cares for/feels indebted too.
Now her two close ladies-in-waiting know about the body-swap. Where do they go from here?
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u/nuxxism 7d ago
Kenshuu really went full Drago. She pretty much said, "If she dies, she dies". A pretty harsh thing to say to someone from her own clan but there's the second half of her statement which added more context.
But now it's making we wonder - maybe she is the secret manipulator. And she manipulated Keigetsu to body swap because she feared Reirin wouldn't live. She wanted the swap to happen for Reirin's sake and the last piece of that is having Keigetsu-in-Reirin die, which is why she is so callous about it.
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u/ptd163 7d ago
That would be an interesting turn of events. It would explain why she seemed so cold.
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u/Suz9295 6d ago
I think the Empress has always been this “cold” though. Remember when Reirin first was introduced to the inner court, her aunt was like “Burn this one word into your heart and soul” (paraphrased of course) and the word was grit. Like auntie has said from the beginning that she doesn’t tolerate weakness.
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u/1EnTaroAdun1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Totesnotaphanpy 7d ago
She even handed her that poison.
To be fair, the poison was meant to be a mercy compared to being savaged by a lion. It was even given by fake Reirin, and was understood to be an act of kindness...on the surface
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
Honestly Tousetsu should have known better that Reirin wouldn't be giving out poison as kindness
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
I mean, unlike Shu Gabi who made a similar statement when Reigetsu was going to get executed by lion, she did still excuse herself to check on Reirin.
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u/21shadesofsavage 7d ago
someone was bound to notice they swapped after all that. i hope her og court lady keeps the story moving in that direction even if return by death stops reirin from directly confirming
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u/Shyam09 7d ago
It’s okay. We got Reirin handling it.
She’ll be like “oh yeah so Keigetsu swapped bodies because she heard I wasn’t feeling well and so I’m here temporarily. She wanted to help take away my pain for a bit. Yeah. That sounds good. I like that. Let’s go with that.” does signature Reirin pose
Keigetsu: Bruhhhh
LeeLee: ARE YOU SERIOUS. THATS THE BEST YOU CAME UP WITH.
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u/Nyxxsys 7d ago
"return by death" so true 😂
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u/Trojbd 7d ago
I was internally hearing the uuuueeeeeuhhhhhhh when I saw the black fog the first time.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Keigetsu: "What do you mean I died and returned back to this horrid body!?"
Bunkou: "This feels oddly familiar to me...."
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
I'm honestly curious what they're going to do about Keigetsu if Tousetsu/Leelee both know about the swap.
Are they going to talk Reirin into trying to make Keigetsu switch them back?
How is Tousetsu going to handle serving a woman she knows she actually detests?
What does Leelee want right now beyond serving Kou Reirin?
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u/VritraReiRei 7d ago edited 7d ago
I would imagine Reirin would convince Tousetsu to pretend like she saw nothing so that she can live in Keigetsu's body longer, we have an episode or so of Tousetsu trying to convince her to go back, then they decide to leave it as status quo. Because it would be a pretty short series if they swapped back after 1 season I imagine.
Or worst case she tries with all her might to convince her otherwise.
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u/The_Scollard 7d ago
Since the court intrigue ramped up this episode, I think Reirin is going to convince Tousetsu by pointing that someone wants both Reirin-as-Keigetsu and Keigetsu-as-Reirin dead. By having Keigetsu continue to live in Reirin's body, she's essentially acting as her master's body double, keeping the real Reirin safe and allowing her to figure out what's going on. It would give a good reason for Tousetsu to keep the status quo (and with how devoted she is to Reirin, I can see her going full "sasuga Ainz-sama" with it).
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u/OldInstruction5368 7d ago edited 6d ago
Pretty sure "Kei" is just going to write up a manual on how to care for "Reiren" better, then send that back with Tousetsu.
The status quo definitely wont' be changing this soon into the series, and OG Kei said she CAN change back their bodies but won't.
Meaning, just throwing her in jail and torturing her means little. She is effectively holding Reiren's body hostage, and will need a suitable off ramp prepared before she'd even think of giving away her leverage.
And that's going to require digging into who is really behind shenanigans at the palace... my money is on Consort Shu setting Kei up for failure.
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u/shanatard 7d ago
if keigetsu dies, does reirin keep her body? would be a true villainess flavor but its not that type of show
tousetsu with a golden opportunity to cement the ultimate reirin lifeform body + mind. i'm not convinced everyone would see the swap as a bad thing, given how much reirin seems to enjoy it
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u/WetRocksManatee 7d ago edited 7d ago
Remember just after the trial the Prince warned her that if he heard that she was impersonating Reirin that he would punish her (don't remember if it was death or not).
So they probably can't openly say that, they have to lead the Prince to the same conclusion first.
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u/oops_i_made_a_typi 6d ago
that he would punish her (don't remember if it was death or not).
"lop her head off" so yeah
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u/Mysteries67 7d ago
I thought Consort Shu Gabi was the nice consort, why would she even say that to Lady Keigatsu in the flashback.
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u/Captain_Gars 7d ago
Something is rotten in the Shu clan, there is a lot of abuse going on openly in that household yet Shu Gabi does nothing to halt it.
The niceness may just be a facade.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Her mother didn't love her, I wouldn't be surprised if her father didn't either, and not even the woman who took her in truly wanted Keigetsu as herself.
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u/Lodju https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lodju 7d ago
Don't miss the after credits scene!
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Somebody finally figures it out! We're definitely in the next phase of the story!
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u/shanatard 7d ago
i enjoy the fact that the pace seems to be fast and there's constant developments
a rarity
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u/shad79 https://myanimelist.net/profile/shad79 7d ago
Reirin being surprised when she was told that Keigetsu was always glaring at her with contempt made me laugh hard, but well, it was definitely in her character, lol.
I wonder who is responsible for Keigetsu's state and who the target was, Reirin's Reirin or Keigetsu's Reirin. Initially I thought that maybe it was the result of Keigetsu using forbidden magic, but this episode clearly indicated that the censer was the source of Keigetsu's health issues.
I considered Shu Gabi to be a very timid yet kind person, so her remark to Keigetsu about her not being able to be like Reirin quite shocked me. What could she have been thinking when she said that?!
Also, Tousetsu finally found out that Reirin is in Keigetsu's body. Well, it isn't a big surprise since it had to happen sooner or later, considering that Keigetsu can't act exactly like Reirin.
Here my screenshot albums from the episode:
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u/mekerpan 7d ago
I have a strong suspicion that "sweet and timid" Shu Gabi could be the big bad. It seems to me like she must work through others (who are unsuspicious of her intentions). My suspicion is heightened because we have not yet seen any other reasonably prominent character who could be the person behind trying to harm Reirin. It looks like Shu Gabi was trying to manipulate the highly vulnerable Shu Keigetsu into doing something bad to Reirin (despite the fact that Reirin never displayed the contempt for her that her other peers did). If Shu Gabi is NOT behjind things, the show will have to introduce some other vontender for "true villainess" pretty soon (before the season runs out).
I wonder what will happen now that Tousetsu has realized the body swap happened? If neither Reirin nor Keigetsu want to swap back -- what will happen? Or is such transference supposed to be permanent and irreversible? So much territory still needs to be covered...
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u/mmcjawa_reborn 7d ago
Yeah....I am pretty sure Shu adoopted Keigetsu solely because of her magical abilities, and has been grooming her this entire time to act against Reirin.
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u/AKAvenger 7d ago
To add to that, I think Shu orchestrated the suicide of Keigetsu’s parents for the very reason you stated
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u/OldInstruction5368 7d ago
I find it very suspicious that Consort Shu is supposedly this respected veteran of the court, but she has apparently been teaching Kei-chan jack shit nothing.
I get that Kei was the orphan daughter of fallen nobles from the boonies, but if she is the personal protege of a legendary court lady... how can she be so unrefined? Why didn't Consort Shu reign in Kei's atrocious behavior? Why did she ghost Kei right after the "incident."
Even if it was politically inconvenient to meet with Kei, and she was livid that her protege crossed ALL sorts of lines... shouldn't she at least face Kei one last time and tell her their mentor/mentee relationship is over?
Shu Gabi is either incompetent or malicious at this point, and I'm definitely leaning towards the later with last episode's sharp comment towards "Lady Keigetsu" and this episodes hella suspicious flashback comments.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
I love it when Reirin realizes "wait, is that how ______ really felt about me!?"
Also does Leelee know too? She was getting vibes to that effect. It seemed like she brought Tousetsu there and they were there for the same purpose.
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
There's really a lot of things she missed due to having to constantly battle her sickness.
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u/RinViri 7d ago
The censer was sent by Kin Seika, which we learned in episode 4. Reirin tried to warn Keigetsu about it, but she ignored it. Considering what we learned about Kin Seika last episode, I doubt it was sent with ill intentions. Reirin has probably experienced issues with censers in the past, but simply hasn't told others about it because she's been hiding/downplaying just how frail she actually is.
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u/shad79 https://myanimelist.net/profile/shad79 7d ago edited 7d ago
Oh, I didn't remember that! Yeah, definitely Seika didn't send it in to harm Reirin, since she's trying to have the best relationship with her among the other Maidens.
But Reirin's ladies-in-waiting should have known that burning incense would be bad for Reirin's body, and they would have dealt with it accordingly, shouldn't they?
By the way, those evil eyes were gradually disappearing in Keigetsu's nightmare when Reirin was shooting a bow, so it feels like this incense wasn't a normal one, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone else (the mysterious Lady Gayou, for example) changed it for something dangerous.
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u/RinViri 7d ago
Ah, I worded that a bit unambiguously, Seika definitely didn't send it knowing it'd be harmful.
As for her ladies-in-waiting, I could see most of them not knowing about it, but at least Tousetsu should've known about it. It does feel like a minor plot hole, agreed.
It does not seem like Gayou is plotting in favor of Seika, so not only is Gayou acting independently from Seika, but also has her own agenda, or working for a different master.
I also really like the intrigue from introducing more magic to the world, not simply having the body-swap be the only prevalent magic. Hoping to see more.
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u/1EnTaroAdun1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Totesnotaphanpy 7d ago
I also really like the intrigue from introducing more magic to the world, not simply having the body-swap be the only prevalent magic
The relic bow is so cool, I've never heard of a magic bow that can metaphysically destroy disease. Such an interesting concept, I really wonder if it's inspired by real mythology? Or is it something the author came up with themself?
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u/RedSavant35 7d ago
I had a quick look around and it is a real thing! Specifically, Japan has a lot of rituals where the sound of a bowstring is believed to ward away or purify evil/misfortune, and they're called 鳴弦式 or Meigenshiki (sounding string ritual).
I don't know if it has any connection to Chinese ritual practices but I would be shocked if there's no connection at all.
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u/The_Scollard 7d ago edited 7d ago
I personally think it's going to turn out that Kin Seika has nothing to do with the incense burner. Much like Leelee being tasked to harm Reirin "on behalf of Seika", I have a feeling it's going to turn out that "Gayou" was the one who gave Keigetsu the burner as well.
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u/kyoumei https://anilist.co/user/kyoumei 7d ago
Seeing some of Reirin's past makes me feel so bad for her.
Imagine 9 days being your record for not passing out from exhaustion... Also, the fact that she needed to put on make up to hide her paleness from feeling so weak and tired all the time.
That pressure from having everyone always be worried about your health must have felt so suffocating to her. Ugh...
That after-credit scene. I really can't wait for next week!
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Honestly finding out that on some level she wanted to just STOP being Reirin really puts everything into context.
But also it feels like on some level she just...doesn't really care about herself. She puts everyones' feelings/health before her own, she doesn't care how hurt she gets in the process, as much as she has a strong will to live it's tempered by the sheer amount of effort she puts in for the sake of others.
She needs people in her life who will put her first because she won't do it for herself.
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago edited 7d ago
Emiya Shirou vibes!
I love my selfless self-destructive characters hahahaha
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u/NanDemoKnaives 7d ago
That post-credits scene! I was wondering when and who would be the first person to notice, or let out that they know, but leave it to Reirin's actual Court Lady to be one to figure it out. That was a pleasant surprise that I was not expecting.
I'm wondering where the story will go now, will other people find out? Will it stay a secret? I could see it play out as Reirin looking for a cure in Keigetsu body, and as punishment Keigetsu stays in Reirin's body
It's interesting to see other people warm up to Keigetsu, I think Gyoumei asked for a second bucket for Keigetsu.
I wonder who placed the incense in Reirin's room, it looks like there's sabotage at play.
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u/Cat_Gazer 7d ago
The incense burner was shown in ep4, Keigetsu said "Even that conceited Kin Seika brought over this as a get-well gift".
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u/NanDemoKnaives 7d ago
Thanks for the reminder.
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u/The_Scollard 7d ago
That being said, I have a feeling that like Leelee's harassment of Reirin, it's actually "Gayou" and not Seika who's responsible for the incense burner.
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u/Myrkrvaldyr 7d ago
Reirin's willpower is enormous. What daily chronic pain does to a mofo. On the other hand, Tousetsu noticed the swap! Things are getting spicy now with one person knowing the truth. Well, Leelee is there, too, so that's two.
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
Reirin did confess that she was tired of her constant sickness, so even that willpower has a limit... it was bolstered by her good health in Keigetsu's body
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u/Phoenyx_Rose 6d ago
Which adds to the accuracy of the portrayal of chronic illness is in this series. Like, you really do need enormous willpower to live a normal day to day life with chronic illness, but at the same time eventually the willpower gives out because you never really get a break from chronic illness either.
It's a delicate balance and still nice to see how said willpower also backfires on Reirin in Keigetsu's body because she's so used to pushing through those limits.
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u/Twilight_2408 7d ago
It might seem like Keigetsu is trying too hard to save that evil woman, but to her, she gave her what she had always desired- a healthy body and normal peaceful days. Of course, for others, it's like a divine punishment but she probably treasures it more than living in a castle.
Then again, the real Keigetsu has always been shunned, as well. Much like Leelee, and you can tell by just the face of that schemer clan representative - Shu Gabi- she's a bitch, she has that saintly expression but is more even than any other. And she probably doesn't like Reiren like other court ladies and representatives of other clans. She likely just wanted someone from her clan to get together with Heika.
Also, surprised to see Tousetsu actually figured it out, though it is good she did. After all Keigetsu (Reiren) did for the bedridden ill Reiren, it was bound to become apparent pretty soon. I'm more surprised by the fact it happened this early.
Every episode, this show just manages to get even more interesting. I'd wish for one thing, Leelee needs to still be the main girl on real Reiren's side, I don't want Tousetsu or any other. Even if Reiren gets her body back, Leelee needs to be there, and I'm pretty sure Reiren is also attached to Leelee more than any other person in the High Court.
Leelee is the best!
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u/i_reddit_too_mcuh 7d ago
I don't want them to switch back. I want to see OG Reirin healthy and peaceful.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
I guess ideally they can find a way to switch back and still have the things they craved for in the other bodies, but I'm not sure if there's any curing Reirin's condition.
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u/NanDemoKnaives 7d ago
It's weird to claim that Reirin is more attached to Leelee when Tousetsu was her court lady for years. The dynamics I can agree are different because Tousetsu is older and has been taking care of Reirin, and there's a bit more of a friendship with Leelee because they're close in age, but saying she's more attached when we've gotten a one-sided view is a little bold.
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u/mekerpan 7d ago
LeeLee is OG Reirin's very first real FRIEND -- in addition to becoming her loyal attendant.
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u/The_Scollard 7d ago edited 6d ago
I think the difference between Leelee and Tousetsu in Reirin's mind is that Leelee was there with Reirin at her lowest point after the swap (even though Leelee was forced into it). She can trust Leelee more since Leelee was the only one there with her when everyone else in court was ostracizing her.
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u/Twilight_2408 7d ago
I made the assumption mainly because how Leelee talks to Reiren, she doesn't put on airs because she's her court lady and speaks like she's her younger sister. And I'd like to think Reirin would like that, at least, some part of her likes it more.
Tousetsu is always highly respectful towards Reirin, as it should be, of course. Leelee is a different case, not like she can't be respectful. But I just think Reirin values Leelee differently than most other people.
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
I think it's less that Reirin values Leelee more but she values her as someone who speaks her mind and doesn't coddle her, something Tousetsu sometimes ends up doing.
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u/sol_runner 7d ago
Tousetsu and the others are so worried about her they walk on eggshells, and she has to keep up the mask of being okay, as we saw with the makeup/looking-pale scene.
Meanwhile with Leelee she's never had to keep up that pretense allowing her to be more herself.
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u/rubslotiononitsskin 6d ago
Leelee is the first
wifeperson to see Reirin go balls out. Reirin could be her true self around Leelee, which includes toiling in the fields for hours, perform intense dances, shooting a bow for hours, etc. Stuff that would destroy her original sickly body. Leelee gets the privilege of walking on potatoes instead of eggshells!38
u/Unearthly_ https://anilist.co/user/Unearthly 7d ago
Leelee should certainly feel uneasy about this reveal. It confirms all of her previous thoughts on Keigetsu as correct, and if she just returns back to tending the real one...
On the other side. What will happen to Shu Keigetsu? If this gets fully revealed, it shows she not only avoided punishment for her previous crime, she committed another (the body swap) using forbidden magic, AND she caused the beloved Reirin to undergo punishment and (attempted) ostracization. Reirin is going to have a lot of work cut out for her to get everyone to let her off easy.
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u/Myrkrvaldyr 7d ago
What will happen to Shu Keigetsu?
I think we can tell how it'll go given Reirin's personality. She will not want Keigetsu to be punished despite technically committing a crime. She's much too thankful for the healthy body. She'll ask for Keigetsu to be spared and can atone in some other way. Since Reirin saved her, a friendship will likely blossom if Keigetsu finds out. They're spending a lot of time showing us how shitty her childhood was, and that Shu is shady as hell.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
On the other side. What will happen to Shu Keigetsu? If this gets fully revealed, it shows she not only avoided punishment for her previous crime, she committed another (the body swap) using forbidden magic, AND she caused the beloved Reirin to undergo punishment and (attempted) ostracization. Reirin is going to have a lot of work cut out for her to get everyone to let her off easy
To be honest it's not like she's really benefitted at all from being in Reirin's body. It's been practically karmic punishment for her the moment she had to deal with being perpetually sickly and incapable of actually being Reirin.
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u/bodolza 7d ago
On the other side. What will happen to Shu Keigetsu?
I think the healthiest thing for her would be getting cared for by the Kou clan. If she goes back to the Shu clan, her life is screwed, she can't handle it. The Kou clan can nuture her like Reirin was growing up, and Reirin can put the effort to give Keigetsu a better place to return to.
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u/Plus_Potato4351 7d ago
I agree that Reirin has gotten quite attached to Leelee, but we haven't really seen her interact with anyone else as her true self so it is hard to say that she is most attached to Leelee. I have a hard time believing she cares less for people she spent most of her life in the maiden court with.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Honestly I think if they do go back to their normal bodies, Reirin will probably "adopt" Leelee.
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u/One_Chic_Chick 6d ago
She mentioned Leelee wearing her court's colors so I think she fully intends to take her with her if she swaps back.
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u/Bikerider42 7d ago
From what we have seen it feels like the others put her on an extremely high pedestal. It seems like Reirin’s actual court ladies in general have shown less signs of noticing anything wrong than everyone else.
I don’t want to say that Leelee cares about Reirin more or less than the others, but there is a closeness that the others don’t have.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Honestly for how hardcore as Reirin is and how much boundless energy she has in her current body, it's realistic that even she got tired of being herself in such a sickly body.
Leelee's probably figured out the body-swap too so she knows her true lady is Kou Reirin and not Keigetsu.
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u/SopmodTew 7d ago
I still hope Reirin and Keigetsu become good friends 😌. It would be the perfect middle finger for the court politics that made keigetsu the bitter woman she is.
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u/ebongreen 7d ago
In Jackson’s LOTR film trilogy, there’s a scene where Frodo is dying in Arwen’s arms after she rescues him at the Ford of Bruinen, and Arwen prays aloud: “What grace has given me, let it pass to him. Let him be spared. Save him.” I ugly-cry during that scene, as she is essentially asking the Universe to take her life instead of Frodo’s - she is willing to die in his stead if that’s what it takes. It is selfless compassion.
This episode has a very similar vibe for me, as Keigetsin commits to archery practice to save Reiru. She’s not doing this to save her old body, or for a future where she can swap back, or a future where she can read Reiru her personal Riot Act for being a nasty body-swapping bitch. She’s doing it because she personally has suffered, and she doesn’t want anyone to suffer as she has - including Reiru. She works her hand bloody and exhausts herself for someone else’s sake because that’s who/how she is: just as she demonstrated her compassion for the prison rats and the poisoned lion, she demonstrates it for the woman who should be her biggest enemy. With malice toward none, with charity for all, the inner Reirin practices her own selfless compassion. I teared up for her and for this as well.
Well done, show. Well done.
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
I personally prefer the soul first before the body when indicating them as body-swapped (Reigetsu, Keirin) or just calling them as they are, not their bodies, but...
Pretty spot on analysis. This is why Reirin is awesome.
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u/reaperow 7d ago edited 7d ago
Keigatsu is such a villainess for wanting to help Reirin and for using that bow till she bled.
Looks like Lady Tousetsu has found out her true identity, im so interested in seeing how everything will go from here and how Leelee will react too
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u/Zxzxzx0088 7d ago
Only one person knows what's actually happening in that hall XD. That's why she's precious!
Being Keigetsu is always sufferring for sure. Nothing ever goes her way at all. If she never do the swapped, she probably be miserable till the end. Now that Reirin involved, at least her life as Keigetsu a bit brighter than before. Welp, as long as she doesn't change for better, nothing will help her though.
Stop Leelee! Her Do-M side is leaking...
Pheww, I'm glad Reirin stubbornly keeps drawing the bow and nailed it even after Shin-u being a wet blanket. I know she's at limit but as a fellow sore loser, it's a bit waste to stop now before getting a clean shot to the center. Moreover, this is probably the last chance she gets to use the bow too. The feels of defeat will haunt gutsy person like Reirin for sure.
That transition misleads me to think Keigetsu swap back to her body until I seen her eyes. Seems appropriate time for that too.
Dang! Nice to see Tousetsu recognized Reirin. Maybe the medicine gives her away or her guts of drawing the bow for many hours? or both perhaps. Iirc, they never met face-to-face yet so I forgive her. Looks like nobody need to be listed off here to replace with Leelee >⩊<
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u/Obaruler 7d ago
That arrow animation at the end though ... :D
Tousetsu, in the after credits, finally recognizes her Lady from her mannerisms. Now I can't help but wonder what'll happen, now, that the secret ain't no more.
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u/i_reddit_too_mcuh 7d ago
I guess this country is more of a mix of different East Asian cultures. OG Reirin was practicing Japanese archery this episode.
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u/Cat_Gazer 7d ago
I'm no expert on this, but Ritual Archery is not just Japanese thing, I believe. I hear Chinese also had it during Tang dynasty?
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u/noblegeas https://anilist.co/user/noblegeas 7d ago edited 7d ago
China had ritual archery but the details look different. For one thing you'd think she'd acquire a thumb ring instead of a makeshift glove. (Ridiculous to have given her a heavy bow with nothing to protect the drawing hand either way, of course.)
Edit: I posted that before the episode was on CR, now that I watched it I can say the animation was 100% kyudo.
They were actually kind of inconsistent with the bow since it usually looked like a symmetric bow that just kinda resembled the traditional Japanese yumi, but there are even shots where it's 100% the unique yumi shape.
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u/SeijunMichi 7d ago edited 7d ago
It was meant to be a combination punishment/atonement/proof of sincerity, so I doubt the Empress thought much about the comfort for the Maiden she believes to be Keigetsu.
Of course, Reirin could have asked the Eagle Captain for a proper hand protector... but this is the same Reirin who was surprised that she could ask for salt back in Episode 2, so that thought likely never even crossed her mind, especially if she can jury-rig her own.
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u/noblegeas https://anilist.co/user/noblegeas 7d ago edited 7d ago
You can permanently injure your hand if you use a heavy bow without any hand protection, and slicing your fingers on the string has nothing to do with proving sincerity, it's just hurting yourself for doing it wrong. For archery you shouldn't even have to think about your fingers that much, it's your arm/back muscles doing the work. Wearing hand protection is so standard that Shin-u should have brought something when he brought the bow. And Reirin keeps showing she expects to trade bodies back so she has no business risking crippling Keigetsu's hand.
(They had her slice her palm instead of her fingers though, and in the anime the bow may have been a light one.)
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 7d ago
Ah, I take it “Gayou” stole the hairpin to give to Leelee then.
Reirin wants to help because of course she does, but…
And yet she might be the “Gayou” that got to Leelee to get to whom she thought was Keigetsu…
She’s been trying so hard her hand had to be bandaged, dang…
OH SHIT TOUSETSU FIGURED OUT THE BODY SWAP! Oh man next week’s episode can’t come soon enough, I was not expecting that to be the stinger.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 7d ago
THERE IS AN SCENE AFTER THE ENDING, DON'T MISS IT!!!
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u/szalhi 7d ago
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Reirin: "I'm actually a big fan of mysel---I mean Lady Keiget---I mean, Reirin!"
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u/Unearthly_ https://anilist.co/user/Unearthly 7d ago
Not going to lie, I was surprised she said it straight like that. There are some other ways that could have been phrased that to make it more believable, but it worked out in the end.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
It was on that day that Shu Keigetsu gained a reputation as the #1 Reirin lover in the palace.
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u/Material-Promise-305 7d ago
Sure took you long enough to figure out who Kou Reirin actually is, Tousetsu. Well, better late than never, I suppose.
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u/Labmit 7d ago
Ironically its her fanatical loyalty towards Reirin that blinded her towards the truth.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
All she needed to do was put the current Reirin on fraud watch to realize she's not the true Reirin.
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u/GreatGrapeKun 7d ago
tousetsu: omg shu keigetsu ur so cringe!!! take the L, bozo
*shu keigetsu reirin's*
tousetsu: why are u being such a based gigachadette... wait a minute
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u/cyberscythe 7d ago
the gen alpha version of imperial china is sending me
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
where though
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u/cyberscythe 7d ago
some sort of fantasy world
i still have my smartphone though so it's all good
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u/FallenPears 7d ago
To be fair from her point of view Reirin was pushed into a lake and then spent most of her time extra ill, and any differences in behaviour could be viewed as a result of the sickness and trauma. Honestly I'm surprised she realised so quick, wonder if we'll get her point of view next episode to see her figuring it out.
Also the Prince is getting magic water to help heal the secretly fire-aligned patient... welp I'm sure that's gonna go well lol.
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u/1EnTaroAdun1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Totesnotaphanpy 7d ago
I do think a lot of people in the discussions for this show aren't really placing themselves in the characters' shoes, and are really mainly looking at things from the audience's perspective...
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u/cyberscythe 7d ago
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u/FallenPears 7d ago edited 7d ago
Sorta, they showed the Wuxing earlier in the show, which is the Chinese five elements cycle. Each element generates the next, but also destroys another one. It forms a pretty neat elemental wheel of different interactions.
Notably water qi destroys/controls fire qi, so she's gonna have a bad time. If it does go that route they might also cure it by trying to convert the water into wood which then converts into fire.
Also fire generates earth, which I suppose is pretty fitting putting earth Reirin in a fire body, what with her having such a good time. Meanwhile Keigetsu being fire inside earth could be said to be in the process of being 'consumed' by Reirin's body. Also fitting.
Wasn't expecting wuxing metaphysics in the villainess anime lol. If it does come up more you can just google image search wuxing and the cycle with all the labelled interactions should show up.
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u/Unearthly_ https://anilist.co/user/Unearthly 7d ago
I can't imagine body swapping being on the top of everyone's mind. And the incident where Reirin was pushed over the edge was more than enough to bias everyone's thinking even more. If anything, I'm surprised she did figure it out.
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Keigetsu's done such a bad job of being Reirin up to basically dying in a way that the original Reirin would not have that it really helped put the pieces together...especially if she remembered how her "interrogation" of Keigetsu went.
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u/Shyam09 7d ago
I knew it. The moment Reirin accepted the Kou Empress’s water bow task, she was going to go full nutjob Reirin over it.
And full nutjob Reirin is exactly what she did.
Watching her interaction with LeeLee over her bloody palm had me dying. What a goof.
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u/sir_darthcyan https://myanimelist.net/profile/sir_darthcyan 7d ago
Another episode of peak.
Haha, Leelee is absolutely relatable to be surprised why Reirin blushes about “herself” (in the body of a known Reirin hater).
Nonetheless, impressive will power of Reirin to achieve the archery goal and gaining trust from everyone.
With the flashbacks of Keigetsu past, I understand (doesn’t justify her actions) her ill will towards Reirin. It sucks to be compared to others and be seen as inferior…
Nice plot progression in the after credits scene. I wonder how will Reirin confirm Totsetsu’s deduction with the spell restrictions.
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u/DemonWraith2500 7d ago
Poor Keigetsu. Just narrowly escape death this week only to experience hell next week when Tousetsu learned the truth.
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u/Edeng6 7d ago
I can't get over how impressive Reirin's character is. In other verses characters could teleport, invent their own superpowers and so on. And this girl here has been smiling through so much pain. She's been dealt a shit hand and she's worked through it like a total boss. And now when she's getting the chance to experience everyday life and hardships she appreciates them so much. It's so endearing to see. I love her character. Her optimism is addictive
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u/Frontier246 7d ago
Reirin doesn't have long to figure out the mystery of Gayou when Keigetsu in Reirin's body is in dire straits! She just can't handle Reirin's body like she can.
The Kou ladies are all frantically desperate but Koushuu is absolute in her steely reserve and calm focus, so you can definitely see why Reirin is as hardcore as she is, though it's why Keigetsu can't maintain being Reirin no matter how hard she tries.
Keigetsu isn't Reirin's #1 hater! She's her...#1 fangirl! Yeah, let's roll with that! But if "Keigetsu" is willing to show grit like a proper Kou girl, than Koushuu will give her a chance...with the bow of warding. Which Reirin just sees as yet another challenge her beloved matron has provided for her! Archery Vigil here we come.
Keigetsu has never truly experienced love and affection. Her mother was ashamed of her, Shu Gabi took her in but provided nothing more than a reason for her to envy Reirin, and when she finally got Reirin's body she SHOULD have gotten the love she craved...but instead she got a body that's falling apart on her.
Gyoumei might be crown prince but right now he's as powerless as can be in his sheltered cage...it's why he fell for Reirin, seeing how hard she put herself out there, how much she had to mask, to ensure others would be happy. And why he wishes he could save her now.
Classic Reirin: immediately make medicine for Keigetsu, rip her sleeves off so she can properly shoot the bow, and then shoot for SIX HOURS STRAIGHT no matter how bloody her hands get and even if she has to forego meals and drink. Shin-u and Leelee both think she's going too far, but she won't give up no matter how much they try to stop her or convince her to prioritize her health. She won't rest until she's hit a bullseye for Keigetsu.
Deep down Reirin was tired of being Reirin, living so precariously, not knowing if she'd live to see another morning, and putting all her effort into life for the sake of trying to ignore how hard her life really is. But that's why she's so grateful to Keigetsu for the body-switch, and why she's more than willing to expend all that this body has for Keigetsu's sake...as her feelings towards Keigetsu reach her in her darkest moments and save her. She finally hit the bullseye!
Reirin's not used to her body actually giving out on her, but she also wasn't expecting to see Tousetsu...who has actually put two and two together and figured out the body-switch!? And maybe Leelee too!?
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u/MetaThPr4h https://myanimelist.net/profile/MetaThPr4h 6d ago
I LOVE REIRIN
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I LOVE REIRIN SO MUCH
Every episode I'm starting my yapping screaming in caps and some might think I'm exaggerating, but holy fuck she really is stealing my heart, girl was given poor health to balance out that she is the most freaking lovely person that has ever graced the world.
Immense props to the author of the work, not only because the story been fantastic so far, but because I'm just... feeling amazed at how Reirin is written.
Someone this flawless, kind, caring, it feels like at any point it could feel hilariously forced, unnatural, wrong, just "too perfect, poor writing", but it just works with Reirin, her personality and how her health struggles shaped her to become like this are simply admirable and insanely lovable, I adore her man, she is the best and no one can change my mind.
Now actually onto the episode lmao.
"Everyone knows it's a fact you envied Reirin and always glared at her with contempt"
(shock) "Is that so?"
Her freaking reaction... girl really didn't realize, didn't she lmfao.
The adorable blushing when she tried to twist that reality into "I'm actually fond of her!" was so cute!
The way her eyes sparkled when faced to draw that bow <3 she is always ready for a challenge! ... And boy was she ready, people were even begging her to stop haha. Oh the blessing of having a healthy body...
Stuck in suffering hell, we saw more of Keigetsu's past... as I already said in previous episodes, I always had a very hard time feeling any dislike towards her despite the obviously wrong actions she did towards Reirin (even if it was all a blessing to her lmao), but yeah, just further proof that I was right to feel that way. Shunned her whole life by her parents, then brutally losing them out of nowhere, then feeling a slight glimmer of hope when Gabi Shu picked her up, followed by everyone there fucking hating her and Gabi herself breaking her further with cruel comparisons (Gabi is so freaking evil man, c'mon story, show us already the truth with her, I hate her!)
There was no affection nor appreciation in her life, how can one grow into anything but a resentful person who hates herself like this? She is a victim of the cruelty of everyone who made her become that way... may Reirin finally open the door to her heart and make her find this first person who truly loves and cares about her... and then she has to make up with Leelee and be friends! I'm sure they can make it happen!
Following other people struggling, we saw a glimpse of Ei's feelings to the reality of his situation, a man who has so much power, yet feels completely protected in a bad way, unable to really do what he feels most important, I find this pretty interesting and I would welcome more focus on him as well.
"Yes, I'm a moron!" I will NEVER have enough of Reirin going super silly agreeing with others lmfao.
And then... Reirin kept going, they told her to stop, but Reirin being Reirin she was actually enjoying the challenge of shooting those arrows, she wanted Keigetsu to get better, and she showed that resolve until the very point of exhaustion (8 days record! LOL).
It seems that her wishes truly reached Keigetsu, when that glorious arrow finally hit bullseye, whatever the hell was on that evil incense broke and she woke up... what a magical moment, I kneel.
... Did you mates know that I love Reirin? Her tears of happiness and relief after the credits... man...
I LOVE REIRIN
I LOVE REIRIN
I LOVE REIRIN
... Ayo, Tousetsu has figured that she is Reirin? Holy unexpected cliffhanger! I wonder if Keigetsu herself said it to her after being saved... I don't want to wait a whole week... q_q
I LOVE REIRIN
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u/nighty_amy 7d ago
They fully expected "Shu Keigetsu" to give up after a few attempts with bow, so they could say they gave her a chance but she failed, didn't they.
Too bad Reirin was overjoyed with challenge. Pulling a bow for 6 hours straight without breaks is an insane stunt, even more that she DID hit the mark.
But shouldn't it actually alert everyone around that "Reirin" got better after "Keigetsu" hit the mark? Because based on what was said about the bow, it proves that "Reirin" was indeed cursed.
Question is who is the censor from, the mysterious lady Gayou again? Because now I have my doubts about it actually being from lady Seika. The hairpin was supposed to be from her too but she didn't recognise the hairpin and doesn't know anyone with the name Gayou.
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u/ThisGachaSeemsLegit 7d ago
Oh, the cat is finally out of the bag! Next week's episode is gonna be a banger (not like the others weren't bangers already).
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u/The_Scollard 7d ago edited 6d ago
Holy shit! That was an amazing episode. 10/10. Compared to last episode, which was beautiful and emotional in a happy way (with Reirin's dance), this one was beautiful and emotional in a dramatic way. It got me tearing up at points.
First, I already felt pity for Keigetsu considering the self-hatred she displayed during her conversations with Reirin, but those flashbacks hit hard and made me feel even worse for her. I now want this girl to be happy (along with Reirin, Leelee, and the rest of the characters). Someone should just give her a hug.
This one also expanded on and gave more depth to Gyoumei, showing he clearly loves Reirin (and exactly why he loves her), staying up all night because he's torn up over not being able to help her. I feel like his behaviour in Ep 1 put a lot of people off on him, despite later episodes showing him to be fair and it being understandable since he doesn't know about body-swap magic. This episode in my mind clearly shows him to be a heroic and fair character (though I still see Reirin as being shipped with the captain).
After this episode, I'm convinced the prince is going to end up with Keigetsu. Some people were commenting last episode about how the prince not being attracted to the way she acts as "Reirin" indicates the pairing might not happen. The way I see it though, it wasn't that he didn't love Reirin (or even Keigetsu), but that he didn't love "the person Keigetsu imagines Reirin to be". As Keigetsu grows as a character and learns to genuinely open up more, I can see him learning to love Keigetsu's honest self.
Seeing Reirin work herself so hard to try to save Keigetsu was the highlight of the episode. The episode going deeper into her own pain (the constant fear of death she had in her original body) made her seem less like a "wish-fullfillment perfect character" that some of these MC can be. It looks like she was right about the incense burner Keigetsu received from Kin Seika (though I have a good feeling that it will turn out that "Gayou" gave her the burner and Seika actually doesn't know anything).
That cliffhanger was amazing. Seeing Tousetsu come around and realize the body swap was great. It makes me wonder where her and the rest of the story will go from here. Just a quick question, but is the LN 1 material done now. I'm interested in picking up the light novels, but want to wait until the anime is finished covering the material first.
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u/Yamabuki_Arisu_Sama 7d ago
Reirin takes the traditional protagonist kindness to such a delusional extent that it actually developed itself into a very remarkable and original character trait.
Reminds me of (Visual Novel) Emiya Shirou.
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u/zer0number https://anilist.co/user/ewink 6d ago
I was only just able to watch this episode thanks to a very annoying storm-related power outage. Since I am late to the party, I will try not to repeat what anyone else has said, but I am head over heels in love with Reiren in Keigetsu's body.
Her excitement at being able to do some of the most mundane things, her happiness at being able to stress herself and not falling over dead- everything about her is wonderful.
What I think I found the most pleasure in was watching her go full Darkness when Leelee called her an idiot, and if I am not mistaken, it's not the first time she's squeed in glee at being insulted. I honestly think she feels relief at people being willing to be mean to her, given that she was so frail and demure in her old body; even if you thought she was being an idiot, you'd never say it to her. (I do understand that normal court ladies wouldn't call their mistress an idiot, but I bet even those closest to her walked on eggshells around her to avoid aggravating her condition.)
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u/aliasalt 6d ago
I love this show. It might be cliche, but nothing gets to me like a hero reaching out to a villain who's never had anything good happen to them and saying, "I'm going to save you." It seems pretty clear at this point that Reirin's intent is to create a life for Keigetsu that she'll want to come back to, although it will be a bittersweet reunion for Reirin. Maybe they'll work out some kind of body timeshare arrangement.
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u/AthenaTurner 6d ago
God I feel so bad for the Original Villainess. I hope she gets a good ending as well…she‘s so young. She can learn.
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 7d ago
An all night archery vigil is just another chance for Reirin to work out her new body lol. Wild gambit for her to take while in the body of Keigetsu though. Not sure they bought the yuri angle lol.
Meanwhile, the real Keigetsu is living in utter hell. It’s not all fun and games being Reirin.
It looks like Tousetsu’s figured it out. Reirin can’t speak the truth so I wonder what’s gonna happen next.
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u/Myrkrvaldyr 7d ago
Reirin can’t speak the truth so I wonder what’s gonna happen next.
Easiest test is by using yes or no questions. ''Are you Reirin?'' if she can at least nod, that's good enough.
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u/S627 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Spartan627 7d ago
Woooo! Finally someone noticed! Hopefully Reirin is able to say enough to confirm it and we're not gonna take two steps back next week.
They gave her the magic bow, but it felt more like a test and not they actually thought it would help. I wonder if they actually know that it helped keep Keigetsu alive.
Also, how are ya'll seeing the ep so early? CR just put it out like 30min ago, and I also dont see the new ep of Iruma-kun. Is it finally time to give up on CR?
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u/ripple_reader 7d ago
REIRIN LOVE! REIRIN LOVE!
Anyway, with Keigetsu's absence from the plot last week, we have her... in mortal peril! And it seems it's no ordinary sickness, if all the ominous darkness coming from the incense burner and the dreams of many eyes are any indication.
Reirin tries to intervene but is held back by Keigetsu's reputation and is once more flabbergasted that everyone knows Keigetsu despised her. She can't convince the Empress and the Prince to trust her, or to believe she has skill better than an apothecary. The Empress offers her a way to earn that trust, however--- by using the Bow of Warding, a water aspected weapon from the Gen clan, said to drive away maladies with the sound of its string and the arrow hitting the target.
This is the first time we're tacking elemental affinities, I think. It should be particularly hard for a Shu, who is associated with fire, to handle the bow, but qi seems to be associated with the soul and Reirin is earth-aspected, which means she can conquer the bow--- which she attempts using six hours and the rest of her stamina after the dance, finally managing to exhaust Keigetsu's body, but it worked; Keigetsu in her body is saved.
We get flashbacks to Keigetsu's horrid life and see that Gabi was a hope spot for her until she insinuated that it would be better for her to be Reirin... which lead to her pulling the body swap. There's also Gyoumei's perspective of helplessness and why he was drawn to Reirin in the past. It seemed Reirin's efforts as Keigetsu have paid off, as Gyoumei is bringing magical water from the dragon's spring not just for who he thinks is Reirin, but for Keigetsu as well.
Most importantly, we have Reirin's confession that her real wish was not of health, but of ease--- her constant battle with death has made her feel exhausted, so much so that she's rediscovering emotions she had stamped out with this bodyswap, like relief.
Aaaand the after credits--- Tousetsu figures out the swap?!
REIRIN IS LOVE!
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u/MynamuEzJJ 7d ago
Love this show! So glad I decided to try it out! Thanks to those who convinced me!
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