Episode 37: Birth
Summary:
Sometime in autumn, Erin begins her first day as a teacher. She, along with Esal-sensei and the other teachers, greet the new students. Esal-sensei tells them about Lilan and how they shouldn’t go near her without Erin’s permission. One girl near the back focuses in on Erin for some reason, and thinks how she won’t lose. During class, Erin notices this girl, since she apparently enjoys reading her book than playing with others. She explains how studying will prevent her from losing to anyone, including Erin. Erin thinks it’s good to study but doesn’t believe that’s the point of it. The girl dismisses her and walks off. Just then, a strange bird starts making noises on a branch and Erin has everyone gather around. She asks what things the bird eats and the girl quotes her book. Erin reveals she’s half-right, explaining it also eats berries– information not written in any book. She further says that what’s in books are important, but what one experiences in real life is even more valuable. Erin also explains that she’s just become a teacher, and will be learning alongside them.
In a beast-lord shed, Erin and Tomura watch the kids fight with dung. The girl, referred to as Shiron, stands next to the entrance beside them, reading her book. She rationalizes that she’ll be safe next to them, but Tomura says she should participate. Shiron claims she already understands the point of the class: examining the condition of the feces. Tomura assumes she studies a lot, and she says that’s obvious, since she won’t lose at becoming the best teacher. She then asks Erin to let her take care of a beast-lord. Tomura says only college-level students are allowed to do that, but Shiron refers to Erin’s unique situation; she also claims having the confidence to start earlier. Erin wonders why she wants to take care of one so badly. Shiron thinks back to when she told her father about wanting to become a teacher at Tamuyuan. He told her that girls can’t become teachers there. Back in the present, Shiron tells Erin she wants to quickly become a teacher. Erin tells her not to rush, but Shiron says this is unfair coming from her. She starts saying something but runs off. Kiriku stumbles into the argument and wonders what happened. Erin says it’s complicated, and he assumes she must mean guiding people. He then tells her Esal-sensei is looking for her.
In her office, she asks Erin what she thinks of the situation. Erin says that it’s difficult, and one student in particular is troubling her, but Esal-sensei interrupts and says she meant Lilan. Erin restarts, saying things are going well in that department, and Esal-sensei mentions Lilan will be giving birth soon. Erin thinks she’ll need to be near Lilan more often; Esal-sensei offers to let Tomura substitute some of her classes. She also expresses her gratitude to be given the chance to see the birth of a beast-lord. Erin says likewise. Esal-sensei then asks about the student, and Erin reveals it involves Shiron. Apparently, she is the first girl since Erin and Yuuyan. Esal-sensei explains how Shiron’s father is a teacher at Tamuyuan and that her brothers are also teachers there and graduated as valedictorians.
At night, Shiron reads her book alone and thinks how she must keep it up to get Erin’s acknowledgment. She thinks back on how her father grabbed a book of hers while she was reading it and instructed her to instead focus on marriage. He believes it’s best for girls to become brides. Shiron told him she enjoys studying and learning new things, but he reminded her that she can’t be a teacher at Tamuyuan. Shiron interrupted him and spoke of Esal-sensei and Erin at Kazalm, having said she would go there instead. The present Shiron hopes her father will see her perspective if she works hard. She then notices a moving light down below from her window.
In Lilan’s shed, Erin asks Lilan if she also has worries, thinking back on Shiron’s words. Lilan lets out a painful cry, and Erin apologizes, hugging her and acknowledging the challenges of pregnancy. Shiron eavesdrops from the door and is shocked to see how close they are. She always thought beast-lords couldn’t befriend humans, as written in books.
One rainy day, Shiron asks Tomura about Erin’s ability to go near beast-lords; he is caught off guard and not sure what to say. She figures she’ll just have to ask Erin herself. As she runs towards Lilan’s shed, she thinks back on her father’s words. Shiron is sure she can do anything that Erin can. She enters Lilan’s shed, and finding no one there, enters the cage. Once she gets close, an agitated Lilan rises, prepared to attack. Fear grips her, but Erin arrives and stops things from getting messy. Shiron is amazed at how Lilan seemed to understand her words. Erin reminds her of Lilan’s condition and asks she not startle her too much. Shiron sadly recalls how her brother and father were surprised at her interest in Kazalm, but they figured it just a phase and decided to let her go anyway. Shiron explains her troubles to Erin, and Esal-sensei listens in from the outside. She tosses aside Erin’s attempt at sympathy and says that for someone like her, who’s accomplished many things, she’s incapable of understanding her.
Just then, Lilan starts crying out, and Erin determines she’s going into labor. She instructs Shiron to get the others, and tells her to hurry up when she doesn’t initially respond. Erin, Tomura, Kiriku, Esal-sensei, and Shiron gather outside Lilan’s cage, while Nukku and Mokku are locked outside. They debate on how to proceed, and Erin takes the lead, though they are concerned about what would happen should Lilan lose control. Esal-sensei hands Erin a mute whistle and tells her not to hesitate using it. The others then just step outside. A scared Shiron is about to run off and read more books, but Esal-sensei stops her and says this is an opportunity to learn something she will never see in books. They watch Erin get knocked away by Lilan’s intense reactions, but she recovers and encourages Lilan to keep pushing.
Shiron initially watches in fear, but gets over it, and cheers the two on; the others follow in response. With their and Erin’s support, Lilan musters the strength to successfully deliver the baby. Light pierces through the once-dark sky, and Eku proudly cries out. Outside, Esal-sensei tells Shiron she believes Erin became a teacher out of her resolve to look straight ahead in life and live to her fullest; because of this, she’s gained their support and acknowledgment. This also applies to Shiron. Esal-sensei tells her not to rush, for her father will eventually acknowledge and support her if she genuinely follows her beliefs. An enlightened Shiron cries while the others smile. Meanwhile, Erin congratulates Lilan and her newborn.
At the palace, Ial, the Queen, and the others learn of the birth. She makes arrangements to visit it, and provides the baby with a name: Owl. Later, Erin tells it to Shiron in the shed. Shiron hands off her book, saying she’s going to study things that aren’t in books with Erin’s help. She smiles, and Erin returns with a similar gesture, taking her book and saying she’ll keep it for now. The happiness expressed in a slumbering Lilan, knowing her newborn is safe, is similarly reflected in Erin’s pleasure of the fact Shiron has decided to walk a new path.
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My Thoughts:
A constant thought going through my mind while watching this was, “what a brat!” It was hard to not laugh whenever Shiron mentioned books and kept flashing back to her father. The ending of Shiron’s “conflict” and her decision to start learning stuff that can’t be found in books sounded corny. It made me wonder if this episode was just put in for some comic relief (around the main point: Lilan’s newborn baby). But at the end of the day I think Shiron is cute in her own way, and I don’t bear any pure dislike towards her. She’s quite young and rash (aren’t we all at some point?), but genuinely fighting for a dream, which I respect. I don’t see any significant development with her character beyond this, though.
I did like how Esal-sensei touched on Erin’s reasons for becoming a teacher. If anything, it highlighted the Erin we all know and love. She doesn’t care about many things people may worry about in her time and even today. The thing I admire the most about Erin is that she lives simply and by her own beliefs. She doesn’t look to “get to the top,” or “make as much money as she can.” Instead, she had a goal as a child, and has always worked near that path (the initial goal was a Touda doctor, but what she does now is related, except with beast-lords). Though she may live simply, it’s still peaceful and satisfying. Her persona was perhaps what those lacked during Je’s time, which led to the tragedy. Arguably, it’s natural to want something more in life, but when dealing with powers beyond one’s comprehension (like beast-lords), do so cautiously.
One major thing that happened was the birth of Lilan’s baby: Owl. Hurray! I’m glad Lilan finally has the brunt of it out of her system. Now that she has a family, I wonder how much she and Erin will get to play around? It’s been awhile since they’ve played ball. Next episode is exciting since it seems the Queen and Damiya will be paying Kazalm a visit. It will be interesting to see whether Kazalm’s secret is fully exposed, and what sort of punishments they’ll receive (if any). Damiya looks up to no good, and appears to finally come face-to-face with Erin. Maybe if we’re lucky Lilan will “accidentally” eat him. Yeah, I don’t like the guy. See if he gets eaten next time, on Kemono no Souja Erin: “The Queen, Harumiya!”
Tags: anime, fantasy, heart-warming, Kemono no Souja Erin
