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棺姫のチャイカ
Toru Acura is a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life now that the war has ended. He encounters Chaika Trabant, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin, and follows her in hopes of finding meaning to his life again. The two travel with Toru's adopted sister, Akari, the employed member of the group and thus Toru's source of income.
One month after the battle on the floating fortress Soara, Chaika is still searching for the remains of her late father, the taboo emperor, along with Toru, Akari, and Fredrica. The next owner of his remains is another of the eight heroes, Claudia Dodge.
Chaika and company attempt a rematch with Claudia Dodge, but her fierce attacks keep them on the defensive. She disables all of Akari's traps and leaves them no openings to counter. Seeing that it's do or die, Toru decides to act as a decoy.
The party heads for a certain harbor town in search of more remains. Chaika is overjoyed to see the ocean for the first time. Upon hearing a rumor that the hero living in this town, Clay Morgan, loves to laugh, the three disguise themselves as street performers to get into his mansion, but then...?!
Chaika arrives on the island where the emperor's fortune is said to exist, but she's quickly attacked by a pack of Orthros, followed by a group of demihuman soldiers.
The two Chaikas are captured again. The red Chaika says they should work together just this once to escape, but as they search for an exit, they find a girl confined in a hidden office. She introduces herself as Niva Lada and says she's been waiting for Chaika.
In Goeranson, the capital of the Principality of Hartgen, fierce fighters from all over the world gather for a "festival." The principality's king is one of the eight heroes and the captain of the force that subjugated Emperor Gaz, the man who cut off the emperor's head himself: King Stephan Hartgen.
On the night before the tournament starts, Toru and Akari enter the castle through waterways, only to be greeted inside by their former mentor, Shin Acura. The overwhelming difference in strength forces them to retreat.
Toru and Chaika have advanced through the tournament and made it inside the third castle wall, but then they're captured and ordered to proceed to a different arena. Seated inside waiting for them is the black Chaika, who says this is where they will atone for their sins.
There's only one way to save the hostage Chaika. Disgusted by his own powerlessness, Toru heads back to Goeranson Castle carrying the coffin... and at last, all of the emperor's remains are brought together in the throne room.
"I am tool. Purpose served. No reason to live." Chaika is falling apart, and the resurrected Gaz heads to a new castle. Unable to do anything but watch as anger boils in his heart, Toru makes a major decision.
