Episode Title:
Valley of Death I.
Episode Description:
In medias res, Ai Astin confronts a mysterious stranger in her town who seemingly kills all the townsfolk. Unwilling to listen to the man's reasoning, Ai furiously attacks him, but he easily overpowers her. A flashback shows the 7-year-old Ai, being made the village gravekeeper upon her mother's death and had been carrying out her duty ever since, explaining that grave-keepers are the only ones that can help the dead rest in peace after God's Abandonment. While staying with her foster parents, Yōki and Anna the latter can't help but lament that Ai is unhappy with her life; although Ai believes that her father, Hampnie Hambart will visit one day. The next day, Ai grows concerned when she doesn't notice the townsfolk. She bumps into a white haired man who surprisingly learns that she is the village gravekeeper before he inquires about the whereabouts of a woman named Hana, to no avail. Introducing himself as Hampnie Hambart, Ai claims that he is her father much to his objection. Afterwards, Hampnie asks Ai for her gravekeeping services. While passing through the village, Ai terrifyingly notices all of the dead villagers before being approached by the wounded farmer, Yūto. Still walking despite a fatal gunshot to the head, Yūto defends Ai while drawing a gun on Hampnie. Hampnie easily kills Yūto with another head-shot, explaining that destroying the brain is the only way to be sure. Ai then charges at Hampnie in a fit of rage. She eventually wakes up and admits that Hampnie isn't her father, due to his cruelty before he tasks her with burying her entire village. Afterwards, Ai follows Hampnie out of town where he shatters her reality by revealing that she isn't a true gravekeeper since she possesses both parents and emotions, before introducing her to a true gravekeeper.
