Made in Abyss Season 2 Episode 03

Village of the Hollows is the third episode of the Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun anime series.

Synopsis
Majikaja begins climbing stairs, which worries Riko, until Nanachi explains the force field is not present, so the curse is not either. However for the same reason, Nanachi is unable to predict movement, and tells Reg to be extra alert. Reg notices the creatures following them and asks Nanachi if they are Narehate. Nanachi says it is possible, but thinks there is something odd about their intelligence.

Majikaja leads the group to the jeweler who is chipping at Prushka's stone. Riko is at first alarmed, but then senses that Prushka does not hate what is being done. Majikajya explains that the stone has not yet assumed its intended form as an instrument, where its precision will increase. Majikaja confirms themself to be a Narehate, and leads the group to a market, but Riko does not recognize the currency. She spots a page from Lyza's notes being sold and picks it up, but the stall owner yells at her. Majikaja warns that they must not touch things of value without permission.

Riko wants to buy the page and Majikaja says she must trade something of value. Riko thinks it means something she is carrying with her, but Majikaja says that Riko herself is incredibly valuable, and suggests selling body parts, and even asks to buy her entire body. Riko refuses. Majikaja is disappointed but gives up, since stealing value is the gravest sin. Riko notices that the mark on Majikaja's money matches the mark on their drawing. Reg suggests acting like shoppers in order to gain information on the one who took Prushka.

Majikaja explains that each Narehate's body more or less became their desired form. They all challenged the Abyss, but lost their way and ended up in the village. In exchange for their desired form and protection, they can never leave the village. Nanachi is different because they became a Narehate at the old ritual site, and was protected by a powerful desire, which has great value. Riko realizes the surrounding Narehate are like her, dreaming of an Abyss adventure, and says it is nice to meet them. She lets a Narehate hold Meinya. The crowd becomes too aggressive in their handling of Riko's group, and Riko begins yelling in concern as Meinya is moved away from her. The Narehate holding Meinya squeezes it so hard that Meinya's intestines pop out, as Riko looks on in horror.

The Narehate drops Meinya, who falls to the ground. Riko grabs Meinya, and Nanachi tries to treat it. After some minor aid, Meinya begins to move again. Nanachi says the intestines popped out because the air inside had nowhere to escape from, and will remain swollen for a while. Majikaja asks what Meinya's value is. Thinking they want to buy Meinya, Riko angrily yells that Meinya cannot be bought. Majikaja guesses that Meinya's value is immeasurably high and Riko agrees. There is a loud howl and Majikaja says the balancing has begun. The Narehate who handled Meinya roughly tries to run, but is surrounded by dark shapes, and is held in place while various objects they carried are yanked away, and either destroyed or redistributed. Majikaja says this is the price for damaging a value that belonged to someone else.

The village knows the desires of the inhabitants, and undesired things with no buyers become small values, which are lost forever, so everyone protects their belongings. Noticing how heartbroken the Narehate looks at losing their belongings, Riko asks if the balancing can be stopped, but Majikaja says the village protection is too powerful, then questions if Meinya is not worth the effort. The Narehate's skin is torn open, and parts of their body is distributed. Majikaja says Riko is being compensated with the body parts, since many would buy a body or like to know what is inside one. Nanachi questions what happens in Prushka's case, since she was stolen, but Majikaja says because it happened outside the village, that matter cannot be dealt with by the village.

Riko is given currency for her damaged share. Riko feels uncomfortable accepting, but it's value is bound to her. Majikaja suggests to use it to buy food and lodging. Majikajya leaves, stating that since everyone knows their value now, they are unlikely to be harmed. The group tries to communicate their need to find an inn, but the Narehate don't understand them. Riko mimes sleeping, and uses a phrase she heard Majikaja say when describing it. The Narehate seem to agree. They find an inn, and Riko manages to pay for a room and food. Riko and Nanachi eat the food, but Reg is hesitant because there are insects around it. Riko soon has an upset stomach. Nanachi and Reg try to find medicine for Riko and Meinya. There is a loud sound that Nanachi mistakes for an earthquake, and the Narehate seem excited.

Majikaja says it is the arrival of Faputa, the embodiment of value, who can go anywhere, rarely shows herself, and will never die. Reg suspects Faputa may have written the message Riko mistook for Lyza's. Reg wants to find Faputa, but Nanachi is worried about leaving Riko and Meinya. Reg offers to contact Nanachi with his communicator if he finds anything. Nanachi asks Majikajya where she can buy clean water and fruit. Majikaja is torn because he doesn't want Riko's value to drop from disease, but he also wants to see Faputa.

Reg sees many Narehate gathered at the village entrance, but they cannot pass through. He exits the village. Nanachi asks what type of person Faputa is and Majikajya says she is the Narehate princess. Reg encounters a ghostly figure standing on the shoulder of a giant robot.

Ganja arrives at the 6th layer, where they immediately meet a group of Interference Units, who are human-sized, unlike Gaburoon. The Interference Units are able to understand them but not communicate. Ganja deems the group trustworthy and follows them. Soon thereafter, an unknown creature snatches one of the Interference Units, and the group decides to retreat to safety.

Adapted From

 * Volume 6, Chapter 40: Hollow Husk of Life
 * Volume 6, Chapter 41: The Balancing of Values
 * Volume 8, Chapter 49: The Golden City

Character Appearances

 * Ajapoka
 * Belaf
 * Faputa
 * Gaburoon /
 * Interference Units /
 * Irumyuui
 * Enbelietz
 * Maaa
 * Majikaja
 * Meinya
 * Mepopohon
 * Nanachi
 * Poriyon
 * Reg
 * Riko
 * Shurekaka
 * Vueko
 * Wazukyan

Bestiary Indexing

 * Hermit Rat
 * Irumyuui's children
 * Meinastilim
 * Unknown Creatures