"So the dam construction will bring in new jobs and revitalize the local industry..."

"That's not what we're saying!!!"

"Who the hell gave you permission to build a dam here?"

"You squeeze tax money from us and this is what we get in return?

Who do you think pays your salaries, huh?"

"Look,

we're trying to explain to you..."

"We don't want to hear your excuses!! We want to know when you'll stop the construction!!!"

"You're useless! Bring the Minister of Construction here!!

He'll get to the bottom of it!!"

"Shut up, you yuppie!!"

"Hey, you're paid with our tax money, so why the hell are you talking down to us from up there?

Come down here and and let's speak face to face!!"

The auditorium is filled with angry shouting.

The sign at the entrance says

'Hinamizawa Dam Construction Explanatory Meeting'.

Every time the official on the stage tried to say anything, the citizens packed into the room silenced him with their shouts.

Trying to ignore them, the official continued to explain the pros of the dam,

but that just further infuriated them.

Between the stage and the citizens, there was an open area where a police squad is standing by.

If they weren't there, the citizens would jump onto the stage and start a riot.

...I'm watching all this from the back of the auditorium.

It's obvious to anyone that they're being swallowed by their anger.

...They've become filled with a bloody red rage.

...The anger that came from a certain purpose becomes a purpose in itself

and it creates a vicious cycle, where anger leads to more anger.

...Anger is a necessary emotion for humans.

People face many difficulties in their lives.

Anger gives them the motivation to fight and conquer such difficulties.

Therefore, anger is an essential part of life itself.

So I will never reject anger itself.

However, anger like this, that goes far beyond normal, makes people forget their purpose.

That is no longer an essential part of life.

As the blood rushes to their head, a person can't even remember what they've done. They go out of control.

......Such emotions are very painful, sad, and difficult to endure.

...I can clearly see the villagers who live alongside us turning into demons.

I understand the rules of the human world.

The power of an individual can't be compared to the power of the government.

To be able to fight, an individual needs to become part of a larger, unified power.

But to steer that unified power in the right direction is extremely difficult.

The cycle of anger leads to more anger.

Not anger that helps you live, but anger that exists only for anger.

...It's just like being a demon.

And... this emotion is capable of violently rousing us from our long, peaceful slumber.

Everyone is immersed in their own anger.

We lived peacefully with the villagers while we slept quietly.

...Yet now we've awakened,

and it's like the world is trying to return to that age when demons were said to rise from Onigafuchi Swamp.

I keep shouting at everyone to get them to calm down.

But my voice can't reach them, because of the vicious cycle of anger.

Even so, I'll continue shouting, hoping even one of them will hear my voice.

Because if I don't do anything... the demons may awaken.

The demons that went into a deep sleep... may reawaken because of this commotion.

Then, all of a sudden, the atmosphere changed.

Looking up, I saw that the angry exchange between villagers and those on the podium had devolved into confrontation between the villagers themselves.

...What's going on?

"Shut up!!!

Those are your reasons, not ours!! Don't pull us into this, you old hag!!"

"Who the hell cares!!

The hell you say, you bastard!!!"

"Hey, hey, hey!!

Do you know who you're talking to? This is Oryou-san. You've got some nerve, huh?

Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Shut up!!

Sonozaki? So what? I'm Houjou. Get your goons away from me!!"

"Hey, Houjou!!

How dare you say that you want the village to be submerged?

How much are they paying you?"

"Shut up, you old geezer!!

Listen, there are plenty of poor people in Hinamizawa. Not everyone is rich and has fields all over the mountains like you do!!

I'm satisfied with the compensation from the government. They've even offered to provide us with public housing.

Yet you're ruining everything, you assholes!!!

Don't pretend you're the same as us!

If you want to fight with the government, why don't you fight by yourself?

Then who's going to pay? You?

I'm poor and have two kids at home.

I was planning to start a new life by leaving here in peace after getting compensation from the government and finding a job elsewhere.

But you... since when did you represent me, huh?!

Do you think you're that important, or what?!"

"Hey, hey, hey, Houjou!!

How dare you betray us!!

Then get out! Get out of this village!!!"

"Sure, I'll be happy to!!

But you're going to pay what I'm entitled to, right?

You're going to pay me every yen of the compensation I was going to get from the government!!

Even if I wanted to leave the village, I don't have the money.

If you're going to pay me, I'll leave straight away!!"

"...Houjou is right!

There are plenty of residents who are willing to leave!

You Three Families shouldn't drag us into this!!"

"The hell is this?

Who just spoke?

Come on, who was it?"

"If you want to stay, then stay!!

We have the right to leave, so don't interfere!!"

"That's right!!

Back the hell off, you damn Sonozaki hag!!"

"...Ahh,

of course we'll compensate the people who support the dam construction plan.

We most certainly will not steal the land from you..."

"Shut up, government dog!!

Are you trying to divide the village?

Die, Houjou!!

You don't deserve to breathe the village air. Hold your breath and suffocate to death!!!"

"Screw you, old hag!!!

I'll murder your ass! Step up front, you damn hag!!!

Heeeey! Stay out of this, you fat pig!!"

"Veeeery good.

That was veeery good, Houjou.

I haven't been this pissed off in so, so long.

You'll get what you deserve!!

Look forward to it!!"

"Get 'em, get 'em, Houjou!!

The government has to provide us new jobs, shelter, and compensation."

"Hey, hey!!

Stop this violence!!

All of you, stop it, stop it!!!"

"Like hell, bring it on!!

Come and get some!!"

Everyone is being tainted with the bloody red anger...

And I can only watch......

The least I can do...

is to apologize for the tragedy

that is about to happen...

...I'm sorry,

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry,

I'm sorry,

I'm sorry...

This...... is how things started.

From this day onward, the Houjou family and the Sonozaki family will wage a feud against each other, and the Houjou family will become ostracized within the village.

This marks the beginning of Satoko and Satoshi's lives of tremendous hardship.