Ep 5. Death March

Nona decides to give Decim a break, and effectively puts him on a pilgrimage across the void. His task is to visit the hosts of the currently contested games and pay them a visit to see how they're doing.

Decim begins by traveling to the home of the woman who competed against Quindecim in the first game. The woman is grieving the loss of a loved one and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she's dead. Decim listens to her story and empathizes with her pain. He offers comforting words to her before saying his goodbyes.

Next, Decim travels to the home of the elderly couple that were the competitors in the second game. The couple is still bickering and fighting with each other, as they did in the game. Decim listens to their argument and realizes that they're simply passing the time with each other before the inevitable occurs. He offers wise and thoughtful words to them before leaving.

Decim's third visit is to the home of the woman who played against Takashi. She seems very ill and is unable to leave her house. Decim finds out that she's being cared for by her younger sister and offers them both comfort.

Decim's fourth and final visit is to the home of the man who played against Ginti in the fourth game. He appears confident and arrogant, but his facade soon cracks open to reveal a lonely and sad individual. Decim listens to his story and shows him compassion.

Throughout the episode, Decim is reflecting on his role as an arbiter and the nature of humanity. He is further challenged when he has a brief encounter with the mysterious Oculus, the head of the arbiters, who encourages him to be more detached and impartial.

The episode ends with Decim concluding his pilgrimage, having learned a great deal about the contestants and the nature of death. He returns to his duties at Quindecim, eager to continue his work with a renewed sense of purpose.

The episode is a thoughtful and reflective entry in the series, and it poses some interesting questions about the role of the arbiters and the humanity of the contestants they judge.