Ren!
I need to talk to you—
What's wrong, Ayase-san?
Rea-senpai.
Have you seen Ren?
No.
Why?
It just feels like he's avoiding me...
This morning, he left without talking to me.
Did you have a fight?
Or any other reason?
Actually, nothing I can think of.
Lately, my memories have been all fuzzy.
What?
That makes zero sense.
That's what I wanted to talk to him about,
but I can't find him!
Jeez!
Where did you go, Ren?!
You look like you're in pain.
Are you avoiding Ayase-san?
Well, that is the right move.
Right now, you're dangerous.
Shut up.
If you don't need anything, leave.
Otherwise...
Or you'll what?
Kill me?
But you can't do that yet.
You can't even shake me off now, can you?
If you want to try,
come here once more, tonight.
I'll teach you all kinds of things.
About how to use this.
Spider
And that's how it happened...
The stage is finally set.
But actually, that is all that's happened.
I believe there are still things to worry about.
Specifically...
The war Lord Heydrich seeks must not be half-hearted.
That's what you want to say, isn't it?
The death of lesser beings will not take you to Valhalla.
The enemy must be strong, a symbol of our glory.
Yes.
And so, let us take one more step,
for the benefit of Lord Heydrich.
As our master's stand-in,
I order you all...
Sometimes, war involves strengthening the enemy.
And that is the situation.
I've been ordered to make you a little more useful.
Some were opposed to it,
but I was not.
So I was given the job.
We are the same age, too.
Which means that I can be kindest to you.
What?
I'm not as old as the others.
I think we'll find we have much in common.
Yeah, right...
Didn't you say you're after a war?
Yes, but currently, things are like this.
Don't be so jumpy around me.
If you want to fight soon,
get stronger.
Got it?
First, let us start with the very basics.
Who are we?
I said this before,
but it all started with one mage.
Karl Krafft. Mercurius.
During World War II,
soldiers and criminals gained power, with his help.
Including him, thirteen in all.
The Longinus Dreizehn Orden black round table.
That is who we are.
But several of us are dead or gone,
so some have been replaced, and some seats are unfilled.
I took the place of the fifth about a decade ago.
Just like the others, I have a wish that I want to come true.
Did anyone tell you about that?
Yeah, but not the details.
Then I won't tell you, either.
It's private.
I can tell you that, basically, we're a bunch of losers.
We were a bizarre group, to begin with.
So if we want our wishes granted,
we must make it happen in a bizarre way.
And that's a war?
Yes, and a war needs an opponent, doesn't it?
Krafft...
He is the second most important of us,
and he says he will prepare the right opponent in the right place, at the right time.
We are to fight him, defeat him, and make our dreams come true.
In other words, we are supposed to defeat you!
That makes no sense.
What the hell are you talking about?
I have no idea who you people are.
Or who this Mercurius guy is.
But right now, the situation is that everyone is after you.
If you dislike it, complain to Krafft.
All the veterans dislike him.
I've heard he's pretty nasty.
No, not just him.
Since the last great war, several among the higher ranks have disappeared.
Krafft is one of them.
So I don't know much about them,
but I've heard they're all monsters.
And that, if the war proceeds, they will return.
In other words,
the guys at the bottom of the totem pole must satisfy the important ones?
Yes.
Otherwise, my wish won't come true.
The magic that Krafft gave us allows us to contract
with a special weapon to gain its power.
These weapons are called relics.
Most of them are actually cursed.
So they eat human souls,
which makes us stronger and harder to kill.
If we kill a hundred, we gain the lives of a hundred,
and can do a hundred times more than a human can.
That is why you couldn't lay a finger on Bey.
Obviously, kicking and punching have no effect,
but neither do bombs or guns.
He has killed so many and become so strong.
Now, you are just like him, too.
You have a weapon that turns souls into power.
But you are still a beginner.
Since it's a spell,
the more experienced you are with it, the more you can do.
Creation Formation Activity
The lowest level is activity.
Then, formation.
Then, creation.
Creation
And the highest level has never been reached,
so we don't know what it is.
Formation Activity
But right now, you are at the activity level.
At that stage,
with a thought, you can activate your relic's capabilities.
For example, a blade can fire invisible slashes.
That may sound convenient, but this stage is unstable.
Since you haven't mastered your relic,
the power is low, but it's easy to lose control.
Thus, at a minimum, you need to reach the formation level.
There, you can give your relic physical form and turn it into a weapon.
If you cannot do it, you won't stand a chance, Fujii-kun.
And so, try for that first.
I will teach you the basics.
I finally caught you!
Where the hell have you been?!
Listen, I don't know what happened,
but lately, you've been weird.
You sealed the hole in the room.
I mean, I know I might have done some things I shouldn't have...
But unless you tell me, I won't know what's going on!
Have I done something to make you avoid me?
Oh, my!
What's wrong, you two?
Having a lover's quarrel?
That isn't it...
He's just being awkward.
I see.
That's because...
Sorry, Kasumi.
I didn't tell you.
I-I'm actually dating Sakurai.
Is that so?
Wait! Huh?
What? Really?
Yeah, really...
Right?
Yes, it seems like we are.
She's really jealous.
And so, um, please understand, Kasumi.
Yes.
From now on, I will take care of Fujii-kun.
Thanks for everything, Ayase-san.
S-Sure...
I see.
S-Sorry for not figuring it out.
Oh, no... Oh, no.
I'm sorry!
I wasn't watching...
I see.
I finally understand.
You are the soul that dwells within that guillotine, right?
When, and how, did that happen to you?
I can touch you.
Just as Cagliostro said.
You're all right, even if I touch you.
That makes me happy.
You're so warm.
Ren...
I'm sure you can...
I'm not good around blades.
I have a bad memory involving them.
But...
You're a good girl, right?
That, I understand.
So if you can, I want you to be happy, too.
What are you doing, Fujii-kun?
Hello.
We're looking for the Father.
Have you seen him?
Father Trifa?
No, I'm afraid not...
But why?
Because Rea is always mean to him.
It's my fault?
Oh? Then, is it my fault?
In other words, he ran away from home because of you two?
Meat Buns, 100 Yen!
Fujii-kun, you're a terrible judge of people.
He's actually quite—
Well, that's the situation.
Fujii-kun, you be careful out there, too.
Wait, Riza, we aren't done talking.
Riza!
That's strange.
I thought he came this way.
Oh?
What's wrong, Fujii-san?
Fancy running into you here.
Did you need something?
No, I...
I guess those two asked you to look for me.
How embarrassing.
They have a very low opinion of me.
That isn't true.
I think they were worried.
So you should go back.
I see...
Well, in my own way, I'm worried about Theresia, as well.
It makes me sad that she fails to understand that.
Fujii-san,
do you love Theresia?
Excuse me.
That was an odd thing to ask.
Farewell.
Wait!
Impossible...
I imagined it.
I must have.
Ayase Kasumi
Hello?
What's up, Kasumi?
Hey, Kasumi... Hey.
Ren...
Help me...
Your girlfriend's cute, isn't she?
It makes me want to eat her up.
I am Spinne,
a fan of yours.
Hey...
Don't move an inch.
I'm on my way to kill you!
You bastard...
Welcome!
Are you enjoying tonight's banquet?
I will introduce myself once more...
Tenth of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden black round table, Rot Spinne.
A pleasure to meet you.
It's useless.
Right now, you can't cut through them.
Leonhart told you, yes?
This is the formation level,
a relic given form as a weapon...
If you can't compete on the same level, you have no chance of winning.
Just like anything else.
But the spirit is still in your eyes.
I love it! Wonderful!
I'm sure you've heard this, as well,
but we want you to be strong.
And so, Leonhart will provide lectures,
and I provide the practical examination.
But between you and me, I have no intention of being your enemy,
even if others might.
What?
Just what I said...
I am not like the others.
Thus, I want to work with you.
Only if you're useful, that is.
Please show me your true worth!
Now, how about it?
Show me... Show me!
Are you insane?
What are you trying to do?
I'll kill you...
I'll kill you, I swear...
I'll kill you!
Formation!
I see.
The child of a monster is, indeed, a monster?
Very well!
In that case, time for the real show!
What?!
Wait... No!
That was...
Priest of the Grail, save me!
Don't underestimate me.
Did you think I would act without insurance?!
And did you think I couldn't guess what you would do?
Farewell, Spinne...
Die within the swastika.
No. No...
No!
It isn't here, either?
Where did it go?
Ren!
Um, this is...
I lost my phone.
I thought it might be here.
And there's a lot of my stuff here, too.
I thought Sakurai-san would get mad if I didn't clean up...
I'm so glad.
Really, I'm so glad.
Kasumi...
Reunion
Illustration: Minatogawa Kazuomi