I see!
Our goal, huh?
That's right...
Why did you come to this school?
No, why did you come to this town?
And why did I...
What's happening in this town?
What are you planning to do?
You want to know?
But once you know, you may not be able to go back.
We aren't certain about you yet.
We may be wrong,
and we're in no hurry.
Enjoy what's left of your ordinary life, while you still can.
But...
Yes...
I can tell you just a little, I suppose.
There is something we want.
For decades, we have waited for this moment.
Our wish will finally come true.
No.
We're making it come true.
That's why we're here.
Decades?
Hey, don't ask questions about a girl's age!
But yeah, that's the deal.
This plan is a very old one,
and we don't really care about the people who are living now.
Respect for your elders is a virtue, isn't it?
Shut up.
I don't know what you want.
But if you're going to hurt the people around me—
What will you do?
I'm curious.
Just so we're clear,
I could crush a school like this in less than ten seconds.
If you want to continue this conversation,
come up with a way that you could possibly win, kid.
The End of the Nightmare Is a Beginning
Kasumi...
What's wrong?
Kasumi.
Are you listening?
O-Oh, sorry.
What was it?
School's over.
Aren't you going to kendo practice today?
N-No...
I'm going. I go every day.
Because of the murders, all club activities are canceled.
But I've been uneasy lately, so I need to get my mind off it...
What will you do, Ren?
Go home?
No, I'll go with you.
It's scary going home without a bodyguard.
I'm so weak, I need you to protect me.
Wait, what?
Normally, isn't it the opposite way?
Oh, fine.
I'll do my best for the princess, once again!
That's right.
Work hard, Prince.
Don't be so arrogant.
You're the heroine.
It's already been a week, huh?
Damn it!
Sorry, Kasumi.
But I can't tell you.
Hey! What are you doing?
Ren?
Um, what was I doing?
What? You were—
I...
I did that?
I'll clean it up.
Go change.
Let's go home for today.
That's why the teachers said it's dangerous,
so we all need to go home in groups, right?
Shut up...
I can't hang out with kids all day.
Leave me alone.
No, no, no.
I won't let that happen.
Right?
No, it isn't my problem.
Hey, wait!
Stop it... Jeez.
Reminds you of how we used to be, huh?
Yeah.
You, me, and Shirou.
That's how we were.
Shirou would do something crazy.
And I'd try to stop him.
And I would always get caught up in it, somehow.
But sometimes, you really enjoyed it, right?
Did I?
Hmm... I guess so.
Remember when the girl's shower at the pool broke?
That was me.
Oh?
That was because of some weird fortunetelling Shirou did...
He said a girl with a mole on her right breast was my soul mate.
So we went up to the attic to look for her.
And then...
It turned out to be you.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Let's go home.
You pervert!
Now, I'm mad!
Come with me!
This is where you wanted to go?
Why did you change your clothes?
If we go out wearing our uniforms, we'll get in trouble.
So of course I changed.
Got a problem with that?
No.
That's right.
This is your punishment for seeing my secret.
I'll drag you around tonight!
And so...
Thanks, Ren.
What?
You were trying to make me feel better, weren't you?
I could tell.
You've always been like that.
You really care about stuff like this.
You do your best to make sure our ordinary life doesn't fall apart.
Sometimes, you work too hard, and I get worried.
I can tell stuff like that.
When you make that face,
you're hiding something from me...
I can always tell.
Here, you go.
It's a little early,
but this is your Christmas present.
This isn't a necklace or anything.
But when you wear this, don't forget...
I'm on your side.
You won't tell me why you fought with Shirou.
It still bothers you, but you keep it bottled up inside.
You have a bad habit of leaving me out.
And it's a little frustrating.
Kasumi...
So when things get hard, I want you to come to me.
I'm good at kendo!
I know that.
I want to help you, Ren.
I want you to remember that.
Hey, is there anything I can do?
Of course, there is no need to ask.
My goddess, I have prepared the ultimate necklace for you.
Then, let us begin tonight's Grand Guignol.
It seems things have begun.
Behold...
This is his relic.
The synchronization has already begun.
It has enough sacrifices, does it?
Yes.
You remember, I'm sure,
but this is where Lord Kircheisen fell, eleven years ago.
Thus, the souls required to open the swastika are already here.
But at the time, the conditions were not yet met,
and a delay was required.
I suppose the murders are an attempt to get things started again.
It's all to prepare the stage.
This guillotine should be complete in itself.
It does not need any lesser souls.
You understand, don't you?
The power of what dwells within.
I shall go and personally supervise things,
in preparation for the future.
Tell me, Cagliostro...
What do you want to do?
No, I...
That isn't my name.
Ren. It's Fujii Ren.
What's your name?
I'm Marie.
I've been here for so very long.
Tell me, Ren...
May I...
What was I...
Kasumi!
Where are you?
Damn it.
This can't be happening!
Hold it! You can't go in there!
H-Hey!
Kasumi... Kasumi!
Where are you, Kasumi?
Kasumi!
Ayase Kasumi
Dial
What's wrong?
Aren't you going to call her?
You'd learn the answer quickly.
No...
You already know the answer.
What are you...
Once upon a time, there was a mage who had gone mad.
He controlled the army of a certain nation from behind the scenes,
and changed them into inhuman things.
The man's name was Karl Krafft.
His second name was Mercurius.
Did you know that Mercury's symbol is a two-headed snake?
In other words, it can be used in two ways.
A decoy and the real thing,
a main and secondary.
The role of a side character is to prepare the stage for the main character.
She did her best for you.
Even if she were killed by someone too soon, she could be replaced.
Shut up.
Actually, you knew this.
Isn't that why you unconsciously chased her?
That is how Bey and Malleus caught you...
Tell me one thing.
If she'd been caught and died,
what would you have—
I said to shut up!
What are you talking about?
I don't...
Don't say you don't know anything about it.
We've come to have a war.
So gain your power soon.
Or the game cannot even begin,
and all her efforts will be for naught.
I want to help you, Ren.
Hey, is there anything I can do?
Very well, I shall watch.
Do your best.
Ayase Kasumi
Connecting...
What is this?
Ren?
You're here...
What are you doing, you idiot?
Ayase Kasumi Connecting...
Hello! It's Kasumi!
I'm a little busy right now.
So if you need something, leave a message!
Is this my fault?
Is it my fault you did this?
Then, it isn't your fault!
I won't let anyone blame you.
I know you very well!
You aren't someone who's capable of this!
So let's go home.
To you, this is all just a dream.
Now, this is the true end of the prologue.
An opera, offered to my friend and my beloved goddess.
Sing, child, for you are the star.
I know everything.
My universe eternally and equally repeats,
continually recurring, chock-full of unchanging déjà vu.
So give me an unknown moment.
Give me the salvation that lies at its end.
That is the one opera you can sing.
For you know that what is lost cannot be regained.
Shut up!
I haven't lost anything yet.
I'll protect it all... starting now.
Don't bring people who aren't involved into this!
Why?
Why do you always say that?
I hate it...
It doesn't make me happy at all.
Am I that oblivious to what's happening?
Am I getting in your way, when things are important?
Am I not useful?
Is there nothing I can do?!
Is there no way I can help you?!
It's always frustrated me... It made me feel so pathetic.
So I did my best...
Did my best.
I did my best... I did my best.
But I didn't know what to do...
I didn't know!
And then, I thought about it.
And this is what happened to me!
I can help you now, right?
No...
Why?
You know why!
Because I don't want you to do this anymore!
That's mine, Kasumi.
So it listens to my words, not yours.
It seems to have the wrong idea, though.
You don't need that thing. You're always helping me!
Without you, I would have gone crazy a long time ago.
So you need to stay where it's bright,
or I... won't be able to make it back.
I'm sorry for being selfish,
but I promise I'll come back.
So wait for me.
Ren...
Oh, jeez...
You're so selfish.
It just makes me feel like an idiot.
Oh. Oh, oh, this is...
It hurts.
It hurts, doesn't it?
I can feel Lord Heydrich nearby...
It seems the first swastika has opened.
Yes. Only seven remain.
Is the investigation I requested complete, Spinne?
Of course.
The results were as you expected.
Johann is alive, and he is here.
Is that so? Is that so?
I see... I see.
The vice commander is truly insane!
Then, I must hurry to make my next move...
I'm going up against the brain of a devil.
Well, from my perspective, you aren't much better.
Rest, peacefully.
I'll take care of the rest.
I will defeat them.
Spider
Illustration: Rin Hagiwara