I have come from Quiberon to carry out certain orders.
You cannot win.
I came to ask Angelina Saiga to dismantle my body.
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
And the gears turn
When the horn blows, the flames dance
The story waits for no-one
Off they go, the gears are churning
A red past chases after you
The jester's smile
What's behind the mask?
You can't erase the scars
No matter how they burn
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
Alone in the depths of the night
Let out a cry that can cut through fate
That's the cue to begin
The curtain is rising, it's time to dance
Everybody sheds tears at the end
So hold them in now and keep going
Until the day the curtain falls
The gears will keep turning
#18 A smile
Oh my, suckling already?
What a strong healthy girl.
Mr. Saiga, have you already decided on a name for her?
-Yes, for if we had a girl. -Yes.
Welcome to this world.
Éléonore.
We'll call her Ellie then. What a nice name.
Guy.
Thank you for everything.
It's all thanks to you that she was born safely.
It's nothing.
You're quite a lady. You didn't panic watching her give birth.
You'll do great when you have babies of your own.
What the heck am I doing?
I have to take the soft stone out of Angelina.
And implant it in the baby. That's my mission.
Guy.
Could you watch Éléonore? I need to go get the laundry.
How the heck am I supposed to...
You put her too close to the fire.
Dang this rickety house!
It's cold, gosh darn it.
I wish to be dismantled after she grows big.
How long will it take?
A day?
It'll take much longer than that.
Humans take a long time to grow up.
We learn many things like sadness and joy.
It takes roughly 20 years for humans to become adults.
20 years?
I cannot wait that long.
I must have you dismantle me.
Do you still feel that way?
I've grown tired from trying to smile.
I cannot meet my Creator who wished me to smile.
There is no path but to cease my existence.
I see.
But you were there for me when this child was born.
So I don't want to break you.
What are you talking about? Many people are suffering because of her.
You and me, too!
I haven't forgotten about it, either.
But now...
I don't want my daughter to have to live in the shadow of past grudges.
No matter what Angelina says, you are my enemy.
If you're up to something, you better speak.
I am the most human-like automaton there has ever been.
But I've always felt...
that I'm missing a vital gear.
I'm not sure what it is.
But I felt like I could be something if I only had it.
So, have you now found out what you're missing?
No.
But I haven't thought much about it ever since I came here.
I can't be human because of the missing gear.
And I only exist because of my hair.
What do you mean?
My Creator implanted on me the hair of the woman I was modeled after.
To make me into a reincarnation of her.
So this hair is the only reason the machine before you exists.
But the baby...
Éléonore.
She cried, not caring if I were a human or a machine.
She wailed and squeezed my finger.
I feel like I could become something else when I'm with Éléonore.
She squeezed your finger?
So what?
I made her a toy train!
I changed her diaper.
I put baby powder on her so she won't get a rash.
When I gave her a bath, she grabbed my sleeve and wouldn't let go.
Oh yeah? Well...
Gosh darn it!
Éléonore is so darn cute.
Yes, I could watch her forever.
I guess if you wanted to kill us, you'd have done it during the delivery.
It's almost Éléonore's nap time.
Yes. But before that, I must change her diaper.
What's going on?
Aren't you going to the festival at the neighboring village, too?
Mr. Shoji said he's going to treat everyone to a wonderful meal.
He didn't tell us.
She looks just like you.
Why, she looks like you, too.
You've grown pale.
Like you've given all your energy to Éléonore.
Yes, but dear.
That doesn't seem to be all.
Oh dear, what's the matter?
There, there.
My darling child
My beloved child
Just like the leaves
That dance in the wind
Your little bed
Sways to and fro
Heavenly Father
In thy kingdom above
Give one to this child
And one to each of us
Someday, please
Bestow your blessing
Upon us all
A village festival? I didn't know.
I heard Shoji had arranged a meal for everybody.
I never said such a thing.
Then who...?
That sound. It's automata.
They've finally come.
Did you call them here?
-Francine? -Don't worry.
I will make them leave.
I am the leader of all automata.
They will listen to my orders.
There're so many.
My darling little puppets.
I thank you for your loyalty.
I order you, as the head of the Midnight Circus.
Leave this place.
Leave.
Who the hell are you?
Where's the soft stone? Which human is it inside?
Francine!
Please, believe me...
Why won't they listen to me?
Guy, bring Olympia.
Angelina, take Éléonore and run.
Let me fight, too.
Impossible. You're weaker than a human now.
I'll fight, too.
Francine.
Take Éléonore and the soft stone.
You mean, the soft stone is inside her now?
I can fight with Arlequin.
But you can't.
So you take her and escape.
You are going to trust me?
Yes.
There, be a good girl now.
May you be blessed with plenty of joy.
Wait, how can you trust her? It might all be part of a plot.
I trust her.
It's our only choice.
This way. Go.
You better guard her through.
I will.
She ran with something.
Must be the soft stone.
I've killed many humans and caused much suffering.
What a horrifying being I was.
But those humans trusted me with Éléonore.
They trusted me, a puppet.
I must repay their trust.
I will protect this child.
I wish I could've smiled just once.
But now...
It's no use. I'm too weak to climb this now.
Besides, there are automata up there.
What's wrong?
This water is too cold for human babies.
You measly...
Long sword "koku." Short sword "raijin."
These two swords are wet with my blood.
Shirogane blood with Aqua Vitae nullifies automata's synthetic body fluids.
Dance, Olympia!
Come, automata.
The soft stone is inside me.
Angelina is drawing the automata to her.
For some reason, the soft stone has transferred into little Éléonore.
She's standing out so they don't notice.
Hang in there, Éléonore.
It's turning a rose color.
Aqua Vitae?
The soft stone is inside you?
It's responding to you being in danger.
I'm sorry. It's my fault for falling in here.
It must've been scary. It must've hurt.
Don't cry now. What should I do?
What should I do?
My darling child
My beloved child
Just like the leaves
That dance in the wind
Your little bed
Sways to and fro
Heavenly Father
In thy kingdom above
Give one to this child
And one to each of us
Someday, please
Bestow your blessing
Upon us all
Better?
There now.
You'll laugh for me?
This horrifying puppet?
One more time.
I see stars.
I feel so wonderful.
How dare you lay your hands...
on my child and husband!
Angelina, Angelina!
Take Angelina and run.
I'll stop them.
Thank you, my darling.
We'll reunite soon.
Don't worry. Shiroganes are immortal thanks to Aqua Vitae.
These scratches mean nothing...
But why aren't they closing up?
I'm sorry.
But I think it's over for me.
No, Maman...
You finally called me Maman.
I wanted to hold you like this earlier.
Don't go, Maman.
I've finally...
Look after Éléonore for me.
Don't make her walk the same path I did.
Don't make her lonely, the way you were.
I won't, so don't ever leave me.
Don't leave me alone, Maman!
Call me Maman some more.
For Éléonore, too.
Hey, where's the soft stone?
It's with the one that ran away.
Angelina...!
Protect Éléonore for me.
With this sword.
Maman.
I've been a bad boy. I've hurt you a lot.
But I'll be good now.
I'll protect Éléonore.
So please, come back.
Take this!
How do you like that? Just like that woman!
Go with her to your death!
Can we never come back once we die?
No chance, if you're human.
Human, huh.
She was a shirogane.
But she was human.
She was so kind.
Time for you to die!
When did you...?
I know, Angelina.
You are no longer here.
Éléonore!
I'm so glad you're safe.
Aqua Vitae?
Francine's clothes?
She made that hole to drain the Aqua Vitae.
Francine did it.
With that broken body, she hit it over and over.
She protected Éléonore till the end.
Did you find your missing gear?
Were you able to become something?
Avoiding the crowds, I walk in the dark
And wait with bated breath in the wings
My expression is calm while I scream inside
On the verge of being torn apart
I dance and beckon you to join me
As a shadow swings across the stage
I tell myself this is the last time
But I can't seem to cut myself free
Too scared to stop for a moment
My impatience hides the cries of somebody left behind
Nobody notices the shadow standing in the sudden rain
Somewhere far away, a memory of you is saying goodbye
I stand here watching, no longer able to reach you