A trespasser?
Forget about trespassers.
Find the Beast now!
We shall slay the fiend and present its corpse before His Majesty!
What the devil's this?
We saw the Beast slaughter them yesterday!
What the hell's happening?!
I think I understand.
It's a time loop.
And I know the malnomen.
This is a closed world created by a curse-bearer.
Chloé.
Wow! I didn't know that thing could do that!
Vanitas?!
All right, let's head straight for the castle!
Don't be a fool. Get off!
I'm going to slay the Beast!
I know. And I'm going to save the curse-bearer.
I repaid my debt to you. If you persist in--
Are you sure?
This is what you wish?
I am a bourreau.
I must not cause any further trouble for Master Luca and Lord Ruthven.
Whoa!
Now then, where could that fool be?
"The Case Study of Vanitas"
Wh-What was that shaking?
It's finally starting to work.
You put something in my food?
Jean-Jacques?
I'll likely try to kill you if you keep getting in Chloé's way.
So sleep it off here until the coast is clear.
Chloé told me.
You're not just a vampire. You can also read memories via blood.
When I heard that, I had a thought.
A wish, if you will.
I wish for someone to remember us. Even one person will do.
No. Please, wait.
I'm sorry.
Hmph!
Bring me my booze!
Is this one of Jean's memories?
Enough!
Who are you?
Oh, um...
My name's Jean.
Jean-Jacques Chastel.
A-Are you... the Silver Witch?
My grandma and grandpa told me stories about you,
the little silver-haired witch who appears in the forest.
I was wondering...
Eyes of red. Are you a vampire?
N-No, I'm...
Are you... just like me?
Another victim?
How horrible. How many dozens of deaths does that make so far?
Someone claims to have seen a huge beast.
Rumor has it that Marquis d'Apchier has long been meddling in uncanny research.
I heard his research is what created the Silver Witch who haunts the forest.
They say the Beast is her familiar!
No! The Beast of Gévaudan is none other than the witch herself!
No! It's not Chloé!
She's trying to protect you all by discovering the Beast's true identity!
The Beast slew the marquis and his son.
Then the marquis's wife took her own life.
They're all dead because of me.
The d'Apchiers are gone because they sheltered a vampire.
I was told...
...that I'm a monster.
You need not worry, Chloé.
You've done nothing wrong.
I'll stay by your side forever.
If only I were more powerful...
Did you hear?
A Chasseur and the Senate's bourreau are here to hunt down the Beast.
The Beast has seen its final day!
Kill!
Kill the witch!
Kill the Beast of Gévaudan!
Kill!
Chloé was the only one who would protect me.
The only one who needed me.
It is for her sake...
I must...
I must become far more powerful!
I must!
Jean-Jacques.
He's the Beast of Gévaudan.
Jean-Jacques, do you loathe this world?
I do.
I loathe the humans who scorn Chloé and the vampires who abandoned her.
I'll devour them all.
This I vow.
What could that be?
It's Jean-Jacques.
He's such a kind boy, isn't he?
He gave me his pristine true name in order to protect you.
After all, the only way to prove that you're not the Beast
is for someone else to take its form.
You must flee, Chloé.
The Senate's bourreau...
...and the Hellfire Witch are after you.
The Senate?
August?
Jeanne.
So you're... the Hellfire Witch?
I'm so glad.
You finally returned for me.
Go on, quickly now.
There isn't much time.
Use your fangs, your talons, your flames, and...
Well? Come on.
Quickly now!
I'll look forward to the day when I can see how you've grown, Jeanne.
No. W-Wait!
Chloé!
I can make peace with this. I can.
Forgive me, Jean-Jacques.
Are you sure about this?
Poor little Chloé.
You've done nothing wrong.
Yet the vampires and humans have cast you away like rubbish.
Aren't you sad?
Aren't you bitter?
You don't wish to take vengeance upon Gévaudan?
Yes, I'm bitter.
I will never ever forgive them.
I will have my vengeance!
Commence
calculation.
Chloé, do you know what I think?
Perhaps the Beast isn't even real.
Everyone is just terrified for no good reason.
The hunt won't end until the Beast is dead.
So I shall assume the form you hunters seek!
Now, try to slay me if you can!
Slay me before I devour every last one of you!
Father?
You were trouble enough when you were a vampire.
And now I find you're the Beast.
But I can claim a fine reward if I kill you.
You've proven yourself useful for something in the end, Jean-Jacques!
It hurts.
Such terrible pain.
Help...
Somebody, please...
Light. I see light.
Hey.
Why are you about to kick the bucket again, Noé?
Vanitas.
Is it truly you?
Is it?
Does this hurt?
Yes.
Welcome back to reality.
Thanks.
What the devil happened to you?
Someone slip you some bad medicine?
Yes, it would appear so.
Wait, seriously?
Are Dante and Jeanne with you?
Yes.
Is everyone okay?
Yes.
What a relief. I was so worried.
You were worried?! What about me?!
What?
Never mind!
What?
Enough about that!
Did you learn anything useful while you were in the castle?
Youch!
Jeanne said Chloé d'Apchier is the Beast.
No! That's not true.
I see. The man you call Jean-Jacques is the Beast.
And Chloé is a vampire who willingly became a curse-bearer.
That's right.
However, they haven't killed a single soul as far as I've seen.
Then this has all been in vain.
Her motive was vengeance?
Well, there is no need to treat her if she became a curse-bearer willingly.
No! You can't simply leave her like this!
Why not?
Vengeance is meaningless, so she should stop?
Or it won't bring happiness for anyone?
Is that what you wish to say?
Vengeance!
No! That's not what I'm saying, Vanitas.
I still don't know what is inside Chloé's head.
I don't know what she truly seeks.
I don't even know what salvation would be for them.
I don't wish to leave here without discovering what that is!
Well, I do have to recover The Book of Vanitas.
What?
I'll join you until then.
You truly are dim.
I'm saying I'll work with you until you're satisfied.
If you wish for me to treat them, try to inspire my help.
Very well! I'll do my best!
Lower your voice!
If Jean-Jacques became the Beast to protect Chloé,
then who or what is behind the killings that took place before that?
Local superstitions are yet strong here in Gévaudan.
There are many religious sects as well,
and vampires are seen as abominations worthy of hatred and extermination.
Extermination? You mean...
Vampire hunting?
At the time, the war between humans and vampires had already ended.
Vampire hunting was no longer officially sanctioned.
As such, they needed a proxy.
What if a wild animal came out of nowhere
to devour the bodies of those purged from the Church?
Are you saying they exploited that?
This is mere speculation.
But the bishop at the time pronounced, "The Beast is a servant of God."
So it was the Church that created the Beast legend?
And they are also behind the human slaughter in Gévaudan?
Well, well!
You, too, survived unscathed.
How unfortunate.
Astolfo!
Speak of the devil.
Are you here to destroy the evidence from a century past?!
Please go on ahead, Vanitas.
This one's mine!
Clobber him once really good for me.
I see. That keyboard controls the engine's many devices.
Chloé d'Apchier, I presume?
And you are?
My name is Vanitas, doctor and vampire specialist.
Fear not.
I've come to save you, or so I intend.
Therefore,
I would have you return my book this instant!
What book?
My book!
The one with the black pages and blue leather cover!
Oh, that one.
It's here somewhere.
Quoi?
I was curious about the jewel inlaid upon its cover.
But try as I might, I failed to remove it, so I just left it lying around.
I vaguely remember Jean-Jacques putting it away somewhere.
Oh no!
Don't tell me you're another spatially challenged vampire?!
I didn't lose it. I put it down somewhere!
And? I heard you say you would save me.
Are you friend or foe? Which do you claim?
Chloé.
He is your foe, your enemy.
And I hate him. I truly do.
I'm nobody's friend.
I'll leave the boy's partner to you.
Very well!
Chloé d'Apchier!
What will you rewrite with the Alteration Engine?!
For what do you seek vengeance?!
Analysis complete.
Coordinates set.
Chloé is going to erase Gévaudan from the face of the earth!
Completely! Utterly!
People, animals, forests, mountains, everything!
They'll all be cast away into oblivion!
I wonder what's in store.
I can't wait to see this!
She's not merely tampering with the World Formula?
She's erasing part of it?
Erasing an area as large as Gévaudan will have vast repercussions.
Chloé d'Apchier! Don't do this!
Wait a moment.
Could it be she seeks to...?
Definitions changed.
Alter phenomenon.
No! Don't activate that engine!
Perpetuate existence.
Wh-What's this?
She has forced Naenia to take a bodily form!
I've thought about this ever so long.
How could I end this perpetual nightmare?
How could I lay hands upon this incorporeal thing?
At last.
Now, even I could slay you.
"The Beast"
"Hands Upon a Nightmare"