They say a vampire has turned up.
Truly? How dreadful.
Vampires were destroyed ages ago in a battle with humankind, were they not?
Does that mean some survived?
Have they risen once again to visit vengeance upon us?
This tale is set in 19th-century France.
Technology has advanced thanks to steam power,
and in this world, vampires exist alongside humankind.
I'm so cold.
"Noé" "Voice Actor: Kaito Ishigawa"
This is Noé.
His teacher asked him to find The Book of Vanitas,
a grimoire said to spread a curse among vampires.
His search has brought him to Paris.
Paris!
Where's Paris, Mademoiselle Amelia?
Will you see the sights of Paris?
No, there is something I seek.
You seek something?
The Book of Vanitas.
It's the name of the accursed grimoire
from the folktale "The Vampire of the Blue Moon."
You've not heard of it?
I'm so very cold.
The next moment, the woman Noé just met transforms before his eyes.
Mademoiselle! Are you not well?!
Do not touch me!
Your eyes are...
You're a... vampire.
Now I have you!
My business is with her alone.
Here's some friendly advice. Leave her and go.
If you don't,
"Vanitas" "Voice Actor: Natsuki Hanae"
you're in for a world of pain.
I cannot do that.
A wire?
Huh?
So he, too, is a vampire?
Let's move.
Noé escapes his assailant
only to be attacked by Amelia as the curse takes hold of her.
Just when it seems it's all over for Noé,
his mysterious assailant appears again,
standing between him and the curse-bearer.
Bah, I did warn you that you were in for a world of pain.
Your malnomen is
Eglantine, the Prison of Briars.
That is what we call the ruined remains of a true name corrupted by the maladies.
A vampire's true name is akin to life itself, and hers was corrupted.
As such, the urge to drink blood, which is normally easy to suppress,
is now an irresistible force.
Are you going to kill her?
Are you one of the Church's Chasseurs?
Or are you a bourreau, an executioner here to slay her?
Non!
I am a doctor, and my specialty is vampires.
I've come to cure her!
A clockwork grimoire...
No, it can't be...
...The Book of Vanitas?!
Now then, shall we reclaim her true name?
The briars are disintegrating.
Florifel, she who guides spring!
So, that is your true name.
It truly suits you.
It is then that Noé witnesses
how The Book of Vanitas can free vampires from the curse.
That was extraordinary!
The Book of Vanitas is not some accursed tome as told in folktales!
I've never seen anyone look upon this book with such stars in their eyes!
That was how it began.
This is the tale of how I met Vanitas and together wandered life's path.
There was much we gained and much we lost.
And then,
at the end of our journey...
I would slay him by my own hand.
You are mistaken.
I summoned you, the man who assumed the name of Vanitas,
to rake you over the coals till you confess your plot.
I'm simply trying to save vampire kind from utter annihilation.
Save us?!
Pretentious human!
How about this?
The vampire attacks sowing chaos throughout Paris
are the work of a curse-bearer, are they not?
Let us go capture that vampire and bring the fiend back here.
Then Vanitas will use the book's power here before you!
You must see what The Book of Vanitas is with your own eyes!
The Book of Vanitas can free vampires from their curse.
So it was that Noé and the man who calls himself Vanitas
joined forces to prove it.
That was amazing.
You so swiftly incapacitated a curse-bearer.
Would you not give me that grimoire,
"Luca" "Voice Actor: Shino Shimoji"
The Book of Vanitas?
Luca seeks to steal The Book of Vanitas,
for he, too, believes it spreads the curse among vampires.
It is the infernal device that creates those known as curse-bearers!
Master Luca, further talk serves no purpose.
"Jeanne" "Voice Actor: Inori Minase"
Please.
Take The Book of Vanitas from him!
Oui, Votre Altesse.
Run, Noé! She's Lord Ruthven's bourreau!
Who?
In the war long ago,
over 1,000 vampires sided with humanity, betraying their own kind.
But a single bourreau is said to have slain them all.
She's the Hellfire Witch, Jeanne!
We're in trouble!
Jeanne, the Hellfire Witch and terror of the battlefield in the war long ago,
attacks Vanitas and Noé with a vengeance.
After barely escaping with their lives, they devise a bold yet clever plan.
Hand over The Book of Vanitas.
Do that, and I shall let you live.
As one might expect, it takes one monster to battle another!
Hellfire Witch, or should I say, "Jeanne."
I've become quite intrigued by you.
Just when they think things are under control,
Noé learns that Amelia, the woman he met on the airship,
has been cursed by a group known as Charlatan.
There you are.
Now, show me your true name.
I'll be defiled. I'll be destroyed.
My life will be...!
Why is Charlatan placing curses upon vampires?
--What is their purpose?
--Monsieur Noé! What is it?! Monsieur Noé! --What is their purpose?
--Monsieur Noé! What is it?! Monsieur Noé!
That thing stole it. It was stolen!
Her true name! That thing was behind it!
This is Dominique.
She is a vampire of noble birth and a childhood friend of Noé.
"Dominique" "Voice Actor: Ai Kayano"
Dominique invites Noé to a masquerade ball to be held in the vampires' world.
I'm going to borrow Noé for a bit.
The vampires are enjoying the ball
when suddenly, screaming voices are heard,
and the ballroom is flooded with curse-bearers.
It falls to Noé to confront Charlatan's threat.
We are known as Charlatan.
You...
...gate-crashers!
Yes, I knew it.
I really do know you.
The moment Noé touches the strange black shadow,
it triggers a traumatic memory of his childhood friend, Louis.
I want you to kill me... Noé.
"Louis" "Voice Actor: Miyuri Shimabukuro"
--What?
--If I'm doomed to die, I want you to... --What?
--If I'm doomed to die, I want you to...
...kill me!
Louis.
Louis?
Louis!
Shall I take you to Louis? Would you like that?
In exchange...
I want you to give me your true name.
Non!
What are you doing, Noé?
Did you twist your ankle dancing?
Noé is about to be robbed of his true name
when Vanitas saves him in the nick of time.
Vanitas and Noé nearly capture the Charlatan interlopers,
but they get away.
Wait! What do you want?!
Why are you creating curse-bearers?!
And Louis! Why did you...?
Bye-bye, Noé.
That's when Vanitas and Noé are mistaken for the ballroom assailants.
Dominque's sister, Veronica, launches a vicious assault,
and they must fight for their lives.
"Veronica" "Voice Actor: Yoko Hikasa"
That's enough, Veronica.
"Ruthven" "Voice Actor: Toshiyuki Morikawa"
I am Ruthven.
I serve Her Majesty, the Queen, as a member of the Senate.
Lord Uncle, what will you do with them?
I shall take the two of them under my wing.
Vanitas and Noé recuperate under Lord Ruthven's care.
That is when Noé decides to keep working with Vanitas.
I shall still do as I please, your will notwithstanding.
I've decided to remain by your side, Vanitas.
So, until the dust settles...
Vanitas and Noé return to the human world and discover a new lead to pursue.
"Vampires disappear."
Believing they know who is involved,
they set out to find the vampire-hunting group known as the Chasseurs.
I know who abducted the vampires.
It's the Church's anti-vampire unit, the Chasseurs.
Vanitas and Noé set out to infiltrate the Chasseurs' secret base.
Just when they think they've slipped in unnoticed...
All the bones you see here are from vampires!
"Roland" "Voice Actor: Kengo Kawanishi"
...one of the Chasseurs' captains finds them,
a formidable fighter named Roland.
Please, wait! Listen to me!
I already told you.
No vampire who sets foot in here leaves this place alive.
Vanitas and Noé scramble to escape from Roland.
That's when we learn vampires slew Vanitas's parents when he was a child,
which led him to become a Chasseur.
After that,
he was taken by Dr. Moreau to be used as a test subject.
The way I see it, humans and vampires are much the same.
They're both truly monstrous and endlessly selfish creatures.
--Pleased to meet you, Roland! My name is Noé.
--Noé tries to talk some sense into Roland. --Pleased to meet you, Roland! My name is Noé.
I came here with Vanitas to investigate an incident of interest.
They also learn that Dr. Moreau yet dwells deep underground.
--My Dear Noé, let us be friends!
--Noé and Roland end up hitting it off, --My Dear Noé, let us be friends!
and they all head off to Dr. Moreau's laboratory.
I'm Dr. Moreau!
"Dr. Moreau" "Voice Actor: Kozo Dozaka"
--I had a feeling it must be you.
--From Dr. Moreau, --I had a feeling it must be you.
--From Dr. Moreau, --After all, I now have that exalted personage on my side.
--they learn who is supporting his work. --After all, I now have that exalted personage on my side.
You're...!
That does it, Doctor.
I'm destroying your laboratory.
Run for it!
Leave the rest to us.
Now go. Hurry.
Thank you, Roland!
Let us meet again under the sun.
Vanitas and Noé are relieved to finally make it back above ground.
I'm certain Vanitas didn't wish to get involved in this if at all possible.
And yet, he did because there were curse-bearers.
Perhaps it was his sense of duty as a doctor.
I'm exhausted.
It matters not what you people want!
I will save the vampires!
I wonder.
The one who seeks salvation most of all,
the one who prays for it,
is it not Vanitas himself?
Quack!
--But there's no rest for the wicked. --Dante. Dominique's not with you?
The information peddler, Dante, brings news of a new incident.
The Beast lives!
The Beast of Gévaudan
has reared its head!
Gévau... what?
Now that's interesting.
Don't spare the details, Dante.
Vanitas and Noé decide to head for Gévaudan to investigate.
All right, let's go, Noé.
Okay!
We'll take this to Gévaudan.
This?!
Pardon me.
No need.
"Astolfo" "Voice Actor: Ayumu Murase"
It was entirely my fault, monsieur.
Noé, over here.
Wait for me, Vanitas!
"Stay tuned for a sneak peek of the first scene from Part 2 of Season 1 at the end of this recap!"
I-I'm so sleepy.
You haven't slept a wink?
I was sure that you would go off and abandon me when I wasn't looking.
Vanitas, look!
There's a village!
Is that Saugues?
It's so beautiful.
It somehow reminds me of Averoigne.
Hey, Noé.
Why have you been so chipper since we boarded this wagon?
Me? Why have you looked like you're on death's door?
I'm freezing!
Hmph, that's just sad.
Shut it. Unlike you people, I'm a highly sensitive person.
And what are you information peddlers doing here anyway?
Who cares? It's no skin off your nose.
We just want to collect information we can sell.
Precisely.
And then there was that thing with the Chasseurs.
I wasn't satisfied
till I clobbered those enhanced humans or whatever they were that worked me over.
Oh, Dante, you're so sweet.
You wanted to murder that heinous villain who broke my arm?
No doubt they're here to gather information,
but they likely have ulterior motives as well.
We'll stow our things at the inn, then head to where the bodies were found.
I want to look for signs of the Beast before dark.
Of course.
Here in Gévaudan in the 18th century,
the Beast brutally ripped over 100 women and children to shreds.
Its large maw was twisted, and its ears pointed.
It had sharp claws and a body covered in red fur.
It is said to have resembled an enormous wolf.
Is there really such a beast here in the Silver Forest?
It's not just the Beast.
What?
A witch of tremendous power is also said to dwell here.
A witch?
Vanitas, you believe the Beast of Gévaudan
may very well be a curse-bearing vampire, don't you?
So the legends say.
Then I imagine that curse-bearer and witch must be connected in some manner.
Who knows?
All I can say is there may be a curse-bearer, and that's why I'm here.
Wh-What was that creepy sound?!
I believe that was a bird.
The scent of the forest air
brings back memories.
Domi and I used to play in the forest all the time.
Tree nuts!
Stick close to me.
Look, Vanitas. They're the kind you can eat!
Hmph, you're having more fun than I thought.
What?
With him.
You being who you are,
I thought you two would go your separate ways when things went south.
I tried, but that fool was waiting when I tried to give him the slip.
What's this?
Your special someone is the heroic type?
I will murder you, baldy!
Johann, don't let Noé out of your sight.
He'll vanish the moment you're not looking.
I know. He vanished just like that! It's quite impressive.
Noé!
I'm so glad I found it.
Bad Murr! We must stick with the others!
Huh?
They're all gone, just like that.
Could this be the power of the woods witch?
Oh my, dear Noé's nowhere to be found.
Snow?
What the devil?! It's freezing!
Oh no, Dante. This is not good.
Sweet Vanitas isn't breathing!
Hey, Quack! Snap out of it!
Quiet! Someone's coming.
A trespasser?
Yes, sir.
She claims to be with the Church, but something doesn't seem right.
I'm on my way to report it to Monsieur Antone.
Forget about trespassers.
Hurry up and find the Beast!
We're going to slay the fiend and present its corpse before His Majesty!
"Season 1 Part 2 coming January 2022."