Quack!
Dante. Dominique's not with you?
What? Domi?
Aw, hell. I thought you might be on to us.
Anyone who didn't notice that needs their head examined.
I won't argue that.
But enough about that, quack! Some unbelievable info just came in!
The Beast lives!
The Beast of Gévaudan
has reared its head!
Now that's interesting.
Don't spare the details, Dante.
We'll take this to Gévaudan.
Pardon me.
No need.
It was entirely my fault, monsieur.
Noé, over here.
Wait for me, Vanitas!
"The Case Study of Vanitas"
"Dear Teacher, I hope this letter finds you well.
I have left Paris along with Vanitas
and traveled to the faraway region of Gévaudan."
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 Antoine.
Forget about trespassers.
Find the Beast now!
We shall slay the fiend and present its corpse before His Majesty!
What's with their getup?
Who's "His Majesty"?
They're dragoons.
During the 18th century attacks,
King Louis XV ordered his dragoons to investigate sightings of the Beast.
Antoine was the name of the king's First Musketeer.
What? Hold on.
You make it sound like we traveled back in time.
It seems fate has dealt us a vexing hand.
What's that?
I don't like this!
There it is.
It's here!
The Beast of Gévaudan!
What the hell?! No one said it was that big!
Did they kill it?!
No.
Guns don't kill it?
It heals too fast.
A red-eyed beast.
A woods witch.
The 18th-century killings.
The rewinding of time.
We're in the past?
If not, then what?
A malnomen? But which one?!
The devil take him!
Why'd he have to vanish now?!
Where is that idiot?!
Jeanne?
H-Help!
What's this?
I remember you.
Did we not meet at the station in Paris?
Who are you?
My name is Astolfo.
I am the 12th Paladin and have been honored with the title of Garnet.
Pleased to meet you, monsieur.
Why did you kill him?
You're a Chasseur.
So why kill humans--
These men mistook me for a woman.
What?
What's more, they would not listen to a word I said.
I warned them three times, yet they still laid hands upon me.
In short, it was an act of self-defense.
Also, you seem to be mistaken.
Protecting humans is not part of a Chasseur's job description.
We hunt vampires.
Have I made myself clear, monsieur?
Eyes of red.
I wasn't sure till now.
You're a vampire!
What is the matter? Why don't you fight back?
He enjoys this.
The battle, the bloodshed.
He's nothing like Roland and the other Chasseurs!
He's still alive.
Bah! You were not satisfied with simply impeding my work?
Now you wish to spoil my fun?
That I cannot forgive.
You deserve 10,000 deaths.
What is...
What is wrong with you?!
Ready to fight now, are we?
Take that!
Now my Louisette shall claim your head!
Noé!
You all right, chum?
There you are, Sweet Noé!
Jeanne, wait! Don't kill the Beast, not yet!
I must do this.
I failed to slay you here in Gévaudan so long ago.
Now die!
Jeanne?! Why is she here?
The Beast of Gévaudan.
And that vampire. Could it truly be...
...the Hellfire Witch?!
What a splendid day this is!
To think I'd bear witness to not only the Beast,
but Lord Ruthven's bourreau, too!
Stay still, Noé. Your wounds will--
No, I have some fight left in me.
I have a score to settle with him.
Unknot your knickers.
What?
That little runt is formidable?
Even more than Roland?
No way in hell!
Roland was far more terrifying!
That kid has nothing on him!
Then why are you all beat up?
Did you believe he would listen to reason like Roland?
Or did you hold back because he seemed more like a little girl?
Listen to me, Noé.
You're all worked up, and it's keeping you from performing at your usual level.
I'm the right man for the job.
Here is the proper course of action!
What?! A Chasseur paladin is here?!
C-C-Could it be Roland the Jasper?!
What? It's not?
It's Astolfo the Garnet?
Who the heck is that?
Sorry, never heard of him!
But what a relief!
We'd have been as good as dead if it had been Roland the Jasper!
But we might have a chance against a little girl!
This really is good news!
What? You're kidding?
He's a boy? Seriously?! No way!
Roland?
Are you saying that buffoon is better than me?
That was easy.
Um, Vanitas?
That is my specialty.
You stop Jeanne.
If the Beast truly is a curse-bearer that has changed form,
its malnomen has yet to be discovered.
We can't have anyone slaying it, whether they be a Chasseur or a bourreau.
I'm here to save vampires.
Aren't you?
You know
I am!
Chloé! I know it's you!
Chloé!
This time, I will slay you!
You mustn't.
Noé?
Please, Jeanne.
Don't slay the Beast. Not yet.
You must know by now.
Vanitas may be able to save that curse-bearer.
Save her?
I cannot allow that.
I'm here as a bourreau. It is my duty to execute curse-bearers.
And if you insist on impeding me,
I will slay you, too!
What? Is that all you've got?
The Chasseurs must really be shorthanded
if they're hiring such boneheaded paladins.
But that's not it, is it?
In your case, your family connections got you in,
Astolfo Granatum.
I hear the ties are strong between House Granatum and the Church.
You must have begged your father to get where you are.
"Please, Daddy. I really wanna be a paladin."
"Isn't there something you could do?"
Come on, I'm dying to know.
How much did it cost Daddy to buy your seat at the paladin table?
Don't you dare denigrate my father!
How delightful.
How very delightful!
Would you mind?
May I join the fun?
What's that?!
Charlatan.
So, we meet again, Noé.
Naenia.
Wh-What in heaven's name is this?
Big Brother, help me.
Big Brother.
Dante, don't get drawn into their world!
The Beast is gone.
Where could it be?
Jeanne, our darling daughter.
I will kill you.
You and every last vampire.
I'll slaughter all of you!
I'm sick of this.
Let's put an end to this revolting spectacle.
There you are.
Let us return to the castle, Chloé.
My leg hurts too much to walk.
Carry me.
"A Chance Encounter"
"The Witch and the Young Man"