Karakuri Circus

-And that's what happened. -Thank you.

So Masaru really came here.

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

#17 Visitors

Sadayoshi.

How much of the memory did you see?

The memory...

Oh, I was watching Grandpa's memory, wasn't I?

I saw you marry Angelina.

So that means you and her had a son named Sadayoshi.

My dad, who you say is inside my brain.

Of course, Master Sadayoshi!

You stay quiet!

You still continue to act innocent, do you?

You never were my son to begin with.

You mean...

My only child is Éléonore.

My daughter.

Éléonore?

Shirogane?

Don't act like you don't know!

Just as you saw, Angelina and I promised to spend eternity together.

We studied Arlequin's workings, then created our own marionettes.

"...ANGELINA SAIGA"

It's done.

Good, this will protect it.

I'm sorry, this is all I can do.

Nonsense. These words will bring strength to these puppets.

They will be useful for shiroganes all over the world.

That's when you appeared.

Dean!

Hello!

Monsieur Shoji, thank you for making Angelina happy.

Oh Angelina, I see you're doing great.

Oh dear, stop it now.

Forgive me, I couldn't hold back my joy.

What a funny guy.

Just like always.

I was sent by Madame Lucille to help make and transport the marionettes.

I'm the shirogane, Dean Maistre.

That was how I met you.

In time I started my own company.

And adopted you as my son.

You changed your name from Dean to Sadayoshi.

I was at the height of my happiness.

Um, dear?

-I don't know how to tell you this... -What is it?

I think, that for a shirogane woman...

This is the first case ever.

What is it?

A baby...

I'm pregnant.

A baby...

That's wonderful, Angelina!

Wow, I'm going to be a father!

I was in seventh heaven.

I'd never even imagined that I'd be able to hold my own child.

And that was Shirogane?

Excuse me.

A strange foreigner is here.

A foreigner? Must be...

Guy!

I thought so. Have you come to kill Sadayoshi?

Yes, because I promised you 3 years ago.

That I'd kill this boy if we found out Sadayoshi had downloaded himself.

Thanks for coming.

Sadayoshi disappeared after that fight.

So we never knew if the download was a success.

That's why you let Masaru wander around on his own.

If I let Masaru go to the mansion, the Kurogas would take action.

I figured that you would be able to judge him then.

Yes, but you came a bit early.

What's going on?

Kill me? I don't understand.

I've come here before in what you call the Meiji era.

On a certain mission.

You did?

I'll tell it to you, Sadayoshi.

Once you hear it all, will you still be able to say that you're Masaru?

I was 12 when I contracted ZONAPHA syndrome.

The doctors back then could do nothing either.

And my mother left me.

Under the pretense of hospitalization.

She was a fool.

She gave her child candy to try to erase her guilt.

I'd get seizures in the small cold hospital room.

But the doctors could do nothing.

My mother never came to see me.

I realized amidst my pain.

That I'd been alone all my life.

And then, Lucille showed me the path to become a shirogane.

After 10 years of training, I had my first job.

To go see Angelina.

She lived in a village known for its ancient puppet dances.

Kuroga Village.

It had long-standing links with Shoji, the puppet maker.

You must be a shirogane! You're French, aren't you?

Oh, how wonderful. I haven't met another French person for so long.

I have come from Quiberon to carry out certain orders.

The soft stone that creates Aqua Vitae is vital for creating shiroganes.

Right now, there are not enough of us compared to the automata.

We must turn as many ZONAPHA patients as we can into shiroganes.

So...

I will take out the soft stone inside you and implant it in your child.

Then take it to Quiberon.

Headquarters will extract the soft stone from the child whenever necessary.

You mean to make my baby a mere vessel for the soft stone?

Headquarters have decided.

I have studied medicine. I can do the necessary operation.

I understand.

Please wait out back.

What's the meaning of this?

I'd often asked myself.

Are shiroganes human?

Or are they just machines for destroying automata?

Shiroganes are not human.

You're a shirogane, too.

No.

I am a mother.

What can you do with that huge belly?

I will never make my child live the life I did.

I'll finish this right now.

Shiroganes don't die, so I won't hold back.

I'll immobilize you, and then take out the soft stone.

My baby...!

You thought that would help any?

She held her belly and fell from her head!

So is that what you call motherly love?

Have you...

no mother...?

Doing such a thing...

What will your mother think?

I have no mother!

That woman left me. I'm all alone.

Then you wish to make this child live the way you did?

All alone, without a mother?

So what?

It hurts, Maman...

I'm so lonely, Maman...

Don't go!

Don't leave me all alone!

I got used to it.