Chronos Ruler (時間の支配者)

Nothing feels better than the air in your own hometown!

Let's go.

Wait up!

March 28 15:02

You're too slow!

Back home for the first time in three years...

It hasn't changed a bit!

Hang on. If we're being specific, that "three years" is more like 27 years.

For starters, you left your hometown of Couljours at age 12,

and trained to become a dealer at a casino to keep yourself fed.

After learning how to deal cards,

you joined the Horologue-killing organization Chronos at age 20,

where you met Aisrehdar and the agent—

Okay, okay.

Girls don't like guys who nitpick, you know.

It's in a remote location more than half a day's travel from the airport.

There aren't any businesses or famous buildings to speak of.

It's just a small rural town with a beautiful view.

That's Couljours.

Sheesh, I'm glad we landed in a place that was close to it.

Darling, I want something cold to drink!

Good grief, you two...

Oh, it's Old Lady Kate's bakery!

So it's still in business!

The game machine next to the general store! That takes me back!

I had the high score on this thing!

All right!

Witness the techniques of the guy they called "Sixteen Straight Wins"!

Huh?

That place with the nasty steak is hanging in there.

And here's its whiny spokesdog, Buttller!

Or are you his grandson? Every generation is just like the last.

Oh? You wanna fight?

They called me "Flashing Mad Dog."

Audacious, aren't ya? You wanna go?!

Darling!

Since we're here, I'd love to meet your parents.

Sadly, they've both passed away.

Oh, really? I didn't know.

Don't worry about it.

It was 27 years ago.

I'm sorry.

Well, then... do you think we could visit their graves?

Stop! Stop it!

Sure, later.

What is it?

Something's bothering me...

Well, just reminiscing won't get us anywhere.

Let's start by investigating my past.

Hey! Isn't this where your last mission was?

Whoa!

Watch it, you!

Sorry!

Auntie!

I drew this! Look!

No need to rush. Let me have a look.

My, it's a lovely drawing!

I'm sure you'll be a wonderful artist when you grow up.

Hey, Victor...

What are you doing?

Mom...

"Mom"? What are you saying?

Hold it there.

Look at that runny nose.

Got a cold?

It's definitely a cold.

Let me take a look at you.

No! I don't have a cold!

Don't fuss, now.

No!

You don't mean that's...

Darling, look!

Thirty-four years ago?!

That's it.

It was this town's odd nostalgic feel that was bothering me.

It's old, but new...

New, but old.

I don't want a shot!

Come, now, it won't hurt...

Oh, dear.

Are they really Victor's parents?

It's all right. Don't be scared.

No way.

But if we assume they are, there's only one possibility.

Time has turned backwards.

Save me, Auntie! I don't want a shot!

If we've gone back to the past,

when did it happen, and how? What caused it?

Nothing seemed wrong when we walked into this town.

You said Victor left the countryside at age 12, right?

That was 27 years ago, and where we are now is 34 years back.

Wait, so how old is the Victor who's in this town now?

Darling, are you okay?

I never thought I'd see you again.

There, there. Don't cry, now.

Huh? You...

You're very pale!

Are you all right?

Are you a patient?

If you'd like an examination, we can talk.

Eve, get things ready for an exam.

Yes, dear.

No, wait! Please, listen to—

Victor, open your eyes. This town isn't right.

Aren't you always saying that time never turns backwards?

What's the matter? You seem quite out of sorts.

Oh, you certainly are pale!

Yes, I, Alexander Putin, should examine you—

He's fine! He's just a little tired from our long journey.

We'll go rest in our hotel.

It's no use.

He won't answer.

I was hoping to ask Snake if he had any leads.

Jeez, why do we have to sleep in a place like this?

At least let me stay at a hotel with my darling!

Don't complain.

Until we know what's going on,

we should avoid contact with the people of this town.

Stingy Kiri! Father disrespecter! Virgin!

Virginity has nothing to do with this!

Twelve plus 27 minus 34 is...

First, the 12...

Until we can prove that this isn't the work of a Horologue,

we need to stay alert.

We'll start investigating in the morning.

We can rotate the watch every two hours. Okay, Victor?

Victor!

Oh, right. Sure.

After two hours, you'll eat pasta through your nose, right?

Wrong!

I'm talking about the watch!

Honestly, am I the only one being cautious here?

Not him.

Not him, either.

Time is flowing normally for all these people.

No sign of a Horologue anywhere.

Does the town's time being reversed have nothing to do with a Horologue at all?

Mina, has anything like this happened before?

If it had, I'd remember it.

And Chronos would have it on record.

This is a first, and it makes no sense.

Twelve plus 27 minus 34... uh...

If this is Victor's hometown 34 years in the past,

then does this phenomenon have something to do with him?

Kiri, this might just be some backwoods town to you,

but for me, it's full of childhood memories.

Stop looking at these people as if they were samples.

I'm going out for a bit.

Darling!

Childhood, huh?

Very well, then.

I'll go along with his sentimentality a bit longer.

If nothing else,

I don't want to be careless and let his parents discover my relation to Victor.

That shouldn't be a problem.

For father and son, you look nothing alike.

I could say the same to you.

You look nothing like your sister.

Of course I don't. We're not real sisters.

Blood relation to Chronos, the god of time, is extremely rare,

so we only call ourselves "sister" for the sake of convenience.

In the first place, I don't remember anything from my past.

Just like my darling.

You lost your memories, too? Is that why you...

Don't get the wrong idea. It's not sympathy.

I don't care at all that my memory is lost.

I'm going to build a future with my darling, just the two of us.

That's why this town,

and every single thing,

and every single person,

that ties my darling to his past...

disgusts me!

Oh, you're...

You look pale. Are you all right?

Come inside.

What is it, Eve?

This young man seems unwell.

What? I'll examine him at once!

Oh, but I'm seeing another patient now.

Oh, but there's a patient here, too.

I'm all right, Doctor Putin.

Eh?

I only came to pick up my medicine, anyway.