The Case Study of Vanitas (ヴァニタスの手記)

Perpetuate existence.

Wh-What's this?

She's 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.

There is something I wish you to know.

My father told me, "Those born into the nobility must protect their fief's people.

The d'Apchier family takes pride in doing that."

Therefore, no matter what they do to me or how much I wish to kill them,

I could never hate the people of the d'Apchier fiefdom!

I love them!

It is the sworn duty of those born a d'Apchier.

But you, I cannot forgive,

for you took my one—my only—and laid hands upon him.

You defiled Jean-Jacques's true name.

I shall never forgive that.

As I told you,

I am a terribly jealous woman.

"Don't get complacent"

Or maybe, "don't fall apart"

This world's future is torn toward conflict

Amidst a headwind it'll all come to a bloom

The eyes, the voice, they're quivering

What is right?

The days scream out in a blur

Even still, my accumulating feelings come to mind

I'll listen close for signs of hope

It must be more than desire

It must be more than a vow

I wonder what it truly means to love and be in love

I'm sure if I could just manage to put it into words even once

That might just be that and it'd all work out

My story

The Case Study of Vanitas

The Case Study of Vanitas

What is that sound?!

W-We have a problem, Captain!

I'm picking up tremendous waves of energy from that castle.

I believe the engine may have been activated!

To the castle!

Astolfo, wait!

This is not good.

Something is going on in there.

Vanitas!

Are you all right?!

Vanitas!

Mademoiselle Chloé?!

Naenia?!

You're harder to kill than I thought.

Does it hurt? Are you in pain?

Can you feel my rage?

Don't... do this.

Vanitas.

Do not provoke Naenia any more than this.

Oh, the pain!

It hurts so bad!

It hurts!

Chloé! Release her from bodily form!

Don't make her remember who she really is!

You won't be able to kill it!

B-Brother... what was that?

Calm yourself, Luca.

We tried so very hard to destroy her body.

It seems there were still some remains scattered about.

Isn't that right, my queen?

That oppressive force... It turns my stomach!

What is happening?

My body won't stop trembling.

It will not let me defy the presence before me.

Mademoiselle Chloé!

No! She'll come after you too!

Vanitas, what is happening?

That thing—Naenia—what is it?

That is Naenia, Death's Keeper.

It is the malnomen of Queen Faustina, the first vampire of the crimson moon.

Her Majesty, the Queen?

This is bad!

Her malady was forcibly manifested!

She'll spiral out of control!

Jean-Jacques!

Chloé?

C-Captain! We're floating in thin air!

The whole place is floating!

The engine halted!

Naenia will be disembodied once more!

I almost forgot.

I must seek out more names.

Vanitas!

You will fail.

You will never reach him.

No one can save him.

All is lost.

So why do you keep reaching out?

Hurry up and join us.

What the devil was that?

What happened?

Where are we?

Our village is gone?

It's so cold.

Look!

The villagers of Saugues, no doubt.

Vanitas.

Curse that wretched Naenia.

Why couldn't she just quietly disappear?

She truly is rotten to the core.

Listen to me, Noé.

Chloé d'Apchier's malnomen creates a space that protects her.

And as it spirals out of control, it corrupts an ever wider area,

drawing in every living thing in its path.

It will devour everyone in Gévaudan if we don't do something.

You knew?!

You should have filled me in if you knew about all this!

What?!

And not just about Chloé!

About Naenia too!

I wasn't sure about her true identity till now!

And I don't like willy-nilly conjecture!

Got a problem with that?!

I do!

If you'd told me, things would've turned out different!

Or not. There's no way to know for sure!

But maybe we could've done something!

I could've—

You wouldn't have believed me!

You vampires never listen to humans!

Do you even realize how many times I've nearly been slain by your kind?!

And we're talking about your queen this time!

Yes, but I—

Did you already forget how Lord Ruthven nearly did me in?!

You complete moron!

I believe you!

Ouch! Stop it!

You make me sick!

What's that for?

You really make me sick!

That hurts.

So? What now?

Huh?

You haven't given up on Chloé d'Apchier, have you?

Of course not!

Wolves?!

I'll let Vanitas handle this while I...

No, I'd better not.

These are no ordinary wolves.

There's no time!

What shall I do?!

Let's have at them, Durandal.

I thought it was you two.

I always knew we'd meet again.

I am ever grateful for God's guiding light.

Thank you, O Lord!

Roland!

Orcas?!