Berserk 22 translation
Andrew Cunningham
Japanese has improved. There are a few mistakes in here that were
pointed out to me, but I never actually changed them. Oops. I've now
forgotten what they were. Most of the bit with the general is
improvised, though.
In deference to Miura's title Millenium Falcon, which is, in Japanese,
the same kanji as Hawk, I briefly switched to calling the Taka no Dan
the Band of the Falcon. For volume 23, I decided I didn't like that
name, and went back to Hawk. To hell with Miura's English.
Millennium Falcon: Crusaders
The Tattered World
9
They say it was the children
who began to notice first.
10
Hold it, Nico! If you get yerself lost, I'm the one gets punished.
I'll tell you this all the damn time, but don't go running off into
woods!
You might get et by wolves, and if not them, the Kusharn been...
Fairies...
Eh?
Look!
Fairies!
See?
Gimme a break!
Man, that's why I don't want you following us around!
Don't, Tom!
But I guess I can sort of see why he might think that.
Mm?
I mean...
Don't this place feel sorta weird?
11
What?
You think so too?
Yeah, sure do.
Weird how?
Like something...
Can't say this good...
Mm, mm...
Don't you feel nothin'?
I mean, we been comin' to this woods since forever...
Was it like this then?
Like what?
Nah...
I mean, when we was tiny the place just felt different.
Dang it, different how?
I mean, just look around us...
12
It's like a forest in a dream...
14
Did you just hear someone laugh?
Th-that's enough now!
Fairies!
Wind.
It's obviously wind.
15
It...
It stopped...
N...
Now what?
Look at that!
18
It's a forest devil!
Monster!
Slowly...
In the hollows of the trees, in shadow of the leaves, in the space
between the waves, in the whispers of the wind, in the bottom of the
well, in the darkness of the eaves...
Slowly, places that had been silent for who knows how long
Stopped being silent.
20
Like the stories the old folks always tell the children...
For all the world as if it should have been that way all along...
In the silence, something began to breath.
21
Morning...
Daddy.
23
We're back.
Wazzup.
Guts...
Caska...
I see...
We were too late.
24
It happened right after you left.
Sorry.
Nah...
He said...
He met you before he died so he didn't need to see you again.
And he didn't want you to see him dead.
But this is great!
You found Caska! It's all my fault you had to go look for her...
So...
What you gonna do now?
You aren't gonna take her off with you, right?
25
Stay here.
Let's all live here together.
Live here...
See, if you're here...
Then Caska'll be fine!
We can fix up that old mine till it's like a home and live in there!
26
If you live here and be nice to her...
She won't ever run away again.
Mm, maybe...
Really? Really, really, really?
You promise?
You sure bout that? Made up your mind awful quick...
I'm torn on this...
27
When Caska called me back...no, when she called me back while I was in
the middle of swinging my sword...
I still can't...
He appeared right in front of me, and he wasn't a demon...
But what looked like human.
As if he'd been yanked from before into now unchanged.
I looked at him, and for a second...
I forgot to kill him.
28
And THAT...
Is what galls me.
My journey was aimless...
Sometimes following some suspicious gossip or a feeling in my brand...
No idea where he was.
Not even sure he was in this world, I chased his shadow through the
hordes of lost dead souls.
But now he's in the same world as me.
On the same land that lies beneath my feet.
Where my sword can reach him.
29
Oh, I almost forgot, we got company.
Company?
Yeah.
Seems to be someone Rickert used to know.
They went off to the cemetery of swords.
He said he was a friend from when Rickert was a soldier.
Maybe you know him too.
Long silver-white hair...
Very pretty, so pretty...
You can't even be sure he's a man.
30
Like someone out of a fairy tale.
31
I still can't believe this.
I mean...
No one else but Guts and Caska came back that day.
Judeau...
Corkus...
Pippin...
No one
Came back.
I don't even know what happened.
Guts won't tell me anything and I'm too scared to ask.
I thought...
That everything...
Was over.
That there was nothing left.
But...
You're alive.
Meeting you again is like...
32
Reunion on the Hill of Swords
33
Guts!
36
Guts?
W-wait...!
37
Let go, Rickert!
I won't! You were about to kill him!
I could see it in your eyes!
It's Griffith!
It's our Griffith!
Why?
38
That...
That thing...
Is no longer the Griffith you knew.
What are you talking about?
Just let go!
No!
I don't understand!
You never change.
39
You always swing...
Before you talk.
No...
If anything...
The same face...
The same smile...
You're like you were when we first met.
40
The same voice...
Talking to me!
Why the hell did you come here?
To see you.
Things at the tower ended up rather stirring
We simply didn't have a second to talk together.
41
I thought this place would befit us.
Our Band of the Falcon [I know Hawk has been the standard translation,
but since the title of this arc translates it as Falcon, perhaps it's
time to switch.]
Gathered together here.
Never speak that name again!
42
I came to make certain.
To stand before you in this new body.
And see if there was anything that could sway my heart.
43
But it seems...
That I...
Am free.
44
Nothing?
All that you did...
Everyone you betrayed...
And you...
Don't feel one thing?
45
I...
Do not betray my dream.
Nothing more.
48
Ah...
At last we meet again.
Black Swordsman!
49
Zodd!?
50
What's wrong, Caska?
This feels like...
51
The Beast Swordsman vs. the Black Swordsman
52
He stopped Guts' sword?
Who is that man?
53
You seem to have survived despite my prophecy!
Well done, boy!
57
G...
(I can't even figure out what's going on)
Good god!
58
Splendid! I rarely meet a human with a body as good as yours!
I wanted to cross blades with you in this form and see what surviving
did for you.
Why?
Why are you with Griffith?
Step aside!
My business is with him alone!
59
Your words are impure.
We carry on!
60
He ducked!
He dodged? Those reflexes are inhuman!
61
This power...
He's still one hell of a monster...
If I didn't have this sword I'd be mincemeat!
If I miss once I'll be crushed!
63
If I blink even once he'll land one of those on my head!
Even blocking them is making my bones creak! It's like I'm not
parrying at all!
He hasn't changed!
But...
Now I can fight!
I've struggled through countless nights...
Just to get to him...
64
And you're in my way!
66
This is tremendous!
I've never seen anything like this on any battlefield!
He's grown strong than I can even imagine!
To use that huge sword like this...
But this rage...
This fury is all towards Griffith? Why?
That's mine!
67
Trying to overwhelm me?
Oh no, he's using both hands!
69
What a fight!
That other man didn't waste a moment after his sword was damaged to
switch to fighting with two swords, so he's amazing too...
But under fire, spying a sword lying in the snow and using it like
that...Guts' wits are incredible!
Any slip is death...
I've never seen anyone skirt death this closely!
70
Beating...
Faintly, high and shrill...
In the blood...
I thought was frozen.
Is this...
My vessel, the baby I took...
Is this his thoughts?
72
Immutable
73
Magnificent.
For a human body to survive the eclipse...
The power to fight and escape the apostles...
I thought I would only dance with you a moment...
But this Kusharn Horse sword is no match for that demonic sword of
yours.
It is a splendid blade!
And you use it fittingly.
But we're just beginning.
I have not yet...
Tasted enough
76
I have not had my fill!
Z....Zodd!?
Th-that man is Nosferatu Zodd!?
77
Why?
80
Guts!
82
That's...!
Master Godo's mine!
83
Wait, Caska!
Don't go there!
You idiot!
Go back!
Guts?
What was that noise?
85
A monster!!
86
Caska!
87
Cas...
Caska!
90
No....
91
That's enough.
Let's go.
92
W...
93
Wait!
Where are...?
I thought I said.
I will...
Take my own country.
94
And nothing...
Will change that.
95
Preface to the War
I will...
Take my own country.
96
Nothing will change that.
97
Rickert.
Nothing...
Is over.
When you know the truth...
You may choose to hate me.
But...
If instead...
You choose to continue chasing our dream...
98
I have no reason to refuse you.
W-wait...
I don't understand!
What truth?
99
Stop that!
Get down!
Nothing will change that, hunh?
100
That's the only thing that matters...
And nothing can change that?
101
This is what I will do.
You should know this...
Better than anyone.
102
Guts...
Tell me.
The truth.
What happened to Griffith and everyone?
I don't care how horrible a story it is...
It is my right to know.
No...
I have to know!
Guts!
105
Really?
That's...
That's...
106
I guess I'd...
Sort of figured that out...
Yeah.
That image...
That's where it's from.
107
This is hopeless.
It's totally buried.
What now?
This was supposed to be Guts and Caska's house...
Right when we'd all got together at last...
I'm going too!
You can't...
Carry that burden alone.
All this time, knowing nothing...
Just settled in comfortably here...
108
Take me with you!
I was...
I was a Falcon...!
No.
Why?
You...
Can't hate Griffith.
You're leaving?
109
You're all...
You're all leaving?
Erica...
What are you doing?
Go after her!
110
So?
Now whadda we do?
Keep...
Chasing revenge?
You can't...
Take her alone.
111
I mean, you take her along and revenge just...
I know.
That's impossible.
I know that.
But the elf mine's crushed.
Stopping here's just as bad, right?
If two of branded folk stop in the same spot for very long all hell
breaks loose.
The Tower of Judgment proved that...
No other elf homes nearby?
I sure can't think of any.
Any we just gonna lock her up again?
Poor thing...
That's why she keeps running away, ain't it?
112
Hmm, elf homes...
Ah, I know!
It's a bit far, but it's a beautiful paradise probably safer than
anywhere else in the whole world! (Dunno why I never thought of it...
MY HOME.
113
Kusharn Assault
You won't even stay the night?
I told you. This brand summons any ghosts and demons around.
That puts you in danger as well.
But I...
Then Erica.
But still,
I want to...
If you can't replace a thing...
Don't wave it around.
Godo used to say that.
115
Be good, Caska!
Make sure you take care of her, Gatts!
Snow.
Come to think of it, when I left the Falcons behind...
It was snowing just like this.
And I fought him...
Like today, on a field of snow.
But this time...
He left me behind.
116
I thought I said.
I will...
Take my own country.
This is what I will do.
You should know this...
117
Better than anyone.
118
I won't leave you somewhere.
I've had enough of leaving people behind.
This time...
I will not loose you.
120
Western Midland
Shet
123
Please stop!
124
What ever will become of us?
Who knows.
Made into slaves and whisked off to their country.
Or get knocked up with a Kusharn child. That's the fastest way to
control another race.
This is just a rumor, but I hear the Kusharn sacrifice women to their
god.
No matter what, we're done for.
This town, and this country.
If only the Band of the Falcon...
If only that man were here...
Then none of this...
Well sayin' it now don't help none.
He's coming.
Any moment.
To save us.
What ails that child?
Her parents were burned to death right in front of her and she's been
a bit funny ever since.
He's coming.
125
The Falcon of Light is coming.
I can hear it
The wind is whispering.
126
Lands, but it does take such a lot of time to ruin a city.
But General, they refused our thrice offered advice to surrender. We
cannot simply ignore that resistance.
Let us give them a sample of the medicine of fear our forces trade in.
If they would simply submit they might live acceptably long lives.
They invite this massacre upon themselves.
Our armies have now destroyed six of their forts.
And yet here you are...
And your entire family cannot capture one man.
I'm thoroughly disgusted with you, Varkilaka.
And you call yourselves warriors?
It's absurd.
127
And this story of yours that the Falcon mounted on a beast and flew
away...
Who on earth would believe such an outrageous lie?
I humbly submit that,
Since our mission to the church was appointed to us by an oracle, that
we all must be willing to admit to the existence of matters beyond our
knowledge.
You put on airs...
But look like a slave.
Do you know the role of churches in war?
They do what we officers tell them to.
Oracles and the like are merely a convenient way to light the fuse of
war.
We hang on to them for the sake of the lost.
I take pity on your faith in them.
You began as slaves, but got involved with that conflict over the
sultanate succession before being driven from the land by the new
royalty; why have you been permitted to return?
The very fact that the sultan has chosen to grant the likes of you the
slightest fragment of duty in military affairs can be only one
thing...
A whim.
[These last two pages were exhaustingly difficult. I expect there's
an error or two that crept in.]
128
Wh...
What do think you're doing!?
There are more pressing matters at hand
129
Oh no...
Run!
132
I beg your pardon.
133
How do they move that fast?
They just tore through steel with their bare hands!
Are they monsters?
We shall now resume our search for the Falcon.
135
The Wind Shouts 1
137
Who is...!?
138
The Falcon of Light!
God's Beard! Why is he here!?
Y...
You are...
What...
139
Eh?
141
S-sir!
Wh-why are you just standing there!
Kill him!!
Aim! Fire!
W...
Wait!
144
They all missed?
Did he dodge?
He couldn't have, not that many!
A fluke?
But...
Fools!
Of course it was a fluke!
Have you taken leave of your senses!?
Aim again!
Fire!
145
Wh...
What the!?
146
What is he!?
He's with him!
Kill him too!
147
That's not a knight!
That's a monster!
Don't panic!
There's only two of them!
Stop them, and quickly!
Get moving!
149
Though enemies...
You were not mounted. Forgive me.
150
My name is Locus.
I have sought this ground under the guidance of an oracle.
I seek the Falcon of Light. [Man, Hawk of Light really does sound
cooler...]
That is you, I presume?
151
The Moonlight Knight, Locus.
You shall join your sword with mine.
Gladly!
The Falcon of Light...
Falcon?
No, that couldn't be...
I heard he died!
But it's him, sure as your born...
I saw him at the victory parade in Windham, no mistake about it.
He is Midland's Divine Protector.
153
This can't be...there are only three of them!
It's him!
It is him!
(Hey, don't...)
(That's dangerous!)
154
Griffith
155
The wind whispered
And this world began to change.
156
The Wind Shouts 2
157
Stop them!
Stop those two now!
158
Young Master.
Wait.
We came here with good reason.
Use the chaos to capture the Falcon.
He's so pretty...
Like he's not even human...
159
Look out!
160
What happened?
Did he throw us back?
Slow...
And stupid.
You are Varkilaka's best men?
The Tarpatha, did you say?
161
That mask...
You're La'Kushas! [Never been good at guessing romanizations...]
But he was exiled!
Why is he here?
As the oracles said.
You are the Falcon of Light.
And you are...
Beautiful...
162
One day I shall cut off your head...
And make it mine.
Until then...
I shall let no one harm you.
163
Let's play.
164
Close the gates!
Don't let them get away!
165
What the!?
166
A giant...
Naga?
Stay your ground!
He is alone!
Hold!
168
It's breathing fire!
169
Runner!
Bring forth the castle reserves!
Th...
They're all...
Who's there!?
170
So that is the Falcon of Light...
The man who will save the world.
171
Or so they say.
Ah, you're back...
172
Thank you.
Why'd you use a bird?
Getting close to power like that in my astral body would be dangerous;
one slip and I'd be lost in the other world.
Aw, man, Shilke, you always talk about hard stuff I don't understand.
We must make use of the Falcon of Darkness.
The king of the blind white sheep is the master of the black sheep
with a burden of sins.
He is the one who shall bring true darkness to the world.
[Uh. Maybe. She fails to use grammar in the middle sentance...]
173
The smell is suffocating...
The smell of blood envelops us...
And numbs our minds.
Stained red.
The setting sun shines down on blood and everything is red, red,
red...
This should be a ghastly sight...
But somehow...
174
It looked...
175
Literally,
Like a painting.
176
We are all starring in a story with no ending in sight.
178
Snow and Fire (Prologue)
179
Thank goodness we managed to find a spot out of the wind and snow.
This is nice isn't it? Getting away from crowds and just being on our
own.
Finally feels like we're traveling.
180
Stuff.
And nonsense.
I'm cold.
And hungry.
So we're turning back then?
Forget about the Black Swordsman?
I have no such intention.
If you'd like to inform the Inquisition that the Knights of the Holy
Iron Chains were swallowed up by monsters along with all the
refugees...
Then you can go right ahead and risk being branded a heretic and dealt
with accordingly.
Wonder if the Lt. will pull through. (He's not known for
flexibility.)
As for me...
I have no desire...
To see that room again.
And as for you,
Why are you sitting over there? Come over here by the fire.
Ah, no thanks. Just in case, I thought I'd keep a look out for
Kusharn army scouts or the like...
No one in the right mind travels in weather like this.
Just come here and warm yourself.
You're in charge of obtaining provisions, and I would be most put out
if you fell ill.
181
It was snowing just like this the day I first met Farneze.
(I hate fires...)
I was still a child, beset by cold and hunger.
We'll be taken care of feed round here from now on. Ain't no job for
a titchy little shit like you.
Don't come back!
182
This is a holy city.
The seat of God's power.
Steeples scrape the sky, praising God.
The ringing bells let sound their song of praise to God.
Everything here exists for God, is sacrificed to God.
For those who have nothing to sacrifice...
It can be a very heartless city indeed.
As I child, I lived with THAT
in a run-down building located a ways from the city.
That was in the innermost room on the second floor, without much
light.
Just opening the door was always enough to depress me.
183
Illness had left THAT nothing but skin and bones.
I have your food, mother.
From infancy I was surrounded by the scent of death.
Where did you wander off to? I've been suffering here alone...
My back hurts, rub the pain away.
Her spine and ribs stood out from her back like they'd been carved
there.
They often made me think of her as some sort of unknown monster.
Where did you get that bruise?
Fighting with the boys in town...
You are of noble blood!
Do not debase yourself by arguing with those beneath you.
Be proud!
184
You are my only hope.
Someday your father will come for us.
When he does, you must be flawless, a nobleman he can be proud of.
Mother, calm yourself before you start coughing again.
You must understand this...
Be proud!
In her delirium, my mother often came back to those words.
It seemed that, long ago, my mother had worked as a lady in waiting at
a nobleman's mansion.
And I was the product of a brief fling with the master of that house.
Take this; keep it against your flesh.
Sometime you may have to use this to prove who you are.
In other words, I am a nobleman's bastard.
She clung to these precious memories...
Forcing her dream onto my small shoulders, to bear when she was gone.
It probably never occurred to her...
To wonder how a child not even ten years old would deal with that
house of sickness.
Look wha ye gone and dun to me brother...
Everyday my mother strengthened the burden of pride...
And everyday the town ripped that pride out by the root.
185
Eventually, I was left with no expressions...
And felt no emotions.
I can't move.
If I stay like this, I'll be buried in the snow.
That sounds nice.
Sounds easy.
The sound of a carriage...
Stop here!
Stop the horses!
Miss?
186
I knew it at a glance.
"Nobles."
To me the word was a curse.
The girl looking down at me was no imitation noble like I was; from
her head to her toenail, there was not a blemish.
She was a noble's daughter.
Weird rabbit...
Insolent dog!
What's the matter? We shall be late for Communion, Miss...
!
Why is a child so young dying in the street?
Cancel Communion.
Load this child in the cart; we're taking him home with us.
187
Miss, won't you leave such things to us?
Absolutely not!
I shall care for him!
You go away!
She'd picked me up like an injured puppy.
Right.
I saved you from certain death.
From this point on you belong to me.
This was something...
Swear to it.
I had never planned on.
But thanks to that...
A noble's mansion?
What was the master's name?
I was able to secure employment.
I was too flustered, and forgot to ask.
I was released from the depressing monster.
They told me that, starting tomorrow, I should come and live with them
to work.
If I said my heard was heavy I would be lying.
Don't worry; my wages will be enough to employ a nurse to take care of
you.
She said but one thing.
This is a chance to reenter aristocratic society.
Word hard and well.
It left me with a sinner's guilt.
188
The Vendemion family's personal assets were said to surpass the budget
of the largest country in the world. Kings of several realms had
sprung from their stock; and many religious officials. Within this
holy city they were the power behind the power, the single greatest
influence upon anything.
Now that I look again, this place is huge...
Of course, I was to young to know any of that.
From today you are my page. You answer only to me.
Anything I say...
You do.
Yes, Miss Farneze.
She had released me from my miserable existence.
Holding that thought...
My new master's...
For the most part...
Unreasonable commands...
Were easily borne.
Poor thing.
You're holding up well, considering.
(You said you fell off a horse?)
(You could have broken a few bones...)
Everyone else we've taken on to serve her's fled right quick on
account of her disposition.
She even set one poor girl's clothes on fire with her still in them.
Be careful you don't find yourself on the sharp end of one of her
moods.
189
This little tyrant
Was viewed by everyone with disgust and anger, like a boil about to
pop.
She grew up that way with good reason.
Her father, the lord of Vendemion, was so passionate about his work
that he rarely, if ever, came home.
Her mother had no time for her daughter, spending every waking moment
partying.
Parental affection...
Manifested itself only in a mountain of THINGS that threatened to bury
her at any moment.
She was let out to pasture in the halls of the mansion.
190
Rows of forbidding carvings stare down at us.
A maze shrouded in oppressive gloom.
Though dozens of servants worked here...
We could not even say we saw them infrequently.
It reminded me of that gloomy run-down home...
Where I'd grown up with my mother.
In this giant prison...
She lived alone, without responsibilities.
(You'll catch cold)
Her act of compassion had not been just calculated; she may have
sensed that I gave off the same smell as her.
191
One night there came a storm.
All right? You stay right there all night long and hold my hand.
Certainly.
(Eeek! Nooo!)
Miss Farneze, calm yourself!
Do something about that thunder!
I don't see...
Oh no!
The window!
!
Miss Farneze!
Miss Farneze, where are you...?
192
Into the storm she ran,
Round and round like she was dancing, crying out in a voice that was
neither a shriek nor a laugh.
It was as if she had been possessed.
Miss Farneze!
A storm!
I can be a storm too!
Her abnormal actions...
Drove everyone else away.
193
Once...
I followed her into the woods behind the mansion.
Deep in the heart of the woods...
We found a little clearing.
I noticed that, all around us...
Were what looked like the bones of small animals.
Fetch some twigs.
A few days before...
She had had been quite taken with this bird.
Miss Farneze?
This bird has not grown to love me.
For a while, if fluttered violently, crying out.
And then it fell silent.
194
This is my crematorium.
My sacred alter.
I burn all bad things here.
The light shone on her as she spoke...
(The servants weren't kidding about the fire...)
And she smiled as if in a trance.
When she did that...
It seemed as if she was trying to push people away, to make them
afraid of her.
...but.
If so, then why?
The window of her bedroom looked down upon a place
That, long ago, had been frequently used for the burning of heretics.
I was told that, when she was quite young...
She had made her way out there, and thrown a few torches.
The flickering light of those fires must have shone through this
window like a beacon, shattering the darkness that surrounded her.
195
Father.
One snowy day, the master returned. Though I had been employed for a
full year, this was the first time I had laid eyes on him.
Wait, Farneze.
This is a business conversation.
Yes, Father.
Mm?
What's that raggedy doll?
Eh?
Throw it away.
You've got much newer toys that than. Now go on and leave us be.
Yes....
Father.
Miss Farneze?
The servants had told me about that rabbit.
Many, many years ago, on the only trip they ever took as a family...
Farneze had pestered her father into buying it for her.
It seemed to mean a lot to her.
Farne....
Go away.
196
Or I'll...
Burn you too.
She was afraid. Left all alone in that enormous prison...
Because she was afraid she hurt people. Because she was afraid she
pushed them away.
Because she was afraid, she frightened everyone near her.
Before a child reaches out for happiness...
They adapt to their lives, and bury themselves.
Until, before they know it...
They can no longer see themselves.
In the maze...
Covered in snow.
197
And then one day, my master stopped me in the hall.
Yes, sir?
What's that around your neck?
This, sir?
I thought he was about to accuse me of having stolen it.
Let me see it closer...
Ah, I thought so.
Inside was a tiny image of my mother and father, in their youth.
And now...
I was meeting him.
This did not cause any particular emotional reaction.
Ah, so this is him...
Perhaps it should have.
198
But the knowledge that Farneze was my half-sister...
Was rather a jolt.
He said that the three male heirs to the Vendemion family -- my
brothers -- were already engaged in a battle over the succession.
He said there was absolutely no way he could afford to recognize the
product of his mistress, me, and risk inflaming everything into a
torrent of useless violence.
However, if I would promise to keep my birth a secret, he would bestow
a noble rank upon me...
And see that I was raised in a manner befitting my status as such.
And what...
Should I tell my mother?
Just that.
And so my lips were sealed.
But even this much was far more than either of us had ever hoped to
find.
Thanks to God...
My poor mother...
199
I accepted my father's conditions...
Very well.
In the hopes that I might be allowed to continue living in this
mansion.
To be honest, I'm somewhat at a loss as to what to do with Farneze.
When I'm around, she always feigns innocence.
But I'm told that your presence has been a godsend to the rest of the
help.
He spoke with no compunctions, despite having spoken to her but once
this year.
The two of us have not the power to melt the snow mounting up upon us.
But perhaps we both felt a slight warmth in the other.
200
Snow and Fire (Conclusion)
201
Time trickled into the maze.
Beneath the heaps of snow, two little seedlings writhed, and snarled,
but still grew.
And then one day their branches...
Began to reach outside their little garden.
And bear strange fruit.
Miss Farneze, if you would be so kind as to take this dance with me...
Miss Farneze...
I too would be honored, Miss Farneze...
No thanks.
Serpico, come, dance.
202
It's hopeless.
She's far too choosey.
We're all here to get closer to her.
Eager to get beneath the umbrella of the Vendemion.
Is she just going to dance with that escort of hers all night again?
Who is that fellow anyway?
Haven't you heard?
He does apparently have a title, but he was originally just her little
servant boy.
He's a commoner!?
Miss Farneze?
It seems her father, Lord Vendemion, is his guardian. He certainly
seems good at insinuating himself, at any rate.
An insult to my companion is an insult to me.
Far...
I demand a duel!
But since I am a lady, the challenge shall be met by the one directly
insulted.
I thought so...
203
I guess this is a tie, then...
A splendid thrust.
Not at all.
For a commoner, you are quite proficient. I should have expected such
from the guard to the mistress of Vendemion.
Miss Farneze, I humbly withdraw my offending words.
This wound was last week.
And this the month before.
204
If you go on like this you'll wind up looking like a rag doll.
Why do you hold back?
You could beat these fools with one hand tied behind your back.
Perhaps...
You think too highly of me.
Hmph.
No matter.
The idea of you as a rag doll...
Is strangely compelling.
When did this start, I wonder?
In some warped fashion, she began to view our relationship as
something more than master and servant.
205
The two of us were raised side by side in the cradle of that little
garden...
So perhaps such developments were only natural.
My upbringing on these streets taught me over and over again that
revenge is a foolish thing that causes nothing but more revenge.
This is the best way to preserve Miss Farneze's honor without making
waves.
That year you often saw them...
Street urchins of the holy city.
206
My mother's illness advanced.
Perhaps inevitably, she was admitted to a sanatorium.
She no longer...
Recognized me...
For who I was.
Oh, my lord!
How good of you to come!
But all that grimness...
Had vanished from her face.
In the end, my father had not come to see her again.
And so she dreamed.
The day she began living in a dream was, perhaps, the day of her
salvation.
After several years absence, the master returned again.
Marraige?
B...
This is...
So sudden...
Do you object?
I think this would be best for you, Farneze.
I have heard of this tendency of yours to force a duel at every ball
you attend.
You are my only daughter, and I think perhaps I left you too much
alone.
You are sixteen years old, and it is high time your learned to act
like a lady.
B...
But...
Fath...
Your groom is a member of a certain royal family, and of a forgiving
disposition; he agreed to our proposal even though he knew of your
predilections.
Surely, I do not have to explain how the Vendemion family would
benefit from such a match. Do you understand?
207
...Yes,
Father.
The forest owner had ignored the fruit, allowing nature to take its
course, but once it ripened, was ready to pluck it.
Miss Farneze!
208
Far...
I won't...
I won't leave here.
Out there...
I can't live anywhere but here.
Unless...
You were to run away with me...
209
If you...
Took me.
We're both so warped...
210
Father's
Mother's
Sibling's...
Of all the yokes that bound us...
Why was it I could not run away then?
Fire!
The mansion...!
The mistress has gone mad!
211
The mansion burned to the ground.
Foolish girl.
I never thought you'd...
We can't allow word of this matter to spread.
It would soil the Vendemion name.
The wedding is canceled.
Farneze was sent to a convent.
That girl is a devil.
Take her off my hands.
By special arrangement of the lord, I was sent with her, becoming a
combination servant and supervisor.
In a sense, her wish had come true, but...
From that day forward, the relationship between us...
Had returned to that of master and servant.
212
Days passed in peaceful praise of god.
But the Vendemion name...
Did not leave her in peace.
This is indeed striking.
The legends say that the Knights of the Holy Iron Chain must always be
commanded by a woman, but...
It is indeed an honor to have a daughter of the great Vendemion family
in that role.
May you surpass our expectations.
For matters requiring experience, look no further than your second,
Sir Azan.
Like any knight, he is prepared to answer any questions you may have
for him.
It is an honor to meet you.
Mm.
213
By chance, that winter...
Heretics set fire to the churches and nobleman's mansions in the holy
city.
Though the Knights of the Holy Iron Chain served primarily as a
ceremonial guard...
We were sent forth to subjugate the heresy.
That building! Company charge!
It was as if Farneze had been possessed.
She placed herself right at the front of the army as we hunted the
heretics down.
This looked like such intense devotion to duty...
That it left her superiors speechless with admiration.
214
Once again, the same expression...
Lit by the light of the fire.
Fire...
Burned within her heart.
It dominated her childhood.
Perhaps...
She had found her place in life.
215
The heretics were not 'Satanists'.
They were simply people that believed in a heresy.
They simply objected to the noblemen and the churches monopolizing the
wealth of the world.
"In God's eyes, are we not all equal?" they cried.
And the Vatican declared them heretics.
[Lost subject in this sentence.] Fearing of their status and power,
they crushed them utterly.
Rather than let a single heretic escape, entire families were put to
trail.
And regardless of the truth, the family was then annihilated.
Those we caught were almost to a man...
Impoverished, indigent...
With not enough food to live another day.
This...
Is what dominated MY childhood.
But no matter how ghastly the spectacle I witnessed...
Nothing could sway my heart.
216
Until...
You've managed to route their headquarters, I see. I never would have
guessed they'd be hiding in a sanatorium.
Splendid work, Miss Farneze.
Mother...
217
Mm? What did you say?
Why?
Oh, God!
Why is my mother here?
Serpico?
There must be some mistake, my mother is...
My mother no longer...
Understands anything...
Mother
!
Did he just call his mother?
His mother's up there somewhere?
218
She is not!
No members of the Knights of the Holy Iron Chain could be tainted with
heresy!
But he certainly...
If that is true, than this could be a serious problem.
Is this my fault?
Because I...
Left you alone to get away from there?
But wasn't that what you wanted?
Ohh!
My Lord!
I met my father and gained a title just like you always wanted!
Has that really left you with nothing but your own misery?
Just like old times, eh?
You were lonely...and so you retreated into your dream, clinging to
God...
219
Because I hated you so much that I prayed for your death to free
myself from the yoke of your existence...
Has my son served you well?
I trust he has done nothing to disgrace your name?
Is that why?
Is this...
Your revenge?
You light her.
Far...
220
Show us the proof...
That she is not your mother.
Swear to it again.
I am your master.
Your only master.
Until now...
And from now on.
The two of us...
We buried something.
221
We burned something...
We were set loose from something...
We were bound by something.
222
Winter, three years later.
That mansion...
And that holy city...
Are probably still buried beneath snow.
We've escaped the maze I never thought to leave...
And now journey to distant lands beneath the open skies.
It's down to flurries. Let's proceed.
Miss Farneze is chasing the Black Swordsman.
As if he were a fire that can melt away all the snow.
On the snow...
We leave our footprints.