Summary[]
On October 4th, 1986, the Ushiromiya family arrives at Rokkenjima and marvels at the beauty of the rose garden. This year is special because Battler Ushiromiya has returned after a six-year absence. Battler jokes around with his relatives, telling Maria that in a few years she’ll be growing upwards and forwards, prompting a smack from Jessica. Gohda arrives to take everyone to the guesthouse when Rudolf notices that Battler is just gazing at the rose garden. George asks if there’s anything wrong, but Battler tells everyone to go on without him so he can feel the wind just a bit longer. George figured that Battler needed some time to sort out his feelings after being away for six years, so he leaves Battler to himself. In those six years Battler had been away, a lot changed: his height, his features, even his mind; Jessica understood this as well, and goes with Maria to the guesthouse.
After seeing that everybody had entered the guesthouse, Battler relaxes. He thinks about the name Battler Ushiromiya and how it’s supposed to be his name, but he says that the Battler he is and the Battler he knows are quite different. Just then, a wind sweeps around the rose garden and blows petals into the air. The world swiftly changes to that of the Golden Land, and the rose petals coalesce into the form of Ronove, who welcomes Battler back. Battler, now donning a purple suit and with red eyes, asks how long it’s been since they last met. Ronove explains that after Land of the Golden Witch, Ronove was at Battler’s side for Trinity of the Golden Witch, and that Bernkastel's game board may have been the last one, but Battler says they still just met. Ronove offers Battler some tea as he sits down, wondering if he ought to be playing his part now that he’s arrived.
Battler muses that once a piece has been put on the board, they can run wild as much as they want; Battler has been summoned for that exact purpose. Battler reiterates that he is indeed free to do as he pleases and Ronove confirms such, but there is only one rule: “don’t ever bore us.” Ronove is excited to see what the aspiring murderer will show them, but Battler compares himself to TV variety shows that call a young actor to the stage and have them perform without any preparation. Ronove tells him that the preparations have already been made and offers him assistance, asking if he’ll introduce a letter announcing murders in the rose garden or preparing the stage of the tragedy. Battler thinks about ‘how’ he will kill people, and the narration asks if this can even be called ‘Battler’; he’s a piece that resembles Battler Ushiromiya, but his role was very different. This murderous, “black” Battler tells Ronove that he doesn’t want to see any killings or corpses, but rather that “one instant,” which Ronove likens to the flicker before a candle blows out. Battler wants to see what color George’s tears will be when he strangles Shannon to death in front of him; what shade Rudolf’s blood will be when he learns his son is the culprit, moments before getting his head blown off; the tears Natsuhi will shed when finding the bloody corpse of her daughter. Battler will take Natsuhi in his arms and pretend to cry with her, calling it the greatest form of entertainment for the scenario that is “Battler Ushiromiya as the culprit.” A roar of thunder is heard, which Battler likens to applause from a group of spectators.
Ronove wants to know who Battler will kill first, but Battler says he wants to "tune his instruments" and will make Romove his first victim. Ronove prepares himself as Battler considers all the horrible things he can do to him. Ronove gives a very heavy laugh in response, something that has never been seen of Ronove before. The two of them fight but the demon butler falls to the black culprit, who remarks that he will never serve tea again. Beatrice arrives while applauding, impressed by Battler’s performance, noting how there’s not a single scratch on him after his fight. Battler commends Beato for being the most beautiful instrument he has ever heard, asking if he is really “Battler.” He turns to face her, with a single rose petal on his face. Seeing this, Beato acknowledges that he is indeed Battler, expressing her happiness at being able to meet him again and becoming more beautiful and dreadful.
Battler muses some more, saying that he gets more power the more forgeries are made featuring Battler Ushiromiya as the culprit. Beato asks what the spectators might expect of them, but Battler replies that they both know it well: “never bore us.” More lightning strikes, calling a rain storm with it. Beato asks Battler what his plans are: he’ll go to the mansion and drink Gohda’s disgusting black tea, gaze at the witch’s portrait and epitaph and ask about them, anything to kill time until 24:00, when the real killing will begin. In return, Battler asks who the author of their forgeries are, which Beato thinks is someone like them: someone who despises boredom and loves tales with bloodshed. Battler proclaims that, even if nobody were to write about them anymore, they will still exist; he looks to the sky again and dares Tohya to stop him soon.
The scene returns to the gameboard, where Battler is still looking at the rose garden despite the rain. Kanon arrives to take him inside, and Battler says it’s been a while; Kanon understands what Battler is planning for tonight, and the soon-to-be culprit asks if he wants to see Jessica reduced to tears, cutting off her own fingers again. Kanon takes offense to this statement, wanting to know who called a devil like him to the island; Battler replies that it was the cause of the huge number of spectators wanting to see him as the culprit that brought him there. The two of them leave the rose garden, and Battler hands the servant a letter; at 24:00, Kanon must knock on the door of the dining room and pretend to have found the letter. One more strike of thunder, and Battler laughs at the sky once more, taking solace in the fact that the infinite catbox and the endless fantasies of forgers would never make him bored; Battler’s eyes turn red as he declares the game to begin, wishing to quench the thirst for blood of those black kitties.
Background Music[]
- hope
- l&d-circulation
- liberatedliberator
- s/he-end
- Golden Nocturne (inst)
- Voiceless
- 胡散の香り [Fishy Aroma]
Characters appearing