Their world was divided into East and West.
The Western nations were ruled by the Queen,
and the Eastern nations stood against her.
To unify the world under her reign,
the Queen of the West sent trusted members of the nobility
to perform espionage in various nations.
These nobles were known and widely feared as "the Queen's guard dogs."
What the hell?!
They're treating the goods too roughly for normal human trafficking.
What will they use these women for?
Who are you?
How did you get these photos?
You sure ain't just some girl.
It appears that most of the serial murder victims had contact with you.
What's inside the envelopes in those photos?
I have no idea.
And don't give me that look!
Pardon the intrusion.
Who're you?
Ah, yes, forgive me. I'm a servant of the Genpo household.
I've come to collect my master.
"Master"?
Are you kidding me?
Kill them.
At once.
You bastard!
Who the fuck are you?
Me?
I am merely one hell of a butler.
No "mere butler" can kill like this!
Don't be silly.
A Genpo butler who can't do this much isn't worth his salt.
Fine, then, how about this?
Sebastian!
Sebastiaaaaan!
I named him after my old pet dog.
You don't seem worried, Missy.
Mismatched eyes, eh? That's rare enough to get a high price from lots of clients.
Now talk! Where did you get these photos? Who are you people?!
Oi.
You've had your fun.
The floor can't be that comfortable a napping spot.
Did I hit you too hard?
My goodness.
Today's guns are far more effective...
...than the ones in the old days.
No way...
Now there's a stain on the precious uniform you gave me, young master.
Because of your playing around, imbecile.
I simply made it look convincing, as you instructed.
And I rather wanted to watch you looking like that for a while.
You're wonderfully pathetic at the moment.
It suits your frail little form.
How dare you speak to me like that?
Stop!
She'll die, right?
Whatever shall I do now?
Hurry up. My arms hurt.
But young master, you'll be killed if I get any closer.
Do you intend to break our contract, you wretch?
Nonsense. I have been your loyal servant ever since that day.
I shall do you anything you wish.
Shut up or start making sense, you freaks!
You do realize you can't eat my soul until my goal is achieved?
Of course. And I can't have you if you're killed by someone else, either.
Then hurry up!
Young master.
I know I taught you how to beg properly.
This is an order:
Save me.
At once.
Shut up!
I'll take my master back now.
This game wasn't particularly fun, was it?
Hey, you! I'll pay you five-no, ten-times what she does!
S-So please--
I really have no interest in human-made junk.
I told you:
I am merely... one hell of a butler.
I'll ask one more time.
What was in that envelope?
This is your last chance. Tell me everything you know.
I got nothing to say to you.
You'll get a taste of hell for this.
I see. Game over, then.
I've already tasted hell.
There's no use praying.
God doesn't exist.
No one is going to save you.
Now, young master Kiyoharu.
I've arranged a French meal for dinner tonight,
but I've also prepared the sweets-only meal you requested this morning.
Which would you like?
The sweets.
Very good, my lord.
"Black Butler"
The noble house of Genpo has existed since the nineteenth century.
As its current head, my master Kiyoharu's days begin with early morning tea.
This is Rin, the housemaid.
She regularly behaves in ways I cannot fathom.
I wonder if she realizes her problem is her mind, and not her eyes.
I'm so sorry!
I'll take things from here.
She actually makes me feel a bit murderous.
This is the house steward, Tanaka.
That's lemonade in his teacup.
Good morning, my lord.
And this is my master, the earl Kiyoharu Genpo.
This aroma... Ceylon today, then?
A Blue Lady by H.R. Higgins.
Though just seventeen, he is also the president of the Funtom Company,
the foremost toy company in all the East.
Meanwhile, as "the Queen's guard dog,"
he exercises authority over the criminal underworld.
You seemed to be having quite a nightmare.
Just the usual dream. I'm ready.
It's unfortunate that I can't accompany you in your dreams.
Not necessary. I enjoy the break from having to see your face.
Cheeky brat.
Nothing.
Perhaps I can allow the dreams,
but I can't have you getting killed while I'm not there.
I'm aware.
However, you are free to commit suicide.
I can still take your soul if you take your own life.
Don't worry.
I won't die until I've achieved my goal.
I even go so far as to dress like this for it.
There's no use in thinking about it, Sato. I've won this game.
"Charles B. Sato, Private Secretary to the Queen"
You have disturbing intelligence and acumen for your age, Lord Genpo.
Skip the flattery. Why are you here?
Another "Devil's Curse" victim has surfaced.
Anthony Campbell, from our embassy.
Like the others, he was found in a mummified state,
and a card was left at the scene.
With a picture of a demon on it.
That makes him the eighth...
All the victims were attached to foreign embassies.
The whole world is talking about this now.
Some of the media are being sensational, suggesting that it's a devil's curse.
As a result, VIPs from nearby Eastern and Western countries
will be gathering at a special prayer ceremony to exorcise this devil.
Ridiculous.
That may be, but a man from our own embassy has been killed,
and we cannot let that slide.
Her Majesty asks that you resolve this quickly.
Tell her I acknowledge the order.
It began three weeks ago with the discovery of a mummified corpse.
Since then, there's been a rash of incidents
where people seem to have been mummified alive.
Apparently the public is calling it the Devil's Curse.
Do you have the power to desiccate people?
Good question.
I am excellent at wringing all the juice from a fruit...
There's no question that most of the victims
were in contact with that human trafficker before their deaths.
What on earth did they get from him?
Get me the police case files.
Very good.
Pardon me, sir.
Tokizawa, you're here at last!
I can rest easy with you on the case.
One moment--I've just written an urgent letter.
Not a love letter, I promise.
I have a report on the Mafia types found in that warehouse on the pier.
Whoa, whoa, leave gang fights to the uniforms.
"Saneatsu Nekoma, Ministry for State Security Commander"
According to eyewitnesses,
a man in a black tailcoat killed those twelve men single-handedly.
Single-handedly?
This was at the scene.
Look at this.
Don't tell me...
The "guard dogs" of the Western Queen.
Villainous nobles who conduct assassinations and investigations on her orders.
Sir, we have spies on our soil who don't shrink from civilian casualties.
But those are just rumors, aren't they?
If the Queen's guard dogs do exist, they're a threat to our country.
We must eliminate them.
I can't authorize that without evidence.
Pretend I didn't say anything, then.
Excuse me.
I certainly didn't hear you say anything.
But Tokizawa...
If you ever take out a guard dog, best to make sure its owner doesn't know.
Thank you.
That concludes our board meeting.
Too focused on playing house to have time for work?
I'm sorry.
Did you find out something?
If there's ever anything I can do to help, just let me know, Kiyoharu.
Thank you, Aunt Hanae.
Many years ago, a Western earl named Ernest Phantomhive
changed his family name to Genpo and settled in our country.
Generations of the Genpo family have amassed a large fortune
through their toy business.
Their business steadily expanded
until the third earl, Arihito Genpo, was shot along with his wife Erika.
Shot?
Yes.
Their only child, a daughter named Shiori, has been missing ever since.
However, a few weeks later,
a boy showed up, accompanied by that man in black coattails,
and claimed to be Arihito's illegitimate son.
The boy, Kiyoharu, has inherited the family business.
Pretty unusual for a bastard son to inherit.
It's apparently a Genpo rule that only males can be made family head.
Some people found him suspicious at first, but he passed the DNA test.
His only remaining family member, Erika's sister Hanae Wakatsuki,
acts as his guardian and runs the business jointly with him.
They've increased profits even more.
Everyone stopped complaining, and Kiyoharu took over the earlship as well.
A villainous noble, eh?
I lost again?
Campbell died in a back alley of the slums.
Eyewitness testimony says he mummified in a matter of seconds.
We don't know yet what he was doing, or where, immediately preceding his death.
This country's police did that investigating.
How do you always get a hold of these reports?
The Queen's guard dog has a dog of his own.
Please keep investigating Anthony Campbell's death.
We expect great things from the fourth Earl Genpo.
Why do you like cats so much?
They're my only conversation partners.
Let's go.
Which car would you like to take today?
The small one.
Anthony Campbell's body will be flown back to the homeland today.
I imagine we'll only be able to buy five minutes at the usual place.
That's plenty.
Good evening, my lord. I've been expecting you.
May I ask how you found out I was transporting this body?
I didn't "find out." I arranged for the transport request to go to you.
After all, I can bribe you.
Move.
Fine. Five minutes.
A leaf from a cigar.
Cuban, I perceive. Quite rare these days.
I suppose that's all the evidence.
Time's up.
Young master. Might you have forgotten this?
How did you know about the wine stain on his kerchief? It wasn't visible.
A cigar leaf between the corpse's teeth must mean
that he bit off the end instead of using a cutter.
Yet his well-polished shoes and well-tailored suit tell me
that he was quite a gentleman.
He would only do such a thing if he were very drunk.
Therefore, I predicted that he would have dabbed the alcohol from his mouth
at least once or twice with his handkerchief.
You enjoy playing detective a lot, for a demon.
A Genpo butler who can't do this much isn't worth his salt.
I had assumed you noticed the same details.
Cheeky butler.
I suppose you know the wine as well?
A '75 Château Bonheur, I believe.
Trace the distribution routes for the cigar and the wine.
They're both expensive.
Very good.
An elite club?
It presents itself as an ordinary club...
...but there's a hall underground that only certain members can access.
As I understand it, secret parties are held there.
I traced all distribution routes,
and that's the only place that stocks both the cigars and the wine.
Then Campbell was there shortly before his death?
Very likely.
That's it!
The envelopes must have held party invitations.
Get me the guest lists.
Here you are.
To infiltrate, you'll need an introduction.
My aunt should know some of these people. She may be able to help.
Let's speak with her tomorrow.
I'll contact her at once.
I don't like meeting with her outside the boardroom.
Your shyness around others approaches the pathological.
Just interact with the confidence befitting the head of the Genpo.
Start by doing something about that scowl. It's a rude way to greet a lady.
Act like you're enjoying yourself, whether you are or not.
Right, then. Smile!
Unhand me!
I can't help... that I forgot how to smile that day.
I'm sorry.
What a wonderful meal, Sebastian.
All right. All I need to do is get an invitation?
I'm sorry to always make these sorts of requests.
What are you trying to find out?
You're always silent about the important things.
Your mother was my older sister, you know.
I want revenge, too.
So I'll help you. And I won't press for details.
Aunt Hanae!
Akashi, please...
I swear to you that I'll avenge her.
It should be fine. I know several of these people.
But from what I've heard, you need an escort to enter that area.
Do you know a good candidate?
I'm so sorry!
I apologize on behalf of the household.
Amazing. You really can do anything, can't you?
Yes, my man is good at everything. But I'm the king on this board.
I've trained him to act on my orders alone.
My lord.
Yes, not bad.
P-Please don't stare at me.
Rin, make absolutely sure to avoid careless mistakes.
R-Right!
This is the invitation.
Be careful.
What's wrong?
This seal...
I saw it when my parents were killed.
Kiyoharu...
Aunt Hanae, who sponsored this party?
Shinpei Kujo, the CEO of Epsilon Pharmaceuticals.
He oversees new drug development.
Let's go, Rin.
Yes, my lord!
You check out the Epsilon Pharmaceuticals lab.
Very good, my lord.
What is this place?
Embassy attachés from around the world, politicians,
officers of famous companies...
What's going on at this club?
Shinozaki!
He's a black-market weapons dealer.
They say he does business with terrorist organizations.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.
I am your host, Shinpei Kujo.
As always, I hope you'll relax and have fun tonight.
Stay here.
Young master...
Rin! I told you to stay put!
I'm sorry, my lord. But I've been told never to leave you alone.
Just go back!
What's the trouble here?
I'm glad to meet you.
I'm afraid I followed you here, because I wanted to introduce myself.
Mr. Shinpei Kujo, correct?
Yes, that's me.
It's a pleasure. My name is--
I know who you are. The young, charismatic head of Funtom Company.
You flatter me.
As well as...
...the Queen's lapdog.
What's the meaning of this?!
You bastard!
The empty howl of a beaten dog.
How careless of me!
I see. So this is it.
Found you.
Here, the time has finally come to show you the fruits of my research.
Kujo and... Shinozaki?
These are addicts, hooked on the illegal drugs I've developed.
I invited them to try my newest drug at a secret party, and they came gladly.
Now I'll give you a superb show, with these as our experimental subjects.
Friends, it's the moment you've been waiting for.
We'll now give you a sample of my new drug.
This is the ultimate drug, perfected through long years of research.
I call it... "Necrosis."
Patience, friends. This is how you enjoy Necrosis.
The liquid leaking from the capsule vaporizes, releasing the drug into the air.
Merely inhaling this air buys you a ticket to heaven.
How does it feel to climb the stairway to heaven?
More stimulating than any drug, isn't it?
That's right: as you've concluded,
this drug is the truth behind the infamous "Devil's Curse."
First you bleed from the nose, then the ears, and finally the eyes.
Once your heartbeat reaches its fastest pitch, you mummify in moments!
The drug remains effective for approximately 15 minutes after vaporizing.
There is only one way to survive.
That is the antidote.
However, while one capsule can save your life, you run a high risk of brain damage.
To survive with your health intact, you'll need to take at least two.
Uh-oh!
Bleeding from the eyes is a sign that heaven is nigh! Hurry!
Humans are incapable of sharing sorrows as a group.
They choose their own survival, even if it means damning others.
Behold: this is a microcosm of society.
What magnificent experimental results.
With Necrosis and its antidote, we can rule the world through fear.
These are the chemical formulas for them.
What sort of joke is this?
Young master? Are you all right, young master?!
Young master! Young master?!
Young master!
Rin, calm down!
All right?
We're in trouble if the glass breaks. Hold your breath.
Hurry.
That dickhead.
Don't be an arse. We're going home.
Call Sato.
Very good.
The Devil's Curse is actually a drug called "Necrosis."
Drug?
I assume Kujo gave his targets cigars filled with Necrosis as they left the club.
He snuck the cards into their pockets at the same time.
The targets smoked the cigars...
...and they died in despair.
That's how he got the mummy corpses to go with the cards.
Was Kujo the mastermind, then?
No. He was murdered once the arms dealer had no more use for him.
I'm certain Shinozaki was the one who ordered the Necrosis and killed Kujo.
I didn't expect an arms dealer behind this.
This lax country got used because
it's full of technology and wealth, yet has no sense of crisis whatsoever.
Don't worry. I'm about to pay Shinozaki a visit.
Get ready.
Very good.
Young master!
What is it?
There's a gentleman from the police who wants to talk to you and Sebastian.
There's a special prayer ceremony today with VIPs from around the globe.
Please avoid a disturbance.
No help for it, then. Go with them.
And make it look convincing.
Very good, my lord.
There are exceptions to every rule.
This is the place where exceptions to police rules are allowed.
Something's up. There's no one here.
I'm about to go run an errand.
These three will take care of you in the meantime.
Do as you please.
Enjoy your errand.
Stay smug while you can.
I'm sure you'll miss me pretty badly before long,
but my errand will take a while.
Prepare yourself.
Now, then.
Shall we begin the interrogation?
Interrogation?
Ah. My apologies, but I'm afraid I haven't the time.
They've laid down sheets to do the killings on.
To get rid of everyone without leaving any evidence?
I made it look convincing, Master.
Young master?
Rin! What are you doing?!
I was always taught never to leave you alone.
Again with that?
Rin!
I'll be killed the moment I'm on that sheet.
Young master!
Shinozaki?!
What's going on? I thought he was behind it all?
Oh!
I've always questioned why the murders were so ostentatious,
with the whole business about the cards.
There was no need for all that if the only goal was to develop the drug.
The point was to attract the world's attention.
For some reason I didn't feel in danger then.
Now I see that I was left alive specifically so I'd tell the Queen
that Shinozaki was behind everything.
Which means the real mastermind must be about to use Necrosis
for a large-scale terrorist attack.
The target will be someplace the world's attention is focused on...
There's a special prayer ceremony today with VIPs from around the globe.
Given the timing, there can't be a better stage than the prayer ceremony
to demonstrate the threat of Necrosis to the world.
If this building is made to look like its occupants went into hiding,
everyone will suspect Shinozaki's crew.
And thanks to the rumors that Shinozaki sells to terrorists,
the public will assume Necrosis has fallen into the hands of terrorists,
causing a global panic.
He's the perfect scapegoat.
Young master!
Sum it!
Come with me.
Gimme that gun!
Rin?
You run while I draw their fire.
What?
I was raised from a young age to protect the Genpo family.
That's been my family's calling for generations.
So go, with no regrets...
...Lady Shiori.
Rin!
You know...?
I couldn't protect my master and mistress that day,
and you were taken away, too.
I considered taking my own life.
But... you came back to us.
To inherit the role of guard dog. You even dressed as a boy to do it...
You kept me on staff, my lady, even though I can't cook or clean.
Today I can finally repay you.
Rin...
Thank you for everything.
Hurry!
I'm ready to die. All servants of the "villainous nobles" are.
Sebastian?
What are you doing here?
Hurry!
Young master!
Aunt Hanae!
Kiyoharu!
To the cathedral for the prayer ceremony, quickly!
Prayer ceremony?
Save my valued servant, no matter what.
Then come to the cathedral at once.
Make it convincing.
"Save my valued servant, no matter what," he said.
He's too kind...
Now, then. Are the rest of you ready?
We're going the wrong way...
No, we're not.
A detonator?!
Have you ever had a good look at it?
This is...
That's right. It's Necrosis.
I imagine you couldn't see very well with your face covered.
What are you doing?
In thirty minutes, everyone within a kilometer of here will be mummified.
That should be an act of terrorism big enough to shock the world!
And then this photo will come to light.
We can't frame Shinozaki now that you lot have trashed the scene,
so I changed the plan--we'll be pinning it all on the Queen now.
How dare you?!
Ah, your eye reminds me--
Sebastian is heading to the cathedral right about now, isn't he?
After all, you've trained him to act on your orders alone.
What a good demon.
Oh, yes, I know. You made the same cursed pact as other Genpo before you.
You sold your soul to the devil!
But if I kill you, I'll have nothing left to fear.
That day, my mother and father were killed, and I lost everything.
That's why I did it.
I sold my soul to the devil.
Te get my revenge!
I can't die here!
You're a poor loser.
You do have the strength of someone who could sell her soul.
But sometimes wishing isn't enough.
Looking for something?
Allow me to return this.
Sebastian.
How did you find us?
Save my valued servant, no matter what.
Then come to the cathedral at once.
Make it convincing.
My master's "make it convincing" is a code
authorizing me to act as needed to protect him.
Thus, instead of heading for the cathedral,
I determined this location through my own private channels.
Ah, I thought so.
I considered you a suspect.
I saw the books at Epsilon's lab.
European elixirs, Indian amrit,
Xu Fu's search for the elixir of life as ordered by Shi Huangdi,
legends of gaining immortality by eating the flesh of mermaids.
Every book was about eternal youth and immortality.
Meaning that Kujo was researching a "fountain of youth" drug.
The white tablet I took in that lab
was identical to the medicine you take.
I'm so sorry!
It isn't an immortality drug,
but since it lets you retain your youth, it does seem likely to give you long life.
What's Necrosis, then?
Presumably a side discovery.
Kujo began developing the immortality drug at your aunt's request
long before your parents were murdered.
His research showed that the key ingredients
were enzymes and hormones that could only be extracted from living young girls.
While searching for the best mixture,
they happened to produce a substance that drastically accelerated cell growth.
I believe that's the story behind the Devil's Curse.
Then the girls in that warehouse were meant to be ingredients?
It's because of your cursed family's traditions!
Did you know that I was once married to your father?
The next guard dog and Genpo family head was to choose one of us sisters to marry.
The one he chose...
...was me.
I was so happy.
But you're a bloody family.
One day, the Genpo Manor was attacked.
The casualties were me and my unborn child.
The doctors said I could never bear children again.
A wife who can't produce an heir gets shown the door.
Your mother became his wife instead.
You're lying.
I never thought he'd pick tradition over me.
And even you go around dressed as a man.
My father would never do that!
Just remembering the happiness on my sister's face started triggering attacks.
So I thought it over.
If I can't have children, then I just need to gain immortality.
Then when the last person to cling to that stupid tradition dies,
I'll call the shots!
Now you know that everyone lies.
My goal is eternal life.
And strangely enough, when I take these tablets, my attacks subside as well.
Ironic, isn't it?
You...
You should never have been born!
Truly, humans never stop entertaining me.
Did you kill my mother and father?!
Yes. They were in my way.
Kill her!
Very good, my lord.
Sebastian!
He's a work of art, chemically enhanced to the peak of physical perfection.
Can a demon match up to a God-made miracle like him?
I once heard Dracula could be killed by a silver stake.
Did you enjoy your taste of this silver sword?
I'll thank you not to lump me in with that vulgar species.
Sure you want to do that?
You can't have her soul if someone kills her.
Can demons die, I wonder?
Idiot. The antidote is...
It's gone!
Impossible...
Allow me to return this.
This turns the tables, doesn't it?
Akashi!
Is this what you're looking for?
It seems I'm as light-fingered as my master.
No!
That was your chance to defeat me.
Help me! The antidote is in my safe!
I liberated these from the lab.
I don't need them. You're about to eat my soul anyway.
Help me! I didn't kill your family!
I saw my parents being shot with this gun!
I only let them in!
Your father was a guard dog. Do you think I could've done it all alone?
This is Hanae Wakatsuki.
Midway through the Necrosis plan, someone from the syndicate
told me to help them assassinate the guard dog.
I'm talking about a giant crime syndicate that rules the East from the shadows!
Their boss is behind everything!
I had no choice! If I didn't obey, I'd be--
Tell me who this boss is!
I really don't know!
I don't have the clout to be told that!
What do you intend to do?
I'll leave her alive while there's a possibility my goal is unfulfilled.
There are only two capsules, my lord.
I know.
But I have no choice.
Take it.
Thank you.
I survived! I survived!
You really are an idiot!
Did you lie about everything?!
What I just told you is perfectly true.
I'd love to tell you who ordered your parents' deaths, but I really don't know.
Sorry, honey.
What did you do?
A little experiment.
Experiment?
To see what a greedy human would do
faced with the only two capsules of the antidote.
But sadly, that wasn't the antidote.
Those were Necrosis capsules dyed red with my blood.
Poor woman, your symptoms wouldn't have progressed so quickly from just one.
I made it convincing, my master.
There's not a moment to lose. We must hurry to her estate.
What are you doing?
You haven't accomplished your goal yet.
I know.
Don't tell me you mean to help others, now?
What code did that butler input?
Hanae's own birthday?
Maybe my father's birthday?
You won't be able to get your revenge.
Are you sure you don't mind?
Father, Mother... I'm sorry.
Sebastian!
It would seem...
...that I have served a disappointing master.
When you're the one choosing death, I have no duty to protect you.
The day my father died.
The day it all began.
Game over, eh?
To think you'd choose death for the sake of strangers...
Still, you've saved me trouble.
Now I can take your soul.
Oh, well. I chose this path with my eyes open.
Lying to yourself so you can put up a bold front?
My pitiful master, dying without achieving his purpose.
You're lying to yourself, too.
You wanted to see this, didn't you?
What a human looks like giving their own life to save someone else's.
Some part of you has high hopes for the human heart.
That's why you stay in this world.
No. The humanity I know is driven by self-interest,
and is willing to kill for money or survival.
I've heard that demons were once angels.
Their ideals were just too high, and they were cast into hell.
And that's how they became demons.
Who cares, though?
What did you...?
I gave you the antidote.
Why? You didn't have to save me.
It would be no fun to take your soul now.
I'll let it steep in darkness a while longer,
and eat it when it's grown fat and black.
“Danger”?
This drug is behind the Devil's Curse...?
My young master... may I ask you something?
What is it?
What were you planning to do if I didn't give you the antidote?
For some reason I got the feeling that you'd save me if I said exactly what I did.
Demons are far more straightforward than humans.
Cowardly, base, and foul-we're more demonic than demons are.
And I'm the same.
I'm full of ugliness.
This is how humans are.
It's how we are, Sebastian!
So this is an order:
you are the one man who must not betray me.
Ever.
Very good, my lord.
Sebastian.
Stay here until I fall asleep.
I will always be by your side.
Until your life runs out...