We've arrived.
This is the Emerald Castle.
Black Butler
Emerald Witch Arc
Yay, unknown flowers! I've never seen these before!
Be careful.
Those are poisonous. Your fingers will swell up if you touch one.
Right!
This way.
Wait there.
Right!
Sure.
I haven't had guests in ages. I'll treat you to dinner.
You are most kind.
Wolfram, prepare dinner and show the servants to their rooms.
Ja.
My theory was correct.
Her feet are so tiny because they were bound.
Lau told me about foot-binding once.
Tightly binding a girl's feet from a young age to decrease their size
is a custom unique to China, he said.
Why do it in Germany?
And why was it practiced on the local ruler?
You there.
Me?
I'm sorry. My young master hasn't quite mastered German yet.
I see.
Oi, say something, will you? Conversing with women is your specialty.
What would you have me say?
That is the body's signal to encourage you to eat.
She's not shy about how loud that was?
Wolfram is taking quite a while. Could something have happened?
He is taking longer than usual, yes.
May I go take a look in the kitchen?
Very well.
Then, please excuse me for a few minutes.
What? Wait—
What?! How do you expect me to interact with her by myself?
This is awkward.
Hey, you.
××× black hair ×× man ×× name?
Um...
Wait. I can actually make out the key words if I don't panic.
"Black hair" and "man." Does she mean Sebastian?
Sebastian, I, butler. You understand?
I communicated!
Where ××× ××× parents?
My parents?
Eltern... weg. Gestorben.
Hmm.
Come back, Sebastian!
Pardon my intrusion.
What do you want?
Dinner seems to be taking a while, so I wanted to offer my assist—
That won't be necessary.
I've just finished measuring the ingredients according to the book.
I-I see.
Still, Frau Sullivan claims to be extremely hungry. Perhaps it's best to hurry.
My young mistress?
Then I won't argue. Please assist me.
Of course.
I'll make Maultaschen. Could you knead the bread dough?
Eh?
What is it?
Nothing. Leave it to me.
Wouldn't one normally knead the dough first,
then work on the rest of the menu while the bread bakes?
Pardon me, but is the soup ready?
No, I plan to make it when we're done with this. Doing it all at once confuses matters.
If I may be so bold, could I help with that, too?
Hmm? All right.
I thought those three had inured me to human foibles,
but he seems to be a new type.
He makes every effort possible, yet only achieves maximum inefficiency.
I never imagined someone would complete each dish before starting on the next.
Dinner will be a midnight affair at this rate.
Hiya, Sebastian. Want us to help with—
No, thank you.
You must be exhausted from the trip.
Please just relax and don't do anything unnecessary.
Sebastian, you're so kind, yes!
And now...
To work.
Maultaschen, Bratwurst soup, and Eisbein.
Dessert will be a nice rote Grütze.
Well, this is quite...
...an excellent meal. Well done, Wolf.
Well, um... his butler helped.
You're hosting us for the night. It was only proper.
A Phantomhive butler who can't provide this level of assistance isn't worth his salt.
Let's try it.
Delicious!
I've never had such soft bread!
Wh-What table manners.
She doesn't believe in putting on airs, I see.
Herr Wolfram, emergency!
What's wrong, Hilde?
A...
A werewolf has appeared.
A werewolf?
A woman has been terribly hurt. Frau Sullivan, please help her.
I'll go now.
Wolf!
Ja.
You two stay here.
No, please allow us to come with you.
We'd like to know what threats the forest holds before we go home.
Clear the way!
Frau Sullivan!
Frau Sullivan, please help!
Th-These wounds are...
No werewolf has ever attacked someone from this village before.
Young mistress, stop the bleeding!
This will hurt a bit.
Where's your talisman?
Sh-She left it behind, since she only intended to pick some herbs nearby.
The fool!
How many times have I told you to always keep your talismans with you?
It may still be nearby. Light more torches!
Right!
Hurry!
What's going on here?
Don't tell me there truly are werewolves in the forest?
Certainly not.
What do you think?
I can't come to any conclusions from the wounds alone.
Shall I search the forest right away?
No, stay. Don't make any suspicious moves yet.
It's Herr Werwolf's wrath!
He is enraged that outsiders have intruded on the forest!
Leave at once, outsiders!
It's because she wasn't carrying her talisman! She wouldn't have been attacked otherwise!
No werewolf has ever personally injured any of us before.
You defend the outsiders, Emerald Witch?
Do not forget the countless atrocities
that outsiders inflicted on our ancestors, Emerald Witch.
Never trust anyone from the outside.
You must never forget your ancestors' grudge!
You must never forget your gratitude and dread of Herr Werwolf!
But I—
Foolish outsiders. Herr Werwolf's rage is your fault.
All of this is your fault.
Your fault! Yours!
Leave now, unless you want him to tear you limb from limb!
Stay in your homes until morning!
I assume you understand now?
If you value your lives, don't go into the forest uninvited.
Ever.
Make it strong. We may be up all night.
Very good, my lord.
In that case, please have it plain.
I didn't expect there to truly be werewolf victims.
But that was different from what Chlaus—
You?
My goodness, Frau Sullivan. You came alone, without your servant?
I-I can walk by myself with these Hexenballons. At least in the castle.
I see.
Still...
It's not becoming of a lady to eavesdrop outside a gentleman's room.
May I ask your business here?
My business? You're the ones who have business with me.
What?
I know full well what you're after. I am a witch, you know.
Oh? Then, I imagine you know what to do next.
We'd rather not treat you roughly.
From the moment you entered the village,
I knew you would violate the secret room I've kept tightly locked all of my 11 years tonight.
I mentally prepared myself, but my heart won't stop racing.
Here!
I didn't think my first time would be a threesome, but all experience is valuable.
Please be as gentle as possible.
Wh-What?!
Oh, you must be worried my clothes are too complicated.
Start with the buttons—
No, stop. What are you doing?
Ah, you like conquering the citadel yourself?
You're manlier than you look.
What are you saying?!
She asks if you'd prefer to be the one to take her dress off.
Now what are you saying?!
Oh, you like doing it fully clothed?
Ah, young master, you have interesting preferences for your age.
I may not know much German, but I do know there's been a misunderstanding!
Don't tell me you're...
Well, you're male, at least.
Sod off!
A-Are you all right, Frau Sullivan?
It's beyond boorish to shame a young maiden like that!
Eh?! I said I'm not fluent in German, you harlot!
Now, now, you two.
Enjoying yourselves in bed is a fine way to spend time,
but perhaps you'd prefer to enjoy these for now?
I've read that the male of a species has carnal appetites that are never sated.
Well, that is true of some men.
Wolfsschlucht only has female residents,
so I've never actually met a man before.
Isn't Wolfram a man?
He's more like my guard dog.
I see.
Speaking of dogs, the villagers all seem rather afraid of someone called "Herr Werwolf."
What does that term refer to?
Have you heard of witch hunts?
Yes.
Long ago, witches were accused of causing various calamities.
They were subjected to a form of torture called a "witch trial," then killed.
The torture instruments you saw in the square are from that time.
A witch's true occupation is to prevent disasters with magic,
and heal people with herbs.
But they were branded as heretics and oppressed by humans more and more as time went on,
until they fled for their lives into this forest.
Legend has it that to protect the others,
one witch made a pact with a werewolf, offering him her own legs.
That was my ancestor, who was known as the Emerald Witch.
That's why each successive ruler's feet are bound until she can't walk.
Why did a werewolf attack a villager, then? Doesn't that violate the pact?
It's been hundreds of years since that pact was formed.
The original Emerald Witch died long ago.
I imagine this happened because our blood has diluted over the years.
In other words,
this village is no longer protected by werewolves, but imprisoned by them.
Perhaps so.
Thanks to that, I've never left this village in my life,
and I don't think I ever will.
You are going home tomorrow, correct?
I'd like you to tell me about the outside world first. About the world I don't know.
It seems her actions earlier sprang from an eagerness to become friendly with us.
She is all-important in this village.
Wouldn't making friends with her also benefit our investigation?
All right, fine.
Before... sorry. Let's be friends.
In my young master's country, people shake hands to grow closer.
Like this.
Oh, that reminds me. These are for you two.
Talismans to ward off werewolves.
Wear them on your way home. I give you special permission.
Thank you.
N-Now then!
You should teach me what you meant by "enjoying ourselves in bed."
Ah, yes, I do recall saying that.
What shall we do, young master?
She's a child. We'll do nothing of the sort.
Have her play with some toys.
The young master would like to introduce toys.
What?! That's rather daring for a first time.
What was that reaction? Clearly there's been a misunderstanding!
Sh-She's finally asleep.
You worked hard today.
Simple words allow one to make more conversation than I thought.
And it's easier to understand her accent than the coachman's, somehow.
I'm sure it is.
Pardon my young mistress's intrusion.
She just fell asleep.
Forget whatever she said to you.
You'll leave at dawn.
Understood?
What thick fog.
Watch your step.
It's too quiet. I can't sense any animals.
I've never felt air this heavy, either.
Young master, stay by my—
Young master?!
Why am I crying?
What in the world is the matter?
Ah, you mustn't rub your eyes so much.
I don't know where the tears are coming from.
Blast.
A-A werewolf?
Let's follow, Sebastian!
Wait, my lord!
Something is off about this forest.
I have a feeling of foreboding.
I'll chase the werewolf myself.
You wait in your room, young master.
All right.
I've been in the human realm for a long time,
but I've never felt a miasma like this.
What could this be?
What?