Noir! Did you just...
Yes. I was able to use my Magus Skill.
Let's do this, Kanata!
Right! Together, we have nothing to fear!
We finally defeated the Silver Storm!
Noir, it's all thanks to you!
Kanata...
At least you understand your own incompetence, human.
Noir?
But you can still make some progress in your own incompetent way, hack.
What?
Oh, no!
That hurt.
Just a bad dream.
Noir would never say that--
How long are you gonna lay about doing nothing?
You're a total dimwit, human.
Help Mystere out a little, hack.
Guess I'm not waking up from this crummy dream.
Where are you taking Mystere, you hack?
To my master's lab.
Noir was taken there after the Silver Storm War.
Noir?
Oh, yeah. The name of that dud.
How ridiculous to give a safe mode a name.
Anyway, I asked her to analyze the body.
I want to hear the results.
With the state of human technology after the collapse of Amasia,
what can you hope to learn?
Make fun of me all you want, but don't underestimate Maria.
She's incredible!
Is that so?
The results of the analysis...
I didn't find anything out of the ordinary.
I mean, I don't know any more than the maintenance up to now.
I can't help you.
You really are the polar opposite of Noir.
How dare you?
Don't compare Mystere to that dud.
She's saying that?
If you've got something to say, speak up, hack.
Okay then. Don't call me a hack!
What else do you call a fool who signs a contract for something
without knowing it's in safe mode?
Geez!
Safe mode, is it?
If anything, that feature itself is unusual.
- What? - Hmm?
Safe mode is essentially
the bare minimum needed to enable simple operation.
What do you think happens when you add that feature
to a complex scientific crystal like a Magus?
Actually, it wouldn't be able to do anything?
Right.
So, it's a bit unconvincing to say that Noir is a safe mode.
Are you calling Mystere a liar?
The very opposite.
There's a chance you've been led to believe what you're saying.
Was it a he or a she?
If I remember correctly...
Pascale, right?
- Master? - What?
So it's confirmed. Your master is Pascale?
No, I...
So let's hear all about Pascale.
If you can't wake up the dud, there's no point in me being here.
- Why'd you go and piss her off? - Oh, don't start.
I get a total kick out of Noir's rebellious side. It's so funny!
That's all?
All joking aside,
it's the same for humans, right?
Intense emotions can stir up memories.
That's what I was hoping for.
I just told one little lie earlier.
Actually, the analysis did bring something up this time.
That's...
A black box.
It seems to be closely connected to the quantum brain.
I wonder if there's some way we can pry it open.
So that's why you annoyed her?
Exactly. But I give up.
I knew we'd need the same level of technology
as the equipment that was used to create Type Zeros in the first place.
So something from Amasia.
The list of what we don't know is just getting longer and longer.
Wait, I forgot.
Here.
Don't forget this.
Oh. Noir's camera.
Must have dropped it last time you brought her in.
Thanks.
What's the matter, lady?
That grumpy face doesn't look good on you.
Master, bring this lady some oil.
From Bordeaux, 20,000 years old please.
Hey, is that your Magus?
- What the hell is she on about? - Please excuse her.
Flamme just wants to play with the new Noir.
You're just as repulsive as she is.
And don't call Mystere by that name!
Okeydokey! Got it, Mysty!
You're that Type Zero who's irrelevant to the Project.
Project?
Better that you don't know.
Anyway, it's only been 20 years,
but Drifters and Magus have all become wimps.
Ouch, that's harsh.
But if the world has changed from one where all you can do is live,
to one where you can be a bit of a wimp and still go on living,
then the last 20 years haven't been a total waste of time.
Maybe you should take a little look at the world today.
Thanks for waiting, Mystere.
Huh? Claudia and Flamme?
Cooee!
I wanted to get back to work, so I came over to say hello.
We had a little chat with the girl everyone's talking about.
I'll let you know if I find anything useful.
Of course, there will be a fee.
Of course. Thank you.
Okay, we're off!
Bye-bye!
What were you talking about?
Nothing to do with you, hack.
How about a little side trip?
Huh?
This huge settlement only took 20 years to build?
What are you trying to achieve, hack?
You've been shut up in that garage since you woke up.
I wanted to show you what the world is like now.
Noir was so curious about everything.
So I was thinking,
if we retrace Noir's memories,
maybe we can stimulate the storage that's been put to sleep and wake her up.
What a stupid idea.
Do you really think that something wishy-washy like a memory
is going to work on a Magus full of intelligence crystals?
It's better than doing nothing.
Maybe you should take a little look at the world today.
Okay, hack. I'll go with you.
What's this?
You gonna buy it or what?
I'd like to, but...
All this stuff is just laid out for anyone to snatch.
Aren't they afraid of thieves?
Noir came shopping here a lot too.
It's almost primitive.
Then again, I never expected healthy economic activity to be possible.
Humans. Tenacious, right?
After 20 years, even hell can be a nice place to live.
Yes! Fresh vegetables.
Treats from your parents' house. Thank you, Michael!
Nothing better than juicy veggies!
Lucky you. Share some with me, Michael.
What's with Michael?
Why--
Why can't we just get a machine to pull up the weeds?
At Michael's parents' Diamond Farm Nest,
our motto is to grow all crops by hand, just like in the old days.
Is this a bar?
Noir used to drink here a lot.
She liked disorganic milk.
Magus and humans drink together in bars?
That dud will let anything slide.
This is impossible.
Right. Better go there next then.
What on earth is this?
Water uncontaminated by Blueschist.
This place is overflowing with it!
But the only purpose is leisure?
I agree with you.
Humans waste all their time and money when it comes to having fun.
That's rich coming from you. You're having more fun than them.
Since you came all the way here, why don't you take a swim?
- What? - By the way, Noir also...
...enjoyed the pool to her heart's content.
Don't bunch me in with that dud.
Mystere has absolutely no interest!
Uh-oh, time to go.
Mystere, come with me!
What? What the hell!
♪ Touching as if I were tracing ♪
♪ I'm touching your heart ♪
♪ Searching for where the key hides... ♪
Hey, hack,
is that Magus really...
Yep. That's Ciel. Princess Ciel.
Right now, she's very popular in all the Nests.
♪ You & I... ♪
Naturally, Noir was a fan too!
Humans listening to a Magus sing...
♪ Although I haven't revealed My deepest feelings to you yet ♪
...and loving it this much.
Master's Project
wasn't in vain.
Did you get today's ticket from Tokio?
Nope, I asked Ciel.
I haven't seen Tokio lately.
Didn't he return home?
Even though he told me he had something important to say to you.
He just ran off. What a wuss!
I'm not sure what he wants to discuss, but I'm waiting patiently.
I've had it already. Where's he been wandering off to anyway?
- Stupid oaf. - I'm so happy. It's like a dream.
Thank you, everyone.
You bastard!
Excuse me for stepping in.
Dear me...
You're looking a little worse for wear, Master.
Maybe lay off the sauce.
Shut it.
Shit!
There are two of them. Let's kick their asses!
Let's go!
Mouton, right back at ya! Your knees are looking a little wobbly.
You!
Isn't it about time...
you got some shiny new ones?
Okay, I'll use some of your drinking budget
to buy some new parts.
To hell with that.
I'll tear off that fancy mustache of yours.
I'd appreciate it if you didn't.
Depends on whether you pull off this job.
Well, that was a little bothersome.
Now we can finally speak.
Come on. It's just a little favor.
It's a piece of cake for you shady types.
I'm simply trying to find someone.
Mystere is not a child.
I know how to take a shower by myself.
It's more economical to take a shower together, okay?
I've had it.
This bogus life is nothing compared to Amasia.
Although, the developments in certain areas are astounding.
Even if that does include a dirty, pleasure-seeking lifestyle.
Speaking of, I saw you came to watch my show.
I could see you from the stage.
Did you have fun?
Were you able to get Noir back?
If I'd been able to, that dud would be here now.
I see.
I wasted all my time listening to nonsense sweet talk from that hack.
Don't say that.
I'm sure Kanata wasn't just thinking about Noir,
but was also considering you when he invited you to the show.
The only thing he cares about is the dud inside Mystere.
He hasn't given up on you.
I think he wanted to show you the world and help you get used to it a bit.
He views humans and Magus equally, because he's a nice person.
Hmm?
I'm not exactly happy about it, but I guess I see your point.
I'm sure there was a spare bolt here.
- Hey! Hack! - Huh?
Uh-oh!
Mystere!
You're naked!
Listen up, hack.
Mystere admits it.
- Mystere may be the reason... - Mystere!
...that dud won't wake up.
- Mystere thought that... - Here, lift up your arms.
...Mystere had no attachment to this world.
But that was wrong.
Mystere wants to meet Master again.
And if it's not possible to meet, I want to find out.
Mystere...
Those regrets are probably the reason why
the dud is unable to resurface.
Of course, there is no proof.
None, but...
I understand. Then let's work together.
Even if there's only a little hope.
Kanata...
I'm as anxious as you are.
Don't worry, we'll recover your memory!
I made that promise, yet I've achieved nothing.
Noir...
This is where I met Noir.
Noir was sleeping here.
Next, the basement.
There's a Coffin there that appears to have belonged to your master.
What?
No way!
I'm certain there was a broken Coffin here.
Why's it gone?
- What's the Coffin's number? - Uh...
I'm sure it was VV9...
07MC.
What?
Was anything else left behind?
That's it!
This was all that was found inside the Coffin.
Noir was using it.
She treasured it.
Uh-- Maybe your master is still alive!
Maybe your master came to recover the Coffin!
Don't tell lies that don't make a shred of sense, hack.
I knew it from the beginning.
Master would not abandon Mystere for any reason.
So...
Master must be dead.
Mystere doesn't know what those last moments were like,
or where Master is resting now.
Even though Mystere was Master's Magus.
Mystere...
I wish I could have done a better job.
It's no problem.
Perhaps someone grieved for Master 20 years ago.
I should be grateful.
Why did Mystere wake up now?
If only that dud could have stayed here.
- I'm sorry. - Hmm?
I don't regret waking up Noir,
but I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you.
Idiot.
What's the point of apologizing?
I get it!
I get it, but...
- Kanata. - What?
That's why you're a hack.
Where am I?
Noir!
Kanata.
Mystere...
There is another me?
She arrived like a storm, and disappeared like one too.
In the end, it's not clear how she's connected to you.
She was a real nuisance.
You don't remember anything of when you were Mystere?
I remember feeling sad that I couldn't help Kanata in the battle,
but nothing after that.
I see.
So...
Well, I guess I got a little mad,
but I'll miss her a little now that she's gone.
She didn't even laugh at Histoire.
Perhaps she was nice after all.
Histoire.
- What's happening? - Huh?
Histoire...
That's right.
Histoire!
- What? - What?
- Get ready, hack! - Oh, no!
We're going to Histoire!
Translated by Daisy Savage