Black Butler 1 > 07. His Butler Merrymaking

Holiday, holiday, we're going on holiday!

This is so exciting! I can't believe it!

Spectacular!
He's actually bringing us!
We get to go on holiday at the Queen's own resort!

Looks like the young master can be quite generous when the spirits move him, eh?

Mmm-hmm!

Do you hear how happy they are?
They're very grateful to you. Such a kind young master.

I couldn't leave them there alone.
I might come home to find the manor in shambles.

Indeed.
It seems we've arrived at the village, everyone.

All right!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention something:
the resort that the Queen is planning has yet to be constructed.

Yes, master...

Ho ho...


- Opening -


His Butler, Merrymaking


A holiday, young master, in this season?

Yes, indeed.
Tell me, have you ever heard of a pastime known as bear-baiting?

The notion does sound entertaining, but I'm afraid I've not heard of it.
Indulge me, sir?

A bear is chained to a fence. It is then surrounded by vicious dogs which slowly bite and kill it.

That sounds like something that only a human would dream of.

It was banned back in 1835 when the Cruelty to Animals Act was instated.
However, there was still a loophole: the attack dogs they used were not banned.
So a new game developed.

They use dogs to attack dogs.
Let's see... Would that be "dog-baiting"?

There's a village in which it's quite popular, known as Houndsworth.
It has long been known for raising fierce hunting dogs, but they take it further.

It breaks her Majesty's heart.
So we'll secure the village as land for a royal estate, a simple pretext to end the atrocities.

A village full of dogs?

Yes, why?

Well, please forgive me, master, this seems a rather insignificant task for one of your station to take on.

Sebastian, you should know by now that I have my reasons.
This is indeed a task fit for a Phantomhive.


Look, somebody actually lives here!
Tanaka, stop!
Let me help you, Granny!

No, you shouldn't do that, Finny! If you aren't careful, you might hurt the baby!

What did you say?
I'm so sorry!

Oh, this is awful! Is the baby okay?!

There is no baby. There is no baby anymore.
The child was eaten by it.
♪ The white dog is a good dog, a good dog, good ♪
♪ The black dog is a bad dog, a bad dog, bad ♪
♪ He'll eat your flesh down to the bone, down to the bone ♪

That's why we're here.
Apparently a lot of the villagers have been violently killed or gone missing.
The villager has shrunk to a third of its size in the last ten years.
A part of my task is to find out why, then put an end to the problem.


Oi, it's startin' to look like a place we're stayin'!

Sit.
Lie down.
Who's the good boy! My good boy!

Oh my! I'd let him pet me, yes I would!

He manipulates the creature with rewards and punishments.
He commands the mutt's obedience, but the dog isn't blameless either.
It fawns on its human, and welcomes the chain around its neck.
I can't understand it.

If you're trying to get at something deeper, just say it.

No, it's nothing of import, my lord.
Simply that while I love cats, I'm not especially fond of dogs.
To be completely frank, I hate them.

Woof.


I presume this is the Earl of Phantomhive?

Yes.

Welcome to Barrymore Castle. My master awaits your arrival.

Hey...

She's lovely, yes she is!

This way.

Who the hell is this Chihuahua?!
I told you to bring me the Queen's guard dog when he arrived!

"Chihuahua"...?

Can't you... do... anything?!

Move, Sebastian.

What are you doing, you filthy Doberman?!
Somebody should train you better! Let me go right now!

He's acting on my orders.

Who are you?!

From the sound of it, you have already received the letter I sent.
My name is Ciel, the Earl of Phantomhive.

Do you mean to tell me a toy poodle like you is the Queen's emissary?!

You don't like small breeds, Lord Henry? Now that's hardly fair.


Quit actin' like a loon, Finny!
You got bags to carry! Hurry it up!


Please, miss, allow me.

There's nothing to discuss.
Under no circumstances will I sell Barrymore Castle to anybody.

Why is that?

Because of the curse.

Oh, what curse?

This village and its dogs have existed for centuries.
Anyone who interferes with us will be cursed, in a most horrible way.
Even the Queen cannot lift the curse!
Your mission is pointless!
Anyone who acts against the wishes of the Barrymore family is destined to meet an unimaginably terrible end!

My, how interesting.

What?!

You've piqued my curiosity. I'd like to see this dreadful curse of yours, Lord Henry.


Really? You're the only maid for this entire estate?

That's amazing! I don't know how you get everything done, Angela!

It's nothing that impressive, I promise you. I'm a mess most of the time.

Just let us know if there's somethin' we can help you with.
After all, we servants gotta stick together, right? Finny, am I right?

Mm-hm. Of course!

How kind of you to offer your help. Thank you, all.
I have to go right away! My master is calling. Please excuse me.

Angela's so pretty.

Oi, Finny, what you doin'?!

Coming!


Angela... Angela... The Queen wants to take my village from me!
You understand what I have to do, don't you?
I must protect it. I must protect the village!
Angela, my dear Angela... My sweet darling angel...

I shouldn't have seen! I shouldn't have seen that at all!


Come in.

I apologize for calling so late.

What is that you need? My young master is about to retire for the evening.

I have a request to make. Leave the castle, leave the village completely!
You mustn't stay here.

Why is that?

I can't say...

(howling)

No! The demon hound! It's coming!

The what?

Ah!

Sebastian!
What was that thing?

Master, look there.

It's the demon hound!

The demon hound is here!

Who is it? Who's the bad dog?!

Master!

Angela!

What's goin' on here?!
What's all the fuss about?!

The demon hound is here.

Demon hound?

It brings great catastrophe to the village.
Anyone who dares to defy my master will be punished by the demon hound.
That's the law here; there is no way to stop it.

Angela!
Please wake Lord Barrymore at once.
The demon hound has come again.

Who was the punished one?

How awful.

So that's it then.

Stand back, don't touch!
I see it was James then. He was the bad dog.

Yes. He broke the legal restriction on dog ownership.
He had six dogs, one more than is allowed.

A sixth dog. Then this was inevitable.

That's all you can say?! Really?!

This village is under my rule and no other.
The demon hound protects that rule.
As the guardian of the Barrymore family, it punishes anyone and everyone who dares to challenge me!

♪ The white dog is a good dog, a good dog, good ♪
♪ The black dog is a bad dog, a bad dog, bad ♪
♪ He'll eat your flesh down to the bone, down to the bone ♪
♪ He'll gobble you up until you're gone, until you're gone ♪
♪ Lullaby, the sun sets, lullaby and good night ♪

I was sure you outsiders were going to be its next prey...
You were lucky to have escaped.

Well, master?


- Intermission -


This has gotta be the worst holiday ever.

The worst, yes it is.

What's the matter?
You were so excited on the way here.

Yeah, well, that was before...

Don't look so gloomy.
We're on holiday, it's a time meant for relaxing.

Yeeeaaahhh!!

Aahh hahaha!

Ah! I haven't been to a proper swimming hole in ages!
The water is so nice and warm!

Aren't you coming in too, Mey-Rin?

No! I can't go out there. It's too embarrassing!

Come on now!
You don't get a chance to do this every day!

Oh, this is absolutely humiliating!

No worries, Mey-Rin, you look lovely!

You aren't just saying that?!

I bet you'd look even better without the glasses.

No, no, no, no!
I can't! The master gave them to me!

Don't you care to bathe with them, young master?
Oh, I see. Is that the problem? The master can't--

I don't see why they're making such a fuss about this little pond.
Just because you can bathe doesn't make it a resort.

You still intend to make this place into a resort then?

Naturally.

But what about this great demon hound?

Surely you know as well as I by now.
This demon hound is no dog.
Shall we discuss it further?

Hi, Angela!

Now go.

Yes, very well, master.
You may consider it done.

You're very cooperative. Especially for someone who hates dogs.

Yes, I detest them. That's why I'd like to finish this as quickly as possible.
Preferably, before it all goes to hell.


Please, help yourself, Angela.

Really, are you sure you don't mind sharing your lunch with me?

Of course not! Go on, it's delicious!
Sebastian really knows how to cook!

We got him! The bad dog's been caught!
We got James's dog! Hurry, the punishment is about to begin!

He's got something in his mouth!

Get it from him!

Bad dog, let go!
Bad dog, give it to me!
Let go! Let go!

What a bad dog. He deserves punishment.
Get started!

Stop this...
You can't do it...
It's awful...
Just let the poor thing go!
Stop this, nooo!

Finny!

They interfered.

They interrupted!

Punish them!

They must be punished like bad dogs!

Not so powerful now, are you?

Master, I beg you, show mercy this one time!
These people don't deserve the punishment!

You have a point. This little Pomeranian is the Queen's guard dog after all.
If he can be made to see reason, perhaps I'll decide to let him go.
Leave this village immediately, and advise Her Majesty never to send her minions near it again!

You're so pathetic.
You rely on lowly tricks to retain your meager power.
If there's a stubborn dog here, I'd say I'm looking at him.

Is that your final choice?
You can learn what happens to a dog that challenges me!
Get him!

You cut that close.

It won't happen again, trust me.

You dare to interfere, dog?
Well, what are you mangy mutts waiting for?!
Kill both of them now!

Shameful. What coarse, noisy growls they have...
One of the reasons I despise these creatures.

What the hell?! What did you do?!

Your pitiful farce ends here, Barrymore!
Listen, there is no demon hound!
It's all a lie!
There's just him, an old man obsessed with power, determined to keep it no matter what!

What?! What evidence do you have?

There's this.
We found it in your mansion.
I took the liberty of confirming that the teeth marks on James matched the teeth in this skull.
Do you see it now? The truth behind the demon hound.
Its shadow is nothing but a projection.
Just a transparent trick.
The glowing is phosphorescent dust sprinkled on a normal dog.

The demon dog is merely an illusion, a story made up by an evil man.
The man you let rule your village. This man, Henry Barrymore!

No! It's all nonsense! You can't fool them! Where's your evidence?

You can rest. Your duty is done. I'll take it from here.
What fine material.
I wonder why the dog was eager to hold on to it until the last moment.
Interesting behavior, don't you think?

Wh-What the hell?!

Yours.
A scrap of cloth from your pants, torn off by James' dog when you attacked his master.
You recognize it, yes?

So you were the one who killed James?

Give up, Barrymore! It's all over now!

Punish James' killer! Punish James' killer!

No, please, stop!

(howling)


My goodness, I'm glad that's over, yes I am!

You were one amazing pup. A loyal dog defending his master to the very end...
You were a good boy... Such a good boy...

There you go. Yet another reason that I hate dogs.


Yet another case closed, eh?
We can leave the village when the rain lets up.

Indeed.

What's wrong with Angela...?

Let me out! Oh, please! It's coming for me!
It's coming! The demon hound, it's... it's going to get me, I know it is!
Please, let me go! Let me go! I'm begging you! Please!

Waaaaaahhh!

What the hell is goin' on down there?!
Mey-Rin, what's wrong?!


- Ending -


The howl of a cursed hound echoes through the desolate village.
Ugh, the infernal beast's smell is clinging to you.
Master, if we're through here, I think it's time for a bath.
We must soak you in a tub and scrub you one hundred times.
One, two, three...

Next time on Black Butler: "His Butler, Training."

You see, I am simply one hell of a butler.