Kuroshitsuji Wiki

Follow the wiki on...
... Twitter: @BlackButlerWiki
... Instagram: @BlackButlerWiki
... Tumblr: @kuroshitsuji-wiki
... Bluesky: @kuroshitsujiwiki.bsky.social

Or chat on Discord! (Head to the #wiki-inquiries channel to get help with the wiki.)

READ MORE

Kuroshitsuji Wiki
Kuroshitsuji Wiki


The Butler, Stalwart (その執事、屈強, Sono Shitsuji, Kukkyō) is Chapter 43 of the Kuroshitsuji manga.

Summary[]

The group gathers around Patrick Phelps' body to examine it. Arthur Conan Doyle concludes that "rigor mortis" is already setting in, meaning that he had been dead for a while. He also finds that he does not seem to have any physical injuries, unlike the other two. However, there are two marks on the back of his neck, which looked to be needle puncture marks. Irene Diaz speculates how the marks resemble Carmilla's, a vampire, bite marks. However, Ciel Phantomhive and the others are reluctant to believe such a myth in their day and age. Meanwhile, Arthur finds a clock in the room that had been broken and stopped at 02:38, meaning that Phelps died around that time. Lau suggests that, instead of standing around discussing the mystery, they should have some tea while doing so. Ciel agrees and has Tanaka escort everyone to the drawing room.

In the drawing room, the group discusses the details of each of the murders and their respective suspects. First, Georg von Siemens' death was around ten past one in the morning, and Ciel was the only one without an alibi. Second, Sebastian Michaelis' time of death is unknown. Lastly, Phelps' time of death was thirty-eight minutes past two. However, Arthur counters this speculation by saying how Sebastian's body was just found first, but it is unknown whether he was killed first or if Phelps was. He questions the others as to who had seen Sebastian last, and the Phantomhive servants whom he had visited before his death remember that they had seen him around 02:50, which meant that he was killed last. When they were questioned as to Sebastian's purpose of visiting, they report that it was to assign some chores, as well as release the delivery owl, which, Ciel guessed, could have been for the police, as the storm outside would make it impossible to call by phone.

Since Sebastian was killed last, this meant that the only person who could have locked Phelps' room would be himself or Sebastian, who had all the keys to the room in the mansion, which makes the latter the most likely killer. However, this speculation was ruled out since he was killed soon after. The group then discusses Phelps' background; he is apparently the heir to a major transportation company, making him and Lau rivals. Ciel points out how Lau usually carries needles in his long sleeves, to which he admits to, pulling out a rather large needle from his sleeve. But he says that it was only for use in Oriental medicine. In turn, all blame immediately goes to him. However, Lau argues that there was no way he could have done it because he was quite far from the room of the murder scene, stating that "even though [they're] Chinese, it's not like [they] can pass through ventilation shafts or something."

Arthur makes a list of the possible suspects for each murder. According to it, the only one who could have killed Georg von Siemens is Ciel; the only one who could have killed Phelps is Sebastian; and anyone, save Arthur and Ciel, could have killed Sebastian. Arthur then concludes that there is no way one single person could have committed all the murders. This statement riles up Karl Woodley, who angrily decides to leave, stating that Ciel, being the Queen's guard dog, would want to gather them all together and kill them all in one fell swoop. Arthur tries to stop him from leaving in the storm, but Woodley slaps him. In a low voice, Ciel orders Woodley to sit down immediately, but he refuses. Woodley, now disbelievingly angry, turns around to punch Ciel, but before he can do so, Tanaka stops him, pinning the man down in one move. He states that, if anyone ever tried to harm Ciel, the servants of the mansion would show absolutely no mercy.

Once everyone has calmed down, Ciel concludes that Arthur is the only one who could not have committed any of the murders. He tells everyone that Arthur should be in charge of deciding everyone's actions. With a child-like smile, Ciel asks Arthur to help him "thoroughly corner" the criminal. Inwardly, Arthur comments on how he would never forget Ciel's innocent face, with a cruel and beautiful smile that looked like he was merely enjoying a game.

Characters in Order of Appearance[]

Navigation[]

v · e · d
Manga
Black Butler Arc
Volume 1 1234
Volume 2
Red Butler Arc
Volume 2 56789
Volume 3 101171314
Indian Butler Arc
Volume 4 1516171819
Volume 5 20212223
Circus Arc
Volume 6 24252627
Volume 7 2829303132
Volume 8 3334353637
Bonus 96.599.5
Phantomhive Manor Murders Arc
Volume 9 3839404142
Volume 10 4344454647
Volume 11 4849505152
Bonus 101.5
Luxury Liner Arc
Volume 11 4849505152
Volume 12 5354555657
Volume 13 5859606162
Volume 14 6364656667
Bonus 131.5
Public School Arc
Volume 14 6364656667
Volume 15 6869707172
Volume 16 7374757677
Volume 17 7879808182
Volume 18 8384858687
Emerald Witch Arc
Volume 18 8384858687
Volume 19 888990919293
Volume 20 9495969798
Volume 21 99100101102103
Volume 22 104105106107108107.5
Blue Cult Arc
Volume 22 104105106107108107.5
Volume 23 109110111112113
Volume 24 114115116117118119120
Volume 25 121122123124125126
Volume 26 127128129130131132133
Blue Memory Arc
Volume 26 127128129130131132133
Volume 27 134135136137138139
Volume 28 140141142143144145146147
Volume 29 148149150151152153154155156
Blue Revenge Arc
Volume 29 148149150151152153154155156
Volume 30 157158159160161162163164165
Volume 31 166167168169170171172173174175
Volume 32 176177178179180181182183184185
Volume 33 186187188189190191192193194195
Volume 34 196197198199200201202203204205
Not yet in tankōbon format 206207208209210211212213214