His Butler, Having a Laugh (その執事、朗笑, Sono Shitsuji, Rōshō) is the fifty-fifth episode of the Kuroshitsuji anime, and the ninth episode of Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc.
Summary[]
Derrick bites Herman.
The P4 and Ciel are shocked to see Derrick alive, and Herman even asks Derrick if it is really him when Derrick walks to him. Derrick does not answer his question though; instead, he notes that the tea smells delicious before he leans forward and sinks his teeth into Herman's arm. Immediately, Edward jumps onto the table and kicks Derrick in the face. Derrick's hat falls off in the process, revealing the stitch marks around his head. Ciel and Edward instantly recognize Derrick as a Bizarre Doll then.
Ciel quickly summons Sebastian and orders him to capture Derrick. Sebastian swiftly removes the tablecloth without messing up the set-up and uses it to catch and bind Derrick. He then tends to Herman, tying a handkerchief around his arm. The prefects and their fags, except for Edward, are surprised to see "Professor Michaelis," and Joanne asks what he is doing here. A moment later, Johann dryly remarks that the "episodes were too rough in the end" which piques Sebastian's interest.
Ciel explains why he came to Weston College.
Ciel explains that Sebastian is his butler and that they came to Weston College specifically to look for the missing students. He also reveals that Derrick is already dead which stuns Joanne in particular as Derrick is still moving and talking, albeit unsettlingly. Ciel then pulls out his gun and aims it at the headmaster, demanding answers. Clayton interrupts him by asking what has "gotten into" him, but Edward stops him, telling him not to defy "Earl Phantomhive." Because of that, Ciel ignores Clayton and continues to say that he has seen transformed humans like Derrick before. He wants the headmaster to explain himself and tell him what was done to Derrick.
The P4 standing over Derrick's corpse.
At first, no one says a word. Then, Herman begins to speak. He says that they only wanted to "protect" just as the symbol of Weston College, Saint George, did. According to legend, he slayed a dragon that threatened the peace to protect his country. While Gregory remains silent, Lawrence and Edgar add to Herman's explanation and state that they "simply abided by that teaching" that "one cannot avert disaster without striking down the source." Thus, they killed Derrick Arden.
Rian Stoker was called.
Back then, Herman began to panic after Gregory confirmed Derrick's death, but Edgar and Lawrence assured him that this was their "only option." Edgar also told the others to let him deal with everything as he had an idea of what they could do: He contacted his uncle Aleister for help, and Aleister sent Rian Stoker to Weston College. Rian did not come alone to meet Edgar and the other prefects though; he brought his business partner with him.
As soon as Ciel hears this, he freezes in horror and realization. Edgar continues that they made a pact with said business partner. When Sebastian has heard everything, he pieces everything together: Derrick whose body and soul disappeared, the vanishing headmaster, and the Aurora Society. He points at the headmaster and says that it was all his work. Edgar is quick to tell him that "the headmaster" had nothing to do with the missing students, but Sebastian clarifies that he does not mean the headmaster at all, for he is not present.
"The headmaster" is no other than Undertaker.
Sebastian dares "the headmaster" to reveal himself, and he complies, albeit begrudgingly as he started to enjoy this job. Remarking that it was the "best laugh he ever had" to watch Sebastian and Ciel's struggles, "the headmaster" takes off his hat and unveils himself as Undertaker. He used to work as a mortician and be part of the Aristocrats of Evil, assisting in various cases such as the Jack the Ripper murders. However, he turned out to be a Grim Reaper and the mastermind behind the Campania incident in April, and Ciel had not seen him since. Whereas Ciel is not happy about meeting Undertaker here, Undertaker is glad to see Ciel doing well.
Sebastian states that he wondered where he went after he closed his shop, and Undertaker replies that he is merely a substitute. Sebastian then turns to the P4, asking them what drove them to murder Derrick and commission the Aurora Society to resurrect him. Lawrence says that Derrick "was an individual who should never have been at this school" before he tells everything from the beginning.
They finally reached their dream of becoming prefects.
A year ago, Lawrence, Gregory, Edgar, and Herman were selected and sworn as prefects. Overjoyed that they finally achieved their dream, they ran to Swan Gazebo but did not immediately step on the lawn. When they finally did, Lawrence began to cry from happiness, and the others could not contain themselves then too.
One day, when the P4 gathered with their fags at Swan Gazebo, they discussed an anonymous letter they received via the complaint box; it asked them to keep an eye out as people were getting bullied. Derrick volunteered to look into the matter, and the P4 were grateful for the "dependable" Derrick Arden. All his apparent good qualities blinded them though.
Derrick scolds a student.
Sometime later, Edgar and Derrick scolded a Scarlet Fox student for sneaking out at night and smuggling in alcohol. They punished him with three Ys. When he had left, Edgar inquired about the bullying case. Derrick told him that he had not found anything yet and added that it might have been a false report as they were rather common.
On another day when the prefects and fags were yet again at Swan Gazebo, Derrick read out a poem someone had written for the prefects. He then handed it to Edgar who immediately realized that the poem contained a hidden message. It urged the P4 to come to the music room on Thursday evening, and when the date arrived, Edgar led Lawrence, Gregory, and Herman there and explained the poem's meaning to them. It was rather easy to decipher because the important parts had been written in blue and not in black ink. Still, Edgar was unable to figure out the "whose light was stolen away" bit.
The truth is uncovered.
When they had almost reached the music room, the P4 heard shouts coming from within it. Edgar rushed ahead and caught Derrick and four others—Hans Hardy, Wayne Thewlis, Richard Gleason, and Robert Isaac—using some students as wickets and trampling on them. The realization that Derrick and his friends had been the bullies all along helped Edgar puzzle out the meaning of "whose light was stolen away": All of Derrick's accomplishments had been lies.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
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Trivia[]
- The episode incorporates flashbacks to the Red Butler[1][2][3][4][5] and Luxury Liner Arc.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
References[]
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 6, pages 14-15
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 6, page 18
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 6, page 20
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 6, page 22
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 13, page 16-20
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 52, page 13
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 52, pages 16-18
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 59, pages 24-28
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 59, page 34
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 60, page 4
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 61, pages 14-16
- ↑ Kuroshitsuji manga; Chapter 64, pages 22-26