Baccano! Volume 18 - 1935: A Deep Marble

adults.
 They
 broke
 off
 into
 a
 run
 underneath
 the
 dark
 clouds
 that
 were
 beginning
 to
 
gather
 over
 New
 York
 again.
 

 
They
 had
 no
 idea
 that
 they
 were
 being
 drawn
 into
 a
 maelstrom
 of
 confusion
 
themselves.
 They
 probably
 never
 would.
 

 
To
 them,
 all
 of
 life
 was
 a
 new
 discovery,
 a
 kind
 of
 chaos
 that
 overflowed
 with
 both
 
darkness
 and
 light.
 

 

 
And,
 whether
 they
 were
 capable
 of
 realizing
 it
 or
 not—
 

 
As
 those
 planes
 brought
 their
 baccano,
 their
 stupid
 commotion,
 a
 deep
 darkness
 
began
 its
 descent
 over
 the
 city
 of
 New
 York.
 

 

 
<=>
 

 

 
In
 the
 middle
 of
 the
 night
 
In
 the
 darkness
 

 

 
In
 a
 villa
 belonging
 to
 the
 Runoratas,
 Melvi
 entered
 a
 room
 that
 faced
 the
 courtyard
 
and
 turned
 out
 all
 the
 lights
 before
 lying
 on
 the
 bed.
 

 
His
 bodyguard
 Felix
 only
 worked
 when
 he
 left
 the
 house,
 so
 right
 now
 his
 guards
 
were
 a
 few
 dozen
 members
 of
 the
 Mafia
 who
 patrolled
 the
 grounds
 to
 protect
 him.
 

 
But—
 

 

 
"Well,
 well.
 That
 was
 quite
 a
 dramatic
 performance
 today,
 Melvi."
 

 

 
A
 voice
 called
 to
 Melvi
 from
 a
 corner
 of
 the
 room,
 shrouded
 in
 complete
 
darkness.
 From
 the
 way
 the
 curtains
 rustled,
 it
 was
 clear
 that
 someone
 had
 slipped
 
through
 all
 of
 the
 watchful
 eyes
 and
 snuck
 into
 the
 grounds.
 

 
But
 Melvi
 answered
 the
 darkness
 with
 complete
 indifference.
 

 
"It's
 not
 a
 big
 deal.
 Don't
 worry,
 Master."
 

 
"I
 see,
 I
 see.
 But
 your
 bodyguard
 during
 the
 day
 is
 pretty
 incredible.
 They
 really
 can't
 
come
 anywhere
 near
 you."
 

 


  201
 

"I
 was
 surprised
 by
 his
 ability,
 myself."
 

 
Melvi's
 reply
 was
 met
 by
 a
 muffled
 laugh.
 

 
"I
 am
 about
 to
 set
 my
 preparations
 in
 motion
 as
 well,
 but...the
 results
 might
 conflict
 
with
 your
 movements.
 If
 that
 happens,
 well,
 it
 would
 be
 nice
 if
 you
 didn't
 hate
 me
 
too
 much.
 Okay?"
 

 
"Of
 course.
 You're
 my
 master.
 I
 only
 listen
 to
 your
 orders.
 If
 you
 told
 me
 to
 die,
 I
 
would
 obediently
 offer
 you
 the
 head
 and
 right
 hand
 of
 my
 corpse,"
 he
 answered
 
respectfully,
 still
 prone
 on
 the
 bed.
 

 
"...How
 like
 you
 to
 do
 it
 'obediently'
 rather
 than
 'happily.'
 I'm
 impressed.
 Well,
 my
 
only
 wish
 is
 for
 you
 to
 use
 your
 current
 position
 to
 make
 a
 mess
 of
 things,
 however
 
you
 please.
 Whatever
 comes
 into
 your
 mind."
 

 
"..."
 

 
"And
 I've
 told
 you
 this
 before,
 but
 don't
 call
 me
 'master.'
 It's
 too
 stiff."
 

 
The
 darkness
 chuckled
 and
 continued
 gleefully.
 

 

 
"You
 know
 my
 name
 already.
 You
 can
 give
 me
 a
 nickname,
 or
 shorten
 it.
 Call
 me
 
whatever
 you
 like,
 like
 I
 told
 you
 before!"
 

 

 
"...If
 that's
 the
 case,
 then
 I'll
 call
 you
 'Master.'"
 

 
"Haha!
 You're
 a
 spiteful
 bastard,
 aren't
 you?"
 

 
And
 then,
 silence.
 

 
After
 the
 quiet
 peals
 of
 laughter
 had
 faded,
 the
 darkness
 didn't
 speak
 anymore.
 The
 
curtains
 fell
 still,
 and
 the
 intruder
 was
 gone.
 

 
After
 Melvi
 was
 sure,
 the
 smile
 he
 had
 worn
 for
 the
 whole
 day
 disappeared
 from
 his
 
face,
 and
 he
 fell
 into
 a
 deep
 sleep.
 

 

 
As
 if
 to
 rest
 in
 preparation
 for
 another
 long
 day
 of
 smiling
 tomorrow.
 

 

 
<=>
 

 

 


  202
 

New
 York
 
 
Fred's
 clinic
 

 

 
Thanks
 to
 their
 waving
 and
 chasing
 after
 the
 seaplanes,
 Isaac
 and
 Miria
 had
 gotten
 
thoroughly
 lost.
 They
 didn't
 arrive
 at
 their
 new
 workplace
 that
 Molsa
 had
 
introduced
 to
 them
 until
 the
 middle
 of
 the
 night.
 

 
"Hey,
 Isaac,
 it
 says
 they're
 closed
 today."
 

 
"Hmm.
 Well,
 Molsa
 did
 say
 we
 could
 just
 walk
 in."
 

 
There
 were
 lights
 on
 in
 the
 clinic,
 even
 in
 the
 dead
 of
 night.
 

 
The
 two
 wandered
 back
 and
 forth
 in
 front
 of
 the
 door,
 wondering
 what
 to
 do,
 when
 
a
 young
 man's
 face
 appeared
 in
 the
 glass.
 

 
"Oh...the
 owner
 of
 Alveare
 called
 earlier
 and
 said
 you
 two
 would
 be
 coming
 to
 help.
 
Sure
 took
 your
 time,
 didn'cha?"
 The
 man
 paused
 and
 looked
 at
 them
 questioningly.
 
"...Wait,
 have
 I
 seen
 you
 befo—aah,
 whatever."
 

 
After
 looking
 at
 them
 intently
 for
 a
 moment,
 he
 sighed
 and
 continued.
 

 
"My
 name's
 Who.
 I
 know
 they
 said
 you'll
 be
 working
 here,
 but
 you
 won't
 be
 treating
 
anyone
 so
 don't
 worry
 about..."
 

 
He
 paused
 again,
 noticing
 someone
 behind
 the
 pair.
 "Oh,
 perfect
 timing!
 I
 was
 
wondering
 you
 went.
 Let
 me
 introduce
 these
 two,
 they've
 come
 to
 give
 us
 a
 hand."
 

 
Isaac
 and
 Miria
 turned
 around
 and
 greeted
 the
 man
 behind
 them.
 

 
"I'm
 Isaac!
 Pleasure
 to
 meet
 you!"
 

 
"And
 I'm
 Miria!
 Nice
 to
 meet
 you!"
 they
 said
 eagerly.
 

 
The
 man
 smiled
 mildly.
 "How
 polite
 you
 are.
 I'm
 indebted
 to
 Dr.
 Fred
 as
 well.
 My
 
name
 is
 Le..."
 He
 stumbled
 over
 the
 word
 and
 tried
 again.
 "...Le..."
 

 
It
 was
 as
 if
 his
 own
 mouth
 were
 moving
 against
 his
 will.
 He
 snapped
 it
 shut
 for
 a
 
moment.
 

 
The
 man's
 expression
 darkened
 slightly,
 but
 he
 smiled
 underneath
 the
 bangs
 that
 
hid
 his
 eyes
 from
 view,
 and
 said
 his
 name
 again.
 

 
"Ah,
 sorry.
 My
 name
 is
 Lebreau
 Fermet
 Viralesque.
 Pleasure."
 

 


  203
 

"...Huh?
 Was
 that
 your
 name?"
 Who
 asked.
 

 
The
 man
 answered
 confidently.
 "Yes,
 I
 told
 you
 before."
 

 
He
 covered
 the
 darkness
 clouding
 his
 face
 with
 a
 smile—
 

 
And
 began
 to
 draw
 the
 two
 immortals
 who
 had
 suddenly
 appeared
 into
 his
 plans
 as
 
well.
 

 
Without
 knowing
 whether
 that
 decision
 was
 good
 or
 bad,
 or
 how
 twisted
 their
 fate
 
would
 become
 from
 here
 on.
 

 

 
<=>
 

 

 
And
 so,
 at
 the
 end
 of
 the
 day,
 each
 person
 was
 drawn
 into
 their
 own
 whirlpool
 of
 
confusion.
 

 
All
 standing
 under
 the
 same
 sky,
 on
 the
 same
 stage.
 

 

 
The
 players
 gathered.
 

 
Fate
 marched
 on
 towards
 its
 inevitable
 conclusion
 along
 with
 them.
 

 

 
Who
 would
 take
 hold
 of
 the
 results
 born
 by
 that
 conclusion
 in
 the
 end?
 

 
Or
 rather,
 who
 would
 serve
 as
 whose
 joker
 in
 the
 hands
 they
 had
 all
 been
 dealt?
 

 
That
 was
 something
 no
 one
 in
 New
 York
 could
 tell
 yet,
 not
 even
 the
 demon.
 

 

 
And,
 as
 each
 one
 took
 their
 chips
 in
 hand—
 

 
The
 curtain
 began
 to
 rise,
 ever
 so
 quietly,
 over
 the
 moment
 when
 all
 their
 hopes
 and
 
desires
 would
 swirl
 together
 into
 the
 ultimate
 game
 of
 chance.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  204
 

Afterword
 

 
Long
 time
 no
 see,
 this
 is
 Narita.
 

 
And
 so
 as
 the
 Baccano!
 series
 approaches
 its
 10th
 anniversary,
 we
 only
 have
 left
 this
 
1935
 arc
 and
 2003,
 which
 will
 be
 an
 epilogue
 to
 the
 entire
 series.
 

 
Those
 of
 you
 who
 have
 read
 should
 already
 know,
 but
 Firo
 and
 "him"
 are
 at
 the
 
center
 of
 the
 story
 this
 time.
 How
 will
 this
 relatively
 small
 character
 (compared
 to
 
the
 others
 like
 Ladd
 and
 Christopher)
 move
 this
 time?
 

 
And
 this
 time,
 one
 of
 the
 strongest
 characters
 in
 the
 series,
 right
 alongside
 Ronnie,
 
has
 completely
 turned
 into
 an
 enemy.
 Will
 Firo
 and
 Ladd
 and
 the
 others
 will
 come
 
out
 on
 top?
 

 
On
 top
 of
 that,
 why
 is
 a
 character
 who
 is
 supposed
 to
 be
 new
 looks
 so
 much
 like
 
someone
 else.
 

 
Will
 the
 group
 that
 was
 sketched
 out
 earlier
 here
 and
 there
 make
 a
 real
 appearance?
 

 
When
 will
 Chi
 and
 Adele
 factor
 into
 this?
 

 
When
 will
 Dallas
 and
 Eve
 get
 their
 turn?
 

 
1935
 has
 started
 with
 some
 major
 mysteries
 still
 unsolved,
 but
 since
 this
 time
 at
 
least
 half
 of
 the
 characters
 from
 before
 will
 make
 an
 appearance,
 it
 may
 run
 a
 little
 
long.
 

 

 
As
 I
 write
 this,
 I'm
 not
 completely
 certain
 how
 it
 will
 end.
 I
 hope
 you
 will
 eagerly
 
look
 forward
 to
 the
 stupid
 commotion
 of
 1935...!
 

 
The
 girl
 who
 is
 the
 childhood
 friend
 of
 a
 certain
 character
 this
 time
 around
 has
 
actually
 already
 appeared
 in
 one
 of
 the
 special
 volumes
 release
 with
 the
 anime
 
DVDs,
 which
 I
 may
 turn
 into
 an
 official
 volume
 like
 1932
 Summer—although
 I
 
haven't
 decided
 yet.
 Those
 of
 you
 who
 haven't
 met
 her
 yet,
 please
 look
 forward
 to
 it!
 

 

 
As
 for
 my
 plans
 after
 this,
 I
 honestly
 have
 a
 few
 swirling
 around
 right
 now...even
 I
 
haven't
 fully
 nailed
 down
 a
 plan
 of
 what
 to
 write
 next,
 but
 first
 I'll
 finish
 more
 
Baccano!
 and
 Durarara!!,
 and
 after
 that
 with
 Vamp!,
 5656
 and
 Hariyama-­‐san
 at
 the
 
Center
 of
 the
 World,
 I
 have
 plenty
 to
 start
 with
 for
 a
 new
 volume,
 I
 think.
 

 
Recently
 I
 was
 able
 to
 write
 a
 novel
 for
 BLEACH,
 as
 well
 as
 Dangan
 Ronpa
 IF
 from
 
the
 "omake
 mode"
 of
 Dangan
 Ronpa
 2,
 and
 participate
 as
 a
 game
 player
 in
 Red
 
Dragon,
 so
 I've
 had
 a
 lot
 of
 work
 outside
 of
 this,
 but
 since
 Baccano!
 was
 how
 I
 


  205
 

started
 with
 Dengeki
 Bunko,
 I'll
 do
 my
 best
 to
 write
 the
 remaining
 volumes
 so
 
everyone
 can
 enjoy
 them!
 

 

 
So,
 as
 I
 summon
 fresh
 determination,
 today
 I'm
 playing
 Dangan
 Ronpa
 2
 and
 Dragon
 
Quest
 X
 because
 the
 air
 conditioner
 is
 broken
 in
 a
 heat
 wave
 and
 I
 can't
 work.
 

 
Along
 with
 saving
 electricity,
 I
 was
 able
 to
 cool
 down
 with
 electric
 fans
 and
 screens,
 
but
 my
 computer
 overheated...in
 other
 words,
 my
 computer
 passed
 out
 from
 the
 
heat
 before
 me.
 

 
And
 so,
 as
 I
 cleaned
 my
 place
 waiting
 for
 maintenance
 to
 come,
 I
 found
 a
 mountain
 
from
 my
 dark
 past.
 Things
 I
 had
 specially
 printed
 out,
 like
 "my
 strongest
 character"
 
and
 "my
 Eva
 character"
 and
 "my
 strongest
 pirate
 character."
 I
 don't
 know
 how
 many
 
times
 I
 thought
 I
 would
 die
 in
 agony
 while
 I
 was
 cleaning...
 

 
Not
 only
 that,
 but
 even
 my
 terrible
 drawings
 were
 attached
 to
 them.
 I
 couldn't
 
understand
 why,
 if
 the
 tears
 were
 from
 the
 dust
 as
 I
 cleaned
 or
 a
 desire
 to
 murder
 
my
 younger
 self.
 

 
But
 anyway,
 when
 I
 think
 that
 everything
 in
 my
 dark
 past
 has
 come
 together
 to
 
bring
 me
 to
 where
 I
 am
 now,
 my
 dark
 past
 is
 an
 important
 memory
 and
 the
 
foundation
 of
 my
 work.
 I
 think
 I'm
 going
 to
 end
 up
 keeping
 them
 as
 something
 
special.
 Deep
 in
 the
 heart
 of
 storage.
 In
 cardboard
 and
 sealed
 with
 duct
 tape.
 

 

(whispers)
 ...To
 be
 honest,
 some
 of
 the
 things
 in
 my
 major
 series,
 like
 Nebula
 and
 some
 of
 the
 
vampires,
 were
 actually
 in
 those
 notes
 as
 "my
 strongest
 corporation"
 or
 "my
 strongest
 vampire"
 and
 
I
 may
 have
 used
 them
 just
 as
 they
 were
 *coughcough*
 


 
And
 I
 am
 aware
 I
 have
 said
 some
 things
 I
 should
 not,
 but
 I
 am
 well,
 even
 with
 
stomach
 issues
 thanks
 to
 stress
 and
 the
 summer
 heat.
 I'm
 the
 best
 I've
 ever
 been!
 

 
I'm
 lying.
 

 
But,
 I
 will
 finish
 my
 cleaning,
 play
 video
 games
 to
 relieve
 my
 stress,
 fight
 off
 the
 heat,
 
and
 bring
 you
 more
 stories
 in
 top
 form!
 

 
And
 so,
 please
 enjoy
 them!
 

 
This
 is
 about
 Durarara!!,
 but
 the
 newest
 comic
 will
 come
 out
 on
 September
 10th,
 at
 
the
 same
 time
 as
 this
 book!
 Thank
 you
 to
 Mr.
 Toriki
 Cha
 and
 Mr.
 Kuma.
 I'll
 do
 my
 
best
 so
 you
 can
 enjoy
 Baccano!
 and
 Durarara!!
 together!
 

 

 

August
 2012,
 Ryohgo
 Narita
 

 


  206
 

Translator’s
 Notes
 

 
First
 of
 all,
 thank
 you
 for
 reading
 thus
 far!
 
 

 
This
 is
 my
 first
 translation
 of
 anything
 this
 big
 (and
 technically
 my
 second
 
translation
 ever),
 and
 I
 am
 still
 in
 shock
 that
 I
 actually
 managed
 to
 finish
 it.
 Baccano!
 
is
 not
 an
 easy
 series
 to
 translate,
 particularly
 the
 1930s,
 but
 I
 had
 wanted
 to
 
translate
 something
 in
 this
 series
 for
 nearly
 three
 years
 now,
 and
 I’m
 so
 glad
 I
 finally
 
found
 the
 opportunity.
 
 

 
My
 translation
 style
 is
 slightly
 liberal—I
 ended
 up
 choosing
 the
 sound
 of
 English
 
over
 the
 exact
 syntax
 or
 words
 of
 the
 Japanese
 in
 places
 where
 the
 two
 were
 in
 
conflict,
 but
 I
 did
 my
 best
 to
 stay
 true
 to
 the
 feel
 of
 the
 original.
 

 
I’m
 very
 grateful
 to
 everyone
 who
 has
 worked
 so
 hard
 on
 translating
 this
 series
 in
 
the
 past—those
 at
 Baka-­‐Tsuki,
 Anonspore,
 and
 Untuned
 Strings.
 If
 it
 weren’t
 for
 
them
 I
 never
 would
 have
 fallen
 in
 love
 with
 this
 series
 in
 the
 first
 place.
 

 
And
 most
 of
 all,
 thank
 you
 to
 everyone
 for
 reading
 and
 commenting!
 I’m
 always
 
excited
 to
 see
 your
 reactions.
 I
 hope
 you
 have
 enjoyed
 this
 volume,
 and
 I’m
 honored
 
to
 have
 been
 able
 to
 make
 some
 small
 contribution
 in
 spreading
 this
 fantastic
 story.
 
I’m
 looking
 forward
 to
 translating
 more!
 

 
On
 to
 1935-­‐B!
 

 


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