「Background Introduction」

Elmer C. Albatross: Immortal. Smile Junkie.

Sylvie Lumiere: Immortal. Singer.

Tougou Denkurou: Immortal. Freelancer.

Nile: Immortal. Catchphrase is "I daresay".

Maiza Avaro: Immortal. Treasurer of the Martillo family. Often respectful. [*The Martillo is a family, the Naples version of the Mafia.*]

Szilard Quates: Immortal. Evil alchemist.

Czeslaw Meyer: Immortal boy. Alchemist.

Huey Laforet: Immortal. Currently imprisoned.

Victor Talbot: Immortal. Of the FBI.

Isaac Dian: Part of an idiotic couple, somehow not-quite-knowingly became an immortal too.

Miria Harvent: Part of an idiotic couple, somehow not-quite-knowingly became an immortal too.

Dez Nibel: Chief of the "Village". Homonculus.

Felt Nibel: Chief's son...homonculus.

Fermet: Czes's original guardian. First appeared in Czes's flashback, in the "Especially Urgent Volume".

Phil: Girl in the village. Homunculus.

Brute Quates[*??*]: Chauffeur

This story is fictitious. Any resemblance to people, buildings, or occurrences is purely unintentional.

「Year 2003_____February_____Somewhere」

Hey.

You look cheerful.

Your clothes are certainly strange, though. Is it because Valentine's Day is just around the corner? All those round things on your clothes... you'll end up neurotic.

I see. So that's the method to your madness. Pretty enthusiastic, aren't you.

Looking at you makes me remember him.

...Happy End was his nickname. You can call him Mr. Happy End, or The Happy End, or whatever you think sounds cool. He'd be satisfied as long as Happy End fit in there somewhere.

Right, he's a strange one. He can't see anything but the happiness of others, you see. No matter whether the person who wants happiness is good or evil.

What kind of person is he? If you're asking whether he's happy... I don't think he knows, himself. But if you were to give him a definition of either good or bad, he's absolutely evil. No doubt about it.

That doesn't make sense, you say? You have no idea. You can't just decide out of hand that everyone who wants happiness is good, can you?

...You want to hear more? The rambling of a wanderer like me?

Haha, my thanks.

Well, I still have a bit of time until my companions get here, so if it's okay with you I'll kill some time by telling you the tale.

This is... that's right. It all began 300 years ago, aboard a certain boat...

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