Morning of Truth

Still kneeling in shame, Farnese is ambushed by a leftover spirit that fastens to her skin and pours dark thoughts into her mind. It forces her to relive whipping Guts while secretly aroused by his body, and insists she flogged herself not to purge desire but to savor the pain, using her religion as a shield for her urges and staying faithful because she is addicted to the power of commanding the Holy Iron Chain Knights.

Possessed yet still aware, Farnese strips and climbs onto the pinned Guts, grinding against his sword's edge and looping her old bindings around his throat, begging him to raise the blade slowly so she can lower herself onto it. The rising sun then forces the spirit out. Puck strikes at it with a chestnut while Guts orders the restored Farnese off him. Her sobbing screams draw a passing Serpico, who wraps her in his coat as she orders Guts killed to save the last of her honor.

Serpico reminds her their orders are only to capture Guts, and that he would surely lose in a straight fight against the Black Swordsman's strength. She slaps him and runs. Serpico then frees Guts, who admits he now owes him, but as Guts turns to leave both draw and swing with blinding speed: the Dragon Slayer sweeps horizontally, Serpico leaps over it and nicks Guts' cheek with his rapier before sheathing and bidding farewell, waving to Puck to reveal he can see the elf. Puck senses a deep sorrow radiating from Farnese, as though she is caged unseen.

A lingering spirit possesses Farnese and voices her repressed lust and doubt. Under its control she forces herself onto Guts until dawn breaks the spell. Serpico arrives, covers her, and she demands Guts' death. Serpico instead releases Guts. The two exchange a single blinding strike in which Serpico cuts Guts' cheek before departing, confirming he can see Puck.

This Conviction Arc chapter ran in Young Animal issue 16 in 1998. It confirms that Serpico, unlike Farnese, can perceive Puck, and Puck's closing read of Farnese's sorrow reframes her cruelty as a symptom of an inner prison, deepening her from antagonist toward tragic figure.