MADLAX the Bible

***MADLAX the Bible*** is a 95-page art book that was published in Japan on 21 May 2005 by Hobby Japan. Aside from illustrations and artworks for the series, it contains interviews with its authors and voice actors, as well as diverse additional information about the show in Japanese. The art book has never been published outside Japan. Since the word "Bible" is derived from Ancient Greek: τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια, meaning "holy books", it is likely that the art book's title is a reference to the Holy Books that play an important role in the series' plot.

### Annual Report of the Kingdom of Gazth-Sonika

- For a Bright Future -

Ministry of Preparation and Land Information

#### Overview of the Nation

This report was prepared to make the people of Gazth-Sonika widely aware of the current situation in their nation and to help the nation’s prosperity.

The official name of the country is the Gazth-Sonika Korslan Kingdom, and the current head of state is King Korslan IV. The constitution of the Kingdom of Gazth-Sonika has adopted the so-called constitutional monarchy, and the status of the king and its people.

There is no state religion, and the people are allowed freedom of religion based on the provisions of the Constitution. Three armies are set up, land, sea, and air, but the army accounts for the majority of all military forces. In addition, apart from the three armies, there is an elite guard under the direct control of the royal family, and it guards the capital Daman and dignitaries.

Relations with other countries are generally good, and border disputes with neighboring countries have not occurred. However, the nation is currently exposed to sabotage by illegal armed groups, which provides military guidance and support from friendly countries.

The main industries are tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and the proportion of secondary industries in the overall economic book is extremely small. In recent years, foreign investment against the background of preferential taxation has increased rapidly, and the development of the financial interchange industry is expected as the fourth major industry.

#### Major Industries of the Nation

##### Tourism

Tourism is the largest means of acquiring foreign currency in the nation, and the government recognizes it as the most important industry and is working to promote it.

The nation is originally blessed with tourism resources, but the number of foreign tourists has declined significantly since the armed uprising of the illegal armed group, commonly known as Galza (hereinafter referred to as "Galza"). This is a serious problem for the country, which relies on tourism for foreign currency acquisition means, and there is an urgent need to rebuild tourism in order to revitalize the economy as a whole.

The most important issue in the promotion of tourism is ensuring the safety of tourists. In recent years, the number of tourists has been recovering due to the establishment of a non-war agreement with Galza in Daman, the capital, and the agreement being complied with.

Since it is difficult for tourists to enter other than Daman for the time being, most of the promotion is directed at the development of urban resorts. At its core is the construction of a luxury resort hotel, which is working to attract foreign visitors as a safe and comfortable "ever-summer paradise". In addition, the company allows casino operations in the hotel and dog races, and these earnings have contributed greatly to foreign currency acquisition.

##### Agriculture and Fisheries

Agriculture and fisheries are still the nation's major industries, and agriculture is the largest industry outside Daman.

Most of the agriculture in the nation is traditional rice cultivation and field cultivation by hand, and mechanized modern farming methods are not widespread. Most of the yield is consumed in the country, and only a small percentage of the crops exported.

In recent years, some neighboring Asian countries have changed from food exporters to importers, and the global food situation has become very tight. The importance of agriculture is increasing, and the modernization and the increase of the harvest amount of the farm work in view of a large-scale circle are hoped. However, the battle with Galza is violent in the farm village zone, and the promotion of the modernization is a difficult situation for the time being.

On the other hand, the country has a long coastline, and the fishery industry also occupies the position of a major industry, and shrimp farming is the center, and the majority is circled in the nation, and it is the second foreign currency acquisition method after sightseeing.

As for fishing, coastal fishing by small ships is the main focus, and much of the catch is consumed around the landing site. Some are landed in Daman and traded for Daman residents and resident tourists.

#### Challenges Facing the Nation

##### Early Resolution of Civil War

The civil war with Galza has lasted for 13 years and is the nation’s biggest concern. During this time, several discussions were held for peace, but no agreement has been reached, partly because the Galza side has not lost its hardline stance. Last year, Army Commander Gwen McNichol lost his life from Galza's sniping, and it is clear that these acts of Galza are hampering the peace and development of the country.

The government never condones torts on the Part of Galza, and with the cooperation of Nafrece and other friendly nations, the government remains committed to suppressing Galza. However, the nation also recognizes that an early resolution of the civil war is essential for its development, and intends to avoid compromising that and continue negotiations for peace in the future.

##### Infrastructure Development

Due to the effects of the civil war, the nation's infrastructure development has fallen far behind, and the government is working to focus on infrastructure for the capital, Daman.

In the center of Daman, the modernization of buildings and the development of roads and harbors are rapidly being carried out. At present, the development of the city center is almost completed, and the improvement of the remaining surrounding area is a problem.

Since it is essential to improve the information and communication environment in order to promote industry and the lives of citizens, investment in this field was made with the highest priority. Nowadays, broadband wireless communication systems are operating throughout Daman City, and high-speed, high-capacity communication using computers, mobile phones, etc. anywhere possible in the city. In the future, the improvement of the area other than Daman City is a problem.

##### Closing Regional Disparities

While the development of the capital Daman is progressing, it is the widening regional disparity that is becoming more serious. For one thing, the gap between Daman and elsewhere has been widening, and rural infrastructure development has become untouched. A full ceasefire is essential for infrastructure development in this area, and there is currently a situation where we have to wait for the civil war to be resolved. Even more serious is the regional disparity in Daman City, and the gap between the well-developed urban area and the slum-like peripheral area is rapidly widening. The living environment in the slum-turned-surrounding area is not good, and deterioration of security and the occurrence of street children are becoming serious social problems.

These problems could seriously hit Daman's tourism industry, and the government is considering immediate measures.

#### Toward the Revitalization of Gazth-Sonika

The nation is blessed with a land rich in nature, and it is a beautiful country where hardworking people live under the reign of a benevolent king. However, the country is overlooked by Galza’s lawless acts and the people are in poverty.

It goes without saying that the power of each and every citizen is necessary to rebuild not only Daman but also the country ruined by the civil war. The people of Galza are also the people of Gazth-Sonika, and they must love their country. If Galza's principle is truly "for the people," they should immediately stop fighting and cooperate in rebuilding the nation.

Now is the time for all the people to reconcile and gather with the king. Gazth-Sonika, as a whole, will have an unprecedented time of prosperity. We believe that the future is just around the corner.

"I want to protect this country"

LOVE & PEACE

Recruitment of Elite Guard Members

Apply to your local recruitment office.

You Make This Country

13th Notice of issuance of patriotic bonds

10-Year Period   Interest Rate 0.1%

With a purchase of 100,000 Yul or more

Benefits of shortening military service Ali

Ministry of Finance

### Lifestyle in Gazth-Sonika

#### Here Is Gazth-Sonika!

Southeast Asian Kingdom Gazth-Sonika. Even if you've heard the name of a country in the news about the civil war, not many people know what kind of country it is. Now that Gazth-Sonika is secretly gaining popularity as a little-known resort spot.

You might think, "Isn't it dangerous because of a civil war?", But Daman, the capital city, which is a tourist base, is very safe. With resort hotels and shopping centers lined up, it's hard to believe that a country is undergoing a civil war. "If so, this long vacation will be in Gazth-Sonika!" It is reckless to go without knowing anything about Gazth-Sonika.

First of all, regarding travel conditions, Japanese citizens can stay for up to 30 days without a visa if they have a passport that is valid for 30 days or more. The climate is tropical, with the rainy season from May to October. The currency is Yuru, and one Yuru is about 100 yen. The first official language is French.

From the next corner, we will introduce specific information that is useful for resort life. By the time you finish reading, you are also a Gazth-Sonika enthusiast!

#### Place Of Interest

The resort's capital, Daman (although access to areas other than Daman is severely restricted in the first place), is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The facial expressions shown vary depending on the season and time of day, and are pleasing to the eyes of visiting tourists.

Among them, the "eyeball" is probably the night view of Daman. The fantastic night view that gives off seven colors is an Asian jewel that is as good as the night view of Hong Kong.

In the daytime, Daman shows an exotic look under the bright sunshine of the tropical country. Surrounded by the rainforest jungle, the rows of ethnic and modern buildings make you feel like you're in a foreign country.

In the daytime, Daman shows an exotic look under the bright sunshine of the tropical country. Surrounded by the rainforest jungle, the rows of ethnic and modern buildings make you feel like you're in a foreign country.

Once you've enjoyed the views of Daman, it's time to explore the city. At that time, it is also recommended to use a Gazth-Sonika style rickshaw. You can enjoy the view of the city at a relaxed speed.

#### Play Spot

When it comes to playing in the everlasting summer country of Gazth-Sonika, the main thing is of course the marine resort. The major resort hotels in Daman are fully equipped with pools so you can enjoy the resort without having to go out to sea.

You might think, "It's a waste to spend time at a hotel even though you've come to a foreign country!", But let's think about that as well. A Gazth-Sonika-style resort where you can lie down on a deck chair, drink a tropical cocktail, and swim in the pool when you feel like it. I don't know what I've come to do if I'm exhausted by swimming hard. At this time, don't think about stingy things, let's spend time in Osamuzawa.

For those of you who still want to go to the sea, yachting and cruising are recommended. If you ask the front desk of the hotel, they will make arrangements for you.

If you just want to see the ocean, go to the pier. If you look at the scenery of white clouds floating beyond the horizon where the clear blue sea spreads, you will be blown away by small worries.

#### Shopping

Shopping is one of the great pleasures of traveling abroad. Isn't it the number one goal for some people?

For those shopping addicts, Daman is just a paradise. Daman, also known as a tax haven, sells world-class brands at low prices, and you can often see travelers with their hands full of luggage. But, of course, some people want something unusual that can only be bought at Daman rather than a luxury brand item. If you're like that, you might find a bargain if you go a little further to the downtown area. In downtown, there are mountains of suspicious merchandise that may be from any country, giving the appearance of a stateless shopping street. If you have the appropriate eyesight, you can make valuable purchases, but be aware that you are at your own risk even if you are struck.

#### Food

At the same time as I am looking forward to eating in a foreign country, I am also worried that it will not taste good. But you don't have to worry about it during your stay in Daman. At Daman, where the world's ingredients are gathered, you can enjoy everything from hamburgers to full-course French cuisine, from grilled meat to Manchu-Han Imperial. If you stay in Daman for a week, you will be able to cook around the world. If you want to eat popular local food, you should go downtown. There are many food stalls in downtown at night, and it is crowded with locals. If you buy a glass of sake, you may hear interesting stories from the locals. However, keep in mind that hygiene is not always good and that security is worse than in the city center. Sometimes, the shooting of guns starts suddenly, so don't be too careful. If you feel a danger, don't hesitate to run away.

#### Other Place

Currently, foreigners are strictly restricted from entering other than Daman in Gazth-Sonika. For sightseeing purposes, virtually only Daman can be visited. Therefore, I have mainly introduced how to spend time in Daman so far, but of course Gazth-Sonika is not only Daman. Outside the city of Daman, there is a vast rainforest that retains its appearance from thousands of years ago. When the night falls, countless stars blink in the sky, and the starlight illuminates the ground. Tens of thousands of species of flora and fauna are alive in the jungle, which is left almost untouched, and the drama of life and death is repeated in the eternal time. There is another figure of Gazth-Sonika that is completely different from Daman.

Gazth-Sonika is blessed with such a wonderful natural environment, but unfortunately it is not possible to visit the forest area. It is rumored that some people hire guides for a lot of money and enter the jungle without permission, but it is highly dangerous to lose their lives and we cannot recommend it. I just hope that the civil war will end as soon as possible and that many people will come into contact with the nature of Gazth-Sonika.

#### Country (Village)

Villages are scattered throughout the woodlands, and people live their traditional lives. In the village of Doaiho, which is close to the cave where the Elies characters were found, unique folk costumes are still used, and it is said that they may be the remnant of an ancient civilization.

#### Traffic (Transportation network)

Currently, the only legitimate route to Gazth-Sonika is by air to Daman. Sea routes are mainly used for the import and export of goods, and land routes are blocked by the military near the border. Cars are almost the only means of transportation in the country, and the others are motorcycles and walking.

#### Warning (Notes)

Although the capital, Daman, isn’t in the war zone, military patrols are frequent. You may be asked to show your passport, so be sure to carry your passport with you during your stay. If you act suspiciously, you may be shot dead.

### Fragment of Madlax

These ten passages explain aspects of the fictional world more deeply.

#### The Books

The books that appear in the story acting as keys to open the Door are "Firstari" (owned by Friday) with the Words of Awakening, "Secondari" (owned by Margaret) with the Words of the Essence, and a third book called "Thirstari" (owned by Quanzitta) with the Words of Truth. Madlax also owns a torn page of Secondari.

Each of them has three levels of meaning, "knowing and awareness", "taking it into yourself", and "releasing it". While Margaret describes Secondari as a "picture book" in Episode 2, its contents are composed of pictures and sentences. *"Three books are like 'If an ordinary person reads them, they'll die.' But those who grasp the Essence can read them tightly. In that sense, Margaret is a boke that is full of madness. That's why she tries to keep people away from her book with the feeling that 'this is no good"* (Yosuke Kuroda)

In fact, people involved with the books... especially Secondari, influence people in the story. Maurice Lopez, who didn't understand (I think) Elies in Episode 6, glimpsed the contents of the book, revealing his essence. For ordinary people, it can be called a "forbidden book".

#### Bookwald

An economic powerhouse, where Vanessa, Carrossea, and Charlie work, Bookwald is the largest trading company in Nafrece. Vanessa and Charlie work in the International Department of Bookwald (the department Carrossea works in is unknown). It has a wide range of management, and in Gazth-Sonika, it invests about 30% in the various facilities in the demilitarized zone (construction of leisure facilities in countries other than Gazth-Sonika). In addition, its affiliates include Turbic, which sells laptop PCs such as the "S-32" series (Episode 11).

By the way, Bookwald owns a luxury hotel "Aarium" exclusively for executives, so it seems that the welfare facilities are substantial (though it may be only executives).

On the other hand, behind the scenes, Bookwald connects with Enfant and sells materials to both the Government Army and Galza camps. As a result, Bookwald has earned enormous profits.

Given Bookwald's deep connection with Enfant and the fact that it has employees like Carrossea, it's safe to assume that Bookwald is effectively under Enfant's control. However, it is unclear whether Enfant was involved in the founding of Bookwald or whether it was hijacked at some point. In any case, it can be said that it plays a role as a façade for Enfant, like Carrossea. The terrifying thing is Enfant.

### 3-Man Talks

#### Not a Multiple Personality

— *I think that "MADLAX" this time was a work that started from the flow of "Noir" (1), but how did the project move after "Noir" ended?*

**Mashimo:** Right underneath, I was trying to create a work that attacked the darker part of "Noir",

#### Who am I?

***Interviewer:** What would you essentially sum Madlax and Margaret's roles up as?*

**Mashimo:** Margaret, as said earlier, looks normal on first sight, but is a girl burdened with something immensely large. But when faced with a life-and-death crisis, when there is a situation where in order to live, somebody else has to be killed, she's somebody whose survival instincts will cause her to deny her memories using cannabinoids. So Margaret's actually more normal when taken among ordinary people. A young lady, or rather, girl, who can be found anywhere. On the other hand, Madlax, who was placed in a mad world beforehand, and was at the centre of that madness, became somebody who had to fight, had to do it. Animation is like that in real life; like when you return to a neutral situation and look back, you'll think, 'Why did I do something so difficult?' (laughs) Margaret's probably the ordinary person.
**Kuroda:** That's right. Margaret's way of life is close to the essence. That kind of way of living is the life in Nafrece... Well, you could replace that with Japan, but in either case you can't feel any sense of unease. But people around her do tell her to live, quite normally. That's why even if she's trying her best to live normally, she won't be able to wipe away that sense of unease, won't be able to understand what's wrong even if told. She's just caught by the feeling alone, but is unable to put it into words. Then she finally realises that she can't die there. In that sense, in my opinion, [Margaret is] a normal human. Of the two, I'd think that those labelled "ordinary people" are more abnormal. However, from the point of view of ordinary people, Margaret would appear abnormal... I kept that in mind while writing the script.

**Mashimo:** ...He said something extremely interesting just now, but it's not like everyone lives believing "I am Mr. So-and-so". Then try saying your great-great-grandmother's name. Try saying your great-great-great-grandfather's name. There will be some people who will be able to follow that path, and some who can't. Then, following that idea to its conclusion, it would become, 'Huh, who am I?'. You might then think 'What am I?' or 'Perhaps I might have killed someone' by accident. If more and more people realise things like 'Haven't I forgotten my memories from when I was young' or 'It's because I had bad memories', then I think Japan too can become slightly better. Even though you might feel 'I'm right underneath/below' (not sure what this means) because somebody like Friday is manipulating your consciousness or perhaps information. I am not right underneath. Even Hei-whoever (?) doesn't know.

**Kuroda:** Margaret is a girl in a place where she is told 'It's fine if you're Margaret Burton', in the country-unit known as Nafrece, and Madlax is a character who thinks 'Even if the world is destroyed, I am Madlax and no more than that'. Nobody will guarantee me as being part of society, but just because I am here, because I can strongly feel the individual that is me, I am Madlax... A character who is no more and no less than that. But because her world will end if that existence is denied, [denying it] is absolutely unforgivable. And her desire or need to really feel that she is living is also Madlax's greatest weakness. Although I can personally understand both ways of thinking to be the same, it's one of those things which can change depending on the environment. I wanted to depict something like that.

**Mashimo:** This is theoretical, but about if told 'Say your great-great-grandmother's name' as from before, anybody would think 'Uh...'. Actually, this is not theoretical at all. If you shot it with a new camera, with a the latest, sharpest camera from just a little bit in the future, it would be shown just like that in reality. That's what I think, anyway.

***Interviewer:** While watching over Madlax and Margaret, you can feel the irony of their ways of living without being conscious of themselves.*

**Kitayama:** About being inconsistent or irrational, don't people have to be like that to a certain extent in order to live in present-day society. Although we ourselves do not know everything by any means, if we were to reject all that we could not understand, we would probably not be able to live a week. I think that from time to time those who aren't able to withstand the stress from feeling this end up hanging themselves. Most people probably just swallow certain things, and divide their existence into fixed compartments and live in there.

***Interviewer:** On the contrary, isn't Leticia the one who knows what she is very well?*

**Kuroda:** That's right. At the same time, she knows that if she meets [Margaret?] she will disappear. Even if my true self disappears, if I cannot reach the truth it is because I was not be able to move on. But she's also a character which does not want to die. In that sense, the personalities born at the moment of truth are guiding the children who lost sight of the truth, or perhaps themselves. The kind of characters who are also intervening in spirit in the many others who are hidden within that truth.
***Interviewer:** In the case of multiple personality disorder, the personality which bears the pain will become accustomed with the original personality, but why don't Madlax and Leticia get used to Margaret?*

**Kuroda:** Because they are self-aware. In normal MPD, isn't there a main and an extra [personality]. The original person and the person who was born. But they were born at the same time. Thus her personality defined itself with 'I am Madlax' and so ended up existing separately, and that's also a reason for her not sticking with Margaret up until the end. 'I respect you as the individual which is Madlax. I respect myself as the individual which is Margaret Burton. It's just that we'll definitely meet again somewhere,' that way of thinking.
#### Transcending Above Good and Evil

***Interviewer:** About the "essence", Friday keeps saying to 'look at the essence', but what is the essence he is pointing at?*

**Kuroda:** It's something we mentioned a bit earlier. He has this pet theory that one can only become aware of oneself as an individual within madness, so he lets madness spread, and have people kill one another as they become aware of their true selves, since that's the kind of world it is; and it's fine even if everything is destroyed as a result. But if there are people who realise, or awake to the essence, before it happens and go to the other side, it's OK for them to go as well... That kind of thing fits with Friday-kun's aesthetic sense, or ideology-like thing, and he moves accordingly.
***Interviewer:** In episode 24, Friday says 'Your essence shows love', but isn't it fine if it shows love? Something like that.*

**Kuroda:** Yes, well. In that sense, since he's a man who has seen a wide variety of essences up until now, it's like he's slightly excited at being able to see a new essence.
***Interviewer:** In the first place, where did Friday come from, and when did he start collecting the books?*

**Kuroda:** They were handed to him because he was somebody with the Gift. When somebody from Quanjitta's family lineage learnt of Friday's existence and that he had the Gift -> handed one over saying 'Then, maybe you [can do it]' -> then he tried collecting them -> tried to do it -> seems like something's wrong -> there should be a new essence.
***Interviewer:** So they don't make any moral judgement, anybody with the Gift is fine.*

**Kuroda:** It's a common saying, but [taking it from Quanjitta's point of view] it's understanding that if the era changes because of madness, or the era changes because of war, it is still an upheaval of history. When the era is flowing out, how will its form change? Will it be a war, or the destruction of world peace? Or will it be something completely different? Those who watch over this are Quanjitta's clan. As they are onlookers, they do not make moral judgements. That's why they always say 'to watch over'. It's just that they don't try in vain to stop history, so they don't want to give the books to people who don't have the Gift.
**Mashimo:** The position held while making this story of "Madlax" is the idea that humans have lived alongside madness for a long time. Although we've thought things like 'If you tell them, they'll understand' since a long time ago, or thinking that that kind of era existed, that's not the case. If you are of the opinion that 'If you tell them, they'll understand', you might find that it's in fact more difficult to understand. There's a gap there.

**Kuroda:** It's not about good or evil. The thing they want to do at the end. It's like that in the case of the main characters, as well as Quanjitta, and Friday too. It's just that madness is something which is constantly there, so the world does not change depending on how you view it, or, more than a wish, 'What does the you who has touched the essence of the world want from that world?' - it depends on how you want the world to be. You are supposed to have seen a lot of madness. Those who can be self-aware are the people with the Gift. So what does that you want from the world. At the end it is up to Margaret to choose whether she wants peace or madness. And since for the self to become aware of madness and live in it is how it is to live as a person, her final conclusion is that it's fine like that.

**Mashimo:** It would've been better if you made that part more clear. (laughs)

**Kuroda:** Well, if you overdo that, then people will think 'Immature~' and so on, and it'd seem like a sermon. (laughs)

**Kitayama:** But people, despite being contradictory, will always feel somewhere 'I am right' and live like that. I don't think there are that many who live while thinking, 'I was wrong, sorry', so if you pursue reason, most people will fall into self-loathing or start quarrelling with 'Stop messing around, you idiot!'.

**Kuroda:** Or it might become 'I'm sorry for being alive'. (laughs)

**Kitayama:** Although in short it's living by splitting it into two, I think it's about whether you keep an eye on it or not. (not sure what this means) Like if you accidentally kill the neighbour you were friendly with over some little thing without realising [what you were doing] because you thought you were correct, and you were fine while doing it somehow or another; I think that kind of thing happens.
#### Even so, Love the World

***Interviewer:** I'd also like to enquire about the production. With what intentions did you have the changing into a dress in battle scenes?*

**Kuroda:** It was an expression of how the director felt that 'Madlax is living from day to day in the middle of a battlefield'. When I first wrote it, she wasn't wearing anything like a dress. The director told me that somehow I wasn't expressing [Madlax's desire for normality] clearly enough, so while rotating around the point of 'Even though she looks like that, she's just a normal girl who wants to be cute', it developed into the excessively attention-grabbing current state. (laughs) And then the first time Madlax is seen in a dress is in the first episode, so the image of 'Come, this is the beginning of the show' is also there. But in the first episode, since she really shoots like she's dancing, it also shows that 'This is Madlax'.
**Mashimo:** Being in a dress is what Madlax perceives as being normal. If she was shown fighting in clothes suitable for fighting, as would be expected, that's just the the scenario being too immersed in the real situation.

**Kuroda:** From the staff's point of view, it feels like the manuscript was written while the writer was drinking. (laughs)

**Kitayama:** The dress is also like this, but although in fighting scenes, in normal films, have the snipers going 'haa haa' and so on because they're nervous, and insert yells like 'tou!' when they're doing action, Madlax doesn't depict such things at all. In short, there's a sense of 'I'm going to do my duty today too', or 'We safely broke down 80% of the energy today as well' (no idea what this means). That's why I think Ms. Kobayashi struggled considerably. Because although she was tense, in terms of the scenes, she still sought [to express] the feeling of what the character known as Madlax considered normal.

**Kuroda:** That's why episode 1 was where Madlax felt the most like somebody who transcended everything; afterwards, due to various psychological influences, she became increasingly weak. And then in the last episode, having accepted everything and begun to become strongly aware of herself after being able to view herself as an individual again, her strength returns with 'It's definitely not correct (?)'. (laughs) And the awareness that 'Madlax is a girl' is strongly there. Even in episode 3, she deliberately changes her clothes, and there's the image that she's going to meet (Guen McNichol) as a girl (rather than a mercenary).

**Kitayama:** I arbitrarily wrote 'Her changing into a dress is how she, as a girl, tries to boost her own spirits' (?) for the DVD explanation. Like 'Let's put a little fighting spirit in while working' or ‘Since a wonderful client from a company is coming today, I've got to get the tea out' and trying to re-do her makeup during such times, since I thought that females felt that way sometimes, and wondering what trying to create something extraordinary in the middle of the ordinary would result in. But if you try to interpret it normally, things like fighting in a war and killing people will themselves become out of the ordinary, so those things are defined as being ordinary, and on top of that [we] debated how best to allow people experience the extraordinary through Madlax, thus the dressing up.

**Kuroda:** In the end, don't people become able to kill others efficiently? Like [thinking about] how to make clean kills, how to shoot while maintaining a happy presence. If you think such things through, you'll become increasingly systematic and lose all interest. Isn't it because of that that Madlax wanted to feel a sense of normality? At stages when her legs are bared, although it's definitely not practical, I think that the fact she does not get injured there is the identity befitting of her. (?)
***Interviewer:** And from there to something that I think everybody is acquainted with; is that "Yanmaani" actually [named] "Yanmaani"? (laughs)*

**Mashimo:** I don't know anything about that that kind of thing. (laughs)
**Kuroda:** Director Mashimo is becoming increasingly like Manager Ochiai (a former pro baseball player famous for doing things his own way). That song was actually [supposed to be] the theme song, but he came up with the powerful choice of introducing it as an insert song instead. But with that, it caused a large flower to bloom in the original story (not sure what this means), because I was already writing the later half on the assumption that that song would be used. (laughs) Despite that, a different insert song was used, so there's also an element of my having done it for the director. (laughs)

**Kitayama:** We allotted it properly according to the situation, as battle music. Around episode 15 was when Yanmaani got cut off the most. That's because I said 'Director, we've got to insert Yanmaani sometime soon!' at the time.
(everyone laughs)

**Kuroda:** At times when only the intro played, it'd be like, 'Today, it stopped just before the Yanmaani, didn't it'. (laughs) Even so, it displayed a strange discussability in completely unexpected places. (laughs)
***Interviewer:** Although Friday was shot by Madlax, is there any possibility of him actually still being alive?*

**Mashimo:** He wouldn't die. There's no way he could die.
**Kuroda:** He's living with a feeling like, "just joking~". (laughs) Friday, too, is not perfect. That's why he continues living, pursuing perfection - that's how I explain it to myself.

***Interviewer:** Why does Quanjitta die at the end?*

**Kuroda:** This is just something that I set by myself, but there must always be one who watches history change, a person in a position similar to Quanjitta's. As a result of Margaret's choice, the world which Quanjitta watched over ends here. So there will be a new character who will step up to watch over the world created by Maragaret's choice until the next change. That might be Nakhl, or perhaps [another] Quanjitta might come out again with a "pop" as if she has been cloned, (laughs) - that's the kind of duty it is. Despite not touching the essence, as [their lives?] ticks away as history, history itself was replaced by humans, that kind of feeling.

***Interviewer:** Then, is Charlie living?*

**Kuroda:** He's living. In the scenario, although there's a scene where he properly awakes to the essence, it was cut in the city of shaku (no idea what this means - shaku is a unit of measure). (laughs) Although he was killed at first, he's alive.
***Interviewer:** Although the three books were burning at the end, does the Gate of Truth still exist somewhere in the world?***Kuroda:** Actually, on the last page is written "Margaret Burton was like this", [so there's] a feeling of "Welcome to the next era" to it. If 2000 more years pass, they might become amazingly thick books, but at that time the writing might be in even smaller letters, or it might be compressed using LZH (a way of compressing data); I think there are many ways of dealing with it. (laughs) Also, the civil war in Gazth-Sonika hasn't ended, and Enfant might have just split up, so [the problems] are still continuing.

***Interviewer:** Well, my imagination hasn't run out yet, but since it's almost time, here's a last question. What kind of production is "Madlax" to you personally?*

**Kuroda:** I wrote the last scene while putting the feelings of 'Not living by abandoning something, but to live in strict self-awareness, and love this absurd world' into it. Simply put, what I wanted to say in the end was something on the lines of 'Let's love this world, having understood a lot of different things [about it]'.
***Interviewer:** How do Director Mashimo and Mr. Kitayama feel about this?*

**Mashimo & Kitayama:** That kind of thing!
**Kuroda:** Ehh! ...They ran away. (laughs)

***Interviewer:** Then we'll conclude this with Mr. Kuroda's words from just now. (laughs) Thank you very much.*

### Cast Interviews

#### 中野 千佳代 Chikayo Nakano

*At first, I thought "I'm a girl who looks weak." But when I played her, I said "she's too strong!" (Laughs). [Dubbing present Memories at the venue] It was my first time at the site, so everything was fresh and thoughtful. It's deep. The staff will stay until the end for me almost every time. The staff will meet me and say with a smile "Thank you for your hard work." Mr. Fuji took care of me, Mi. Uchikawa, Mr. Morikawa, and Mr. Ehara. Hmm, Mr. Kaneda said that everyone kindly spoke to me, and made eye contact. Mr. Yukino encouraged me to smile and stay behind. What you gave me .......... I haven't had the chance. The site was really warm. Everyone will love "Madlax" for a long time. I'm happy. By the way, I became fond of pasta because of this work. Is it just me? (Laughs).*