To Become a King and a Magician 896-900

Title: The Capture of the Vampire

Temporarily setting aside the accounting book in her hand, Morgan looked at the two people entering her office-cum-law firm.

“Today is only Thursday; it’s not yet time for you to come in for weekend work. What’s the sudden business?”

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash Kyrielight worked part-time at Morgan’s place.

They were originally introduced by Merry. Because the living expenses and tuition fees for Ritsuka and Mash were too burdensome for one family, the two wanted to lighten the family’s load. As a result, Merry introduced them to Morgan.

At that time, Morgan’s Camelot House had just opened and was in need of workers, so she accepted both of them and arranged some jobs.

Specifically, jobs like...

Exorcising evil spirits in abandoned factories, confronting rogue Magus in hiding, investigating cheating husbands and gathering evidence, helping children find lost cats or dogs—such tasks fell within the scope of their part-time work.

Due to academic reasons, the two usually only came on weekends. Although after advancing to their third year of college, the number of courses began to decrease, the upcoming internships and theses still took up most of their time. In the end, they could only come on weekends.

Placing the snacks bought at the station on the table, Ritsuka laughed: “I heard from Mash that Lia-san is back visiting for these two days. I have some things I want to ask her, so I hurried over—By the way, where are the others? Why is only the President (Director) here alone?”

“They went out on business; we got a big order.” Morgan said.

Artoria Caster, Barghest, Melusine, and Baobhan Sith were the only employees of Camelot House. Morgan also hadn’t hired outside workers for years. After all, too many outsiders would be troublesome, and she didn’t want unclear people in her office.

Even Ritsuka and Mash were still only part-time workers to this day.

For reference, Artoria Caster and Baobhan Sith were underclassmen to Ritsuka and Mash. After coming to Misaki City from Chaldea, the two were arranged to enter high school, two grades below Ritsuka.

Because they were always taught by Morgan and Naoki, plus the many things they learned during their year in Chaldea beforehand, their high school lives went without incident. At most, there were some disturbances due to their extraordinary beauty.

For example, on one Valentine’s Day, all the boys in their class gave them chocolates while doing dogeza (prostrating), hoping for a return gift on White Day. As a result, Baobhan Sith and Artoria Caster brought life-sized chocolate statues to school—well, that happened after Ritsuka graduated, and she only heard about it, so there must be some exaggeration.

However, their school lives were limited to high school. After graduating high school, they officially started working for Camelot House.

The same went for Melusine and Barghest, but compared to Baobhan Sith and Artoria Caster, whose appearances were more normal, the situations of the two were actually not very suitable for public appearances.

After all, one was an eternally cute little girl, and the other was a walking killing machine with large breasts that could strangle people. Both were individuals who could cause the crime rate in Misaki City to skyrocket dramatically. Releasing them into the public could be very dangerous. Therefore, Morgan only assigned them to dirty work.

For instance, jobs like exterminating evil spirits and confronting rogue Magus—when Ritsuka and Mash couldn’t come for part-time work, Melusine and Barghest were in charge.

But this time...

“Even Miss Barghest and Miss Melusine went out on business... What kind of order is it really?” Mash asked curiously.

Morgan lifted her cup of black tea and took a sip: “It’s a joint order, sent from Italy. They asked us to help capture a vampire.”

Italy?

“So it’s from big sis Ciel and big sis Arcueid?”

“Yes. Those two accidentally let a vampire escape here via ship. Because the Church there is a bit troublesome, they came to ask for our help. It’s a quite troublesome creature.”

Arcueid and Ciel let a vampire escape?

Those two could fail?

Ritsuka and Mash exchanged glances, then Ritsuka said: “Do we need to help? Mash and I are free all this week.”

“That works too. By the way, if you’re looking for Artoria, she’s actually helping out as well. Although she originally came to visit us, after I told her, she voluntarily offered to help. I think she’s at the Ogawa Apartments now.”

Ogawa Apartments.

That was an apartment building established in Misaki City at the end of the last century. At the time, its unique architectural style had been a topic of conversation. However, three years ago, the apartment was officially abandoned. The Ryougi family announced they had acquired the entire building, and it was scheduled to be demolished soon.

“This order actually involves the Ryougi side as well. There’s a vampire that entered the apartment that’s about to be demolished. That person is quite annoyed too; at first, she even said she’d cut it down herself.”

(That person...)

(She means Miss Ryougi. Miss Morgan’s relationship with her isn’t great.)

(After all, it’s also a supervisory relationship...)

This was an issue that had to be traced back to before Morgan came here.

The reason Merry suggested that the five people from the Lostbelt come here was largely because Ryougi Shiki was here. With this most reliable supervisor present, even if Morgan wanted to cause trouble, she would be immediately slashed.

Morgan knew this too, so when mentioning things related to Shiki, she felt a little displeased—but only a little, the size of a sesame seed.

“Then, we’ll take our leave, President.”

“Yes, be careful on the road. Oh, and remember to bring home dinner. The food stock at home was all eaten by Artoria last night.”

“We understand.”

After saying that, Ritsuka and Mash left Neo-Camelot House.

After watching them go, Morgan took out the document printed after being remotely transferred from Italy from under the accounting book—this was data about the vampire provided by Ciel.

“A blonde-haired vampire girl, capable of using Imaginary Manifestation, possesses Mystic Eyes suspected to be on the level of Noble Color, and...”

Morgan looked at the last highlighted key point.

“Very familiar to all of us, and also gives a sense of familiar strangeness to them.”

Setting down the document, Morgan turned and looked at the sky outside: “I hope it can be resolved smoothly. This year is the time for her return. I don’t want to miss out at this final moment.”


-

Title: A-Aunt?!

Misaki City.

Ogawa Apartments.

Although it’s an apartment building that’s been standing for thirty-four years, its exterior still looks much the same as it did back then, not much changed, even though it clearly appears old.

After taking a taxi and arriving at the gate of the Ogawa Apartments, Ritsuka and Mash got out of the car.

“This is the Ogawa Apartments; this is my first time here.”

“Mine too.”

Ritsuka was a native of Misaki City, and Mash had been living here for several years as well. However, neither of them had actually come around the Ogawa Apartments before. Compared to here, they more often went to the streets or large shopping centers. Both rarely visited quiet riverside areas like this.

Moreover, the area around the Ogawa Apartments had long ceased to be considered a promising district like it was at the end of the last century. A decrease in visitors was only natural.

“Caster and the others should be inside the apartment building.”

“Yeah, but we don’t know which block.” Ritsuka pulled out her phone and opened the document that Morgan had just sent her on the way.

The Ogawa Apartments were originally built for a specific purpose by someone. It’s said that Aozaki Touko’s name was among the designers. However, shortly after completion, that ill-intentioned person died unexpectedly, and the place was abandoned for two years until it was renovated again in 1999 and began accepting residents.

The overall structure of the apartments incorporated many magical theories, such as formations, Tai Chi, Yin and Yang... Because the main designer was a monk highly skilled in formations, this aspect was very specialized, deliberately dividing the apartments into eastern and western sections. Movement between floors could only be done via the central elevator.

Because you couldn’t see the outside situation inside the elevator, plus the fact that it rotated, it was very easy to get disoriented—this was also the reason why the Ogawa Apartments gradually lost residents in recent years. Due to this unique structure, there were often cases of children getting lost and unable to be found.

“Why did that vampire come here?”

Mash looked up at the apartment and asked.

“Is there something special here?”

“No, according to the President, the magical formations and mechanisms in this apartment were long ago destroyed by Ryougi-san. Now it’s just an ordinary apartment with a somewhat troublesome structure.” Ritsuka put away her phone. “In that case, let’s hurry and help out. After we’re done, we can head straight to the supermarket to buy groceries. Since Big Sis Lia is coming, we need to buy more tonight so everyone has enough to eat.”

*BAM!*

As Ritsuka said that, a loud noise suddenly came from the roof of the Ogawa Apartments. The two quickly looked up, then saw a figure flying out from the apartment.

It was...

“Miss Baobhan?”

“I’ll catch her!”

Ritsuka immediately clapped her palms together, and a vortex of wind quickly swirled around her. Under her control, the vortex shot into the air, supporting Baobhan Sith’s body, and slowly brought her down to the ground.

Jumping down from the wind vortex, Baobhan Sith looked at the two of them: “Thanks, Ritsuka—by the way, why are you guys here? Don’t you have classes?”

“We have no classes from today until next Wednesday, and there’s some business we wanted to ask Big Sis Lia about, so we were called here by the President.” Ritsuka explained. “Why did you fly out? Were you thrown by that vampire?”

Baobhan Sith nodded a bit awkwardly: “You could say that. I accidentally got kicked when she found an opening... That creature is quite troublesome. Now I understand why that dumb True Ancestor and the Curry Idiot couldn’t catch her.”

She?

A woman?

“Good thing you guys came. Come in with me. The others are still fighting her inside.”

“Got it!”

The way to the roof of the Ogawa Apartments was very straightforward—just take the elevator to the top floor, which only took a dozen seconds.

And when Ritsuka and Mash arrived on the roof—

*CLANG!*

What they saw was Melusine fighting someone.

(Can she fight evenly with Big Sis Melusine? Is that vampire that strong?)

Ritsuka and Mash knew Melusine’s strength very well. Back then, she could defeat both of them without any resistance at all. Now, she couldn’t take down a single vampire?

The two couldn’t help but look at the person fighting Melusine. At the same time, the vampire also looked toward the two of them.

“Eh?”

“Ah?”

Both sides were stunned for a moment.

Then, the vampire was kicked squarely in the chest by Melusine, who exploited the opening, and she was sent crashing to the floor!

“Huuu~~~~ Truly troublesome—Are you okay, Baobhan? And why are Ritsuka and Mash here too?” Melusine looked at the three of them. “Oh yeah, could you two please go downstairs and get the others? They all fell for that vampire’s trick and can’t move.”

“It’s not a trick, you know!”

A somewhat childish-sounding voice came from not far away.

Crawling out from the shattered floor, the blonde-haired vampire dusted off her body: “So mean, Melusine. You kicked me right in the chest. What if I can’t grow anymore after you hit me? I don’t want to stay flat forever when I’m only eighteen!”

“I think having protrusions like yours at eighteen is abnormal development. Better to flatten them a bit.”

Melusine said with a sullen face.

Although she was a knight bearing the name Lancelot, and also the most beautiful Dragon Fairy, Melusine had only one flaw: her body shape. That was her absolute taboo. With familiar people, it was fine, but if a stranger mentioned it, she would get extremely angry!

Are big breasts great? Aren’t they just two lumps of fat? She felt tired just looking at Barghest’s! They even hinder movement! Melusine would always insist that her small and petite body shape was the perfect one!

“Oh dear~~~ (whisper) Damn, I forgot I shouldn’t mention that... Oh well, it’ll be fine after we get back. More importantly...”

The blonde-haired vampire stared at Ritsuka and Mash, looking at them for a long time as if pondering something.

“Could it be... Aunt Ritsuka and Aunt Mash? Oh, right. Your hair is still short now, and you’re so young. Your ages should be pretty close to mine.”

“!”

“!”

A-Aunt?!

The title spoken by the blonde-haired vampire made Ritsuka and Mash’s faces stiffen immediately.

“W-Who are you? Your face...”

“Resembles Arcueid Brunestud. Well, after all, I do have a connection with her—but the situation really isn’t good. Even I’d have a hard time facing so many people at once. If I get caught, I’d definitely get trampled from head to toe by Aunt Morgan. So...”

The blonde-haired vampire smiled mischievously and casually snapped her fingers. A spatial transfer light gate, very familiar to Ritsuka and the others, immediately appeared behind her.

“See you~~~ We’ll meet again later, dear Aunts.”

“Wait!”

Melusine hurriedly lunged forward, but before her attack could reach the vampire, she had already completely vanished from the spot.

Pursing her lips, Melusine sheathed her Fairy Sword: “Tch, she escaped... Truly a troublesome creature.”


-

Title: Whose Child?

Not long after the blonde vampire escaped.

“Hmm, she wasn’t caught. Next, we’ll rescue the others and then continue the investigation with magic to track her trail. Her Majesty’s side is also continuing to track her using surveillance cameras.”

After reporting the situation there to Morgan by phone, Melusine looked at Ritsuka and the others: “Alright, let’s find the others. They should still be downstairs.”

“No... Wait, wait a minute.”

Ritsuka waved her hand: “Big Sis Melusine, didn’t you hear just now?”

“Hear what?”

“Auntie!” Ritsuka exclaimed, “She called Mash and me Auntie! I’m only 22, you know!”

For any woman, age is an eternal taboo. Especially for women who are already quite aged, calling them Auntie is akin to dancing on their landmines.

Although Ritsuka didn’t dwell too much on her age, being so young, an enthusiastic and beautiful college student, being called Auntie just made her feel defeated somewhere.

“Why were Mash and I called Auntie?”

“Is that a title that needs to be responded to with such emotion?” Melusine asked confusedly, “We’ve also been called Auntie before.”

“Eh? Big Sis Melusine and Baobhan too?”

That was a very unexpected reaction.

(No, that’s not right!)

Ritsuka and Mash looked at each other, then Mash asked: “That... Miss Melusine, Miss Baobhan Sith, do you know the meaning of Auntie?”

Melusine: “Don’t know. Isn’t it just a common appellation?”

Baobhan Sith: “Me too. Although it sounds a bit annoying, I guess it means something similar to calls like Idiot, Pervert, Bastard.”

Okay, confirmation complete.

Although they seemed to have assimilated into modern society, because the Lostbelt had no concept of this and they might not have studied it in detail here, Melusine and Baobhan Sith completely misunderstood the vampire’s words.

“Big Sis Melusine, Baobhan Sith, actually, ‘Auntie’ is used to call a woman whose age is almost the same as one’s own mother.” Ritsuka explained.

“Of course, it’s usually used to call women in their thirties or forties—or generally used for women who look older.”

“Oh, that means...”

“We look old?”

After Baobhan Sith said that, including herself, her and Melusine’s gazes immediately sharpened!

Look old?

What the heck! Although one was a dragon as old as the earth, and the other was a fairy who had reincarnated many times, their relative ages were indeed older, but look old?

“Next time we meet, I’ll have to cut her clean.”

“I’ll also prepare some special curses for her.”

Seeing the two of them starting to plan their next operation, clearly beginning to incorporate personal motives, Ritsuka and Mash smiled awkwardly.

“But... if she called us Auntie.” Mash thought of something, “does that mean the vampire’s mother knows us?”

As soon as this sentence was uttered, the four people present were stunned for a moment.

Come to think of it, it’s true.

“Blonde vampire, Auntie, can use Imaginary Manifestation and Magecraft Displacement, plus there’s a connection with Big Sis Arcueid...” Ritsuka pieced together the information, “Could she be the child of Big Sis Arcueid and the Head of Department?”

“!”

The conjecture Ritsuka put forward made everyone fall silent for a moment.

Arcueid’s and Naoki’s child?

Baobhan Sith: “Indeed, her appearance and abilities are a combination of the two, but...”

“The timing doesn’t fit.” Melusine said, “Naoki hasn’t returned for six years. According to the time here, the last time he returned was about seven years ago. Could six years produce a child that big?”

“Besides, if it were his child, there’s no way they would ask for our help to catch her.”

That makes sense too.

If the vampire was truly Arcueid’s and Naoki’s child, even if following the great fortune in Avalon at that time, she should only be about six years old now. Not to mention Arcueid’s character, if she had a child, she would definitely say so immediately.

(So it’s not? But that’s the only possibility.)

“Alright, alright~~~ Let’s think about this problem later.” Baobhan Sith smiled, clapping her hands, “We should go down and rescue Caster and the others first. It’s not good to leave them downstairs for too long.”

“You’re right.”

Saying so, Melusine swung her Fairy Sword and created a gap in the roof, returning to the inside of the apartment in the most direct way. Ritsuka and the others smiled bitterly and immediately followed her.

And whether it was a coincidence or Melusine had calculated it, as soon as they arrived downstairs—

“......”

Barghest’s figure, squeezed between two walls, was immediately visible to them.

Ritsuka poked the wall trapping her: “Is this... Imaginary Manifestation?”

“Yes, the opponent skillfully exploited Barghest’s large size, creating this trap where the more she tries to get out, the tighter she gets squeezed.” Melusine explained. “Although it looks like just two walls, for Barghest it’s actually like being stuck in a narrow alley.”

“I am truly sorry...”

With her head buried in her chest, Barghest was full of apologies and shame.

As a Fairy Knight, being restricted by a mechanism like this was truly unbecoming.

“Miss Barghest couldn’t free herself?” Mash asked, “With your strength, it should be easy.”

“No, this trap seems to squeeze tighter the more I use force. I can’t break free from the inside. So, we have to ask Mash to destroy it with her shield.”

Mash nodded upon hearing that, and Ritsuka deftly placed a hand on Mash’s shoulder, continuously using several reinforcement Magecrafts on her—this was also a development of himself over six years. Magecraft that once required a Mystic Code, he could now use with his own strength.

“Hyaaa!”

*BAM!*

Accompanied by Mash’s powerful impact, one of the walls trapping Barghest shattered into pieces. Barghest, regaining her freedom, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Only...

*THUD!*

Due to the height difference, when Barghest landed, Melusine, who was standing in front of her, immediately felt two additional weights on her head.

Melusine: “......”

For a moment, everyone felt a pure and unabashed murderous aura.

“Okay, one has been rescued. What about Caster and Big Sis Lia then?” Ritsuka asked.

“As for them...”

Barghest walked into the corridor leading to the west side, and immediately opened the door to one of the residents’ rooms on the west side.

“Uwaaahhhhhhhh~~~~~~”

“I-I can’t take it... Ugh...”

What was seen was Artoria Caster surrounded by several dolls shaped like Morgan, being pressed to work on exam papers. And Artoria, whose body was buried under a pile of potatoes and octopuses, with only her head visible.

(This is truly a trap full of malicious intent.)


-

Title: Trading Blows

Night. Neo-Camelot House—in its dining room located on the second floor.

“So, in the end, she still wasn’t found.”

At the dining table, Morgan, seated in the main chair as director, looked around at the several people, all of whom looked exhausted, then tasted a bowl of soup with an expressionless face.

Indeed, she wasn’t found.

After rescuing Artoria and Artoria Caster, Ritsuka and the others continued to be busy searching for the vampire. However, even with Caster’s Magecraft and Baobhan Sith, as well as real-time tracking using surveillance cameras from Morgan, they still failed to capture her.

“We’re sorry, Shachō...”

Ritsuka bowed her head in frustration.

Morgan let out a soft sigh: “Ah, never mind. Don’t discuss work at the dining table. I had already anticipated this failure. After this, I will inquire with the Ryougi Family. Since it is something requested by that woman, she will not object to providing some information.”

“Then I will also come along.” Melusine said. “If a fight breaks out, I can restrain her.”

“Hmm.”

(Is it already certain that there will be a fight with Miss Shiki?)

As mentioned before, the relationship between Morgan and Shiki could not be called good. As long as they didn’t meet, there was no problem, but once they met, these two equally highly competitive individuals often began to aggressively compete and taunt each other even before they spoke much, continuously attacking each other with words until it eventually escalated into physical conflict.

Of course, the root of their conflict was essentially an idiot who hadn’t returned home for six years.

“Rather than that, Mash and Ritsuka, why are you here today?”

Just then, Artoria Caster, who was putting beef next to the table into a hotpot, asked the two of them with a curious expression.

Ritsuka explained: “Actually, it’s about my thesis. Since the topic relates to King Arthur, I wanted to ask the person directly...”

King Arthur?

Everyone simultaneously looked towards Artoria, who was elegantly eating there.

“I see, I understand the situation.”

After finishing the beef in her bowl, Artoria wiped her lips: “I will provide as much help as possible to assist you in completing your thesis, Ritsuka.”

“Thank you, Lia-san!” Ritsuka immediately felt relieved.

“But Ritsuka, you’ll also be graduating college, huh.” Artoria smiled, as if remembering the past, “I remember the Clock Tower once sent you an invitation.”

Thanks to Chaldea’s connections, coupled with the service of saving humanity, when Ritsuka graduated high school, the Clock Tower indeed invited her to officially begin studying Magecraft there—specifically Lord Riddell from the Department of Botany.

However, Ritsuka politely declined.

“Well, it feels like it would be very troublesome to go there, and I don’t have a very good impression of the Clock Tower...” Ritsuka smiled bitterly, “Besides, if I just want to learn Magecraft, I can directly ask Shachō, or Caster and Baobhan.”

Artoria Caster and Baobhan Sith were Magi taught by Morgan and Naoki, and Morgan herself was a Divine-level Magus. Her magic level was among the highest of Heroic Spirits. No matter how powerful the Magi at the Clock Tower, even if tied together, they would not be enough for Morgan to fight with one hand.

“Then, what are your plans after graduation, Ritsuka?” Baobhan Sith asked, “Work directly here? Okāsan (Mother) will surely agree; we’re all already close.”

“Our place is not a formal company, and the work is not stable. This is not a good place for a new graduate. It’s better to come after he’s thirty or forty. Before that, just find a stable job step by step.” Morgan said while taking a piece of rice cake. “You majored in history... How about a job at a museum? I can connect you to any museum throughout Japan.”

“Or you could also work directly at Chaldea.”

“Becoming a freelancer and traveling the world is also a good idea?”

“...”

A table full of people simultaneously began discussing Ritsuka’s future career plans, looking like an entire household of parents crowding around the only junior in the family.

Indeed, that was the case.

Among those present, only Mash and Artoria Caster were of a similar age to Ritsuka.

“By the way, are you two staying overnight?” Barghest suddenly asked.

“Yes. Sorry for the trouble.”

“In that case, how about we have a ladies’ party tonight?”

“Hasn’t it already started now?”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the same time. At a ramen shop in Misaki City.

“Slurrrrp~~~ Slurrrrp~~ Slurrrrp~~~~”

Savoring a bowl of ramen, after finishing the broth and noodles in one gulp, the blonde vampire girl put down the bowl.

“Huuu~~~~ Full, full.”

After letting out a thoroughly unfeminine sigh, she placed several banknotes on the table. The girl walked out of the ramen shop onto the night street.

Looking at the night scenery in front of her, the girl stretched out her arms strongly: “Ughh~~~~ Hmm! It really doesn’t matter how many years pass, this city is still the same. When was the last time I was here? —Ah, no, based on the time here, it should be several years later.”

“By the way, I met so many people I know today. First Aunt Melusine and the others, then Aunt Ritsuka and Aunt Mash. Aunt Morgan should also be here right now. Should I go see her?”

Thinking that, the vampire immediately shook her head in less than two seconds.

“No, no, no. Better not. Morgan currently shouldn’t be in a good mood to talk. If I go straight to her, my butt might get fractured... Well, it’s better to use the remaining time here to look around this era.”

“Oh-ho? This era, it sounds like you’re from another era.”

Just then, that voice suddenly sounded beside the girl.

The girl’s body instantly stiffened. Then, she turned towards the direction of the voice. Through the crowd, a figure wearing a blue kimono and a red jacket was immediately spotted by the girl.

(Crap! The person I least wanted to meet has arrived!)

If she had to rank the people she feared most, the girl would definitely place the person in front of her at the very top.

The reason... it could only be said that no one in her family was not afraid of her, except for a certain idiot.

“It seems you’ve been causing quite a commotion in my territory these past few days.”

“Uh... not really. I-I was just looking around as usual...” The girl said, backing away, “B-Besides, you... are you taking a night stroll?”

“Yes, and also out to catch bats.”

(Ugh!)

Seeing the icy blue eyes of the person in front of her shine, the girl immediately trembled several times, then—

“I am truly sorry, I was wrong, Auntie Shiki!”

The girl’s body honestly knelt before Shiki.


-

Title: A Future That’s Too Shocking

Italy.

Near the Vatican.

Devil May Cry Extermination Firm.

*DING-DONG!*

Accompanied by the sound of the doorbell, Ciel, who was lying on the sofa, removed the magazine covering her face and looked toward the door: “Who is it? An order?”

“No order, can’t we just come?”

“What the heck, it’s you two.”

Getting off the sofa, Ciel looked toward the pair: “What’s the sudden business coming here? Aoko, Touko.”

“Nothing, just happened to be coming back. I heard from Riddell that you got a pretty interesting order, so we came to check out the situation.”

Aoko, who was carrying a suitcase, said with a smile: “By the way, where’s Arcueid? Sleeping?”

Ciel pointed upstairs: “You know too, she’s a vampire. Although she has no fear of the sun at all, daytime still feels a bit uncomfortable, especially with the Vatican right across the street, which inherently conflicts with her.”

“You’re impressive for dragging her here to help you.”

“If not here, I couldn’t hold her back either.”

Although she was the Princess of the True Ancestor and also an Elemental Spirit, a vampire was still a vampire. In the Vatican, the place with the strongest faith and sanctity in the world right now, Arcueid still felt a bit uncomfortable, especially during the day when she would always feel a tightness in her chest.

Placing the suitcase on the floor, Touko lit a cigarette: “Well, more than that, is that order done? A vampire that you and Arcueid couldn’t handle together... Could it be that Black Princess?”

Black Princess.

Altrouge Brunestud, ninth rank among the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors. From a biological perspective, she was Arcueid’s older sister, and the one who once cut Arcueid’s long hair—a mixture of Dead Apostle and True Ancestor, the de facto leader of all Dead Apostles.

If it was her, with the two Ancestors always following her, she could indeed escape from Ciel and Arcueid.

“No, not her.” Ciel shook her head, “If it was her, it would still be easy to handle. I wouldn’t need to get involved; Arcueid alone could finish off those three—her opponent was a blonde-haired vampire.”

“A blonde-haired vampire?”

“Her face resembles Arcueid by eighty or ninety percent, very skilled in using Imaginary Manifestation, can also do Magecraft Displacement, and seems to have some kind of Mystic Eyes—and her mouth is extremely rude; she straight up called me old auntie.”

Hearing Ciel’s description, Aoko and Touko exchanged glances, as if confirming each other’s thoughts.

“Touko, could it be...”

“Most likely, yes... Ciel, you have that suspicion too.”

“Yeah, more or less. The Japanese side must have made contact too; it’s not too hard to think of it.” Ciel said, “Considering how she addressed me, as well as her appearance and abilities... She’s most likely from the future via Rayshift—“

“Naoki and Arcueid’s child.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Japan, Ryougi Family.

“First, state your name.”

In the living room used for receiving guests, Shiki said to the girl sitting across from her.

“Then explain your true purpose. After that, there are a few questions I want to ask you; answer them honestly too, don’t lie.”

“I-I know, Auntie Shiki. You don’t need to activate the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception!”

The girl, stared at by a pair of icy blue Mystic Eyes, trembled anxiously. Then, she took several deep breaths, as if adjusting her posture, and performed a very standard kneeling courtesy.

“Nice to meet you, Auntie Shiki. I come from the future, thirty years from now. I am the daughter of Arcueid and Natsukawa Naoki, named Natsukawa Yūe. I am twenty years old this year, and second in the family hierarchy. Please guide me.”

“That idiot’s daughter?”

“Yes, that idiot Papa’s daughter.” The vampire girl who called herself Yue nodded, “Ah, by the way, since theoretically Papa and Mama couldn’t have children, I am actually the crystallization of their combined powers, not a child born in the normal way. Although in terms of blood relation, I am indeed their daughter.”

Shiki was silent for a moment. After narrowing her eyes and observing Yue from top to bottom, she let out a soft sigh: “You don’t seem to be lying—so, why did you suddenly come to our era thirty years later? What’s your purpose?”

“Aduh~~~~ That~~~~” Yue scratched her head a bit embarrassedly, “Actually... you could say I’m on vacation.”

“On vacation?”

“Yes. Because previously I worked overtime for a full month straight, while also resolving all the criminal organizations and magical disasters in Chaldea City. So, Auntie Ritsuka gave me a vacation, telling me to find a place to play for a bit. After thinking, I applied for Rayshift, wanting to see what the aunties looked like when they were young in the past... Turns out there’s almost no major change.”

According to what Yue heard as a child, among the aunties, except for those who didn’t need it, the rest were all given protection by her father. As long as they weren’t killed, they could remain immortal and not age—the theory of age limits had to be firmly avoided.

As an additional effect, the time for almost everyone was semi-permanently stopped. No matter how many years passed, their appearances wouldn’t change. At most, their spirits and strengths would change over time.

“I see...”

After listening to Yue’s explanation, Shiki nodded slightly: “Then the commotion you’ve caused around here these past few days?”

“I-It was...”

Yue suddenly smiled awkwardly.

“It was supposed to be a little revenge... When I was little, to train me, all the aunties gave me extremely intense hell training. Now, since I rarely get the chance to come to the past, I wanted to tease the aunties a bit... I really apologize for causing the disturbance!”

Seeing Yue bowing her head sincerely in apology before her, Shiki was silent for a long time. Then, she withdrew her Mystic Eyes: “Well, your punishment will be discussed after I talk with the others. For now, it’s suspended—now, answer some of my questions.”

“Ah, sure, please ask.”

“How is that idiot doing in the future? And how are we doing in the future?”

Shiki posed the question that anyone would ask a person from the future.

What would they be like in the future?

Yue smiled faintly: “This matter, let’s talk about it after all the aunties gather, okay. After all, this year is the time Papa returns from the other side. Everyone will surely gather, so we’ll discuss it then.”

“However, for Auntie Shiki’s future, I can say a little.”

“Say it.”

“Currently preparing to have a second child.”

*KRAK!*

Shiki felt something shatter in her heart and head.