Chapter 10: Each One's Intentions IV

"I see, the Mixed-Blood of Japan are surprisingly complex, aren't they?"

A woman cloaked in a cassock said this in the study of a certain manor late at night.

Naturally, this was trespassing, but for Ciel, who had received all the training of the Burial Agency, it was effortless.

However, Ciel had originally focused on Shiki Tohno as a potential reincarnation candidate for Roa, so she hadn't intended to sneak into the Tohno mansion like this to investigate materials such as the family tree.

But the collaboration between Shiki Tohno and the True Ancestor Arcueid, which could only be called a sudden change, coupled with the immediate appearance of Satsuki Yumizuka, who had become a vampire—

Such developments sparked Ciel's interest in the Tohno family, who were likely the cause of this disturbance.

"...The Yumizuka name appears as a branch of a branch of the Kishima family, but it stops being recorded halfway," Ciel noted.

A turned page revealed the name 'Yumizuka' recorded as a branch of a branch family. However, the lineage was not recorded after sixty years ago, so it was unclear if they had fallen into decline or died out.

"She is a descendant of a mixed-blood with the possibility of an atavistic return, then. That said, it could be a simple coincidence of surnames. I should confirm this tomorrow using residence records... Hmm?"

As she reached for another book, she felt a sudden sense of anomaly. Opening the book, she found it hollowed out with a key concealed inside.

"A key, is it?"

She picked up the antique-style key. She had tried to examine the desk drawer immediately upon entering the room, but it was locked, so she had postponed it. Inserting the key into the desk drawer, it opened just as she expected.

"This is... the main family's Tohno family tree. As expected, they are all short-lived due to the reversion... and this one is a memoir? By the former head, Tohno Makihisa."

None of the people listed in the family tree lived long or died well. It was a bloodline that outsiders would describe as being simply cursed. However, Ciel, possessing prior knowledge of the destiny awaiting those of mixed blood, felt no particular surprise. But the memoir left behind by the former head caught her interest.

The Demon resides in the Tohno family—

The memoir, which began with those words, documented the true nature of the manor's inhabitants.

"............"

How much time had passed? Ciel learned of the many dark secrets the Tohno family concealed and began to feel a certain dissonance with the name [SHIKI]. She was close to reaching the truth, but then...

"Putting aside Arcueid-san from the evening, what business do you have in my father's room so late at night, Guest?"

The current head of the mansion appeared just as the dull wooden door creaked open. In the room, lit only by the moonlight, she—Akiha Tohno—stared precisely at the trespasser.

"...I recall Tohno-kun saying you are usually asleep at this time?" Ciel said, withdrawing her gaze from the memoir and speaking without surprise at Akiha's silent appearance.

"...I don't believe I have an obligation to answer a trespasser, do you?"

"Ahaha, you're right. But, does the name 'Satsuki Yumizuka' ring any bells?"

Akiha answered coldly after a slight pause.

"...I wouldn't know. I heard she was my brother's classmate?"

Her response was innocuous, but at that moment, the name was strongly imprinted in Akiha's mind.

"Is that so? It's a bit troublesome, but she's a vampire, and according to this, she seems to be from a branch of the 'Kishima' family?"

Though the information was not fully confirmed, Akiha reacted slightly to the bluff. Specifically, the word 'Kishima' momentarily triggered a flicker of anger, impatience, and surprise. From the slight fragment of information and the current situation in the town, Akiha spoke first, anticipating what the intruder, Ciel, was trying to say.

"...You didn't just break into the Tohno mansion for that, did you? Does this have some relation to my brother or me?"

"Exactly. I am pursuing a certain vampire. And I suspect the Tohno family is the most suspicious."

Ciel responded with her usual cheerful demeanor, but to Akiha, she sounded like nothing more than an intruder declaring the need to kill her family members.

"Well, do you happen to have any vampires among your relatives?"

Ciel drew a Black Key from her clothing, and the tension in the room abruptly swelled. Furthermore, Akiha felt a sense of violation, as if her mind were being probed, and she instantly understood the cause.

"Do you think asking someone a question while displaying such a dangerous object will elicit an answer? Not to mention the suggestion."

A normal person would have unwittingly revealed their true thoughts, unaware of what had been done or even realizing they were under a suggestion. However, such trivial tricks were useless against Akiha, who was a human from the mysterious side, more so than an average magus.

"I see. Suggestion doesn't work on mixed-blood. Truly, this is troublesome. In that case, although Tohno-kun is currently engrossed with Yumizuka-san, perhaps I should meet her again and ask her..."

With an attitude that clearly expressed her annoyance, Ciel brought up her brother's name—a sort of taboo word in front of Akiha—

"If so, then—"

Akiha's figure wavered.

For a moment, Ciel couldn't understand. Why was a mirage occurring around Akiha Tohno in the middle of the night?

No, this was not a natural phenomenon. This was the ability of a half-breed—Ciel instinctively hurled a Black Key at Akiha's shadow, attempting to halt her with a Shadow Binding spell. But Akiha's attack arrived faster.

"Guh—!?"

Fire, no. Heat itself coiled around Ciel's arm like a snake, mercilessly scorching her skin.

—A flame-based ability!? I must retreat for now!

Having made that judgment, Ciel quickly smashed the window and escaped outside.

"You won't escape. I don't care who you are, but you won't be allowed to lay a finger on my brother."

Akiha confirmed where the intruder, Ciel, had gone, and then gracefully followed her out the window in the same manner, beginning the pursuit to vent the anger accumulating within her.

Thus, a battle between two anomalies began here.

When I got home that evening, Arcueid was inexplicably relaxing there. Furthermore, Hisui then entered the room, and I panicked, unsure how to explain the situation. But Arcueid used suggestion to cover for us, after which I took the willful princess outside.

...But, it seems this air-headed vampire wasn't just spotted by Akiha, but actually met her... How am I supposed to explain things to Akiha tomorrow?

Well, putting that aside, I once again found myself walking the night streets with Arcueid.

"Ugh... Guh..."

My first impression of the man Arcueid told me to look at with my Mystic Eyes was simply 'disgusting.'

It's true that every human has a few 'lines.' But that guy... he had too many. The lines of 'death' were depicted everywhere. Was he even human?

"Unbelievable. You can even kill the 'dead' if they're moving..." Arcueid added.

—The real monster is you, isn't it.

I couldn't tell if it was exasperation or self-deprecation, but while I was immersed in the lingering headache and nausea from seeing the dead, she ignored me and walked towards the corpse standing by the vending machine, extending her claws to kill it without looking back. That sight, and the target of those tearing claws, overlapped with a certain person, and I asked:

"Are you going to kill Yumizuka too, just like Ciel-senpai?"

"...I have no choice but to kill her, haven't I? Because it's my role to kill vampires."

She easily affirmed the murder. I was shocked by Arcueid's affirmation of murder and the idea that Yumizuka would be killed.

No, perhaps that was her perspective. But instead of pondering the difficult questions of how to persuade her or what I should do, my mouth moved first.

"That's not right, Arcueid. I met her yesterday, and she still has a human heart, so I'm sure..."

However, I couldn't continue my words beyond that.

"Why doesn't Shiki question that woman? Even though she might be an imitation."

The eyes I saw over her shoulder shone gold, filled with clear murderous intent. Arcueid's carefree, bright atmosphere was gone, replaced only by fear. This was not the usual Arcueid, but a vampire-like entity standing less than a meter away.

"Shiki, you say that, but... she and I are both vampires, you know?"

Ah, I'm going to be killed.

My instinct screamed to run. My knees trembled with fear, and my throat was dry. But strangely, even though I might be killed, my mind was calm, and facing her, my words naturally offered the answer she sought.

"Because I believe in her."

"............Fine. Do as you please."

She answered in a voice mixed with displeasure and irritation, and ignoring me, she trotted towards the man standing by the vending machine.

"Hey, wait! Damn it!"

I couldn't abandon Yumizuka, but I couldn't leave Arcueid alone either. I ran after her, following her into the alleyway.

I had nothing but a bad feeling.

—Gih

The sound and sight of flesh twisting, even though I shouldn't have been able to see it. Along with it, a surge of nausea from my throat; I desperately endured it.

—Goh, Kin

I heard it, I saw it. Deep, deep in the narrow path, a dense presence of death. Death so clear I could see it even with my glasses, far off within my visible range, and—

I finally caught sight of a white back—

"We meet again."

Arcueid glared ahead, radiating hostility.

"...Indeed, we do."

A human shape vaguely floating in the darkness. Excluding the red eyes, it was undeniably Yumizuka.

I want to be useful to her, but... Yumizuka, seeing Arcueid's attitude, had also entered a combat-ready state. With the vanishing victim between them, Yumizuka and Arcueid were on the brink of an explosive confrontation.

"Honestly, I didn't want to fight you like this, and I didn't want to meet you this way—but that doesn't mean I intend to hold back."

"Honestly, I don't want to fight either, but if I have to fight to survive, then let's fight here—with the way you are right now, Arcueid-san, I have a chance to survive."

This is bad. The atmosphere in the place was rapidly turning into a declaration of war. From my position—Yumizuka, Arcueid, and me, in that order—I could certainly run away if I wanted to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, but I couldn't just stand by and watch.

But there's no way I'm running. They might transcend humanity, but I must be able to do something. Think, think, think—

"Hmph, you talk big. I don't know why you're taking down the dead, but standing before me—wait?"

"That is... Ouch, damn it, it hurts again."

Arcueid winced, holding the area where she had been injured protecting me earlier, and leaned weakly against the wall. If I looked closely, Yumizuka was also clutching her chest, enduring the pain.

The killing intent that had filled the narrow alley vanished as if it were a lie. Is this... a chance?

"Hey, can you two really fight like that?"

"............"

"............"

They both fell silent. Should I take this as affirmation?

"...To be honest, it's tough. Living on the streets can be mentally taxing, but maybe because I just became a vampire, my body sometimes hurts."

"I agree. I wish I could just stop being myself, but this time, Shiki is right."

I can do this. Thanks to both of them being out of sorts, Arcueid's head seems to have cooled down.

"Why don't the two of you team up? There's no reason for us to fight each other."

"...Shiki, are you serious?"

"...It might be too late to say this, but I think you're too kind to everyone."

Disappointment and a sigh were heard. Arcueid, followed by Yumizuka, had spoken harshly.

"Well, if Shiki says so, I'll let it slide. Honestly, as I am now, I probably wouldn't get off lightly."

Arcueid seemed to be weaker than I thought; looking closely, her face was pale. I gasped and was about to speak to her, but before I could, the severely weakened Arcueid glanced at Yumizuka.

"But, if you try anything funny, all bets are off. Besides, I have 'a few things' I want to ask Satsuki."

Yumizuka understood what those 'few things' meant and nodded slowly.

"Talking here isn't appropriate, so let's change locations."

Arcueid pushed off the wall and began to walk slowly. Her posture was remarkably dignified despite having Yumizuka behind her, which left Yumizuka slightly stunned.

"Turning your back on someone you were trying to kill just moments ago... Is that confidence, or just naiveté? Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Shiki."

"Yeah."

I nodded as I passed Yumizuka, who was following Arcueid.

The problems facing us were still far from resolved, but all things considered, I was happy to have met Yumizuka again on this night.