Chapter 21: The Possibility of the Future (The Conclusion)

The cold season has arrived once more.

The wind that flows between the abandoned buildings, which have fallen into disrepair over the past decade, is very chilling.

Around here, there are only small, four- or five-story buildings and a dilapidated former factory made of shacks.

Only the nearby convenience store barely offers the light and convenience of civilization.

I hear that redevelopment will proceed soon, which is somewhat troubling for me, as this is my base of operations. After all, having already deviated from the human form, and with my appearance being ageless, I can’t stay in a place where human eyes are present for too long. For a while, I blended into the human world thanks to a friend's goodwill and the fact that my appearance was still passable. But now, after over ten years since becoming a vampire, things have inevitably gotten suspicious.

While the people around me age and grow, my unchanging appearance as a high school girl stands out. After all, even Ciel-senpai is about to hit her thirties and is desperately trying to look young.

In my previous life, I could never have imagined such a scene. That's because their story, from our perspective as the audience, seemed to end incomplete. Moreover, meeting them in real life and spending my life with them like this was merely a figment of my imagination in my past life.

"About ten years have passed, huh."

I met many people; there were happy times and sad times. Unexpected things, predictable things—truly a lot has happened.

As the years passed, the funny, noisy commotion of those teenage years subsided, and they all went their separate ways. Encounters at a certain café, or the trouble involving parallel worlds caused by a magical wand, are becoming rarer—as if reaching the end of summer vacation or childhood.

Amidst all this, have I changed?

Not just in terms of appearance, but also the feeling that I alone am being left behind as everyone around me becomes an "adult"—.

"—Achoo!"

My nose is stuffy, and I sneeze.

Snot runs down my nose with a sniffle.

Seriously, being sturdy is fine, but even this body, which became a vampire, still gets cold.

I quickly take a tissue from my jacket and blow my nose.

The breath escaping the tissue is white, and my hands are red and cold from the chill.

I want to go home to my current residence right away, but even this remote place has people. Considering the rapidly increased surveillance cameras in recent years and the effort spent on maintaining the secrecy of the supernatural using power and connections, I can't just fly there using vampire power. Furthermore, residents of the modern underworld must also be wary of video recording via portable electronic devices—something the Clock Tower has even issued a warning about.

Therefore, I have no choice but to walk steadily and silently. I tread the cold, hard asphalt road, where the air is chilled, though no snow is falling.

Suddenly, I look up at the sky.

The sun has already set below the horizon, and the sky is turning from deep blue to black.

This cold season reminds me of the day my destiny changed.

That's why I suddenly recalled my last conversation with Roa.

"Hmm...?"

I wake up.

My head is still hazy and unresponsive, but judging from my visual information, it seems I'm looking at the night sky, not an unfamiliar ceiling. However, the stimulating scent of flowers in my nose proves this is not a park.

I sit up and look around. I see a field of white flowers. White flowers, illuminated by moonlight, bloom profusely on a gentle hill, swaying in the night breeze, revealing their fragrance and beautiful appearance.

Where am I?

That question arose for a moment, but the impossibly large moon illuminating the night sky and my [Original Work] knowledge immediately gave me the answer.

"That's right, this is the place where my pure former self was captivated by the Princess. And this sight now is merely a reproduction based on my memory."

I turn around, and Roa is standing there.

However, his appearance is quite different from before. He is impeccably dressed, like a Catholic priest. No, since the sash around his neck is a stole used by Christian bishops or priests for worship, he must be a genuine priest.

He wears glasses, and his eyes hold high rationality and intellect, devoid of madness. I realize that the person before me is Michael Roa Valdamjong before he became known as the "Serpent of Akasha."

"This is the first time we've spoken face-to-face, Yumizuka Satsuki. Pleased to meet you. My name is Michael Roa Valdamjong, a fool who once sought eternity. I sincerely wish I had met you before I became a vampire."

"Well, thank you..."

His excessively polite tone and demeanor are throwing me off.

However, the fact that we've met like this means this place is—

"A Minds-cape (Shinshō Sekai, 心象世界)."

"Yes, this is the world of the mind. It is probably a result of my attempt to forcefully take over your soul. That is why we can talk like this."

"And that's why you failed and were killed by Shiki."

"Yes. That is why I was obstructed by you all and died."

...Wait, "obstructed by you all"? I don't remember the details of what happened, but my last memory is fiercely fighting this man for physical control, somehow gaining the upper hand, and entrusting everything to Shiki. I feel like I'm forgetting something crucial.

"...I see. You don't remember. Or perhaps, like your so-called [Original Work] knowledge, it's not a true 'recognition'."

Something doesn't feel right.

More importantly, why is the term [Original Work] coming from this man—?!

"Ah, that's simple. When I take over a host, I inherit all of the host's memories. The Roa you refer to was, so to speak, me and SHIKI. Therefore, I was given a complete view of Yumizuka Satsuki's memories. ...Truly, I pursued eternity to this extent, but your case honestly surprised me. It seems the world is indeed a much wider place, as the Princess says."

Oh, no. To think that this man knows.

"You don't need to be so defensive. In any case, I am about to be extinguished, having been killed by that Killer. Thus, I have no intention of killing you or claiming you as mine now. Instead, as an old man's advice, I have something to tell you about your future."

Roa made a gesture with his hand, as if to restrain me, who was instinctively about to attack, and proceeded to speak in a gentlemanly manner.

"Allow me to say this again: Your talent as a Dead Apostle is unique. You were bitten by me, skipping the stages of being a Ghoul or a Living Dead, and immediately transformed into a vampire. In a way, your talent has blossomed. This phenomenon could even be described as evolution."

"That's not exactly happy news. Ciel-senpai almost killed me because of it."

"Ah, that's true. The blossoming of talent does not always bring happiness to a person. From a different perspective, it can even restrict any other way of life."

Roa agrees with my complaint. Although we were just trying to kill each other, strangely, we are talking quite intimately.

"And even if the daughter of the Atlas Institute, whom you will eventually meet, expends tremendous effort, you will likely spend your life as a vampire, at most able to walk under the sun. You will never return to being human."

...Ah, so that's it. I had vaguely prepared myself. As expected, even with Shion's knowledge, returning to being human is impossible.

"You possess too much talent as a vampire, for better or worse. As long as you remain near the Princess and the Killer, you will undoubtedly face further hardship. The Princess is already a prominent figure in the underworld. If a human with the Eyes of Balor and you, who can use Reality Marble or Marble Phantasm, join her, you will inevitably be drawn into the conflicts of the underworld, as if 'evil attracts evil'."

I see. So, even Roa thinks so.

It's true that being around Arcueid-san and Shiki means I'll be drawn in. Those two are inherently far from peaceful existences; they are the type to become the center of trouble or jump right into it.

Therefore, being by their side inevitably leads down the Asura Path. A little while ago, I was only thinking about avoiding such a path, but now it's different.

Since I've become a vampire, no matter how hard I try to live a peaceful life, I'll be drawn into conflict sooner or later, and days of constant anxiety will follow.

Then, there is only one answer.

"I don't mind. In fact, being with those two is more important to me."

"...I see. You won't choose to run away."

Of course. If I'm going to live in constant fear anyway, I'd rather be with those two.

"Then, take this as a farewell gift."

In an instant, an enormous amount of knowledge flowed into my head. All knowledge concerning Alchemy, Numerology, Magecraft, Geometry, and the Mystic was successively imprinted into my mind. I have a slight headache, but this is...

"The same as Ciel-senpai."

"Indeed. After that girl was resurrected, she inherited my knowledge in addition to her immunity to death."

I recall the setting from the [Original Work]. Ciel-senpai's history is that she was once possessed by Roa and engaged in mass murder but was destroyed by Arcueid, who was still a killing machine. However, Ciel-senpai's spiritual potential was so exceptional that the world tried to keep her alive, leading to her eventual resurrection.

Simultaneously, Roa, the contradictory existence to the world who had possessed Ciel-senpai, died. But Roa was reincarnated into his next host, and Ciel-senpai became an entity that was both Ciel and Roa, making her body immortal.

Because she possessed all the knowledge of the genius magus Roa, she has the magical knowledge of a high-ranking magus, equivalent to a Grand in the Magic Association. However, she refrains from using her magecraft because it reminds her of her time as Roa, though she will not hesitate to use it for mission execution.

That was the setting.

And now, I am inheriting that knowledge.

"Whether the world progresses toward your so-called [Land of Steel] or [Fate/Extra], this knowledge will be beneficial to you."

"...Your service and goodwill are so overwhelming that it's scary."

The Roa I know is something of a joke character, and his strong-willed impression is making me lose my composure since I can't take the lead in this conversation.

"In any case, I will vanish, and that girl (Ciel) prefers not to use magecraft. Therefore, I will simply pass on all the secrets of the Mystic that I sought and pursued throughout my life to you, who still has the potential to inherit and continue my magecraft research."

"It seems you have high expectations for me. Thank you."

My view of Roa has changed slightly.

The Roa of the past is clearly quite different from the Roa I know. I suspect that Roa, having too much knowledge, became too fixated on the name of eternity.

As he repeated his reincarnations, he was heavily influenced by the personality of his host, just like the Roa who parasitized Tohno SHIKI. The Roa personality changed, and the boundaries with the host's personality became blurred. In that process, the Roa personality was consumed and would eventually disappear.

Perhaps Roa knew this rationally, but since he was captivated by Arcueid, he continued to reincarnate despite knowing the consequences.

"—Ah."

Suddenly, Roa opens his mouth and lets out a dazed sound. I turn to where his gaze is fixed, concerned by the rigid look in his wide-open eyes.

At the end of his gaze was Arcueid-san.

However, it wasn't the airheaded vampire I knew, but Arcueid Brunestud, the True Ancestor Princess and the True Ancestor's worst executioner.

Her expression was blank, but her pure golden hair vaguely glowed like gold in the moonlight from above. Though she was in human form, her features were too perfect, giving off an air of something not of this world. As she walked solemnly, her long dress swaying in the wind, her beauty momentarily stole my breath.

"Ah, I see," Roa murmurs.

And surprisingly, tears welled up in Roa's eyes.

"The truth is, it wasn't to pursue the Root. I simply wanted to keep watching the Princess like this. Yet—I forgot what I was even aiming for eternity for."

The Roa of this moment was not one of the Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, nor the vampire who caused trouble in Misaki Town, but Michael Roa Valdamjong, weeping and lamenting his own mistakes and regrets. There he stood—a pitiful man who had spent an eternity, only realizing after his death that he had lost sight of his means and his purpose.

"..."

I couldn't laugh at Roa, nor could I pity him.

Now that I am a vampire, his ultimate fate after spending an eternity is right before my eyes, making it impossible to see him as an outsider.

What will happen to me when I one day forget my parents, Shiki, and Ciel-senpai in this world? I wonder about the possibility of my future.

Yes, perhaps one day I, too, will forget my encounters with everyone and fall into a vampire who merely enjoys slaughter. To escape this unpleasant potential future, I casually look up at the heavens and notice something.

"The sky...!"

The sky is crumbling like a static-filled television screen that has malfunctioned. Not just the sky; the flowers and grass on the ground—all visible space is disappearing.

"It seems our time is up."

I turn back to Roa. His whole body is semi-transparent, and I can see the scenery through him; his existence has become utterly faint. I realize that the moment of farewell has finally arrived.

"Goodbye, Yumizuka Satsuki. Although you will not be pleased to hear it from me, I wish you and the Princess a life of happiness."

"Roa...!"

In that moment, I couldn't think of anything to say. I merely uttered Roa's name and reached out my hand, but my consciousness faded there. I returned to the real world, where Shiki, Arcueid-san, and Ciel-senpai were waiting.

Lost in those recollections, I continued walking silently until I reached my home.

I climb the stairs of the old apartment building and place my hand on the door. I sense a human presence in the otherwise empty room. However, from the nature of the presence, I knew it was the usual unauthorized intruder who slips out of the mansion, so I simply open the door.

"You're late. I've been waiting."

The girl looks up, moving her eyes away from the manga she was reading while waiting. As she does so, her long, beautiful, gold-thread-like hair briefly dances in the air.

She looks to be around 10 to 13 years old. The word "woman" doesn't quite suit her yet; she has the young body and face of a girl who has just become a pre-teen. However, her golden eyes hold a high level of intellect and reason that belies her appearance, making it seem perfectly natural.

She wears a classic white blouse, a tight black ribbon around her neck, and a low-exposure black long skirt—a style rarely seen today. Her shoes are boots. This impeccable attire and her perfect doll-like features make her look like a Western doll.

Because of this, the girl stands out conspicuously, mismatched with the room, which is a converted, old office. Furthermore, the first thing she said after trespassing was a demanding statement, as if she were expected.

"Well, thank you. But speaking of which, did you sneak out of the mansion without permission again? I told you not to leave the mansion without permission and worry Hisui-san, didn't I, Young Lady?"

"Mmm, it is true that I left without permission for my own reasons, but it wasn't for anything important, and more importantly, I used a suggestion to deceive them, so there's no problem."

"That's even worse!!"

While her tone and grace are the result of her excellent education, that airheadedness and free-spirited nature are definitely inherited from her parents—both of them.

"It can't be helped. At the mansion, there's no TV or games unless I go to Kohaku's room. I can't read manga unless I come here to Satsuki's place, and above all, my allowance is too little..."

In a complete shift from her earlier haughty attitude, she narrows her eyes and mutters, as if looking into the distance. Her depressed appearance is strangely evocative of melancholy.

Her allowance is 500 yen per day (treated as lunch money). Part-time work is strictly forbidden, and her curfew is in the early evening. After 10 PM, even moving around inside the mansion is prohibited. Furthermore, there is no TV in the living room, only newspapers, and other entertainment like TV or games is forbidden. Occasionally, she holds 'demonstrations for better treatment' with Kohaku-san, but they never seem to win.

Sigh. To be squeezed by a devilish sister for two generations...

"Ahem, let's get back to the topic, Arc. You didn't just come here to read manga or play games, did you?"

The fact that this girl came here means not only that a relative's child has come to visit me, but also that a work request has arrived. Since becoming a vampire, I've been under the care of the Tohno Mansion. After resolving supernatural incidents, such as those related to Melty Blood, I've become something of a neighborhood protector who investigates and resolves cases related to the supernatural, with the Tohno family acting as the client.

I struggled with a certain coffee shop and the Kaleidostick, but most matters are settled peacefully because I am a powerful vampire. However, there are sometimes troublesome cases, partly because of that time, years ago, when I pursued Shiki all the way to Europe with the vigor and audacity of youth, even though it was on Akiha-san's request...

"Ah, this is it."

She hands over a file, which I immediately take and read the summary of. I was hoping for an easy job, but it seems today is not the day. This one looks extremely troublesome. After I finished reading, I couldn't help but speak.

"A Magician, huh."

How troublesome.

And what's more, she's an acquaintance—this person is...

I finished my preparations and immediately took action.

Despite the time being close to midnight, there are many people. The world is troubled by a global recession, yet the people walking in the bustling district are all smiles.

"Look at that! I want that one next!"

"...We didn't come here just to eat street food."

And there she was, the blonde young lady, buying and eating snacks everywhere, her cheeks puffed out with food. I had tried to send her back to the mansion, but she threw a tantrum and ended up following me, resulting in this situation. On top of that, because of her appearance as a beautiful blonde girl, she stands out considerably, and the curious and interested stares from the surroundings are painful.

Also, I'm footing the bill. A few thousand-yen bills have already disappeared from my wallet. It's fine since I earn enough income to treat her to that much. However, watching her excitement somehow reminds me of the one who is sleeping now.

"—"

Not just her, but the short yet intense days of youth spent meeting and being with many people. Those days that will never return come flooding back.

"Ha..."

I shouldn't. As I get older, I seem to dwell on the past. While my body doesn't age or grow, my mind is definitely aging. And at the end of a long life, what will happen when my mind has aged and worn out—I should stop thinking about it.

I must focus on the task at hand.

"Let's get back to business. This way, Arc."

I pull her, who was currently munching on a cream puff, and enter an alleyway. The bustle and blinding lights of the main street vanish, and it is truly quiet here. We quickly pass through the narrow gaps between the towering buildings and the occasional wider spaces.

Looking up, I cannot see the starry sky. There's hardly any light, and the cold wind flowing across the ground chills me to the bone. As we walk, we see only buildings, much like the Black Forest in Germany, the Schwarzwald.

After walking through the intricate alleys for a while, we finally find the person we're looking for ahead. From their perspective, we approached from behind, and since they are wearing a jacket in the cold season, the only way to distinguish their gender is by their long hair, which, depending on the angle of the light, could almost be red. They have a strange, sturdy-looking leather case placed by their side.

"Good evening. It's a nice night. But if you stand behind me, I might kick you away along with a beam."

"Are you Golgo? Well, you're not entirely wrong, but... Yes, good evening to you, too. It's been a while, Aozaki Aoko-san."

Yes, the target this time is certainly a magus, but to be precise, a Magician (Maho-Tsukai). She is Shiki's benefactor who gave him the opportunity to live, and one of the few Magicians in the world:

Aozaki Aoko was the target this time.

"So, could you tell me why you came here without notifying the Tohno family, who are the administrators?"

If Fuyuki is under the management of the Tohsaka family, then Misaki Town is under the management of the Tohno family. Usually, residents of the underworld must obtain permission from the Tohno family when visiting or operating in Misaki Town. And my main job is to put a stop to and drive out those who sneak in without permission.

"Ah, well, I forgot... Tee-hee-pero."

Ah, I felt a slight surge of murderous intent.

"Just kidding, just kidding. You're quite dedicated to your work, aren't you? Coming here to show your face in person. But don't worry, I'm just here to meet some old acquaintances from high school."

An acquaintance from high school, huh... She must mean Kuonji-san and Shizuki-san. The moment I met Kuonji-san, it escalated into a killing-love situation involving Shiki and Arcueid-san. As for Shizuki-san, he crushed my heart with his unnecessary smooth movements, forcing me to hover between life and death... Those are memories I'd rather not recall.

Even now, Kuonji-san pressures me to "become her test subject," and Shizuki-san, despite his harmless face, shows absolutely no restraint in combat training, probably because I'm a vampire...

"Hey, you! What are you spacing out about? More importantly, I'm meeting those two after a long time. Has anything changed about them?"

"Yes, well, I suppose you could say they're the same as always. Kuonji-san is teaming up with Kohaku-san to make suspicious medicines, and Shizuki-san is wandering here and there. But—"

Unlike me, those two have also aged. They are still young now, but I don't want to think about what will happen in the next ten years. They, too, are destined to eventually succumb to the limitations of their lifespan.

"...Well, they're human, so it can't be helped. That's the natural order of things. It's people like us who are abnormal."

The Magician murmured, narrowing her eyes and speaking with a sense of detachment. Her attitude made me suddenly realize the fact that her appearance hasn't changed much since I first met her.

"Aoko-san, could it be that you, too—"

"Do you want to know? Fufun? But I won't tell you. A maiden has her secrets."

In response to my question, the Magician self-declared herself a maiden with the most smug look possible, which completely ruined the serious atmosphere—and 'maiden' is just not appropriate.

The moment I thought that, a beam shot past my face.

The impact tore a few strands of my hair, leaving a thin scratch on my cheek. It was only after the sound of destruction echoed behind me that I finally understood what had happened.

"What did you just think?"

The Magician wears a cheerful, sunflower-like smile.

Ah, hahaha, no, it was a joke. I was just kidding earlier. Aozaki Aoko-sama is still young, dignified, and truly beautiful today. No, really!

"I'll forgive you this time, but there won't be a next. —Well, who knows how many years from now the 'next time' will be."

That's right. Meeting this wandering Magician is something of a miracle. The last time we met was around the time of the commotion in Europe, over ten years ago. When I meet the Magician next, will the people she knows still be alive?

"Well, I'll be going now. Oh, I almost forgot to ask for the young lady's name there."

She asks about Arc, and I turn my head sideways. Arc takes a step forward, faces the Magician, and bows gracefully before speaking.

"Nice to meet you. I am Himezuki Arc. My father often spoke of you—Sensei (Teacher)."

At the word Sensei, the Magician's face softened with a nostalgic expression. She then looked at Arc with a mix of surprise and a complete understanding of the situation.

"I see, so that's true after all. Miracles do happen more often than you think."

The Magician smiled, not the playful grin she usually shows, but a benevolent smile, wholeheartedly celebrating the miracle.

"Farewell, then. I don't know when the next time will be, but I wish you happiness in your life."

"And I, too, await the day when I can see you again."

We exchange light bows of farewell. Then, as if planned, we turn around and walk our separate ways.

It's a surprisingly anticlimactic farewell.

But that's not bad, either.

There are partings, but there are also encounters and reunions.

Our story is far from over.

"Now, next, I want a Taiyaki (fish-shaped pastry)."

"Just because you're blonde, are you aiming for a glutton character?"

I take her hand again, and we head towards the busy district. We are both types of vampires, but the warmth of her hand is real and palpable.

I was an outsider in this world, a reincarnated person. Because of that, I changed the predetermined future and continued to influence this world. But now, I live as a resident of this world, walking an unknown future that was not in the [Original Work].

Over ten years have passed since [Tsukihime]. Where did I come from? Where am I going? There is no answer to those questions, but the fact is that the possibility of the future is infinite.

"?"

Arc blinks, puzzled by my gaze.

The future where I am with her like this is, at the very least, a future that didn't exist in the [Original Work]. So, even though I can't see where we'll end up, the future is surely full of possibilities.

Yes, that's what I believe.

The End