Chapter 41: ACT.10 “Melancholy”

"Guh... hah—"

Her steps were heavy, and every time she breathed, there was a dry, burning sensation in her throat.

Her physical strength was depleted, and exhaustion brought on a constant, overwhelming sleepiness.

How much easier would it be if she could just sleep right here, right now?

Sion's heart was swayed by this temptation, yet her body continued to move.

Because, according to her calculations, no matter how deserted the area was, she would be captured by the Agency's Executor again, and this time, her life activities would be forcibly terminated.

Suddenly, at that moment, Sion wondered.

What must I look like now?

She lowered her gaze and found her reflection in the shards of window glass scattered in the alleyway.

What stared back was a face more terrible than she had ever seen.

Her face was pale, her eyes showed the extreme limits of fatigue, as if she had been up for days, and on top of that, there were fresh wounds inflicted by the Executor.

"Hah— what a disgrace."

A word of self-mockery escaped Sion's lips.

After all, the fact that she was in such a terrible state was entirely her own fault.

"Despite a long-standing question being solved, I rejected it. Ultimately, I entered into a state of conflict with the collaborator necessary to defeat the TATARI... Hehehe, I just learned for the first time that the person known as me was an emotional person, not a calculated one."

These self-deprecating lines were spoken by Sion herself.

In her high-speed thinking, which treated herself as an arithmetic machine, the element of emotion was omitted.

In calculation, an incalculable factor like emotion was not needed—it was a hindrance.

The person known as Sion Eltnam Atlasia was the one who had realized this more than anyone else, and she had never doubted this way of life... until now.

"The intervention of a person from another world—one who was able to view this world from above—is far beyond my calculations."

Leaning her back against a wall, Sion sighed.

Initially, she had only recognized them as a 'key figure' mentioned in the memory data extracted from Shiki Tohno.

That is why, when she actually encountered Satsuki Yumizuka, she extracted information with her Aetherlite 'as usual'.

And with the information obtained, Sion Eltnam Atlasia learned everything.

Satsuki Yumizuka was a being from a parallel world—no.

A being who could observe 'this world as a story'—it would be more accurate to describe her as a person from an 'otherworld' rather than a parallel world in this case.

And such an existence was incomprehensible even to the intellect that had risen to the position of Vice-Director of the Atlas Institute.

"What... should I do?"

That question escaped Sion as she looked up at the moon.

Sion was at a loss, as everything she had built up in her life was useless and had been denied.

"Imouto-san told me you caused quite a ruckus, Alchemist."

—The voice of a third party suddenly echoed in the alley.

It was a woman's voice, ringing out clearly.

Sion slowly lowered her face to confirm the owner of the voice.

Golden-blond hair that shone even in the darkness.

Crimson eyes burning brightly, and a body and expression that were the pinnacle of aesthetic perfection.

Above all, the aura she created asserted 'something in the shape of a human' more strongly than anything else.

"...The True Ancestor Princess."

"Good evening, descendant of Eltnam. The moon is lovely tonight, isn't it, for fiends like us."

Arcueid Brunestud.

The surviving True Ancestor, the progenitor of all vampires.

Sion was aware that she was inexplicably staying in the Far East and had intended to seek her cooperation to defeat the TATARI and cure her vampirism, but...

"I see, so this is where my journey ends.... Very well, do as you please."

Sion did not believe she could survive after harming someone close to the True Ancestor Princess.

With a feeling of 'this is the end,' she accepted her fate.

However, in response to Sion's resignation, Arcueid threw out an unexpected remark.

"What are you misunderstanding?

I was angry that Sacchin was hurt, but I have no intention of killing you here."

"What...!?"

She denied Sion's resolution with a sense of exasperation.

She even made a gesture that seemed to say, 'Honestly, give me a break.'

"Nonsense, why?

There is a vampire right in front of you.

That alone should be reason enough for the Princess to act!"

With her common sense as a Magus shattered, Sion questioned Arcueid.

The fact that the True Ancestor Princess was not acting in the presence of a vampire was something she found difficult to accept.

"There's no point in asking me that. ...Well, if I have to say, I just came to check on you, that's all."

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

The shock of essentially being told she wasn't worth killing, and the completely unexpected answer of 'checking on her,' caused Sion's thoughts to halt.

Even though she knew there was a huge gap between the True Ancestor Princess the Magi imagined and the real person, based on the records she had extracted from Satsuki Yumizuka and Shiki Tohno, this was still unforeseen.

"Besides, to be honest, I'm disappointed. I expected you to challenge me, but instead, you're walking the same path as the previous Atlas Institute residents who learned too much about the world and succumbed to despair."

"—"

Sion remained silent in response to Arcueid's words.

"Well, if that is your choice, then I won't stop you. I or Ciel will handle the TATARI here, so you should leave Misaki Town. Alright, I don't think we'll meet again, so goodbye—"

"—Wait, Arcueid Brunestud."

Just as Arcueid turned her heel and was about to leave, Sion, who had remained silent, called out to her.

"You have been judging me quite freely just now, but I will admit it: I am merely a resident of the Atlas Institute's hole. I am an alchemist who harbors despair and madness regarding my own future and the future of this world."

"Hmm...?"

Arcueid stopped, interested in what Sion, who readily admitted the criticism, had to say.

The interest that had faded was once again directed toward Sion.

"On top of that, I am an immature person who couldn't accept her own contradictions and threw a tantrum.... However, as you say, running away from the TATARI is out of the question! The fight with the TATARI is something I must settle; that is why I came all this way."

Relying on the small amount of pride and courage she had left, Sion voiced her innermost thoughts.

She admitted the fact that she had been deceiving herself, yet declared that she would not flee from the TATARI.

In response to her statement, Arcueid...

"...Ahaha, ahahahahahaha!! I see, you are relying solely on your stubborn pride. How foolish. You must know that someone of your caliber cannot defeat the TATARI, right?"

She burst into laughter, holding her stomach.

Her golden hair was mussed, and tears even welled up in her eyes.

She continued to laugh at the contradiction and foolishness of the person standing before her.

"You're a failure as a Magus, but—I don't dislike people like that."

However, Arcueid, who had come to understand and accept the nature of the human species after being 'broken' by Shiki Tohno, concluded with those words regarding Sion's statement.

"Well then, that's enough for tonight. I wish you good luck in your struggle."

She turned her heel again, and this time, just as she was about to leave.

"By the way, how much does the True Ancestor Princess know? About the anomaly that is 'Satsuki Yumizuka'?"

Sion's question flew out.

The voice that echoed in the night alley was cold like winter, and the tension that pierced the skin dominated the scene, creating a heavy atmosphere.

"—I only know the Sacchin I know, the Sacchin I perceive, that's all."

Arcueid answered the question after a brief pause.

However, she did not turn her face, keeping her back to Sion.

And the tone of her voice was restrained, unlike the emotional voice she had used moments before.

"I admire your strong curiosity. But, I don't recommend you pry too deeply. This time, I was merely annoyed, but—there won't be a next time."

"—!?"

In an instant, a dense killing intent dominated the night alley.

Overwhelmed by a powerful will and presence that was unbearable for a human, Sion covered her mouth with her hand, suppressing the urge to vomit.

"This time, goodbye. Struggle hard. That is the way of a human aiming for the future, and the biggest difference between them and a vampire clinging to the past."

Finishing her words, Arcueid waved her hand without turning her face toward Sion and left the spot.

Sion, who was left behind, could only stare blankly at her retreating figure and continued to watch Arcueid as she disappeared into the deeper darkness of the night.