After making a call and saying that I was going to stay at Arihiko's, we went back to Arcueid's apartment, but before that, we had to dispose of the bodies.
It was unfortunate, but our best option was to leave them in the park. They are going to deduce that they were made by the same bastard who has been carrying out murders of the same style for the last few days.
Arcueid told me everything.
What was happening, why are she and the [Burial Agency] in the city, but from her point of view. Like Ciel and Noel, Arcueid is also on the hunt for Roa's next reincarnation, but for reasons that are much more personal.
But for now, there is an enemy that we must take care of before Roa.
Now that we've had a little more calm, I can hear what Arcueid has to say to me.
─You see, Shiki. The [Dead Apostles] are classified into nine ranks, this depends on their strength and well, you may not know it, but I think it will be necessary for you to know.
─What? Why?
─That's very simple, Shiki. You said you were going to do whatever I asked for a week, an offer from a [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] user cannot be refused!
Ah...
I see what it is about.
Well, I had a feeling that somehow or another I was going to get involved in all this mess since Ciel-senpai told me about it.
Therefore, the side of the story that she supports is merely the same.
According to Arcueid's explanation, things go more or less this way...
I - The Dead: Just a puppet used by a [Dead Apostle] to drink blood without going in himself. They don't have any personality or memories of their ancient live.
II - Ghoul: They are not mindless puppets, they have memories of their previous lives, but their brains are rotten and need to drink blood for themselves and their parent [Dead Apostle] in order to regenerate their brains and begin being independent.
III - Undead: They can live as a human, their brains are intact and they use the personality they had back then. It's from this stage that we can begin to consider them as [Dead Apostles], but not totally.
- These 3 stages are called the Dead, the [Servants] of a [Dead Apostle].
IV - Nightkin: One is considered as full fledged vampire up to this point. They have super human strength, and become anemic when they have a contact with the sun, but their skin isn't burned yet. They are like half human half vampire, but they're clearly vampires. [Rank IV] vampires can live without their parents [Dead Apostles].
V - Nightmare: More powerful [Nightkins], but they beggin to develop capacities proper to them thanks to the curse of their blood.
- Ranks IV and V are names [The Knights].
VI - Dead Apostle (Lower): Vampires with all the known capacities, they can't live under the sun and can create children vampires.
VII - Superior Dead Apostles: Technically, any vampire who reached this rank becomes a threat to society, they're like viruses, and it's the rank of most of the most powerful vampires before they become ancestors.
IX - Dead Apostle Ancestors: The top of the top of the [Vampires]. Each [DAA] has a special blood, [Idea Blood] which is basically the blood of a [DAA], the proof that you are a [DAA]. It's a curse that gives you more power, and it gives you what we call a "principle".
Arcueid's explanation is easy to understand for someone with as little knowledge on the subject as I am.
Also, it can be quite useful.
I can take it into account from now on, in order to classify those who may be a danger not only to me, but also to Arcueid herself.
After all, Arcueid is still pretty badly hurt after yesterday. It seems that even being a [True Ancestor], she has trouble regenerating body parts that were "killed" by the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception].
If I remember correctly.
Arcueid called Yumizuka-san [Nightkin], which places her as a [Rank IV] within the [DAAs] classification.
I would like to know...
─Arcueid, why are we eating like nothing is happening?
I ask because while we talk about all these things of such little relevance at the moment, we have a couple of hamburgers from the company with the letter M in their logo. I think we shouldn't do this and instead, we should search as fast as we can for the bastard Roa.
But I think Arcueid is unconcerned about it. Oh, and I paid for the burgers, in compensation for breaking my promise to be with Arcueid since noon.
It wasn't my fault, it was the anemia's fault.
Suddenly I felt like I was fading, and for the same reason, I passed out like nothing.
Also... it seems like after that, Yumizuka-san used some weird trick from [Vampire] to make things go her will and make me stay at school until she could get out of hiding from her.
That Arcueid came to pick me up from school really is a relief. At least I didn't have to get involved in a fight that was too extensive and at the risk of exposing [Sorcery] to the general public.
Without Arcueid, we were likely to end up doing a tremendous amount of collateral damage that I should then see how the heck to fix.
Ok, enough with that...
Arcueid, with the hamburger in both hands, wanders her gaze as she thinks.
─Hmm...
She seems to be thinking about how to give me the correct answer without making me believe that she is a fool or something like that. I think even she should understand that it would be better to find a way to get rid of Roa as soon as possible.
In the long run, it could become a difficult problem to solve.
We also need to discuss all of this with Ciel and Noel, to make sure we don't leave any untied ends. To be honest, I would hate to have the Aozaki sisters involved in this, so I prefer that things remain as they are right now.
The less involved there are, the greater the margin of success in this.
─Well, to recharge your batteries, Shiki. People regain energy as long as they eat well and sleep properly, am I right?
─Hey, aren't you mistaking me for the face of the original company?
─Aren't they all like that?
─Why would you believe that?
─The [Servants] were human before, that's why!
Arcueid puts a hand behind her neck as she smiles cheerfully.
Was this necessary...?
I just want to clarify a few things that I know what Arcueid is talking about, who seems not to be able to perfectly distinguish what differentiates a human from a [Servant].
─The [Servants] are summoned during [HGW] and have a specific limit on their use of [Magic Energy], as these are measured as [Magic Energy Units]. These same units are what allow the [Servant] to use his [Noble Phantams], and they can be recovered by the [Master] or, even in special cases, as you say, eating and sleeping.
─You know a lot about [HGW], you are amazing, Shiki! Your level of genius has increased by ten. But you sure don't know what a [Grand Servant] is, right?
─Sorry?
─A [Grand Servant] are special types of [Servants] that stand out among their own class, can you tell me what the seven classes of [Servants] are?
Hey.
It was many years ago that Aoko-san told me about it...
But if I remember correctly...
─Saber, Archer, Lancer, Caster, Rider, Assassin and Berserker. There are also special cases where one of those seven classes varies in either [Alter], [Lily] or [Ruler]. The class of the [Servant] is determined randomly by the [Holy Grail] and also taking into account the identity of the [Heroic Spirit] along with the relic that is used to invoke the [Heroic Spirit], so far I am okay?
─Another ten points for Shiki! Well then, have you never heard of a term like [Grand Caster]?
─Is it the [Grand Servant] variant of the [Caster] class? No, I have never heard it.
─Well, that's how it is! Anyway, we have broken the fourth wall too much with all this, surely it is time to change the subject.
─Mm, you're right.
Since you mention it, I guess I can do it one way or another.
But before speaking, I take another bite of the burger in my hands. Although it has no nutritional value, it is enough to fill my stomach. We hadn't eaten anything.
I enjoy seeing the smile on Arcueid's face as she savors her own burger.
So to change the subject...
─Hey, Shiki.
─Hey, Arcueid.
We both spoke at the same time.
I was a bit surprised to hear her speak at the same time as me, but I suppose it is within the tolerable level. Although of course, I have to have education and good manners.
─You speak.
Giving the floor to the girl in such circumstances is what Kokutou-san taught me to do. There were several times when my thoughts and Ryougi-san's collided, causing us to talk at the same time.
It is fortunate that we had Kokutou-san as an intermediary in our conversations to help us correct those flaws.
Arcueid, happy that she allowed her to speak first, no mincing words ask me...
─Shiki, why doesn't someone like you have a girlfriend? That [Nightkin] had declared her love to you, right?
That...?
Wait, Arcueid...
Did she hear Yumizuka-san's statement...? Ok, that can be pretty embarrassing to tell the truth.
At least I didn't say anything stupid and put myself on guard appropriately. So with Arcueid's input, it was easy to eliminate Yumizuka-san like nothing.
It was luck that Arcueid wasn't hurt more than she already is. I guess for now, I can adequately play the role of her guardian.
─Well... if I hadn't found out there was something wrong with Yumizuka-san, I might have done something stupid in between. Well, you see, I am a more normal boy than you think, although there are several elements that have made my life something much more interesting and entertaining, it is not as if I focus much on love, I think it is somewhat annoying.
─Ehhh? What are you talking about, Shiki? Love is not "something annoying" as you say. It may be overrated, stupid but still the best feeling.
─You heard that on TV, right? That phrase reminds me of something said by a character in a series that Touko-san looks at a lot.
─TV is great, I'm just commenting!
That's a very unconstructive comment for your image, Arcueid...
She smiles brightly, I think I see some sparkles around her face.
But that expression of happiness disappears almost immediately from her face. It seems like she just understood what I said.
─Shiki... Why didn't you tell me that [Scarred Red] is also in this damn city?
By [Scarred Red] you mean Touko-san...
Ah, so Arcueid knows about her too.
─Aoko-san and Touko-san are my tutors... Hm? Didn't you notice the presence of both when you left me at my house at dawn?
─Of course not! Ahh, I could almost have fought an unnecessary battle... by the way, you didn't tell them anything, did you?
─Just Touko-san. When it comes to issues like this, it is usually her who asks me what happened, but do not worry, as long as things do not get out of control, she will not intervene.
─You say that... by the way, Shiki, what is the command line between you? There must be one to correctly define who is going to take care of things in different circumstances, right?
─Ah, well... at the top of the pyramid is Aoko-san, followed by Touko-san and finally me. If I can't solve the problem within a time limit, Touko-san is the one who always takes care of fixing it.
─And this time limit is?
─Normally it's a couple of weeks... most of the time she's had to intervene. If I had to count all the times Touko-san has had to intervene, I'd say there are too many, even when we were struggling to get the [Sealing Designation] out of her and have them stop sending [Executors] against her.
─Stop there, [Blue] participated in that fight?
─She almost assassinated [Lord El-Melloi II] in the process... we almost died many times in that time, and we even had to request Ryougi-san's support for it.
─Ah?! Do you know Shiki Ryougi?! What the hell is wrong with you, Shiki Tohno?! Your list of acquaintances and people who can protect you only keeps growing!
Sorry, but that's the way it is...
─Well, she owes me some favors... between us we agreed that the "I owe you one" is basically an obligation that we must fulfill. Maybe I should visit her this winter, I want to see how she and Kokutou-san are doing.
─Ah, Shiki, Shi-...
─Arcueid, under the table!
My directions are hasty, responding to our survival instincts, we both get under the table at the exact moment the entire building is shaking at the same time.
But what the fuck...?
─Shiki, these bastards are cowards!
─What the hell are you talking about?! Who are you fucking cowards?!
─The tenth and the nineteenth [Dead Apostle Ancestor]! Nrvnqsr Chaos and Vlov Arkhangel! These bastards are working together to assassinate us!
─Catch me up, who are those pieces of shit?! Don't expect me to understand the danger range if you just mention their names to me! Make me a comparison!
─Vlov Arkhangel is the successor of Zaria Offenbaum, by himself, he is only a [Rank VI] within the [DAAs] classification that I mentioned before! But he acquired the [Idea Blood] from his predecessor whose principle is [Freezing], he may be at the same level of danger as you are!
That?!
Seriously?!
Dammit!
We come out from under the table.
I don't have much time to prepare, Arcueid doesn't have enough either.
What the hell is going on here?
Why are two [DAAs] working together on this of all the opportunities that could have happened?!
I do not understand everything that is happening, but I am sure that Arcueid is going to take the bull by the horns from now on.
Therefore, I must make sure that I am a very effective combatant.
─Well, I've memorized about Vlov, what about the other guy?!
─The tenth [DAA], Nrvnqsr Chaos... is said to have [666 Beasts] inside it, its [Idea Blood], if my memory serves me correctly, it has as its principle... [Creation of Beasts], he is at a higher level even than Aoko Aozaki, if you want to know the comparison.
That...?!
It is the first time... that they say something like this to me...
Something superior to Aoko-san?
That means we are lost no matter what we do if that is the case.
But right now I have a concern that is above all the things that surround me.
─Arcueid, let me see your wounds.
─Mm.
Arcueid nods, pulls up her sweater and in that way, she shows me the wounds that were on her body. There are countless bandages that wrap the girl's stomach and keep everything in place for her, there are few drops of blood that escape in the middle of the bandages...
Shit. This is serious.
Without a full recovery, Arcueid is basically unable to fight.
But I know that she won't sit idly by while she faces off with a couple of monsters that will surely slaughter me in an instant.
There are two [DAAs]... it is impossible for me to fight alone against them.
I'm going to pick up the phone in the apartment and without hesitation at all, dial the [Aozaki Residence] number and wait a few minutes, while there are still thunderous sounds outside the apartment.
I have very little time...
Come on answer...
- - -
[Touko]: Hello? Who is it?
- - -
A lucky break!
─Touko-san, it got out of hand, please let Ciel-senpai and Noel-sensei know, also Aoko-san if you can do it, I need all the attack force that can be collected right now!
- - -
[Touko]: Wow, wait! Shiki-kun, what is happening right now?!
- - -
─I don't have time to explain it even if I wanted to, Touko-san! Please contact as many as you can, Arcueid is almost completely out of combat so I need some support.
- - -
[Touko]: You better explain all this to me, Shiki-kun. Okay if I use "that" to bring in you know who, right?
- - -
─Go ahead, I need all the cavalry!
Excited to know who could join the battle we will have right now, I agree to anything and then hang up the phone.
─Shiki...? What will we do?
─You really ask me that?
I see Arcueid with a smile, as I draw the knife from inside my jacket pocket at the same time that with my other hand, I remove the glasses that block my ability.
For the second time that day, the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] are activated, filling my surroundings with [Lines] and [Points], except of course for Arcueid.
Confident of what we are going to do, I inform her:
─We will buy time while reinforcements come, so don't worry too much. Leave Nrvnqsr to me, you go take care of Vlov.
─But... Shiki!
─No buts. ─. I say, putting a hand to Arcueid's head.
She looks at me with puppy dog eyes, worried about what is going to happen to me. But there should be no problem.
They are only beasts, after all. As long as there's a line above them, I'll be able to handle it.
─Understood. I will trust you, Shiki. ─. Arcueid smiles at me, sure of her words.
As the [Magic Energy] flows around the [Magic Circuits] of my eyes painting my field of vision with red and blue lines, Arcueid and I walk towards an unknown direction, in which somehow or another, we will have to take care of our respective battlefields.
I can't do everything.
So I trust Touko-san's abilities to gather all possible help right now.