Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter3

630 Pages until Memory Loss

◇◇◇630 Pages until Memory Loss

As you may imagine from your classroom number being over a thousand, the lecture tower of the ‘Apothecary’ has countless classes, and therefore, lots and lots of students.

All the students will leave the classroom at the same time, and start to migrate toward the cafeteria. Thus, you can imagine how crowded it is during lunch break.

Tch…we’re late. Who knows how long it’ll take for us to get through the crowd …?

The murderer walking before you mutters in disdain. The spiral staircases connecting to each floor of the lecture tower is filled with a dense crowd of black-haired people (there are people of other hair colors like blond and brown, at least half of them anyway). The mass migration of people is why the ‘Apothecary’ has a lunch break lasting an hour and a half.

(A-As expected from the famous ‘Apothecary’, just the number of students is amazing enough…)

"There may be several hundred people within sight.it will be impossible for this true ancestor to appear and fight."

(No, it’s probably unlikely that we’ll fight here. Since she didn’t expose the vampire (me), this murderer probably wants to interrogate me or torture me into submission.)

During the argument in the classroom, the murderer did not reveal your true identity. In that case, she probably has a reason for keeping you alive. In that case, even if she, who has much better magic than you, probably won’t use magic that would kill the interrogation target (you) instantly.

(…And besides, I have the immortality of the High Daylight Walker and the absolute protection magic in my talisman. I may miss an opportunity to win, but I won’t lose and die…!)

You gently lay your hand on your chest, feeling the talisman crystal.

To protect his beloved son, the Doctor Magna gathered all his skills to create this magical tool.

This one and only relic sealed in this ‘Apothecary’, the absolute protection magic of Okutsuki—the most powerful mage of the ‘Apothecary’.

(…Despite that, this protective charm only works once. Father’s magic is truly a last resort.)

"Umu. Given the risk of your identity as a vampire being exposed, I shall appear to fight if push comes to shove. I swear in the name of High Daylight Walker and I shall not let any harm befall my dearest!"

(…I don't need a vampire’s help. I’m the one fighting.)

In response to the ultrasonically whispered confession of love, you reply with a soft sounding rejection. Even you, who may not be truly familiar with the concept of love, are not so foolish as to trust the love a vampire speaks of.

You and the vampire have a common agreement, that both of you are antagonistic towards the murderer…but this is merely a fragile partnership based on mutual interests. You do not think the love spoken of by the High Daylight Walker is true, and It is also dangerous to rely too heavily on Arteria's fighting skills.

(…I don’t think the High Daylight Walker is likely to save humans for no reason. Vampires are a natural enemy to humanity, and it’s possible she’s trying to use it…I can’t rely on her power.)

A High Daylight Walker is a natural enemy species of mankind, and also the most powerful monster in Library Labyrinth. You do not know how why she granted immortality to a human…but in any case, you cannot expect on her assistance. You should abandon the optimism that the vampire will help you, and fight the murderer seriously.

…Oi, murderer, how much further do you plan to walk?

Can a vampire not be so friendly towards me? My ears will rot.

Hmph, it’s better if its those bullhorns that rot instead of those ears. Maybe you can look more like a human…eek!

You try to gauge the Murderer’s reaction, and the moment you speak to her, your right index finger suddenly disappears. There are many around you, but the savagery of the murderer remains merciless.

"D-Did she just attack you in a public place…?"

(Damnit, I was stupid to expect common sense from a murderer!)

You hide your right hand in your pocket, waiting for the severed fingertip to regenerate. The amount of blood smoke is higher than when you were stabbed in your flank, since part of your flesh is missing.

(…This is bad. Let’s hope nobody around us notice my aura …)

You remain alert to your surroundings so as to avoid being suspected of being vampirized.

…Did you see that? That transfer student’s giving off that red aura again…

I-I see it too! I can’t believe it materializes to something so thick…!

Oh yeah they’re going to do it. He said it comes out when he's emotional.

D-Do it, as in, erm, that thing!?

No doubt about it!

The absolutely wrong conversation can be overheard a few meters away behind you. Your classmates have misunderstood your relationship with the murderer, and are tailing you to peep on your date.

However, you are unable to notice them due to the crowd and your wariness against the murderer.

Now then, get ready to turn left. If you want to run, you can choose the right.

If I turn right here, wouldn’t that mean that I’ll be in the air?

Oh my, don’t you understand that I’m telling you to jump from the stairwell and kill yourself?

I know! I mean I don't want to die!

The main staircase of the 'Apothecary' connects the upper levels of the Labyrinth to the top of the tower, a distance of nearly a kilometer, so a fall into the central stairwell means a certain death.

Well, in your case, you will not die due to the fall, but will be tried in a vampire inquest for not dying, and will be submerged in a sulfuric acid bath and converted into black charcoal.

After walking for nearly 20 minutes in fear of your death, you eventually step out into the outermost shell of the tower. This is the place that protrudes outward from the center of the main lecture tower, similar to a terrace.

(…Somehow we ended up outside the lecture tower…?)

You squint in the fierce sunlight and scan your surroundings. Upon this terrace built from the advanced architectural techniques excavated from the Labyrinth, there are little aquaducts formed by sunbaked bricks.

The aquaducts are decorated with sculptures of angels, and the green roof is made of vines intertwined with the pillars. The young leaves of the planted trees sometimes rustle with the wind, and though they do manufacture the perfect atmosphere for a man and a woman to meet. …

(…It doesn’t feel like anyone else is around. Is she going to turn this place to a battlefield…!?)

As long as the murderer is next door, you shall never ever have a a peaceful lunch break.

(…It’s quite a large space, but there’s hardly any obstructions. It’ll be troublesome if she summons stone shapes or shoot stone spares at me like yesterday …!)

Oh my, is the world of daylight that unusual for a vampire born in the darkness?

The murderer asks as she walks to the center of the terrace and turns her head back. The Mediterranean sea breeze blows upstream the lecture tower from the city below, swaying the murderer's golden hair and causing it to sparkle.

Phew. The fragrane of the sea sure is pleasant, though I imagine vampires prefer the smell of death and darkness.

I-I usually prefer the fragrance of the tide too…though the sunlight does burn my skin a little.

You can feel a tingling warmth on your exposed face and the backs of your hands…fortunately however, there is no sign of turning into ash, as per a typical vampire.

… And? You didn't bring me all the way down here just to fight, right?

You wonder about your enemy's attitude, expecting spears to fly the moment you two are alone. Given her actions till this moment, you have assumed she is a lunatic who delights in murdering…

…I’ll be honest, I want intel. Confess obediently, and I may spare your life, you know?

How surprising, she offers to spare your life in exchange for information!

(That’s a lie!)

"That is a lie, no?"

It is a lie.

The cold murderous intent that glows deep within those blue eyes is telling you 'I'll kill you after squeezing out every last bit of information'.

""…But that means there is more doubt that she is involved with your sworn enemy."

(Yeah. If she’s just an ordinary berserker, she wouldn’t have said to her prey ‘I can spare you’ while alone…!)

Yes. Since the murderer is not attacking you like last night, it shows that she has some information she wants, for some reason.

And the information she wants is not her—but someone controlling her.

…What will you do if I say I don’t want to answer.

You reach for your book binder and flank, getting ready to pull out a pencil and a grimoire.

…Of course, I will pry your mouth with brute force.

The murderer too puts her hand on her left shoulder, getting ready to pull out a grimoire.

Y-You! A Doctor Magna might notice if you battle at such an open place. I cannot appear and help you battle!

(…I don’t need the power of a vampire. If I can’t defeat her, I can’t get information. It’s alright. As long as I have the memory tampering of the “Last Prayer’, I can counter the murderer’s magic! And I’m an immortal now. I definitely won’t die in battle!)

Well, you have a really powerful ally in the ‘book’ (me)

Due to the nature of magic that can only be exercised by chanting spells, you still have time to write memories before you are attacked. With the abilities of memory tampering and immortality, you probably won’t be mortally wounded easily.

(… I need to beat her. I need to protect myself, to test the power of this ‘Last Prayer’, and also , just maybe, to discover the truth five years ago that she might know of!)

Let's go, murderer…!

You pull out your grimoire, resolving yourself as you shout,

-I'll finish you off in five pages!

You give a declaration of war that echoes.

Hmph, you sure can howl for a vampire! I’ll send you to the underworld as you wish!

The murderer too pulls out her grimoire from the shoulder mail, flips a page, and casts a spell.

Activate key Jc102k! O little king, Serpent Lord crowned with an eight-footed gecko!!

"You, this is the chant of the ‘Stone Serpent Fang’. Stop her before she can cast her spell!"

(I don't need a vampire to tell me that! Rewrite…my memory!!)

As you hear the voice that chants, you write the following words in your memory/

"I am an expert at bare-handed combat."— 193pgs.

Execute—Stone Serpent Fang!!!

As soon as your pencil finishes this sentence, the bricks forming the balcony rise up. The magic that is the legacy of God twists reality, transforming the building materials into sharp spears that are fired away.

The moment you looked up from the page, the spearhead tip came at you with a fury—

Dodge!

Zoooooooo!

The robe that has just contained your head until a moment ago is pierced through along with the hood.

Wh-what!?

I dodged it…I can dodge! I dodged the spell that killed my yesterday!

Your body smoothly avoids the torrential downpour of stone spears that are fired at tremendous speed. Having mastered the fundamentals of combat, you can’t possibly fail to see through such attack.

The murderer has invoked a continuous spell that will continue to function until the Magitzkveins are deactivated. The firing rate of three to four shots per second is comparable to a master spearman, but once the murderer has set her sights on you, they can only fly in a straight line over a distance of nearly five meters.

(… That’s right. No matter how many magic spears she has, the one aiming is still human! Now if I can read the murderer’s aim…!)

Such magic is no different from dealing with spearmen!

Hence, by rewriting your memory, you can even evade these magic spears!

My body’s moving on instinct...! This is the ‘gained experience’ through memory tampering!

Ku…you didn’t have such evasive ability during the battle yesterday.!

The murderer probably intends to stop your movement at in a single hit, for she starts to look anxious. The spears are shot out from the raised floor one after another, but you continue to avoid them with all your might.

(The barrage’s not as dense as yesterday! I can still handle this!)

Umu! She is limiting the Mana inserted into her Magitzkveins to capture you alive!

The advantage of a continuous spell like ‘Stone Serpent Fang’ is that it does not have to be chanted again. However, Mana has to be continually inserted into the Magitzkveins for it to remain functional.

And since humans have only one main vein that can be used for chanting magic—this may cause a fatal opening.

"You! She cannot chant any other spells unless she stops firing! Grab a spear to strike back and defeat her!"

(I don't need a vampire to tell me that! You’re saying that I should attack her when her Magitzkveins is occupied, right!?)

It is currently a deadlock, but the murderer has to disarm the magic in the Magitzkveins to cast new spells, and she may expose her during this opening created by the tiltowait and the chanting.

On the other hand, you don’t have the remote, high-powered offensive speels, but you have a tireless, immortal body that allows you to continue evasive maneuvers while taking other actions.

You can’t afford not to take advantage of this tactical advantage resulting from the response difference!

‘While controlling spells, the circuit can’t be used for other purposes’…it’s fine. I haven’t forgotten the basic principles of antimagic combat… You duck through the rain of stone spears, thrusting your pencil beneath the hem of your robe, and pull out your right hand. You then time the trajectory of a flying stone spear and catch it in mid-air.

"Well done! You, throw the spear at her!"

Woooaahhh!

You step on the balcony bricks and swing your right arm in a wide arc to throw this stone spear.

The spear pierces the air and flies at the murderer in a sharp parabola—

I-It’s useless!

—Giiin!! The stone spear is deflected off a transparent wall, deviating from it’s original course.

! A logic wall!?

H-Had she used both the main vein and the sub vein together?

The interference light scattered by the Mana etches complex magic arrays in the void.

The ‘Logic Wall’ is a generic term for an automatically deployed defensive spell, one of the most common means of self-defense in Library City Alexandria.

By equipping a ‘Logic Wall book" in the sub vein and loading it with a chant, one will deploy a defensive spell in response to a crisis.

And as it is a very common spell, the Logic Wall created by a skilled caster is extremely sturday, capable of blocking any physical or magical interference!

Y-You’re great at evading, but it seems you’re lacking in offenses! It’s the right choice to retrieve the grimoire from the Labyrinth yesterday!

!! Did you steal the grimoire I brought from Japan!?

You can’t cast chanting spells without a medium like a ‘book’ unless you’re a vampire lord-level True Ancestor! You can’t penetrate my wall!

Ku…you’re basically a robber and a murderer!

"You! This is no time for talk! Evade!"

The murderer adjusts her aim as she tries to drive you away so that you cannot grab her stone spears. You stomp onto the balcony, keeping your distance as you ponder how to counter the Logic Wall.

(A Logic Wall is an automatic permanent spell that’s deployed automatically! I can’t close the gap towards the murderer)

"Also, you cannot break her defenses with the stone spears that has no piercing ability! Another strategy is required!"

Ku…! It’s true there wasn’t much Mana scattered in the attack just now!

The Mana released from the Magitzkveins emitted an interference light when your attack was parried. The automatically-deployed Logic Wall consumed Mana to change the trajectory of the stone spear.

Considering the intensity of the interference light however, it appeared she used a negligible amount of Man. Given the murderer’s impressive magical ability, she would have recharged that amount in mere seconds. The impact of the stone spear can’t penetrate the Logic Wall.

(Think…! Recall that magic theory that should be ingrained in my memory! Any automatically deployed spell like this logic wall are usually set meters away from the caster to prevent damage from accidental contact! She probably can’t trigger her wall up close either…!)

Yes. And to add on, a logic wall automatically identifies and intercepts high-threat objects approaching the caster to prevent any attack that may approach out of sight. Conversely, it can’t defend against any slow approaching object or object within the wall to begin with.

(…That means that if I can get into close ranged combat against her, I can break through the wall! I can use my close ranged combat skills that I gained from memory tampering and my physical strength as a vampire!!)

You plan to support your evasive moves and approach the enemy through your strong physical abilities.

Under normal circumstances, humans unconsciously limit their muscle output to avoid damaging their bones and tendons. The average untrained person can consciously exert only about 20% of one’s original strength.

There will be irreversible damage caused to the muscle fibers, bones and tendons if one is exerting 100% strength, and that person will immediately lose the ability to fight…but for a Nosferatu (you) that is not a problem.

For even if the tendons snaps as one leaps, or the arm bones shatter as you punch..

The immortality of the strongest species can regenerate the body in an instant.

(I don’t have much memory left, but now’s not the time to hold back! Time to—write my memory!!!)

“I can temporarily forget the limitations of my muscle output.”— 24pgs.

The moment the lead crumbled from the pencil tip, weaving these words—boom!! A sound echoed.

The mighty muscular force completely ruptures your left Achilles tendon, the deltoid, and the anterior cruciate ligament,

And having paid the price, your physical body accelerates to 30 meters per second!

“U, aahhh!!?”

Zoom!! As the wind rips through, you jump 10 meters aside, scraping the sand-brick platform of the balcony with the soles of your shoes to decelerate.

Your body, having forgotten the fear of self-destruction through memory tampering, has broken through the limits of humanity and stepped into the realm of the vampire!

“What!? Do-Does a vampire have a grimoire to buff the body?”

“I jumped…I jumped as if I can use magic even though I can’t!"

You tap your legs against each other, leaping from side to side to test your mobility. Your body has accelerated and decelerated rapidly while destroying and regenerating, completely out of the murderer's aim. The combination of memory tampering and immortality gives you the power to overwhelm your enemies!

“I-Impossible! How do you gain such mobility without chanting any spells!!?”

“Guuhh…my muscles rip apart whenever I jump, and I feel really ticklish inside my legs!!...But I can fight! With this physical ability!”

You read the trajectory and timing of the stone spears, and accurately grab one by its center of gravity. All you have to do is to avoid the flying spears and step into the wall!

“D-Don’t come close!”

(They’re firing with more density…! But if I can approach cautiously and jump…!)

You jump to dodge while getting close, seeking a position right next to the enemy the moment you jump.

(Alright…this can work! I just need to jump high here and break the murderer’s aim!) The moment you feel you can approach her with your next step,

“—Halt, do not advance!”

“!”

The voice from within the robe stops you at the last moment.

“—Veins on, Number Two (Tetralix)!! O primodial spirit that lies within the depths of the earth!!”

“!? Mu-Multichant!?”

The moment you hear the second chant that shakes the atmosphere, you instinctively jump backwards and pull your distance.

(I-Impossible! A human should only be able to load a spell charge at most!)

You shout in your heart as you dodge the hail of stone spears that intensifies.

As per what you learn in magic theory class, a Magitzkveins that has an active spell can’t be reused. This is the physical limitation that can’t be overcome with skill or training.

“A-Absurd…! It is possible to use the main vein and the sub vein together if one has tremendous magic control, but the rule that ‘a Magitzkvein can only cast one spell’ cannot be broken! P-Perhaps, she…!”

A typical human will only have a main vein that’s based on the nervous system. In other words, aside from the sub vein that can be used without chanting, a caster can only chant and use a single spell.

“—No mistake about it, she has ‘dual veins’!!”

In other words, this murderer is not an ordinary spellcaster, and not an ordinary murderer.

She has a second Magitzkvein through certain means…probably a hereditary skill of her tribe, or a unique skill ordinary people know not of, and is an extremely unique magical combatant.

She’s someone who hones her magic for the sake of killing—like say, being the assassin of your Father.

“Hear the earth tremor!”

“Depths of the earth, primordial spirit, earth tremor…! This is the middle-level spell of matter formation, ‘ancient king’s warhammer’! It shall be finished after chanting for twenty seconds or so! Your power shall not withstand it!”

“Damn it!!”

You plan to attack before she finishes her chant, but your instincts as a close-ranged combatant doesn’t permit you to do so. The closer you approach the source of the stone spears, the smaller the intervals that allow you to evade them.

And the hail of stone spears intensify—this is the murderer’s magic at full power.

(Th-The firing speed is getting faster…was she holding back the entire time until now!?)

“…Is she forced to show her full strength…you, change your thought process! She is no longer your opponent from before! She is an ‘enemy’ attempting to kill you!!”

(Ku…I can’t do anything if she finishes her chant! Let’s not attack for now—write!!)

You decide to stop your attack for now, and fortify your defences.

You pull a great distance, pull the pencil out from your robe, and start to write words in the ‘book’ (me).

(…That’s right. Since I can forget the ‘limiters of my muscles’, I should be able to forget my mental trauma! If I regain my magic now, I should be able to activate the Logic Wall in a sub vein!!)

A Logic Wall is the most common form of defensive magic in the Library City. Until five years ago, you were still a promising mage. Naturally, you had a ‘sub vein for barrier use’ implanted within you.

If you can falsify the trauma in your memories and regain your ability to use magic—

(I probably can use a logic wall to block this murderer’s magic!)

“I forgot my traumatic memories and regained the ability to operate magic.—1ℓ . You desperately write this one line in the ‘Last Prayer’ with the fastest speed possible, but at that moment,

You feel a tingle in your nerves.

“…Eh?”

“Y-You?”

...... eh, huh?

A black mist rises from the ‘book’, scorching your thoughts.spread out from the "book" (Me) like a gush, burning and scorching your thoughts.

“G-Gah!”

“H-How strange! Such massive magic…is not something a human can handle!”

The voice of the True Ancestor quickly fades away, and your consciousness is flung towards a certain abyss far away. Your vision that’s swallowed by the darkness shrink quickly, and before you know it your memory instantly harkens back to the Labyrinth five years ago.

The tragic night when your father was killed.

“…Ga, ha.”

The ■■■■ that’s stabbed through the crimson robe as though it was all a joke.

“Fu, ghh…!”

The ■■ and ■■ and ■■ landed upon your tender face.

“S-Stop.”

The ■■ and the ■■ fall devastatingly from your beloved father’s body, letting out a ripping ■■ sound. The ■■ and ■■ were shone upon by the shining lamp, and the ■■ was rolling on the floor. The ■■ and ■■ and the ■■ were like puzzles often played during New Year, and even the ■■ was ■■■■■■■■■■ and ■■■■■■■■■■ vampire ■■■■■■■■■■ absolutely ■■■■■■■■ dead ■■■■■■■■■■ demon ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

“Execute...ancient king’s Warhammer!!”

Your thoughts, almost devoured by the darkness, hear the chilling chant,

A huge rock plate with debris falling from it strikes you hard.

“Ack…!”

Creak creak! Your bones can be heard breaking.

Your head is struck with a deadly acceleration, dragging you back to reality from your trauma-induced flashback.

Your half-awakened thoughts are smashed to smithereens by this rock with overwhelming force.

“Aaaaahhhh!!”

Your bones are hammered like candy hit by a metallic hammer, completely crumbled to dust. The impact has nowhere else to go, and sends you flying to the outer wall of the ‘Apothecary’ along with the ‘book’ (me).

“Guaahh!? Ack, w-what?”

(I’m a vampire…but it hurts! It just hurts all over!)

You feel ‘pain’ after half a day has passed. As a vampire with an overwhelming physical regeneration ability, most external wounds would not hurt or itch at all..

“Y-You!! Hurry and stand, or you shall be tortured and killed!”

(Impossible…I did tamper my memory to falsify the memory of my trauma…!!)

You try your best to sort out the thoughts that were scattered by the impact.

(Did the memory tampering…fail…!?)

Yes. You wrote ‘I forgot my traumatic memories ‘. This sentence alone is unable to overcome the mental trauma that is etched deeply in your mind..

Please recall. This 'book' function is to ‘preserve and falsify memories’.

As you write a memory within me, I shall create the scene necessary to obtain that memory and duplicate it into your brain. Thus, you need to know ‘how to obtain that memory’ in order to allow for memory tampering. ".

(Wh-what in the…!?)

My memory tampering can only offer information without physical changes. For example, in order to grant you the ability to use magic, you have to be granted Magitzkveins, and this involves the ‘reality tampering’ that I can’t possible do.

Thus , this ‘Last Prayer’ is unable to change moments like,

‘Knowing the location of a particular ‘book’ or person’, ‘regaining the ability to use magic’, or ‘increasing muscle mass’.

I am the ‘Last Prayer of a Thousand and One Pages’.

I am your memory itself.

Thus, even if you are to write on my page, ‘I learned the truth of five years ago’ on my pages—

You will never know the truth.

“Gah, ugh……!!”

“…Haa, haaa…you really caused me lots of trouble, vampire.”

Her shoulders huffing, the murderer pants as she curses you.

It appears that due to the multichant of this mid-high matter spell and the highly dense barrage of spears, her Magitzkveins were considerably burdened…

There is no doubt that once the tiltowait ends, she will slaughter you.

"Y-you! Stand up, stand up!”

Arteria's voice echoes in your inebriated brain, but your body, stripped of its skeleton, is unable to stand. Even as a kin of the strongest species, you’re unable to quickly recover from the fractures within half your body.

(Th-This is bad…I’ll really be killed if this keeps up…!!)

You are in no mood to unravel the enemy’s identity, or even to extract information about your foe. You try to crawl with the left half of your body that still had its skeletal frame left—

“You’re not getting away, Teacher's enemy!”

“Gaaaah!”

A stone spear zips through the air and pins your leg onto the balcony.

It’s impossible for you to escape unless you rip the tendons of your left leg apart.

"Th-This fellow knows exactly the weak point of vampires (us) …!”

“You vampires are weak to stakes, no? Once any foreign object penetrates the flesh, the vampire’s immortality is unable to remove them and regenerate.”

The murderer emits an icy, murderous intent as she looms towards you, who have fallen onto the ground. The grimoire in her hand is glowing with magical power, and she’s wielding something resembling an executioner's axe.

“No more futile resistance…I shall first petrify only the head, and then gather any necessary information from the neck down."

“Gu, uuuu…!”

“—I shall destroy you, along with the evil scenario of the ‘author’ (scenario writer).”

In the depths of her icy blue eyes, flames of fury and murderous intent flickers.

“Oh, King of the Evil Eyes who rules the earth!”

Boom! The grimoire howls.

The murderer infuses lots of mana as she begins to chant a spell that was unlike before, neither to smite nor to weaken one’s combat ability.

“Th-this chant is, a middle-high level matter-altering petrification spell, ‘All Petrifying Poison Fang’!?”

It is an execution spell designed to petrify and bury vampires (you) along with their immortality.

“Th-This fellow…is not intending to simply kill you! She plans to eviscerate you along with your immortality!”

A vampire’s immortality can still regenerate from beatings or stabs on the flesh. However, one’s thoughts will cease immediately if the brain is petrified, and you shall be rendered mentally dead immediately.

(I-If my brain is petrified here, my life's definitely end…!!)

“O Serpent Lord crowned with an eight-footed gecko!”

“Y-You! Please, stand and flee!”

(Ggh, damn it! My muscles have no strength because my skeleton has been shattered!)

The chants, echoing with murderous intent, sears at your thoughts intensely with the heat of intense impatience.

(…I can't move! I can’t use magic! I don’t have Magitzkveins, and Father's Talisman will lose its effectiveness immediately! It’s hopeless! I can’t do anything!!)

Your brain, exposed to the fear of death, is unable to come up with a way out.

(Think, think, think! Or else, over here, I'll …!)

“Grant the unforgivable pulse of life…!”

You are doomed. The moment the murderer's magic is complete, your entire body and thoughts will be transformed to stone, and you shall die forever this time.

(… Is this the end? There’s an evil magical criminal, one probably related to the Truth, is before me, but, am I going to die here?)

Only now, after being exposed to the fear of death, do you realize the true nature of the battle.

Since you have something to gain if you win, you have something to lose if you are defeated.

And if you lose your life—you shall never get it back.

“N-no! I can’t die here! I haven't gotten anything back yet!”

“Jaws of great poison!!"

…Hiii!

You instinctively place your trembling left arm onto the talisman.

Not to defeat the murderer, but to pray for your Father to save your spirit that has been completely filled with dread.

(I don't want to die…I can’t die yet…!! Think, think, think!! If I don’t think of anything to break out of this, I’ll…!)

Curse of Endless Slumber!

"…No, I don't want to die! I don't want it to end here!!—Faaatttthhhheeeerrrr!!”

Faced with the ultimate loss, the despair of ‘death’, you beg your Father’s image for salvation—

Execute... All Petrifying Poison Fang!!"""

With a thud.

The black stake, a deadly poison that petrifies all phenomena, pierces Arteria's left chest.

“…Eh?"

The fresh blood gushing from the wound splashed crimson upon her silver hair which fluttered in the wind.

The High Daylight Walker, who had regained her true form, took the petrifying black stake with her own body.

…This time…this time, I shall not squander, again.

The blood tricked down the virulent stake, and petrified right before it touched the balcony’s bricks.

…Vam, pire…?

Why, are you still, bewildered, fool…

The vampire was starting to morph into a statue as she slowly tilts towards you with her hardening muscles..

While this tiltowait occurs, shred your legs…

Blood spitting from the edges of her mouth, the strongest vampire slowly leans forward—

…Leave me, and run!

And so, with a thud, she collapsed upon the crude, burnt sand bricks.

You did not understand.

You had no idea what had just happened.

For there was no reason vampires would risk their lives for humans.

There was no reason why the most powerful species, which could have struck down a swarm of stone spears with a single blow, would lose to a stake of petrification.

Her goodwill towards you was surely nothing more than a monster’s sham to lure its prey.

There is no way that the High Daylight Walker, hailed as the eternal night, can be destroyed within mere seconds of chanting.

She, the talent eater, should never die protecting her kin—

But Arteria's body lets out a shrieking sound as she begins to ossify.

…Wh, y…?

You eke out a question, unable to understand anything.

Grr…silver vampire, why do you interfere to protect your kin?

You had no idea as to why the vampire was hurt when you encountered her the previous night.?

…Umu…my beloved, kin…

You also have no idea as to why the vampire whom you just met professed her love towards you.

—Why do you look like you’re dying, vampire!

And you have no idea as to why the strongest vampire is dying.

"…Hah, haaah …! The Magitzkveins are burnt out…but I managed to strike with the petrifying fangs when it’s hard for her to suck blood…!

!"""

The murderer was panting as her Magitzkveins were burned out by the continuous chants, but she readied her grimoire once again.

Even if you can regenerate yourselves, I can destroy you by petrifying your bodies…! Even though you are an immortal vampire, since you are already so weakened…!

(!? This…High Daylight Walker is already weakened…?)

The Murderer's mumbling triggers an electric shock deep within your mind.

The silver night of Library Labyrinth, the talent eater, Arteria.

Twice she had shown you glimpses of her power, said to be the strongest of her kind.

Once when she regenerated instantly from a fatal wound to her flank.

The other when she repelled the Murderer’s stone spear strike with a single swing of her arm.

Arteria, the undead king, wielder of the power of the High Daylight Walker—

Did so only immediately after she had sucked your blood.

…Vampire, have you…

You see the back of the mightiest Nosferatu rapidly ossify, consumed by the gray-black disease—

Your thoughts lead you to a fatal conclusion.

"Have you lost the power of a True Ancestor?"

The High Daylight Walker Arteria had lost her immortality.

…If so, why, me…?

Your lips, quivering in confusion and shock, seemingly eke out a question.

Arteria creaks her neck as she her neck and slowly looks back at you.

You, fool…how many times, have I mustered, my courage, to confess…

The cheeks, gradually overwhelmed by the gray color of death, show a haughty smile.

The High Daylight Walker slowly looks back at you, her petrified ribs creaking,

I loved you…ever since the moment you saved me.

Because she loved you, she wanted to save you.

…I don't understand, vampire.

You could not understand.

How can you, the High Daylight Walker, protect a human like me…?

Why will a vampire save a human despite losing the power of the strongest species, doomed with death?

You call yourself the strongest species, so why did you get hit by a petrification spell?

You cannot understand as to why she, who only met you for the first time last night and sucked your blood, is so affectionate towards you.

Why do you love me so much when we just met yesterday?

And you cannot comprehend this love that Arteria professes to you.

What you can understand is a single future.

And that is, if this goes on, Arteria will die here.

…I won't let, you die…!

You scrape at the coarse sand bricks with your fingers, clenching your fists.

I don’t understand. But that’s why I can’t let you die here…!

Yes. You may not understand everything, but you cannot simply let this vampire die.

If Arteria dies, you shall never know the reason for this ‘love’ she speaks of, and why a vampire saved a human..

(…Five years ago, October 16, on the night Father was killed, I made up my mind…! I won’t let anyone within my reach die…!)

The deep despair and darkness of sorrow darkness, the memories sealed within the abyss.

You, who were saved by a Doctor Magna, had sworn upon your Father’s death.

You swore to regained your memories and magic that were caged by trauma, and to become someone who can save others (Doctor Magna).

I’ll…!

So you breathe in despite your creaking, shattered ribs.

Your nearly extinguished heart pulsated, and you eked all your strength, yelling,

—I swore to be a mage (Doctor Magna)!

You swear not to let Arteria die.

I won't let, you diiiieeee!!!!

You let out a wailing scream, exerting all your strength into your left leg that is fastened to the floor.

Your Achilles' tendon, stretched to their limits, shred with a snap, and your physical body is released.

!? Y-You’re not getting away!

The Murderer senses your intention to escape, and infuses the grimoire with Mana, creating a hail of stone spears. You instantly pull out the ‘Origami paper set’, rip some pages out, and swing it.

Exterminate, vampire!

I won't let you die…nor anyone!

As soon as you flung out the bundle of ‘Origami papers’, the wreckage of the stone spears distorted greatly. The magic left as God’s legacy warps reality, transforming the rubble of burnt sand into sharp spears that are fired.

Facing the hail of spears that will rip through your body, you take a little breath.

"Transform into ‘clay’, ‘Origami Paper Set’!!"

And so you order to all the folded ‘Origami papers’ at once.

(…Since it is ‘paper before transforming’, and ‘able to become matter instantly when folded’.)

The stack of ‘Origami paper’ received its Master’s command, and begin to fold away—

"I can build a barrier!"

The stack transforms into heaps of sandbags, instantly forming a barrier!

"Wh-what!?"

Heaps of earth rained down, blocking the murderer's magic.

The rapidly intensifying thoughts coagulate the abilities of the ‘Origami paper set’" and the ‘Last Prayer’ to form a defensive tactic.

(‘It’s possible to block any projectile spells like those stone spears as long as there’s enough cover before the caster’. That’s what the magic theory knowledge written in my mind tells me!)

"I want to save…! That’s what I came here for!"

"Ku…you cocky vampire, just let me kill you!!"

The moment the murderer snaps sharply, the stone spears begin to fire at a faster rate than before. They like a torrential downpour, ripping apart the sandbags and destroying the walls.

(…The beginning of the ‘Last Prayer’ states that the vampire revived from the brink of death after sucking my blood. If memory serves me right, I should be able to save her from petrification if she sucks my blood!)

Through a crack in the crumbling barrier, you affirm the vampire's location.

The body of the True Ancestor (Arteria), which had taken on the black stake to protect her kin, is now nearly 90% swallowed by the ashen black.

(…! ‘Less than a minute to complete petrification’! I need to think of a way to get there!)

"Hmph! There’s no point in hiding! Release, Number One (On Australis)! Oh King of the Evil Eye who rules over the earth!"

While you are pondering hard, the murderer finally breaks free of her tiltowait and began chanting again. The cold incantation echoes like waves, awakening the memories written in your brain.

(…“This is the ‘All Petrifying Poison Fang’, and there’s another 20 seconds until the chant is complete. I can’t defend against her direct attack with the ‘Book’ I have!)

"In that case…’Origami paper set’, activate!"

While the murderer is still chanting, you activate a new page.

The Origami paper, ordered to be a ‘long clothesline’, rapidly lengthens in your hands—

"I’ll break through the spears!"

Your physical body leaps out towards the downed vampire like a pole vault!

"O Serpent Lord crowned with an eight-footed gecko…what!?"

You instantly leap ten meters into the air, and catch sight of the astonished murderer and the blackened vampire.

"G-Got to aim again—"

"I won't let you!"

Right before the aim of the stone spears can be recalibrated towards you, you throw two rolled up sheets of ‘Origami paper’ at the murderer.

The pebble-like pages arrives one meter or so above the murderer—

"‘Lamp oil’ and ‘burning coal’!"

Obeying your command, they transform into a rain of burning napalm upon the murderer.

"Wh…yaaaaaaahhhh!!"

"Wooooooh!!!"

You jab at the floor with the tip of the long clothesline and fling your body towards the High Daylight Walker.

Your gravity-accelerated body falls through the torrent of stone spears and slams into the sand-brick balcony.

"Gah! Grr… ugh!!!"

Oof! The impact shakes through you, breaking apart your newly regenerated legs.

Using the speed of your fall, you roll over the rubble and reach the side of the vampire statue.

You exert all your strength into your arms, enduring the creaking pain of your crushed legs.

You are within a meter away from the High Daylight Walker.

Even though your body is heavily damaged, you should be able to crawl towards her!

"…Wait for me, vampire…!"

"Kuuu…! I’m not letting you escape even though my body’s burning!"

The murderer deploys a logic wall from her sub vein as she shrieks through the vortex of flame.

There are still a few seconds until the chant is completed. This will be all the remaining time you and Arteria have left!

"O poisonous jaws, grant this unforgivable pulse of life!"

You claw at the bricks of burnt sand, wading forth in the sea of ashened blood.

(…Vampire. All this time, I thought you’re just a vampire. I thought that you, the strongest species with eternal immortality, saved my life in a whim. …!)

"Curse of Endless Slumber!"

(I don't know why you hid the fact that you lost your immortality as the High Daylight Walker. There might be a chance that you’re just bluffing humans (me) so that you can steal back the power that’s taken from you…!)

Ignoring your peeling fingernails, you eke all the strength out of your body as you keep crawling forward.

(I don't understand what you're thinking at all! I don't even know why you’re saying ‘I love you’ when I only just met your yesterday!! But I…!)

"Execute!"

I don't want you to die. …!"

Finally, you reach the High Daylight Walker.

And with your trembling fingertips, you clutch the talisman crystal...

"All Petrifying Poison Fang!"

"Ar, te, ria!"

You shout the vampire’s name, unleashing your father’s magic.

——Giiiiiiiii!!!! A violent interference sound echoes.

Countless magic arrays, highly dense logic walls reminiscent of mandalas, are deployed instantly…

The Okutsuki-style absolute defences gnaw at the black petrifying stakes.

"Th-This rune array, the highly dense logic walls are teacher’s…"

This is the strongest defensive spell that decomposes hostile substances and magical activity, extinguishing them from this world.

It is the protective shield of great love the Doctor Magna bequeathed to his son.

"…Don't die, Arteria."

Basking in the glittering deep blue-purple residue of the magic, you call out to the High Daylight Walker.

You call out to this foolish, kind vampire who professed her love for a human (you), and even sacrificed her life to save.

"…I don't care if you're a vampire. I don't care if the love you speak of is real or not, or why you even grant immortality to a human (me)."

This is all for the sake of saving her from the cage of pertrification, using everything you have.

"I believe you. So—suck my blood, High Daylight Walker."

You stab your palm with the crystal tip of the talisman.

The dripping blood moistens the lips of the vampire that is being petrified.

"…What, a great fool."

The gray skin cracked.

"For I told you to run away, but you really are one who never listens."

The once stiffened joints creak and squeak.

"Reckless as always, a hopeless fool you are."

The closed eye lids slowly lift.

The crimson eyes, seemingly encasing blood, blink towards you..

"A dim-witted fool you are, no?"

The moment the utterly elated whisper gently softly spread through the air.

"Does this not cause me to fall more and more in love with you? Fool ♡."

—Kasshhhann! A small breaking sound echoes.

The strongest vampire awakens from the stone hearse.

"Ehehe♪ It has been five years since I woke from awakened from death so comfortably.♪"

The flying hair is a silver wind. Her long, silky, glossy hair spreads out, covering her white skin.

Her sparkling eyes are jewels of blood. The eyes dyed in fresh blood red are as clear as polished rouge.

"Certainly certainly, so you do believe in I~♪ Mufufu~, ehehe~certainly, for you have fallen for I too, no♪?"

The blood stains on her silver hair is gone, the black stake that pierced her body vanishes, and the dust-covered skin is now sparkling a cold, porcelain white.

The vampire, risen from the dead, grins to seemingly show her joy.

"For now you and I are in love! Surely I must reciprocate your feelings!"

Her smile is arrogant, undaunted, cocky and joyous.

This High Daylight Walker Arteria shall repay your love with all my might, Sōshi ♡"

She seems to shine brilliantly in the sunlight.

"Now then, time to discipline. It is time to punish those who abused a kin of I."

"Wh…ah, servant, skewer her!!"

"Hmph, useless!"

Having witnessed Arteria's rebirth, the murderer foolishly fires the stone spears. However, the countless volley of spears are instantly disintegrated by the logic wall right in front of Arteria.

"H-How is that!? Has she absorbed the logic wall too!?"

"Do not underestimate this talent eater of I! For I have 39 subveins and a total of 937 logic armor layers! Even if you bring 100 trillion of these stone spears, they are useless without any piercing capabilities!"

"Kuu…i-in that case, I have to use this trump card…!"

Muttering so, the murderer places her hand before her chest. She might be intending to call over Doctor Magna and have the vampire (you lot) executed!

"Mhm…such a conceited fellow. Then witness the true power of the 'Silver Night'!"

As soon as Arteria calls out, a swarm of bats gushes out from her body, transforming into a silver wind. The exponential proliferation of thin wings cast a huge shadow on the balcony.

"!? I-Is this bat swarm actually…!!"

"Umu! Now I have expanded my domain over the entire balcony! Even if there are witnesses, they shall only see a fog magic!"

Arteria, having transformed into a misty domain, answers with tremors in the entire atmosphere.

The silvery-white bats cover the skies, and their wings form a pitch black darkness.

Such is the absolute domain of the High Daylight Walker, the strongest vampire of the Library Labyrinth, and also the reason for Arteria's moniker—the ‘Silver Night’ of the Library Labyrinth.

"Guhh…I-I can’t breathe! Vampire, what did you…?"

The murderer, having been blinded by the dense fog, gasps for breath.

The ‘Silver Night’ is the True Ancestor (Arteria) herself. Those who cannot see in the darkness will lose their sight, and the survivors of the domain will have their knowledge drained. Only those immortal kin who inherit the bloodline of a True Ancestor shall have their abilities enhanced exponentially.

"…You may have noticed that I have lost most of my immortality. It is far from the prime of the ’Silver Night’ (magic)…but it can still heal you!"'

The beautiful dusk whispers into your ear.

The moment the silver-white fog lovingly embarces you, your wounded body is instantly regenerated.

(!? My shredded legs and crushed bones are healed! My body’s gaining strength…!)

The pure white dusk that scatters upon you activates your vampiric immortality, fortifying your body.

—‘Night’ is the domain of vampires.

And the ‘Silver Night’, with its magical power, is the ultimate night (Nox Polaris) ruled by the High Daylight Walker.

(…This is the ‘Silver Night of Library Labyrinth’, a fragment of the strongest species’ power!...I can feel it! I can feel Arteria’s ‘night’ flowing all over my body!!)

The gentle magical power fills your body as it if caressing a lover.

This proves that the love the vampire spoke of is not false.

It is proof of this deep love Arteria professes to you.

(…I can believe it now. This magic of High Daylight Walker…Arteria’s heart!)

"As long as you remain within this ‘Silver Night’, vampires (us) are truly immortal! Her magic is nothing to fear! Now, time to counter!"

"Grr… Veins on, Number Two (Tetralix)!! O primodial spirit that lies within the depths of the earth!!”

Right as the ultrasound strikes the eardrums, the murderer begins her third chant.

You look into the dark night with your vampiric eyes, spot the enemy, and say,

"Arteria, lend me your strength. Give me the strength to protect you from death now that you have lost your immortality."

"…Y-You…!"

As a kin of the True Ancestor Arteria, you want to protect her using the strength she grants you.

"Un…uu!!! This true ancestor Arteria shall repay your trust!"

"Yeah. Let’s defeat this murderer, together"

You decide to trust Arteria and fight.

"You!"

"I got it!!"

As soon as you stomp onto the floor, a blue flash races through the pure white darkness.

At that moment, your vision is accelerated with a buzz, and you immediately close your distance against the enemy.

(!! My body’s mobility really is completely different from before!)

"This ‘night’ is the very Magitzkvein of a High Daylight Walker! Chantless spells are easy peasy!"

As the True Ancestor exclaims so, the flash races through the night once again, forming a blade in your hand.

(…Got it!! I’ll cut through her logic wall!!)

You accelerate through the hail of stone spears, and charge right into the murderer’s range!.

"!? A-A hundred mighty arms—"

Too slow!

The silver-white blade slashes vertically through the automatically deployed logic wall.

Since the logic wall is a form of magic, a tiltowait of the circuit, or the opening after its destruction, is unavoidable.

Seizing this gap, you step through, twirl the blade in your palm—

"Haaaaah!"

And you strike a powerful back slash against the blank of the murderer!

"Argh…!"

Clang! The and the silver steel blade sank into the dark indigo robe.

Now a master of melee combat, you snap the murderer's body by the waist.

"Haah!"

The forcibly swung blade sends the murderer flying hard..

The murderer flies aside, bounces a couple of times off the balcony, and slams into a shattered angel statue.

"Ack, ka, fuuu…!"

The murderous chanting stops, and the gray book spine falls between the murderer's fingers.

In order to use chanting spells, a ‘book’ has to be connected to the Magitzkveins before a chant is muttered. A mage that has lost a grimoire poses no threat..

"H-How can I, be defeated, here… …!"

"…The inheritor of the title of Doctor Magna and a kin of the High Daylight Walker will never lose to a mere murderer."

"Ku, uuu…"

The murderer’s thoughts are suspended due to the pain, but she tries to get up and grab the grimoire…

"It’s our win."

However, she loses to her exhaustion caused by the battle, and collapses with a thud onto the coarse sand brick balcony.

"…Hah! Hah, hah, hah…!"

Finally released from your extreme state of tension, your shoulders heave wildly as you gasp for oxygen.

The disadvantage left you unable to relax, and the struggle left you asphyxiated, but you manage to turn the tables.

You execute the function of the the ‘book' to its limit and break through the the murderer's magic, even saving the petrified Arteria from the brink of death.

"Haa, haaa…! Arteria, are you fine? The petrification!?"

"…Umumu. A little tired, I suppose. I can no longer maintain the 'Silver Light'…!"

"!? Ah, Arteria."'

The moment the voice ring from the depths of the silver-white fog, a gust blows through the ‘night’.

It seems the High Daylight Walker that has been sustaining this domain has stopped providing magical power, for the silvery-white dusk quickly fades away, fizzling and vanishing into the atmosphere.

"The ‘Silver Night’…! A-Arteria!?"

"Fear not. It is just a matter of magic weakening! Do not worry about I."

You call out the vampire's name, and a bat flaps its wings as it appears on this completely cleared battlefield. It appears she’s slightly weakened because you have drained some magical power from her, and thus she is no longer sustain the night.

"Arteria, thank goodness …!"

"You, it is more important to extract the Truth instead of worrying about I!"

The strongest species hides itself beneath the hood of your robe as she urges you on through ultrasound.

Arteria willingly risked petrification to protect your will to ‘regain the truth’.

If you wish to repay that sacrifice of hers, you should not squander the perfect opportunity to take knowledge from the murderer.

"…Got it."

You place the shattered talisman in your robe pocket, and turn towards the murderer.

The murderer has lost her grimoire, her logic wall shattered, and her Magitzkveins are depleted. However, her ultramarine eyes continue to stare at you with hostility.

"…Vam, pire…you…!"

"…Since she was near the study yesterday, it appears she has some relation to your father. Given her intent to murder you, surely there is a higher likelihood of evil intent!"

(Yeah. It’s not weird for her to be at such a low level of the Labyrinth if she’s planning to kill any person visiting the study. She knows about the incident five years ago, so that’s why she’s trying to kill all witnesses (me)…!)

"The ‘enemy’ has waited five years for you, who once fled this Library City Alexandria, even attempting to assassinate you. Surely she is none other than the one who murdered the Doctor Magna! If you suck her knowledge…!"

"Then I can get information about Father's enemies!"

You pin down the murderer, pressing down upon her legs with your knees, basically riding upon her.

The murderer tries to resist, but it's futile!

"…Kill, me. Instead of being humiliated by being a vampire’s captive, I…!"

"Fool me not, murderer. I seek truth, not vengeance!"

You seize her by the collar to prevent her from biting her tongue.

"Ugh…!!!"

"…I’ve been seeking the truth since that day five years ago. I lost my magic and my memory, but I still return to this Library City Alexandria to retrieve the truth!"

You stare sharply into the ultramarine blue eyes of the murderer and question her,

"—Answer me, murderer!! Who killed Father…Kai Okutsuki five years ago!!?"

You yearn for the truth behind your Father’s death, that truth five years ago.

"…Father, you say?"

Her deep blue eyes narrow slightly, seemingly reflecting her inner doubt.

"…Is your Father’s surname Okutsuki? But the vampiric sacrifice…no way, the 'Scenario Writer'?"

The murderer’s eyes remain fixated on you and start to ramble madly as she utter a spiel of unintelligible words…perhaps she knows you are far from knowing the truth, and wishes to befuddle you with falsehoods.

"…You’re still playing dumb…! What a shallow method befitting a criminal!!!"

Your sworn enemy, having lost in magical combat and is pinned by you, still plans to conceal the truth with deception and falsehood. You tug at the collar of the despicable assassin and mutter in a low voice.

"Guh…l-let go of me, vampire! Th-there’s a huge misunderstanding between you and I…!"

"Unforgivable…! If you're going to stop me from finding the truth, then…! "

Manipulating this murderer behind the scenes is the sworn enemy who took everything from you. It’s futile to seek out the truth with words from a criminal who had murdered a person.

Having decided that negotiations and interrogations are meaningless—you bare your vampire teeth and say,

"I’m taking it back from you, murderer…!"

From the High Daylight Walker, you inherit the ability to ‘absorb knowledge’. It’s a power to destroy any pretense, to reclaim the truth.

If the enemy refuses to talk, then draw information from her blood!

"I’m taking all the memories you have five years ago from your blood!"

You savagely tear at the bust of her blouse that is in the way, ready to stab your teeth at her neck.

—Kling. A cold metallic chain lets out a crisp sound..

A crystal talisman, one exactly the same as yours, is dangling before her chest..

"…Huh?"

The protective talisman slides across the murderer's skin, shakes slightly amidst the valley of her ample cleavage, and stops.

The golden Venetian chain, reflecting the glittering sunlight,

The rouleau triangle crystals gives a blue-purple glow, infused with magic.

It is the very same amulet that you Father left you with.

W-Why do you have this talisman…?"

Stupefied, you mutter at this inexplicable turn of events.

For this Crystal Talisman is a magical tool forged by the Doctor Magna, Kai Okutsuki for his beloved son, the only Magitzkvein of absolute defense that exists in this world.

It is the deep bond of love your father had bequeathed you..

Thus, the Doctor Magna, Kai Okutsuki, couldn’t possibly have given this talisman to the murderer.

"Why, do you…only Father is able to create this talisman!"

"! S-Since you know where this talisman comes from, then the logic wall just now…are you really Teacher Okutsuki’s…!"

"!!!? T-Teacher Okutsuki!?"

Once you hear the words eke out from the pink lips, your tug at the robe become more forceful.

This murderer is an enemy of your father, a comrade of the sworn enemy who took everything from you.

But with the talisman before your eyes, when there is no purpose in concealing her identity, there is no reason for her to call Kai Okutsuki as ‘teacher’.!

"A-Aren’t you the ‘Scenario Writer’ assassin who’s impersonating Kai Okutsuki’s son, trying to kill me…"

"Impersonating as Father’s son…y-you got to be kidding, murderer! You’re the one who know of my relationship with Father, and wanted to kill me so that the truth will never be known, right!?"

You scream in burning rage, increasingly livid at the growing frustrated at the mismatched conversation.

‘You’re part of those sworn enemies, and also the assassin who tried to kill you.’

The various circumstantial evidence all point to such a hypothesis…

Yet the lone fact that she calls your father ‘teacher’ is an unexplainable contradiction.

"…Wh-Who are you…!?"

While all doubts are swirling in your thoughts as you try to uncover the murderer's true identity.

"…Okutsuki-san. I’m the disciple of Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki…your father's disciple."

The voice quivering with despair and capitulation confesses its true identity.

'What about …, a disciple of the Okutsuki precept …Father, you say?'

"…Huh? Kai Okutsuki…Father’s disciple?"

The burning hatred and the tension ease up immediately. It seems there has been a dire misunderstanding has existed between you and the murderer.

"A-Aren’t you one of Father’s sworn enemies who is sent to assassinate me…?"

The murderer you assumed to be a sworn enemy is actually your father’s disciple.

"I-I made such a grave mistake…! I thought the enemy sent a vampire to kill me because I got too close to figuring out the truth to Teacher’s death. I-I-I… "

She, too, has been independently investigating the truth behind the death of Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki.

In other words, the battle from before has been a meaningless farce.

"—Ehhhhhhh!!???"

"—You’re kiddddiiiiinnnnggg!!?"

Two overlapping screams echo through the outskirts of the ‘Apothecary’.

"So-So is this talisman what Father had given you?"

"Yes, that's correct! ! My savior Teacher Okutsuki gave this to me, and it’s very important…b-but I made such a great mistake against Okutsuki-san."

"Th-That’s too big a mistake! I got killed once!"

"Th-Then, you’re originally human!?"

"The manner you realize it is completely wrong! Didn’t I tell you since the moment we met in the classroom!?"

"T-That’s because!! Back then!! I-I was shocked, and I panicked…!!!"

"You wouldn’t be stabbing others with pencils when panicking!! Return me my pancreas!"

"I was certain that logic wall seemed familiar…I didn’t think you would be Teacher’s son! I-I really don’t know how to make up for this…!!!"

"Apologizing isn’t going to do anything now! Thanks to you, I’m now a half-human, half-vampire hybrid!! And more importantly, you’d be a real murderer if it’s not for Arteria!!"

"I’m sorry. I-I’m sorry…"

"I said apologies aren’t going to cut it! Don’t you remember what you did to me!? You stabbed my pancreas with 39 spears, chopped my fingers, crushed my bones, and almost petrified me!"

You continue to lambast the murderer, venting your agitated emotions.

Since you so happen to be attacked by your father’s disciple, and almost got petrified together with Arteria, you certainly have the right to be raging.

Due to the recoil from breaking free of the fear of death, you intend to continue lambasting the murderer,

"…Uu, uu…!"

A whimper.

A single tear fall from the murderer’s ultramarine eyes.

"…Murderer, you…!"

"…I'm sorry. I was only trying to repay Teacher's kindness…but I actually mistook Teacher's son for an assassin of the Scenario Writer,…! "

"‘Scenario Writer’? Wait, did you kill me because you mistook me for someone else…?"

You hear the quivering whimper, and finally realize the murderer’s reason to fight.

The murderer once said, " I thought the enemy sent a vampire to kill me because I got too close to figuring out the truth to Kai Okutsuki’s death". She ‘misassumed’ you to be the enemy assassin, and tried to defeat you in a magic duel.

…But that doesn't add up.

Given that the murderer has mistaken you for someone else and almost kill you in a magic duel, there has to be someone else who can be mistaken for you.

In other words, aside from you and the murderer, a third party has to exist.

"W-Wait, murderer. Are you saying that you’re attacked by someone other than us…!? "

So you ponder, trying to grasp the meaning of her words—

"Fu…fuunnnnnyyyyaaaa!?"

A really, really familiar cat-like cry interrupt your words..

…Now then, you left the classroom with the murderer, reached a completely unpopular balcony, and after a magic duel, pinned her down and ripped at her chest..

Through the obscene lenses of puberty, your actions can be described as such.

You forgot about a lunch date with your girlfriend, and try to appease this enraged girlfriend through a magic duel, only to be easily defeated.

And once your furious girlfriend pursued you, you summon the one you have an affair with, a silver-haired girl (who is completely naked to boot) and have her take an attack, suffer a grievous wound, and you move her aside..

And then you two were surrounded by a silver fog, you start to counterattack. You violently subdue your girlfriend, strip her, and pull out—

You’re about to put an end to this lovers quarrel through physical words (in another sense).

"Ah…wait, th-this isn’t it! Listen to me, Calmia-sa..."

"Okutsuki, yo-you pervert nyyyaaaa!"

The distinct high-pitched meow of the cat tribe echoes through the outskirts of the ‘Apothecary’.

"O-Oi Prez! Mood’s going well, don’t disturb them…uooooooh!"

"Let go!!! S-Such illicit relationships can’t be ignored here!!"

Calmia, whose ears and tail furs are bristling, hops out from the doorway leading to the lecture tower. Her cheeks are bright red, probably due to the combined effects of her intense anger and shame.

"C-Calmia-san!? And the classmates…d-don’t come here…!"

The murderer screams franctically as she uses her blouse to covers her voluptuous chest that can’t be covered with her hands. To an onlooker, it sounds like the sobbing of a girl who almost got raped…

"U-Uh oh, she saw our faces!" "Damn it, hey Prez, let’s scream!"

"Funyaa! Wait, don’t ride on me~!! You’re heavy~!!"

A male student resembling a dog hops out, restraining Calmia who appears to be trying to stop you.

He smiled very cheerfully and declared with a thumbs up.

"Don’t worry Okutsuki, Erika! We didn't see anything! We certainly won’t be telling anyone!!"

Well I certainly can tell you that he definitely will not abide by this promise.

"Wa-Wait, it’s a misunderstanding! Anyway, how long have you people been watching?"

"Gotta chant some escape spells! We’ll be in a bloodbath if the transfer student catches us!"

"I won't do that!"

"P-Pl-please…please let go of me Okutsuki-san!!"

You shout with tears in your eyes. At the same time, the murderer knees you in the back."

"Ugebu!?"

"Chant complete! Executing, grab Prez! Execute, twin tempest wings!!!"

You make a funny sound, and your classmates disappear like the wind. As to be expected of tenth graders studying in the ‘Apothecary’, they truly mastered the use of escape magic."

"Wa-woah! I-I got to shut them out! Before they can report about the result of this magic duel!"

The rules of the ‘Apothecary’ forbids students from having magic duels against each other. You, with your lumbar vertebrae and sciatic nerve destroyed, roll about on the floor, and next to you, the murderer stands up with a bewildered look..

"V-Vampire!...No-no, Okutsuki-san! We’ll talk about the details later! I’ll stop them and protect your secret!"

The murderer shouts and rushes into the walled area.

The only ones left behind are a paralyzed halfling, a vampire in bat form, and countless stone spears that have pierced the entire wall of the outermost shell.

"…Good grief. It seems they are gone. Well, how long are you intending to crawl. Regrow your hip bones quickly and stand up!"

"Ugh…I got my spine shattered, and my classmates got a huge misunderstanding right after I transferred here!"

You manage to stand up, tormented by a raging itch and embarrassment.

It's hard to believe that just minutes ago, you were having a life-threatening magic duel. Is your life cursed to never be able to be normal?

"Whew, whew…th-that murderer thought I’m ‘one with those enemies’…! So are there other forces aside from murderer and me…? "

"…It is unexpected of that murderer girl to be your father’s disciple…but retreat is of the essence. Remain so here, and you shall be executed."

"Ehh!? E-Executed by the murderer!?"

No, by Doctor Magna's magic.

Do recall. This is the headquarters of the ‘Apothecary’, the third of the four great powers. This is where Labyrinth explorers who boast of their overwhelming magic congregate.

Even though it is in the outermost shell where few people can actually see. Given that witnesses have seen such a grand magic battle, it is expected for a Doctor Magna to be notified.

"Y-yikes! If news of the magic duel gets out there, I’ll get killed by a Doctor Magna!"

You jolt up, terrified by the fear of death, and run away from the devastated balcony as fast as you can.

You must escape back to your dorm room before a Doctor Magna finds and executes you!

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