Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter5

◇◇◇331 Pages until Memory Loss

◇◇◇331 Pages until Memory Loss

The next day, 6am.

You have packed all the necessary supplies for Labyrinth exploration into your backpack, and have arrived at the door of the old-fashioned mechanical elevator closest to the third tower.

You are headed towards your Father’s study in the Library Labyrinth, intending to seek out the ‘Book to Cure Memory Loss’.

"…Haa, haa, whew~…I finally, made it up to the elevator…"

You lower the haversack that is digging into your shoulders, and let out a huge sigh. This is the first Labyrinth search in your subjective memory, and being seemingly overly cautious, you brought excessive belongings.

"Phew…seems like I brought too much equipment. If I can use the shadow world to store them, I should be able to carry much more."

"Nyamu, mmmm..…"

The silver white bat, illuminated by the light, lets out an impatient graon from within the hood of your robe.

Perhaps it was due to her vampiric nature of preferring the shadows, Arteria appears to be a late riser.

"…Haa, since there’s no shadow storage to use, I should look for a ‘large inventory storage book’ at a grimoire store and buy one…"

Of course. The further you go into the labyrinth, the more difficult it shall be to procure supplies and food, and thus a ‘storage book’ is an imperative equipment for explorers. You could have purchased one in advance if possible, but unfortunately, in the Far East islands, there are few opportunities to buy ‘books’..

"And ever since I stepped into Library City Alexandria, I got killed by the murderer, and turned into a vampire. I didn’t have time to go to a grimoire shop…oh!"

You push aside the safety door of the elevator and toss your belongings into the luggage basket. At the very least, you do not have to endure the itchiness of the shoulder straps that would dig into your flesh until you reached the terminal..

"Phew…it’s the closest to the dormitory, but it sure is an old elevator."

Behind you, you close the bostwick gate that comprises of metallic rods, and scan the interior of the elevator.

A thin layer of dust covers the floor of of this cramped carriage, and footprints are left behind. The The bronze control panel has greenish-blue rust all over the place, indicating the many years this elevator has experienced.

Compared to the large elevator in the main lecture tower, it appears this elevator is hardly used.

(…The floor indicators are gear type instead of lights, and even the emergency brake is to be kicked…since it’s not locked, I guess it should be able to work…)

"…Hmm, I’m still uneasy about this."

With a tinge of apprehension, you check the rusty door lock repeated to see if it is locked, and presse the old-styled▼ down button.

Creak…a squeaky sound is heard, and the elevator begins to descend with a light thud.

The old and slow mechanical elevator passes through a few levels of the lecture tower, and then into a long, long continuous section of darkness.

After a bit of intermittent tremors, the collar of your robe begins to wriggle.

"Nyam nyam…ha-have us reached the bottom of the Labyrinth…?"

"…Good morning Arteria. We just got onto the elevator. You can keep sleeping., you know?"

"Unyu…hmm, I suppose I should awaken…"

The silver white bat rubs rubs the tip of its nose and mutters with ultrasonic waves. The darkness blotting the elevator seems appears to have become the morning sun for the vampire.

"…Nyammmm, when did you put I into the robe? And where is this elevator headed? "

"Ermm, it definitely leads to the Labyrinth. Given this speed though, it doesn’t seem to be a route that can reach the bottom floors of the Labyrinth directly though."

"What now, merely to the shallow layer…uuu, finally rid of sleepiness I am, it is boring to be in the same darkness. How slow this ‘Apothecary’ elevator is."

"Not like we got a choice. The high speed elevator of the lecture tower should be much faster, but it’s hell to carry such a large backpack down that aerial corridor.

"Mmm, You are beginning to explore the Labyrinth, but you do not seem sentimental…"

"…Well yeah, I assumed there would be a emotional homecoming, but I'm not descending down the Labyrinth just to sightsee, you know?"

The still half-awake bat is bored to tears, and nibbles at your neck…as the bat (Arteria) says, the interior of the elevator's vertical shaft is musty and cold, and seems to intensify the gloomy unrest of exploring the Labyrinth rather than stirring your expectations.

You are headed towards the study where the Doctor Magna once used as a base. It is a little safer than the deepest level exacavated thus far, but it is still dangerous level.

(…Still, that study might have some clues related to the truth from five years ago. The collection of ‘books’ Father left behind may have something that can cure memory loss and vampirism. The Labyrinth is a dangerous place, but it is definitely worth the trip…!)

Your fingertips touch the talisman on your chest to rally your heart that’s fading into anxiety.

You have left your faraway hometown and family to return to Library City Alexandria yearning to reclaim the past in the Library Labyrinth, for you seek the truth of that tragic night in this place where your father was murdered.

"…I’ll get them back. My lost memories, my magic, and the truth of five years ago."

If, within the darkest depths of this Library Labyrinth, in the study where Kai Okutsuki was assassinated, there await ‘A book to cure memory loss’, ‘A book to regain the truth’, or ‘A book to become Doctor Magna’.

You must overcome any adversary and retrieve those books.

"Umu, now that is the vigor! As a kind of I, you shall not let this darkness cow you!"

"Yeah. I finally returned to the Library Labyrinth, and I can't die with my memories lost and the truth still unrevealed…and I can’t leave you alone either."

"'Fmyu! …C-Certainly, no? You belong to I, and I shall not let you lose your memories! Now then, you have to prepare for exploration! Even in this very slow elevator, we should be reaching the dark abyss of the Labyrinth…umu?"

Arteria suddenly pauses, and looks down at the elevator floor.

"…I-Is it not getting a little brighter?"

"Eh?"

You look down just as Arteria does, and spot some faint light seeping through the dark depths of the vertical shaft. It is unusual for a descending elevator to have light shining in from below.

"Th-That’s strange, shouldn’t it be connected to the Labyrinth…argh!"

The light shining through the gaps of the carriage cause your vampire skin to feel itchy.

It's sunlight.

"Su-Sunlight!? Shouldn’t we be underground by now!?"

"Y-You! This is weird! Sunlight should not be shining into the pits of the Labyrinth—"

The vampire, panicked by the sudden sunlight, is about to say something to you—

Boom!

Your dimly-lit field of vision suddenly expands, and the sun shining brightly in the sky etches onto your retinas.

"!?Th-This is …!"

You pry open your eye lids that are sealed by the sun glare. The iris contract to reduce the retained light—and your eyes see magnificent islands floating in the air.

"… Th-The 'library'…!!"

You mutter, feeling breathless at the majestic sight spread out before your eyes.

The first thing that amazes you is that there exists a sky underground. The sun shines brilliantly at the ceiling, fading into an endless azure sky.

Against the blue sky backdrop, a beautiful archipelago of pure white clouds stretches far into the distance. The islands are connected by long stone bridges, and further down, one can see the wings of birds and rows of houses.

This is the ‘Floating Peak Library’, one of the many ‘Libraries’ lying in slumber within the abyss of the Library Labyrinth.

This is a relay point of logistics, commerce, and culture between the surface and the Library Labyrinth.

The heart of the ‘Apothecary’ exploration guild, the beautiful floating islands city, continue to extend into the endless skies.

"…I-I thought we would arrive at that dim ‘Reading Room’…"

Most of the Library Labyrinth are hexagonal ‘Reading Rooms’, but there are rare moments where a large book storage called a ‘Library’ would be excavated.

Each ‘library’ has its own unique characteristics, and is known by its nickname, like ‘The Library of the Blade Metal’, ‘The Library of the Black Forest’, and ‘The Library of the Waterfall’. Once the excavation of ‘books’ is settled, these now barren ‘libraries’ become living spaces for people, just like this ‘Floating Peak Library’.

"…I didn't know such a large space exist beneath the 'Apothecary' lecture tower…!"

Beyond the steel shafts that support the elevators, you look up in amazement at the sky where domesticated eagles and dragons ferry their cargo.

Typically speaking, a sky composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen requires a dense, Rayleigh-scattering atmosphere extending 30 kilometers into the sky.

However, there is no way that a slow, antiquated elevator could descend such a distance in mere minutes. In other words, the physical law of ‘distance’ is invalid within this ‘Library’.

"…The ultrasonic waves (ping) are not reflecting back. It appears this ‘Library’ has a distorted space."'

"Pi-ping? Space is distorted? …?"

"…To put it simply for a fool like you to understand, the Library Labyrinth is a divine realm, and the shallow conventional wisdom of the world has no place here."

"Mgh…an-anyway, it just means this is a large space, right? "

You blurt out your doubts, and get ridiculed by Arteria. Your knowledge of physics is insufficient to describe how blue the sky is, and you look downward.

The floating islands to which the elevator is heading towards has rows of moving stalls with colourful roofs. It is yet to be 7am…no, it is because of this timing that there are students and explorers preparing to head into the deep levels of the Labyrinth.

The Domesticated Labyrinth creatures are ferrying cargo, and hordes of people are passing through the wide streets, reminiscent of blood flowing the massive living organism called the ‘City’.

If the lecture tower on the ground is the brain of the ‘Apothecary’, this is the heart.

The ‘Floating Peak Library’ is the center of economic activities to spread the wisdom of the Library Labyrinth to mankind.

"You! If there are so many bookstores on the island, you may find ‘a book to cure your memory loss’…!"

"Yeah! I was planning to head straight to Father's study, but let's visit at the shops!"

You continued to look down at the ‘Floating Lake Library’ with growing anticipation.

◇◇◇322 Pages until Memory Loss

From time to time, the old-fashioned elevator gets agitated by the winds as it descends. The earth too approaches at the same speed as the clouds distance themselves, and the buzz of the city grows louder.

And as you reach the terminal, creak…the elevator screeches to a halt..

After descending a least a hundred meters in height, you finally step upon the ‘Library’.

"…Finally…I’m finally back! I’m back at this Library Labyrinth!"

You quietly shout as you step upon the cobblestone pavement of the elevator hall at the edge of the island that is floating due to magic.

After five years of wishing, you had finally returned to the Library Labyrinth.

"Oooooooh…!!! Y-You, this appears to be an island selling grimoires!"

Arteria squeals happily as she looks up at the arched roof of the boulevard entrance. A sign supported by baked sand bricks reads, ‘Welcome to Bookstore Island (Melchoir)’.

The islands of various sizes floating in the library—the floating islands are generally divided into sections depending on the goods transacated. It seems this island with many grimoire stores aren’t is called the ‘being bought and sold, and this seems to be an island called ‘Melchoir’ lined with grimoire stores.

(This floating ‘Melchoir’…is as crowded as the Apothecary above ground…!)

"After all, there are many demi-humans in this Library Labyrinth!… Ohhh! Behold, a winged horse (Pegasus) pulling a cart!"'

Hordes of people flock through the boulevard of Melchoir’s many open-aired stalls..

A strong explorer with a great iron sword on his back. A peddler haggles with a shopkeeper to purchase books at a reduced price. Domesticated eight-legged giant spiders trudge along with huge loads of books atop them.

(The Labyrinth has so many…no, it’s because it’s the Labyrinth that there are so many grimoire stores…!)

"Truly a crowd it is…hmu, if the market is this lively, a 'Book to Cure Memory Loss' may be in circulation! You, look around the stores at once!"

(… Oh, let's tour around the boulevard first!)

You follow the crowd and pass through the arched gate decorated with beautiful rocaille patterns.

The avenues of Melchoir, perhaps 10 meters wide, have heaps of colorful covers. These are all grimoires or replicas excavated from the Labyrinth. You walk through the crowd, looking at the exterior of the bookstores one by one.

(…’Books to be used as firewood’, ‘Books to be used as daily commodities’, ‘Books to be eaten’, ‘Books for transport’…sure seems like most of these ‘books’ are for daily living. I guess it’s not easy to find such rare grimoires even in the Library Labyrinth.)

"Umu, it appears all the stalls here sell only replicas. The more expensive grimoires may be stored in the vaults within these shops as a precaution."

Grimoires excavated from the Labyrinth are priced at market rate according to their rarity and function. It is not unusual for a ‘book’ with rarity B and above to be more expensive than gold, silver, and jewelry. It is very dangerous to have such precious books be displayed at the entrances, and thus not unreasonable to not to spot a rare grimoire.

"…Hmmm, I guess there’s no 'Book to Cure Memory Loss' or a 'Replica Book'."

"Umumu…if you wish to buy a rare ‘book’, you will have to visit a really posh bookstore. Do you know of any booksellers somewhere?"

(Eh? I'm sure Father's favorite bookstore is still around somewhere, but…I've practically lost most of my memory from five years ago.)

Your Father was a Labyrinth explorer hailed as Doctor Magna, and had unearthed rare books from the depths of Labyrinth where nobody else could approach. Some of them will surely enter the mainstream market, and given that you are Kai Okutsuki's son, perhaps a bookstore might sell some to you at a discount…

(…But I need to hide my identity, so I can't mention Father's name.)

"Muu…well, few stores are willing to serve rare books to unknown strangers. In any case, trust is everything no matter where you go."

(And it’s not just about being able to buy just because I’ve saved enough money. I do remember the ‘Apothecary’ is managing Father’s inheritance and sending a monthly payout to my bank account…)

"I suppose it is impossible to buy a ‘Replica Book’?"

Yes, certainly. A rare book like ‘A book that creates replicas’ is valued as much as it would to buy a house. Even if you do have sufficient savings, considering the risks of theft and fraud, it is unlikely that a bookstore is willing to deal with customers..

"…No other choice then. Anyway, how about a ‘storage book’ for now’?"

(Yeah. With so much baggage on me, it’s getting too itchy for me..)

You approach the pile of ‘storage books’ and look around.

Based on weight, there are ‘books that can hold up to 5 kg’, ‘books that can hold up to 20 kg’, curled horns resembling a shiny black goat, and ‘books that are waterproof even with liquids’.

"…Hmm?"

You seem to have spotted something weird, and scanned your surroundings..

The shop sells ‘books that can hold up to 5 kg’, ‘books that can hold up to 20 kg’, curled horns resembling a shiny black goat, and ‘books that are waterproof even with liquids’.

"… Hey murderer, what are you doing there?"

"Hya!?"

A squeal can be heard from behind the pile of books, and the horns immediately shrivel back. You stride forth towards where they disappear to, and crudely reach your arm in.

You grasp the lumpy stick-like object and yank it out…

"—Auu!? Wh-What are you doing, Okutsuki-san! It hurts!!!"

And as expected, hiding behind the pile of books is the murderer who killed you.

"Th-The Murderer girl!?"

"It’s you after all…! Oy murderer, what are you doing here!"

"Ple-please-please let go of me! My horn is bending! It hurts~!"

Shaking her head about, she waves off your right hand, only to tumble and sit onto the floor due to excessive force. The horns might be her weakenss, and her ultramarine eyes look up at you with resentment, slowly filled with tears.

"Uuu~, this is cruel, what are you doing, why did you grab my horn!?"

"I’m the one who want to ask what are you doing!? What are you planning, murderer, why are you spying on me!? Anyway, how do you know where I am!"

"Th-That is because, I waited at the elevator closest to your dormitory tower and followed you…"

"Arteria, let's get out of here!!!"

"No, no!! I’m not here to fight anymore!"

You immediately try to flee the moment she confesses to her stalking, and the murderer hastily denies any intention to fight.

Since she has no intention to fight, why would she follow you?

"P-Please listen to me! I was following you because, erm…I-I want to apologize to you!"

"Huh? Apologize?"

"…I was wondering what she would be saying. Apologize? Is she taking us for a fool…!"

Both of you exhale in disgust at the word ‘apologize’, the one word seemingly most unbefitting of the murderer. Did she really look for you to apologize for her sins?

"No! Now you, this is the enemy who attacked this Arteria two nights ago, and almost drove you to the brink of death. Even if she is related to your Father, it does not assure that she is someone you can trust!"

(…Yeah, I feel the same. I don’t know what kind of relationship she had with Father, but even if she’s someone Father approved five years ago, it doesn’t guarantee that she’s still a trustworthy person today!)

You look down at the murderer, ready to pull out the grimoire as you answer,

"Murderer, I don't believe your words. Even if you want to apologize—"

"I'm very sorry!"

The murderer interrupts you and grovels on the pokes his forehead onto the ‘Library’ alley.

"Wha!?"

"I’m very sorry…I-I’m really sorry!!"

"Eh, m-murderer!?"

You can’t hide your bewilderment while the murderer continues her spirited prostration. You had assume this situation will be similar to the moment in the depths of the Labyrinth, when 39 stone spears flew towards you…

"I'm sorry, Okutsuki-san, I'm sorry…!"

"Eh, murderer? You grovelling here will only cause me trouble! You’re making me look like a baddie by grovelling on the floor apologizing in front of a grimoire store, you know!"

"B-But I’m still bothered by this! I owe Teacher Okutsuki a great debt of gratitude for saving my life, but I hurt his son with my magic…!"

"No, such physical scars can be healed, but you’re making me look like someone forcing a girl to kneel and apologize in public! That’ll be a socially unhealable wound now!"

"Woah, that male student’s forcing a girl to kneel for forgiveness…" "…What a scumbag."

"See~ it’s just as I said!!"

"B-but I bought some dubious text from a bookstore yesterday that says this is the most honorable apology style in Japan…!"

"That's a scam, and you believe it even though you find it suspicious!? Ahh enough, come here!!"

"Ehh…wah-kyaa!?"

You walk up to the murderer, grab her by the left arm, force her onto her feet, and drag her into a secluded alleyway. Even though you wish to discern the murderer’s true intentions, you can’t talk calmly with so many icy stares around you.

"Haaa haaa…say murderer, the key thing instead of just imitating how to apologize is to know whether your apology is sincere! If you’re really sorry, show it in you know, murderer, what's more important than getting down on your knees in action rather than style."

"…I-If you want me to show it by action, do you mean by ‘taking off’…"

"That’s not it!? Why are your thoughts so weird? Is it because I dragged you to an alley!? If people on the street misunderstand, my social survival will be at risk!"

Feeling a fear of (social) death, you interrupt the murderer’s words.

You had half-expected this from yesterday’s magic duel…but it seems that once this murderer gets upset, her thought proicess is ridiculously impaired.

"Ah seriously…if you really want to apologize, murderer, explain to me first! You said Father saved you, but how?"

"…Y-Yes…"

And murderer, wondering if she should undo her chest buttons, fiddles with her fingers as she slowly answers your question,

"…Six years ago, I was chased out of the foster home, and was wandering around the Labyrinth, where I was saved by a teacher."

"Huh? Chased out of your foster home…ehh!? You’re an orphan?"

"…Yes. The foster home I speak of is the ‘Cathedral’ (Kathédra) I was born in. As you probably know, the ‘Kathédra’ is thoroughly racist against demi-humans."

"Ka-'Kathédra '…!"

—The ‘Kathédra’ is the biggest of the four major forces fighting for supremacy in this Library City Alexandria.

It is the oldest, strongest, largest, and most corrupt of the Labyrinth Exploration Guilds.

Aside from the rare purebloods, ‘as long as a single demi-human bloodline is involved, no human right shall be granted’ such utterly racism is thoroughly hated by all citizens.

"If you were raised in the ‘Kathédra’, and forced to leave your home six years ago…then were you forced to leave the ‘Kathédra’ because you were discriminated against by your own tribe...?"

"…Yes."

"…!"

You imagine the murderer's past and subconsciously avert your gaze.

Two curly horns protrude from the sides of the golden hair on murderer’s head. This proves the difference in her ancestry from the purebloods, the proof of a ‘discriminated race’, demi-humans.

(…Her own family discriminates against her. She really has such a harsh life …)

"…If Teacher Okutsuki had not taken me in, I would have been eaten by the creatures in the dark depths of the Labyrinth."

"…So Father so happened to bump into you while searching the Labyrinth?"

"Yes. Teacher Okutsuki took pity on me while my own kin abandoned me, taught me magic, and even offered to adopt me…"

"!? Father adopting you…so you could have been my stepsister!?"

"…If that happened, I might not have killed yout due to a misunderstanding…b-but six years ago, Teacher had a very important mission, and so I, ugh, I was sent to the ‘Apothecary’ until the mission was completed…!"

(…Si-Six years ago, that definitely matches the time when Father was busy, but …!)

What an ironic fate. The culprit you killed you was once saved by your Father, and was about to become your stepsister.

If only the Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki had not been assassinated by someone unknown five years ago.

"—Actually I! I was saved by the Doctor Magna, so I should have inherited Teacher Okutsuki’s legacy to become a candidate doctor to save everyone! Yet I, I, I killed an innocent civilian (you) and turned you into a vampire…!"

"…Father's, legacy …"

Your heart throbs the moment you hear her mention Kai Okutsuki's legacy.

"Since I was saved by the Doctor Magna, I have an obligation to save others like the Doctor Magna." This is exactly the same sense of responsibility you harbored over the past five years.

(…Father's disciple being a murderer, and I couldn’t trust her at all…but now that I hear what she said, I feel there’s some of Father’s teachings within …)

For you, who lost your beloved Father and fell into a delirium, your moral support has always been the teachings of the Doctor Magna. You want to become someone who can live up to your Father’s name, and this will has encouraged you through countless nights of despair.

And just as you cherish your father's teachings—perhaps the Murderer too was trying to repay Kai Okutsuki's teachings in her own way.

(…If what she said is true, she may have lost her family again…her precious support…her pain might be greater than mine.)

Even though you lost your Father, you still had your family for support.

You could endure the despair of Kai Okutsuki’s death and worked hard to pursue the truth for five years, for your Mother and little sisters have been your support, constantly being with you.

But for her—the demi-human girl who was forced to leave the ‘Kathédra’, she always has to endure the deep loneliness and despair alone, often honing her magecraft till this point.

Were it not be, this young her can’t possibly be able to wield such medium and high level magic at will.

"…I have disobeyed Teacher Okutsuki’s teachings…Okutsuki-san. If you won't forgive me, then I-I-I…!"

"…"

You purse your lips and silently look at the weeping murderer.

She was abandoned by her family, lost her resting place, and honed her magecraft in the ‘Apothecary’ that explores the unkwown. For a girl of only 10 years old, this certainly would have been an unspeakable hardship.

(…Maybe this murderer is just like me, always enduring loneliness alone. She’s still searching for the truth, desperately acting tough, while traumatized by the wounds of loss.)

The girl, grabbing her horns to hide them, shrivel back while looking terrified, and does not look like a maniac who enjoys murder.

It is unforgivable of her to almost kill you twice…but if the mistakes are due to her pain of losing your Father, and seeking the truth, you have no further reason to reproach her anymore..

"…Are you really remorseful?"

"It’s not sufficient no matter how remorseful I am…!! I actually used the magic Teacher taught me for fighting you instead of defeating evil…!!"

The murderer's voice trembles with regret as she repents her disobedience to her teacher's teachings.

Her magecraft has far surpasses an ordinary student at the ‘Apothecary’. Such desire to refine this talent is definitely not out of her delight in killing murder or yearning of power..

She admires her great master, Kai Okutsuki, and has the same ideals as you,

The girl who was expelled from the ‘Kathédra’ must have lived the same five years as you did as well as she could.

"…What’s your name again?"

And as the ex-murderer kneels in shame, you suddenly ask for her name.

"So-sob…? M-My name? Didn’t I say, that yesterday… "

"So tell me your name again… I think you don’t enjoy killing. In that case, calling you ‘murderer’ is the complete opposite of Kai Okutsuki's teachings."

"Okutsuki-san…but I-I killed you, no…?"

"Of course, the fact that you almost killed me and Arteria isn’t something that can be forgiven just by saying sorry. Since you’re someone following the Doctor Magna's teachings, you’ll definitely work hard to make amends.

Yes, people sometimes do make unexpected unwanted mistakes. Surely your Father, the Doctor Magna, wouldn’t have condemned those who reflect upon their sins and work hard to make amends.

As the heir to Kai Okutsuki's legacy, you feel you need to accept her apology.

"So swear by your name, that ‘you’ll never make the same mistake again’…and I won’t think of you as a murderer again."

"…Okutsuki, san…!"

The girl who you once deemed as a murderer lifts her gaze at your words, and wipes the tears welling in her eyes, adamantly lifting her head..

"…Erika K-K Austral…I will surely atone for the sin of killing you…!"

She then announces her name with a soft, determined tone.

"Erika, huh?…Yep. I'll call you Erika instead of murderer from now on, and you can stop calling me vampire, too. I’ve never sucked a single drop of blood thus face, and I have a proper name, Sōshi Okutsuki."

"I-I know that. I haven't called you vampire since yesterday!"

You smile, and the (ex-)murderer Erika raises her eyebrows in annoyance.

Now you and Erika have gone from ‘enemies’ wounding each other with magic to ‘comrades’ seeking the same truth. Since this is the case, you should assist her redemption.

"…That’s how it is, Arteria, Seems like she feels bad about this too. Are you willing to forgive her?"

"Eh? O-Okutsuki-san, who are you talking to…?"

"…Mmmm, since this kin of I chooses to forgive, this True Ancestor has no reason to reproach."

You call out, and a silver-white bat crawls out from the robe and snorts. Erika's face pales in horror as she seemingly realizes the true identity of the bat.

"O-Okutsuki-san? I-I-I-Is-Is that silver bat possibly…?"

"Eh? Ah yes, she’s the Silver Night Arteria that you almost petrified yesterday."

"~!!!?"

Once your state Arteria’s true identity, Erika's eyes turns blank, and she lets out an inarticulate cry. Well, it’s no wonder she’s terrified, for she has attacked a High Daylight Walker, hailed to be the strongest being in the Labyrinth, albeit having lost her power..

"Ha! B-But the True Ancestor probably lost most of her power! N-No-Now that I th-thi-think about it-it-it’s useless to kill me!? My blood doesn’t taste good at all!!"

"Arteria isn’t someone who’ll just kill as and when she pleases…how scared are you anyway?"

You look dumbfounded and put Arteria back within the hood. Now then, truce and reconciliation are over, and you shall start seeking the ‘books’ for exploration purposes.

"…That’s how it is, Erika. We need to prepare for exploring. See you at the 'Apothecary'."

"P-Pl-Please wait a minute, Okutsuki-san! I can go explore the Labyrinth with you!"

"What? You want to come along?"

"Yes! I followed you because I want to help you explore! It’s because of my misunderstanding that you have to look for your textbooks, Okutsuki-san, so I have to support you!"

"So because of your misunderstanding…you ambushed me."

Apparently, Erika had woken up early and staked out at the elevator terminal you could have possibly used just to apologize.

It’s rather terrifying that she had identified the nearest elevator to your dormitory…but the fact is that you’re not familiar with the Labyrinth exploration, and if she wants to atone for her sin, it might be a good idea to ask Erika for help.

"I’m grateful for your help…but you have your own exploration to do, right?"

"There’s no problem. Every first exploration day, I’ll visit Teacher Okutsuki's study (Atelier) to mourn…that’s your destination too, right, Okutsuki-san?"

"…Is that so. Okay, you insist, then help me out. I was thinking of buying some ‘storage books’ earlier, but I haven’t decided on one yet."

"Ah, in that case, I'll give you mine! I just sorted out my equipment and I have an extra book left!"

"Eh? Ah, wait, Erika, why are you opening the ‘book’?"

Erika pulls a ‘storage book’ out of her shoulder mail before you can stop her, flips a page open, and presses it onto your backpack. Whoosh! the activated ‘book’ absorbs the heavy luggage into the ‘book’ the size of a notebook.

"Woah!…th-that really is to be expected of a 'storage book'. It really has a great storage capacity…"

"Hm hmmm? It has lots of capacity, but few pages. You can’t go into the lower levels carrying such a large backpack."

"…Th-thanks. It literally is a weight lifted off my shoulders."

Freed from the itch on both shoulders, you stuff the ‘storage book’ into your shoulder mail and try jumping. The of your equipment magically vanishes, and you can move nimbly as usual. Now even if you are attacked by Labyrinth creatures, your escape will not be delayed by overweight luggage.

(… Yeah. I can't use magic, so ‘books’ are necessary. I think there’s still some capacity left inside the ‘storage book’, so maybe I can buy something else.)

"…Mu~, do you wish to tour that shopping street with this little girl?"

(Eh, I don't want to walk the shopping street, just want to do some shopping…Arteria, are you in a bad mood? Did I do something wrong?)

"Not that I am displeased…but do you truly trust this little girl?"

(No, I don't trust her completely, but my exploration skills are reliant on the ‘book’ and equipment, and I just feel I need her help with shopping…)

"Okutsuki-san? Speaking of which, have you prepared food for the exploration? Even as a vampire, you do feel hungry from exercising, right?"

"Eh? Ah, ah yes. Arteria, is there anything you want to eat?"

"Blood!"

"…Yes, I'll give you a little of my blood, but don't go sucking anyone else's, okay?"

"I-I think I know the answer from the conversation just now…if you're looking for a market for fresh food… you might want to try Food Island. ""

On Benedictus of the ‘Floating Peak Library’, the only blood you can purchase are probably blood sausages…but that is fine, and you may try exploring other islands instead.

You exit the main street of Melchoir, and check the map signboard showing a brief overview of ‘Floating Peak Library’, and embark on a long shopping odyssey to from Melchoir to Benedictus.

"…Muu~, it appears this Benedictus before us seems to be a really enjoyable place."

The bat Arteria mutters with bemusement as she spots pedestrians carrying things on the huge stone bridge.

Of the people walking from Benedictus at the far end of the long arch bridge, two out of three are holding wrappers containing some very tasty-looking snack.

"…Drool. Mmmm, it looks good…"

(Seems like there’s a lot of lot of elevators at the floating peak on the other end end of this bridge. I remember Father saying that the more active logistics there are, the more good food there is.)

Beyond the bridge stretching into the sky, a floating island appeared through a gap in the clouds, seemingly sewn into the air by a tower of shining white highheavy duty elevators.

"…Speaking of which, this is really a tremendous piece of architectural engineering…"

"Ah, Okutsuki-san, is this your first time seeing the high-speed elevators? One of those elevators connects to the ‘Apothecary’ lecture tower, you know?"

"Is that so? So is that floating island is the relay point between the ‘Library’ and the surface?

Yes. Benedictus is one of the largest floating peaks of this ‘Library’, and also a crucial facility that links several elevators between the the shallow and lower levels of the Labyrinth. The super high-speed, heavy duty elevators that combines the collective wisdom of the ‘Apothecary’ supports the massive supply chain between the Library City Alexandria and the Library Labyrinth.

'"…An elevator piercing through the sky towards the ground, and elevators that break through the sea of clouds…mmmm, even this High Daylight Walker has to be amazed by this."

(Yeah. After all, the construction of the elevator represents the history of mankind's exploration of the Labyrinth.)

It took six centuries and countless human sacrifices to reach this level. Tens of thoustands were slaughtered by Labyrinth creatures, hundreds of thousands were wounded by ingenious traps, and millions were exhausted by the complicated Labyrinth. Finally, seventy years ago, one end of the Elevator is connected to this land.

The elevators are monuments to human history. A heavy duty, high-speed elevator that can transport vast quantities of goods and personnel without endangering them is the cornerstone of the Labyrinth exploration, and the greatest treasure of all mankind.

(…Okay, time to hurry. This is the supply chain town of the third biggest faction of Library City Alexandria, the ‘Apothecary’, so there’s definitely some good food to eat. Let’s buy some food, I’m sure Arteria will be happy here.)

"Mmm! I-I am not such a child! If I may be delighted from merely food…sniff sniff… the smell of food is becoming richer!"

"Hmm? …Ah, you’re right. There’s some starchy smell around."

You look up at the towering elevator as you walk along, and you’re approaching the end of the a long arch bridge. The silver-white bat sniffs, and your vampirized nostrils too detect the scent of food blending in the air.

You have arrived at the largest floating island in ‘Floating Peak Library’—Benedictus.

"Ooohh~…! Quite lively Melchoir is, but more so on this island!"'

"I see, so this is where the smell is coming from…"

As you cross the bridge with the silver bat, you are greeted by a lively bustle and the smoke of a charcoal fire. Lots of food stalls are clustered near the bridgehead, cooking food over charcoal fires and ‘flame books’.

There is a roasted meat dish with beast meat is wrapped around an iron bar and pried off with a long chopper. There is also large roasted chickens stuffed with herbs and grilled to a crisp, made from farmed cockatrice.

There is shaved ice made made by freezing water with freezing magic, shaving it and sprinkling fruit syruo over it. There is also fukashi (crepes) made by mixing water with flour, baking it thinly on a griddle, and wrapping it over fruit and milk from bovine Labyrinth creatures.

There is sweet zenzai made from slime simmered with azuki beans. There is also grilled seafood grilled with fish sauce coated upon various legged marine mollusks.

The entrance to Benedictus is filled with such various buzz everywhere due to the many stalls, further emphasizing the bustle of the people.

"…This is Benedictus, the food storage of the 'Apothecary'…!"

(There’s food I’ve never seen before no matter where I look…! This whole floating island is a grocery store, how much food is being circulated around here…!)

"Most shops nearby are food stalls, and they aren’t great for preserving unlike the provisions for exploring Labyrinth, but they should tase better."

"U-Umumu …! So many delicious smells everywhere!"

Arteria, peeking out from the robe hood, has her crimson eyes glittering. Even if one is not a vampire very unfamiliar with human civilization, one would have to marvel at this food distribution network.

There are 800,000 Alexandria citizens under the umbrella of the ‘Apothecary’. Without the elevators gathered on this ‘Floating Peak Library’ and the ‘Military Logistics’ (Logistics) related knowledge from the Labyrinth, this sophisticated food distribution network that supports the distribution and processing of such vast amounts of food would be impossible.

"With so many people on the surface, I do wonder as to how they can support such a huge population…I see. So they deliver the grains harvested of the ‘Library’ from here."

"So the secret of Library City Alexandria's prosperity lies within the Library Labyrinth?"

"Yes. It’s said that at least 60% of the ‘Apothecary’s economy is derived from the Library Labyrinth."

Living resources are harvested from the fertile ‘libraries’ scattered throughout the Library Labyrinth, and are distributed to every corner of Library City Alexandria via winged delivery by air and super-heavy duty elevators.

Each food store on this island isn’t simply a grocery store heavily involved with people’s lives, but also serves as both a retailer and wholesaler in general.

"Sure feels like the scale really is too great the more I think about it…hmm, anyway, please give me one crepe."

"Ah, I shall have one too."

"Coming right up!"

"Wha-!? Crepe!?"

Perhaps because you have imagined the lives of millions of people, your brain cells craves for good sugar. The sweet smell of the crepe causes you to brandish copper coin, and the shop attendant instantly wraps a crepe for you.

"Nom…mmmm, so sweet and delicious!"

"Ah! I Have yet to decide from which shop to eat from. How despicable of you to enjoy by yourself! Ah! While I was wondering which store to go to, you are the only one who is cheating! One bite for I too!"

The vampire is jealous that you can to eat the fragrant freshly baked crepes, and sticks her mouth out from within the hood. Given the size of a bat's jaw however, it probably is difficult to chew the large fruit.

"Nom, on nom nom! Ahh! How inconvenient it is to eat! A mere fruit snob dares to defy this High Daylight Walker! You, spread my clothes wide!"

(D-Don’t be so reckless. It’s too dangerous for a vampire to reveal oneself at such a crowded place.)

The bat angrily flails around, and you press her nose tip to appease her.

"Pu-kyu! Nom nom nom nom! I too wish too consume some of this too! Om nom nom!"

(It tickles! Stop baking me. I don’t have a choice here, you’re a vampire!)

There are many domesticated Labyrinth creatures and strange looking demi-humans around, so a silver-haired girl wandering around would not stand out too much…nevertheless, this is the inside of the Labyrinth. There is a likelihood of you bumping into an experienced explorer like a Doctor Magna.

If news of the ‘Library Labyrinth Silver Night’s return is known to the world, the Library City Alexandria will inevitably be in a state of panic. Unfortunate it may be, you can’t let Arteria roam around.

(…Ordinary people aren’t going to believe me even if I say you’re not a bad vampire, and besides, your clothes were damaged from yesterday’s battle…)

"Muu~! Is there a problem with that robe!? With my cuteness, any clothing will feel appropriate to me!"

(No, the problem is that anything looks good on you… …)

The chiffon dress with a large gaping hole is extremely lacking in social defences. The security in the ‘Library’ probably isn’t so bad, but it’s truly dangerous for a girl of her age to be walking around in it.

(…And I feel angry for some reason if others is to see Arteria’s skin… …)

"Mu?...J-Jealous you are?"

(Ugh! Hey, don’t read my mind. I’m not jealous here, you know!?)

You stuff Arteria, who asked happily (for some reason), deep within your uniform (robe). You may not be able to outtalk her if you keep going.

"Pugya! Mumumumu! How despicable you are!...I-I too wish to be like a human girl, ‘walking and eating alongside a lover’."

(No-no no no, I'm not your girlfriend or anything!)

"Wh-what now~!? You belong to I, so you are the mate of I!"

(I don't even remember being your mate!)

You reject her…but you feel unfair that you are the one enjoying the meal while Arteria is concealed within the robe..

It is be a perfectly natural reaction for a vampire who has lived on blood alone in the darkness of the Library Labyrinth to want to ‘try eating something’ once exposed to the rich food culture of humans. As a vampire yourself, you are the only who gets to each crepes with Erika, and it is no wonder Arteria calls foul on you.

(…Well, I want Arteria to enjoy it too, but…)

You turn your face aside due to guilt, and the men and women walking on the streets enter your eyes. This Benedictus, with its many elevators and restaurants, appears to be a place for lovers to relax.

"…Do people enjoy themselves if they’re just with those they like, walking on the streets …?"

"Eh…O-Okutsuki-san?"

You feel an unfamiliar feeling in your chest, and blurt out.

Upon this magnificent floating island, spending time in this vibrant commercial town is definitely a leisurely moment for Arteria. The idea of touring with her through the beautiful streets embraced by the clouds seems somehow appealing.

(…Like them, me, with Arteria…?)

"O-Okutsuki-san? Who are you referring to here …?

"—No no no! I can't let Arteria walk around dressed like that!"

"! Ah…"

You shake your head and forcibly correct your thoughts that are almost led astray by your emotions..

The fundamental problem is that you can't let Arteria walk around in clothes with big holes in them. The cobblestone streets are too corase for a True Ancestor who has lost her immortality to walk barefoot. Even if you are to use ‘Origami paper’ to make clothing, you have no women's fashion sense at all.

"Well, since we don’t have clothes, guess we have no choice! There aren’t any girls' clothes for sale on this island!"

"…Of course, this is a fruit stall you know?"

"Eh, ueehhh!?"

You turn around at this sudden voice, and see an elderly lady boss sigh exasperatedly. You unwittingly end up pondering before this stall, and is mistaken for a shopper.

"You seem frustrated thinking about buying clothes while looking at our merchandise here…are you thinking about this girl next to you?"

"Eh, no, actually …!"

You flinch in shame at the realization that you appear to be someone dangerous muttering to himself, ignoring his companion; the old granny then grabs your right right, and stuffs something onto your palm.

You open your palm…and find a piece of paper that says…’20% off all items!’.

"Eh…is this a discount coupon?"

"Say no more, I know. The frustrations of the young definitely has something to do with love affairs."

"L-Love?"

"N-Not at all! Arteria and I…aren’t like that!"

"Eh? A-Art…"

"…Hm, so it seems you don’t have such a relationship with this missy next to you…so, a boy? Are you intending to crossdressing to attract a man you like?"

"DEFINITELY NOT!"

It seems the granny no longer deems you as a weirdo muttering to himself, but a gay who is frustrated over this forbidden love. It appears the sex culture of the Library City Alexandria is much more liberal than in Japan…"

"Hohoho, just kidding. My daughter married a dressmaker, and they’re having a special sale to celebrate their honeymoon. As it says on the back of the ticket, go to the right, cross the bridge, and you’ll reach it."

(Sale?…U-Uh oh! If Arteria is hear this now!!)

You close your hood quickly, but it is already too late.

"—Why do you hesitate!? You have a discount coupon, so do not neglect the goodwill of this old lady! Thank her properly and head towards that shop!"

(You’re tens of thousands of times older than her…ah sorry, I shouldn’t mention the age! I’ll reflect on this! It’s my fault, don’t damage my hair roots!)

"Om nom nom!...Dare to mention age again, and I shall drain all blood flow from your scalp!"

As you scream apologies in your mind, the raging itch attacking the back of your head disappears.

Now that all of your hair follicles have been held hostage, you are powerless to resist. Besides, Arteria saved your life, and it would be immoral to imprison her within your robe for no reason.

"Haa…no choice now. I’ll gratefully usefor this ticket."

"Mufufu~! You should have said so from the beginning.♪"

"…O-Okutsuki-san? Are you actually going to buy clothes for that strongest species (vampire)?"

"She won’t be happy if I don’t…thank you very much, granny. I'll visit this store again sometime."

"…I can't believe we’re buying clothes for a vampire."

Erika seem to have said something, but you pay no heed. You thank the fruit and vegetable store owner and walk towards to the long sky bridge linking bridges Benedictus and the Sundry Island (Extachius).

◇◇◇293 Pages until Memory Loss

"…Eh, erm…I feel like I don't belong on this island, being a country bumpkin and all…!"

"Fufu, not at all~♪ A city-oriented vampire I am after all. ♫"

After crossing the stone bridge, you arrive at Extachius, which has a cosy, stylish, sophisticated, urban atmosphere in contrast to the bustling, life-like atmosphere of Benedictus.

The red clay-brick streets are swept cleaned, with pruned trees replacing the cluttered street stalls, while the shopping streets are lined with glass bay windows that offer a look of the interior decoration, perhaps mimicking the architectural style found in Labyrinth.

(Uuuu, this atmosphere is too stylish, and I can’t calm down…!)

You are nudged along the bridge by the stream of people as you enter the shopping district…but this is your first experience of the urban atmosphere in your subjective memory, and you can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

"Oooooh! Wow, so many clothes there are! Amazing no! Glass windows! Surely this is a good dressmaker to be able to use such clear glass!"

"…It seems to be a rather posh shop."

"I-I'm starting to worry if I have enough money…"

Lots of potassium carbonate, or plant ash, was required in the production of glass until a new process was unearthed from the Library Labyrinth. People added adding sodium carbonate and limestone harvested from the ‘Chalk Library’ to silica sand, the distribution price dropped dramatically. …

(Still, such large and clear glass for window purposes must be quite expensive…)

"I never thought that what used to be jewelry ages ago is now used as glass. It appears clothing is quite profitableas it is a handicraft with little cost to begin with. "

(I’ll be contributing to this industry at this rate…)

You walk around the shopping district, following the map on the back of the discount coupon.

After a few turns around the orderly planned city streets, you arrive at a rather small but stylish arched fence with beautiful red vine roses decorating it.

(…Arteria, this place looks very extravagant…)

"Not an issue. You have a 20% discount coupon! Hurry in now!"

You pull the door at Arteria’s urging, and the door chame rings..

The store is warmly lit by a luminous grimoire, and colorful garments are hung upon human-shaped mannequins of wood and moving racks of metal rods.

(…That’s quite an amazing number of clothes…so that’s how a clothes store in Library City Alexandria looks like…)

"Welcome~!…Ara? We have some cute customers here!"

A young woman appears from the back of the store and gives you a tender smile. In your memory, you’ve never been to a women's clothing store before in your memory, and your body tensed up with nervousness.

"Eh, er-erm…"

"Ara! Did you receive that discount coupon at the fruit and vegetable store on Benedictus?".

The female shop attendant spots your discount coupon, and her friendly smile deepens. She appears to be around twenty five or so, and surely she’s the daughter of that shop owner.

"Fufu, since mama gave you this discount coupon, I guess you want to give a present to a girl you like? The blonde girl over there?"

"N-No, I…!"

"Wha!? You! Do you like this little girl!?"

"Th-That’s not it! I got asked the same question just now, but that’s not it!"

"Ara, then who are you buying this for? Or is it~ that you’re here to buy clothes for yourself~?"

"I was told the same thing just now, but no!!"

The same joke was made again. There’s no doubt she’s the daughter of that gold granny.

"Ufufu, just joking. You may have heard from mama, but we’re having a sale for our honeymoon. If you like~ I can help you find some clothes that will look good on you, no?"

The shopkeeper shows a happy business smile and opens a ‘book’ she is carrying. Now what function has a grimoire used by a clothing shop have?

"I-I said it’s not for me to wear…"

"Hmm?...And it’s not for the girl next to you? Can you tell this big sister? Who is it~ that stole your heart~?"

"As-As I said, she’s not my girlfriend!...Erm, it got nothing to do with love. I just want to buy clothes for my savior…"

"Hmm. A ‘savior’? She’s definitely a sweet girl saved your life, huh?"

The clerk asks happily, flipping through the 'book' in her hand. Does she like to do customer service, hear love stories, or are these necessary to activate the function of the 'book' she carries?

"…Okutsuki-san, what do you think of her?"

'"Y-You, what do you think? Am-am I kind?"

"Sh-She’s kind, I think…but Arteria is a little different from ordinary people."

"Hmmm, is she a strange girl?"

"…Yes. Sometimes she acts a million times more mature than I am,, yet sometime she suddenly acts like a kid and flirt around…she’s a weird one."

"…Mu, mumu~…!"

"Ara ara, you wish to give clothes to such a strange girl?"

"! B-But! She’s the one who saved me!"

This big sister has a tone of disrespect regarding Arteria, so you immediately refute.

"Arteria risked her life to save mine, so I'm willing to do whatever she wants as long as I can…!"

"…Fufufu, given your reaction, it doesn't sound like she’s just a savior now, does it?"

"! W-Were you just teasing me? "

You realize you've been tricked, and refutes that while blushing. The shopkeeper brushes it off and merely smiles mischievously at you.

"Just joking~! But still, ‘savior’ sure sounds romantic here. She may be a really sweet girl…or maybe she likes you?"

I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the "wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!

"Fumyumyu!? Wh-Wha!? I, towards you…"

"…Vampire, Okutsuki-san…"

"Ufufu, I'm sorry. But thanks to your chat with this big sister, I’ve found the most suitable clothes for that girl."

"Eh?"

The shopkeeper flips a ‘book’ page, and suddenly walks off.

In this store where countless ready-made clothes are hung, she swims through the hangars and continue forward in a straight line without hesitation…

"—‘A book for finding clothes to suit someone’. Based on this big sister’s ‘catalog dialogue’, this one definitely suits the girl you like."

And so she pulled out a dress from the hundreds of outfits.

"…! Th-This color is…!"

"Deep crimson (Scharlachrot). It is a custom-made fabric dyed using the the blood-colored flowers that bloom in Labyrinth."

The one-piece dress that’s unfurled is the same crimson as Arteria's eyes.

The bloody dye colors the very finest of fibers. The aloof, dignified look of the pitch blackness is reminiscent of the darkness of the Labyrinth. The color, which looks both dynamic yet decadent, bright yet dark, seem to a metaphor for the inner self of the High Daylight Walker’s childish heart and wily wisdom.

"It’s a little expensive, but seeing how cute you are, I’ll give you some footwear and accessories. Oh, and if you don't have enough money on you, you can pay me with a magic cheque."

"E-Erm…."

The fabric and the If the fabric is high quality, the tailoring seems to be high quality as well. The edges of the dress that flutters in the air are decorated with delicate lace made of black embroidery thread. The red resembling the evening moon and the jet black like the evening darkness seem to reflect the immortal king who rules the night, the 'Silver Night' of Library Labyrinth itself.

You are strongly attracted just by the imagination of the vampire (Arteria) wearing it..

"…Y-You? I do not mind if it is not such a posh fashion…?"

Arteria's voice now begins to falter, but it no longer reaches your ears.

Surely this dress will look good on Arteria if she is to wear it.

Such thoughts dominate your brain, and the desire to purchase it drives you like a fever.

"How much is it?"

"Uh, let's see, six drachmas minus 20 percent off…"

I’m buying this.

You frisk out the gold coins from your wallet before the shopkeeper can finish her mental sum.

"Ah, yes, wait a minute, okay? I still need to choose shoes and accessories that go with this dress, okay?"

Perhaps overwhelmed by your vigor, the shopkeeper takes a step back, her cheeks twitching.

But it is a good purchase. Given the quality of the fabric and the tailoring, this definitely is not expensive…

And surely this deep crimson dress would look great on Arteria.

"…Fufu. You have that ‘I can't wait for her to wear this dress’ look written all over your face, huh?"

"Eh? …Ah, n-not at all!?"

"…Okutsuki-san, you…"

The shopkeeper reads your mind, and you blush in embarrassment. You’ve been thinking about Arteria, and your thoughts are written all over your face.

"…’Only humans wear clothes’. Because ‘Labyrinth creatures don't need clothes’."

"Eh?"

You take a small step back as the shopkeeper suddenly recites the poem-like line.

"After all ‘Labyrinth creatures are fine without clothes’. It’s said that ‘humans are weak, so they wear clothes to protect themselves. Giving clothes to a woman is an act of special significance’."

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Giving clothes to the opposite gender basically means ‘you want to protect’…that’s the killer line used when this big sister was proposed to. If you think it’s good, you can use it, you know?"

"So-So professional…!!!"

Your heart gripes in the face of that shopkeeper's kind, gentle smile.

"Giving clothes to a woman means 'I want to protect you."

If this is true, you no longer deem Arteria as the strongest vampire, but as a female.

(…Do I think Arteria is the girl I want to protect?)

"…Fufufu. Life is short, so love on, boy! I've wrapped up the clothes, shoes and accessories."

"! Y-Yes!"

You receive the paper bag brandished towards you, and hand over a few gold coins in exchange.

You carefully hug the bag containing the dress, and the clerk leads you out, the metal chime on the door clanging.

"Thank you for your purchase. Please patronize our store if you have developed a habit of cross-dressing!"

"I-I won’t develop one!"

You leave the clothing store with a slightly delayed retort.

You wander into an empty alleyway, and look around.

This street is completely deserted as it is on the opposite side of the window, and nobody else would pass through. Even if Arteria is to transform and show a puff of smoke, no person will actually appear.

"…Eh, I bought clothes for Arteria…"

"…Yes you did."

"Fu-Fumyu, I-I do not mind wearing that torn dress!?"

Arteria has been prompting you for a while, only to show embarrassment at this moment. Ignoring the bat's dismay, you whiipe the dress out of the paper bag.

"…H-Here, go change no, Arteria, if you want to go out in human form, you need to wear this dress, right?"

"Mu-mu! How insolent of you to want I to change immediately! Fumyumyu…funyu, nibble nibble~!"

"Oy-Oy, don't bite the back of my hair! I say changing clothes but you’ll just transform into human self in smoke! Alright, I'll hold it out for you, hurry up!"

You pinch the edges of the crimson dress and spread it out for the bat to fly into it.

"…I-If you dare say it does not look good, I shall suck all the blood out of you!"

"I won't! Just hurry up, you stupid vampire!"

"U-umyumyu~…!"

The silver-white bat flies towards the dress slowly with some hesitation. hesitantly and unreliably, approaching the dress. It flaps its wings with more strength and and glides directly into the fabric…"

"Raaaaarrrr!"

Bomf! Smoke and sound ring, and the High Daylight Walker assumes her true form.

And as expected—this red dress really suits Arteria.

"…!!"

The girl appearing from within the silver smoke resembles a goddess straight out of a painting.

The white skin reflects a cold light, and the hem of the red dress flutter like flames.

"" ""

The soft leather woven sandals cause her slender legs to look more elegant than before, and the black collar ring given as an additional accessory resembles a fetter meant to bind Nosferatu.

(…So, pretty …)

Arteria looks like—a human girl..

"Wh-what!? Say something, you fool!"

Arteria looks up at you bashfully and mutters with a teeny-weeny voice.

The way she pins down the hem of the skirt, which she’s unfamiliar with, while she fidgets and covers herself cause your heart to race. The slightly vermilion blush on her cheeks stains her corpse-like white skin, causing you to forget that she is a High Daylight Walker, an entity different from human beings.

(…If Arteria were a human being like me …)

Your feverish, unsteady thoughts start to imagine assumptions that are impossible.

(…If she’s not a sworn enemy of humanity, and just an ordinary human being)

You feel a cramping ache deep within your chest, and you instinctively touch the talisman.

The 'Silver Night' of the Library Labyrinth, the talent eater Arteria used to be powerful enough to threaten humanity. With her immortality that’s equivalent to invulnerable and her mage circuits, and the ‘Ultimate Night (Noctis Polaris)’ that can drain blood memories from all the living, she might be the greatest threat to humanity.

But now, Arteria has lost her power as a High Daylight Walker.

(…If Arteria is a dangerous vampire, there’s no way she would have shared her immortality and ‘book’ with a mere mortal, and wouldn’t have risked her life to prevent me from petrification...)

Given common sense, a vampire will only save humans simply to use them as puppets. Many times however did Arteria defy that common sense and saved you.

The reason why a vampire will defy common sense and save a human—

Perhaps this is proof that her ‘love’ is an infatuation.

"…Arteria…"

"W-wh-wha-what?"

Arteria's thin throat lets out a blunt gulp.

"I-If you have something to request…I-I shall listen at least."

The crimson eyes, seemingly filled with blood, blink away with anticipation.

Mesmerized by the twinkle in her eyes, you slowly open your parched mouth, and you’re about to question the heart of that High Daylight Walker—

"Okutsuki-san!"

Erika's soft growl interrupt you.

"Uehh! Ah, eh, Erika…?"

"D-Do not interrupt out of a sudden, little girl! The mood is ripe!"

"…Okutsuki-san, our objective here is to discover the truth from five years ago, and become a Doctor Magna like Teacher…I don't know what you’re intending to say, but you shouldn’t act against the will of Teacher Okutsuki.

"D-Disobeying Father? I-I’m not …!"

You turn away, feeling as if deep ultramarine eyes have read your mind.

With the truth five years ago within the Library Labyrinth, you choose not to seek out supplies for exploration purpose, but Arteria’s dress instead..

It seems Erika notices the reason even your heart has yet to realize.

(…What was I going to ask Arteria just now…? … I'm sure Arteria has nothing to do with the truth I’m looking for…)

"…Mmmmmm! Angry am I! Hmph, truly!"

"Wah!? A-Arteria, why are you angry?"

"Quiet, you simply cause I to anticipate in vain! Finally I dress up for you, yet you surely think this does not look good on me, no?"

"N-Not at all! I was mesmerized actually…!"

"Funyuh? Mesmerized, you say?

"No actually that’s not true either! Erm, ah yes, there’s a rare cloud with a weird shape…"

"Cloud!? Is a mere cloud more important than these clothes of I? You fool, you imbecile! Dunce! Angry am I, hmph, so there!"

"So-sorry Arteria! I’m not mesmerized, but I think you're cute in general! I’m not mesmized at all though!!"

"Hmph!"

"You try to appease the vampire's anger, only to enrage her further for some reason. Arteria, pouting and venting away, storm out of the alley."

"W-wait Arteria, I don’t know, but I’m sorry! It’s my fault!"

You hastily give chase after the crimson dress fluttering in the wind.

"Boink~!!"

And a mysterious shadow charging out from the alleyway blindspot tackles into you.

"Ack!"

"…Goodness, I've finally found you nya, Sōshi Okutsuki!!"

"It tickles!! My nose bone tickles…wa-wait, Calmia!?"

The mysterious assailant stands up, her cat ears perking.

Showing her face from beneath the hood of the ‘Apothecary’ robe is the class rep Calmia-san.

"A-Are you fine?"

"C-Calmia-san, right …?"

"Wh-why is Calmia here…?"

"Whynya? Ask your heart if you don’t know nya!"

You ask, holding your nose, and Calmia’s fur stands like an angry kitthen. Her tail is wagging behind her exercise-friendly hot pants, and needless to say, this gesture of the cat people indicates and they’re in a bad mood."

"You pervert, pervert, big pervert! My eyes are now wide open aftering see that you’re succchhh a person, Okutsuki nya! You womanizing philanderer!"

"P-Pervert!? Wait a minute, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don’t play dumb nyaa! I just saw it with my own eyes!’s Eri is a yandere, Okutsuki’s a two-timer, and this silver-haired girl is a pet. "

"Huh? Am I a yandere?"

"Wh-When have I become a pet?"

"Sh-She’s not a pet! How did you come to that conclusion anyway?"

"It's no use fooling around! That's what everyone said yesterday nya!"

"Everyone…wa-wait, are you talking about yesterday's magic duel?

At this moment, you finally realize the cause of Calmia's indignation.

Calmia, who had witnessed the entire magic duel between you and the murderer from the shadows,

"That’s right nya! Admit your guilt nya, enemy to all women!!"

It seems she has mistaken you for a very evil womanizer.

"Wa-wait, it's a misunderstanding, Calmia! That’s just a rumor tacked onto another!"

"Rawr! You’re the worst nya, Okutsuki! You broke your promise with Eri and made her cry, and even tried to comfort her physically, going up and down on her…pervert pervert pervert pervert!!!"

"!? Was-Was I comforted physically here!?"

"I'm the one who needs comforting! There’s a limit to how much one can embellish a rumor here!"

"What are you doing interrupt here, you foolish cat~!"

"You too, don’t be fooled nya! He’s a super duper scoundrel pervert! I bet he's still thinking about violating you now!"

"Funyunyu..."

Calmia cups the vampire’s mouth just as the latter tries to speak up for your sake.

Arteria’s face immediately turns bright red, perhaps because she sensed Calmia's thoughts via body heat, and while in a daze, she exclaims,

"Y-You! Did you buy this dress for I just for such lewd means!?"

"Not at all! What did you absorb here!? Things are getting really complicated here!"

The talent eater who has robbed Calmia's memory is confused by the latter’s lewd delusions and opposes you. The self-proclaimed strongest vampire is somehow completely useless when it comes to erotic love.

"Goodness, he has such a cute girly face, but he’s a complete pervert! He conquered the infamously stone-faced Eri, and now intend for erotic makeout in broad daylight!"

"We aren’t!...No, well, my heart did race because of Arteria earlier…b-but anyway, it’s a misunderstanding! Erika and I don’t have such a rotten relationship!"

"Rawr~! You still argue at this point nya!? You broke your lunch date promise with Eri just to meet this girl privately, and the betrayed Eri wants to murder her boyfriend! This villainous Okutsuki is using this girl as a shield while lusting for Eri’s boy…funya~!!"

"Wh-When did I get lusted by Okutsuki-san!?"

"How did you come up with such a conclusion, you girls are the real perverts here!!"

Did a deathmatch between a vampire and murderer seem like a lover's spat to the youths…?

"Ugh, I can't believe I was ordered by Teacher Yuzu Se to guide that pervert Okutsuki through the Labyrinth…I'm sure I’ll get eaten up immediately nya! Goodbye, my hymen…"

"I'm not a pervert! And I’m not eating you up! And anyway, a girl shouldn’t be mentioning ‘hymen’ here!! Haa, haa…it’s been a complete misunderstanding from the very beginning! We just argued (and tried to kill) because there’s an unfortunate mutual misunderstanding between us, and there’s nothing romantic involved at all…"

"…Really? Are you lying to eat me or something nyaa…?"

"A-Answer already, you!? Do you truly not have any insolent thoughts…?"

"I swear to the heavens and the earth!"

In response to Calmia's words that are tinged with disdain and trepidation, and Arteria's voice that’s tinged with slight anticipation, you declare loudly with a deafening roar.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Calmia gently releases her arms around Arteria.

"Nyamumu…I'll believe you since you say so nya. I have to lead you after all, Okutsuki."

"…Th-Thank goodness you’re willing to trust me. Yes, really…"

"L-Le-let-let go of I, you depraved cat! You, leave her and flee!"

"Not yet! I still have to lead Okutsuki to the Labyrinth!"

"Lead…ah, Teacher Yuzu told you to assist my exploration here? But you have your own exploration progress, right? I really appreciate the guidance, but …"

"Hmph, you aren’t in the clear completely nya! Even as fellow guild members, there’s no way I’m letting you go on a harem ♡ exploration in the Labyrinth with this girl and Eri together."

"N-no, Arteria isn’t a guild friend…"

The delusional Calmia seems to have assumed that you two are ‘guildmates’.

The Apothecary has nearly a thousand affiliated guilds, and from an educational standpoint, membership in off-campus guilds is encouraged. It is part of the social studies program aimed at ensuring students have job security after graduation.

There isn’t too much suspicion when you were out together with an unfamiliar silver-haired girl on campus, and it’s probably due to the fact that Calmia’s overthinking it with romantic delusions.

In that case, if you try to give a poor explanation, there’ll be a question of ‘so who’s this girl nya?’ and the risk of you being busted as a vampire will be increased. You have no choice but to let the misunderstanding continue.

"Alright, it’s exploration day today, so let’s go to the Labyrinth nya~. Even if she’s a guildmate, if Teacher Yuzu is to know about this, you’ll be ripped to pieces nya, Okutsuki."

"Ripped to pieces!?"

Yes. Participation in off-campus guilds is part of the curriculum, and those who only seek to fool around instead of exploring shall be punished (though not as dire as being torn apart). As class president, she can’t leave you be.

"B-But my destination is rather special…"

"Rawr~! If you don't do what I say, I'll tell everyone about your relationship with this silver-haired girl nya!"

"What do you mean tell? You’re just going to make up rumors! That’ll trouble me too!"

You’re threated. If you escape with Arteria, you’ll be fatally murdered in a social sense. However, you can’t let an unrelated outsider near Father's Atelier.

"Come on, get onto the elevator to the lower levels nya~!!"

You’re caught in a dilemma, and Calmia tries to drag you by the arm—

"Too bad...!"

Erika, with a bright red face, grabs your shoulder.

"Wait, E-Erika?"

"O-Okutsuki-san promised to explore the Labyrinth with me! I know you like to take care of others, Calmia-san, but I hope you’ll let us act alone for now!"

Erika butts in between you and Calmia and hugs your left arm.

The gesture resembles that of a lover's, and the feeling of soft flesh on your left elbow cause you, Arteria and Calmia to be knocked into a whirlpool of confusion.

"W-wh-wha-what-what!? "

"Wha-what are you doing to my belonging, you thieving cow!"

"… Sōshi Okutsuki~? Didn’t you say ‘there’s nothing romantic involved at all’ or something like that nya~?"

"That’s true though!? We used to be in a kill-or-be-killed relationship just a little while ago!"

"A-Ara Okutsuki-san, that’s cruel of you! You say ‘nothing romantic involved’, so are you intending to cheat on me and go woo Calmia-san instead?"

"Cheat? In the first place, you and I don't have that kind of relationship …!"

"Mmmm…what is with this lascivious expression? Break up immediately!!"

"Waiit, it tickles! Wait my shoulder is about to dislocate! Arteria, that’s going to dislocate my shoulder!"

"…I see, so you’re lying to me nya, Okutsuki. Alrighnya, have a fun time exploring Labyrinth, you two!!"

Calmia storms away, probably feeling a little miffed.

As soon as her back disappears towards the elevator, the murderer releases your arm.

"…Phew, managed to bluff her…."

"W-Woah, ah, it-it tickles…argh!? "

"Ah, something came off!"

Creak! A shock jolts through your body, and a tremendous itch strikes your right shoulder. The strength holding up half your body suddenly disappears, and as you try to maintain your posture, your shoulder joint is dislocated.

"Kuuugiiii…! I barely managed to pop my shoulder joint in place when I woke up this morning…!"

"Y-You, I am sorry! I never think that you arms are detachable!"

"E-Erm…Okutsuki-san, are you all right, …?"

"I'm not alright, not at all, but more importantly, Erika, why did you do that !? Y-You acting like we’re lovers…!"

You ask while pushing your dislocated shoulder joint into place.

"I-I had to do this to get Calmia-san to give up!...It’s too dangerous for her, an outsider to get near Teacher Okutsuki's Atelier…"

"Dangerous? Look, I don’t want anyone uninvolved to get close to that place…but is the lever where that Atelier is located really that dangerous?"

You search your faded memory and recall your Father’s Atelier. That level is rather deep, and probably more dangerous than the higher levels of the Labyrinth, but you feel that a tenth grader studying at the ‘Apothecary’ should be able to make it through.

"… Father was with me back then, but I visited that place five years ago. Is that level too dangerous even for Calmia, a Doctorate candidate of the ‘Apothecary’?"

"No, the Labyrinth itself is dangerous…but the danger of that level isn’t about the Labyrinth monsters or traps there…the danger that exists there is …"

Erika says, and then pinches the hem of her robe as though she’s frightened by somebody’s shadow. Then, in a low, soft voice, she whispers a warning to you,

"The magical culprit who killed Teacher Okutsuki—the ‘scenario writer’ of this plot.

Within the dark depths of this Library Labyrinth lies the mastermind involved in the events of five years ago.

The existence of the evil ‘scenario writer’.

"T-The ‘scenario writer’…?"

You repeat Erika's hinted words, feeling puzzled.

The ‘scenario writer’—the alias of the evil mastermind who plotted against the Doctor Magna and took everything from you. This term, this scenario writer seems to have written out a protagonist's (you) life.

"…Mastermind, scenario writer?…Surely this name is a little too tacky for a villain aiming to change the fate of the characters (us).

"…It pains me to agree with a vampire, but I feel the same…this was what Teacher Okutsuki called him, and the term he wrote in his will."

"H-Huh!? Father’s will!?"

You, already puzzled by the implication of a scenario writer’s existence, is struck with further confusion.

The Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki was assassinated before your eyes. In a dastardly plot, he protected his son from the assassin's attack, and died as a result..

There was no way he could have afforded to leave a suicide note on that tragic night.

"F-Father left a will…anyway, how did Father's will come to you?"

"…It was a coincidence. You should know that the Doctor Magna isn’t simply a leading Labyrinth explorer, but also a researcher of the highest order, don’t you, Okutsuki-san?"

You blurt in astonishment, and Erika pulls a book out of her binder.

"Given the nature of such researchers—to avoid research loss, Teacher had lots of important information in various scattered information storage systems."

"!? I-Is that ‘book’ the research journal Father used—"

"A journal (Evernote). It’s a book Teacher used to use to ‘automatically duplicate what he wrote’."

The slender finger pries the page open, and there, in Father's handwriting, contains a journal entry of his explorations.

—Friday, October 13, 10:29 p.m.

■Work contents and progress

・Investigation pertaining to the scenario writer

After continuous investigation into this conspiracy over the past few months, I’ve finally found the crux..

It seems that the scheme hatched by this ‘scenario writer’ is more devious than imagined.

However, for reasons to be explained later, I shall refrain from detailing everything.

■Tomorrow's topic

・Countermeasures against the ‘scenario writer’ offensive

If my investigation results are correct, I shall be facing the ‘scenario writer’ within days.

My current strength is overly insufficient against that magic.

Gathering the ‘books’ as soon as is imperative.

・Preservation of information

Considering the ‘scenario writer's scheming and my own strength, I must say that my chances of winning are very slim.

I will preserve this information in case I am defeated and killed.

"Ar-Are you saying that Father knew of the conspiracy of this enemy—the scenario writer?"

Impossible, you thought.

The Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki is the biggest force in the Apothecary, the mage hailed touted as the protector of mankind. There can’t be someone on this world who could have been detected by him, yet able to assassinate him.

(B-But the date is three days before Father was assassinated, and the handwriting does look very similar to his handwriting: …!)

"…The ‘Evernote’ is a set of ‘books’ with several volumes. It has the function of sharing the contents of one book with the other books. This 'book' is kept under the tight security inside Teacher Yuzu's research laboratory. The chances of it being edited after Teacher’s death is almost zero."

"You mean the research journal that’s meant to preserve information preservation happened to become a will…!?"

"…Yes. From what I can read from this journal, Teacher Okutsuki’s life was targeted by an enemy called the scenario writer, and probably left some information to counter the scenario writer's conspiracy."

"…!! I see. If this ‘Evernote’ is the real thing, Father must have preserved that information somewhere! In that case, there’s a possibility that the identity of the scenario writer is written in it…!"

Even in the face of death, the Doctor Magna Kai Okutsuki never compromised on his justice until the very end. Even when he died to the scenario writer's conspiracy, he believed a successor would carry on his legacy, and thus left the research results the best he could to solve it..

Such information is preserved somewhere safe and sacred, where even the scenario writer's conspiracy can never reach it.

"…Erika, just to ask, have you shown this to anyone else…"

"Of course you’re the first to see this…just reading a journal page isn’t enough clue to figure out the identity of the scenario writer."

"…I guess so. Father probably didn't think this page alone is enough to counter the scenario writer."

"Yes. If this ‘Evernote’ is real, Teacher must have been left behind crucial information to counter the scenario writer's conspiracy…I continue to investigate till today because I believe that information exists."

"If you are investigating…were you deep inside the Labyrinth two days ago because…?"

"Yes. Once reason was to investigate Teacher Okutsuki's Atelier…and another reason to appear deep in the dark depths of the Labyrinth was—"

"—To bait the scenario writer with your own life?"

The High Daylight Walker, who has been silently listening to the conversation, interrupts Erika's words.

"! High Daylight Walker…!"

"A-Arteria? What do you mean, baiting the scenario writer…?"

"If the content of the ‘Evernote’ is correct, then your Father's murder was a conspiracy. In that case, the information he left behind will be fatal to the scenario writer."

"… Yes. If the scenario writer is as eager to find and destroy the ‘information’ as I am to find it…by extension, the scenario writer will try to eradicate me."

"The scenario writer is trying to kill Erika…!"

It appears that your encounter with Erika near your father's Atelier on the night you were murdered was no simple coincidence.

Assuming that the scenario writer is trying to destroy evidence, the Atelier, fortified with multiple reinforced barriers, is a dangerous place where crucial evidence may be abound. Once Kai Okutsuki's disciple is to approach there, the scenario writer would be forced to eradicate and conceal the truth.

"…I suppose my guess is correct, and I’ve been attacked by people who I believe to be an assassin of the scenario writer three times…one right before I murdered you on the day before yesterday."

"Wh-What?"

"I see. So you attacked us right after you fended off the scenario writer. As we appeared, you mistook us for the enemy and fought us."

"W-Wait a minute! Since Erika got attacked, does that mean that the scenario writer is still observing the level where the Father's Atelier is located?"

"I suppose so. For a person with the ability to kill the Doctor Magna, observing for five years continually is nothing difficult. If a prey is to land within the surveillance net, one might easily be secretly erased."

"E-Erased…!!"

You gasp in horror at the truth implied by Arteria.

The tragedy of five years ago that took away your magic, your memory, and your father.

The conspiracy that the scenario writer casts up may still be ongoing.

"…You. If her words are true, it is dangerous to approach the Atelier. Those who desire to kill Kai Okutsuki's disciples will try to kill Kai Okutsuki's son as well."

"…But on the other hand, there’s a very high probability that the scenario writer's assassin will show up. If we can drain the memories out of that assassin, it’s very likely that we’ll find a clue that will lead us to the truth."

"O-Okutsuki-san!? Are you intending to take on the scenario writer!?"

"Yeah. If the person who attacked you is an assassin of the scenario writer, the biggest target should be this Sōshi Okutsuki, who has inherited the High Daylight Walker’s bloodsucking abilities to steal the enemy's information."

"Th-That’s too dangerous! Even I had difficulty just trying to get away from them!"

"If you find it dangerous, I'll go alone. It’s the Okutsukis’ problem."

"T-This is my problem too! I can’t forget the great debt of gratitude I owe Teacher Okutsuki! I-If you don't let me go with you, I'll burn these ‘books’!"

The murderer pulled out a ‘storage book’ from the gap in the binder, opens a page with a sticky note attached, tears it open, and shakes the torn part shook it with the cut side downwards.

Then, from the tear of the piece of paper, plop! ‘books’ fall out.

Falling onto Erika's palm are two grimoire books that you had seen before.

"Th-Those 'books' I brought from Japan…!"

One is ‘A book that duplicates everything on a page, including the function’—the ‘mirror copywriting paper’.

The other is ‘A book that forces the target to answer if this answer is valid—the ‘Permanent Interrogation book’.

"Th-Those 'books' I brought from Japan…!"

One is ‘A book that duplicates everything on a page, including the function’—the ‘mirror copywriting paper’.

The other is ‘A book that forces the target to answer if this answer is vali (Yes)d—the ‘Permanent (Tautologia) Interrogation book’.

The ‘Mirror copywriting paper’ is a grimoire that can duplicate once a page of another grimoire it comes in contact with, including its magical function. In other words, with that piece of paper, it is possible to chant and execute the copied spell only once.

And the ‘Tautologia Interrogation book’ is a coercive interrogation book that can force any opponent to respond only if the answer to the questions written in it is yes. Not only is it useful for interrogating hostiles, but it can also be used as an antimagic, breaking the spell if the interrogation is performed during the chanting.

"What will you do!? From the prior magic duel, you’re probably specialize in a fighting style focused on grimoires! These rune copies of the ‘Bladeedge Storm Spears’ are something you really want, right!?"

The ‘Bladeedge Storm Spear’ has been your ace spell until you lost your magic five years ago.

It’s a medium-high level wind disarming spell (exalmatio) that releases magical power in a straight line. A divine spear of victory that forcibly disarms and restrains any enemy engulfed by its storm of any armament, barriers, or grimoire.

You used to carry a piece of grimoire with those runes engraved on it as a talisman.

"Grr… it’s true that the grimoire page is very important to me now, but …!"

As Erika pointed out, given that you can’t use magic, the grimoire is extremely important to you in battling. Those two ‘books that are used in combat’, and rare books you brought from Japan, are being held hostage, and you can’t simply refute her..

"…Okutsuki-san. You will take me with you, won't you?"

"That immortality of yours is given by I. In no certain terms do I allow you to say this has nothing to do with I."

The (former) murderer and the (current) vampire speak from the left and right. It is unlikely you have any room to dissuade.

"… Okay, come with me, Arteria, Erika."

"Umu, this High Daylight Walker Arteria shall give you power and wisdom."

"E-Erm, I’ll support you too!"

…Having their teamwork isn’t assuring, but their combat strength is undoubted. You, the half-human half demon, lead the vampire and ex-murderer as you set foot on the elevator leading into the abyss.

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