Melty Blood Scenes 6-9

06
With a crash, I knock Akiha down.

"Ahh......!"

I────I did itーーーーーー!

Foolishly caught up in the moment, I begin to wonder if I might be able to repay her endless bullying like this!

"Kuh... so, it seems you really intend to dispose of me, Nii−san!"

My high spirits fade away; Akiha still seems to completely misunderstand the situation.

"No! You, you don't understand, Akiha! I didn't want to fight you, but Sion just────"

"I understand; I'm just a nuisance to you. If I were not in the way, the Tohno family would pass to you as the eldest son; I had hoped Kohaku's fears were unjustified."

"Wow, that Kohaku−san... still messing around and spreading rumors for fun...?"

"But it won't be that easy, Nii−san! If you want the Tohno family, you will have to get through me first!"

"Huhuhuhuhu!" With a chuckle like a battle cry, Akiha turns and flees. Her destination is of course the Tohno mansion.

"────────"

"What are you waiting for, Shiki? Follow her!"

"Eh? Sion, are you serious?"

"I am serious. I do not know why, but I strongly feel we should follow that girl right now."

"A feeling, huh....... that doesn't seem like you. Don't you usually base your actions on more precise information?"

"You don't have to tell me that! That feeling was just a feeling! Now, let's hurry up and chase her!"

With dashing footsteps, Sion runs off.

"You know, I'm beginning to get a bad feeling about this......"

Complaining won't do any good. As long as I'm connected to Sion's thread, I've no choice but to go along with her.



The Tohno mansion is always so biiig. I think my house is big, but compared to here I think it's just teeny.

"────────"

I go up on tiptoes to press the doorbell. But, after thinking a little bit, walking straight in is a bad idea.

"...... This is the enemy camp. If I'm not careful, I'll definitely get hurt."

Whatever the School might think, today isn't a duel, so I'm not being cowardly.

Anyway, if we're talking about cowardice, the people who've imprisoned Onii−chan here for so long are much worse!

"Ah, I can get in here."

I squeeze between the railings. Although my hand goes through easily, my cheek gets stuck. "Mugyuu..."

"Ehehe, I messed up."

Yeah, the School is right after all; straightforward use of force is best.

"Should I bend the railings or jump over them...?"

"Teya!" I punch the railings. ...... Disappointing. The next round will certainly be jumping, as soon as my fingers stop hurting.

"...... Hmph. The enemy's strength is three times greater than mine."

I look up at the tall railings. A master would just be able to leap over these no sweat.

"Eyaaahーーーー!!"

Yes. Thinking is a weakness, so just act.

I fall to the ground with a crash.

"Owwww....."

I stand up, rubbing my butt. To my amazement, I see the wonderful mansion before me.

"...... Hey, that wasn't so hard."

My eternal confusion helped out here, too.

"Uhm... the entrance has to be over there, right?"

I gradually edge over. ...... Even though going in uninvited is wrong, I don't feel bad about it at all.

After all, the people here are the bad ones! Onii−chan is my onii−chan; I think it's weird for him to go off with a strange woman.

After that, Onii−chan didn't come to eat watermelon in summer any more.

I spent so long taking out all the seeds so it would be perfect to eat, but this year he didn't eat at the dojo with us.

"Onii−chan, I'm sure you've been locked up. Mother says this house is full of scary people."

Huh? Wasn't it Onii−chan that said that?

Cautiously, I peek in through the window. ..... In the castle−like entrance, there are three women.

The first one's Akiha. Onii−chan says she's the strongest person in the household.

I've met her loads of times. She's person−I−have−to−beat number one.

The second one's Kohaku. Onii−chan says she's the craftiest person in the household.

She seems to always be wearing a kimono. She has all sorts of medicine, and it seems like she always manages to take the spoils for herself at the very end.

When I got Grandpa Sougen to talk about it, he said something about her being a step away from human experimentation.

When I asked what "human experimentation" was, Grandpa told me it's like what nurses do. ...... I'm not sure why, but I feel she will be the most formidable enemy.

A master can sense another master.

Anyway, she's person−I−have−to−beat number two.

The third one's Hisui. Onii−chan says she's the most determined person in the household.

...... She doesn't look very strong, but I'm sure she's built like iron. I'm not sure how my usual punch will do against her...

Anyway, she's person−I−have−to−beat number three.

"What are they talking about..."

The three of them seem to be arguing about something.

Akiha's shouting at Kohaku and Hisui, Hisui's shocked, and Kohaku's smiling.

Now that she's angry at them, the usually−scary Akiha is even more scary.

............ Huh? With a thump, the floor opens and Akiha falls through.

"You planned this, didn't you, Kohakuーーーー!"

Thump. The floor is back to normal. Kohaku giggles.

...... Yes. I was right. Kohaku will be the most formidable enemy.



We returned to the mansion.

"Ahh... Why did things turn out like this?"

I don't understand very well, this seems to be a natural turn of events rather than because of Sion.

...... But, it's a big problem that I beat Akiha earlier, and I have to be crazy to pick a fight by coming back.

Despite knowing that much, I had to come back to this place that drips with a certain atmosphere.

"Tohno Akiha must be inside. Come on, Shiki."

...... And Sion's personality has changed completely.......



"Welcome back, Shiki−san. Oh, we have a guest?"

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

Kohaku and Hisui are in the lobby. ...... There's no sign of Akiha. Also, for some reason Hisui is glaring at me.

"I'm home───sorry, but where's Akiha?"

"Akiha−sama is not here. She was feeling tired, and so she went to bed."

...... Wow, Hisui really is angry.

"Yes, Akiha−sama was unusually agitated... so, I had to use just a little force to put her to sleep in a secret location"

And, that's a strangely uncouth Kohaku−san.

"Uh, I hate to ask, but, did something happen?"

"...... We have heard that you raised a hand against Akiha−sama. Furthermore, you have a questionable plot to take the position of Tohno family head. ...... Shiki−sama, this madness has gone too far."

"That's right, Shiki−san! I understand how you feel, but you mustn't have such an obvious plan! Taking over the position of Tohno family head would be a lot of trouble, right? So, isn't it much better to let Akiha−sama be the head, and manipulate her from behind the scenes? Yes, that's my project, the Perfect Tohno House Takeover Plan!"

"No, that was just a misunderstanding, but...... Kohaku−san, didn't you just say something crazy?"

"Shiki−sama, please do not be taken in by what Nee−san is saying."

"Ah, of course not."

"............ Shiki, these two are of no interest. Tohno Akiha is our priority right now."

"But even if you say that, they say Akiha isn't here, so isn't it alright?"

"No. Tohno Akiha is in this mansion. Are those two not just sheltering her?"

"Well, yeah. They are servants of the Tohno family after all."

"Huhuhu... that's just like what was said five minutes ago, you know─"

"Wha, what was that...!?"

"Yes? What is it, Shiki−san?"

...... Just my imagination? For a moment, it seemed like Kohaku became some sort of magical girl... something that definitely shouldn't happen in the real world.

"......? Shouldn't happen? Where's all this anxiety coming from?"

Huh? Speaking of which, haven't a lot of incredible things been happening? No, there's no basis for that... but...

"───Anyway, I have no use for either of you. Shiki, let's find Tohno Akiha."

"...... Please stop. If you are going to look for Akiha−sama, it would be rude to bring a guest."

"That's right! Even if you are planning a Tohno House Takeover, you have a rival. As Akiha−sama commands, we shall punish you here!"

Saying thus, the two strike a pose.

"Stupid, what are you saying! I get it, but Sion doesn't understand jokes, if you keep on like this she might really kill...!"

But then again... Somehow, their posture has no openings... and why do I get the feeling that they're stronger than me...?

"Uh... do you two... know martial arts?"

"If I may be so bold, I achieved enlightenment quite some time ago."

"Yes, some time ago I too became a shining−backed master with a 'kaching!'.

As Akiha−sama isn't without her limits, shouldn't we at least be able to help with fights on the level of driving away burglars?"

"────────"

That can't be true. But then again, maybe it is.

Life has its perfect days, times when everything you do goes well. Maybe today is that "somehow everything happens according to plan" day for Kohaku−san.

"That's a load of nonsense! They're just being weird, Sion, saying stupid things for no reason!"

"────I see. It seems that somehow, Tatari has replaced these girls."

Sion immediately pulls out her gun.

"...... Nee−san, this person is a bad influence on Shiki−sama. Shall we give her a proper welcome?"

"Yeah! Why is Shiki−san with a woman who carries a gun? Let's punish this playboy Shiki−san together right here!"

Saying this, the two strike a pose.

"...... Hmph. You think there exists the slightest possibility you could approach my level? It seems that I must adjust my calculations."

With a click, Sion releases the Etherlite from her bracelet.

"Ahh! Why did it end up like thisーーーー!"

Who will fight──── Shiki Sion

IF SHIKI/SION BEAT HISUI&KOHAKU GOTO 10_1 IF HISUI&KOHAKU BEAT SION/SHIKI GOTO 06_G

06 GAME OVER
"Gwaa...."

I go flying. Sion is close behind. Kohaku−san and Hisui... their combined skills completely destroyed us.

"Ah, victory〜♪ And so, bye−bye, strange person."

"!? Wha, what is this, 'Dogmark Express Home Delivery'!? Hey, let me go, where do you think you're taking me!?"

"Well, that just leaves Shiki−san...... I know! He can put on a show with Akiha−sama!"

"Nee−san. Shiki−sama, well, I was going to..."

"Ah, that's right! Shiki−san, tonight there'll be a complete full course Chinese meal courtesy of Hisui−chan. Look forward to it!"

"Uwaa... Please, ask me first...!"

GAME OVER

07A
"I've read your moves───Victory is mine, Arcueid Brunestud......!"

"...... Using your speed of thought in order to predict your opponent's movements...... Analyzing the probability of all fluctuations and choosing the most suitable attack, Alchemist of Atlas?"

"But, even if you can know the future, you can not resist it. Humans in a sinking ship who know their final hour can gain no benefit from such knowledge."

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

"But that is the destined outcome of a fight between you and I. You may predict my movements and try to counter, but you can't really oppose me. You can't change a gun's lethality. Even if you know the bullet's path, you lack the ability to dodge it."

"...... It is as you say. The alchemists of Atlas will not go through with an experiment if they do not have all the ingredients for success. ...... Indeed, no matter how I approached the problem, I lacked the elements to defeat you in a fight."

"You understand, then. But you did keep up with me. If you can do at least that much, then why do you even bother with alchemy in the first place?"

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

"But that doesn't really concern me. I'm less curious about you than I am about why Shiki is spacing out over there."

"So, Shiki. Why the heck did you call me and then show up with that woman? ...... Don't tell me you're actually the fake?"

"Fake... Isn't that my line? What's that mountain of dead bodies then? What about you, are you really Arcueid?"

"That wasn't me. You did it before you came here."

"Eh......? I, I did it......?"

"Yeah. Although when I watched it, you looked a little fake. ...... In any case, it seems like we all have been influenced by that thing. If you don't watch out, you just might turn into a true killer."

"Turn into a true killer? ...... You mean, um...... what do you mean?"

"The realization of anxiety. You were the one who stacked this pile of dead bodies. Isn't Ciel looking for you right now? ...... Although in the first place, you can't really call this murder."

"Stup──what are you doing, Arcueid! It's already too late, stop kicking those bodies around like that!"

"Oh Shiki, you're still tricked. Just take a closer look at all this, won't you?"

"A closer look, you...... huh? What is this? ...... Just some scraps of food and trash?"

"Huh? Huhhhhh!? What is this!? I swear there were bloody corpses right here......!?"

"See? You were deceived. Shiki, you've had some very bad experiences so you are more likely to make this stuff real."

"......... Is it okay if I ask a question, Arcueid?"

"Yeah, sure."

"...... Um, what's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious? A pile of trash you mistook for a mountain of bodies. The work of a killer───no, a vampire."

"A vampire? The model for all of these rumors around town? Ciel−Senpai was looking, but I should've known you would be too."

"What's this? You already spoke with Ciel? ...... That's strange, then even if it does appear it may not be a bad time......"

"Oh, I see. Because I'm here it hasn't decided on a form yet. ...... That idiot. So greedy, yet it can only end in self−destruction."

"...... Arcueid. You're the only one understanding everything... can't you just help me out a little?"

"That girl over there has all the details. I can't really explain about the Dead Apostle this time, and isn't better to hear from somebody involved in all this?"

"Involved... you mean Sion?"

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

"Exactly. You know, I really want to kill her, but you would probably get in the way, right?"

"Are you stupid? Of course I would. What's with this crazy merciless attitude all of a sudden?"

"Hey. I said I'm letting you go, Alchemist. Until I've confirmed the strength of this vampire, I won't be wasting any of my power."



"Ah───"

"She left before we could stop her. Since we cannot keep up, pursuing her would be useless."

"Furthermore, it is dangerous to stay here. I don't think there will be anyone else around on a sweltering night like this, but even if there was just one, you might be branded as a criminal."

"...... Criminal? I didn't kill anyone or anything."

"Perception is reality. Anyway, it is a good idea to move somewhere else. More trivial matters are likely to occur if we stay here."

"...... Got it. Well, I really don't get what you're saying, but let's just leave here."



"About what Arcueid said earlier..."

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

"When Arcueid said you were involved, what was she talking about?"

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

"Sion, you said you didn't know much about what was happening, but you really do, don't you? I don't know why you were hiding it, but......"

"I was not hiding it. It was the truth that I only knew as much as you did about the rumors."

"...... But, yes. I do know more than you do about the Dead Apostle hiding in this town."

"I knew you'd be difficult. If you knew about it how come you kept quiet?"

"Because you were just looking for the rumored vampire. For example, it would be like just buying medicine whenever you were sick. You didn't buy the medicine because you wanted to find out what was in it, right? So it was meaningless to explain everything about that Dead Apostle."

"...... Hey, there IS a meaning to it. If you don't know your opponent, you won't know how to counter him. He's just a rumor after all, so we don't know if he's really that bad. And if we can resolve this by talking it'll be much better."

"How laid back. If you think you can talk with it then you are so wrong it gives me the chills."

"...... This is against my better judgment, but consider it a reward for agreeing to help me. Right now you seem to simply want peace with that vampire. But if you die on me because of it, my ability to finish this may be in question."

"Shiki. The source of the rumors in town, the Dead Apostle that the True Ancestor and the agent of The Church are searching for is the one called 'Tatari'."

"Tatari......? You mean, like a curse?"

"Yes, the etymology derives from this country's word for 'curse'. The Dead Apostle Tatari is a vampire lacking independent individuality. It pieces together anxiety from the bits of rumors to appear real and feeds in cycles."

"A rumor that appears real and feeds in cycles?"

"Yes. A criminal that revels in the reactions of others to its deeds. Dead Apostles are normally not content with simply drinking blood as the years pass. They make their own rules and take pleasure not only in drinking blood, but in protecting those rules."

"To make matters worse, Tatari has the ability to gather up rumors. Similar to the True Ancestor's Marble Phantasm, Tatari is able to materialize the imagination of humans. So the more uneasy humans are and the more bad rumors spread, the more its power grows."

"...... Hey. Then... you mean in the absence of bad rumors he can't exist?"

"Yes, a curse's strength is extreme anxiety, and operating on this principle, it can transform general rumors into reality. That which is called Tatari truly does have the ability to materialize rumors. It is one kind of what we call a Reality Marble. Strong Dead Apostles are able to create within themselves a differing reality from the outside world. This Reality Marble is a separate world created from one's imagination. Usually its form is constantly fixed, but Tatari's Reality Marble is something which 'takes form from nearby humans'. Because of that, the contents of the Reality Marble are separate from that of the world around it."

"Reality Marbles are also very short−lived. No matter how strong a Dead Apostle is, he can not maintain one for more than a single night."

"...... A single night is the limit...... Is that why the rumors of the killer are only at night?"

"No, Tatari has not yet occurred. In order to take form, the rumors must spread through town in order to increase their probability. Right now, Tatari is only a rumor. But just rumors cannot kill anyone in reality, right?"

"Tatari is spreading roots through this town, permeating it with unpleasant rumors. As time passes, the rumors start to turn to reality and it can occur due to the bizarre circumstances. ...... That means the likelihood of a true killer or vampire serving as a model is high. In any case, thanks to all of those incidents which occurred before, I think it is only natural for the people of this town to feel uneasy about it."

"──Oh? In other words, this Dead Apostle named Tatari hasn't drunk blood in this town yet and he has to wait until the rumors become closer to reality before he can?"

"To put it succinctly, yes. For Tatari, the town in which he appears is only one stage and the audience has just arrived. Their imaginations fuel the play, and when the seats are filled──"

"Tatari appears. ────The curtain rises?"

"Yes, for one night. In the past, Tatari would claim victim after victim in the town in which he occurred until it was morning. At times, it would be given to preying on everyone in the whole town. At any rate, he was the "unpleasant rumor" everyone in town believed in. Humans cannot fight back against their own nightmares, their worst fears given shape. Because they cannot fight back, it truly is a nightmare. And────"

"...... Once the curse begins, there's no stopping it?"

"Correct. And you are also part of the audience. No, you might just be the guest of honor. There is a high possibility whatever unpleasantness you think of will become Tatari."

"Eh? Wh−why me?"

"You are the human most tied to the True Ancestor. You are the one receiving the True Ancestor's...... favor, so this town is considered quite desirable for an appearance."

"The True Ancestor's favor......? If, if that's what you think, you're a little mistaken... but why would that make me such a desirable target?"

"You know the True Ancestor very well, right? If you think about it, it is very obvious. The absolute worst 'nightmare' in this town would be a True Ancestor gone mad."

"Eh──Then, um...... if I get worried about Arcueid indiscriminately drinking blood, or think that Ciel−senpai and Akiha getting in a fight would be bad, then......"

"Then the chances of that becoming reality is high. Curses work more on the principle of changing things which exist rather than creating something out of nothing. Please think of Tatari as a sort of Dead Apostle who uses 'curses' as familiars. In this case, wouldn't it simply be easier for Tatari to take possession of the True Ancestor and start rampaging rather than truly becoming a rampaging True Ancestor? Consequently, your image of unpleasantness is much more clearly defined than anyone else's. Having seen so many real vampires, you provide a far more vivid image from which to construct a false one."

"──────────────────────────────────────────────Hey, wait a minute."

"Then, if I imagine that guy, for instance..."

"If I get troubled thinking about that..."

"────!"

"Sion......?"

"Ah...... oh, ghh────!"

"Sion, what's wrong!? Are you hurt from your fight with Arcueid......!?"

"No────that is not, it."

"I just suddenly became nauseous, no need for concern. More importantly, Shiki, what are you going to do now?"

"......? Why do you ask that?"

"Our efforts to negotiate with the True Ancestor failed. But there still remains the possibility. Her top priority is dealing with Tatari, so we may still use it as a bargaining chip."

"In other words, there is no need for you to act as a mediator. You can just go back to──"

"Hm? Ah, in that case, then let's do it together. I'm looking for the vampire anyway, and you have to do something about Tatari before you can talk with Arcueid."

"And we are partners after all. You're a help to me too."

"───I am surprised. Shiki, you still intend to help me?"

"?"

"Well, I...... I do not have any more information for you. And───I'm still hiding so much."

"Haven't you answered whatever I asked? If I don't understand anything, all I have to do is ask, right?"

"────────"

"Anyway, let's just roam around for a while. We still need to do something about this Tatari Dead Apostle before his curse becomes real."



───With that, Shiki and I began to search together.

...... I wonder why. There is no need since the True Ancestor has refused to cooperate. And he still doesn't understand what Tatari is if he thinks he can just run into it while we walk around like this. ────It is meaningless. If it was so easy to run across Tatari like that, it would have already been sealed by The Church long ago. Understanding the futility, I still continue to search with Shiki.

In other words, the reason is unknown. ...... I can't believe it. Things I do not understand discomfort me. So why am I...? This lack of understanding is probably getting on my nerves.

"Sion, maybe this direction is better?"

"There is nothing in that direction. Traces would be found not in the center of town but at its edges."

"...... Its edges... let's see, the park, my family's mansion, the industrial sector, the brand new construction site...... oh, the school? That's where the vampire's lair was before."

"It is of no importance if you exclude the school. During this holiday there will be no one there, correct? Tatari will not appear where no rumors will start, in other words, a place where no people gather."

"Oh. Then let's head off to the construction site."

...... My choice of words was not correct.

Tatari does not like crowded places. Instead, places where one can view signs of life are desired. Then, elevated places such as the school or the Tohno Mansion are desired.

...... We hurry to the construction site. The place where Shiki had to experience a parting. His thoughts flow into me through the Etherlite. Despite appearing calm, his thoughts are full of his classmate that became a vampire.

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

Those thoughts become painful. A deeper look at Shiki's true state shows him to be an austere monk treading across a mountain of needles. But unconsciously, He repeatedly tells himself to ignore the path so he can continue walking forward.

"............ sst."

Should I just cut the connection with the Etherlite? If I do that, his thoughts will no longer flow towards me. That is where the nausea came from earlier. Shiki was imaging the thought of "blood" so freshly I practically became drunk on it.

"Sion, be careful. The steps are crumbling and it isn't very bright, so watch your step."

"I know. I can see that much by the moonlight."

"Yeah, it's almost a full moon. I guess it is bright tonight."

After he says that I look up to the sky. The golden moon hangs overhead.

...... The dark, chaotic ruins remind me of that night.

The night three years ago. That one night in the mountain village. The village destroyed by Tatari. I was the only one who survived. ...... No, I was allowed to escape. I shamefully escaped from that thing, from which it is impossible to live after having your blood drank by it────

"...... Shiki. Can I ask you a question? Do you hate vampires?"

"That's a pretty tough question, Sion."

In the darkness, Shiki takes a step forward. Right behind him.

"───I hate them. There's no doubt about it."

For a brief second, I sense an icy intent to kill.

"But my hatred isn't directed towards them. Only humans have a conception of good and evil."

"I see. I..."

There is no good or evil when it comes to vampires. Just displeasure at drinking blood.

A monster that drinks human blood. A usurper who steals human blood. That monster let me alone escape. I asked it why it let me go.

"What do you mean? I feel sorry for my own kind."

Saying that as it smiled, it disappeared. To think that is one of my relatives makes me so angry I could go crazy. One in whom the blood of Eltnam flows. The same blood of Eltnam within me. This body which can no longer turn back.

"It looks like this way is a bust. I was thinking maybe the center of town seemed suspicious..."

...... Red. I don't like the color red.

"Shall we go back for now? Next time we'll try that."

...... Blood. I don't like to remember blood.

"...... Sion."

...... To need something like that, who────

"Sion, hey. Are you okay? Sion......!"

...... So, I won't allow it. The one who let only me escape, Myself, who escaped, And this weak flesh of mine.

...... Yes. This time, in order to lower the curtain on the midsummer night's dream────



"...... Oof. I've managed to carry her this far."

I place Sion gently down on the bench. Unconscious, she lies there breathing painfully.

...... Sion may have some sort of chronic disease. She looks worse than when I met her and she did just collapse after all.

"...... Well then, what do I do now? I don't know where she sleeps, and it would be a problem if I just left her here......"

Of course, I'll stay with her until she wakes up, but I want to take her somewhere else. Why────

"...... Taking her here in the dead of night wasn't a good idea. There was even that trouble with Arcueid just a little earlier......"

But there really is no other place I can take her.

My place is of course out of the question. Just what would Akiha, Hisui and Kohaku−san think about me then?

Senpai's room and Arcueid's place are the same. In that case, I just have to tend to her until morning......

"I understand your fear, human. Staying in a place like that, you must fear the memory of that night you spent here."

"────!?"

I whirl around to face that voice. I see────

"The fear saturating you is impossible to erase. It is difficult to banish it into oblivion when it spawns from the darkness within you."

"You────why are you here?"

"There is no why; no right or wrong. I simply exist here as myself. I must be a fake, not reality. I may be an impossible existence... a decaying corpse, but if allowed to exist, I will turn myself into reality."

The vampire in the black overcoat. Chaos. The enemy I once defeated, the one who clothed himself with 666 familiars draws closer to me.

"────You wish, to fight?"

"Naturally. You were the one yearning for annihilation. A curse is no more than one's sin returning to them. Therefore───this curse is the fruit of your own wandering thoughts of your self−destruction."

"kk────!"

His black coat flutters. From that darkness flow countless beasts.

"Run away, Shiki......!"

"Ergh......!"

"Oh? Another one? But a magus. Not many circuits, but of fine quality."

"It has been a long time since I last fed on a magus. But be assured. I will inherit your intellect; it will not be wasted."

"Shiki, you───of all things, you had to think of THAT here......!?"

"Uwaa! Then it's my fault he came after all!?"

"Did I not say Tatari was something which could not exist unless it received the influence of others? A monster which could not normally exist, one which gives rise from the fears of others. To you, Nrvnqsr Chaos is a curse which embodies both of those things. It is exactly the kind of form that Tatari impatiently waits for during the full moon!"

"Wha───you mean, he......?"

"Yes, that is the Dead Apostle called Tatari. ...... Things are moving faster than planned, but it can not be helped."

Sion gets in a fighting stance. ...... The vampire which made his appearance raises his hand towards us in perfect composure, just like that time before.

"───Excellent. I defeated you once before, and if you insist, I will defeat you as many times as it takes......!"

I ready my knife and advance toward the vampire.

My knife, and Sion's thread. They mingle with his roar underneath the full moon────

IF SHIKI BEATS NRVNQSR GOTO 11_1 IF NRVNQSR BEATS SHIKI GOTO 12_1

07B
"───Heh. You two may have teamed up or something, but that doesn't mean you can beat me."

"Agh......"

"Goodness. The fact that you take her side really ticks me off. Right when I shouldn't be wasting even a little of my strength."

"Wha...... waste... your strength?"

"Yes. If that thing keeps running around loose it'll be quite an eyesore, won't it? Even if it is just like a mere insect buzzing around, it's still a bother."

"...... Unbelievable. You know what it's true form is?"

"Of course. I was going to clean up the mess by myself. Shiki is too easily deceived, so I couldn't just let him fight that pathological liar."

"......?"

"So, Shiki. Why the heck did you call me and then show up with that woman? ...... Don't tell me you're actually the fake?"

"Fake... Isn't that my line? What's that mountain of dead bodies then? What about you, are you really Arcueid?"

"That wasn't me. You did it before you came here."

"Eh......? I, I did it......?"

"Yeah. Although when I watched it, you looked a little fake. ...... In any case, it seems like we all have been influenced by that thing. If you don't watch out, you just might turn into a true killer."

"Turn into a true killer? ...... You mean, um...... what do you mean?"

"The realization of anxiety. You were the one who stacked this pile of dead bodies. Isn't Ciel looking for you right now? ...... Although in the first place, you can't really call this murder."

"Stup──what are you doing, Arcueid! It's already too late, stop kicking those bodies around like that!"

"Oh Shiki, you're still tricked. Just take a closer look at all this, won't you?"

"A closer look, you...... huh? What is this? ...... Just some scraps of food and trash?"

"Huh? Huhhhhh!? What is this!? I swear there were bloody corpses right here...... !?"

"See? You were deceived. Shiki, you've had some very bad experiences so you are more likely to make this stuff real."

"......... Is it okay if I ask a question, Arcueid?"

"Yeah, sure."

"...... Um, what's going on?"

"Isn't it obvious? A pile of trash you mistook for a mountain of bodies. The work of a killer───no, a vampire."

"A vampire? The model for all of these rumors around town? Ciel−Senpai was looking, but I should've known you would be too."

"What's this? You already spoke with Ciel? ...... That's strange, then even if it does appear it may not be a bad time......"

"Oh, I see. Because I'm here it hasn't decided on a form yet. ...... That idiot. So greedy, yet it can only end in self−destruction."

"...... Arcueid. You're the only one understanding everything... can't you just help me out a little?"

"That girl over there has all the details. I can't really explain about the Dead Apostle this time, and isn't better to hear from somebody involved in all this?"

"Involved... you mean Sion?"

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

"Exactly. You know, I really want to kill her, but you would probably get in the way, right?"

"Are you stupid? Of course I would. What's with this crazy merciless attitude all of a sudden?"

"Hey. I said I'm letting you go, Alchemist. Until I've confirmed the strength of this vampire, I won't be wasting any of my power."



"Ah───"

"She left before we could stop her. Since we cannot keep up, pursuing her would be useless."

"Furthermore, it is dangerous to stay here. I don't think there will be anyone else around on a sweltering night like this, but even if there was just one, you might be branded as a criminal."

"...... Criminal? I didn't kill anyone or anything."

"Perception is reality. Anyway, it is a good idea to move somewhere else. More trivial matters are likely to occur if we stay here."

"...... Got it. Well, I really don't get what you're saying, but let's just leave here."



"About what Arcueid said earlier..."

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

"When Arcueid said you were involved, what was she talking about?"

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

"Sion, you said you didn't know much about what was happening, but you really do, don't you? I don't know why you were hiding it, but......"

"I was not hiding it. It was the truth that I only knew as much as you did about the rumors."

"...... But, yes. I do know more than you do about the Dead Apostle hiding in this town."

"I knew you'd be difficult. If you knew about it how come you kept quiet?"

"Because you were just looking for the rumored vampire.

For example, it would be like just buying medicine whenever you were sick. You didn't buy the medicine because you wanted to find out what was in it, right? So it was meaningless to explain everything about that Dead Apostle."

"...... Hey, there IS a meaning to it. If you don't know your opponent, you won't know how to counter him. He's just a rumor after all, so we don't know if he's really that bad. And if we can resolve this by talking it'll be much better."

"How laid back. If you think you can talk with it then you are so wrong it gives me the chills."

"...... This is against my better judgment, but consider it a reward for agreeing to help me. Right now you seem to simply want peace with that vampire. But if you die on me because of it, my ability to finish this may be in question."

"Shiki. The source of the rumors in town, the Dead Apostle that the True Ancestor and the agent of The Church are searching for is the one called 'Tatari'."

"Tatari......? You mean, like a curse?"

"Yes, the etymology derives from this country's word for 'curse'. The Dead Apostle Tatari is a vampire lacking independent individuality. It pieces together anxiety from the bits of rumors to appear real and feeds in cycles."

"A rumor that appears real and feeds in cycles?"

"Yes. A criminal that revels in the reactions of others to its deeds. Dead Apostles are normally not content with simply drinking blood as the years pass. They make their own rules and take pleasure not only in drinking blood, but in protecting those rules."

"To make matters worse, Tatari has the ability to gather up rumors. Similar to the True Ancestor's Marble Phantasm, Tatari is able to materialize the imagination of humans. So the more uneasy humans are and the more bad rumors spread, the more its power grows."

"...... Hey. Then... you mean in the absence of bad rumors he can't exist?"

"Yes, a curse's strength is extreme anxiety, and operating on this principle, it can transform general rumors into reality. That which is called Tatari truly does have the ability to materialize rumors. It is one kind of what we call a Reality Marble. Strong Dead Apostles are able to create within themselves a differing reality from the outside world. This Reality Marble is a separate world created from one's imagination. Usually its form is constantly fixed, but Tatari's Reality Marble is something which 'takes form from nearby humans'. Because of that, the contents of the Reality Marble are separate from that of the world around it."

"Reality Marbles are also very short−lived. No matter how strong a Dead Apostle is, he can not maintain one for more than a single night."

"...... A single night is the limit...... Is that why the rumors of the killer are only at night?"

"No, Tatari has not yet occurred. In order to take form, the rumors must spread through town in order to increase their probability. Right now, Tatari is only a rumor. But just rumors cannot kill anyone in reality, right?"

"Tatari is spreading roots through this town, permeating it with unpleasant rumors. As time passes, the rumors start to turn to reality and it can occur due to the bizarre circumstances. ...... That means the likelihood of a true killer or vampire serving as a model is high. In any case, thanks to all of those incidents which occurred before, I think it is only natural for the people of this town to feel uneasy about it."

"──Oh? In other words, this Dead Apostle named Tatari hasn't drunk blood in this town yet and he has to wait until the rumors become closer to reality before he can?"

"To put it succinctly, yes. For Tatari, the town in which he appears is only one stage and the audience has just arrived. Their imaginations fuel the play, and when the seats are filled──"

"Tatari appears. ────The curtain rises?"

"Yes, for one night. In the past, Tatari would claim victim after victim in the town in which he occurred until it was morning. At times, it would be given to preying on everyone in the whole town. At any rate, he was the "unpleasant rumor" everyone in town believed in. Humans cannot fight back against their own nightmares, their worst fears given shape. Because they cannot fight back, it truly is a nightmare. And────"

"...... Once the curse begins, there's no stopping it?"

"Correct. And you are also part of the audience. No, you might just be the guest of honor. There is a high possibility whatever unpleasantness you think of will become Tatari."

"Eh? Wh−why me?"

"You are the human most tied to the True Ancestor. You are the one receiving the True Ancestor's...... favor, so this town is considered quite desirable for an appearance."

"The True Ancestor's favor......? If, if that's what you think, you're a little mistaken... but why would that make me such a desirable target?"

"You know the True Ancestor very well, right? If you think about it, it is very obvious. The absolute worst 'nightmare' in this town would be a True Ancestor gone mad."

"Eh──Then, um...... if I get worried about Arcueid indiscriminately drinking blood, or think that Ciel−senpai and Akiha getting in a fight would be bad, then......"

"Then the chances of that becoming reality is high. Curses work more on the principle of changing things which exist rather than creating something out of nothing. Please think of Tatari as a sort of Dead Apostle who uses 'curses' as familiars. In this case, wouldn't it simply be easier for Tatari to take possession of the True Ancestor and start rampaging rather than truly becoming a rampaging True Ancestor? Consequently, your image of unpleasantness is much more clearly defined than anyone else's. Having seen so many real vampires, you provide a far more vivid image from which to construct a false one."

"──────────────────────────────────────────────Hey, wait a minute."

"Then, if I imagine that guy, for instance..."

"If I get troubled thinking about that..."

"────!"

"Sion......?"

"Ah...... oh, ghh────!"

"Sion, what's wrong!? Are you hurt from your fight with Arcueid......!?"

"No────that is not, it."

"I just suddenly became nauseous, no need for concern. More importantly, Shiki, what are you going to do now?"

"......? Why do you ask that?"

"Our efforts to negotiate with the True Ancestor failed. But there still remains the possibility. Her top priority is dealing with Tatari, so we may still use it as a bargaining chip."

"In other words, there is no need for you to act as a mediator. You can just go back to──"

"Hm? Ah, in that case, then let's do it together. I'm looking for the vampire anyway, and you have to do something about Tatari before you can talk with Arcueid."

"And we are partners after all. You're a help to me too."

"───I am surprised. Shiki, you still intend to help me?"

"?"

"Well, I...... I do not have any more information for you. And───I'm still hiding so much."

"Haven't you answered whatever I asked? If I don't understand anything, all I have to do is ask, right?"

"────────"

"Anyway, let's just roam around for a while. We still need to do something about this Tatari Dead Apostle before his curse becomes real."



───With that, Shiki and I began to search together.

...... I wonder why. There is no need since the True Ancestor has refused to cooperate. And he still doesn't understand what Tatari is if he thinks he can just run into it while we walk around like this. ────It is meaningless. If it was so easy to run across Tatari like that, it would have already been sealed by The Church long ago.

Understanding the futility, I still continue to search with Shiki.

In other words, the reason is unknown. ...... I can't believe it. Things I do not understand discomfort me. So why am I...? This lack of understanding is probably getting on my nerves.

"Sion, maybe this direction is better?"

"There is nothing in that direction. Traces would be found not in the center of town but at its edges."

"...... Its edges... let's see, the park, my family's mansion, the industrial sector, the brand new construction site...... oh, the school? That's where the vampire's lair was before."

"It is of no importance if you exclude the school. During this holiday there will be no one there, correct? Tatari will not appear where no rumors will start, in other words, a place where no people gather."

"Oh. Then let's head off to the construction site."

...... My choice of words was not correct.

Tatari does not like crowded places. Instead, places where one can view signs of life are desired. Then, elevated places such as the school or the Tohno Mansion are desired.



...... We hurry to the construction site. The place where Shiki had to experience a parting. His thoughts flow into me through the Etherlite. Despite appearing calm, his thoughts are full of his classmate that became a vampire.

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

Those thoughts become painful. A deeper look at Shiki's true state shows him to be an austere monk treading across a mountain of needles. But unconsciously, He repeatedly tells himself to ignore the path so he can continue walking forward.

"............ sst."

Should I just cut the connection with the Etherlite? If I do that, his thoughts will no longer flow towards me. That is where the nausea came from earlier. Shiki was imaging the thought of "blood" so freshly I practically became drunk on it.

"Sion, be careful. The steps are crumbling and it isn't very bright, so watch your step."

"I know. I can see that much by the moonlight."

"Yeah, it's almost a full moon. I guess it is bright tonight."

After he says that I look up to the sky. The golden moon hangs overhead.

...... The dark, chaotic ruins remind me of that night.

The night three years ago. That one night in the mountain village. The village destroyed by Tatari. I was the only one who survived. ...... No, I was allowed to escape. I shamefully escaped from that thing, from which it is impossible to live after having your blood drank by it────

"...... Shiki. Can I ask you a question? Do you hate vampires?"

"That's a pretty tough question, Sion."

In the darkness, Shiki takes a step forward. Right behind him.

"───I hate them. There's no doubt about it."

For a brief second, I sense an icy intent to kill.

"But my hatred isn't directed towards them. Only humans have a conception of good and evil."

"I see. I..."

There is no good or evil when it comes to vampires. Just displeasure at drinking blood.

A monster that drinks human blood. A usurper who steals human blood. That monster let me alone escape. I asked it why it let me go.

"What do you mean? I feel sorry for my own kind."

Saying that as it smiled, it disappeared. To think that is one of my relatives makes me so angry I could go crazy. One in whom the blood of Eltnam flows. The same blood of Eltnam within me. This body which can no longer turn back.

"It looks like this way is a bust. I was thinking maybe the center of town seemed suspicious..."

...... Red. I don't like the color red.

"Shall we go back for now? Next time we'll try that."

...... Blood. I don't like to remember blood.

"...... Sion."

...... To need something like that, who────

"Sion, hey. Are you okay? Sion......!"

...... So, I won't allow it. The one who let only me escape, Myself, who escaped, And this weak flesh of mine.

...... Yes. This time, in order to lower the curtain on the midsummer night's dream────



"...... Oof. I've managed to carry her this far."

I place Sion gently down on the bench. Unconscious, she lies there breathing painfully.

...... Sion may have some sort of chronic disease. She looks worse than when I met her and she did just collapse after all.

"...... Well then, what do I do now? I don't know where she sleeps, and it would be a problem if I just left her here......"

Of course, I'll stay with her until she wakes up, but I want to take her somewhere else. Why────

"...... Taking her here in the dead of night wasn't a good idea. There was even that trouble with Arcueid just a little earlier......"

But there really is no other place I can take her. My place is of course out of the question. Just what would Akiha, Hisui and Kohaku−san think about me then? Senpai's room and Arcueid's place are the same. In that case, I just have to tend to her until morning......

"I understand your fear, human. Staying in a place like that, you must fear the memory of that night you spent here."

"────!?"

I whirl around to face that voice. I see────

"The fear saturating you is impossible to erase. It is difficult to banish it into oblivion when it spawns from the darkness within you."

"You────why are you here?"

"There is no why; no right or wrong. I simply exist here as myself. I must be a fake, not reality. I may be an impossible existence... a decaying corpse, but if allowed to exist, I will turn myself into reality."

The vampire in the black overcoat. Chaos. The enemy I once defeated, the one who clothed himself with 666 familiars draws closer to me.

"────You wish, to fight?"

"Naturally. You were the one yearning for annihilation. A curse is no more than one's sin returning to them. Therefore───this curse is the fruit of your own wandering thoughts of your self−destruction."

"kk────!"

His black coat flutters. From that darkness flows countless beasts.

"Run away, Shiki......!"

"Ergh......!"

"Oh? Another one? But a magus. Not many circuits, but of fine quality."

"It has been a long time since I last fed on a magus. But be assured. I will inherit your intellect; it will not be wasted."

"Shiki, you───of all things, you had to think of THAT here......!?"

"Uwaa! Then it's my fault he came after all!?"

"Did I not say Tatari was something which could not exist unless it received the influence of others? A monster which could not normally exist, one which gives rise from the fears of others. To you, Nrvnqsr Chaos is a curse which embodies both of those things. It is exactly the kind of form that Tatari impatiently waits for during the full moon!"

"Wha───you mean, he......?"

"Yes, that is the Dead Apostle called Tatari. ...... Things are moving faster than planned, but it can not be helped."

Sion gets in a fighting stance. ...... The vampire which made his appearance raises his hand towards us in perfect composure, just like that time before.

"───Excellent. I defeated you once before, and if you insist, I will defeat you as many times as it takes......!"

I ready my knife and advance toward the vampire.

My knife, and Sion's thread. They mingle with his roar underneath the full moon────

GOTO 12_1

08A 1
"Did we do it────!?"

"───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

"Oh man. For you to beat me, not fully formed as I am... what a false start. Shiki, you really are unbelievable."

"But, it's all pointless, Shiki. Killing me is meaningless. And you know, you shouldn't really show off your toy like that so early. I can kill a nobody like you in a flash if you let me in on your secret."

"You don't have to say it. I'm well aware of that already."

"Oh really? That's good. I'll see you two later. I'll kill you right away next time."

"Gone...... no, more importantly, Sion......!"

"Sion, are you okay!?"

"Don't touch me......!"

"Um, but......"

"I said, don't touch me."

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

"There is no need to worry, as that thing is gone now."

"...... If you say so. Aren't you hurt?"

"That is nothing you need to think about. You should put your priority on the vampire, correct?"

"...... Maybe you're right. Then I have a question. Who was that Arcueid just now? You both used the term 'fake', but it really was Arcueid. It used Arcueid's face and killed five people...... Huh? Huh!?"

"No bodies, right? It really was nothing more than scattered trash. ...... But from far away, it could look like dead bodies."

"Wh−why!? I know there were dead bodies, and there was even the smell of blood......!?"

"A hallucination. Were you not influenced by the rumor that a killer is in the park? That was the True Ancestor from before──no, the Dead Apostle Tatari, to be more precise."

"Eh? That Arcueid was Tatari?"

"...... Yes. The Dead Apostle who can make rumors into reality. The vampire clad in the shape of rumors. There are strange rumors spreading through this town. False information that feels real is passed between people. The moment a rumor becomes widespread, Tatari appears. No, you can say it occurs. Tatari cannot exist independently. It is like a mirage rising from people's fermented uneasiness."

"......? Sorry, but I'm a bit at sea right now."

"A little... in the ocean? I do not know what you mean, but let's disregard that."

"Simply put, the Dead Apostle Tatari does not have a form of its own, only taking form when rumors 'become so real that no one doubts them'. People of this town began to believe that the killer is a woman with blonde hair. And since you knew Arcueid Brunestud, you denied the rumor, yet feared it was true. The convergence of rumors and what you knew. As they mixed, Tatari became Arcueid Brunestud. ...... The Tatari before was a fake True Ancestor, yet was the True Ancestor at the same time. At least for you, it was reality. Were you not thinking how bad it would be if the True Ancestor drank blood like a vampire? You were not thinking that the vampire in this town was a fake True Ancestor. Tatari thus became what you feared, 'The True Ancestor who became just like a vampire'."

"...... What do you mean? That just because I was anxious, that appeared?"

"The meaning of Tatari is a curse. People destroy themselves with a blind belief of the curse they themselves created. Tatari is a Dead Apostle who continues existing by becoming the uneasiness of others. As Tatari is the embodiment of their 'uneasiness', they cannot resist and can only have their blood sucked. ...... It appears Tatari is not yet fully formed. Your anxiety was not sufficient enough for it to be a widespread rumor."

"...... I kind of understand now. So you mean Tatari has the same powers as whatever people imagine it to have? Then what happens if people think about something other than Arcueid?"

"He would of course become that instead. ...... Tatari does not have a true form of its own, so it will take that form before it appears. In the past, Tatari once became a divine beast as large as a mountain. But, that is only because many more people feared the darkness back then. In the current age, Tatari will not become anything that strong. However, if Tatari is able to become the True Ancestor, then it will certainly reach that level."

"R−really!? Well, certainly an unrestrained Arcueid would be invincible...... Uwaa, what would happen then!?"

"Simple. If Tatari occurs fully, it will destroy everything around it. No matter what exact shape Tatari takes, it will be the realization of people's fears. Those that fear something cannot resist it."

"Man...... I understand that, but why was Tatari able to use just my uneasiness? If people simply do not have to be uneasy, then all I have to do is not think that Arcueid is the vampire, right?"

"No, that would only affect you internally. Tatari's goal is to become the worst possible thing to be imagined in the area. So it is very likely that it will use you."

"That's what I'm saying. Why me?"

"Y−you are the one most connected with the True Ancestor. Because you stand in the True Ancestor's favor, this town is highly regarded."

"The True Ancestor's favor...... isn't that a strange way of putting it?"

"Perhaps. I did try to choose the right words."

"────"

"────"

"────────"

"────────"

"────────────"

"────────────"

"A−anyway! Think what you want, but why does that make me highly regarded by Tatari?"

"Because you know the True Ancestor very well. What's more, you really do know a lot about vampires. Even if it cannot take advantage of your uneasiness about the True Ancestor, you still have uneasiness about vampires."

"Uneasiness about vampires───like Nrvnqsr still being alive or maybe a fight between Ciel−senpai and Akiha, or......?"

"Yes. Those possibilities are also high. Curses work more on the principle of changing things which exist rather than creating something out of nothing. Please think of Tatari as a sort of Dead Apostle who uses 'curses' as familiars. In this situation, wouldn't it simply be easier for Tatari to take possession of the True Ancestor and start rampaging rather than truly becoming a rampaging True Ancestor? Furthermore, the strength of your uneasiness is much stronger than anyone else's. As you have seen vampires many times before, a regular person's imagination pales in comparison."

"...... Then, even though we defeated Tatari, it could just reappear as Ciel−senpai or Akiha?"

"That possibility exists. ...... The worst case would be Tatari becoming the True Ancestor, but the rumors are still growing. There is still time for Tatari to appear as a Dead Apostle. The Tatari from before was simply an experiment using the rumors here. So if you think not of the True Ancestor but of a vampire who was once human, Tatari might shift to that."

"That's pretty inconvenient...... In other words, it falls on me to decide..."

"Because Tatari uses your imagination. But what decides is really this town. There are many people afraid of what is happening."

"...... I see. You really know a lot about this. It's almost as if you specialized in this."

"Yes, because this makes it the second time I have seen Tatari."

"Oh, I see. That's why you know so...... wait."

"Second time!? Sion, you fought that!?"

"Yes, three years ago. The time and place of Tatari's occurrence was random, there was an attempt to conceal it. I answered The Church's request to suppress Tatari and fought against it."

"The Church's request...... but if Tatari is here, then that means it failed?"

"Yes. Both the attempts to suppress it and even our attempts to defend against it...... The Church did not understand what Tatari was. Even though I warned them it was not something that could be destroyed, they only carried their normal Conceptual Weapons. Just like you did just now, they defeated Tatari many times. But it was meaningless. Tatari is like a natural phenomenon. No matter how many times it is defeated, it can occur again once certain conditions are met."

"A natural phenomenon occurring once certain conditions are met...... you mean like rain or snow?"

"Yes. Even if storm clouds were dispersed to prevent a windstorm, they would no doubt occur again. But this typhoon does not occur that often. The conditions are rather complicated."

"...... A Dead Apostle that will continue occurring as long as the world occurs? ...... That's just like..."

"(Just like Roa...... existing through others.)"

"Yes, what is it, Shiki?"

"Ah, nothing. So what exactly are these conditions?"

"Generally speaking, there are four of them. One, there needs to be a rumor about an individual, preferably an extension of something human. ...... This is not necessarily a minimum rule. It is what Tatari desires. Tatari was originally human, so it cannot move without human intelligence."

"Two, the extent of this legend must be somewhat socially isolated. It is hard to spread a rumor uniformly across a large area. That is why Tatari normally occurs in isolated villages. ...... It helps to have something which occurred earlier to base it on, like in this town."

"Three, there must be one, or several, witnesses in the place where the rumor is spreading. There are varied ways of being a witness, such as knowing the basis of the rumor like you or those people in town who spread it. The rumor must have a terminal point. Usually, it begins with one person and floods forth from there. In some rare instances, there are those who guide the rumors intentionally to form Tatari according to their own thoughts. Probably they are on the same wavelength as Tatari. Those people do not have any ill intentions, but wonder themselves why things turn out the way they thought."

"Four, the place where the rumors begin must be determined beforehand by Tatari. And the realization of people's anxiety can only be hatched for one evening. That is the limit of that conception. Tatari is a Reality Marble. It is impossible for it to occur for longer than one evening."

"Everything was explained to the Knights of The Church three years ago, but they did not listen. ...... From the very beginning, they only believed one thing, and that was not to consider the explanation worth believing."

"The result was the death of all the villagers and the annihilation of the Knights. Reeze Baife...... the leader let me escape, but she did not survive herself. And I was not able to escape either. I was only able to survive because Tatari took pity on me."

"You survived because it took pity on you......?"

"(...... Then, you mean───you had your blood sucked, Sion?───)"

"Ah......"

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

"...... I see. Then what happened earlier makes sense. The outer form may have been Arcueid, but inside it was truly the Dead Apostle named Tatari. That's why you were unable to resist it."

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

"And that is why you are researching a way to cure vampirism. ...... Certainly, you have to continue your research at all costs. Even if you are treated like a traitor, you have to do it."

"───You are correct. I was... bitten by Tatari."

"Three years ago. In the forest, Tatari caught me. ...... Tatari is a Dead Apostle limited to only one generation; an abnormality that won't reproduce itself. Yet, it still let me live. Even though Tatari is completely a vampire, it is not a perfect Dead Apostle. Tatari drinks the blood of others, but even if it gives blood to others, it is unable to make others its complete subordinates. The poison of its blood as a vampire is weak. That is why I am able to remain human. But this time, if it completely takes form, Tatari's influence will grow tremendously. Since Tatari never occurred in these past three years, I was able to remain as myself. But if Tatari occurs, I may become a full vampire."

"────────"

"The body of a vampire is superior to that of a human's. The only saving grace is that as an alchemist, I will be able to fight better. But a superior body requires more fuel...... But you can say this fuel is bad. Vampires are unable to use regular food. For vampires, the highest concentration of energy is found in the blood of their own race. Desiring blood is no more than a life function for vampires...... No matter what, you cannot resist it just using reason alone."

"Tatari may be fully formed at any day now. Since it is this burdensome to fight Tatari before it even has occurred, I cannot say for sure how things will turn out when I face it again."

"If Tatari has limited intelligence, it will not be a problem. But if it has intelligence like before, it is very likely that I will become a vampire. Tatari will not ignore me as my parent vampire."

"Humans who have had their blood sucked by a Dead Apostle cannot go against their parent...... That is why you are still alive?"

"Tatari can only occur for one night. So, Shiki. Please consider what will happen when I face Tatari."

"────You mean, kill you if you become a vampire?"

"If you cannot do it, then it is best if we part here."

"...... And? No matter what, you'll still pursue Tatari?"

"Of course. Tatari will occur before I can find a cure to vampirism. If I wish to avoid becoming a vampire, I have to dispel Tatari before I become its subordinate."

"Even though you can't oppose Tatari?"

"It is not that I cannot oppose Tatari. I simply need strong willpower when I fight. So, Shiki, what will you choose? I recommend that we part here."

"Why?"

"You cooperated with me to gain information, not to help me fight Tatari. And you do not even know when I will become your enemy. If you wish to fight Tatari, it is safer to do so on your own."

"That makes sense. But, you don't have anything more to tell me, right?"

"...... Unfortunately, I have nothing more to tell you. So, it is best if we part here."

"............ I get it. Then we'll do that."

"───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"



────And, When I came to, it was already evening.

"...... I can't believe it. I don't even remember what I did all day."

No, I remember. I parted with Shiki last night. Not to see each other again later, but a true cutting of our ties.

After that, my memories are vague. I pulled my exhausted body here, and then────slept until now.

"............ It's so..."

Heavy. I knew from the beginning it was just a dream. But I didn't want to wake up to reality.

"That is absurd. It is all within my calculations."

Shiki discovered my connection to Tatari. This is the only natural result. Knowing all that, I still teamed up with him.

───Unfortunately, I have nothing more to tell you───

"What───was so unfortunate? Regretting something means the solution was incorrect. That is impossible. My predictions are not wrong."

...... More importantly, I have to go. Tatari will definitely appear tomorrow. I have to negate the rumors and fix Tatari's form───



Why did I come here? I have no reason to anymore.

"...... This isn't good...... I wasn't paying attention and I came here instinctually."

But why this instinct? What was I seeking? Who was I seeking? I stop that line of thought.

The plan is simple. I have to do this alone────

I walk alone through town. ...... Am I completely exhausted? I was always alone before, but I never felt lonely like this.

As usual, no one is in town. Just this sultry, oppressive night. It seems the only signs of life in this silent town are the lighted convenience stores.

"Down the hatch. It's hot out, so juice is always good."

"────"

It is a little annoying. But, it really is delicious.

I may be hallucinating, but it feels like my thirst has been quenched for the first time in years.

The police box is empty. The policeman may be on patrol, but I have yet to pass one yet. So what is this police box for?

"A gun is going overboard. Well, Senpai is also a little overboard, but...... eh, me? I don't think I'm a problem, but...... if a policeman sees us we might both get arrested. This person right here does stand out a bit, so if we are seen we should just run away."

"────────"

What, does he mean my clothes? ...... I start to get a little irritated.

These clothes are the only thing I allow myself to have a preference about. What is wrong with wearing these?

He is rude. I should warn others about him, yes.

There are no lights on in the hotel. There are probably no customers, and it is as quiet as an abandoned ruin.

"I'm pretty tired, but if I went back, I wouldn't be able to sleep. ...... You know, it is normal to sleep in your room at night, and strange not to wake during the day. I have a lot of people around who are strangely quite sharp. It is really hard to fool them."

"────────"

That effort is useless. Even I can see through his strange behavior. There is no way his family cannot.

...... But, playing dumb may be one of his virtues.

I draw away from the main street. This back alley may be 'stagnant' like the park. When I explained that, he────

"────This is pointless. What am I doing?"

Enough already. Enough already. Enough already. Enough already.

Admit it. Admit feeling disappointed. Admit that you wanted to be friends with him as long as possible.

───So, Just admit it and come out.

"Ah────"

I feel like I'm going to collapse. My throat is so parched. As soon as I admitted to 'wanting' the friend I parted with, I started to feel nauseous.

My neck hurts. My punctured nerves start to pulse, as if trying to burst forth from that wound that I know healed long ago.

My throat is so dry. As if my heart rose to my throat, it pounds faster, quicker, demandingly.

"Ha────aaahhh────!"

"Haaa...... aaah... aaahh, AAAH────"

I came here guided by my nausea and pain. As I come here, they gradually lessen. And here,

"────can't, understand..."

"No, everyone clings to what they desire. No one can abandon that."

Tatari was waiting for me.

"...... How foolish. Shiki just defeated you yesterday and you still appear? If you can't wait until tomorrow, I will defeat you here."

"That is a matter of if I lose. Right now, I could dispose of you with one bite. I will obtain your brain for my purposes."

"Don't underestimate me. Don't think you can beat me so easily────!"

GOTO 08A_2

08A 2
"Tchh......!"

"You fought well, Sion Eltnam. But, that is as far as you go. No matter how hard you work your mind, your body is at its limit, is it not?"

"────Aah, Hahh────"

"Farewell. Your fruitless effort was much appreciated."

...... I'm, losing consciousness.

This is the end. This is where I end.

...... I should have no regrets. Because, I finally found the answer I was looking for after all my calculations────

"───You. Not once, but twice you dare to face me?"

"That's my line. Not appearing just once, but twice? There's no place for you here."

Ah, I'm watching another dream. This has to be a waking dream.

...... I think, I think I am a little lucky. Because at the very end, I get to see the dream I longed for the most───

IF SHIKI BEATS NRVNQSR GOTO 13A_1 IF NRVNQSR BEATS SHIKI GOTO 08A_2_G

08A 2 GAME OVER
"Gahh────aghh, Sio, n────"

...... The sound of ripping flesh. The overpowering smell of blood.

"Farewell. This time victory is mine, Mystic Eyes."

Splat. Most likely the sound of a crushed skull.

Mine? His?

...... I no longer have any way to tell.

GAME OVER

08B
"...... That is far enough. We should stop; at this rate, we will both be defeated."

"Don't be saying that now. Once started, things should be carried through to the end......!"

"Your spirit is admirable, but do you truly feel that way, Akiha−san? Are you saying you want to fight until the end?"

"Sst......!"

"Akiha, the agent is correct. If we continue like this, we will be defeated. I will cease combat."

"Sion......! Fine, Nii−san and I will────"

"I am also against it. You know already, don't you, Akiha? Senpai wasn't fighting seriously. Even though she wishes to take Sion alive and it is three against one, it is still uneven. If she does get serious, we will lose."

"────"

"It seems you understand. ...... But, it would take too much time to pursue you. My priority assignment is to take care of the vampire in this town. I cannot waste any of my strength dealing with you all."

"Then you are overlooking me until you stop this vampire?"

"My orders from The Church are to dispose of the vampire Tatari. Catching you is simply a request from the Association. It is simple to guess my priorities as an agent."

"Certainly I can't leave you alone. But as long as you are with Tohno−kun, you will not attack anyone. Being with him means you can't do anything bad."

"And since Akiha−san is with him, then that means you can't trick him, either. Can I trust you on that point, Akiha−san?"

"Of course. Besides, Sion is not one to trick others."

"So you do trust her. I don't really mind, but I wash my hands of this affair. The signs of the vampire grow stronger each day. It will definitely appear at any moment now. After I deal with it, catching her will be my priority. If you interfere with me before then, I will not show you any mercy."



"───Sion. About what Senpai said earlier......"

"Yes. What is it, Shiki?"

"...... How she would have to take you into protective custody and barring that, use force. I imagine that wouldn't be so gentle."

"Nii−san, aren't there more important things we need to worry about, such as────"

"It is alright, Akiha. There are some things I intentionally have kept quiet about, and it is the bare minimum for partners to answer when asked questions."

"As the agent says, I am a wanted criminal. Shiki. I told you how I belonged to the Atlas Academy, right?"

"(Nod)"

"I became estranged from Atlas. Those who learn in Atlas must stay their entire lives...... well, it is not anything official... Leaving would be a violation of an unwritten law. I have been breaking that law for three years."

"...... So all that protective custody is just to return you. But still, that doesn't mean Senpai had to attack you."

"...... Yes. Atlas is one part of the Magi Association. Even if she says there was a request of The Church, the two organizations have always been antagonistic. For The Church to accept such a request means they both agree I must be caught."

"Then vampires are involved?"

"───It all happened three years ago. I fulfilled the request by The Church for an advisor from Atlas to deal with a Dead Apostle. ...... This Dead Apostle was once an alchemist. Representing Atlas, I joined in the punitive expedition of The Knights. ...... It ended tragically. All the Knights were destroyed and the entire village the Apostle took root in was destroyed. As the only survivor, I did not report back to The Church nor did I return to Atlas. I have been pursuing that Apostle since then."

"So that's why you're being chased? Then, the vampire in this town is..."

"Three years ago, the vampire I failed to catch. The Dead Apostle named Tatari."

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

In that case, things are simple. Even a dense guy like me can see how things are.

"Sion. You already took part in The Church's effort to exterminate the vampire. So why are you still pursuing it?"

"That is......"

Sion stops. This is the first time I've seen her hesitate like this.

...... But, that must be why. What's been nagging me since I first met her. The girl who walks around only at night.

Senpai said she can't leave Sion alone. And the reason she seeks a cure for vampirism... That has to be────

"Enough already, this is no time to ask questions, right!? If what Ciel−senpai says is correct, the vampire will appear soon, right? Then we have to hurry before there are any victims!"

"Akiha, you..."

"Talking just wastes time! Sion, if you need to tell us something, isn't it something else? We don't even know what the vampire looks like!"

"───That's right. Akiha's right. What we were talking about doesn't really matter."

"Of course. Goodness, you always get so off−track, Nii−san. Please be more careful in the future."

"Sorry, I'll keep that in mind."

"As long as you understand, it is alright. So, Sion?"

"Ah────yes, Akiha?"

"Could you tell us about this Tatari? It is hard to fight without knowing what kind of enemy we face."

"...... Yes. Tatari is the alias of a Dead Apostle. This individual does not have a specific name, so it was given the nickname Tatari."

"Tatari...... You mean, like a curse?"

"Yes. It comes from the language of this country. A custom within a small, enclosed community. A curse which occurs from breaking a taboo. The Dead Apostle in this town is one which is 'a curse born from human anxiety'."

"So it doesn't have a true form?"

"It takes form, but only for one night. Tatari embodies the uneasiness of others. It uses widespread rumors to accomplish this. The Dead Apostle Tatari has no form. Because it has no form, it does not exist. The container used by Tatari is just a rumor until given reality."

"...... I don't really get it, but you mean the Dead Apostle makes rumors real?"

"That is the end result. There are some conditions, such as the rumor's basis needing to be humanoid. As Tatari was originally human, it cannot act without human intelligence. There are not many communities in which Tatari can occur. In civilized society, rumors of killer vampires are usually not believed."

"Humanoid...... Is that because a rumor about a vampire is something anyone can know?"

"It is because the rumor needs some basis in reality. A woman with blonde hair who appears every night, last year a young man wandering the streets with a knife, a girl swaggering in town with long, fluttering hair. It is obvious they are based on all of you. And the incident with the vampire was also real. Tatari uses those rumors to possess those people already there. If the rumors of 'a woman with blonde hair who appears every night' start to become coherent, Tatari will collect those rumors and truly possess the form of the rumored 'woman with blonde hair who appears every night'."

"...... So that's why Senpai asked about real and fake...... Then, there's a chance a fake me or a fake Akiha could appear?"

"Yes. But you know there is 'a killer other than yourselves'. Even if Tatari can assume your form, it cannot possess you."

"...... Hmm. I have a question. This town has changed; is it the work of the vampire?"

"Yes, it is a Reality Marble. With smaller, isolated communities becoming less common, it is difficult to create abnormalities in large areas."

"I see. Then if we defeat Tatari, we can say goodbye to this sweltering summer. ───I feel very motivated now."

Akiha smiles rather fearlessly. Despite her cool appearances, she has been affected by the heat as well.

Man, it's because she insists on being tough and not using the air conditioner.

"Okay, we've got an idea of what our opponent is. So, Sion, has this Tatari guy appeared yet?"

"Tatari occurs on the full moon. Whether that is tonight or tomorrow, it intends to make a massacre."

"Do you know where it will appear?"

"The options are narrowing. If it occurred today, it would without a doubt be the back alley."



────We arrive at the back alley.

Everything is silent. The air is saturated with oppressive heat and a sense of foreboding.

"...... Appear here? What shape will Tatari take?"

"...... It is not determined yet. Perhaps the True Ancestor, or something close to her. The rumor which causes the most uneasiness is Tatari's goal. The strongest form in this town is the True Ancestor, so Tatari may take that form. That was the originally planned curse."

"Taking the shape of human rumors. That means it cannot manipulate them. Even if Tatari desires to become Arcueid, if the people in town fear something else, it cannot become a True Ancestor."

"Exactly. Tatari becomes not the strongest existence, but the most ominous. With that in mind, it may become a Dead Apostle that murdered much in the past."

"...... I see."

That helps. I wouldn't want to fight even a fake Arcueid. That wouldn't feel right, and it would be hard to win.

"...... A Dead Apostle from the past?"

A truly unfortunate image. Certainly SHIKI──Roa was a vampire. But, I can't equate him with a killer. He did both good and bad.

So a killer that was a true butcher would be────

"It is coming. It would have been the strongest tomorrow; perhaps the calculations were off...... The two of you, please be careful."

"───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

"────!? Wait, why is he......!"

"Shiki, you thought of that here!?"

"Eh───What, it's my fault!?"

"Did I not say Tatari receives the influences of others rather than possessing them!? An impossible 'monster' emerging is the result of people's anxiety. For you, the reappearance of Nrvnqsr Chaos is the worst curse possible. That is why Tatari could not even wait until a full moon to appear!"

"Tss───"

"───I have no way of capturing Chaos. At this rate, it will be like three years ago───!"

"This is no time to be bickering! I don't know what that is, but if it is an enemy, we must defeat it! If you two don't feel like fighting, then stand back!"

"...... Y−you are right. As you say, we should not be distracted. Whatever Tatari becomes, we will capture it here───!"

Sion faces the vampire with her thread in hand.

After the black chaos forms, it takes the shape of that butcher from last year.

"Tatari, I will show you what it means to escape your fate for so long......!"

Who will fight──── Shiki Sion Akiha

IF SHIKI/SION/AKIHA BEAT NRVNQSR GOTO 13B_1 IF NRVNQSR BEATS SHIKI/SION/AKIHA GOTO 08B_G

08B GAME OVER
"────Feed. And leave not a single bone behind."

...... The black swarm approaches. Countless, opening jaws. At some point, they bring everything to a close.

GAME OVER

09A
"Gah......!"

"Not bad. You managed to hang in there, Shiki. You helped me to relieve some boredom."

"But, it's time to stop playing around. I'm out of time, so I'll end it here."

"......! Run away, Sion......!"

"I───I cannot, Shik...... my body, it still───"

"Damn...... then I'll attack again......!"

"Don't be... stupid───if you fight again, Shiki, your body won't last───"

"Idiot, it's not time to worry about that......! You're in more danger right now, Sion......!"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I won't kill this girl, not yet. This time will be special, so we will need another alchemist for the final decision. The daughter of Eltnam will come in handy then."

"So don't worry, Shiki. I'll only kill you."

"......!"

"Shiki......!"

"Bye−bye now, Shiki."

"Wha, what is this!?"

"────────"

"────────"

"Ggg───the information, has not settled."

"───I cannot believe it. In this town, there's a killer more suited to Tatari than the True Ancestor?"

"...... That's rough. I thought this me would be the best, but it's hard to pass up your power. Hmmm, which one should I choose? Which one, which one......"

"─────"

"Oh, you don't have to worry you know. Whichever one I choose, you'll die here, Shiki. Yeah, I'm really ticked right now so I'll kill you soon────"

"Eh────?"

"Disappear, vampire......!"

"Oh, a sneak attack. I meant to cut off your nerves, but you reconnected them? You really know how to use that Etherlite, don't you?"

"And, you pierced my heart from behind? I was really careless, wasn't I? It'll be hard to keep this body like this."

"────Very well. The True Ancestor's capacities are superior, but not impossible to reach. In that case, I'll choose your power."



After the vampire assuming Arcueid's form disappears, I start to be able to move around again and an hour later, Sion fully recovers.

"Are you okay physically, Sion?"

"Yes. I cannot be defeated by wounds, so you probably have more damage than I. I only have a little dizziness, so there is no need to worry."

...... The problem is dizziness. It isn't enough to prevent body movement, but the problem has to do with───

"Shiki? Do you have any problems? You may have avoided any fatal wounds, but how are the ones you have?"

"Yeah, I'll manage somehow. Most of them are just flesh wounds, nothing serious."

"...... I understand. For you, you would die quickly if you received any blows head on. That means you were able to redirect all those attacks."

"...... Well, something like that. I wasn't able to do it that well every time───but that doesn't really matter. There's some things we do have to talk about."

"Things, such as what?"

"That vampire from before. Do you two know each other? You called it Tatari."

"It is not a matter of knowing each other. I only encountered Tatari once before."

"So you know what the heck that is?"

"Yes. That is the Dead Apostle named Tatari and the rumored vampire you are looking for."

"That was!? ..... you mean, Arcueid is the one that rumors are being made about!? Well, of course it's not the real Arcueid, but that fake Arcueid. It really was just like Arcueid though."

"No, you have it backwards. The rumored vampire is Arcueid, so Tatari became Arcueid Brunestud."

"Eh? (Sorry Sion, I'm totally confused.)"

"In other words, Tatari is a Dead Apostle that dons the largest curse within a closed area. In simpler terms, one who makes rumors into reality. Widespread rumors gradually start to feel real. Such as when you believed in the rumor that there is a killer in the park, you mistook these things for bodies."

"Eh...... Whaaaat!? What is this, just scattered trash bags!? The dead bodies and blood was nothing more than trash───!?"

"Yes. When a rumor collects enough momentum, the probability of it becoming real increases until it reaches a certain point and it becomes Tatari. Tatari probably became the True Ancestor because many people believed the rumor about the killer being a blonde vampire. Of course, the True Ancestor really did not kill anyone. Consequently, Tatari has yet to kill anyone. Until the complete realization of a rumor, Tatari cannot truly resemble the rumor."

"...... So it just makes copies of others? It's a pretty troublesome guy. You seem to know a lot, Sion."

"────I have done a lot of research on vampires, so I at least know about the Dead Apostles."

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

Perhaps. It seems like there may be another reason why Sion knows about Tatari...... I have to figure it out.

"Sion. You and that vampire..."

"──More importantly, I have to warn you, Shiki. Unfortunately, Tatari did not choose the True Ancestor, but an irregular like you. ...... No, 'choose' is not the correct word. Tatari does not have the power to do that."

Sion exhales in utter exhaustion.

"Eh? Choose me? For what?"

"The vampire chose you. It wanted not a True Ancestor who does not drink blood, but a true killer. Tatari is a Dead Apostle that emerges from rumor and information. If Tatari copies the killer named Shiki, many people will die."

"Copies Shiki───you mean, Roa SHIKI!?"

"Not Roa. Maybe the rumors are based on the vampire Roa, but the one believed to be the killer is you. Even you fear the possibility of you becoming a killer. The more a rumor spreads, the more people will fear. Tatari uses that pattern to find an easy form to assume. Once someone is killed, those rumors will become completely true."

"Li−like I would let that happen! Sion, you really know a lot about him, so you know where he went, right!?"

"I cannot say it will for sure happen, but if Tatari wishes to become 'Shikiller', it will have to go where he is recorded the most vividly."

"Where he is recorded most vividly───"

In other words, where he appeared the most. That means───



We run to the back alley.

No one is around. As usual, it is totally quiet. The hot summer night air flows through this place.

Right there, in the middle of it all, like a chick emerging from an egg, it stands there covered in viscous night.

"────"

"───I knew it. You chose that instead of the True Ancestor, Tatari."

"Yeah. I don't know what you think of this nonsense, but soon these eyes will be god−like. It's too much for the vampire Tatari that prefers blood, but isn't it human to want to try things at least once?"

"Foolish. Like that, you cannot reach your goal. You will run away from your ultimate goal for just momentary pleasure?"

"Hmph. Easy for you to say. Certainly this time is the best yet. I will not have this opportunity again. But, that is not to say never."

"This time I will enjoy the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and next time I will pursue my goal as Tatari. I am beyond a life span. With an endless future ahead of me, I can have an even better chance later on."

"So, you are just wasting this chance?"

"No. For me, everything is sacrificial. That is why I will still enjoy this stage. Above all else, this lead role is quite rare. While not a famous star, it is one no one else can play. ...... No, no. There will never again be someone so specialized in 'killing'!"

"────────"

"I have decided. This is unfortunate Sion, but I have to dismantle you here. I'm a vampire, so I have to kill everyone I come across."

"...... Hmph. Not only my appearance, but my voice too? But inside, you're the worst. I guess this is what they mean by a poor copying job."

"Hey, that's no way to talk, Tohno Shiki. I feel some danger now. Are you thinking of something not too good?"

"............. If you're my copy, then you should know what I'm thinking."

"Hahahahahahaha! I see, the real Shiki is great! Let's do it then. We have to clash. The end will be swift, won't it!?"

"Sion, don't interfere. I'll───sing his requiem right here!"

IF SHIKI BEATS NANAYA GOTO 14A_1 IF NANAYA BEATS SHIKI GOTO 09A_G

09A GAME OVER
"Now then. Before you go, let me clearly hear your agony."

"Gg, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh────!!!!!!"

His flashing blade. It slices through my head like scissors through paper.

...... At least there was one good thing. Before my body died, my mind was already dead from the sheer pain────

GAME OVER

09B
"...............!"

"That is far enough. By the authority of The Church, I will restrain you, Sion Eltnam Altasia."

Senpai draws near the collapsed Sion. I want to help her but I have no strength left.

Between them stands Akiha. She has strength left?

"Goodness, how rigid. Do you really intend on capturing Sion, Senpai? How about being a little more flexible?"

"How rude. I am not going as far as taking you two."

"Oh my. You were not planning on attacking us as we withdrew?"

Akiha still seems ready for action.

"...... Nii−san, I will occupy this person, so please take care of Sion."

"───Got it. Escape as soon as you can, too!"

"Yes, even I know enough not to face this brute monster directly."

I nod to Akiha and run with Sion. As I carry her, Akiha and Senpai face off.



───I run with her all the way to the main street.

Akiha must be doing a good job at stopping her, because Senpai hasn't been following us.

"Whew...... we made it. It was tiring, but I get a chance to rest some."

Getting tired from running is different than getting tired from fighting.

Fights with Ciel−senpai are especially draining on the body.

Compared to that, running is a nice break.

"Sion, are you better now? Senpai wasn't holding back so your wounds may be pretty bad......"

"No, I have already sutured these wounds so there is not much damage. ...... More importantly, I wonder if Akiha is alright."

"Yeah, no need to worry. Akiha is handy with her abilities, and even Senpai won't truly fight her. They will hold themselves back and it will be over."

Senpai only truly fights vampires. Certainly Akiha needs donated blood to preserve her mind, but it isn't like being a vampire that attacks other people.

You can't group her with that kind.

"Akiha is not a vampire The Church would attack. I know Senpai realizes that."

I nod to myself as I think aloud.

"────"

"...... What? Did I say something weird?"

"No, you just do not know, Shiki."

"Huh?"

"I have misgivings over whether the Akiha from before was real or not. If she loses to the agent, there will be no need to worry."

"??? Whether Akiha was real or not? What's that all about?"

"Beyond what the agent said, there can be no mistake that there is an Akiha that is part of Tatari. If that was Tatari before, I worry about Akiha's safety. If Tatari makes a pleasing copy, it will destroy the original."

"Wait───What are you saying? It sounds very ominous."

"I am just speaking about vampires. You and Akiha are searching for a rumored vampire, right?"

"About vampires...... Sion, you know about this rumored vampire?"

"I know more of the facts than you. I told you my goal was to find a cure for vampirism, but there were some things I did not tell you."

"Then you do know! Why didn't you tell me until now!?"

"I predicted there was another day left. It was my plan to explain things tomorrow, but...... If your and Akiha's actions are influenced by Tatari, it throws things out of order."

"Our actions......? I don't quite get it, but Tatari is this rumored vampire?"

"Yes. The vampire you are searching for exists. ...... No, saying it is present is perhaps more accurate. The Dead Apostle in this town has no true form. It does not even have its own body and can exist only by clothing itself in rumors. We call it Tatari, having no true form and arising from ill rumors."

"Tatari...... a Dead Apostle without form......?"

"Simply, something which can bring isolated legends into reality. These legends most often deal with some sort of taboo, so as they spread between people it picks up a hint of reality. Tatari occurs in the form of what people hold to be 'the worst possible fate, that which we can never stand up against'. So Tatari appearing in this town would use the True Ancestor, Akiha, or you as its foundation."

"...... I don't understand. It's like this Dead Apostle Tatari takes the form of a rumor along with its ability...... Oh, so maybe that's why Senpai was asking about real and fake."

"Yes. The models for the rumors this time are people alive today, so it imitates those models, possesses them, and changes into them."

"────! Then, if rumors about Arcueid spread, this Tatari guy will make a copy of her and then prep her to be the rumored vampire?"

"Yes. It takes time to select a rumor and have it ripen. Tatari takes the most prevalent rumor. ...... I do not know which one Tatari will choose this time. Only no matter what form it takes, it can only occur for one night. The 'rumored vampire' until now has only been a forerunner of Tatari. Tatari is originally just an illusion, so the victims have also been illusions. Until Tatari becomes a true curse, until it occurs at the night of the full moon, there will be no real victims."

"R─right. If there's no victims then how can a rumor spread...... huh? Isn't tonight a full moon......?"

I look overhead. The moon in the night sky looks perfectly round.

"The full moon is tomorrow, but the conditions are already set. ...... I am sure there are those who saw us fighting Akiha yesterday. Rumors of 'a vampire girl with red hair' must have spread quickly and added to its probability. And if that was Tatari before, Akiha may be killed soon. In that case, the agent from before will also be killed. Akiha unconsciously suppresses her strength, but a Tatari which became Akiha would not do so."

"...... Akiha getting serious? If that happened───even Senpai probably wouldn't be safe."

No. Let's not think about that.

"That won't happen. Akiha is Akiha. She's not some Tatari fake."

"Forgive me, my words were inadequate. There is no true or fake regarding Tatari. If Tatari becomes Akiha, then that is Akiha. There is no point in making a distinction."

"────?"

Sion is hard to follow. In any case, we have to go back to the park.

If Akiha is real, we have to go back for her sake. If Akiha is fake, we have to go back for Senpai's sake.

"Sion, let's go back to the park. I'm worried about Akiha and Senpai."

"...... That is true. Akiha has done enough for us. We have to make sure she is safe."

We quickly head back towards the park.

───Before we reach it, there's someone at the start of the road.

"────No need for that. There was not enough universality to become her. It really is unfortunate."

"Wha───y, y, you──"

"Don't be so shocked, killer. In this town, this shape is the strongest 'rumor'."

"───I see. The rumor of something wandering the night and attacking people... it is most fitting for it to be Shiki."

"'I see'───Doesn't that make it your fault!? This is all because you were forcing me to fight!"

"Rebuttals will have to wait until later. Please focus on the Shiki───Tatari in front of you."

"Yeah. You can't approve of a killer like me, Shiki. As your sin, as the end you fear in the depths of your consciousness."

"────You. Just who's going to end who?"

"I will be the end of Tohno Shiki. Aren't you afraid of ending up like this if you mess up even slightly? You are a natural−born killer. Nothing else suits you better than being a God of Death. ───Hmph. Even if this is only on a small economy of scale, this body is extremely rare for Tatari."

"But, a man's body is not good. To be honest, I really wanted to become Tohno Akiha. It is disappointing. The probability of me becoming what I want is low. It has been a long time since I experienced the pleasure of a woman."

"...... Tatari. You wanted to become Tohno Akiha?"

"Of course. But it seems rumors of me are more concentrated than rumors of her. I'm a little regretful, but Tatari can never choose. I can only assume the shape of what people want."

"Well, I do have another chance. Before that, I have to finish some business."

"Business───?"

"Didn't that girl tell you? Tatari is a rumor. The definite truth is only an obstacle."

Saying that, My mirror image smiles and grips his knife.

"I have no need for the real thing. All I need is the rumored serial killer. I don't need an incomplete Tohno Shiki......!"

"Shiki, you are fighting that thing, so don't be distracted......!"

I hear Sion's voice behind me. I answer by meeting the attack of the killer Tatari────

Who will fight──── Shiki Sion

IF SHIKI/SION BEAT NANAYA GOTO 14B_1 IF NANAYA BEATS SHIKI/SION GOTO 09B_G

09B GAME OVER
"Now then. Before you go, let me clearly hear your agony."

"Gg, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh────!!!!!!"

His flashing blade. It slices through my head like scissors through paper.

...... At least there was one good thing. Before my body died, my mind was already dead from the sheer pain────

GAME OVER