Editing Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter5 (section)

===◇◇◇293 Pages until Memory Loss===

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"…It seems to be a rather posh shop."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(…Arteria, this place looks very extravagant…)

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Eh, er-erm…"

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

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

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

"N-No, I…!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I-I said it’s not for me to wear…"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Hmmm, is she a strange girl?"

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

''"…Mu, mumu~…!"''

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

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

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

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

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

"! W-Were you just teasing me? "

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

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

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

''"Fumyumyu!? Wh-Wha!? I, towards you…"''

"…Vampire, Okutsuki-san…"

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

"Eh?"

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

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

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

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



"…! Th-This color is…!"

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

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

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

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

"E-Erm…."

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

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

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

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

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

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



"How much is it?"

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

I’m buying this. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Eh? …Ah, n-not at all!?"

"…Okutsuki-san, you…"

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

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

"Eh?"

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

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

"W-What are you talking about?"

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

"So-So professional…!!!"

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



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

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

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

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

"! Y-Yes!"

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

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

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

"I-I won’t develop one!"

You leave the clothing store with a slightly delayed retort.



You wander into an empty alleyway, and look around.

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

"…Eh, I bought clothes for Arteria…"

"…Yes you did."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

''"U-umyumyu~…!"''

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

"Raaaaarrrr!"

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



And as expected—this red dress really suits Arteria.

"…!!"

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

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

''""''  "" '''

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

(…So, pretty …)

Arteria looks like—a human girl..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



"…Arteria…"

"W-wh-wha-what?"

Arteria's thin throat lets out a blunt gulp.

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

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

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



"Okutsuki-san!"

Erika's soft growl interrupt you.



"Uehh! Ah, eh, Erika…?"

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

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

"D-Disobeying Father? I-I’m not …!"

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

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

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

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

"…Mmmmmm! Angry am I! Hmph, truly!"

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

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

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

"Funyuh? Mesmerized, you say?

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

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

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

"Hmph!"

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

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

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

"Boink~!!"

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

"Ack!"

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

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

The mysterious assailant stands up, her cat ears perking.

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

"A-Are you fine?"

"C-Calmia-san, right …?"

"Wh-why is Calmia here…?"

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

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

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

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

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

"Huh? Am I a yandere?"

"Wh-When have I become a pet?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Funyunyu..."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I swear to the heavens and the earth!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"N-no, Arteria isn’t a guild friend…"

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

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

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

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

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

"Ripped to pieces!?"

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

"B-But my destination is rather special…"

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

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

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

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

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



"Too bad...!"

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

"Wait, E-Erika?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Calmia storms away, probably feeling a little miffed.

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

"…Phew, managed to bluff her…."

"W-Woah, ah, it-it tickles…argh!? "

"Ah, something came off!"

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

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

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

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

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

You ask while pushing your dislocated shoulder joint into place.

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



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

The existence of the evil ‘scenario writer’.



"T-The ‘scenario writer’…?"

You repeat Erika's hinted words, feeling puzzled.

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

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

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

"H-Huh!? Father’s will!?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



—Friday, October 13, 10:29 p.m.

■Work contents and progress



・Investigation pertaining to the scenario writer

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

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

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



■Tomorrow's topic

・Countermeasures against the ‘scenario writer’ offensive

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

My current strength is overly insufficient against that magic.

Gathering the ‘books’ as soon as is imperative.

・Preservation of information

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

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

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

'''''Impossible''''', you thought.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



"! High Daylight Walker…!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Wh-What?"

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

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

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

"E-Erased…!!"

You gasp in horror at the truth implied by Arteria.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"E-Erm, I’ll support you too!"

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

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