BlazBlue:Bloodedge Experience Part 1 Chapter 2

Illustrations

Prologue:Rebirth

Chapter 1: Contact

Chapter 2: Immortal

Chapter 3: Mitsurugi

Chapter 4: Secret

Chapter 5: Encounter

Chapter 6: Interlude

Epilogue

Afterword

BBBE Chapter 2: Immortal

Part 1

I woke up to the scent of sunlight.

My vision, still clouded with sleep, took in the familiar sight of my room. A western-style room surrounded by white walls, and blue curtains draped over the east-facing window.

Yawning, I stretched and pressed his face into the worn pillow, curling up in the warm blanket.

I wanted to go back to sleep. I was still so sleepy.

Wait, what time is it?

“...Wait, what time is it!?” Jumping up in a hurry, Naoto snatched the alarm clock from the nightstand. Somehow, it felt like the sun was already high in the sky, far past the usual alarm time. Maybe Haruka had gone to school early on an errand. If so, I might be late.

Having come to this realization in a flash, Naoto also suddenly noticed many other things.

“So, that’s it… today’s a holiday?” The hour and minute hands of the clock he was holding pointed to around nine-thirty. But on the calendar section that was displayed along with the time, it read ‘SUN’ in red letters. His relief was fleeting and hollow. More importantly, there were many other things he needed to pay attention to.

First, his clothes. Usually, when Naoto went to bed, he would change into a T-shirt and sweatpants. Unless there was a very special reason, he would never go to bed in his school uniform. It made him feel uneasy and like he hadn’t really slept. And yet, on this day, Naoto was wearing his uniform. Not only the pants but also the jacket. The uniform was terribly dirty and torn in many places, and it was in no condition to be worn to school. The right sleeve was especially bad. It was torn just below the shoulder, leaving it in a pitiful half-sleeved state.

Naoto furrowed his brow. He looked at the clock in his hand again. It was his beloved clock that always woke him up from his dreams with its noisy sound. He was holding the clock with his right hand.

“…I wonder if this is a dream or reality.” He muttered this question to no one, as there was no one else in the room. His memory was surprisingly clear. He remembered it perfectly. Yesterday he had seen a girl running away and a man chasing her on his way home from school, and he had chased after them. The events that followed, which were like the climax of an action movie, were so unreal that he couldn’t believe they were real. But he couldn’t believe it was a dream either. The taste of the air he had breathed then, the unpleasant atmosphere he had felt. The tension that ran down his spine and the way it grazed his cheeks.

(The pressure of the rubble, too. I can still remember it all. The horrifying, god-defying pain when the creature that emerged from the man instantly tore my arm off, and the terror that surpassed it.)

Gently placing the watch on the bed, Naoto stared at his empty hand. It was a normal, flesh-colored arm. Five fingers. He could flex his fingers and make a fist.

(What… is going on?)

His right arm was definitely there. So was it a dream? It’s ridiculous to think he had my arm torn off by a strange monster. If that wasn’t the case, he’d gladly accept that explanation. But the state of his uniform denied that. The tattered uniform clearly told the tale of a violent encounter. The stains weren’t just dirt or dust. There were traces of dried blood as well. And above all, the sleeve was torn in the same place where his arm had been torn off.

(Then why do I still have my arm...? No, how did I even get back? Why was I still in my uniform when I went to bed? What about Haruka? What about that girl?)

Countless questions swirled around in his head without any answers. But there was no one to answer any of them.

“…Well, I guess I’ll get something to drink.” Letting his arm fall limply, Naoto let out a deep sigh. Despite having just woken up, he felt incredibly tired. Whether it was a dream or not, he decided it didn't matter for now. He would wash his face and make some tea. If he didn't, his mind would be completely worn out.

(Come to think of it, I haven't opened the summer-harvested tea leaves I bought earlier. Maybe I'll open them today.)

Trying to think of something pleasant, Naoto headed to the bathroom, thinking about the fine tea leaves he had been saving. He tossed the dirty jacket onto the washing machine and turned on the faucet. Remembering that he had been sleeping in a dirty state, he washed his hands thoroughly before splashing a handful of water on his face. His groggy head felt a little clearer. He pushed his wet bangs up with both hands and looked up.

"…Eh?" Naoto stopped moving, staring at his reflection in the mirror. It was his usual face. The water he had just splashed was running down his forehead, cheeks, and chin. His slightly dusty hair was tousled. And above it, the number ‘0’ was floating.

"One?"

It was ‘0’. Quickly rubbing his eyes with the hand that had been holding his bangs, he looked again. He glanced around at various unrelated places before looking again. The number didn’t change. The number floating above Naot’s head was still ‘0’.

The number above a person's head represents something like their life force. The higher the number, the more abundant their life force, and the lower the number, the weaker they are. In other words, ‘0’ means...

If the number of a dead person is '0', then that means they're not alive."

"What the... what?! What the hell is going on?!" Naoto slammed his hands on the sink, leaning forward sharply. He brought his face as close to the mirror as it would go. No matter how many times he looked, it was the same.

"Impossible..." A voice escaped him in shock. This couldn’t be real. He instinctively recalled the man he encountered yesterday, whose face had transformed like an insect. The number above his head had also been "0." A chill ran down his spine. He trembled at the thought that he had become a creature similar to that man. However, just then, that fear was unexpectedly snatched away from him.

"That's noisy. Could you please be a little quieter?" With a hint of irritation in her tone, a voice spoke as the door opened with a light creak. What door? The bathroom door.

In an instant, Naoto's thoughts froze. Was understanding really this rare? What even was common sense? Turning toward the sound like a spring-loaded mechanism, Naoto's eyes widened in fear at the sight that should not have been there.

Come to think of it, he remembered hearing the sound of a shower when he entered the bathroom. Why hadn’t he found that strange? Of course! Why would he think someone was taking a shower while he was asleep?

There stood... a girl.

Her wet body and hair clung to her, droplets dripping from her fingertips as she stepped calmly from the bathroom into the changing area, steam enveloping her. Her long hair, golden in color, shimmered under the bathroom lights. She tucked a strand behind her ear and, after glancing left and right, asked, “Is there something to dry off with?”

With a tone reminiscent of asking a waiter for the daily special at a fancy restaurant, the girl arrogantly asked Naoto. She acted in a way that showcased her noble birth. She had the air of a princess from some small European kingdom, fitting for an ancient castle. But Naoto had no time to think about that now.

“Wha—...” It was as if his soul, which had flown away, had suddenly returned. In short, he was panicking. His facial muscles twitched as he was overwhelmed by the electrical signals racing around in his brain...

“Ahhh!” Naoto screamed like a girl and fled back to his room without looking back.

Part 2

The girl's eyes widened in surprise as she picked up the cup. Apparently, she liked it.

"Well, thanks." Feeling a little better, Naoto exhaled. Now, there were a ton of things he wanted to ask this girl. "So... first of all, I want to ask. Who are you?"

"How rude."

"Huh!?" Naoto snapped back, irritated by the unexpected retort. The blonde girl looked down at him with condescending eyes.

"Isn't it polite to introduce yourself first when asking someone's name? Or are you a lowly dog that doesn't know even the most basic manners?" A smooth insult flew at him. Her cold eyes seemed to be tinged with a hint of contempt.

Naoto felt a vein in his temple throb. If he was a lowly dog, then what about the fact that she was drinking the tea he made and complimenting it? He wanted to ask, but Naoto swallowed his words, realizing it wouldn't get him anywhere.

"... Naoto Kurogane. I'm a second-year student at Shinkawahama High and I live in this room." He replied flatly, looking at the girl to see if that was enough. The girl returned the cup to its saucer with a composed expression.

"My name is Raquel Alucard. I'm a vampire," she replied casually, leaving Naoto speechless. Staring intently at the girl, Raquel, or rather, unable to look away, he asked, squeezing out the words.

"Vamp...ire?"

"It means immortal. You're so ignorant."

"I know that! That's not what I mean! What kind of a joke is that self-introduction? Are you making fun of me?" Kicking his feet against the table and ruffling his hair, Naoto stood up and raised his voice sharply.

Vampire. A vampire. Now that explained her absurdly high life force, the ridiculous action scene from last night, and even her bizarre outfit. It all fit.

"Of course I am. Because you're stupid."

"What did you say!?"

"Don't shout. I might catch your stupidity." Raquel made an exaggerated gesture of stepping back, her face twisted in disgust. Her eyes, which seemed to look at him as if he were something dirty, only fueled Naoto's irritation.

"You're a trespasser who broke into someone else's house and you have the nerve to act so arrogant. You realize you wouldn’t have any grounds to complain if you got kicked out, right…?”

“You saw it, didn’t you?” Raquel calmly silenced Naoto's aggressive words. Perhaps it wasn't her words but her gaze that had subdued him. Her large, clear golden eyes seemed to see right through Naot, and their intense pressure made him feel intimidated.

"What did you see, exactly?"

"The 'abnormality'," she replied. Naoto instinctively gulped, swallowing the saliva that had accumulated in his mouth. Raquel continued to stare at him.

"You were surprised to see me yesterday, weren't you? It must have been something abnormal that you don't encounter in your daily life... No, you can still see it now. Am I wrong?" When asked, Naoto carefully closed his mouth. He didn't want her to notice him clenching his teeth.

As she said, Naoto had indeed seen it. Or rather, he could still see it now. An abnormality, something that was definitely not normal for an ordinary human. The extraordinary number hovering above Raquel's head, reaching eight digits.

"What happened to your 'eye'?" Raquel's question made Naoto feel like a bird caught in a trap. At the same time, he realized something. This strange self-proclaimed vampire girl wasn't just speculating based on Naoto's actions and words from the night before. She knew.

"You... what do you know?"

"Well, I know quite a bit. Or rather, I should say I can know. After all, I’m connected to you."

"What do you mean?" Naoto's expression turned suspicious. Raquel’s golden eyes glanced at him, almost incredulously.

"You keep asking questions. Don’t you ever think for yourself?"

"Shut up! Just tell me already!" Frustrated, Naoto blurted out. He felt he was being a bit too nonchalant, but given that he understood nothing about the current situation, he couldn't afford to waste time putting on airs.

A sigh escaped Raquel's lips.

"Honestly, you’re like a moth to a flame. And on top of that, you seem to have a terrible memory. Have you forgotten what happened between us last night?"

"What do you mean... what happened?" The only thing he could recall was nearly being killed by that insect-faced man. Just as he was about to retort, Naoto suddenly realized something. After almost being killed by the insect-faced man, what happened next? His consciousness was hazy, making it hard to remember clearly. But he woke up unable to move, and right beside him was Raquel. When he became aware of his impending death, what had occurred? Naoto pressed his hand, which had been tangled in his hair, against his neck.

"You bit my neck, didn’t you? You had some weird teeth. And then you drank something..."

"Let me enlighten you once more, poor little dog. I am a vampire. What I drank wasn't just anything; it was your blood."

Naoto knew from what he'd read that when a vampire drank someone's blood, certain consequences followed.

"So... what does that mean? Does that mean I was bitten by you yesterday and... became a vampire?"

"Not yet. You're not a complete vampire yet. You're dead but still functioning. You're a sort of in-between existence."

"Dead... So I'm dead, huh?"

"Well, you are dead." Raquel's blunt confirmation stunned him. At the same time, a sense of indignation welled up within him. It wasn't fair. It was absurd, irrational.

"Wait a minute. You said back then that you would help me, right?!" This was just before he had his blood sucked. His consciousness had been hazy, but he remembered that clearly. Raquel nodded casually at Naoto, who leaned forward.

"Yes, I did."

"But I'm dead, right!?"

"I've been telling you that."

"Doesn't that mean you didn't save me!?"

"Would you rather have died then?"

"I... I guess..." Naoto had no answer to that. He leaned back, defeated. It was true that if it weren't for Raquel, he wouldn't be sitting here drinking tea now. Although, if it weren't for Raquel, he probably wouldn't have come to this abandoned apartment complex either.

Raquel took another sip of her tea and placed the cup back on the table.

"Naoto Kurogane, you died last night. But you are alive. Why? Because you are living using my life."

"...I don’t really understand what that means."

"To put it simply, you and I share 'my' life. That's why I can understand some things about you, and as long as I'm alive, you won't die. But if my life ends, so will yours."

"So... does that mean I'll be like this until you die? Neither alive nor dead, just in-between?"

"Not quite."

"What do you mean, not quite!?" That was an unexpected response. Raquel's nonchalant answer quickly dispelled the seriousness that Naoto had felt just moments before.

"You can only stay in this in-between state for a year. In a year, you will transform into a complete vampire."

"A year... a complete vampire. What does that mean?"

"You won't be human anymore. You'll probably crave human blood, and you may not be able to resist attacking people like I do now. Maybe... no, you'll probably attack someone. The person most likely to be a victim would be the person closest to you."

From Raquel's words, Naoto understood one thing: if he became a complete vampire, Haruka would be in danger. By none other than Naoto's own hand. The "person closest to you" that Raquel mentioned could only mean Haruka. He might even kill her.

He couldn't bear the thought of Haruka dying for even a moment. He remembered the blackened mass he had seen last night. If Haruka were to become that object, lying on the cold road, right in front of his eyes.

As he thought about it, Naoto found himself clenching his fists tightly, to the point where his nails dug into his palms.

"What the hell are you talking about...? If I'm going to become something so messed up, then it doesn't make any sense for you to have saved me! Don't screw with me, what have you done to me!" The angry words seemed to spill out of his throat on their own. He didn't want to take them back. A burning rage distorted Naoto's expression as he wanted to lash out.

"Calm down. And call me 'Lady Raquel', servant."

"Shut up! I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you!"

"So am I." Raquel's voice grew stronger, reprimanding him. "Listen to me. In a year, you won't be human anymore. Maybe it's more accurate to say that you won't be 'you' anymore... but anyway, you have a year. So during that time, obtain the Azure."

"... 'Azure?’" It was a word he had never heard before, and Naoto frowned more than ever.

Raquel nodded slightly, as if to encourage him. Her long hair swayed like luxurious fabric.

"'Azure refers to the power of the origin." Her clear voice began to seep into the air, creating a mysterious aura that transcended the simple term of an enigmatic girl. Although she looked like a girl of the same age, she had an otherworldly quality as she gazed at Naoto.

"It exists everywhere, yet nowhere. It’s a power that affects all living beings, as well as everything from time to grains of sand. Thus, it transforms all 'possibilities' into 'realities.'"

"'Possibilities'? Isn’t that supposed to mean turning the 'impossible' into the 'possible'?" Naoto questioned, caught on the phrasing, and Raquel shook her head, her long hair swaying from side to side.

"'Impossible' refers to things that lack any 'possibility' from the start. What the 'Azure’ enables is the countless 'possibilities' that exist in all dimensions of the world. Regardless of how slim the chances might be, it can make them a reality. If you really want to, you could even manipulate time."

For example, while today is sunny, there is a possibility that clouds could suddenly gather in the morning and it would pour rain. There was also a possibility that Naoto could fall out of bed when he woke up. Moreover, there was a chance that a neighbor might come over to borrow soy sauce, preventing him from witnessing Raquel's shower scene. All of these could be controlled freely by the 'Azure.'

"So you're saying that you can create any world you want as long as there's a possibility?"

"Yes."

"So if I have that, I wouldn’t need to become a vampire... No, even in this half-baked state, I could go back to being a normal human, right?"

"Yes." Naoto couldn't help but smile at her short affirmative answer. He felt like scolding her for surprising him. He thought he had been thrown into a hopeless situation. He realized how simple-minded he must seem, yet he was in such a good mood that he turned to Raquel with a smile. Looking closely, he saw that her cup was empty. A kind thought surged up within him: should he offer to refill it?

"That's amazing, it's like having omniscience and omnipotence. It's like being a god. If such a thing exists, you should have said so earlier. So where can I find this 'Azure'? Let’s go look for it right now!"

"...Huh?" The cheerful exchange that had flowed so smoothly suddenly came to a halt. The grand concept of 'Azure,' which could change the world. Having known of its existence and understanding the magnitude of its power, Raquel, who had seemed so confident just moments ago, now appeared somewhat stiff. Yet she tried to maintain a calm demeanor, lifting her cup. When she touched it, she remembered it was empty. For a brief moment, her golden eyes showed a hint of distress, and she hastily set the cup back down. Even though Naoto wasn't particularly skilled at sensing other people's emotions, he could still pick up on the subtle hints from her actions.

"...I can’t believe it, but... you really don’t know?" Thinking it was a joke, Naoto peered closely at Raquel. Suddenly, he felt a sharp slap on his right cheek.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"Shut up. You’re so impertinent for a servant. You need to learn how to speak to your master."

"What do you mean 'master'? If that's the case, then why don’t you give your servant some concrete instructions? What is this 'Azure‘? Where is it, and how do you plan to obtain it, oh master?"

"So I'm going to investigate that now. I came to this city for that purpose!" Raquel stood up abruptly, shaking off Naoto, who was leaning over the table with both hands on it, complaining. She crossed her thin arms beneath her cloak.

Naoto looked up at her with a dissatisfied expression. "Investigate? Why this city?"

"I don't know the reason. Just..." Raquel, who had seemed sulky and uninterested, looked off into the distance, her golden eyes losing their intensity. The crossed arms relaxed and slipped back inside her cloak. "Just, I can feel the 'Azure’ very strongly from this city."

Is 'Azure’ something you can sense? Naoto looked around the living room skeptically, unsure of what Raquel was feeling. Aside from the strange visitor, it looked like the usual living room. He felt no presence of this mysterious power called 'Azure.'

However, just because he couldn't sense it didn't mean he could deny its existence. He couldn't just turn away from such a ridiculous story and return to his everyday life, pretending he didn’t know anything.

A year. When the deadline Raquel mentioned arrives, what will happen to him? What kind of impact will it have on those around him? He couldn’t stake Haruka’s life just to confirm the validity of Raquel's claims. That was something that absolutely must not happen.

"Anyway, I understand the situation. In short, if we find this 'Azure,' everything will be resolved."

"That’s about right."

"Then first, there’s something I want to resolve before we even get to the 'Azure'..." As he said this, Naoto resolutely rose from his seat. He fixed a strong, determined gaze on Raquel. There was something he couldn’t compromise on.

"Can you please put some clothes on?" Having her wander around in front of him completely naked was mentally exhausting, not to mention he didn't know what misunderstandings could arise if Haruka were to stumble upon this scene.

Raquel tilted her head slightly, considering the seriousness and intensity of Naoto’s voice. "Why?"

“Why? Why are you arguing? I’m a man. Isn’t it embarrassing being completely naked in front of a man?”

“That’s ridiculous. Are you embarrassed to be naked in front of dogs or cats?”

“I’d still wear clothes in front of dogs and cats. Ugh, just put something on!” Raising his voice, Naoto thrust the change of clothes that had been beside him towards Raquel. Unfortunately—or rather, as expected—there were no women’s clothes in this house. So, he rummaged through the drawers and found a nearly unworn T-shirt and a fairly new pair of shorts. He had already suggested it to Raquel before making the tea, but she had completely ignored him, simply scowling.

"You, a mere servant, dare to order me? Clearly you need some training, you useless dog."

The doorbell rang from the intercom. Ignoring the sound, Raquel furrowed her thin brows in annoyance and turned her face away with a huff.

Without hesitation, Naoto maneuvered to face her directly and grabbed the slender arm beneath her cloak.

"Stop your whining! I’ve been patient enough. Whether you like it or not, you’re changing!"

"Who do you think you are, touching me? Let go!"

"Not a chance! Just give in..." The chime rang again, but its faint electronic sound was drowned out by Naoto and Raquel's voices.

"Hey, don’t touch me like that!" Raquel pulled hard on her arm, trying to shake off his grip, but Naoto had anticipated that. If he let go, she would likely turn and dash outside. He couldn’t let a naked woman burst out of his house in broad daylight—it would be a disaster. Naoto was just as desperate.

"I'm serious... Just give in and do as I say!"

“What a barbaric man you are! You pervert!”

"I'll hear your complaints later. For now..."

"You’re dead wrong if you think you can have your way with me!"

"How am I wrong...? Ugh!" As Raquel struggled to pull away, Naoto tried to restrain her. While they were quietly grappling, Raquel lost her balance and fell onto the sofa. Naoto took advantage of the situation, falling on top of her, pinning her shoulder down and looking down at her.

I’ve won. He was convinced of that.

"Haha, there’s no escaping now, is there, Raquel?"

"How dare a servant pin down their master... This is outrageous! Get off me right now!"

"...Hey."

"What do you mean, 'servant'? You should say that only when you look more dignified."

"This is humiliating..."

"Haha, then how about I make you experience even more humiliation?"

"Hey, Nao-kun..."

"I'm a bit busy right now. Can it wait, Haru...?"

After reflexively responding, Naoto froze at the name he had just blurted out. He felt like a rusty machine. He turned his creaking neck to the side. At the entrance to the living room stood his childhood friend. She was smiling.

"What are you doing, Nao-kun?"

"Uh, well, this is..."

On a weekend afternoon, in a room of an apartment where a high school boy lived alone. A girl was sprawled on the sofa, and a boy was on top of her, pinning her slender body down. The girl was not wearing any clothes. How could he explain this situation in words? How could he convey the balance of common sense and wrongdoing?

Still smiling, Haruka suddenly turned on her heel and headed toward the kitchen. She quickly returned, holding something in her hand. Naoto felt a cold sweat break out all over him at what she was holding.

"Uh, Haruka-san... what is that in your hand?"

"A sharp knife."

"Uh... aren't knives for cutting...?"

"That's fine too." With a gentle smile, Haruka stopped a very, very awkward distance away. From a spot where she could objectively observe the situation in the living room, she gazed at Naoto and tilted her head as she always did, asking, "Maybe I asked the wrong question. Hey, Nao-kun, what are you doing?" As she said this, her childhood friend's eyes, which were fixed on the silver back of the knife she was holding, were not smiling at all.

Part 3

"The world is so unfair," Naoto murmured, sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, his gaze fixed downward. He was savoring the cruelty of the world. On the other side of the low table, Raquel was sitting on the sofa. She looked quite subdued. Wrapped in a bath towel as a makeshift cover by Haruka, she was sitting shallowly in a slightly better state than before—though it was only a slight improvement.

In front of Naoto, there was Haruka. She was sitting upright, with her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, looking at Naoto with a fixed smile that was almost too cheerful. Her temples twitched, and her gaze was cold and accusatory.

"Okay. Then please explain." Naoto's stomach twisted at the calm, judge-like voice. Although he hadn't been asked, he felt compelled to respond and lifted his face cautiously. Haruka's accusatory gaze pierced his chest. He wanted to protest his innocence, but the undeniable fact that he had pushed the defenseless girl down on the sofa and laughed, "Hahaha," made it all the more awkward to voice any defense.

"Um... well, her name is Raquel Alucard..." His tongue stumbled as he struggled to explain, and his gaze faltered. He wasn't feeling guilty, but it felt as though he were sitting on a bed of needles. At that moment, Raquel moved. Until then, she had been silently sitting like a statue, but suddenly she stood up and went to Haruka's side.

"Hayami Haruka."

"Huh?"

"Hey, Raquel, stop it now..."

Naoto tried to stop her from saying anything more, but Raquel turned and faced Haruka, her voice sharp as she ordered, "Look me in the eye." At her words, Haruka's body jumped, her eyes widening and her mouth slightly open. She stared at Raquel as if mesmerized, unable to look away. Returning the gaze, Raquel looked straight at Haruka and began to explain calmly, "I'm Raquel Alucard. As you know, I'm Naoto Kurogane's cousin."

"What?!" Naoto exclaimed, taken aback. But Raquel ignored him and continued.

"Actually, I had to come to Japan on short notice, but I couldn't arrange for a place to stay in time. So, for a while, I'll be staying at Naoto's house. But on the way here, I had an accident and lost all my belongings."

As Raquel smoothly delivered her "introduction," Naoto was left speechless. How could she come up with such a convenient lie on the spot? He was both impressed and exasperated. Of course, Raquel was not Naoto's cousin. In fact, the real cousin was Haruka, the one Raquel was now speaking about, and Haruka knew that Naoto didn't have a cousin like Raquel. Besides, even if she had lost her belongings in an accident, she should still have the clothes she was wearing, so there was no reason for her to be wandering around naked.

(Does she really think she can convince her with such a ridiculous story? Even Haruka is going to snap!)

The 'sharp knife' that Haruka had been clutching until a moment ago, now resting on the low table, might be swung. Naoto cringed, waiting anxiously for what would happen next. But then, he heard words that were almost too good to be true.

"Oh... I see. You must have had a hard time, Raquel!"

"Y-yeah!" Naoto's voice cracked, higher than he thought it could go, as he repeated the word. His face contorted.

Haruka stood up, took Raquel's hands in hers, and, surprisingly, her eyes welled up with sympathy. Nodding repeatedly, she spoke to Raquel as if she were a younger child. "But you should have told me. You should have told me about your clothes sooner. Just wait a minute, I'll go get you something to change into right away." With a small nod of determination, Haruka quickly left Naoto's room. It didn't feel like she waited long at all. Hurried footsteps returned almost immediately, and she burst into the living room as if it were her own home.

"Raquel, come over here. Naoto, let me borrow your room!"

"Hey, wait!" Before he could finish, Haruka grabbed Raquel's hand and practically dragged her into Naoto's room. Even though he knew it was pointless, Naoto couldn't help but call out, but his voice was naturally ignored, and he was left alone. Why did she have to use his bedroom as a dressing room? She could have used the bathroom, or he could have stayed in the bedroom while Haruka and Raquel were in the living room.

Despite his many complaints, he didn't have the courage or energy to go to his room and protest to the two girls through the door. He sighed loudly and reached for a teacup, as if to do some cleaning. As he reached for the 'very sharp knife', his hand slipped.

"Ouch..." He had accidentally grazed his finger on the blade, cutting the tip of his little finger. The smooth feel of the blade sliding against his skin sent chills down his spine. But what happened next made his hair stand on end.

The cut, which had been bleeding, seemed to rewind, as if in a slow-motion video, and closed up.

Unable to understand what had happened, Naoto put down the cup and touched the tip of his finger, where he had just cut himself. There was no wound. He could only feel the smooth texture of his skin. It was as if the fact that he had cut himself had been erased.

That’s when he realized. It was his right hand.

Memories of the night before flooded back - the abandoned apartment building, the strange man in a suit, and the sensation of tearing off the man's extra arm.

"It can't be..." he muttered unconsciously. He touched his arm over and over, trying to confirm its shape and feel. No matter how he touched it, his arm felt like his own. But then, on a whim, he pressed his thumb against his wrist and his body stiffened.

(No pulse...)

Normally, when he pressed his finger there, he could feel the blood pulsing with my heartbeat, but he felt nothing. Panicking, he pressed his hand to his chest. Holding his breath, he searched, and he could faintly feel his heartbeat in the palm of his hand. He tried taking his left wrist's pulse. It was there. Perfectly normal.

(Only the right hand...)

It looked exactly like a normal arm, but somehow, this part was different from the rest of me. Even though he could feel sensations, he suddenly felt like he had a prosthetic arm. He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't his own arm, and a vague sense of unease settled in his chest.

That's when it happened. The door opened, and it sounded so sudden, at least to Naoto. Even though I hadn't done anything wrong, I instinctively looked up. There, in my line of sight, was a cheerful Haruka, with Raquel being pulled along by her arm.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Naoto!"

"O-Oh..." He shifted his gaze from Haruka's cheerful voice to Raquel behind her. Naoto flinched slightly.

Raquel, who had resisted getting dressed after being pushed onto the sofa by Naoto, was now properly clothed. She was wearing a white blouse and a black mini-skirt. A red tie at her chest was a nice accent. Was it because of her pale skin? Or was it because of her striking blonde hair? Somehow, from the bottom of his heart…

"It suits you," He thought.

Suddenly, Raquel, who had been looking down awkwardly, tilted her chin up and glared at him intensely. Confused, he tilted my head. he didn’t understand why she was glaring at him.

"I'm glad we found something that suits Raquel-chan!" It seemed that Haruka had brought a few options, as she placed another bag with more clothes next to the sofa. It seemed that she had completely forgotten about her anger earlier. That was convenient. Naoto decided not to say anything more and stir up trouble.

"I didn't know you had clothes like that," Naoto said admiringly, looking at Raquel. Both the blouse and skirt had a casual design, but on Raquel, they exuded a certain elegance, almost like a dress. However, it seemed different from the clothes Haruka usually wore, reflecting different tastes. Haruka shrugged and laughed.

"Actually, these are my mom's style."

"Yuki-san's!? Seriously?!"

"Surprising, right?" Naoto could only nod at Haruka's words. Yuki was a straightforward and bold person. Mini-skirts didn't seem like her style…

"Well, shall we go out then?" Haruka clapped her hands once and looked at Naoto and Raquel in turn.

"Go out? Where?" Naoto tilted his head, confused. He hadn't heard anything about going out. Haruka looked at him as if wondering why he didn't understand.

"What, you didn't hear? Raquel-chan has to go to the city hall to submit some paperwork. And Nao-kun is going along as her guarantor."

"Oh, really...?" This was the first he'd heard of it. And what was a guarantor anyway? There were so many things he wanted to question, but he kind of understood Raquel's intention. She was probably trying to create a situation where they could be alone.

It was annoying to be manipulated by her, but it couldn't be helped. If Haruka was around, they wouldn't be able to have a proper conversation.

"Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot." His voice might have been a little too flat, but fortunately, Haruka didn't seem to question it. Instead, she pointed to herself with concern.

"Should I come with you?"

"No, it’s fine. I’ll just give her a quick tour while we’re at it." Since she was pretending to be a newly arrived relative, this was a good excuse. It felt really uncomfortable lying to Haruka like this, especially since he had to keep making up stories, but there was hardly anything he could be honest about.

After tidying up the living room table, Naoto went back to his room to grab his wallet. He confirmed that Haruka wasn't following him and dragged out the tattered uniform he had hidden under the bed. He had hidden it reflexively, thinking that he couldn't let anyone find it. He wanted to pat himself on the back for his foresight. For now, he just needed to extract the information he wanted from Raquel, and then he’d have to get rid of this.

He felt a bit depressed thinking about having to buy a new uniform. Naoto pushed the uniform further back under the bed.

Part 4

Haruka handed Naoto a memo, asking him to do some grocery shopping, and Naoto and Raquel headed out before noon.

It was a fine day with a bright sun shining down from a slightly cloudy sky. The air was pleasantly cool, and it seemed like it would be a nice day to spend outdoors. On a weekday morning, the streets were full of people. As they walked along the bustling street, Naoto looked at Raquel…

They were walking towards their destination, taking a detour through the bustling city. Raquel, wearing Haruka's black boots, was leading the way. Despite probably not being familiar with Shinkawahama, she was walking forward without hesitation.

As he watched the golden ponytail swaying from side to side behind her, Naoto called out to the small figure in front of him.

"Hey, Raquel." There was no answer. Her pace didn't falter. Naoto frowned. There was no way she couldn't hear him. He had called out to her many times already.

"Raquel? Hey, Raquel!" He called out persistently, annoyed. Finally, on about the twelfth call, the golden ponytail flipped.

"It's 'Lady' Raquel. Mind your manners, servant."

"What are you talking about..." Naoto glared at Raquel, who was giving orders in a dissatisfied tone, just as dissatisfied. He walked beside her, sighing in exasperation. This was probably the reason for her long silence.

"I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" She finally replied. It seemed she had given up on correcting his way of speaking.

"What did you do to Haruka?" Naoto's question was accusatory. It was about what had happened earlier. When they had bumped into each other in Naoto's living room, Haruka had believed Raquel's story. It was too easy. Sure, Haruka wasn't the most thoughtful person. She wasn't good at doubting people, and she tended to believe people easily. But she had good intuition and wasn't stupid. She wasn't so careless that she would accept such a ridiculous story and wave her off.

Raquel shrugged nonchalantly, as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Nothing much. She just believed my story. ...Although, I don't suppose you'll believe me."

"Of course not."

"I thought so." Her attitude, as if she already knew, was infuriating. Naoto scowled, but Raquel looked up at him with innocent eyes, as if she had done nothing wrong. "It’s a magic called ‘Slave Red,’ which forcibly alters perception. It manipulates the facts the target recognizes. Though, it can only be used once per person. There are no side effects or harm, so you can relax."

"I hope that’s true." Magic was a word as unbelievable as vampires. Naoto's tone was sharp with suspicion, and Raquel seemed a little puzzled as to why he was so suspicious.

“Really. Do you think there's any point in telling such a ridiculous lie?”

“You can't just expect me to believe that easily. ...Hey, so was that because of your magic?”

“What are you talking about?” Naoto had been feeling off about this girl since she arrived, almost as much as he had about Haruka.

“You’ve been awfully quiet since Haruka came, haven’t you? You put on those clothes without a fuss.” When Naoto had told her to get dressed, she had been quite defiant. But with Haruka, it was as if she’d done a complete 180. Raquel hesitated for a moment. She avoided Naoto's gaze and nervously smoothed out her skirt.

“Oh, that was… just an unexpected turn of events.”

“What do you mean, unexpected?”

"Haruka... I have a hard time with girls." Raquel looked down, her face flushed with embarrassment as she fumbled with her words. The haughty girl who had just looked down on Naoto and called him a servant was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a timid and bashful figure. It was as if he were looking at a completely different person. It was unfair; it felt like a fraud. But at the same time, Naoto realized something. This wasn't just shyness or embarrassment. It was more like fear. Raquel wasn't so much stammering as she was trembling.

"Raquel... are you perhaps socially awkward?" And to think it was limited to women. Naoto's teasing comment was cut short by a dull shock to his stomach.

"Uh... well..." Raquel's roundhouse kick, delivered with the speed of lightning, had embedded itself in Naoto's side. When she pulled her foot back with a look of disgust, Naoto stumbled, clutching his aching side.

"What are you doing?!"

"Disciplining you." With a huff of indignation, Raquel flicked her long hair dramatically and quickened her pace. She turned around a short distance away and gave him a contemptuous look, as if urging him to hurry up.

"You..." She was acting as if she had him completely under her control. It was infuriating. But if he turned back and went home alone, he didn't know what Haruka would say, and he still had a mountain of questions for Raquel. Grudgingly, he caught up and walked beside her, rubbing his bruised side.

As he glanced sideways, he noticed a large ribbon bouncing up and down in time with her steps. And on it was that number.

(One, ten, hundred... ten thousand... eight million again?)

The number he saw was '86510752'. She had a monstrous amount of vitality, as always. Or perhaps, since she was a vampire, he could say she was a monster in the truest sense of the word.

Raquel turned a corner and entered a certain street. That’s when Naoto was sure of where she was headed. This was the same road Naoto had chased her down yesterday. There was only one place she could be going to beyond this point.

An abandoned housing complex.

But... something was off.

(This road... was much worse yesterday.)

The electric poles had been snapped, the guardrails twisted and mangled. Everything seemed to have been deliberately destroyed. Yet, now, just a night later, as he walked through the same place, the damage that had been there yesterday seemed to have been completely repaired. He could understand if they had removed scattered debris or collected discarded bicycles. But for the broken electric poles and torn-up asphalt to be restored as well, it was as if some incredibly fast construction crew had been at work.

Even if it was a road near a busy station, could they really have responded so quickly?

Despite his doubts, Naoto continued along the path with Raquel, which was gradually becoming less populated.

"What are we doing here?" Surely, this wasn’t a crime scene investigation. Naoto asked, imagining a detective from a drama.

Raquel didn't turn around, but kept her gaze fixed forward, her hair swaying behind her.

"We're going to check for remnants of Azure."

"Remnants of Azure?" Another incomprehensible term. Naoto rubbed his temples.

"In other words, we're going to look for clues about the Azure. Just be quiet and follow me."

"Alright, alright. Then what about that monster, the Bugman?" He still hadn't learned anything about what that creature was. Expecting to be brushed off like the 'remnants of Azure', Raquel actually made an effort to explain to Naoto.

"He's a follower of Spinner Superior."

"Spinner... what is that?"

"Since it relates to you, I’ll explain. Spinner Superior is a highly regarded magician whom even the magical city of Ishana respects. He's rumored to be closer to the Azure than anyone else."

"...Ishana?" Naoto raised his hand to his chin as if asking a teacher a question. Since she mentioned it as a city, it must be a place’s name, but Naoto had never heard of it. Raquel glanced at Naoto and then shook her head slightly.

"It's the center of magic in this world. It's where magic is managed. But that's not so important right now. What matters is the part about being 'the closest person to the 'Azure'." Azure.

"The Azure is the source of power. Spinner desires it as well. However, while the Azure is known among magicians, no one actually knows what it is, where it is located, or what form it takes. There is simply too little information. Yet, despite this situation, Spinner is certainly seeking the Azure and getting closer. And now, to draw closer to it, he is targeting me."

"You? Why?"

"Because I can sense the Azure more strongly than anyone else." Saying this, Raquel placed a white hand on her chest. Naoto couldn't understand how her body sensed the Azure, but it was clear from Raquel's profile that it was not a pleasant sensation.

Unconsciously, Raquel spoke of the Azure with a hint of sadness, as if her heart ached for it.

“So... you mean he’s trying to use you as a radar to find the Azure?" Naoto muttered to himself, and Raquel nodded slightly.

"That's right. That's why I was attacked by Spinner's follower yesterday. But it was actually convenient for me. I'm looking for Spinner too."

"Looking for him? Why? Aren't you being hunted?"

"I told you. There is almost no information about the Azure." Stopping her previously steady footsteps, Raquel turned to face Naoto. The trees lining the street cast long shadows, creating a dark wall. In that shadow, her golden eyes gleamed. "It's the same for me. Even though I can sense the Azure, I don't know much about it. So I want to contact Spinner and get the information he has."

"So that means..." It meant that both Spinner and Raquel were searching for information about the mysterious treasure called the Azure, and they were searching for each other to gain the information they lacked. Naoto frowned, struggling to understand.

"It's not like you can just find Spinner and ask him politely to exchange information, is it?" It was clear, from yesterday's attack by the Bugman, that this wasn't a world where information could be exchanged through polite conversation. And if Spinner wasn't going to use peaceful means, it would be difficult for Raquel to approach him non-violently.

"Of course not. If he was going to tell me if I just asked, it wouldn't be so difficult."

"Then how are you going to get the information?"

"How foolish. You fight Spinner, defeat him, and extract the information." Her large eyes seemed to say, "How obvious." For a moment, no, for a few seconds, Naoto couldn't understand what she was saying. He didn't want to understand.

A dry laugh twisted Naoto's mouth.

"Wait... what are you saying? Are you kidding me? You've got to be joking! You want me to fight the boss of those monsters from yesterday? I can't do that! I'm a high school student, you know! A completely ordinary, harmless high school student!" Naoto pounded his chest, insisting with all his might. Although he questioned whether he was truly ordinary since he could see the opponent's life force as a number, this wasn’t the time to nitpick.

“It’s okay. You’re already dead.”

“That’s not the point! I’m saying it’s impossible! By the way, what kind of guy is this Spinner? He’s strong, right? He’s some crazy dangerous guy, isn’t he?!”

“I don’t know.”

“Huh?!”

“I told you, I don’t know. I’ve never met him, and apparently, very few magicians have met him directly. I don’t know what he looks like, what magic he uses, or how he managed to tame that monster from yesterday.” Raquel spoke in a remarkably casual tone, tucking her hair behind her ear. That made sense for her; Spinner had long been a target for her, and the lack of information about him was a familiar situation.

But Naoto was different. He was hearing about Spinner’s existence and Raquel’s insistence to fight him for the first time. His eyes widened in shock, and his hands trembled in disbelief.

“Wait... so you don’t understand anything about Spinner or the Azure, do you?!”

“Shut up, I can hear you without you shouting.” Raquel grimaced at Naoto's outburst, covering her ears with both hands in annoyance.

“And you came to investigate because you don’t know anything, right?”

With a reproachful tone, Raquel looked up. The trees lining the street rose like walls, and beyond them was the abandoned housing complex, shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere even during the day.

Part 5

Even in bright weather, entering the deserted complex changed the air entirely. It was a gritty texture filled with the smell of dust, and despite the sunlight, it felt cold. There was an unsettling vibe that brushed against his skin like something lifeless.

Raquel headed straight for the site of last night’s confrontation with the Bugman. The marks of the struggle still lingered around the buildings. There were large holes left from where the Bugman had been kicked away by Raquel, as well as holes created by thrown debris. Raquel stopped in the middle of the T-junction, crouched down, and placed her hand on the sidewalk. She closed her eyes as if listening intently.

Naoto had no idea what kind of power she was using, but according to Raquel, she was trying to trace the tracks of the insect that had escaped last night. The insect had fled to Spinner, and she was planning to find Spinner's whereabouts by following it.

"It's fading already. I should have chased after it right away last night." After a while, Raquel said quietly and looked around. Sitting on the curb and watching her, Naoto stood up, patted the sand off his bottom, and returned to Raquel's side.

"Then you should have chased after it yesterday."

"…Because some idiot was dying, I was busy dealing with that," she replied, a bit irritated.

"Oh… sorry for the trouble." As if pointing out who the "idiot" was, Naoto averted his gaze.

Come to think of it, that was right. The wounds he had suffered last night had already disappeared, and he was starting to feel as if it had all been a dream. When he first woke up, he had shivered at the vividness of the sensations, but people were fickle creatures.

"So, what now? Can you not find them?"

"Don't underestimate me. I just need to make it easier to detect the traces." Looking up at Naoto, who had peered in, Raquel answered a bit sulkily. She then touched the ground with the hand she had been holding up and began to slide her fingers as if drawing in the sand. To Naoto’s surprise, red letters started appearing on the ground, even though there was no ink or anything.

It made him shiver slightly, thinking it was blood. But more than that, Naoto was interested in the characters Raquel was drawing.

"Those... are..." A small voice escaped Naoto's lips. He recognized the letters Raquel was drawing. They weren't exactly the same, but they were very similar to the numbers he often saw above people's heads.

"These are ancient characters. I'm creating a magic circle to help with the magic." She seemed to have taken Naoto's murmur as a question about the unfamiliar characters. In a cool voice, as if teaching an incompetent servant, she continued to spread the strange characters around her with her white fingers. Feeling that he shouldn't step on it, Naoto backed away as Raquel's fingers expanded the red characters. As if reacting to the sound of his footsteps, Raquel suddenly stopped writing and looked up.

"...No one lives here, do they?" she murmured. Drawn by her voice, Naoto looked around at the eerily quiet housing complex.

"I heard there was an accident in this housing complex a long time ago. That's why no one lives here anymore, and it's been abandoned."

"An accident...?"

"I wasn't around when this place was first built, so I don't know all the details," Naoto said, scratching his cheek as a preface. While Naoto was talking, Raquel had returned her gaze to the ground and resumed drawing characters.

Although she didn't ask him to continue, he assumed she was listening since he had brought it up. Looking out at the desolate housing complex, Naoto recounted the story he had heard. Before this housing complex was built, there had been a small hospital on a hill in front of it. Now, only the iron towers supporting the power lines remained, but back then, it had been a hospital large enough to accommodate inpatients.

However, an incident occurred just before the housing complex was completed. An unknown pathogen had leaked from the hospital, contaminating the entire area around the housing complex and dissolving every human being within the premises.

"Humans... dissolved?" Raquel asked.

Naoto nodded. "It was like their clothes were left behind, but the people inside them had completely disappeared. Since there were no bodies left, the only explanation was that they had 'dissolved.' At least, that's what was announced after a thorough investigation. It sounds crazy, I know. Anyway, that's why this housing complex was never sold and has been abandoned ever since."

He wasn't entirely sure about the truth of the story. Even now, it was often talked about in whispers, with people speculating about ghosts, government conspiracies, and even aliens.

"I see..." Raquel murmured sadly. Surprised by her unexpected reaction, Naoto turned to look at her. But Raquel was still expressionless, just as she had been a moment ago, and was busy moving her hands.

(Was I imagining things?)

Although he had a nagging feeling, he hesitated to ask further because of the sadness in her voice. Before Naoto could ask anything, Raquel finished drawing the pattern and stood up. She walked to the center of the completed magic circle.

"I'm going to search for traces of Spinner's insect now. It will take a while, so please don't disturb me." With that, Raquel spread her arms, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate. A breeze blew in from nowhere, gently lifting Raquel into the air. As soon as her toes left the ground, the red characters she had drawn began to glow faintly as if waiting for this moment.

(Wow, that's amazing, it's like magic... no, it is magic)

Even though he knew it was magic, Naoto was awestruck. It was a phenomenon beyond reason, different from tricks or stage illusions.

Raquel remained floating in the air, her senses heightened, without moving. Her long, golden hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed gently as if floating underwater. Even though she had told him not to disturb her, he felt he couldn't. She seemed as fragile as a delicate glass figurine that would shatter if he interfered in any way. Naoto backed away, careful not to make a sound. He decided to stay a little distance away. With that in mind, he headed towards the nearest building.

There were two large holes in the building. One was where the monster man had been blown away and the building had collapsed. The other was where Naoto had been buried when he regained consciousness, having lost his arm.

His memory of that time was hazy, but as he got closer, Naoto recalled how he had nearly died there. But there was something strange about this place. At first, it had been a vague unease. But now, as he looked down at the spot, he realized what it was.

Naoto had been mauled by the insect, probably injured in other places as well, and had been buried under the rubble in a near-death state. If a human is injured, they bleed. Especially after losing an arm, the bleeding would have significantly increased the risk of death. Yet, there was not a single drop of blood here.

(It can't be a dream... if it was a dream, this place wouldn't be so damaged)

Naoto recalled the incident that had led to the abandonment of the housing complex. The buildings and clothes had remained, but the humans had vanished. It was very similar to this situation. There were traces of a struggle, but no signs of human injury. It wasn't just Naoto's blood that was missing. Naoto looked over his shoulder.

The corpse was gone. The monster man's corpse, which had been lying near the trees, was nowhere to be found. And... his right arm, which had been torn off by the monster, was also missing.

Had someone taken it away? But who, and why?

If the police had been called by a neighbor, the complex would have been sealed off as a crime scene. Naoto and Raquel wouldn't have been able to enter so easily.

(Did Spinner do it? But there's no reason for him to do something like that.)

If he needed the body for some reason, he could just take it. There was no need to carefully remove Naoto's blood and right arm. He also noticed that the path he had taken to get here had been completely repaired.

Naoto reached out and touched the pile of rubble. The concrete was cold, and the deeper parts were slightly damp.

(Damp?)

It didn't feel like the dampness of blood. Curious, he leaned in and sniffed. If it were blood, there would be a corresponding smell. But all Naoto could smell was a chemical smell, like a detergent.

"Naoto." Startled, Naoto jumped at the sudden voice. Apparently, Raquel had finished her investigation. She was walking towards him, her borrowed shoes firmly planted on the ground. There was nothing left behind her. The magic circle drawn with the red characters had either disappeared along with the light or left no trace.

"I've got a general idea of the direction. I want to go around the town a bit. Guide me."

"Guide you, huh? Can't you just say 'please'? ... Hey, what's wrong with you?" Replying to Raquel's typically arrogant attitude with a complaint, Naoto suddenly glanced at her face. He thought it might just be his imagination, but her expression seemed clouded.

"Are you feeling okay? You look a bit pale." Her skin was already pale, but her cheeks seemed unusually pale. Although, considering she was a vampire, maybe being pale was normal for her. Raquel looked up at Naoto and shook her head.

"I'm fine. Now hurry up and guide me."

"Well, if you say so." When Raquel started walking away quickly, Naoto had no choice but to follow. Convincing himself that that was just how vampires were, Naoto jogged to catch up with the girl. Looking up at the sky, he saw that the sun was quite high. Had the temperature risen a bit?

Before leaving, Naoto glanced back at the abandoned housing complex. It was a place that had been abandoned due to a strange incident. That was how he had always perceived it. But after talking to Raquel, he had started to wonder. A pathogen that could stay confined to the complex, instantly melt the humans there, and leave no trace outside? Could such a pathogen even exist?

(Well, it was a long time ago)

There was no point in pondering it now.

Shaking off the trivial question like a thread, Naoto left the orderly ruins with Raquel. The trail of Azure seemed to lead toward the downtown area, which was also the center of the city. For directions, Naoto had chosen a route that went down the road in front of the abandoned housing complex, even though it wasn't a path he usually took. It should be a bit quicker to get to downtown than going back the way they came. However, very few people walked this road because they had to pass in front of the abandoned housing complex.

As they walked down the gentle slope, with no one else in sight, Naoto looked at Raquel next to him. For some time now, she had been tugging at her skirt and blouse, furrowing her brow in apparent discomfort.

"Do your clothes not fit?" It looked fine to him, but when Naoto asked, Raquel's dissatisfaction deepened. She glared at him.

"I've never worn clothes before. It's uncomfortable and tight. Especially this underwear... it clings and itches so much..." As she spoke, Raquel tried to lift the hem of her skirt.

"Whoa, whoa, wait, stop! Don't do that!"

"I want to take it off."

"Absolutely not! Please, stop!" With Raquel looking at him earnestly, Naoto desperately tried to hold her back. Raquel pouted, clearly dissatisfied, but he didn't care about that. Sure, there were no people around at this moment. But it wasn’t a guarantee that no one would come by. If she took it off and someone passed by, the only scene they would see would be a high school boy forcing a high school girl to take off her underwear.

And what was she going to do with the underwear after she took it off? Carry it around? Who would? Raquel's skirt only had a decorative pocket and no bag. And I only had a bag for my wallet and phone. There was only one possible answer.

There was no way he would allow that to happen.

"Anyway, you said this is the first time you've worn clothes. So what have you been wearing until now?" As he urged her to move on, his genuine curiosity slipped out. Raquel swayed her golden hair and replied with a puzzled expression.

"What a foolish question. I said this is the first time I've worn clothes, so of course, I’ve never worn any since I was born."

"That doesn’t make sense! Wait, how old are you, anyway?" He realized he had forgotten to ask since she looked about his age, but now he remembered he didn’t know anything about her other than her name and that she was a vampire. Given that she was a vampire, maybe she was two hundred years old or something outrageous. Naoto’s expectations were turned completely upside down.

"My 'self' came into existence two years ago, and I came out of the coffin four days ago. So, if you want to say it in human terms, I'm two years and four days old." I stopped walking involuntarily.

"Two... years?" That was much shorter than he had expected. More importantly, did vampires grow to a high school level in just two years? Raquel, who had stopped a few steps ahead, urged him to hurry with her gaze. There was a smirk of disdain in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I have at least five hundred million times more knowledge than you do."

"Five hundred million times, huh..."

Is she like an elementary school kid? Naoto thought, stifling a laugh as he stepped forward to walk beside Raquel again. As Naoto walked, he was mindful of the surroundings. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Raquel making a sour face. He couldn't allow Raquel to go fully naked, but it seemed she still needed quite a bit of time to get used to wearing clothes. Suddenly, Raquel came to an abrupt stop.

"Hm? What’s wrong...?" Naoto had taken a few steps forward, so he turned around to see what was wrong. Immediately, he rushed forward and reached out with both arms. As if letting out a breath, Raquel collapsed, limp and lifeless.

"Hey! What now? What’s wrong?!" Was she so stressed by the clothes that she was about to collapse? The joke was right at the tip of his tongue, but he quickly swallowed it back. Raquel's body was abnormally hot, like someone with a high fever.

"Don't touch me so casually, you servant..." Regaining consciousness, Raquel glared at Naoto with her eyes half-open. But her hands, which she tried to use to push Naoto away, had no strength at all. Her golden eyes, half-lidded and glazed with fever, were fixed on Naoto’s neck, breathing heavily through her parted lips. The dazed look in her eyes burned hotter than her fevered body. But soon, with a weak shake of her head, she mustered what little strength she had left to pull away from him. "Don’t touch me."

"Listen, this isn't the time to be stubborn." Frustrated by Raquel’s obvious attempt to suppress her poor health, Naoto raised his voice. Raquel struggled to her feet and took a deep breath.

"I just need... to rest a bit." As soon as she said that, she stepped toward Naoto with a pained look on her face, lowering her eyelids.

Her foot sank into Naoto's shadow.

"W-what the-?" Naoto stretched his neck out and stared at his feet in disbelief. He thought he was imagining things. But it was no mistake; Raquel's foot was indeed sinking into his shadow, as if stepping into water or a swamp. With each step she took, Raquel's body entered Naoto's shadow as if descending a staircase, and after a few seconds, she had completely disappeared.

"Ra... Raquel?" He couldn’t even count how many times he had experienced this sensation since yesterday. Yet, Naoto could only stare at his own shadow, unable to look away from what he had just witnessed.

He tried stepping on his own shadow. His foot didn't sink in, and as expected, he felt the hard ground beneath him. But... "What is it?"

Raquel's voice echoed in his head, as if she were climbing out of the shadow. Her figure was nowhere to be seen. The voice and arrogant tone were unmistakably hers.

"Well, I mean, just now, in the shadow..."

"I just borrowed it as a resting place because I've been in the sun a little too long. Nothing will happen to your body, so don't panic so foolishly." Despite her weakness, her arrogant and haughty attitude remained intact. While that was reassuring, something else caught Naoto's attention.

"Sunlight... right, it’s because you’re a vampire." He had heard that vampires turn to ash when exposed to sunlight. When Naoto said this, a sense of irritation came from the shadow.

"Could you not lump me together with those inferior vampires? For someone of my high standing, sunlight and holy water are not much of a problem."

"But you just collapsed!”

"That was because I used a large spell earlier and got drained. While there might be some impact, sunlight is nothing to worry about." Naoto couldn’t help but smile wryly at her use of “nothing to worry about.” Regardless of her words, it didn’t change the fact that she was putting on a brave front. It wasn’t as if she would immediately turn to ash, but still, she was trying to endure to the point of nearly losing consciousness—what a stubborn lady she was.

"Whatever. So, what now?" Crouching down, Naoto addressed the shadow at his feet. It felt strange. Talking to a shadow that stretched out like a stain on the sidewalk was something he didn't want anyone to see. From the shadow, Raquel's voice returned, her breath coming in deep gasps.

"Let's head towards the center of town for now."

"Alright, alright, got it." He might as well serve her faithfully while she was weak. With that thought, Naoto started walking down the path, dragging the shadow behind him.

Part 6

They descended the gentle slope and emerged into the bustling downtown area. If they continued straight down the wide road, they would eventually reach Shinkawahama Station. But Naoto turned into a side street a few blocks before that and stopped at a small park behind a game center.

The park didn't have any playground equipment, just two benches against a concrete wall. It was located in a rather unsafe area and wasn't a popular spot, thankfully. Just as he had hoped. Naoto sat on a bench and, after making sure no one was watching, spoke to the shadow at his feet.

"Raquel, we've reached downtown." To be precise, it wasn't the center of downtown, but it was daytime, after all. It would be difficult to find a secluded spot in the heart of downtown. He didn’t intend to play the role of a mysterious man talking to a shadow. However, even though he had found a place where the girl could emerge from the shadow without causing a scene, there was no reaction from Raquel.

"Hey, Raquel? Can you hear me?" Naoto raised his voice slightly and peered into the shadow. He couldn't see inside the shadow, but by concentrating, he could sense that Raquel was there. But she was too quiet. A bad thought crossed his mind. But then Naoto heard something. A steady, gentle breathing sound. That was... snoring.

"Are you asleep?!" He blurted out the question before he could stop himself and then quickly looked around. Good, no one was there.

"What am I going to do now..." Naoto ran his hands through his hair. If Raquel didn't wake up, he couldn't continue his investigation. He had no idea about this "Azure" thing.

(I could go home... no, that won't work. Haruka is there.)

If she asked where Raquel was, he'd be in trouble. He couldn't just say she was in a shadow.

So, there was only one thing to do. Naoto got up and bought a can of coffee from the vending machine nearby. With a heavy clunk, the can rolled out. He picked it up and returned to the bench.

It was a beautiful day, and luckily, Naoto seemed to be fine in the sunlight. He decided to relax here for a while and wait for Raquel to wake up.

(I don't have anything else to do. ... And I have some things to think about)

His thoughts drifted as he spoke to himself. Naoto opened the can and took a sip of the cold coffee. It was sweet, slightly bitter, and the unique sensation cooled him down a bit.

"A vampire... huh?" Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he muttered to himself. It had all started with a strange incident the previous evening. Two abnormal readings he had seen while walking home. That was what had dragged him away from his peaceful life. It felt like more than twenty-four hours had passed since then. Everything had happened so quickly. His encounter with the insect-like creature, meeting Raquel, the bizarre battlefield with flying debris, the man's body transformed into a black mass, his lost right arm, and his life force dropping to '0'.

(So, I... died, didn't I?)

Something must have happened during the gap in his memory that he couldn't recall, and then he died. Today was supposed to be the end. But thanks to her, he was still alive. Raquel had saved him.

"Need a hand?"

He remembered the girl's voice asking him that.

(She saved me again...)

She had already protected him countless times from the monster man, who had been throwing rubble around. Now, she had saved him from death. Thanks to her, his life force was at "0," Raquel seemed determined to move into Naoto's house, and on top of that, she was making unreasonable demands like getting his hands on the Azure and fighting an ultra-powerful magician.

Still, Raquel had saved him. She had given Naoto today. And thanks to Raquel, he hadn't made Haruka cry. That was an undeniable fact. Naoto looked down at the shadow as he sipped from a cold can.

Raquel Alucard, the vampire who had been alive for two years and four days.

She had appeared in a striking outfit of nothing but a cloak, could kick through concrete walls with inhuman strength, and was, in every sense of the word, a bizarre girl.

But just earlier, when she had nearly lost her strength and was about to collapse, her shoulder had felt delicate. Her disdain for the first clothes she wore was childlike, and when she had been nervous around Haruka and couldn’t say a word, she truly resembled a borrowed cat.

(She probably doesn't know much about the things I and Haruka take for granted)

Things like chatting with friends, the annoyance of alarm clocks that interrupt sleep, and of course, the taste of canned coffee like the one in Naoto's hand, or even how to open one. Although, she claimed to have five hundred million times more knowledge than Naoto.

"...Oh, I forgot." Shifting his gaze from the shadow to the can of coffee, Naoto muttered something else. He had completely forgotten to ask Raquel about his right arm. He needed to ask this young vampire girl why his arm had been restored when he woke up, whether his arm had actually been lost in the first place, and how his injuries had healed.

(Well, I can't do that until she wakes up)

He couldn't do anything about it. The thoughts that were supposed to continue suddenly burst white and disappeared. He thought he saw something moving at the corner of his eye. And then, almost simultaneously, or perhaps it was at the same time, Naoto's body was thrown sideways with tremendous force and slammed into something.

Bang!

The air inside his body seemed to burst. He felt like a popped balloon. For a moment, he felt completely weightless, and then a second later, his body felt a hundred times heavier. His vision, which had turned white, gradually returned.

He was in the simple park next to the parking lot. It was a familiar sight. And in the middle of it, Naoto was... embedded in the vending machine he had just bought the can of coffee from, as if he had been rammed by a thick stake.

"Ugh... ugh..." His trembling jaw tried to take in a breath but failed, and he choked. He couldn't even swallow properly. He couldn't. The breath that had gotten caught in his throat, unable to find its way out, was replaced by a thick, slimy mass that welled up from the back of his throat and spilled out of his mouth.

Only after he had vomited did he realize it was a liquid. It was an unpleasantly dark red in his blurred vision, and the nauseating smell told him it was a large amount of blood mixed with other bodily fluids. The faint taste of sweet coffee made it even more disgusting.

"Ugh... ugh..." A hoarse, wheezing sound trembled out. Still dripping blood from his mouth, Naoto looked at what had slammed him into the vending machine.

It was an arm. A thick, sturdy human arm, like a log. It had pierced his abdomen halfway, literally nailing his body to the vending machine like a stake.

The arm slid out of Naoto's abdomen, leaving a wet trail. But then another arm grabbed his chest and pulled him away from the vending machine. His clothes were pulled up, exposing his body. But he couldn't shake off the arm. His throat was clogged with blood, and his mouth was a gaping hole. His whole body felt like it had been shattered into pieces. Dragging his weak limbs, Naoto was pulled forcefully.

Naoto's eyes caught sight of the gray concrete wall. He understood the arm's intention. The thick concrete wall would be even harder than the vending machine.

(That's... a bad idea...)

A slow sense of crisis whispered in the corner of Naoto's mind. But there was no way that protest would reach the arm's owner. With a flick of the wrist, as if discarding a doll, Naoto's body was thrown towards the wall. His limbs flailed as he experienced a brief sensation of floating.

And then, a shock, like a slash, struck Naoto's torso, as if the blow he had received to his abdomen was insignificant in comparison. Something shattered. As he heard the sound, Naoto crashed into the gray wall and lost consciousness before he could feel the coldness of the concrete.

There was nothing but darkness. He thought he was dead. After all, Raquel had just saved him. Thinking that... unconsciously, he lifted his eyelids.

His vision returned faster than his consciousness. With a single blink, his vision stabilized, and ragged breaths shook his body violently. His heart, which he thought had stopped, was pounding loudly. Leaning against the wall, Naoto sat down with his legs outstretched. His right side of vision was red. Even though he could breathe, his whole body was heavy and he couldn't move properly.

The pain he should have felt seemed to have been blown away somewhere far away, and instead, his index finger joint ached unnecessarily.

Suddenly, his vision narrowed. He saw a shoe sole. He was about to be crushed. At that moment, Naoto desperately twisted his neck.

A sharp crack, like something hard breaking, echoed right beside his ear. Naoto could feel the blood rushing through his body. He moved only his eyes to look sideways. Where his head had been just a moment ago, there was a foot in a worn-out leather shoe, embedded in the wall. A shiver ran down Naoto's spine. If he had reacted any slower, his head would have been crushed under that shoe like a ripe tomato.

"Wh-what the... hell are you..." With his shoulders heaving from his ragged breathing, Naoto followed the foot embedded in the wall to find its owner.

The attacker was a tall, powerfully built man. He looked to be in his early twenties. He wasn't Japanese. His chest was so thick and his shoulders so broad that his shirt looked too tight. His arms were thick and muscular, and his legs were like spears. He had thick eyebrows, sharp eyes, and a deeply carved, fierce expression. Perhaps it was also due to his messy, unkempt hair, which was simply thrown back. He looked like a wild carnivore.

The number above his head read '2394211'. This man, though not to the extent of Raquel, had a number far beyond that of a normal human.

"...Dodged it, huh?" The man growled, muttering resentfully. His voice wasn't as rough and harsh as his appearance, but it carried a heavy sense of menace and murderous intent. Naoto looked up at the beast-like man without taking his eyes off him. He didn't know him. And he had no idea why such a dangerous-looking man would attack him. Returning his hostility, he retorted.

"What the hell are you doing, you... trying to kill me?!"

"I've already killed you twice. Why won't you die?" The heavy voice replied immediately, making Naoto start.

It was only natural. Naoto had been slammed into a vending machine with tremendous force, and then into a concrete wall. He had vomited a lot of blood. He thought he had broken bones all over his body…

Yet, even though he had been barely able to breathe just a moment ago, he was now shouting angrily.

Naoto moved his neck, which was still stiff, and looked down at himself.

(As I thought...)

The wound where the man's arm had been embedded in his abdomen was gone.

"So you're an 'immortal' too?"

"What...?" Before Naoto could finish his sentence, the strong man pulled his foot out of the broken wall and swung it down again to crush Naoto's head. "Ahh...!" Naoto bent his body to avoid the direct hit. But instead of his head, his right shoulder was crushed under the man's shoe. The force that had shattered the concrete now shattered Naoto's shoulder.

"Ugh, aaaah!" It hurt so bad. A muffled scream tore at Naoto's throat as he crouched, clutching his shoulder.

The man clicked his tongue and swung his other leg. The leg, which was as flexible as a whip, sliced through the air and aimed for Naoto's head again. Naoto managed to raise his head, but that was all. There was no way he could dodge it. He could already imagine the sensation of that toe cracking his skull.

But the man's foot didn't crush Naoto's head.

He was alive. He still had eyes, a mouth, and a head. Naoto couldn't comprehend what was happening as he looked at the strange thing in front of him.

It was another arm. But this time, it wasn't the strong man's arm; it was more like a woman's arm with white, smooth skin. The reason I say 'like' is because it was clearly not a human arm.

The arm had grown out of the concrete wall, behind Naoto. It had a shoulder, an elbow, and a wrist, and it was abnormally long, resembling a mannequin's arm. There were six of them in total, three on each side, crossing each other to form a shield that protected Naoto. One pair had been shattered, but the others had taken the brunt of the man's powerful kick.

"...Stop it, Valkenhayn." Another man's voice came from the opposite side of the arms. It was a young man's voice, firm but calm. The strong man, called Valkenhayn, turned his head slightly, looking at the voice.

Waiting for him, the arms that had been shielding Naoto disappeared silently back into the wall. The view that had been blocked by the three pairs of arms opened up, and finally, Naoto could see the other man. He didn't know when he had arrived, but a strange man was standing in the parking lot behind the game center.

The man named Valkenhayn had a rough-looking face, but he was dressed in a shirt, pants, and leather shoes, looking like a dangerous foreigner at most. However, the appearance of the second man was extremely peculiar.

His hair was golden and neatly cut, and his physique was quite average. But his eyes were completely covered by a black leather band, and he was wearing a purple cloak over a suit-like outfit. From the color of his skin, he was probably Caucasian, but because he couldn't see his eyes, it was unclear what kind of person he was.

Although his appearance was ordinary enough to blend into the surroundings, compared to Valkenhayn, who had tried to kill someone without a word of greeting, this man seemed more rational and reasonable, despite his unusual appearance.

"Why are you interfering, Relius?" Calling the man with the covered eyes Relius, Valkenhayn spoke again, his voice low and filled with aggression.

The man named Relius approached Naoto with a leisurely gait, completely unfazed by Valkenhayn's aggressive stance.

"That's a 'human'. Not an 'immortal'." Even with his eyes covered, Relius's vision seemed unimpaired. There was no hesitation or uncertainty in his steps. As he approached, Naoto pushed himself up against the wall. He leaned against the wall for support as he stood up. Although Relius had protected him from Valkenhayn's attack, Naoto couldn't be sure he was an ally. He kept a watchful eye on both men, ready for anything.

Seeing this, Valkenhayn furrowed his brow.

"How is that a 'human'? Humans die when you kill them."

"Not necessarily. ... Anyway, back off. That's not your target." Relius's voice was flat and devoid of emotion, ignoring Valkenhayn's rage. Continuing his steady pace, he walked beside Valkenhayn and turned his face away as if to urge him again to back off.

"...Tch." After glaring at each other for a while, Valkenhayn clicked his tongue and suddenly lifted his foot. Without hesitation, he swung it down at Naoto's leg.

"Guaaaah!" With a sound like a popped water balloon, Naoto's right leg was crushed. The intense pain made Naoto collapse, clutching his right ankle. Below the ankle was a mangled mess of flesh, blood, and broken bones.

"Ugh, ah, uhh..." Turning his back on the groaning Naoto, Valkenhayn walked away, looking annoyed. Relius, on the other hand, remained where he was, staring intently at Naoto who was rubbing his face against the ground. Noticing his gaze, Naoto followed his line of sight - or rather, tried to guess the direction of his gaze since his eyes were covered - and looked at what remained of his shattered leg. It was a gruesome sight. The result of a merciless act, it was a grotesque scene that made him want to cry.

But as the scattered flesh and bones crumbled and dissipated like burnt ash, his tears dried up. The scattered flesh and bones turned into a red mist and disappeared, and in an instant, Naoto's foot was restored to its original form.

How could that be human? Naoto was stunned to see it.

It was Relius's voice, heard nearby, that brought Naoto back to reality.

"Hmm... Interesting... 'Regeneration'?" Startled by the close voice, Naoto flinched. Relius bent over and watched Naoto's regeneration intently. When Naoto moved away, he straightened up, looking somewhat surprised. It was as if he were asking what was wrong.

"You really went all out, didn't you... I guess I’ll have to listen to 'Kiiro's' complaints again..." Glancing around casually, Relius muttered blandly as he looked at the vending machine and wall that had been irreparably destroyed. "Are you alright?"

Naoto frowned, hesitant to respond to the action and words. Just a moment ago, a man had tried to crush his foot, and now this man, who seemed to be his companion, was offering him a hand and showing concern. He didn't know the situation, but he wished they would either be enemies or allies, not both. It was stressful to second-guess their intentions. Thinking this, he pushed away the outstretched hand and stood up on his own.

"I’m not okay! It hurts like hell!"

"So your sense of pain is still functioning."

"Of course it is! What do you think I am, anyway?!" As Naoto shouted out his frustration, he glared at Relius, who seemed impressed as he rested his chin on his hand. It was hard to tell his age since his face was obscured, but from his voice and demeanor, Naoto guessed he was only a few years older. He was probably younger than Valkenhayn from earlier. Naoto’s gaze shifted to the number floating above Relius’s head. He was surprised by what he found. ‘9152.’ He had expected this man to have an abnormal number like the other guy, but it was just a normal human number—slightly lower than Naoto’s average, in fact.

At that moment, a chill ran down his spine. He didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because Relius had suddenly flashed a grin at him.

"My companion has caused you trouble. As an apology, let me share a few things." Relius said with a faint smile. He was a man with a voice that showed little emotion. But now, like his smile, there was a hint of joy in his voice. "If something like this happens again, the first thing you should do is protect your head. If your head gets crushed, no matter how immortal you are, you won’t be able to regenerate right away. During that time, we can finish you off."

Naoto instinctively touched his head, as if drawn in by the calm tone of Relius’s words. Come to think of it, Valkenhayn had tried to crush his head. So that's why he had done that. But doubts arose. Valkenhayn's initial attack had been aimed at his stomach, right?

"...Then why didn’t he target my head from the start?"

"Immortals are always prepared for attacks on the head. So, first, we immobilize them, and then we destroy their head... that's the standard procedure." As he said this, Relius took a few steps back. Naoto realized he was avoiding the shadows as Relius lowered his chin and directed his gaze at the ground.

"We are targeting vampires. Our goal is not to torment a sturdier boy with regenerative abilities. And of course, we didn’t come to chase down a newborn girl either." Naoto tensed up and glared at Relius with sharper eyes. He quickly realized what Relius was talking about. This man knew about Raquel.

Relius must have seen through Naoto's wariness. He briefly lifted his chin as if to steal a glance at Naoto's expression, then turned to address the shadows.

"She's doing well, but she's still inexperienced... You should at least be better at hiding your presence. Otherwise, he'll get the wrong idea again..." Naoto couldn't remain silent after that. The shadows at his feet rippled like the surface of water, and from them, Raquel appeared without a sound. Just as she had sunk into the shadows before, she gradually emerged as if climbing a staircase, eventually standing in front of Naoto. Her large, slanted golden eyes stared at Relius defiantly.

"I appreciate the advice, Relius Clover." Hearing this, Relius's smile deepened.

"Hoh... So you have some information about me. Wonderful." His voice was filled with satisfaction. As he continued to gaze at Naoto and Raquel, Relius took a few steps back, placing a hand on his chest and bowing his head slightly.

"I must go after my companion. Until we meet again." With those words, Relius swirled his striking purple cloak and vanished in the direction Valkenhayn had gone.

Part 7

With the strange duo gone, the tension in the air immediately dissipated.

Naoto's body felt heavy, as if a weight had been lifted from him. He leaned against the concrete wall behind him. Soon, his knees gave out, and he slid down to sit. Concrete debris from the wall lay scattered around him, making the position uncomfortable at best. But he was too exhausted to get up and move.

"Hah... hah... I thought I was going to die..." He forced out a dry laugh, feeling no joy whatsoever. He truly believed he was going to die, and he thought he was dead. More than that, he was in excruciating pain. The fact that he had to endure such experiences filled him with deep frustration.

Overwhelmed by emotions he couldn't quite identify, whether it was anger or fear, Naoto looked up to find Raquel standing in front of him. When he looked up, her large golden eyes were staring down at him intently.

"You're such a mess. You're just like a rag doll."

"Shut up. And what's with those guys anyway... You know them, don't you?" Glaring at her in response to her calm voice, Naoto thought she should at least show some concern, but there were no injuries that warranted it. Raquel raised her head and glanced in the direction where the duo had fled. She spoke in a somewhat stern tone, "The man who attacked you first was Valkenhayn Helsing. The one in the cloak is Relius Clover, an 'Immortal Breaker,’ a specialist in eliminating immortals."

"Immortal Breaker." Naoto frowned as he looked up at Raquel’s profile. It had a rather ominous ring to it. Being close to Raquel, a vampire girl who was considered an immortal, made it sound not only dangerous but also extremely unsettling.

Suddenly, he heard the distant wail of a siren growing louder. Someone must have called the police. It wasn’t surprising, given the circumstances. It was the middle of the day, and even in a relatively quiet area, it was far from deserted. A game center was just a stone's throw away, and it was open for business despite its old-fashioned appearance. It was inevitable that someone would report seeing a high school boy being thrown into a vending machine or a concrete wall.

"Ugh... I wish this was all over. I just want my normal life back..." Naoto ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He looked up at Raquel with tired eyes. "Hey, listen..."

He was about to suggest that they should leave and continue their search another time, but he hesitated. When he glanced at Raquel, he noticed her complexion was worse than before. Her energy level, represented by the number above her head, had dropped significantly. It was now '86501107', a decrease of several thousand from the last time he had checked. For a human, such a drop would be fatal.

(How long has she been like this?) he wondered. The fact that her energy had depleted so much while she was resting in the shadows meant that she was either consuming energy at an alarming rate or something had drained her. Perhaps it was the encounter with Valkenhayn and Relius.

Either way, it wasn't wise to keep Raquel on her feet any longer, especially in broad daylight.

"Raquel, let's go home today," Naoto said seriously, his tone more assertive than a suggestion. "Neither of us is in top condition. If we encounter Spinner while we're like this, we won't be able to do anything but lose."

Naoto didn't know the full extent of Spinner's powers, but he knew the sorcerer was far beyond ordinary humans. This was different from picking a fight with a random delinquent.

"But in ten hours, the Azure Remnant will disappear completely. We won't be able to track it anymore," Raquel replied, hesitant and conflicted, her eyes scanning the area as if she could still sense the remnant nearby.

Naoto shook his head. "We'll find it another time. Our priority right now is your health."

"They're looking for you too, right? So they'll probably attack again soon, and there will be plenty of opportunities. It'd be pointless if we get caught and killed. They're not the type to settle things peacefully, are they?" Just like Relius had said, even immortals like vampires could be killed. Naoto fully agreed. Raquel had a life force indicator too, and if it was depleted, she would die.

"Besides, we'll stick out like a sore thumb walking around looking like this. If anyone sees us, it'll be a pain to explain, and we'll have to change our clothes." Naoto spread his arms, revealing his tattered clothing. Even though his wounds had healed, his T-shirt and jeans were still torn. His collar was ripped wide open, and there were dried bloodstains on his chest.

Raquel nodded slowly, deep in thought. She seemed to understand the gravity of their situation. "I suppose you're right," she said, sighing. "But wait a moment."

She moved away from Naoto and stood in front of a wall, avoiding the large crack created by Valkenhayn. She ran her fingers along the gray wall, tracing something. It was the same red writing he had seen in the abandoned building, but this time, it was arranged in horizontal lines, more like a note than a magic circle.

After writing a few lines, she turned around. "Alright, let's go."

Naoto followed her, his eyes drawn to the red writing that was slowly fading into the gray wall. They carefully made their way back to his apartment, avoiding people and hiding in the shadows whenever necessary. Somehow, he managed to reach his apartment without anyone noticing the bloodstain on his shirt.

After checking that the coast was clear, he called out to Raquel, who emerged cautiously from the shadows. He had warned her beforehand that if Haruka saw her, she would probably ask a lot of questions, and he might even get scolded. It seemed like his warning had worked.

For now, Haruka was nowhere to be seen. Both Naoto and Raquel breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now... the real problem begins." As Naoto pulled his house keys out of his pocket, he lowered his voice. They couldn't let their guard down yet. There was a good chance that Haruka was inside. In fact, knowing her, it was more likely than not. She probably made lunch and was waiting for Naoto and Raquel to return. If he went in wearing a blood-stained T-shirt, Haruka would be terrified. She would undoubtedly assume he was seriously injured.

"Alright, Raquel. Here’s the plan. You go in first and distract Haruka. While you do that, I’ll slip in, change, and then join you."

"I've told you before, I’m not good with other girls." Raquel replied, averting her gaze. It was clear that she wasn't enthusiastic about the idea.

But Naoto needed her cooperation. "It'll be fine. If she sees you like this, she might panic."

With a hint of annoyance, and then resignation, Raquel turned towards the door. Naoto quickly unlocked the door and urged her inside. As soon as Raquel slipped through, he closed the door behind her.

(She's so reluctant) he thought to himself. Despite her aloof and arrogant demeanor, she seemed so timid about the idea of being alone with Haruka for even a short while. (I hope she's okay.)

He pressed his ear against the door, trying to listen for any sounds from inside. But he couldn't hear anything. Normally, he would be able to hear Haruka greet Raquel. But there was nothing.

(What's going on?)

Even if Raquel was quiet, Haruka would surely say something when she saw her. There was no way she would ignore Raquel's arrival. But the house was eerily silent. Confused, Naoto moved to the gap between the door and the wall and pressed his ear closer. Still, there was no sound.

"Raquel! Haruka!" Something was wrong. Naoto felt it instinctively and immediately burst into the apartment. Kicking off his shoes, he rushed down the hallway. At the end of the corridor, he saw Raquel standing still, as if frozen.

"Raquel, what's wrong?!" Something felt off about the atmosphere in the apartment, and a sense of dread washed over him. As he hurried into the living room, his gaze was drawn to Raquel, who was standing stiffly at the entrance. He tried to move her, but she was as rigid as a statue. It was as if she was sewn into place.

On the sofa in Naoto's living room sat a stranger. As Naoto's footsteps drew closer, the visitor turned slowly, a languid smile playing on his lips.

"Ah... I hope I'm not interrupting." His voice was so sweet, it was almost sickening. The man had long, jet-black hair and pale, almost translucent skin. His features were hauntingly beautiful. "You must be Naoto Kurogane."

Naoto's heart skipped a beat. That single sentence felt like a sharp knife, cutting through him. Every movement, every breath felt like a thin sheet of paper, about to be torn to shreds. He felt paralyzed, as if moving would be fatal. And then, right beside Naoto, the air vibrated. He heard Raquel's voice, a trembling whisper.

"F-Father..." It took him three seconds to process the words. And another five to realize she was referring to the black-haired man in front of him.

(Father...!?)

Naoto stared at the man on the sofa, his eyes wide with disbelief and horror. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was so terrifying about the man. Despite his striking beauty, there was something cold and distant about him, a sense of otherworldly power that sent shivers down Naoto's spine.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My daughter has spoken highly of you. I am... Clavis Alucard." The man smiled thinly, his crimson eyes glinting.

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