XElenea
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MP : 119 Sleeping Princess
🕑 Added 2025-01-10 16:00:02 +0000 UTC"How bold, to dare use familiars to openly test us like this."
In a small alleyway, Roy stood over the corpses of several pitch-black beasts whose heads he had pierced. He fell into brief contemplation.
He was puzzled by Nrvnqsr Chaos's reckless probing. Normally, this kind of behavior would be considered a blatant provocation.
'What's going on? Could it be that after seeing me interact with Ciel from the Burial Agency, he assumed I'm an ally sent by the Holy Church? Sending out so many black beasts at once... is he trying to eliminate me, or simply test my strength?'
"All dealt with..."
On the other side, Shiki, slightly out of breath, sheathed her dagger and surveyed the creatures she had just finished off.
They were the corpses of several black hounds, which she had precisely dismembered.
Now, they had been reduced to scattered pieces, lying in a pool of blood on the ground.
Over the past year, through her efforts, Shiki had reached a level where she could easily dispatch these ordinary monsters. When Roy tried to help after dealing with his own opponents, she refused.
Using her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception combined with reinforcement magecraft, she swiftly eliminated the beasts. Each strike cleaved their lines of death with precision, and her efficiency surprised even Roy.
She had truly become accustomed to battle... she had grown so much...
After slaying the monsters, an uncontrollable sense of joy appeared on Shiki's face.
Even though the beasts were defeated, that sense of joy didn't fade. Instead, it grew even more intense.
"For some reason... I suddenly feel like slicing something up... "
This thought surfaced in her mind, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Hm? Shiki, what's wrong?"
Roy finally noticed something amiss. He quickly turned his head and looked at the silent Shiki beside him, witnessing a chilling scene.
She was smiling... a smile that wasn't ordinary. It wasn't a happy smile, nor was it a troubled one.
It was a terrifying smile.
Sweat seeped from her forehead, dampening her bangs. Her lips curled into a slight grin... though the angle wasn't extreme, it sent a shiver down Roy's spine.
She lowered her head, crouching down as she reached out with her dagger towards the freshly killed corpse, her eyes filled with excitement.
"Shiki, stop."
Roy swiftly turned and tightly grasped her outstretched hand, his expression serious. For a moment, his own ice-blue Mystic Eyes, which resembled her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, flared as he gazed into her frenzied eyes.
"Ah..."
As soon as her arm was grabbed, Shiki snapped out of it. She dropped the dagger and stepped back several times, looking lost and bewildered.
"What... just happened to me?"
"Killing impulse."
Roy furrowed his brow slightly.
"Your old problem again. I thought with all the training you've gone through, you'd be able to suppress it by now. Looks like I was too naive."
Roy had some inkling of what had just happened to her. He had read records in the Ryougi family's ancient texts regarding demon hunter families. Though Shiki and her alternate personality, SHIKI, had reached a balance, and Shiki could cut off SHIKI whenever she wished, the killing impulse should have been suppressed.
However, as a demon hunter by blood, Shiki was still affected by the sight of non-human blood, triggering the ancestral memory within her bloodline, which reignited her killing impulse unconsciously. This was what led to her brief rampage.
"Sorry."
Shiki lowered her head, and without her usual stubbornness, she rarely expressed such an apology to Roy.
"You…"
Seeing her suddenly act so obediently, Roy was a bit taken aback.
Though he didn't want her to face danger, Shiki's adventurous nature couldn't be suppressed.
She wasn't someone who could sit still; she enjoyed following him on dangerous ventures.
The timeline of this world had already changed significantly. When Roy went back and brought Touko with him, leaving Cu Chulainn behind to watch over Mifune City, he still had doubts about Cu Chulainn's reliability. He wasn't comfortable leaving Shiki alone in the city.
He thought that with his own strength, as long as Shiki stayed by his side, there wouldn't be any problems. But her true nature and bloodline still caused various unforeseen situations, even in Misaki Town.
When faced with the black hounds surrounding her, instead of feeling fear, she would excitedly pull out her dagger and want to try her hand at fighting them.
Of course, Roy knew the master of these beasts.
Nrvnqsr Chaos.
The troublesome figure ranked tenth among the Dead Apostle Ancestors, as Ciel had mentioned, with incredible strength. He wasn't a Dead Apostle who was turned by another but someone who transformed himself into one through magical research.
This man was the first boss in Tsukihime, formidable and difficult to deal with. Before arriving, Roy had already gathered intelligence on the Dead Apostle Ancestors, so he knew the basics of Nrvnqsr Chaos.
His real name was Fabro Rowan, a special magus from the Wandering Sea, one of the Mage's Association's branches. The Church gave him the name Chaos.
Inside his body resided a special Reality Marble called Lair of the Beast King, containing 666 beasts. No physical or magical attack could kill him.
That was why, while his destructive power wasn't the most terrifying, he was incredibly difficult to deal with.
To defeat him, either all 666 beasts had to be destroyed at once, or the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception had to be used to kill him.
Roy recalled that, in the original timeline, Nrvnqsr Chaos was killed by Shiki Tohno's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
Shiki also possessed the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, and hers were even stronger than Shiki Tohno's, making her the ideal choice to face him.
If Nrvnqsr Chaos dragged them into his Reality Marble, there was no telling how long it would take to deal with him.
"…"
When Roy explained this to Shiki, her face lit up with rare excitement. She immediately agreed and insisted that this enemy must be hers to defeat.
Though she had already cut down countless artificial ghosts and training puppets, she had never fought a non-human creature like this.
Now that such a fitting opponent had appeared, how could she let the opportunity slip by?
Moreover... this time, she would finally fight side by side with him...
Of course, she wouldn't miss this chance.
Seeing her excited expression, Roy felt a mix of helplessness and concern.
Even with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and after receiving his training, Shiki was still human at her core, though the terrifying third personality remained dormant within her.
Roy couldn't risk her safety, betting on whether that Void Shiki personality would intervene.
So, he had to take extra precautions.
"Stay still, Shiki."
Roy reached into his chest with his left hand and pulled out Avalon, which had been lent to him by Artoria. He then embedded it into Shiki's body.
"What is this...?"
Shiki curiously asked, sensing the strange object that Roy had just placed inside her.
"Avalon, it's a precious item that can protect you. It's a treasure lent to me by a very important companion. Only with this can I barely feel at ease."
"And what about you? If you give this to me, what will you use?"
"I don't need Avalon's protection."
Roy shook his head and answered, "My own strength is more than sufficient. No matter what kind of enemy it is, I can handle it. For me, it's just an optional defensive tool at best. Compared to me, you're more suited to carry it."
As he spoke, he set up the activation magecraft formula and method, finally feeling relieved.
However, after finishing, he glanced at Shiki deeply and sighed, with a slight tone of guilt.
"Sorry, Shiki, for dragging you along to fight against such a monster."
"What nonsense are you saying? Wasn't it me who asked to join the battle?"
"But if I hadn't taken you and Touko away from Misaki Town, we wouldn't have encountered Nrvnqsr Chaos' beasts, and you wouldn't have..."
"Idiot..."
Shiki interrupted Roy.
"You don't need to apologize. Some things are bound to happen sooner or later. Even if it didn't happen today, it would happen tomorrow or later. It's just a matter of time."
Spinning the knife in her hand, Shiki looked at Roy's worried expression and said with some exasperation.
"I'm not a child. Do you really need to worry so much? Do you plan to protect me for the rest of my life?"
"If you'd like..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing..."
Roy shook his head, feeling helpless. "Do you realize how serious your condition was just now?"
"Of course I do. But I can assure you, even if you hadn't stopped me, I would have snapped out of it at the last moment."
Shiki spoke with certainty.
During that abnormal state, she too heard a soft whisper, and that gentle voice helped calm her turbulent emotions.
"..."
Roy sighed softly and fell silent.
"But sending a child to face a centuries-old monster is still something to worry about."
"But I'm already in middle school, not a child anymore."
Shiki retorted with dissatisfaction, "And I'm also a magus, or rather, a demon hunter. Age isn't what limits me."
"Doesn't that saying go, 'with great power comes great responsibility'? Since I've encountered an enemy suited for me, I should be the one to fight. This is the path I've chosen, and even if I die one day, I don't mind."
"Spider-Man, huh? 'With great power comes great responsibility.' That's not exactly a reasonable saying. I think you're more of a mischievous kid."
Roy asked seriously, "Are you really intent on facing the Dead Apostle Ancestor with me?"
"Of course! Cutting down immortal beings and fighting alongside you... If I missed out on such an exciting experience, I'd regret it for a long time."
Shiki nodded firmly.
"That really gives me a headache. If I were a proper guardian, facing such a dire situation, I'd probably lock you up."
"Would you do that?"
"No."
Roy sighed and replied, "Because I know you wouldn't stay put. Even if I refused, you'd find a way to involve yourself in something dangerous. That would only backfire. It's better to keep you in my sight so I can protect you more easily."
"Oh, you really know me well."
Shiki raised an eyebrow.
"While I can allow you to fight alongside me, you have to promise me this..."
"Be extra careful. If you encounter any danger, call for my help immediately. Don't try to be a hero. Can you do that?"
"Mm, I promise."
Seeing Roy's serious gaze, Shiki solemnly nodded in agreement.
"Since Touko has returned, go to her and adjust your condition. Get familiar with the combat techniques of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."
"Before long, I'll personally evaluate how much you've improved. If you're not qualified, don't blame me for rejecting you, okay?"
"Of course, I won't disappoint you."
With Roy finally agreeing, Shiki smiled and readily accepted.
She then declined his offer to escort her and left alone.
"Be careful."
Although she refused his company, out of concern, Roy still called Touko, asking her to meet up with Shiki along the way.
After the recent attack by Nrvnqsr Chaos' beasts, Roy had become more vigilant about his surroundings.
Even though he knew that Shiki was far from being a weak woman.
With her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, her mithril dagger, and now with Avalon protecting her, not even Nrvnqsr Chaos himself could get the upper hand against her.
So, even in this city where Dead Apostles roam, she could easily take care of herself. But concern was still necessary. He wouldn't let anyone around him face threats.
With Shiki's situation arranged, it was time to move on to his next task.
The first priority was to find the princess who had drawn all these Dead Apostle Ancestors here.
Thinking of this, Roy dialed Emiya Kiritsugu's number.
...
Dusk
Near a cheap apartment in Misaki Town.
Roy, using the rough location provided by Emiya Kiritsugu, was searching door to door for Arcueid's whereabouts.
Though Arcueid, the White Princess, appeared somewhat clueless due to her long life in the Millennium Castle and lack of common sense, her intelligence was by no means lacking. After all, after living for so many years, even a dog would have gained some wisdom, let alone the princess of the Dead Apostles.
At the very least, her ability to hide her tracks was highly refined. How else could she have evaded so many Dead Apostles and Dead Apostle Ancestors for such a long time?
However, despite her caution, there were still flaws in her approach.
Having spent so much time in the unchanging barrier of the Millennium Castle, it was clear that Arcueid hadn't fully grasped modern technology. She believed that erasing her tracks and avoiding familiar detection would be enough to hide effectively.
Such tricks might fool the Dead Apostles and magi who hadn't kept up with the times, but they were useless against someone like Emiya Kiritsugu, a specialist in modern technology.
What she didn't expect was that this was now a highly developed modern society. Compared to inefficient familiars, technology was the most powerful tool.
With the detailed appearance information initially provided by Roy, Emiya Kiritsugu infiltrated the local police station and used the police database to search for women in the city who matched the description, blonde, European-looking, female, with red eyes, who favored wearing white wool sweaters.
He compiled all the information on women who fit these traits within the city and passed it to Roy, a far more efficient method than playing hide-and-seek with the Dead Apostles and their princess.
Now, all Roy had to do was visit the locations listed and search door to door, and he was bound to find something.
This was the main task Roy had been working on since parting ways with Shiki.
Just as he entered an apartment building, Roy's nose twitched slightly.
It was...
"The smell of blood, and it's very strong."
Roy knew he had found the right place this time.
Following the direction of the scent, he inspected each floor.
Finally, after a few minutes, Roy arrived in front of an apartment door that was left ajar. What met his eyes was an entranceway stained red with blood, and scattered before him were the remains of a body, dismembered into seventeen pieces.
Even for him, it was the first time seeing such a brutal scene.
Inside the apartment, from the entrance to the shoe cabinet, the ceiling, and everywhere in between, blood was splattered. The stench of blood was so overwhelming that even the majority of the apartment's residents could probably smell it.
If it weren't for the fact that most of the residents were working during the day, Arcueid's body would have been taken away by the police long ago.
"What a miserable sight, Princess."
After observing the state of the body, Roy could deduce that the time of death was roughly a day ago, meaning Shiki Tohno had likely just left this place.
While complaining to himself, he cast a spell to mask the scent, preventing others from following it to this location. He then began gathering the scattered body parts, piecing them together to at least resemble something human again.
Lifting Arcueid's head, Roy looked into her eyes. Unlike the hollow gaze one would expect from a dead person, her crimson eyes still held traces of emotion.
What was she feeling?
Anger, sadness, or the unwillingness of a soul who had died unjustly?
None of these. The only emotions in those beautiful eyes were confusion and bewilderment.
She was confused, Why had she been killed?
Who was it that had killed her?
How had they managed to kill her?
Unaware of the nature of the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, it was natural for her to harbor such confusion.
If struck by those eyes, even a Dead Apostle Ancestor or a magus wouldn't fare well.
But none of this concerned Roy. His only goal now was to finish putting together this troublesome puzzle of flesh and then wake up the princess.
After reattaching her head, Roy knelt down, slashed his arm, and let his blood flow onto Arcueid's body. In his other hand, he held the silver thread formed from Volumen Hydrargyrum and began stitching her damaged body.
Having just given Avalon to Shiki, Roy couldn't use that artifact, which could heal any injury or curse. For now, he had to rely on other methods to treat her.
Ordinary healing magecraft had little effect on injuries caused by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. Roy wasn't about to alter someone's soul using the Third Magic to control their body, either.
So, he used his own special, magical energy-infused blood and basic surgical techniques to help accelerate her self-healing.
"Good, that should do it."
After working for quite some time, the princess's body was finally pieced back together, her flesh reassembled, and the silver thread of Volumen Hydrargyrum had tightly stitched everything in place.
Thanks to her incredibly resilient body, once her flesh was repaired and her magical energy replenished, Arcueid's heart soon began beating again, bringing her back from death to a near-death state.
After covering her naked body with a blanket he found in the room, Roy breathed a small sigh of relief.
It worked. Now...
All that remained was to take this Sleeping Princess back to the base.
