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🕑 Added 2025-01-08 16:00:01 +0000 UTC"A large number of Dead Apostles have infiltrated Misaki Town…"
The next morning, in the hotel base where Roy and his group stayed.
Despite the unpleasant events of the previous night, with the main culprit being killed by Aoko Aozaki and Roy offering an apology with enough sincerity, their relations eased, preventing a complete fallout.
As for the cooperation agreed upon last night...
Looking at the intelligence gathered by Emiya Kiritsugu throughout the city, both Aoko and Alice clenched their fists.
"How could so many Dead Apostles infiltrate under the coverage of a great boundary field?"
"Dead Apostles scattered throughout the entire city... When did Misaki Town become this dangerous? This situation is far beyond what we anticipated, Alice."
The thick dossier, detailing the many missing or deceased individuals, left Aoko Aozaki deeply alarmed.
It wasn't just Misaki Town... nearby residential areas were also affected. The scale had reached hundreds of victims, indicating the Dead Apostles had been operating for quite some time. As the local overseers, they had been completely unaware. If not for Roy's investigation, they might have remained in the dark, a significant dereliction of duty.
"..."
Alice Kuonji fell into deep thought as she looked over the intelligence.
Why was it suppressed to this extent? Although she rarely left her residence, she did keep up with the local news. As far as she knew, only about a dozen disappearances had been reported in the past month, all within her control. Yet in reality, the situation was far worse...
Emiya Kiritsugu had found the answer to her doubts. Due to the overwhelming number of deaths and disappearances, authorities, aiming to prevent mass panic and protect their reputation, had covered up most of the incidents. Only a small portion was reported to the public to maintain order. The upper echelons were now pressuring the police to solve the issue within a deadline.
However, this situation wasn't simply about a deranged serial killer or human trafficking ring. A powerful force from the hidden side was involved.
No matter how many police were deployed, they would not be able to solve the problem.
Setting the report down, Alice let out a long breath before turning to Roy. "Do you have any more information?"
"No, this is as much as I could gather." Roy shook his head slightly while continuing to eat the sandwich freshly made by Shiki. Poking at its overly toasted surface with a fork, he thought to himself that it might have been a bit overcooked.
However, seeing Shiki silently prodding the sandwich with her knife and fork, clearly dissatisfied with her own cooking, Roy decided not to comment.
"These Dead Apostles aren't just hunting or roaming randomly. This involves many influential figures and conspiracies. Without sufficient resources, continuing to investigate would be very dangerous, which is why I haven't let my subordinates take any more risks."
He had only asked Emiya Kiritsugu to investigate the Dead Apostles and gather intelligence on the local overseers and the demon hunter families, without pushing him to delve deeper.
Although Kiritsugu was skilled, with his Origin Bullet he could potentially defeat even a lord-level magus like Kayneth. But against the Dead Apostle Ancestors, his chances of survival were slim, and he could even lose his life.
Illyasviel, who had just been saved by Touko, was still waiting for Kiritsugu in Fuyuki City. Roy did not want them to be unable to reunite due to an unfortunate accident.
He viewed Kiritsugu as an ally but had no intention of letting him risk his life.
"Dangerous?"
Hearing the word from Roy, Aoko seemed somewhat incredulous.
"If even you think it's dangerous, just who are these Dead Apostles that have infiltrated the city? Are we talking about one of those monsters from the upper ranks?"
Having witnessed Roy's prowess the previous night, Aoko had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that she had been defeated by him.
There had been no tricks or schemes... she had simply lost in terms of skill and expertise.
She even suspected that he hadn't shown his full strength in their fight, keeping some trump cards in reserve. Though to be fair, she hadn't used all her abilities either.
Still, whether it was his combat strategy (luring her and Alice into his pace) or his mastery of magecraft (with the Reality Marble being the pinnacle of magecraft), Aoko had been thoroughly outclassed.
For an opponent like Roy to consider the situation risky, the Dead Apostles involved were likely truly monstrous.
Perhaps even the Dead Apostle Ancestors, the apex of their kind.
If these creatures were indeed operating in the shadows of Misaki Town, the situation would undoubtedly become extremely troublesome.
Roy didn't hide the truth. The enemies he was dealing with weren't just ordinary Dead Apostles or even the Ancestors; the situation could very well involve the Black Princess and the White Princess, and potentially even the Crimson Moon.
Otherwise, Zelretch wouldn't have sent him here in the first place.
He explained the situation to Aoko, advising her to be cautious and not underestimate the enemy. It wasn't just because they were fellow magus; Aoko was also a skilled and formidable ally. If she were to fall carelessly, it would be a great loss and quite a headache for him.
"That's right, the enemies coming to Misaki Town this time likely include members of the Dead Apostle Ancestors and more than one of them. Some of them are already hidden within the city."
"The continuous appearance of Dead Apostles is their handiwork, which is why they have been able to move so silently and remain so well-hidden. Neither the great boundary field left by the Aozaki ancestors nor the scouting familiars of the Kuonji family can easily detect them. The only way to find them is to venture into the city's darkness."
"Are you saying this involves the Dead Apostle Ancestors? And more than one...?"
Hearing this shocking news, neither the usually optimistic Aoko Aozaki nor the calm Alice Kuonji could maintain their composure.
Even Shiki, who had been quietly listening, raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Dead Apostle Ancestors.
Although she hadn't been studying magecraft for even a year, she knew a bit about the world of magecraft.
For instance, the title of the Dead Apostle Ancestors... something Touko had once explained to her.
She understood why Aoko and Alice's faces had darkened at the mention.
The Dead Apostle Ancestors were renowned monsters, standing at the apex of the world of magecraft. Each was immortal, wielding tremendous power, and commanding fearsome forces. Even in the world of magecraft, they were figures of terror.
If there was only one, it wouldn't be so bad. Although the Dead Apostle Ancestors were formidable, the people present weren't to be underestimated either. But Roy had mentioned multiple Ancestors, which had genuinely shocked both Aoko and Alice.
What were these ancient monsters up to, gathering in Misaki Town instead of causing chaos in Europe or waging war against the Holy Church?
Could they be here to hunt her down and seize the Aozaki family's Fifth Magic?
In this backwater town of Misaki Town, the only thing worth the attention of these monsters would be the Aozaki family's Fifth Magic. Aoko couldn't help but think they might be after her.
"No need to be nervous." Roy reassured her. "Their large-scale infiltration isn't about seizing the Fifth Magic of the Aozaki family; they are here to search for someone in this city."
"Someone?"
"Yes, you could say they're looking for a princess."
"A princess?"
Upon hearing the word, everyone, including Shiki, blinked in surprise and grew more interested.
A princess? In this day and age, the only princesses left would belong to royal families, and the Dead Apostle Ancestors certainly weren't after any ordinary princess.
"They are looking for a being at the pinnacle above the Dead Apostles, someone on par with the Black Princess Altrouge, known as the White Princess, Arcueid."
"The princess of the Dead Apostles and True Ancestors..."
Hearing this answer, everyone present could no longer stay calm.
After finishing his coffee, Roy slowly spoke, "For certain reasons, she is currently hiding in a corner of this city. Meanwhile, the remaining Dead Apostle Ancestors and Dead Apostles are coming from all directions to find her."
"And it just so happens that she is also my target, which is the main reason I visited this city. Although helping Touko get even with Miss Aoko was also part of the prearranged plan."
Upon hearing this, Alice Kuonji frowned and asked, "I can understand the Dead Apostles searching for the princess, but are you interested in her too? Are you planning to get involved in their dispute?"
"Interested? Not really. I'm mainly here because of a request from an annoying old man. Due to a contract, I have to help him handle this matter."
The old man he was referring to was, of course, Zelretch. Since this matter involved the True Ancestors, the Black and White Princesses, and even the Crimson Moon, it could easily escalate into a global crisis if mishandled. That's why Zelretch had entrusted Roy with this task.
Although Zelretch was the Wizard Marshal of the Clock Tower, his obsession with magical girls prevented him from grooming a suitable successor. At this point in time, Waver Velvet was still too young, and the Magical Girl Device hadn't found the right candidate yet. This left him with very few capable subordinates. As a result, he had no choice but to outsource the task to someone like Roy.
With Roy's strength and his natural ability to counter Roa, he was the perfect candidate for the job. Even if the Crimson Moon were to revive, Roy's combat skills would allow him to at least hold his ground, if not defeat it. Furthermore, with the presence of the Excalibur held by Artoria, there was a decent chance they could win.
Therefore, Zelretch looked at Roy with glowing eyes... seeing him not just as a tool, but as the ideal candidate to save the world.
However, it was clear that Zelretch knew more than he let on, but had left in such a hurry that he hadn't shared the full details.
Roy wasn't Sherlock Holmes; he didn't want to go through the process of uncovering secrets. If only he could directly pinpoint these enemies and deal with them swiftly.
Fortunately, compared to the events of Kara no Kyoukai, he was more familiar with the story of Tsukihime.
"You've shared all of this with us. It can't just be on a whim, right?"
Finally, it was Alice Kuonji who broke the silence.
By now, Roy's intentions were clear.
"That's right, I'm seeking assistance from the local overseers."
He nodded in acknowledgment.
This answer didn't surprise Alice, so she asked further, "Is there anything specific we can help you with? Since they've invaded Misaki Town, as the city's leylines administrators, we can't just stand by and let them wreak havoc."
"A clever girl, indeed."
Going straight to the point, Roy smiled as he looked at Alice's calm and serious expression.
"I wouldn't have told you all this for no reason."
"After all, with the Dead Apostle Ancestors invading Misaki Town, you, as the leylines administrators, certainly won't just sit back and do nothing. So, I thought to borrow your strength."
"Of course, we must drive out those who defile life."
"Good, then."
Roy nodded.
"The more people involved, the greater the power, or rather, the efficiency. This time, the scale of the Dead Apostles' invasion exceeded my expectations. I want to gather as much strength as possible to eradicate them and force the mastermind to reveal themselves once and for all."
"And since you are the administrators of Misaki Town, you're naturally more familiar with the area than I am. If you take the lead, it'll make eradicating the Dead Apostles and finding the princess much easier."
"I see…"
"We agree to cooperate with you."
After hearing Roy's explanation, Aoko Aozaki and Alice Kuonji exchanged glances, then nodded slightly, accepting this alliance.
"However, I have one more thing I'd like to ask you both."
"Go ahead." They both nodded.
"It's regarding the demon hunter family in this area, the Tohno family."
Roy had already sent Emiya Kiritsugu ahead of time to gather information about Misaki Town. This included details about the Magician of the Fifth Magic, the Witch, and information on the local demon hunter Tohno family.
However, compared to the others, the information about the Tohno family was much more obscure. They couldn't find anything concrete about a demon hunter family by that name. Although the possibility of a name change wasn't ruled out, something felt off to Roy.
While his knowledge of Tsukihime wasn't complete, he still remembered that the protagonist's surname was also Tohno and that he possessed Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, similar to Shiki's, albeit with some differences.
Moreover, he vaguely recalled that the final boss had a significant connection to this family, and Roa might be hiding among them.
That's why Roy was deeply curious about this family. Even though Kiritsugu hadn't been able to find useful information, he decided to ask the two local overseers directly.
The Aozaki family is the oldest family established in Misaki Town. Perhaps Aoko knows something about the underlying issues.
"The Tohno family..."
Upon hearing this surname, Alice Kuonji thought for a moment. She indeed knew that there was a demon hunter family in the area.
Although a demon hunter family exists, the current overseer of the city's leylines is still Aoko Aozaki, who is temporarily acting on behalf of the family. With her abilities, as long as nothing particularly major arises, she can handle things easily and hasn't had much contact with this so-called demon hunter family.
While it seemed that this family had indeed sent envoys to visit her many times, she had turned them away because she didn't want to meet those strangers.
So her understanding of the situation was quite limited.
"Aoko, do you know? The records passed down from the Aozaki family should have some information on the local families, right?"
After thinking for a while and coming up empty, Alice Kuonji shook her head and then looked at her close friend beside her.
"Ah, there should be some records..." Aoko said awkwardly as she scratched her head. "But I haven't really gone through those messy records at home, so I don't know much about this family."
"If you need, I can help you look for the relevant information. It's all locked up in the basement anyway, so it won't get lost."
Upon hearing this, Roy nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, Miss Aoko."
"It's nothing. After all, we are temporarily allies now, so I can help with this little thing."
Aoko Aozaki didn't think much of it and didn't ask Roy for his specific reasons.
However, she still felt a sense of caution regarding the demon hunter family Roy mentioned.
Although the alliance had already formed, for the sake of caution, Alice Kuonji decided to draft a geis to prevent Roy from backstabbing them for other motives.
Although this distrustful action might offend Roy before the alliance officially started, she still needed to be prepared for the worst.
Fortunately, Roy had no such intentions and readily accepted the geis. The group then established their alliance.
[Roy]
With the final name written down, they all simultaneously swore an oath to the Root and the world, completing this mandatory self-contract in the presence of the Root.
In the next moment, they felt the binding power from the Root wrapping around their bodies.
This relieved Alice Kuonji.
However, Roy was a bit surprised. Unlike the first time he signed a geis, he didn't feel the same level of binding force from the Root this time. It seemed the Root had merely stamped a symbolic mark on him.
What was going on? Was it an issue with his current body? Or was it something else...
He glanced over at Shiki, who was still eating toast, and in a daze, he seemed to see another shadow standing there, beckoning to him. He shook his head slightly.
So that's how it is...
Unaware of Roy's thoughts, Alice Kuonji, having confirmed the effectiveness of the geis slightly eased her wariness toward this ally.
Then she spoke up, "So, I'll leave the upcoming battle to you, Mr. Roy."
"Leave it to me. With that, we can consider our enemies as friends. Miss Aoko, and the witch of the Kuonji family, please take care of the next actions."
"Rest assured, even without you saying it, I won't let a single one of those Dead Apostles who intruded into Misaki Town get away."
Aoko Aozaki looked up at Roy, her eyes still filled with fighting spirit.
"But don't think that signing the contract will erase what happened yesterday. While I did lose to you due to my lack of skill last night, I will get my revenge. Next time, I'll defeat you fair and square."
"Then I'll be waiting for your challenge, Miss Aoko."
Roy smiled slightly, not refusing Aoko's request for a rematch in the future.
He was looking forward to seeing how much progress Aoko Aozaki would make after experiencing this setback.
However, instead of chatting here, he had other matters to attend to.
Originally, these tasks should have been handled by Touko Aozaki, but she had been killed by Aoko in a fit of rage last night and had just revived in a new body and was still on her way.
So before she arrived, many matters had to be taken care of personally.
Standing up, he said to the two, "Let's end our chat here. We can discuss the rest when I return tonight. I have some things to handle, so please excuse me."
"By the way, Shiki, do you want to come along?"
Upon hearing her name, Shiki immediately stood up and responded, "Take me with you."
"Eh? Where are you going? Shouldn't we be discussing the battle plan first and then go out to find the Dead Apostles?"
"Let's talk about that later. I have something else to handle, but I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going?" Alice Kuonji asked, "Please tell me the specific location so that if anything goes wrong, we can provide timely support."
Support for herself? Asking about his whereabouts...
Was she worried he would act out of other motives in Misaki Town? Even though they had signed a contract and established an alliance, it seemed she still didn't trust him completely.
Rather than concern, it felt more like anxiety. She was indeed a clever girl.
However, Roy didn't point this out and instead spoke openly about where he was headed.
"The local church."
"?"
"?"
…
About last night, Emiya Kiritsugu encountered a Dead Apostle committing a crime on his way back to the hotel, so he used the black keys provided by Kotomine Kirei to take them down.
Unfortunately, while he was taking action, he happened to be seen by people from the church, and he was then invited back to the church for tea, where he was asked for help.
So now he needed to visit the local church to rescue Emiya Kiritsugu and discuss the issue of the Dead Apostles.
What a troublesome time.
