"So, where should we start?"
In the reception room of the Goda Church, Eiri Fumizuka poured a cup of tea for each of the two people at the table and pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
As for the group of Executors who had been with him just now, they had long since split up from him to pursue the Dead Apostle, Nero Chaos.
Originally, as the acting priest of the local church, he should have joined their operation. But the situation back at the tunnel was truly concerning, and Eiri Fumizuka was also a little curious as to how the two before him had managed to hold out until he and the others arrived.
"That person... what exactly was he?"
Aozaki Rin paused for a mont before speaking first. After all, back on the train, he could only sense that the scent of blood on Nero Chaos was extrely strong and that he had a feeling different from that of a human.
"A Dead Apostle. Perhaps you can simply understand it as... a vampire."
"A vampire?"
Aozaki Rin blinked, as if sowhat surprised by the appearance of this word.
In his understanding, weren't creatures like "vampires" supposed to exist only in stories...?
Seeing that the boy was confused, Eiri Fumizuka sat down and patiently explained.
"Rin, although you may find it hard to believe, the truth is that creatures like Dead Apostles have always existed in our world, and they have always been our enemies. It's just that the Church, through certain ans, has concealed matters related to them from the public."
"So, that person... is there any difference between a Dead Apostle and a regular vampire?"
After adapting and accepting the facts presented in the other's words, Aozaki Rin couldn't help but ask again.
If the so-called Dead Apostles were no different from the vampires in stories, then could they only be defeated by using sunlight, or things like silver crosses and garlic?
"That Dead Apostle is a little special. Before I explain, I should first explain to you how ordinary Dead Apostles co to be."
Eiri Fumizuka once again pushed up his slightly slipping glasses. At this mont, his deanor seed more like that of a teacher giving a lecture.
"Generally speaking, the vast majority of Dead Apostles are transford from humans through certain processes. When a person's blood is sucked by a vampire, due to the vampire's blood remaining in their body, they will first beco like a marionette, unable to act on their own, a [The Dead] whose only purpose is to supply blood to its parent."
"But there are exceptions. With about a one percent probability, a [The Dead] will retain its original consciousness. Then, after a certain period of growth, they will beco the low-class vampires we commonly know that fear the sun. The Church calls this stage the [Ghoul]."
"After that, also requiring luck and aptitude, after a [Ghoul] has regained its ability to think, it will enter the [The Undead] stage, where it no longer fears the sun. Of course, this does not an they are truly immortal, but rather refers to their state as being like the living dead. They have a human appearance and partial human thought, but lack the breath of life."
"As for what cos after, it is usually a rather rare existence. With perhaps a one in a thousand chance, an [The Undead], after a long period of ti, will successively enter the [Night-kin] stage, where they have physical abilities that surpass humans, and the [Night-fiend] stage, where they can gradually master a certain special power... After these two stages is the pinnacle that an ordinary vampire can reach, which is the lowest rank of [Dead Apostle]."
Explaining as he went, Eiri Fumizuka casually poured himself a cup of tea to wet his throat, then continued.
"However, the Dead Apostle you encountered tonight happens to not belong to the category of 'ordinary vampires.' That Dead Apostle can be said to be the pinnacle of most vampires, an existence known as an [Ancestor]."
"He himself has been nad [Nero Chaos] by the Church and is one of the several dozen most dangerous Dead Apostles in the world."
"And so..." Aozaki Touko seed to snap out of her thoughts, her finger lightly tapping the table as she frowned. "...Why would one of the [Twenty-seven Ancestors] co to Misaki City?"
"We're not very clear on that ourselves; it's still under investigation. After all, the actions of an [Ancestor] of that level are usually not so casual. He must have co here specifically with so purpose. Thanks to that, for the disappearances a while ago, the neighboring cities all thought it was just ordinary Dead Apostle activity and wanted to pull over for a hand. I never expected that in the blink of an eye, it would happen here, and that it would even be an [Ancestor]... You could say our luck is quite bad."
Eiri Fumizuka sighed as if complaining, but at the end, he changed the subject.
"By the way, how did you two manage to hold out against that Dead Apostle for so long? After investigating the wreckage of that train, it doesn't seem like the damage was caused by him. Was it your doing, Touko? Also, did he say anything?"
Aozaki Rin subconsciously wanted to answer, but under the table, Touko suddenly placed a hand on his thigh, signaling for him to be quiet as she took over.
"I just happened to have so magic tools with and accidentally broke the train. If you had co any later, Rin and I probably would have been captured. But that guy did seem to say he was looking for soone, though we don't know the specifics."
"...I see."
Gazing at Aozaki Touko's expression, which seed to be complaining about "what terrible luck today," Eiri Fumizuka was silent for a few seconds. He then glanced at the boy beside her, a gentle smile on his face, and did not press further.
"Well, I generally understand the situation now. In a sense, this incident was indeed a lapse on the Church's part. You two should go ho and rest first. If you're really worried, you can stay here for the night. Even if that Dead Apostle is an [Ancestor], he wouldn't be so bold as to attack the Church directly."
"No, thank you. We'd rather stay at our own place."
Aozaki Touko declined Eiri Fumizuka's suggestion. Taking the boy's hand, she prepared to leave.
After all, too many things had happened tonight, and she needed to sort out her thoughts properly.
"Well then, goodbye, Father Fumizuka."
Aozaki Rin said goodbye politely, and the young priest nodded with a smile.
However, just as the two siblings were about to step out of the room, Eiri Fumizuka, as if rembering sothing, suddenly spoke up.
"Oh right, there's one thing I forgot to tell you. Although it's the Church's responsibility that a Dead Apostle ran loose in Misaki, the Church can only cover part of the compensation fee for the train. After all, it seems you were the one who destroyed it, Touko."
The young priest pushed up his glasses, a friendly smile on his face, but the words he spoke felt "terrifying."
"So... when is the Aozaki family prepared to pay for that portion of the damages?"
As his voice fell, the two siblings, who were just about to step out of the door, imdiately froze in place.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (110 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (210 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (210 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by (100 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (90 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Ga as Yoriichi (250 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (100 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (80 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(70 Chapter)
Uma Musu : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (50 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kan Rider (60 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (50 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (30 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (50 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.
User Comments
0 comments from readers