BlazBlue – Phase 0 Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Reality's Red

———Log 4

The Takamagahara System. A supreme program humanity has attained. There is a theory that said its development was influenced by the Original Unit.

Once, humanity had tried using it by trying to interfere with the Master Unit.

The Master Unit is located on the other side of the Boundary.

First of all, it's not possible to interfere with it without making contact with the Boundary itself.

What I and Relius are currently constructing is the object needed for that purpose.

The Boundary.

He called it a gate.

The Sheol Gate, that is.

Some say Sheol to be underworld, meaning the realm of the dead.

Our research is progressing smoothly. It's precisely because of it that I keep feeling threatened day by day.

Is it really going to be fine if we make a contact with the Boundary?

Will discovering it be the biggest mistake in human history?

I'm frightened. I'm afraid of it being completed.

I have a feeling that our research will unleash something terrible.

If that time ever comes, then I...

Part 1

After getting in Rachel's teleportation circle, Ragna and Celica arrived at an old castle that had a majestic feel on it.

The grey stone walls were completely covered with thick ivy. The intimidating gate that was too big for a human to use was both astonishing and eerie at the same time.

For some reason, it was night. Dawn never came here.

A place eternally cloaked by night.

A place that was nowhere.

A place that was connected to everywhere yet could be reached from nowhere.

That was the residence of the Alucard.

Once they arrived, a butler immediately carried Mitsuyoshi inside the castle.

Ragna and Celica followed little Rachel to the parlor and were told to wait there. Both of them sat side by side on a refined antique sofa.

Even though the appearance had a feeling akin to ghosts appearing at any moment, the interior was exceedingly relaxing and elegant. The room was lined up with an immodest amount of ornaments and tasteful furnishings.

Despite all of it, Ragna seemed to be very uncomfortable.

Celica looked nervous as she examined the room. A while ago, the st.u.r.dy male butler had brought some teacups. She took one, but immediately put it back on top of a bulky table before even tasting it.

She repeated that motion several times. Then, the parlor's door slowly opened.

"I have to apologize for keeping you waiting, honored guests."

Along with the soft but deep voice of a man, a wheelchaired elderly gentleman entered the room. The room's interiors felt dull as n.o.bility oozed from him.

His hair had become completely white. The severely thin skin was already decaying. But those characteristics only increased his dignity.

The butler who served the black tea from earlier was pushing the wheelchair until the aged man was on the other side of table from Ragna and Celica, facing both of them. Then, he smiled with his deeply wrinkled mouth.

His narrow eyes, which were his only body part not appearing to be declining, were vivid red.

"This is the first time we meet. I am the current head of the Alucard family, Clavis Alucard. This here is the man presently employed as my butler, Valkenhayn."

With his thin hand, Clavis pointed to the man who was standing by behind him. The stern-looking butler introduced as Valkenhayn bowed.

"Valkenhayn..."

Ragna repeated the name he had heard. Ragna recognized that man's name. However, the 'Valkenhayn' before his eyes was a man at his prime, contrast with the 'Valkenhayn' he knew who was an old man.

(...This guy too, huh?)

There was a knowledge of people and others in his memory, but he couldn't accurately picture it. That was the case with Mitsuyoshi, Rachel, and now Valkenhayn.

Clavis continued on as he put his hand on a small figure close to him.

"Moving on... This child's name is Rachel Alucard. She is my daughter."

"Daughter?"

The person who was doubtful was Ragna. Clavis laughed softly.

"Haha. I guess if you looked from a human's perspective, it would have been more acceptable to say that she was my grandchild. Or perhaps, even my great-grandchild?"

"Aah, it's not that. Well, saying her as your daughter at that age sure sounds fishy... No, that's not it. If you're Rachel's parent, are you a vampire then?"

"Kid. Watch your way of talking toward Clavis-sama!"

Hearing Ragna's disrespectful manner of speaking, Valkenhayn, who was behind the aged man, scowled at him with a grim face.

Unafraid, Ragna was ready to talk back. But before he could do it, Clavis raised his hand to soothe and control the situation.

"Indeed. Rachel and I are both vampires. ...A thousand years has pa.s.sed and made me forget about my age. However, I have witnessed many eras of mankind in those thousand years."

"A thousand years..."

"Do you find it hard to believe, young lady?"

"N-No, it's not like that...! I'm only a bit surprised."

Faced with a graceful smile, Celica suddenly fl.u.s.tered and shook her head.

A vampire who had lived for more than a thousand years. Ragna and Celica couldn't imagine for someone to live for such a long period of time.

"Well then, Sir Ragna and Miss Celica."

Repositioning his fingers, Clavis calmly began to talk.

Ragna and Celica were surprised since Clavis knew their name before they even introduced themselves. But because it was Clavis, it felt like he would know even the secrets of their births unknown to themselves.

"I apologize for suddenly bringing you to this desolate place. Originally, it was Mitsuyoshi alone that was supposed to be brought here... However, it seems my daughter felt uneasy to just leave both of you there and decided to bring you along."

Clavis looked over his daughter with affection. Rachel, the girl who was being talked about, seemed uninterested and turned her face way to another direction.

"Um. Is Mitsuyoshi-san going to be fine?"

Celica leaned forward. She had been waiting to ask it because she was so concerned about him.

"But of course. He is presently receiving medical treatment in the inner section of the castle. His condition was terrible, but there is nothing life threatening. So, please be calm."

"That's great..."

Letting out a big sigh, Celica felt relieved.

Ragna also let out a sigh of relief.

"To survive from a fight against the Black Beast. Beastkins really are tough, aren't they?"

"Aah... Mitsuyoshi seems to misunderstand it too. The black mist that all of you encountered was not the Black Beast."

"Eh?!"

Celica raised her voice in surprise while Clavis calmly continued on despite the situation.

"That was a remnant of Black Beast. Although its purpose is still uncertain, it was left behind at the area where Black Beast manifested and will annihilate anything it sees that comes near. Albeit it is a part of the Black Beast, it is merely a tiny portion of it."

"Then, what actually is the Black Beast...?"

Ragna's face was clouded with unrest as he asked. Uneasiness was also floating on Clavis' eyes.

"Naturally, it is not on the same scale as the black mist from earlier."

It was more powerful, frightening, and irrational.

The fragment of Black Beast that Clavis called a remnant didn't have any arms or legs. Just how much of a fear symbolized the real form of Black Beast, vaguely thought Ragna. On the contrary, he couldn't even imagine on how to stop it.

"Nonetheless, the inside of that remnant was particularly dense. Perhaps it had been concealed there for such a long period of time and acc.u.mulated a great number of remains. Even with someone of Mitsuyoshi's caliber, it is not something you would easily defeat."

"...You seem to know Mitsuyoshi very well."

"Aah, that I do."

"Just then, you said you were planning to bring Mitsuyoshi back, right? Does it mean the one who ordered Mitsuyoshi to catch Shuuichirou Ayatsuki was you?"

Celica gasped. Her huge eyes widened on that harsh reality that made her stare at Clavis.

Ragna and Celica. Clavis was showered by both of their gazes, and yet he didn't flinch even a bit as he nodded.

Then, Celica forcefully stood up from the table.

"Why!? Father isn't someone who would do dangerous things! He always does what he considered the best for people!"

"...You are Professor Ayatsuki's daughter, are you not?"

"Y-Yes."

Clavis' voice was soft but dignified. Both of Celica's hands rested on top of her knees, gripped tightly. With nervousness on her face, she straightened herself.

"Perhaps fate has seen it fit that we should meet. Now that it has come to this, I shall tell both of you a story... It is but an old man's tale. It is a bit long, so please have patience in listening to it."

From here on, Clavis moved on to the real issue at hand. Closing his pale eyelids, he took a deep breath. As if reading to them about a legendary story, he began to speak.

"It was a very long, long time ago... In a certain place called j.a.pan, an object called the Susano'o Unit was excavated. It was a mysterious object n.o.body had ever seen before. Then, mankind wondered if they could find more were they to continue excavating. Everywhere and anywhere, they dug through. Finally, they discovered... the Cauldron."

Deep down below the surface, the gigantic cauldron abruptly opened its mouth.

The inside was filled with red flames dancing around as if it hiding something beneath. When peeking inside, for some reason there was a temptation to be swallowed by it. Those were the rumors circulating around that time in the actual place.

"On the opposite side of the Cauldron, there was something called the Boundary that had spread out. A different dimension from the world humanity lived in, a truly bizarre s.p.a.ce. Charmed by great curiosity, mankind proceeded to delve deep to the depths of the Boundary... Deep within, they located something that had a purpose. It was called the Master Unit. ...It was an existence humanity referred to as a G.o.d. Humanity then constructed the Takamagahara System to control the Boundary and to try to make a contact with the Master Unit."

"Something like... getting closer with G.o.d?"

"No. It was to kill G.o.d."

Clavis spoke those dangerous words with a nonchalant and composed manner.

"...Shuuichirou Ayatsuki developed something as a subst.i.tute for the Takamagahara System. Something to contact the Boundary, and reach the Master Unit deep within... The Kusanagi."

"Kusanagi..."

Dumbfounded, Celica repeated the word.

That was what her father had been seeking. A tool to reach G.o.d. Then, if possible, a weapon that might kill G.o.d.

"Why would Father create such a thing...?"

"Well, now. I myself do not know the reason. For humanity to once develop the Takamagahara System and attempt to kill G.o.d at the same time... It perhaps might have been something to do out of curiosity. However, I deemed that experiment to be dangerous. Therefore, in order to prevent it, I dispatched Mitsuyoshi to recover the prime field... But it seemed I was too late. He had already completed it and performed the test experimentation as well."

Clavis shut his mouth for a moment. It was only for a brief amount of time, but it was enough for Ragna to guess what happened next.

"...And then, the Black Beast appeared, right?"

"Exactly. The Black Beast was born from the Cauldron that was discovered in the same place as the Susano'o Unit. That place, too, was where they conducted the test experiment."

Shuuichirou Ayatsuki had made contact with the Boundary, and from the Boundary the Black Beast came. If it was only based on that fact, it was possible to say that his experiment had unleashed the Black Beast.

Celica hung her head. Her long hair weakly slipped from the nape of her neck to her chest. The hands on her knees clenched tightly.

"Is my father... still alive?"

"I do not know. It has only been a few days since we have learned the truth that his experiment was conducted in the same place where the Black Beast had appeared, as well as the same time. But if we could hear the details of the story from Shuuichirou Ayatsuki himself, we might be able to get hold of clues regarding the Black Beast."

Having spoken that far, Clavis sunk his frail body into the wheelchair. Fatigue ran across him as he exhaled a deep, long breath.

A vampire that could age and also become tired. Ragna got an interest to that unusual notion.

"...The Black Beast. It is a monster born from the Boundary... no, it is the Boundary itself. It is not something a man should a.s.sociate with. Humanity is still immature. Although their immaturity was the reason for their curiosity, a contact with the Boundary must not happen."

Feeling gloomy as if he was reciting a poem of folklore, Clavis' voice was filled with weariness as he spoke.

"Before long, it seems humanity will shift to the next 'phase'. However, this is not the 'destruction' that was needed for that purpose. It is simply a 'ma.s.sacre'. ...The Black Beast cannot be ignored. Otherwise..."

"...We will undoubtedly meet our demise."

With Clavis' statement, an uncomfortable feeling somehow struck Ragna deep within his mind.

Within that instant, Ragna himself was incapable to understand what it was. What he understood was... even though Clavis and Rachel were both vampires, something in their fundamental parts made them feel like two different ent.i.ties.

More than that trivial uneasiness, Ragna now felt the weight of Clavis' prediction. The truth, which was borne from his soft tone of conveying that story, felt as cold as ice.

It was as if Clavis could see the fragments of humanity's future downfall.

"After Mitsuyoshi has recovered, I once again will request him to seek Shuuichirou Ayatsuki. I will leave what both of you will do to your own judgment. However..."

As if dispersing the tension, Clavis smiled gently.

"Before that time comes, please take comfort and rest yourselves here. It has been only a short while after your encounter with the remnant of Black Beast. Even if you haven't noticed it yet, I am sure that some fatigues must have acc.u.mulated within. Valkenhayn will prepare the rooms, so until then, ease yourselves in this room."

After saying it as if he was facing a relative's children, Clavis left the parlor with Valkenhayn and Rachel following him.

Before long, Valkenhayn returned to the room although not much time had pa.s.sed. He guided Ragna and Celica to the guest rooms on the second floor of the mansion.

Although Mitsuyoshi's injuries were not as serious as they had expected, there wasn't any reason for them to leave this place in a hurry.

As the fatigues they were shouldering finally caught up with them, Ragna and Celica took upon the appreciated generosity from Clavis.

Part 2

For some reason, the vast ground where Clavis' castle was located in was confined in night. There were thick clouds hanging on the dark sky. From their crevices, the circular moon with its silver surface was peeking through.

Instead of obediently lying down on the elegant bed inside the guest room, which was given to rest in, Ragna decided to stroll around the garden that was encircling the castle.

While he was walking, he compared the visible sceneries with the ones within his memory that was steadily getting clearer.

Ragna had been brought to the residence of Alucard by Rachel for countless times. But what he had seen at those times wasn't an eerie old castle with jutting spires, but rather a more magnificent castle with overflowing elegance.

The surroundings were comprised of a garden with roses in full bloom. Now, it was only an untrimmed and ivy infested mess of a neglected garden.

The feeling, as if the atmosphere was detached from time, was identical. Still, what was actually visible was different.

It wasn't only the structure and garden. The Rachel whom Ragna knew was slightly more mature. Valkenhayn wasn't a man at this prime, but rather an old man with a white beard.

And within Rachel's castle, a person named Clavis didn't exist.

If there was something to consider...

"Hey, Rabbit!"

Cutting off his thought midway, Ragna recklessly walked toward a small figure that was standing within the neglected garden.

Resembling rabbit's ears, her straightened black ribbons swayed around. Rachel, who was younger than what Ragna remembered, turned around slightly.

"...Who do you think you are? Why is it that you have to keep referring me as a mere rabbit every time you address me?"

Feeling very unpleasant, Rachel spoke in her young voice.

With a scorn look, she stared at Ragna. But he just burst out laughing.

"Heh. Even if you look more like a brat now, that irritating way you talk is the same as usual. It makes me feel relieved though."

"You're truly presumptuous. What an eyesore."

"Whoa. Where are you going?"

Her twin tails fluttering as she turned to leave, but Ragna grabbed her shoulder.

"I have a ton of things you need to hear."

"I don't feel the need to listen to your story."

"Just hear me out. I don't understand what the h.e.l.l's going on here anymore!"

Although he raised his voice, there wasn't much strength in his tone. To be frank, Ragna was relying on her.

Rachel Alucard. There was no mistaking her name.

When he came to, his right arm and right eye couldn't work. In the world that he felt out of place, she was the first person he met who also previously existed in his memory.

"What's going on with me? Where is this? What the h.e.l.l's happening!? If it's you, then you should know the answer, right!?"

"...Unhand me."

"Then answer. I'll let you go if you do."

"Unhand me at once, you insolent man!"

Along with her angry voice, a flash of lightning came from the sky. It hit Ragna's hand that had been grabbing Rachel's shoulder.

"Guh...!"

Sparks scattered. Ragna was repelled and immediately his back hit the hedge behind him. The withered hard branches, which were as if time had halted for it, pierced Ragna's body much like needles.

"That hurts... The h.e.l.l do you think you're doing!?"

"That is my line."

Ragna brushed several twigs as he raised his body. Meanwhile, Rachel pierced him with her cold gaze.

"From the very beginning, you have been acting overly familiar with me despite it being our first meeting. I will speak nothing more to a savage like yourself who doesn't even have the slightest bit of manners. a.s.sociating myself with the likes of you will only serve to lower my dignity."

Rachel's words flowed like a song as she criticized Ragna. However, those harsh words and mocking glance mattered little to Ragna for now. There was something else that caught his attention.

"Hey... First meeting? Whose with who?"

His voice became stiff.

Rachel's face grown more and more sullen.

"Have your ears rotted away? Obviously yours and mine, lowlife."

Those words were casually spoken from the childish voice, yet it struck directly to Ragna's brain. It was really shocking for him.

"Hey. Your joke's gone too far. Aren't you Rachel Alucard?"

If Rachel didn't know him, who else would Ragna seek a.s.surance from? Ragna held his head that was starting to get dizzy.

Immediately, he began to think that he wasn't an ent.i.ty that should have existed in this world.

"How about if you continue to tell what you have in mind with me instead, young man?"

Between the grimacing Rachel and bewildered Ragna, a composed voice cut between them.

Ragna and Rachel turned to voice at the same time.

Operating the wheelchair by his own hands, Clavis slowly manuevered toward them. Clavis' presence within the ivy-infested abandoned garden made him look just like that of a ghost. Behind him, his shadow seemed to become more distinct.

"Rachel. I want to have a talk with this young man for a little while. Are you fine with it?"

"...But of course, dear Father."

Rachel slightly picked up the hem of her lengthy dress and gave her old father a well-mannered bow. She then lightly poked the ground with her shoes. Slightly, her tiptoes floated from the ground, and then she left the place by riding the night wind.

As she left, Rachel took a glance at Ragna. She didn't feel a slightest bit of familiarity toward him. However, he seemed to be confused as if he were searching for something, based on his appearance.

"You appear to have known Rachel, have you not?"

Looking at Ragna watch the little figure that was leaving, Clavis expressed a smile as he spoke.

Ragna roughly scratched his head.

"Yeah. But the Rachel I know looks a little older than this."

"Ohh. So you have the privilege of knowing what kind of lady she will grow up to be. I cannot help but feel a little jealous."

Since it was spoken as if it were a common everyday conversation, Ragna almost overlooked what he said.

There was some particular hidden meaning in Clavis' words. The present Rachel would grow to be the Rachel he knew.

The smile in Clavis' eyes changed as they narrowed. His red eyes were filled with concern. Within their depths, there were wisdoms that Ragna hadn't known.

"Sir Ragna. Have all of your memories returned yet?"

"How do you...?"

Ragna stopped mid-sentence. He hadn't known about the man named Clavis Alucard that well. But he was certain that this old vampire knew just about everything.

On the other hand, the Rachel whom Ragna knew was also knowledgeable in everything. But she always kept them to herself.

"Not yet. Not all of them... I think."

Ragna ma.s.saged his temple roughly with his fingers while giving his straight answer. He could feel a dull pain coming from the inside of his head.

"Hey, mister. If you know what's going on, then tell me. The more I remember, the more confusing things get. Is this the world I know? Enough of this, my head's getting all weird."

Unknown common knowledge, unknown cities, unknown incidents. The world where the Black Beast appeared six years ago.

"Mm," said Clavis as he crossed his fingers on top of his knees.

"Then, I shall ask you the most recent of those memories you have recovered... Can you tell me what year this is?"

"...2199 AD. Nah, we just had a new year so it should be 2200 AD."

"This is presently the year of 2106 AD, young man."

"......"

Ragna fell silent. Clavis continued talking.

"You are starting to realize it, are you not? This place... Or rather, this period is ninety-four years prior to the period you had lived in. In other words, you are currently existing in the past."

He calmly accepted those words which had been stabbed at him. His confused mind tried to comprehend it, but it surprisingly didn't take too long.

Ragna suspected something based on what Clavis had said. But he deemed it too dumb to be true.

It was probably because of his disordered memories. That should be impossible. He couldn't have just ended up back in ninety-four years in the past, when humanity fought for their lives against the Black Beast in an era called the Dark War.

"...Even I do not have the answer regarding why you arrived to this time and age. Likewise, I do not know any means to send you back to your time."

Clavis looked up at the silver moon in the sky. His figure felt strangely faint. It was as if he would just melt and disappear within the weak moonlight that was pouring from the rifts between the clouds.

Vampires lived a long life, but none had immortality. Perhaps there was only a little left of life for Clavis. Ninety-nine years to come, he would not exist in the Alucard residence. Ragna made that guess while he stared at the pale and elderly vampire's profile.

"However, young man. Romantically speaking, perhaps your arrival to this period is not a cruel coincidence."

"What do you mean?"

"There are duties that you have to accomplish in this era, guided by fate. And thus, since your deeds will be required from one place to the next, your line of path will someday become a giant circle... "

With a tone that sounded more like he was telling a prophecy, Clavis looked somewhat happy.

Since he felt uneasy of being treated like a child, even though he wasn't one anymore, Ragna had a sullen face.

"If that's what you think, shouldn't you explain whatever those tasks are, in case it becomes true? It'll make things go easier."

"I do not know anything of it. I am but a powerless old man, and can do nothing but observe from this place."

Clavis stretched his pale fingers into the shrubbery which was similar like a labyrinth. There was an ivy creeping from within the foliage. His bloodless fingertips traced its leaves.

"Much like this castle, I am ensnared by the ivy. I can no longer move from here. The one who can act is not me, but the living mankind."

Ragna couldn't think of any reply, so he kept silent. He knew what Clavis meant. But he had thought if mankind, including himself, could do what Clavis had expected, even though it was pretty vague.

"I wanna ask something."

"Very well, if it is within my capability."

Ragna was bewildered by Clavis' calm manner. The vampires that Ragna had in mind had a much harsher image stuck to them.

Unable to make up his mind which of the two att.i.tudes were better, Ragna fixed his eyes on the old gentleman sitting on the wheelchair as if observing him.

"Looking at you and hearing your words, it seems you’re extremely supportive toward mankind. You've done things like trying to stop the experiment of Celica's old man, and then searching for him to get info about the Black Beast. And you don't even get any benefit from doing all that."

Instead the actions were aimed for the better of mankind. He couldn't help thinking that.

"Mister, are you a protector of mankind?"

"...Protector? I cannot even imagine performing something so outrageous."

Quietly, Clavis' muttering was mixed with a sigh. Like the ivy, his voice was melting away silently into the darkness. But having never completely disappeared, a meager strength crept back to his voice.

"I do not wish for the apocalypse. Humans do what human does. Beasts do what beast does. Fishes do what fish does. If I am able to give a slight a.s.sistance so that they are able to survive, then I will do so."

Clavis slid his fingers away from the ivy smoothly. He put those hands on the wheels of his wheelchair before heavily pulling himself away from the thick shrubbery.

"I grow tired. I apologize that I have to end this long conversation here. I have to return to the mansion soon."

"...Yeah. Don't overdo it, Gramps."

"Hahaha. To think that I would see the day when a human lad would worry for my well-being. It seems I have lived quite a long life."

Clavis' shoulders jolted as if it were the happiest laughter he had let out all day. Then as if gliding, Clavis operated his wheelchair. He headed toward a pathway within the neglected garden that was overrun with weeds. While on his route, he casually looked back at Ragna.

"Young man. Live true to your heart. If you have done at least that much, the path you should take shall be clear."

Even when they are already a distance apart, he could hear Clavis' voice clearly.

The wheelchair started to move again. Clavis returned back to the eerie castle that stood still amidst the night sky.

Ragna didn't move from that spot. Since Clavis didn't necessarily need any kind of aid, he felt unnecessary to chase after him now and help push the wheelchair.

He reflected on something while staring at the faint scenery of the departing Clavis.

"True to my heart, huh? Even if you say that..." he thought.

However, something else suddenly came to his mind.

Ninety-four years ago. Right in the middle of the Dark War. According to Ragna's vague memories of history, the Black Beast would be defeated in a few years.

By the hands of six heroic people.

In that case, the Six Heroes should be somewhere within the earth during this period. His master who taught him how to wield sword, Jubei. Hak.u.men. Nine. Valkenhayn. Another one whose name wasn't recorded in the formal history.

And then, Yuuki Terumi.

If he were able to find the one who was related to Black Beast's appearance, Shuuichirou Ayatsuki, he might get his hands on information regarding Terumi.

If it was Terumi, then it was possible that he could recognize Ragna. Ragna might also able to search for a way to return to his own time. If things went well, maybe even kill that b.a.s.t.a.r.d...

Before he knew it, his right hand clenched tightly.

"Hm...? It's moving?"

Until now, he could only twitch his right hand's fingers. He couldn't feel any sensation to it, but just now, it was able to move up until the wrist.

(Is it... healing?)

Now that his right hand could move, he would be able to fight more decently. It seemed the situation had changed for the better, even if it was only a little.

Ragna clenched his right hand once more before taking a huge step toward the eerie castle.

Part 3

Returning to the old castle, Ragna walked along the silent yet peaceful hallway. He then stopped on front of a door with an old-fashioned k.n.o.b.

The candlesticks illuminating the hallway were equally s.p.a.ced. It gave off a whimsical feel of a dream, but also the same uncanny atmosphere. The lights from flames which never seemed to fade were flickering. Their movements were indications that Ragna was there. The flickers caused many folds of shadows squirming within the surroundings.

It was very eerie. Feeling a chill on his back, Ragna turned to face the door. Hesitating a bit, he pounded the door.

Immediately, there were sounds like someone was moving around the room. Then, he could hear some light footsteps approaching him.

The guest room actually had a lock attached on the door, but the room's occupant didn't seem to lock it. Without any caution, the door was thrown open. Celica appeared from the inside.

"Ah, Ragna. What's the matter?"

"Nah, nothing's going on... Say, you're surprisingly normal, aren't you?"

Ragna muttered with anticlimactic tone. As the result, Celica pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Hey, what do you mean by surprisingly normal? Sure, mine isn't as big as Onee-chan's, but the most important thing is balance. Besides, I'm not sure if guys get it, but bigger isn't always better, you know?"

"Wait, wait, wait. What are you talking about?"

The talk was going off to an odd direction. Ragna was troubled by her suggestive response.

"Since a lot things have happened, I thought you might be depressed or something. And so, I came to check. But you just acted like nothing happened. That's why I said 'normal'."

Inside her father's completely changed workplace, they encountered a remnant of the Black Beast. The uncertainty of whether her father was still alive, as well as the story they had heard from Clavis. What the girl in her mid-teens experienced all at once should be a little depressing.

Celica blinked in surprise for several times while she looked at Ragna. Then the corner of her eyes wrinkled as she smiled.

"So you're worried about me."

"...It's nothing like that."

"There you go again. It's good to not be shy about it. I already know Ragna is a kind person."

She said it with an unconcerned expression that had made him unable to respond. Ragna's face grew sour as he averted his eyes.

"You want to get in? Come in," said Celica as she took a step back into the room. Ragna looked inside the identical borrowed room from the opposite side. It was a first-cla.s.s interior everywhere his eye could see.

Ragna truly wondered what kind of guest would come to this secluded place.

"Nah, I'll come back soon."

"Is that so?"

"Besides, don't just let guys come into your room so easily."

Even though this wasn't the first time, Ragna was still amazed at Celica's carelessness.

Ragna sighed. Like a child, Celica looked at him mischievously.

"Are you going to do something to me?"

"LIKE h.e.l.l I AM!!"

"Ahaha, I know."

Hearing on Celicia's refreshing laugh, Ragna felt like his whole strength had left his body. His shoulders slumped.

...Simultaneously, all uneasiness within him faded away as well.

He was envious on the girl's way to laugh.

"...Hey."

"What is it, Ragna?"

"About your old man... What are you going to do?"

Ragna asked while looking straight into Celica's eyes. Her eyes' color was the color of soil after getting drenched by rain. Ragna didn't have the slightest idea of what kind of face that was reflected on those eyes.

"I'm going to find him."

"Even after hearing that talk?"

It's not like they just casually doubted Mitsuyoshi's words, but Clavis was a lot more convincing when he told the story once more.

Shuuichirou Ayatsuki was related to the appearance of the Black Beast. That much was clear.

Even so, Celica nodded while smiling.

"Of course. It's for that very reason that I've come this far. No matter what he did, Father is still my father. It's not to make sure what the truth actually is, but it's because I'm worried about him."

"If you do find him, won't he become a public enemy?"

"I'm still going to find him."

There wasn't a single hesitation within Celica.

Ragna was taken aback by the immediate reply.

"If he did something bad, then he will have to apologize. If he didn't, then he will have to give an explanation. After Father tells everything he knows, everyone will use it as a foundation and then think of a way to deal with the Black Beast."

"It won't be that smooth."

"Then I'll do my best to keep it as smooth as possible!"

Celica grasped both of hands tightly with a jerk to her chest.

"I trust my father. I have faith in him since he's my father. Although everyone said bad things about Father, I'll still say I love him even when I'm alone."

His chest felt heavy. Ragna didn't know the cause as he grit his teeth.

Celica's eyes looked warm as she stared at Ragna. Ragna unconsciously hoped within his heart that sorrow would never stained those warm eyes.

"And besides, anyone is able to do their best. If people around the world really do their best together, surely the world will become a beautiful place. ...And the Black Beast will be defeated, too."

It was not a wish, but rather a belief.

He felt Celica was naïve since she declared it without any basis whatsoever. But he didn't dislike that naïvety.

Ragna raised the edge of his lips and smiled.

"If you've decided that you'll search for your old man, then that's fine. I'll keep on accompanying you. I want to meet your old man, too."

"Then we'll be going together again! Yay!"

Celica clapped both of her hands while her hair was swaying around since she was excited. Feeling that she would jump at him anytime, Ragna took a step back.

Just as he expected, she recklessly swung her hands in the air. Amused by her action, Ragna burst out laughing while placing his hand on Celica's head.

"You're not some kind of kid that's getting excited for a trip. Go to sleep already."

"Okaaay."

Celica replied obediently as her eyes squinted in delight. Ragna playfully gave a satisfactory nod.

He took his hand from Celica and turned around.

"See ya."

"Ah, Ragna!"

Facing Ragna's back, Celica jumped out into the hallway and shouted.

"Thanks for worrying about me. Let's do our best together!"

"Yeah, yeah."

While waving his hand over his shoulder, Ragna entered the neighboring guest room.

His uneasiness had eased. Rather unsightly, Ragna removed his sword from his waist and collapsed onto the sofa at the same time. There was a bed in the room, but he couldn't sleep well on such a soft place with that kind of surface.

He had planned to cheer her up, but he had been cheered up instead.

He was strangely getting used to being affected by Celica's smiling face.

He didn't give a thought about his memory or his original time, but it was much simpler. He felt that he wanted to become her strength.

But there was no way to be sure that if it was a good or a bad thing.

As he brushed away the hair that was bothering him, Ragna suddenly noticed something.

His right hand, which was able to move slightly while he was in the abandoned garden earlier, couldn't be moved again. He was sure that his hand had been able to clench before, but now even his little finger couldn't move.

"Tch... The h.e.l.l's with it? It went back to before it's moving."

Even if he cursed it, it still couldn't be moved.

Ragna let out a huge sigh over his numerous thoughts toward Celica, as well as his acceptance for the right arm's condition. But for the time being, he just wanted to sleep.

Part 4

It was the next day after they had spent a night in the Alucard's residence.

Ragna and Celica arrived in j.a.pan for the second time.

The sky was clear and devoid of any clouds. Its blue color was covered in murkiness, much like diluted ink that was stretched faraway.

But it didn't feel pleasant there. The sky was dead silent as there wasn't even a tiny bit of breeze there. Coupled with the warm temperature that didn't belong under any season, it felt absolutely unpleasant.

Noon should have ended sometime soon.

Via magic, they had arrived in j.a.pan during morning from the Alucard residence, which was always enclosed by night. Their heads and bodies were unable to cope with the sudden change of environment. They had been feeling a bit out of place.

How long had they walked?

They had departed from a small abandoned city within the Kantou region of j.a.pan after being dropped off there. Now, within the landscape of rough mountain trails, Ragna was starting to feel the depth of despair for the first time.

Ragna realized how bitter regret tasted. He should have expected things would go like this. Having said that, Ragna resented himself for carelessly believing Celica's words.

It'll be fine this time.

She said it while br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence as they were about to depart from the Alucard residence, all while firmly holding the map they had received from Clavis.

"Celica."

Ragna, stopping in the middle of the mountain, called out to the back of the girl who was walking in front of him.

Even though they were in a mountain, there were no green trees around. It was as if someone had chopped them off, leaving the brown soils exposed.

Celica also halted and turned back to face Ragna. Ragna then put his left hand on the unreliable person's shoulder.

"Give up."

"You see, I think it's not good to jump at conclusion so fast. No matter what happens, we should keep our calm and..."

"Then calmly look at the outcome you've brought us to. Just accept it, and give up."

Ragna stared at Celica with a really unpleasant look on his face as he put more strength to grip her shoulder. She wouldn't understand if he wasn't saying it directly. He decided to speak more clearly.

"We're on the wrong way. We're lost. We're heading nowhere."

"We're not lost. We just don't know where we are on the map."

"Like. I. Said. That's exactly what lost is! Aaah, s.h.i.t. I really shouldn’t have left it to you..."

Déjà vu hit Ragna as he recalled the first time he met Celica. At that time, he felt the same kind of regret as well.

Celica seemed to feel a bit responsible. Once again, she stared hard at the map on her hands. Her lips thinned in confusion.

"That's funny. I'm sure we're following the path in this map."

"If you're really following the map, then you should know where we are."

The map that was entrusted by Clavis showed the vicinity of an area currently known as the 'First District'.

The First District was the land where it all began. Once, the Susano'o Unit and the Cauldron were excavated there. Eventually, it became the place where the Black Beast had first appeared. It was Ragna and Celica's destination this time.

Originally, Mitsuyoshi was supposed to visit Shuuichirou Ayatsuki's workplace that was called as the leading sampling research laboratory in the west.

But once that became nonviable, Clavis gave Celica the map so that she might be able to gather clues about Shuuichirou Ayatsuki's whereabouts.

As a courtesy, he even gave directions on how to go to the location. But he seemed to underestimate Celica's ability to get lost.

It was already impossible to get back on the right track since they didn't even know where their current location was.

Mitsuyoshi was the one who excelled at this kind of stuff. But although he had regained consciousness, he still couldn't move. Because of it, he was ordered to recuperate in Clavis' castle.

"For now, give me the map! Nothing good will come out when you hold it!"

Ragna stretched his arm to forcibly s.n.a.t.c.h the map from Celica's hand. In response, Celica twisted her body with all her might to avoid him.

"Wah! Please! Please let me have it! Let me try again! I have a feeling that we're getting close this time!"

"No way in h.e.l.l! Just give the map to..."

At that moment, a sharp noise cut through the air.

Simultaneously, he sensed a killing intent.

Ragna immediately pushed Celica down and dived to the ground. He embraced Celica close to his chest to protect her from the ground.

One moment later, something hit the ground behind Ragna. A low roaring sound gouged deep exactly in the place where Ragna had stood and blew away the dry soils.

"Wha...!?"

It had happened all of a sudden. As rain of dusts and pebbles showered his back, Ragna panicked and looked down at Celica who was lying on the hard ground.

"Hey! You okay!?"

"I-I'm fine...!"

Celica gave a small nod.

Ragna's position looked like he was holding down Celica to the ground. However, it wasn't the time to be concerned about that.

Something unknown had attacked. Perhaps it could be a remnant of the Black Beast again.

Antic.i.p.ating for another attack, Ragna stood up. As Celica was getting up too, her face froze up.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

When he looked closer, Celica's face had gone pale.

It looked like she saw something. Ragna took the sword from his waist while slowly turning around, putting himself on guard.

"...Hm?"

As he turned around, Ragna's face warped to a different complexion than Celica's.

With no wind to carry it anywhere, the cloud of dusts on the hollowed ground slowly dissipated.

What appeared on the opposite side were two human figures. They didn't appear to be bandits who attacked people that were pa.s.sing by, much less A remnant of the Black Beast.

It was two women.

The first one was a beautiful woman with tall, slender figure. Her long hair magnificently flowed down her back. Supple, long legs stretched from the tight skirt. Those legs could attract any person's eyes to them. A long mantle hung from her shoulders, while a pointy triangular hat was on top of her head. It was like an attire of a witch coming from some fairy tale.

The other person was a bit more pet.i.te and wore big gla.s.ses. She was walking slightly behind the other one, which made her seem to be accompanying the woman in the pointy hat. Her gestures were truly sophisticated. She wore a big hood, which was attached to her robe, on her head, making her look like a witch as well.

"Ah... O..."

As if strength had left her body, Celica fell, sitting down. She couldn't take her eyes off from the two figures that were approaching slowly. Rather than frightened, she was more of being extremely surprised.

"Someone you know?"

Ragna hastily asked a question toward Celica who was behind him as he examined the approaching woman in the pointy hat. She was truly a lovely lady.

Despite her beautiful appearance, the air she gave off was unexpectedly intimidating. It made all of his nerves tensed up. To put it bluntly, it was truly terrifying.

Celica spoke in a trembling voice.

"O... Onee-chan."

"Huh!?"

Ragna spontaneously looked back toward Celica and let out a disarrayed voice as if asking her again.

At that moment, the killing intent that had been rising up until now started to move.

s.h.i.t! Danger signals filled Ragna's mind. He turned his disordered head back to the front as if twisting it.

What had jumped in his vision when he turned was a tight skirt which emphasized the alluring bodyline and a firm thigh that were extending from the skirt.

The leg bent like a whip. It struck Ragna's head with a perfectly done spinning kick like it was drawing something on canvas.