Two months have passed since the incident at Warsaw. I was currently in a countryside town called "Paderborn."
It was about to be bombed, so it was pretty damn chaotic, but it wasn't like I gave a shit. What mattered was that it was Lord Heydrich's court.
I'd occupied a random empty house and woke up in one of its beds, as was usual to me.
Of course, it was night, not morning.
"Aagh... Fucking hell... Claudia! You hear me? Where the fuck are you?"
The woman was living here with me. I was the one who chose the place, but I really didn't give a shit whether she was fine with it.
It was her to be considered of my wishes, after all. Still, she was actually happy to be here. Said something about this town being for a nun.
That actually went on to cause something that was a real pain in the ass for me.
"I'm hereeee! Right here. You called? What do you need?"
"You dumbass. Why the fuck were you walking around again?"
This was what I meant. This idiot enjoyed walking in sunlight. It was like she didn't even know what she was.
Thanks to that, she always looked like she was sunburned. Getting covered in bandages because of this was a daily occurrence, and yet she never fucking learned. Something wasn't right with her head, I swear.
She could at least try and hide half-naked body from me. It was nothing worth looking at.
"Umm, would you be kind enough to help? Some parts of my body are a little hard to bandage by myself."
"You even listening to me?"
"Oh, of course I am. And I know exactly what it is you want to say. However, I would prefer it if you focused on helping people first. Men should be kind to women. Your affection would make us respond in ki—"
"Shut up. Like hell I'd do that. Fuck, if you're that conscious, then show some damn decency. Seriously, fucking look at yourself. I swear, it makes me wanna kill ya."
"Oh my! I didn't know you were capable of such consideration. What a pleasant surprise. I'm a bit moved, actually. You care for me in your own unique way."
"Damn it, you're so fucking..."
Claudia was much like Heiga in that we often had failures in communication. She was both an idiot and a pain to deal with.
"Yes, yes. I understand. You are most correct. However, whether I lose my composure or not is a matter of degree. Despite appearances, this situation does have an effect on me. Therefore, we have to do something as quickly as possible. That is best for you, as well. So please, stop being bashful and come help me."
"I'm pissed, not "bashful" or whatever. Hell, instead of coming here half-naked, why didn't you just finish the job first?"
"Because you called me."
"You idiot. You're the one who had to consider the time and place. You could've just replied and... Argh! Fuck it!"
She continued bandaging herself even as I complained, which just pissed me off more.
It wasn't like I gave in to her. I just felt that I'd have punched her if that dragged on for too long.
"Gimme that. You're so shit at this you'd take forever."
"Ow, owowow... I'm sorry, but could you please be a bit more gentle?"
"Quit whining. It's your own damn fault."
When I was a brat, I also had a fuck ton of burns like this. I pretty much conquered the sun when I became a member of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden, but it wasn't like I'd forgotten how to treat them.
I knew it didn't really suit me, but I actually knew how to handle bandages. I'd always treated my own wounds, after all.
It wasn't a fun thing to remember, though.
"Hehehe, ehehe..."
And yet, while I was feeling like shit, this damn idiot was laughing.
"What's so damn funny?"
"Nothing. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not making fun of you, I swear. It's just that... I once again realized how feeble I am... And how bright you are. We're both Noah's children, and yet you're so strong, Wilhelmina."
"..."
"What must I do to become like you? Is there some sort of trick?"
"It's really simple."
I made an effort to sound blunt and tried to control my excitement.
"Shout. Release your emotions. Don't believe in any dumb limits. Just have faith you can do it and let it all out."
I'd always awaited the moment she would do just that.
"I see. Basically, you're saying that I'm holding myself back. Very well, allow me to try. I am embarrassed right now... Embarrassed... So embarrassed that I cannot put it to words..."
For that would be the moment when I...
"Hooooo, hhhaaaahhhh..."
"Morning Bey. We're here to haaaang."
"It's nowhere near 'morning' right now. I do understand that she's nocturnal, but you should always use proper language. Anyway, Bey, if you do anything bad to Claudia, I won't just sit by and... And..."
"Ah..."
"Geh!"
"Nhuh!?"
"Kyaaaahhh..."
Okay, no. I remembered something stupid. Just skip this part.
"Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing, you rotten wretch?! I'll have your head! En Garde!"
"Oh noo! Bey's being defiled!"
"You... Fuck! Calm down and lemme explain!"
"Kyaaaahhh! Kyaaaahhh! Kyaaaahhh!"
"Shut up, dammit! Quit screaming, you dumb bitch!"
"Huh? But you told me to shout with all I had."
"Wowww, what a brute!"
"Heh, heheh, heheheheheh... That's it! I shall stomach you no longer! Let's take this outside!"
"Huh!? Fucking bring it on, bitch!"
Anyway, all you need to take from this is that the others used to visit the place.
We weren't on good terms back then — and still aren't, actually — but many of them were interested in Claudia, too.
With that in mind...
"Very well, I understand the situation here. Apologies for acting on a misunderstanding. However, I still cannot tolerate your relationship. It's simply unacceptable."
"Does it look like I give a shit what you think? No one wants you here, so just fuck off and stay away."
"Hah, laughable. You need a special kind of sense of humor to unlawfully occupy an empty house and act like you own it."
"The hell you say?"
"What I'm not wrong, am I?"
"Now now, there's no need for this, you two. Plus, I'm trying to eat here. Your squabbling will spoil my food. Hey, Claudia, may I have some more of this sauerkraut? A large portion, please."
"Of course. Eat as much as you like."
"..."
"..."
"...Umm, I'd like some more, too."
"...You're not getting any."
"Again, you have no right to decide that."
"The fuck'd you just say?"
"Come on, now. Why can't you two just get along? This is starting to get annoying."
"Exactly, we don't need such bad behavior at the table. If you wish to continue this, I will have to take away your plates. Still feel like fighting?"
"Tch..."
"Hmph!"
That stupid shit aside, these two obviously knew the reason why I had Claudia with me.
The recent summon was meant to celebrate the fact that the Obsidian Round Table found its last member; Number VII, Machina. With everyone gathered there, I'd gone and told them about her.
Rusalka Anna Schwägelin — Malleus — was pretty intrigued by that fact. After all, I was the first to suggest picking and choosing souls based on quality and strength. Well, Lord Heydrich was an exception to that, but I'll explain that later.
Malleus was clearly observing Claudia. Knowing her, she probably planned on snatching her away from me, but I wasn't about to let her. There was opposition between us, and we were basically keeping each other in check for the time being.
As for Valkyria... No, wait, I still called her by name then, so I'll go with that here, too. It's "Beatrice Waltrud von Kircheisen."
"What is it?"
"Nothing, dammit."
Anyway, me taking Claudia actually pissed her the hell off. Funny shit, coming from someone whose alias was just another name for "reaper."
Back then, I really didn't think she was worthy of the name. That was the reason why I went for "Beatrice," instead.
Since she hated "Valkyria," I could've called her that just to piss her off, but...
"I don't want you getting in my face just 'cause you're hungry."
This fucking idiot had barely eaten any souls. It was obvious she had tons of free space, but she just wasn't filling herself. Dumb bitch had no business being called "reaper."
Speaking of capacities, at this point, I'd realized that there was three who were clearly above me on that front. With the exception of Mercurius, I mean. That thing just didn't make any sense in that regard.
First was Lord Heydrich, but that was a given. He was infinitely outside the norm, and even comparing myself to Him was fuckin' stupid. The man was in a completely different realm.
The others were Machina and Schreiber. The fact that the little prick was above me pissed me off, but whatever. I just had to surpass him in quality.
If I had to name anyone else, it'd be Samiel. I really couldn't tell where to place her. She was about as empty as Beatrice, but unlike her, she wasn't half-assing it.
It could've been that she had the same idea as me, but just didn't say it out loud.
Though that being said, it didn't look like she wanted Claudia.
"Just so you're aware, I'm mad about something far more important than that. I'm looking out for you, Claudia. You need to be more considerate of yourself."
"Great, there she goes again."
"Don't you ever get tired of spouting the same shit over and over?"
"I'm not. And this isn't about that. At all."
Malleus sighed in disbelief, while I just found the whole damn situation annoying.
Claudia faintly smiled.
This had happened tons of times, and yet Beatrice played her part as if she wasn't just repeating herself.
What a bimbo.
"You do know that she plans on killing you, yes? Why would you live with her? It's insanity. A nun shouldn't be so suicidal. It goes against the teachings. Not to mention that you're a woman. Sharing a house with this man is ridiculous."
"I understand what you're saying, but... Oh, this is rather troubling."
Despite her words, she didn't seem the least bit troubled, and I probably wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Really, this idiot was on a whole different level when it came to being simple-minded.
"He saved me, so I must return the favor, even if it costs me my life. I'll repay a life with a life. That's how it should be, I think."
"Again, that had to be some sort of coincidence! It just happened accidentally! Hell would freeze over before this man willingly helped someone!"
"Whoa now, that's some dumb shit you're spouting."
"Well, not like she's wrong, right?"
"Also, he made a promise to me. He said he would find my other half. Save me from being half a person."
"This again...?"
"Yes. It all comes back to this."
Even Beatrice couldn't help but make a bitter expression. By this point, she knew pretty damn well that Claudia wouldn't budge when it came to this matter.
"That's just a delusion. You're not half a person."
"I'm happy you think that, but your strength is all the proof I need to say that you're wrong."
She thought she was feeble — half a person. And that was the primary reason why I became certain that a soul like hers was hard to come by.
Just like me, she was born for the night, which meant she didn't know the world of day.
Basically, she only had half of a normal reality.
"All of you are absolutely dazzling to me. You're fiery, strong, and radiant. That's surely because you have a world I do not. In simpler terms, 'double is more.' It's why I want to become like you, and to that end, I'm willing to give my life. That is far more attractive to me than just living as half a person and fading away with the passage of time. I yearn for the day I touch and feel the world of light."
Basically, Claudia considered everything she had to be less than half of what everyone else had.
Though, instead of self-deprecation, it was more thanks to her overvaluing what was beyond her. She saw the common folk, blessed by daylight, and fervently believed they were superior.
Beatrice was right on one front — that was pure fucking delusion. Claudia wasn't lacking in terms of emotion, and it wasn't like everyone else averaged out at twice as much as her.
Despite that, she just refused to admit it. No matter what, she just didn't accept that the favor of the light wasn't that big of a deal.
I could relate to her, actually. I was a proud vampire who'd gotten the blessing of the dark, and I didn't accept any alternatives.
That was exactly why she got me going.
"I gotta say, I'm impressed. I didn't think you were so good at playing women."
"I'm not fucking playing anyone. She just has good taste. That's all."
The fact that Claudia saw herself as half a person meant that she'd become something big when she realized she got what she lacked.
In a way, she was basically thinking that she was far from her limit.
Though really warped, she was a bit like me in that regard, wasn't she? We were compatible, she was hiding the potential to become something great, and she felt that she owed me.
Remember how she said it was normal to repay a life with a life? Seriously, could you even imagine a soul better suited for me? She fit so well it was kinda funny.
"I don't care if it's a deathwish, a will to live, or to kill. If you stay with me, I'll make one of those explode inside you. I'll take the half of a heart you have and make it grow to a 'normal' size. I'll lead you to where the light you want can finally reach you."
And then, I would kill her. Drink her. Drain her dry.
"You're mine, Claudia. I saved your life, so now it's mine."
"Yes. I believe in you. I'm a bit scared, but that's halved, as well. If I can get something ordinary from this life, then I don't mind even if it comes at my final moment."
"...I don't understand this. It's like everyone's insane."
I didn't see the point of Beatrice's whining. Like, come the fuck on, everyone at that time period had a few screws loose.
No one was of the right mind. No matter where you looked, you wouldn't find anyone thinking straight.
"So even your fear of death is halved. Hmm... I see. So that's what you want to believe, then."
And if that was what she wanted to think, it was best to just let her. That factor would become a possibility and a agent of change.
As long as you don't accept them, limits just don't exist.
I believe in victory, and I still do to this day.
And I will keep believing in it forever, until the end of time and beyond.
And that's how our life was back then.
What? Sounds unexpectedly simple for ya? That's 'cause it was. We were just doing whatever the hell we wanted.
Though, that didn't apply to all of us. Machina, who didn't get along with anyone, spent all her days in the castle. I still didn't know if she was forced to or not.
I also hadn't seen Cristoff in a while, and Babylon and Samiel were busy with some paperwork. The two had a pretty big role in the army, so they couldn't just slip out like we did.
Yeah, by that point, we barely even counted as soldiers. Many of us were thought to be fucking dead, while others were treated as deserters. Either of those basically voided our position in society.
I'd never really felt like I belonged to the army, anyway, so I can't say I gave a damn.
However, I did consider myself an SS officer. Specifically, a member of Lord Heydrich's personal elite.
A proud vampire ancestor and Number IV of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden's Obsidian Round Table. Those were the only two titles I really cared about.
Thus, I would only act when ordered by Lord Heydrich or when I had to quench my thirst.
This was a time period when I was waiting for either of those moments to arrive.
It was a day like any other.
"I must say, I'm quite surprised that you came shopping with me... What brought this on?"
"I'm just babysitting a certain clueless idiot. Believe me, there's a load of shit I'd rather be doing."
Like I said, I didn't have much to do back then. Machina joining completed the Obsidian Table, and I felt there'd be some big feast soon, but things like that needed preparations.
I was basically waiting for them to end. Unless I'd decided to cause some trouble or Lord Heydrich gave me an order, I was left with nothing to do.
Sure, this gave me a whole lot of free time, but going out on a fuckin' shopping trip wasn't my idea of a good time-waster.
"Hey, Spinne. Listen, I'm pretty damn serious here. Can you handle the shopping runs instead? I'll make it worth your while."
"Well, I understand what you are trying to say, Lieutenant, and I would gladly agree, but..."
Walking at my side, Spinne grinned wryly and looked at Claudia.
"Sadly, I cannot ignore the request of a beautiful lady. I hope you understand."
"Oh my. You are quite the smooth talker. Eheheh."
"Hah hah hah. I must say, I am rather envious of Lieutenant Bey."
"You got brain problems? Fucking die, both of you."
The whole situation made me wanna kill someone.
I knew that shopping was important, especially when going to get daily necessities like food.
Claudia had to eat, and hell, so did I. Sure, hunger didn't weaken me all that much, but it increased the amount of souls I used.
I didn't wanna waste what I didn't have to, so unless I was in some ultra specific situation, I'd eat like a normal person. Sure, I needed some space to take in Claudia, but emptying my reserves on fucking physical hunger was just plain stupid.
Speaking of stupid, this situation basically defined it.
"What I wanna know is how the fuck I ended up shopping with the shitty sun beaming all over me! The fuck is this shit!?"
"Does it hurt? Should I hold the umbrella for you?"
"You're the one with a problem here, damn it!"
All the shouting made my head spin. I didn't even want to look up at the sky, but I could tell it was so damn clear and bright that it made me want to trash someone. Shit fucking burned me all over.
Well, yeah, my recovery and endurance made it easy for me to bear, but it had to be hell for Claudia. She was smiling, sure, but all the sweat pouring off of her made it obvious she was feeling so hot.
"This shit can fucking kill you. I'm not having that. It's why I'm here wasting my souls just looking after your dumb ass!"
"Most excellent. You truly are her worthy knight, Lieutenant Bey. Oh my. I feel quite moved."
"All right, now listen here..."
"I'm sorry. I understand why you're angry, but this is something I can't give up on. I'm happiest when I'm shopping, you see. I'm also used to this, so I'm not forcing myself. I would tell you if it became too hard for me, so please..."
Her face was so red it seemed like she was boiling, but of course, that was sunburn, not a blush. She looked at me with dampened eyes and begged me like a mutt would to its master.
She probably intended it to be touching and fervent, but to me, it seemed like a joke. One so shitty I couldn't laugh.
"Anyway, Spinne, make sure you don't cause any trouble at the shops. And get it all done fast. It's why you're here."
"Understood. I shall do my best."
I ignored Claudia and talked to Spinne. The guy was useful at times like this.
You probably know this, but war can fuck up the market pretty badly. It was like a black market all over the place, and of course, you needed to have something to get a good deal.
It could be connection, status, cunning, skill, etcetera. Everyone tries to fuck you over, so you had to respond in kind and shop while threatening, tricking... Doing whatever you had to get ahead.
Just having money or something to trade wasn't enough. Fuck, the ignorant dumbasses who only had money were the best targets for all the rats running around.
"I can just take shit like it's mine, but that could end up causing more trouble than it's worth. Do all the dirty work for me, all right?"
"Huh? Umm, what do you mean? I can do the shopping by myself."
"Claudia, you are indeed a charming woman. However, if you want to be Lieutenant Bey's partner, you will need to become a tad more resilient. Just like a rose isn't a rose without its thorns, so are women incomplete unless they have a twinge of venom to their teeth. Be conscious of your allure and polish it well."
"My allure? I know the word, but..."
"My lady, if you wish to learn what I mean, you should try learning from the likes of Malleus and Babylon."
"Fucking hell, quit spouting shit and just keep walking. Also, Claudia. You get ripped off while shopping all the fucking time. Don't act like you forgot."
"That's true, but I feel we have to accept it. It's normal for prices to rise during times like these, and the shopkeepers probably have mouths to feed, too."
"Indeed, we have to accept it. That is a cornerstone of capitalism, after all. Which is exactly why they do what they can to earn as much as possible. Just as there are fair prices, so too are there fair price increases. Going beyond them is a very unfair thing to do. It's both selfish and wretched."
"You're not wrong, but..."
"Oh? You aren't aware? You've fallen for this many times now."
"What...?"
"Hah hah hah. And that is where I come in. Please, leave it all to me. I was once in charge of a concentration camp, after all. Though that is all in the past, I haven't lost my touch. Exerting my will upon grubby, sly little people and keeping them in check is a specialty of mine, you see. Hehehehe..."
"And that's how it is. Just let him do his thing."
By the way, the one handling our finances at this point in time was Spinne. It wasn't something I could ask of Lord Heydrich, and I really didn't wanna go to Mercurius about it, either.
That left only Spinne. Even here, he went on to turn all the purchases into fucking steals, effectively making up for a bit of what Claudia'd lost.
Out of all of us, he was the most knowledgeable when it came to social affairs, so we always relied on him when it came to that. Hell, we still do.
"I will be going now, then. Leave it all to me. You two can go on and enjoy a nice stroll."
"Huh?"
"Can we really?"
"Yes. With my role fulfilled, I am nothing but a hindrance. I will buy everything necessary, so please feel free to relax. The weather is quite pleasant, after all."
With that shitty joke as his parting shot, he walked away through the annoyingly sunny street.
As I watched him go, all I could do was sigh.
"'Stroll,' my ass. Fuck that, I'm going home. Let's go, Claudia."
I turned around.
"Umm... Please wait!"
But then, she grabbed my sleeve with more power than I thought possible, leaving me somewhat surprised.
"Umm, well... If we don't have to shop, there's a place I really wish to go."
"Look, I'm the one who gives the orders around here, not y—"
"I know, I know. I understand you very well, but please... I beg of you! Oh Lord, be merciful!"
"Stop worshipping, praying, and clinging to me, damn it. And who the fuck are you calling 'lord,' here?"
Despite being stupidly pious, she could get pretty damn forceful.
Though I really didn't want to walk around a damn second longer, her very nature was why she was useful to me.
Still, can't say I knew shit all about how to handle the situation. The sun was fucking me up real good.
Right when that thought ran through my mind.
"Is it that unbearable? If it's impossible for you, I'm willing to give up. Your health comes first, after all."
"The fuck?"
That sounded like she was saying I was weaker than her.
"The fuck'd you just say? I'm a fucking picture of health, dammit."
Hearing that from this suicidal idiot set me off.
"Of course I'm doing okay, you dumbass! Fine! Let's fucking go!"
"Oh, how nice of you. Here, allow me to lead, then. It's right here!"
"Huh!? Hey stop fucking pulling!"
And that's how it went down.
Honestly, I couldn't help but feel she'd set me up somehow.
"Eheheh. Well? Have you calmed down? There's no sunlight in here."
Claudia had led me to a church. It was a very nun-like choice, but I found it anticlimactic, considering I was prepared for the worst kind of hell.
"Then again, I'm a vampire, so this is pretty damn close."
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"Nope. So, is this where you wanted to go?"
"Yes. This town's Cathedral is famous and has a very long history. Haven't I told you this before?"
"No clue."
I probably ignore it 'cause I just didn't give a shit. This made Claudia somewhat sulky.
"It's not just the cathedral, though. The entire town is known as a Holy city. It's the reason why I was happy you took me here and why I thanked you for that. Additionally, this town is said to be the land where Charlemagne first established the Holy Roman Empire and..."
"All right, just shut your trap. I don't give a shit about history, and I definitely don't wanna listen to you babble on about it."
Though I bluntly cut her off, her words made me understand one thing.
Because this was a so-called "Holy city," Claudia had assumed the people here would be better than elsewhere, and that led her to being cheated out of all that money.
Then again, it could've just been her own stupidity. She overvalued other people so much you could call her a walking manifestation of that sentiment.
"How rude. You shouldn't belittle history. There's much to be learned from the past."
"Really, now? Look around you, then. If this place is so great, why's it so fucking empty? There's no one here."
"Hmm... You're right about that. Odd. This place was always full whenever I tried to come by myself..."
Claudia curiously looked around the cathedral. Again, besides us, there was no one here.
"Did the priest just fuck off or something?"
"I don't believe so, but this isn't the parish I belong to, so I can't be certain. Circumstances aside, however, if there's no one here, I will have to be the one to do it. I will pray in everyone's stead."
"Yeah, whatever. Who gives a shit."
My sarcasm wasn't working on her, so I ended up feeling defeated and just gave up.
I figured it was best to just let her do her thing, so I sat on a random pew and waited for it to end.
Claudia kneeled before the cross and gave a silent prayer.
"...May I ask something?"
Not even ten seconds into it, however, she broke her silence.
"Do you believe in God?"
"Say what?"
What a worthless question. It was like she didn't even know who she was talking to.
"Well, that came outta left field. Of course I don't fucking believe in him."
"Oh? And what would be your reasoning?"
"It's simple. If there was someone like that, you wouldn't have any wars and people like me wouldn't exist. The God you worship is full of love, isn't he? The Omnipotent Lord Creator that guides all, right? If he's really so kind, then what the fuck's up with all the shit going on in the world? It doesn't add up. Even a brat can see the contradiction."
"I see. That's quite a common argument."
The fact that she took a gentle, soothing tone really pissed me off. I always hated it when people looked down on me.
"What are you getting at?"
"Nothing much. It's just that... That's how God is. Even in the Bible, he'd caused many deaths. This means that all those things are happening in the world because it was made by Him."
"Hah! In that case, the guy's just a huge shithead."
A sadistic trashbag and a demented psycho. I knew full well I couldn't really point fingers about that, but it was clear there was some serious detachment between what he did and how his believers saw him.
Basically, they were all insane.
"To make people die is the act of 'shithead,' you say? Then what about this Reinhard Heydrich person you serve? I haven't met him yet, I cannot be certain. However, from what I'm hearing, he is exactly like that, is he not? He loves all, and thus his love leads him to destroy all. According to you, that makes him a real 'shithead,' no?"
"You fucking bitch...!"
I was about to snap and jump out of the pew, but then I realized I was mostly mad at myself for not being able to fight back with words.
Claudia tried to cool me down by apologizing. Then, she slowly shook her head.
"Though that sounded mean-spirited, I wasn't actually criticizing your group. I do not even know the details of your goal, after all. However, I can vaguely understand it. It's the same as what most wish for, after all. You want to go to a better place — a sanctuary. Correct?"
A sanctuary — Valhalla, Heaven, Bliss, Happiness...
It was where our souls desired to go.
Even if the differences in value made the shapes of our goals vastly different, according to her, the concept was always the same.
"In that place, our God the Father awaits His children. That is what I believe. And that is why we must choose the paths which will lead us there, walking proudly all the while. Just like you revere Reinhard Heydrich, I too, walk my path while revering the Light of the World. Thus..."
She then momentarily fell silent, and even though I couldn't see her face, I could tell she was smiling.
"...You should become a bit more religious."
"Tch..."
In the end, she was basically just preaching. I didn't need anyone to tell me to believe in Lord Heydrich, and I was damn sure no one else could even begin to match me on that front.
"Didn't you say you were gonna pray for everyone? Sure didn't take long for you to make it personal. Not a good look. Also, you ended up blabbering on and on before your God. I don't know much about this, but ain't that disrespectful or what?"
"Well, you aren't wrong about that, but I wasn't preaching to you alone. I find it hard to explain, but I felt that even the heavens could hear me if I gave voice to my thoughts in this place."
"Huh? What the hell? The fuck's that supposed to mean? You okay in the head?"
At that moment...
"Come now, there is no need to make light of her words. Even yours truly found them exceptionally intriguing. I assume you are the one they refer to as 'Claudia?' the maiden Bey had spoken to us about?
"...Oh for fuck's sake!"
I jumped and hastily turned around.
There, I saw a mercurial silhouette.
"You are..."
Claudia, too, turned around and looked at him in surprise. I could relate to her completely. Even I wasn't used to this man.
I couldn't see him properly. His being just didn't make any sense — it was like his outline was made of quicksilver. I could tell he was right before me, but not a moment later, his form grew to be impossible to perceive.
It was as if he was far too great for the vulgar masses to comprehend.
He was very much the dying monster looking down on an ant.
The Vice-Commander of the Longinus Dreizehn Orden — Karl Kraft, Mercurius.
"The fuck are you doing here?"
"That is quite the salutation. There is a room for argument whether it is fitting welcome for someone bearing news that could alleviate your ennui."
"What...?"
Basically we were being called for another gathering. His sudden entry surprised me, but there wasn't anything special about that.
Sure, it wasn't that common, but he was a walking enigma. It was standard for him to just appear out of nowhere, say some annoying shit, and fuck off.
As if understanding what I was thinking, he chuckled — or at least, I felt he did — and nodded.
"Indeed. Tonight is the night. I have already summoned the others. Oh, and you, young lady. You should accompany him. I would be most entralled to have you with us."
"Huh? But I..."
"Hold it, shit for brains. The fuck's that supposed to mean?"
I found his words ominous. I couldn't explain the feeling or even liken it to anything, but it was enough for me to almost reflexively jump to cover Claudia.
"I'm not taking her to the castle. Fuck, she has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh? 'Nothing'? 'Nothing to do with this,' you say? You are not the one to decide that. Neither is she, nor I, in fact. The Gold beckons, Bey. All agreement or thereof holds no power before this reality."
"..."
Was he telling the truth? I took a moment to think, but couldn't find an answer.
Still, if it'd come to this, I knew I couldn't refuse.
"Most excellent.. I am gratified to see you turn so perceptive. With that settled, may we meet at the gathering. We shall await you, Kaziklu Bey and his princess."
And so, with a bizarre, swaying shadow trailing behind him, Mercurius took his leave.
I was left rooted to my spot, grinding my teeth in frustration.
"Fucking piece of shit. This is gonna be a pain in the ass."
Besides the thing about Claudia, I was pissed off about something else.
"Kaziklu Bey?"
That was my (Demon) arcane title, given to me by none other than Mercurius.
I actually liked it. It was basically the name of the Lord of Vampires, and it suited me better than any other.
Even so, I just couldn't stomach hearing him call me that. It made me feel inexpressible refusal and disgust.
I couldn't help but recall what he'd told me during the christening. The words spun around in my head, making a huge fucking mess.
"No. Nothing's been stolen from me. It's the other way around. I'm the thief...!"
"Wilhelm..."
My grumbling probably didn't make any sense to her, but I didn't want her to get it, either.
It was the type of curse I could neither accept nor stomach.
***
The castle was called "Wewelsburg."
It had been brought by Himmler, commander of the SS, and from what I heard, it'd been used as the watering hole of some shitty little occult club for the elites.
Obviously, most of us weren't part of it. Lord Heydrich and Mercurius were the exceptions — they'd been there since it was active.
And now, the place belonged only to them. They touched true arcane and worked on real sorcery, letting them rise above the fashion-occultists, make the supernatural manifest, and create the Obsidian Round Table.
You know what that means, don't you? Basically, the castle was no longer normal by that point. It didn't even belong to reality anymore.
Sure, I was at Paderborn 'cause it was close to Wewelsburg, but it actually didn't matter at all.
Spaces that escaped the laws of the world destroyed the concept of distance and coordinates. It meant that the unworthy couldn't enter even if they spent a eternity trying, while those invited could come even if they were on the other side of the world.
Well, no one had actually tried it, but I was certain I was right. The castle was just that big of a deal.
Remember what I said about creating an another world in this reality and the implications of that?