Night fell.
Inside the hotel.
After sleeping like a corpse in bed all day, it wasn't until night truly descended that Touko woke up in a daze.
And as soon as she woke up, what she saw was Naoki and Aoko sitting around a table, seemingly discussing something.
As if hearing the sound of the blanket slipping, Naoki turned towards Touko: "Master, you're awake? I've brought dinner and put it on the bedside table; please wash your face first before eating. The smell of alcohol is still lingering on you."
"Oh..."
Answering dazedly, Touko walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower tap. Hot water instantly drenched her entire body; the warmth quickly dispelled the remnants of her drunkenness, and her dazed mind slowly cleared.
And just as she became fully conscious—
"—!"
Hurriedly stepping out of the bathroom, Touko stared in shock at Naoki and Aoko sitting together: "You two... Aoko, what curse did you put on my boy?!"
"Miss Touko, clothes! Clothes! Big brother, don't look!"
Gray, who was always by Touko's side, saw this and immediately blushed, grabbing a towel from the bathroom and giving it to Touko to wrap herself in. Meanwhile, Naoki, who had innocently become a victim, consciously closed both his eyes.
"Master, are you still not over your hangover? Have you forgotten about my Magic Resistance? Curses and the like can't possibly affect me."
"Ah, that's right... that's not it! Then, why is Aoko here?"
"Investigating vampires. Do you think I'm the same as you, Touko, sleeping like a pig in bed all day and wasting time?"
Aoko glanced at Touko with disgust.
"In that case, Kouhai-kun, according to what we agreed, we are each responsible for one area, and we will immediately search for and eliminate the roaming vampires."
"Understood. Miss Aoko, please be careful."
"You don't need to worry about me—Touko, how long will you continue to embarrass yourself like this?"
'This... what's wrong with these two? What was agreed upon earlier? Vampires? Eh?'
'While I (Touko) was drunk and sound asleep, what exactly happened?!'
"Miss Touko, anyway, please take a proper bath first; after that, I think Big Brother will explain it well." Gray said while forcibly pushing Touko into the bathroom, "Big brother! See Miss Aoko off!"
"No need. See you later, Kouhai-kun."
"See you later, Miss Aoko."
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A few minutes later, wearing a yukata and leaning against the sofa while Gray combed her hair, Touko ate the food brought back by Naoki while listening to his explanation.
"So, because the TV station broadcast rumors about suspected vampires this morning, plus last night Shiki also found a location suspected to be a vampire murder scene, you and Aoko went to investigate? And it turned out there really were vampires, so you decided to become guardians of justice?"
Naoki nodded: "More or less like that. Does Master think this is not good?"
"It's not about that. If vampires cause trouble, it's also not good for concealing mysteries; in this case, I don't mind. It's just that I don't like Aoko; well, in short, it's just a sisterly feud, I think she feels the same."
"Doesn't Master have any intention of making up with Miss Aoko?"
"Not at all. Besides, what's the point of making up now? The conflict between me and her started when I was abandoned by grandfather. Would you try to repair a mirror that's been broken for more than ten years?"
Touko waved her hand.
"You don't need to worry about our sisterly affairs; just take care of your own business—then, about the vampires, how far did you guys discuss it? Are you going to keep watch tonight?"
"Rather than keeping watch, it's more like patrolling; after all, we don't know when the vampires will appear. Miss Aoko and I are each responsible for one-fifth of Misaki Town's area; the rest is left to the church and Miss Aoko's friend."
Aoko's friend?
"Alice, huh, indeed, her familiar is specialized in reconnaissance." Touko thought for a moment, then took out her phone and made a call, "Ah, Beo? You shouldn't have your own business, right? In that case, come to my place tonight; there's something I want to ask for your help with. Come here in an hour."
Calling Beo?
"Master, what's going on?"
"Beo is a Phantasmal Species of the werewolf type; his sense of smell is very good. If we patrol with him, if there's any trouble, he'll definitely smell it immediately."
"Thank you."
Taking a drag of her cigarette, Touko smiled: "You're welcome. By the way, what about Shiki? Is she also wandering outside as usual tonight?"
"As for Shiki, I've already asked her to do something. Earlier today, there were some incidents that I thought were very suitable for Shiki."
Nrvnqsr Chaos.
The tenth of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors; within his body is a small Bounded Field [Primordial Sea], containing 666 beast factors. Physical damage and Magecraft cannot kill him unless all the beast factors are annihilated simultaneously.
Unless he is severed by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
So, after learning of his existence through the crows earlier today, Naoki immediately thought of Ryougi Shiki.
Mystic Eyes of Death Perception? He also had them.
'It's just that I don't know if Shiki can defeat him; after all, Shiki is still human, but considering the buff from Root Shiki, it shouldn't be a problem.'
Thinking about this, Naoki fell silent for a moment, then took out his phone.
"Hm? Who are you going to call?"
"Contacting Shiki, see if I can send Avalon. A human fighting a Dead Apostle feels too heavy."
"Why not earlier?"
"Ugh..."
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Avalon ultimately wasn't sent. He must have pressed the wrong button; Shiki on the phone directly mocked Naoki twice and then hung up, leaving him confused.
"Women are indeed troublesome."
"Although I don't know why you think so, I strongly agree."
On Naoki's side, Beo, who had transformed into a handsome young man, licked a lollipop—it was said to have been given by a middle-aged woman who suddenly showed maternal affection on the street. Beo often experienced things like this.
"Humans are truly strange creatures; even now, I don't understand why they give me things like this."
"Maybe it's because of your attractive appearance." Naoki said; the appearance of a handsome young man with soft blond hair should be very attractive to single women.
"By the way, Beo—can I call you that?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Your original form is a werewolf, so this current form of yours, did you create it yourself?"
Beo nodded: "Um, it was made by imitating a human appearance. Although I can transform into any form, Kusajiro said this form of mine is good, so I keep maintaining it."
"Then, can you transform into a woman?"
"I can."
While speaking, Beo's body, hidden beneath the beige coat, suddenly underwent some changes. Although very subtle and inconspicuous, Naoki could still see it—her chest and hips slightly swelled! And her overall aura felt more feminine!
GOOD JOB!
"Ugh... a woman's body is so strange; it feels uncomfortable all over—what do you think? This is the first time I've transformed into a woman; does it suit me?"
Beo twirled around while asking for Naoki's opinion.
Good!
Naoki really wanted to say that; even his soul was cheering for it!
However, before Naoki's thoughts began to drift into strange areas, Beo suddenly looked in a certain direction, sniffed, and then pointed: "Over there, there's the smell of blood, very strong."
"Let's go!"
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A few minutes later, what Naoki saw was a blood-soaked entrance, and seventeen pieces of a body scattered on the doorstep.