Italy.
Near the Vatican.
Devil May Cry Extermination Firm.
*DING-DONG!*
Accompanied by the sound of the doorbell, Ciel, who was lying on the sofa, removed the magazine covering her face and looked toward the door: "Who is it? An order?"
"No order, can't we just come?"
"What the heck, it's you two."
Getting off the sofa, Ciel looked toward the pair: "What's the sudden business coming here? Aoko, Touko."
"Nothing, just happened to be coming back. I heard from Riddell that you got a pretty interesting order, so we came to check out the situation."
Aoko, who was carrying a suitcase, said with a smile: "By the way, where's Arcueid? Sleeping?"
Ciel pointed upstairs: "You know too, she's a vampire. Although she has no fear of the sun at all, daytime still feels a bit uncomfortable, especially with the Vatican right across the street, which inherently conflicts with her."
"You're impressive for dragging her here to help you."
"If not here, I couldn't hold her back either."
Although she was the Princess of the True Ancestor and also an Elemental Spirit, a vampire was still a vampire. In the Vatican, the place with the strongest faith and sanctity in the world right now, Arcueid still felt a bit uncomfortable, especially during the day when she would always feel a tightness in her chest.
Placing the suitcase on the floor, Touko lit a cigarette: "Well, more than that, is that order done? A vampire that you and Arcueid couldn't handle together... Could it be that Black Princess?"
Black Princess.
Altrouge Brunestud, ninth rank among the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors. From a biological perspective, she was Arcueid's older sister, and the one who once cut Arcueid's long hair—a mixture of Dead Apostle and True Ancestor, the de facto leader of all Dead Apostles.
If it was her, with the two Ancestors always following her, she could indeed escape from Ciel and Arcueid.
"No, not her." Ciel shook her head, "If it was her, it would still be easy to handle. I wouldn't need to get involved; Arcueid alone could finish off those three—her opponent was a blonde-haired vampire."
"A blonde-haired vampire?"
"Her face resembles Arcueid by eighty or ninety percent, very skilled in using Imaginary Manifestation, can also do Magecraft Displacement, and seems to have some kind of Mystic Eyes—and her mouth is extremely rude; she straight up called me old auntie."
Hearing Ciel's description, Aoko and Touko exchanged glances, as if confirming each other's thoughts.
"Touko, could it be..."
"Most likely, yes... Ciel, you have that suspicion too."
"Yeah, more or less. The Japanese side must have made contact too; it's not too hard to think of it." Ciel said, "Considering how she addressed me, as well as her appearance and abilities... She's most likely from the future via Rayshift—"
"Naoki and Arcueid's child."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Japan, Ryougi Family.
"First, state your name."
In the living room used for receiving guests, Shiki said to the girl sitting across from her.
"Then explain your true purpose. After that, there are a few questions I want to ask you; answer them honestly too, don't lie."
"I-I know, Auntie Shiki. You don't need to activate the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception!"
The girl, stared at by a pair of icy blue Mystic Eyes, trembled anxiously. Then, she took several deep breaths, as if adjusting her posture, and performed a very standard kneeling courtesy.
"Nice to meet you, Auntie Shiki. I come from the future, thirty years from now. I am the daughter of Arcueid and Natsukawa Naoki, named Natsukawa Yūe. I am twenty years old this year, and second in the family hierarchy. Please guide me."
"That idiot's daughter?"
"Yes, that idiot Papa's daughter." The vampire girl who called herself Yue nodded, "Ah, by the way, since theoretically Papa and Mama couldn't have children, I am actually the crystallization of their combined powers, not a child born in the normal way. Although in terms of blood relation, I am indeed their daughter."
Shiki was silent for a moment. After narrowing her eyes and observing Yue from top to bottom, she let out a soft sigh: "You don't seem to be lying—so, why did you suddenly come to our era thirty years later? What's your purpose?"
"Aduh~~~~ That~~~~" Yue scratched her head a bit embarrassedly, "Actually... you could say I'm on vacation."
"On vacation?"
"Yes. Because previously I worked overtime for a full month straight, while also resolving all the criminal organizations and magical disasters in Chaldea City. So, Auntie Ritsuka gave me a vacation, telling me to find a place to play for a bit. After thinking, I applied for Rayshift, wanting to see what the aunties looked like when they were young in the past... Turns out there's almost no major change."
According to what Yue heard as a child, among the aunties, except for those who didn't need it, the rest were all given protection by her father. As long as they weren't killed, they could remain immortal and not age—the theory of age limits had to be firmly avoided.
As an additional effect, the time for almost everyone was semi-permanently stopped. No matter how many years passed, their appearances wouldn't change. At most, their spirits and strengths would change over time.
"I see..."
After listening to Yue's explanation, Shiki nodded slightly: "Then the commotion you've caused around here these past few days?"
"I-It was..."
Yue suddenly smiled awkwardly.
"It was supposed to be a little revenge... When I was little, to train me, all the aunties gave me extremely intense hell training. Now, since I rarely get the chance to come to the past, I wanted to tease the aunties a bit... I really apologize for causing the disturbance!"
Seeing Yue bowing her head sincerely in apology before her, Shiki was silent for a long time. Then, she withdrew her Mystic Eyes: "Well, your punishment will be discussed after I talk with the others. For now, it's suspended—now, answer some of my questions."
"Ah, sure, please ask."
"How is that idiot doing in the future? And how are we doing in the future?"
Shiki posed the question that anyone would ask a person from the future.
What would they be like in the future?
Yue smiled faintly: "This matter, let's talk about it after all the aunties gather, okay. After all, this year is the time Papa returns from the other side. Everyone will surely gather, so we'll discuss it then."
"However, for Auntie Shiki's future, I can say a little."
"Say it."
"Currently preparing to have a second child."
*KRAK!*
Shiki felt something shatter in her heart and head.