Aozaki Aoko Case File

"Eh?"

On the night she moved into the new hotel, at around 2 a.m., Aoko received an unexpected magical signal. It was necromantic magic she had previously planted on SHIKI Tohno—a modified type of soul parasite she had created.

To avoid detection, Aoko had removed its effect of corroding the host's soul, instead modifying it to serve only one purpose: to send a signal to the caster if the host either died or lost their human identity.

Recently, Aoko had begun to sense that Roa's reincarnation was nearing completion. SHIKI was on the verge of fully transforming into a vampire. However, until the transformation was complete, Roa's soul would not completely take over SHIKI's body, meaning Aoko couldn't kill him outright just yet.

So, without a doubt, Aoko had been waiting. She was waiting for the moment when Roa fully manifested, planning to grab Touko and destroy his soul.

However, instead of receiving a sign that Roa had completely taken over SHIKI's body, she was met with an entirely different development.

...

"Michael Roa Valdamjong," said Ciel, dressed in her nun's habit and wielding several black keys. Standing on the branch of a massive tree, she looked down at the Tohno mansion. "Could it be you?"

Taking advantage of the night, Ciel snuck into the Tohno mansion while Akiha was busy in the backyard.

She intended to confirm something.

"The main family and the branch family, huh…" In Tohno Makihisa's study, Ciel examined the books detailing ancient Japanese family names. "Touzaki, Satsuki, Kugamine, Arima… and finally, Tohno."

"Asakami, Fujou, Ryougi, Nanaya... are these native demon-hunting clans? And what kind of name is Saiki?" Ciel muttered to herself as she continued her research. "And then there's Aozaki…"

After investigating the families connected to the Tohno clan, Ciel used magic to discover a hidden compartment in Makihisa's desk. Inside was a notebook.

"A family tree… Tohno Makihisa, 46 years old, died in a traffic accident... The previous head, 30 years old, committed suicide…" The more Ciel read, the faster she flipped through the pages. She discovered that every generation of the Tohno family head had met an early end. "Madness, accidents, murder, disappearances, miscarriages... This family is cursed."

When she reached Makihisa's notes, her eyes sharpened. Written as: "...The Tohno bloodline harbors 'demons,' not due to inbreeding but as an inheritance from their ancestors…"

Just as Ciel was about to delve further into whether the current Tohno family head was Roa's host, the door creaked open.

"...What business do you have in my late father's study at such an hour, Miss Nun?"

Ciel raised her head. Standing in the doorway was a girl with waist-length crimson hair, her figure petite yet imposing. She stared at Ciel with sharp, unwavering eyes.

"It seems I've failed to properly welcome a guest," Akiha said calmly but firmly. "Might I ask who you are?"

"Ah, the current head of the Tohno family, Miss Akiha Tohno," Ciel smiled. "You've been leaving the mansion late at night for many nights in a row. Could you tell me where you've been going? It would make things much easier for both of us."

"Why should I answer the questions of a rude guest who hasn't even given their name?" Akiha frowned, clearly displeased.

"My real name hasn't been relevant for many years," Ciel replied, shaking her head. "Even if I told you, it wouldn't mean much to you."

"...You may simply call me the 'helpful nun,'" Ciel said with a smile. "After thorough investigation, I've traced the whereabouts of someone I share a certain connection with, which led me here."

Akiha found Ciel's words baffling. What on earth was this strange woman in a nun's outfit talking about? None of it made any sense.

"He's someone who reincarnates repeatedly across different hosts," Ciel continued as if talking to herself. "Wealthy lineage, superior bloodlines, extraordinary talents… these are the traits he seeks. And the Tohno family is the ideal candidate in this city."

"After eliminating all other possibilities, the perpetrator must either be a Tohno family member or someone related to them by blood," Ciel explained. "Have you heard anything about vampires recently?"

"You—" At the mention of vampires, Akiha's expression turned cold. Her eyes sharpened with hostility. "Who exactly are you?"

"I told you already," Ciel raised her right hand. "'Helpful nun.' You can call me Ciel."

Before she finished speaking, a bright light erupted from her raised hand, momentarily blinding Akiha. When Akiha reopened her eyes, she found herself unable to move.

"...So call me that," Ciel said as her shadow, illuminated by the light, extended to overlap with Akiha's. A black key was driven into Akiha's shadow, likely the source of the magic binding her.

"I can sense something non-human about you," Ciel said seriously. "Miss Akiha Tohno, allow me to examine you closely."

"And if I turn out to be a vampire?" Akiha asked, still calm despite being immobilized.

"I will destroy you, purify the land, and take care of the aftermath," Ciel replied. "If you are that vampire, there's no escape for you in this city. This time, I've brought some very formidable allies."

"...Unfortunately for you, I'm not a vampire," Akiha said with a smile. "But I'm also not someone who tolerates being treated like this."

With that, Akiha glared at Ciel. Fierce flames erupted from thin air, blasting Ciel out of the window.

However, as expected of the Seventh Seat of the Burial Agency, Ciel immediately recovered mid-air, landing in the backyard of the Tohno mansion. Her burned body began to heal rapidly.

Freed from the shadow-binding magecraft, Akiha picked up one of Ciel's black keys and hurled it back at the suspicious nun. But before the black key could reach her, it stopped mid-air and floated harmlessly.

"Well, well," said a beautiful woman with the same crimson hair as Akiha, descending gracefully from the air. The stopped black key returned to Ciel's hand as the woman manipulated it. "My sentinel alarm went off, so I came to check what was happening."

Akiha trembled, fear in her eyes as she looked at the vibrant young woman. She remembered that day years ago, the day this person had brought death to Makihisa Tohno.

"Don't be so tense," Aoko said, waving her hand dismissively. "Makihisa was scum, so I killed him. But you're different, Akiha. You're a good girl, so I won't kill you."

"What's going on, Miss Blue?" Ciel asked in confusion. "Did you kill Makihisa Tohno?"

"Yes," Aoko nodded, then turned her gaze toward an inconspicuous rectangular box in the Tohno backyard. "But that's a minor issue. We can discuss it later. For now, it seems our target has fled."