PrologueThe sounds of several people"s footsteps were advancing in the long, dark corridor.
Within the darkness, they pa.s.sed through ten heavy doors that had been built. One by one, they opened the doors with their hands as they walked.
Each time a door was opened, the darkness that was filling the surroundings grew thicker. Their feet should have been stepping on the solid floor of the corridor, but there was an illusion as if their feet were going to a deep, deep bottomless abyss.
The figure that had been leading halted her feet.
A light sphere which was as big as a clenched fist was floating on air. The pale white light illuminated the vicinity. The light, which was created by using magic, shone on a door that was previously covered in darkness.
It was a wooden door. It was quite simple, different from the doors they had pa.s.sed up until now. It was far from strong.
There was a magic circle drawn on the door.
"...Here, eh."
Near the door, the figure who made the light and had been leading, muttered an affirmation.
It was a slender and tall woman who had a glamorous appearance. Still in her youth, the firm legs which were extending from the short skirt were beautiful. With long hair flowing down her back, there was a big triangular hat like a witch from fairy tale would have placed on her head. She was called Nine.
"A wooden door with a sealing magic circle... It indeed feels secure."
Since the wood was really old, it had good affinity with magic. It helped strengthen the magic.
Even though it looked fragile, in reality, it protected its inside more stubbornly compared to the doors they had pa.s.sed so far.
"Naturally... Something with that extent exists inside."
Behind Nine, a low voice groaned.
It was a tall man in his prime age. The long hair on his back was tied up. His body was dressed in formal clothes. However, the body shape that arose on his first-rate shirt suggested that his body had been trained to fight. His name was Valkenhayn.
"While Clavis-sama was still alive, he personally sealed this place. It is not something that can be disengaged easily, even by the Ten Sages of the Mage"s Guild."
"Are you testing me? Well, that"s fine."
"Don"t be so belligerent, Nine. Be careful."
Glaring at Nine, the nearby third figure reprimanded her.
In contrast to Valkenhayn, the person had a build so small even compared to Nine. No, the silhouette was not of a human. The triangular ears sticking out from the top of his head, limbs which depicted a lenient curve, the swaying and shaking tail that branched into two on his back.
His name was Jubei, a beastkin warrior who was formerly known as Mitsuyoshi.
"Clavis had made the seal to be this strong. Keep that in mind."
"...I know."
After she answered Jubei"s words with a low tone, Nine turned around to face the door as if challenging it.
The airs.p.a.ce, and also the seal. Nine, Jubei, and Valkenhayn knew the man who created those.
Clavis Alucard. A vampire who had lived no less than a thousand years, continuously watching over the history of mankind.
He was no longer here. He had died a little while ago.
Just before that, he had stated his will to the butler Valkenhayn.
He had said... if a magician called Nine visits this seal, and also if she requires the content of the seal, guide her to this place and let her do as she pleases.
Nine entrusted the magic light to Valkenhayn. Then she held up both of her hands to the magic circle.
The seal slowly unraveled, as if melting.
After a little while, the magic circle that had emerged disappeared as if it was burning down.
Nine unhesitatingly opened the door.
Ahead was a completely plain small room. The floor, ceiling, and walls are made of old wood. Its purpose was to reinforce another seal inside the room.
"Nine."
As if holding back Nine who had took a step into the room, Jubei let out a cautious voice.
Nine halted her feet, but didn"t look back.
"I"m fine alone. Rather, it"ll be a hindrance to my magic if there"s a lot of people."
"...If somethin" happens, quickly notify us. Okay?"
Even if he had faith her, he still worried. Leaving Jubei"s voice behind her, Nine shut the door.
Immediately, all sound faded away.
Disconnected from outside, that place looked like an isolated cage of wood that didn"t belong to any kind of s.p.a.ce.
Nine created a small light once again.
Lying in wait inside the darkness was a young man. He sat down on the floor, with both arms hanging on the wall.
When his appearance could be seen clearly, Nine"s expression took a steep change. It by no means because of fear or she was being cautious. The fact that her gaze became sharp was because none other than pure anger.
"You are... Yuuki Terumi?"
Nine"s voice was shivering with fury.
Struck by the magic light, the young man slowly raised his head while still inside the dark shadows.
His mouth smirked in the shape of crescent moon.
That moment, Nine raised her supple leg up high and sent a kick to the side of the young man"s face who smiled eerily.
"This can"t be... Don"t mess with me! Why are you...!"
Giving herself to anger, Nine repeatedly kicked the head, cheek, and mouth of the young man.
The young man"s head violently shook, his seemingly unhealthy pale skin split open, his cheeks and mouth became stained with red, his green hair disheveled.
A moment later, the young man"s head crashed on to the wall behind him with a particularly loud noise.
Her chest began to rise and fall as her breathing became ragged, Nine lowered a high heel to the floor as if striking it. Then she brushed her hair back into place behind her back, as it had begun to obstruct her view.
Looking at it, the restrained young man raised his completely wounded face and smiled. The countless wounds healed rapidly, and disappeared.
"Ooh, scary, scary. Don"t you know a woman"s hysteria is hated?"
"Don"t talk pointlessly."
Toward the young man"s smile which was filled with mockery, Nine retorted with a sharp voice.
"...That"s right. I don"t have the time to waste talking with you. There"s no time left for us after all."
"Time? Time, time, time, huh... Not that it"s got anything to do with me~."
"That"s not the case."
Nine said firmly.
The young man who was bound with magic stuck his chin out, purposefully giving Nine an exaggerated look.
"Huh? Whoa whoa whoa, you"re in an awful hurry, ain"t you? How unusual~."
As if interrupting his words, a stiff noise rang out. It was the sound of Nine kicking Terumi"s head.
"Didn"t I say not to talk pointlessly? ...You trash."
Nine struck the floor with the sharp heel. Her mouth was trembling with boiled up anger and contempt.
"Yuuki Terumi. Lend your strength. For the sake of eradicating that monster."
With a quite sharp tone of voice, Nine directed her gaze to the young man who was referred to as Yuuki Terumi.
The young man——Yuuki Terumi sneered.
"You asking me for help, Nine of the Ten Sages? This seems serious... But you know, is that the kind of att.i.tude to request a help from someone? You should at least kneel down first. Hehehe."
Again, the high heel kicked Terumi. This time was stronger, even when compared to the previous kicks.
"...You don"t have the right to refuse."
"Ow ow... My head isn"t a soccer ball..."
Cursing her, he spat at Nine"s feet.
However, upon raising them, Terumi"s provocative eyes immediately stiffened and opened wide.
Nine"s thin finger was pointed at Terumi"s forehead. The tip of her finger was shining with a cold purple light.
Terumi instantly understood the meaning of it.
"Enforced RestraintMind Eater...!"
A magic to restrain soul and control over thoughts.
As Nine"s voice spoke of inexplicable words, the light on her fingertip went inside Terumi"s forehead.
"Tch... You b.i.t.c.h, do you think that sorry-a.s.s magic can do anything to me!? Bulls.h.i.t! Don"t screw around!"
"We"ll know soon enough."
"Hey hey hey. Tell me you"re joking! Seriously, don"t play tricks on me! Hey, you hear me, you d.a.m.n b.i.t.c.h!?"
With his body furiously struggling, Terumi tried to escape from Nine"s magic.
Yet the small but cold purple light mercilessly, in accordance with the user"s hateful mental state, obstinately ate away at the target"s brain and nerves deeply.
And then the light swallowed Terumi"s white forehead completely.
...The small wooden cage became very quiet.
"...With this, it"s over. That was disappointing."
As her mutter broke the silence, Nine released the magic that was binding Terumi. The sound of gla.s.s breaking rang out, and then it was sucked into the darkness.
The powerless body of Terumi slanted forward. But still not falling, Terumi stood up with his head hanging. He was like a ghost without a purpose.
Confirming it, Nine frowned in her contempt. As he was detestable to look at, she turned her back.
As the wooden door that had been closed was opened, Jubei and Valkenhayn who were waiting outside instantly put themselves on guard.
"Did it go smoothly?"
Jubei asked.
Jerking her chin, Nine urged their eyes to look past her.
Beyond her was the figure of a tall young man standing dazed in the dim room. That was Nine"s answer.
"I"ve obtained Yuuki Terumi. We no longer have business here."
Nine started walking away.
Jubei gave a tug to stop her.
"Is it really okay? Perhaps we"re gettin" our hands on somethin" bad that we shouldn"t get involved with."
"I"ve told you already. Power is essential for us. Unless that monster... Black Beast is annihilated at all costs, there won"t be a future for the world."
For Nine, rather than a mission, it was more of a promise.
In order to fulfill the promise, this man"s strength was needed.
"Regret is inevitable."
Cutting it off by saying it with all her determination, the high heels" noise resounded as Nine walked back down the long corridor.
As if he was manipulated to be drawn to it, Terumi... the object called Terumi staggeringly went after her.
Following next was Jubei.
Last, it was Valkenhayn.
"Will this do... Clavis-sama?"
When he was about to leave, Valkenhayn turned around at the empty room with a stern expression. He deeply bowed his head to the previous head of the family who had just died.
It was an event which happened on the cold January of 2107 AD.