Affirmation from Gaia

Upon waking, what dazzled Arcueid's eyes was the piercing sunlight.

'Daytime?'

Guessing the current time, Arcueid lay there, looking left and right at her surroundings.

It seemed she was lying on a bed in a hotel. Besides her, there was no one else in the room.

'I remember being attacked earlier in the apartment I bought... who brought me here?'

Although her memory wasn't very clear, in the last moment she was conscious, Arcueid remembered someone being by her side, and even someone she could vaguely say she knew.

Unconsciously, she got out of bed, and just as Arcueid was about to step down, she saw her body, which appeared perfectly intact, and instantly froze in place.

"Eh? My body... recovered?"

Not truly healed, Arcueid could feel it; it was just that from the outside, she appeared completely unharmed. Her insides hadn't fully recovered, but even so, this was enough to shock Arcueid.

In a situation where even her own self-healing abilities didn't work, her body had actually recovered?

"Was it that person's doing?"

That was the only possibility; in that situation, only that man could help her, but how?

*CLICK!*

Just as Arcueid felt confused, the sound of the door opening from outside could be heard.

It was Naoki.

"Ah, you're awake?" Seeing Arcueid sitting on the bed, Naoki tossed his luggage onto the sofa, then sat down beside her, "How do you feel? Still in pain? Although I used Avalon on you, I'm not sure if it will be effective against the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."

"..."

Arcueid didn't answer.

It wasn't that she didn't want to answer Naoki's question, but the moment she saw him, Arcueid instantly received information about his entire being.

'What is this, this person's body...'

Too abnormal!

Although Arcueid's own body, according to common sense, was also a very abnormal existence, its abnormality was at least still within acceptable limits, still within the realm of imagination.

However, the abnormality of Naoki in front of her...

"You... are you really human?"

This was the first time Arcueid had spoken to someone upon waking up; due to being too shocked, she unconsciously asked.

Fused with a Servant, able to be possessed by fairies and spirits, even harboring the Human Order. Could such an existence still be called human?

Completely not expecting Arcueid to ask such a question, Naoki pondered slightly, then raised both his hands: "Maybe I can still be considered human. Although I also know I'm an abnormal existence, if I may ask the Human Order as well, do I count as human?"

[Transmission—positive]

In Arcueid's mind, [the World]—Gaia—once again transmitted information, and judging from its meaning, it seemed to still be information transmission from Alaya?

This person, in its classification, was actually still considered human!?

"Alright, rather than worrying about my affairs, you should pay more attention to yourself; how do you feel?"

"You saved me?" Arcueid moved her hands and feet, "Basic activity is no problem anymore, it's just... how did you do it?"

"Didn't I tell you earlier? I used Avalon on you. Although I don't know if it's useful against the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, just consider it a last resort."

"Avalon... Ah, that scabbard? Then—wait, what did you say killed me earlier?"

"Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."

"Really?"

"There's someone near me who possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception; she already checked your condition. It's impossible to be wrong—Of course, the one who killed you last night wasn't her; she was cleaning up in a place almost in the opposite direction from your location last night."

"I know; after all, I saw who killed me last night. But..."

Her fingers touched the scar on her severed body; the piercing pain made Arcueid sigh slightly, "To think it was the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception... a miracle that might not even exist in the age of myths actually appeared. In that case, I have no reason to protest even if I was cut into seventeen pieces."

After saying that, Arcueid directly got out of the blanket, completely disregarding Naoki, a man, beside her. She immediately took off her pajamas, and before Naoki could enjoy the view, she snapped her fingers, and white loungewear and a short black skirt appeared on her body.

"Then, who are you?"

After changing her clothes, she walked to the window and leaned against it, facing Naoki.

"In my memory... no, you must be the person who often accidentally entered my dreams some time ago; tell me your name."

"Naoki. Family name Natsukawa, name Naoki."

Naoki—after storing that name in the corner of her memory, Arcueid smiled: "Then, Naoki, although I still have some questions about you, anyway, allow me to thank you first. Thank you for saving me, Naoki."

"You're welcome. If you died, I would also feel a bit troubled."

"Hm, I see, in that case, that's good." Arcueid nodded, "If you saved me out of kindness and compassion, I would actually feel a bit uneasy; it's better if you had another purpose."

"If that's what you think, then so be it. Then, are you planning to leave?"

Naoki asked while looking at Arcueid leaning against the window.

"Your body hasn't recovered yet, and because you've died once, your strength has also weakened more than before. In that condition, looking for Roa is the same as suicide."

"You know quite a lot; could it be that you're a member of the church?"

"No, I'm just a Magus. I know about you because I have an acquaintance in the church." Naoki explained, "How much of your strength is left now? Half? Thirty percent? I think it should be even less?"

"..."

She was found out.

Sighing helplessly, Arcueid moved away from the window and sat on the sofa: "You're right, my current state is very weak, although it's still more than enough to kill Roa."

"What if before that you have to fight another Dead Apostle? For example, one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors who has already arrived in this town, Nero Chaos."

"Maybe I can."

"Then add one more of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors. According to the church, at least two of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors have already arrived in this town. Although I don't know their purpose."

No, they all came to hunt her.

Gaia had already informed Arcueid of her current situation.

Her remaining strength was more than enough to deal with one True Ancestor, maybe even two, but after that, she would have to face Roa...

"This is just my suggestion; before you fully recover and return Avalon to me, how about we seek outside help for the time being?"

"For example, someone else who possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception."

"For example, a two-thousand-year-old Phantasmal Species of the werewolf type."

"For example, a Grand-ranked puppet master."

"For example, a little girl wielding King Arthur's holy lance."

"For example, a Magician who possesses the Fifth True Magic."

"And... me, the one you asked if I was really human?"