Chapter 7: Episode 5

Disclaimer: I don't own Nasuverse or any other franchise that can be found in this fanfiction.

Words Count: 4391

Here's my usual spiel:

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Control…

We all wanted it,

Struggled for the slightest measure of it in Life,

Reaching desperately for it as both individuals and a collective,

Never realizing our hardships were completely meaningless.

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Different… Humans in this Universe were fundamentally different compared to my old one. And I wasn't talking about simple cosmetic changes like hair and eye color here, I was talking how their bodies operated. It was a biological impossibility. I had seen people, normal everyday people perform feats that would have made them Olympic athletes back in my old life, I had seen them heal from wounds that should have taken weeks, if not months to recover from in mere days. Hell, I had even seen actual kids lift six times their body-weight.

And yet, it still utterly baffled me how such a small, cute girl like Primrose could fit so much inside her gullet. I wasn't even surprised at her appetite at this point, just amazed at the fact she somehow hadn't choked on the food. This was her seventh dish already, and unlike those bite-size meals usually served in other Hotels, Royal Palace had all its plates filled to the brim with foods, foods that size-wise, frankly reminded me of mountain or volcanoes models often used in school projects. "Ah… There she goes again."

"That's her eighth dish, isn't it?" Sven whispered, staring disgusted at the smaller girl, who was busily inhaling the foods served to her. It's good to know I wasn't the only one feeling rather disturbed by the girl's ravenous appetite. At this rate, she might just steal Arturia's place as the impossible Glutton. "Seriously, that can't be healthy…"

After a good night of sleep, our group had decided to have a joint breakfast, turned out Apostle Hunts weren't just about hunting and killing the offending party, it's also where people built relationships, made allies and extend political offers. I didn't really get the dynamic, since seven times out of ten, most of these people either died on that same Hunt, or just refused to acknowledge each other after the whole ordeal was done. Granted, Sven did mention this was mostly to help Heirs and Heiresses build up their political skills, and that nobody actually expected them to keep the deals made.

Nevertheless, this was how we ended up in this current situation. With the eleven of us watching horrified as Primrose swallowed entire plates whole, leaving ours completely untouched. It was amusing at first, but now it's just getting embarrassing. Already, I had caught several patrons look our way, and their gazes seemed to convey nothing but a deep and utter loathing for our presences. "P- Primrose, maybe you should slow down a bit?"

Primrose gave me a confused look, a chicken leg still in her mouth as she blinked. "Hmmmm?" Then she pushed her plate to my side, seemingly heartbroken to even have to part with it.

"Y- You can have some if you want…" I stared unblinkingly at the half-eaten foods as I politely declined her well-intentioned offer. "Thank you, but I'm full." And returned the plate to her, while Sven slammed his face on the table with a loud thud, muttering to himself like a man possessed by Daemons. "By the Tower, this is our doctor? This is the woman who is supposed to heal us in case we're injured?" He took one look at her greasy, oily hands and stated as a matter of fact. "We are all doomed…"

I pointedly ignored him, turning to face Thomas. "So, you were saying something about reaching out to the Second Owner?" When in doubt, distract thyselves with other subject, kids.

Thankfully, Thomas seemed to understand what I was trying to do. "As I was saying, Wilhelm and I 'ave been trying to contact the Second Owner of Kyoto for information, but we haven't had any luck so far. We even went to his place earlier, but nobody was home, place looked abandoned in fact, and from what we 'ave gathered, he ain't the type to use modern devices. Meaning…"

"Phones are out." I continued in his place, crossing my legs as I leaned back. "Is it possible that the Apostle has gotten to him already? I mean, according to the Tower, Regul Black was snooping around Japan prior to his… Transformation, wasn't he? He could have been looking for a place to settle down, and from what you have said, the Second Owner of Kyoto is elderly, he wouldn't have been able to put up much of a fight against an Apostle, newly-turned or not."

"That is a worrisome, but very real possibility…" Maxwell said, his face scrunched up in a grim frown as he thought it over. Madelyn quickly cut in, whether to reassure the others or herself, I wasn't sure. "While it is a possibility, I think we can adopt the three days policy? If we still don't find the Second Owner by say, the day after tomorrow, we can assume the worst has happened to him, but before that, perhaps he's just busy? As for his house, maybe he moved some time in the past and the Tower just hasn't updated its info?"

Yeah… From the quivers in her tone, I didn't think even Madelyn was buying into her own words. "Absolutely not, we must strike fast and decisive. We can't allow the Apostle even a moment of respite, if we still can't get to the Second Owner within the next few hours, Thomas and I will go to the local government and compel information out of them. I doubt they have what we need, but even mentions of recent disappearances and murders in the City could prove tremendously useful to our goal."

"Indeed." I added. "We can probably pinpoint the general location of the Apostle by crisscrossing where these disappearances often happen. It should shrink down the area somewhat, and then we can use Magecraft to assist in our search. Glascheit can use his supernatural senses to track down the hiding Apostle, while the rest of us can make liberal use of Structural Gasp to accomplish the same thing, I believe?"

Thomas, Wodime and Maxwell seemed to agree with that as they nodded approvingly. "So we have a rough course of actions to take then? Does anyone have anything to say or add?" Thomas spoke, eyes searching everyone in our table for unusual signs. I too was doing the same. The good night of sleep hadn't made me magically forget the rat that still hid in our midst, and this was the perfect time to catch him or her, with most of ours still half-asleep, tired and mostly unprepared for mind games.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything outright suspicious, and from the looks of it, neither could Thomas and his friends. Damn, this was going to be harder than I thought. Even more so since Mages were nearly all first-class actors thanks to their penchant for self-hypnosis and spells of similar nature. "It's decided then. Maxwell and I will go ask around with the local government. You all stay here, keep an eye out for any suspicious person, got it? And if we haven't gotten back by noon, we're most likely dead, or captured.

Do not, and I repeat, do not under any circumstances try to find us alone. Regroup and go search in pair of two, three if you're unsure 'bout yer odds. You kiddies understand?" That prompted a round of nods from us as we finished our meals. This was good, groups of three would restrict the traitor's movements heavily, and while this might be cruel, should they show their true colors, only the other two in their group would be endangered.

I threw Thomas a small nod, unseen by all. He looked grim, seemingly not liking our strategy any more than I did, but understood it was a necessary evil... Our breakfast didn't simply end at that. Most spent their time making more small talks, or deals that they would likely not honor after. Some, like Sven and I, discussed Magecraft amongst themselves, while Primrose was still shoveling foods down her unhinged jaw like a human-shaped snake. Overall, despite all the hiccups that got in the way, it's a nice morning break.

One I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Thomas walked alongside Maxwell, their expression set in a emotionless grimace as they went on their way to the nearest police station. Their Hotel was in the good neighborhood, which meant their trip was shorter than they had expected. On the way there, they gathered quite a bit of attention due to their foreign appearances, but they weren't interrupted, thankfully.

This Mission had been far more troublesome than the last, what with the Second Owner of the City disappearing without an explanation, and the traitor still hiding in the group, but they were professional, it wasn't the first time they had had to deal with this type of situation. That didn't mean they enjoyed it, simply that they had experience in this sort of thing. "I'm getting too ol' for this shit…" Thomas sighed heavily as he wiped the droplets of sweat covering his forehead.

His friend chuckled, smirked really. "You are in your early thirties, you aren't that old. Stop exaggerating."

"Yeah? Well, I feel like three decades older. Any more of this and I might drop."

Maxwell raised his eyebrow. "Thinking about retiring already?" Thomas wasn't, at least not before this Mission, now though, he wasn't sure. He had made more than enough wealth for retirement, and had spare money to pay for his children's continued education, but was it the right choice? He should still have seven, to eight more good years… Was he really going to retire and be a stay-at-home dad? Could he even stand such a boring life after everything he had been through?

No. Thomas found his answer to be a resounding 'No'. He who lived by the sword, died by it. He felt bad for his kids, but that's the nature of the Moonlit World. He couldn't go back to the way things were, he couldn't live such a life, pretending to be something he wasn't. He was an Enforcer, it may not be the most prestigious position in the Clock Tower, but he was no helpless civilian. A life of normalcy and predictability would ruin him, it would ruin him fast. "Nah, can't let the children hound all the glory, can I?"

Maxwell shook at that, his eyes curved in laughingly. "How's your family?"

Yes, his family. It had been too long since Thomas last saw them. "Good, I hope. Haven't seen them for four years now, but I'm sending them letters and checks regularly. My wife said the kids missed me in the last letter I received, but I thought it's best they don't see me. I- I ain't the man I was, not since I got involved in this World." And isn't that the truth, Thomas hadn't been the same since the incident fourteen years ago. He had been naught but a young man then, his first son a babe that could fit snuggly in the palm of his hand.

Now kid's all grown up, on the way to make a family of his own. Thomas had promised again and again to be there for them, for his two little girls and first son, but he knew deep down, he was broken in ways that couldn't be fixed. Not now, not ever. It's why he kept his distance, he didn't want his children to be dragged into this life with him, and neither did his wife. But there were times, times when he wished he had never been made aware of the Moonlit World…

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Times when he wished he could help his son tie his first tie, give him his first birthday present, and teach him how to treat a girl right.

It was probably why he bonded to Leonis Magnum so fast, it's his wish to be a father, to be a normal, everyday working-man with a loving family, even though he knew such a life would not suit him. Maxwell didn't respond to his words, he didn't need to, the two of them had known each other long enough to understand the small, almost unnoticeable gestures of support they were sending each other.

Unlike him, Maxwell had been a child when he was dragged kicking and screaming into this Gods-Forsaken World. He had worked from the bottom up since he was a mere runt, taking up jobs that should have killed him nine times out of ten, learning Magecraft without proper education, and making deals way out of his league. Frankly, it was a miracle the man had managed to survive this long, though Thomas supposed one could argue this was simply proof of his overwhelming talents and skills.

"Here we are." Maxwell spoke, gazing up at the flashing signs of the K.P.D. To put it gently, the place was a mess. With the rising tension between the Yakuza and the police, the department was in shambles. Both due to lack of resources, and the fighting that would occur every now and then. "Ain't much to look at…"

"From what I've learnt, the previous mayor elected has ties with the Yakuza, which led to this situation. The current one is trying to undo the damages, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. Especially since the previous mayor, Mr. Tanaka still has major influence among their circle." Thomas sighed at that. Politics, be it supernatural or mundane, were always a pain. It's one of those many things that had held back centuries of progress for Mankind, but he also understood the need for it in order for society to function.

"Let's get this over with then." The inside of the station wasn't too different from the outside. Greying white walls that resembled what a mental asylum would use, a few empty, broken water dispensers that looked older than Thomas himself lined the halls, and headlights with a buzzing sound that guaranteed headaches for those who were foolish enough to stay inside for too long. The front desk officers were at least a dozen pounds too fat with their white shirts stained yellowish green from unhealthy food products.

They stared at the newcomers, their gazes lazy and unfriendly, promising retribution for daring to upset their afternoon. "Howdy there, officers. The name's Thomas, Thomas Bennett. I'm here in this glorious City to visit a few of my friends, and I was hoping if you could assist me in some matters." The officers traded unimpressed looks between themselves, before one decided to ask. "What may we help you with, sir?"

Thomas grinned, teeth shining brightly in the low-light environment. "Well, you see, to start with you can look at my buddy over here." Maxwell's eyes glowed as the officers' faces seemed to slacken, eyes dazed. "That ain't too hard." Thomas snickered, fixing his tilted flat cap straight as he pulled out a cheap package of Marlboro cigarettes from his coat pocket. "Mystic Eyes, man… Gotta love 'em handy little thing. Yer sure you don't wanna sell me yer eyes?"

"Yes, Thomas. I'm sure."

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"Advancement… That's your Origin?"

"Not exactly, my guardian said it's hard to translate, but its overall meaning can be interpreted as Going Forwards, Advancement or Development." I explained under Sven's intense gaze. My Origin wasn't something I liked to touch upon since I didn't feel it was often relevant in a conversation, but in Magecraft, Origin was the core of a being, it's what made them special and pointed at what specialization they could or would excel in.

Different from Affinity, which could be changed through some painful and life-endangering methods, Origin was nigh impossible to alter. Even amnesia and similar afflictions couldn't affect a being that deeply. Whatever happened to Shirou, it was a once in a trillion event, almost an impossibility in and of itself. Just that alone propelled her value as a experimental material to entirely new height, and would ensure her a Sealing Designation should anyone other than me get a wind of.

"That's a interesting Origin to have. It will help you smooth out the path of your own brand of Magecraft, but you will have to have developed it first. Lack of inspiration is a problem many first-gen Mages encounter, most don't care to create their own Specialty, instead rely on Magecraft created by previous generations, which more than often leads to them never amounting to anything great. Though for you, you can probably just delve into different Branches and live off of improving existing Magecraft…" His face turned calculating at that.

"It is a possibility, but it isn't a path I want to take." I nodded, but denied the option. Sven was right, I could pick the safest and easiest method, one that would guarantee me wealth and prosperity, still, I wanted to create something I could call my own. Something unique, different compared to what had been researched by the Tower's Mages.

Sven shrugged. "If you ever feel like taking that path, contact me. I'm sure my House will be happy to work with you. You might even be able to negotiate for our researches, as long as you agree to sign a Geass promising to keep the secrets to our Family Magecraft."

"I'll keep that in mind, though as I have said, I still want to see what the Moonlit World has to offer. Don't want to tie myself down too soon." I joked, half-teasing, half-serious. Sven didn't appear too upset at my refusal, but his shoulders seemed to slump down ever so slightly. "I'm flattered that you think so highly of me, Sven, but I don't swing that way."

"W- What?! That's not what I–!!!" Sven shouted, his cheeks flushed a deep red as the words sputtered out of his mouth. Not going to lie, the sight amused me greatly. Unfortunately, he never got to finish as knocks sounded at my door. As if on cue, we both snapped our necks at the source of the sound, eyes narrowed as we called out. "Who's there?" – "Who is it?"

"I- It's Primrose! Wilhelm told me Thomas and Maxwell will be returning shortly, and he wants all of us in Thomas' room to discuss what we will do next!" So they were on their way back then? Primrose didn't appear urgent, so Thomas and Maxwell should be safe, though I doubted the Apostle would have attacked them in daylight anyways. "Alrighty, tell him we're on our way."

"I think it's best that we get going." Sven, my somewhat furry friend, doubt me not when I said I believed truer words had never been said in the history of Mankind. Sven glared… Wait, what? How? I never said that out loud?! "It's your face, you were thinking something rude, weren't you?" Crap, he knew! Abort Mission! All personnel prepared to depart! "Oh shut up." Sven grumbled angrily as he downed his drink.

"Bu- But I never said anything though?!"

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"According to the local authorities, the disappearances 'ave been increasing in recent days. Most of it are concentrated around the old Imperial Palace, though some victims are from the Shi– Shi…"

Maxwell cut in. "Shimogamo Shrine and Chionji Temple. There are also earlier reports of missing students from the Kyoto University, though from what we can see, these reports are far and few in between compared to other areas. Looks like the Apostle is specifically targeting the homeless, and or without close relatives, people that no one would miss if they disappeared, though it would appear he couldn't control his urges too well, which leads to some University students being killed.

I propose we split into smaller teams, each will take turns to patrol these areas every night to look for the Apostle." That seemed reasonable, but I felt it would be a waste of our advantageous base. "I think we can also leave someone here, stationed on the roof of the Hotel? Our base right now would offer complete views of all three of those areas, all we need is a binocular and someone on watch-duty…

A combination of these two will cover all our bases and the person on guard can communicate with the ground team using walkie-talkie should they discover anything?" Maxwell, Wilhelm and Wodime were inclined to agree with my suggestion, Thomas threw me a toothy grin, Madelyn looked doubtful at our plan, the twins seemed disinterested in anything but arguing between themselves and the trio of Tom, Dick and Harry stayed thoughtfully in their seats.

"Good idea, Mr. Leo. Anything else you want to add?" I nodded at that. "I was hoping you guys can also enlighten us on Regul Black's brand of Magecraft so we can prepare. You know, know your enemy and all that jazz?"

Maxwell gave Wilhelm a look, signaling for him to come up. The aristocrat swept a glance at everyone in the room, then spoke after a short, curt cough. "Regul Black is a Magus from a House that specializes in Alchemy, specifically Body Modifications, Flesh Crafting and Bio-Magecraft. While they have only joined the Tower in the last century, their history is far longer than that. It's even speculated that the Black Plague was the result of their ancestor combining different diseases and illnesses together to create what he called 'The Ultimate Curse'.

Apparently he was snubbed by his long time rival and decided he wanted the man to die the most miserable and painful Death. Unfortunately, what was originally intended to be a curse that ended with the victim evolved into one of the largest Plague in our history…" So just another case of stupidity then, neat. "Thankfully, Black is nowhere near as talented or powerful as his ancestor, so we have that going for us. But, he's still quite formidable, often utilizing disease-ridden Homunculi to fight his battles for him.

Though now that he is an Apostle, expect him to attack you all directly. Do not let him scratch you, his fingernails are poisonous, as the last person to visit him has unfortunately found out—" Wilhelm pressed the film projector, showing us the images of a man, veins darkened with poisonous substances, black blood pouring from all holes on his body and eyes milky white as he writhed in constant agony.  "Poor fool is still being kept alive by our Healing Specialists." That, that looked absolutely horrible. I couldn't even fathom how much pain he must have been and still be in.

"W- Why didn't they just let him die?" I didn't need to look to know it was Madelyn that asked, her voice just had this distinctive squeakiness to it.

"They can't, the Queen's orders." Wilhelm shook grimly as he continued with his explanation. "While it operated like a poison and disease both rolled into one, its true nature is that of a mutating Curse of the House. We have been trying to decipher how it works, and create methods to counter it, but we need a… Subject in order to do so. All previous enemies of the Black have died too quickly, within hours, if not minutes after their encounter, he's simply the unluckiest to have been found before the Curse could take his life…"

I almost forgot how inhumane Mages could be, but this really hammered home the point.

So far, I had dealt with tamer ones like Rin, Thomas and to some degrees, even Wilhelm himself, but Mages were probably the cruelest group of people that could be found on Earth. They had no rule of ethics, and strictly followed the motto 'the ends justified the means'. I didn't doubt for a second they would sacrifice their own children without a moment of hesitation if they had reasons to believe the act would help them achieve their goals.

That's how Mages were. That's how the World I now lived in worked… "Gods, why this Universe? Why couldn't it have been DxD instead?" What? If some boobs-obsessed idiot could grow strong enough to contend with Gods, then I could too! Not to mention the whole 'Imagination Magic' the Devils had going for them. With the Game, I would have steamrolled that Universe easily, probably wouldn't even take a few months to do it either. But no, I got thrown in Nasuverse instead.

"Did you say something, Le–!?" And then it happened…

*BANG

Wilhelm was still in the middle of saying something when the bombs exploded behind him, ripping him to shreds as the outwards force painted us with what was once his innards. We didn't even get a chance to scream when another series of bombs went off. Through my blurry vision, I could see Thomas diving for cover, I could see Sven's terrified face as rubbles dropped on him, I could see Tom, Dick and Harry's limbs fly across the room, but most of all, I could see my own be crushed and busted open like a cheaply threaded doll as tons of concretes and steel fell on me.

That moment, I realized, I never should have agreed to this Mission. 'Fucking Kotomine must be having a blast right now.'

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