"So~ like~ I~ said! Kanon is my little sister now. If you try to take her away while we aren't paying attention, that's kidnapping. It's a crime, and Natsuki-oneechan, as an instructor of the Island Guard, has the authority to drag you off in handcuffs."
"I don't need you to remind me of that, you fake nun."
Kensei Kanase adjusted his glasses. His utterly calm expression made it clear that Ciel's words had not frightened him.
"What do you mean, fake nun? I'm a perfectly legitimate nun, all right?"
Ciel frowned slightly, displeased.
Although her faith in the Lord was indeed not as devout or pure as that of an ordinary believer, and there was a somewhat utilitarian side to it, God Himself had no objection, so no one else had the right to criticize her.
Besides, there were plenty of people like her in the Holy Church. For instance, a certain fake priest skilled in Bajiquan, and even among the cardinals, there were many whose faith was hardly pure.
Kensei spoke again. "The West European Church has never acknowledged your status as clergy."
"They haven't. I only need the Lord's acknowledgment."
Ciel remained completely unconcerned by his words.
The man named Kensei Kanase was a genius.
After all, he had once been a Court Sorcerous Engineer of the Kingdom of Aldegia. Someone who could climb to that position had to have genuine skill.
In the original plot, even though the "Faux-Angel" he developed caused no small amount of damage to Itogami Island, he suffered almost no punishment. The Gigafloat Management Corporation valued his worth in magical engineering research. Publicly, they declared that he had been imprisoned, but in reality, Kensei was effectively working for Itogami Island at that time.
Of course, part of the reason was that Kensei had already recognized his mistake. His original intention had only been to make Kanon happy, and after being beaten awake by the male lead, Kojou Akatsuki, he could be considered to have turned over a new leaf and learned to respect Kanon's own wishes.
Speaking of "Faux-Angels," Ciel remembered that this technology was also widely known among this world's ancient gods... that is, the Devas. There was not much difficulty to it. However, the Devas regarded Faux-Angels as dangerous. Their performance as weapons made the Devas feel fear, so they abandoned that research.
"The twelfth Kaleid Blood that you and the Witch of the Void brought back from Gozo Island was stolen from MAR's research facility. All twelve vessels are already in place. The Blazing Banquet will begin soon."
In the end, Kensei was the first who could not help speaking.
He brought up the Blazing Banquet again, making Ciel think of Koyomi Shizuka, who had only come to see her that morning.
To ordinary people, the Fourth Primogenitor, Kaleid Blood, was a vampire that existed only in fantasy, as distant as a figure from myth. But Kensei had once been a Court Sorcerous Engineer of the Kingdom of Aldegia, so he had certainly come into contact with many secrets ordinary people never could. Naturally, he understood that the Fourth Primogenitor truly existed.
However, why had he deliberately brought this up? He should not have discovered Avrora's existence the way Koyomi had.
"I know about MAR's research facility being attacked. Natsuki-oneechan complained to me several times. The people from MAR asked the Island Guard to search for the culprit, but they refused to provide even a single clue. They have no idea how to cooperate... The planning side always loves making wildly imaginative, unrealistic demands, then blaming the technical staff for being hard to communicate with. That's why I hate working for other people."
Ciel spoke with a helpless expression, voicing the feelings of all wage slaves.
"...I see. So MAR tacitly allowed No. 12 to be stolen?"
Kensei's expression darkened slightly.
MAR might have fools among its ranks. After all, as the saying went, in a large forest, every kind of bird could be found. But there was no way everyone there could be a fool. They were deliberately obstructing Natsuki's investigation because No. 12's theft had been within MAR's expectations from the start, and might even have been arranged by them.
That would also explain why a single Old Guard vampire could charge into MAR's research facility alone, steal the twelfth vessel, and still not be caught even now.
"The conditions required for the ritual have all been gathered. The Blazing Banquet will begin soon, and the location is this island... I don't want to see Kanon get dragged into it."
Kensei's words were filled with concern, but that concern was directed only at Kanon.
"I'll take good care of Kanon. I won't let her come to any harm."
"Hmph... Remember that promise."
That was all Kensei wanted to say.
After saying it, he left directly, not even waiting for Kanon to finish school.
"You already came all the way to the school gates. I thought you'd at least say hello to Kanon."
"...Next time. I still have work I haven't finished."
Ciel watched Kensei's back gradually recede and murmured to herself.
"Next time, I should probably take Kanon to visit his home."
Kensei's love for Kanon was genuine. After his younger sister died, Kanon was the only person left in the world he cared about.
It was also because Kanon was still on this island that Kensei remained here and worked for the Gigafloat Management Corporation.
With his abilities, he would be valued no matter what country he went to.
...
After Kensei left, Ciel stood alone at the school gate for quite a while, waiting until Kanon finished school.
"Oneesama!"
When Ciel's figure appeared in her eyes, Kanon showed a brilliant smile and trotted through the academy gates.
A smile appeared on Ciel's face as well.
"How's academy life? Are you having fun? Has any student developed a crush on you?"
"Ciel-oneesama, we're still elementary school students."
"What's wrong with elementary school students? Children these days mature early. Besides, children's feelings are purer. For adults, marriage is more of a responsibility, and only children want to be together with someone simply because they like them. Adult love is mixed with far too many things... Though children also often can't distinguish between different kinds of love and cause all sorts of misunderstandings."
Ciel talked on and on by herself, but soon realized something was wrong.
"Sorry. You don't need to understand any of that. After all, even I don't really understand these things myself... Let's roll the topic back a little. You still haven't answered my first question. How is academy life?"
"Yes! It's very fun. My classmates all take good care of me... Though I don't know why the boys in my class seem a little nervous when they talk to me. Maybe I'm not very likable."
"No, I think it's exactly the opposite. It's probably because you're too likable, Kanon."
"Huh?"
"Hmph! Didn't I say it? Children these days mature early..."
Kanon did not seem to understand her own charm. Her silver-white hair and gentle, saintly face were her greatest weapons.
Ciel was actually rather curious which little brats had fallen for her Kanon.
Others were one thing, but if it was some blind vampire, she might genuinely be unable to stop herself from killing them.
Kanon looked around, but did not see Natsuki or Avrora anywhere.
"Natsuki-oneechan stayed at school to watch Avrora. Since I don't have classes this afternoon, I came early to pick you up."
Before Kanon could even speak, Ciel guessed what she wanted to ask and answered first.
"So, where do you want to go next? You don't have cram school anyway, so we have plenty of time. The abbey on the mountain behind Saikai Academy? Straight home? Or should we just wander around town? I'll keep you company anywhere."
"Then... let's go back to Saikai Academy."
After a brief hesitation, Kanon gave that answer, which was still within Ciel's expectations.
"You still want to visit the abbey?"
"Yes. And also... Today, I want to go home together with Ciel-oneesama, Natsuki-oneechan, and Avrora... Is that all right?"
"When you ask me with eyes like that, how could your Ciel-oneesama possibly refuse? Don't worry! Even if Natsuki-oneechan says she has to work overtime tonight, I'll help push all her work aside and drag her home."
"No... You don't need to go that far..."
Kanon's cheeks grew faintly hot. She still did not want her selfishness to trouble Ciel and the others.
Even though Ciel had taught her that it was fine to be a little selfish, that this degree of selfishness was something they would accept, and that next time she asked someone for something, she did not need to be so nervous... Clearly, Kanon still could not change herself that easily.
It made Ciel think of Iris... Not the one from Wonderland, but the one from the KonoSuba world.
Both were children so obedient it made one's heart ache. Perhaps it would be more suitable to have Nero, the most selfish tyrant, teach them.
She wondered how Princess Iris was doing now. Before leaving, they had promised that, as Nero, she would definitely return, while Iris had also sworn that she would work even harder, become someone dazzling like Nero-oneesama, and become an excellent royal.
The two first went to Natsuki's office and brought Avrora with them.
Natsuki still had one final class to teach today, so she could only let Ciel take Avrora and Kanon with her. In front of Kanon, Ciel probably would not make another excessive joke like giving Avrora alcohol to drink... right?
On the way to the mountain behind the school, seeing that Avrora seemed very curious about school, Kanon happily shared her own school experiences with her.
Avrora listened with great interest, and Ciel silently listened from the side as well.
When they arrived at the abbey, Kanon followed Ciel and prayed to the Lord, praising Him while reflecting upon herself.
Avrora watched from the side with some curiosity, then imitated the two of them and prayed to the Lord as well... though seeing the vampire Fourth Primogenitor pray to God somehow felt awkward.
"?"
...Forget it. Since the Lord's punishment had not descended, that meant He had tacitly accepted that Avrora's prayer followed the rules. If God Himself had no objection, what was Ciel worrying blindly about?
That was what Ciel thought.
Because she found it rather interesting, Ciel also taught Avrora a few things, including how to pray.
"Still, I am a little surprised."
"Ugh? Ciel... what insight dost thou possess?"
Her clear eyes gazed at Ciel's face, and Avrora tilted her head in confusion.
"I mean, it really is strange. I teased you like that today, so why can you still follow me around without any resentment? I thought you'd at least be a little more wary of me."
"Ugh... Truth has long been lost upon the far shore. Only this thread of causality binds thee and me together."
"...Are you trying to say you don't know either?"
"Mm, mm, mm!"
Avrora's little head bobbed quickly up and down, confirming Ciel's guess.
What was Ciel supposed to say to that?
It was not as if Avrora were a newly hatched chick that would recognize the first creature it saw when it opened its eyes as its parent and develop an incomparable closeness to them.
...
A group of uninvited guests stealthily arrived at the mountain behind Saikai Academy, stopping some distance from the abbey.
They wore eerie black clothes and beast skull masks.
"Fifteen twenty-one forty-four—arrived at Adelard's Abbey. Notify our partners. Once the status of Wiseman's Blood has been confirmed, the recovery mission may begin."
The black-clad man who seemed to be the leader muttered something to himself, using the communication device installed inside his throat to contact his companions.
"Fifteen twenty-two thirty-seven—discovered other individuals remaining inside Adelard's Abbey... Cross-referencing information. The identities of two have been confirmed: high-risk target Sister Ciel and a Fourth Primogenitor vessel. The Fourth Primogenitor vessel is suspected to be the missing No. 12."
"Fifteen twenty-two fifty-four—plan updated. Recovery targets changed to Wiseman's Blood and Fourth Primogenitor vessel. Operation continues."
The three strange black-clad figures raised their hands, and the cannon barrels installed in their arms began accumulating magical power.
A magical bombardment, aimed at the abbey where Ciel and the others were.
...But in the end, those black-clad figures never fired that shot.
They lowered their heads in confusion, only belatedly seeing that their arms had already vanished, leaving only severed ends marked by traces of body modification.
Three severed arms fell to the ground. The sound startled the surrounding black-clad figures and made them see Ciel, who had appeared in their midst at some unknown point.
"This nauseating aura... Vampires?"
Her gaze, chilled by killing intent, swept over the black-clad figures present. Ciel's eyes easily saw through their disguises and discovered the weapons implanted inside their bodies.
"No, vampires wouldn't care for this scrap metal... I see. You're Nosferata."
Nosferatu—the name given to inferior vampires who could not summon Beast Vassals.
Although they could not summon Beast Vassals, aside from that, these Nosferata did not differ greatly from vampires. They likewise possessed nearly ageless and undying bodies, as well as enormous magical power.
Therefore, the Nosferata had learned to perform body modifications on themselves, installing all kinds of powerful weapons in their bodies.
Because they were difficult to kill, they could withstand modification surgeries that would be tantamount to suicide for other lifeforms.
Because they possessed enormous magical power, they could use the many weapons inside their bodies with ease.
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