Nalakuvara.
"That's a relic excavated from ruins in South Asia, a legacy of a prehistoric civilization. It's said to have destroyed countless cities and civilizations in the past," Natsuki Minamiya explained softly to Arcueid, glancing slightly to the side.
"A weapon forged by the gods."
The gods... oh, the Deva.
Arcueid nodded.
Cain's memories told her that the Deva had researched all manner of weapons in the past.
However, Nalakuvara and many other weapons were actually manufactured by the demon races and humans—beings they scornfully deemed lower life forms.
That's why these very weapons became one of the reasons for the downfall of the Deva during the subsequent 'Great Cleansing'.
Arcueid shot a glance at Avrora, who was sweeping through the banquet alongside Root.
As expected, it's not weakness or ignorance that hinders survival, but arrogance.
"It's speculated that Nalakuvara possesses numerous armaments and flight capabilities. From a modern perspective, it might resemble an unmanned fighter craft," Natsuki Minamiya continued.
"The 'Flying Chariot (Pushpaka Ratha)' from Indian mythology, and the artificial god 'Nezha Taizi' revered in Taoism—both are thought to be based on its prototype."
Her blue eyes turned towards Vatler, who wore a look of sheer delight, and she said with displeasure, "No wonder you're interested. You just want to fight it, don't you?"
"Exactly," Vatler replied without hesitation.
For someone who craved battle like him, a weapon crafted by the gods was immensely intriguing.
The prototype of Nezha, a weapon of the gods.
Arcueid blinked with equal interest and looked at Natsuki Minamiya to ask, "Has that Nalakuvara thing made its way onto Itogami Island?"
Though she usually took a hands-off approach, if a weapon of that caliber entered the island, a report would surely have landed on her desk.
Yet, until just before she stepped out, her desk had remained empty.
"No," Natsuki Minamiya shook her head, her black hair swaying in the moonlight.
The petite girl crossed her arms and spoke with a maturity that completely belied her youthful appearance.
"There are indeed rumors that Nalakuvara was stolen by the Black Death Emperor Front, but there's no way they could have transported it onto Itogami Island."
The Neco-Arcs hadn't detected anything unusual.
"Naturally," Vatler gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, his smile reflected in the liquid. "They certainly can't enter Itogami Island at will."
"They're merely on their way here now," he waved a hand dismissively before downing the wine in one gulp. "Through MAR's channels."
MAR—the very company that had brought the 'Priestess of Abel' onto Itogami Island during the 'Cleansing' incident.
As one of the world's leading mega-corporations in the magical industry, Arcueid hadn't expelled them from the island after the incident.
She had just extorted a hefty sum and nudged the MAR branch on Itogami Island towards near-independence from its headquarters, that's all.
During the 'Cleansing' incident, they insisted they were merely researching resurrection technology, not supporting Akishige Yaze.
The 'Priestess of Abel' managing to contact Akishige Yaze and even utilizing the 'Cleansing' was all just coincidence, they claimed.
And now they're popping up again.
"Interesting. Still haven't given up on designs for Itogami Island, have they?" Arcueid's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously as she glanced sideways at the brightly lit city district.
"They did recently submit an application for new cargo transportation. If I remember correctly..." Natsuki Minamiya pulled out her phone, the screen's faint glow reflecting in her blue eyes.
A few seconds later, she slowly looked up, her finger pointing towards a transport plane descending towards the central airport.
"That's the one."
Surprises always arrive so perfectly timed, and...
It seems there's more than one.
A faint smile played on Arcueid's lips as she looked at her phone, which had just chimed with a notification.
"Miss Aiba is quite obedient, isn't she? Reporting anything strange straight to us."
If it's a weapon, there must be a way to control it.
In the original story, the Black Death Emperor Front had directly sought out Asagi Aiba, wanting her to decipher the control commands for operating Nalakuvara.
Linguists and magical institutions worldwide couldn't make head nor tail of the control commands for Nalakuvara, but in Asagi Aiba's hands, they didn't last three hours.
That's the caliber of a high school student on Itogami Island.
"Heheh~ Natsuki-chan, I'll leave Aiba's side to you."
Arcueid cheerfully pocketed her phone and skipped off towards the airport.
A weapon forged by the gods—that's an extremely dangerous existence. Of course, she had to go have a good time... ahem, properly regulate it.
"Be careful not to wreck the airport," Natsuki Minamiya nodded, offering a soft reminder.
For Itogami Island, floating in the middle of the Pacific, airplanes were a crucial part of daily transportation.
While there were six airports of various sizes on the island, only the central airport could handle normal takeoffs and landings for large aircraft. The other five were privately-run airports barely meeting minimal needs.
"Got it~"
The figure of the golden-haired vampire bounded like a rabbit leaping across the lunar surface, swiftly vanishing into the night sky.
Once vampires get interested in something, there's really no stopping them.
"Then, first, the children..."
The hem of her luxurious dress swayed slightly as Natsuki Minamiya turned gracefully, and then...
She froze, staring at the girls huddled together.
How had they ended up glued to each other in just the few moments she'd been talking?
"Sayaka?" Yukina Himeragi looked flustered, holding the ponytailed girl in her arms, surprise written on her face.
The previously composed girl instantly bloomed with a radiant, beguiling smile, pressing herself against Yukina Himeragi with evident affection.
"Yukina!"
Her ponytail wagged like the happy tail of a puppy. Sayaka rubbed her cheek tightly against Yukina's neck, her nostrils flaring slightly. "Yukina! Yukina! Yukina! sniff sniff Mmm, my Yukina."
"I see," Root swallowed a piece of sashimi, her ears twitching in understanding. "So that's why the Lion King Organization sent her. She's a lesbian, after all."
"Gwa?" Avrora looked up, puzzled, her pink little tongue continuously lapping at the pure white ice cream.
Why did she feel this was related to her?
"None of your business," Root gently tapped her little head. "Children don't need to worry about such things. Keep eating."
"Oh."
"Um... I feel there might be some misunderstanding," Yukina Himeragi habitually pushed away the girl clinging to her and sighed softly. "Sayaka, what are you doing here?"
"Same as you. I took a job monitoring vampires," Sayaka casually pointed a thumb over her shoulder at Vatler.
"So that's the kind of person you are," Vatler raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
This Sayaka was a 'Shamanic War Dancer' of the Lion King Organization and had accompanied him when his ship entered Japanese waters.
"I've always been like this," Sayaka seemed to transform in an instant, becoming serious as she looked at Vatler. "But, Duke of Ardeal, aren't you going to pick a fight with the one who just left?"
Faced with her somewhat provocative tone, Vatler merely shook his head, that same smile still gracing his lips.
"I enjoy fighting, not courting death."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.