After returning home with Rossweisse, we sat down to a meeting with the other members of the Occult Research Club just as dusk was settling.
“…I can’t believe he showed up in Tokyo. I was careless. I should have anticipated this.”
Rias blamed herself for the encounter with Euclid.
…The town had already been attacked once, and security was tight because it was under the joint control of the three great powers. Naturally, work was also underway to set up a security net around nearby Tokyo as Japan’s capital, mainly led by important figures in Japanese mythology.
But all the same, Euclid had just waltzed in and showed up right in front of us…!
“…These Qlippoth people aren’t like the other supernatural groups responsible for past acts of terrorism,” Irina said with a frown. “They don’t have any qualms about affecting the human world or causing collateral damage.”
She was right. Euclid’s people were different to the enemies we had faced before. Our past foes had always had clear targets—the old Demon King regime focused its attacks on the three great powers, while the hero faction only challenged supernatural beings.
Qlippoth, however, wouldn’t hesitate to turn their fangs against the human world or any other race to achieve their selfish desires.
And as a result, the vampire world had already been left devastated.
If a battle were to break to break out in Tokyo and an Evil Dragon to be summoned… It would be a colossal disaster. The casualties would be in the hundreds, if not more…
…Had Rossweisse and I let down our guard…? My head hung heavy with guilt.
“Don’t blame yourself, Issei. They’re a powerful terrorist organization, so they could show up anywhere they felt like if they really wanted to. You couldn’t have known he would try reaching out in person.”
“That’s right,” Akeno added. “He took a considerable risk appearing in Tokyo. Sneaking into a major city isn’t something they can do repeatedly. Now that the city is on heightened alert, I doubt he’ll try again without a very good reason.”
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It was already high to begin with, but as Akeno said, the alert level in Tokyo had shot through the roof as a result of this incident.
Ravel glanced across at Rossweisse. “He reached out to you despite the risk… That must go to show how important your research paper must be to them, right?”
“From what he said, they must have concluded it was worth the risk,” Rias continued. “It’s time we checked in with Azazel, so let’s ask him about it. Rossweisse, if you could?”
“Of course.” She nodded.
A dark cloud had settled over her face ever since our encounter with Euclid.
A few minutes later, we received our regular call from Azazel, currently out of town. He had decided to return to the underworld to consult with his fellow Grigori researchers on Sacred Gears, the other world, and Qlippoth’s ambitions.
Once he appeared in the communication square, we filled him in on the latest events.
“…I see. So Rossweisse was his target.” His eyes narrowed in a squint as he rested a hand under his chin. “Have you heard about the prominent mages who have gone missing?”
We nodded. Rias and Gondul had both touched on that the other day.
“They all have one thing in common—they’ve all done research on Trihexa at one point or another, approaching it from innovative angles. Apparently, some of the people coming to the upcoming mages’ conference have also engaged in similar research.”
…
…I was at a loss for words… So they were connected. Euclid was trying to recruit Rossweisse for her knowledge of the Beast of the Apocalypse. And the missing mages had all been conducting research of their own on it…
“So you’re saying they’re snatching up everyone who might have information about Trihexa?” Rias asked.
Azazel nodded. “If you know enough about the Book of Revelation and the Biblical God, you can figure out some of the sealing techniques he might have used on Trihexa. We’ve estimated there are twenty-three powerful seals, which they’re no doubt having a tough time breaking through. Based on that, we’ve been trying to work out how much time we have left before they revive it. Not that we’re going to let them, but we need to plan with the worst-case scenario in mind.”
…There was no telling what would happen to the world if Trihexa was revived and started fighting the Great Red…
We must have been wearing our anxiety plain to see, as Azazel broke out into a chuckle. “It’s too early to start worrying, kids. I’m setting up an insurance policy for you. We’ll need to work out the nitty-gritty, but we can discuss that later.”
Did he have some kind of plan? Knowing him, any insurance policy would be far from orthodox.
“Well, I can’t really say I trust our conclusions. Who knows how much information Qlippoth will be able to extract from the kidnapped mages, or how much it will help unravel the sealing techniques…?”
What was going to happen to the missing mages? Knowing Euclid’s kind, I doubted it would be anything good.
“One quick question,” Azazel said, addressing Rossweisse. “How did you interpret the number 666?”
“…I was looking into an alternative theory—616,” she answered in a heavy voice. “I used the number to piece together various formulas and compare the results to related texts and historical events.”
“…I see… I knew it.”
It sounded like Azazel had anticipated at least some of that.
…What the heck was 616? I thought the number of the beast was 666?
As if sensing my confusion, Azazel launched into an explanation. “While plenty of Apocalypse researchers have zeroed in on the number 666, some mages have been exploring a different theory—616. It turns out all the missing mages were also exploring that angle.”
An alternative theory?! Was that really a thing…? And Rossweisse was someone who had delved into it?
Azazel rubbed his chin with one hand. “Most researchers don’t consider 616 to be the original interpretation. Even we in the Grigori belonged to that camp… But given Qlippoth’s actions, maybe the Biblical God did seal Trihexa with the number 616…,” he mumbled, sounding less like he was addressing us and more like he was wondering out loud.
Only then realizing he had spoken aloud, he cleared his throat and glanced back to Rossweisse. “All right. For now, we need you to rewrite your student paper as best you can remember it and send it over to us. We’ll see how much it relates to Trihexa.”
“…I transcribed this much a short time ago,” she said, opening a small magic square and pulling out a stack of report papers covered in magical symbols and spells.
Moments later, the report appeared in front of Azazel in the communication square. A successful transfer!
“You’re something else, huh?” he murmured. “I had no idea you were researching the same topic as your grandma. I guess blood really is thicker than water.”
…
Only then did I realize why Rossweisse had looked so conflicted earlier.
The common thread among the mages being targeted by Qlippoth was their interest in Trihexa, and the same went for the mages’ conference in the underworld… That could only mean her grandmother was researching the same topic.
“…”
Rossweisse said nothing more that night, her troubled frown all but etched into her face.