Fate/Magus Path

"What are you worried about?"

While Roy was still investigating at the Tohno residence, the base's living room was filled with tension.

Arcueid glanced at Shiki Tohno, who was visibly restless, raised her hands with a mischievous grin, and teased, "Are you worried that I'll take this chance to finish you off?"

After bringing Shiki Tohno back to the base, Roy had arranged a room for him.

At the time, Shiki Ryougi was still out scouring the city with the Aozaki sisters, hunting down hidden vampires and searching for any trace of Roa or the other Dead Apostle Ancestors. She had yet to return.

Though Roy had brought Shiki Tohno back, he had never witnessed Tohno's true abilities firsthand.

Even if Tohno had relied on an ambush and Arcueid's momentary carelessness, the fact that he had managed to kill her was enough for Roy to take him seriously.

If Shiki Ryougi were to learn about someone with eyes and a name like hers, she'd likely be intrigued and might even challenge Shiki Tohno to a duel.

"I deeply apologize for what I did to Miss Arcueid earlier. It was unforgivable." Shiki Tohno admitted, bowing his head without hesitation.

"Huh? You're apologizing so easily? That makes it hard for me to handle this." 

"I had planned to make you pay for what you did, you know."

"Please, have mercy!" Shiki Tohno immediately surrendered.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you."

"Roy explained your situation to me. The reason you killed me was because of the instincts buried in your bloodline. My death wasn't entirely your fault... it was also due to my carelessness. Otherwise, no matter how many tricks you tried, you wouldn't have succeeded."

Arcueid snorted but refrained from pushing him further.

"In fact, I might even owe you a thank-you."

"What?" Shiki Tohno looked at her in disbelief.

She continued, "If you hadn't killed me, I wouldn't have met Roy, Shiki, Beo, and Aoko. Thanks to you, my trip this time has been far less boring than usual."

She gently touched the wound on her body and murmured, "Although being killed was incredibly painful, meeting new friends has been a truly delightful experience."

"Wait a minute... are you happy to see me?"

"Don't exalt yourself, I'm not talking about you, you're just lucky to have the same name as her."

"Ohh… By the way, you've forgiven me, Miss Arcueid?" 

"Of course not. Just because I'm not holding it against you doesn't mean I've forgiven you. The piercing pain is still fresh in my memory. Per Roy's suggestion, you'll work here until I'm satisfied."

Arcueid gave him a playful smile, patting his shoulder with a mock-serious tone. "I don't know why Roy recruited someone like you, but he must have his reasons. Just follow orders and don't overthink it. Got it?"

"Understood. I'll do my best." 

"What can I do to help, though? I've learned a bit of self-defense, but hunting Dead Apostles isn't exactly my forte…"

"Don't worry about that." A voice interrupted from the door. Roy had just returned from the Tohno residence.

"There will be arrangements in place for you." 

"Roy, you're back! Did you bring me a midnight snack?" 

"Of course. Here."

Smiling, Roy handed her a pack of sushi he had picked up on the way back.

"Thank you so much, Roy!" Arcueid exclaimed, her enthusiasm undeniable.

"No need to thank me."

After responding to Arcueid, Roy turned to Shiki Tohno. "Would you like some?"

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry." 

"Then Arcueid, it's all yours." 

"Leave it to me!" 

At the Tohno residence, Roy had uncovered quite a few shocking and troubling truths.

Secrets about the Tohno family, remnants of the Nanaya Family, and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the Fujou sisters were only the tip of the iceberg.

He had even called Shiki Ryougi to check if they needed backup.

The response he received was Aoko's confident voice assuring him that everything was under control, followed by the distinct sound of a vampire's screams and a series of explosions.

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

The call ended abruptly, leaving Roy unable to track their location.

Returning to the base, Roy entered the room and tossed a school bag to Shiki Tohno.

"Take it, kid. Then wash up and rest. You've got school tomorrow."

"School?" 

Shiki Tohno was at a loss for words regarding Roy's instructions.

Hadn't they agreed to hunt Dead Apostles? Before coming here, he had Akiha send him extensive information about Dead Apostles and had prepared himself for the possibility of losing his life in the process.

He had expected Roy to assign him some dangerous task. But when Roy told him, "You've got school tomorrow." Shiki found himself completely dumbfounded.

Noticing his confusion, Roy took it upon himself to explain.

"You're still a high school student. Naturally, attending school comes first."

"Besides, we already have more than enough fighting power on our side... more than we even need. While you have potential, your current abilities are about as useful as a fish out of water. Following us around would just be a hindrance. It's better if you stick to your studies for now."

If he was just going to continue living a normal student life, what was the point of being brought here in the first place? Was it simply to change his living environment?

"But... "

Shiki tried to argue further, but Roy was already beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He spoke in a serious tone, one that left no room for doubt.

"Don't worry. All you need to do is follow my arrangements. Don't overthink it, young man."

"Understood..."

Roy then rummaged through a corner of the room and pulled out a collection of uniquely shaped weapons, handing them over to Shiki.

These were all high-quality items he had acquired from Kirei and Ciel... holy water in small bottles, Black Keys, consecrated cloths... all specialized tools for combating Dead Apostles.

"Keep these with you for self-defense. With these tools and your Mystic Eyes, ordinary vampires won't stand a chance against you."

"Of course, if you encounter something truly out of the ordinary or face a situation beyond your control, contact me immediately. Don't try to handle it alone. Understood?"

As he spoke, Roy tossed Shiki a communicator equipped with a tracking system. Once he confirmed that all the preparations were in place, he seemed satisfied.

Although Roy intended to use Shiki as bait to lure out potential threats, he wasn't about to recklessly throw him into danger.

He equipped Shiki with everything he might need: consecrated cloths, holy water, Black Keys, and a silver cross. He even inscribed a special protective mark on Shiki, ensuring his safety as much as possible. To top it off, he planned to ask Ciel to keep an eye on Shiki.

Shiki, for his part, accepted all the gear without protest. In no time, his backpack was bulging with the assortment of tools.

Although he didn't fully understand Roy's intentions, Shiki resolved to follow the orders given to him.

But his mind couldn't help wandering to a troubling thought: did this mean vampires were already targeting him?

Shiki was sharp. It didn't take him long to piece together the implications. The realization sent a chill down his spine.

"And take this back, too."

He reached into his pocket and retrieved the spring-loaded folding knife he had confiscated from Shiki earlier.

The blade wasn't ordinary... it emitted faint traces of magical energy and was remarkably sharp. It could easily rival the standard daggers crafted by the Holy Church.

The engraving on the blade bore the name Nanaya, which was his original surname before being adopted by the Tohno family. His true name, Shiki Nanaya, reflected the bloodline he had left behind.

Roy, curious about this connection, twirled the knife in his hand before handing it back to Shiki.

"This... was my father's knife?"

Shiki hesitated as he took the blade. It was a memento from his father, something he thought he had lost forever.

Seeing Shiki's reaction, Roy pressed further.

"And who was your father?"

"Makihisa Tohno... the former head of the Tohno family. He's my and Akiha's father."

"...I see."

The straightforward answer wasn't what Roy was hoping for. He pondered for a moment before posing another question.

"What was his attitude toward you?"

"His attitude?"

The question gave Shiki pause. He struggled to recall details about his father, his expression growing pensive.

"I can't remember much from when I was young, but I do remember that Father was lenient with me. He wasn't as strict with me as he was with Akiha. In fact, he often ignored me."

"Maybe it was because I was such a disappointment. I could tell that he didn't value me much. Eventually, he sent me away to be raised by the Arima family for several years. It wasn't until Akiha became head of the household that I was brought back."

As Shiki delved into his memories, his head began to ache faintly. Though much of his past remained a blur, his father's vague silhouette lingered in his mind.

To Roy, however, Shiki's recollection revealed a far darker truth.

How typical.

It was clear to Roy that Shiki's memories had been tampered with, likely by Makihisa himself. The head of the Tohno family had likely used Shiki and the others as tools to further his own ambitions, prioritizing the preservation and control of their cursed bloodline over any semblance of familial bonds.

The signs were obvious: Shiki's forgotten memories, his misplaced trust, and the lack of awareness about his true lineage.

Undoing the magecraft placed on Shiki's memories wouldn't be difficult, but doing so abruptly could overwhelm him. At worst, it might trigger a mental breakdown.

Roy decided he needed a gentler approach. Placing a hand on Shiki's shoulder, he spoke in a calm yet probing tone.

"Shiki, I have a question for you."

"Yes? What is it?"

"If you discovered that the family that raised you for so many years was actually responsible for the death of your real parents... what would you do?"

"Huh?"

The sudden and utterly baffling question sent Shiki Tohno's mind into disarray. He stood frozen, a look of complete bewilderment on his face. After a moment of silent contemplation, he shook his head.

"I... I don't know."

Don't know, huh...

"I figured as much."

Seeing Shiki's lost expression, Roy sighed deeply. Honestly, he couldn't blame him. Even Roy himself wasn't entirely sure how to handle such a situation.

But there was one thing he knew for certain: keeping someone trapped in a web of fabricated lies was unequivocally wrong.

Such deception could never last and would only lead to greater suffering in the end.

If the truth brought pain, lies would only compound it.

With this thought in mind, Roy raised his hand and gently placed a finger on Shiki's forehead. As he channeled his magecraft, a soft white glow radiated from his fingertips.

At that moment, Shiki felt a peculiar sensation. The muddled heaviness clouding his mind seemed to lift, as though something had been removed. Startled, he glanced at Roy and asked, "What... what did you just do?"

"Relax. Just a minor spell." Roy replied casually. "There was a small issue in your brain, but I've taken care of it."

"A... problem with my brain?"

"Yes. Someone tampered with it. But don't worry... I've fixed it."

Roy's explanation was brief but direct. Rising to his feet, he patted Shiki on the shoulder and spoke with a measured, serious tone.

"Shiki Tohno, over the coming days, the memories you've lost will gradually resurface. They won't return all at once; instead, you'll have time to process them at your own pace."

"Think carefully about what I just said. For now, get some rest in your room. If you find yourself struggling with any of this, feel free to come to me for help."

Though Roy's words were intended to provide reassurance, they only deepened Shiki's confusion.

Even so, Shiki ultimately decided to follow Roy's advice and returned to his room to rest.

Perhaps it was the effect of whatever Roy had done, but his head soon grew heavy with fatigue.

Deep within his mind, long-buried memories began to stir and awaken.

___

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