[Interview with Kaziklu Bey]
I was in a daydream. A lucid one, at that. It had color, sound, smell — the whole arrangement.
It came out of nowhere and showed me stuff I didn't care to see.
Following the events at Katyn, I'd started experiencing them pretty damn frequently.
This was one of the dreams.
"Ugh, what a stupid woman. Feigning ignorance and innocence as if it actually matters. Don't you agree, Wil? She annoys you, doesn't she? You're fed up with her, right?"
"I am, but don't expect me to join in on your whining."
We were in a bloodstained garden of roses. This red world was the manifestation of my mindscape.
Helga was grumbling on and on about Claudia. Ridicule, disgust, hatred, scorn — she felt only negative things about the nun. The two were hopelessly incompatible.
"You wanna keep spouting this shit? Fine, but keep me out of it. I mean, regardless of whether you're here or not, I—"
"But that woman is just too hopeless. She's completely intoxicated, too full of herself, and not to mention selfish. I mean, really, to be loved is bliss, but to love is sinful? What kind of nonsense is that? Disgusting. It's just unfair and cowardly. I'm not wrong, am I? After all, she wants to be fulfilled and die satisfied all by herself, not caring what others think. She doesn't intend to be sullied, suffer, or show any of her ugliness. There's just no determination there. Not a bit. She doesn't want to shed any blood, yet she tries to take what she wants. She'll leave all the scars she can and then escape all by herself. If we're talking about curses, then that's a perfect example. And now she's playing with my Wil... Oh, I won't let her. I want to kill her, but I don't want her here, either. She's a hindrance. Just an obstacle, I say! I won't let her become a rose. Disappear, vanish! Get out of our lives!"
"I swear, you're such a..."
How the fuck did I end up dealing with two dumb bitches who couldn't hold a proper conversation? Helga's hate of Claudia was bordering on deep-seated grudge level.
I did agree with her on some points, but listening to her talk about it wasn't my idea of a good time. Hell, I even found her a bit dangerous.
After all, the fact that she strongly intended to reject taking in Claudia was a huge problem for me.
"Hey, Wil, you feel the same way, don't you?"
I had no choice. It wasn't like me, and I definitely didn't want to do it, but I had to soothe the hysterical bitch before me.
"You said you won't make her into a rose? So the ones blooming here are the souls I took?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. And it's my job to take care of them. I water them with blood, talk to them, make them pretty... It's hard work, but I do my best because I want to please you. Plus —"
"Well, ain't that nice. I appreciate it, so let's just move on to the next question."
I was able to divert her attention, so I just had to keep control of the conversation before she started babbling again. Not to mention the fact that there actually was something I wanted to ask.
"Where do they all go? I mean, after I use them up. I know they're being drained, and I can feel when their number are rising or dropping, but I've never seen it happen, so it's not really tangible to me. Do the roses just wilt? Do you throw them away? If so, then where?"
Claudia had talked about where souls go, and it made me curious, too.
Of course, I wasn't being sentimental, and it wasn't like I was planning to do anything with that knowledge, but I wondered about it because it had never really crossed my mind before.
There was nothing more to it, and yet...
"I dunno. I'm not interested in that, and it's not like it matters, right? Whenever you seek me out, I start eating them, but I don't know where my stomach leads to. If you're curious, why not tear me open again? You know, like you did back then."
As she stuck out her chest toward me, I heaved a long sigh.
"...No. Sounds like a fucking pain, really. Get away from me. Anyway, I see how it is. So you don't know what's going on in your stomach."
Stuff eaten by a normal animal would eventually get shat out, became soil, and repeat, but the natural cycle didn't apply to this place.
Souls were vague to begin with. Trying to find something certain about them seemed like a complete waste of time.
"They might vanish, leave, or become something else entirely. Or maybe they just return to where they were."
And the fact that the nature of souls was uncertain made all those ideas as plausible as each other. And if there was another thing to say about all this...
"This is pretty damn sinful."
I wasn't buying what the church was selling, nor did I like talking about it, but if their God actually existed, and he was the one who decided where souls went, we were basically intercepting the flow.
I had no idea what happened to them after we consumed them, but as long as we kept them inside ourselves, they couldn't go anywhere else.
Then... If you looked at it from a different perceptive, it seems like a way to become a God. After all, we created small-scale worlds that deviated from the established laws. They were the places we sought, the afterlives we believed in, or "better places" — sanctuaries.
With that in mind, it seemed possible that, if perfected, it could crush the laws of the old God.
I found the idea hilarious.
"Khah, hahah, hahahahah..."
How could I not laugh? I mean, it felt both stupid as hell and actually plausible. With Mercurius being the one who set it up and Lord Heydrich being the one who was putting it into practice, it just didn't seem all that weird.
"Assiah, Yetzirah, and Briah, huh? Man, lining them up sure does make it look like that's the case. So what, are we actually a bunch of minor Gods? If that's true, then you're actually not too far off the mark, Claudia."
God was inside each of us — beyond the light we were seeking. Despite not being taught the idea by anyone, she had a philosophy that suited us.
"Hey, Wil, what's so funny?"
"Nothing that matters to you."
However, there was a certain truth that she'd missed — cravings were split into Gudōu and Hadōu.
Hadōu like myself and Lord Heydrich expanded as we consumed other lights.
We were like war, in a sense. And war crushed all who did nothing but waste time on lip service.
"And that's why you're mine, Claudia."
I wound never allow her to escape. I'd do anything to take her.
Helga was complaining again, but I didn't give two shits about that.
As a Hadōu, all I had to do was move forward and crush everything in my path.
There was no need for me to consider what this bitch or that nun thought.
"Bey. Bey..."
Someone started calling my name.
The voice drew my consciousness out of the rose garden.
"Bey, can you hear me? Why are you spacing out?"
"...shut up. Quit squeaking in my ears, you damn midget. Unlike you, I have lots going on."
"What? Just who do you think you are?!"
Before Beatrice could get in my face, Babylon stopped her.
"Leave it at that, you two. This isn't a place for your nonsense. Ludvig, you should be mindful, too. I would appreciate it if you didn't do anything to make our pulses go out of control. Though, that doesn't mean that I want you to be subservient."
"Well, I'll consider your situation and try to use discretion."
The man's "not my business" attitude made me click my tongue, while Beatrice acted troubled and Babylon heaved a sigh.
"Let's go, then."
We ignored our sentiments as the door before us opened up.
We'd return from Katyn, and it was time to report to our Lord what had happened.
"I see. So those are the facts. Well done, Babylon, Valkyria, Bey. I am pleased that you've returned safe and sound. You should now take a well-deserved rest."
"Thank you for the kind words."
We kneeled before Lord Heydrich, told Him all about what happened, and received His gratitude. Around us, I saw Malleus, Samiel, Spinne, Machina... All of us, actually.
Well, to be precise, Kristof still wasn't here, but the state of the castle was about the same as it was before we left for Katyn.
"Although, I must say, you seem quite displeased, Bey. Did you find the experience lacking?"
"Yes... I can't deny that. It felt somewhat sloppy. I'm not quite fine with what happened there."
I wasn't enough of an idiot to act all triumphant despite having nothing to show off.
That's why I answered honestly. Sure, I liked receiving praise from Lord Heydrich but I wasn't able to feel all that much joy in that particular case.
"It was unsatisfying, and I really don't feel comfortable about it. The outcome was so vague that it just doesn't right with me."
"So, the journey to Katyn gave you absolutely nothing?"
"No, I wouldn't go that far, but..."
I made some sort of progress with Claudia, but it was a personal matter that had nothing to do with the mission.
I couldn't really report something like that, so I was at a loss on what to say next. Suddenly, Lord Heydrich began chuckling.
"No need for this, Lieutenant. Lessening yourself does not suit you. Not to mention the fact you brought me more than enough to be proud of. You there. Your name is 'Ludvig,' yes?"
"..."
At that moment, we were all overwhelmed by a shared tension. Everyone present felt that Lord Heydrich's voice had a quality to it that normally wasn't there.
It felt like joy and curiosity, but He was just so immense of an entity that it was hard to tell.
To a normal person, a single chuckle from this man was equal to a tsunami or an avalanche. Some could even lose their selves in it. His majesty would not be matched by hundreds of beasts.
Because of that, I expected the man to panic or be dumbfounded, but...
"Indeed. I am Ludvig van Rosenkrantz. So you're Reinhard Heydrich, eh?"
"You bastard!"
Samiel, Schreiber, and I slightly rose up, ready to kill him right then and there.
The lack of respect in his tone made our blood boil.
His impudence was so great that just about everyone in the room looked at him like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. The only exceptions were Mercurius, Lord Heydrich, and Ludvig himself.
The man looked around with a vexed expression and chuckled maliciously.
"Please, could you not ruin official business with nonsense like that? I'm not his underling. I wouldn't mind showing respect to someone who commanded this nation's armies, but this man has long since discarded that role. To my knowledge, he is officially dead. That makes him just an individual, and you — his private army. Thus, my behavior here is most appropriate, is it not?"
"Indeed."
We were on the verge of unleashing hell upon him, but Lord Heydrich stopped us.
"None of what he said is wrong. I am but an individual, so he, who does not work under me, has no reason to revere me. He and I are equals, and I wish to have words with him. At ease, all of you."
Of course, we had no choice but to listen. Still, I groaned as I kneeled again.
We more or less had learned what Ludvig was like back at Katyn. That was exactly why Babylon had told him to tone it down, and I seriously didn't expect him to keep it up in this situation.
Lord Heydrich was just a huge entity to me that I thought no one could act tough before Him, but apparently I was wrong.
I'd felt this was my mistake. As I gritted my teeth in shame, Ludvig talked again, still half-courteous, half-rude.
"And? What are we supposed to talk about? You've heard all there is to say about Katyn from your underlings. I'm only here to show the minimal amount of deference. Germany and the Vatican are allied, so I thought of accompanying your group while you confirmed my identity. But now that I know it wasn't an official military operation, but the act of a mere private army, I don't see why I should be bound here."
"That is most true. Will you be leaving, then?"
"When I leave, how I leave, and whether I actually leave or not is up for me to decide."
"Do you not have a duty to report it to the Holy See?"
"Even if I do, you haven't the right to force me to do that."
"I see."
Lord Heydrich gave a composed nod, making Samiel — who was to my side — walk out in front. She, too, was furious over Ludvig's attitude, but was able to hold back her anger so well that it didn't even show.
"We received a telegram about you three days back, so the investigation has already been completed. Go ahead, Samiel."
"Yes, sir! The Vatican operative, Ludvig van Rosenkrantz, does, indeed, exist. However, his role is exclusively behind the scenes."
"So you, too, are treated as non-existent. If you choose to disappear right now, you could break free of your dim world. Well, I suppose that's not of any consequence. We also have no duty to report you to your superiors. If you wish to be free of them, do go ahead. I already made it clear we would not bind you. Whatever the case, you have no intention to leave, do you?"
"Oh? And why do you think that?"
Ludvig squinted his eyes in an intrigued manner as Lord Heydrich quickly gave him an answer.
"You knew everything from the very start. All the talk of alliances and connections was nothing but a façade. You were well aware that we're not an official unit, yet you joined our forces and obediently traveled here. Why? Simply because you wanted to. I know not of your purpose, but if you are here by your own will, would you be willing to lend us some assistance?"
"What kind?"
The man didn't deny Lord Heydrich's words, which basically meant that he acknowledged them.
I'd had no doubts about that to begin with. After all, he'd known what we were the very moment we encountered him.
"...Mercurius, huh?"
I looked at the magician, who was at the edge of my vision, and muttered his name. Ludvig knew Mercury, so, of course, the reverse was also true. The fact that Lord Heydrich saw through his façade probably had something to do with that.
"It is not of much consequence. I would like you to share how the anomaly at Katyn appeared to you."
"You're unsatisfied with what you were given by your subordinates?"
"That is not the case, I assure you. I merely feel it unfair that you are the only one of those present at the scene who did not present his perceptive. I would not ask for this if my subordinate brought you against your will, but since that is not the case, I do not believe you would mind speaking your thoughts. This is a matter of courtesy. I welcome you as a guest, and I would like to commune with you as a host. Would that be sinful, Ludvig? If possible, I would like to be on good terms with you."
The request of the mighty Gold made the man momentarily close his eyes.
"...Very well. That is most reasonable, yes."
Ludvig gave in, shrugged, and lightly nodded. The nerve to show such an attitude to Lord Heydrich still pissed me off. It just didn't seem sane to me.
Regardless, he proceeded to tell us how he perceived the mysterious anomaly at Katyn.
"You probably know more about the massacre itself than I do, so I'll skim over that. All the matters is that it left behind an immense amount of blood and corpses. That awakened the slumbering arcane in the area. The rivers of blood seeped into the earth and reached the place it slept. It formed a link between the underground and surface, causing it to activate every rainy night with a full moon. Those massacred at Katyn became walking corpses and wandered around, seeking more dead. That was what the magic was set up to do."
"Hm, that outlook is exactly the same as that of my subordinates. Tell me, then, Ludvig. What do you make of this magic? To be specific, what do you believe was its goal?"
"Just simple nourishment. The anomaly at Katyn was a vampire."
Ludvig spoke his conclusion as if it were absolute.
"Oh? A vampire, you say?"
Lord Heydrich and the rest began looking at me. It felt weird, but I had nothing to say about it.
After all, the anomaly was, indeed, much like a vampire from legend.
"Do you believe in vampires?"
"Not the fantastical beasts, no. I have no mind for foolish stories about giant bat monsters or knights punished for cursing God. However, the very existence of the concept brings some to try and emulate it. If something drains blood, uses it to wield undead than consume the living, and makes the number of corpses under its command grow... Then it can only be called a vampire. This world is full of such things... Mere imitations, I assure you."
He chuckled. Ludvig's words were definitely directed at me.
"Restrain yourself, Bey. As I said, I wish to talk with him. In fact, outlooks that counter your own should be lent an ear. And do keep in mind that, if you are an imitation, then so am I. The only tangible difference is whether we drain blood and souls. By his logic, I, too, am much akin to a vampire."
Lightly shaking His shoulders, Lord Heydrich chuckled. I had no idea how well Ludvig knew us, but it was clear that nothing about us was fazing him.
"Now, I wish to hear more. Why did the vampire at Katyn suddenly vanish? You claim that its goal was to nourish itself. If that was the case, then surely it intended to revive. However, that did not happen. The burial chamber only had a corpse that was decaying. Am I correct, Babylon and Valkyria?"
"Yes. We saw it with our own eyes."
"However, we are unaware of anything that could have caused it."
"And that is exactly why this is odd. Just as Bey said, the outcome is far too vague. What do you make of this?"
As everyone looked at him, Ludvig lightly hung his head and sighed.
"I don't know anything, either. But I have something you could call a theory."
He raised his face and looked at Mercurius, who was wearing a thin smile.
They seemed to have a moment of eye contact, but then Ludvig looked back at Lord Heydrich.
"It might've seen the light. After all, that is what's been purifying vampires since time immemorial. There was light in there back then, and it wasn't me or your subordinates."
"Then... Was it...?"
"You saying it was Claudia?!"
My voice was hoarse. I just couldn't believe what he implied.
Claudia was an ordinary person. No miracle could have granted her power to rend magical darkness.
I howled at him to stop spouting bullshit, but the shithead just shook his head, looking annoyed as hell.
I felt like there was even a bit of pity in his eyes.
"What do you think you understand about her? You know nothing of the light. It's a mere antonym to you, is it not? Oh, so that's why you desire an endless, dark night... How shallow."
"You shit!"
That was when I snapped. I exploded like gunpowder and stood up, but there was another explosion at the same time — one of laughter.
"Hehaha! Hahahahahahahah!"
Its source was Mercurius.
With his arms on his stomach, he twisted his body and laughed as if maddened. The sight filled me with an indescribable repugnance and sent chills down my spine, and I was sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
We all stared at the mercurial magician in absolute silence. Not even Ludvig and Lord Heydrich were an exception to that.
After a needlessly long bout of laughter, Mercurius began talking.
"Splendid. Most wonderful. 'The prayer of the pure maiden banished the darkness...' That is so quixotic I can't help but find it magnificent. I applaud you from the bottom of my heart. For all we know, that might actually be the truth behind what occurred there. I shall not hesitate to accept that answer. After all, there is not a man in existence who does not wish to sleep within the embrace of the Goddess... Kheheheheheh. Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahahah!"
He resumed laughing. The sound echoed throughout the hall. Despite the loudness, there was no excitement in it, making it feel heavy enough to stick to and burden the very soul.
The density and depth of the emotions hidden within him were abnormal. I had no idea what incurred the reaction, but he was actually showing a hint of his true self.
For all I knew, this might've had something to do with his craving. I was barely able to bear just thinking about it.
"Karl."
The moment I was on the verge of puking my guts out, Lord Heydrich ended it all.
"Leave it at that. You are making us all uneasy."
He lightly waved His hand in a slightly exasperated manner, restoring the mood to what it was before the laughter. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief, as if they'd momentarily forgotten how to breathe.
"Oh, how impolite of me. Apologies for my misconduct. Now, I must adk, why not end it here? Their minds and bodies might be unable to bear more of this. You have gotten the answers you sought, so it might be best to finish this worthwhile gathering before it sours."
"That is true. I must say, you're not exactly the best person to speak that, but this exchange has brought forth more than enough points of interest."
He nodded, looked us all over, and began concluding the gathering.
"Thank you for your time. You are free to go and rest. Prepare for the time meant to come. Know that what awaits you is war."
"Sir, yes, sir!"
There was nothing to argue against there. We all nodded, regained control of our emotions, and followed His orders.
The conclusion felt a bit forced, but anyway, that was the end of our meeting. With this, the case of the anomaly at Katyn was settled.
Personally, I wasn't sure if I could believe that — or perhaps I just didn't want to.
Things weren't as clear as I preferred them to be, so I couldn't feel like I was released of it just yet.
"You never change, do you, Mercury?"
As I was leaving, I saw Ludvig, who was still in the hall, talking to Mercurius.
"And you seem to have changed a lot, Methuselah."
The man didn't hesitate to reply.
Lord Heydrich, however, merely looked down upon on the two freaks with a golden smile on His visage.