Inside Arcueid's apartment.
When Naoki and the others returned, Arcueid was already awake. Seeing the three of them come back, she immediately waved her hand.
"You're back, hmm... I guess Sion and Touko have already left?"
"Yeah. I'm about to leave too. I can't stay here much longer." Naoki said. "Arcueid, what will you do?"
"Of course, I'll return to the Millennium Castle."
Arcueid answered with a natural expression: "Originally, I came out this time because I sensed Tatari's emergence, and vaguely felt that you might come. So I left the Millennium Castle. Now that the problem is resolved, it's only natural I should return to sleep."
This was the same ending as always. In the past, Arcueid would leave the Millennium Castle to hunt Roa, and once finished, she'd immediately return. Now it was the same, even though she no longer had to face Roa.
"Then, have you ever thought about not returning to the Millennium Castle?" Naoki suddenly asked. "After all, you're just going back there to sleep. Wouldn't it be better to live outside instead of being alone in that castle?"
Live outside?
This was a choice Arcueid had never considered.
"Living outside... Well, how exactly would I do that? I've never tried living outside continuously. Do you really want me to stay outside, Naoki?"
"Yes, I do."
Naoki spoke frankly: "Honestly, I can't keep letting you stay in the Millennium Castle forever. Back then, when your power still resided within my body, it didn't matter. You could see the outside world through my eyes. But now, not even a trace of your power remains in me. If you go back, you'd truly only be able to sleep."
"To be honest, I think that kind of life is terrible. Maybe by living outside, you could experience more enjoyable things."
"I see... Hmm, I can feel a very genuine emotion from you, Naoki. This is truly what you think."
With Tatari gone, the vague connection between Arcueid and Naoki had returned to normal. Being in the same room like this, they could clearly sense each other's state.
So Arcueid could tell that Naoki genuinely hoped she would stay in the real world.
After a moment of thought, Arcueid shook her head: "No, it doesn't seem necessary. I'd rather return to the Millennium Castle."
"Why?"
"As for the reasons, hmm... specifically, there are two." Arcueid raised three fingers. "One, my own condition."
"Even though the urge to drink blood was suppressed once by Ryougi Shiki seven years ago, that only eliminated the portion accumulated over the previous eight hundred years. The underlying thirst itself hasn't disappeared. It's still building up even now. Remaining in sleep is the best way to suppress that thirst. So I must return to the Millennium Castle and sleep to keep it under control."
"The second reason—do you really have that much free time to spend with me, Naoki?"
While the first reason was understandable and acceptable to Naoki, the second one left him slightly confused.
Not because he didn't understand it, but because he was surprised Arcueid would even ask such a question.
Arcueid began counting on her fingers: "Let me think. First, there's the succubus you like the most. Then, there are two Root magi who are extremely possessive. Then there's Gray, and Lord Riddell, your fiancée. Plus, there's that Magician who shows up from time to time... Oh right, here in Japan, Ryougi Shiki and Atalanta also demand you return for one week every month."
"And you have your own daily responsibilities too. I feel like if I stayed here, I'd actually end up feeling lonelier—"
*PLAK!*
Before Arcueid could finish, Naoki suddenly slapped her head.
After a brief silence, Arcueid immediately started complaining: "Naoki, why did you hit me!"
"Are you really Arcueid? That doesn't make sense. Are you really smart enough to understand things like this? Shouldn't you be dumb?"
"You're the dumb one! Extremely dumb! Stupid Naoki!" Arcueid stomped her foot in frustration and punched Naoki's chest hard. Unfortunately, despite the forceful appearance, Naoki only felt it like a light drizzle.
Meanwhile, listening to Arcueid's analysis, Ciel and Ayaka stared at Naoki with various expressions.
"Succubus, Magician, Lord, Magus... Naoki, you really have a lot going on."
Ciel, as a member of the Burial Agency, knew a fair amount about the Church's corruption. Some of the Church's high-ranking officials were little more than beasts in human form. She never expected Naoki would have a tendency to head in that direction too?
Even though she knew Naoki was a good person, such an extensive network of romantic relationships...
"Maybe I should've left with Touko earlier." Ciel faintly sensed danger.
Ayaka felt the same.
She knew Naoki and Aoko were a couple, but she never imagined that besides Aoko, Naoki had so many other lovers. One of them was even a Lord who was already engaged!
Even a playboy wouldn't be like this!
At the same time, Ayaka also realized an important piece of information for her—among Naoki's lovers, there were "Root magi." If she remembered correctly, her older brother seemed to be connected to the Root. And on top of that, Naoki had previously mentioned that her brother worked as a maid in his household...
"Naoki."
"What is it, Ayaka?"
"You're a pervert."
"Eh?! Why are you suddenly insulting me!"
"Because you deserve it, stupid Naoki! Why are you corrupting so many women?"
Arcueid laughed and said: "So, Naoki, you'd better stay in the real world with them. Our next meeting will have to wait until another time. I hope that next time I leave the Millennium Castle, you come alone to keep me company! This time there were way too many people!"
"And don't worry about me feeling lonely in the Millennium Castle. Even if I can't speak, I'm always watching over you."
"I see."
After a soft sigh, Naoki laughed: "If that's what you want, I won't force you to stay. Goodbye, Arcueid. I don't know when we'll meet again."
"Yeah, goodbye, stupid Naoki—next time, you must come see me alone!"