File 6: Breaking, Entering, Assassinating, and Kidnapping

Haruka and Esther managed to sneak into the Tepes mansion without being noticed. It's not particularly hard for either of them. Esther had already mapped out the path she would take and she knew how to be discreet while Haruka is just used to infiltrating any places.

Well, although they make it look easy, the two of them are actually very nervous and careful when entering the place. They took great care in not being noticed by anyone because they can't just silence any vampires standing guard. Killing anyone who found them is not an option because magic can easily be detected in close proximity and killing with their blades would risk other vampires smelling the blood. It's both their luck and skill that allows them to even enter the mansion.

"So… where to now?"

Esther asked. Haruka actually have no idea where he should go from there. His objective is to see what Walburga is doing in Romania while Esther's objective is to kill Marius. They would have to split up… which is not a good idea right now. Haruka thought for a while. Whichever they wanted to do first, they have no idea where their respective person of interest is. Splitting up would make things easier but since they're in a den of vampires, it's inadvisable.

"…do you have any idea where your target is?"

Haruka asked. Esther shook her head.

"I don't. All I know is that he's here. From my observation, Marius rarely left the mansion in the past months and even when he did it is only for an hour, three at most."

Haruka nodded. There's nothing he can use from that information. That means they'll have to look for their respective target manually by checking each room one-by-one which will be a troublesome chore. Suddenly Esther remembered something and poked Haruka's arm.

"I remembered something I overheard from one of my previous target a month ago. Marius was expecting a magician to help him in some kind of plan. I didn't hear much but they said something about a dhampir girl with sacred gear."

Haruka raised an eyebrow at this new information. The magician Marius was expecting is most likely Walburga. From how Esther puts it, the Tepes prince and Walburga is probably together in the same place. But what caught his attention is this thing about dhampir girl and sacred gear.

Marius inviting a human to help him and Walburga coming all the way here for a sacred gear? That is not possible. Vampires are notoriously arrogant, especially the purebloods. They despise outsiders and even look down on their own race that are not pureblooded. Asking for help, and from a human of all thing, the circumstances must not be simple.

Walburga also won't answer a call for assistance from anyone if the reward is not enticing for her and there are not many things Marius can offer her are of interest to her, especially not a sacred gear as she possess a Longinus, the highest class of sacred gear in existence unless…

"Sacred Gear. The only kind that will attract someone like Walburga to assist Marius Tepes is if it is… a Longinus-class."

Haruka is fully aware of how a Longinus-class sacred gear could shake the balance of power in the world. He knew the full extent of the power of a Longinus. After all, the current strongest exorcist is in possession of one and he had seen him in action and at full power. If it is a Longinus then it definitely could attract the attention of Walburga, especially because she also wields a Longinus.

"This is dangerous."

If his thought is correct then this matter is much more dangerous than he imagined. Should he proceed or should he retreat? This matter is something big, bigger than he expected. He can't make any wrong move or things can be dangerous. But Walburga, Marius, and a Longinus is also a recipe for disaster that cannot be left alone.

In the end, he should've known that there is only one choice he would make. If Marius and Walburga are planning something, he has to know what it is because he doubt that it will be anything good considering who they are. Haruka sighs. Confrontation is likely inevitable and his opponent is a Longinus user. Therefore…

"Esther, do you have a gun?"

Haruka asked. Esther looked at him puzzled. She reached into her robe. She does have one to serve as backup weapon but it's only a revolver with only two bullets left. She didn't use it when they fought because it would be a waste of ammo, especially since she's been getting by with what bullets she had left on her after losing her standard issue exorcist handgun and she doesn't know how to procure more bullets other than robbing an exorcist.

Haruka took the revolver Esther gave him and look at it with raised eyebrow. He had expected to get an exorcist handgun but instead it's a Colt Army Revolver. He didn't say anything though as he reach into his pocket and pull out a bullet. He's feeling quite lucky that what Esther has is a magnum Revolver which has the same caliber as exorcist handguns. Esther specifically stole that gun because of that anyway.

"You… have a bullet with you but not a gun?"

Esther questioned. Haruka shrugs. He inserted the bullet into one of the chambers and kept the revolver.

"I always kept one bullet with me at all times as a lucky charm. Besides, this may just decide whether we can leave this place alive or not."

Haruka told her. He look around to see if there are any vampires patrolling. Suddenly Haruka felt someone tapped his shoulder. Esther gestured at him to come closer as she peeked from a corner. Haruka approacehed her and she pointed at something. Haruka's eyes followed the direction her finger's pointing and saw a room shining brightly, much too brightly, with purple light. His eyes narrowed and saw that it is not light from a lamp.

That light is possibly caused by the intense power of a magic being cast. There's a very high chance that it's where they should be heading. And as they pay more attention to it, Haruka and Esther could also hear a pained scream and a laughter coming from that particular room.

"So we have our destination. I'll enter from the window while you enter from inside the mansion. We'll flank them. Once you're there, just give me any signal and I'll break through the window."

"Alri—wait, why don't we both go through the window?"

"So we can cut off their escape route… though I doubt that they will think about escaping. Marius would kill himself before he ran with his tail between his legs when facing a human and the other one… well, I believe she's the most troublesome and she probably will have a bigger chance of killing us all than we could kill her."

"Really?"

"Well she has a Longinus, what do you expect? Which is why we need to do this right. You get Marius while I distract the magician."

Esther nodded. She was about to turn away and enter the mansion when she realized what Haruka had said and look back at him with an odd expression.

"Did you just say there's a Longinus user there?"

If there is one thing Walburga like about the extraction of a sacred gear is that it is a rather painful process which takes quite some time. As a skilled and very powerful magician, Walburga doesn't need any tool to extract a sacred gear and can do it herself so an immediate extraction was done right at that moment.

Walburga was laughing as she heard the pained scream of the blonde dhampir, Valerie Tepes, as she extract her sacred gear. She heard that it is a sub species. The girl must be very powerful if she has a sub-species sacred gear in its initial form. She had not heard many people like her. One of the few she knew, or at least heard of, is Chaos Edge Sieg who possesses a sub-species Twice Critical in initial form.

Now, despite enjoying the agonized scream of the girl, Walburga is actually both annoyed and impressed that the extraction is not done yet. She's annoyed because if the progress in anything to go by, the extraction will take at least nearly two hours when usually she can do something like this faster. It has been thirty minutes and a grail had been extracted but the process is not finished.

"Hey, I have extracted one grail from her but it looks like we're not finished. What kind of sub-species does she have?"

Walburga asked Marius. As much as she enjoy causing pain to other, hearing a girl scream when her sacred gear is being extracted will get old sooner or later, though at this rate, it's likely sooner as she's already feeling slightly bored.

"Her Sephiroth Graal sub-species came in the form of three separate grails so it will be done when all three grails are extracted."

Three grails, an interesting sub-species, that means they can give one to Marius and keep one for themselves and can still leave the last grail to the girl… not that she would but Walburga contemplate stopping after extracting that one grail and continue some other day.

"Hmm, why don't we stop for now and continue some other day? Especially when we have a vermin sticking their nose where it doesn't belong!"

Walburga suddenly shot a blast of magical energy at the wall making it explode. Marius was surprised and unhappy at the magician's sudden action, that is until a figure suddenly appear in front of them, the figure of a magician. Walburga is grinning madly when the magician appeared.

Haruka frowned. Walburga had detected him standing beside the window. His robe is etched with powerful concealing runes and he had cast a little illusion spell on himself, though he should've expected that it wouldn't be enough to conceal himself entirely from someone of Walburga's level.

"An intruder? What are the guards doing?!"

Haruka draw the Colt Revolver and pull the trigger with its barrel pointed at Marius. His speed in drawing the gun is quick like he had been doing it for most of his life. As he pull the trigger, Walburga got in between him and Marius and blocked the bullet with a barrier.

Haruka didn't show any reaction when his bullet was blocked. Instead he swipe his hand in the air and several runes appear shooting at Walburga in high speed. Walburga made another barrier and power through the runes that explode upon contact with her barrier.

"Heh, a rune user? And from those rune designs, you use Celtic runes. This is perfect. I have always wanted to fight a Celtic rune user!"

Haruka's instinct suddenly scream at him as he sensed the buildup of magical energy coming from Walburga. He dodged to the side just in time as a cross made of purple flame appear on the spot where he stood moments ago. This is the Longinus Incinerate Anthem, the Holy Cross. It creates purple holy flame that could annihilate a devil instantly.

Being a vampire that is also weak to holy element, Marius felt the heat coming from the holy flame and it coming from a user of Walburga's level, it is really an unpleasant situation for him. He grabbed the Holy Grail that Walburga had extracted and decided to leave. When he opened the door though, his eyes met with a set of blue orbs framed by locks of red hair that immediately narrowed and soon he felt something entering his body and look down to see a blade had entered his heart.

"Y-you…"

"This is for Sister Laura."

Esther whispered to Marius as he dies. She never thought that it would be that easy. But then, he had never seen her coming, especially with the amount of magical power coming from Haruka and Walburga and of course, the holy power coming from Walburga's purple flame. Now that her vengeance is done, she turn her attention to Walburga who is facing Haruka.

Esther didn't notice that as Marius's body fell, he use the last of his power to touch the grail and the grail disappear into black shadow.

"Another one? And you killed Marius? How careless can he be to get killed by someone weakling!"

Walburga turned and almost a dozen magic circles appear aimed at Esther. Haruka moved to attack Walburga while her back was turned but Walburga doesn't need to look to incinerate him. More purple flaming crosses appear to burn Haruka. He was forced to leap back to dodge, leaving Esther in Walburga's mercy.

"Die!"

All magic circles fired at Esther. The girl is sweating but she brandished her rifle which has its charge full. She had been prepared to fire this one shot to kill Marius but it looks like it will be used for something else. The moment Walburga fired her spells, Esther pulled her sacred gear's trigger and like the day before, a large beam of holy energy was released from the rifle.

The beam fortunately overpowered Walburga's spells. She didn't use her more powerful arsenal thinking that Esther is nothing to her. The magician's eyes widened as she put up another barrier quickly, blocking the beam which slightly pushed her back. Esther felt her energy being drained at a fast rate and release her finger from the trigger before she completely ran out of energy.

"It looks like I underestimated you."

Walburga growled. She was about to use Incinerate Anthem on Esther who is panting when another loud bang was heard and she had to block another bullet from Haruka's Revolver.

"Though it seems someone else wants to die first!"

Haruka dodged again and send more runes at the magician. Walburga just stood still as she simply creates more barriers to protect herself. Haruka clicked his tongue. With his limited arsenal, he knew he cannot beat Walburga. She's not even taking him seriously if her smug grin is anything to go by.

"Is that all?"

"Heh, not at all."

Haruka grabbed one of his knives and threw it at Walburga. The magician is not impressed by the seemingly desperate move… until the knife multiply into seven knives and all of them caught fire and start to accelerate. Walburga dodged and had to create another barrier to shield herself from the explosion as the knives hit the wall behind her, creating a massive hole.

"Tch, so you do know something."

"And I'm not out of the fight yet!"

Walburga clicked her tongue but was forced to move again when Esther took the opportunity to attack her at close range with her rifle in sword mode. Walburga fired a spell at Esther but it was intercepted by Haruka's rune. Esther pressed on and swung her sword with all the skill and power she has. Haruka supported her by firing several rune blasts, keeping Walburga in check.

"I got you!"

Eventually, Walburga found herself against the wall and Esther swings down her sword, almost cutting the magician if not for the shield she made over her palm to catch the blade, surprising Esther.

Feeling annoyed, Walburga kicked Esther and cast several lightning spells. Haruka again intercepted them with multiplying knives. He then moved into close range while wielding a fiery knife in his hand that creates a sword. Walburga jump back and counter with ice bullets. Haruka cut them all down with his flaming sword while also extinguishing his flame at the same time.

"That's it, no more games! I'm killing both of you!"

Purple flame began to spread from her with such intensity that both Esther and Haruka could feel its heat scorching their skin. Haruka turn to Esther and ordered her.

"Take the girl on the bed and run! I'll catch up later!"

Esther looked at Haruka right in the eyes and nodded when she saw how serious he is. She dismiss her sacred gear and ran towards Valerie. Walburga who noticed directed her flame at the red haired girl. Haruka smirked triumphantly. He had been waiting for this moment. Walburga finally exerted her power but she still didn't see them as threat. He only has a single shot but it is all he needs.

Walburga didn't even bother looking as he brandished his Revolver once again. She had blocked his bullets before so it will make no difference this time. As the flames began to soar towards Esther, Haruka pulled the trigger. As Walburga expected, her barrier blocked it… and her flame disappear.

Walburga blinked. Her flame had disappeared. She turned to see Haruka smirking with gun pointed at her. She didn't know what he did but now she's extremely pissed. She was about to cast a spell but her surprised allowed Haruka the time to move first as he grabbed Esther and the girl with one hand and create a magic circle that allows them to fly. He took three more knives from his holster and throw them into the air. The knives multiply again and Haruka activate the runes on them.

"I would love to stick around but I have places to be in. I hope we never meet again, Walburga of the Purple Flame!"

Haruka waved at the magician who is looking very angry at the momenst as fiery knives rain down on the mansion. With the Tepes mansion on fire the vampires' attention would be directed there and they can make their escape easily. Haruka allowed himself to breathe out in relief. That was too close even for him.

Should he face Walburga again in the future, he hopes he's wearing his full arsenal or things would end differently. They were lucky this time.

This chapter is longer than usual and honestly, the hardest chapter to write because both Haruka and Walburga are holding back big time. I mean, can't have Walburga go all explosive and balance breaker in the first arc plus Valerie is in the room and killing her is a big no while Haruka cannot use the majority of his arsenal and skill so he won't be ousted as an exorcist. Sorry if it's not too good but it's really hard having both Haruka and Walburga holding back. Of course, to compensate, their battle in the future will be more explosive and epic but that's still far in the future. Anyway, this chapter ends the adventure in Romania and next chapter will conclude the arc and set up the next arc where Irina will finally play an important role! Well, all the main casts and heroines will appear but it's Irina's turn to shine and of course Valerie along with a small development with Esther.

Anyway, this arc is kinda like the replacement for the Asia arc and the next arc is the replacement for Riser arc which means the third arc is where this story will finally meet with canon DxD story in the Kokabiel arc! Although after that will be another original arc before the Peace Meeting arc. So now let's end the Romania Disturbance arc and prepare to enter the Misty London arc. If my plan goes well, this story will have around 14 story arcs and all of them have been planned. Now, next chapter will end this arc.

Ohh and I've also fixed several things in the first 3 chapters including how I call the chapters as 'Files' instead.