Beyond the Old Ones

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 18: Just Ignore Her

The next day*

"Why is my room next to the armory?" I ask with a confused voice as I glance at Sebastian. Alucard, already inside the armory, silently inspects the weapons on display.

From within, Alucard's voice, sharp and icy, echoes out. "Perhaps they thought you might need the extra tools—or better yet, wanted to test how far you could go with what you've been given."

I twitch slightly as I glance back at Sebastian, hoping for some sort of explanation. His face, however, remains impassive, offering nothing—not a word nor a gesture—to answer my question. The silence between us feels heavier with every passing second, punctuated only by the faint sound of Alucard's deliberate movements within the armory.

I let out a sigh, "Alright. I should get everything done within a week after I check the layout of the mansion."

Alucard's quiet footsteps from the armory echo faintly in the background as if silently reminding me that she's already a step ahead, always calculating, always judging. Sebastian just smile and nods, then walk away without a word.

To think a demon as powerful as Sebastian—though I know that's not his true name—would choose to serve as a butler is puzzling. Then again, it's not unheard of. Even a spider demon out there similar to Sebastian is willing to do the same.

I can't help but wonder if there's a demon out there who might be willing to form a contract with me, one who could become my butler or maid. That's if Alucard doesn't end up killing them for entertainment.

As I step into the armory room, my eyes are immediately drawn to the assortment of weapons lining the walls. Many of them bear designs from various cultures, each reflecting the craftsmanship and warfare of distant lands. To my surprise, I spot a few kunai and shuriken among the collection. Though covered in a thin layer of dust, suggesting they've been untouched for quite some time, their presence here feels almost out of place.

In contrast, other weapons shine, their surfaces polished and clean. It's clear someone has taken the time to care for these particular pieces, maintaining them while others have been left to fade into neglect. I wonder who might have selected which weapons deserve attention and which were allowed to gather dust.

"Here you go; I know you'll need this." Alucard's voice cuts through the silence as she suddenly appears beside me without so much as a sound. With an almost careless grace, she tosses a pouch and a holster strap designed specifically for carrying kunai and shuriken in my direction.

I catch them, glancing at the finely crafted leather, worn yet sturdy. Alucard's expression remains unreadable, her cold, condescending gaze still fixed ahead, as if she's already dismissed the gesture as insignificant.

I strap the pouch onto my left waist and the holster around my right thigh, adjusting them until they sit comfortably. One by one, I gather the kunai and shuriken, filling the pouch and holster until they're fully stocked. Each weapon feels well-balanced despite the layer of dust that once covered them.

With everything secured, I fall into step beside Alucard. Her eyes flicker over various weapons, her expression as distant and cold as ever. We continue to walk in silence, scanning the armory for anything else of value. I glance at a few polished blades and rifles, wondering if I should take more.

I spot a sheathed short sword resting against the wall, its leather belt slightly worn but still intact. Without hesitation, I pick it up, inspecting the craftsmanship. The blade feels solid in my hand, balanced, and the belt looks long enough to comfortably strap the sword to my back.

I fasten the belt around my torso, adjusting it until the short sword rests securely on my back, the hilt within easy reach. As I turn to continue, I notice Alucard briefly glancing at the weapon with her usual cool indifference, saying nothing.

I move toward a shelf lined with an assortment of small, spherical devices—bombs, ranging from explosive to smoke and even a few flashbangs. Carefully, I pick out a couple of each, their metal casings cold and solid in my hands. These will definitely come in handy. I secure them in the pouches around my waist, making sure each one is placed where I can easily grab them when needed.

Once I've gathered enough weapons and supplies, I take a final glance around the armory, satisfied with what I've collected. Strapped with kunai, shuriken, a short sword, and various bombs, I decide it's time to move on. I turn and leave the armory room, my steps echoing lightly in the hallway as I mentally shift gears toward my next task.

It's time to explore the mansion. I need to get a full understanding of its layout before I can effectively plan how to set up the new security defenses. With each corridor and room I'll inspect, I'll be thinking strategically—where to place traps, where to station guards, and how to fortify the weaker points. This mansion, while grand, needs to become a fortress. And I intend to make sure nothing gets through undetected.

"I'm guessing you'll be taking another walk soon, huh?" I ask, glancing at Alucard as she silently glides beside me through the long, dimly lit hallways.

Without looking at me, Alucard responds, her tone as cold and condescending as ever. "How perceptive of you." Her words dripping with sarcasm. "It's not as if there's anything better to occupy my time in this dreary place. But then again, I doubt you'd understand the need for a break from mediocrity." She continues walking, her gaze fixed forward as though this conversation is already beneath her.

A few hours later*

Note to self: Stop underestimating Beyonders' abilities, even those in Sequence 9. Their potential, even at the lowest levels, is not to be taken lightly. I've already finished scouting the mansion and located all possible areas to set up traps without affecting the residents. The mansion's layout offers plenty of opportunities, and all I need now are a few simple items to convert into effective traps.

These traps won't be complex, but they'll be more than enough to deal with any invaders unfamiliar with the mansion's design. With the right placement and timing, I can make this place a fortress—one that only a fool would dare to infiltrate.

Now, dealing with demons or other entities like Sebastian is a different challenge altogether. Their strength, cunning, and otherworldly nature make them far more difficult to handle. However, it's not impossible—it just requires more time, effort, and strategic preparation. If I can reach Sequence 8 in certain Pathways, I'll have access to abilities that might level the playing field.

Though luck will certainly play a part, especially in acquiring the necessary resources and knowledge, I can't rely on it alone. Careful planning and progression through the Pathways will be essential. Each step forward brings me closer to having the power needed to face beings like Sebastian on my own terms—same with Alucard, but who knows when that happen.

"KYRAAAA!" A female voice suddenly pierces through the air, filled with panic and desperation. The shout echoes down the corridor, causing me to raise an eyebrow in surprise. Without hesitation, I start making my way toward the source of the commotion, my pace quickening with each step. Alucard follows alongside me, her expression one of mild interest, as if curious to see how this disturbance will unfold.

The tension in the air thickens as we draw closer, the unknown situation gnawing at the edges of my mind. I can't help but wonder what—or who—could have caused such a reaction. Alucard, of course, remains unfazed, though there's a slight glint in her eyes, betraying her amusement at the sudden chaos.

As we round the corner, I'm surprised to see Sebastian already standing by the door, his usual calm demeanor in place as he smoothly opens it. His presence there, ahead of us, is almost unsettling—did he already sense the commotion before we did? His timing is impeccable, as always, making it easy to forget just how unnaturally quick and efficient he is.

Alucard, walking just behind me, seems to notice as well. "How predictable." She murmurs, her voice cold and with mockery. "Always so eager to play the hero, aren't you?" Though her words are sharp, Sebastian gives no indication that he even heard them, his focus solely on whatever lies beyond the now-open door.

I glance at him, briefly locking eyes, before turning my attention to the room and bracing myself for what awaits inside.

"Mey-Rin? What on earth is the matter..." Sebastian says as he swings the door open, revealing quite the scene. Standing in the middle of the room is Mey-Rin, a young maid with large, thick, round glasses—currently covered in soap bubbles. In fact, the entire room is filled with bubbles, swirling and floating everywhere like a chaotic sea of foam.

"Mr. Sebastiaaaaaaaan!" Mey-Rin cries out, her voice a mix of panic and embarrassment as she clutches a small box in her hands.

"Well... this is something." Alucard remarks in her usual dull, cold tone, clearly unimpressed by the spectacle.

Sebastian, however, is visibly shocked. "What's with these bubbles?!" His perfect composure finally breaking as he surveys the soapy disaster.

Mey-Rin, trembling slightly, holds up the box of detergent. "This detergent... according to the instruction manual... I'm supposed to put in 30 cups! It's so weird this happened!"

Sebastian lets out a small sigh as he calmly removes his vest, stepping closer to Mey-Rin. He takes the box from her hands and reads the label carefully. After a brief pause, he looks at her with a flat, almost resigned expression. "Mey-Rin, this doesn't say 30 cups. It says 3 cups."

"Eh?!" Mey-Rin gasps in disbelief, her face going pale as the realization sinks in.

I can't help but lean slightly toward Alucard, whispering, "I think she might need to reschedule with her eye doctor..."

Alucard merely rolls her eyes at me, clearly uninterested in my attempt at humor. Her gaze shifts back to the chaotic scene, unfazed, while Sebastian begins the task of remedying the situation.

Sebastian lets out a deep, resigned sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose before speaking. "I understand. For now, just step back and leave this to me." As he prepares to clean up the soapy chaos. He turns to glance at Alucard and me, his gaze steady. "I'm sure you two still have more important things to attend to, like studying the layout of the mansion. So please, resume your tasks while I help Mey-Rin sort this out."

I nod, understanding the unspoken message that this is no longer our problem. Alucard, on the other hand, simply raises an eyebrow, giving a small, dismissive wave of her hand. "A shame. I was almost hoping for a bit of entertainment."

With that, we turn away, leaving Sebastian to deal with the bubbly disaster. I can still hear Mey-Rin's quiet apologies behind us as we continue down the hallway, returning to our task of mapping out the mansion's defenses.

Well, more accurately, I need to double-check the entire mansion and ensure that every detail of the layout is accounted for. After the first round of scouting, I've already identified areas that could benefit from more advanced traps or additional fortifications. Now, it's about refining those plans, improving on the traps I initially set in my mind, and making sure that no weak points go unnoticed.

Alucard walks beside me, still indifferent to the situation, her attention now drifting back to our task. "Improving on your first attempt, are we?" She asks with a subtle hint of mockery. "How delightful."

I ignore the jab, focusing instead on visualizing where the new traps will go and how to ensure they won't interfere with the residents. It's going to take some careful adjustments, but once everything is in place, this mansion will be nearly impenetrable.