Prelude II
That block of iron was a mismatch in the plain environment.
A moving fortress weighing 35 tons. A wild horse with a combustion mechanism that probably never passed through in such a countryside road. An American Monster/Coast to Coast Super-sized Giant Vehicle with striking headlights and engine sound, pulling the devil's box.
"Sympathy for the Devil"
Carrying steel weapons, crosses, medical equipments and an "exorcist", it was literally the state of the art monster.
In the 4 days after landing at United Kingdom, it has always been under the people's attention.
To be exact, people weren't surprised at the gigantic trailer called the "Sympathy for the Devil", but at the man behind the wheels. It couldn't be helped. The one driving the vicious machine was a peaceful looking priest.
While letting out a screech in the countryside road, he controlled the monster with ease. If there was one thing he needed to be careful of, it was the temperature inside the trailer box behind him. It was currently in normal temperature, but if by any chance it goes below 20 degrees Celsius, he needs to abandon it and blow it up.
Of course, it was a situation that he want to avoid if possible.
He would hate losing half of his beloved vehicle. It wasn't much of a problem causing a fuss in the quiet countryside and his partner being blown to pieces though.
"Dawn. Aren't you receiving a signal on the radio?"
A voice through the inter phone from the box.
Did she sense the wicked idea that he had? Hearing the voice of his partner that he didn't care if she burned to ashes, the priest turned on the radio.
"Oh, hello Mister? Do you mind if I add something to the order?"
He made a deep sigh hearing the noise full of transmission.
It was the 3rd call he received since he got on this mission.
He reminded her so many times to order the equipments all together, but this woman kept on bothering him one after another.
Thanks to her, he hasn't even reached his destination.
Adhesive grenades, dozen boxes of M60 ammo, and her order goes as far as an out dated potato masher (Burial custom). It's natural for him to stray away from the route if she keeps on requesting without minding the time and cost.
...Well, actually she's the only person who makes such requests and this was like the only time he we was needed.
Personal firearms have little effect on vampires.
They are show offs who dodge the bullets after they see them. Since surface based attacks can't even touch them, they freely feed on their prey even up to this day.
However. This woman was a fantastic monster who is able to land a shot on their forehead with a hand gun; a point based attack.
It almost sounds like a joke, but it was good for him that the items he stocked didn't go to waste. Besides, black humor was something the priest loved. It wouldn't hurt to listen to a few of her selfish requests.
"I have no choice. You sure are a difficult person please, but you're my important customer"
After stopping the truck, he takes out a note.
To his surprise, her request this time wasn't something so dangerous.
It might not be in a small village, but they're all something that could be found in a town with a market.
"I could get you the first four, but I have to say no to the last one. Moreover, you should be able to purchase that at where you're at"
The transaction ended right away.
Although it looked like she wanted to say something, she accepted and he was relieved.
"Then it'll be another two additional days until I arrive. Now that I need to make an extra trip"
The priest ended the transmission and left the driver's seat.
If he remembered correctly, his partner in the box had a few of the items that were just requested.
"Excuse me. May I enter, my lady?"
"Please. I was a bit bored, Dawn"
The door of the box opens.
It was darker than the darkness of the night, inside.
The tiny blinking lights were the only thing indicating its depth.
Sleeping inside the darkness were firearms, electronics, words of God, and the devil's stomach.
He closes the door behind him so the holy air won't spill out. The priest saw his partner lying on the bed for the first time in 2 days.
"You look sick more than ever"
"Yes. The people in the countryside are superstitious so I'm easily affected. But their shape is prettier than the ones in the urban cities. Although their form changes in a swift manner, the pain feels pleasant."
After smiling with gratitude, the priest mentioned the special order he just received.
"Huh? What was that? Turme..."
"Oh, it sounded like a herb of some sort. Oh, she did say it was for eating. Do you happen to have some?"
"...No. the only thing I have that I can eat in powder form is Sichuan pepper"
"Hmm... Is that so. Well, they sound very much a like to me"
"...You're absolutely wrong. Don't even think they are the same thing"
His partner was in a bad mood. It was a rare thing for her as she was always passive about things. Unfortunately, the priest lacked the ability to sense those emotions.
"That's too bad. I'll give up and make a side trip. It will be another 2 day until we arrive there, but are you able to bare it, my lady?"
"That's the reason you are here, Dawn. When it happens.
More importantly..."
Making an oozy sound, something lying on the bed moved.
A deformed figure. The priest secretly worshiped the unsymmetrical shape. How beautiful. Smeared with blood, yet white skin.
A malformed Virgin Mary who is penetrated by demons yet giving ease to demons at the same time.
"...More importantly, do you know the details our your mission? Since we were the ones summoned, does it means I can look forward to it?"
In other words, the Virgin Mary is asking if she is able to have a feast.
"Unfortunately, no. We came here to hunt vampires, basically. Unless something exceptional happens, we have nothing to do. However..."
This time, it wasn't just about the Church.
An decisive battle that was being prepared for years.
The development of Aylesbury that not only the Church, but the mage's association stood and watched as it build up.
A countryside village of England has transformed itself to an industrial region in merely 10 years.
By just using human power, by legit funds and labor, although out of date, a band of factories were built in the commercially worthless land.
It's a shame, but even if that was a farm for the Dead Apostles, even the Magicians won't be able to touch them as long as it was run by innocent people.
How can existences on the side of the super natural can interfere with something that was built by the hands of the people using fair and square methods, without the use of mystics? The only time they can, is when that fair and squareness has collapsed.
"Geez. I wonder who came up with that idea. Everyone knows that the gate to Hell is opening, but they can't do anything until it does"
...Actually the priest knew whose idea it was very well.
The company that invested in the factory construction at the village that was on the verge of perish by declining population, was V&V Industry. It was a nostalgic old home of the priest.
"Hell... What about you, Dawn? At least I can hold myself, but you're only a transporter. If you go to such town, you'll be the first one to be eaten."
By this Virgin Mary, before anything at least.
The priest was a normal human being.
He wasn't a monster like his co-workers. There's no guarantee that he'll come out alive from Aylesbury.
"Well, it was a direct order from the boss. And not everything looks bad. Supposedly, there was a prophecy that I will be able to find my lost name."
The priest shares his story cheerfully. His real name. His name before he was called Dawn.
"? Dawn, you don't know your real name?"
A puzzled reply.
The priest answered yes.
"Huh? But you're name is XXXX"
A moment of silence. With troubled expression, he places a hand on his forehead as if he has an headache.
"See. Everyone knows your name..."
"I'm sorry. What did you just say, my lady?"
With a smile still stuck on his face, he said in an chilly emotionless voice.
"I couldn't hear what you just said now.
Please use words that I can understand."
He gave out an awfully, distorted cry.
I see, the Virgin Mary makes a prayer for him
This man still hasn't returned.
Oh lord, please have mercy on this soul.
While trying to remember only his name, this man is unable to recognize only his name, eternally.
He was in hell in the past. Even being the only survivor, his soul was still possessed. He should have brought back his soul along with his body, but because he lost it once, it would never return to him.
"...Dawn, who else is coming to Aylesbury?"
She brings back the topic to work. It was pitiful for the priest if he wasn't placed in torment all the time.
"3 others. 1 mediator already went ahead. The other 2 should be arriving after us."
"The one who's ahead of us, is it her?"
"Yes, since she has the lightest load, she's able to move right away. An outstanding forward of the squad I say. On top of that, it seems like there's something personal about this mission and she was very excited about it saying that she'll beat the crap out of someone this time."
The priest said cheerfully.
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