Dead Apostles cannot be active during the day. Although not absolute, most Dead Apostles are indeed like this. For them, exposure to sunlight is something that will make them very uncomfortable, so under non-urgent circumstances, Dead Apostles will not be active during the day.
Except for Arcueid, a special exception.
Having decided to deal with Vlov Arkhangel, who was causing the consecutive fires, by taking advantage of the daytime when her opponent couldn't move freely, Arcueid planned to find his location first, and as soon as night fell, she would directly raid his base and eliminate him.
"But you said we were looking for someone, why has it turned into strolling around while eating?"
Holding the imagawayaki she had just bought from a roadside stall, Naoki looked somewhat helplessly at Arcueid beside him, who was eating with a happy face: "Didn't we just finish lunch less than an hour ago? Why are you hungry again so quickly?"
"Because my body hasn't fully recovered. Although the injuries are basically fine, since we're going to face Vlov, it's better for my strength to recover little by little. Eating more also helps with recovery." Arcueid said, licking the remaining red bean paste from the corner of her lips, "What about Naoki? Didn't you eat your fill? If this time when fighting Vlov, you can still unleash power like when you fought Nero, it will be much easier for us."
"I want to too, but my wallet doesn't allow it. You saw Miss Aoko's regretful expression earlier. I don't feel good asking her to treat us again, and my own wallet isn't that thick."
Naoki's face was full of helplessness.
"But it doesn't matter, he's just a Dead Apostle of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors. My current strength is enough."
"Is that so? I actually feel that this time Naoki might encounter a little trouble."
"Why do you say that?"
"A compatibility issue perhaps." Arcueid said, "Naoki, you're the type of person who has no weaknesses in either long-range or close-range combat. But comparatively, your close-range ability is a bit weaker, more accurately, your combat experience is not sufficient. Naoki rarely fights with someone whose strength is equal to yours, right?"
Naoki nodded. Don't even mention equal strength, almost all his battles so far he had gone through recklessly, there were hardly any who could fight back.
The power of Servants in this world was clearly beyond common sense. Except for some existences that were equally beyond common sense as him, there were almost no opponents.
Of course, Naoki didn't think he was simply invincible. Fighting strength was only one aspect that determined victory. Prior preparation, strategy and intelligence, combat experience—there were many factors that influenced victory.
"Vlov was a knight when he was human, basically an expert in close-range combat. After becoming a Dead Apostle for hundreds of years, he also didn't neglect training. It's not that I don't believe in Naoki, it's just that, if it's still like when you fought Nero, you alone charge in and fight him at close range, you might be in great danger right now. So my suggestion is, you should go to Shiki's place first to retrieve your sword sheath."
"If you have Avalon, even if you get beaten up in close combat with Vlov, you won't be in danger."
"You're already underestimating me to the point of thinking I'll get beaten up in a fight with Vlov?" Naoki smiled bitterly, "Alright, I'll consider this suggestion. I'll contact Shiki later. Then the most important thing, Vlov's hiding place? Has it been found? You can directly receive information from the world, it should be quick to find."
Somewhat unexpectedly, Arcueid shook her head: "The information the world gives me isn't that strong. What I can directly receive is just the knowledge and common sense of modern society, as well as the information needed for survival."
"And if I, as Gaia, ask the world for information, although the world won't refuse, it also won't tell me in detail. You could say it's perfunctory."
"For example, if I want to find someone, and ask the world where they are, the world will only tell me which country and city they are in, or even just tell me which direction they are, it won't directly tell me their location."
"This time is the same. The world only told me Vlov is here, and gave me an approximate direction, but the detailed address wasn't given. I can only rely on that little bit of direction and my own feeling for Dead Apostles to search."
After hearing Arcueid's explanation, Naoki unconsciously felt speechless towards Gaia.
'Planetary consciousness, what are you doing? This is your own daughter. When she asks you something, you don't even want to answer clearly, instead giving riddles. What kind of mother are you?'
"So, Vlov is actually in this direction we're heading?"
"No, in the opposite direction. I only came here because I wanted to eat."
Arcueid said, taking out another imagawayaki from her bag. She had just bought ten at once.
Sighing helplessly, Naoki also took a bite of his imagawayaki: "If you finish all of these, I think you won't need dinner tonight."
"Isn't that Naoki?"
Just at that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind. Naoki turned around and saw Ciel in her school uniform smiling at him. Beside her were also three people who were familiar to him in a certain sense.
Ciel smiled at Naoki: "What a coincidence, meeting you here. Is this your girlfriend? Are you on a date?"
"No, no, just a friend. By the way, you..."
Naoki glanced at the three people behind Ciel, and finally directed his gaze at the man wearing glasses.
Tohno Shiki.
An abnormal existence who possessed the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception just like Ryougi Shiki, the last Nanaya, the one who divided Arcueid into seventeen pieces.
'Didn't expect to meet him here, what a coincidence—wait!'
Suddenly remembering something, Naoki hurriedly looked towards Arcueid. As he expected, Her Highness the Princess, seeing her mortal enemy, didn't even want to eat her imagawayaki anymore, her eyes fixed on Tohno Shiki.
"Ara, what a coincidence, meeting you here again. Do you still remember me? Tohno Shiki?"
Maintaining a seemingly calm smile, Arcueid smiled at Shiki, and long before she greeted him, Shiki, who had long recognized her, already had a completely pale face!
"You... you are..."
"Seeing you like this, it seems you still remember. That's very good. A few days ago, you really helped me a lot in various ways. If possible, I would like to return the favor?"
—Division into eighteen pieces and the like.
'You've written your thoughts all over your face, Arcueid!'