Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

That's the legendary Lehman family technique of polishing gemstones into magic eyes...

"Alright, let's just use these people. Let's analyze the current situation."

Shirou naturally took over command of the scene, and no one objected, even though he was the lowest-ranking among them.

Even the proud and arrogant Olga Marie... instead, she cast an expectant, shimmering glance at Shirou.

Who is the son of Einnashe?

After Shirou asked that question, the atmosphere around them changed.

“Fuhai Forest…”

Olga Marie explained.

"Literally, a forest that thinks and hunts."

Its origin lies in the mutation of the seventh of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors, a Dead Apostle transformed from a magician, whose remains were devoured by vampire plants after he was killed.

The bloodthirsty forest, almost a fantasy species, has replaced its master as the new progenitor.

Can even a blood-sucking plant be considered an ancestor?

Shirou was a little speechless, but then again, he had secretly met the vampire lady who looked like a man-eating flower just last night.

"The interior of Fuhai Forest is a different space, like a 'property boundary'. Legend has it that a bright red fruit will grow on the big tree in the center of the forest every few hundred years."

That fruit is the reason humans have gathered in the Demon Forest. There's a legend, though not to be taken literally, that those who eat the fruit will gain immortality.

"The Fuhai Forest appears approximately once every fifty years, attacking the humans who gather there and using its immense magical power to ripen the fruit located deep within it."

In the previous manifestation, Fu Hailin was eliminated by assassins sent by the church and was recovered as a "principle."

"What? They've already been taken down."

Shirou asked, "So, is the son of Fuhailin a remnant that wasn't completely eradicated back then?"

Olga Marie shook her head: "It is said that fully ripe fruit often bleeds."

Some of these blood droplets will transform into seeds, and after lying dormant underground for a period of time, they will choose an evolutionary form different from their original form—

"The son of Fu Hailin represents the end of the Crimson Seed; it seems this child has chosen ice and snow."

Shirou began to understand how the rumor about the fruit granting immortality had spread.

At the same time, he also got a general idea of ​​the current situation.

"I heard that the Dead Apostles usually divide up their territories and rarely interfere with each other, but the manager of this Demon Eye Collection Train seems to have disappeared for a long time. Moreover, Fu Hailin's son is not under anyone's control. It would not be surprising if the two sides met at any time."

A chance encounter?

Shirou frowned: That's not how it is. Someone did this on purpose—it's aimed at me.

The group discussed how to escape from the son of Fuhailin.

According to the conductor, the train can start moving at any time once the Ley Line is found.

"The train stopped because it lost its way in the location of the spiritual vein; it was due to the magical effects of this forest."

So, if we directly hike to find the main spiritual veins and set up a few markers, escaping the forest shouldn't be too difficult.

“Setting up road signs…theoretically, it is feasible, but that would mean venturing into a cannibalistic forest where people are going through blizzards.”

"So, is there anyone among you willing to help Shirou and me?"

Luvia stood with her hands on her hips, looking around at everyone with an air of fearlessness.

Her imposing aura was like that of a queen besieging a city, and Shirou admitted that she was very dazzling and beautiful... but why did she include me without my permission!?

"I also need to go!"

Yvette immediately raised her hand, and Rin Tohsaka was not to be outdone.

"I'll stay in the car and await your triumphant return," Reines said with a smile.

"Lady Olga Marie, please stay in the carriage as well. We cannot afford to take responsibility if anything happens to the heir of the Astronomy Department."

"..."

Although Olga Marie looked displeased, she did not raise any objections. She was not just representing herself; the conservative approach of monarch Euryphus was the model for monarchs.

Yvette looked at the pensive red-haired boy: "Well then, Shirou-sama, we should set off—"

"No, simply setting up coordinates is not enough."

Shirou shook his head and said, "We must eliminate Fuhailin's son as soon as possible."

"Was it really necessary to go this far?"

Luvia knew that Shirou was the type to stand up for what's right and loved his style, but was it really necessary to risk the lives of everyone on the train by fighting against a vampire blocking the way?

"We have to go this far... Let's approach this with a war mentality."

After saying this, Shirou opened the heavy carriage door and stepped into the house of Fuhailin's son.

--------

My computer hard drive failed and I'm waiting for a new one. I've been typing this on my phone for the past two days, so the update time is irregular.

Volume 6, Chapter 285: Shirou's New Title: Humanoid Aphrodisiac

Upon entering the forest, they were met with an environment far more treacherous than they had anticipated.

The howling blizzard drowned out their voices, and with each step they took, their feet sank into the snow up to their ankles.

Fortunately, Shirou always carries the Einzbern family's cold-resistant costume with him when he travels, which directly insulates him from the cold.

Shirou, Rin Tohsaka, Luvia Zelita, and Yvette continued their journey through the forest.

Luvia threw out a gem, infused it with magic, and the gem became a medium for a detection spell, taking flight toward the center of the Son of the Sea Forest.

"Is this the kind of mountainous terrain we have here?"

“It’s easier to understand if you think of this place as the interior of a Reality Marble,” Shirou said.

The true Fuhailin Anashu appears for a few days every fifty years, like an unconventional inherent barrier.

Although Fu Hailin's son was similar, it is a settled conclusion that the same phenomenon has not recurred, probably because he exhausted his stored magic power in just one manifestation.

That's why Luvia didn't understand why Shirou insisted on eliminating the son of Fuhailin.

After all, if you leave it alone, it will die out on its own in a few weeks.

"No, that's not the case."

Shirou explained.

Fu Hailin's son died after only one appearance in the world, and that was only under the premise that the mother was still alive.

With the original body of Fu Hai Lin already destroyed by the Church, if the son of Fu Hai Lin is allowed to prey on and grow, it may grow into a new ancestor.

"I see. There's really no way to just leave it unattended."

Shirou had previously heard about the structure and hierarchy of vampire society from Natalia.

There are seven classes of vampires in this world.

First tier: The deceased.

Unable to act independently, they rely on parental commands, like puppets; without orders, they exist in a corpse-like state, surviving only through blood-sucking or transfusions, and are considered the lowest-ranking soldiers.

Tier II, Corpse Demon.

Possessing instincts but lacking clear thinking, it mimics the appearance of its deceased self; due to brain decay, its bloodlust is stronger than the dead, thus it is categorized as a soldier among the "deceased."

Level III, immortal.

They can independently disguise themselves as humans, but their cognitive abilities are lower than in life; they are not afraid of sunlight, but require regular preservation treatments. They belong to the rank of high-ranking soldiers and represent the true starting point for becoming vampires.

All three stages mentioned above fall under the conventional understanding of ghouls and zombies.

Level IV, belonging to the Night.

Equivalent to a knight in the vampire world, they maintain their former personality and possess superhuman physical abilities, but are accompanied by cold and thirst; they can survive without their parents and represent the dividing line between humans and vampires, with only one in a thousand able to advance to this level.

Tier V, Night Demon.

Equivalent to a high-ranking knight, in addition to their night-attribute abilities, they can also unleash curses or supernatural powers derived from the blood of their relatives, making them capable of standing alone.

Tier VI, Lower-ranking Dead Apostles.

Completely independent, capable of producing offspring but unable to produce individuals of the same or higher level; a threat like a fortress, capable of eroding villages, and a disaster-level existence.

VII. Upper-level Dead Apostles.

Recognized by the Twenty-Seven Ancestors, they were further endowed with extraordinary abilities; their very existence could pollute the surrounding area. Their numbers far exceeded those of lower ranks, making them the highest-ranking Dead Apostles.

Level VIII, Heirs.

A vampire recognized by their ancestors as their successor, possessing great talent; possessing vast territories and immense assets, they are like princes and princesses in the vampire world.

The IXth level, the twenty-seventh ancestor.

The undisputed King of the Dead Apostles. The manager of the Eye of the Dead Collection Train is one of them.

Is Fu Hailin's son considered a Death Apostle of the sixth... or even the seventh tier?

Although somewhat tricky, it was nothing compared to the guy we met last night.

If you were to compare them side by side, Miss Rogéan would probably be furious.

Hmm... It's perfect for them to practice on.

Shirou made a quick decision.

“I see. But I’m not quite comfortable using the Mana. Is the air even different in this forest?” Luvia frowned.

"It is said that if one is in the true Fuhai Forest, even the connection to the Great Source is impossible, making it, in a sense, the magician's natural enemy."

"Ugh~ This is way too much of a suppression for a magician. My Mystic Eyes have been unstable since just now, and it's even hard to maintain them~"

Yvette raised her fingers next to her eye mask, making her signature peace sign.

"In that case... let me think of a way."

Shirou walked up to the Mystic Eyes girl and asked, "Miss Yvette, may I see your magic crest?"

"Okay, and you're going to call me Yvette-chan... Well then, please take a look!"

The pink-haired Lolita raised her arms, lifted her pink twin ponytails, and revealed her fair neck.

Different magician families have their own different locations for the transplantation of magic crests; for example, the Tohsaka family transplants it to the forearm, while the Rayman family transplants it to the neck.

"……ah?"

Yvette blushed and let out a soft moan because Shirou covered the location of her magic crest with his palm.

No matter who it is, it's hard not to make a sound if someone of the opposite sex suddenly touches your neck.

"Amamiya-kun!?" "Shirou...?"

Rin Tohsaka and Luvia stared wide-eyed.

Yvette grinned mischievously, "Oh, Shirou-sama~ To do this outside... Let's save that for when we get back to our room~"

"...Be quiet."

Shirou closed his eyes and concentrated intently.

The next step is to do the most basic of the basics in the world of magic—enhancing magic.

This time, however, Shirou is not strengthening the iron pipe, but the mark within the magician's body.

Ever since Shirou heard the concept of "magic crest" from Machiri a long time ago, Shirou has been thinking:

Isn't the so-called engraving essentially a precision object similar to household appliances?

Shirou is skilled at using the magical energy generated within his body to temporarily enhance external objects.

There is no magician who can surpass him in this skill.

The reason is not that Shirou has outstanding skills, but that he is good at analyzing the internal structure (circuit) of objects.

The circuit of an electric heater is no different from that of a magician—

"────Basic bones, explained."