Vlov Arkhangel, ranked 19th among the 27 Dead Apostle Ancestors, known as the Frozen Dead Apostle.
From his name, it's clear that this individual was likely a Slavic man during his lifetime. According to insiders, Vlov was once an unlucky man in the Middle Ages who was wrongfully accused and exiled. However, Vlov did not simply vanish into obscurity. He was saved by the original 19th Ancestor, Zaria Offenbaum, and was transformed into a Dead Apostle knight.
Though Vlov was exiled due to false accusations, there may have been a reason behind why someone went through the trouble to frame and get rid of him. During his long career as a Dead Apostle knight, Vlov, in an attempt to alleviate the cold brought by the icy lands he lived in, married ten wives consecutively to soothe his frozen heart. However, this did little to satisfy him.
Around 200 years ago, Michael Roa Valdamjong found Vlov and, through deceitful words, lured him into betraying his master. Vlov killed Zaria Offenbaum and inherited her Principle Idea Blood. But the Principle Idea Blood of an Ancestor was not something a lesser Dead Apostle like him could handle. Vlov paid the price for his betrayal: he completely lost his body temperature and frequently fell into states of mental confusion.
In essence, apart from his handsome appearance and passable combat abilities, Vlov possessed no qualities worth admiration. His earlier persecution may well have been karmic retribution for his debauchery.
Now, why has this Dead Apostle from the frozen lands of Russia arrived in Japan in his coffin? To understand this, we must revisit the deeds of Michael Roa Valdamjong, a true scoundrel among scoundrels. After stealing part of the power of the True Ancestor Princess, Roa had been on the run, trying to escape Arcueid Brunestud's pursuit.
Even though Arcueid had lost part of her power, she was still far beyond the reach of a mere Dead Apostle like Roa. Thus, he sought more power. Vlov, lacking intelligence, became his target. Roa's initial plan was to use Vlov to seize Zaria Offenbaum's Principle Idea Blood, sabotage Vlov through the spells he taught him, and ultimately reap the benefits after Vlov self-destructed. However, Roa underestimated Vlov's sheer obstinacy. Despite the immense pain, Vlov endured the backlash of the Idea Blood!
As a result, Vlov became the new 19th Ancestor and far surpassed the abilities of an ordinary Dead Apostle. Roa immediately fled. Tormented by the negative effects of the Principle Idea Blood, Vlov naturally held a deep hatred for Roa and had been hunting him for 200 years, hoping to extract the secret to ending his eternal cold from Roa.
The previous incarnation of Roa was an unfortunate French village girl. This girl had exceptional magic circuits, a trait that Roa considered a blessing, as it surpassed the potential of his original body. However, Roa had not anticipated Vlov's interference—Vlov completely froze the village where the girl lived, killing Roa's reincarnated form and thwarting one of his rituals.
Recently, Vlov heard rumors that Roa's current reincarnation may have appeared in Japan. Without hesitation, Vlov crossed the seas in his coffin to reach Japan. However, Vlov's reasons for coming to Japan extend beyond his pursuit of Roa.
It is widely known that wherever Roa reincarnates, the White Princess, Arcueid Brunestud, is sure to follow. Between his hatred for Roa and the power of Arcueid, Vlov is no match for the White Princess. However, as the illiterate genius among the 27 Ancestors, Vlov firmly believes that by devouring the heart and blood of the White Princess, he can heal his cold and pain.
Whether this method, reminiscent of shamanistic practices, would even work is debatable. But where does a middling member of the 27 Ancestors like Vlov find the confidence to defeat and kill the White Princess? From this perspective, Vlov Arkhangel has lost most of his sanity. The cold brought by the Principle Idea Blood has left him incapable of rational judgment. Now, as long as there is a glimmer of hope for a cure, no matter how difficult, Vlov is willing to try.
...
"...Are you guys at the Holy Church serious?" Aoko frowned as she listened to the female voice on the other end of the phone. "Haven't you investigated what happened between me and the Aida Church in Misaki Town?"
["Those were minor issues,"] the young woman on the phone replied. ["The Aida Church was never on good terms with our Holy Church headquarters. Since Father Eiri Fumizuka betrayed you, it's only right for you to punish him. We have no objections."]
"If you say so, then I have no objections either. But for you to set aside your hatred for me, a heretic, and come asking for help, you must be in quite the predicament, huh?" Aoko said indifferently. "So, which Ancestor is causing trouble in Japan?"
["Based on current information, it's the 19th Ancestor, Vlov Arkhangel,"] the woman replied. ["But apart from him, a few other Ancestors seem to be stirring as well. They might act together."]
"And the reason?" Aoko asked. "This lot of sunlight-fearing pests didn't come to this barren land of mystery just for a hot spring retreat, did they?"
["It's a hunt,"] the young woman replied. ["The True Ancestor Princess, Arcueid Brunestud, seems to have arrived somewhere in Japan. The Dead Apostle Ancestors want to see how far Vlov can go. If it works out, they intend to join forces to kill the Princess and divide her body among themselves."]
"Hah," Aoko smiled gracefully. "Pests will always be pests. Reaching for the moon in the sky—how ridiculous."
"Touko and I can step in," Aoko paused before continuing. "But we won't work for free. What are you willing to offer?"
["What do you want?"] the woman asked cunningly. ["As long as it's something we can provide, we can negotiate."]
"All of Michael Roa Valdamjong's magic tomes—no problem, right?" Aoko said. "And I also want the cursed artifacts in your Holy Church's collection. The exact quantity depends on how much you have."
The woman on the other end of the line fell silent. Miss Blue's demands were excessive. Moreover, Aoko had her history with Roa, making it clear she was particularly interested in Roa's magical knowledge.
Aoko knew exactly who she was speaking to. By mentioning Roa's full name, she was testing the woman—a certain unlucky French village girl—to see if she was willing to speak honestly for the sake of revenge. The woman's reluctance to mention Roa earlier, the key reason for the gathering of the Ancestors, likely stemmed from her desire to exact personal revenge on Roa.
However, the current situation no longer allowed her to act alone. She had no choice but to seek assistance from Japan's local magical factions.
When it came to fighting the Ancestors, the Aozaki sisters shared a common goal with the Church. This French villager was aware that Aoko frequently operated in the Tokyo area, occasionally eliminating rogue vampires and ghouls.
["...Vlov is here for Roa,"] the French villager finally said over the phone. ["Like me, one of his fundamental goals is to take revenge on Roa."]
"Now we're talking," Aoko said playfully. "Being honest makes it easier to cooperate."
["Let's meet and talk,"] the French villager girl said. ["Three days from now, at the main Holy Church in Tokyo. How about it?"]
PS: The French villager girl is Ciel, I think.