With nothing better to do, Mika took Yuichiro and Shinoa Hiragi for another stroll around Sanguinem.
Of course, showing Yuichiro around was the main goal; bringing Shinoa along was just incidental.
However, Yuichiro didn't seem particularly interested in how good Sanguinem's infrastructure was, and a single sentence left Mika unable to retort.
"It feels like there's no life here."
It was true; Vampires have thin emotions and are few in number, making the massive underground space feel extremely desolate.
The only place that could possibly have a heavier gloom than this would probably be a hospital morgue.
Shinoa suddenly spoke up with a smile.
"Where do the humans live? Yu mentioned before that many of you were squeezed into a cramped little room back then; I'm a bit curious."
Shinoa felt a bit conflicted asking this, fearing she might see humans living in a purgatory-like state here.
Mika gave Shinoa a faint glance and decided it was fine to go take a look.
Leading the two toward the human residential area, the sound of children's laughter gradually reached their ears.
Entering the residential area, they saw groups of children, large and small, all wearing the same white shirts and pants, frolicking and playing on the clean streets.
The appearance of Mika's trio attracted everyone's attention.
But after just a glance, seeing that Mika, as a Vampire, didn't give them any orders, they continued playing among themselves.
Mika looked at the smiles on these human children's faces, a hint of tenderness appearing on his own, and said softly,
"Luke and Lady Krul have greatly improved the treatment of humans. The housing and food are much better. Now, when it's time to donate blood, everyone is much more proactive than we used to be."
Mika turned to look at Yuichiro and Shinoa, only to be taken aback.
Hearing Mika's words, Shinoa remained silent, but her hands were tightly clenched into fists.
Yuichiro surveyed the residential area's layout, which was far from what he remembered, and muttered to himself,
"It's changed so much..."
Yuichiro withdrew his gaze, his eyes sharpening with determination as he said firmly,
"But it's not right!"
Yuichiro's emerald green eyes looked directly at Mika, making Mika feel a bit uneasy. Yuichiro continued,
"Humans should live in the sunlight; they shouldn't be imprisoned underground!"
Mika's voice lacked confidence.
"We are protecting them..."
Yuichiro's gaze remained firm.
"Mika, do you really think that?"
Mika took a deep breath, shook his head, and after a long moment, said,
"I don't know..."
Shinoa couldn't find a chance to interject, but her eyes remained fixed on the determined Yuichiro.
Afterward, the three watched for a while longer in a subtle atmosphere. Yuichiro and Shinoa occasionally exchanged a few words with the children, while Mika just watched in silence.
"Big brother, why are you tied up?"
"Big brother has a very scary monster inside him, so it's actually to control the monster!"
"Wow! So cool! Big brother is amazing! Big sister, are you this big brother's girlfriend?"
The children suddenly turned their attention to Shinoa, who had been watching them gently the whole time.
"Eh? Haha, n-no, I'm not!"
A flustered expression appeared on Shinoa's face along with a blush, and her eyes unconsciously flickered toward Yuichiro.
Yuichiro was also caught off guard, turning his head away in embarrassment, muttering words only he could hear.
"W-what! How could Shinoa..."
Watching the two act bashfully, Mika couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Alright, the Queen and the others will be back soon. Let's go!"
Without another word, Mika pulled Yuichiro away, leaving both Yuichiro and Shinoa stunned... "I didn't expect an unexpected harvest."
Guren threw a wretched figure into the center of the hall.
Krul said displeasedly,
"Hey, you guy, don't get my palace dirty."
Guren smiled and apologized,
"My apologies, My Queen."
His face was full of a playful expression.
Krul didn't reply, instead nudging Luke with her elbow.
"Does this guy know about those things?"
Luke looked uncertainly at the acquaintance on the ground—Hiiragi Kureto—and answered,
"He should have some understanding?"
"What are you talking about?"
Lest Karr asked in an unquestionable tone, as if he were the highest authority present.
Krul didn't even bother to look him in the eye, saying casually,
"Scram."
To avoid revealing his true strength for a possible sneak attack on Urd later, Luke didn't put a 'brat' like Lest Karr in his place to show him who was boss.
Urd stepped forward and kicked the dying Hiiragi Kureto.
"Hey, human, get up and answer my questions."
The pressure of a superior was revealed, and the atmosphere of the entire room changed.
Hiiragi Kureto didn't move; it seemed he had been tormented into a state of delirium.
Luke thought of a good idea, raised a finger, and spoke up.
"Eh! I have a way!"
After saying that, he ran out and returned shortly after carrying a sealed barrel.
Krul asked curiously,
"What are you doing bringing a barrel of wine?"
Luke opened the stopper, and the aroma of wine wafted out, though it held no attraction for the Vampires present.
Just something humans use to numb themselves; how could it taste as good as blood?
Lest Karr was displeased.
"Trash, what do you think you're doing?"
Luke wasn't about to answer him; answering would be admitting he was the 'trash.'
Luke unhesitatingly poured the wine directly over Hiiragi Kureto.
"Aaaahhh!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream rang out as Hiiragi Kureto's fading consciousness was forcibly pulled back by the pain.
Hiiragi Kureto was covered in wounds; having wine poured over them was certainly 'refreshing'!
Urd couldn't help but glance at Luke a few more times, while Guren shouted at Krul,
"Queen, Mr. Luke has made your palace even dirtier."
Luke snapped his gaze toward Guren, his eyes filled with confusion and anger.
But Krul just waved her hand.
"It's fine, just let him clean it up himself."
Luke was beyond shocked. Please, a Progenitor doing the cleaning? What about my dignity?
But Krul only gave Luke a meaningful look, so Luke could only nod, indicating he understood.
Hiiragi Kureto was still rolling on the ground. Urd stepped forward and pinned him underfoot, his tone as flat as a programmed robot, his words carrying an unspeakable indifference.
"Tell me everything you know about the Seraph."
"Heh, even if you kill me, don't think you'll find out..."
Bam!
Urd's foot met Hiiragi Kureto's face, cutting off his attempt to spit.
The movement was clean, swift, and without a hint of hesitation.
"Ten points!"
Luke gave Urd a score.
Hiiragi Kureto gave a few bitter laughs and stopped moving; or rather, he no longer had the strength to move.
The Imperial Demon Army's main force had been defeated despite using secret weapons, his subordinates were lost, and he was left alone with nowhere to go.
Having barely survived for a few weeks, he thought that since the Vampires hadn't rebuilt Shibuya yet and the guards were thin, he could return to headquarters to retrieve some useful data and weapons.
But as soon as he killed a single Lower-ranking Vampire, it was as if he had committed a cardinal sin; he was surrounded by six Vampire Progenitors, three of whom were new faces.
Thinking of this, Hiiragi Kureto couldn't help but feel a surge of grief.
"It seems my ambition won't be realized. These monsters!"
As Urd was about to step forward to interrogate him further, a Lower-ranking Vampire suddenly trotted over, bowed to Krul, and then bowed to the other Progenitors.
"Queen, Lord Luke, Lord Mika has returned and brought two humans who wish to see you."
Krul was startled. Mika is back already?
But immediately following that, both Krul and Luke thought of something and said to him,
"If you've caught humans, take them to the residential area yourself. Do I really need to teach you this?"
"Wait."
Urd called out to the Vampire who was about to withdraw.
"Have him bring them in."
The Vampire was momentarily caught in a dilemma.
He was Krul's subordinate, and Luke's orders were basically equivalent to Krul's, but Urd was the Second Progenitor. Whom should he listen to?
You will get 30 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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