Vol 3 Chapter 1 (2/2)

Theslip a critical piece of information

“In any case, one to meet the mayor, so I’d like to speak to the viscount If only that brother of mine could be more honest to himself--he’s the one ants to see the viscount more”

And he did not seem like he would be unfriendly towards Gerhardt, either

Val was slightly relieved So he decided to take Aiji to the parlor inside the castle, where the viscount was likely to be He headed for the back doors with Selirin

“I’ your date” Aiji chuckled

“Wh-what?! No! Th-this isn’t uh it’s not!”

Unable to finish his denial, Val turned and glanced over at Selim But she was unable to understand their conversation, which had been taking place in japanese She smiled back at him, completely lost

Val was becoe the subject by asking a question that had been bugging him for some time now

“Um Say How’d you know that ere vampires?”

“Hht, if that’s what youyou”

“How?”

“Your gait, your line of sight, the way you breathe--or don’t--and other little things, all adding up together The two of you stood out from the hu could speak Gerlish so fluently So I took my chances”

Though Aiji was being quite humble, Val was floored by the officer’s observations

Were he and Selim so noticeable in this sea of humans, he wondered to himself in horror, but Aiji quickly took note of his anxiety

“There’s nothing to worry about Humans probably won’t be able to tell Those differences you shoere very subtle After all, you two didn’t notice anything about the girl who bumped into you, did you?”

“What?”

“She’s most likely a vampire herself”

“Oh I see”

‘I had no idea’

Val was surprised that he hadn’t noticed a thing about the girl, but in hindsight it wasn’t so shocking After all, Growerth was full of vaest festival on the island Va to show their respect for the viscount And to begin with, Val had no idea how many vampires were on the island normally

‘I’ve lived here for over a year now But now that I think about it, I never made the effort to learn more about Growerth, did I?’

He finally careat deal of tih looking to find redemption, he turned to the one he wanted to learn about most on this island

But Selihtly nervous Val had no way of figuring out what she was thinking

“And That boy over there is probably a vampire as well Look The one in white” Aiji said from behind Val

Val followed the er with his eyes

And he caught sight of a familiar face

‘Doctor?’

Val had seen hio in the laboratory At the ti as he went over the results of his physical exa towards the back of the castle with a look of utter anguish

Norht have been out on an evening stroll, for all he knew But the fact that Doctor alking around outside bothered Val greatly

“What’s he doing? I heard he hadn’t gone outside in a long time”

Though it was indeed strange, Val did not question Doctor’s departure any further

‘Heforward to the festival, too’

With that, he gave up on his line of thinking

But this was quite understandable

After all, Val still had no idea

Many guests had arrived on Growerth that day

Soht

<=>

An underground conference hall, somewhere in Paris

“Theodosius M Waldstein I never anization’s listed him as a threat You, Melhilm, and Gerhardt are the only ones who know his face”

Caldimir chuckled and nodded

“That’s right He’s not part of the main Waldstein fa but a stain on their name at this point”

“That depends on what earned him his place at our list of threats” Laetitia said cooly Caldihed

“Hah! What did he do? Well, that is the most important part”

Caldirace of Gerhardt’s fay, like that of a in

“Yes Theodosius, a er He went around convincing huerous to theht have intended”

“”

“How hter? Several? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Or evenat this point We can’t even tell between his handiwork and the crimes committed by other vampires, or the works of some crazed human serial killer He went all over Europe From east to west, without any particular resolve Men woentlemen prettyboys twits beauties wallflowers alike without mercy or prejudice were killed and killed and killed and killed and killed and killed by hi behind incri with tiny settlements in the countryside that had little contact with the outside world He erased entire villages off the anization wouldn’t take notice of his actions Yes! We followed after that monster for the sake of justice That race to all vauish huled hi but a pile of ash!+”

Caldi speech On his face was an expression that host of that mass murderer

But Laetitia knew better than to assu After all, the mass murderer was still alive

The series of incidents caused by Theodosius M Waldstein were quite recent for soe She recalled the facts that had been reported to her about his actions

“That incident in the German countryside It was the site of his final murders, and the only time he left any survivors”

“Yes! That’s exactly it That ra but destruction incarnate, and this was the only thing productive that came in the wake of his actions But to think that those two children would mature so well!”

Laetitia had also seen the survivors She had even spoken to them in the past

They were a pair of Eaters raised to be the Organization’s hounds and fighting dogs--Theresia and Rudy

Given therespectively, they had beco hundreds of vaanization’s way, they perfors admirably

“They were born to butcher va or undead! And we are the ones who raised them! No vampire is a match for--no,the bandaged vampire who had turned him into chunks of meat earlier, Caldimir corrected himself “Yes They are the cream of the crop Even their food was a cut above the rest Even other Eaters couldn’t possibly hope to defeat them! Not even the one who devoured the flesh and blood of our ally Melhilm Not even shi+zune Kijima”

<=>

The island of Growerth The south side of the city of Neuberg

The city streets were lined with buildings in the style of traditional German architecture But one place in particular broke the mold with a decidedly japanese look It was Growerth’sDojo

“Osu! Thank you very much! Osu!”

Firm cries of thanks punctuated the air The childrentowards the doors with things like uniforinata, or japanese bows hanging over their shoulders

One boy took off on his bicycle One of the girls ran off But no matter the mode of transport, it was clear that the students were all headed for the festivities that were scheduled to begin tonight

Once the commotion subsided, the dojo was quickly filled with a cold silence

But this did notwas empty

There was a large sparring ring just inside the front doors The sliding doors were all left open, leaving the great rooe tatami mats

Though the reen, the individual straere already falling apart They were a testament to the powerful impacts they had been subjected to inside the dojo

There was ain silence without so

In spite of his ih he was a part of the walls

The man, cloaked in silence, turned to a corner of the dojo and spoke

“Will you not show yourself now?”

His tone was neither harsh like a soldier nor resonant like the voice of an opera singer But his voice filled the dojo to its furthest corners, bringing to light the presence of another person in the room

“Took you long enough to act like I exist Why’d you go to the trouble of calling City Hall aboutto talk to me?”

“Seeing as you are still fit to speak, I see my worries were unfounded”

“So you even realized I got hurt”

The second voice was co from a corner of the dojo, behind the shadow of a decorative tree

A wo herself along the floor

Theher became clearly visible

Everything below her ankles was gone, as though her feet had been torn off So the aht, looking alh the woman’s feet had been melted off by the tar

But the muscular man remained stoic

“Your friend will be here for you shortly Lie down on the tatami mats awhile”

“You gotta be kidding I have no friends Don’t make up relationshi+ps for meEspecially not with that third-rate piece of shi+t!” The woer

The ter, as this woman--shi+zune Kijima--was a vampire

Although the man was hit with a wave of bloodlust that would have scared h his trained physique had deflected the anger--he accepted the force and parried it away like a swaying

“I see I apologize for the ”

Seeing the y, shi+zune let her bloodlust die down and put on a different face--one laughing bitterly at her oounds

“Never mind I only came to you because you’re one of the only people who know any japanese So I’ to ask you to help ott-sensei”

shi+zune was clearly rejecting syott allowed himself to be sympathetic nonetheless

“I am not so skilled in the ain with an injured woe your weakness and wait for your acquaintance”

“”

Norer and hostility at words like these But not now The , but she kneell that he was her superior in many ways

Strength Experience Position Physical age Mental age

What precisely was so great about him? shi+zune had never considered the specifics herself, but as certain was the fact that he was a

Traugott Geissendorfer was the de factoDojo, and a career ht for all sorts of educational programs However, thein tournaular income

Because he ay so often, he was on Growerth as one But he had been on the island for the past several weeks in his position as the master of the dojo, perhaps because of the Carnale Festival

Although Carnald Strassburg was the undisputed top celebrity of the island, adding the condition ‘currently still alive’ would elevate Traugott to that position He had received honorary citizenshi+p at the city of Rukraen, and the residents of Growerth treated hireat respect and awe--both the humans and the vampires

Just like humans, vampires could also be starved for entertainment And the idea that so waves in the world outside also cheered thereatly

One factor that contributed to the vareat deal about vampires himself Some claimed that he could overpower vampires despite his humanity, and many who bore witness to his superhuree

Traugott had trained in japan, Thailand, and China in the past, and was able to speak the languages of the countries he had visited So shi+zune got in contact with hi some pay in return

But she had no intention of being in Traugott’s debt She had intended to hide today so he wouldn’t notice her injuries, but he had so easily sensed her presence

There was no point in being picky now The amputated areas around her ankles, covered in asphalt, were starting to go numb shi+zune knew that she had no other options

“I’ll pay you later, so I’d like so meaty with bone, and some milk And Could I use the bathtub?”

“The bathtub?”

“Otherwise I’ll get blood everywhere You don’t want your holy ground here getting all slopping ith blood, do you?”

“It see, shi+zune” Traugott said, leaving his question unstated shi+zune chuckled masochistically

“The asphalt’s seeping into ht I’d just rip off everything from the knees down”

<=>

An underground conference hall, somewhere in Paris

“But they are the Organization’s dogs They will listen if Dorothy or Ishi+bashi+ commands them to desist”

“Not once they find out that the Waldsteins are involved” Caldi smile Laetitia shook her head

“You’d stir up conflict between fellow ained from this, Caldimir”

“I have ain from this!”

“Childish as always” Laetitia sighed

“H I’ainst one another That is why I’mund as bait”

“The eyes of the world will be on that festival, and you send in Sigmund?” Laetitia said It was a reasonable question After all, the Organization’s purpose was to protect vampires from unjust persecution and death at the hands of humans But their problems would sobll uncontrollably if they exposed a conflict between vampires to the masses

Caldirinned, his fangs glinting in the light

“Hahaha Don’t be foolish, Laetitia That is exactly why I sent in Sigo”

“Airborne infection of humans”

It was a strange ter to describe the ability of a vampire

“A vah airborne infection It’s not so difficult to imund is capable of! In le bite to be infected But what if the virus was carried through the air? The movie would end before it even started Yes! There would be no story, no incident left for humans to recall!”

“You’re enjoying yourself”

“Indeed I a huate every human on the island and make them bend to ht--will understand the le to save the countless people under their care”

<=>

Neuberg City Hall The hallway outside the Mayor’s office

Paintings had been hung in the hallway in anticipation of the Carnale Festival

Although the building lookedat City Hall were already at the heart of the festivities at Waldstein Castle The building was silent

In that silence, two shadows stirred

Pointing a , Watt Stalf, was a reporter

But Watt was staring at the reporter as though the un

“What was it that Melhilm demanded back from you? And what is it that we are here to find? It is the young vampire we had left under your command, Watt Stalf”

The vamund Kiparis--mechanically recited Caldimir’s demands to one of the most powerful men on the island

“Valdred Ivanhoe, I believe that watermelon’s name was”

“Val?”

Thewith a question without even thinking

“What do you ith hi back, why aren’t you taking the clown and theI should know about that water the fact that Val was the only one of his former subordinates whose face he couldn’t remember

Sigmund, however, shook his head

“There is no need to disclose this infor the truth would only hinder our plans And reht to refuse to cooperate”

“Son of a bitch”

The truth was all Sigmund told

“I have subjugated a full forty percent of this island’s residents Though they are not yet aware of this, if I give the coht Without reason If I order the, they will refuse to exhale until they pass away My ability overpowers even human instinct”

Forty percent The nunitude His temple twitched

“Yet this is only the beginning The island’s population is still on the rise as more visitors flood in to enjoy the festival But if I choose to do so, I can subjugate every last human on the island, and even the birds and the animals if necessary”

There was no exaggeration or lie in Sigmund’s mechanical claims He looked almost like a robot to Watt’s eyes

Most people would have been struck still by fear at this point But Watt, in spite of the fact that he was now essentially powerless, responded with a genuine, forceful voice

“So What kinda deal is Mr Sig scary you need to take hostages to negotiate?”

It was clear that he had no er for the possibility the viscount had explained to hi, so Watt had no reason to doubt the man’s claims

This vah it was hard to believe, vaic If there was a viscount made entirely of blood, the idea of a vampire that could infect humans like a virus didn’t sound quite so far-fetched

And yet Watt did not wish to accept this To do so would be to acknowledge defeat

He could probably ee victorious if he abandoned the people of Growerth

But he rejected that option before even considering it

After all, what use was there in defeating Sigmund in this way if this victory autoainst the viscount?

The moment he abandoned the islanders, he would lose to Gerhardt von Waldstein Though there was no official co to one, Watt knew that he would feel defeat down to his very bones

Though they were different in that one ruled over the day and the other ruled over the night, Watt knew very well that if Gerhardt were in his position, he would never forsake the humans

Though he caht that he was taking Gerhardt into the equation, Watt forcibly quelled his anger and returned to the matter at hand

“Hurry up and answer Can’t cut a deal until you lay out some terms”

“There is no hurry Although ht but sin; have the watermelon come to this place That will make matters much easier”

“What are you, a retard? Why don’tcha just go to Gerhardt if you want that waterician And the clown None of ‘es now”

“We already know” Sig his head “But rumors tell us that the clown--Pirie Mistwalker--is still obsessed with your person”

Thedown his back

“Give orders to the clown Have her lure Valdred here”

“bastard”

Watt glared at the reporter with gritted teeth The man remained entirely stoic

“This first job is a relatively trivial matter in comparison to another task which requires your cooperation”

“What?”

“I cannot read the ated To be specific, I am unable to find the individual I need”

“?”

Watt frowned, completely lost

“A huht you were here for the water?”

“Do not make me repeat myself In order to take custody of Valdred Ivanhoe, we h I have no qual the watermelon by force, Comrade Caldimir would prefer to avoid such a method”

“Quit stalling and tell ”

Deterer Watt any further, Sigot to the point

“What is the name of the lover of Relic von Waldstein?”

There was a force and weight to Sigh refusal would be ation over the island

But the h the reporter’s chest

What he first felt was the wind left in the wake of the attack

He then heard it--the sound of soh the air

And before he knew it, the reporter was left with a gaping hole

However, there were no flashes of red flesh and organs It was literally a hole, blown clean through the man in a perfect circle

“Wha?”

Watt looked on in utter confusion The reporter quietly looked down upon his chest and brought a hand to his wound

Afrom the hole

The force of the spill was rather weak, perhaps because Sigh the heart--or perhaps because he was a va only as he looked down upon the red stain on the carpet

“Urgh?”

It was only when he saw his own blood that Siger and confusion

At the saan to shrink Although he regenerated at about the samund was the type of vampire who could withstand a blow to the heart Or perhaps he had, like Watt, hidden away his heart elsewhere to safeguard it

As Watt continued to analyze the infor him, a snicker shattered the tense atmosphere in the hallway

“Hey, hey! That’s y”

Oncethrough the air

It was as though a sht next to Watt

The sound echoed five times as the s in the hallway shook in their frames

And the moment the sounds passed by,

“Gurgh”

Five h the reporter’s body

His body was antic hole-puncher had been used upon it Normal humans would not have been able to withstand such attacks

The one who had driven this vampire to such a state then casually turned to address Watt

“Huh So you’re the mayor? Mind if I just call you that?”

“Who the hell are you”

The intruder was holding soht hand, Watt noted ‘Shaped like a gun’ was a fitting way to describe his weapon, as it was clearly a fake--a children’s toy

The plastic texture of the gun was quite clear under the fluorescent lights But holding this toy was not a child, but a man with blue eyes and blond hair who looked to be about the sae as Watt

“Me? The naestone”

Theopenness Watt didn’t even have to pry to get his identity out of him

“And, let’s see here I’anization, and dunno if you already know this, but I’m also Yellow of Rainbow Don’t sweat the name; I just made up an alias to match my title”

“! I’ve heard of you That japanese guy is your older brother”

“You’re hurtingcompared to my brother, you know? Anyway, I should nor as I’m a member of Rainbow and all, but I don’t sweat that stuff, so cut your worryin’ I dropped by here ‘cause ht I’d hit the jackpot just like that? That’s what being a gun, I bet I could beat John Wayne in a fistfight now Serious!”

The un in his hand, ra at once He then turned back towards the reporter

“All right, Sigmund Playtime’s over And so’s your job” He said, casual as can be as he addressed the dying vaonna have to tell me where I can find Melhilm”

“I refuse”

In spite of his in