“Rosette. Do you know her? That person…”
For a moment, I almost said “that child,” but I swallowed the words, knowing she was definitely older than me.
Still, I wasn’t sure if “that person” was the right way to refer to her.
Well, she is a humanoid species. And we count them as one or two. I don’t think it’s wrong.
“Indeed. As you can see, she is a vampire. Her name is Victoria. But rest assured. She belongs to the Night Watch Organization. She is a vampire who aims for coexistence with other races.”
“Victoria of the Night Watch Organization… Ah, I know! Victoria of the Silver Flash! She’s a super strong vampire, famous even in the True Holy Order!”
The Night Watch Organization.
It’s an organization run by vampires, with the purpose of protecting vampires—or so it sounds like they’re hostile to humans, but it’s actually the opposite.
Vampires are a race that lives by drinking human blood. Therefore, from the human side, they are targets for subjugation.
To avoid this, the Night Watch Organization has set restrictions on blood-drinking behavior, with the basic principle of peaceful coexistence with other races.
It is forbidden to forcefully drink blood through hypnosis or violence. Keeping or breeding humans for food is out of the question.
Vampires of the Night Watch Organization cannot drink blood unless it is provided under an equal contract.
It’s a restrictive principle.
However, the Night Watch Organization has succeeded in concluding a treaty with the True Holy Order. Vampires belonging to the Night Watch Organization no longer have to worry about being hunted by the True Holy Order or countries that have the True Holy Order as their state religion.
To gain the trust of the True Holy Order, the Night Watch Organization is eliminating vampires who do not follow their principles. This extends even to vampires who do not belong to the Night Watch Organization.
Therefore, they are hated like the enemy of their parents by vampires who oppose the principle. No, there are many vampires who have actually had their parents killed, so it’s not “like.” It is.
However, from the perspective of humans and elves, the Night Watch Organization is a welcome organization. Considering the difficulty of annihilating all vampires, it’s easier to get along with the Night Watch Organization and have vampires manage vampires.
“…W-well, I personally am not aiming for coexistence. I’m just doing it because it’s more convenient to be in the Night Watch Organization.”
Victoria turns her face away with a haughty expression.
It looks more like she’s just embarrassed than rejecting.
But it’s my first time meeting Victoria. It would take some courage to point out, “You’re just embarrassed.”
“…Ah. I’ve read about this in novels. It’s called a tsundere, right? Victoria-san, you’re just hiding your embarrassment!”
Misty, why are you pointing that out so proudly!
Not just me and Mizuha, even Rosette has a shocked look on her face.
“H-haaaah!? I-I don’t have anything to be embarrassed or hide! What are you talking about!”
“But you’re turning red? Right, am I wrong!?”
Misty turns her gaze to us, asking for an answer.
…Ah, I see. Misty has spent a long time without interacting with many people.
That’s why she doesn’t understand the lines you shouldn’t cross or the landmines you shouldn’t step on.
When we first met, she completely rejected others. That’s why the problem didn’t surface.
It’s different now.
She’s learned to rely on and depend on others. Because she’s just learned it, she’s charging at a first-time acquaintance with the accelerator fully pressed.
“W-w-w-what an impolite child!”
Magic power filled with anger spreads from Victoria.
I was momentarily on guard, thinking I might have to fight here.
“Impolite…? Ah, I’m sorry… Was I too familiar…? I was too familiar, wasn’t I? I’m really sorry…”
“E-etto… When you look that apologetic, I don’t know where to direct my anger…”
“I… I used to aim to be a swordsman. That’s why I was captivated by Victoria-san’s swordsmanship… It was really cool! So, I wanted to be friends… But, it was weird of me to suddenly do that…”
“C-cool, you say…? My sword? Ufufu… Ufufufu. You’re a good child! What you said earlier was certainly rude, but I’ll overlook it. Be careful from now on.”
“You’ll forgive me! Thank you! Um… if it’s okay with you, could you teach me swordsmanship, even just a little…?”
“Ufufu. When you’re so humble, I don’t feel bad. But first, we need to collect the Blood Crystal Stone.”
Saying that, Victoria turns her gaze to the vampire she had cut down.
Its head and torso are separated. If it were a normal human, they would be dead for sure without having to check.
But vampires have high immortality. Even if their head or heart is crushed, they may still be alive, and some may even regenerate even if their whole body is burned to ashes.
So, how do you confirm a vampire’s death?
The answer is the Blood Crystal Stone that Victoria mentioned.
When a vampire dies, its body disappears like an illusion. Instead, a blood-red gem remains where the corpse was.
That is the Blood Crystal Stone.
If a Blood Crystal Stone appears, it means that the vampire is definitely dead.
Victoria picked up a Blood Crystal Stone about the size of a marble. Then, she threw it into her mouth and swallowed it.
“…As expected, no matter how much power I absorb from a small fry, I don’t feel like I’ve gotten stronger.”
She shrugs her shoulders as she mutters.
Vampires gradually increase their power by drinking human blood. And they increase their power at once by eating the Blood Crystal Stones of other vampires.
But Victoria seems to have already gained considerable power, so the previous vampire was not enough to add anything.
I felt a strange sense of empathy.
Lately, even if I absorb the souls of thieves, I haven’t been able to feel the growth of my Magical Power.
It’s said that even dust can pile up into a mountain, but it’s faster to pile up boulders than dust.
“Victoria, isn’t it the rule of the Night Watch Organization to warn before killing? You just suddenly came out and beheaded him.”
“Rosette warned him, didn’t she? Since it was confirmed that he had no intention of submitting to the Night Watch Organization, there was no need for me to warn him again.”
“Good grief. So you get the credit for eliminating a wanted criminal and get the Blood Crystal Stone. You’re taking all the good parts.”
“Ufufu. I’ll report to the Night Watch Organization that it was thanks to the cooperation of Rosette and her companions.”
Victoria laughs back without any guilt at Rosette’s wry smile.
They seem to be good friends after all.
That means we can get along with this vampire named Victoria too.
“Now then. You with the pink hair…”
“I’m Misty.”
“Misty. I will teach you swordsmanship. But I don’t feel like it in a place where Ghoul corpses are lying around.”
“Then you should come to our castle. The garden is spacious, and there are plenty of spare rooms. Mizuha, Akito, you don’t mind, do you?”
“You’re more than welcome. That Quick Draw Technique from earlier… it was extraordinary. I want to cross swords with you, not just Misty…!”
Mizuha mutters something uncharacteristically belligerent.
It was a statement that made me feel the hundred years I didn’t know.
“Mizuha? Could it be, are you the Sword Saintess Mizuha? Well, well… I’ve wanted to spar with you for a long time.”