Elmenhilde Karnstein—her name alone carried the weight of centuries, every syllable steeped in aristocratic pride. She was beautiful, yes, but it was the kind of beauty that felt untouchable, as if sculpted from ice and porcelain rather than flesh and blood.
Tenra caught the flicker of disdain in her gaze. Subtle, but unmistakable.
He met her eyes, voice level.
"Miss Elmen, do you have something to say to me?"
She didn't flinch. "Not advice, exactly. Before I left, Her Majesty Queen Carmilla instructed me to make contact with you. The Plunderer of Sacred Gears, the Lord of Two Heavenly Dragons, the Phoenix Family's miracle… Your reputation precedes you, even in the vampire world."
Tenra's lips curled in a half-smile. "I'm flattered. And? What's your impression?"
Elmenhilde's answer was cold, almost bored. "Honestly? I'm a little disappointed. You don't seem nearly as impressive as the legends suggest."
She paused, letting the silence linger, then continued—
"At the end of the day, you're just a half-blood. Devil and human. I imagine you had to fight tooth and nail to get where you are."
Her tone was casual, but the arrogance was razor-sharp.
Azazel rubbed his forehead, sighing. Rias and the other girls bristled, anger flashing in their eyes.
Pure provocation.
Tenra, though, only smiled brighter.
"Sorry to let you down, Miss Elmen. You're right—I've had to work pretty damn hard to reach this point. But hearing you say it like that… makes all that effort sound like a joke."
Elmenhilde's lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. "Isn't it? Only the weak struggle desperately. In this cruel world, they have no choice—without effort, they're nothing. But true power? It comes easily to those who deserve it. Strength, status, authority… the things the weak can never touch, no matter how hard they try."
She spoke like a queen looking down from her throne, every word a blade.
The room fell silent. Was this really how vampires thought? So extreme, so absolute.
Tenra's interest waned. There was no point arguing—her worldview was set in stone, utterly alien to his own. But her arrogance left a bitter taste.
Azazel broke the silence, his tone dry.
"Little lady, I recall the Karnsteins are one of the two leading vampire houses. Even within the Carmilla faction, your family sits at the top. Your queen sent you here to negotiate—are you sure this attitude is appropriate?"
Elmenhilde didn't blink. "Former Governor, I think you misunderstand. We are open to negotiation, yes—but only if you can meet our terms."
She glanced at Azazel, her lips twisting into a subtle smirk.
"As for Her Majesty's instructions, you needn't worry. She made it clear: never lose our vampire identity or dignity in front of outsiders."
Azazel clicked his tongue, giving up. Tonight's meeting was going to be… interesting.
Rias, her patience thinning, forced herself to speak politely.
"Very well, Miss Elmen. State your purpose—and your terms."
Elmenhilde didn't hesitate. "We require Gasper Vladi's power."
The words hung in the air, direct and unapologetic.
All eyes turned to Gasper, who shrank back, anxiety written across his face.
Rias's eyes narrowed. "That's… unexpectedly frank. May we ask why?"
Elmenhilde nodded, as if discussing the weather. "Recently, our world has been shaken by an event that threatens to overturn everything we know. Perhaps the news has already reached you."
She paused for effect.
"A half-blood with a Longinus has appeared in the Tepes faction."
Azazel's eyebrows shot up. Rias and the girls exchanged startled glances. Tenra just sighed inwardly—he'd seen this coming.
Azazel leaned forward, voice sharp. "Which Longinus?"
There were thirteen legendary Longinus Sacred Gears. Five—Boosted Gear, Divine Dividing, True Longinus, Annihilation Maker, and Dimension Lost—were already in Tenra's possession. Regulus Nemea had recently surfaced, now wielded by Sairaorg.
Canis Lykaon was with Azazel. Zenith Tempest belonged to the angels. Absolute Demise was held by the Magician's Association, and Incinerate Anthem had fallen into the hands of a terrorist mage group.
That left three unaccounted for: Sephiroth Graal, Innovate Clear, and Telos Karma.
Elmenhilde's answer was crisp. "Sephiroth Graal. The half-blood's name is Valerie Tepes."
Her voice betrayed a hint of disgust.
Gasper jolted, eyes wide. "Valerie… Tenra-sama, it's Valerie!"
Tenra placed a steadying hand on Gasper's shoulder.
"Easy, Gasper."
He'd known from the start. The moment Elmenhilde mentioned a Longinus-wielding half-blood in Tepes territory, he'd guessed it was Valerie. That foolish girl—she hadn't hidden her power, just as he'd feared.
Elmenhilde continued, her tone almost triumphant.
"Our intelligence indicates that Lord Tenra was once captured as 'food' in Tepes territory. You met two half-bloods in the castle where they were kept—Gasper Vladi and Valerie Tepes. Am I wrong?"
She smiled, as if she held all the cards.
Rias, Akeno, and those who already knew the story remained calm. But Sona, Tsubaki, and Griselda—hearing it for the first time—were stunned.
Tenra, the feared Lord of Two Heavenly Dragons, once dragged into vampire territory as livestock?
Tenra shrugged. "That was years ago. Impressive you managed to dig up those details."
Elmenhilde's eyes glittered with amusement.
"It was a famous incident—a human leading a group of half-bloods, sparking a revolt, escaping from vampire territory. Unprecedented. The Tepes faction gave our Carmilla side endless reasons to mock them."
She tilted her head, red eyes glinting.
"If it had been just you, Lord Tenra, tracking down the truth would have been difficult. The difference between your past and present self is… considerable. But Gasper's involvement confirmed our suspicions."
Her words dripped with condescension. The Lord of Two Heavenly Dragons, once a captive and a joke among vampires. It was the kind of story that would circulate for centuries.
Tenra chuckled, self-deprecating. He'd been weak then—helpless, forced to rely on wit and luck to escape. But that was another life.
Now?
Let them try and see who gets the last laugh.
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