"Princess dress?"
Kurose Akira's gaze shifted to Carmilla at Ivysa's suggestion.
With her radiant golden locks and those piercing crimson eyes, her aura did scream princess dress compatibility.
Only hitch…
Carmilla clearly wasn't sold on Ivysa's pitch.
"Hmph~"
She huffed coldly, arms crossing over her chest in clear disapproval.
"Princess dresses are cute, but no good for combat."
Kurose Akira weighed it and shot it down.
He pondered a beat, then ventured slowly: "How about… leather gear?"
Custom battle leather had stretch—perfect for body shifts, kept things discreet, and pulled off loli or onee-san vibes effortlessly.
Just had to nail the color.
For a Vampire Progenitor… hot pink, maybe~
"Leather?"
Lucia's reaction hit harder than anyone's. Her brow creased, eyes clouding with confusion and doubt.
"Yeah, problem?" Kurose Akira asked her.
Lucia paused, then spoke: "Nothing. Just… your taste is getting uniquely refined."
Teasing lilt, but her icy side-eye lingered.
Whip and leather…
Sigh~
This man was beyond saving~
"?"
Kurose Akira clocked her words but prioritized Carmilla's outfit.
He snagged a white skintight bodysuit from the shop—no pink, so white it was.
Then a cherry-red robe to drape her flat frame.
Once dressed, Kurose Akira nodded approval.
Carmilla's response blindsided him.
Hands on hips, eyes bulging, face twisted in confusion and gripe: "This is what you picked for me?"
"Not good?" he countered.
"…"
Carmilla stewed, then drawled, "Vulgar taste."
Kurose Akira: "?"
Ivysa: "See~ Princess dress wins?"
"Oh, right—this too."
Kurose Akira dangled an ornate red collar toward Carmilla, perfect accessory.
Lucia's brow arched sharply, eyes darting between them, expression twitching unnaturally.
Collar?
Pervert!
"?"
Carmilla took it, stunning features clouding with bafflement. She snapped, "Human, I'm no pet of yours."
Kurose Akira clarified fast: "Never said you were."
"See~"
Ivysa sidled up, playing perfect harmony: "Mr. Kurose gifted me one too~ It's his heartfelt token~"
She tapped the succubus collar on her neck proudly.
"?"
Carmilla gaped, disbelief raw in her eyes.
Same demon stock as Ivysa, but succubi? Barely knew 'em.
Now it clicked…
Succubi lived up to the depraved hype!
"No way I'm wearing this!"
Carmilla went to chuck it—but Ivysa had already snatched and clasped it on her neck.
"Done~"
"When?!"
Carmilla blanked—missed Ivysa's sleight-of-hand entirely!
"Looks good, right?"
Kurose Akira propped his chin, appraising her with a nod.
"Perfect fit~" Ivysa chimed in.
Lucia stayed mum, but inwardly agreed—suited Carmilla spot-on.
"…"
Carmilla eyed her mirror self: white skintight bodysuit, cherry-red robe draped over, bold red collar gleaming at her throat…
Felt off somehow, but she couldn't pin it.
Whatever—just clothes.
As a progenitor, anything short of freakwear was fleeting smoke.
Unbeknownst to her, Kurose Akira had snagged extra styles for Carmthis too.
"Brat, don't forget—you owe me and Carmthis a drop a day!" Carmilla reminded him.
Their deal: daily blood drop for progenitor service.
Standard guildmaster duty to his adventurers. (Another free worker locked in!)
"No worries. I keep my word." Kurose Akira smiled.
He fed Ivysa plenty—vampires were small potatoes?
"Fine, this progenitor'll deign to serve you awhile. Perfect chance to rebuild strength, then challenge that Demon Mother!"
Carmilla grinned eagerly, bloodlust firing her up to crush the Demon Mother via his blood.
"You know where the Demon Mother is?"
Kurose Akira probed curiously.
She'd napped millennia in that coffin—still got a bead on the Demon Mother?
"Demon Mother's stuck in the Abyss Eye forever. Can't leave." Carmilla hip-cocked, explaining.
"Abyss Eye?" Kurose Akira's curiosity peaked—what even was that?
"Brat, Abyss Eye's no place for you."
Carmilla smirked teasingly. "Once, a Church of Light Pope dove in via secret rite to slay the Demon Mother, end Abyss woes. Guess how that went?"
"How?"
"Never even glimpsed her—blasted to ash by flames. Not a speck of dust left." Carmilla shrugged.
"?"
Lucia puzzled over it.
No Church records of a Pope dying in the Abyss—but Carmilla didn't sound like a liar…
"Sure it was the Pope?"
"You Church?" Carmilla's tone iced with hostility—light aura on Lucia repulsed her!
"Yeah." Lucia nodded.
"Didn't expect Church rats here too. They infest the whole Magic Continent." Carmilla griped, then confirmed: "No mistake. Solar Pope—his Sun Crown's still mine."
"Sun Crown!"
Lucia shuddered at the name.
As Pope, she knew its weight—same tier as the Sun Scepter.
Paired? Demigod artifact.
And she pegged the Pope: records said he perished mutual-kill with the Pride Demon King.
"Demon Mother got him after all?" Lucia murmured, piecing it, then asked Carmilla: "Could you tell me where the Sun Crown is?"
"Oh? Craving the Sun Crown?" Carmilla's lips curled greedy. She tapped her mouth slyly. "Gotta pay up. Like… your blood?"
Bang!
"Ow!"
Kurose Akira's fist met her skull mid-sentence, no mercy.
"Hey! Human, what gives?!" Carmilla clutched her throbbing head, fuming.
"Don't push it—eyeing Lucia's blood?" He thwacked again. "Mine's on offer. Hand over the Crown nice and easy."
"Human, quit bonking my head! Rude much?!"
Carmilla stomped, pissed—but perked at his blood trade. "Fine, since you're offering. One liter—not too much, right?"
"Ten drops. Max."
"That's a Pope's crown!"
"You're guild now—time to contribute, yeah?"
"I just joined!"
"Exactly—prove your commitment. Newbies in our group send red packets."
"?... Human, you the vampire?"
"Nope."
"Ever thought of joining my kin?"
"Nah."
"Shame. You've got potential—Earl at least."
"…"
Kurose Akira blanked, but yeah—guild was stacked with free labor.
Lothelrin, Lucia, Alice, Marei Rhein, Viora—now Carmilla…
Ahem~
Everyone so generous, no-pay enthusiasts!
"So… the crown?"
Lucia stepped up, querying.
"Hold on."
Carmilla dove into her coffin, rummaging.
Out came a golden crown—minus one gem.
"The gem?"
"Ten drops for crown. Didn't say with the Sun Stone." Carmilla grinned sly, blood-hungry opportunist!
"You'd better…"
Kurose Akira bristled, but Lucia cut in: "Ten more drops for the stone!"
"Deal!"
"Hm?" Kurose Akira eyed her—that decisive?
Lucia leaned in, whispering: "The Sun Stone's the prize. Seals pure solar divinity—might evolve your solar power."
"Ah, got it~"
Kurose Akira nodded thoughtfully.
"And…"
Lucia paused, phrasing carefully: "I'll repay your blood… your favorite way."
Kurose Akira: "?"