The Re-Estize Kingdom had passed through three generations since its founding.
There was no denying that it had once been powerful. The luxurious buildings scattered throughout the city still bore witness to its former glory.
But as time went on, the kingdom gradually declined.
Now, with King Ramposa III growing old and frail, corruption had spread further than ever.
Crime was rampant, and powerful underworld forces had taken root in the shadows.
Even though the Golden Princess had abolished the slave trade, that was little more than a surface reform.
...
At noon, Naohara and his group arrived in this decaying capital.
Lakyus did not head straight to see Princess Renner. Instead, she first brought everyone to a restaurant.
Inside an opulent dining hall, the group was enjoying lunch. From outside, bursts of loud, hearty laughter could be heard from time to time.
The voice was rough and bold. It was hard to miss.
The restaurant's exterior was lavish, with soldiers stationed around it to ensure security.
It was obvious this was not a place for commoners. Only high-ranking adventurers or nobles could afford to dine here.
Inside the restaurant.
"Haha! This is exactly the time for a drink!"
Gagaran drained her glass in one go, her face slightly flushed as she shouted cheerfully.
With her bold and unrestrained manner, it was almost impossible to believe she was a woman.
"Hey, Gagaran, take it easy. Don't get drunk."
"We still have to meet Princess Renner later."
Lakyus sighed helplessly and reminded her, thinking about the business they still had to handle.
"It's fine, Captain. You know how well I can hold my liquor."
Gagaran waved dismissively. Not only did she not slow down, she poured herself another drink.
Then she picked up a glass and pointed it toward Naohara and the two Doppelgängers, who had been watching the show.
"Stop just sitting there. Drink with me."
Naohara paused briefly, then quickly understood. He gave a subtle look to the Doppelgängers beside him.
The four clinked their glasses and downed the wine in one smooth motion.
"Now that's what I like. Straightforward."
"So, how about it? Want to reconsider spending the night with me?"
Gagaran laughed loudly.
"Ahem!"
Before Naohara could respond, Lakyus grabbed Gagaran and pressed her down onto the table.
"My apologies. My companion has had a bit too much to drink."
Lakyus felt embarrassed. The dignified image of the Blue Roses was probably already ruined.
She shot Gagaran a sharp glare.
"It's fine. Gagaran-san was just trying to lighten the mood. She meant well."
Naohara waved it off calmly.
Though it looked like Gagaran was acting recklessly, it had been deliberate.
Beneath that rough exterior was a surprisingly attentive heart.
"Huh? Really?"
Lakyus blinked and looked at Gagaran in confusion. Was this really the Gagaran she knew? It felt completely unlike her.
"You're hopeless, Captain."
The rogue twins chimed in, teasing her openly.
Evileye said nothing. Her mask hid her expression, but her slightly trembling shoulders gave her away. She was clearly holding back laughter.
The teasing from her teammates dealt Lakyus a heavy blow.
So everyone else understood… and the only clueless one was me?
"Hey, have you heard? The Slane Theocracy seems to be making some big moves lately."
Gagaran kicked off a new topic at the table.
"The Slane Theocracy, huh? Come to think of it, didn't we clash with that secret unit of theirs, the Sunlight Scripture? I really hate their style. They actually dared to lay a hand on Evileye."
It was obvious Gagaran had no fondness for the Slane Theocracy.
Since the topic had turned to her, Evileye spoke calmly.
"Even though they hunted me down, I can understand the Slane Theocracy's policies. They haven't had it easy either."
"They've always fought to protect humanity. In that sense, it's hard to say they're wrong."
Compared to Gagaran, Evileye, the one directly involved, sounded almost indifferent.
Back when humanity was weak, they were bullied by countless races. If the Six Great Gods had not descended, humans in this world might have already gone extinct.
Now that humanity had grown stronger, asserting their stance toward other races was not inherently wrong.
"I get that. But they're too extreme. When it comes to non-humans, the Slane Theocracy shows no mercy. It's ruthless."
Gagaran sighed. She still could not fully accept it.
Evileye shrugged.
"But that ruthlessness eliminated hidden dangers. Humanity became the dominant force on this continent precisely because the Slane Theocracy wiped out rising demi-humans and other races before they could develop."
Tina and Tia, the rogue twins, nodded in agreement.
"Humans don't have the innate advantages of demi-humans or other races. If those groups had been allowed to gather and build their own civilizations, it would have been far harder for humans to deal with them later."
The twins held a fairly positive view of the Slane Theocracy. Or rather, as humans, most people did.
Few truly hated the Slane Theocracy. As a nation founded by the Six Great Gods, it naturally commanded respect.
Even if some of their actions were unpleasant, their contributions to humanity were undeniable.
"So, what about you guys? What do you think of the Slane Theocracy?"
Seeing her teammates leaning in favor of it, Gagaran sighed and turned to Naohara and the others.
"No strong opinion. Everyone sees things differently."
"If I had to say, from a racial standpoint they're not wrong. But from an individual standpoint, they're a bit extreme."
Naohara maintained a neutral stance, even though they had already crushed both the Sunlight Scripture and the Black Scripture.
The Slane Theocracy stood for human supremacy. Nazarick was the exact opposite. Most beings in Nazarick looked down on humans outright.
Peaceful coexistence between the two was unlikely. Unless…
Naohara fell into brief contemplation, recalling information about the Six Great Gods.
The God of Death…
"We'll take things as they come. With the Black Scripture Captain around, the Slane Theocracy won't be able to stir up much trouble."
If the Slane Theocracy ever targeted Nazarick, then destruction would be the only response. Whether it was Momonga, Herohero, or Naohara, Nazarick's interests now came first.
As people from another world, they had little attachment to this one. Compared to the Six Great Gods, they resembled the Eight Greed Kings far more.
"By the way, Evileye, why is the Theocracy after you? Don't they mainly hunt non-humans and demi-humans?"
Naohara smiled. He already knew the answer, but the question still had to be asked.
At those words, all of the Blue Roses turned their eyes toward Evileye. Even the previously self-doubting Lakyus straightened, concern flickering in her gaze.
"Evileye, you…"
"It's fine. Since I brought it up, I'm prepared. Even if I didn't say it now, you would find out eventually."
Evileye shook her head, cutting Lakyus off.
She took a slow breath before speaking.
"I'm not human. Right now… I'm a vampire."
She removed her hood and mask, revealing her small face.
Golden hair framed crimson eyes. Sharp fangs peeked from her lips. There was no doubt. She was a true vampire.
"So… why aren't you saying anything?"
Seeing Naohara lower his head, Evileye grew nervous. She knew what vampires meant to humans. She was afraid of seeing disgust in his eyes.
"Good… good…"
"What?"
She caught fragments of his muttering. Before she could clarify, Naohara vanished from his seat.
In the next instant, she felt something unfamiliar on top of her head.
"I've wanted to pat this head so badly!"
Naohara gently ran his hand through her golden hair, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.
It had been so long since he last patted someone's head. He had thought his so-called head-patting syndrome had been cured. Seeing Evileye proved him wrong.
Not only was it not cured, it was worse. His brain had not even finished processing before his body moved on its own.
The rest of the Blue Roses stared in shock.
The Doppelgänger looked deeply impressed. As expected of Naohara-sama. To pull this off so effortlessly was truly admirable.
Evileye froze for a few seconds. Then her face rapidly turned red. Her entire body began trembling.
"Die!"
A magic circle appeared.
In Evileye's mortified roar, the restaurant ceiling exploded.