"I heard Mr. Saito travels a lot, so I wanted to ask if Saito knows about a particular forest in Japan."
"Oh? Japan has quite a few forests. I wouldn't know which one you're talking about."
Luke thought for a moment before continuing.
"The forest I'm looking for has snowy ground."
"Still too vague. Why are you looking for a forest like that?"
Saito shook his head.
Of course it's vague, that's all I know. I can't just say it's the forest with the entrance to Sanguinem, can I?
Luke complained inwardly, but his words were different.
"Before my father passed away, he traveled alone for a while. Once, he came back very tired and looked terrible. He said he was bitten by a bat."
Luke apologized silently to his late father and began weaving his tale.
"Most importantly, his wedding ring was lost there at the time. When my mother asked where he lost it, he said it was probably in that snowy area where he was bitten, likely in a cave."
"But he refused to tell the exact location of that place."
Hearing this, Saito seemed to think of something but remained calm.
"So, you want to go find your father's wedding ring for him?"
Luke put on an expectant face and nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, yes! It's been five years since Father passed away. Mother's health has been deteriorating because she misses him so much. I think this ring could help improve her condition!"
Saito was silent for a long while before speaking slowly, "More than five years have passed. The ring must be long gone by now. Besides, how do you know about your father's incident five years ago? You weren't even one year old then."
"I learned about it once when guests visited and Mother was chatting with them. I have to at least try to look. That place seems quite remote. I want to give Mother a surprise." Luke's expression didn't change.
"It's good to be filial, but you're only six years old. Even your father was bitten by a bat, let alone a child like you?"
Saito looked unconvinced.
"Don't worry, Mr. Saito. I'll use traveling as an excuse to go with Mother, and my uncle's family will be there too. There won't be any danger." Luke patted his chest in assurance.
"You have an uncle?" Saito was clearly somewhat surprised because, based on his previous understanding, Luke's family shouldn't have had any relatives.
But on second thought, which normal family doesn't have a relative or two? Could it be a family that just popped out of nowhere? He hadn't investigated too thoroughly before, so discrepancies were normal.
Looking at the boy who was pounding his chest until he coughed, Saito's gaze sharpened. Thinking to himself, he added, "With adults accompanying you, it shouldn't be a problem. I know of two places that match your description."
In truth, after hearing about Luke's father's experience, he already knew where it was—above ground, at the third Vampire city, Sanguinem.
Luke's father must have encountered a wandering Vampire while traveling. Really, can't Krul's subordinates even handle a single ordinary human?
The reason he gave two locations was because Saito wasn't very keen on Luke encountering Vampires too early. Giving the wrong place name was like pulling the wrong card in a gacha, but he still gave a guaranteed pity pull—a bit of Saito's mischievousness.
"Really? Can you tell me where?" Luke looked very excited.
In fact, he was genuinely excited. Successfully tricked it out of him! Thank you, non-existent uncle!
...Leaving the orphanage, Luke returned home, eagerly pulled out a map of Japan, and began searching. Soon, he circled two locations with a red pen.
Both places are covered in snow during winter. One is in Kyoto, the other is in Shirakawa-go.
Luke was already fairly certain it was the forest in Kyoto because Miku had already pulled up a map of Kyoto the moment Saito gave the location names!
Pretty convenient, huh.
"The next problem is how to find an excuse to leave for a few days to get there."
Thinking of this, Luke felt another headache coming on. He was only a six-year-old child now; his mother would never let him go alone.
Currently, he was in Shibuya. Getting to Kyoto would take at least two to three hours.
"Looks like I really have to get Mother to take me on a trip to Kyoto."
Luke secretly resolved that he would definitely not let his mother die from the apocalypse virus!
Three months later, at the foot of a snow-covered mountain in Kyoto.
"Hello, ma'am. Are you looking for lodging?"
The innkeeper asked with a smile.
"Yes, just me and my child." Akane Natsume nodded in response.
Beside her, Luke was studying a map with his head down.
Only then did the innkeeper notice Luke.
"I didn't expect your child to be so big already! I thought you had just gotten married not long ago. Oh, what an adorable little boy!"
"Hello, Auntie!" Luke looked up briefly to acknowledge her before lowering his head again.
He looked at this snowy mountain map, obtained from a task two days ago, searching for a location that might be the entrance to Sanguinem.
This trip wasn't easy to get; he even resorted to acting cute.
His mother agreed to travel here for three days; they would return the day after tomorrow. He couldn't slip away during the day; nighttime was his window for action, so he only had three nights.
This inn was right at the foot of the mountain, which saved travel time.
"Oh! Such a beautiful woman! Hello, ma'am. My name is Yamamura Koushi. Would you be interested in having dinner with me?"
A bespectacled man around 170 cm tall, wearing a kimono, approached Akane Natsume. Smiling, he made a gentlemanly invitation to her.
But his eyes kept wandering over Akane Natsume's body.
Her silver-white hair was tied back, her skin was delicate, and the cold weather had added a rosy blush to her cheeks, giving her an extra touch of cuteness. Standing around 165 cm tall with ample assets, she could make most men unable to look away.
Akane Natsume was about to politely refuse when a voice interrupted her.
"Get lost! If you don't know how to use your eyes, go play marbles with them. Keep staring and I'll make sure your parents have one less son and one more daughter."
Yamamura Koushi was stunned upon hearing this. Looking down, he saw a remarkably handsome boy looking at him with eyes that regarded him as trash.
Under the boy's gaze, Yamamura Koushi felt a chill down his spine, as if being watched by a beast. For a moment, he didn't dare speak.
A six or seven-year-old boy intimidating an adult into silence was an indescribably incongruous scene.
"Luke, that's impolite. Apologize to Mr. Yamamura." Akane Natsume was the first to react.
Luke turned his head away, clearly unwilling to apologize.
Seeing this, Akane Natsume could only apologize herself, "I'm sorry, Mr. Yamamura. The child doesn't understand."
As Luke's gaze shifted away, Yamamura Koushi regained his composure and quickly waved his hands.
"No, no, no, I should be the one apologizing. I was too abrupt. Since you're busy, ma'am, I won't disturb you further. Goodbye."
After saying that, he fled as if escaping.
"Is Mr. Yamamura afraid of children? Luke, you scared him off with just one sentence." Akane Natsume was somewhat puzzled.
Deterrence.
This was the reward from Luke's first task—just a weakened version of Conquerors Haki. He never had a chance to use it before; today was the first time, and the effect was decent.
The trigger condition was making eye contact with him.
"Mother, next time you meet a man with impure intentions like that, just destroy his 'tools of the trade'."
Akane Natsume looked shocked, staring at her precious son in disbelief. She had never seen such a crude Luke before.
In her impression, Luke had always been a well-behaved child. Today certainly refreshed her understanding.
But she still felt warm inside. She could clearly feel how much her son valued her.
"Alright, I'll listen to Luke."
Akane Natsume hugged Luke tightly, smiling as she buried him in her chest.
"Mo... Mother, I'm about to... suffocate..."
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