Mika slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
The surroundings were incredibly dark.
"I am..."
It took Mika a while to remember everything that happened before he lost consciousness, and he muttered to himself.
"Yu, did you guys escape safely?"
"How heartbreaking, Mika. The first person you think of is Yuichiro and not me."
A sorrowful yet familiar voice to Mika rang out.
Creak.
The door was opened, and light poured in. It was somewhat blinding for Mika, who saw a figure standing at the doorway.
Mika rubbed his eyes, which were dazzled by the light, and saw the person clearly.
"Y crane! Great, you're okay!"
But then Mika realized something, and his tone dropped again.
"You didn't manage to escape either..."
Luke shrugged indifferently.
"It's fine. I never planned on leaving from the start."
Mika didn't quite understand what Luke meant.
Luke knew Mika was confused and, fearing being asked questions one by one, he began to explain on his own.
"I was locked up in another place, then I happened to hear about Ferid's plan and escaped to save you all. In the end, I still didn't manage to get you out."
Luke was talking sheer nonsense.
Mika smiled and shook his head.
"As long as everyone else escaped, it's fine. Yu will definitely defeat the Vampires in the future and come save us."
Moved, he sincerely thanked Luke.
"Thank you, Y crane. You saved everyone!"
Seeing Mika looking like he was about to cry from being moved, Luke couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed and let out a feigned sigh.
"Sigh, our bond has grown distant after all; you've even learned how to say thank you."
Mika broke into a smile through his tears.
"Speaking of which, when I was caught and brought before Ferid and the others, I saw a huge hole in your stomach. It really scared me... Wait, where's your wound?"
Mika looked at Luke's perfect V-line abs in disbelief.
I clearly saw it!
Luke scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward, not knowing how to explain his transformation into a Vampire.
He had come looking for Mika right after being granted freedom of movement by Lady Krul. He hadn't had time to change his torn clothes and was now standing before Mika in what looked like a crop top.
"That... Mika..."
"Y crane, you... your ears... and your eyes..."
Luke took a deep breath, organized his words, and spoke.
"I was saved by Krul and became... a Vampire."
Mika stood frozen in place, processing this bombshell news.
Luke didn't speak again; he knew Mika wouldn't find this news easy to accept.
After a long while, Mika rubbed his throbbing head and adjusted his mood.
He looked at Luke, who was dazing at the door, and walked over.
Luke was still a bit nervous. Mika was the first friend he had made in this world. Now that the plot had deviated, he was worried Mika wouldn't be able to accept that his friend had become a Vampire.
A hand patted Luke's shoulder, and he snapped out of it.
Mika still wore a sunny smile.
"What are you thinking about?"
Luke turned his head away, not daring to look Mika in the eye.
"No... nothing..."
Mika said with a smile.
"Don't worry, Y crane. No matter what you become, whether you're a Vampire or not, you're my family. Everyone from the Hyakuya Orphanage is your family too."
Looking at the sincerity in Mika's eyes, Luke slowly nodded.
Mika tried to change the subject.
"By the way, why did you come here? Are you going to be locked up too?"
Luke's mood shifted quickly, and he returned to his playful grin.
"No, from now on, I'm your guardian Vampire!"
"What do you mean?"
Luke began to explain to Mika.
Because Mika had a prior record, he was supposed to be kept in confinement. However, after Luke's persistent persuasion, he secured the same freedom for Mika as before. Mika would live in their original house alone, with Luke guaranteeing that Mika wouldn't run away, otherwise Luke would be held responsible.
Mika nodded.
"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you!"
Luke waved his hand and leaned in to whisper in Mika's ear.
"It's fine. Just endure for a few years. It won't be long before I dominate this place."
Mika naturally didn't believe him. For Luke's safety, he let go of any thoughts of escaping.
Yu will come to save us, he definitely will!
"I'll take you back to your place first."
"Okay. I don't have any friends here now, so you have to come visit me."
Luke led the way. They encountered other Vampires along the way, but seeing his appearance, they didn't bother him much.
"Don't worry, but I'll be busy lately. I'll come play with you in a while. Also, don't sell your blood to Ferid anymore. I'll bring you whatever you want to eat."
Mika remembered how Ferid had set a trap to deceive him, putting his most cherished family in danger. He had no good feelings toward Ferid in his heart.
Mika nodded heavily.
"I understand."
Then he asked again.
"Have you already gained the authority to get human food just after becoming a Vampire?"
Luke nodded and said proudly.
"According to the Vampire hierarchy, I'm considered a noble now."
Mika's jaw dropped in shock.
"A noble?!"
"How about that? Impressive, right? Because the one who converted me was the Third Progenitor—that pink-haired girl from last night—my rank is very high."
Mika nodded, half-understanding, and joked.
"Oh, so you became a noble by living off a woman!"
Luke stumbled, nearly losing his footing.
He turned back and stared at the innocent-looking Mika.
"Mika, your words are really chilling."
"It's just so-so, haha."
And so, with the two of them chatting idly, Luke escorted Mika back to the human residential area.
"You know the way now, right? I still have things to do."
Mika nodded.
"Goodbye."
Watching Mika's receding back, Luke walked toward Krul's palace.
"I'll go back and change first, then... sigh, go say hello. Better to get it over with quickly!"
While thinking, Luke cursed inwardly.
"This thing is such a hassle. Couldn't it just give me full strength right away? Why does it have to be a cultivation system?"
"Lady Krul, don't let me catch an opportunity! One day, the peasant will rise up and sing!"
...Imperial Demon Army Headquarters, Meeting Room.
Hiiragi Kureto was reporting to the old man in the head seat.
"General, among the children who underwent Hyakuya Sect experiments found so far, none meet the requirements. Our army's next..."
The old man, addressed as General, raised his hand to interrupt Hiiragi Kureto's report.
"There's no need to say more. I only want results; I don't need to hear unrealistic guarantees. In short, the Seraph project must be carried out, no matter the cost."
The meeting room was silent; no one dared to defy him. He was the supreme head of the Hiiragi Family—Hiiragi Tenri.
"Meeting adjourned."
As Hiiragi Tenri stood up and left, many breathed a sigh of relief. There was no helping it; the Hiiragi patriarch's presence was too overwhelming.
Hiiragi Kureto silently tidied the documents on the table and prepared to leave. From the corner of his eye, he saw Hiiragi Shinya leaning in toward Guren with a smile, saying something, while Guren still wore an impatient expression.
Hiiragi Kureto walked over to the two of them.
Guren looked up at his superior and pointed at the nuisance beside him.
"If you need something, talk to him. He's quite free. Don't look for me."
"Last night, you left without authorization along with your two attendants. Do you have anything to say?"
Guren tilted his chair back with his legs on the conference table, his expression unchanged.
"There was nothing for me to do last night. Is it not okay to get some early rest?"
Hiiragi Kureto maintained a poker face.
"My subordinates told me that the direction you left in didn't look like you were heading home."
Guren didn't respond.
Hiiragi Kureto didn't press further; he had only come to give Guren a warning.
"Stop playing petty tricks. Your status as the Young Master of the Imperial Moon holds no weight in the Imperial Demon Army."
"Yes, yes, I understand, sir."
Hiiragi Kureto left, and Guren sighed as Hiiragi Shinya leaned in again.
"Hey, Guren, are those children you brought back last night the test subjects the Hiiragi Family is looking for?"
Guren looked at Hiiragi Shinya with a smile on his lips and joked.
"What, are you going to report me? There are seven of them, enough to get you promoted to Major General."
Hiiragi Shinya scoffed.
"I don't want to see those children turned into something neither human nor ghost."
Guren stood up and walked toward the meeting room door.
"Then don't ask too much. Them... I will take care of!"
You will get 90 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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