Volume 10 Chapter 66 The Human-Moon War
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The skeletal remains of the city stretched out before them.
This was Sanrid at twilight-a ghost town.
Once a sprawling metropolis that must have housed hundreds of thousands, looking at the hollowed-out wreckage of the capital made Klock feel as if a hole had been bored straight through his heart.
”I’ve never seen such a damn ghastly sight in a town before,” Klock said.
The streets of Sanrid were stained a uniform, vibrant red.
Fresh blood had dyed the pavement. Every building was scarred by spray and the jagged marks of combat, and the heavy, cloying stench of predators hung thick in the air. This hadn’t just been an unimaginable slaughter; it had been a banquet.
”To think the devastation reached this extent,” the orange Merfolk, Primlena, whispered beside him.
”I knew they¹ despised Humans, but… they certainly did a flashy job of it. Even if they are an enemy race, one would think their hearts would ache just a little,” Primlena said.
The commoners of Valder had been butchered, root and stem. It was as if the city itself had been turned into a massive serving platter, offering up a hundred thousand monsters’ food.
Sanrid should have been the final line of defense, a stronghold that had endured as the front’s anchor for years. But at some point, the gates or the walls had been compromised. Once the monsters flooded in, the city must have plunged into an instant, screaming hell. Or perhaps the inhabitants had already been driven to the brink of starvation before the fall. While the exact cause and timing of Sanrid’s collapse remained a mystery, one thing was certain: looking for survivors was a fool’s errand.
(Seeing this makes me want to dig my heels in and fight to the bitter end. When you’re forced to witness ethnic cleansing on this scale, you don’t surrender-you push back with everything you’ve got. But they probably knew that. They probably counted on it. Fucking bastards.)
”Sir Klock,”
Suzette came jogging toward Klock and Primlena as they stood atop the ramparts, peering down into the abyss of the city.
”We’ve been scouting the streets for a while now, but we haven’t found a thing. We’re searching for supplies and survivors while keeping a sharp eye out for traps, but it’s all quiet,” Suzette said.
”Right. If there’s nothing, that’s fine. We’ll hunker down once the sun goes down,” Klock said.
The place was a nightmare-less a city and more a sprawling abattoir. It was no longer fit for human habitation. While the structural damage wasn’t total, the smell was unbearable. There was no choice but to abandon it. There was nothing left to save.
”We’re pulling out tomorrow. Trying to hold a city this size with only a thousand men is suicide, and setting up a base in this rot would just breed disease-both for the body and the mind,” Klock said.
”I agree,” Primlena said. “Even if we demolished the houses to use the timber to patch the walls, we’d never finish before the enemy returns.”
”But that leaves us with a hell of a choice. We’re sitting right in the heart of occupied territory. One wrong move and the entire troop is toast,” Suzette said.
Klock shrugged. Just as she said, the fate of the Brigante Troop would be decided by what they did from here. The three of them shared a heavy silence.
Sanrid being devoid of enemy troops was completely unexpected. Reclaiming the capital without a fight wasn’t a victory to celebrate. Their goal was to bleed the enemy’s numbers, and in that regard, this operation had been a total wash. Every path forward from here was a gamble.
”We need to pick a fight while morale is still high. The second the men realize how outnumbered they are in a real slog, that spirit is going to evaporate,” Klock said.
”When the heart breaks, the battle is lost before it even begins. As you say, now is our best window to strike,” Suzette said.
Primlena nodded at Suzette’s words.
”War is a roll of the dice. It’s a risk, but… do we head north?” Primlena asked.
”Yeah. The mission was always to rescue Orrid. Tomorrow, we enter the Moon-Hide Corridor,” Klock said.
If there were no Demonkin in Sanrid, where had they gone? Had the entire force pushed north to besiege Orrid? No, that didn’t track. They were likely moving along the eastern Nichirin Road.
Klock knew that the further monsters moved from the sea, the more the brainwashing effects of the² Lorelei Resonance began to fray. They wouldn’t want to send the monster hoards too deep into the inland territory of Orrid. They’d likely learned that lesson during the siege of the Star Fortress. That meant the force heading north for Orrid was likely comprised of Demonkin, while the main monster army was hugging the coast, moving north via the Nichirin Road. A hundred thousand monsters were likely bearing down on Dayrid.
”Unlike Orrid, Dayrid won’t last a day if they’re hit. It’s a port town with no real fortifications. The Count’s private militia is no match for the sheer numbers of the monster hoards,” Suzette said.
”But we’re a drop in the bucket. A thousand men joining the defense of Dayrid wouldn’t even make them blink,” Klock said.
”And they’re monsters. Unlike a human army on land that forms ranks with a vanguard and rearguard, they have no concept of formations. Hitting them from behind won’t give us the tactical advantage of a surprise flank,” Primlena said.
If they could just harass the rear and draw their attention, maybe… but if they did that, the commander pulling the monsters’ strings would realize Sanrid had been retaken and would turn the whole troop around to crush them. That would make rescuing Orrid from the south nearly impossible. If they wanted to catch the Majin soldiers attacking Orrid off guard, they had to move now, while Sanrid was a hollow shell.
”If the path is clear, we just have to keep our eyes forward. Dayrid is in trouble, but we can’t afford to hesitate,” Primlena said.
”Right. We go north. We settle things with Bandanzine at Orrid. Dayrid will have to wait,” Klock said.
Klock signaled his decision, and the two women nodded. It was time to commit. Just one thousand men, striking at the rear of a massive invasion force. The odds were pathetic. It was going to be a bloodbath.
”I’ll join the investigation as well. Even with a thousand people in this vast city, there won’t be enough time,” Primlena said.
”Thanks. Anyone who can sense magic power might pick up on a flow we missed,” Klock said.
Primlena headed down from the ramparts. Klock knew he couldn’t just sit around either. He needed to pull his weight and contribute something to the unit.
”By the way, Suzette. There’s one thing bothering me,” Klock said.
”What is it?” Suzette asked.
Klock stopped and turned back. He caught Suzette’s curious gaze.
”Sanrid was supposed to be their primary forward operating base. A city this size is the perfect place to manage a massive monster army. So why-“
”Why did the Demon Lord’s Army abandon it? Why is it a ghost town?” Suzette asked.
Klock’s point was exactly that. A sense of wrongness had been clinging to this situation. Even if they didn’t expect a counter-attack, leaving Sanrid completely unmanned was insane. Sure, the place was a breeding ground for plague, and he could see why the Majin would want out, but they were the ones who turned it into a slaughterhouse in the first place.
”Nobody shits where they sleep. If they intended to use this as a base, they wouldn’t have carried out a mass execution here,” Klock said.
It made more sense if the massacre happened because they were leaving. Once the order to move out was given, the massive number of prisoners became a liability. So, they cleared the deck before marching. The abandonment had been decided before the blood was spilled.
This was the most strategic location in the region. The Demon Lord’s Army should have been using this as their central command to push into the Great Wall Corridor, the Moon-Hide Corridor, and the Nichirin Road. Even if they thought the Humans couldn’t reach them, abandonment made no sense.
”Do you think it’s a trap?” Suzette asked.
Naturally, that thought had crossed his mind. But even that was a stretch. There was more to be gained by holding this ground than by baiting a thousand-man army into taking it.
”Well, I can’t deny the possibility that we were lured in,” Klock said.
”We’re sweeping the city for everything. Specifically looking for summoning circles. If they can warp monsters directly into the city once we’re inside, we’re finished,” Suzette said.
The conclusion was unknown. But he knew they couldn’t stay. Long stay, no use. That much was certain.
”…The sky is getting awfully red. Is it that late already?” Klock asked.
”We should call it soon. Time to pull the men back and get some sleep,” Suzette said.
A crimson landscape. The sun was bleeding out across the horizon. The clouds were framed in orange as the sky shifted toward a dark, bruised blue.
No. That was wrong. The sky was still vermilion. Was sunset always this red? Klock looked up, a cold knot forming in his stomach.
(!?)
The moon was watching. It was massive, bloated, and a sickening shade of gore-a Red Moon. Klock realized with a jolt that he’d misjudged the time. It wasn’t just the sun. The sky had been draped in a veil of red by the setting sun and the rising Red Moon. It hung there like a monstrous, hateful eye.
”This… this is the³ Cursed Eye of the Moon Mirror…!” Klock said.
He hadn’t forgotten. No, that was a lie. He’d been so obsessed with the Majin that it had slipped his mind. Their enemies weren’t just the Demonkin. He knew that, and yet…!!
The empty city. The sea of blood in Sanrid. And the Demon Lord’s Army that had vanished. The mystery clicked into place with a terrifying snap.
…The sun was almost gone.
(So that’s how it is, damn it.)
”Suzette!! Once the sun has fully set, those guys are coming. Battle is unavoidable now. Lead all the soldiers to the northern wall. Tell the others too!!” Klock shouted.
”The north side…!! Understood!” Suzette shouted.
”If you find Ada, tell her I’m entrusting the command of the soldiers to her!” Klock shouted.
He knew who would be targeted first and that he wouldn’t have the luxury of leading. Klock practically threw himself down the stairs of the rampart, sprinting into the heart of the city.
”Here they come… the Vampires…!” Klock said.
The garrison of Sanrid hadn’t been the Demonkin. He gnashed his teeth at the fact that he hadn’t even thought of something so simple. The reason no one was there was likely because the sun was still in the sky. And the massacre of the inhabitants probably wasn’t just because they were in the way.
Vampires increase their numbers through erosion procedures.
The Demonkin had no desire to hand over a massive supply of human resources to the Moon Court⁴, so they disposed of Sanrid before the handover could take place.
”Damn it!” Klock barked. He looked up sharply, an involuntary click of his tongue escaping his lips. Just when he thought he was merely on the back foot, he realized he had fallen even further behind. A grimace, as if he had just crunched down on a bitter insect, twisted his face as he let out a heavy sigh.
A dress, crimson as fresh blood, billowed in the sky. Her golden hair, grown long, danced in the wind as she hovered there, her demonic wings unfurled. “Viola…!” Klock hissed. Her gaze was already fixed on him from high above. The tomboyish, uninhibited girl he once knew had descended as a maiden of such breathtaking beauty she was almost unrecognizable. They say clothes make the man, but in her case, it was the opposite. This was the real her. Despite the elegance of her dress, her midriff was exposed-a lingering sign of her youthful, rebellious spirit. There was no mistaking it; she was the princess once hailed as one of the Three Great Beautiful Princesses of the Demon Continent.
Klock bolted. Turning his back to the blood-red moon, he made a desperate break for it. It didn’t matter if it was too late or not. In a situation like this, all he could do was give it his all. He would worry about whether it would actually work after he survived. The enemy was coming from the Moon Court. Before they could even face the Demonkin, the opening bell for the final showdown with the Vampire Army had been rung.
”Hey-hey, hey-hey-hey-heeeeeey!” a raucous voice came screaming down from above. The high-pitched, incredibly grating shout of a cheerful brat pierced his eardrums. “Excuuuuuuse me! Klock Livorno-saaaaaaan!”
Klock didn’t look back for even a fraction of a second. “I’m your biggeeeeest fan! Can I have your autograaaaaph?!”
”Shut the hell up! Talk to the manager first, you little brat!” Klock yelled. He veered into a residential district, taking a sharp, sudden turn down an alley. A split second later, he heard the skree of something sliding across the pavement behind him. He risked a glance back for just a moment. Something had slammed into the cobblestones, shattering the street upon impact. It kicked up a cloud of grit, then beat a pair of thin, black, monstrous wings to blast the dust away.
Her right eye was a demonic red; her left eye was a ghastly, loathsome thing to behold. She wore a gown so lovely that she would have been the belle of any ball, but now she flashed a row of jagged, childish teeth, smirking with a degree of pure glee. “Viola!! You sent another damn clone, didn’t you?!” Klock shouted.
”Too bad, so sad! Tonight’s Vio-Vio is the real deal! I can run twice as fast as my clones, so you’d better be ready!” Viola replied.
”Hah?! There’s still sun out, isn’t there? Go ahead and burn already!” Klock countered.
”Hell yeah! Bleh-bleh-bleh-bleh! Vio-Vio is evening, you moron! Didn’t expect that, didja?! Shaking in your boots?! Regretting that you didn’t hide sooner?! Yep, that’s your loooooss! Game over!” Viola cheered.
(So damn annoying…) Klock thought. Apparently, girls with demon wings were experts at getting under a man’s skin. This level of sheer obnoxiousness was right on par with Kispe. (God dammit. I was too slow to notice the Eye of the Moon. No, that wasn’t it. I reacted the moment the world turned red. It is just that she is too damn fast.) Viola claimed she could descend in the evening. Simply put, she must have developed a resistance to weak sunlight. Perhaps an Apostle⁵ was slightly more resilient to the sun than your average vampire.
The game of cat-and-mouse began before he had a second to think. The bratty vampire followed him at a light jog, wagging her tongue out in a mockery of a chase. She pulled up right alongside him as he ran, and when he turned his head, she used both hands to pull a deranged, squashed face at him. The red eyes forced their way into his vision.
”Heh-heh! I caught you already! You’re so slooooow! You’ve already lost, but how much longer are you gonna keep running? I’ll cheer for you from back here! ‘Run, Klock, run! Don’t let Viola catch you!’”
”You little…” Klock growled. The gap in their physical abilities was simply too vast. Ten seconds into the flight, and he was as good as caught. She wasn’t even flying anymore; she was just trotting beside him, peering into his face to mock him. (Underestimate me and see what happens. I’ll give you something to look at.) He knew she had the luxury to toy with him, but that overconfidence would be her undoing. He had faced her clones countless times; he wasn’t going down that easily.
”By the way, Viola. Have you given any more thought to joining our side?” Klock asked.
”Nope! Not at all! Not even a teeny-tiny bit!” Viola answered.
”Come on, don’t be like that. Don’t you think we’d make a great team?”
”Well, you did return Rug-Rug to us, so you get major points for that. She said you didn’t even torture her. My opinion of you actually went up a bunch!” Viola replied.
Rugandia’s name was the first thing out of her mouth. At the very least, she didn’t seem to harbor a deep grudge. “Then give it a little more thought,” Klock said.
”I can’t! Vio-Vio is a Vampire, after all. I’ve gotta stick with the clan.”
”I see,” Klock said. He had known she wouldn’t flip. This conversation was just a feint to mask his movements. He slipped a hand into his coat, using a Brace to spark a fuse on a smoke bomb. Viola, caught up in her own smugness, didn’t notice a thing. Misdirecting through dialogue was Klock’s bread and butter. “Viola. You ever heard of a smoke screen?”
”A smoke screen?”
”Yeah. Like this!” Klock tossed it to her. Viola caught it by reflex, and in that exact instant, it erupted. Hiss! Thick, acrid smoke blasted the Vampire Princess square in the face. The white fog caught her completely off guard.
”Cough! Hack! Blegh!” Viola sputtered.
”Wahaha! Man, you’ve got a pretty face, but you cough like a sailor! Even a prostitute with a d**k shoved down her throat doesn’t gag as pathetically as you!”
”Y-you bastard!!” Viola screamed. By the time she wiped the tears from her eyes, Klock was gone. He had used the moment she flinched to pull a 180, ducked around a corner, and pressed himself flat in the shadows.
”My eyes sting! Ugh, this is the worst! Dammit, I can’t stop crying! Stop screwing around! Who does that to a girl’s face, Klock Livorno?!” Viola shrieked. However, there was no sign of her closing in on his position just yet. Klock held his breath. Those with powerful magic could sense the magic of others, but Klock’s magic was so weak it didn’t even register on their radar. (That is why I can hide. By facing a foe I have no business fighting, I’ve turned my greatest weakness into a cloaking device.)
(Time to hide in a building. If I can just put some distance between us, I can figure out a real plan.) Klock thought. He ran right into a chapel. “A Sister…?” Klock whispered, frowning. He ran into a cleric in the chapel. She just stood there, blinking. Klock was about to try and explain when a voice echoed from outside. It was Viola.
”Shit. This is bad,” Klock said.
”An enemy?” the Sister asked.
”Yeah. Is there anywhere to hide?”
”This way, then,” the Sister replied. She hurried Klock into the vestry⁶. Vestments were strewn across the floor, and various supplies were left out on the cabinets. “Hide in here.” She guided him behind a large cabinet. He crouched down, but he knew it was a flimsy defense.
”Hey, you get down too,” Klock whispered.
”I’ll be fine. I will protect you,” the Sister said.
Thud! The door was kicked open with violent force. Footsteps began to rhythmically click-clack through the chapel. Viola had entered the building.
(Hey, you idiot! I said hide!) Klock thought frantically.
(She’ll sense my magic power if I try to hide. Please, don’t worry about me,) the Sister gestured. Klock realized then that this Sister must be at least B-Rank or higher. The moment she had entered the room, she had already been “seen.”
The footsteps drew closer. Another thud echoed as a different door was kicked in. “Wheeeeere are youuuu?” Viola’s voice sang out, getting closer and closer to the vestry.
(Get under here,) the Sister signaled. Without warning, she hitched up her scapular⁷. She pulled up the heavy tunic of her habit, and from beneath the black cloth, a garter belt emerged. Klock froze. Her choice of lingerie was scandalously erotic. She stepped behind the cabinet, straddled Klock’s position with her thighs, and draped her heavy tunic over him like a tent.
(What the-?!) Klock’s mind raced. He was suddenly pinned between the woman’s soft, warm thighs. Using her flashy black underwear as a literal headrest, he found himself buried beneath her crotch. As he tried to adjust, a pair of black lace panties were pressed firmly against his face.
”Is he in heeeere…?” Viola’s voice called as the door flew open. Viola had arrived. In this “s*x-try” rather than a vestry, Klock clamped his mouth shut in a fit of pure tension. With his face buried in her lower abdomen, the faint, sweet scent of a woman filled his lungs.
Their lips were level with her thighs; Klock could feel the slight protrusion of Sister Ridney’s anatomy pressing against him.
”Hey there, Sister-chan. No men come through here lately?” Viola asked.
Silence smothered the room. “No,” Ridney replied. “No one is here.”
”Hmm… is that so? No one, huh? Well, I guess it can’t be helped,” Viola said.
(This is bad. This is really, really bad.) Klock held his breath. At this rate, the Sister was going to get bitten. He reached slowly, tentatively, for his knife.
”Nngh… ♡”
He had accidentally tickled her. A sweet, stifled moan escaped Ridney’s lips. Klock froze instantly; the situation was so precarious that the slightest twitch seemed to tease her crotch. (How did it come to this? Hiding out in the open would have been less of a disaster.)
”Viola! We’re here!” a voice shouted.
The doors from the chapel were thrown open. A new voice joined the fray—high-pitched, but laced with a rough, intimidating edge that made Klock’s brow furrow. “Vi-o-la-n! You in there??”
”Right here! Over here, come on!” Viola replied.
Heavy thumping footsteps echoed as more people crowded into the room. It was then that Klock realized something was fundamentally wrong.
”…Where is Klock Livorno?” a familiar voice asked.
Klock heard a heavy, grinding slide—the sound of a cabinet being hauled across the floor. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
”Right here ♡” Ridney said.
The tunic was yanked upward, exposing the man who had been huddled beneath her legs.
”Yahoo! Long time no see!” Viola chirped.
”Is this the guy? Why the hell is he clinging to Ridney’s legs like that?” another girl asked.
”‘Sup, Kuro Kuro! I’m Linaria from the Vampire Maid Corps! Nice to meetcha!”
Klock could only gasp. “…Wh—?”
A line of women stood before his eyes. Wings. Wings everywhere. Four vampire girls in total. There was the smirking Viola and a bubbly, hyperactive girl grinning at him. Beside them stood a girl with a permanent scowl and a sour attitude, and then…
”Rugandia…!” Klock whispered.
A serious-looking girl stood with her arms crossed, awkwardly averting her gaze. In the cramped space of the sacristy, four powerful vampires had converged.
”Hup!”
”Gah—?!”
Ridney’s legs suddenly coiled around him, locking Klock’s arm in a brutal, crushing vice.
”Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Klock cried.
”My apologies,” Ridney whispered. “Please, be a good boy and stay still.”
Klock looked back. A pair of wings had sprouted from the back of the Sister as well. There weren’t four; there were five. Had she only allowed him to get close so she could lock his joints? (Was this a trap? Had I been lured here from the start?) As Klock gnashed his teeth in frustration, Viola wore a grin that couldn’t possibly get any wider.
”I placed a suggestion on you to make sure you’d run here,” Viola gloated. “VioVio’s eyes are good for more than just the Cursed Eye, you know.”
”A suggestion…” Klock muttered.
Now that he thought about it, she had been staring at him with strange intensity during the chase. She’d set the hook then. He’d been played. He never expected Viola to be capable of such tactical thinking.
Linaria, the flashy one, leaned in. Her nails were longer and sharper than the rest, decorated in a riot of colors. “You’re the one who let Rugandia-chin⁸ slide, right? Thanks for that.”
Mermy leaned in beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “First time meeting you properly, Lord Klock of the House of Livorno. I came here to give you a chance today. Consider it a repayment for the debt we owe you for Rugandia.”
”…A debt?” Klock asked.
Viola popped up between the two of them with a smug, self-satisfied look. “Surprised to see us? Truth is, the Lake’s Oracle told us days ago that the human army was coming. That’s why old man Bandanzine told the Moon Court to defend this place. We had the inside track, so we’ve been planning to bag you from the start.”
(The Lake’s Oracle…!)
The Lake. With that one word, the pieces clicked into place. The eleventh seat of the Council of the United Kingdoms. One of the High Beings—the Lake of Dawn. To think she had predicted the crossing of Death Soldier Pass. That Lady of the Lake had gone and whispered in Bandanzine’s ear.
”Shocked? It’s too late now. The human army here is going to be slaughtered. Total annihilation. However! I might be persuaded to let you go,” Mermy said, pointing a sharp finger directly at Klock’s chest.
”…Because I spared Rugandia?” Klock asked.
”Pretty much! I figured we could just make Kuro Kuro one of our comrades,” Linaria⁹ said. She smirked, flashing her vampire heritage. Her fangs were far too long and sharp to be natural—the terrifying, modified teeth used for the Erosion Rite¹⁰.
”…You’re kidding,” Klock said.
Their goal was to turn him. Suddenly, Ridney embraced him from behind, pressing her body against his. She leaned in, her breath hot against his ear. “You said you wanted to make VioVio your ally, didn’t you? I’m willing to accept. If you become a vampire, I’ll keep you safe in VioVio’s castle.”
”Ooh, me next! Let Linaria bite you!” Linaria chirped. “Seriously, Kuro Kuro, you’re kind of my type. I’m totally down for this!”
”Shut up already,” the scowling girl snapped. “It doesn’t matter who bites him. Right, Rugandia?”
Rugandia remained silent.
”So, who do you want to drink from you…?” Ridney whispered in a melodic, taunting lilt. “You can pick whichever girl you like best… ♡”
The vampire girls descended into a rowdy, chaotic squabble. It was a disaster. (If they actually bite me, I’m finished.) As Klock’s panic spiked, the girls before him simply sneered, savoring the look on their prey’s face.
—
Summary:
Klock’s Brigante Troop arrives in the abandoned, blood-soaked capital of Sanrid. While they plan their next move to Orrid, Klock realizes the absence of enemy forces is a deception. As a Red Moon rises, he discovers the city is actually a nest for Vampires waiting for sunset.
Klock attempts to flee from the persistent and irritating Vampire Princess Viola, who has arrived as the vanguard of the Moon Court. After a failed escape and a crude confrontation using a smoke screen, Klock hides in a local chapel. He is unexpectedly shielded by a mysterious Sister who hides him beneath her religious habit, leading to a high-tension, erotic concealment as Viola enters the room.
Klock’s attempt to hide from Viola backfires spectacularly when it is revealed that the nun he was hiding under is actually a fifth vampire, Ridney. The vampire squad, including Rugandia whom Klock previously spared, surrounds him and reveals they had been waiting for him due to a prophecy. The chapter ends with the predatory group pressuring Klock to choose one of them to turn him into a vampire.
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Trivia:
- The ‘beast smell’ and red-stained streets: Hinted at a non-human slaughter that wasn’t purely military.
- Vampire erosion procedures: Sets up a terrifying mechanic where the dead citizens might return as enemies.
- Sanrid’s abandonment: The logic that they ‘shit where they sleep’ indicates the city was designated as a feeding ground from the start.
- Klock’s low magic power: Mentioned as a weakness, but clearly his greatest tactical advantage against high-level opponents who rely on sensing.
- Viola’s sunlight resistance: She can descend in the evening, hinting that high-ranking Vampires (Apostles) have mitigated their traditional weaknesses.
- The Sister’s underwear: The contrast between her holy occupation and her ‘flashy black lace’ lingerie suggests she is not a typical nun, likely a high-ranking adventurer or a rogue element.
- Rugandia’s return: Viola’s mention of Rug-Rug being returned safely suggests Klock has been playing a long game of diplomatic leverage.
- The mention of ‘suggestion’ implies that Klock’s free will has been manipulated long before this confrontation.
- Linaria’s modified fangs suggest a technological or surgical aspect to vampirism in this world, not just a biological curse.
- Rugandia’s silence and guilt suggest she might be a future point of internal conflict within the vampire group
—
Character Insight:
Klock displays his strategic growth by analyzing the enemy’s logistics (Lorelei Resonance) but admits his own failing in overlooking the celestial threat of the Red Moon. His trust in Suzette and Ada shows a reliance on his command structure under pressure.
Viola sees Klock as a plaything or a ‘fan target,’ showing a mixture of predatory intent and genuine amusement. Klock’s relationship with the Hero is mentioned as the reason he is targeted, placing him in a ‘damsel in distress’ role despite his crude demeanor. The new dynamic with the Sister is immediate and physical, shifting the genre from chase-action to erotic-suspense.
The dynamic shifts from a cat-and-mouse chase to a predatory harem scenario. Viola’s dominance is asserted through her tactical ‘suggestion,’ while Ridney moves from a passive ‘Sister’ role to an aggressive captor, literally pinning Klock down.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The Lorelei Resonance is revealed to have a range/geographical limitation based on proximity to the sea. The ‘Red Moon’ is a magical catalyst for Vampires, tied to a specific ritual or phenomenon called the Moon Mirror.
The Moon Court is a significant faction employing Vampires. Apostles serve as high-ranking elites with superior physical and magical traits. The Demon Continent features its own social hierarchy, including the ‘Three Great Beautiful Princesses.’
The ‘Council of the United Kingdoms’ and ‘The Lake of Dawn’ are introduced as high-level political/magical entities capable of premonition. The Moon Court serves as a military defense unit for the vampire faction.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Majin’ is translated as ‘Demonkin’ to distinguish from generic ‘Monsters’ (Mamono), while ‘Demon Lord’s Army’ remains the standard faction title.
The Japanese text uses a phonetic pun between ‘vestry’ (seigushitsu) and a hypothetical ‘s*x-tool room’ (seigushitsu). This was localized as Klock being in a ‘s*x-try’ to maintain the crude humor of the scene.
The choice of ‘Erosion Rite’ for 浸食施術 was made to reflect the invasive and permanent nature of the fang modification described in the text.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Sanrid – The location where Roldi reportedly went the day before the attack on Portline. This movement is a key piece of strategic information Misha provides during her interrogation.
• Klock – Battle‑worn master of the Conro estate, purple‑eyed and bearing a healed gut piercing, commands a 2,600‑strong Brigante troop west of Conro. Pragmatic strategist, heir of the Opener, wields the Dominance‑based Stellar Skill ‘Authority’ (World Conquest). Surrounded by a succubus harem, he is aggressive, vengeful, famed as a street hero, and sports a massive, weapon‑like penis.
• Primlena – Orange‑haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant, sister of Sea General Primjune and former Demon Lord officer now in Klock’s inner circle. Calm, disciplined, she commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, wields a trident, and seeks Klock’s downfall. A revenge‑driven siren bride delivering news of the Merfolk and jewel‑clam communication.
• Suzette – An older, confident maid who heads the Viscount Fennec household, known for her clear‑spoken professionalism. Also a warrior in Klock’s circle, fiercely protective of him and wary of outsiders such as Alard.
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Dayrid – The city the Demonkin army is planning to attack next, intending to strangle Dayrid from land and sea. This confirms the Demonkin’s immediate military objective for Klock.
• Bandanzine – A veteran Earth General and one of the Four Heavenly Kings, he bears a dignified gaze, grey hair, scarred authoritative presence, and frontline combat skill. Cynical and pragmatic, he distrusts staff officer Parl Forestier, serves as the Demon Lord’s right‑hand ‘Second Demon Lord’.
• Ada – Ada the Wild Wind, an A‑rank adventurer and scout of Death Soldier Pass, sports black‑red hair, fiery streaks, multiple earrings, and a tower‑height axe‑spear. Blessed with the ‘Wind’ skill for unmatched speed, she’s ruthless in battle yet negotiates when needed. Respected by peers, feared by criminals, and at odds with Klock, who stole from her and fled.
• Kispe – The Queen Kispe, also known as Succubus Princess Asura, is a winged succubus with long black hair, amethyst eyes, a petite slender build, and a one‑piece dress with black tights. She acts as Klock’s lover and healer, teasing him and wielding arousal as a weapon, manipulating him with a sharp, playful tongue.
• Rugandia – Human maid from Sand Village appearing before Croce Estate’s fire, assigned by Sylvia’s father as her loyal, diligent servant.
• Linaria – One of Viola’s four childhood friends and maids of Castle Viola, not directly seen in scene but named among the vampire maid unit. Serves Viola loyally since Sand Village days. No other relations stated. Quiet and dependable.
• Mermy – A dampir maid and Viola’s childhood friend first appearing during the Orrid sky battle. Urges retreat as sun rises to avoid burning. Serves as Viola’s subordinate in the vampire maid unit. Loyal ally with no other known relations. Calm and dutiful.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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