This is the first of two installments for today.
While Kouhi was dealing with Riston on the 73rd Floor, Kousuke spent his time as usual by checking on the wolves and foxes.
When he returned to the Management Layer from patrolling each floor, Kouhi had also returned. After that, he spent his time reading books.
The books were originally in the Management Layer when it was first set up. He started reading them somewhat casually, but he found himself engrossed recently because he felt like he could achieve something interesting if he applied the knowledge.
Since he felt he could understand the theory from the books, Kousuke was thinking of moving on to practical application soon.
However, Kousuke thought that it would be better to do so after things calmed down a bit.
Putting that aside, the next destination was Vermilia Castle.
After dinner, at Mitsuki’s request, they placed Vermilia Castle on the 76th Floor before the summoning.
Once the cleanup was finished, the three of them headed to the 76th Floor to perform the summoning.
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(What a huge castle…)
That was Kousuke’s initial impression upon seeing Vermilia Castle.
However, Kousuke had never seen a castle before, either in this life or his previous one, so he had no basis for comparison.
Actually, Vermilia Castle was of average size for a castle in this world, and there were several castles larger than it.
Of course, it was unreasonable to expect Kousuke, who had never seen a castle, to realize that.
Putting that aside, the three of them were now searching for the Vermilia Jewel within the castle, as indicated on the management screen.
Although they were searching, Mitsuki had actually already found its location.
It wasn’t impossible to go straight there, but at Kousuke’s request, they decided to make it a bit of an exploration of the castle, taking a detour along the way.
Therefore, after surveying the audience chamber (?), which seemed to have a throne, a room that was likely a library with many shelves that probably no longer held books, and a treasure vault that was now empty but had an extremely well-secured lock and mechanism, they had arrived at the room where their objective was.
The Vermilia Jewel was located in what corresponded to the castle’s basement.
In the center of a moderately sized room, there was a single, luxurious pedestal, upon which rested a single transparent, crystal-like orb.
As a precaution, Kousuke confirmed it with his left eye and verified that it was indeed the Vermilia Jewel.
The owner had casually been set to Kousuke. This was probably because Kousuke was the one who set it up in the Management Layer.
“…Kousuke-sama?”
“It’s alright.”
Mitsuki, concerned that Kousuke was about to touch the Vermilia Jewel without warning, tried to stop him. However, Kousuke, having already confirmed its safety with his left eye, placed his right hand on the jewel without hesitation.
It suddenly appeared in his mind, so he selected “Yes.”
“Mitsuki, place your right hand here.”
“? …Like this?”
As Kousuke instructed, Mitsuki also placed her right hand on the jewel.
<…Confirmed. Changing owner complete.>
“…What is this?”
“Yeah. I don’t really know… but it looked like it could be changed, so I did it.”
As Kousuke said this casually, he stopped Mitsuki before she could say anything and added,
“Regardless, Mitsuki will be managing this place from now on, so it’s better to change it, right?”
“…Understood.”
Although it was a bit forceful, Kousuke felt more at ease with Mitsuki as the owner, so he persuaded her.
Thinking about the future, he felt it was better to hand it over to Mitsuki.
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While all that was happening, it was finally time to proceed with the main objective: the summoning.
Since the preparations were complete, Mitsuki performed the summoning immediately.
Without any particular problems, the summoning concluded safely. Afterward, a woman with white hair and red eyes remained.
She was a beautiful woman with a mature allure, different from Kouhi and Mitsuki.
“…Was it you who awakened me?”
“Yes, it was. There is something I would very much like you to do.”
“Hmm… I am curious about what you want me to do, but… I am also curious about the human standing there? Is he an offering prepared for me?”
The moment the white-haired beauty said that, pressure emanated from Mitsuki.
“…Even as a joke, there are things you should and shouldn’t say, Guardian of the Contract?”
“My apologies… That was uncalled for. I seem to have gotten a bit carried away after my long absence. I wish to apologize.”
Despite being pressured by Mitsuki, the beauty clearly offered an apology.
Perhaps appeased by the apology, Mitsuki immediately stopped releasing her pressure.
“It’s good that you understand. Now, I will introduce you to my master.”
“…Master?”
“Yes. That’s right. However, rather than explaining with words, there’s a quicker method for you, and I will use that.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Kouhi, please.”
Ignoring the white-haired beauty’s questioning gaze, Mitsuki nodded to Kouhi.
Receiving the signal, Kouhi, who had somehow acquired a wine glass and a knife in her hands, presented them.
“I’m sorry, Master. Could you hold this?”
“…? Ah.”
Kousuke, though bewildered, accepted the wine glass offered by Kouhi with his left hand.
Furthermore, Kouhi took his free right hand and guided it over the glass.
“I apologize. Please bear with me for a moment.”
“…Kouhi? Ggh…!?”
Kouhi ran the knife across the palm of Kousuke’s hand.
As expected, blood flowed from Kousuke’s hand, which the glass caught.
During this time, Kousuke, who hadn’t asked any questions, simply endured what was happening.
Once about an inch of blood had pooled in the glass, Kouhi took the glass and immediately healed her right hand.
Thanks to the healing, the wound on her hand quickly subsided, leaving behind the glass filled with Kousuke’s blood, which was then handed to Mitsuki.
Mitsuki, holding the glass, offered it to the beauty.
However, upon closer inspection, the beauty’s expression was strange.
She looked somewhat dazed, or perhaps entranced.
As Mitsuki held the glass out, the beauty seemed to finally notice and turned her gaze to the glass.
“What’s wrong? Are you planning to waste Lord Kousuke’s kindness?”
Seeing the beauty’s state, Mitsuki offered the glass with a hint of amusement.
“N… No, but… this is…”
Initially hesitant, the beauty seemed to steel herself, accepted the glass from Mitsuki, and drank its contents as if savoring it.
After finishing the contents of the glass, the beauty closed her eyes for a moment, seemingly lost in the aftertaste.
“…Ah…”
Then, with what seemed like a lifetime of emotions, she exhaled and turned to Kousuke, saying,
“I wish to re-apologize for my earlier attitude. My name is Shurein Vermilia. I am Shurein the Vampire Princess.”
“Ah, no. I didn’t particularly mind, so it’s fine… But more importantly, Vermilia…!?”
“? …Is there something wrong with my family name?”
Kousuke averted his gaze from Shurein, who looked puzzled, and looked at Mitsuki.
“No, I must admit, I didn’t know that either.”
“…What do you mean?”
“This place, this castle… it’s called Vermilia Castle.”
“What…!? Does that mean… that’s…?”
Saying that, Shurein checked the Vermilia Jewel.
“…It’s definitely the Vermilia Jewel. What in the world is going on?”
As Shurein pressed him, flustered, Kousuke, feeling somewhat cornered, decided to leave it to Mitsuki.
“Ah, yeah. Well, I don’t really understand it very well either… For now, Mitsuki can tell you what we know.”
“…Kousuke-sama?”
“We’re returning to our base, so please take care of things, Mitsuki.”
Seeing Kousuke’s somewhat flustered expression, Kouhi, though puzzled, quickly responded.
“However, Master, it is quite late at night. Returning now…”
“Is it dangerous?”
“…No, Ko and the others are here. I’m sure we’ll manage.”
Seeing Kousuke’s troubled look, Kouhi, for some reason, answered immediately.
For some reason, Mitsuki looked at Kouhi with a face that said “Traitor.”
And Shurein, still not understanding anything, watched their exchange.
In the end, Mitsuki was left alone in the castle to explain the situation to Shurein, while Kouhi, who had returned to the Management Layer, was in a good mood for a while.
Mitsuki: “Why did you rush back like that?”
Kousuke: “…I felt like my blood was being targeted for some reason…”
Shurein: “I am not that lacking in self-control.”
Kousuke: “…Really?”
Shurein: “…Probably.”
*There may or may not have been such a conversation later.*
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The next installment is scheduled for 8:00 PM.
June 3, 2014: Typo correction.
