After teasing her own little sister, Hiiragi Mahiru felt a renewed sense of being alive.
"Exactly how much time has passed?"
She asked, her voice calm—unlike someone who had just been resurrected.
"Four years and seven months," Shinoa answered quietly.
Mahiru nodded.
Her gaze swept over everyone's faces—especially those of Yukimi Shigure and Jujo Mito's group.
"No wonder what used to be familiar now feels strange."
Only her own body still remained at the moment of her death.
"Time really has flown."
After a brief moment of reflection, her eyes finally fixed on Rei Ao.
"You're not someone from this world, are you?"
Without waiting for an answer, she continued matter-of-factly:
"Of course not. Nobody in this world could do something like that."
"Your energy composition…completely different from the demonic equipment or the power of vampires…"
…
Hearing her quickly deduce that Rei Ao's presence was not of this world, the others couldn't help staring in amazement.
They themselves had never drawn that conclusion before; their thoughts usually turned toward "maybe he's some vampire progenitor or some Seraph of the End creation."
Indeed, Mahiru was different. She seemed unaffected by the usual knowledge constraints or ways of thinking, possessing a boldness in her reasoning.
Rei Ao found it interesting how this rumored genius girl very quickly got into an analytical mindset—almost making one forget she had just come back from the dead.
Her eyes shone with the fire of pure curiosity, which reminded him of Echidna.
Finally Jujo Mito regained her voice. She recalled she was lying on her front and now managed to stand up.
Only a sense of shock made her ignore the slight disorder behind her.
"Hiiragi Mahiru, do you really remember everything?"
She wanted to confirm whether this truly was a resurrection.
"My memory is complete, and it feels very real,"
Mahiru replied calmly, fingers twirling a strand of hair—her usual habit when thinking.
"Including how I died."
Her gaze abruptly turned sharp.
"What Krul over there said is right—there was no 'accident'."
Shinoa sucked in a sharp breath, while Jujo Mito clenched her hand on her sword hilt again. Krul wore an "I told you so" look.
Right then, Rei Ao noticed that Krul's expression had suddenly become unusually conflicted. The vampire queen bit her lip, as though waging some fierce internal struggle.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Krul suddenly dropped to one knee.
"Rei Ao…Master…"
Her voice was low and solemn, wholly different from her typical arrogance. This "Master" carried far more pleading than before.
"If you can resurrect the dead, then your servant, Krul Tepes, begs you to resurrect my older brother, Ashera."
The air once again seemed to freeze.
Endo Yayoi and others looked at her in shock, while Mahiru merely arched an eyebrow as if finding this turn of events interesting—wanting to see how this "resurrection" would happen.
Krul lifted her head, scarlet eyes glimmering faintly with tears:
"I'm willing to pay any price, serve you forever, as long as you bring my older brother back."
Rei Ao remained silent for a moment before his mouth curved in a cryptic smile.
"Ah, without that promise, you'd still be my servant—that can't be changed. But… I'm not about to just exploit my own people for nothing. Bringing your brother back isn't impossible."
"But…"
He paused mid-sentence.
Krul abruptly stood.
She knew what she had to do.
Rip!
Her own hand tore her clothes apart.
Pressing her flushed lips together, she approached Rei Ao.
"M-Master, please…please use me!"
Saying such words required swallowing all her pride and huge shame.
Rei Ao ran his gaze over the decisive Krul, eyes shining with interest.
He sighed from the heart, "Krul, no wonder you're a vampire queen."
His fingers lightly traced her trembling, snow-white skin.
"Your skin is unexpectedly tender, but here it lacks that 'queenly scale'…"
He paused at the area that didn't meet certain bigger expectations.
"Ugh, that— that isn't my fault!"
Krul, in shame and anger, bared her little fangs. She couldn't help that somewhat "flat" spot.
But being on the receiving end of Rei Ao's somewhat disappointed look stung.
"Even if I don't have that kind of…excess, I'm still sure I can satisfy y—y-you, Master!"
"Wait, you're not going to…"
Sangu Mitsuba stammered, pointing at them…
They'd just seen all this happen once, and it was happening again?!
"That— um, Rei Ao-nii, I, um…feel weird as well."
At that moment, Kimizuki Mirai spoke haltingly, clutching at her clothes.
She just wanted to be closer to Rei Ao, the first person she'd seen upon awakening, who was willing to take her in.
Rei Ao wore a strange expression.
That sense of dependence and insecurity was obvious. But since it was truly her own desire, he wouldn't refuse.
"Alright, next up, you two can take Shinoa's place. Shinoa—go have a good talk with your sister."
"O-Okay…"
Shinoa pouted slightly, feeling a little jealous at how he'd moved on from her.
"Huh?!"
That meant one more person again!
Sangu Mitsuba was speechless. This was far too "dirty chaos." That man was basically a demon.
"All of you have seen something like this once, so it's only changing the main cast again, right?"
Rei Ao said with a shrug, pulling Krul and Mirai into his embrace.
"Instead of minding us, think about the things you need to figure out. Or perhaps there's something you want to ask me?"
"…"
For a moment, nobody responded. Rei Ao was already kissing the flustered Krul deeply.
"Stop!!!"
In a flurry, Kimizuki Mirai let out a soft sound.
Yet Shinoa's house was quickly filled with a noisy harmony again.
But outside that noise, Jujo Mito and the others had stiff postures, not sure where to look or what to hear.
Hanayori Sayuri eventually came forward.
She asked earnestly, "Rei Ao-san, about your so-called path to a peaceful world: do humans still have a place in it?"
"Oh?"
The question made Rei Ao pause from continuing his attentions to Krul.
Surprised, he glanced at her.
"That's a good question."
"Frankly, whether it's humans' peace or vampires' peace—it's all the same to me."
"Humans going extinct or vampires going extinct is equally easy for me."
He narrowed his eyes with a smile.
"This is no bluff."
"But… you can also write the outcome of it all, since I chose you all."
~~~
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