"The ice cream had done nothing wrong."
Avrora lay slumped over her desk, the very picture of despair.
Her well-earned ice cream, the reward for dutifully completing her homework yesterday, was gone—all thanks to that new transfer student.
Teacher Arcutie had flat-out confiscated it. And now, that shameless transfer student had the nerve to try and get close to her.
Cracking open one eye, she shot a glance at Himeragi Yukina, who had rushed to her side the moment class ended.
Arcueid had said she was a gift from someone, and that it was fine to have some fun with her.
What was that even supposed to mean? Since when could people be gifts?
Puzzled, Avrora closed her right eye.
"Root, do you know what that means?"
She secretly queried the Primogenitor residing within her mystic eye.
At first, Avrora had been a little afraid of Root, but after getting familiar, she found her not scary at all—even a little cute.
"No idea."
The voice echoing in her mind only deepened her gloom.
After a few seconds of frustrated thought, Avrora reached out and tapped Himeragi Yukina on the shoulder.
Arcueid always said if you don't understand something, just ask.
"Himeragi Yukina, what are you actually here for?"
Her blue eyes fixed on the girl who thought she was being stealthy.
Her deskmate, Akatsuki Nagisa, leaned in curiously as well.
"Well..." Himeragi Yukina produced a small slip of paper and read from it: "To investigate the truth behind the Fourth Primogenitor's establishment of a Dominion, to monitor the Fourth Primogenitor, and ideally, to learn about the mystic eye capable of killing a Primogenitor."
She promptly handed the note to Avrora.
"I know this, I know this!" Akatsuki Nagisa waved her hand. "It's definitely just Arcueid acting on a whim."
Kanon, who had also leaned in, nodded in agreement. She herself had been brought home by the capricious Princess.
Himeragi Yukina nodded in understanding. It seemed vampires being whimsical was pretty normal.
Her gaze shifted back to Avrora. "There must be a reason you're staying on Itogami Island, right, Avrora?"
Avrora tilted her head.
"Like... recruiting all registered demons to your faction, or wanting to control them, or seeking endless wealth... or something?"
Himeragi Yukina asked softly.
Avrora's head tilt became even more pronounced.
"If this idiot were capable of doing any of that, it'd be a miracle," a small head popped up on Avrora's shoulder, Root's voice dripping with scorn.
Avrora scratched her head. "I just came with Arcueid."
"As for a purpose..." She seemed to remember something, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "To eat more ice cream!"
"You misunderstand. I meant something more profound, like why you chose to attend school here," Himeragi Yukina shook her head.
"To buy ice cream at Lulu's."
The blunt reply left Himeragi Yukina speechless.
This Fourth Primogenitor... didn't seem to be joking.
"I don't know the answer to what you're asking either," Seeing her expression, Avrora slumped back onto the desk, her delicate face squishing against the surface until it became round.
"It was the Princess... Arcueid, who woke me from my slumber. She's the one who gave me my name, too." Himeragi Yukina's figure was reflected in Avrora's azure eyes. "If you ask me why, I really don't know. All I know is..."
"It's because of Arcueid that I can sit here peacefully and eat ice cream."
A sudden chill swept through the air, making Himeragi Yukina's petite shoulders shiver.
As if to show her power, Avrora narrowed her eyes and waved a small fist in the air.
"If you try to do anything bad to Arcueid, I'll hit you."
A tiny ice mermaid shimmered like a mirage behind Avrora.
But it was immediately entangled and dragged away by chains glinting with golden light.
Whap! A folding fan smacked down on Avrora's head. "If you understand, then stop causing us trouble."
The hem of an extravagant dress swirled through the air as Minamiya Natsuki, displeased, rapped Avrora on the head a few more times with her fan.
"There's a problem on your homework that's identical to Kanon's. Come with me."
The space around them rippled like water, and their figures vanished.
Only a faint, scolding voice echoed from the void.
"Daring to summon a Beast Vassal at school? Have you grown bold?"
"I... I'm sowwy."
Himeragi Yukina stared blankly at the now empty desk in front of her.
Fortunately, Avrora's seat was by the window in the back row, so the commotion hadn't attracted the other students' attention.
"Ahem!" Akatsuki Nagisa swooshed over to Avrora's seat. Seemingly trying to break the tense atmosphere, she asked in a bright voice, "Yukina, why do you listen to the Lion King Organization?"
"...When I was little, I was..." Himeragi Yukina shook her head sharply and patted her cheeks. "I was raised by the Lion King Organization."
Ding-dong.
The class bell interrupted the girls' conversation as the teacher slowly walked to the podium.
--+--
West District, one of the four main islands comprising Itogami Island, was a city that never slept.
In this area, densely packed with restaurants and commercial establishments, many shops stayed open until dawn.
Most demons preferred the night, and in this city with an especially high demon population, services catering to them were plentiful.
In a way, this glittering neon nightscape perhaps symbolized Itogami Island, where humans and demons coexisted peacefully.
Arcueid sat in a hamburger chain restaurant, eating french fries one by one while reading a report from Minamiya Natsuki with her free hand.
According to the demon-hunters under Minamiya Natsuki's command, a blue-haired loli had recently been attacking demons in this area.
"Hmm... They're not even trying to hide, are they?"
Arcueid sucked on a fry, savoring the salt, and simultaneously held out the demon pass—bait provided by Minamiya Natsuki—towards the figure across from her.
Opposite her, a silver-haired maid was staring at her, puffing out her cheeks in anger.
"Master won't eat the food I cook..."
"Ahah…" Arcueid gave a light cough and averted her gaze. "If you could maybe stop making fried rice..."
"Urgh..."
Trimmau's gaze grew even more resentful.
Whether due to some curse, the only dish she could successfully make was fried rice.
No matter how masterfully she brewed black tea, the only edible meal that came from her hands was fried rice.
Observing the pouting maid, Arcueid rubbed her smooth chin.
Could it be because... Trimmau was originally made in Britain?
It seemed highly possible.
"Let's take a walk around some other places."
Arcueid nodded, wiped her hands clean, and led the little maid out of the restaurant.
A cool breeze brushed against their faces, stirring their golden hair.
The girls walked along the street, chatting and laughing. As they passed by a secluded park...
"—Hello."
A voice came from the path.
Under the hazy glow of a streetlamp stood a female figure.
A petite girl with blue hair.
Her eyes were a light blue. A knee-length cloak coat covered her body, but she seemed to be wearing nothing underneath.
Her bare, jade-like feet rested on the pavement, her pink toes wiggling slightly.
"Would you like to play with me?"
She continued.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.