"Elizabeth von Etherion wins!"
The voices of the crowd of diversified races reverberated throughout the arena as the presider of the match declared Elizabeth as the winner of the match against an Elven Noble, a woman that's blood-related to the current Queen of the Elnira Kingdom. Even some Elves seemed to stop minding the "race" of the participants because of the good match, which entertained the spectators, the two of them had shown.
After that, with curiosity and gazes of adoration aimed at her, Elizabeth was transported back to the seats where Han Jiho and Anya Amasawa were sitting.
"Congratulations! That's an intense one. I wonder if she's going to transfer to the Obelisk Academy."
With a delighted expression, Anya expressed her opinion as she praised Elizabeth's performance.
"Perhaps. Anyway, it's been a few hours since Samantha and the others went somewhere, did your father, Mister Makoto say anything?"
"No. Didn't I tell you? When he's serious about something and he doesn't tell me anything, it just means that I shouldn't pry any further about whatever that might be.
"If you're that curious, why don't you ask your mother?"
"My mother? She's at the Obelisk Organization right now, along with some others. I bet they'd agreed on guarding the human territory since it's fragile with the absence of numerous powerhouses."
Elizabeth responded to Anya's remarks. Jiho, who was listening to the side as the current match in the area was proceeding as usual, interjected.
"Uh, Elizabeth, Anya… Excuse my intrusion but, do any of you have any news about Leon? I think it's been some time since I last saw him. I mean – he's probably part of the lineup in the Student Category in this tournament, right?"
Shifting their gazes to him, it was Anya who responded.
"I think his match isn't scheduled today, so he probably won't show up here. Why did you ask, though? Do you miss him? Hahaha!"
"I'd rather die."
Elizabeth chuckled at the exchange of the two, letting the moment of ease pass by itself before opening up to them about what's bothering her for a while ever since the terror attack that was caused by the terrorist organization, Black Sky Disorder, or to be specific, by a core member of it, Zebel, who had a connection with Artorious and most likely their respective parents.
In addition, considering the environment where there were many eyes and ears around, it's better for Elizabeth to discuss it with them in private.
'It's like their minds are either occupied or totally forgot about it. Well, it's not like they'd remember it since that life-and-death circumstances scarred them.'
Elizabeth thought before shifting her gaze to the arena where an Elf and a Dwarf were fighting. After three to five seconds, she heard Anya's words, addressing Jiho.
"Your relationship with Chancellor Alexander is ambiguous, but maybe… just maybe you can ask him about why Samantha and the others left and forfeited their matches. It's not like it's necessary, however, I'm becoming increasingly curious, too."
Before Jiho could make a response, Elizabeth interjected. She's against Anya's suggestion.
"Stop. Just as you said, if someone like your father won't spill it out, then it's certainly a crucial matter. Let's not stick our noses to it, alright."
"Sigh… Alright."
Jiho only listened as his thoughts raced, considering Anya's suggestion, but he knew it was better to ask in secrecy, hoping that Alexander would answer him truthfully.
***
"What are you contemplating about, Azalea?"
A soft voice entered the President of the Disciplinary Committee as the former Secretary of the Student Council, who, at the moment, was sitting beside her along with other members of the department, asked in curiosity. Victoria Angelica Rasputin, who unexpectedly formed a Star Contract with the "One Who Peeks On First Clock Movement," noticed that Azalea seemed lost, in reverie for a while now.
"...Hey?"
"Ah…? W-what?"
After the second time of casually poking her, Azalea responded, perplexed.
"Tsk. I said, what are you thinking? You're staring blankly in the arena."
"Is that so…? Uh, it's nothing serious. Don't mind me."
"Hmm… Alright then."
Victoria didn't press on the matter as she averted her gaze, focusing on the intense battle that was happening right now in the arena.
***
'Where did they go…? It's been some time since they forfeited their matches. Even those three had no idea.'
Azalea thought as she heard the conversation between Elizabeth, Anya, and Jiho due to the fact that she was sitting just a row or two away from them despite the noise echoing around.
'But if it's Russell, I'm pretty sure that something abnormal will happen again. Sigh, that man… I hope he's okay.'
She was someone who knew when to stick up her nose onto something, so if she was not informed in any way even in the slightest, it would mean that her presence wasn't necessary.
***
"It seems you're pretty stupid for a leader."
At this moment, Tafor, possessed by the Vampire Commander, spoke, mocking Russell's decision-making. However, Russell realized what the vampire was referring to as he retorted with an unrelenting smile across his face.
"You think it's stupid of me not to call reinforcement outside despite uncovering your disguise? I think not."
Russell lunged forward. With the help of the Attribute: Nihility, he's sometimes caught, along with Amelie, the Vampire Commander off-guard as their presence was vanishing and appearing like a dilapidated clock, which sounds of hands were ticking and reaching one's ears or ticking yet in silence.
"Haha! Interesting! It would be quite a harvest of information after I dig that brain of yours!"
He didn't respond to the vampire, who seemed in ecstasy due to the unexplored possibilities by capturing and drawing Russell a crucial amount of information.
The reason the Vampire Commander was convinced that Russell wasn't a normal human in a sense of being sapient was that the latter had spoken about the "Adaption", which had yet to be known by humanity.
Slash-! Slash-
"Argh-!"
With an advantageous distance, Amelie fired a Dark Spear, grazing the vampire's shoulder from the back.
The vampire couldn't just turn his head away from Russell to deal with Amelie because of the peculiar way of making their presences disappear, however, if he's not careful, the next Dark Spear would possibly be aimed at his heart and it would mean the erasure of his existence.
[Activating Skill: Blades of Blood]
Pondering for a moment, he thought of a way to deal with Amelie's attack coming blindspot as numerous crimson blades floated and spin around him, which would serve to deflect any unforeseen attacks.
'But something's amiss. I don't know if her aim was bad because she could have hit my heart from behind... And they aren't calling reinforcements, too. Don't tell me...'
"I see. Just like the woman named Ayleen had previously said, you wanted to spare me so you can access my memories.
"But that would be a waste-"
"Since they would become the playthings of the Crimson Princess. Is that what you wanted to say?"
The Vampire Commander's crimson eyes widened as Russell, a mere human, mentioned a royal of the Vampire Race.
"Y-you! How!? Ha-!!"
Clang-!
The Vampire Commander, who was presumably around A rank, exerted more strength in his attack, causing Russell to be pushed back.
"Don't worry. Your little Crimson Princess, even if she's royalty, is still a child, after all. What I mean is she easily gets scared."
"You... It seems bringing you back to our lands is out of the question. I must kill you-"
Before he finished his sentence, a sword struck his abdomen from behind, but the figure of the one who mentioned the Crimson Princess was still standing in front of him.
"W-what..."
Stab-! Stab-
Quick stabs pierced his body, but his heart wasn't struck so he wouldn't die.
The Vampire Commander slowly turned his head, and what screened in his eyes with an expression of disbelief was a creature that was not an Elf, Human, or a Dwarf, but a Chaos Goblin that the Vampire had no idea about such existence.
"Fret not, Vampire Commander. Your Crimson Princess will be safe... at least in my arms."
Similar to numerous circumstances, after he turned his head, he didn't feel Russell's presence who quickly approached him. However, his words clearly rang in his ears.
"Y-you bas-"
Before he could scream, Russell cut the Vampire Commander's head, which then rolled on the ground as it bounced a few times, while the tattered body, because of Met's surprise attack under Russell's command, was left kneeling.
"Don't attempt connecting to your body. I'll kill your Vampire Princess if you do anything reckless."
Russell warned, seeing the eyes of the Vampire Commander still blinking.
Crack-! Crack-
At that moment, a sound of cracking gathered their attention. It came from the false cube that sucked Samantha, Ayleen, and the others.
"Oh, it's about time!"
The Vampire Commander's eyes widened. It seemed as though it wasn't enough peculiarities he experienced this time.
"H-how... That's a high-rank artifa-"
Pak-!
"Shut your mouth."
Lusha, who scrutinized what happened and assisted Russell, kicked the vampire's head, sending it a few meters away from the body.
After a few seconds of silence, Ayleen and the others appeared, seemingly unable to believe what they went through.
***
"She's strong, and that one's not ordinary at all."
In her room, the Crimson Princess, one of the princesses of the Vampire Race, muttered alone.
"I wonder who sent these people inside my playground! Sigh. I'll ask about it later."
Some Vampire Commanders were assigned to monitor the Northern, Western, and Southern Elnira. In addition to their job of gathering information by infiltration, they're each given an artifact called Ruby Cube, where they could send and trap their captures. Although it needed the individual's consent since these same artifacts weren't meant for war, but rather for the Crimson Princess' hobby.
In other words, she'd like to play pranks against some weak Elves, but she never expected that Humans were brought this time.
Furthermore, the more time the captives spent inside the imaginary world projected from a Ruby Cube, the more they're prone to become insane. That's why every victim inside would have no choice but commit suicide, burying their bodies in there forever.
"But that girl... She's able to make a crack inside this small world... Heh heh! I think I like her!"
The Crimson Princess, upon witnessing what Samantha had just done, felt delighted at her existence since it was the first for her to see such a spectacle and power.
Knock-! Knock-
"Oh, come in, Bianca!"
Her vampire maid opened the door to her room. Wearing maid attire, Bianca bowed before she spoke.
"Young Princess, the Lord's waiting for you."
"Yay. Alright! I'll be out in a minute."
The delighted voice caught Bianca off-guard as she queried.
"You seem happy, Young Princess?"
"Yup, yup! I found a friend, you see!"
"A friend? Who?"
"It's a secret Bianca! I need to introduce myself first, heh."
"Alright, Young Princess. I'm hoping to know your friend, too."
Bianca said before closing the door.
As the Crimson Princess heard the receding footsteps, she muttered alone.
"Why are they taking everything from me? Tsk. This hellhole is tiring!"
***
"Good afternoon, My Lord."
The Crimson Princess, inside the room of one of the Vampire Lords, greeted the Lord or her father.
"Did I forbid you to call me that? I'm your father, Almirah."
The Vampire Lord addressed the Crimson Princess by her name, Almirah.
"It's how I show my respect, father."
Almirah replied as she helped herself and took a seat.
"I'll be frank, Almirah. Do you want to attend the upcoming Council of Lords?"
"Huh...? I-I mean isn't that exclusive for you and the other Lords?"
Almirah seemed confused at the sudden development since in her mind, at this moment, there was only Samantha.
"Sigh, that's why I told you to interact more with other nobles outside and not lock yourself in your room.
"Anyway, it's not only for us but for other bloodlines, too."
"Ah... Hmm. A-alright?"
"I hope you won't change your mind. Your other siblings will be there, too."
The Vampire Lord responded, somewhat feeling relieved that one of her daughters was taking a step even little by little.
'Y-yes! I have to try! If I can't interact with fellow vampires, how can I contact that human!'
Almirah inwardly made a resolve.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om