A week later, the afterglow of the Festival had completely faded, and everyone was back to everyday life.
The weather, too, had returned to that stifling heat.
The day–night swing was big, though—short sleeves by day and you'd still sweat; at night you needed a jacket.
Shichen put on a jacket, picked up an envelope on the table that looked like an invitation, and left his room.
"Shichen…"
"Shichen."
Avrora and Kaguya were waiting for him at the door.
"Let's go," he said, ruffling both their heads.
Half a month had passed. Avrora hadn't changed much—vampires mature slowly. Kaguya's hair had grown a lot, though it still looked a bit boyish.
Better than no change at all.
"Mm." The two nodded and followed him.
"Natsuki, we'll be right back," Shichen called to Natsuki Minamiya, who was seated at the table sipping black tea.
"Mm… Are you sure you don't need me with you?" she couldn't help asking.
"Relax. It's just like when we go out for ice cream. We'll be back fast."
"…Fine. Just don't come back battered."
"No chance we'll be hurt. But if I meet your conditions, is there a reward when I return?"
"You still want a reward?"
"So there's really no reward?"
"…Depends on how you behave."
"Deal—we're off."
"N-Natsuki, we're going," Avrora said, giving a small wave. She was still a little afraid of her.
"Natsuki, we're going," Kaguya echoed, entirely unafraid.
"Mm. Go and come back early."
…
They left the apartment. Shichen took a hand of each—Avrora on one side, Kaguya on the other—and walked the empty street.
It was bright out for night; the moon was full.
Partway along, Shichen stopped and looked up to the rooftops on both sides.
"Shichen, what is it?" Avrora asked, puzzled.
"You don't sense them?" he replied.
"Sense who?"
"Forget it, you little dummy."
"What? How dare you call me that! I even let you… let you touch my—my chest every day… mmph!"
"Okay, okay—you're not a dummy, alright?" Shichen quickly covered her mouth.
Kaguya acted like she hadn't followed, but something flashed in her eyes.
"Ahem. Kaguya, do you sense them?" he asked as if nothing had happened.
"Mm." Kaguya nodded slightly.
"Eh? Kaguya, what did you notice?" Avrora asked.
"Don't play dumb."
"Shichen, I'm mad!" Avrora puffed her cheeks and glared at him.
Unfazed, Shichen pinched her cheek, then looked up at the rooftops and asked coolly, "Not going to show yourselves?"
Whoosh—
A ripping sound of air, and several figures dropped into place around them.
There were four of them—petite builds, clearly women—and, crucially, each had flame-bright golden hair.
Just like Avrora and Kaguya.
Other vessels.
All four wore armored suits, though they did nothing to hide their slight frames.
Anyone fooled by their looks would be an idiot.
"No. 3 (Tritos), No. 4 (Tetartos)… and No. 6 and No. 10—what are you doing here?" Kaguya identified them at a glance.
The four didn't answer. They simply dropped to one knee to Shichen like knights before their king.
"Kneeling to me? So you acknowledge me as your new king?" Shichen smiled.
Still no answer—only slight nods.
They'd been watching Shichen's daily life with Avrora and Kaguya, watching how he doted on them, and had already chosen him.
"Good."
Shichen stepped up to No. 3, unfastened her helmet, and revealed an elf-pretty, dreamlike face—
of course, the same face as Avrora's.
He brushed her cheek, raised her up, drew her into an embrace, then lowered his head to her neck; fangs slid out and pierced.
No. 3's brows knit a touch; she held still, then her expression loosened.
Shichen drew out the familiar within her, then released her and leaned down to kiss her lips, tinting them red.
"Calling you No.3 sounds all wrong. From now on, you're Tritos."
"Yes."
"Enter my body first."
He drew Sansan into himself, then walked to No. 4 and did the same.
"From now on, you're Tetartos."
"Mm."
"And you—Hektos, Dekatos."
After taking in No. 6 and No. 10, Shichen led Avrora and Kaguya toward the ceremony site again.
Avrora, however, wasn't happy.
"Shichen… how could you… kiss them too?"
"Oh? You want me all to yourself?" he teased.
"U-um… can't I?"
"Pretty greedy. But you've got it backward—it's not that I belong to you; you belong to me," he said, flicking her nose.
"What's the difference?" Avrora sniffed, unused to it.
"The difference is what's happening right now—you don't get to be jealous."
"Mm…" Avrora pouted.
"What? You don't want your other sisters to live happily?"
"Of course I do! But you still can't—"
"It's a necessary step. How can you be so selfish?"
"I'm not—"
"Alright, alright. I'll make it up to you when we get back, okay? We've already lost time; Natsuki will scold us."
"Then hurry."
The venue Zaharias chose for the Eternal Banquet was the old Southeast District of Itogami—an artificial island floating off the main island's southeast.
It had started as a prototype construction site, later used as the base to build Itogami's main island. Most residents had been city planners, construction workers, and their families.
It used to be Itogami's center, but once the four directional islands (east, west, south, north) were completed, it fell out of use, and its population has been shrinking.
Compared to the main island, it's much smaller, with inferior infrastructure, and the island's service life is nearly up—already designated a decommission zone, slated for total demolition in a few years.
In other words, a dying island—very on-brand for a merchant of death like Zaharias to host his banquet there.
The invitation listed the exact spot, though Shichen hadn't gotten the island intel from Natsuki—
it was Shizuka Koyomi who told him.
Since he now controlled space across Itogami, and they'd been delayed by the encounter with the four, he took Avrora straight to the destination: the Quartz Gate.
Quartz Gate stood at the center of the old Southeast District—a six-story complex that had once housed city government offices and the island management corporation's headquarters.
Its outer walls were reinforced, magic-treated diamond glass; the entire structure was like a giant jewel palace, and at its heart rose a massive clock tower shaped like a hexagonal crystal.
The tower had once showcased Itogami's tech to the world—an iconic magical structure.
But with the district scheduled for demolition, Quartz Gate would be abandoned as well.
For now, it was off-limits—a deserted ruin. This beautiful but empty glass castle was the stage Zaharias had chosen: the central plaza of Quartz Gate.
Under the glass roof of the plaza, twelve coffins were arranged in a fan. Half of them held six fairy-like young women lying quietly within:
the remaining Night Lord of the Blazing Lights vessels—Nos. 11, 9, 8, 7, 2, and 1—every Night Lord Zaharias currently possessed.
Quite a feat to snatch the remaining vessels from other True Ancestors' domains so quickly.
With six vessels, he truly had the standing to host the Banquet.
"Zaharias. Long time no see," Shichen said as he walked into the central plaza with Avrora and Kaguya.
Seeing Shichen, Zaharias smiled and gave a graceful bow. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Shichen—and Miss Avrora, Miss Kaguya. Welcome to the banquet I convene."
Kaguya was unmoved. Avrora hid behind Shichen, frowning at the coffins holding her sisters.
Shichen looked to the center—at a gray-haired girl encased in a shell of gemstone crystal.
~~~
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