To be honest, the arrival of the Third Primogenitor deeply shocked Natsuki.
Even though Ren wasn't present, Natsuki had always kept her attention on his shop.
During the Blazing Banquet, even though Ren wasn't at the shop, and Remilia and Flandre had gone out, there remained an uncontrollable factor: Ophis.
Natsuki did not know the true extent of Ophis's power, but she knew one thing for certain: Ophis was pure. Pure to the point she never lied, never embellished, never flattered others.
Within Ophis's domain, anything she said was the absolute truth.
After knowing this, Natsuki had naturally asked her some things—though she strictly avoided anything she shouldn't ask. Instead, she only asked questions she personally cared about.
For example: exactly how strong was Ophis?
And Ophis answered with one sentence that left Natsuki speechless.
"If I use my full power, I can destroy everything on the surface. …It's very easy."
Was that even human language? Very easy to destroy the entire surface?
If she put in a little more effort, wouldn't the whole planet crumble into dust?
From that moment on, Natsuki had focused entirely on Ophis.
Remilia and Flandre knew their limits (except for the times when Flandre lost control), so they weren't a big worry.
At least on Itogami Island, Natsuki could serve as a suppressive force against Remilia and Flandre.
And Ren wasn't someone who would recklessly use his power. At least for now, there was no need to worry—and even if she wanted to worry, it wouldn't help.
The true problem was Ophis. She was too pure—pure enough that Natsuki couldn't predict what bizarre reason might cause her to use her power. Though once familiar with her, Ophis was surprisingly easy to persuade.
And Ren's shop was simply too likely to attract trouble.
Thus Natsuki constantly monitored it.
So when she sensed a space disturbance leading into Ren's shop, she immediately moved. And when she discovered it was the Third Primogenitor, she nearly slapped herself.
Why did I have to predict that the Third Primogenitor might show up!? Why did I have to be right!?
"May I ask again, Third Primogenitor, where did you hear such things?"
After hearing Giada's earlier comments, Natsuki appeared beside her in an instant.
At almost the same time, Ren—who had been deep in thought—appeared in the shop as well.
Upon seeing Giada, his thoughtful expression instantly vanished, replaced by joy.
Without a word, Ren produced a syringe from who-knows-where and stepped forward.
"I'll give you something good. Can you let me draw a vial of your blood?"
"You're… the one rumored to be from another world?"
"What rumored—of course I am! Let me guess, the Lion King Organization told you that."
"I asked them myself. I felt something unusual on the island, so when the banquet began, I asked a few more questions."
"I see."
Ren nodded slightly. He didn't find it strange.
Lucemon had been acting oddly. Even Ren—who rarely extended his perception—felt something strange.
Not that he cared enough to ask. Lucemon promised to give him an angel army, after all.
As for Giada, Ren remembered that in the original timeline, all three Empires sent representatives to the Blazing Banquet, and Giada appeared personally. So her appearance wasn't surprising.
"Um…"
"What is it?"
Giada frowned slightly. Her expression grew odd.
Ren's expression seemed to say: Whatever you want to say, I'll accept it, go ahead.
But then Giada looked at her arm—at some point, Ren had already grabbed it, and the needle was already inserted. Natsuki beside them was staring, stunned.
"Didn't you ask whether I agreed to the blood draw? Why did you start without letting me answer?"
Giada wasn't angry. She merely looked at Ren with interest.
Ren, completely calm, ignored Giada's twitching lips and prepared a second syringe.
"I asked you just as a courtesy. It doesn't stop me from starting. Besides, for a Primogenitor, losing some blood doesn't matter. Worst case, I'll give you some blood bags afterward."
Giada: "…"
Do you think you're dealing with a beggar? Since when can blood bags compare to Primogenitor's blood?
In the short time she'd spoken with him, Giada already felt an urge to complain about everything he said.
"Good. All done. I'll give you something nice later as payment."
Ren wasn't unreasonable. If Giada had caused trouble in his shop, he would've knocked her flat instantly—just like the first time with Kuroka, or worse. He could've turned her into a walking blood bank, constantly farming Primogenitor bloodline crystals for him.
But since she behaved, he wouldn't be harsh.
"What a domineering existence… Well, I'll look forward to the reward, then."
Giada shook her arm. For some reason—probably Ren teasing her—her arm was now numb.
Although she'd been chatting, she had constantly been testing him.
Her arm had changed shape—turning into a monstrous claw—and was enveloped in terrifying magic as she tried to injure this rude man.
But no matter how much strength she exerted, she couldn't break free.
She even considered releasing her familiars.
But one look—just one look—from Ren froze her blood itself.
Through that gaze, she saw a massive beast—one capable of crushing all her familiars effortlessly.
"…Another ridiculous existence."
Giada stopped resisting and allowed Ren to finish drawing blood.
She now wondered: were the other two vampires also at this absurd level?
After all, what she most wanted to test was those two who had no familiars.
After all, they were vampires from another world.
Just like how Remilia wanted to fight this world's Primogenitor's, Giada felt the same.
A powerful human or a powerful vampire? Of course a Primogenitor preferred the vampire.
This world did have vampire variants without familiars—the frongai—but they were low-level vampires despised by the entire lineage.
But the two vampires here were completely different.
They had no familiars, yet possessed terrifying abilities…
Naturally, Giada was curious.
But she was bound to be disappointed.
Those two vampires were… disappointingly unreliable.
"Yes. One ridiculous existence after another."
Natsuki agreed helplessly.
Giada glanced at her and asked with interest:
"Witch, don't tell me those two vampires are also such monsters?"
"No, those two…"
As if sensing something, Natsuki abruptly fell silent.
Giada also looked surprised.
The bright sky was suddenly covered by a heavy layer of red mist—thick enough to blanket the entire island.
Citizens pointed nervously at the blood-colored sky, unease growing on their faces.
Natsuki's expression turned grave.
Ren glanced at it symbolically, then ignored it and kept studying the blood in his hand.
Still, he pointed for Giada.
"The vampire you're looking for is the one releasing that red mist. She's probably fighting someone right now."
Indeed, Giada smiled with satisfaction.
Natsuki, however, held her head in frustration.
"That stupid little loli… I'm definitely going to punish her when she gets back!"
Ren shrugged.
Honestly, Remilia really wasn't suited to fighting in this world—especially during the daytime.
She had to use an umbrella while fighting, or else she had to cover the sky with mist. Otherwise she'd be smoking like a grilled bat midway through the battle.
He really needed to speed up the Primogenitor Bloodline crystal production.