From the Warlord's Empire

by Gakuto Mikumo

  “Wait, wait, wait, why is it like that?!”

  Kojou hurried to fend off the approaching Vattler.

  “Mm?”

  “Isn’t Avrora the one you swore your love to?!”

  “But she no longer exists. You consumed her, did you not?”

  Kojou swallowed his breath with an “urk” at Vattler’s casually tossed words.

  Kojou had no memory of that night. He couldn’t remember what happened. But Kojou, who had been a normal human being until but a few short months prior, had gained the power of the vampire known as the Fourth Primogenitor right around then.

  The only thinkable possibility was that Kojou had consumed the primogenitor, merging with and consuming the preceding Fourth Primogenitor, seizing her abilities and very being.

  For Kojou, a supposed mere human, to consume a vampire…he imagined it must have made an abominable sight.

  However, there was nothing in Vattler’s tone of voice that suggested he was scolding Kojou.

  Indeed, his smiling face seemed to be praising Kojou when he licked the corner of his upturned lips.

  “…However, I dedicate my love for her to you, the inheritor of her ‘blood.’ Having sworn my eternal love to her, my conduct is very natural, is it not?”

  “I’m tellin’ you that logic’s all messed up! So, what, anything goes if it’s the same bloodline?!”

  “But of course. That you inherited the power of the Fourth Primogenitor means that she accepted you. Compared to that, the two of us being men is but a small, trifling thing.”

  “It is not trifling. It’s a big problem! And would you stop using your tongue like that?!”

  Kojou yelled at the young aristocrat’s provocatively flicking his tongue.

  Then, pushing the thin-tempered Kojou back, Yukina stepped in front of him, instrument case in hand.

  “Duke Ardeal…there is something I must ask you.”

  A mystified look came over Vattler at the unexpected and unbidden intrusion. It seemed he had not taken more note of Yukina’s existence than that of a pebble until now.

  “And you are?”

  “I am called Yukina Himeragi, Sword Shaman of the Lion King Agency. I have come tonight as watcher of the Fourth Primogenitor.”

  “Hmm…I see. Miss Sayaka’s colleague, then?”

  Vattler looked down at Yukina, murmuring at her formally identifying herself.

  “Incidentally, Kojou’s body carries the same scent as your blood… Were you the spirit medium for Regulus Aurum by any chance?”

  “…?!”

  Yukina’s entire body awkwardly stiffened at Vattler unexpectedly hitting the mark.

  Kojou’s expression froze solid as well. Kojou had inherited twelve Beast Vassals from the previous Fourth Primogenitor. However, they had not recognized Kojou as their master, making them uncontrollable, a dangerous situation that continued even now.

  Among them, Regulus Aurum was the only one he had managed to tame. At the end of many twists and turns, Kojou had finally managed to bring one Beast Vassal under his control through sucking Yukina’s blood.

  Of course, they had not been so careless as to speak of the fact he’d sucked on the blood of the girl watching over him to others, but…

  “You mean…you can tell even that from the smell of blood…?!”

  Kojou was heavily taken aback as he responded with his question. He felt a penetrating gaze from behind. He knew the source without even bothering to look back. It was Sayaka Kirasaka, glaring at Kojou with hate-filled eyes.

  A chill ran up Kojou’s spine at the pure bloodlust levied at him. Sayaka had called herself a specialist in curses and assassination. Certainly, that level of bloodlust was more than sufficient to put a killing curse on a person or two.

  “No, I lied. I just wanted to say it.”

  Vattler’s smiling face looked quite satisfied, as if he was quite pleased at rocking Kojou and Yukina onto their heels.

  “But well, you see, if you are indeed a candidate for being Kojou’s ‘blood companion,’ that makes you my rival in love. As a show of respect, I shall make an exception and answer your question. What do you wish to ask?”

  “There’s a lot wrong with that preamble. She’s no candidate or your love rival!”

  Though Kojou refuted him in earnest, Vattler let the words slide past him as if not listening whatsoever.

  Yukina made a heavy exhale, a sharp look on her face as she gazed directly at Vattler.

  “Please share with us your reason for visiting Itogami Island. Or is it your objective to establish an unseemly relationship with the Fourth Primogenitor?”

  Even Yukina’s provocative manner of speech did not cause Vattler’s smiling facade to crumble. Indeed, his brows rose in apparent pleasure.

  “Of course, that is very much my objective. Ah, but I am remiss, there was another matter as well.”

  “So you did come for that!” Kojou muttered in annoyance. Yukina, shrouded in a hostile aura, glared at Vattler as if trying to intimidate him.

  “And this other matter is…?”

  “I had to make somewhat proper arrangements. I thought, if this Demon Sanctuary is indeed the territory of the Fourth Primogenitor, I must first make a proper greeting. After all, this might be somewhat troublesome for you.”

  As Vattler spoke, he gracefully snapped his fingers. On that signal, a horde of servants emerged from the ship interior one after the other. The food wagon they hauled in was filled to the brim with various dishes. There had been food brought into the assembly hall for the party, but it felt shabby compared to the exquisite cuisine here.

  “…What do you mean by ‘troublesome’?” Yukina asked without even glancing at the food that had been brought out.

  Vattler, engaging in bad manners by picking up a slice of raw ham with his fingers, made a smile.

  “Do you know of the name Kristof Gardos, Kojou?”

  “No, who’s that?”

  As Kojou shook his head, a man who seemed like Vattler’s butler handed a wineglass over to him. Since Kojou was underage, he began to refuse, but gave in upon seeing the man’s face. Though his demeanor was calm and intellectual, he was an aging man with a stern face that bore an incredibly overpowering aura. There was a large, old scar on one cheek, making one think he’d lived a rough life.

  Vattler similarly accepted a glass from the butler, raising it to Kojou as he declared a toast. Kojou had to reluctantly admit it was picture-perfect.

  “He is a former soldier native to the Warlord’s Empire, his name known briefly in Europe as a terrorist. As a leader of a group of radicals known as the Black Death Emperor Front, he was responsible for the takeover of the National Assembly in Prague some ten years ago, resulting in over four hundred deaths.”

  “I’ve heard of the Black Death Emperor Front. But weren’t they wiped out years ago? I’m sure their leader was assassinated…,” Kojou murmured as he vaguely recalled an old news story. Kojou remembered it from back in his primary school days, so it had to have been a pretty big incident.

  “Yes. I killed him. Though he was an elderly beast man with a somewhat troublesome special ability.”

  As Vattler tilted his wineglass, he answered with a casual smile. Kojou silently stared at the young aristocrat before his eyes. In spite of his current frivolous behavior, he felt keenly that this was an important figure in the world at large.

  “Gardos is a survivor of the Black Death Emperor Front. Or, to be more accurate, Gardos serves as the new leader for the remnants of the Black Death Emperor Front. He has an illustrious career as a terrorist, after all.”

  “Wait a sec. You mean your reason for coming to Itogami Island is related to this Gardos guy?” Kojou asked as he suddenly felt a bad premonition. Vattler made what seemed like a nod of admiration.

  “Your quick wits make this easy, Kojou. Precisely. It has been reported to me that Gardos, and his Black Death Emperor Front subordinates along with him, have infiltrated this island.”
/>
  “…What would European radicals come all the way to this island for?”

  “Who knows…? They surely have something in mind.”

  Kojou grated his teeth at the young aristocrat’s feigning ignorance. Having silently watched until now, Sayaka suddenly spoke to Kojou in a businesslike tone.

  “The Black Death Emperor Front is a beast man–supremacist group. Their objectives are the complete rupture of the Holy Ground Treaty and striking down the First Primogenitor who rules the Warlord’s Empire…”

  Without thinking, Kojou made a peevish look at Sayaka’s cold attitude, which seemed to be saying, You didn’t even know that?

  “That’s got even less to do with this island.”

  “No, senpai. That is incorrect.” Yukina rebuked Kojou in a small voice.

  “Quite so,” said Vattler, making a mischievous wink.“Itogami Island is a Demon Sanctuary…a city established according to the Holy Ground Treaty. To them, that is cause enough to create an incident here. The Black Death Emperor Front does pride itself on its symbolism.”

  “Wha… What kind of one-sided logic is that?” Kojou said with a low groan.

  “Having said that, Japan is not the only nation with a Demon Sanctuary. It’s natural to presume that they have some other reason to come to Itogami Island in particular.”

  “Some other reason…like what?”

  “That I do not know.”

  Vattler made a careless shake of his head. His voice was oddly buoyant.

  “If I was to venture a guess, hmm, they might be searching for a way to defeat a primogenitor, as killing the First Primogenitor is their final objective.”

  “…And what, you’re fine with that?”

  Kojou made a sigh with a dumbfounded look.

  Primogenitors were the oldest, most powerful of all vampires. If the Black Death Emperor Front obtained the power to defeat that primogenitor, it meant they posed a threat to the existence of all other vampires as well. Vattler should have been in as much danger as anyone. But…

  “I don’t really mind… Well, that’s what the old man would say. In light of various circumstances that concern me, I can say no differently.”

  Opening his arms wide as if it was someone else’s problem, Vattler let out a laugh rich in meaning.

  Yukina glared at the mysterious, young aristocrat with a very serious look on her face.

  “Do you intend to assassinate Kristof Gardos?”

  “Not at all. I intend nothing that is so troublesome. In the first place, my Beast Vassals are not oriented toward such delicate work. Their specialty is more along the lines of burning cities to the ground.”

  Vattler slipped away from Yukina’s cross-examination like an eel. “Proud of it, huh?” Kojou muttered with a quiet sigh. However, it was the blunt truth that vampire Beast Vassals weren’t oriented toward precision attacks. If Vattler wasn’t minded to do battle with the terrorists, that was a relief…but the moment Kojou allowed himself a sense of relief…

  “But you know, if Gardos’s side should come to try and kill me, I will be forced to engage them. I would be exercising self-defense. Isn’t that so?”

  As if sneering at Kojou for lowering his guard, Vattler spoke, seeking his agreement. That was when Kojou, too, finally realized what he was up to.

  Vattler, who had slain the leader of the group of radicals known as the Black Death Emperor Front, was a target for their revenge, so to speak. Surely the remnants of the Black Death Emperor Front were awaiting their opportunity to take revenge upon him even now.

  If Gardos did truly obtain the power to slay a primogenitor, he’d go straight for Vattler. Vattler, too, sought this.

  “So you came to Itogami Island to taunt the terrorists to draw them out, huh? Coming aboard this ridiculously conspicious ship too…”

  “No, no…my primary objective was to meet you, my beloved.” As Vattler spoke those words, he turned an insistent look upon Kojou.

  Kojou’s voice grew ragged. “Like this is the time to kid around. If you wanna wage war, do it in your own country. Don’t bring trouble to other people’s cities!”

  “Of course, I wish such trouble may be avoided. Should the Counter-Demon Agents of this city capture Gardos, I have no complaint. It would be nice if I was saved the trouble. That, of course, is if they can catch him.”

  With a small shake of his head and a shrug of his shoulders, Vattler made an exaggerated sigh.

  Then, he turned a handsome, smiling face toward Kojou that made him shiver.

  “But the nine Beast Vassals that obey me… Should danger befall me, their master, who knows what they might do? Sinking this island is no great concern to them. That is why I thought I should apologize to you…in advance.”

  “Wha…?!”

  This time, it was Kojou who exclaimed.

  Vattler had just made clear he was fine with sinking Itogami Island. Should mere dozens of terrorists come after his life, he’d destroy the island and everyone on it.

  And he made this declaration right in front of Kojou. This doubled as his declaration that Kojou could do nothing to stop him. If Kojou got in his way, he’d take Kojou down, too…

  These, hidden behind his frivolous, superficial words, were the true feelings of Dimitrie Vattler.

  It wasn’t that it didn’t piss him off. But in truth, Kojou didn’t have any way to stop Vattler.

  For even should Kojou attempt to stop Vattler by force, the resulting fight between them would do immense damage to Itogami Island by itself.

  So long as Vattler claimed legitimate self-defense, neither Yukina, nor Sayaka, nor the Lion King Agency could raise a hand to stop him. The mere fact that terrorists were after the life of Vattler, an official foreign emissary, was insufficient cause to expel him from Itogami Island.

  With the situation providing no escape hatch, Kojou began to sink into despair when…

  “If I may say so, you need not be so concerned, Duke Ardeal.”

  It was Yukina who offered her opinion in a clear, chilly voice.

  “H-Himeragi?”

  “…What could you mean, I wonder? Surely you do not suggest Kojou might take care of Gardos in my place? I think even my Beast Vassals are better behaved than the Fourth Primogenitor’s…”

  Both Kojou and Vattler had surprised looks as they asked their questions in reply.

  A look of quiet determination came over Yukina’s graceful features as she nodded.

  “I suppose so. Therefore, I will apprehend the Black Death Emperor Front remnants in the Fourth Primogenitor’s place.”

  “…Yukina?!” Sayaka shrieked. As talented as she was, when Yukina was concerned, her reserve seemed to fly out the window. But Kojou understood why she was nervous all too well.

  “Why does it have to be like that?! Taking on this Gardos guy in my place or whatever…”

  “Please be quiet, both of you. As a watcher, it is the obvious conclusion. I cannot permit the Fourth Primogenitor to come in contact with terrorists, after all, particularly since they seek to kill primogenitors.”

  Yukina spoke in a hard, flat voice. To an impartial observer, she would appear levelheaded, but this was the look she always gave off when digging in her heels. Having such a serious personality, she was quite obstinate once she set her mind on something.

  Also, Vattler looked over Yukina as if somehow wary of her.

  “Hmm…I see. Interesting…perhaps I should say, as expected by my rival in love?”

  “Eh? No, it’s nothing like that at…”

  Yukina’s stiff expression softened as she let out a perplexed-sounding voice.

  But the young aristocrat seemed to take pleasure in it as he made what somehow seemed to be a cruel laugh as he made his declaration.

  “Very well, let us first see the might of the Sword Shaman of the Lion King Agency. Show me whether you are worthy of being Kojou’s companion.”

  “That ain’t for you to decide dammit,” muttered Kojou, but Yukina and Va
ttler completely ignored him as they glared at each other.

  Glancing to the side, he saw Sayaka was in a light daze, still frozen in shock. Apparently Yukina telling her to be quiet had delivered quite a shock to her.

  Yukina made a quiet nod toward the young aristocrat making a taunting smile at her.

  Those were the circumstances of that night’s rendezvous with Vattler. Upon that note ended Kojou and Yukina’s late-night meeting with the envoy from the First Primogenitor.

  And then…

  “Kojou! Oh, Kojou!”

  Suddenly hearing a voice right at his ear, Kojou’s eyes twitched in surprise.

  It was certainly not a disagreeable voice. Indeed, it had an intimate ring to his ear. But he still had a very bad feeling about this. Why was he hearing her voice here…?

  “How long are you gonna sleep for? Hey, if you don’t wake up soon, you’re gonna be late.”

  With his body violently shaken, Kojou slowly opened his eyelids.

  Perhaps his mind still being foggy was because he’d had a long dream. It didn’t really register that there was a girl in his field of vision. Her hair was nicely done up; her eyelashes were very shapely. She had a surprisingly nicely made-up and elegant face. It was the warmth of her soft body and the scent of soap that made Kojou wake with a start.

  “A-Asagi?”

  “Good morning, Kojou. You’re late.”

  It was morning in the Akatsuki residence in his own very familiar room. Looking down upon the freshly woken Kojou, Asagi Aiba smiled.

  2

  It was said that a surprise came from the degree of difference between an unexpected event and normalcy, but when the difference was too great, one was all the calmer because the situation was simply too absurd.

  As surprises went, having a girl from his class show up on top of his own bed was far more shocking to him than any meeting with a larger-than-life aristocrat from the Warlord’s Empire.

  Mounted atop the thoroughly dumbfounded Kojou, Asagi flicked the tip of Kojou’s nose.

  “Why, Kojou, you… If you keep sleeping like that, I’m gonna play pranks on you!”

  “…What are you doing? Did you eat something weird…?” Kojou moaned out as her all-too-cute conduct felt all the more ominous for it.