The light fades, revealing a stone room lit by torches on the walls.

Azazel: "Yo, you made it."

Azazel approaches.

Azazel: "Sorry, but we're moving out. Details in the car. Elmenhilde, guide them."

A vampire girl from the recent meeting steps forward.

Elmenhilde: "Understood. Welcome to Carmilla territory. Though… we only requested Gasper Vladi."

Issei: "Tough luck. We're here for our friends."

She eyes us warily, but I respond fast—Alice looks ready to snap, glaring at Elmenhilde with half-lidded eyes. Annoyed or angry? Hard to tell.

It's true, though—we're here to protect our own.

Elmenhilde seems to have thoughts about me but moves on.

Elmenhilde: "My apologies, but let's head to the car."

We leave the underground transfer room, climbing stairs. It's cold, despite my winter gear. The stone building's chilly once we exit the slightly warm room.

Outside, snow blankets everything. Romania's colder than Japan, especially in this remote mountain vampire territory. Good call bringing heat pads.

Elmenhilde doesn't even exhale white breath—pureblood vampires are immune to cold.

Our cardboard vampire, though…

Gasper: "S-So cold…"

He's shivering hard. Half-vampire struggles show.

It's cold for others too.

Alice: "Brr! Colder than I thought!"

Odiria was warmer, and Alice never traveled to such frigid places. First time for her.

Miu and I have been skiing, so we're used to this chill.

Asia & Miu: "Wow…"

They gape at the castle town below, buildings circling a grand castle, framed by snow-covered mountains. It's surreal, almost fantastical.

Modern buildings mix in—vampires adopt human culture too.

Xenovia (muttering): "The vampire stronghold the church hunted for years. Never caught a hint as a warrior, yet here I am as a devil."

Relations between factions have shifted drastically.

We emerged from a watchtower for detecting intruders, its basement housing the transfer circle.

As I scan the area—

Alice: "So cold!"

She dives into my coat!

Issei: "What're you doing!?"

Alice: "I hate cold! Warm me up!"

Issei: "You've got a coat!"

Alice: "Still freezing!"

Ugh, hopeless. Her clinging makes walking tough, but… fine.

Asia: "Alice-san, that's unfair! Warm me too!"

Asia joins, slipping into my other side!

Sorry, it's cold! My coat's wide open, and even with layers, I'm freezing! Two gorgeous blondes clinging is nice, but I'm cold!

Someone warm me up!

Azazel (exhaling): "What're you doing? Hurry up."

He's exasperated.

I didn't notice then—someone was watching me.

We exit the tower, splitting into two vans. Azazel and Rossweisse drive—Rossweisse has a license. I've got a motorcycle one; Azazel made me a beastly bike for my high-class devil promotion, but that's another story.

Elmenhilde: "Devils' tastes are incomprehensible."

Vampires, including Elmenhilde, react to Rugal with fear and disgust. What's his deal?

We bid Carmilla vampires farewell and depart.

In the van, we get the bombshell.

Issei: "Tepes' new leader is… Valerie!?"

I blurt out, stunned. A coup changed the leader, but Gasper's benefactor!?

Gasper: "V-Valerie…"

He's shaken. No surprise—she's now Tepes' head.

No one saw this coming.

Issei: "Tepes is male-dominant, right? A half-vampire girl as leader…?"

Azazel: "Khaos Brigade manipulated them. The anti-government faction, lured by the Grail's 'weakness overcoming' power, joined terrorists. They likely sent enhanced vampires against Carmilla too."

This is bad. I'm worried about Rias and the others in Tepes.

Azazel: "Tepes' government couldn't handle the rebels and terrorists, so they asked Carmilla for aid. Carmilla sees a chance to gain leverage over Tepes' king. I'm scouting Tepes, but I need backup."

Akeno: "So, you summoned us to rescue Rias and investigate. Right?"

Azazel: "Exactly."

Issei (muttering): "Sounds like a fight's coming…"

Azazel: "Sorry. I'll try talking first, but combat's likely. Carmilla's joining to quash the coup, and they're motivated—identified their targets. Their agents are surrounding Tepes' town. We'll infiltrate, gather intel, maybe break through the center. If that guy is involved, it'll get messy."

That guy? Azazel knows the mastermind?

Alice (sighing): "No time for souvenirs."

Obviously. Mom's request was absurd. What even are Romanian souvenirs?

Akeno: "We link up with Rias and Kiba, then extract Valerie?"

Gasper: "I'll save Valerie!"

I pat Gasper's head. "Easy. We'll all save her."

Gasper: "Yes, Issei-senpai!"

Two hours later, we reach a gondola station mid-mountain.

Azazel: "This is Carmilla's route to Tepes' town. The gondola's specially made to pass Tepes' multi-layered barriers."

We board, ascending the snowy mountains at night.

Issei: "Nothing out here."

Miu: "Just snow."

No villages, just mountains.

In the gondola, I spot Xenovia with a notebook.

Xenovia: "Japanese kanji flashcard. Studying."

Issei: "You, studying kanji? Bad test score?"

Xenovia: "Language is tough, but I'm above average."

Occult Club members ace tests—even battle-focused Xenovia and Irina.

Xenovia (flipping cards): "I've got goals. Need knowledge."

Issei: "Goals?"

Asia: "Xenovia's into school events, wants to enjoy student life fully."

She loves school festivals and classes—new experiences after her church life.

Irina: "I'll teach you Japanese, Xenovia!"

Xenovia: "Pass. Your Japanese knowledge is shaky. I'll study alone or ask Rias, Akeno, or Miu."

Ouch, I'm not included. Bit of a shock.

Irina (pouting): "Rude!"

Xenovia (sighing): "You botched an idiom last time. 'Survival of the fittest' isn't about equal barbecue rights."

That's… awful. What kind of mistake is that?

Alice glances at me—I don't mess up like that! My language scores are solid! Math's my weak spot, but I'm improving.

Irina (flustered): "Tch… I mixed it with a yakiniku parody!"

Xenovia: "Self-proclaimed 'Japan-raised.' Impressive."

Another self-proclaimed title: angel, childhood friend, now Japan-raised.

Issei (counting fingers): "…"

Irina (teary): "What're you counting, Issei-kun!?"

Issei: "Your self-proclaimed titles."

Irina: "Mean! They're real! Angel, childhood friend, Japan-raised!"

Issei: "Sure, Yakiniku Ace."

Irina: "Ugh! Xenovia's bullying me, Asia-san!"

Asia: "Let's study Japanese together, Irina-san."

Irina: "Even you, Asia-san!? Miu-san, you get me, right?"

Miu (thumbs-up): "Let's do it! I'll teach you Japanese!"

Ouch, Miu, that's brutal—an otherworlder teaching a "Japan-raised" girl.

Ravel (smirking): "Miu's such a natural."

Issei (to Ravel): "Heard about Sona's school?"

Ravel: "Yes, Phoenix house knows. My brothers are intrigued."

Issei: "Even Riser?"

Ravel: "My middle brother sees it as the Underworld's first classless school. The others, as Rating Game players, are excited. Riser says it'll show even low-magic devils can grow strong."

Issei: "Riser's changed."

Alice: "Big difference from last time."

Issei: "I agree with him. Can't wait to see how Sona's school shapes kids."

Maybe it'll uncover amazing talent, boosting the Underworld.

Rossweisse: "Sona offered me a teaching spot there."

Issei: "Seriously!?"

Makes sense—she's a magic expert and a popular civics teacher at Kuoh.

Issei: "What'd you say?"

Rossweisse (frowning): "Still thinking. Teaching at Kuoh's fun, so it's tempting. I'll visit once it's built."

Issei: "Let's all go after this mess."

Rossweisse (smiling): "Sure."

Sairaorg for martial arts, Rossweisse for magic—Sona's got a solid lineup.

Reynare: "Why don't you teach, Issei? You're great at martial arts and ki."

Koneko: "Issei-senpai's a good teacher. How about Renkan Keikikou?"

Issei (pondering): "Hmm…"

Renkan Keikikou's training is dull—muscle training, zazen. Ki blasts and water-running come later, but it's a long road. Kids might lose interest.

Plus, my cliff-kicking training? No way for kids.

Issei: "That'd bring out the PTA!"

Alice: "The Underworld has a PTA?"

Ravel: "Yes."

…Didn't expect that.

Thirty minutes later, we reach Tepes' castle town gondola station. Vampires approach.

Vampire: "Former Governor Azazel and Gremory peerage? We're Tepes faction."

We nod silently—word got through.

Vampire: "This way. Rias Gremory awaits at Tepes castle."

They let us through easily, despite the fresh coup. Is the new regime stable? The town looks calm—no coup vibes.

Rias is at the castle, not the Vlad house. Moved due to the chaos?

Following the vampires, we're led to an ornate noble carriage for the castle.

Issei: "Where's Bennia and Rugal?"

They vanished after the gondola.

Akeno (whispering): "They're scouting the city, securing escape routes."

Smart move.

The vampires notice our group's size discrepancy, report it, but prioritize guiding us to the carriage.

We board, heading to Tepes castle.

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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]