The castle was quiet, with only maids and patrolling soldiers passing by.

It hardly felt like a coup had happened.

We were in the underground chamber where Gaspar's father was confined.

Rias and Gaspar went to the throne room at Valerie's request. The teacher followed a vampire official tied to Marius, likely to discuss sacred gears. Vampires have their own research institute, and the teacher's expertise would be irresistible.

We were waiting in our rooms but got permission to meet Gaspar's father.

A maid with a lantern led us down stone stairs to a wide space with several doors. She approached one.

"This is the guest room for the Vlad family head," she said.

It was plain for nobility, though still clean. Compared to Gremory or Phenex castles, it felt modest.

The maid knocked, announced us, and bowed before leaving.

We nodded to each other and entered.

The room was lavish—chandelier, high-end furniture. A young blond man, maybe in his thirties, stood as we entered. He resembled Gaspar.

This must be Gaspar's father.

"I'm Himejima Akeno, Rias Gremory's 'Queen,'" Akeno introduced.

"I'm Hyoudou Issei, Rias Gremory's 'Soldier' and Red Dragon Emperor's 'King,'" I added.

With Rias absent, Akeno led as 'Queen,' but as a 'King' myself, I greeted too. As a high-class devil, I had to step up.

He nodded and gestured to the sofa. "Please, sit. You're here about… that thing, Gaspar, right?"

He caught on quickly.

Akeno and I sat, Miu and the others behind us.

Facing Gaspar's father, I noticed his pureblood vampire traits—lifeless aura, doll-like features, no shadow. Like Gaspar, but more pronounced.

"I've spoken with Rias-sama," he said. "We exchanged information about… it. We discussed its future between Gremory and Vlad. But I was summoned here and confined. I never imagined a coup so quiet would oust the Tepes king."

He seemed oddly calm for the situation, almost accepting.

One thing bothered me.

"You keep saying 'that thing,'" I said quietly.

"Yes… I was shocked to hear from Rias-sama that… it functions as a devil."

There it was again—'that thing.'

His own father called him that.

Akeno asked, "Gaspar-kun's mother…?"

"She passed right after giving birth to it," he replied.

"Complications?" Akeno pressed.

He shook his head, eyes narrowing, face grim, like recalling something painful.

"Shock," he said softly.

Shock? From childbirth?

I'm no doctor, but that sounded strange.

He clasped his hands, continuing grimly. "What came from her womb… was something wrapped in a sinister aura. Not human, not vampire."

"What do you mean?" Akeno asked, confused. We all were.

He didn't see Gaspar as pureblood or half-blood. This was something else—something we didn't know.

He spoke as if forcing the words out. "When it was born… it wasn't human-shaped. Not human, not vampire—a writhing, black, eerie mass. A monster beyond monsters. Its mother saw it, went mad, and died."

My mind reeled.

A writhing black mass?

Was this really about Gaspar?

It sounded like a horror story about birthing a monster.

He continued, "The midwife and attendants present died mysteriously within days. Cursed, likely."

Cursed deaths? From childbirth witnesses?

"Gaspar cast a curse?" I asked.

He nodded. "Unconsciously, yes. Hours after birth, it took a normal baby's form, but its mother was already gone."

The truth was beyond imagination.

I spoke up. "I thought Gaspar was rejected for his Forbidden Balor View. But it's more than that, isn't it?"

"To outsiders, maybe. But to those who know the truth, stopping time is trivial. Its true nature is far more terrifying. That's why we kept it away."

I see. I thought his family persecuted him, but witnessing that birth would terrify anyone. His mother died from the shock. They must've panicked.

Akeno asked, "Does Gaspar know?"

"No. We didn't tell him. We didn't know what might trigger its true form."

He covered his face, speaking heavily. "We couldn't see it as vampire or human. We treated it as a half-blood, but even that… we weren't sure. And we let it out into the world, not knowing what it was."

Maybe calling Gaspar a half-blood was his father's attempt at kindness, to give him some identity.

He looked conflicted.

I faced him directly. "I don't know what Gaspar was back then. But now, he's a devil. Rias Gremory's servant, my junior. Even if his body's steeped in darkness, I trust him. He's our comrade."

Miu added, "Gaspar-kun's strong. He's resolved to face himself. He'll be fine, no matter what."

Right. Gaspar's grown, facing his powers, transforming from a shut-in to a determined guy. He's got this.

Koneko stepped forward. "Gya-kun's my precious friend. My first friend my age."

Her bond with Gaspar let her speak so candidly.

The head asked, "You've seen its true form, haven't you?"

He meant Gaspar's shadow-manipulating, darkness-clad form. I've only heard about it, never seen it.

Still—

"He's Gaspar Vlad, our comrade, no matter his true form," I said.

Everyone nodded.

He gave a wry smile. "Truly Gremory's kin. Rias-sama said the same when I asked."

'If he's neither human nor vampire, Gaspar's a devil. I reincarnated him myself. Whatever his nature, he's undeniably my servant.'

That's Rias for you—our amazing master.

He smiled faintly. "It's hard for us to grasp, but if you say that after seeing his power, then perhaps… it's been saved by you."

Maybe, despite his fear, he cared for Gaspar. That word—"saved"—hinted at it.

If Gaspar had been born a normal half-blood, this man might've been a proper father.

Our talk continued, but no more clues about Gaspar's nature surfaced.

What was clear: the Vlad family couldn't accept him. To those who knew his truth, he was a being to fear.

Rias's talks likely settled on Gremory taking him in officially.

Gaspar's place isn't with vampires.

And that's fine.

His place is with us.

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