On the final night of spring break, after returning from the karaoke showdown, I was summoned by Evangeline via Chachamaru. I made my way to the hill near the dorms—the same spot where we'd held the victory party for the finals, and the same spot where Hasegawa had been forced into an impromptu striptease.
It was a cloudless, moonlit night. The silver glow was so intense that I didn't even miss the lack of streetlights.
"So," I said, looking up at her. "It finally starts tonight?"
"Indeed. I've promised the old man I won't touch anyone outside of my own class, and I'm barred from inflicting any lasting harm. But a deal's a deal. I think I'll enjoy a little taste of blood for a change."
"Just so we're clear..."
Evangeline smirked, cutting me off.
"Yes, yes. I won't lay a finger on Yukihiro Ayaka or Naba Chizuru. It would be a headache to make an enemy out of someone as... interesting as you, Axel. ...Though, then again, fighting you to the death does sound like a thrilling way to kill time."
"Eva."
"Fine, fine. I'm joking. Mostly."
The agreement between Evangeline and Konoemon was finally being put into motion. On the Headmaster's part, it was likely driven by the guilt of hiding the truth from Negi, but there was a tactical reason, too. He wanted to throw Negi—a fresh graduate from magic school—into a meat grinder with the "Dark Evangel" to sharpen his instincts. If the kid somehow managed to beat a legend like her, the boost to his confidence would be immeasurable.
Since Eva was forbidden from taking Negi's life, the Kanto Magic Association could watch the spectacle from a safe distance. Still, if Konoemon didn't trust her, this "mock battle"—no, this farce—would never have been authorized.
"So, who's the lucky victim?"
"Who knows? I haven't decided. The deal with the geezer is that anyone still outside the dorms after 8:00 PM is fair game."
"I'll ask just to be sure... it really is safe, right?"
My primary frame of reference for vampires came from a certain "Moonlit World" back home. In that world, getting bitten meant your life as a human was over.
"I told you before, didn't I?" Eva replied. "The vampires of this world are a far cry from the ones you know. No one is going to drop dead just because I took a sip. Relax."
According to her, she can only truly "enthrall" those with low mana or no magical capacity. Anyone with a decent reservoir of power can resist the influence subconsciously.
"Whatever. I'm staying out of this anyway."
"Are you? ...Well, I hope it stays that way for your sake."
Evangeline let out a knowing laugh. To Negi, I was still just an ordinary kid who knew nothing of magic, so there shouldn't be any reason for me to get involved.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. Have a pleasant evening."
"Excuse us."
With the full moon approaching, her seal was likely at its weakest. She drifted effortlessly into the air. Chachamaru followed, sparks or some form of propulsion emitting from her back and soles.
"And so the play begins," I muttered.
I watched them disappear into the night before heading back to the dorm.
"Oh, welcome back, Axel-kun. But really, wandering about at this hour is hardly becoming of a student."
"Sorry. I was just talking to Eva for a bit."
"With Evangeline-san?" Ayaka blinked. "Wait... where is Natsumi?"
I checked the coast. If Natsumi overheard us talking about the "Other Side," things would get messy.
"Natsumi-san went to the baths with Chizuru-san," Ayaka replied.
"Good. That makes this easier. You remember the mock battle between Eva and Negi I mentioned?"
"...Yes. Honestly, I find the whole thing rather distasteful."
"Coming from a Class Rep, I'd expect nothing less. But the Headmaster gave the green light. Fighting a vampire will be good experience for Negi, and his safety is guaranteed."
Though, of course, Negi himself had no idea about that last part.
"Eva is starting her 'feeding' tonight to bait Negi into realizing she's a vampire. I was just giving her a send-off."
"...Is it really going to be alright?" Ayaka asked, her voice tinged with a Class Rep's characteristic worry for her peers.
"Yeah. She gave me her word, and the Headmaster is watching. It'll be fine."
"If you say so..."
"Look, you and Chizuru know about magic, but you don't need to get your hands dirty. Leave the 'Other Side' stuff to me. You should go get some rest in the bath."
I ushered the pajama-clad Ayaka toward the large communal bath and headed for the shower in our room.
"Year Three!"
"Class A!"
"NEGI-SENSEI!!"
The next day, the new term began. The classroom was a sea of cheering girls welcoming Negi back. Even though we'd technically moved up a grade, Class 3-A was in the exact same room as 2-A had been.
Negi stood at the podium, giving a speech about his goals for the year, his eyes sparkling with joy—until he looked toward the back of the room. He wasn't looking at me, but at the girl next to me. Evangeline was staring him down with a gaze sharp enough to draw blood.
The air between them crackled. If the standoff had lasted another ten seconds, the rest of the class probably would have noticed the tension. But...
"Negi-sensei, it's time for physical exams! Class 3-A, please get ready. Oh, and Axel-kun, I'm sorry, but your exam has to be handled separately. Please follow me."
Nitta-sensei appeared at the door with perfect timing. Negi, snapped out of his trance, flusteredly addressed the class.
"O-oh! Are we doing them here? Understood! Everyone, please take off your clothes at once—!"
I caught Evangeline's eye; she was smirking. I followed Nitta out of the room, leaving Negi to deal with the fallout of his "strip now" blunder. Not my problem.
Since I was the only one being tested, my physical was over in minutes. When I returned to the classroom, a significant chunk of the students were missing.
On the blackboard, someone had drawn a creature that looked remarkably like a sci-fi alien. Next to it, the word "CHUPACABRA" was written in bold letters.
"Akashi, where is everyone?"
"Oh, Axel-kun. Apparently, Makie was found passed out on Cherry Blossom Avenue. Negi-kun and a few others went to check on her."
"Cherry Blossom Avenue?"
"Yeah. Haven't you heard the rumors? People are calling it the 'Vampire of Cherry Blossom Avenue.' They think it's the work of a monster."
"A vampire, huh?"
I knew Konoemon had leaked those rumors specifically to set the stage for Negi vs. Eva. It looked like the news had finally reached 3-A.
"...And what is that?" I asked, gesturing to the alien on the board.
"Oh, that? That's what they think the vampire actually looks like."
"...I see."
I wondered if Eva knew she was being categorized as a cryptid. If she'd been in the room when that was drawn, I almost felt sorry for her.
"Poor thing."
"Huh? Did you say something?" Akashi asked.
"Nothing. So, is it just regular classes for the rest of the day?"
"Should be! More importantly, Axel-kun, aren't you interested in a beautiful older girl's health results? I've actually had a bit of a growth spurt lately~"
Akashi teased me, fluttering her exam results in front of my face. I gave her a flat look.
"Hmph."
"Wh—! You just laughed through your nose?! That's so mean, Axel-kun!"
"Save that kind of talk for someone you're actually interested in, once you've developed some actual charm."
"Someone I'm interested in? Like... my dad?"
"...Well, if that's your thing, I won't judge."
Between shota-cons and oji-cons, I figured a father complex wasn't even the weirdest thing in this room.
"Ehehe! My dad is totally hopeless without me, you know? He can't clean or do laundry. He once tried to eat instant curry without heating it up! Can you believe that?!"
I realized too late that bringing up her father was a tactical error. I was forced to listen to a non-stop lecture about how "amazing yet helpless" her dad was until the next bell rang.
Lesson learned: Never, under any circumstances, ask Akashi about her father.
School ended, and the afternoon rolled in.
Ayaka had Class Rep duties to attend to, Chizuru had gone to the nursery school to handle her pack of "brats," and Natsumi was off at the Drama Club.
"And that leaves me with nothing to do," I muttered.
Normally, I'd practice magic, but Eva had told me she was too busy preparing for her fight with Negi to deal with me. Interfering with Negi's training would also get in Eva's way. That left me in limbo.
"Oh! Axel-kun! Are you free this afternoon?"
A voice called out from behind me. It was Mahora's resident paparazzi, Kazumi Asakura.
"Asakura?"
"That's right! Everyone's heroine and the seeker of truth, Kazumi Asakura! So, are you busy?"
"'Seeker of truth,' huh? ...Well, I'm free, I guess."
"Lucky! Hey, if you don't mind, why don't you come with me on a scoop?"
"A scoop?"
"Yep! I heard from Misa and Madoka that you're actually incredibly tough. So, I was wondering if you'd act as my bodyguard."
"Bodyguard? Are you sticking your nose into something dangerous again?"
Since I'd transferred here, I'd been dragged into Asakura's messes more times than I cared to count. A little caution was warranted.
"Something like that. So? What do you say?"
"What's the subject of the scoop?"
"The rumored Vampire of Cherry Blossom Avenue, of course!"
I suppose it made sense for the journalism club to be on the case, especially with victims turning up. It'd make for a front-page Mahora Times article.
But this was a setup for a magical duel. Having a normal human like Asakura wander into the crossfire was bad news. Then again... maybe Eva would just bite her and make her the next victim?
"I'm not feeling it. Pass."
"Ta-da! I figured you'd say that! Which is why I have... THIS! The 'Axel-kun Command Ticket'!"
Before I could finish my sentence, Asakura whipped out a voucher. What the hell was a Command Ticket? I looked closer. It definitely said "Axel-kun Command Ticket" in a very familiar handwriting.
"Chizuru..."
"Bingo! She figured you'd try to turn me down, so she prepared this! A command slip handcrafted by Naba-san herself—the woman who holds your very diet in her hands! Now, what's it gonna be?"
"...Sigh. Fine. Just this once."
If Chizuru had gone this far, she clearly wanted me to keep an eye on Asakura. I'd explained the situation to her and Ayaka, but I suppose her maternal instincts were too strong to ignore. She really was the "Class Mother."
A sudden shiver ran down my spine, and I decided to stop thinking about Chizuru's "maternal" side before I accidentally invoked something scary.
And so, just as Evangeline had predicted, I was officially being dragged into the vampire incident.
[Character Status]
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 38 | PP: 625
Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272
Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Enhances Slime performance via SP)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Rank: Air: S | Ground: S | Sea: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel, Effort, Focus, Direct Hit, Awaken, Love
Skills:
EXP Up, SP Boost, Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, In-fight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break, Geass (Grey), Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summoning).
Kill Count: 376
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