"You are the third of the Dead Apostle Ancestors," Serafall said, looking Zelretch straight in the eye.
Zelretch scratched his beard, thoroughly confused. This organization didn't exist in this world—apart from Dracula, none of the vampires here qualified to be Ancestors at all.
"How'd you figure it out?" Zelretch asked, grinning. "Don't tell me… you're a fan of mine?"
He beamed, clearly pleased with himself. But to his shock, Serafall didn't play along. She was dead serious.
Arcueid watched, looking highly amused, then grabbed Shiki and pulled him close.
"Look, Shiki, look! It's a magical girl!" Arcueid shouted, pointing straight at Serafall.
"I see her…" Shiki glanced at Serafall, then bowed his head apologetically. "Sorry about her. She gets… enthusiastic."
Serafall had to physically stop herself from lighting up at being called a magical girl. She turned back to Arcueid, curious.
"You're his granddaughter, aren't you?" Serafall decided to test the waters—Arcueid seemed way more easygoing than the old man. "Who are the Dead Apostle Ancestors, anyway?"
"Oh, so I don't exist now?" Zelretch put on a ridiculously fake pout. "I'm hurt. Truly wounded."
He was clearly having the time of his life—until Issei came storming in, practically yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Zelretch, you suspicious vampire!" Issei shouted, marching right up to him and pointing an accusing finger, completely ignoring everyone else. "What d'you think you're doing here?!"
Zelretch looked at Issei with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Can't I visit my old friend's grandson anymore?" He smirked.
He got you with that one—used your own lie against you, kid. Ddraig chuckled inside his head.
Yeah, well… you really are unlucky, aren't you? Satanta teased.
Unlucky?! And whose fault is that?! Issei fumed internally, mentally cursing Satanta into next week.
C'mon, show some respect! Satanta chided. See that blonde over there? That's Arcueid Brunestud—the White Princess, the Daughter of the Moon, and the strongest True Ancestor to ever walk this earth.
Issei's eyes went the size of dinner plates.
"Whoa—White Princess! I-I didn't see you there!" Issei bowed frantically, too terrified to meet her gaze.
"Did you hear that, Shiki?! He knows me!" Arcueid lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "How do you know me?!"
She looked at Issei, bouncing with excitement. First a demon who knew Zelretch, and now this boy who knew her? She had so many questions.
"Well… a little mutt told me you're the daughter of the very first Dead Apostle Ancestor and the strongest one there is," Issei explained carefully. "So… does that make you the new Number One?"
LITTLE MUTT?! THAT'S YOUR MOTHER YOU LITTLE—!!! Satanta roared, absolutely furious.
Serafall's eyes went wide. Everything was suddenly clicking into place.
Zelretch's name appeared in records so ancient they predated the Great War—before the Underworld was even unified! Though, to be fair, about 40% belonged to Hades and another 20% to fallen angels… but she pushed that thought aside. She turned back to Arcueid.
"So… you're their leader?" Serafall asked, stunned.
"Nope! No thanks, not interested," Arcueid said cheerfully, hugging Shiki and giving him a sweet kiss. "I just wanna get married, have kids, and be a happy little housewife!"
Her smile was so warm and genuine that Serafall felt a twinge of envy.
"What about you, then?" Serafall asked, pointing at Zelretch.
He grinned, looking thoroughly entertained.
"Just the third, remember? My granddaughter here doesn't want the job, so her big sister and that idiot Trhvmn Ortenrosse are fighting it out to see who gets to be boss!" He ruffled Arcueid's hair.
He conveniently left out the part where neither of those two even existed in this world.
"If you hadn't killed it, none of this would've happened," Arcueid mumbled, though she didn't sound particularly upset. "Not that he didn't have it coming, mind you."
"WAIT—WHAT?!" Serafall nearly choked. "Are you telling me… you killed the first one?"
She stared in disbelief—how could Arcueid stand so casually next to the man who murdered her own father?!
"Details, details!" Zelretch waved a hand dismissively, then turned to Issei. "Well, I'm off. Want a ride?"
"HECK YES!" Issei hopped right over to him, and in a flash, all four of them were gone.
"Wait—!!" Serafall reached out, but it was too late. They were already gone.
Meanwhile…
Lord Phoenix stood over his son's bed, healing him with a single Phoenix tear.
"You absolute idiot… how in the world did you get fire of Hellfire?!" He sighed, though his eyes were full of relief. "You're lucky the Red Dragon Emperor noticed you weren't healing from those wounds—otherwise, who knows what would've happened!"
He sat down beside the bed and gently stroked his son's hair.
With Sirzechs…
Sirzechs slumped back in his chair, letting out a huge sigh of relief. His precious Rias-tan was safe from that terrible marriage!
"Who would've thought my little sister would go and ally with the Red Dragon Emperor?" He shook his head, smiling. "But hey—she's free now!"
"True… though people are already complaining about her allying with the Celts," Grayfia said calmly beside him.
Sirzechs groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"Ugh! Why does everything have to be so COMPLICATED?!" He whined, then looked up at her. "And what about the boy's vampire relatives?"
Grayfia placed an old document on the desk. Sirzechs read it—and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"This document… it mentions this Zelretch guy… and it's ancient!" He stared at it in shock. "He's as old as the original Maous?! How did we never find out about them?!"
"According to Serafall, she spoke with him—and learned that the girl he calls his granddaughter is the First Ancestor's daughter, and apparently the most powerful Apostle of them all," Grayfia reported. "She's the rightful heir… but Zelretch—the Third Ancestor—is the one who killed the First. And yet, she doesn't seem to hate him at all… or want the throne."
"She doesn't hate him?" Sirzechs raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like that vampire wasn't exactly a prize, huh?"
"Exactly what Serafall thought. And it seems Zelretch doesn't want the job either!" Grayfia rolled her eyes. "So now two factions are fighting for control—the First's eldest daughter, and some noble Serafall couldn't identify. Supposedly the older sister isn't nearly as strong as the younger one."
"Great… just what did my little sister get herself into?" Sirzechs groaned, messing up his hair. "She got mixed up with a group that's already split into two crazy factions!"
He grabbed a bottle and poured himself a drink.
"That's not even the worst part," Grayfia said. "Serafall's sister lost a game of chess to the boy… and now she's engaged to him."
Sirzechs INSTANTLY spat out his drink—all over Grayfia's dress.
"GOD—!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!" He howled with laughter, clutching his stomach. "SHE GOT PLAYED!!! SERAFALL IS SO SCREWED!!!"