The Vampire Incident

Author: Unicoon
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8138gc/26/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Early morning, Romulus Castle.
Three men had gathered in the king’s study.

One was the king of the Kingdom of Romulus, King Zenon.
Another was Minister Rudolf.
And the last was the academy’s highest authority, Headmaster Neumann.

The men around the table wore grave expressions.

“Rudolf. There is no mistake in the contents of the report?”

“None. I confirmed it myself as well. The woman found as a corpse had bite marks left on her neck.”

Several papers were scattered across the table.
Rudolf read from one of them.

“The victim’s name is Rosetta, a teacher at Romulus Academy. Last night she was out drinking late with friends, then walked home alone. The last to see her was a woman friend. This morning she was discovered with the blood drained from her whole body.”

“…A vampire… then…”

The study went dead quiet.

“Yes… there is little doubt it was a vampire’s work.”

“Damn it. Of all places, to appear in the royal capital…”

“They are enemies of humankind, you see. One of the beings said to be the most evil.”

“It reminds me of a few years ago… the large-scale battle with vampires. The damage then was terrible.”

“The strife between humans and vampires is a long one. Incompatible beings, I suppose.”

A heavy air flowed through the study.

“At any rate, this has become troublesome. Vampires and humans look almost the same. We have no idea where they might be hiding.”

“Judging by the site of the incident, somewhere in Parateno Forest, perhaps. Or there is the possibility of inside the academy itself.”

“Your Majesty, how will you respond?”

King Zenon closed his eyes and thought hard.
He opened them slowly and gave Rudolf orders.

“Prohibit going out at night throughout the royal capital. Mobilize the entire guard and protect the people. And form a subjugation unit at once!”

“Understood.”

“And Headmaster Neumann—”

“Say no more. I have grasped why you called me.”

Headmaster Neumann raised a hand and checked King Zenon.

“The victim is a teacher of our school… I cannot call the academy interior safe. Let us close the school for a time.”

“You catch on quickly. You have my thanks.”

Ordinarily the royal house and the academy were on bad terms.
This time alone, they built a cooperative relationship at once.
That was how great a threat vampires were to humans.

“Now then… from here is the main issue…”

King Zenon’s expression was grave.
The heavy air grew heavier still.

“Closing the school means Ulrika’s first day of attendance, scheduled for tomorrow, will be postponed… what to do…”

“What shall we do…”

“What to do, indeed…”

The three men fell silent.
The atmosphere was far more grave than when they had spoken of vampires.

“From what Victoria told me, Ulrika is looking forward to her first day of school to an extraordinary degree.”

“To an extraordinary degree, is it…”

“Yes. To an extraordinary degree.”

Rudolf sighed, “Haa.”
King Zenon held his head.

“If she cannot attend because the school is closed…”

“…National destruction…?”

“””……”””

Silence… filled the study.
Then the door banged open, and a small shadow burst in.

“Zenon! Are you there~?”

The little Demon King had arrived, wrapped in her school uniform.