Chapter 64: Slumbering Legends
"I see. I understand now." Beta murmured as she read Zeta and Epsilon's report concerning the vampire Alucard. Epsilon, whose Silon identity has been compromised, left Oriana and is currently in hiding. Curiously though, the Oriana branch of the Cult hasn't exposed her identity and the newspaper only reported her as missing.
She submitted her reports to Beta in Everick's Mitsugoshi branch and allowed her to analyze the information.
"The Vampire King called Alucard… He might be a vampire progenitor like the Blood Queen Elizabeth. And from Zeta's report, he is one of the slumbering legends that resurfaced during the end of an age, which is Lord Shadow's battle against Necromancer. This is concerning. But…" Beta continued while Epsilon listened.
"But…?" Epsilon said while waiting for Beta to continue her sentence. Beta somehow smiled.
"Hm… Perhaps not all of these slumbering legends are our enemies." Beta said with relief.
"What do you mean?"
"Few days ago I gained a spectacular ally, a vampire hunter named Van Helsing. His powerful presence almost matched that of Lord Shadow's and he has more knowledge about vampires than any of us do. His knowledge surpassed even Mary's, who has lived for over 1000 years! I suspect he is one of these slumbering legends that have resurfaced… or reincarnated like Lord Shadow!" Beta concluded.
"Almost matched Lord Shadow's…? Are you sure?" Epsilon said in disbelief.
"Yes. He warded off the vampire that even I have trouble dealing with." Beta said while smiling.
"I suppose that's reassuring. Can we contact him? To see if he knows anything about Alucard?"
"Sadly we lost contact with him few days ago. But I believe he will appear in the Lawless City during the Red Moon. He can't miss it." Said Beta while smiling.
"Also… Quick regeneration? Have you confirmed whether his heart is his only weakness?" Beta asked as she continues reading the report.
"Zeta never confirmed it because she failed to stab his heart every time. 559 managed to decapitate him though and he survived it. His regeneration is very quick." Epsilon said.
"Was he affected by sunlight and garlic?" Beta asked.
"I'm not sure about garlic but… I heard he travelled to the ruins with the expedition team under the sun so I believe he is not affected by sunlight." Said Epsilon.
"I see. For now we can assume that he is the same breed of vampire as Carmilla, one of Necromancer's Seven Wraiths. The next time you meet, aim to both stab his heart and slice his head off." Beta said.
"Alright. I will… As long as he doesn't run away from me the next time we meet." Said Epsilon.
"Well… about his reaction to you… I have a theory, Epsilon."
"What theory?"
"That you… might be one of the slumbering legends yourself… or at least connected to one because Alucard seems to recognize you. And perhaps infatuated with you considering his reaction to Mordred's taunts towards Zeta." Beta said.
"I'm… an incarnation of a slumbering legend? But I…" Epsilon murmured, not knowing how to react.
"Well… this is just a theory of mine. One thing we can confirm is that you have an admirer~!" Beta said teasingly.
"Ughh…. No! I don't need a creep like him! I am Lord Shadow's! I bet I am a reincarnation of a princess who was Lord Shadow's lover in our past lives!" Said Epsilon while glaring at Beta while smiling menacingly.
"Really? I think I am the princess who was Lord Shadow's lover in our past lives!" Beta said with emphasis on the word "I" while doing the same. A silent tension rising between them and the air becomes more suffocating that if there's anyone else in the room, they will feel the pressure. A spark of electricity comically connected both their eyes.
But they soon disengaged as Beta started to read the next section of the report concerning 624 and 625's demise.
"How's 626's mental state?" Asked Beta with a serious tone.
"Bad. Really bad. It was bad enough when 625 exposed her father's crimes, which we tried to hide, to her which led her to adopt a self sacrificing attitude in battle by exploiting her regeneration capabilities… but now she is downright suicidal." Epsilon answered with pity.
"How do we handle this…?" Beta said with concern while clutching her forehead with one hand.
"I'll try to have Chi have a talk with her. She was once part of the Cult herself. Maybe she can relate to 626 the way we couldn't." Said Epsilon.
"Alright. You do that. What about Zeta?"
"I don't know. She was being secretive as she always did. Though this time, more than usual…"
"Well… I suppose we can't do anything about it for now." Beta said.
"Yes. Out of all of us, I suppose Lady Alpha is the only one who can console her… as she had done so for us." Epsilon said in agreement as they too have felt the pain of losing their subordinates before.
"Are you going to the Lawless City soon?" Epsilon asked.
"Yes. You're welcome to join me." Said Beta.
"Since I've got nothing else to do, I suppose it wouldn't hurt. Who's coming with us?"
"I've assigned some promising new recruits to accompany me in this mission. We'll also be accompanied by Mary, the vampire hunter."
"Very well… But what about Lord Shadow?"
"We lost contact with him some time ago. He… has taken matters into his own hands. I wonder what plans he has in store…"
"Uhhh…. I have no plans at all. This is bad." I muttered as I walked the streets of Lawless City under the ominous red moon that gets redder and redder every night.
Truly a slum of the world, where crimes and misfortune gathers. Bandits, pickpockets, thieves, prostitutes, scammers, slave traders… all sorts of bad guys are here! And to top it all off, there's a ruling mafia boss in this city! I heard that mafia boss defeated the original three rulers of this town and became its sole ruler. They even built a fourth tower for him in the city. Said tower looks like a skyscraper. I might pay him a visit and rob all his ill gotten gains later!
Wearing a hooded jacket, I've been pickpocketing many people to increase the size of my wallet these past few days but beyond that I have no idea what to do besides waiting for the main event… which Mary call the Red Moon. Does it have anything to do with the moon that is reddening these past few weeks? I only know that it has something to do with the vampire clan that lives in this city though. Maybe they're having a party under the red moon? A bloody party?
I should've asked her more about the details of this event but that would damage my Van Helsing persona, who's supposed to know everything about vampires.
If I know what's going to happen, I could make a plan on how to interfere with the plot like a badass Shadowbroker. Oh well… I suppose I can only wait and see. Hopefully the vampires of this town can provide good scenario for my Van Helsing persona.
Oh? I sensed two familiar presences. One is Mary, the vampire hunter… And normally she would be together with Beta but…
"Miss Claire! Please wait!"
"No! I must save my brother who has been kidnapped by the vampires!" I pulled up the hood of my jacket and quickly hid in a dark alley as my sis and Mary ran past me. I put some magic to my ears to listen to their conversation even as they get farther and farther away.
"We can't rush in without a plan! And how did you come to the conclusion that the vampires have kidnapped him in the first place!?"
"He went missing on the same day I was attacked by that vampire whore! I can only assume that he's been kidnapped by her! And you did say that the vampires need a pure young boy as a sacrifice for their ritual, right!? There's no one purer than my brother so it has to be him!"
"Miss Claire!"
And there they go. I can't hear them anymore. I got good info from them. But…
Why is Nee-san here!? In the Lawless City of all places!? Why did you bring her here, Mary!?
But Mary being here means the time for the main event is close. Heh heh heh.
I guess the time for robbing is over. But that's okay. I can always come back later. Especially that skyscraper building in the center, where that mafia boss lives. I already see that building as a giant piggybank. Just wait for me, Don Jon! I'll get all your money!
"Hey you! Gimme your money!"
As I was contemplating my next move, I was interrupted by an ugly faced scrawny bandit who's threatening me with… a knife. Really? You could've at least use a sword or a gun, you know?
"Y-You listening to what I said!? I said gimme your money!" The bandit continues threatening me while trembling. He doesn't seem to have money so robbing him is pointless.
"The time is near… a storm is approaching… a bloody storm." I said some random bullshit to sound mysterious.
"Huh?"
"Leave the darkness… or it shall swallow you." I said as I walked out of the alley and vanishes.
"Oi! Wait a minute! What are you saying!?" The bandit tries to chase me but I was no longer there.
"Huh? Where the heck is that boy? A storm? Leave the darkness? Bah! What load of crap! As if I could ever leave…" I heard him muttering before leaving the scene.
Author's Note:
Now we're finally in Lawless City. Also, those ancient legends thingy is an excuse for Cid and Claude to make as many personas as possible without people having suspicions that those personas are Shadow or Necromancer in disguise because it is already known that Mundane Mann is Shadow in disguise.
Rhaveno: ah.. they thought he wanted epsilon for himself instead of something else.. classic overestimating the characters intensions and eaning that the series used alot
Answer: Classic Eminence in Shadow misunderstandings. ;P
Imboredlmao11: This story is quite refreshing due to the good mix of entertainment, stupidity, and "seriousness" and cause of the consistent updates makes all the better I'm really enjoying the story
Answer: I'm glad you liked it. I tried to keep the spirit of the original Eminence in Shadow, mixing seriousness and comedy. Currently I have time to make daily updates but next year I may become busier so updates may become weekly.
King0fP0wers: I'm curious, will Alucard have some relevance after his big role is over? Or will Claude stage some huge death scene for the vampire king? I did imagine Claude and some clone bantering as the Necromancer and Alucard in front of the cult in order to sell their "relationship". Then they fight to the death and team up to take over the world afterwards. They can go back to killing each other afterwards.
Wonder if you'll get the reference.
Answer: For now, I have no plans for Alucard beyond Red Moon arc.
I don't know the reference you're talking about. Is it about Dracula and Death from Castlevania?
TheVirtualPug: Will SG also think that 'Van Helsing" was also one of these "ancients."
Answer: As revealed in this chapter, yes they do.
GG725: Future plot twist, Epsilon gains memories of a different person from the past who is strong and is therefore technically a reincarnation of someone.
Answer: I sort of plan something like that as well.
