Chapter 66: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
"Ughh… This city is indeed the world's dumpster. How filthy." Complained 612, a wolf beastkin Shadow Garden member with grey hair and grumpy face wearing Shadow Garden's signature slime hooded cloak while walking around the streets of Lawless City accompanied by her squadmates who are wearing the same outfit as her.
"It's an important mission though. Lady Beta and Lady Epsilon will join us along with some new squad." Her squadmate 611, an elf with short red hair, responded.
"Why did two members of the Seven Shades need to come here, anyway? Isn't it enough to leave the damn vampires and any of these lowlives to us Numbers?" 612 said.
"I heard it's the time for the Red Moon! And some vampires are too strong even for the Seven Shades!" Said 610, an elf with long turquoise hair who is another one of her squadmate.
"That's right! Lady Beta said that when she hunted one of them, she got rescued by Lord Shadow!" 611 replied.
"L-Lord Shadow?" Hearing that name escape her squadmate's lips, 612 grew nervous.
"Yeah! She said Lord Shadow is always watching over us!" Said 610 with a huge smile.
"Kyaa! I'd like to be watched over like that too!" Said 611 excitedly.
"Y-Yeah… that sounds… wonderful." 612 began sweating like crazy.
"612? What's wrong?" Asked 611.
"N-Nothing! Let's just get on with this mission and go home!" 612 avoided the question and continued walking ahead of them.
"612 is weird, isn't she?" 611 said while watching her friend walked ahead of them.
"Yeah. She got nervous whenever we talked about Lord Shadow. I bet she has a crush on him!"
"Ohhh!? The grumpy 612!? Crushing on someone? That's wonderful news!"
The two of them continued gossiping about 612 excitedly as she recalls a memory from her past.
Heh. This Shadow Garden place rocks! I get to grow more powerful and have access to many Mitsugoshi products and technologies! This slime suit in particular is amazing!
The only problem I have here is that it's too difficult to rise in ranks! As a wolf beastkin, strength means everything… and there is a lot of people way too powerful for me to overcome here in Shadow Garden!
I also have a problem with being referred to by numbers. I'm not 612! My name is Saliah!
I can't stay as a grunt forever. I want to rise higher! I want to become a top dog!
That's why I think it's better for me to betray this organization and join the Cult of Diablos instead.
Yeah, I'm grateful to Lady Epsilon for curing my Possession and all but we're living in a cruel world where you gotta do whatever you can in order to survive and rise higher! And I gotta do this in order to rise higher in the world or I'll die as a cannon fodder!
I bet it'll be easier to rise through the ranks of the Cult if I bring plenty of information about Shadow Garden's secrets. Like Shadow Garden's links to Mitsugoshi and its products, the identity of the Seven Shades, and most importantly, the location of their main base of operations, Alexandria.
I got into contact with Wolfim Schafspelz, an executive of the Cult, and promised to meet him in his hideout to hand over the info I got.
But before I can get there though… I met him… Lord Shadow.
I'm caught red-handed. I feel his red eyes staring deep into my soul, like a god judging me for my sins.
"Hm? A Shadow Garden member? What are you doing here alone?" He asked with a curious tone… as if oblivious to my schemes.
"I-I was planning to raid a Cult base, my lord!" I answered nervously.
"Alone?"
"I-I… I was going to do reconnaissance first!" I made excuses after excuses but clearly a man like him knows it's all a lie! I'm so dead!
"Lead me to this bandi—Cult base then." He said calmly. Of course. He would destroy the base like he destroyed my plans. That's what I thought when I lead him to Wolfim's base…
I never thought that it would happen so literally. That bright purple light… That light of destruction… That merciless light that destroyed all in its path…
This is the power of a god!
Lord Shadow is a god with almighty power and supreme foresight! He knows what I was doing and he proceeded to show me what happens to his enemies!
I lost my will to resist right then and there. I shall never think about betraying Shadow Garden ever again. This I swear to you, Lord Shadow! So please… have mercy…!
"Come to think of it, I was far too stupid and naïve. If Lord Shadow hadn't mercifully stopped me back then… I would've been experimented upon by the Cult instead of being a proper member who could rise through their ranks." I sighed in both relief and in fear at what could have been.
"Huh?" I looked back and… I've been separated from my squadmates. While reminiscing the past, I've walked way too far ahead it seems.
I was about to go back until I… smelled him. His scent is covered by thick smell of garlic but it's unmistakably him! But when I saw him, he is wearing something other than his usual slime coat. He's disguising as an old man wearing brown coat and a fedora hat.
I only watched as he left, but not before noticing him giving me a side glance.
He's still watching! Of course he wouldn't trust a traitor like me easily!
Oh… Lord Shadow… please have mercy on me!
"There you are, 612!"
"We finally caught up with you!"
I heard my squadmates' voices, which distracted me for a second. When I looked back at him, he already vanished.
Hm… I recall she's that Shadow Garden member who took me to that one bandit hideout. I remembered her because she always looked so nervous back then. She's a beastkin so she could've recognized my scent. I hope the garlic I carried would mask my scent enough that she wouldn't recognize me. Wouldn't want her to rat me out to Beta after all.
The hideout she brought me to was filled with generic bandits and because their leader was talking smack to me while having only small amount of money for me to rob, I decided to just blow the entire place away. The hideout was located far away from civilization so no one but her watched the explosion.
I quickly left the street in order to not give her the slightest chance to recognize my scent.
I sensed Beta and… Epsilon together with some other people ahead. Looks like they're gathering for the big event. I gotta reveal myself in the coolest way possible, which is by appearing behind them suddenly.
"The Red Moon will likely start tonight. According to Mary, we will have time until tomorrow before Crimson starts the ritual. Raiding the Crimson Tower now is too dangerous considering there's a possibility of Carmilla, Necromancer's minion, interfering. Perhaps it would be best to start when the frenzy begins." Beta explained her plan to the members who have gathered in a dark alley.
I see Beta, Epsilon, and three members I don't know (although one of them is familiar). Oh, the wolf beastkin and two elves just arrived to join the briefing. Don't rat me out, wolfie!
But anyway, the big event is going to start tonight! I'm so excited!
"Indeed. We also don't know if Alucard will come to interfere as well." Epsilon said.
Hm? Alucard? Dracula? So there's a Dracula here too? Not just Carmilla? Interesting. Using the name Van Helsing is the right choice after all! Now it sounds like we're destined to meet!
"When either Carmilla or Alucard appears, leave it to us or to Mr. Van Helsing." Said Beta. I took this chance to show myself.
"You called?" I said behind her.
"Whoaaa! M-Mr. Van Helsing! You're gonna give me a heart attack!" Shouted Beta as she almost jumped back. Hee hee hee, This is fun. Oh? The others seems to have adopted a fighting stance.
"Beta. Is this man, the Van Helsing you speak about?" Epsilon asked warily.
"Yes. He is. Don't worry. He is a reliable ally." Beta said. Her words made them lower their guard… except the wolf beastkin who, for some reason, is still as nervous as always.
"Pleasure to meet, you, Mr. Van Helsing. I am Epsilon, one of Shadow Garden's Seven Shades, though I suspect you already knew." Epsilon introduced herself politely.
"I am Van Helsing. Slayer of vampires and hunter of the night. A pleasure, Miss Epsilon." I replied politely as well.
"I've been waiting for this chance to meet you. I wanted to ask you about something. Are you aware of the vampire known as Alucard?" Epsilon asked. I never actually met the man so I'll just bullshit my way through with my knowledge of Dracula novel.
"Alucard… also known as Dracula, son of Dracul of the Order of the Dragon. Formerly a warlord of some renown, he was the most notorious vampire of ancient times. He is a true undead, a nosferatu, who cheated death with black magic. I had thought him vanquished a long time ago… by my ancestors." I said in a mysterious tone. Epsilon and the others gasped at my words.
"I see… How strong is he?" Epsilon said nervously.
"He is extremely strong. Possessed at least the strength of twenty men. But I am a vampire hunter, Slaying vampires is my specialty. Do not worry about him. I'll handle him." I reassured her.
"That's reassuring. There's one more thing I want to ask you." Epsilon said as she removed her hood. One of the Shadow Garden members, whom I noticed have blond hair, gasped at the revelation.
"Does my face bear any significance to you?" Epsilon asked cryptically. What? Did she suspect that I'm Shadow already!? What could've possibly gave it away!?
"Wh-Why did you ask that?" I asked back nervously.
"Back when I first met him, he almost killed my comrades. But he retreated at the sight of me, claiming he wants to make me his. Also… when one of our enemies taunted my friend using my strands of my hair, claiming that I've been captured, Alucard was… angry at that enemy… as if he cared…" Hm? What is this story? Oh wait! I know what it is!
"It would seem that he has chosen you as his Mina." I said.
"Mina?" Epsilon said, not recognizing the name.
"Yes. A woman he was infatuated and obsessed with a long time ago. He tried to turn her into a vampire but it failed because he was vanquished before it could happen, allowing her to remain with her beloved husband."
"Remain with her beloved husband… Hee hee hee." Epsilon said while grinning. I wonder what's up with that. Beta is writing something on her notebook, although this time she's doing it with a frustrated face.
"Anything else you can share about Alucard?" Beta asked coldly.
"Yes. The vampire Alucard has the ability to shapeshift into anything he wants. Not just to mist but also to bats, wolves, rodents, and all manner of creatures of the night. Maybe even become another person… like a wolf in sheep's clothing." I said as I glanced at the wolf beastkin girl, who became even more nervous for some reason.
"Indeed. Zeta said he fought by transforming his cape into spikes and blades. But to think he could go that far…" Epsilon murmured.
"612." Beta called her out.
"Y-Yes!" She nervously replied as if she was about to get executed. She needs to calm down man.
"Given that you are a beastkin, we will be relying on you to sniff out Alucard in case he disguised himself as one of us." Beta ordered.
"Y-Yes, Lady Beta! I'll never betray you or Lord Shadow!" She replied nervously again.
"Haaah… Calm down 612. Calm down. Take a deep breath." Epsilon said while putting her hand on the beastkin girl's shoulder, causing her to cry.
"Huh? 612? What's wrong?" Epsilon asked confusedly.
"I… I don't deserve you… Lady Epsilon…" She said while weeping.
"There… there…" Epsilon proceeded to hug her in order to give her comfort. The wolf beastkin is now experiencing Epsilon's 90% slime breasts.
The heartwarming scene didn't last long though as it was interrupted by a familiar and dreadful voice.
"Let me go, Mary! I must save my brother immediately!"
"Miss Claire! I told you that we can't rush in without a plan!"
I see Mary dragging my sister. Why is she here!?
Author's Note:
Introducing another Shadow Garden OC. I always thought that not all members of Shadow Garden could be absolutely loyal. There must be someone who is selfish and traitorous, so I made just that. With Cid's luck, she was immediately converted though.
Wolf im Schafspelz is German for Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, fits the theme of this chapter.
Also hope you guys enjoy your holiday!
Wholesome07: Ok, imma be honest i like Cid's POV/Monologue and Merry christmas!
Answer: Glad you liked it. I tried my best to capture his personality for the comedy. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too because there's more Cid POV with his usual bullshit.
Merry Christmas!
