A Cynical Principle - Episode 1.2.2

Episode 1: Watchdog of the Dark City (Part 2.2)

The residence of Charlo de Univale was quite large. Although none knew how, but he seemed to have obtained what once belonged to nobility. He was the only vampire who resided there, along with Partita, the ghost maid, and the black cat. So most of the rooms were not being used and cleaned. They were not allowed to open the window and let the air in. This was largely due to Partita’s negligence. 

But the House of Lord Camille de Savoa was more than what you could say… and one couldn’t see the whole thing even if that one leaned back. The house itself was big, not to mention the site. Mr. Yamashiko’s hedge was cut beautifully, and you could see that every corner of the large house was carefully cared for at night. 

“Lord Rothschild has come here several times?”

“Why?”

“There are several Krusniks.”

“And then?”

When Partita stopped the horse in the lush woods, she looked at Univale at the end of the mansion who happily swayed a finger from his mouth. 

“It’s not a problem at all.” As he spoke, he landed on the stone pavement as he shined jet black like a bat. 

Sharp, white birch and crimson twin bloomed in the dark night. 

“Now, wait. You’ll see.”

Univale walked calmly to the front without hiding. He threw away the branch of the Thorn which had been folded without thinking as he calmly waited for the other party at the gate. 

As expected, Krusniks appeared within crowds and silently surrounded him. 

They stood with white masks, rather than cloaks, each wearing a knight’s robe with a silver sword carved on the cloth, with a sacred cross on their hips. Fulfilling the dense life of the Vatican— vampire slayers, the Krusniks. 

There were two of them. 

It would be a great rage to the people if they heard “two”, but here, it seemed that there was no such thing as a “man” but high-class Krusniks in dispatch. 

There were a lot of vampires and a lot of Krusniks. 

From the men who threatened the Dark City to the bare bottom.

The beautiful vampire laughed and looked at the mansion to intimidate those who stood on the ground. 

The Vatican did not treat him as much as Lord Savoa thought they would, nor as Univale had planned. He had nothing to do with them. It would not be a threat to the Vatican if he slew their men here. 

“It’s a beautiful evening. Don’t you think so?” When Univale shifted his gaze and asked a gentle question, one of the men wearing a white mask said in return, “The moon has not come out.”

It was a young voice. 

“Says the fool. There is no need for light to see the true beauty of things.”

“You’re a vampire.”

“What of it? Hm?”

Univale was tall, and thus glared down at the Krusnik with a silver sword as if threatening him from above, “There is a limit to the glare and the glare of light, but there is no limit to the depths of the darkness.”

With that alone, Crimson, who was likely to kill people, blinked with a smile. At the same time, something was torn off from the neck of the Krusnik. It was a silver chain, a rosary. 

“It’s silly.” The Vampire, smiling faintly, raised the rosary and held it over the light from the house to look at the two Krusniks. 

His fangs came out, “Really… it’s so stupid.”

With these words, the Holy Cross at the tip of his long and flexible fingers was crushed silently. 

The Krusniks froze in silence. 

“I didn’t come to attack people, I just came to hear from them. Though— if you still wanted to do it with me, I don’t care.”

“…”

“However, I don’t want to become your enemy. Bring another Krusnik who is able enough to destroy me. Is Commander Durandal of the Special Services Division awake?”

Just as Univale was about to smile, a distant crackle of fire was heard. He leaned his head slightly and lifted both his fore and middle fingers. “──Now you’ve done it. There was another one in hiding.”

Within his pulsating fingers, he was holding onto── a silver bullet. 

The two Krusniks held their breaths. 

“Does the Vatican have such an annoying thing? It would hurt if it hits you. But, as an example, the average person knows nothing, right?” 

His perfect features faced the sky and then to the house, “I hate him. He’s not as free as he used to be to play with you. I’m sorry.”

When the last word shook the air with wonder, he was no longer there. A cold night wind blew through the space where the two vampires met with their mouths wide open. 

The crooked rosary and the silver bullet fell onto the stone pavement, making a dry sound. 

He was laughing blankly. Then once again, silence returned to the darkness. a dry sound. 

He was laughing blankly. Then once again, silence returned to the darkness.