As Simon rose from his seat and walked toward the stage, a massive cheer erupted from the audience. вЂTMThank you! YouвЂTMre a hero! You were amazing!вЂTM The words buzzed in his ears. Every student knew of his struggle and triumph during the recent promotion exam.
A wave of sentimentality washed over him. On his first day, when his name was called, the reaction had been a sea of confused whispers of вЂTMWhoвЂTMs that?вЂTM Now, just one year later, everything had changed. He soon reached the stage, bowed his head to Jane, and looked down at the students from the podium.
вЂTMSo thereвЂTMs already a script.вЂTM
Simon lightly cleared his throat and began to read the elegantly written prose. The language was a bit flowery, but the core message was a clichГ© about not growing complacent and continuing to fulfill his duties as a student.
вЂTMJust reading this like a textbook would be pretty dull.вЂTM
He paused near the end of the script and met the studentsвЂTM eyes.
"The Saint incident, the Blood Cult incident, the quasi-wartime curriculum, and the integrated second semester. We faced many major events, but IвЂTMm grateful to be able to stand before you all here at this promotion ceremony."
The broadcast official in front of the magic camera, who had been listening with satisfaction, suddenly looked horrified. Ignoring the script was one thing, but the Blood Cult incident was a forbidden topic.
вЂTMWe went through so much. A little comment like this should be fine, right, Kizen headquarters?вЂTM
The official frantically signaled for him to stop, but Simon just smiled faintly and raised his head. Beside him, Jane wore a smile that seemed to say she couldnвЂTMt stop him even if she wanted to.
"We survived the competition. In other words, we eliminated six hundred of our peers. I hope we never forget the weight of that, that we never become complacent, and that we continue to do our best for their sake as well."
With those words, Simon finished his speech, his heart feeling a little lighter.
"I look forward to working with you all in our second year. Thank you."
Simon stepped down to the sound of applause. The broadcast official, his face beet red, was waiting for him, fuming.
But as Jane delivered the next line, she gestured for Simon to come over. The official waiting below could only watch, completely thwarted.
"IвЂTMm sorry, Simon," she said in a low voice. "I was on-site, but I couldnвЂTMt be of any help."
"What are you talking about, Professor?"
It would have been the same no matter who was there. It was the betrayal of a professor who had worked at Kizen for twenty years, a plan that a monster like Silage had been preparing for over a century. Simon considered it an unavoidable catastrophe.
Just as Simon was about to turn away, Jane spoke to his back.
"Congratulations on your promotion to the second year."
"Ah, thank you!"
After parting with Jane, Simon went backstage and returned to his seat for the final part of the event—the moment all the students had been waiting for.
"Uhaha! Finally!"
Dick proudly pinned the red badge, the symbol of a second-year, to his uniform collar.
"WeвЂTMre second-years at Kizen now!"
"How do I look, Simon?"
Meirin, having pinned on her new red badge, gave a graceful twirl.
"Do I look more like a senior now?"
"Oh, you definitely look more dignified," Simon said with a smile, crossing his arms. He remembered how tense he used to get just seeing that red emblem during his first year. It was a strange feeling to be the one wearing it now.
"Simon!"
Kamibarez came trotting over.
"Should I pin your badge on for you?"
"Ah, thanks."
She stood on her tiptoes and pinned the red badge to SimonвЂTMs collar. Then, she took two steps back, clasped her hands behind her back, and admired his appearance.
"It looks like a set with your tie. It suits you well!"
"Thanks."
This time, Simon pinned the badge on Kamibarez, and with that, the promotion ceremony came to an end. The students scattered, and the parents who had been waiting in the back or on the sides of the Grand Auditorium rushed forward. They hugged, cried, and laughed together as shouts of joy erupted from all corners.
"IвЂTMm so proud of you!"
"YouвЂTMve fulfilled our familyвЂTMs long-cherished wish!"
Separated from his friends by the crowd, Simon watched the moving reunions unfold around him.
"Hey, Simon!"
Dick approached with a grin and clapped him on the shoulder.
"You should look for your parents, just in case! They might have come."
"No, my parents definitely couldnвЂTMt come..."
SimonвЂTMs words trailed off as his eyes widened.
"But when did you change into casual clothes?"
вЂTMPfft!вЂTM Dick suddenly clutched his stomach and burst out laughing. Simon blinked in confusion before a realization dawned, and his mouth fell open. Something about this person was subtly different from the Dick he knew.
"Hey, Simon!"
And then, with the exact same line, the uniformed Dick appeared from behind him, waving with a chuckle.
"Ah, IвЂTMm disappointed! WeвЂTMve been roommates for a whole year, and you canвЂTMt even tell us apart?"
"I told you heвЂTMd never know! Hahahaha!"
The casually dressed Dick gestured, and the uniformed Dick clicked his tongue and flipped him a coin with a вЂTMtingвЂTM. They had made a bet.
"Wh-WhatвЂTMs going on, Dick?"
"Let me introduce you."
The uniformed Dick wrapped an arm around the otherвЂTMs neck and grinned.
"This is my second-oldest brother, Dan Hayward. And this is my best friend, Simon Polentia."
"IвЂTMm Dan. Nice to meet you!"
"N-Nice to meet you."
Dan and Simon shook hands as Dick explained, "My oldest brother, my second-oldest brother, and me. WeвЂTMre triplets!"
"I-I see."
Dick had always complained that his father only treated his eldest brother like a son, so Simon had never imagined they were triplets.
"Hello! DickвЂTMs friend!"
"Hello! DickвЂTMs friend!"
More of DickвЂTMs brothers appeared. They resembled Dick, but their features were clearly different, and they were a little shorter.
"The one on the right is the fourth, Bill Hayward, and on the left is the fifth, Al Hayward! The fourth and fifth are twins, too."
What an incredible family. Triplets, followed by another set of twins.
"YouвЂTMre his younger brothers. Nice to meet you."
Simon shook their hands as well. He had only extended his right hand, but the twins insisted on grabbing his left to shake with both of theirs simultaneously.
вЂTM...ItвЂTMs like there are four Dicks.вЂTM
These brothers were spitting images of each other, not just in looks but in personality.
"Big brother Dick! I secretly brought some bouquets today! Made a nice profit selling them on Lok Island!"
"Bouquets? ThatвЂTMs small-scale. I went with gift sets!"
"Anyone interested in the Lok Island pebble business?"
Even the way they talked about business was the same.
"Wow! The Kizen girls are all so beautiful!"
"Dick, you lucky bastard!"
"IsnвЂTMt it against the rules for necromancers to be that pretty?"
Their appreciation for women was also identical. Their heads and eyes moved in perfect, synchronized motion as they watched the female students pass, their gazes fixed on fluttering skirts with the reverence of connoisseurs appreciating a masterpiece.
"Everyone! Wait a minute...!"
Simon, standing with them, was the only one freaking out. He raised his arms to block their line of sight and shouted, "Dick! Do something!"
"ItвЂTMs no use trying to stop them. Just leave them be."
Dick shrugged and shook his head.
"My brothers have only ever seen burly sailors while working at the port. ItвЂTMs only natural theyвЂTMd go crazy seeing the girls at school."
"Big brother Dick! I think that girl is the prettiest!"
Just then, the fourth brother, Bill, pointed at a female student with sky-blue hair.
"Ooh, youвЂTMve got good taste," the fifth brother, Al, snickered in agreement.
But that very student was walking toward them.
"Simon!"
It was Meirin. The Hayward brothersвЂTM bodies stiffened at the sight of her approaching with a bright smile. Being boy-crazy and actually being friendly with girls were two different things.
"Simon, say hello. This is my dad."
"Huh?"
SimonвЂTMs eyes widened. A man with the same sky-blue hair as Meirin, dressed sharply in a suit, was smiling benevolently at him.
"Dad, this is Simon. HeвЂTMs my classmate and in my group, and heвЂTMs helped me so much all semester."
"IвЂTMve heard a lot about you from my daughter. ItвЂTMs a pleasure to meet you."
Daniela Villenne extended his hand.
"I-ItвЂTMs an honor to meet you, sir!"
MeirinвЂTMs father! Suddenly tense, Simon shook his hand and bowed respectfully.
"Hmm."
Daniela, as a nobleman, observed SimonвЂTMs posture, speech, and etiquette, then nodded in satisfaction.
"You were taught well. Where are your parents? What territory does your father rule? Does he enjoy wine?"
"Dad!"
Meirin slapped Daniela on the back.
Simon smiled and said, "They were busy with work, so they couldnвЂTMt come to the promotion ceremony."
"Haha, thatвЂTMs a shame."
This time, Meirin introduced Dick to Daniela, and Dick introduced his brothers to Meirin.
"IвЂTMm the second son, Dan Hayward."
"Yes, hello. IвЂTMm Meirin Villenne," she said, lifting the hem of her skirt in a polite curtsy.
Dan, his face slightly flushed, started smacking the back of DickвЂTMs head and whispered, "Wow, you lucky dog! Dick! YouвЂTMve really made it, huh?"
"Ow! That hurts!"
"IsnвЂTMt Meirin pretty? Why havenвЂTMt you made a move on her?"
"...Brother."
Dick twisted his body with a genuinely disgusted expression.
"Let me tell you straight. Forget everything else, just spend exactly one week with her. Then youвЂTMll see her true colors..."
A loud вЂTMwhamвЂTM echoed as Meirin launched herself from the side, sending Dick flying with a side kick. Then, as if nothing had happened, she stood up and smoothed her skirt.
"What were you talking about with that dummy, Dan?"
Dan quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"I donвЂTMt know this person."
"Brother Dan! YouвЂTMre betraying... Aaargh!"
As he watched Meirin stomp on Dick, DanвЂTMs mind was thrown into chaos.
вЂTM...Just what kind of place is Kizen?вЂTM
"Simon..."
From behind, Kamibarez came running, waving her hand. He could see the cute little bat wings on her back fluttering.
"IвЂTMm changing my number one pick to that girl," Bill, the fourth brother, said quickly.
"She looks more our age than an older girl," Al, the fifth, added.
Kamibarez stopped in her tracks, looking at the Hayward brothers with bewildered eyes.
"Th-There are four Dicks...?"
"Let me introduce you, Kami."
Dick, who had been lying face down on the ground, quickly scrambled to his feet.
"From the right, this is the second, Dan; the fourth, Bill; and the fifth, Al."
"A pleasure to meet you!" the brothers rushed forward to greet her.
Kamibarez, who was shy around strangers, shifted her eyes nervously before bowing her head deeply.
"I-IвЂTMm Kamibarez Ursula! I-ItвЂTMs nice to meet you."
вЂTM...SheвЂTMs cute!вЂTM
The three brothersвЂTM cheeks flushed in unison. Bill quickly spoke up.
"A-Are you really a necromancer, too?"
"Have you ever touched a skeleton?"
"Ah. Yes. ItвЂTMs a little scary, but IвЂTMm used to it now."
As expected, Kamibarez was popular. She answered the storm of questions from the Hayward brothers with a gentle and friendly tone.
Simon was watching the scene with a warm smile when a voice only he could hear echoed from above.
[ItвЂTMs been a while.]
Startled, Simon looked up to see a man standing on the ceiling, his feet planted like a batвЂTMs. The strongest living Ursula, the Vampire Lord. And KamibarezвЂTMs father.
вЂTMDietrich Hon Ursula!вЂTM
Dietrich dropped from the ceiling, landing with a solid thud before Simon. His thick neck, his shoulders as broad as a field, his slender legs, and the black cloak-like garment he wore—it was all just as Simon remembered.
Simon quickly placed a hand on his shoulder and lowered his posture in a gesture of respect.
"I greet the Vampire Lord."
"Hoh."
When Dietrich smiled, his protruding fangs glinted.
"A mere human knows the etiquette of vampires!"
That unique, overwhelming pressure was still there. Simon broke out in a cold sweat as he raised his head.
"W-Was I being rude?"
"Hahahaha! No, you were taught well!"
He smirked.
"Who taught you such a thing?"
"My fath—"
"Dad!"
Kamibarez came running over, horrified. Dietrich flinched and turned around.
"Dad! Why are you causing a scene again!"
"Ahem! My daughter, Kamibarez. I was merely..."
Simon let out a dry laugh. The sight of the worldвЂTMs strongest vampire at a loss in front of a tiny girl was still just as surreal as the first time.
"Hmph! Anyway."
Dietrich stood before Simon again.
"My daughter is frail, so I didnвЂTMt even expect her to be promoted to the second year of Kizen."
DietrichвЂTMs eyes shifted to Kamibarez.
"Thank you. The fact that this child survived is likely thanks to your help, the top student."
"What are you talking about, sir?"
SimonвЂTMs lips were smiling, but his eyes were firm.
"It was all purely the result of Kami—no, Kamibarez UrsulaвЂTMs own efforts."
"Ho."
"You say I helped her? On the contrary, I was the one who received help. She was by my side when things were tough, and she saved my life when I was poisoned during an evaluation."
"S-Simon...!"
Kamibarez looked at Simon, her eyes wide with surprise.
"She is not a child you need to protect forever, Vampire Lord."
DietrichвЂTMs facial muscles contorted. Seeing his reaction, Kamibarez panicked and stood in front of Simon.
вЂTMHah.вЂTM
вЂTMKwahahahahahahahaha!вЂTM
A thunderous laugh shook the Grand Auditorium.
"Still as arrogant as ever, human!"
The pressure and power rolling off him were immense. Dick had a somewhat dazed expression, not daring to get any closer.
"...KamiвЂTMs dad is scary."
"Your friend whoвЂTMs talking to him like that is pretty amazing, too," Dan remarked.
Somehow, the atmosphere had relaxed, and Simon and Dietrich were now talking freely.
"Did your father come here? IвЂTMd like to meet him."
"Ah, well..."
вЂTMStep. Step.вЂTM
SimonвЂTMs words trailed off. Someone was approaching. Sensing their presence, Simon turned around.
His mouth fell open in shock at the sight of the approaching man.
"Excuse me for a moment, ladies."
The man passed by Meirin and Kamibarez, asking for their pardon. Both of their faces flushed bright red.
вЂTMH-He looks just like Simon...вЂTM
Kamibarez frantically looked back and forth between Simon and the man.
вЂTMThat man...! I knew he looked familiar!вЂTM Meirin thought, glancing down at her wrist where the handkerchief was still tied.
But the most surprised of all was Simon.
вЂTMF-Father?!вЂTM
"Haha!"
Richard, in his disguise, raised a hand with a smile.
"Long time no see, nephew!"

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