ASAHI NO NISHISEI - Rising Sun Goes West (2)

Welcome, Angel of Death

May 23, Early Dawn

Lucinia Port Square

All present were transfixed by the woman standing at the top of the stage tent, the moonlight on her back, and the night wind caressing her face. Her long silver hair reflected the moonlight, her skin was as white as snow, and her jade-green eyes were cold and penetrating.

"W-what is a vampire doing in a place like this...!?"

"I-is she a Tepes!?"

"Impossible! How can the imperial family of the capital be in this place!?"

The troupe members, who had just been beating and kicking Jindo, felt a fear like they had never experienced before as they looked at her.

The vampires, a race that is said to be the strongest in the world, with a lifespan far longer than that of elves, astonishing regenerative abilities, a body that can change at will, the ability to turn other races into their kin via blood sucking (live bait), and unrivaled fighting ability. However, their power can only be drawn out at night. Their power is limited during the day by their greatest weakness, sunlight. Because of their threatening nature, however, the Japanese government has designated them as a "Specific Alien Demi-Human Species" in this world.

'W-what...?'

Jindo, who had his eyes closed, was upset because he did not understand what was going on around him. The assault on him had stopped, and his surroundings had suddenly become quiet, but then they began to erupt in hushes again. As he strained his ears, he could hear the voices of the troupe members murmuring, "It's over," with a sense of despair in their voices. He opened his eyes a bit, enduring the pain in his swollen right eyelid, and saw a silhouette like a person standing on the stage tent, blocking the moonlight in his hazy vision.

After frightening the troupe members for a moment, the vampire jumped down from the stage tent and stood in front of them. She glanced at the wounded human and crying elf lying on the ground, looked around, and then looked at Macrohoi, the leader of the group.

"So you're the leader... I came here because I have something to say to you."

"!"

The leader's eye widened at the mention of him. He was breaking out in a cold sweat. She continued her words without regard to that.

"You... you have a lot of nerve to use that story to commit thievery. Are you prepared to lose your life...?"

"...Hah!?"

What she said to him was almost a death sentence. No demi-human in this world has the power to compete with the vampires of the night.

"...Why, got a problem with that!?"

Macrohoi could not hide his fear and agitation. The other members of the troupe were also becoming more and more frightened. It was a daring and ingenious act of thievery, exploiting the theater and using the Gorgon's power to turn everyone in the audience to stone. The vampire woman in front of them had somehow revealed this act, which should have remained undetected until now.

"...Don't be afraid, everyone!"

"!"

As if to drown out the fear of the trembling members of the audience, a voice full of courage came from somewhere. Immediately after, the owner of the voice, Dormas the Gorgon, pushed aside Macrohoi and stood in front of the vampire. Confronted by the devil of this world, she concentrated her magic power deep into her eyes, and a purple light shot out of both pupils. It enveloped the entire vampire's body.

"There is no one in this world who can resist my power! I don't care if you are a devil of this world, you will die once you turn into stone!"

The members, who had been frightened like rabbits before, cheered as Dormas reasserted his power as the Gorgon. The vampire's eyes were not closed, and she was not taking her technique seriously.