Goldfish Bowl Island
A silver mist appeared inside the guard room, where Touka stood poised for battle, spear gripped tightly in her hand.
The fog quickly solidified, taking on a human shape — none other than Kojou.
"Senpai!" Touka exclaimed, a mix of relief and mild frustration in her tone at seeing Kojou suddenly materialize out of nowhere.
"Where have you been, Senpai? I woke up and couldn't find you anywhere. According to Prote-san, it also seems there are people approaching the island."
"Hah… I see." — Kojou murmured in a calm tone as the silver dust faded from his shoulders, his crimson eyes glowing faintly while he turned toward the sea. From there, he could clearly see a ship approaching the island — not an ordinary one, but a military vessel.
He raised a hand to his chin in thought, then sighed softly:
"Looks like this place is getting noisier than I expected."
Touka stepped forward with steady steps, her expression caught between worry and restrained anger, lightly tapping her spear against the ground.
"Senpai, couldn't you at least tell me before disappearing like that? You left me thinking you—"
"There's no need to worry," Kojou interrupted with a faint smirk. "I just went to scout the island a bit. Besides, I left Prote with you in case something happened. Or have you forgotten that I'm absurdly strong?"
He tilted his head slightly, his smile half-mocking, as if making a small joke.
"Especially since I'm immortal and can't be killed in any way." — he added in a calm voice, as though stating an undeniable fact, while his red eyes glimmered faintly under the shadows.
"But that's not the point!" — Touka snapped, visibly flustered. Though usually calm and obedient, she was clearly irritated, especially after recalling the strange and embarrassing thoughts she'd had upon waking up and finding only Prote there.
Her face flushed a bright red as she remembered the ridiculous things she had said earlier.
"Anyway, we should move. That ship is about to reach this deserted island," Kojou said, walking out of the abandoned guard post — their temporary base on the island.
"I think it's better if we hide and observe what they plan to do first," Touka replied, setting her spear aside and following him as the two moved swiftly through the dense trees until they reached the coast. There, a simple-looking black ship was anchored at the island's edge.
"Wouldn't it be better to just fire Regulus-Aurum and sink them? I can't sense any trace of life aboard that ship," Kojou said, sounding puzzled that a Priestess like Touka couldn't detect anything even from a kilometer away.
"But… couldn't we use the ship to return to Itogami Island?" — Touka asked, slightly startled by Kojou's words. His senses were monstrous — to recognize the absence of life from this distance was far from human.
"I don't think that's possible. The ship is remotely controlled. Which is why I agree with the Fourth Primogenitor's suggestion," came a new voice — sweet, melodic, and dripping with both allure and authority.
"Who's there?!" Touka shouted tensely, readying her spear and pointing it toward the direction of the voice.
"Finally, the little eavesdropper decided to show herself," Kojou remarked with a sarcastic smile, his crimson eyes locking onto the breathtaking figure standing atop a slightly elevated rock, watching them with a faint, knowing smile.
She was a pale-skinned girl of striking beauty, her presence as serene and cold as the moonlight. Her long silver hair flowed down to her hips, soft and fluid, with bangs falling slightly over her face and sweeping to the right, framing a pair of clear, sky-blue eyes that shimmered with quiet sharpness.
Her attire blended elegance with discipline: a long, coat-like jacket over a crisp white shirt and a dark skirt. Around her neck hung a blue gemstone pendant tied with red ribbons — a subtle sign of noble blood — while golden chains draped neatly across her left shoulder.
She was a little taller than Kanon, with more mature features. There was a regal composure about her, reinforced by an aura of absolute confidence that radiated majesty.
"..." The girl's face burned red in embarrassment — she hadn't expected anyone to notice her presence. But after hearing that Kojou had detected there were no humans or living beings aboard the ship, she realized hiding was pointless.
"So, you've been watching us from the start, haven't you?" Kojou asked in a calm tone that carried a faint trace of reprimand. His glowing crimson eyes met hers, reflecting the pale moon behind her.
The girl — who looked more like a painting come to life than a living being — bit her lip lightly before replying in a voice both elegant and embarrassed:
"Not exactly. I was simply confirming your identities. I thought you might be pursuers from Magus Craft."
Kojou raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement.
"Pursuers? Do I really look like one of those tech-obsessed freaks?" he said quietly, exhaling softly as he crossed his arms in a display of nonchalance.
The girl stepped down from the rock with composed grace, moving like a gentle night breeze.
"Actually… I wasn't sure. But the appearance of the Fourth Primogenitor in a place like this couldn't possibly be a coincidence."
At her words, Touka's eyes widened slightly. Kojou glanced briefly at her, then turned his gaze back to the girl, who continued approaching with calm confidence that contrasted with her delicate appearance.
"Huh. Seems you know more than you should," Kojou said with a faint, tilted smile, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The girl stopped a few meters away, the moonlight highlighting her fine features with divine precision, surrounding her in an almost sacred glow. She raised a hand gracefully to her chest, bowing slightly — the gesture refined and noble.
"My knowledge is limited… but enough to understand that your presence here cannot be ignored, Fourth Primogenitor." Her voice was soft, yet carried the commanding tone of someone born to be obeyed.
Touka exchanged a wary glance with Kojou, whispering under her breath:
"Senpai… who is she? The way she speaks doesn't sound ordinary at all."
Kojou replied slowly, eyes still fixed on the girl:
"From her manner of speech… and that golden chain on her shoulder, I'd say we're dealing with royalty."
"And with that distinct appearance and the information I have… these traits fit only one person — the First Princess of the Aldegia Kingdom, La Folia Rihavein. Am I right?"
The girl's smile froze momentarily upon hearing the name, before she let out a light, crystalline laugh that echoed like chimes in the night.
"Hah, so my reputation has reached even the ears of the Fourth Primogenitor himself," she said softly, her tone laced with mild amusement as she placed a hand on her chest with aristocratic grace.
"Yes, I am La Folia Rihavein — Princess of the Aldegia Kingdom and its rightful heir."
The moonlight reflected in her blue eyes, giving them a mesmerizing depth filled with both wisdom and authority.
Touka and Kojou exchanged quick glances; the former was visibly stunned, while the latter remained utterly composed, as usual.
"A princess of the vampire kingdom, huh..." — Kojou muttered in a cool, almost mocking tone. "Seems this island's getting crowded with royals and nobles lately."
La Folia laughed softly, her sweet voice flowing like music, yet her gaze never left his.
"Oh, don't belittle yourself, Fourth Primogenitor. Even kings have been watching your movements with great interest — ever since you became a power that defies prediction."
Kojou showed no emotion, merely brushing a strand of hair from his face as he spoke quietly, his tone filled with casual indifference:
"A power that defies prediction, huh? Sounds about right."
At that moment, La Folia raised her hand toward the military ship anchored on the shore. Red lights began to flicker from within the vessel's metallic frame.
"What matters now isn't our reputations," she said seriously, her voice turning sharp, "but that ship. It's not just a remote-controlled craft, as you assumed."
Kojou's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked in a low tone:
"What do you mean?"
Her voice grew firm, all traces of playfulness gone.
"That ship is remotely controlled by Magus Craft — and it's loaded with hundreds of armed automata equipped with the latest technology, all programmed to annihilate us."
As La Folia spoke, a mechanical rumble echoed from the ship, and around twenty automata descended — fully armed with light machine guns.
...
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