"No, I do not agree with your decision of Isaiah going there"
Rias stated as a matter of fact, looking Azazel in the eyes without a single speck of fear. I glanced at her and then at the former governor general of Fallen Angels, who didn't seem to mind her refusal as he responded to it with a shrug.
"Come on, stop being so unreasonable" Azazel pointed at me "He is the only one suitable for this task, and if you think he will end up in danger, then you must recall what he did to the White Dragon Emperor a week ago"
"Even then, I won't agree with your request to send him to Romania, for peace negotiations with her" She crossed her arms and muttered something which we all heard. "More than the Carmilla Faction, I fear her for Isaiah."
Yeah, that's right. You heard it correctly. This whole verbal war had been going on for over an hour, just so Benemune couldn't take me with her to Romania for the peace negotiations with the Three Factions, which had been proposed by the Carmilla Faction.
Can you believe that? Neither could I. But it seems it's reality that I had to wake up to face and accept, whether I agreed to it or not.
"Fufu~" Benemune chuckled, adjusting her glasses with one finger. "I see, you are worried that I might take Isaiah kun all for myself during the visit? If that's your concern, then it's absolutely correct!"
I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying something that would get me in a spot worse than the current one. Nothing like having two women argue over you like you're a piece of cake while you're sitting right there.
"Benemune san" I interjected before things escalated further "I don't think deliberately provoking her will help our situation here"
"Oh my, but Isaiah kun, where's the fun in playing it safe?" She turned those calculating eyes on me, a playful smile playing at the corners of her lips "Besides, she's quite adorable when she's protective, don't you agree?"
Azazel leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the entertainment more than he should. "You know, Rias, if you're this worried about Benemune sinking her fangs to the kid, maybe you should go with them. The peace negotiations talks could use someone with your political weight anyway"
"As much as I wish to join....I have my peerage training sessions to oversee" Rias countered immediately, though I could see the conflict in her eyes. She wanted to come, but her responsibilities were pulling her in different directions.
"Then it's settled!" Benemune said smoothly, clapping hands in victorious smirk "Isaiah kun will accompany me to Romania. I promise to return him in one piece, Gremory heiress. Whether he returns unchanged in other ways..." she let the sentence trail off with a knowing smile.
"So, kid. What do you think of it? Will you go with Benemune?"
Now all eyes were on me, and once again I replied what I believed was most reasonable. "I'll go with Benemune san"
Not only I could use this opportunity to visit the Vampire faction, I might get a potential peerage member and above all, character cards. Knowing my luck so far, I would be getting all of them without...no, with all the troubles.
"Then it's settled!" Benemune said smoothly, clapping hands in a victorious smirk "Isaiah kun will accompany me to Romania. I promise to return him in one piece, Gremory heiress. Whether he returns unchanged in other ways..." she let the sentence trail off with a knowing smile.
"Isaiah..." Rias, seeing determination in my decision, sighed. "If you have made up your mind, then I won't interfere with it. But keep in mind, you must not indulge in a fight with any noble Vampires there."
Why did it sound like I was some spoilt kid getting reprimanded by mother to not cause trouble in a family function? Everyone knows, I never start a fight unless someone asks for it.
Then again, considering my track record, I couldn't exactly blame her for the concern.
"I'll try"
That was the best assurance I could give her, and this seemed to be enough for her, as she sighed and then smiled like a proud mother seeing her kid agreeing to behave properly.
---
After Rias left with Azazel, I had some time before the trip. Benemune had asked me to meet her at the Black Dog Bar in the evening, something about "final preparations" and "making sure I didn't embarrass Grigori in front of vampire nobility."
The magic circle flared to life, and I stepped through, emerging in the familiar back room of the Black Dog Bar.
The place had that same atmosphere as always—dim lighting, the faint smell of alcohol and old wood, the sense that you were somewhere between the normal world and something far more dangerous. I'd grown to appreciate it, in a weird way. At least here, people didn't pretend to be something they weren't.
I walked into the main area and immediately noticed someone slumped over one of the tables.
Lavinia Reni.
She was leaning forward, her long blonde hair spilling across the table surface, her face planted directly on the wood. If I didn't know better, I'd think she'd passed out. But I could see the slight rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathed.
"Lavinia san?" I approached cautiously "Everything alright?"
She lifted her head slowly, those sapphire blue eyes focusing on me with what could only be described as profound suffering "Isaiah kun..."
"Yeah, that's me. You look like death warmed over. What happened?"
"I'm hungry...." she said, her voice carrying the kind of despair usually reserved for announcing the end of the world "So hungry... I haven't eaten since morning..."
I blinked.
"Since morning? It's almost evening now. Why haven't you eaten?"
"Tobi kun left for a mission" she explained, looking genuinely distressed about it "He'll be gone for a week, and he usually cooks for me, and I tried to make something myself but I burned the pan and then the rice somehow turned purple and I don't even know how that's possible..."
I had to bite back a laugh. Lavinia Reni, wielder of one of the Longinus Sacred Gears, capable of freezing entire battlefields, defeated by basic cooking.
"And..." she continued while being barely conscious "And I didn't want to bother anyone, but I've been sitting here trying to figure out if I could freeze some ice and eat that for sustenance, but I don't think that's nutritionally sound..."
Okay, now I felt bad for her.
"Come on" I said, gesturing for her to follow me "I'll make you something."
Her eyes widened "You can cook?"
"I can cook. Rayne's been teaching me, and I've picked up a few things on my own" These are times for which I feel grateful for being blessed with Sanji's skills "The Black Dog Bar's kitchen should have enough for something decent"
Lavinia practically leaped to her feet, her exhaustion vanishing like magic "Really? You'd do that for me?"
I chuckled "It's just food, Lavinia san. Not exactly a heroic sacrifice"
I headed to the kitchen, Lavinia following close behind like a puppy who'd just been promised a treat. The Black Dog Bar's kitchen was surprisingly well-stocked—apparently.
I found rice, eggs, vegetables, some chicken that was still fresh, and various seasonings. Enough to work with.
"What are you going to make?" Lavinia asked, watching with intense focus as I started pulling ingredients.
"Oyakodon" I said "Chicken and egg rice bowl. Simple, filling, and hard to screw up if you know what you're doing"
I got to work, and it was almost meditative. Slice the chicken, dice the onions, prepare the sauce. The familiar rhythm of cooking was calming in a way that training and combat never quite managed to be.
Lavinia watched the entire process with wide-eyed fascination, like I was performing some kind of ancient ritual rather than just making dinner.
"You're really good at this!!!" she observed "The way you cut everything is so precise..."
"It took me a long time to get a hang of this"
I heated the pan, added the sauce mixture and let it simmer. The aroma filled the kitchen immediately, rich and savory. I added the chicken and onions, let them cook through, then poured the beaten eggs over everything.
The trick with oyakodon was not overcooking the eggs. You wanted them just set, still a bit soft, so they'd continue cooking in the residual heat when you served it over rice.
I plated it up, the golden egg mixture glistening over the chicken and rice, garnished with some sliced green onions I'd found.
"Here" I said, setting the bowl in front of Lavinia.
She stared at it like I'd just handed her the Holy Grail.
"Isaiah kun, this looks amazing..." She picked up the chopsticks, took a bite, and her entire expression transformed in an instant "Mmm! This is delicious! The egg is so soft, and the chicken is perfectly cooked, and the sauce has this sweet-savory thing that's just—mmm!"
She was practically vibrating with happiness as she ate, taking enthusiastic bites between making satisfied sounds.
I made a smaller portion for myself and sat across from her. The oyakodon had turned out well, if I said so myself.
"You're incredible, Isaiah kun!!!" Lavinia said between bites "This is so much better than anything I could make. When Tobi kun gets back, I'm going to tell him you're an amazing cook!"
"It's really not that impressive," I said, though I couldn't help but feel a bit pleased.
"No, no, this is definitely impressive!!" She finished her bowl with record speed, then looked at it longingly, like she was considering licking it clean "Can I... is there more?"
I laughed "Yeah, there's more. Let me get you another serving"
As I stood to get her seconds, the door to the bar opened, and Benemune walked in.
She paused, taking in the scene. Me in the kitchen, Lavinia sitting at the counter with an empty bowl, the lingering aroma of home cooking in the air.
"My, my," Benemune said, adjusting her glasses with an amused smile "I arrive to collect Isaiah kun for our trip, and I find him playing house husband~"
"I was just making food for Lavinia san" I said, plating another serving "She was about to starve to death"
"I was not...." Lavinia protested, though her immediate grabbing of the second bowl undermined her point "I was just very hungry, Bene chan!!"
Benemune walked over, peering at the oyakodon with interest "You made this? It smells wonderful."
"Want some?" I offered. "There's enough for three."
"How could I refuse such a generous offer?" Benemune settled onto one of the bar stools gracefully "It's been some time since you cooked for me"
I made a third portion and set it in front of her. She took a delicate bite, and I caught the slight widening of her eyes.
"Isaiah kun, you continue to surprise me" she said "This is genuinely excellent. You never told me where you learn to cook like this?"
"Necessity, mostly. I lived alone for a while before... everything. Had to figure out how to feed myself, and I got tired of instant ramen." I shrugged. "Plus, Rayne's been teaching me proper techniques. She's got centuries of experience with food preparation."
"The Phenex woman?" Benemune's smile turned knowing "I see"
I ignored the implication and focused on my own food.
Lavinia finished her second bowl and sighed contentedly "I feel so much better now. Thank you, Isaiah kun!!! You saved my life!"
"I wouldn't go that far—"
"No, truly! I was withering away, and you rescued me with your cooking prowess!" She clasped her hands together, her expression earnest and grateful "If there's anything I can do to repay you, please let me know!"
Benemune set down her chopsticks, her expression thoughtful "Actually, Lavinia chan, I'm taking Isaiah kun to Romania tonight for peace negotiations talk with the Carmilla Faction. If you're looking for something to do while others are away..."
Lavinia's eyes lit up "Can I come? Please? I promise I won't cause any trouble! And I've never been to Romania before!"
I glanced at Benemune, who just smiled that knowing smile of hers.
"I don't see why not~" Benemune said "You're more than capable of handling yourself, and having a Longinus user will be beneficial. The vampires do respect power, after all"
"Yeah, that sounds reasonable to me" I added.
Lavinia practically bounced in her seat. "Thank you! I'll be very helpful, I promise! Oh, this is so exciting! I should pack—wait, what should I bring to Romania? Do vampires have different customs? Should I bring a gift?"
Benemune chuckled in amusement "Hm, perhaps pack some warmer clothes. The Carpathian Mountains can be quite cold at night"
"Okay! I'll go pack right now!" Lavinia hopped off her spot, paused, then turned back to me "Isaiah kun, thank you again for the food!.It really was wonderful. I hope you'll cook for me again sometime!"
Before I could respond, she was already heading for the door, her earlier exhaustion completely forgotten.
Benemune watched her go, then turned to me with a raised eyebrow "You do realize you've just earned the devotion of one of the most powerful Sacred Gear users in Grigori through the power of cooking?"
"I fed a hungry person. It's not exactly a grand achievement"
"Hmm, but as they say the way to hearts is through the stomach, Isaiah kun. You should be careful, between your combat abilities and your cooking skills, you might find yourself with more admirers than you know what to do with"
I cleaned up the kitchen, ignoring her teasing. Though I had to admit, seeing Lavinia's genuine happiness over something as simple as a bowl of oyakodon had been... nice. In a world full of complicated politics and power struggles, sometimes the simple things mattered a lot.
"We would leave in two hours" Benemune said "That should give Lavinia chan enough time to pack, and give you time to finish whatever preparations you need to make"
"Right" I said "I should head back and let Rayne know Lavinia's coming with us. She'll want to know"
"How considerate of you, Isaiah kun" Benemune said, her tone suggesting she found my relationship with Rayne far more interesting than she was letting on "I'll see you back here in two hours then, Isaiah kun. Don't be late."
She stood and headed for the door, pausing just before leaving. "Oh, and Isaiah kun? Do save some of that cooking skill for me during the trip. I have a feeling we're going to need some comfort food before this diplomatic visit is over."
With that cryptic statement, she left, leaving me alone in the Black Dog Bar's kitchen.
I sighed, cleaned up the last of the dishes, and opened a teleportation circle back to my apartment. Time to pack, brief Rayne, and prepare for whatever chaos awaited us in Romania.
At least I'd made a new friend through cooking. That had to count for something.
---
Back in my apartment, I found Rayne in the living room, who was helping me pack my clothes for the trip. I wish I could take her with me, but I knew it would be asking for more troubles as Ravel would also request to join as well. Not that I minded her being around, but I needed some time to figure out how to break it to Ravel that Rayne and I were officially together now.
Because that conversation was going to be fun. About as fun as explaining to a dragon why you borrowed their treasure without asking.
I watched her work "Oh, by the way, Lavinia's coming with us to Romania."
Rayne paused mid-fold. "Lavinia Reni? The Ice Princess user?"
"Yeah. I ran into her at the Black Dog Bar earlier—she was practically starving because her team mate away on a mission and she can't cook to save her life. Made her some food, and she asked to tag along when Benemune showed up."
"You made her food," Rayne repeated, a knowing look crossing her face. "And now she wants to come with you to Romania. You do realize what you've done, don't you?"
"Fed a hungry person?"
"Won her over completely." Rayne shook her head, though there was amusement in her eyes. "That girl is probably singing your praises to anyone who'll listen right now. 'Isaiah kun is such an amazing cook, he saved my life with his oyakodon.'"
"Sigh, It was just oyakodon"
"Doesn't matter. To someone who was genuinely hungry and incapable of feeding themselves, you were a hero." She went back to packing. "Though I suppose having another powerful ally on the trip isn't the worst thing. The Carmilla Faction can be unpredictable."
"You're being suspiciously calm about me going to Romania with two beautiful girls" I said, changing the subject.
"Should I not be?"
"Most people would at least pretend to be jealous"
Rayne paused, then looked at me with those amber eyes that had seen too much political bullshit to fall for games "Isaiah sama, if I thought you were the type of man to run off with the first woman who fluttered her eyelashes at you, I wouldn't have let things between us progress this far." She went back to placing clothes "Besides, being jealous implies I don't trust you"
I pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her lips "I'll be back before you know it"
"You better be. Ravel's already planning some kind of welcome back dinner, and if you miss it, I'll have to listen to her complain for a week"
"Alright"
---
The transportation circle dumped three of us in Romania the evening, and the first thing I noticed was how aggressively Gothic everything looked. Carpathian Mountains in the distance, ancient forests, the whole nine yards. If there was a "Vampire Aesthetic Starter Pack" this place was it.
"This is where we were supposed to arrive, Bene chan?" Lavinia asked, tilting her head as she looked around.
Benemune adjusted her glasses, frowning slightly "Yes, though I expected someone to be here to welcome us"
Of course they didn't show up. That would be too straightforward, and politics in the supernatural world were allergic to being straightforward.
Then the bats showed up.
A massive swarm of them, blotting out the sky, diving straight toward us with all the subtlety of a brick through a window.
I didn't even blink. One slash through the air with Yamato, reality tore open, and the bats disappeared into the spatial rift. I sealed it shut.
"Hospitality's really gone downhill these days" I muttered "Let's just walk to the gates. Clearly, nobody's coming to pick us up"
We started walking, and sure enough, another swarm appeared. Because why try something new when the first plan failed so spectacularly?
"The bats swarms are quite persistent, I'll give them that" Benemune said.
"I don't want to hurt them too badly" Lavinia said "That would be rude"
"They just tried to swarm us twice" I pointed out. "I think we're past the point of worrying about being rude."
Then, a girl emerged from the gates.
Long wavy blonde hair, red eyes, doll-like features, wearing a red medieval-style dress with an elaborate headdress. Pure-blooded vampire nobility, and she moved like she knew the privilege that came with it.
The vampire girl walked toward us with the kind of deliberate steps that screamed "I am important and you should be impressed." She stopped a few feet away, those red eyes sweeping over us with barely concealed disdain.
When her gaze landed on me and Lavinia, her lip curled slightly. Not a lot. Just enough to make it clear what she thought of non-vampires.
"I am Elmenhilde Karnstein of House Karnstein, envoy of the Carmilla Faction," she announced, like we should all bow or something to her introduction "I have been tasked with escorting the representatives of the Fallen Angels to our territory"
She looked at Benemune when she said "representatives," completely ignoring Lavinia and me.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
"These two," she said, gesturing vaguely in our direction without actually looking at us "are they your... servants?"
The sheer aristocratic contempt in that one word could have frozen water.
Benemune's smile didn't waver, but I caught the slight edge in her voice "Isaiah kun and Lavinia chan are my companions for this visit"
"I see" Elmenhilde's tone suggested she very much did not see, and furthermore did not care.
I had to hand it to her as she managed to make me feel like my very existence was an insult to my entire bloodline.
Lavinia, bless her, just smiled serenely. She either didn't notice the insult or didn't care. Probably the former.
Me? I was running calculations on how much trouble I'd get in if I opened a spatial rift under her feet and dropped her somewhere far away. Like in Detroit Or New Jersey.
Benemune and Elmenhilde exchanged some pleasantries that were about as genuine as a three-dollar bill, all while Elmenhilde continued to act like Lavinia and I were particularly unattractive pebbles that someone had carelessly left in her path.
"The accommodations have been prepared" Elmenhilde said, still addressing only Benemune "I trust your... companions... will find them acceptable, though I cannot guarantee they meet the standards of proper nobility"
"I'm sure it will be fine" I said, speaking for the first time since she'd arrived. "I've slept in worse places. Once spent a night in a building that was left abandoned for years"
Elmenhilde's eyes snapped to me, and for a moment, I saw genuine surprise that I'd dared to speak to her directly. Then her expression settled back into that mask of aristocratic disdain.
"How... fortunate for you" Her tone could have given frostbite "I'm certain such experiences must seem terribly exotic to one of your... kinds"
She didn't know who I was. She probably hadn't heard about my feats. To her, I was just some random tagalong who had the audacity to exist in her presence without proper credentials.
Honestly? That was almost refreshing. No expectations, no reputation to live up to. Just be myself.
"Shall we proceed?" Elmenhilde said, already turning away "I have a schedule to keep, and I'd prefer not to waste more time than necessary on this..."
She walked toward the gates, not before giving me a warning "I am tolerating you out of obligation and you should be grateful"
Benemune fell into step beside her. Lavinia hummed quietly, seemingly unbothered by the vampire's attitude. And I brought up the rear, already contemplating the various ways this visit could go catastrophically wrong.
Because if there was one thing I'd learned about the supernatural world, it was this: stick a bunch of proud, powerful beings in close quarters for political negotiations, and someone was definitely going to start a fight before the end.
I just hoped it wouldn't be me this time.
Though with my luck? Yeah, it was probably going to be me.
. . .
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