"Eh?! I—I actually did something like that to you, Senpai?!"
Upon learning the truth, Alexis blushed furiously. If she hadn't still been tied to the chair, she would've dug herself into a hole out of sheer embarrassment.
Vlad, who had arrived after hearing the commotion, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This is quite unprecedented. Normally, when a vampire familiar drinks blood, they should become more violent. Yet this young lady has somehow regained her consciousness."
"Could it be because Senpai's…" Mash began to analyze, but her gaze drifted toward the wound on Hoshino's arm. Considering Alexis was right there, she didn't finish her thought aloud.
Ordinary human blood would typically drive a vampire berserk. However, after Hoshino awakened her Atlantean bloodline, her blood was clearly no longer that of a normal human. That likely explained this rare, consciousness-restoring effect.
Understanding Mash's implication, Vlad nodded slightly. "That's probably the reason. But we can't guarantee how long this restored awareness will last."
Hoshino looked apologetically at Alexis. "So, until we're sure your condition is stable, I'm afraid I can't untie you just yet, Alexis."
"It's alright, Senpai. I don't want to trouble you any further… though I already have, haven't I?"
Suddenly remembering something, Hoshino added, "Oh—but if it's uncomfortable staying in that position for too long, I can adjust it for you~"
After all, sitting in the same position for hours was bad for a girl's waist and hips—just like sitting in front of a computer gaming or writing all day.
"A–Adjust it? You mean… Senpai's bondage play?!"
Alexis's heart skipped a beat at the thought—but she quickly realized this wasn't the time or place for such things.
Hoshino tilted her head, surveying the room thoughtfully. "Let's see… maybe I could tie you lying down on the bed? Or standing, bound to that pillar? Or perhaps you'd feel more comfortable hanging upside down from the rafters—like a bat?"
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Alexis's forehead. "Hanging upside down… that won't be necessary, Senpai. I'm fine just like this."
"Well, if you say so. Alright then—open up, aahhh~"
Hoshino gently blew on the chopsticks to cool the piece of duck blood before holding it to Alexis's lips.
"How's that? Feeling a little better?"
After chewing twice, Alexis's expression turned complicated. "Mm… it tastes really good, but… my body still feels a bit unsatisfied."
"Well, it's just animal blood after all. Still, getting some food in you is better than nothing. Don't end up like me back in the day—fainting because I forgot to eat."
And with how good Emiya's duck blood vermicelli soup smelled, Hoshino was dying to eat it herself—but since it was prepared specifically for Alexis, Emiya had issued a strict no-snacking order to prevent cross-contamination. He'd gone back to the kitchen to make a separate batch for Hoshino.
"(˘••˘) Ugh, I'm starving… Emiya's so slow…"
"Master!"
A tall figure leapt down from the roof window—Minamoto no Raikou, the one assigned to reconnaissance. "That vampire has appeared again!" she reported urgently.
"Huh?! A vampire showing up in broad daylight? That's totally breaking the rules!"
Normally, a vampire would turn to ash the moment they were exposed to sunlight. That was exactly why Hoshino had moved Alexis's chair to a shaded corner earlier—to avoid direct rays.
"As expected of a pure-blooded vampire… So, where did she appear?"
Hoshino asked quickly. If the enemy had shown themselves early, then all the better—they could resolve this sooner rather than later. Waiting too long would only make things worse.
"She appeared…" Raikou hesitated, "…inside the Academy."
"What the—? I've never seen anyone this brazen in my life!"
(***)
"Wahhh! Why are there so many bats flying around in broad daylight?!"
"Run! Take cover!"
The Academy courtyard had turned into a scene of chaos, with students fleeing in all directions. In the midst of the black swarm of bats stood Camula, dressed in a blood-red gown, radiating the regal, oppressive presence of a queen reigning above humanity.
"Hohohoho~ Humans truly are such frail, pitiful creatures. Tremble before me, scream, and submit yourselves to our noble kind!"
"What kind of monster are you?! Don't you dare harm the students in my Academy, nono-ne!"
While everyone else ran in terror, Professor Crowler, of all people, stood firm—heroically brandishing a broom to drive away the bats.
In the grand melee, his broom dipped in filth was like Lu Bu's halberd reborn; his mop drenched in water. He'd even tied a few cloves of garlic to the broom's handle—and unbelievably, it was working! The bat swarm recoiled in visible discomfort.
"Professor! We'll help you!"
Moved by his unexpected bravery, Jaden and several of the Red Dorm students grabbed handfuls of garlic and joined the fray.
"Y-You troublemakers…! Ugh, fine, whatever, just help already, nono-ne!"
But where on earth had the Red Dorm students gotten so much garlic?
"Ahhh! Nooo, my precious pickled garlic!" cried Lyman Banner, collapsing to the ground in despair. "I worked so hard to prepare that for the dorm! If it's covered in bat filth, we can't eat it anymore!"
As the Red Dorm's caretaker, Lyman Banner often made homemade pickles and side dishes out of his own pocket to help supplement the dorm's meager meals—yet now his handiwork had become the most effective anti-vampire weapon imaginable.
"Professor?" Camula's eyes glinted with amusement as she regarded Crowler, her gaze like that of a predator spotting prey. "Are you the one in charge of this Academy?"
"In charge, nono-ne?!"
Normally, such a title would belong to the Academy Headmistress. But knowing how vain Crowler was, his response to such a question was predictable—
"Indeed I am, nono-ne! What business do you have with me, nono-ne?!"
"Perfect."
With a flick of her hand, countless bats ignored the garlic and swarmed around him, trapping Crowler completely. "Now then—hand over the Key of the Seven Gates!"
"The Key of the Seven Gates? I've never heard of such a thing, nono-ne!"
Camula's expression twisted into one of mockery. "Oh, come now. As the highest authority in this Duel Academy, surely you're not unaware of the seals your own people placed here?"
Fending off the biting bats, Crowler shouted firmly, "I said I don't know! And I won't let a weirdo like you run wild in this Academy, nono-ne!"
"My, my—ugly face, but quite the tight lips, aren't you? In that case…"
Camula spread her arms, her crimson Duel Disk snapping open as she licked her fangs and grinned wickedly.
"Let's see if a Shadow Game can loosen that tongue of yours!"