Camellia tried to pry the Vampire's steel-like claws off her slender neck, but her human strength was no match.
"Alright! Fine! I agree! Now get your hand off me!"
But her neck was still firmly gripped.
The tips of her ears started to burn red as the scent of greenwood and lemongrass from the Vampire's breath brushed against the back of her neck.
"No! You have to swear. Swear that from now on, you won't bite anyone except me!"
Royce's voice was barely a whisper.
Yet it was gentle, warm, and oddly alluring.
What kind of stunt is he pulling now?
Usually, it was the Bloodbound who demanded oaths from Vampires. Camellia had never heard of a Vampire making a Vampire Hunter swear not to bite anyone except him.
Then again, perhaps no other Vampire Hunter in history - who was 100% human - had ever gone around biting Vampires before either.
"You crazy Bloodsucker! I spent a fortune on those fangs, okay? Not to mention all the pain I went through pulling out my original teeth and every time I have to recharge the venom. That's my livelihood you're talking about! Gotta get some ROI, you know? You just had a taste of it yourself!"
Camellia reached both arms behind her and scratched furiously at Royce's arm. But it probably felt more like a tickle to the Vampire than any real pain.
"Stupid Hunter! You only managed to bite me because I let my guard down. If it had been another Vampire - one actually trying to kill you - you'd be dead before even getting close. Those fake fangs won't keep you alive for long."
"Exactly! So I probably won't get to use them much anyway. In that case, why should I swear anything? And why do you care who I bite?"
Camellia let her arms drop. She stopped resisting him, but she wasn't backing down either.
At the moment, all the students at Harmony High were glued to the giant screen, watching the judges comment on each class's Fruit Tray presentation.
Meanwhile, the 11D students had moved to the 12C display area, observing and taking notes. Nobody noticed that the "fruit tray" belonging to class 11D had begun to move - specifically, its right arm and head.
"Camellia! You're so damn stubborn. Just swear already!"
Royce shook her slender neck with rising frustration.
"No! I won't swear - even if you snap my neck right here and now. And when you do, you'll spend the rest of your life on Fire Prison Island for killing a Vampire Hunter. I heard that place is so bad, even execution sounds merciful in comparison."
The Vampire's grip loosened slightly at Camellia's threat - but not by much.
From class 12C's area, a thunder of applause and cheers erupted. Looked like their presentation had gone exceptionally well.
The judges were now moving on to class 11C. It wouldn't be long before they reached class 11D.
"Fine, if you don't want to swear, forget it. But I'll only let you go… if you agree to go release lanterns with me at Greenwater Lake tonight."
"Didn't the Council request Harmony Town cancel the Lantern Festival this year because of the Blood-Giver incident?"
Camellia flatly refused.
She had no idea why this Vampire kept insisting on doing something as romantic as releasing lanterns… with the very girl who had just sold him out for thirty cups of 2High bubble tea.
"In 2024, when the festival actually happened, you said it was too crowded. In 2023, you said you had to finish your thesis early. In 2022, you said I hadn't grown tall enough. Is it really that hard to just sit in a boat and release one little lantern together?"
Camellia could feel her neck burning red hot.
Thank goodness she didn't have to look into Royce's fiery eyes right now.
"Hey now! If you don't decide soon, Mr. Blue Eyes up there will be down here any second. I bet he'll laugh his guts out - if those guts could even burst - seeing a top graduate from Solaria Academy's Vampire Hunter program get captured by an untrained Vampire like me."
Sure enough, the judges had already finished with classes 11C, 10C, and 12D. They were now approaching class 11D.
Camellia gave a small nod, answering without words.
The next moment, Royce released her just in time - as Dr. Spring, Ms. Ella, and Mr. Locke arrived at class 11D's fruit tray.
Royce was now seated properly, sitting upright with the poise of a statue, allowing the judges to walk around and observe him.
"I'm over 70 years old, and I've never seen a fruit tray this bizarre! Still, the kid's got a nice build. Do you just work out, or are you taking those shady protein powders Mr. Bach keeps trying to sell?"
Mr. Locke gave Royce's shoulder a hearty squeeze.
"Owwww! I just work out, sir!"
Even a young, healthy Vampire like Royce couldn't help but wince from the retired soldier's iron grip.
"So this was designed by Ethan?"
Dr. Spring asked calmly.
"You should consider joining the school's Art Club. It could help you develop your talents even further."
Camellia knew this was Dr. Spring's way of offering high praise. She hoped the Bloodbound boy understood that, too.
"Now tell us! What message were you trying to convey with this fruit tray - aside from showing off Royce's six-pack abs?"
Ms. Ella said with an arched brow, eyeing the standee in front of the tray. Her sharp gaze made all of 11D lose confidence at once.
Class rep Lucas promptly shoved Ethan to the front to let him handle the presentation himself.
"Uhm… This piece is called… uh… 'Reborn as the Fruit God.' It… uh… continues the story from our class clip. After the human guy was killed by his Vampire in-laws, he got isekai'd into another world and became… um… a god - a Fruit God. He gave up on revenge and chose to live nobly, just like a real god. Fruits grow from his body every day and help countless adventurers. Like, eating this banana gives you +10 Strength, and a slice of that apple gives you +5 Magic."
Ethan stumbled his way through the explanation. Like most of the students in class 11D, he wasn't exactly gifted at public speaking.
"I really like how you incorporated fantasy elements like Vampires, reincarnation, gods, and stats. But I still don't see the message behind your story's ending. Can someone truly let go of hatred so easily after experiencing such injustice? Isn't that… a bit too idealistic?"
"Um… our message is… we wish for… peace, and…"
Ethan had gone pale. Impromptu questions were his biggest weakness, especially since he didn't often get the chance to speak in front of crowds.
Even though the idea presentation wasn't timed, the students from other classes started chanting rhythmically:
"Ten… nine… eight…"
That only made Ethan more flustered. He couldn't think clearly, let alone finish answering the question.
Hmph! Cowards!
They think that's cool or something?!
Camellia clenched her jaw.
Then she rushed forward and snatched the mic from Ethan - to the shock of the judges and the entire Harmony student body.
"Dear judges and fellow students of Harmony High. For thousands of years, the people of Vietnam have endured countless wars against foreign invaders. But never once have we held on to hatred or sought vengeance to the end. Because our ancestors taught us:
'Let righteousness defeat cruelty,
Let compassion replace tyranny!'
"And in reality, Vietnam today is a strategic partner to many countries around the world -including those that once waged war against us."
"Our generation is incredibly lucky to be born and raised in a time of peace, thanks to the blood and sacrifices of our forebears. So through this Fruit Tray, the story in our video, and Ethan's presentation - our class wants to deliver one message:
Let go of hatred, close the wounds of the past, look toward the future, and together…
CONTINUE THE STORY OF PEACE!"
As Camellia finished her speech, Royce suddenly began humming the song "Continue the Story of Peace" by composer Nguyen Van Chung.
"Our ancestors once fell on the battlefield…
So that we may one day live in peace…"
The students of class 11D stared at him, then at one another, unsure what to do.
Ethan was the first to act. He overcame his hesitation and joined in with Royce's singing.
Next came Autumn, Lucas, and Simon. One by one, the rest of 11D joined the chorus.
"So our land may rest in peace from that moment…
So the red of our flag may fly freely in the sky…"
Eventually, the entire school joined in. Even the students from class group A - who had been visibly annoyed - ended up singing when they saw the judges and teachers begin to harmonize together.