The reactions to Alucard's claims were… mixed.
Effie and Kai simply nodded, as if this was just another Tuesday in their lives.
Nephis and Sunny looked confused.
Cassie and Caster, on the other hand, looked intensely curious.
"I think I heard about you dying before. I was wondering what Effie meant by that," Cassie said thoughtfully, placing a finger against her chin.
Caster of the Hand Tree Clan spoke next, his voice measured.
"Yes. I've also heard about your so-called death. But I'm not exactly informed on how it actually happened."
Alucard suddenly realized something important.
He had never actually explained his "death" to them.
All the times he casually mentioned dying had probably been taken either as a joke… or as something far more ominous than intended. That explained the awkward looks he sometimes received.
He coughed into his hand, trying to hide his embarrassment.
He was not sure if they would believe him.
Honestly, even he barely believed it.
"Well… you see, I kind of blew myself up trying to fight that thing over there."
He lazily pointed at Beast, who was currently rolling around in the stone while Saint watched with her usual silent judgment.
Beast paused mid-roll, lifted his head, and wagged his tail, confused as to why he was suddenly being referenced.
Alucard ignored him and continued.
"So after I died, I was… sort of kidnapped by a Nightmare Creature? I think? I'm not really sure. I was trapped in hell. Or something that looked like hell. It was very red. Lots of blood. I was kind of a skeleton for a while. Just… existing. Then that Nightmare Creature rebuilt my body for some reason. After that, I woke up, killed it, and went on a tiny bit of a crazed killing spree. So yeah. That's how I died."
He paused.
"Well. That was my first death."
Silence.
Slowly, everyone turned to Kai.
Caster was the first to speak.
"Please tell me he's lying."
Kai sighed heavily.
"Nope. He's telling the truth. I couldn't believe it either."
That was when the questions came.
"How did you come back to life?"
"Death was far too pedestrian for me," Alucard replied casually. "I decided not to stick around."
"Where did you go?"
"It's called the Garden of Resurrection, I think? I'm not completely sure."
"Why are you so easily telling us this information?"
"Why not? It's not like it's a big secret."
"Why couldn't you have stayed dead a little longer?"
He glanced at Effie.
"Because death was boring and I had nothing to do."
After a barrage of questions, things slowly calmed down. Small groups broke off into idle conversations, some still whispering about what Alucard had revealed.
All except Cassie.
She remained.
"So… what exactly did you see? In that garden?"
Alucard scratched the back of his head.
"I guess… mostly blood and flowers. It was strange. The sky had seven moons, I think. Or maybe more. And I only saw one other person."
Cassie tilted her head slightly.
"You saw someone else? How did they look like?"
His memory felt foggy, like trying to recall a dream.
"I think he had long red hair… no, wait. It was silver at first. Then it became red. Pale skin. He looked… strong. Really strong. Like the kind of strong you don't question."
Cassie absorbed every word.
"And what did he do?"
"He just looked at me," Alucard said quietly. "Like he already knew me."
That made her pause.
"And how did that make you feel?"
He shrugged.
"Annoyed."
She laughed softly.
Eventually, Alucard managed to shift the topic before she could dissect his soul any further.
And he shifted the topic to novels they read back in the real world.
"So anyway, as I said before, I mostly read those trashy power-fantasy novels. You know the ones. Overpowered main character. Super edgy. Mysterious tragic backstory. Ends up with a harem of women whose Breasts are bigger then their skulls."
Cassie giggled.
Alucard found himself staring.
She looked… nice when she laughed.
Her laugh sounded light and warm.
He didn't hear it often enough.
If he had a laugh like that, he'd probably use it constantly.
But he forced himself to refocus.
"And what about you? Since you were laughing at my novels?"
Cassie blushed lightly and twirled a strand of her hair.
"I was just reading what any girl my age reads."
"Oh?" Alucard smirked. "I'm neither a girl nor your age, so you might have to be more specific."
Her cheeks turned redder.
"You know… the ones where the girl gets reincarnated into her favorite game as the villain."
His grin widened.
"Ohhh. And unless I'm mistaken, those stories usually have a reverse harem, don't they? Tall black-haired duke. Silver-haired crown prince. Mysterious assassin who only shows emotions around her—"
Cassie covered her face with both hands.
"Oh Lady Cassie, are you ill? There seems to be excessive blood flow to your face. Do you require medical assistance?"
She smacked him in the chest.
Hard.
He wasn't wearing his Underworld Armor.
The hit knocked the wind out of him.
He wheezed dramatically and collapsed backward.
"Wait—are you okay? I didn't hit you that hard, did I?" she asked, panic replacing embarrassment.
He sat up slowly, coughing.
"No, no. I'm fine. Probably."
She turned her head away to hide her worry.
"You deserved it."
He laughed—his usual dark, almost unhinged laugh.
Strangely, no one seemed bothered by it.
That realization hit him harder than the punch.
He could laugh.
He could joke.
He could talk about dying.
And they didn't flinch.
Was this… friendship?
It wasn't what he imagined friendship to be. They were all insane in their own ways.
But even with all their flaws—and all of his—
He could almost call them friends.
Eventually, Sunny and Kai approached.
"Hey," Sunny said. "Do you guys want to play something?"
Alucard raised an eyebrow.
"Depends on whate we are playing."
"We were thinking tug of war."
Alucard stood up, brushing dust from his tunic.
"Sure. Why not? Cassie, want to join?"
She stood as well, a little shy.
"I can try. I might not be very strong."
Alucard gently pushed her forward.
"You'll be fine."
Soon, teams were formed.
Team A — Alucard and Caster.
Team B — Nephis and Sunny.
Team C — Kai, Effie, and Cassie.
Alucard turned to Caster and dabbed him up.
Then, standing on his tiptoes to reach his ear, he whispered:
"Let's absolutely destroy them."
Caster gave him a thin smile.
"You realize we are probably going to loose."
"And?"
Caster glanced at Team B, then at Team C.
"Effie alone might be worth the two of us."
Alucard cracked his knuckles.
"Good. I was getting bored."
They grabbed the rope. Sunny dug his heels into the dirt. Nephis' expression turned calm and focused.
Effie grinned while watching them. Kai looked supportive but he didn't know who to root for since he wanted everyone to win. Cassie couldn't see anything.
"On three!" Sunny shouted.
"One!"
Alucard braced himself.
"Two!"
Caster planted his feet with perfect posture.
"Three!"
The rope snapped taut instantly.
Nephis pulled with terrifying steadiness. Sunny added explosive force.
On the other side
Alucard felt the strain in his arms and Caster adjusted their rhythm.
"Pull on my count," Caster muttered.
Alucard ground his teeth barely able to hear Caster.
But this was still fun.
They heaved together, dragging the rope inches toward their side.
Nephis' eyes sharpened.
The dirt beneath their feet tore up.
And in one final clash of strength—
Alucard's team lost.
It happened fast.
Caster had just called for one last synchronized pull when suddenly the tension on the rope shifted. Instead of resisting with equal force, Nephis and Sunny had subtly loosened their grip earlier, letting Alucard and Caster exhaust themselves trying to overpower them.
Then, at the perfect moment—
They pulled.
Hard.
Alucard barely had time to process what was happening before his footing slipped. The ground beneath him gave way, and both he and Caster were dragged forward in an undignified heap.
Team B stumbled back but stayed standing.
Team C erupted into cheers.
Effie laughed loudly.
Kai clapped.
Cassie tried—and failed—to hide her smile.
Sunny brushed dust off his hands. "Strategy," he said smugly.
Nephis simply nodded, calm as ever.
Alucard lay there for a second, staring at the sky.
It was fine.
He still had fun.
He absolutely wasn't angry.
Not at all.
…His eye twitched slightly.
"Best two out of three," he muttered, already getting up.