Subjugate the Blood Demon!
"How was the Audience Match this time...?"
At her question, the burly man snorted derisively.
"Hmph. Utterly disappointing. As expected of sisters—blood tells, after all. Not a single one of them measured up. A true warrior should glory in victory by any means necessary, sparing no method or tactic!"
"I figured you'd say that, Kagus. Still, what are the elders doing about it?"
This duel must have left even the family elders dissatisfied. Whispers of discontent rippled through their ranks.
"This fiasco is all the Family Head's fault. Why not use the chance to drag him down and pick a new head...?"
"Hmph. Why should we back your lot, who only chase practical gains? He claimed his seat through honorable means—as a warrior and hunter. Lowlifes like you have no right to question him."
"Honor and the family's glory... But is that really what's most important to the family...?"
"Hmph. That's for you to figure out. Unlike you glory-hounds, we value pure martial prowess above all. Valentina was a symbol of that for us. But... this match was a real letdown."
Amid the growing clamor, the elders needed to calm them and render judgment. Someone had to pay for all this.
"Valentina, Bell. One of you two must answer for this."
"...I'll take responsibility, Father."
Bell looked up at him and spoke. "No, I can't just let this slide either..."
Bell tried to stop Valentina in a panic, but Valentina shot him a fierce glare and cut in.
"Honestly... I never gave a shit about all your bullshit about family glory and honor up till now. But from here on? I don't care."
"Show your face in front of me one more time, and I'll cut you in half."
Even at Valentina's savage warning, the Family Head stared back impassively.
"You don't grasp the situation, do you...?"
The Family Head seized Bell by the throat and squeezed.
"Gahk...!"
Caught by the throat, Bell kicked futilely in midair.
"Don't you two know you're both part of the family—and my property...?"
"You crazy bastard..."
Valentina reached for her sword to rise, but the deep wound in her gut pinned her down.
"Don't move. And listen closely to what I say."
"Ngh...!"
"I'll give you one last chance. Don't disappoint me this time."
He released his grip on Bell's throat.
"Don't disappoint me like your mother did. Or maybe... my expectations were just too high. Who knows."
"Listen up. Thumb just got hit."
"...!?"
"That skeptical look on your face... But it's true."
"So what? What do you want me to do about it?"
"Go there and subjugate the blood demon. Rack up results for Thumb, and I'll pretend this never happened."
"...."
"You won't say you can't, will you? The moment your wound heals, head straight to the Thumb L Branch. Refuse... and..."
He glared at Bell once more.
"I'll dispose of you both myself. Not as family—as my property."
With that ultimatum, he left.
....
Exactly seven days after the Audience Match ended. Thanks to Bell's diligent care, Valentina's wound had healed to near invisibility.
"Thanks, sis."
"No problem... And come back without getting hurt."
Like a worried mother, she pulled Valentina into another tight hug.
"This is affection abuse..."
"I know. I need more."
She let go with a smile.
"See you."
"Yeah."
As the sisters parted, someone watched from beyond the window.
"Are you really okay just sending her off like this?"
She was Tanya, older sister to Bell and Valentina. At the eldest daughter's question, the Family Head downed a gulp of vodka before answering.
"She still has her uses. And if Valentina becomes useless, I'll make you acting Family Head."
"Oh. Sure, if you're offering, I'll take it."
"The Family Head's seat isn't something you hand off like a bottle of booze."
What kind of father talks to his own daughter like that, so crudely? But he ignored it and threw back more vodka.
"Did the elders give you an earful again, Father?"
".......Yeah."
He spat the word and set down his glass.
"Would you even care if I killed your little sisters with my own hands...?"
"...Things'll quiet down a bit. Shame, but what can you do? In this city, the dead have their reasons, and the survivors have theirs."
"Hmph... You'll make a far better Family Head than Valentina ever could."
"...."
"Getting bound by common sense... That's Bell and Valentina's biggest flaw."
"You mean Mother...?"
"Yeah... You take after me in my youth."
"Naturally. I'm your daughter."
"....Out. If I'd been born a woman in my younger days, I'd have looked just like you. Makes me sick to look at."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah... That's why. Now get out."
He waved her off, eyes falling on the mountain of complaint letters from the elders.
.....
Valentina arrived at the Thumb L Branch. A nostalgic place. Where her first mission began. Where it all started... the beginning?
"Might run into some familiar faces after all this time... Not so bad."
Valentina asked a staffer at the L Thumb branch. The staffer bowed deeply, guiding her politely. And why not? Valentina was a full-fledged Capo now—someone not to be trifled with.
She knocked. A voice came from inside moments later.
"Come in."
Valentina opened the door. A man in a red longcoat regarded her with a solemn(?) air.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
"No idea."
"What? Haha, just like his daughter. Though I suppose you wouldn't remember."
The man laughed heartily, then spoke to Valentina.
"Name's Jack Morrison. Temporary underboss for the L Corp branch here."
He extended a hand.
"Pleased to work with you."
Respecting her superior, Valentina shook it. He grinned.
"Really... you don't remember me at all?"
"No."
"I used to carry you girls around when you were little, playing with you. Bought you whatever you asked for."
"Uh...?"
"Back then, you were so tiny. Now look at you—grown into fine young ladies. Haha."
Morrison reminisced fondly.
"Anyway, I wasn't planning to call you in. But your father, that stubborn old friend of mine with his foul temper... He insisted you needed training, wanted you thrown into this blood demon subjugation."
"....."
"Don't hate him too much. Might be a crap father, but as a comrade-in-arms? Top-notch... probably."
"Probably...?"
"Ah, not the time. Let me introduce the team handling the blood demon with you."
With that, Morrison led Valentina somewhere.
The building he showed her to was decent enough. Big by city standards, or at least not small.
"This'll be your living quarters with the blood demon task force. Oh right, you're a girl... Damn, getting old—I forgot. I'll kick the guys out so you get the bedroom to yourself."
"No need. I'll pass."
"Come on, don't refuse. Your folks might chew me out otherwise. If they hear their little girl slept in the same room as strange men, they'll give me hell."
"....Then I'll take the living room."
"If it's really uncomfortable, just say so. I called you here since it's near the blood demons' turf, but if the bed's an issue, crash at the L Thumb branch."
"No, really—it's fine."
"Alright then. Anyway, let me introduce the team you'll be subjugating blood demons with."
Morrison opened the door. Inside, grim-faced people in dark coats sharpened or cleaned their weapons.
"Introductions: These are fixers from the Night Awl Office. Hired special by Thumb for this. No one beats them at smashing blood demons. And this guy..."
The man he pointed to eyed Valentina while honing his scythe.
"This is Kachiasis... current head of the Night Awl Office. Ask him if you've got questions."
He kept sharpening in silence.
"You'll be working together, so why not get acquainted?"
He clapped Kachiasis on the shoulder.
"This is Valentina. My friend's daughter—and your partner for this op. What do you say, Kachiasis?"
"Doesn't matter... Actually, we're plenty without outsiders. We'd appreciate it if you stayed out."
At Kachiasis's words, the underboss scratched his head.
"Yeah, you guys could handle it alone. But Valentina solo-killed four 7th progeny and 6th progeny blood demons. Might be useful."
"Hah... 7th and 6th progeny blood demons. That ain't the same as a 5th progeny."
"....."
"Valentina, was it?"
He slung his scythe over his shoulder and spoke.
"Won't be seeing much of each other. We're killing that damn red tin can, grabbing the relic as a bonus, and the female blood demon who supposedly stole it—then we're out."
He issued the warning and brushed past Valentina, heading out with his men.
"If we meet someday, fine. Might not—we'll probably finish those bastards off ourselves."
Morrison looked troubled as he apologized to Valentina.
"Sorry about that. They've got bad blood with this. I'll make it up to you."
"No issue. More importantly, how strong is the 5th progeny I need to take down...?"
"A normal 5th progeny blood demon ends at Grade 1 fixer or Capo Terzo (|||) level. The problem... this one's at least quasi-Grade 1 strength."
"Why'd someone that strong turn into a blood demon...?"
"Beats me. But one thing's sure."
Morrison sighed deeply.
"With our current forces... Taking down that blood demon and François Rosetia will be hell."
François—the name of the blood demon she'd heard at the Lalier Hotel.
"Can't you pull in other Capos or Thumb forces? Like the Black Cloud Society Leader..."
"The Black Cloud Society Leader and his crew are tied up with something major. Tricky business, from the sound of it. Plus, Index Finger makes moving forces risky. So we go with max available firepower to subjugate the blood demon."
"I see. Is the Night Awl Office the full crew hunting it?"
"No. One more on the way."
"One more...?"
"Yeah, supposed to be here soon... Where are they?"
He checked his watch. At that moment—
Screeeeech—the door flew open. A chilling aura prickled the back of Valentina's neck.
"Oh dear, I hope I'm not too late. If so, forgive my rudeness."
The voice came from right behind her. In an instant, he closed the distance and gripped her shoulder.
"A beauty like you joining me to subjugate blood demons...?"
Valentina couldn't move. Goosebumps erupted all over when she saw him. Limbs unnaturally long for a human. A beautiful face, yet an eerie vibe. It felt like staring at something not quite human.
Hic! Too startled, Valentina hiccuped.
"Ah... Did I frighten you? So sorry... Seeing such a beauty just ignites my creative urges, perhaps...?"
Hic!
He flashed an awkward smile and straightened up.
"Introductions first. I'm Calisto, student of the Ring Finger Body faction."
He gave another awkward smile.
"Any interest... in the Body faction's art?"