Three Identical Brothers and a Father Descends From the Ceiling
As Simon rose from his seat and walked toward the podium, thunderous cheers erupted from every corner of the auditorium.
Thank you! You're a hero! That was incredible! The words buzzed and rang in his ears. Every student here knew the story of Simon's struggle and triumph in this promotion exam.
Simon felt a faint pang of bittersweetness.
When he'd been called up on the first day of enrollment, the reaction had been Who's that guy? In just one year, everything had changed.
Once he stepped onto the podium, Simon bowed his head to Jane in greeting, then turned to look out over the sea of students.
And there's already a script prepared for me.
He cleared his throat lightly and read through the script, which had been composed in suitably elegant prose, line by line.
The flourishes of rhetoric ran a bit excessive, but stripped down to its essentials, it was the usual predictable speech: a promise to keep working hard and never grow lazy, always devoting himself to his duties as a student.
But reading it straight through like a textbook would feel a little off, wouldn't it?
Simon cut himself off near the end of the script and looked directly at the students.
"The Saintess incident, the Blood Sky Cult incident, the pre-exhibition curriculum and the Integrated Second Semester. We've been through a great many trials, and I'm grateful that we can stand here face to face at this promotion ceremony."
The broadcast henchman, who had been listening with satisfaction behind the mana camera, belatedly went pale with fright.
Ignoring the script was one thing, but the Blood Sky Cult incident was strictly off-limits.
I worked that hard through all of it—I figured a mention this much was fine, Kizen HQ.
The broadcast henchman frantically signaled for him to wrap it up, but Simon simply tilted his head up with a sly smile. Beside him, Jane wore an expression that said she couldn't stop him even if she wanted to.
"We survived the competition. In other words, six hundred people fell to that competition. I hope we never forget that weight—that none of us grow complacent, and that going forward, we give our all on their behalf as well."
With that, Simon brought his speech to a close with a feeling of light relief.
"I look forward to our second year together. Thank you."
Bathed in the applause of the student body, Simon stepped down from the stage.
The broadcast henchman, face burning scarlet, was wheezing and waiting to pounce on him—but before he could.
Sweep.
Jane called Simon over with a gesture as she delivered her next line. The broadcast henchman, left waiting below, was reduced to a dog chasing after a chicken that had already flown the coop.
She spoke in a small voice. "I'm sorry, Simon. I was there on the scene, and I couldn't do anything to help."
"Please don't say that, Professor."
It would have made no difference whether anyone had been there or not. It had been the shocking reversal of a professor who'd served Kizen for twenty years, a plan devised over a century by a monster like Silaje—in Simon's mind too, it fell squarely under the heading of forces beyond anyone's control.
Just as he was turning to leave, Jane spoke to his back. "Congratulations on your promotion to second year."
"Oh—thank you, Professor!"
After parting ways with Jane, Simon went around behind the stage and returned to his seat.
And then came the final course of the ceremony—the moment every student had been waiting for.
"Bwahaha! Finally!"
Rick pinned a Red Badge—the emblem of second-year status—to the collar of his uniform.
"We're Kizen second-years nowww!"
"So? What do you think, Simon?"
Meilin, her red badge freshly pinned, twirled in place like a model showing off on a runway.
"Do we look like proper upperclassmen now?"
"Ooh, you've definitely gained some gravitas."
Simon crossed his arms and let out a laugh.
He remembered how, as a first-year, the mere glimpse of that red emblem had put him on edge. And now they were the ones wearing it—it was a strange feeling.
"Simon!"
Camibarez scampered over. "Shall I put yours on for you?"
"Ah, thanks."
Standing on tiptoe, she fastened the red badge to Simon's collar. Then she stepped back two paces, clasped her hands behind her, and admired her handiwork.
"It matches your tie, like they're a set! It really suits you!"
"Thanks."
This time it was Simon's turn to pin a badge on Camibarez, and with that, every event of the promotion ceremony had drawn to a close.
The students dispersed freely, and the parents who'd been waiting in the back rows or standing along the sides of the Great Auditorium surged forward all at once. Families embraced, crying and laughing. Cries of joy burst out from every direction.
"I'm so proud of you!"
"You've fulfilled our family's long-cherished dream!"
Swept aside by the crowd, Simon stood alone, watching the touching reunions unfold around him.
"Hey, Simon!"
Just then, Rick sidled up with a smirk and thumped him on the shoulder. "Just in case, you should look around for your parents. They might've come."
"No, my parents could never possibly—"
Simon's eyes went wide mid-sentence. "Wait. When did you change into casual clothes?"
Pffft!
The man suddenly doubled over, clutching his belly and laughing. Simon blinked in bewilderment for a moment before belatedly realizing something, his mouth falling open.
This person... was subtly different from Rick.
"Hey, Simon!"
And right on cue, with those exact same words, the real Rick in his uniform appeared at Simon's back, cackling and waving. "Aw, what a letdown! We were roommates all year and you can't even tell us apart?"
"I told you. He'll never figure it out! Hwahahahat!"
At the casually dressed twin's gesture, uniformed Rick clicked his tongue and flicked a coin over with a ting! So they'd made a bet.
"Wh-what's going on? Rick?"
"Allow me to introduce—"
Uniformed Rick slung an arm around the other man's neck and grinned. "Our second-oldest brother. Name's Dan Hayward. And this here's my best friend, Simon Polentia."
"Call me Dan. Pleasure's all mine!"
"Likewise, I'm sure."
Dan and Simon shook hands as Rick supplied the explanation. "Oldest brother, second-oldest brother, and me. Triplets—all three of us!"
"You— you're kidding."
Rick always complained that his father only treated the eldest brother like a real son, so Simon had never once imagined the three of them were triplets.
"Hello there! Rick's friend, sir!"
"Hello there! Rick's friend, sir!"
More of Rick's brothers appeared. They resembled Rick, but were unmistakably different in the face, and a touch shorter.
"On the right is Bill Hayward, our fourth son, and on the left is Al Hayward, the fifth! The fourth and fifth are twins, too."
What a family. Triplets, and then twins on top of that.
"Your younger brothers, then. Nice to meet you."
Simon offered his hand to them as well. He'd extended only his right hand, but the twins took it upon themselves to lift his left too, so that they were shaking both hands at once.
...It's like Rick just multiplied into four.
These brothers were cut from exactly the same cloth, in looks and in personality both.
"Rick! I smuggled in bouquets to sell today! Made a tidy profit on Roc Island!"
"Bouquets? Thinking small, aren't we? Gift sets are where it's at!"
"Any takers for Roc Island pebbles?"
They talked business just the same.
"Whoa! Every single Kizen girl is a knockout!"
"Rick, you lucky bastard!"
"Isn't it against the rules for a necromancer to be that pretty?"
And their taste in women was identical too.
All four heads and all four pairs of eyes moved in perfect unison. As the passing female students swept their skirts about, the brothers gazed devoutly at their legs as if contemplating wordless works of art.
"Everyone! Just a moment—!"
Only Simon, who had no reason to be lumped in with them, broke into a cold sweat. He raised an arm, pointed at their wandering gazes, and bellowed. "Rick! Do something!"
"No use trying to stop them. Just let them be."
Rick shrugged and shook his head. "Our brothers have worked the harbor their whole lives, surrounded by nothing but rough-and-tumble sailors. Of course their eyes pop out seeing girls at a school."
"Rick! That one's the prettiest of all!"
At that moment, fourth son Bill thrust a finger skyward, pointing at a girl with sky-blue hair.
"Oho, the boy's got taste."
Fifth son Al snickered in response. But that very girl was already walking straight toward them.
"Simon!"
It was Meilin.
At the sight of her approaching with a bright, sunny smile, the Hayward brothers went rigid as boards. Being fond of women and being comfortable around them were two very different matters.
"Simon, say hello. This is my father."
"Hm?"
Simon's eyes widened. A man with the same sky-blue hair as Meilin, impeccably dressed in a formal suit, was smiling a warm, kindly smile.
"Papa, this is Simon. He's in my class group—he's helped me so much all semester."
"I've heard a great deal about you from my daughter. A pleasure to meet you."
Daniela Villenne extended his hand.
"It's— it's an honor to meet you, sir!!"
Meilin's father!
Wound tight with nerves for some reason, Simon shook the man's hand and bowed at a precise, formal angle.
"Hmm."
And Daniela, as a noble, took in Simon's posture, his manner of speech, his etiquette—and nodded with satisfaction. "Well schooled, I see. And where might your parents be? What manner of territory does your father govern? Do you care for wine?"
"Papa!!"
Meilin smacked Daniela squarely on the back. Simon answered with a smile. "He's very busy with his work, so he couldn't attend this ceremony."
"Haha, a pity."
Meilin then introduced Rick to Daniela, and Rick introduced his brothers to Meilin in turn.
"Dan Hayward, the second son."
"Yes, hello. I'm Meilin Villenne."
Meilin lifted the hem of her skirt in a courteous bow. Dan's face went faintly pink as he thumped the back of Rick's head—thump, thump—and muttered under his breath.
"Wow, you son of a—! Rick! So you actually made something of yourself after all, huh? Eh?"
"Ow! Ow—!"
"Isn't Meilin gorgeous? Why haven't you made a move on her yet?"
...Brother.
Rick twisted his whole body away with an expression of genuine, full-body horror. "I'll say this exactly once. Forget everything else—just spend one week with her. One. Then you'll see what she's really like—"
WHAM!
Out of nowhere, Meilin came flying in and sent Rick sprawling with a roundhouse kick.
Then she rose without a care in the world and smoothed down her skirt. "What were you talking about with that punk, Dan?"
Dan's hand shot up. "I am an uninvolved party."
"Rick! You traitor—aaagh!"
Watching Rick get trampled under Meilin's feet, Dan's mind dissolved into pure chaos.
...Just what kind of place is Kizen?
"Simon~"
From behind, Camibarez came trotting up, waving. The adorable little bat wings on her back fluttered with every step.
"Update: she's number one on my list now."
Fourth son Bill declared it instantly.
"She's not a noonim—she's our age."
Al pointed out.
Camibarez stopped mid-step too, eyeing the Hayward brothers with flustered confusion. "R-There are four Ricks...?"
"Let me introduce you, Cami."
Rick, who'd been face-down on the floor from the kick, scrambled upright. "From the right: second son Dan, fourth son Bill, and fifth son Al."
"HELLO, MA'AM!!"
The brothers crowded forward, tripping over each other.
Shy as she was, Camibarez rolled her restless eyes for a moment before bowing her head deep in greeting. "I'm C-Camibarez Ursula! N-Nice to meet you all."
...She's adorable!
All three brothers flushed crimson at the same moment. Fourth son Bill was the first to find his tongue. "Is— is your real noonim also a necromancer?"
"Have you ever touched a skeleton?"
"Ah. Yes, I have. It was a little scary at first, but I'm used to it now."
Camibarez was as popular as ever. She answered the brothers' storm of questions sweetly, in her soft, gentle voice.
Simon was watching the scene with a warm smile when—
[It has been a while.]
A voice that only Simon could hear suddenly rang out from the ceiling above.
Startled, Simon looked up—and saw a man clinging to the ceiling, standing upside down with both legs pressed flat against it like a bat.
The strongest Ursula in existence. The Vampire Lord.
And Camibarez's father.
Dietrich von Ursula!
Thwick!
Dietrich dropped from the ceiling and landed squarely in front of Simon.
The thick column of his neck, shoulders broad as an open plain, legs lean and long—wrapped in something like a black cloak, his figure was exactly as Simon remembered it.
Simon quickly lowered his stance, resting one hand on his shoulder, and offered a respectful bow. "I greet the Vampire Lord."
"Ho-ho."
As Dietrich laughed, Simon caught the flash of protruding fangs. "A mere human who knows the etiquette of vampires!"
That peculiar, crushing presence of his was as overwhelming as ever. Simon lifted his head, sweating. "W-Was that presumptuous of me?"
"HAHAHAHA! Not at all—well learned!"
The corner of his mouth curled up in a smirk. "And who taught you such things, might I ask?"
"My fath—"
"PAPA!!"
Camibarez came sprinting over in a panic. Dietrich flinched and turned around. "Papa! Why are you causing a scene again!"
"Ahem! My daughter Camibarez. I was merely—"
Simon let out an awkward laugh. The strongest vampire in the world, completely at a loss before a tiny girl—it was a sight that never got old.
"Hmph! In any case."
Dietrich turned back to stand before Simon once more. "My daughter is so delicate that I never even dreamed of her making it to second year at Kizen."
Dietrich rolled his eyes toward Camibarez. "I thank you. She survived thanks to your help—the top-ranked student of the class, no less."
"You give me far too much credit."
Though Simon was smiling, there was steel in his eyes. "Everything she's achieved is the result of Cami's—no, of Camibarez Ursula's own hard work, and nothing else."
"Ho."
"Help her, you say? If anything, I'm the one who was helped. She stayed by my side when times were hard, and when I was poisoned during a field evaluation, she saved my life."
"S-Simon...!"
Camibarez stared at him with wide eyes.
"She is not a child you must protect forever, Vampire Lord."
The muscles of Dietrich's face twisted. Seeing that reaction, Camibarez panicked and threw herself between them, blocking Simon.
Hm.
KHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
A booming laugh shook the Great Auditorium to its rafters. "Arrogant then, arrogant now—unchanged! You human!"
An awe-inspiring pressure and force of presence.
Rick, wearing a somewhat goofy expression, didn't even dare approach. "...Cami's dad is scary."
"Your friend's got guts too, talking like that in front of that man."
Said second son Dan.
Before anyone noticed, the tension had dissolved, and Simon and Dietrich were now chatting freely.
"Is your father here? I'd like to meet the man myself."
"Ah, well, that's—"
Step. Step.
Simon's words died in his throat. Someone was approaching from behind.
Sensing the presence, Simon turned to look.
...!!
At the sight of the approaching man, Simon's mouth hung open in sheer disbelief.
"Pardon me, ladies—just passing through."
The man asked Meilin and Camibarez's leave as he brushed past, and both girls' faces flushed crimson in an instant.
He looks exactly like S-Simon...
Camibarez's eyes darted frantically between Simon and the man.
That man—! Now I remember who he looks like!
Meilin looked down at her own wrist. Tied around it, as always, was that handkerchief.
And the most stunned of all was Simon.
F-Father?!
"Haha!"
Richard, in disguise, raised a hand with a smile. "Been a while, hasn't it, nephew?"