Book 4: Volume 3 Chapter 3, Active Exchange

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

The plan began moving forward following a consultation Kousuke received from Shrein over a year ago, before his sightseeing journey commenced. This occurred some time after welcoming the Prost Clan into his household.

 

Shrein approached Kousuke in the relaxation area, wearing a rare, slightly troubled expression. “Kousuke, may I have a moment?”

 

“What seems to be the matter?” Kousuke asked.

 

“We have encountered a minor problem,” Shrein explained.

 

“What kind of problem?”

 

Shrein nodded as Kousuke tilted his head questioningly. “A conflict exists between those advocating increased interaction with other races and those preferring to maintain the current arrangements.”

 

The vampire residential Floor connected to Amamiya Tower only through a portal. However, portal usage remained limited to Ygrite’s group and a small number of vampires, hardly constituting active external communication.

 

Consequently, some argued for more proactive engagement with the outside world. Conversely, those satisfied with current arrangements wished to minimize communication based on past experiences.

 

Naturally, the Tarrega Clan tended toward proactive positions while the Prost Clan favored a more passive approach.

 

Hearing this explanation, Kousuke tilted his head questioningly. “So what would you like to discuss?”

 

What Shrein described constituted purely internal vampire matters, not something requiring Kousuke’s consultation. He doubted Shrein would seek his advice on such issues.

 

Kousuke’s intuition proved correct as Shrein nodded and continued. “We have decided to accept outsiders only in specific locations, but…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Could you create a tool establishing a barrier preventing people from leaving the designated areas?”

 

When Shrein posed this question, Kousuke crossed his arms thoughtfully. “That depends. Considering the purpose, people with permission should be able to enter and exit freely, correct?”

 

“Precisely.”

 

“I cannot know until I actually try it.”

 

Seeing Shrein nod, Kousuke replied honestly. Magical tools existed that restricted entry to authorized individuals. However, he had never created a magical tool trapping unauthorized people within a barrier.

 

Theoretically, the task seemed straightforward, but Shrein’s description indicated the interior would connect to a teleportation portal. Furthermore, despite being a barrier, it would not serve individual use and therefore required considerable scale.

 

Whether this design would prevent various functions from interfering remained uncertain until it was actual created and tested.

 

“Would you please help me create one then?” Shrein requested.

 

“Sure, I shall try,” Kousuke agreed.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Kousuke did not bother stating he could not guarantee success. Shrein understood this perfectly well.

 

Ultimately, fulfilling Shrein’s request and creating the precise tool required took one month. The tool met vampire expectations admirably, and Kousuke received renewed celebration among the more proactive factions.

 

* * *

 

Considerable time passed since that exchange between Kousuke and Shrein. Meanwhile, vampires made various preparations, and the plan finally took definite shape. Furthermore, Ygrite’s team rather than the vampires played the leading role in this project.

 

Without their comprehensive cooperation encompassing building construction, decoration, and the core element of training, this project would have failed undoubtedly. Their contributions would continue indefinitely into the future.

 

After Shrein reported preparation completion, Kousuke made a rare visit to Crown Headquarters on the Fifth Floor. Naturally, Kousuke arrived in a room accessible only to a very select few. This time, particularly heavy security ensured that only summoned individuals gained entry.

 

The room held all of Tower management team members including Kousuke, with Crown represented by all four department heads and supervisors. Additionally, all of Kousuke’s children had gathered.

 

Such comprehensive assembly was extremely rare.

 

Had anyone present known their identities, surprise would have been inevitable. Unfortunately, only Kousuke’s true Family attended.

 

After confirming that all planned attendees had arrived, Kousuke turned his gaze to Shrein. Meeting Kousuke’s gaze, Shrein nodded and began speaking.

 

“I apologize for gathering everyone despite your busy schedules. What we are about to begin may determine the fate of us vampires, so I requested Kousuke to assemble everyone.”

 

As Shrein indicated, only because Kousuke had issued the summons had so many people gathered. Otherwise, assembling everyone would have proven impossible.

 

They gathered here because this matter literally placed Shrein’s fate, and by extension the fate of the vampires, at stake.

 

“There is no need for prolonged discussion here, so let us proceed to another location. Hopefully…” Shrein paused, reconsidering. “Perhaps I should not say that so soon.”

 

Shrein voiced only the final words between her lips before immediately taking action. However, the action itself presented nothing extraordinary for those assembled. She created a portal within the room.

 

The genuine challenge this time lay beyond the portal. Vampire and Ygrite representatives awaited there.

 

Shrein watched them pass through the portal, then with a prayerful expression, she passed through the gate last.

 

* * *

 

Kousuke passed through the portal first. Waiting on the other side was Shrein’s right-hand associate, Zenet.

 

“We have been expecting you,” Zenet said, bowing politely to Kousuke.

 

“Yes, thank you,” Kousuke replied.

 

To his surprise, he could not see her clearly. Kousuke felt no discomfort at this phenomenon. Instead, relief and confidence surged through him at achieving his intended outcome.

 

Kousuke’s attention focused elsewhere. Unusually, not only Kousuke but also Kouhi and Mitsuki standing on either side of him paid similar attention.

 

During this time, other summoned members began arriving through the portal successively. They all adopted identical attitudes.

 

Before their eyes stood a single building. Roughly the size of a typical school, it was not merely a flat rectangular structure but featured artistic design. Various decorative patterns adorned the walls, making its considerable value immediately apparent.

 

Dulles, head of the crafts department, took one look and groaned loudly before falling silent. Clearly, tremendous effort had been invested in this single building.

 

Finding a comparable building anywhere on the Central Continent would prove impossible. If one had to identify something similar, it would be buildings known as sacred objects exuding similar presence, but their design differed clearly.

 

Sacred objects were constructed to praise the Gods, while the building before them was built primarily to welcome people.

 

The group felt overwhelmed by the building’s exterior, but they would only fully appreciate this once stepping inside.