Shadow Clone number 40, also known as Kine, reporting for duty! Right now, I'm in a city. Specifically, a vampire city! There are not many vampires right now, but that's probably because of the human and shadow clone in it. 

I am currently sitting on a lesser vampire. Did you know vampires have ranks? You've got the half-vampires, which are dhampirs, the lesser vampires, which are humans bitten by a greater vampire, greater vampires, which are humans turned into vampires by the original vampire, and then you have the original vampire. She's old.

There's more, but the other stuff is advanced knowledge. According to Physical Madeleine's memories, she had to sit through a two-hour lesson on vampires. Their abilities, their biology, where you can find them, the best way to kill one, the best way to cook one if vampire meat is all you have, and most importantly, how to seduce one. Maid School really covers everything, huh?

As for why I'm sitting on a lesser vampire, it's because I was ordered to! You see, right now, I'm on a mission with Mila. We're infiltrating the vampire city of Lilu! Why? I wasn't listening during the briefing. All I know is that this is supposed to be a vacation… I guess the Phobos family really likes fighting, which is very different from the other leading house in Bellum, the Deimos house. They like magic, especially summoning magic.

"Vampires are extremely vulnerable to light magic. Despite the teaching of such magics being exclusive to the Holy Land, I have completely dissected it. All it would take for me to make you beg for death is a single lift of my finger. Do you wish to try my patience, lesser vampire?" And there's my emotionless master right there! You can just feel the cold air coming out of her mouth… except I'm a shadow, I can't feel things. Eh, whatever.

"I give, I give! The Founder, she went through a secret passage in the dungeon with her harem!"

"Thank you." 

"Will you let me go?"

Before even giving him an answer, Mila lifted her finger, creating a ball of light, causing the lesser vampire to turn to dust… this reminds me of Physical Madeleine's weird wish to eat vampire ash.

"What a bore. Should we chase them underground or crush them under by demolishing the castle?"

I sent out a few hand symbols, which basically means I'm saying, 'Chases are fun. I like playing tag.' Mila created this cool hand symbol language thingy for her and me. She tried teaching it to the others in the Phobos mansion, but no one seemed to understand it other than herself.

"Very well then, Kine. You have permission to chase after them. They most likely left the entrance to their secret passage open due to panic, like many royals before them have. I shall be waiting at the city's entrance as a flank should you fail… although I very much doubt that as you are a part of Madeleine."

I saluted her, then ran into the castle while she slowly walked to the vampire city's sole gate.

So I've managed to find the Founder and her harem, which seem to be a bunch of butlers. I've beaten them up, which I did surprisingly quickly. Maybe Physical Madeleine dislikes butlers, and I've inherited that trait… or maybe Mila's apathetic and efficient mindset is affecting me. That sounds kind of interesting, doesn't it? A Shadow Clone of Madeleine that thinks logically… maybe Mila will see me as me instead of as a part of Madeleine… hah, the folly of a foolish shadow. Whoops, got all thinky right there. Madeleine probably tapped into the parts of her mind she holds back… I didn't know that would affect us shadow clones, but I guess they do.

Well, that's for later. Right now, I'll have to deal with the Founder. We're currently walking in a circle, focused on each other, waiting to see who strikes first. She's got a sword made out of blood in one hand and a ball of floating darkness in the other, while I have a shadow dagger in both of my hands. Shadow clones don't traditionally die, but there are ways to permanently delete us… like dark magic. Hmm… well, I don't have to fight fair. Ambush tactics! And boom, the Founder is incapacitated.

What did I do? Well, using the SCMNTTWSRGAPNF™ (That's the Shadow Clone Mind Network Thing That We Should Really Get A Proper Name For), I summoned some of my shadow clone sisters to attack the Founder from her shadow. As for their numbers… well, they're the mindless ones, so it doesn't matter. Ah, by the way, there are only around three dozen of us shadow clones that actually have sentience, excluding the shadow clones of the Sacred Power holders Physical Madeleine holds prisoner in the Shadowrealm.

Anyways, the Founder is the first vampire, built this really cool castle, and has a harem of butlers. Surely she's a Sacred Power holder. Time to look into some vampire eyes! Ooh… what a pretty shade of red.

Oh… vampirism… I should've seen that coming. 

…

Something compels me to say something random, so I guess I'll just pull something from Physical Madeleine's memories. Okay, so she once read a book from another world about ships, and apparently, there was a ship called the HMAS Vampire. Huh. Oh yeah, I have to tie her up. For some reason, Mila's mom wanted us to kidnap her.

Character profile: Stia

Sacred power: Vampirism

Number of butlers in harem: 27

Description: The Queen of the Vampires, the Founder of Lilu, and one of the oldest beings in Mendass. Although not as ancient as Vandar Gray or the ancient dragons, Stia has lived for 800 years, which is nearly four-fifths of Mendass' written history. She had seen it all. The war waged between the ancient elves and dwarves. The creation of the Cyst City and the rise of its manager Mana. The rise of the Demon King of Betrayal and his death by the Sacred Vagabonds. She never participates in these events, wishing to stick to her little corner of the world, away from everything, alongside her hot vampire butler harem. 

Chapter namesake: The Vampire by DECO*27 feat. Hatsune Miku

pojlk

Hatsune Miku.