All eyes were on Tenraku and Elmenhilde, creating an unusual atmosphere.
"Elmen San, you're actually asking for my help? You're not a fake Elmen San, right?" Breaking the silence, Tenraku wore an exaggerated expression as he spoke.
"I'm serious!" Elmenhilde blushed as she retorted.
As a proud Vampire, she had been quite disdainful of Tenraku when they first met. Although they became familiar later on and didn't mind those things, it still felt embarrassing for Elmenhilde to request Tenraku's help so desperately.
However, considering their current situation, she was willing to endure the embarrassment.
"Red Dragon Emperor, I apologize for my previous rudeness. You can punish me however you want, but please help us. We need your strength!" Bowing deeply, Elmenhilde almost pleaded.
"Elmen-Sama..."
The Vampire servants behind her couldn't bear to watch. They were well aware that such a humble request was cruel for someone as proud as Elmen-Sama. However, seeing Elmen's determined figure, they held back their emotions.
"Lord Red Dragon Emperor, please help us!" Also bowing, all the Vampire servants requested.
With a glint in his eyes, even Tenraku, not to mention the Yubelluna and others, were somewhat surprised.
To give up their pride and request help from him— had Carmilla's situation really become so dire? Moreover, in just a few days, this Vampire princess, Elmenhilde, seemed to have matured a lot.
"Get up, Elmen San. First, tell me what happened. Even if your territory is under attack from those Evil Dragons, with your strength, you should be able to fend them off, right?"
Helping Elmenhilde up, Tenraku expressed his doubts.
Although the strength of Vampires turned into Evil Dragons had indeed increased, turning them into mindless machines focused only on destruction and killing, with Carmilla effectively organizing forces to surround and eliminate them, it shouldn't be too difficult.
"Indeed, we had the upper hand at first. As long as we continued, we could have systematically eliminated those Evil Dragons. However, later, a gigantic Evil Dragon with a human face appeared and destroyed all the defenses we had built so hard." As if recalling some unpleasant memories, Elmenhilde's expression was extremely ugly as she explained.
Hearing the girl's words, Tenraku understood. The Evil Dragon with a human face should be that guy, Marius Tepes! In Tenraku's eyes, that guy was just a pitiful pawn manipulated by Rizevim. Tenraku didn't bother dealing with him when he escaped during the chaos. Unexpectedly, he caused trouble in Carmilla's territory.
"I've seen that Evil Dragon. Although it's more formidable than the others, with your Queen and elders, you should be able to defeat it."
"At first, the Queen and the elders could suppress it. However, that Evil Dragon is different from the others. Not only does it retain the powerful regenerative ability from when it was a Vampire, but it can also enhance itself by devouring other Evil Dragons and Vampires."
"After devouring many other Evil Dragons and Vampires, that Evil Dragon became even more powerful, killing many of our kin. Even Queen, Okaa-Sama, and the elders were injured."
"So... So..."
By this point, Elmenhilde was choking up, and tears overflowed from her eyes.
When she saw Queen, Okaa-Sama, and others lose, Elmenhilde felt like her entire world was about to collapse. If even the invincible Queen and Okaa-Sama couldn't stop that Evil Dragon, who could?
Was their Vampire clan destined to be wiped out?
In moments of despair, Elmenhilde suddenly remembered Tenraku. If it was this man, perhaps he could stop it. Although Elmenhilde didn't know how powerful Tenraku exactly was and whether he could defeat the Evil Dragon that even Queen and Okaa-Sama couldn't handle, he was their only hope. Hence, the events described earlier unfolded.
Having understood the situation, Tenraku nodded and said, "Elmen San, it is not impossible for me to help you."
"R-Really?" Looking at Tenraku, Elmenhilde's face was filled with surprise.
"Of course it's true. However, Elmen San should also know that I have no prior relationship with your Carmilla Vampires, so naturally, there's no reason for me to help you for nothing. I can help you eliminate the Evil Dragon, but you must provide me with an appropriate reward." Not beating around the bush, Tenraku stated his conditions directly.
"That's only fair. As long as you can help us eliminate that Evil Dragon, I'm willing to do anything you ask!" Elmenhilde said without hesitation, knowing that Tenraku had no obligation to help them for free.
"Anything?" Tenraku wore a strange expression, sizing up Elmenhilde from top to bottom. Feeling as if she was being scrutinized from head to toe, Elmenhilde couldn't help but be surprised, suddenly remembering that this guy in front of her was known as the "Sex Dragon Emperor"!
Always surrounded by various women, even his Peerage consisted entirely of beauties, could this guy make some shameless requests?
Like asking her to be his... to be his...
"No way!"
Almost blurting it out, Elmenhilde covered her chest and kept moving backward.
"What's wrong, Elmen San? You're not thinking of something weird, are you? I'll help you eliminate that Evil Dragon, and if there's a reward, I'll ask your Queen for it, not you, Elmen San." With a playful look on his face, Tenraku said with a smirk.
"You... you..." Speechless, Elmenhilde felt both embarrassed and infuriated. She would never admit that she had just entertained some strange thoughts—absolutely not!
"Follow me. I'll take you to meet the Queen."
With a teasing look, Tenraku stared at Elmenhilde, and she couldn't help but glare at him while avoiding the topic from earlier.
Having playfully teased the Vampire princess a bit, Tenraku found it as amusing as always. Though he found it amusing, Tenraku didn't continue teasing her.
"Tosca, wait a bit longer. We'll join you in mourning Isaiah and the others after we deal with this matter."
"It's okay, Lord Tenraku."
Apologizing to Tosca, Tenraku headed towards Queen Carmilla along with Elmenhilde.
"Let's go. We'll go see the Queen again."
To be continued...
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