A/N: I don't really know if Granger really is Granger's real name but Moonton hasn't confirmed it yet so I figured I'll just have to stick with it.
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Alucard and Granger have made it to the Celestial Palace, an obstacle they would have to go through before they can arrive at the Moniyan Empire's Capitol, where the Baroque and other noble families of magic lived. The Celestial Palace was known to be a place dwelled by demons and creeps.
Lucky for them, the two were demon hunters. So this shouldn't be a hassle for Alucard having Granger on his side. The battles along the way were surprisingly instant.
The only thing Alucard is worried about is the small talk and the awkward silence he's forced to deal with throughout the whole journey. My God is this boy a complete emo, Alucard thought.
Yet being an antisocial person, Granger was good at fighting, especially doing assassination. Luring demons was easy for the kid, Alucard could say the same to his killing process.
The chances of his victims' survival were dangerously low. Alucard kind of admits, he was a little jealous.
If the Grandmaster was wise enough to realize the boy's full potential and full capability of leading a mission independently then Alucard might just be unneeded.
But Alucard knew why the Grandmaster had decided to give the Death Chanter a partner. Being an antisocial person, Alucard figured what Granger needed to do was to come out of his shell for once and give life a try, which made it sound like jumping off a cliff and making it out alive is more successful.
"Help!" The two were halfway across the Celestial Palace when they heard a feminine voice shouted for help. It came from the woods where trees had foliages so thick you couldn't see anything from inside.
Alucard doesn't hesitate to run towards where the voice came from. Granger remained in his spot. "Granger, come on!" Alucard demanded.
"It could be a trap." Granger said.
And he was right. It was a trap. Realization hit Alucard when time it felt like time had stopped and a circle glowed bright from the ground.
A female elf archer later on emerged from behind a close tree and began firing lightning-like arrows.
Seeing she was an elf, "Wait, stop! We're friendlies!" Alucard had begged, although it was already done.
Granger had appeared behind the archer and shot a loud blow through her head that Alucard looked away and had a temporary hearing loss.
This had to be the most brutal fight he has ever had with the Death Chanter throughout their journey.
Lost for words, Alucard became defenseless and dropped to his knees, feeling as useless as ever.
"She was gonna kill you." Granger stated.
"She was an elf. As a demon hunter, you should know that killing elves are illegal."
"Illegal unless they wanted to kill you, and she did wanted to kill you. Had I not killed her, the both of you would dead."
Sighing heavily, Alucard stood back up and returned his massive sword on his back. "I'll let you get away with this but I will have to report this to your Grandmaster once we return to the Monastery."
"I am the strongest in the team corps. The Grandmaster wouldn't fire me out only because I tried saving my fellowman's life. You should be thanking me." Even in this poor lighting, Alucard can still see the scowl hardening behind the collar.
"I am not thanking you. Now let's get back to our trip, shall we?"
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Arriving at the Baroque castle at last, Alucard and Granger still haven't talked to each other ever since they left the Celestial Palace. Granger realized he would rather have a mad Alucard than a happy Alucard since he seems annoying and narcissistic everytime he talks.
"Wait," Granger had cut the long string of silence. They were now only a few steps away from entering the castle's entrance. "I have to change my appearance. I can't let them know my identity."
Alucard sighed. "Go ahead."
With a couple hand signs, Granger transformed his unique black and slightly white hair into a light shade of golden blonde. He also changed the color of his coat into green detailed with gold. His haunting red eyes turned into cold ocean blue eyes. He wasn't carrying his violin case and pistol anymore and as for the scared on his face had disappeared.
"Where are your weapons?" Alucard asked.
"I'll summon them when I need them." He replied bluntly as usual.
"Hey, if no one had seen what the Death Chanter looks like and who the Death Chanter is, then why bother wearing a disguise and looking like a brother of mine?" The demon slayer chuckled.
"Do you really want me to enter a spoiled princess's sweet sixteenth birthday party looking like I'm about to throw her a massacre?"
Alucard flatly smiled. "Good point. But Miss Violet isn't a spoiled princess and this isn't her sweet sixteenth, it's her graduation party. I must say though she is one stunning, gorgeous woman, intelligent even."
"I don't care about her. I just wanna find our target."
"But do you agree that she is very attractive?"
"I said I don't care about her." The Death Chanter repeated in a hiss. "Let's go before I actually throw carnage on these nobles."
"After you."
"Screw you." Granger muttered as he takes the lead this time.
Alucard laughs him off, secretly already planning ways to kill him.
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Granger scans the whole lobby where the other guests were at, looking for a strange face which would stand out if the crowd.
In the center of the lobby was a grand staircase, where Guinevere would come down and become the center of attention. She was the main attraction of today's event, meaning he wouldn't be able to get a hold of himself.
He can't let her see him nor know who he is, despite that he was wearing a disguise. "My name is Alex tonight so don't you dare call me Granger." Granger had whispered harshly in Alucard's ear all of a sudden. His tone scared the heck out of Alucard he thought he was going to slit his throat from the back.
"Such malice." Alucard smiled. "How about some champagne to calm you down, hmm?" Granger doesn't reply. " Some cake then?"
"May I have everyone's attention please?" A cheerful woman from the bottom of the stairs requested. "Miss Violet will be coming down in a few seconds. That is all, thank you."
"Let's go upfront." Alucard ordered.
Alucard's sheathed sword was catching a few eyes, making Granger suggest. "Do you want me to make your sword invisible or do you want our target to know there's someone who's going to assassinate him tonight?"
"Let him know, if you please."
"Alucard, you're being sloppy."
"Ssh! Guinevere's coming."
Looking up, Granger could almost faint. The crowd goes silent as their attention was focused on the fair lady climbing down the stairs. It has been years since Granger had saw Guinevere, though the first and last time he saw her she was but an adorable, fragile and adventurous girl who cried and got splashed by swans in the fountain.
The memory still makes him smile up until this day.
But Guinevere was a little girl no more. Alucard was right—she was unmistakably beautiful. With her long red drills of hair and luscious body outlined by a black corsette on her elegant violet gown. There was no doubt every gentleman in the room was desperate to talk to her.
But another person had climbed down the stairs and clasped her hand. The person was Gusion Paxley.
"I welcome everyone to my graduation and engagement party!" Guinevere announced melodiously with a dashing smile.