Chapter 9 - The Matsuo Family

As Frank was introduced through the facilities of the shrine, Harumi walked back through the same route to take the train back home, as it was getting late and the sun was slowly descending through the horizon, her senses were increasing and her capabilities were augmenting, as a trait of being a Half-Vampire.

Through the empty streets, she met up once again with a blond girl with tanned skin, twin tails, and a fierce look, Erika.

"So? Did you drink its blood or is he your new Dhampir? I don't think so because he's not here with you…" said Erika.

"He resulted to be a Monk, but the stupid of Matsuo never told us about that, nor the other Monks from the Shrine... according to him, he seems to have recently moved in here," said Harumi.

"Oh? I guess that is why he had such a strange scent… So now what are you planning on doing? Wanna hang out with me? We are going with my pack to hunt for some lambs…" said Erika.

"Not tonight, my mother has called me for a reunion, and to report her what had transpired today… After all, I am one of the few Vampires that can walk through the day, so I have to constantly give her any information I gather each day, which my brethren often have a hard time looking for themselves at broad daylight" said Harumi.

"Eh? That old woman? Vampires are so strict with your family system and all, can't she let you have some fun with your pack?" asked Erika.

"Erika, I am not a dog like you, don't compare our family with yours… And it's not like I am in the mood either… That guy, Frank… He is strange. I feel like he is way more than what he showed to me. Even if he is from the Monks, it would be dangerous if the Monks got their hands into a strong warrior without us knowing about that… What intrigued me the most was that he seemingly had a strong resistance to curses and hypnosis immunity… Also, even though I grabbed him with all of my strength, his bones did not break apart like branches, as normal humans or weak mage-type Ability Users would…" said Harumi.

"What? So that shrimp packs a muscle? Perhaps he's a double-type?" asked Erika.

"It's strange for Double Ability Users to appear, especially if they're not from our prestigious families, he seemed like an Awakener of sorts… Although he has bloodline ties with Matsuo, he did not present the powers that the Monks of his family usually showcase aside from the rare Healing Magic" said Harumi.

"Ooh~! He got way more interesting now! My father has been pestering me about finding a mate in a few more years… Maybe I can catch him, and we can finally forge a bloodline tie with the Monks! If he is strong, he will give me a strong offspring, right?" said Erika as a fluffy and blonde wolf tail appeared below her skirt, waving with excitement.

"Sigh… Degenerate dog... I tell you this and the first thing that you think is mating? I am done with you for today, Erika…" muttered Harumi as she slowly walked away.

"Meh! What would a corpse-like you know about making descendants, your whole family does not even mate, you just convert people!" said Erika from the distance, but Harumi ignored her babbler.

Erika then sighed as blonde hair grew on her wrist and knees, her painted nails grew into wolf-like claws, and her ears grew fur as well, becoming elongated and sharp, her eyes flashing in an eerie light.

"Well, time for a hunt! Let us go bros!" she said, jumping through the buildings of Tokyo as many figures emerged from the shadows… all of the roaring like wolves.

Once a month, the family of Werewolves in Tokyo would go 'hunting', meaning that they would satiate their thirst for hunting and bloodlust by hunting humans. This was often also called the 'cleansing'… this is how the streets of Tokyo were often exceptionally clean of homeless people. The government could not care less about such people that did not bring anything to their country and would let such families of superhumans that ruled certain areas do the cleansing for them.

Vampires would also have such a day, but this day would usually be separated from the werewolves to not cause conflicts.

After a few hours in the train, Harumi reached her home, which resembled an ancient gothic-styled European manor, entering the manor's front yard would lead Harumi to a different space from the outside world, which revealed countless greaves and undead walking aimlessly around, zombies, skeletons, living armors, ghosts and many other creatures that often spawned close to where Vampires would settle down and create their Domains.

Such Domains were infused with the Vampires Mana, mutating the environment, and allowing the place to quickly infest itself with monsters. Thankfully, they would only appear within the Domain of the Families that created them, so such creatures leaking outside and attacking normal civilians would only happen very rarely… however, when it happened, many tales about such creatures were created, particularly in the past, where many of the tales about Yokai were born in Japan due to these rare occurrences.

Harumi glanced at the Undead as they, instead of attacking her, stood up as if they were her servants.

"Harumi-sama… Welcome back"

"Welcoooooomeeeeeee baaaaaaaaaaaaack…"

"Fuhihihi, Harumi-sama, welcome back!"

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh"

Such Undead were not wild ones, but those tamed by the Family and made into servants to clean the residence and to attend to the Vampire's needs, such Undead were patiently waiting for their Master, Harumi.

"Hello everyone, how has mother been?" asked Harumi to a walking skeleton with a butler outfit.

"Harumi-sama, your Clementine-sama is awaiting you in her throne, you must report her what you have seen as always. Ah, we have also prepared several of your favorite plates at your room, so feel free to walk there afterward and enjoy the rest of the night" said the skeleton.

"I see…" muttered Harumi, walking inside the manor as she was transported into the throne of such immense building, a large room whose floor was covered in a fluffy and medieval-looking crimson carpet, there were ghosts, wisps, and many other ethereal creatures floating around, the walls were covered in paintings depicting very pale, scarlet-eyed people.

In the middle of the room, a large throne made by exquisitely crafted materials was standing, where a beautiful woman sat down over it, glancing with an emotionless expression to Harumi. Her hair was long and crimson red, alongside her pupils that flashed in a deadly scarlet, her presence, unlike Harumi, seemed to be of a completely different level. The ghosts and other ethereal creatures would always stay several meters away from her.

"Tell me what you saw today, girl," she said with a cold tone.

"Yes, mother…" muttered Harumi, clenching her fist while resisting the oppressing presence of her mother…

Meanwhile, Frank was walking through the beautiful shrines that surrounded the tower of the Monks of Tokyo, where he met with dozens of people belonging to the faction and introduced himself alongside Matsuo.

The people were mostly nice to him and had gentle demeanors, but a few older ones had sharp looks of concern over the rash decision of their great ancestor to recruit someone without making him go through the ceremony nor the trial.

Reaching Matsuo's residence, Frank was greeted by his family, his mother, his father, and his many sisters, which glanced at Frank with awe due to his foreign appearance, which they did not see too often in here.

Matsuo had three younger sisters, all of them being talented Shrine Maidens with Abilities related to Light and Holy Attribute Magic, they were promising girls amongst the clan. Meanwhile, his father was a respected Seal User, an ancient type of Mage that uses several types of paper-based seals to inflict various effects on the environment or enemies. And lastly, his mother was a normal civilian that fell in love with his father and was accepted into the clan after marrying him, giving birth to Matsuo no long after.

All of Matsuo's family greeted Frank with great hospitality, inviting him to have dinner with them, which he couldn't simply reject.

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Author's Note: If you like the story please give any powerstone you could spare, if we reach a nice number there will be bonus chapters at the end of the week, it all depends on you!

Thank you very much for reading!