The hall was filled with the presence of some of the world's most powerful hunters, all gathered to decide the fate of the feared Vampire Duchess, Victoria Aure. She stood at the center, bound by silver chains that kept her immobile. However, her gaze was full of disdain, and a soft smile danced on her lips.
"I have never harmed humans, yet here I am," Victoria said, her smile intriguing, as if this were just another game rather than an imminent execution.
The hunters watched her with contempt, but they couldn't deny the imposing presence she held, even while imprisoned. The murmurs in the hall ceased as the gavel struck.
"Death penalty." The judge, without hesitation, delivered the sentence, and the executioners approached with silver axes, ready to carry out the verdict.
However, before they could make a move, a dark presence appeared at the hall's entrance. All eyes turned toward it, and the room fell into complete silence. A boy with pink hair and a mask covering his face—except for his button-like eyes—walked in. His presence was strange yet terrifying.
"Who is that?!" a Rank S hunter exclaimed, standing up in alarm. "Why was a stranger allowed to enter?! Where are the guards?!"
Panic spread through the hall as everyone looked toward the entrance. The guards, who should have been protecting the area, were dead, their bodies being devoured by puppets wearing straw hats. The silence was shattered by screams and hurried footsteps.
"Damn it!" a hunter shouted, trying to react. "I can't move!"
The hunters looked around, trying to understand what was happening. Threads of mana floated in the air, capturing them and suspending them in place. The masked boy did nothing but approach Victoria.
"Vampire Duchess Victoria Aure," the boy said, his voice low but filled with authority. "I want you."
Victoria looked at him, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.
"No way… Can I refuse?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
The masked boy lifted her from the ground with ease, ignoring the silver chains that bound her. The chains shattered as if they were made of glass, destroyed by the flowing threads of mana.
"Choose. Be mine… or die." The masked boy did not hesitate.
Victoria smiled, as if the situation were nothing more than a joke.
"Only if we get married," she said, defiant.
The masked boy smiled back.
"That works."
The scene dissolved, and the sound of a page turning echoed in the minds of the twin vampire girls. Victoria Aure, now older, looked at her daughters with a nostalgic expression.
"And that's how I met your father," she said with a smile. "The legendary Puppet Monarch."
The twin vampire girls, their red eyes glowing, looked toward the approaching carriage. The older one, Any, exclaimed:
"Dad is amazing!"
The younger one, Amy, with a curious expression, added:
"Dad is strong!"
The boy, the Puppet Monarch, opened the door. The twins jumped toward him, embracing him with joy.
"Hello, my little kittens. How have you been?" he asked with a playful smile.
Victoria, with a loving smile, appeared behind him, wrapping all three in an embrace.
"Welcome home, love," she said, feeling at peace.
The boy gently kissed her forehead.
"I'm home, love," he responded, his tone soft and affectionate.
And so begins the story of the Puppet Monarch.
---
Now, returning to the past…
Ban Laka woke up from a nightmare, but when he opened his eyes, he realized he was no longer in his world. He was in a vast palace, surrounded by living puppets. Some were small, others were large, and some were so terrifying they seemed to have a life of their own.
Ban looked around, bewildered.
"Am I dreaming?!" he said, staring at the strange environment. "What the hell is this? A castle full of dolls?!"
A giant doll, dressed in a majestic gown, sat on a throne. She smiled upon seeing him, and Ban couldn't help but feel even more frightened.
"Chosen one, you will bring peace to this world," the doll said, her voice soft yet filled with immense authority.
Ban, still in shock, looked at her, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"I'm a nobody…" he murmured. "I think you got the wrong guy."
The doll smiled again, her eyes shining with a supernatural intensity.
"Do not underestimate what you can become," she said. "The peace you bring will not be your choice. It will be your destiny."
And so, Ban Laka was thrown into a strange world, where living puppets and an unexpected fate awaited him.