Ioannis signaled to the vampires of his bloodline.

"Stand back. Don't blunder in relying on your physical abilities."

He studied Shin Doryong, who held a sword in each hand.

'Twin swords... Difficult to handle and inefficient, but...'

He looked at the severed heads and limbs of his bloodline subordinates strewn across the ground. It was a different story when the swords were wielded by a superhuman who could cleave the bones of the uncanny with a one-handed swing.

The title of director, coupled with that skill, left no doubt. The director of the Bureau of Anomalous Phenomena Countermeasures.

"So, you're the famous Shin Doryong."

Ioannis observed his opponent, a smile forming on his lips.

"Monster Slayer. Korea's Hercules."

... And then.

"Don't make up childish nicknames."

Shin Doryong spoke casually as he simply let go of the twin swords.

"Thompson."

The falling swords vanished into thin air, retrieved by the book.

FLAP-FLAP!

<Muyedobotongji> fluttered.

A Thompson submachine gun with a black steel barrel shot out into its owner's grasp. In one seamless motion, he aimed at Chairman Kim, who had taken advantage of the confusion to move behind Ioannis, clutching his severed left arm.

"—!?"

It was an abrupt surprise attack delivered with utter nonchalance. Chairman Kim's and Mia's faces froze in horror.

And...

Ioannis drew the greatsword from his back and stepped forward.

The muzzle spat fire.

RATATATATATAT!

The instant the modern barrage poured forth, a scene like magic unfolded. Ioannis swung his massive claymore again and again in rapid succession.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

The flat of the blade struck the hail of bullets and deflected them. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted in every direction.

RATTLE... HSSS...

When the ammunition ran out and the gunfire stopped, the Special Response Section operatives stared wide-eyed at the blond vampire standing proudly beneath the night sky.

"...!?"

In the still silence after the gunfire, Ioannis spun his beautifully patterned blade once, sweeping away the gunsmoke.

WHOOSH.

His blue eyes flashed, and he grinned as he spoke, like a stage magician showing off a trick.

"Magic: Deflecting Bullets with a Sword."

Shin Doryong discarded the empty Thompson and challenged that ridiculous claim.

"That's swordsmanship, not magic."

"Power that defies common sense is magic," Ioannis replied lightly. "If you have the skill, strength, and reflexes to deflect bullets with a sword, you're hardly ordinary. That belongs to the realm of magic."

"So whatever the fuck you feel like, whatever the fuck you want, is magic?"

One of Shin Doryong's eyebrows rose. You had to hand it to those magician bastards: they had absolutely no shame. Anything good belonged to them.

But that aside...

Shin Doryong narrowed his eyes at Ioannis. The bastard's swordsmanship was real. He wasn't simply relying on a vampire's superhuman physical abilities. This was an uncanny magician who had also mastered human technique—the martial arts.

"..."

He had thought he might simply capture his original target, Chairman Kim, but with this fellow holding his ground...

It looked like it would be a bit of a nuisance.

"Japanese sword."

Shin Doryong summoned a Japanese sword from the grimoire and took hold of it. At that signal, Ioannis focused entirely on him, never looking away as he addressed Mia, his lover—a beautiful black-haired vampire boy watching anxiously from behind him.

"M-Master—!"

"It's dangerous. Stay out of it."

Suddenly, thunder rang out.

BOOOOM!

Ioannis's blue eyes widened, and he burst out laughing.

"Ha!"

He hadn't looked away. Yet, to be honest, he had lost track of the man's movement for an instant!

Shin Doryong kicked off hard enough to crack the concrete beneath his feet.

'Muyedobotongji, Japanese Sword—Ungwang Style.'

He closed the distance in an instant, his blade descending like a thunderbolt. Ioannis hastily swung his claymore upward.

BOOOOM!

A roar too immense to believe it came from two swords colliding rang out. And it continued.

BOOM! BANG! BANG! BOOM! BANG!

They exchanged several blows in a heartbeat. Wreathed in mystical power, the two spellblades traded sword strikes that had entered the realm of magic.

After staring blankly at the spectacle for a moment, Mia came to his senses.

'Master said to stay out of it... but that human is dangerous.'

Glaring at Shin Doryong, he shouted to a nearby subordinate vampire.

"Master won't take much damage! Shoot him!"

"Ah... yes!"

CLANG-CLANG!

But Shin Doryong deflected the vampire's shots naturally as he swung his sword, without even looking.

"...?!"

Mia's eyes widened. He realized why Ioannis had told him to stay out of it.

... Because it would accomplish nothing!

Meanwhile, on the Special Response Section's side, Sion calmly helped direct operations.

"While the director buys us time, let's take care of the wounded and reform our lines."

Just then—

BOOM! CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

SWISH!

As their blades clashed, Shin Doryong's sword cut Ioannis's forehead. However...

"..."

Shin Doryong pulled back. He had thought the sword was nearing its limit, and now its edge was completely ruined.

"The difference lies in our swords."

Ioannis displayed the flat of his claymore.

"Genuine Damascus steel, made through alchemy."

The steel blade's rippling pattern shimmered.

"Ripples of magic."

The difference in weapons didn't particularly matter to Shin Doryong. Just as <Muyedobotongji> fluttered beside him to produce a new weapon...

"..."

Ioannis snapped his fingers. Greek fire—unquenchable green flames—blossomed into a net in front of him and advanced straight toward Shin Doryong.

Team Leader Park and Team Three operative Lee Hyeeun cried out in alarm.

"D-Director! Dodge that!"

"Director! You'll end up as cubed steak!"

With a few light swishes of his badly chipped sword, Shin Doryong sliced through the approaching net of green fire. The flames collapsed in midair. As they cleared, the vampires came into view, fleeing with Chairman Kim.

As Shin Doryong narrowed his eyes, Team Leader Park approached in amazement.

"Director! Did you cut through magic?"

"It wasn't magic. It was thread."

"What?"

Shin Doryong indicated with his eyes a fine thread caught on his blade, still glowing with embers.

"He's a high-ranking vampire. He probably used something like telekinesis to manipulate thread he'd coated in an alchemical solution beforehand, then set it alight to make it look as though he was shooting arrows of fire."

Team Leader Park stared at his face.

"How did you know that, Director?"

"Because I could see it."

Shin Doryong answered with calm nonchalance and approached Sion. His voice softened noticeably.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine."

Sion answered in her capacity as Team Three's leader.

"The wounded have received first aid, and we're told the medical team will arrive shortly."

"Good. Well done."

Shin Doryong looked down at his daughter, whose small, slender build resembled her late mother's. She had some talent for breathing techniques and fought well, but that didn't stop him from worrying.

He turned to Team Leader Park.

"It's a shame we lost Chairman Kim, but there's other work to do. Once the medical team arrives, let's gather everyone and head back."

For now, they would rest today. After all...

'Ioannis.'

The gay Nazi vampire, head of the vampire clan Madas. There had to be a reason such a prominent vampire had appeared in Korea. And if there was a reason...

Shin Doryong opened his phone and read the information the analysis team had sent about Chairman Kim's building. There was a great deal written there, but to sum it up roughly:

'Fuck, we're sensing an absolutely fucking overwhelming amount of magical power. We can't tell exactly what happened, but we think it'll be detectable overseas too.'

... It was enough for all sorts of other uncanny beings to catch the scent and come flocking.

* * *

Wearing the freshly cleaned coat someone from Sua's household had delivered, Yohan looked toward the entrance from the hotel lounge. He had stayed at the hotel for quite a while just in case, but the Special Response Section hadn't come charging in. He had also lingered because Sua seemed to have booked an extended stay when she paid, just to be safe.

And I looked at Sua, who wasn't leaving either.

"..."

Since she'd nearly been abducted, bodyguards sent by her household were sitting in the lobby. Perhaps she thought the two bodyguards had died yesterday because of her. She looked depressed, and I could tell she didn't want to go home.

Did she think her presence was a burden?

What a pointless thought.

"Um, mister... Should we book another day?"

I looked at her incredulously.

"Wash up, go home, and get some sleep. I'm going home too."

With a small sigh, I stood up as well.

"... If it really bothers you, tell your dad's secretary to give the bodyguards' families plenty of money."

Looking down at Sua, I offered what advice I could.

"Don't get too depressed over things you can't change. Do what you can."

Sua looked at Yohan for a moment, then stood up and grumbled.

"... I was going to do that even without you telling me."

She took a few steps toward the bodyguards, then turned around. After hesitating briefly, she tightened her grip on the notebook and spoke.

"We can see each other again after that, right?"

"..."

Since I had no idea how the situation might change, I chose not to answer. Sua frowned, walked back over, and gave my arm a thump with her fist.

"Why aren't you answering? Answer me!"

I blinked in disbelief.

"What are you, a thug?"

Hitting people because she didn't like something? Of course, she hadn't put any strength into it, so it was really just playful.

"I'm already depressed, and you're making me anxious! Answer me!"

I narrowed my eyes for a moment, then relaxed them. Looking at the notebook in her hand, I said,

"Just make sure you memorize it. Call if anything confuses you."

"... Okay. Then I'll see you next time."

Apparently satisfied with that answer, Sua turned around again and left.

At last, I left the hotel and went home too.