Feltan scoffed, though false annoyance laced his voice.
"Who said anything about me missing you, brat? I'm just glad you're back so you can get me out of this dump."
Alucard chuckled, shaking his head.
"Ah, even after all this time, you still refuse to admit you care about me? Wow… that's hurtful. Keep it up and I might actually start believing you."
Somewhere, wherever he was sealed, Feltan's lips curled into a grin. Alucard couldn't see it—but he knew.
"So, brat… I see you and that blind girl have been getting pretty close. Pity… I guess I owe that damn symbiote a free meal now."
Alucard raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, a free meal?"
Inside his mind, Gluttony coughed awkwardly.
"Oh… well, you see… once, when you were asleep after working on your sorcery, me and the Sinner of Wrath had a little conversation. We decided to make a bet on who you'd end up with. I'm sure you can guess who won."
Alucard's eye twitched.
"Wait… you idiots made bets about my love life? You damned bastards."
Feltan burst into laughter—loud, unrestrained, echoing through Alucard's mind. If it had been real sound, it might've shattered his eardrums.
"Oh yes! And you just cost me a free meal, brat—just because you don't like muscular women!"
Alucard grabbed his head, already feeling a migraine forming.
"Ah… so you decided to bet on me ending up with Effie? That was a poor financial decision."
Feltan groaned.
"I was never a good gambler… not a thousand years ago, and clearly not now."
Alucard let out a small laugh, then sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Oh, by the way… what did you mean earlier when you said I used forbidden sorcery?"
Feltan hesitated.
"Well… it's forbidden for a reason. Because of—"
Suddenly, he choked.
The sound cut off sharply, replaced by strained, ragged silence.
Alucard's posture snapped upright.
"Hey—old man? Are you okay? Answer me! What's going on?!"
For a few tense moments, there was nothing.
Then—
A long, tired sigh.
"I'm fine, kid… listen. I can't explain why it's forbidden. But it is. And it's bad. Really bad."
Alucard frowned, uncertainty creeping into his expression.
"I don't know whether to feel relieved you're okay… or worried about what you're not telling me."
"Both," Feltan muttered.
Alucard clenched his jaw.
"Why can't you just tell me?"
Feltan scowled, his voice hardening.
"Because… I can't. Not won't—can't. Even saying that much is pushing it."
There was a pause before he continued, choosing his words carefully.
"Each Sinner has developed their own methods of using sacrificial sorcery. Greed's is useful for guarding and sealing. Sloth's is devastating in combat. Mine? Crude—but effective. Easy to use."
His tone darkened.
"But the forbidden kind… it's older than all of us. Older than our existence and far older than the moment we even began to understand sorcery."
Alucard froze, his hand instinctively moving to his chest.
"Who created it? Everything has a creator."
Feltan exhaled slowly.
"I can't tell you."
Alucard's teeth ground together.
"Why?! You keep hiding things from me. Just give me one straight answer—what are you so afraid of?!"
Feltan let out a quiet chuckle.
"I'm not afraid, brat. I'm restricted."
Alucard blinked.
"Restricted…?"
"Listen," Feltan continued, his tone serious now, stripped of all humor. "I physically cannot tell you. Not because I don't want to—but because something won't allow me to."
That made Alucard's stomach sink.
"...What?"
"Drop it," Feltan said sharply. "Go for a walk. Calm down. You're raising your voice—and if those hounds hear you, they will attack."
Alucard exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax.
"Fine… but you owe me an explanation once I free you. Got it? Otherwise, I'll just throw you back down there myself."
Feltan laughed.
"Oh, you can try. But it took far more than a puny brat like you to trap me here."
Alucard rolled his eyes.
Yeah… not even worth asking.
He already knew how that would go. Feltan would dodge the question again, hide behind whatever "restriction" he claimed bound him.
Honestly… he should bring Kai next time. At least then he'd know whether Feltan was telling the truth—or just being an annoying old liar.
Then again…
Yeah, no.
He was definitely just being annoying.
With that thought, Alucard jumped off the building. As he fell, a cloak of starlight wrapped around him, and he vanished in a quiet explosion of shimmering sparks.
---
He moved through the Dark City, passing familiar streets and ruined structures. Every step stirred a memory.
"Oh… that's where I killed the shark-blood beast. And over there—that's where I took down the Stone Saint. And that—"
"Alucard."
Gluttony's voice cut him off mid-sentence.
"I get it. You're reminiscing. But if you mention killing one more Nightmare Creature, I swear I will drown you in your own blood."
Alucard sighed.
"...You're no fun."
Still, he stayed quiet after that, continuing in silence until he finally reached his destination.
Gunlaug's Castle.
More specifically—
Seishan's room.
He slipped through the castle walls like a shadow, weaving past guards and servants unnoticed. The corridors were familiar, almost comforting in a strange way.
Eventually, he reached her door.
After a quick glance around to ensure no one was nearby, he summoned a small amount of blood using the sigil on his hand. It twisted and hardened into the shape of a key, which he inserted into the lock—reshaping it until it fit perfectly.
Click.
The door opened.
He stepped inside.
…Only to find the room empty.
"Huh."
He had expected her to be there.
Instead of searching for her, he decided to wait.
He wandered around, taking in the details. Everything was neat. Organized. Precisely arranged.
Very… her.
Eventually, boredom got the better of him.
So, naturally—
He lay down on her bed.
I'll probably wake up when she gets back… right?
That was his last coherent thought before sleep claimed him.
---
Something soft pressed against his back.
Then—
Thud.
"OW—my head! What was that for—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Seishan stood before him.
Her skin carried a soft, fresh glow—clearly she had just bathed. A faint, velvety fragrance lingered in the air around her. Her hair flowed freely down her back and over her shoulders, and she wore a light blue nightgown that clung just enough to hint at her figure without fully revealing it.
She sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, glaring down at him.
"Ah… it seems someone decided to pay me a visit," she said coolly. "Though, hasn't anyone told you that you should ask a woman before climbing into her bed?"
Alucard smirked as he stood.
"Nice to see you too, Seishan. Did you miss me?"
She raised an eyebrow, scoffing.
"Why would I miss a reckless oaf like you? Don't flatter yourself, Al. I am a princess of the great Clan Song."
His smirk widened as he took her hand and pressed a light kiss against it.
"My apologies, my lady. Next time, I'll be sure to ask for permission before invading your bed."
Her gray skin darkened slightly.
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
Alucard bowed slightly.
"Of course. I'm sure you receive countless compliments from anyone lucky enough to witness your beauty."
Her face darkened further—almost black—but her eyes narrowed, sharp and amused.
"You seem quite experienced with beautiful women," she said slowly. "If the scent on you is anything to go by. Tell me, Al… do you flirt with every woman you meet?"
Alucard's smile faltered for just a fraction of a second.
Ah… damn. Should've killed something before coming here. She smells Cassie scent.
Still, he laughed it off.
"Don't worry, Sei. That's just from a Nightmare Creature I killed earlier."
Her eyes narrowed further.
"Mm. Of course it is."
Then she leaned slightly closer.
"And what do you think of the scent? Do you like it?"
Alucard shook his head lightly.
"It's pleasant… but nothing compares to yours, Sei. It's like a garden in bloom—"
She covered her face, clearly trying to hide her laughter.
"Wow. You're truly shameless."
Then she straightened, her expression sharpening.
"As entertaining as this is, I assume you didn't come here just to flirt. So tell me—why are you here?"
Alucard exhaled quietly, his tone shifting—just slightly more serious.
"I need your help."
A brief pause.
"I want you to help me kill Alexander Anderson."