The Company Commander has returned

Episode 38 - The Play

"These damn blue-skinned creatures. So annoying. They sure are good at hiding," grumbled Madam Anne as she scratched her hair.

Her gaze was fixed on the group of goblins huddled together, packed tightly like prey cornered by hunters. The vampires had driven them there deliberately.

"Let's head back. It's been four days already," she said, glancing behind her.

"Yes, Madam," replied the deputy manager, bowing quickly.

"Each of you grab one and fly."

"Grab them…?"

"If there's nowhere to hold on, pierce their flesh with your claws. Figure it out. All we need to do is transport these things to the entertainment district."

The surrounded goblins didn't understand Madam Anne's words, but they sensed the ominous intent.

Powerless to resist, they could only tremble in fear.

"Scatter them in the middle of the entertainment district, and just as the humans are thrown into chaos…" Madam Anne's lips curled into a sly smile, the same as a thief's crooked grin.

"We make our grand entrance like heroes. Better than the Imperial Army could ever manage."

***

"Why's it so quiet?"

Amon looked out over the entertainment district.

The special task force had parked their carriage and begun walking, relying on lantern light to guide them through the night.

"I thought an entertainment district would be more… lively," Amon muttered.

"And why exactly were you looking forward to it?" Bell asked, tilting her head.

"Well, you know... Lots of booze, red lights, maybe even have a go at some hunting…?"

"Hah!"

"What? What's so wrong with that? I'll be of age next year, you know."

"I'm telling Louis. I'll say you've gone wild."

"Hey, Bell…"

"Hunting, huh," another member of the task force chimed in, nodding.

It was a man with short-cropped hair, the one who had dragged the 66th cohort from their vacation back to training camp.

He was also the first to discover the death of their head instructor and now served as the interim commander of squads 42 and 43.

"Captain Karasuma?"

"Amon, sorry to disappoint, but the hunting you're expecting isn't happening. Not here."

Following the moonlight, Captain Karasuma's gaze lifted.

"The task force's hunts are always the same. Monster hunting."

In the sky, goblins gripped by winged monsters came into view.

"It's an invasion! This marks the third…"

A soldier from Squad 43 shouted urgently.

"The vampires Mago mentioned must have caught on and fled before we arrived! Damn it… we should've—"

"You don't have to say it. We know," Bell interrupted, drawing her sword.

***

"This isn't the third invasion. Not yet."

Having moved to an inn after leaving the warehouse, there wasn't much to do but wait for Madam Anne.

Two days passed like that.

Then, something appeared outside the window—flying through the sky.

"Mago, that's…"

Winged monsters were heading for the entertainment district. Their claws clutched green-skinned goblins.

"Of course, I've seen that somewhere before."

Especially those wings.

They belonged to hybrids—half-vampires. Humans partially turned after drinking vampire blood.

"Madam Anne plans to stage a play."

The vampires, transformed into giant bats, began flying low.

Goblins, pierced and held by their claws, hung helplessly.

Unlike during the second invasion, these goblins wore no special armor.

Instead, their flesh was pierced and torn, making their transport torturous.

The vampires released the goblins, dropping them into the entertainment district.

Chaos erupted as the goblins rampaged like beasts freed from cages.

This was exactly what Madam Anne wanted.

"Arghhh!"

"Monsters! Monsters!"

"The monsters have come this far…!"

Screams echoed as people ran in every direction.

Dressed in black uniforms, members of the task force appeared—nine of them in total.

"Mago, over there. Aren't those your comrades?"

"I see them too."

Among them, Amon and Bell were instantly recognizable. But something felt off.

"Where's Kinjo…?"

He was nowhere to be seen.

It made sense for Oscar, being from the technical team, and Louis, with her experience as a hunter, to be investigating the monsters.

But Kinjo's absence was unexpected.

"Still no sign of the other half of Majo, huh…" the boss sneered.

"Boss, shouldn't we help them?"

"Madam Anne thinks I'm dead. Showing myself would ruin the advantage that gives us. Better to stay in the shadows for now. There are plenty of strategies to use when they think I'm gone."

All he could do was hope they stayed safe from afar.

"It's not like I want to sit this out…"

The entertainment district was engulfed in screams and despair.

A woman stood frozen in place, her mind blank.

She looked as if she'd given up on escaping, overwhelmed by an unending nightmare.

Amon picked her up and carried her to safety.

"Move back! Quickly!"

"Y-yes…"

Even then, she didn't fully regain her senses.

While people fled, the task force advanced toward the goblins.

"We're all going to die…"

"Again! Again! The Imperial Army does nothing to stop this…!"

"Ahh! Aaahhh!"

The goblins began tearing people apart, venting their rage at the humans for what the vampires had done to them.

Horrifying screams filled the air, unrelenting in their agony.

Just as despair reached its peak, Madam Anne appeared.

Like a hero stepping into the chaos, she declared, "Everyone, behind me!"

That was her plan all along.

"Anne…!"

From above, someone clenched their teeth in anger.

A vampire.

She was a monster, yet one that easily entranced the humans.

"Bell, the old woman who just arrived."

"The silver-haired one with red eyes. If Mago's letter is right, that's Madam Anne, the Vampire Lord."

Bell nodded at Amon's words.

"Then she's our target. Their leader."

"Right. I'll—"

Bell's skin flushed red as she prepared for her strike.

"You little chicks. Planning to attack me already?" Madam Anne interrupted, her voice calm.

After speaking, she tilted her chin, gesturing behind her.

Amon and Bell instinctively turned their heads.

In an age of chaos, Madame Anne made her entrance.

She was the owner of the entertainment district.

With immense power and a matching magical artifact, she had the unwavering trust of the civilians.

The people sprawled out behind her all stared at her back.

They believed, without a shred of doubt, that her magical artifact could wipe out the monsters.

"If you want to hit me, go ahead. Whose side do you think these people are on?"

"If that's what you want, I'll oblige."

Bell struck her head without hesitation.

The blow from the sword sent Madame Anne skidding across the ground.

"Ugh, feels like she's made of stone…"

Bell shook her right arm, which was trembling with pain.

She kicked Madame Anne and grabbed her hair, yanking her up.

Then, she swung her sword once more.

The impact echoed loudly.

Madame Anne took the second blow without retaliation.

That's when a shout erupted from behind.

"Let go of Madame Anne!"

"Get lost! We don't need the imperial army!"

"What good can you do now…!"

The shouts were followed by a barrage of objects—fruits, glass bottles, stones, and trash—flying through the air.

"Ha… ha… This is your current standing. Understand? That's how the imperial army is seen."

Madame Anne spoke through labored breaths.

"I don't care about that," Bell retorted, raising her sword for the third time.

She struck a fourth and a fifth time, channeling all her strength into each blow.

Madame Anne endured, coughing up blood but refusing to counterattack.

Her lack of retaliation only made things worse.

Bell raised her sword for the sixth strike, the weapon on the verge of breaking.

As she swung down, her arm froze mid-air.

Four people had grabbed Bell's right arm.

The civilians who had been watching rushed forward, grabbing her body.

More and more people clung to her, wrapping her up like a snake coiling around its prey.

"Everyone! Restrain those imperial soldiers!"

Some scratched and bit her in desperation.

"Let go of Madame Anne! She's the only one who can stop the invasion…!"

"The only one who can stop the invasion? Don't make me laugh! This woman isn't even human!"

Bell shouted with all her might, but no one listened.

Madame Anne slowly rose before BeLl's eyes, as if to taunt her.

Her crimson eyes gleamed.

"You've already lost, Special Ops."

Madame Anne stuck her fingers into her mouth, pulling at the corners mockingly.

Sharp fangs were revealed—deliberately shown.

She gestured toward the goblins trampling the humans in a cluster.

With her right hand holding a bow and her left hand an arrow, she aimed.

A blue streak of lightning pierced through the goblin horde.

"What…?"

Amon's lips froze in shock at the sight.

Madame Anne revealed her claws next, leaping into action and easily tearing the goblins apart.

"Attack, everyone!"

At her command, the employees of the Anaconda theater, along with other dormant vampires, revealed their long claws.

They joined Madame Anne, slaughtering the goblins.

The goblins, forcibly dragged to the entertainment district, were killed intentionally.

It didn't take long for all the goblins to fall.

The people cheered, overcome with emotion and awe.

The show was the Anaconda.

Its star: Madame Anne.

They were completely captivated by her performance.

***

Madame Anne appeared on the fourth-floor terrace of the Anaconda theater.

"I am a vampire. And not just any vampire—a sovereign."

She declared confidently.

"The staff of the Anaconda, as well as those of other establishments, are mostly vampires."

Her secret was out.

"They were once human but became vampires after drinking my blood."

Though a lie, it didn't matter.

Those who witnessed her annihilate the goblins were already entranced.

"You've seen our strength with your own eyes!"

Madame Anne proclaimed passionately, like an actress at the peak of her performance.

"If you wish to become strong like us, if you don't want to be trampled by the Demon King's army!"

She raised a clenched fist high.

"Follow me, become vampires, become strong."

She declared to everyone like a victor.

"I will gladly share my blood with you."

The people, as if bewitched, poured into the Anaconda.

***

"The rule against threatening civilians… I quite like it. Because it makes you…"

Madame Anne looked down on the Special Ops Unit.

"…the state's dogs."

She had completely taken over the entertainment district.

No longer just a merchant, her influence extended even into the daylight.

Even if she didn't act directly, countless people moved according to her will.

Vampires and even humans had joined her cause.

The Task Force was isolated.

Using the humans now on her side, Madame Anne captured the Unit members.

Though they excelled at dealing with monsters, they were powerless like children when surrounded by civilians.

"What are you going to do with these people, these humans?"

Amon spoke up.

"Your presence means you've discovered our identity and made us your target. If you fail, the imperial army will send reinforcements."

Madame Anne replied casually, "We'll flee. Somewhere your eyes can't reach."

"Then why not just leave now?" Bell interjected.

"Before we go, we need supplies—blood. As much as we can gather. It'd be a disaster if we starved in our new home."

"Blood… You mean human blood?"

"Of course."

"You intend to kill all those who believe you're a hero…?"

"Exactly."

Madame Anne answered without hesitation.

"What about Mago?" Amon asked one last question.

"Mago? Oh, Mago's the one who called you here."

"Answer me…!"

"He's dead."

"What are you talking about…?"

"He may be fast and strong, but there's no outrunning lightning."

"No… that can't be…"

"I was planning to retrieve his corpse anyway. And round up my missing subordinates while I'm at it."

Madame Anne grabbed the rope binding Amon.

She pulled him close, rope and all.

"Perfect timing. If you don't believe me, why don't we go see for ourselves?"