"And what is a train?" Andy asked, walking with Tres, who was looking through the dairy section.
"It's a long, snake-like car that hundreds of people can sit in," Tres said as he picked up the milk and put it in the cart.
"Oh… then why is that light brighter than your home?" Andy said, pointing up.
Tres replied, "That's because they bought an expensive one, and I don't really need that much light."
Rosalia walked up to him and said, "Are you sure I can buy all these clothes?"
Tres looked at them. They weren't fancy, but in a supermarket that seemed convenient. Tres nodded as he said, "Take some for Andy too. Andy, go with your sister to check for clothes."
Andy nodded as he ran with Rosalia to check the clothes.
"They seem accustomed pretty fast," Luke said, who was beside them.
Tres looked at him and said, "Well, the girl is 19 and the boy is 7. They are young; they will accept things much faster."
Luke nodded, saying, "It was a nightmare to teach them a functional washroom and toilet paper, but she seemed to understand, so she taught Andy."
"Reminds me, we should look for a school for him," Tres said, walking around the toys aisle.
Luke looked at him and said, "Dude, are you sure? Like, do you really wanna keep them here?"
"Yeah. I mean, if they go back, they might die… And it's not like they were living a great life. Rosalia is still pretty weak. She is excited, so she isn't noticing it. With modern medicine, I'm sure we can do something."
"No, not that. I mean, we both aren't rich, are we? And besides… it's just random to bring strangers home."
"Their dad was a piece of shit. So was mine. I see a lot in common," Tres sighed. "Luke, listen, I want to help them. And don't worry about the funds. My old man left me enough to last a while. In the meantime, I'll look for a job…"
Luke didn't argue anymore as he said, "I'll help you then."
"Is that so?" Tres said, looking around. "Fine then. Luke, go get some vegetables and help Rosalia. We will go to one of the schools this week, and let's get Rosalia to a hospital today while returning."
Luke looked outside. "Isn't it getting late?"
Tres looked at the evening shade of the sky. "It is… but there is someone at home."
Luke looked at him. "Your mom?"
"No, you dipshit. It's the Demonic Guild. They must have found my home… at least that's what Runa said."
"Miss Runa? Wait! How do you know that?" Luke asked.
"I can talk to her. My body is still in that world, remember? She told me that the Demonic organization must hav—" He stopped mid-sentence as the system flashed in front of him. "Oh? Speak of the devil."
---
[Temporary Domain]
Warning: Unregistered tenants have entered the building.
Demonic humans:
Tier 8: 10 people
Tier 9: 12 people
---
Luke asked, "What happened?"
Tres smiled and said, "Nothing. Finish buying some fruits and vegetables. I know how to cook for dinner. Also, buy some toys and books for children at the kids' section."
Tres left Luke standing there.
"Why does he seem like a mother?" Luke muttered.
…
Rosalia bought a lot of clothes as the people around her looked at her and Andy, both excited about clothes in a supermarket. Luke was carrying books, toys, and vegetables as the three of them exchanged glances. They all asked, "Where is Tres?"
"Here." Tres stood there, startling them. "Go to the cashier. I'll pay."
Rosalia and Andy seemed curious but lined up. As their items were scanned, the cashier said, "Okay, sir, the total is €1037."
Luke's eyes widened. "That much?!"
He looked sad as he took out his wallet, but Tres gave his card. "Take this."
Luke looked at him. "Dude? One thousand euros? How do you have this much?"
"I have a lot of money, just not enough to waste in some sort of lottery that they give nowadays."
Luke remembered he wasted a lot in the lottery until he was flat-out broke. But at least he got a system… with a secret parasite.
The cashier finished, and the group carried the stuff to the car. Luke gave Andy the toys, while Rosalia looked at them excitedly as well. She seemed quite interested in the books, but she couldn't read anything.
Tres sat in the car as the two siblings sat behind, and Luke sat beside Tres.
The car started as it drove out of the parking lot and went to a nearby clinic. Tres told Rosalia to come with him and Luke to take care of Andy.
The doctor smiled after examining her and said, "Her blood's just a little weak. Nothing dangerous. A few tablets and she'll be fine. I'll write up some medicines—just buy them and take them periodically. She should be fully recovered in a few months."
Tres nodded and helped the anxious Rosalia.
"Is he a royal physician?!" she asked. "Won't it be expensive?"
"Not here, at least. Your checkups were free, and your medicines barely cost much. So don't worry. Let's go home."
Rosalia walked beside him to the car and said, "Aren't we bothering you?"
Tres shook his head. "It's nice to have some people… and besides, don't you think you should be the one being bothered? You were brought into a world alien to you, and you're forced to adjust."
Rosalia replied with a smile, "Not really. In fact, I like it here. Back there, we barely had enough to eat, and we ate so many candies today… I worried every night that I might die and leave Andy alone. It was scary there. We were alone and constantly harassed by others… I can't be bothered. In fact, I'm grateful."
"Then get well soon," Tres said.
The two saw Luke playing with Andy outside the car. As Rosalia joined Luke and Andy, Tres smiled from a distance and turned on his system.
---
[Temporary Domain]
Warning: Unregistered tenants have entered the building.
Demonic humans:
Tier 8: 10 people
Tier 9: 12 people
---
"They still haven't left, huh?" Tres sighed.
He soon drove the group home. As he reached his apartment, he said, "I'll go up for now. Stay in the car, and I'll come pick you up later."
Luke nodded.
Tres got out of the car and walked to the elevator.
Reaching the 5th floor, he walked quietly, thinking, They are inside the house… They plan on ambushing me, huh? Fine…
He walked to his door and put his key into the keyhole. As he turned it and opened the door, it was dark inside—but it wasn't a problem for Tres. As a vampire elder, one of his main skills was night vision.
He saw them all holding weapons as they rushed him in the dark. Tres stayed still until the last second.
---
[Vampiric System]
Skill: Blood Spikes
Description: Spikes erupt from your blood.
---
As the system message popped up, Tres cut off his hand. His blood flew into the air as droplets, forcefully turning into spikes from every side—sharp spikes that pierced the Demonic Guild members who had rushed him.
"WHAT THE—!"
They were stabbed and forced back. Tres, who could see clearly in the darkness, lunged at one of them, grabbing his mouth and pouring his own blood inside as the man was forced to drink it.
The others dashed at him to save their friend, but Tres threw him back toward them and snapped his fingers.
In an instant, the body exploded, killing the three people near him.
"What the hell! No one told us his family members were vampires!"
One of the Tier 8 screamed, "Infernal Fists!" as he launched a barrage of punches at Tres. Each hit left a burn mark, throwing Tres back as they all rushed him.
Tres noticed none of them had night vision. The light switch next to him would help.
He instantly turned on the light, blinding them, and used his nails to get clean cuts on their throats. A few dropped dead. With around nine remaining, Tres used Blood Spikes again.
Spikes erupted from the ground, piercing everything and everyone at once.
During the fight, he had deliberately spilled his blood everywhere to set up the trap—and it worked. Their bodies were pierced as they hung dead.
Tres sighed and sat down.
"H-how d-did you do it?! W-why is the Vampire Guild meddling with the Demonic Guild?!" one man, barely alive, muttered while impaled.
Tres got up and said, "Why do you care? Don't you think it's because of our long-standing grudge?"
Tres wasn't bluffing or lying. He had seen on TV that both sides showed hostility, and there were several memes about it.
"But…" the man grunted. "You signed the treaty! ARE YOU BREAKING THE TREAT—"
Tres grabbed him by the hair. "I am… and don't worry, I'll send your friends as well."
He slit his throat and threw him down. Then he opened his system and bought the cleaning service again.
The bodies were packed neatly into garbage bags. Tres carried them to the basement and threw them away.
"They signed a treaty, huh?" Tres smirked. "Jackpot. I'll be hitting two birds with a single stone."