My Family in the Novel?

"Hello, vampires. Do you know what's going on here?"

"Who are you?" Peter questioned, a hint of suspicion in his tone, as he attempted to raise his mana.

"Stop! Do you want to die, idiot?" Charlotte's sharp warning cut through the tension, jolting Peter to a sudden halt. The reminder snapped him back to the reality of the barrier's effects, momentarily forgotten in the urgency of the situation.

Even as they faced this mysterious hooded figure, Charlotte couldn't ignore the nagging discomfort that pulsed through her hands.

'Even though I'm using little to no mana on my claws right now, my hands still hurt. I'm sure Peter is feeling the same pain as me right now, but we can't let our guard down'

'The barrier's effect is annoying. Now I can't fight at full strength. I don't know who this hooded figure is, but he's dangerous. Even right now, my blood is telling me not to face him'

Charlotte thought, her senses on high alert as she continued to scan the hooded figure, whose face remained concealed beneath the ominous hood.

The air thickened with uncertainty as the vampires cautiously confronted the mysterious figure, their instincts warning them of potential danger lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly, the hooded figure revealed his face, unveiling a shock of black hair and piercing grey eyes that met the intense, bloody red gaze of the two vampires. A gentle smile played across his lips as he addressed them.

"I guess it was rude of me sneaking up behind you guys like that. Haha, my name is Adrian Vulter Tellus. You can call me Adrian or Ian if you like" he introduced himself with a warm tone. Adrian extended a greeting, placing his right hand on his forehead before descending into his chest as he made a slight bow.

As the vampires processed the unexpected revelation, a wave of surprise washed over them.

'He even knows vampire etiquette?'

Charlotte thought, her mind grappling with the intricacies of this encounter.

The unexpected politeness and the revelation of the hooded figure's identity added yet another layer of complexity to the situation, leaving Charlotte and Peter momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

"A Tellus?" Peter remarked, confusion etched across his features. The revelation that the hooded figure before them belonged to one of the most prestigious duke families in the empire left him puzzled.

"Why is a Tellus like you here?" Charlotte questioned, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Is the empire making their move?" Peter added, echoing the skepticism that lingered in the air.

"Empire? Oh, although I'm a Tellus, I'm not exactly associated with the empire. I came here for personal reasons," Adrian responded sincerely, his words carrying a genuine tone.

Peter and Charlotte exchanged skeptical glances. The notion of a random Tellus, a member of the family considered the emperor's sword, roaming around in this forest seemed improbable.

The empire's tendrils reached far and wide, and it made little sense for a Tellus to be present without some form of imperial agenda. Yet, what puzzled them even more was the genuine air that surrounded Adrian's response.

"But enough about that. Don't you think it's a bit rude for you guys not to introduce yourselves?" Adrian remarked, his gaze shifting between Charlotte and Peter, prompting them to consider the propriety of the situation.

Charlotte and Peter exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. They made a slight nod in acknowledgment, deciding to extend a cautious gesture of trust.

With a shared understanding, they retracted their claws, a symbolic act that acknowledged Adrian's presence without fully surrendering their guard. In their world, the law dictated that might made right, and though Adrian spoke amiably, they couldn't ignore the inherent dangers that lurked beneath the surface.

"My name is Charlotte Tuesday, and this one here is Peter Gavialis," Charlotte introduced, mirroring Adrian's earlier greeting.

She chose to withhold further information about their identities, safeguarding the secrets that bound them—such as their roles as the queen of vampires 9 Shades—from this enigmatic newcomer.

"So, vampire greeting is the same for this world and back in my own, huh?" Adrian mused, his words a random soft murmur that hung in the air.

"What are you talking about?" Peter inquired, confusion wrinkling his brow.

"Nothing, just talking to myself," Adrian dismissed with a casual wave of his hand.

"Now then, do you guys know what happened here?"

"No, we also just came here for personal reasons" Peter replied, echoing Adrian's earlier explanation.

"Hmm? Is that so?" Adrian's curiosity lingered in the air; a gentle probing of the information shared. The vampires' responses seemed to amuse him, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

He found it amusing how Peter was blatantly copying his excuse, and a slight giggle escaped Adrian's lips. He couldn't exactly blame the man; their encounter had indeed been suspicious, and the layers of secrecy

'Maybe I should've observed them a bit more?' Adrian contemplated, a flicker of introspection tugging at his thoughts.

The excitement of encountering vampires in this world had led him to hasty judgments. It wasn't the first time he had encountered vampires; one of his best friends from his previous world happened to be one. However, the vampires in this world presented subtle differences.

They appeared more human-like compared to the ones in his previous world, sporting ears that lacked the distinct elven characteristics. Yet, everything else about them seemed identical, down to the blood-red eyes.

Depending on the amount of mana a vampire possessed, the deeper the red of their eyes would be. Adrian, scrutinizing the eyes of the two vampires before him, quickly discerned that they were high-ranking vampires. His gaze lingered on Charlotte, and he noted that her eyes were slightly a shade of red deeper than Peter's.

'So, she's more powerful, huh?'

Adrian was well aware that engaging in a direct fight with two high-ranking vampires simultaneously would be nothing short of stupidity.

While he believed he could handle one with utmost effort, facing two presented an almost insurmountable challenge. High-ranking vampires possessed a regenerative ability that bordered on miraculous, coupled with near-limitless stamina.

They required no rest, and even a minimal intake of blood could satiate their hunger. In a prolonged battle, they held the advantage of switching in and out, allowing one to recover while the other drained their opponent.

Recognizing the potential peril of such a confrontation, Adrian opted for a different approach. He decided to manifest his sister's authority, creating an imposing aura around him. While uncertain if the vampires could discern his lower mana compared to theirs, the authoritative presence compensated for any apparent disadvantage.

'I'm glad this barrier is up for now' Adrian contemplated, finding solace in the protective shield that surrounded them.

It served as a deterrent, preventing a direct confrontation with the formidable vampires. He harbored no doubt that their confidence would skyrocket if they could engage in a battle at their maximum potential.

'They must be thinking I'm super strong right now' Adrian pondered, contemplating the impression he had likely left on the two high-ranking vampires.

The idea of manipulating their thoughts crossed his mind—brainwashing them to spill every detail. However, he quickly dismissed the notion, realizing that such an action would only exacerbate the complexities of the situation.

Disrupting the mental state of the vampires might trigger a response from whoever cast the barrier, a powerful demon judging by its expansive coverage.

'Or should I just eliminate them here while I still have the advantage?'

'Especially since I'm pretty much equipped with a bunch of authorities that are pretty much designed to eradicate them'

'No, that would only add more problems' I'm pretty sure that demon would surely notice a battle happening right away.

'I hope Meralda is okay' his thoughts shifted; concern etched across his face. The connection with his sister persisted, reassuring him of her continued existence.

Yet, passing by her brother's tree revealed a disconcerting scene—a broken landscape that hinted at a fierce battle.

Signs of Meralda's struggle were evident, leaving Adrian grateful for her survival while slightly feeling bad with what happened to her brother.

As Adrian's gaze lingered on Charlotte, an involuntary appreciation for her beauty overcame him. A cascade of slightly crimson red hair framed her face, complementing the intensity of her crimson red eyes.

Despite most of her features being concealed by the hood, Adrian could perceive her beauty with a clarity that transcended mere sight. He found himself contemplating the irony of hiding such allure beneath the cloak that enveloped her.

"It would be such a waste to hide such beauty," he mused, a sentiment that resonated within him. While the cloak obscured most of their body structure, Adrian could discern the nobility in their attire.

The vampires wore outfits befitting their high-ranking status, exuding an air of elegance and refinement.

In the realm of vampires, beauty was a natural trait, an evolutionary advantage that befitted their predatory nature.

Both male and female vampires were crafted to allure and seduce their prey, and Charlotte and Peter were no exceptions.

Their appearance surpassed the conventional boundaries of beauty, standing on equal footing even when compared to this world's overly handsome Protagonist 'Tristan'.

…..

"Mr. Adrian?" Peter's voice broke through Adrian's contemplation, accompanied by an annoyed expression that hinted at his awareness of Adrian's lingering gaze.

"Oh, did I stare at her too much?" Adrian quickly realized the unintended intensity of his scrutiny and offered an apologetic tone. "Ah, I'm sorry. It's just that Miss Charlotte was so pretty."

The atmosphere shifted, and the two vampires, especially Charlotte, became even more on guard. Adrian, sensing their heightened tension, reassured them internally.

'Don't look at me like that. I'm not going to devour you or anything'

Yet, their menacing claws reappeared, a visual indication of their wariness. Adrian, despite not relishing the prospect of facing high-ranking vampires, evaluated his current situation.

The odds were in his favor, armed with a repertoire of the goddess's authority.

The Sword of Light and Stellar Solaris, each a formidable force, held the potential to dispatch the vampires with ease. The divine energy coursing through him promised a swift end to any confrontation.

'I don't want to kill these two' Adrian contemplated; a sense of conflict apparent in his thoughts. Their resemblance to his friend invoked a reluctance to resort to lethal measures.

However, if pushed to the brink, he vowed to give his all, deploying the goddess's authority without reservation.

After all, protracted battles played to the strengths of vampires, and Adrian was well aware of the urgency to conclude any potential conflict swiftly.

….

As I took a step forward, intending to join forces with them to unravel the mysteries of the forest, the barrier abruptly shattered and disintegrated.

'What happened?' The question echoed in my mind, but before I could comprehend the situation, a crimson red energy crescent hurtled towards me.

Boom!

The deafening explosion that followed masked any subsequent thoughts, and dust enveloped the space where I once stood.

"He's gone?" Peter's puzzled voice resonated through the aftermath of the blast. My absence from the initial point of impact left him perplexed.

Reappearing behind Peter, my purple aura blade found its mark, piercing through his heart.

"Aghh!"

A sharp gasp escaped him as the blade lodged into his chest.

"Attacking me all of a sudden is quite scummy, you know?" I whispered behind him

"You would've done the same thing in my situation" he calmly replied, acknowledging the ruthless nature of our predicament.

His response came in the form of a sudden concentration of mana within his body, culminating in a colossal explosion of blood and energy.

Swiftly, I leaped to evade the area-of-effect attack, but then I noticed that Charlotte was gone. scanning my surroundings, I tried to locate Charlotte. However, she had vanished without a trace, leaving me unable to sense her presence.

Suddenly, an orb of red blood exploded at my left side, its force sending me sprawling and causing me to roll across the ground.

Coughing up blood, I struggled to rise and peered upwards. There, I witnessed Charlotte floating in the sky, her bat-like wings now enveloped in a sinister red hue.

Strangely, although I could see her, my ability to sense her presence eluded me. It was as if my mind automatically disregarded her existence, akin to how a person subconsciously ignores a pebble on the side of the road.

"What's going on? Is this an authority or something else?"

Charlotte pointed her index finger at me, and another orb of blood began to charge, poised to unleash its destructive force upon me. The ominous energy crackled in the air.

As I prepared to cleave through the charging orb of blood, my focus shattered as Peter retaliated with a blood spear.

"Shit!"

"Did we get him?" Peter queried, uncertainty clouding the aftermath of the assault.

"No…" Charlotte's replied as she charged up another two blood orbs.

'Ahh, that was quite painful. No matter how many times I use this authority, it's still really painful.' Grappling with the searing sensation, I swiftly deactivated the white veil before the settling dust revealed the battlefield.

"Aghh! Damnit, I seriously don't want to kill you guys, but you forced me, okay?" I declared to them, a tinge of regret lacing my words.

As I accelerated towards Peter, a golden light enveloped my hands, materializing the Sword of Light.

Peter's expression morphed into a blend of shock and fear.