The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　This is yet another dance we have to dance.

　……

　"Don't get me wrong, I just wanted to try dancing at a Christmas ball, but I couldn't find a suitable partner..."

　Emma muttered.

　Dark smiled and agreed, "Yes, ma'am, it's my honor to be chosen by you."

　The two then went on stage together.

　The ball without the Swan Princess and the human prince always felt like something was missing.

　But this did not prevent the students from immersing themselves in it.

　Emma's dance steps were so perfect, they were like a template.

　Dak then danced the song as she asked.

　As the song ended, Emma was torn, wanting to dance again but not wanting to trouble the other person too much.

　Just as she was pondering this, Dark had already stepped off the stage.

　……

　The second half of the ball was drawing to a close.

　After Emma stepped down, it seemed as if a huge weight had suddenly been lifted from her heart.

　Instead of returning to the crowd at the Knights' Academy, she sat down on the other side of Dark.

　The clock struck twelve quietly amidst their casual conversation, and then quietly disappeared.

　"Boom-"

　Before we knew it, Christmas Eve had passed.

　……

　When the solemn bells rang.

　Couples huddled in the corners, heartbroken lovers weeping in the shadows, and boys and girls taking leisurely strolls and enjoying the breeze—all gradually returned to the auditorium.

　The final event of the Christmas ball began after Principal Arte stepped onto the stage.

　Little elves flew out of her hands, delivering all sorts of Christmas stockings to everyone.

　This is a prayer device unique to the academy.

　It is said that if you can resist the urge to open your stockings after 5 a.m. on Christmas Day, you will receive a Christmas present this year—which is usually a pleasant surprise!

　Looking at the zebra-striped sock in his hand, Dak resisted the urge to immediately open it.

　"almost."

　Pandora shook the sock in her hand and said to Dark, "I have to go."

　Dak blurted out, "I'll take you."

　……

　There were no further speeches, and the Christmas ball ended just like that.

　The students who received their socks gradually walked out of the auditorium, many of them quite tired after holding on until now.

　If I could get back to my bed, I would definitely fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

　Dark felt physically and mentally exhausted, but he still insisted on sending Pandora back to the Magic Academy.

　"Bon Voyage!"

　Watching Pandora, the senior student, run across the bridge while lifting her skirt, Dark took a slight breath.

　The air on a winter night is very cold, as icy as water.

　Senior Pandora suddenly turned around and said, "See you in the new semester!"

　"goodbye!"

　Dak waved his hand before turning back.

　On the way back, he met up with Diana and Rose, who were waiting by the wall along the only road.

　A shy smile appeared on Dak's face, and he softly uttered a single word: "Let's go."

　So Diana and Rose joined him on either side, laughing and joking.

　The three of them walked together toward the tower of the noble house.

　……

　Let's rewind to just as the clock was about to strike twelve.

　Deep within the secret passage, in a place unknown to anyone.

　Blood-stained magic circles had been etched onto the ground at some unknown time. Countless bats swarmed towards the magic circles like bees, crashing into them one after another, and even the splattered blood was swallowed up by the magic circles.

　Immediately afterwards, crimson light emanated from the magic circle.

　Christmas will begin after midnight.

　It was the time of the birth of the "Saint".

　It is the time when all things are revived.

　……

　Everything was proceeding quietly.

　It started with a bat entering the secret passage.

　That bat is not the Vampire Count, the boss of the Halloween event.

　And this is merely one of his millions of incarnations!

　In theory, the vampire count could be reborn in any bat.

　This is its most difficult part, and the main reason why no one was ultimately able to catch it during the event.

　But the moment the event ended, the vampire count had already vanished.

　Its original form is a one-time use magical spirit card, which is Professor Kazel's masterpiece and could not possibly cause any residual harm.

　With the demise of the vampire count, all his bat avatars also disappeared one by one.

　Except for that bat that was the first to mistakenly enter the secret passage!

　It was the only surviving bat.

　The reason for their survival is unknown.

　But since it hasn't disappeared, it means it's no longer an ordinary thing.

　……

　after that.

　News of the secret passage spread.

　Groups of students poured into the secret passage.

　Younger students, lacking awareness of the danger, become its targets. Students bitten by it become tired, which leads to them being late for school.

　The bat that successfully sucked the student's blood underwent a change; it gradually learned to split and vaporize, and more bats appeared in the secret passage.

　……

　As things have progressed, the bats have even absorbed the blood of the hero's son!

　The final change also stemmed from this.

　The bat that absorbed Victor's blood transformed from a predatory creature into a vampire with a true self!

　It recovered some fragmented memories.

　……

　"Boom-"

　As the clock struck twelve, a blood-soaked human body emerged from the blood magic circle.

　……

　When the three of them returned to their dormitory.

　Witt Gold was still outside.

　He and Robert had a little disagreement, and the two did not return to their dormitory together after the dance.

　Witt walked alone inside the castle, lingering outside unconsciously.

　There are no curfews during holidays.

　The golem will not issue a warning.

　It doesn't matter if I wander around until one or two in the morning.

　He gradually walked onto that familiar external bridge, the very place where the pink mist that had been dormant in "Into the Abyss" was awakened.

　This made him unable to resist taking out "Forbidden Love".

　He looked at the blurry human figure on the card and wanted to transform it into the likeness of Pandora, just like he would with a Hanafuda.

　But as magic was injected, the human body began to deform, and he withdrew his fingers.

　Pointless!

　There is absolutely no point in doing this.

　Instead, there's a kind of pathetic feeling that even I can sense!

　He remembered that he had thought of using "Forbidden Love" to check Pandora's affection level a long time ago.

　However, it was never realized for various reasons.

　So much so that I almost forgot about it.

　"I'll try to sneak a peek after I give her the Christmas present. At least I gave her a gift, so her favorability rating shouldn't be too bad..."

　As he thought about it, Witt became more and more frustrated.

　In the second half of the dance, he could have mustered the courage to ask Pandora to dance with him, but in the end he just watched.

　And then there's Darko Dimon, who, despite already having the chance to dance with the senior, was still not satisfied and invited other girls to dance during the second half of the dance.

　That's so enviable... and so despicable!

　Witt was indignant, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

　If he hadn't been out of alcohol, he could have quickly turned into a drunkard.

　His emotions had gradually reached their breaking point, so Victor leaned on the bridge railing and roared at the sky!

　unconsciously.

　When he stopped to catch his breath, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

　……

　The House of Nobles, the tower.

　After returning to his dormitory, Dak forced himself to wash up despite his mental exhaustion, and then fell asleep in the bathtub.

　Half an hour later, he was suddenly woken up by the cold. He quickly got up, took another shower, and crawled into the warm bed.

　Early the next morning.

　Dak slept until he woke up naturally.

　He stared at the clock on the opposite wall for a long time before finally managing to utter, "It's Christmas."

　Christmas is here.

　I wonder how Pandora, who traveled all night, is doing?

　How did Claire and Ylvette spend Christmas Eve last night?

　As his jumbled thoughts cleared, Dak suddenly remembered the Christmas stocking hanging at the foot of his bed!