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[swordfucker]

Guren Ichinose | Red | #A5211F

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[unfatalist]

I was hoping to follow up on something you mentioned at the town hall meeting, if you're willing to indulge the inquiry.

The unit you commanded. What was its purpose?

[swordfucker]

[ Oh. Naturally, someone would want to know what kind of group he lead. That’s fair, and he doesn’t mind at all. ]

The Moon Demon Company was a group of elite vampire killers. We took the more dangerous missions in taking back land and fighting off vampires to save humans. It was a branch of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army that had the same goal. Vampires try to enslave humans, or just outright kill them, if that helps at all. No one seems to be from a place with the same problem, but humanity has been struggling to survive for years after the catastrophe, an apocalypse.

[unfatalist]

...I see. I understand you may find this something of a bizarre question, but for clarity's sake, can you elaborate on what you mean by the term "vampire"?

I'm fairly certain I know, but I've come to discover in my time here that similar terms don't always map perfectly across different people's experiences. A "demon army", for example — in my experience, demons aren't so much armies as they are hordes, and I wouldn't be particularly inclined to trust them with the protection of anything.

As you've observed, things are different all over.

[swordfucker]

Demons are dangerous. We have what’s called cursed gear. A demon sealed and restricted in my sword, letting me harness its power so I can stand a chance against vampires.

They’re undead creatures with a thirst for blood. They’re far more powerful than humans and call us livestock. Black blood, red eyes, fangs. They have a whole hierarchy of power, so some are far stronger than others, just like humans. Does that help?

[unfatalist]

[Sealing a daemon inside a weapon. Now there's a concept that hits unsettlingly close to home, doesn't it?]

It does. They're intelligent, then — not mindless beasts, but foes of a particular cunning?

[swordfucker]

Yeah. They’re immortal and impossible to kill without cursed gear, too, so their long lives makes them even more cunning.

[unfatalist]

So it stands to reason, then, that a demon is capable of killing a vampire, even if a human alone cannot. Thus, humanity developed a way of harnessing the power of demons to defend itself. Something like that?

[swordfucker]

Yeah. Something like that.

[ It’s a very long story involving his dead ex lover and himself being injected with demons against his will, so!! He’ll leave it simple. ]

[unfatalist]

[In the words of the philosopher: that's rough, buddy.

Coincidentally, god forbid that ever comes up because he has strong feelings about people being injected with demons, too.]

I understand. And I appreciate the elaboration.

Where I come from, I believe the closest analogue to what you do would be our "Hunters"; however, those are less of an organized unit and more simply skilled fighters for hire who make their living collecting bounties for the eradication of particularly troublesome threats. But your activities are state-sanctioned.

[swordfucker]

Yeah. Humanity only has so much space left, so we’re trying to expand. We’re also called on if a vampire gets loose within the walls to protect those who can’t protect themselves, but that doesn’t happen often at all.

Were you asking to ease your mind about the defense squad here? Or something else?

[unfatalist]

In the interest of transparency, I'm asking because I'm judging your fitness to lead a group of that nature.

You remind me passingly of someone I know back where I came from, who held a similar position of leadership. It's a favorable comparison.

[swordfucker]

[ Aw, thanks, pal... ]

I figured it was that. I’m not perfect. I’ve seen men die and been unable to save them. But I’ll tell you that I’ll do everything I can to prevent that from happening.

When people join a group like that together, we all become family. And family will do anything to keep each other safe.

[unfatalist]

Rest assured, my caution is nothing personal. Only that I would be remiss in my own oaths if I didn't do precisely this nature of reconnaissance on anyone who might be taking up such a responsibility, where it concerns me and mine.

[swordfucker]

I don't take it personally.

Tellus, right? Just let me know if I can do anything to help with any worries you have. From what little I've seen of you, you've been collected and rational. You must be used to situations like this.

[unfatalist]

I suppose you could say that's a part of my own training. I'm hardly a leader of anything, but I know how to keep a level head in a chaotic situation.

[swordfucker]

You'll be a valuable part of the force with that.