Koyuki, the Necromancing Foxkin

CHAPTER 295: Convention, Day 1, Part 1

After setting up our stall we left the academy and went shopping. We bought a few cushions we could use to make the inside more cosy and we also bought some snacks we could eat during the conference.

Afterwards we stopped at a nice cafe to have some food and enjoy the sunny day. They even had coffee with vanilla ice cream! It was amazing!

When we returned to our hotel it was already evening. We talked a bit with Cassie and Skadi during dinner, then went to bed. The next morning we were up early, it was time for the conference!

Cassie brought a trunk full of stuff which Frank and Bob carried. Hatsumi had a bag full of snacks. We decided to keep the corpses at the hotel and left Chariot as a guard. Well, the skeletal horses and the ibex were guards too, I suppose.

Gronir and Mary were already there as we arrived. Hatsumi quickly checked our tent, then the cats went in to sniff out any potential traps. Afterwards we started setting up. Cassie opened her trunk and placed five potions on our desk. I simply sat down, preparing to be bombarded with questions. It did not take long. The conference had not even opened yet when someone from a different stall approached.

"Greetings! I noticed your maid yesterday and it sparked a conversation with some colleagues." He said. The middle aged man wore a purple robe and had a friendly smile which did not reach his eyes.

Hatsumi was behind me inside the tent and the man tried to peer past me.

"She is a vampire and a spellblade. I do have a presentation tomorrow where you can learn more!" I said.

The man chuckled. "Good one."

"Are you doubting the words of my mistress?" Kaito asked. I turned around and saw him standing behind me.

"A dullahan is quite impressive, I will grant you that. Especially for your age. I did hear a prodigy was attending but claiming to have a vampire spellblade is something different." The man replied.

My eyes widened in surprise, as I saw Hatsumi appear behind the man. She must have crawled out the back somehow! The man did not seem very aware of his surroundings, not noticing a thing until she whispered in his ear: "I am quite real."

"AHHHH." The man jumped in surprise and hit our table, then he stumbled and fell to the floor.

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How did he not put up a shield? And who fell like that?!?

"My apologies if I startled you." Hatsumi said.

The man was breathing heavily, staring at Hatsumi. So was everyone else inside the hall. The spectacle drew a lot of attention. Soon our stall was surrounded by curious necromancers. I saw someone's eyes glow green. "She is really a vampire!"

Then the questions started. Everyone was talking simultaneously. Cassie rescued her potions from the table and grabbed a different one, eying the crowd. I shook my head. Kaito calmly strode in front of the table and helped the man who had fallen to stand up again.

"MEOOOOOOOOOW."

It was almost a roar, coming from our tent. Everyone quieted down, looking at the source. Nyx jumped onto the table, followed by Ivy, Yoru and Kasai.

"There is a presentation tomorrow about the vampire spellblade. The stall right next to ours has the inscriber responsible, Mary." I told the crowd. Since the convention was not officially open yet, the crowd consisted of about 20 people, all who had stalls themselves. My distraction worked and soon Gronir and Mary were getting bombarded with questions too.

Thankfully the convention opened to the public soon after and the curious necromancers retreated to their own stalls. Of course, that meant even more people were entering and word about Hatsumi spread fast.

"Can I examine her?"

"Do you sell vampire spellblades?"

"Could I hire you for a joint casting?"

Those were just some of the questions I was asked. I tried smiling and declined. Kaito stared down anyone who got too aggressive and Hatsumi took the attention surprisingly well. Kaito had his own admirers and some people asked questions about dullahan themselves. On some rare occasions I even managed to have an interesting discussion about necromancy.

Meanwhile Skadi used the attention to start selling Cassie's potions. Since we had a steady stream of curious necromancers she used the opportunity.

"Bone strengthening potions make for great skeletons! Here, look at this fine feline undead." Skadi pointed at Nyx, who sat on the table next to her. "Feel the softness of her bones, and yet they are quite sturdy. She can easily destroy other bones." Skadi fed Nyx a bone, which was promptly devoured.

"What about her?" The potential customer asked, pointing at Ivy.

"Ah, she is a vampiric undead. Creating them is quite tricky, however good preparation can help! You will want to improve the blood you use with a potion…" Skadi continued.

Helena and Cassie had fled back into the tent and were lounging on the cushions we had bought. Sadly I could not escape so easily.

Of course, Cassie was not quite as safe as she had hoped. As a customer asked for something more specific, Skadi dragged her girlfriend to the counter to answer the question. Then Skadi expertly confiscated the potion Cassie had been playing with before she could do something, like poison an annoying customer.

"Koyuki, it is good to see you!" I heard a familiar voice. I sighed as I saw Leo approach. Behind him walked a skeleton wearing plate armour. It did not have a helmet, presumably because he wanted everyone to see that it was a skeleton.

"Hello Leo." I greeted him.

"It seems your undead are quite popular. Are you selling the secrets to vampire spellblades?" He asked, with a smile.

I shook my head. "No. But you can visit our presentation tomorrow! It will give some insight into our discoveries."

"I see." He looked over to Gronir's tent. "It's a shame that I was not able to join your group. I would have liked to add my expertise to your project."

I almost snorted. What expertise? Of course, that would be improper to say out loud. So I simply replied: "You should work on your own projects."

"Of course. I do hope to ask your opinion on some of them later. Have a nice day." Leo had spoken almost a bit louder than necessary. As he left our stall I saw other people approach him. At least it gave us a bit more breathing room. I was afraid it would be a long day.