Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 975 Mary and Reed

In the warm and inviting lounge of Rudyʼs castle, the joyful reunion unfolded like a heartwarming scene from a storybook. Rebecca, gently pulling Maryʼs cheek, couldnʼt contain her happiness. Her smile was as bright as the young girlʼs eyes.

”You can call me by my name, Mary,” Rebecca suggested gently as she held Mary close.

However, Mary, with all the stubbornness of a child, climbed onto Rebeccaʼs lap and declared, ”But granny is granny.”

Elena, always ready with a teasing remark, couldnʼt resist chiming in. ”Thatʼs right, Mary. Granny is granny.”

Mary then turned to Elena with a spark of recognition. ”Elena is back!”

Elena played along, her tone light and playful. ”Yeah. I was working hard to bring your grandmother here. Sheʼs really annoying, you know? Always making excuses to not come here. But I finally managed to convince her. She will now stay with us, forever. You should scold her for being so annoying.”

The little girl, wise beyond her years, turned her inquisitive gaze toward Rebecca. ”Why do you not want to come here, granny? Do you not like Mary?”

Rebecca, overwhelmed by the sheer cuteness of Mary, couldnʼt help but chuckle. She gave Mary an affectionate pat and cast a mock glare at Elena. ”No, sweetie, I love Mary. But I donʼt like Elena.”

Maryʼs infectious laughter filled the room, lifting everyoneʼs spirits.She greeted each member of Rudyʼs harem with boundless enthusiasm, making them feel like celebrities at a grand reception. Mary soaked up the attention like a sponge, her wide eyes filled with wonder.

Rias leaned in, a sly smile on her lips. ”Mary, would you like to hear a spooky story later?”

Maryʼs eyes widened with anticipation. ”Auntie Rias, really? A spooky story?”

Rias, ever the enigmatic vampire, winked playfully. ”Oh, yes, Mary. Itʼll be the spookiest story youʼve ever heard.”

A few moments later, Maria, a striking woman with sleek black hair, entered the lounge. Her graceful presence filled the room as she observed the joyful gathering.

”Hey, girls, have you seen Mary?” Maria inquired, her curiosity evident.

As her gaze swept the room, Mariaʼs eyes fell upon Mary, who was perched contentedly in Rebeccaʼs lap.

”So thatʼs why she ran off like that,” Maria murmured to herself before joining the group of harem members. She greeted Rebecca and Lucy warmly.

”Mama~ Mama~ Granny is here~” Mary, sensing her motherʼs presence, couldnʼt contain her excitement. She leaped from Rebeccaʼs lap and dashed toward Maria.

Mariaʼs face was illuminated by a radiant smile as she welcomed her daughter with open arms. ”Yes, she is, sweetheart. I didnʼt know you were here. When did you arrive?” Maria inquired of Rebecca.

”Just a while ago,” Rebecca replied with a fond smile.

”I was cooking dinner for everyone, and Mary suddenly began to jump and say Granny is here. I thought she was just playing around, but you really are here. I wonder how she knew that you were here,” Maria mused with a hint of curiosity.

Before the conversation could delve deeper into this mystery, Ruby entered the lounge. She cradled a little boy in her arms, a boy who appeared to be around the same age as Mary.

”Maria, Reed was crying, searching for you,” Ruby explained as she handed the boy to Maria. She then playfully turned to the young boy and assured him, ”I will scold Mama so that she doesnʼt leave you alone, okay?”

Maria, her heart full of love for her children and her makeshift family, embraced Reed and said, ”Aw~ I told you to play with Auntie Ruby.”

Maria, radiant with motherhood, had given birth these two healthy and energetic twins, Mary and Reed, after Rudyʼs disappearance three years ago, after the tumultuous events of three years ago, welcoming them into a world that had changed in ways nobody could have predicted.

These two bundles of joy had brought an added sense of purpose and happiness into her life, and she cherished every moment with them. With her black hair contrasting beautifully with their innocence, Maria was the epitome of a loving and caring mother.

Rebecca, with a warm smile on her face, called out to Reed, extending her arms for an embrace. However, the little boy turned his face away and clung tightly to his mother, Maria. His tiny hands wrapped around her in a silent plea for comfort.

Maria, always the doting mother, held Reed close, assuring Rebecca, ”He is just sleepy, donʼt mind his manners. He behaves like this whenever heʼs sleepy or hungry.”

With a reminiscent sparkle in her eyes, Rebecca responded, ”Rudy used to do the same when he was a kid!”

Elena chimed in, her lips curving into a wry smile, ”Yeah, I remember that.”

Rebecca continued, observing Reed carefully, ”Reed is looking more and more like Rudy as heʼs growing up.”

Elena nodded in agreement, adding a piece of nostalgia, ”Eric looked similar too. Do you remember how people used to mistake Eric and Rudy as brothers so often?”

Rebecca couldnʼt help but reminisce and replied, ”Yeah...”

As the conversation flowed, the girls caught up on various topics. Rebeccaʼs curiosity led her to inquire about Mary and Reedʼs potential superpowers. ”So, have Mary and Reed shown any signs of superpowers?” she inquired with genuine interest.

Maria replied thoughtfully, ”They havenʼt, and I donʼt think they will. Eric and Erika never got Rudyʼs powers, either.”

Rias, who had been listening attentively, nodded in agreement. ”Yeah,” she added, ”Lordʼs powers arenʼt transferable, genetically or hereditary. Great Grandma Nyxia was the Lord when she gave birth to all her children, and yet, none of her children got her powers.”

Rebeccaʼs curiosity led her to probe further. ”But isnʼt one of her sons the strongest vampire in the world?”

”You mean, second strongest.” A sudden voice disrupted the conversation, causing everyone to turn their heads. Descending gracefully into the lounge was a girl dressed in white and blue, her ethereal appearance matching her extraordinary presence. With her hair as white as snow and eyes as azure as the clearest skies, it was undoubtedly Jane.

”I am the strongest vampire in the world,” Jane declared confidently, a radiant smile gracing her features.