Esper Harem in the Apocalypse
chapter-975

In the warm and inviting lounge of Rudy's castle, the joyful reunion unfolded like a heartwarming scene from a storybook. Rebecca, gently pulling Mary's cheek, couldn't contain her happiness. Her smile was as bright as the young girl's 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 Rebecca's lap and declared, "But granny is granny."

Elena, always ready with a teasing remark, couldn't resist chiming in. "That's 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. She's 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, couldn't help but chuckle. She gave Mary an affectionate pat and cast a mock glare at Elena. "No, sweetie, I love Mary. But I don't like Elena."

Mary's infectious laughter filled the room, lifting everyone's spirits.She greeted each member of Rudy's 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?"

Mary's eyes widened with anticipation. "Auntie Rias, really? A spooky story?"

Rias, ever the enigmatic vampire, winked playfully. "Oh, yes, Mary. It'll be the spookiest story you've 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, Maria's eyes fell upon Mary, who was perched contentedly in Rebecca's lap.

"So that's 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 mother's presence, couldn't contain her excitement. She leaped from Rebecca's lap and dashed toward Maria.

Maria's face was illuminated by a radiant smile as she welcomed her daughter with open arms. "Yes, she is, sweetheart. I didn't 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 doesn't 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 Rudy's 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, don't mind his manners. He behaves like this whenever he's 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 he's 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 couldn't help but reminisce and replied, "Yeah..."

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

Maria replied thoughtfully, "They haven't, and I don't think they will. Eric and Erika never got Rudy's powers, either."

Rias, who had been listening attentively, nodded in agreement. "Yeah," she added, "Lord's powers aren't 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."

Rebecca's curiosity led her to probe further. "But isn't 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.