Midnight Stretches

As the clock struck midnight, Remilia was gritting her teeth and working up a sweat. She'd forgotten when exactly she started this so-called "stretching," and under normal circumstances, perhaps she would've grown tired of it and stopped. But on this night, she had a good reason to persist. Remilia Scarlet, also known as the Scarlet Devil, is a highly feared vampire and the mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. A charismatic figure, she has an array of servants and is undeniably powerful. However, no amount of charisma can cure tight muscles...

Stretching is a type of exercise performed to loosen one's muscles and improve physical health. The longer you sit inside, the tighter your muscles become. While the act of stretching may be painful, if you continue to do so daily with correct form, you too can obtain a body as flexible as an eel... Or so it was written in a small column of the crow tengu's newspaper. Who knows if it's true or not?

Being desperately focused on her stretching, Remilia hadn't noticed the small crowd that had gathered outside her room to watch her. "I just never imagined the mistress would be so motivated!" said Meiling in a voice that sounded a little like she was crying. Meiling is the mansion's gatekeeper and its most proficient martial artist. It seems Meiling casually showing Remilia a handful of stretches is what led to this current situation. But that doesn't quite explain Remilia's determination...

The Secret God Games The secret god's brutal competition was held at the Misty Lake, not far from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and provided all those who came to watch with a host of thrills. Remilia had no connection to the competition, but for some reason, she suddenly began training. One might be tempted to ask her why a vampire would need to train, seeing as their bodies are inherently durable and agile, but perhaps it's best not to.

"Grrrr! I can still... stretch... further...!" grunted Remilia as she recalled declaring earlier that day that anything her servants can do, she can do too. It was at that moment her hours of torturous stretching paid off as she finally touched her toes! Once again, the mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the noble vampire feared the world over, had triumphed. Her charisma is truly unmatched― "Ow, ow, ow, ow ow!" Her foot began to cramp from the rigorous stretching. "I was a foooool!" she cried. This was the beginning of the end. In her haste to massage her master's cramping foot, the gatekeeper smashed down the bedroom door and rushed in. She was followed shortly after by the head maid, who'd brought water. Supposedly, the hours that followed were a far cry from tranquil...