Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 69: Peace (Part 2)

There was a long pause, and then Rita spoke again, her tone quieter. "You don’t have to do this alone, you know."

Simon stiffened. His fingers tightened on the supplies in his hands, but he didn’t turn around. "I’ve been doing it alone for weeks. I’m not about to change now."

"You don’t have to carry all the weight by yourself," Leo chimed in, his voice softer than usual. "We’re here. We’re with you."

Simon’s jaw tightened, and he finally turned to face them. His eyes lingered on Leo first, then shifted to Rita.

"And what’s your plan when I die?" he asked, his voice low but sharp. "You think you’re going to survive without me?"

Rita didn’t flinch. "We don’t need you to survive. We need you to trust us."

Simon’s heart twisted, but he refused to let it show. Trust was a currency he couldn’t afford. "Trust gets people killed," he said flatly.

Leo raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "You sound like you’ve given up on us. On yourself."

"I haven’t given up," Simon shot back, his tone hard. "I’ve just learned how to survive. And that means not relying on anyone who can’t pull their weight. Not trusting anyone who will just hold me back."

There was another long silence before Rita spoke, her voice quiet but steady. "You’re not alone in this. We’re not going anywhere. You don’t have to do it all yourself."

Simon’s breath hitched. He clenched his fists, trying to push the nagging ache away. He wasn’t sure what to say.

He wasn’t sure if he could let them in, even if he wanted to. But they were right about one thing.

He wasn’t alone, even if it felt like he was.

"You should get some rest," Rita said after a beat. "We’ll be ready for the next move when you are."

Leo shot Simon a look, but said nothing more. They both left the room, and Simon was left alone with his thoughts again.

The silence felt heavier now. It wasn’t the same as before. It felt... uncertain. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe, just maybe, there was something to this idea of not being alone.

The door creaked open slowly, the dim light spilling into the room. Bethany stood there for a moment, her expression unreadable, eyes scanning Simon’s still form.

She could tell something was on his mind. He had been lost in thought ever since the raid, like his brain was a constant wheel that never stopped turning.

It wasn’t that unusual for him. Simon was a strategist. But this time, it felt different.

Bethany closed the door softly behind her, the sound of her boots hitting the floor the only indication that she’d entered.

Simon didn’t look up, his back turned to her, his focus on some scattered maps on the table.

"Rita and Leo are getting antsy." Bethany’s voice was calm, but it held the weight of the truth, the kind of truth Simon usually avoided acknowledging.

Simon didn’t respond at first. The silence hung thick between them, but she wasn’t going to give up that easily.

Bethany had always been able to break through Simon’s walls. She’d been the only one to get through to him when no one else could.

"They’re not trained for what we’re doing," Simon finally muttered, his voice low, like he was still trying to convince himself. "We can’t waste time babysitting them."

Bethany stepped closer, folding her arms across her chest. "They’re not children, Simon. They’re capable. They just need the right training."

He turned slightly, eyeing her with a raised brow. "Training? You want me to waste time teaching them how to shoot, how to fight, how to survive? They’re here to assist, not lead."

"They can do more than assist," Bethany countered, her gaze unwavering. "You saw what they did back there — Leo with that brute resolve, Rita with her sharp instincts. They could be more. But they’re still green. They don’t have the knowledge we do. The experience. They could be more than just support, if you’d let them."

Simon’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he looked away again.

His mind raced with the implications. He didn’t have time for distractions, didn’t have time to mold anyone into something more than they were.

He had a mission, a plan, and training others seemed like an unnecessary detour.

But deep down, he knew Bethany was right. They were capable. More than capable. With the right training, they could help in ways that went beyond what Simon could’ve expected.

He couldn’t ignore the thought, no matter how much he wanted to. His gaze flickered over the maps again, but this time, he was seeing more than just coordinates and routes. He was seeing potential.

"They’re not fighters," Simon said slowly, though there was no conviction in his words. He knew it was an excuse. A poor one. "We need fighters. Not... distractions."

Bethany’s gaze softened, and she stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. The touch was light, but it was enough to make him pause. She wasn’t asking him to change everything.

She wasn’t even asking him to trust them completely. She was just asking him to see beyond their limitations. To see what they could become.

"Rita’s smarter than she lets on. She’s resourceful, and she’s been paying attention. She can do more than just scout. Leo... he’s strong, but he needs to learn control. You’re the only one who can teach them that."

Simon exhaled sharply, the weight of her words settling in his chest. He knew she was right. But it wasn’t just about training them.

It was about letting go of control. Letting them have a part in the fight. And Simon had never been good at sharing the burden.

But Bethany... Bethany had always known how to break through his walls. She was the one person who could make him see reason when his instincts were pushing him in the opposite direction.

"You really think they’ll make a difference?" he asked quietly, his voice betraying a hint of doubt.

Bethany’s smile was small but genuine. "I think they could be the difference. But they won’t get there without your help."

There was a long pause. Simon rubbed the back of his neck, his mind spinning with the implications. He had always relied on his instincts, on his ability to strategize and lead.

But maybe, just maybe, it was time to teach Leo and Rita how to survive without him holding their hands.

He took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders. "Alright," he said, his voice firm but not without a hint of reluctance. "I’ll train them. But it’s on my terms."

Bethany didn’t argue. She simply nodded, her expression understanding. "That’s all I’m asking for."

Without another word, Simon turned back to the maps, his mind already shifting gears. Training Leo and Rita would take time, effort, and patience — things he wasn’t exactly known for.

But there was something different now. The group was more than just a means to an end. They were a team. And if he wanted them to be ready for whatever came next, he couldn’t afford to keep holding them back.

Bethany stepped toward the door, but paused before leaving, glancing back at him. "I’ll go tell them. They’ll be grateful. You’ve made the right choice, Simon."

He didn’t respond at first. Part of him wanted to say something sharp, something to make sure she knew that this wasn’t about trust.

But deep down, he knew better. It was about survival. It always had been.

"Just make sure they’re ready," Simon said, his tone more controlled now. "They’ll need to keep up."

Bethany’s lips curled into a faint smile. "They will."

With that, she left, the door clicking softly behind her.

Bethany found Leo and Rita in the mess hall, talking quietly among themselves. They stopped talking as soon as she approached, their eyes hopeful, but cautious.

They had been waiting for something. They knew something was coming.

"I spoke with Simon," Bethany said, her voice steady. She could already see the flicker of curiosity in their expressions, the hope creeping in. "He agreed."

Rita blinked. "Agreed? Agreed to what?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Bethany smirked, the weight of the moment hitting her. "He’s going to train you both."

Leo’s eyebrows shot up, and Rita’s face softened with surprise. "Train us?" Leo asked incredulously. "You mean, actually teach us how to fight? To fight like — "

"Like him," Bethany finished for him, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. "He’s not one to waste time, but he’s agreed. So get ready. He’s going to push you."

Rita’s eyes met Leo’s, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was thick, but it was filled with understanding.

"We won’t let you down," Rita said finally, her voice quiet but filled with conviction.

Bethany nodded. "I know you won’t."

She turned and left them to their thoughts, her heart lighter than it had been in days. They were going to be ready. They had to be.