The Tale of a Great Fixer Who Once Reached for The Dream, part 4 (after battle)

<Don Quixote...>

A name that was once my salvation.

Our own kind had disowned us. The humans considered us hideous.

I'll admit. We were all smiling and laughing when we began laying the foundations of La Manchaland.

Because we truly believed in the delusion that we could subsist on smidgeons of blood and some 'hemobars'.

Gather around, all. We finally have a prototype of that 'thing' me and the Barber have been working on for years.

What is this, a brick?

Coagulated blood.

It has every nutrient we need to survive.

…….

Tastes like... pastel paste.

Flavor is a luxury, Lady Dulcinea!

This is the best we could've done with the flavor.

As long as we can get a steady supply of a paltry amount of blood voluntarily given by humans, we can continue to mass-produce these hemobars.

Oh... how splendid.

I plan to provide a steady supply of this item for our Family here at La Manchaland.

Remember. As long as La Manchaland survives, we'll be the pride and joy of all Bloodfiends.

Because we'll be the living proof that... we need not kill - need not consume blood to coexist alongside humans. That we need not be defined by our nature.

And I guarantee you, we'll be getting plenty of guests around here.

How can you be so certain?

Because the world outside was as dreary and austere as the world I'd been living in.

I am quite certain that deep inside, even humans...

... are desperately waiting for something to bring joy into their lives.

Which brings me to my subsequent point. What if I were to appear in person at the end of the Parade? What say you?

That would certainly get the crowd going with the applause and cheers, don't you think?

Of course! I will make you an outfit so dazzling that you may shine brighter than anyone else.

I doubt you'll surpass my popularity.

I am second to none when it comes to beauty, after all.

Of course not, Dulcinea. None shall claim greater beauty before you, who are as incandescent as gold. Even still -

If this meeting is about to devolve into frivolity again, I will now take my leave.

Yes. Just as he had expected...

... La Manchaland began teeming with human guests.