Ikemen Sengoku Birthday Event Guide
Starting from this year (2023 in JP, 2024 for EN), Ikemen Sengoku is implementing a new format for birthday events compared to previous years. This new event type is called a Banquet Event and it has a couple of quirks, hopefully I can explain how the event plays in this post.
Basically, Ikemen Sengoku is going to be taking some elements from Ikepri's party events, but not all of them. First of all, you can't earn the birthday CG for free: you still need to buy that from a 900 coin set as usual, and it comes with all the normal stuff: the story, the CG, some castle avatar items, etc. The main difference is that the story of this event is earned slightly differently from a story event, in that you do battles/lessons to earn points and raise your Banquet Level, which at certain milestones will give you the event story to be saved into your collection. There are other milestones like avatar items and item rewards (closet space, gold, castle gacha tokens, and boyfriend gacha tokens)
How to play is explained below:
Like the Ikepri and Ikevamp birthday events, you do lessons/glam-offs/etc whatever it's called in order to earn points to raise your Banquet Level. What is new to Ikesen is that owning certain themes will increase the points you get from doing battles, just like how having cards of the birthday character will give you bonus points in Ikepri's party events.
Differences from normal story events:
Uses its own stamina system; you can't use normal parfaits or shaved ice to restore stamina. Thus it will run concurrently with other events and not interfere with the stamina needed for those
There is no event friend system here
You do not read the event story and then pass checks. You will instead raise your party level, and at certain thresholds, the event story will be given to you and saved in your collection
The number of points you get per battle can be increased if you own certain themes
Similarities with normal story events:
Lucky time schedule works as normal. There are 2x and 3x lucky times
There are items you can buy that give you event points, as well as items to buy that refill your stamina
You can win or draw event battles like usual. Draws give you half the points of a win.
This is what the game looks like when you enter an event battle:
The deck of cards at the bottom is the list of themes you have that give bonus points. In my case, I only have 1 theme of Masamune that gives bonus points, which is this year's birthday story. As you can see, it gives me +3 points.
The game will automatically select any themes you have that give the highest point bonuses, so you don't have to worry about going through your collection to see if you have something or not.
One thing of note is that there are lucky times (currently there is a 2x lucky time active in the screenshot). As with usual story events, they double the points you get, but they only double the base points. Bonuses from themes are not doubled. To put it in a numerical example:
Winning a battle gives 100 points normally. So if I won a battle, I would get 103 points, since I have a +3 bonus.
During a 2x lucky time, only the 100 points are doubled. Thus I get (100 x2) + 3 = 203 points. I do not get (100 + 3) x2 = 206 points.
Bonus Themes
So, which themes give bonuses exactly? Here is the list for Masamune's birthday event:
(yes I haven't done Masamune's route yet, sssh)
To summarize, you can get the bonus themes from the following:
Buying themes included in special birthday sets
Prize themes from previous years' birthday events (these are ranking rewards for JP, but I believe they were turned into Early Clear rewards for EN?)
This year and last year's birthday story CGs
Pulling them from the special birthday boyfriend gacha
Main route CGs (only the main route counts, the eternal route CG, the extra CG added to the main route, and sequel CGs don't)
So, what are the rewards and the milestones? I don't have a super clear idea of the number of points you need for everything yet, but here is the list of rewards for each party level:
I saw someone on Twitter imply that you need around 25,000 points total to reach the 4th part of the story, but I'll be back to edit this (and reblog with an update) if/when I get close in order to confirm it.
Meanwhile, here are all the avatar items for each level, as well as the early clear bonuses:
Early Clear Bonuses:
Is it F2P?
From my experience and a bit of guessing, I think that it'll be possible to achieve all 4 parts of the story as F2P. However, I'm not sure how much further you can get beyond that. Getting points can be pretty difficult, especially since you can't use normal stamina or glamor items to raise your banquet level.
I'll update here at the end of the event with how far I managed to get, simulating what it'd be like as someone who only played Masamune's route and didn't buy any sets/stories or get any themes from the birthday gacha.
I don't feel like I explained this very well at all so if anyone has any questions or if there's anything about this event that's unclear, please feel free to ask!
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Ikevamp Act 2.5
Chapter 18 Romantic End
A few days after the events at the Black gathering...
Mitsuki: "So that black group got exposed?"
Comte: "Yeah. And those who were being sold as sacrifices were also freed. Thanks to everyone's cooperation."
(Thank God...)
I pat myself in relief as the string of incidents finally comes to an end.
On the day of the gathering, we, who had infiltrated the scene and helped free Ulfa and the others, got away with it after only being questioned by the police, thanks to Comte's help.
The organizers and participants of the gathering were seized at the scene.
They also found the culprits who set off the bombing at the World's Fair, clearing Halil's clan of suspicion.
Comte: "The bombing was apparently a protest by those who found out about the connections between the showmen and the group."
Mitsuki: "I see, protest. So those people caused the bombing for their own sense of justice."
No one was killed in the bombing, but many people were injured.
I understand their reason, but I can't say the means they used were right.
Comte: "It would be best if we could fix the mistakes without using violence."
(Everyone should know that, so why is it so difficult?)
(There are as many justifications and beliefs as there are people. And yet, one aspect of it creates mistakes and sacrifices.)
As I'm feeling frustrated that problems are not easily solved in reality, someone knocks on the door, and a person with a genuine smile appears.
Shakespeare: "Oh dear. You look like a wilted flower, Mitsuki."
Mitsuki: "Shakespeare! Comte was just filling me in on what happened after the incident."
Shakespeare: "I see, so you have been depressed by the reality that things are not as they should be. Well, I have good news for you."
Shakespeare: "They caught the showman who sold Halil's sister, and it seems that the treatment of his clan improved."
Mitsuki: "Really? Oh, thank god!"
According to Shakespeare, the people who were put behind the fence and on display are now out, talking to onlookers, sharing their family's culture, and interacting with people on a more equal footing.
I hope they look more alive now than they did back then.
(This world is not an easy problem to solve.)
(But in this way, we can change little by little.)
We can learn from the past, bring our thoughts and feelings together, and figure out a way to gently hold each other's hands instead of hurting each other.
(If we keep collecting beautiful things, I'm sure we can change the future someday.)
(That's right. Let's believe in that.)
Shakespeare chuckles as I ponder this.
Shakespeare: "Fufu, looks like the wilted flower has come back to life."
Mitsuki: "I'm just happy. I want to go to the World's Fair again!"
Comte: "Good idea. And the venue that was bombed is slowly being repaired with the help of craftsmen and volunteers."
Comte: "Let's go together this time. Mitsuki, Will, everyone at the mansion, and then..."
Comte and I looked at each other and nodded.
The faces that we thought of would probably be the same.
At that time, the three people Mitsuki had in mind were…
Faust: "Oh, by the way, those dhampir siblings..."
Faust: "I heard that there's a couple who wants to take care of them until they return to their hometown after the world's fair is over."
Charles: "Oh yeah. Leonardo stopped by the church the other day and told me about it."
Vlad: "Heh. Da Vinci, huh?"
Faust: "I heard the couple offered to let those kids get a taste of life in Paris, not just a place of work."
Charles: "Halil also told them about their own lore. And you know what?"
~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~
Halil: "I've been told that our family has vampire blood in their veins."
Ulfa: "Look! You can see our fangs when we smile. Aren't you scared?"
Woman: "My goodness, that's a cute set of fangs. It's very charming."
Man: "Thank you for telling us. Can you please tell us more about yourselves?"
~~~~~~~Flashback Ends~~~~~~~
Vlad: "I see they have found a good couple."
Vlad: "This is another miraculous and fateful meeting between humans, huh?"
Vlad's eyes narrowed softly as he listened to the conversation.
Faust: "That aside, I heard that Comte also wanted to take care of the siblings at the mansion."
Charles: "But Leonardo stopped him, saying he couldn't let them see them drinking rouge."
Vlad: "Pft―ahaha! It's so Comte to reach out to someone right in front of him like that."
Vlad: "I guess some people are saved by his kindness."
Vlad's eyes filled with nostalgia as he gazed at the scene of a distant day.
Faust stares at him for a moment and then asks.
Faust: "Old man, why didn't you use your brainwashing power when you entered that place?"
Vlad: "................"
Faust: "If you had brainwashed everyone who was there, things would have gone much more smoothly."
Faust: "Did you hesitate because Mitsuki would see you?"
Vlad: "No, it's not like that."
Vlad simply smiles at Faust's offhanded remark and gets up from the bench he is sitting on.
As he slowly walks, his footsteps echo in the quiet cathedral.
Vlad: "My power is actually not that versatile."
Vlad: "Brainwashing several people at once takes a toll on my mind and body."
Vlad: "If I used my power halfway in that place, I might not have been able to save them all."
Faust & Charles: "..............."
Vlad: "And I've been thinking about some things ever since I met Mitsuki."
Charles: "What kind of things...?"
Vlad suddenly looks up.
The light spilling out from the windows appears like the last remaining hope scattered in Pandora's box.
Vlad: "I love this world."
Vlad: "I wanted to nip their sins in the bud and guide mankind so that they wouldn't make mistakes and lead us to a future of peace."
Vlad: "But I think my ambition and this brainwashing power are taking away the hidden potential of human beings."
Vlad: "That's what I've been thinking since I met Mitsuki."
Charles: "What do you mean by hidden potential?"
Vlad: "The power to create miracles."
~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~
Mitsuki: "Vlad, you're not a God."
Mitsuki: "As proof, look, we can hold hands like this."
~~~~~~~Flashback Ends~~~~~~~
The warmth of Mitsuki's hand that held his blood-soaked hands still lingers.
Mitsuki's hand lifted Vlad up from his self-imposed destiny.
She connected his heart with a friend he thought he would never cross paths with again.
If Mitsuki had been brainwashed, this miracle would never have happened.
Vlad: "Mitsuki, you saved me again. Just like that snowy day."
Faust walks up to Vlad as he mutters to himself.
Faust: "Do you remember? I asked you a similar question before."
Faust: "I thought at the time that Mitsuki was the only one special enough not to be brainwashed by you."
Charles: "Mitsuki is special, isn't she?"
Charles: "From the day you guys met, I could see the love in your eyes as you looked at Mitsuki, Lord Vlad."
Vlad: ".............."
Charles: "I still don't know what love is, but that's how it felt to me."
Charles: "Mitsuki has moved Lord Vlad's heart."
Charles rushes bouncily to the door and peeks at Vlad with a smile.
Vlad himself found them and revived them using the door, hoping that he could use them as pawns for his ambitions, but when did it become natural for them to be by his side?
With this thought in his heart, Vlad tells them these in a soft voice.
Vlad: "I'll continue to love this world. But I also want to have a little more faith in people."
Faust: "So you're going to give up your ambitions?"
Vlad: "No. My ambition to protect the world has become a "dream" that I want to fulfill."
Vlad: "I'll leave my dreams to the people I love."
Faust & Charles: ".............."
It's the first carefree smile that Faust and Charles see.
Charles: "Fufu. I'm so happy. I feel like I'm finally getting close to the real Lord Vlad."
Charles: "Right! Lord Vlad, Docteur. I'd like to know more about the people in that mansion."
Charles: "I've only known them through Will and you, but I'd like to talk to them."
Faust: "Considering what we've done, I don't think they'll agree to it so easily."
Faust: "But, let's at least try to work together just like what we did in that gathering."
Charles: "Agreed. I'd like to see Mitsuki, too. Maybe the three of us can go to the mansion together next time!"
Vlad: "Ahaha, that's a good idea. I'd love to see Mitsuki's surprised face."
The three voices echoed through the light-filled cathedral as they began plotting their "assault" on the mansion.
In an art gallery on a corner in Paris...
A man named Gauguin appears from the doorway, looking down.
The picture of the vivid sunflowers he had just seen at the art gallery was stuck in his mind.
The artist, of course...
Gauguin: "Vincent. It seems my jealousy of your talent won't go away easily."
Gauguin: "I guess I'll just have to keep painting with this feeling."
Gauguin: "Haha, I can paint again. It's like a dream. I've been painting for what seems like an eternity."
Gauguin smiles to himself, still unable to grasp the joys and pains of painting.
Then, a couple of men pass by him...
Mystery Man 1: "That's right. You shouldn't even be here."
Gauguin: "What?"
Gauguin had no idea what had happened.
But as he looked down, he saw a sharp blade, which appeared to be the tip of a spear, deeply stuck in his chest.
Gauguin: "Who the hell are you guys?"
Mystery Man 2: "Farewell, poor vampire. I'll make you disappear before you even dream."
The last thing Gauguin heard was a gruff voice.
Before he could even see their faces, his vision turned dark.
Our mansion has regained its former peaceful lifestyle.
Then, one fine day...
Comte: "You suddenly sent me a letter saying we should have a tea party."
Comte: "Can't you do something about that impulse of yours, Vlad?"
Vlad: "Charles said he would make a lot of strawberry sweets, so I couldn't say no."
Faust: "Lord Vlad is a crazy strawberry maniac."
Charles: "I made something delicious, and I want Mitsuki to eat it. And of course, you guys too."
Leonardo: "I see, so we're just along for the ride, huh? Well, that's fine, but you guys insisted on it, so get on with it already."
(I was surprised when those three suddenly said they were coming, but...)
I watched from the dining room window as everyone carried in tables and chairs to prepare for the tea party in the garden.
Seeing them working together somehow made me smile.
Sebastian: "Mitsuki, is the tea set ready?"
Mitsuki: "Yup, it's perfect! Oh yeah, I bought some new tea leaves the other day."
Mitsuki: "These tea leaves were specially mixed in to commemorate the world's fair. Since it's so special, let's brew this one."
Sebastian nodded and tilted his head.
Mitsuki: "What's wrong?"
Sebastian: "Oh, it's nothing. Speaking of which, there's one thing that's been bugging me."
Sebastian: "There's no recorded event of a bombing at the Paris World's Fair."
(Huh?)
Sebastian: "But history is not always true, so I'm sure it got buried in the history books."
Sebastian: "Just a small wonder from a former historian. Forget it."
Sebastian then accepts the tea from me and carries the tea set.
(The bombing didn't happen in history, but the incident still happened.)
(Maybe history has changed or something?)
If so, then that means...
Sebastian: "Mitsuki? Let's go."
Mitsuki: "O-Okay!"
I put that thought aside and walked to the garden where everyone was waiting.
Surprisingly, the tea party turned out to be lively...
Sebastian: "Would you like another cup of tea, everyone? We also have strawberry sweets that Charles made for us."
Sebastian: "Please also try the apple pie that Mitsuki and I made. Isaac gave us his seal of approval!"
Charles: "Seal of approval? Does that mean you like apples, Newt?"
Faust: "Newton and the apple. Ah, you mean the universal gravitation?"
Isaac: "Ah, geez! Stop talking about apples already! And stop calling me Newt!"
Arthur: "Pfft...Newt's apple story is so classic."
Napoleon: "Guys, go easy on him."
Napoleon: "I get why you'd want to tease him―Yeah, no, never mind."
Isaac: "You just said you want to tease me! I thought you were on my side."
Mozart: "I think they're teasing you because you react like that. Well, I guess you're having a hard time, too."
Isaac: "It's true. Oh, by the way, Mozart, you said you have a concert coming up?"
Mozart: "Yeah. I've been turning down performance requests, but from now on, I'll try to accept as many as possible."
Mozart: "I guess I've come to terms with my past a little bit."
Isaac: "I see."
Jean: "Then I guess I'll have more chances to hear your music."
Mozart: "Yeah. I'm still aiming for ultimate music, and I don't intend to end up with self-satisfaction. So look forward to it."
Jean: "I will. Oh, I get it."
Jean: "I'm excited to have something to look forward to in the future."
Vincent: "Exciting, huh? Will, don't you have a new play coming out soon?”
Shakespeare: "Aye. My next play is a comedy with a happy ending."
Shakespeare: "From now on, I intend to write various plays, not just tragedies."
Shakespeare: "I'll face myself on the stage of life, rather than on the sidelines."
Vincent: "Yeah. Hehe, I wonder what your happy ending will be. I'm definitely going to see it!"
Dazai: "I won't miss that comedy you're writing."
Shakespeare: "I think it's a little different from your idea of a comedy."
Dazai: "At any rate, I'll go with you, Vincent. It's a date, okay?"
Theo: "Hey, bastard. You're not going on a date with broer, got it? I'm not going to let you!"
Arthur: "Cool your jets, Theo. Your bother complex really knows no bounds. Though, in a way, I respect that."
Charles: "You don't have to be so mad. I also go on dates with Docteur, see?"
Faust: "I didn't, and I will not. Charles, don't call it a date every time we go shopping."
Faust: "Seriously, if you say one more stupid thing, I'm going to sew your mouth shut."
Theo: "I'm starting to see how you guys really are. Arthur, don't lose to them."
Arthur: "Mate, I'm not trying to compete with them in the first place."
Dazai: "Ahahaha! I'll never get bored in this mansion."
I watch from a distance as everyone gets excited while I show Vlad around the garden to check the flowers.
(I remember back when we had a tea party like this.)
Vlad: "Mitsuki."
Mitsuki: "Oh, sorry. The roses are blooming over there."
Vlad: "No, I just thought you looked beautiful with those kind eyes of yours."
His bluntness made me blush.
Mitsuki: "Thanks. But it's kind of embarrassing to hear you say that so suddenly."
Vlad: "But it's true. Even in this simple moment, you're more beautiful than anything else."
Vlad: "Hey, what were you thinking just now?"
Mitsuki: "I was remembering something that happened a while ago."
Vlad tilts his head slightly, prompting the conversation to continue.
Mitsuki: "When I couldn't go back to my world, everyone in the mansion threw me a welcome party."
~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~
Leonardo: "What's the matter, Cara mia? You've been smiling for a while now."
Mitsuki: "Hehe, I'm having so much fun. I just couldn't stop smiling."
Mitsuki: "Besides, everyone here was born in different times and different countries."
Mitsuki: "It's strange that we're sitting around a dinner table together, but I think it’s wonderful."
Mitsuki: "When I'm with everyone, I feel we can connect no matter who we are."
~~~~~~~Flashback Ends~~~~~~~
The feelings I had at that time came back to me again.
Mitsuki: "Right now, I'm just happy to have Faust, Charles, and you in addition to everyone in the mansion."
Vlad: ".............."
(So much has happened to get to this day.)
I sometimes don't know what I can do as a mere human being.
And I'm sure every one of us had a lot of emotions swirling around in our hearts, past that we can't forget, beliefs that we can't give up, and doubts.
But we overcame them and are gathered here now.
Mitsuki: "I think it is difficult for people to understand each other."
Mitsuki: "But nothing will change if we don't try to understand and stay away."
Mitsuki: "Even if it's baby steps, we should start communicating and give each other more chances to get closer."
Mitsuki: "I want to make the world a place where everyone can connect as a human being."
Vlad: "Mitsuki..."
This world is not made by one person.
The world is made by humans, vampires, and purebloods.
Everyone should be able to connect their hearts and live together.
As I speak out my feelings, Vlad gently narrows his crimson eyes like a man who has found a lost treasure.
Vlad: "Hey, Mitsuki, I'm here now because you found me."
Mitsuki: "Huh?"
Vlad: "You've kept me connected. You connected me to this world where humans and vampires live together."
Vlad: "Thank you for connecting me to my heart."
Vlad's eyes right now have the purity of a kid...
Mitsuki: "Let me also say this. Thank you for trying to protect this world, Vlad."
(Protecting something, helping someone, and keeping a fragile heart together...)
(Even if the means are wrong, the thought alone is precious.)
Vlad suddenly pulls up my hand and grins wickedly.
Vlad: "By the way, Mitsuki. I've been thinking. Maybe you should come to our castle after all."
Mitsuki: "Ehh?"
Vlad: "The flowers in this garden are beautiful, but I'm sure you're already bored after living in this mansion for so long now."
Comte: "Haha, what are you talking about, Vlad?"
Mitsuki: "Comte!"
Comte comes in with his coat fluttering and stands behind me.
Comte: "Mitsuki is already my family. So how can she get tired of being part of it?"
Vlad: "Then Mitsuki, how about you and I become more than family?"
Mitsuki: "More than family?"
Comte: "As the patriarch of this mansion, I can't simply accept that."
Vlad and Comte exchange a cheery but somewhat intimidating smile across me.
(Is it just my imagination that it looks like sparks are flying?)
Leonardo: "Seriously, those two still didn't learn their lesson. Leave those little mocciosi alone, Cara mia."
Leonardo: "I'll take care of you, okay?"
Leonardo chuckled as he touched my head and looked into my eyes.
Vlad: "Wait. You can't be too careful here, Da Vinci."
Comte: "Why do vampires like Mitsuki so much?"
Their interaction is somewhat childlike, but their deep, kind eyes make my heart pound.
Shakespeare: "Oh? I was wondering where Mitsuki was, but it looks like those three took her away."
Faust: "Are all the pureblood geezers like this?"
Charles: "Count me in, Lord Vlad. If it's about seducing Mitsuki, I won't lose."
The people at the table beckon us to join them.
Mitsuki: "Hehe, everyone is calling us. I'll make us a fresh pot of tea. Let's go!"
Leonardo: "Good grief, it's going to be hard to get out of this."
Comte: "Who will seduce Mitsuki? I guess it all depends on the fate that lies ahead."
Vlad: "Let's go then. Mitsuki..."
Vlad gently and invitingly pulls my hand he's holding.
While Leonardo gently holds my other hand.
Comte: "Sometimes I think about the past, the beautiful memories and the bitter ones, but maybe all of it was meant to lead us to where we are now."
Comte's words fall into the distant sky as he reaches his hand toward me.
Leonardo: "Present, huh? I guess you're right. Even though we experience pain and sorrow, the joy still outweighs it."
Leonardo: "That's what encounters with people are like. That's why I'm drawn to people. I can't take my eyes off them for the rest of my life."
Vlad: "People sometimes create miracles that change destiny. That's what I like about them."
Vlad: "Mitsuki made me realize that."
Vlad: "I wonder what kind of future awaits us in this world we're building with you."
(The world we're building?)
Mitsuki: "What lies ahead must be..."
A destiny yet to be seen, a miracle yet to be performed, and unquenchable hope.
We will live in this world with the warmth of our connected hands.
In this world, there is a “reason” that cannot be changed in any way.
Life begins its destiny as soon as it sprouts, and it will eventually fall into eternal sleep, for that is its destiny.
There is no such thing as a flower that never withers. No, there never was.
Are these vampires who have deviated from "reason" good for this world?
Or are they evil?
Mystery Man 1: "It looks like the vampire's presence has distorted another destiny."
Mystery Man 2: "They are nothing but a blight on this world. I wonder what they were born for."
Mystery Man 1: "Why don't we ask them ourselves whether they are right or wrong?"
𝓕𝓲𝓷.
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