Chapter 365
Chapter 365
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 365
Chapter Title: Side Story 50. We're Doing Well Too (2)
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"Th-the Shadow Archduke?!"
Sion cried out in alarm.
Having been cursed out of the blue, she shrank back in terror.
Isran von Warsaw.
The Shadow Archduke, as the world called him.
The vampire king who ruled the world of night, a veteran of the final war.
He wasn't as renowned as Orse, but any imperial citizen would likely know the name.
Ophelia, who had been staring at Sion, offered a greeting.
"Your hair color looked familiar... You're the Sword Saint's sister, aren't you? Nice to meet you."
"Ah, well, he's the former Sword Saint now. It's an honor to meet you, Lady Ophelia."
"You... know me?"
"Of course. You've restored nearly all of ancient blood magic. And my brother occasionally mentioned you—a remarkable vampire among his friends."
"Schlieffen thinks of me as a friend too... Thank you."
Ophelia smiled.
Silence still hung between the Archduke and Erzsebet.
After a long moment of stunned silence, Erzsebet finally opened her mouth.
"You want me to... kill you?"
"Yes."
"Out of nowhere, without any context...? Why would you ask that?"
It was an utterly bewildering request.
One that made her forget even the joy of reuniting with old friends.
The Archduke nodded gravely.
"As you know, my body is far from whole. It's been over twenty years, and yet..."
"Wait. Archduke... there are too many ears around here."
Ophelia cut him off.
The surroundings were indeed bustling.
"Mage Sion, you alright? Why were you screaming?"
"Grung?"
"Hold on. Isn't that big guy North Wall Knight Commander Braum?"
The mages, startled by Sion's scream, were murmuring.
Even Salamander Nancy was blinking her fiery eyes toward them.
This clearly wasn't a conversation for an open place.
After a brief hesitation, Erzsebet took the lead.
"Mm. Follow me for now. There's a quiet spot where we can talk."
****
They headed to the library of the Dawn Tower.
The grand hall of knowledge, formed by combining six floors, was a marvel unmatched by any other tower.
Erzsebet led them to a remote corner rarely visited.
It was a section for storing light-sensitive ancient tomes, poorly lit by natural light.
She pulled a book titled Backpedaling from the shelf and stepped forward.
"Come in. Don't look around—just act natural."
"Ooh, so that's why we came to the library!"
Erzsebet's voice echoed from within the bookshelf.
The shelf, tangible just moments ago, had become a hollow facade.
Following her inside revealed a long, dark corridor.
Braum snorted in admiration.
"Feels like a fox licking its own ass. Incredible!"
"...Please refrain from crude expressions. This is the holiest place in the Dawn Tower."
"Haha, sorry. Hanging with rough crowds must've rubbed off on me. My apologies!"
"And keep your voice down a bit. Really."
Erzsebet sighed.
Braum hadn't changed a bit from how she remembered him.
Not eternal like Ophelia or the Archduke, yet steadfast as ever.
Soon after walking the corridor, a vast open space appeared.
"This is... impressive."
"Beautiful. It rivals the library in Warsaw Castle."
Ophelia murmured in awe.
A stronger reaction than when she'd seen the main Dawn Tower library.
The Shadow Archduke, who had lived over a thousand years, raised his eyebrows in interest.
Hundreds of bookshelves lined up neatly.
The orderly books seemed to breathe with life.
Another library unfolded before them.
"Ehehe, impressive, right? It's developed so much since Eri-sis—er, the Tower Lord—started managing it."
"Sion."
"Oopsie, Tower Lord. Not sis—yes, ma'am!"
Sion stuck out her tongue.
They paused, forgetting their purpose, to admire the secret library.
An artificial sun created by magic cast a dim glow from the ceiling.
Its dark green light soothed and lulled the sentient forbidden tomes.
"The forbidden books are all asleep by default. We wake them only when needed. It's better for management and preservation."
"Makes sense... Dawn had trouble with them before."
Ophelia nodded.
It seemed a prudent measure.
The previous Tower Lord had nearly destroyed the tower after being enthralled by one.
Suddenly, her gaze swept left and right, then froze.
Three pillars stood directly beneath the artificial sun.
Two bore massive books atop them; the third was empty.
"Those...!"
Ophelia's eyes widened.
She recognized both, but seeing the originals was a first.
Pointing to the pitch-black covered one, she continued.
"...Bajura of Destruction. The original?"
"Yes. Asel returned it about a decade ago. The Winter Witch is gone, but her power endures."
It had originally been stored in the Dawn Tower.
Asel returned Bajura after mastering ice magic perfectly.
The Winter Witch.
The highest ice spirit, Ijineu, had regained freedom after centuries and returned to the spirit realm.
"I see... Good for her."
"Actually, she didn't fully leave—they say she sticks around Asel as much as possible."
"Wish a skilled spiritist would contract her."
"Right? ...Where'd you get Lerant?"
Ophelia's finger shifted sideways.
A pure white book, the polar opposite of Bajura, slumbered peacefully.
Lerant of Wisdom, one of the three great forbidden tomes.
"Oh, Elisia donated it. Said she didn't need it anymore. Total stroke of luck."
"Collecting all but Cain's tome... incredible."
Ophelia was genuinely impressed.
The three books penned by Savior Cain himself were priceless treasures matching their danger.
Luck or not, it spoke to Erzsebet's capabilities.
Musing over the name Elisia, she murmured to herself.
"Miss them... Grandpa Alibriehe must be doing well too..."
Ophelia drifted into memories.
It had been ages since she'd seen them.
She'd befriended Nebula Clazie's two executives while rebuilding the war-torn world.
Word was Alibriehe still lingered in the City of Dragons—a visit wouldn't hurt.
Once the Archduke's issue was resolved properly, of course.
Suddenly, a clear voice rang out nearby.
"Huh? Tower Lord?"
Simultaneously, a girl's upper body popped up from the floor.
Her orange bob haircut gave a fresh vibe.
Braum jolted back in surprise.
"Gah! Scared me!"
"On patrol, I see. Aire."
Erzsebet smiled.
The girl fully emerged from the floor, facing the five.
Her floating body proved she wasn't human.
A spirit sealed long ago by Sarante.
Aire, the Dawn Tower's sole librarian.
"Who are they?"
"My guests. No other users, right?"
"Yes, but... these are some heavy hitters."
Aire gulped.
A high spirit herself, today's visitors were on another level.
Restorer of ancient blood magic and the Shadow Archduke.
The North Wall Knight Commander seemed modest by comparison.
"Good, no one's around. We'll use the nook."
"Ah, serious talk. I'll head out then—patrol's done anyway."
"Thanks. You work hard."
Aire bowed to them and vanished into the ceiling.
Freely navigating without elevators, she remained the tower's unique librarian.
Erzsebet guided the group to a secluded room in the library's center.
The moment they entered, all external noise and presences vanished.
"The sound...!"
"Hehe, protected by at least ten layers of barrier magic. Like another dimension. Perfect for confidential chats."
Erzsebet grinned proudly.
This nook, dubbed the "crate," was an emergency shelter for forbidden tome rampages.
She could've used her office, but wanted to show this off.
Like the secret library, it was her creation.
"Solid. Let's get to business."
The Archduke nodded approvingly.
Safe to talk freely here.
He shed his robe and began unbuttoning his shirt.
"No need for words. See for yourself."
"Eek?!"
No time to stop him.
With buttons undone, his pale torso was fully exposed.
Sion, startled, covered her eyes.
"Kyaa! Wh-what are you doing all of a sudden?!"
"Heavens, this...!"
Erzsebet gasped.
First time seeing a man's body since treating Ronan, but that wasn't why.
The Archduke's torso was covered in horrific scars.
"...From that war."
"Yes. Festering for twenty years. Haven't had proper rest since."
The Archduke nodded.
Blade gashes crisscrossed his body.
Flesh hacked into dozens of pieces, glued crudely together.
The wounds, unhealed and blackened, even writhed like living things.
Everyone present knew who inflicted them.
Erzsebet spoke.
"But the cult leader... Abel is dead, right?"
"Doesn't matter for these wounds. Surviving on residual blood essence, but limits are near. Why do you think I'm stuck looking like a damn kid?"
The Archduke gritted his teeth.
His childlike form wasn't by choice.
Regaining his true appearance required power he spent maintaining the wounds.
"Can't hold out anymore. This body's done."
"Why so extreme? Ronan was wounded by Abel too and fully healed. See him first..."
"Already did. Needs Abel's blood for treatment, but he's gone. No corpse even—Ronan said he disintegrated into light. Only option left is you incinerating me."
"No...!"
Erzsebet covered her mouth.
No solution in sight.
The Shadow Archduke's death felt fated, like an arrow to the heart.
War's over, yet this tragedy... One of the heroes who saved the world.
Tears threatened.
Barely acquainted, but such an end for a world-saver was too tragic.
If it's the best... I'll do it.
As she swallowed tears to accept,
Paaah...
A red orb floated above the Archduke's palm.
"Pity, but I'll abandon this body and start over from scratch."
"...Pardon?"
"Start over. Gathered enough essence for a new sprout after much effort... Why the face? Don't know vampire ways?"
The Archduke shrugged.
Erzsebet, frowning, glared daggers.
"...Thought you were serious about dying."
"Can't go out like this when my sibling sacrificed for the cause. I'll survive somehow."
"If that's the request, why come here? Dragons breathe fire too."
"Dragon fire hurts like hell. Can't handle that."
"Argh, seriously! What?!"
Erzsebet finally yelled.
Dark purple mana flared like flames over her shoulders.
Sion trembled, clinging to Ophelia.
The Archduke shook his head.
"Only those who've endured it know. Especially fire dragon clan's—excruciating. Crucial matter."
"Crucial my foot! No wonder you two looked casual. If it's just that reason...!"
"Pain aside, it's critical. Dragon flames could kill me, but it'd wipe out the area."
"...What?"
"Exactly."
His expression remained dead serious.
Tapping his heart with a finger, he continued.
"I can't die any other way. Only Dawn's mages can grant this body true rest. That's why I came to you, Erzsebet de Acalusia."