Chapter 95: Vampire Queen Eldiria (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95: Vampire Queen Eldiria (4)
Another week passed, and Eldiria was forced to admit the truth: Kang Jun-hyeok was incredibly convenient to have around.
Thanks to him, she was enjoying the simple act of dining for the first time in centuries. Not only did he know exactly what she liked, but he also helped her discover preferences she hadn't even known she possessed.
It didn't stop at meals. Her sleeping quarters had been replaced with a luxurious coffin, and he provided every convenience she could think of.
“Today’s dessert is a pudding made of congealed blood. Would you prefer calf or goat?”
“Calf, please.”
“Understood.”
Jun-hyeok skillfully prepared the pudding using calf blood. He had already stocked a vast array of ingredients for just such an occasion. In the process, a notification chimed—his proficiency in Auto-Cooking had risen by one level.
Eldiria placed a piece of the blood pudding into her mouth. It was sweet, yet carried a potent, metallic tang. It was a flavor perfectly suited to her palate.
Jun-hyeok was satisfying her physical needs to near perfection.
But that wasn't all. Being with him brought a strange sense of peace to her heart. The rage that usually simmered within her slowly subsided, and for the first time in over a decade, she was able to sleep soundly.
Jun-hyeok made her comfortable both physically and psychologically. As a result, she reached a single, inevitable conclusion.
I do not want to let him go.
She wanted to keep Kang Jun-hyeok by her side.
However, her pride was too great to easily admit such a thing. To think that she, of all people, would become obsessed with a mere Player. It was especially difficult because she remembered the harsh words she had spat at him when they first met. Thus, she squeezed out every possible excuse she could find.
...This man received True Blood from me.
Though it was a version of her trapped in the Tower's past, it was still her. Kang Jun-hyeok had received blood directly from her essence.
In a way, he can be considered my kin. It is only natural that I feel comfortable around him.
She had even given him the Ruby Ring.
I would never consider him someone to share my heart with, but...
At the very least, she could view him as family.
If that is the case, is it not perfectly fine to tell such a person to serve me?
No. Rather, was it not his duty to serve? Since her past self had bestowed such a great grace upon him, was it not only human nature to repay it? Was it not only natural that he should devote his body and soul to her?
These were excuses that even Eldiria herself didn't fully believe, but it didn't matter. As long as she could manufacture a reason and brainwash herself, that was enough.
In the end, Eldiria made her decision. She would keep Kang Jun-hyeok by her side. She would not send him back to the Tower. He would have to serve her here for the rest of his life.
Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
* * *
Eldiria had made up her mind not to let Jun-hyeok go.
However, she couldn't simply imprison him. If Jun-hyeok proved his strength, she had promised to grant him an Authority. That was their pact. She needed to find a loophole in that promise.
The first method that came to mind was to simply keep claiming he had failed to prove his strength. But that thought vanished immediately. The reason was the Master of All Weapons. As long as that entity, who had reached the pinnacle of mastery, was by his side, it would be impossible to be unreasonable regarding matters of martial prowess.
...Then, his mind.
The spiritual aspect. She would target his sanity. After a moment of deliberation, Eldiria found her answer.
With this, I can keep him bound.
She immediately began her preparations. Though she didn't realize it herself, the corners of her mouth were curled upward in a faint smirk.
A few days later, Eldiria spoke.
“You are special.”
“Where is this coming from all of a sudden?” Jun-hyeok tilted his head. Eldiria had seemed lost in thought for the past few days, only to suddenly blurt out something so unexpected.
Eldiria ignored his question and continued. “Your talent is unremarkable. Not just your physical movements, but your swordsmanship, spearmanship, and dagger technique—all of them barely escape the realm of the mediocre.”
“You’re pointing out things I’m already well aware of.”
“However, it is different when it comes to the System. Your abilities are truly optimized for climbing the Tower.”
He was superior to any Player Eldiria had ever met. She spoke in a low, chilling voice.
“If it is you, perhaps—though the chances are one in a million—you might actually reach the end. I will acknowledge that much.”
Jun-hyeok gave a thin smile. “Thank you.”
“But that is only if things continue as they have been,” Eldiria said coldly. “The Tower is high. And the enemies you must face are mighty. How can you guarantee that your mind will not shatter in the process? How can you be certain that you won't crumble while climbing, failing to achieve my revenge?”
Eldiria’s presence slowly began to expand. Her status began to envelop the world. It was the aura of a great Transcendent, the Queen of all Vampires. Eldiria’s true essence.
It swallowed the stars. It shook the universe itself. It was a power closer to a massive natural phenomenon than a living being. Jun-hyeok was exposed to the full weight of it head-on.
“I am confident.”
Yet, Jun-hyeok spoke boldly, without a hint of wavering. As if she had expected as much, Eldiria raised a finger.
“Words without action cannot be trusted.”
“Then what is it you desire?”
“Show me yourself. Prove your value.”
She flicked her finger. Simultaneously, space itself tore open.
Riiiiiip.
Beyond the rift in space, another part of the universe revealed itself. Eldiria grabbed Jun-hyeok’s arm and stepped inside.
Something was visible beyond the vast expanse of the cosmos. Realizing her intention, the Master of All Weapons spoke.
[Wait, Eldiria. Isn't this a bit too early?]
“Be silent, Master of All Weapons. He said he was confident. From here on, this is a matter between him and me.”
Cutting the weapon off sharply, Eldiria pointed her finger. “Look.”
At the tip of her finger stood a tree.
It was incredibly grotesque. A massive tree stood in the middle of the void. Its mangled form distorted even the starlight, and its endlessly tangled branches coiled as if to tear space apart. In the middle of the universe, a giant tree had grown, using the corpse of a planet as nourishment.
Heterogeneous and broken—these were things that were not born of this universe.
“That is one of the Victors. The Rooting Tree.”
* * *
[It has been a long time.]
The Master of All Weapons spoke softly. Deep within the roots of the tree, amidst the vein-like rifts, a small sphere was visible. Eldiria clicked her tongue.
“To think a planet that was once so close to a sun has shrunk to such a small size. It seems it sucked out every last drop of nourishment.”
She turned to Jun-hyeok. “Those are the kinds of things you must face.”
The space around the tree appeared distorted. Its mere existence shook the laws of the universe. To look upon it was to have one's mind collapse; to even speak its name was enough to break one's sanity.
At those words, the Rooting Tree turned its gaze toward them. Even though it possessed no eyes, they could feel its focus.
Heh...
A faint, mocking laugh echoed in their minds. It was a taunt directed at Eldiria—the one who had been defeated, had her homeland devoured, and could do nothing about it.
Eldiria bit her lip. The planet the tree had swallowed was her very own home. It was one of the things she had lost in her defeat.
I never intended to return here again.
Eldiria suppressed the emotions rising within her and asked, “You said you would strike down and punish the one who reduced me to this state. Can you still utter those words?”
Surely, it would be impossible now. Having witnessed a Victor, Jun-hyeok would crumble; he would be so consumed by terror that he would never dream of climbing the Tower again.
But that was enough. If that happened, he could stay by her side for eternity. The Players were destined to fail anyway. If even they had failed, how could these people possibly succeed? If so, was it not better to enjoy a brief respite rather than chase a fleeting dream?
Eldiria turned her gaze to look at Jun-hyeok. Her eyes widened.
“...Jun-hyeok?”
“So that’s one of the Victors? It’s not much, is it?”
Contrary to her expectations, Jun-hyeok was looking at the tree with bored eyes. His expression was far too calm. Even after witnessing the true body of a Victor, his face showed no sign of being moved.
How?
It was impossible. Even a powerhouse like her had to protect herself with her own status when facing that thing to keep her mind from collapsing. And yet, he was this composed? Did this mean that Jun-hyeok was mentally superior to her?
That hypothesis was correct. He was the final survivor of his past life. He had climbed the Tower and faced countless Losers. He had fought numerous Victors and emerged triumphant.
Furthermore, the Rooting Tree was a Victor he had personally killed before. He had absolutely no reason to be afraid.
“Is this all?” Jun-hyeok gave a thin smile.
Eldiria stared at him blankly.
* * *
After returning to the planet, Eldiria remained silent, her face masked with shock. Jun-hyeok spoke up.
“I know what you were thinking. You were trying to break my spirit. But I won't be broken by something like that.”
“...”
“I will climb the Tower, Eldiria. I will reach the end, tear apart those who ruined this universe, and seize victory.”
His voice was filled with a confidence that bordered on certainty. Jun-hyeok gazed steadily at Eldiria.
“Your emotions wavered for a moment when you saw that small planet in the roots. Was that your home, Eldiria?”
“...Yes.”
“Then that’s perfect.” Jun-hyeok clapped his hands. “Since I am your kin, we can be considered family. Your enemy is my enemy. I will kill the Rooting Tree with my own hands and achieve your revenge.”
“Do you truly believe that is possible?”
“The reason you took me before that tree was because you believed my mind would break. And what was the result?”
Jun-hyeok was perfectly fine. Far from having his will to fight broken, he had immediately set his next objective.
“You must trust me, Eldiria.”
His low voice resonated. Eldiria’s pupils trembled.
“I can fulfill the wish you have yearned for so deeply. I will punish the broken things that dared to take what was yours and act as the proxy for your will.”
Jun-hyeok spoke of things Eldiria hadn't even dared to dream of. Yet, strangely, she didn't feel that his words were hollow. Instead, a sense of anticipation welled up. Unlike before, she began to feel as though Jun-hyeok truly could achieve it.
Jun-hyeok held out his hand. A peculiar light flickered in Eldiria’s eyes as she looked at him. She remained still for a moment, then slowly reached out. With a soft sensation, her white hand met his.