Chapter 224: The Gamble
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: The Gamble
"We’ve finally arrived~"
"Um… Lady Mycrony."
A few days had passed since Adler’s letter arrived. Somewhere in the Eastern United States.
"It’s quite fascinating. I never imagined I’d actually come to America."
"You must minimize your movements, My Lady."
"It’s fine. Anyway…"
Having located the address provided in Adler’s letter, Mycrony had immediately set out for the location, accompanied by a single servant. Now that she was here, a sly smile played on her lips as she stepped forward to meet him.
"… Cough, cough."
However, she soon faltered, covering her mouth to stifle a ragged cough.
"Look at this. I told you your condition was poor."
"… I’m going to die anyway, so does it even matter?"
"Still…"
"Just help me walk, please."
The servant, looking at her with deep concern, finally gave in to Mycrony’s firm tone and began supporting her weight as they walked.
"I really have changed a lot."
"… Pardon?"
As they made their slow progress toward their destination, Mycrony suddenly chuckled and muttered under her breath.
"Originally… even going from my house to the Diogenes Club was too much of a bother. I used to have servants assist me every step of the way."
She continued, glancing briefly at the puzzled servant.
"To think I’d cross continents just to meet a boy… it’s absolutely astonishing."
"…….."
"Really… I couldn’t have even imagined doing such a thing in the past."
Mycrony’s voice trailed off, sounding distant.
The seed sown mere months ago had firmly taken root within her, a stark contrast to the long-standing boredom and powerlessness that had defined most of her life. It was undeniable proof that she was changing.
"… If only there had been a bit more time."
"Lady Mycrony…"
"Oh, I seem to be wallowing again without realizing it."
Mycrony quickly shook off the sentiment, erasing the vulnerability that had surfaced on her face. Replacing it with her usual facade of mirth, she spoke.
"That aside. What exactly are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
"Why is France’s greatest thief disguised as my servant, offering me her shoulder?"
A heavy silence fell between them.
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about…"
"I cannot be deceived, Lupin. If I were in better health, I could have easily controlled both the Professor and my sister."
"……."
"No, honestly, the Professor might be a bit of a challenge. Haha…"
In the ensuing silence, the confused expression on the servant’s face gradually turned cold as Mycrony continued to speak.
"When did you notice…?"
"From the very beginning. I see through everything in this world, Lupin."
"Tsk…"
"Where is my actual servant? You haven’t killed her, have you?"
"I don’t kill people. I simply tied her up in her bathroom at home."
Hearing this, a relaxed expression settled over Mycrony as she gazed at Lupin.
"That’s fine, then. Can you stop following me now?"
"What?"
"I’d like a moment alone with Mr. Adler, if you don’t mind."
"Who said you could—"
Lupin, her face set in refusal, attempted to follow Mycrony despite the soft-spoken plea, but…
"Please… may I?"
"…….!"
Mycrony paused, emitting a killing intent so potent that Lupin was forced to halt in her tracks.
"What kind of dying corpse… emits an aura like that…?"
"I wasn’t joking earlier, you know."
Mycrony stared at Lupin with narrowed grey eyes for a moment before her expression returned to its usual state, and she moved on.
"And for the record, I enjoy stealing just as much as you do."
Leaving those words behind, she slipped into the hotel and disappeared from Lupin’s sight.
"… Just what the hell is wrong with people from London?"
After standing there for a while, Lupin eventually shook her head and sat down against a nearby wall.
*
—Knock, knock, knock…
"Is anyone there~?"
Breathing heavily, Mycrony Holmes finally reached the fifth floor of the hotel. She raised her voice slightly as she knocked on the door mentioned in the letter.
"I came just as you asked, without any bodyguards~"
—Knock, knock, knock, knock!
"Which means I’m completely unprotected right now~"
When there was no response, a puzzled look crossed her face.
"Isn’t this a bit much? I came all this way, dragging my ailing body along…"
—Creak…
"……?"
As she murmured in an annoyed tone and turned the doorknob, the door swung open. Mycrony frowned.
"Adler?"
She peeked through the crack of the door and called his name.
—Snap!
"……..!"
In that instant, someone standing just behind the door bared their teeth and lunged, biting into her neck.
"Oh my."
Frozen for a moment, she stared blankly before a smile broke across her face. She realized it was only Adler, clad in a bathrobe, who had ambushed her.
"You startled me."
"……?"
"Why pretend to be surprised when I can see through everything, you ask? To be honest, my eyes haven't been working so well lately."
She muttered this while looking at Adler, who was still biting her neck, a confused look on his face at her reaction.
"My health has deteriorated rapidly… The doctor said I might not last a month, let alone six."
—Gnaw…
"Ah… Mmmmmm…"
As Adler intensified the bite, she let out a soft, peculiar moan and slumped toward the floor.
"If you treat me this harshly… I might actually die right here today…?"
—Suck, nibble…
"Ah, wait a minute….."
Despite her trembling voice, Adler continued to drink her blood, staring directly into Mycrony’s eyes. She felt the strength draining from her limbs.
—Squeeze…
She hugged Adler with all the strength she could muster.
"Well, to be treated like a blood bag… by an impudent vampire until the very end…"
"…….."
"It’s not exactly… unpleasant…"
Her voice was dreamy as her eyes began to flutter shut.
"… But."
Amidst the haze, Mycrony’s gaze darkened ever so slightly.
"Somehow… it feels… unfair…"
"… Phew."
At that moment, Adler suddenly pulled his teeth from Mycrony’s neck. A mischievous smile played on his lips as he asked, "What feels unfair?"
"…….."
Mycrony slowly opened her mouth to reply, a faint shade of disappointment tugging at her lips.
"Just kill me right now."
"……."
"Rather than dying shrouded in this terrible boredom, I’d like to at least feel the thrilling stimulation of being murdered by you."
"… Never mind that. Just answer me."
Since Adler refused to back down, she frowned and struggled to sit up.
"What feels unfair?"
She sat weakly in a nearby chair and began to respond in a barely audible voice, her strength failing her.
"I resent being born so frail. I resent having only a few months to live. And I resent being excluded from the race where you are the ultimate prize."
"…….."
"Until a few months ago, it was the opposite. Back then, I actually welcomed death as an eternal rest."
"I see."
"But now… I no longer feel the same."
Mycrony’s clouded gaze fixed on Adler, who had quietly seated himself beside her.
"Because of a mysterious, flirtatious, amorous vampire who cheats more than he breathes… I’ve started hating the idea of dying."
"Hmm…"
"Well, it’s not like that means I can choose to live."
However, the darkness in her expression soon vanished, replaced by her usual mask.
"Let’s stop this conversation and move on to the main topic."
"…….."
"What exactly is the reason you brought me here?"
As she squinted and smiled, Adler, who had been idly tapping the desk, began to rummage through his pockets.
"… What’s that?"
He pulled out two white pills and placed them one by one on the desk. Mycrony tilted her head in curiosity.
"Take a closer look."
Following Adler’s suggestion, she lowered her gaze to the pills.
"… Huh?"
A look of uncharacteristic confusion crossed her face.
"I can’t analyze them… why?"
"Ah, it seems the quality is certainly reliable…"
Pleased with the outcome, Adler gently tapped the floating system window next to him.
"Let’s play a simple game."
He turned his gaze back to Mycrony, his smile tinged with amusement.
"One of these pills is a panacea that can cure any disease. If you take it, your lifespan might extend by another eighty years."
"…….!"
"And the other one is a poison that will most certainly kill you."
Her eyes widened instantly.
"It’s a very simple, very fun game. You, Lady Mycrony, choose one of these two pills and consume it."
"…….."
"No reliance on abilities. Just pure luck."
Adler concluded with a satisfied expression, observing Mycrony’s stiffened face while his black tail flicked playfully behind him.
"Shall we start?"
"Why are you doing this?"
When Mycrony asked the question quietly, an absurd response escaped Adler’s lips.
"… I’ve always wanted to toy with someone like you."
Even without using her abilities, she could sense the absolute sincerity in that ridiculous answer. For the first time in her life, she frowned and hurled a condemnation at the devil before her.
"You are irredeemable scum."
"Hehe."