The Eye of Truth

A thousand years ago, I obtained a special opportunity while adventuring with Autumn.

While exploring an ancient ruin together with Autumn, I acquired a legacy left behind by the ancients. Thanks to Autumn's generosity, I came to possess a unique ability. Now that I think about it, Autumn was always yielding to me even back then.

That ability was the Eye of Truth. It was an overwhelmingly powerful skill that revealed detailed information about any target I desired. Until now, there had never been a single being I couldn't see through with this ability. I could accurately grasp the truth of everyone. And this power was the one I used most frequently when helping the Grace family.

Perhaps the reason Monica Grace summoned me today was also to borrow the power of my Eye of Truth.

The man standing before me looked exactly like Autumn and carried the same scent of his soul. But that alone wasn't enough to be certain. If this person truly was Autumn, using this ability on him would be a grave discourtesy. However, in the past, when I once accidentally used this power on Autumn and apologized, he told me it was fine to use it on him whenever I wanted.

Autumn. You were always so considerate toward me.

So I activated the Eye of Truth on the man who resembled Autumn.

Through my "eye," his true identity was revealed……

It was Autumn.

“Ugh… Fine. Autumn. I’ve already waited a thousand years. Waiting a little longer is nothing. Autumn, I’ll always be waiting for you.”

Yes. I’ve waited a thousand years. What’s a little more? The important thing is that Autumn has come back to life and remembers me. It’s definitely not because his spoiled act was too adorable! ……I have to burn this moment into my mind until the day I die. How can he possibly be this cute?!

Still, because his memories aren’t complete yet, he’s keeping his distance so he won’t hurt me…… Even though he died because of me, he’s still thinking about me.

“Bathory. Can you check on that woman for me?”

Huh? She means that wolf bitch? Ah. Autumn never liked killing. Damn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, I showed him such an ugly side of me!

“Autumn! That wolf bitch was a really bad girl, so I had to deal with her! It wasn’t my fault. Actually, what happened was……”

Right. The wolves submitted to humans and betrayed us monsters. They’re the ultimate traitors. I had no choice but to eliminate her.

I explained the long-standing conflict between our vampires and the wolf bitches that had occurred while he was gone. Autumn looked extremely shocked. Of course he would be—back when he was alive, he used to get along with wolves. Hearing that they betrayed us must have been devastating.

“Ah. So that’s what happened while I was away. Still, this girl was kind to me earlier. There was no need to kill her. I don’t want to see Bathory hurting anyone.”

Ah, Autumn. You’re always thinking only about me. But what does she mean by “this girl was kind to me earlier”? Don’t tell me this bitch had ulterior motives toward Autumn. In that case, killing her was the right call.

“This person might still be alive.”

What? I pierced her heart from behind with my authority. She survived? Unless she’s Khan or one of his direct descendants…… Could it be?

I activate the Eye of Truth. And I confirm the identity of this lycanthrope.

!!!!

She’s alive! If she were dead, it would have displayed “Deceased” next to her name!

And Turk! A surname only Khan’s direct bloodline can use!

She’s only 338 years old, yet she has stats like this!

She really is Khan’s child! But why is Khan’s daughter here?

“You’re right. According to the Eye of Truth, this one is still alive. She survived because she’s Khan’s child.”

“Ah, damn. So she has the Eye of Truth. Then doesn’t that mean my identity is completely exposed?!”

Autumn muttered with a surprised expression. He shouldn’t even know who Khan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is. Why is he so shocked?

“Autumn. Do you know who Khan is?”

“Huh? Uh…… Th-that’s. No? What’s Khan supposed to be?”

“Khan is the worst wolf who appeared five hundred years ago, united the lycanthropes, and made them betray us. So five hundred years ago, what happened was……”

“In other words, this bitch is the descendant of that worst wolf. I was wondering why our Lady Monica was sprawled out like that—this must be because she’s Khan’s child. I’ve heard Khan’s children possess tremendous combat ability. On top of that, Khan and his descendants inherently possess the ability called Revival.”

“Revival?”

“Yeah. It’s an extremely troublesome ability. When they receive fatal damage that would normally result in death, their body temporarily enters a state of suspended animation instead of dying, then automatically recovers on its own. That’s why it was impossible to assassinate Khan. Even if we infiltrated the lycan camp and landed a fatal blow on him, he wouldn’t die, and reinforcements would arrive. That’s what made it so difficult. The reason she’s still alive even though I stabbed her heart is probably because of that ability. But since she’s in suspended animation right here in enemy territory, no one can help her. I’ll take this one back to the family, extract information, and deal with her.”

“Um…… Bathory, could you give her to me instead?”

Huh? What? This woman?

“Huh? You want her?”

“Uh…… Actually, when I was about to be kidnapped by Monica’s—yeah, that was her name—hypnosis ability, this girl saved me. She’s a good kid. I don’t want you to hurt her. So I want to take her with me and look after her.”

What? Monica tried to kidnap Autumn? That little bitch. I treated her so well because she’s the family head’s only daughter!

And a wolf bitch saved our Autumn? Hmm…… I know Autumn would never cheat on me. Still, bringing a woman close……

“Autumn. I trust you. But bringing a woman into the house……”

“Ah. Don’t worry, Bathory. I made you misunderstand. That girl will be looked after by another ‘me’—a female one.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes. You will. Or were you planning to take care of a woman yourself?”

“Tch. Using the fact that we’re the same ‘me’ to get out of this.”

Well, if that’s the case, there’s no problem. But why does it still feel unsettling?

And that woman. The unidentified being who called herself female Autumn. I examined her with the Eye of Truth earlier too.

She was Autumn as well. But what’s with that strange Endurance value? Why isn’t the stat displaying? Well, it’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Autumn. If it’s Autumn, everything should be fine. Still, no matter how much of an Autumn she is, I can’t accept a female Autumn yet.

Earlier, that female Autumn said that in their world, I’m a man. I’m male and Autumn is female. Hmm…… An Autumn who takes the lead…… That might not be so bad.

Wow. I had completely forgotten that Bathory possesses the Eye of Truth. Back when I was fantasizing, I briefly thought it would be fun if there was something like a scouter ability. But the fact that I wasn’t exposed even though she has the Eye of Truth means she didn’t use it on me?

No. Even if it’s Autumn, there’s no way Bathory wouldn’t have used it. In my delusion, Autumn once said it was okay to use the Eye of Truth on him freely. Ah, that was just me fantasizing to make myself look cool. Who would’ve thought it would turn out like this? Then why does Bathory still treat me as Autumn Grace even after supposedly using the Eye of Truth on me? Am I really Autumn Grace?

Anyway, since everything’s resolved nicely, let’s hurry back home. I need to get away from her quickly. I have to take Cassandra with me, but if I carry her, Bathory will get suspicious, right?

“‘Me.’ Can you carry her for me?”

“Sigh. Fine. You’re in a tough spot, so I’ll help.”

As expected of me! Since we think the same way, she completely understands the situation and moves exactly how I want.

“Then, Bathory. Take care.”

“Autumn. Are you sure you don’t need me to escort you?”

If she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠escorts us, she’ll find out where we live. That’s not happening.

“It’s fine. This isn’t the dangerous era it used to be. Nothing will happen. Well then. I’ll definitely contact you!”

“Okay. Autumn. I’ll be waiting.”

After receiving Bathory’s contact information, we parted ways with her and headed home.

I shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t know the truth.

__________

“Human. Put down that wolf bitch and step back. I’ll spare your life.”

Who the hell are these guys now~. I haven’t even been in this world for twenty-four hours!

“Huh? A human, yet this handsome? No. I, Karen, shall grant you the opportunity to become my husband, male human.”

Save me, Bathory.