Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Blood Heavenly Demon Emperor
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I'd been about to head over right away, but that thought didn't last long.
It was already late at night, and it had been a while since my daughters wanted to sleep together with me.
So, visiting the special facility where Lin was staying got pushed back to tomorrow morning.
The next day.
Early morning, just as the sun was rising.
"My lord, did you cough?"
"Ah, you're here, Karin? Since you're here, let's eat and head out."
"Then, without standing on ceremony..."
I finished a simple meal with Karin and left the house.
After walking for about fifteen minutes following her, we arrived at what was called Lin's special facility—her house.
But here's the thing.
"This isn't a house so much as a martial arts sect straight out of a wuxia novel, isn't it?"
Looking closely, there was a training ground in the courtyard, and a building full of weapons. It had that exact vibe from wuxia webtoons.
As I looked around in wonder, Karin spoke up.
"The Benefactor customized each place to their tastes. Lin's always been into wuxia novels, so it turned out like this."
"Come to think of it, your place was a ryokan, right?"
"I mentioned I liked hot springs, so he built it that way. As a ryokan, there are all sorts of hot spring varieties. You should visit with the young ladies sometime."
"Really? Then... how about tonight?"
"That's possible. I'll prepare, so feel free to come anytime."
Anyway.
We chatted as we entered Lin's house.
True to the mad scientist's style, there was no doorbell, and the front gate was wide open. But as expected of a special facility built for Lin, once we stepped inside, a heavy iron gate slammed shut behind us, blocking any further entry.
"This iron gate can only be opened from the outside. Lin is sleeping somewhere inside."
"Only from the outside? Is that really necessary?"
"I'm not sure about the exact reason, but Lin insisted on it strongly, so the Benefactor accommodated her."
"Hmm... I see."
She'd be helpless while asleep anyway.
Why go through the trouble of making it open only from the outside?
'Lavris' suspects that Lin locked herself in there on purpose. In the worst case, her body might have been taken over, so she recommends the master enter while cloaked in fighting spirit.
...It looked like I'd have to assume the worst-case scenario, just as Lavris said.
"Karin. Have you visited Lin recently?"
"I come up to the door once a day."
"Have you gone inside?"
"When I do, I bring the Benefactor just in case... The most recent time was about two months ago."
"Then it's best if I open the door. No, wait—you might get caught up in something, so step way back."
"My lord?"
"I'll explain later. Just follow my lead for now. You'll see more of this kind of thing, so get used to it."
"...Understood."
I had Karin retreat as far as possible to keep her safe from whatever might happen.
Following Lavris's advice, I cloaked myself in fighting spirit and prepared for anything.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Orc Lord's Fighting Spirit (S-)
'Lavris' advises focusing the fighting spirit solely on defense, channeling it all into physical reinforcement.
'Lavris' suggests visualizing the fighting spirit permeating your blood, muscle fibers, and even down to individual cells.
"...I think I get the gist."
It was a bit crude, but.
Following Lavris's advice, I saturated my body with fighting spirit as much as possible without it exploding, teetering on that precarious edge.
Fighting Spirit proficiency has slightly increased.
"...Feels like I'm wearing a dozen layers of thick clothes."
My muscles had swelled from the excess fighting spirit, making my movements a tad sluggish, but my defense had shot way up in exchange.
I'd fine-tune the balance later. For now, I pushed open the iron gate and stepped inside.
Rumble...!!!
The gate opened with a heavy groan.
Inside...
"You've finally arrived. The living sacrifice for the resurrection of this Blood Heavenly Demon Emperor."
...A girl with blood-red hair smiled wickedly at me.
She slowly approached and continued.
"What a sweet scent you have, little brat. A shame to waste such fine blood as mere sacrifice.
Hmm... I hadn't planned on this, but I can't ignore blood this precious.
I'll make you my follower. Bow your head and kiss my feet, swearing your loyalty right now."
She went on about me having supreme blood, too good for a sacrifice, demanding I swear loyalty and kiss her feet...
Wait, is this...?
'Did some vampire-like thing possess her?'
'Lavris' nods and says it looks like her body was taken by a progenitor vampire—one that transcends ranks among vampires, a true 'Progenitor.'
Looked like I'd guessed right.
Lavris confirmed it... Huh?
'How did you know what I was thinking to send that message?'
'Lavris' says that mental communion with her master is basic for a holy relic like herself.
'If that's possible, why haven't you used it until now?'
'Lavris' says it only became possible after partially regaining her old form, but she forgot to mention it since there was no need.
Damn it, if there was something like that, you should've told me sooner.
Do you know how awkward it was muttering quietly into the air all this time? And you tell me now?
Anyway.
As I stood there having this pointless back-and-forth with Lavris in my head.
"Why no answer...? Ah, I see. So even this tiny drop of my blood can't overcome my power... Humans truly are frail creatures."
The red-haired woman approached with a pitying look.
She suddenly flung her arms around my neck.
And sank fangs—far too sharp for a human—into the nape of my neck...
Chomp!
"Muh?"
(What?)
...She couldn't.
Chomp chomp chomp!
"Mumuhmum! Mumumumuuum!!"
(Why is it so damn tough?! The skin won't pierce at all!!)
'Is this really that transcendent progenitor or whatever?'
'Lavris' says even she seems pretty inept. She looks very different from the progenitor Lavris knew.
'She doesn't seem like a total bad guy... right?'
'Lavris' nods and speculates that true evil requires brains—this progenitor doesn't seem like the sadistic type who enjoys others' suffering.
The uneasy feeling from my alchemist's intuition earlier didn't quite match this either.
Instead of charging in blindly, talking it out seemed better, so I tried to speak...
"Ehmumuhm-!!!"
(Just one drop—!!!)
Drool...
"How long are you gonna keep at that? It's not even working fast. Stop drooling already."
"Muhm? Imuhmimuhmimuhm?!"
(H-How can you move while facing this body's rank?!)
"What rank with a face like that... More importantly, wipe your mouth and talk properly."
...If this kept up, I'd be drenched head to toe for sure.
First things first, deal with this klutz progenitor slobbering all over my neck.
I set down the klutz progenitor dangling from my neck like a pendant.
"You. What the hell are you?"
"Then what are you?"
"How rude! How dare you speak informally to me! Use proper honorifics at once!"
"Then you use them first. Anyway, why'd you take over Lin's body?"
"Grr...! You think I'll tell you?!"
"Fine, I won't answer either. Answer first, and I'll reciprocate."
"Grrr—! You insolent cur—!!!"
The progenitor glared like she might attack any second.
But soon, she remembered her fangs couldn't pierce my neck.
Realizing fighting wouldn't benefit her, she accepted my proposal to take turns asking questions.
"Me first. Why'd you take Lin's body?"
"I didn't take it! I descended personally to save my one and only follower!"
"One and only follower...? What does that mean?"
"Hah! That's your question done. My turn! Tell me your identity!"
"I'm Benefactor, 23 years old. No girlfriend yet, but I have two daughters—they're super cute. Oh, and I'm an alchemist. That enough?"
"Wha? N-No! That's not what I meant! How did you resist my power?! Tell me how you got that external art on par with Shaolin's Diamond Indestructible Body!"
"Then ask it like that. Anyway, my turn?"
"Grr...! Sneaky human...! Out with it!"
"Explain in detail what you mean by Lin being your one and only follower."
"Urgh... It means exactly that. My cute Lin is the final successor to the Blood Heavenly Demon Emperor's orthodox lineage, the leader of the Blood Cult that serves me."
"Leader of the Blood Cult?"
The Blood Cult I knew was...
The cult from wuxia novels that worships the Blood Demon as a god.
Why was a fictional religion showing up here?
The progenitor's next words explained it.
"Lin's ancestors were followers who fled to this world when the Blood Cult fell long ago.
Though my power wasn't what it once was and I couldn't grant proper strength or blessings.
Her bloodline never forgot me, serving faithfully through generations. I watched over them gratefully.
After centuries, trials of the world appeared here too."
"Trials of the world?"
"Structures called towers in this world. Something similar appeared in my homeland, the Central Plains, but... Ah, seals prevent me from saying more.
Anyway, with the tower's appearance, I could bestow a skill as a blessing. Thus, Lin became the contemporary leader of the Blood Cult, inheritor of my martial arts."
"...I see."
"You really get it?"
"Not all, just some."
How could I, with all this contextless nonsense?
I'd solved one curiosity only to spawn a bigger one. Bitter aftertaste.
'Lavris' says she'll explain once you climb higher in the tower, so don't be too hasty.
'...Got it.'
Anyway, time would sort this out, so I'd let it slide.
To sum up.
The progenitor wasn't here to harm Lin—she was precious, someone to protect.
And for such a being to descend personally to guard her meant...
"My turn to ask. Boy with unusual power. Are you here to harm Lin?"
...Lin's condition might be seriously dangerous right now.
I needed to get the potion to her ASAP.
"The opposite. I was asked to save her and came to deliver a Penalty Relief Potion."
"...Wha? W-What did you say...? Penalty Relief Potion!? Is that real?! Can it truly alleviate that bastard's vicious curse—?!"
"Yeah, that's why I'm here! So get out of the way and let me give her the potion, you useless mosquito bitch!"
"I'm not useless! Nor a mosquito! My power's just a bit weakened... That's why I tried to sip just a little blood from the sacrifice (visitor) to recover...!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it—now move! You klutz progenitor bitch!"
"K-Klutz!? How dare you say such cruel things to me...!!!"
I get that she cares for Lin and all.
But she's in the way—get off so I can give the potion!