Not Some Sleazy Middle-Aged Man?
“Not some sleazy middle-aged man?”
“No, it wasn't. It was a young mage.”
Was there a young mage in this territory that I didn't know about? If there was a weird one among them, Wider came to mind first. But he looked perfectly normal on the outside?
“Any distinguishing features?”
Eltis eagerly described his appearance. But it didn't sound like Wider. Fortunately, the features were distinct enough that I could tell who Eltis was talking about.
“He's one of the administrators named Vernant Hakor. He's unusually burly for a mage, but he's a solid guy.”
Vernant was one of the talents Wider had recruited. He was a bit odd, sure. Nearly two meters tall with exceptional physical prowess, yet he was a mage, not a knight. But his real talent lay in administration rather than magic.
“No, that's not what I meant. Do you know about the ancient bloodlines by any chance?”
“Yes, I'm quite familiar with them.”
With the knowledge Drakan had passed down to me, who could know more?
“There are ancient races like elves, dwarves, or vampires, but humans had ancient bloodlines too. Or rather, they used to. All pure ancient humans are gone now. Anyway, even ordinary humans sometimes inherit thick ancient blood. It can even skip generations and manifest strongly. Since it's blood-related, only vampires can sense it.”
This was new information to me. So Vernant was a human whose ancient blood had manifested strongly?
“What difference does thick ancient blood make?”
“Well, it's a bit crude to put it this way, but it tastes absolutely delicious. Oh, of course, I have no intention of sucking blood anymore.”
Tasting good in blood? That was even more useless than I'd imagined.
“Anything else?”
“The ancient bloodline itself is incredibly rare. Even after I awoke, this was the first one I'd seen, and it was exceedingly rare a thousand years ago too. It's only the third I've encountered in my lifetime. According to vampire lore, those with ancient bloodlines occasionally unleash powers beyond imagination.”
Not a constant manifestation, but sporadic bursts? That sounded pretty vague. Gathering people with ancient bloodlines might yield something interesting, but since I wasn't a vampire, I couldn't detect them even if they were right in front of me.
“Are there other rare bloodlines?”
“Yes, a few. There used to be the cursed blood and the holy blood.”
Another first for me. The ancient races really did have their own secrets.
“Unfortunately, both vanished long ago. Unlike ancient blood, they didn't seem to reappear across generations.”
“What were their abilities?”
“Cursed blood brings misfortune to those around them—everyone except themselves. Holy blood, conversely, draws all misfortune onto the bearer. That's probably why both lines died out. My grandfather said they both tasted exquisite, though.”
Why did he keep bringing up the taste? Either way, whether it cursed your surroundings or yourself, survival seemed tough.
Learning about a hidden ability in one of my subordinates and gaining new knowledge was a good outcome. I even considered reassigning Vernant. Stuck in administration forever, he'd probably never get to unleash one of those 'beyond imagination' powers.
Just then, Bastet slipped in through the window and settled into her usual spot on the sill, grooming herself. She sometimes acted like a real cat with that grooming—though what was the point when her fur wasn't even real?
As Eltis watched Bastet, a faint red glow flickered in his eyes before returning to normal.
“Do you sense it?”
“No, not really. She's no ordinary cat. I can't detect any blood.”
He'd sensed her divinity—or rather, the lack of blood.
“She's the strongest being in Akasha Territory. And remember: in the Akasha Viscounty, abusing cats is punishable by death.”
“Quite the peculiar law. Other animals are fair game?”
“Yes, but this one must be obeyed.”
It might just be the most important law in our territory.
Eltis shared a few more stories before leaving. The next day, I sent an official to formalize identities for Eltis and the girl he protected, Violette, and introduced them to a tavern I'd prepared near the Akasha mansion. Eltis registered Violette as his daughter.
He'd said he'd only look after her until she became independent, but would any son-in-law ever meet the standards of a pureblood vampire craftsman? They might end up living together longer than expected.
With Eltis's matter settled, I headed to a region in the Neos Kingdom, where nearly the entire country had become a warzone. I'd come here to rescue one person. She wasn't exceptionally talented enough to warrant an avatar, but...
This was the castle of a count's family embroiled in a territorial skirmish. Unlike the kingdom-wide power struggles elsewhere, this war had erupted over something utterly petty.
“Hello.”
As always, people were shocked when I appeared out of nowhere. I cast a sleep spell on the young maid beside her before she could scream.
“Did you kill her?”
But she remained calm and asked without flinching.
“Just put her to sleep.”
“Good. She's a good kid. She'll do as she's told, so please don't hurt her. Who are you from?”
“I'm Germain Akasha, Viscount. Should I call you Lily White?”
She showed no reaction to my name, as if she'd never heard of me.
“Just Lily is fine. So, Viscount Akasha, you've come all this way yourself—which means Count White is dead?”
“No, he's still fighting hard.”
“I see. You've come to take me away too, then?”
“Well, yes, actually.”
A shadow fell over her face.
“But I swear, my reasons are different from the others.”
“How so?”
“I'm not after your beauty.”
She was stunningly beautiful—probably one of the top human beauties on the continent. At 21, her allure was at its peak. But that wasn't why I'd come for her, of course. I saw elves nearly every day through my avatars. I'd grown numb to beauties.
Count White was Lily's fifth husband. Each time her husband changed, many died—including the previous ones. This territorial war had even broken out when the neighboring lord invaded to claim her.
Her soul didn't show outstanding talent. She was just a woman who'd lucked out with her shells. But she had an inexplicable demonic charm.
“Plenty have said that before.”
“I'm taking you to save the people dying every time your husband changes.”
Lily looked up for the first time, meeting my eyes directly. Her jewel-like blue eyes induced a hazy daze, but I snapped out of it quickly. It was different from watching via avatar. Meeting her in person confirmed she had powers beyond the visible.
“That's a first.”
“What is?”
“Someone recovering from my gaze that fast.”
“So, will you come with me?”
I'm no kidnapper or slaver. If she refused, I'd leave her be.
“Am I to be Viscount Akasha's wife?”
“No.”
“A concubine, then?”
“No. I told you, I don't want your body.”
In truth, I hadn't planned to assign her any tasks. I just wanted to stop the deaths caused by her ability and help her tragic life. But seeing her up close, her power was truly dangerous. Anyone else would have fallen for her completely.
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Hm, how about starting as a maid?”
Keeping this dangerous woman nearby would be safest for her and everyone else.
“You'll do the work yourself?”
“Nothing too strenuous, but the basics, yes.”
“In that case, sure.”
She was the first to look happy at the prospect of work.
“I'll give you some time to pack anything important. Magic will handle the transport, so volume isn't an issue.”
“I don't have anything. Wait—can I bring this girl too?”
Lily pointed to the sleeping young maid. If Lily vanished alone, the count would surely kill the girl.
“Of course.”
I hoisted the young maid over my shoulder, took Lily's hand, and teleported. We arrived in my office, and Lily's eyes widened in astonishment.
“Where is this?”
“Akasha Viscounty, roughly in the northwest middle of the Ether Empire.”
She seemed unaware of the distance from her previous location.
“But really, you don't know me? Some call me the Second Saint.”
“I don't follow outside news. No one tells me anything.”
I summoned servants to take the young maid and prepare a room for Lily. The maid who entered stared wide-eyed at Lily and me alternately as she left, giving me a bad feeling.
I brewed tea myself and handed Lily a cup before taking one. She watched in fascination as I heated the kettle with magic.
“Not sure if it'll suit you. It's mountain berry tea, a specialty of Akasha Territory.”
It was a local product, but I enjoyed it often too.
Lily sipped cautiously, then beamed.
“It's delicious.”
That was dangerous again for a split second. Should I have her wear a veil?
Suddenly, a black shadow pounced on Lily as she sipped her tea. Bastet leaped onto her lap with a meow, giving me a somehow sleazy look.
[This time you hunted a female, huh?]
Hey, Bastet, that's not it.
“Oh, what a cute kitty!”
Lily stroked Bastet happily. Bastet seemed to like her too, curling up on her lap and closing her eyes.
And then it happened, right on cue. I'd known since the maid left that this was coming. No point stopping it.
The sound of wind slicing outside reached my ears—my heightened realm made footsteps quieter now. The door burst open, and men poured in.
“My lord!”
Jayke gazed at me with deep emotion. Argin looked soul-lost, while Howard nodded contentedly from the back.
“I assure you, it's not like that. This is Lily. She'll be my personal maid for a while.”
Lily rose gracefully and curtsied, and their eyes glazed over instantly. It wasn't just her beauty. Argin, in particular, staggered toward her in a total daze.
Experienced as she was, Lily backed away with a frightened look toward me. Some things never get easier, no matter how often they happen.
As I moved to stop Argin, a black shadow beat me to it.
Nyaong!
Bastet leaped, her paw smacking Argin's forehead. His head snapped back, and he crashed into the wall. Everyone snapped out of it.
Howard glanced at Argin and shook his head.
Did I kill him?
“Nah, he's fine.”
Then why shake your head?
Argin and Jayke knelt, now compos mentis.
“Unforgivable behavior from us.”
“I-it's, okay.”
Lily stuttered, startled—probably by Argin, not Bastet, since she was already stroking the cat back on her lap.
“I'm not okay. You're both banned from the office for now. No—all men are.”
“Understood.”
They replied, but Argin's parting glance lingered in my mind. Low resistance to women? He seemed thoroughly ensnared.
That night, a thought struck me, so I summoned Eltis. He entered formally this time, not through the window. Spotting Lily stroking Bastet on the sofa, he grinned, fangs glinting sharply.