The Progenitor Awakens
Nahen and Secily approached the castle of the bloodline. Unlike his previous visit, the guards greeted him with warm hospitality.
"Lord Nahen! I shall inform the Lord at once. Please, come inside and wait."
"Is that all right?"
"Of course. You are a steadfast ally to our race, after all."
It seemed Seere had managed the bloodline well even in his absence. The fact that they welcomed him so warmly after eight years spoke volumes.
'I didn't expect them to be this friendly.'
In truth, Seere had done little. It was simply the result of Nahen single-handedly defeating three Lords. To the bloodline, Lords were akin to kings—second only to the Progenitor. A man who had slain three of them bare-handed had already become an object of reverence.
"O great one...!"
Nilbana, the Lord of the bloodline, rushed out and bowed deeply before Nahen.
"I am relieved to see you have been well...!"
"Indeed."
"What brings you here, if I may ask?"
"I've come to see the Progenitor."
"The Progenitor?"
"I brought Moonblood."
Nahen produced a cloth bundle from his robes.
"Thirteen pieces."
"...!!"
"She won't awaken in perfect condition, but she should manage daily life at least."
"A... aaah!"
Nilbana dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Thank you, great one! The Progenitor herself will surely rejoice at your mercy!!"
The Progenitor's revival was the deepest wish of every vampire. As one of her descendants, Nilbana expressed his gratitude accordingly.
"Save your thanks. She hasn't fully regained her power yet."
"Yes, I understand. Let us proceed to the sanctuary at once."
Nilbana then glanced at Secily beside Nahen.
"Will you be bringing this one as well, great one?"
"She's my attendant. Is there a reason I shouldn't?"
"N-no, of course not. My apologies."
Nilbana's concern stemmed from the sanctuary's restricted access—normally permitted only to Lords. Secily's status would ordinarily bar her entry, but if Nahen insisted, no one could stop him.
"It's been a while since I last came here."
In the vast cavern-like chamber stood a single coffin, surrounded by strange flowers that never withered. Not a single white bloom could be seen among them.
'She isn't dead.'
The Progenitor was merely in a long slumber, not deceased. It was a testament to how desperately the bloodline yearned for her return.
Nahen turned to Nilbana.
"Has she woken at all since then?"
"No. She has remained asleep."
One Moonblood had only allowed her a brief awakening that day.
"Still, this is fortunate, isn't it?"
"Pardon?"
"You'll be seeing her awake far more often from now on."
"...Indeed, great one. Your words are most wise."
Nahen gestured for Nilbana to open the coffin. The Lord complied without hesitation. Secily, watching from the side, gasped in surprise. Nahen remained unfazed—he knew exactly why.
'Still the same.'
The bloodline's Progenitor was said to possess eternal beauty, and even after eight years, she remained an unchanging work of art. Though her lips and skin had grown paler from years of slumber, her beauty had not faded.
"I'll begin."
"...Yes."
As Nilbana stepped back, Nahen took out one Moonblood and crushed it, letting the blood drip slowly onto her lips. Color returned to her pale skin, and her chest began to rise and fall. Her breathing grew steady, and in that moment—
"......"
Her eyelids fluttered open. Like a flower greeting sunlight for the first time, the crimson eyes beneath them shone with radiant beauty.
"Wow..."
Secily breathed in awe. Even for her, this was the first time she had seen anyone rival Seere in beauty.
The awakened Progenitor slowly raised her head. Unlike their previous meeting, she recognized Nahen immediately and spoke.
"You've come to see this maiden again, Lord Nahen."
"I made a promise, didn't I?"
Ersha Scarlet, the Progenitor of the bloodline, had opened her eyes. Having drunk the Moonblood and awakened from her slumber, she smiled lightly with evident delight.
"Hehe, you did promise this maiden. Thanks to you... we should be able to talk a little longer this time."
"Not quite."
"Not quite?"
Ersha tilted her head.
"Are you very busy, perhaps?"
"That's not it."
"This maiden is afraid she doesn't quite understand your meaning, Lord Nahen."
Nahen chuckled.
"I came so we could keep talking from now on."
"What?"
"These are what my excellent and diligent disciple gathered while you slept."
Nahen handed her the cloth bundle. Ersha accepted it and gently unfolded it.
"Ah...!"
"With this much, you should recover enough for daily life, shouldn't you?"
Ersha blinked at the remaining twelve Moonbloods. It was an unbelievable amount.
"Have I... perhaps slept for decades? Over fifty years?"
"Eight years."
"Eight years..."
Gathering this many Moonbloods in just eight years was astonishing. Nahen spoke to the stunned Ersha.
"I could have gotten one more, but circumstances prevented it."
He had simply forgotten, but admitting that would be embarrassing, so he made an excuse.
"No, Lord Nahen... even this much is more than this maiden knows how to thank you for."
"You don't need to thank me."
"Pardon?"
"I told you earlier. I'm not the one who gathered them."
"Seir's daughter..."
"Yes. Seere von Devata. My one and only disciple."
At Nahen's words, Ersha smiled softly.
"This maiden should offer her thanks in person."
"You won't need me to crush them for you anymore. Eat and rise. There's much to discuss afterward..."
Nahen added, "I'll be waiting."
It meant he would wait even if it took time for her to regain her strength after consuming the Moonbloods. Ersha bowed her head slightly in gratitude, then turned to Nilbana.
"Nilbana, please guide Lord Nahen to a suitable room."
"Yes, Progenitor."
"This maiden will follow shortly."
Ersha gazed at the Moonbloods Nahen had brought and smiled beautifully.
"Please wait just a little longer, Lord Nahen."
"All right."
#
Waiting in the reception room, Nahen wore a sullen expression. The reason for his uncharacteristic mood was none other than Secily's behavior. She stood in the corner, speaking to someone through her hand.
At a glance, it looked as though she were talking to the back of her hand. It was likely a spell Seere had placed. Naturally, the person on the other end was Seere herself.
"Secily."
"Yes?"
"...Don't report anything strange to Seere."
Secily cleared her throat before replying.
"I didn't report anything strange. I merely mentioned that the bloodline's Progenitor is incredibly beautiful."
"...Haa, Secily. Don't you realize that the more you do this, the harder it becomes for me?"
"I do."
"Then can't you ease up a little?"
Secily stared at Nahen in silence for a moment.
"Lord Nahen."
"What."
"Let's speak honestly."
"About what?"
"Do you truly have no interest in Her Majesty at all?"
"If you mean romantic interest, then no."
He could answer that firmly. People like Secily—those who had always existed in this world—might think differently. Their moral framework couldn't be judged by human standards. They were demons, after all. So no one found it strange that Seere liked Nahen. It was simply how things were. But Nahen himself was different. Raised in conservative South Korea, he was originally human. He knew full well how morally questionable it was to take as a wife the child he had raised from a young age. Therefore, becoming romantically involved with Seere was something he considered "wrong." Beyond that, having cared for her since childhood, he felt nothing unless she openly provoked his instincts.
"Why not? Her Majesty is honestly... as beautiful as the Progenitor we just met."
"She is. I won't deny it."
"Then why..."
"I've looked after that child since she was young. Do you think I could feel that way about her? I'd rather she find a good match."
At Nahen's stubborn reply, Secily sighed.
"Haa, it must be difficult for Her Majesty as well."
"It's difficult for me too."
"In any case, I have no choice but to support you, Lord Nahen. Unrequited love hurts so much."
"...You speak as if you've experienced it."
"You seem to think of me as terribly young sometimes... Did you really believe someone my age has never gone through that?"
She had a point. Nahen conceded that he had been mistaken.
"Then you should have advised Seere. It's better to give up on unrequited love early."
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"Hm?"
Nahen tilted his head slightly. Seeing no one beside Secily now, he had assumed her unrequited love had ended in failure.
"I succeeded, which is why I'm helping Her Majesty."
"...You succeeded?"
Then why was there no one beside Secily now? Nahen swallowed the question and let out a small sigh.
"Please don't give Seere false hope with that experience."
"Whether it ends in false hope or not—nobody knows yet, Lord Nahen."
"...I have nothing more to say."
Just as Nahen gave up and shook his head, the reception room door opened quietly. A woman who had finished preparing to receive guests stepped inside.
'She looks much better.'
Instead of the thin white garments she had worn in the coffin, she now wore proper attire, making her appear far more beautiful—and truly like the leader of the vampire race. Nilbana, overcome with emotion at seeing the Progenitor walking about normally, covered one eye with his arm. Though it seemed excessive, for the bloodline, a lifelong wish had finally been fulfilled.
"Did I keep you waiting long, Lord Nahen?"
"A little."
"Hehe, how grumpy."
Ersha approached slowly and sat across from Nahen. The fact that she, who had always worn only comfortable sleeping clothes, now dressed formally meant she was returning to daily life.
"So, Lord Nahen, what is the reason you awakened this maiden this time?"
"I've come with a proposal."
"What sort of proposal?"
At Ersha's question, Nahen extended his hand without preamble.
"Lord Nahen?"
"Ersha Scarlet, I want you to assist me."
"This maiden... assist you, Lord Nahen?"
"It's not quite the same as being a substitute, but from now on, I'll guarantee the bloodline's safety."
At Nahen's offer, Ersha's eyes widened. It might not seem like much, but it was a declaration that an Archdemon would protect them.
"...Hehe, truly. You're quite mischievous, Lord Nahen."
"What?"
"You only make offers this maiden cannot refuse. You know full well what choice I would make for my children, yet you still say such things..."
"Isn't that how these things work? You identify what the other party wants and speak accordingly."
"That is true."
Ersha wasn't the sort of kind Progenitor who concerned herself with the life and death of every individual vampire, but she was more sincere than anyone about the survival of her race. An Archdemon's power could ensure the bloodline's continued existence even if something happened to its members. Ersha was not the type to refuse such an option.
"Very well."
Ersha gently took Nahen's hand.
"Though this maiden may be lacking, I shall assist you with all my heart."
"You can't afford to be lacking. I'm expecting quite a lot from you."
"Oh my, how greedy."
The recruitment of the strategist Nahen had long desired had finally come to pass. Satisfied, he smiled.
"I'll be counting on you."
"The pleasure is mine."
#
While Nahen and Ersha discussed various matters, Secily quietly reported the situation through the back of her hand.
"Your Majesty, Lord Nahen has finally taken the Progenitor as his advisor."
[...Understood.]
"But Your Majesty, she seems like a formidable rival. Even while acting indifferent, she's subtly appealing to Lord Nahen, you know?"
[......]
Seere remained silent after hearing Secily's report. After a moment of quiet, she spoke.
[That woman has small breasts, doesn't she.]
"It's hard to call them small, but compared to Your Majesty..."
[Then it's fine.]
"Pardon?"
[Teacher doesn't prefer women with small breasts.]
Seere's voice carried absolute confidence. Secily chuckled at her attitude.
"In that case, we should think of ways to seduce Lord Nahen once we return."
[S-seduce?]
"No matter how superior Your Majesty's physical attributes are, the two of them will be spending a lot of time together... That would be dangerous."
[That... is true.]
Once Seere agreed, Secily pressed her point strongly.
"That's why we need to make a bold move!"