Chapter 75
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Yoru (3)
Sudden encounter.
At first, I was a little flustered and just stayed still, but Yoru was the one who broke the silence first.
“How have you been? It’s been so long since we last met!”
The same lively demeanor as before.
She was cranking up the energy and chatting so friendly right in front of me—it was definitely Yoru.
But compared to back then, her body had become so much more womanly that I had to hold myself back.
“Ah. Yeah. Long time no see, Yoru.”
“Why do you sound so down? Did you not miss me even a little?”
“No. It’s not that.”
It was hard to straight-up say that she was exposing so much bare skin so defenselessly.
As my eyes darted around with nowhere to land, Yoru giggled like she’d just realized.
“Aha. Kline, you’re surprisingly shy. Who knew you’d react like this to little old me.”
“Isn’t it natural? It’s been four years, and your outfit’s gone completely bold.”
“Hehehe. What do you think? Wanna see more? Curious about what’s under the bandages?”
“No.”
I gently pushed away Yoru as she subtly thrust her upper body forward.
Yoru burst out laughing and quickly pulled back.
“Don’t freak out too much. In Aonia, female swordsmen often wrap their chests with bandages like this.”
“Even so, no need to bare your shoulders and stomach too, right?”
“What’s the big deal? It’s nice and cool.”
“...”
Was that really something you could brush off with “it’s cool”?
I pulled a face and let out a huge sigh.
Yeah, the sudden meeting had thrown me off, but the teasing was over.
Time to get to the point.
“But how did you find me? I never imagined we’d run into each other here with zero warning.”
“Hehehe. No poetic thoughts about fate guiding us together?”
“Nah. I’ve heard way too much fate talk, so it feels kinda meh. But seriously, I’m curious.”
I didn’t suspect Yoru or anything.
Ever since I saw her at the Lion’s Feast, I’d thought of her as a girl with a kind heart.
Plus, when we parted, she’d given me that candy while setting such a lingering mood—it had stuck with me.
She wasn’t tracking me down with any malicious intent.
That’s exactly why I was so curious.
How had she done it?
It was more like I wanted to trust her enough to believe whatever.
“Mm—You really wanna know? How I found you, Kline?”
“Yes.”
“No matter what? Even if I call it a secret?”
“Well, if you put it like that, I guess I’d have to drop it.”
A little unease lingered, but it was fine.
If Yoru really didn’t want to spill, there had to be a reason—I trusted her that much.
Trusting the person, not the situation.
“Hehe. As expected of Kline. I figured you’d say something like that.”
Yoru beamed, like she’d found some comfort in me not prying.
Then she stuck out her finger and poked near my heart.
“What—it’s embarrassing to say myself, but... I can sense where you are.”
“Huh? How?”
“Remember the candy I gave you when we parted last time?”
“Yeah. You went all out setting the mood for it.”
“Ah, it wasn’t like that! Ahem. Anyway, that candy—it has a special magical effect.”
“...You fed me something like that? After creating an atmosphere I couldn’t refuse?”
“I said it wasn’t! It was just... candy mixed with my blood.”
“...???”
Blood?
You mixed blood into the candy?
Was that why it was red?
“Since it has my blood in it, I can sense your location once it’s in your body. Well, only if you’re not too far away. I felt you come to Aonia and rushed right over. Questions answered?”
“Yeah. Now I know you’re way more dangerously unhinged than I thought.”
“Hmph! See? That’s why I didn’t wanna tell you. Knew you’d say something like that.”
“Why not just not give it to me in the first place?”
“Heh-hehm.”
Yoru looked sheepish and averted her eyes.
She scratched the side of her head, seeming a bit deflated.
Hmm.
Honestly, I should’ve been the flustered one here.
But seeing her fidget like that softened my resolve for no good reason.
She’s pretty, after all. Chest bandages and everything. Gotta cut her some slack.
“Fine. I’ll let it slide.”
“Waaah, really? As expected of Kline! I knew I could count on you.”
“...”
It was infuriating how she bounced right back to her cute antics.
Maybe I should just turn her in.
And just like that, I learned the secret of the candy.
As we caught up on lost time, the hours slipped away fast.
“I see. You came here to train under the Sword Empress?”
“Yeah. I’m kinda walking my own path, you could say.”
“Hehe. Impressive.”
Yoru tilted her head as she sat beside me.
Even with the eyepatch covering her eyes, she didn’t seem blind at all.
Felt like she could see just fine.
“The Kline I saw at eleven was still pretty ordinary—like he hadn’t even scratched the surface of swordsmanship yet... When did you grow so much? A magic swordsman, and not even aura-based.”
“Just got lucky.”
“Hmm. I don’t buy that. You had plenty of both. Talent and effort. I know it.”
“...”
Getting straight-up praise from someone else felt kinda embarrassing.
Of course, like Yoru said, I had put in way more effort than most kids my age.
Combined with my world No. 2 talent, it got me this far.
“And—you’ve gotten so tall.”
Swish—
Yoru reached out and ruffled my hair.
What was this? This skinship was narrowing the distance way too boldly.
“Back then, you were about my height. When did you shoot up so much that I have to look up at you?”
“Boys grow like that. Meanwhile, I’m still reeling from your shocking makeover.”
“Hehehe. You’re still bringing it up, huh? Guess my fashion made a real impact.”
Fashion?
So engrossed in talking, I hadn’t noticed the sun dipping low.
Sunset came quick in the mountains. If I didn’t hurry back, I’d be stuck in the wild hills alone.
“I’m heading back now. What about you, Yoru? Got somewhere to go?”
“Huh? Ah—trying to lure me back to the Sword Empress with you?”
“Not sure if Master will take you as a disciple. But no harm in tagging along. Must get lonely wandering solo.”
“Hmm. Appreciate the invite, but...”
Yoru shook her head.
She hopped to her feet and turned the opposite way.
“I’ll pass. Don’t really wanna meet the Sword Empress.”
“Why?”
“She’s deep into souls, right? That’s why.”
“...?”
What did that have to do with anything?
I tilted my head, but Yoru clearly wasn’t explaining further.
She waved casually as she left.
“See ya! I’ll be hanging around here a lot, so let’s meet again!”
“Without warning next time too?”
“Duh! It’s more fun to pounce outta nowhere!”
Don’t say stuff that’ll get misunderstood.
I parted ways with Yoru and headed to the Sword Empress’s residence.
Sudden reunion. Sudden truth.
Never dreamed she’d slip me candy laced with her own blood—kinda threw me.
But something else kept nagging at me more.
Yoru’s wearing an eyepatch.
I’d wondered if she was blind, but she’d never once acted like someone who couldn’t see.
And above all—Yoru’s presence felt subtly off.
I knew because I’d met Bloodied before. Humans and vampires had different auras.
Back at the Lion’s Feast, I’d pegged Yoru as human, so I hadn’t noticed.
A difference so subtle you’d miss it without focusing.
But for some reason, I had a gut feeling Yoru wasn’t human.
Pondering how to even process that, I made my way back to the Sword Empress’s place.
“...The meat?”
“Ah.”
The little drama of the Sword Empress chewing me out for falling short of expectations and Ariel looking disappointed was no big deal.
In a corner of Aonia untouched by human feet.
A man who’d set up camp there, biding his time, moved his hand.
A mirror of blood bloomed before his eyes.
The spell Bloodied had cast during the Third Imperial Princess terror incident.
“Cult Leader. You there?”
No. 4 Division Leader—“Graver”—spoke up.
He was reaching out to the ruler of the Crimson Blood Cult he served.
An Elder Vampire, linked to the Blood Demon.
[...What is it.]
A reply in a tone both languid and bored.
Graver snorted and cut straight to it.
“My plan’s on the verge of kicking off. Corpses across Aonia are primed to rise. The summon conditions for ‘Corpse Pile’ were met ages ago.”
[Well done. All that wandering Aonia paid off.]
Graver didn’t buy the Cult Leader’s words.
Sure, he said that—but the Blood Demon saw every living thing as beneath him.
Graver’s accomplishments were probably just amusing tricks to him.
“Save the praise. We’re launching the op soon—but I’ve got a question first.”
[What?]
“Why not appoint more Division Leaders? Of the original two—me and Bloodied—the latter’s already toast. We need replacements, pronto.”
[Hmm.]
The Blood Demon didn’t sound thrilled.
Graver couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Why?
The Blood Demon talked big about toppling the world but wouldn’t make more kin.
[The time isn’t right. The kin destined for No. 1, 2, and 3 Divisions haven’t shown up yet. They’ll become mine when the moment comes.]
“That inner world and fate nonsense again?”
[How can you deny it? Even the power I gave you is part of it. Got a problem?]
“No. Tch. Whatever.”
Graver shook his head.
The Blood Demon never took advice.
He’d ignore pleas to create kin for the leader spots and just go with the flow.
Leaving Graver—who’d become a Division Leader before the cult even debuted—as the frustrated one.
[By the way. Any word on that kid?]
“Pardon?”
[Kline Leonhart. The boy. When I checked his altered fate, it pointed to Aonia. You didn’t spot him?]
“Er. Wasn’t keeping tabs, so no clue.”
[....]
The aura wafting from the blood mirror thickened.
Graver bowed his head at once and apologized.
“My apologies. I’ll track him down quick and report back. Just give me a little time.”
[Fine. Don’t keep me waiting overlong.]
As the Cult Leader moved to end the link.
Graver piped up like it’d just hit him.
“One thing, Cult Leader.”
[What?]
“What’s the deal with this Kline punk? Why’re you so dead set on finding him?”
[....]
The Blood Demon didn’t answer right away.
Pondering, like.
Hunting for the right words in his head.
[No real reason. He just... reminds me of my little brother. That’s all.]
With that cryptic mutter Graver couldn’t parse, the blood mirror faded away.