Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Graeber
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Greaber
The special task force's operation to take the Emperor's head had ended in failure.
The Crimson Blood Cult's 1st Unit had lain in wait near the Imperial Palace, then struck swiftly at the moment when defenses were at their weakest.
Everything had gone smoothly up until they easily breached the palace and raced toward the Emperor's location.
At that point, anyone would have bet on the Crimson Blood Cult's victory.
If only 1st Unit Captain Kline Leonhart hadn't spotted his sister Ariel and broken formation.
...
The moment they lost their captain, the 1st Unit's judgment clouded.
Should they follow Kline, or press on to claim the Emperor's head under Vice-Captain Yoru's command?
They'd already stormed deep into the palace. There was no time for lengthy debate.
As everyone exchanged brief glances to decide their course—
Shring—
The trap sprang.
The Imperial Palace had been lying in wait, jaws agape like a tiger eager for its prey to wander in of its own accord.
Hidden within were the Empire's finest elites—the Imperial Knights who had survived countless wars.
Yes, that was the 1st Unit's misfortune.
It would have been better if Ariel had ambushed them while Kline was still with the group.
The Imperial Knights didn't miss the 1st Unit's momentary hesitation without their captain.
...
It was a battle to the death.
The 1st Unit, leaping into the tiger's maw. The Imperial Knights, sworn to protect the Emperor's person.
With no path of retreat, their clash was fierce and brutal.
And at last, the fight ended.
The Imperial Knights were routed. Having lost nearly all their knights, only a handful survived to escort the Emperor from the palace.
But in exchange—the 1st Unit was annihilated.
From the rank-and-file to Vice-Captain Kurotsuki Yoru, all of them.
They lay as cold corpses throughout the palace, the light gone from their eyes.
"...".
And then.
Kline, returning late to confirm the scene, said nothing.
He couldn't pursue Ariel.
There had always been a gap in their skills between the siblings. No way could Kline catch her if she was serious about hiding.
No—at this point, it was more accurate to say Ariel had deliberately let herself be seen. Even Kline realized that now.
There must have been some sort of collusion.
Ariel, who had never been close to humanity before, had for the first time aided the Imperial forces.
That was why Kline had chased after his sister the instant he saw her, as if entranced.
This time, surely.
This time, he could finally sever the bond between them.
But the result was devastation.
He hadn't caught Ariel, and the 1st Unit he'd led was wiped out.
What would the cult leader say upon learning this?
Somehow, Kline doubted she'd blame him.
She was that kind of being.
The Blood Demon doted on Kline in her bizarre way, and from the start, he hadn't thought this operation had high odds of success.
Yoru had said as much.
Doesn't this feel like she's telling us to die?
"...".
Then.
Was the total annihilation of the Crimson Blood Cult's most cherished 1st Unit here...
The Blood Demon's intention?
Squelch— squelch—
Kline walked through pools of blood.
At the end of his path lay the dying vice-captain.
"Ah."
Coughing up blood, Yoru spoke.
"You're here... Captain?"
"...Yes."
Kline did not kneel.
Such human gestures had no place in his life.
He simply stood silently, gazing at his dying vice-captain.
"Haha... Sorry. I tried to hold out while you were gone, Captain. Didn't work out, cough, though."
"Why do something so foolish? The captain's departure wasn't the men's fault. You should have blamed your foolish captain and fled. Then you might not have been wiped out."
"Heh, cough. Captain, you're always so heartless."
Yoru had no hope of survival.
A sword wound piercing her heart leaked her blood.
Thanks to her innate vampire physiology, she still clung to life.
But not for long.
Grip—
His fist clenched hard without him realizing.
Why.
Why did everyone around him have to leave like this?
His mother, bedridden in her sickbed.
The Third Imperial Princess, striving to protect the Empire.
And now... his loyal vice-captain.
Why did it always leave him feeling so powerless?
"Don't make that face, Captain."
Even with her fading vision, she could still see his face clearly.
Yoru looked up at Kline with her dimming red eyes.
"I did it because I wanted to. All to protect you, Captain. If we hadn't held them off, they would've ganged up on you."
"Then it would have ended with my death. Yoru, you didn't need to die in my place."
"Hehe... Sorry. I can't follow that order. Because... I..."
Want you to live, Captain.
That was Yoru's confession.
A heartfelt one, piercing even Kline's parched soul.
"I know, Captain... Living is pain. Life has no meaning. Even so... I want you to live."
"...And you? Haven't you been wandering, unable to find meaning in your own life?"
"Heh, hehehe... Captain really is an idiot. The meaning of my life is right in front of me."
Yoru's breath was fading.
The heartbeat that had clung desperately was weakening.
"So, Captain."
Yoru spoke her final words.
To the one she loved.
The meaning of life she'd finally found.
"Live."
Live.
Even if you lose your life's meaning.
Even if living is nothing but pain.
Live on.
Live beyond your own life, please carry on.
With those words, she breathed her last.
"...".
Kline said nothing.
He merely drew a heavy, stifled breath.
Then knelt, reached out, and gently closed Yoru's eyelids.
Those red eyes she'd sworn to hate her whole life.
The mark of the vampire that had tormented Yoru's existence.
"At the very least."
He wanted to cover them as she entered eternal rest.
Yes, and so Kline Leonhart's tale nears its end.
The finale is not far off.
To put an end to his painful life, Kline seeks Ariel to kill her.
And Ariel, finally resolved to slay her brother, beheads him and ends his life.
That was all. Just that simple story.
The proper fate Kline Leonhart was meant to face.
The Azure Dragon Tournament's semifinals second match was tomorrow.
Aonia suppressed her excitement, looking forward to the next day as she drifted off to sleep.
Aosendo Mountain, where the tournament was held, was likewise deserted—no one was around.
Well, if you had to nitpick.
There was one member of the demon tribe who could hardly be called human.
"Heh heh."
Greaber twisted his lips in delight.
She's coming. She's on her way.
His daughter, inheritor of his blood, was coming.
Ah, he could feel it. She was furious. How angry must she be to come charging so wildly?
Greaber moved his hand, raising the corpses around him.
Preparations were complete.
Today, he'd raise corpses across all of Aonia and summon the "Corpse Heap" to Aosendo.
Aonia would transform into hell itself.
But first—he needed to dote on his dear daughter.
The wind blew.
With it, a girl burst through the trees.
"Hah, hah...!"
Having raced a great distance in one go, Yoru heaved for breath with her entire body.
Her bandaged chest swelled and deflated dramatically.
It wasn't particularly important to Greaber.
With a jovial expression, he eyed Yoru's eye sockets.
The black eyepatch.
Proof that she was his daughter—yet Yoru hid it.
"You've come, my daughter."
"...!"
Grind—
Yoru's teeth clenched fiercely.
Blood seeped from how hard she bit down.
Seeing that, Greaber grinned ear to ear.
This moment was pure bliss for him.
"You... you bastard...!"
Yoru roughly drew her sword.
Killing intent oozed thickly from her.
The blood kin she'd sought her whole life.
The father who ruined her and her mother's lives.
Facing him, Yoru felt her blood boil from head to toe.
"You've got some nerve showing your face. Huh?! You shameless prick who abandoned Mom—abandoned me!"
"Oh? What's this, daughter? Were you hoping your old man would stick around? How unexpected. I never thought you'd still harbor father-daughter affection."
"Shut up!!"
Her hands trembled.
The hand gripping her sword couldn't steady amid her seething rage.
She tried to rein it in rationally, but it was futile.
"Ever since you raped Mom, our lives have been hell! Mom, who gave birth to a monster—and me, born as one! Every day was just longing for death!"
"Ho ho."
"Because of these cursed eyes you left me with, I...! I've hated you, loathed you, raged at you my whole life! I've lived solely to kill you!"
A blue aura cloaked her blade.
An absurd achievement for her age.
Pure aura that no one but Kline could match.
Even seeing it, Greaber said nothing.
He merely curled his lips in utmost amusement.
Mocking his one and only daughter.
"So?"
"...What?"
"So what? Being born was a sin? Life was hell? Heh heh, ahahahaha!"
He laughed.
Laughed with joy beyond measure.
Greaber.
After his fit of mad laughter, he faced Yoru.
"Of course! That's exactly how it had to be!"
"...!"
"Why your life was ruined? Daughter, don't you get it yet? I bore you solely to destroy your life! I raped that stupid wench for the same reason!"
Bam!
Yoru kicked off as if his words weren't worth hearing anymore.
Her sword stroke dripped with murderous intent.
Staring it down head-on, Greaber raised his hand.
Krunch!
Suddenly, the surrounding corpses erupted into action.
Smiling at his daughter walking right into the trap.
"Come on! Foolish daughter. Tonight, I'll shatter you—and Aonia too!"