Chapter 44
Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Mania (2)
“Young Master, please retreat even now.”
A tense voice came from behind me as I swallowed dryly, staring up at Mother, who gazed down with a chilling smile.
“The family head's ‘bloodlust urge’ cannot be overcome with mere mental fortitude.”
Bloodlust urge, huh. It certainly sounded terrifying. And seeing that it matched exactly what I'd predicted, I was starting to get a firmer grasp on the Belverk family's true nature.
“This bloodlust urge, the root of the mania, has never been conquered—not by any previous family head, not even the founder.”
“……”
“Even for Duchess Astridje, leaving things like this could lead to fatal consequences for you, Young Master.”
But the real problem was, as Schwarz said, that Mother's bloodlust urge had fixated entirely on me.
And from what I'd heard, the family head's bloodlust urge was an absolute phenomenon that couldn't be overcome by willpower or maternal love alone.
“…Step back.”
“Young Master! This is no time to be stubborn!”
“I'm not being stubborn.”
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to turn my back on Mother and retreat toward the maids.
Recommended solution derived!
It helped that the system's solution had just popped up right in front of me.
“Young Master….”
“Run….”
“…Cough.”
I could too clearly picture what would become of the pitifully sprawled maids and First Knight Order members in the garden if I retreated now.
“I think I can resolve this.”
“But….”
“This isn't baseless stubbornness. This time….”
Of course, even I wasn't fearless in this situation.
May trigger a massive backlash accompanied by total loss of reason control.
This was the first time the system had issued such a stark, crimson-highlighted warning.
“…So, I'm counting on you for the aftermath.”
Which was exactly why I couldn't run away.
Was it because I'd grown attached to these people after months together?
Or maybe the Belverk blood flowing unknowingly through me until now was finally awakening.
“Is the chit-chat over?”
As I steadied my trembling legs and glared at Mother, she tilted her head curiously and finally spoke.
“Then, if you'll excuse me.”
“Eek.”
With that, Mother grabbed the back of my neck, hoisted me up, and began striding forward amid swirling black smoke.
“It's mealtime, after all.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the black smoke cleared, revealing a terribly familiar sight before my eyes.
“……”
The family head's office—filled with the most memories of Mother—greeted me, splattered in blood everywhere.
“Haa.”
“……”
“The interloper is finally gone.”
As I took in the devastated office with a tense expression, sweating coldly, Mother—still gripping my nape—walked up to the desk and shot me a chilling smile.
“…Well then.”
She set me down on the desk, then leaned in close, her eyes blazing red.
- Crunch….
The next instant, Mother's sharp fangs sank into the space between my neck and shoulder.
“Agh.”
I was used to most pains by now, but the sensation of Mother's merciless fangs piercing deep into my most vulnerable spot was utterly gruesome.
“Shh.”
“…Mm.”
“Don't interrupt dinner.”
As my body shuddered and I let out a groan, Mother's index finger suddenly pressed against my lips.
“So, stay still.”
“…!”
“Show some respect to your predator.”
Before I could react, she seized my arms, pinned me down, and half-straddled me atop the desk, whispering those words with a manic smile.
‘Not yet. It's too soon.’
I desperately wanted to execute my plan right then, but against the supreme Mother, any slip-up would doom it utterly.
“By the way, your blood is quite sweet.”
As I endured the pain and bided my time silently, Mother licked the blood from her lips and murmured with feverish eyes.
“Yes, just like…”
Suddenly, as if struck by a memory, her eyes shook violently just like before.
“…Gasp.”
She exhaled sharply, her hands trembling, her face paling instantly as she began screaming.
“Aaaargh!”
Catching me off guard in the sudden shift, I forgot my plan momentarily and stared blankly. Then, hoping against hope, I spoke in the most harmless voice I could muster.
“Mother?”
Her scream cut off, and she slowly lowered her gaze to me.
“…Kairen.”
Her voice emerged in her normal tone.
- Grind….
But soon her eyes reddened again, and she clenched her fists, bowing her head as she ground her teeth with a sound that echoed through the room.
“…Are you listening?”
How much time passed? She stopped grinding her teeth, lifted her head slowly, and her eyes were utterly exhausted.
“Yes, Mother….”
“If you are, leave this room right now.”
Could she really be suppressing the bloodlust urge with maternal love alone?
But Schwarz had said even previous heads, including the founder, couldn't manage it….
“Listen well, Kairen.”
“……”
“Time is short. I'm almost at my limit.”
I see. To protect just me, Mother was forcing the impossible into possibility.
Realizing that, my eyes inexplicably stung red. I'd thought I'd grown numb to this by now.
“The me now is not the one you know. I'm nothing but a hideous monster.”
“……”
“Look. I've left such a gruesome wound on the neck of the child I've longed for.”
As I gritted my teeth quietly, Mother—pale-faced—examined the bite mark on my neck and reached out a trembling hand to stroke it.
“Ah….”
But that made her eyes, now stained with my blood on her hand, redden once more.
- Slurp….
She withdrew her hand and delicately licked the blood from her fingertip, then murmured with an agitated expression.
“…Sweet.”
But as her feverish gaze turned back to me, she broke into a cold sweat and shook her head violently.
“N-No.”
“……”
“Kairen, I…”
After a moment's hesitation, I assumed it was her limit and slowly extended my hand toward her heart.
- Crunch…!
But before my hand could reach, a sudden piercing sound rang out.
“Haa, haa…”
Cold blood splattered on my face as I stared blankly. Only seconds later did I comprehend what had happened.
“…I am your mother.”
Mother, drenched in sweat and head bowed, clutched a spear from a nearby statue that had pierced straight through her hand.
“Your eternal ally, who will stand by your side no matter what.”
“……”
“That is my role.”
Just before losing reason and reaching for me again, she'd used telekinesis to impale her own hand with the spear.
“So, before I become that hideous monster, flee this office now.”
“……”
“…The Royal Guard and your maids will protect you. Just hold out until this mania passes.”
Despite the horrific pain, she met my eyes again and offered a faint smile with her plea.
“You can do it, right? My son….”
As she smiled with her eyes and aimed a spear from another statue at her leg with her free hand—
“I'm sorry, Mother.”
“Kairen?”
“But Kairen is still only ten.”
Realizing the perfect opening had come with no time to waste, I thrust my hand forward and placed it on her heart.
“Sometimes even a boy my age rebels against his mother.”
With my own eyes now crimson, there was only one thing left to do.
- Crackle…!
The moment I activated my Crimson Eyes Unique Ability, a massive flash enveloped us both.
A red energy burst from Mother's heart, spreading outward and dyeing the wrecked office crimson.
“Kairen, what are you—?!”
Feeling something, she questioned me urgently, but I just gave her a bright smile in response.
“That day we reunited, I told you.”
“…!”
“I don't like seeing people get hurt.”
I'd be ten next month. As a proper boy, I had no intention of breaking my word.
“Not just others around me getting hurt—I don't want you getting hurt either, Mother.”
“…Kairen!”
“So from now on, we'll share the pain together.”
True to my resolve, as I looked around, the red energy filling the room surged toward me, just as the system's solution predicted.
“…After all, this child is his eternal mother's ally, right?”
Confirming the plan's success, I finished what I'd wanted to say and smiled softly at Mother, who was reaching for me.
- Crackle….
Another red flash filled the room, and my consciousness cut off right there.
“Kairen!!!”
How much time had passed?
“Haa, haa…”
Astridje shot to her feet, frantically calling Kairen's name, then whipped her head around, breathing raggedly.
“…Ugh, my head.”
Suddenly gripped by excruciating headache, she half-closed her eyes and bowed her head.
“What in the world…”
As she grimaced and recalled recent events, her face drained of color.
“Ah, ahh…”
Only then did she notice the bloodstains covering her hands and the metallic stench filling the empty office.
“No.”
Staring pale-faced for a long while, Astridje bolted up and charged toward the door.
- Bang…!
But before she could take a step, retainers and maids crowding the hallway blocked her path.
“Duchess.”
“You're awake.”
“Haa…”
She stared blankly at their complex or subdued expressions, then asked in a trembling voice.
“…Where is Kairen?”
Unlike her usual steady, chilling demeanor, her voice grew smaller and smaller.
“If anything happened to that child…”
“……”
“I…”
As terror-filled Astridje forced herself to move—
“Enough, look behind you.”
“…What?”
Lilien, covered in dirt and brushing roots from her body, pointed behind Astridje.
“…Kairen?”
Astridje turned dazedly, and her face lit up.
“……”
He looked mostly fine, though there was some blood on his clothes up top, standing right behind her.
“You're safe, Kairen!”
“……”
“Thank goodness. Really, thank…”
She gave him a secretly emotional look and staggered toward him—
“Heh heh…”
Then she froze, eyes widening.
“Now that all my kin are gathered, I'll say it.”
Something was off about Kairen as he slowly stepped forward before her eyes.
“This might be the last thing you hear, so listen well.”
Setting aside his sudden use of informal speech—which he never used—that impish little devil smile was what?
And why were Kairen's eyes, usually dimmed red, now blazing so fiercely?
“From now on, I'll devour you all…”
As Astridje stood stunned with questions, Kairen approached right before her with a dark smile unlike his usual self.
“…whole!”
His eyes sharpened fiercely as he spread his arms wide, roaring with the most savage expression.
“Rawr!”
At that majestic yet ferocious cry, everyone present averted their eyes and trembled uncontrollably.
“S-Scawy!”
“P-Pfft.”
“W-We're all gon… Kh.”
The little heir of Belverk had just seized his mother's savage, terrifying mania—it had only just begun, so they had no choice.