Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Vampire is Too Strong
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It was an astonishing movement.
Pure physical prowess that even a mid-level Aura user fully tensed up and on guard couldn't react to.
And the senses to manipulate a shikigami that had perfectly masked its presence from the thief without a word.
From the shadow visible behind the woman, an aura crept up as if it were screaming in frenzy, desperate to kill someone.
"I will ask you to reveal your identity."
"...."
He was an assassin who had clearly surpassed the master realm, yet he couldn't even resist as he was perfectly subdued.
How had I failed to read the true nature of the maid who carried this insane monster inside her?
The answer was visible on the floor to the left of his fallen body.
A small magic tool.
This tiny magic tool had been concealing her mana.
I ground my teeth and looked up at the breathtakingly beautiful woman.
"It seems you have no intention of answering. Well, I had a rough idea anyway. You sent in the vanguard and planned to strike from within with the rear guard, didn't you? That's the method your master taught you."
Assassins who surpassed the master realm generally lacked any attachment to honor. And Yuria, sensing the mana emanating from the shikigami, had long ago realized this man was stronger than most.
"...W-Wait a moment."
But unexpectedly, the wretch made a gesture as if begging for his life.
No, was it fear?
I stared at him with puzzled eyes as he backed away.
"R-Red eyes. Hair... even the hair... Y-You bitch!!!!! To think Britna was raising a m-monster like this-"
The wolf-shaped shadow tore into his throat. He would never speak again.
...
The banquet was proceeding in an even more jovial atmosphere.
With just the right amount of alcohol, pleasant fragrances, and lively chatter among the outwardly beautiful and well-groomed noble men and women.
And after a brief conversation with Rachel, who had slipped away from that crowd, it was none other than the protagonist Dillon who came looking for me.
"Well, if it isn't Ian. It's been a while since I've seen your face."
Tall stature, black hair, golden eyes. Handsome without a single flaw, with a few medals pinned to his shoulders, he flashed a perfunctory smile. It seemed he'd approached to get the upper hand or tease me. In the original story, the protagonist had this kind of personality too. Though he grew a bit depraved later when the heroines were NTR'd in the second half.
"My condition's improved enough lately that I can do things like this occasionally. But Dillon, it's been ages for you at banquets like this too, hasn't it?"
"I couldn't miss this one. You know how much merit there is in building connections, friendships, and familiarity here—leaving a good impression on those high vassals."
"Is that so?"
They were all going to die today anyway, the high-and-mighty ones here?
As I hid that expression and tried to turn my gaze elsewhere, Dillon grabbed my shoulder.
"By the way, Ian, where's your new personal maid? I heard she's even famous among the servants as a genius princess, so I wanted to see her."
"Why are you interested in my Yuria? You know those are all exaggerated rumors."
"No? Like that Skaein baronet who visited the estate recently, or Knight Ventis—they were both interested in your maid Yuria."
"How do you even know that?"
"I heard. They even asked me if I knew anything about that maid. Like the slave trader she was bought from... or that she was from nobility before. I ignored it all, though."
"Then spread the rumor yourself."
"Tell them not to approach Yuria. Say she's dangerous because she's a woman who stays close to me and my plague."
Dillon, holding his wine glass, chuckled and looked down at me with curved eyes.
"Heh, if I do that, it'll just make your already bad reputation even worse, won't it?"
"I don't care. It can't get much worse, and it's better than ruining an innocent girl's life."
"...That sounds weird. Lately, you've been acting really strange."
"Is a mere maid like Yuria that precious to you, that you'd go this far?"
"Yeah. Think that if you want."
"There aren't many people who treat me without fearing my incurable disease."
Having Yuria chase off the flies was getting annoying anyway. Handling it myself wasn't a bad idea.
I could brush off any future issues as they came.
Suddenly, I felt intense heat from the direction I glanced up.
[????? senses peril to your life!!!]
[????? Mitigates it with affinity level.]
[????? Final Boss (Yuria) feels affection towards you!!!!]
[????? Final Boss (Yuria) feels tremendous affection towards you!!!!]
[????? Final Boss (Yuria)'s affinity rises so much it's nearly at love level!!!!!]
[An enormous achievement. Acquired nickname: Max-Level Flirt title.]
My vision froze for a moment.
As the hologram window vanished, I spotted Yuria clinging to a pillar on the third floor nearby, secretly watching me.
It was quite a distance, but with Yuria's hearing, she could hear everything.
She could even read lips, so there was no way she missed what I just said.
I mouthed, Wait there just a moment.
Yuria's figure vanished behind the pillar.
....Somehow, it felt like I'd said something I couldn't take responsibility for. I decided to worry about that later.
Dillon, who had been pursing his lips tightly, spoke first.
He'd come to mock me for fooling around with a maid, but my response elicited a different reaction.
"Heh heh, seeing you stand up to Kane like that suddenly changed my mind. Anyway, it felt off seeing you wandering alone, so I brought along an escort. A Britna noble strolling by himself is a bit... you know?"
Dillon casually spat out words that subtly belittled me.
Of course, I didn't care. Pride or whatever,
my mind was solely focused on protecting Yuria and Rachel.
From what I'd heard, Yuria was famous enough among the servants to be treated like a princess.
Rumor had it a young butler once proposed to her, only for Harzen to block it with his fist? Hilarious story. I wondered what expression Yuria made when turning him down.
"By the way, since when could you handle mana? I heard you wield magic formulas exceptionally well too."
"Just basic level."
"Come on, that's not 'basic' if you subdued Kane that easily. Even I was shocked watching."
"Subdued? That's because you all underestimated me too much. Kane was careless from the start. Plus, with my illness, I can't even properly wield a sword. At best, I can block the dirty tricks nobles send my way."
Hearing that, Dillon gave me a look of surprise, as if he'd misjudged me.
"You've gotten humble. What the hell happened while I wasn't looking?"
"I just grew up a bit. I can't stay a spoiled brat forever."
"Yeah. Honestly, pretending you couldn't even write your name and causing chaos was too much."
"...Was it?"
He continued in a gentle tone.
This wasn't his real personality. He was originally far more vile and ugly. There was a reason for these words now.
'To him, I'm still no rival or enemy.'
Due to my incurable disease, I had an unknown expiration date and couldn't live normally. No talent for the sword either, and even if there was, it wouldn't surpass the protagonist Dillon.
Rumor was he'd shone in the recent beast subjugation too.
So his swelled ego, and even Kane briefly toying with me, was plenty of fodder to boost Dillon's self-esteem.
'But isn't he too relaxed? He nearly got assassinated just now.'
Of course, he wouldn't die. But just in case. If.
As those thoughts crossed my mind,
the moment Dillon set his wine glass on the table, a sharp crash rang out, and the banquet hall's lights went dark.
"...What the hell?"
As expected of the protagonist, Dillon was the first to try grasping the situation. Just like in the original.
Dillon, spreading his mana widely around, roughly furrowed his brow.
"Call the knights. A sound barrier's up around us. Communications are blocked, it seems. Ian, stick close to Kane no matter what. If something happens, he'll handle it somehow... Ian?"
As Dillon calmly took control of the surroundings, his vision blurred at the sudden disappearance of Ian.
His plan was only just beginning.
...
Her light pink hair, turned a faint rose hue, reached down to her waist.
Flawless white skin, plump lips, a slender waist, and hips protruding just right for grabbing—nothing but alluring.
"Master. Yuria has returned."
Yuria appeared before me after changing out of her bloodstained maid uniform into fresh clothes.
The reason I'd left Dillon's side was simple. This was survival. Sticking to Dillon, who was about to be hit first, would only cost me.
I checked her body everywhere, worried she might be hurt.
"I heard a noise midway. You're not injured anywhere, right?"
Yuria accepted my touch familiarly, and as my hand brushed her chest, she let out a soft ngh while murmuring her report.
"While installing the magic tool in Master's study as instructed, I encountered and subdued a suspicious individual."
"Is that so? Let me see."
"Yes. As Master commanded, I subdued him using only the shikigami through shadows."
At that moment, from my shadow-covered fingertips, a beast that had been greedily devouring something spat out a human-shaped mass.
It was a horrific sight. Crushed eyeballs, protruding nasal bones, exposed teeth, and bulging skin with no whites showing.
Having lost that much blood, it was clear he'd die within minutes if left like this.
"His name is Vishkinya. He said he's the vice-captain of the assassin squad."
"I see? Good work, Yuria."
Vishkinya was a mid-episode boss with power and cunning surpassing the master realm... Yet against Yuria in top condition, he couldn't even scratch her before instant death. Feeling her strength anew, I resolved to treat her even better.
'...Look how brutal. Thank goodness I secured Yuria on my side early.'
Yuria stared at me quietly, then pouted her lips.
Oh right, I hadn't given her the most important reward yet. I'd promised after this was over, I'd grant her one wish, as long as she acted carefully.
Though things had just started, capturing the assassin vice-captain warranted praise. Vishkinya was a particularly troublesome type.
"He won't last long, but... here."
I spread my arms for a hug, and Yuria, familiar with the gesture, nestled into my embrace, pressing her lips to the spot near the kiss mark from this morning's blood-sucking.
"Master... Master, Master's embrace was so missed. Hoo... As expected, Master is warm and comforting. Their scents are utterly revolting by contrast. That's why I didn't drink their blood. The only blood I can drink is Master's. It was so, so cold."
"Yeah, yeah. Good girl."
"C-Can I have just a little blood?"
"No. You drained me plenty yesterday."
"...."
"Was that too harsh?"
"...Yes. Among vampires, such words can mean wanting to end our bond."
"Can't be helped then. Yuria, come here."
"...No."
I pulled my hand from her chest and tightly hugged her waist instead, making Yuria tremble with a surprised hic that I felt in my lower abdomen.
Nothing but charming. If not for the situation, I would've been the one who couldn't hold back.
"Wh-Why are you smiling?"
Ah, honestly, I wanted to run.
If we went to my room now, I could spend a hot time with Yuria.
I pressed close to her.
Subtly adjusting my lower abdomen and arm for her comfort was utterly captivating. Far too good for me to take as a wife.
After about three more minutes of affection, Yuria came to her senses and pulled away from my chest.
Looking back, all I heard from below was the murmuring voices of nobles in the still-dark banquet hall.
"Yuria, everyone gathered here, right?"
"Yes. By the presences I sense now, this is everyone. I found two trying to escape, but they weren't the person Master mentioned, so I released them as ordered. But was that alright?"
"Yeah, those guys are useless anyway. Then preparations are complete."
Now, the real banquet
was about to begin.