Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Touching His Pride (7)
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A face so flawlessly sculpted it hardly seemed human burned with blood-red eyes blazing fiercely at its center.
Tap.
Abel's hand gripped Elice's shoulder tightly.
"Where?"
The touch was chillingly cold, unnaturally so. It tightened around her throat like a noose, leaving her breathless.
"C-C-Cezar!"
Elice nearly jumped out of her skin right there.
"Cezar?"
A retort that was more grimace than laugh came back at her. She squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"Yes, Cezar!"
"Cezar?"
"Y-Yes!"
"And where might that be?"
"A mid-sized territory on the road south from the capital..."
"I see."
Abel's hand released her immediately. It was as if a cold fog had suddenly lifted.
"Haa, haa."
Elice clutched her chest, struggling to catch her breath. Only after Abel had pulled away could she finally breathe.
"Whew..."
She let out a sigh of relief and opened her eyes.
"Huh?"
Abel had vanished in the blink of an eye.
The only ones left in the room were Elice, Jack trembling behind the bookshelf, and a stunned William.
"...M-Master?"
William jerked his chin toward the door.
"As you can see, he's gone."
"Already? He was just here."
"The moment you finished speaking, Elice, he bolted."
Only then did Elice feel the tension drain from her body.
"Haa..."
"Elice!"
William steadied her as she staggered.
"I'm... f-fine. I'm fine."
Elice grabbed William's arm to hold herself up. Her legs shook violently, but she forced strength into them.
"S-Sis."
Jack groaned as he shoved the bookshelf aside and crawled out. He rushed over, checked her face, and jumped back in alarm.
"Sis! Your face..."
Elice's complexion was ghostly pale. It was hard to believe a human face could drain of color so quickly in mere seconds.
Elice gave Jack a feeble smile.
"You were scared, huh, Jack?"
"Y-Yeah. He was as terrifying as the first time we met..."
Jack shuddered from head to toe.
"Is he always like that? How do you serve a master that scary?"
William and Elice exchanged glances. Then they both turned back to Jack and spoke.
"He's not usually like that, but..."
"He is usually like that, but..."
Oops.
They both winced at the same time. Seeing their reactions, Jack thought:
'...Am I safe staying here?'
❖ ❖ ❖
Screeech—
A shrill sound pierced the air, audible only to me.
Scree, scree—
I blew the whistle repeatedly before letting it drop.
"Haa, haa."
My vision flickered red. My heart pounded irregularly and wildly, cold sweat soaking my back.
[Kill.]
An unfamiliar voice echoed in my head. Ravenous hunger clawed at my gut.
"Damn it."
I scowled, grinding out a curse between clenched teeth.
"That damn old geezer."
I even wondered if I'd provoked Mikel unnecessarily. Overlooking his immense competitive spirit had been a mistake.
'He must be getting more excited now that I'm keeping up better than expected.'
At first, his movements seemed like a simple test of my skill. But they grew increasingly ferocious and heavy—that was the proof.
"Damn old man."
No, even if I was doing well, suddenly radiating killing intent? What was that about?
"Haa, no."
This was probably my fault for being too good. If I'd been just a bit weaker, none of this would have happened.
"..."
I tried forcing that ridiculous thought, but my churning insides wouldn't settle.
Crack.
My molars ground together, producing a grotesque sound.
"Fuck, this is brutal."
The blood from my nape had long stopped flowing, and the split skin had healed smoothly.
Now, my synchronization with Requiem could mend a light graze like that in under an hour.
[Kill!]
Hey, no one's around to hear now, so I can just say it, right?
"Shut up!"
I growled low and clamped my hands over my ears.
Ever since bolting from the palace and hopping into the carriage, Requiem had been going berserk.
'All because of one drop of blood...'
Mikel had already stirred it up, and then the scent of blood pushed it over the edge.
That single drop was the final one that made the full glass overflow.
"Ugh."
Even now, it sloshed relentlessly, trying to spill blood beyond the rim of my glass-like body. I'd suppressed it with all my might each time, but I was at my limit.
'Just a bit more.'
Causing an incident inside the capital would haunt me forever.
The capital guard was on a whole different level from a territory's. They wouldn't take long to notice and pursue.
'I have to get out of the capital, no matter what.'
That's why I'd rushed to find Elice. To handle this cleanly, I needed targets it was okay to kill.
The carriage was slowing gradually. Through the window, I saw the gate leading out of the capital.
"We're here, sir."
The coachman opened the flap.
"Are you sure you want to get off here? Why not pass through the gate... Huh?"
He looked worried at my harshly contorted face.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"..."
I couldn't even answer, just gritted my teeth.
'Please, be quiet.'
The man's mumbling grated on my ears. Requiem's whining already filled my brain.
It was too, too loud.
"Should I turn the carriage around? There's a clinic nearby I know of."
"..."
"If it's hard to speak, just nod—"
"Shut up and stop the carriage."
I couldn't hold back anymore.
This wasn't the time for conversation. Even those few words with Elice had drained me immensely.
Screech!
The startled coachman halted. I kicked the door open and leaped out.
"Wait, sir..."
I tossed him some coins.
"Won't need you again. Go."
Without waiting for a reply, I spun on my heel and strode quickly toward the gate.
The guards at the gate flinched upon seeing me.
"Huh? You're..."
"Leaving at this hour..."
I ignored them and breezed past the gate.
Identity checks were required entering, but not exiting.
Clop!
The moment I cleared the gate, I broke into a full sprint.
"Huff, huff."
I had to escape.
From the blood-red life pulsing behind me. As far away as possible.
Scree!
I pulled out the whistle again and blew. I expanded my Absolute Domain, focusing my senses.
'Blackstar, hurry!'
I still couldn't sense him.
Rustle!
I veered off the busy path into the dense forest.
'Not yet?'
The number of humans in my Absolute Domain was dwindling.
Requiem thrashed, trying to force me back.
Turn around, go the other way, toward the feast waiting there—it wailed incessantly.
'Shut up! I'm not going that way!'
Damn it.
That's why I'd stuffed myself at the palace. A full stomach made it easier to resist Requiem's temptations.
But its void was beyond that. It only slowed things down temporarily.
This mad sword kept tormenting its owner with endless hunger and thirst.
'No... way!'
Squeezing out my last reserves, I shouted—
"—!"
At the edge of my Absolute Domain, a new presence appeared.
One deeply familiar, always felt beneath my legs.
"Blackstar!"
I could almost hear its eager neigh rumbling in my ears.
Squeak!
I blew the whistle vigorously to signal my position. I felt its presence whip toward me instantly.
'Hurry over here!'
I dashed toward it, crashing through the dark woods, weaving between thick trees for what felt like ages.
"Neigh!"
A familiar cry reached me.
"Blackstar!"
The next instant, Blackstar's massive form burst through the trees.
Thud thud thud thud!
It charged toward me at tremendous speed.
"Neigh! Neigh!"
Its desperate cries seemed to say:
'Master, damn it! I knew you'd come!'
Its golden eyes sparkled in the darkness.
"You rascal..."
As pride swelled and I went to wipe my nose, I spotted something dangling from Blackstar's mouth.
"—?"
I narrowed my eyes, sharpening my vision. Then my face twisted.
"...You little shit?"
Blackstar was chomping on a dead rat. Couldn't wait and grabbed it on the way.
"What's that in your mouth?!"
I bellowed, and Blackstar's eyes rolled. Then it gulped the rat down whole.
"Neigh?"
Blackstar innocently cocked its head, as if asking what was wrong.
"You... you bastard!"
I clutched my neck, groaning. Who did it take after? It was infuriating.
"Hey! Hurry up!"
"Neigh! Huff!"
Blackstar huffed indignantly and charged. Its face said, 'What're you mad about?'
Blackstar's speed began to slow, as if planning to stop right in front of me.
"No, don't!"
I grimaced and shook my head.
"Neigh?"
Blackstar looked at me like, 'What're you saying?'
"Don't slow down! Keep running!"
"Whinny?"
Blackstar shot me a baffled look.
'What's wrong with the master? Has he lost it?'
...This guy, seriously?
Did it learn to talk in my absence? Its eyes conveyed everything perfectly.
"Just keep going full speed!"
I yelled again, and Blackstar tilted its head but charged on without slowing.
"Yes, this way!"
A golden glow brighter than the moon above drew near. As Blackstar's bulk closed in—
Thud!
I kicked off a tree acrobatically and leaped into the air.
Thump.
I landed squarely on Blackstar's vast back, just like the first time I'd tamed it.
"Good."
Every minute, every second counted now. No need to make it stop.
"Go!"
I yanked the reins to urge it on.
But Blackstar didn't accelerate—instead, it blinked at me. Its golden eyes gleamed expectantly, waiting for something.
'No way, it wants praise?'
Smack!
I flicked its forehead instead.
"Hiiing!"
Blackstar whined at the unexpected knucklerap.
"You stop for a snack on the way, and you want credit?!"
I scolded it and yanked the reins again.
No time to coax it now. In that brief tussle, Requiem had tried slipping out again.
"Hing..."
Blackstar grumbled sadly but finally galloped off toward Cezar Territory, as Elice had described.
Thud thud thud!
It snorted and thundered along, steps rough from its sulk.
'Hmph.'
Ignoring that, I pressed close to its body.
Thus, fused as one with Blackstar, we tore through the midnight forest like a gale. No hesitation even in pitch darkness.
How much time passed?
"—!"
A swarm of lives flooded into my Absolute Domain. Unlikely for this deep, dark forest to hold so many.
"Found them."
A relieved smile escaped me. I stifled a laugh and whispered to Blackstar.
"See that?"
"Neigh."
Blackstar nodded at my pointing finger.
"Smash them all."
I murmured with a delighted grin.