God's Atlantis

The pale-skinned little girl with black hair rounded her crimson eyes at the sight of me.

"Daddy?"

She called me by a title that left me momentarily stunned.

The shock only lasted a moment, though. Her mind was already racing, piecing the situation together.

Truth be told, I had been through this sort of thing more than a few times. In the world of Vampire Detective, young women would appear out of nowhere and call me Dad.

Roughly ten times, give or take.

At first I assumed they were con artists after my fortune, but genetic testing proved every last one of them was my daughter. Well—they had approached me for the money. That part was true.

In Vampire Detective I let my cock run free. This was before I even had pregnancy control.

I had touched those daughters. Most of them were beauties, taking after their mothers. On the rare occasion an ugly one showed up, I simply pressed some cash into her hands and sent her on her way.

Honestly, I never felt like those sudden strangers were my children.

I had no paternal instinct. Whether that was simply my nature, or because I refused to acknowledge them as mine, I still wasn't sure.

Probably the latter. If I imagine Yuriana or Elena carrying my child, the thought that it's mine actually lands.

In short, it came down to whether I recognized the child as my own.

I looked at the girl again.

A bit big to call a daughter, isn't she?

She looked about ten. I had only arrived in Atlantis roughly two years ago. Even if she had been born then, she shouldn't be older than three.

"You're saying you're my daughter?"

"…Aren't you the Heavenly Demon? Big Sister Kasha said Daddy was the Heavenly Demon."

"I am the Heavenly Demon. And who are you?"

"Bathory Ercia."

Ercia stated her name clearly, looking straight at me. That was when Okjeong slipped between us. She planted herself in front of me as if shielding the girl, tense—because Ercia's attitude, depending how you looked at it, was thoroughly insolent.

"M-Master. Ercia is…"

"You don't have to say it. I already know. Daughter of Elizabeth Bathory, right?"

Bathory.

The moment I heard that surname, I more or less understood what had happened.

I had gotten Elizabeth pregnant. Deliberately. More precisely, so I could use a vampire's offspring as a subordinate. That was the role I had brought Elizabeth in for from the start.

If she's a vampire, this absurd growth rate actually makes sense.

She wasn't human. Being different from a human was only natural.

Hmm.

What was I supposed to do with Ercia?

She'll grow into quite the beauty, that much is clear.

She still didn't feel like my child.

But I had no intention of denying that she was. Ercia carried my blood, and she had been born because I needed her.

Thinking of it that way, a little paternal feeling does start to stir.

I let out a short laugh.

"I'm your old man."

"Really?!"

Ercia darted past Okjeong and threw herself at me. I caught her with both hands and lifted her up. The first daughter I had ever held was warm and solid in my arms.

"Daddy!"

"Yeah."

"Heavenly Demon!"

"That's me too."

The joy drained out of her all at once. She looked up at me with eyes that seemed on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the verge of tears.

"…Why did you only come now?"

"I was busy."

What did kids even like? After a moment's thought, I started bouncing her around. Ercia's face only soured further.

"Put me down."

"Why? Not a fan of Daddy playing with you?"

"There's no way this is fun. And Daddy… do you really think of me as your daughter?"

"You are my daughter."

"Then that makes me the heir to the Heavenly Demon Cult, doesn't it?"

"……"

That one I hadn't seen coming.

"See? You can't even answer."

"…I was just surprised. I never expected my own daughter to declare to my face that she'd kill me and take the Heavenly Demon's seat. Impressive, even for my kid."

"Huh? I-I never said I'd kill Daddy!"

"Saying you'll take the Heavenly Demon Cult means exactly that."

"Th-then I won't be the Heavenly Demon."

"Suit yourself."

I set Ercia down. She eyed me for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a second, then wrapped her arms around my right leg.

Why is this kid so strong? Because she's a vampire?

She was well past ordinary human strength. Ercia buried her face against my side and nuzzled in.

"So this is Daddy."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Calling your dad 'this'… well, whatever."

I asked Okjeong about Ercia's stats. The answer came from Ercia herself. She recited her status window, clear and precise.

Impressive. Better stats than most Exiles.

Ercia looked ten, but her actual age was less than two. Factoring that in, she wasn't merely talented—she was absurdly so.

Ercia's unique trait: Blood Demon Physique (A).

There was no question it had manifested under the influence of my own trait, Heavenly Demon Physique (S). The King of Demon Heaven's reaction confirmed it.

The odds of coincidence are low. Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so—I never expected Heavenly Demon Physique to affect a child's unique trait. Influence from the Luck stat, maybe?

I stroked Ercia's black hair. She would grow strong quickly. Those outstanding stats were already proof of her talent.

Chomp.

"Gah!"

Ercia bit into my side. Hard. Looking down, I found her fangs sunk into my flank, greedily sucking blood. Her expression was hazy, as if drunk.

"Hey! Stop! Stop sucking!"

I hastily grabbed her and lifted her off. Fortunately she didn't resist. Bright red blood dripped from her mouth—my blood.

"Good heavens! Ercia!"

Okjeong fretted, wiping at my side while watching my face, clearly worried I might kill the girl on the spot.

That look left me a little aggrieved. Even I wouldn't genuinely lose my temper over a daughter's prank.

…Or wait. She drew blood. Is this the moment I'm supposed to get angry?

Ercia still wore that dazed look. Maybe it was a dhampir thing. I decided to let it slide this once.

"Ercia. If you want blood, ask for it. Don't just sink your fangs in without a word like that. I'll give you as much as you want."

"Daddy. Daddy tastes amazing."

"…That phrasing is a little weird."

"Why do you taste so good, Daddy?"

"Because I'm a delicious man."

"M-Master…!"

It was only a joke, but Okjeong flushed and recoiled in horror. I shrugged as if it were nothing. The two small puncture holes in my side were already healing.

"I've decided."

Ercia spoke out of nowhere. The look she fixed on me was intensely hot.

"I'm going to earn Daddy's recognition."

"I already recognize you."

"Liar."

"…And what do you plan to do once you have it?"

"Surpass Daddy, and then have you."

"Have me? Why?"

"Because Daddy tastes good."

"So I'm livestock…"

Vampire instinct, apparently. Still—was my blood really that delicious? I dabbed some of the blood on my side and tasted it.

It tasted like iron.

"Bold little thing. Takes after Elizabeth."

"From where I'm standing, Master, she takes after you quite a lot."

I met Elizabeth Bathory.

In my memory her presence had been dark and cold—so steeped in melancholy it bordered on madness.

"You've changed."

There was no madness in her now. No melancholy either. Even in a dim room, she was smiling.

"That child changed me. I still resent you… but more than that, I love my daughter, Ercia."

"She was fairly adorable, I'll give you that."

"My lord. Ercia is my daughter, and she is yours. I know I can never stand at your side—but your blood runs through her veins. Do not forget that."

"I know."

A man and a woman with red hair and red eyes stood before me. Both had sand-colored skin and sharp, striking features. The woman, in particular, was wearing something rather revealing.

Ahmad Nakbi and Kasha Nakbi. The siblings each reacted differently at the sight of me.

"Heavenly Demon! We have been awaiting your return!"

Thud!

Ahmad Nakbi dropped flat to the floor in a prostration so swift it almost drew admiration.

"Why are you only showing up now?!"

Kasha snapped at me, face flushed with emotion. She stormed up as if she meant to hit me—then threw herself straight into my arms. I wrapped an arm around her bare waist. The smooth, warm feel of her skin set my heart racing.

My hand was sliding down toward her rear when Kasha caught my wrist and stopped me.

"There's no time for this. Do you even know what's happening to the Heavenly Demon Cult right now?"

Her expression was grim.

I set the disappointment aside and asked.

"What happened?"

"There's a rebellion. My brother and I tried to get it under control, but… it's already too late. The Heavenly Demon Cult is about to fall into the rebels' hands."

"You've got to be kidding me. They start a revolt just because my dick was gone for a while? Who's the ringleader?"

"Carok Rios."

"Never heard the name. Who is he?"

"Heir to the Black Sand Crocodile Tribe. He rallied the desert warriors and raised a rebellion."

"Black Sand Crocodile Tribe? What kind of tribe is that?"

"……"

Kasha stared at me with a look that asked if I was serious.

Stare all she liked—there was nothing I could do about it. Carok Rios, Black Sand Crocodiles, all of it was news to me.

But if there was a rebellion, there was only one thing to do. I rose slowly from my seat.

"The house is a mess, so I'll clean it up. Where are the rebels?"