Chapter 514: Jealousy is My Power (14)
Chapter 514: Jealousy is My Power (14)
"She fell victim to a vampire."
It was a cold assertion.
The girl’s expression as she recited the brief explanation was bordering on indifferent. It wasn't the kind of attitude one should have when delivering news that a woman's life had effectively ended.
'Senior Elsie' was already chewing on a leaf.
It was a long, narrow blade of grass. Its purpose was unknown, but considering she had been chewing on it for quite a while, the chances of it being a nameless weed were slim to none.
Even after several minutes of chewing, not even half of it had disappeared.
What kind of grass was that?
Though I had many questions, I forced my curiosity down. I trusted that Senior Elsie would explain in her own time.
Besides, I was more concerned about the two women walking some distance away.
The two of us were tailing them, hiding behind rocks and trees. Naturally, we needed to keep our movements as inconspicuous as possible. Our conversation, too, was best kept to the exchange of necessary information.
As if meeting my expectations, Senior Elsie added a lackluster elaboration.
"Vampires have the ability to suck the blood of others and turn them into their kin. The vampire kin born that way then suck the blood of other victims to grow their own power."
"Are you saying that 'missing person' is the same?"
"Yeah. It’s obvious just by looking at her—the balance of her Five Elements is shattered."
Senior Elsie answered as if I were asking the obvious, but the doubt in my eyes remained. Meeting my gaze, she tilted her head further to the side.
"What? Why? I said the balance of the Five Elements is broken."
"How do you know that?"
"How do you not know?"
Her incredulous retort left a small sting in my chest. Even if she was possessed, that body belonged to 'Senior Elsie.' To think that the Senior Elsie would look at me with such pathetic eyes.
Seeing me slump, the girl finally realized her slip and tapped her forehead.
"Right, right... I forgot you were still Scrub Percus."
"Scrub... what?"
I was momentarily stunned by the sudden insult. Regardless, Senior Elsie merely snorted and shrugged.
"If you hate that so much, let's call you Pathetic Percus. Tsk, you really are high-maintenance..."
It was then that Senior Elsie’s finger tapped the leaf she was chewing. My eyes instinctively drifted to her lips. Those dainty lips were just about to part to resolve my confusion.
"The Five Elements refer to the five fundamental elements. Everything in heaven and earth is maintained under the balance of these Five Elements. While individuals might specialize in different elements, it’s never to the point where the balance is completely broken."
"This is the first I've heard of it."
"If you have a problem with it, take it up with my Master."
I had nothing to say to that. After all, 'Senior Elsie’s' Master was none other than the Great Witch.
While I swallowed my groan, Senior Elsie pointed to the leaf in her mouth again.
"The item that allows one to observe the balance of the Five Elements is this: the 'World Tree Sprout.'"
Only then did I nod in understanding. I had wondered why she was suddenly practicing an uncharacteristic form of vegetarianism, but with that explanation, it made sense.
I naturally reached out my hand.
"Then give me one too."
"There are no more, you brat."
Exhaling as if blowing out cigarette smoke, Senior Elsie flashed a mischievous smile.
"Do you think these are easy to find? This is a herb you can only get near the World Tree. Most scholars don't even know how to process these sprouts."
"Then how did you get it, Senior?"
"I spent the whole day scouring the market, man. They said they'd only let me meet him if I did..."
She suddenly began to eye me warily. The way she glanced at my face suggested she was anxious about whether I would keep my promise.
In truth, it wasn't even a promise. It wasn't a wish I could grant just because I wanted to.
The request to let her meet her 'Junior.'
I deliberately avoided Senior Elsie’s gaze.
"...I wouldn't know, being 'Scrub Percus' and all."
"You little... Hmph, you're exactly the same with that narrow-mindedness."
Despite her grumbling, Senior Elsie didn't push for a confirmation. Perhaps it was her own way of being considerate. Or perhaps she simply didn't want to let go of her last shred of hope.
It was a problem that only grew more uncomfortable the more I thought about it. So, I gestured toward the leaf in her mouth.
"That leaf is still there, isn't it?"
"Huh? Of course, it’ll last for another hour... Wait, you don't mean?"
I shrugged playfully. Just before Senior Elsie’s face could contort and she could raise her voice, I pointed toward the two women walking together in the distance.
The 'missing person' and Emma.
Our goal was to follow them. At least until they reached a place where no one else was around.
In the end, Senior Elsie had to swallow the curse that had risen to her throat.
"...You, seriously, don't do that. I'm a taken woman."
"You can just break that leaf in half and give it to me. It's not like I asked for the part you're chewing on."
"And what if our 'Junior' misunderstands? Huh? Are you going to take responsibility?"
She was certainly acting like someone in her first relationship. I had to give her credit for her absolute devotion to her boyfriend.
Watching that nauseating display, I found myself missing my comrade, the real Senior Elsie. I also thought of the Saintess, who must be struggling in the Holy Kingdom, and Senior Delphine, who remained in the North.
Of course, there were two more people precious to me back at the Academy.
Seria, and one other.
My expression suddenly darkened.
"...Then just tell me one thing. Between those two, which one has the broken balance?"
"Why?"
As if truly curious, Senior Elsie glanced at me and asked again.
"Do you know one of them?"
"The one on the right is 'Emma.' She's one of my precious comrades."
Even so, Senior Elsie’s curiosity wasn't fully satisfied. Her brow furrowed for a moment, and a strange sound escaped her lips.
"I've never heard... Hmm, no. Come to think of it, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before..."
"Never mind that. How is it?"
Naturally, that wasn't my concern. I was anxious that the innocent Emma might have been deceived by some wicked scam.
"Which of the two is broken? It's only one of them, right?"
"Geez, I felt like I was about to remember something... Fine! Only the woman next to her is broken."
That was a relief.
The trail was nearing its end, and they were about to reach a clearing. If I were to act, now was the time.
As I fiddled with the hand axe at my waist, Senior Elsie looked at me with an absurd expression.
"Oho, you're all set to use force, aren't you?"
"I'll ask just one more thing."
Before I dashed out, I turned back to Senior Elsie.
"Is there any possibility for someone who fell victim to a vampire to return to normal?"
It was a crucial question. Depending on the answer, I would have to reconsider my entire approach. When I fought Adela before, she had struck first, but now the situation was reversed.
A vampire's kin was dangerous. And I had absolutely no intention of leaving such a threat near Emma.
Naturally, she had to be eliminated.
But what if there was a way to turn a vampire's kin back?
I had to refrain from indiscriminate killing. Even if it was more difficult, I would have to prioritize suppression.
Senior Elsie wasn't oblivious to this.
Rarely, she failed to give an immediate answer. She hesitated, her lips opening and closing for a long time.
Finally, the conclusion reached after much deliberation was only one word.
"...No."
Then my task was as good as decided.
One step, two steps.
I didn't bother to hide my presence as I strode forward. It didn't take long to catch up to the two women who had been walking leisurely ahead.
Everything was going according to plan.
If Emma saw blood suddenly, she might be shocked, given her faint heart. So, I would separate Emma first, then eliminate the 'missing person' who had become a vampire's kin.
It was as I was re-checking the plan.
Suddenly, I felt that the 'missing person's' back looked somewhat familiar.
That shouldn't be possible.
I had thoroughly checked the list of missing persons. Of course, I wasn't exactly a genius, so I had mostly memorized names, excluding surnames, along with brief descriptions.
Emma was the first to notice my presence.
The woman with reddish-brown hair turned her head, and upon seeing me, she cried out my name with a bright smile.
"Ian!"
As usual, I accepted Emma's greeting with a faint smile.
But then, the woman standing next to her turned her head.
Memories from several months ago came rushing back like a tide.
Golden hair, voluptuous curves that even the Academy uniform couldn't hide, and that haughty, unpleasant expression.
Once the dam of memory broke, the flow filled every vessel in my brain.
Naturally, I didn't know her first name. She was someone whose name I had only remembered by her family name. And besides, golden hair was a common enough color in the world.
I wasn't the only one who froze.
The moment she saw me, her eyes widened and her breath hitched. Silence hung in the air for several seconds.
Emma scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
"Ahaha... You two know each other, right? Actually, we've become quite close since then."
The blonde woman was the first to snap out of it. Startled back to her senses, she bowed slightly in a polite greeting.
"It has been a while, Sir Ian."
"Yes, I suppose so..."
I muttered blankly, and then—
"...Lady Ruphesia."
I thought about the strange twist of fate.
The woman whose limbs I had severed as payment for slapping Emma's cheek.
I was once again in a position where I might have to hack her to pieces.
And this time, she was a woman who had become Emma's friend.
It was a truly cruel irony of fate.