Chapter 519: Jealousy is My Power (19)
Chapter 519: Jealousy is My Power (19)
A fragrant scent tickled the tip of my nose.
With every jolting step, I felt a soft, plush sensation. I was intentionally keeping my body limp, pretending to be unconscious.
I was currently draped over Seria’s shoulder.
Since my body was folded in half, every step Seria took caused me to bounce. Each time, her soft, firm chest pressed against my upper body.
A fact I had forgotten because of the Saintess suddenly came back to me.
Seria really did have a great figure.
It was a rather embarrassing situation, but I couldn't exactly complain. If anything, I was glad it was my upper body; if my lower half had been positioned in front of her, a total catastrophe would have ensued.
Though, calling the current situation a 'catastrophe' wouldn't be an exaggeration either.
Seria’s face, visible as she supported my waist with one arm to keep me from sliding off, was exceptionally flushed. No matter how heavy a grown man might be, there was no way she was struggling with the weight.
That left only one explanation.
Seria was embarrassed too. Then again, she had always been clumsy when it came to relationships between men and women.
She likely viewed her obsession with me and physical contact as two entirely separate matters.
If there was one silver lining, it was that Seria was bravely acting as if nothing were wrong.
To think her abysmal social skills had grown this much.
Swallowing tears of pride inwardly, I listened to the conversation between Seria and the Blind Vampire.
"You didn't kill him completely, did you? He won't taste good otherwise~"
"P-Pardon? Oh... of course not!"
"I haven't even bitten a man yet, but you're surprisingly naughty, aren't you?"
Even with my eyes closed, my Qi Sense was as clear as vision.
I could sense the way the Vampire Kin’s eyes crinkled at the corners. Seria grew even more flustered at that playful voice.
"A-Ah? I, is that so...?"
"I can't tell since I don't have eyes, but he must be quite handsome, right? I can smell it... the scent of a man who makes women cry."
Giggling, the Vampire Kin wore a cold smile.
"They're such wicked bastards. Don't you agree? They lead you on without any intention of actually loving you... and in the end, the woman is the only one who ends up miserable."
"T-That's..."
Seria stole a quick glance at me.
Before long, her voice sank into a cold chill.
"...That's true."
"Kyahaha! As expected of my sister, you understand!"
"Yes, of course... Why do they keep giving other women hope? They could just... stay as my Senior and mine alone..."
Empathy is the best lubricant for any conversation.
Seria, who had been stuttering and unable to hide her awkwardness, was now speaking without hesitation.
I should have been happy, but for some reason, I felt a chill seeping into my bones.
Seria, you're still on my side, right?
Leaving my worries behind, Seria and the vampire continued their harmonious conversation.
"Exactly! I actually suffered because of a man once, too. As luck would have it, a friend and I ended up liking the same guy..."
"Really?"
Seria’s eyes widened, showing intense interest in the vampire's story.
If I could, I would have broken out in a cold sweat.
Right, I was the sinner here.
"Yes, I went through a lot because of it. Things got awkward with my friend, and the man was so indecisive he couldn't make a choice... It was even more difficult because the three of us had worked as mercenaries together for a long time."
It was a past with many elements Seria could relate to.
An indecisive man, a friend turned rival, and the inability to cut ties because they were comrades.
Seria was now so immersed she was gulping nervously. She urged the woman on with curiosity.
"A-And then?"
"Then one day... we were carrying out a request together when we encountered a dangerous demonic beast. That's when these eyes..."
The woman tapped her unfocused eyes, a mournful smile touching her lips.
"These eyes went bad. I fell into despair after that. To be honest, I couldn't even function in daily life... Eventually, the man who took care of me at first started getting tired of me."
"How could he...!"
"Isn't it cruel? I sacrificed myself to protect my comrades, but he started distancing himself and hanging around that bitch... It felt like the world was pushing me into a bottomless pit."
"That's horrible!"
Completely sympathizing with the vampire's position, Seria raised her voice.
I felt her fists tremble. Due to her surging emotions, the arm supporting me tightened its grip.
"H-How could he do that? Those are wounds you received for him! To think he'd let some bitch steal his heart while you were at your weakest... It's too cruel."
The vampire let out a soft chuckle at Seria’s reaction. She seemed somewhat relieved after venting her scars.
Seria, however, was more agitated than the storyteller herself as she pressed for the rest of the tale.
"So, so what happened? Did the man repent and come back to you...?"
"I ate him."
Seria froze.
The answer was tossed out as if it were nothing, leaving Seria’s expression blank. The only thing that escaped her trembling lips was a dazed question.
"...Pardon?"
"I said I ate him. That way, we could be one forever. I cried while I sucked his blood... Ah, it was ecstatic. Did you know that when sadness reaches its peak, it becomes pleasure?"
While Seria remained speechless, the vampire burst into a fit of giggles.
It was an incredibly innocent-sounding laugh.
"I ate the meat, too. The raw flesh was a bit tough... and it smelled quite strong, but I endured it. Because then we could be together forever, and ever... I actually cried when I tore out his heart. And then, what was it? Did you call her a 'bitch'?"
The woman clapped her hands together, her face showing no sign of abnormality.
She acted as if she were stating the most obvious thing in the world.
"Later, she begged and pleaded while crying... but I didn't stop. I wanted to give her back the exact same pain I suffered. First, I gouged out both her eyes and stuffed them into her mouth. She started screaming and resisting, you see? So I just grabbed whatever was nearby and shoved it into her holes... I think her eardrums burst. I was busy shoving a razor into her ear canal at the time. Eventually, she couldn't even understand what I was saying."
She spoke in a flat, monotonous tone while scratching her head.
That made it even more grotesque.
Even Seria fell into a stunned silence. Even with the utmost empathy, this wasn't something a sane person would say.
It was around then that the woman stopped walking.
Suddenly, a wave of mana rippled through the air, and the surrounding space shimmered to reveal a new sight. It was a spell so sophisticated it could deceive even my High Expert-level Qi Sense.
This wasn't a trick prepared overnight.
Soon, a sweet fragrance that stung the nose grew even stronger. It was a scent so intense it made even my head feel fuzzy for a moment.
In the middle of it all, Seria simply stood there in silence.
"That's when I realized. Most problems can be solved if you have power... How grateful should we be? Our Progenitor has bestowed such grace upon us."
"...This smell."
It was the first thing she said after the long silence.
The Vampire Kin stopped talking at the sound of that deeply somber voice. Doubt flickered in her blue eyes as she glanced at Seria.
However, Seria’s mind had long since drifted elsewhere.
"I've smelled this before. When I was a child..."
"Hmm, a child? We've been preparing for a long time, but I don't think it's been that long."
The Vampire Kin tilted her head but didn't pay it much more mind.
She simply pointed toward the center of the clearing.
It was a spot thick with an ominous aura.
"Well, whatever. We've arrived anyway... Just put the 'meal' in the center."
"Then what happens?"
Her sharp tone flared up again.
The Vampire Kin’s expression began to harden as suspicion finally took root. Her response was tinged with annoyance.
"...What?"
"I asked what will happen to Senior if I put him in the center."
"Hmm," the woman groaned again.
The Vampire Kin was now showing blatant suspicion. Despite that, there was no tremor in Seria’s voice.
Instead, she glared at the Vampire Kin with a terrifying gaze.
It didn't take long for a smirk to break across the woman's face.
"You haven't been one of our sisters for very long, have you? Your scent reeks of the Progenitor's grace... Ah, are you a child the Progenitor turned personally after infiltrating?"
"Answer me."
Despite the rude tone, the woman quickly regained her composure.
I didn't know what this 'scent' was, but it clearly gave the Vampire Kin confidence. It seemed to be a characteristic that no one other than the 'sisters' could mimic.
And for good reason.
Seria was a genuine member of the vampire bloodline.
The only one here who didn't know that truth was Seria herself. Though, Seria didn't seem to have the mental leeway to worry about such details right now.
Fortunately, Seria didn't reach the end of her patience.
The woman's explanation followed before that could happen.
"You'll learn soon enough, but this world is made of the harmony of the Five Elements. Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth... Even the organs of the human body correspond to each element. This applies not only to the physical world but to the mind and emotions as well."
"And what does that mean?"
"What if we intentionally broke the balance of the Five Elements?"
The woman asked with a sinister smile.