Chapter 531: Jealousy is My Power (31)
Chapter 531: Jealousy is My Power (31)
The silence was heavy.
The building, collapsing along its slanted cross-section, was falling out of alignment like a jagged overbite. The death throes of the falling masonry hammered against the eardrums until they throbbed.
Despite the chaos, no one could find their voice.
Not me, as I stood there gripping the Sword Duke by the collar; not the Sword Duke, who was dangling helplessly from my hand; and certainly not Cien, who had only just regained consciousness.
Thump.
The sound of the building finally settling into a heap of rubble echoed through the air.
At that sound, Cien snapped out of her daze and shook her head. She pressed a hand to her forehead with a hollow, weary smile—a gesture that looked far from ordinary.
"Ha... haha... Sir Ian, I must be hearing things. To think that little girl is my great-grandfather..."
Fortunately, it seemed the Princess was suffering from a severe case of cognitive dissonance.
It was understandable.
The weight carried by the title 'Empire's Sword Duke' was beyond imagination. He was the strongest warrior in the Empire and a venerable elder of the Imperial Household.
For such a man to suddenly turn into a tiny young girl...
It would be stranger to believe it easily. At least, not without witnessing undeniable evidence like the Emperor had.
That meant it wasn't too late.
Realizing this, I immediately shook the Sword Duke, who was still in a state of panic. Her head lolled back and forth before light slowly began to return to those blue eyes.
I couldn't miss this window.
"What are you talking about... Princess Cien? You must be mistaken. I never called for the Sword Duke."
"Th-that's right! Cien, your grandfather is—Gack!"
I gave the Sword Duke another vigorous shake to draw her attention.
The Sword Duke, who had almost made a fatal slip of the tongue, finally seemed to come to her senses.
"I-I mean... that is... a young maiden like me, the 'Sword Duke'? What an outrageous thing to say..."
A young maiden?
What was with that archaic, dainty way of referring to herself?
I had a mountain of things I wanted to nitpick, but Cien didn't point it out—perhaps because she was desperate for any semblance of peace of mind. It might have been a psychological defense mechanism.
A sigh of relief escaped the Princess's lips.
"I see. I thought as much. I'm sorry, Sir Ian... I'm just so out of it..."
"It's fine. Everyone has moments like that."
I forced an awkward smile and loosened my grip on the Sword Duke's collar.
Regaining her freedom, the Sword Duke snorted and straightened her clothes. A faint flicker of annoyance shimmered in her disgruntled gaze.
As if you have any right to be annoyed, I grumbled inwardly.
But just as that thought crossed my mind—
"Ugh... Argh... Haaaaagh!"
A groan soaked in deep-seated resentment drifted from somewhere nearby.
Startled, I quickly scanned for the source. I didn't have to look far.
Amidst the ruins of the collapsed building, a slender arm reached out like a tombstone.
The skin was pale, contrasting sharply with the darkening surroundings. Then, from the dust-choked site of the collapse, something staggered to its feet from within the stone grave.
Sinister blue flames flickered in the air.
The woman's golden hair was gradually being dyed gray. While Cien and I stood frozen in shock, the Sword Duke let out a scoff.
"Hmph. I figured there would be more than just small fry."
"Even so, to sacrifice the people left inside..."
"The children who didn't need to die are still alive. Your little plaything's friend wasn't even in this building to begin with."
I swallowed a groan and closed my eyes at her rapid-fire rebuttal.
Indeed, my Qi Sense picked up several faint breaths. I didn't know how she'd done it, but the Sword Duke apparently had the skill to protect specific individuals even as the building came down.
It was a feat of martial art at its absolute peak.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a miracle. I felt a chill run down my spine at the Sword Duke's unfathomable swordsmanship.
And her intelligence-gathering—to know exactly who I meant by 'my precious person's friend.'
She was truly a formidable figure, worthy of being the Continent's greatest swordsman and the head of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
However, my reflections were cut short.
The Vampire Kin who had risen from the ruins burst into a fit of mad laughter.
"Pfft... Ahaha... Hahahaha! H-how did you know? I thought I had hidden myself so well!"
It's not like we actually knew, I thought.
But there was no reason to reveal the truth. I watched the wariness glinting in the vampire's eyes and stepped forward, instinctively shielding the Princess.
"...Only students were supposed to be gathered here."
"Hehe, I can't believe it... It was you. You're the source of this delicious scent..."
The Vampire Kin didn't answer my question.
Instead, her eyes sparkled with a predatory light as she slowly licked her lips.
Her gaze was filled with blatant desire.
Whether it was hunger or lust, I couldn't tell.
Then, her voice rose, sounding feverish and impatient.
"Little boy, little boy... who on earth are you? How can you smell so delicious? And... you're the center of the barrier! Ahahat! My sisters and I were drawn to this very scent!"
She was asking and answering her own questions, leaving me little room to intervene.
So, I decided to ignore her rambling and throw out a question of my own. Since she seemed thoroughly overexcited, I hoped she might let slip an important clue.
"Where did Celine go?"
I kept my voice low, letting it grate with a threatening edge.
At my fierce aura, the vampire gave a cryptic smile. She tapped her lips with an index finger in a strangely seductive manner.
"Celine? Celine? Hmm... I don't recall. Did one of my sisters eat her?"
"A woman with black hair and amber eyes."
"Pffft, I told you, I haven't seen her. Ah, but you're quite charming when you're angry. What do you say, little boy? Why don't you spend a long, deep night with this big sister?"
She was impossible to talk to.
I let out an annoyed sigh and slowly moved my hand toward my waist.
It was a silent threat.
However, someone else took offense at the vampire's proposition first.
"You... you vulgar bitch!"
It was Cien.
The incensed Princess stepped forward, her hair practically standing on end. She looked like a cat ready for battle.
"Hey! Do you really think Sir Ian would fall for the temptations of a slut like you?! Sir Ian has slept with women who have much better bodies than yours!"
"What are you talking about...?"
I wanted to ask how she could talk as if she'd seen it with her own eyes, but I didn't have the luxury.
The vampire had just slit her own throat.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed out, writhing like an invertebrate creature. The blood then formed spheres and rained down onto the surrounding debris.
I froze, unable to comprehend her intent.
It didn't take long to find out.
Gurgle.
A bubbling sound leaked from the vampire's severed vocal cords.
"Heh. Gurgle... Don't be like that... Hehehe... I know who you are, Ian Percus... Didn't you duel the Saint at the Mountain Court?"
As she spoke, the vampire grabbed her own head with both hands. With a sickening crack, her face snapped back into place.
The wound on her throat was already sizzling and healing.
The woman smiled serenely, as if nothing had happened.
"Of course, I'm not at a level to face you alone... But what if I have hostages?"
Only then did my Qi Sense frantically scan the debris where the blood had scattered.
It was just as she said.
I could hear faint breathing coming from beneath the rubble. They were likely the innocent missing persons.
Just as I was about to grit my teeth and pour strength into my sword—
"You move, they die."
The Vampire Kin curled her lips into a bloody arc and let out a despicable laugh.
"You're about to manifest your Aura, aren't you? Those kids will die the moment you do. If you think I'm joking, feel free to test me."
"You crazy..."
I desperately wanted to take her mocking head right then and there.
But I still needed a few seconds to enter the 'Boundary.' Once time stopped, I could handle it, but if she took the hostages' lives the moment I manifested my Aura, I would be helpless.
Actually, it didn't really matter.
Conversation? That was what I wanted anyway.
Still, I decided to keep up the bravado. I didn't want to lose the psychological edge.
"Your life seems more valuable than a few hostages."
"If that's your judgment, go ahead. My defeat was decided the moment the building collapsed anyway... I'll gladly offer you my neck. Along with the lives of your fellow students, of course."
In the end, I had no choice but to groan and take my hand off my sword.
She was playing for keeps.
If her death was already certain, she'd want to take as many people with her as possible.
Since we both needed to talk, I decided to stop the unnecessary provocation.
"......Fine. Then let me ask one thing. What exactly are you trying to do at the Academy? Why the Academy of all places?"
"If I tell you, will you let me live?"
Her voice sounded almost innocent, yet laced with coquetry.
Cien grew even more wary and whispered in my ear.
"Don't believe her. She's clearly plotting something."
As she spoke, Cien's pale gray pupils had already slit vertically.
Even so, I didn't have the option to stop the conversation. If I blew this chance, I wouldn't have another opportunity to get a lead.
"Do you even know anything?"
"Well, I think I know a lot more than you... little boy."
It was a vague answer, leaving just enough of a hook.
The wordplay was irritating, but I was the one in a hurry.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my rising bloodlust to subside.
"......That depends on the quality of the information."
"I don't really like such vague promises."
"Don't push me."
I let my voice drop to a cold, grating rasp as I tapped the hand axe hanging at my waist.
"Do you think you're the first of your kind I've dealt with?"
"Hmm."
Only then did the Vampire Kin's gaze turn a bit more cautious.
If she had heard of my reputation, she would know.
That my words were no empty boast.
Ultimately, the subordinate had no choice but to shrug her shoulders and spill a few pieces of information.