Chapter 532: Jealousy is My Power (32)
Chapter 532: Jealousy is My Power (32)
“I don’t know the full story either. I only follow the will of my mother, the Queen… though it’s not as if I have no inkling at all.”
“For example?”
“The ‘Great Witch’ has come here.”
She spoke with a faint, lingering smile.
However, there was a subtle murderous intent lurking in her eyes, nearly causing me to draw my hand axe on instinct.
“Mother is very interested in that traitor… A place where the continent’s future has gathered is set to become the Master’s Tomb. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“You’re quite confident for someone who couldn't win even in her true body.”
At my remark, the subordinate’s gaze turned fierce.
She seemed genuinely stung, but for me, seeing a crack form in that consistently relaxed expression was nothing but a pleasure.
“Do you really think you can bring down the Academy just by gathering your lot? Do you have any idea how many powerhouses are staying here…?”
“……That’s exactly why we’re preparing.”
The woman spat out cold words in a slightly heated voice.
“You don’t understand my mother’s dread… No human can ever harm her.”
A ‘human’ can’t do it?
It didn’t seem like mere bluster or hyperbole. When I glanced sideways to confirm, Cien spoke in a grave tone.
“She isn’t lying.”
“Well, fuck.”
That was a reality I didn’t particularly want to know.
Impossible to oppose as a ‘human’?
I wanted to dig for more information, but I sensed something from the way the subordinate kept stealing glances at her surroundings.
This woman is looking for a chance to flee.
Long experience was telling me. Right now, the most effective method the vampire’s kin could choose to escape:
Kill the hostages, and slip away while I’m distracted.
My sharpened Qi sense traced the warmth of the blood scattered over the debris. Strangely, the blood was gradually heating up.
Just as I was watching her, she was observing me intently.
Naturally, there was no way she wouldn't notice that I had realized something.
As I slowly moved my hand toward my waist, the kin let out a shrill cry.
“……Don’t move another inch!”
She tried so hard to act composed, yet it seemed she didn't want to die after all.
I swallowed a hollow laugh but decided to indulge her demand for now.
I had her pinned down.
I decided to be satisfied with that fact for the moment. Then, I issued my final ultimatum.
“I’ll ask two last things… Has anyone among you returned to being human? And also, have you really never seen Celine?”
“……If I tell you, will you let me live?”
I saw a glimmer of possibility in that wavering voice.
My gaze sank even deeper.
“On the condition that you tell the truth… For your information, we have a certain means of discerning the truth of a statement.”
“Swear it.”
No longer even trying to hide her anxiety, the vampire snarled as she restated the terms.
“Swear by the Heavenly God… I heard one of your lovers is the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom? Stake her honor on it as well.”
“Well, now……”
That’s a cunning condition.
I let my voice trail off and closed my eyes as if hesitating.
Though it hadn't been publicly announced, the Saintess and I were practically a married couple.
And yet, her husband was going around throwing the Heavenly God’s name around?
I wouldn't be able to complain even if she beat me until my back was raw.
No, the Heavenly God might get angry and strike me with a bolt of lightning himself.
I wasn't the Saintess. I didn't have the confidence to survive being engulfed in divine flames.
With a shiver running down my spine, I let out a sigh-filled lament.
“……Is that absolutely necessary?”
“If you want the truth from me, you should at least do that much, shouldn't you? Don’t forget that the lives of the hostages are in my hands.”
After hesitating for a long time, I finally squeezed my eyes shut.
“I swear. As long as you answer my questions truthfully, I will not kill you today.”
“‘Today’?”
“Then what, am I supposed to just let you attack me one-sidedly the next time we meet? Don’t push it.”
The retort I spat out in annoyance was perfectly reasonable.
No matter how stubborn a vampire’s subordinate might be, she couldn't push her luck any further. She nodded obediently and began to provide the promised information.
“First, none of the sisters among us have returned to being human… Why would we even want to? We’ve received such overflowing grace that we can wield power as we please!”
“You don’t want to regain your humanity?”
“Not at all.”
A thick, murderous smile followed her declaration.
I didn't even need to ask Cien. This woman was sincere.
“Do you think a ‘contract’ is that simple? We received grace, and in exchange, we have no choice but to love our Queen infinitely. There is no longer any way to reverse that decision.”
“What if the contract was forced?”
“Aha… so you were talking about the ‘slaves,’ not the ‘sisters’?”
As if finally grasping my hidden intent, the woman wore a faint, playful smile.
“It still doesn't change anything. The weak are devoured by the strong… it’s the law of the Great Nature.”
Before I could probe any further, the woman addressed the question I was truly curious about.
“And you said ‘Celine’? I’m sorry, but… I think there’s been some mistake.”
“……What?”
Seria had found gray hair at the scene.
To anyone’s eyes, it was highly likely to be the work of a vampire. However, Cien was merely staring at the vampire in silence.
The implication was clear.
The truth.
I gritted my teeth and suppressed the rising urge to argue. It was because the vampire was speaking.
“Why do you think I sneaked in here? It was to monitor the ‘slaves’… In other words, most of the kidnapped women remain in my memory. But I swear, I have never once seen the person you described.”
“You expect me to believe that……”
“Didn't you say you could verify the truth?”
Cien nodded quietly before I could even ask.
I wanted to spit out a curse, but the opponent had simply told the truth.
In the end, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and swallow my anger.
My childhood friend’s face floated in my mind.
If something happened to Celine like this, how could I ever look Reto in the eye?
It was right then.
“I was wondering how you were distinguishing lies, but those slit pupils… You’re Dragon Blood, aren't you, little girl?”
It was a voice drenched in murky desire.
The vampire’s blue eyes gleamed as they took in Cien. Her mouth hung open, looking as if she might start drooling at any moment.
The emotion her face revealed was unmistakable.
Appetite.
Cien wasn't oblivious to this. Her face turned pale as a sheet, and she began to step backward.
For me, it was a bewildering turn of events.
“What are you… wasn't I the one you were after?”
“Oh, the scent of your blood is sweet enough. But the brat next to you… I thought I smelled something delicious.”
With a grin, the vampire tilted her head slightly and acted coy toward me.
“You promised, didn't you? That you wouldn't kill me, at least ‘today’… no matter what I do.”
At those brazen words, my hand immediately went to my waist. At that, the vampire burst into an even clearer laugh.
“Ahahahaha! Relax, did I say I was going to do anything? Just, a very little bit… let me taste the blood. Even if it’s for our Queen……”
Even so, when I showed no sign of backing down, the vampire even stole a glance at her surroundings.
The lives of the hostages were still held in the vampire’s grasp.
The conditions were the same.
If I raised my Aura, she would kill the hostages.
She was walking a delicate tightrope to ensure I didn't break my oath. If she demanded too much, I might have broken the vow.
When I remained silent, Cien grabbed my sleeve with terrified eyes.
“S-Sir Ian……”
I didn't waver even at that pitiful voice.
I merely let out a sigh and slowly removed my hand from the sword hilt.
“……You’ll regret this.”
It was the moment the two women’s expressions fell into total discord.
Cien’s eyes welled up with tears, as if she couldn't believe she had been abandoned. On the other hand, the vampire stepped forward slowly with an expression of pure ecstasy.
“D-Don’t abandon me! Sir Ian, I was wrong… I won’t use bad words anymore! I’ll be a good girl! T-To be honest, I’ve had some naughty fantasies about you, Sir Ian… but I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong… L-Look! I can even mimic a dragon’s roar well… Hieeeek?!”
But that long plea couldn't even be finished.
Cien, who was making dragon claws with both hands, ended up screaming at the touch of the vampire who had approached within arm's reach.
“Don’t worry too much, little dragon… It will be over in an instant……”
It happened immediately after.
A slash echoed belatedly.
It was a speed no one could react to. Even I, who was watching the vampire right in front of me, couldn't even flinch.
It was an utterly surreal sight.
No one had moved, yet a blood-red hairline crack appeared on the vampire’s wrist. Soon, a crimson fountain erupted as the hand, having lost its owner, flew through the air.
It took a very short time for consciousness to return from the surreal to reality.
“A-Aaaaaaaagh! H-How dare… Who! Which bastard was it!”
Spitting out foul language, the vampire clutched her severed wrist and fiercely scanned her surroundings.
But no matter how much she looked, there was no way she would see anything.
Step, step.
As the sound of footsteps approached, the Princess and I naturally turned aside, opening a path for a girl.
A small girl with dark blue hair.
But her eyes were brilliant.
If one had encountered her on an unknown path, they would have thought of a firefly’s dance first.
Then, a low declaration was exhaled.
“It’s me.”
It was a death sentence.