Chapter 109: The Beast, the Beast King, and the Human - 5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: The Beast, the Beast King, and the Human - 5
After my escape magic ended.
Dozens of expressions flickered across Lieutenant General Ebon's face.
Bewilderment, futility, anger, despair, failure, regret, resentment, and more.
But what could he do? Had I shown any sign of releasing him midway, things might have been different. But now that I was far away, there was nothing he could do.
“Lieutenant Colonel!”
“Hah!”
Just then, the Undying and Tyr arrived. The Undying rushed to support Callis as she was about to collapse, but Tyr, seemingly uninterested in the bleeding woman, examined me instead.
“Were you not frightened? What were you thinking, running out on your own? You should have at least given me a hint!”
That would have been impossible. If I had told this vampire, who cares for nothing but my life and death, she would have grabbed me first instead of letting me go.
Instead of answering honestly, I shrugged and trailed off.
“As long as I’m fine, that’s all that matters. I’m okay, so please return that woman’s blood.”
As I replied nonchalantly, Tyr narrowed her eyes.
“Her blood, you say?”
“Yes. Your Bloodcraft may have weakened, but you can still redirect flowing blood back inside, can’t you?”
Long ago, Tyr was a healer. Back then, she used her Bloodcraft to staunch people’s wounds.
Since she could do it then, I figured she could at least return some blood with her Bloodcraft now that she had her life back. It was with that judgment that I made my reasonable request.
For some reason, Tyr puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
“Was that soldier’s life so precious? Precious enough for you to risk your own?”
‘I was so worried you might die, yet you seem to care less for your own life than I do!’
Oh boy, she’s really mad. How should I handle this?
Win with a war of words? Or appeal to her emotions?
This isn't over yet, so I should probably take the easy way out.
Instead of talking back, I raised my hand and toyed with her hair. The delicate silver strands rolled softly against my fingertips.
As Tyr stopped talking and flinched at the sudden closeness, I slowly tousled the silver hair resting in my palm and spoke.
“If I had died, you would have turned me into a vampire, right?”
A statement that was slightly off-topic, suggesting that even in death, I could just become a vampire. But to stir the emotions, weight is more important than logic.
To my words, which were akin to a confession, Tyr timidly replied.
“Th-That may be so… but my Bloodcraft is not what it once was…”
I asked innocently.
“You can’t?”
“Even if you became a vampire from my blood now, if you were far away… the blood wouldn’t move properly.”
“So it doesn’t work if I’m far away?”
Smiling, I brought a lock of her hair to the tip of my nose and murmured.
“Then I’ll just have to stay close. Still, if it means I get to live… it’s a price worth paying, don’t you think?”
“Ngh…!”
Tyr’s face turned red as a beet. Looks like her heart is working just fine.
Tyr reflexively pulled away from me and, snapping tartly, turned toward Callis.
“…You just try dying. I’ll bring you back and work you to death!”
And with that, Tyr did as I asked and began returning Callis’s blood. She was even kind enough to gather shadows to support Callis’s body.
The Undying, understanding there was nothing more he could do for Callis, left her to Tyr and stepped back. With his hands now free, he approached me.
“Teacher, you’ve worked hard!”
“I certainly did work hard. Hard enough that I should be able to take a break soon.”
“Still, I must point this out! You’re quite the prankster! To be playing jokes in such a dire situation!”
“A prank?”
“Pretending you couldn’t break the chains!”
“What? That looked like a prank to you?”
“…It wasn’t?”
The Undying blinked.
Wow, I save someone’s life and this is the thanks I get? Not hiding my indignation, I cried out as if the world were ending.
“Good grief. I work my tail off and you criticize my attitude! Just imagine if I had broken the chains right away. You think that lieutenant general would have just backed off? He would’ve thrown his blades at me in a heartbeat!”
“Now that I think about it, you’re right! I have no rebuttal!”
The Undying was immediately convinced and nodded his head.
“You just had such a joyful look on your face that I misunderstood! My apologies!”
“I’ll forgive you, so watch yourself from now on.”
It was true that I was having fun.
But shouldn’t that be considered a secondary factor? Since I had to act for the sake of safety anyway, it’s better if I can enjoy myself in the process, right?
“Anyway, you’re quite skilled. To think you could break free in such a short time.”
I shrugged.
“This is what happens when you use a shoddy weapon like a claw. Weapons should be made of a single, solid piece, not something you assemble or take apart.”
Not that he used it by choice. The rank of a general in the Military State isn’t something you can achieve while giving up the weapon that suits you best.
It was then.
“Woof! Woof woof!”
From the other side, a cheerful Azzy came running and barking. A chain was tied to her arm, connected to the handle of the claw, and the ten-meter-long chain rippled like a wave every time she ran.
Lieutenant General Ebon had fled the moment he failed, so Azzy ran straight toward me without any obstruction.
“You rascal, you really made me work for it.”
Still, she must have seen me the most, because she ran right for me. I was feeling deeply moved, thinking this is the reward for raising a dog… but for some reason, Azzy wasn’t slowing down. Instead of reducing her speed, she leaped into my arms.
“Gack!”
I’m confident I’d fall ungracefully even if a normal dog jumped on me, and Azzy has the body of an adult. With the chain attached to her on top of that, even a sturdy man like me couldn’t withstand it.
Azzy, who had landed on top of my fallen form, licked my face repeatedly.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Aish. Hey! I’m not hurt! Stop licking me!”
“Woof!”
It’s nice that she knows how to show gratitude, but her method is all wrong. Instead of licking me, I wish she’d go fetch some money from somewhere.
I untied the chain from Azzy’s arm and spoke to her.
“Alright, that’s enough, Azzy. I have a job for you.”
“Woof?”
“Outside, there’s a cat. Not a prickly human who acts like a cat, but a real cat.”
“Woof!”
How uncomfortable she must have been until now. Bound by chains on her arm, and bound by a promise. Aigoo, how much pain she must have been in because I hadn’t said these words yet.
Clang. The chain fell away.
I then gave an order to Azzy, whose hands were now free.
The order to release the chain that had been restraining Azzy until now.
“That cat is bothering us. So, go bite her.”
“…Grrrr.”
With permission granted, Azzy bared her teeth in delight. She shot up from on top of me and walked outside, letting out a low growl that echoed throughout the Abyss.
Good. It looks like the Regressor has nearly finished off Nabi outside. If Azzy goes, she can definitely finish the job.
Having roughly finished my task, I dusted off my hands. Now, all that was left was…
“Huh? Mr. Rasch. Where are you going?”
I looked up to see the Undying striding off somewhere. When I asked, he waved his hand and replied.
“Ah, don’t mind me! I’m just going to look for the lieutenant general! I’d like to see him!”
“The lieutenant general?”
“That’s right. I have something to ask him!”
I glanced over at Tyr. Perhaps because the range of her Bloodcraft had narrowed, she was sticking close to Callis and couldn’t pay attention to us.
I carefully got to my feet to follow him.
“What a coincidence. I had business with him, too. Let’s go together.”
“I’m not exactly going to fight, you know. Is that alright?”
“I’m not going to fight either. I just have something to ask.”
“Alright! Well then, let’s g—!”
I quickly brought a finger to my lips.
“Shh. Quietly. And let’s go secretly. If Tyr hears I’m going after the lieutenant general, she’ll have a fit.”
The Undying, who had been blinking, understood my words and lowered his voice.
“Haha! You sound like a husband who’s been kicked out! Very well. Let’s go! Secretly!”
Getting the cold shoulder would be a relief. Imagine getting hit by that fist. It’s the same fist that nearly killed the Beast King in a single blow.
Right now she doesn’t know how to use it properly, but if she ever masters it completely… Ugh.
I shook my head and followed the Undying.
With the stealth befitting a cat beastkin, Lieutenant General Ebon was heading for the rooftop. The Undying and I tailed him.
‘A disastrous failure. I am always prepared to die. But I cannot die a failure like this.’
Even in this state, Ebon desperately clawed his way toward life.
If it were merely tenacity for life, I would applaud it. But I know better. That is the scream of a man searching for a final stop.
A flame that would calmly burn other books for the sake of a perfect ending that will never be ready.
‘The biggest cause… that dangerous person. I heard she was subdued by one of the Six Generals, Sunderspear, which should have made her several ranks below him. I thought we could handle her if we used the Cat King or if I stepped in myself….’
The Regressor’s existence was a variable for him. Unlike the Beast King or the Progenitor, she was a dangerous individual whose very existence was unclear, making her difficult to approach rashly.
His assessment is similar to mine, which is reassuring.
What a relief. She isn’t just violent toward me. Regressor, you truly are an impartial disaster that threatens everyone equally.
‘…But even so, things went strangely wrong. The lieutenant colonel betrayed me, and the colonel and the Cat King were rendered powerless so futilely. There must have been another variable I failed to consider….’
Another variable you failed to consider?
We call that the world. The world is nothing but variables.
You’re not some cowardly prophet; you can’t be expected to predict and foresee everything in the world.
‘Therefore, I must get out somehow. And sink this Tantalus. Variables and all.’
“You can’t do that! There are people on board!”
At my shout, Ebon, who was walking toward the center of the rooftop, flinched in surprise and turned around. Soon after, the Undying and I also arrived on the rooftop.
Even after seeing us, Ebon showed no sign of tension and acknowledged our presence.
“Ah, the Undying and the laborer.”
The Undying spoke to him.
“A pleasure, Lieutenant General. I am Rasch. Also the man you tore to shreds.”
“And yet, you have revived and now stand before me.”
It was a skillful retort. He was also surprisingly composed for a man on the run.
The Undying nodded emphatically.
“That’s right! Well, I hold no grudge against you, Lieutenant General. If I held a grudge every time my body got a little banged up, the world would be full of people to resent! This is a secret, but everyone here in this Abyss has had a go at my body at least once!”
True, Azzy, the Regressor, Tyr, and I had all wrecked the Undying’s body at some point.
The Undying exclaimed cheerfully. The lieutenant general replied with a benevolent smile.
“Yes. That is the kind of man you are. Thanks to that, I didn’t feel much guilt when I tore you apart.”
“It’s fine! You don’t need to feel guilty for tearing me apart! The people here felt no guilt toward me either!”
…I’m sorry, Mr. Rasch.
I apologized to him in my mind before he could start holding a grudge.
“However! There is something I’m curious about!”