Chapter 459: Escape from the Duchy no.1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 459: Escape from the Duchy no.1
Tyr's villa was built atop a high cliff overlooking the coast. Befitting a vampire, it was a structure built solely with views and shade in mind, lacking any practical facilities like a fireplace or a dining hall. The moment I stepped past the walls, I saw the dimming sunlight stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
A vampire wouldn't watch the sunrise, but even without the light, it was a magnificent sight. Feeling the mystery of nature anew, I clenched and unclenched my fist.
It wasn't human. Nor was it a grand principle of nature.
It was mine alone.
But that's what made it so strange. Though I had lost my power, I was still the King of Humans, which meant I should only be able to wield the powers that humans use. I shouldn't be able to use personal powers like Unique Magic or Qi Arts.
How odd. Is this another side effect of losing my power? What in the world is happening to me?
Then again, finding that out is why I'm searching for the Divine.
Ah, screw it. I'll figure it out later. First, I run. I looked around, searching for an escape route...
“Huh.”
Something was off. What was it? As I mulled over the feeling of unease, I noticed the clear view and frowned.
There was no mist.
There was some sea spray, but only the amount you'd expect from any ocean. A view stretching faintly to the horizon was uncharacteristic of the Duchy of Mist.
Was it because Tyr had gathered the darkness to herself? That was certainly part of it, but not all. The clouds and sea mist were strangely sparse.
It was as if the Leviathan in the sea below was holding its breath. The thought made me mutter aloud.
“Come to think of it, Lord Sanguine also gathered the humans into his castle in preparation for something.”
I didn't think much of it at the time, but looking back, it's quite peculiar. He must have acted on information about the Great Tide from the Regressor. Warning him in advance about a tide caused by the Leviathan... was the Regressor planning to reveal that she's a Regressor or a prophet? Well, I suppose she can just regress if things go wrong, so maybe it doesn't matter.
But that's not the important part!
The thing is, she never once thought about the Great Tide when she was with me or Tyr! If she had simply not mentioned it, I would've understood that she was trying to hide it! But how am I supposed to know if it never even crossed her mind?!
You'd think she'd pay more attention to a catastrophe like the Great Tide. In any case, I now had one more reason to leave the duchy. I started down the path on the other side of the cliff. Perhaps because Valdamir had summoned all the humans, the coast, which should have been bustling at this time, was completely empty.
This should make escaping easier. Right, I should probably meet up with Hilde first...
Just as I was thinking that.
“Have you concluded your business?”
As expected, the world wasn't about to let me go free.
Lord Sanguine's confidante, Countess Erte, approached as if she had been waiting. She cornered me, leaving no path for retreat, and offered a polite greeting.
“I understand the Progenitor brought you here. Where might she be?”
“Ah, in the villa. Tyr is a sleepyhead who hates the sun, so she told me to enjoy the view alone.”
“Is that so.”
Dammit. I hated myself for telling such an obvious lie, but I also hated this vampire for nodding so calmly as if she believed it. I feigned composure as best I could and asked.
“More importantly, what brings you here?”
“I am under Lord Sanguine's orders to assist the consort.”
“Wasn't that order fulfilled?”
“No. It was merely postponed for a more urgent command. The order is still valid.”
Vampires are die-hard creatures of principle. They live by the single rule of obeying their lord's command, carrying out orders without a change in expression, whether they want to or not.
But being a retainer doesn't make one a fool.
“Where are you headed? If you tell me your destination, I will guide you.”
‘Until the Progenitor forsakes her love for him, he is still the consort. However, should he betray the Progenitor and attempt to flee the duchy, it would be difficult to afford him the same treatment... Of course, until he flees, he has not fled.’
She understood Lord Sanguine's meaning perfectly.
Of course, Countess Erte was not Lord Sanguine. She was naturally weaker and lacked his authority. I had no reason to fear Countess Erte herself.
But I had every reason to fear Lord Sanguine's limbs. Because Lord Sanguine was testing me right now!
Tch. Still, it didn't seem like he intended to stop my escape. I might as well accept the help for now.
“Ah, well. First, I'd like to meet up with my companion.”
“As for her, she is right here.”
Countess Erte gestured naturally behind her. There was nothing but scattered rocks where she pointed, but at her signal, Hilde, who had been tailing her, appeared with an awkward expression.
“What, you noticed me? Tch, it's so hard to get anything done in this vampire country~. Disguises don't work, tailing is difficult. It takes all the fun out of it!”
“It was difficult to sense your presence. Had it not been for the blood on your clothes, I might not have noticed... In any case, I intended for you two to meet, so the outcome is the same.”
After her calm reply, Countess Erte turned to me as if to ask, Is that all?
“So, anything else?”
She intended to help me escape. Whether she planned to chase down her freed prey later or simply let it go, I didn't know. I had no choice.
Since it had come to this, I might as well be shameless.
“I suddenly feel like taking a grand tour of the duchy. I feel like walking to the very end of this country. Would you be so kind as to guide me as close to the border as possible?”
“What? Father. That's a little too obvious.”
A direct approach. Faced with a frontal assault so blunt it even bewildered Hilde, Countess Erte simply gave a sociable smile and nodded.
“I will guide you.”
Until you flee, you have not fled. In other words, until I actually make my escape, they won't pursue me. In that case, I'll go as far as I can before I make my move.
With firm resolve, I followed Countess Erte.
*
The King of Humans has become whole. The Progenitor's gift has been delivered.
Now, he can become ordinary. He has earned the right to learn Qi Arts and magic, to accumulate them within his body. He has gained the strength to remain different. So far, so good.
But let's not be complacent. Destiny begins to change now.
Until the humans abandon their king...
No.
Until the King of Humans abandons humanity.
*
And so began our strange journey with the vampire. Countess Erte guided us with the utmost sincerity. Not only did she provide meals on time, but she also arranged places for us to rest along the way. Being fugitives, we didn't use them often, but thanks to her, Hilde and I traveled without discomfort.
Physically comfortable, of course, but not mentally. Hilde glanced nervously at Countess Erte, who stood impassively without eating or sleeping, and whispered.
“Father. Is it really okay to go this slowly?”
“Even if we hurry, we'll just collapse from exhaustion. It's better to conserve as much strength as possible until we make our real escape.”
Though I had answered in a low voice, Countess Erte overheard and asked.
“Did you just say escape?”
“Just a figure of speech, that's all.”
“I almost misunderstood. Please, rest.”
We were seeing right through each other. It seemed fair, but I was actually at a disadvantage. As a mind reader, it's only natural for me to peek at my opponent's hand, but a vampire shouldn't be able to do that. You guys have long lifespans and immortal regeneration, so why are you calling for a showdown? Are your stakes that high?
In any case, Hilde, now a fugitive, let out a deep sigh.
“Tyrkanzyaka... I thought she was a colder person. It seems 'my' judgment was mistaken. I never imagined she could be this headstrong.”
“People change.”
“Hearing that from the person who changed her makes me want to smack you~.”
“If we make it out of the duchy, I'll let you have one free hit.”
“Did you just say escape...”
“A joke, just a joke.”
“Be careful. Even jokes, if taken too far, might be believed.”
Valdamir wouldn't pursue us until he judged that we had 'escaped.' So, we had to conserve our strength right up to that precarious line, and then, once the chase began, we'd have to use all our power to get away.
Hilde understood my plan. She just didn't trust my ability to pull it off.
“But Father, you're so frail. Do you really think you can escape when tireless vampires are on your tail?”
“Still, escaping is my specialty. Don't worry. What about you, Hilde? Weren't you crushed like a toy by Tyr?”
“What do you take 'me' for? Acting like I'm in pain is a basic skill, you know~. Though it did hurt a little.”
Acting like she was in pain? From what I saw, her arms and legs were sticking out from between the shadow's fingers. You can't fake that.
Well, she was a master of Qi Arts, so maybe she managed somehow.
Hilde clasped her hands on the table and gave me a subtle smile.
“Father. You know, don't you?”
“Know what?”
“‘I’ could escape alone. Tyrkanzyaka's target is you, after all.”
She was right. The Shadow had let me go, but I had no idea what Tyr would do. I had used my powers to betray her in grand fashion, so she could capture and imprison me now without a shred of guilt. Honestly, if that happened, it would be game over. Not even Tyr would fall for the same trick twice.
“But she wouldn't care whether 'I' live or die. She'd probably just kill me. Frankly, from 'my' perspective, it might be better if you were caught.”
“I suppose so. Better to roll in dog shit in this life than to die, as they say.”
Of course, this was a luxury I could afford to ponder. For Hilde, her life was truly on the line. The rational choice for her would be to capture me and hand me over to Tyr.
Fortunately, Hilde didn't make the rational choice to abandon me here.
“Sooo~. Father, you absolutely must! Repay 'me'!”
“Of course.”
“Even if 'I'm' not around! I'll make the Military State the beneficiary!”
“Yes, yes.”
“It's a promise!”
“I get it.”
‘Such a half-hearted answer~. But still, this more or less takes the form of a 'promise,' right?’
Hilde hid her inner thoughts, her eyes narrowing slightly.
‘Now that it's been revealed that he's the King of Humans, the only place for him is the Military State anyway. Only a nation without a king can embrace the King of Humans. I think Yuel dreamed of a nation that didn't need a king, but... that's pretty much failed, hasn't it? She'll overlook this much, I'm sure!’
A king, huh... Well, it was true that other nations with kings or emperors wouldn't welcome me. The Military State was indeed the best place to stay. But Hilde seemed to believe I would naturally become king just by going there.
She was probably the only one who wanted that. Well, she did help me. It might be good to meet her expectations to some extent. As I was about to dismiss it, a strange feeling came over me, and I tilted my head.
Pity? Me? For Hilde?
What nonsense. Feeling sorry for Hilde, a Crusader and the Camarilla of the Six Generals, a master of all kinds of Qi Arts and Holy Power? I must be getting soft. I should be spending this time planning my escape.
Just then, Countess Erte sensed a faint blood aura and stood up. She stared intently into the distance, in the direction of the aura, then approached Hilde and me to excuse herself.
“Pardon me for a moment. Someone is calling for me. I will go and see what it is.”
“Ah, yes. Take your time. There's no rush, so be as slow as you can.”
“I shall try, Consort of the Progenitor. I say this out of an abundance of caution, but should you happen to run away, I and the other vampires may be forced to give chase.”
“Hahaha. I'll keep that in mind.”
As we saw Countess Erte off, Hilde and I looked at each other and nodded. Then, without a word, we both grabbed our belongings and bolted from the inn.
And so it began—our escape from the predators who feast on humans.