Chapter 53: The Progenitor and the Masseur
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: The Progenitor and the Masseur
After sending the golem away for a moment, I stepped between the two vampires. I did it as naturally as if it were my duty.
“Hey, intruder. That’s enough of this crap. Stop it and get up.”
The eyes of the vampire and the intruder turned to me in unison. The vampire watched me with calm, placid eyes, while the intruder lifted his head slightly and glared.
A powerful thought emanated from the intruder, his audience interrupted.
How dare you! A mere human, interfering in this sacred audience with the Progenitor? Do you have a death wish?
The only reason those words didn’t leave his lips was because we were in the Progenitor’s presence. If she hadn’t been here, he would have lunged at me instantly.
If not for the Progenitor's presence, I would have torn you to shreds and drained all your blood with my Bloodcraft!
A fierce hostility was directed at me. To him, I must have looked like a meddler who had come to ruin his long-awaited meeting. Which was, in fact, true.
But I hadn’t stepped in without a plan. In the first place, if the vampire hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t have intervened at all.
Because from the very beginning, the one I was addressing wasn’t the intruder, but the vampire.
“Trainee Tyrkanzyaka.”
If I fought the intruder, I would lose. If we were both cut and bled, he could just scoop his blood back up like dropped coins, while I’d have to bandage myself up and rest for days.
In that case, it was simple: don’t fight.
Winning by fighting is for amateurs; the true master wins without fighting.
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin. The endlessly carefree attitude I usually maintained was all for this very moment.
I wiped the smile from my lips and furrowed my brow in annoyance. I shifted my body slightly, creating an unstable posture as if I might bolt at any second, making any observer uneasy.
To the intruder, who was seeing me for the first time, I probably looked like any common thug. But to the vampire, who had grown accustomed to my lighthearted and cheerful self, it would be a little strange.
Unfamiliarity breeds fear. For a brief moment, the vampire felt fear toward me.
…Of course, it wasn’t fear of my power, but the kind of momentary fear you feel when a close friend suddenly turns serious.
Surprisingly, the two are the same emotion.
“I have been very patient.”
The foundation of magic isn’t sleight of hand or fancy props.
The true art of magic is playing with the audience’s psyche.
In that sense, I was still a magician.
“You visited another’s domain in the middle of the night without notice, ignored the master and sought a guest as you pleased, and refused to comply with a legitimate request. My domain, my dignity, and my honor have all been threatened.”
I laid out my justification, subtly revealing my anger. I had given her enough clues. The vampire deduced the conclusion of my words on her own.
Since everything of mine had been threatened…
Don’t tell me. He’s going to kill him?
That single phrase flashing through her mind was all I needed.
“It is said that enduring a third rudeness is not mercy, but indulgence. As you know, I am a rather diligent person, so I cannot simply overlook this discourtesy.”
I narrowed my eyes and tapped a finger on my crossed arm, as if I could eliminate the intruder with that finger alone.
Putting on an arrogant air, I asked the vampire.
“However, out of my affection for Trainee Tyrkanzyaka, I will ask one last time. May I kill this intruder?”
I didn’t have a shred of ability to kill him, but the vampire, unaware of that, pleaded with me earnestly.
“…Please, don’t do it. I’m asking you.”
In the vampire’s mind, I was a powerhouse comparable to, or even greater than, the Regressor. Whether it was a ridiculous misunderstanding or not, if my opponent believed it, there was no reason not to use it.
The vampire is strong. Separately, she has no desire to interfere in the affairs of others. She merely watches everything from a strictly bystander position.
Even when the Military State discovered her beneath an old church they were demolishing, even when they failed to kill her and tried to throw her into the Abyss instead—the vampire knew, yet she allowed it to happen.
But even one as indifferent as her could not turn a blind eye to the affairs of her own kind. Because she pitied them, who were cursed and condemned. Out of a sense of responsibility for having created them.
The vampire pleaded with me desperately.
“For my sake, please.”
Good. A plea this earnest. She wouldn’t be suspicious if I stopped here.
“If you insist.”
Phew. Success.
I would’ve been in trouble if she’d told me to do as I pleased, kill him or spare him. It would have been strange to spare him in this atmosphere, but unfortunately, I had no means of killing the intruder right now.
But, pretending my lack of ability was a lack of will, I spun around and spoke to the intruder.
“You should know you’re only alive because Trainee Tyrkanzyaka has a pretty face.”
“Wh-What?!”
As if a switch had been flipped, I instantly created a lighthearted mood. I heard the vampire’s dumbfounded gasp behind me, but I ignored it for now.
“If that face were ugly, I would’ve personally pickled you in garlic today. That’s enough, now back off. Don’t cause a scene in the dead of night.”
“Pickled… in garlic?”
The intruder, not wanting to kneel before me, had awkwardly gotten to his feet. But even as I spewed insults, he couldn’t bring himself to attack or flee, just stood there ambiguously, his eyes darting around.
For the Progenitor to personally plead with him…? Could this human, despite his appearance, be an incredible powerhouse?
His gaze fell upon the vampire. The sight of his revered Progenitor looking this way with such concern was too serious to be a joke or a misunderstanding.
The vampire hierarchy is absolute. Doubting a superior is a blasphemy that makes one’s blood run cold, and thus, one cannot even question a superior’s judgment.
It’s possible. This is Tantalus! A place where all sorts of monsters were kept. This human could also be a monster beyond imagination!
The intruder, belatedly injected with a dose of etiquette, straightened his clothes. With the thought of not getting on my bad side any further, he cleared his throat and extended a hand.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am—”
“Forget it. It’s still night. You may not know, but this is when humans sleep and stand guard.”
I pointed a finger at the collapsed control room.
“Your room is that collapsed control room over there. There’s an empty cabinet, so use it as a coffin and go to sleep. Don’t expect any better treatment than that.”
“Grk.”
I’ve never been treated like this anywhere…! But this is where the Progenitor resided. The other inhabitants of the Abyss must also be powerful and mysterious, even if not to her extent. For now, I must bow my head! Survival comes first!
The intruder gave a curt nod only to the vampire, then headed for the collapsed control room without even meeting my eyes.
Phew. Thank goodness. He didn’t attack.
As expected, if you’re going to bluff, you have to go all in. Even a guy who pranced around like a noble of the night bowed his head to me. It was worth it, acting like a powerhouse through all those crises.
My actions weren’t wrong. While I was momentarily lost in a thrill of victory…
“Thank you.”
I saw a parasol swaying at the edge of my vision. The vampire had come to stand beside me. I replied calmly.
“It’s nothing, between us. I can grant a request like this.”
“Between us?”
“Aren’t we on heart-fiddling terms? We’ve formed such a deep relationship, after all.”
“Pfft. Yes. Indeed, we have.”
The vampire burst out laughing. Then, with a look of subtle anticipation, she brought a hand to the valley of her chest.
Ah, wait a minute. Again?
Her skin split open. As it parted, things that shouldn’t be seen were revealed. The lamplight didn’t reach that secret place, so nothing was visible in the shadowed cleavage.
But now, I was confident. Confident that I could find the heart hidden within using only the sense of touch in my hand.
“Since you brought it up, would you do it for me once?”
“Now? In the middle of all this?”
“What’s wrong with now? Isn’t it the perfect time? It’s dark all around, the whole world is quiet, and no one is watching us.”
Her red eyes sparkled with anticipation. I sighed and raised my fingers.
I don’t particularly want to recall what followed.
The squishy texture (the heart), fingers fumbling and digging inside (ribs and lungs), a flashing sensation (electric magic) accompanied by a feverish moan. A warm liquid gushing out like a fountain (blood).
After the deed was done, while I was mentally editing the memory for my own sanity, the vampire satisfactorily straightened her skin and clothes.
“Huhu. Thank you. I shall retire now.”
With those words, the vampire sat atop her jet-black coffin. The coffin, without a sound or presence, moved smoothly, carrying her toward the underground armory. The steel door, marked with a crimson brand, swung wide open to welcome her. Only after the large coffin and her shimmering silver hair had disappeared did the steel door close with a heavy thud.
Jet-black darkness and silence returned. I walked back to the lamp I had set down.
Only then did the golem begin to spew words as if a dam had broken.
『What was that, just now? What in the world did you do?』
“Something tingly and pleasant.”
『Tingly?』
“It’s hard to explain. Just think of it as something like a massage.”
If it could understand with just that, it would have to be a god or a mind reader. The golem, being neither, tilted its head and came to its own conclusion.
『In any case, it appears your relationship with the Progenitor is not a bad one.』
“It’s an effort to survive.”
The golem nodded.
『Then things could become much easier. The visit from another vampire is an unforeseen situation. Active measures from on-site personnel are required.』
I replied nonchalantly.
“Yep. Work hard. Oh, and don’t forget my reward.”
『A reward, you say?』
“You’re not thinking of stiffing me, are you? I just stepped between two vampires with the body of a normal person. I just put my life on the line for the Military State; there should at least be some compensation.”
『It is the duty of a citizen of the Military State to serve the Military State.』
What utter nonsense. I snatched the golem up. Held by the neck and dangling in the air, the golem flailed its limbs and shouted.
『Cease this threatening behavior immediately. An accumulation of negative evaluations may result in disadvantages regarding your release or post-mortem assessment.』
“If the Captain’s orders keep piling up this excessively, I think I’ll die before I get any assessment. Please make requests that make sense. If you were going to use me like this, you should have brought a real warden, not me.”
『Are you not currently impersonating a warden to survive? Impersonating a military officer is a capital offense, punishable by death. The fact that I am overlooking this should be considered a significant enough reward.』
“Huh? Just because it makes a sound doesn’t make it a speaker, Captain Abbey.”
I flicked the golem’s speaker off. Having lost its mouth, the golem frantically flailed its limbs, reaching for me.
“You might not see it, but I’m putting my life on the line here, Captain Abbey. From now on, let’s try to consider the other person’s situation when we speak. Your answer.”
The golem rapidly nodded its head up and down. After enjoying the sight for a good while, I flicked the speaker back with my finger.
The golem hastily reached out to catch the flying speaker, but its steel frame was too rigid to grab anything properly. It fumbled like someone who’d been burned before finally managing to cradle the crystal orb speaker in its arms. The way it held it so preciously, as if afraid I might steal it, was pathetic.
After somehow reattaching the speaker, the golem spoke, sounding exhausted.
『…I will grant one form of compensation, provided it is within my authority. However, I cannot overstep my authority, even if this unit is destroyed.』
See, whether golem or human, they only get compliant when they feel a threat to their well-being. I set the golem back down.
“Well, it’s nothing much. Just send me some mana herbs. I’ve been using Workaday magic every day lately, and my mana is so depleted my body feels weak.”
『Mana herbs are Level 2 luxury goods. That is not permitted for you…』
When I tapped the speaker, the golem quickly changed its tune.
『However, it is an item that can be requested for supply purposes. As there is a valid reason, I will have it supplied within a few days.』
“Great. Make sure to pack it full. To be honest, compared to the work I’m doing now, those mana herbs are nothing.”
After that one threat, I turned away. Yawn. I’m sleepy. I should get back and sleep.
Sufficient sleep is the shortcut to a long life. I let out a big yawn and started to head back to my room.
Just then, the golem grabbed my pant leg again.
『Wait a moment. Please transport this unit to the cafeteria.』
“What?”
『Without your assistance, it will be difficult for this unit to return to the cafeteria with its many obstacles. Please take this unit to the cafeteria…』
“I can’t hear you very well. That’s strange. I heard you just fine on the way here. Is it because your words have gone all stiff again?”
As I pretended to clean my ear, the golem stopped talking. It seemed to have realized what I was demanding.
『You have a duty to comply with my legitimate request…』
“Try that again. What was that?”
After a moment of hesitation, the golem replied in a choppy voice.
『…A piggy. Back ride. Please. Oppa.』
I answered in kind.
“You got it.”