Chapter 192
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Do You Know What They Call That?
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Slash!
Rose swung her sword fiercely.
The moment its body touched the blade, the shadow monster split apart left and right as if tearing itself in two.
Three, four, five, six.
One burrowed toward her side to dodge the sword, another leaped over its comrade's corpse, one extended tentacles from afar, and another spat slime.
There was no tactic or strategy in their frenzied rush—just pure savagery.
No hint of intelligence whatsoever.
Instead, filling that void was brutality.
The shadow monsters charged madly, heedless of their comrades' deaths, instilling an instinctive chill.
'Three, four.'
But she wasn't intimidated.
She sliced the one lunging at her side.
She pierced the one jumping overhead.
With a light flick of one hand, she deflected the incoming tentacles and slime.
The fog in the air twisted in the wake of her hand's motion, flinging the tentacles and slime aside.
A single swing simultaneously.
Slash!
'...As expected.'
Rose muttered inwardly.
She'd succeeded in cutting through part of the fog, but she hadn't managed to cleave the tentacles or the shadow monster that had spat the slime.
For the Azure Dragon Princess employing the Void-Cleaving Sword Style, it was a pitiful result.
But while she felt regret, she wasn't surprised.
This was twilight hour.
The one time when the Azure Dragon Clan's psionics—which handled space as effortlessly as breathing—were restricted.
That was why she hadn't saved Jessica in time before, and why she couldn't escape with Rimon via spatial transfer now.
Of course, that didn't mean Rose had any reason to fear these measly monsters.
She was the Azure Dragon Princess.
The strongest knight of the Azure Dragon Clan.
'Five.'
Splat!
Rose clenched one hand into a fist, then flicked away the water droplet that formed in her grasp with her finger.
She turned from the shadow monster whose tentacle had shattered like it had taken a cannon shell and charged the last one spewing slime.
Was it its final struggle?
The shadow monster sprayed slime like a fountain.
But Rose didn't dodge—instead, she plunged straight through it and cleaved the shadow monster apart.
'Six.'
Slash!
Blood and slime rained down like a downpour.
But all that filth was blocked by an invisible armor, veering away without even wetting the hem of Rose's clothes.
She swung her sole-stained sword to shake off the blood from the blade, then sheathed it.
And with a sigh, she gazed at the remnants of the shadow monsters melting away.
'Same as before, huh.'
If there were corpses left, she could investigate them.
But just as she felt frustrated by how they vanished without a trace, truly as if made of shadow...
Rose turned back, worried Rimon might have panicked at the sight.
And she froze.
"Hm, this is pretty unique."
Lick.
Rimon was alternating glances between the spot where the shadow monster's corpse had melted away and the bloodstain on his pants, comparing them.
His nonchalant demeanor was baffling enough.
But seeing him swipe some blood with his finger and taste it left Rose utterly dumbfounded.
"...What are you doing?"
"What else? Confirming."
"Confirming what?"
"You said these monsters killed Jessica, right? So of course I have to check their identity."
Rimon replied as if it were the most obvious question.
His utterly casual attitude made Rose wonder if she'd asked something stupid, but she pressed on hesitantly.
"Can you identify a monster by tasting its blood?"
"Nah, no clue."
"..."
"But I can tell it's not a proper living thing."
As if my tongue has built-in DNA analysis or something.
Rimon brazenly followed up, leaving Rose speechless again, then continued quietly.
"At least, as far as I know, no creature in the world has blood this sweet."
"Sweet? The blood?"
"Yeah. Looks like they mixed a bunch of stuff together... From my experience, that's usually artificial."
Rimon spat out the lingering blood from his mouth.
It bubbled and evaporated just like the corpses, and he smirked coldly at the sight.
"Artificially created monsters."
"...How can you tell?"
"Call it experience and age."
"..."
Rose fell silent.
It wasn't just because Rimon—who seemed around her age, maybe a bit older—gave such an absurd answer.
Despite zero evidence, his words carried undeniable conviction.
What was this young man's true identity, to make such nonsense so persuasive?
Rimon calmly asked the conflicted Rose,
"Seeing this, it's clear someone’s behind the witch murders. Anything else you know?"
"..."
"Hm, looks like you have suspicions but no solid leads or evidence."
Rimon chuckled.
Then, arms crossed, he continued.
"Here's a proposal."
"What kind?"
"Nothing big. Just share info until we catch the culprit."
"..."
"What do you say? You haven't found clear clues yet either, right? Teaming up would be better."
Rose pondered the unexpected offer.
It was tempting.
Allying with Rimon would secure the witch from the 27th lineage's cooperation.
No—even without her, Rimon's personal aid alone would be huge, based on what she'd seen.
Especially now, with the Makers Guild blocking their investigation.
"I refuse."
But Rose shook her head.
Rimon wasn't disappointed.
As if he'd expected it, he asked flatly,
"Solving the London incidents with outside help would tarnish your reputation?"
"I won't deny that's part of it."
"Then what's the real reason?"
"It's too dangerous."
Rose stated firmly.
Even those shadow monsters from moments ago.
She'd dispatched them quickly, but only because she was the Azure Dragon Princess.
Their power was no joke—even high-level players or Seven Dragon Society elites would feel threatened.
Chasing their mastermind was far too risky. Jessica, an exceptional witch, had died doing just that.
She couldn't drag the 'fragile musician' into this, Rose explained earnestly.
And Rimon lost his composure.
"...Just to confirm, that 'fragile musician' isn't me, is it?"
"If you're offended, I apologize. But nearly getting beaten by a mere servant convinces me this is beyond you."
Rose bowed her head slightly.
Her polite demeanor and lake-clear eyes showed it wasn't lip service.
She was genuinely concerned for Rimon and refused out of worry.
Realizing that, Rimon let out a hollow laugh.
"Indeed, that's very Azure Dragon Clan of you."
"What do you mean?"
Rose looked puzzled, sensing the subtle emotion in his words.
Meeting her gaze with cold eyes, Rimon asked bluntly,
"Hey, Countess. Remember forgiving that thief who scammed you and the street vendor?"
"Of course."
"Others might call it overflowing mercy. But I don't think you forgave them out of kindness."
Rimon sneered.
And in a icy tone, he said,
"You dismissed them."
"...I can't accept that."
"Really?"
Even as Rose's face stiffened, Rimon didn't wipe the smile from his face.
He only deepened the mockery.
"Then, Countess, when you realized they'd scammed you, did you feel even a shred of disappointment?"
"That's..."
"No, right? Disappointment requires prior expectations."
"..."
Rose shut her mouth.
If asked if she pitied them, felt true sympathy, or acted out of duty, she'd affirm without hesitation.
But had she expected anything from them?
No answer.
To her, those con artists were mere weaklings a knight and noble must protect—not beings to expect from.
"You're always like that. You dispense justice and mercy, but expect nothing from others."
Rimon mocked her silence, as if it were predictable.
And he said,
"Do you know what they call raising people one-sidedly, without any expectations?"
"..."
"Livestock."
"...!"
"Being generous, maybe pets? Doesn't matter. You don't see humans as humans either way."
Rose's lips parted as if to retort.
But they only trembled; no words came.
To her, Rimon said coldly,
"That's why your kind were the worst rulers even in the Bronze Age."
The Azure Dragon Clan was always merciful.
They provided food so none starved, protected from enemies and threats, led by example in all things.
But that's precisely why the humans they ruled became lazier, weaker, stupider than any other clan's subjects.
They gave livestock happiness.
No growth, strength, or effort needed.
Just live like pigs, and enjoy comfort without inconvenience.
Thus, the Sword Emperor despised the Azure Dragon Clan most among the Seven Dragon Society's families and scorned humans who praised their mercy.
"Countess, how you judge others is your freedom."
Rimon said quietly.
Whether she saw all humans as inferior weaklings needing protection.
That was her heart; he wouldn't interfere.
"But don't arbitrarily put me on that pedestal and treat me like a helpless incompetent without your aid."
That was for others.
If she wanted to treat him that way, prove she had the right first.
Staring straight at Rose, Rimon continued coldly.
"Anyway, if you don't want to cooperate, fine. I'll investigate on my own."
"..."
"If you want, I'll leave the countess's estate. My sticking around probably bothers you."
Stone-still Rose snapped to attention at those words.
And almost reflexively,
"No need for that."
"Why? Worried I'll wander off alone and end up like Jessica?"
"...No. It's too late now; you'd disrupt the event preparations."
"Fair enough."
With a smirk, Rimon turned.
And as he walked into the thick fog, he added quietly,
"Don't worry about the performance. For Julia's sake alone, I'll give the best show on Walpurgis Night."
"..."
Rose watched his back with conflicted eyes, then silently followed.
No matter how displeased Rimon was, she couldn't let the fragile musician roam alone in twilight hour.
She was Rose Cy-Serpent.
The princess of the righteous and merciful Azure Dragon Clan.