Chapter 112
Chapter 112
I've learned a valuable lesson." Yet the man showed no sign of shame, instead clasping his fists in a pure gesture of respect and bowing his head. "..." She turned her head away without so much as a glance at him. Her expression was utterly indifferent, as if regarding a mere insect skittering across the floor. "Eek..!" The direction her face turned was toward a red-haired woman who had been watching their duel from the shadows at the rear. "What the hell are you doing?! Can't even beat that loser?! Do you have any idea how many enhancement drugs I poured into you for this?! Get back in there and fight! Pick up your sword!!!" "...
My apologies for speaking boldly, but even if I take up my sword again, nothing will change. This is my defeat." "Eeek..!" She stomped her foot in frustration at the man before fixing a venomous glare on the woman who had bested him. "D-don't you dare get cocky! I don't know what tricks a wretch like you pulled to earn His Lord's favor, but that's not your power!! If you keep strutting around like the strength Lord bestowed upon you is your own, this Lady Radiya will drive a stake right into your—" "Hey." -Flinch! Radiya, who had so named herself, trembled at the sight of the other woman staring back with an indifferent expression that carried an icy chill, heedless of her venomous barbs. It had been a duel born of jealousy upon hearing rumors that this stray familiar—one who couldn't even guard her master's side properly—had somehow gained the Lord's favor. She was the strongest among Radiya's many familiars. In life, she had been a swordmaster no less, and after turning her, Radiya had spared no expense, slathering her with every enhancement item imaginable... How could she lose to some masterless familiar bitch like that! A clean defeat. She had lost to a half-baked familiar who couldn't even properly serve her own master. Backing down now would mean being treated like a bloodsucker by her peers and scorned by her fellow familiars. Vampires were the noble aristocrats of the night, possessed of immense pride and dignity. For them, bending one's pride was akin to laying down one's life. Many would sooner choose death than live with shattered self-respect. But... I can't win this... Radiya sensed it instinctively. The moment this masterless familiar drew her sword, her own head would fly. Me? A mere familiar daring to threaten a vampire? Such logic held no sway with the human before her. In her vision, the woman's hand slowly rose toward her sword. At that instant, Radiya saw it. Deep within those indifferent eyes settled a chilling emotion. And Radiya knew what that emotion was. Madness. The very madness they felt on the battlefield when beholding their great lord, Barshutan. Only then did Radiya realize. Why the Lord favored this familiar so. This familiar was of the same ilk as the Lord. And that was Radiya's final thought before her head came off... -Boom! "Now, now, calm yourself. That seems sufficient for today." In that moment, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang in her ears. It was a woman's voice, distinct from the male tones she knew, but the soul-shaking resonance was something no other could replicate. "This lowly familiar Radiya greets the Lord!" "Yes, Radiya. Hm... your division is..." "I belong to the 7th Research Team!" "Ah, yes, that's right. Hm." Upon hearing the Lord's voice, she prostrated herself flat on the floor. She dared not meet His gaze. But when Radiya stole a glance at the insolent familiar, she couldn't suppress her shock. That crazy bitch still hasn't sheathed her sword?! She stood there, un-kneeling, sword still drawn, facing the Lord without a flicker of expression. -Tremble tremble tremble The Lord was never one for kindness. Radiya still remembered how one who strutted arrogantly, believing herself in the Lord's good graces, had turned into a pool of blood on a mere whim in a single day. "You there, sheathe your sword as well. Did I not say I would not meddle in petty squabbles among comrades, but nor would I permit loss of life over them?" -Tremble tremble tremble Radiya prayed the Lord's voice, which still sounded gentle, would not lower further. If that familiar caused any more trouble here, the fallout would surely reach her too. But the familiar was no ordinary madwoman, it seemed. "...
Still, she deserves compensation for her efforts."
Radiya's jaw dropped at the sight of her boldly responding to the Lord. And she thought to herself. That familiar was done for. No one had ever defied the Lord's will and lived to...
"Ah, quite right. Take as much as you desire. It's only natural as the victor." 'Huh?' Radiya felt as if she'd been struck on the head. She couldn't comprehend what she'd just seen and heard. 'Did the Lord just... show mercy...?' But when she raised her head, a woman's face suddenly filled her vision. She jolted back in surprise— -Grip!
"Kyaaak!" —only for her to yank Radiya's hair roughly. Forcing her head up to meet her eyes, those crimson pupils overwhelmed her sight.
"Hand it over."
An inexplicable pressure emanated from her demeanor, as if claiming what was rightfully hers.
"Wh-what should I offer?"
And beyond the cold madness sunken in those eyes, Radiya sensed one more emotion.
"Money, materials, drugs—anything that can make me stronger."
A burning thirst for power.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Flutter flutter "She stripped you quite mercilessly. To think she'd leave not even a speck of dust behind."
"Got a problem with that?"
"As if. It's that Radi... her own fault for picking a fight without sizing up her opponent properly. Lucky I intervened, or she'd have lost her life long ago."
Sword Flower thought Barshutan's words might be followed by something like "at least it's cheap compared to her life," but what came next was beyond imagining.
"Had that happened, it would violate my command in this world to prioritize missions and life above all and never die. Losing one's entire fortune pales in comparison to defying my orders. It's but a drop in the bucket."
"..."
One thing Sword Flower had learned spending time with Barshutan: She truly viewed all vampires as her possessions. Which made such a mindset seem almost natural, in a way.
"That said, you seem quite strong now, yet you still crave power so desperately. Your nemesis must be formidable indeed?" -Flinch Sword Flower paused mid-wipe of her blade, a certain face surfacing in her mind. Her master, once beloved like parents—her entire world. Now, the enemy she loathed most in this world. She didn't resent being killed. She had expected as much from her master. But... -Grind I can't forgive it... What even she herself hadn't dared—tampering with Yuseong. She had believed her master would never covet Yuseong, making the betrayal all the sharper. Of all people, her master. The one who had always shown unwavering righteousness and taught it to her. To think she'd stoop so low in her old age, lusting after Yuseong? Yuseong wouldn't have stood for it. He would never have accepted her master. It must have been forced upon him—a violation. All those claims that Yuseong enjoyed it were blatant lies. -Grind. It had to be.
"Hah, no need to answer—I can tell. You've got quite the troublesome foe."
"..."
"Well, nothing compared to this body of mine, of course. But that terrifying growth rate... humans never cease to amaze. Especially the power born of that thing called love—it's peculiarly unique, always birthing miracles."
"...
Love..." "An emotion utterly beyond one born as I was, but a troublesome one indeed. What is it about it that drives people to sacrifice their lives for each other, or ruin perfectly calculated plans built through such hardship?" Barshutan's grumbling voice echoed from behind. Considering Sword Flower's past, she could well imagine why the notion of love made Barshutan bristle. And how many such loves she had shattered. But that was none of her concern. -Crunch crunch Her own love was all that mattered. Surpassing her master and reclaiming Yuseong from those arms—that was paramount. She harbored no kindness left to bestow on others. "So, how do you like the new name I gave you? Come to think of it, I never heard your thoughts." The name she had given her for struggling with this world's tongue. Sword Flora. In this world's language, it meant sword and flower. And she preferred it over her moniker of Sword Flower. [When I was your age, my own epithet was Sword Flower too.] Though the meaning might be the same, My flower is different from yours. Master. "Speaking of which, that human thing they call sex... copulation... is it really that pleasurable? I've never tried it myself, so I wouldn't know." "..." "You mentioned having a beloved lover, so you've surely experienced it. If it's not too rude, I'd love to hear the details." "......"