Chapter 224: Subjugation is Liberation by Another Name
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: Subjugation is Liberation by Another Name
I brought Elize out into the world.
Having taken my blood into her body and shown her obedience with a kiss to the back of my hand, Elize was docile.
In truth, defiance was impossible.
We had formed a blood pact.
I could feel a connection to Elize, different from the one forged by the shackles of subjugation. I could vividly sense the flow of her blood, even the beat of her heart.
If I so chose, I felt I could stop her heart.
The vampire’s heart was in my grasp.
This meant Elize’s story was over.
As I had predicted, this version of Elize was not based on Hansel and Gretel, but Demian.
A story about the protagonist, Sinclair, who agonizes over the good and evil within himself on his journey to find his complete self.
Elize had dreamed of becoming a priestess, only to be turned into a half-vampire through an experiment.
After experiencing the cruel experiments of the Church, which she had considered a symbol of good, she began to question the nature of good and evil. She wanted to find out what true good was.
That was why she had asked me about it.
Her good deeds, which I had mistaken for the breadcrumbs of Hansel and Gretel, and her refusal to drink blood despite being a vampire—it was all part of an internal battle.
She was trying to overcome temptation and resist forbidden pleasure.
Next was the matter of her ego.
The motif for a vampire is the bat.
From ancient times, bats have been famous symbols of betrayal, flitting between land animals and birds.
In other words, they belong nowhere.
Shunned by both the Church and the demons, Elize had nowhere to go. She endlessly pondered her true identity.
Finally, the detail that convinced me Elize’s version was Demian.
Abraxas.
A being that combines Yahweh, the god of good, and Satan, the god of evil. A transcendent being that encompasses both good and evil.
It also symbolizes the concept necessary for a person to harmoniously accept all the elements of their inner self and fully understand who they are.
This, too, was essential for Elize to establish her identity. It was why she had been so obsessed with hearing the voice of God.
She believed the God of Order was Abraxas. She was convinced that if she could just hear a divine oracle, everything would be resolved.
But she was wrong.
Gods are merely observers.
The oracle would never come.
Thus, Elize’s Abraxas…
The one who could bring order to her chaotic self and lead her down the right path…
…was me, her master.
I provided a place for the lost Elize and established what kind of being she was.
Not a saint, not a vampire, but a slave.
A slave’s place is in her master’s arms.
By making that clear, I could resolve the Demian version of Elize.
There were traps, of course.
A prime example was Demian, the master of the vampire blood flowing in Elize’s veins.
In the novel Demian, Demian is the protagonist’s helper, but not here. He only shared the name; his purpose was the exact opposite.
They must have intentionally used the same name to cause confusion.
Since I knew, I was never in danger of being manipulated by him.
He was likely still mixed in Elize’s blood, but since I wore the Crimson Ring, he couldn’t run rampant.
And with my blood now flowing through her as well, his influence would have diminished.
Given time, he would vanish on his own.
It’s a shame it didn’t count, though.
Even though we’d formed a blood pact, there was no change in the system. I wasn’t in a position to liberate her.
Still, she was being cooperative, so I figured I could just have Mirabelle place the shackles on her again. I didn’t know if that would trigger her liberation or not.
“Master, you’re back?”
I called over the girls who had been waiting.
The slaves greeted me with bright smiles.
The moment they saw Elize, however, their expressions soured.
Especially Rin and Alfia.
“Why are you next to Master?”
“As his kinsman, I must remain by his side.”
“You, who were attacking him just moments ago?”
“I am truly atoning for that. I was foolish before, for I failed to recognize Master’s great will. But that will never happen again.”
“How can Rin believe that?”
Elize placed a hand on her chest.
“Master’s blood flows through my heart. If I were to take any action that might harm him, my heart would burst into pieces. So please, rest assured.”
“You drank Master’s blood?”
As if recalling that moment, Elize let out a sensual sigh.
“Hah… It was incredibly sweet. To think Master’s blood is flowing through my body. It feels as if I’ve become one with him. It’s utterly blissful.”
“Eek…! Master! Rin doesn’t like her!”
Well, you secretly stole my essence.
You have no right to talk.
I was already feeling anemic from the blood loss, and her shouting next to me was making me dizzy. A dry cough kept escaping my lips.
“Have some water.”
“Please, drink this.”
Their timing was perfectly synchronized.
Alfia and Mirabelle offered me water at the same time.
“I’ll give it to him, Alfia. I’ve always been the one to take care of him. Since before I even met you.”
“But this is water made by spirits. It’s much better for the body than artificial water made with mana. If you truly care for Master, shouldn’t you be the one to yield?”
The two glared at each other.
Then they both whipped their heads back to me.
“Please drink this, Master.”
“Darling, drink this.”
A sudden competition. It was like watching two water purifier companies fighting to install their machine.
But a house only needs one water purifier. And if I was going to drink, I should drink the better water.
“Thank you, Alfia. I’ll drink it well.”
I accepted the spirit water and drank.
It was on a completely different level from ordinary water, from the way it went down to its effects. It was no wonder the elves made a fortune selling water.
“M-Master… you’ve abandoned me…”
Mirabelle stared at me like an abandoned puppy. I would have normally drunk hers too, but I was full now…
“My value has plummeted… I’m a useless maid. A useless slave no longer has a reason to live. Please, let my end come by your own hand…”
“Give it here.”
I chugged another bottle.
Two whole bottles.
I’d already lost blood; I worried this would thin it out even more.
“Mirabelle, please put the shackles on Elize.”
“Yes. Could you come over here, please?”
Mirabelle and Elize stood facing each other. A short distance away, Rin and Alfia watched with envious eyes.
Mirabelle aimed the Heavenly Covenant at Elize. Indigo mana flowed into her. Elize closed her eyes and waited quietly.
The moment another link formed with Elize, an unexpected change occurred.
`[Vampire Elize ver. Demian Liberation Complete]`
────────────
The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.
Elize has broken out of her egg. She has shattered the order that confined her and accepted a new faith.
Subjugation, which was no different from a curse, was a different form of salvation for another. By simply becoming your kinsman, Elize realized who she was and where she belonged.
Elize has defined her own existence.
Answering your call was her only will; following your command was her only faith.
The hands that once yearned for the voice of God now reach out only to touch you.
At your feet.
Under your command.
With your blood flowing through her body.
As your possession.
The lost bat no longer wanders, no longer yearns, no longer strives to prove herself.
Because you wanted her.
Because you accepted her.
That alone was enough.
God and devil.
Beginning and end.
Creation and destruction.
Salvation and corruption.
You were Elize’s one and only Abraxas.
────────────
`Elize’s liberation is at 100%.`
`Reward: 40,000pt have been paid.`
`Additional Reward: The effect of the [Generous Master] skill has increased.`
`[Generous Slave Lv.MAX]`
`- A gift you give is no different from a treasure to your slave.`
────────────
`[Fully Liberate the Main Slaves. Progress: 4/5]`
I hadn’t removed the shackles, I’d put them on, yet the liberation notification appeared.
Subjugation is a different form of salvation for another.
For Elize, who belonged nowhere and wandered aimlessly, being bound was, conversely, a form of liberation.
She had escaped a life of wandering. If that was the meaning of liberation, then I could understand.
‘In that case, if I remove the shackles, will the progress count go down?’
I was curious, but I had no intention of experimenting.
At least I wouldn’t have to hear Elize asking me to put her shackles on.
‘That means there’s only one left.’
“Mirabelle, now for your shackles…”
“Master!”
“Yes?”
“There’s a strange presence mixed in with the Saint’s body.”
Did she sense it while putting on the shackles?
“It’s the vampire who injected me with his blood. A wicked vampire.”
“Should I get rid of it?”
“Can you?”
“Of course!” Mirabelle replied energetically to Elize’s question and touched her with her staff once more.
A crimson-black haze rose from Elize’s body and took the shape of a human face.
—Kraaaaaaah! Do not tear us apart!
Demian shrieked.
But a moment later, a gust of wind scattered him into the air.
“Why are you screaming so loud? My ears hurt.”
Alfia dusted off her hands.
Demian had vanished with the wind.
“My head was aching from his constant screaming inside my mind, but now it’s clear. Thank you, little witch.”
“Don’t mention it!”
Having someone who handles magic so well really makes everything convenient.
The best output of my slave-trading life.
I’m so proud!
“Alright, Mirabelle. Now, really, about your shackles…”
“Master! I think we need to sort out the situation outside as soon as possible!”
“Well, that’s true, but.”
At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but I was right. Mirabelle was intentionally changing the subject.
Trying her best not to have her shackles removed.
Should I just do it?
Given Mirabelle’s current state, I was pretty sure she would be fully liberated.
Then I could go home right away.
‘…No.’
She was right that I needed to clean this place up first.
I also had to wake Azyeth, who had fallen into a deep sleep, completely absorbed in her fairy tale.
We’ll see after everything is done.
First, I had to deal with the aftermath of the chaos in the Holy Kingdom.
‘How am I supposed to clean this up?’
Blown-up and shattered houses.
People who had fallen into despair.
The sight of the devastated city made my vision go dark.
Should I just run for it?
Once I liberate everyone, I’m out of here anyway, right?
The irresponsible thought crossed my mind, but I felt Elize would be burdened with guilt if I just left it like this.
When a slave makes a mess, the master has to take responsibility.
However.
“Mirabelle.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Go catch the old man.”
A short while later, Mirabelle returned with Antonius.
“Eek! Let go of me! I am not supposed to interfere!”
“Hahahaha, you look just like a person, but you sound like a barking dog. Are you perhaps my father?”
The old man, floating in mid-air, struggled with all his might, but it was no use.
I’m not going down alone.
You’re taking responsibility, too.