Survival 29

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How much time had passed since then? Elizabeth was frustrated. It was all because of Hans Byron, that man. 

“Haven’t we spent enough time together by now? How about making a decision?” Her subtle persuasion. 

“Do you dislike me? Give me a clear answer! If it’s unrequited love, I’d rather give up quickly.” 

Her appeal mixed with anger. 

“Am I not good enough for you?” 

Her last weapon, tears. 

She tried every means of conversation to entice him, but he always just grinned and gave the same answer. 

“Haha. Of course not. Just wait a little longer. I’ll try to convince the Duke.” 

“How much longer do I have to wait!” 

Late at night. Elizabeth, left alone, had a hardened expression on her face. She had no weaknesses to exploit, and it seemed he had no intention of coming to her domain. It was a matter of time before her patience ran out. 

“…Alright. If there’s no flaw, I’ll just create one.” 

She had originally prioritized luring him into her own more easily manipulated territory. But now, she had no choice. The trickery was initiated by Hans Byron’s side. 

“I must become the only special person for Lucy. Not someone like you.” 

Was it divine intervention? A plausible situation unfolded before her eyes. 

“…Where are you going at this late hour?” In the early morning when everyone was asleep, Elizabeth, returning from a walk in the garden, saw Hans packing only light luggage and sneaking out of the corridor. 

A servant is supposed to be the closest to their master in the mansion. But to sneak out like this without telling anyone? 

“Suspicious.” 

However, despite her words, a thick smile formed on her lips. 

If she followed him, she might discover the weakness she so desired to find to drive him out of this domain. 

…Even if not, it didn’t matter. The fact that he was sneaking out, hiding from the guards, was already enough to manipulate. 

“To make a fabrication convincing, it must cleverly mix in some truth.” 

But that alone wouldn’t be enough to get rid of him, just lose some trust. She couldn’t be satisfied with just confirming his unauthorized outing. If she only knew what he was doing outside, it would greatly help to corner him by appropriately mixing that fact.

-Clop. Clop. 

It was for that reason she followed him. 

“…But where is he going to?” 

Hans kept moving north. 

Elizabeth, a noblewoman, and especially from a merchant family that monopolized the trade routes in the north, was well-versed in the geography here. 

If they went a little further, they would probably reach the border with the Evildon Empire. 

“Could it be…!” 

Suddenly, a plausible thought flashed through Elizabeth’s mind. 

Humans are often too easily swayed by temptation. 

As such, there were often cases of collusion with the enemy Evildon Empire in the north. 

Some were lured by the promise of enough money to live lavishly even in a foreign land, or enchanted by some demon’s mind-affecting magic. 

Such precedents were so numerous that it was hard to count them all. 

Of course, the number had decreased after the establishment of a penal system, with execution or even harsher punishments being implemented. 

But that didn’t mean such cases had completely disappeared. 

If Hans Byron, now endlessly moving northward, belonged to that category. 

“Caught in the act?” 

A bright light flickered across Elizabeth’s face. 

Really. 

An unexpected major gain. 

Rather than just expelling him and leaving future troubles, it would be better to subject him to extreme punishment, ensuring he could never meet Luciana again. 

“A crystal ball for recording… good, I was right to always carry it with me.” 

An artifact she had carried every time since targeting Hans. 

If she could just witness and record him conversing with a demon, she could fulfill her long-held desire. 

How much time had passed? 

After a long walk, he finally stopped. 

A hint of disappointment crossed her face. 

The plain, sprawling with snow, seemed empty at first glance. 

That was until he started to dig up something. 

-Boom. 

A sound loud enough to be mistaken for an earthquake resonated through the ground. 

It was so powerful that Elizabeth, who was nearby, almost lost her balance. 

She swallowed a moan that had inadvertently escaped. 

Had she been noticed? 

Barely regaining her composure and continuing to observe her target, an entrance just big enough for one person appeared before him. 

What might be lurking in that underground passage? 

Without hesitation, Hans stepped into it. 

“…It must be safe, right?” 

A slight fear crept up, but for Luciana, what couldn’t she do? 

Elizabeth also followed behind him. 

“…!”

Echoes of voices resounded off the narrow cave walls. 

One was Hans’s voice. 

The other was a woman’s voice, unfamiliar to Elizabeth. 

“Again?! Despite my diligent efforts in fortifying my abode with double-layered security spells! How do you always manage to enter so easily?!” 

“What can I do if I can’t see it with my own eyes? How am I supposed to find it?” 

Elizabeth, being a wizard herself, could somewhat follow the conversation. 

‘They hid this dwelling with a double spell?’ 

Knowing well how difficult that was, she naturally became curious about the identity of the other party. 

She peeked towards the source of the voices to get a better look. 

“Think about the mana I keep using up!” 

Red irises, a face so pale it seemed ghostly, fangs subtly showing even in anger. 

And, as inferred from the conversation, remarkable magical abilities. 

“Calm down. I’ve brought some precious blood with me this time.” 

And crucially, from Hans’s mention of blood, it was clear. 

The blonde woman was one of humanity’s enemies, a demon, and specifically, an infamous vampire. 

‘Good. Time to head back.’ 

Suppressing the joy in her heart lest her voice betray her, Elizabeth turned back towards the entrance. 

The fact that Hans was a demon’s lackey was not only seen with her own eyes but also precisely recorded by the crystal ball. 

Once she safely returned and exposed this, that thorn in her side would disappear from Luciana’s life. 

“Precious blood. Are you talking about the human behind you?” 

But before she could take many steps, 

Elizabeth felt her hair stand on end. 

An endlessly arrogant tone, addressing a mere mortal. 

In her focus on Luciana, she had forgotten the fear that now rapidly surged within her. 

“The blood of a wizard is uniquely flavorful. I will gladly accept your offering.” 

“What are you saying? There’s no way. The moment you lay a hand on a countess, we’ll all face a terrible end. Don’t you dare disturb my peace.” 

However, it was Hans who retorted with disbelief. 

‘Does he know… I followed him?’ 

Her heart seemed to beat in her ears. 

Fearful that its loud thumping might give her away, Elizabeth involuntarily clutched at her chest. 

For a moment, she froze, forgetting even the possibility of escape. 

“If it’s not an offering, then why did you bring this woman here? You couldn’t have failed to notice you were being followed.” 

“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t know?” 

Giggles. 

Laughter echoed through the underground cavern, reaching where Elizabeth was hiding. 

It was eerily similar to the laughter of evil demons from fairy tales.

‘I must flee quickly.’

With legs stiffening in fear, Elizabeth hurried towards the stairs she had descended. 

“Welcome, Lady Frontal. You might have entered on your own terms, but leaving won’t be as easy.” 

However, her retreat was already blocked by Hans, who had caught up behind her. 

He made a large arc with his hand from top to bottom. 

It was a movement reminiscent of a nobleman bowing at a social gathering, exaggerated yet a perfect display of aristocratic etiquette, almost as if mocking her. 

Additionally, she could hear footsteps clicking behind her. 

Probably that vampire. 

“Hans Byron! I will condemn you for treason!” 

It was too late to escape. 

Elizabeth, realizing this, reached for her staff to prepare for a counterattack, but before she could cast a spell, her staff was sent flying away. 

“Damn!” 

“A novice who can only borrow the power of mana with a tool.” 

Elizabeth gritted her teeth and stepped back. 

The vampire, surrounded by flames, had a fist so ferocious and overwhelming. 

To have her last means of resistance snatched away by the enemy. 

“No, why do you say that? It’s all about pride, pride. Weapons are there to be used.” 

“Shut up! You rely too much on tools, change that habit first!” 

It was clear now, right in front of her eyes. 

The vampire, glaring at Hans with wide-open furious eyes, was shaking with anger, yet not actually striking, indicating a close relationship between them. 

“Colluding with demons. Aren’t you ashamed as Lucy’s servant?!” 

‘Damn, what do I do now?’ 

Elizabeth scolded the ruffian, forcing her eyes wide open. 

But despite her bold words, her fingertips started trembling with growing anxiety. 

‘There’s no way out.’ 

In front was Hans Byron, who even Lucy couldn’t handle. 

And behind her, the demon who made her unable to even think of resisting a moment ago. 

Hans slowly approached the helpless Elizabeth. 

“Colluding with demons? What are you talking about?” 

“…What?” 

“If I were a member of a duke’s family, it might be different. Demons taking care of other demons.” 

In his hand now was a golden mask. 

“People don’t usually call it collusion.” 

The familiar voice gradually became an irksome noise. 

Simultaneously, his body, covered in shadows, morphed into a figure that was neither clearly male nor female.

Elizabeth’s face turned deathly pale. 

“A demon?” 

“You might know of doppelgangers. Well, considering I still roam around the North freely, it seems unlikely that everyone is aware.” 

Giggle. 

An ominous laughter drilled into her ears. 

“What are you going to do with me?” 

Her voice trembled pitifully, and Elizabeth involuntarily closed her eyes tight. 

She had a feeling. 

A countess from a prominent Northern family? 

What use was that? Demons don’t care about human titles, and no one even knew she had followed Hans. 

She couldn’t see any reason they would spare her. 

“…No need to ask, then. Kill her.” 

She imagined Luciana would have said the same if she were in her shoes. 

“As a proud Northern noble, I won’t beg for my life from a demon.” 

She steeled herself and glared fiercely at the two demons surrounding her. 

Her only regret was that she would never see Luciana again. 

‘Lucy will remember me as a brave and proud friend. That’s enough.’ 

Then. 

“Why say such scary things? What’s more important to a person than their life?” 

“To a demon like you maybe. For a Northern noble, honor is above life.” 

Behind the mask, his eyes and mouth curved into a smile. 

The sharp aura began to dissipate, but Elizabeth didn’t notice. 

“Honor, right. But it seems an unnecessary topic if we are to join hands.” 

“Join hands? Hmph!” 

Elizabeth’s eyes sharpened. 

Nonsense. 

She wouldn’t stoop to betray her honor for her life, like those traitors. 

“Stop talking nonsense and leave. I have no intention of cooperating with demons.” 

“Come now, don’t be so harsh. At least hear my proposal.” 

The black eyes behind the mask gleamed cunningly. 

Feeling overwhelmed by his gaze, she involuntarily turned her head away. 

But, 

“What if I make you the most special person to Luciana?” 

At those words, Elizabeth couldn’t help but fix her gaze back on him. 

“Let’s be honest about our desires. You, a fervent follower of Lady Luciana.” 

“How do you know..!” 

“It’s hard to miss, especially after you jeopardized a political marriage out of jealousy over a mere servant.” 

They say one loses words when too shocked. 

Elizabeth, confronted with her deepest, darkest desires laid bare by the demon, found herself unable to retort.

Sweet honey-like words seeped into Elizabeth’s ears.

“Are you content with just being an ordinary childhood friend? How about becoming a close ally, someone to share your deepest thoughts with, beyond just noble relations? A bond so close, like sisters sharing secrets in pajamas and talking late into the night at social gatherings, exchanging coded conversations only the two of you understand?”

“……”

“Why bother with armor? What about a relationship so close, like sisters sharing their worries in matching nightgowns, falling asleep together? Isn’t that appealing?”

Tension evaporated from her tongue, leaving it dry. 

The first emotion she felt wasn’t caution or disgust towards the other party.

“Oh, what a sweet sentiment. Are you tempted?”

“Are you dining amidst all this?”

She barely registered the banter between the demons, her nerves wholly captured by anticipation.

-Liza, can you listen to my worries?

Luciana’s stern expression crumbling, her hesitant lips parting, a shy voice…

Such a simple yet impossible dream for a noble, reluctant to show weakness, played in her mind.

“…What am I thinking?!”

“It’s a natural reaction. Status? Honor? Money? They’re just means to satisfy one’s desires. But they seem inadequate for your current goal.”

A black, shadowy arm reached out towards her.

“Join me. I will fulfill your wishes.”

“I will not collaborate with demons who lead the North to ruin!”

He tilted his head in confusion.

“You have strong prejudices against demons. I swear, I have no interest in conquering the North. Perhaps Lady Bathory feels the same?”

Indeed.

The vampire, leaning against the wall, looked at her and then quickly turned away, showing only a slight annoyance.

To her, schemes or greed seemed futile.

And for Elizabeth, this was like the final blow to her remaining conscience.

Although it was just a word, unverifiable, if it were true, collaborating with them wouldn’t necessarily be treason.

Her mind repeated that it was wrong, but her hands and mouth were honest.

“You’re sure about this? Tell me your plan.”

Her trembling hand was already holding his. The demon’s hand, unlike the rumors of being pale and unclean, felt warm.

“You’ve made a wise choice.”

Their clasped hands slowly moved up and down.

It was the moment an alliance was formed between a human and a demon representative.

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