Act 63

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Above the head of Trale, who has bowed her head, the color of ‘fear’ is overflowing, more than full. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a distinct color.

‘She’s quite frightened.’

The lady, with her polite gestures, looked at me with a slight smile.

However, her smile seemed to represent her emotions; her mouth was smiling, but her eyebrows were furrowed, and her lips were faintly trembling.

“Ha, haha… Sir Julian, I swear by the sun god Solarun, that Trale has not done anything to disturb the royal mood, specifically not against the law.”

Her tone almost made me laugh.

A ‘vampire’ swearing by Solarun, the symbol of the sun, what is she trying to do?

“Ahem.”

I suppressed my emerging laughter with a fake cough to clear the air, which made her pupils shake noticeably.

“Oh, I apologize, Sir Julian. For you to personally visit this humble place, and I have neglected my duties. I have committed a grave sin.”

Though it was just a simple cough, she quickly interpreted it as my displeasure and hastily got up to pour something into an additional glass—it was the same color as the blood she had been drinking.

Could she really be thinking of serving me blood?

No matter how much ‘Julian’ sees blood, this isn’t right.

“Are you suggesting I drink this?”

“Uh? Oh… Do you dislike wine?”

Wine? Not blood?

“The specialty of Bavalde, Chateau Bavalde… If you try it, you will think all other wines you’ve had were inferior…”

Traumatized, Trale rambled on, so I quickly took the offered glass, and as she mentioned, a sweet grape scent wafted through the air and enveloped it richly.

“Sir Julian, no matter that I mainly subsist on blood, I would not serve it to you like this…”

She seemed to have guessed what I was thinking and gave an awkward smile. Indeed, she was right.

As I smelled the glass again, a rich grape aroma swept through.

Could there be poison in it?

Surely not, since Trale had just been drinking it.

“Mm.”

I took a sip and was surprised.

Actually, I don’t particularly like ‘wine’—commonly missing the ‘sweetness’, and I deeply dislike the gritty residue of grapes lingering on my tongue.

However, when I sipped the wine from Trale, it was smooth and rich, with a delightful grape taste and aroma that swept over my taste buds.

‘It’s still not something to fuss over natural quality about.’

While it tasted impressive to my cheap tastes, to ‘Julian’, who has had his fair share of expensive wines, it was more ‘mediocre’ than ‘good’.

“May I know the reason you’ve come to see me?”

Trale, seeing me set down the glass, looked slightly tense and turned her gaze towards me.

“I’ve come to ask a favor of you.”

“A favor?”

Trale tilted her head slightly in confusion.

“What is the favor? I hope it’s something I can handle.”

“It’s definitely something you can do.”

With a smile, I brushed the rim of the wine-filled glass with my hand and silently stared at Trale.

Julian’s appearance is certainly handsome, but far from likable.

And there I am, unknowingly stroking my sword.

All of this is suitable to exert silent pressure before beginning the conversation.

Gulp.

Because of this, Trale unknowingly swallowed her saliva, clenched her fist, and stared at me.

“I would like you to surveil someone for me.”

“Surveillance, you say?”

“Yes.”

The word ‘surveillance’ was not unfamiliar to her, hence she was not particularly surprised.

After all, it might be what she does best.

“If… if I agree to this favor, could you keep my being a vampire a secret?”

“Of course, I would.”

As I spoke nonchalantly, Trale sighed with relief.

“Well, that’s a relief. Surveillance is my area of confidence.”

“Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have come here.”

“But how did you know? That I am… not human.”

“Heh, do you really want to hear?”

Just like before, I smiled and deliberately touched the sword again.

Honestly, it’s a difficult question.

‘Discussing experiences from a game would be incomprehensible, wouldn’t it?

“No, no. I won’t listen! It seems wiser not to.”

Fortunately, we avoided the cumbersome process.

Trale vehemently declined even before I could speak further.

“Wise decision.”

“Th-thank you, Sir Julian.”

With a slight bow, Trale lifted her glass to her lips.

Knowing that my purpose here was not to hunt her but to request a favor, a sense of ease flowed through her body.

“So, who is the person that our esteemed Sir Julian wants to monitor?”

“Hayden Reich, the Sword Saint.”

“Yes, the Sword Saint… cough cough.”

As she coughed briefly, wine trickled down the corner of Trale’s mouth.

“Excuse me? Did I hear you wrong?”

“Judging by your reaction, you heard correctly.”

“Could you… could you say it again, please?”

“Hayden Reich, the Sword Saint. I would like you to monitor him.”

With trembling hands, Trale set her glass down on the table.

“Sir Julian… by ‘Sword Saint’, you mean the mascot of the imperial swordsmanship, closely related to the royal family, and somehow, possessing the power of the ‘Closed Eyes’ belonging exclusively to the royal institution?”

“Exactly. He could be called a living public authority. His influence on the empire exceeds that of many nobles.”

As I continued, Trale’s face grew paler.

Her already pale complexion turned even whiter.

“What if we get caught monitoring the Sword Saint? What about the repercussions?”

What she seeks is a safe life within the capital.

But if caught spying on the ‘Sword Saint’, the storm that would follow would be unbearable for her.

Therefore, Trale fears the ‘public authority’.

Since a ‘vampire’ is not included among the imperial citizens, if her true nature is exposed, not only would she lose her place at Mingyue Hall, but she could also be expelled from the empire and lose her life.

“If it’s the Sword Saint, surely he has more power than the ‘Closed Eyes’ and connections within the royal family!”

“Miss Trale, considering failure is third-rate. Moreover, you’ve never been caught shadowing or surveilling before, have you?”

At my words, implying that I knew all along, Trale’s lips twitched slightly.

“Don’t worry too much. If by chance, my master ‘discovers’ us, I will handle it myself.”

“Handle…?”

“Are you curious?”

“No, no! I am not curious!”

Shaking her head vigorously, Trale hurriedly replied.

After being expelled as a disciple of the Sword Saint, Julian harbored a deep hatred and a desire for revenge.

It seems that even vampires are aware of this common knowledge.

Of course, although I said I would handle it, the probability of Trale’s surveillance being detected by the Sword Saint is slim.

“Whistle!”

At her whistle, a small animal flew in through the window, a nightjar with notable gray feathers.

When Trale reached out her hand, the bird perched on the back of her hand. After whispering something to it, the bird flew out through the window it had entered.

‘That’s her familiar.’

These small creatures are exactly why I came here to monitor Hayden Reich.

Like vampires known in other worlds, vampires in this universe can create familiars with their own blood, using them as extensions of themselves, borrowing their eyes and ears.

Surveillance through them is not detectable by conventional means.

These common, inconspicuous little animals do not emit any mana.

No fool would harbor hostility towards such creatures.

“I’ve said my piece. However, since the Holy Nation of Fernand is quite far, there’s nothing immediately available to know.”

“Thank you, Miss Trale.”

“Oh, no need for thanks. Serving the ‘Closed Eyes’ and the royal family is a natural duty for a citizen, isn’t it?”

She extended her hand with an awkward smile.

As we shook hands, a slight trembling transferred from her fingertips to mine.

“It’s regrettable to send you off like this, Sir Julian. Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the generous hospitality of Mingyue Hall?”

Simultaneously, an enchanting fragrance wafted from her.

She is indeed extraordinary.

As long as I know her true nature, she will inevitably be under my influence for life. No ordinary means can break this arrangement.

Only binding me would be her sole method.

‘Surely, that ‘generous hospitality’ includes such intentions.’

It could be a bribe, liquor, or something more seductive.

“I’m sorry, but have you forgotten who I am?”

I had no intention of mingling.

At my words, Trale let out an awkward smile.

“Ha, haha… Indeed, Sir Julian, you truly belong with the royal family.”

Such empty words.

***

As I descended in the elevator, I was greeted at the entrance of Mingyue Hall by Bayron, who was trembling.

“Sir Julian!”

As Bayron hurried towards me, a huge man followed him from behind.

He was the ‘vampire’ who acted as the leader of the ‘Blood Fiend Clan’ in the slums.

His name was surely Artur, wasn’t it?

“Julian.”

He called my name in a low, growling voice. More noticeable than him was his bandaged right arm.

“Seeing that you still have your hand, it seems I was too gentle with you. Why the unnecessary pride?”

“Shut up.”

His response, caught between pride and fear, came in a tone that lay somewhere in between.

“I won’t forget what happened today! Damn you.”

Somehow, his lines seemed like something a third-rate villain would say, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Heh, the nobles who have fallen by my sword used to say that too, but not one of them kept their word.”

It was a typically Julian-like response, and even as I spoke, I marveled at my own words.

“A blood-stained creature like you working directly for the royal institution. The royalty and nobles really are blind.”

So true.

I gave Artur a smile as I passed him, preparing to leave Mingyue Hall.

“Be careful, Julian. Soon someone will appear to break that high nose of yours.”

His out-of-the-blue comment made me slowly turn my head to meet Artur’s gaze.

Someone to break my nose?

Certainly, there are a few in the capital stronger than ‘Julian,’ but his use of the word ‘appeared’ suggests it’s someone recent.

Who could it be?

A sense of tension arose within me.

“Who might that be?”

“The Black Knight… you should know him.”

Ah, that guy… I know him well.

I almost cursed out loud from sheer absurdity.

“The Black Knight? Is he stronger than the Sword Saint? I am ‘Julian Crypart Frason.'”

At my words, Artur’s eyes widened, but I paid him no mind and continued preparing to leave Mingyue Hall.

“Ironic, isn’t it?”

I let the cool night air wash over me as I looked back towards the now invisible Mingyue Hall.

In the story, the ‘Sword Saint’ suspects Julian’s movements and thinks he might belong to the Dawn Society.

‘Originally, it was Hayden Reich, the protagonist, who was supposed to ask Trale for a favor.’

At the Sword Saint’s request, Trale had assigned the nightjar, the familiar I had just seen, to monitor Julian.

Everything has turned completely upside down.

‘How is this story supposed to unfold?’

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