Survival 108

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Why does Ricky smell like vampire blood?

The reason was not hard to guess.

‘He was quite the madman in the original story after all.’

The line between a seeker of truth and a madman is very thin.

Ricky was no different.

-Ricky Circleia? What in the world is this…?

-Oh, you’re awake, Rene.

Ricky failed to manage his favorability properly, and not having a male lead to back him up, this was the bad ending cutscene one would expect.

His ashen hair swept back, eyes unnaturally wide open.

His gaze was fixed on the protagonist who was magically restrained.

-Humans are not creatures suited to handle mana, which is why it is necessary to encircle the heart. The clergy are no exception… From the moment I first saw you, Rene, you intrigued me.

-What are you talking about? First, untie this…

-That’s not possible. If you could just endure a little, our magic might advance to the next level.

His typically cold and rational demeanor was replaced by a rare smile.

The last thing seen was him approaching with a scalpel-like blade, before the scene faded to black.

Personally, this was one of the worst cutscenes in the game, ranking in my top three most dreadful.

-I don’t want to believe it, but if what Bathory said is true…

-If it’s true? Don’t beat around the bush, finish what you’re saying.

-Then his kin must have suffered terribly. It’s doubtful they’re even alive.

Why is there a Magic Tower in the West, which has no infrastructure and is incredibly barren?

Of course, the presence of a magic stone mine, essential for magical research, is part of the reason.

One must not forget that the West is a city of jailers and prisoners.

‘There’s no law that says prisoners must only be used for hard labor.’

Most criminals live their lives in magic stone mines.

However, a very small number are even unluckier.

Whether it’s magic or science.

The more it strays from moral perspectives, the greater the amount of knowledge it yields; this is an undeniable fact.

This was not unique to this place.

Even the United States, like Japan’s Unit 731, partly exonerated some under the condition of handing over medical knowledge.

As such,

Criminals deprived of their rights from all over the country were delicious targets for the magicians of the Magic Tower.

What then became of the owner of the scent of blood that Bathory was talking about?

The answer was all too clear.

Moreover, the opponent is a madman who kidnaps the representative of the clergy, the saint, and even conducts live experiments, just because existing magic theories cannot explain it.

And the opponent is a demon?

A race stamped as criminals by their very existence.

Especially a vampire, a race specialized in magic, that doesn’t even need to encircle the heart?

‘That body couldn’t possibly remain intact.

-Then we shouldn’t just stand here idly! He’s getting away!

I turned around at Bathory’s frantic urging.

Far in the distance, Rene and Ricky were seen walking side by side.

-The saint is in trouble. It’s risky to probe for the truth right now, as my identity might be revealed.

-Ugh! And to think this could have been a chance to meet my kin in this human country!

Bathory sighed in disappointment.

Ignoring her continued sighs, I approached the magic department professor.

“Hello, Lady Chernia. Or would you prefer I call you ‘Professor’?”

“What an unusual student. Call me whatever you like, I’m long past the age to be called ‘Lady.’ Anyway, what brings you here? You don’t seem to be a student from the Department of Magic.”

I handed a letter to the middle-aged woman as she adjusted her glasses.

“I was asked by Professor Marks to deliver this letter.”

“Ah, he did? That’s unusual. Maybe he appreciated the petition against the live experiments I signed. Alright, I understand.”

Well, just looking at this woman. Not all magicians blindly pursue knowledge.

Some flatter the Tower’s officials just enough.

They operate within their moral bounds just enough.

And they do their job, whether it’s teaching or business, just enough.

There were more magicians like this.

-You there! Don’t you plan to rescue your kin?

Perhaps because I showed no particular interest in news about her kin.

After receiving a reply and leaving the classroom, Bathory threw such a hesitant question at me.

-What do you think, Lady Bathory?

-Of course! It is only right to save them! Just like we did for that gargoyle fledgling, surely they will prove to be a solid ally in facing Levains!

There was logic in her words.

However, there was much more that didn’t make sense.

-Lady Bathory, we must remember that we are minorities in this land.

I drew the line with a cold voice.

Rescue a vampire who has been turned into an experimental subject by the Magic Tower?

Really?

When it’s not even clear whether they are alive or dead?

And when we have Bathory, a noble-tier ally by our side?

The risk was too great just to gain a slight favor from Bathory.

‘Besides, I can’t afford to worry about Ricky’s experiments right now.’

Dealing with the Magic Tower’s overt constraints on Luciana.

The upcoming event of the crown prince’s coming of age.

Further instructions to Riu to take out even the gall of the nobility alliance.

There were more than enough tasks to handle.

-We should observe the situation for now. Acting rashly might poison things for Lady Luciana.

-Are you saying you’ll abandon them?

It was an unexpected response.

With a voice that had gone cold and an overtly disappointed tone,

I thought vampires, given their individualistic nature, would just let it slide.

-I am merely assessing the reality.

“What reality! Even now, aren’t you still talking about the descendants of the warrior, who is just an entertainment to you? 

It seems her sore spot was elsewhere.

-Luciana, Luciana! Isn’t the descendant of the warrior always your motive?

Suddenly, Bathory, who had emerged from the shadows, burst out, and Luciana’s name was brought up.

I looked at her and cocked my head.

“What are you doing? What if someone had seen you?”

“Don’t change the subject! I’ve been with you long enough to know that whenever the conversation goes against you, you subtly shift the topic.”

Bathory pointed a finger at my chest.

“Go on, if you’re so confident, say it straight. Are you saying that girl is more important to you than your kin who may be enduring a terrible life in a foreign land?”

…

I misjudged.

It wasn’t disappointment about giving up on saving the demon kin.

Perhaps Bathory had somewhat accepted my explanation on her own terms.

But just one word, “Luciana,” seemed to have truly struck a nerve with her. However,

“…Haha, Lady Bathory, although you have been with me long enough to understand my speech and habits, you have not grasped my essence.”

“What did you say?”

“Have I not repeatedly said since we first met that I have but one purpose?”

This was the time to be shameless.

Once you admit and accept it?

You’ll have to keep yielding.

The stories of being taken advantage of by just going along with things are all too common today.

‘Where do I have the time to save demons? I’m too busy ensuring Luciana doesn’t meet her doom.’

It was always an act.

Licking my lips to coat them, as one of the doppelgängers.

I pushed away her fingers that had grabbed my wrist.

“You asked if Luciana comes before my kin? To answer that, of course, she does.”

“How can that be…! Why?”

“Well, haven’t I said? Doppelgängers are a race that is honest about their instinctual desires. We merely indulge in the gourmet of emotions.”

I spread my arms wide.

And yet, I didn’t stand still, shuffling my feet as if eagerly anticipating the next culinary delight.

“What is most important to me is! The ripened emotions of Lady Luciana! Her infinite trust! These are the ingredients necessary for the perfection of my culinary arts.”

“…I asked a foolish question. A king who has even abandoned his own people would not care about a mere vampire.”

Bathory clasped her head.

Her cascading golden hair tangled between her fingers.

After a moment of silence, a small voice came from her.

“May I ask one more question?”

“Of course. Lady Bathory, we are bound by kinship, contract, and as master-disciple, aren’t we?”

I subtly encouraged a sense of specialness, but the expected reaction did not come.

She remained sullen, still unconvinced.

“Then why did you help me and Oparn?”

Bathory straightened up and met my eyes.

Deep questions filled her red pupils.

“There was no need to save me, who injured your master, which would make me nothing more than your sworn enemy.”

“Hmm, that’s certainly true.”

“Moreover, Oparn brought troublesome treasures. He might attract the attention of the Demon King’s blade, yet you embraced him without a moment’s hesitation.”

Why did you help them, but not assist the troubled vampire?

Her intent was clear in that question.

‘Well, now that Oparn is involved, saying I helped because it was Bathory won’t work.’

“Well, it’s delicious, isn’t it?”

I gave an answer typical of a doppelgänger.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I have no interest in leftovers that might have already gone cold. The emotions of those who have been broken yet rise again to challenge their fate are…”

I smacked my lips lightly, continuing,

“Vengeance, jealousy, a sense of duty! Truly the finest delicacies. How could I possibly just watch and do nothing while such emotionally stimulating flavors breathe life into both Lady Bathory and Oparn?”

Shhhoo.

An empty classroom.

Only the sound of Bathory’s deep breathing filled the space.

“So, I guess I…”

“Lady Bathory?”

“No, it’s nothing. Now that I think about it, I still haven’t sorted the letters that came from the Speda family. You’re busy with the professor’s matter, so I’ll head back first.”

Normally, she would have returned to the shadows, but she brushed off my hand and hurried out of the classroom.

***

“Ha, I was deeply mistaken.”

Bathory sorted the letters with a trembling voice she tried to steady.

Staying at the academy in exchange for a promised position by Frost Mane’s side, a role she willingly took on.

However, her hands hardly moved properly due to her mind being as jumbled as the mixed envelopes.

“I thought I was different.”

She had thought herself entirely different from the descendant of the warrior, merely an amusement.

Without even knowing Frost Mane’s identity, she subtly ignored his situation that merely fueled his interests.

But…

-How could I possibly just watch and do nothing while such emotionally stimulating flavors breathe life into both Lady Bathory and Oparn?

She, too, had been held captive for ‘gourmet’ reasons.

“I was foolish. It seems my heart has grown lax since coming to the realm of humans, where I have no other demons to rely on or trust.”

However.

She had no intention of dissolving the kinship contract.

A sticky determination filled her blood-red pupils.

“He is mine.”

He was her kin and her treasure.

She steadied her heart.

After all, once he achieved his goal of gourmet, he would lose interest in this place.

She only hoped that she would become his primary subject of gourmet afterward.

If it was Frost Mane, just as he had shown his capability here, he would surely assist her well even in the Empire of Evildon.

But if he couldn’t shake off his lingering attachments, then she would have to end it herself.

“Hehe.”

Since Frost Mane had managed to melt the descendant of the warrior quite well, Bathory herself would step forward to either reveal his identity in front of everyone or just kill Hans Byron.

Of course, he would be furious. But by confining him in a beautiful room and cherishing him, eventually, he would turn around.

“Maybe 50 years would suffice. Given Frost Mane’s strong attachment, it might take even 100 years.”

But that was fine.

As long as she could have Frost Mane.

The moment she pictured Frost Mane welcoming her with a broad smile, Bathory inadvertently smiled in deep satisfaction.

“Hmm? What’s this…”

Bathory’s hands, which had been slowing, came to a sudden stop.

It was not a letter from the Speda family.

Like one previously sent by a human named Luke Daimon, it had the name ‘Hans Byron’ on it.

A tower-shaped wax seal sealed the letter.

Thanks to the tiresome education by an old human, she knew well what this meant.

The Magic Tower.

The very symbol that the chamberlain had been warning about.

“…Should I warn him?”

After pondering for a moment, she shook her head.

“After all, he knows more about the power struggles among humans than I do. If I step in rashly, it would be futile.”

Moreover, if he thinks she is an annoying woman, wouldn’t the interest in her as a ‘toy’ also fade?

Holding onto Frost Mane was the very last, absolutely last resort.

For now, she had to maintain his favor… his interest.

She quietly sorted the letters.

So that Frost Mane could see and decide on his own.

“…For a while, I’ll have to go alone.”

Additionally,

Fiddling with the magic stone necklace around her neck, Bathory concluded.

She had to do so, or else she couldn’t ignore the emotions boiling inside her.

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