Survival 112

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Beep…!

A tinnitus piercing from my ears to my head.

That pain, however, clarified my mind.

‘…Hmm. I’ve been had. I thought he was crazy, but to think he’d invite me to his room and drug my tea with a sleeping potion.’

Who would have expected him to strike so boldly immediately upon finding my weakness?

-Clink.

An odd feeling holds me back as I try to stand up.

Shackles filled on both my wrists and ankles disrupted my uprising.

‘I’m not a lab frog, for heaven’s sake, I never thought I’d end up like something out of a game bad ending scene.’

It’s as if I’ve stepped into a horror movie with a medieval setting.

A dark laboratory without a single window.

Shelves on one side of the wall filled with unidentifiable glass bottles.

And right in the middle, my current situation is fixed spread-eagled on an experiment table.

Yet, despite being restrained like this, my mind still maintains some calm.

And for good reason, as I know well that he truly has no intention of harming me.

It’s simply impossible.

Clunk.

The door opens, and in comes a murderer wearing a frail mask.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

“What’s with the rush? Did my chains rattle and you came running?”

Despite my sarcasm, Ricky merely shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re bold despite being caught. Courage might be a virtue for a noble, but this is sheer recklessness.”

“Recklessness, you say? If you think high rank allows everything, you’re greatly mistaken.”

What has this mad scientist done?

He invited a noble only to imprison him after being called out.

Probably, what follows is a threat.

Using the power and current upper hand of the earldom.

“If you think you can silence me this way, I must say it’s quite foolish.”

But he chose the wrong opponent.

I’m someone who knows how to enjoy a bit of thrill.

Such baseless intimidation can easily be brushed off by me.

“How many do you think would notice my disappearance?”

Starting from Luciana who would realize something is wrong right away, to my fiancée Elizabeth, and not to mention Bathory, whom he can’t know about.

Even if not these specific people, a student who ranked third in admission scores disappearing overnight, both the academy and the families connected to me would act quickly to find me.

In essence, he’s the one in a hurry.

I just have to wait here until the time limit is up.

“Haha, capturing my weakness to push me into a corner, indeed, it’s a typical trait of a noble wielding his tongue like a sword.”

Yes.

The environment we were raised in differs from that of a guy who’s been stuck in a lab.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“But, in capturing someone else’s weakness, it seems you’ve forgotten your own.”

“What nonsense.”

This formatting should help to distinguish each sentence more clearly.

Who else is as incorruptible and loyal to their lord as I am?

…Of course, I have my little weaknesses!

But how could Ricky, who has nothing to do with me, notice them?

“Weakness? That’s interesting. I wonder what weaknesses you think you’ve identified.”

As I replied with a sneer, his cynical gaze swept over me as I lay there.

Chuckle-.

Seemingly at a loss for words, Ricky prods my chest with the blunt back of his scalpel.

“Why? Are you planning to stab me with that? Are you thinking of performing a dissection on a noble?”

“It wouldn’t be impossible.”

It’s all bravado.

Among nobles of the Manhett Empire, taking a life can only happen in special circumstances like a duel under mutual agreement, territorial wars, or coups.

“Let’s stop the idle threats. With this incident, the tower must be having a tough time too. Tsk, such a promising heir, what a shame.”

“You’re confident. But you know, just because you’ve greased your words, doesn’t mean the truth changes.”

He removed the scalpel from near my heart and placed his hand there.

Soon, a strange sensation passed through me.

“Just as I thought. There’s no ring of mana around your heart.”

“And why would that be a problem?”

“You use magic, though weakly, right? Ordinary humans can’t do that unless they have external organs like horns or ears, or unless they can manipulate their own blood.”

Suddenly, I vividly felt a chill running up my sleeve.

Levain, including demons, elves, and even vampires.

Because I clearly understood how each race manipulates mana.

And-.

“You’ve washed your background quite well. But crawling back north was to reunite with your kin?”

“……”

“I have a very good specimen. I managed to capture someone sent as a prisoner. When I researched using your kind, I realized the principle behind your magic use is the direction our magicians ultimately need to go.”

I realized that this knowledge came from experiments on vampires.

Unlike me, Ricky did not resort to exaggerated gestures.

Instead, his calm demeanor as he nodded quietly was enough to display his madness.

The problem is that this knowledge has turned into a bizarre misconception against me.

“Do you still need more explanation? Vampire.”

“Who, me?”

“Yes. The ability to use magic solely through blood flow regulation, isn’t that exactly the principle by which you use magic?”

“……”

“That touch on your chest earlier wasn’t just checking for mana but also for blood vessels.”

The man who had been aggressively questioned at tea time was no longer there.

The man who had been smiling slyly came close and whispered in my ear.

“You’re a Westerner, so you understand, you’re just a prisoner. Your family, the employed Duke of Speda, and even the Count of Frontal with whom you are engaged. They’ll hush up the fact that you’re a demon.”

…Huh. Where do I even start?

“You might deceive others, but not me. I’ve researched vampires myself. Just wait a little? I’ll contact my family and bring the evidence that will ruin you.”

He glanced at me with greedy eyes for a moment, then turned his back.

“Ah, give up any thoughts of escaping. The device attached to your wrist is a special restraint made by the tower. It fundamentally blocks mana, so even as a vampire, you won’t be able to use magic.”

Just accept your fate without resistance.

He seemed to whisper.

Thud.

I watched the door close firmly.

“What is he saying?”

I muttered blankly.

Calling a human a vampire, what kind of idiot is he?

But.

The situation was much worse than I had anticipated.

Of course, I’m a charlatan posing as a demon.

Clearly human.

No matter how much he investigates, it would be pointless.

However, considering his power and position, he might bury the truth and turn me into a vampire falsely.

It was like being the subject of a witch hunt by some know-it-all.

“Tsk! Did he take everything except my clothes and jewelry? Without my anchor, I can’t even use Tut.”

-Clink.

Only the sound of metal filled the room.

***

“…He’s late.”

Luciana wielded her pure white swordsmanship into the void as she waited endlessly for her disciple, who had not yet arrived.

“Although such incidents have been frequent lately, he isn’t usually so ignorant of time.”

Yes.

Hans, being a kind soul who even shows affection to mere demons, might be running a bit late trying to console her after their argument.

-‘I apologize, Lady Bathory. That time…’

-‘Hmph! I have already forgiven your rudeness with my generous patience. It’s just that you are too late in coming, but as a contractor dealing with my kin, patience is also necessary.’

It was merely her own delusion.

Still, irritation surged unbidden, and she gripped her sword tighter.

As she lost her calm, her aura became increasingly unstable.

At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to practice properly.

‘…No. Why imagine what he is doing on my own? I should just confirm it directly with Hans.’

Now that she had reached the expert level.

While there was much she could and needed to train in.

Competitiveness sometimes serves as a good nutrient for growth.

A communication with Hans that Batory alone secretly monopolizes?

That was unacceptable.

Secretly, so that the demon couldn’t hear.

Now that she had reached the realm of an aura expert, there was nothing she couldn’t do.

With such a mindset, perhaps success would come more easily.

With a mindset fueled by competition, or perhaps jealousy.

Luciana repeated the advice her servant had given her before.

‘Wasn’t it said to send a message as if writing a letter?’

After all, the place where he and Bathory were, was still within this academy.

Her overflowing aura was enough for that.

She gathered her thoughts and focused her intent.

-‘Hans Byron, as a servant, shouldn’t you be by your lord’s side when needed?’

Indeed, the feeling was different this time.

If failing in telepathy before felt like using brute force without finesse, breaking the glue and snapping the bowstring,

Now, it felt like an arrow smoothly slicing through the air, a refreshing sensation piercing her mind.

…She had the feeling.

But unlike when he demonstrated before, she couldn’t hear his voice ringing in her head.

‘Did it fail?’

Just when a self-deprecating gloom was about to drench Luciana’s heart.

-‘Lady Luciana?’

-‘Ah! Can you hear me?’

-‘Luckily…! I need help…’

The telepathy was intermittent.

Suddenly, a wave of anxiety washed down her neck.

The Hans she knew would have helped her if he could.

He wasn’t the type to ask for help.

-‘What’s going on? Speak clearly!’

-‘Mana is low, kidnapped, imprisoned…’

His voice transmitted the situation in fragmented words.

Hans had gone to seek Ricky, an associate of the tower, for her sake.

And he ended up imprisoned by him.

-‘…Shoot.’

A single word.

It was the only thing an enraged Luciana could utter.

-‘The tower… they will pay for this. Hans, first tell me where you are. I’ll come to rescue you immediately.’

-‘Impossible, location unknown.’

A cold tide of fury swept through her heart.

Her own devoted servant might lose his life senselessly because of some madman.

That thought made her frantic.

-‘Isn’t there any landmark or distinctive feature around? No, there’s no time to leisurely figure out the location. I must run to the madman of Circleia…!’

-‘It won’t work…! Using this as an excuse, pressure from the tower…’

Luciana’s eyebrows painfully twisted.

Even while captured.

He was still disregarding his own safety, focusing only on herself and her family.

-‘Please don’t.’

-‘Even in such a situation, you speak for my sake. Please, take care of yourself.’

The telepathy cut off for a moment, and silence followed.

-‘I will heed…’

Yes.

After a brief flow of awkwardness.

Hans’s telepathy once again flowed into her mind.

-‘The place I am trapped, there is a way to verify…’

-‘Indeed. That’s just like Hans. Go on, speak. I’ll hurry to rescue you.’

-‘Bathory…’

What bizarre thing to hear.

Her eyebrows twitched momentarily at the name of a demon, with whom she had an uncomfortable relationship.

-‘Explain in detail.’

-‘Kin contract, location traceable…’

The following explanation made sense.

Hans and that demon had previously formed a kin contract, a magic connection she dreaded even to name.

But understanding was all it was.

She was not convinced.

Collaborating with that demon was not appealing.

As a member of the Speda family, an intrinsic revulsion surged within her.

-‘…Understood.’

Still, she had no choice but to accept.

She couldn’t retrieve him alone.

She immediately rushed out of the room and went to search for the chamber provided to the maids.

“Hmm? Descendant of the great warrior? What brings you here to find me?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Ho-ho, this is something else. Let’s hear it first before I decide.”

It didn’t take long for her to drop the duster she was holding.

“Ha… Hans?”

“Yes. Lead the way immediately. Hans said you know where it is.”

But.

Despite the urgency, the demon stood still.

“Ha! Is that how one asks for a favor?”

“What did you say?”

Already anxious about Hans being captured,

Why was this demon picking a fight?

Her eyebrows furrowed as she scolded herself.

“Isn’t my contractor missing right now! Get your mind straight and think. Even politely requesting cooperation would be appropriate, yet now you’re venting your irritation on me!”

“…”

Luciana’s eyelashes fluttered.

Yes.

She too owed Hans her life.

She must be just as shocked and willing to help.

‘I was too harsh on her, swayed by prejudice.’

“…I’m sorry. I was out of sorts, it was my mistake. I heard that through the kinship contract with Hans, you can determine his location. Can you help?”

“Hmph.”

The blonde demon turned around sharply after their eye contact.

Bowing before a demon.

As a member of the Speda family, this would usually be unthinkable.

But, as a noble, it was her duty to resolve her own mistakes.

Even if the other party was a demon.

“…Leave it to me. I can track his location in real time.”

Fortunately, after the apology.

With her cooperation, things progressed smoothly.

“Yet, you accept the situation easily. It could be a lie.”

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re not one to joke around. Moreover, considering he didn’t respond to my telepathy, it seems to be a quite serious situation.”

While saying this, Bathory even flashed a smile with her fangs showing at Luciana.

“This is not a common opportunity for him to rely on me. Hehe, this incident will further strengthen the bond between the contractor and the kin.”

“Nonsense.”

It wasn’t their relationship that was deepening.

Rather, it was hers with Hans.

However, Luciana kept her mouth shut.

Though it was displeasing to see this as an opportunity rather than focusing on rescuing him,

Finding him was the priority.

They reached a rather secluded building within the academy after a silent standoff.

“It seems we’ve come to the right place. It looks like an ordinary house, but it’s filled with magic stones that suppress mana.”

“Step back. It won’t stop my aura anyway.”

“What? Wait—”

It’s not the demon, not her, who’s going to rescue Hans.

With that single-minded intent, Luciana, as an aura expert, struck the firmly closed door with her blow.

Kaboom—!

In the seemingly ordinary building, the forming magic circles shattered completely.

“Ah, have you arrived?”

Creak— Thud.

The door then opened.

What came out was…

The entity needing rescue was not helplessly imprisoned.

“Wow, maybe because it’s a wizard’s secret storage, there are quite a few valuable things here.”

Hans, grinning cheekily with his arms full of unknown objects he had gathered, seemed to have arrived just in time.

“It’s good to see you’re safe.”

“Of course. As you ordered, I’ve been taking good care of myself.”

“I meant for your safety, not for your own benefit.”

Instead of replying, he approached with a laugh, his arms full of rolled-up papers.

“Come on, let’s go! We need to give that madman a taste of his own medicine, don’t we?”

His relaxed demeanor was very much like that of her own servant.

Luciana found herself smiling without even realizing it.

Hans already seemed to have a plan in mind, wearing a meaningful smile.

As always.

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