Chapter 401 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

Peru telling the vampire to leave wasn't merely because she disliked or feared vampires. "...The events unfolding within the clouds. I still don't fully understand. Unless the vampire remains unseen." With the disappearance of the Golden Mirror and the death of the Thunder Lord, if a vampire were to make an appearance now, the ensuing chaos would be uncontrollable. Keeping the fact that a vampire killed the Thunder Lord secret might be impossible, but being attacked and being under control are entirely different matters. "...I don't wish to become enemies with the principality. It's strong and intimidating. So, please, leave as you are. You've achieved your goal, haven't you?" After all, a vampire cannot rule outside the fog. They might walk the land beneath the sun, but even if they build a castle on it, come sunrise, it would crumble like sand. No one would serve a noble who loses their power in daylight. Along with the Golden Mirror, much of Claudia’s geopolitical significance has diminished. Peru earnestly pleaded with Tyr. Of course, Tyr was under no obligation to accept her proposal. Though Tyr appeared indifferent in most matters, she was sensitive when it came to the Holy Kingdom. Not necessarily to dominate or subjugate, but she was considering instilling a sense of fear in Claudia. Not that it was strictly necessary. "Ugh, I’m going to die." Hu showed signs of exhaustion as he collapsed onto Tyr’s shoulder. Startled, Tyr quickly supported him. "Hu? Are you okay?" "My body isn’t in great condition, and forcing myself to move feels like it’s going to kill me." "What did you even do to end up like this? Did you take some kind of medicine?" "It’s not medicine. I was unconscious, but I woke myself up by electrocuting my entire body, much like I did with your heart." While in truth, it was a much more intricate and dangerous process, Tyr roughly understood it. Tyr noticed the dried blood on my clothes. If it were blood magic, I could perhaps reverse the blood flow within my body, but thanks to Hilde’s healing, the wound had mostly healed. Without her treatment, I would've died, and tearing my body open like a dumpling to replenish the blood wasn’t an option, so for a while, I’d have to live with anemia. "What should I do... In the meantime, would you take some of my blood?" "Then I'd become a vampire. You’re not planning on letting me die just to turn me into a vampire, right? Is that why you only laid my head on your lap earlier without taking me to a doctor...?" When I hit the mark with my words, Tyr flinched. Denying it, she ultimately changed the subject by calling for Vladimir. "Vladimir." "At your command." "I will take Hu and head to the principality first, so stay here and root out the remnants of the Holy Kingdom." Authority is relative, and when it comes to an ancestral figure, they can delegate tasks to the Red Duke. Tyr commanded Vladimir. Taking on the burden unexpectedly, Vladimir responded. "If you order it, I shall comply, but if I may offer my opinion." 'Maybe I've been working too diligently. I keep getting more tasks. I'm weary of this, how could I deflect this without offending anyone?' Even someone like the Red Duke didn't enjoy overworking. Thinking faster than during the recent battle, he found an excuse. "Claudia isn’t far, and it’s not difficult to return here, so leaving it be for now might be acceptable.” “Leave it alone? What if they tireless conceal themselves and take root again?” “Isn’t it easier to pull out weeds already rooted than to dig up and search for seeds? The future might be theirs, but time is on our side. Watching for only a few years poses no issue." His words revealed the differing perspectives on time between humans and vampires. Being equally lenient with time, Tyr agreed. She nodded elegantly and spoke to Peru while supporting me. “Very well. Peru, we shall leave. This is being done for Hu's sake, but I chose it out of consideration for you. Otherwise, I’d have no reason to leave this land intact.” “…Thank you.” “I hope you remember this. For you and this land.” Tyr left a stern warning for Peru and waved her hand. Responding to Tyr’s call, her coffin, which hadn’t been able to follow them through the cloud waterfall, flew to her side. It served as a vehicle prepared for me, who could barely walk. While grateful, the fact that it was a coffin was unsettling. Hopefully, it wasn’t foreshadowing my future. Just then, a thundering sound heralded the arrival of Lunken’s massive form from the sky, tearing off his scorched fur with reckless abandon. “Whoa…! Who sent me flying--!” “Lunken. We’re returning. Prepare yourself.” “What? Ancestor, I just got back!” “That’s fortunate. You can follow the path you just took.” Lunken clicked his tongue in disappointment. He clearly wanted to linger and finish the battles he was unable to conclude but resigned himself quickly to the ancestor’s order. Seated with me atop the coffin, Tyr initiated its departure without casting a backward glance. The thick fog loomed darkly. The coffin, unhampered by sunlight, glided smoothly away. “Hold on!” The Regressor blocked the path. She still seemed overwhelmed with confusion. Having previously shaken off Hilde trying to approach the fight between me and Feruel, she now intruded between us. While she had once seen Feruel using her precognitive powers before regression, Feruel's demeanor toward me was entirely new to her. The Regressor felt uneasy seeing the once unyielding Iron Saint oppose, scorn, and fear me as if it were the most natural thing. “King of Humans? But it can’t be. The one I saw—the King of Man, the King of Sin, was—surely…!” Additionally, discovering that I, whom she had met by chance and traveled with, was in fact the King of Humans, put her in a near panic. "King of Humans? You... deceived me?" "I didn't deceive you. I never said I wasn't the King of Humans." It was wordplay. I tried my best to hide it. Even though she aimed to stop the King of Sin, I couldn’t outright reveal my identity, could I? I had hoped to keep it a secret for as long as possible, but now that I have been exposed, I might as well make the most of it. "Being the King of Humans isn’t something to boast about, really. It only attracts attention without offering any real benefit." "If you truly are the King of Humans...!" "What would you do if that were true? Would you attempt to kill me preemptively?" The Regressor flinched. She hadn't yet harbored murderous intent towards me, but if killing me would improve the situation for her, she wouldn’t hesitate. That’s the kind of person a regressor is. She might decide to kill me once to see what happens, so I needed to keep my distance. Who knows what the next cycle might hold? “That’s ridiculous! I’m, that…” “That’s enough. Hu, let’s go.” Tyr laid her hand on my shoulder, casting a dismissive glance at the Regressor. “This is where the path with Shei comes to an end. It was honorable to walk together to protect the world... but it seems we weren’t included in Shei's vision of it. Just like the saints decreed. In that case, we must part ways here.” The Regressor wasn’t one to lie easily. Here, she couldn't shamelessly proclaim herself an ally, promising never to harm us even if the world ended. She knew full well she couldn’t keep that promise. ‘But if the world isn’t destroyed! If Tirkanca doesn’t lead a crimson charge, and if the King of Wolves doesn’t bare teeth against humanity. I want to stand with you! That way, later on, I won't ever need to turn my blade against you!' Without needing to read her mind, it was clear she was honest and righteous. According to societal norms, it was likely that we were the ones in the wrong. Whether it was Azhin, who saw no point in civilization, or Tyr, who trampled and mocked morality and dignity. Compared to strange beings like me, cast aside by humanity, the Regressor was closer to the ideal human image. But, in truth, the most bizarre thing is the ideal human. No such existence truly remains. The framework of ideals created by the Holy Kingdom is binding precisely because it’s unattainable. Unless that gap is bridged, the Regressor cannot walk with us. There's also Tyr and the Elders. At her current state, even with her vaunted strength, the Regressor was at a disadvantage. Typically using future knowledge to gain the upper hand, she found herself stripped of many advantages after the unexpected ambush. “Yay~! Finally parting ways, huh? Thank goodness. Shei didn’t really fit in with you all anyway!” Hilde had approached unnoticed and quietly perched herself atop Tyr's coffin. Though bruised and battered from the skirmish with the Regressor, to someone who manipulates energy, they were mere scratches. Tyr regarded Hilde's bold seating with disapproval but addressed it without removing her. “...I am displeased that you sought to use me, but I’ll let it pass. However, do not expect everything to proceed according to your plan.” “Use you? It was a mutually beneficial agreement! 'I' handle diplomacy for the principality, you know? I’m no thug to unilaterally impose a raw deal, especially against vampires!” “There's no need to stress it; I’m already quite aware. It’s the reason your life as a member of the Sacred Sword Squad was spared, so remember and cherish it.” Had there been even a hint of deceit, Hilde, as a member of the Sacred Sword, would not have survived. Despite the ominous warning, Hilde, accustomed to such threats, grinned and urged. “Now that we have permission, Father. Shall we?” Indeed, we should. We’ve roamed enough—it’s time to settle somewhere. I need time to truly make the Demon God my own, and I should indulge in some peace backed by secure support. “We anticipated our parting would arrive grandly at a perfectly prepared moment, but of course, the world betrays us at its convenience. Farewell, Farewell. May we fortuitously meet again when new winds blow.” “There’s no need. We shall never meet again.” Before Tyr's coffin, the Elder advanced first. No one blocked the way, and even if they did, it would end before they reached Tyr's side. Unless the Regressor found her resolve, which seemed unlikely amidst her confusion. We would surely meet again only once she had firmly decided on her stance. Well, that’s a bit terrifying, so I'll have to cling to Tyr even more tightly. And so, with Hilde and the vampire entourage, I left behind the traces of our conflict and progressed into the dense clouds. The inner realm of the Cloud Waterfall, a perpetually shadowed land untouched by sunlight, a vampire’s paradise turned demonic realm. With the ancestor’s return, leaving a few in the warring states, we stepped into the domain of darkness.