Vampires.
A race called the rulers of the night, and a race capable of rivaling dragons, known as the strongest race on earth.
However, vampires usually fall short.
Only high-ranking vampires could somewhat compete with dragons, and even then, if the dragon was particularly strong, even a high-ranking vampire couldn’t guarantee victory.
They were no match for the Dragon Lord and the elders. Yet, the reason why it was said that vampires rivaled dragons was simple. It was because of the Lord’s existence.
The Vampire Lord.
The existence of that single individual balanced the scales between vampires and dragons. And now, the Vampire Lord frowned. Her hand was trembling for some reason.
“Am I... feeling fear?”
Sensing something amiss, Lucy stepped back. Her sharp, predatory eyes glared at the man.
The dazed fool was gone. In his place stood a monster.
“What are you?”
“Who cares?”
“What?”
“Well, I can play with you for a bit.”
“...?!”
He smiled. But it wasn’t a normal smile. A smile devoid of teeth or light. A smile as dark as the abyss. And at the same time, one of his eyes flashed crimson.
“What?!”
Fast things have something in common. No matter how fast they are, they still move.
Whether it’s one step or a hundred steps, as long as they move, they can’t escape her eyes.
But the Commander easily dodged her attack. As if he had stopped time and closed the distance in that instant.
His right fist swung and struck Lucy’s face.
Thud!!
An impact and sound like being hit by a sledgehammer reverberated.
Lucy spat out blood.
It was a pain she hadn’t felt in a long time. Was the impact alone stronger than the Dragon Lord’s?
“I initially thought it wasn’t the Commander, but something else.”
Lucy quickly changed her mind.
A Vampire Lord of her caliber could see things that were invisible to others. Movement habits, eye movements, the rhythm of breathing.
Everything told her that the man standing before her was Hans, the Commander of the Royal Knights. If this was an imitation, it was even more terrifying.
Lucy laughed out loud.
“They say a skilled hawk hides its talons. How true that is.”
“Hmm? Ah, is that so?”
It instantly understood the Vampire Lord’s words.
She mistook it for Hans. Well, that made sense. Everything it was currently replicating belonged to Hans.
Beyond speech and behavior...
His breath, habits, even the movements of his internal organs...
It knew everything about Hans.
But at the same time, it felt a sense of displeasure.
Everything it had just mentioned was something only it knew until now. It hadn’t mattered before. It was all just child’s play.
“You...”
“Hmm?”
“You need to die.”
Gifts were like bonds of the heart. You gave gifts because you loved, because you liked, and through those gifts, you became one.
That’s why it endured.
Looking forward to the day they could truly become one. It grabbed Lucy’s arm with its knee and slammed its elbow into her arm.
With a cracking sound, Lucy’s broken arm dangled limply.
“To think she would keep up to this point.”
It was holding back on area-of-effect attacks because it couldn’t destroy the fortress, but it wasn’t going easy on her. It focused all its power on close combat.
But even so, she didn’t back down.
They were fighting as equals. How long had it been since it had a fight like this? Humans were truly magnificent.
Lucy had nothing to lose. If she died by Hans’s hand, she would experience immense pleasure. And if she won, the taste of his blood would be intoxicating, like a drug.
“But it seems this is it for today.”
“Are you running away?”
“Unfortunately, I’m out of time.”
“Tch.”
It couldn’t deny her words. It couldn’t be discovered yet, not until its plan was complete.
It was a shame it couldn’t kill her, but it would have to wait.
“It’s been fun. I haven’t felt this much enjoyment in a long time.”
“Don’t worry, next time, I’ll make sure you can’t even feel anything.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Commander of the Royal Knights.”
Lucy turned to dust, starting from her toes, and vanished before its eyes.
It clicked its tongue.
It didn’t care what happened to that airhead. The plan was what mattered. It had intended to take things slowly, but ironically, today’s events had made it feel a sense of urgency.
A sense that its plan might unravel. It moved its fingers, and a red light slowly emanated.
“Love and resent me. Just as you always have.”
Time couldn’t be stopped. That’s why they loved and resented time. It was commonly called obsession.
Even time couldn’t create something from nothing.
There had to be many vessels. That way, it could bear fruit more easily.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, they loved its possessions more than it had imagined.
It understood.
Look at its possessions, how lovely they were. It knew they couldn’t help but love them. But that was what made it so unfortunate. It had no choice but to bring them misfortune.
“Teacher...?”
“You’re awake, child.”
“What is that...?”
“Shh, it’s not time yet.”
Helia, who had collapsed under the Vampire Lord’s magic, was the first to wake up. But it didn’t last long. It reached out its right hand and covered her eyes.
“Sleep a little longer. It’s not time for you to wake up from your dream yet.”
The voice was so sweet that Helia soon closed her eyes.
Watching Helia sleep soundly, it smiled.
Enjoy your sweet dreams.
The day that dream shatters is not far off.
You will be thrown into misfortune.
[Translator Notes]
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