Peru telling the vampire to leave wasn't simply because he hated or feared the vampire.
"...What happened in the clouds. I still don't know well. As long as the vampire doesn't show itself."
With the Golden Mirror gone and the Thunder Assembly Master dead, if the vampire were to appear here as well, the chaos would grow uncontrollable. They couldn't hide the fact that the vampire killed the Thunder Assembly Master, but being attacked and being dominated are on entirely different levels.
"...I don't want to be hostile toward the Principality. The Principality is strong and fearsome. So, please just leave like this. You've achieved your objective, haven't you?"
Anyway, the vampire cannot reign outside the mist. They can walk on sunlit lands, but even if they build a castle there, when the high tide of sunlight arrives the next day, it will crumble like sand. No one would serve a noble who loses their dominion every day.
Along with the Golden Mirror, much of Claudia's geopolitical importance had also disappeared. Peru appealed to Tir earnestly.
Naturally, Tir had no obligation to accept that proposal. Though Tir was nonchalant about everything, he was sensitive regarding the Holy Emperor's Court. Even if he didn't necessarily dominate or subjugate them, he was fully considering instilling fear into Claudia.
Though there was no need to go that far.
"Aaaargh. I'm going to die."
Showing clear signs of exhaustion, I collapsed as if clinging to Tir's shoulder. Tir startled and supported my body.
"Hye? Are you alright?"
"My body isn't well and I forced myself to move, so I feel like I'm going to die."
"What did you do to end up like this? Did you take some medicine?"
"Not medicine. I was unconscious, but I had my entire body seared with electricity to force myself awake. Just like I did to Tir's heart."
Strictly speaking, it was a much more delicate and dangerous procedure, but Tir understood roughly.
Tir saw the dried blood stuck to my chest. If it were blood manipulation arts, he could return blood to my body, but thanks to Hilde's healing, the wounds were roughly closed now. If I hadn't been treated then, I would have died, and yet I couldn't have my body torn apart like dumpling skin to fill it with blood either, so I'd be living with anemia for a while.
"What should we do... Would you receive my blood as an emergency measure?"
"Then I'd become a vampire. Is it because you could revive me as a vampire even if I die, so you're not afraid of letting me die? Could it be that earlier, instead of taking me to a doctor, you only put my head on your knee...?"
When I hit the nail on the head, Tir flinched. He denied it, and eventually, even if just to change the subject, Tir called Valdamir.
"Valdamir."
"Give your command."
"I will take Hye and head to the Principality first, so remain here and root out the remnants of the Holy Emperor's Court."
Authority is relative; at the level of a Progenitor, he could even ignore the Duke of Red Blood. Tir commanded Valdamir. Valdamir, who suddenly had work dumped on him, answered.
"If you command it, I shall obey, but if I may dare offer my opinion."
'Did I work too hard normally? I'm taking on work again. It's annoying, how should I sweet-talk my way out of this without offending him.'
Even someone at the level of Duke of Red Blood apparently disliked overwork, and he spun his mind faster than when he fought earlier and found an excuse.
"Claudia is close, and it's not difficult to return to this land, so I think it would be fine to leave it as is for a while."
"Leave it alone? What if they keep infiltrating without getting tired and take root again?"
"Isn't it simpler to pull out weeds that have taken root than to dig up the ground and sort out the seeds? Even if the future may be theirs, time is on our side. Watching them for just a few years wouldn't be a problem."
It was a statement that revealed the difference in perspective between humans and vampires regarding a few years. Since they were equally generous with time, Tir also understood. Tir nodded gracefully and, supporting me, spoke to Peru.
"Very well. Peru, I shall leave. I'm doing this for Hye's sake, but I chose it out of consideration for you as well. Otherwise, I would have no reason whatsoever to leave this land safely."
"...Thank you."
"I hope you don't forget. For your sake and this land's sake as well."
Tir left a stern warning to Peru and waved his hand. At Tir's call, Tir's coffin, which hadn't been able to follow from outside the Cloud Falls, flew to his side. It was a mount prepared for me, who looked too weak to walk. I'm grateful, but why a coffin of all things. I hope it's not foreshadowing my future.
Just then, a rumbling sound was heard, and Ruken's massive body fell from the sky. Ruken, who had roughly torn off his charred fur, roared.
"Uwooooh--! Who is it, the one who blew me away--!"
"Ruken. We're returning. Get ready."
"What? Progenitor, I just got back?"
"How fortunate. You can go back the same way you came."
Ruken clicked his tongue as if disappointed. It was obvious he wanted to enjoy the fight he hadn't been able to finish, but he immediately gave up at the Progenitor's command.
Tir, who sat on the coffin with me, started the coffin without even a backward glance. The thick mist was dark. The coffin, unbothered by sunlight, moved smoothly....
"Wait!"
The regressor blocked their path. She was still in a state of confusion.
The regressor, who had shaken off Hilde and tried to approach, had witnessed the scene of Peruel and me fighting. Peruel, who used the power of foresight, was familiar since she had seen her before the regression, but Peruel's attitude toward me was something she was seeing for the first time. The sight of the Iron Saint, who had been like a stone statue, hostile, contemptuous, and fearful of me as if it were natural, felt unfamiliar to the regressor. The saintesses with foresight abilities were always mystical and composed.
'King of Humans? But, that can't be. The King of Humans I saw, no, the King of Sin...! Definitely...!'
Moreover, she was nearly in a panic at the fact that I, whom she had happened to meet and traveled with, was actually the King of Humans.
"King of Humans? You...? Did you deceive me?"
"I didn't deceive you. I never said I wasn't the King of Humans."
It's wordplay. I tried to hide it as much as possible. When I need to stop the King of Sin, I couldn't exactly reveal my identity openly.
If possible, I didn't want to be found out until the end. But since I've been caught, I might as well make the most of it.
"Being the King of Humans isn't something to boast about anywhere. It only draws attention without actually being helpful."
"If it's true that you're the King of Humans...!"
"What if it is? Are you going to kill me in advance?"
The regressor flinched. She hadn't held killing intent toward me yet, but if killing me would make everything better, she would kill me without hesitation. That's what regressors are.
Maybe she'd try killing me once and then decide on the course. So I should keep my distance. I don't know what will happen in the next cycle.
"That's not it! I, um..."
"Enough. Hye, let's go."
Tir put his hand on my shoulder as if wrapping it and glared at the regressor.
"The path with Shei ends here. I accompanied you because your intention to protect the world was admirable... But it seems we weren't in the world Shei envisions. Just as the saintesses decided. If so, we must part ways here."
The regressor isn't good at lying. Here, she couldn't brazenly answer that I was a comrade and that she would never harm us even if the world collapsed. Because she knew she might not do that.
'But, if the world doesn't end! If Tirkanjaka doesn't march as the Blood Army, if the Wolf King didn't bare his fangs at humanity! I want to be with you too! That way, even later, there won't be a time when I point my sword at you!'
Without even needing to read her mind, it was honest and upright. By common sense of the world, the one in the wrong might be this side. Compared to Azin who saw no point in imposing civilization, Tir who trampled on morality and dignity and mocked it, or a strange being like me who was abandoned by humans, the regressor was closer to the ideal human figure.
But in reality, the strangest thing is the ideal human. Such a being doesn't exist in this world. The ideal framework created by the Holy Emperor's Court is rather something that binds because it cannot exist.
If that gap couldn't be bridged, the regressor couldn't be with us.
Not only Tir but the Elders were present as well. The regressor was currently at a disadvantage even with the military force she was proud of. The regressor, who usually struck at vulnerabilities using information from the future, had lost many of her advantages when she suffered an unexpected surprise attack.
"Yay~. We're finally parting ways, right? That's a relief. Shei didn't fit in with you all!"
Hilde, who had approached at some point, quietly sat on Tir's coffin. She was covered in wounds from the battle with the regressor, but for someone who used qi techniques, they were merely scratches. Tir watched Hilde, who had presumptuously sat on the coffin, with disapproval, but didn't push her away as he spoke.
"...I found it unpleasant that you tried to use me, but I'll let that slide. However, don't think everything will go as you wish."
"Use you? This was a mutually beneficial deal! 'I' am somewhat in charge of the Principality's diplomacy, you know? I don't do one-sided loss-inducing thuggish things! Especially not against a vampire!"
"You don't need to emphasize it, as I'm well aware. That's also the reason I spared the life of the Holy Sword Corps member, so keep that in mind and cherish it."
It meant that if there had been even the slightest suspicion, Hilde of the Holy Sword Corps wouldn't have survived. At the chilling warning, Hilde smiled with her eyes as if familiar with it and urged.
"Now that permission has been granted, Father. Shall we go?"
We should go. After wandering around this much, it's about time to settle down. I still need time to fully make the Demon God mine, and I should also set up a reliable backing and indulge a bit.
"We expected parting to come beautifully when perfectly prepared, but the world betrays us so naturally. Goodbye, everyone. I hope we meet by chance when a new wind blows."
"There's no need for that. We won't meet again."
The Elder stepped forward before Tir's coffin. There was no one to block the way, but even if someone tried, it would end before they could get close to Tir. Unless the regressor had firmly made up her mind, but she was still confused.
If we meet next time, she'll have firmly established her position. Tsk, that's a bit scary. I should cling to Tir even more.
And so, I, Hilde, and the vampire group left traces of battle and advanced into the deep mist. Inside the Cloud Falls, a land forever shaded. A demonic realm that became a vampire paradise because sunlight doesn't reach it.
With the Progenitor's return, leaving some behind in the various nations. We stepped into the domain of darkness.