Anywhere in the world, if you dig deep enough, an ugly side will reveal itself. Just look down at my body. If you cut through the single layer of smooth skin covering the body, bloody flesh and gruesome meat await us.
The same goes for nations. There is a darkness that clearly exists but is hidden from sight.
“Ah, you mean that.”
Tir thought I was criticizing her and felt slightly troubled.
“...It is the Principality's method of execution.”
“Like hanging or decapitation?”
“That is so. Humans who commit capital crimes are put into a press. Similar to a fruit press, the human is placed at the bottom and a large boulder is hung and rolled to squeeze the blood out of the human. Since even a single drop of blood is precious to vampires, such a method was adopted.”
To vampires, blood is food, wealth, and power. Therefore, they value humans who produce blood, but put differently, humans are property. Nothing more.
“Executing people by putting them in a press is interesting.”
“T-that, Hoo. Do not think of it as cruel. This is somewhat...”
“I thought you would lock them up for life and just suck their blood. Surprisingly, you just kill them? Isn't that a loss?”
“Were you curious about that?”
I asked back with a nonchalant face.
“Why? Did you think I would criticize Tir for killing them cruelly? Me?”
“Did you not ask in such a way?”
“You still don't know me well. I'm from the Military Nation, after all. Compared to here, there's not much difference there either.”
“Right. That is true. The Military Nation also forced harsh labor.”
‘Thank goodness. At least my country treats humans better than the Military Nation. I almost couldn't even bring it up in front of Hoo.’
Compared to the Military Nation, how bad could my country be? Recalling the sights of the Military Nation not long ago, Tir said with great relief.
“There is something similar. Those who steal or injure others are locked up in one place and receive the punishment of having their blood sucked more frequently.”
“Do you not make them do forced labor?”
“Is there a need to force them? We can use the blood taken from them to create familiars and make them do the forced labor. If they get injured while doing forced labor, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?”
“The priorities are the exact opposite of the Military Nation. There, forced labor implies getting injured.”
To the Military Nation, humans were a labor force. So they used humans for forced labor, or forcefully extracted mana to secure resources.
In the Principality, humans are not a labor force, but the resource itself. Perhaps the only nation that values humans for their inherent worth might be the nation of vampires.
“I guess you wouldn't put someone in a press for just a little theft. To put them in a press, they'd have to have killed at least a person.”
“That is not so. Those who kill others, or cause them to die, are made into Twawits.”
“Twawits?”
“Familiars created by Yeyling. From the moment he killed a human, he has already taken away one of the Principality's assets. Even if he spent the years until his death, he could not repay it.”
Murder being a serious crime is the same, but that's because they took away a precious resource of the Principality. The way the Principality treats murderers is...
“Therefore, we extend the time until that death eternally. Since they are vampires, they have good strength, but their ego fades, making them puppets that only follow orders.”
“That is harsh.”
“Isn't it strange to be merciful to a murderer?”
Well, that's true. Unless it's during a war, murder is a frowned-upon act everywhere.
Uh, wait. This is a place where humans are such precious resources that even murderers are turned into familiars to be used. Then.
“Then, for what kind of criminals is the press used?”
For whom is this execution method of putting humans alive into a press and crushing them to extract their blood?
“Of course, it is a punishment prepared for those who try to flee this country.”
To my question, Tir answered as if it were obvious.
“Their blood is filled with this country's water. Their flesh is quilted with this country's meat. If so, shouldn't those who leave this country surely give back everything the country has given them before leaving?”
Telling them to leave behind their blood and flesh means telling them to die... Well, Tir probably meant it that way too.
Instead of asking back the obvious, I swallowed my saliva and asked.
“Are there people who try to run away?”
“A long time ago, when we were also inexperienced, there were many such people. We were at war then, and lacking the circumstances, we tried to dominate and oppress everyone with force. However... we realized that spreading fear actually helped the Holy Palace, so we changed our policy. When we treated them differently, the number of runaways decreased significantly.”
“There are some, you say. Even though you treat them so well.”
“When you gather people, all sorts of humans are bound to appear. That is why we show examples with harsh punishments so they wouldn't even dare to think of running away.”
So this is the reason why the Mist Principality is such a livable country, yet its story isn't spread. The Holy Palace's prophet cannot see through the mist, and once you step in, you cannot escape. The stories inside here are trapped in eternal darkness.
Darkness is fear. People fear unknown countries and make up all sorts of ghost stories. Even I perceived it that way.
Still, since I know the fundamentals of the country, it's easy to understand.
A vampire nation where humans are the resource itself. Because they are precious as they are, there is no need for change, no reason to strive. Perhaps this country is a true paradise.
“Has much of your curiosity been resolved?”
“Yes. The background is different, so it's definitely interesting. Still, it's easy to understand since the creator of this country explains it directly.”
“Hehe. Didn't you also explain the Military Nation to me in the Abyss? It was quite enjoyable then. Since we know different things, informing each other is necessary, isn't it?”
They treat humans like livestock? Well, is it any different elsewhere? The Military Nation openly views humans as labor, the Magic Federation views them as unscratched lottery tickets, and the Empire treats them as weeds called commoners, growing as they please. At least they value blood. It's rather fair.
“To think the day would come when I'd hear an explanation from Tir.”
“Although I left hundreds of years ago, it is still my country, so I can solve at least your level of curiosity.”
“Right. So you said you were studying the parts that changed over 300 years?”
“I've heard almost everything. There weren't many changes. Once I receive the report by tomorrow, I will have fulfilled my duty. Besides, your help was great, whether you realize it or not, in understanding new systems like the Red Gold Transformation.”
“My help? Ah. Because I taught you alchemy and transmutation?”
“Yes. Among the knowledge you explained, there were things Baldamir had already introduced. Because I explained it so fluently, Baldamir was so flustered.”
“Flustered? A vampire?”
“Yes. He rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment, then put away nearly half of the materials he brought. Would he do that if he wasn't considerably flustered?”
Should that be called flustered? Wouldn't it be that he modified his judgment based on the Progenitor's unexpected growth?
Wait, Duke Red Blood came in person? Wasn't that vampire supposed to be busy? For someone of the stature of Duke Red Blood, he faithfully plays the role of the Progenitor's attendant. Kabila too, really. No matter how I look at it, he's a loyal subject to the Progenitor...
No, is it strange that someone of Duke Red Blood's rank is deliberately playing the role of an attendant?
I should meet Duke Red Blood at least once. I've read his thoughts enough until now, but... like it was with Kabila, if he notices Tir's condition, his thoughts might change.
“It's an interesting country. I haven't been to many countries myself, but it's my first time seeing a unique case like the Principality. It's even more surprising that its uniqueness is headed in a positive direction.”
“It is my country, but I take pride in having managed it well in my own way. Otherwise, how would I dare to serve the King of Humans?”
“What about the King of Humans? The King of Humans is essentially the King of Beasts. Beasts don't meddle in other countries.”
“I know that much. That you, as the King of Humans, do not love all people equally. That you are not bound by the good and evil the Holy Palace vainly claims.”
Knowing that, Tir smiled proudly and spoke.
“It is a matter of my feelings. Hoo, I brought you here wanting to repay my debt to you, but if I were to show you an unsightly appearance, I wouldn't have the face to look you in the eye, would I?”
Vampires are kind to humans. Even for someone who ruled the Abyss, Tir has almost no record of actively harming humans. Rather than kindness, it's a desire to cherish humans because they are a precious resource...
...However, even I, who reads minds, do not know what kindness is. Can I even distinguish it? Is there a need to?
“As a reward for showing me a good sight, I should also do what I have to do.”
During the day, I go out to play... no, to investigate, and at night, I promised to return her senses. It's time to do the promised work. I took out a Spade card without even looking at it. The deck of cards, now as familiar as my own body, naturally drew the card I wanted without any special trickery.
Tir looked at my card and asked.
“You always take out a card when you use your power. Is that card deck a treasure containing your power?”
“No. I put meaning in it.”
“Meaning?”
“So I can know what power I'm using, right?”
Spade 7, I rolled the Lightning Yarn into a circle and lightly scratched it with my fingernail. The card unraveled streams of lightning as if it had become a giant silkworm cocoon. Tens of thousands, hundreds of millions of strands hang suspended from my fingers.
Tir, who was watching with curious eyes, pointed at the threads of lightning and asked.
“What a mysterious ability. What are those threads?”
“It's lightning.”
“Lightning? Those threads? Don't tell me, were those threads the lightning you saw in Cloud Village? The power of the Demon God?”
“Even with the same Demon God, the level differs depending on the user. Even if you gather hundreds of millions of these strands, it's weaker than a single formulaic magic bolt, let alone actual lightning. Here, take one.”
I snapped a single strand of lightning thread and sent it to Tir. Tir tried to catch the lightning, but at that moment, it crumbled into crackling static electricity and faded away. The tiny static electricity that wouldn't even make a sound would not have been felt by even the most sensitive person. It went without saying for Tir, who had no sensation.
“Ah... What a strange feeling.”
Feeling? Don't nod as if you empathize when you don't even have sensation. I'm also acutely aware of my lack of power.
“Instead, I have another power. This thread of lightning will return Tir's senses to you.”
“How, with something you can't even feel?”
“It'll take a while to explain, so I'll just get right to it. Starting from the part closest to the head. Tir, could you stick out your tongue?”
“Stick out my tongue?”
Tir obediently followed my instruction. Opening her small mouth, she shyly stuck out her tongue. Even the clams I saw in the tidal flats today would have stuck their tongues out longer than Tir. Seeing a tongue with nothing to grab, I became troubled.
“It seems you don't usually stick your tongue out at people. Is this all you can stick out?”
“Eh, dere musht be a weason.”
‘I need a reason to stick it out. Why would I stick my tongue out when I lack nothing?’
Come to think of it, if you're the king of a country, you wouldn't need to tease people you don't like. You just point your finger and order them to die, and they die. Even before regaining her heart, Tirkanjaka didn't even need to give orders; merely recalling the will to do so would kill a vampire.
“Let's do the deeper part later, and I'll just give you a taste of the tip for now. Focus your senses on the tip of your tongue.”
Human language is nothing more than noise formed by the tongue from the vibrations coming from the throat. Tir, unable to speak properly because she had stuck out her tongue, nodded to express her intent.
Grasping the Lightning Yarn in my hand, I held Tir's tongue with my thumb and index finger. A soft little piece of flesh was caught between my two fingers.
“It may no longer function, but it should remain in Tir's body. Because Tir's flesh stopped just as it was when she died. Like this, if I awaken that path again with lightning...”
Only when you know can you see.
The Demon God's knowledge is a tool for understanding the world. And humans are also a part of the world. In other words, if I accept the Demon God's knowledge, I can newly understand humans from a different perspective.
And I immediately use the newly understood facts.
The threads of lightning dig into Tir's tongue. I steal a glance at Tir's senses with my mind-reading. For Tir, who had discarded all other senses in the cold earth, only the sight to read darkness instead of light and a sliver of hearing remained. To Tir, who had shed everything else in order to exist, other senses were like pitch-black darkness.
However, she couldn't have had no senses from the beginning. She merely lost them.
I didn't have the knowledge to recognize what was lost, nor the means to revive it... but that was before I obtained the Demon God.
Alright. It's possible. With this method, even Tir...
“Ah, ueoeu?”
‘Must you hold my tongue so tightly?’
...The reaction is underwhelming?
It seemed having her tongue held while it was stuck out offended her dignity. Human language is ultimately crafted by the vocal cords and tongue. It would be different if Tir usually trained to project her voice with qi, but right now she couldn't even speak. Just staying still and letting her tongue be held was all Tir could do.
She's uncomfortable with just this? I could think a vampire's endurance is this lacking, but there was another psychological factor.
‘It's been so long since I had time alone with Hoo, and we can't even converse and I just have to have my tongue held? I know it's necessary, but being alone in a room together and pulling on my tongue... It's impossible not to be dissatisfied.’
A feeling of rejection billowed up in Tir's heart. Because of that, my Lightning Yarn couldn't find its way and vanished inside Tir's body. If this continues, instead of returning her senses, I might just end up fondling her tongue. I said urgently.
“Just a moment. Focus.”
“...Aeu”
‘Focus? On what do you want me to focus? My tongue? Or this ridiculous spectacle?’
It's a task to revive Tir's senses. Even if this Lightning Yarn can partially interfere with the body's movements, to change Tir, Tir must also cooperate. This is a process of newly writing beyond simply reading a book. If the original author doesn't help, it's no different from me just rambling my wishful thinking into Tir's ear.
Ugh. I should have induced her cooperation first. That was unlike a magician.
“I can't hear what you're saying, but you seem to be dissatisfied with something.”
“Ea, how can I not be dishtisfied?”
‘How could I not be dissatisfied when I'm in this state? I'm only enduring it because you said you'd restore my senses.’
Of all things, Tir's body was perfectly separated by reviving her heart. If she were still dead, I could have processed her arbitrarily like when I revived her heart. But that's not possible now. To change Tir, I need to move Tir.
Strange. It worked when we shared food at the Fortress of Twilight. The difference from then is...
It can't be helped.
I let go of her tongue. The soft sensation faded, and a slight displeasure appeared and disappeared on Tir's face.
“There's no response with this. Tir. I think we need to change the method.”
“If there's another method, why didn't you do it from the start?”
“Because you might be uncomfortable, Tir. I chose as gentle a method as possible.”
“Is holding and toying with a lady's tongue with your fingers gentle? Ha, I'm curious as to what kind of appearance a forceful method would show, and what it would be.”
“It's hard to explain in words, but would you like to try it once?”
You might regret it. Not me, but Tir.
Ignoring my warning, Tir raised her head as if to say, 'Do it if you dare.'
“Do it.”
“Alright. No backing out.”
Let me show you some magic. I took out the Spade 7 again and pulled out a handful of lightning. And I put it in my mouth.
Perhaps because I pulled out more lightning this time, the sound of static electricity crackling sounded quite rough. Tir saw the sight and scoffed.
“Eating lightning, it certainly doesn't look gentle...”
I grabbed the back of the head of Tir, who was saying that. Tir looked up in wonder. At a distance where I could reach her if I stretched my arm, I pulled my arm back and at the same time lowered my head.
It was forceful. So much so that even the Progenitor Tirkanjaka couldn't resist in time. In the blink of an eye, Tir, with her eyes wide open, took in the lightning from my mouth.
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The vampire's heart beat like crazy.