The Night Ebb Tide, the grandest event of the Mist Duchy. When the currents shift and the abyssal waters surge upstream, the sea of the Mist Duchy turns into a drained swamp. A fortnight where the ocean, which humans dare not trespass, reveals its flesh. At that time, the duchy's residents gather at the Castle of the Full Moon to seize their share, and following the blood, vampires come visiting.
It was the same even for the kin of Elders who were currently asleep or absent. A group of visitors who came to the Castle of the Full Moon knelt before the Progenitor and paid their respects.
"On behalf of the sleeping Elder, the bloodkin of Du Lahan revere the Progenitor's return. Please forgive our Patriarch for failing to have an audience on such an auspicious day."
The Mist Duchy possesses vast lands with a low population capacity. And on lands without humans, beasts inevitably settle. On the southwestern plateau of the duchy, where people do not set foot, energetic wild horses run about.
It would be safe to say that an ordinary human has no way to tame these wild horses. If kicked by their hooves, one would immediately depart this world. However, for vampires who neither tire nor are easily injured, it is surprisingly easy to mount the horses and bridle their mouths. Moreover, unlike the primordial lands of the south, the wild horses here had interbred with escaped domestic horses for hundreds of years, making them docile enough to easily become livestock.
Thus, for a long time, the horses of the southern duchy were treated as famous steeds, and were especially sold at high prices to the neighboring kingdom. For knights needed horses.
Humans and vampires who grew tough by handling the galloping horses. The ruler of that domain was the Jet-Black Knight, Du Lahan. He was more famous as the Headless Knight, though it seemed he was currently sleeping somewhere.
"Pay it no mind. I, too, have returned to the present after a long slumber, so how could I reprimand Du Lahan? Since I have received your greeting, consider it done on his behalf."
"Your benevolence is boundless... However, O Progenitor. Who is the human standing beside you?"
"Ah. Are you speaking of this one?"
Tyr glared at me standing next to her. A subtle hostility was directed at me. Toward my flinching self, Tyr muttered in displeasure.
"What of it. It is just my concubine who only roams around outside. No different from an idler, so do not pay too much mind."
Stung by the sudden slight, I felt unfairly treated and retorted.
"No. Tyr. What do you mean idler? It's true I'm freeloading right now, but I originally came here as a guest, didn't I?"
"Even if you came as a guest. What kind of guest goes out every day and doesn't even show their face once?"
Tyr retorted with a sullen expression.
It had been like this since last time. After I told Tyr that the procedure to regain her senses was over, we lived peacefully for a while... but after I wandered around a few times since then, Tyr gradually grew fierce.
The reason was clear. Tyr was uncomfortable with the fact that I wasn't making any time for her. Taking it a step further, it might have been a very primitive level of jealousy. Since she hadn't realized it herself, I couldn't be sure either.
I thought she was acting a bit girlish for a girl who had lived through the long days of the 12th century, but I never expected it to be to this extent. Should I be glad she's becoming more human-like, or should I say it's troublesome because I'm the target?
"Then give me work! If you give me work, I'll take it and do it properly!"
"Hmph. Enough."
"No, you say I don't even do any work! If I'm asking for a chance to make up for it and you won't even give me work, that's unreasonable!"
"They say three failures mean even medicine can't cure it. I've already given you two tasks and the results were unsatisfactory, so what am I supposed to trust to give you another task?"
"Two? When did I take on two tasks, and what did I fail? I successfully finished one, and I haven't even started the other yet!"
It's true that I try to slack off as much as possible, but I still satisfy the necessary conditions for the work. I work just enough to smoothly pass it off with wordplay!
As I argued, Tyr scoffed.
"Success? Are you talking about that half-baked one?"
"Half-baked? Just this morning, you smelled the flower's scent, got fired up, and even plucked a petal to eat like a horse. You were enjoying it more than anyone, and that's half-baked?"
"W-Why are you bringing that up here? I, who received it, am saying it was half-baked! Besides, that flower tasted terrible! It was so bitter I wanted to spit it out!"
"Of course! The flower wouldn't have wanted us to eat it either!"
To anyone watching, it looked like we were arguing, and we actually were. However, the vampires standing before Tyr understood this scene a little differently.
'The rumor that the Progenitor had taken a concubine was true.'
'She treats her concubine without any reserve. She was always as cold as ice and as distant as the depths of the sea. But now... she seems almost... human, doesn't she?'
Don't misunderstand. We are really arguing!
I've accommodated her a lot and risked dangers to grant her wishes, but her demands keep increasing. How long am I supposed to keep giving and living like this, huh?
Of course, even now I'm freeloading and wielding absolute power with Tyr backing me up! I'm allowed to do at least that much!
"Enough. Let us discuss this matter later."
"What if we do it later? Am I just supposed to stand here like a useless prop, and when the curious vampires can't hold back and ask, I have to be treated like an idler? Are you trying to tame a shrew or something?"
"A shrew would be tolerable. You are worse than that."
'She has a displeased expression, but she never even showed that much in official settings before. Is it because of that rumored concubine? Aside from his sleek looks, there isn't much else to look at.'
'If he is a man, he should have a sturdy body and a magnificent beard. How on earth did that concubine bewitch the Progenitor...'
'How dare he talk back to the Progenitor like that. He hasn't learned any manners. If he acts so arrogantly relying solely on her favor, he will soon face a great disaster...'
No, just because you keep calling me a concubine, do I really look like some foolish concubine? I'm a capable person in my own right! Does the title of King of Humans look like some third-rate novel title?!
...Wait a minute. This feels like a scene straight out of a third-rate romance novel.
The male protagonist who is the absolute ruler of a nation. He possesses a sculpted appearance but only shows a face as cold as ice. Ranked first in combat, he is an iron-fisted ruler who rules the masses with terror.
In contrast, the female protagonist has ordinary origins and average looks. Living humbly and steadfastly with 'ordinariness' as her motif, having nothing to boast of, she possesses one special ability to understand others.
Even the male protagonist who feared nothing in the world was no exception. The ordinary female protagonist understands the special male protagonist, and the male protagonist, at some point, feels his heart race without realizing it...
...If I just swap the genders here, it's me, right? I thought the feelings of the vampires looking at me were peculiar; they were eyes viewing a thoughtless human as pathetic. It was just that there wasn't much emotion in them, so I was late to notice!
'The Progenitor is parading around with a concubine at a time like this. They say the nation declines when attention is focused on a concubine... I never expected the duchy would come to this.'
'However, there is no need to point it out. I do not wish to offend the Progenitor.'
'This too shall pass. More importantly...'
The vampires were not emotional. Even after seeing the Progenitor and her concubine bickering, they silently kept their inner thoughts hidden deep within and brought up other business.
"Presumptuous as it may be, may we offer our service to the Blood Demon Ralion?"
"You look after Ralion just like my Elder. Very well. See to it."
"Your benevolence is boundless, O Progenitor."
The kin who finished their greetings slowly withdrew. It was true that they were especially fond of Ralion. However, besides that,
'I cannot feel the pressure of my blood being drawn. Has the Progenitor truly lost her power?'
'While the Elder is sleeping, there is nothing we can decide, but...'
'If the rumors are true, we must even risk rudeness and wake Sir Lahan.'
'No. Rather, wouldn't it be truly loyal to let him sleep and observe the situation? A rebellion won't break out just yet, and nothing that would disgrace the honorable Sir Lahan will happen.'
The rumors have already spread. The vampires whose Elder hasn't risen seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach for now. That's a relief, if so.
The situation seems to be progressing quickly, but Tyr's humanization seems even faster. Without any reason, she told me to stand next to her today, and isn't she showing off her authority a bit? Doesn't she introduce me to the vampires paying their respects? And while introducing me, doesn't she occasionally throw a slight as if trying to tame me?
...Looking at it this way, she really is like a male protagonist in a novel. Trying to show off her authority.
Then what am I supposed to do at a time like this?
"Are there this many vampires? I'm newly realizing that Tyr is truly the king of this country. Just receiving greetings seems like it'll take all day."
"It seems you didn't know until now. Keep it in mind from now on."
"Yes. This was the last one, right? The kin of the absent Elders seem to have all roughly visited as well?"
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As I spoke while counting, Tyr, sitting in the coffin, quietly raised her head.
There is no throne in the hall of the Castle of the Full Moon. Instead, Tyr's black coffin supported her. On the throne of power where darkness and blood energy infinitely gushed forth, Tyr leaned back and spoke.
"Do you know who is among the Elders?"
"Of course I do. It's written in the history books."
The Elders I've met so far are ones who have lived alongside history. They're so famous that it's harder not to know them. That is, if we exclude the five I met directly, the one who died, and the one creature.
"Muri of the Waning Moon. Sir Du Lahan, the Jet-Black Knight. The Watcher Rahu Khan. The Fallen Nun Sister Egceria. Venerable Blood-Head Bakuta. Each and every one of them has a famous and cool title, so they're quite popular."
"Popular? The influence of the Holy Imperial Court would have been significant when recording history, wouldn't it?"
"It seems they didn't know much either. No matter how wickedly they depict them and emphasize their evil deeds, from the perspective of those learning, they actually look cool. Originally, people are naturally drawn to an interesting bad person rather than a boring good person."
As expected, complaining together is the best way to put someone in a good mood. Even my childish ploys worked well on Tyr. Tyr smiled lightly and muttered.
"That is true. I, too, ended up drawn to a flawed person."
"What?"
"...It is nothing."
Pretending I didn't hear, I skipped over Tyr's words and changed the subject.
"It seems only the bloodkin of those Elders have visited so far. The other Elders aren't coming this time, right?"
"That is correct. Most of them will be sleeping somewhere."
"That's a shame. I wanted to see them at least once."
It would be fun if I could read the thoughts of such ancient Elders. Perhaps their techniques could be of help to Tyr as well. I dropped those words with a hint of regret, but upon hearing them, Tyr nodded and stood up from her seat.
"Katalina. I will convene the Elders. Awaken all the Elders and bring them before me."
What? An Elder convocation order? As I doubted my ears, the maid calmly received Tyr's command.
"By what deadline?"
"Immediately upon hearing it, with all haste."
"I shall follow, O Progenitor."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
As I urgently interrupted, Tyr's eyes turned to me. I stood in her way before the matter became irreversibly bigger.
"Just a moment, Tyr! What are you doing right now?"
"Why do you ask? I was going to call all the Elders to the castle as you requested."
"The Elders who are sleeping soundly? Why all of a sudden?"
"Did you not say you wanted to see them?"
Tyr answered as if waking and summoning all the sleeping Elders was nothing at all.
"I merely left them be because there was no reason to summon them. If a reason to summon them has arisen, there is no need to refuse."
"That reason to summon them... could it be..."
To a vampire, their kin are no different from their limbs. Even now, after Tyr had regained her heart, that mindset hadn't changed. While an ordinary human like me considered the Elders to be immensely powerful beings, to the Progenitor Tyr, they were merely limbs to command at any time.
"Did you not say you wanted to see them?"
Being able to summon them all over a mere concubine's request.
Wow. Summoning everyone with a single word from a concubine? If she does that, I don't know about the country, but I'm doomed. They'll make a fuss saying I'm trying to handle the thirteen Elders who rule the nation however I please! I firmly rejected Tyr's proposal.
"I appreciate the thought, but it's fine! It's unpleasant to be woken up while sleeping, isn't it? Let sleeping people lie!"
"There will not be much difference even if they are woken. For vampires, eternal slumber is merely a way to pass the long years. Ah, since there is also an important matter regarding Ralion, there will be a use for summoning them."
"Enough. The castle is narrow anyway. I'll let you know later."
"The castle has enough space to spare even if all the vampires are gathered."
"Don't do that! It's the house where you and I stay together, so it wouldn't be good if it's noisy, right? We have a private life!"
A house where we stay together. Tyr reacted to those words. Until now, her kin were her limbs. Just as she wouldn't request her own hands and feet to respect her privacy, Tyr hadn't paid much attention to them either... but after losing her dominion and gaining senses of the outside, Tyr felt a slight sense of repulsion at the thought of the Elders staying there.
"H-Hmph. Shall we. Indeed, with the Night Ebb Tide approaching soon, it would be a burden to have the Elders come along as well."
"Right?!"
"I understand your intention, so I shall cancel it... Wait."
Tyr, who was about to call the maid to correct it, tilted her head and asked back.
"But, do you have a private life to protect? What do you even do?"
"Then I can just make a private life, I suppose."
What's so hard about that?
"How?"
"There's no one else to meet, right?"
"That's true, but..."
"Good. The more time, the better."
It's neither a difficult task nor something I shouldn't do. The only reason I hadn't done it was simply because I deliberately built up her anticipation. I had her experience her senses once and then stepped back to watch her change.
Since she has lived for so long, I thought about watching her a little longer... but this should be enough.
I approached Tyr's side. Already accustomed to me, Tyr didn't show any particular reaction even when I came quite close. She merely stared steadily to see what I would do.
Tyr has a stubborn side, so she wants to be led in this regard. If so, I should grant her wish. Even if it's a bit aggressive.
I wrapped my arms around Tyr's back and legs and lifted her right up. Without resisting, Tyr, who had been watching my actions, suddenly found herself held in my arms. Just like a princess.
Even a vampire ruling the world would be flustered. Tyr, who had regained her heart, was even more so. Tyr gathered both hands and widened her eyes. Her red eyes shook.
"Eh? Huh?"
She's lighter than I thought. Even an ordinary human can lift the weight of a young girl. I spoke while carrying Tyr in my arms.
"Ms. Katalina. The schedule is all finished, right? Please tell them not to look for us for a while."
Inwardly, she was covering her mouth and horrified, but she was dealing with a vampire. The maid named Katalina bowed without letting her bewilderment and horror show on the outside.
"I shall do so."
"Thank you. Please cancel the Elder convocation order. Because I'm fine now."
Leaving only those words behind, I headed out of the hall. Conflicts sprouted in the maid's mind over how to explain this scene and who she should report it to, but that was none of my business.
"Phew, this is. Um."
"Now, let's go. Tyr."
It seems Tyr isn't satisfied with having only half of her senses restored.
That is how the human body is. The entire body is interconnected, so no matter how well I did, she was feeling an instinctive deficiency. The reason Tyr kept whining was because her emotions were revived... that was part of it, but there was a high possibility she was feeling a discomfort she wasn't even aware of herself.
I looked down at Tyr, who was awkwardly holding her hands together in my arms, and spoke.
"To make a private life."