The Progenitor Tirkanjaka possessed immense authority, but she was originally a girl who died before even completing her natural lifespan. She merely had some knowledge of the human body, and it was coincidence and obsession combined that made her the Progenitor.
As such, Tirkanjaka herself was unsuited for combat. She had no experience from her lifetime, and her body had not fully grown. Thus, the Progenitor needed forces to fight in her stead, and resurrected warriors through the Blood Ancestor Art.
Now, with long experience accumulated, Tirkanjaka herself had become somewhat accustomed to battle... However, she still lacked the know-how to fully utilize her overflowing power.
In contrast, the Elders were all powerhouses who had dominated their respective eras and left their mark on history. Tirkanjaka was no pushover either, but for her, having lost her authority, to face all these Elders simultaneously...
It was virtually impossible. The moment Tirkanjaka realized her own powerlessness, she shuddered.
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"You dare... against me...!"
"That's right. They're bad people. They need to be reminded who the original owner of their lives is."
The only fortunate thing was that not all Elders stood against the Progenitor. Kabyla, who alone stood on the Progenitor's side, embraced her and whispered.
"Just for a moment, return to your original self for just a brief while. Calm your excited heart, return as the cold Queen of Blood, and punish them. Whether to forgive or to kill and take their true blood is your choice, Sister."
The Progenitor's authority had fallen to the ground, but that authority originally stemmed from the Progenitor's power. If the Progenitor regained her power, the lost authority and the departed Elders would all return.
...Except for the belief that the Progenitor would not change.
"You'll be in a position to 'choose.' Just as you always have been."
Tirkanjaka's eyes trembled slightly. That was right. It might seem like a crisis, but Tirkanjaka had a very simple and easy way to break through this situation. She merely needed to tear open her body and temporarily remove the Heart 1 card that lay against her heart.
Then, losing her heartbeat and her senses dying with it, Tirkanjaka would become the Ruler of Blood once more, placing all vampires under her dominion.
"...B-but."
"What are you afraid of? Sister, we are vampires. Wounds heal quickly. Even a heart, once broken, will return perfectly fine."
Perhaps it would. But that 'perfectly fine' would not include Tirkanjaka's emotions and senses. Nor the precious traces left by the old 'Tir.' Tirkanjaka spoke.
"Wait. Just wait. Give me a moment to think about this."
"Sister, there's no time to think. We must decide before he arrives."
"He?"
"Dullahan. The Hero Knight. The retainer who was your nemesis."
When the name of the Pitch-Black Knight Dullahan came from Kabyla's lips, Tirkanjaka also dredged up an old memory. The era called the End of Knights.
Many knights who cried out for honor came to subjugate Tirkanjaka. Most of them failed to defeat the Black Knight's army and died. Even the outstanding knights who defeated the Black Knights ended up as food for the Elders.
However, there was one. The Hero Knight Dullahan. He even defeated the Elders and eventually reached Tirkanjaka's presence.
Kabyla reminded her of that time.
"Remember the day we made him an Elder? He, representing all the knights who died and became Black Knights, challenged you with their souls on the line. Though he was ultimately defeated, he demanded that you make him an Elder. Saying he would defeat you even if it meant becoming a vampire. Of course, unable to resist your authority, he became a faithful servant."
Kabyla, who had slightly mocked him for daring to try to withstand the Progenitor's authority as a mere knight, then hardened her face and warned.
"If he has broken free of his leash, he will surely try to kill you. So that you cannot even regenerate."
Sir Dullahan, the strongest before becoming an Elder. The Headless Knight who had never even gone all out after becoming an Elder. He would hold his own head in one hand, swinging it as a shield or a hammer. In jest, it was said that Dullahan using both hands was stronger than anyone. Naturally, excluding the Progenitor.
However... the setting of a headless knight was like the delusion of a Hero Knight who did not want to go all out for the Progenitor of vampires.
"Those three are merely resenting you. Right now, they're no different from children throwing tantrums, begging you to return. When your power returns, they'll become lambs waiting to be disposed of. Cowards not even worth killing in the first place."
If they truly intended to attack, they would have been far more aggressive. Mury, Rahu Khan, and Bakuta only came to question and argue without attacking. If the Progenitor were to return, they'd be ready to kneel first before anyone.
However. There are definitely those who are different. Those who would ignore her like Dogo, those who dream of ambition like Elzebuth. Sister Yegcheria is currently away from the duchy, but if she returns, there's no telling what she might do.
And Dullahan would unconditionally attack the Progenitor. Without forgetting the oath he made just before death.
For even after death, he was an honorable knight.
Tirkanjaka finally realized it.
There is nothing certain in this world. She was revered as the Progenitor not because she 'gave' power. Regardless of the past, it's because she 'had' power. Now that power was gone, Tirkanjaka and the Progenitor were not the same.
The betrayal of her once-faithful retainer. With a voice trembling in anger and bewilderment, Tirkanjaka asked again.
"...Veldamir?"
And the expected answer came.
"Sister. Do you really think he didn't know about this? As you know, Veldamir has been effectively ruling this country. Thanks to taking on all the troublesome tasks for hundreds of years, he holds the greatest power and intelligence network. He probably noticed those three awakening before you did."
In other words, Veldamir also knew of this but turned a blind eye. At the betrayal of her trusted retainer, Tirkanjaka shuddered.
Enemies on all sides. No, Lirna Kabyla still remained. But would that be enough? Moreover, Kabyla was currently trying to stop Tir's heart.
There was no other way. Even to resolve this powerlessness, bewilderment, and anger, she had to stop her heart again. She had to execute all the vampires who dared oppose the Progenitor's will, return as the Queen of Shadows, and set order right once more.
Kabyla urged the choice. Whether being urged could be called a choice, I'm not sure.
"...I..."
***
Hilde, who had been speaking to me in a cold, measured tone, realized something at some point. She tilted her head, gauging whether a rebellion against the Progenitor Tirkanjaka was even possible.
So her faith was lacking. Did she think I was that thoughtless? I just found a somewhat easier path amid it all; I always leave myself an escape route.
Hilde, having set aside her scolding gaze for a moment, softened her expression and suddenly threw herself into my arms.
"Father, I love you!"
At that, a few passersby heard the words and smiled with delight. Do they think we're a close father and daughter? I shouldn't look like I'm that age... Maybe it's because there are vampires here, but people seem to have trouble judging ages. I peeled Hilde off as she vigorously rubbed her face against me and said.
"Just a moment ago you were criticizing me for not working. Now you finally understand your father's grand plan?"
"Yes! Lowly 'me' failed to comprehend Father's grand plan! I'm sorry!"
"Just with words?"
"I'll apologize with my body too! Shall we get a room? Or, right here?"
Then the people who had been watching with delight started and quickly left. A few were still watching with curious expressions, but I won't show you the scene you're hoping for.
"That's right. Tir's power has changed, not disappeared. With the right catalyst, it can return to how it was. It might seem like a crisis has come... but what kind of crisis is it if you can get out of it with a flick of a hand? A crisis is when you have no choice but to helplessly endure it."
"So that's why you didn't tell anyone, Father? You even urged the other Elders on! Spending that long night together!"
"I didn't specifically aim for that. It just flowed that way. Don't the Elders deserve a chance to unfold their own desires? Though I don't know what results that might lead to."
"As expected of you, Father...! I believed in you!"
She's saying things she doesn't even mean, when she'd nearly reached the level of despising me.
"If the Elders provoke or persuade Tirkanjaka and her authority returns to normal, the Fog Duchy will once again have Tirkanjaka as its absolute power. The duchy's order will be restored! And Father will become the beloved concubine of the absolute ruler!"
"...Haha. That's right."
That's not what I was aiming for, though.
Would Tir abandon the wish she so desperately wanted? Would the Elders truly cease their desires and choose to live in eternal order?
I don't deny order. You can't seek sleep under a house that might collapse. A belief that the house won't fall, a belief that order will continue, is necessary. Only when today continues like yesterday can one live with peace of mind. I acknowledge that.
But if keeping that belief requires someone's death. If, even as the house collapses and people are crushed to death, one ignores those who died last night and ushers people to sleep under a larger house... What is the house and order for? Is that truly for the sake of humans, no, for the sake of order?
One can believe it's necessary. Even if it's tragic for the dead, one can argue that a greater order is needed for more people to live. But I am the King of Humans, and I cannot read order or hearts. If I become the enemy of humanity, I can destroy it as much as I please.
...However, because those who desire order are also human. I, who can read human desires, instead of destroying. Create an opportunity for order to be reshaped.
"For now, getting out of the castle was the right choice. It seems best to stay outside until the situation resolves."
"Yes~. You rest comfortably, Father. I'll secure the place! But..."
Hilde glanced at the streets outside.
She had surveyed the geography by roaming all over the Castle of the Full Moon and its surrounding city. She had moved only through the most secluded alleys. But for some reason, people were overflowing into the streets, and humans pushed out by the crowds were flowing in.
With this, there wouldn't even be seats at the restaurants. Hilde held her mouth with a peculiar expression and fell into thought.
"The humans who were staying by the coast waiting for the night low tide have returned to the castle in large numbers. I couldn't investigate because time was urgent, but... seeing as there was no movement until last night, they must have moved hastily."
It was just as Hilde said. The people who had come for the night low tide were packed on every street. Since being told to stay in the castle for a while wasn't a bad thing, everyone complied, but with so many people gathered, the streets were somewhat noisy and chaotic.
"It must be an Elder's order. Probably the Red Blood Duke Veldamir's... What could be the reason for summoning so many people so suddenly? Father, do you have any idea?"
"I don't know either. But the timing is certainly deliberate."
"Hmm~. If that's the case, I thought he wouldn't participate in the rebellion. For the duchy's sake, I wish he'd stay..."
She's completely relaxed now. Well. Anyway, I'm getting curious too.
The Red Blood Duke knows how to break free from the leash. He can truly choose. I'm curious about what choice he'll make.
Of course, what I'm most curious about is Tir's choice.