Tir's villa was built atop a high cliff overlooking the coast. True to a vampire, it lacked practical facilities like fireplaces or dining rooms, constructed solely with scenery and light-blocking in mind. The moment I stepped beyond the walls, I saw the dimming sunlight stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
Though a vampire wouldn't admire a sunrise, it was a magnificent sight even with the sunlight excluded. Feeling the mystery of nature anew, I clenched and unclenched my fist.
It is not of humanity. It is not the great principle of nature.
It is mine alone.
But that made it all the more puzzling. Even having lost my power, I am the King of Humans, and so I should only be able to use the power humans wield. I shouldn't be able to use personal powers like inherent demonic arts or qi cultivation techniques.
How strange. Is this also a side effect of losing my power? What on earth is happening to me?
Not knowing that is precisely why I'm seeking the Demon God.
Bah, whatever. Let's just bolt first. I surveyed my surroundings and searched for an escape route...
"Huh?"
Something's off. What is it? Pondering the sense of incongruity, I frowned upon seeing my clear field of vision.
There's no fog.
There's sea mist, but only the obligatory amount that the sea surface must produce. The panoramic view, faintly visible all the way to the horizon, was uncharacteristic of the Fog Duchy.
Was it because Tir had withdrawn the darkness and gathered it to herself? Certainly, that was part of it. But not all. There were conspicuously few clouds and sea mist.
As though the sea's abyss was holding its breath. Recalling that fact, I muttered.
"Come to think of it, the Red Blood Duke also summoned the humans to the castle in preparation for something."
I hadn't thought deeply about it at the time, but reconsidering, it's quite peculiar. He moved after hearing information about the great deluge from the regressor. Warning about the tsunami the abyss would cause—does the regressor intend to reveal that they're a regressor or a prophet? Well, if they regress anyway, it's over and done with, so I suppose that's possible.
But that's not the important part!
No, in the first place. Not once did I ever recall a great deluge while with me or Tir! If it simply went unmentioned, I'd have understood they were trying to hide it! If it never even crossed their mind, how am I supposed to know!
It's a massive disaster like a great deluge, at least bother to remember it. Regardless, I now had one more reason to leave the duchy. I walked down the path along the opposite side of the cliff. Perhaps because Baldamir had called the humans in, the coast that should have been bustling at this hour was completely empty.
Escaping should be easy. How, though—first it'd be better to regroup with Hilde...
Or so I thought as I walked.
"Have you finished your business?"
Naturally, the world didn't set me free.
The Red Blood Duke's confidant, Count Erte, approached as if she'd been waiting. Approaching in a dead-end position I couldn't avoid, she bowed politely.
"I understand the Progenitor took you, but where is the Progenitor?"
"Ah, at the villa. Tir is a sleepyhead who hates sunlight, so I came out to look around alone."
"I see."
Damn it. I hate telling such an obviously transparent lie, but I also hate that vampire calmly nodding at it. Feigning composure as best I could, I asked.
"More importantly, what brings you here?"
"An order from the Red Blood Duke to attend to his concubine."
"Wasn't that over?"
"No. A more pressing order arose and it was merely postponed temporarily. The command still stands."
Vampires are diehard principled beings. They live by the single principle of following their lord's commands, executing orders without changing their expression whether they wish to or not.
But being a subordinate doesn't make them ignorant fools.
"Where are you heading? If you tell me your destination, I will guide you."
'She remains the concubine as long as the Progenitor hasn't discarded his love for her. However, if she were to betray the Progenitor and flee the duchy, receiving the same treatment would be difficult... Of course, until she actually flees, it wouldn't be fleeing.'
I fully understand the Red Blood Duke's implication.
Naturally, Count Erte is not the Red Blood Duke. She's weaker, naturally, and lacks the authority. I have no reason to fear Count Erte.
But I have ample reason to fear the Red Blood Duke's subordinates. The Red Blood Duke is testing me right now!
Tch. Still, the Red Blood Duke has no intention of hindering my escape. Should I accept the help for now?
"Ah, well. I'd like to meet my companion first."
"If it's her, then perfectly."
Count Erte naturally pointed behind her. There was nothing but scattered rocks where she pointed, but when she gestured, Hilde, who had been tailing behind her, appeared with an awkward expression.
"What, you noticed? Tch, this vampire country is seriously impossible to deal with~. Disguises don't work, tailing is hard. No fun at all!"
"Your presence was difficult to detect. If not for the blood on your clothes, it would have been hard to notice... Though since I intended to bring the two of you together anyway, it makes no difference in the end."
Count Erte, who answered calmly, asked me as if to say "is that all?"
"So, what else?"
So she's going to help me escape. Whether she'll hunt the released prey again and cage it, or simply watch—I don't know. There's no choice.
Since it's come to this, let's be brazen about it.
"I suddenly feel like doing a cross-country trek of the duchy. I'm in the mood to walk to the very edge of this country. Could you guide me as close to the border as possible?"
"What? Father, that's too obvious."
Straightforward. Against such a frontal assault that even Hilde was bewildered by, Count Erte smiled a social smile and nodded.
"I will guide you."
Until you flee, you haven't fled. In other words, until I escape, there's no need to pursue me. Then I'll go as far as possible before making my escape.
I resolved firmly and walked after Count Erte.
***
The King of Humans has attained himself. The Progenitor's gift has been delivered.
Now he can become ordinary. He can learn qi cultivation and study magic, having earned the qualification to accumulate them in his body. He has gained the power to maintain his difference. Up to here, it's a success.
Let's not be reassured. Fate changes from now on.
Will the King of Humans abandon...
No.
Until the King of Humans abandons humanity.
***
A bizarre journey with a vampire had begun. Count Erte guided us with true sincerity. She not only provided meals on time but also arranged places to rest along the way. Being in a fleeing position, we didn't use them often, but thanks to her, Hilde and I moved without discomfort.
Of course, only our bodies were comfortable—our minds were not. Hilde glanced at Count Erte, who stood calmly without eating or sleeping, and said,
"Father. Is it really okay to go this slowly?"
"Rushing will just leave us exhausted and collapsed. It's better to conserve as much energy as possible before we start escaping in earnest."
Though I answered in a low voice, Count Erte understood and asked,
"Did you just say 'escape'?"
"It's just an expression, just an expression."
"I almost misunderstood. Then please rest."
We're both seeing through each other clearly. It seems fair, but actually I'm at a disadvantage. I'm a mind reader, so peeking at the opponent's hand is only natural, but vampires shouldn't be doing that. You already have long lifespans and immortal regeneration—why are you going all-in on showdowns? Do you have that much in the pot?
Anyway, Hilde, who had suddenly become a fugitive, let out a heavy sigh.
"Tirkanjaka... I thought she was a colder person. It seems 'my' judgment was off. I didn't expect her to be this unreasonable."
"People change, you know."
"When the person who changed says it, it makes me want to punch you~."
"If we can escape outside the duchy, I'll let you punch me once."
"Did you just say escape—"
"It's a joke, a joke."
"Even as a joke, if you go too far, I might believe it, so please be careful."
Until Baldamir judges that I've "fled," they won't pursue us. So I need to conserve as much energy as possible until that precarious threshold, and once the pursuit begins, I must break away with all my might.
Hilde understood my plan too. She just didn't trust my abilities.
"Father is frail, aren't you? If tireless vampires come pursuing, can you actually escape?"
"Even so, escaping is my specialty. Don't worry. What about you, Hilde? You were crushed like a toy by Tir."
"What do you take 'me' for? Acting in pain is a basic skill~. It did hurt a bit, though."
Acting in pain? From what I saw, your arms and legs were sticking out between the shadow's fingers one by one. That can't be acting.
Well, she is a master of qi cultivation, so I suppose she managed somehow.
Hilde interlaced her fingers on the table and smiled subtly.
"Father. You know, right?"
"Know what?"
"'I' could escape alone. Because Tirkanjaka's target is you."
That's true. The shadow let me go, but I don't know what choice Tir might make. I betrayed them grandly, even using my abilities, so now she could lock me up without any guilt. Honestly, if that happens, it's over. Even Tir won't fall for the same trick twice.
"But 'my' life or death isn't your concern. She'd probably just kill me. Honestly, from 'my' perspective, you getting captured might be better."
"That's probably true. Still, this world is better even if you're rolling in a dung field."
Of course, that's a luxury problem. Hilde's life is actually on the line. It would be the rational choice for Hilde to capture me and hand me over to Tir.
Fortunately, Hilde didn't make the rational choice of abandoning me here.
"So~! Father must! Repay 'me'!"
"Of course."
"Even if 'I'm' not around! I'll set the Military Kingdom as the recipient!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"It's a promise!"
"Got it."
'A half-hearted answer~. But, with this, it roughly has the form of a "promise" at least, right?'
Hilde narrowed her eyes, hiding her true thoughts.
'Now that the fact that you're the King of Humans has been revealed, the only place you can stay is the Military Kingdom anyway. Only a kingless nation can harbor the King of Humans. Yuel seemed to dream of a country that didn't need a king, but... that practically failed, right? You'll at least allow me this much!'
A king, huh... True, other nations with kings or emperors wouldn't welcome me. The Military Kingdom is indeed the best country to stay in. But Hilde seems to believe that if I just go there, I'll naturally become king.
She's the only one who wants that. Well, I have received help. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to meet her expectations to some extent. I was about to dismiss it lightly, but I shook my head at a strange emotion that suddenly arose.
Feeling pity? Me? Toward Hilde?
What. She's the Holy Sword Corps and one of the Six Generals' Glorious Caskets, having mastered all sorts of qi cultivation and divine power—feeling sympathy for her? Must be nice having a full belly. I should be focusing on escaping in that time.
During all this, Count Erte detected a faint trace of blood energy and stood up. Staring intently in the direction where the blood energy was felt, far off in the distance, she approached Hilde and me and excused herself.
"Excuse me for a moment. Someone is calling for me, so I'll go find out what it is."
"Ah, yes. Take your time. No rush, as slowly as possible."
"I will endeavor to do so, concubine of the Progenitor. Speaking out of excessive caution, should you happen to flee, myself and other vampires may pursue you."
"Hahaha. I'll keep that in mind."
Seeing off Count Erte, Hilde and I looked at each other and nodded. And without needing to say who goes first, we packed our belongings and dashed out of the inn.
The escape drama against predators that feed on humans has begun.