EP.55 Crisis Escape no.0
I started breaking out in a cold sweat like crazy. The sweat-soaked cloth clings to my back.
What do I do? I don't have any abilities either. Actually, I'm not an instructor but a captured laborer.
On top of that, Captain Abby was just showing great interest in the vampire. I used my position as the only ally in the Bottomless Pit to mock and half-threaten Captain Abby, so if the vampire escapes, Captain Abby might try to kill me.
Somehow I need to talk my way through and stop the vampire's escape. But how? If I nod, I have no means to get them out; if I shake my head, I'll be flying solo. What do I do?
Think, think. The only way to break through this crisis.
Ah.
Right.
That's it.
A horse instead of a general.
"Please wait a moment. Getting him out of here is easier than flipping your left palm."
By the way, I decided from today that even if someone beats me to death, I won't flip my palm. So it's not a lie.
I raised the fingers of my left hand, which I had decided not to flip, and said.
"But there's one thing needed here. And that hasn't been fulfilled yet."
"What is it?"
"Finlay's will to escape this place."
Then the vampire looked puzzled.
"A riddle. Wouldn't he naturally want to go back?"
"Then why isn't Trainee Tirkanka going back?"
"I've lived for so long, and there's nothing particular to do outside..."
"By the same logic, couldn't Finlay feel the same? The reason to leave this place will also depend on his will. If only Trainee Tirkanka doesn't force it."
The vampire, if she wanted to, could order Finlay to die right now. Finlay might feel a little regret for his unfulfilled life, but he would follow the Progenitor's command. The blood that sustains his life, all that power originates from the Progenitor.
Paradoxically, that was what resulted in the Progenitor keeping other vampires at a distance.
The vampire, lest her words cloud judgment, kept her mouth firmly shut and stepped back. It meant she would not interfere with Finlay's decision.
Having confirmed that, I spoke to Finlay.
"Now, Finlay. Listen. You have two choices."
I raised two fingers of my left hand as if offering a grand opportunity.
"If we get you out, Trainee Tirkanka will remain here. You'll never be able to achieve the purpose you came here for."
And I folded one finger. One remained.
All eyes focused on the raised finger. Visual representation. Weight tilts toward the single choice this finger will designate.
I slowly folded that finger and said.
"But if you decide to stay here, you'll gain the chance to be with Trainee Tirkanka. Serving the great Progenitor, leaving open the possibility that she might consider hearing your story. It will be precious time you could never obtain by going up like this."
And after completely folding the finger, I said forcefully with a clenched fist.
"This is an opportunity. Think carefully. Will you seize the opportunity on this land, or go up to the surface?"
Finlay entered the Bottomless Pit himself with the determination to persuade the Progenitor. Since he failed to achieve his purpose, his desire to escape would naturally be small.
Until just now, he was thinking of going back even if it was due to the Progenitor's command, but now that the Progenitor had consciously withdrawn her influence, Finlay judged rationally.
'That's right. There's nothing to gain by going up anyway. But here there's something to gain, and things to do. Serving the Progenitor who is alone! At some point, the Progenitor who takes pity on me might listen to my request!'
He was dreaming of a brilliant future. Becoming the Progenitor's confidant, going up to the surface with her, achieving the greatest merit and gaining glory.
It was already half ruined, but Finlay made his decision to grasp even the small remaining hope.
"O Progenitor."
The vampire, guessing Finlay's decision, answered.
"Finlay. Do you truly intend to stay here?"
"If the Progenitor permits, I shall."
If she doesn't permit, he will go up immediately. The command of the great Progenitor is something that even a mere subordinate, let alone an Elder, can absolutely never refuse.
Therefore, because subordinates even lose their free will before the Progenitor, the Progenitor, lamenting this, respected their judgment as much as possible.
"Follow your own will."
"Thank you! I, unworthy Finlay, shall remain in this Bottomless Pit and serve the Progenitor's will!"
The vampire, who looked down at the kneeling Finlay for a moment, now turned her gaze toward me.
"...However, if his will changes, make it so he can be sent up at any time."
I should push back a bit here. Can't give the impression it's easy.
"You're really treating me like a servant, aren't you? Is this a hotel? Or am I some trainee's lackey? You keep asking me to do things. Please stop."
I can't agree too easily. Because the moment I do, the fact that I'm a worthless laborer will be exposed.
I need to make her not want to leave, and also make it impossible for her to leave. With the resolve to lower the vampire's favorability toward me, I answered like that.
Then.
"You bastard!"
Finlay stood up and shouted. With veins bulging in his neck, he pointed at me.
"Huh?"
"How dare a mere human refuse the Progenitor's request!"
"No, mere human or whatever."
"Your rudeness toward the Progenitor, I cannot forgive. It doesn't matter how strong you are. Even if my body becomes a handful of blood, I don't care. For the Progenitor's authority, I will challenge you to a duel...!"
Wait.
He's serious. While perceiving me as an incredibly strong person, he's challenging me to a duel even if it means his death, to establish the Progenitor's authority.
The problem is, I'm a weakling who can't even predict the outcome of fighting the subordinate's subordinate's subordinate of that Progenitor.
Damn, he throws away his life that easily? This is why the vampire race is like this! What do I do? If it's revealed here that I'm weak...!
"Stop, Finlay."
The vampire's stern command. At that moment, Finlay stopped speaking, neatly turned 180 degrees, and knelt.
Is he crazy? While I was dumbfounded. The vampire spoke to me with a considerably softened attitude.
"I've only made unreasonable demands of you. You're not even the king of this place."
"Ah, no. Well."
"Let me ask for your understanding again. Consider that talk never happened."
"Alright, fine."
"Yes. Thank you."
Something feels off. I looked at the source of this subtle displeasure.
That vampire named Finlay, he doesn't fear death much, does he?
For vampires, the Progenitor is like the intersection of a god and a mother. Of course, there are many who ignore both gods and mothers, but Finlay didn't seem to be one of them. If you think of him as a zealot, it's not incomprehensible.
Hmm. Leaving something like that around won't do any good.
"Wait. I have something to say too."
The regressor interjected with perfect timing while I was contemplating. The regressor pressed Finlay with sharp eyes.
"How did you 'get in' here? You definitely couldn't have come by normal means."
As she said that, the regressor's eyes were dyed orange.
One of the two colors of the Seven-colored Eyes, the looking-down eye, Zhu Eye.
Called the King's Eye, it can minutely perceive everything within its field of vision, detecting suspicious signs on the opponent's body or items hidden in pockets.
The regressor, even using her authority to dig something out, stood before her.
"Shay."
"Huh?"
The vampire stepped forward instead of Finlay.
"Let's stop the questioning there. Much has already been said. Since he hasn't committed a crime, why would there be need to press further. Especially by you, a trainee."
"Huh? Wait, Tirkanka. This is important..."
"It must be important. But it's not urgent. Tomorrow will bring the same day as today, so wouldn't delaying it by a day be fine. And there's no rule that Finlay must answer your question."
"B-but."
"Or, will you ignore my will again?"
"N-no! Tirkanka! I am!"
"Yes. Then see you tomorrow. I also have something to ask Finlay."
"Y-yeah! I will!"
With that "yeah," the regressor quickly nodded and withdrew. The vampire draped the parasol over her shoulder again, and Finlay looked up at the vampire with eyes full of endless admiration.
'As expected, the Progenitor holds the foremost position even in a place like this! I'm proud! That I am a noble of the night!'
Ugh, regressor. Her spirit is completely crushed. It seems the vampire's reprimand last time hit pretty hard.
Anyway, thanks. For letting me feel an unexpected harvest.
The regressor didn't hear the answer, but I can read the answer that came to Finlay's mind. That answer, I'll take it.
'The red-haired mage who gave me the information definitely said the Progenitor was asleep. But when I came here, the Progenitor was already awake. It seems they woke the Progenitor. I don't know what method they used, but it's a fortunate thing. I've been spared the discourtesy of waking the Progenitor myself.'
Oho. Red-haired mage. Quite a strong impression. What's that about?
'He said how I use that information is my concern, and handed me a bracelet. He said if I wear this parachute and drop into the Bottomless Pit, I can reach Tartarus. I lost it mid-drop due to the shock of the parachute opening, though.'
Ah. So that's why he hit the ground without a parachute. Good. The debris should be there, so let's go retrieve it later.
'I was half in doubt, but he was right. Then that statement must also be true.'
Just read this thought and...
'He introduced himself as an escapee from Tartarus.'
Huh? Wait a moment. Escapee?
This is more important information than I thought. Escapees from Tartarus. If I can find even a clue about how they escaped, I can put an end to this miserable life!
It was worth keeping him alive. I joyfully dug through his thoughts. To find the clue to escape that would be in Finlay's memory.
Then.
'He said there's no way left to escape from Tartarus, and that if I go down, I'll have no choice but to wait for the Military Nation to bring me up... But still, I don't regret it. If I stay by the Progenitor's side, eventually an opportunity will come!'
Ah.
It's a bust.