Suddenly, the vampires observing Lowell and Aria, who had pulled away from the activities of the Security Maintenance Force, harbored a significant doubt.
‘Are they perhaps skipping their tribute?’
It was indeed a rational and valid question.
Due to being far too weak, Lowell, a vampire barely managing to survive while working as a errand boy for the Security Maintenance Force, couldn’t hunt for either blood or money on his own.
Now, he hadn’t come near the tents of the Security Maintenance Force, let alone bring back prey, for quite some time.
Since there was no engagement with the Security Maintenance Force, there was no way he could have paid any tribute in some manner.
After observing Lowell’s every move, the vampires with doubts realized that their concern was indeed valid.
At the same time, they discovered that the rookie vampire following him, Scarlet, hadn’t encountered the Security Maintenance Force once since their arrival.
‘They’ll be dead soon.’
Lowell was barely managing to survive, having lost his head, while the rookie vampire must be acting recklessly due to her ignorance of the world.
The vampires here knew full well that those who acted like that typically met with an untimely demise before long.
Though it was a harsh world, the vampires were not cruel enough to even withhold a pinch of sympathy for those who were soon to die.
Deep down, they offered their well-wishes for Aria and Lowell, who were in similar predicaments to themselves.
But as the weeks rolled by, and even after a month had passed, the “unfortunate events” they feared never occurred.
Naturally, seeing those they had already imagined burying strut around confidently shifted their gaze towards Lowell and Aria.
At first, it was pity, then suspicion, and finally certainty.
‘The Security Maintenance Force cannot touch them.’
An unprecedented exception had arisen.
There was no way Ludrik, a commander, would fear the weak errand boy Lowell. Thus, by the process of elimination, there was only one possible reason.
‘The rookie vampire, Scarlet.’
Reports from those returning from hunts claimed her strength was on another level entirely.
Rumors even suggested she might be stronger than Ludrik. Initially, everyone chuckled at this.
However, as more vampires witnessed her power firsthand, the opinion began to shift.
It didn’t take long for voices to arise suggesting that if they were under her protection, perhaps Ludrik wouldn’t dare approach them.
This increased credibility of the rumors was bolstered by Ludrik’s lack of action despite them circulating.
Rules can only be maintained when everyone follows them.
The existence of rules implies a pursuit of something unattainable in a natural state, a point of unreasonableness that must be accompanied by penalties when broken.
When members fear penalties more than the benefits gained through breaking the rules, order is finally maintained.
But what if people who violate the rules exist visibly in front of them without punishment? What thoughts would the honest, hard-working members have towards them?
Even if everyone struggles together, one might reluctantly accept unreasonable realities, but once an exception occurs, it’s obvious what will follow.
When Ludrik confirmed the significantly reduced amount of tributes and grasped the situation, it was already too late.
Vampires, who would silently follow behind Aria as long as she didn’t disturb their hunting, had increased like a snowball rolling down a hill, and a considerable number of them had started refusing to pay tributes to the Security Maintenance Force.
By the time Ludrik tried to re-establish control, the situation was already out of his hands.
In truth, while the vampires merely stealthily trailed behind, Aria hadn’t promised them her protection. But for the uninformed Ludrik, he had no choice but to perceive them as Aria’s forces.
Avoiding a direct confrontation with Aria, he neglected the vampires, and the dwindling tributes finally became insufficient for all the higher-ups of the Security Maintenance Force to eat their fill for the first time.
It was time to make a decision.
Ludrik had to choose between giving up the privileges he had enjoyed until now or excluding Aria.
“I need to be crafty.”
Ludrik clenched his teeth. If he headed out to hunt starting now, he might be able to slide by without much friction.
Given that the exploited vampires would probably lack the guts to directly voice their grievances to him.
But that choice would mean losing everything he had built up until now.
Would he really risk his life, just like his subordinates who had been paying tribute until now, to hunt for food in human cities where he had been akin to a king in this forest?
Hell would freeze over before he’d do something like that. Better to take a final stand against that cocky girl.
In the first place, the reason Ludrik had never touched Aria was merely fear that fighting a strong foe would cost him all the benefits he was currently enjoying, so he opted for the status quo.
If his tiny kingdom was under threat, then one of them must die.
“Scarlet, kill her.”
Ludrik secretly issued orders to his subordinates.
He didn’t fully believe the rumors that Aria might be stronger than him, but it was also true that he hadn’t accurately assessed her capabilities.
Frustratingly, he couldn’t guarantee victory in a one-on-one battle, so preparation was necessary. Conveniently, Ludrik did know what Aria’s only weakness was.
“Do you think we’ve been collecting human currency for no reason?”
Typically, taking a hostage wouldn’t be too challenging for someone who rarely ventures outside the forest, but it’s exceedingly rare that there’s nothing money can’t solve in this world.
If there’s something money can’t do, it means there’s not enough of it. More money usually opens up a world of possibilities.
Even without official exchanges, if you contact beastmen secretly and slip them some coins, you could acquire more than expected, and Ludrik knew this very well.
Thinking of the expressionless, black-haired dragonkin slave, a grin crept across Ludrik’s lips.
*
“Ah, Master!”
As soon as I flung open the flap of the tent, Eleonora shot out like a rocket from the corner where she had been crouching.
I quickly stepped inside and closed the entrance, immediately stopping the rocket from launching.
“Yeah yeah, Eleonora. Have you been doing well?”
I gently patted her filthy outer garment, stained with blood, and set her down after ensuring she wouldn’t get dirty.
As I peeled off my outerwear and quickly cleaned up, I glanced back to find Eleonora, who had been waiting quietly, wagging her tail faster.
‘So cute.’
The more I looked at her, the more she felt like a little sister with a noticeable age gap.
Finishing up my tidiness, I sat down and tapped the blanket with my fingers. Just as expected, the little one dashed over and snuggled up again.
“Hehe…”
Her tail spun like a fan. It was quite thick and long; wouldn’t that hurt if she moved it like that?
Probably not, right? She seems to be rather careless with her body, possibly from living as a slave.
Honestly, she acts more like a needy puppy the more I see her.
Are all dragonkin like this? I wouldn’t know since I’ve no comparison.
But what’s it to me if she’s like this or that? If Eleonora is careless, then I’ll just take care of her even more.
I can’t stand cleaning up after others, but Eleonora isn’t just anyone. Besides, dragonkin aren’t a weak race to the point where I should worry like a parent leaving a child by the river.
I adjusted Eleonora, who had buried her face in my chest so she wouldn’t suffocate and brushed through her black hair as if combing it with my hands.
Her once rough hair that felt like a broom now cascaded down like ebony, smooth and without tangles.
Roughly three months living in the Mist Labyrinth.
Though for me, it felt like time flew by as I lived each day fiercely, it was perhaps enough time to heal the physical scars etched into my body.
Eleonora had changed quite a bit since our first meeting, which hasn’t even been half a year yet.
The outlines of her ribs, once starkly visible, had somewhat faded, and her limbs, which seemed breakable, had filled out nicely.
Her once scarred and withered skin, marked with whip marks and all sorts of injuries, had completely healed, returning vitality, and she had grown a bit taller, fitting the image of a young girl her age.
Beyond her appearance, several changes were noticeable as well.
Though her facial muscles were still rather sparse, she occasionally displayed a smile now.
And since realizing that I no longer rejected her, she sometimes acted a bit spoiled towards me.
Thinking back, it felt oddly nostalgic. Is this how one feels when seeing a sprout emerging from a lovingly tended pot?
“How was your day today? Was it tough?”
“Today was a deployment day, so I helped with the preparations over there. I moved some really big siege weapons to the forest’s edge.”
“…By yourself?”
Oh dear, look at that beast of a Kanak? He really made you work hard, huh?
My hand, which had been petting her, naturally stopped and slid downward. I grabbed Eleonora’s palm and opened it, confirming there were no calluses, before giving a sigh of relief.
“You shouldn’t worry so much about your slave, Master.”
“I said it wouldn’t matter if you weren’t a slave.”
Eleonora countered, scolding me lightly, and I couldn’t help but retort.
In truth, when it’s just the two of us, there’s no need for Eleonora to be a slave anymore.
The master-slave relationship was merely a label needed when trust was lacking. Now, I can trust Eleonora without attaching such reasons.
She had opportunities to leave me but didn’t take them.
She’s the only ally who has been consistently following me even after learning I’m not one of her kind.
Although she initially volunteered, it felt wrong to keep her bound to the status of a slave, so I’ve mentioned several times that she doesn’t need to be anymore. But since Eleonora stubbornly rejected the idea, the master-slave dynamic still holds.
She apparently likes feeling she’s firmly under my authority.
That’s… well, whatever. It’s possible.
Still, when she learns more later and becomes a helpful aide or guardian, I can change this relationship then, so it isn’t fair for me to force it now.
While it might be a contradiction for her to claim to be a slave yet act spoiled like this from time to time, it’s fun enough that I don’t feel the need to point it out.
“If Kanak bothers you, just let me know.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, Master.”
Regardless, the truth is that during these past three months, that wolf beastman hasn’t crossed the line, but I just felt a little mischievous.
The guy only attempted to create a rift between me and Eleonora for a test, and he’ll be under observation from here on out.
If he tries anything foolish, I won’t guarantee victory in a fight, although I might be able to win…
As we chatted away, Eleonora’s tail gradually slowed down, and her eyelids began to droop.
Oh, has it really become this late? She has been awake while I was out hunting, so she’s far overdue for sleep.
Gently, I laid Eleonora back down in her spot, carefully covering her with a blanket before returning to my own seat.
As Eleonora fell asleep and silence filled the tent, the warmth that had filled my chest quickly receded into the cold.
Three months. While it may have been enough time for physical healing, it was utterly insufficient for mending emotional wounds.
Though the knowledge that I’m not alone offered a sliver of warmth, warmth continuously slipped away through the cracks, and if I moved a lamp even a little away, I quickly became cold again.
‘Is Martini safe?’
It’s been quite a while since the war of the duchy ended. Rumors of its downfall haven’t surfaced, so I suppose the worst has been avoided.
However, the duchy must now be busy with reconstruction. The sturdy fortress that protected me no longer exists.
And the humans will be eagerly trying to hunt me down right now.
How much longer could I endure if I encountered the humans chasing after me?
It was a sudden thought, but the answer to that question wouldn’t come until late into the night.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
