“Nothing here.”
“Nothing?”
I quickly headed toward the Castle of Riven following Kuoh, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Even though it was the ‘Elder’s’ castle, it was just large and completely empty; not a single guard soldier in sight.
A situation with not even a low-class vampire around.
Kuoh shook his head with a baffled expression.
“That can’t be right. It was always filled with my underlings and bloodsuckers… Oh! What if that wave reached here—”
“It shouldn’t have reached this far.”
The distance between the Castle of Juruinas and the Castle of Riven was considerable.
No matter how widespread the power of the Black Lily was, it couldn’t cover the entire continent.
While flying here, I had detected several bloodsucker reactions not too far away.
Lasty firmly denied Kuoh’s words and gazed up at the Castle of Riven.
It was a noble’s castle, but somehow felt rough around the edges.
“Looks like they want to avoid us.”
This is a battle that is impossible on a racial level, regardless of any power disparity.
No matter how many flee, the moment they face Lasty, they have no chance of winning.
[Did they run away?]
[Let’s feast on the castle!]
[LOL]
[Oh, what are we supposed to do now that the Progenitor’s here?]
[Big Progenitor]
[Wait, are they really running?]
[Let’s take them down!]
“Still… it’s a bit disappointing.”
If Riven’s loyalty had remained intact, they would have recognized the Progenitor’s identity the moment they got the book and rushed out to greet her as soon as she arrived.
But he didn’t do that.
Instead, he was wasting his subordinates while trying to avoid any contact with the Progenitor as much as possible.
“It’s as if they think they shouldn’t meet.”
“I don’t think I did anything wrong.”
“I guess they want to live a new life.”
“Hmph.”
Lasty, with a discontented glare, slid into the castle through the casket.
An empty castle, with not a single bloodsucker left, except for a minuscule part needed to maintain the environment.
We entered the Audience Room, but the throne was completely empty.
Lasty lightly jumped up and sat on the throne.
“I don’t feel anything. Seems like they erased all traces.”
“What about the other castles?”
“Pretty much the same.”
Since a while ago, Lasty had been actively gathering blood to explore the whole world.
Other Elders’ castles, as well as those of counts and above, were also showing faint signals.
It seemed someone was ‘deliberately’ causing this phenomenon.
It seems like this phenomenon is being created.
Lasty frowned prettily while resting her chin on one hand.
“…Are we trying to gather everything in one place? The signals are incrementally concentrating on a specific area.”
“Where is that place?”
“The center of the continent… I’m not sure of the exact location…”
[?]
[???]
[Wha?]
[The frowning Progenitor is cute, LOL]
“Why?”
“…I’m lacking power. It’s blocking the search repeatedly.”
“What about the Throne of Blood?”
“It feels like something’s stuck; it doesn’t work. It’s been a long time since my sister’s incident.”
“……”
It’s true that Lasty’s power has been mostly sealed.
That said, the Throne of Blood operates not on power but on ‘rank.’
If the rank isn’t as high as Lasty’s, escaping the Throne of Blood would be impossible.
“Let’s go there for now.”
“Yeah.”
Lasty got up and opened a space made of blood.
Since we gauged the position roughly, there was no need to fly over.
If Riven really is involved and has some unknown connection with Black Lily, we need to hurry.
I don’t think Black ‘Lily’ will harm the world…
But if the ‘System’ is involved, who knows?
The System is an existence that provides trials and corresponding rewards controlled by a specific group of Administrators.
Even if Black Lily didn’t intend it, being connected to the System could potentially cause negative effects.
The System may be preventing the worst, but it also causes those situations.
The intensifying ‘Red Rain’ is one reason for that.
As we prepared to leave, Kuoh rushed in urgently.
“Hey, wait a minute!”
“Kuoh?”
“It’s urgent. Come on!”
“Teleporting is dangerous!”
“Well, sure it is. That guy probably set up a bunch of powers and interference magic near the Castle.”
That’s why I always flew during transportation.
But right now, it didn’t matter.
“I’m going to my space. I’m just going to cover up the exit at that coordinate, so there’s no problem.”
“That’s not it! The Castle with the Throne of Blood has historically had all movement restricted! Even a minor intervention can unleash a powerful divine punishment in the area!”
“Divine punishment?”
“Yes! That divine punishment can trap the target in a space close to eternity or cause an endless thirst for blood, ultimately draining them of their vitality until they die… Ugh!”
“Shut up.”
Kuoh’s mouth snapped shut.
[LOLOLOLOLOL]
[What’s with the fuss?]
[Why divine punishment in front of the Progenitor, LOL]
[What a ruckus, huh?]
[Isn’t that dangerous?]
[What does it matter if Lily is here?]
“Is there any problem with that?”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”
“Let’s go, sister.”
“You seem to not want to go. Should we not take you?”
“Huh? Wasn’t it you who wanted to take me?”
“That was true, but there’s no need to force someone who doesn’t want to go, right?”
“Ugh, ugh!”
“Instead, let’s extract True Blood.”
“……”
Kuo quieted down at the mention of True Blood.
The reason he had managed to survive the waves of power and various damages until now was mainly due to the influence of True Blood.
In a situation where all the vampires were disappearing, losing True Blood was tantamount to death.
As if having no other choice, I reached out my hand, and he shook his head like crazy.
“You want to go? Why?”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”
“Hmm. Honestly, there’s no need to take you anymore.”
“That is true.”
“What should we do?”
I looked back at the camera.
Kuo couldn’t see it, but in my eyes, a small blue-green camera lens was very clear.
“Should we take you? Or should we say goodbye here?”
[Throw it away]
[Send it off~]
[LMAO]
[Oh, if you don’t want to go, there’s really no need to take you]
[Boy commentary]
[Let’s suck True Blood and toss it out ㄱㄱ]
[That’s true, lol]
[Honestly, if you don’t know why you’re carrying it around, it’s highly recommended]
[Let’s throw it away]
[It’s okay]
[Literally, lol]
[Kill kill kill kill]
“What do we do if the viewers want to just let you go?”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh!”
“Is that so? Do you really want to go?”
“Ugh!!”
“Then let’s make just one promise.”
“…?”
It’s not that difficult.
■
Me, Lasty, and Kuo cross space.
Since it was through the space created by Lasty, it was a different form from simple spatial movement.
It was closer to ‘dimensional travel’.
The three of us passed through various obstacles and arrived near the Castle of Erbenus, where ominous sounds of blood lightning could be heard from above.
If Kuo was right, that blood-red lightning would soon fall on our heads.
“What exactly did the heavenly punishment say?”
“…Heavenly punishment is a powerful law that can be controlled by the one who possesses this ‘Throne of Blood’. It descends upon those who break the rules here, and it’s rumored to mimic a powerful force from ‘another world’…”
“Another world? Where is that?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just something I’ve heard vaguely…”
“Hmm.”
So that’s how it is…
[Shiver, shiver]
[Blood lightning sounds cool]
[But what does he know everything, lol]
[? lol]
[Not a villain, but a know-it-all]
“You were a puppet.”
“Always saying you don’t know, but you actually know everything.”
“But what did you do to Kuoh earlier?”
“Nothing much. Just in case.”
“Huh? What?”
“Anyway, Lasty, are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
The blood surrounding Lasty began to stir.
The earth trembled under tremendous power, and the Castle of Erbenus nearby started to shake as well.
Even if her power was sealed, she was still the Progenitor.
Boom!
“It’s coming.”
“Is that divine retribution…?”
“Ugh, aaah!!”
The divine retribution struck.
…
“Huh?”
[?]
[Huh?]
[Eh?]
[Is this where it is?]
“Is this teleportation?”
I expected a powerful attack to land, but after being hit, it didn’t hurt at all and didn’t harm my body.
We landed inside a beautifully decorated space filled with various luxurious foods laid out on a long table.
Beside it, low-class vampires in maid outfits were waiting to serve, and in one corner of the room were treasures, weapons, and gold coins that would make anyone’s eyes widen.
It was a space that could make an ordinary person dizzy…
“But it’s not really a tempting illusion.”
Swish!
As I swung the spear made of blood, the illusion split in half, revealing a dark space.
An empty Audience Room with not a single ray of light.
In the Audience Room, there was a dark throne, upon which sat a small girl.
A girl who strangely resembled Lasty.
Clang.
Next to the girl was a knight, and a peculiar laugh escaped from his helmet.
“You still don’t fall for illusions, do you, Yena?”
“Seeing it like this, I understand.”
This was indeed Riven, the Blood Knight I faced back then.
I didn’t know his name, but his appearance and aura were strikingly similar.
Riven chuckled.
“Out of courtesy, please stay a little longer. Shouldn’t we have some time to say goodbye to the old king?”
“Goodbye?”
“Yes.”
‘…You’ve made something interesting.’
‘Are you the Progenitor?’
“I believe it’s now time for the ‘real’ farewell.”
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