Why did they set a time of three years?
Hans wouldn’t even be able to understand that. But three years should be enough to sort things out in his mind. Right now, the most important problem for Hans was the one placed right in front of him.
All the goals he had established in his mind were denied. His desperate desire to return was shattered by a twisted heart. So, what exactly is What I Can Do?
There was no answer. He could only blankly lift his head and stare at the sky. To say he felt no betrayal would be a lie. However, it wasn’t hard to understand either.
But just because he understood did not mean it was easy to forgive. The emotion he harbored right now was neither hatred nor tolerance. It was pure bewilderment. At that moment, he heard a voice from behind.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
“Of course.”
“I get that, but time is not that abundant.”
“I think three years is a long enough time.”
“You can’t just spend three years worrying, can you?”
She was right. Regardless, Hans owed his life to her. If he had continued to fight in that state, he would have lost his life to the Blood Demon. Hans sighed.
“So, what do you want?”
“What do you think a vampire wants?”
“Is it really going to go that way?”
“Ah, of course. I don’t plan to just take it.”
“……?!”
The Dragon Heart reacted. Hans’s arm, forced to move like a puppet, blocked the fist coming toward him like a shield. In an instant, his body was shoved back significantly.
Before he knew it, a girl stood in front of Hans, exuding a beastly momentum. She had blonde hair and red eyes, just like Lucy, but she was a much smaller girl holding up her claws.
“This girl’s name is Lua. My cute little daughter.”
“So what?”
“What do you think vampires need to survive?”
“Right… I get the gist of it.”
They hunt to obtain blood. And I’m like a honey jar in front of a swarm of bees… or something like that. Hans chuckled and got into position. Yeah, this is much more comfortable.
“But it seems like there are personal feelings mixed into this hunting…?”
“How dare you speak informally to your mother!”
“Huh?”
“I will kill you with my own hands!!!”
Ah, I see, a wicked mama’s boy. Strictly speaking, she isn’t his son, but still. Having assessed the opponent in an instant, Hans raised his fist and brought it down like swinging a hammer.
Thud!!!
“Gaw!!!”
“Huh?”
Despite her bold approach, Lua fell with a single blow, making a quacking sound. Hans tilted his head. What’s this? Why is she so weak? He turned to Lucy.
“Is this how it’s supposed to be?”
“Of course, it is. The Commander of the Royal Knights versus a rookie vampire— the result is obvious, don’t you think?”
“That’s….”
Well, technically, that was true, but Hans scratched his head sheepishly. Even he thought he was far from being an average Commander of the Royal Knights.
But he couldn’t simply say that, so Hans chose to mumble evasively. Lucy gave him a knowing look, but she didn’t pry further.
The other vampires watching from behind, who had witnessed Lua getting knocked out in a single hit, carried her away. Hans, who had been quietly watching that scene, cautiously posed a question to Lucy.
“By the way, why are they all in their bare skins?”
“Bare skins? Is that about their attire?”
“……Yes, that.”
“That’s a traditional attire passed down among vampires. In fact, it’s convenient for movement and for using abilities.”
“…………Is that so.”
Even though it’s a fantasy game, isn’t the setting a bit too loose? Hans swallowed those words. After all, it didn’t matter if he wasn’t involved. Steeling himself, Hans changed the subject.
“Now, tell me your true objective.”
“I’m just here for a transaction.”
“That can’t be true. You’re too preferential towards me for just that.”
“…….”
“What’s the real agenda? Vampire Lord.”
Lucy stated clearly. The vampires, including her, were the blades that ruthlessly cut away the others to maintain balance. Yet, she deliberately intervened to save Hans.
It didn’t make sense. Given that demons were killing people, she thought of it as balance too. So why did she do such a thing? Instead of answering, Lucy merely laughed and clapped her hands.
Just when Hans was wondering what was happening, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest and collapsed. It felt as if someone had pierced his heart with a sword. At that moment, the colors around him changed.
At first, it felt like time had stopped. But Hans soon realized that wasn’t the case. There was a darkness before him that he couldn’t see even an inch ahead. But Hans realized.
Someone existed beyond that darkness. Finally, the moment Hans raised his head, he made eye contact with it. A colossal being he would never dare resist as a human.
“Dragon……!!!”
Hans already knew of its existence. Just being in its presence felt overwhelmingly suffocating. It was a Dragon. Moreover, it was a being he felt very familiar with.
Zairkan.
That guy was still alive.
Hans then opened his eyes again. The darkness that had seemed so thick vanished in an instant. What remained was Lucy, still grinning as usual. She smiled and spoke.
“It seems you can’t fully dominate the Dragon Heart after all.”
“Dominate the Dragon Heart fully?”
“The Dragon Heart is a relic that can only be obtained by someone who hunts dragons. But wielding that relic relies on the user’s capability.”
“…….”
“Don’t think too harshly about it. There hasn’t been a single race that has perfectly mastered the Dragon Heart throughout history.”
“What’s that got to do with this?”
In response, Lucy replied succinctly.
“It matters. You need to firmly decide your heart moving forward, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Forgiveness? Hatred? Or maybe another choice instead?”
It’s purely up to you.
Lucy urged him to clarify his feelings. Hans couldn’t deny her words. What exactly do I want to do? Do I want to forgive them? Or is it hatred?
As time passed, his bewilderment began to subside. What followed were various feelings. Rage over their selfishness for putting him under hypnosis— that was definitely there.
But simultaneously, there was a worried thought about whether they’d be okay. And even a yearning to see them again. However, the common feeling was the question regarding them.
Why did they make such choices? He wanted to go find them and ask directly. Until that time, he couldn’t decide on his own. Hans said with a smile.
“Well, it turned out like this.”
“I see, is that the path you’ve chosen?”
“Is it the right answer?”
“I don’t know if it’s right or wrong. I, or rather, we are merely watchers.”
That was true. Just watching from behind, and if it veers off the wrong path, only then do they reveal themselves. That’s what the Dragon and Vampire, known as the guardians of the world, do. Hans clicked his tongue.
“Then why not step in sooner?”
“You mean against the demons?”
“Yes, during their invasion….”
“Well? To me, it seems like there’s been no difference between the past and now.”
Hans tilted his head. How could there be no difference between the past and the present? Surely, by the setting, the past must have been an era of war among races. So how could it not be different?
“What do you mean? Are you saying the demons are actually the continent’s people?”
“That’s correct.”
“……??”
At Lucy’s words, Hans wore a bewildered expression.
For the first time, his poker face shattered.
*
Zaiha was quietly walking down the path. There was nothing left in the ruins of the fallen old kingdom. Yet, in front of such ruins, Zaiha had no intention of leaving.
He was still bound to the past. The time of countless wars. His homeland was thoroughly destroyed during countless invasions. He had yet to forget the grudges from back then.
His master chose to burn the world. Yes, he gained power by making a deal with a demon. But can that really be called the right thing? No, there are no answers.
“Zaiha, are you there?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How is the preparation going?”
“It’s proceeding smoothly.”
“Great… Finally, we can repay the grudge from that time.”
The first in the ranks of Blood Demons. The queen of all demons and the catalyst for all of this. Zaiha stared at her blankly. After ages, what remained for her was nothing but hatred.
“By the way, I hear there are those who dare conspire against us?”
“Indeed.”
“Go kill them all and come back.”
It was not a good situation. Just facing the Racial Alliance had already strained their forces. Causing internal strife was not a wise choice. However, Zaiha simply lowered his head.
“I will follow the command.”
Everything is according to the queen’s will.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
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.