Ch.17Chapter 17 – Red Mana Alliance (6)

“How foolish.”

Looking at the man before her, Joanne Clay muttered inwardly.

‘Nothing in this world is more important than one’s life.’

The magic circle beneath Adler’s feet spews crimson mana that burns like fire, climbing up his body.

Perhaps this idiot before her thinks he can defeat her if he obtains that power.

‘Foolish thought.’

But the power before him was not something a mere human could handle.

Probably in less than a few seconds, that foolish man would disappear without leaving a trace.

Including the girl in his arms, who had at least been wary until now.

“…Huh?”

However, after a few seconds—no, several tens of seconds passed. What she had been waiting for did not happen.

– Shaaa…

The red mana that had been burning as if to devour Adler had somehow stabilized and was being absorbed into his body without any issues.

“You, you…”

“What’s wrong, Princess?”

“What have you done?”

It was impossible no matter how she thought about it.

Receiving the power of a pure-blooded Vampire was something even vampires risked their lives to do.

Even then, successful cases were extremely rare.

If it were possible for a mere human, hundreds of vampires wouldn’t have lost their lives seeking power over the centuries.

“I’m fulfilling Lady Clay’s request.”

“…What?”

“To resurrect a pure-blooded Vampire in this world, I’m directly receiving the power, am I not?”

But the man before her was making that impossible thing possible.

Even for the intelligent Princess Clay, this was a realm beyond comprehension.

“That’s… impossible for a mere human…”

“Princess.”

Adler, who had stepped into that realm, whispers to her in a low voice.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t know?”

The Princess makes a disbelieving expression upon hearing those words.

“Even though I had so many opportunities to see the magic circle?”

“A, a human magician like you couldn’t possibly understand such a magic circle just by looking at it.”

“………”

“E-even our clan couldn’t fully understand it.”

A smile appears on Adler’s lips.

“So that’s why. The reason the magic circle was shaped that way.”

“What?”

“Peripheral structures with no discernible meaning. Outdated loops that needlessly consume capacity. Code… statements that were hastily inserted as emergency fixes whenever errors occurred after initial execution.”

Princess Clay’s eyes widen.

“With such a flawed design, it’s only natural that an overload would occur.”

“Are you saying… you modified this magic circle?”

“To be precise, I optimized it. In this state, even a passing ant could probably be turned into a vampire without any issues.”

Cold sweat begins to form on her forehead.

“…The magical composition system and characters are still being decoded by scholars.”

“Would you believe me if I told you I was the creator of that magical system being decoded?”

“Nonsense.”

Though she said that, inwardly she had already realized.

The smiling man before her somehow knew the magical composition system that no one else had been able to decipher.

No, not just knew—he had mastered it.

“…When did you figure it out?”

Biting her lip from a sense of crisis she had never felt before in her life, she quietly asks.

“To be honest, I wasn’t certain what you were planning. But I knew the true nature of that inefficient magic circle.”

“That means you knew everything.”

“Does it?”

As Adler smiles saying that, Princess Clay quietly watches him.

– Kagagagagak…!

The next moment, the red mana she had been gathering in her hand since asking the question bursts toward Adler like wind.

‘His intelligence and knowledge are considerable, but a human is still a human. I have a significant advantage in terms of power.’

As she watches Adler extend his hand forward with a slightly troubled expression, she mutters inwardly.

‘So I still have a chance…’

– Tsuzuzuzuzu…

“………”

She was left speechless when dark gray mana suddenly shot out from the magic circle and quietly devoured her red mana.

“You planted the professor’s mana in advance.”

“Yes.”

“You… calculated even that far?”

There was no way anyone besides Adler would have the intelligence and knowledge to tamper with an ancient magic circle.

“Hmm….”

This too was probably calculated in advance by Adler.

“…Let’s say I did.”

When Adler, who had momentarily shown a puzzled expression, scratched his head and answered, the Princess’s face slowly began to contort.

“Damn it.”

The quiet gray mana contained within the magic circle that seemed to devour everything.

That terrifying barrier, like death incarnate, seemed impossible to break through in time even if she poured all her strength into it.

“…Wait.”

Therefore, there was only one option left for Princess Clay.

“Let’s make a deal.”

Hearing those words, the corners of Adler’s mouth began to quietly rise.

“No.”

.

.

.

.

.

“…What did you say?”

“I don’t see why I should make a deal with you in this situation.”

When the man before her said that, she momentarily felt at a loss for words.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t understand, Princess.”

Though he tilted his head and asked, Adler simply looked at her with an expression that genuinely seemed not to understand.

“E-even if you succeed in fully accepting that power. As long as you’re human, you can’t avoid becoming terminally ill, right?”

Even if he succeeded in modifying the magic circle and safely bringing the power into his body, the fact that he would become terminally ill wouldn’t change.

What he had succeeded in was merely containing the power within his body without overload.

But even if he fully contained the power within his body, a human couldn’t withstand an ability that could put all vampires beneath his feet.

“You might not die today or tomorrow… but you won’t live even a few months?”

“That’s fine.”

But for some reason, the man before her didn’t seem to care about such things.

“Given the state of my body. Such things don’t matter to me.”

I wondered what gave him such confidence, but soon I realized the reason.

‘…Was he already dying?’

Looking closely, his body already lacked vitality.

To the extent that it wouldn’t matter if his life was over.

“I-I can heal you.”

Before I knew it, I was speaking urgently.

“Transfer the power to me. You can still do it. If you do, I’ll make you my servant and grant you immortality.”

“………”

“If you don’t trust me, let’s make a contract. Contract magic is your specialty, isn’t it?”

I was beginning to feel anxious. More than half of the power had already settled within him. If I delayed even a little longer, it would be irreversible.

I couldn’t let the plan I had prepared for my entire life turn to nothing.

“I refuse.”

“I-I’ll give you half of London.”

“I don’t need it.”

“A-alright. I’ll give you London… no, England.”

“My answer remains the same no matter how many times you ask.”

So I began to plead, abandoning even my pride, but Adler simply shook his head.

“What do you want?”

“What I want?”

“I’ll give you anything you need. I don’t mind begging as many times as necessary. Even if it seems impossible, I’ll help you obtain it…”

As I continued to speak in a hollow voice, I stopped upon seeing his quiet smile.

“As I said, I don’t need anything.”

I suddenly realized why he could resist any temptation.

“You already have it.”

“………”

“The most precious thing to you.”

The short-haired girl sleeping in his arms finally entered my field of vision.

“But, I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Does that girl really have that much value to you?”

Seeing that sight, anger suddenly welled up within me.

“Enough value to sacrifice most of your remaining life?”

What worth could that girl with high self-esteem but incomplete development possibly have?

“Even if by some chance you survive, is she worth enduring the terrible curse that will follow you until your last breath?”

Why would a man capable of easily ruining the plan I had crafted my entire life protect her at such risk to his own life?

“Since you’re human, you won’t die, but from now on you’ll feel unbearable pain in sunlight.”

“………”

“If you don’t drink blood even for a day, your entire body will twist, and as the price for containing power as a human, mana poisoning symptoms will spread throughout your body.”

I said this and observed Adler’s reaction, but he continued to look at me with a calm expression.

“So, why not change your mind now?”

“Ha.”

“Kill that girl who discovered our plan, and transfer the power to me, Adler.”

There was no other way now.

It was time to use the last resort.

“In return, I’ll give myself to you.”

Upon hearing that, Adler tilted his head.

“I’ll become your partner. Let’s become equals and rule the world together.”

“………..”

“I’m not joking.”

Though it was a desperate plea, it actually made quite a bit of sense.

“If my stable control of the pure-blooded Vampire’s power combines with your intelligence and magical knowledge, we could put not just Europe, but the entire world beneath our feet.”

This proposal might work.

The man before me wasn’t foolish enough to miss an opportunity to gain the world just because of one woman.

“Oh my.”

I certainly thought so.

“This is unfortunate.”

But apparently, he was indeed a fool.

“Time has run out.”

The magic circle that had been glowing red cooled down, and the man’s eyes momentarily turned red before returning to normal.

“Ah…..”

The power I had pursued my entire life had completely become his.

“….You fool.”

Collapsing to my knees as strength left my legs, I looked up at the approaching man with hateful eyes and spoke.

“For the sake of just one woman, you kicked away the chance to obtain the world.”

“Well, what can I do?”

He smiles slightly and answers.

“There are some precious things in this world that cannot be exchanged, even if offered everything.”

I felt speechless.

“Everyone has at least one such thing, don’t they?”

“…This is a breach of contract.”

Still clinging to one last hope, I mutter in a low voice.

“What breach? The pure-blooded Vampire has been resurrected, and vampires will once again be active under my command. Isn’t that exactly what you wanted, Princess?”

“I-I am not satisfied with this outcome.”

“Is that so?”

The contract with the absurd condition that he would become my servant if I wasn’t satisfied.

When I first drafted it, I thought he wanted to become my possession.

“…Joanne, if you want to work under me, you’ll need to learn to accept defeat gracefully.”

But that wasn’t it.

“I-insolent. I am a princess with royal blood…”

“A fallen duchess, more like. Perfect to be made a slave.”

From the beginning, he intended to possess me.

“H-how dare…”

“If you keep acting like that, there won’t be any blood for you.”

“……ugh.”

As a half-vampire, I can no longer defy him who has obtained the power of a pure-blooded Vampire.

Even though he is merely a human with little life remaining.

Already, the blood scent emanating from his body was making my mind hazy.

“Ah, what did I say back then?”

“………”

“Right, that’s what it was.”

Adler removes the red ring from my finger, puts it on his own finger, and extends it toward me.

“Kiss it.”

And then he returns the exact words I had said to him.

“And make the servant’s oath.”

I tried to back away with all my strength, but I was already kneeling before him.

“Mmph.”

The cold ring and the warmth of his finger touch my lips and tongue.

“Good girl.”

As he gently strokes my head, my entire body begins to tingle.

My mind, once filled with the desire to dominate, is now flooded with the joy of being petted.

‘…I didn’t want to know this feeling.’

I wanted to jump up and pierce his heart with magic right away.

“From now on, you are my servant.”

“…Yes.”

But contrary to those feelings, my body was already devoted to obeying him.

“Here, drink.”

“Mmph.”

I tried to resist somehow, but the moment his finger penetrated my mouth.

I found myself biting his finger with my eyes closed.

“That’s right.”

With a pungent scent, his blood spreads in my mouth.

– Tsuzuzuzu…

And at that moment, a golden seal begins to be engraved on my stomach.

‘No…’

“Having awakened by drinking my blood, I can’t leave you unchecked.”

Yet with hazy eyes, I was frantically sucking his deliciously sweet blood, and he muttered while looking down at me.

“I’ll have to put you in the ring for a while.”

Then Adler points the ring at me.

“It will be cramped and uncomfortable, but you’ll understand, right?”

‘How dare you…’

“But keeping you in the ring all the time doesn’t seem right.”

As he treated me like an object, indignation began to fill my chest.

“I’ll adopt a red cat soon.”

Nevertheless, my body, which continued to suck his blood while nibbling his finger, was trembling with joy even as it was about to settle into his ring.

“Wait there for a while.”

‘This is the worst.’

It was the moment I became Issac Adler’s possession.

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.

.

.

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“…Haah.”

As the vibration of the ring, which had been emitting a red light for a long time, gradually subsided, I finally sighed and slumped to the floor.

“Somehow I won.”

For now, I’ve sealed her in the ring since there’s nowhere to hide her, but having made the servant contract, I can summon her out anytime.

Despite many complications, I’ve succeeded in obtaining Joanne Clay.

“Thank goodness…..”

Fortunately, Sharlotte Holmes was unharmed.

I’ve successfully prevented the unfortunate incident that occurs in the original game.

“Really… thank goodness…..”

Perhaps due to the relief washing over me, my eyes are starting to close.

“…………”

I tried to stay alert since falling asleep now would be problematic, but it seems impossible.

‘…Still, this much is better than nothing.’

If my body wasn’t in this special condition.

If there wasn’t a secret hidden in Adler’s mana.

My life would probably have been in danger.

‘Since Holmes is also asleep, I’ll just take a short nap…..’

Thinking that, I try to close my eyes for a moment, but a strange sight begins to appear before me.

“………?”

Am I dreaming right now?

Sharlotte Holmes, who should be asleep under a sleep spell, was somehow standing before my half-closed eyes.

‘Ah, it is a dream.’

So after momentarily looking puzzled, I soon smiled quietly and closed my eyes.

‘…There’s no way the real Sharlotte Holmes would make such an expression.’

Although it’s just a tear in a dream, it seems sufficient as a reward for this incident.