Ch.230Chapter 230. Don’t Kill Me, Please.

“This seems quite confusing for you, doesn’t it~?”

While I stood there dazed in the incomprehensible situation, the vampire confidently positioned herself among the Vivians.

She then caressed the face of the nearest Vivian and licked her lips with relish.

“I should explain things for clarity’s sake, but I’d rather not waste time now that we’ve come this far… Ah, yes. Do you perhaps know about artificial witches?”

“Artificial… witches?”

“You see, the Order once conducted research on handling a witch’s power with a human body. Well, there was only one success while the rest devolved into beasts… But isn’t even one success something to be proud of?”

The vampire giggled as she placed her hand on Vivian’s neck.

Her touch was gentle, but her nails were razor-sharp.

Despite her skin being cut by those sharp nails, the Vivian under her touch simply stood there, unmoving.

“…Naturally, the Imperial Family demanded that this knowledge be shared with them, and the Order secretly delivered the results obtained through sacrificing many believers. After all, that power was extremely tempting to the Imperial Family.”

And no one at the scene intervened with the vampire’s actions.

Even as her nails pierced that neck, mercilessly tearing through vital points.

“But no matter how successful the case was, it was too much for humans to accept a witch’s power. In the end, everyone who received the power self-destructed, except for a fetus carried by one pregnant woman~”

Blood dripped from the torn neck.

Until her last breath, the Vivian with the pierced throat offered no resistance whatsoever.

Even as her eyes rolled back and her neck was eventually severed, ending up just like the one beheaded earlier.

“And for those who wanted to manipulate the royal family from behind the scenes, this wasn’t a welcome development. After all, humans being unable to handle that power meant fewer servants capable of wielding the power they coveted.”

-Thud.

Another corpse collapsed with its neck severed.

But the severed head remained in the vampire’s hand, dripping blood as she continued her explanation.

“The fortunate thing was that the power awakened in the royal offspring in the pregnant woman’s womb—albeit partially—was the ability to perfectly replicate its target.”

The vampire brought her tongue to the blood flowing from the severed head, quenching her thirst.

As the thick scent of blood spread, her voice gradually became intoxicated with ecstasy.

“The child born with this power grew into a boy who became somewhat skilled at using it. And when that time came, those watching him thought: Yes, if we use this power to replicate humans who have awakened a witch’s power, we can control the force that terrorized the entire world as we please~!”

-Gulp.

Liquid was swallowed down her throat.

Fresh blood on her neck, and saliva in mine to moisten my drying throat.

“But this also ran into various conditions. The biggest problem was… yes, since the duplicates prioritized the caster’s commands, the illusion over the replicated being couldn’t be perfectly maintained.”

The vampire, dismissively ignoring such tension, tossed the head away and rested her blood-soaked hand on her chin.

“This could be somewhat resolved by deceiving the caster, but duplicates are artificially created, aren’t they? Unlike normal bodies, if the power balance collapses due to even unconscious resistance, they simply vanish.”

Her words showed no weight or guilt whatsoever.

Despite being a vampire who had manipulated the Empire from behind the scenes.

“In short, the key is to suppress unconscious resistance. That means all you need to do is castrate the subject’s unconscious that might resist, right?”

Despite being fully aware of what she had done.

The smile on her face revealed an ethical perspective so twisted it was incomprehensible to humans.

“So they instructed duplicates to be created, and began by subtly distorting the memories those duplicates possessed. They modified childhood memories of losing a mother to bandits before entering the Order into a longing to reunite with that mother, and gradually erased those memories over decades to remove unconscious resistance…”

And what was born through such twisted ethics was Vivian Platonis.

The one who met me by chance, and showed me both her witch form and her human side…

And the pitiful being who, having forgotten even the fabricated memory of meeting her mother again, remembered only me.

“That plan was carried out very successfully. In fact, the illusion worked very well when most memories were lost… And while waiting for that, the utilization of completed research results could also accelerate the plan to summon an otherworldly being after creating duplicates.”

After finishing this explanation, the source of all evil looked at the crowd still standing despite two duplicates having fallen, and let out a light chuckle.

“Well, the group they intended to use as pawns was annihilated, and my current master instructed to just use them as house dogs.”

House dogs?

Can such a choice be made so easily?

Even if they’re duplicates, they have emotions and beating hearts…

In the absence of the vampires who should control them, is Vivian Platonis merely a tool to be used as bait to lure the Demon Lord and then discarded to the prince?

“Of course, outsiders might not understand much of this… but, hehe, looking at your face, I can guess quite a bit?”

Yes, I understand everything now.

That the one holding Vivian’s leash has abandoned her, and that I had given affection to someone who was merely a tool.

And that when the tool’s self was castrated, the prince decided to use her as a guardian to keep others away from Irie until the appointed time.

“Well then, explanations are over, so shall we resume negotiations?”

As the vampire who controlled these guardians through illusion raised her hand slightly, the duplicates one by one began pointing their hands toward where I stood.

“Hyoseong Woo.”

And the vampire calling my name from among them.

“My master wished you wouldn’t come here. You were chosen to lead a new era with those who remain after everything on this land has perished.”

Though her lips still smiled, the look in her eyes directed at me was clearly hostile.

An emotion more sharply honed than the fangs visible between her lips…

“So step back now. Otherwise, losing an arm or leg won’t be the end of it.”

“Or do you really think you can break through alone? Even with dozens of witches who each have the power to annihilate a country?”

-Thump, thump.

My heart is beating violently.

Because I know how dangerous the current situation is, just as she said.

The being I found most terrifying has multiplied into dozens, and they’re now pointing at me, preparing to exercise their power.

I know that with just a flick of those fingers, my body would vanish without a trace—how could I calmly accept this situation?

“Even if you fight, you can’t stay calm, right? After all, even if they’re duplicates, they look exactly like the one you cared for! Ahahahaha~!”

The vampire laughed cheerfully, as if taunting me.

Feeling my composure crumble at that laughter, I glanced at Garam lying on the floor and took a moment to steady my ragged breathing.

“…Annabelle.”

-I know, you idiot.

Annabelle immediately responded when I gave the signal.

The vampire, reading this exchange, exclaimed with apparent surprise.

“My, are you really planning to fight?”

Yet her half-lidded eyes and the power being controlled around her showed that, despite her glib attitude, she wasn’t letting her guard down at all.

“This is troublesome. My master wants you to return in one piece… but you’re showing determination to pass through here even if it means death.”

Gradually, the hands pointed at me gained strength.

The magical power gathered at their fingertips was so distinct I could feel it on my skin.

The aim was precise, and with just a flick of those fingers, everything existing in the designated spot would vanish.

“I have no choice. Well, the prince understands your personality, so he’ll understand…”

The vampire who gave the order waved her hand, signaling.

“Leave only the heart and head, destroy everything else.”

An order too savage to be a mere warning.

Simultaneously, as the Vivians flicked their fingers, the power that spread from them began flying toward the target.

And I could feel it.

The wave approaching faster than sound…

The magical power shot through their fingers, concentrated so densely it was beyond description.

-Snap!

Sensing this, I quickly moved my limbs that might be targeted, and the attacks hit the duplicates positioned on opposite sides of me.

The magical power that hit them spread rapidly, twisting the surrounding space and devouring everything in it.

-Splatter, splatter.

I finally understood the truth of the cutting attack I had feared so much as I watched blood spurting from all directions.

It was only frightening because it couldn’t be seen with the eyes—even the most terrifying attack means nothing if it doesn’t hit.

-Boom!!

Blood fountains erupted the moment this realization dawned.

Cutting through the blood storm that erupted where bodies had vanished, I quickly threw Garam’s collapsed body to Annabelle.

“Annabelle!”

-Damn it, I can’t believe you’re really doing this!!

Annabelle reluctantly caught Garam and quickly left the area.

Fortunately, I could protect Garam through her, but this meant I could no longer rely on Annabelle’s help.

Which meant that after avoiding the first attack, I would have to face the remaining duplicates’ attacks alone.

“Oh? You dodged that? An attack invisible to the eye?”

The vampire spoke with apparent surprise as she watched me deploy my weapon, preparing to face her.

But her expression, unlike before, had turned cold.

A demeanor that had shed all the arrogance typical of vampires… showing not a trace of carelessness.

“I seem to have underestimated you. Very well, this time seriously…”

But that too was expected.

Before her attack signal could come, I hurled the weapon formed in my hand forcefully toward her side.

With a thud! sound, a duplicate had its head impaled by my spear.

As if demonstrating that duplicates share the same biological structure despite being copies, the duplicate with the pierced head collapsed lifelessly.

-Slash, thud!

The next one, and the one after that were the same.

As the targeted duplicates died one after another, the vampire also signaled for the duplicates to attack again.

-Snap!!!

The sound of fingers snapping from all directions.

Along with it, waves of force were shot toward where I was, but I read their trajectories through my senses and rolled around various parts of the banquet hall.

As before, everything where the power touched vanished, but my body was not among them.

Because while powerful, it was too slow to execute.

The process of handling mana before the act of flicking fingers…

Since it had to go through the process of the vampire holding their control giving orders, there was more room to respond than if a sword were being swung before my eyes.

-Slash, rip!

Taking advantage of such gaps, I dodged attacks and cut down the nearest duplicates one by one.

Cutting through flesh, not minding the blood splattering everywhere.

Not caring that they had the same face as the one I had given my heart to, just focusing on reducing their numbers.

“…Don’t.”

As I continued advancing while suppressing such conflicts, a faint voice reached me.

That voice made me halt my sword swing, and I looked down at the duplicate kneeling before me.

“I’m scared, why are you doing this…”

No, is what’s in front of me really just a duplicate?

Tears were welling in those eyes, and unlike before, her body was trembling violently.

Exactly like the timid appearance I knew…

“Don’t kill me. Please.”

The moment that voice was uttered, a wave of force began approaching from behind.

Recognizing this, I struck the pleading Vivian’s neck with my sword and rotated it to thrust into the head of the duplicate trying to ambush me from behind.

With that, the battle ended.

By the time I realized there were no more duplicates threatening me, the duplicate who had pleaded with me spoke through her half-severed neck.

“…Wow, this is unexpected?”

The voice was Vivian’s, but the atmosphere was completely different.

The vampire who had somehow hidden among the duplicates had merely pretended to be Vivian to hold me back.

“After crying so much at first, you mercilessly slaughter them as soon as you know they’re duplicates. You don’t have a human heart…”

-Slash!!!

Whatever it was, just hateful nonsense.

After completely severing the remaining neck, I turned around and walked across the blood-soaked scene.

Crossing the tragedy created by my own hands, embracing my still-pounding heart.

“…It’s not you.”

Realizing that this pounding wasn’t just from fear of the situation, but from the realization that something I truly cherished might be broken.

“It’s not you all. What I know is…”

I searched the scene for the cause.

Passing by the Vivians scattered everywhere… those with the same face as the person who loved me, seeking the source of my heartbeat.

Unlike those who coldly attacked me, the only one…

Among those present, the only one who hesitated to attack me.

“Ugh, ahhh…”

What I found at the end was a woman hiding in a corner of the banquet hall.

With disheveled hair and a haggard appearance, she looked no different from those I had killed.

“I, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”

But her appearance was infinitely emotional, and her murmurs were tinged with fear.

This duplicate, who should have been an empty doll with fabricated memories—memories she had even lost—had emotions.

I could guess the reason why.

“…Vivian.”

“Eek!!”

Vivian trembled in terror at my call.

The eyes that stared at me with a pale face were filled with fear.

Was she afraid?

Of me, who had slaughtered beings like her?

“Please don’t kill me, please don’t kill me…”

“…Vivian. Do you remember me?”

Whatever it was, I just hoped my guess was right.

Among the countless mass-produced duplicates…

I hoped that the one original who served as the template for that mass production would have special feelings for me.

“…Ho-“

Like Byeongbin Park, I hoped there would be differences even among beings that were merely duplicates…

I hoped that the one person who had built memories and emotions about me would still hold me special, despite the vampire’s machinations.

“House…keeper?”

And what was uttered at that moment confirmed that my guess was correct.

-Grab!

It was enough reason to embrace her without reservation.