Chapter 405: People Die

When a superior suddenly returns to their workplace, what’s the first thing they should do to avoid any awkward confrontations?

The answer is simple, announce their arrival.

After all, it would be troublesome if people failed to recognize them.

Some rulers with particularly twisted tastes might enjoy hiding their identity, secretly observing their subordinates’ reactions before dramatically revealing themselves for a moment of cathartic satisfaction.

Fortunately, Tyr had no such cruel habits.

In a way, it was an act of consideration—placing one’s subordinates in a difficult position before the Progenitor of Vampires would likely end in their demise.

Besides, even before gaining a heart, Tyr had been indifferent to such petty amusement.

So, before stepping foot into the Duchy, Tyr announced her return.

And the effect was immediate.

In the distance, a massive fortress came into view.

The ominous glow of darkness flickered at the crimson steel gates which were firmly shut, appearing unshakable even if a meteor were to crash upon them.

The Twilight Citadel.

A bastion that had repelled numerous ambitious kings seeking to exterminate the vampires.

None had ever breached its gates.

The lands veiled in mist were all part of the Duchy, but only beyond this fortress lay the true domain of the vampires.

No tales ever emerged from within.

The Twilight Citadel not only protected the Duchy from outside invaders but also served as a pen to ensure that livestock under vampire rule could never escape.

That was why the gate, a symbol of fear, now rumbled open the moment Tyr approached.

Beyond the arching gates, a long crimson carpet stretched across the ground.

As if no one dared to obstruct the Progenitor’s path, the carpet remained untainted, running in a straight line.

Instead, on either side, thousands knelt in reverence, their heads bowed in absolute subservience.

Vampires and humans alike were among them.

It was an overwhelming display of grandeur—far too excessive for someone like me.

Unlike Tyr, I actually enjoyed hiding my identity.

I had a bit of that twisted taste.

As I exhaled a sigh and stepped past the gates, a thunderous voice rang out.

“Progenitor—! We have awaited your return!”

A heavy thud followed as a knee struck the ground.

The one kneeling at the forefront was a martial monk, clad in a simple robe.

His gaunt frame was so emaciated that he resembled a walking skeleton, looking fragile enough to snap at a mere touch.

However, appearances were meaningless.

That frail-looking body housed incredible strength and martial prowess.

He had been formidable even before becoming a vampire—after turning, he had become something beyond human comprehension.

Blood Monk Dogo.

A fallen martial monk.

Once on the verge of attaining ascension, he chose vampirism over the death that awaited him in transcendence.

Beside him, a noblewoman with an innocent yet eerily captivating expression stood in an opulent gown with a plunging neckline.

With a demure smile, she gracefully lifted her skirt and performed a flawless curtsy, her every movement so refined that even the strictest court chamberlain would find no fault in her etiquette.

“Have you been well? This humble one is honored to greet the Progenitor in this way.”

A patron of the Progenitor, a lady-in-waiting, and a tutor all in one.

The Countess Erzsebet.

There had been many Countesses before her, but now there was only one.

The horrors she had wrought were so infamous that it had become taboo to bestow the title of Countess upon anyone else.

Five Elders had gathered here—each a figure who had altered history.

They had come solely to pay homage to the Progenitor.

And Tyr responded briefly, yet warmly.

“It has been some time. Seeing your unchanged faces brings me joy.”

For a fleeting moment, subtle unease flickered across some of their expressions.

But Tyr did not notice, as her attention was drawn to a familiar presence beyond them.

“Ralion. You arrived ahead of me.”

With a soft shake of its mane, Ralion approached.

Tyr, with a rare display of warmth, stroked the beast’s fur.

To deceive the Military State’s eyes, Tyr had sent Ralion toward the Duchy.

At the time, she had chosen not to recall Ralion, instead ordering it to continue ahead.

It seemed that ever since their parting, Ralion had been waiting for Tyr’s return.

Countess Erzsebet spoke with pride.

“Ralion has heralded the Progenitor’s return. Ever since it appeared in the Duchy, all creatures of the blood have awaited this day with bated breath.”

“You have done well, Erzsebet.”

“I am deeply honored.”

Tyr had sent Ralion quite some time ago, yet they had been preparing all this time without knowing exactly when she would return?

Well, it made sense.

The certainty of Tyr’s return must have been absolute—otherwise, figures like Valdamir, Lunken, and Kavila wouldn’t have rushed all the way to Claudia.

“Would you like to rest and recover from your journey, or shall we attend to state affairs? Please give your command, and we shall obey.”

“Before hearing what has transpired in my absence…”

Tyr cast a glance at me before taking my hand and pulling me forward.

I had been quietly observing from the sidelines, but suddenly, I was thrust into the spotlight.

It was as if Tyr was proudly presenting me.

A human brought by the Progenitor.

In an instant, all eyes were on me.

Their gazes burned into my face as they hastily committed my presence to memory.

Especially Erzsebet, who covered her mouth with her hand as she rapidly assessed me.

｢A human? Could it be… the Progenitor’s consort?｣

Ah, there goes my anonymity.

There was no avoiding it now.

Having deliberately placed me at her side, Tyr issued her command.

“There is an injured one. I wish to see him treated immediately—bring me Luscynia at once.”

The Progenitor had spoken the name of an Elder—one of the greatest doctors among vampires.

And she had done so merely to tend to a human.

The moment Luscynia’s name left Tyr’s lips, all the Elders hesitated, exchanging furtive glances.

“Ah… that is… we deeply regret to inform you…”

Something was clearly wrong.

Even if they were stunned by the Progenitor’s apparent favoritism, the Elders—who would gladly offer up their own hearts at Tyr’s command—should not hesitate to obey.

Even Dogo, Erzsebet, Lunken, and Kavila were subtly shifting their gazes, as if unwilling to be the first to speak.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Tyr pressed them.

“What is the issue? You need only obey.”

“Progenitor… there is something we must report first.”

There was only one Elder who could deliver such a direct statement to the Progenitor.

Valdamir, speaking on behalf of all the Elders—perhaps even for those too reluctant to speak—solemnly delivered the grim news.

“Luscynia… has perished.”

At the announcement of an Elder’s death, even Tyr’s face hardened.

The Duchy’s preparations for the Progenitor’s return were flawless.

The residence where Tyr would be staying, though supposedly temporary, was lavishly furnished to an almost excessive degree, and the storage rooms were stocked with enough supplies to handle any possible scenario.

Even the carriages and palanquins in the courtyard numbered up to five different types—ready to accommodate whatever whim Tyr might have.

They just hadn’t anticipated that Tyr would bring an injured human along, so there were no doctors on standby.

As a guest of honor, now settled into my quarters, I turned to Tyr and asked.

“Can Elders even die?”

“…Yes. However, the only time such a thing happened was during my early battles with the Sanctum. Since the founding of the Duchy, no Elder has ever experienced death.”

Tyr spoke with a contemplative expression.

The news of Luscynia’s death must have unsettled Tyr more than expected.

And it was understandable.

Losing a subordinate who had been with you for centuries would be disorienting.

Especially when that subordinate, much like Lunken earlier, could be flattened by a juggernaut, struck by lightning, impaled by a spear, and still return within minutes.

Knowing how absurdly difficult it was for an Elder to die only made it more shocking.

“It has been over twenty years since I last saw him, and his subordinates are all still here. There must have been some kind of incident… but without more details, I cannot even begin to guess.”

I am curious too.

What kind of event could have possibly led to an Elder’s death?

I turned to Tyr and asked,

“There are thirteen Elders in total, right?”

“That is correct. But it is rare to see all thirteen gathered at once. Some enter long slumbers like I do, while others wander the world. Apart from Ralion, who remains by my side, usually only half are awake and actively present in the Duchy.”

“So excluding Ralion, there should be six… No, five left now?”

“…No, it is likely still six.”

“Huh?”

I did a quick mental calculation.

Six minus one should be five.

Was this some kind of vampiric miracle math?

Tyr, deep in thought, continued her explanation.

“I have been informed that Luscynia’s Primordial Essence has been inherited by another vampire. Since I have yet to personally acknowledge them, they cannot be called an Elder, but they must possess power on par with one and are likely already ruling over several subordinates. It is an unprecedented situation, and it seems Valdamir has decided to observe rather than act immediately.”

“So, in other words, someone ascended to nobility without your approval? That’s quite bold, especially with the Progenitor still alive and well.”

“Yes. If that were not the case, the position might have been yours instead.”

“Well, I think an Elder who was already a vampire would handle the role better. Someone who worked their way up is probably more qualified than a nepotistic candidate. It sounds like a good selection.”

Phew… Successfully dodged that one.

Tyr seemed slightly disappointed by my indirect rejection but let it go.

“In any case, this is an unexpected development and must be addressed first. I had planned to have Luscynia examine your condition, but now…”

Now that I thought about it, an Elder’s death was no small matter.

Luscynia, the Heaven Defier.

He was a figure recorded in history, someone who had left an undeniable mark.

He had been a master of Blood Aura and a pioneer of Qi Arts, researching and refining techniques that enhanced both body and blood.

It was said that he had willingly turned into a vampire in pursuit of deeper, darker knowledge.

Virtually no Qi Art in existence had escaped his influence.

And Tyr had intended to use such a historic Elder… as a doctor.

Was this the privilege of having the Progenitor on your side?

The real issue now was that Luscynia was dead.

“With Luscynia gone, I must find another doctor…”

“I’ll be fine. I recover quickly since I’m still young. I just need some rest.”

“There must be skilled healers among his subordinates. I will select a few for you.”

“No need. If this were immediately after the injury, maybe, but at this point, what I need is aftercare, not emergency treatment. Messing with it now would just put unnecessary strain on my body.”

I had a patched-up hole in my gut.

Vampires, who exposed their own hearts without hesitation, probably wouldn’t mind reopening me to fix me up.

But I’d rather not undergo major surgery unless it was absolutely necessary.

It would have to be an Elder-level doctor, at least.

Ah, damn, now that I was thinking about it, my stomach started hurting again.

I groaned and stretched out on the sofa.

Seeing me wince, Tyr sat beside me, gazing down with a concerned expression.

Instead of a dark and unfamiliar ceiling, my vision was now filled with the crimson glow of the Progenitor’s eyes.

Tyr gently stroked my forehead, her voice a soft murmur.

“…If you were a vampire, such wounds wouldn’t cause you pain.”

Was the news of Luscynia’s death weighing on her?

It seemed like Tyr was slightly unhinged at the moment.

In the past, she might have suggested it offhandedly, but now she was actively trying to convince me.

She wasn’t just suggesting I become a vampire—she was worried about my suffering.

She was afraid that I might die.

She wasn’t always this sentimental.

Was this yet another effect of having regained her heart?

It was touching, but…

“Elders can die, can’t they? Just like Luscynia did.”

That single sentence shut down the conversation.

Tyr’s hand, which had been stroking my hair, froze mid-motion.

“…There must have been some kind of accident. Luscynia, like all Elders, would not die without reason.”

“The same goes for humans. We don’t die without a reason either. In that sense, Elders really aren’t so different from humans.”

The rejection was crystal clear.

Tyr, clearly dissatisfied, ruffled my hair in retaliation.

Not that it made much difference—my hair was already a mess.

After absentmindedly playing with my hair for a while, Tyr finally stood from the sofa.

As she prepared to leave, she addressed me once more.

“There is information regarding Luscynia’s death that I must hear. Hu, if you need anything, ask for it. Erzsebet’s attendants will provide you with every comfort.”

“Thanks. My stomach feels a bit unsettled right now, so I’ll eat later.”

“Very well. Rest well.”

With a black parasol slung over her shoulder, Tyr turned to leave.

But just before stepping out, she left me with a quiet remark.

“…If you ever change your mind, let me know.”

…She really is trying to plant roots for me in the Duchy, isn’t she?