Chapter 411: The Progenitor’s Transformation is Not a Sin

The Sanctum has only one reason for rejecting vampires:

Vampires are not human.

This isn’t a literary interpretation, nor an academic one.

It isn’t the result of high-sounding phrases or meticulously detailed criteria.

Vampires are simply different from humans.

They possess long lifespans and immense strength. They drink human blood to sustain their existence.

Naturally, this makes them predators.

This means that by their very existence alone, vampires place humans in the position of prey.

｢…Come to think of it. The priest who tried to kill me called me a seed of the Divine. I always thought it was just one of their usual curses.｣

Indeed.

If they had left Tyr alone, humanity might have changed.

Their mistake was in killing Tyr, which ironically led to the creation of vampires.

“Hmph. So they failed again. Judging by the way things have turned out, it seems the Sanctum is having some trouble. That pleases me, but Hu…”

Tyr, smirking at the Sanctum that wasn’t even present, turned to me and asked,

“If they truly intend to protect humanity, then why would they be in conflict with you, the King of Humans? Why are they attacking you? And why do you avoid them?”

“That’s easy to explain. Because the ‘humans’ defined by the Sanctum… aren’t actually human.”

The Sanctum created gods and defined Anathema.

They split good from evil and banished heresy.

All of it was for one thing—to make their vision of humanity the only version.

“To me, humanity includes all humans. Vampires, beastkin, even the priests of the Sanctum—every one of them is human. However, the Sanctum treats vampires as if they’re something that should never exist. Who gave them that authority?”

“…Indeed.”

“I could at least understand if they wanted to kill off everyone else and leave only themselves. But no—they try to prevent ‘sin’ before it even happens, claim dominion over good and evil, and attempt to reshape the future itself. Of course, I have to resist.”

｢So that is why Hu treats me so normally. Not because I’m the Progenitor, or because I’m a vampire—but because I’m simply human to him…｣

Before the King of Humans, all humans are equal.

Tyr faintly grasped that.

“…And there’s one more reason why the Sanctum is trying to stop me.”

I held out my hand.

Tyr didn’t understand, but she instinctively placed her hand atop mine.

And once more, I drew upon the power of lightning.

“The Divines understood the principle of the world, but they couldn’t understand humans, such flawed and fickle beasts. That’s why even the Divines couldn’t properly create or change a human. Therein lies the Homunculus Dilemma. No matter how much magic is wielded to replicate humanity, it will always end up as a mere homunculus. Even if they grasp the principle of the world and cast miraculous spells, they don’t know how to create humans.”

We can only ever understand ourselves.

We cannot understand others with our own subjectivity.

Can a great mage possibly fathom the world of a snot-nosed child?

Can a painter render what a colorblind person sees?

Everyone sees the world through their own eyes and interprets it with their own mind— so understanding another’s world is incredibly difficult.

“But I, the King of Humans, am fundamentally different. Because, unlike others, I do understand.”

Lightning sparked between our joined hands.

Just like before.

Lightning crawled through Tyr’s body, tickling her from within.

No one else—not even the Divine known as the Lightning Thief—had managed this.

He knew lightning surged within the body, but he didn’t know how it had to surge for it to become someone else.

But I do.

And now that I’ve gained the power of the Divine, I can fully wield that forbidden knowledge for humans.

Homunculus Dilemma be damned.

As the lightning brought sensation back to her body, Tyr shivered slightly.

But she had experienced this once before—it was familiar now.

Instead of flinching away, she gripped my hand tighter, feeling the sensation echo inside her palm.

｢Just like when he revived my heart… now my body too…｣

“If I’m given the means, I can change a human. The Divines are those means.
I probably won’t actually change anyone unless they truly wish it, but still…”

Tyr died too early.

Her wish had been for a normal life—one where her heart beats without Bloodcraft.

So I granted her that wish.

She now had a clear distinction between her inner and outer self.

Yet even now within her, the desire for a normal life still remained.

“You helped me… so if you truly wish for it, Tyr… I’ll make you a normal human.”

A heavy and terrifying offer.

If she accepted it, it would mean entrusting every nerve of her body to me.

It couldn’t be dismissed as mere bravado— After all, I had already made her heart beat again.

I was currently using that same power.

Entrusting her existence to someone else could be a dangerous decision.

｢But I have already entrusted my heart to Hu, and now that I have also regained my emotions—now that I feel… the only one I want to be with… is Hu. If it’s him, then there is nothing to fear.｣

With her resolve firm, Tyr didn’t withdraw her hand.

Instead, she offered her other hand as well, clasping them both around mine.

She looked up at me, her lips tightly pressed, and spoke.

“Hu. I…”

Before she could continue, however, the mist stirred in the distance.

An unmistakable presence of an intruder came from within.

Tyr, who had finally mustered the courage to speak, shut her mouth again at the sudden appearance of the newcomer.

Peering into the shadows, she called out.

“Who goes there?”

“Oh, great Progenitor!”

A vampire spread his black, cloak-like bat wings.

Riding through the thick fog, the vampire recognized Tyr and dove straight down.

– Thud!

He landed on his knees with such force that his legs snapped from the force.

Still, they regenerated quickly and he crawled forward on bruised knees.

“Progenitor! I beg your forgiveness for the intrusion, but I must submit a petition!”

His deference was clear.

You don’t shatter your own joints and crawl forward unless it’s a matter of great resolve.

Even if your body can regenerate, it takes serious determination to drag broken limbs forward like that.

Which is why, even though displeased, Tyr couldn’t bring herself to cast him aside.

“You knew it was improper, and yet you dare intrude upon my rare outing? Are you unafraid of annihilation?”

｢Now of all times? We were finally having an important conversation…! How am I supposed to get this moment back?!｣

“I do fear annihilation, but even so, there is something I must report—even if it costs me my life! Please, grant me the honor of speaking!”

The vampire prostrated himself again in a desperate appeal.

Seeing the sincerity and urgency, Tyr calmed her anger slightly and replied—

“I permit it. Speak.”

“I am Jazra, a vassal of Elder Luscynia. I offer my deepest reverence for the Progenitor’s return, and like all vampires, I am overwhelmed with joy to be able to see you again…! However! I cannot fully enjoy this joy because of the tragedy that occurred not long ago!”

“You speak of Luscynia’s death.”

It was a direct plea from a deceased Elder’s Ancilla to the Progenitor herself.

Since she already knew the matter, Tyr responded with a tone of annoyance.

“The matter is already settled. I have summoned Lyre Nightingale and those around her. A trial will be held at Plenilune Castle. Your only duty is to await the trial and give testimony.”

“But, Progenitor! Lyre has fled the country!”

“She left before I could locate her. I’ve sent Erzsebet and Dogo to retrieve her, they will handle it properly. If that has resolved your curiosity, then be gone.”

｢As serious as this is I will not allow a mere Ancilla to waste my precious time. Once we reach Plenilune Castle, I won’t be able to be alone with Hu for some time. If this continues to interrupt me…｣

Perhaps unaware of Tyr’s increasingly harsh mood, Jazra did not lower his head or retreat.

Instead, he raised her voice even louder.

“She will not return! She, who killed Lord Luscynia, has broken free from the dominion of vampires. The Blood Shackles have twisted and she can no longer exert any command over us, Luscynia’s Ancillae, nor are we bound to her! Trusting in her paltry talents, she has rebelled not only against the nation but against the Progenitor herself!”

It was a heartfelt appeal, but his timing was terrible.

Tyr’s gaze chilled and she spoke in a low voice.

“Do you truly wish to die?”

A frigid fury surged through her voice.

The irritation had now boiled over into true killing intent.

“I summoned her because she must be summoned. The truth must be known. The trial must proceed and judgment must be rendered. I am fulfilling my duty. What more do you, a mere Ancilla, demand of me?!”

“P-Progenitor?”

“There is a limit to insolence, a line to anger, yet you would spit your emotions at me? Know your place. Do not think to sway me with the likes of your feelings.”

The Progenitor’s rage was absolute.

Even a simple hint of killing intent could drain an Ancilla of all their blood.

As the creator of the vampire race and the true master of their blood, Tyr had that power.

Her mere will could deny a vampire’s existence—but Jazra… didn’t sense it.

In fact, he looked confused.

“…What…?”

｢Is she angry? But I feel nothing in my blood…?｣

That power had once existed.

Before Tyr regained her heart—when the boundary between the outside and inside world was blurred—even blood outside her body was under her control.

At a mere thought, she could turn an Ancilla or Neonate into a puddle of blood.

But now that she had regained her heart, with the clear distinction between inside and outside—and along with that, her own emotions—Tyr could no longer kill a vampire with mere intent.

To kill now, she would need to move her own body, to act her will into execution.

Just like any other human.

｢If the Progenitor was truly displeased, my blood would’ve trembled, but it hasn’t. It remains calm… does that mean the Progenitor permitted my words…?｣

So, in Jazra’s eyes, his pleading wasn’t out of line.

According to his centuries of experience as a vampire, being alive when speaking to a vampire of higher ranking was to have permission to speak.

But the world had recently changed.

Drastically.

“…?”

Tyr too realized something was wrong.

Vampires should flinch, tremble, and submit before her, unable to speak unless granted permission.

But he kept misunderstanding, testing her patience.

It was unthinkable.

How could a vampire, two full steps below her, do something she had not permitted?

｢My Dominion is not reaching…? Is the reason a mere Ancilla is able to oppose my will because of that…?｣

The one who once held absolute sway over life and death with a thought—now, with her heart beating, was merely another sovereign.

A common ruler.

Faced with this new reality, both Tyr and Jazra stared at one another with unspoken questions.

At first confused, they gradually came to understand.

And Jazra realized it first.

He slowly straightened his posture and asked.

“Progenitor… could it be… that even you have… broken the Blood Shackles…?”

And those became Jazra’s final words.

A sharp bone saw slashed across Jazra’s chest, sucking out his blood.