Chapter 417: One Truth Prevails

The top floor of the Plenilune Castle was entirely reserved for Tyr.

No one was allowed to have equal standing to the Progenitor, let alone anything higher so she resided at the summit of the castle by herself.

Atop this grand and opulent fortress was a dark, quiet bedroom prepared for the Progenitor.

It hadn’t seen much use—Tyr, after all, was a vampire and didn’t sleep.

And if she ever chose to slumber, she would carry her favorite coffin to a faraway, forgotten underground place and rest there.

Still, for a room that was rarely used, it was meticulously maintained.

A large canopied bed hung with sheer red curtains stood at the center and a wall-mounted mirror adorned with jewels reflected the chamber.

“Th-this is not it. Forget what you just saw. I was not trying to lead you to the bedroom…”

Not like I was planning on going in either.

Tyr shut the bedroom door and opened the door to her audience chamber.

A long vertical table filled the space, and at the head—reserved only for Tyr—was a neatly stacked pile of documents prepared by Valdamir.

Tyr naturally took her seat at the head.

I sat next to her, waiting for her to continue.

“Your guess was correct. Valdamir reached the same conclusion and I agreed with it as well. If it was not a vampire, this crime would be impossible to do.”

“Well, narrowing it down this much makes picking the culprit a piece of cake. I don’t know much about vampires, but you or the Crimson Duke should be able to identify the culprit for sure. So, who’s the most likely suspect?”

Tyr rifled through the documents and handed me a file.

The name written in ominous red lettering was…

“Lyre Nightingale.”

Of course.

The name of the Doctor Sage.

“She was Luscynia’s Neonate—and the one who inherited her Primordial Essence. Anyone would find that highly suspicious.”

Tyr’s suspicion was perfectly reasonable.

Who but a blood-bound retainer could approach the most brutal Elder?

And if she hadn’t killed him, how could she have inherited his Primordial Essence?

It was like looking down a straight, unobstructed path from start to end.

But there was one thing I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.

I tilted my head.

“Neonates aren’t exactly weak, but… still, we’re talking about an Elder here, right? A Lord of Lords. Just in terms of the power gap, it’s enormous. Could she really kill one and take his Primordial Essence?”

“I have doubts about the method as well. Therefore, I will command Lyre to explain herself directly. If her words do not add up, she will be annihilated by my hand.”

Tyr agreed with my doubts but didn’t seem particularly bothered.

It wasn’t the attitude of a judge—it was the mindset of a ruler.

Do you want to live? Then prove your innocence.

And if I’m not convinced, I’ll end you instead.

And truthfully, Tyr was a monarch.

Her job was to govern, not chase down abstract truths.

Presumption of innocence?

What country still upholds that?

Still… I’d already read it.

That Lyre Nightingale did not kill Luscynia.

I was originally planning to wait until the day of the trial.

If I could read everyone’s minds, I’d easily uncover the truth once all the key players gathered.

But now, the question was: Will all the key players even be there?

Lyre was the primary suspect.

But if Lyre wasn’t the culprit, that meant the real killer was out there somewhere.

And if they didn’t show up to the trial, the truth would be buried forever.

Tyr might be fine with that as a ruler.

But I was curious.

And I had nothing better to do anyway.

Should I start digging?

“So Lyre Nightingale is still the most likely suspect.”

“And she left despite knowing I had arrived. Whether intentional or not, it appears as if she fled from my judgement. If that is the case, I’m not sure a trial is even necessary.”

“But it’s all a little too perfect—it actually bothers me.”

“Bothers you?”

If I hadn’t read her mind, I’d just be snacking and sightseeing around the Duchy of Mist right now.

But since I had, I might as well make something of it.

Better to have a purpose while relaxing than to laze around with nothing in mind.

“It’s like the answer is being handed to us too neatly. It makes me want to dig for a hidden card.”

“You mean there is a mastermind behind this case? Are you certain?”

“No, it just feels like it’d be more fun that way.”

“Finding amusement in the death of an Elder… Be serious for once, Hu. I’m letting it go because it is you, but other vampires would not take such sentiment lightly.”

You say that after planning to spend a whole year goofing off with me?

Still, if I wanted to complain, I’d have to confess about my Mind Reading so I kept quiet.

“You said you can’t act until a verdict has been reached on Luscynia’s death, right? Then I’ll lend a hand. I’ll act as Lyre Nightingale’s defense.”

“As her defense… does that mean you are going to defend her innocence?”

“Not exactly. I just want to question what seems off to help ensure a more accurate ruling. Things aren’t always visible from just one side. If I take her position, I might be able to make a more objective judgment.”

I already know the answer from reading her thoughts, so ultimately, yes, I will be defending her.

Still, I thought it was an interesting proposal.

But Tyr didn’t seem very enthused.

Folding her hands atop the table, she complained like someone who was mildly inconvenienced.

“Why waste effort on something so plainly obvious? Valdamir and I will handle anything related to the Elders. There is no need for you to get involved. Besides, do you not have other things to do?”

“Things to do? You mean the search for Divines? Yeah… That’s not happening anytime soon.”

Apparently that wasn’t the answer Tyr wanted.

Her face twisted into a pout and she grumbled at me.

“You said you would restore the senses inside my body. I tried not to rush you, but it feels like you have completely lost interest in that matter… I’m a bit disappointed.”

“Oh, that…”

I scratched my head.

I had promised to do it and it’s not like I’m not going to.

But there was something I needed to check first.

“I can do it anytime, Tyr. But… are you really okay with having your senses restored?”

I had already heard Tyr’s wish and brought her heart back to life.

She now had a heart.

With that, she was able to distinguish herself from the world—clearly separating her inside from the outside.

Her Bloodcraft and dominion weakened as a result…

But in return, that power now resided fully within her body.

The ripple effect of reviving her heart was already spreading across the Duchy, though Tyr hadn’t noticed yet.

And now, to restore her senses as well?

“I revived your heart, and that alone has already changed you. Restoring your senses would cause even more significant changes. Senses are the power to perceive and accept changes from the outside world. If they were revived… you’ll keep changing, Tyr, to the point where you might not even recognize yourself. Are you really okay with that?”

“It is what I have always desired.”

I had hoped she’d think it over more seriously, but Tyr responded without hesitation.

“All this time, I have vaguely longed for my heart to beat again. I do not know the reason. I have never lived an ordinary life, yet part of me always wanted a heart that beat on its own.”

Tyr placed her hand on her chest and felt the pulse.

Even though she could regenerate her body through exquisite Bloodcraft, the heart I had placed in her refused to obey those commands.

Life cannot willingly stop its own heart.

One cannot willingly cease to breathe.

It’s an instinct, fundamental to all life.

That’s why people need knives, poison, or a rope to end themselves.

By reviving her heart, I’d made it so that Tyr could no longer abandon her body.

If she tried to dismantle it again, her heart would stop.

To protect that tiny ember within, power gathered within her.

Through that, she learned to separate her internal self from the outside world.

“I think I understand now. First, there must be a ‘me.’ Only with a sense of self can one feel what is different. Only then can one love what is other. Only then can one feel and judge emotion. I have always been searching for something that could change me.”

Tyr, quietly feeling her pulse, extended her hand toward me.

With a gentle smile uncharacteristic of a vampire, she fiddled with my hand.

“I’m not afraid of changing now. More importantly… Hu, it is you doing it. I have already entrusted my body to you once. If you are the one doing it, then I’m ready, anytime.”

A wish is a desire for change.

Those who wish for things are those who want something to change.

This wish might cause a few problems, but I chose not to say them aloud.

It was Tyr’s wish, and Tyr’s resolve.

I had no intention of covering myself with disclaimers or turning it into a liability shield.

If problems arise, then so be it.

Tyr would handle it.

She is the Progenitor, after all.

“Looks like I’ll be doing both.”

I, too, gave my conclusion without hesitation.

“I’ll investigate during the day, and at night, I’ll restore your senses. Looks like I’m going to be pretty busy.”

“Will you be alright? Will it not be difficult?”

“Do I look like the kind of person who works themselves into the ground? Don’t worry. Compared to the grueling stuff I’ve done before, this is nothing.”

So much for relaxing and sightseeing.

But this much effort is necessary to gain any influence here in the Duchy.

Maybe I was planning to take it too easy.

In this world, presence is earned through labor.

Living busily is a privilege of those with limited time.

I hadn’t really wanted it, but hey—might as well make use of that privilege.

“Besides, I really want to know how a mere Neonate managed to defeat an Elder. If I learn the method, I might understand vampires better. That knowledge could help me when I restore your senses.”

“If that is your will, then I shall not stop you. I will inform Valdamir—do as you wish.”

｢It saddens me that we will have less time together… but if he is working for my sake, I have no excuse to stop him.｣

Even in the heart, debts exist.

You give, and something returns.

I stood, gathering only the documents that seemed important from the table.

“I’ll visit you tonight, so please wash up and wait.”

“Alright, I will wash—W-what?”

“I have to engrave it into your body, stroke by stroke, like a tattoo with a lightning thread. See you later tonight.”

It was a necessary part of the process, so I thought I’d give her a heads-up.

It’s a delicate procedure, so less contamination is ideal.

…It does sound a bit weird, but still.

I did warn her.

Until the moment I left with the documents in hand, Tyr sat frozen like someone whose heart had stopped, arms held protectively over her chest.