Chapter 419: Elder, Ancilla, Neonate and Human (2)

Only after raising all that ruckus did Kavila finally settle down.

She dismissed the humans who’d nearly died and directed her Dragonfang Puppet to gather the sea creatures strewn across the tidal flats.

Though the bone puppets were less precise than humans, they still had enough discernment to pick out and collect the stunned fish.

The Leviathans were a crisis—but also an opportunity.

Amid the massive upheaval stirred up by one of the ocean’s great beasts, humans had the wisdom to scrape together the scraps.

The marine life struck by the Cloud Manta’s fins had been swept ashore unconscious by the tsunami, and all the humans had to do was bend down and pick them up.

From fish they’d never seen in their lives to hermit crabs and lobsters, the harvest from today’s flats was enormous.

Watching from the high ground, I couldn’t help but whistle.

“Wow. Elders can fight off even tsunamis, huh.”

“Well, they kind of have to. They’re one of the few factions that can match the Sanctum~”

“Hilde. Who’d win in a fight: an Elder or one of the Six Star Generals?”

Ah, the age-old male obsession: duels.

Who is stronger between two appointed parties?

Hilde squinted slightly and shot back.

“Father, are you a child?”

“I am one of the rare few young people in this world.”

“Who in their right mind would want to fight an Elder? You can beat them senseless and they still won’t die.”

She brushed it off as childish, but Hilde had been part of the Public Safety in the Military State.

There was no way she hadn’t done comparative force analysis—especially when their neighbor was a nation that used human blood as a resource.

Grumbling, Hilde gave her verdict.

“The Six Star Generals are people who’ve pushed human talent to its very limit. If the Military State pours in support and one of them burns all their strength with death in mind… for just one moment, they might be able to surpass an Elder.”

Because they’re still living humans and because they can evolve in real time—if all their strength and potential is concentrated into one strike of perfected mastery, then that blow might actually land.

Hilde believed in that.

“But the Elder still won’t die.”

And that—ultimately—is the Military State’s weakness.

The existence and power of vampires bordered on the Arcane itself.

No matter how much you refined your skills, no matter how great your talent, you’d need something equally Arcane to kill them.

Unfortunately, the Military State had nothing of the sort.

The only real option was the sacred weapon forged by the Saintess—the holy sword, wielded by the Envoy Eimeder.

Even that came with shackles—it had to operate within the country, bolstered by the Signallers.

“Luckily, the Elders never leave the Duchy~ Outside of it, there’s no mist to block sunlight or veil them from the Sanctum’s sight. To vampires, the outside world without mist is like being trapped in eternal darkness for us. So, if the Duchy wants to project force beyond its borders, it’ll need outside connections.”

“And that’s what the Military State wants, right? To use me as the bridge.”

“It’s a grand plan, but don’t take it the wrong way~! Even without your connection to Tyrkanzyaka, Father, you’re plenty valuable on your own!”

“…Thanks. That was weirdly comforting.”

Anyway, the point was—I now had to investigate beings like that.

Sure, everyone knew I was Tyr’s consort, so they wouldn’t attack me… but if anything went wrong, things could get dangerous. I better tread carefully.

“If an Elder does try to kill me, promise you’ll burn your entire life to stop them for even just a second.”

“So this is why you brought me along?! As a bodyguard?!”

“Among other things.”

Ignoring Hilde’s protests, I approached Kavila.

She was currently dividing up the seafood her puppets had gathered.

The humans with baskets offered profuse thanks as they received their share, and Kavila handed out the fish with little reaction, responding half-heartedly.

She wasn’t doing this for satisfaction or superiority.

Vampires couldn’t be moved by such trivial emotions.

For Kavila, this was simply routine—something ingrained in her being.

Even as she grumbled, Kavila worked with her own hands.

“Haaa… My sis returned, and I’m out here doing this… Next.”

For the next person in line, I quietly stepped forward and held out my basket.

Kavila’s expression brightened for a brief moment—

But then quickly cooled into indifference.

“Is sis here—! …Wait. She didn’t come with you?”

“No. I came alone.”

“I thought you came together. What’s the point then? What’s a consort doing wandering around instead of staying by her side? You’re supposed to comfort her.”

As she grumbled, I leaned in and whispered.

“I have something important to say about the late Luscynia.”

“And what gives you the right?”

“As Tyr’s consort.”

From beside me came a faint, teasing voice: “Oh, you’re calling yourself that so naturally now~”

I ignored it.

Kavila scowled deeper and glanced around.

The fishermen nearby were watching us curiously.

“…Let’s talk somewhere else.”

To the east of the Plenilune Castle lay Kavila’s domain, the Bloodweaver Workshop.

From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary textile workshop.

-Clack, clack.

The rhythmic turning of spinning wheels echoed through the space, as red thread wove tightly into red fabric.

At a glance, it was a common enough scene, the kind you’d find anywhere.

…If only Dragonfang Puppets weren’t operating the spinning wheels.

Bones turned the wheels.

Bones wound the threads.

Bones stitched the fabric.

Beings who should need leather rather than clothing were weaving cloth.

It was less eerie and more ridiculous.

Deeper inside, things got even stranger.

Bones and hides of all kinds lined the walls in neat rows.

A good number of them looked human.

Many were strung up or tied with red thread, resembling flies trapped in a spider’s web.

Blood silk, woven directly from blood.

It was Kavila’s power and the reason she was called the Bloodweaver.

She controlled her Dragonfang Puppet by wrapping this thread around their bones or threading it through their cores.

The massive spine she had controlled earlier was also moved through Bloodcraft, with the thread laced through it like a needle.

After guiding me to the inner area, Kavila turned and spoke to her subordinate.

“Chasey. Wait outside. Let no one in.”

“Yes, Lady Kavila.”

Chasey obeyed without a trace of doubt or curiosity.

Kavila then pointed to Hilde.

“You too. Out.”

“Huh? But ‘I’ am Father’s bodyguard, you know?”

“You think I’d harm the consort my sister personally took in? The one who’s in danger here is you. You’d better protect your own neck.”

In other words, she wouldn’t hurt me—but if Hilde got on her nerves, she might lash out.

Hilde grumbled but stepped outside obediently.

Now only Kavila and I remained.

Kavila placed a puppet on the table and perched atop a chair herself, crossing her arms with a sullen look.

“Did sis send you here?”

“No. Tyr didn’t ask me to come.”

“Tch. So envious. Calling sis by her name so casually all by yourself…”

Grumbling, Kavila manipulated the blood threads, making a teddy bear puppet move.

The bear sprang upright on the table and pointed an accusing paw at me.

“Luscynia’s death has nothing to do with you! This is the Duchy’s business! You just focus on maintaining the taste of the blood you’ll offer to sis—no smoking mana-herbs, no drinking alcohol, and take it easy on the greasy food!”

“Such concern for even the tiniest details. How thoughtful.”

“Whaaat? Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not worried about you in the slightest! This is all for sis’ sake! And that wasn’t advice—it was a warning! That’s what it takes to keep your blood tasting right! If you don’t take care now and get dumped later, don’t come crying to me!”

Again, completely shameless and honest.

Kavila wasn’t worried about me—she was worried about Tyr, who might end up drinking bad-tasting blood.

She was giving me serious advice so the flavor of my blood wouldn’t deteriorate.

Not that it mattered—Tyr had already declared that my blood tasted bad.

“Well, if you say so.”

“Don’t just brush it off! It’s important! My sister’s never taken a human consort before! You’d better do everything right to ensure she can enjoy you from head to toe!”

“I plan to put in the effort tonight when I visit Tyr’s room.”

“H-Huh? Sis’… room…?”

｢I’ve never even set foot in there myself… What are they going to do? Will she… bite his neck…?｣

Kavila flinched and hugged the puppet tight, beginning to imagine the most scandalous things she could.

In her mind’s eye, Tyr gently held me close, her arms around my neck…

Well, for a vampire with no physical sensation, that was probably as shameless as it got.

“You don’t need to give blood just to be a consort. I became Tyr’s consort because I granted her wish.”

“Granted her wish? You?”

“Have you already forgotten who I am?”

Kavila glared at me over the puppet.

“The King of Humans? But you’re a has-been.”

“Oof. That one stung.”

“You don’t even have the strength of the King of Beasts. I don’t feel any power from you at all.”

“Sadly, you’re not wrong, but Tyr is also human. I managed to understand what she desired—and that’s how I earned the title of her consort. Something no other Elder has achieved.”

“Ugh… So unfair.…”

Kavila liked Tyr.

No, all Elders revered and worshipped Tyr.

The only beings who could stir something within a vampire were those higher than themselves.

For Elders, that meant only the Progenitor could make them feel anything at all.

But now that Tyr had lost her dominion…

“And now—I think I’ve come to understand what Tyr is concerned of.”

…And I might be in danger, depending on how things go.

Time to reinforce my backing.

I tossed in a little fabrication.

“What if there’s an Elder behind Luscynia’s death?”

Kavila’s expression instantly went cold.