Chapter 460: Escaping the Duchy No.2

The Progenitor sat within the deepest, darkest part of the Plenilune Castle.

Though she had clearly departed for the villa with her consort, she returned alone.

No one dared to ask where the consort had gone, not with the terrible yet sorrowful air that surrounded Tyrkanzyaka.

They could only guess, he must have fled her.

Whatever happened, the Progenitor returned wearing a different dress, sat upon her throne, and swept her emotionless eyes over the Elders before her.

Erzsebet, Dogo, Du Rahan.

All those standing before her were either conspirators or participants in the rebellion.

Though they had been subdued by Valdamir, their vampiric regeneration had already restored their bodies.

Now, reduced to little more than defeated rebels, they awaited judgment from the Progenitor.

Even in this humiliating moment, Dogo and Erzsebet were scheming.

They had only been temporarily overwhelmed, nothing more.

They were Elders.

They could neither die nor tire.

Valdamir had caught them off guard and picked them off one by one, but now that they were gathered, perhaps they could still achieve what they had failed to accomplish.

Or so they thought.

[Bring him to me.]

The shadow that rose behind Tyrkanzyaka was ominous.

Erzsebet could feel just how immense the power packed inside it was.

The Progenitor had poured all the knowledge, power, and Authority she possessed into that being.

Tyrkanzyaka, who wielded absolute power and authority over vampires, had never had to think about how to use her ability.

She had Elders and Ancillae to do her bidding, literally her limbs, who brought her power and experiences like diligent ants.

All their techniques and insights had accumulated within her.

She simply couldn’t use them as her own because they belonged to her retainers.

And so, she created a vessel, a new body shaped of darkness and sculpted by Bloodcraft, because her own body was too rigid to change.

Into that vessel, she forced all her experiences and power.

What was born was a monster cloaked in shadow, possessing Bloodcraft, and capable of using the power of all the Elders.

[Only the Elder who brings him to me shall be forgiven.]

Erzsebet realized—painfully— that the Elders could no longer defeat Tyrkanzyaka.

Only Valdamir, who had mastered all the powers of the other Elders, might stand a chance.

But he had no intention of betraying the Progenitor.

With things as they were, there was only one way to survive: submit completely and try to appease the Progenitor.

Erzsebet was just about to follow the order when—

“I refuse.”

A gauntlet flew toward the Progenitor.

Du Rahan had thrown it.

The gauntlet, hurled with tremendous force, stopped in midair just before reaching Tyrkanzyaka.

Her shadow plucked it out of the air with surprising dexterity and tried to put it on.

Pop

The sturdy leather glove reinforced with iron exploded like a balloon, unable to withstand the shadow’s enormous power.

Looking down at the shreds, the shadow sulked.

But the tragedy of the gauntlet didn’t concern Du Rahan or Tyrkanzyaka.

They glared at each other.

“I haven’t been defeated yet! If that coward Valdamir hadn’t ambushed me, I wouldn’t have fallen so easily!”

He didn’t say he would’ve won.

That, at least, was his last bit of honesty.

Still, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even Valdamir had made sure to take down Du Rahan before he could join forces with the other Elders.

Seeing the knight who still refused to admit defeat, Tyrkanzyaka asked.

[What is it you want?]

“A duel, Progenitor. For the sake of all the knights you’ve slain, and for myself! For the one who was used by you to slaughter humans for centuries! I challenge you to a duel!”

Du Rahan placed his head back on his neck.

Like fitting together a broken statue, he twisted and turned his head into position.

The Headless Knight, Du Rahan, had always carried his head in hand, using it like a flail.

He fought by comparing the weight and strength of his head to his enemy’s might.

People saw it as a symbol of his cruelty, but in truth, it was his mercy.

He imposed that handicap on himself intentionally.

What he hadn’t expected was that this stubbornness would grant him immense power.

That self-imposed handicap, paired with his combat instincts, led Du Rahan to attain a transcendent sense of balance.

No matter where his head was, Du Rahan could distinguish up from down and precisely judge both his and his enemy’s position.

Even before his death, he was known for strength and skill.

With this balance, he had reached a new realm.

Had it not been for Valdamir, he would still be the strongest Elder.

[That is your will?]

“That’s right. I fear no annihilation. I’ve already died once! What’s a second time? But I can’t submit without even fighting you! I clung to this wretched life after death for this very moment!”

With his head firmly back in place, Du Rahan clenched and released his fists.

Blood Aura condensed in his grip, forming into a massive flail.

Like Valdamir’s greatsword, a warrior cloaks their weapon in Qi.

At a certain level, they wield their weapon as an extension of their own body— a realm known as sword-body unity.

And a vampire warrior creates weapons out of their Blood Aura, which are as powerful as their own vampiric flesh.

“You may not be a man, but still! If you have any honor, accept my challenge!”

Du Rahan had already lost once.

There was no reason for the Progenitor to accept his challenge.

Valdamir, her strongest sword, could easily deal with him.

But Tyrkanzyaka gestured for Valdamir to stand down and looked straight at Du Rahan.

[I care little for such things. But I will respect your will. To act upon one’s will… that, too, was what he would have wanted.]

“…Whoever he is, he sounds like a romantic man.”

[And barbaric as well.]

Tyrkanzyaka gave a faint smile as she remained seated on her throne.

Du Rahan clanged his twin flails together and pointed them at her.

“So, when are you going to stand? Surely you don’t mean to accept my challenge sitting on that throne?”

[That sounds fine to me.]

“…What?”

Tyrkanzyaka didn’t move.

Instead, the shadow behind her stretched forward, its upper body emerging with a sudden lurch.

Sensing hostility, the shadow reached toward Du Rahan as if grabbing a toy.

Facing the enormous hand, Du Rahan swung his flail wide and muttered.

“A monster, huh? Perfect for a warm-up.”

It was a good warm-up.

—For the shadow that is.

Crunch. Rip.

The shadow was chewing Du Rahan up completely.

His shattered flail rolled across the floor, and limbs yanked out like chicken feathers twitched pitifully.

They looked as though they wanted to return to the torso, but if they were to be reassembled, it would have to be from within the shadow’s belly.

Du Rahan had faced Tyrkanzyaka’s shadow bravely and without retreat, but the shadow was no longer something an Elder could stand against.

The shadow was the embodiment of the vampire race itself— the monarch of all vampiric power, skill, and Authority in a single form.

The Progenitor who once scattered her blood and darkness to empower her kind, to shape the Duchy of Mist, was gone.

Now, a tyrant sat on the throne—not a god, but a despot— and she had begun her cruel reign.

[It was only after I gained a heart that I understood why rulers need an example. In the end, history repeats itself. Even after becoming vampires, the nature of humanity has not changed.]

Even as her shadow devoured Du Rahan, Tyrkanzyaka sat calmly upon her throne.

Though vampires may be void of emotion, they do not wish for oblivion.

Thus, for now, it was rational not to resist, unlike Du Rahan.

Dogo and Erzsebet kept their mouths shut and followed that reasoning.

In other words, the immortals now feared death.

So much so that they would swallow their pride and lower their heads.

[Well, one less rival for you. Consider it a stroke of fortune.]

And Tyrkanzyaka had learned how to wield fear.

Just like any other monarch.

[Bring me Hu. If he insists on fleeing, I will not stop him… But he had better pray he never sees me again in the future.]

The two surviving Elders bowed their heads in disgrace.

“Stop right there! I am Baron Zenryu, retainer of Sir Du Rahan, guardian of the canyon.
Human! State your identity!”

“Progenitor’s consort.”

“!”

Even Baron Zenryu, stationed at the border, had heard the rumor that the Progenitor had taken a consort.

After examining my appearance, he cautiously asked,

“…Where are you headed?”

“The Military State.”

“You have a travel permit, I assume?”

“I don’t.”

After my shameless reply, Baron Zenryu shouted firmly,

“No one passes without a permit from the Progenitor! I can’t even confirm whether you’re really her consort or not! And even if you are, the rules apply to everyone!”

A reasonable and expected response.

To vampires, humans are livestock.

To prevent them from fleeing at will, checkpoints were established throughout the Duchy.

Humans cannot freely leave their designated residences, and if they must travel, they require a permit issued by a vampire.

Tch. I was hoping to sneak past the border, but of course, it had to be guarded by a vampire.

They guard day and night.

At least there’s one silver lining— vampires’ vision weakens under the midday sun and light mist, like right now!

“Hilde! Now!”

“Yeees~.”

Baron Zenryu’s head was severed.

It hit the ground, his face frozen in shock.

No matter how loyal and diligent he was, he never could have expected one of his own soldiers to suddenly strike from behind.

This ambush had only been possible under the blazing midday sun.

Having taken him down, Hilde swung onto his horse and reached out.

“Father! Hurry up!”

I kicked off the ground and leapt onto the horse behind her.

As soon as I got into position, Hilde spurred the horse forward.

The steed, seemingly unaware of its new owner, galloped ahead without hesitation.

Someone watching might accuse us of slaying a civil servant and stealing a horse,  but that only applies when your victim is an ordinary man who dies when his head’s cut off.

“Seize them!”

Baron Zenryu clutched his severed head in his arms and launched into hot pursuit.