Chapter 229

Chapter 229 - Bathory

As ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the Millesdusk delegation returned aboard the Black Ship, the Grade 1 Agents, as well as most of the Intelligence Department agents, withdrew from the imperial capital.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍only the bare minimum of equipment and personnel left behind, there was one man who had become part of that bare minimum.

Lubosch.

Within ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Intelligence Department, he was called the Supernova.

That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍man had infiltrated as a cleaner with true familiarity, and he had carried it out with true skill.

The top-secret information that the Crown Prince was lying sick in bed had also been information that the Supernova had gifted to the family.

Afterward, having earned the Princess’s favor specifically in matters of cleaning, he received a mission tonight.

“A-a mission. A mission! It is a mission!”

In the secluded room the Princess had assigned him, a room that was not large but not lacking either, Lubosch shouted alone.

Like a miner who had discovered a vein of gold, his hands trembled as he picked up the minimum equipment that had been left behind, known as the Raven’s Feather.

When a new mission was given to a field agent on assignment, this Raven’s Feather would vibrate.

“An independent mission given only to me. And here in the Empire, no less.”

Barely calming his excitement, he took out the paper used exclusively for the feather and unfolded it. When he dipped the tip of the feather in ink and brought it over the paper—

SCRITCH— SCRITCH SCRITCH—

The Raven’s Feather moved on its own over the paper, writing out the contents of the mission.

The contents were truly shocking.

[Report the Princess’s every move.]

It was shocking because it was far too easy.

“This kind of thing is… a mission?”

He looked over the paper again and again, and reread the sentence again and again. Still unable to believe it, he picked up the feather and set it down once more, but the result was the same.

“A mission that can be done just by cleaning and sneaking a few glances?”

It was despairing. This was neither interesting nor satisfying. It had only been dangerous at first, and by now, he had become an outright worker.

He had even become acquainted with the people around the Princess, to the point that they now exchanged pleasant morning greetings.

Even if he was driven out of the Intelligence Department right away, he felt as though he could make a living here. In fact, they said he would receive wages in a few days.

He would even receive an imperial salary. The longer the infiltration continued, the fatter his wallet became.

“If I only take on easy work like this, when will I become a Grade 1 Agent, and when will I become the General Manager of Intelligence?”

Clicking his tongue, he put away the Raven’s Feather and the paper. The paper would become clean again with time, and the feather would give him another new mission.

He did not know whether it really would, but if it did, he hoped it would be something more difficult.

With that thought, he flopped down onto the bed. Then a good idea came to him.

It was exactly the sort of idea the Youngest Son would have.

“If the mission is too easy, I just need to bring back something more difficult myself.”

Reporting the Princess’s every move was too easy. Then what should he do from here?

The answer came quickly.

He had to raise his position in the light of day so that he could touch not only information about the Princess, but even deeper information as well.

“There is a limit to staying beside the Princess as a cleaner. If I could at least become a personal attendant, it would be truly excellent.”

Lubosch’s mission became much more difficult by his own hand. At the same time, a satisfied smile settled on his lips.

“This is truly a fine story. From disguising myself as a cleaner to becoming the Princess’s personal attendant. At that level, it would be worth calling an achievement fit for the General Manager of Intelligence.”

All at once, his sleeping place became comfortable. Starting tomorrow, he would have to catch the Princess’s eye a little more.

It would be a precarious tightrope walk, but he was not afraid. Perhaps it was because he had walked such tightropes so often beside the Youngest Son.

“My prince. As you draw closer to the position of Family Head, I too shall draw closer to the position of General Manager.”

Murmuring a voice that would not reach him, even though they were in the same Imperial Palace, Lubosch closed his eyes for tomorrow.

***

The Messenger of the family, and the Messenger of the Family Head, Ransis, floated through the soul dimension today as well in order to convey her superior’s will.

However, from a certain point onward, she came out of the dimension and began walking across the ground.

It was courtesy toward the master of this place, as well as a signal that she bore no hostility.

“No matter how many times I come here, it is a truly fascinating place.”

Like Eclipse, the domain of the Vampire Royal Family made one naturally look up at the sky.

The night sky, where a red fingernail moon hung, shared another commonality with Eclipse.

It was a land where day never came. A land where the sun did not rise, and therefore a paradise for vampires.

This place was filled with sharp mountains that seemed as though they could pierce the sky.

If one pushed through ridge after ridge, one would eventually face an enormous old castle.

“Bathory. The sanctuary of the vampire race.”

Ransis murmured.

It took the form of a castle, but one could have believed it was a cathedral.

Along with red stained glass, carved gargoyles surrounded the pointed spires.

Of course, inside this cathedral lived not worshippers or a god, but the Queen of the vampire race.

“It has been a while, Messenger.”

“It has been a while since I last saw you.”

Vampire Queen Lilith Badblood spoke while trailing her hand through the bathwater around her.

“You do not mind, do you? Listening to me like this?”

“How could I dare concern myself with that?”

“You may come in as well.”

“…I must respectfully decline.”

The Messenger, kneeling on one knee before the bathing Queen, looked at her.

The bath in which the Vampire Queen reclined naked had red water. Its scent was fishy.

To the one entrusting herself to the bath, it was likely a sweeter scent than anything else, but to a human, it was not.

The bloodwater that filled a bath large enough for ten people to enter strangely did not cling to the Queen’s bare body.

The arm she had drawn out of the bath and draped outside was so white it was almost pale.

“See? Bathing in the blood of beautiful women is good for the skin.”

The Queen’s arm was white and beautiful, like a sculpture a great artist had desperately carved. However, that was likely not because of the blood.

“I do not have the right to enjoy such an undeserved blessing. I will gratefully accept only the thought.”

“No. It must be tiring to travel such a long distance every time.”

SLOOSH—

The Queen rose from the bloodwater.

Following the arm that was beautiful enough to seem as though someone had carved it with hammer and chisel, her entire body was revealed.

Below the knees, she was hidden by the bloodwater, but not above them.

“Now. Take my hand.”

“…My Queen.”

“Do not refuse. Come now.”

In the end, Messenger Ransis took the Queen’s hand. She could not do otherwise. This was the Queen’s castle and Bathory, the sanctuary of the vampire race.

Here, Lilith was a god, and every word she spoke was the word, will, and act of a god.

Each time Ransis took a step toward the bath, bats flew in from somewhere.

The red-eyed bats flapped their wings and swept past on either side, removing her clothes layer by layer.

In the end, two naked bodies sat in the bath facing each other.

“How is it? It feels good, does it not?”

“Yes. It feels good.”

Affirmation was the only answer she could give, so she gave it without hesitation.

“How old did you say you were, Messenger?”

“…I am thirty-one.”

“Oh my. You are young. I had days like that too. About two thousand years ago, perhaps?”

The span of time she mentioned with a smile was far earlier than even the existence of the great families.

It was a length of time Ransis could not begin to feel, and she only nodded slowly.

“You are only thirty-one, yet you are so mature. I think you may be more mature than I am. Now that we are familiar with each other’s faces, call me Big Sister comfortably.”

“I cannot do that.”

“It is fine when it is only the two of us.”

“Rather than that, I would like to first tell you why I came here.”

“I will listen if you call me Big Sister.”

“…….”

She was enjoying a bath with the Vampire Queen in a bath made of blood. And in the midst of that, she even had to call her Big Sister.

Due to excessive work stress, she felt as though gray hair might sprout from her head.

Her head hurt, but work was originally something one did with one’s eyes squeezed shut.

“…Big Sister. I have something to report. And something to ask as well.”

“Oh my, oh my. I like that so much. Yes. What report might it be?”

The Queen, sitting side by side with Ransis, lifted her arm and draped it around her shoulders.

“It concerns the Fifth Son.”

“Tell me.”

“The Imperial Family has sent the Fifth Son a marriage proposal.”

“…….”

The warm bloodwater grew cold.

No, perhaps it was the atmosphere that had grown cold. Or perhaps it was the Queen’s bloodshot eyes.

Whatever it was, it had turned cold, and that sharp temperature stabbed Ransis again and again.

“…What did Kulsian say?”

“He said he would leave it to the Fifth Son’s decision.”

“Then Dante?”

“It seems he has yet to decide, but at least until he becomes Family Head, he did not appear to have any intention of becoming deeply entangled with the Empire.”

“Hmm.”

The Queen stroked the Messenger’s skin with an impassive expression. The red fingernails that passed over it tickled her skin.

Here, if she applied even the slightest bit of force, the water level of the bath would rise.

However, at present, the Queen was concerned with something other than the water level.

“The Imperial Princess. What kind of child is that human?”

“We have assigned personnel to investigate that.”

“Well, no matter what kind of child she is, it is not a very welcome matter. Dante already has a fiancée.”

“Does the prince know?”

“No. Dante does not know.”

Marriage proposals kept moving back and forth in places he himself did not know about. At the headache-inducing situation unfolding just as expected, the Messenger asked.

“His fiancée must be one of the Blood Nobles.”

“Yes. Among the Blood Nobles, she is the only daughter of a Grand Duke who can be considered my kin. She is also an extraordinarily late-born child.”

“It seems she must be very young as well.”

“Yes. She is fifteen.”

Should she call that fortunate? Even from a human perspective, the age difference with the Youngest Son was not large. From a vampire perspective, it was practically nonexistent.

“The Grand Duke will not be very pleased. When I told him I intended to connect her with Dante, he was absolutely overjoyed.”

“What do you think, my Queen?”

“As for me….”

BURBLE BURBLE BURBLE—

Bubbles rose over the bloodwater. It trembled as if boiling, and the ground began to shake along with the bath.

RUMBLE—

Countless bats burst out of the shadows and covered the ceiling pitch-black like ink.

The Messenger nodded now. She nodded very quickly and leaned her head against the Queen’s shoulder. It was an insane action, but at present, it seemed to be the answer.

“Big Sister. I am frightened.”

Following an insane action, she uttered insane words. However, this too was the correct answer.

“Oh dear. I am sorry, sorry. I was being too childish.”

Once the Queen apologized, everything regained its silence. The surging bloodwater also settled, and she elegantly waved her opposite arm through the air.

“Still, there is no need to say more than that, is there?”

“No. I have understood fully. Then I will take my leave….”

“No, no. Where do you think you are going? You need to stay a little longer if you want to see the effects.”

Her body, which had been trying to rise, was forcibly seated again.

“But your body is so beautiful. Do you maintain it? Is there some blood you drink?”

“…I do not drink blood.”

“Really? Then would you like to try drinking some on this occasion?”

Ransis’s plan to see the Fifth Son after her work was finished was delayed more and more because of his mother.

At the same time, she suffered in proportion to that delay. No matter how much she was working without pay, this deserved additional compensation.

Vowing that she would absolutely take out the irritation she had received from the mother on her son, Ransis let out a sigh only on the inside.

***

The Black Ship arrived at the Eclipse magitech landing platform from which it had first departed.

As though she had stepped onto her homeland, Josephine took a deep breath as soon as she arrived.

“Mmm! This cold air. It is so refreshing.”

By contrast, the two mages following behind her walked awkwardly, constantly glancing around.

Not wanting to get stabbed on Eastern soil, they had changed into gray robes and followed behind the delegation.

“Head Maid!”

Butler Amon warmly welcomed the delegation that had returned to Dark Moon Grand Castle.

When the mages saw the two horns growing from the boy’s head, they swallowed their breath.

To think a demon was guarding the house. As expected, the Fifth Son was surely a man more demonic than a demon.

“Butler, I am sorry, but it seems we must prepare to leave again as soon as we have arrived.”

“Huh? Where are you going again?”

The Head Maid’s eyes glanced at the three mages behind her.

“To Wisdom.”