Translator: Nox

Chapter: 11

“Don’t hit me! Don’t kill me either! I’m the Emperor’s envoy!”

I glared at the drunkard waving a white flag as he approached.

Next to me, Shion smiled sweetly and whispered, “Shall we just bury him in the backyard?”

“I want to, but… he is technically an envoy.”

Even during war, envoys weren’t to be harmed.

Hearing my voice, the drunkard perked up and hurried over, looking absolutely indignant.

“You little traitor! How could you just leave someone lying on the ground like that?!”

“Isn’t leaving someone on the ground better than offering them up as a sacrifice?”

At my calm reply, the drunkard’s mouth dropped open.

“Y-You knew…?”

“Yup. I knew. That’s why I used you all too.”

When I looked at him as if to say ‘So what now?’, he hung his head low.

“…Sorry. I really messed up.”

I looked at him again, surprised.

He didn’t try to shift the blame onto D or excuse himself by saying he tried to save me.

“Well, come in. I’ll at least offer you some tea.”

More than anything, I still remembered how he held me protectively, even while trembling in fear.

I read the invitation the drunkard had brought.

Written in an extremely archaic and formal tone, it said the Emperor would like to have a 

meal with me tomorrow evening.

‘It’s not poisoned, is it?’

Sensing my hesitation, Shion asked, “You don’t want to meet the Emperor?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just…”

The Emperor had probably been furious that I’d taken over the New Moon Palace, so I’d 

rather wait until his anger cooled down.

“Oh well. I can’t really refuse anyway, right?”

“It’s a simple meal invitation. You can refuse.”

“Really?”

“You’re probably unfamiliar with etiquette here, so I’ll write the reply for you.”

“Th-Thanks?”

That’s weird. Why is he being so nice all of a sudden?

In front of my suspicious gaze, Shion elegantly penned a reply in beautiful Gothic script. 

Flowery and polite, but the meaning was:

‘How rude of you to summon someone who just moved in. I’m busy right now, so call me later. If you’re that desperate, come yourself.’

“…Shion, are you trying to get me killed?”

“Who knows? I think the Emperor would prefer something like this.”

“No way.”

I quickly snatched the letter away from him.

“I’ll go. Just tell him I happily accept the invitation.”

Giving up on the letter, I turned to the drunkard.

He looked like a dog needing to pee.

“You got something to say?”

At my question, he stood up with a serious face.

“I was a coward. I didn’t stop D, and I didn’t run away with you. Doing nothing was my sin. 

But I won’t make that mistake again.”

With eyes burning with passion, he declared, “I swear on Lil’s name! From now on, I will protect you no matter what!”

“…Why?”

“Because you were supposed to be my daughter!”

What the hell is he talking about?

Shion, who had been glaring at him, let out a cold laugh. “I really think we should bury him.”

[Web Message]
Kill! Kill! Kill!
(＃｀皿´)=[]:::::>

Even Spam joined in, blinking wildly.

I was too tired for this, so I decided to just get rid of the drunkard.

“I don’t trust people who just talk. I’ve been fooled too many times. Show me with actions.”

“Fine! Leave it to me!”

Thumping his chest, the drunkard ran out. I wasn’t sure if he understood, but at least it was quiet now.

Leaning back in my chair, I asked jokingly,

“Shion, the Emperor won’t poison me, right?”

“Well, if I were him, I’d just send an assassin.”

“…Thanks. That gives me the courage to live viciously in this filthy world.”

When I glared at him fiercely, Shion laughed joyfully.

“There’s no need to worry. You’re immune to poison.”

Startled, I looked at him with suspicion.

“How do you know that?”

“I can just tell,” he said, scanning me with his eyes.

He really looked obnoxious… but somehow I believed him.

“Still, I can’t let my guard down. Teach me how to open a field. If something happens, I can escape into it, right?”

I was surprised Shion offered to teach me himself.

“Humans can use fields too?”

“Any master-level mage can.”

…He says that like being a master-level mage is no big deal.

“So do you have a field?”

“I haven’t decided on the mental image to contain within mine yet. But my theory is perfect, 

so don’t worry.”

As he moved his hand, a glowing cube appeared.

“This is the basic structure. I’ll guide you with my mana, so try shaping it like this.”

When Shion grabbed my hand, a tingling sensation spread through my body. At the same time, something inside me stirred.

Then the cube exploded.

“Kyah!”

Shion wrapped around me and quickly asked, “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I-I’m fine… but I think the room’s dead.”

The once beautiful room looked like a bomb had gone off.

After a moment of hesitation, Shion held out his hand.

“Let’s try again.”

On the fifteenth explosion, I couldn’t hold back anymore and asked,

“Is this thing supposed to explode when you touch it?”

Whether Shion touched the power inside me or I tried to move it myself—it just blew up every time. I was scared it might accidentally explode in front of the Emperor.

“This happens because your power is strong but your control is weak,” Shion explained.

It was like trying to pour water into a cup from a giant dam—of course the cup would break.

“So what do I do?”

Am I doomed to live as a walking bomb forever?

[Web Message]
A New Path |ω・）
Ask the mage about Awakening
- Reward: 20 XP

My eyes lit up and I asked, “Shion, what’s Awakening?”

He looked at me like, ‘How do you know that?’

“It’s when a vampire awakens to their abilities. If the pre-Awakening state is an egg, then Awakening is hatching.”

“So I’ll be able to control my powers better? Can I awaken too?”

As if answering yes, Spam granted me experience points.

But Shion looked hesitant.

“For a normal dhampir, it would be impossible. But you have a unique constitution, so it’s possible. However, it also means abandoning the human path and living as a vampire.”

“Shion, humans don’t explode rooms without bombs.”

I knew what he was worried about, but honestly, I had no other path to take.

“How do I awaken?”

“By consuming a very good feed.”

Feed?

I tilted my head in confusion before realizing.

“Y-You mean I have to drink blood?”

“Not just any blood. Blood from someone strong—like me—would be best.”

So I couldn’t even use animal blood.

Disappointed, I heard Shion whisper.

“If you want, I’ll gladly offer my blood.”

He smiled and undid his robe, exposing a bit of his pale neck.

“But once you bite me, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

“Responsibility?”

“You’ll have to keep cherishing and loving me, since I’ll be yours.”

I blinked at the words I’d never heard before. Shion continued seriously,

“A vampire’s bite mark never disappears. It’s called a brand. Once someone is branded, they belong to that vampire for life.”

“Seriously?”

“I swear on all my mana, it’s true.”

Biting once and being bound for life? That’s harsh.

And I have to cherish and love Shion? Me?

Just imagining it gave me chills.

“…Should I look for someone else?”

“Why? Do you think you’ll find someone stronger, more obedient, and more devoted than me?”

…Why is he suddenly getting mad?!