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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 147
Why did he appear?
Idrinne stared at Christian with a calm, subdued gaze.
Soon after, another figure entered the room.
He seemed to be a subordinate serving Idrinne, and also a true-blooded vampire like her.
“He’s completely asleep. As expected, your Ladyship’s authority is impressive.”
If it had been anyone else, no matter how high their level was, Chris would not have failed to sense their presence like this.
This situation was possible only because of Idrinne's authority as the next Vampire Lord.
“But why did you go this far?”
“…Because I had to see for myself.”
Idrinne spoke.
Her voice was graceful yet cold.
“To see whether Lord Christian would be an asset to us or not.”
It was an unexpected statement.
Leaving aside Chris’s past life, the Bloodsword Demonic House was hostile to the Dark Demonic House—how could they speak of help?
“For our Bloodsword Demonic House to stand against the Anax faction, which is centered around the Cursed Necromancers, we’ll need the help of the Dark Demonic House.”
“…But isn’t that nearly impossible?”
The Bloodsword Demonic House was currently cornered.
So much so that they were hoping for help from their long-time enemy, the Dark Demonic House.
But the chances of the Dark Demonic House helping the Bloodsword House were nonexistent.
However.
“You never know. If it’s Lord Christian here, it might be different. He seems completely unlike other typical demonic beings.”
Idrinne, the grand lady of the Bloodsword Demonic House, had come all the way to Gold Cross to stop the plot of the Four Kings Star that had been set in motion in the Holy Nation.
Though she herself was part of the Four Kings Star, she belonged to a faction opposing the Anax group responsible for the current incident in the Holy Nation.
However, upon arriving at Gold Cross, she found everything already resolved.
Thanks to the unbelievable miracle performed by the boy before her—Christian.
Having heard what Christian had done, Idrinne became convinced.
That he was fundamentally different from other demonic beings.
“Our relations may be poor, but wouldn’t it still be beneficial for the Dark Demonic House to ally with us? If our Bloodsword House falls, the next target will be the Dark House.”
“…That’s true, but still.”
The subordinate woman nodded hesitantly.
She still looked unconvinced.
“Unless your Ladyship enters a marriage pact with Lord Christian, an alliance between the two Houses would be impossible.”
“If it’s necessary, I will.”
“…Pardon?”
The subordinate woman widened her eyes in shock, but Idrinne spoke with a blank expression.
“I already sold my soul to a demon for the sake of the House. What’s a marriage compared to that? Political marriages between noble magic houses aren’t uncommon.”
“…Still, that’s a bit much. Of course, if it’s Lord Christian, there’s nothing lacking for him to be your partner… and if we convert your Ladyship’s age into human terms, the difference wouldn’t be all that great.”
The subordinate woman murmured uneasily.
For reference, Idrinne was barely of adult age in terms of vampire true-blood standards.
“What, I didn’t mean it seriously. Even if I brought up talk of marriage, there’s no way Lord Christian would accept it. We’re enemies, after all.”
If they truly wished to form an alliance with the Dark Demonic House.
They would first have to slowly seek ways to improve relations between the two Houses.
“But the real question is, how long do you think Lord Christian can survive? He looks like he’s about to die any day now.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Lord Christian is currently undergoing the succession trials, right? According to the traditions of the Dark Demonic House, the next trial would be an assignment to the ‘Dark Demon Army,’ correct?”
Dark Demon Army.
The elite corps the Dark Demonic House prided itself on.
The very embodiment of the power of the Dark Demonic House.
“That would make sense. But what’s the problem?”
Idrinne tilted her head slightly.
“Of course, judging by Lord Christian’s current achievements, passing the second trial might be difficult, but it’s not necessarily dangerous, is it?”
“That would be true—if our Four Kings Star didn’t get involved. The primary enemy of the Dark Demon Army is our Four Kings Star.”
“…What are you saying?”
“I heard the Anax faction is planning to interfere with the Dark Demon Army’s command structure in a few months. Right around the time Lord Christian will be undergoing his trial.”
Idrinne’s face hardened.
But she soon shook her head.
“The Dark Demon Army’s leadership isn’t exactly weak, you know? The commander, Marquis Shupen, is a 7-star high-ranking demon. Unless the Anax faction is planning a full-scale war, they wouldn’t recklessly attempt something like that…”
“Normally, yes. But surely you’re not unaware of who the Anax faction is dealing with?”
Idrinne’s expression froze.
“You don’t mean… ‘them’ are getting involved?”
“Most likely. With a high probability.”
“……”
The girl fell silent.
‘“They” are like natural disasters. If they’re really getting involved, there’s no way Lord Christian will survive with his current strength.’
The subordinate woman spoke with concern.
“It’s impossible to stop what’s coming. Once it starts, he’ll have to flee just to survive—but from the looks of it, his condition isn’t great either. I wonder if he can recover in a few months… unless he takes the highest-grade elixir from the Healing Arts Noble House…”
Idrinne examined Christian’s physical state.
‘His internal injuries are serious. I heard he stopped the descent of a Fallen Star… is this the aftereffect?’
He would recover with a few months of rest, but the problem was time.
Christian would face the worst-case scenario before his body could fully heal.
After some deep thought, Idrinne brought up something unexpected.
“…Let me ask you something. Lord Christian is our benefactor, isn’t he?”
“What do you mean, benefactor?”
“Didn’t he stop that bastard from Märchen here in Gold Cross? If it weren’t for Lord Christian, the Anax faction would’ve gained more ground, and we’d be in even deeper trouble.”
“…Well, if you put it that way, I suppose we did receive a favor. But why ask all of a sudden? Don’t tell me, my Lady…”
Idrinne nodded firmly.
“As a proud bloodline of the Great Bloodsword Demonic House, I must repay the favor I’ve received.”
“Don’t tell me, my Lady…?”
Idrinne approached Christian.
The woman’s eyes widened, and Idrinne raised her finger and brought it to Christian’s forehead.
Then, something astonishing happened.
Flash.
A murky, blood-colored energy rose from Christian and flowed toward Idrinne.
At the same time—
“Cough.”
Idrinne coughed. Blood trickled down.
“My Lady?! What are you doing? Why are you using the Power of Self-Sacrifice?!”
The subordinate woman scolded her, her face pale.
It was the unique power of the Vampire Princess.
A power that directly transferred the subject’s poor physical condition onto herself.
And indeed, Christian’s complexion looked far healthier than before, while Idrinne’s face had turned deathly pale, as if she had suddenly caught a grave illness.
“Didn’t I say? As a descendant of the Bloodsword Demonic House, I wanted to repay a debt.”
“What in the world…”
The subordinate woman shook her head in disbelief, but Idrinne looked entirely unconcerned.
“It’s fine. My body’s strong. Now then, let’s go. The power’s effect won’t last much longer.”
“Y-Yes, My Lady.”
Just like that, the two disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared.
* * *
The day of departure arrived.
‘…Why does my body feel so much better?’
Chris tilted his head.
After waking up that morning, the internal injuries that had tormented him had vanished completely.
‘This isn’t natural. Someone clearly intervened. But who?’
Chris’s expression grew serious.
While it was fortunate that his body had recovered, it was strange that someone had come and gone without him noticing anything at all.
‘Even if someone of a high level had been here, for me not to have sensed anything at all is… absurd.’
Of course, there were those capable of such feats.
‘For example, the Blood Demon King… no, she’s the Grand Princess of the Bloodsword Demonic House now. If it were her—the next Vampire Lord—with that kind of power, it would be possible to avoid my senses and do something like this… but that’s ridiculous.’
That person had healed him.
It couldn’t be her. Definitely not.
For now, he decided to focus on the matter at hand.
“Are you leaving now?”
“…Yeah. But why did you come all this way?”
Chris looked at Olivia in confusion.
Right now, Chris and his group were at a warp gate—one connected to near the borders of the Magus Empire.
On the way here, they had to ride on horseback due to security restrictions, but now, with Olivia newly appointed as the Holy Pope, permission had been granted.
‘But still, why did she come all the way here? The warp gate isn’t exactly close to the Papal Kingdom.’
He looked at Olivia with a puzzled gaze.
Conveniently, the two of them were alone.
“Did you perhaps have something you wanted to tell me in private?”
“……”
"Say whatever it is. Anything’s fine."
Olivia bit her lip.
"…We’ll see each other again, right?"
"…Is that really why you came all this way? Of course we’ll meet again."
Chris tilted his head, slightly puzzled.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself."
Truthfully, Chris also felt a bit of regret parting with Olivia, but lingering would only make the feeling worse.
‘It’s not like this is the last time anyway.’
He turned his back—when suddenly, he heard something that made his chest lurch.
"…Oppa."
"!!"
Chris’s face froze.
He hadn’t misheard. She had clearly called him Oppa.
‘…How?’
But then Olivia’s weak voice followed.
"…I’m sorry. When I see you, I strangely keep thinking of my brother. If that made you uncomfortable, I apologize."
"…No, it didn’t make me uncomfortable."
Chris shook his head, steadying his startled heart.
‘She instinctively sensed a similarity? Blood really is scary. There shouldn’t be any resemblance between who I was in my past life and who I am now.’
That was the last thing he exchanged with Olivia.
It was time to go.
Just before stepping into the warp gate, he turned his head—and saw Olivia staring at him with an expression frozen like stone.
Chris looked into her eyes and suddenly felt a question arise.
‘…What happens if Olivia discovers my identity on her own?’
Due to the law of causality, he couldn’t reveal his identity himself.
But if Olivia figured it out on her own?
Before he could follow that thought further, his vision shifted. The warp gate had activated.
And then—
"Your Holiness, let us return now."
"Please wait. I’d like to be alone for a moment. Have the knights fall back."
Olivia stared blankly at the spot where Chris had stood.
For some reason, it felt like a hollow had opened in her chest.
Inexplicably.
More than anything—
—Young Lord Christian seemed to know about Princess Sistania. Did Your Holiness tell him?
She recalled what Sir Aslan of the Karn Empire had told her.
That Christian had visited Princess Sistania’s grave, and even offered her favorite flower.
‘But I never told him. In fact, I didn’t even know that the former Papal Queen, Princess Sistania, liked anemones.’
How had Christian known that?
No—why had he even gone to Princess Sistania’s grave in the first place?
The pieces didn’t fit.
‘…No way.’
At that moment, a sudden thought pierced Olivia’s heart like a lightning bolt.
She recalled the time back in Duke Vinz’s territory, during the battle—when that Archfiend had shown her an illusion of “Chris.”
It had been far too lifelike to have merely come from her subconscious.
Especially the final whistle—it had sounded exactly like Chris.
She forcefully shook her head.
‘That’s impossible.’
It couldn’t be. Absolutely impossible.
More than anything, she was terrified of the fragile hope born from such a reckless guess. If it wasn’t true, the disappointment would crush her.
But still—
…Is it really not?
“Ah.”
Suddenly, tears streamed down from her eyes.
She reached out belatedly—but Christian had already vanished beyond the warp gate.
Olivia stood still, staring endlessly at the space where Christian had disappeared.
* * *
Chris and his group passed through the warp gate.
As they crossed the border and entered the territory of the Magus Empire, they were greeted by a scene none of them had expected.
“Wh-What is that?”
Alros let out a startled voice.
Countless fiends stood lined in formation.
As Chris approached, a thunderous roar rose into the air, shaking the sky.
“Glory to the Young Lord!!”
“We honor the Young Lord’s heroic deeds!!”
Up ahead, he saw the officer he had spoken with before leaving.
Chris grinned.
“So? I think I kept my promise fairly well. Is it as impressive as you’d hoped?”
Before leaving, Chris had made a promise to that officer.
That he’d return with shocking news.
“This is far beyond that.”
The officer lowered his head.
With deep respect and reverence.
“Look at these gathered troops. No one forced them to come—they all gathered voluntarily to pay their respects to you. Considering the merits you achieved against those Gold Cross bastards, even this welcome might be lacking.”
Christian turned his gaze toward the assembled fiends.
True to their reputation as a fiendish legion, they were a diverse and motley group, yet they all had one thing in common.
Reverence and awe for Christian.
Even before, many common fiends had supported Christian.
Because, as a collateral bloodline, he had risen to become a successor purely by his own power.
And now, having returned with an impossible achievement against the Gold Cross, even more fiends stood behind him.
‘I should respond.’
Chris raised his hand.
It was a simple gesture—but it was more than enough.
“Waaaaaaah!!!”
“Long live Young Lord Christian!!!”
While receiving such enthusiastic cheers, Chris moved forward—only to find an unexpected figure waiting for him.
“!!”
It was his father, Count Khazar.
Count Khazar firmly grasped Christian’s hand.
“Well done.”
A brief greeting.
But Chris could clearly feel how much deep worry and unspoken denial were hidden within those words.
“Thank you.”
Feeling something was missing, Chris added a word.
“Father.”
The moment he said it, the disgust he had once felt toward his father in his previous life seemed to melt away.
Standing beside him was Teren.
Teren was glancing off to the side with a sullen expression.
“…Brother.”
“Honorific.”
“…Respected King Emperor Majesty, Brother.”
“Right. So, why are you here?”
“I-I just came along with Father! It’s not like I came because I was worried about you or anything!”
“…Really? Your eyes are all red, like you were crying while staring at the moon outside the window, worrying about your dear brother.”
“T-There’s no way! Absolutely not! W-Who said I cried while worrying about you!”
“…Don’t react so seriously, will you? The way you’re acting makes it sound real.”
Chris thought to himself in mild amusement.
‘This guy has his own kind of charm, I guess. Totally different from Olivia, though.’
After meeting the Holy Emperor, he felt like he’d come to appreciate the value of family.
Chris decided he’d be a bit more affectionate toward his younger brother from now on.
“It’s been a while—how about a good sparring match?”
“N-No thanks, okay?”
“Why not? You love getting beaten up by your big brother. I’ll go all out just for you.”
“Ugh, seriously! Go away!”
Chris chuckled and ruffled Teren’s hair.
“I’m back.”
“……”
With a grumpy face and pouting lips, Teren mumbled,
“What you did this time… was a little… no, honestly, really cool.”
Chris smirked.
“This is just the beginning.”
“!!”
That’s right.
What happened with the Gold Cross was merely the prelude to what Chris was about to face.
Soon, a storm would sweep through the Southern Magus Kingdom where Chris resided.
The conflict with the Venomous Demonic House.
The Incident of the Jade Suppression.
The catastrophe caused by the Destruction Demonic House.
And—
The downfall of the “Demon King of Azure Flow,” the one behind it all.
Countless events were waiting for him.
‘Before all that, I need to become the Grand Duke first.’
Chris turned to look north—toward the main house of the Dark Demonic House.
The content of his second trial: to subjugate the Dark Demon Legion.
More precisely, he had to bring down their commander—Marquis Shupen, the highest-ranking fiend among the 7-star level.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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