WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 454: Escape from the Principality no.1

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Tyr's villa stood atop a high cliff overlooking the coast. Like any vampire residence, it had no practical facilities such as a fireplace or dining room. It had been built with nothing but the view and shielding it from sunlight in mind. The moment I passed through the gate, I saw the dimming sunlight stretching endlessly toward the horizon.

Vampires wouldn't admire a sunrise, but even setting aside the sunlight, it was a magnificent sight. Feeling nature's mystery anew, I clenched and unclenched my hand.

It wasn't humanity's. Nor was it some great law of nature.

It was mine alone.

That was why it puzzled me. I might have lost my power, but I was still the King of Humanity, which meant I could only use powers humans used. I shouldn't have been able to use personal powers like innate arcane or qi.

How strange. Was this another side effect of losing my power? What the hell was happening to me?

Not knowing was why I was looking for the Demon God.

Ah, whatever. First, I should get out of here. I looked around and searched for an escape route...

"Huh."

Something was strange. What was it? As I turned that sense of discomfort over in my mind, I suddenly noticed how clear my view was and frowned.

There was no fog.

Sea mist rose from the water, but that was only the bare minimum the sea was obliged to produce. A view where I could vaguely see all the way to the horizon didn't suit the Fog Duchy.

Was it because Tyr had withdrawn the darkness and gathered it around herself? That probably played a part. But that wasn't all. There were strangely few clouds and little sea mist.

As if the Sea Calamity out there were holding its breath in silence. Remembering that, I muttered,

"Come to think of it, the Duke of Crimson Blood gathered humans into the castle to prepare for something too."

I hadn't thought deeply about it then, but it was rather strange now that I reconsidered it. Valdamir had heard about the Great Tide from the regressor and acted on it. Was she planning to reveal that she was a regressor, or a prophet, by warning people beforehand about the tidal wave the Sea Calamity would cause? Well, she could just regress afterward, so maybe that was possible.

But that wasn't the important part!

No, to begin with, the regressor had never once thought about anything like the Great Tide while she was with Tyr or me! If she had only avoided mentioning it, I could've understood that she was trying to hide it! How was I supposed to know if it had never even crossed her mind?!

If it was a massive disaster like the Great Tide, she should've made an effort to remember it. In any case, I had one more reason to leave the Duchy. I walked down the path on the other side of the cliff. Perhaps because Valdamir had called the humans into the castle, the coast, which should've been bustling around this time, was deserted.

This should make escaping easy. I should probably meet up with Hilde first...

That was what I was thinking as I walked.

"Have you finished your business?"

Naturally, the world had no intention of setting me free.

Count Erte, the Duke of Crimson Blood's confidant, approached as though she had been waiting. She came from a position I couldn't avoid and offered a polite greeting.

"I understand that the Progenitor took you away. Where is the Progenitor now?"

"Ah, at the villa. Tyr's a sleepyhead who hates sunlight, so she told me to look around outside by myself."

"Is that so."

Damn it. I hated myself for telling a lie that would obviously be exposed, but I also hated that vampire for calmly nodding after hearing it. I asked while doing my best to look composed.

"More importantly, what brings you here?"

"It is the Duke of Crimson Blood's order that I assist the Progenitor's consort."

"Wasn't that over already?"

"No. A more urgent order arose, so it was postponed briefly. The order remains in effect."

Vampires were vicious sticklers for principle. They lived by the one principle of obeying their sovereign's orders, carrying them out without changing expression whether they wanted to or not.

Still, being a subordinate didn't make them fools who knew nothing.

"Where are you going? If you tell me your purpose, I will guide you."

'Until the Progenitor abandons her love for him, he remains the consort. Still, it would be difficult to treat him the same way if he betrayed the Progenitor and tried to flee the Duchy... Of course, he won't have fled until he actually does.'

She understood the Duke of Crimson Blood's meaning perfectly.

Of course, Count Erte wasn't the Duke of Crimson Blood. She was naturally weaker and lacked that authority. I had no reason to fear Count Erte herself.

But I had every reason to fear the Duke of Crimson Blood's hands and feet. The Duke of Crimson Blood was testing me right now!

Tch. Still, the Duke of Crimson Blood had no intention of preventing my escape. Should I accept the help for now?

"Ah, well. First, I'd like to meet up with my companion."

"She is right there."

Count Erte naturally pointed behind herself. There was nothing where she pointed but scattered rocks, but when Count Erte gestured, Hilde, who had been tailing her, appeared with an embarrassed expression.

"What, you noticed? Tch, this vampire country really makes it hard to get anything done. Disguises don't work, tailing people is hard. It takes all the fun out of it!"

"It was difficult to sense your presence. Had it not been for the blood on your clothes, I would have found it difficult to notice you... I intended to have the two of you meet anyway, so in the end it made little difference."

After answering calmly, Count Erte asked me as though that settled it.

"So, anything else?"

She intended to help me escape. I didn't know whether she would hunt down and capture the prey she had released or simply stand by and watch. Either way, I had no choice.

Since it had come to this, I might as well be shameless.

"Suddenly, I want to take a grand tour of the Duchy's territory. I feel like walking to the very end of this country. Could you guide me as close to the border as possible?"

"Huh? Father. That's far too obvious..."

It was a direct charge. Facing an approach so blatant that even Hilde was flustered, Count Erte nodded with a sociable smile.

"I will guide you."

Until I fled, I hadn't fled. In other words, no one would pursue me until I actually fled. Then I would go as far as I could before making my escape.

I followed Count Erte, firmly resolved.

* * *

The King of Humanity had formed a self of his own. The Progenitor's gift had been passed on.

Now he could become ordinary. He had gained the qualification to learn qi and magic, to accumulate them in that body. He had gained the strength to preserve his difference. So far, it was a success.

Don't relax. Fate would change from now on.

Until humanity abandoned its king...

No.

Until the King of Humanity abandoned humanity.

* * *

Thus began my strange journey with a vampire. Count Erte truly guided us with all her heart. Not only did she provide food at the proper times, she even arranged places for us to rest along the way. Since we were trying to flee, we didn't make much use of them, but thanks to her, Hilde and I traveled without discomfort.

Our bodies were comfortable, but our minds weren't. Hilde watched Count Erte, who stood calmly without eating or sleeping, then said,

"Father. Is it all right for us to go this slowly?"

"We'll only collapse from exhaustion if we hurry anyway. It's better to conserve as much strength as possible before we properly flee."

Even though I answered in a quiet voice, Count Erte heard me and asked,

"Did you say flee just now?"

"It's only a manner of speaking. Just words."

"I nearly misunderstood. Then please rest."

We could both see right through each other. It seemed fair, but it was actually to my disadvantage. As a mind-reader, it was only natural that I stole a look at my opponent's hand, but vampires weren't supposed to do that. You had long lives and immortal regeneration too, so why were you forcing a showdown? Was the pot really that large?

Anyway, Hilde, who had suddenly become a fugitive, let out a deep sigh.

"Tyrkanzyaka... I thought Tyr was a colder person. It seems 'my' judgment was mistaken. I didn't expect Tyr to be this unreasonable."

"People change."

"Coming from the person who changed Tyr, that makes me want to hit you~."

"If we manage to escape beyond the Duchy, I'll let you hit me once."

"Did you just say escape..."

"I'm joking, joking."

"Even as a joke, if you go too far, I may believe you. Please be careful."

Until Valdamir decided that we had fled, no one would pursue us. So we needed to conserve as much strength as possible until that precarious boundary, then escape with everything we had once the pursuit began.

Hilde understood my plan too. She just didn't trust my ability.

"Father, you're frail, aren't you? Can you escape if tireless vampires come after us?"

"I'm still an expert at escaping. Don't worry. What about you, Hilde? Tyr crushed you like a toy."

"What do you take 'me' for? Acting like I'm in pain is a basic skill~. It did hurt a little, though."

Acting like she was in pain? From what I had seen, an arm and a leg had each been sticking out between the shadow's fingers. That couldn't have been an act.

Well, Hilde was a master of qi, so perhaps it was possible somehow.

Hilde clasped her hands on the table and gave me a subtle smile.

"Father. You know, right?"

"Know what?"

"'I' can escape alone. Tyrkanzyaka's target is you, Father."

That was true. The shadow had let me go, but I didn't know what Tyr would choose. After I had made such a grand betrayal by even using my ability, Tyr might capture and imprison me without even the slightest guilt. Honestly, if that happened, it was over. Even Tyr wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

"But whether 'I' live or die doesn't matter to Tyr. Tyr will probably just kill me. Honestly, it might be better for 'me' if Father gets captured."

"That may be true. Better to roll around in a field of dog shit than die."

Of course, that was a luxury problem. Hilde's life was truly at stake. Capturing me and handing me over to Tyr was the rational choice for Hilde.

Fortunately, Hilde didn't make the rational choice of abandoning me here.

"So, Father, you absolutely have to repay 'me'!"

"Of course."

"Even if 'I' am gone! I'll make the military state the recipient!"

"Yes, yes."

"It's a promise!"

"All right."

'That was a rather careless answer~. Still, this at least gives it the form of a "promise," more or less, doesn't it?'

Hilde narrowed her eyes, concealing her thoughts.

'Now that it has been revealed that Father is the King of Humanity, the only place Father can go is the military state. Only a nation without a king can embrace the King of Humanity. It seems Yuel dreamed of a country that didn't need a king... But that has practically failed, hasn't it? Yuel will let this much slide!'

A king, huh... Well. It was true that other countries with kings or emperors wouldn't welcome me. The military state was the best country for me to stay in. Hilde seemed to believe that I would naturally become king the moment I went there.

Hilde was probably the only one who wanted that. Still, Hilde had helped me. It wouldn't hurt to meet those expectations to some extent. I was about to brush it off when a strange emotion made me nod.

I felt sorry? Me? Looking at Hilde?

What the hell. Why would I feel sympathy for Hilde, a Holy Sword Corps member and Shadow Casket of the military's Six Generals, who had learned all manner of qi arts and divine power? I must have had it too easy. I should spend that time escaping instead.

At that moment, Count Erte sensed faint blood energy and stood. After staring intently for a while in the direction it came from, far away, she approached Hilde and me to ask for our understanding.

"Excuse me. Someone is calling for me, so I will go and see what it is."

"Ah, yes. Take your time. There is no need to hurry, so take as long as possible."

"I will try, Progenitor's consort. I mention this only out of concern, but if you happen to flee, other vampires, including myself, may pursue you."

"Ha ha ha. I'll keep that in mind."

After seeing Count Erte off, Hilde and I looked at one another and nodded. Without either of us needing to say who would move first, we packed our things and ran out of the inn.

The chase against predators that ate humans had begun.

Footnotes:

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