Chapter 10

EP.10 Red Alliance

After finishing my meal, it was my turn to do the dishes. This is really unfair. Half of the food I cooked was snatched away by that so-called king of dogs, so why do I have to do all the dishes? Is this the world? Is this the country?

Ah, the military state wasn't even a proper country, just a quasi-state.

While the well-fed Azhi sprawled on the ground, yawning, I grumbled and tidied up. Azhi didn't even react to my efforts.

The only fortunate thing was that Azhi's bowl was as clean and shiny as new.

'This guy, at least he eats. He seems to be human, after all.'

Just then, a thought from outside the dining room caught my attention. The regressed person was pressed against the outer wall, peering inside. Reading the thought that slipped in, I frowned.

Who is calling who not human?

Hey, humans can emit sword energy when trained. They can use magic too. Their bodies can become tough.

Some people can carefully observe others' expressions, gazes, and breathing, and guess what they are thinking. Not as well as I can, though.

But no matter how hard you try, you can't turn back time. What does the most un-human-like person have to say to me?

'...Rather, why does Azhi follow such a light-hearted man? From the way he eats, it seems he has already opened up. Could it be... me too?'

"Ahem!"

Having finished his thoughts, the regressed person cleared his throat and entered the dining room. He met Azhi's eyes and greeted him in a slightly higher tone than usual, looking awkward.

"Hey, Azhi? Did you enjoy your meal?"

"Woof..."

But, the luckiest thing in the world is a well-fed dog. The sprawled Azhi didn't show much reaction, just wagged his tail. The regressed person, slightly disappointed, lowered his hand.

'Not a good reaction. Is it because I'm dressed as a man? No, that guy follows well. Tch, what trick did he use...'

The ball game, that damn ball game!

You saw it too!

Please, before you start talking about following me, at least throw a ball. People who like dogs always try to get away with just the rights and not the responsibilities. If you want to be friends, play properly and take responsibility for it.

Sigh. Still, since I've made a sound, I should acknowledge him. I turned from the sink and looked at the regressed person.

"Good morning. Cadet Shay. Have you had breakfast?"

While exchanging pleasantries, I suddenly noticed some bean stew left in the pot. If the regressed person hadn't had breakfast, I should offer it out of courtesy. Otherwise, teasing him with "Didn't you eat? I did~" would be mean.

A single can of compressed beans can provide enough food for a family of four for a whole day. But that pig-like guy ate half of it, so there's not much left. I have to share this precious food.

But it's better than being ignored and brushed off. With a feeling like tearing off a piece of my flesh, I suggested to the regressed person.

"If you haven't eaten, would you like some of the military state's special bean can dish I cooked?"

"Don't worry about it. I can take care of myself."

"What? The dining room is here, so what are you eating? Did you steal food?"

"I have my own emergency rations."

The regressed person, answering briefly, cast a weary glance at the bean can dish in the pot.

'Bean can... I don't even want to eat that boring food unless it's early in the cycle. Getting the treasure of a full banquet every day was really a stroke of luck. It's only for one person, but at least my food is guaranteed.'

Unintentionally reading his thoughts, I was deceived in return.

I'm competing with a dog for food, living day by day, while someone else lives with a daily treasure. Is this a country, really?

Even though I'm a mind reader, human hearts are truly amazing. Logically, the regressed person, who takes care of his own share, is better than a dog that steals my food. But seeing him living well on his own twists my gut. I wish he would lose the treasure and starve. Is this human selfishness?

The bowl I was washing seemed particularly pitiful today. My meal was just the food in this small bowl. When it was full, it felt like I had the world. Now, both the bowl and my heart are empty. Is this relative deprivation?

"Are you still far from finishing the dishes? Hurry up and get ready."

Dazed, I was urged by the regressed person.

"What do I need to get ready for?"

"What else? We need to meet Tirkanchaka to learn the Bloodline Technique."

"Why do I need to learn it?"

Annoyed by my response, the regressed person shrugged and answered.

"Because Tirkanchaka decided it?"

"Damn. Age is rank, isn't it?"

Throwing the bowl I was washing, I shook my hands and got ready to leave. The regressed person looked puzzled by my attitude.

"It's a chance to gain the power of a vampire without becoming one. It's not a bad thing for you, right?"

"So what? It will take a long time to learn. Even if I do, all I'll get is the ability to handle blood. What's the point? It's just a lower version of a vampire."

It's a technique perfected by the vampire progenitor long after becoming immortal. Moreover, it involves handling one's own blood. If something goes wrong, I could lose my life. It's a skill for those with time and life to spare.

For example, like the regressed person.

My goal is to survive, not to become stronger. And becoming stronger doesn't necessarily mean living better.

And.

"I don't particularly want to get stronger."

A sudden, honest remark. I regretted it as soon as I said it, but the regressed person, with his sharp senses, heard it.

'...It doesn't sound like a lie. He really doesn't see the point in getting stronger. But a military state soldier who doesn't care about strength?'

I wondered if I should have said it, but once spoken, words can't be taken back. I tried not to show it and passed by the regressed person. The regressed person, watching me calmly, fell into thought.

'I don't know anything about this guy. Despite his power, he's indifferent and straightforward, and seems to reject authority in a strange way. He doesn't treat Azhi as human, but is kind to him. If even the picky Azhi follows him...'

After a brief judgment, the regressed person came to a conclusion.

'Maybe he's a soldier who resisted an order from the military state's upper echelons and was demoted? At least a junior officer. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense. His power, his attitude towards Azhi and Tirkanchaka!'

Sometimes, even though I've only been here for a short time, I've had a recurring thought.

That woman, it's a good thing she regressed.

'The military state was destroyed once in the eighth cycle, and I've been idle since then. But maybe I can use her as a key to delve deeper!'

No, cancel that. What's so fortunate about easily destroying a country?

More importantly, if the military state was destroyed, and I found out, could I do the same? I want to cause chaos in this country too.

Just as I was focusing on the regressed person's thoughts.

'Grr...'

Startled, I quickly turned to look inside. The regressed person looked at me curiously, but I couldn't look away.

The voice I just heard wasn't the regressed person's or Azhi's. It was a faint, indistinct consciousness, as if it could break at any moment.

Was it an illusion? No, it couldn't be. It definitely meant there was someone, something alive, in there.

"What are you doing? Stopping?"

"No, I just... felt like someone was there."

"Where?"

The faint thought was cut off. Did they die? Fall asleep? Sigh, it's worrying, but if the mind reading is cut off, I can't find them with my ability.

First, the vampire. I broke my focus and walked out to the courtyard with the regressed person.

Tantalus is dark. Even the light from the distant sun is dimmed by the wrath of the Earth Goddess. The bottomless pit, with no bottom, has no height. Even the tiniest crack that sunlight forces its way through is an insurmountable barrier in the infinite space.

Thus, Tantalus had to be self-sufficient for light. Surprisingly, humans reached the level of creating light with magic. The grace of the gods could be replaced by human effort.

Though the quality was infinitely low.

There is a line in Tantalus' courtyard. The courtyard, fitting perfectly within the L-shaped prison building, is not chased by searchlights. The wide floodlights illuminate the inside evenly, a testament to human ingenuity in overcoming the night.

However, beyond that, the slightly outer area where I first landed. When you step over the square area defined by the military state, the searchlights start to chase you fiercely.

Tantalus has no troops to chase escapees and no place for them to run, but the military state stubbornly enforces this. As if to emphasize that you are prisoners who must not leave this place.

"Where is Tirkanchaka... Ah."

The ground where the searchlights should reach. There, Tirkanchaka was lying.

Actually, it's not clear if she's lying. All that's visible is a sinister red cross glowing in the darkness.

The vampire, who dislikes light, was in a place not reached by the floodlights. Normally, the searchlights would chase her for leaving the designated area, but they seemed to be scared by the ominous red aura and turned away, pretending not to see.

"...We have to go there, right?"

"Of course."

"Ah. I don't like it because it's too bright..."

"Why, will you cut the light?"

I don't even want to ask how that's possible. Reluctantly, we moved towards the coffin waiting for us in the distance.

As we walked, and walked. The moment we stepped into the searchlight's range, I braced myself for the blinding light chasing my back and closed my eyes tightly.

But the light never chased my back. The searchlights, pretending not to see me, only illuminated other places. Huh? What's going on?

A dark voice sounded. There was no need to ask whose it was. The vampire, the progenitor Tirkanchaka, lying quietly in the coffin, spoke calmly, using darkness as her medium.

I nodded quickly.

"Of course not. Do as you please. We can see with even a little light. We should adapt to you in such situations."

'Strange, this feels bad... Why does it feel like I'm being treated like a blind old man?'

Hearing the vampire's thoughts, I felt like my world was collapsing.

Why is she like this? Does she have a victim complex? It's true that I treated her like an old person and thought her eyesight was poor, but I didn't show it!

The vampire glared at me terrifyingly and slowly spoke.

The vampire in the coffin spoke in a sinister voice. Drops of red blood fell from the slightly open gap, as if foreshadowing the situation we would soon face.

It's a proposal that could come from a fairy tale told by mischievous adults or a legend descending into a dark forest. A test offered by the vampire progenitor to an unsuspecting human.

Despite the fear it should inspire, the regressed person nodded without a hint of fear.

"I'm prepared. I'm ready."

For a human who has died and been resurrected thirteen times, the fear of the progenitor was just another wall to overcome. The regressed person's expression didn't change even when faced with the surging aura and writhing blood. The vampire was satisfied with his attitude.

'Not bad, a spirited boy. Hmm. It will be enjoyable to teach. Just right.'

Now, the vampire's gaze turned to me.

Hmm. I'm a bit...

The vampire's expression in the coffin was invisible. The darkness she drew in was so thick that even though I was only five steps away, the coffin looked blurry.

Without seeing the expression or face, a normal person wouldn't dare guess what the vampire was thinking behind it.

But I could read her thoughts.

'As a disciple, it is one's duty to follow the master's commands. No matter what, one cannot dare to refuse.'

The vampire was full of the intention to torment me.

'This is a master-disciple relationship. I will instill respect in you, you arrogant one. Since you treated me like an old person, I will discipline you in the old person's way.'

How can her thoughts be so old-fashioned? A master-disciple relationship, when did that become a thing?

She offered to teach me to legally torment me. Should I call it petty, or should I call it mature because she doesn't recklessly use her power in this situation?

I had no intention of learning from the beginning, but after reading the vampire's thoughts, my resolve became even stronger. I shook my head firmly.

"I have no intention of learning."

The vampire was greatly shocked. It seemed she never expected me to reject her offer, as her voice trembled.

"Ah. You."

She seemed to find it hard to believe and tried to confirm it several times. No, really, I don't need it. I scratched my head and answered.

"Actually, the master-disciple relationship was abolished in the kingdom era, not just in the military state. It was because the drawbacks were too severe."

"Why? Because there were too many freeloaders. People would be treated well and used like slaves for a few years under the guise of a master-disciple relationship, and then the teaching would turn out to be trashy martial arts or magic, causing chaos. When lawsuits arose, half of them were between masters and apprentices, which was tiring for the state to handle. That's why it was eventually banned. Bringing up something that only exists as a trace in a thousand-year-old country like the Mien Empire is... well, you know."

The vampire snorted in disbelief. With a faintly angry voice, she threatened me.

"No, no. When did I say the Bloodline Technique was outdated? I said the master-disciple relationship was outdated. And..."

It's awkward to say, but I can't just pretend to agree and tie myself to a leash for life.

If the leash were a brilliant golden one, I might close my eyes and accept it, but a thousand-year-old, worn-out leash is a loss to wear.

I decided to be honest.

"The Bloodline Technique, well, it's not a complete freeloader, but it is a bit outdated, isn't it?"

Grrr.

Tantalus shook, not just because of my mood. The blood was boiling. The vampire's displeasure was taking shape. In the surging darkness, the vampire was expressing her displeasure.

I want to kneel right now. Please, take me as a disciple! I want to escape this pressure.

But the future I see in that case is continuous training until the brink of death, a life similar to a slave serving the vampire with no time for anything else.

Actually, living like that isn't much different from now. The problem is receiving the teaching and being 'tested.'

If, after receiving the progenitor's teaching, I hit my limit and show my bottom... the bubble of my inflated self-evaluation will burst. The image built on pretense will be consumed.

The fact that I'm an ordinary, unremarkable person will be exposed.

It's the truth, but it's a truth that must never be revealed. The death I saw in the regressed person's future. To prevent it, I need to maintain at least some influence.

Even if it means risking my life.

The vampire is, for better or worse, an old-fashioned person. Old people dislike being treated like old people, but they will get angry if you treat them like real friends.

I believe no one who is told to be treated casually by an adult will actually do so.

Fortunately, she is as mature as her age, and even if she gets slightly angry, she won't draw a sword like someone else.

I quickly added.

"Considering Tirkanchaka's thousand years of accumulated power and rank, a Tirkanchaka cadet is quite useful. But, honestly, the technique itself is a thousand years old, isn't it?"

"It's not that I'm blaming it. The power itself is out of place with the times."

Crack. Something tore the space next to me. Curious, I slowly turned my head.

A blood-red horse was glaring at me, chewing. I'm not sure what it was chewing, but I could clearly tell what it wanted to chew, as the blood demon's eyes were fixed on me. Spit. The concrete floor melted when the blood demon spat.

Ah, I wondered if I could read the thoughts of a familiar... but I can't...

Heeheeheehee.

The ground trembled with a snort. Like a red seal, the blood hoof left a clear mark on the concrete floor.

Hmm. This is too strong. Did I make the wrong choice?

If I say I don't want to watch, will I really die? Fine. I'll nod for now.

Maintaining my firm attitude, the annoyed vampire turned her gaze from me to the regressed person. The large coffin slid along the ground and came close to the regressed person.

"My name is Shay."

The regressed person didn't hesitate. Since he can regress even if he dies, he shrugged and said.

"Of course. I swear. But."

The regressed person added a few words.

"I've learned a lot from various places, so I can't fully follow in your footsteps."

"Whatever you can do. What is it?"

The blood in the air coalesced. The blood, swollen like a red balloon, formed a finger pointing at me.

The regressed person smiled and accepted the question.

"That's what I wanted too."

Eh? Me? Why suddenly?

Suddenly becoming a common enemy, I could only blink and watch the alliance of the two women.