Chapter 7

EP.7 Blood-red Letters

Life is a book. It begins with birth and ends with death, a single volume filled with the passage of time.

If life is compared to a book, then my mind-reading ability can be likened to reading. I can skim through the surface thoughts by looking at the newly written parts at the end of the book, or I can flip through it quickly to get a general idea of its contents.

I could read it thoroughly from beginning to end, but that would take a lot of time and be dangerous for me, so I'll skip it.

Amidengrad, the capital of the military state, was a giant monster that had devoured the surrounding cities. The city, which had grown explosively, had pushed everything that was originally there to the outside, expanding its body.

People, houses, money, and even ideologies.

The stories of those who were pushed out were all unique, and I, who had lived there, boasted of having experienced a wide variety of people.

However, there are always those who can fly higher than those who can jump, and at the bottom, there are always those who have dug even deeper. As befitting the great prison of the military state, the beings residing in Tantalus were on a different level.

The King of Dogs.

The progenitor of vampires.

The Reincarnator.

Monsters that could turn a city into a wasteland if unleashed. Claiming to be beyond the norm, their books also differed from the ordinary.

To describe Azhi's book, it's like a book that follows the sounds of ancient hieroglyphs written on cave walls. It can be read, but its meaning is incomprehensible.

What is this, what is that. Why must left and right be distinguished with names? Why is a ball not thrown? In Azhi's book, such concepts do not exist, and there is no attempt to understand or explain them. It is as if they are taken for granted.

In a way, it's natural. Dogs and humans cannot think with the same logic. As a human, I will never fully understand Azhi's book.

If I read thoughts hard enough, I might be able to discern the mood, but it's better to look at Azhi's expression. There's not much difference between reading thoughts and reading expressions.

The vampire's book can be defined in one word: thick. As befitting a monster that has lived for over 1200 years, the pages, which are 20 times the number of a normal human's, weigh heavily on me. Even flipping through it casually requires mental preparation.

I wouldn't mind if there were no contents, but the life is so tumultuous that it reads like a grand epic. The awakening as a vampire, the history of humiliation and persecution, the long struggle, the reign and fall, the escape and eternal sleep... Even flipping through it casually is daunting. Moreover, it reflects the era, making it even more difficult to understand.

It would be a book that a scholar of ancient literature would fall in love with, but unfortunately, only I can read the book of the mind.

I am not a scholar of ancient literature.

Lastly, the Reincarnator.

The Reincarnator's book did not fit into any category. If it were a Reincarnator's book, it would be a 14-volume series that should not and cannot exist.

Clearly, a life had come to an end. Even if it was tragic, it had its own conclusion, yet the life continued in a way that felt like a cheat. A tedious story that a reluctant author drags on, with no sign of ending.

Because of this, I was greatly perplexed.

I could read it, but I couldn't understand it.

Living this life, the principles of action, thoughts, experiences, and abilities and equipment were all obtained from the previous life. The reasons for her actions, the enemies to be defeated, and the events that occurred in the future were recorded in the previous volume.

However, unlike the Reincarnator, I don't have the ability to transcend time. I can only read the story of this era.

If I were to use a metaphor, it would be like picking up the latest volume after skipping from volume 1 to volume 13. I can't follow the story of why the character is acting this way.

Therefore, even though I knew that I would die and the world would end in the future, I couldn't read how it happened. I could only infer from the occasional memories and actions she recalled.

To understand, I would have to hear it directly from the Reincarnator...

I had to make her 'recall' the past.

“Sigh. No matter what, I'll have to deal with the Reincarnator...”

Realizing my situation, I sighed deeply, as if the ground would sink.

There was no ground to sink in the abyss, but in a prison with no place for amusement, one naturally comes out to the yard when there's nothing to do. I opened the iron gate and stepped out into the yard.

I was greeted by a bizarre scene.

“Tirkanjaka! I've come to see you! Open the door!”

The Reincarnator was standing in front of the underground armory, arms spread wide, shouting.

The underground armory. In case the prisoners caused a riot, it was filled with weapons for suppression. Made of at least level 3 alchemical steel, it required three security procedures to open the door.

However, in Tantalus, which housed only prisoners who couldn't be handled, it seemed that 'something else' was stored instead of weapons. In a way, it could be considered the strongest weapon. Regardless, it was a restricted area that ordinary prisoners were never allowed to approach. If they approached unknowingly, they would be executed without question.

In front of the underground armory, where prisoners were not allowed to approach, the Reincarnator was performing some kind of ritual.

What on earth is she doing? As I watched her, I suddenly remembered that I was pretending to be an instructor.

Hiss. If I'm an instructor, should I stop a student who is loitering around the underground armory? I don't want to get my head cut off for nothing.

The Reincarnator is a terrorist who holds the world hostage, or a mad scientist who experiments with the entire world. If things go wrong, she might overturn the entire cycle and move on to the next one.

But if I don't act my role, I'll be more suspicious. The Reincarnator is someone who repeats cycles to find the best future. If she thinks I'm an alien entity, neither an instructor nor a prisoner, she might try to eliminate me more actively.

Alright, I'll stop her. Surely she won't really kill me.

I called out in a feigned angry voice.

“Shay, student! What are you...!”

‘Tch. An obstacle has come. But I can't be interrupted here. If you block my path, I'll have to get rid of you somehow...’

“...Did you sleep well? Good morning. It's my first time sleeping in a prison, but sleep is the same whether inside or outside.”

I stopped my reprimand and changed my expression to a smile as I approached.

Surely she won't really kill me. Alright, I've decided. From now on, I'll let her do whatever she wants.

“...Tch.”

As I smiled and watched calmly, the Reincarnator scowled and turned her head away, pretending not to know me. Still, she had some sense of propriety and didn't spit at my smiling face.

Yeah, thanks. Nice to see you too.

After exchanging greetings with myself, I walked towards the tightly closed door of the armory.

“Shouting so loudly in broad daylight. What on earth are you doing?”

“None of your business.”

“You want to meet someone inside?”

The Reincarnator clicked her tongue. For her, it seemed to be a sign of approval.

“Why are you trying to wake someone who is sleeping well?”

“None of your business.”

“Man, you're impossible.”

The Reincarnator, wary of me, refused to take any action in front of me. It was a truly difficult situation.

How the world approached its end, what happened here. Only the Reincarnator could answer my questions. To do that, she needs to recall the past while being with me.

But with her current attitude, it would be difficult to extract events from the previous cycle, which is the future for me, even after a year.

Hmm, what should I do? I looked at the underground armory.

There are no weapons in Tantalus's underground armory. Unlike ordinary prisons, this great prison is an isolated space where escape is impossible by conventional means. Since there was no need to worry about prisoners escaping, neither instructors nor weapons to attack prisoners in emergencies were deployed.

Instead, something else was stored inside.

The first vampire, the monster of the heavens, the Queen of Darkness.

The progenitor, Tirkanjaka.

A palace and prison for the vampire who shuns light and hides underground.

And the Reincarnator is trying to wake the ancient vampire, the progenitor Tirkanjaka.

From my perspective, the awakening of a being that feeds on human blood is not a pleasant thing. Especially now, when I am the only proper human.

But to open a dialogue with the Reincarnator, helping with such trivial matters will advance our relationship.

What should I do?

My contemplation was brief, and my decision was quick. Alright, I'll help the Reincarnator.

Surely the vampire won't kill me? With most prisoners having escaped, I am the only 'ordinary' human left in Tantalus. To a vampire, I am a precious resource, a daily source of blood. Surely they won't slit the goose that lays the golden eggs for a moment's thirst. At worst, they'll keep me alive and squeeze blood out of me forever.

...The future is bleak. But it's better than dying.

Having made up my mind, I suggested to the Reincarnator.

“Why don't you break the door?”

“The door is under Tirkanjaka's control.”

Looking in the direction the Reincarnator pointed, I saw a bloodstain glowing red where the keyhole should have been. Even without the ability to read auras, it was clear that the pattern was emitting a sinister energy.

“The Seal of Fresh Blood. As long as this ominous glow exerts its dominion, the iron door, reinforced by her blood, is no different from her familiar. It will never open without her command.”

“Why don't you pretend not to see and try to break it with all your might? Who knows? It might break if you bang on it for a few days.”

“...It's not impossible, but I don't want to. I'm here to ask for Tirkanjaka's help, not to fight.”

Huh? I just threw out a suggestion, why did she say it's not impossible?

An ordinary human can't cut through a solid steel door. This one is made of military-grade alchemical steel, level 3 in strength. It can't be broken even by a carriage crashing into it or a cannon firing at close range.

And you can break it with just 'all your might'? No, a human can't break a steel door with all their might. That's a matter of respect for the person who made the door.

“You're more reasonable than I thought.”

“It's only natural. Killing someone else's familiar is more impolite than breaking into someone's house.”

“Damn. A person who suddenly tries to cut off someone's arm is talking about manners.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

I turned away from the glaring Reincarnator and fell into thought.

The alchemical steel used in ordinary underground bunkers is level 3. Hmm. If I use 'that,' it might just work. Should I try it?

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a bell. The same bell I used to train Azhi yesterday.

“What's that bell?”

“A dog whistle.”

“A dog, what?”

The sound of the bell isn't very loud, but Tantalus is too small for the king of beasts whose world is the world. To Azhi, with her sensitive hearing and sense of smell, it will sound as clear as a bell ringing in her ear.

Of course, normally she would ignore it even if she heard it. There are too many sounds in the world to pay attention to every noise.

But after spending a whole day with the sound of this bell, she will definitely hear it. That's why I kept playing with her and ringing the bell repeatedly yesterday. I held the bell above my head and shook it.

Ding, ding.

“Bark? Bark!”

A clear bell sound from the small chime was followed by the sound of a dog barking from a distance. Soon, Azhi began to leap down the wall from the roof of the building.

No joke, she was really climbing down the wall. She was moving several times faster than falling. The grayish-white concrete of the building's exterior was being scraped away, leaving the marks of the dog's paws. With a thud, Azhi landed on the ground, and before the vibration could be felt, she sprang forward fiercely towards me.

It was a sudden and passionate change in direction, like a rubber ball bouncing off the ground. Faster than falling. If it hit a person, it would kill them easily.

I hurriedly found the meat I had prepared yesterday. Just as Azhi was about to reach me, I managed to pull it out and threw it at the door of the underground armory.

Azhi, following the meat, passed by me and...

Smashed into the iron door at full speed.

Thud. A grand and majestic sound echoed. Even if you hit a large bell in a tower, it wouldn't make a louder sound. It felt as if the air in Tantalus was trembling, like being inside a percussion instrument. It might be my imagination, but the ground seemed to tilt slightly from the impact.

The Reincarnator, shocked, grabbed my collar.

“You...! What the hell are you doing!”

“Ah, just watch.”

“I told you! I need Tirkanjaka's help!”

“It's just my dog ramming into it. What can I do?”

And the one who created the impact, Azhi...

“Delicious! Bark! Delicious!”

Was calmly holding the meat in her mouth, looking happy.

I glanced at Azhi and the iron door and nodded.

“Hmm. The impact was enough to shatter level 3 alchemical steel, but the seal's reinforcement effect seems to exceed expectations. At least level 4.”

Even with Azhi's full-speed charge, only the shape of her paws was imprinted. If Azhi were enraged and threw a full-hearted punch, it might break through, but the gentle king of dogs wouldn't have a reason to be angry at that iron door.

Alright. Now that I've confirmed it's impossible, Azhi is no longer needed.

“Hearing the bell, you did well. Now, go back.”

“Awooo!”

Azhi, who had been roughly restrained, wagged her tail and hopped around me.

“Let's play! Bark! Let's play!”

“Didn't we play yesterday?”

“So let's play!”

Yesterday is yesterday, and today is today. A very proactive beast that doesn't care about the past.

“I'm busy today. I won't play. Go back.”

“No! Let's play!”

Azhi, with a discontented look, pretended to bite my calf. Sigh. So stubborn. I'm really her master, aren't I?

This is all the Reincarnator's fault. I should have corrected Azhi's behavior from the start, but she interfered, saying she wanted to watch, and I only gave her treats without using the whip. I glared at the Reincarnator with a hint of resentment.

“What, what? Why are you looking at me?”

“Sigh. Just saying.”

Everyone is so irresponsible. Among those who advocate for dog rights, there's not a single person who takes proper responsibility. They hype up the dog, but in the end, it's my job to play with her.

But unlike beasts, humans are animals that reflect on the past. I came prepared for such a situation. I can't be a ball-throwing machine like yesterday.

“Come on, Azhi. Smell my hand.”

“Bark!”

As I extended my hand, Azhi eagerly sniffed it. To make sure she remembered my scent, I had her smell the palm and back of my hand alternately. After a sufficient amount of time, I extended my hand towards the prison.

“Oops! Azhi, we have a problem. I left the ball in there.”

“B