novelraw Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95 : Chapter 95
Chapter 95. Vampire Queen (7)
Iris gently stroked the golden model with her fingertips.
She still couldn't quite grasp what this was.
‘What on earth is this?’
A small, detailed sculpture.
From any angle, it was a spitting image of herself.
A golden model that minutely expressed the flow of her hair, the shape of her eyes, and even the curve of her fingertips.
She recalled what Frank had said when he gave it to her.
‘It's a doll modeled after you.’
‘I pestered Anonymous all day to make it. Because I wanted you to like it.’
At that time, Iris didn't know how to react.
Should she accept it, or not?
In the end, after saying thank you, she returned to her room with the doll in her hand.
‘Really... so foolish.’
He didn't have to make something like this.
‘He just makes things unnecessarily bothersome.’
Iris pouted her lips.
Before she knew it, she had placed the golden model on her palm and was letting out a deep sigh in a half-reclining position.
Just then.
Knock, knock.
The sound of a knock on the door was heard.
Feeling annoyed, Iris answered curtly.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Noemi strode in.
“Sis, what are you doing?”
Iris just nodded her head silently.
Noemi looked around the room and spotted the golden model in Iris's hand.
“Huh? What's this?”
Iris was dazed for a moment, looked at the golden model, then turned her gaze to Noemi.
Then she just shrugged her shoulders.
“I don't know.”
“If you don't know, why are you caressing it so preciously? What is this, it's so intricate? It looks exactly like you, sis!”
Noemi's eyes sparkled as she picked up the golden model without permission.
Then, holding it in her hand and turning it this way and that, she let out a string of exclamations.
“Who in the world made this for you?”
“...Dad.”
“What? Dad made it for you?!”
Noemi, with a surprised face, examined the golden model from all sides, then grumbled with a pout.
“That's so unfair! He never gave me anything like this!”
Noemi's cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.
“Dad is mean!”
Noemi huffed and pounded the bed.
Iris somehow found her younger sister's appearance cute.
Her small, round hands clenched into fists as she grumbled, just like,‘A little kitten.’
Iris chuckled and suddenly pulled Noemi into a hug.
“Kyaak! What are you doing!”
Noemi struggled in bewilderment.
But Iris didn't care and hugged her even tighter, rolled around on the bed.
“Why are you so cute?”
“What do you mean by that! Let me go!”
Noemi, with a reddened face, resisted desperately, but Iris hugged her even tighter and stroked her hair.
“Looking at you like this, you really look like a little kid.”
“I'm not a little kid!”
Noemi puffed out her cheeks and got angry, but Iris just smiled and kissed her on the cheek.
“Heeik! A-are you crazy?”
“Ahem. Stay still. Don't you dare resist.”
“You're really crazy! There's a person li... eub eub!!”
Come to think of it, it was right to be together like this from the beginning.
This child was a being who should always be by her side.
Despite Noemi's resistance.
Iris quietly closed her eyes.
‘Yes. Let's not think too complicatedly.’
This is my home.
And I like Noemi and Adel.
That alone is enough.
And...
Frank is my legal father.
So I just need to maintain that relationship.
‘For now, that's enough.’
Iris opened her eyes again.
Finding the struggling Noemi in her arms cute, she decided to hold her just a little bit tighter for a little longer.
***
———
[Experiment Day 47]
Skin has turned a brownish color, and overall appearance is dry.
A significant amount of hair has fallen out, but I take comfort in the fact that new hair is growing little by little.
Her will to resist has almost disappeared, and she does not show a rebellious attitude like in the past.
No particular side effects have appeared so far.
Considering the current state, gradual changes are expected to continue.
———
[Experiment Day 48]
An unexpected event occurred today.
Noctavira suddenly asked for another glass.
When asked for the reason, she replied that it was delicious.
There is a possibility that the direction of the experiment will proceed in a different way than expected.
Further observation is required.
———
[Experiment Day 50]
Every time she receives blood, Noctavira's attitude becomes more and more gentle.
Today, she greeted me first upon seeing me.
“Good morning.”
Is this smile forced?
But considering that she has never once smiled at me until now, this can be seen as a very big change.
The progress of this experiment is flowing in a more positive direction than expected.
———
[Experiment Day 51]
Like any other day, I opened the prison door and went inside.
The room was still dark, without a single light.
But compared to 50 days ago, the atmosphere was distinctly different.
“You're here.”
Noctavira was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed.
A red velvet blanket was draped over her back, and her newly growing short hair shone softly under the dim lighting.
It's a strangely stimulating posture, but surely she's not trying to seduce me, right?
I deliberately put on a serious face and asked.
“How's your body feeling?”
She lightly swept her hair back and replied.
“I don't know. My skin has become rough, and I've lost a lot of hair. But nothing particularly has changed.”
“Is that so?”
I took another step closer and continued.
“What about the craving for blood?”
Noctavira replied with a faint smile on her lips.
“Isn't it obvious? I am a vampire. And a progenitor at that.”
She lightly rubbed her neck with her fingertips and continued.
“Drinking blood is a privilege unique to our race. Aren't you giving me blood knowing that?”
Her tone was still leisurely, but it was no longer as defiant as before.
I quietly looked at her, then slowly nodded my head.
“I can give you more today if you want.”
“I'd appreciate it.”
Noctavira raised her hand lightly.
I placed the small cup filled with blood down and walked towards the door.
Then, just before grabbing the doorknob, I stopped in my tracks.
I hesitated for a moment.
Is it okay to say this now?
But in the end, I opened my mouth briefly.
“...I'm sorry about your father.”
Leaving those words behind, I started walking again.
When I glanced back, Noctavira was silently looking at me, biting her lower lip.
I couldn't read her expression in detail, but it was certain that her gaze was wavering.
***
Endless, surging darkness.
Knights in skull helmets stood in formation, and behind them, countless undead stood in an orderly fashion.
Emaciated zombie soldiers, gargoyles with flashing crimson eyes, liches in robes so long they dragged on the ground.
Besides them, all sorts of demons turned into undead were waiting for a single command.
They were watching only the lips of their lord, Nox.
He stood on a desolate hill and slowly looked down at his army.
“One hundred thousand.”
He muttered softly and twisted his lips.
Now, most of the Demon Territory was in his grasp.
No resistance, no opposition had any meaning.
“Next is the humans' turn.”
He slowly traced a finger over the map.
Where to strike first.
This was an important question.
He considered attacking Luminia, the only remaining void in the Demon Territory, but there was a possibility that Anticus was there.
Nox, who had been defeated by her once, could not easily take that risk.
‘She blew away a huge number of troops with a single breath of hers.’
Recalling that hot and gruesome moment, he naturally gritted his teeth.
‘It's dangerous to attack a place where the Queen of Dragons might be.’
If so, there was only one answer.
“Attack the humans first.”
Of course, the Benedict Kingdom had to be avoided.
Because there, along with the paradise of dragons, was the Hero, Frank.
‘There's no need to cause an unnecessary conflict.’
Nox slowly moved his hand over the map.
His fingertip pointed to the eastern kingdoms.
“First, we will crush this place.”
His voice was cold and resolute.
While the humans were off their guard, he would lead a powerful army and trample the eastern kingdoms one by one.
However, it was surprising that even after doing all this, there was no contact from Primus.
Primus.
His master and the reason he was doing all this.
‘Why is there still no contact?’
He had prepared all this for Primus.
He had seized control of the Demon Territory and gathered an army of 100,000.
But Primus had not shown himself even once.
He said he was preparing something in a distant island nation to the east.
But what he was doing there.
He did not tell him what kind of plan he was making.
‘Everything is a mystery.’
Nox bit his lip hard and shook his head.
‘Now is not the time to worry about such things.’
Primus was a being who always made the right choices.
All he had to do was perfectly carry out his own work until he contacted him again.
If he achieved a satisfactory result, he would appear again, and he would be able to hear his will directly.
“I will go my own way.”
He took a deep breath.
And he decided not to think about Primus anymore.
What was important now was only the march.
Nox slowly raised his hand.
It was the signal for the command.
Kwaaaaaang!
At that moment, a deafening roar split the air.
The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the undead began to move in unison.
Dust swirled and covered the sky.
Leading the charge was a huge skeletal cavalry.
Following behind them were endless zombie soldiers.
At the same time, gargoyles covered the sky, casting an ominous shadow.
And in the center was the lich legion, clustered together as if one entity.
They began to chant a dark spell in unison.
Black magic writhed and coiled in the air.
“Resume the march of death.”
Nox declared heavily.
As soon as his voice ended, an army of 100,000, carrying death and darkness on their backs, headed east.
***
It's been a few months since I became the representative of the Continental Alliance.
But nothing particularly had changed.
Because neither Nox nor Primus had shown their faces.
I thought being the representative of the alliance would involve some grand role, but in reality, it was all about showing my face at meetings and stamping documents.
Everyone just said, “If the Margrave decides, we will follow,” making me feel like an emperor or a dictator.
‘I never intended to rise to such a position.’
It was burdensome, but it might be quite a useful power.
At least no country would act individually.
As I was organizing my tasks, a guard hastily reported.
“Your Excellency the Margrave, the Saintess has arrived.”
Isabel? Without any notice?
For a moment, my mind couldn't process it.
Is there a reason for her to come here?
She had just visited this place a while ago.
Soon, the door opened and Isabel's figure was seen.
She wore her usual neat smile.
“We meet again.”
I chuckled and extended my hand.
“What brings you here?”
Isabel lightly shook my hand and said playfully.
“The hot springs.”
“Pardon?”
“I think my skin has gotten a bit bad. I've been under a lot of stress lately.”
A very serious expression.
I burst out laughing a beat later.
“Haha, if it's for that, you are always welcome.”
Isabel also smiled faintly.
“I'm joking. Actually, it's because of Iris.”
I tilted my head slightly at her words.
“Why Iris?”
Isabel quietly looked into my eyes and said.
“The headquarters of the Unseen Ones has been moved here, right?”
“That's correct.”
“We had a separate agreement even before the Continental Alliance was formed, so I came to talk things over, among other things.”
“I see. You came at a good time. Iris will be very happy too.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Isabel's voice was soft.
But it also carried a strangely meaningful nuance.
‘What on earth does she want to talk to Iris about?’
I observed her for a moment, then opened my mouth.
“Shall I call for Iris?”
“I would be grateful if you would.”
I immediately sent someone to call for Iris.
Before long, Iris arrived.
In that instant, Isabel's gaze changed slightly.
‘There's something.’
I quietly excused myself.
Because I felt an atmosphere that suggested I shouldn't be there.
What on earth were the two of them going to talk about?
Hoping that it would be nothing serious, I headed to the mansion to bring food to Noctavira.
Lately, I've been more interested in this than anything else.
Could it be that I have a peculiar taste I don't even know about?
No. This is a strictly scientific experiment.
I definitely have no other intentions. Yes. That's right.
But the smile on my lips showed no signs of disappearing.