Demon King of the Royal Class

Chapter 339

Such a long life inevitably brings ennui, and thus, the Vampire Lords who grew tired of living voluntarily left the world.

What Lucinil was saying was that the five heads, who still clung to this undoubtedly tiresome life, each still had a reason to live.

Therefore, their lives were still precious to them.

“Of course, your threats about killing us are just annoying, but if such a thing was truly possible, Lruien and Galarsh might cooperate with you. From our perspective, your lifetime is insignificant, and helping you avoids trouble while indebting the Dark Land to us. It’s not such a bad deal.”

While the Demon Realm and the Council had a distant relationship, making the ruler of the Dark Land indebted to them in exchange for helping rebuild the Demon Realm wasn’t a bad deal.

Especially since the Demon King possessed Tiamata and could cause them trouble if he wanted to. Moreover, three of the heads had already promised their cooperation. Lruien and Galarsh were now the minority.

Lucinil narrowed her eyes at me. “Since I’ve decided to cooperate with you, things will naturally turn in your favor. Don’t spout nonsense like you did earlier. Got it?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not someone who does that without reason.”

“No, you are someone who does that without reason. I can tell by your face.”

‘How did she know that...?’

Had the traces of my past words and actions left a mark on Baalier’s face? And could a homunculus-turned-vampire even talk about physiognomy?

Anyway, thanks to Eleris, Lucinil had been inclined towards me from the start, and somehow, Antirianus had also decided to support me.

However, I still wasn’t sure about the other Vampire Lords....

“How did Eleris end up serving someone like you...?” sighed Lucinil.

‘Why is she so kind?’

Despite her grumbling, Lucinil had explained everything to me and given me advice. She was not just harmless, but actually quite likable.

Lucinil did not seem to care if I was wary of her excessive kindness. She lay back on the sofa with her arms crossed.

She had said that all the other Vampire Lords had a reason to live.

That meant Lucinil also had at least one reason to continue living.

“I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask this, but...”

“If you’re unsure whether or not to ask, then it’s polite not to, Archdemon.”

“What’s your reason for living, Lucinil?”

“You’re actually asking that, huh? You really have no manners.” Lucinil frowned and looked at me. “Why? If I tell you, will you do something about it?”

“At the very least, I can listen to what you have to say and we can ponder it together, no?”

“You really have a way with words.”

Lucinil looked up at the ceiling of the castle, her arms still crossed.

“I want a soul,” she murmured quietly, as though it wasn’t really a secret.

Her vague statement left me breathless.

In that one sentence, I felt the immeasurable sorrow of a life lived as a homunculus and the despair of having to continue living on as a vampire.

She wanted a soul.

What could that mean?

It wasn’t about wanting to be human or anything else; she wanted a soul.

I didn’t know if only intelligent beings had souls, or if some life forms had them while others didn’t.

However, one thing was certain. A created being like a homunculus wouldn’t have a soul.

Lucinil desired what she lacked.

She turned her head towards me and smiled. “Do you think it’s pathetic? That a being like me dreams of something so trivial?”

“... No, not really.”

She seemed desperate for it, though I couldn’t fully empathize.

She wanted a soul, but she didn’t explain why she wanted it.

“It’s just one of those things. It’s not like I can’t live without it.”

She put on an air of indifference, as if it wasn’t a grand desire or wish. But she had likely lived an immeasurably long time with just that one wish.

***

While Baalier was having a conversation with Lucinil in the annex, Eleris was speaking with Antirianus.

“Antirianus.”

“Yes, Eleris?”

“What scheme are you planning this time?”

At her words, the old gentleman merely smiled as if he found himself in a difficult position. “The Demon King said he needed help, so I offered my assistance. I don’t know what else to say.”

Eleris chuckled. “At the meeting that was held during the Great War, you didn’t even consider an alliance, but this time you’ve agreed to it. Isn’t it natural to be suspicious?”

Lruien and Galarsh had both reacted as expected, which made Antirianus’s rather quick decision to offer aid all the more peculiar.

The old gentleman still wore a gentle and kind smile. “Well, the Great War wasn’t interesting, but this seems like it will be.”

“... Interesting?”

“Yes, interesting.”

Antirianus, who had been smiling all along, carefully opened his eyes. The vampire stared back at Eleris with his red eyes. “To endure such an excruciatingly long eternity, one needs occasional diversions, don’t you think?”

“Diversions...?”

Even though he had decided to cooperate, Antirianus was approaching this as a way to kill time, and that was a sore spot for Eleris.

“You should choose your words more carefully... Antirianus.”

“Ah, my apologies, Eleris. I didn’t mean to belittle or dismiss you... But is this really something to get so angry about? Whether I genuinely cooperate or merely see it as a diversion?”

Tap, tap.

The old gentleman tapped the floor of the castle with the end of his cane and smiled. “The fact remains that I am offering my help.”

The old gentleman left those words behind and brushed past Eleris. Eleris quietly watched Antirianus as he walked away.

Gaining the Council’s help would be equivalent to gaining a thousand troops for Baalier’s cause.

But was it truly right to take the hand of such a sinister vampire?

Eleris couldn’t be sure.

***

The Council would take some time to reach a proper conclusion, which meant I had to stay in this old castle, Epiacs, for at least a few days.

Just when I thought she had lost interest, Lucinil suddenly appeared in front of me as I walked down the corridor and started following me around.

“Hey, Archdemon.”

“... What is it?”

“Honestly, aren’t you a bit grateful that I decided to help you?”

“... I am grateful. But why do you ask?”

Lucinil stared at me intently.

“I’m curious about what Archdemon blood tastes like. Can I have a little sip?”

“Wh-What, what are you saying?!”

Her sudden request nearly made me have a fit.

‘Why is she making such a request as casually as if she were asking for a glass of water?’

“No, I wouldn’t turn you into a vampire. Just a little taste. Just a sip. I’m really curious. Really. Can’t you do that for me?”

“No! What are you talking about?!”

“Oh, just a little! Really, just a little! I’m curious. Who said I’d eat you?”

‘This is terrifying. First up, if she really tried to turn me into a vampire, would that actually work? That’s actually terrifying.’

It finally hit me that I was dealing with the highest-ranked vampires of the world.

‘Am I going to be okay here? She seems nice, but is she really? She’s not suddenly going to bite my neck and declare me her slave, right?

‘But then again... She does seem like a child. If she bites me, it might end up being just be a little sip, but...’

I suddenly imagined Galarsh biting my neck.

‘That wouldn’t be sipping; that would be gorging. Did I make a mistake coming here?’

“Come on! Are you really going to be so stingy, even as an Archdemon?”

“Stop saying ridiculous things!”

I sprinted down the castle corridor, with Lucinil teleporting short distances to keep up.

“Hey! Just give me a little! Come on!” she kept pestering.

She clung to my waist as she made her strange demands.

In the end, I went to find Eleris, with Lucinil still hanging onto my waist.

“Lucinil...”

Eleris looked down at the child vampire coldly. She clearly understood that she wanted my blood.

“I’m really curious! What can I do?” Lucinil whined. “I won’t have another chance to taste Archdemon blood.”

“Your Highness... If you don’t want her to bite you directly, you could let her drink from a container... But it’s still not a good idea to injure yourself...”

‘Oh, so that’s possible too.’

Lucinil’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.

“Oh, that works! Come on, give me some!”

“Do you think my blood is on tap or something?”

The head of Wednesday was a different kind of nuisance than what I was used to.

After a long struggle, I was the one who eventually gave in.

I gave in out of fear, as I was honestly afraid that she might bite my neck while I was sleeping.

“I don’t know why I have to do this, but since you’re willing to help me, I’ll do it.”

“Okay, okay.”

In the end, I made a small cut on my arm and let my blood drip into the bowl Lucinil had brought. Eleris watched anxiously, worried something might go wrong.

Strangely, I felt no pain from such an injury at all.

“Y-Your Highness. The wound... Ugh! It’s too deep!”

I was fine, but Eleris was visibly distressed.

I let a few drops of blood fall into the bowl, and Lucinil licked it up and looked at me.

Her expression was a bit sour.

“It’s metallic.”

That was her only comment.

I didn’t know why, but I felt insulted that she found my blood unappetizing.

It made me irrationally angry.

***

I let Eleris treat my arm instead of healing myself with Divine Power, since Tiamata’s Divine Power couldn’t be extracted and used in such ordinary circumstances.

Lucinil, mumbling about the metallic taste of Archdemon blood, left as if her business was done.

Since I had to stay here for a few days, I had no choice but to eat.

Moreover, I wasn’t the only one who needed to eat. Radia Schmidt was also present.

Eleris had brought some preserved food, and I had a meal with Radia Schmidt. Radia froze upon seeing me, but when I told her we were just there to eat, she ate her meal quietly while keeping an eye on me.

“You’ve got quite a setup here, haven’t you?” I said to Eleris.

It seemed Eleris had carefully chosen a rather spacious room for Radia to stay in.

The fireplace crackled, filling the room with warmth, and the room was furnished with a bed, a sofa, and a desk, items that wouldn’t have been there originally.

Though Radia was being forced to live in isolation, Eleris seemed to have tried to provide her with everything she might need.

Despite the harsh environment outside, the room itself and the living conditions were fit for royalty.

This was a palace, after all.

“Once the Council is concluded, you’ll be able to move around freely. For now, bear with the inconvenience a little longer.”

Radia glanced at Eleris as she quietly nibbled on a piece of bread.

“... Yes.”