Interlude 6
---The last few rays of the setting sun felt so hot on the skin that it seemed to vaporize the very blood from their bodies.
And what welcomed Leticia who had returned victorious after a fight with a Demon Lord wasn’t the cheers and music to praise her triumph but the cries and wails that seem to make up a hellish orchestra.
“Hah…ah…”
The comrades that had returned with her had also breathed their last as they collapsed to the ground. If it weren’t for the protection of her loyal subjects, Leticia would have lost her life as well. The situation was just so sudden that they could not come up with any other idea to go about it.
“Why…Why did it come to this……?!”
Leticia was dragging her left leg that had been badly burnt to a reddish black color as she ran with all her might. The commercial and industrial zones that had been bustling with activity just the other day, were now filled with the wails and screams of her comrades that were writhing on the ground in pain.
They were citizens who had inherited the blood of the Vampires. Although not of the purest bloodline, they were still one of the stronger species. Even if they were to be impaled all over, they wouldn’t be able to die that easily.
The sight of all her Vampire comrades’ bodies littering the streets could only be likened to the manifestation of Hell on Earth---
“Carla?... Knight Master?... Otou-san, Oka-san, Imouto where are---!”
“---Oh, those people you’ve just mentioned? I think they should be dead by now?”
Leticia stopped her hobbling run abruptly at that. As for the person who sprouted those ominous words, it was a man whom she hadn’t seen in her Citadel before.
Focusing her hatred and anger in her stare, she accosted the owner of the voice:
“You Bastard……!”
“Oi, Wait up. Let me say it first to clear up the misunderstanding. The culprit isn’t me. And just saying on a side note, I’m not one of their accomplices too.”
The man who had long and narrow eyes held out his index finger while saying it in a very calm voice.
This man who was slim and tall in physique was sitting at the side while his dressing was something that was very difficult to be put into words. And Leticia decided to suppress the turmoil that was her feelings in her mind for this moment as she started to assess the man’s demeanor.
---It was a strange dressing that made one wonder about questions like “Where’s that from”, “What is it” and “Why is it so”.
Leticia had initially thought that her cognitive abilities had been hampered but she soon realized that it wasn't the case.
And she came to the conclusion that ‘In other words, this man--- was a no body and wouldn’t have had mattered if it weren’t for the location and time that he chose to appear’ and with that, she decided to listen to the other calmly.
“Good, as expected of the [Dragon Knight]. I guess that’s part of your charm as well, to be able to maintain your sense of self even in anger.”
“……Get straight to the point. What do you want to say by coming to this place?”
“Of course. That would be for my job as the [Storyteller]. If you so wish it, I can recount to you about the tragic scene of the twenty thousand comrades of yours having painfully struggled while detailing their deepest thoughts and their darkest history to you. For it isn’t a problem to me you know?”
“……Are you speaking the truth?”
Leticia didn’t really care about this man---[Storyteller] ’s claims for all she wanted was to know the truth. And [Storyteller] who had been cheerful during his self-introduction had dropped his shoulders in disappointment, but perhaps Leticia’s forlorn look seemed to have touched him as well as he wiped the elusive smile off his face while giving a shrug.
“Come to think of it, do you know what had happened here?”
“Of course. To cause us Vampires---[The Knights of Little Garden] to be pushed to this state of death within a few minutes, there can only be one way!”
Leticia’s bloodshot eyes were streaked with the dilated blood vessels as she stared angrily at the setting sun.
---The large veil that was used to prevent Sunlight from entering Little Garden directly.
The mechanism that was created to allow races that couldn’t live under the direct Sun’s rays. To say that it was specifically made for the Vampires wouldn’t be an exaggeration as well.
The veil to cover the biggest weakness of the Vampires---Sunlight while helping to conduct the heat and warmth through the Little Garden, had now been drawn aside by a certain someone.
“But the drawing of the veil requires a Sun Authority---One of the [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Zodiacs] or [Ecliptic path of the Twelve Chén]! Why would the current holders of the Sun Authorities do such a thing?!”
Leticia bared her teeth as she shouted angrily. It was precisely due to the Sky Shroud that prevented the direct rays of the Sun from entering Little Garden that they of the Vampiric Race had worked so hard to protect its peace.
And now those Sun Authority holders had trampled on their pride!
“---The culprit is a Vampire.”
“……eh?”
“I’ve said it before and I will say it once more. The culprit is a Vampire. In other words, this is an internal strife. Haven’t you heard of it? The rumors that to reward the contributions of the Vampires, they have decided to design and set up a Thirteenth Elliptic Zodiac?”
Leticia was in a daze as she shook her head.
Before this, she hadn’t heard of such a thing as a new Elliptic Zodiac.
“But……eh?”
“For some of the Vampires, it’s like the manifestation of their dreams isn’t it? To be able to receive the Authority of the Demonic Star that tortures them for so long, that’s a chance in a lifetime that might not come by twice. And with that in mind, a conflict breaking out from within shouldn’t be much of a surprise.”
Leticia was tongue tied as she couldn’t find a way to command it to make a reply.
That’s because this sort of thing did not make sense to her. Vampires trying to kill Vampires by bathing their opponents in the Sun, as long as they did this sort of thing……they would also face the threat of being exposed to the same fate too.
And with just a few minutes of releasing the veil, it shouldn’t be able to cause the Royalty and Purebloods to be annihilated!
“Hm? Oh, I see. I guess you got the sequence mixed up.”
“……?”
“Look over there.”
The man shrugged his shoulders in that same vague attitude of his as he jerked his chin towards the highest point of the Citadel.
Rather dubious about it, but under his prompt, Leticia decided to turn her gaze towards the Castle’s tip.
Because of the architecture and choice of color, the whitewashed sharp peak of the castle was also visible from the Outer walls.
And on its peak, her sister, mother, father and all the people closest to her had their clothes nailed there while streaks of dark blackish residue that might have been their blood stains or ash trailed out from the bottom of those clothes---
“Those are your family.”
“Aa-----!”
“The pure-blooded Vampires will not go down that easily. So running them through a thousand times with swords and nails before piercing through their hearts! And lastly to use the Sun to cremate them, it sure is a thoroughly thought out process! The guys in the Outer walls should be utterly shocked by this! For its surely unthinkable for them to imagine this sort of craziness just for the killing of the purebloods--- To draw back the veil just for the sake of killing out the Royalty!”
[Storyteller] hugged his sides as he laughed about it.
In other words, while she had been engaged in a death fight with a Demon Lord, the revolution had already ended.
Leticia’s knees went soft and she knelt to the ground with her head bent low. Her left leg that had been burnt by the Sun was starting to make its way up to her body and giving her a sharp piercing pain in her bones.
The previously warm and gentle sunlight under the veil was no longer so. The Setting Sun was currently similar to the doors of hell that trapped all who were under it.
The Vampires…… the [Knights of Little Garden] had fought so hard till today to prevent such a tragedy .
“Right! The rebels had also generously passed out the message that they would be taking your head after sun down. It’s said that the true ritual to obtain the Thirteenth Zodiac can’t be held successfully if they do not have your head. And there isn’t much time left before sun down. You should start thinking on the next step to take right? Whether to rebuild your Community or to run away, it’s your choice.”
“……”
Leticia got up unsteadily as she continued forth while dragging her useless left foot to the destination she had in mind---the Community Grounds of the Vampires.
“Oi! What are you planning to do with that kind of body?”
“……there’s no hope for this Sun-wasted body of mine anyways.”
“That’s not true you know? As long as you get the proper treatment, it’s still salvageable……So here’s the thing. Let’s have a deal! Join my Community [Grimm Grimoire]---”
“I reject.”
Leticia had a black pistol jammed at the neck of [Storyteller] in a flash.
The man was awed by the reflexes that didn’t seem to belong to that of a dying person but he continued talking in his cool demeanor:
“But, if you want to face the betrayers of your kind, your current self wouldn’t be able to drag more than a couple of them with you to your grave you know? Didn’t your comrades die for you not too long ago to shield you? Or do you mean to say that sacrificing your life here isn’t going to matter?”
“……”
Even then, Leticia continued to trudge her way towards the Castle.
And lining the sides of the road were her Vampire comrades who were moaning in pain as they were tortured by the Sun’s rays. Woefully taking the sight of her surroundings with her eyes, Leticia continued to trudge on slowly.
It’s just a matter of time that they would meet their end for their bodies were almost completely wasted by the Sun’s rays.
They were all dying just because of some stupid Vampire of an unknown identity plotting to obtain the Sun’s Authority.
“……I don’t know who the rebels are, but as the country’s ……no, as the leader of the Community, I’ve the obligation to save what may remain of my people by welcoming the enemy’s battle under my Flag.”
Even if they were about to die soon enough, she couldn't bear to leave them be.
And a conflict from within the Community had to be judged by the laws of the Community.
This is one of the iron-clad rules of Little Garden that had existed since the time of its creation and wasn’t one that would change even if it were to be struck by lightning.
The pride and rules of the Community were represented by the Flag. If one had to meet-out judgement on the rebels, they could only use the Flag to do so. Leticia who held that belief in her heart was moving step by step closer to the Castle.
[Storyteller] seemed to have finally lost his cool as he drooped his shoulders and shouted:
“Aye……Oi, [Dragon Knight]! I have a plan that can kill only those rebels!”
“Eh?” Leticia stopped in her tracks as [Storyteller] tossed a letter to her.
“I’m [Storyteller]---and also known as a Game Creator. To put it plainly, I’m a sort of Poet as well and this [Geass Roll] is specifically designed to have its Game rules make the most use out of your [Authority of Host Master]. With its contents, you needn’t worry about pulling down your Community for you will cause yourself---Leticia Draculea to become a Demon Lord.”
“What….What nonsense are you sprouting! To ask me, a Vampire to become a Demon Lord?! That’s totally out of the question! Even if this body of mine were to be destroyed, I will not fall to that extent and bring such shame to my kind!”
“Hah……Stop clinging to all your empty dreams, you’re just a little girl who doesn’t even know how the real world works around you!”
His loud rebuke caused Leticia to cringe involuntarily.
The atmosphere around [Storyteller] had completely changed as he took a step closer while putting on an intimidating air around him to stare at Leticia.
“Shouting to protect things that you aren’t able to protect, making a fuss about wanting to save those that cannot be saved?! HoHoHo, That really tickles my side O-hime-sama! Those dreams that righteousness will triumph are so sweet that it really makes me feel like puking and crying tears of pity!”
“Wha…”
“Didn’t you say about protecting the pride of your kind?! Just use that brain of yours to think a little! If you were to fall in such a battle to those rebels, what would happen to the things that your kind had worked up till now to build? What those guys have in mind is the position of [Overall Floor Master] and the Sun’s Authority! Wouldn’t the previous dream of your kind to bring peace and equality to the world of Little Garden be made into a joke when they succeed?!”
“This……That is…”
“In the end, you just had to blurt it out that you wanted to sate your thirst for revenge and leave this world! And by doing so, announcing the biggest lie of [Doing it for the sake of others]?! Aaaaah, really distasteful. Really leaves a bad after taste to have met such a foolish person! For it sure makes me who has actually travelled all this way to find you out of good-will to become the biggest fool as well!”
It would seem that [Storyteller] was very high strung as he rattled off his insults and complaints in a steady stream. Leticia who couldn’t find a way to retort to those words had bowed her head instead, but she did not feel resigned to her fate. In fact she was feeling so unsatisfied by the current situation that she trembled.
Perhaps it was the complete release of all those pent up frustrations, [Storyteller] had finally relaxed his shoulders as he readjusted his breathing---
“……Listen up well. If you intend to rebuild your kind, running away from the problem will not do any good. Become a Demon Lord and kill those rebels. Although there might be some name left behind about your accomplishment after your death if you followed your plan, do not be so naïve as to think that your name will be attributed to anything great once you've lost to them.”
“……”
“If you are killed here today, that would just be counted as their win. But if you become a Demon Lord and execute all the rebels, that might still leave other. viable. routes for you. At least it would be able to keep the system of implementing [Floor Master]s……But the downside would just be the insults heaped upon the name of Leticia Draculea.”
[So what do you intend to do?] [Storyteller] had ended it off with a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders that seemed to imply his thoughts.
Leticia suppressed her anger as she unsealed the letter. And holding the roll with her trembling hands, she confirmed the contents written on it.
Being tongue-tied from the cruelty described in its contents, Leticia’s expression only helped [Storyteller] to have a smile more uncouth than before.
“Placing the rebels through the same suffering that they did to your family and friends. And not limiting it to only once or twice but a punishment that continues till eternity! With such a cruel feature in it, I bet that it would sate your thirst for revenge completely right?”
“……”
“If the time comes that you are finally tired of whipping the corpses, or if the day comes that you want it to end, just call someone to clear the game for you. And if you can find a person to help you clear the game, you may want to tell him this: ‘Attack the Thirteenth Sun’.”
And with that, the man turned to leave.
“I would also like to remind you that those who become a Demon Lord will definitely be burdened with the fate of being destroyed. Be it by the Gods or heroes. But this is part of the fate that will surely follow one who has defied the natural order of the Stars. So, Leticia Draculea. You will have to prepare yourself to be determined enough to give up everything---”
---To become the cruel Demon Lord who kills your own kind.
That man seemed to say it so softly seemingly like a whisper of adoration to his lover as he disappeared without a trace.
Soon enough, the Sun had sunk beyond the western horizon and the color of night had started to cover the skies.
The rebels that had been in hiding away from the Sun had started fires in the Outer walls to immolate their betrayed comrades who had still been moaning in pain with their last few scrapes of life.
Leticia watched it all in a daze and it didn’t take long before the rebels found and surrounded her. She who had her body almost completely wasted by the Sun had already lost half of her body senses.
As such, her arm that wielded the gun could no longer be felt and lowered to point at the floor, unresponsive to her commands.
…...Still unable to bring her heart to point her sword at her former comrades, she started casting her eyes about frantically---
And that was when her gaze caught sight of the Castle’s peak where the black stains seemed to act as the markers to the graves of her loved ones.
“……”
---that’s right. Those were the markers of her loved ones’ graves.
Her many comrades, close friends and family. None of them had been buried as they all become a scorched stain on the Castle walls.
And since that’s the case, those guys should also suffer the same punishment as their crimes.
As tears and blood flowed in a steady stream from her eyes, Leticia roared out the hatred that had taken seed in her heart:
“---You bastards……You do not even deserve the reprieve called death……!”
And that were the words of hatred that were once vented out upon former comrades before the souls of the rebels were shredded to bits, having sworn to spare naught even their nails---Leticia took on the branding of a Demon Lord.
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