Chapter 1078: Kundara (11)
Swoosh!
Following the Fearsome Blood King, Lennok entered the vast, crimson palace.
The Blood-Veil Palace, which he had encountered immediately upon arriving in Kundara.
An independent territory existing on the boundary between reality and the Imaginary Dimension, with indeterminate exits and entrances.
Entering Kundara through this place had complicated matters by bypassing the Tribulation’s Trials.
In the process of resolving that, he ended up teaching Long-lived Beings using Obaekro.
Through that, he heard about Maleon’s ascension, and now faced the Fearsome Blood King again.
It seemed that the events which began here had come full circle, leading back to this palace.
Kuooooh!!!
The serene yet eerie sight of the Blood-Veil Palace’s hall, revisited for the second time.
Aside from Olivera not being by his side, nothing had changed.
Was the Fearsome Blood King sitting alone in this colossal, empty palace, watching over Outer Tribulation City?
“Come here.”
But after letting Lennok into the Blood-Veil Palace, the Fearsome Blood King did not sit alone on the throne as before.
Instead, she simply headed through the corridor behind the lobby to a room where a reception area was located.
The girl, perched on a chair at a long dining table, pointed to the chair opposite her.
“Sit.”
“……”
“This vampire, how dare she,” Davi grumbled.
Lennok shrugged and sat in the chair opposite the girl, asking, “The location is different from last time. Are you planning to serve a meal?”
“……”
“If you’re offering hospitality, I won’t refuse.”
“My palace doesn’t have food for humans.”
The Fearsome Blood King, with a sullen expression, raised a hand, and something dropped onto a plate.
A jelly-like substance, seemingly congealed blood.
“This is…?”
“Blood pudding.”
The girl chuckled.
“It’s a snack I sometimes eat. If you want some, try it.”
“……”
Lennok stared at the Fearsome Blood King with a bewildered expression, then pulled out some dried jerky from his pocket.
The Fearsome Blood King watched Lennok, who began to chew it without a word, as if dumbfounded.
“You had food. Why did you ask me for some?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t prepare daily provisions when coming all the way to Kundara?” Lennok replied calmly.
“It’s just that after being treated to meals a few times in this city, Kundara’s food culture suited my palate quite well.”
“……”
“So, I was just curious if you also had something to offer.”
“……Offerings. Right, we were talking about that.”
The girl leaned back in her chair, observing Lennok with a skewed gaze.
“You seem to be having a lot of fun. For someone who claims to be looking for Kaiser’s body, you look incredibly cheerful.”
“……”
“They say you’re playing teacher to the Long-lived Beings, and your face is practically glowing.”
“That’s because the vampire who called me here just threw me into Outer Tribulation City without taking any responsibility.” Lennok replied, chewing his jerky and pulling out a water bottle.
“I had to work hard to survive on my own.”
“Funny. Becoming an Obaekro tutor and helping with the Tribulation’s Trials—is that something you can just ‘work hard’ for?”
The girl scoffed, as if exasperated.
“Strange human. I heard the stories, but you’re truly peculiar. I’ve seen many greedy humans, but not many with such twisted thoughts.”
“……”
“But as a result, you might have won Maleon’s favor, so it can’t be helped.”
“You speak as if you didn’t want such an outcome.”
“Oh, is that how it seems? Honestly, I don’t dislike Maleon.”
The girl’s red eyes, submerged in shadow, gleamed eerily.
“It’s true that there aren’t many individuals of such character among the Level 8s. But because of that, he’s a dangerous existence.”
“Why?”
“Because what Maleon Gnosis truly dreams of isn’t Outer Tribulation.”
The Fearsome Blood King let out a cold sigh.
“He wants to become an Ascendant to fill the empty Ninth Tribulation with his own existence.”
“……”
“He wants to fill all nine Tribulations with life through him, and for Outer Tribulation City to function normally.”
“For Kundara to function properly, life must exist in all spacetime from the First Tribulation to the Ninth Tribulation?”
Lennok tilted his head.
“I don’t understand why that’s a problem. Outer Tribulation City functioning properly isn’t a bad thing, is it?”
“No. The empty Ninth Tribulation is an intentional result from the Elder Council.”
The girl said with an expressionless face.
“Until the time of the end arrives, this city must not move. It must continue to undergo performance tests, hidden within the Universe of Mist, as it is now.”
“……”
“But what Maleon wants is to properly activate Outer Tribulation City and venture beyond the Veil.”
The Fearsome Blood King met Lennok’s gaze for a moment.
“He wants to know if the existence of this Outer Tribulation City can truly be the answer. So, he’s trying to use his ascension as an opportunity to test that fact.”
“This city is like an ark for the Long-lived Beings. There shouldn’t be any danger in leaving the other side of the Veil.” Lennok asked.
It was a difficult explanation for Lennok to accept, knowing that the colossal satellite-shaped entity floating in the Universe of Mist, which he had seen just before entering Kundara, was Outer Tribulation City itself.
“If an artificial satellite was created and hidden on the other side of the Veil, its durability and stability would be on an entirely different level from other cities. It wouldn’t collapse from minor impacts or distortions.”
“Kundara is sustained by various agreements and seals because it’s hidden on the other side of the Veil.”
The Fearsome Blood King said quietly.
“There’s also a balance maintained because we haven’t interfered with the mortal world since Ars Nova’s destruction. That holds true both inside and outside the Veil.”
“……”
“What if Long-lived Beings who have lived for hundreds of years join the Central Front? What if they flow into city-states and declare themselves as ultimate powers? What if hidden ancient technologies and spellcraft are released to the world?”
The vampire’s voice momentarily blurred.
“The chaos would be far more extreme than now. Either way, immeasurable death would follow.”
“I see.” Lennok said.
Lennok, looking down at the girl with indifferent eyes, casually spoke.
“If I had heard that when we first met, I might have thought about it more seriously.”
“……”
“You’re only explaining this after I met Maleon and heard about Kundara’s internal affairs?”
Lennok leaned back in his chair and slowly shook his head.
“I don’t particularly empathize. In fact, it’s more surprising that you care so much about the balance of the mortal world.”
“That’s…”
“You didn’t even try to stop Maleon in the first place, did you? You merely wished I wouldn’t make contact with Maleon, keeping that fact hidden.”
Lennok asked with an expressionless face.
“Or are you going to make an excuse that even that was due to the influence of a Geas?”
“I neither approve nor disapprove of Maleon’s plan. I have no right to scoff at or disparage other challengers now.”
The Fearsome Blood King shook her head.
“But I simply couldn’t know how your existence would factor into that process. No one can predict what will become of Maleon after his challenge is complete.”
“……”
“He probably seemed like a magnanimous and capable good person. In reality, he is a dragon with a very bold and strong character.”
The girl’s expression turned cold.
“But that’s why Maleon Gnosis is a dangerous existence. Those who devote themselves to a goal greater than themselves, without a hint of malice, are all like that.”
“Like the people involved in the project?”
“……”
For the first time, the Fearsome Blood King clamped her lips shut.
A strange silence flowed between the two, facing each other across the candlelight in the dark reception room.
“After hearing the hidden location of Kaiser’s body, I haven’t yet paid the price for that information.”
Lennok, resting his chin on the table, asked, “The price I have to pay you instead of the Blood-Thought Scribe. Do you want me not to cooperate with Maleon?”
“……”
“You sought me out as soon as I arrived in Kundara, but then you didn’t intervene at all once the Blood-Thought Scribe couldn’t be recovered.”
Lennok slowly leaned forward and asked, “Tell me. What do you want in this city?”
“……No.”
Saying that, the girl pushed off the chair with both arms and stood up.
She jumped down from the chair where her feet didn’t reach and looked back at Lennok with red eyes, saying, “As I said, I don’t care whether you cooperate with Maleon’s plan or not.”
“……”
“I called you because there’s a procedure necessary to retrieve Kaiser’s body, separate from Maleon’s plan.”
“A procedure necessary to retrieve the body…?”
The Fearsome Blood King had said Kaiser’s body was hidden in a place called the Tenth Coffer of the Ninth Tribulation.
Did Lennok need to do something specific to enter that Tenth Coffer?
While Lennok was lost in thought, the Fearsome Blood King looked at him and calmly said, “If Maleon’s challenge cannot be stopped, then regardless of its success or failure, I must do what I can on my end.”
“……”
“Whether he succeeds or fails, Maleon will challenge the Ninth Tribulation’s Trial, and you will get an opportunity at some point.”
The Fearsome Blood King, gazing at Lennok with deeply sunken eyes, said, “In that case, I too must begin preparations to break the promise of the Tenth Coffer.”
“I don’t understand why you’re putting so much effort into explaining what the Tenth Coffer is.” Lennok asked, pressing a hand to his temple.
“Simply put, it means ‘ten tubes.’ How is Kaiser enshrined within them such that preparation is needed?”
“Kaiser wished for his death to be complete in itself.” The Fearsome Blood King replied.
“After the failure of the project, he sought to prevent his abilities or nature from being used in other ways.”
“…”
“After Faud’s betrayal, Kaiser’s body was moved to the Ninth Tribulation, and the highest-ranking Long-lived Beings possessing True Blood gathered to form a blood contract.”
The girl’s red eyes gleamed as she spoke.
“Ten True Bloods are gathered to draw a Blood Magic Circle, and the internal space is used as a colossal Miniature Garden and Domain. That’s why…”
The Fearsome Blood King said coldly, “The Tenth Coffer can only be opened by the death of one of Kundara’s highest-ranking Long-lived Beings who possesses True Blood.”
“I understand that one of the True Blood lineage must be killed to open the Tenth Coffer of the Ninth Tribulation.”
Lennok asked, following the Fearsome Blood King out of the reception room, leaving the blood pudding behind.
“However, if you kill a high-ranking Long-lived Being in Kundara, you can’t avoid a commotion. Is there a way?”
Although he had clashed with the Water God Dragon King Alohan before entering Kundara, the situation was now very different.
Unlike then, when he could smash the Deep Sea Domain without caring about onlookers, there were too many watchful eyes throughout Kundara.
If Lennok were to use force in an unagreed-upon manner, other powerful Long-lived Beings would immediately intervene.
He was confident in his ability to survive any situation, but the greater the commotion, the more distant the goal of reaching the Ninth Tribulation would become.
Since his decision to help Maleon was precisely to enter the Ninth Tribulation, he had to avoid a situation where the means overshadowed the end.
“You’re right, if you just kill a True Blood lineage member freely, you can’t avoid a big commotion.”
The Fearsome Blood King said, guiding Lennok out of the Blood-Veil Palace.
“But if you handle things quickly in a secluded place, there are plenty of ways to clean it up.”
“Meaning assassination is easier than hunting.”
“As for cleanup, I can help with that too.”
The girl looked back at Lennok with red eyes and raised a finger.
“I’m a vampire. There’s no Long-lived Being better than me when it comes to dealing with blood.”
“……”
“If you handle things properly, I can erase the traces left at the scene. At least, I can make sure no one finds out.”
“So, if the timing and location are right, it’s entirely possible?”
“It shouldn’t be difficult. Most of the highest-ranking Long-lived Beings who possess True Blood live far from the city center, in their own fortresses or nests.”
Just the Fearsome Blood King herself, currently speaking with Lennok, resided in her territory, the Blood-Veil Palace, and rarely showed herself outside.
If other True Blood Long-lived Beings shared similar habits, killing them while avoiding others’ eyes or vigilance might not be difficult.
“The important thing is for you to gain a pretext to meet them. In this case, the reputation you’ve built so far might help.”
“Use teaching Obaekro as a pretext to visit True Blood lineage members?” Lennok scoffed and shook his head.
“If the owner of every fortress and nest I visit ends up dead, that secret will be kept well.”
“Didn’t you become Maleon’s collaborator precisely because you were teaching Obaekro to high-ranking Long-lived Beings?”
The Fearsome Blood King’s expression turned cold.
“By the time it’s known that things have gone awry, Maleon will have already challenged the Promotion Ritual. What happens after that doesn’t matter.”
“……”
Was she trying to say that the important thing was to increase Maleon’s success rate in the Promotion Ritual, and for Lennok to safely enter the Ninth Tribulation with him?
And that the commotion or deaths that might follow were of no importance?
For someone who was reluctant about Lennok meeting Maleon, the Fearsome Blood King’s plan was remarkably radical.
“It’s easy to say, but I can’t guarantee I can actually pull it off.” Lennok crossed his arms.
“I think it’s more important to know who your target is first.”
“That’s why I needed the Blood-Thought Scribe to confirm that part.”
The Fearsome Blood King said, extending her hand to Lennok. “Take it out. You still have it, right?”
“……”
As Lennok pulled out the old notebook, the Fearsome Blood King pricked her finger and began to draw something on the notebook with her blood.
A peculiar sight, as she earnestly drew with her finger as a brush.
After struggling with the notebook for a long time, the girl, with a proud look, handed it back to Lennok.
“There. This should be enough.”
“……What is this?”
Something was drawn on the old notebook in a crooked, bizarre style.
Its identity was completely unrecognizable, other than it being curvy and grotesque.
At Lennok’s question, the Fearsome Blood King snorted with a bewildered expression.
“What, I drew it so it would be easy to search in the Blood-Thought Scribe. Are you pretending not to know?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Lennok opened the Blood-Thought Scribe and showed her the response that appeared in the notebook.
=Unable to decipher the gibberish. No appropriate records found.
“……”
=If you are searching for Chimeras instead of Long-lived Beings, the Conjunction Spell Master of the Order Alliance-
“Ah, I get it!”
The girl pouted, snatched the notebook back, and raised her hand.
“I’ll just do it again. Again.”
The Fearsome Blood King grumbled, then drew with much more effort than before.
She was so focused that she stared intently at the notebook, muttering to herself.
Was she the type to mumble various details aloud while drawing?
As Lennok waited, lost in useless thoughts.
“That’s it, I’m not doing it!”
“……”
The Fearsome Blood King, with a frustrated expression, simply flipped the page of the notebook.
On the back of a page with an even more bizarre drawing than before, the Fearsome Blood King wrote text instead of drawing.
=I want to find a being among the Long-lived Beings who formed the blood contract, who fully possesses True Blood.
Perhaps because Lennok was watching right beside her, the Blood-Thought Scribe responded immediately.
=Searching for information regarding the specified biological species and displaying.
Rustle…!!
With those words, the image of a pure white, scaled snake slowly began to be drawn on the page of the notebook.
A pure white, colossal, venomous, aged snake.
The one who had introduced the Obaekro tournament to Lennok and recommended the Elixir of Ascension—
“……This person.”
“One of the five Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council of the Eighth Tribulation, Nives Oroshia.”
The Fearsome Blood King’s eyes turned cold.
“An 8th-level poison sorcerer, and an eccentric who hides away in her self-built Poisonous Forest (Dokhamrim), never venturing out.”
“……”
“And also a traitor who secretly recovered the True Blood used in the blood contract and used it to create the Elixir of Ascension.”
The girl handed the Blood-Thought Scribe back to Lennok and asked with a chilling expression, “To retrieve Kaiser’s body, you must kill this snake. Can you do it?”
The white snake, Nives Oroshia, who had introduced the Elixir of Ascension and proposed a deal to Lennok.
The one to be killed to enter the Tenth Coffer was none other than an acquaintance of Olivera.