EnCoffin Me Chapter 33
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 33
The Association of Dark Creatures was not affiliated with the Darklife Conservation Center. It was an independent organization. The union only accepted dark creatures and mainly served to connect dark creatures scattered across the Federation, holding regular meetings and organizing activities beneficial to both mind and body.
After all, for the balance of light and darkness in this world, dark creatures needed to be stationed everywhere.
“Look at this again.”
Lucius tapped on the lightbrain. The page showed a livestream. A dark elf was humming softly while chopping vegetables and making a rich, thick soup.
Alexio recalled that Andrei had indeed mentioned at the start that the dark creatures staying at the conservation center either lacked the ability to live independently or had various other issue. However, some dark creatures basically could live on their own. With just a little assistance from their caretakers, they could lead normal lives.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Lucius seemed to know what was on his mind and shook his head slightly.
“Don't be too optimistic,” he said. “Even if they can live independently, they have enjoyed endless care from others since they were young. Their personalities are gentle and non-confrontational, even when they were harmed… Let me ask you this.”
He set the empty cup on the table and casually took a sip of the milk tea Alexio hadn't had time to drink.
“If someone wanted to kill you, Alexi, what would you do?”
Alexio didn't hesitate for a moment and replied bluntly, “Of course, I'd smash their head in!”
So fierce. Lucius quietly hid the milk tea cup and continued asking.
“You wouldn't ask for help?”
Alexio looked puzzled.
“What does that have to do with anyone else?”
“What if you can't win?”
“Can't win… What do you mean? In this world, aside from gods, is there anything I can't kill?!”
Lucius paused slightly at those words, then slowly, very slowly, began to put distance between himself and Alexio. Alexio was very confident in his strength. He even started counting the ways he could take down a tough enemy. When he looked up, he realized the saint had already moved half across the living room.
Why so far away? Alexio found it odd, then suddenly noticed his hand felt empty.
Where was his milk tea???
Never mind anything else. First, he had to take care of this lunatic who stole his milk tea!
The lunatic wasn't a match for him now. Alexio easily pinned him down, snatched the milk tea, and looked down at the lunatic from above. The lunatic's face was as expressionless as ever, but he said very sincerely, “Too late. I've already drunk it.”
He looked completely at ease, as if certain that even if he got beaten, Alexio's milk tea would inevitably end up in his possession. He even reached out his hand, signaling for Alexio to obediently return the cup.
Alexio: ……
He stared at the lunatic. Old grudges and new anger welled up inside him, rage flared, and without thinking, he chugged the entire cup of milk tea until it was empty. Wiping his mouth, he meant to glare at the lunatic provocatively, but found him staring back in a daze.
He was getting heated.
Alexio regretted it so much he wanted to bite his tongue, but what was done was done. The other kept staring and staring and staring at him! His ears began to burn uncontrollably, his face grew hot, and as he opened his mouth to say something, his fang accidentally bit his lip. He even started to tremble slightly from shame and irritation.
The saint pinned beneath him stayed silent for a moment. He was about to speak, only to be muffled when Alexio shoved a pillow into his face.
Don't mention it! If you do, I'll explode!
By the time Lucius finally managed to get up from the floor, the vampire had already curled up inside the blanket pile on the sofa, his silhouette looking utterly dejected. Lucius gave a light cough. The blanket wriggled and pulled inward until not even a crack was left.
He kindly returned to the original topic.
“So, Alexi, you're different from the dark creatures of this era.
“Your top priority was never asking for help. You'll always take your fate into your own hands. However, the Association of Dark Creatures was still a potential entry point to try.”
After a while, the vampire under the blanket seemed to nod slightly. Then after a bit more time, he reached out and pulled the lightbrain closer, presumably looking up related information. Lucius walked over, and the blanket tightened instantly. He tried to ask for the cup as casually as possible.
“I'll go wash the cups.”
The vampire silently handed him the cup and then curled back up again.
Lucius carried the two cups to the sink. He preferred washing things by hand, which was why he had installed it. When he turned on the tap and his fingers brushed the rim of the carrot-shaped cup, he hesitated slightly. With his back to the vampire, he raised his hand to cover his lips, trying to hide the expression he couldn't quite mask.
…He was getting heated again.
Alexio lay curled under the blanket. After asking Ellie about the Association of Dark Creatures, he fell into thought. The organization had passed some decisions, like how to accommodate dark creatures who couldn't live independently. The Federation respected those decisions. But since the dark creatures in this era were pure, gentle, and non-confrontational, the association was far from being a true independent force.
Yet Alexio was the third-generation prince of the vampire race and had risen through the complex internal faction struggles. Before long, he had formed a plan in his mind. After thinking it through, he peeled back the blanket and cautiously observed his surroundings.
The lunatic was gone. On the table sat a freshly made cup of milk tea, steaming hot. Hesitating for a moment, Alexio lifted the cup and took a sip. It was fragrant and sweet.
He decided not to persecute the lunatic's carrot for the time being.
Once he set his goal, Alexio's drive returned. Ellie mentioned that a vice president of the Association of Dark Creatures happened to be at the conservation center. Alexio immediately agreed to meet him and arranged a time with Ellie.
Thinking the lunatic was probably in the room upstairs, Alexio went up and knocked on the door.
“Get up! Time to work! If you don't go, I can't either!”
Lucius, who was quietly working on his scrapbook in the room, sighed deeply and reluctantly got up. Before leaving, he still had to wash the cup.
Lucius: …miserable.
Ellie closed her chat with Alexio and began making arrangements. She politely contacted the caretaker of Zhen, a zombie from the eastern faction. After explaining the situation, the caretaker readily agreed to meet for afternoon tea in the cafeteria.
The caretaker quietly informed Zhen, who was still scrolling through his Pupil feed. He had been lying relaxed on the bed, but suddenly stiffened, turning back to repeat his words in disbelief.
“Alexi… invited me?”
“Yes,” the caretaker smiled, “Because you previously said that you wouldn't follow Prince Alexio anymore unless he came to you first. I think this invitation fits your condition perfectly.”
Before the caretaker finished speaking, the zombie with a paper talisman on his head suddenly jumped out of bed, spun around for a moment, tugged at his hair, and rushed toward the wardrobe.
“Aaah, why didn't you tell me sooner? Where's the new clothes I made? My sparkling hair ribbon?”
The caretaker watched him flail around, a bit confused. She had thought Zhen disliked Alexio.
“I don't dislike him! Not at all!” Zhen stopped moving and covered his face, groaning. “It's just that I sent so many messages that got rejected, and I kept losing him around the center, so we never got the chance to hang out together. That's why I said those things… I'm sorry!
“I actually really envy Helgodon and Lucy. I want to play with Alexi too…”
Zhen dug out his new clothes from the wardrobe. The caretaker helped him put on the complicated outfit and tied the sparkling hair ribbon. The eastern faction had always revered flying birds, so both their traditional clothing and adornments featured elements of feathers and birds. Once ready, Zhen smoothed down the stray strands of hair that were sticking up and nervously looked at the caretaker.
“Do I look… okay now?”
“You look great,” the caretaker said generously. “Prince Alexio will definitely like you.”
Zhen finally let out a long sigh of relief.
He lowered his lashes, the sparkling ribbon hanging over his shoulder. His fingertips lightly tugged at his wide sleeves.
“Alexi is really handsome,” he said dreamily. “You know, the first time I watched his livestream replay, I felt he was different from other dark creatures.”
Zhen raised his hand, a pair of soft hands that had never known hardship. Since becoming conscious, he had never tasted sorrow or pain.
“Alexi's hands are different from mine. They are definitely hands that had held weapons, hands that had protected themselves from some bad things.
“At first, I just couldn't believe it. When dark creatures encountered trouble, they only needed to ask for help, and there would always be many willing to assist. How could a dark creature ever have to struggle and rely on themselves? But Alexi wants nothing, asks for no help.”
The caretaker felt confused again. From her perspective, Alexio's behavior was undeniably strange.
Zhen smiled softly. He turned in front of the mirror, confirming that he looked good enough to meet Alexio. He glanced at his watch. Although there was still more than half an hour before their appointment, and he was very close to the cafeteria, he decided to leave right away.
Because he truly respected Alexio. If he could, he wanted to—
Passing the corridor lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, his gaze drifted outside. Over the Emerald Inner Sea, divine kingfishers flew through the calm air. His eyes followed the birds, rising higher and higher until they vanished from sight.
“Mr. Zhen, it's too sunny over there. Come this way, have some more water?”
The caretaker called to him from the shaded side.
A slight regret stirred in his heart, but Zhen remained considerate. A smile returned to his face as he turned and walked toward the caretaker.
“Coming…”
“…Zhen?”
He was walking toward the caretaker but froze at the sound of his name. He turned around in shock. The vampire was walking toward him along the sunny side. Although the gray curtains filtered the light to protect light-sensitive species, dark creatures naturally disliked brightness. He could already hear the caretaker's small gasp.
“Prince Alexio! Please come over here! There's water here too!”
“No, thank you.” Alexio refused plainly, his gaze shifting to the zombie standing before him, dressed in the unique attire of the eastern faction. The zombie stared blankly at him, a little dazed, the talisman on his head tilted to one side.
“I don't think this is our first meeting. You followed me for a while before,” Alexio said calmly. “But I still feel I should properly introduce myself to you. Alexio. Just call me Alexi.”
He reached out his hand to Zhen—
“Hello, Zhen.”
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, a flock of divine kingfishers took flight over the Emerald Inner Sea toward the clear sky. For some reason, in that moment, Zhen really wanted to stand beside Alexio, and he did.
He stepped into the light and took Alexio's extended hand.
“I am Zhen.”
His pupils reflected the vampire, along with the clear sky and the flying birds behind him.
“The ‘Zhen’ used by emperors.”