EnCoffin Me Chapter 57
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 57
Shipping your own CP could really get addictive, especially when you actually have feelings for the other person.
Alexio had been shipping for three days straight. During that time, Sparrow Nesting in Thorns had tirelessly recommended all kinds of top-quality fanworks to him. Soon, under the baptism of countless food, he grew into an excellent food-finding expert. In fact, since he was one of the people involved, he had a particularly sharp eye for spotting OOC moments.
…Not that this was anything to be proud of!
He looked toward the living room's floor-to-ceiling window. The gray screen had been turned off, and under the bright sunlight, a bunch of vegetables were growing vigorously. In this world ten thousand years later, the seasons no longer affected what grew in the flower beds. A rose vine by the wall had silently extended a slender tendril.
It was growing so fast.
He was increasingly tempted to bite the lunatic【First Embrace 】style.
He shifted his gaze back to his lightbrain, eyes fixed on that website, when suddenly the lunatic's voice broke the silence beside him.
“…Haven't you been on your lightbrain a bit too much these past couple of days?”
Alexio instinctively hid the device and blinked up at the lunatic.
“Have I?”
The saint gave him a sidelong glance and lightly set a fried egg down on the table.
“The home network logs your online hours. You were still browsing in the middle of the night.” He set down the freshly toasted bread. “Show some restraint. Don't skip sleep entirely.”
Alexio checked the log of his online activity. Sure enough, aside from work, it looked like he'd been on the lightbrain almost the entire time. He really did need to control himself. Before closing the page, he subconsciously glanced at the lunatic's online time.
Huh? Why was it even longer than his?
He voiced the question, and the saint was expressionless for a moment before replying, “Because I work from home too, while you're playing.”
Alexio was immediately filled with respect. He stopped asking questions and felt that he had indeed been a bit too lax recently. But he wouldn't have so much free time later. Cravenson seemed to have cleared a few stages and had started introducing him to various dark creatures. Alexio had already met nearly every dark creature in the Union. With Cravenson's network, he had a strange sense of deja vu, like when he was rebuilding the dark forces years ago.
“I wasn't just playing all the time either.” He sat down at the dining table. “I might not be back for dinner tonight. Cravenson's setting something up.”
As he spoke, his rose-colored eyes narrowed slightly.
“There's more resistance here than I expected. I'll need to bring Andrei in.”
“To join the Union?” Lucius asked.
“No, the Union only accepts dark creatures, and that won't change. However, there can be as many unofficial positions as we need.”
“It's because you're asking for so much that there's pushback.”
Lucius thought of the demands Alexio had made. He wasn't just asking for protected dark creatures to be sent to the front lines. He wanted a dark creature to serve as the supreme commander of this special unit, with full authority over all decisions. It could be either Alexio or Cravenson.
“There's resistance, but it's not unsolvable. Just more of a hassle.
“What I hate is getting to the front lines only to be dragged down by people hesitating over every little thing. I know they mean well, but this time…” Alexio lowered his gaze. “This time, I really plan to let those fledglings fight for real. This isn't just some quick tour of the front lines.”
Lucius had long heard of Alexio's terrifying command ability and his reputation among dark creatures. He was looking forward to finally witnessing Alexio lead a battlefield with his own eyes.
“I'm done eating.” Alexio placed his bowl into the dishwasher without being asked. Just as he was heading out, he suddenly heard the lunatic speak.
“Looking at your progress, it probably won't be long until you can set off. I'm thinking of keeping a griffin with me and starting to reconstruct the magic we used before building the Holy Temple.
“You mind having another small creature around the house?”
Alexio didn't mind. And when he came home late that night, he found a miniature griffin, shrunken to who knew how many times its original size.
The griffin stood proudly on the table while the lunatic fed it something. Even when eating, the griffin was impeccably trained. Without its master's permission, it wouldn't take a single bite more.
“Can I pet it?” Alexio quite liked fluffy things. He gave the silky fur a couple of strokes and felt satisfied.
“You've never kept a pet before?” Lucius asked. He hadn't seen any records of that.
Alexio teased the griffin. The griffin stared at him with great seriousness, but it was so tiny that it only made it more adorable.
“No, I haven't. I can't, really.”
“I would've thought a third-generation prince could at least manage a pet.”
“Well…” Alexio didn't mind talking about it. In fact, he even smiled. “Getting a pet is easy enough. But I'm away a lot on assignments and don't stay in Blood Moon Castle for long. Plus, I don't get along well with the other vampires…
“After Cravenson died, there was no one to help watch over them. I really couldn't keep one. Someone would've taken the chance to do something to it.”
There wasn't much sadness in his eyes. Being rejected by humans and shunned by his own kind was something he'd long grown used to. And it wasn't like he had nothing. Outside that gloomy castle, he still had plenty of friends.
The saint quietly watched him, then suddenly raised his hand. The moment his fingers brushed Alexio's fringe, Alexio had already reacted, ears tinting red as he leaned back.
“W-what are you doing?”
But the saint was unusually persistent this time. Even with Alexio leaning away, he still managed to reach forward and pat his head. He paused for a moment, then gave another gentle pat.
“You said before… that I dragged you into the coffin with me?”
The shift in topic came out of nowhere. Alexio felt the weight of that hand resting on his head and gave a quiet reply.
“It was you.”
“Mm.”
That was all the other man said. He continued to stroke Alexio's hair for a while before slowly withdrawing his hand. A light, gentle warmth spread through the saint's sky-blue eyes, adding depth and softness to what had always seemed like a clear yet indifferent gaze.
Lucius thought that maybe he could begin to understand his self from ten thousand years ago.
After all, in this world, nearly everyone adored his destined one.
Theo's hospital room had been relocated to a sunlit spot as he'd requested. With the support of various precision instruments, his condition had quickly stabilized. Aside from the shadow rose blooming from his chest that would occasionally remind him of its presence, Theo had almost fully recovered.
At this moment, he was leaning against a soft pillow, quietly watching the brilliant sunlight outside. His heterochromatic eyes, one violet, one black, held no joy, no anger.
Delvie stepped in lightly. She still wore her pure white gown, radiating sanctity. Her long, dark, slightly wavy hair fell past her waist, the fine ripples lending her a touch of alluring charm.
“Mr. Theo.” She knelt beside the bed. It was a courtesy Theo had recently requested, and of course, she obeyed without question.
“The southeast branch is taken care of?”
“Yes, the worms have all been…” Delvie shuddered at the thought of the eggs, “fully implanted in the designated individuals.”
Theo smiled faintly. He raised a hand, and Delvie immediately crawled on her knees to his bedside, gazing up at him with a look even more adoring than usual. Theo gently stroked her head, as if petting a small animal.
“Well done, my girl,” he said with a soft smile. “I believe you'll be just as capable in the north.”
“Yes, sir! I will serve you loyally!” Delvie replied with fervor. Then, her expression turned vengeful.
“That hunter who took our data and betrayed us, should we take revenge?”
Theo's smile didn't change in the slightest. He continued stroking the obedient pet kneeling at his bedside, his voice calm and distant.
“Why would we need revenge?”
“But—”
“You only need to listen, good girl. I don't need your opinions.”
Delvie immediately shut her mouth tight, afraid of incurring Theo's displeasure.
“I won't take revenge on him. He's a critical piece of my plan,” Theo said with a smile. “The previous approach was flawed. Strike a snake in the wrong spot, and of course you'll be bitten in return.
“Now they're together, understanding one another, their minds aligned. No one can stand against a pair like that. But… cracks can be created.
“That pitiful hunter is destined to kill his destined one. My script has already been written this way.”
He spoke with calm certainty, then suddenly seemed to recall something.
“You asked me once why I care so much about Alexio. In order to help you better understand my thinking, and make you more useful on the northern front, I'll lower myself to answer.
“I want Alexio to… give me the【First Embrace】.”
He absolutely could never accept living out the rest of his life in a frail, short-lived human body. He was meant to be eternal, noble, a vampire standing at the very pinnacle of the world. Even if receiving the First Embrace from a third-generation vampire meant dropping two whole generations in rank, he didn't care.
Delvie lifted her head and cautiously asked, “Then… does that mean you want to keep Alexio alive?”
Theo patted the foolish girl's head affectionately and said, “Of course not. I want you to act with the resolve to kill him. Vampires are incredibly hard to kill. Alexio won't die so easily. But if you start hesitating, you'll ruin everything. My girl, I do not tolerate failure. Do you understand?”
Delvie understood. Remembering all the methods Theo had employed recently, she trembled and knelt down.
“Yes, sir. I will do everything I can to kill Alexio.”
“Good girl. I'll lend you a hand as well. The hunter is on our side.”
This time, Delvie was truly confused, but she didn't dare ask. She simply lowered her head even further in silent obedience. After respectfully leaving the room, Theo allowed himself to soak in the sunlight streaming through the window. Then, he took out the communicator that the idiot who previously inhabited this body had used to contact the hunter.
He had lived a long life, and knew the Holy Temple better than anyone. And he understood the so-called personal hunters better than any of them. The Holy Temple had once tentatively raised a little test subject for him, and he, always eager to study people, had gladly accepted. Through that delightful experiment, he came to fully grasp what those personal hunters truly were.
…That little thing had still been reaching out to him for comfort in the moment before death.
Theo lowered his gaze, a cruel smile tugging at his lips, and sent a message.
The hunter would never share this information with his beloved child. Theo was certain of it.
【Theo: Holy Temple hunters are incapable of accepting the First Embrace.】
【Theo: Have you ever thought about the issue of lifespan?】
A violet shadow descended behind Theo. A line of patterns began to spiral down from his ear, traversing his neck and disappearing into his collar. Theo looked up at the blurred shadow, which smiled at him.
【I favor you, disciple of Slander.】
【None can escape your web. Wherever your words reach, the domain becomes yours.】
【Go and bewitch. Go and stir up strife and war. Use your domain to crush those who have none!】
Theo felt his consciousness stretch outward with his domain, reaching the hunter's side. He had never received divine favor before, but now, elation surged through him. He laced his words with venom, vowing to incite conflict between the hunter and Alexio.
He would—
“Do you want a late-night snack?” Alexio's voice came from outside the door. “I'm thinking of having one. You want some?”
The violet shadow lunging toward the hunter crashed into an invisible barrier and instantly scattered. Alexio, sensing something was wrong, narrowed his eyes and kicked the door open. But all he saw was a faint trace of violet dissipating into the air.
Someone with divine favor had just attacked the lunatic!
He teleported to the lunatic's side immediately. Seeing the man hanging his head, Alexio didn't hesitate to grab his wrist and bit down hard!
The attacker's domain must have been spiritual. The lunatic needed to wake up now!
Once again, Lucius heard that voice from the void.
【I have seen.】
Deep within the conservation center, the planet-sized eye burst into brilliance, dazzling streams of light spiraling endlessly around it. The surrounding staff stared in astonishment, though the anomaly lasted only a brief moment before Pupil returned to its usual, tranquil state.
Only one place had changed, and that was the very empty core database of the eye.
【Detected violation by the God of Slander: One count.】
【Number of adjudication attempts remaining: Two.】
A flood of thoughts and theories surged through Lucius' mind, but before he could process them, a sudden sharp pain struck his wrist. It was immediately followed by a wave of overwhelming, familiar euphoria. Looking down, he saw vampire fangs sunk into his wrist, sucking blood with no improvement in technique whatsoever. A thin stream of blood traced down from the wound.
He could no longer think clearly. While attempting to retract the nascent form of his domain and stabilize his disrupted breathing, he asked, “Before you have a late-night snack, could you please give me some psychological preparation?”
Alexio, still biting his wrist in a desperate effort to resuscitate him: ……?