EnCoffin Me Chapter 63
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 63
Of course, Alexio had to go find him. He didn't know what the lunatic was trying to do by going out at this time, but he couldn't just leave him alone. The northern front was very likely under Theo's control, and with traces of Theo's influence still on him, letting the lunatic wander around alone was far too dangerous.
Light snow had begun to fall from the sky. Just as Alexio was about to head out, he suddenly saw the white-cloaked saint walking toward him. His clothes were clean and neat, not at all like someone who had been out for long. Alexio was still suspicious. He stared at the lunatic, trying to decipher something from his expression.
“What are you doing outside?” the saint asked, his voice as calm as always. “It's snowing. Come inside. I brought back some food.”
As he passed by Alexio, he reached out and gently ruffled the top of Alexio's head. His hand was warm. Just as he claimed, he probably hadn't been out for long. That thought of deep suspicion was suppressed by this very gentle gesture. Alexio noticed that the lunatic had been touching him more often lately.
“You…”
“It's just a pat on the head. I don't think of you as a kid.”
Alexio didn't care about that kind of thing, and he didn't bother asking further. Instead, he followed the lunatic back into his temporary quarters. The saint pulled out item after item from his cloak, such as roasted chestnuts, potato chips, and even a paper cup of milk tea.
“All military supplies,” the saint said. “I just mixed and matched a bit, and this is what I got.”
The milk tea was, of course, for Alexio. As for himself, he poured a cup of warm water and sat down on Alexio's bed.
“Shall we talk?”
Alexio's eyes widened. That was supposed to be his line. How did the lunatic beat him to it?
“Of course! But first, explain why there are still traces of Theo's mental control on you!” Alexio demanded aggressively. If the lunatic showed even a hint of surprise, he fully intended to seize the moment and mock him, then keep him from running off again.
But the saint looked completely calm, only raising an eyebrow slightly.
“…Did Pupil tell you?”
Alexio's face froze in shock.
“It seems so. I know it messages you often,” the saint said, pausing for a moment before adding, “It also likes using that cat-themed sticker pack.”
Alexio looked even more stunned.
“You even know… what sticker pack Pupil uses?!”
The saint gave a steady nod.
“Mm.”
The reason he knew was simple. The copyright for that sticker pack belonged to him, and Pupil had a purchase record.
…Producing content could let one in on a small part of the world's secrets.
“I did keep a portion of Theo's power within me,” Lucius admitted. “But it was intentional, and I've taken measures to ensure my own safety.”
He took out a specially made vial and showed it to Alexio. Inside the transparent bottle swirled a dark purple, gas-like substance that constantly writhed and twisted. Just looking at it sent a chill down the spine.
Alexio studied it for a moment.
“You have preserved this well. Are you planning to donate it to a museum?”
“Wake up. What kind of museum would want this thing?” Lucius' tone was calm, but each word landed sharply. “A certain Federation fugitive, who only knows how to play tricks behind the scenes and pretend to be mysterious but is actually incredibly cowardly, produces… some kind of gas?”
That remark instantly reduced the lofty and enigmatic domain of mental power to the level of something like Theo's fart.
“Don't worry about me. I've already put safeguards in place.” The saint looked at Alexio with a warm gaze. “I only discovered it after arriving at the northern front. I sealed it away immediately. Once we're back, we can hand it over to a proper research facility. Maybe they'll find a way to counter Theo.”
Alexio's expression eased slightly. The lunatic was always meticulous in his planning. This was reassuring.
“In return, I hope you won't be too afraid, either. Theo values his own life. As long as you're here, he won't come near the northern front.”
“I'm not—” Alexio reflexively began to argue. He wasn't afraid of Theo. He'd even killed Theo once. It wasn't a big deal. He—
“But ever since that night I was attacked, you've been unusually withdrawn,” Lucius pointed out. “I have reason to believe you're not ready to face him again. Maybe… you're a little afraid.”
These past few days, Alexio had seemed fine in front of others, but in private, it felt like even his metaphorical cat ears were drooping.
No way! Theo didn't affect his emotions that much. He had been distracted these past two days because… because…
Alexio opened his mouth, then forcibly shut it again.
He was just suppressing the urge to give the lunatic his First Embrace… But there was no way he could say that out loud.
“I was right, wasn't I?”
“……”
What could Alexio do? He could only keep his mouth shut in silence.
Head lowered, lips pressed tight, he suddenly felt a gentle warmth on his cheek. The lunatic had picked up the paper cup of milk tea and lightly pressed it against his face.
“Don't worry,” the saint said with a faint smile. “As long as I'm with you, he won't get the chance.”
His platinum-blonde hair shimmered as it fell against his shoulders, so brilliant and dazzling it was impossible to look away. Alexio held the milk tea cup tightly. In the end, he could only give a small nod.
“He won't get the chance.”
Because in this era… we are no longer enemies.
The saint smiled faintly as well. He watched Alexio finish the milk tea, nibble on some snacks, and gradually regain his spirits. Only then did he rise and return to his own tent next door. As usual, he didn't turn on the lights, letting himself sink into the darkness. A few new lines of text appeared on his specialized communicator.
【Delvie: I enjoyed our conversation today, Mr. Lucius.】
【Delvie: Mr. Theo asked me to convey his apologies. He's occupied with other matters and unable to come to the northern front personally.】
【Delvie: However, I assure you, I will do my utmost to assist you.】
【Delvie: What do you think would be a suitable time and place for our next meeting?】
Lucius quickly ran through the military's upcoming schedule in his mind, focusing especially on Alexio's activity. After confirming the details, he scheduled a meeting with Delvie. Once the communication ended, he sat alone in the darkness. The tangled threads in his mind slowly unraveled, and more useful information began to fall into place.
He knew the Holy Temple had a use for everdark stones and had been mining them for years along the northern front. They even used light burst as a cover to conceal their actions. But he still didn't know what the Holy Temple was stockpiling the stones for. Uncharged everdark stones were little more than waste material. Were they planning to weaponize them against dark creatures? No, that couldn't be it. Dark creatures had only began to grow stronger recently. The Holy Temple wouldn't have spent so much effort over such a long time without a deeper reason.
What the Holy Temple likely wanted were fully charged everdark stones, saturated with dark power. But in this age of imbalance between light and darkness, recharging the stone had become a luxury, one that only dark creatures were capable of.
The recent attack on the Darklife Conservation Center… that had been in the works for over ten years.
The ‘good children capable of producing vast amounts of dark energy,’ as recounted by the rescued Zhen…
The elemental therapy that the water nymph Zerita had undergone…
The forces Theo had recently deployed in the military and political circles of the southeast, as told by Delvie…
And most importantly, Delvie, a unicorn, a creature of light possessing dark power…
The tangled threads slowly twisted into a single strand. In the darkness, the saint's eyelids slowly lifted, revealing his sky-blue eyes.
He gradually connected all the clues into a conclusion.
In the northern mountains, the laborers in Mine No. 1 had not yet finished their work for the day. Delvie had given Theo a detailed report on her meeting with the hunter. After the communication ended, she checked the day's output from the mine and frowned slightly at the numbers.
“Lazy things, they'll slow down Mr. Theo's plans. Yet, among the captured dark creatures in the already-seized southeast branch, so many were just waiting to have their power harvested.”
The overseer knelt before her, apologizing profusely. Delvie waved her hand dismissively, but suddenly, she heard a cat meowing.
“How could there be a cat here?” she frowned.
“It’s one of the cats raised by the miners,” the overseer wiped the sweat from his brow. “They work in the dark all the time, and there's no lightnet here. Life's boring, so they keep some small animals. Poultry gets eaten once grown, but cats and dogs… if they survive, they survive.”
“What color was the cat?”
“B-Black…”
“A symbol of evil! I never want to see it again!”
“Y-Yes! Right away! I'll take care of it!”
The overseer backed away in a panic. Once Delvie had finished the rest of her tasks, she began her daily ritual. Clutching the Holy Temple's thorny cross in her hand, she closed her eyes with devotion. Her lips moved silently, reciting the scripture etched deep into her soul.
“Praise my God, the radiant Galotti. Grant us the era of holy light, where we may take shelter.
“We shall follow the great tide of this world, feeding on darkness to achieve our glorious selves, and in the end… we will surely be able to…”
Tears slowly welled in her eyes, shimmering with emotion.
“…turn this world into a true paradise.”
In the shadows, the black cat stared at her silently. It had already been driven out of the warm mine. Outside, the cold bit into everything. Soon, it would starve or freeze to death.
The cat curled up in a sheltered corner and fell into a shallow sleep. It was awakened by distant explosions and voices. Hiding in the shadows, it peered out cautiously. The mine appeared to be in a state of unrest.
Delvie's expression had gone completely dark as she stared at the newly delivered report.
“At their current pace, they'll reach this mine in less than a week,” Delvie muttered, biting her nails, visibly agitated. “Where is Aamon? Is he just going to sit by and watch Mr. Theo's base here be discovered?”
Her subordinate responded with a trembling voice.
“Mr. Aamon has not sent any message for now.”
Delvie furiously hurled the cup in her hand. It landed in the snow, and the milk tea, with sugar and cream, splattered everywhere.
“He wants me dead!” she snapped, her face twisted with rage. “That's the kind of person he is! None of those hunters are any good!”
She paced in place, anxiety radiating off her, and began making a call as she headed into the mine. A few subordinates followed her shortly after, leaving the outside quiet again.
The black cat cautiously poked its head out. After a while, it crept to the place where the tea had spilled, licking the snow soaked with sugar and milk clean, then licking the cup dry as well. Quiet as a shadow, it retreated again.
It felt cold, so cold that it wanted to sleep.
The sunlight faded, and by dusk, the sound of shelling returned, followed by a woman's shrill shouting. The black cat drifted in and out of sleep, too weak to search for food. It heard some faint human conversations, one voice calm and steady.
“I want as many people as possible to ensure this plan goes smoothly. After all, we're talking about a third-generation vampire.”
A woman's voice followed immediately, sharp and bitter.
“I've already summoned him, but if he refuses to come, there's not much I can do. He has independent operational authority granted by Mr. Theo.”
"Do your part, Delvie. Otherwise, I see no reason to continue working with you," said the calm voice.
"…I'll do everything I can."
The conversation ended. The human with the calm voice left, and the black cat, lying still in the cold, gave a weak attempt to lick its fur. Its body was growing stiff.
"…So you were hiding here."
A familiar voice suddenly came from above its head. The black cat instinctively tried to get up and run, but it was already immobile. A hand touched its icy body, bringing a comforting heat.
Lucius looked down at the little black cat curled up before him and thought—
Alexi would probably like it.