EnCoffin Me Chapter 90
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 90
Alexio still didn't know that the lunatic had already gone home on his own. He took a car straight to the conservation center, only to be told the lunatic had long since left. He stood there dumbfounded for a moment, then gritted his teeth and decided to head back.
Good job, lunatic! You made your dad chase you all over the place!
The rain outside kept falling, but it was no longer harsh and had softened into a steady drizzle. Somehow, Alexio sensed something. He looked toward the floor-to-ceiling window. A glowing jellyfish-like shadow drifted on the Emerald Inner Sea amidst the rain. Two of its long tentacles dipped into the water, coaxing some soul butterflies to surface, as if inviting them to dance.
How did the soul butterflies get all the way up to the surface like this? Alexio wondered. Then he quickly recalled what Zhen had told him before. These soul butterflies were supposed to rise as a defensive line.
So… was that glowing jellyfish also part of the defense?
Alexio stared expressionlessly at the swaying shadow. The shadow seemed to notice his gaze and tilted its translucent body slightly toward him, as if watching him through the rain. Suddenly, the shadow froze. Finally, two of its eight tentacles covered its face, making an expression similar to a scream.
Alexio: “……”
He felt like… just running away.
The glowing jellyfish then rode the rain and wind, rushing toward the window corridor! First, it splattered itself against the glass, then realized it could easily pass through any material. So, it decisively pulled its tentacles off, swam forward again, and this time effortlessly passed through the special glass, descending before Alexio with a faint glow.
The alarm didn't go off, and Alexio didn't sense any hostility, so he stood quietly where he was, looking at the god before him.
Indeed, this should be a god. He had felt that obscure sensation from Behemoth before. Whenever someone blessed with divine favor opened their domain, they would also produce this peculiar aura. It was said that this aura was caused by divine power.
“Leviathan…?” he asked. “The divine one seems to have recovered quite a bit. Is it because Lucy's power is gradually growing?”
【No need to use honorifics with me.】Leviathan sounded pleased. It floated upside down, drifting from behind Alexio and circling back, like a child trying to tap the top of his head with its translucent tentacles. But when Alexio glanced over, the tentacles immediately withdrew obediently. After a while, it couldn't resist its joy and extended its tentacles again.
Alexio had originally thought that the dark god regarded him specially because he was a powerful dark creature. But now it seemed that wasn't the case. Leviathan's attitude toward him was even more pronounced than Behemoth's had been when it hastily transformed into a pillar, making Alexio realize that, to these gods, he seemed to be somewhat special.
He felt little fear toward this so-called god, so he looked up and spoke directly, following the god's request by not using honorifics.
“Do you know me?”
【You are the ‘spark.’】
That wasn't a title easily worn on one's head. Alexio frowned slightly, about to ask more, but Leviathan shook its head gently.
【I have a deal with someone. I cannot tell you more.】
Alexio's first thought was the lich. The lunatic was no guardian, and he really couldn't imagine what kind of agreement the lunatic would have with a god.
“Is it Lucy?”
Leviathan said nothing. It circled Alexio affectionately a few times, then stretched out a tentacle to gently touch the top of his head.
【Looking forward to seeing you again.】
The pillar of the sea drifted through the void once more, passing through the glass and out to the sea veiled by the falling rain. Alexio instinctively took a couple of steps after it. Knowing Leviathan wouldn't tell him any more, and remembering he still had to find the lunatic, he finally stopped, casting a deep gaze at the god that seemed to be dancing.
Ten thousand years ago, there seemed to be a deeper layer he didn't know about. Maybe once the lunatic regained all his memories, he could answer some of these questions. Thinking of the lunatic, Alexio didn't linger any longer. He immediately hailed an express car and headed home.
Alexio had an umbrella device built in, so even after stepping out of the car, he wasn't soaked. He hurried through the increasingly dense rain. Ahead, a white figure caught his eye. Suspecting it was the lunatic, he quickened his pace to catch up.
“Luna… Lucius!”
Amid the heavy rain, the saint still caught his voice and turned around. A few strands of his soaked platinum-blonde medium-length hair fell onto his shoulders, and his sky-blue eyes, veiled by a layer of moisture, also appeared somewhat misty. He looked at Alexio, pressed his lips briefly, then resolutely turned back toward him.
Alexio was filled with questions now. He admitted the lunatic was pitifully cute at the moment, but still…
“Where's your umbrella?” Alexio quickened to meet him, about to enlarge his device to cover the already soaked lunatic, exasperatedly asking, “Which rental company's hover car doesn't provide umbrella devices?”
The saint reached out his hand, and Alexio thought he wanted the umbrella device, so he handed it over directly. To his surprise, the saint didn't take the device. Instead, he dodged Alexio's hand, opened his arms, and pulled him into an embrace.
The umbrella device dropped with a soft ‘plop.’ Rain splattered over Alexio's head and body, and his outerwear soaked and clung to him. But he didn't care. All his attention was on this sudden hug.
It was the first close physical contact between him and the lunatic outside of battle. The human's heartbeat was a little rapid, whether from being soaked in the rain or something else, it made Alexio, who hadn't drunk blood all day, feel a bit hungry. He forcefully dispelled this thought from his mind and tried to move, only to be held even tighter.
A faint breath brushed against his neck, giving Alexio an absurd premonition of being hunted.
“How did you get yourself into such a state?” he whispered. “And without umbrella.”
“……”
The only response was a tighter embrace.
Alexio thought for a moment. The only thing that could move the lunatic's emotions like this was probably his gradually returning memories.
“Did you remember something again? It's all in the past.”
His hand tried to pat the lunatic's head from behind, but he couldn't reach it. When he was turned into a vampire, he hadn't fully grown, leaving a height difference between him and the lunatic. After a few attempts, he gave up and patted the lunatic's back instead.
“Let's go back. It's still raining.” He tried to peel the lunatic off himself, but the lunatic stubbornly clung on. By the end, Alexio was almost angry. Then, he suddenly heard a soft laugh by his ear.
Alexio: “……”
Damn you, lunatic!
He nearly drew his scythe from the shadows, but the lunatic decisively released him, though his gaze remained fixed on Alexio. That long-forgotten feeling from ten thousand years ago returned. Although the lunatic's eyes were a clear sky blue, sometimes when he looked at him, it felt scorching.
“How far has your memory recovered?” Alexio asked suspiciously.
The saint immediately lowered his eyelids, the faint smile disappearing.
“Up to… when I received the news of your death.”
“……” Alexio was silent for a moment. “Actually, about that news…”
“I know. Your earlier attitude made it clear that between you and Theo, you would definitely win. But that didn't stop me from wondering just how severe the injuries must have been for Theo to confidently declare you dead.”
“……” Alexio had no comforting words at the moment. He wasn't one to dwell on bad things. Although the complete falling out with Theo was extremely perilous, Theo ultimately couldn't kill him. He escaped. To stabilize his own power, it was quite understandable for Theo to declare him dead to the outside world.
He curled up to recover, healing about halfway, then thought of spending the Carnival with the lunatic. He had already broken a promise once, so no matter what, he didn't want to break it again. Therefore, at great risk, he found the lunatic at the Carnival the following year.
“The year after, I came looking for you. As soon as I woke up, I went to find you. That day just happened to be the Carnival,” Alexio said, lifting his head. His deep rose eyes fixed on the saint, a hint of pride in his expression as he showed a small fang.
“You'll remember slowly later. That news of my death was just false information spread by Theo. When I saw you again, I was truly relieved. I had slept for a whole year. During that time, my old friend was hunted in the Sea of Undead, and Theo ruled over the vampires with an iron fist… I only learned of these things afterward.
“But you were still there. At least you were still there. The lingering soul butterflies in the Sea of Undead told me you even tried to help my friend. Although you couldn't save her in the end, I still thank you.”
After saying this, he smiled bitterly.
“At first, I kept saying I wouldn't reveal anything and would let you remember on your own. But now it seems I've said almost everything. Honestly, part of that was because of my selfishness. I was afraid you'd remember, afraid you'd recall something that would make you turn against me like you did ten thousand years ago.
“I still don't understand why you tore up our pact. Did I do something wrong? Or did something else happen? Why not just talk to me? I'm not someone who won't listen. No matter how absurd, I'd believe you if you told me.”
Lucius' eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the vampire standing before him. The rain seemed to make those red eyes even more vivid. The vampire looked back, then lowered his gaze in defeat and apologized.
“Sorry. You haven't recovered your memory yet. I shouldn't have poured out my negative emotions on someone who knows nothing.”
“…A prophecy.”
“What?”
“The firestorm prophecy. Noah sacrificed his life and gave it to me during the Carnival you didn't attend.”
He didn't intend to tell Alexio that he had regained all his memories just yet. That might make Alexio wary and distant, something he absolutely wanted to avoid. What he wanted was a gentler, more gradual closeness, like when they had lived together before.
But he would never tolerate misunderstandings between them. Ten thousands years ago, he kept silent because he alone knew the firestorm prophecy. He had to try to save things, and so he could not die. Yet, before entering the second phase of his plan, just as he was about to pull Alexio into the coffin to prepare for their ten-thousand-year slumber, he revealed the apocalyptic prophecy to him.
He wasn't sure if he would die. He gambled on his usefulness to the gods, hoping they would grant him a chance at life within the rules.
Apparently, he had bet correctly.
“The apocalyptic prophecy must not be revealed…” Alexio murmured. It was common knowledge. Those who exposed fate were doomed. “That's why you couldn't explain it to me directly and had to act indirectly.”
A burden in his heart lifted. If that was true, then the lunatic from ten thousand years ago must have been under tremendous pressure. Opposing him against his will could have been part of a salvation plan. Although it didn't stop the great firestorm, this new world ten thousand years later proved that the lunatic's efforts were not in vain.
“Is that so?!” Alexio said, eyes sparkling with excitement. “If that's true, then you're undoubtedly a savior!”
Lucius didn't care whether he was a savior or not. Seeing Alexio's expression relax, he smiled faintly in response.
“Even if I did something, the previous era still ended in destruction.”
“That's different! Some destructions leave only ashes, while others leave sparks that can reignite, like the world now! Wait, sparks…” Alexio paused, thinking. “At the conservation center just now, I think I saw Leviathan, on the verge of reviving, and he called me the ‘spark.’”
“…Did he say anything else?”
“No, he refused to reveal more.”
Lucius nodded slightly. Leviathan had kept his promise, not disclosing too much of what he had done.
“So I really am the spark?” Alexio fell into thought. “Quick, lend me your brain for a moment, what does that mean?”
“Are you sure you want me to lend it to you here?”
“What, you don't want to?” Alexio bared his fangs with a teasing threat.
“If you want to stand in the rain and think about it, I have no objections.”
“……”
Alexio suddenly realized they were still standing in the rain, though it had softened to a gentle drizzle, mistily enveloping them. He shut up to avoid further mockery from the lunatic. Uncharacteristically, however, the lunatic didn't mock him. Instead, he simply picked up the umbrella device from the ground, opened it, and let the waterproof canopy cover both of them.
When they finally got home just after two in the morning, Alexio felt exhausted from the long night. He planned to go straight to his room, take a shower, and sleep. Suddenly, he felt himself lifted off the ground. The lunatic had picked him up like a cat, checked the water dripping at the door, and carried him inside.
“Put me down! What do you think you're doing?”
“Bath time. You're wet from the rain. I don't want you catching a cold.”
“I won't catch a cold!”
“I'm afraid I might catch one.”
“???”
This doggish behavior had somehow reached a new peak! He genuinely feared that one day the lunatic might wake up barking like a dog!
Also…
Why not just shower himself! Was he planning to bathe together?!