EnCoffin Me Chapter 92
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 92
When Lucius came out carrying the soup, Alexio was sitting upright at the dining table. His intuition, which had become sharper after recovering all his memories, warned him that something seemed to have happened, but just from Alexio's expression, he couldn't tell what it was.
He quietly set the soup bowl down.
“Rest at home this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow we have to get up before dawn to prepare at the conservation center.”
Alexio picked up his spoon, signaling that he understood.
Alexio did nothing during the afternoon and evening rest time. Instead, he looked through the timestamps of every cat stickers posted by Sparrow Nestling in Thorns. Alexio wasn't stupid. Although his memory occasionally faltered, it was usually just because he didn't pay it much mind. But when he needed to investigate something, his efficiency was impressive. That afternoon, he had already organized the data into a spreadsheet and then stared at the stickers, lost in thought.
The timing was clearly disrupted, but… some of the stickers distinctly showed his interactions with the lunatic.
The earliest cat knocking on the door was from a livestream. Some drawings looked normal, but later stickers — the happy cat, angry cat, and even the ecstatic dancing cat — all clearly reflected his expressions. Some of these he had never shown in front of others, yet Sparrow Nestling in Thorns captured them vividly. Of course, this could be attributed to talent and wasn't enough evidence to pin the lunatic down.
Alexio brainstormed for a while and decided to investigate further. The lunatic was cautious. Every time he released a new cat sticker, it was always after some official announcement or Alexio himself had posted related updates. Then, the lunatic would declare his inspiration and present the fresh sticker pack.
He planned to give the lunatic a bait and see if Sparrow Nestling in Thorns would release a new sticker.
Alexio pulled U over and took a photo. The black cat in the picture looked fluffy and clearly freshly bathed.
@Vampire Alexio: Cat bath. 【Image】
After posting this update, he relaxed and played a few rounds of games. Maybe because Alexio had never shown any suspicion, even someone as cautious as the lunatic eased up a bit. That night, Alexio noticed that Sparrow Nestling in Thorns reposted his update and added a new sticker.
@Sparrow Nestling in Thorns: Cat bath.jpg
The repost was buried among countless others who had reposted Alexio's updates. It didn't seem particularly noticeable, but Alexio was watching this particular account closely. Seeing that Sparrow Nestling in Thorns had indeed released a new sticker, his fingers tapped a few times on the armrest of the sofa.
No rush. He'd wait and probe a few more times, then gather solid evidence before pressing hard.
Lucius didn't yet know his alias was under surveillance. After posting the sticker, finishing some handwriting work, and handling leftover files, he came downstairs intending to play games with Alexio to strengthen their bond.
As soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Alexio sprawled on the carpet.
Cat sprawled.jpg
So cute, he thought, almost wanting to draw a sticker. But being cautious by nature, he didn't want to risk exposing his secret identity just yet. He needed to figure out a way. Either he or Alexio would have to post something online. That way, he'd have a solid excuse to explain where his inspiration came from.
“The floor's cold. Get up.”
Alexio remained sprawled on the floor, coldly observing the lunatic behaving like a proper human.
Feeling tempted? Want to draw it? Or do you need me to post another update?
Nope! Let's see how you explain the inspiration then!
Alexio stubbornly refused to get up, and the saint reluctantly sat on the sofa.
“Are you tired these past few days?”
“…Mm.”
“Want some?”
He stretched his hand toward Alexio.
High-generation vampires didn't have a high need for blood if they didn't fight often. The same applied to Alexio. He had fed from the lunatic a couple of days ago and wasn't actually hungry now, but the thought of that sweet taste made him fixate on the lunatic's hand.
It was a good-looking hand, with distinct knuckles and faintly visible pale blue veins. Seeing Alexio remain still for a long moment, the saint even used his other hand to make a shallow cut on the wrist, making it easier for Alexio to feed.
Alexio's pupils contracted for an instant, and before he could fully react, he bit down. Amid the rich scent of blood, he faintly heard the saint humming a melody from ‘The Girl and the God of Death.’ The maiden Marian was about to be burned by fire as an offering to the gods, when the God of Death who had crossed paths with her appeared, saved her from the fire, and took her on a romantic journey.
【Good girl, I never meant to harm you, nor do I intend to force you to be my bride. I only ask you to come with me, to embark on a romantic journey.】
【You shall see how the moon sets upon snowy peaks, how the deserts of the four seasons transform. And those long-tailed birds, perched upon the starry canopy, shall heed my command and weave for you splendid gowns, shedding your past behind.】
【Come with me, come with me, my barren life has finally blossomed a flower, and upon that flower sits you—】
【My butterfly, my girl.】
The blood brought a gentle intoxication. Alexio fell asleep listening, though the exhaustion from days of overtime also played a big part. He had no idea how the lunatic pulled his hand from his mouth and carefully carried him back to the room. When he opened his eyes and saw the familiar ceiling, he was startled for a moment, followed by immense regret! So much regret!
He had planned to watch the lunatic carefully, hoping to catch him slipping.
He turned on his lightbrain and seriously reviewed the lunatic's updates. Sure enough, there was a new post!
@Lucius: Listening to music.
It was simple, with no picture, but in the repost list was Sparrow Nestling in Thorns again, and a new sticker had already appeared, which further confirmed to Alexio that this was indeed the lunatic's alias.
But…
He looked at the new sticker. It was a little black cat wearing large headphones, burying its face in its paws, sound asleep.
Cat listening to music.gif
I need to gather more evidence! Definitely not because I'm worried the lunatic will stop making stickers once exposed! Definitely not!
He turned over and pressed his face against the lightbrain. The little black cat, fast asleep with its paws covering its face, looked incredibly cute through the screen.
Was he really like this in the lunatic's eyes…
This thought made his face flush slightly. He quickly reined in his thoughts. Still in the same position, resting his face on the lightbrain, he fell asleep again.
*****
Maybe because Alexio had slept so well, Lucius received a friendly wake-up call before dawn the next day. The third-generation vampire appeared in his room without a sound and pulled his blanket away. Thanks to the strict training from the Holy Temple, Lucius woke up quickly without any morning grumpiness, though he felt a little helpless.
“So energetic?”
“Carnival!”
“I thought you'd want to sleep a bit more.”
“Carnival!”
“Actually, another half hour wouldn't hurt.”
“Carnival! Carnival! Carnival!”
Good. Alexio, unusually excited, had completely turned into a broken record.
Since they would be returning late that night, they prepared food and water for U before setting off. Upon arriving at the conservation center, the atmosphere was indeed tense and busy. Alexio spun around like a top, working tirelessly just to free up his evening to fully enjoy the Carnival.
While directing the placement of several promotional posters, he suddenly saw Zhen waving at him from nearby, as if wanting to say something. Alexio quickly finished what he was doing and went over. Zhen smiled brightly.
“Alexi, we want to ask you for a favor.”
He whispered something in Alexio's ear. Alexio raised an eyebrow, and with a glance toward the corner, he noticed two others looking their way and couldn't help but smile.
“So… you're handling everything?”
“That's right!” Zhen nodded vigorously. “You just need to provide a little escort.”
Alexio had no objections. He was glad these kids were willing to work together to solve the problem. After quickly circling the Emerald Inner Sea once, Alexio finished the initial setup and pinched Zhen's cheeks.
“Are you sure you don't need me there?”
“N-no need. Xixi, go have fun.” Pinched on the cheeks, Zhen's voice became a bit muffled. “Don't worry too much about those things. Lucy's butterflies will help too, and we've also contacted Mr. Agustus from the security department.”
These kids were growing up, daring to act independently while still willing to call on outside help. At first, Alexio had his doubts, but after hearing their plan, he couldn't find any flaws.
Besides, with Helgodon, the awakened guardian, Lucy soon to control the entirety of the Sea of Undead, and Zhen's strong crowd control skills, Alexio had nothing to worry about.
He patted Helgodon's shoulder. The wolf-eared youth looked at him solemnly. Then he glanced at Lucy, who gave a small nod, lifting her skirt in greeting. Finally, Zhen assured him with a serious expression that they'd contact Alexio if anything went wrong.
That was enough. Alexio finished setting up around the shores of the Emerald Inner Sea. When night fell, his domain would manifest, confining all battles within the sea.
“But that means you won't be able to see the play at the theater,” Alexio said after a moment's thought. “I'll ask Pupil if we can stream a holographic version online. I remember a similar plan was mentioned before. We might as well release it simultaneously.”
That way, no one would miss out. Everyone was satisfied with the arrangement. After confirming with Pupil and receiving an affirmative response, Alexio returned to his work. Near dusk, he said goodbye to the staff and left. His lightbrain vibrated softly.
@Darklife Conservation Center: Dis——guised——outing! 【Picture】
This was the conservation center's main event for the Carnival. Under Alexio's guidance, many dark creatures had gained independent mobility. They would disguise themselves and mingle with the crowd, celebrating this ancient festival alongside lucky ticket holders. The center posted nine silhouette images at once, each uniquely styled, making it impossible to guess how the creatures were dressed.
【Ahhh, I'm one of the lucky attendees! Already past security and entering! Looking forward to meeting them all!】
【Tears of envy spilled uncontrollably.】
【Points, points, points! I want to see The Girl and the God of Death! I'm going to visit every booth! Let's go!!!】
The event rules were explained again, which was mainly a point system. Each booth visited earned corresponding points, and once enough points were accumulated, they could redeem tickets to The Girl and the God of Death at the free theater. The play would start promptly at nine in the evening. Of course, even if visitors couldn't get into the theater, Pupil guaranteed that the holographic version would be simultaneously available on major platforms for purchase, with all proceeds supporting dark creature activities.
Visitors who couldn't enter the theater didn't have to wait just for the hologram. Many spontaneous street performances were happening in the plaza outside, bringing their lively stories to immerse everyone in the festival's joy.
Night was falling, and Alexio was making final adjustments to his outfit. To avoid being recognized, he put on non-prescription glasses and fixed the beret on his head. The saint beside him reached out to straighten the hat before attending to his own clothes. Without his usual cloak, he looked unusually fresh. With the brim of his hat, plus a mask he planned to buy as backup, it would be hard for anyone to recognize him.
“Let's go.”
“Mm!”
After ten thousand years, they joined the Carnival together once again, without grudges, only a gentle flow of understanding and warmth.
Around the shores of the Emerald Inner Sea, imposing city walls rose as the domain expanded. A waning crescent moon hung tilted, and countless shadows began to stir within the city. Zhen looked at the Red Moon Royal City and, for a moment, felt as if the city held a story.
A story about Alexio.
But he quickly stopped thinking about it. Behind him, the lich girl approached slowly, wearing a crown of withered bones and leaning on a white bone scepter that towered above her. Her expression was calm.
The lich faced the sea, beneath which lay her kingdom of undead.
“I hereby declare—”
She spoke softly but without losing any authority. The last rays of the setting sun faded, and faint blue soul flames flickered beneath the ocean depths, like countless eyes returning from the underworld silently watching the world.
She rested her head against the scepter, and the skeletal wings atop it spread solemnly over her.
“Today is the day of Carnival.”