Volume 2 Chapter 58 Invitation Again
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Karthana had transformed into a vampire. Her appearance… when I went to defeat her, there was hardly any trace of her left except for her face.”
Aliona said this while offering hemostatic ointment.
”Ms. Karthana was originally human?”
”Yes, she was human. She had strong magic power for a human, but she always resented the strength of my magic power. She thought, ‘I can’t become a vampire’.”
”────”
The ‘glasses’ said that vampires hardly had tachyonian cells.
They absorbed essence from others.
They maintained their lives by consuming others’ magic.
It’s a domain that those born with many tachyonian cells cannot reach.
(So, there was probably only a trace of her left in her face.)
If her brain had changed almost completely, she surely would not have retained her original personality.
It must have been painful for Aliona.
”Is that the woman who transformed into a vampire in the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’?”
”…That’s right. That is Karthana. I kept killing my best friend until the evil energy scattered and her body couldn’t be restored. Over and over, over and over, over and over.”
”I’m sorry.”
”Why are you apologizing?”
”I made you talk about painful things…”
When Kian said this, Aliona shook her head.
”It’s fine. More importantly, I will say it again. Don’t go to the mansion in the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’ anymore. Karthana probably went crazy after gaining knowledge there. I said the books in the study were taken, but it was most likely Karthana who stole them. She used that knowledge to complete her research on becoming a vampire in the northeastern part of Izerland.”
”Do you know whose body the Head magician in the basement belonged to?”
”No, but I think… the ‘Thorn Demon’ is not the original one. If the thorns came out from its chest, then it’s probably a ‘Blood Servant’ of the ‘Thorn Demon’. I’m not sure if the thorns were driven into the ‘Thorn Demon’ or if the Head Magician got them somewhere and stabbed himself with them, but if it’s the latter, then that magician might have been a vampire researcher studying the ‘Thorn Demon’, just like Karthana.”
”The previous generation… you said the Demon mentioned something about ‘happening again’, right?”
”Yes.”
Aliona nodded, showing a moment of hesitation, then continued.
”This is something I heard from Karthana too. Apparently, the ‘Thorn Demon’ appears periodically. Each time it does, the land becomes barren, the ecosystem goes haywire, and the rulers of that land walk the path of destruction. In fact, my grandmother told me about one that appeared in the southwest of Izerland when she was young. The records of that time still remain in my hometown, the Elf Forest.”
”Was that ‘Thorn Demon’ defeated then?”
”Yes. It was destroyed by a mixed force of ten thousand Elves, Humans, and Beastmen. Its servants were wiped out, and I think they lost the source of magic power needed for its revival. Vampires are powerful, but they have a critical weakness──they can’t generate their own magic power.”
”──────”
Unable to generate their own magic power… that’s one of the weaknesses of vampires, a powerful existence.
The vampire nobility, who once ruled the night world in ancient times, had magic power farms as their supply source, but that was only possible because of their wealth and status.
If the ‘Thorn Demon’ is recognized as an enemy by the world, it will gradually have its forces diminished and eventually walk the path of destruction.
Like ‘Thorn Demon’, if you are recognized by the world as an enemy, your forces will gradually be reduced, and you will eventually end up following the path of breaking.
”Is ‘Thorn Demon’…something like a parasitic being? So even if they destroy it, they will be resurrected again?”
”I don’t know. But thinking about Karthana’s condition before heading northeast, it feels more like she is changing her body structure by her own will rather than being parasitized and having her body reshaped.”
”Is there a difference?”
”Yes. It means that those willing to become ‘Thorn Demon’ are transforming into ‘Thorn Demon’. Karthana was enchanted by the knowledge of immortality and went astray. It is not some spirit of ‘Thorn Demon’ pulling the strings from behind, but rather people trying to use the knowledge to become ‘Thorn Demon’ that causes the emergence of demons. I thought so watching Karthana’s unusual fixation.”
Aliona continued with a stern look.
”Kian. This is the lesson that anyone who seeks power beyond what they can truly offer will eventually self-destruct. Karthana was excellent, but she went wrong in how she sought power. She didn’t verify if it was really safe or if it would harm others… or perhaps she made a wrong choice knowing everything.”
”It’s typical of you, Ms. Aliona, to say that seeking power itself isn’t bad.”
”There is good power and bad power. And there is, very rarely, power that doesn’t affect anyone. Even as Kian gains power, never misuse it.”
”You mean to use power for what’s right?”
”Rightness is subjective. Like Karthana, you must not let your own sense of rightness go against the public good. Consider others carefully. It may sound nagging, but it’s an aunt’s request.”
”I understand what you mean, Ms. Aliona. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Yet, Kian’s hands were already stained with much blood.
If it gets in the way, he eliminates it.
Kill mercilessly.
He thinks sometimes such means are necessary.
In short, what Aliona wants to say is, don’t cause harm to the world to the extent that you destroy yourself.
(I have no intention of changing my mind.
I’m going my own way.)
Aliona’s existence, who would pause and wait for him in the middle of the journey, was indeed a blessing.
If everyone around him were to blindly agree with everything, he might stray from the path and never return.
’Kian, don’t take what that old hag says to heart. Karthana was just a fool. If you navigate wisely, you won’t face any path of destruction. Do you understand? The concept of good and evil doesn’t exist in this world. What’s important is to make others believe you’re a positive presence. Regardless of your true nature, if you contribute to society, no one can say anything. You’ll be recognized as good.’
(You’re right about that too.)
Kian thought as he handed over the payment to Aliona.
To rise to the top, you can’t think like Aliona.
The destination she reaches is one of stagnation and peace.
You must accept both good and evil.
That is the path to the peak, just like his father, Umar Vahid, and his brother, Jibril.
You must be fair to both good and evil.
”One more thing. I received a quest to explore the underground of Her Excellency Margrave’s mansion, and there was a mithril golem about 5 meters tall. It was entangled in thorns, but do you have any idea about this?”
”It’s not Karthana’s doing. She’s just a drifter with no connection to the Margrave family. I don’t recall her ever entering the fortress. I think a 5-meter mithril golem would be too expensive for anyone to acquire.”
”What about the previous ‘Thorn Demon’ then?”
”I can’t say anything without seeing the scene myself. But I have a contract that prevents me from stepping onto Margrave Izerland’s grounds. Even entering the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’ is a gray area for me.”
”I see. Personally, I’m curious about that basement. Even more so now that I’ve heard about ‘Thorn Demon’. Ah, no. Her Excellency Maribel means that it’s in danger. I’m just curious about it.”
”Don’t worry, the magician at Margrave is quite capable. That blonde little lady, Natasha, is still there, right?”
”Yes, she’s the head magician now.”
”We can trust her to handle things. She may be weak when it comes to wealth and power, but she’s cautious enough to eliminate any real danger.”
”Weak and cautious… That’s a harsh assessment.”
”I’m just describing her as I remember her. But if she’s up to no good, let me know. I’ll teach her a lesson.”
”So, Ms. Aliona, you’re quite intimidating.”
At Kian’s words, Aliona let out a bewitching laugh, ‘hehehe’.
”Women have many faces. I only showed you my gentle side, Kian, and I’ll continue to do so. If you ever need help again, come to me. If the conditions are right, I’ll assist you.”
”Thank you.”
”You’re still wearing the ring I gave you, I see.”
As they walked out of the underground workshop, she glanced at the thorny ornament on Kian’s finger.
”It’s from Ms. Aliona, and it’s supposed to protect me from danger once, right?”
”Yes… I think you know this already, but that ring was made by Karthana. She sent it to me as a birthday gift before she left for the northeastern region of Izerland.”
”Should I return it, then?”
”No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just…”
Aliona smiled sadly as she looked at the ring.
”I feel like I didn’t do enough for Karthana. If I had given her a ring woven with my hair in return for her gift, maybe she would have reconsidered becoming a vampire.”
”Ms. Aliona…”
”I’ve always regretted not doing more. I probably failed as Karthana’s friend.”
”Regretting the past won’t help. The important thing is to never make the same mistake again. Ms. Aliona taught me a lesson today: use power rightly──. When I might stray from my path in the future, your words may resurface in a decisive moment, bringing me back.”
Kian gently grasped Aliona’s hands.
”As long as your blessing is with me, I will never become like Ms. Karthana. The feelings of Ms. Aliona will continue to live in my heart.”
* * *
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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