BXBX NOVEL 47-Episode 43: Queen'S Melancholy
Since arriving in this world, Tokihara is not exactly a Tokihara. He is recognized as one of the many pawns and is rarely called by his individual name. However, he was known as the "Albadamba Pawn" because of his contribution to the archipelago nation "Albadamba" floating in the Luvering Sea, and his contribution to his bloodline was impossible to ignore. If you're going to go so far, you could just call me Akasagihara, I suppose.
Now, the report brought by Bishop Akeno was surprising in its own way to Akesihara.
Suo of Night. He was still young and a bloodthirsty vampire, but his skills were solid. His death, such as he was, was a big deal. Moreover, the old west castle where Suou and Akeno sat was a place where there was little chance of foreign enemies coming.
''The Queen's rebellion is definite. There was one student who awakened in Phase 3 and engaged that guy.
Akeno tells him nonchalantly. Akeno muttered, 'Hm,' and wiped the lenses of his glasses.
''Well, you've already heard the story. The fact that there was a rebellion of queens means that the force will not be replenished. I've heard that the blood relatives who have begun skirmishing in various places have temporarily withdrawn from the area. This is something that the ogres tried to do seventy or eighty years ago and failed to do.
'I am going to take the High Elves to the King.
You came all the way across the ocean for that?
There's one more thing I need you to do.
Seeing Akeno saying that, Akeno thinks that Akeno has calmed down a lot now.
Akeno abandoned the company he was running and, in his former world, he had already arrived here locally three years ago. It was to lay the groundwork for the blood family to operate. After that, it seems that the blood clan that stayed in the original world had a dispute with the Holy See Knights of the Pontifical Council and the people of the Cabinet's Special Countermeasures Office for Different Abilities.
I heard that it was at that time that Akeno Miyabi was injured in the brain. Her advocacy of the Transference Denaturation Gate and the corpse-transforming virus was the backbone of her plan, so she couldn't afford to lose her intelligence. It was worth the effort to keep Akeno and her intelligence intact, but it left her with significant deficiencies in her intelligence and emotions. Periodically, it became necessary to perform a brain cleanup.
Probably right after Akeno now has done that. For the time being, I think it's safe to let him act alone. The only thing that bothers me is that each cleanup will cause a slight mental shift, but that is something that both the king and Akeno himself have already factored in.
Whatever state Akeno was in, the death of Suou, who could hold her reins tightly, might still be a blow. Suzihara listened to Akeno's story as she thought about this.
''There's a possibility that those led by the Queen could pass through this Albadamba.
"Law.
"We've seen nodes going east from the ruins of the kingdom. They will be on the coast sooner or later.
Isn't there a sen that goes north along the coast from there?
Suzakihara asked, putting on her glasses, which she had finished wiping.
''It's not without, but it's an option I wouldn't take if I had even the slightest knowledge of this world. If you continue along the coast, you'll run into the Land of the Fire People. The people over there are exclusive.''
I see.
I've asked, but even Suzakuhara doesn't think they'll be stupid enough to go along the coast. Even if they are aiming east, it's because it's quite risky to go along the coastline. The Filnand Dragon Knight Kingdom, Pilica South Kingdom, etc. cannot ignore the central empire's intentions, so they, as monsters, could be captured if they are not good enough.
Going out to sea, that's a realistic line of thinking. Whether they have decent sailing skills or not.
'I wonder where the queens are headed,'
'I'm not very good at making assumptions based on people's thoughts and feelings. But there's no escape for the queens anyway. Wherever they go, it's all the same.
You're right.
I'm leaving some pawns in the ground. You'll be in charge of them. When they come to Al-Badamba, I want you to hold them off as long as you can and if you can't, find out where they're going.
It doesn't matter where you're going, you're just going to have to figure out where you're going. Well, I see your point.
Your best chance to get rid of the Queen and everyone else in your blood is to get rid of them. Once we get them in custody, we can get them to do what we say they're going to do. But it's already too difficult to do that, it must be said. There is someone who can kill Suou, and he is capable of doing so.
If that's the case, the honest truth is that I'd like to at least find out where they are and what they're after. If you can find out the details of their location, the king can give "orders" to the queen from afar, and then you will have a clearer view.
Yes, sir. I'll have to wait for the king's final instructions.
Akeno said. Akeno nodded.
''Do we prioritize securing the Queen, even if it means killing them? Or do we abandon them thoroughly? I can't say for sure about that without asking for the king's instructions.''
I understand. To confirm, the king knows exactly where you and I are located, does he not?
'You're asking me that now? This conversation is all in the king's head. You're not trying to cause any unnecessary anxiety, are you?
Ha-ha, that's not possible.
Once you have given your blood to the king, you can never escape his scrutiny. When she was in her former world, the queen was very submissive to the king, and therefore she was allowed to get away with not having to give her blood. It could also be because the king himself did not hate the queen.
In the end, it backfired on him. Would the king kill the queen? I have a feeling that he would kill her, or allow her to rebel. In any case, if the King and the Queen confronted each other, the Queen would be forced to give in, whether or not she wanted to or not. The king's power to rule is absolute.
"It would be best if we could get the Queen's blood, wouldn't it?
Akeno's eyes widened in surprise when Akeno asked him that.
'Best, but it's going to be hard. She's not going to be on the front lines much.
Well, I'm sure you will. I'll give it some thought, too.
I've been living in the United States of America's albadamba for nine years now. Nine years in our world.
It's been a long time, but it's done a lot to solidify our position. This archipelago nation, with its thin imperial control, was the perfect place to prepare the ground for the migration of the blood race. The first time they were suspicious of him, Zhu Xiuyuan was now in charge of accounting for one island and was allowed to sit in on the council of chiefs.
There is a lot of things we can do, if we can make the most of our position.
But if you can't get past them, it's all for naught.
If you want to pass through the sea without being detected by the Empire, then this albadamba is a key point that you cannot avoid. We can see that as a high probability.
'You've been here long enough.
Saying that, Akeno turned his back to Akeno.
''Are you leaving now?''
Yes. While the high elf is still obedient.
Obedience, would be a little different. When the boat carrying Akeno and the others arrived at the island, Akeno also looked at the high elf boy. That was a face that was blocked up in shock. Perhaps he should be seen as having formed a friendship with the dead Suou.
''Akeno-san doesn't mourn, does he?
I think it's superfluous, but I'm going to say it. With a snap, Akeno stopped in his tracks.
'You mean Suou?'
Yes. I've heard you two were very close.
We were certainly close. So I'm going to get my revenge someday.
Akeno left the room. It seems that there are still some unexpectedly damp spots left in the room that he intends to avenge.
Akeno doesn't know the sequence of events that led to Suou's murder in the first place. But even if he did know, he would have thought Akeno's anger at Suou's murder was justified. He kills because he was killed, and he kills because he is killed. That's how vampires and humans have mingled for the last thousand years.
''The king should have just stayed quiet in his corner of the continent, instead of thinking about some ridiculous invasion of the empire, right?
Well, as long as you're a vampire, you can't do that either. If they can't suck blood, they'll dry up one day.
I've tried many things since I came here, but it has to be human blood. It can't be elves, and it can't be beastmen. It can't be lizardmen or dwarves either. And as long as you have to suck human blood, there will be fraying somewhere.
After all, it's just like the original world. It's a causal body, Akagihara thinks.
Come to think of it, I haven't sucked human blood for a month now. Let's go catch some kids playing on the beach before the sun goes down and there's no one left to walk out.
Suzagihara clattered her canine teeth and prepared herself to go outside.
'Hey, Kyousuke-kun. Beni-san, have you been on edge lately?''
Rin said, and Kyousuke looked at Asuka Benii, who was sitting some distance away from the cafeteria.
Indeed, he could see that she was grumpily beating her teeth. It's an ill-mannered gesture for that queen. On the tray in front of her, there is a tray of forest rabbit steak, garnished vegetables, and the staple potatoes. Beni shows no signs of touching them at all. It is true that I have seen Benii around a lot lately.
Lately, though, it's only been a few days. It hadn't even been a week since the fierce battle with Suou and the others ended and they left that ancient castle and started heading east.
''Maybe it's because I haven't been able to suck blood.
Ei said that as he floated around in a huff. Kyousuke crossed his arms.
''Come to think of it, Beni is a vampire, right? You haven't sucked blood once since you came over here, right?'
'At least, human blood would be. Though it's not impossible that he could have been secretly sucking on it during his stay in the Knight Kingdom.
You've been eating a lot of the same things we have.
Beni Asuka is a vampire. And it's not like she became a "vampire" by passing through the Transition Denaturation Gate like Kyousuke and the others. She was born a vampire. And, although she doesn't say so openly, she should have been sucking human blood under the cover of darkness while she was in her original world.
And they hadn't been able to do that at all for the past month and a half or more. To these women, human living blood is like a luxury item?
'But that's the thing. If we suck blood poorly, the number of vampires will increase.
There's no point in smoking it.
Rin pouted, and Inugami Hibiki, holding the tray from behind, said in a spitting voice.
Kyousuke looks at her hand, surprisingly.
Hey, Inugami, you're starting to cater to yourself.
Sakuma's so annoying.
'Hey, Hibiki, what do you mean you don't get more when you smoke?'
Rin squeaked and tugged on the hem of Inugami's sailor suit. Kyousuke and Ei nodded.
Kyousuke and the others' image of a vampire was that of a vampire who would quench their thirst by sucking blood and then turning the person they were sucking blood from into a vampire. There was a basic premise of such a consciousness, and they were talking based on that, but Inugami says that's not the case.
Inugami Hibiki is also a girl who, like Beni, was a werewolf at the time of her original world. She has a shallow connection to the vampire clan, so she must have a certain amount of knowledge about their biology. Inugami clicked her tongue slightly, but she quickly and politely told me.
''So, sucking blood doesn't turn the other party into a vampire. It just sucks blood. Well, I heard you can put up with it for about a month without sucking it.
Heh.
Rin countered with a tap-tap-tap, moving her body up and down.
''Surely, if I had become a vampire every time I sucked blood, the earth would have been covered up so quickly because it's a rat race.
Ei nodded as if he was satisfied with the results.
''Even so, a month has already passed,''
So maybe you're running out of patience. I don't give a shit.
After saying that much, Inugami walked off smoothly.
After seeing his back off, Kyousuke, Rin and Ei came face to face with him. No, there was no other face but Kyousuke's, but they butted heads anyway. The first one to open his mouth was Kyousuke.
''What do you think?''
''I'd like to hear your independent opinion on that, Kyousuke-kun, who's come out of his mendacious adolescence.
'I agree with you. What do you think, Kyousuke?
'To be honest, it's not like I'm being treated like that........ No, it's simply that Benii had been under a lot of tension up until now, so he wasn't able to go beyond sucking blood, and then all of a sudden, that's been released recently, so the urge to suck blood returned, or something like that, right?
Beni revealed her identity and her true identity to her classmates. Although there was some confusion in the class, they eventually accepted her. However, many of the students don't know that Benii is 'trying to use her classmates to defeat the King'. Still, having told Kyousuke, Ryuzaki, Sakuma, and the others, a lot of weight must have been lifted off his shoulders.
And so, the blood-sucking urge that I had been holding back until now came back at once. At such a point, Kyousuke is glaring at me.
''Well, it's the only way, isn't it?
Rin nodded.
'Does it have to be human? 'I wonder if we can't recruit blood from Sakuma, Harui and the others, I suppose.'
No? And if you can do that, the blood of an animal you caught around there looks good.
Human blood. It's a hard thing to get hold of in the future.
The heavy duty branch school with the 2nd year 4 class students on board will now head to the sea. Once we reach the sea, we'll use the materials we secured at the old castle to re-renovate the branch school. After that, we will travel east.
The southern side of the continent has the potential to create unnecessary conflicts due to the deep-rooted influence of the Empire. So, they bypass the sea side and go around to the east where their destination is. Even in the south, the Verneus Peninsula, which juts out wide to the southeast of the continent, has little imperial influence. The plan presented to Ryuzaki was to go northward along the eastern sea from there.
In other words, they would now go out to sea. There are no humans in the sea.
''Maybe we'll stop by the island nation as a stopping point, so we'll have to be patient up to that point, right?
'If we got to the island nation, if we got to the island nation, would we be able to share our blood maturely, that's another problem...'
The slogan of the class is "The tasks are piled up," but now they have another task to complete. Kyousuke is also a high school student. It's a good idea to have a lot of assignments and homework, but no matter how much you do, the assignments come down like a demon.
Benai was still frustrated. He cut up the steak and brought it to his mouth while beating his teeth. He didn't touch the vegetables and potatoes as an accompaniment. As it was, she left the dining room, leaving the table roughly without disposing of the food. When she is in a bad mood, she gets angry even if she is silent, so the other classmates gave way to Benii as if they were frightened.
'Hey, Kyousuke-kun,'
Rin pokes at Kyousuke's bones with a pinch.
''Hmm?''
'Kyousuke-kun, if you weren't a skeleton, would you ever think of giving blood to Benii-san? The reason for this is because I thought seeing such a scene would make me feel a little uncomfortable, but since it's Kyousuke-kun, I thought I might do it.......
"Himemizu.
Before Kyousuke could answer, Ei spoke up.
Oh, yes. What's that, Mr. Righteous Wife?
'You can say those things with a bang. Kyousuke is the prince of happiness who will generously give his entire body of gold leaf to others if you don't say anything, but he won't do it if you don't want to. You're holding the reins of Kyousuke now. I think it's a big deal.
I see.
That kind of talk would not be something to talk about in front of him, Kyousuke thinks.
He thinks, but, well, there's no denying it.
Rin acknowledged the empty Kyousuke and said that if there was anything he was lacking, he would make up for it. Thanks to that, Kyousuke is getting back on his feet. As for whether there was a drastic change compared to before, it's not like that at all, but at least his awareness of Rin has changed. If she says she doesn't want to, he decides not to do it.
If she says she doesn't like it and still wants to do it, that's a welcome change, because it means she's grown some substance. There would be conflicts, but the fact that such a day would come in itself would make Rin feel welcome. So, Kyousuke had decided to take it easy and prepare himself.
'Well, Ei is right. I'm still an idiot, though, so I'm not going to be able to put a stop to that kind of thing.
I put on the brakes. That's okay. I got it.
Rin made a fist with her whole body and made a gesture of pounding her chest with a don. She was still a dynamic slime of emotional expression.
''Well, in the end, I don't think it's going to change much from what it was before. But I have high hopes for Himemizu. I think you can change Kyousuke.
Okay, I'll do my best.
So don't talk about that in front of him...
Kyousuke stood up from his seat with the tray for a moment to dispense.
The heavy duty detachment is well on its way to the east. Cleaving down the trees with caterpillars doesn't feel very good, as if they are destroying nature, but it can't be helped since they can't proceed otherwise. We left the ruins of the kingdom a few days ago, and it's time to mix the tide with the wind. The sea must be close.
The sea, huh? Sakuma Shoko thought as she gazed blankly at the scenery on the deck.
Itomi Kumazaki Itomi of Arachne, who is in charge of sewing, has started making swimsuits for the girls. Even though it's the ocean, it doesn't mean she's going to go swimming, but apparently anything that gives her a chance to make clothes is good for her. The boys are boys, and they are overjoyed, and Hakuba and others have been visiting the sewing room at Spider Saki every day with Washio's remains in their hands.
The last few days have been calm without any major battles, so Sakuma has more things to think about.
About Benii Asuka. Inugami Hibiki. About Soraki Kyousuke.
And on top of that, there's Kaoru Okuma. According to Goubayashi, he had promised to meet up with Kaoruko, as she was called in class, in the east. I'd like to meet up with Kaoru before I head out to sea.
'Kaoru-chan, I wonder how you are doing...'
Well, he's not fine. It's that guy.
The one who answered Sakuma's soliloquy was Benii Asuka, who was standing next to her before she knew it.
Benii and Sakuma have been friends since kindergarten, but if you add Akuma Kaoru to the mix, they've been friends since elementary school. I've never really been conscious of gender. Kaoru has always had a high level of female power. She taught Benii her make-up and fashion sense, and taught Sakuma how to cook and sew, all because of Kaoru.
Kaoru was always cheerful and energetic, but when she was reincarnated as an incubus, she was seriously depressed. 'I'd much rather have been a Kraken or Morbol than this,' he said in his own words.
'Goubayashi is back, and I'm sure Kaoru is dealing with her own problems. Sachi, I'm a lot safer than you are.
Oh, I don't know...
If he sees how closely Himemizu and Utsurogi are sticking together, what will Kaoru say to you again?
When he said that, Sakuma almost felt small.
Certainly, he would say it. ''It's because you're a bloke that Utsurogi-kun was stolen! It seems like a normal thing to say. It's not that Sakuma doesn't have the slightest idea that he was robbed, but he will probably say something about such a stifling attitude.
Let's change the subject. Let's change the topic. Let's change the way we think.
Yes, it's Beni. She's the one who came next to me before I knew it. Sakuma had something to ask about her as well.
''Asuka-chan, you've been feeling bad lately, are you okay?''
Heki. Or maybe not. I haven't sucked blood in a while.
Seeing Benii clenching his teeth, Sakuma opens his eyes in surprise.
''I see, Asuka........''
''I should have smoked one when I joined the Knight Kingdom, even if I was forced to.... It's not too late, but after two months, it's bad.
It was difficult for Sakuma to determine what he meant by "bad". Did it mean mentally, or was it more of a serious, life-threatening meaning? Sakuma stared at his own arms peeking out of the sleeves of his dress and asked Benii in a reluctant manner.
''Asuka..... Suck my blood...?
This time it was Benii who widened her eyes.
''Eh, no......... It's okay. I mean, even if you suck non-human blood, it doesn't mean you'll be satisfied.
'Oh, yeah. Sorry.....
If I was a sachi when I was a human, there were a few times when I wanted to smoke.
'Yeah, yeah...'
It's hard to know if I should feel honored by that. I don't think it's that she saw herself as just food, but is 'a friend who is also attractive as food' really a complimentary phrase between humans and vampires? Sakuma, who reads fiction, can recall episodes from some stories, but this is real life.
'Well, that's why I want to suck human blood...'
Beni said and clattered his teeth. His consciousness was pulled back at once.
''........Oh, it's okay. I can take care of myself enough not to be lethal.''
Really? Then it was good...?
The question is, how long will it be before we see a human...?
Her muttered voice disappeared in the wind.
However, Benii's wish would be granted only a day later.
When they heard the report that the sea was in sight, the students rushed on deck in droves.
"The sea, at last! The sea, finally.
Not your arm?
Mimi Nekomiya (Ket Shih) asks Salmon Ichiro Uozumi (Gilman), who seems to be enjoying himself wholeheartedly. The students' reactions are varied, but the majority of them seem to be thrilled by the open horizon in front of them. Only Hanazono, who has a vegetable garden on the deck, has a complicated look on her face and has begun to prepare an enclosure to protect her crops from the sea breeze.
Naturally, Kyousuke and the others had come on deck as well. Rin seemed to be having fun and leaping around, while Ei looked a little pale... but not quite as pale... but with a low firepower look on his face. As a mass of fire, he would die if he fell into the water, and if he won't be free from seasickness for the time being in the first place, it's not hard to understand how he feels.
"Hey Ei, are you okay...?
'Maybe not. For starters, I'll probably live on land for a few days for the refurbishment, so I'll enjoy it to the fullest at best...
My voice was shaking so badly that I felt sorry for him.
'Oh, listen up, people!
The chairman of the committee, Ryuzaki, comes to his classmates in a state of confusion. Naturally, Goubayash is with him.
'We're going to the beach now! Once we get out, we're going to divide it into two teams: a renovation team focusing on the Kuremori, and a search team that will combine the search for Kaoruko and the surrounding area! Also, the Uozumi siblings and Rin, I have a favor to ask of you from here, so please stay behind!
Oh, they asked for you.
At his feet, Rin bounced with a tappoose. Ei entered the commentary with a limpid flame.
''Probably they're going to do an experiment to see if the princess water can take in seawater. If they can separate it into salt and water from there, it will make navigation easier.
"Oh well......... I'm a complete filtration system too........ But what should you do, Kyousuke? When I'm one with the whole ocean...
'What do I do... what do I do? It's going to be easier to get Koganei back for now.
But then, I guess I'm going to be separated from Rin. Kyousuke will probably be sent to the search team, so it's a reasonable place to start. However, since Kyousuke is helpless without a coalescing partner, will he be forced to pull Ei and others along?
Ryuzaki continued.
'We'll be deciding on the detailed members from now on, but according to what Kurumori said, the renovation team will need firepower. Hino, are you okay with motion sickness?
Hmm, yeah. I'll be fine. I can get it up to a thousand degrees with a little rest.
Apparently, Ei will also be placed in the detention group. So, unless Kyousuke is sent to the renovation team, he'll be separated from the two of them. It's a bit disconcerting.
The first thing that comes to mind is that Kyousuke is making his solo debut. It's very emotional........
Oh, no. Wait a minute. You can't do it alone.
It's not impossible. It's a good opportunity to test the effects of the characteristic amplification in other ways. It's a good idea to have a good match with your opponent for an EX merger. Now that you've gotten away from me, it's time for you to get away from Himemizu.
I feel like I've been spoiled so much and suddenly I'm being shunned.
Well, there won't be any monsters around here that are too strong, and it may indeed be time to learn a new way of fighting that doesn't rely on the two of them. And if the combination is fixed forever, it might be hard for Ryuzaki to form a party, too.
Kyousuke began to examine rather seriously who would be easy to test the effects of characteristic amplification with, in front of the students who were thrilled to see the sea.