Chapter 8
Carmilla's cheeks, which had been burning up for a while.
It took a long time before she let out a trembling voice.
"I... I can no longer get married...."
"...."
I really am sorry about that.
But even though she said that, perhaps it was because she knew it was an extension of medical treatment.
Carmilla didn't actually complain.
'She's probably just embarrassed.'
Vampires.
Especially purebloods, those who believed themselves to be a noble clan.
Because of that, I heard they were quite conservative when it came to sexual matters.
A body that had never even revealed a forearm or calf in its entire life.
So, imagine how flustered she must be, knowing a man she had never seen before had washed her.
"Ugh, uuuu...."
The girl mumbled with her face buried in her palms.
It took quite some time for Carmilla to gather her senses.
"Ahem, mm... I-I apologize. I showed an unsightly side of myself for a moment."
"It's fine. It was an emergency for me as well, so I lacked consideration for the finer details."
"No! Were you not trying to save me? I have flustered my life's benefactor, so it is my own lack of virtue. I was momentarily swayed by personal feelings...."
She spoke as if she had regained her elegance, but her complexion was still reddish.
I didn't bother pointing that out.
Since she must be trying her best in her own way.
I bowed my head first and continued the introduction I couldn't finish earlier.
"I will formally introduce myself. My name is Victor. I am a knight tasked with escorting the Princess, by the orders of the Late King."
"The person my father arranged for...."
"It seems you had already received a hint from the Late King."
"Yes.... He told me on the day he passed away. He said that his vassals were hiding in human society as well, and told me to meet them."
Her eyes blinked as if reminiscing.
In the meantime, the girl's breathing had calmed down.
Was she ruminating on that terrible day?
"So you... are the vassal my father spoke of."
"Yes."
I answered without hesitation.
Of course, it was a lie....
'The Late King's words were true. Because there were indeed many vassals who followed the Late King living hidden in human society.'
However, the Late King didn't know.
That even they would have already met their ends.
'They were all murdered.'
The vassals were eliminated by the New Kingdom before they could even receive their mission.
In the end, it meant there was nowhere for Carmilla to stay.
Thus, I decided to take on that role instead.
"What did my father say?"
"He said that if the Dynasty were to fall, we should hide among humans and build our strength."
"Other than that?"
"To take good care of the Princess...."
"...I see. My father did."
A gloomy breath.
Her eyes were moist with tears, but the girl desperately held back her crying.
Her pent-up feelings seemed to leak through her bitten lips.
"Are you alright?"
"Phew... Yes, I am fine. Is there any reason for me not to be? I survived. I survived, and I also met a vassal who will serve me, just as my father said. I wasn't helplessly murdered, and so I am able to plan for the future."
"...."
"Therefore, I am fine."
Carmilla seemed to try to hide it as much as possible, but it was rather obvious from the words she spat out pretending to be strong.
She was trying her best.
Not letting her welling tears fall was the best she could do.
"...."
I too kept my mouth shut, pretending not to notice.
A wound that couldn't be easily comforted, nor should it be.
The utmost consideration I could offer was silence.
After keeping my mouth shut for a moment, Carmilla soon opened hers again.
It seemed she had calmed down to some extent.
"T-Then... you there."
"Please feel free to call me Victor."
"Alright! Victor... Then, are you going to be my escort knight from now on?"
"That is correct. Until the Princess gathers her strength, I plan to assist you by your side."
"How reliable! A human who blocks the God-Killing Bow and a stake with his bare body, no less! And without getting a single speck of dust on his clothes, at that. My father truly shared a friendship with an extraordinary person during his lifetime."
"Thank you."
A lie returned naturally.
I felt a pang of guilt at those innocent eyes, but I forced myself to move past it.
It's okay.
Even though I told a lie, I will at least keep my promise to protect you.
I lightly brushed off the complicated tightness in my heart for a moment.
"Princess."
"Why do you call, Victor?"
"From what I know, I heard that pureblood vampires can transform into the shape of a bat."
"That is correct. It is an art I am capable of as well."
"Good. Starting tomorrow, you will be attending the Academy with me."
"The Academy? You mean the educational institution that teaches young humans?"
"Yes. Even among those, it is an Academy called the best on the continent. It is a place full of talented individuals, so building connections here will surely help you someday. Because in order to rebuild the Dynasty, we must gather strength by any means necessary."
"I see... So we are cultivating a faction."
Carmilla nodded as if convinced.
"However... wouldn't it cause quite a stir if I enrolled? There might be a Human who recognizes my face. And since the execution failed, my Uncle's side won't stop pursuing me either...."
"That is precisely why I asked."
"Hmm?"
"I believe it would be best if the Princess accompanied me in the form of a Bat. As you mentioned, if the Princess's existence is leaked, it will inevitably draw attention. It wouldn't take long for us to become targets of the New Kingdom again."
"I see...! Even long-lived Vampires find it difficult to notice a transformed Bat. At a glance, one cannot distinguish whether it is a Spiritual Beast or the disguise of a Pureblood. With that method, the risk of being discovered would be low."
"I plan to report to the Academy that you are a Spiritual Beast under my care."
"Understood. I just need to play along."
I pondered deeply.
When Carmilla transformed into her Bat form, she was roughly the size of an adult woman's fist.
"Buying a separate birdcage would be cumbersome. It would likely be stifling for the Princess as well. The pockets of the School Uniform are quite spacious, so I think you can just slip in there."
"Certainly, being locked in a cage doesn't sound very pleasant."
"By the way... is it possible for us to converse while you are a Bat?"
Was that even possible?
The oral structure itself would be completely different from when she was a Human.
While I tilted my head to myself, Carmilla answered confidently.
"Do not worry about that!"
The silver-haired girl leaped up from her seat.
Without any explanation, she jumped straight into the air.
Whoosh-!
A crimson Aura shimmered around her.
The next moment, the girl's figure shifted.
A color that dyed along her fluttering hair.
"Oho."
In an instant, Carmilla had transformed into a silver Bat.
Despite her smaller size, she still possessed those mystically colored red eyes.
She fluttered her wings and landed gracefully on my shoulder.
As I watched her oddly cute movements, a voice suddenly echoed in my head.
[Victor!]
"...?"
Oh.
What is this.
[This is also possible!]
"Princess?"
[Yes, it is me!]
"This... isn't your real voice. It's as if you're transmitting the resonance directly into my mind...."
[Hehe, you noticed! I believe it is called Telepathy in the human world?]
"How fascinating. To think you were capable of something like this."
[You may be a little more surprised! I am glad that you recognize my competence!]
To think there was such a feature.
Feeling amazed, I exchanged a few more words with her.
'Come to think of it... it was like this in the original work too.'
There were many scenes where she conversed with Ranne even in her Bat form.
It seemed it wasn't just some game-like direction, but an actual setting called Telepathy.
Anyway, this was great.
With this, the problem of communication was solved.
It meant I could easily take her around the Academy with me.
'One might wonder if I really need to carry Carmilla around with me all the time, but....'
This is insurance.
Insurance for me, a total weakling with an E-rank in every Stat.
'Carmilla is strong.'
Although she showed a pathetic side when she was sniped by a Silver Arrow and ganged up on by Assassins, her pure combat prowess is on par with the Top Student of this class.
There's a reason why a Pureblood is considered special.
It meant that even before her awakening, she could easily crush a mere Academy Freshman.
'She has to protect my body.'
I do have the Mask of the Evil God, but this thing has a limit on the number of uses.
Furthermore, since its ability is so ridiculously overpowered, I can't just use it carelessly.
It's a card I need to save.
If I don't want to die a dog's death somewhere, increasing my means of survival is essential.
'As long as I carry Carmilla around, I should be able to safely navigate through a certain level of danger.'
I had clearly introduced myself as her escort Knight, but the reality was that I was the one being protected.
I felt a bit guilty because it seemed like I was deceiving her, but....
'Whatever.'
As the old saying goes, as long as you make it to Seoul, it doesn't matter which path you take.
I just need to keep the promise I made to Carmilla.
If I save her life, help her build a faction, gather talented individuals for her, assist with her revenge, and help her seize the royal authority once again....
'Isn't that within the bounds of forgiveness?'
It might be mixed with lies right now, but I just have to turn those lies into reality.
Either way, I am also in a position where I have to help Carmilla.
I have to avoid the destruction of the world, after all.
I refuse to accept a future where Vampires start a war and the continent is reduced to ashes.
Therefore, a little bit of deception is unavoidable for the greater good.
'It's a win for Carmilla because she achieves her long-cherished wish, and a win for me because I avoid the end of the world.'
It's truly a win-win situation.
Good for the sister, good for the brother-in-law.
Wouldn't it be good for the Tyrannosaurus and good for the Micropachycephalosaurus?
Satisfied with that rationalization, I gently stroked the Mask on my face.
"Hehe...."
[....]
"Hmm? Is something the matter, Princess? The Telepathy trembled a little...."
[I-It is nothing.]
"Please tell me. Am I not the person Your Highness should trust the most from now on?"
It definitely trembled, like a jolt sent directly to my brain.
Carmilla hesitated, unable to easily answer.
[I-It is just....]
"Just what?"
[H-How about you refrain from smiling like that? It is nothing else, just that the killing intent... is a bit scary... N-No! Of course, that does not mean I find you scary, Victor....]
"...."
I felt hurt.
To think a person's smile could be considered scary.
I pouted to myself.
Though she probably couldn't see it because of the Mask.
'Anyway.'
My Academy life had begun.
***
Another day passed just like that, bringing the day of the Academy entrance ceremony.
I headed to the Auditorium as previously announced.
A bustling crowd.
Tens of thousands had been filtered out, but there were still nearly a thousand people left in the Academy.
To break through the fierce competition among them, skip grades to Class A, and graduate from the Academy.
That could be called the ultimate goal of the Cadets.
[This truly is a harsh place.]
"I suppose it is. After all, they are children receiving elite education."
The Princess was inside the front pocket of my School Uniform coat.
Peek-. Sticking her head out in a cute manner.
She seemed to quite like it inside the roomy pocket.
Saying it was warm and perfect for resting.
"Fortunately, we aren't late."
[People around are stealing glances at you.]
"Well, it isn't common for someone to walk around wearing a Mask. Wouldn't everyone find it fascinating?"
[Mhm, I suppose so. Though there seems to be another reason as well....]
"Pardon? What did you say?"
[I-It was nothing...!]
The Princess's silly muttering.
In the meantime, we arrived at the Auditorium.
The entrance ceremony grandly commenced.
[It is being held on a grand scale. To even project a welcome message with Magic.]
"It is, in name at least, the best Academy on the continent."
[The Humans have quite a high level of Magic themselves.]
"Though it cannot compare to Vampires."
[Obviously!]
We shared some whispered small talk.
Following the enthusiastic welcome, a few congratulatory speeches ensued.
A white-haired old man stood at the Podium.
A benevolent smile, and a voice that seemed to sincerely congratulate the entrance.
'So that is... the famous Dean.'
I thought to myself.
The former Cultist slaughterer.
A figure whose kill count of Dark Mages alone ranks in the top three.
He is revered as a living legend in the Heresy Inquisition.
'As expected, you shouldn't judge a person by their face.'
To think he deboned people with such a warm impression.
It sent shivers down my spine.
'And next to him is... Top Professor Javert?'
A woman with a cold gaze.
She was the Adopted Daughter of the Dean, a figure boasting formidable Achievements.
As expected, she specialized in Cultist Assassination. The only Investigator who could rival the Dean.
I discreetly rolled my eyes and observed her.
'She looks exactly like her illustration.'
Voluptuous curves, blood-red hair, and even green eyes.
It was a splendor that made it easy to call her a beauty.
If Carmilla gave off a captivating vibe, she gave off a violent one.
Perhaps because she was one of the main characters in the original work, her appearance was top-notch.
As I was admiring her for a moment, my eyes suddenly met her deep green gaze.
"...?"
[Victor? What is wrong?]
"No. I just felt like we made eye contact for a moment...."
[Isn't it just your imagination? There are so many people here.]
"I suppose it is, right?"
Right?
It isn't real, right?
Even among the Faculty, getting involved with those two would be a pain.
Please let me not have caught their bad side.
The blonde bravely ascending the Podium.
Twinkling purple eyes.
Our Protagonist had arrived.
"It would be good to get close to that friend."
[Hmm? What a child with a mysterious aura. It's as if light is radiating in all directions....]
"You have a good eye. She is one of the most talented children in this term."
[Hmm... Are you two acquainted?]
"We briefly crossed paths a while ago."
While we were chatting, her eyes met mine.
She blinked, as if she had been looking for me too.
The gladness was immediately evident on her face.
I gave her a light wave.
Just from that, her eyes noticeably brightened.
'Cute kid.'
I watched her with a pleased smile.
I needed to help Ranne grow whenever there was a chance, but it wasn't easy right now since we were in different classes.
'Should I make a separate opportunity later....'
As I made plans in my head, time leisurely flowed by.
The entrance ceremony was also roughly coming to an end.
For a school event like this, it wasn't particularly boring.
I suppose it was fascinating to see the scenes I had only watched on a monitor screen with my own eyes.
Is it finally starting.
The prologue was over, and it was time for things to get on track in earnest.
The place I was heading to was naturally Class E, the lowest class.
Carmilla, who was hiding in the front of my School Uniform, asked.
[Class E... How strange!]
[To be in the lowest class despite possessing such strength?]
[Could it be that the level of all Humans is like this...?]
[What a terrifying race!]
[There was a reason why my father always told me to stay on good terms with humans....]
A Bat trembling while misunderstanding things on her own.
I answered with a small chuckle.
"No. I just came to Class E on purpose because of certain circumstances."
How could ordinary Students block the God-Killing Bow.
If that were the case, all races other than humans would have gone extinct long ago.
'Besides, I am seriously weak, you know...?'
Not just within the Grandia Academy, but even looking at the entire continent, I was at the bottom.
My body was weak enough to lose even to Carmilla's Bat form.
I walked while shaking my head.
[Circumstances? It seems there is something in Class E.]
"Yes, there is someone I need to meet."
The seed of disaster.
The girl who would have enrolled alongside me as a joint Bottom Student.
Because I needed to find her and nip the danger in the bud.
"We've arrived."
A large building located quite far from the Main Building.
A size that was at least twice as large as a university campus.
This entire hall was prepared for Class E.
In front of the main gate, there was a report card with the students' rankings.
'I should be the Bottom Student.'
Since I took the entrance exam exactly tailored to that standard.
No matter how much it's the lowest class, drawing too much attention isn't good.
The reason why I deliberately chose to be last.
The best approach, after all, is living as quietly as a dead mouse and swiftly snatching only what I need.
'Still, should I check it just in case.'
The table drawing closer.
Inside, the rankings within Class E were displayed.
But....
"...Eh?"
Uh.
A question that popped out instinctively.
[Class E Rankings]
1. Victor
2. Luyan Jestar
3. Austin Vectorhan
4. Gerk Tu Ravan
.
.
.
27. Yeshua Holden
28. Alice
"Huh."
Top Student of Class E.
My name was proudly listed in that spot.
A situation that had completely deviated from my assumptions.
I couldn't help but mutter blankly.
"What is this."
Is it a bug.
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