Blood 6 — Sudden Turn

By the time I had grown accustomed to living with the spider, I was once again secluded in the study at night, searching through books as usual.

Predicting the hour when daylight would begin to rise, I quietly exited the study.

Due to this routine, my skills had all improved in parallel.

Increased sleep resistance allowed me to remain awake through an entire night if necessary.

Not ideal for physical development, but I compensated by sleeping during the day.

Initially, my mother and servants worried about my habit of napping constantly, but eventually they accepted me as the type of child I was and ceased interference.

A presence triggered my awareness.

Melazofis.

Melazofis stepped outside into the garden, carrying a practice sword.

Since the incident, Melazofis had been practicing daily at dawn, without fail.

Whether it was the humiliation of being cut down by thieves with nothing to offer in return, or perhaps the resolve to protect their mother firmly this time.

Given Melazofis's temperament, the latter seems more likely.

In him, his mother was absolute.

She would do anything to protect her mother's happiness.

Such a damn serious person.

Melazofis is not weak either.

Yet, not particularly strong either.

Judging by the presence of the guests staying at the household, they seem average—neither particularly good nor bad as people.

As a butler, I believe that would suffice. But if the person themselves is not satisfied, I have no standing to intervene.

Returning to my chamber, I heard the sound of practice swings.

And the incident occurred.

On that day, I did not go to the study.

There was an old man who had never liked the way his mother flirted with others. He had stayed awake all night because of it.

Disgusting. Annoying. Just leave already. But they always linger, which makes it worse.

Complaining the moment they open their mouth.

Inventing problems to trouble my servants.

Some complaints are so baseless, so absurd, I nearly say "Huh?!" out loud.

When one of them claimed the day after I smoked, "This room reeks of tobacco—impossible to stay! Banish the fool who smoked here immediately!" I almost said "Then get out."

I reminded them their own servant had smoked discreetly the day before. They responded with outrage—how could that be?

The servant disappeared the next day.

Perhaps it was better they vanished.

The old man died.

So easily. So abruptly.

I was awake at the time, but I noticed nothing.

No reaction from awareness detection. Only that the man suddenly collapsed.

The mansion was in chaos despite the late hour.

It was fortunate I wasn’t in the study.

If I had been, I would have been discovered.

Cause of death remains unknown.

Whispers claim it was divine retribution for touching the sacred beast’s wrath.

The man apparently had provoked the spider as well.

Father is questioning the man’s servants, gathering details.

I may have heightened senses due to being a vampire, but even so, I cannot hear conversations from my room to Father’s office.

Could this be the signal for the spider to attack the city?

Anxiety rose as the noisy night passed.

Against my expectations, three days passed with no movement from the spider.

I do not know how the death of that man will affect diplomacy.

But it seems he was expected to cause trouble within this nation.

Though his words were vague, listening to his servants’ conversations led to that conclusion.

From there, further speculation suggests a war may break out soon.

Father appears to be acting under that assumption.

While remaining vigilant toward the spider’s movements, military personnel have been visiting frequently.

It is not confirmed yet, but it may come to that.

Carrying such vague unease, I dozed off during the day.

A sudden explosion and tremor shattered the silence, forcibly awakening me.

As I panicked, I was seized by my mother.

Beside her, Melazophis stood with a stern expression, scanning the surroundings.

Prepare for evacuation immediately.

Yet, in that interval, the roar and tremor ceased. Silence returned.

Servants began investigating the cause, maintaining vigilance.

Father issued commands. Everyone moved with precision.

I watched from within my mother’s embrace.

A report arrived swiftly at the manor: the spider’s web had been utterly destroyed, and the spider itself had vanished.

After that, events unfolded in rapid succession.

The Divine Word Church broadcast to the entire world: the false sacred beast rooted in the Kingdom of Salyera had been overthrown.

The Kingdom of Salyera—the land of my birth.

The sacred beast—was that spider.

The Kingdom of Salyera responded with firm protest.

It demanded compensation for unauthorized military action on its soil and for harm inflicted upon a sacred beast under its protection.

The response was nothing short of selfish—claiming that since a monster had been slain, the other party should pay compensation instead.

It was clear that the Church of the Divine Word had provoked the conflict.

In turn, the Kingdom of Sariela was equally prepared to fight.

Personally, I wished they would not. But there was nothing I, a child, could do.

I watched the army led by my father depart from the city, wishing only for their victory.