247 The villainess's tears begin to trickle

Today, second chapter

Having resolved the series of incidents at the human race's academy from behind the scenes, returned to Argner.

Left midway through the conversation, after all.

Something about her expression—grimacing violently. What could she possibly fear so much?

Not that I’m smiling and cheerful often. Not that I’m smiling and cheerful often.

To flinch at the sight of another’s smile—what an impolite creature.

The elves operating within the demon realm remain under Argner’s supervision.

A group of elves without a teacher—what happens to them is of no concern to me.

Besides, I believe the current priority for the elves lies in Potimas’s activities within the human realm.

Potimas’s actions—de facto takeover of Yamada-kun’s homeland.

While the Hero was absent, I secretly infiltrated the palace to observe. The King, and all key figures—each had fragments of Potimas’s soul embedded within them.

Should he choose to act, it would result in the mass creation of Potimas’s army.

I have not told my sister.

There is nothing to be done, even if I did.

If I cannot do anything, how could she?

That is the truth. It cannot be changed.

Unfortunately, with Potimas’s mere will, that nation can be reshaped at will.

There is currently no known method to free those possessed by Potimas.

The only option is to kill them before they are used.

An abhorrent ability.

It is as if I could unleash my former attack against the Demon King—on an indiscriminate scale.

Though, “indiscriminate” is misleading. It seems physical contact is required, as demonstrated when I seized the Teacher’s head.

Still, the inevitability of it is what makes it frightening.

If only the possessed could resist and shatter Potimas’s soul themselves—but that’s probably impossible.

Humans in this world are generally vulnerable to Heretic Magic.

Because their Heretic Resistance is low.

Not due to skill levels, but because their souls have not been exposed to Heretic Magic for a long time, weakening their resistance, and because the souls of people themselves are deteriorating.

The reason for their lack of adaptation is that the Church has banned Heretic Magic.

Likely because casting Heretic Magic at maximum capacity triggers the Taboo skill.

The Church seems reluctant for the Taboo to spread widely.

The Church should start engaging with it seriously soon.

That’s the thought—but there are too many other matters to attend to, and it keeps being postponed.

Not at all. I am not declining on account of reluctance, discomfort, or any such trivial reason regarding meeting some unknown Pope.

Not at all. Not in the slightest.

And being busy is indeed true.

Having returned from Argnar’s location, I proceed to the Vampire Child’s quarters.

The hour is past midnight.

Yet that delinquent girl has already slipped past my fragment’s eyes and vanished.

How does she manage to deceive my sight?

Is her effort directed incorrectly?

Since the fragment’s eyes failed to locate her, I switch to the primary eyes to scan the area.

I detect a plausible location and launch a direct assault.

“Eep!?”

“W-what!?!”

Thud.

The door slams shut.

I saw nothing.

What an incident.

The Vampire Child has, without my notice, ascended the adult staircase…

And reached the top before me.

This is not regrettable. It should not be. Yet a distinct sense of defeat lingers.

Wait—did you scatter my fragment just for this?

Don’t use unnecessarily high-spec abilities!

Appears to be an original technique combining multiple skills.

Is the building itself being covered through an application of Shadow Magic?

And it feels like it's being concealed by concealment?

Deceiving my eyes is no trivial matter, and there may be other actions taking place as well.

Ah.

Foolish.

Or rather, is this level of efficiency... not their first time?

There were moments when she disappeared for short periods. Perhaps that was it.

And what of Lord Wald's whereabouts?

I apologize. I lost sight of them.

Hm?

Several men and women gathered, whispering quietly among themselves.

Eavesdropping, faintly.

“What was the last thing you saw?”

It is I. As expected, she was with that woman again.

"Yes."

Hmm.

Something familiar. Like I've seen this before.

Ah, the young lady attending the same academy as the Vampire Child, and her entourage.

Can't recall the name.

Perhaps I should have acquired a memory skill before divinity.

My own memory is laughably poor.

“What shall we do?”

“If she cannot be found, nothing can be done.”

“But—!”

“Are you certain!?”

“If we do nothing, that woman will—”

Hmm?

Don’t know who this ‘Wald’ is, but could she possibly be the same woman with the Vampire Child earlier?

Ah—then if that’s the case, even if not yet, she’s already—yes.

“Lady Fermina, please do something about that woman!”

“Indeed! Ever since she appeared, Lord Wald and other distinguished gentlemen have been acting strangely!”

“There were moments when their eyes went vacant. She must be doing something!”

“If we continue like this, those who should one day support the nation may suffer irreversible harm!”

Aah... aah... aah...

This one, that woman... she's a Vampire Child, right?

Yeah... I guess.

I mean, I'm sorry about my child.

Where did I go wrong with her education?

Or is it proper for a vampire to reduce a man to a servant?

Wait—was that really her character in a past life?

Can't really remember much about Vampire Children, to be honest.

"Silence!"

The young lady at the center cuts through the persistent murmurs with a sharp command.

"If I could resolve this, I would have done so long ago. But that woman dismisses every attempt as if nothing happened. She is a genuine monster. Understand? Do not act recklessly."

This recent surge in incidents around the Vampire Child—could it be because of her?

Of course. Anyone in her position—treated like a prince of her own nation—would be wary if reduced to nothing by some unknown woman of indeterminate origin.

Especially if done through suspicious means.

One might even consider physical elimination.

But that attempt failed.

Well.

My daughter was never raised to be so fragile.

“Lady Fernina… truly…”

“You will say no more. And you have heard nothing. Understood?”

The entourage nods in silence.

“If anything happens to me, I place this nation in your hands.”

A noblewoman with resolve etched into her expression, heavy with foreboding.

Hmph.

Likely this girl will be eliminated by the Vampire Child.

That one’s thinking entirely like a vampire now.

She hasn’t realized how drastically the definition of ‘normal’ has changed—between her human past and her current state.

Thus, unconsciously, such circumstances are brought about.

Mm.

I care nothing for the nation’s future, but this lady may prove useful.

I’ll collect her later if the mood strikes.

Later, the lady in question was condemned.

Since it would be a waste, I took her in.

She seems to have moderate talent. If she acquires a dominion skill, it’ll be a profitable acquisition.