Chapter 255
He wondered if she had perhaps been forcibly brainwashed, but that possibility was also slim.
Of course, with the dark magic of the Four Kings’ Castle, it was possible to completely remodel a person’s personality.
But that was only possible on those with weak minds; it was not a method that would work on the strongest of Demon Kings, who had reached the supreme realm of high 9-Star.
‘It’s not as if her soul was switched, either.’
In his previous life, the Hero’s party had harbored such a suspicion. Wondering if the Blood Drenched Demon King was actually the descent of a Devil.
But at the time, Archmage Rania had confirmed with her secret arts that that was not the case.
Although it was terribly stained with a demonic aura, the soul of the Blood Drenched Demon King was indeed the original soul of the body.
‘I don’t understand.’
What was more troubling was his confusion about what to do with Idrinne from now on.
‘Whether she was originally a good person or not, the fact that she will later become the seed of a horrific archdevil remains unchanged.’
Considering the future repercussions, he absolutely could not just stand by and watch.
But.
‘I must find out why Idrinne changes so drastically.’
He had a gut feeling that this would become an important factor for the future.
“Hah.”
Chris shook his head in frustration.
It was a completely unexpected variable.
‘First, for now, let’s learn the Blood Cross.’
Moved by the grace of Idrinne’s survival, the Blood Sword Demonic House had given Chris more time.
But was it because his mind was in turmoil? Chris was struggling to grasp the True Essence of the Blood Cross.
‘Blood. The origin of life and death. Damn it. I’m not making any progress from here.’
It was the moment Chris once again let out a deep sigh.
An unexpected voice was heard.
“May I intrude for a moment?”
“!!”
Chris’s eyes widened.
It was a familiar face.
‘Lia?’
The True Blood girl from the Blood Sword Demonic House who had helped Chris before.
No, it was Idrinne, who had come to see Chris disguised as before.
* * *
Thump, thump.
Seeing Christian, Idrinne’s heart pounded.
The memory of the hand he had extended in her life-or-death moment came vividly to mind.
His warm energy, which had felt as if it were enveloping her soul.
He was her benefactor.
‘I must repay this grace.’
However, the reason she had come hiding her identity again was because of an order from the Devil she was contracted with.
‘Why does the Devil keep telling me to hide my identity from Grand Duke Christian?’
It was an incomprehensible order, but she had no choice but to follow it.
Because the Devil had directly aided her disguise with its authority, it seemed that Christian had not noticed her true identity this time either.
“It’s been a long time.”
Meanwhile, Chris, who had been feeling troubled, felt a sense of gladness upon meeting a familiar face and said, “Yes, it’s good to see you.”
But ‘Lia’s’ reaction to hearing him say it was good to see her was strange.
Her face instantly brightened.
“Did you just say it was good to see me? I-I’m glad to see you too. But are you really glad to see me again?”
“No, it was just an empty platitude as a greeting. Why are you overreacting and taking it so seriously?”
“…E-empty platitude. I see. I’m sorry for overreacting.”
Seeing her spirits rapidly fall at his blunt answer, Chris chuckled.
It had been a while, but she was still the same.
“Anyway, what brings you here?”
“I came to offer my thanks.”
“Hmm?”
“I mean… um, for treating Grand Duchess Idrinne.”
Then, she did something surprising.
She knelt on the floor and bowed her head low.
“Thank you so, so much. I swear that I will never in my life forget the grace you have shown.”
From Lia’s—no, Idrinne’s—perspective, it was an expression of gratitude to the benefactor who had saved her life.
But Chris, misunderstanding her excessive show of respect, twitched an eyebrow.
‘Is this girl also that devoted to Idrinne? In any case, she has no idea what kind of things Idrinne will do later on.’
Of course, Chris had now come to realize that Idrinne had a different side to her than he had known.
But that didn’t mean his animosity had subsided.
No, to be honest, he was even more angry.
In his previous life, how many people had died in despair because of her?
And now, this whole ‘maybe Idrinne was actually a good person’ business was just uncomfortable.
‘Damn it, this would have all been over if I could just kill her with a clear conscience. Now my head is just getting unnecessarily complicated.’
As he clicked his tongue, Idrinne asked cautiously.
“By any chance, what was your impression of Grand Duchess Idrinne?”
“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Ah, no, it’s not for any other reason…! Didn’t you meet her during the treatment? I was just curious what your impression was.”
Chris frowned.
“She was unimpressive.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, she was the worst. Seemed black-hearted. It looks like you’re being thoroughly deceived, so snap out of it.”
In truth, the problem was that his impression of her had been unexpectedly good, but annoyed by this complicated situation, Chris deliberately spoke bluntly.
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really, unimpressive?”
“…If you’re going to keep asking annoying questions, just leave.”
At his cold answer, Idrinne became dejected like a puppy caught in the rain, but she soon shook her head.
‘It’s only natural for Grand Duke Christian to misunderstand me. Outside of my house, my infamous reputation is still widespread. I’ll change his mind, one thing at a time.’
She bolstered her will and said confidently.
“In any case, as a reward for treating the Grand Duchess, I will become your friend!”
A random statement.
The reason she said this was because of a conversation she’d had with her nanny, Deborah, a short while ago.
-If you want to become friends with Grand Duke Christian, just confidently and openly tell him you’ll be his friend.
-…Will that really work?
-There’s no one in this world who would refuse to be your friend, my lady.
-…I’m not confident.
-Don’t worry. Where else could one find someone as kind and pretty as you, my lady!
-You’re only saying that because you’re my nanny. Anyway, I’ll try my best. But am I really pretty?
In other words, it was a statement she had made after mustering her courage in her own way.
But once again, only a blunt answer returned.
“…How is that a reward? I don’t want to be friends with you.”
“…You don’t want to be friends?”
Idrinne was once again rapidly dejected.
“Yes, I’m not interested. Besides, who makes friends like that? Have you never made a single friend before in your life?”
“……”
Idrinne had an expression as if she’d been hit right on the mark.
In truth, not only did she have no friends, but she also had little experience forming ordinary human relationships, so she didn’t know basic social common sense.
“I-I’m sorry. The truth is, I don’t have any friends, so I don’t know how to make them, and that’s why I overreacted. It’s just because I really want to be friends with you, Your Grace, so I apologize.”
“…Well, there’s no need to apologize like that.”
Chris scratched his head.
Seeing her dazed and confused appearance, for some reason, the complicated feelings he had because of the Blood Drenched Demon King seemed to ease.
‘What the heck, should I just make her a friend? It seems like it would be fun to tease her.’
When you meet people, you get a certain feeling. Whether you can get close to them or not.
In that respect, the girl before him didn’t give a bad feeling.
No, the fact that she seemed like a pushover was quite appealing.
“Alright. I’ll be your friend.”
“Really?”
Idrinne’s eyes flashed open.
To think that the wish she had before she died could be fulfilled so easily?
“Yes. But, there’s something you must keep in mind.”
“What is it?”
“Since you don’t have any friends, you probably don’t know, so I’m explaining this to you. A friend is a being who gives generously without holding back.”
Of course, the ‘giving’ that Chris was thinking of was one-directional.
From the other person to himself.
In other words, a pushover he could order around was his ideal friendship.
“This is important, so repeat after me. A friend is a being who gives.”
“A friend is a being who gives.”
“Yes, no matter how difficult the task, no matter what loss you suffer, you do it for the other person. That is a true friend. If you don’t give for the sake of the other person, you can’t be called a friend.”
“I see. I have received an important lesson. One must give to be a true friend. How romantic.”
Idrinne mulled over Chris’s words with an endlessly serious expression.
Then, she broke into a wide smile.
As if she were truly happy, it was a bright smile without a single shadow, unlike her usual dark complexion.
“Thank you for becoming my friend. No matter what happens in the future, I will help you. Because, after all, we are ‘true friends.’”
To be precise, a ‘true pushover,’ but Chris nodded.
“In that sense, shall I receive some help right away?”
“Just say the word!”
Chris grinned and said in a playful tone.
“To help me obtain the True Essence of the Blood Cross, share the enlightenment you have gained.”
“!!”
To ask her to share her enlightenment. It was an absurd request.
In truth, it wasn’t a request Chris had made in earnest. He had made the unreasonable request for fun, with the intention of teasing her when she became flustered.
But.
“The True Essence I obtained through the Blood Cross is about death and sacrifice….”
Chris hurriedly covered Idrinne’s mouth.
“H-hold on. What are you doing?”
“Didn’t you ask me to share my enlightenment? I was just telling you.”
Idrinne said with an innocent gaze, and Chris had a dumbfounded expression.
‘Is she an idiot?’
But Idrinne had her reasons.
‘Grand Duke Christian is my benefactor. A little thing like enlightenment, I can give as much of that as he wants.’
Idrinne didn’t stop there.
“Will just sharing my enlightenment be enough?”
“…Huh?”
“My enlightenment is deeply mixed with my own personal perspective, so there’s a high chance it won’t be of much help to you.”
Saying that, Idrinne fell into serious contemplation.
“Hmm… How can I help you obtain the True Essence of the Blood Cross? Since we are true friends… I have to help you, no matter what it takes….”
“……”
Chris stared at Idrinne, bewildered.
It was the face of someone who wanted to help Chris, no matter what.
Her pushover-level was far beyond his expectations.
“Will you perform your Bloodline Arts in front of me once?”
Chris demonstrated his Bloodline Arts using his Dark Demonic Energy.
After watching a few demonstrations, Idrinne nodded.
“Grand Duke, how much longer can you stay here?”
“…I can’t stay long. The Necromancy and Curse factions might notice I’m here.”
“Our house will take thorough care of the security issues. Please make more time.”
Chris thought for a moment, then said.
“If I make as much time as possible, I suppose I can stay for about ten more days.”
Any longer than that was impossible.
‘I have to settle things with Marquis Langham.’
Meanwhile, Idrinne nodded at the mention of ten days.
“That should be enough, somehow.”
“For what?”
“Grand Duke, learn the basics of the Bloodline Arts from me again, from the beginning.”
“!!”
“The Blood Cross isn’t the problem right now. To be frank, your Bloodline Arts, Your Grace… they have no foundation.”
Idrinne said with a nonchalant expression.
“I will teach you again from the very beginning.”
* * *
No foundation.
It was an unacceptable statement.
Although he had only learned it on the side from Simon, Chris was confident that his Bloodline Arts could overwhelm any ordinary True Blood vampire.
And in fact, it was true.
But.
“Look. The Bloodline Arts are not simply about controlling blood; they are about handling life and death.”
Idrinne unfolded her Bloodline Arts. Fwoosh!