Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 63

Chapter 63. Vampire (2)

On the bowed head of T'alle, the 'Color of Fear' overflowed excessively.

Such a distinct color—it had been a long ti since I last saw it.

'She seems to be quite terrified.'

With a polite gesture, she looked at

with a slight smile.

However, her smile reflected her emotions—her mouth was smiling, but her eyebrows drooped, and her lips trembled faintly.

"Hoo, hoohoo... Sir Yulian, I swear by the Sun God Solarun that this T'alle has never done anything against the law, specifically anything that would disturb the imperial family."

I almost laughed at her tone.

'I an, swearing to Solarun, the symbol of the sun, as a vampire—what's her intention?'

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat to suppress my laughter, trying to change the atmosphere, and her pupils shook greatly.

"Oh, ah, I-I apologize. It's a great dishonor to have Sir Yulian personally visit this humble place, and I failed in my hospitality. I have committed a grave sin."

Even though it was just a simple cough, she seed to take it as a sign of my displeasure and quickly stood up, took out another glass, and began to pour sothing into it.

It was the sa color as the blood she was drinking a mont ago.

Surely she's not planning to offer

blood, is she?

Even though Yulian sees a lot of blood, this wouldn't be right.

"Do you an for

to drink that?"

"Oh? Ah... Do you dislike wine?"

Wine? Not blood?

"Chateau Bavaldi, a specialty of Bavaldi... If you try it, you'd think every wine you've ever had before was cheap..."

Interrupting T'alle's rambling out of fear, I took the glass she handed over and indeed, a sweet grape scent tickled my nose and lingered richly.

"Sir Yulian, ...even though I live on blood, I wouldn't offer it to you..."

She seed to have picked up on what I was thinking, offering an awkward smile.

Indeed, she was right.

Once again, as I slled the glass, the grape scent washed over

richly.

Could it possibly be poisoned?

Surely not, since it was the sa drink T'alle had just been drinking.

"Hmm."

Taking a sip, I was genuinely surprised.

In truth, I don't particularly like 'wine'. It's typically void of the 'sweetness' people talk about, and I strongly dislike the lingering, coarse grape residue on my tongue.

However, the wine that T'alle handed to

had a thick body yet was not coarse, and the sweet grape taste and aroma lingered deliciously after it passed through my tongue.

'... Though I wouldn't fuss and say it captured nature or anything.'

Although it was an exceptional wine to my cheap palate, the 'Yulian' who had tasted many expensive wines felt more of a 'so-so' impression rather than a 'good' one.

"So, may I hear the reason you've co to see ?"

Watching

set down the glass, T'alle glanced at , slightly nervous.

"The reason I sought you out, lady T'alle, was to ask a favor."

"A favor?"

T'alle tilted her head slightly, puzzled.

"What kind of favor? I hope it's sothing within my capabilities."

"Yes, it's sothing Lady T'alle can definitely do."

"What is it?"

I traced the rim of my wine glass with a finger, smiled, and silently locked eyes with T'alle.

Yulian, with his handso yet uncharming appearance and the sword he was unconsciously stroking—all these were sufficient for creating silent pressure before comncing the conversation.

Gulp.

Thanks to this, T'alle swallowed nervously and clenched her fists as she looked at .

"I hope you can keep an eye on soone for ."

"... Watch soone?"

"Yes."

The term 'watch' was not unfamiliar to her, so it didn't surprise her much.

It was, in a sense, her forte.

"If I fulfill this favor, will you keep my vampire identity confidential?"

"I will, certainly."

Feigning ease, T'alle sighed in relief.

"Well, that's a relief. It's a field I'm confident in."

"Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have co here."

"But how did you know? That I'm not human."

"Hoho, must you hear it?"

With a smile as before, I deliberately touched my sword as I spoke.

Honestly, it was a difficult question to answer.

Would she understand if I talked about my 'experience from playing the ga'?

"No, no. I won't ask! It seems wise not to."

Fortunately, I no longer had to weave a narrative unnecessarily, as T'alle vehently declined before I could even begin.

"You are wise."

"Th-Thank you, Sir Yulian."

With a gentle nod, T'alle raised her glass to her lips.

Realizing my purpose here wasn't to hunt her but to ask a favor, she exuded a sense of ease.

"So... who is it exactly that our esteed Sir Yulian wants to keep an eye on?"

"Sword Saint, Hayden Reich."

"Yes, Sword Saint... Keheuk, cough."

With a short cough, a trickle of wine spilled from the corner of T'alle's mouth.

"What? Did I hear that wrong?"

"Judging by your reaction, you didn't."

"Still, could you please say it again?"

"Sword Saint, Hayden Reich. I hope you can keep an eye on him."

With trembling hands, she set the glass on the table.

"Well, Sir Yulian... The Sword Saint is the representative of the Empire's swordsmanship and is closely tied to the imperial family, and in a way, doesn't he hold power like 'Blind Eyes' that is directly under the empire?"

"That's right. You could say he's living public authority itself. His influence on the Empire surpasses that of most nobles."

As the conversation continued, T'alle's face grew even more pale—a face that already seed devoid of blood turned whiter.

"What if the Sword Saint catches us spying, how do we handle the repercussions?"

What she pursued was a safe life within the system. However, if caught spying on the 'Sword Saint', the ensuing storm would be too much to bear.

Thus, T'alle feared the 'public authority.'

Since 'vampires' weren't part of the Empire's citizens, the exposure of such could lead not only to the loss of her establishnt but also her life.

"If it's the Sword Saint, surely he holds more power than 'Blind Eyes', and connections with the imperial family too!"

"Lady T'alle, assuming failure is third-rate. Moreover, haven't you never been caught while tailing or monitoring soone?"

Upon hearing my assurance, the corners of her lips twitched slightly.

"Don't worry too much. Even if my ntor 'discovers' you, I'll take care of it."

"Take care...?"

"Curious about how?"

"N-No! I'm not curious!"

Shaking her head vigorously, she hurriedly responded.

Yulian, once a disciple of the Sword Saint, harbored a desire to kill him following his expulsion.

That common knowledge extended even to vampires.

Of course, I said I'd handle it, but the chances of T'alle's 'monitoring' being discovered by the Sword Saint were slim.

"Whee!"

She whistled, and a small creature flew in through the window. A small owl with striking grey feathers.

As T'alle extended her hand, the bird perched on her hand. After whispering sothing, it flew back out the window.

'So those are her familiars.'

Those 'little creatures' were why I sought out this place to have Hayden Reich monitored.

Like vampires in lore, in this world too, vampires create familiars with their blood and use them as their limbs, borrowing their eyes and ears.

Monitoring through them is impossible to detect by conventional thods.

Small animals commonly seen around, with no discernible mana.

No one harbors animosity towards them.

"I sent the ssage. However, since the Holy Kingdom of Pherenand is quite a distance away, there'll be no imdiate updates."

"Thank you, lady T'alle."

"You needn't thank . Serving 'Blind Eyes' and the imperial family is only a sovereign duty, isn't it?"

Extending her hand with a clumsy smile.

As I clasped her hand for a handshake, a faint tremor traveled through my fingertips.

"It feels such a waste to just let Sir Yulian leave like this, would you consider receiving a warm reception at our establishnt?"

Simultaneously, a scent of allure wafted from her.

Really not ordinary.

Given that I know her true identity, she'd always remain under my control. Breaking this dynamic through ordinary thods would be impossible.

The only way was to bind

with chains.

'Certainly, that warm 'reception' likely has that intent.'

Whether it's a bribe, alcohol, or lure.

"I apologize, but have you forgotten who I am?"

Of course, I had no intention of indulging.

At my words, T'alle offered a sheepish smile.

"A... ahem... As expected, Sir Yulian is well suited for the imperial family."

Empty complints indeed.

***

As I descended via the elevator, bayron awaited my arrival at the entrance of 'Bright Moon Pavilion'.

"Si-Sir Yulian!"

Trembling, bayron hurriedly approached , followed by a giant man. A vampire who'd been leading the 'Blood Demons' in the slums.

I think his na was Arthur?

"Yulian."

In a low, growling voice, he called my na. More than him, the bandaged right arm caught my attention first.

"Seeing that you still have an arm, perhaps I went too easy on you. Why did you have to flaunt pointless pride?"

"... Shut up."

Caught between pride and fear, he replied.

"I won't forget what happened today! Damn you."

His cliché villain line almost made

laugh.

"Huhut, even nobles who died by my sword used to say such things, yet not a single one could uphold them."

Yulian's natural tone erged, and I was impressed even as I spoke.

"... For soone as bloodthirsty as you to be part of the imperial direct institution, the royalty and nobility truly lack discernnt."

Indeed.

I smiled at Arthur as I passed him, making preparations to exit the establishnt.

"Beware, Yulian. Soone will soon co to cut that high horse of yours down."

His abrupt statent caught

by surprise, and I slowly turned back to et his eyes.

Soone to bring

down?

While there are indeed a few stronger than 'Yulian' in the capital, judging by his remark, it seed to reference a recent newcor.

Who could it be?

Unwarranted tension arose.

"And who might that be?"

"The Black Knight... you're familiar, aren't you?"

Ah, them... soone I know well.

For a mont, I was speechless.

"The Black Knight, you say? Are they perhaps stronger than the Sword Saint? I am 'Yulian Cryphart Frason', after all."

At my words, Arthur's eyes widened. Unperturbed, I again readied myself to leave the establishnt.

'It's quite ironic.'

Embracing the cool night breeze, I glanced back scornfully at the now unseen 'Bright Moon Pavilion'.

In the story, the 'Sword Saint' initially suspects Yulian's movents and thinks he might be aligned with the Dawn Society.

'Originally, it was the protagonist, Hayden Reich, who asked T'alle to monitor, but now it's the reverse.'

At the Sword Saint's request, T'alle had attached the familiar owl to monitor Yulian.

This entire situation had completely flipped.

'I wonder how the story will unfold now.'