The Last Lesson and a Programmer’s Dilemma

Despite being unable to see each other, trapped within their respective snares and unable to escape, Iqiyah and Seraphina were both striving for the unseen other. They yearned to break free from their bonds and reunite once more.

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The perspective shifted back to Krieg Manor.

Clip-clop… clip-clop… clip-clop…

As the hoofbeats gradually slowed, the carriage, carrying both mistress and maid, followed a small path and came to a halt behind a towering blue building.

“Miss Seraphina, we’ve arrived at the staff dormitory.”

“Alright… alright…”

The carriage door opened. Seraphina’s legs trembled with exhaustion as she clutched the handrail, swaying precariously as she stepped down.

As a mere Level 1 “minion,” Seraphina’s stamina was utterly insufficient. After just one evening of shopping, her legs felt entirely disconnected from her body.

Moreover, the heavy rain from a few days prior had left the roads exceptionally muddy. The carriage’s bumpy journey along the narrow path only exacerbated Seraphina’s already profound fatigue.

‘Ugh… Is this body… truly too frail?’

Uttering sweet words to herself, Seraphina steadied her body and turned to bid Claire farewell.

“Claire, I’ll just—”

Thud.

“Huh? What are you doing down here?”

Without immediately answering Seraphina’s question, Claire stepped out of the carriage, her long boots lined with white silk, landing firmly on the ground.

It was evident that as an elite capable of defeating five vampire maids in a row, Claire’s physical prowess far surpassed Seraphina’s. Even after an entire evening of exertion, not a trace of fatigue marred her face.

“Seraphina.”

Stepping closer, Claire tugged at Seraphina’s sleeve.

“Can I come with you—”

“AB-SO-LUTE-LY NOT! Miss Claire!”

Seraphina cut her off immediately, not even waiting for Claire to finish speaking.

Just moments before, even prior to disembarking, Seraphina had already begun to strategize. In the past, a normal Claire commanded immense authority, issuing orders as a mistress, and Seraphina dared not disobey.

However, today, faced with a socially anxious Claire who struggled to refuse and deeply relied on her, Seraphina realized this might be her only chance for a good night’s sleep in seven days.

‘Damn it! Only a fool would pass up a good deal! While educating Claire is crucial, surely one night, just one refusal, won’t hurt, right? Right?’

With her resolve firmly set, Seraphina began to fabricate an excuse.

“Miss Claire, as the third young lady of the Krieg family, you must maintain a distinguished demeanor. You absolutely cannot reside in the servants’ quarters.”

Yet, Claire was not swayed by Seraphina’s fabricated words.

Gently swaying her body, Claire whined to Seraphina, “But I don’t think there’s any problem with it…”

‘Tsk… This girl is improving at a terrifying speed~’

“Listen.”

Seraphina extended a finger, gently pressing it against the corner of Claire’s lips.

“If Miss Claire disregards order because of me, it would cause both me and everyone else a great deal of trouble.”

With her expression softening, Seraphina resembled a reasonable teacher, gently guiding Claire.

‘Hmph! How’s that? The ‘causing trouble for others’ tactic is especially effective on the socially anxious!’

Just as Seraphina had anticipated, upon hearing “a great deal of trouble,” Claire instantly lost her resolve.

“Ugh… In that case, I suppose I won’t…”

Looking utterly pathetic, Claire slowly turned, her back hunched as if gravely ill, and clambered back into the carriage.

Watching Claire’s pitiful demeanor, Seraphina suddenly felt a pang of remorse.

“Well, Miss Claire.”

“Mm!” Hearing Seraphina’s call, Claire’s body jolted. She spun around abruptly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Seraphina.

Seeing the expectant look on Claire’s face, Seraphina instantly regretted calling out to her.

“Um… I’m just terribly tired. Let me rest for a bit, okay? Just one night’s sleep, and tomorrow will be here before you know it! Then, whatever you want to do, I’ll do it with you! I promise!”

Claire’s brows relaxed. Though the initial excitement on her face quickly faded upon hearing Seraphina’s words, a faint smile still lingered.

“Alright… then it’s a promise.”

“Yes, it’s a deal.”

Like two close friends parting ways at a kindergarten gate, Seraphina and Claire bade each other a naive farewell.

Then, as Seraphina turned, a sly glint instantly ignited in her eyes.

‘Hehehe… Watch closely, Claire! This is the last lesson I’m teaching you today! If you continue to be so hesitant and weak, you’ll get absolutely nothing! Nothing at all! Hahaha!!!’

However, on the side unseen by her…

As Claire boarded the carriage, her face immediately turned ashen.

After a faint magical hum, she parted her lips.

“Gus, I couldn’t follow the target upstairs. Initiate Plan B.”

“Understood, Miss Claire.” In Claire’s mind, Gus’s voice carried a hint of resignation. “Please rest assured, I will have the carriage ready for you.”

‘Hahaha! I’m completely drained, utterly exhausted. I can’t take another step.’

After climbing the tall dormitory stairs, Seraphina’s strength gave out. Her legs buckled, and she pitched forward, collapsing onto a simple staff bed.

Overwhelmed by fatigue, she yearned to simply drift off to sleep.

Yet, she knew… before the hectic next day arrived, she still had one crucial task to complete.

“Hey… Cardo!”

Face buried in the pillow, Seraphina yelled without lifting her head. “You’ve been missing for an entire day, isn’t it time you came out!?”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

More readily than Seraphina had expected, the moment her words faded, Cardo’s golden light instantly materialized.

“Wasn’t I hiding from Claire? If you’ve had contact with her in the spiritual world, she can see me now.”

“That’s not the point! About our feud, could you please explain why the [True Ancestor’s Blood] turned out like this!?”

‘But shouldn’t you be asking the True Ancestor?’

“Waaah! I’m not answering! I don’t care! I’m not answering! I don’t care!”

Kicking her feet, Seraphina thrashed and rolled on the bed.

‘It’s all your fault! I’m blaming you! Only you!’

At this moment, Seraphina finally understood the meaning of the idiom “to make a fuss without reason.” Thanks to Cardo’s scheme, which had left Claire in such a state, Seraphina had suffered far more than necessary. Filled with pent-up frustration, she simply wanted to vent her anger at Cardo.

“You came up with the plan! You told me to use the [True Ancestor’s Blood]! In short! Everything is your fault! You have to fix this for me!”

“Alright, alright~ I’ll fix it for you, I’ll fix it~”

Even though she was being blamed for a responsibility large enough to build an entire aircraft carrier, Cardo understood that she indeed had an undeniable role in this mess.

“First… could you please open the box?”

“…No.” Seraphina, who had been flailing relentlessly moments before, instantly froze. “I’m too tired. You open it.”

“Alright, alright, you’re the boss, you’re the boss~”

Floating to the corner, Cardo opened the enormous box.

‘My goodness, to be surrounded by tentacles and still manage to sleep? Truly worthy of the Vampire Progenitor, isn’t she?’

Ignoring the startled Sevilya (and the tentacles), Cardo reached directly for the tentacle-wrapped head.

“Wake up, Miss True Ancestor.”

Holding the True Ancestor’s head, Cardo pinched the True Ancestor’s plump cheeks. “It’s time for your report.”

Pinched awake by Cardo, the True Ancestor groggily opened her eyes.

“Ah… ah!? What happened?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Cardo turned the True Ancestor towards Seraphina. “Your system code has an issue. As the programmer, shouldn’t you step forward and resolve it?”