The Unveiled Plot and the Duel of Trust

Is this person utterly insane?

****

A few minutes prior.

The moment Shest was out of sight, the shock and fear on Seraphina’s face evaporated, seamlessly replaced by a stern, impassive mask.

Who would ever brutally murder their own companion based solely on someone else’s unsubstantiated claims?

‘So foolish, so arrogant… Could this person be Ailur’s isomer?’

Whether it was the shock, the surprise, or the doubt, it was all Seraphina’s subconscious performance, a facade to conceal her true reactions.

For Seraphina herself, Shest’s words had been utterly laughable.

Clearly, Shest was trying to take advantage of Seraphina, who was merely a familiar, hoping to mislead her through a disparity in information.

The intelligence she offered was indeed unheard of. Any other ordinary familiar might have truly fallen prey to Shest’s deceitful ploy.

Unfortunately, Seraphina was no ordinary person. To her, there were far too many logical inconsistencies in Shest’s statement.

The Blood of the Progenitor… Could something so immensely powerful truly be obtained by simply sacrificing a single vampire?

That was clearly absurd.

Moreover, even if sacrificing a single vampire were truly all it took, Iqiyah or Godia could easily force a familiar into submission with their formidable power.

There would be no need for such elaborate schemes.

Therefore, it was evident that Shest was lying.

Nevertheless, Seraphina knew that even if everything Shest said were true, she would never kill Iqiyah because of it.

She believed that Iqiyah harbored genuine affection for her.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have used her vital essence for Seraphina.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shed tears of sorrow when Seraphina neglected her.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have leaned against Seraphina and fallen into a deep sleep…

‘Shest… you simply don’t understand, you don’t understand the bond between Iqiyah and me!’

With a resolute step, she walked over to Iqiyah.

“Iqiyah?”

“Ah, Seraphina.”

The moment Iqiyah saw Seraphina, her exhaustion from social pleasantries vanished, replaced by a visible surge of vitality and a face brimming with delight.

“What’s wrong?”

Seraphina remained silent. She simply braced herself against the table, positioning her body to block the line of sight between Iqiyah and Shest.

Then, from her pocket, she produced the deadly vial of poison.

“Someone wants to harm you.” Seraphina glanced back over her shoulder. “Right next to me, in fact.”

“Hm?” Iqiyah took the poison, examined it, then lowered her head to peer through the gap in Seraphina’s body, looking towards Shest.

“Damn it, this banquet feels like it’s full of surprises at every turn.”

“I’d say it’s full of scares,” Seraphina replied with a wry smile. “Iqiyah, what do you intend to do?”

“What else can I do?” Iqiyah slammed her hand on the table, rising abruptly. “She wants to kill me! What other option is there?”

“Only death!”

“Seraphina! You idiot!”

Seeing her plot—though, frankly, calling it a plot was an insult to the word—exposed, Shest flared with anger and frustration. “Do you truly wish to be sacrificed by the Scarlett family?”

“Sacrifice, sacrifice, what nonsense are you spouting?” Seraphina didn’t humor her. “If they intended to sacrifice a powerless familiar like me, they would have done so long ago.”

“Why wait until now?”

“Shest, you’ve crossed a line.” Iqiyah stared coldly at Shest. “To dare overstep your bounds at my banquet—you have immense audacity.”

“I know the Redster family has coveted the Blood of the Progenitor for ages… but have you truly lost even this much self-control? Must you act at a banquet?”

“If I were to die at my own banquet, do you think you could easily escape suspicion?”

“Tch… you’re still not…”

Under the watchful eyes of all, Shest showed no shame. Instead, she pressed on, eager to refute Iqiyah. “To publicly confront me in front of all our kin… Don’t you feel any disgrace!?”

“Disgrace? Why would I feel disgraced?” Iqiyah turned, surveying her kin around the dining table. “Since ancient times, vampires have believed in immediate retribution for wrongs.”

“My kin, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed!”

The crowd immediately erupted in loud agreement. Among them, the middle-aged vampire seated beside Seraphina shouted the loudest.

“See?” Having won the crowd’s acclaim, Iqiyah offered Shest an elegant bow. “Miss Shest, my actions are not only without disgrace but perfectly align with traditional vampire values.”

“As for you, if you had chosen to challenge me to a duel, killed me, and taken the Blood of the Progenitor, that would have been unexceptionable.”

“But alas, you resorted to assassination, a cowardly trick, and even attempted to bribe my familiar! How utterly laughable! Seraphina was raised by my own hand!

“Do you take her for some cheap courtesan?”

Upon hearing this, Seraphina’s face flushed crimson. She instinctively covered her burning cheeks.

‘Oh, those words… truly made her blush…’

‘But what was this “raised by my own hand” business?!’

“Wh-what cheap courtesan…”

Publicly humiliated by Iqiyah, Shest was at her wit’s end.

“Since my scheme has been exposed, I’ll stop playing games!”

Shest slammed her hand onto the dining table, her large body swaying as she abruptly stood. “That’s right! I intend to kill you and seize the Blood of the Progenitor from you!”

“Isn’t it just a direct duel? Come at me!”

“All my kin, bear witness! Iqiyah! I challenge you to a duel!”

“…”

Iqiyah gazed at the prominent, rounded forms Shest aggressively thrust forward.

‘Good heavens, this feels more uncomfortable than being killed…’

“Very well, I accept.”

“Wahoo! Alright! Long live Iqiyah!!!”

Seeing that a duel was about to unfold between the two, the vampires cheered once more.

Evidently, this interlude was far more thrilling to them than the Blood Feast itself.

Seraphina looked at the two confronting each other, then at the cheering crowd around them, a helpless expression on her face.

Well, this Blood Feast had thoroughly shattered her impression of vampires as mysterious and noble beings.

These creatures, aside from living longer, were no different from humans: just as vulgar, just as fond of feasting on human misery.

Even their love for drama was the same; they truly loved to watch a spectacle unfold, no matter the gravity.

****

On the outskirts of the Blood Manor, within a vast, empty chamber.

“Iqiyah, is your current physical condition alright?”

Using magic, Seraphina adjusted Iqiyah’s physical state to its peak. “Are you certain you don’t need me to cast a blessing on you?”

“No need.” Iqiyah looked at Shest, who was seated across from them. “My strength has recovered somewhat. I’m not afraid of her.”

‘I mean, we are vampire nobility after all, couldn’t you be a little more refined in your speech…’

‘”Not afraid of her” indeed… Couldn’t you just say, “I am confident”?’

Seraphina rubbed Iqiyah’s shoulder, then casually activated her [All-Seeing Eye].

Iqiyah Scarlett:

[Strength: 221], [Endurance: 91], [Health: 441], [Magic: 401]

‘Oh, she’s recovered quite a lot without me even noticing! No wonder she’s so confident.’

However…

Seraphina then glanced across at her opponent.

Shest Redster:

[Strength: 444], [Endurance: 201], [Health: 601], [Magic: 71]

‘Good heavens, she’s a warrior type…’

“Iqiyah, your opponent is very strong. Try to avoid close-quarters combat with her.”

“Hm? Did you use your [All-Seeing Eye]?” Iqiyah was slightly surprised. “According to tradition, one shouldn’t scout too much information about their opponent in a duel.”

“Eh, why bother with so many rules? Don’t you think your opponent is looking at your information too?”

‘Didn’t you tell me to be refined…’

Just then—

“Hey! Iqiyah!”

Shest stood up, chest puffed out, exuding an imposing aura.

“Are you ready yet? I’ve been waiting for ages!”

‘What’s this person in such a hurry for?’

“Iqiyah… I have a bad feeling about this. You need to be careful,” Seraphina said.

“Don’t worry, I am the strongest of this era!”

Contrary to Seraphina’s apprehension, Iqiyah gracefully rose, a confident smile gracing her lips.

“Let her use whatever underhanded tricks she wishes!”

“No matter what, the victor will be me, Iqiyah!”