Chapter 10: Beware of Fraud

“No… Impossible… What kind of monster are you?!”

Damus’s sharp voice turned hoarse, but he clung to his resolve, preparing to unleash magic in a desperate bid to strike Cynthia.

Unfortunately for mages like Damus, whose shields were shattered, close-quarters combat was their downfall—especially against someone like Cynthia, who wouldn’t give him time to channel spells.

With another [Tiptoe], Damus couldn’t track her movements.
A massive impact slammed into his back, interrupting his spell and sending him hurtling toward the cellar’s passage.

Cynthia materialized where he’d stood, retracting her foot.
It had been ages since she’d kicked someone so freely—princess etiquette rarely allowed such indulgence.

As she prepared to land a few more satisfying blows, a deep whisper echoed in her mind, halting her.

[Oh… a… special vampire… interesting…]

“Who’s there?”

Cynthia’s eyes narrowed, scanning the chamber, but no one was there.

The voice seemed to materialize directly in her mind, untraceable.

Only the blood-red crystal pulsed with an eerie glow in the empty space.

[Don’t be nervous, my child. I’m merely a fragment of consciousness.]

Cynthia locked her gaze on the Blood Stone.
In this place, it was the most suspicious thing.

“The stone’s talking?”

[Ahem… I’m not a stone. This is just a sliver of my lingering power.]

The crystal’s light flickered rapidly at Cynthia’s words.
[Aren’t you interested in my power?]

“Not interested.”

Without hesitation, Cynthia flicked her wrist, summoning a massive black-and-red scythe, nearly as tall as she was.

Unlike her simpler blood weapons, this scythe, Yulandel, pulsed with life.
A scarlet-glowing magic stone at the junction of blade and handle gleamed like an eye, drawing in surrounding energy.

When Yulandel appeared, the chamber’s light dimmed, as if even the ambient light element was devoured by its presence.

[Hohoho… Demonic Scythe Yulandel… I didn’t expect it to choose you as its master… Wait—why are you aiming it at me?!]

As Cynthia hefted Yulandel with both hands, the voice grew frantic.
[No, no, no! You can’t do this! I’m just a fragment of consciousness now, but you can’t treat your ancestor like this!]

“Ancestor?”

Cynthia paused, Yulandel hovering mid-air.
“Prove it.”

[Prove it? I can grant you all the power within this crystal! And if you find my true form, you’ll gain even greater strength!]

“Didn’t I say I’m not interested in power?”

Cynthia freed one hand, scratching her ear impatiently.
“Besides, who knows what schemes you’re hiding? What if you’re trying to possess my body?”

“Why would I, a grand ancestor, need to deceive you? That’s like an old hag tricking a child for candy!”

Unmoved, Cynthia edged Yulandel closer to the crystal.
“Doesn’t matter. Yulandel can absorb your power anyway.”

[Fine, fine! I’ll tell you!]

Seeing the stubborn Blood Princess wouldn’t budge, the Blood Stone relented, its voice booming.
[I’m the former bearer of the Blood Demon artifact—the Scarlet Blood Crown! My body’s long gone!]

[But I can still observe through these fragments. Your magic activated this piece, letting me speak to you!]

“Scarlet Blood Crown?”

Cynthia had heard of it—a relic from the Blood Clan’s golden era, a crown meant only for those who inherited the Blood Demon God’s legacy.

Its power was unimaginable.
Legend said its bearer once felled an ancient dragon rivaling a god.
Most crucially, the Crown held a natural dominance over vampire bloodlines, capable of absorbing their power to grow stronger.

There were supposedly other artifacts like it, but Cynthia knew little of them.
Such tales sounded too fantastical, dismissed by many as mere myths.

“How did someone as powerful as you end up in the Holy Church’s hands? Used by them?”

[Holy Church? Never heard of it… Oh, you mean those white monkeys?]

“That’s… a vivid metaphor.”

[No matter how mighty I was, I’m just an object now! They’ve only tapped a tiny fraction of my power!]

[Only a pure-blood can unleash my true strength!]

“How much of your power did they use to make this Blood Stone?”

[Uh… just this one, I think? My power’s not easy to control.]

“Just this one?”

Cynthia slowly lowered Yulandel, reabsorbing it into her body, and tilted her head.
“You seem awfully eager for me to take your power. You sure you’re not after my body?”

[Huh? A scrawny frame like yours? Not my type—wait, I mean, I was wrong! Put Yulandel away!]

“Tch…”

Cynthia’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
Though, as a former man, she didn’t care much about her figure, hearing the jab made her itch to smash the stone.
“Give me a real reason!”

“Kids these days are so hard to deal with… Fine. I think you’re worthy of inheriting the Scarlet Blood Crown. Absorbing this power will let you sense its true location.”

[I’ve lingered too long… It’s time to rest…]

“Oh, and if you take my power, I’ll share something else. Those white monkeys mentioned…”

[“Rest assured, the Blood Crown is safe in the Barlia branch cathedral’s basement. No one will know.”]

“Damn… Damn… What’s with that woman…”

While Cynthia conversed with the Blood Stone, Damus had limped out of the cellar’s passage, muttering through gritted teeth.
“When I return to the branch church and harness more of the Blood Crown’s power, you’re done for!”

Lost in his rant, he didn’t notice the strange surroundings.

By the time he did, it was too late.

“Wait, why’s it so dark?”

Damus glanced around in panic.
He’d been in an alley moments ago, but now he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face—pitch black in every direction.

Then, Ina’s figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into view.

“You… You’re the ‘Black Saint’?”

In the inky void, Ina’s glossy black hair and features stood out starkly, letting Damus recognize her instantly.

“Am I really that famous?”

Ina crossed her arms, tilting her head to study him.

“If it’s you… you could handle that monster back there!”

Damus, oblivious to his predicament, shouted excitedly.
“Letting that monster live will ruin our sacred plan!”

But to his shock, the Black Saint didn’t react as expected.
Instead, she frowned at him.

Following her gaze, a black mist began to coil around him, severing his connection to the light element.
“What are you doing?! Wait—this dark magic is—?”

As Damus’s mind reeled, Ina’s expression hardened, and she spoke firmly.

“I don’t know what plan you’re talking about…”

“But I see endless, dangerous ambition in your eyes.”

“My instincts tell me you’re more dangerous than the ‘monster’ you’re ranting about.”