Chapter 133

One Week’s Time.

Honestly, I’d like to separate bone from flesh right now, but if I did, that Fool and the Woman in Unsuitable Attire who follows him would probably die too.

So, this was giving them one last chance.

“Oww, Beloved Sister. That was terrifying.”

“Hmm? Terrified?”

“Yeah. I’ve never seen such an angry expression on your face before. Plus, the eerie silver energy you conjured in your hands—just looking at it made me want to faint. Honestly, anyone weaker wouldn’t have lasted a second.”

“Hmm… Was it really that bad?”

The Hero nodded slightly and continued.

“Even I, who often observe by your side, felt overwhelmed. As for them… especially that Woman, well, there’s no need to explain how she must’ve felt, right?”

Still, it’s impressive she didn’t faint while standing against me. Hmm…

Was she more afraid of his death than her own?

Enough to overcome instinctive fear?

Tch. I clicked my tongue briefly.

“What a waste, being around such a Fool.”

“Don’t be so harsh. He is, after all, our benefactor of life.”

“But don’t you feel the same way?”

At my words, the Hero chuckled awkwardly but nodded.

“That guy dared to scheme against you. Honestly, I wanted to beat him to death…”

The Hero shook their head slightly.

“For some reason, seeing that Woman reminded me of my Daughter.”

Hmm. So the Hero saw themselves and their child reflected in the Fool and that Woman, huh?

Well, they do seem about the same age.

That must be why you indirectly stopped me from killing him.

“Anyway, if he doesn’t apologize properly, will you really kill him?”

“Why not? I’ve given him plenty of chances, and I’ve been patient enough. If he continues acting foolishly, there’s no reason to hold back anymore.”

I’m getting tired of this nonsense.

“And besides, what I offer is merely lifting the curse.”

Though I didn’t specify what happens afterward. Once the immortality curse is gone, I can torment him however I please.

“Scary…”

“What? Considering you mocked the Goddess of Life, and I haven’t erased your soul entirely yet, I’d say I’m being quite lenient.”

I took a sip of steaming tea.

The bitter taste of coffee, created with my powers, tasted exactly as I remembered. The Hero always asks why I drink such bitter stuff, but it strangely soothes me.

Is it nostalgia? Not sure, but occasionally, I do think of my original world, even after all these years.

Memories remain vivid, refusing to fade.

Thanks to that, sometimes… I even wish to return.

“Well, that’s impossible.”

“What’s impossible?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Stories of other worlds shouldn’t be told carelessly.

Thus, I waited for the Fool’s fate to be decided over the course of one week.

Who knows what choice he’ll make?

—

One Week Later.

“Truly, I’m sorry…”

Surprisingly, the Fool was bowing deeply in front of my statue inside the Temple of Life, apologizing sincerely.

Was it genuine? I peeked into his heart cautiously, only to find his apology was indeed filled with earnest desperation.

Wait, why is he repenting now after wandering the world for decades without doing so?

What kind of magic did that Woman use?

Both the Fool and I could only stare in disbelief at his bowed form.

“Is this enough? I’ve apologized sincerely, so Uncle won’t have to die, right?”

Relieved, I nodded slightly.

“Y-Yeah…”

The Woman looked incredibly pale, her health seemingly poor. She also had bandages wrapped around various parts of her body, which weren’t there a week ago.

Could she have harmed herself? Did she stake her life to persuade him?

Even though he stubbornly resisted change for decades, for her to succeed…

Does that mean she’s important to him?

“Thank goodness… With this, Uncle will be fine…”

Then, the Woman collapsed, her legs giving out beneath her. Likely due to the sudden release of tension after feeling relieved.

“You idiot! Pushing things this far!”

The Fool quickly caught her, biting his thumb to create a wound. He dripped his blood onto her lips, and gradually, vitality returned to her body.

He was transferring his own life force to her through the medium of blood.

Like a vampire almost.

“Hmph… After causing all this trouble…”

“Whose fault do you think it is?”

She must’ve pushed herself trying to convince this Fool.

The Fool sighed softly and spoke.

“What am I worth anyway…”

“Exactly.”

No matter how much he claims to be a benefactor of life, what good is someone like him? Tch tch.

But it’s his choice, so others’ opinions likely don’t matter to him.

“If only someone hadn’t insisted on being so stubborn, she wouldn’t have collapsed like this.”

As I muttered under my breath, the Fool opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

Right. Sometimes silence truly is golden.

After all, having just been forgiven, opening your mouth might invite punishment.

“Alright, since you’ve apologized as promised, I’ll lift the curse of immortality.”

“Finally!”

At my words, the Fool’s expression lit up with relief. Hmph. If only he had apologized earlier, none of this would’ve happened.

I summoned magical power and erased the mark etched onto his soul. At the same time, I removed the spell that allowed him to recklessly absorb life force.

Now that death can touch him again… let me add a little extra flair.

Not anything too dramatic, mind you.

It was inspired by how he transferred life force using blood earlier.

“Now that you can die, your body has transformed due to your reckless use of life force over the years.”

The Fool wore an expression of confusion.

“Additionally, because you angered many gods, these hardships have become weaknesses of your new non-human race. Hmm, this is quite unprecedented.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

I deliberately transformed him this way.

“So, a race that absorbs or transfers life force through blood. Weak to sunlight and flowing water. Though with enough life force, you can extend your lifespan indefinitely.”

“Lifespan… extend…?”

“Hmm. And you can regain youth through life force. Quite an interesting new race has been born. While I don’t particularly care for you personally, the birth of this new life form is certainly worth celebrating.”

At my words, the Fool’s face twisted with complex emotions before finally asking one question.

“Can I… meet death?”

“Of course. The curse of immortality is lifted, so death will no longer ignore your soul.”

Though what happens after reaching the Underworld isn’t my concern!

—

Vampires.

Known to many as Blood Drinkers, they call themselves Sanguinus. Once mistaken for demons, their origins surprisingly trace back to ancient times.

The story begins with an unnamed Hero during the era of the first Hero. In the kingdom of Arcad, the second prince, favored by the king, grew arrogant. Believing the nation’s power surpassed even the gods, he challenged divine authority.

This arrogance led to the fall of Arcad, though that’s a tale for another time.

Legend says the prince, once unable to die, was finally granted mortality. However, due to his misuse of the divine power of life, his body transformed, marking the birth of a new race.

Some interpret this as a lesson: when nations grew too powerful and challenged the Church of Life and other temples, the Goddess of Life used Arcad as an example to reassert divine supremacy.

Later, Arcadia, successor to Arcad, worshiped beast gods and consistently produced top Dragon Priestesses from the royal family, showing respect to the gods.

Thus, both temples and royalty learned to respect each other’s territories.

— From “Ancient History Through Mythology”

Note: The views expressed in this book are not endorsed by mainstream historians.