Chapter 50: The Inquisition (Part III)

When I opened my eyes, Cass was not there. I let out a lazy stretch and climbed out of bed, continuing yesterday’s game of measuring the dimensions of the room.

When I reached the one thousand eight hundred and fifty-sixth step, I suddenly stopped.

A term had abruptly surfaced in my dull mind: Barrier.

Could it be because Cass had... set up a barrier in the room? Was that why I couldn't walk out of it?

But why would he set up a barrier? In my life, I have no lofty ambitions; my greatest ideal is simply to be with Cass. A person like me—even if he didn't set a barrier, I would still cling to him shamelessly.

Sitting on the floor, I pondered deeply, my left hand unconsciously rotating the silver ring on my right index finger. The only benefit of being blind was that my hearing had become more sensitive. The moment my fingertip touched the surface of the ring, I sensed an anomaly in the airflow. Pricking up my ears, I reached out my right hand and used the surface of the silver ring to lightly touch a certain point in the air.

When I stood up again and counted to the sixteenth step, I felt the sunlight.

The barrier had vanished.

Bracing myself against the wall, I walked slowly.

Where was Cass at this moment, and what was he doing?

He probably set the barrier because he was afraid I would be in danger coming out alone. That must be why he covered the room in such soft carpet and left it empty of everything except the bed—so that no matter how I played, I wouldn't bump into anything. If Cass knew I could walk out on my own, would he be happy?

Pricking up my ears like a cat, I heard footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor. It was Cass! I could distinguish his footsteps from anyone else's!

I chuckled inwardly, fumbling to hide behind a pillar in the corridor, preparing to give him a fright.

The footsteps drew closer and closer. Just as I was about to quietly take a step and jump out, someone else jumped out before I could.

"Cass!" It was a charming, dainty female voice.

I hurriedly retreated to my hiding spot. If others found out that Cass was hiding a vampire, it would bring him trouble.

"Miss Wuma." Cass’s voice was gentle and polite, yet indifferent and distant.

The corners of my mouth curled up slightly. Cass was gentle when he spoke to me, but never so indifferent.

"So cold..." the girl complained, adding, "Just call me Hino."

"There is a proper order between superiors and subordinates." Cass’s voice remained flat. Though he spoke of hierarchy, his tone carried not even a hint of humility.

"You’re so boring!" The girl named Hino giggled, then added, "With the Queen missing, the Demon Realm must be in a complete state of chaos by now, right?"

The smile on my lips froze. What did her words mean?

"Without Lilith, Samael is bound to go mad. When that guy goes on a rampage, he’ll probably tear the Demon Realm apart. If we let them both suffer, we can just sit back and reap the rewards." Hino grew more excited as she spoke, asking, "What is the situation in the Demon Realm now?"

Was this their scheme? Was Cass involved in this? Was everything part of their plan?

"In his fury, Samael killed the Queen’s Chancellor and the Arbiter. The exorcists we secretly dispatched have already moved into the Demon Realm."

Cass’s voice was as gentle and indifferent as ever, but to my ears, it was like a bolt from the blue, a thunderclap directly overhead.

While I was living in my self-styled happiness, were they fighting a bloody battle?

In my blind self-righteousness, were they facing the annihilation of their race?

Alastor...

Albus...

My mind went blank for a moment.

"On the day our great Majesty returned, she heavily damaged the Inquisition that came to sneak-attack the Demon Realm, personally slaying ten Holy Cross exorcists! Sigh... the Inquisition is too cunning, resorting to sneak attacks. If they declared war openly, I would definitely join the fight so the Queen wouldn't have to fight alone!" Little Mountain’s passionate voice echoed in my ears.

"Karochi, since when did you become such a loyal supporter of the Queen?"

"Hmph, we are all children of Her Majesty! Let me tell you, from now on, my name isn't Karochi, it's Little Mountain!"

"I am a child of Her Majesty! It is my honor to serve the Queen forever!"

My ears were buzzing. I clenched my fists tightly, my fingernails piercing my palms, but I felt no pain.

They trusted me so much...

But the "great Majesty" they spoke of had abandoned them in their moment of greatest peril.

They are vampires, they are demons, they are terrifying monsters despised by humanity—so they deserve to be eliminated as quickly as possible?

My dead heart felt as if it were being seared in boiling oil; it was agonizing, yet cold as ice.

Cass, it seems... we really can't go back.

No matter how much I compromise to keep the peace, no matter how much I try to gloss over reality, what's gone is gone.

All my attachment, all my feelings—because of so many demons who lost their lives—have been uprooted.

The conversation ended, and their footsteps gradually faded away. I stepped out from behind the corridor, my sightless eyes staring into an endless darkness.

I heard Aurora crying in the depths of my heart. She was screaming to break free from my body; she wanted revenge.

Aurora, your heart hurts, doesn't it? Mine does too...

Aurora, you must hate me. If not for my stupidity, how could they have died? You know... they believed in me so much.