Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
chapter-226

When viewed on a map, the Meta Conveyor Belt was a wide, horizontally elongated road shaped like a doughnut that supported the interior of the Military State. I'm not sure if it's right to call it a 'road' since it's more like land that flows like a river, but its scale is huge enough to circumnavigate the country.

If headed east from here along the Coastal Road, one would encounter the Duchy of Mist, where Vampires reign supreme. It was the country of the Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka. And once entered, it would be impossible for the Military State to continue their pursuit. As such, they might think… that place was our destination.

So, we planned to… fake heading to the Coastal Road by exiting the belt, and then pretend to actually stay on the belt… thus faking them out again.

In fact, we took a shortcut, not the intended route, and overtook them… before heading elsewhere.

Of course, this plan required two conditions.

First. The bait must be sufficiently appealing.

This was achieved by sacrificing Ralion.

"Goodbye, Ralion. He was a good horse..."

"Mm? Hu, though I, too, feel sorry for Ralion, there is no need to fret. Ralion will return."

"Huh? Excuse me? Return?"

"My other familiars are beings that have had death halted. Only Ralion was resurrected from the grave of my old mule. No, he is a vessel filled with my faint memories and reminiscences... As he is ultimately a part of me, he will return even if dropped away somewhere."

Seems like Ralion was not all that great of a horse. A sacrifice that can return is not a sacrifice, you know? Anyway, this was a little-known fact, so we decided to use it to our advantage.

And the second condition.

We must not let our tracks be exposed.

Because of this, we had to give up using containers. No matter how much Tyr cloaked it, a huge container hidden in darkness flying around would be too obvious under the current surveillance. Honestly, if they were not able to discover it, it would be a problem of their intelligence rather than our camouflage. Like… the texture itself would change completely, you know?

Thus, we made a tremendous decision.

"Hey! It's cramped! Don't move!"

"I'm not the one moving, though."

"...It can’t be that you are suspecting me after tying me up, are you?"

"Grrrr, stuffy!"

"Mya-. You poor meows don't know the comfort of tight spaces."

[...Just bear with it a little longer. It was not made to fit five in the first place, so stop complaining.]

Tonight, until just before sunrise… Hidden entirely within Tyr's coffin, we'll fly at full speed in the darkness!

All belongings were in the Pocket of the Regressor, and Nabi was boxed and placed at our feet. We were stacked neatly in a row inside the coffin, like sprouts tightly packed in a steamer. It was uncomfortable and suffocating, but there was no helping it.

Tyr's coffin was a treasure that had been a part of the Progenitor’s history. In fact, it was an Arcane that had been half-mythologized. It could easily accommodate about five people.

Its size was just right. As it was smaller than a carriage, it could pass between trees and buildings. Containers wouldn't allow such three-dimensional maneuvers.

Just like I thought, there was no need for a large vehicle. That was all for show. An efficient compact was the rational choice for the future!

It was a problem that it was a tight fit, but well, it was not really a concern unless we were a group of some huge extended family.

Azzy, Ria, Tyr, me, and the Regressor had laid down in that order.

This was entirely Tyr's fault, who, even in such a cramped space, insisted on dividing by gender, and naturally laid in the middle to control the coffin.

｢Everything is going as planned. After such a long time, I am finally able to be close to Hu.｣

There appeared to be a bit of personal motive, but anyway.

Since it was too narrow to lie horizontally, everyone lay vertically.

And because of that, I ended up face-to-face with Tyr.

｢Though it is nice to be close after a long time... to think it had to be in a coffin, of all places. It feels embarrassing, almost like I am lifting the fabric of my clothes to show what lies inside.｣

Embarrassed? About what? I have literally seen inside your skin countless times. In fact, I even touched it. Isn't it more normal to be in a coffin together than to touch another's heart with your very fingers? It's rare for humans to touch another heart, you know?!

｢Ugh, when I was alone in the coffin, it did not matter at all, though... So, why is it bothering me so much now?｣

Perhaps because of the embarrassment of having someone in a private place, unease remained in Tyr's heart. That was why Tyr kept complaining in front of me.

[My imperial juniper coffin is a space filled with my power, a temple solely for me. I've never let anyone in all my life. Not even my familiars have seen the inside.]

"There wasn't much to see anyway, though? You’re making such a big deal about showing a bit of your coffin."

[That attitude is the problem. This place is a secret haven never revealed to the world. Consider your entry an honor and do not delve any further into its contents.]

It seems our presence continued to irk her as she vented her complaints while maneuvering the coffin through the darkness. Well, I’m sure it wasn’t just Tyr being petty, but a reluctance to reveal her private space…

…Wait a moment. Now that I think about it, it’s a bit offensive, isn't it? Why should we cater to such whims?

Who says we can’t share a coffin! I never wanted to enter a coffin before it was time for me to die either! It’s not like I begged to come here—it was necessary!

Is it that troubling? Then, let me pry!

I moved within the cramped space and subtly lifted the carpet.

"What's this deep, secret thing you’re talking about? Is it this red carpet? It doesn't look all that special, though."

[Aht. That’s-]

"Oh, there's something behind here too. Let's see... clothes?"

[No! Do not touch that!]

Beyond the carpet were clothes stuffed haphazardly. Primitive clothing that should have been neatly folded for storage had its flaws blatantly exposed before my eyes.

I pointed at the crease marks and sighed.

"When you put clothes away that aren't packets, you should fold them neatly. They're all wrinkled. What is this... Ah."

So that was it. That's why she said not to snoop. I nodded gravely.

"My oh my. I see. You were embarrassed because you hadn't cleaned up your room. You should tidy up regularly if you're going to stay in the coffin that long."

[I said I never planned to let anyone inside in the first place!]

"People who live in cluttered corners always say that. 'It's my own space anyway. What does it matter if it's a bit dirty?' It is a valid point."

As I nodded, I suddenly opened my eyes wide and exclaimed.

"Until we came in, that is! That’s why you should just keep it tidy! Do you think others clean and organize because they have nothing better to do? You clean because you never know when your parents, lover, or a cherished guest might visit! Tyr, you're paying the price for not cleaning up after yourself regularly!"

[Eut…!]

As I started pressuring her about her wrinkled clothes, Tyr, having nothing to retort, gritted her teeth and snatched the clothes from my hand. We were so close together that it was still right before my eyes, though.

Hooo. When will I ever get to lecture a girl from the 12th-century again? What an opportunity.

The younger should usually give precedence to the elder, right? But how the tables turn. This is kinda fun, huh?

"Cleaning is like life. Even though we know things will get messy again, humans tidy up their surroundings. It is just like how we fiercely live on, knowing we will die someday. So, Tyr, too, should…"

[Eung? Do you wish to overcome death? If that is the case…]

"The metaphor isn't the same! It's not a one-to-one correspondence! If death is considered as disorder, then Tyr, you should never be allowed to become disorderly! But the very moment it became disorderly, it was already over!"

She suddenly twisted my words! What is this ridiculous drifting! It was so abrupt that I almost agreed, completely neglecting logic!

｢Hoho. Now that I think about it, that is true. I am not alive, nor do I sweat, and I consume nothing but blood. Whether it is clothes or inside the coffin, there is no mess to make. That means my coffin was never dirty from the beginning...!｣

Even amidst my personal turmoil, Tyr, having borrowed my logic, smiled triumphantly.

[You are right. Cleaning is done by those who need it. But I am Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka. I do not need food or water, surviving on only blood and darkness. What use is cleaning or organizing? It was merely disordered momentarily because I had to accommodate your bodies.]

"Oho? Is that so? That’s how you’re going to play it?"

Tyr responded shamelessly.

[That is the truth.]

"If that's how you're going to play it..."

Very nice. She learned brazenness, huh. My objective was accomplished. Now she probably won’t complain about us borrowing the coffin... Ehh? Wait.

If it doesn't get dirty, she doesn't organize? Then, what about the clothes? I cocked my head and asked.

"Then, Tyr, do you not even wash your clothes?"

[Mm?]

"Laundry, I mean. Even the innovative clothing packets need to be removed and washed occasionally. But it seems you haven't even washed the clothes you wear daily."

Thinking back, I hadn’t seen Tyr hand-washing her clothes in Tantalus either. Since I use packets, I hadn't paid much attention, but isn't it strange? Laundry is a monster that devours the energy spent on domestic labor. Why hadn't I ever seen her take up such a task?

There's only one conclusion.

"The reason you hide clothes is because you don’t even wash them... Aha."

[Slander!]

"Did you wash them then? I haven't seen you ever do that, though."

Honestly, if a being as majestic as the Progenitor were to squat down and do laundry, it would be quite a funny sight. Jobs may have ranks, but tasks don't. Someone has to do the work, after all.

Even I've taken on all sorts of odd jobs. Why should a Progenitor be spared? That's a bit irritating.

[A-Again, I repeat. I do not emit anything filthy, so…]

"Then, this shouldn't matter, right?"

Hmph, how about this?

I grabbed the hem of Tyr's robe and brought it up to my nose, pretending to sniff deeply.

Tyr's mental gears seemed to creak. While her crimson eyes blinked dumbfoundedly, she watched what I was doing, before reacting a beat too late like something had malfunctioned within her.

[Hu?! What do you think you are doing?]

"Just checking for smells. Let’s see what these supposedly unsoilable clothes are like, shall we?"

Just you wait. If there's even a hint of odor, I’ll make sure you can't ever lift your head high again... Huh? Wait.

"Eh? It really doesn’t have a smell?”

What in the world? She doesn’t even do laun... Ah.

The Progenitor could manipulate blood and darkness at will. Even in a space filled with blood, she could control it so well that not even the smell of blood would linger.

Even when dealing with corpses, she could pulverize them with blood and swallow them up. She was a being who could dissolve both internal waste and external substances, eliminating them separately.

"Wow, I can see why some people would want to become vampires and head to the Duchy. So, it’s not just for immortality but also for these conveniences..."

[L-Let go! You insolent brat!]

The clothes only smelled faintly of fabric. Even the smell was utterly pristine. Jokingly saying it’s easier to be dead than alive... who knew it would be practically true…?

While I was lamenting and pondering the meaning of life, voices began to intermix from behind and in front of me. The voice of the Regressor echoed off the walls of the coffin from behind.

"Stop squirming! It’s cramped!"

"It’s not like I moved all that much."

"You moved a lot, you know? And it wasn’t even for a good reason! On top of that, you’re even doing strange things!"

"Ow! Ow! Don't poke me! It hurts!"

It hurts when you poke with a finger! Such immense strength but the fingers are so thin that it hurts more! Is this the correlation between pressure and area?! Is this physics?!

Ria's voice started from the opposite corner of this elongated hexagonal-shaped coffin and reached my ears.

"...It’s nice and all that you’re getting along with each other, but can we switch places? It’s too cramped because you keep moving. I mean, it’s a bit awkward to say, but like… Since the two of us here just had to be like this."

"Woof, cramped! Chest, stifling! You, you're too big!"

"Mm, yes, roughly for that reason."

What was happening on the other side? Curiosity was bubbling up, but it was too cramped to get a good look...