The Eminence in Shadow, Vol. 3 (Light Novel) Read online

  “The Red Moon… I finally remembered. To think that the Blood Queen was a Progenitor Vampire…!” Yukime’s face goes white.

  “Th’ hell’s that?”

  “An age-old tale… A legend of a vampire who destroyed several countries in a just three days. Knowing that, Mr. Shadow must have come to stop her…!”

  “She took out a country in just three days…?” Juggernaut’s face twists into a grimace as he looks up at the Blood Queen.

  At this point, there isn’t anyone present who doubts the legends.

  “Fall back, 664 and 665.” Seeing that they’re in no state to continue fighting, Beta issues her orders. “You too, 666.”

  “But I can still fight!”

  “Don’t you have something you need to accomplish?”

  “…Huh?”

  Beta smiles beneath her mask as she steps forward.

  Given the situation, no matter how they fight, even if they all work together, they can’t possibly win.

  However, there’s still a way for them to emerge victorious.

  After all, they have Beta’s master.

  All she has to do is buy time until he shows up.

  No matter what happens, no matter whom he has to face, Beta’s master is her absolute.

  She squares off against the Blood Queen and gathers as much magic in her ebony sword as she can.

  “Wha—?!”

  Suddenly, though, her power starts running wild. She tries dropping her output to regain control, but her rampaging magic refuses to be quelled.

  “Rgh!”

  “Beta?!”

  A familiar, unpleasant pain runs across her body.

  Her skin starts turning black around the wounds where the blood arrows hit her.

  These—these are symptoms of the possession.

  Now that she knows the cause, Beta immediately changes how she’s trying to suppress her magic. She’s largely successful in getting it to settle down, but she’s still having a hard time controlling it.

  Meanwhile, the Blood Queen makes her move.

  She creates a gigantic orb of blood above her head, then piles enough magic into it that the air starts to quiver.

  “No…”

  Beta’s voice trembles. This attack looks to be far more powerful than the last, and she isn’t in much of a condition to move at the moment.

  She hears shouts from behind her.

  “Claire?! Claire, pull it together!”

  Beta turns her head to see Claire in Mary’s arms. Her wounds are turning black, too.

  Wait, she isn’t—

  Everything is going horribly, horribly wrong.

  The hovering orb condenses, ready to burst at any moment.

  “Master Shadow, forgive me…,” whispers Beta, her voice sounding like she’s on the verge of tears—and Claire’s eyes snap open.

  Claire is dreaming.

  The white space she’s floating in seems to go on forever. She doesn’t see anything else there. Only her.

  She just hears the beating of her own heart.

  “…Can you hear me?”

  Suddenly, she thinks she can make out a sound. She looks up.

  “Can you hear my voice…?”

  Now she’s sure of it.

  When she looks in the voice’s direction, she sees a woman with long black hair. Claire peers into the woman’s violet eyes.

  “Who are you…?”

  “I’m here to help you.”

  “Help me?”

  “Yes, you.” The woman’s purple eyes sweep over Claire’s body.

  “Huh? Wait, what’s going on?”

  Claire’s fair skin is beginning to turn black.

  It’s the exact same symptom as the one she experienced in the past.

  “This can’t be…the possession?”

  “Technically, it’s a little different. He cured you long ago of the thing you call the possession. He knows everything, after all.”

  “Wait. It’s healed? And who is ‘he’…?”

  “I believe you know him quite well.”

  “No, I don’t. Who are you talking about?”

  The violet-eyed woman’s only answer is a cryptic smile.

  “Soon, the corruption will overtake you. That’s why I’ve come to lend you a bit of my power.”

  “Hey, hold up! I still don’t have a clue what’s going on here!”

  “Forgive me, but explanations aren’t exactly my strong suit.”

  “Please, just tell me. What’s going on with my body?!”

  “Hmm, how to put this simply…? Unfortunately, you’re adapting, and losing control in the process.”

  “Sorry, I don’t follow.”

  “The full explanation would take too long, and I’m afraid time isn’t on our side. I’ll see how concise I can make it.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Are you familiar with ‘evolution’? Long ago, a colleague I shared a laboratory with told me that humans originally came from apes. According to one theory, apes spent countless years adapting to their environments, and that’s how humans came to be. It’s an interesting hypothesis, although I’m unsure how much water it holds.”

  “Um, okay… Does that have anything to do with this?”

  “Absolutely. See, the thing is, one of the other researchers asserted that living creatures don’t adapt to their environments. This academic didn’t refute the claim that humans came from apes, though. Even among apes, there are smarter ones and stupider ones. Due to the harsh natural environment, more of the smarter apes survived and went on to breed among themselves and increase their numbers. Over time, only the smart ones were left, and after countless years, they became humans.”

  “So, um, isn’t that the same thing? And also, what’s the point of telling me this?”

  “They’re completely different. In other words, just because the apes happened to adapt to their environments doesn’t mean they adapted by choice.”

  “O…kay?”

  “See, the thing is…forgive me, what were we talking about again?”

  “You were talking about me, right…? At least, I think you were.”

  “Right, right, I was talking about adaptation.”

  “…Huh?”

  “The point of the matter is, the children who happen to adapt to their environments survive and gradually change their forms. The fact that the blood’s nature is currently divided in two is the product of adaptation as well. The original type placed too large a burden on its carrier’s body, so all those descendants died out. But when the blood split in two, its properties were divided as well. Now, though, both types of blood are trying to adapt to each other inside you. They split in two for a reason, so they don’t adapt to each other easily. But unfortunately, you fulfill the conditions, and even worse, you have no means by which to control them. That’s why your blood is running wild and destroying your bod—ah, we’re out of time.”

  “H-hey, hold up, the part you just got to sounded really important! Wait, ow?!”

  A sharp pain suddenly shoots across Claire’s hand. When she looks at its back, she finds an intricate magic circle drawn on it.

  “The seal will teach you how to control it.”

  “Hey, it’s healing.”

  The black bruises are gone.

  “Our time is up, and things are looking bad out there.”

  “You know, you could have skipped the first half of that explanation.”

  “I’m afraid I’m going to need to borrow your body for a little bit. I won’t be able to use my full strength, but…”

  With that, the violet-eyed woman’s body starts going hazy and indistinct.

  “Wait! What’s your name?!”

  “Aurora…”

  “Aurora… Why did you save me?”

  “Because you’re his…” Aurora’s voice grows faint.

  “His what? Who is ‘he’?!”

  “Shadow…”

  Before she can finish her sentence, Aurora va
nishes completely.

  “Wait… Shadow…?”

  As she stands frozen in place, Claire whispers his name.

  As Mary cradles Claire in her arms, Claire’s eyes snap open.

  They’re now a beautiful shade of violet.

  Then Claire suddenly rises to her feet. Those purple eyes make Mary catch her breath.

  “Claire, your eyes…”

  That isn’t the only thing that’s changed. The air about her feels more mature, and the quality of her magic seems different, too.

  The biggest difference, though…is the fact that all her wounds have closed.

  There’s blood smeared around the gash on her chest, but the crimson liquid squirms and coalesces in the air as an orb.

  It’s just like what the Blood Queen did.

  “Now then, let’s see how much this girl’s body can withstand…,” Claire murmurs. Her voice is calm and collected, and the way she’s talking, it’s almost as if she’s someone else entirely.

  “Are you really Claire…?”

  The moment the question leaves Mary’s mouth, the Blood Queen’s blood orb bursts.

  The spray transforms into arrowheads so thick and unavoidable, they strike despair into every heart present.

  They’re all frozen, unable to do anything but stare at the hopelessness bearing down upon them.

  Everyone except her, that is.

  “Sorry. But I’m the original…,” Claire mutters softly. Her blood orb bursts, too.

  When it does, it scatters into tiny, tiny droplets. The blood practically forms a mist.

  The incoming blood arrows get stuck in it.

  “Huh?”

  Mary is the only one who utters a word, but she’s far from the only one doubting their eyes.

  The blood arrows have lost their momentum. They drip harmlessly to the floor.

  “Once you released it from your body, stealing control of your blood was child’s play. I wasn’t able to take it all, but…”

  Claire is grinning bewitchingly and looking at the vampire, who’s currently sporting several wounds.

  After Claire’s blood mist stole control of the arrows, she turned them around. However, it was successful on only a few of them. All the others she was forced to just drop on the ground.

  Still, the feat isn’t something a human being could pull off.

  It’s like watching two Blood Queens go at it. Everyone is at a loss for words.

  “Come now, projectiles are no way to fell a witch.” Claire licks up the blood spattered across her lips. It stains her tongue bright red.

  Then the Blood Queen makes her move.

  Her arrow wounds heal in an instant, and as they do, her blood dress changes form.

  What was once a dress is now gory feelers.

  In the flash of an eye, they propagate.

  “See now, that’s more like it…,” Claire says, then releases feelers of her own from her body. They look the exact same as the Blood Queen’s.

  The scarlet feelers spread, each set seeming like it’s trying to intimidate the other.

  All at once, the battle begins.

  Each spear-like tip rushes forward to meet the enemy.

  Some of them come up from beneath the floor and others come down from the ceiling, but there are enough of them to pack the room full. Both combatants are assailed from all directions.

  Many of them crash into each other, leaving scant few that reach their marks.

  When they see the feelers bear down on them, Claire draws a scarlet scythe and the Blood Queen extends her crimson claws.

  Then they each slice down the enemy’s feelers with a single strike.

  The feelers soar through the air, crash into each other, slice each other up, and paint the room ruby with fresh blood. The Red Moon’s light streams down from the newly opened holes in the ceiling, casting the two beautiful women in its radiant glow.

  Their fight is playing out too quickly for the eye to keep up with. They’re utterly inhuman.

  Nobody can tear their gaze from the exquisitely savage battle.

  “They’re incredible…”

  “What a battle…”

  Are the two evenly matched? It’s impossible for any of the observers to tell.

  All they know is neither of them has dealt a decisive blow yet.

  As the feelers’ fervent dance drags on, Claire sighs.

  “We seem to be at an impasse. However”—she flashes an impish grin—“you’ve breathed in quite a bit of my blood mist, haven’t you?”

  As the words leave her mouth, the Blood Queen collapses to one knee.

  Gory vomit gushes from her mouth. Red tears stream from her eyes. Blood gushes from every orifice in her body.

  “Groah…”

  For the first time, the Progenitor lets out a moan of pain.

  “You really have to make sure you take control of the mist you breathe in, you know.”

  Claire’s feelers surge toward the kneeling Blood Queen.

  She tries to raise feelers to defend herself, but they’re crushed under the mass of Claire’s assault.

  The wall of feelers conceals the vampire from view. Blood fills the air.

  All that’s left of her is a red puddle.

  “It’s a far cry from my full strength, but perhaps it will do.”

  The mature bearing. The enigmatic smile. The inhuman battle prowess. The violet eyes.

  The Claire standing there with her arms crossed isn’t the girl Mary knows.

  “Claire, what in the world happened to you…?”

  She casts a fleeting glance Mary’s way and offers her a troubled smile. It almost resembles Claire’s.

  The next moment, though, her violet eyes are filled with caution.

  A dense mist of blood envelops their surroundings, eventually coalescing into the shape of a person.

  “You’re kidding…”

  “This can’t be. She’s still alive…?”

  Alarmed voices fill the air, but Mary understands. The Elisabeth she knew wouldn’t go down so easily.

  As Claire is right now, though, she’s going toe to toe with her.

  As long as she’s here, the tragedy of a thousand years ago won’t be repeated.

  But as the unharmed Blood Queen emerges from the mist, Claire’s body keels forward.

  She drops to one knee.

  “I suppose this body has reached its limit…”

  The look on her face is pained, and a line of blood trickles from her mouth. Claire’s body is unable to withstand the inhuman power it’s putting out.

  Claire is kneeling, and the Blood Queen is lording over her. It’s a complete reversal of the scene from just moments ago.

  “Man, we just can’t catch a break here…”

  “This is bad…”

  “Oh, no…”

  Mary’s eyes water.

  If Claire goes down, there won’t be anyone left to stop Elisabeth.

  The tragedy will repeat itself, and when everything is over, her queen will fall into despair once more…

  Mary never wants to go through that again.

  She rushes to Claire’s side. “Claire!”

  “You’re…”

  “Claire, are you okay?! I’ll—I’ll buy you some time.”

  Mary draws her sword and squares off against the Blood Queen.

  “It’s fine. I’ve done enough.” Claire extends a feeler and stops Mary in her tracks. “My work here is done. All I needed to do was buy time until he showed up…”

  A radiant smile spreads across her face.

  “‘He’…?”

  “That’s right. He’s here…”

  An ebony shadow descends on them.

  “My name is Shadow. I lurk in the darkness and hunt down shadows…”

  Upon seeing him, Claire collapses with a relieved look on her face.

  The ebony figure’s longcoat flutters behind him as he draws his blade.

  “Hey, it’s that little—!”

&nbs
p; “Good heavens! You’re—!”

  “—Master Shadow!”

  Beta trembles with joy.

  Her faith in her master is absolute.

  Ever since she and the others were young and weak, he’s tirelessly stood before them to fight back the darkness. She grew up watching him from behind.

  Even against the Blood Queen, she’s sure he’ll be fine.

  Maybe it’s because of how safe he makes her feel, or maybe it’s because of how long it’s been since she last saw him, but she feels almost as though his body is a little bit bigger than usual.

  But not everyone necessarily feels the same way.

  “The hell you show up now for?”

  “Mr. Shadow, be careful. The Blood Queen, she is not normal.”

  The look Juggernaut casts Shadow’s way is disgruntled, and the one Yukime does is filled with worry.

  How rude! Beta glares at the two of them.

  While all that is going on, the air between Shadow and the Blood Queen is growing tense.

  Shadow readies his ebony blade. The Blood Queen deploys her red feelers.

  That’s when Beta realizes.

  The aura the Blood Queen is emanating has grown even stronger.

  “The woman’s a monster…”

  “Sweet heavens! That wasn’t her full strength…?”

  Juggernaut and Yukime seem to have noticed it, too. The Blood Queen’s power has grown since her fight against Claire.

  Her eyes flash like scarlet rubies as her blood dress writhes even more animatedly than before.

  The tension between her and Shadow reaches its crescendo—and at long last, the blood feelers and the ebony blade meet.

  Innumerable feelers bear down on Shadow, but his ebony blade arches beautifully through the air as it slices them all down.

  Trails of red and black collide over and over as the combatants’ terrifying speed leaves all the bystanders in the dust.

  For them, though, the attacks are meant as little more than feints.

  Suddenly, the Blood Queen’s body wavers, and a second later she’s behind him.

  Her red claws are aimed straight at his back.

  Shadow’s body abruptly wavers in turn.

  The claws find nothing but empty space as the black sword impales the Blood Queen from behind.

  Sploosh.

  The Blood Queen bursts with a sound like water being dumped from a bucket, and blood arrows fill the air around them.