“Leaving the Nest”

"After that, I participated in a coup and overthrew the government of a human country!"

The Count, upon hearing this, blinked his eyes and looked towards Magenta and the others.

"Please forgive my remark.

Um, as the master says, I cooperated with a human noble named Lyra-sama, overthrew the king of that country, and established a puppet regime under Lyra-sama's control. Lyra-sama is also a friend of the master and Rare-sama, who was mentioned earlier."

"Hahaha! What's that! So, in other words, the current royal family has retaliated for the treatment the people of this continent once gave to the Spirit Lord! How delightful!"

He was in a good mood. Although he hadn't spoken in a manner that suggested a particularly close relationship with the Spirit Lord, there seemed to be an acquaintance, and perhaps he didn't hold the countries of this continent in high regard due to the killing of acquaintances.

Come to think of it, he was unusually enthusiastic when he mentioned wanting to attack the city.

"Well, I'm glad you're pleased, but the ones who planned it were the noblewoman Lyra-san and the Demon Lord Rare-chan.

Sir Count, do you not attack human countries directly?"

The Count stopped his slow laughter and looked into the distance as he spoke.

"Well… yeah. It's forbidden to directly interfere with them. It's an ancient covenant… Although at this rate, in the not-so-distant future, I might descend to the surface."

"Really!? A premonition of human extinction!?"

"Well, if the covenant is voided to that extent, it might be such a situation. At that time, you can decide freely. You are one of the very few vampires who attained it voluntarily in the world."

Even if he said that, it didn't make much sense to me. It was a result of receiving [Subordinate] from the Count and failing to resist it. In the end, I wasn't [Subordinated], but that was only because I was a player. When I vaguely mentioned that, the count laughed and replied, "Results are everything. Most things are."

*

"Well, that's how things have been for the past ten days. So, even though I've been given a room and all, I feel sorry about it, but I'm thinking of moving to the city over there…"

"Ah, I see. That would be good. Don't worry about us. What I did, I did because I wanted to. Besides, leaving the nest is usually like that."

While relieved, there was also an indescribable sense of loneliness welling up. Looking back, Blanc had been with the Count since the first day of the game. It wasn't necessarily a farewell for this lifetime, but Blanc's current existence was undoubtedly thanks to the Count.

"Um, I don't think it will happen often, but if anything comes up, please let me know. For now, I'll be in a city called Erntal."

"Oh, that's fine. Don't worry about mentioning the names of modern cities. Just do as you please."

"Oh, right!"

Blanc summoned a Spartoi from Erntal.

"Occasionally, I'll Summon myself to play with this little one!"

"What are you talking about?"

"It's like this, just wait a moment!"

She rushed outside the room and, using [Summon Summoner], appeared next to the Spartoi in front of the throne.

"What is that! Teleportation magic!? No, that's not it, how did you do it!?"

Teleportation magic, there was such a thing. But it didn't seem like the right atmosphere to ask. If she could ask, it would probably be after answering the Count's question. Concisely, but due to the lack of clarity, it took some time to explain the necessary prerequisite skills. Even though she didn't know the Count's build, it was likely that the only thing missing was probably [Spatial Magic].

"Oh… Well, such a technique exists. Hehehe…"

The Count couldn't contain his amusement, laughing like that. Was he really that pleased?

"No, hehe. I never thought you would teach me something. Hahaha. Living for a long time is quite something. To feel this delighted in just one day…"

"Isn't that a bit disrespectful!?"

"Master, I don't think that's what he meant."

"Then what did he mean?"

"Well, it's better left unsaid. Let it be."

With a sidelong glance, the Count looked to the side, and the butler nodded and stepped forward.

"I'll assign him to you. That way, I can easily visit your city as well."

"Is it okay to go out!? And can I really have the butler?"

"There should be no problem as long as I don't directly engage in combat. And I'm not giving him to you, just entrusting him."

"But what about his daily care and all?"

"He took care of himself originally!"

The butler bowed to the Count and stood beside Blanc. Azalea and the others seemed uncomfortable.

"When you and the others grow stronger, and if their abilities no longer suffice, come here. I'll help you grow in line with your abilities."

It was too convenient. Blanc wasn't very familiar, but in gaming terms, it seemed like a non-player character to accompany her. To put it bluntly, she received it as a reward for the Count's connection having developed.

—No, I'm not really knowledgeable about games, so I don't know. This is probably something like the Count's parental feeling.

So, she decided to express her gratitude as best as she could.

"Thank you very much!"

"Haha. Take good care of him. Although I've told him to listen to what you say for the most part, if you go too far, he might not listen."

"Miss Blanc, we'll be in your care from now on. Please take care of us."

The butler said that, glancing at Azalea and the others and smiling. However, it seemed to the Azalea and others as if he were smiling contemptuously, and they glared at him with a resentful expression.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"I'll let you decide on a new one. Although there's no change in being my subordinate, by doing so, a connection will be established between you and Blanc."

The Count and the butler both seemed young in comparison to their way of speaking. They appeared to be in their twenties, but their way of speaking was quite mature. The butler had white hair, making him seem a bit older, but perhaps it was due to his well-proportioned face that even the white hair shone. Probably a phenomenon similar to Rare's. According to Rare, it was because "I'm a 'beauty'." I didn't know how to respond to such sudden boasting, so I just smiled vaguely at that time.

"Umm… A white vampire… White… Dracula… Red eyes… Red Eyes White Dra…?"

The butler occasionally made a bitter expression, but for now, he listened silently.

"Oh right, how about Weiss? I forgot what language it is, but I know it means white!"

"Thank you very much!"

He lowered his head somewhat eagerly. It seemed like he wanted to prevent a name even worse than this one from being given. Azalea and the others looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

"Well then…"

"Ah, yes! I'll come again!"

The first time Blanc came to this castle was from a mysterious cave underground. She thought it was a run-down castle, but now she knew it wasn't. At that time, the Count got angry at Blanc, who called it an abandoned castle, but probably now Blanc would get angry if someone said the same to her. She was so convinced that it had become an important place for Blanc. There was no need to walk out of the front entrance of the castle or the cave of the underground water veins. Blanc could fly from this window now. She wanted them to see her grown-up form.

"Um…"

However, Weiss called out to Blanc, who had her foot on the window.

"I'm sorry, but I can't fly…"

"That's a shame!"

After that, Blanc asked the Count to give Weiss skills like [Flight], and the five of them danced in the sky. Even from the distance visible to Blanc, the Count was there, standing by the window.