The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 80

◆

The term “Undead” encompasses a vast array of creatures.
Among them, the species known as “Vampires” has been feared by humans since ancient times.

These immortal beings prey on human bl00d under the cover of night, sustaining their eternal existence with the life force they drain.
They possess extraordinary physical abilities and astonishing regenerative powers, with some individuals even wielding magical skills.
Highly intelligent, they can infiltrate human society with cunning and hunt their prey undetected.
Though vulnerable to sunlight, holy symbols, and certain plants, their cunning and power more than compensate for these weaknesses.

Within the vampire species, there exists a superior lineage that has lived for eons.
These beings are known as “Vampire Lords,” and their danger far surpasses that of ordinary vampires.
Vampire Lords command lesser vampires and other undead creatures, dominating them as their servants.
A single Vampire Lord can raise an entire legion of undead.

Elizabeth, the Vampire Lord and one of the Four Demons serving the Undead King Fabian, was another such terrifying being.
Elizabeth possessed an inhumanly seductive beauty. Her lustrous black hair, as dark and glossy as the night sky, cascaded smoothly down her shoulders and back. Her snow-white skin resembled porcelain, against which her bl00d-red eyes glowed with an eerie light.
Currently, Elizabeth sat deeply upon a throne constructed from human bones at the highest level of the Tower she had created, idly toying with the armrest with her slender fingers, her expression bored.
Beside the throne stood a handsome young man, as still and silent as a statue. He had silver hair as fine as silk and piercing, ice-blue eyes. His skin was as pale as Elizabeth’s, and his androgynous features possessed a doll-like, flawless beauty.

Clad in a black servant’s uniform, his posture revealed no trace of emotion.
His name was Alphonse.
He had served Elizabeth as her attendant since ancient times.
Though he lacked the title of “Lord,” he was nonetheless a powerful Vampire.

◆

This “Tower” was a structure that vividly reflected Elizabeth’s aesthetic sensibilities and sadistic nature.
Its primary purpose was to serve as a device for extracting and accumulating life force from the bl00d, flesh, and bones of creatures killed in ways that maximized negative emotions—fear, despair, and hatred.
But mere functionality was insufficient for Elizabeth.
The Tower’s exterior featured intricate spiral patterns formed from the white bones of its victims, stretching toward the heavens. Crimson-black flesh filled the gaps between the bones, resembling distorted stained glass.

“Alphonse,”

Elizabeth called out to the handsome young man beside her in a voice like tinkling bells, yet utterly devoid of warmth.

“Remember those captives we recently captured? You mentioned there was a rare one among them. Bring her to me. I’m feeling a bit thirsty.”

“As you command,”

Alphonse replied curtly in a toneless voice, his form dissolving into mist.
This was the unique ability of vampires to turn into mist.
Elizabeth showed no particular concern, resuming tracing patterns on the armrest with her finger.

Soon, the massive gate directly in front of the throne, adorned with countless skulls, creaked open slowly.
Alphonse emerged from beyond the gate, but he wasn’t alone. He was dragging a captive.
In his hand was a black iron chain, the other end of which was fastened to an iron collar around the captive’s neck.

The woman being dragged was completely naked.
Her golden hair, once radiant as if woven from sunlight, was now filthy and matted, stained crimson with dried bl00d in places.
Her blue eyes, once clear as the surface of a winter lake, were now vacant and unfocused.
Countless painful wounds and bruises marred her pale skin. Her limbs lay limp, dragged across the floor by the chain around her neck.

“Oh?”

Elizabeth murmured, her crimson eyes narrowing as she slowly scanned the woman from head to toe.

“Is this all?”

“Yes, Lady Elizabeth. The other ‘meat’ wasn’t of sufficient quality.”

Alphonse replied in a monotone.

“I see. Then I have no need for it. You may ‘play’ with the rest as you wish.”

Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively, as if the fates of the other prisoners were of no consequence to her. With that single, callous gesture, the fates of countless nameless souls were sealed.
Elizabeth turned her gaze back to the woman before her.

“Well, as long as she lives, that’s all that matters.”

Elizabeth chuckled softly and beckoned with her hand.

“Go,”

Alphonse commanded, and the woman crawled forward, her movements humiliating.
Elizabeth watched her abject posture with a look of cruel amusement. She gently slid the pointed toe of her luxurious boot beneath the woman’s chin, forcing her face upward.

“Hmm?”

Elizabeth peered curiously into the woman’s vacant eyes. Deep within the murky swamp of despair, she glimpsed a faint glimmer—the lingering embers of a noble will.

“Ah, excellent. Very good. It seems she hasn’t given up yet. How fortunate. It would have been so dull otherwise.”

Elizabeth smiled contentedly, leaning closer to the woman and meeting her crimson eyes directly with the woman’s blue ones.
When facing a Vampire Lord directly, one of the most dangerous things to be wary of is their Enchanting Demonic Eye.
This terrifying power directly affects the minds of those who meet their gaze, stealing away their will.
Once enchanted, the target becomes a puppet, completely controlled by the caster.
The more one resists, the more violently their mind is consumed, sometimes even completely destroyed.
The power of the Demonic Eye unleashed by a Vampire Lord as formidable as Elizabeth is utterly impossible for an ordinary mind to resist.

“Ah…?!”

A faint groan escaped the woman’s throat.
Her body shuddered violently, and tremors wracked her entire frame.
Her vacant eyes widened, darting back and forth without focus.

“Ah… ah… ah… ah…”

Meaningless sounds spilled from her lips in ragged bursts, saliva dripping from her chin onto the floor.
Even though she appeared completely broken, Elizabeth’s assessment proved correct: a flicker of resistance remained.
But even that resistance couldn’t last.
Soon, the woman’s body went limp, the convulsions ceasing.
Her wide-open eyes regained their vacant light, staring blankly at Elizabeth.
Her expression showed that even the faint trace of resistance that had lingered moments before had vanished completely.
Elizabeth nodded in satisfaction.

“Alphonse, give her that.”

“Yes, Lady Elizabeth.”

Alphonse drew a small knife from his pocket and pressed it into the woman’s hand.
After confirming the knife was secure, Elizabeth picked up a beautiful crystal goblet from a nearby table and held it before the woman’s eyes.

“Oh, you sweet little bird. Won’t you let me taste just a little of your beautiful bl00d?”

Her voice was sweet and gentle.

“With this knife, gently cut your slender throat and fill this cup with your warm bl00d, won’t you?”

The woman was completely entranced, lost in a trance. Elizabeth’s words had become absolute commands for her.
Without hesitation, the woman took the knife Elizabeth offered. Slowly, she pressed the blade against her pale neck.
All that remained was to apply a little pressure and draw the blade across—but then, a tremendous roar suddenly echoed from downstairs.

◆

The entire tower shook from the impact, causing Elizabeth to frown. She clicked her tongue softly as she watched the knife fall from the woman’s hand.

“…What was that?”

Elizabeth asked Alphonse in a low voice, making no attempt to hide her irritation. She was clearly displeased.

“At once, Lady Elizabeth. I will confirm immediately.”

Alphonse bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
Just then, the massive doors of the throne room shuddered violently. In the next instant, they burst open with a deafening crash, and Elizabeth’s elite vampire subordinates surged into the room like an avalanche.
Normally, these cruel creatures of the night would have a sadistic glint in their eyes, but this time was different.
They were all visibly panicked, their eyes wide with fear and urgency.

“What’s going on here?!”

Elizabeth shrieked, her voice sharp as a razor.
She rose from her throne, making no attempt to conceal her displeasure.
One of the vampires who had stormed in, his face contorted with terror, stumbled forward toward Elizabeth.

“L-Lady Elizabeth! T-That’s… My subordinates…!”

Before the Vampire could finish speaking, his body suddenly split in two without warning.
Crimson bl00d erupted like a fountain, further staining the deep red carpet.

From behind the Vampire’s severed body, a Dullahan materialized silently.
Black miasma rose from its headless torso, and bl00d dripped from the rusted greatsword in its hand—bl00d from the Vampire it had just cleaved in two.

But that wasn’t all.

Behind the Dullahan, a horde of lesser Undead—Zombies and Skeletons—poured into the throne room, groaning as they swarmed forward.
They were attacking the elite Vampires who served Lady Elizabeth.
Another Vampire, desperately fending off the encroaching Undead, cried out.

“They’re… attacking! A massive horde is assaulting the Tower! S-so strong! This is insane! This can’t be happening—aaaargh!”

This Vampire possessed power far beyond that of a mere Undead. Yet, swarmed by Zombies converging from all directions, his skull was cleaved open by the rusted sword of a Skeleton Knight.

“You fools! Halt! Don’t move!”

Alphonse roared, channeling Magic Power into his voice to amplify his command.
Even a Dullahan should have been unable to resist Alphonse’s authority—or so it should have been.
But the black-armored knight raised his greatsword as if issuing orders, then pointed the blade at Alphonse.
To Alphonse and his companions, this was an incomprehensible act.

To the Dullahan, however, it was a perfectly natural response.
For he—or she—had already sworn allegiance to a new master.