Chapter 52: You Tricked Me Again!

Chloe stared at Flux, falling silent for a moment.

“Larvia! You’re deliberately humiliating me! Going through all the trouble to collect Flux’s fragments just to forge an identical copy!”

She hugged the black sword, pointing at the guard where the human empire’s emblem had been scratched out.

“And! Even though it’s reforged, you specifically put this mark here!”

“Calm down, calm down…”

Larvia leisurely poured herself a glass of blood and sipped it.

“You were the human empire’s Sword Saint. I just wanted to preserve a bit of your past. But a weapon forged from our vampire Tobias inksteel bearing a human empire emblem instead of a vampire one? Doesn’t that seem off?”

“Ugh… I don’t want your ‘kindness’!”

Chloe tossed Flux into Larvia’s lap and turned away, puffing her cheeks.

“You don’t want it?”

“Nope!”

“Really don’t want it?”

Larvia scooted closer, whispering in Chloe’s ear, “If you don’t, I’ll melt it down. Tobias inksteel doesn’t come cheap.”

Chloe whipped around. If Larvia hadn’t been quick, their lips would’ve met.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t find words, managing only, “Wait.”

“What? Didn’t you dislike it?”

“I-I didn’t say I disliked it! W-Who said this sword’s bad? It’s awesome! It’s just… you’re too annoying!”

Blushing, Chloe stammered her retort.

“It’s just… look at you! Putting a human empire emblem on it—how’s a vampire supposed to use it?!”

“Hm~ Makes sense~”

Larvia nodded, as if enlightened.

“But it’s Tobias inksteel. Erasing and recarving the emblem would be a hassle~”

“It’s your fault!”

“Sigh, little Chloe, just make do. The emblem’s not that noticeable. Reprocessing it… well, it’s not too expensive, but it’s not cheap either…”

Larvia shook her head helplessly.

“And your attitude… it’s honestly a bit disappointing. I give you a gift, and you accuse me…”

“Ugh…”

Chloe’s heart sank.

Now that she thought about it, she might’ve gone too far.

Tobias inksteel was insanely rare. Even as a Sword Saint, she wouldn’t splurge on a sword made of it.

“Um… Larvia.”

Chloe sidled up to her, thinking carefully. “Sorry, you’re right, I was too much… But as a vampire, how can I use something with a human empire emblem?”

“Hm~ You, a vampire?”

“Ugh… don’t mind what I think inside. On the surface, I’m a vampire,” Chloe said, flustered.

“Think about it—I’m already in a delicate position. Wouldn’t this increase the risk of exposing myself?”

She stared nervously at Larvia.

“Hm… Fair point. Let me think…”

Larvia rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

Seeing her waver, Chloe unleashed her trump card—

“Your~ Majesty~”

Snuggle, snuggle~

Larvia’s heart melted.

Faced with her little daughter’s coy whining and cuddling, even the mighty vampire queen couldn’t maintain her cool facade.

“Fine, I’ll help you out.” She patted Chloe’s head. “Give me the sword.”

“Here~ Your Majesty’s the best~”

Chloe handed it over with both hands.

As she spoke, she felt something deep inside her shatter.

Though, honestly, it was already in pieces.

“Just this once.”

Larvia reached for the sword’s guard.

Her nails tapped it lightly.

Swish—

A sticker peeled off.

“Done.”

Larvia handed the sword back to Chloe.

“I said I’d help, and I did. Look~ Pretty cool, right? Fixed in one go~”

“…”

Chloe was dumbfounded.

“How…”

Staring at the Vandro family crest on the guard, she realized the emblem she’d seen was just a sticker.

“Larvia, you tricked me again!”

Fuming, she tossed Flux to the floor and pounced on Larvia.

“I’ll fight you!”

She pinned Larvia to the sofa, glaring down, teeth gritted.

“No way, no way! I never said it was carved on~ Sigh, I wanted to keep a memento of your human days, but you don’t appreciate it.”

Chloe froze.

Now that she thought about it, Larvia hadn’t said it was carved.

No! She was still playing word games!

Shaking her head, Chloe snapped, “I don’t care! You tricked me! You’re the worst!”

She leapt off, drawing Flux with a clang.

“Duel! Larvia, I challenge you to a duel!”

“Duel?” Larvia raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Little Chloe, are you serious?”

“Of course!” Chloe stomped, furious. “This humiliation can only be cleansed with a fair duel!”

“No, I mean, what’s your win rate against me?”

“…”

Chloe fell silent.

“Little Chloe?”

“Ugh!”

She slammed the table, then hugged Flux, shrinking into the sofa’s corner, whining.

“That’s not the point! Just go easy on me!”

“But didn’t you say a fair duel?”

“Fair… ugh, I mean fair odds! If there’s no chance of winning, what’s the point?!”

“Alright, alright.” Larvia smiled. “How about this: if you touch me once, you win. Fair enough?”

Chloe’s eyes lit up.

“Deal!”

Seeing her agree so eagerly, Larvia sensed a trap.

‘Something’s off.’

She added a “favorable” rule for Chloe: “To keep you from getting hurt, I won’t attack.”

Chloe’s bright eyes dimmed.

‘Hmph.’

‘Knew you’d try to touch me while I’m “defending.”’

‘Nice try, kid.’

‘No chance.’