“…!”

Eugene could not hide his astonishment. A journey to a new world? It was true that he had crossed over from the Demon World because of his intense curiosity, but he had some information regarding this world. Eugene’s original world and this world were like two sides of a coin. Although the two worlds were separated, it was as if they were in contact on a certain plane. As such, a few special beings could experience the opposite world for a short amount of time if certain conditions were met. Moreover, spirits were somewhat free to enter both worlds, so the transmission of information was possible between the two worlds. However, the same wasn’t true for the world at the end of the unstable passage Eugene had opened. Zescard was the only one who had any information about the new world; however, even he did not seem to be very knowledgeable about the new passage and the world connected to it.

“You want me to go to an unknown world?” Eugene asked.

“I can give you some information. The first visitor told me stories,” Zescard answered.

“I thought that was a long time ago? Who knows how many things have changed in that world in the meantime? What if it has already come to ruin?” Eugene questioned. He was right. Even this world had greatly transformed after the introduction of the evil lands, so there was no guarantee that the new world had remained stagnant over the years.

“Certainly… It’s just as you say, brother,” Zescard said with a bitter smile. He then continued, “Moreover, with how unstable the passage is, it could well lead to the world but at a different time and space.”

“What are you talking about?” Eugene asked.

“Like this,” Zescard said while raising both his hands. He then explained, “Say my right hand is the world after you crossed over to it, brother, and my left is the world where you did not.”

“…”

“In other words, the world is standing at a crossroads, a divergent point in time, and it depends on whether you cross over or not,” Zescard added.

“I still don’t know what you are…”

“If you hadn’t crossed over, the evil lands would have never come into existence, don’t you agree?” Zescard asked.

“I guess so... Even if they did, it would have been well later in the future,” Eugene responded.

“Exactly. That’s it. This world was transformed thanks to an important variable—your passage. The same could apply to the world of the first visitor,” Zescard said.

“…Ha!” Eugene exclaimed. As the Origin and a dragon, he was astute and quick to catch on.

“Do you understand, brother? Because of the first visitor, his world could have banked into a direction different from its original path. In other words, the world you would arrive in after crossing through the passage…”

“...Might be the same as the world where the first visitor came from, but it could also be a completely different place due to various conditions and circumstances?” Eugene continued.

“Exactly. And the knights who will answer my summons through the passage… They may all come from the same world, but there’s a high chance that each of them lived at a different time and space.”

“That’s confusing…” Eugene muttered with a frown.

Zescard continued with a smile. “There’s no need to worry too much. Although there are many variables, it’s likely that the overall current of the world remains unchanged.”

“…?”

“Civilization exists in the first visitor’s world. To be exact, there are several civilizations higher and more sophisticated than the ones in our world. There are no other races in that world other than humans. Although legend has it that there were other races in the distant past, there certainly weren’t any when the first visitor was born. Most interestingly, there was no magic in that world. Instead, there’s something known as science…”

“Hmm.” Eugene’s frown slowly disappeared. The curiosity and the craving for adventure motivated Eugene to cross into the new world. Zescard’s story regarding the first visitor and his world was rather amazing.

“It’s fascinating. Flying through the skies and crossing the sea without magic? Hearing the voice of someone far away? I can’t believe it…” Eugene muttered.

“Is that so? Then, why don’t you check it out for yourself?” Zescard asked.

“…”

Eugene did not give an answer. However, he could feel passion growing deep inside his chest. He was filled with the desire to experience a world that was completely different from the worlds he had seen and experienced for himself—it was an unexplored, foreign world.

“S-sir…” the spirit poked her head forward and stuttered. She had remained silent until now due to Zescard’s intimidating presence. After mustering the courage to speak, she asked, “Are you really going? Then what about me? Sir, please don’t abandon me.”

Mirian tightly clasped her hands and looked up at Eugene with tears in her large eyes.

“You will be able to accompany him.”

Mirian jerked her head toward Zescard and asked with disbelief, “Kieeeh? I-is that true?”

Zescard answered, “You possess his energy as his contracted spirit. Of course, you will still need permission from your master.”

Fwoosh!

Mirian immediately turned her large, innocent eyes back toward Eugene.

Eugene grinned. “Well, two should be better than one.”

“Kieeeeeeeeeehhhh!” Mirian exclaimed.

Zescard spoke with a smile, “I assume you have decided to go?”

“You have made it impossible for me not to go, right? You sure have a glib tongue,” Eugene responded.

“This is fate as well,” Zescard said with a mysterious smile.

Eugene wordlessly gazed at him for a moment, then frowned before saying, “But I used too much power creating the new passage. I have no idea what I can do there with this weakened body of mine.”

Eugene had almost completely exhausted the power contained in his dragon heart. Of course, he could still somewhat recover it over time, but at the moment, he was no stronger than a high lord. Moreover, in a human world without magic, someone like himself would obviously be considered a monster. Eugene wasn’t particularly concerned, but he wanted to avoid being caught in troublesome, annoying situations.

“You will be able to walk during the day even in that world,” Zescard said.

“Hooh? Really?” Eugene asked.

“Didn’t I tell you? The truth of the matter is not exactly clear, but there are legends in the first visitor’s world,” Zescard continued.

“Perhaps…”

“That’s right. Vampires exist there, too. I’m not sure if they really exist, but the concept of vampires is established there. And as I have told you earlier, it should be the same world, but it could be at a different time and place, so…” Zescard said.

“Vampires might exist. Or rather, I could be headed to a time and place where vampires could be found,” Eugene concluded.

“Exactly,” Zescard responded with a smile.

Eugene made up his mind. There was no reason not to go.

Thump… thump… thump…

The stagnant, heavy beating of his heart started to race similar to a human’s heart. It represented his weakening as a dragon and the Origin, but Eugene didn’t feel particularly dispirited about it.

“I should get ready to depart.”

The beating was a sign of a new beginning.

***

Lefersha watched as Eugene left the cave housing the first passage.

“He never changes.”

He was her father and creator. However, there existed no familial affection between them. The reason was quite simple. She was born from Eugene’s authority, so in a way, she was a descendant of the dragons. Of course, she couldn’t be called a dragon since Eugene created her when he was a Vampire Origin. However, she had received the unique temperament of the dragons. She was not bound by blood ties and thoroughly lived her life as an individual. Therefore, Lefersha did not feel any sadness or regret when she saw Eugene leaving without showing any regard for her. It was similar to how she had left the imperial city hundreds of years ago, leaving behind Marecasio Helmond and Marecasio Caravan without much care, and how she wasn’t particularly affected or interested in the events caused by her children before her return.

“Is it not upsetting?” Zescard asked. Zescard was the only existence Lefersha respected and feared aside from Eugene.

“Whatever he does, it’s up to him, so why would I be upset? He will live out his life just fine even if he heads to a new world. Causing many accidents along the way, no doubt,” she responded.

“I’m sure. He is the most unusual out of all the brothers I know.” Zescard nodded.

“In my opinion, you are quite a character as well,” Lefersha said with a sullen face.

Zescard simply smiled. He answered in a calm voice, “Although everything has come to a resolution, the conversation between my brother and I is a secret of this world.”

“Tsk. Then you should have talked with him out of my earshot from the start. It’s not like I have anyone to tell either…” Lefersha grumbled after clicking her tongue. She then let out a sigh of resignation. “Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do. So what are you going to do?”

“I will have to erase your memories. I would appreciate your understanding,” Zescard responded.

“Go for it.”

Lefersha could only agree. If Eugene left, there would likely be no one but Zescard who could control her in this world. However, one could never be certain. She had lived a long life and experienced numerous things. There were still many things in the world she found incomprehensible, and it wasn’t like she knew everything in this world either. Those mysteries would only grow with the passage of time. What if someone capable of restraining her and peering into her soul appeared in the world? It was a ridiculous thought at the moment, but the possibility was always there. It wasn’t impossible, and Zescard was worried about that.

“I will do as the Beholder says. However…” Lefersha paused while slowly turning her gaze toward where Eugene was last seen. Her voice sounded slightly different from before as she continued. “This feeling right now… this… emotion when I think about someone. I would like you to leave it untouched. I can’t help but think that I will become a true monster if I lose this.”

Zescard’s eyes became filled with slight surprise. He wordlessly stared at her for a moment before muttering to himself, “I see... The encounter between chance and necessity has led to another change. My brother has truly done many things.”

“What? What do you mean?” Lefersha asked.

“It’s nothing. Anyway, I will accept your request. You will now be the one and only true Origin left in this world,” Zescard said. He gently waved his hand and the golden aura surrounding his figure swept over Lefersha’s beautiful face. His authority permeated her spirit and soul, robbing her of memories of her father and creator—Eugene. She conceded to the power of the Beholder as she stood there like a stone statue.

After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes. Lefersha’s red lips parted open. “Something… there was something.”

“Indeed. Something was there,” Zescard answered.

“How strange. My heart feels ticklish,” Lefersha commented.

Zescard smiled. Although her memories were gone, her emotions remained. After losing herself in thought for a moment with her hand on her chest, Lefersha raised her crimson eyes.

“But… I think I saw something,” she said.

“Hmm?”

Zescard was sure that all of her relevant memories had disappeared, but on the other hand, he could understand. Now, she was the one and only Origin and the Queen of all vampires. It would have been impossible for her own powers to remain completely dormant while he was inundating her with his authority.

“Yes. What did you see?” asked Zescard.

“Two people…” she muttered.

“Two people?”

“Yes… I think I saw a man with black hair, and he was smiling like a fool. And the other…” she trailed off while staring into space, and then she continued after turning toward Zescard with a seductive yet playful smile. “I don’t think I will tell you. I don’t remember it exactly, but looking at that person made my heart pound.”

“Hmm. Do as you please…” He chuckled.

“Yes. Anyway, I hope I can feel this way again in the future. Haha.”

Lefersha laughed as well. She had never imagined that she had just caught a glimpse of this world’s future. The two figures were ‘Knights of the World’ destined to travel to this world, and she had never imagined that the two would have the greatest impact on her destiny.