This was a bizarre conversation to have on the roof of a cathedral. Perhaps there really was no god who watched over Icarus.
“After centuries on this earth, my body has fallen. Before I knew it, my king had been slain. Nothing of this magnitude has happened in the long history of the Hellions. You and your master have left your mark on history, indeed,” the Count said.
“What? Hakuto did all of that! It’s not my fault! Pretty much everything bad that happens in this world is because of Hakuto anyway.” Akane’s outrageous claim was almost warranted, seeing how much chaos the Demon Lord had brought down upon the continent.
Count Impaler—or his echo, at least—said, “Life had become rather tedious after so many moons... But I am intrigued by how history will shape up in the near future. If it can be achieved, I want to watch this new era unfold—one that not even a god could foretell.”
“Okay? Your words are kinda confusing,” Akane said.
“Ah. Allow me to set subtlety aside. I am asking for you to spare this poor soul a few drops of your blood,” the lance said.
“Okie dokie.”
“For a considerable price, of course— Wait, what?” Count Impaler had made an outlandish demand by both human and Hellion standards, and Akane’s response was even more unthinkable. The Count certainly hadn’t expected an unconditional yes. “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but... Are you sure you don’t want to think this over? Let me be clear. Right now, it will take me several centuries to regenerate. During that time, I pose no threat to humans or any other creatures,” he explained. He wasn’t certain that Akane had heard him right—she hadn’t hesitated to give strength to someone who wouldn’t be a threat otherwise. This was akin to reinvigorating a hurricane just as it was about to die out and expecting the storm not to ravish the land all over again.
“That’s too complicated. Whatever you want sounds fun.” Akane grabbed the lance and guided its tip to her palm.
It was such an audacious move that even Count Impaler began protesting. “A-Are you sure you understand the implications of this?! Even a few drops of blood from someone as powerful as you will bring me back to full strength!”
“I’m a dum-dum, so I always do what sounds fun. My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates... You never know what you’ll find inside!” Akane shouted.
“Wait—”
She slammed her hand through the tip of the lance without hesitation. Blood gushed from her palm and seeped into the lance, emitting black affliction in exchange. The plume of dark gas began to take shape and settled in the form of Count Impaler—just as he had been when Akane faced off against him in Hellion Territory.
“What...powerful blood! Easily worth a thousand years of rest...!” the Count exclaimed.
“Hey, dude. What’s up? Wait, were you dead or something?”
“Incredible... I know not if I should thank you or warn you against your thoughtlessness first.” Count Impaler was meant to be an unavoidable disaster, intent on destroying everything in his path. It astounded him that Akane had shown no sign of fear.
In reality, Akane’s good fortune would let her ride out any disaster. “Now that you’re alive again, what do you want? A rematch?” With narrowed eyes, Akane began shadowboxing.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must respectfully decline. As tempting as it may be to lose my body all over again,” said the Count.
Akane let her arms flop. “Boo. That’s no fun.”
Count Impaler’s lips curled up at how Akane’s attitude flickered. From the moment he first saw her in Hellion Territory, he’d been intrigued by her—by the dark sludge that pooled deep in her soul in the shadow of her brilliant, sunshine demeanor. The Count had once been an ordinary Skeleton Warrior. He’d survived long, long years at the bottom of the pecking order. Something told him that he and Akane had something in common. Besides, there’s no telling what she’ll do next, he mused. Just like the late king... This girl wasn’t governed by logic or reason, but completely by emotion. After centuries of existence, he treasured any encounter that kept him entertained.
He stared at Akane and made his offer anyway. “The price I was going to offer is this: I am currently without a master. I shall be your servant, if you’ll have me.”
“Me? Not Hakuto?”
“My lance will only serve those who intrigue me. Forgive me for saying so, but you remind me of my former king,” Count Impaler said.
“Wait, there was a gorgeous girl hiding in that golden armor?!”
“Your character, I mean. Not your appearance,” Count Impaler clarified. Especially that cold cruelty of yours, he added silently.
Akane groaned for a while as if she were staring down a math exam she hadn’t studied for. Eventually, she stopped thinking. “Okay! I think I can surprise Hakuto with you, somehow. You’re gonna be my on-site manager!”
“Management is my forte. I thank you for this assignment, Mistress.”
“But you can’t go killing people without my explicit orders. If you do, I’ll make sure you can never come back.” Light disappeared from Akane’s eyes—they pierced the count with a glare that seemed to freeze his veins, seizing the heart that he had lost long ago.
Exquisite...! This girl is exquisite! This is what I have been waiting for all these years! Count Impaler relished the sensation. Once ordinary pleasures had started to bore him, he’d begun seeking excitement in peculiar places. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sought to serve Akane.
“You’re too bony for an idol’s manager, though,” Akane said. “You’re gonna scare my fans unless you put on some cute costume.”
“Yes, walking into town with this appearance would draw too much attention. In that case, I shall borrow the likeness of someone who left quite the impression on me.”
“Impression?”
Black affliction stemmed from the Count, wrapping around his skin-and-bone anatomy. Sheen black hair—the same color as Akane’s—spilled out under his top hat. Count Impaler now resembled a stunning young man. Combined with his outfit—extravagant enough to put the richest nobles to shame—and pitch-black cape that draped off of his shoulder, he’d entrance every pair of female eyes on the street...and make them swoon with his golden eyes.