Chapter 41: New cards and a talk
"I shouldn't make promises too early."
That was Bryce's first thought after waking up from the vision. He realized that his promise to Excalibur would thwart his father's efforts — and he did work a lot to finish the silver sword. After all, who could simply fight Black Dragon, the demon lord of Annihilation, Moon Goddess and her guardian, and even hybrids with berserker minds or split personalities: all of that happened in less than eight months!
Because of the unique silver sword, Bryce knew that his father wasn't making it for himself but for him. It was a weapon meant for his son, who should have been born in eight months at that time.
'He sounded urgent and resolute to create it. Is it because his wife is a vampire demon lord? He knew I would be a hybrid, so the sword was his plan to deal with the side effects of hybrids?' Bryce complemented while gawking at the ceiling, seemingly lost in reminiscent.
Heroes being cursed and demon lords chasing the impossible also rang out in his mind a few times: Bryce etched those words onto his heart, not planning to let anyone control him. He then opened his system to check his new cards.
First of all, Crimson Kingdom. It was Bryce's destination after a dungeon run, for he believed he'd be able to completely advance as a vampire here and learn about other demon lords related to them, possibly Maria Evilmask. And while yesterday Bryce had no connection other than his bloodline, he now knew that the vampire king was wounded by Excalibur's holy curse.
It wasn't just a normal curse.
Not only because Excalibur was a divine weapon but because Arthur cast it on the vampire king. In Arthur's hands, Excalibur was a much deadlier weapon; the curse he used was active even after nineteen years. It was devastating power.
'I must learn how to get rid of it and use the vampire king's plight for my own growth,' Bryce's eyes gleamed as he imagined what kind of a gift the vampire king had nurtured for him for those years.
Recalling how tasty the meat of a troll was with the holiness dwelling within it, Bryce's thirst for blood heightened, and he became hungrier. There was a chance he'd be able to become close to a hybrid state and awaken two bloodlines at once with such high-quality nutrients as the vampire king's cursed flesh.
Bryce stood up and took out his sword from his inventory.
He unsheathed it from a pretty cheap and rough sheath, then held it in his hands. The hilt was on his right palm, while the blade rested on his left palm. He gazed at the weapon with complicated eyes.
'Father couldn't even talk with Excalibur, yet I became her master.' Bryce could only think of two reasons. Either he was too handsome — it'd be a good dosage of confidence into his looks if that was the case — or his father's plan just irked Excalibur too much that she wanted to be separated from Sword of Dracula.
Bryce believed it was undoubtedly the latter.
'I can't turn back, so there's only one thing to do,' Bryce decided what to do relatively quickly. He looked to the side, found out that Gengo had woken up and was looking at him happily, owing to his excellent night in four walls, then called him closer.
Gengo was in a small form to not take too much of the bed, so he had to jump a few times to come closer to his best friend. He was confused by the sword's appearance, but as Bryce put the weapon on his lap and took Gengo into his two hands, the situation became a tad clearer.
"He's my family and best friend, Gengo! In this sword, there are two beautiful girls, Gengo. Excalibur and-" Bryce awkwardly licked his lips, "-and a vampire girl. They are our companions."
Gengo barked. Hello, he said!
Of course, there was no reply, and the situation turned even more awkward, with a man and a dog gawking at the sword.
Knowing that there was a vampire soul within the Sword of Dracula, forcefully put inside by his father, Bryce's feelings shifted significantly toward her. He'd sworn he would use her power to the fullest, even if she didn't communicate with him, but knowing a full story naturally made things different.
Gengo looked up, worried.
"It's not your fault. You have reached them, for sure," Bryce encouraged his friend.
And while Gengo nodded and retracted his eyes to hover them on the sword, Bryce decided to become a man girls didn't really like, a stubborn and persistent type.
He'd talk to the sword and girls inside them daily through their connection, hoping to reach them one day and establish a better relationship.
Yes, with his promise to Excalibur, Bryce would separate swords one day. But that didn't mean he couldn't keep them by his side after that, or things would become more complicated, right? And with how strong people were in this world, Bryce knew he had plenty of time to build his strength and relationships.
Using that connection, Bryce stared deeply at the sword and started inwardly talking, 'We will have breakfast, then we'll leave the city. Outside, beast tamers should attack us, and a lot of fun will start then. I'll make sure to complete the quest and become stronger. Well, now that I'm on a vampire side, I'll have more of you by my side, a vampire girl.'
Bryce chuckled, thinking how long the soul of the vampire sword would resist an urge to shout out her name. He planned to ask Wolfgang about the princess that had disappeared from the vampire kingdom, for he had an inkling it could be her. But for now, Bryce wanted to take a quick shower before breakfast.
"I'm first," Bryce said, sounding impatient as though some idea sprouted within his heart.
Gengo didn't really like bathing, so he happily curled up with a shoe in his mouth.
And when Bryce entered the bathroom, he put the sword on the side, took off all his clothes, then started taking a bath.
"Oh, wait, stupid me, why would I even take my sword to the bathroom? I'm sorry, girls," Bryce, all naked and with the dangling sword he was born, came closer to the weapon and put it in his inventory.
When the silver sword disappeared, he burst out laughing, "Haha! I can't go overboard, or they will hate me."
Being a young blood without any experience with girls, Bryce believed the route he took with the souls was the best for his current situation. Because he naturally used the sword, these two could always follow him in battles, but, other than his training, Excalibur and the vampire girl couldn't really participate in his life.
If he wandered around a city with a sword unsheathed, he'd raise suspicions, and it would only end up with unnecessary problems.
But it would be fine to unsheathe the sword in some situations. And bath was one of them. Moreover, if things went overboard, and some hatred came out from Excalibur and the vampire girl, they should convey their feelings through words, which would start some conversation.
'It's not like I will bathe with the sword every day or do some weird stuff to it,' Bryce didn't have any odd fetishes, of course, so he believed good stuff would eclipse awkward moments.
At last, he left the bathroom.
"Your turn."
Hearing him, Gengo went to his regular size and curled up in a protest. He didn't want to bathe!
But when Bryce threw his arms around him and raised him effortlessly, "You think I can't lift you?" and laughed straight into his ears, Gengo whined and moved his paws, to no avail.
Soon, annoying water fell onto him, and Gengo remained motionless like the good boy he was.