Entropy's Servant

Chapter 51 - Black

What the hell.

I can't figure that guy out at all.

What is up with him?

A thousand and one thoughts that all amount to the same question run through my head, taking away my attention from Ebstrea and the vampire who was introduced to us as Charlotte.

"Reynald?"

But he knew about Ceasar... is he a reincarnator, too?

"Reynald, are you there? Earth to Reynald..."

No, in that case, he'd be serving Lady Luciel, surely...

"What ails you, wielder of the god-sword? Feel you unwell?"

But what if he did, at one point, but stopped doing that?

"Ah, leave this to me, Charlotte."

But why-

"Gefu-!"

I faceplant, getting a mouth full of dirt, as I'm pushed in the back. With a smooth movement, I'm back on my feet, spitting out the earth in my mouth.

"What was that for?!" I ask, glaring at the culprit with half-lidded eyes.

Ebstrea looks like the embodiment of innocence as she answers, tilting her head: "I mean, you were spacing out, so..."

C-cute... So cute I could just--No, no, pure thoughts, pure thoughts!

I shake my head in an attempt to get my blackened ideas away from me.

"Ah, was I? Sorry about that." I place a hand on the back of my head, rubbing it awkwardly.

"So, what were you thinking about?"

We're moving again, slowly but surely making our way to the elven capital. The vampire seems to have opted to stay silent and observe us.

"Ah, you know, that guy," I say, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"Ahh. The demon king, right?"

"Yup. Speaking of, what do you think of him?"

"Well... I think he fits his role better than His Majesty, at least." Ebstrea chuckles.

I, too, can't help but let out a laugh as His Majesty's rather round figure comes to mind.

"The human king, is it?"

I barely resist the urge to jump a metre in the air at the vampire's voice from just behind me. I'm pretty sure she was leading the way in front of us not a second ago.

"It's been quite a while since I've been in the human territories. Tell me, is this generation's king also a spineless fool, pushed around by his advisors?" Her face reflects nothing but innocent curiosity, and I try my hardest to push the shadow covering it to the back of my mind.

Is this... her idea of small talk?

"Well," I say, concealing my feelings, "rather than spineless, I'd say he's just a little... stupid. And he doesn't have any advisors, as far as I'm aware."

"C'mon," Ebstrea says, "you're leaving out the most important part. He's fat like a pig!" Her bright, mischievous smile, despite her venomous words, is...

Cute. How can one person be this cute? This has got to be illegal.

"I see," the vampire says, nodding to herself. "Then, not a spineless fool, but in his place, a willful fool... truly, the human race is deserving of pity."