The Smiling Death

Scarlett remained silent for a long time. Her expression was thoughtful as she tried to digest everything Cruoris had just revealed.

It was simply too much. The founder of House Bloodhart. The true history of vampires. Every revelation overturned centuries of recorded history.

She slowly lowered her gaze.

"...I..."

She hesitated before speaking.

"I still can’t believe all of this. I honestly don’t know whether you’re telling me the truth or not."

Cruoris wasn’t offended. Instead, he gave a small, understanding smile.

"I expected that reaction. If someone had told me a story like this thousands of years ago...I probably wouldn’t have believed it either."

He folded his arms.

"But ask yourself one question.What reason would I have to lie to you?"

Scarlett remained quiet.

He continued,

"And don’t worry. You don’t have to hide any of this from Amon. If you trust him... You may tell him everything."

Scarlett let out a slow sigh.

"Fine. For now...I’ll assume you’re telling the truth."

She looked directly into his crimson eyes.

"But I still don’t understand one thing. Why me? If your goal is to leave behind your tell about real history... or maybe leave your legacy... You could have approached my father. He’s a Mythborn. Far stronger than I am. So why did you come to me instead?"

Cruoris’ smile slowly deepened.

"The answer...is surprisingly simple."

He leaned forward slightly.

"The future of this world...will descend into absolute chaos."

His voice became unusually serious.

"When that day arrives...Do you truly believe your current strength will be enough to protect the people you love?"

Scarlett remained silent.

The image of Amon, lying unconscious and covered in blood, flashed through her mind.

She instinctively clenched her fists.

Cruoris noticed the reaction.

"I thought so."

He continued calmly,

"I can help you achieve great power. Far greater power than you possess now. The kind of strength capable of changing fate itself."

Scarlett frowned.

"But why? Why would you care whether I become stronger or not?"

Cruoris slowly looked toward the ancient portrait of Mordecai hanging on the wall.

Then he answered quietly,

"Because... you’re the only one who can inherit it. My legacy. My techniques. My Blood Arts. My skills. My understanding of blood itself."

He turned back toward her. His crimson eyes became unusually intense.

"Only you. Only Scarlett Bloodhart. You alone possess the qualities capable of reaching a realm...that even I once dreamed of attaining."

He smiled bitterly.

"A realm...that I could never reach myself."

Silence filled the room once again.

Scarlett stared at him without speaking.

Cruoris slowly stood up.

"But..."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"I won’t force you. My legacy cannot be inherited by someone who lacks conviction. You’ll only receive it...if you choose this path of your own free will. Think about it carefully. Once you accept...there will be no turning back."

Scarlett remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Why now?"

She looked directly into Cruoris’ crimson eyes.

"You could have approached me after I reached Mythborn Rank. Wouldn’t that have made more sense? And these future dangers you keep mentioning...What exactly are they?"

Cruoris smiled faintly.

"I believe now is the perfect time. If I wait until you become a Mythborn, it might have took more time. But now... after hearing everything from me,your desire and conviction to reach that level will be lot stronger. And you can reach that rank faster.

He paused briefly before his expression became serious.

"As for the danger... I’ll keep the explanation short."

He slowly stood and walked toward the broken window overlooking the ruined city.

"Long ago... There existed seven beings feared by the entire world. They were known simply as...the Seven Devils."

Scarlett quietly listened.

"Each of them possessed enough power to bring civilizations to ruin. Their ambition was the same. To ascend. To achieve true godhood. To become absolute beings beyond the reach of mortals."

He looked back over his shoulder.

"I was one of those seven."

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"When the remaining six awaken once again...this world will descend into chaos. For now...That is all I can tell you."

The corridor fell silent. After a moment, Scarlett asked another question.

"Then what about you? Aren’t you also one of those dangers?"

Cruoris chuckled softly and shook his head.

"Me? No. I abandoned that path long ago. After I met Clarissa...and fell in love with her. My obsession with power... My desire to stand above all others... It disappeared. I no longer seek godhood. My only wish now... is to leave behind everything I learned."

He said with wistful eyes. They looked genuine.

Scarlett studied his face carefully.

He didn’t seem to be lying.

Then another thought crossed her mind.

"What about the Abyssal Goddess? You mentioned fighting her. What happened between the two of you?"

Cruoris’ expression turned unusually solemn.

"That’s personal. I’m afraid I can’t answer that."

Scarlett remained unconvinced.

"Why not?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"Because the less you know about her...the safer you’ll be."

His voice became cold.

"If you learn too much about certain existences...they begin to notice you. They begin to watch you. And trust me... You do not want the attention of that Goddess. You might been worshipping her, but you people don’t anything about her true past."

A chill ran down Scarlett’s spine. An instinctive sense of danger surged through her body.

She swallowed unconsciously. For some reason she believed every word he had just spoken.

Cruoris let the silence linger before speaking once more.

"So... Have you made your decision? Will you accept my offer? In return... I ask only one thing."

His crimson eyes became distant, as though recalling an impossible dream.

"When you someday reach the realm... that I once sought but could never attain... help me fulfill one final wish."

He slowly extended his hand toward her. It wasn’t a command. Only a simple offer.

A handshake.

Scarlett lowered her gaze to his outstretched hand. Her thoughts became a tangled mess.

She continued staring at his hand in deep thought, weighing a decision that could alter the course of her life.