Chapter 30: Loathing

The frigid night wind, carrying the thick metallic stench of blood drifting through the streets, spread across the pitch-black sky.

Even outside the grand hall—perched high on the long stairs, towering amid the darkness—one could clearly smell that piercing, bloody gale.

Utia, body splattered with blood, leaned against the heavy black doors as usual. But unlike past days, her face no longer bore that flippant, teasing smile.

The mischief in her eyes had vanished completely, replaced by a chill and gloom that sank deep into her bones.

“Utia… You should first clean the filthy bloodstains and dirt from your body. Otherwise, your appearance will tarnish Her Majesty’s dignity.” Sulga stood beside her, voice numb and flat.

Utia hugged her arms tightly, silver teeth grinding against her lips. She offered no reply—instead, she asked in a low, grim tone.

“Was it you… who suggested this to the Queen?”

Sulga was silent for a moment.

“I merely execute Her Majesty’s will—providing the best solution I can conceive to resolve her troubles. That is all.”

Sulga’s voice held no fluctuation, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself.

Utia’s fingers clenched tighter, nails nearly embedding into her palms. Her icy face, still smeared with undried blood, made her appear ferocious and terrifying.

Finally, she let out a cold laugh.

“How laughable, Sulga. Didn’t you say you understand human emotions the least? Yet you came up with this method…”

“…I did not lie, nor do I have reason to.” Sulga continued, eyes fixed unblinkingly on Eternal Night City below—shrouded in darkness and death.

“Human emotions are delicate and complex. I do not understand how to comprehend them… But I know how to exploit them.”

“Individual emotions hold nothing unique. But when dozens of those delicate human feelings intertwine and fuse… they become a precise yet fragile instrument—operating the unique, lowly entity called ‘human.'”

His voice was steady as Eternal Night City’s wind, without a ripple.

“Anger, fear, pain, attachment, hope, despair… These function independently. But touch just one… like severing a wire in that precise instrument—and it triggers unexpected… no, expected collapse. As I said… they are very fragile.”

“And I merely exploited that.”

His words fell.

Utia listened, the nausea growing even stronger.

His logic was flawless—and that very flawlessness chilled her more deeply than madness.

“What an arrogant statement…”

“I do not believe it is wrong.” Sulga replied evenly.

“…You know what? You’re so hypocritical it makes me sick. If I get the chance, I’ll rip your head off without hesitation.”

Utia’s words carried undisguised killing intent, permeating the icy air.

Sulga’s figure showed no reaction—not even his eyes shifted.

He merely turned his head slowly. Those temperatureless eyes calmly regarded Utia’s face, slightly twisted with contempt.

“If you wish, you may try, Utia.”

“In Eternal Night City, strength decides everything. If you believe my hypocrisy or logic warrants execution—and you are confident in your ability to carry it out—then it is your right.”

Utia’s inner rage grew, even turning to hatred for this mechanically indifferent male.

Was it his tone? His cold attitude?

No…

She loathed the insult this so-called proposal had inflicted upon her.

She recalled yesterday in the hall—what Klal had said to her.

…

“Compared to these unimportant rats, I now have another… far more interesting matter that requires you to handle. Hehe…”

Klal’s sickly-sweet laughter drifted from behind the canopy.

Those crimson eyes pierced the swaying veils, locking onto Utia with meaningful amusement.

A strong unease enveloped her. Yet she bowed her head, suppressing inner disgust, and asked respectfully.

“If it is something Utia can accomplish… Utia will… do her utmost.”

“It’s not difficult at all. Hehe…”

Klal smiled, speaking slowly.

“Sometimes I think… Eternal Night City is too vast, too crowded, and… too ‘merciful’.”

Her voice carried a languid sigh, as if regretting something.

“Those frail, sickly defectives… They occupy precious space, consume resources that could be better used, yet provide only inferior blood laced with fear and illness. This is simply… a defilement of Eternal Night City’s order.”

Utia vaguely guessed Klal’s intent. Culling useless blood livestock had precedent among vampires—though usually on a smaller scale.

She dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.

“Your Majesty means… a culling is needed? To remove those who fail to meet standards?”

“Culling? No, no…” Klal chuckled lightly.

“That’s too mild. What I want to see is a thorough… purification. A declaration memorable enough for the entire city.”

Utia’s brows furrowed briefly, then relaxed.

As an enforcer, the blood on her hands was already countless. A few more defectives made little difference.

She was about to accept the order when—

“However.” Klal shifted tone, voice dropping lower with greater intimacy.

“You, my dear Utia, have a more unique task.”

Utia raised her head toward the veiled figure.

Klal’s red lips curved. Her crimson eyes fixed on her, speaking slowly, word by word.

“I want you… to personally find and dispose of my little one’s… particularly cherished little things.”

“…” Utia’s heart sank.

“Utia does not know what you mean.”

“You know. Of course you know. Hehe…”

Klal’s voice was thick and sticky-sweet, flowing through the empty hall with pathological possessiveness and delight.

“My Sylvie—everything about her is mine. Her blood, her breath, every heartbeat, even her soul… should belong only to me. Should live for me, change for me alone.”

She tilted her head slightly. Dark gleams flickered chillingly in her crimson eyes.

“But… Utia, I heard—no, I know… she seems to have diverted attention that should be wholly devoted to me toward some other… lowly, insignificant things.”

“She used the food I granted her—the favor meant to please me and sustain her existence—to feed rats in filthy corners?”

“This makes me… slightly unhappy.”

Her tone was gentle, even carrying a hint of aggrieved reproach.

“How can my possession show interest in anything but me? How can she… feel even the slightest attachment to anything else?”

“It breaks the rules. It displeases me.”

Her gaze suddenly locked on Utia.

“And you, Utia… I know you have some… ‘special’ interest in my little pet?”

Utia’s expression remained unchanged, but her fingers trembled slightly.

Klal’s smile grew sweeter—and crueler.

“So this task is perfect for you.”

She leaned forward, voice lowering like a devil’s whisper.

“You will personally extinguish that tiny, improper light in her heart. You will become the source of her pain, hatred, and despair.”

“That way, she will understand: any existence that dares draw her attention brings the most excruciating consequences. She will become more fearful, more dependent, more… purely mine.”

“As for you, Utia…”

Her tone took on teasing cruelty.

“Don’t you have special feelings for her? Then respond in the most thorough way—with those little rats’ deaths. Tell her that in Eternal Night City, any excess emotion is dangerous—leads only to destruction.”

“That way, she will obediently, completely… look only at me.”

Klal finished, lounging back against the throne. Her crimson eyes savored the deep loathing nearly overflowing from Utia’s face.

“Well? This unique task—isn’t it perfectly suited to you, my dear… executioner?”