Arrogant. Overbearing. Prideful.
That was the true nature of Crimson Moon, Brunestud.
To measure something inhuman by the scale of human morality was nothing but folly.
And yet—Ryouma had fallen in love with this inhuman woman.
And she, madly, had fallen in love with him.
For the sake of her beloved, Crimson Moon could set aside her pride, show gentleness toward humans, and try to be what he liked.
But that did not mean she ever intended to change herself. An inhuman being remained inhuman.
Her concessions were proof of love, nothing more.
Once apart from Ryouma, she was still the arrogant Moon King, one of the Ultimate Ones, who regarded all life as dust beneath her feet.
Too tragic. Too magnificent.
And that magnificence was also her greatest weakness.
Ryouma did not yet know exactly how Crimson Moon's foretold death would come about.
But now, he had a sense of it.
No matter how powerful, she was still only one being—just one.
How could one person, however perfect, stand against all humanity?
"Ryouma, this one still has a breath left. I suppose I could try something interesting with him."
"…An experiment?"
Her words drew his attention back.
Pulling himself out of heavy thoughts, he focused on her.
She was a being like a god—yet Ryouma felt no rejection, no fear.
Instead, his feelings only deepened.
Even if she was not human, it didn't matter. He wanted to love the Crimson Moon who had tried for his sake.
And he would never allow her to be alone. That was his vow.
"Watch closely. You'll be surprised."
Her smile was bright and childlike.
A bead of blood, alien and crimson, welled at her fingertip and dropped into the dying boy's mouth.
A shudder wracked his body.
"Hu… ha… I… I'm alive…!?"
The child gasped like a drowning man dragged ashore.
What should have been death had turned to life—an impossible miracle.
No. He was no longer human.
"Vampirization? No… wait—you've… corrected the flaws of the True Ancestors and the Dead Apostles?"
"Correct! Thanks to your help, it happened far faster than I expected. Now humans won't be the only primates of this planet. We finally have a chance to seize it for ourselves."
"To seize the planet…"
Ryouma began to speak, but stopped.
He saw it then—Crimson Moon had changed.
Not her face, but her bearing, her aura.
At once tender and loving, as she was with him. And cold, regal, imperious—like a queen.
Both at once.
"Ryouma, my goal is to create the perfect Dead Apostle. A race of the stars, free of bloodlust, capable of reproduction like humans. A new primate species—the successors of gods themselves. Today, the foundation of the world is still unstable. The planet's cornerstone remains weak. That makes now the best chance to claim it."
Her voice carried an excitement that made his heart sink.
So that was why she had called Gaia's "invitation" a great opportunity.
She had been plotting Earth all along.
She was no naive fool. She was a schemer to the core.
"…But if you do this, you'll stand as humanity's enemy. You'll be opposing history itself."
The thought gave him a headache.
He had hoped only to gather strength, to avoid Crimson Moon being targeted by the Counter Force.
But she was already far ahead—and his own involvement had only accelerated the singularity.
Humans and Dead Apostles would clash sooner than foretold.
"Does it matter? This is what must be done. I won't stop, Ryouma."
"…At least tell me why."
"Why?"
"Yes. Why you must take the planet."
His gaze was firm.
He would not allow her to dodge.
If it was only ambition, he could not bear to see her throw everything away for it.
"…Do I have to answer?"
She hesitated.
His silence, his stare, told her everything. She could not avoid it.
"This planet… it's beautiful. Even if humans shine as brightly as gods, it doesn't change my desire to claim it. That was all it was, back when I was still on the Moon."
She explained, pretending at composure.
But he wasn't convinced.
"That reason… barely passes. But that's not all, is it?"
"Guh… you leave no room to escape…"
Her cheeks flushed. Her eyes turned plaintive.
But he didn't let up.
If it were only ambition, she would have declared it proudly.
No—there was something deeper.
"…At first, yes, I only wanted to seize Earth. But the one who made me think further was you, Ryouma."
"…Me?"
"That's right. I can't stand humans defiling such beauty. This planet is where you and I fell in love. It's where our memories will be etched into the soul of the world. How could I ever let humanity threaten it?"
Her cheeks glowed, her crimson eyes misted.
It wasn't the declaration of a conqueror.
It was the confession of a woman in love.
—For me?
Ryouma's thoughts scattered.
But her words did not stop.
"Ryouma, humans are dangerous. One day, they'll turn on the planet. One day, they'll turn on us. Danger must be smothered in its cradle. And the real reason… is you. Ryouma, you are not like me. You can die. You can wither. You can fade. To prevent that, I must seize the world. I said I would protect you—and I will never break my word. I am your elder sister, and protecting my brother is only natural."
Her will was unshakable.
Ambition had been her first motive.
But now, it was love that gave rise to her dream.
That love was the very fire driving Crimson Moon forward.
[End of Chapter]
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