Chapter 152
Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: The Vampire Lord's Audience
Yuseong stepped foot onto the second floor. Sure enough, vampires greeted him. But now, enemies of a different sort began mixing in.
They looked similar to regular vampires. But anyone could tell their attire was far more luxurious.
"Noble Vampires. They're an upper-tier vampire breed. Their defining trait is..."
Suddenly, a fireball flew toward Yuseong.
Boom!
The fireball exploded against the bullet Yuseong fired.
"...they use magic. Of course, they still have all the standard vampire traits."
Naturally, they were much trickier to deal with.
Fortunately, this one was alone.
Up until now, Yuseong had kept his distance from the vampires during fights. It was to maximize his ranged advantage against foes that could only fight up close.
But this time, he charged forward instead.
Keeping distance against a magic user wasn't a great strategy. Still, he had no intention of closing in completely.
-Kieeeek!
Though it used magic, this thing was still a vampire, not a proper mage. It was no slouch in close quarters. Its claws extended long as it lunged at Yuseong in turn.
But just as they seemed about to collide, Yuseong abruptly halted and twisted away. He fired while retreating, his reinforced bullets slamming repeatedly into the enemy's heart.
However, the vampire was ultimately faster and caught up.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Its claws whistled sharply, brimming with murderous intent. Its speed was naturally superior to a regular vampire's. The damage output probably was too.
But that was it. Drawing on his experience against vampires, Yuseong countered in kind.
Clang!
He exploited an opening to leap back far. Any regular vampire would have pursued relentlessly—whether turning to mist, beast form, or just on two legs.
But the Noble Vampire paused after a brief chase. It had magic. As soon as Yuseong spotted signs of it preparing a spell, he halted his retreat and charged forward again.
Bang!
Magic burst from its hand once more. It was undoubtedly a spell of immense power. Fired repeatedly, it would be incredibly dangerous.
Yet again, though, the Noble Vampire only unleashed one shot before switching back to claws.
Yuseong had closed in once more.
But seeing that, Yuseong fired while pulling back again.
This was the key to handling a Noble Vampire that could cover both close and long range: distance management.
When the gap widened and it tried magic, he'd close in. Then the Noble Vampire would rush in for melee instead of casting.
He'd widen the gap again, and it'd pursue only to start casting once more.
That brief switch between melee and ranged. Its attacks reliably stopped in those moments.
Yuseong exploited those gaps ruthlessly, hammering the enemy with fire.
[Whoa, check out that distance control]
[This is why Yuseong's real talent isn't physical stats—it's combat sense]
Some viewers who caught on cheered him on.
-Kieeeek!
The Noble Vampire clutched its heart and screamed as the reinforced bullets struck home, then collapsed.
[Nice!]
[Win!]
"Not bad."
But he'd only taken down one. Once other monsters mixed in, the difficulty would skyrocket.
"Guess we'll take it slow here."
The answer was simple: level up.
* * *
Yuseong kept hunting vampires. The deeper he delved into the second floor, the more Noble Vampires outnumbered the regulars.
After breaking through them all and ascending to the third floor, a new breed joined the fray.
"Vindelrom's Bloodkin. Think of them as vampire royalty."
On top of magic, they wielded one additional ability.
Blood Dominion.
A technique that drew out their own blood and manipulated it freely. Its fluid, liquid movements packed enough power to shred humans to pieces.
Yuseong's counter was freezing rounds.
Crack!
Blood was liquid, after all, so it froze solid. But at Yuseong's current level, the rounds only slowed it slightly.
That was plenty, though.
Swoosh!
A crescent-shaped blood scythe hurtled toward him. Patches of it were frozen, allowing Yuseong—who had ducked low—to dodge as it smashed into the wall.
Crash!
The frozen blood shattered with a sharp crack. But neither Yuseong nor the monster heard it. They were locked in fierce combat.
Thud!
The Vindelrom Bloodkin fell. Yuseong scooped up the drops and pressed deeper into the castle.
Passing the fourth floor and entering the fifth, a massive door appeared.
"Boss room. Isratrus Vindelrom should be beyond this."
[Gonna challenge it now?]
"Not yet. My level's still too low."
He couldn't clear the lower floors with ease just yet.
"But it won't take long."
[At your leveling speed, yeah]
This run was just to scout and show viewers the boss door anyway. Yuseong turned back without regret.
* * *
How much time passed since Yuseong cleared every floor except the fifth?
Clang!
The crafting hammer struck metal. A now-familiar routine. Materials on the workbench transformed into bullets in seconds.
'That's the target quota.'
Yuseong set the hammer down. He downed a mana potion to restore his MP, then stowed the ammo in his inventory.
Turning, he gazed at the vampire castle.
No matter how many times he saw it, its grand, ornate exterior clashed with the gloomy aura it exuded. As if designed to embody its master's cruelty and grandeur.
But today, that master would meet his end.
"Today, we take down Isratrus Vindelrom."
[Ooh, finally]
[Been waiting!]
Viewers who'd watched Yuseong steadily clear the castle's vampires cheered.
The moment to meet this quest's target had arrived.
* * *
Navigating the now-familiar castle interior, he ascended. Vampires attacked, but none could halt his progress. Combat with them was routine by now.
Yuseong reached the fifth floor in no time. Ammo and potions barely depleted.
This would do.
Yuseong opened the door.
Slide!
It swung open effortlessly, belying its massive size.
The interior matched his expectations perfectly. A classic audience chamber from legend. At the end of a long red carpet sat the throne's occupant.
A being lounged on the enormous throne, leg crossed, one hand propping its forehead as it gazed down languidly.
But its elongated, crimson eyes—like a reptile's—instilled instinctive dread.
[Whoa, what presence]
[That's the boss?]
"Looks like it."
He'd already confirmed via the strategy guide.
Yuseong stepped into the audience chamber.
Thud!
As always upon entering a boss room, the door sealed shut behind him.
Immediately, Isratrus Vindelrom stirred. He turned his head to regard Yuseong.
"Well, well."
He spoke.
"No wonder the castle was so noisy. A little rat had snuck in."
His voice was soft and silky. It even carried a hint of allure.
The unexpected tone stirred the chat. Every vampire so far had only screeched like beasts.
He lowered the arm propping his head, fully revealing his face.
Fine-featured, unmistakably masculine. The kind of pretty-boy looks that earned "flower prince" compliments.
The chat grew even rowdier. Yuseong, unfazed, stared back at Vindelrom.
"What brings you here?"
Vindelrom asked. But Yuseong ignored him, addressing the viewers instead.
"Event scene. I wanna plug him in the head right now, but my body's locked."
[LOL macho]
[Wouldn't most people hear him out? LOL]
[LOL It's the villain exposition time. Gotta wait]
[Like robot merge time or magical girl transformation—sacred wait time LOL]
Since Yuseong chatted only with viewers, the system treated it as no response and continued the event.
"Hmph, not talking, eh? Figures. Ludeart sent you, right? Bet he fed you the usual line. That I corrupted his ancestors."
Vindelrom chuckled mockingly.
"So you're the poor, stupid fool who rushed here to deliver justice. God, these half-baked self-righteous idiots are such a pain. Know how many like you I've crushed?"
"Apparently I'm not the first in the lore."
[Wait, didn't the lord say nothing like that?]
[You got played, Chunsik LOL]
[The fooled guy's always at fault LOL]
"Utterly hopeless lot. Can't fathom why you humans are so desperate to be used. How dumb do you have to be to feel satisfied? Ludeart calls us demon minions? That's why you invaded?"
[Wait, what?]
[Are these guys innocent?]
Viewers sensed something off from Vindelrom's words. Yuseong stayed silent.
"We are demon minions, true."
[Wait, plot twist again?]
[If you admit it, what does that make us?!]
"But are we the only ones?"
[Huh?]
[Who else?]
"Did you really buy Ludeart's tale that we seduced his ancestors into demon pacts? Ever wonder why his line fell to demons generation after generation—yet only he 'woke up'?"
[It was suspicious TBH]
[Those types are always the dirtiest]
Viewers grew hooked on the unfolding conspiracy.
"He didn't wake up. He's the true zealot."
[Shock!]
[That guy's a demon worshiper too?]
[Then why kill his own side?]
"Demons don't all think alike. His master and mine are in cutthroat rivalry. He's using you humans as assassins to kill me, weaken my master's power, and seize regional dominance. In short, you're the pathetic pawn in a demon power struggle."
Vindelrom uncrossed his legs and rose.
"Ludeart, you utter fool. Using humans in demon turf wars? Even if you were once human, lowborn trash thinks small."
Wings sprouted from his back and unfurled wide.
"Come at me, worm. As reward for reaching here—and pity for Ludeart's dupe—I'll face you myself. Witness Isratrus Vindelrom's might, and offer awe and respect to the demons who'll rule this world and my great master, Luthes Dmekras!"
As his speech ended, Yuseong felt his hand move.
He raised his gun, grumbling.
"God, you talk too damn much."