Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Vassal Relationship
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“Uwaaaaaagh!”
Gardsand unleashed his own blood.
[Skill Activated]
[Blood of the Dynasty - Iron-Blood Triumphal Arch]
His blood swelled up, transforming into a grand architectural structure.
But soon, it began crumbling from the edges, eroded by the sticky black blood flowing down.
An incomprehensible voice echoed from the black blood.
- Branches that have extended...
- Return to the primordial flow...
[Blood control is deteriorating over time.]
[The Progenitor Vampire Weapon interferes with the power of blood.]
“I reject it!”
Gardsand bellowed, veins bulging on his neck.
“I don’t need it! I reject it! Get out!”
Watching his own blood melt into the black blood, Gardsand shouted toward the back.
“Human! You were so smug tormenting me, but what the hell is this?!”
“What else? It’s a total mess.”
The legs of Gonghyeok, who said that, were severed.
Nathanael asked worriedly.
- Are you okay?
“Yeah. My legs just detached from my legs.”
- ······
Nathanael’s face turned pale at the nonchalant response, on the level of ‘I’ve had detachable legs since birth.’
[‘Blood Control’ ‘Blood Adjustment’ ‘Blood Hardening’]
The blood from his severed legs wove together, forming prosthetic limbs.
Gonghyeok stood up lightly and looked at the progenitor weapon on the opposite side.
The Pure Blood Duke had lost its original form, becoming a rippling black sphere.
The black sphere called the progenitor weapon sprayed black blood in all directions, twisting all living things it touched.
“My body, my body is melting away!”
“Run!”
The screams of people outside the castle walls reached Gonghyeok’s ears.
“This is gonna be tough.”
“What?! You have no countermeasures?!”
“I should’ve killed it earlier, but I got shot in the head out of nowhere and slipped up.”
If D had spotted Gonghyeok just three seconds later, his strike would have shattered even the progenitor’s seed.
‘That’s in the past now. The problem is cleaning up the aftermath.’
Unfortunately, the resources to suppress the progenitor weapon standing there had already been used up.
Vampire’s natural enemy: light-attribute weapon. Photon Mana Cannon.
High-cost buffs that mobilized even blue coins.
Even unlocking Sephiroth’s time-limited abilities.
He’d poured everything into slicing the Pure Blood Duke in one strike and annihilating the progenitor’s seed.
‘Not good. Not good at all.’
Gardsand, sensing something from his expression, spoke up.
“You have no countermeasures, human.”
“Wanna bet?”
Gardsand flinched involuntarily at the tone brimming with violent intent.
“Urk! Don’t think about hitting me first! I have a simple way to resolve this situation, human.”
“Don’t say it. I’ll hit you.”
“Human! Hear me out first...”
Thwack!
A fist flew into the back of his head, slamming Gardsand’s face into his own triumphal arch.
“Please release the power restriction just a bit~ Master human. Isn’t this the solution in the end?”
“That’s right! Exactly!”
Gardsand’s eyes gleamed.
The power Gardsand was currently using was only 39%.
To maintain his absolute obedience, that output was the limit.
The output could be raised to 49%.
But that risked Gardsand defying orders and rampaging, and exceeding 50% would shatter the slave seal, handing control of the vampire powers to him.
“Lend me just a bit more power! If this body unleashes its true strength, that thing won’t stand a chance!”
He was originally a high noble knight dwelling in the upper layers.
Regain his power, and a mere final boss of the 10th floor like this wouldn’t be his opponent—he was confident of that.
“There’s only one solution. Let this body reveal its true form! What’s there to worry about? I swear! Even if I regain my power, I won’t kill you first!”
“What kinda random bullshit is that? You were planning to kill me first?”
“······!”
Thud!
“You need to work on your facial expressions first, punk.”
A straight punch landed on Gardsand’s lips, twisted in a sly smile.
‘Actually, that’s one viable method.’
Though he’d just iron-fisted the sandbag, it was one of the options he’d considered.
Gardsand had made the promise carelessly, but Ju Gonghyeok had the ability to enforce it.
‘If I bind it with Ra-Djehuty’s oath, the aftermath is no issue.’
Ra-Djehuty (SS)’s first ability, ‘365 Days Oath’
It could force a promise on at least one person for 365 days.
Or on up to 365 people for one day.
A powerful ability interfering with the dimensional realm, it had consumed nearly 200 of its 365 days tricking 50 people on the 1st floor.
But time had passed, refilling it to 255 days.
‘If I use him as a front-line shield, he’ll swear just to avoid dying.’
Dragging it out wasn’t bad for him.
Not bad. Not bad at all, but something grated inside.
‘It’s not my choice—it’s being forced on me.’
The situation demanded it.
The plan had failed, leaving only one breakthrough.
He couldn’t kill the progenitor weapon alone, so he had to seek cooperation from Gardsand, fearing betrayal.
A forced choice imposed by the circumstances.
“It bugs me.”
- Pardon?
Nathanael sought clarification at his mutter.
In the past, he’d been forced into countless choices.
The Four Heavenly Kings were powerful. He had to choose comrades to sacrifice.
To save the world, he had to kill the hunter calling forth destruction.
Death was imposed, regression imposed.
His instincts were etched with rejection of passive situations.
All situations had to bend to his will.
“Nathanael. Spread your wings.”
- What are you planning?
“To catch a general, you strike the horse first.”
Gonghyeok’s eyes turned leisurely to the Vampire Princess.
Gonghyeok lightly tapped the sandbag’s shoulder.
“Buy time, prepared to die.”
“Wait! Don’t abandon me!”
Ignoring Gardsand’s plea, Gonghyeok vanished.
He flew straight to the princess.
“This marks the end of your path, Your Highness.”
The princess, Dorothea, modestly lowered her gaze.
Gonghyeok spoke to her politely.
“Princess. Would you lend a hand in killing that guy?”
“The one you’re referring to is my uncle, you know?”
“Didn’t you personally kill your own brother? What’s there to hesitate about with an uncle?”
- Huh?
Nathanael’s eyes widened at Ju Gonghyeok’s bombshell.
The person herself, whose unexpected secret was revealed, responded calmly.
“It seems there’s nothing to hide from an outsider.
It’s true that I killed the eleventh. But there were reasons for it.”
“Do you need reasons, Princess?”
Gonghyeok laid out his points one by one.
“This world will vanish in less than a day. Your uncle—and you yourself—will disappear.”
“I see.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go outside?
The ‘real world’ out there holds many things to sate your curiosity.
As a first step, I’ll satisfy your curiosity about the progenitor’s seed dormant within your uncle.”
“I see.”
“My ring holds 144 retainers who served you. Those common folk are well aware they don’t want to die.”
“I see.”
The same intonation. The same response repeated three times.
“I understand.”
She covered her mouth with her fan.
“However, none of the reasons you’ve stated touch my heart.
If, as you say, everything was created mere hours ago—including my own life—then what meaning is there in anything I do?”
The princess quietly met Ju Gonghyeok’s eyes.
There was an expectation in her gaze.
“Hero of the world. What I felt for the outside world was mere curiosity. Nothing desperate.
Can you find something that will truly make my eyes widen—something that touches my heart?”
- Hmm, hmm.
Nathanael anxiously watched the two exchanging gentle words.
They seemed amicable at a glance, but nothing was progressing.
She worried the princess might set Gonghyeok off.
Such a gentlemanly negotiation was a miracle in itself.
Then, laughter came from one side.
“Dorothea. Having fun right now?”
The balance shattered.
“Spinning out philosophical musings that wouldn’t resolve in an hour or ten, just chatting with an outsider—fun, right?”
- Wait! If he explodes again...
“Shh.”
Gonghyeok pressed Nathanael’s head down with one hand.
Dorothea, mouth covered by her fan, smiled faintly with her eyes.
“You’re right. Every reaction, every action from you, an outsider, is entertaining.”
“Yeah?”
Gonghyeok snapped his fingers.
“Mihu, go back. GM, come out.”
= Brother!
No need to hear it! Just smash that pretentious bitch’s jaw—
= You called, Master?
[Summon Maintain - Ra-Djehuty (SS)/Great Heavenly One (SS)]
[Great Heavenly One (SS) Swap - Game Master (?)]
“Lending your calculation function for a sec.”
Gonghyeok sought permission from the cloaked, ominous avatar.
[Prediction Path (U.S) Activated]
[Calculating conditions proposed by Master Ju Gonghyeok.]
[Calculation Complete - Will take 11 minutes 43 seconds.]
“Thanks. Can you display it visibly for her?”
A square message window popped up before the princess’s eyes.
“Dorothea. Know what this means?”
“What is it?”
“It means in exactly 11 minutes 43 seconds, I’ll crack open your skull, flip you upside down, and chop you into seventeen pieces.”
Gonghyeok lightly brushed her bangs.
“Honestly, I like you. From your questions to your actions, you’re fresher and more alert than most fake smartasses—entertaining.
Your boldness, without touching my destructive side, is cute too.
But right now, you’re teetering on that line?
I’ve got anger issues. Once I cross it, I can’t hold back.
So, Princess... help me out, just this once?”
Ju Gonghyeok winked playfully.
“Guess I have no choice.”
She chuckled softly.
“I think lunatics like you are fun too. And what you said earlier felt pretty sincere. Before you barbarically tear my limbs and do unspeakable things, I should serve you with all my heart.”
“Good. That’s the spirit—cheerfully yielding to force.”
Nathanael clutched her forehead in despair.
- She’s hitting it off in a good way with a crazy person...
The princess smiled brightly and extended the back of her hand.
“Escort me, please.”
Ju Gonghyeok gently took her hand.
[‘Vampire Princess Dorothea’ pledges loyalty to Ju Gonghyeok.]
[‘Vampire Princess Dorothea’ forms a vassal relationship.
Her seal is engraved on the ‘Oath-Receiving Princess’s Ring.’]
[The ring’s details change.
- Outstanding vampires are bound to your ring. The ring’s grade rises from S+ to S++.
- Vampire Princess Dorothea becomes your retainer. She is in voluntary submission and will not leave unless dissatisfied with the contract.
- As a vampire, your prestige rises to ‘Duke’ level.
- Blood Dominion rises to ‘Duke’ level.
- All blood-related skills increase by one grade.]
Dorothea’s ring slithered up Ju Gonghyeok’s hand like a snake.
Creeeak.
The eerie, living silver metal coiled around his pinky, forming a ring.
[‘Princess’s Ring that Reaps Noble Blood (A+)’ is created.]
[You can use the fourth princess Dorothea’s vampiric traits.]
“Looking forward to working with you. Now...”
Her delicate finger pointed at Gardsand.
“That one over there doesn’t look good.”
“Please save me! They drained all my blood! I’ll really die like this!”
The massive triumphal arch had fully melted, reduced to a small wall.
Gardsand leaned against the remaining wall, stomping his feet desperately.
Gonghyeok said flatly.
“If you pity him, give some charity.”
“Oh dear. I’ll donate a little.”
Blood droplets formed at the corners of her eyes.
As the droplets trailed down her cheeks like tears, the castle’s spire lost its form and collapsed.
The spire had been made of her blood.
[Trait - Blood of the Dynasty (SS) Manifested.]
[Blood Dominion (S-) - Transcendent Blood Reinforcement (S-)]
[Unique Skill ‘Steel Heart (A++)’ Activated]
The collapsing tower’s debris reformed into a heart shape and rose.
In the heart’s shadow, Gardsand—pale blue from blood loss—sighed in relief.
“Phew, thanks for the help, Fräulein.”
“Don’t mention it. Managing the lord’s possessions is a retainer’s duty.”
“...What’s that supposed to mean?”
“There’s a clear difference between you, branded with a slave seal, and me, bound by a vassal relationship.”
Covering her mouth, she added softly.
‘A mere count shouldn’t talk to me. How unpleasant...’
Something shattered with a crash.
“Master. What about the plan?”
Having shattered the sandbag’s mentality, she looked at Gonghyeok innocently.
“You saw it earlier? The light beam that blasted your uncle.”
A subspace of the spirit summoner opened behind Gonghyeok.
“We’ll fire it one more time.”
In the slightly opened subspace stood B, holding the Photon Mana Cannon.
Behind B loomed the silhouette of the dice stolen from Sandalphon.
[‘Archangel’s Dice (?)’ Holy Power Unlock]
[Accessing Holy Knight Bergoglio]
[Concentrating the dice’s holy power on the target.]
[Holy Power Rapid Charge! Photon Mana Cannon charge at 9%]
Holy power from the dice—a massive holy power reservoir—poured into the hose embedded in B’s shoulder, hastening the cannon’s charge.
“I see. How powerful will it be?”
“About 20% of before.”
Gonghyeok gave a wry smile.
“You know it won’t pierce for sure, right?”
“Of course.”
She nodded.
“To let the beam reach the seed, we need to bore a hole.”
The eight princesses of the Vampire King each had unique powers.
The first princess’s power, the ring’s original owner, was ‘Subjugation’.
Ju Gonghyeok had used it to subjugate vampires and hunters, including Gardsand.
And the fourth princess, Dorothea’s power, was ‘Usurpation’.
[End of Chapter 79 - Vassal Relationship]