Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Night Clan's Reverence
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Growl! Hiss!
Five vampires let out threatening snarls. Their eyes blazed red like flames, and drool dripped down fangs that had lengthened two or three times over.
Emitting a fear aura that would make an ordinary human's legs give out on the spot, the vampires surrounded Eugene.
Shing.
Wolfslaughter revealed its sleek blade.
Growl!?
The vampires' pupils dilated massively upon sensing the silver aura emanating from the famed sword crafted by northern dwarf artisans.
‘How can a vampire wield a silver sword…!?’
Seeing the exact same reaction Delmongdo had shown in the past, Eugene was certain. These were vampires like Delmongdo, or even weaker.
The moment Eugene sensed fellow Night Clan members, he unleashed the fear boiling within him in one explosive burst.
Rumble!
A wave of true darkness far surpassing the five vampires' aura swept through the room like lightning.
Kyaaaaaaa!!!
It wasn't merely stronger than theirs—it was a terrifying, overwhelming force that made the vampires scream.
The vampires of Marcus's faction were encountering pureblood fear for the first time, and moreover, the fear from Origin at the pinnacle of the blood chain binding all clans.
Yet thanks to the instinct etched into their souls—the 'Blood Destiny' even stronger than the 'Blood Oath'—they recognized it immediately.
King of the Night. Origin.
Thus.
Kneel. Prostrate. Worship.
“G-Great One…”
Slash!
The instant someone barely managed to speak, Wolfslaughter drew a chilling streak of light.
Thud thud thud thud!
In the blink of an eye, four heads hit the floor. No blood sprayed. Only dark red smoke rose from the severed necks.
The lone female vampire, seeing her comrades' heads fall, immediately flattened herself to the ground.
An undead who felt neither cold nor heat, yet she felt her back grow slick with cold sweat as she cried out with all her might.
“Please kill us! We lowly ones dared to be rude to the King!”
“Kiek!? King? Is master really the Demon King? Is that it?”
Mirian made a huge fuss.
It was an overwhelming aura no low spirit could ever face, but thanks to his pact with Eugene, he was free from that immense pressure.
“I'll ask.”
“Y-Yes, command me.”
“Do you know Kailer Kingdom tongue?”
“Yes.”
Eugene switched to the kingdom tongue.
“You mentioned butler and knight earlier. Is that the Brantian vampire hierarchy?”
She felt no doubt why he asked such a thing. Ellis Bohm of Marcus's faction Knights simply moved her mouth as her soul commanded.
“The Brantian clan has ranks from Slave, Servant, Knight, Butler, Banneret, Lord, to High Lord. This lowly one is one of Lord Marcus's four Knights…”
‘Interesting.’
The female Knight vampire Ellis's testimony was similar to what he'd obliquely asked Delmongdo before, but more detailed.
Of the vampires beheaded by Wolfslaughter, three were Knights and one a Butler.
A Butler was like a Lord's child or direct subordinate, a position held by the most capable Knight.
Bannerets were a High Lord's direct knights—lower in status than Lords, but sometimes greater in power.
However, while High Lords and Lords could inject blood into other races to make them 'clan,' Bannerets could not.
‘So Lords are the first rank truly called nobility in the vampire world.’
“…Cities rarely have just one clan. Lord Marcus leads the Revoles Clan, Lord Graham the Helmund Clan…”
After learning all the key details, Eugene raised his hand to stop Ellis.
“Enough. Another question.”
“Yes, Great King.”
“Is the head of your Revoles Clan like me?”
At Eugene's question, Ellis's already pale face turned ashen blue, and she suddenly began slamming her forehead against the floor.
“This lowly wretch! I have never even seen the High Lord whom Lord Marcus serves! Forgive me for failing to answer a question beyond my grasp!”
Her answer filled Eugene with disappointment.
He had hoped to meet another Origin, but it seemed impossible in Mungard.
“What's your relation to Graham's faction?”
“Neither good nor bad. Fundamentally, we compete.”
Much like human nobles or lords, in other words.
Eugene said offhandedly.
“Really? You seem pretty chummy for rivals. The merchants said you plotted together to kill me.”
“P-Please kill me!”
Thud thud thud!
Ellis slammed her forehead into the floor again.
“Stop and stand up.”
“Yes, Great King.”
With her forehead a bloody mess, Ellis finally rose.
“Let's go.”
“Y-Yes!”
‘W-Where to?’
But she didn't dare question it, unable even to look straight at Eugene as she trembled.
Stab! Stab!
After plunging Wolfslaughter into the hearts of the already dead vampires to reduce their bodies to ash, Eugene turned to Ellis.
“What are you doing? I said we're going to your master.”
“Yes, yes!”
Overwhelmed by his presence, she didn't even think of betrayal as she hurried after him.
* * *
“Knight Bohm.”
“You're a bit late.”
The gatekeeper vampires guarding the mansion overlooking Mungard at a glance bowed politely to Ellis.
“But who is this knight?”
With his fear fully suppressed, Eugene seemed no different from a human knight, so the gatekeepers eyed him directly.
At their audacity(?), Ellis felt her cold blood nearly freeze.
“You Servants dare! Open the gate now!”
“S-Sorry, Knight Bohm.”
As if proving their rigid hierarchy, the gatekeepers hurriedly swung open the heavy gate.
Ellis glanced back at Eugene, who looked tense and frightened, and said.
“L-Let's go in…”
Eugene nodded lightly and crossed Lord Marcus's gate.
Seeing Ellis so courteous to an outsider for the first time, the Servant gatekeepers were inwardly surprised but bowed obediently.
‘Hmm?’
As Eugene scanned the Servants, a glint flashed in his eyes for a moment.
His senses, heightened to the max before arriving at the mansion, had picked something up.
Three of the four Servants had nearly identical scents, but one was subtly different.
For now feigning ignorance, Eugene followed Ellis across the courtyard.
“Wow! Even a Lord vampire is pretty big-time? Check out this mansion.”
Mirian looked around restlessly. As he said, vampire Marcus's mansion was vast and luxurious.
‘Better than my castle.’
Eugene felt a flicker of annoyance. His rage toward Marcus, who had dared target him, intensified.
“I'll guide you personally.”
Upon reaching the mansion's front door, Ellis bowed obsequiously and opened it.
“...!”
Eugene narrowed his eyes as he stepped inside.
‘The differently scented Servant went out the gate?’
Vampires had keen senses, but low ranks only shone against other races or monsters.
Ellis was a Knight at the upper mid-tier, but too tense in Eugene's presence to notice one Servant vanish.
‘This could be fun.’
Thinking things might resolve easily, Eugene smiled coldly.
“I'll take you to Lord Marcus.”
* * *
Following Ellis down a long hallway lined with paintings and decorations, Eugene reached Lord Marcus's office.
Knock knock!
After knocking twice on the iron door handle, Ellis opened the thick door with ease, befitting a vampire Knight.
The man sitting in the lamp-lit office shot to his feet, raising his voice.
“Ellis! Why are you so late? Where are the others… Huh? Who's that?”
The instant the lean mid-30s man of middling height's red eyes gleamed.
Whoosh!
Eugene exploded his fear and charged.
“Gah… Ack!”
Lord Marcus froze mid-attempt to counter with his own fear aura, his collar seized.
Eugene kicked Marcus's knee as he dangled in midair. A dull crack of breaking bone echoed.
“Grrrrraaah!”
Marcus howled in pain and rage. His body simultaneously wrapped in dark red energy.
Eugene instantly knew what Marcus was trying.
‘Transformation?’
The foreign vampire Lord was attempting the same transformation ability Eugene had gained from devouring the giant bat's red mana stone.
Eugene slammed Marcus down by force, then yanked his collar hard and growled.
“Stop, unless you want to die.”
“...!”
The moment Marcus met the crimson lightning beams shooting from Eugene's eyes, the energy coiling around him vanished without a trace.
Like a frog before a viper, Marcus's body went limp.
Eugene flung the now seemingly ten years older Marcus to the floor.
Staring up with horrified, trembling eyes, Marcus finally spoke.
“A lowly one barely scraping the edge of Revoles' darkness! I behold the Great King!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Lord who had ruled Mungard's shadows for over a century slammed his broken-legged body forehead-first into the floor.
* * *
“I failed to recognize your nobility and committed a grave sin. I beg purification through eternal oblivion.”
Marcus didn't even think to regenerate his shattered knee, trembling prostrate on the floor.
Eugene looked down at him with interest.
‘A Lord, and he's much weaker than Galpredic?’
Marcus's vampire fear fell far short of Eugene's expectations.
Still, using Kailer kingdom tongue except for his initial words showed decent wits.
“I'll let it slide since you didn't know who I was.”
“Your boundless mercy leaves this wretch at a loss.”
“Fix your leg first. You're an eyesore.”
“I obey.”
Slowly reknitting his broken bone, Marcus knelt on one knee and prostrated again.
“I heard you plotted with that Graham to take me down. True?”
“Please kill me!”
“I'll kill you if I feel like it, so answer.”
“Y-Yes. We lowly ones were blinded by greed. Please kil—”
“You wanted my armor and sword?”
“P-Please ki—”
“Say that again, and I'll really end you.”
“...”
Marcus clamped his mouth shut mid-plea.
Eugene eyed him briefly, then walked slowly to the window.
Click.
Through the wide-open window, cold night air carried sinister killing intent.
“Mungard. Isn't it too small for two vampire factions to share?”
“T-This wretch struggles to comprehend.”
“I'll make it simple. Your blood clan's rules—what do they say if another blood clan tries to kill you?”
“By Blood Oath, protect myself and slay the foe.”
“Right. But I'm sparing the ones who tried to kill me. Moreover.”
Turning, Eugene gazed at Marcus and Ellis, heads bowed and shoulders faintly shaking.
“I might spare you again. How does that add up?”
“...!?”
As Marcus flinched and unwittingly raised his face, Eugene smiled coldly, chill as the moonlight outside.
“A traitor in your house seems to have brought Graham's people.”
(To be continued)