Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Cursed Tattoos and the New King
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“What… what the hell is this…?”
Forgetting all sense of propriety, Romari rushed over to Eugene and stroked his back as she spoke.
“Why are there ancient runes carved into Lord Eugene’s body? Oh, they’re tattoos? You’re not supposed to etch things like this onto a person’s skin!”
“How should I know? Anyway, does carving ancient runes onto a human body activate magic or curses?”
“Well… usually, it kills them. Or they carve it on corpses. Ah! But Lord Eugene is a vampire, after all.”
“…….”
“Right. Undead count as already dead once, so it doesn’t threaten their life. Still, with this many, it must have been incredibly painful.”
Eugene dressed again as he spoke.
“Magic girl. I’ll tell you one thing, so don’t go blabbing about it anywhere.”
“Yes, sir!”
Eugene’s flat voice carried an unprecedented gravity, making Romari swallow dryly and nod without thinking.
“At some point, I lost all memory of my past. And from the moment I became aware of the world, these tattoos were already on my body.”
Eugene shared some of his secrets, omitting only the fact that he had died once and regressed.
Romari listened with eyes flickering nonstop, then finally managed to speak, her mouth flapping open.
“S-so… does that mean someone cursed Lord Eugene?”
“I don’t know yet. But seeing how the ancient runes on this armor match those on my body exactly, it’s clear this thing is tied to my past.”
“Yes. That much is certain. Almost no one knows ancient runes anymore, and they’re hardly ever carved onto the bodies of living humans or vampires.”
“‘Almost never’ means it has happened, though?”
“Ah, well… I heard this from my master. Long ago, they… used them for human sacrifices? Living offerings? Anyway, they’d carve ancient runes onto people or animals for that purpose. Of course, they killed the subjects afterward.”
“Kkieht? Master was a sacrifice!?”
“No clue yet. Hmm.”
Eugene grimaced bitterly at Mirian’s fussing. It wasn’t an impossible theory.
In any case, it had been the right call to show Armis to Romari first and ask her opinion.
Nothing definitive had come to light, but at least he now knew the ancient rune tattoos on his body weren’t carved with good intentions.
Just then, Romari peered intently at Armis and spoke up.
“Um, Lord Eugene. You said the ancient runes on your body match those on the armor in shape and number, right? And after you absorbed that red mana stone—the Demonic Origin Stone—five of them vanished?”
The red mana stone’s formal name was Demonic Origin Stone, a rare mana stone occasionally found in mid-tier or higher monsters.
Its immense power made purification extremely difficult—even a mage like Romari had to labor for days, with no guarantee of success.
And even after such grueling purification, it didn’t always turn into a standard mana crystal.
That was why Demonic Origin Stones were treated like regular gems. Though their extreme rarity drove prices sky-high.
“Yeah. Five vanished, leaving seven.”
“This is just my hunch, but I think you should erase all the ancient rune tattoos before putting on that magic armor.”
“Hmm. You think so?”
“Yes, yes. I don’t know much about magic gear, but from a magical perspective, armor has been used since ancient times not just to protect people, but also to seal things away.”
“Seal?”
“Yup. And with ancient runes plastered all over it? Matching yours in shape and number? Too many coincidences to be chance. So, I’d erase all the tattoos first before wearing it. I’ll research these ancient runes more.”
“Mm.”
Eugene stroked Armis once more.
Not just because Romari said so, but he definitely sensed some ominous vibe. He decided to trust his instincts.
“Fine. We’ll do that.”
Having made up his mind, Eugene placed Armis back in its chest.
The four heirlooms of the Bartla family were now all in his hands anyway—that was enough.
His current plate mail was top-quality too, with no discomforts or lacks, and no urgent need to wear Armis.
“Anyway, good work. Glad I brought you along after all.”
“Ah! Knew it? I’m helpful to you, right, Lord Eugene? I—”
“Yeah, I’ll give you credit this time.”
“Hehehe.”
Romari smirked, rubbing the tip of her nose with her thumb. Mirian buzzed around her, chattering away.
“Kkieht! Look at her, getting cocky after one compliment from master? You tanuki wannabe!”
“But how’d you know my master’s nickname for me? Must be the spirit thing.”
“Eh!?”
“Tanuki, that is. My master always called me that too, for some reason. Probably ’cause I’m cute like a tanuki…”
Mirian unleashed a brutal jeer at the bashful Romari.
“Kkehehehe! Stupid? It’s ’cause your beady eyes look exactly like a tanuki’s! Your master had great foresight. Oh, and now you look like a zombie too. Zombie tanuki. Kehehehehe!”
“N-no way…”
The mage’s eyes shook mercilessly upon learning the truth behind her nickname after over a decade.
* * *
“Y-yes!? M-marriage? Me!?”
Luke, who had arrived at the ducal castle a day after Romari, gaped at his revered master.
“That’s right. Principal wife: the daughter of Elland’s king. Concubine: Loraine Fransil.”
“……!?”
Young Earl Luke couldn’t believe his ears.
He hadn’t even properly dated yet, and now marriage? To two women, no less?
“Ahem. Your Grace. Have you discussed Lord Crollmarine’s marriage with him?”
Eugene nodded, and Pitamoras smiled faintly.
“As expected of Your Grace. A brilliant and wise choice. Legally flawless too, so the earl must comply.”
“Yes?”
Pitamoras spoke gravely to the bewildered Luke, who couldn’t decide how to react.
“The Elland royal family and Fransil house are Brantia’s mightiest. With their aid and as vassals of the new dynasty, Brantia’s unification is seven-tenths done.”
“I-is that so?”
“Indeed. Moreover, Your Grace is the earl’s guardian and sole protector. By custom, you may dictate his marriage. Accept it.”
“Ah…….”
Finally regaining some composure, Luke thought briefly before meeting Eugene’s gaze.
“If it helps Master achieve his goal, so be it. Everything I have is yours, Master. I obey.”
“Kkieht!? As expected, those eyes say he’s fish from my po… Gah!”
Eugene swiftly silenced the spirit’s nonsense—now almost memorized—with violence.
Hearing it again dredged up a bad premonition that one of the parties involved might oddly remind him of Luke.
“Good. I sent the elf knights, so Elland’s princess will arrive within a month. We’ll hold the wedding right away.”
“Uh… Begging your pardon, but so soon?”
“Of course. Coronation follows the wedding.”
“Finally! Master ascends Brantia’s throne!? Then my wedding first, my lords!”
The ecstatic squire shouted in Brantian to the assembled hall that Eugene would take the throne.
Reactions split starkly.
“No! The Bartlas are throne guardians and crown protectors! A Bartla duke on the throne spits on our ancient honor!”
“Reconsider, Your Grace! Summon all royal heirs nationwide to found a new dynasty. The Bartla house must not seize it directly!”
The ducal elders opposed vehemently.
“Krooo! Dark Lord becomes king? Meat! Meat feast too?”
“Gimme a few hunting grounds since we helped!”
The Beowulf warriors, meat-obsessed, welcomed it provisionally.
“What nonsense! Master crossed the sea for Brantia’s unification! Who else but him deserves the throne?!”
Luke rarely bellowed so furiously at the elders’ opposition.
“Hey, squire.”
Luke bowed swiftly at Eugene’s voice.
“Yes! Master! Just order it, and I’ll deal with those old—”
“When did I say I’m taking the throne?”
“Yes? B-but you’ll unify Brantia…”
Eugene clicked his tongue at the flustered Luke, then addressed the wide-eyed, blinking elders in Brantian.
“I’ll unify Brantia. But I won’t be king.”
Ooooh……!
Eugene turned from the relieved elders to lock eyes with Luke.
“M-Master…?”
Luke’s lips quivered—he was shocked and disappointed.
“Brantia’s new king will be…”
Eugene placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder.
The youth jolted.
Dragged to a battlefield by fate’s whim, enslaved.
From vampire knight’s squire to proud earl.
Eugene pulled him forward before all and continued slowly.
“Earl Luke Crollmarine.”
“……!?”
Everyone gawked at the speechless, stunned Luke.
Silence broke with the wise druid and Elland’s swordmaster.
“Ahem! Legally and by custom, flawless. Why? Bartla’s duke and Dulac’s knight approve.”
“Elland backs Your Grace’s decision fully. Brodya house already under your command too.”
Prabow paused, eyes on one man.
Leoma, blankly incredulous like the rest, startled and nodded vigorously.
“As Fransil representative, I fully support! My father already aligns with Your Grace!”
“……!!!”
“Bartla, Dulac, Elland, Brodya, Fransil. They support you as king. So.”
Eugene drove the nail into the trembling Luke amid successive shocks.
“You be Brantia’s king, Squire No. 2.”
The hall froze, jaws agape in shock—including the recipient.
“Kkieht!? Slave in Keiler, now king in Brantia!? Cheat! It’s a cheat! Master should be demon emperor! Everything’s master’s! All mine too! Kkiiieeenng!”
One spirit flailed on the floor, ignored astonishingly by all.
* * *
“Truly a Night Clan scheme—nay, stratagem of elegance, Your Grace.”
“No idea what you mean.”
Pitamoras smiled meaningfully at Eugene’s feigned ignorance.
“Heh. Crollmarine earl—no, Brantia’s king—will serve Your Grace till his last breath. His descendants’ descendants will revere you as royal guardian.”
“Hoh! So as long as the Crollmarine dynasty endures, none in Brantia can oppose Your Grace?”
“…….”
Eugene slyly averted his eyes from Prabow, now grasping the intent.
Pitamoras grinned at Prabow.
“A king lords over subjects but lacks freedom from duty. Ruling a kingdom is arduous.”
“Wise words, druid. That’s why I forwent Elland’s succession for the knight’s path. Wait… then Your Grace too?”
“Indeed. But unlike you, Master Prabow, Your Grace stands above Brantia’s king. Who dares hold him accountable? He’d make foes of crown and all vassals.”
“Ha!”
Prabow finally comprehended Eugene’s ‘deep intent’(?) and admired him.
Eugene felt awkward but puffed his chest proudly.
“I’ve toiled till now to make my squire king. I deserve to enjoy it.”
“Ha! Haha……!”
Shameless, yet irrefutably true— even a swordmaster couldn’t belittle this vampire duke’s feats in Brantia.
(To be continued in the next installment)