Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Sunlight Revelations
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“Monster byproducts? Just a bit of Cyclops blood and a Minotaur horn.”
“Yes, yes!”
Eugene continued speaking to Prechella, who was nodding her head vigorously.
“Don’t ask why I didn’t report it to the Evergrow Count family. They probably don’t want to know the truth anyway, and even if they do, they’d have to thank me for it.”
“Understood. Then we’ll dispose of this quietly on our end.”
Despite her long experience handling mana stones, Prechella had never seen one from a high-tier monster before. Her hands trembled as she carefully accepted it.
‘Jackpot! It’s at least twice the size of a mid-tier one? How much can I get for this? Teaming up with Sir Eugene was pure luck. This kind of stuff might come in again?’
She couldn’t sell it openly due to the circumstances, but something this rare was practically priceless.
‘That plate mail? I could buy two sets!’
Reflecting on her brief moment of regret(?) about the contract just seconds ago, Prechella smiled brightly.
“Then the Feilin Merchant Group will take responsibility and present Sir Galpredic with a set of plate mail!”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
Eugene nodded without a second thought, not knowing the reason but happy to get Galpredic’s armor for free.
“But what do you plan to do with the captured knights?”
The Evergrow Count family was one of the Feilin Merchant Group’s clients.
It was unlikely, but if this incident soured relations between Eugene and the count’s family, the merchant group stuck in the middle would be in a tough spot.
“I told their soldiers I’d release them for ransom. It seemed like the knights acted on their own, so it shouldn’t strain relations. Though if the count’s petty, we might lose them as a trading partner.”
“Ah! That’s fine. We’ve dealt with the count for a long time, and he’s quite magnanimous. He won’t fuss over a squabble between knights. As long as the knights are... unharmed.”
“I treated them honorably, so no worries there.”
“Yes. Understood, Sir Eugene.”
That was her response, but Prechella, well aware of how Eugene had dealt with those who opposed him before, didn’t fully believe him.
But Eugene’s words were true.
* * *
“Is it really okay to stay here?”
Thanks to the mana crystal he’d been fed, Marbl’s bruises had mostly faded. He looked around the lavish first-class suite of the Heavenly Constellation Inn.
MacCuley, with his collapsed nose and five missing teeth, and the knight Fileton, who was in relatively decent shape for surrendering quickly, did the same.
Though they were territorial knights appointed by the count, they had lived rough lives until then. A lodging this grand and luxurious was a first for them.
“Make yourselves at home, like you’re in the Evergrow Count’s castle. It was just a little misunderstanding that put our swords at each other’s throats, nothing worth dying over, right?”
“Sir, you really are...”
The Evergrow territorial knights were genuinely moved by Eugene.
Just a few nights ago, he had beaten them like dogs, but afterward, he treated them like completely different people—proper prisoners of war.
No, it felt more like they were honored guests.
Even high-status prisoners or hostages were treated with respect by custom, but luxuries like this were rare.
“Please forgive us for once doubting your honor and Sir Galpredic’s, Sir Eugene.”
“Lord Jevin must have misunderstood something. We’ll explain it properly when we return.”
The Evergrow territorial knights exchanged glances and nodded repeatedly.
They weren’t stupid, just a bit hasty.
From how Eugene and Galpredic had treated them so far, they were worlds apart from the brutality Lord Jevin had described.
Setting aside this lavish treatment, they had even lowered the ransom considering their situation and fed each a mana crystal to heal faster.
Two men this honorable and trustworthy assassinating Rugates through trickery? Right in front of the territorial heir, Lord Jevin?
The Evergrow territorial knights couldn’t believe it.
Moreover, Eugene and Galpredic hadn’t even explained why they’d held a private duel. They said it was to honor a promise made on their knightly honor.
As fellow knights, they couldn’t help but admire them.
“If you tell the count and Lord Jevin that, I’d appreciate it. Rest well now. I called a doctor, so he’ll be here soon.”
“Thank you, Sir Eugene.”
“We’ll never forget your knighthood and mercy.”
The knights bowed to Eugene with the utmost courtesy one knight could show another.
* * *
“How about it, Master? Told you it was the right call.”
“Seems so. But won’t they run if we leave them here alone?”
Eugene stepped out the door, admitting it readily, and Galpredic chuckled.
“I was stunned by this place myself. Those guys? No way. Besides, breaking a promise made on their honor as appointed knights is like denying themselves. After a few days of luxury here, why would they throw it away?”
“Makes sense. And since we’ve treated them well, they’ll speak up for us?”
“Exactly. Lord Jevin might be fuming inside, but what can he do? Ignoring all advice from his territorial knights isn’t what a respected lord does.”
“Hmm. Being a real noble comes with all sorts of constraints.”
“That’s how they maintain authority and dignity. Unless you’re a tyrant, you have to follow it. And tyrants don’t last long. The Karlsbaig Peninsula’s in its mess because of one.”
“Makes sense. Oh, speaking of which, the next subjugation is in a demon realm on the Karlsbaig Peninsula.”
They’d gotten two high-tier mana stones, but the overall Morrison Mountain Labyrinth subjugation was a bit underwhelming. So Prechella had already lined up the next one for Eugene.
“Oh? Where?”
“Philia Ruins.”
“Hmm. Ruins, huh. We’ll need to prepare thoroughly.”
Galpredic narrowed his eyes, and Eugene asked.
“Different from dungeons or labyrinths? Well, with the sky wide open, the environment’s already different.”
“That’s exactly the problem. That’s why ruins have flying monsters.”
“Flying monsters?”
“Harpy, gargoyle, wyvern. Especially wyverns—they roam the whole site as their hunting ground, so you can run into them anywhere. Kings of the sky, literally.”
“Are wyverns that dangerous?”
“Imagine a Minotaur’s bulk with wings. Wingspan’s over ten meters easy.”
And they were fast and cunning to boot, so subjugation teams with lots of bows or crossbows had to pepper them lightly from range—they never closed in.
“As far as I know, no wyvern’s ever been killed in a demon realm. There are records of a few hatchlings, though.”
“Then we might be the first.”
“...!”
Galpredic flinched at Eugene’s words, then grinned, baring his teeth.
“That’s cool. Our fame’ll skyrocket.”
Firsts always make history.
And the first wyvern slayer in demon realm subjugation history? No need to say more.
“We’ve got about ten days till departure, so rest up and plan. Buy whatever we need—don’t skimp on money.”
“Sweet, sweet. I knew serving you as Master was the best. Head to the market now?”
“Yeah. But first, let’s check out the armor.”
“Kroooah! Plate mail!?”
Eugene nodded to Galpredic, who was expressing his emotions as openly as ever.
“Yeah. Get the best one fitted.”
Since it wasn’t his money anyway, Eugene decided to properly reward his first retainer.
* * *
After getting measured for plate mail at the Betisak Armory, Galpredic—who had bought five fancy hats—couldn’t stop grinning.
“Man, becoming your vassal was real luck, Master. Aside from watching the sun, nothing bad about it.”
He’d always worn armor and gloves as a human anyway, so sunlight wasn’t that big a hassle.
“Just cover your face and you’re good. And in crowds, make sure no mirror catches your bare skin.”
“Got it. Never looked in mirrors much anyway.”
True to his word, Galpredic was a knight with zero interest in grooming. He rarely shaved his beard because it was a hassle, and his hair was grown out messily, tied anyhow.
Mirian calling him a big bear wasn’t just about his size.
His looks were so fierce, anyone would think of a bear at first glance.
But after becoming Eugene’s vassal, his appearance changed.
His skin cleared up, his somewhat chubby cheeks slimmed down, giving him a rugged, strong impression.
“Um, Sir Eugene.”
“What?”
Romari, who had tagged along for experimental errands, glanced around cautiously and spoke lowly.
“Awakened Origins look like their true selves even in mirrors bare-skinned. Didn’t you know?”
“What?”
“It’s true. Our order’s practitioner said so—bronze, silver, or glass mirrors, it didn’t matter. They saw their reflection as is.”
“Hmm.”
Eugene was genuinely surprised.
He’d blended Black Scale Mail into his skin tone, so he wasn’t too worried, but he’d deliberately avoided mirrors just in case.
And it was all unnecessary?
“You two wait here.”
“Yes, Master.”
Eugene ordered his slaves and strode into an alley. Galpredic and Romari followed.
Eugene checked around, removed the Black Scale Mail from his face, then drew Wolfslaughter slightly and checked his reflection.
“How’s it look?”
“Whoa! It’s real. Shows your real face. Lemme see mine.”
“Ah, vassals probably can’t...”
Romari, about to say it wouldn’t work, paused.
Galpredic’s face reflected clearly in the cold blade.
“Then just avoid sunlight. I’m fine unless I look directly thanks to my special ability, but you need to be careful, Galpredic.”
“Will do.”
“Uh... Sir Eugene?”
“What? Something else, mage?”
Eugene turned, and Romari spoke with big, blank eyes full of embarrassment.
“I don’t know what special ability you got, but awakened Origins can walk in blazing sunlight no problem. Figured you knew since you go out...”
“...!?”
Eugene’s eyes widened more than with the mirror reveal. Romari, feeling oddly satisfied, continued quickly.
“You can even stare at the sun. Only regular vampires can’t bare skin or look at it. Fully awakened Origins can strut naked in it fine.”
“...Mage, you’re not trying to assassinate me in broad daylight with bullshit, right?”
“N-No way. As I said, our order’s practitioner...”
Eugene didn’t wait for Romari’s frantic waving explanation. He removed his gauntlet, stripped off the Black Scale Mail, and thrust his bare hand into the sunlight.
“...”
It was fine.
No instant blistering like in the distant past, no pain at all.
“See? On my name, my master’s, and our order’s, I’d never lie to you, Sir Eugene...”
“What if I can too?”
Ignoring Romari proudly puffing her chest for once, Galpredic stretched his arm into the sun.
“No, that really...!”
Vassals were still regular vampires, so Romari startled and tried to stop him.
But.
“It works?”
“Works fine.”
“Aw. Bought these hats for nothing.”
“Yeah.”
“Gonna return ’em. Keep one for the memory.”
Romari’s mind reeled at the two vampires frolicking happily in broad daylight.
‘All my knowledge’s getting debunked!’
“Our noble Eugene can now strut in daylight, right? Not Demon King, you’re the Overlord! Kee-hee! Ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ket!”
If she saw the spirit zipping excitedly around Eugene, cackling childishly, her despair would’ve deepened.
(Continued in the next chapter)