Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Prepared Ambush
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No witnesses.
All citizens have already been evacuated.
A situation optimized for Yuria to rampage.
However, there was a witness right beside her who absolutely shouldn't see that sight.
"...So, what do you plan to do, Saintess?"
Ian's puzzled gaze turned toward the Saintess.
First off, her true wish was simply to give up and die; the original work never revealed what she truly desired.
I wanted to believe it was just about protecting the village, but doubts lingered.
Of course, there was no intention of leaving her be. If the Saintess of Justice died here, it would be a problem, and the demon within her was far more dangerous. Letting it recklessly take over her body would ruin everything.
Outside the window, a horde of demonic beasts and demons swarmed.
Above all, judging by the aura of the central beast, it was at least mid-to-high grade.
The sort that could easily annihilate a village like this.
'Due to the Dragon's Curse, she wished for death so deeply that even those gathered.'
Isabella was a saintess of considerable skill. Even assuming she used her blessings and holy magic, Yuria could slaughter them all with just a vampire's basic physical prowess.
Yet the Saintess remained silent, lips sealed.
It was too late to gather the spilled water. The foreseen ambush—back when her virginity was forcibly taken—had arrived in just three days, with no reprieve.
-Thud, thud, thud.
Sounds of someone hurriedly climbing the stairs.
The knight who seemed her closest aide had awoken from her faint faster than expected and come searching for the Saintess.
"...Ah, perfect timing. Quickly take your lord and evacuate. Right now."
"Saintess!"
The knight gasped roughly and drew her sword.
However, Yuria bent the iron blade with a single finger and added,
"Don't you hear me?"
Facing eyes glowing ruby red, the knight's loyalty was genuine. Even as her sword-gripping hand trembled to the brink, she refused the path of flight. In that regard, she was a knight worth her salt.
"You did that to the Saintess...! You demon cultist—"
"...Enough. Lawrence, go back now."
"...Pardon? Saintess, what do you... More importantly, demonic beasts are swarming outside...! Hurry and request reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom..."
"...It's no use. Even if they come, who knows how many days it will take. The beasts have already invaded the village. If the guest from Britna hadn't evacuated the citizens ahead of time, this place would be filled with screams by now. Here... we must heed their words."
Unlike her emotional outburst moments ago, the Saintess delivered a coldly calculated judgment.
After all, they were the ones helping. It didn't matter their origins or scoundrel status.
This wasn't the time to be choosy.
Seeing her compliant attitude, Yuria retracted her claws and opened a shadowy passage beside her.
"Go through here, and you'll reach the village with the citizens. It's a good distance away, but stay as quiet as possible. If another attack comes, there's a bell in the village center. Strike it without hesitation. That's all. Time is pressing—evacuate now."
"..."
Outside the village, a dark tension hung heavy.
The village they needed to invade was silent as the grave.
Probably, for recklessly violating the contract's terms, they'd taken measures.
As an ambush, demons and beasts would normally mindless assault.
These beasts were middling sorts between demons and beasts—barely any intellect. Naturally, next to none.
Normally, that is.
If not for the black knight observing the village from afar.
"..."
Even the demons beside him were two high-grade ones.
But the demon gripping the spear shaft and glaring at the village radiated such overwhelming pressure that no beast dared move.
The 300 that charged the village, and the remaining 700 simply stared at the black knights in silence.
"Oh... Even a direct knight of Lord Baphomet has come here?"
A glance exchanged.
He'd faced a legion commander's knight before, but this aura dwarfed it.
Knight and direct knight were worlds apart.
A normal knight might fall to a high demon's petty tricks.
Now, even addressing him felt insolent.
"...The other demons are wondering too. Could you explain why we're deploying this much for a place with just one saintess...?"
"It's Lord Baphomet's command."
"..."
"The vampire who stole one of the kin Lord Baphomet meant to claim is there."
Vampire?
Those long extinct, turning a legion commander's demon into a familiar...?
What utter nonsense.
The listening demon pressed again.
"...Hmm, so what do you plan for that vampire?"
"First, gauge its strength. We need its capabilities."
"...With 300?"
"Mere combat slaves—infinitely summonable if desired."
"..."
The demon fell silent.
As they say, the higher the rank, the ruder.
Declaring it for all to hear, eyes viewing them as less than slaves.
'Because it's Baphomet's direct knight.'
As he inwardly spat on the bastard's face, a mid-grade demon from the vanguard flew back from the sky.
Badly wounded, wings flapping frantically, blood dripping.
Some crawled halfway severed, bodies rent to the ground.
"Kekeke, those fools. Thrashing like mad to live."
Even for demons, survival frenzy was high-grade amusement.
Kin or not, half-beast failures as bait charging blind, fleeing alive—pure comedy.
But their state was off.
'Normal beast-demon mixes lack such tenacity.'
Moreover, a massive demon, half-body gone, crawling on one arm and leg.
Even the grinning high demons stiffened, sensing wrongness.
-Rooooaaar!!!
Soon, a shadow flickered through thunderclouds.
Dragon's kin.
Enhanced by demons, now vampire's subordinate, cleaving the skies.
'...Insane.'
Looking closer.
Demons' eyes turned red.
Blood not violet, but alien red—unseen in demons.
And.
"Kyaaaaak?!!!"
Gazes flew to the screaming demon.
Kin devouring kin.
"..."
Couldn't fathom it.
One, two—screams multiplied.
Something wrong.
Demons rarely attack each other. Absent conflict. Almost always. Low-intellect ones especially lack reason to kill kin.
Soon, one demon realized, staggering.
"...Familiar domination."
Then the 300 returned.
"All of them... infected by the vampire...?"
"...What?!"
"How many centuries to pull such horror..."
Even the stoic black knight reacted.
The demon thought,
'First, break the demons' control...'
Looking to the black knight for orders, his gaze blanked.
The leader's eyes fixed skyward still.
Despite the 300 turning foe-familiars.
"..."
300 vampire-like horde.
Low-to-mid infected demons descending slowly from above.
Yet presumed rider on dragon back not swooping.
Ground and sky simultaneous would yield huge gains.
Just watching.
Releasing demons piecemeal from sky.
Hiding hand is smart, but assuming can't eradicate 300 rabble and infected extremes—big mistake.
"...Still just overlooking. A third of the high-grade chargers surely felled by now."
"Your eyes see only that?"
"...Pardon?"
"I see it. How utterly mad that woman is."
The black knight regripped his spear, demonic energy flaring as he leaped airborne.
As if he must block her now.
Dominates the sky.
Baphomet's reason for craving myriad demon dragons.
'...I get it now.'
Basic control.
Vampire body wielding top-tier demon dragon freely.
Plus, mastered draconic magic.
Overcame flaw: reason-lost familiars can't wield inherited spells, stuck to breath.
Proof: cloud-hidden magic circle of 'holy power' vaporizing high demons on hit.
Grand barrier denying escape... clear intent to purge all here.
'Young vampire.'
What drivel.
If 'newborn'-close, then self and all direct knights unborn.
More time... even Baphomet.
Black knight's helm cracked, manic grin splitting.
Spear hurtling at him no ordinary.
'Multiple stabs, and I'd be like them—vampire's hound.'
Yet unafraid.
Rather, long-lost life's 'thrill' ignited, spear surging in response.
Plain shell, dismissible power.
Harbors splendor, cruelty within.
Skyward, dominating strong first... revives that sensation.
Foolish holy knight once charging his current lord, gained forbidden lore, ascended supreme.
Such battles shatter walls.
"...Very well, let's test your domination on me. Win, and I'll gladly serve as familiar."
Contrary to the black knight's eager face.
"!"
A spear pierced his chest from behind.
Then demons with matching spears burst from everywhere.
Unlike the hastily deflected one, from front, back, sides—omnidirectional.
Charging to explode, living bombs boosting domination.
Below, dominated demons surged up.
In moments, former subordinates—mere minutes ago—now ghoul-familiars lunging at him.
Hah, the laughing black knight shed his shredded armor and glared up.
Cold eyes.
"...Ugly vermin. I must return to Ian."
-Kagagak!
Yuria lightly halted the bloodied charger.
An act worthy of screams.
Then dragon fangs impaled the black knight's torso, tearing savagely.
Contrary to expectations of swift escape.
"Kruk?!"
The cold-eyed vampire jammed her spear into the dragon's upper jaw.
Forcing his upper body fixed. He yanked desperately, but as if foreseen, another blade pierced his shoulder.
Ally casualties? Irrelevant.
Dragon healable later.
But the stabbed? Not so.
In the drawn-out clash, Yuria fiercely drew deeper blood magic.
"The damn demon who sent only a succubus to Master. What's your name?"
"No, the succubus is my subordinate—"
"Succubi. Dream demons—among the demons I loathe most, the ones I hate."
"Kuhk, no—"