74
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 74
Vampires do not give birth.
Instead, they have the ability to turn living beings into vampires.
When they feed someone their magically created blood, called True Blood (眞血), that being becomes a vampire regardless of what kind of creature they are.
When this happens, they become bound as 'blood kin', and while the bond isn't as strong as a typical human family, they can establish a 'master-servant relationship'.
The vampire frowned upon hearing Caesar's suggestion.
"Is it necessary?"
Of course, most vampires don't try to create blood kin.
Creating blood kin is similar to a king granting noble status to a commoner in human terms.
Just as nobility isn't given to just anyone, the blessing of becoming a vampire isn't offered lightly.
"To rescue our captured comrades, the more allies we have, the better. Even though reinforcements are coming, it's not tens of thousands - at most about 100 succubi and 50 vampires. There are mermaids too, but it would be better to have more helping subordinates."
The vampire thought for a moment before nodding as if it made sense.
"If that's the case, I suppose it can't be helped. All my subordinates were killed anyway."
Should this be considered one of the vampire's advantages?
Logic precedes emotion, and they know how to accept immediate losses for future benefits.
This cold-blooded aspect used to be really annoying when facing them on the battlefield, but now that they're allies, it seems quite good.
The vampire approached the mutants.
The mutants looked at the vampire with eyes that suggested they might wet themselves in fear, but they didn't run away.
"My name is Borden Mijalovsen. I am noble blood who has lived for 200 years, a chosen noble among nobles carved by the True Ancestor. I shall bestow upon you lowly ones a single grace."
Boerding pricked his fingertip with his sharp nail.
Blood that was thicker and sweeter-smelling than any other began to drip out.
"Become my blood kin."
"W-what does that mean?"
Borden gracefully brought his fingertip to the face of the mutant at the front.
"Eternal life, a body that doesn't feel cold, the ability to possess cold reason and an aesthetic sense to create beautiful art..."
"And the power to crush bones, make hunchbacks, make things small or large, turn noses hooked, and tear apart the limbs of those who spill hot blood."
Borden's blood trickled down his finger, forming a small pool in his palm.
"Will you become my blood kin?"
One mutant spoke up.
"We're too stupid to understand such difficult words. But there is one thing we want to ask."
"Speak."
"If we follow Lord Borden, can we live?"
"Yes."
"If we follow Lord Borden, can we have revenge?"
"That too is possible."
All the mutants bowed to Borden in the lowest possible posture.
"Then we will follow you."
***
The number of mutants who swore to become blood kin exceeded 200.
Even if Borden created one blood kin every 30 seconds, that would take 6,000 seconds.
With the Freak Show about to begin, they couldn't wait there for over 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Instead, Caesar interrogated the guards they had knocked out earlier during that time.
-"T-there should be dozens of yachts docked near the river southeast of the Grand Theater. Those are escape yachts for VIPs in case something goes wrong at the Freak Show."
-"There's an evacuation route directly connected to the Grand Theater nearby, so if you go in there, you can easily enter the Grand Theater."
-"So please spare... Don't come closer! Don't come closer! You devils! Please save me! Sir Knight! Save... Aaaaah!"
Caesar called out to Borden, who was busy creating family members.
"Since that's going to take a while, I'll go ahead first. These guys know the way well, so come when you're ready."
"Understood. Then I'll see you shortly."
With those words, Caesar headed for the secret passage to the Sodom Grand Theater.
There were guards waiting there as expected.
Caesar threw Lefty.
Whoosh!
"Guuuargh!"
Splash- Splash.
Caesar's Lefty flew silently and instantly beheaded the guards protecting the area around the yacht.
Now taking out 4 people with one throw was nothing.
Catch!
Caesar caught Lefty as it smoothly flew back to his hand and checked the evacuation route.
Though it was blocked by iron bars with a lock, it seemed like it could be broken relatively easily with an axe.
Caesar snapped his fingers once.
Click!
At the clear sound that crossed the river, people slowly emerged from the waterside.
They were succubi, vampires, and merfolk.
Agatha spoke while wringing out her wet hair.
"It's nice to see you again like this."
"Skip the greetings, did you understand all the operations?"
"Isn't it that other succubi and vampires should wait here and cause chaos when signaled?"
"Right. We'll guide all our imprisoned comrades here to escape, so provide some security here too."
"Got it."
At that moment, a mermaid sat on the dock.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Atan, a warrior of the mermaids."
"I'm Caesar. Well, at least for now."
Caesar shook hands with Atan.
The feeling of the mermaid's palm was quite strange.
He thought it would be smooth, but it stuck like a frog's foot.
"If we get the chance, let's have a drink together. I like drinking with strong warriors."
Though it's the first time seeing this guy, he feels somewhat familiar.
This guy is definitely a barbarian.
They were the macho types who preferred fighting over thinking and would likely drink strong alcohol after the war ends.
"I like that kind of romance too. But let's save that romance for after we finish our work."
"Right. Let's see after the battle ends."
Caesar handed the space distortion bag to another vampire and only took his axe and camera.
Then he cut through the iron bars with his axe and entered inside the escape route.
Caesar slowly went in while using wind reading and psychometry.
When there were no problems in the passage, he made a hand signal.
Agatha followed behind Caesar.
"Why are you taking that camera?"
"Because I'm not just a demon, but also a civil servant carrying out orders from the Emperor."
"What kind of orders?"
"Creating suitable scapegoats to take the citizens' anger."
"...What does that mean?"
"I'll explain later. We're almost there."
Caesar slowly climbed up the ladder and opened the door.
Since this was a secret passage disguised as a supply warehouse, there were no guards inside.
Instead, there were guards on both sides outside the door.
Now it's Agatha's territory.
When Caesar gave her an eye signal, Agatha slowly used her magic.
Then sweet pink powder sprayed from her hands entered the guards' noses, and after a moment, the guards opened the door.
"Wow, That's impressive."
"This much is nothing."
Agatha spoke to the two guards.
"Where are the demons?"
"In the beast training room..."
"Good. As expected. Then how do we get to the rooftop audience seats?"
"If you take that elevator... You'll come right out."
"How many guards?"
"Four..."
"They're not knights, right?"
"...No."
They got all the information they needed.
Agatha turned them around and said.
"Act as usual. Understand?"
"...Yes."
Agatha looked at Caesar and said.
"Then I'll be on the roof as planned. If there's trouble..."
Agatha pointed to the pigeon tattooed on her wrist.
"Send a black pigeon."
"Got it. Be careful."
"Okay. You too."
Caesar headed to the boiler room instead of the beast training room where the demons were.
Caesar recalled what 'Jack', who had become a vampire, said.
-If you open the boiler room door and follow the ventilation duct, you'll find a path to the ceiling platform above the beast training room.*
-There are no guards there, so you should be able to enter safely.*
Caesar entered through the ventilation duct into the beast training room.
There was a platform on the ceiling of the training room, and Caesar carefully walked with muffled steps while scanning the surroundings.
'There they are.'
All the demons were in iron cages with their limbs bound, lying limp.
Caesar slowly counted their numbers.
'29 people. Everyone's here.'
He had worried that some might have been taken elsewhere, but fortunately, they were all here.
Bang!
At that moment, men rushed into the beast training room.
The pig-like fat man standing at the front slapped a guard's cheek.
Slap!
"Why the hell aren't these mutant bastards coming?! Time is being wasted!"
"We, we sent people. They should come soon."
So that's Baron Brahe.
Caesar aimed his camera.
But he didn't hastily press the shutter.
The camera shutter sound was quite loud, so he had to time it with other nearby noises.
"Change the schedule right now! Let's show the demons to the customers first. They came to see the demons anyway, not those mutant bastards."
"Yes! Understood."
"Get out! Right now!"
When Baron Brahe shouted, the guards ran away hurriedly.
Bang!
Click!
Along with the loud sound of the door closing, Caesar pressed the shutter.
The shutter sound mixed with the door sound and disappeared, with no one noticing.
'Bingo.'
A nobleman of the Dior Kingdom who diverted demons for a freak show.
He couldn't even imagine what could be extorted from the Emperor when this photo is developed and handed over.
"Aaaargh! Fuck! What kind of day is this!"
When the guy shouted, Caesar kept pressing the shutter.
Having just one photo would be a bit lacking.
Every time he pressed the shutter, it felt like money was popping up.
This is why being a reporter is great.
At that moment, a man walked in through the door.
It was a man covered in a hood from head to toe.
'Oh, what's that?'
There was only one person wearing a black hood covering their entire body.
Those who have something to hide.
And if this was Sodom, there was an eight out of ten chance they were a demon.
Caesar prepared to press the shutter.
A scraping metal sound came from the man.
"Seems like there's a problem?"
"A minor issue. More importantly, why are you here? You should be in the audience seats!"
"I saw the staff in chaos and thought there might be a problem with my goods."
Baron Brahe frowned.
"Your goods? You're not the only one desperate to buy the demons."
"Well, I know that."
The hooded figure scanned the demons.
"But I'm quite greedy, you see."
"What?"
The hooded man reached out toward Baron Brahe.
"Kuk!"
Baron Brahe struggled desperately to shake off the man's hand.
Then the hood fell back, revealing the man's face.
He was a demon with two horns on his head.
He had a third eye on his forehead, and when a faint purple light emanated from that eye, Baron Brahe's struggling gradually slowed.
"Hand over all these demons to me. I'll pay you well."
"N-no... If I do that, I'll..."
Bang!
At that moment, the door burst open and guards came in.
"Baron Brahe, there's a problem...! Huh?"
"Tch."
All the guards drew their guns.
"It's a demon!!!"
Caesar clicked his tongue.
"Well, this is a mess."
Even while saying that, Caesar kept taking photos diligently.
"Attack! Save the Baron!"
When the guards rushed toward the demon, Caesar awakened the black pigeon tattooed on his wrist.
It's time to start the main game.
***
A black pigeon landed on Agatha's shoulder.
There was no note with the black pigeon, but it rubbed its body once against Agatha's head.
It was the signal to start the operation.
"Okay."
Agatha took a deep breath and looked down.
Below, hundreds of spectators were sitting, waiting for the freak show.
"Damn these humans, how dare they make us their entertainment?"
Agatha sent the black pigeon high into the sky.
Then the black pigeon slipped through a hole in the grand theater's roof and split itself into dozens of copies.
Following that, thirty bats flew in and lined up beside Agatha.
The bats transformed into succubi and incubi, waiting for Agatha's signal.
"Let's begin."
Agatha used Dream Illusion magic.
If the difference between Dream Illusion magic and Charm magic is that Charm magic focuses on controlling the target as desired, Dream Illusion magic focuses on scattering the enemy's mind to make them fall into a 'specific state'.
Among them, the type of Dream Illusion magic Agatha was about to use was 'Nightmare'.
Those affected by this magic would eternally swim in their greatest traumas.
A dark blue powder flowed from the hands of Agatha and the succubi and incubi.
Then the powder settled quietly and gently on the spectators' heads like powder snow.
"Oh, what's this?"
The spectators tilted their heads at the dark blue powder falling from the sky.
"Seems like some strange powder? Maybe an accident at a nearby pigment factory... Aaaaagh!"
People screamed as soon as they looked at the person sitting next to them.
A tiger met in the mountains.
A blood-covered knight from the battlefield.
A ghost from a minstrel's tale.
A creature living in the deep sea.
Even demons.
They fell into chaos as all kinds of nightmares that haunted them in childhood or even now filled their surroundings.
Most people tried to flee, some shot to kill with their guns, or beat others to death with their chairs.
But still, the nightmares didn't disappear.
Rather, as their minds became more confused and their strength drained, the nightmares grew deeper.
Then, the appearances of some spectators in the audience seats changed strangely.
"Kyaaaaaaaaah!"
Bizarre voices that couldn't be human burst out from everywhere, and they each began using grotesque abilities.
Some swelled their bodies enormously and started destroying everything around them, some became great flames themselves and burned the spectators, and some lost their form and transformed into ghost-like black smoke sweeping through the surroundings.
What they had in common was that they all had either two or three horns on their heads.
Agatha blankly stared at the chaotic audience seats.
"Demons."
Caesar's prediction was right.
As the demons began to rampage in earnest, the Sodom Grand Theater started to collapse with dangerous sounds.
Agatha transformed into a bat.
"Let's go. We've done our part."
After sending a black pigeon to Caesar, Agatha left.
Divine punishment upon this sinful city.
Hell to the humans.
While inwardly cursing, Agatha gracefully soared into the sky.