Lunar Eclipse (2)
Lunar Eclipse (2)
Lunar Eclipse.
It was an event that was dealt with quite extensively in the original work.
If we were to gauge its importance, it would rank within the top ten original story events.
Because from this point on, the longstanding peace treaty between humans and vampires would be broken.
The conflict between the two races intensifies, and signs of war slowly rise, staining the continent.
'It's the point where the game's atmosphere truly starts to darken.'
Nugume.
(Nugume.)
The shell presented itself as a cute girl otaku game, but in terms of its content, it was no different from dark fantasy.
There was no such thing as a romance system to begin with.
There were only boys and girls fighting desperately for the survival of the world.
Vampires, Evil God Worshippers, Purgatory, the Evil God... all sorts of disasters blocked the player's path.
As the story progressed, the continent turned into a sea of fire, and characters died off left and right.
'That was part of its charm, but...'
The fourth disaster, Red Night.
The night when the vampires finally dye the continent crimson red.
The event to sever the starting point of that tragedy was precisely this [Lunar Eclipse] event.
'If I can properly stop this one... I can cripple the New Kingdom for at least a few months.'
Shattering the first button of their plan.
That alone buys quite a bit of time.
'The day the Lunar Eclipse is carried out is the day when divine power is at its weakest throughout the year.'
The day the moon is obscured.
The day when Yang energy subsides and Yin energy boils over, strengthening the vampires' power.
Surely, the New Kingdom must have poured their heart and soul into planning around this date as well.
Having toppled the existing dynasty and even laid a new foundation, they would declare war on humans without hesitation.
'And... Jersian.'
Jersian.
One of the core figures of the New Kingdom.
The one who planned this [Lunar Eclipse] and later made significant contributions to the 'Red Night'.
Simultaneously, he was also a close aide who betrayed Carmilla's father and sided with her uncle.
'What he plans for this Lunar Eclipse.'
A weapon.
He intends to create a weapon.
By offering human sacrifices and mixing them with vampire authority, he seeks to create [something].
'By offering an entire village whole...'
An incident where the number of victims sacrificed reaches as many as several hundred.
The weapon thus created soon covers a corner of the continent, producing thousands more casualties.
The victims all undergo ghoulification, attack others, and create more ghouls.
A truly vast number of people die.
It was a major incident resulting in as many as 3,000 casualties.
From this point on, a red alert would sound in the empire, and the true aura of war would descend upon the continent.
'Of course... not this time.'
I was determined to completely shatter the original flow.
That's why I was standing here right now.
"......"
Whoooooo-.
The streets locked in the early dawn. The scenery of a remote village.
Aside from the rustling sound of grass blades, no other noise could be heard.
It was peaceful. No, it was a scene peaceful enough for anyone to be mistaken.
I walked quietly along the stone path.
"Vikto... Ah, no. Captain Garurik-nim?"
"What is it, Lady Onion."
Alice, who was looking around.
We had just arrived at the village entrance and were slowly looking around the village's periphery.
The girl wearing a black mask tilted her head as if puzzled.
"Um... didn't you say... something, hor, horrible was happening in the village...?"
"That's correct. I also said it's something we need to resolve today."
"But, ah, no matter how I look, it just seems like an ordinary village...?"
Alice cautiously raised a question mark.
It wasn't a particularly strange question.
The village scenery reflected in our vision was extremely peaceful.
Though no signs of people could be felt at all, one could assume it was because of the late dawn.
It was all the more so because there was no smell of blood or screams.
"It seems that way on the surface."
However, the fact that not a single person was visible was strange.
In a village of this size, one would expect soldiers on night watch.
Even though we had walked all the way to the village entrance, we hadn't encountered a single guard, not even an ant.
"......Viktor."
On the other hand, Her Highness seemed to sense something.
Carmilla, tugging at my sleeve as if something was amiss.
Judging by the faintly shimmering gaze behind her mask, she seemed to have noticed some sense of incongruity.
'Is it because she's a Pureblood Vampire? Good intuition.'
I subtly take the lead.
Then I extend my hand, reaching towards the village entrance.
The hand that should normally go straight forward is blocked by something.
Thump-.
"Huh...?"
Alice, letting out a baffled sound at that.
It was as if a transparent curtain had been drawn over the village, rejecting entry from outside.
The girl gropes the space before her several times but only keeps bumping into a hard, empty space.
"It's a barrier."
"Ah..."
Alice sighs, perhaps remembering the training session.
Back then, due to a barrier deployed by the Red Knight, part of the student hunting ground was isolated.
This barrier, while weaker in intensity than that one, had a much wider range and was incomparably more concealed.
I lightly tap the empty space.
Knock knock-.
"The binding force of the barrier itself doesn't seem strong. I could probably break it by force..."
"We'd be discovered. The moment the barrier breaks, those inside would notice the anomaly."
"That's right. Our plan to sneak in would come to nothing."
"B, but... the barrier doesn't even seem to have any gaps."
"You don't need to worry about that part."
Who am I?
Wall-piercing Master.
Floor-scraping Master Artisan.
One who fornicates with walls.
The walls I've impregnated number in the hundreds and thousands.
"You two, please give me your hands."
"......?"
"So you intend to do that again this time."
"Huhu. You must hold on tight and not let go, okay?"
Alice, still looking bewildered, and Carmilla, nodding as if familiar.
I hold the two girls' hands and slowly advance towards the empty space.
The wall that touches warmly, and the desperate full-body rubbing.
Rub, rub rub rub-.
Before long, my body slides swoosh into the barrier.
Simultaneously, the two people standing beside me are pulled in as well.
Without even a moment to be startled by the sudden entry, what greeted us was a crimson-black ceiling.
"Kya, kyaak...!"
After staggering for a moment, Alice swallows her breath at the intense scenery.
Carmilla also falls silent similarly.
"Wh, what...?"
"......"
The village seen beyond the barrier.
Above it, a scarlet ceiling, a dense crimson-black mist hung thickly.
As if the village scenery we saw just moments before was all a lie.
"It seems we've arrived properly."
A stench that stings the nose.
The smell of rotting corpses.
The smell of blood.
The scent left behind by dead life.
A considerably unpleasant air pierced our noses.
Puddles were pooled all over the village as if it had just rained.
Of course, what was pooled inside wasn't rainwater, but crimson-black lumps floating in something thick.
"Urk..."
Startled, Alice trembles and shudders.
In contrast, Carmilla had an impassive expression as if she had already expected it.
"......As I thought."
The lips hidden behind the mask mutter.
Its resonance seemed faintly tinged with sorrow.
Between those two girls, I calmly surveyed the surroundings.
"Hmm."
The village, a chaotic mess.
Naturally, no people were visible around.
Surely, for the Offering Ritual, they must have gathered them all somewhere in the village center.
"It seems the vampires have made a big move."
"Have all the humans of the village... been killed?"
"Probably not. For the offering, they would need fresh sacrifices. Most are probably still alive."
"They must have imprisoned them somewhere. Judging by the smell of blood, the traces left on the ground... it's likely the central point of the village."
"Exactly."
"Le, let's go together, you two...!"
We crossed the crimson-dyed street.
Perhaps because of the thick air, breathing was uncomfortable.
As we stealthily turned a corner around that time...
-Grrrr.
A growling sound came from somewhere.
Turning my head, I saw a few bright red wild dogs glaring this way.
However, they weren't in a normal state, with entrails trailing from here and there.
"Ghouls."
"Yes."
Perhaps they were scattered around for reconnaissance.
The creatures bared their teeth and soon charged towards us.
-Woof woof!
-Keeeek!
Their eyes were rolled back.
The only fortunate point was that they were all ghouls based on beasts.
If there had been individuals based on humans, I might have hesitated, wondering if I should save them.
It seemed they used beasts on the front lines for such tasks, as humans were needed for the Offering Ritual.
'Works for me.'
I gesture to the two people beside me.
Both seemed to have grasped the situation, having already finished their combat preparations.
"Miss Onion."
"Yes! Ca, Captain...!"
In sync with my signal, Alice spreads a crimson-black aura.
The black crown placed upon the girl's head.
Trump cards spring forth in its wake.
"At, attack...!"
The soldiers immediately charge towards the ghouls.
Their basic attack power itself was similar.
However, Alice's Nightmare has a property where physical strikes don't land effectively.
-Grrk?!
-Smash!
In the end, the ghouls had no choice but to be pushed back unilaterally.
The Trump Soldiers swing their weapons, not missing a single wild dog, slicing them to pieces.
<[♣♣♣!!]>
<[♠♠♠♠!]>
The soldiers, victorious in battle, kneel before their queen.
Alice flinches, startled, but pats the soldiers' shoulders.
Watching that scene, Her Highness frowned slightly.
"......As expected, a disturbing power."
"It's a power we're fortunate to have on our side."
With the situation resolved for now.
I lightly give orders for the subsequent course of action.
"From now on, we hunt all ghouls we encounter. If any of them escape and return to their master, the vampires will also realize we are here."
"You mean we should grant them all peace."
"Correct. Our primary objective is to move to the village center without being detected as much as possible."
After finishing the explanation, we began to advance again.
The path of moving while avoiding the ghouls' surveillance network.
We were just crossing the market entrance that had been set up.
Using the space between walls as a blind spot, as we were about to cross to the next section of the market...
-He, help me...!
A faint voice reached my ears.
It was a resonance tinged with youthfulness.
"A survivor...?"
"Ca, Captain Garurik? I definitely heard..."
"I heard it too. It seems there are still people who haven't been captured."
The source of the voice was a narrow alleyway.
We slowly stepped inside.
Walking up the path, a group driven to the end of the alley came into view.
-Woof woof!
Ghouls barking fiercely.
Before them stood a boy and girl who looked to be around ten years old.
With a wall blocking their backs, it was a situation with no more room to escape.
"O, oppa..."
"It's okay! Stay behind oppa...!"
The shoulders of the two children, thoroughly intimidated, trembled slightly.
And, amidst the roughly barking ghouls...
"Kikik, kikkik... I never thought there'd still be humans hiding."
A man laughing quite unpleasantly.
His whole body was covered in thick blood.
He was approaching the children while cackling.
Beside him, ghouls stood as if tightening the encirclement.
"Don't come closer! Y, you monster...!"
"How presumptuous of mere livestock to act so rashly."
"What did you do to the villagers! O, our mom and dad...!"
"You're overstepping your place, kid. You should be honored that mere livestock have become part of a grand plan."
"No, no! Isn't anyone there? Please save me!"
"Hmm... they're making a fuss."
The man laughs, his mouth corners stretched wide.
"I thought we had gathered enough sacrifices... I wonder if it's okay for me to play with a few brats like these?"
Swarming malice.
Its shadow looms over the children.
Steps approach, accompanied by all sorts of cruel imaginings.
That was when.
"Lady Onion. Lady Maneur."
"Ye, yes...!"
"I was wondering when you would call upon us."
Whoooosh-!
The ghouls guarding the alley are crushed all at once.
Carmilla's Blood Manipulation Art, the Trump Soldiers summoned by Alice.
Amidst the rushing storm of blood, the vampire's bewildered gaze is captured.
"What? Suddenly, what...!"
"Start. Baseball bat."
Creeeak, smack-!
He hurriedly turns around, but my bat had already struck.
The vampire falls flat as his face shape crumbles simultaneously.
Of course, I knew it was an attack that wouldn't work against vampires.
They're annoyingly sturdy creatures.
'Stake Fragment.'
Something I picked up to reuse, using it thriftily.
I swung the fragment I held like a dagger.
Slice, slice slice-.
The vampire's limbs are severed one after another.
Sssssss-!
Simultaneously, the cut surfaces melt away.
"G, gyaaaaa...!"
"Shh."
Thwack, thump-!
He tries to scream, but my club strike seals his mouth.
Looking back, Alice is tending to the collapsed children.
Carmilla glares at the vampire beside me.
Ding-!
[You have acquired 20 Good Deed Points.]
[You have acquired 20 Good Deed Points.]
[Remaining Good Deed Points: 60p]
A Status Window notification floats before my eyes.
I smile while looking at the rising number.
'Ahh, points are sweet.'
I think I'll save about 300 people here.
It's a real jackpot of Good Deed Points.
I put away the blue screen with a sense of satisfaction.
"Huhu."
"Wh, what the..."
The vampire, perhaps crushed by pain, mutters in a mangled pronunciation.
An incomprehensible situation. Those crimson eyes are filled with terror.
I happily tap my mask.
"Yo, you who... wha, what..."
"You ask who I am?"
The vampire, ugly with tears and snot streaming down.
I answer refreshingly.
"Well... Batman?"
Or not.