Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Vampire (1)
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"Hm, really? You have no connection to those Oath of Reverse Heaven bastards?"
"That's correct, Lord Wirak. I traveled from Tilak City in the east and arrived here in Ajantu."
I lied smoothly without missing a beat.
"What about the fact that you were inactive for several days?"
"I suddenly fell ill after all the hardship on the road, so I holed up in my inn room. I stayed inside the whole time, staying so quiet like a dead mouse that the innkeeper seems to have gotten the wrong idea."
It was a natural excuse, but vampire subjugation didn't work on me anyway.
The moment I became a vampire, an instinct to obey the higher vampire before me—Wirak, who had infected me—was imprinted in me. But it was easy enough to ignore.
'For now, I'll play along. This is a chance to gather intel on them.'
I'd been worried at first about what would happen next, but this was actually a golden opportunity to infiltrate the vampires who ruled the city.
"Tch, fine whatever. Just follow me."
Wirak clicked his tongue in frustration at getting nothing out of me, then hurled himself out the window.
I hurried after him.
⚔ ENTITY INFO ⚔ 📛 Name: Heinz 2nd 🧟 Race: Vampire (Lesser Blood) 🔗 Common Traits: 「Mind Hub」, 「Clear Mirror Still Water」 🩸 Entity Traits: 「Blood Clan (Lesser Blood)」, 「Acceleration」, 「Regeneration」 📝 Special Notes: Inherited the 'Brocoslak' bloodline, causing the body to mutate into a vampire. Physical abilities explosively increase when not exposed to sunlight. Due to the influence of 「Mind Hub」, the mind is not subjugated to blood. 'My physical abilities have improved. At this level, I might even surpass that Barcolac vampire I killed.'
It seemed the enhancements I'd already built up were factored into the stat boosts from becoming a vampire.
I followed behind Wirak, drawing out a thread of blood from my fingernail and sharpening it to a point.
'Ooh, nice.'
The skill I'd gained upon becoming a vampire, 「Blood Clan (Lesser Blood)」, let me use all the abilities that Barcolac vampire had wielded.
Boosted physical prowess, weaponized blood, bloodsucking—the works of the lowest vampire rank.
'What rank is that guy? And what's Brocoslak?'
As I eyed Wirak up ahead, he glanced back at me and nodded in satisfaction.
"To handle it so well right after inheriting the blood. You seem to have some real talent."
He'd looked annoyed earlier, but now that I seemed useful, his mood had lightened.
"Following me without issue means your physical abilities are above average too. Looks like I didn't draw a total dud. At least better than that Polyn fool who died this time."
So the vampire I'd killed in Barcolac was named Polyn.
I brushed off the useless info and casually struck up conversation with Wirak.
"Thank you, Lord Wirak. Might I ask where we're headed?"
"You'll see when we get there."
He seemed too lazy to explain the details.
We raced across rooftops through the city streets, entering the upscale district lined with grand mansions at the center.
"This way."
Wirak came to a stop before the largest and most ornate mansion among them.
Creeeak—
The wrought-iron gate swung open with a small groan.
"You've arrived, Lord Wirak."
A pale-faced middle-aged man in a butler's uniform waited inside, bowing at a perfect right angle.
"Yeah. I'm starving. Prepare my usual."
"And this one...?"
"Ah—the new Lesser Blood I just made. Assign some servants to show him around."
When the butler glanced at me inquiringly, Wirak answered offhandedly and headed inside.
"Please follow me, then."
"Ah, yes."
"Speak freely. I'm just a Servant, after all."
Servants apparently ranked below Lesser Blood like me.
I followed the middle-aged butler into the mansion, where another butler approached from within.
"This one will guide you from here. Hayden, this is someone who just inherited the blood—make sure he's comfortable."
"Understood, Head Butler."
The head butler gave me a quick bow and vanished inside.
Under Hayden's guidance through the opulent interior, I asked whatever questions came to mind.
"This is the Ajantu branch of the Brocoslak Clan. Lord Wirak is one of the three Purebloods in this city."
Of those three, Wirak seemed to be the one overseeing all the vampires here.
We traded questions and answers freely until we reached a door.
"You'll use this room from today onward. If you need anything, just ring the bell inside."
Hayden bowed and retreated without a sound.
Click—
"Whoa..."
Opening the door revealed a lavish room that dazzled the eyes.
From the table and sofa to the bed, everything screamed extravagance.
My reflection stared back from a beautiful mirror on the wall.
A pale, sharply handsome man with a cold beauty.
I'd always considered myself decently good-looking, but now I was undeniably a flower boy.
'This isn't so bad... Oh, and vampires here do show up in mirrors.'
Plop—
I flopped onto the bed.
I'd woken midway through sleep, and dawn was still far off, but vampirism kept sleep at bay.
I closed my eyes and sorted through the new information.
Training as a vampire would soon begin under a senior Lesser Blood, and Hayden had covered the basics for now.
Vampires were nocturnal by nature, active at night and sleeping during the day.
Servants and below burst into flames in sunlight like in the movies, while even higher vampires suffered restrictions, so they rarely went out during the day.
"Ah... The kids must be worried since I vanished without a word."
I could leave freely once training ended, but for a few days, I had no choice.
Knock knock—
"It's Hayden. May I come in?"
How much time had passed? A knock sounded, followed by Hayden's voice.
"Yeah, come in."
Hayden entered with a tray in one hand, a wine glass filled with red liquid atop it.
'That's definitely... not actual wine, is it?'
"It's been a little while since you inherited the blood, so I figured you'd be getting hungry and prepared this."
"No, I'm not that hungry yet...?"
I'd truly been fine until that moment, but the scent of blood from the glass hit me, unleashing a sudden, intense thirst.
As I panicked, Hayden held out the glass.
"Freshly drawn blood. Please, drink up."
As the blood drew near, my body reacted violently.
My fangs extended on their own, my gaze locked on the glass, my whole body trembling.
'...Is this bloodlust? Vampires really can't hold back their urges at this level.'
Of course, I was the exception.
I couldn't stop the body's reflexive responses, but with 「Mind Hub」, I could control the impulses. I wouldn't suck blood out of control.
'Still, better drink it now.'
Refusing would raise suspicions, and the timing wasn't right yet.
I reached out with shaking hands and took the glass.
The fragrant aroma of blood wafted up.
'Can't just drink it straight. Might start thinking it tastes good.'
I pressed the glass to my lips and severed the senses of smell and taste linked to Heinz.
Gulp gulp...
As I downed the tasteless blood, my body calmed.
My mind sharpened like after an energy drink, and power felt easier to wield.
"Lady Roselika, a Lesser Blood, will visit shortly. Full training starts tomorrow, but she said to at least exchange greetings."
I nodded lightly as Hayden took the empty glass.
It was inevitable, so better to get it over with quickly.
After a short wait, I met another vampire.
"Hi! Nice to meet you, newbie~. Call me Roselika. What's your name?"
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Heinz."
"No need to be so stiff—relax~. We're both Lesser Blood, same rank. We're equals among peers."
Roselika's first impression was of a lively beauty.
Bright features, cheerful smile, sociable vibe.
It was likable enough at first greeting, but that impression didn't last.
"You know, my favorite is the blood of handsome guys? The more muscle, the better. And hey, you're totally my type. If you'd still been human, I'd have sucked you dry to the last drop. Kyahaha~."
She was just insane.
"Hey, Roselika. Skip the blood preferences—tell me about the ranks? I'm new to this vampire thing and don't know much."
"Aww, fine. Makes sense—you haven't drunk much blood yet. Once you develop tastes, let's do a tasting party and recommend to each other."
I absolutely didn't want to get close, but for now, I had no choice.
"Our rank is fourth. After Sacred Blood, True Blood, and Pureblood. Below us are just Servants and Slaves, so we're basically the bottom rung. They don't even count as vampires~."
From her explanation, Servants were like the mansion's attendants, while Slaves were mindless bloodsucking monsters.
'Lucky to become a Lesser Blood.'
Especially with one spot open from a recent death, and me seeming useful.
"If we compare it... Lesser Blood is like knights. Purebloods are nobility. True Bloods are royalty, clan leaders. Sacred Blood... well, objects of worship."
"Worship?"
"Our progenitor, the absolute being we must obey. The supreme existence from the dawn of time."
Roselika recited reverently, then smirked.
"Not that bottom-feeders like us will ever lay eyes on one."
As we chatted, I sensed dawn breaking outside.
Thick curtains covered the windows, but I could tell to some extent.
"Oops, time flew. It's late, so we'll continue training tomorrow. Gotta sleep now—beauties need their beauty rest~?"
Roselika winked and left the room.
'Late...'
I sighed at the odd disconnect.
Sure enough, as day broke, a slight fatigue settled in.
'Guess I'll get used to it.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ For the next few days, I continued training with Roselika through talks and hands-on practice.
Luckily, on the second day, I got permission to go out, using the excuse of luggage left at the inn.
'Was just testing the waters, but they didn't care much.'
When I brought it up to Roselika in charge of training, her response was nonchalant.
"Just go get it."
"Huh? Can't we go out before training's done?"
"Nah~ Maybe elsewhere, but here? No worries."
She explained the rule was to protect fresh newbies, but Ajantu was already under their control, so no issue.
Vampires' absolute obedience to superiors made rebellion impossible anyway.
Thanks to that, I slipped out that evening, grabbed my stuff, and visited the siblings.
"Uncle!"
"Uncle! Where've you been? We checked the inn, but your room was empty. We were worried!"
The siblings threw themselves into my arms as soon as I arrived.
After a moment, Diana sniffed, flinched, and looked up at me cautiously.
Her expression full of things to say, I gave a wry smile and gently pried them off.
"It's a long story. But don't worry—I won't let it affect you two."
Squeeze—
As I pulled away, Diana clung harder and whispered in my ear.
"I'm not worried. Um, Uncle? If you need blood, you can have some of mine. Not too much, okay? Just... a little?"
She glanced at Aaron while whispering, and I couldn't hold back a laugh, flicking her forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"What're you saying? Anyway, take this money and get by. I'll contact you later."
Even if I'd become part of the city's leadership, these kids were better off leaving.
Against a Pureblood like Wirak? A low-rank like me couldn't protect them.
'If I could summon Hans, I'd have more options. Until then, stay low.'
After bidding the siblings farewell, I returned to the mansion and resumed training with Roselika.
How to wield the energy vampires used: blood mana.
"What? First time? How are you so good already?!"
Thanks to high mental strength or Hans's experience with black magic, I picked up energy manipulation quickly.
And things to watch out for as a vampire.
"Garlic? No issue~. Water? Love hot springs. There's one in the mansion basement."
This world's vampires had few weaknesses.
Vulnerable to sunlight, silver weapons healed slowly?
Not even absolute.
"We can work around that. The real danger is holy power. Total counter."
And so, I steadily built up my vampire knowledge.