Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Romania (1)
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Romania’s capital Bucharest and the neighboring city of Otopeni—Henry Coandă International Airport.
‘Finally made it.’
Now a habit, Heinz 2nd had concealed his presence with 「Existence Denial」 as he slowly stepped out of the airport, scanning his surroundings.
‘So far, nothing particularly worth watching out for...’
But this was no place to let his guard down.
In a way, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this spot the most dangerous place in all of Europe.
‘After all, this is the home base of Dracula, Europe’s largest underworld organization.’
He already knew plenty about Dracula, the group that had planted its roots here in Romania and spread its influence across Eastern Europe.
Vlad III, Romania’s hero and the inspiration for Dracula himself—apparently, their leader, a vampire lord who went by the title of Duke and was considered Europe’s true strongest, identified with him...
‘And that he’s the head of the Reverse Heaven Society’s European branch, to boot.’
Feeling the 「Bloodline Craving」 begin to stir, Heinz narrowed his eyes.
But he ignored the instinct tugging at him and carefully surveyed the area, prioritizing reconnaissance.
‘Who knows what tricks they might’ve set up. Better stay on my toes.’
This wasn’t a region where either Termidor or Gomorrah could exert influence, so his intel had its limits.
Of course, he was confident he could handle himself even if crisis struck out of nowhere. But with the fight against the Reverse Heaven Society’s Lord looming, he needed to wrap this up fast—he couldn’t afford to come away empty-handed and slink off.
‘On top of that, this is a guy they call Europe’s strongest. He’s on another level from anyone I’ve faced so far. Can’t prepare too much for what-ifs.’
Come to think of it, he hadn’t truly clashed with any Earth-bound powerhouse of this caliber yet.
He’d tangled with plenty during his Ha Hoe-tal escapades, but they were all foes Hans alone could overwhelm.
‘Ah, excluding the pretty much off-limits Reverse Heaven Society Lord, of course.’
The Yulryeongja, former head of their East Asia branch, had risen through cunning rather than raw power—his actual combat prowess wasn’t all that impressive.
Unlike the Duke he’d face now.
‘Guess I’ll see what he’s got soon enough.’
With that, blood boiling with anticipation and fighting spirit for the foe ahead, he left Otopeni behind and headed for Bucharest.
Halt—
...No, wait.
A double-check confirmed it—this reaction wasn’t from that.
‘The signal’s getting stronger.’
Heinz 2nd’s baseline was cool-headed composure; it was absurd to think mere emotion would trigger such a physical shift.
As he drew nearer Bucharest, the resonance of 「Bloodline Craving」 grew ever fiercer.
‘What the hell is causing this...’
It felt different from what he’d sensed in the previous two countries.
Something there was endlessly tempting him, pulling him in.
‘Looks like I need a closer look.’
To investigate more thoroughly, he approached the city—
And the moment he crossed some invisible boundary.
He instantly realized what had provoked his body’s response.
Viiiing—!
A stabbing headache pierced his skull, thick blood-scent flooding from all directions.
「Blood Sovereign」, which bolstered his vampiric abilities; 「Blood Mystery」, tied to his blood-based powers; and 「Insight」, which pierced veils—all activated simultaneously, analyzing the situation.
‘A massive blood magic barrier?’
Heinz had some expertise there, so the breakdown came quick.
Estimated diameter: at least 10 kilometers.
The core structure was blood magic, but true to the Reverse Heaven Society, it wasn’t just that.
Which explained the superb concealment—even he hadn’t been sure of its existence until stepping inside. And the energy it packed matched its scale; impossible to ignore.
Enough to strip away his 「Existence Denial」 in one go.
“...Ha!”
Grasping the situation, Heinz let out an involuntary chuckle.
He hadn’t anticipated they’d go this far.
‘I knew this was Dracula’s turf.’
But it was also the capital of a sovereign nation.
Bucharest’s population: around two million.
Relations between nations had soured since the chaos, sure—but he’d figured prying eyes would keep them from acting rashly.
‘No way a barrier this size, this stealthy, goes unnoticed over such a range. Romania’s Awakeners can’t all be pushovers...’
Only one answer.
Dracula had seized total control—not just from their rivals, but the government too. Thoroughly, without a whisper leaking out.
‘Romania’s no basket case—how’d they pull that off?’
But the question fizzled as soon as it arose.
The Reverse Heaven Society had swallowed a giant like China whole, hadn’t they?
With them backing Dracula, Romania falling wasn’t so shocking.
‘...Ordinary folk wouldn’t have a clue.’
Only someone like Heinz would notice on entry; mid-tiers wouldn’t spot it easily. Isolate and handle the high-end Awakeners, and you’re set.
‘This just got messier. But that’s not the priority now.’
Yeah, those were problems for later.
For now.
Swish—
Exposed by the barrier, he needed to get out of there first.
It hadn’t registered him outside, but now over a hundred presences swarmed his position.
‘Tch, coming at me in droves, huh.’
The instant he clocked it, he recloaked and bolted for the outskirts, clicking his tongue.
No plans to scrap with them from the jump.
Tangling head-on with a juggernaut like this and missing the Duke? Total waste.
Scope the scene, pinpoint the target, then strike...
That moment, 「Rapid Acceleration」 triggered.
Zzzt—!
Space tore long along his path ahead.
No time to think.
Instinctively warping causality to defy inertia and yanking himself back, Heinz scowled at the sight.
Then whipped his head toward the trajectory.
‘A sniper?’
A line of destruction stretching from kilometers away.
The scar lingered in the air for a second or so before mending flawlessly.
‘An attack like that—not amateur hour. Their response is faster than I figured.’
He’d only been detected seconds ago.
Yet right after recloaking and dodging, a pinpoint shot nailed his new spot.
‘That prepared, huh. Fall back, regroup, then...’
Bracing senses for the follow-up, about to move—「Insight」 flared again.
Revealing something anomalous that had evaded his perception.
Blink blink—
As if it’d always been there, a coin-sized eyeball blended seamlessly with a rock, blinking naturally.
Staring right at him with innocent focus.
Despite 「Existence Denial」 active.
Slice—slash!
Judgment and action synced.
No defenses; the eye burst without resistance.
But as he launched away—
Blink blink—blink blink—
Dozens more sprouted from walls, stones, trees, earth—everywhere—fixating on him.
‘...Creepy as hell.’
Each blink weighed his body down faintly.
Eyes that pierced stealth and debuffed, apparently...
But once in his sights, numbers didn’t matter.
Skak—shatter—fwoosh!
They exploded en masse as he blurred past without pause.
Problem: they kept spawning.
Now manifesting at distance, hundreds infested the area—creepy edging into chilling.
Zzzzt—!
The eyes slowed him a touch—another sniper shot incoming.
No, “shot” undersold it.
On activation, it’d already ravaged everything in its path.
Space itself, and the intangible concepts tied to it.
‘That looks seriously bad news.’
Of course, fully aware after one dodge, no way he’d eat it.
The sniper twisted trajectories to counter his evasion, but riding causality let him read and weave through.
...He could’ve retreated and regrouped up to there.
But a massive magic circle bloomed in the sky, potent mana surged from all sides, and swarms closed in—Heinz sighed, abandoning escape.
“Hah, just how overprepared are you guys?”
He’d expected defenses after France and Italy.
But without knowing exactly when he’d show, who’d guess they’d barrier the whole capital and station heavies 24/7?
He’d planned a quick peek to gauge their readiness—only to get nabbed by their excess.
‘This is overkill any way you slice it.’
His spot: a nature preserve between Otopeni’s airport and Bucharest proper.
They’d prepped here too—a barrier snapped active, sealing a wide swath of space.
Had he fled elsewhere, it’d be wasted.
‘Were there traps like this everywhere?’
It felt likely, but regrets wouldn’t help now.
As he frowned, plotting next moves, the Reverse Heaven Society unleashed everything.
“Phew—about time. We’ve been waiting forever.”
“...Thought I’d die of boredom. Not much action around here. Wouldn’t even be here without Doc.”
“Hahaha! Same, same! Any regular human, I’d have ignored—but no choice, right!”
Evading the barrier somehow, a group materialized nearby, chatting casually.
Each radiating serious threat.
A familiar déjà vu setup.
‘Reminds me of Hans tangling with the Reverse Heaven Society in Japan.’
Similar vibe back then too.
Though cast and locale differed.
But he couldn’t be optimistic; the scale was worlds apart.
“...I see why Doc was so paranoid now that I lay eyes on you. Never imagined this level. If you’d really tried fleeing, we might’ve lost you.”
A heavy voice boomed, weighing down the air.
Its coercive presence swept the scene, drawing all eyes to one spot.
Thud thud—
No actual footsteps sounded.
Yet each step, laden with immense presence, shook the atmosphere, searing into everyone’s minds.
“Hm, a mongrel after all. Fascinating up close.”
A middle-aged man finally appeared.
Noble attire, neatly trimmed beard—a gentleman’s haughty gaze swept the area, locking on target.
The sole outsider here.
Heinz met it head-on.
Vampire entourage or no, from the moment he arrived, eyes couldn’t stray.
Not just his strength...
Gulp.
Saliva swallowed unwittingly.
「Bloodline Craving」—long starved for completion—roared fiercely.
‘That’s the one.’
Dracula’s lord, Eastern Europe’s shadow ruler, Reverse Heaven Society elite—the ‘Duke’.
The final puzzle piece for his completion.