Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Brocoslak Clan (1)
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Harris traveled eastward across the Ion Continent for several days alongside the delegation from the Elven Kingdom.
'Traveling the continent sure is no big deal when you're backed by the Church's prestige.'
The Church of the Main God wielded influence that transcended races and borders, so with their guarantee, gaining permission to pass through any region was a trivial matter.
After stopping at several temples along the way, the group finally arrived at the easternmost republic in the east. They headed straight for the nearby forest.
"Um... don't we need to cross the sea?"
When Cecily voiced her doubt about their mysterious destination, Rapori gave her a gentle smile.
"Crossing the ocean directly would be dangerous and time-consuming, wouldn't it? Remember this, Miss Cecily: the roots of all trees in the world are the World Tree, and High Elves are those chosen by Him."
In simple terms, High Elves could borrow the World Tree's power to travel to any distant forest.
'They used it to detect Hans, too. High Elves have surprisingly impressive abilities. Well, it's the World Tree's power, so maybe that's to be expected?'
Of course, the farther the distance, the greater the power consumed, which was why they'd come this far to minimize it.
Still, it felt more convenient than the Church of the Main God, which relied solely on temple gates for long-distance travel.
'If you ignore the fact that only High Elves can use it. A pointless comparison.'
There were fewer than ten such elves among all the elves; it wasn't practical to use them just for transport.
"Alright, just follow closely behind me from here on. Be careful not to get separated from the group."
A cool energy emanated from Rapori's body, enveloping the surroundings.
With Cecily and Harris—first-timers on this path—positioned in the middle of the formation to prevent them from falling behind, the group followed Rapori into the depths of the forest.
"We'll still need to travel like this for a few more days. No rush now, so let's take it slow."
They had hurried on the way there to rescue Cecily as quickly as possible, but there was no need to push so hard on the return trip.
Elves, being a long-lived race, were laid-back by nature anyway.
And so, they began their journey across the forest path, which had taken on a dreamlike atmosphere, heading beyond the great ocean.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Heinz 2nd entered Talaria, the capital of the Talia Kingdom in the western continent.
Having activated Concealment to its limits and focused solely on suppressing his inner energy, no one detected his true nature.
"That's too expensive... Could you knock a little off?"
"What are you saying? I wouldn't make a profit at this price!"
Ordinary people living their daily lives.
It was the typical scene of any commonplace city.
'There are vampires here and there... but not overly so, and they're thoroughly hidden.'
Heinz casually scanned his surroundings as he walked.
Thanks to his transcendent senses and far superior vampire status, he could detect them, but their concealment was impressively advanced.
Even with their great influence, this was the capital of a nation with a Church of the Main God temple.
It would be too much for vampires—creatures of darkness—to operate openly.
'I need to figure out how to shake them up. Storming their base directly is premature.'
Not only was their gathered force considerable, but they were an entrenched power that had lurked in this kingdom's shadows for ages.
Causing a needless uproar wouldn't help his future plans at all.
In the end, he'd have to erode them from the outside, luring out vulnerabilities bit by bit. For that, he needed someone well-versed in their internal affairs on his side.
'With Purified Blood Essence, that's easy. Time to recruit a suitable vampire.'
It might involve a bit of force and coercion, but it wouldn't be bad for the target either.
He'd felt the strengthening effects of Purified Blood Essence multiple times while raising Heterosis.
A single drop of his blood was a heavenly opportunity akin to an elixir for vampires.
'Perfect, there's a good target over there. Starting with him... Huh?'
He sensed a vampire suppressing its presence at the second-floor window of a quiet house.
But as he drew closer, the aura emanating from it felt strangely familiar.
'It's faint, like they've used some trick... No way?'
He didn't have many vampire acquaintances to begin with.
Most had been wiped out in Azant, leaving only a handful.
And among them, one who might stand guard in a place like this...
Approaching and confirming, it was indeed a vampire he knew well.
'Roselika. So you're here.'
The Lesser Blood who had trained him when he first became a vampire.
After the Immortal King's Fragment incident began in Azant, her whereabouts had been unknown, but she'd apparently been reassigned to the capital.
'I thought she might've died in the clash with the Church, but she's still kicking?'
He'd heard quite a few vampires had been slain in the major conflict back then.
Having survived the ordeals starting from Azant, she must have a tough life force.
Heinz quietly slipped into the building using Invisibility as well.
"Haa~ What kind of life is this, stuck indoors during the day? My skin's gotten so rough lately—how long do I have to keep this up?"
His eyes, now inside the house, caught Roselika grumbling nonstop.
The dark room, shrouded in blackout curtains on all sides, was filled with all sorts of blood magic barriers drawn in blood.
From those erasing presences inside to aids for external surveillance, plus intruder alarms and defenses as standard.
'Of course, they mean nothing to me.'
He analyzed the barriers with Mystery of Blood and ignored them effortlessly with Concealment, approaching her from behind.
'There are alert devices that trigger on the watcher's death, but no real-time internal monitoring. Perfect.'
He lightly scanned the barriers from behind her and released Invisibility.
Still suppressing his presence, she didn't notice him and kept peering out the window.
"During the day, I need to sleep dee~ply so my skin doesn't... "
"Roselika."
Her body jolted and froze for a moment, but only briefly.
"Sorry~! I spoke out of turn... Huh?"
She spun around to apologize, then flinched upon seeing Heinz's face.
Having bypassed the barriers and known her name, she'd assumed he was a superior, but facing a stranger left her flustered.
"...Sorry, but who might you be...?"
Due to the prior factors, she cautiously inquired while staying alert.
His appearance and build had changed greatly since they'd last met, so it was natural she didn't recognize him.
"Heinz."
"Heinz...?"
Not planning to hide it, he stated plainly, but she just tilted her head, assuming it was a coincidence.
"Are you a guest of our clan, by chance?"
Sensing his overwhelming strength beyond her capabilities, she remained polite despite her wariness.
"Yes, a guest."
"Ah! Then not this way... "
"Uninvited, though."
The moment those words ended.
Shiiik—!
Five tendrils of blood whipped sharply from her right hand toward Heinz.
Her left hand simultaneously reached for the barrier node to signal an intruder... but
"Kkh?"
Crimson chains had already erupted from all directions, binding her body completely and sealing not just her movements but her mana flow as well.
"Impossible! A True Blood? ...This is Brocoslak territory! This violates the treaty!"
Faced with the absolute gap, she cried out in panic, assuming he was a True Blood from another clan.
But Heinz was thinking something else.
'Wait, this could work.'
Conveniently inside a high-performance concealment barrier, he subtly revealed the vampire aura he'd kept hidden with Concealment.
Using extreme blood control and overwhelming blood magic mastery, he extracted and exposed only a tiny portion.
And the blood-sensitive vampire Roselika immediately caught the scent within.
"Wha... what? Our clan? No, something's off... Huh?"
He'd drawn out an aura as close to the original as possible, but perfection was impossible.
Even so, it was enough to confuse her.
Seizing the moment of her disarray, Heinz spoke softly.
"I'm a branch member of Brocoslak."
True to form, he began spinning a tale laced with plausible details.
The vampire world had numerous splinter factions.
Those who escaped 'Blood Subordination' for various reasons formed independent forces, branching off.
Though sharing roots, generations created differences until they became distinct powers.
Heinz wove his story around them.
They'd merely diverged from the same root; he was from a persecuted branch seeking control.
This was internal competition, not external invasion, and he had no intent to harm the whole clan.
A utter nonsense fest.
But built on facts and subtly laced with Mystery of Blood suggestion, she didn't question it much.
'Though, if you think about it, it's not entirely wrong.'
His roots were indeed Brocoslak.
"Um... I'm just a mere Lesser Blood, so why...?"
"Follow me, and I'll grant you power. You just help me a little."
He went through this hassle to minimize her resistance.
Purified Blood Essence's subordination lacked absolute brainwashing loyalty.
"...Sorry, but I... "
She opened her mouth to refuse.
Perfectly natural—who'd follow a total stranger after all this time?
"Ah! Just to avoid misunderstanding."
Before she finished, Heinz's amused voice cut her off.
"You have no choice."
He'd only said all that to make her accept peacefully.
Once subordinated by Purified Blood Essence, reversal was impossible; she'd follow inevitably.
Heinz extended his hand toward the bewildered Roselika.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, he smoothly gained Roselika's cooperation after her resignation.
She still seemed reluctant, but separately, she was pleased with her strengthened power from Purified Blood Essence.
Thanks to her, he obtained internal Brocoslak Clan intel.
As a mere Lesser Blood, she lacked high-level info, but her long stay here yielded plenty of useful details.
One was about Frigia Brocoslak, the True Blood overseeing Talaria's surveillance network.
"Lady Frigia is unique. She often strolls during the day. She enjoys human attention, you could say... "
A frivolous noble lady in flashy attire, shopping around the capital.
That was her cover identity.
"Her detection range is immense. From the commercial district, it reaches beyond the city gates. She could monitor half the capital alone."
Now that she mentioned it, the description rang a bell.
The first day Heinz 2nd arrived in the capital to get Heinrich into the Church of the Main God.
He'd run into her and had to flee via summoning release.
'Ah... right. The one with the Magic Eyes.'
She'd appeared suddenly behind him, interrogating about kin consumption; he'd told her to wait and escaped.
'And now we meet again.'
The memory resurfaced vividly.
He held no real grudge since he'd escaped unscathed, but she wasn't someone he liked either...
'Long time no see. Let's catch up.'
A cold smile crept across Heinz's lips.