Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: It’s Going to Be a Long Night.
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“Julian... Julian van Franzrit...”
It must have been obvious to the vampires around here. As expected, he was a vampire of the Franzrit bloodline. Fernandez frowned.
“How the hell did you end up with Red Hunger?”
“Danger... Dangerous.”
“What is?”
“Infermer... The Elfin Serpent King...”
Why were elves coming up here? Fernandez groaned as he rummaged through his memories from his past life. Elves? Where did elves even fit into this...?
-Infermer? Wasn’t that the Franzrit trade port?
‘Right? Yeah?’
-The Elfin Serpent King... It’s been ages since I last heard that name.
Ever since the War in the Heavens in ancient times, elves had been cursed to never set foot on the continent again. They wandered the seas eternally or hunkered down on islands.
The renowned Elven Wildprince Household of Hausheld was no longer a cavalry force, and the elven legions no longer dominated the continent.
The dwarves had been annihilated during the War in the Heavens, and the elves had been driven from the continent at the same time. Thus began the age of humanity. The age of the Holy Pantheon.
‘Was there an Elven Trident kingdom around here?’
-Not that I know of...
The problem was that the elven maritime kingdoms were quite a distance away from here!
“What nonsense is this? Why would an Elfin Serpent King show up here?”
“Infermer... To Lord Gaimern of Infermer...”
Julian’s trembling hand reached into his bosom and pulled out a letter. It was an ordinary missive, with no enchantments or magical threats—aside from being written in chicken blood...
“Infermer was Gaimern’s port?”
Before the trade port of Infermer had been seized by the Franzrits, it had been a port of the Gaimern royals. And if he was still unable to escape Serpent Isles due to power struggles with the Gaimern royals? It all fit together somehow.
Fernandez drew his blade and pressed it against Julian’s throat, lost in thought. Should he spare the guy and head to Infermer?
Truth be told, he doubted those finicky, obsessive elves would believe him even if he brought the letter.
Julian let out a gurgling sound, then spoke in a raspy voice.
“Kill... It’ll flare up again soon.”
“Hm. Will you repent?”
“A priest, huh? Heh heh... Repent? Those vermin...”
-Crack!
Before Julian could finish, Fernandez severed his neck clean to the bone. Blood gushed out, soaking the floorboards.
Fernandez flicked the blood from his blade and roughly tore down the wooden planks blocking the window.
-Sssshhhh...
Exposed to the sunlight, Julian’s corpse rapidly vaporized. It was due to the three curses they had received directly from the Holy Pantheon after the ancient mages—who sought immortality—had slain the Sun God, Almitdates.
They could only consume the blood of the living forever. They could never appear in the time of the living forever. They could never hold the warmth of the living forever.
And so they were called vampires. They could not act under the sun, could consume no food but blood, and even in the height of summer, they shivered in eternal spiritual cold.
No wonder these creatures couldn’t live sane lives. Fernandez stroked the startled Kirhas and said,
“First vampire you’ve seen?”
“Yes, milord. In my tribe, they’re just legends...”
“They might as well be legends. Except they’re stronger than ones in stories. Be careful if you run into more.”
“Yes...”
Kirhas lowered her eyes, feeling Fernandez’s touch. Wiggling her fingers, she said,
“So, is this mission over?”
“The mission in the orders is done, but I’ve got some personal investigating left. Heading back to base?”
“No! If you need me, milord, can I stick around a bit longer?”
“Then I’d be grateful!”
Fernandez grinned and pulled out his censer. Soon, a spirit messenger rose from it. He began writing his report at the rickety desk in the corner of the room.
*
[Mission Report: Rat Hunt]
Operation Area: Dane Kingdom, Verbes Barony, 2nd Checkpoint.
Operation Summary: Emergency investigation team dispatched due to unforeseen Walker incident.
Operation Progress:
1) Confirmed not caused by heretical sorcery Walker outbreak.
2) Confirmed mass ghoul outbreak due to vampire Red Hunger incident.
3) Eliminated Franzrit bloodline vampire [Julian van Franzrit].
4) Purged ghouls within checkpoint.
Operation Task Force Team:
1) Demonica, Fernandez Cerned – Returning
2) Torchman, Kirhas Hearttaker – Returning
We shall burn demons, heretics, and witches.
Operation Leader: Demonica Fernandez Cerned.
*
He had just finished the report and was about to hand the documents to the messenger when his spirit vision began vibrating wildly. A massive spell was manifesting! Fernandez peered out the window in alarm.
“Ugh, milord!”
“Wait!”
Fernandez ducked behind the window frame and peered outside. Black storm clouds were rolling into the village, where sunlight had blazed just moments before.
Faint shapes of bats flitted between the clouds.
Soon, night fell. No—not even a new moon night was this dark. It was midday turned pitch black under the clouds without a single ray of light. The village sank into utter darkness.
The only light source in the gloom was the pure white gleam from the silver longsword forged of full saint metal.
-Throb!
“Guh?!”
Pain surged from the stigmata embedded in his lower back. It was reacting to the approach of an evil beast. Amid the agony, Fernandez read the magic enveloping the air.
‘Curse of Sunloathing...’
A spell vampires used to block out the sun when high nobles had to venture out during the day. Which meant...
“The hunting party’s here!”
Too late to pull back. Hoofbeats echoed from afar.
*
Crimson mana swirled. Inside a carriage pulled by corpses, four corpse horses with blue soulfire in their eyes drew a massive black carriage.
The carriage entered the village, and the ghouls emerged from the shadows en masse, bowing to it.
-Clop.
From the carriage stepped a woman in a dress adorned with lavish lace. Red heels hit the ground, followed by a long black staff.
A beauty with cold eyes and pale skin that gleamed icily. She tipped up the brim of her wide hat and walked among the ghouls.
“Really... Exhausting.”
The woman sighed, glancing up at the two-story building. Looked like Julian was dead, huh? She turned back.
“What’re you waiting for? Get out.”
“Sis, I’m tired...”
“Shut up and search.”
“Sigh.”
From the carriage emerged a lanky young man in glasses. Black suit, ridiculous staff. Massive mana surged from the tip of his staff.
The woman sighed faintly and slowly turned forward with a smile. A deep, sharp, piercing red smile. Her white fangs gleamed.
“May I ask who you are?”
“Inquisitor Angelo.”
-Grrrrraaaah!
On the first floor of the building stood Fernandez and Kirhas. The ghouls turned as one and roared at him. The woman grasped the hems of her dress and bowed her head slightly.
“So you’re a sword of Beitasser. I am Amelia of the Franzrits, milord. An honor to meet you.”
Amelia’s red eyes flashed. Kirhas staggered for a moment gazing into them. A bewitchment spell.
A common vampire trick to mesmerize prey. Fernandez twisted his lips.
“So, what brings you here?”
“...?”
The bewitchment hadn’t worked? Amelia frowned and tapped her staff.
“My brother came out this way briefly, and I got worried, so I came looking. Surely we can resolve this without spilling blood?”
“Didn’t expect a vampire to shy from blood.”
“If it’s not blood worth drinking, I don’t need it, honestly.”
“Too bad.”
-Clang.
Fernandez pulled an iron buckle from his bosom and tossed it at Amelia’s feet. She glanced down, frowning. It bore the Franzrit family crest.
“Your brother got a proper funeral rite by priestly authority. He’s in a good place now.”
“Just the two of you...”
Amelia glared at Fernandez and Kirhas.
“You think you can handle us?”
“We did your job for you. What’s the problem? He was Red Hunger anyway. You were gonna kill him, right?”
“Quite knowledgeable, aren’t you? You’re one of those Enmagicka, aren’t you?”
“You know your stuff too. No—Demonica.”
“A demon must’ve shown up around here, huh?”
“It’s right in front of me now.”
Amelia and Fernandez stared each other down without blinking. Amelia was baffled. Why wasn’t the bewitchment working?
She tried pouring full power into it, but the man was stone-solid.
“Fine. Julian was going to be executed by my hand anyway. May I retrieve my brother’s remains?”
Amelia decided not to clash with this man for now. Charging in blind without knowing his power was Red Hunger behavior.
True vampires only sank fangs into prey they could win against.
“I dried him out nicely in the sun, and cremated the rest.”
“No way.”
Amelia slowly raised her staff. A seam split open, and a longsword slid out.
“Words won’t cut it, priest. Should I give you time to repent for today’s deeds? Any last words? I’ll wait.”
“Basila.”
Without taking his eyes off Amelia, Fernandez called to Kirhas. She jumped in surprise and stood beside him.
“She’s yours.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“I’ve got things to do.”
Amelia furrowed her brow. Not handling her himself and siccing his servant?
“Do I look like a joke? Or did my brother seem easier? Neither should.”
“Amelia van Franzrit. You talk too much.”
“...Brother.”
Amelia scowled and called to the lanky youth lounging nearby.
“Yeah?”
“Kill her.”
“Ah, but I don’t like girls...”
The youth smirked and raised his staff. Aiming it at Fernandez, he said,
“Watch closely, priest. Pray hard. You’re about to go... Huh? Wh-What??? Huh?!!”
-Crackle!
Black lightning arced from the staff tip. Clear mana overload! The youth hurriedly formed hand seals to calm the rampaging mana.
But the runaway mana tore through the constructed spell, scorching his mana circuits!
“Sh-Sis—damn it—sis! Stop that guy!”
“What? What’re you on about?”
“That bastard—he’s doing it right now!!!”
-Rumble...
-Groooaaar!!!
The black clouds slowly dispersed, sunlight piercing the village! Thin beams slipped through cloud gaps, descending on the village. In an instant, the ghouls ignited!
“Curse of Sunloathing! He’s countering it!”
Amelia gaped at Fernandez. His left hand—the one not gripping the sword—was twisted at an odd angle, forming intricate seals.
Even Amelia, no mage expert, could tell it was precise gesture magic. Slowly, the darkness lifted, revealing what shadows had hidden.
A black halo... Behind Fernandez’s head floated a black crown-shaped halo. With a near-divine expression and poise, Fernandez smiled at her.
“Oh, didn’t I mention I’m good at magic too?”
“Eeeeek! Inquisitor for real?! Everett! Carriage! Let’s go!”
It happened in a flash. The two vampires leaped into the carriage and slammed the door. Fernandez stood motionless in his pose.
The carriage fled the village before the sky fully cleared. Their shouts echoed from afar.
“We’ll see you at night!!!!”
Fernandez waited stock-still until they vanished over the horizon. The clouds slowly parted, and the halo behind him faded away.
“U-Uh, milord? Why not pursue...”
“It was all a bluff too.”
Fernandez plopped down right there with a sigh.
“Milord?!”
“Ah, so tiring...”
As expected, jamming a spell wedge into a grand ritual was exhausting. If he’d had his prime power and mana, countering that spell would’ve been trivial. Using the Bronze Throne for it was near-miraculous.
It had been less than ten days since he’d accessed the Bronze Throne and built his mana circuits. Meaning his usable mana was first-year magic academy level.
Relying solely on his knowledge and senses for miracle-precision mana control to counter her spell—that was his current limit.
“We prepare for night. Kirhas. They’ll definitely come back.”
“Not like before...”
“Probably not. They’ll come prepared.”
“Request reinforcements...”
“Won’t arrive by tonight. It’s going to be a long night. Get some rest.”
Demonica could go three days without sleep. Kirhas was better off with nightly rest. Tonight would be rough.
*