The Vampire King, the Human Collector, the Ruler of the Night, the Bloodsucker. There was a Heavenly King with many titles.
Jinzou. Meaning the first vampire and Vampire Lord.
In the future, he would be the third opponent, instantly infecting many Empire citizens and turning them into his minions. His abilities were so strong that it was quite troublesome to subdue him.
When thinking of a vampire’s abilities, the first thing that comes to mind is turning those whose blood they’ve drained into minions.
This wasn’t much of a problem as long as the infection was prevented; his minions had no intelligence, like zombies.
The real issue was his second ability.
“Wow, you really shine on stage, Attending Physician.”
Count Dunserini flashed his signature charming smile.
That habit of ending sentences with a laugh.
There’s no doubt.
This guy is Jinzou.
To be precise, he’s Jinzou while being a fake, I suppose.
“Our royal conference has also made a great impression on the Empire’s Inner Palace.”
The Dunserini before my eyes is undoubtedly the real Jinzou. To be exact, only his ‘soul’ is real. The body belongs to Logan Dunserini, a politician originally from the Kingdom.
Jinzou can transfer his soul to individuals whose blood he has drained. The real Count is trapped in a prison of his own mind.
To subdue him, I need to catch the true body, but since he is active in this child body, it’s difficult to capture him.
The Count may be an ordinary person, but he has equipped diverse child bodies with various abilities.
That is also the reason he’s called the Human Collector.
I recognized Count Dunserini as one of the child bodies he was using in the future.
“I hope you’ll generously tell us the terms of trade.”
So, what should I do?
Jinzou must have had a large plan to infiltrate the human world and wreck it from the inside.
In the midst, he must have been scouted by the Demon King’s army to start systematically destroying the Kingdom.
[No. 073: Vampire’s Night 68% → 72%]
The probability of a bad ending where I am massacred by Jinzou was increasing.
‘If I were him.’
I would see this party, where the commanders of the Allied Forces and key heroes from various countries are gathered, as a prime opportunity.
The stronger the allies, the greater the chance of retaliation, but if the timing is right, the damage dealt to the human realm could be enormous.
‘First, I need to get out of here and overpower him.’
I need to push the Count out of his seat and explain the situation to the other three.
I slid a teacup mixed with a laxative toward him.
He couldn’t poop while sitting, so he would have no choice but to leave if he drank it.
“Don’t be too tense. It’s just a small conflict; you can brush it off like a tsunami. Your lips are dry, so let’s moisten your throat first.”
“…Haha, thank you for your consideration.”
The Count just nodded with a political smile. His camouflage is excellent.
Did he catch on?
Anyway, the upper hand is on our side, so maybe I should act a bit cockier.
“Is it not to your liking?”
I leaned back, crossing my legs and placing them on the table.
My unruly demeanor made Princess Persiya’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Your Majesty, it seems the Count doesn’t even want to touch the tea given by that filthy Imperial person.”
“Surely that can’t be true.”
Count Dunserini raised his hand, pointing to a painting hung on the wall opposite him.
“It’s a masterpiece depicting the scenery of the Northern Principality. Unlike the eastern region, which is divided by mountains, the north has wide open plains.”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze shifted to the painting. A small clink sound could be heard from below. It was the sound of a cup being moved.
That sly dog, he’s fast.
He switched my cup for his.
“I understand that the royal family harbors resentment toward the Empire, but the recent atmosphere has changed quite a bit. I hope the Empire and the Kingdom become as peaceful as the north.”
Saying so, the Count elegantly took a sip of tea.
As he set his cup down, he smiled confidently at me.
I said,
“How unfortunate.”
“What do you mean?”
“That you lost a surprise meant for you due to your doubts.”
Saying that, I took a big gulp from the cup.
It was the very cup mixed with the laxative that I had placed in front of the Count.
The Count’s shocked expression was priceless.
Of course, I had a backup plan.
I discreetly swallowed an antidote hidden between my fingers. It’s a counteracting effect.
In reality, it isn’t a neutralizer, so taking both at once isn’t an option. It’s not that both effects cancel out, but rather it’s like a heavy downpour. It’s an emergency measure, for now at least.
The Count looked flustered.
“What do you mean…?”
“You just switched teacups, right?”
“What!! Count, what have you done!”
The King yelled, causing the Count’s previously cheerful expression to falter.
“You’re quick-witted, Count. Actually, I added this to your tea.”
I pulled out a small packet from my belongings. Inside was a fine white powder.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a concentrated powder extracted from lemon syrup. It enhances the flavor of tea, you know.”
“Oh? A kind of spice?”
“Yes, indeed. This is a prototype made using extraction technology from our Gothberg factory. It’s a product I intended to show you as a courtesy once trade begins. Care to have a taste?”
I offered Princess Persiya the tea mixed with lemon syrup powder.
After taking a sip, Persiya squinted her eyes.
“It’s refreshing! The flavor is fascinating. It’s a taste we don’t have in our Kingdom.”
Hearing Persiya’s evaluation, the King’s expression towards the Count turned grim.
“Surely you aren’t suspecting that it’s poison and switched teacups? Count Dunserini! You asked to negotiate with the Gothberg Attending Physician and requested this meeting! It’s insane to think you would harm the distinguished guest!”
The King fumed, pointing at the Count. The Count bowed his head, a bitter smile on his face.
“It was an act that could lead to misunderstandings. I apologize.”
“Haha, I surely didn’t think it was anything as serious as poison. Surely it was a cute action from a jester.”
“…That is correct. It was a gesture of greeting.”
“Well then, that’s fine. I’m glad to see you, Count.”
I put my arm around the Count’s shoulders and poured him another cup of tea.
I pulled out another packet from my belongings and discreetly sprinkled more white powder in front of everyone.
Of course, not lemon syrup, but laxative.
“Now, I trust you won’t refuse this?”
“…I’ll gratefully drink it.”
The Count, caught up in the banter, downed the lukewarm tea.
He pursed his lips, pulling a smirk before getting down to business.
“Continuing on, what do you think about the items permissible for trade?”
Heike responded.
“The Empire will export weapons, armor, and medical supplies usable by the Allied Forces to the Kingdom. The Kingdom will export four types of grains and magical tools that come down from the west to the Empire. To account for objections, we’ll employ the Shupre Consortium but adopt a free-bid system.”
“I agree. The essence matches our royal conference. To elaborate…”
The Count suddenly stopped speaking.
“Count?”
“…Excuse me for a moment…”
The Count hastily staggered out.
Bam! As soon as the door closed, I seriously changed my expression and spoke to the three people remaining.
“Count Dunserini is a Demon.”
“What did you just say?!”
The King jumped up from his seat.
On the other hand, Heike remained calm, organizing the sudden information in her mind. Her brow furrowed from the stress.
“Gothberg, can you present evidence here?”
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible, but I am certain. I can diagnose people with medicine, can’t I? With so many distinguished guests gathered, we don’t know what he might do, so I’d recommend sending an immediate evacuation notice.”
“A Demon…”
The First Princess swallowed her spit.
“Gothberg, I trust you. I want to act, but I need evidence to move the big shots.”
Heike made a valid point.
“Diagnosis.”
I surveyed the room’s occupants with the Status Window.
Persiya, Heike, the King, and the other knights and attendants.
…There are no special anomalies.
If I check Count Dunserini, something might come up, but it’s evident the other side has caught on.
“I can use…”
I took out a small device from my white coat.
It’s a small blood collection kit for diabetes checks.
“It will sting a little. Can I ask for your cooperation?”
“Please do. Can you also do it for my father?”
“Hmm… I see. Well, I have seen Gothberg treat Gordon, so I have no choice but to trust you.”
Persiya stepped up enthusiastically. Since the King was convinced as well, they quickly took a blood sample and immediately analyzed it with [Blood Test B].
While I was checking the nobles, attendants, and knights,
“You, stay right there.”
“…Me?”
I detected a strange component in the blood of a royal guard.
‘MCV is low and calcium is too high. It’s clearly abnormal.’
He’s essentially in a constant state of anemia.
“Have you fainted recently or experienced memory gaps? Answer quickly.”
“That’s… two days ago at night…”
Just as he started to respond, the royal guard suddenly drew his sword from his waist and swung it with all his might towards my neck.
Clang!!
It was Tanya who intervened, blocking his sword from right behind me.
The guard was grinning charmingly, his lips stretched wide.
“It’s a shame about the Count’s prized child body. Thanks to this, I was able to dump it in the restroom.”
“Tsk.”
I should have anticipated the possibility of him keeping an eye on the King.
“After all, an operation was planned for today. Bringing it forward by an hour is quite reasonable.”
The guard—Jinzou pointed his finger at me.
“Doctor Gothberg. You’re sharp.”
“Me? Oh please, that’s an overestimation. I soared in as the Attending Physician.”
I’d rather not attract the attention of a Heavenly King-level demon.
“Haha, it’s rare to see someone so relaxed. Lifespans are so short, after all.”
The guard’s eyes widened into crescent moons as he smiled brightly.
“Let’s host a blood festival.”
Tanya struck his jaw hard, sending him crashing into the wall. The fallen guard lost consciousness, his limbs drooping like a deactivated puppet.
“Let’s evacuate. Your Highness, please leave the assembly hall first. Princess, and Your Majesty too.”
“Gothberg, what about you?”
The guards protecting Heike.
I answered her.
“I must take care of my Royal Princess.”
*
I left the VIP Room with Tanya.
I ran through the balcony corridor overlooking the main hall looking for her.
[No. 073: Vampire’s Night 72% → 74%]
Jinzou seems ready to unleash something.
Did he prepare a bomb or something?
“Bruno, can you find Neria?”
“Perhaps she’s with the Thunder Tribe?”
“Most likely.”
“Then I can find her.”
“Get her and leave here.”
After ensuring Bruno was to find Neria, I took a large lap around the second floor.
Suddenly.
Like lightning flashing by, a tingling sensation jolted through my brain, and I halted.
It was definitely Acella.
“I’ve caught your gaze a number of times.”
She couldn’t possibly not know.
No sooner had I thought that, I spotted her amid the shadows, shimmering with a golden glow.
For some reason, Acella appeared lonely, gazing down from the balcony, her demeanor unlike her usual self, observing other humans below like they were ants.
She looked utterly bored with the world of the upper class.
‘That’s not the issue right now.’
I rushed over to Acella and grabbed her arm.
“Your Highness.”
Acella turned to me in surprise, the anxiety that had filled her eyes dissipating with relief.
For just a moment, she sniffed the air with her chin tilted up, then her expression shifted to jealousy laced with reproach once again.
“So, you’ve been with the Princess all this time.”
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