As I walked behind the Vampire Trio, who kept glancing back pretending not to look, the number of tents around me began to increase.
The population density here is definitely high. Perhaps it’s due to the vampires returning from their hunts, as the smell of blood hangs thick in the air, and the few outside seem to be scattered.
Some of them gaze at us with curiosity about the new visitors, while the rest seem too busy with their own tasks to care about us.
‘It seems like there’s something going on here.’
Even though it’s a place for vagabonds, this spot offers an unusual level of safety for vampires. While they’re out hunting, it can’t be helped, but at least during our stay in the forest, aside from the whims of the elves, there are no physical threats, making it a great hideout.
However, despite living in such a place, the expressions of the vampires I catch are not bright. No, to be precise, they seem to be divided cleanly into those who appear well and those who look lifeless.
If it were just that, I might have let it slide, but the way their expressions and attire directly correlate changes the situation.
Some wear expressions of ease and have neat clothing.
Others wear drained expressions and are dressed in tattered rags stained with blood.
If I had known nothing, I might have just thought they were tired after a fruitless hunt, but after hearing about the quota, my imagination began to take flight.
‘For example, there are those who have to offer their hard-earned prey and those who sit back, merely eating it.’
There’s definitely the smell of human blood nearby. It’s clear someone brought a human back alive.
Those returning from hunts couldn’t possibly look that well-groomed. But I can’t find a bright face among the vampires dressed in blood-soaked clothing.
So, there must be a reason for their gloomy expressions despite having been successful in their hunts?
Filling my head with thoughts that verge on conspiracy theories as I move on while glancing at my surroundings, the footfalls of the two pairs ahead suddenly stopped.
Looking up, I saw the largest tent I had encountered so far directly in front of me.
“This is where the Chief is. Remember this,” said one of the vampires.
Even the vampires who have overcome their lifespans can’t escape the gap between rich and poor. It’s a rather curious realization, but capturing the scene of such extremes in one glance feels uniquely strange.
By the way, the instruction to remember is rather ominous. I can’t help but feel I’ll be back here again, even though I hope I never will.
‘There’s no point in thinking too much.’
While the Vampire Trio muttered something in front of the tent, I casually glanced at Eleonora before stepping forward.
I boldly pushed apart the flap and walked in, the first thing that caught my eye was a particularly large man sitting inside. Flanking him were four more vampires, two to his left and two to his right.
Wow, the tent I received could barely fit two people lying down after setting down a bag, yet here space still remains in plenty. Who is enjoying such luxury?
“Are you the new resident?” he boomed.
His deep, imposing voice accompanied by shoulders built like a rugby player. Even seated, his height was apparent.
Although I had never ventured out alone in my past life, if I had crossed paths with someone like him on the street, I’d have opened my wallet immediately.
His pale face does seem a bit off, but by human standards, he surely possesses the demeanor of a first-class polite citizen.
‘Well, that would be the case if he were human.’
But we are vampires. And a vampire’s strength is not determined by appearance.
There are even rare instances among humans where fragile-looking girls serve as knightly weapons, but in terms of being a species that embodies the gap between the outer and inner selves, I’d bet that no other race surpasses vampires.
Just look at Martini. If looks and strength were proportional, that young lady wouldn’t be called the world’s strongest vampire.
There’s no need to be overwhelmed by appearances. What matters is essence. I lightly switched on my sensory perception.
‘Surprisingly weak.’
Drawing power from the blood of other beings, I can gauge how nutritious they are—essentially how strong they are—just through the scent of blood.
Of course, that’s not 100% accurate. If the opponent consciously masks their aura or scent, I often miss detecting them.
And to make matters worse, if the opponent is also a vampire, even if they are kin, it becomes all the more difficult to judge due to the ambiguity of their scent and appetite.
But no matter how much they are kin, being close allows me to gauge their strength relative to mine.
And so, I realized. Despite the flashy appearance, that man is weaker than me. He might have experience, but in raw physicality, he doesn’t seem to measure up.
‘Is this guy the leader?’
I wondered if he had switched seats to test me, but among the ones standing behind him, there wasn’t a stronger vampire than the seated man.
Could the real leader be elsewhere and this guy just a representative?
I had boasted to Eleonora that I’d flip a middle finger to the quota, but honestly, I hadn’t expected such a high chance of winning here, so I felt a bit disoriented.
Even though it’s a village of wanderers, the chief is the chief. Is he actually a tremendous powerhouse hiding his presence? Damn it, since he’s a vampire too, it makes me less certain.
“Can’t you hear the Chief’s words? Show your face and uphold manners.”
While I stood there dawdling, one of the screens behind me snapped at me. It wasn’t threatening at all, but I decided to just take off my hood and let the hem of my cloak drop down to my chin.
“Oh, what a remarkably rare guest we have here. No, are you now our neighbor?”
Upon seeing my face, the man’s tone noticeably softened. I nearly laughed but managed to hold it back.
Vampires’ strength doesn’t correlate with their appearance. Yet, even if everyone knows that, they typically can’t overlook visual information.
Based on experience, the weaker ones tend to exhibit this tendency more. They can’t identify unique strengths outside of natural expectations.
Raul once mentioned my body was optimized for attracting prey in various ways.
He was right. Few would realize that even my slender limbs could easily handle a person without prior experience.
They all recklessly let their guard down and lost their lives. It was also because they had underestimated me that, despite merely escaping from the Luminous Kingdom and being weak enough to be considered human, I was able to defeat bandits and mercenaries.
Having lived for a long time relying largely on intuition, now it was no trouble at all for me to gauge whether someone was wary or underestimating me just by their gaze. And the vampire before me was decidedly in the latter category.
‘A fox reigning in a place without a tiger.’
I had anticipated this upon surveying the situation, but seeing it align so perfectly felt unsettling.
But feelings are feelings and reality is reality. To survive, caution is necessary, but merely coiling up won’t yield better results.
If they’re weaker than me anyway, there’s no need to cower.
In the face of stronger opponents, I would pretend to be weak and then strike them from behind, while in front of weaker opponents, I’d enact the role of an overwhelming powerhouse to ensure they wouldn’t dare dream of resisting.
This was my life wisdom. To practice this, I reset my crazy mode once again.
“Bring me a chair.”
The disdain I picked up while living in the duchy naturally flowed out. Compared to the awkwardness of the day I first attempted to speak so dominantly in the duchy, even I found my tone fairly convincing now.
Well, I ought to do at least this much. Even though it wasn’t my will, I had disrespected a Grand Duke like Martini, so if I was to grovel before such small fry, it would be nothing less than an insult to her.
I can abandon my humanity, but I cannot forget my connections. If Martini’s honor is at stake, I can’t lose.
The result was evidently effective; the atmosphere turned icy. Screens two and three seemed clueless about what was happening, and the face of the somewhat temperamental screen one began to boil like a kettle.
How dare the underling be so rude while the chief remains calm?
Before his kettle could steam, I quickly poured in another splash of cold water.
“Are you deaf?”
“This insolent!! Do you know who this is?! This is Marquis Marcus, who has received a title all the way from the Helraig Duchy!!!”
“So what?”
Surprised. I was inwardly astonished by the sheer volume of Screen One, but thankfully, my well-trained facial muscles maintained their composure without a twitch.
But seriously, enough with the nonsense. Is that really a marquis?
The maid who served me in the duchy was far stronger than that guy. If he’s a marquis, then that arrogant maid would be a countess or a marquess?
I scoffed at the utterly nonsensical statement, and finally, the titled marquis’ brows slightly furrowed. It seemed he was trying to gauge what kind of crazy woman was acting so confidently.
“What are you looking at, punk?”
“This girl—”
“That’s enough. Ruls. It’s rude to keep a guest standing while you talk.”
If the title holder himself hadn’t intended to offer a seat, it seemed the so-called marquis would have shown no intention of yielding his single chair. For someone who had called me over, this was undeniably an invitation to compete in power.
Interestingly, his voice had taken on a softer tone. It’s bitter when someone acting like this receives better treatment, but since the world isn’t based on common sense, what can be done?
As I showcased a victorious smile to Screen One, who was still glaring at me with a red face, another screen standing opposite me brought over a chair and retreated.
Their gaze was uncomfortably aimed downward, clearly avoiding making eye contact with me.
‘Ignorant little punks who don’t even know the concept of loyalty can just die.’
For someone like me, initiated in Confucian ideals, a little courtesy is necessary for a conversation. Got it?
In any case, I had firmly taken the initiative. Finally, I sat down with my legs crossed as I prepared to have a decent conversation with them.
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