The dry and murky wind swept in.
Peering through the hazy clouds of dust, I looked to see the dawn breaking once again and surveyed my surroundings.
The morning greeting me near the border of the Bertica Kingdom and Helraig Duchy was eerily silent and calm.
I could sense the presence of humans, presumably from the Bertica Kingdom, not too far off, but at this distance, it was a level I could easily outsmart.
“Eleonora, are you feeling okay?”
Just to be sure, I asked Eleonora one last time.
It had been a month and a few days since she had stopped taking the Blood Supplement, which she had been on for over three years.
Since the effects of the supplement last a month, Eleonora had just barely transitioned back to her normal human state, shedding the role of an infinite blood bag.
So far, there had been no issues while using the supplement, but I wondered if there might be side effects now that she had stopped taking it.
“Yes, Master. I actually feel lighter than usual.”
In that case, it was a relief.
Standing beside me, no longer as a person under my protection but as a fellow combatant, Eleonora nodded with a hint of nervousness, prompting Lavina behind us to mutter discontentedly.
“No, I feel like I’ve mentioned over a hundred times that safety checks were completely flawless. You doubt my skills that much? It hurts a little!”
“So what? Then go back.”
“Health is something you can never be too careful about. I think that’s a commendable attitude!”
Lavina, with her palm flipped as if changing her stance, chuckled. But when no one responded, she shrugged her shoulders awkwardly, dropping her playfulness and adding more seriously.
“By the way, Aria, you do realize that if you’re thinking of backing out, now’s your last chance, right? Are you really going?”
“See, I told you you don’t have to come.”
Honestly, I had no idea why she followed me in the first place.
Right after I decided to head toward the Helraig Duchy, Lavina unexpectedly asked to tag along while spouting information about the vampires she met while visiting Iron Grave in the past.
– You are planning to fight, right? I could be useful if things get dicey!
Before I could even consider refusing, Lavina pulled out her bow and made her case.
To put it plainly, Lavina had every right to speak so confidently.
After encountering only some rather underwhelming elves just before leaving the Mist Labyrinth, my expectations had dropped significantly, but Lavina showcased the prestige of a race that was at the pinnacle of humanity during the Great War.
‘She seemed quite competent.’
I had heard that before being banished from Albresia, she was unmatched among the new generation of elves. Honestly, I thought that was pure MSG.
I had just assumed she was just a knowledgeable magic otaku who makes great potions; I thought it was ridiculous to consider her a top-notch archer based on what I usually saw of her.
But surprisingly, Lavina was not a genius poser but the real deal. She was one of the few normal beings in the one-eyed world of Albresia.
The fact that she’s considered the best among the bunch makes me worry for the future of the elven race… Ah, I forgot they were already badly wiped out by humans.
Anyway, I confirmed her skills were helpful, and since I had built up a tiny bit of trust after three years of various assistance, Lavina’s company was secured dramatically.
I have no idea what kind of thoughts led her into the vampire battleground, but as long as she contributes in the slightest way, I have no complaints.
But what if she changes her mind?
Of course, there is that possibility. But I had insurance for that, so it’s all good.
Right now, a pendant hanging around Lavina’s neck contains my blood.
If she shows any suspicious behavior or tries to remove the pendant, I would immediately unleash Blood Magic to fire off the contents of the pendant, and the blood bullet would pierce her heart at point-blank range.
Still, since we’ve known each other for over three years, I hope it doesn’t come to that. After all, it was agreed upon by both parties, and unless she wants to commit suicide, she wouldn’t do anything silly.
Or she could say she’s changed her mind and wants to go back, and I wouldn’t even get mad about it.
“No, no! With such an exciting situation at hand, why would I go anywhere? If I back out now, I’ll be overwhelmed by memories for at least twenty years and suffer from insomnia! I’m just thinking it’s a ridiculous thing we’re doing, you know?”
That elf and her insomnia scale really are something.
But her argument was quite valid.
Even though the Sahelrn Duchy is stronger than the Helraig Duchy and the human coalition is even more formidable, to sneak in with just four people and ask for reinforcements?
I wouldn’t have even dreamed of such a reckless plan three years ago.
It’s pretty clear that Grand Duke Jeil Helraig isn’t going to be favorable to Martini or me.
They definitely won’t help willingly, and it’s bound to escalate into a conflict.
However, I think it’s at least better than throwing myself into a near-certain defeat by going alone to help the Sahelrn Duchy.
As long as Jeil Helraig isn’t foolish, he must understand that if he sits back and watches the Sahelrn’s downfall, it’s only a matter of time until it’s their turn.
Though, even considering all this, I won’t deny that the possibility of failure is greater.
If I underestimate the Grand Duke of Helraig, who has been searching for me, I might get caught before I even get a chance to talk.
Even if I’m forcibly dragged to the table, if Helraig Duchy is looking for a survival strategy after the fall of Sahelrn, there would be no room for negotiation.
But I can’t negotiate beyond this point.
I don’t want to toss away what I hold dear anymore, I don’t want to sever it. I’ve grown stronger for that purpose.
I want to live while acting on my will and protecting the things I want to keep, even if it means putting my life on the line.
If I just give up everything because it’s hard, what will all my struggles amount to?
Three years is enough time spent huddled underground.
Though I must live as a vampire, I have no intention of cowering in the darkness forever as a fugitive.
“Let’s stick to the plan. Plona, you good?”
“Yes. I feel a bit sluggish, but I can manage moving around.”
Plona, who had her thick hood pulled over her head, nodded.
While very weak vampires might burn in sunlight, those like Martini or Stella can’t exert their power but can walk around in daylight like humans.
And fortunately, Plona, who has inherited my blood, could also do that. While she couldn’t use Dark Magic and her physical abilities were greatly reduced, her opponent is also a vampire.
During the day, we were just moving toward the Grand Duke’s castle on the surface, so there wouldn’t be a need to fight. If needed, I could just carry her.
“Alright then, let’s go. We’ll cross over before the humans spot us. We’ll probably get seen halfway, but they won’t come chasing us all the way into the Duchy, so focus entirely on running. Eleonora, hide your tail well. Got it?”
Plona and Lavina nodded, and Eleonora tugged at the back of her cloak, which looked ready to burst, checking to ensure it was all tucked away.
Before long, the dark remnants of dawn in the sky completely vanished, and the clear and sunny morning began to spread its blue light.
We chose a spot as far away as possible from the humans’ presence, exchanged silent glances, and then started running all at once.
Kicking off the untouched, uneven earth with haste, we swiftly crossed the border and entered Helraig Duchy territory.
Moments later, I heard guards calling out, having spotted a mysterious group starting to traverse the wasteland from far in the distance.
But as expected, even under the sun, they seemed unwilling to aggressively chase us into their own territory as we successfully distanced ourselves from the humans.
“We’ve passed one hurdle!”
Lavina, who must die if she remained quiet for too long, cheerfully shouted.
Even while running, she didn’t seem out of breath, so I glanced at the conditions of Plona and Eleonora before picking up the pace, reluctantly revealing a truth no one wanted to know.
“If you don’t want to end up surrounded by vampires after sunset and meet a horrific end, best put your feet to work more than your mouth. Right under our feet, there are lots of vampires lurking.”
“Eh? Really?!”
Lavina jumped up about ten centimeters in surprise, still in running posture.
Her eager gaze seemed to wait for me to say it was a joke, but I just replied by simply running ahead.
No, I wasn’t kidding, okay?
I didn’t know if they typically lived underground or sensed the intruder and hid, but the signs of life emanating from the ground were far more than I had imagined.
Unlike the Sahelrn Duchy, there were hardly any houses visible just a bit inside the border, suggesting that there might be quite a few creatures that naturally live underground. One thing is clear, though—over 90% of those life signs underground were vampires. The rest were likely humans captured for food.
When night falls, they’re all going to come pouring out to the surface.
If I want to avoid getting stuck shooting a zombie movie before even seeing the Grand Duke… we all need to run!
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