‘Well, this works.’
Trying not to show it, I was making a considerable effort to suppress my laughter as I watched the vampire smoothly lead the way through the neatly split crowd.
That vampire’s name is Merton Gloton; they said he held the title of Marquis.
He’s a bigger deal than I thought. I’m not one to talk since I’ve crawled all the way into the enemy’s territory ready to face the Grand Duke, but a Marquis-level vampire is a tough opponent, even for knights.
If we get specific, the number of knights who can’t defeat a Marquis-level vampire outweighs those who can beat one.
Unless the common sense of the world has changed in the three years I was holed up underground, then that’s probably the case. Since the source of my information is Plona, it should be accurate.
‘But somehow, I’ve managed to get through this.’
If it had turned into battle, it would have been an undesirable situation.
Getting lynched by the marquis-level nobles leading a group of vampires, surely amounting to at least a thousand, is something I’d want to avoid at all costs, regardless of the odds.
For the past three years, my training with Stella was intentionally done with an almost empty body, and I practiced dark magic based on the advice of Stella and Lavina, and blood magic on my own.
But I don’t even know how far I could go if I used all my means in perfect shape. After all, I’ve never given it my all.
Since the war from Sahelrn Duchy is upon us, I just jumped in believing Stella’s guarantee that I wouldn’t fall short against Helraig’s Grand Duke.
That’s why I felt very fortunate about the current situation, wanting to face Grand Duke Jeil Helraig while keeping as much of my power intact as possible.
‘Showing blood magic had an effect.’
When I introduced myself as the Progenitor, the one who was contemplating something received a non-threatening threat from me through blood magic, and that was the decisive blow.
The many vampires, including the self-proclaimed marquis, waiting at a distance for orders noticeably stirred, after which it was practically a high-pass.
‘They’re not entirely devoid of fighting spirit yet.’
While they were cautious, their eyes weren’t filled with surrender. Among the split crowd, there were even vampires who didn’t try to hide their animosity.
Once, the Grand Duke of Helraig had released vampires to search for me, so it seems that the Grand Duke’s order to bring me in is still valid.
It looks like they’re planning to join forces with the vampires in the Grand Duke’s Castle, including Grand Duke Jeil Helraig, which is precisely what I want, so I decided to quietly follow along, pretending not to notice.
By the way, is it soon?
I’ve been sensing a powerful presence from afar for a while now.
It’s not inflated to show off or intimidate; it’s just naturally released. But even though it burns quietly like a calmly flickering candle, the suppressed presence there could be compared to the heat of the sun.
It’s amusing to liken vampires to the sun, but that was the level of intimidation I felt.
I wasn’t the only one sensing it; Eleonora was already gripping her dagger tightly, and Plona had her hand gently resting on the hilt, ready to draw at any moment.
‘What about Lavina?’
The elf, who had shown the most silence since the first day we met, had a slightly stiff expression while scanning around.
But contrary to her trembling gaze and tense facial muscles, her steps were somewhat restrained yet quite natural and unimpeded.
Well, to be honest, I don’t really know what she’s thinking.
At first, I thought she lacked prejudice against vampires and seemed pretty friendly towards me, but she acts so eagerly and unpredictably.
Just when I thought her only interest was in magical research, she followed me to such a dangerous place, showing a surprisingly tense side while appearing relaxed… honestly, even now, I wonder if she’s just pretending to be moderately tense.
Well, she helped me with making blood supplements and developing dark magic over the past three years, so as long as she doesn’t try to stab me in the back, I don’t care what thoughts are rolling around in her head.
Once we enter the Grand Duke’s Castle, she’ll probably work hard on her own if she doesn’t want to die.
I focused my attention on the direction where I sensed Grand Duke Jeil Helraig’s presence and walked cautiously.
*
Helraig Duchy’s Grand Duke’s Castle.
In the center of the historic building, which maintains architectural style from centuries ago, there was a desolate room with a solitary throne atop a tall, soaring spire.
Originally, the interior space of buildings used by vampires starts with completely turning a room into a dark chamber.
It’s standard for each window to be covered with thick blackout curtains, and there were often instances where there were no windows at all.
However, the throne room in Helraig Grand Duke’s Castle was brimming with moonlight pouring in from a completely open balcony, going against the trend of vampires.
Was this also some form of confidence? A man sat in a relaxed manner with his chin resting on the armrest of the throne under the slanted moonlight.
He had black hair cascading down to his eyes, pale skin, and a tall, slender figure with a solid shoulder wearing a black uniform woven with gold thread.
He looked like the scion of a powerful family in the military.
However, on the other hand, perhaps due to an uncontainable sharpness, there was a heavy pressure about him, as if he would slice anything that touched him.
Suddenly, the man’s eyes, which had been closed, flew open. Surprise streaked across his sharp gaze.
Distrust, anticipation, and joy.
At that moment, a mysterious will sparkled in his quietly burning red eyes, and he finally spoke.
“Come in.”
A vampire who had just arrived at the door of the throne room paused for a moment.
Before knocking, having received permission, the vampire quickly adjusted his attire and stepped into the throne room.
“What is your business?”
The man sitting on the throne asked the subservient vampire, who bowed his head at the stairs below.
Though it was a question, there was some form of certainty in the man’s voice. It seemed he already knew why his subordinate had come to find him.
“The survival of the Fourth Progenitor has been confirmed; he is currently on his way to the castle under the guidance of Marquis Gloton.”
“…Is it certain?”
While asking back, he couldn’t hide his joy.
The man seated on the throne, the Grand Duke of Helraig, Jeil Helraig, was already wearing a fierce smile.
“They say blood magic has been confirmed.”
“Recently, luck has been on our side. How long has it been since rumors started saying that the toy I thought was dead is actually alive, yet here it comes rolling in on its own. Isn’t that right?”
“Indeed.”
Jeil Helraig rose from his throne.
It had been nearly four years since he started moving after detecting the signs of the Fourth Progenitor’s birth.
If we include the waiting time before that, it’s been an incredibly long time of endurance.
But finally, the opportunity had come. A chance to devour True Blood, the essence and source of all vampires’ powers.
“I will capture the Progenitor alive. Gather all the vampires in the castle.”
“I accept your orders.”
The vampire, who had been kneeling, acknowledged and vanished.
Left alone in the throne room once again, the Grand Duke placed his right hand over his pounding heart.
“At last…”
This trembling, how long has it been?
It had been a thousand years since he stopped growing and stood still, and the hateful sun was still there.
However, the stagnation that seemed like it would last forever has come to an end.
Though it was an unprecedented event, if he could steal the power of True Blood, he would be able to transcend to a higher existence.
“Look at that, Martini, you foolish girl. In the end, the opportunity has come to me.”
Jeil mocked a vampire who would be a step ahead in this war.
A foolish woman who, even after nearly two thousand years, couldn’t shake off the remnants of a past that had faded into history.
Thinking about the foolish girl, who had let an opportunity slip away that she had grasped before him, leaving her territory doomed, he couldn’t help but sneer.
“I am not like you.”
Jeil Helraig spoke with a voice full of conviction.
The Fourth Progenitor, who once had a connection to Sahelrn Duchy. The fact that he is visiting at this point suggests that his purpose is either asylum or a request for reinforcements.
Does he think the world will unravel to suit his desires?
Though, what could one expect from a young and inexperienced Progenitor, but to his fortune, the prey he had been searching for has come rolling in on its own.
“Still, I’ll make good use of you.”
If he could grow stronger, he was ready to do anything.
A Fourth Progenitor? A being who stands in equivalence to the first Progenitor who turned him into a vampire?
Such a thing is not a problem at all.
Moreover, with the downfall of that woman, who was so busy looking for the remnants of the past in the Fourth Progenitor while being trapped in the shadows of the past, it goes without saying whose thoughts hold merit.
To him, the Progenitor is one of the tools capable of pushing him beyond the limits he has hit, perhaps a means to explore higher possibilities. Nothing more than that.
This is the answer. Rather than some foolish ideal about cultivating a new Progenitor and making them a king that may take an indefinite amount of time and is filled with uncertainties.
“Go to the other world and watch. Martini Sahelrn.”
Success is something only those who do not hesitate when the opportunity arises can seize.
The fact that Martini Sahelrn missed the opportunity has been substantiated, and he was ready to grasp the next one.
“I will become a king.”
To feed off and seize is the way of the vampire.
He would either capture the Progenitor to devour True Blood or research it to unveil the secret of its powers, becoming an existence one step above and driving humans off the continent as the Vampire King.
To fulfill his long-cherished wish, the Grand Duke of Helraig, Jeil Helraig, began to move.
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