Chapter 18

Chapter 18
## Chapter 18

### Vampire (2)

The Vampire Clan, specifically the Ajantu branch of Brokolak.

This particular faction held undisputed dominion over the modest western settlement of Ajantu, nestled within the borders of the Talia Kingdom.

And within their ranks, I had been turned into a vampire.

‘Yet, it is shockingly boring around here…’

A few days of training had concluded, but they hadn’t actually assigned me any real responsibilities or given me specific directives.

The entire settlement had been structurally organized a long time ago, meaning the day-to-day operations ran seamlessly on autopilot. The vampires merely had to keep an eye on the lower-tier syndicates to ensure they were fulfilling their obligations correctly.

‘Being immortal creatures, they certainly move at a glacial pace.’

I suppose they permitted me to join their ranks as a substitute for the vampire who perished recently, but rather than offering a structured onboarding process, they essentially told me I would figure things out as I went along.

Barring any emergency directives, I was permitted to spend my time exactly as I wished, provided I kept a low profile and avoided drawing the attention of the city’s mortal population. This setup gave me the chance to enjoy longer evening chats with the siblings, though even those interactions required strict moderation, as frequent visits would inevitably raise suspicion.

“Ultimately, I might have no choice but to shift the focus onto Hans and flee this place, just as I planned from the start.”

When I first arrived, sharing a space with the vampires didn’t bother me all that much, but these creatures literally regarded the local humans as nothing more than domesticated cattle.

‘I had a feeling that was the case, considering they fetched blood for me straight from the estate, but still…’

Furthermore, in their own calculated way, they exercised rigid discipline and restraint when it came to controlling their population numbers.

They mentioned that such hesitation is perfectly normal for newcomers who are still squeamish about consuming blood, assuring me that I would grow accustomed to the lifestyle eventually…

‘The truth is, I cannot remain among these monsters for much longer.’

As a person whose mind had not been corrupted by the vampiric psyche, staying in their presence felt deeply unsettling.

I was merely biding my time, enduring the discomfort until the perfect opportunity presented itself.

—

The pureblood ruler of Ajantu, Vyrrak, called an emergency assembly for every vampire in the area.

“What could possibly warrant this sudden gathering?”

“Who knows? It is incredibly rare for him to summon the entire group like this. The last time must have been years ago, right?”

Roughly thirty or so vampires, who typically stayed isolated in different sectors across the city, began assembling in the main foyer of the estate.

“Ah, so you are the fresh half-blood who received the gift this time around? Talk about a stroke of luck.”

“Tsk, I cannot begin to fathom why Vyrrak would welcome such an inferior creature into our midst…”

Naturally, several individuals whom I had never encountered before started taking petty jabs at me.

They behaved exactly like classic nobles who had become entirely consumed by an inflated sense of self-importance.

‘They match the exact stereotype of vampires I always envisioned!’

While I found their behavior more amusing than insulting, Vyrrak stepped into the foyer.

“Greetings, Vyrrak.”

“It has been far too long. Please command us as you see fit.”

The crowd of vampires immediately swarmed Vyrrak, filling the air with a cacophony of sycophantic chatter.

The sheer authority commanded by the purebloods was evidently far greater than I had initially anticipated.

“Now that everyone appears to be present, let us address the matter at hand.”

After accepting the customary pleasantries, Vyrrak walked up the foyer staircase and began his address.

“The Immortal King’s fragment, which was held by the Oath of the Reversal, has vanished.”

A wave of hushed whispers rippled through the crowd. Fortunately, because everyone around me was buzzing with shock, my own reaction passed unnoticed.

“Oh, were you unaware? The sorcerers in the neighboring hamlet were keeping it concealed while they allowed the fragment to mature…”

Rosillica, who had drifted over to my side without making a sound, hurriedly murmured the exact piece of information I was already privy to.

“Quiet.”

The collective muttering instantly died down at Vyrrak’s single command.

Even Rosillica, who had been lingering right beside me, stepped back into line and fixed her gaze strictly on Vyrrak as he stood elevated on the steps.

“We have verified that its final trajectory was tracking directly toward this city. However, at a certain juncture, it vanished entirely without leaving a single trace. It may have breached the perimeter of our city, or it could have merely bypassed us.”

Vyrrak halted his speech, his eyes slowly scanning the faces in the room.

For a brief instant, our gazes locked. He lingered on me for a second before shifting his attention elsewhere.

‘Phew, that definitely made my heart race.’

“We will conduct our investigation under the assumption that the object has entered the city,” Vyrrak announced, dismissing the gathering with orders for everyone to report any anomalous occurrences within their designated sectors without delay.

“What is behind this sudden urgency?”

As we exited the foyer, Rosillica grumbled under her breath and closed the distance between us.

Judging by how comfortably she greeted the other vampires, she seemed to be quite popular within their social circles.

I couldn’t help but wonder why she had been so intent on looking out for me since the meeting started.

“Hehe, are you perhaps trying to seduce the rookie who hasn’t even acquired a taste for blood yet? I actually have my sights set on a rather well-built fellow. Why don’t you join me for a drink sometime soon?”

“I must decline. That really isn’t my sort of thing.”

I delivered a stern rejection, making no effort to hide my distaste.

Rosillica merely shrugged her shoulders, seemingly entirely unfazed by the rebuff.

“Still, this situation is quite problematic. The matter regarding the Immortal King’s fragment appears to be something the Clan Lord is personally overseeing.”

“Is that the case? But given that those dark sorcerers must have enforced incredibly tight security, how did anyone manage to seize it?”

“Who can say? Lowly grunts like us simply execute the orders we are given.”

It appeared I wouldn’t be able to extract any further useful intel from Rosillica.

However, the moment that thought crossed my mind, I realized I had judged the situation too quickly.

“Which is precisely why we previously transported a different fragment belonging to our own faction, keeping it securely locked away right here,” Rosillica remarked casually.

“Pardon…? Are you saying there is an entirely separate Immortal King’s fragment stationed within this city?” I blinked at Rosillica, genuinely caught off guard.

“Precisely. They allow the fragments to fully mature, and then they confiscate and combine them, or something along those lines. The intricate mechanics of it are beyond me.”

Despite the weight of her words, Rosillica simply offered another shrug, idly twirling a strand of hair around her finger as if discussing the weather.

‘Could this particular vampire actually hold a surprisingly elevated rank within the organization?’

I narrowed my eyes, studying her closely.

Rosillica let out a soft laugh and waved her hand through the air to dismiss my suspicion.

“To be frank, I was assigned to Ajantu alongside that very fragment a year back. Under normal circumstances, there would be absolutely no rational explanation for deploying this many vampires to such an insignificant city, wouldn’t you agree?”

When I took a moment to analyze her words, her logic was airtight.

There were roughly three high-tier vampires, comparable in strength to Malcolm the dark sorcerer, alongside a half-blood who was unquestionably more formidable than that sorcerer’s common underlings—and the total count exceeded thirty.

‘And that is without factoring in the numerous retainers and thralls that I haven’t even been able to properly quantify…’

Without a doubt, this was a completely disproportionate concentration of military power for a solitary, minor town located on the very fringes of the continent.

“In the beginning, this territory was managed by only about fifteen dark kinsmen and Vyrrak himself, but the presence of the fragment required us to bring in these massive reinforcements. Now, all that painstaking effort feels like it was entirely for naught.”

Rosillica noted that our schedules would be packed to the brim for the foreseeable future, letting out a weary breath.

And her assessment was entirely accurate.

—

“Ugh, stepping outside during daylight hours makes it feel like my skin is actively roasting.”

Rosillica complained loudly, adjusting the angle of her sun umbrella.

Ever since the emergency meeting concluded, we were forced to patrol the urban areas even beneath the blazing sun to spot any anomalies.

“Quite true… it is rather grueling.”

I adjusted the brim of my sophisticated top hat, ensuring my gloved hands kept the light away.

Though exposure to the sun didn’t inflict severe physical harm on me, it definitely imposed a heavy, sluggish sensation over my body, which was highly irritating.

“I highly doubt this aimless wandering is going to yield any actual results at this point.”

“We have no alternative. Even Prita, the other pureblood, has taken a detachment of half-bloods to scour the wilderness outside the town perimeter.”

Well, seeing as I had already consumed the item in question and relegated it back to Earth, their frantic searching was entirely exercises in futility.

I let out a silent, ironic chuckle, but then it dawned on me that this shift in circumstances was incredibly advantageous.

‘A pureblood along with a significant portion of the half-bloods have completely vacated the city.’

Meanwhile, Vyrrak was preoccupied with managing the urban search grid and keeping tabs on the remaining half-bloods left behind.

That meant one crucial thing…

“There is currently only a solitary pureblood left behind to protect the secondary fragment!”

Furthermore, in just twenty-four hours, I would be fully capable of summoning Hans.

‘This aligns perfectly with my strategy. By triggering an absolute crisis and pilfering the fragment, I can simultaneously empower Hans and deal a devastating blow to their operations! This is an opportunity I absolutely cannot pass up.’

At this stage, the sole remaining obstacle was pinning down the exact location of the hidden artifact, but I couldn’t risk probing Rosillica for that specific piece of information.

“I haven’t the faintest idea. Ever since it arrived in the municipality, they have kept it hidden away in a clandestine vault known strictly to the purebloods, just as a safety measure.”

It was a contingency plan designed to protect the asset in the event that their primary manor was compromised.

Up until this point, a pair of purebloods had been maintaining a constant, unyielding watch over that secure location.

‘Ah, it seems I hit a complete dead end.’

Things rarely unfold without a hitch.

Just as I began to resign myself to the fact that I might have to abandon any hopes of securing the second artifact.

“Um… I believe I know the exact spot you are looking for.”

A solution presented itself.

“What? Diana, how could you possibly know that?”

“Ah!”

Startled by her words, I reflexively placed a hand on Diana’s shoulder.

It was early evening, and I had dropped by to check on the well-being of the siblings. While we were casually conversing, I had brought up the topic without thinking much of it.

I had merely mentioned that the vampires were concealing a highly volatile object somewhere within the city, but its exact location eluded me.

“It is just like I explained to you previously, I have always made a conscious effort to steer clear of vampires and any zones that emit a highly perilous odor.”

“It can’t be.”

“Well… roughly a year ago, I caught the scent of vampires radiating an incredibly potent aroma of blood, accompanied by a separate stench that felt profoundly malevolent, even though I couldn’t identify what it actually was.”

She had immediately fled in the opposite direction to escape the smell, Diana explained, a small, self-satisfied grin appearing on her face.

“The odor was so uniquely overpowering that it burned itself into my recollection. I haven’t set foot near that neighborhood ever since.”

“Oh! It clicks now, big sister! You explicitly ordered me to stay completely away from that sector!”

Diana affectionately tapped Aaron’s head as if rewarding his memory, before turning her eyes back to me.

“If it helps your plans, I can lead you to the area.”

It was an incredibly fortuitous turning point, but I knew better than to agree recklessly.

“It will be perfectly fine. If things take a turn for the worse, you will step in to keep me safe, won’t you, Mister?”

“Naturally. In that case, I will trouble you to guide me to the general vicinity.”

Giving a firm nod to Diana, who projected immense confidence, I gently patted her head.

It is true what they say; whenever you perform acts of kindness, the universe has a way of returning the favor.

—

The following afternoon, still shielded beneath my hat, I was out on the streets pretending to look for the missing artifact, though my actual target was entirely different.

‘Of course, the prize I am tracking is the specific treasure the vampires have locked away.’

Maintaining a leisurely stride, I arrived at the designated rendezvous point.

Diana was already on-site, patiently awaiting my arrival.

With nothing more than a brief exchange of glances, Diana turned and began walking without uttering a single word, and I maintained a calculated distance just behind her.

This was the exact protocol I had coached her on beforehand.

I couldn’t risk approaching the perimeter of the hidden artifact without exercising extreme caution; there was no telling what kind of defensive measures the vampires had established.

Diana kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, never lingering on any single spot as she guided us through the streets.

‘This is remarkably distant from where we started. They truly went to great lengths to establish their hiding spot.’

It appeared the siblings had moved as far across the city as humanly possible the moment they originally detected that ominous aura.

The moment we turned down a particular roadway, Diana’s nose began to twitch with greater frequency.

This had to be the zone where the scent became prominent.

How much deeper did we need to penetrate this district?

Without breaking her stride, Diana naturally drifted her eyes toward a structure on the side of the road, holding her gaze there for roughly three seconds.

Then, acting completely nonchalant, she turned her face back to the front and kept walking right past it.

‘Bingo, right there!’

It was a perfectly unremarkable building situated right in the middle of a residential district, presenting a stark contrast to the lavish grandeur of the estate where the vampires congregated.

The secondary artifact of the Immortal King was buried somewhere inside those walls.

Imitating Diana’s flawless execution, I cast a passing glance over the property as if I were entirely indifferent to its existence, continuing my walk without breaking rhythm.

Though my senses picked up no immediate spiritual feedback, there was zero doubt in my mind that the item was anchored there.

‘The only task left is to pin down the exact window for the strike. The destination is verified, and the countdown for Hans’ invocation is set. We must strike with absolute speed before any unpredictable elements disrupt the plan!’

As twilight began to blanket the sky, we safely reunited at Diana’s residence after taking a circuitous route back.

“Phew, I honestly felt like I was going to suffocate. Just crossing paths with that smell again was intense…”

“You maintained your composure flawlessly, and you did an incredible job. Your assistance was monumental. Now, we must establish the precise timeline for our operation.”

After offering Diana some well-deserved praise, I took a brief moment to calculate the variables before firmly announcing, “Tomorrow at midday, precisely when the sun reaches its zenith.”

Initiating the assault immediately would have been ideal, but since darkness had already fallen, our best strategic window shifted to the following afternoon.

‘Both vampires and the legions of the undead experience a massive surge in power under the cover of night, but their structural vulnerability when exposed to direct sunlight varies drastically.’

While the sunlight might only mildly inconvenience a pureblood, the overall fighting efficiency of the remaining half-bloods would be severely crippled.

Even the pureblood commander wouldn’t be capable of unleashing his maximum potential.

I carefully mapped out the tactical blueprint for the following day and instructed the siblings to prepare themselves.

“We don’t possess any personal items that require packing. We are fully prepared to move out at a moment’s notice.”

“Excellent, then come tomorrow…”

Following a thorough briefing on the vital safety protocols they needed to observe, we parted ways. I made my way back toward the primary estate, taking a long, deliberate look at the city layout as I walked.

This was the very ground where Heinz met his end, and where Heinz II was reborn into the night.

When tomorrow arrived, I would shake the dust of this city off my boots for good.

‘And naturally, I intend to salvage every scrap of wealth I can lay my hands on! Now that I think about it, that manor was absolutely packed with highly valuable treasures.’

A greedy grin spread across my face as my eyes flashed with anticipation.

After all, one can never truly possess too much capital, correct?

Stepping through the grand entrance of the manor completely solo, a faint, knowing smirk played on my lips.

And so, the hours trickled away.

The dawn arrived.