Chapter 24
Vampires.
By nature, Vampires are a species that do not rely on Human blood as their staple food.
Though there was a time they clashed with silver and fangs, that was a story of the distant past.
After a long war, the two species signed a peace treaty.
They agreed not to attack or interfere with each other.
And so an era of peace arrived, but...
'...They said there were a lot of complaints.'
Specifically from certain Families among the Vampires.
They were deeply displeased with the idea of living in harmony with Humans.
'The Anti-Human Faction.'
Humans were merely another type of prey to them.
They believed Humans should be treated exactly like other Livestock.
How dare a mere Short-lived Species stand on equal footing with Vampires.
This was the voice of those deeply steeped in Vampire supremacy.
As a result, Vampires split into two factions.
The Pro-Human Faction, which viewed Humans as partners for harmony.
The Anti-Human Faction, which viewed Humans as prey.
This conflict continued for several centuries.
'And then... things finally blew up.'
A coup d'etat broke out.
With Carmilla's Uncle at the center, the Anti-Human Faction drew their swords.
The Dynasty fell, and countless members of the Pro-Human Faction were purged.
The only one to survive such chaos was Carmilla.
'The Princess truly is pitiful....'
It was a tragic life.
She was even destined to be captured and killed by the Anti-Human Faction if the Player didn't help her.
She only acted cheerful on the outside; deep within, a gloomy self surely lay dormant.
Because of that, I often found myself pitying her forced bravery.
"Princess."
"Why do you call for me, Victor?"
"You are a Vampire, are you not?"
"Indeed. I am a Pureblood, the noblest among the Masters of the night."
"I heard the staple food of Vampires is Strong Blood. Does that mean you cannot consume normal Human meals?"
"Hmm?"
An unexpected question.
Since they were just walking down a secluded path, the girl couldn't help but tilt her head.
"Human meals, you say... It's not that I can't eat them? Of course, I wouldn't get any necessary nutrients. While I can enjoy Human food as a sort of delicacy, Strong Blood is what ultimately fuels my body."
"You usually consumed the blood of Livestock. You especially favored the blood of young lambs."
"I am not picky. Cows, sheep, pigs... they all provide Strong Blood, after all."
"Then what about Humans?"
"...."
Was it because of that casually tossed remark?
Flinch-.
Carmilla's shoulders twitched.
The girl closed her parted lips and stared blankly up at me.
Her pupils trembled a few times before the emotion in her eyes settled down.
Only her silver hair fluttered in the wild wind.
"...Humans, you say."
"There are some among Vampires who obsess solely over Human blood, aren't there? The Anti-Human Faction, I believe. I heard that those who brought down the previous Dynasty shared that very mindset."
"Yes...."
The Anti-Human Faction.
Humans.
The fallen Dynasty.
Carmilla couldn't open her mouth for a while.
Perhaps it was due to the memories carved into a corner of her heart.
She took a deep breath before answering in a much stiffer voice.
"Human blood is special. It differs from the Strong Blood of ordinary Livestock. Humans are creatures with intelligence and culture, much like us Vampires. Those aspects end up influencing Vampires."
"Influencing, how...?"
"The power originally harbored within surges explosively. One maintains a drastically awakened state. Every single sense sharpens, and both the authority of Blood Manipulation and overall physical abilities grow stronger. With just a single sip of blood, you grow by climbing several steps at once. Furthermore, the taste is said to be the ultimate delicacy."
"That's strange. If that's the case, isn't there no reason not to make Human blood your staple food?"
"No... If a Vampire consumes Human blood even once, they can no longer remain themselves. They become completely incapable of touching the blood of other Livestock. Their taste buds break down entirely."
"You mean they can no longer be satisfied with anything other than Human blood...."
Drugs.
If defined in human language, would it feel something like that?
"Not only that, but their violent tendencies also deepen. It becomes impossible to return to how they were before. Just as drugs are to Humans, Human blood is to Vampires."
"If they covet Human blood while their violent tendencies deepen like that...."
"It means war. In the end, Vampires and Humans are bound to clash."
"So the Pro-Human Faction was worried about that aspect. That they might regress to that era of madness."
"Exactly. However, the Anti-Human Faction ignored these concerns. Instead, they desire war. They plan to collapse the human world and turn the entire continent into Vampire territory. I heard they intend to turn Humans into Livestock and treat them like Slaves."
"That's terrible."
"What's even more terrible is that countless of our kin are participating in that plan."
This was also something I already knew.
The seven calamities soon to descend upon the continent.
Among them was the sixth, the Red Night.
It was a hell that would dye the human world into a sea of blood and mountains of corpses.
'Vampires, and tens of millions of Ghouls poured into the human world....'
The New Kingdom, newly founded with the Anti-Human Faction at its core after collapsing the existing Dynasty.
As soon as preparations were complete, Carmilla's Uncle began his march toward the human world.
The harmony forged hundreds of years ago was shattered, and the era was once again stained with the ravages of war.
If the Player didn't stop this, the world would be drenched in a crimson light.
The opening of the Vampires' world.
I wanted to avoid that bad ending at all costs.
Because Humans would become Livestock, reduced to a state where their blood was sucked for the rest of their lives.
"Princess...."
I suddenly became curious.
"Why is it that you reject Human blood?"
"...."
Why was she rejecting it?
Human blood.
We just called it a drug or whatnot, but ultimately, it was the greatest energy source for a Vampire.
In their eyes, Humans probably seemed like a species born to be their prey.
Because they were perfect prey in every aspect.
Why would they care about Human suffering?
When they could use that suffering as fertilizer to seize even stronger power.
Thinking only of Vampires, making the kingdom even greater.
Many of those belonging to the Anti-Human Faction must have harbored such thoughts.
'Why.'
Then why.
Did the girl not walk the same path as them?
Why did she not join hands with the rationality they presented?
Furthermore, Carmilla was one who took special pride in her own species.
What was the reason she, half-steeped in supremacism, wanted harmony with the lowly Short-lived Species?
'What kind of person are you?'
Was it out of revenge?
Because the Anti-Human Faction destroyed the Dynasty and executed the people she loved?
Or was it out of Fear?
Was she terrified of the impending war?
If not that either, was it acceptance?
Was she simply following the will of her Predecessor?
An obsession that she must do the same, because that was how it had always been?
"...."
Finding the reason for anything always serves as a stepping stone for the next move.
I quietly gazed at Carmilla.
The surging silence flickered within her crimson eyes.
"...Humans are an inferior species."
The girl opened her mouth.
Her voice lacked boldness, yet there was no sign of cowardice in it either.
"Vampires are superior. More so than any other kin in the world. Compared to us, Humans are incredibly small. A race akin to bugs crawling on a finger"
"...."
"Therefore, we bestow mercy upon them. For Humans are creatures equipped with enough intelligence and culture. However, if we become unable to live without killing such lowly beings, how could we possibly call ourselves noble?"
What she was trying to protect.
"Leira de Leviaran. De Roni Gibliase."
Slaughter, but do not be vulgar.
Survive, but do not be subservient.
The dying words said to be left behind by the ancient True Ancestor.
The star the girl admired, and took as her guiding light.
"If living is merely existing, can that truly be called life? A pilgrimage without hardship cannot be called a pilgrimage, and conviction without temptation cannot be called conviction."
"...."
"Nobility means possessing no ugliness. Having countless flaws, yet remaining undefiled. Being able to look at one's reflection in the water with pride. I merely followed that. Without being vulgar, without being subservient."
"I see."
I nodded.
A satisfying exchange.
The Princess I serve seemed to have the makings of a great ruler.
Even if she was a bit clumsy, she was striving to become a better person.
I tapped the edge of my Mask and chuckled.
"Hmm... It seems we've just about reached our destination, too."
"I've been wondering for a while now, but what business do we have in such an isolated city?"
"I was tracking some traces. They say there have been a lot of people going missing around here lately."
"Missing, you say...?"
"In reality, it's kidnapping. Someone has been sweeping up Humans."
"...Don't tell me."
"It's probably exactly what you're thinking. It seems the New Kingdom is slowly starting to make their move."
"Are you saying they're already moving? I thought there were at least two years left until they invaded the human world...!"
"Of course, it's not a full-scale invasion. There's an order to these things."
A slow infiltration.
"They're probably establishing a foothold. In preparation for their future invasion."
"Are you saying that foothold is nearby? And the missing people are...."
"Yes, they were likely abducted by Vampires from the New Kingdom. They intend to lock them in a place without light and use them as food. Kind of like building a Human Farm, setting up a continuous supply of Strong Blood. They say the estimated number of victims is already in the triple digits."
"T-That's...! Where on earth are such despicable acts taking place!"
"We will be there shortly."
I rummaged through my Inventory and pulled out an item I had prepared in advance.
None other than a Mask. Unlike mine, it was painted red.
I handed it to Carmilla, who was following beside me.
"Please, take this."
"A Mask...?"
"Because we will be running into other Vampires. We might even clash with them. It would be troublesome if your identity as the Princess was exposed then, wouldn't it? In that sense, whenever you act in your true form, please make sure to wear this Mask from now on."
"You are thorough. It's a bit of an unsettling design, though...."
The girl hesitated for a moment before putting on the Mask.
Two Masks. It could be called a perfect combination.
I felt a bit like a Power Ranger.
"By the way... Victor, how do you know all these things?"
"Well, that's because I am the Princess's veeeery competent Servant, you see?"
"Sometimes I even worry if you're a bit too competent...."
"Anyway, we have arrived."
"Hmm?"
We had stopped right in the middle of a Plaza.
It was an area without any particularly special buildings.
I threw an unexpected request at the girl tilting her head.
"Princess, could you use Blood Manipulation? I would like you to strike the ground we're standing on with all your might."
"An attack? On an empty patch of ground...?"
"Please. You will find out what it is soon enough."
"Hmm, right... Understood. If it's you, Victor, there must be a reason."
The girl, Carmilla, nodded her head.
As soon as she spoke, a Hammer formed from blood appeared in her hand.
The blood compressed, and a profound Aura began to boil.
Soon after, with a light shout, she slammed the Hammer down.
"Hup...!"
Slam-!
A momentary, piercing sound of rupture.
Immediately after, the ground around where we were standing caved in.
"Ah, ahh...?"
Swoosh-!
Wind rushed past my entire body.
The floor had collapsed, and we were falling into the space below.
As we passed through the long, cylindrical space, a reddish light soon became visible at the bottom.
I smirked beneath my Mask.
'Found it.'
Human Farm.
Between the reddish air, a vast landscape unfolded.
A site large enough to build a factory on.
It was still under construction, giving it a crude appearance.
A thick stench of blood that smelled as if Humans had been slaughtered wafted from everywhere.
"Victor...!"
Carmilla formed wings using Blood Manipulation.
The girl caught me and gradually slowed our descent.
Her Robe fluttered in the wind.
-Wh-what? The Ceiling collapsed?
-Something's falling! That looks like a Vampire and... a Human?
-How did they get in? Fuck, just bring everyone here!
Shouts echoed from below.
Were they the guys standing Guard?
Drenched in blood, they looked like they had just finished pulling off something big.
Were those Corpses scattered around them?
"Princess."
Flap-.
The fierce headwind died down, and my feet landed softly.
Pupils glared in our direction. Every single one of them was bloodshot and red.
I leisurely stretched out both hands.
In one hand, a Stake, in the other, a Balloon Sword.
"Hmm."
Step-!
The moment my feet touched the ground, I kicked off the surface.
Taking a familiar step, my body flickered like a glitch.
I moved along with a faint crackling sound.
Crackle-.
The three Vampires standing closest.
The ones whose eyes had met mine mid-air.
They had drawn swords using Blood Manipulation, assuming a fight.
Confident in their skills, they glared viciously, looking ready to charge.
"Hey, just crush them immediately!"
"It's a Human! Start by chopping off his limbs one by one!"
"No one is allowed in here! They're obviously Intruders, so we need to eliminate..."
"Wait, where did this bastard disappear to...?"
Crackle-.
However, their target had already vanished from sight.
I appeared behind the backs of the panicked guys.
Before they could even turn around, I swung the Fragment of the Stake I tightly gripped.
"Peekaboo!"
Slash-!
With a rough slicing sound, the figures stumbled and collapsed.
In perfect unison, their legs had been severed below the thighs.
A sizzling sound akin to cooking meat came from the severed stumps as their skin melted away.
They wore blank expressions for a moment, but soon grasped the situation and screamed.
"G-Guaaah!!"
"My legs! M-My legssss!!"
"It's melting, my skin is melting...!"
Voices ringing out loudly.
Before long, other Vampires who figured out the commotion came running.
Looking like they had been in the middle of their work, they were drenched in blood from head to toe.
"Wh-what! What's going on!"
"An Intruder? Just how many broke in to cause such a ruckus...!"
"This actually worked out well, we can just catch them all and throw them into the farm."
They rushed out like that, but what awaited them was just a single Human.
A Mask with a bizarre smile.
I spoke playfully.
"Hands up, everyone, bang bang."
The appearance of a legendary Vampire Hunter.
Abraham Van Helsing.
Blade.
Han Segun.
Onion Kim.
The one succeeding that lineage, Victor.
He had landed with his Stake.
"Everyone surrender. If you don't surrender, I'll cut you down, and if you do surrender, I'll cut you down."
The only good Vampire is our Princess.
The rest all need to be put in coffins.
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