Chapter 529 – Bloody Dirge (4)
Rattly
Sigh… !
I open the door and leave the prison, making as little noise as possible.
A long hallway soon appeared.
Shin Yu-jeong is shocked when he sees the torches placed at a certain distance.
“What a concept.”
“…”
I wonder if it’s right to talk about the concept of a vampire, but it’s not entirely wrong.
This is a world where a few light bulbs can make an entire hallway bright as daylight.
If it were a torch, someone would have to change it several times a day. How much trouble would it be?
“Once again, I feel grateful for the advancement of science…”
“That’s right.”
After alleviating the excessive tension with a light joke, we finally set out.
The disadvantages and advantages of an old castle that retains its medieval feel quickly become apparent.
Again!
Again!
“… “The sound of my footsteps is so loud?”
“Yes.”
Every time a footsteps into a stone hallway, a loud sound spreads out.
The physical capabilities of vampires far exceed those of humans.
That means hearing, which is one of the five senses, is also unique.
「Silence.」
Silence, a magic that completely blocks noise occurring within a certain area.
Using this, we create an area that fits our body perfectly, block noise, and then lightly roll our feet a couple of times as a test.
Even though the feeling of stepping on the ground is quite heavy, no sound is heard.
“Good. Let’s start again.”
Eventually, the search began again.
Two hours of searching through the castle without any friction or crisis.
Only then did we realize the problem.
“… “The castle is too wide?”
“If I look for it like this, I don’t think even one day will be enough.”
Even if the castle is wide, it is too wide.
I searched for over two hours and have just finished exploring the basement where the prison is.
Even this was possible because there were only a few vampires coming and going here, so I wonder how much time it would take if I went upstairs.
Shin Yoo-jeong, who stretched once, becomes irritated.
“Ah… ! “I’m this tired for two hours, how can I get through the day?”
Searching is tiring in many ways.
You have to walk silently, keep an eye on the enemy’s movements, and search each room until you find the item you are looking for…
In addition, there is psychological pressure that your life may be lost the moment you are caught.
The guy, who had already begun to feel disillusioned with these factors, spoke in a whining tone.
“Why not find it another way?”
“Another way?”
“Uh. Wouldn’t it be okay to just kidnap a vampire and ask him about it?”
“Uh, um.”
It’s not an operation I haven’t thought about.
In fact, I think that might be better.
Of course, there are some risks, but…
“Okay, let’s do that.”
Is there anything in the world without risk?
“It’s difficult to be proactive…, Let’s set a trap in an appropriate place.”
However, we just try to reduce that risk as much as possible.
Find a suitable path using the information obtained while exploring the underground.
“I like it here.”
“Okay.”
The chosen location was a hallway where the torch’s lifespan was not long.
Install various magic there.
「Silence」
We installed thick soundproof walls to prevent our noise from leaking out.
「Magic Trap: Paralyze」
When stepped on, it immediately activates and sets up a trap that paralyzes the opponent’s body.
「Mirror Image.」
Lastly, if we hide the illusion created by projecting the hallway wall in front of us.
“Preparations are complete.”
Now all that’s left is for an innocent vampire to get caught.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A time of long patience.
The torch, which seemed like it would go out any moment, burned longer than expected.
Maybe it’s because of our expectations.
Isn’t that why?
When you think the end is not far away, it suddenly feels like time is passing by so quickly.
That’s exactly what happened now.
It’s boring, but I wish I could look at my phone and move around as I want.
The boredom creeping up from under my feet reached the top of my head.
Toggak!
“Come… !”
The sound of footsteps unique to the stilettos frequently worn by vampires echoes throughout the hallway.
The sound is getting closer.
A burning flame approaches in the black darkness.
A pale face appears after that.
“Damn… “How long do I have to keep changing torches like this?”
A guy who doesn’t look like he has a high rank at first glance frowns and pours out his dissatisfaction.
“But it wasn’t far. As soon as Jinjo wakes up, there will be a lot of things under me.”
Looking at the grumbling, I guess this is a vampire that was born almost before Jinjo fell asleep.
Among the commonly known rumors is that if you are bitten by a vampire, you will become a vampire, but this is half true and half false.
There are two reasons why they suck human blood.
The first is simply sucking blood to fill one’s stomach.
The second is the act of sucking out blood and then filling the place with one’s own blood to turn it into a familiar.
Humans who inherit vampire blood undergo changes after a certain incubation period.
Your molars grow longer, you develop a thirst for blood, you become extremely averse to sunlight, etc.
Then you’re not a vampire?
Unfortunately, no.
Although some of the vampire’s blood was mixed with the human body and changes occurred, the root human species itself did not disappear.
Strictly speaking, the ratio between humans and vampires can be considered to be about 7:3.
A person who changes in that way is placed in the unfortunate position of being treated neither as a human nor as a vampire.
If you live in the human world, you will be caught and killed or imprisoned because you cannot control your desire to suck blood.
Even if you go to see a vampire, you are not recognized as one of their own and have no choice but to remain in the role of a servant.
But there is only one exception.
Jinjo is called the king of vampires.
Its blood destroys the human species itself and announces the birth of a new species called the vampire.
There is only one reason why that is possible.
It’s just because it’s strong.
The blood flowing through the body of the person called Jinjo is powerful enough to change the species of life.
“Damn…, They say torches are not needed in human dwellings, so maybe we should just accept that.”
A guy who keeps grumbling and coming closer to while sharpening the torch.
I received important information from him.
The dwelling place of humans.
That means there is a separate residence for humans somewhere here.
“… “Are they the seven deadly sins?”
I thought they were just using part of the old castle as they pleased, but it turned out they were joining hands with vampires.
It’s amazing.
How could it be that vampires who are obsessed with playing noble nobles are joining hands with humans?
There is only one reason for such a thing to be possible.
It means that our goals are perfectly aligned, or at least the paths we take are similar…
What is it?
It is a goal that species agree on.
I hope you get lost in your thoughts for a moment.
“Phew… “Is this the last time?”
The moment when the guy’s steps reach the last torch and touch the trap that was set up.
Puzzle!
“Ugh… !?”
The flow of magical energy rising from the floor entered the guy’s body and constricted his entire body.
Whisk!
A low-level vampire that hardens and falls down stiffly like a piece of rotten wood.
“This, this, go, something suddenly happened…” .”
I’ve already blocked out the surrounding noise for a long time, but just in case, I quickly erase the illusion and put my index finger to the guy’s mouth and whisper.
“Shh.”
“Huh… !”
The guy who freezes in invisible fear and pushes his lips into his mouth.
Good.
The atmosphere isn’t bad.
“From now on, I’m going to ask you a few questions.”
“W-what question… !”
“Uh huh, even if you tell me to be quiet. Only answer when I tell you to. Or wow! “You know?”
“Ah, ah, I understand.”
First of all.
“Where did you store the equipment of the humans who were captured a while ago?”
“It was stacked in the warehouse on the 2nd, 2nd floor.”
“Is there a sentry?”
“Uh, none.”
“How many patrollers?”
“… “I understand that they patrol at certain times.”
“When is that time?”
“I do not know either. “Only the security personnel on the second floor know.”
Umm.
It doesn’t seem like you’re lying.
There is no choice.
Let’s just stop here.
Next second.
“Where are the priests who were captured together being imprisoned?”
“Well, I don’t know that either.”
Hehe.
Look at this guy.
“If you get caught lying…, No, everything flies away.”
When I brought the sharply forged wind to his neck, the guy, who had become even more gaunt, hurriedly shook his head.
“I really don’t know! The priests took the Holy Blood to take care of it themselves, so low-ranking people like me… !”
“Precious blood?”
“Yes, yes.”
It is holy blood.
If I were to translate it literally, it would be holy blood.
“Explain what Precious Blood is.”
“… It refers to the ten people who most deeply inherited the noble blood of our ancestors.”
Even among vampires, there are ten people who are exceptionally strong.
“Is the power of the Holy Blood very strong?”
“You are strong. So much so that it cannot even be compared to the likes of us.”
“…”
Usually, the grade of a vampire is between B and A.
If, as this guy said, his blood is incomparable to that of an ordinary vampire…, Should we say that there are more than ten people with skills equivalent to at least S level?
This is a pain in the ass.
Hiding his complicated feelings, he asks the shivering guy lying on the floor.
“What is the abode of the Precious Blood?”
“5, from the 5th to the 15th floor. “The Holy Blood each uses an entire floor as their residence.”
The scale is also incredibly large.
The size of the castle is much bigger than I thought.
When I saw it from the outside, it didn’t seem to be this bad…, What secret is hidden?
“Good. “I think I’ve gathered all the information I need.”
There are still many things lacking, but it seems like I’ve gotten everything I could from a lowly vampire.
First, go up to the second floor and retrieve the stolen equipment…, Um.
Next, I’ll have to discuss it with everyone.
Just as I was getting ready to move, the guy lying on the ground shouted.
“Well, I answered the question sincerely. So release me now.”
“… ?”
What is it?
This is such an absurd sound.
“That… “I’m just asking because I’m curious about one thing.”
“What, what?”
“Did I ever say I would save your life?”
“… !”
I’m really asking.
I don’t think I ever said I would save my life.
After belatedly remembering and realizing his mistake, his face becomes distorted.
Grumble!
Summon a huge fireball and aim it at him.
“What… “If you were a perfect vampire, I might have saved your life.”
This is sincere.
But this guy didn’t meet the standards for dose.
“But you smell so much blood, man.”
It also smells like human blood.
It’s probably the blood of soldiers patrolling around the wall or the blood of humans passing by.
If not even that…, Or a human sacrificed by the Seven Deadly Sins who joined hands with him.
So.
“I will make you nice.”
Pow-!
“Boo, fire…” Oh, the whole body is on fire…, Wow!”
A guy who is slowly being burned by bright red flames that cling to his entire body.
Eventually, the fire goes out, and he looks satisfied as he looks at the pitch-black ashes that remain.
“Well, you look kinda nice now.”
After all, the only good vampires are dead vampires.
