Episode 194
A quiet city with old castles and traces of time under the gloomy sky.
A thick fog prevented the sunlight from pouring in, and the living in the darkened city were nowhere to be seen.
At first glance, there were people who lived in what looked like a dead city.
Neither living nor dead, vampires.
Their city, which would not show any movement during the normal daytime, was showing a dull movement due to the guests after a long absence.
Yuji frowned and looked around.
Gap in windows, corners of alleys and holes in the floor.
There is no feeling of small vitality anywhere.
Perhaps because even the plants did not receive sunlight, they gave off a dark green color and bowed their heads.
Yuzi thought that it was a place where he felt physiological disgust whenever he visited.
He turned his indifferent gaze towards him. As if waiting for him, the young man with pale complexion bowed his head.
“Are you Yujir?”
“Did he send it?”
“Yes. The ancestors are waiting for you.”
“Then please guide me.”
He bowed politely and boarded the wagon prepared in advance with Euger. A smooth rolling carriage passed the main road and headed for a castle built in the center of the city.
Yuzir suddenly asked a question at the sight seen through the carriage window.
“Did there ever be a battle?”
The young man didn’t understand what he was saying for a moment, but then he noticed that his gaze turned to broken buildings and bloodstains all over the city.
He nodded with a smile that didn’t match his pale expression.
“There was no battle. We just dealt with the rebels.”
“Treat it…”
“Thanks to Yujir-nim, our ancestors became the only ancestors. This is just the rebellion of those who remain after that, and it is not a matter of concern.”
Yujiri simply looked away indifferently in his friendly eyes.
Euger shut his mouth as if he had solved his doubts, and the young man didn’t say anything either. Not long after that, the carriage stopped.
Yujiri got off the carriage that stopped at the entrance to the castle and went into the castle.
“Hahaha, you just arrived!”
loud laughter. As he turned his head, a large, muscular, mature man greeted him with a smile on his face.
Those who knew his usual cruel face would never believe him, but Yuji deserved such treatment from him.
Wow, he made the three of the rulers of the Shadow Islands, Jinjo, into one.
“Have you finished processing the remaining sugar?”
“Oh, did you see the city on the way? Don’t worry. It’s a compulsory, but a sign that you’ve finished disposing of the remaining residue.”
The treatment he was talking about was not killing.
More terrible than that. It meant absorbing the losers into the slave class, not killing them. As long as they don’t poke their weaknesses anyway, they’re not dead.
“Then I’m glad. There shouldn’t be any setbacks in the future.”
“It’s a setback… yes, you’re right. That’s why.”
The man’s face, who had been smiling, opened his eyes thinly, and it turned into a smirk.
“If, ah, if that’s the case. There’s nothing worse than splitting up the power that you’ve already taken over again.”
Jinjo, a mature man, was still smiling at the monster that had lived for hundreds of years.
However, Yuji was not deceived by that appearance. If he didn’t like the answer, he was ready to run right away, but… .
The monster called Jinjo is never swayed by emotions.
“How? No, I’m not going to do anything.”
Jinjo, Vlad Bartos smiled again as if he had shown his emotions at some point. It was a statement that came out of overwhelming confidence.
Now that they come back, I’m sure they won’t be able to settle down again.
“But maybe I’ll change my attitude towards you a little bit.”
“No, there will be no coming back. Have you ever seen them turn into ‘doors’ anyway?”
He abandoned the ambiguous attitude he maintained in the absolute belief in his eyes. You have to go hand in hand with them anyway. What he did three years ago was because he had to invest a lot.
“But… you have extraordinary abilities, so how do you know if you can bring the dead back to life?”
Yuji showed a faint smile and did not deny it.
Even if you have to pay a price that is bloated compared to what you get, there was no way for a vampire to wear over the undead.
But he would never do that.
‘If you do that, the door you’ve made will only break-‘
Three years ago, immediately after the failed attack of the academy, he did not hesitate to implement the second plan.
In order to make a door to summon the Demon King, you need a skeleton to hold the door. The best material is the bones of giants or dragons, but no ancient species has survived to this day.
Even if there was, it was difficult to find him because he would be living quietly.
Even if you find it, you don’t know how strong it will be. So, as a substitute material, the arm was needed. A strong man who transcends the limits of a species will not bow compared to a dragon or a giant.
However, the attack was unsuccessful.
It would have been nice if I could have gotten at least one, but the raid was less than the amount invested due to the strength of the Eight Rivers stronger than expected and unexpected variables.
No gold was obtained.
However, there was no way at all.
He teamed up with Vlad Bartos, the most ambitious of the three rulers of the Shadow Islands, and attacked the remaining two Jinjos and succeeded.
There was no change.
In the first place, the attack on the academy would have been successful had it not been for the variable.
“Now that you are the only ancestor of vampires… I hope you will keep your promise soon.”
Yuji stopped useless nerve warfare and got to the point. I came here only because I was the only one who matched the rank of Jinjo. If you go back to the continent right now, there are plenty of things to do.
“Hmm… well, there’s a problem.”
Ezir’s face turned bleak at the act of pulling his feet out.
“Problem?”
Haven’t done anything yet. However, according to Bartos’ answer, Yuji will decide what to do. And that would never be a good thing.
“Yeah, I’m going to say this too… All the strongholds that were recently built on the continent have been destroyed.”
Vlad Bartos and Yuzir have a seemingly equal relationship.
However, he felt hesitant about Euger’s abilities. It was because he had no idea what would happen if a person at the pinnacle of abilities such as curses, black magic, and necromancy was determined and committed crazy things.
Power can solve it, but what if power can’t solve it?
What if he made a curse that only kills vampires?
From the moment he saw the means he used to kill the two Jinjos, unlike his arrogant attitude, he never broke his boundaries for a single moment.
“The eight rivers that the Academy attacked, it was said to be the king of the beasts. He was killing his people like a mouse, knowing what information he got.”
“The King of the Beast. Oh, that’s him.”
The shield of the sky, which was actually aimed at, and the eight rivers, which invested half of the rental power in the snow to drop it.
“Initially, there are very few people who can work under the sun. But since I killed all the rest, it became difficult to help with work on the continent right now.”
Of course, a high-ranking vampire would be helpful.
But they are nobles. If he gave an order, he would have to listen, but he wanted to hide the behavior that would build up dissatisfaction while internal stabilization had not been completed yet.
“It’s not until the variable… It doesn’t matter.”
After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
“Originally, I was going to entrust the search to you guys, but I have no choice but to do it myself this time. But, next time.”
He made eye contact with Vlad Bartos with the same emotionless eyes as before.
“You’ll have to stop thinking that these excuses will work. I hate being late with plans.”
Especially when it comes to delaying the time to go home.
At his warning, Vlad nodded with his usual cold face. His promise was to be kept. When the Demon King descends, they also receive benefits.
He turned and left the castle.
Unlike when he entered the city, Yuzir muttered as he left the island alone.
“Nastorn Plains. This time I hope to find the Fountain of Wisdom.”
It’s just a wish, but even a small clue should be found.
“••• Confucius, how about taking at least me with you?”
“No, you’re here to prepare and finish the work I’ve asked you to do.”
“That’s more important than Confucius’ safety…”
“Inelia.”
As he lowly called her name, she took a few steps back with a sullen face.
In the mirror, I saw myself ready to leave. Allen spoke calmly to her, who could not hide her worried expression on her face.
“Didn’t I say that this work is particularly important. After I set up a ‘feat’, it’s important to take care of it.”
“•••Yes, I understand.”
Allen looked at her and turned around. Even if you say that, you will do well. She was the first vassal she had ever heard of.
When I passed the office and went to the front door of the mansion, others were waiting.
Illyana, Francisca, Arcandus.
Soned and Karik will not have time to sleep because they are refining their huge trading network, and Ring Bridge and others will be scattered around the world.
“•••Aren’t you sure you’re going to leave quietly?”
“How can you do that when the master is leaving?”
Arcanthus was the only one who told him the time to leave, so he must have called others.
Allen shook his head at his clever laugh. Even with that said, he was unwilling to let Allen go to her alone. He was the center of all these people.
Even from a rational point of view, not emotionally, all of this would be dissonant without Allen.
‘If it is according to the original plan, the organization should run well without me.
That way, after everything is over, you can be prepared for when you’re not confident.
Allen stopped the bitterness coming out of his mouth. Just because she had a plan like that, she couldn’t deal with those who cared for her.
Allen sighed and opened his mouth.
“•••I’m glad you didn’t call everyone in the mansion though.”
“I do know a little bit.”
He turned his head to the two who had been waiting for the conversation to end without saying any more.
First up was Francis. Perhaps she wanted to say follow along, she was dressed to leave, but she picked up her horse when she saw Inellia’s droopy face following her from behind.
“•••Is there anything I should do while Confucius is away?”
Allen also noticed what she was trying to say, but realized that she had given up and replied obediently.
“Do you have any plans to build a horse tower?”
“•••Yes? Is it a horse tower?”
“Yes, the only horse tower that exists in Vidar.”
Although she didn’t say it, Allen had noticed the presence of the seven circles in her chest.
As the skill of the masters in the town of Matop reached the 7th rank, the qualifications were sufficient.
“However, since it is not a matopa city, we can’t give you a huge amount of support right away. But if you do….”
“I’ll do it!”
She accepted before he even finished speaking.
He smiled bitterly and glanced at Arcanthus. It would be better to explain her details to her. Arcanthus was founded by Allen.
Because we shared some of the plans, we knew the plan to make her the mato.
“Then please do me a favor.”
“Will you be surprised when you come back?”
“I’m not looking forward to it. And…”
Illyana had had enough conversations yesterday, so there was nothing more to talk about. However, she handed him a present that seemed to have been brought by her in a hurry.
°This is… ?”
“It’s a watch. Originally, I didn’t intend to give it to you right now… It’s important to know the exact time when you’re standing in a foreign land, isn’t it?”
Allen was a wizard, so it was possible to guess through his biological clock if he concentrated on it.
However, remembering the sincerity of her who would have made this, I calmly accepted it. The round watch was the size of a palm, and with the antique carvings engraved on the outside, four different circles overlapped on the inside.
“If you don’t do something and don’t break it, you’ll be fine for a few decades.”
Allen put the watch in his pocket and looked around as if he had more to say.
As they shook their heads, Allen climbed into the prepared wagon alone. The driver was a coachman with the surname Carter, whom he had personally brought from the Reinhardt estate.
“Well then, see you later.”
His wagon departed.
He left alone in a magical world where he may not have known how old he must have been.