How to Live as the Vampire Lord - Chapter 78
Due to some copyright issues. I changed some word such god=ย supreme-ruler. /divinรฉ=ย supreme. And some Chinese words etc, all of this to avoid copyright *.*
A novel by the same Author of nano machin and the same universe:
https://novelrare.com/novel/myst-might-mayhem-novel/novel/
โNo! No, you canโt!โ Romari screamed.
โWizard, are you out of your mind? We must burn the cursed undead right away!โ
โResearchโฆI need to research it. Ten days, no, just three days. Please!โ She was in a heated debate against the knights.
โImpossible! Even if you are a wizard hired by Sir Eugene, we cannot allow such a thing. Such an evil monster that threatened the marquisate must be burned to ashes immediately.โ
โThatโs right. Since you are a wizard, you must know that the church banned the resurrection of dead monsters, right?โ
โAre you in cahoots with those cursed wizards?โ
The atmosphere of the knights started to become quite harsh as the conversation continued.
โSirs, did you just call Master Romari a black wizard?โ
โSir Galfredik.โ
โNo, thatโs not the caseโฆโ
The knights faltered as Galfredik stepped out. Galfredik was Eugeneโs right-hand man, and he was incredibly skilled as well. All of the knights found him quite difficult to deal with.
โA black wizard? Me? I swear on my masterโs name and on magic that I do not serve the evil mana!โ Romari shouted.
โJust as she says. I can guarantee that Master Romari possesses no blemish as a wizard, even though her body is quite lacking,โ Galfredik chimed in.
โRight! I have no problems except my bodyโฆWait, no!โ Romari started to shout her response, then stopped herself after realizing what Galfredik had said.
โRomari,โ Eugene called out. As soon as Romari saw Eugene, she ran forward like a puppy while wiping away her tears. โSir Eugene, Sir Eugene! Could you please stop those knights?โ she asked.
โBecause of the undead?โ Eugene responded.
โYes, yes. It has extraordinary value for research. I canโt believe they are planning to burn such a precious thing! Please, if you give it to me, I swear on the name of magic, I will devote my body and my mind fully toโฆโ Romari pleaded.
โIf you swear a few more times, it will be the hundredth time,โ Eugene interrupted.
โI-I swear! Iโm completely serious this time,โ Romari brought her staff close to her chest and pleaded with teary eyes.
โThen you were lying before?โ Eugene asked.
โNo, thatโs not what Iโm sayingโฆwhimper,โ Teardrops began to fall from her eyes.
โI feel bad for the raccoon,โ Mirian said. It was true. Romariโs clothes and face were caked with dirt from rushing over, and her tears were slowly dripping across her face. However, it wasnโt nearly enough to move Eugene.
After making a few calculations in his head, Eugene spoke. โHmm. Well, I have the right to dispose of the monster, so I will think about it.โ
โUwaaah! Thank you! Youโll be blessed, Sir Eugene!โ Romari spoke with a smile after wiping away her tears and snot. Eugene turned his gaze away from the wizard and approached the group of knights. They were gazing at him with disapproving expressions.
โSirs. I will take care of that undead,โ Eugene said.
โEhem! Sir, we do not have the right to prevent you from exercising your rights. However, according to the laws of the church and the kingdom, any undead monsters are to be burntโฆโ One of the knights started to speak.
โSir, do you serve Lord Gabriel by chance?โ Eugene asked.
โโฆThatโs right.โ The knight responded, curious as to why Eugene was asking an unrelated question.
โAs I expected. It makes sense since you seem to greatly like the kingdomโs law.โ Eugene said.
โ…!โ
Several knights flinched after hearing Eugeneโs words. They were all Gabrielโs knights. It was an open secret that Gabriel had been planning to receive a title from the royal family. But he ended up surrendering unconditionally to Essandra. As such, if the truth of the matter was revealed to the public, Gabrielโs reputation would be damaged even further.
โB-but the churchโฆโ One of the knights muttered.
โWho was responsible for the dismissal of the previous marquis? And where is the bishop, who should have taken responsibility?โ Eugene retorted.
โโฆโ
The knights promptly closed their mouths. They realized that it was better to not mention the church or the royal family since Essandra had already taken control of the marquisate.
At that time, Essandra and several nobles made their appearance.
โWhatโs going on?โ Essandra asked.
โMy lord! You are here just in time. That wizardโฆโ The knights rushed over to Essandra and began to hurriedly tell their stories. The sight was reminiscent of ducklings rushing to their mother.
โThose cowardly bastards,โ Galfredik muttered.
โWait,โ Eugene dissuaded Galfredik.
Essandra frowned after hearing about the current situation from the knights.
โHmm.โ
โMy lord. We are justified in our view. Regardless of the circumstance, should we not immediately burn down the remnants of that evil creature?โ
โI agree with Sir Danielโs opinion. Even if we disregard the law of the church and the kingdom, the people of the marquisate will become anxious if we leave it be.โ
โWhat would the other territories and cities of the peninsula say if they knew about this? We must get rid of it as soon as possible.โ
The nobles immediately saw the opening and pushed forward while sticking to Essandraโs side. All of them had been quite wary of Eugene recently with his imminent rise to power as Essandraโs closest aide.
โHmm. All of you certainly have a point,โ Essandra said. She stared at Eugene with a difficult expression. It was obvious that the public sentiment would sour if the corpse of an evil, undead, twin-headed ogre was left untouched. If the other territories and cities of the peninsula used the opportunity to their advantage, it would prove quite troublesome for Essandra.
โWhat should I do? Ah!โ
Eugene slowly opened his lips after thinking of an idea.
โI also agree that it could be quite uneasy to leave the corpse of such a monster alone. However, would you not agree that the purpose of a cow is to taste good, regardless of whether it is black or white?โ
โHuhโฆ?โ Everyone became puzzled at Eugeneโs words.
โEven though it was transformed into an undead by evil magic, wouldnโt things change depending on how it is used?โ Eugene continued.
โSir, what does that mean?โ Essandra asked with a frown.
Eugene struggled with internal conflict for a brief moment, then made up his mind before raising his right hand to his chest. โLet me tell you the honest truth. Itโs commonly known that only holy knights are able to deal with undead monsters. What do you think is the reason I was able to defeat that undead?โ Eugene asked.
โโฆ?โ Everyone, including Essandra, tilted their heads with confusion. Eugene took on a reverent posture and slowly spoke while drawing the holy symbol with his hand.
โThere is only one explanationโฆIt is because of supreme-rulerโs grace and care.โ
โโฆ!โ Everyone fell silent at the sudden confession of faith.
โAs such, why donโt we adorn the evil creature in a priestโs uniform? It will be a living testament of the protection and miracles of supreme-rulerโ Eugene continued.
โHaโฆโ
Essandra started to react with absurdity, but Eugene quickly drove into the stake even further. โI think it would act as an excellent shield if the bishop ever returned to the peninsula. A miracle took place when the bishop was absent. The church would have nothing to say, right?โ
โAh!โ
โAhโฆโ
Essandra and the nobles flinched, then slowly opened their lips with wonder.
โWow, how brazen. Sir, even your shamelessness is on the level of the demon king.โ
โT-this is crazy. I heard even our founder never dared to sell out supreme-ruler!โ
The wizard and the spirit became at a loss for words after witnessing an Origin Vampire drawing the holy symbol with an amicable smile.
***
โOh, my. I never thought I would see an undead wearing a surcoat,โ Essandra muttered.
โIt looks quite decent, does it not?โ
โI donโt want to admit it, but it definitely suits it. Iโm speechless.โ Essandra felt conflicted. The ogre, which possessed two heads and four arms, was adorned in a surcoat with the symbol of the church, similar to a paladin or a holy knight. Moreover, the armor wasnโt half-baked or created in a hurry. Rather, it was a top-notch product that was carefully smelted and put together by the craftsmen of the castle overnight. Essandraโs confusion only deepened because of how well the armor suited the monster.
โItโs not going to start moving, is it?โ Essandra asked.
โIt won’t. The magical tool was destroyed, so it wonโt be able to move again. It will only serve as a piece of decoration,โ Eugene responded.
โI see. The effect will be great even if itโs only a piece of decor,โ Essandra said.
It would become a great sight for anyone to see. Those who were susceptible to religion and superstition would worship the miracle of supreme-ruler with tears, and others would praise the Archivold family for achieving such a ridiculous feat.
โThe noisy church will have nothing to say about it either. Sigh.โ
Essandra looked at Eugene with wonder.
โSir. Of course, you must have never heard this before, but I think you are truly out of your mind,โ she said.
โI will take it as a compliment,โ Eugene responded.
โHaha. Right, right. But are you really not going with me?โ Essandra asked.
โYes. It is time for me to return to my territory. I must take care of internal matters and get the silver mine running. It will be beneficial for both of us.โ Eugene said. Although the silver mine of Mount Nadir belonged to Eugene, thirty percent of the profits would go to the real owner of the land, the Archivold family. It was a natural relationship between lords who were given and recognized by a great noble.
โThatโs true. But you will be taking care of the internal politics personally? I find that a little hard to believe,โ Essandra asked skeptically. Eugene felt a little sheepish, but he maintained a calm expression as he responded.
โOne of my younger cousins is an administrator, and he is quite competent.โ
โHmm. So you are planning to leave the management of the land to that person? Is he reliable?โ Essandra asked.
โYes. He is trustworthy.โ
โIโll kill him if he isnโt.โ
Eugene looked around at the knights and vassals of the marquisate before continuing. He had already finished preparations for departure.
โAnd as I told you already, people will be quite discontent if I go with you. They will finally have a chance to show off their loyalty and skills to their lord, so wouldnโt they be disappointed if I joined in as well?โ Eugene said.
โHooh? Youโre even being considerate of others? This is quite suspicious. This makes me want to take you with me even more,โ Essandra responded.
โItโs a simple misunderstanding,โ Eugene said.
โHahaha. Well, thereโs no helping it. Just as you said, sir, the others will become anxious if you earn yourself even more merit. They are all so narrow-minded. Ah, right.โ Essandra smacked her lips before looking around. Then, she raised her voice. โSelena! Where is Selena!?โ
The servants ran around busily at Essandraโs shouts. Soon, a young knight with short, bobbed hair and average height shuffled towards the group.
โYou called for me, my lord?โ The newcomer spoke.
โAunt,โ Essandra responded.
โโฆYes, aunt.โ The knight corrected herself rather unwillingly. A light glimmered in Eugeneโs eyes when he saw the girl.
โSo this isโฆโ
Selena was quite good-looking, and her emerald eyes left a big impression. Even though she was only fifteen, she looked quite mature for her age.
โGive your greetings to Sir Eugene,โ Essandra said.
Selena glanced at Eugene before speaking. โNice to meet you. I am Selena Perin Archivold.โ Her tone was very dry. Mirian, who was plopped on Eugeneโs shoulder, shouted with flames in her eyes.
โKieeeek!? What is this? This little wench! She dares to glare at Sir Eugene when sheโs nothing more than a large rat dropping? What an ugly, rude little girl!โ
โSheโs not that ugly.โ
Eugene was becoming well-versed in the human standards of beauty, and he thought that Selena possessed a decent appearance among humans. But that wasnโt important to him at all.
โJan Eugene,โ Eugene said.
โโฆ!โ Selenaโs eyes turned even sharper when Eugene gave a short, blunt response.
โAs expected, sheโs a little lacking to become my aide,โ Eugene continued.
โW-what did you say?โ She responded.
โGalfredik!โ But Eugene ignored her and called out after turning his head.
โDid you call for me?โ
Galfredik trudged towards Eugene. He had been hanging out with Partecโs group.
Eugene spoke while pointing to Selena. โFrom today, she will be your aide.โ
โHuh? My aide? So suddenly?โ Galfredik responded with wide eyes.
โShe is Lord Gabrielโs daughter. I think you will need to take care of her properly,โ Eugene explained.
โPlease take good care of my niece, Sir Galfredik.โ Essandra chimed in with a smile.
Galfredik scratched his head with an awkward expression. โWell, I donโt really need an aide, but since both of you are insistentโฆ I guess thereโs no other choice.โ
Selena was at a loss for words. In an instant, she had gone from a direct descendant of a great noble family to a simple, unwanted piece of baggage. But she was an intelligent girl, and she instantly realized why she was being sold to these insidious knights.
โIf itโs for my fatherโฆโ
From today, she would have to endure any humiliation as a hostage. She had to do this if she wanted her father, Gabriel, to live.
โHowever!โ
Selena secretly clenched her teeth and raised her head.
โMy name is Selena Perin Archivold. Sir Galfredik, right? With all due respect, I would like to experience the skills of the person who will become my master from today. Would you give me your permission?โ
Her appearance was rather gender-neutral and she had deliberately lowered her tone, but Galfredik immediately noticed that she was a woman.
He responded while grinning. โAre you asking for a bout with me?โ
โItโs a relief that the one I will serve as my master is quick-witted,โ she said.
โBring it on. I will count to three. Three, twoโฆโ Galfredik responded before immediately counting down. Selena was born with great talent and had been trained ever since she was young by the knights of the castle. Despite the sudden turn of events, she quickly unsheathed her longsword and took a posture.
โโฆone.โ
Whoosh! Clang! Thuck!
โKeugh!โ Selenaโs throat rested in Galfredikโs right hand even before her blade, which had been knocked aside by his gauntlet, hit the ground. The battle was over in less than a second.
โKeugh! Kuwagh!โ
Selena struggled with all her might as she gasped for air. But Galfredik stood immobile like a stone statue and slowly raised her into the air. Their gazes met.
โDo you know how my master often punished me when I was still an aide?โ Galfredik asked.
โKeugh! Kuagh!โ
โIt was to strip me naked and to have me train with a wooden sword. If you are a knight, you should already know, right? Blades do not discriminate based on gender or age. Rather, it is even crueler to the weak,โ Galfredik stated.
โโฆ!โ
โIf you look at me or Sir Eugene with those eyes one more time, I will strip you naked for an entire month. I swear it on my honor,โ he continued.
Selena fainted. But it was because she failed to overcome the frightening fear contained in Galfredikโs reddish eyes, rather than the lack of oxygen.
โH-hey, Sir Galfredik. You arenโt really going to strip her naked, are you?โ Essandra asked anxiously. As long as Selena was Galfredikโs aide, he would have full control over the young girlโs disposition.
โMy lord. With all due respect, what kind of a man do you take me to beโฆ?โ Galfredik said.
โRight? Phew, you had me worried,โ Essandra responded.
โI am Rowan of Galfredik. I am a man of my word, and I definitely keep my promises,โ he continued.
โโฆโ
Essandra became convinced that Galfredik was a man of his word as she watched him place her niece over his broad shoulder with a smile. It wasnโt only Eugene who was insane, but also his most-trusted knight as well.