Chapter 113. Treaty (5)

What are some characteristics of a land ruled by vampires?

Air that sends a chill down your spine?

Corpses that reanimate if left unattended?

Hordes of undead wandering the plains?

The whispers of ghosts that linger in your ears like auditory hallucinations?

All are correct.

However, for the model answer, let’s go back a little further to the source.

If you search for the cause of all these phenomena, the answer narrows down to one.

The greatest feature of the Vampire Archduchy is the necromantic mana rampant in the air.

In other words, evil energy.

“Cough. Ahem.”

A dry cough escaped.

My throat felt clogged.

We had been traveling for a full three days since meeting the vampire guide.

The deeper we went into the Archduchy, the thicker the concentration of evil energy became.

On the first day, there were no problems.

On the second day, my throat tickled a bit.

Now, on the third day, I kept coughing as if I had a mild cold.

Anyone who has experienced a long-distance march in the army would know, but a dry cough is a considerable hindrance to walking.

Fortunately, from the moment we met the vampire guide, we didn't have to travel on foot.

This was because the guide had kindly brought a few Wraith Steeds.

Phhrrrr….

A Wraith Steed snorted lightly.

It acted like a common horse, but this one was also undead.

Its body was gaunt, and its empty eye sockets emanated a ghastly blue light.

Above its rough hide, which didn't shed a single drop of sweat, a translucent mane swayed gently as if submerged in water.

That’s right.

The Wraith Steed is half-spirit, half-zombie.

These creatures, which mainly carry vampires or death knights, are superior to their living kin in many ways, as they have high intelligence and have lost the fear that comes with survival instincts.

On top of that, like any other undead, their tirelessness is also an advantage.

Normally, when traveling on horseback, one moves slowly to manage the horse's stamina, but with a Wraith Steed, there is no need for that.

Thanks to this, we covered a distance that would have taken ten days on foot in just three.

In recognition of its service, I gave a name to the horse that carried me.

Its name is Gray.

A good ring to it.

‘Master, are you so lazy with naming now that you’re reusing names? The original Gray isn’t even dead.’

‘Tick-tock…….’

‘Kkiiing…?’

What’s the big deal.

There are plenty of people with the same name.

It's also closer to gray than the original Gray.

For reference, the original Gray is currently eating well and living well, munching on hay and carrots in the viscount’s castle.

Isn't its fate much better than mine, coughing in a faraway foreign land?

“…Cough! Cough! Khhmm!”

“My lord, is the air uncomfortable for you?”

“Kihihi… I’m fine.”

It’s a relief that my companion is a Lesser Vampire Necromancer.

If it were someone else, it wouldn't have ended with just a little coughing.

The evil energy itself has a faint toxicity.

That’s why crops arbitrarily improved by humans don't grow well, and toxicity accumulates in water and food.

As a necromancer, my dry cough just increased a bit; I wouldn't get consumption or anything like that.

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably be poisoned by now and slowly suffocating.

Of course, I could stop coughing right away if I raised my mana.

I purposely didn't.

To conserve mana in case a battle broke out.

“……”

The opponent is a Vampire Duke.

I must not let my guard down.

I am being treated as a guest now, but I don’t know how he might change once we meet face-to-face.

It is right to assume the worst-case scenario.

In the first place, on the diplomatic tables of this uncivilized medieval continent, a bit of swordplay is not a rare occurrence.

According to my predictions, it was about time we arrived.

“We are here.”

As we crossed the ridge of a hill, the guide stretched out his hand and pointed to a city visible in the distance.

“Duke Zarhill’s city, Karnhorst.”

We had arrived.

The abode of the Vampire Duke.

* * *

Seen up close, Karnhorst was certainly worthy of being called a Duke’s city.

It was so in the game illustrations, but seeing it in person was a different experience.

The heights of the double-layered city walls reached 10 and 15 meters respectively.

The city gate was also magnificent, several times larger and thicker than the one in Wolfskrig.

Kugugugung…….

The city gate opened.

As we entered, a main street comparable to an eight-lane road in Seoul unfolded.

The buildings lining both sides of the street also looked to be at least 4 or 5 stories tall.

How much money would it have cost to build such tall buildings over three hundred years ago?

Come to think of it, there was a setting that before committing treason, the Zarhill Duchy was the second most prosperous region in the Empire after the Imperial Capital.

Thud. Thud.

I walked down the deserted main street with the guide.

The city showed its age, but it didn't feel old.

Just as well-maintained wooden furniture is called antique, not worn-out.

Karnhorst felt like such an antique piece of furniture expanded to the scale of a city.

As the lord of a developing city, it was a somewhat stimulating sight.

Still, there was one thing our city did better.

The population.

“Here, kihihi, do people not live here?”

“It would be difficult for ordinary humans to live here. Our mana acts like a corpse poison to the human body.”

“No, I mean mongrels like you. Don’t the things created by crossbreeding bats and humans live here?”

“……”

The vampire turned to look at me.

His gaze seemed to say, ‘Why are you picking a fight again out of nowhere?’

Perhaps under orders from the Duke not to cause friction, he let out a short sigh but ultimately answered my question.

“We do not often come out of our dwellings during the day. It is also true that our numbers are not large. There is no need for large numbers. Unlike the human race, minions take care of the labor for us.”

Hmm.

All things from the setting book in my head.

I headed towards the lord’s castle with the guide.

A slightly smaller inner castle gate than the one we saw earlier greeted us.

Compared to the deserted cityscape, the number of guests was quite large.

Including me, my vampire companion, and the Necro Ogers, there were over five hundred of us.

“Please enter.”

The gate opened.

The guide gestured.

It was around then that I noticed.

The surrounding atmosphere had changed.

“Kihit, what is the meaning of this?”

To be precise, the mana suffused in the air had changed.

Only after it changed could I feel it.

That until a moment ago, the feeling of the mana in the air had been, however faintly, amicable.

And also that, as if a mask had been thrown off, the surrounding mana had turned hostile in an instant.

‘Master, it’s a trap.’

I feel it too.

With the growth of my mana traits added to the spells I already possessed, I too had become what could be called a high-ranking mage.

A high-ranking spellcaster can control the mana of the area without a separate trait.

And in that sense, I feel a presence.

On top of the city walls.

When I raised my head, I saw a figure standing on the crenellations of the wall.

The attire was familiar.

A doublet adorned with numerous decorations.

Brightly colored trousers.

A cloak that enveloped the entire body and a ruff around the neck.

An outfit closer to the typical attire of a City-State Alliance noble than an Imperial noble.

Three hundred years ago, the Zarhill Duchy was said to have served as a bridge between the City-State Alliance, the dwarves, the Empire, and Indika.

I called out the name of the fellow I had seen countless times in the setting book illustrations and in-game modeling.

“Kihit, Duke Zarhill.”

- Indeed, human necromancer.

His voice echoed.

It literally resounded throughout the world and inside my head simultaneously.

An attempt at intimidation?

It was certainly effective.

- Tribus? Was that your name.

I felt the pressure.

The surrounding air, the mana within it, was crushing my entire body.

That pressure grew stronger with every word he uttered.

Is this the power of a Level 8 spellcaster?

The higher one goes, the gap between each level is like heaven and earth.

Duke Yulister von Zarhill.

The presence I feel from him now is even more intense than when the Princess of Blood tore the beastman hero to pieces in Gunterburk.

It was only natural.

This is his domain.

The environment and mana of this land, which he has ruled for over three hundred years, would be as good as his own.

- I hear you helped wake me from my slumber. Thank you.

Thank you, my foot.

Saying that with a knife to my throat.

As expected, he immediately showed his true colors.

- I shall bestow a special reward upon you. Our secret arts are not permitted to humans. Instead of executing you… I shall give you the opportunity to pledge loyalty to me.

The pressure intensified even more.

I could feel the presence of the undead army he led from every corner of the alleys.

Were we surrounded from the start?

According to the map in my head and my senses, the only escape route was the main street behind me, the one I had walked down.

Kiyaaaaaak-!

Even that was blocked as the Duke waved his hand and a portal appeared.

A terrible roar was vomited forth from within.

It was the cry of a Level 7 high-tier undead, ‘Skeleton Dragon Madrkalab.’

[[Warrior’s Insight] is deployed.]

[Skill acquired.]

[Dragon's Roar (Level 6)]

A dragon’s roar breaks the survival instinct of its prey and slows their movements.

[[Lord’s Unyielding Mind] is deployed.]

Of course, it wouldn't work on my iron mentality, but the fact that my escape route was blocked remained unchanged.

The Vampire Duke in front.

The undead dragon behind.

Surrounded from front and back, a piece of lore I read when playing as the Vampire Archduchy comes to mind.

It was no coincidence that Duke Zarhill turned the nobles of nearby territories into vampires all at once when he rebelled three hundred years ago.

He threatened the neighboring nobles.

He crushed them with force, just like now.

He surrounded their castles with a seemingly endless army of undead, threatening to slaughter all their citizens and families.

And he attached one condition.

- It’s nothing special. Just a hollow pledge of loyalty. All you have to do is drink the wine in this goblet as a sign of the pact.

The people of that time probably didn't know that the pledge was an unbreakable vow bound to the soul.

- Take the goblet. And pledge your loyalty to me.

Watching the wine goblet float in the air and approach me, I let out a smirk.

A wine goblet.

Suddenly, I remembered Count Calvenia.

Yes, he had also offered me wine.

Of course, no matter how much of a pioneer of the Vampire School of magitech he was, comparing a mere Level 6 spellcaster like him to Duke Zarhill is absurd.

But my enemies are not the only ones who have changed.

I am also a different person than I was back then.

[[Warrior’s Binding] is deployed.]

[Summoning bound enemies.]

The day I decided to come to the Vampire Archduchy.

No, from the day I told the Princess of Blood how to awaken the Duke, I thought.

The relationship with the Archduchy would be one of two things.

[Summoned Forces: Grave Knight(1), Necro Ogre(2), Wight(4), Vampiric Bat(1), Skeleton Spearman(99), Skeleton Swordsman(81), Skeleton Archer(3), Zombie(222)]

Either I use him.

Or if that fails, I destroy him.

It’s a forced dichotomy, but those are the only two choices I gave myself.

Because in this world walking into the flames of war, the only question I can pose is the dichotomy that distinguishes friend from foe.

[Summoned Forces: Lumer Chiliarch(2), Lumer Centurion(43), Lumer Cavalry(31), Lumer Legionnaires(3,897)]

I had intended to use him as a breakwater to block the wave that would surge from the south.

But if he’s not a breakwater but a knife at my throat, I must break that knife before it regains its full strength.

[[Infernal Meteor] is deployed.]

[[Infernal Meteor] is deployed.]

[[Infernal Meteor] is deployed.]

I raise my mana.

I break the pressure that was crushing me.

The Infernal Meteors illuminate the gloomy earth like a blazing sun.

And under that intense light, thousands of Lumer Legionnaires and undead stand in formation.

I don’t think I will lose.

The chance of killing him is fifty-fifty.

I will kill him if I can, but if it’s not feasible, I will retreat after shaving off as much of his strength as possible.

Before long, the title ‘Conqueror of the Vampire Archduchy’ will be added to the renown of Ash the Kindling.

“Father!!”

Just then, the Princess of Blood flew in from a distance.

She seemed to be trying to stop me, but it was too late.

The setting that Duke Zarhill dotes on his daughter probably hasn't changed, but even a doting father wouldn't bow his head in a battle where the fate of the Archduchy is at stake.

Kugugugu….

The crimson suns descend.

I drank the holy water I had saved, bringing my body to its peak condition.

An attack will come.

I plan to copy the skill with [Warrior’s Insight] and then counterattack.

“……”

Quite some time passed.

[Warrior’s Insight] did not activate.

Because he did not attack.

The undead legion that had been closing the encirclement a moment ago had also stopped at some point.

“……?”

…Geu-eong?

The Skeleton Dragon Madrkalab, halfway out of the portal, was also tilting its head.

The skeleton dragon stared blankly at its master as if asking what was wrong.

“Lumer Legionnaires…? This can’t be……”

That master was on his knees on the city wall, having collapsed.

“My, my Emperor…. Your Imperial Majesty…!”

He floated in the air from his kneeling position and descended before me.

“Forgive my disloyalty, O one who shall shine for eternity!”

The Vampire Duke slammed his head onto the middle of the main street.

Uh…….

So, I’ve become the Emperor of Lumer, have I?