As Eto approached me, concern evident in his gaze, he inquired, "Are you okay, my Lord?" Responding, I assured him, "Yeah, I feel better than before. But how did you know I was in a bad situation?" Eto explained, "Thanks to our pact, I can sense your well-being and if you're in danger or not. So, I can be summoned at any time you want or I want." Grateful for his vigilant protection, I sighed and expressed my thanks.
After our brief exchange, I instructed Eto, "Well, thanks a lot. You can go back to the village. When I'm done, I will summon you to take me back." Eto nodded and seamlessly teleported back to the village, resuming his responsibilities.
Left alone with my thoughts, I contemplated the recent encounter. "Even being level 603 and improved by a lot, I was no match for this guy. I wonder who it was and why he wanted to kill me, and more of a problem, who is the 'Majesty' that wants me dead."
As I walked, fatigued and with my mana yet to fully replenish, a notification disrupted my musings:
[New system Unlocked]
Opening my stats, I discovered a new addition:
● [Title : The Hero] - 50% more Total HP/STR
○ [Passive Skill : Vampirism, Predator, Cold Resistance, Fire Resistance, Breathless]
● [Race : Vampire]
[Level : 603] [EXP : 1,233/31,850]
• [STR : 2,410 (50%+)] - Strength
• [HP : 6,150/6,150 (50%+)] - Health Points
• [Defense : 1.1x less damage taken]
• [STM : 6,100/6,100] - Stamina
• [SP : 0] - Skill Points
• [MP : 1,030/1,030] - Mana Points
° [Skills : Trident Strike, Ice Manipulation, Aura sense, Aura Conceal, Fire Manipulation, Water Manipulation, The All Knowing - Daiki]
° [Inventory]
The new system, 'Defense,' promised a reduction in damage taken. A valuable addition to my arsenal.
Continuing my journey, I found myself standing before the Kingdom of Urthur. Its vastness was awe-inspiring. Unlike the Kingdom of Hyogan, Urthur lacked the divisive walls separating the rich from the poor. In fact, the entire kingdom radiated modernity!
Houses adorned with colors and crafted from smooth bricks lined the streets. Some even boasted impressive gardens, showcasing a level of advancement not seen in Hyogan.
As I strolled through the well-organized streets, modern carriages passed by, a stark contrast to the more traditional scenes of Hyogan. Intrigued, I planned to explore this kingdom for a few days, absorbing the nuances of its culture and societal structure. Thoughts of the village and its progress lingered in my mind, sparking anticipation for the surprises that awaited my return.
As night blanketed the kingdom, I secured lodging at the Adventurer's Guild. This kingdom, lacking traditional taverns, provided accommodation through these guilds. Renting a space for a week, I considered the peculiar absence of gates or walls in this kingdom. People could enter from any direction—a concept I contemplated implementing in my own village.
Reflecting on the day's encounter, I felt a newfound sense of vulnerability. Glad for Eto's protective presence, I acknowledged the looming threat. Settling into my temporary abode, thoughts swirled about the unknown adversary and the enigmatic 'Majesty' behind the attack.
As night enveloped the kingdom, I secured lodgings at an Adventurer's Guild since, unlike this kingdom, there were no taverns. Renting a space for a week, though I had no intention of staying that long, I pondered the absence of gates or walls in this kingdom, a feature I considered for my own village.
Thoughts of the day's encounter weighed on me as I settled into my new place. The unsettling realization of my vulnerability lingered. Grateful for Eto's protective presence, I reflected on how his intervention spared me from a perilous fate.
Resting on my pillow, I closed my eyes, drifting into a troubled sleep. Morning came abruptly at 6 am. My body drenched in sweat, I struggled to breathe. Concerned, I called to Daiki for answers. "Daiki, what is happening to me?" Daiki's response echoed in my mind, revealing the aftermath of the previous day's fight. The assailant had struck a nerve, inducing a state of relaxation that led to suspended breathing. Daiki's swift intervention prevented a potentially fatal outcome.
"Why?" I questioned. Daiki explained, "Your heart rate plummeted from 90 to 15 in a minute. I had to take control of your body to wake you up." Understanding the gravity of the situation, I grabbed my scythe and ventured out for a walk, intending to exercise and restore my heart rate to normal.
As I walked toward the outskirts of the kingdom, the scent of a vampire's essence infiltrated my senses. Swiftly, I grabbed the passing individual's hand. Widening my eyes upon contact, I scrutinized the older, taller figure—approximately 160cm, 10cm taller than me. Pink hair framed his face, and light red eyes met mine.
In a chilling tone, he inquired, "Who are you?" Fueled by anger, I retorted, "You're a vampire?" The guy, grabbing something from behind his back, responded nonchalantly, "What if I am?" My reply, seething with anger, was unequivocal: "I will kill you if you are."
Anticipating his kick, I swiftly unsheathed my scythe, blocking the attack that pushed me outside the kingdom. As the guy closed in, I closed the gap between us, seizing his arm and launching him away from the kingdom to avoid unnecessary conflict. The clash among the trees erupted in chaos, dust and dirt swirling around as he stood up.
Closing the distance, I confronted him, only to witness him draw a massive red and black double-headed axe—seemingly heavier than my scythe. His declaration resonated, "I will also kill you for giving vampires a bad reputation! I will not allow more vampires to kill innocent people!" Perplexed, I began, "Wait, what do you mea—"
But before I finished the sentence, he already jumped at me, ready to cleave me in half with his axe. Swiftly, I positioned my scythe defensively, absorbing the impact with ease. As his axe collided with my scythe, shockwaves rippled through the trees, tearing them apart and casting debris into the air. My feet sank slightly into the ground, but I stood resolute and unyielding.
In the aftermath of the clash, I questioned him, "What do you mean 'Giving vampires a bad reputation'?" The guy, visibly affected by the shockwaves, backed off, retorting, "Yeah, vampires like you kill people for fun! And for that, people are talking bad about us. We are born to protect people. NOT KILL THEM!"
Responding with a hint of frustration, I explained, "I was going to kill you because I thought you killed innocent people. So that's why I attacked you." A mutual realization dawned upon us; both of us had misunderstood the other's intentions. The guy, visibly surprised, lowered his axe, and I mirrored the action with my scythe.
As the tension subsided, the guy and I faced each other, recognizing the layers of misunderstanding that had unfolded in the clash among the trees. Silently, we sheathed our weapons behind our backs, laying the groundwork for a tentative truce amid the swirling dust and debris.
As I sighed, I approached the guy and extended my introduction, "I am Tatsuya Ryota. A Vampire." Seating myself next to him on the ground, he reciprocated, "Hi Tatsuya, I am Noir Tratarossa." The mention of the name made me gulp audibly. "Tratarossa?" Noir, puzzled, inquired, "Yeah, why?"
With a hesitant tone, I responded, "I know your brother then, Eto Tratarossa." Noir's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed loudly, "YOU KNOW MY BROTHER?!?! WHERE IS HE?!" Feeling fatigued, I stood up and summoned Eto. A black, slimy circle emerged, and Eto emerged from it , upon seeing Noir, he began walking away, displaying clear reluctance to be present. I yelled at Eto, demanding him to return, and he reluctantly complied, taking a seat.
Expressing my ignorance, I said, "I didn't know you had a brother, Eto!" Eto clarified, "Yeah, I don't have a brother. I've got an older sister, and that's her, Noir Tratarossa." Confused, I questioned, "Sister? Isn't Noir a guy?" Peering at Noir, I found myself befuddled. In a gesture of innocence, Noir decided to confirm her gender, taking off her pants.
The revelation was undeniable—Noir was a girl. Hastily turning away, I shouted, "I GET IT. YOU'RE A GIRL!!!! NOW PUT YOUR PANTS BACK!" Noir complied, and the source of my confusion became apparent—despite being older than Eto, Noir's chest remained flat, contributing to the mistaken impression of her being a guy.
Eto, sensing the moment to depart, stated, "I will be going now. Take care of my older sister; she is pretty weak even being older than me." I retorted, "She isn't that weak!" Eto, dismissing my defense, replied, "Whatever. I will be going back to the village. Bye, Lord." With that, Eto left, leaving Noir and me alone.
Apologizing to Noir for the earlier misgendering, she reassured me, "It's okay, Tatsuya. Everyone makes mistakes." Emboldened by her understanding, I proposed, "Want to go back to the Kingdom now? And maybe introduce ourselves more in-depth?" Noir nodded in agreement.
As we re-entered the kingdom, conversation flowed between us. I inquired about Noir's purpose in the kingdom, to which she revealed, "I live here. I was out hunting to see if I could encounter vampires." Acknowledging her honesty, I explained, "I came here to gather inspiration on what and how to build my village. I'm aiming to make it a kingdom, or at least something that is recognized by everyone."
Encouraged by my vision, Noir exclaimed, "That's awesome! I will help you!" Her voice radiated enthusiasm, and I responded, "If you really want, then sure! The more people, the better." A smile formed on my face as I looked at her, appreciating the newfound camaraderie.