"Ekati? Goddess of Death?"
"And then what?" Ada asked.
"And then?" Leroya raised her hands, bound by chains, and spread them slightly:
"Then, Julian Belafila seemed to be possessed, continuously chanting about offering souls and gaining immortality as he walked alone into the underground chamber of the temple."
"The members of the Honor Legion didn't stop him?"
"No." Leroya shook her head. "My father's father—my grandfather—was like a statue, unable to move or speak, let alone stop him. He even said that it seemed as if a curse had been cast there, something ordinary people couldn't resist. So, when Julian Belafila emerged from the chamber and reappeared before the Honor Legion, that curse had granted him—or more accurately, it—new life. The old, withered face was gone, replaced by a youthful, vigorous figure with piercing eyes.
"Seeing this, my grandfather and his comrades initially thought it was a miracle, that Rome had been blessed. So they viewed Julian as the chosen one, believing he would lead them to once again conquer the Ottoman Turks and restore the empire's glory."
"So, that guy betrayed humanity, betrayed the honor of the past," Ada agreed.
"Yes!" Leroya did not deny it, and her demeanor lost its usual cheerfulness, her gaze filled with unmasked hatred. "It betrayed everyone! It deceived my grandfather and his comrades with sweet words, transforming them into the first Nightwalkers and werewolves! Julian Belafila did indeed lead the Honor Legion out of the Valley of Death and easily defeated small Ottoman forces. But after tasting human flesh and blood, it completely unleashed its inner desires and madness.
"But it also knew that most of the Honor Legion refused to consume the flesh of their own kind to replenish their strength or heal their wounds. Instead, they chose to hunt animals in the forest for sustenance. So, while my grandfather and his comrades were resting, Julian went alone to nearby villages and towns, feeding on and converting all the villagers and townsfolk!"
Hearing this, Ada furrowed her brow tightly.
If it had been Ottoman soldiers that were fed upon and converted, Ada could still understand. But attacking defenseless innocent civilians—calling Julian Belafila a beast would be an insult to beasts.
Leroya, unaware of Ada's expression, continued:
"By the time my grandfather and the others realized what was happening, that guy had already gathered an army of three thousand strong. It planned to use this as a foundation to expand further, conquering the Ottomans, Rome, and all other empires, to build a bloody world of its own. But before that, my grandfather and his comrades, along with the remaining Ottoman soldiers and some Roman militiamen gathered at the border, launched a fearless charge against Julian.
"An army? Ha! That so-called army had its formation pierced by the hastily assembled volunteers, who managed to fight their way to Julian himself. In the end..." Leroya's previously impassioned expression seemed to freeze.
Then, with a sigh, she looked at the empty metal table, her tone sorrowful:
"In the end, the Honor Legion succeeded in using weapons made of pure silver to hack Julian Belafila into pieces, but at the cost of their entire army. If my grandfather hadn't been thrown into a raging river during the breakout, he might have also ended up imprisoned in the Twilight Tavern's dungeon, and I, a half-blood, wouldn't exist."
Hearing this, Ada put away her initial indifference and resistance, and solemnly said, "If what you say is true, then regardless of what you, your grandfather, and his comrades were, in the moment they charged with swords and blades, I know they were human, worthy of respect."
"Thank you!" Perhaps because her identity was finally acknowledged, Leroya thanked her excitedly: "To hear you say that, I think my grandfather and my parents would be very comforted! Their efforts and struggles were not in vain!"
"Everyone can say nice words," Ada said with a faint smile. "Once we verify the truth of what you've said, I'll report it immediately. I believe the company will provide you with substantial compensation and support. So please continue—why do the vampires in the Twilight Tavern still mention the Sovereign Lord, and what is its current state?"
"Alright, Miss Wang!" Leroya nodded earnestly and continued:
"Pure silver can cause irreversible damage to ordinary Nightwalkers and werewolves, but for Julian Belafila, it is recoverable. After that fierce battle, the severely injured Julian Belafila retreated into the darkness of the human world, and the remaining members of the Honor Legion were forced to become prisoners. It also proclaimed itself the Sovereign Lord of both races, the origin of all, and hunted down any of its kin who attempted to ally with humans.
"My grandfather, after narrowly escaping, learned that the Roman Empire had become a thing of the past, so he chose to live incognito, falling in love with a kind human—my grandmother—and they had my father. Later, my father met my mother, and I was born into this world."
Leroya paused briefly. Although the sadness in her voice reappeared, her tone seemed more at peace:
"The Nightwalkers and werewolves' pursuit never stopped. When my grandfather learned that his old comrades were still alive, he resolutely went to rescue them... and never returned. My parents then took me to live in seclusion in the mountains and wilderness to protect me. But thirty years ago, the pursuers still found us through faint traces, and in the end... I was the only one left."
"But I remember my grandfather's last two words. One was to never trust anyone. And if he didn't return, then I would bear the responsibility of rescuing his old comrades. That way, there might be a chance, as my mother said, to truly eliminate the threat of Julian Belafila."
After hearing this, Ada lowered her head slightly and maintained a moment of silence before asking, "Since your grandfather warned you not to trust anyone, why did you choose to surrender when our people captured you? Weren't you afraid of being sliced up and studied?"
"Because compared to other Nightwalkers and werewolves, I have a very strong intuition... or perhaps a premonition? I can't explain it very well." Leroya answered honestly.
At this point, the author added a note apologizing for a repeated passage in the previous chapter, promising that it had been fixed and thanking readers for their support. The author wished everyone a happy new year, with happiness and good fortune in abundance.
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