Joanna had never encountered such a compliant vampire before, and she couldn't help but chuckle at Fars's pitiful demeanor.
The fist-sized magic core was indeed beautiful, with a purple crystalline structure that occasionally flickered with lightning. Although Joanna had seen countless treasures, women never seemed to tire of pretty things. Since this little vampire was so accommodating, Joanna decided to take advantage of the situation. After spending so much time with Fars, she felt entitled to something in return. She glanced at Master Perugino, who also seemed intrigued by the unicorn horn.
"You certainly know how to read the room. I'll take this magic core, and I'll also take the unicorn horn for Master Perugino," Joanna said as she stepped forward to collect the items, swiftly stowing them away. Fars noticed that the noble girl didn't seem to have a spatial ring; perhaps her storage space was of a higher grade and existed in a different form.
Fars had never seen such beautiful hands before. Her long, fair fingers were bare, enhancing their purity and elegance. Perhaps she feared that wearing rings would detract from their beauty. In fact, after becoming a vampire, Fars's hands had also become exceptionally attractive. Being a noble himself, he had worked hard on his etiquette, and his gestures were impeccable when handing over items. This might be why Joanna was willing to accept them directly.
However, while the items were gone, Fars still hadn't received any indication that he could leave, which made him a bit anxious. It was difficult to voice his concerns; the fact that they hadn't mentioned his fate suggested that nothing was decided yet. Still, he sensed that he was no longer in immediate danger. After all, they had accepted his offerings, and if they had intended to kill him, they could have done so without hesitation. Accepting his gifts meant that his life was spared—for now.
Not wanting to keep Fars in a state of anxiety, the old mage took a valuable item from him and alleviated his concerns. "You needn't worry. Since Miss Joanna is willing to accept your items, it means she won't harm you. By the way, your strength seems impressive. The Thunder Serpent you hunted—based on the size of its magic core—was likely just a step away from being a top-tier magical beast."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "We mean you no harm. Since you've managed to survive here for so long, why not guide us? We're searching for something, and having a guide would be quite beneficial. Would you be willing?"
Though he claimed there was no malice in his words and sought Fars's consent, the perceptive vampire understood that refusing was not an option. He decided to go along with the old mage's suggestion.
"It would be my honor to serve you. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Fars de Hill, a former member of the Delong family from the Osidian Empire."
"Oh, the Delong family—a historic lineage, though it has faded in recent years due to the coup in the Osidian Empire," the cold-faced young man finally spoke up. Well-versed in the histories of noble families, he quickly recounted the rise and fall of the Delong family.
"Indeed, the Delong family has fallen. Even I have become a vampire, and the family has lost all vitality," Fars sighed as he spoke.
"Enough with the boring topics, brother. We need to keep moving," Joanna interjected, addressing the young man as her brother, but Fars felt a chill; there was no warmth of sibling affection in her tone.
"Don't think you've gotten off scot-free. If you can't lead us to our destination, you won't have it easy. Of course, if you perform well, I might consider taking you as my attendant and bringing you back to the Mirio Empire. That would be much better than staying here and feeding on magical beast blood every day," Joanna's tone toward Fars was even colder. As a fellow noble, she knew he wasn't a fool; otherwise, he wouldn't be waiting here for them to capture him. The fact that he could maintain his composure in such a situation indicated that this vampire was no ordinary creature.
"However, may I ask what exactly you are searching for? I am familiar with some areas around the outskirts of the Qihar Mountains, but I cannot venture deeper with my current strength," Fars had to voice his concerns. He couldn't just lead them without knowing what they were after.
Looking at the sky, which was still not too dark, Master Perugino answered Fars's question without hesitation. "It's not too dark yet, but nighttime is when vampires are most active. First, go catch us a medium-sized magical beast for dinner. Remember, don't drink its blood. If you want to eat, find another beast for yourself. Also, gather some firewood. We'll set up camp in that clearing ahead. Don't even think about running away; if you're smart, you'll do as you're told. We'll explain what we need from you when you return."
Reluctantly, Fars complied, knowing that no matter how unwilling he felt, he couldn't show it. As the old mage said, with his current strength, he wouldn't stand a chance against a sorcerer and an eighth-level knight, let alone the other three whose abilities were still unknown.
Having once been served by others, Fars knew how to please this group. Nobles, especially those from great families, could be quite picky about food, often leaving even the best chefs at a loss. He figured his own cooking skills would be embarrassing. Although Fars had never eaten magical beasts, only drinking their blood, he could still discern the tenderness and flavor of their meat. His fangs could only draw blood from the veins of magical beasts.
After Fars was sent off, the remaining group began to discuss matters. The knight Durl, who had stood by Master Perugino's side the entire time, finally voiced his concerns.
"Master Perugino, do you really think we can trust this cunning vampire? We're here to explore that ruin secretly; what if word gets out…"
"Ha, Durl, there's no need to worry. That vampire is quite clever; he understands the situation. As long as we have the strength to keep him in check, he won't dare to escape and will obediently guide us. While we don't know his exact strength, he managed to hunt a peak-level Thunder Serpent, so he shouldn't be underestimated."
Master Perugino wasn't fooled by Fars's compliance.
"Indeed, we must remain cautious. He speaks with composure, which may indicate that he is indeed a survivor of the fallen Delong family. Even I would need considerable time to hunt a beast on the verge of becoming a top-tier magical creature. His strength is not to be taken lightly. At least among us, aside from you and me, the others likely lack that level of power," Durl remained prudent. He didn't have much regard for dark creatures, but his duty was to ensure the safety of those present. Any mishap would be beyond the capacity of a mere eighth-level knight to handle.
Fars worked efficiently, not only solving his own food problem but also managing to catch a Golden Feather Eagle, which was known for its delicious meat. These sky-dwelling creatures were hard to catch, but Fars was quick enough to take it down when it carelessly wandered into his line of sight. He also gathered enough firewood to last the night, returning to find that they hadn't even set up their tents yet, clearly waiting for him to return.
Once the firewood was lit, the group gathered around the fire. Fars took the opportunity to showcase his cooking skills, which brought back some of the thrill of his past adventures. Listening to their conversations, he felt he had gained some insight. He learned that it was now the year 3038 of the new era. He had been in a deep slumber for nearly two years since his transformation into a vampire. He couldn't fathom how he had survived without starving.
Joanna and her brother Agno hailed from the ancient Medici family of Mirio. Fars had heard of this family; they were one of the few noble families in the Mirio Empire that could rival the royal family. The other young man, Panasus, also belonged to this family but was likely not a direct descendant, as he seemed eager to please Joanna. The sorcerer and knight were both retainers supported by the Medici family.
They were primarily here to explore a ruin called Gonsago, a place Fars had never heard of. However, based on their map, it seemed they needed to head east toward his former territory. Fars had no desire to return there, but no one would care about his feelings. Even Durl, as a guard, was an eighth-level knight—someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Fortunately, since Fars had caught a flying creature, they seemed pleased, likely because they hadn't had much poultry during their journey. Fars felt honored to taste a glass of fine red wine from the ancient Medici family. The flavor was indeed far superior to the cheap red wine sold for a few gold coins. As for the collection from the wealthy young nobles, it was also quite good.
When it came time to sleep, Fars was not given any special treatment and had to stand guard outside.
Thinking about how he would have to endure the sun during the day, leaving no time for meditation, Fars decided to adjust his schedule and meditate while on watch.
When alone, meditation was nothing special, but tonight's meditation surprised the others in the tent, waking them up.
The reason was simple: the magic circle powered by six runes generated a force that rivaled Master Perugino's meditative pressure. Even Master Perugino couldn't help but feel compelled to study this peculiar vampire count, Fars.
Could it be that his magical talent was just that exceptional? This question arose in the minds of those present.