#Chapter 105
—
Leon’s eyes widened.
“A vampire?”
At those words, Jeannie asked in a hesitant, uneasy tone.
“Isn’t that just a race from fairy tales?”
“…It’s not exactly that legendary, but it is a rare race.”
Arthur tilted his head at the exchange.
‘Vampires? The bloodsuckers who feed on blood?’
Among bloodlines, there were clans that inherited their blood especially strongly.
Of them, the vampire lineage was notorious in many ways.
‘They’re always depicted as villains in fairy tales and novels, so there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of them.’
Which is why they were often dismissed as nothing more than a legend. But now, the man standing before them had introduced himself as a vampire.
At that moment, the thugs whose necks or limbs had been severed by Arthur began to rise one by one.
“Damn it! That hurt!”
“That bastard…! We’ll never forgive him!”
“No, better yet—don’t kill him outright. Make him live unable to die or live. That’s the best.”
With vicious threats, the vampires picked up their fallen weapons once more.
Watching the scene, Arthur let out a quiet chuckle.
“Interesting. Hm… Leon, Jeannie?”
At his call, Leon and Jeannie turned their heads. Arthur pointed toward the inn’s door.
“Would you two step outside for a bit? Looks like I’ll have to handle this a little roughly.”
Their eyes widened.
‘Roughly… handle it?’
‘If he’s saying rougher than before… just how far does he plan to go?’
After a brief moment of thought, they stood silently and rose.
If Arthur Bayern was going as far as to issue such a warning, then leaving without asking further was the wise choice.
The moment the two of them obeyed and stepped outside, the innkeeper finally spoke.
“Give it up.”
Arthur blinked.
“Pardon?”
“Give up. You can’t defeat us.”
Arthur tilted his head.
“Oh… give up. That’s a word I haven’t heard in a long time. I don’t quite understand… you mean give up this fight?”
“That’s right. When the full moon shines, the vampire clan loses to no one.”
The innkeeper’s eyes shifted.
At that instant, sharp fangs pushed out from between his thick lips.
“If you stay quiet, I’ll make sure you close your eyes quickly. That’s the last mercy I can offer.”
Arthur stroked his chin, then let out a chuckle.
“Someone offering me mercy—now that’s been a while. Hm… but I’ve no intention of giving up.”
His hand gripped the Beast.
He tilted the weapon casually and said,
“Come on, then. This time, I’ll let you have the first move.”
Curses erupted among the vampires.
“You son of a bitch!”
Several of them leapt at Arthur.
**Boom—!**
The spot where Arthur had just been standing was instantly pulverized by their weapons.
But the blood and flesh they desired were nowhere to be found.
“Where did he go!?”
As the vampires turned their heads in confusion, Arthur’s voice came from above.
“Up here, gentlemen.”
The instant they looked up, Beast’s trigger was pulled.
**BOOM—!!!**
With a roar like a cannon firing, five vampires were obliterated.
The others cried out in shock.
“W-what the hell is that!?”
“An artifact? No… magic?”
Still clinging to the ceiling, Arthur’s eyes gleamed.
‘Oh ho… Beast’s strike doesn’t allow them to regenerate.’
The vampires who hadn’t died to enchanted blades had vanished without a trace under Beast’s bullets.
‘So cutting them down with a sword won’t kill them, but the Beast’s magic bullets work….’
As Arthur pondered, cries of panic erupted among the vampires.
“…What is this!!”
“Where did they go!”
“N-no way they’re dead!?”
Breaking free of his thoughts, Arthur leapt down from the ceiling.
“…!”
The vampires flinched and recoiled all at once.
Their reaction was markedly different from earlier. Arthur cocked his head.
“Huh? Why are you all so frightened?”
“……”
“Could it be because your comrades died? Hm… I didn’t take you all for such devoted companions.”
The innkeeper trembled and shouted,
“W-what are you! How can you kill vampires under a full moon… Is it because of that artifact!?”
At that cry, the vampires whispered among themselves.
“A weapon that kills vampires…?”
“Is it from the Church?”
“T-the Church!? Then that’s a holy relic…?”
“Th-that explains it! He’s from the Holy Knights, come to exterminate us…!”
Arthur tilted his head.
“Hm? I think you’re all mistaken. I’m not a holy kni—”
“That bastard’s a dog of God!”
“……”
“Kill him! How dare a servant of God set foot here!”
With that, the vampires charged again.
Arthur scratched his head, then raised his sword.
At that instant, five—no, six—rings spun, unleashing a dazzling light.
**Boom—!**
Sword aura, the brilliance only swordsmen of the highest mastery could unleash.
The moment it flared, the vampires’ eyes widened.
But it was too late.
With a flash of scattered blue light, the leading vampire’s head was severed.
**Thud…**
The lifeless head rolled out the inn’s door.
Watching the sight, Arthur exclaimed,
“Oh, so not only magic bullets, but sword aura kills them too. They don’t revive.”
“……”
“Hm… not bad. I thought they were complete immortals.”
With that, Arthur strode to the door and locked it.
**Clack—!**
The vampires flinched and backed away in fear.
Smiling brightly at them, Arthur said,
“Now then, shall we resume? Just so you know—only one of you gets to survive.”
—
—
Jeannie examined the lifeless vampire’s face with wide eyes.
“Is it over? Leon?”
“Hm… not quite. I can still hear screams.”
“They must be resisting fiercely. Though it’s pointless.”
At her remark, Leon glanced sideways at her.
“By the way, Miss Jeannie. What exactly is your relationship with Arthur?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Could it be that you and he are…?”
“I’m his maid, and he’s my master.”
“…!”
Leon nearly stumbled, barely steadying himself.
“A-a maid and her master…?”
“Yes. Whatever you’re imagining, that’s the truth.”
Leon swallowed hard.
“Hah… That’s the most surprising answer I’ve heard in a long time. Possibly the best one yet.”
“Then can I ask you a question?”
“…Go ahead.”
“What’s your relationship with the young lord?”
“Me and Arthur? Hm… friends, I suppose?”
Jeannie’s eyes narrowed.
‘The heir to the dukedom and the man who wants to kill the Dormunds are friends?’
She didn’t like sayings like “birds of a feather flock together,” but in this case, she had to agree.
Just then, Leon let out a small exclamation.
“Looks like it’s over. The screams have stopped.”
He stepped forward, and Jeannie rose as well.
Entering the inn first, Leon muttered under his breath.
“Oh… heavens.”
Jeannie, coming in after, gasped.
“Good lord… what is this?”
Arthur turned and greeted them.
“Oh, you two are back?”
“……”
“There’s a lot of blood, huh? They resisted more than I expected.”
Leon swallowed dryly.
‘…Even with resistance, he’s turned this inn into the mouth of hell itself.’
Just from the sight before him, Leon understood Arthur’s nickname from the train.
‘Death’s Mercenary, Donn… He’s literally a grim reaper. The reaper of death.’
Arthur slung the unconscious innkeeper over his shoulder.
“Can’t exactly interrogate him here. Let’s step outside. I don’t care for the smell of blood either.”
Jeannie snapped out of her daze and stepped aside to clear the way.
Arthur carried the innkeeper outside and set him down.
“…Guh!”
The innkeeper coughed up blood.
Jeannie’s eyes narrowed.
“He’s alive… right, Young Lord?”
“I broke his limbs so he can’t resist, but yes, he’s alive.”
Arthur crouched. Meeting his gaze, the innkeeper screamed in terror.
“M-monster!”
“Huh? A moment ago I was a holy knight, and now I’m a monster?”
“Stay away! You monster! Get away from me!”
The innkeeper was completely broken with fear.
Arthur scratched his head, then glanced at Leon.
“Oh? Is it my turn now?”
Leon smirked faintly and stepped forward.
“…!”
The innkeeper abruptly fell silent. His terrified screams ceased, his eyes vacant as he stared blankly at Leon.
As Jeannie gasped softly, Leon spoke.
“Let’s begin the interrogation.”
Arthur asked calmly,
“You’re with \[The Black Cross], aren’t you?”
The innkeeper’s eyes twitched, but he didn’t deny it.
“…Yes.”
“Where’s Yenika now?”
“The north… the holy land…”
“And where exactly is that?”
“I don’t know… only the High Priest knows the location of the northern holy land.”
Arthur stroked his chin.
“Hm… then what were you doing here?”
“We were… stopping those who would interfere… with the High Priest.”
“Ah, so those believers blocking the train were with you too?”
“That’s right…”
His eyes twitched more violently now.
Leon gave a warning.
“He’ll wake soon. Ask quickly.”
At his urging, Arthur pressed on.
“What did Yenika steal?”
The innkeeper coughed blood as he replied.
“The Blood Grail… the treasure that will lead the forgotten race of the moon back to the sun…”
His words trailed off, his head lolling to the side.
Arthur looked over.
“Leon. He’s dead.”
“Not my fault. Looks like he was under a counter-curse that conflicted with my illusions.”
“Ah, so he couldn’t reveal secrets?”
“Exactly. Hm… impressive magic. To withstand even my illusions.”
Arthur scratched his head and chuckled.
“Well, it’s a shame, but didn’t we already get the information we wanted?”
“Seems so… My guess is that the Black Cross…”
Leon’s expression darkened.
“…is a religious order formed by the descendants of the forgotten race of the moon. Vampires.”
Jeannie asked,
“You’re saying that just because these people were vampires?”
“No, Miss Jeannie. Vampires are rare, but that alone isn’t enough to define a sect. The real reason is…”
His voice grew grave.
“The Blood Grail. That’s the treasure of the vampires.”
Jeannie’s eyes widened.
“The treasure of the vampires?”
“Yes. Vampires are a cursed race—they cannot live under the sun. They can only move under night’s veil.”
Leon’s voice grew heavy.
“But according to certain old legends… if the vampires possess the Blood Grail, this curse will vanish.”
Jeannie asked in a grim voice,
“You mean… vampires walking freely in broad daylight?”
“Exactly. There are other legends as well, but those are too far-fetched…”
He trailed off, falling silent. Jeannie, too, sank into thought.
In that silence, Arthur rose to his feet.
He turned to Leon and asked,
“Hey, Leon.”
“Yes?”
“Then… do you think that person is a vampire too?”
Leon’s brows knit.
“…Highly likely.”
At that answer, Arthur let out a quiet laugh.
“Now that’s interesting.”
His gaze shifted northward—toward where Yenika Hazel was.
Clicking his tongue, he muttered,
“Yenika Hazel… so when he said her blood was sweet, it turns out she’s even more of a vampire than I am.”
—
