Titan, the capital of the Saharan Empire, had the biggest Reba Temple on the continent. The size of one temple wasrge enough to overwhelm the size of the Vatican. It was a ce where people could see the close rtionship between the empire and the Reba Church.
"Your Majesty, it’s urgent.”
The temple built on the blood and sweat of countless immigrants. A statue of Reba, goddess of goodness, actually existed in this ugly ce? People against the empire didn’t appreciate Titan’s Reba Temple. However, from the viewpoint of Emperor Juander, this temple was the symbol of absolute power and the sole home of the ‘real’ Goddess Reba. Someone came to this sacred ce.
“Urgent...”
Juander, who was sitting in front of the statue and praying, opened his eyes. He was grumpy at his prayers being disturbed. Earl Lisha, who ran to give the report, bowed his head deeply.
“There is a strange trend in the Overgeared Kingdom. It is said that they are gathering arge army in Reidan by mobilizing all allied troops.
"...Hrmm."
Reidan was a city that bordered the empire. The act of gathering troops there could be regarded as a threat to the empire. Juander could send an army to the Overgeared Kingdom under the ‘sin of making the people of the empire nervous.’ But Juander was unable to move his army. It was because most of the empire’s main forces were dispatched to Valha.
“Moving after knowing this fact... As expected from the Overgeared King.”
The reason why Juander ced arge number of troops near Valha was to keep the Undefeated King’s descendant in check. Juander was very alert to him, who killed tens of thousands of imperial troops, killed the Red Knights, and damaged Kyle. He didn’t express it to anyone, but the feeling was almost like fear. He wondered if it was the seconding of the Undefeated King.
Thus, Juander posted an army near Valha to guard against the Undefeated King’s descendant. But Valha and the Overgeared Kingdom didn’t know this. They interpreted it as the empire going to invade Valha soon. Therefore, the Overgeared Kingdom gathering the army in Reidan was a type of warning. It was a warning that if they invaded Valha, the Overgeared Kingdom would strike their rear.
“Sigh... Kuk, kuku! Kukukuk!”
Juander gave a deep sigh before bursting out intoughter. It wasughable. A mere kingdom just born dared to warn the empire. He never thought there would be a kingdom that ignored the empire. Juander was amazed by the changes in this era. He was so pathetic that it was funny.
Heughed for a while before asking Earl Lisha.
"What’s the exact number of the Overgeared army gathering in Reidan?”
The empire had eyes and ears throughout the continent. The empire’s spies existed in every country and region. Any of Juander’s questions could be answered immediately. But not this time.
"I’m ashamed. I haven’t figured out the exact number yet.”
“...”
Earl Lisha, the head of the empire’s intelligence agency, had already tried several times to nt spies in the Overgeared Kingdom. But it was difficult. All territories of the Overgeared Kingdom were strictly guarded. Even if a spy was nted, they were caught immediately. In particr, the spies that were nted in Reinhardt were close to zero. Most of the 300 spies dispatched to Reinhardt were unounted for. That’s why there was a big restriction on their ‘eyes’ in the Overgeared Kingdom.
Juander frowned.
“The informationwork in the Overgeared Kingdom is still weak. How disappointing, Lisha.”
"I’m ashamed... It seems that there are many high level assassins in the Overgeared Kingdom... But I wille up with a solution soon.”
“Then can you roughly guess the number of enemies?”
The exact number wasn’t known, but it was possible to guess. Lisha replied once Juander asked again.
"Approximately 40,000."
40,000. It was an insignificant number. From the viewpoint of the empire that had an army of millions, 40,000 was a number that could be erased at any time. But war wasn’t all about numbers. In particr, there were many people in the Overgeared Kingdom who were as good as the Red Knights. Among these, the Overgeared King had already destroyed two kingdoms and established two new ones. There would be no Valha without the Overgeared King.
‘The hundreds of thousands of soldiers and my strong people sent to Valha...’
They were just good prey. Juander judged this and was filled with big regret.
‘There’s no talent.’
Sword Duke Limit and the Red Knights were on the side of the empress and it wasn’t the time to send the Five Pirs to the frontlines. They were busy raising knights and magicians who would surpass the Red Knights. Kyle was somewhat idle, but he’d lost one arm to the descendant of the Undefeated King.
Juander wondered when things had be so twisted. Looking back, it had been a long time. Since he lost Piaro...
In the end, the descendant of the Undefeated King appeared and the bnce of power copsed.
“More than this...”
Step.
Juander beckoned and a guard came up to him, handing him a cloak. Juander wore the cloak, walked outside the temple and muttered.
"For the time being, I need to drink a bitter cup. Let’s try diplomacy.”
Diplomacy. Juander had never tried diplomacy before. From the time he took the throne of the empire, he became the ruler of the continent and only gave orders to other countries. They were one-sided deals, not diplomacy. But now the times had changed.
“Send an envoy to the Overgeared King. Tell him that we won’t invade Valha for the time being. I will ask for a truce with Valha as proof.”
“...!!”
The emperor of the world was dering that he would take a step back? It was unbelievable. Earl Lisha’s eyes widened while the guard captain Bain’s face was red with anger.
"Your Majesty! I would rather go to the battlefield! Instead of the useless Red Knights, this Bain will obtain the heads of the Undefeated King’s Descendant and the Overgeared King.”
“That can’t be. Bain, if you aren’t around then I can’t feelfortable for even a moment. I can’t even sleep well.”
“...”
Who could be in charge of escorting the ruler of the continent? Guard Captain Bain was someone recognized by Juander. Bain was the person Juander trusted most in the world. He was able to walk down the street thanks to Bain.
“The Undefeated King’s descendant...”
After calming Bain down, Juander thought about the description of the Undefeated King’s descendant that Kyle gave. He got goosebumps.
‘A monster who can use the legendary 100,000 Army Swordsmanship as well as magic... It’s better not to move until all of the Five Pirs have returned. Yes, today’s choice is wise, not a disgrace.’
***
"Hahahaha! Did you see it? Those scandalous fools ran away!”
The vampire earl Noll. Currently, he was in a peculiar state. He had ovee the Curse of Idleness. It was difficult for him to understand. He just knew that after encountering the human called Grid a few times, the word ‘annoying’ disappeared from his head.
Noll believed this change was based on his feelings of anger. There were humans who weren’t afraid of direct descendants. The moment that his anger rose to his head, Noll interpreted that he was free from the curse. Then he felt joy. It was the first time he felt a distinct emotion since he was born hundreds of years ago. He realized that he was alive now.
‘Now I see why Braham and Elfin Stone tried to ovee the Curse of Idleness.
Braham had a desire for knowledge and Elfin Stone longed for love. Those who opened their eyes to desires and emotions earlier than their kin wouldn’t like the Curse of Idleness. That was why they struggled so hard.
“Kuk...! Kuahahaha! But in the end, I overcame it first!”
Noll thought that he was superior to Braham and Elfin Stone. Then a true blood vampire approached him and asked carefully, “Excuse me... Earl Noll, can we go to sleep now?”
“...”
The true blood vampires and ordinary vampires received only a small bit of the Curse of Idlenesspared to the direct descendants. But that was just whenpared to the direct descendants. They were all annoyed and wanted to go to sleep. However, they couldn’t leave because they had to follow the orders of the direct descendant.
Noll clicked his tongue.
"Sleep here if you’re tired. I don’t know when that human wille back.”
“...”
They were noble vampires who slept in coffins, not on the ground! The true blood vampires and ordinary vampires wanted to protest, but couldn’t. Just like the direct descendants honored, loved, and feared Beriache, the true blood vampires and ordinary vampires also felt the same towards the direct descendants.
Some of the vampires who noticed it carefully gave their opinions.
“That... Earl Noll. Humans aren’t stupid. Isn’t it likely that they won’te back?”
"It would bepletely crazy toe back when they know we’re camped here.”
Yes, it was a verymon sense interpretation. Grid wouldn’te back here unless he was a madman. Thus, Noll believed they should stay camped here. Noll was aware that Grid was a psycho!
"That human is crazy. He came back to this ce several times, struggled when there were no odds, and killed my brothers one after another. It’s evidence that he’s crazy.”
"You mean he wille again?”
"That’s right. He will surelye."
And.
“He will be killed by me. Kuk, kukukuk!”
Noll had already killed Grid once. He enjoyed the blood. It was very sweet. The moment he drank the blood, it felt like his strength reached boiling point. Evolution. It was simr to a ss advancement whenparing it to yers. After wiping out the Overgeared members, he was stronger than ever. He was confident because he was aware of this fact himself.
“Was it 10 years ago? Do you remember the human army that entered our city?
"Yes, at that time, there were thousands of humans.”
"It was a full feast. It was the first andst time I ate so much.”
"There will be another feast soon.”
“Huh?”
"Just like ants, weak people like to gather together because they can’t do it themselves. The crazy human will certainly bring reinforcements to resist us. The number will be simr to ours.”
“Ohh...!”
The eyes of the drowsy vampires shone. By nature, humans were weak. They were a species that was the vampire’s prey. A lot of theming at once wasn’t a threat, but a buffet. In this warm atmosphere, Noll shouted joyfully.
“Come...! Come at any time! Bring it on! I will feed on all your humans and gain the strength to reach another level!”
At that moment.
"Yes, I’m here.”
A human voice was heard from the entrance of the city. The owner of this voice was unforgettable. Grid. He waspletely crazy.
“Kik...! Kihahahaha! You came! You really came back!”
Noll shuddered with joy when he discovered Grid. It was great to see the prey that hade to him. It was so lovely that he wanted to kill. The other vampires also shouted excitedly.
“He didn’te alone, did he?”
"Did you bring a lot of friends this time? Baby.”
The vampires were too excited! Grid nodded at them.
"Yes, I have a lot of friends.”
Kurururururuk!
Footsteps could be heard from the doorway. It wasn’t the sound of dozens or hundreds of footsteps. Thousands? It wasn’t that either.
Kurururururuk!
“...?”
Noll and the vampires cocked their heads at the sound. The number of people entering through the doorway seemed to be more than expected. There was a problem.
Kurururururuk!
There was still a lot of noise. Humans were constantly entering the city. The number...
"...I can’t count them.”
“Me too...”
It was a number they were seeing for the first time in their lives! The vampires shrank at the emergence of arge army. In the meantime, humans were constantly entering. Eventually, Noll cried out.
"Why are you so stiff? The long-awaited banquet is right in front of you! Dinner! Shouldn’t a predator be rejoicing?”
“Ohhhhhhh!”
Noll’s cry woke up the stunned vampires. It was the power of a direct descendant. The vampires lost their fear and flew to the humans. Noll was naturally in the lead. He was only looking at Grid. He didn’t care about the other humans.
“I will eat something delicious again!”
Noll proimed in a threatening manner! Then above Noll and the vampires following him.
“Pounding Mortar.”
“...?”
Something very big fell from the ceiling of the city.
Kuuuuuuong!
The vampire city with hundreds of years of history started to copse.