Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - One Who Understands Three Worlds (8)

Marcus belongs to the non-mainstream nobles in Barcia.

The original clans ruling at the very top, and the pureblood families which keep their noble bloodline even if they fall short of the former.

These haughty vampires hold the majority stake in their society.

Below them in massive numbers were mixed-bloods called Dhampirs. They had the largest population but were effectively treated as commoners.

Dhampirs called themselves nobles of the night, but they were frequently subjected to ridicule.

Marcus is the most famous knight and lord among Dhampirs.

He challenged six pureblood knights who insulted him as half-baked to duels and won them all.

A handsome face that makes even those who hate him cower when they meet him, and a leadership that harmonizes purebloods and mixed-bloods like brothers while having both under his command.

He was a newly risen noble of the night that no one could deny. Even if he had to face many enemies and problems because of it.

Marcus did not have the status nor the correct situation to rush to a backwater village in the southwestern part of the continent in the middle of the night, but it couldn't be helped.

"My Lady will be safe."

Because his only younger sister, Maria, was in a situation where she had been captured. And to those malicious bastards of the Lord God faith of all people.

"They say nothing has happened since the cart entered the temple. We can save her if we strike now."

"Those bastards probably wouldn't think we would go as far as crossing Gord Kingdom to come here."

Marcus nodded at his subordinates' consolations.

The reason his sister was captured was because Marcus's political enemies schemed while he was absent.

To rise in noble society as Dhampirs, both siblings had to struggle with all their might.

His sister had gone far away for a secret negotiation she couldn't refuse, and contact had been lost since.

"Because it was the frontier, Maria lowered her guard."

She was competent, but a child who still lacked experience.

"Even so, it's strange. There were mercenaries hired, and those Lord God faith bastards shouldn't be in a position to run rampant like that."

"The mercenaries might have been bought, or she might have been kidnapped by an enemy family and handed over to the Lord God faith. There's no end to it if we calculate the possibilities."

Marcus decided not to think deeply about something that had already happened.

Rescuing her is the priority right now. If he just rescued Maria, he would be able to learn the whole story anyway.

"If they touched even a single hair of My Lady, they will not be forgiven. We will burn not only the monastery but the whole village to the ground!"

Marcus restrained the pale knight who was raging.

His name was Aaron. He was one of the six vampires who was challenged to a duel and lost after insulting Marcus.

Unlike the others who retreated gnashing their teeth, Aaron clearly admitted and apologized for his mistake.

Since then, he became a fervent follower of Marcus, and they pursue the same sweet dream together. He is one of the only two knights in this group.

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't want to harm ignorant and weak people as well."

Aaron suppressed his desire to protest.

In his opinion, Marcus was the man treated the most unreasonably in the world compared to his abilities.

Perhaps because of that, Marcus also hated persecuting innocent people.

A character that sees through and comforts the sense of unfairness everyone has at least one of. That might be the secret to the popularity he has.

"It is quite large for a backwater village."

"Even so, they don't have a garrison, let alone a lord."

"That means they are that far from war. It's land that's of no use even if taken."

His subordinates spoke confidently.

It was night, but all of them possessed eyes capable of piercing through the dark.

Slanted stakes were planted on the outskirts of the village. Intended to chase away beasts or monsters rather than human armies.

Since the village was large and there were many monks, ordinary bandit groups wouldn't have been able to run amok.

"Keep in mind that our objective is not pillaging. Fighting may be unavoidable, but we came to plant swords, not to sink our teeth in."

As always, it was Marcus's role to calm the hot blood of his subordinates, even if only a little.

"I know."

"We won't do anything to tarnish Our Lord's honor."

When Marcus nodded, everyone put on their helmets.

Their fighting spirit was fierce, but they let out no war cries. Like sliding through darkness, dozens of cavalrymen charged toward the village gate like an arrow.

* * *

Eugene was in the middle of searching the inside of the Sealed Chamber.

It was night and there were no lights, so it was extremely dark. However, it wasn't a problem for him, who had sharpened his five senses to a keen edge.

'I think it was around here.'

Having entered here a few times in the past, he quickly found the location of his mother's belongings.

A book detailing the mysteries of witches, his mother's diary. He collected the two most important books.

Both were written in Elvish, which could be called the C language of magic, so he couldn't read them. The languages Eugene had learned were up to the continental common language and the language of the Ancient Kingdom.

Beside the books, there was a bizarrely bent staff, an amulet holding a shamanistic meaning, and a murky black crystal ball.

There was no need to take those three. Because none of them contained magical power, nor were they items piled with memories of his mother.

The staff was something she used because of her weakened knees during her wandering life, the amulet's magical power was exhausted, and the crystal ball was for a placebo effect to appropriately placate residents praying for prophecies.

'They're unnecessarily bulky, and if they're gone, they'll immediately be noticed.'

Eugene turned his back without lingering attachments.

As he walked out of the Sealed Chamber, he felt his heart thumping. That was excitement coming from anticipating the future, not nervousness.

Kingdom's End was an affectionate and peaceful village, but a stagnant place. Honestly, it couldn't cool his boiling blood.

However, there was one thing he found regrettable: not having a horse.

Godfrey passed down everything to Eugene—familial affection, letters, combat techniques as a knight, the language of nobles, and even armor.

However, he did not yield the horse.

-Do not stare with greedy eyes. I won't give this guy to you.

Godfrey grumbled before leaving the village.

-I wasn't staring greedily.

Eugene, feeling unnecessarily guilty, avoided his eyes.

-Isn't it an age where your stamina is dropping? Since you are going on a long journey, of course you should have a horse.

-My stamina even now is no less than a young man's. However, having this guy by my side in my twilight years will keep an old man from withering away from loneliness.

-Doesn't it make me look like a bad guy if you come out like this?

-Do you feel the pains of conscience? Since it seems you won't have cause to hurt in the future, you need to hurt a bit even now.

Godfrey chuckled. However, Eugene could feel the sorrow of parting underlying that laugh.

Thinking of his departed master made his chest inexplicably tight.

"This smell is really."

What severed his reminiscence was the stench of the underground dungeon. He had already passed the corridor and returned to the prison.

Sleep, sleep.

Doro-rong~.

All three women were still asleep. The noble girl was even snoring with a satisfied smile.

As if she had completely sold off her usual elegant posture, she laid spread-eagled.

"..."

Eugene neatened the girl's legs together and placed both of her hands on her stomach. It was consideration shown because it would be embarrassing if the maids woke up first.

And he closed his eyes, focusing on his hearing. He intended to slip out quietly when there were no priests outside.

As his five senses shut one by one, the stench tormenting his nose disappeared. With all his nerves concentrated on his hearing, Eugene's world expanded, piercing through the walls.

It was one of Godfrey's great teachings.

* * *

"Get lost if you don't want to die!"

The well-armed cavalry breached the entrance at once and galloped through the center of the village.

The peaceful village night was instantly dyed with bloody tension.

The vigilantes patrolling with torches stepped aside briskly, so much so that the phrase 'Welcome!' would be fitting.

There was no trace of their usual swaggering, muscle-flexing appearance.

"What are those things?"

"Did a bandit troop strike, honey?"

"Mom, those people's eyes are glowing."

Frightened pupils peeked at the invaders from between windows.

A knight wearing the most magnificent armor among the cavalry came forward and lifted his visor.

"We have not come to harm you. Close your windows and we will not look at you either. Return to your respective beds and close your eyes. Then you will wake up tomorrow morning amongst your family just like any other day. I promise."

Marcus's words contained an irresistible power.

Thud! Thud! The sound of wooden doors closing could be heard from everywhere.

"I will say it again, we have not come to wage a war, but to rescue."

"Yes!"

Shouts filled with confidence.

"However, there is no need to hesitate to kill. Treasure a single one of your scratches more than 100 lives of the Lord God faith bastards."

"Yes!!!"

The second reply was a bit more resounding. Because respect had been added to their confidence.

At the monastery entrance, two armed priests holding spears were standing guard.

"You there! Halt!"

"To gallop on horseback into the sacred monastery in the middle of the night! Do you not fear the wrath of God?!"

Hearing the sound of horse hooves, the armed priests aimed their spears.

It varies by denomination, but usually, monks holding quarterstaffs stand on duty in the form of all-night prayer.

Cities with good security naturally even skip that since they have professional guards.

It's rare for a place like the Lord God faith to have people standing duty like guards while holding bladed weapons. One priest was completely drawing back a bowstring.

Ting!

The arrow flew, but it bounced off the vanguard cavalryman's shield.

"It's not just one or two guys!"

As they realized the invaders illuminated by the torches were a cavalry unit equipped better than expected, the priests' complexions changed.

"Emergency!"

"It's an attack!"

As the whistle blew, the sleeping monastery started to wake up.

"Gah!"

Around then, the priest who fired the arrow was hit in the leg by a cavalry crossbow, got a lasso thrown around his neck, and was dragged away.

The spear shaft of the other one was sliced by Marcus's swinging sword, and he was sent flying after being hit by a horse a soldier drove at him.

Marcus jumped down from his horse and immediately grabbed the fallen priest's neck.

"Where are the Dhampir women you guys brought in?"

Along with the question, he drove a dagger into the priest's thigh.

Thwack!

"Gahhh!"

"I will twist it three times just like this if you don't answer."

From experience, almost no bastard blurts it out immediately just from asking verbally. This is the most efficient interrogation method in urgent situations.

"Th-The underground dungeon! They are in the underground dungeon!"

"Where is that? Explain in detail."

Marcus twisted it a half-turn as he asked.

"Gaaahaaah!"

This was also born from experience. Even if they get hit once and answer the first question, many bastards hesitate on the second question out of loyalty to their organization.

"That way! Go that way, turn right, and go straaaiiight! Because it's a single path and suddenly drops underground, it will be easy to find! Look for a place that smells like a sewer!"

Covered in tears and snot, the priest added a detailed elaboration in case he twisted the dagger again.

"Thank you."

Smack!

Marcus pulled out the dagger and struck his neck with the hilt to knock the priest unconscious.

"Let's move!"

The rescue unit charged into the monastery.

A small number of priests running hastily could be seen. They were all holding polearms with blades attached.

It was only a few people for now, but it would soon increase to dozens.

"We will hold them off here!"

"I'm counting on you!"

As planned in advance, those with excellent shield skills stood their ground.

"You bastards who want your bodies filled with holes, come at us!"

They lined up behind large rectangular shields side-by-side and threatened the priests with short spears.

'Please be safe, my younger sister.'

Moonlight poured onto Marcus's handsome face.

Even though a Dhampir's skin and chilling moonlight combined, his affection for his only blood relative maintained the warmth on his face.

"It's there!"

The scout running at the front holding a buckler and estoc pointed to a basement ahead.

A stench entered the sensitive olfactory sense of the Dhampirs, but smiles hung on everyone's lips.

The operation was unfolding smoother than expected, without the variables they had worried about.