Chapter 34 - Fire

Chapter 34 - Fire

Marcello opened a book and spoke.

"I was looking through the Monster's Compendium."

"I know what kind of book it is. So, why?"

"Especially the vampire section."

"Vampires? Are you still concerned about Mago's work? I told you to leave Mago alone for now..."

"I'm just investigating ways to deal with an air raid. Anyway, here."

Marcello pointed to a passage.

Vampires.

Especially hybrids.

"It seems that if a human drinks a vampire's blood, they could become a vampire. Although, the success rate is low, and even if it does happen, it isn't complete."

"Just drinking blood doesn't make you the same as the owner of that blood. It doesn't seem normal. A human drinking turtle blood doesn't turn into a turtle, right?"

"Why turtles all of a sudden?"

"It just popped into my head."

"Anyway, that imperfection might be an opportunity."

"Opportunity?"

"Hybrids have imperfect vampire traits. They're weaker than purebloods, but that also means their vampire traits are lighter. They can live under the sun."

"Hmm..."

"They can be out in the sunlight, but that doesn't mean they get stronger at night. They can see crosses, but that doesn't mean they're immune if they touch one."

"Everything's vague. I guess they are hybrids, but still."

"Do you think it could be useful? For the Demon King's army's raw forces?"

"I suppose so."

"You're not reacting much. I thought it was a huge discovery."

"Mago will handle it. Investigating vampires is Mago's job. If Mago has already figured that out, and if the empire's army has found a hybrid who can cooperate, he'll be the first to inform us."

"You know we're running out of time."

"Marcello, you just want to help Mago."

"Huh?"

"Be honest."

Captain Shimenna's expression suddenly became cold.

"What do you mean?"

"I understand you want to cooperate with Mago. You want to keep verifying his abilities. To verify, and once you're satisfied, then..."

He stared directly at Marcello.

"You plan to leave it to Mago, don't you? You know you're more familiar with him than anyone else."

"What do you mean leave it to him? Me?"

"Marcello, you want to make Mago your successor and run away. You've never cared much for others, but lately, for some strange reason, you've been focused on Mago. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know how much weight your various nicknames carry. After every defeat of the empire's army, you'd probably blame yourself. I admire that about you. No, I already respect you for it."

"That's an interesting story. I don't know whose story it is though."

Marcello shrugged and shook the Monster's Compendium she was holding.

"But you still haven't..."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

The door opened carefully.

Kinjo entered with a sharp salute.

"Kinjo Shuah, 42nd Division."

"Ah, you're just in time, Kinjo Shuah. This is Marcello Arnis, who will be working with you starting tomorrow."

Captain Shimenna pointed at Marcello.

"Uh...?"

"I've heard you can use clairvoyance. You'll be going with Marcello to the fallen capital. You'll need to see through the Demon King's two wolves and the structure of the moving castle. You must succeed. The fate of the empire depends on you."

"Yes... yes!"

Kinjo quickly responded.

Marcello sighed and took Kinjo out.

Kinjo, still dazed, stepped into the hallway.

"I'm not capable of seeing through a thousand-mile distance..."

"I know. We're going to search the Demon King's castle, every inch of it, including the wolves' claws."

"Is that for real... every inch...?"

"It might be a good idea to write your will, rookie."

"Well, at least Marcello's here with me."

Without saying anything, Marcello took an envelope out of her inner pocket.

It was her will.

***

I knew about the hybrid existence.

It was a generally known fact, even in the Monster's Compendium.

Hybrids became vampires to avoid war.

It wasn't because they didn't want to participate.

"I..."

I could have tried to persuade Captain Shimenna by mentioning the possibility of becoming a bat, but I gave up early.

It was a simple reason.

"I've never actually seen a human who was reborn as a vampire."

Vampires who operate during the day.

That never existed.

Madam Anne would take money and blood from humans, then kill them all.

During the day, vampires couldn't move.

I headed to the new store Madam Anne was preparing.

Recently, she bought another building.

It's still in preparation.

Right now it's just a warehouse.

The words of my senior came to mind.

That three-story building was still under preparation.

Literally a warehouse.

The oak barrels piled outside were still there.

It remained a warehouse.

I opened the warehouse's door.

It creaked because of the lock.

I kicked it several times, breaking it open and entered.

First floor.

There was nothing.

But there was a sound.

"Ughhh..."

"Ugh, hhh..."

Unknown groans entered my ears.

At the same time, a coldness was felt.

I went up to the second floor.

Then, the third floor.

Even when I reached the top floor, it was still the same.

I couldn't figure out where the sound was coming from.

I went back down to the first floor and used the lake technique.

The vibrations felt different from the other floor.

I carefully stepped through, checking thoroughly.

When I reached the corner...

Only one wooden plank vibrated differently.

"This is it."

I hurriedly lifted the wooden plank.

A large door came into view.

As I lifted the door leading to the underground, a louder groan echoed from below.

The underground was a single floor.

There were humans who had turned into vampires, like the man I encountered before, only halfway through their transformation.

"Just as I thought, this isn't a storage room..."

They were bound with solid handcuffs and leg irons.

The chains connected to their leg irons were fixed to the wall.

There was no trace of life in them.

It seemed they hadn't seen light in a long time.

They were still human.

Though they hadn't properly turned into vampires yet.

Sunlight was denied to them.

"I... I will save you. Just a little... please, hold on."

I returned to the inn and hastily wrote a letter to Captain Shimenna.

The conditions I had promised to Captain Shimenna were all fulfilled.

First, I revealed that Anaconda was a vampire nest.

The existence of the third and fourth floors explained it all.

Second, I revealed that the vampires were enemies of humanity.

It could be represented by Madam Anne's storage.

Finally, the third point.

"I will send in the special unit to kill them."

Only the final step remained.

I carelessly tossed aside my white tunic and brown pants, changing into the military uniform I had worn at the training camp.

I fastened the buttons and tightened my belt.

I adjusted it to fit my body.

I slid the red sword between the belt.

There was no reason to hide the sword anymore.

The Anaconda merchant act was over.

The decisive battle was approaching.

I tucked the letter into my chest.

As I left the inn room, my reflection appeared in the mirror.

Indeed, this attire felt more familiar.

I went to Anaconda and broke the carriage.

After freeing one of the horses that had been tied up, I mounted it.

I led the horse toward the imperial army checkpoint.

"Make sure to go as far as possible, as much as you can, during the day."

By night, Madam Anne would wake up.

Captain Simena folded the letter from Mago and tucked it into his chest.

***

"Perhaps I was too hasty in my judgment about his excessively independent nature."

Especially the last line of the letter.

[So I definitely need the help of my comrades.]

Captain Shimenna found that line the most impressive.

He liked it.

He put the letter away and shouted loudly.

"For that reason, Unit 42 and 43 will head south."

A total of eight people.

As he looked down at the lined-up recruits, he continued.

"Currently, only two are left in Unit 42, though."

Captain Shimenna alternated glances between Amon and Bell's faces.

"Work well with Unit 43, who are from the second training camp. I know there's deep conflict between the first and second training camps, but..."

He scanned the entire group.

"I won't tolerate any deviation during the mission."

Then he added more seriously.

"Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The voices of the eight merged together.

"It took two days for the letter to arrive from the south. The special unit's support will also take two days. In total, at least four days. Mago will be isolated alone for four days after sending the letter. He probably expected that. We'll appear at the exact time he predicted."

After saying this, Captain Shimenna moved away.

"Mago... what on earth is that guy up to..."

Amon muttered.

It was a voice that could barely reach the back of Captain Shimenna's head.

At that moment, Captain Shimenna quickly turned around.

Amon, thinking his hearing was sharp, was startled.

"Amon Coster."

"Yes!"

"You'll have to be extra careful."

"Uh, you expect me to..."

"That's what Mago said."

"Yes... understood."

A little later, Amon spoke again.

It was after confirming that Captain Shimenna had moved far enough out of sight.

"Take extra care? There's no way that guy would say that to me."

"Right? Ugh, just imagining it makes me cringe. Mago telling you... Amon Coster, you'll have to take extra care."

Bell imitated Mago's voice.

"Hey... stop. It's creepy."

"Amon Coster. You'll have to be..."

"I said stop it."

"Extra careful."

"Oh, Bell. That was pretty close."

"Right? I did well."

Bell smiled broadly.

"You guys are too relaxed, considering the mission's right in front of you."

Voices came from Unit 43.

"Who exactly is Mago?"

"Why are all the first camp people so reckless...?"

Grumbling continued.

"Those who haven't experienced the second invasion wouldn't know anything..."

Amon responded.

"Hey, Amon. Stop dwelling on that. Back then..."

"Back then, what?"

"It was just luck. They say someone really strong helped, right? It was similar to the vibe given by Marcello."

"Elizabeth?"

"No, it wasn't that name. Anyway, if it wasn't for that person..."

"Then it was Mago."

Amon pointed his thumb at Bell.

"If it's not your sister, Elizabeth."

"Then it's Mago."

"What?"

"The person you guys speak of, that's Mago. The one we'll be supporting, he's that guy."

"He was a trainee...?"

***

By now, Madam Anne must have known I went to the storage.

She would surely mobilize all the brothels to find me.

I thought that, but it came too quickly.

"Mago, Anaconda is no ordinary tavern."

It was a senior who had located me.

It took half a day to reach the imperial army checkpoint by horseback.

By then, it was night.

Near midnight.

And it didn't take long for her, who had turned into a bat, to follow me.

The door to Anaconda opened at exactly 8 p.m.

Even if she had left at that time, it wouldn't have taken more than four hours.

She chose to confront me head-on.

"And I'm a vampire."

I gripped the sword tightly.

I was ready to counterattack immediately.

"Why reveal your true identity now? What do you plan to do after I already know everything?"

"Then, Mago, what can you do?"

I was suddenly asked.

"This is the market, Mago. Blood is just a product. It circulates without issue, like in a healthy bloodstream."

"Circulate..."

"We don't kill. Instead, we receive blood from customers who come to Anaconda voluntarily."

She emphasized the word "voluntary."

"We drink human blood for a fair price, and in return, we give them our blood. Everything is their choice, not ours. Nothing will change, even if you spread this information. Not at all."