Chapter 74: Side: The Inquisition (1)

"Let go of me! I've never harmed anyone!"

"The details are a matter for the Church to decide."

After receiving damage reports from the dairy farmers, Lilith was taken to the Whiston Archdiocese by the Holy Knights who responded.

Thus, the shocking rumor that Lilith was a vampire spread throughout the Empire.

"Is it starting again?"

"Anyway, this damn Empire never has a quiet day."

Most of the citizens of the Empire reacted with boredom.

It was no wonder, as in the Empire, the method of labeling rivals as 'dark wizards' or 'witches' to eliminate political opponents was commonly used among the nobles.

It might have been shocking in the past, but since it's a method that's been used so often, they've become desensitized to it.

There were too many people accused of being dark wizards in the Empire to respond to each one individually.

The citizens of the Empire believed that this was yet another case like the previous ones.

As it turns out, the people who reported Lilith were rival 'dairy farmers.'

The dark wizard merely turned into a vampire; the essence of eliminating the enemy remained unchanged.

Above all.

"Huh, were vampires originally that kind of creature?"

"...It's very different from what I thought."

There are even those who are now perceiving vampires differently because of the rumors that Lilith is a vampire.

Lilith's bright and cute image contrasted too much with the gloomy vampire image that had been prevalent.

It was too difficult to suddenly associate Lilith with such a gloomy vampire, as the image she had built up in the Empire was too strong.

Lilith, diligently stretching her short limbs as she did her exercises.

Lilith, who personally delivered milk bottles while going around promoting.

Lilith, who didn't back down even after being scammed and losing her farm.

The citizens of the Empire have been observing Lilith, who works more diligently than anyone else, through the crystal orb all this time.

The truth was that it didn't feel real for such a child to suddenly become a threatening creature.

"In an era where even the nobles walk around openly, you're being too harsh on the kid."

"By that logic, aren't polar bears much more threatening?"

"I find the lady living in our house scarier."

There were too many life forms threatening the Empire to consider Lilith a threat.

Above all, the biggest problem was that there was no substitute for Lilith's milk.

[The bishop who took money from the dairy farmer should step down!]

[Because she's cute, she's innocent!]

[I want to drink some fresh milk!]

There was a surge of public criticism demanding the Church for Lilith to be released.

*

Lilith, who was transferred to the Archdiocese of Houston, had to stay in a sunny room with a window for a few days.

It was to determine whether Lilith was a vampire through sunlight.

However, unlike the brief knowledge humans have that vampires fear the sun, vampires simply prefer the night and do not fear the sun.

It was true that they disliked bright things, but that didn't mean they were affected by it.

Moreover, Lilith wasn't any ordinary vampire but a 'Trueborn'.

Rather than being bothered by the sun, she didn't mind the light at all.

Lilith crouched in the shadow of the bed, hugging her knees.

In such a bright room, even a human would be blinded, let alone a vampire.

"...Humans are really too much. Even when I do nothing, they keep bothering me."

Lilith pondered whether she should return to the Abyss.

She tried to settle in human society, but if she wasn't accepted, she would have no choice but to return, whether she liked it or not.

At that moment, the door creaked open. What entered was a beautiful human dressed in a white nun's habit.

"Lilith, please come out."

The saint, Yusephine, smiled kindly at Lilith, who was looking up at her.

"Don't worry, I've come to help Lilith."

"Me?"

"Yes, Yuri asked me to stay with Lilith."

"Wizard!"

Lilith, startled by the name Yuri, followed Yusephine to the waiting room.

"Are you thirsty?"

Yusephine handed fresh milk to Lilith.

"Could you please wait a moment? There are people who want to meet Lilith."

"?"

Leaving the puzzled Lilith behind, Yusephine went outside and returned shortly after with a group of people.

"Lilith!"

Bianca ran over and hugged Lilith.

"Bianca? How did the store fare?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Bianca was asking why she hadn't been told the truth about being a vampire.

"I was afraid you would hate me, so I did that."

"Why do you say that I would hate you Lilith?"

"Don't humans dislike vampires?"

"You're an idiot. I don't dislike it. Everyone likes Lilith."

Lilith looked at those who had come with Bianca.

Bianca's father Joseph, who scolded Lilith every time for the rent, the dwarf who was a sworn enemy due to the moonshine, and the wizards like Yuri, Zion and Aria from the White Tower.

She thought she had no connections in human society, but quite a few people came to see Lilith.

"Hmph, why are you all rushing over here and causing a commotion?"

Lilith, who had turned her head with unnecessary bravado, rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Ah, anyway, thanks for coming."

Everyone smiled at the sight of Lilith blushing.

*

The public perception of vampires is not great.

The knowledge the citizens of the Empire had about vampires was that they feared the sun and craved human blood.

Of course, the Church wasn't so inflexible as to arrest someone just because a report of a vampire sighting came in.

"We will proceed with the formal trial of the vampire Lilith Valentine."

The archbishop of the Whiston Archdiocese struck the gavel.

In the grand hall of the cathedral.

The dairy farmers who claimed to have been harmed by Lilith were standing opposite her.

And.

"Lilith Valentine is indeed a vampire, and there are indications that the White Tower has made some sort of deal with the vampire."

The wizard of the Yellow Tower accused us of being involved with vampires.

The archbishop asked.

"Is it true Wizard Yuri?"

"May I ask you a question before I answer?"

"Please speak."

"Archbishop. Do you like milk?"

"?"

The archbishop, albeit puzzled by the sudden mention of milk, nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I like it, but..."

"How about the Yellow Tower Wizard over there?"

"...I don't dislike it."

"I heard that the consumption of refrigerated milk has increased lately in the Church and the Twelve Towers."

"...?"

"If Lady Lilith is exiled from the Empire, won't you be able to drink refridgerated milk anymore?"

"?!"

"No, not only milk but also refrigerated products themselves can't be seen."

"Could it really be that serious?"

"It's true. I confirmed that the refrigerated magic circle is not efficient unless it's for vampires. Refrigerated distribution itself is possible, but large-scale distribution will become difficult."

"?"

At my story, Lilith's eyes widened in surprise.

'Ssh.'

I silently mouthed to Lilith to be quiet.

Meanwhile, the merchants and nobles who attended to witness Lilith's trial were murmuring.

Refrigerated distribution was becoming an indispensable sector in imperial society.

They couldn't even imagine it disappearing.

'Do you think you can handle it?' was the gaze that pierced through from all directions towards the archbishop.

"Umm. Well..."

As the archbishop broke into a cold sweat and trailed off, the wizard of the Yellow Tower shouted angrily.

"Are you trying to threaten us with refrigeration magic right now?"

"No. What I want to say is that vampires are also children of God."

"What kind of sophistry is that!"

"The Church has an inclusive philosophy that embraces all races. Isn't that, right?

"That's right."

The Church embraces all races.

The Almighty was indeed the omnipotent Creator, and even the dwarves and elves, as well as their gods, were considered children of the Almighty.

The elf takes on the role of a gardener, while the dwarf takes on the role of a blacksmith.

Each of us had our own roles and areas of expertise, which is why we were accepted into the Church as children of God.

"Is there any difference between a vampire and a human?"

"How can a race that cannot walk under the sun be called children of heaven!"

"Moonlight is also sunlight. It's just that vampires doesn't like strong light."

In the first place, the standard of strong light is also applied from a human perspective.

Not only vampires, but nocturnal species existed everywhere.

Even dwarves, for example, were a race that preferred dark caves over sunlight.

"Lilith walks around well even under the sunlight."

"Still, if the stake is driven in...!"

"There is no living being that doesn't die when a stake is driven into its heart."

"But don't vampires drink blood?!"

"Lilith only drinks the milk she produces herself."

"...!"

The archbishop asked with a surprised look.

"Are you saying that vampires don't have to drink blood?"

"Milk is enough. Lady Lilith, isn't that, right?"

"That's right! I only drink milk!"

Lilith nodded.

Since the blood included animal milk, the vampires had no problems surviving on just milk.

In reality, the Empire's vampires lived by drinking the milk they produced themselves, and among blood types, they considered sterilized milk the best.

The Church buzzed with the news that it didn't matter if it was just milk.

The reason vampires were shunned by the Church was because they craved human blood.

"Lilith has done nothing wrong!"

"This is unjust oppression!"

In the spectator seats, where the situation was being observed, a wave of support for Lilith surged.

The wizards and dairy farmers of the Yellow Tower were flustered, wearing expressions that said, "This isn't it."

The moment they were flustered, they said everything they needed to say to the archbishop.

"If we use Lilith's milk and refrigeration technology, we could double the gelato production compared to now. We could even share it with the hungry children."

"But still, the Holy See..."

"Even if you underestimate it, it will increase tenfold."

"As the archbishop leading the Whiston Archdiocese, we will acknowledge the vampire."

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