SWNOVELXO Chapter 507
Chapter 507. The Demon Hidden in the Darkness
The depths of the earth.
In a dimly lit cave where the candlelight flickers.
“North Front Line~!”
“Absolutely the best!”
The sound of cups clinking echoed.
—Three men gathered around a small table, having a drinking party.
“Ahhh! There’s nothing like a drink during the day!”
A plump man downed his cup grandly, shouting with emotion. His cheerful expression and lively demeanor definitely gave the impression of a drunken old man, but his skin was pale, devoid of any vitality, contrasting with his rosy cheeks.
From the corners of his mouth, sharp fangs peered out—
A vampire.
His name is Lord Ghiramin. A mere noble with a knightly title in the Demon Lord Kingdom.
“Indeed. This is truly a blissful moment…”
Next to Lord Ghiramin, a gentleman in a tails suit with bulging eyes nodded.
He possessed extraordinary eyesight. Those unnaturally glowing, large red eyes were unforgettable after seeing them once…
Gracefully seated on a sofa, he swirled a glass filled with red liquid, savoring the aroma like wine. His every gesture exuded elegance, yet his shirt was yellowed, stained with dark red spots, and had numerous holes, making him appear rather shabby.
He was Baron Tyupa of the Demon Lord Kingdom. A branch of the esteemed Kabra family which once ruled the now-extinct “Night Kingdom”—essentially, a minor noble with only a glorious ancestor to his name.
“Hehe, this is truly delicious! Come on, you two, another round…”
And self-pouring from the wine bottle was a pitiful man.
A skinny fellow with no notable traits, known as Tashipa.
He was an unranked, low-level vampire that had once been human, still showing remnants of darker skin from his previous life. A veteran underling who had served the two for over a decade.
“This was quite the fine drink.”
Baron Tyupa regretfully swirled his glass.
“Ahh… a mellow flavor. Indeed, the blood of an elderly man who has tasted both sweetness and bitterness is well-aged and delightful.”
“Indeed. However, it’s a shame my wife passed before tasting it together; it would have been worthwhile to enjoy as a couple. On that note, the old couple from a few days ago was quite satisfying.”
“Indeed. That tasting contest was rather delightful. After all, the prey must be lively.”
“While bottled drinks aren’t bad, they can’t compare to fresh blood! That sensation of life flickering out as you lap it up is truly priceless.”
“Indeed. We must be grateful to the lives that became our sustenance and the blessings of the earth.”
The two laughed heartily, while Tashipa chuckled along, tidying up an empty wine bottle.
“So, what shall we have next, gentlemen…”
Rubbing his hands together, Tashipa stood behind a wooden cupboard—
Rows of various wine bottles lined up.
“How about… we refresh our palates with the blood of a young woman?”
“How about the blood of the man we bottled the day before yesterday? That was rich and tasty.”
“Hmmm… very well, let’s go for both! After all, it’s our blood; we need not hesitate!”
Baron Tyupa snorted.
“Those arrogant demons aren’t present here.”
“Exactly! This is great, Tyupa! Tashipa, we’ll take both!”
“Yes, yes, right away!”
Upon closer inspection, the bottles were lightly frosted. As Tashipa infused them with magic, they began to thaw in no time.
On the surface, Tashipa seemed like an ordinary man, but he was, in fact, a skilled water magician known even since his human days. Although his magic wasn’t powerful, he excelled at creating and melting ice, capable of preserving blood long-term without losing its flavor.
Being recognized for that skill, he was taken in as a subordinate by Tyupa and the others.
“Ah, but our ‘castle’ has indeed become quite magnificent.”
Sinking back into the sofa, Lord Ghiramin spoke nostalgically.
This underground cave was structured like a dining room that could comfortably fit over a dozen people, connected to several small caves. Among these, only a few connected to the surface, and since they were all collapsed old mines, one could only pass through by turning into mist.
In such a space, they had somehow managed to arrange sofas, tables, and cupboards—objects far too large to bring in otherwise—
“It was quite a struggle. Transporting them in small portions was quite the hassle…”
While swirling the freshly poured blood in his glass, Baron Tyupa spoke reflectively.
Yes, all this furniture was brought in piece by piece by Tyupa and his associates, who transformed them into mist and diligently assembled them.
The vampires’ 【Mist Transformation】 magic allowed them to turn clothing or small objects into mist, making it an incredibly versatile spell. A seasoned vampire like Tyupa could turn even sizeable wooden planks into mist!
Thus, every time they invaded a prey’s home searching for blood, if they spotted quality furniture, they would disassemble and carry it back in bits and pieces to be reassembled at their hideout…
Thanks to this, they felt a deeper attachment to the furniture than those simply bought or brought in.
“Really, this is the first time I’ve felt so secure in a hideout. A slight musty smell is a downside, but… ‘Once you live there, it feels like the capital’—how true that is.”
Lord Ghiramin joked while pinching his nose.
By the way, “Once you live there, it feels like the capital” is a saying that’s existed since the Night Kingdom era. The founder of the vampires, Zeze, announced the founding of the Night Kingdom, temporarily designating a city as the capital, but ultimately grew fond of it and stayed, instead of relocating as planned.
Even in modern times, it’s a saying nostalgic among vampires who often hide within the alliance territory.
“Well, the musty odor can’t be helped; after all, there’s considerable moisture here.”
Baron Tyupa responded with a wry smile.
Vampires do not need to breathe to sustain their existence. No matter how foul or toxic the air is, it presents no problem—but since vampires are originally from the human race, they still have to breathe formally. They can survive in harsh environments, but fresher air is more comfortable.
However, speaking strictly about this cave…
“The underground water veins are far too substantial.”
Pointing at a small hole leading further into the depths of the earth, Baron Tyupa added. If one listened closely, the sound of rushing water was faintly audible.
Yes, this space is directly above massive underground water veins.
“A hideout that’s this advantageous is rare across the continent. Several narrow entry routes that can only be accessed by turning into mist. Plus, the depth makes it challenging for even dwarves to excavate—a substantial water vein below…”
The biggest concern for such hideouts is that the dwarves, specialists in soil and rock, might receive requests from vampire hunters and break through the tunnels directly.
“But with underground water, it’s a different story. If they aren’t careful when digging, a collapse and flooding could occur simultaneously, creating a life-threatening situation for the dwarves. Most of those short-legged stoneheads can’t swim…”
“Because they’re dwarves, I suppose.”
Pretending to hit an anvil while saying something serious, Lord Ghiramin made both Tashipa and Baron Tyupa chuckle.
“And furthermore, with the large water vein below, we can even defend against water attacks. No matter how much water is poured in, we can drain it.”
Normally, caves like this tend to be dead ends, and if too much water is poured in, they become uninhabitable, forcing occupants to flee. But this hideout had no such vulnerabilities.
“And—this place is quite difficult to locate in the first place.”
While pouring another drink into Lord Ghiramin’s glass, Tashipa added.
“Exactly. Even if we called upon the spirit users of the Forest Elves, with the tunnels being this complex, even the wind spirits would struggle to pinpoint it…”
Baron Tyupa nodded, a hint of pride on his face.
“In any case, this hideout is completely invincible…!”
Confidence…!!!
“Even if the exact location were determined and the dwarves bravely began excavating, we would surely notice immediately from the sounds and vibrations.”
“And during that time, we could leisurely escape.”
“Indeed. However, well…”
Casually observing their cozy but cramped ‘castle’, Baron Tyupa shrugged.
“If possible, I’d like to stay here forever. Finding a hideout like this again would be incredibly tough…”
“That’s true. I, too, would like to say goodbye to the surface forever, if possible. But, well, we have time. Even if the vampire hunters figure out our rough location, it would take them a considerable amount of time for pinpointing and planning.”
“In the meantime, we’ll be able to enjoy an endless supply of delicious blood.”
“Indeed, indeed. That’s right.”
The three—Baron Tyupa, Lord Ghiramin, and Tashipa—exchanged sly smiles.
“Looks like we’re back to where we started.”
“Indeed… North Front Line!”
“Absolutely the best!”
With hearty laughter, the vampires celebrated.
“Then let’s toast again. To our magnificent castle and our carefree respite within the alliance territory…!”
“Hey, Tashipa!”
“Yes, yes, just a moment! Let’s open something special.”
Tashipa poured the contents of a new bottle into their glasses.
“Now then—”
“Cheers—”
Just as their cups were about to clink together.
“――――”
Lord Tyupa and Lord Ghiramin suddenly looked up.
“…………”
Blocked by thick rock, far above, it seemed a sensation akin to the surface—
“…What’s wrong, you two…?”
Tashipa, worried, asked as both of them suddenly wore serious expressions.
“Well…”
“There’s this… strange sense.”
“Indeed. That’s it. A peculiar sensation.”
They spoke in unison, leaving Tashipa tilting his head in confusion, “…Huh? A strange sensation?” Unlike Tyupa and Lord Ghiramin, who had lived for over a hundred years as purebloods, Tashipa, being a lower vampire, lacked their magical sensitivity.
“Could it be that the dwarves are…?”
“No, it doesn’t seem that way. If they had started digging, it would be much louder.”
“True… It’s hard to explain, but while we could feel the breath of birds and small animals in the forest, suddenly there’s a moment when everything goes eerily quiet… that kind of unsettling feeling.”
He swirled his glass, trying to grasp the unease.
“I thought… I sensed something, but hmmm, perhaps it was just my imagination…?”
Lord Ghiramin and Baron Tyupa shared a pensive look as they gazed at the ceiling, but with nothing changing, they returned their attention to one another.
“…………”
They gazed at the red liquid swaying in their glasses.
As one vampire was about to bring it to his lips,
Tyupa Kabra—
“—Huh?”
Noticing a light in his glass that was not the flicker of a candle.
(…………No, that’s not right!!!)
It’s—coming from above!!
As if propelled, they looked up at the ceiling simultaneously.
『【Divine Thunder!!!!】』
With a thunderous roar that shattered the world, Tyupa’s vision was engulfed in silver.
“GAHHH!!!”
A scream as holy lightning coursed through his body, flipping his skin, singeing his hair, and boiling his proud eyes until they burst. Following that, his body swelled from the inside, his organs exploding within.
From the blood and flesh, every piece of bone was crushed by silver’s fury, hatred, and curses—completely obliterating him.
With a wet splattering sound, Baron Tyupa was pulverized into nothingness, his body scattering into ash.
“――!!”
“What the…?!”
The reactions of the two left behind were in stark contrast. Lord Ghiramin attempted to escape immediately, turning to mist as soon as Tyupa began to glow. On the other hand, Tashipa stood with his eyes and mouth agape, simply stunned.
Did he know the vampire rule: “If something unexpected occurs, run without hesitation”?
Did he understand the terrors of the vampire hunters?
The gap in their experiences was displayed vividly—
『【Divine Roar!!】』
Lightning zapped again, and unbearable pain assaulted Tashipa.
“Uggghhh… AHHHHHHH!?”
Writhing in agony, he tumbled from his chair.
『Hmph. One has escaped.』
Then, right before him.
From the void, a figure emerged.
A silver—an incredibly fierce-looking,
Semi-transparent, elderly man.
But that wasn’t all.
From the walls and floors, silently, men with furious faces began to appear.
Revenants driven by vengeance and righteous anger emerged one after another!
“W-What…?!”
He couldn’t comprehend. This was something he had never heard of.
What is this?! A spirit?!
No, but why is it silver—?!
『From your demeanor, it seems you’re still inexperienced as a former subordinate.』
Crackling with silver lightning, the elderly man spoke sternly.
『Do you have anything you wish to leave behind?』
“W-Who are you all…?!”
『…………』
While writhing in pain, Tashipa managed to squeeze out a question, but the elderly man and those around him remained silent.
…Of course. Why would they bother to reveal information to an enemy?
They were not kind like the demon lord prince who would gladly share info when asked…
『It appears there’s nothing you wish to say.』
“W-Wait!”
Feeling a thick presence of death that hadn’t visited him for a while, Tashipa panicked.
“I-I’m… being forced by them to do this…!”
『But you’ve been drinking blood enough to reach a level where you could come here.』
“…………”
Faced with that icy remark, Tashipa lost his words. He vaguely began to understand that this translucent being was connected to the vampire hunters. Lord Ghiramin had vanished into the underground water vein, leaving no trace behind.
Why… why was he the only one facing this?
He had indeed drunk blood! Plenty of it!
He was made to drink! And had gotten used to it…!
“There was no other choice…!”
Clenching his teeth, Tashipa voiced his despair.
He had tried to turn to mist, but the agonizing pain engulfed him, making it impossible for him to control his magic.
He couldn’t run…!
“I was… turned into a subordinate, I couldn’t resist…!”
『…………』
“I had no choice…!”
For just a moment, Tashipa felt a flicker of pity in the elderly man’s eyes.
Could he… perhaps get away with it? That spark of hope sprouted in Tashipa’s heart.
“Help me… let me go…! If only they weren’t here, I could be free! I swear I’ll change… please help…!”
He tried to cling to the semi-transparent feet.
“I don’t want to die…!”
As he uttered his heartfelt wish.
…Alright, I was starting to move my body! I’ll turn to mist just like this—
『【Divine Thunder】』
Tashipa’s vision went silver, and in an instant, his existence along with his consciousness was obliterated.
『…A pitiful sight.』
Glancing down at the vampire reduced to ashes, the elderly man—Bishop Lexar murmured.
『Once a beast has tasted blood, it can never forget that flavor…』
Could they be trusted and released if a bloodthirsty beast was set free? …Of course not.
And yet, as an experienced vampire hunter, Bishop Lexar had seen countless tragic victims turned into subordinates, and he could understand the man’s previous words.
—It couldn’t be helped.
—He couldn’t resist.
—There was nothing he could do.
Everyone said that and begged for forgiveness.
The compulsive force of being a subordinate, coupled with an intense hunger for blood, was something beyond the resistance of an ordinary mind.
It was something so overwhelming that one might even be tempted to suck the blood of their beloved child.
And once the subordination was complete, and the taste of blood remembered, there would be no way to return to being merely human.
『At least, may you depart without suffering.』
That was the last mercy of the vampire hunter, Bishop Lexar.
In truth, Tashipa would likely not even realize his disappearance until the very end…
†††
(What was that?! What was that?! What was that—!?)
Amidst unprecedented terror and shock, Lord Ghiramin, now turned to mist, desperately fled through the narrow cave.
A cave—rather a mere hole. An empty space with barely any sight of even small creatures or bugs.
(What was that!? Why… what happened?! A vampire hunter?!)
If some incomprehensible crisis occurred, it was usually attributed to the actions of vampire hunters.
Veteran Tyupa was instantly killed. Tashipa was probably doomed as well.
(I was lucky to escape…!)
If not for the mist, he would have been drenched in cold sweat. Yet still trembling with fear, Lord Ghiramin fled with all his might.
He was so fortunate. But who knows how long that would last…?!
(For now, just create some distance! And I need to hide for a while…)
As Lord Ghiramin was planning his next move—
In the next instant.
His movement suddenly halted with a squelch.
(…Huh?!)
He couldn’t move forward. He was in mist form!
No… wait!? What is this!?
(A transparent wall?!)
A magical barrier?! Preposterous! There’s no way… how could it be here?! Why?!
(What is this?!)
In his mist form, Lord Ghiramin desperately clawed for some kind of escape.
No good! I can’t let it end like this.
I need to find another route—
Just as he was about to turn back the way he came.
『Ah, found you!』
Suddenly, a dazzling silver youth appeared before him, and the heart he no longer possessed felt like it would stop.
『【Come, Blade of Demon Destruction】』
Yet, surprised as he was,
『【Legendary Holy Sword】』
A blade of magical energy cleaved Lord Ghiramin in two.
“…No way…”
Unable to utter the foolishness, Lord Ghiramin was ripped apart in his mist form, scattering to ash.
Mist transformation is nearly invincible against physical attacks, yet it has a glaring flaw against magical attacks—
『Alright, alright!』
Witnessing this, the young man—Arthur smiled widely as he floated, moving through the stone.
『It was great that I could use 【Absolute Defense】 in this state.』
The cheerful mutter faded into the distance—
Lord Ghiramin delved deep into the earth.
Tyupa and Tashipa would reside in their small ‘castle’.
That desire granted, they would probably remain there for eternity.
—to be mere ashes.