Vampire Clan, the Ajantu branch of Brokolak.
It was a force that effectively controlled the small western city of Ajantu in the Talia Kingdom.
And I became a vampire under that force.
'But there's surprisingly not much to do...'
The training lasted for a few days, but they didn't really give me any specific instructions.
The whole city had been organized for a long time, so everything ran smoothly on its own, and the vampires only had to manage whether the subordinate organizations were doing their jobs properly.
'Being a long-lived species, they are also quite leisurely.'
I suppose they accepted me instead of the vampire who died this time, but instead of any formal handover, they just said I would figure it out as I go.
Until any special orders came, I was free to do as I pleased without exposing myself too much to the city's humans. This allowed me to have more conversations with the siblings during the evenings, but even that had to be balanced as too much of it would attract attention.
"Maybe I have no choice but to draw attention to Hans and leave the city as I first thought."
Initially, I didn't mind being with the vampires, but these guys literally treated the city's humans like livestock.
'I expected it since they brought me blood from the mansion, but...'
And in their own way, they were careful and restrained in managing their numbers.
They said it's just the way it is for those who hesitate to drink blood, and that I'll get used to it over time...
'I guess I can't stay with these guys for long after all.'
As someone who hadn't been tainted by the vampires mentally, it was quite uncomfortable being with them.
I was just waiting for the right time and enduring it.
The pureblood of Ajantu, Vyrrak, summoned all the vampires.
"What's going on all of a sudden?"
"Well, it's not often that he calls us all like this. It's been a few years, hasn't it?"
About thirty or so vampires who usually lived scattered throughout the city began to gather in the lobby of the mansion.
"So you're the new half-blood who inherited the blood this time? You're lucky."
"Tsk, I wonder what made Vyrrak accept such a lowly being..."
It became common for some of them, whom I saw for the first time, to pick on me.
They seemed like typical aristocrats who had fallen into a sense of superiority.
'It's just like the image of vampires I had in mind!'
As I just found them fascinating, Vyrrak entered the lobby.
"Hello, Vyrrak."
"It's been a while. Please tell me whatever you need."
The vampires swarmed around Vyrrak and chattered noisily.
The status of the purebloods seemed even higher than I had thought.
"Now that everyone seems to be here, let's get to the point."
After receiving the appropriate greetings, Vyrrak climbed the steps of the lobby and began to speak.
"The Immortal King's fragment that the Oath of the Reversal had disappeared."
Murmurs erupted, but luckily, everyone around was making noise, so there were no strange looks.
"Oh, you don't know? The wizards in the nearby small village were hiding and maturing the fragment..."
Rosillica, who had approached me without my noticing, quickly whispered information I already knew.
"Silence."
The buzzing around quieted at Vyrrak's word.
Even Rosillica, who had been next to me, had backed away and was focused on Vyrrak on the stairs.
"We confirmed that the last movement was towards this city. But at some point, it disappeared without a trace. It might have entered the city or simply passed by."
Vyrrak paused and slowly surveyed the surroundings.
For a moment, our eyes met, and he looked at me for a moment before turning away.
'Whew, that was nerve-wracking.'
"We'll search with the possibility that it entered the city," Vyrrak disbanded, instructing everyone to report immediately if any suspicious activity was found in their respective areas.
"What's going on all of a sudden?"
As we left the lobby, Rosillica muttered and came closer to my side.
Seeing her greet the other vampires, she seemed like an insider.
I wondered why she was trying to take care of me since earlier.
"Hehe, trying to make a move on the newcomer who hasn't yet developed a taste for blood? I have a muscular guy I've set my sights on. How about joining me for a drink next time?"
"I'll pass. It doesn't seem to be my taste."
I firmly refused with a disgusted expression.
Rosillica shrugged her shoulders without showing any sign of disappointment.
"But this is troublesome. The matter of the Immortal King's fragment is something Clan Lord seems to be directly involved in."
"Is that so? But the dark wizards must have maintained strict security, so how did they get it?"
"I don't know? We underlings just do as we're told."
It seemed there was no more information I could get from Rosillica.
As I thought that, I realized it was a hasty judgment.
"That's why we had brought another fragment that our clan had, to seal it here," Rosillica said.
"What...? There's another Immortal King's fragment here as well?" I looked at Rosillica in surprise.
"Yeah, they mature the fragments and then seize and merge them or something. I don't know the details."
However, Rosillica merely shrugged and twisted her hair with her fingers as if it was no big deal.
'Could this vampire unexpectedly hold a high position?'
I squinted my eyes and looked at her.
Rosillica smirked and shook her hand dismissively.
"Actually, I was dispatched to Ajantu with the fragment a year ago. Originally, there wouldn't have been a need for so many vampires in this small city, right?"
Listening, it was indeed the case.
There were about three vampires, resembling Malcolm the dark wizard, and a half-blood who seemed definitely stronger than the dark wizard's minions, who were over thirty.
'And if you add the servants and slaves that I clearly didn't grasp...'
Certainly, it was an excessive force for just one small city on the outskirts of the continent.
"Originally, they say there were only around fifteen kins and Vyrrak in this city, but due to the fragment, reinforcements were made like this. But all the hard work has gone to waste."
Rosillica said we would be busy for a while, letting out a sigh.
And she wasn't wrong.
***
"Ah, if you come out during the day, your skin burns."
Rosillica grumbled, adjusting her parasol.
Since the day of the summons, we had to spread throughout the city even during the day to identify any suspicious signs.
"Indeed... it's a bit daunting."
I adjusted the wide-brimmed gentleman's hat with gloved hands.
While it wasn't particularly damaging to be exposed to sunlight, it certainly felt limiting, which wasn't pleasant.
"I don't think doing this will help us find anything at this point."
"We have no choice. Even Prita, the pureblood, took some of the half-bloods and started searching outside the city."
Well, I've already swallowed it and sent it to Earth, so there's no use looking at it like this.
I chuckled bitterly to myself, then realized the situation wasn't that bad.
'A pureblood and some of the half-bloods have left the city.'
Vyrrak was searching the entire city and controlling the remaining half-bloods.
That meant...
"There's only one pureblood guarding the fragment right now!"
And a day later, I could summon Hans.
'Just as planned, causing chaos and seizing the fragment, I can both develop Hans and give them a big surprise! This has to be done.'
Now, all that was left was to locate the fragment, but I couldn't get Rosillica's help with this.
"I don't know? Since coming to the city, they've hidden it separately in a place known only to the purebloods, just in case."
It was a precaution in case their headquarters was attacked.
And until now, two purebloods had been continuously guarding that place.
'Oh, there seems to be no way.'
Things don't seem to be going smoothly.
It was just when I thought I might have to give up on the other fragment.
"Um... I think I know where it is."
There was a way.
"What? Diana, how do you know?"
"Ah!"
Surprised, I grabbed Diana's shoulder.
In the early evening, I came over to see the siblings' faces and while we were having a conversation, it was a topic I said without much thought.
Vampires are hiding dangerous items in the city, but I don't know where they are.
"As I told you last time, I've been avoiding vampires and places with a dangerous scent."
"No way."
"Well... about a year ago, I sensed vampires emitting a very strong scent of blood and another scent that seemed extremely dangerous, though I didn't know what it was."
She immediately ran away from the scent, Diana said, smiling proudly.
"It was such an intense smell that it remains in my memory. I haven't gone near there since then."
"Oh! I remember, Sis! You told me never to go near there!"
Diana patted Aaron's head as if praising him, then glanced at me.
"If you need it, I can guide you."
It was an unexpected offer, but I couldn't nod hastily.
"It's okay. If it gets dangerous, Mister will protect me, right?"
"Yeah, then I'll ask you to guide me nearby."
Nodding to Diana, who spoke confidently, I patted her head.
Indeed, if you do good deeds, there's always a way to come back.
The next afternoon, I was still wearing my hat, searching outside for the Immortal King's fragment.
'Of course, the fragment I'm looking for is the one the vampires have hidden.'
I walked slowly and reached the meeting place.
Diana was already there, waiting for me.
With just one glance, Diana started walking without saying a word, and I followed behind at a reasonable distance.
It was a task I had instructed her to do in advance.
I couldn't approach the area surrounding the fragment without being cautious; who knew how the vampires were guarding it.
Diana didn't linger her gaze anywhere and continued walking for a while.
'It's quite far from the original location. They really fled a long way.'
It seemed that they had taken position as far away as possible after sensing the dangerous scent.
As we entered a certain street, Diana started sniffing more frequently.
This must be where the scent is noticeable.
How much farther did we have to go?
Diana naturally shifted her gaze towards a building on one side for about three seconds.
Then, as if it was nothing, she turned her head and walked past it.
'There it is!'
It was an ordinary building in a residential area, quite different from the opulent mansion where the vampires resided.
Another fragment of the Immortal King was hidden there.
But just like Diana, I casually looked around as if I had no interest in that area and continued walking.
I didn't sense anything, but there must be something there for sure.
'Now we just need to set the date for the execution. We have the location, and we can summon Hans. We need to do it as quickly as possible before any other variables arise!'
As the sun was setting, we regrouped at Diana's place after some time.
"Phew, I thought I was going to suffocate. Even smelling that scent again..."
"You didn't show it, and you did well. It was a huge help. Now we need to set the execution date."
I praised Diana and then immediately declared after a brief consideration, "Tomorrow at noon, when the sun is at its peak."
It would be better to start right now, but since the sun had already set, we aimed for the next day.
'Both vampires and the undead get stronger in the dark, but the degree of weakness under the sun is different.'
While it might not be known for purebloods, the combat capabilities of the half-bloods couldn't be greatly anticipated.
Even the purebloods couldn't fully exert their power.
I prepared the plan for the next day and got the siblings ready.
"We don't have any baggage to take care of separately. We can leave at any time."
"Alright, then tomorrow..."
After briefing the siblings on precautions, I parted ways and headed towards the mansion, taking a look around the city.
The place where Heinz died and Heinz II became a vampire.
Tomorrow, I would leave this city.
'Of course, I've packed everything I need! Come to think of it, there were many expensive-looking items in the mansion.'
I licked my lips and gleamed my eyes.
After all, the more money, the better, right?
I entered the mansion alone, smiling aimlessly.
And time passed.
The sun rose.