Episode 76 – Acknowledged (6)
“The potion created by the blood magic of high-ranking vampires… It’s certainly quite effective.”
“The injured arm will regenerate soon, and before long, you will be fully healed.”
Zumun’s room, where he had barely survived his injuries.
With Agor’s generous support, Zumun was slowly recovering from his severe wounds. Currently, a group of people gathered by his side, worrying about his condition.
Agor’s second-in-command and a strong warrior, Zumun was always popular with others due to the favor he received from Agor.
However, their sudden, large gathering was definitely not usual.
“Our Lord has been trusting too much of the tasks to that mercenary band and the human woman affiliated with them!”
The reason was due to Gruck’s outburst of dissatisfaction.
Even before this, those loyal to Agor were uneasy as they watched Agor draw closer to Cruiger’s mercenary band, seeing them as outsiders who had just arrived.
“That human woman…”
Unlike them, Zumun, upon hearing about her, let out a small sigh.
Though those gathered here might not know, Zumun had already conversed with her and witnessed her in battle.
Having faced and fought against Marcela, the vampire knight, even pushing Zumun to the brink of defeat, she managed to hold her own and create an escape route.
“At the very least, her abilities are undeniable. Lord Agor probably had no other choice given the urgent situation. It’s true that we’re short-handed, isn’t it?”
“I-I know that, but…”
“I understand your concerns. However, my body is almost healed, so there’s no need to worry. If those mercenaries have any treacherous thoughts, I will deal with them first.”
As the second-in-command, Zumun had to do his best to manage those under him. With the uncertain threat of monsters looming, internal strife was simply not an option.
The group, unable to argue against Zumun’s reassurance as the acting second-in-command, left quietly.
To continue protesting after such words would suggest disbelief in Zumun.
Regardless of the trust Cruiger’s mercenaries had gained from Agor, they would ultimately still fall under Zumun’s management.
“Everyone, let’s leave. The Commander needs time to recuperate.”
Gruck, licking his lips, was the first to leave, followed by the others. Zumun sighed as he watched their retreating backs.
“Fools. Have these warrior-born men lost their spirit with age? Are they so focused on preserving their positions in this kind of situation?”
In truth, Zumun found their whining visits highly irritating from his perspective.
“Who’s here?”
Before Zumun could rest further, a servant announced another visitor. Upon hearing the news, Zumun’s eyes widened.
“Lord Agor entrusted you with an important mission, yet why have you come here despite being busy?”
“I have come to deliver urgent news.”
The servant led in a silver-haired human woman. She looked at Zumun, lying in bed, with a peculiar gaze.
“You’re recovering well?”
“The blood magic of high-ranking vampires stems from their incredible regenerative capabilities.”
Her gaze fell upon Zumun’s arm, now more than halfway regenerated, and she let out a small gasp. The shoulder and arm, once torn off by Syla’s attack, were almost completely healed.
“Blood magic…”
At Zumun’s words about the power of vampire blood magic, her eyes sparkled briefly.
“Lord Agor has entrusted me with constructing defense lines, but it’s practically impossible against the overwhelming enemy forces. Lord Agor suggested we use the support of Superior Lords, and if vampires skilled in blood magic participate, it would surely be helpful.”
“A sorry state indeed. To have to resort to borrowing their strength to defend our lands—our territory will become their vassal state.”
While she seemed to genuinely marvel at the vampires’ power, Zumun sneered, glaring at her.
For a loyal knight dedicated to the Lord, watching their self-governed territory fall to being under the thumb of a Superior Lord was not a welcome outcome.
“Hmm…then what if we let the Superior Lords’ forces fight head-on against the monsters and ensure their crushing defeat?”
At that moment, a faint smirk tugged at her lips as she whispered.
Zumun, who didn’t immediately understand her implication, was startled a second too late.
“I am in charge of the defense line construction, and I know those monsters ‘best.’ Regardless of how powerful those Superior Lords or vampires might be, I can turn them into prey for the monsters.”
“Are you serious? The Superior Lords aren’t something to triflingly dispose of. There are stronger men in Lord Irwan’s territory than me. Besides, those monstrous beasts grow stronger with every meal. What if the vampires become their food, thus making those beasts even stronger?”
It was not a rational suggestion, especially for someone raised in the Demon Realm.
However, despite Zumun’s reprimand, her smile only grew wider and more twisted.
Zumun instinctively stiffened, perceiving her as something akin to a massive predator looming over him, taking advantage of his helpless state due to injury.
“The Commander has already surmised what the Legion truly is, I see. Indeed, you’d be too dangerous to keep alive.”
Leaning closer, she ran her hand through her hair and drew her face closer to his.
“G-Gh…”
Blood vessels in her shining hair moved like tendrils, quickly infiltrating the veins on Zumun’s face before he could stir.
“Krrr…”
As the Queen’s omnipotent cells spread through his bloodstream, they swiftly took over his nervous system, preventing not only movement but also speech.
This was no ordinary poison. Even one who had reached the state of invincibility against toxins would be powerless against her if they couldn’t manipulate their own cells.
Especially someone in Zumun’s weakened state after injury.
“Even if I get discovered, it’s better no one suspects anything. You’ll die a slow, agonizing death instead of immediately. I can’t move freely if you survive to return.”
Revealing her true nature, the Queen stood up after taking full control of Zumun’s body.
His eyes, barely able to move, were now filled with sheer terror.
“Since I saved you once, isn’t it fair that I get to take your life again?”
‘Who are you? What kind of being are you…?’
The source of his terror was the fear of the unknown. He realized now that an unimaginable creature had been masquerading as human.
‘No…!’
Watching her smiling figure leave the room, he could do nothing but groan. His body, already dominated by the Queen’s influence, wouldn’t even twitch a finger.
*
“I heard you had some business.”
“Good to see you again. I just took care of an obstacle that could interfere with us. What do you think?”
Returning to the mercenary band’s base, the Queen smiled as she greeted Cruiger and the few officers awaiting her.
The vibe around them, including Cruiger, had changed.
They all had consumed the miracle potion she had provided, safely achieving a reconfiguration of their bodies and enhancement of their magical power with no adverse effects.
“Very satisfied.”
Warrior Lugr, with bulging muscles and veins, grinned widely, his blood and veins flowing with potent magical energy, evident even to himself.
“We all trust your words above all else from now on.”
What they had just gone through was far beyond anything they had imagined.
Not only Cruiger but all the officers present held her in deep trust and respect.
If this wasn’t true before, from this moment onwards, she was an irreplaceable treasure that laid golden eggs.
“Our Lord Agor seems quite displeased about the Vampire Duke’s reinforcements. So, I plan to set the vampires and the monsters against each other and let them wear each other down.”
“Use the Superior Lords’ soldiers…as expendables? Can you handle the aftermath?”
“It’s our job to make the impossible possible.”
She informed them of her plan, confident after assessing their fervor.
Of course, some among them reacted like Zumun, thinking it absurd, but she simply scoffed in a practiced manner.
“Give them just enough to raise their hopes and keep them under control while ultimately ensuring their defeat. This way, they’ll continue to pour resources into this bottomless pit.”
The Queen already had a rough plan in mind.
Most importantly, adapting to the overall flow and reacting instantly was something she excelled at, comparable to her ability to command large armies.
With that, their discussions concluded, leaving the fate of many in her hands.
