Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 509 - 470: The Vampire’s Daughter

Several days later, two sheriffs riding tall and splendid horses, bearing the kingdom’s official documents, knocked on the great doors of Degonris at dawn, doors that had been closed all night.

"We are messengers from the Hilderson Kingdom, by the decree of King Hilderson III, we need to speak with your town mayor to discuss the ownership of this remote land of Degonris. Have your mayor come out." The townspeople, not daring to defy the command of this seemingly high and mighty official, scurried into town, tripping and stumbling over themselves. The iron window that served for spying was forgotten, and through the small square opening just big enough to fit half a face, the damp, dark-mud land of Degonris could be seen.

The leading sheriff rode a black horse, a deep and night-like long robe falling straight from his shoulder blades, enveloping the whole person in shadow, resembling a gloomy iron tower. But what was worse than the gloomy iron tower was that brief flash of a chilling gaze at its summit, a coldness that almost seemed to freeze warmth itself, as though what he brought was not negotiation, but a conquest of death and wailing.

"You’ve scared him half to death, dear, even a real royal envoy wouldn’t be as overbearing as you," Verlet removed her hood, her wine-red messy hair turning a beautiful golden-red under the sunlight. Her smile had not ceased since the moment they set off, though it became even more exaggerated upon learning their destination lay within vampire territory.

Ralph, who received a letter for help from Kevin, rushed to Degonris at a gallop, granting the two an identity on an official level. Ralph had already gained a preliminary understanding of the eeriness of Degonris. The vague seals, along with a rather intact town structure, they arrived a day early, having observed the entire town for a long time from the dense forest, noting the flow of people and the abnormalities that emerged. The pressure of the seals had little effect on the two sheriffs, and the hidden rules seemed more like clues waiting to be unearthed. This happened to be Ralph’s area of expertise.

A document, authentic enough to deceive, allowed them to enter the upper echelons of Degonris’s administrative hierarchy, bringing them a step closer to the truth.

This was their first probe to see if that rule would follow the process of a bureaucratic system.

If it did, then Ralph, who had been in the field for many years, had plenty of ways to turn this region into his own home ground.

The complex bolt locks rattled one after another behind the thick iron doors, and the large gates of Degonris slowly opened. Degonris welcomed the first rays of the new day, as well as Ralph with his twisted smile.

A scream rang in Ralph’s ear, and a commotion erupted before him. He merely looked on indifferently, as an observer watching the girl who had drawn a crowd around her. Just now, it seemed she had been frightened by Ralph’s smile.

The girl with deep purple eyes. It was as if the prosperity of the entire town was adorned upon her, with her alabaster skin, her handsome features, and the noble dress stained with dust yet still radiantly beautiful, she stood out from the rest, like a swan mired in mud.

Startled, she lost her balance and fell backward, but the townspeople reached out to catch her, preventing the misfortune of being tainted by filth.

Although Ralph and the girl’s initial minor friction was easily overlooked, the always serious sheriff could not let it pass by without a word. Facing the slight shame in the girl’s eyes, Ralph removed his hood, revealing a face that was weathered but still quite handsome. He lowered his voice and looked straight at the girl he had affronted.

"Could you move out of the way, girl? I need to see your mayor."

The clench of silver teeth appeared for the first time in Ralph’s sight, the purple-eyed girl glared at him fiercely, as if ready to devour him. Still, she closed her eyes, and upon reopening them, there was only a trace of hidden disdain and the detachment of someone accustomed to high rank.

"I am the mayor of Degonris."

Her reply, like that of a little adult, gained some credibility beneath her disposition. To the average person, if not swayed by her beauty, they would be brought to heel by the nobility that seemed to grow along her spine. Unfortunately for her, she faced a wolf that dared bite anyone before him.

"According to the regulations, the position of mayor requires ten years of administrative experience. It is an elected position. Even if the predecessor resigns due to an accident, this job would pass on to a qualified individual nearby, or be managed by a noble elder from within the land. You look under twenty, girl, unless you started practicing politics in your mother’s womb. The law will not recognize that time."

"The law won’t tally evil," the tone of the girl carried a touch of misery and the stubbornness fueled by negative emotions. "In Degonris, the law can’t protect us, even the previous mayor was killed by vampires a few days ago," she quickly disclosed the evil that thrived in Degonris to the envoys, as eerie screams from the imposing castle halfway up the mountainside seemed to corroborate her statement.

"Vampires?" A flicker of light passed through Ralph’s eyes, like a petal falling into the depths of a dark pool. "Am I to understand this as Degonris’s resistance to being incorporated into our nation? A poor excuse..."

The girl revealed a smile, the first smile Ralph had seen her display, but it didn’t look much happier than crying. "You can take this as an excuse," the girl moved aside to clear a path. "The choice is yours; you can turn around and leave, or continue walking into Degonris and become one of us, experiencing everything here. From the moment you set foot in Degonris, the land will not allow you to leave..."

Without a word, the grooves of the gate on the muddy ground lay before Ralph, less than twenty centimeters from the horse’s hooves, requiring only a slight tug on the reins to cross. Ralph turned around, exchanging a look with Verlet.

"Foolish trickery, town leader."

Ralph and Verlet stepped onto the land of Degonris side by side.

"I won’t mock your choice, sir, but you’ll regret this decision, and quite soon."

Ralph frowned slightly at the nonsensical words, but the horse beneath him seemed a bit off.

The sudden, intense sounds of panting drowned out all conversation, and everyone found the horse’s behavior strange. Riding the horse, Ralph felt even more peculiarities; the usually docile black steed he had purchased in Naranya had suddenly become restless, with anxious footsteps and a shaking head. Ralph could feel the violently trembling heart through touch. The horse was like a bomb counting down, fearing its trek upon this land.

The bomb exploded.

The black horse reared up, letting out a loud neigh as if reverting to its wild instincts, running towards the area outside of Degonris. Its violent struggle could have thrown the finest rider. Verlet’s horse also exhibited similar madness, but the female sheriff, sensing the bad omen, had dismounted the instant the horse went mad.

Only Ralph clenched the reins, still clinging to the back of the crazed horse, charging out of the territory.

"No! Get down! You can’t leave here!" The girl with the purple eyes turned pale. She wasn’t afraid of the frenzied horse’s trampling hooves; instead, she rushed forward, grabbing Ralph’s leg amidst the splattering mud.

"Get off now! Get off now!!!"

In the end, Ralph and the girl both fell into the muddy ground, with only the two maddened horses running out. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But the very next moment, two shadows descended from the sky and rushed towards the maddened horses. Screeches and claws manifested together. Under everyone’s gaze, two two-meter-tall Gargoyles covered in moss and gray stone skin tore the horses to shreds, taking the still-bleeding remains towards the castle.

Blood rain sprinkled from the sky, dousing Ralph.

"What are those?"

"Hunting Gargoyles. All living beings that attempt to leave Degonris will be torn to pieces by them. Degonris is a pasture, and we all are food for the vampires awaiting slaughter."

"I am Silvette Loshutar, daughter of vampires."

"The only surviving human noble in Degonris."