Chapter 658 – Reunion and Concern

000

When voices about an absurd situation came out of the mouths of two people at the same time, the space remained unbearably silent for a moment.

However, it was the male giant who came to his senses first, shook his head, and then raised his index finger and pointed at his own face.

The first thing that catches your eye is the rugged, rock-like face, with thick black hair growing from head to chin.

It looks like a monster rather than a human, full of scars, and its ears are slightly pointed, not like a human.

Its eyes glowed red, and its abnormally long fangs were visible every time it opened its mouth.

Her height was several heads taller than her, easily exceeding 3 meters.

Even if you were a vampire and not a human, it would definitely be difficult to keep your body growing this much.

First, she was wearing what looked like black plate mail on her body, but her shoulders were as broad as a mountain, and on her back was a red ax that looked like it was soaked in blood, giving the viewer a sense of intimidation.

There were several imperial decorations on her chest.

One of them meant proof of his title as ‘executioner of the empire,’ but Pamela was so ignorant of his decorations that she could only say, ‘what is the empire?’

I guess he is like that too.

She woke up after a long sleep, because the empire collapsed 30 years before she woke up.

Even after looking up and down, Pamela still had an expression of uncertainty on her face, and the man opened his mouth as if he was frustrated.

＂No… Is it me? Pamela… Do you really not know who I am?”

With a puzzled face, the man spoke as if he wanted her to remember him, but Pamela just frowned and shook her head.

“Even if you call me by my name like that… I’ve never seen a big man like you. Even before going to sleep.”

Pamela also had interactions with her vampires.

The clan her family belonged to was treated hostilely by other vampires, but she spared no effort in cooperating with vampires of the same clan.

However, the elf who fell unconscious in the corner of his room was unconscious because the giant in front of him had sucked blood wherever he looked.

The clan she belonged to and the vampires who were close to her family did not suck human blood for the purpose of attack.

No, in the long period of time that I was asleep, maybe those vampires also changed their purpose or way of living-

In that case, Pamela thought that there was no reason for her to be friendly with him.

“Do you really not know… I never thought you would have forgotten me. Sister…”

＂Hiik.＂

With a deep, low voice coming from his mouth, he said, making Pamela shake her shoulders and flinch as if calling her ‘sister’ gave her goosebumps.

However, there is only one person in this world who can call themselves by that title.

That is, his younger brother, Berlin.

I guess not. He is trying to deceive himself. When he calls her his sister, he remembers that he had a younger brother named Baylin, and he must have been faking it with his name.

“It’s me, Berlin! He is his sister’s only younger brother…! Of the great clan-＂

＂Aaaaah!!!＂

Before the man who called himself Pamela’s younger brother, Berlin, could finish speaking, Pamela let out a voice that sounded like a scream.

Then, Baylin stopped talking in shock and could only stare at Pamela, who was hysterical.

“That’s a lie… My younger brother Berlin… There’s no way he has a face like a vicious villain like you…!”

As she said that, memories of Berlin came to mind as if it had happened yesterday.

A boy who learned to play a musical instrument with his father while running around the castle garden.

Black, curly shoulder-length hair, and red eyes like garnets like his own.

Due to her short stature and beautiful appearance, Bayerlin was called a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘demon boy’, and she was especially loved by female vampires of the same clan.

Everyone had no doubt that one day, he would become a count who rules the night like his father, lead a clan, and grow up to be a leader to maintain the balance between the world of vampires and humans.

But what about the person in front of you?

Orc – No, its body is so huge and enlarged that it can be believed to be an ogre.

His face was distorted to the extent that it had no trace of the intelligence of the past, and beyond the curls of his hair, it almost looked like a jungle, and was integrated with his beard.

Thanks to his viciously protruding teeth, he was believed to be a monster, but he did not want to admit that he was his younger brother.

Even more so for Pamela, who feels the memories of the past as something from just before.

Unlike her changed body, inside her head she was still 13 years old.

Do you know or not about her situation?

Berlin tried to explain her situation to Pamela, feeling embarrassed, mortified and a little stressed out about her rejection.

“There is a reason why I look like this… Please, sister. Believe me… I am really my older sister’s younger brother, Berlin…!”

As he said that, he was flipping through pages of old memories in his head, looking for memories that were only shared among family members.

Meeting the Demon Sword Emperor Cain, traveling through the battlefield, and passing through the past of wielding an ax as his executioner.

Memories of the time spent in the castle that has been passed down in the family for generations.

Then, as if she had remembered, Beirlin opened her mouth again and explained.

“Look, sister. When I was young… I was practicing flying without listening to my father, but there was a time when I lost control and fell upside down from a tower… If my older sister hadn’t held my head back then, I would have died that time. Maybe.”

When Bayerlin stutters like that, Pamela gently opens her eyes and looks at him.

Certainly, I remember what happened at that time.

In fact, what she did when she said she accepted it was that she just happened to be playing house with the servants under the tower.

Berlin just fell on top of the doll that was being used at that time.

Thanks to her large, stuffed doll and the unique durability of a vampire, Bayerlin was able to survive without her brain exploding.

All I remember is that her beloved doll was sacrificed and that she cried profusely in shock when her little brother suddenly fell from above her head.

＂Wow, that’s for sure… Something like that happened…”

“At that time, my father was so angry that he spread his normally invisible wings and got angry. The nagging you did back then…”

＂＂If you don’t listen to me one more time, I will turn you into bat food.＂＂

The two people pulled out the sentence that remained on the page in their memories almost simultaneously, and without missing a single word.

As they looked at each other, Pamela looked surprised by the words spoken, and Berlin looked somewhat relieved.

Although her face was still ferocious, her past brother appeared in that face, and Pamela was able to confirm that he was indeed her younger brother.

＂Then… Really you?＂

“Yes, that’s right. This appearance… Is like a side effect of sucking the blood of a giant. … Thanks to this, I was able to move even under the sunlight, and my strength became stronger…”

As he says that, he carefully approaches Pamela.

Pamela also hesitantly extended her hand.

In the past, Pamela’s hands might have been a little bigger, but now Berlin’s hands are bigger than Pamela’s face.

The moment when siblings, who have changed, meet again after decades and hold hands like that.

Pamela shed tears.

When I woke up, everything I saw beyond the slightly open coffin was gray.

A house that burned down as time passed, even though memories of the past and happy memories still remain.

The family that was everything to him has all disappeared, and he is the only one left.

Nevertheless, I walked all the way to Asteris with the desire to survive somehow.

＂Thank goodness Berlin is alive… I’m so glad…!”

The girl named Pamela didn’t have that strong of a heart.

It must have been harsh to ask a 13-year-old girl to deal with the pain of losing her entire family overnight.

Baylin held Pamela’s hand and nodded her head.

“Don’t worry. Because I’m here… And I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect her family this time.”

After saying that, he talks to Pamela while making eye contact with her.

“Originally, the reason I came here… Was to finish the unfinished work of one of my colleagues. To return the true Lord of Darkness, who can save us all, to where he belongs.”

＂…?＂

Pamela looked like she wasn’t sure what her younger brother was talking about.

“Perhaps he will track down my sister and find out where I am right now. I have no intention of running away either. If you meet him in person and talk to him, he’s clear. You will help us.”

“For a moment. Berlin. What on earth are you talking about earlier? Lord of Darkness? Him? “Who on earth is that?”

Then Berlin smiled.

As she tears her mouth like a crescent moon, she pictures the image of ‘that person’ in her head who makes her heart flutter just by imagining it.

＂The Demon Sword Emperor, Cain. He is the strongest man now called ‘Cleon’.”

001

Cleon and his party left Asteris and were following the path guided by the tracking magic unleashed by Illenu.

However, as Illenu, who was leading the way, walked further away from the original location while leading the way, Cleon noticed something a little strange and opened his mouth towards Illenu.

“Ilenu, is this really the right direction?”

“There’s no reason to take you to a strange place, right? What should I do? Come right next to me and look in the direction the magic is pointing.”

＂…＂

Even though Cleon agreed with what she said, that there was no way Elenu could lead them in a strange direction, he still couldn’t stop looking puzzled.

That’s because if you keep moving along this road, the place you arrive at is a hill where Kanon’s hideout is located.

‘No, no way.’

‘, Cleon thought, but if Kanon’s hiding place was discovered by someone else, they would be responsible.

Of course, he wasn’t sure that was where he was heading now, but even so, the ominous premonition that had been weighing on his mind from earlier was somehow turning that doubt into certainty.

Please, if you keep walking without stopping, hoping that this doubt is for nothing, you will reach four people.

Just where Cleon thought.

＂It’s close. It seems like it’s at the bottom of this hill.”

When Ilenu said that while looking at the magic floating on his hand, Aine and Dryne looked at each other for a moment and then spoke.

“This hill has been around for a long time, but I’ve never heard of a place to hide under the hill. Yes? It’s dry.”

“Huh. First, there is a cave, but it’s not that deep.”

Aine shrugged her shoulders and replied.

“Then let’s see if it’s in that cave. “Maybe there is a hidden place beyond the cave?”

“If such a place existed, it seems like it would have been discovered long ago…”

＂Yes, yes. I feel the same way. Don’t you think so too, Lord Cleon?”

Cleon was silent for a moment, then shook his head and answered.

“No. There really is a hidden place down here. It’s an ancient ruin…”

When Cleon said that, the other three were unable to say anything for a moment due to Cleon’s words-

＂… I never thought that Lord Cleon would joke according to Lord Aine’s words…＂

“Lord Cleon’s sense of humor is unique…”

─, The Banguidae sisters didn’t seem to really believe Cleon’s words, but Ilenu spoke as she approached Cleon.

“Is that why your reaction was so strange? … Is it possible that there is a beautiful girl inside those ruins, and that she is secretly meeting with Cleon?”

At Ilenu’s seemingly floating reaction, Aine and Dryne stopped laughing and looked at Cleon.

＂… It’s different. It’s true that they meet in secret, and it’s true that women live together, but it’s not what you think.”

＂Ha?＂

When Cleon really answered like that, as if he was trying to prank Cleon, the smile disappeared from Illenu’s face for a moment.

The look on her face as she looked at herself with her eyes losing their light reminded her of the goddess of death one day.

＂Huh~~~Yes…＂

And, with a long, drawn-out voice, he simultaneously expressed his outer feelings, saying, “I’m not interested,” And his inner feelings, saying, “I’m only interested.”

“Then. Cleon can guide you from here. To that secret meeting place.”

“You never said it was a secret affair. If there are vampires other than Pamela there, it’s serious.”

There was no way she didn’t know how dangerous vampires who are hostile to humans are.

“… I know. I know you better than Cleon. Well, how many vampires have I hunted so far?”

In response to Cleon’s serious attitude, she responded with a slight twitch of her words and then walked away from Cleon as if she had no choice.

“There’s nothing we can do… Let’s go rescue him quickly. Cleon. Whether it was Pamela or there was another culprit. “You’re worried about someone you know, right?”

“Ah. That’s right. Thank you for knowing, Illenu.”

＂Rice, not so much! It’s not something that deserves any thanks. Because Cleon is restless. Well, that’s all. And I also worry about people the same way. Hmm, as a vampire hunter, it’s a natural decision.”

Joy! Her face was slightly red as she crossed her arms and turned her head.

＂Lord Illenu… That’s right… ＂

Looking at her like that, when Aine whispered to her older sister, Aine said “Yes” And nodded her head.

“There! No private conversations from here on out! … Wherever a vampire hides, there is always a trap, so you have to be careful. It is written like this in Belmonto’s Book of Extermination, a famous old book containing the legend of extermination of vampires. Concentrate!”

Leaving behind her words, which seemed like Lila’s, Cleon moved his legs straight towards her and headed towards the cave where he could enter Kanon’s hiding place.

If you go inside, you will find yourself in a dark, damp, and uninhabitable cave passage.

However, as soon as he stepped foot in her, Cleon realized that there was something different from before and pulled the sword from her waist – the demon sword Galatea.

[Yes.]

When Galatea answered with a soft glow, Cleon also nodded.

And looking at Cleon’s reaction, the other party members who felt the same presence also drew their own weapons.

＂The number… Is quite large. It is an ideal ambush environment.”

Just like that, after going back to back with Aine, who seemed to be praising her while analyzing her opponent, Dryne also grabbed her sword and tackled her words.

“There is no need to praise the enemy in a situation like this!”

“I told you private conversations were prohibited.”

And Illenu was facing Cleon’s back while holding a silver rapier.

Then, what creeps out from the darkness of the cave is something in the shape of a beast that seems to be made of fog and shadow.

They slowly surround the party and gradually narrow the siege.

Cleon, who felt that the body was a mixture of magical power and a tangible body, realized that they were close to artificially created magical beasts.

“So? Are these the ones that were originally here?”

“No way. It’s not that kind of place.”

The moment Cleon said that and glanced back at Illenu, the animal in front of him, probably thinking it was an opening, jumped up and ran to bite Cleon’s neck.

Cleon snaps his fingers without even looking in that direction.

Then, the black lightning that exploded from his hand flew in a straight line and landed on the beast’s body, where it fell to the ground with some kind of force in the air and sparked intense sparks.

“It seems like none of them are that strong.”

Cleon sees that a beast hit by a spell trembles and then stops like a machine whose batteries have run out.

“Let’s blow it up and move forward.”

And, when Ilenu said that, Draine couldn’t stand it anymore and tackled her.

“Hmm, I heard there’s always a trap where a vampire waits, so you have to be careful!?”

＂There were times when that wasn’t the case.＂

When Ilenu said that, Aine burst out laughing without realizing it, and Cleon also sighed as if he was tired.

Either way – the animals just rushed towards the intruders who appeared.