Chapter 786 – Absence Case Log -10-

000

The party who entered Initrad Dan’s hideout with the knights led by Vedika encountered the illusion of vampires who had prepared for battle in advance as if they had anticipated their attack.

An army of vampires aiming their weapons and magic towards us in a wide space.

Since Illenu often faced one or at most two vampires in the village, she felt the holy sword in her hand tremble in a situation where vampires who looked to be well over 30 were gathered together.

No, thinking that perhaps it was her own hands that were shaking, she also told her companions to be careful and went about her battle.

However, the direction of the battle went in a slightly different direction than what Illenu and the party expected.

＂Kaaaaa!!＂

＂Save me… Ugh!＂

What is echoing is the screams of vampires coming from a battle that is close to a one-sided massacre.

Vedika and the knights under his command formed a formation and, while channeling the enemy’s attacks with their strong armor and shields, and the skills they had honed through training, they approached the enemy step by step and plunged their swords into his heart.

Then, the sword encrusted with a red heart-like jewel that they were holding drew blood from their bodies as if they were alive, absorbed it, and engulfed the vampires’ bodies in blue flames, turning them into ashes.

＇… These guys… Are stronger than I thought…!＇

Well-trained soldiers, equipment that is superior to the opponent, and Vedika’s commanding skills, as well as individual force and skills.

As characteristic of a mercenary group, they use freely and arbitrarily armed weapons, and the vampires of the Initrad group, which do not fit well except for their racial characteristics as vampires, are unable to do anything in front of the Holy Knights, who are like a walking silver fortress. One by one, they died by having their throats cut, or their hearts pierced.

It would be difficult even for vampires to break through the defenses of the Knights, who never isolate their comrades and always act strategically while keeping their enemies in check.

Illenu and her group, wondering where the initial tension had gone, looked a little disillusioned as they watched the vampires being wiped out on their own without them having to do anything.

“This… Was it necessary for us to come too?”

Diora looked around and talked about the hideout that was organized in less than 10 minutes, as if it were meaningless.

“Well… There is a cheering buff that boosts morale just by being there.”

Schrödinger was trying to find the meaning of being here in Diora’s words, but Ilenu kept her mouth shut and looked at the knights who were sorting out the situation.

“Situation report. What are the remnants of the enemy’s forces?”

＂No.＂

＂This side has been cleaned up as well.＂

＂Talisman, recovery complete.＂

The members of the Knights’ Order returned answers that seemed to be determined by Vedica’s norms. They each retrieved the remaining talisman from the ashes of the vampires they had slain and gathered around Vedica with it.

“What is the damage here?”

＂No deaths.＂

＂Armor weakening due to physical factors and magic, none.＂

“There are no injuries except that Hans sprained his back.”

“… That’s what happened while I was drinking yesterday.”

I guess it was so one-sided that we could leisurely joke around after the battle was over.

And, according to their report, the Knights annihilated the vampire mercenary group without a single injury.

“Are you guys hurt too?”

“Well, thanks to you guys, I didn’t even fight properly.”

When Vedika said that Illenu and the others were also concerned, Illenu answered that way even though she couldn’t shake off her bewildered feeling.

“Thanks to you guys, we were able to fight without worrying about what was going on. What is the Talisman recovered there?”

＂… Here.＂

Diora and Selena join forces to create one, and Kanan and Schrödinger work together to create one. Lastly, there is one Ilenuga.

When Ilenu holds up a total of three talismans, Vedika speaks.

＂Could it is possible for me to give up that talisman? This talisman is one of the items our knights are collecting at the orders of Her Majesty the Queen. Of course, I’ll give you a proper thanks.”

“… Doesn’t care. I’ll check it first, but I’m sure it’s not being used for something strange.”

“The Talisman is an item that has no magical effects except for the function of identifying the mercenary group and communicating between mercenary group members. Even if you want to plot something like that, you can’t.”

Vedica responded to Illenu’s warning as if to reassure her, and after listening to her answer, Illenu thought that she had a point and passed it on to Vedika.

“Thank you. Then. This…”

When Vedika said that and took out a brown pouch that seemed to have been prepared from her bag, Illenu tried to refuse her because she was not an adventurer and that her salary was fine.

＂As expected, they are knights~ They are big!＂

As she said this, she frowned as she watched Schrödinger take the bag next to her.

＂Schrödinger, as he pleases…＂

＂Ugh…!＂

However, when Schrödinger, who opened the handed bag, let out a strange scream and held it out to Illenu, Illenu’s eyes couldn’t help but widen as she came to her senses a little.

This is because what was inside was precious metals like fist-sized diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

Ilenu, who had thought it would contain at least gold or silver coins, was not only wrong in her expectations, but also looked at the reward, which made it difficult to judge the value of each jewel, and calmly closed the bag and returned it to Vedika.

＂Why are you doing that…? Was it not enough?”

“Shortage!? … Sigh. That’s not it. I don’t know what the market was like a thousand years ago, but this is too much. Jewelry… Is it okay for the knight commander to hand over something like this at will?”

＂Because the currency of the time we lived has become unusable in modern times. I thought it was natural to provide compensation if I received help, so I prepared it…”

After hearing Ilenu’s answer, Vedika thought about what to do… And thought for a bit, then she took out a jewel herself from her pocket.

It was a diamond the size of a fist that was shining brightest in the pocket.

“If you can’t accept everything, please accept at least part of it. “I hope you think of this as both a conservative and an apology for yesterday’s rudeness.”

“Now, wait a minute…”

Vedica, who forced it into Illenu’s hand, returned to where the knights were waiting, without even listening to Illenu’s answer.

Illenu suddenly looks at the jewel in his hand, then looks back at Diora, Selena, and Kanan.

＂… Do you need it?＂

However, I saw all three shaking their heads.

＂Well, well… I think it will be a surprise gift for Cleon and the others when they return? Kuon in particular might be extremely happy. Because I’m in charge of the party’s finances.”

When Schrödinger said that to Illenu, Illenu nodded as if she thought the same thing and had no choice but to stuff the jewels into her bag.

“… The pace was a little off though. First, I said it was in here, right? Leader of the Initrad mercenaries.”

＂If your subordinates don’t show up even after suffering damage close to massacre like this, isn’t it because they don’t exist?＂

When Schrödinger answered Diora’s question, Selina raised her voice as if she was angry at the leader’s actions.

“Even if he is a villain, throwing away the lives of his subordinates who trust and follow him is unforgivable…!”

“Well, where is the loyalty to pay special attention to these miscellaneous soldiers who can be procured from anywhere?”

＂No matter how weak you are…! Eh?”

It was almost at the same time that Selena turned around with a surprised expression at the sudden voice coming from next to her, and Diora threw her body and pushed her to the side. 〉

The mouth, like a large wolf, opened wide, and then sharp, vicious teeth grew indiscriminately in the air, boom! And saw it close.

＂Wow, that was dangerous…!＂

As Diora says that, she breathes a sigh of relief after confirming that Selena underneath her is not hurt.

At the same time, the other party members, Bedika, and the knights looked back at the girl who suddenly appeared in the space and formed a battle formation.

The girl, like the rest of her companions, wore a black leather coat, and underneath it, leather armor that clung to the lines of her body.

However, I could see that the clothes on her body and all her body parts were changing their appearance to match her transformation, as if they were connected as one, and the mouth of the wolf that tried to crush Selena’s head a little while ago had returned to its original state. Because it was being absorbed into her clothing as it went.

“I can’t believe we end up in a confrontation like this. I’m sorry, Illenu. At that time, you repaid the favor of saving me by taking revenge on me.”

＂…＂

Hair as black as jet black, red eyes reminiscent of pomegranates, and skin as white as porcelain, indicating that it is not a human being.

And, even though he appears to be several years younger than himself, his eyes and attitude seem to look down on people.

Looking at her, nothing had changed from what she had seen before.
Ilenu was silent.

And Vedika came straight at her, swinging her sword at her, but she stepped back slightly, blocking it with her bat-wings that emerged from her own shadow. 〉

“It’s been a while, Vedika. Am I a little old?”

“… Because I didn’t become a monster that lives forever like you. Now I know.”

In response to Vedica’s reply, ‘That’s a pity,’ Al opened her closed bat wings and flew Vedica back, then looked back at her group while yawning in her relaxed manner. 〈 Br〉

“Why are you alone? What about other Initrad groups? “

“They are gathered in the hiding place on the other side. We intentionally put only the lowest-level new recruits here to act as bait.”

As Al answered Illenu’s question, he continued to look back at the enemies surrounding him.

＂The elite 20th member of the Knights Templar, the Knight Commander. And, the Dhampir vampire hunter and his four companions… We’re a bit outnumbered.”

“That’s the way it is. That side is alone, and this side is 26 just by counting the numbers.”

When Selena asked her what she was saying, Al just laughed and shook her head.

＂The story is that there are not enough numbers to catch me. Selena Regent. Ah, yesterday’s skit during the day was quite enjoyable. It’s been a while since I burst out laughing.”

＂Yesterday during the day…?＂

Her Selena knows that she is treating her like a fool, but she reacts as if she doesn’t know what he is referring to, and he lets her know that it is her Dio.

＂… Yesterday during the day, there was shouting in the sky. ＂

“Ah… Wait! I thought it was a farce and never did it! In order to protect the citizens of Asteris, it is natural to eradicate the vampires who are like a tumor on the world!”

Selena, confidently demonstrating her convictions, now aims the tip of her wand at Al.

＂Vampires are a tumor on the world… Then, these guys who have come from a past era and are trying to be revived in the modern times… Are the crazy queen of Kabalon and her subordinate knights a mutant cancer on the world? ＂

＂What…!＂

＂On the topic of vampires…!＂

Her knights raised their voices in anger at such an insult, but Vedika just looked at her with a cold attitude.

However, considering her attitude and the changes she showed earlier, I could clearly understand what she meant when she said it was ‘not enough’.

She is strong.

Perhaps, she is stronger than any vampire she has ever faced.

If we were to say something similar, Illenu’s father, who took his own life, could be compared – but she is probably stronger than him.

And vampires – their abilities are more evident when dealing with large numbers of people.

Even if she is injured, she can recover her health and magic power by stealing blood from the opponent she has defeated and subdued.

Perhaps aware of Ilenu’s concerns, Vedica was quietly showing anger towards Ijeal while confronting him.

“So? That crazy queen – Alteas is not visible.”

“There is no way Her Majesty the Queen would come here in person.”

When Vedica asked what she was talking about, Al was silent for a moment and then shook her head.

“Well, I guess it’s good. Now, first, I have to quench my thirst with the blood of a friend I haven’t seen in a long time.”

The next moment – she snapped her fingers – and the shadow beneath her quickly spread to all directions around her.

＂This is…! No! Get away from the shadows!”

The moment Vedica said that, Selena and Diora simultaneously used flight magic to grab the group and soar into the sky.

Since Vedika herself could not use flight magic, she had no choice but to escape from the range faster than the shadow, but more than half of her subordinates – the knights – were frozen in place as if they were stranded by the shadow. Br〉

And the next moment—

＂Ugh, ugh!!!＇

Black hands stretched out from the shadows, clinging to the armor of the restrained knight, and slowly, gradually increasing in number.

And, the armor of the knights starts to dent from the part where the hand sticks.

＂Save me, save me─＂

Not even a single breath was left behind, and the helmet and armor were crushed while making a crackling sound-

As if juice was being squeezed out, a large amount of blood burst out from the dried, twisted armor and fell with a pattering sound in the shadows.

＂──＂

In an instant, the lives of more than 10 people disappeared like a lie.

The armor of the knights became a piece of junk that fell to the ground with a clanging sound-

Some of them were still bleeding, but every single drop was absorbed into Ijeal’s shadow and flowed into her body.

At that overwhelming sight, the party and the knights were all speechless.

＂… Did you tell me? It’s not enough.”

And now, having absorbed all of her blood, Al returned her own shadow around her body and smiled her sinister smile.

＂In front of Ijeal, the ruler of shadows. All living things are just… Food.”

By absorbing the blood and emitting magical pressure that instantly became stronger, the monster declared its hunt.