## Chapter 1082 – Ancient Vampire

“Ooh.”

The air in Krasheim, which I hadn’t visited in a while, was exceptionally unique.

It was on a completely different level of awful compared to luxurious places like the capital or Isvant. It was almost like the air of a battlefield. Or maybe they gathered the breaths of despair exhaled by refugees and supplied them here.

Returning to this place of memories, I puffed out my chest and inhaled all of this unpleasant air.

“Sss… haaa…”

Krasheim’s oxygen.

Into my insides.

I kill it.

Kill it and exhale it as carbon dioxide.

This was that kind of hatred-breathing technique.

“…”

How the hell did I live in a place like this?

It was a city of memories, but now that I’ve grown up and arrived, there’s no place more fucked up than this. Beautiful memories of elementary school. It was fun back then, but from an adult’s perspective, all I can think is, what the hell are those crazy bastards going to become when they grow up?

—Krasheim.

Perhaps because it was a remote area, the public sentiment was fierce.

So I can’t recall anything but bad memories.

And damn it, all these buildings here, I’m seeing them again after years, but for some goddamn reason, I remember them so vividly that forgotten memories are assaulting my brain and resurfacing.

“Ugh.”

Endless rage surges…!

How many times was I almost killed by those damn beggars! And how many times was I almost sold to a con artist, and how many times was I pickpocketed, damn it. I almost got mugged and almost starved to death several times too.

I feel like going to the slums and slaughtering all those sons of bitches.

But I met Elise here.

And well, it wasn’t like there were only complete assholes here. There was that receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild who treated me relatively well back then. Looking back, it was that person who gave me the job that led me to Isvant.

I should go say hello to that person after finishing this job.

Anyway, after reminiscing for a while, I carefully moved around, anxiously trying not to get caught by Elise, who might be somewhere, and found a room.

“Now, let’s use this.”

After finishing unpacking, I took out the Oracle before taking a long rest. It’s about twice the size of a human head, but I have to carry it around on this journey.

Risha has already finished processing it.

“Analyzing current location. Calculating coordinates…”

Anyway, at Risha’s command, the Oracle opened its mouth and began to say something.

“Risha? This bastard’s voice sounds more natural now?”
“As you can see, I reinserted the brain and properly sealed it. I’ve inserted some necessary things inside, so if I touch it like this, I can tell if it’s genuine.”

Oh.

“You really are a witch.”

Karin exclaimed.

“Hehehe, now do you understand my abilities?”
“Everyone’s knowledgeable in their field.”
“Be quiet!”

I tickled Karin’s side, telling her to stop teasing, and focused on the Oracle.

“Ah… but while working on it, I found out that giving this Oracle human blood was something that shouldn’t have been done.”
“Risha, Unnie? Why is that?”
“This thing regains power by absorbing human blood. If it has a certain amount of power, it will try to find blood on its own, so you must never give it blood.”

This bastard was also the type to stab you in the back the moment it ate blood.

“After gaining some power, it has lived by either ruling or sticking by another ruler to easily obtain blood, so isn’t this a very evil being?”
“I can’t stand it!!!”

Hilde once again burned with hatred.

Whatever, as long as we don’t give it blood.

“Calculation complete.”

Soon, the Oracle finished calculating.

—Zhiiiing.

Then, it turned its head on the table and shot a faint laser with its eyes.

Looks like it’s indicating the direction.

“From here… east… further east…”

East from here.

“As expected.”

Bingo.

“The uncharted territory was right.”

Even if you go further east from Krasheim, the most remote city, you’ll only find uncharted territory. The Vampire Lord is sealed there.

Does that mean that the uncharted territory used to be human territory in the past?

I don’t know.

“Then let’s roughly figure out the direction, rest for a day, and then depart.”

* * *

From the next day, we packed our luggage and began our march towards the uncharted territory. The speed was, of course, the best, befitting a superhuman. There was no problem carrying Risha or Winia on our backs or shoulders.

And even though the terrain was rugged, it was just a playground for us, and since Ari was with us, the mountain climbing was bound to be pleasant. These mountains are like our living room.

We continued our march without anything lacking.

Still, we encountered monsters larger than medium size from time to time, but they were all just pushovers. Just good meals.

After several days of doing so.

“Arrival. Arrived. Vampire Lord Coltrahen is sealed in this area.”

The Oracle in the backpack opened its mouth.

“What?”

Have we finally arrived?

“Blackie, is it here?”
“Ughhh, we’ve finally arrived.”

First, I put down the backpack and heightened my vigilance. I immediately assessed the surrounding terrain. Just a rugged mountain range. A really lush one at that.

It felt like the perfect place to seal something.

“Where exactly?”

Karin asked, tapping the backpack with her toes.

“Calculating exact location. Coordinate error occurred in this vicinity. Cannot narrow down the distance.”

Strange words came out.

“What? Coordinate error? What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Arrived near the target point. Reaching the target point… coordinate error occurred. Cannot calculate further.”
“Witch-nim? I think this is broken?”
“…I don’t think so.”

Analyzing it, it seems like we’re in the vicinity, but we can’t pinpoint the exact location? Well, that’s possible. It’s a coordinate from hundreds of years ago, so it might have shifted a bit. Anyway, it’s around here.

Of course, I have Vugal.

“Andro. Now wake up and earn your keep…”

I was just about to draw my sword.

“Wait. Hold on.”

Risha looked around and walked out.

“Something’s wrong.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Yes… something feels strange. I can’t explain it specifically, but something feels off.”

Ari also reacted similarly to Risha and looked around.

“…”

If it’s strange, we have no choice but to prepare.

“Sisters. Prepare for battle.”
“We already know.”

Let’s prepare for battle.

—Zhiiiing.

Risha, reaching out her hand, summoned several black magic circles. Floating in the air, they rotated with their respective patterns, and Risha manipulated them by arranging them as if playing the piano.

—Jjeoeok.

Soon, a large demon’s claw emerged from within the magic circles.

“…”

It bent its fingers and tapped the air.

And Risha said.

“…A barrier is deployed here.”
“A barrier!!!”

There’s a barrier!!!

“Oracle! Tell me about the barrier around here!”
“I don’t know.”
“You son of a bitch!”

There’s an unknown barrier around here?

This is 100% suspicious.

“…”

Then, Risha quietly reached out and seemed to caress the air.

—Pachichichik!

Black currents swirled.

Only then did I realize that there was a transparent wall in the air. No. To be exact, it wasn’t there… it was exposed because Risha knew of its existence and touched it.

“What the fuck.”

Everyone gasped at the sight.

—Chijijijijik.

The demon’s claw slashed down the transparent wall with its sharp claws, and each time, cracks were created in the air.

—Tseujeujeuk.

Risha’s face, as she performed that, looked quite serious. That meant she was feeling suspicious and concentrating. Guarding Risha, who had become unusually serious, we waited, prepared for battle.

First of all, the fact that a barrier is deployed.

Means that the situation is unusual.

Has the Vampire Lord already awakened?
Is that why they put up a barrier?

With the Oracle not knowing, there’s nothing certain.

—Pachik!
—Pachichichik!!

Then, a gap appeared in the air.

A gap.

“No, what the hell is this.”

It’s not like I’m not familiar with magic, but I couldn’t understand the sight at all. Cracks like broken glass appeared in the air one after another, and from within the holes created, a scenery completely different from the surrounding terrain was faintly visible.

I moved my body to see that incomprehensible thing from the left and from the right. Only that part in the air was in a state where holes were made like broken glass.

But when I went behind it, there was nothing.

What is this?

“I can’t understand… such a barrier… I didn’t think such a thing was possible…”

Risha also said, seemingly bewildered, and tried to step into the gap that had been widened to the size of a person.

“Wait! Hold on!”
“Risha! Wait!”

We all grabbed Risha’s shoulders and arms to prevent her from entering. This looks really dangerous at first glance. We need to make a careful decision.

“I…”

Risha, who was being held back, continued.

“No. I want to go in and see what kind of barrier this is. There probably won’t be any big problems. The fact that I can open it means I can go in and out.”
“…”

Whether her desire as a mage was burning or not, her words were filled with confidence, and her tone was calm. Risha said it with conviction.

While we were unable to say anything.

“Hmph… we have to go in anyway, right? Then let’s go in. We can explore and come out when something goes wrong, right?”

Claudia said that.

Then let’s carefully go in for now.

“I’m already a body without any innocence to be afraid of something like this. Let’s go. My blood is boiling.”
“Yes! How can we be afraid of something like this? It’s a bit strange, but that’s what barriers are like. Let’s go in.”

Karin turned her neck and stretched, and Liztina put down the bag she had brought and put on her gauntlets.

“Hehehe, yeah. It’s not good for my reputation to be afraid of something like this. Let’s go in. Let’s go in and scout first. Secure an escape route. Got it? Risha. First, after going in, test whether you can open a passage from ‘inside’ to ‘outside’.”

We probably won’t be trapped inside forever, but there’s no harm in testing it.

“I understand.”

Risha nodded.

“Blackie, I’m so scared.”
“Winia? Are you scared?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

How much experience do I have?

“That’s right! There’s nothing to worry about with Katte-nim!”
“It’s strange… but I think it’ll be okay, Winia-nim.”
“Is that so…”

Anyway.

We stood in front of the gap once again.

“Then we’re going in.”
“Follow me closely.”

Karin and I were at the front, and so I stepped in with Karin.

—Swoosh.

Into the inside of the gap.
But can we call this a gap in the barrier?

“Uh.”

As soon as we entered, the scenery changed.
To be exact, the air seemed to have changed too.

Looking back, the gap was still there. Risha and Winia were coming over in order. But as soon as I checked behind me, I had no choice but to look forward again.

—Forest terrain.

Lush.

The rugged mountain terrain.

“Mom, damn it.”

None of that was anywhere to be seen.

“Hey… this.”

Karin grabbed my arm.

A vast farmland was 펼쳐져 in front of us. It was the harvest season, so golden wheat was waving in the wind… and over there, some crazy farmers wearing straw hats were working.

“…”

Not only that.

Over there, a beautiful and large castle was proudly situated.

“Uh uh…”

The cloudless sky was abnormally blue… and a castle was built on an infinite golden wheat field.

We, who had entered this barrier in order, were just looking at this scenery. It was such an abnormal sight that I couldn’t help but wonder if I was crazy, so I was just dumbfounded. The combination of gold and blue was that much more bizarre.

What the hell is this?

Is this the inside of the barrier?

—Sabeok, sabeok.

So we walked through the wheat field.

—…

Soon, the farmers who found us waved their hands.

As if they were happy to see us.

“What the hell are these bastards?”