Volume 10 Chapter 67 The Rite of the Pale Green Eye
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Looks like we’ve been played,” Ada muttered.
The black-haired adventurer, her locks streaked with vibrant red, adjusted her grip as the gathered soldiers leveled their weapons. From atop the city walls, they stared into the sky, their faces etched with tension as they watched the nightmare unfolding in the heavens. A massive eye had manifested upon the moon, bleeding a frantic, crimson light across the world. What had once been a merely loathsome sky had finally bared its fangs.
An eye is a mirror—a gateway to the lunar realm. From the terrifying red moon, black shadows began to spill out like a ruptured vein, plunging toward the earth in a relentless stream.
”Ms. Ada!” a soldier cried.
”Don’t lose your heads! Stay calm and keep your weapons ready,” Ada barked. “These bastards have the high ground, and they’re going to be a pain to deal with. They aren’t human, and they sure as hell aren’t mindless monsters. Unless you’re the best of the best, you fight in pairs or teams! Move!”
The shadows were gargantuan—far too large to be mere bats. What started as a few scouting silhouettes quickly became a deluge. Within moments, the sky above Sanrid¹ was blotted out by hundreds of winged humanoids, their leathery wings casting a shroud over the city.
”Vampire…!”
In the blink of an eye, the city’s airspace was conquered. Or perhaps, more accurately, the Vampires were simply reclaiming what they considered theirs. It was the Brigante Troop² that had wandered, uninvited, into enemy territory. From their high perches, the Vampires looked down at Ada and her men, their predatory eyes weighing the soldiers like cattle at a slaughterhouse.
Ada’s eyes narrowed. She hoisted her halberd onto her shoulder and stepped out past the defensive line. Suddenly, the swarm of Vampires moved as one, a singular army of darkness initiating a synchronized dive. The war had truly begun.
”Here they come!”
In battle, the high ground is everything. Though the soldiers held the city walls, their slight elevation was a joke compared to an aerial assault. The sheer gap in physical prowess was a chasm; the Brigante Troop seemed destined to be trampled. At least, that’s what the Vampires believed.
”Too slow!”
The air screamed. A Vampire was suddenly sheared in two, its bisected corpse tumbling from the wall. Ada had lunged into the center of the first wave, her halberd a blur of steel. As more Moon Court vanguard swarmed her, she danced through the gale, manipulating the wind to shatter their flight patterns. Heads were split, necks were severed, and the once-proud Vampires were sent crashing into the dirt.
”I thought the night was supposed to be your playground,” Ada said, cracking her neck. “You call yourselves Vampires? I’ve seen snails with more hustle.”
The attackers hesitated. The night belonged to the Vampires, but the wind belonged to Ada. She moved with eye-blurring speed, her halberd striking like lightning. Every time she kicked off the stone, a localized gale erupted, knocking the predators out of the sky before they could find their footing.
”Well? Don’t stop now! If you’ve got the stones to fight me, get over here!”
While ordinary humans were outmatched, the Vampires found themselves completely countered by Ada’s mastery of the air. Spears and blades surrounded her, but none could survive a second exchange.
”Hmph.”
A series of arrows whistled through the air, piercing the hesitant Vampires with surgical precision.
”I was a bit worried when I heard we were facing Vampires,” Fit said, a cocky smirk tugging at her lips. “But they aren’t exactly invincible, are they?”
”Yeah,” Ada agreed.
Suzette, watching from the rear, remained a statue of professional poise. “Your confidence is most reassuring,” she said flatly. At her feet, a Vampire man who had been playing dead suddenly lunged, a hidden spear aimed at her heart. Without shifting her gaze, Suzette brought her heel down. There was a sickening crunch as she snapped his neck like a dry twig. She crushed him with the cold indifference of a master disposing of trash.
”Ms. Suzette is scary-cool, isn’t she?” Fit whispered.
”She handles everything from the ledgers to the front lines,” Ada replied. “That’s what it takes to be the Hero’s personal attendant.”
Suzette ignored the praise entirely. Ada and Fit exchanged a knowing grin.
”Suzette,” Ada said, turning serious. “He said I’ve got the lead on this, right?”
”Yes.”
”Alright. Fit, you’re my eyes and ears here. Monitor the flow. If soldiers get tired or wounded, rotate them out.”
”In this mess? You’re a real slave-driver,” Fit joked, though she didn’t hesitate to take her post.
”Suzette, you’re with me. There are still pockets of soldiers scattered throughout the streets. We’re going to run a sweep, gather the stragglers, and clear the town. Every Vampire we see gets put down. Got it?”
”Understood.”
Ada and Suzette descended from the walls. Fit was surrounded by fellow adventurers who respected her A-rank status; no one was going to argue with her orders.
”By the way,” Ada asked as they ran, “what are the heavy hitters doing? Klock’s inner circle shouldn’t be sitting this one out.”
”The enemy commander is already on the field,” Suzette replied. “They are likely engaging them now.”
Ada looked toward the center of the town, where an oppressive presence hung in the air. “It’s gonna be a long night. We’re not just dealing with fodder; there’s some real monsters out there.”
* * *
The crimson sky bathed Sanrid in a bloody glow. Near the town square, Flavia stared up at the moon’s grotesque eye.
(They say an eye is a mirror…) she thought. (Has the Cursed Eye of the Moon Mirror³ truly linked us to the Moon Court?)
Black swarms continued to pour from the sky. Even from a distance, the aristocratic bearing of the Vampire army was unmistakable.
(I heard that Viola’s ability blossomed when she was still human. She was always destined to be an Apostle.)
Flavia glanced at the middle finger of her left hand. The magical bond of their contract thrummed against her skin. She reached out to contact her master, then pulled back. As a familiar, Flavia was his servant in soul and body. Within range, they could share thoughts perfectly.
(If I am needed, my Lord will call for me.)
She hesitated. Klock had plenty of protectors. She had been promised as a wife to the Chain Binder, but she knew her place was behind him. She had offered her loyalty and her life, but she refused to let her heart cloud her duty.
(…My Lord…)
A sharp, electric pang shot through her chest. An overwhelming urge to speak to him seized her.
”A powerful presence—”
The air above her curdled.
”My, what have we here?” a cultured voice dripped with malice.
”Is that an Elf? How rare.”
”She has such a lovely face. Quite exquisite.”
Two men and one woman descended. They wore ornate, ancient finery—aristocrats who reeked of history and blood. They were the Nobility of the Moon Court, their auras vastly more suffocating than the foot soldiers.
”Can I have this one?” one of the men asked.
”Do as you please,” the other replied with a shrug.
”Oh, what a waste,” the woman pouted. “I wanted to play with her.”
Flavia dropped into a combat stance. But then, a mental shock hit her.
(He’s calling me?! My Lord…!!)
No words came through the link—only a desperate, singular intent: Come to me.
(My Lord is in danger!!)
”Hah!”
Flavia turned to flee. Her priority was Klock’s safety. She sprinted away, putting everything into her escape. But she didn’t move. Her legs were pumping, her heart was racing, but the cobblestones beneath her stayed exactly the same. It was as if she were running on a phantom treadmill.
”This is…!”
She skidded to a stop and spun around.
”Too late, little forest-dweller!”
Arms locked around her in a crushing hold. A man’s forearm dug into her throat, cutting off her air.
”Slow. So incredibly slow,” the Vampire whispered. “What’s with those human-level reflexes? You’re like a dodo bird that’s forgotten what a predator looks like. Are all Elves such inferior trash?”
Her face flushed a deep, painful red as he squeezed, his physical strength far eclipsing her own.
”Guh…!”
”Hahaha! I love it! Biting a woman with a face this pretty is the ultimate high. I’m going to savor every drop.”
The Noble bared his fangs, his grip tightening until he forced her shoulder bare. He drove his teeth deep into the soft flesh of her neck.
”I’m so jealous,” the Vampire woman called out. “Elf blood is a delicacy. Once you’re done with her, save some for me.”
Flavia’s arms went limp. Her strength withered as the parasite drained her lifeblood. But then, her eyes grew cold.
”You took the bait,” the Princess⁴ whispered, her voice a calm death sentence.
”Spada.”
A massive blade erupted directly out of the Vampire Noble’s skull, silencing his laughter forever.
Blood sprayed from the man’s head. His brain was pierced through, split clean in two, and his entire body fell into violent, rhythmic convulsions.
”Open your eyes-Apertura.”
A wet, grinding sound echoed through the air. Following a sickening noise like tearing leather, eyes began to manifest all over the man’s body. One, two, ten, twenty… Across the skin of the Nobility who had dared to suck her blood, milky, cataract-clouded pupils surfaced in a gruesome swarm.
”W-what…?” one of them stammered.
”This is…!”
The other Nobility watched in sheer horror. Flavia turned her gaze toward them, her voice cold.
”Yellow Eyes.”
A jaundiced light ignited within the mass of white eyes. Suddenly, thick tree roots erupted from the pupils. Like a knot of earthworms surging from the soil, roots burst from the man’s flesh, coiling around his limbs and torso.
”Is this Magic⁶? Some kind of parasitic mistletoe?”
The blood-sucking Nobility withered at a terrifying speed. He, who was supposed to be the predator, was now being pumped dry. His lifeblood and moisture were siphoned away until he was nothing more than a living mummy.
”She summoned a blood-sucking plant to drain him dry…?”
”This brat… she acts just like the Fairies.”
The man’s body hit the ground with a dull thud. He had lost so much mass that he sounded as light as a bundle of dry sticks.
”Infestation procedures don’t work on Forest People,” Flavia said, kicking the husk aside. “Our blood is simply of a higher order. I think I’ll return that ‘inferior race’ title to you lot. Your genes were clearly the weaker ones.”
Whether she meant it or was just twisting the knife didn’t matter. Her emerald eyes locked onto the two figures hovering in the sky. The remaining Nobility were visibly shaken, watching their comrade snuffed out in seconds.
”An eternal Nobility… drained of his own blood? Dead?”
”…That Forest People brat…”
They hadn’t dreamed a counterattack was possible. In their agitation, they left a massive opening, and Flavia took a step forward.
However, though her legs moved, her position didn’t change. Something was wrong. Some kind of spatial interference Skill⁷ was pinning her to that exact spot. The man who had attacked her was dead, so this was the work of one of the two in the sky.
”Spear-Lancia.”
Two spears erupted from the ground at Flavia’s feet.
”Seize-Prendio.”
She snatched one up and drove it deep into the desiccated corpse of the Nobility.
”Release-Liberazione.”
She gripped the second spear, and its casing shattered. A glowing, jewel-like core was exposed within. Anyone with a lick of sense could tell this was a pre-loaded Magic of incredible complexity. The sheer density of the spells proved this girl was operating on a level far beyond the norm.
”This is bad! This girl-“
”Pale Green Eyes-Occhi Loico.”
Veins bulged across the dead man’s skin with a sickening crackle. The corpse, which should have been a dry husk, began to twitch as if jolted back to life. Then, eyes of a loathsome, sickly hue surfaced across its flesh.
”I can’t see the bottom of her hand! She’s a master caster-“
”Blue Bone-Ossa Blu.”
* * *
”This is a total disaster. Flavia isn’t coming.”
Klock was surrounded by five vampire girls inside the church. As they smirkingly laid out the ‘infestation procedure’ as a condition for his survival, Klock could only gnash his teeth. He’d planned to buy time until Flavia arrived to bail him out, but that hope was fading fast. Between the elite and the maid squad, he was outnumbered five to one. Even if she showed up now, it was a tall order.
Still, if the Forest People princess were here, he might have a chance to pivot. But several minutes had passed since he’d sent the distress signal through his ring. The contract showed her nearby, but she wasn’t moving. A bead of cold sweat rolled down Klock’s cheek.
(Flavia, you’re stuck too, aren’t you? Which means the Vampire army is already here. I’m not the only one in deep shit.)
He’d been right to put Ada in charge of the defense, but now Klock had to survive this mess on his own. Viola took a step forward. Klock hurriedly threw up his hands.
”Wait, wait, wait! Calm down. Let’s just take a breath for a second, okay?”
”I am calm,” Viola replied.
”No, you’re really not. You’ve got that look in your eye.”
”I’m telling you, I’m perfectly calm.”
Viola responded to Klock’s babbling by flipping him the bird. In a weird way, Klock felt they were actually pretty compatible.
”Look, listen to me. According to the stars, today is a terrible day to become a Vampire. Seriously bad luck.”
”Huh?”
”Oh, here we go,” Mermy laughed. She was a girl with sharp eyes and a face full of freckles. Klock wondered if she’d kill him if he told her she looked like a childhood bully. “The desperate excuses are starting! Let’s hear it.”
”My horoscope says that if I turn into a Vampire today, the vibe is just… ‘meh.’ You don’t want a ‘meh’ servant, right?”
”Wow…”
Even to him, it sounded pathetic. The girls all narrowed their eyes.
”What the hell is ‘meh’ supposed to mean?”
”…I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.” Klock shrugged.
”So you’re full of it. Fine. I’m biting you now.”
”Wait, wait, wait! Seriously! If you do it now, your luck will just leak out! It’s a waste!”
Klock was out of moves. He could have asked Kispe for help, but he didn’t. He had a gut feeling she wouldn’t lift a finger.
”I’m curious,” Linaria said with a giggle, showing off her long, decorated nails. How did she even do maid work with those things? “What kind of fortune-telling predicts Vampire compatibility?”
”Oh, that? It’s, uh… Anus Crease Divination.”
”……”
Viola and Mermy’s eyes went needle-thin. Linaria’s giggling stopped. Rugandia just looked away, embarrassed for him.
”Look, a master like me can see everything-money, love, vampirism-all in the wrinkles of the rear. Come on, Viola, show me yours and I’ll give you a reading.”
”Die.”
Viola flashed a beautiful smile while turning both thumbs down. Every time Klock opened his mouth, his already-pitiful reputation plummeted further.
(Dost thou truly have no plan, Sir Knight?)
…Huh? A voice echoed directly into his brain.
”Whoa!”
Ridney licked his neck. Klock flinched, expecting her fangs to sink in, but Linaria and Viola just laughed.
”Is this it? My peak popularity phase? Look, I’m a virgin, so if you don’t give me some space, I’m gonna die of embarrassment here!”
”You lie as easily as you breathe, you man-whore,” Viola said.
”I heard you’ve got a whole collection of women back home~” Linaria added.
”You’re actually the worst,” Mermy chimed in.
The vampire girls dogpiled him with insults.
(Sir Knight, canst thou reach the wall behind thee?)
There it was again. A raspy voice, like a withered old man.
(…Who the hell are you?) Klock thought back.
(Waste no breath on questions. Just move. Put thy back against the stone, and I shall provide.)
(I can’t move! I’m literally being pinned down here!)
(No matter. Trust in me.)
He felt a wet kiss on his shoulder. Ridney was trailing her tongue over his skin. The sensation made his skin crawl.
”Are you ready to accept your fate?” Viola asked. The vampires were closing in.
”Then, I’ll be the one to-“
”Hey, hey, hey, hold on-“
Ridney clamped her hand over Klock’s mouth. As he muffled a “Mmph!” and tried to thrash, Mermy and Linaria grabbed his arms. He locked eyes with the smirking Viola. He felt hot breath on his shoulder. Behind him, Ridney bared her fangs.
”…Eh? Wait, what is this?!”
The fangs never touched him. Klock’s field of vision suddenly plummeted. He wasn’t falling forward-his entire body was sinking. It was as if he were melting into the floor like a block of ice turning into a puddle of slush.
”What?”
”Eek! What is this?! He’s turning into goo!”
”His body is liquefying!”
Klock’s frame became soft and gelatinous, like a slime. When his hand hit the floor, it made a sickening squelch. It was a grotesque transformation. Startled, the vampire girls leaped back. Ridney, who had been pinning him with her legs, shoved him away with the same disgust she’d show a cockroach on her dress. That was all he needed. For an instant, he was free.
(Now!)
Klock kicked off the floor. Despite the terrifyingly light, “wrong” feeling of his body, he scrambled up and bolted toward the wall. The girls were still dazed, but Viola recovered instantly.
”You’re not getting away!”
She lunged, her foot catching Klock’s ankle. He tripped, his momentum sending him crashing headfirst into the wall. But there was no pain. With a wet splat, his body hit the stone like a bag of heavy syrup, absorbing the entire impact.
And then he started to sink. His body, his clothes-everything was dissolving, soaking directly into the masonry.
”What… is happening…?”
The vampire girls stood frozen, watching as the wall literally swallowed the man whole.
(This is insane. I’m actually soaking into the wall. This is the weirdest feeling ever.)
Like water hitting dry mud, Klock was absorbed into the church’s stone. He became one with the wall, but he didn’t stop there.
(We shall exit through the outer facade. Once thou art clear, run.)
(This was you, wasn’t it?!)
He kept sinking until he popped out on the other side. His feet hit the grass, his back felt the cool night air, and then he plopped onto the ground outside the church. His body began to solidify, regaining its human hardness.
(Sir Knight, thou must flee. This was but a momentary reprieve. The danger persists.)
Urged on by the voice, Klock scrambled to his feet.
(I owe you one. But seriously, who the hell are you?)
Klock remained surprisingly calm. Compared to being teleported across the world with Suzette, this was only slightly more traumatizing.
(Indeed. A fair query. My name is Lizamis. I am the guardian of Kupira.)
(…What?!)
Klock stared at nothing. Kupira-the Forbidden Witch.
”Forgive me for the unconventional introduction,” the voice echoed, sounding far too calm for the situation. “I heard that Kupira-who is like a daughter to me-was to be wed. I came to see with my own eyes what sort of man her husband might be.”
(I bet he’s regretting that decision right about now,) Klock thought.
He wondered if the owner of this voice really was equivalent to Kupira’s father. Going through the trouble of vetting a son-in-law felt like something a Human father would do, but apparently, Fairies were no different.
”Thanks for the assist,” Klock grunted, leaning against a cold stone wall. “But I’m not exactly in a position to protect your ‘daughter’ right now. If you want to call off the wedding, I’m open to it.”
”Nonsense. You are a Chosen One⁸. In a manner of speaking, you are my junior. I have high expectations for you; I have no intention of breaking this match.”
”…Junior??” Klock scowled at the air.
”Do you truly know nothing of the Chosen Ones who came before you? Have you never heard of the Revealer, Great Sage Lizamis??”
Klock, who had been running blindly through the alleys, skidded to a halt. In the sky above, a massive Moon Eye watched the world. Black shadows like Bats swarmed around it, but Klock forced his focus away from the sky and toward the voice.
”The Revealer? You’re the one who was contracted with Lilies?”
The pieces clicked. This was the man who had written the journal.
”Oho! You know of Lilies? How did you come to know that incarnation of depravity? She rarely deigns to leave the Crimson Spire.”
”I’m under contract with Kispe,” Klock replied. “That’s how I met Lilies at the Spire.”
In hindsight, just perceiving Lilies’ existence was a feat. He’d only learned of her because of his partnership with Kispe. In terms of rarity, she might even outrank Kispe.
Suddenly, a tickle ran across his shoulder. Something was squirming-a rhythmic, scratching movement.
”Ki… Kispe?? You mean Queen Kispe Shisa of the Succubi??”
The voice hit a high, incredulous note. Klock felt a weight crawling up his neck. He turned his head, checking his right shoulder. The man froze to his very marrow. A giant, palm-sized spider was perched there, having just crawled out from the folds of Klock’s own cloak.
(The incarnation of pride!! That demon Kispe, the woman who has held the number one spot on the ‘Witch You Never Want to Meet’ rankings for a hundred years straight on the Demon Continent?? Lad, are you in your right mind, contracting with her of all people…??)
”………”
Klock nearly retched. The word disgusting sat on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it. It was painfully obvious that the spider was the owner of the voice. The scream dying in his throat turned into a ragged, forced deep breath.
”You… you were a spider this whole time?” Klock asked.
”Indeed. I was human once, long ago. Due to certain circumstances, I inhabit this body now,” Lizamis replied.
’The loathsome witch and the spider who spins Curses.’
’The witch is gone, but the spider surely lurks in the dark.’
The Fairies had mentioned a spider. Was this the same creature that had supposedly taken down Nobdovef alongside Kupira? The damn thing had been hitching a ride on his shoulder the whole time. How long had it been haunting him?
”Steady yourself, lad. The crisis has not passed. The Apostles of the Moon Court are still on our heels,” Lizamis warned.
”…!”
As if on cue, a thunderous crash erupted behind them. It was the sound of the church doors being kicked off their hinges. Klock saw black shapes streaking through the air. He scrambled to press his back against a nearby house to stay out of sight from above.
”I’ll duck into one of these houses and wait them out,” Klock hissed.
”A wise choice. However, they have the numbers. If they conduct a house-to-house search, you will be cornered. You cannot outrun them. We must find a way to shift the tides,” Lizamis said.
”If they find us, can’t I just use that trick you did earlier to dodge them?” Klock asked.
”Too risky. If your mana fails while you are Submerged, you will quite literally become a grease spot on the floor.”
…A grease spot? Klock’s blood ran cold.
”Furthermore, this ability is effective for someone with a small body like mine, but it is not suited for a human like you. If the wall you are submerged in is destroyed, your body will be shattered along with it,” Lizamis explained.
”What?! Hang on a second! That ability was that dangerous? What would’ve happened if Viola had kicked the church wall while we were inside it?” Klock demanded.
”In that case? Well, you would have been reduced to fine dust, I imagine,” Lizamis said.
”Tell me that part first, you shitty old man!!” Klock yelled.
They’d only escaped because they had the element of surprise. The ability was a total gamble-if the enemy even suspected it, or just attacked the area out of spite, he was dead.
”But you had no other options, did you? It was a necessary evil. Surely you didn’t want to be turned into a Vampire?” Lizamis asked.
”Ugh…” Klock grunted.
He couldn’t argue with that. He’d been saved, period.
”Lad, can you reach Flavia?” Lizamis asked.
”Flavia?? How the hell do you know about her?” Klock asked.
”The girl is my disciple. I heard the Fairy rumors that she had been wed to you,” Lizamis replied.
”Her master??” Klock wondered.
Not just Kupira, but Flavia too? Klock racked his brain. Had Flavia ever mentioned this? That she was the student of a Great Sage?
”You must regroup with her. She is the only one who can stand against those headstrong Vampires,” Lizamis insisted.
”Stand against them? Old man, they’re Apostles!” Klock said.
”Indeed. That Viola girl… she is a terror, to be sure. But the compatibility is in Flavia’s favor. If it is her, she could hold her own against those Vampires single-handedly,” Lizamis claimed.
”Are you serious?!” Klock asked.
Klock realized he had no idea what Flavia was actually capable of. You didn’t just go around asking people about their secret skills, but if he was going to rely on her as a primary combatant, he needed to know.
Kispe and Primlena had never looked down on Flavia’s strength. He knew the quiet Forest People princess was deep, but he’d never imagined she could trade blows with an Apostle.
”I taught that girl every loathsome, foul technique I knew. Most humanoid races will find Flavia’s repertoire… deeply unpleasant,” Lizamis said.
”…Unpleasant? What the hell did you teach her?” Klock asked.
Klock felt a pit forming in his stomach. The image of the pure, innocent Flavia was being replaced by something much darker-something ‘tainted’ by this old spider.
”I instructed her in the art of Bio-Casting⁹. I taught her everything there is to know about crafting creatures designed solely to torment and destroy the living,” Lizamis boasted.
”…Bio… Casting…?” Klock whispered.
”She is of the Forest People; she was a natural-born prodigy. She can weave spells into a Macro-scale. She mastered elemental magic, of course, but she also conquered the pinnacle of difficulty: the biological arts. Once she plants a parasite, brainwashing and total puppet-control are child’s play. She can handle those Vampires with ease,” Lizamis said.
The old spider sounded sickeningly proud. Klock stared at the wall, speechless.
Great Sage Lizamis.
Maybe this old man is actually a total piece of work.
—
Summary:
The Moon Court launches a full-scale invasion on Sanrid through the Cursed Eye. Ada and the Brigante troop defend the walls with wind magic. Meanwhile, Flavia is ambushed by Vampire Nobles while trying to rush to a distressed Klock, leading to a deadly trap.
Flavia decimates a Nobility man by turning his body into a parasitic host, but she is soon pinned by an unseen skill from the sky. Meanwhile, Klock is cornered by vampire maids and attempts to delay them with absurd jokes. He is saved when a voice named Lizamis liquefies his body, allowing him to escape through the church walls.
Klock is rescued from the Moon Court’s pursuit by Lizamis, the previous generation’s Great Sage who currently inhabits a spider’s body. Lizamis reveals himself as the master of Flavia and the author of the mysterious journal. He encourages Klock to regroup with Flavia, revealing her terrifying hidden talent for Bio-Casting and parasite manipulation.
—
Trivia:
- Viola was originally human before becoming an Apostle.
- Sanrid was originally under Vampire control before Brigante arrived.
- Flavia’s ‘Princess’ title implies high status among Elves/Forest People.
- Suzette’s physical strength is enough to break a Vampire’s neck effortlessly.
- Flavia is referred to as ‘Forest People,’ which seems immune to ‘Infestation Procedures.’
- Klock’s contract with Flavia allows him to sense her location through his finger.
- Lizamis introduces himself as the guardian of Kupira, the Forbidden Witch.
- The vampires mentioned that Flavia acts like a ‘Fairy.’
- Lizamis was the one who contracted with Lilies, the ‘incarnation of depravity’.
- The spider has been hiding in Klock’s cloak/shoulder since the encounter with Kupira.
- Submergence magic carries a lethal risk: if the mana runs out or the structure is destroyed, the user dies.
- Flavia’s ‘innocence’ is a facade compared to her actual combat specialization in ‘loathsome’ biological warfare.
- Kispe is ranked #1 for a hundred years as the woman people most want to avoid on the Demon Continent
—
Character Insight:
Ada proves her competence as a tactical leader. Flavia demonstrates a mix of deep devotion to Klock and cold, lethal combat logic, choosing to take a hit to secure a kill.
Flavia shows a cold, almost supremacist streak against the vampires. Klock demonstrates high mental resilience by using crude humor as a survival mechanism during a lethal encounter.
Lizamis displays a ‘mad scientist’ pride in his teaching, showing that despite his helpfulness, his moral compass is likely skewed. Klock’s growing realization that his ‘waifus’ are significantly more dangerous and ‘tainted’ than they appear adds a layer of psychological dread to his survival.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘Spada’ ability likely refers to a specialized conjured blade magic typical of High Elves in this setting.
The use of Romance-language incantations (Latin/Italian) for Forest People spells is a stylistic choice common in modern dark fantasy light novels.
The author uses the ‘spider’ trope as a classic representation of a puppet-master or mentor hiding in plain sight. The ‘Rankings’ mentioned by Lizamis hint at a larger social structure within the Demon Continent.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Ada – Ada the Wild Wind, an A‑rank adventurer and scout of Death Soldier Pass, sports black‑red hair, fiery streaks, multiple earrings, and a tower‑height axe‑spear. Blessed with the ‘Wind’ skill for unmatched speed, she’s ruthless in battle yet negotiates when needed. Respected by peers, feared by criminals, and at odds with Klock, who stole from her and fled.
• Sanrid – The location where Roldi reportedly went the day before the attack on Portline. This movement is a key piece of strategic information Misha provides during her interrogation.
• Fit – Solo archer adventurer; first appears at Barreith volunteer gathering, introduces herself to Klock and group, joining Brave Knight against Demon Lord’s Army
• Suzette – An older, confident maid who heads the Viscount Fennec household, known for her clear‑spoken professionalism. Also a warrior in Klock’s circle, fiercely protective of him and wary of outsiders such as Alard.
• Klock – Battle‑worn Conro master, purple‑eyed, healed gut piercing, massive weapon‑like penis, commands 2,600‑strong Brigante troop west of Conro. Pragmatic heir of the Opener, wields Dominance‑based Stellar Skill ‘Authority’ (World Conquest), aggressive, vengeful, street‑hero fame, succubus harem. Currently cornered by vampires in a church; knows Flavia and Suzette.
• Flavia – Younger sister of Avery (132), second daughter of Queen Isabella of the Forestier line. She is slender, pale, with refined features and pointed ears, bearing a servant’s mark and looking up to her mother. Quiet yet resolute, she wields ancient Void magic and can shape plant paths. As a marriage pledge to Klock the Chain Binder, she symbolizes Void loyalty to Goddess Teekua, cares for the Fairy realm, and serves as Princess of the Forest People (森人/Moribito, Vaulder), sensing Fairies and guiding travelers through Death Soldier Pass.
• Viola – A vampire girl and leader among the maids confronting Klock.
• Mermy – A calm, dutiful dampir maid with sharp eyes and freckles, Viola’s childhood friend who appeared in the Orrid sky battle. She urges retreat when the sun rises to avoid burning, serves as Viola’s subordinate in the vampire maid unit, and remains a loyal ally with no other known ties.
• Kispe – The Queen Kispe, also known as Succubus Princess Asura, is a winged succubus with long black hair, amethyst eyes, a petite slender build, and a one‑piece dress with black tights. She acts as Klock’s lover and healer, teasing him and wielding arousal as a weapon, manipulating him with a sharp, playful tongue.
• Linaria – Viola’s childhood friend and longtime maid of Castle Viola, part of the vampire maid unit. She has long, decorated nails, is quiet and dependable, and has served Viola loyally since their Sand Village days. No other relations are noted.
• Rugandia – A slender human maid from the Sand Village, dressed in a crisp white uniform with a red apron, appears at the edge of the Croce Estate’s fire, summoned by Sylvia’s father to serve as Sylvia’s loyal, diligent attendant; later she is revealed as a member of the vampire coven that gathers within the estate’s old church, balancing service to the family with secret nocturnal duties.
• Ridney – A vampire maid who attempts to bite Klock’s neck.
• Lizamis – Palm‑sized spider guardian of Kupira, once human, now a cynical mentor who sinks into surfaces as patterned shadows and emerges from pictures or dresses. Eight ribbon‑tied legs, a talking spider‑knight. Communicates telepathically with Klock.
• Kupira – A female Fairy outcast with white hair, porcelain skin, and cursed golden eyes, born from Palze’s (a Fairy Queen) obsession and abandonment, chosen by Kispe (a Succubus familiar) as a potential familiar for Klock (a male leader)
• Nobdovef – An elder leader of the beast tribes mentioned as failing to coordinate with Viola’s forces during the Orrid raid. No personal ties shown. Unreliable commander.
• Primlena – Orange‑haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant, sister of Sea General Primjune and former Demon Lord officer now in Klock’s inner circle. Calm, disciplined, she commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, wields a trident, and seeks Klock’s downfall. A revenge‑driven siren bride delivering news of the Merfolk and jewel‑clam communication.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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