novelraw Chapter 111 : Chapter 111
Chapter 111 : Chapter 111
Chapter 111. A Woman's Troubles (3)
The chill of the cold stone floor crept up her spine.
Noctavira lay limp and powerless in the empty prison cell.
In the darkness, where not a single ray of light entered, she dwelled on all that she had lost.
Power, authority, and even her pride as a member of her race.
Frank had said.
She would have to stay here for a few more months to become human.
‘Human, of all things.’
That she, the Vampire Queen and a Progenitor, had to transform into a wretched human.
The very thought made her shudder, but she had no other choice now.
‘Anticus……. No, Anonymous.’
Her power was absolute.
Even if there were hundreds of Noctaviras, they would be no match for that ancient dragon.
Hadn't even the Lich King's army lost a tenth of its forces to a single one of her breaths?
Moreover, Frank’s heart seemed to be completely set on her.
His gaze, every single one of his actions, proved it.
‘Someone like me can’t possibly be her rival.’
Her confidence had hit rock bottom.
The majesty of the Vampire Queen who once commanded the western Demon Territory was nowhere to be found.
She fell into deep despair as she felt even her immense power as a Progenitor gradually weakening due to the garlic-mixed blood.
Losing power was a fear akin to death for a vampire.
‘I have to get out of this situation, somehow.’
Her mind was a tangled mess.
Anger and pride boiled within her, but reality was harsh.
To survive here.
And to one day get her revenge, she had to lower herself for now.
‘Yes. I will follow their words to the letter. I will get on Anonymous and Frank’s good side.’
That was the only survival strategy.
Her pride was crushed, but it couldn't be more important than her life.
She clenched her fists and made a vow.
‘I will survive, and I will repay this humiliation several times over.’
Just then, the heavy iron door opened with a squeak.
Noctavira reflexively lifted her head.
It was Frank.
For a moment, a sense of gladness welled up within her without her realizing it, but she quickly hid her expression.
‘No. He is Anonymous' man.’
Her body, which was about to move closer, froze for a moment.
There was no need to cause a misunderstanding and get on Anonymous' bad side.
She carefully observed his mood.
But today, his demeanor was quite different from before.
A certain air of caution.
He didn't come close as he usually did, but stood near the prison entrance, watching her as if observing her.
Then, he silently handed her a glass of blood.
Noctavira hesitated for a moment, but then took the glass.
Was it because she had heard that there was garlic in it?
The nauseating smell of garlic brushed her nose, but at the same time, an unbearable craving for blood enveloped her entire body.
Gulp.
The moment the red liquid passed down her throat, she felt a thrilling pleasure mixed with a faint pain.
‘Damn it. It’s too delicious.’
Even in this humiliating situation, this garlic-mixed blood offered a more intense and greedy taste than anything she had ever tasted.
Noctavira greedily licked up the last drop left in the glass.
Frank just looked down at Noctavira’s appearance.
He began to quickly write something in his report.
The sound of the pen nib scratching on the paper sounded particularly loud.
‘I’ve always been curious. What on earth is he writing in there?’
She wanted to ask, but she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.
‘If I ask something unnecessary and get on Anonymous' bad side, it’s all over.’
Besides, Frank’s heart was clear.
There seemed to be no room for someone like her to squeeze into his heart.
Noctavira kept her mouth shut and bowed her head.
‘Will something change if I become human?’
She looked up at Frank with a powerless face.
She loathed herself for craving that garlic-mixed blood again, even in this situation.
Her pride as the Vampire Queen had long been shattered.
She was just a weak being, struggling to survive.
***
As I left the basement, I tilted my head slightly.
‘Noctavira is acting strange today.’
Until now, she had always tried to approach me somehow, or at least tried to provoke me and gauge my reaction.
But just now, there was none of that pestering.
Instead, she seemed to be watching my every move like a dejected puppy.
Of course, this change in her wasn't a bad thing.
My head was already about to explode with just Isabel and Anonymous, and if she had also obsessed over me, it would have been really tiring.
In that sense, I guess I should be glad.
‘The garlic therapy seems to be working.’
I was thinking of going back to my room to get some sleep.
But the faint noise coming from outside the window stopped my steps.
The sound of hammers, shouts, and digging.
I looked at the clock and it was already well past midnight.
‘Are they still working on the construction?’
Unable to contain my curiosity, I left the mansion and headed to the construction site of the underground dungeon of Lumen Fortis.
The site was brightly lit as if it were daytime and bustling with activity.
Magic lights illuminated the darkness, and workers of various races moved without rest.
In the center of it all was Mammon.
He had transformed into his human form, his arms crossed, and was meticulously observing the entire site with a hawk’s eye.
His sharp gaze glinted as if it wouldn't tolerate a single mistake.
Dragons and demons carried heavy materials, and the Unseen Ones meticulously built structures according to the blueprints.
The residents of Rarc Village also did their part silently, without any signs of fatigue.
“Everyone is working hard.”
At my voice, a few of them turned their heads and bowed.
I gestured lightly with my hand in response and approached Mammon.
“You’re working hard at this hour, Site Director.”
He grinned at my appearance without any surprise and replied.
“What brings you here? Curious about the construction progress?”
“That’s right. When do you think it will be finished?”
At my question, Mammon smiled confidently.
“Huhu. In about fifteen days, the general outline will be revealed. And in a month, it will be perfectly completed down to the 100th underground floor.”
“That fast?”
I asked back in surprise without realizing it.
To complete a massive dungeon of 100 underground floors in just one month.
It was an impossibly fast speed by common sense.
Mammon replied chicly as if my reaction was natural.
“Isn’t that why we’re working day and night like this? Under my command, there’s no such thing as impossible.”
As expected of the demon of greed.
When it came to getting work done, he was incredibly reliable.
‘I’m so glad he’s here.’
With a sense of reassurance, I promised him a reward.
“I’m impressed by your hard work. As soon as this construction is finished, I’ll double your salary.”
At that moment, Mammon’s eyes glinted with a greedy light.
The corners of his mouth stretched up to his ears, and his usual composure was gone as he started to jump for joy like a child.
“R-really? This Mammon will jump into lava for the Master!”
Mammon was overjoyed.
I’ve never had a corporate job, but I know that those who work hard should be rewarded accordingly.
That would serve as motivation and boost the morale of the organization.
Since this guy is obsessed with money, this kind of reward would be the most effective.
“Keep up the good work.”
I patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Then, Mammon hurriedly gave me a sharp salute towards my back.
His voice echoed loudly under the night sky.
“Loyalty!”
Heh.
It seems a bit over the top, but well, I don’t feel bad.
I smiled and walked back to the mansion.
The day the dungeon would be completed was not far off.
***
A few days passed by in a flash.
Her time in Lumen Fortis was short, but there had been many changes for Isabel.
But as a Saintess, she couldn’t leave the Grand Cathedral empty forever.
She put her regrets behind her and finished her preparations to leave.
Frank’s daughters and even Mammon came to see her off, but the one who first took Isabel’s hand was, surprisingly, Anonymous.
“Are you leaving already?”
Her red eyes were filled with sincere regret.
Though it was a short time, the two had become rapidly close.
Thanks to their common interest, Frank.
Isabel smiled brightly and took her hand in return.
But what was this?
Anonymous said something completely out of the blue.
“I guess it can't be helped. When we meet next time, you can call me Big Bro.”
“Pardon? Pfft… Alright, I will.”
Isabel responded to the playful suggestion with a laugh.
She didn’t know how she had ended up in this kind of relationship with an ancient dragon, but she didn’t dislike it.
Just then, she saw Iris standing in the distance with her arms crossed, looking this way.
Isabel let go of Anonymous' hand and approached her.
“I’ll be leaving first. I’ll be counting on you in the future, my successor.”
At the pointed joke, Iris smirked and retorted.
“I hope Primus never dies, forever.”
Leaving the bitter joke behind, Isabel finally stood in front of Frank.
He still had an awkward expression, as if he didn't know where to look.
Isabel tried her best to speak calmly.
“Please take good care of Anonymous for me.”
With those words, she turned around without any lingering feelings.
Her steps as she boarded the carriage were strangely light.
‘Why am I like this? I can’t be by Frank’s side anymore.’
She asked herself, but she didn't know the answer.
However, she felt that she was no longer alone.
‘I’m glad I found someone to talk to openly.’
From now on, if she had any worries, she would consult with her.
No. Big Bro. With that thought, Isabel quietly closed the carriage door.
The carriage slowly began to move.
It was a shame, but Isabel hoped that the next time she came, she could face everyone in a brighter atmosphere.
***
Meanwhile, Nox, who had been forcibly teleported by Primus' transition magic to the distant eastern island nation of Reubungwo, was sweating from unfamiliar labor in a strange land.
Before his eyes stood a tower that soared as if to pierce the sky.
And such towers were built countless times all over Reubungwo.
“Kugh!”
Nox condensed black magic at his gaunt fingertips and shot it at the transparent barrier surrounding the tower.
But the powerful magic was helplessly repelled as soon as it touched the barrier, unable to even create a tiny crack.
The tower was overwhelming in its height alone, but the powerful barrier surrounding it didn't even allow easy access.
“I have to destroy all of these.”
Nox muttered, swallowing dryly.
Now he could understand why Primus had said he needed his help.
This was a task of a scale that was impossible to handle alone.
‘Lord Primus said he had already destroyed about half of them.’
The fact that even Primus, with his absolute power, had only managed to deal with half of them was truly astonishing.
The number of remaining towers was too many to count.
He couldn't even predict when he would be able to destroy them all.
Nox frowned as he gathered magic at his fingertips once again.
‘This is an incredibly powerful barrier magic. Who on earth, and for what reason, installed something like this all over the island?’
It was on a completely different level from any barrier he had known so far.
He thought it might be related to ancient power, or perhaps holy power.
But now was not the time to delve into such questions.
‘Anyway, for now, let’s just focus on destroying this.’
To carry out Primus' order.
That was the only mission given to Nox at the moment.
He no longer dwelled on idle thoughts and focused all his attention only on the barrier before him.
A ominous dark light glinted from within his empty eye sockets.
The destructive magic, imbued with the Lich King's tenacity, was once again shot towards the great tower's barrier.
An ominous black mana swirled violently around him.