novelraw Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92 : Chapter 92
Chapter 92. Vampire Queen (4)
Rarc Village was already the most prosperous place within the Benedict Kingdom.
It was the Margrave's base, a paradise for dragons, and a place with a hot spring resort.
Furthermore, after the discovery of a gold mine, the lives of the residents had become immeasurably prosperous.
But from today, this place would be reborn not as a simple village, but as the Continental Alliance headquarters.
And the headquarters of the Unseen Ones.
“Is everyone gathered?”
I looked at those who would participate in the construction in the village's central square and spoke.
Not only the villagers but also the dragons who had transformed into humans.
And likewise, the Seven Deadly Sins who had transformed into humans.
And on top of that, the members of the Unseen Ones who were gathering one after another.
Their positions were all different, but their goal was one.
“From now on, we will build a powerful headquarters to stand against Primus and the Lich King. I hope you will all think of each other as comrades and work together.”
“Waaaah!!”
The great undertaking began in earnest.
The expansion construction of Rarc Village proceeded swiftly under my command.
The first construction work was to build the castle walls and defense facilities.
‘I need to turn this place into a fortress.’
This place was no longer my personal hideout.
It would be the headquarters of the Continental Alliance and a sanctuary for various races.
In a sense, it could be called the most important place in this world.
Therefore, establishing a fortress to prepare for enemy invasion could be said to be more important than anything else.
The dragons and demons took charge of moving the heavy stone blocks and wood.
Kugugugung!
The dragons and demons carried huge rocks all at once, enough to shake the very earth.
The villagers processed the giant rocks, breaking them into smaller pieces, and the Unseen Ones drew up precise blueprints.
“I'd like the walls here to be a bit thicker.”
“We also need to secure space to build defense towers.”
The dragons laid the foundation stones, and the demons magically reinforced the walls, gradually transforming the outskirts of Rarc Village into a powerful fortress.
The next construction work was the underground bunker and secret passages.
This time too, the ones in charge of the design were the Unseen Ones.
“There's nothing more important than securing an escape route in any situation.”
“Isn't that obvious? Even if the enemy invades, we can't let them take our information network.”
The secret passages and evacuation spaces expanded with each passing day.
Mammon installed all sorts of traps, thoroughly protecting the interior, and the dragons melted stone and iron to strengthen the defenses.
At this point, even if Mega Explosions went off in succession, the interior would likely suffer no damage.
In addition, a research lab and a magic workshop that would combine the technology of the Unseen Ones and the magic of the demons.
A training ground and combat academy where multiple races could sweat together also set up their frameworks one after another.
‘This is incredible speed. It’s probably thanks to the experience of building the hot spring resort together, so now there are many who understand each other with just a glance.’
I decided to name this place Lumen Fortis.
It means Fortress of Light, a last bastion against Primus, perhaps?
The representatives from each nation who were watching this from behind chattered on with satisfied faces.
“Now, a proper fortress has finally emerged.”
“I think it would be better to call it not a village, but a single, massive independent nation.”
“King of Benedict. How about we just separate this place as an Alliance Territory? We would recognize it as a separate nation that belongs to no one.”
“Haha. I am fine with it, but I don't know if the Margrave would want that. This is his domain before it is the territory of the Benedict Kingdom.”
What were they talking about, a separate territory, as if this was some kind of Papal territory?
I clicked my tongue inwardly and looked at the buildings being diligently constructed.
The moment this place was completed, no enemy would dare show their face here recklessly.
***
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Noctavira was coaxing Anonymous.
Saying she would give her a tour of Luminia.
“O, Savior, I wish to show you the land I rule.”
Anonymous waved her hand with a bothered expression, but she couldn't break Noctavira’s persistence.
“Hmph. It can’t be helped. But my body is not well, so it must be over quickly.”
“Of course. However, it would be best to leave your attendant here.”
Now Noctavira was openly calling Noemi an attendant.
But Anonymous, worried that unnecessary gossip might arise, simply nodded without retorting.
“Do as you please.”
After Noctavira left with Anonymous.
Noemi was guided by the remaining vampires in the castle and moved somewhere.
‘This is strange. Why are they telling me to eat somewhere other than my room?’
Just this morning, they had brought the meal directly to her room.
But instead of being flustered, Noemi inwardly smirked.
‘Interesting. What on earth are they trying to do?’
Normally, she would have inspected the food herself, analyzed its components with magic, and prepared countermeasures, but this time was different.
She wanted to see for herself what they were plotting and how confidently they had laid their trap.
So, she deliberately pretended to be unsuspecting and obediently followed.
Like a cat, intrigued by the game, letting the mouse go for a moment.
Before long, Noemi was guided to a grand hall and sat alone at a huge dining table.
The table was so large that at least thirty people could dine at it at once.
“Are you telling me to eat here alone?”
“That is correct.”
“Can't I eat in my room? It's a bit uncomfortable.”
“It is Her Majesty's order. She said to serve you the finest meal.”
They had sneered at her, calling her an attendant, yet they were ordered to serve the finest meal?
Feeling that something was suspicious, Noemi cast double and triple layers of barriers around her body.
As if that wasn't enough, she even cast a detoxification magic.
Because the food might contain poison.
Was her suspicion correct?
The food had a strong, somewhat bitter taste.
But Noemi didn't let it show and ate every last bit of it.
‘I've already cast detoxification magic, so it shouldn't be a problem.’
The ones who were flustered were rather the vampires watching Noemi.
They kept glancing at the clock, their expressions going beyond puzzlement to bewilderment.
‘There’s definitely something.’
Noemi deliberately patted her stomach lightly and made a joke.
“The food is really delicious. Can I have some more?”
“A-are you alright?”
“Hm? What is?”
“Ah, it's nothing. Please wait a moment.”
The vampires whispered amongst themselves, closely exchanging opinions.
It was the moment her suspicion turned into certainty.
Noemi narrowed her eyes and asked.
“By the way, why are you all so nervous? It’s a bit strange, isn't it? The fact that you deliberately told me to eat in a different place, and the way you're observing me while breaking into a cold sweat. Did you put something in here?”
At Noemi's interrogation, the vampires were startled and waved their hands.
“O-of course not!”
“I don't think this is right. I'm just going to go back to my room.”
“You can't!”
One of the vampires roughly grabbed Noemi's wrist.
It was at that very moment that Noemi's eyes began to flare.
“Let go.”
“……”
“I'll count to three. One, two, three.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding vampires began to fall one by one.
It was a reenactment of the sleep magic she had been subjected to by Rude when the Lombard Kingdom invaded.
Noemi smirked and muttered.
“So this is what it feels like to be the one casting it. It feels pretty damn bad for the one on the receiving end.”
Noemi pushed the fallen vampires into a corner, sat in a chair, and waited for Noctavira to return.
She steeled her resolve to wage war if Noctavira failed to explain this properly.
***
After a short tour of about an hour.
Noctavira escorted Anonymous to her room and then moved towards the hall where Noemi was.
‘It should all be over by now. Huhu. I wonder what kind of expression the Hero will make when he sees this?’
But what was this?
What awaited her was not Noemi, who had fallen asleep, but her own most trusted subordinates.
Behind them, she could see the face of Noemi, sitting confidently in a chair with her legs crossed, glaring at her.
“H-how?”
Noctavira had given her subordinates this order.
Sprinkle the food with a drug that induces sleep with just a small bite, and then feed it to Noemi.
But the ones who had fallen asleep were, instead, her trusted subordinates.
While Noctavira was flustered and at a loss for what to do.
Noemi slowly parted her lips and asked.
“What are you so surprised about?”
“How did you do it?”
“You don't need to know the details. Why did you try to harm me? You'd better spill everything while I'm being nice. Otherwise, I'll turn this place into a pile of ashes in an instant.”
This was not a joke.
For the first time in her life, Noemi was feeling a homicidal impulse.
The killing intent was so strong that it was difficult to even breathe.
Noctavira flinched and thought.
‘Impossible. This is magical power comparable to the Savior's? Wasn't she just the Savior's attendant?’
Regardless of that.
Noemi's words continued.
“We saved you, yet you repay kindness with enmity. I knew the Demon Tribe couldn't be trusted.”
At the word ‘enmity,’ Noctavira strongly retorted.
“Look who's talking! You are my enemy.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I am the daughter of Terebron! Your father killed my father!”
Terebron was the name of the previous Demon King whom Frank had killed.
Having heard a story she had never even considered, Noemi replied with a slightly dazed expression.
“I had no idea…. Anyway, does this mean we are fated to kill each other?”
“Now that things have come to this, I challenge you to a duel! Fight me right now!”
“Ha? You tried to take care of me with a cowardly method, and now you're acting like a hero? That's not even funny.”
“A hero? Are you insulting me!”
Noemi gathered magical power in both her hands.
In response, Noctavira released all her killing intent to oppose Noemi.
Just as their power gathering was about to reach its peak.
“I understand the situation. Both of you, stop.”
Anonymous appeared.
***
Anonymous felt that something was a little strange today.
She still felt unwell and didn't want to lift a single finger, but the master of this castle had started being pushy.
“I beg you. Please, tour this place with me. The people will want to see your face too.”
She could understand up to that point.
If it hadn't been for her, this place would have fallen into the hands of the undead.
But she couldn't shake off her suspicion at the part where she tried to separate her from Noemi.
She deliberately said nothing different to hide Noemi's identity, but suspicion followed suspicion.
And when they returned to the castle after finishing the tour.
Suspicion was no longer just suspicion.
‘Where did Noemi go?’
Noemi had been suspicious of this place from the beginning.
It was unlikely for her to leave the room without a word.
Anonymous focused her magical power into her eyes and was finally able to understand the unique structure of this castle.
‘The entire place is surrounded by a barrier that conceals presence. No wonder the vampires suddenly entered the room, to think something like this was hidden here.’
She focused even more magical power and was able to pinpoint the location of Noctavira and Noemi.
Thus, she approached this place without anyone knowing.
And she was able to hear a surprising fact.
That the master of this castle was the daughter of the previous Demon King.
Thinking that the castle would collapse if she left them alone any longer, Anonymous immediately stopped their fight.
“This is a place I went to great lengths to save. If you're going to fight, do it outside.”
“S-Savior, how did you get here?”
“And isn't it a bit ridiculous for the daughters to be doing this?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You're not the ones directly involved, so if you have a complaint, you should take it up directly with the Hero. Isn't that right?”
Noctavira panted with rage and shook her head.
“Impossible! I am the queen of this place. And this place is at the westernmost edge of the Demon Territory, so how can I meet the Hero?”
At that, Anonymous grinned and said.
“There's a way to go there right away. Right, Noemi?”
“Of course.”
The moment a scornful smile spread across Noemi's face.
A strong light erupted from the magic circle drawn on the floor, and the figures of the three people instantly vanished from sight.
As if no one had ever been there in the first place.
***
“Phew, that was tough.”
Having directed the construction site all day, my body was exhausted.
Returning to my room late at night, I leaned back in my chair and gently closed my eyes.
‘I'm tired, but it's satisfying.’
Soon, this place would become a place where all races, which all fantasy enthusiasts would consider an utopia, could live together naturally.
Humans, dragons, demons, and so on.
It would be even better if there were elves and dwarves, but they had disappeared from the continent long ago.
‘This alone can be said to be a tremendous achievement.’
Above all, once Noemi returned, all three of my daughters would be gathered in one place.
My heart swelled at the fact that I could live with my daughters.
‘Finally, all my daughters have returned to me. We will never be separated again.’
As I was having such thoughts, the floor of my room suddenly began to glow.
At the same time, the figures of three people appeared.
“Huh?”
I recognized Anonymous and Noemi, but who was that woman?
I tilted my head in confusion and stood up from my seat.
“Who?”