novelraw Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94 : Chapter 94
Chapter 94. Vampire Queen (6)
Even after Adel left the room, I couldn't easily organize my thoughts.
‘Make the Vampire Queen an ally?’
Honestly, it wasn't a bad suggestion.
Even if she was a Demon Tribe member, considering our common enemies, Nox and Primus, it might be right to bring her into our alliance.
Weren't vampires a rather strong type of Demon Tribe?
Within the Demon Tribe, they were a race that was overwhelmingly difficult to deal with.
‘In the game, they would often turn companions into vampires, creating difficult situations.’
Among the endings, there was even one where the daughter turned into a vampire and became their queen, so that says it all.
The problem was her feelings.
I didn't remember, but to Noctavira, I was a clear enemy.
She might have lived her entire life to sink her fangs into my neck.
‘Even so, is it possible to make her an ally?’
It might be easier to negotiate with Primus.
That's how much her gaze towards me was filled with killing intent.
Of course, Adel's words also had a point.
If Noctavira became our ally, our forces would also increase significantly.
‘Vampires...’
Then, suddenly.
A thought flashed through my mind.
In Princess Produce, there was an episode related to vampires.
It was a sub-mission unrelated to the main story, but hearing Adel's words, it might actually be helpful in the current situation.
The overall story, as befits a sub-mission, was not very long.
A stopgap measure to somehow keep the users in the game.
The content was as follows.
There was an adventurer couple who loved each other deeply.
Both had excellent skills, but one day, the wife was bitten by a vampire during an adventure.
The husband killed the vampire that bit his wife, but the wife began to crave blood and go on a rampage.
Instead of killing her, the husband sought a way to turn her back into a human.
Being an excellent wizard himself, he eventually found a solution in an ancient book.
‘It was to lock her in a cave without light and feed her garlic for a hundred days.’
At the time, I grumbled, asking if this was some kind of Dangun myth and what kind of ridiculous solution this was, but anyway, the husband succeeded in turning his wife back into a human.
What's more, she retained the powers she had as a vampire.
The story ended there.
‘Will that really work?’
But right now, it was a situation where anything was worth a try.
I quietly closed my eyes and decided to handle this matter as soon as the construction was finished.
It would be good if it worked out, and even if it failed, I would have nothing to lose.
***
The next morning.
An unexpected commotion occurred.
“It is not yet time to return.”
“That's right. I wish to rest here longer!”
“I haven't been able to make up my mind... I don't think it's now.”
The representatives from each country began to throw a tantrum, refusing Noemi's spatial transition magic.
At first, I laughed it off, thinking it was a joke, but their expressions were dead serious.
“If I go back, a pile of paperwork will be waiting for me.”
“It is the same for me. I would rather die soaking in the open-air bath here.”
“Representative, please hold us here a little longer. Just looking at those sycophants who only seek to fill their own bellies makes me sick.”
The ones before me were the powerful figures who held sway over their respective countries.
But now, they were continuing their cute rebellion like unruly children.
‘To think such people are the representatives of each country. It's the end of the world.’
In the end, Noemi and I took turns persuading them, and when that didn't work, we had to half-threaten them to finally send the representatives back.
As soon as the work was finally finished, I looked at the newly reborn Lumen Fortis.
The massive castle walls and splendid buildings were already nearing completion.
‘Amazing. I can't even imagine it's the same place as before.’
I did it thinking it was possible, but to think it would proceed this quickly.
This was all the result of humans, dragons, demons, and even the Unseen Ones working together.
How good it looked, to see them joining forces and moving towards a single goal like this.
‘It doesn't seem like it would be strange to have one or two vampires mixed in there, does it?’
If I could turn them into humans, they could reside here without any discord.
Having made up my mind, I looked at Noemi and said.
“Noemi, could you prepare some garlic?”
“Garlic?”
“Yes. I have something I need to use garlic for.”
Noemi was bewildered, but my resolve would not be shaken.
The so-called Ungnyeo Project.
It was the moment a great project that would go down in history began.
***
[Experiment Report]
Subject: Noctavira
Race: Vampire (Progenitor)
Status: Queen
Objective: To verify the possibility of vampire modification using garlic.
———
[Experiment Day 1]
First, I tried the simplest method.
I mixed finely minced garlic into her food and brought it to her.
As soon as Noctavira saw the plate, she made an openly displeased face.
She showed a strong rejection, saying, “You expect me to eat this crap?”
In the end, she didn't even touch the food.
Failure.
———
[Experiment Day 2]
Judged that the same method as the previous day was ineffective.
Minced the garlic even more finely and increased the concentration, mixing it into the meat juices.
However, as soon as Noctavira smelled the food, she turned her face away and glared at me with cold eyes.
She added, “Are you trying to poison me?” and refused to eat this time as well.
Failure.
———
[Experiment Day 5]
Although her refusal continued on Day 3 and Day 4, she showed signs of dehydration from not even drinking water.
As her thirst intensified, Noctavira eventually chose to drink the blood mixed with garlic.
Of course, it was animal blood, not human blood.
At first, she spat it out as soon as it entered her mouth, but unable to bear the thirst, she eventually drank about half of it.
Not a bad result.
Expecting additional effects.
———
[Experiment Day 7]
Despite gradually increasing the garlic concentration, Noctavira continued to consume it.
At first, she seemed to be in pain, but as time passed, she drank it without much resistance.
As a result of feeding her with gradually increased garlic concentration for a week, she showed a strong rejection at first, but now she eats the food with almost no resistance.
It can be speculated that her vampire nature is weakening, but at the same time, subtle, unknown physical changes are appearing.
Human characteristics are gradually emerging, such as her hair color becoming faintly lighter and her fingernails becoming shorter.
※ Possibility of unexpected side effects. Further observation required.
———
Tak.
I closed the report and showed a satisfied smile.
‘This seems to be progressing well this way.’
Now it was time to solve another problem.
After the headquarters of the Unseen Ones moved to Rarc Village, Iris returned to the mansion.
She began to live in her own room.
That fact in itself was a source of immeasurable happiness, but there was still an awkward distance like that between a landlord and a guest, rather than a father-daughter relationship.
As a consequence of losing the bet, she called me father and used honorifics, but I didn't feel any substance to it.
‘I suppose more time is needed...’
This kind of situation was troublesome.
In a situation where Primus or Nox could attack at any moment, if my relationship with my daughter was like this, it would be neither here nor there.
After pondering for a way to get closer, the method that came to mind was, as expected, a gift offensive.
Because in Princess Produce, you could raise affinity by giving gifts that the daughters liked.
‘In Adel's case, I once captured her heart by giving her flowers.’
But I didn't know what she liked.
Iris was a new character included in the DLC, not the original version.
Let alone a strategy guide, I had barely exchanged ten words with her.
So, I asked Adel and Noemi what Iris liked.
The answer that came back was, “Money.”
“All my sister knows is money. Didn't you know that too, Dad?”
I see.
Truly the talent of gold.
But could that be called a gift?
Of course, no one dislikes money, but it seemed insufficient to express my feelings.
Then, a brilliant idea came to mind.
‘Yes. If it's that!’
I immediately took out a few gold bars from my desk, put them in my pocket, and went to find Anonymous.
Because this was something only the world's best blacksmith, Anonymous, could do.
I'm counting on you, Anonymous.
You're the only one who can save me!
***
Late at night.
After encouraging the Unseen Ones on-site and pouring out everything she could, Iris returned to her room and lay down on her bed.
‘It's already been a few days since I came here. It's a strange feeling.’
Was it because of the influence of Lion Heart?
Unlike what she had worried about, she didn't feel any particular sense of rebellion.
Rather, a corner of her heart was at ease.
A feeling of finally returning to her place after a long period of wandering.
‘But...’
Separate from being comfortable, she was still uncomfortable with Frank.
To be precise, it was more that she didn't know how to treat him.
Her relationship with him was complicated.
They were known to the public as father and daughter, but they were not connected by blood, and it was awkward to say he had raised her.
No, rather, she had grown up being abused.
‘I don't know whether to hate him or like him.’
While she was so confused, Frank, whether he knew her feelings or not, treated her with excessive favor.
‘Iris, how are you feeling today?’
‘Are you feeling alright? Don't overdo it.’
‘You look tired, why don't you rest for a bit,’ and so on.
He took care of her without any rhyme or reason, and the pressure was driving her crazy.
“Hmph. He wasn't like this originally. Why is he being like that?”
Every single word was just burdensome.
She could feel his concern for her, but that very attention made her more uncomfortable.
“Why is he so concerned about me? Is he really happy that I'm back?”
Thanks to that, she had to spend the night with her eyes wide open, barely sleeping.
The next morning.
Frank called for her.
Seeing his more tense expression than usual, it seemed he had something to say.
Then he opened a drawer and handed her something.
“This is?”
What he carefully held out was an intricately made golden model.
But, its appearance was somehow not unfamiliar.
Looking closely, it was her.
A golden statue perfectly modeled after herself.
A golden model that replicated her down to the fingertips and a single strand of hair was before her eyes.
“...Could this be me?”
“Yes. It's a doll modeled after you.”
“Me...”
“I pestered Anonymous all day to make it. Because I wanted you to like it.”
Frank nonchalantly handed the golden model towards her.
Iris "She thought it over again and again." whether she should accept this or not, dozens of times in her mind.
But she couldn't help the warm feeling in a corner of her heart.
In the end, these words slipped out of her mouth.
“...You must have had a hard time. And, thank you.”
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
In the mansion's underground prison, someone's pained cries echoed endlessly.
“Keeuuuk... I-I feel like I'm going to die.”
It was Noctavira.
What in the world was happening?
Her beautiful blonde hair, which had been her pride, began to fall out strand by strand, and now it was falling out in clumps.
That wasn't the end.
Her pale skin began to turn a dark brown, and scabs formed here and there, making it unsightly.
“N-no. What's happening to me?”
Noctavira despaired.
Could it be that they had poisoned her food?
She herself had tried to harm Noemi with the same method, after all.
But that was merely a sleeping potion.
It didn't cause such horrific results.
But she couldn't refuse the food they provided either.
A vampire, especially a progenitor, could only endure for a few days.
If she didn't consume blood for longer than that, she would starve to death in vain here.
‘That's absolutely not an option, for the sake of my people.’
Noctavira made a vow.
That she would survive to the end, no matter what.
And that she would definitely carry out her bloody revenge.
Could she have even guessed?
That her vampire body was gradually transforming into the human she so hated.
Noctavira gulped down the blood Frank brought her and vowed revenge.
‘I will never forget this grudge.’
The date on the calendar now pointed to a month after she had been imprisoned here.