In a dark world where even the sun was blotted out, a procession so lavish it felt excessive for that darkness approached a city.

‘Is that the place?’

The ghouls assigned to the very front of the army stared at the city.

A city chosen as the domain of the noble they served.

And as they looked at it, there was a hint of surprise in their eyes.

‘That...’

Ghouls were beings burdened with the fate of slavery.

Most of the desires they once had became things they could no longer achieve from the moment they became slaves.

Ghouls with neither life nor appetite left in them.

That was why it was hard to find vigor in them.

If they wanted anything at all, it might be fresh blood—but the blood of other ghouls didn’t taste good, so...

Cities where every species had been replaced by ghouls usually carried a quiet, gloomy atmosphere.

‘But this city’s atmosphere... looks lively.’

And yet.

Not here.

Even though all life should have been replaced by ghouls, every ghoul moved with a strange sort of vitality.

“Heh heh... not bad.”

A city filled only with ghouls showing that kind of sight...

As far as they knew, there was only one case.

“To think they’ve noticed the visit of the one who will become their master... the lord, and they’re bustling around preparing to welcome him!”

A being that could give vigor to those who’d been stripped of most desires.

The master engraved into their blood.

When they were under a noble, ghouls’ activity spiked sharply.

“Truly, they’re slaves worthy of the land the Grand Duke bestowed upon me. To judge on their own and act for their lord before I even give an order... It’s rare to see tools made to be used actually do their work properly....”

The young man who spoke that far frowned, then looked at the ghouls around him.

“I am speaking of you. Useless things. Aren’t they a sight that truly contrasts with you, who can’t even do what you’re told properly?”

“Yes! We apologize, Lord!”

“I did not say that because I wished to hear apologies... tch. Fine. Expecting much from those born inferior is my mistake. My shoulders are heavy, having to take in even trash like you.”

“We are deeply grateful that you lead us despite our shortcomings!”

Even while the man glared at the ghouls around him with a scornful look, he watched the lively city and thought,

‘As expected, the land the Grand Duke marked out for me... even its slaves are excellent.’

A pleasant smile formed on the face that had looked bored.

‘They were created to be used as tools in the first place. Then... I should use them willingly.’

And so, the procession drew closer and closer to the city.

And when they were about to enter the city...

Tap.

-Ugh...

A ghoul that had been moving busily inside the city collided with a ghoul at the head of the procession.

-I’m already busy enough to die—who are these bastards now?

A group of ghouls frowned, looking annoyed after bumping into the procession.

A ghoul from the procession asked them, 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

-Busy? What are you busy doing?

-What else? We’re busy working for the lord.

At that, the smile at the lips of the man at the center of the procession deepened even more.

“Truly excellent slaves.”

-It seems so, Lord.

“Learn that slave’s name. Today I’m in a good mood from seeing so many excellent slaves. Later, when that one makes a mistake... just once, I’ll let it pass by only cutting off arms and legs, without killing.”

-Yes.

At that order, several massive monsters guarding the man at the center stepped forward.

-You. What is your name—

The knights were about to ask the excellent slave’s name...

And at that very moment—

-So hurry up and get lost, you bastards!

-...?

At the words that came out of that mouth, the knights’ steps faltered.

-Get lost? How insolent!

-Do you even know what kind of person the master of this procession is!

Those on the outskirts of the procession were ghouls.

Just by looking at those ghouls, it was possible they hadn’t realized who the master of the procession was.

-Whoever you are!

The ghouls at the front were about to tell them the master’s identity—about to tell them that the master of this procession was the very lord they served, but—

-We can’t obstruct the orders of Countess Ariella, the lord who rules this city!

-...?

At the name that came out of their mouths, the faces of the ghouls and the knights stiffened.

In their minds, there was only one thought.

‘...What countess?’

The name those ghouls had spoken was something they’d never heard before.

“...After I went out of my way...”

And it wasn’t only them whose faces went cold.

“...to come rule these uncivilized ignorant fools....”

The master of the procession, and the being chosen as the lawful lord of this land.

“Knights.”

-Yes.

“It seems... the bugs in this city don’t even properly know their master’s name. So...”

With a frigid gaze, he looked toward the city.

“I think they need a bit of education.”

-At your command, Lord.

With those words, the massive knights each drew their weapons.

-The lord?

-Our lord is inside there, so what are you even saying—

The ghouls didn’t get to finish speaking.

Slice—

The ghouls that had been carrying mana stones— their necks flew off in an instant.

-At the lord’s command.

-From this moment, we begin education.

Against the city’s ghouls, a massacre began.

***

I first noticed that presence just before it approached the city.

I was gathering mana while giving the ghouls orders like usual when—

Drip...

“Huh?”

A large droplet suddenly appeared in front of me.

[Droplet]

It was the water spirit Jeong Sua handled.

‘Jeong Sua should be outside the city right now.’

Under Ariella’s protection, there usually wouldn’t be a big problem, but just in case—

Jeong Sua and the unit had taken up position outside the city, in a relatively safe place.

Some of Ariella’s followers were staying there, too, so it should be safer than being surrounded by the countless ghouls in this city.

But now, Jeong Sua’s spirit suddenly appeared here.

And then—

Gurgle, gurgle...!

“This is...!”

Droplet in front of me was turning red and boiling.

It might look like boiling water, but from the way it boiled red, it wasn’t hard to understand what it was trying to convey.

‘A warning...!’

Jeong Sua, who was monitoring the area, was warning me about something.

“Did some anomaly happen?”

Gurgle.

“Where is it?”

Gurgle, gurgle...

Droplet’s body of water stretched long and pointed toward a direction.

“Thanks.”

Gurgle...!

With a short word of thanks, I grabbed the sword at my waist—[Sword]—and sprinted in the direction Droplet indicated.

‘We’re not far from the target...!’

At this rate, we were only a few days away from gathering all the mana we needed.

I wasn’t happy about a sudden anomaly.

I didn’t know what problem had occurred, but I had to resolve it as quickly as possible.

With that thought, I ran fast toward the outskirts of the city.

When I arrived, there was an enormous crowd gathered there.

And what I saw there was—

Slice.

Crunch.

Boooom...!

A group outside the city was attacking the ghouls inside.

-Damn it, who are these guys...!

-Fight back!

The ghouls inside the city were resisting in their own way, but—

Kwaaang!

-Grrk...!

-S-save...

That resistance wasn’t accomplishing much.

A one-sided battle was unfolding.

‘Someone is attacking the city.’

But I’d been told there were only ghouls in this region.

Had the ghouls started infighting and attacked this city?

Thinking that, I looked at the group attacking from the outside.

And then...

“...!”

In the middle of the group coming in from the outskirts, there was a huge palanquin.

And on top of it, I spotted a man half-reclined.

‘That guy...?’

A man sitting atop the palanquin, looking down at the ground with a bored gaze.

That posture—recently, I’d seen something like it a lot.

A strange sense of déjà vu.

[Ingredient Appraisal (Enhanced)]

And when the content appeared in front of my eyes, I couldn’t help widening my eyes in shock.

[Vampire Count]

[Rashir de Melchiorn]

“A noble...!”

The being I’d thought I absolutely shouldn’t meet in this land was right there.

***

“A noble....”

I’d drawn my weapon and rushed out the moment I heard an anomaly had occurred, but after learning what that being was, I couldn’t help stopping mid-run.

Lavish blond hair and red eyes.

A posture and aura drenched in arrogance.

Even if I hadn’t seen the name, I felt like I could’ve guessed it was a noble—someone with an aura similar to Ariella.

‘No... is it a little different?’

The vibe was extremely similar, but there was a strange difference.

For example, his clothing.

If Ariella liked wearing flashy dresses typical of medieval nobility, this man’s attire was, compared to that...

How should I put it.

It felt closer to the modern era than the Middle Ages.

‘Is it because he’s a different bloodline?’

The ones ruling this land were bloodlines hostile to Ariella.

And there was even a high chance the head of that bloodline existed somewhere nearby.

No matter how much stronger Ariella had become, with much of her strength damaged right now, this was an opponent we absolutely couldn’t touch.

‘She said this place seemed abandoned, so no nobles would come...!’

Contrary to Ariella’s boast, not long after we set up here, a noble appeared.

‘Ariella’s prediction was off.’

I cared about why her prediction had been off, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the # Nоvеlight # breathing room to dig into it right now.

‘...We have to run....’

We couldn’t let it learn that Ariella was here... that an enemy bloodline’s noble was here.

Even if we could win if we fought that noble right now, if other nobles came charging in with armies, we’d be in a situation with no answer.

‘We pack all the mana-infused items we’ve gathered into [Shadow Veil], then leave this city.’

It was a shame we wouldn’t be able to use the ghouls’ labor, but we’d already succeeded in gathering most of the mana we needed.

Even if it took a bit longer, we could gather the rest using me, the unit, and Ariella’s followers.

“Ha... damn it.”

With that thought, I let out a sigh, turned my back, and tried to move away from the battlefield without drawing that noble’s attention.

...But.

{Sir Knight...!}

“...?”

Right as I turned away from the massacre and tried to leave, I heard someone shout after noticing me.

{S-save me... please...}

“Who are you?”

That someone came sprinting toward me at an incredible speed, grabbed my leg, and cried out.

{Please help me... sir Knight...}

“...It’s that ghoul.”

Not long ago, it was the monster that had offered me the mana stone it called its mother’s keepsake.

{The ones who came from outside are massacring us...!}

“...”

{I-if it was just ghouls, we could just fight, but among them there were ‘knights’!}

Clinging to my leg, it shouted in an urgent voice.

{Knights of a noble with tremendous power...! It’s clear another territory’s noble is coming for the lord and this land, bringing knights along!}

Ah. I see.

From its perspective, Ariella was the rightful master of this land, so the other side looked like another noble invading for Ariella.

{We tried to stop them as much as we could, but it’s impossible now...!}

“...”

{We can’t win against knights. But you’re different, aren’t you, sir Knight!}

At that, I looked at the battlefield where the massacre was happening.

It was true.

The ghouls resisting were impressive in their own way, but they couldn’t overcome the few huge monsters that looked like [knights].

{Fight with us... please...!}

At that, I frowned and said,

“...I’m sorry.”

{What?}

“I can’t fight with you.”

{W-why...? Isn’t this the lord’s land?}

“I can’t tell you the reason. So... you should run too, while you still can.”

I didn’t know why they were massacring the ghouls, but if they ran now, aside from a few ghouls on the outskirts, the rest would still be able to leave this city somehow.

But.

{You can’t...}

“You can’t? Why?”

{Over there... in that place... my nest is there.}

The face of the one answering me was filled with deep despair.

{My children are still young... they’re in that nest.}

“...”

{It’s impossible to run while taking all of them. So... please...}