The night at Castle Epiphax was bitterly cold.
The relentless snowstorm showed no signs of stopping. Yet strangely, the well-maintained Epiphax managed to keep the drafts out.
Of course, that didn't mean the castle's interior was warm and cozy. On the contrary, the nights at Epiphax grew even colder and more chilling.
However, the castle's true masters remained unaffected by such frigid temperatures.
The night at Epiphax.
Elf vampire Luvien and orc vampire Gallarsh sat across from each other in a meeting room.
"Do you think Lucynil will cooperate?"
"Yes, she's been feeling guilty for not participating in the Demon Realm War with Eleris."
"Hmm. Assuming Lucynil won't help us…"
Luvien narrowed her eyes, gazing down the corridor.
"I can't figure out what Antirianus is thinking."
Luvien's long ears drooped down. It wasn't often that the Vampire Council convened, but they had existed for a very long time.
Though they didn't see each other frequently, they had no choice but to become familiar with one another over the years. That is, everyone except Antirianus, who had relatively recently ascended to his position.
As a result, Gallarsh knew that Luvien's drooping ears signaled her concern or sullenness.
"He's inscrutable. I even have doubts about the true nature of his ascension."
At Gallarsh's words, Luvien's ears perked up.
"…So, you've been thinking that as well."
"Didn't you harbor some suspicions yourself?"
"Well, I've heard that Antirianus has a history of mysterious behavior, but I can't be sure…"
Luvien's response seemed hesitant, and Gallarsh nodded.
"Regardless, I am certain."
Gallarsh's red eyes bore into Luvien.
"I'm sure he killed the previous Lord of Saturday."
"…Why would he do that?"
"If Maximilia had chosen death as Antirianus claimed, and he was the next in line, then it would have been after the creation of the Philosopher's Stone. But that never happened."
"…That's true."
A reason to live.
The previous Lord of Saturday's goal was to create the legendary Philosopher's Stone, the pinnacle of alchemy. In pursuit of that goal, he became a vampire and the Lord of Saturday.
Suddenly, Maximilia died without fulfilling his lifelong quest, and Antirianus appeared, claiming to be the next Lord of Saturday. Gallarsh had been suspicious of Antirianus from the beginning, amidst these odd circumstances.
He believed that Maximilia hadn't chosen death, but was murdered by Antirianus.
At Gallarsh's words, Luvien tilted her head.
"Yet, is it even possible for a family member to kill their Lord? It should be impossible."
"Antirianus was a mage before he became a vampire."
"…That's true."
"He might have found a way. A method to avoid being controlled, perhaps."
Gallarsh murmured quietly, his muscular arms straining as he crossed them.
"Antirianus became a Vampire Lord and, in just 20 years, the Lord of Saturday. That's definitely suspicious."
"...Indeed, it is."
Twenty years might be a long time, but to them, it was as fleeting as an instant. To their eyes, it seemed that Antirianus had become the Lord of Saturday the moment he joined their ranks.
Antirianus was suspected of killing the previous lord and taking over the position.
Ultimately, since it was another family's affair, there was no reason for them to interfere. Even if it were true, it would be an internal matter of the family.
However, both agreed that, regardless of the truth, Antirianus was dangerous and unpredictable.
That's why Eleris was wary of Antirianus, who had easily shown willingness to cooperate.
"But this time, he's cooperating with the Demon Lord..."
Gallarsh muttered with a serious expression.
An orc's serious expression was quite different from a human's.
From a human perspective, it looked like he was considering who to devour and kill.
"Who knows if he plans to kill the Demon Lord and become the new one once the Darklands are restored?"
"...Ah, come on. He's not an Archdemon."
Luvien shook her head slightly, as if to say that it was too simple of a thought. Toward her, Gallarsh muttered quietly.
"There are many ways. Countless."
At his words, Luvien's ears trembled in horror. If one possessed an Archdemon, one would possess the Demon Realm. Whether or not Antirianus had a reason to do so, there would be a way if he tried.
Mages were the kind who would find ways if there were none. Gallarsh, folding his arms in contemplation, then opened his eyes wide as if making a decision.
"I'll cooperate. If only to keep an eye on Antirianus."
"...What?!"
Luvien's eyes widened at the sudden decision.
"I can't just stand by and watch his suspicious actions anymore."
"...I didn't know Gallarsh hated Antirianus that much."
"Luvien, I hate you even more. Why do you keep forgetting what you already knew and make me explain it over and over?"
Oblivion.
At that, Luvien laughed.
"That's how I can endure the passage of time."
Every 200 years, Luvien would erase all of her memories except for the most essential ones.
That's why, despite being the oldest living Vampire Lord, she could remain sane.
As a result, Gallarsh had no choice but to get angry every time he had to explain something from the past to Luvien, who had forgotten it.
It wasn't that he didn't want to mention old times. Luvien would actively and annoyingly ask about what had happened in the past, as if listening to her own forgotten deeds was extremely entertaining.
Gallarsh found this tiresome.
"Do you remember why Maximilia wanted to create the Philosopher's Stone?"
"I don't... Oh, right. Was it for Lucynil?"
"Yes."
Gallarsh spoke quietly.
"It was to give a soul to Lucynil."
The Philosopher's Stone, said to be capable of bringing about any miracle.
The pursuit of the ultimate goal of alchemy, a thing that everyone knew didn't really exist, but something that every alchemist dreamed of at least once. Maximilia, the former head of Saturday, had pursued it.
That's why Gallarsh couldn't believe it when Antirianus suddenly appeared and claimed that the former head of Saturday had taken his own life.
If Antirianus had killed Maximilia...
"Hmm."
Luvien's ears perked up, and she showed a subtle smile.
"So, are you worried about Lucynil rather than the Demon King or the Demon Realm?"
At that subtle laughter, Gallarsh scowled as if it wasn't worth getting upset about.
"I had a relationship with Maximilia that could be called friendship."
His expression alone could have easily frightened away half a dozen men, but Luvien seemed to be teasing him like a child.
"That's all."
Gallarsh firmly nailed it down, as if not to be misunderstood. At his words, Luvien looked at Gallarsh with an expression that seemed to sparkle.
"And with me?"
"An irritating relationship."
"I feel left out..."
Luvien's ears drooped sadly.
***
As long as things were going favorably according to Lucynil's advice, there was no need to provoke Gallarsh and Luvien with further nonsense.
Just getting the cooperation of the two Vampire Lords was a considerable achievement. If Gallarsh and Luvien had decided not to cooperate, there had been no intention to attack them.
"I'll cooperate."
However, the next morning, when Gallarsh agreed to cooperate, I couldn't help but be surprised.
What happened?
Had there been some change of heart overnight?
For what reason?
But that ferocious-looking orc vampire didn't seem to have succumbed to a threat of murder, nor did he suddenly appear to have any newfound goodwill towards me.
It felt just like the situation with Antirianus. He said he'd help, but why did it feel so cheap?
"Working together is always more fun!"
Lucynil jumped up excitedly, latching onto Gallarsh's massive arm.
It looked like a cicada clinging to the arm of that giant.
"Don't bother me."
-Smack!
"Ouch!"
Of course, when Gallarsh swung his arm, Lucynil was pathetically flung away.
"Ow, that hurts, you monster!"
"I know, I don't like being clung to. And don't call me a monster."
Lucynil whined from the side, but Gallarsh completely ignored her, as if it were a common occurrence.
It was that kind of feeling.
Among the old Vampire Lords, only the one who looked young acted like a real child, while the other aged vampires watched this like they were amused by their granddaughter, and only Gallarsh was disgusted by it.
This.
Was it just a gathering of excessively old elderly people?
The Vampire Council...
Perhaps it wasn't such a formal gathering after all.
It felt so strange, like watching some bizarre role-playing, that it became almost unbearable.
It was like a group of elderly people living alone, with one of them suffering from severe dementia and acting like a baby, wasn't it?
Of course, Eleris might not have known, but once they returned to their territory, they would probably live with their subordinates as a Vampire Lord rather than living alone.
"Anyway, I will cooperate with you wholeheartedly."
"Then... that naturally leaves one person."
Following Antirianus's words, everyone's gaze naturally shifted to the last person.
The elf vampire, Luvien.
"...Why did I become a minority faction in just a day?" Back when they were laughing about the nonexistent King, Eleris had been the only one on my side in this room.
Regardless of the specific circumstances, Luvien had ended up isolated like a duck in the river.
"Ah, no... If I say I'll cooperate here, it would seem like I'm just being swept up in the atmosphere and acting impulsively..."
Luvien frowned, as if annoyed, and stomped their foot before sighing deeply.
"Phew... Well, Gallarsh did say yesterday that he would take your side, and I did give it some thought. But..."
Luvien shrugged their shoulders.
"You should know that I'll only help, not swear loyalty with my life or anything like that."
Not loyalty but loose cooperation.
However, considering the opponents, even that much was enough. Antirianus showed a satisfied smile as he looked at me.
"With this, you've gained the power of the five vampire families. Oh, Great One."
I was the one who asked for help, and I was the one who achieved my goal.
But for some reason, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that the situation was unfolding just as Antirianus had desired.
Regardless, I had accomplished a great feat by forming an alliance with the five Vampire Lord families of the Vampire Council.
***
I hadn't expected the results to be this good. I thought it would be a great success if only one or two showed their willingness to cooperate, but I managed to secure the cooperation of all the Vampire Lords in the end.
The important thing is that although their cooperation is helpful, I shouldn't be overly optimistic. I must put aside the notion that they are entirely on my side.
It's a partnership, not servitude.
Antirianus, who praised me as a great being and appeared the most subservient, made me feel the most uneasy.
Of course, I didn't just gain the power of the Vampire Lords.
I also gained the influence they possessed.
Antirianus explained to me about the families of each house.
The Council was just a meeting place, not where they lived.
Luvien's base was in a vast coniferous forest area called Rainwood in the northwest of the continent.
Gallarsh had his base in a desert area called Gelkorgis in the south of the continent.
Antirianus mentioned that he had his base in a small village in Alphanera, one of the secondary countries of the empire.
That also included their families.
"I imagine you might have guessed this already, but I'm alone."
Eleris said that she was the only one of the Hwayo tribe. I had anticipated this, as Eleris had never mentioned anything about her tribe despite being the Hwayo chief.
"I'm the same."
Lucynil, too, did not have a tribe to call her own. Seeing her, it was somewhat expected that she wouldn't be able to lead a group.
Powerful Vampire Lords and their tribes.
It felt like I had gained an army with just a few words.
The fact that I was getting deeper into danger and achieving some success made my blood run cold.
Now, I was truly capable of waging war.
The weight of that thought made it hard to breathe. However, I couldn't hesitate. I was determined to stop the gate crisis, no matter what.
"The reason I sought you all out was not strictly for your strength, but for your knowledge."
As if to ask what that was, they all stared at me intently.
Could this be the key?
If it was the key, I would be liberated from all the troubles that had been haunting me.
Hoping that this could be the beginning.
"First, do you know how to open a dimensional portal to another world?"
I asked the Vampire Lords and powerful magicians to reveal the secret that would free me from my wretched fate.
"Second, if not, do you know any magic experts who might know and their whereabouts? For example, like the Black Order or Cantus Magna."
At that, they all wore puzzled expressions, which was to be expected.
"A dimensional portal to another world?"
Luvien tilted her head.
"Why are you curious about that?"
Gallarsh showed the kind of expression an orc would make when confused.
"…I've never heard such a bizarre thing in my entire life."
Lucynil seemed to have given up on understanding.
"Another world…"
Antirianus wore an intrigued expression.
In the end, the core question was why I wanted to know that.
They wouldn't believe me if I said it was to save the world, and I had initially gained their cooperation under the pretext of rebuilding the Demon Realm.
"Darkland has lost much of its power. We've experienced almost irreversible losses. Even with your cooperation, it would be difficult to bring down the empire."
As flimsy as that excuse might seem, I had no other choice.
"So, I intend to join forces with beings from other worlds."
Since there were so few who would lend me a hand in reality, I made the almost absurd statement that I would summon an army from another world.
At my words, they all wore even more puzzled expressions, which was inevitable.
***
There was an uproar.
They said it was nonsense, and even if such a world existed, there was no reason for them to help me.
Especially Luvien and Gallarsh, who knew I was odd, but now seemed horrified to think I was clearly insane.
They found it disturbing that I was making such an unbelievable claim.
Lucynil stared at me with wide eyes.
'This guy must be crazy.'
That seemed to be her conclusion.
Antirianus, on the other hand, laughed heartily, seemingly caught off guard by my outrageous claim.
It was incredibly creepy when he laughed like that.
"If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but there's no harm in trying. Isn't that what they say? That there's no other way?"
There was nothing to lose by trying.
It was just a matter of discussing things at that level. Although it wasn't something to talk about so casually, in the end, there was no other excuse to bring up.
So, the answer to the first question, whether they knew or not.
Luvien, Gallarsh, and Lucynil all seemed like they hadn't even considered such a thing, judging by their expressions.
Antirianus was no different.
The Vampire Council members didn't know how to travel to another world.
"Alright, if you don't know, that's fine. What about the next question?"
Information about a mage who might know such a thing.
Once again, their reactions were lukewarm. No matter how long they lived, these immortals led somewhat stagnant lives.
So, they couldn't possibly be sensitive to worldly information.
But then.
"As for Cantus Magna, I was once involved with them."
Antirianus suddenly said that.
"Really?!"
"Yes, Lucynil."
It wasn't me who blurted out the surprised remark, but Lucynil.
It seemed that none of the other Vampire Lords in the room could hide their astonishment, as if they were hearing it for the first time.
"That was before I became a vampire, though..."
Antirianus had been the key to reaching Cantus Magna.
