Ch.152Chapter 152: The Decisive Battle in the East (20).

Valt decided to skip the victory banquet and spend time with Veron instead.

While there were people who liked Valt, many others did not. He judged that talking with Veron would be more useful than creating an uncomfortable situation.

“Sigh… Many people are waiting for you, Lord Valt. Is it really alright to waste your time on someone like me?”

Twitch.

Valt’s thick eyebrows moved slightly as he opened his mouth with a hint of displeasure.

“You have a tendency to underestimate yourself. Humility is good, but self-deprecation is not.”

In truth, Veron had led many wars to victory with his excellent strategies, but his evaluation of himself and others’ opinion of him wasn’t very positive.

The current era was similar to Earth’s medieval period, where a strategist could potentially have a significant impact on war, but the reality was quite different.

Strategy typically varies depending on what military branches and weapons are available.

Having cold weapons like spears and swords versus having muskets or cannons naturally leads to different strategies and tactics.

But this place had a major difference from Earth.

Namely, the existence of humans with magic and aura.

Veron, who was physically weak with no talent for aura and no affinity for mana or magic, believed—as did those around him—that he was occupying a position beyond his abilities, relying solely on his intellect.

“Haha… Even if you say that, I know my place very well. In the end, what determines victory or defeat in war is the presence of unexpected beings like you, Lord Valt.”

This was also true. But Valt didn’t think so.

“You now have information about me and the Orc King. With that mind of yours, don’t you have a strategy?”

When asked like that, it was difficult to say no.

In reality, Veron’s mind was constantly formulating ways to deal with the Orc army using Valt.

But as is often the case with powerful beings, commanding them is not easy.

Especially for someone weak like Veron, it was even more difficult to get the strong to follow his words.

“…You’re a strange person. To ask me such things…”

Though Valt was curious about Veron’s strategy, he had something else he wanted to discuss with Veron first.

“Let’s talk about that later. First, tell me about Gauwel’s Molar.”

Only then did Veron begin to focus.

“Ah, I-I’m sorry. Ahem, how much do Prince Valt and your companions know about artifacts?”

Valt, Lilith, and Arias answered Veron’s question in turn.

“I don’t know. Just that they’re objects with unknown power.”

“I also don’t know much, having lived a life isolated from the outside world for a long time. I only know them as something with power that can distort reality in a dimension different from magic.”

While everyone was giving common-sense answers, Arias, who had been thinking deeply, also spoke up.

“Hmm… I don’t know much either, only what my grandmother told me, but artifacts come in various grades.”

Veron’s eyes lit up at Arias’s answer.

“Oh? The elf lady brings up an interesting point. Please continue.”

As Valt’s expression also showed interest, Arias, pleased with the attention, continued her explanation.

“Ahem, so not all artifacts are the same. As far as I know, artifacts have grades.”

“Grades?”

“Yes, grades. Even human weapons have grades, so why wouldn’t artifacts?”

“How are the grades determined?”

“It’s simple. Who made it. Or rather, how was it made?”

Snap!

Veron snapped his fingers at Arias’s words.

“You know very well! That’s right. Artifacts are classified by grade according to how they appeared in the world. And that information is actually very difficult to come by.”

“Why is that?”

When Valt asked, Veron thought for a moment before addressing Lilith.

“You there, vampire lady. Pardon my rudeness as I don’t know your identity, but do you know of the vampire race’s artifact called ‘Blood Tears’?”

The Blood Tears of Strigoi.

A strange stone with the incredible power to create blood bonds for the vampire race.

Lilith frowned momentarily, remembering how it had been taken by mysterious dark figures in the past.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Lilith Bloodwell. I claim to be the legitimate successor of the vampire clan.”

Veron was surprised by Lilith’s introduction and bowed deeply.

Being sensitive to information due to his strategic work, he had heard rumors that vampires had settled not far from southern Gerantia.

So he thought this young lady accompanying the Prince of Gerantu was not of ordinary status, but the legitimate successor of the vampire race?

Being the legitimate successor of a race was equivalent to being a crown prince or princess by human standards.

This made Veron’s tone even more respectful.

“Y-You’re a princess! I apologize for my rudeness.”

“No need. To answer your question, yes, I know about it.”

“Then do you know how the ‘Blood Tears’ were created?”

Lilith hesitated momentarily. While it wasn’t a forbidden secret of her race, she was extremely cautious about sharing information with outsiders other than Valt.

“……”

“Allow me to answer instead. According to what is commonly known, the first vampire—in this case, called the True Ancestor—Raculad Bloodwell, created this treasure using mysterious methods to help his kind who were vulnerable to the sun.”

This differed from what Lilith knew, but she chose not to correct him.

Quickly perceiving that Lilith didn’t want to discuss it, Veron continued without expecting a response from her.

“But that’s just one of two possibilities. The other is this: The god of blood and life, Strigoi, whom vampires worship, desired a race to follow him and shed tears, which became the artifact known as Strigoi’s Blood Tears.”

Lilith was surprised.

It was fascinating that a human with almost no connection to her kind could fluently recite information about her race, including details that even lower-ranking vampires wouldn’t know.

“According to these two stories, the grade of the ‘Blood Tears’ artifact would be either Mythic grade, created by a god, or Legendary grade, created by a vampire with god-like abilities. Oh, this grading system is one I use. In reality, artifact grading systems are quite inconsistent.”

Valt nodded with interest at this information.

“I see, so artifacts have grades. But why are you explaining this at such length now?”

“Isn’t it because you’re interested in Gauwel’s Molar, Lord Valt?”

A perceptive, intelligent, and knowledgeable person.

Valt honestly found this Veron intriguing.

Not for himself, but for Gerantu.

Showing a slight smile, Valt said to Veron:

“You’re quick-witted. So what’s next?”

“To get to the point, whether it’s possible to take Gauwel’s Molar depends on the artifact’s grade.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s go back to the Blood Tears story. Princess Lilith, do you know what grade the Blood Tears are?”

According to vampire legend, the Blood Tears are the tears of Strigoi, the god of blood and life. If so, they would naturally be Mythic grade.

“I believe they are Mythic grade.”

“I understand that only the vampire race can use the Blood Tears. Is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“This is exactly my point, Lord Valt.”

Only vampires can use Strigoi’s Blood Tears.

And even then, only those close to the blood of the vampire True Ancestor.

Valt and Lilith, who had thought this was simply a characteristic of the artifact, gained new knowledge from this interesting conversation.

“Hmm… So you’re saying that the Orc’s artifact might have restrictions that make it usable only by Orcs?”

“I’m saying that’s a possibility. As you know, many artifacts emit unbelievable power. Therefore, they often come with significant restrictions. If you desire Gauwel’s Molar, you need to know about it in detail.”

“You have a talent for making simple things complicated. Fine, let’s hear it.”

Valt spoke dismissively, but Veron had a reason for explaining this at such length.

The legends and tales about artifacts are just that—legends, myths, and stories. He wanted to convey that these stories significantly impact how one uses the artifact.

But Veron had spent too much time with humans who couldn’t take such stories at face value.

It was Veron’s way of trying to prevent incidents that begin with “Do you think I can’t handle a mere artifact?”

However, he didn’t realize that such efforts weren’t necessary with Valt.

“Since you seem to understand, I’ll explain. Gauwel’s Molar is…”

***

“Why are you so late, Valt!”

In a noisy tent, people of Master rank and above were gathered, consuming food and drink.