Ch.191Chapter 191 – World Tree Defense Battle (4)

Beatrice was quietly smoking a cigarette while watching the giant moving in the distance.

“That giant… I think I read a thesis about it at the magic tower…”

A massive giant with enormous horns and a snake-like tail.

Beatrice remembered reading a thesis about the legends of guardian deities of demon-kind who were said to have been active during the ancient Demon War.

“I’m sure that paper argued that such a huge creature couldn’t possibly exist.”

The content of that thesis included various rebuttals to the legend, questioning how such a gigantic life form could maintain its biological functions.

She couldn’t remember all the details, but it had been a logically sound paper, which was why Beatrice remembered reading it.

Of course, she’d also heard rumors that the student who submitted that thesis had received a professor’s sweet offer of selection, followed by days of suffering.

“Well, that thesis is completely debunked now.”

She could easily refute it without much difficulty just by bringing one of those elves fighting over there to testify.

Naturally, Beatrice wasn’t pleased about this at all.

“Sigh, so much for an easy job.”

Muttering to herself, Beatrice continued smoking her cigarette.

She had no intention of going to reinforce the fight against that giant.

A strong intuition told her that she shouldn’t leave this place.

After smoking for a while, Beatrice stared at a particular spot and said:

“Come out.”

-Thud!

As if responding to her words, a coffin that had been floating close to the ground fell.

She wondered if someone had been using levitation magic to sneak here, but…

Could they really have been planning to hide in that large coffin and pass through here?

‘…Who do they think they’re fooling?’

It was more surprising that no one had disturbed such a conspicuous coffin in this situation.

However, hearing the roars from the distance, Beatrice revised her thoughts.

‘Well, with a giant rampaging like that, most things would go unnoticed.’

Of course, the giant’s success would be part of their plan too.

Still, the giant’s main purpose was likely to serve as a flashy decoy for others to infiltrate.

In the end, her decision not to leave this place had been correct, which gave Beatrice some relief as she pulled out a new cigarette from her pocket.

As she lit it, she quietly watched the coffin, and soon its lid began to open with a heavy sound.

-Creeeeak…

Watching the coffin open quietly, Beatrice prepared her magic.

‘That must be a vampire.’

Given their characteristic of sleeping in coffins during the day due to being severely weakened or even destroyed by sunlight, it was hard not to think so.

Though she still didn’t quite understand why they slept in coffins.

‘Well, my job remains the same.’

With that thought, she glared at the coffin.

By now, the coffin had fully opened, and a disheveled man in pajamas jumped out.

“Huh.”

Vampires are often called nobles of the night.

Of course, that was mostly their self-proclaimed title, but they had spread it around so much that the description had stuck.

The occasional vampires who appeared adorned in fancy but outdated dresses and suits probably contributed to that image.

So honestly, Beatrice hadn’t expected to see such a scruffy man in rumpled pajamas with unkempt hair and beard.

His face could pass for middle-aged, but with that messy hair and beard, he looked like someone who would be called a beggar if found sleeping on the street.

Moreover, he oddly appeared to have a healthy complexion.

If he hadn’t emerged from a coffin, she wouldn’t have thought he was a vampire at all.

“…Is it morning?”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

She answered reflexively, though calculating the time, she realized that for nocturnal creatures, it might indeed be considered morning.

“…Are you a vampire, at least?”

“Well, I suppose so. This old man is.”

The vampire said as he lay back down in the coffin.

Even crossing his legs as he reclined comfortably, he addressed Beatrice.

“So, miss. I have a proposal.”

“What is it?”

Though she had no intention of falling for a vampire’s proposal, Beatrice replied to hear him out.

“…How about we call it a draw?”

“…”

At the enemy’s proposal, Beatrice began to slightly doubt whether he was really a vampire.

“A draw?”

“Just, let’s be nice to each other. I pass through, you don’t get hurt. Sounds good, right?”

Beatrice was momentarily speechless at the enemy’s suggestion.

Finally gathering her thoughts, she replied:

“That’s not possible either way.”

“Oh, come on. I’ve even received orders from the Demon Lord not to cause unnecessary casualties.”

Beatrice wanted to retort about what a laid-back Demon Lord that was.

But naturally, she had no intention of accepting the vampire’s proposal.

‘If I listened to such nonsense, I wouldn’t be able to face Helmet again.’

The reason her group was participating in this war was because of the proposals made by the lich.

To solve Kei’s lifespan problem, they needed to grasp even the smallest clue.

‘I can’t betray those guys.’

They were comrades far kinder than someone like her.

At the very least, Beatrice didn’t want to be the first to betray them.

“Absolutely not.”

When she spoke firmly with resolve, the vampire seemed to give up trying to persuade her.

Then, after quietly rummaging through the coffin, he spoke in a pitiful voice:

“…Then, just one cigarette?”

Sadly realizing she might have something in common with this vampire, Beatrice put her cigarettes back in her pocket and said:

“No way. Our cute little nun takes all my cigarettes. These are the ones I’ve barely managed to hide.”

As Beatrice grumbled, the vampire unexpectedly laughed and clapped his hands.

“Hey, as fellow smokers, we really do understand each other!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, our cute little goat girl, that big kid over there, and the skinny dark elf always take my cigarettes too.”

The vampire said in a relaxed voice.

“…Really. Even though the Demon Lord doesn’t say anything about it.”

“Maybe that Demon Lord has just given up on you.”

At Beatrice’s words, the vampire was silent for a moment.

When he spoke again, his voice was quite solemn.

“I’d rather you not say that. You wouldn’t know, so it’s understandable, but still.”

“Why?”

“The Demon Lord is not the type to abandon anyone.”

With those words, the vampire finally stood up again.

“He found this messed-up old man who had been defeated long ago and was hiding in a corner, and suddenly handed him the position of corps commander.”

The vampire said with a smile.

“What’s so good about a guy like me that he’d come looking for me over and over?”

“Hmm, that’s quite an admirable character.”

“Indeed. He’s an excellent person. Despite having no particular talents, he embraces and encourages us.”

The vampire stood up, smiling.

“That’s why the self-willed demons are willing to risk their lives to work for him.”

The vampire said as he took out a cigarette and lit it.

“My name is Rage. Just call me Duke, roughly speaking.”

“So you’re a lazy duke. Why not just rule your territory?”

“Well, I don’t have any territory, so what can I do?”

The vampire answered with a chuckle. The next moment, blood spurted from around him and suddenly changed his attire.

His shabby pajamas transformed into a fairly presentable noble’s outfit.

“Wait, why are your hair and beard still the same?”

“Too bothersome to groom them.”

As he said this while scratching his head, Beatrice quietly looked away.

‘Hm?’

Sensing something oddly unnatural magical energy passing nearby, Beatrice instinctively looked in that direction.

And the next moment, she blocked the enemy’s attack with her arm infused with magic.

-Thwack!

“Blink, huh.”

“Oh, you reacted?”

The vampire’s claws were blocked by Beatrice’s hand.

More precisely, by the magic circle floating above her hand.

With the earlier relaxed atmosphere completely gone, the two distanced themselves and entered combat stances.

“Well, I was just planning to knock you out.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not enough to make me faint.”

“That’s fortunate then.”

The next moment, blood extended from around the vampire.

“Setting up a barrier?”

“With blood I’ve saved up specifically for times like this.”

Instantly, the surroundings turned red as a crimson space appeared.

“Sorry, miss. Since you’re pretty, I’ll try not to hurt you too much.”

The vampire said with a smile.

In response, Beatrice also grinned fiercely and said:

“You should worry about yourself, old man.”

The next moment, their battle began as Beatrice swung iron chains and the vampire wielded a whip made of blood.

+

Meanwhile, Eve and Chris were running toward Beatrice’s location.

“…Stop.”

When Chris suddenly said to stop, Eve halted without question.

Then Chris raised her staff, pointing at a specific spot.

“Stop right there.”

Chris said, pointing at a seemingly empty place.

After a brief silence, Chris spoke again.

“It’s no use. I can see you, little dark elf with black skin.”

At Chris’s words, Eve slightly turned her head to look at Chris’s eyes.

She could see a faint golden light dwelling in those clear blue irises.

And as if giving up due to Chris’s words, the scenery suddenly distorted slightly.

“…So you have clairvoyance.”

A small dark elf appeared from within the distorted scenery and spoke.

Chris nodded affirmatively with a smile.

“Yes, it seems I have that ability.”

“Sigh, even using Baphomet, Gigas, and the Duke as decoys to sneak in, we still got caught.”

After saying this, the dark elf looked at Chris and Eve and said:

“Stand back, humans. I promise not to chase you if you retreat.”

“I refuse.”

As Eve drew her sword and spoke, the dark elf tilted her head curiously and said:

“That’s unexpected. Humans have no need to help elves, do they? To you, the World Tree must look like just a big tree.”

“It’s a contract.”

Eve said with a smile.

“Keeping promises is a merchant’s basic principle.”

“I see. You must be receiving quite a good compensation.”

The dark elf nodded in understanding.

“I’m curious, so let me ask one thing. If I were to pay you what you’re receiving, would you step aside?”

“Unfortunately, we can’t trust you.”

“I see.”

At Eve’s answer, the dark elf nodded in acceptance.

Then she suddenly held a staff in her hand and swung it once.

Two large wolves suddenly appeared.

-Growl!

“So you’re a summoner. Was it you who attacked the rangers?”

“I won’t deny it.”

After saying this, the dark elf pointed her staff at Eve and Chris.

“I am Corps Commander Vanilla, brave humans.”

As the dark elf quietly entered a battle stance, Eve and Chris also tensed their bodies.

“I’ll say it one last time. Step back. I guarantee your lives.”

“We refuse.”

At Chris’s firm words, the dark elf nodded.

Then, with a fierce expression, she opened her mouth.

“Let me tell you in advance. I, Corps Commander Vanilla, am prepared to sacrifice my life for the Demon Lord.”

Soon, black energy began to rise around her.

At the same time, the wolves began to run, pounding the ground.

“I will pass through by force.”

As the dark elf finished speaking, the black energy transformed into spheres and began to fly.

Simultaneously, the wolves charged forward.

“Christina.”

“‘Grant us robust bodies.'”

Christina’s blessing reached Eve.

And Chris immediately began chanting the next holy spell.

“‘Protect the young lambs.'”

The black spheres were blocked by golden shields and exploded.

At the same time, black smoke began to rise, and soon the wolves ran through it and leaped.

-Growl!

“I knew all along.”

Eve swung her sword as if she had anticipated the direction the agile wolves would come from.

The wolves, unable to notice the attack due to the smoke, were slashed by the sword and perished.

‘They’re not ordinary ones.’

The dark elf slightly furrowed her brow, seeing how easily they neutralized her attack.

Then Chris quietly said:

“Let me tell you in advance.”

As if answering Chris’s quiet but clear words, Eve continued:

“We too are prepared to sacrifice our lives for those dear to us.”

Eve and Chris pointed their weapons at the dark elf.