Ch.54Underground Ruins

The moment the sun hanging in the sky falls, fruit begins to grow on the Blood Fruit Tree.

Since fusion bodies and field items also regenerate during this time, naturally all users’ days had to begin at the same hour.

“Charlotte! It’s evening!”

Aurel shouted with sparkling eyes, as if eager to go out.

Her bottom wiggled excitedly.

“There’s no need to rush.”

“But…!”

I got up from my seat with a small smile.

Only then did Hwang-gu let out a lazy yawn and stretch her body.

Her fluffy tail shot high into the sky.

A perfect contrast to yesterday’s urgency.

I loosened my stiff body and grabbed Hwang-gu’s leash.

If we hadn’t discovered the Underground Ruins, we too would have been out farming among the busy vampires.

But now we didn’t need to struggle like that.

We had found a farming spot still unknown to others.

Of course, we would eventually need to share this information to wage full-scale war against the humans, but that was for later.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes!”

At my words, Hwang-gu nodded and transformed into a large wolf.

Aurel and I naturally climbed onto Hwang-gu’s back.

Evening begins with harvesting the Blood Fruit.

Clop- clop- clop-!

Riding on the rapidly running Hwang-gu, I picked bright red Blood Fruit.

Vampires we passed by looked at us enviously.

The Blood Fruit that disappeared into the shadows became food for my children.

I also crunched on a large Blood Fruit together with Hwang-gu and Aurel.

After finishing the children’s meal, we headed toward a large cathedral.

“Sister Mary!”

I called out in front of the cathedral, and the doors opened as a woman with a calm demeanor walked out.

A vampire wearing priestly vestments rather than a nun’s habit.

It was Mary.

“Charlotte…?”

“Please take this.”

I handed Mary the Blood Fruit that remained after feeding the children.

With humans near Seoul having recently disappeared, there must be a shortage of blood to feed the children.

Though there were still humans donating blood at Mary’s cathedral, it would be woefully insufficient.

“This is…”

Mary received the Blood Fruit and smiled slightly, as if moved.

She must have heard enough rumors about Blood Fruit.

“Thank you…”

I watched Mary bow her head and pulled on Hwang-gu’s leash.

We had finished everything we needed to do in Seoul.

“Woof!”

Hwang-gu started running quickly, seeming to understand my intention.

I heard Mary’s voice from behind but didn’t stop.

Clop- clop- clop-!

Hwang-gu galloped rapidly, leaving Seoul behind.

We arrived at the entrance leading to the Underground Ruins.

I dismounted from Hwang-gu’s back.

“Is there anyone around?”

“Woof!”

“Good.”

Hwang-gu’s confident response.

I nodded and began clearing away the junked cars piled at the entrance.

The underground passage was revealed.

“Both of you, go in.”

“Woof!”

“Yes!”

After sending the children in first, I secured the entrance thoroughly.

I blocked the narrow entrance with junked cars, then climbed inside through a broken window.

The door to the Underground Ruins was still open.

It seemed we hadn’t closed it after mobilizing all the children to open it yesterday.

“Phew…”

Back in the Underground Ruins.

I began summoning my subordinates while admiring the surroundings.

The children emerged wriggling from the shadows at my call.

Today’s goal was the children’s growth.

Of course, we couldn’t skip item farming either.

We needed enormous credits to equip all subordinates with armor.

“Everyone, move out!”

-Hiyaaah!

-Hieeek!

When I shouted while riding Hwang-gu, the children began running behind us.

I started hunting fusion bodies while leading the children around.

A party of over 40 members.

The hunting efficiency wasn’t great due to the experience being divided.

But this hunting method had to be maintained to keep the children from getting hurt.

“Go!”

-Hieek!

-Hiyaaah!

The children charged forward at my command.

The fusion bodies began fighting back in resistance, but they couldn’t handle our overwhelming numbers.

They collapsed to the ground, pulverized by the children’s hands.

While the children hunted, I rode Hwang-gu around the vicinity, busily picking up items.

Being responsible for such a large number of children was back-breaking work.

Is this what it means to have a mother’s heart?

I moved very diligently to provide better armor for the children.

In the midst of this frantic activity.

As I rode Hwang-gu through an alley and emerged…

I made eye contact with empty eyes.

The red irises unique to vampires.

Sharp fangs visible between slightly parted lips.

White skin that gleamed even in darkness.

It clearly had the characteristics of a vampire.

But it wasn’t a vampire.

A boss of dummy data without a proper name.

An incomplete being brought in by the patch of a foolish god.

[monster-boss-0065]

I had made eye contact with the creature numbered 0065.

Fortunately, it didn’t charge at me despite seeing me.

I must have been outside its recognition range.

“Grrrr…!”

Hwang-gu also seemed to have spotted it, lowering her posture and starting to growl.

If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have charged at it.

I scratched Hwang-gu’s neck and pulled her leash to change direction.

I planned to challenge it someday, but not right now.

-Hueeeng!

-This one! This one!

-Die!

The children’s voices came from beyond a large wall.

Judging by the unpleasant smell of fusion body blood vibrating in the air, they must have succeeded in their hunt.

Aurel’s leadership skills seemed quite impressive.

If the world hadn’t changed like this, Aurel would have become quite a famous raid leader in Blood Carnival.

After some time passed.

While I was busy picking up items from the ground, Aurel came looking for me.

“Charlotte!”

Slightly flushed cheeks.

Rapidly rising and falling chest.

The snow-white bone sword in her hand was stained red.

“What is it?”

“Let’s go there now!”

“There?”

“That castle!”

“Ah…”

I nodded, recalling the promise I made yesterday.

I had said we would go to that huge castle.

“Are the kids growing well?”

“Yes! They’re all resting now!”

Aurel pounded her chest with a confident expression at my question.

Peeking outside the building, I could see children with silver-white hair sprawled on the ground, panting.

Many of them appeared to have leveled up.

I smiled lightly and patted Aurel’s head.

“You worked hard.”

“Hehehe…”

Aurel smiled softly as she received my touch.

She rubbed her head against my hand, then lifted her head and moved my hand to under her chin.

Could she be asking me to touch her chin?

Though tilting my head in confusion, I followed Aurel’s request and touched her chin.

Aurel smiled even more brightly.

Soft and warm. If I followed down her neck, there would be snow-white collarbones.

Looking at Aurel’s smooth neck, I swallowed dryly and removed my hand.

“Hmm, hmm… Let’s go.”

“Yes~”

Aurel looked at my hand as if disappointed.

But she didn’t cling to me asking for more touches.

Aurel ran outside and urged the sprawled children.

“Everyone get up!”

-Hueeek…

-J-just a little more rest…

-No… No…

The children whined about resting more, but it didn’t work on Aurel at all.

Aurel glared at the children with fierce eyes.

The children got up with tearful faces under that scary gaze.

I watched with folded arms.

Aurel’s guidance was quite satisfactory.

“Now, Hwang-gu. We need to go this way.”

“Woof!”

I unfolded a map from my pocket and showed it to Hwang-gu.

Hwang-gu buried her face in the large map and barked.

Then she spun her tail around as if ready.

“Let’s go!”

Hwang-gu walked out lightly at my shout.

She didn’t speed up quickly, seemingly conscious of the children following behind.

The children couldn’t rest even while moving.

Aurel kept pushing them, continuing battles with fusion bodies.

At that moment.

I could see a huge castle in the far distance.

“Oh…”

Despite the long time that had passed in the setting, it maintained its original appearance.

It was quite an alien sight, but I thought it was beautiful rather than strange.

-Ohhh…

-Wow…

-Gasp…

The children following behind also spotted the castle and stood with their mouths open.

They were admiring the magnificent appearance of the castle.

In the midst of this admiration…

“Sniff sniff!”

Hwang-gu suddenly raised her head.

Her tail and fur stood on end.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sniff sniff! Sniff sniff!”

Instead of answering, Hwang-gu continued sniffing.

At that moment, Hwang-gu suddenly glared in one direction.

“Grrrr…!”

Hwang-gu’s low growl.

A clear defensive posture.

I couldn’t sense anything yet, but Hwang-gu wouldn’t react this way for no reason.

I put my subordinates into the shadows and drew a sword from within the darkness.

Beyond the large bridge in the direction Hwang-gu was looking.

That is, where the castle was located.

I stared at that place for a long time.

After some time had passed.

Suddenly, a fragrant blood scent wafted on the wind.

“Charlotte…! This smell is!”

I slowly nodded at Aurel’s words.

There was only one source for such a fragrant blood scent.

It was the smell of a human.

Fortunately, there was only one.

I pulled Hwang-gu’s leash and moved forward carefully.

After moving for some time in a crouched position.

Across the bridge, inside the huge castle, a human appeared.

He was looking outside the castle with a relaxed expression.

Judging by how his gaze wasn’t directed this way, he hadn’t noticed our approach.

I unfolded the map I had in my pocket.

There was only one entrance marked on the map.

So how did that human get in?

When we entered, there were no signs of anyone else at the entrance.

Could there be another passage I didn’t know about?

At that moment, the human who had been looking outside turned and went back inside.

This was our chance.

I seated Aurel on Hwang-gu’s back and pulled on Hwang-gu’s leash.

“Run!”

“Woof!”

Clop- clop- clop-!

Hwang-gu sprinted across the large bridge very quickly.