Ch.58Dummy Data

A month had passed since I started farming in the Underground Ruins.

While I wanted to dramatically increase the number of my subordinates, the limited amount of Blood Fruit I could harvest prevented me from rashly expanding their numbers. If I had thoughtlessly increased my subordinates, I might have been forced to raid human settlements to feed my hungry children.

As time passed, all my children were able to reach level 20. Naturally, they were all equipped with basic armor. This was only possible because we had exclusive access to an excellent hunting ground. If we had been farming on the surface as normal, we wouldn’t have achieved even half of our current growth rate.

That’s why I decided to reveal the Underground Ruins to other vampires. Although the clan leaders who had joined me in hunting Fenrir expressed concerns, it was a necessary choice to strengthen the vampire race as a whole. Since most of the allied clan members had already reached max level, they expressed worry but none actually opposed the decision.

I regularly hold meetings with the allied clan leaders, and today was one of those days.

During the past month, we hadn’t just been hunting in the Underground Ruins. We sent vampires to monitor the human faction’s movements while also making considerable efforts to find other hunting grounds or dungeons.

“Maybe we should start soon…”

Prix trailed off, carefully looking around. The “start” he mentioned referred to all-out war against humans.

However, only Firin and I nodded at Prix’s suggestion. The other three clan leaders subtly avoided eye contact. This was quite different from when they were burning with hatred toward humans after being interrupted during the Fenrir hunt.

“Do… do we really need to do that…”

I glared at the clan leader who cautiously spoke up. He was a vampire named Shakara.

“Why not?”

“Why, you ask… well…”

Shakara fell silent, reading the room. He was probably afraid of all-out war with humans.

In this world, level equals power. Having clan members who are mostly at max level means receiving respect wherever you go. No fellow vampire would dare look down on Shakara.

He was afraid. He feared that the power he had built up would crumble through all-out war with humans.

Perhaps it was because they had been solving their food problems with Blood Fruit? Shakara’s hostility toward humans seemed to have faded.

Because they could continue their current lifestyle without fighting. Because there were no survival issues. His stomach was full.

“Then you can sit this out.”

“R-really?”

Shakara asked with a brightened expression at my words. I nodded. I was leading this meeting. If I said it was okay, then it was okay.

“Then… we’ll sit out…”

And so Shakara was out.

“Hey… is this really okay?”

Firin, who had been quietly listening, approached me and asked. She looked at the remaining clan leaders with a worried expression.

Hesitation was visible on everyone’s face except Firin and Prix. They would probably make similar choices to Shakara as time passed. But it didn’t matter.

Tap-tap-tap-!

At that moment, the sound of large wolf paws came from outside the meeting room. It was Hwang-gu’s footsteps.

“Charlotte!”

It was Aurel who burst into the meeting room riding Hwang-gu. Hwang-gu was panting as if they had rushed here.

“What is it?”

“The Underground Ruins! Someone’s engaged the Underground Ruins boss!”

The allied clan leaders jumped up in surprise at Aurel’s words. I ran forward and climbed onto Hwang-gu’s back.

“Run quickly!”

There’s no way the allied clan members would touch the Underground Ruins boss. It must have been the newcomers who recently entered the Underground Ruins.

How many days had it been since I opened the Underground Ruins? I counted on my fingers.

“Aurel.”

“Yes!”

“How many days has it been since we opened the Underground Ruins?”

“Exactly seven days, ma’am!”

“Slower than I expected.”

“Expected…?”

Aurel tilted her head at my words. I didn’t bother to explain.

Hwang-gu ran very quickly to the Underground Ruins. When we arrived, just as Aurel had said, a group of vampires was attacking the Underground Ruins boss. At that moment, the other clan leaders began arriving late.

They looked worriedly at the distant Underground Ruins boss. Prix, who had been watching, cautiously spoke up.

“Shouldn’t we help them?”

“Why?”

“Why…? Well, because…”

I shook my head at Prix’s words. Before opening the Underground Ruins to our kind, I had told them:

Don’t touch the boss. Whatever happens if you disturb it is your own responsibility.

“Everyone just watch.”

I found a suitable spot and observed the Underground Ruins boss’s patterns. Though classified as a Fusion Body, its appearance and skills weren’t much different from vampire users. Of course, the boss’s damage output was much stronger.

The nameless vampire boss easily tore apart those attacking it. When it spread its arms wide, red blood gushed out and swept the surroundings. All the vampires touched by that blood could do was scream.

“Charlotte… did you open the Underground Ruins for this purpose?”

It was Firin’s question. As Firin suggested, I hadn’t opened the Underground Ruins without a plan. It was a bit later than expected, but fools drunk on their own power exist everywhere.

“Yes.”

The battle didn’t last long. After about 30 vampires were sacrificed, the remaining fighters seemed to sense something was wrong and began to flee. Of course, the boss continued attacking even as they ran.

The boss didn’t go far. It only chased the fleeing vampires within its permitted range of movement. Once its aggro was cleared, the boss quickly recovered its health and returned to its original position. Watching this, I asked the allied clan leaders:

“Well? Think we can handle it?”

The clan leaders remained silent at my question. Of course, Firin nodded without hesitation and approached my side.

“The patterns aren’t particularly difficult.”

As Firin said, the patterns weren’t very difficult. It was just using the same skill set as a regular user.

“Those who think they can handle it, gather your clan members.”

The Underground Ruins has only one passage. We won’t be interrupted by humans like before.

“Shakara, you’re in too, right?”

“Umm…”

Shakara took a step back at my question. But he nodded. He probably thought there would be significant benefits from defeating the boss. Considering the Fenrir case, killing this boss would likely bring about some changes.

After some time, all allied vampires except those sent to spy on humans had gathered.

I smiled lightly at Shakara. If he had backed out even in this situation, I would have absorbed him and made him my subordinate. The same would apply to his clan members.

“Charlotte! Everyone has gathered!”

I nodded at Aurel’s words. A considerable number had gathered despite the sudden call. Of course, I could have gathered more people if I had announced it in advance, but I deliberately chose not to.

You never know. There might be traitors within the alliance. Better safe than sorry.

“Let’s go in!”

I drew my white bone sword and walked forward. Due to the earlier failed boss raid attempt, there were quite a few spectators. Everyone had stopped hunting Fusion Bodies and was watching us.

I didn’t go around flaunting my strength. Rather than actively seeking to display power to others, naturally revealed strength would make me stand out more.

Everyone must have heard rumors about me. But there’s a significant difference between hearing rumors and witnessing firsthand. If this boss raid ends successfully, I’ll gain more influence among our kind.

“Come forth!”

I’m going all out from the start. I rushed forward and spread my hands. At that moment, the shadow beneath my feet expanded widely, and white-haired girls emerged from within.

This is my soft army.

-Hiyaaah!

-Hiyoop!

The soft girls immediately charged toward the boss as soon as they appeared. They were all level 20, with basic armor providing considerable defense. More than 40 tanks swarmed the boss.

What they lacked was attack power. That deficiency was filled by the allied clans.

“Everyone attack!”

Following my order, the allied vampires unleashed various skills. I also swung my sword and charged toward the boss.

Bang!

My sword collided with the boss’s arm. The massive impact transmitted through, making my body stagger.

But I endured. I firmly planted my feet on the ground and regained my balance.

As expected.

Only I could face the boss head-on. The children covering the boss’s body were sent rolling on the ground with just a few gestures.

-Hueeek…

-Aiko!

Of course, they wouldn’t be seriously injured. Instead of sitting on the ground crying, the children bravely charged toward the boss once more.

Slash-!

I swung my sword to shake off the boss’s arm. The sword mark on the boss’s arm instantly disappeared. Given the skills it used, the boss fully possessed vampire characteristics. This meant attacks that cause bleeding wouldn’t work.

“Haah!”

“Hiyah!”

At that moment, Aurel and Hwang-gu jumped out from both sides and mercilessly drove their soft fists into the boss. Each blow was powerful enough to dent steel, and the sound of bones breaking could be heard as red blood burst from the boss’s body.

The boss fight is too easy. It means this opponent is much weaker than Fenrir, our first boss. Is this really a boss?

I used shadows to bind the boss’s body.