Ch.86EP 3 Manticore

Mulbitbaram hadn’t simply refused to participate in the vampire’s extermination mission.

Their entire race had no intention of hunting down the Manticore.

“Why? Why?”

“Well… because it’s dangerous.”

I gaped blankly at Mulbitbaram’s weak response.

When had the werewolves who once raced through darkness-covered ruins become so feeble?

Where had they gone—those who wouldn’t stop attacking humans even with silver bullets lodged in their bodies?

I couldn’t hide my disappointment, even knowing my attitude might appear rude.

“Then, then we’ll do it alone. Just us vampires will raid the Manticore…”

“I refuse that as well, Charlotte.”

“Why?”

“Fenrir was strong, and Gorgon was even stronger. And the Manticore will be far stronger than the Gorgon.”

“That’s true…”

“What if the Manticore goes on a rampage? The aftermath might reach all the way to Gangwon-do.”

“B-but we won’t know until we try.”

Mulbitbaram didn’t respond to my words.

She just looked at me with calm, settled eyes.

I felt terribly frustrated. In a situation that wasn’t going my way, all I could do was throw a tantrum.

“I’m going to do it.”

“We’ll stop you.”

“Your entire race…?”

“Yes.”

Mulbitbaram’s attitude was unyielding.

Looking at her, I finally had no choice but to turn away.

Not long after I left, the werewolves followed me.

It seemed Mulbitbaram had assigned them to watch me, worried I might rush off to provoke the Manticore.

The werewolves didn’t hide their presence.

They bowed their heads to me, showing proper respect.

What I didn’t like was that they followed me wherever I went in Gangwon-do.

I could easily outrun them using Hwang-gu’s speed, but I deliberately chose not to.

How had everyone, without exception, become so complacent with the current situation?

I rode Hwang-gu back home, plodding along.

The werewolves who had been following me returned to their territory as soon as I left Gangwon-do.

When I got home, I wrapped my arms around Aurel’s waist.

“Why?”

“Lady Charlotte…”

“Why? Why does everyone want to stay put? A boss has appeared.”

I couldn’t understand their attitude.

Hadn’t we been doing well until now? Considering the changes coming to the world, the Manticore was something that needed to be eliminated immediately.

I needed to bring change to the world. Because I had to.

I couldn’t remember when I’d started harboring such thoughts.

I just vaguely felt a compulsion that we needed to defeat the boss.

“Aurel. What should I do? Everyone’s become too lazy. Should I have left the humans alone?”

“If this were a game, it would be different. Werewolves and vampires would fight for more rewards. But now?”

“If they were fighting over competition issues, I wouldn’t feel so frustrated. It’s natural for the powerful races to get the rewards.”

Aurel listened to all my near-complaints and mutterings.

Hwang-gu approached and kept licking the soles of my feet.

“What if you push harder?”

“Push harder?”

“Yes, you are the queen of vampires, Lady Charlotte.”

“Me?”

“Of course. The queen’s orders are absolute.”

“What about the werewolves?”

“If you show overwhelming power, they’ll have no choice but to follow, don’t you think?”

“But we’re in an alliance…”

“Lady Charlotte, you possess the power of a queen, don’t you?”

Aurel pointed to the shadow beneath my feet as she spoke.

I felt my head clearing at her words.

Indeed, it was right to persuade those closest to me first.

I was now the king of vampires and a symbolic figure who had united all rulers.

If I pushed hard enough, everyone would follow me.

Just as I had accepted change, others needed to accept it too.

It had to be that way. No, it would be that way.

If they didn’t follow, I would force them to.

I went to see Prix again.

Perhaps because I visited unexpectedly, he was caught in an embarrassing act.

He was lying on the sofa, sucking on a ridiculous baby bottle.

Naturally, it was filled with milk.

Slurp-!

“H-huh… Charlotte…!”

Prix was startled by my appearance and quickly hid the bottle.

Yuri was sprawled nearby.

She seemed to have passed out after a round.

I stomped over and snatched the baby bottle from Prix’s hand.

“Prix!”

“W-what…?”

“Move according to my orders. Gather your clan members right now!”

“Right now…? Why…?”

“Just do as I say!”

“But that’s…”

I glared at Prix with my mouth shut tight.

If he liked the appearance of a small girl, I was willing to change into an even more beautiful and cuter girl.

My shadow began to move in response to my emotions.

Watching this, Prix nodded frantically.

“I-I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

He should have done so from the beginning.

Next, I went to find Firin.

“Firin!”

Firin was nestled in the arms of a large teddy bear.

It wasn’t pleasant to see her so excessively bound by the setting she had created for herself.

“Charlotte?”

“Gather your clan members immediately!”

“Um… okay…”

As I fumed alone, Firin nodded with a disgruntled expression.

Indeed, Aurel’s advice to push harder was correct.

I went outside with Aurel, riding on Hwang-gu.

Prix and Firin operate the largest clans in Seoul.

When their orders went out, about a thousand vampires gathered.

I stood behind Prix and Firin, observing the vampires.

The vampires’ attitudes were different from before.

Faces full of annoyance, some even frowned at their clan leaders.

The peace they had enjoyed for just one year had corrupted many.

“Everyone, focus!”

I led Hwang-gu forward and puffed out my chest.

All eyes turned to me at my loud voice.

“Everyone will depart to hunt the Manticore!”

-Manticore?

-What’s a Manticore?

-Are we going to hunt another boss?

The vampires began whispering among themselves at my words.

At that moment, Prix and Firin hurriedly approached me.

“S-suddenly the Manticore?”

“What are you saying? Is this why you told us to gather everyone?”

“It’s too sudden… shouldn’t we give everyone some time?”

“That’s right. At least some time…”

I frowned at the two girls’ words.

Time breeds laziness.

Didn’t they notice how their own attitudes had changed over the past year?

It was right to hunt the Manticore before it was too late, before the vampires forgot how to fight.

“Let’s go!”

I loaded Prix, Firin, and even Yuri onto Hwang-gu’s back.

Although five girls were riding in total, Hwang-gu was fine.

Hwang-gu’s broad back had room to spare even with five girls riding.

In that state, I led Hwang-gu out of Seoul.

-Are we really going?

-Do we really have to go?

-Sh-should we go…?

Behind me, I could hear the vampires’ voices mixed with confusion.

The vampires ultimately had no choice but to follow.

With all the leaders who ruled Seoul departing, their clan members couldn’t just stay put.

“This is insane…”

“Charlotte, many of our kind will die again.”

I nodded at Firin’s words.

It was a fact I already knew. If the boss monster was stronger than the Gorgon, that would naturally happen.

But it had to be done. It was something that absolutely had to be done.

The vampire army continued to advance.

As they were passing through Gangwon-do, the werewolves’ territory, a group of werewolves approached rapidly.

“S-stop!”

I pulled on Hwang-gu’s reins and came to a halt.

There were five werewolves blocking the way.

“Why?”

“Where are you going?”

“To hunt the Manticore.”

“Didn’t… didn’t you hear what Lady Mulbitbaram said?”

“I did.”

“Then…”

“Go tell Mulbitbaram. Tell her to try and stop me if she wants.”

The werewolves’ expressions darkened at my words.

After hesitating for a while, they left.

Judging by how quickly they ran, they seemed to be going to fetch Mulbitbaram.

Watching them, Prix and Firin, who were sitting behind me, spoke up.

“Charlotte… what are you thinking?”

“Are you planning to break the alliance with the werewolves?”

If necessary, that was my intention.

But I didn’t bother voicing that thought.

I set Hwang-gu in motion again.

The vampires’ pace was neither slow nor particularly fast.

I deliberately didn’t increase the speed. I was waiting for Mulbitbaram.

As we were about to leave the Gangwon-do region, Mulbitbaram came looking for me, leading hundreds of werewolves.

“Charlotte… you really…”

“It’s something I must do.”

“It’s something you don’t have to do.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Why do you think it’s something you must do?”

I tilted my head at Mulbitbaram’s question.

Does something that must be done need a reason?

Change is coming to the world. If we defeat that creature, another boss will appear, and new changes will come.

Was she saying she didn’t understand this simple principle?

“Lady Charlotte… it’s time to show overwhelming power.”

I nodded at Aurel’s whisper.

She was right. It would be easier to show overwhelming power and make them all follow rather than explaining with words.

As I dismounted from Hwang-gu, I said:

“Mulbitbaram. Didn’t you say werewolves choose their leader through combat?”

It might not be exact, but I’m sure I heard something similar.

I asked Mulbitbaram, recalling my hazy memory.

She quietly nodded.

I was right after all.

“From now on, I’ll be the leader.”

“Charlotte… you’re a vampire.”

“What if you become a vampire?”

“That’s…”

“No, what if all the werewolves here become vampires?”

Mulbitbaram sealed her lips tightly at my words.

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“You’ve changed.”

“Change is natural.”

Change is natural. To adapt to this crazy world, one needed to adapt to this world.

A year ago, I naturally accepted that change.

Swoosh-

A pure white sword emerged from the shadow beneath my feet.

I grasped the sword and pointed it at Mulbitbaram.

A clearly hostile act.

In response, the werewolves began to bare their teeth.

Only Mulbitbaram maintained her composure.

“Lady Charlotte! Fighting!”

“Woof woof!”

Aurel and Hwang-gu’s encouragement.

I turned around and waved at them.