The Seal of the Maru Dragon

I was thinking of telling Chris and the others that I was dropping out of the tournament, but,

‘Never mind.’

It’s just a game anyway, and I can do whatever I want in a game.

I felt a little bad for seemingly being a troll, but if I worried about them, the things I wanted to do would be messed up.

Inside a room in the castle.

Amel organized her luggage into her Inventory as much as possible.

She left the room.

She left the castle as it was.

Rather than the gate, maybe the wall.

She leaped up and climbed onto the wall. The soldiers guarding the wall were startled and pointed their spears at her, but they recognized Amel and lowered their spears.

She put her index finger to her lips, asking them to keep it a secret.

The soldiers acknowledged her request with a hearty response.

She crossed over the inner castle wall,

And she crossed over the outer castle wall as well.

Amel, having left the Gospel, looked back at the city bathed in moonlight.

‘I’m sorry for saying I’d participate in the tournament and then quitting halfway through.’

Especially Chun Yura.

I’m really sorry.

You seemed really excited to fight, but I’m sorry for being impatient.

‘If I get another chance to fight later, I’ll fight properly.’

“…Forgive me for now.”

It would be a lie if Amel said she wasn’t looking forward to a rematch with Chun Yura.

That’s why she felt even more sorry.

She opened the [Map] and [Leaped] towards the coordinates she had marked in advance.

There was a village in the mountains.

Amel was scanning the area with [Electricity], looking for the Sealed Land.

The forests in this world were all so vast that when traversing them or searching for something, you had to be prepared to search for dozens of kilometers.

If she recklessly widened the range with [Electricity], static electricity could cause a fire, so she searched within a relatively narrow range.

That’s how she found the mountain village.

Strangely enough, there was no Barrier.

Amel, who was falling from the sky, saw the village without a Barrier and fell into the forest.

‘How do they keep the Monsters out?’

How can it even exist in the first place?

In this world, Monsters are basically everywhere, like animals.

Of course, in reality, animals would enter villages and steal people to eat, so in terms of form, it seemed understandable yet ambiguous, but even in reality, humans could resist.

But in this world, it was a pipe Dream for ordinary humans to resist Monsters.

Training was a basic requirement, and if you neglected it, humanity would be wiped out.

In such a world, there was a village exposed without any means of protection.

Amel looked at the village buildings through the trees.

She zigzagged through the trees, getting closer to the village.

‘Something’s strange.’

‘(There are cases where there aren’t any.)’

‘Really?’

‘(In those cases, they’re usually protected by Monsters.)’

‘..? Protected by Monsters?’

‘(Monsters aren’t necessarily unintelligent. They do cost-benefit analyses, even if it’s unconscious.)’

That… I know.

When I tried to recall, similar examples flashed through my mind as pictures I had seen on the internet.

Animals that had become accustomed to being fed by humans, lazing around and getting food from tourists.

Does that apply to Monsters too?

‘(Offerings.)’

‘….’

‘(If humans catch food and offer it directly, the Monsters understand it as a stable source of income and protect the humans.)’

‘Is that so.’

By the time I had heard all of Win’s explanation,

It was about time to meet the villagers, but even though the buildings were right in front of me, no one was showing themselves.

I can sense life signs with [Electricity], so I know there are people inside the buildings.

This reaction is…

‘Are they sleeping?’

I narrowed the range and increased the sensitivity, which had been dulled because it was spread out widely.

I could see the inside of the buildings as if I were looking at them, and my gaze reached their heartbeats.

Vampire.

“A wanderer, huh.”

“Hello.”

“I don’t know what business a young lady like you has here, but don’t think about staying.”

An old man approached slowly, like a turtle.

He stopped and supported his hunched body with a cane.

Judging by the depth of his wrinkles, he looked at least 100 years old.

“That’s not something you should say. I came here because I have business here.”

“What business could you possibly have in a backwater like this? I’m saying this for your own good, but you should leave quietly.”

“Is there a problem?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“I want to know.”

The old man shook his head.

“Tsk tsk. If you ignore my warning, you’ll have a rough time.”

“I don’t care.”

This old man doesn’t understand what I’m saying.

I know you’re worried, but,

I know it’s because you’re judging my abilities based on my appearance.

Amel looked like a frail woman on the outside.

‘But if she came through the forest without any injuries, maybe not.’

The old man only said no.

There’s no need to worry about the old man.

‘Since I’m in a cooperative relationship with the Vampire.’

They’re sleeping soundly, so let’s not bother them.

“Is that what you’re saying? That this damn girl won’t listen to an adult?”

“Then are you telling me to go back to that forest? Where Monsters are swarming?”

“Hic…”

The old man closed his mouth.

Amel looked around.

The village had no Barrier.

The buildings were lined up in a row like a village in a Western movie. At the end of the row was the largest two-story building.

There were 11 buildings in total, with 35 people inside.

There were Vampires,

And there were humans.

‘I feel bad about waking up the sleeping people.’

Even if I did wake them up, they wouldn’t be able to come out into the sunlight.

I came all the way to the Sealed Land, but I didn’t know the exact location of where it was in this area.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it.”

The old man was very dissatisfied.

“Do you happen to have any ruins around here? I’m trying to find them.”

“No.”

“Really?”

“If I say there aren’t any, then there aren’t any.”

There should be some.

But the old man didn’t seem to want to tell me at all.

Maybe he really doesn’t know.

‘(I can use Magic to…)’

‘It’s okay. Let’s take it easy.’

I’ve broken free from the relationships that have bound me until now, including friends and acquaintances.

I ignored the tournament,

Somewhat recklessly,

I felt relaxed now that I was free from the environment where I was tied to other people’s circumstances.

“Where are you going?”

Amel headed towards the largest building inside.

The old man walked like a turtle with his cane, but I arrived at the building before he could even move a meter.

I stood in front of the front door.

I reached out my hand.

Knock knock.

“I think you’re awake. Can we talk for a bit?”

“….”

“Hmm…”

“….”

I know you’re all inside.

Amel stared intently at the front door.

With [Electricity], I could project the outline and detailed features of the Vampire inside the door.

The Vampire inside was wearing noble’s pajamas.

He was a man with wavy hair, and he seemed to be touching his chin, wondering how to respond.

‘(How about saying the Vampire Princess’s name?)’

“Are you still not going to open the door even though the Vampire sent me?”

“….”

The Vampire looks even more troubled, as if asking, who is that?

‘I don’t think he knows?’

‘(…The Princess is cautious. Then say Caria’s name.)’

I said it, but he doesn’t know.

I said the names of other Vampire nobles, but they were all ignored.

How annoying.

I’m getting tired of this.

I kicked it.

The lock on the front door broke, and the door opened violently.

“….”

“Bloodia. I know who you guys are, so why don’t you just let me in?”

“…You don’t recognize a guest.”

The Vampire moved aside, allowing Amel to enter the building.

I was led to a chair in the living room and offered wine.

“This is all we have.”

“….”

Wine from morning?

I put it aside.

Amel made a list in her head of the things she wanted to ask the Vampire.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

“May I ask something first?”

“…What is it.”

“What brings you here? You don’t seem to be a merchant. You don’t seem to have any luggage for someone who crossed the forest. Judging by the fact that you know about us, you must have heard about it from someone before you came here. Was it the Vampire you mentioned earlier?”

“That’s what your royalty is called.”

“Royalty…! How surprising.”

“Is there anything to be surprised about?”

“When I was assigned here, there was no concept of royalty among us. But I think I know who you’re talking about.”

The Vampire said proudly.

“The first generation, I presume. At least the high-ranking Bloodia up to the third generation. Am I right?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I don’t need to know that kind of history, do I?”

“That’s true. Still, being introduced to this place while still human means you must have been quite recognized. What is your purpose in coming here? Is it finally liberation from here?”

As you can tell from the word liberation, this Vampire seems to have been the manager of this place ever since the Sealed Land was discovered.

‘(Poor thing.)’

‘He’ll die if he goes outside.’

In addition to the Vampire, there are two humans sleeping in the bedroom on the second floor.

When I scanned the humans with [Electricity], their condition was very bad.

I can’t say in detail, but their life signs were about half as weak as those of ordinary people.

If you can’t fix those habits against humans, you’ll become a celebrity and die as soon as you’re released outside.

‘Well, it’s not my business.’

“Maybe so.”

“I see. Already that much.”

“I’m here to deal with the sealed Monster.”

“Deal with?”

“I mean kill it.”

“Hmph.”

The Vampire looks Amel up and down.

“I know it’s rude to say this, but you don’t look that strong?”

“You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. Just know that at least your superiors sent someone they deemed strong enough to kill the sealed Monster.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

“Then will you guide me?”

The Vampire looks outside.

“At this hour?”

“Should I block the sunlight?”

“That won’t do. I’ve heard that there are people who can do that, but I can’t. Even the light reflected from the ceiling is stinging me. I’ll die if I go out.”

How weak. If a newbie blew up the building with a bomb, he’d just get caught?

“Then tell me the location.”

“It’s hard to explain in words. It’s hidden by a Barrier, so no one can go there unless they’ve been there often like me.”

“….”

“Please wait for now.”

For now, he’s a valuable guide, so I decided not to kill him and wait for night to come as he wished.

“And if you go to the study, there’s some research on the Dungeon. Go read it if you’re bored. It might help before you fight.”