Ambush
I had a bad feeling about Eric being out on the front lines.
There were many armies throughout history that were defeated because their commander was killed.
The highest leader should not be on the frontlines.
Even if this one was a Hero with incomparable power.
I said as much as I tried to persuade Eric.
However, Eric would not listen.
“If that happens, then my brother can rule as king.”
Currently, the first in line to the throne was Eric’s younger brother.
He seemed like a smart lad when I met him 10 years ago.
I wasn’t sure how he had grown since then.
“That’s easy to say, but…”
“I’m sure that my brother will make a fine king.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Well, that’s what’s important.”
Eric declared.
“My brother can rule as king. He will probably do it better than I did. However, I am the only Hero like me.”
“That may be, but…”
“And there will plenty of others who could replace me as Grand Master. But there is no one who can replace the S Rank Warrior, Goran. Is there?”
Goran added. It was true, and I could not deny it.
And Eric and Goran would likely be able to resist the charms of the vampires.
It would be even harder to suck their blood.
You would have to bite their necks, drink the blood and also send your own blood into their veins.
I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to do that to Goran and Eric.
Not even a Vampire High Lord.
“Alright, I suppose we will have Eric and Goran come along with us. Are you fine with that, Shia?”
“Uh, of course!”
Shia said with a bow.
“Thank you very much. It is a great honor to be able to fight alongside such incredible Heroes.”
“Don’t mention it. And I am sure that you outrank us in experience when it comes to vampire hunting. We will likely be able to learn from you.”
“I look forward to fighting alongside such a young and promising member of the guild.”
Eric and Goran both shook Shia’s hand.
Luchila watched this and then said with a serious face,
“The vampires killed my tribe. I would like to join as well… But protecting Lord Gerberga is the most important.”
“Luchila, I understand how you feel.”
“It pains me to say this, but I must rely on you all. Please kill all of the vampires.”
“Gahaha! Leave it to us!”
Goran laughed boisterously and slapped Luchila’s shoulder.
After that, we discussed our plans in more detail.
After talking for some time,
—Bang, clang, cling, screech.
Ominous noises started coming from the next room.
Something bad had surely happened.
We all moved at once. Well, Luchila was slow. He was a Sorcerer, so it couldn’t be helped.
I was the first who ran out of the room.
Next was Eric and Goran.
We immediately charged into the room where the strange noises were coming from.
“You!”
Serulis was fighting with a lesser vampire.
There was already another one lying on the floor.
The two princesses were in the back, protecting Gerberga. Serulis was swinging her sword.
The vampires were after Gerberga, not the princesses.
Serulis blocked the attacks of one, but from the side, another vampire lept out towards Gerberga.
In a flash, Serulis unleashed an upwards kick into the jaw of the vampire in front of her.
Just as the vampire collapsed into a clump, she threw her sword.
It flew in a perfect line towards the vampire that was moving towards Gerberga.
But the vampire jumped in order to avoid the sword.
“Serulis. Well done!”
I said as I jumped towards the vampire who was in the air.
My right hand grabbed it by the forehead and I activated Drain Touch.
“GUWWAHAGAHGG!!”
The vampire’s face immediately turned dark as its strength left it. It crumbled to the ground, drained almost entirely of magic.
Eric ran to his daughters.
Goran ran to the vampire that lay near Serulis’s feet.
In that instant, two vampires attacked Goran.
They must have been pretending to be dead.
“Don’t get so cocky. You lesser monsters!”
Goran thrust his left palm into one vampire’s jaw.
The jaw was crushed and fangs flew in the air.
At the same time, his right hand went for the other vampire’s throat and snapped it.
Vampire’s turned to ash when they die. The only thing that would remain was the magic stone which was proof of the hunt.
Eric had now reached his daughters and was hugging them tightly.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“We are fine. What about you, father?”
“Miss Serulis saved us!”
In spite of the situation, neither of them seemed afraid.
They were very brave for being so young.
I left the powerless vampire to Shia as I approached Gerberga.
“Lord Gerberga. Are you alright?”
“Cluck-cluck-cawww.”
His wings beat the air as it flew towards my chest.
I caught him.
Gerberga was trembling slightly.
“Cluck-cluck.”
Gerberga leaned against me and raised his head over my shoulder.
Apparently, he wanted me to hug him.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
“Cluck.”
He must have been afraid.
After a while, Gerberga finally calmed down.
And then I handed him over to Luchila.
“Cluck-cluck.”
“Lord Gerberga. Everything is fine now.”
“Cluck.”
Gerberga became quiet as Luchila held him.
In spite of it being an ambush, no one had been hurt.
I guess it was because Serulis had reacted very well.
“Serulis. Where did they come from?”
“A magic circle appeared here suddenly. And then three vampires came out of the circle one after another…”
“I see.”
It was a magic circle for teleportation then.
But the palace should have defensive measures put in place for such magic.
It should not be easy to simply create a magic circle inside of the palace.
Though, perhaps it would be possible if a finished magic circle was brought in from the outside.
As a Sorcerer, I began to search for traces.
Behind me, Shia and Goran were questioning the vampire.
Of course, Eric had taken the princesses to another room.
“This…”
I found an item that held great magic within.