How to Live As the Vampire Lord

Chapter 122

The interior of the manor house was even worse than how it appeared on the outside. The floor wasnt rock nor wood, but rather simple dirt. There werent even any glass windows. Instead, there were wooden open-and-close windows.

Something heavy. Is it there? Eugene asked after looking around the interior, pointing at a specific place on the ground.

Ah! His Excellency Crawlmarine has bestowed us a gift

Nothing! Its nothing! Calburn hurriedly cut off the words of a tactless family member.

But it was too late...

Gift? How curious. Lord Crawlmarine. He came so suddenly, gave a gift, then left? Eugene turned toward the boy in his mid-teens and asked with a friendly smile.

Eugene possessed a beautiful appearance as a vampire aristocrat, and he was armed in fancy, expensive armor. The boys cheeks colored red, and he answered shyly. Yes, sir. The count gave us a box full of silver coins, as well as armor and clothing made from monster by-products. Of course, its nothing close to your own armor, but it was very rare and luxurious

Lloyd! Calburn shouted his name, and Lloyd, jumped back in surprise and turned to his father.

You Calburn attempted to continue, but Galfredik stepped forward between Calburn and his son.

Hehe. Galfredik chuckled with a mean glare in his eyes, and Calburn immediately shut his mouth. His instincts were warning him that the brutal knight wouldnt hesitate to slap him if he continued talking.

Eugene placed his hand on Lloyds shoulder and spoke in a gentle voice. Your father. He will have a good time with my knight. Anyway, Young Master Lloyd, is it? A wonderful name. Honor of a knight. I can clearly feel it. You will be a wonderful knight.

Ah

Lloyds expression became ecstatic after receiving the praise of a dreamy, honorable knight.

Eugene continued. So, Young Master Lloyd. Lord Crawlmarine. Does he come often to give presents?

Lloyd replied, Not at all. Its the first time he came since around this time last year. He didnt come even when my father took over the land.

Hooh. But yesterday, he came so suddenly and even gave a gift? Eugene asked once again.

Yes, Lloyd answered.

Young Master Lloyd. Do you know why? Eugene asked.

Um Well, Im not too sure Lloyd said while scratching his head.

I see. Thank you, Eugene said. Eugene stroked the boys head once more before walking over to Calburn. He had already obtained all the information he needed.

I think you might know the reason, sir. What do you think? Eugene asked.

...!

Calburns expression had grown bleak along with his sons conversation with Eugene. His face had undergone a dramatic change, and anyone could see that his face was now filled with great shock and fear.

A coward. Hes not even a quarter of the man that Luke is.

Eugene laughed inwardly. From his experience, timid, cowardly humans were easy to overcome with power and strength. Moreover, it also meant that they were easy to manage and manipulate.

Clack!

Heup!

Eugene suddenly stretched his left arm, and Calburn stepped back with a gasp.

Why are you so surprised? Eugene asked.

I-I Calburn stuttered, realizing that Eugene had simply raised his arm.

The real surprise should start now, Eugene said with a grin. He proceeded to slightly release his Fear. The energy immediately obeyed the Origins will and accumulated in his left arm.

Woooong! Clack! Clack!

Heuk?!

W-what is that?

Everyone not belonging to Eugenes group became wide-eyed with surprise. Eugenes gauntlet, which was quite commonly worn by knights on the continent, started to emit a strange, metallic sound before transforming into a large shield.

A magic shield?

Such a marvelous treasure!

Everyone expressed awe and wonder after seeing the shield, which was inscribed with the crest of the red dragon. Eugene held out the shield toward Calburn and asked, Sir. The shields crest. Do you know which family it belongs to?

I-Im not sure. I dont really Calburn started to respond.

The Batla Duchy, Eugene stated.

...!

Calburn froze on the spot. Although he was only a lord of a small territory in the countryside, it was impossible for him to not know the Batla family. Apart from the dynasties that claimed legitimacy to the throne, the Batla Duchy was the most prominent family in all of Brantia. The Batla familys honor and reputation were tremendous, and there was even a saying that none could truly inherit the throne without the support of Batla.

The shield of the Batla Duchy. Why was it in the lycanthrope kings cave? Eugene asked.

H-How could I know Hmm?! Calburn started to feign ignorance without thinking, but then quickly stopped himself. The fear he felt almost suffocated him.

Thats right. I killed it. Marine Forest. Lycanthrope king.

Too much shock could cause a person to stiffen on the spot, and that was exactly how Calburn and his family reacted.

Click! Clack!

The shield of the Batla Duchy reverted into a gauntlet.

And. There was this, too, Eugene spoke while taking an object out of his pocket. Calburn remained motionless with a pale expression.

The object was a shredded, bloodstained piece of parchment, and at the end of the parchment was

The crest of the Bosch family, right? Eugene asked in an icy voice.

I-I

Calburn stuttered before falling to his knees.

Im sorry!

***

So, earlier this year, Sir Laplas Batla headed into Marine Forest and went missing? Eugene asked.

After sending away the others, Eugene was left alone with Calburn. Boschs lord then proceeded to tell Eugene about the incident with Laplas Batla, a direct descendant of the Batla Duchy.

Yes, yes. None of the knights who came to my castle returned. B-but I attempted to dissuade him! I told him that he must never enter Marine Forest and that there were demons inhabiting it! Calburn desperately defended himself.

Eugene stared at him coldly while responding, Thats what you say. What is written here, is that you gave permission for them to enter the forest, sir.

...!

If the Batla Duchy finds out, you will not be free from responsibility. And the news regarding Sir Laplas. They havent been notified yet, right? Eugene continued.

Heuk. Calburn shook with fear as he dropped his head. He looked as if he had lost the world, but Eugenes expression remained icy. This was just the beginning.

That person, Eugene said.

...? Calburn managed to raise his head with great effort, and he turned to where Eugene was pointing.

Is that the late Lord Bosch? Eugene asked. His finger was pointing at a hanging portrait of the late Lord Bosch and Lady Bosch.

Thats right. Calburn nodded. He felt a sinister, cold feeling creeping up his spine.

You look very similar to him, Eugene stated.

Why was he stating the obvious? It was natural for the father and the son to look similar in appearance.

However. He looks nothing like Luke. Not even a little bit. Eugene continued.

...!

How intriguing, Eugene muttered.

W-what do you mean by that? Calburn responded in a trembling voice.

Eugene stared directly into his eyes before speaking clearly. I saw the sculptures of the previous counts in Crawlmarine Castle. Lord Crawlmarine, he doesnt look similar to the previous counts.

Clack! Clack!

Calburns teeth started to clatter as well.

Rather, Luke looked very similar to the previous count, Eugene said.

On the day Eugene met Count Lucas at the castle, he became suspicious of Lucas strange gaze and behaviors. As such, he carefully examined all the other people in the castle, and Eugene realized something strange.

Lucas Crawlmarine and his two younger sisters looked nothing alike. Strangely enough, he could see similarities in the facial features of Luke and the two girls. It turned out that Lucas took after his mother, while the two girls looked like the former count. So, the next day, Eugene carefully examined the sculptures of the previous counts as he walked through the hallways to leave the castle.

Then he found it. The late Count Crawlmarine, who died last year, had a stubborn chin and serious eyes which were quite similar to Luke. Although Eugene had a hunch, such a simple resemblance couldnt serve as concrete proof. As such, he departed the castle without taking action.

However, his suspicions were reinforced after he met Calburn Bosch and the rest of his family. No, rather, he became certain.

At the least, Luke didnt inherit Lord Boschs blood.

As such, Eugene fished for it. Since Calburn Bosch was already incredibly frightened of him, he recognized that there was something to be gained.

And his predictions hit the mark

I-I I I really Dont know Calburn stuttered.

Paa.

Such cliched words. I dont want to hear it. Did you forget who I am, sir? Eugene said while slightly expressing his Fear. His red eyes seemed to glow even darker than usual.

Then, Eugenes pupils started contracting little by little, and soon, they turned into two thin vertical slits.

I-I I Calburn muttered.

What are you so afraid of? Eugene whispered in a deep, soft voice. His tone was completely different from usual, and it felt as if he was reciting a poem with a sense of rhythm and dynamics.

Humans. Everyone makes mistakes and commits shameful acts. Everyone does. So, let it out. Eugene continued.

Ugh Saliva started to flow down the edge of Calburns lips. His gaze was blank as he stared into Eugenes slithery eyes.

Sir Calburn Bosch. Right now. What are you most afraid of? What is it? Eugene asked in a soft voice.

What Im afraid of Calburn repeated Eugenes words.

Thats right. What is it that you are ashamed of? What is it that you cannot tell others? Your crime. Your sin. Those who you killed. Whatever it is, whatever you fear most. The stories that shouldnt be told. Why dont you tell me? Eugenes quiet, enchanting voice slowly made its way inside Calburns mind. It was a mournful request, or rather, an order to the soul, an irresistible instruction that simply could not be denied.

T-thats Oh my god! Calburns dazed eyes stopped moving for a moment.

He was seeing something in Eugenes eyes. The images of the two people he killed were reflected in Eugenes eyes.

Heuh, uaghhh Calburn groaned.

What do you see? Eugene asked.

F-father, and the count, Calburn answered.

Yes. And what did you do? What did you do to them? Eugene asked.

I had no other choice Lucas Lucas Crawlmarine ordered me to kill them Your Excellency, F-Father I-it wasnt my fault. I d-didnt do it. Lucas Lucas told me to Calburn moaned regretfully.

Who did you kill? Lucas Crawlmarine. What did he do? Eugene pried even further.

I-I killed Lord Crawlmarine L-Lucas killed my father We killed each others fathers, Calburn admitted.

The secret shared between the young count and Calburn was revealed. Both of them had taken over their fathers positions at a similar time, and the reason behind the seemingly coincidental arrangement was revealed.

Eugene had obtained the berserker ability after consuming the red mana stone of the lycanthrope king. It was a fraudulent ability that temporarily boosted his physical abilities and senses manyfold, but it also had a fatal weakness of exhausting all of his energy once its duration was over.

However, the berserker wasnt the only ability Eugene gained. As the fragments of his hazy memories became clearer, another one of his vampiric powers had awakened. He had regained a unique ability of an Origin Vampire, the power to charm.

This is quite useful.

There were a couple conditions that needed to be satisfied before the ability could be activated. First, he needed to be alone with the individual, and second, the opponent was required to have a strong interest or fear toward Eugene.

It was a powerful hypnotic ability capable of extracting the truth from an opponent, regardless of their race. Eugene had initially felt disappointed after gaining the ability since he could extract the truth from anyone by simply beating them up and threatening them, but it seemed to have its uses as well.

What a bunch of immoral bastards, Eugene muttered.

Uagh?! Eugenes sudden shift to the language of the Caylor Kingdom jolted Calburn awake. His eyes were no longer dazed, although drool was still dripping down his face.

Mirian slowly stuck her head out of her leather pocket. Kieh? Sir, are you done now?

The spirit had stayed true to Eugenes orders and remained in her pocket while the two men conversed. Eugene nodded in response. Thats right. This bastard and Lucas Crawlmarine. They killed each others fathers.

Kieeeeeeeeeeeh?! Mirian exclaimed.

That was how the two men had ascended to their respective seats at roughly the same time.

Dirty, unfilial bastards, Eugene muttered. Perhaps they had been unable to bring themselves to kill their own fathers and had opted to perform the dirty deed for each other. However, that didnt free them from the responsibility of their sacrilegious acts.

S-sir? W-what happened just now? And what did you just say? Calburn asked while hurriedly wiping the saliva off his face. He couldnt understand the language of the Caylor Kingdom.

Eugene responded with a cold smile, The fact, that you, sir. Killed Count Crawlmarine. And that Lucas Crawlmarine. Killed Sir Bosch?

What?! Calburn shouted with a pale, stunned expression.

Eugene grabbed Calburns face and pulled him close before speaking in a voice lathed with killing intent. Youre done for. Ill-bred bastard.