Published: September 10, 2025
※2018/6/4 Typo corrections made.
This is Satou. Among the vampires depicted in movies and novels, the scariest aspect is probably how humans turn into vampires through bloodsucking and multiply, right? They proliferate at such a staggering speed that even the term “exponential growth” pales in comparison.
â—‡
“As expected, Satou’s snacks are delicious.”
“This drink is good too, huh? Is it brandy from the Saga Empire?”
“Ale is nice, but for these snacks, something with a stronger kick goes better!”
In the master cabin of the airship, Russus and Fifi were cheerfully raising their glasses.
They had already disarmed, dressed casually in a way that made it hard to find a place to look.
Liza was in the same room, but she was focused on tasting seven types of dried meat acquired from the Pialork Kingdom.
“What about the kids?”
“I asked them to take care of a little errand.”
“Aww, boring.”
Drunk Russus wrapped his arm around my neck and shook me.
The feeling of his cheek against mine was pleasant, but if this went on much longer, the Iron Wall pair would intervene, so with strong will, I freed myself from Russus’s sweet yet forceful hold.
“When we get to the Drag Kingdom, you’re going to fight dragons, right?”
Fifi suddenly said something dangerous.
Come to think of it, the currency in my storage is from the “Drag Kingdom.”
They look like old coins—maybe from the predecessor of the Drag Kingdom.
“Looking forward to it. Liza, have you ever fought dragons?”
“Yes—”
Liza answered distractedly but then realized her slip and looked at me.
“—When I visited the Western countries, I saw some low-rank dragons a few times.”
“Low-rank dragons, huh? Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Adult dragons are a whole different league.”
I answered for Liza, and Russus and Fifi nodded without a doubt.
“Is that so?”
“They’re in a class of their own.”
“I’ve met red and blue dragons in the Saga Empire, but they’re on another level. I don’t even feel like fighting them.”
“One breath of their fire and you’re gone.”
“Their range is wide, and they’re unbelievably fast. Without godly defenses like Hayato’s, there’s no hope.”
Russus and Fifi proudly shared this with Liza.
Liza nodded as if to say, “That’s right.”
Indeed, dodging an adult dragon’s laser-like breath requires earth shrinking or flashstride, and without fortress-level defense walls, it’s impossible to endure or deflect their breaths.
While we were talking, I noticed refugees overflowing in small towns and border forts leading to neighboring countries, so I landed the airship a few times to provide food support.
The portable rations I distributed were made by mixing powdered giant kelp from the Western countries with assorted dried small fish and sea serpent meat, shaped like cereal bars.
â—‡
“Is it about time?”
Leaving the drunken Russus and Fifi in the main cabin, Liza and I went to the deck.
The radar showed we had crossed the border into the Pialork Kingdom, so I used “full map exploration” from the magic slot.
There were no vampires or their minions in the monster territory between us and the neighboring country.
After passing through the monster territory and entering the neighboring Tokisork, I used “full map exploration” again.
“—Looks like there are quite a few that slipped through.”
Two destroyed towns still hid a considerable number of low-rank vampires (vampire slaves) and blood thralls, and underground passages beneath the royal capital sheltered one vampire and several vampire slaves.
“If Master commands, I will exterminate them immediately.”
“That’s right…”
From the materials I have, only beings higher than vampires can increase their numbers, so the cleanup of the ruined town Tokisluu should be left to the Saga Empire’s dispatched troops and the vengeful national army of Tokisork Kingdom.
Though low-rank vampires and blood thralls are fairly strong and could cause significant damage, judging from “clairvoyance” I used to observe, intervening might cause resentment.