The Water Magician

Unlike the people of the Naitorei Kingdom who are enjoying their stay in Jerdan, there are those from the Western Church who have work to do.

At the base they secured in the city.

"Is Marquis Shionka in the southern part of the continent?"

"Yes. In recent years, the economy of the southern dark continent has been in severe decline."

"It's because the supply of mitriro ore has been cut off. I've received that report."

Graham nodded at Stefania's report.

Mitriro ore is mostly mined in the southern dark continent, but it has been processed as an essential component for several alchemy tools used by the Western Church.

However, it was information that had reached Graham that no new imports had come to the Western Nations in the last decade.

One theory states that a kraken nest has formed off the coast of the southern continent...

"It is true that several kraken nests have formed. However, it seems that entire towns have disappeared."

"Behind that, are there vampires?"

"Yes. For the past hundred years, the number of encounters in the Western Nations has been low..."

"Many vampires have been flowing into the dark continent."

Graham frowned and nodded.

He had considered it as a possibility.

If they were to move from the Western Nations, where would they go?

The Central Nations are quite far.

But the dark continent is reachable by ship.

That is why they were paying attention to the northern coastal areas and had placed Enzon as the archbishop.

However, there had been no reports of vampire sightings.

Who would have thought they were in the southern continent?

"Actually, it seems Cardinal Adolfito has also been gathering information from the southern continent, and among that..."

Stefania hesitated at that point.

"Don't worry, tell me everything."

"Yes. It is certain that Marquis Shionka is in the southern dark continent, but there are also vampires..."

"Are they not under the command of Marquis Shionka?"

"Yes. There is a possibility they are of duke rank."

"A duke...?"

Even Graham was surprised by this report.

If it’s a vampire duke, they are almost a legendary existence.

Even a marquis is something that ordinary people cannot contend with, yet records exist of them being defeated.

However, a duke is... on a different level. Truly a different level.

It's not just one rank above a marquis.

Though there is only a difference of one noble title, the gap between a marquis and a duke is said to be as vast as heaven and earth...

"There are nine dukes recorded. Which of them?"

"I just spoke with Archbishop Enzon, and the most likely candidate is Duke Roznyark."

"Duke Roznyark Zoltan. Fire attribute, huh..."

Graham grimaced deeply.

Such occurrences are rare.

However, this is to be expected.

They are a troublesome opponent.

"Marquis Shionka has brought along several hundred men, which should be enough to handle them. But a duke with fire attribute..."

In terms of attack power and destructive capability, fire attribute magic is strong.

Moreover, a duke-level fire attribute attack magic...

"I can't even imagine how powerful it would be."

Even Graham has never fought against a duke-level vampire.

To the best of their knowledge, there are nine in the world, all of whom are said to be asleep.

"Zoltan is likely also asleep, but..."

"Is that so?"

"According to the legends, he is a fierce duke. Always at the forefront. If awake, or if he is a superior to Marquis Shionka, then the attack on the church would have been led by Zoltan."

"If that were the case..."

"We wouldn't be alive."

Stefania frowned, and Graham wore a sardonic smile.

"Well, it’s fine. Even if Zoltan is in the southern continent, if he is asleep, we just need to avoid engaging. Our target this time is Marquis Shionka, who attacked the Holy See."

"Yes."

That must be made clear.

If they were dealing with mere rabble, there might be an option to take them down as well.

But a vampire duke is not just some ordinary foe.

Even if they were to fight in the future, it must be on favorable terms for them.

"If we are to defeat Marquis Shionka... we must go to the southern continent. Since we can't enter the central part of the dark continent, it means we have to go by sea. I believe there was a report that Newton Port, which was once the entrance to a major mitriro ore mining site, is now unusable. A kraken has also built a nest offshore. Now, what should we do?"