Published: July 5, 2025
While the hungry and mischievous swordsman Nils and the others were talking at the ore exchange, the important figures were in a meeting at the Etosha Royal Palace.
The Kingdom of Etosha, King Finfi the Fifteenth.
This year marks the tenth year since he ascended to the throne at the young age of twenty-five after the sudden death of the previous king.
The Kingdom of Etosha has gone through numerous troubles both before and after he took the throne.
Now, they are facing the most serious crisis among them…
Yet, they must receive the Pope of the Western Church, whom they have only heard rumors about, and the king who is said to have come from the Central Nations, about which they have only heard stories.
After a few greetings, Finfi spoke up.
"Then, Your Holiness the Pope, Your Majesty Abel, could you please tell us the reason for your visit to our Etosha?"
It was a reasonable question, and one could say Finfi made time to ask it.
"Yes, Your Majesty Finfi. Actually, it is to subjugate the vampires lurking in the southern part of this continent."
"Vampires!"
The king's reaction was anything but ordinary.
It was quite intense.
Naturally, both Graham and Abel found it suspicious.
"Your Majesty Finfi, what exactly is a vampire?"
"N-No…"
Graham asked, and Finfi hesitated in his response.
Graham's tone was not one of interrogation.
However, that made it all the more irresistible.
After a moment of hesitation, Finfi decided to answer honestly.
"It is a disgrace to the nation, so I do not want to speak too much about it…"
He began to explain that all forty ore mining sites managed by the Kingdom of Etosha had been taken over.
The content was the same as what the four in Room 10 had heard at the ore exchange, but there were additional details.
That was…
"The ones occupying them are vampires."
"That is quite…"
Graham's eyes widened.
"Our country also mobilized troops to reclaim them, but we were all repelled."
"Against vampires, even a formidable army cannot fight."
Finfi the King spoke regretfully, and Graham offered sympathetic words.
Watching the two, Abel contemplated the information he had just heard.
(Vampires occupying mining sites? What for?)
Of course, he had never heard of such a thing.
Not only had he never heard of it in reality, but also not in stories or legends.
That said, vampires are not common in the Central Nations.
The neighboring country of the Kingdom, Twilight Land, has a different situation, however…
(That's right, there are situations similar to Twilight Land. It wouldn’t be strange if there were vampires controlling the mining sites.)
He reached that conclusion.
Perhaps the influence of the water attribute mage, who is always nearby, has affected his thoughts.
In fact, Abel is aware of it.
If that water attribute mage were here, he would likely exclaim in outrage, "Abel, you’re making me out to be the villain again. This is what’s called spreading rumors!"
Graham glanced at Abel briefly.
Abel nodded without saying a word.
He understood the nature of the look.
What Graham was about to propose was not a bad thing for the Naitorei Kingdom either.
"Your Majesty Finfi, as I mentioned earlier, our purpose is to subjugate the vampires. The ones occupying the mining sites are not the vampires we seek, but…"
Here, he paused for a moment.
Naturally, King Finfi leaned in.
Because he could not believe it.
"The vampires have been the ancient enemies of the Western Church. Moreover, they attacked the Holy See last year. It’s only reasonable that we, even though we believe in different things from the people of Etosha, wish to help if our fellow humans are troubled by vampires."
"S-So that means…"
"Would you allow us to assist in subjugating the vampires occupying the mining sites?"
With pleading eyes from Finfi, and Graham’s proposal.
He made sure not to appear condescending.
At the same time, he also made sure not to seem overly pushy.
Observing the delicate tone, timing, and balance of expressions, Abel couldn’t help but admire inwardly.
(Graham, you’re amazing.)