Chapter 400: Chapter 400

An awkward silence filled the reception room of Hubert’s Trading Company.

It had been a few days since the incident in Tarak, and the people involved were gathered here.

Heinrich, the hero party, who had played a crucial role in resolving the situation, Heinz the Second, who had provided timely assistance, Diana, representing the victims and Hubert’s Trading Company, and…

…Temiran McCleary, the culprit.

“Um… I apologize for what happened…”

He spoke, his voice soft and hesitant, breaking the awkward silence.

He had been fighting them just a few days ago, and now, they were sitting here, in this peaceful setting…

It was an embarrassing situation, even for someone as shameless as him.

“It’s okay. I understand the circumstances.”

Diana replied maturely, her voice calm and steady.

It wasn’t that she had forgiven him.

She was simply following Heinz’s instructions.

‘…He was being controlled, and now he’s… Mister’s subordinate…’

After all, they were practically… colleagues now. There was no point in holding a grudge.

The atmosphere in the room softened slightly as she accepted his apology.

Of course, the true victim was the elderly shaman, who had been injured… but she had entrusted everything to Diana and was currently recuperating, so it wasn’t a problem.

“You’ve changed a lot. To think a vampire could grow this much in just a few days… It’s quite amazing.”

“…And his aura is also completely different. If Heinrich-nim hadn’t confirmed his identity, I would have thought he was a different person.”

Lydia and Isea, the High Elf and the mage, observed the boy with interest.

He had been a young teenager when they first met him, but now, he looked much older, almost like a young man in his late teens, or even early twenties.

They knew that his very essence, the source of his power, had changed, so they were naturally intrigued.

“So, it was the Immortal King after all. He’s been quiet lately, but he was plotting this in the shadows.”

“It’s understandable, with the war approaching. Hubert’s Trading Company is the largest on the continent. Disrupting their operations would be beneficial for him in many ways.”

The conversation naturally shifted to the Immortal King, the mastermind behind this incident.

He had been subtly undermining Auterica’s economy, preparing for the upcoming war.

And he had used the vampires, their supposed allies, as pawns in his scheme, manipulating them and turning them against each other.

It was a despicable act.

Temiran, sitting across from them, glanced at Heinz, who was sitting next to him, his legs crossed, a calm and indifferent expression on his face.

He quickly averted his gaze as he heard his new master’s voice in his mind, and then nodded along with the others,

…following his instructions.

“Yes, and that’s not all. My mission also involved the Demon World…”

All the blame on the Immortal King!

He couldn't talk about the god imprisoned in the abyss. They wouldn't understand.

So, it was easier to just… blame everything on the Immortal King, like with the Heaven’s Turn Society and the Revolutionary.

‘…And the Karma gains aren’t bad either.’

Thanks to 「Subjugation」, which had further enhanced Heinz’s control over him, Temiran was performing his role perfectly, exceeding expectations.

The skill allowed him to monitor his subordinate’s condition and communicate with him in real time, a surprisingly useful ability.

“We should also be prepared for… demon worshippers…”

As the conversation turned serious, Diana, who had been quietly listening, glanced at Heinrich and Heinz, her gaze shifting between them.

They still smelled… similar.

She recalled the day she had confronted Heinz.

“…I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

Heinz, usually so calm and collected, seemed… flustered.

Diana, seeing his reaction, nodded slowly and spoke again, her voice gentle and reassuring.

“I understand how you feel. But you know my ability, don’t you?”

Her sense of smell, a supernatural ability that allowed her to perceive not only physical scents, but also abstract concepts like ‘danger’ and even the… fragrance of a soul, far surpassing the senses of any animal or monster.

She spoke calmly, but her voice was filled with conviction.

“You and Saint-nim… you seem to be… brothers. Separated at birth.”

“Perhaps even twins. You’re both… handsome. And if you look closely, you even… resemble each other.”

“I’ve heard that Saint Heinrich was also a wanderer from the Tulc Kingdom before donating all his possessions to the Main God Church and becoming a paladin. And the Tulc Kingdom… that’s where we first met, isn’t it?”

A logical argument, based on evidence and reasoning.

She looked at Heinz, who was speechless, his face pale, his mind reeling from the unexpected revelation.

A wealthy merchant, the head of a massive trading company, and a Vampire King.

And a Saint, a holy warrior, the first sword of the Main God Church.

Who would have thought they were brothers?

Even she wouldn’t have guessed it without her unique ability.

‘…It wouldn’t be a problem if he was just a merchant. But he’s a vampire. Even though the Church and the vampires are on good terms right now…’

…it wouldn't last forever.

The current peace was a fragile truce, maintained only through their mutual… disregard, their long-standing animosity suppressed by the greater threat of the Immortal King.

But once the crisis was over, the conflict would resurface.

‘…And it was Saint-nim who advocated for the vampires’ acceptance. This alliance is based solely on his credibility.’

Perhaps the Saint had also sensed it, a premonition of the inevitable conflict.

And he had tried to… appease the vampires, to maintain a semblance of peace.

“…Mister, are you alright?”

She cautiously called out to him, her voice filled with concern.

Even if they had found their lost family, they couldn’t act on their personal feelings. They were leaders of their respective factions.

Even a minor conflict between them could escalate into a major crisis.

It was a cruel twist of fate.

Heinz, his eyes narrowed, looked at her, a troubled expression on his face.

But his thoughts were completely different from what she had imagined.

‘…What is she talking about?’

It was impressive that she had managed to maintain her composure amidst the chaos and identify their scents, despite their attempts to conceal them.

Their auras, their spiritual presence, were protected by layers of powerful barriers, their bodies and souls enhanced by divine power.

And yet, she had smelled them.

‘…She’s grown stronger. Much stronger. …It must be because of her contact with Temiran, the apostle.’

Fortunately, those security measures weren't completely useless.

She had sensed something… but her perception wasn't precise enough.

“…I see. Thank you for telling me.”

“It’s nothing, Mister. Compared to what you’ve done for me…”

“But it’s better to keep it a secret. It could cause… unnecessary complications.”

“Yes… I’m sure people will… understand eventually! The public’s perception of vampires is changing in the west…”

He nodded gravely, listening to her attempts to reassure him.

Even Diana, who was practically his family, couldn't be trusted with this secret.

The fewer people who knew, the better.

He wasn't planning to… reveal his true identity.

‘…It’s a good setup, though. I wonder if I can use it somehow.’

He was lost in thought, his mind far removed from Diana’s concerns.

“Are you sure about this? I understand that the fight against the Immortal King is our priority, but…”

Temiran, left alone with Heinz, cautiously asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

He had been acting since their arrival.

“What are you so worried about? You were the one who suggested it.”

He hesitated, an awkward expression on his face.

Heinz could understand his feelings.

He knew what he had done while he was on the other side, so it was only natural for him to be concerned about the potential consequences.

“But the situation in the Demon World is dire! He didn’t send me out here for nothing. This is… his last resort, his final gamble!”

The current operation in the Demon World was the culmination of thousands of years of planning.

Temiran, having only been an apostle for a short time, didn’t know the full story… but as the one who had triggered the plan, he understood the general outline.

“It’s fine. I’ve already made preparations.”

“…Preparations? I don’t know how you acquired information about the Demon World, but… it’s out of my hands now. There’s nothing we can do from here.”

He had gone to Diana, hoping to use her divine fragment to… enhance his plan… but it seemed like she wasn’t essential.

“The gate has already been opened, and the abyssal army has begun its invasion. Their leader has also… converted. The demons, their faith weak and their instincts demanding obedience, will soon adapt to the new order, under their new Demon King!”

And then, the consequences would be… predictable.

Of course, it wouldn’t happen.

“Your information is outdated. Well, your last communication was before you came to Tarak, so it’s understandable.”

Heinz didn’t explain.

There was no point. He wouldn’t understand.

“Get ready to return to the Zepia Republic.”

“The contract has been delayed, but it seems like it’ll work out well.”

He had promised Kayla McCleary, the Vice President of the Republic, that he would find her missing son.

She had said she wanted to know what had happened to him, even if he was dead. She wanted to find his body, his grave…

‘…And now, I’ve found her son, alive and well. It’s more than she asked for.’

The delay wouldn’t be a problem.

And the fact that her son was now his subordinate, a vampire bound to him… it was a bonus.

Kayla McCleary, who had been a… reluctant ally, would now become his loyal servant.

“A-are you sure it’s okay for me to go?”

“…It’s been twenty years. She… hasn’t forgotten me, has she?”

“Ah! Maybe I should have… stayed in my younger form! Can you… turn me back…?”

“Right, that’s impossible. Just… wishful thinking. Should I bring her a gift? It’s a bit awkward to visit her after all these years…”

Temiran, who had been kidnapped as a child and then forced to act as his god’s puppet, hadn’t even been able to visit his mother.

Heinz sighed and tossed him a necklace, a magic tool that looked incredibly expensive.

“…Take that and… leave.”

He wasn’t sure if it was an appropriate gift.

He probably never would.

He watched him for a moment, then turned and left.

He still had a lot to do.

A battlefield beneath a purplish sky.

Normally, it would be a chaotic scene of carnage, demons of all shapes and sizes fighting to the death… but right now, a strange silence had fallen over the area.

But it wasn’t a peaceful silence.

The demons, their eyes burning with a fierce intensity, like devout fanatics,

…were all focused on a single figure in the center of the battlefield.

A majestic and imposing presence, a ruler born to command, whose mere existence demanded obedience.

A captivating aura, a seductive charm, that could make them willingly offer their hearts.

A star in the Demon World’s dark sky, its beauty and grace preventing them from even harboring a single disrespectful thought.

[“The battlefield has been cleared, Hella-nim. We’re ready to move on to the next target!”]

A massive Balrog, another Marquis-level demon, approached her and prostrated himself, his voice booming.

There was no hesitation, no fear, in his demeanor.

Only respect and adoration.

“Hmm— Siana, where to next?”

“Otorel’s territory, one of the Dark Nest’s central gates.”

“Really? That was fast.”

Hella’s Helheim wasn’t conquering territory through ordinary warfare.

A normal army’s strength would inevitably decrease as the war continued.

Casualties were inevitable, and even the survivors would be exhausted and demoralized.

Of course, demons were naturally more resilient… but they weren't immune to fatigue and psychological trauma.

“…Is everyone rested? Let’s move.”

But her army was different.

Her overwhelming magic power, amplified by her 「Demon King」 trait, spread outwards, invigorating her followers.

“Hella! Hella! Hella!”

“Victory for Helheim! Glory to the great Demon King!”

Her army, energized by her presence, roared and cheered, their morale soaring.

Not just her existing followers, but also the enemies she had just subdued, their loyalty now firmly shifted towards her.

A demonic legion, its numbers and its power growing with each battle.

Helheim’s forces, having reclaimed Abnormal’s lost territories, now marched towards the Dark Nest’s main territory.