Chapter 44
“D-dead…?! All of them?”
I watched the situation in shock.
All the enemies in the Training Ground had died instantly from a single strike.
Did I do that?
Seeing them turn to dust and disappear just like the goblin, it really seemed like I was the one who did it…
“Crazy.”
[Life Harvest]. This is ridiculously Overpowered, isn’t it?
I had been feeling proud, thinking I’d only killed a single goblin.
But it turned out to be a massive Area-of-Effect Attack that went far beyond that level.
Just what was its Range?
How many enemies could it kill at once?
And just how strong an enemy could it kill?
I didn’t know those details yet.
But one thing was certain.
If it were enough to instantly kill the S-rank Vampire Lachesis in one strike, then it could easily kill most enemies in a single hit.
“What kind of item is this?”
To think it allowed a scrub Vampire like me to unleash an attack like this.
So this was the power of an EX-rank item…?
I thought it was a jackpot, but it was a super-duper mega jackpot.
Wait.
But at this level, the attack didn’t fly all the way to that Ranged Dealer, did it?
Hmm. If so, I feel a little sorry.
Since there was no way to check, I briefly pressed X to pay my respects.
Anyway, that was that.
“Ugh. This thing is seriously heavy.”
I groaned and barely lifted the Giant Scythe that was dragging on the floor.
Heave-ho!
It was a bit better once I shouldered it.
I might really have to invest my next Stat Point into strength.
“Oof, so exhausting…”
Having used up all my blood power in an instant and strained myself lifting the heavy scythe, I found my entire body drained of strength.
A wave of fatigue washed over me, making me want to lie down in bed right away, to the point where my eyes blankly lost focus without me realizing it.
And then, it happened.
I made eye contact with Katarina, who was staring at me with an astonished expression.
* * *
The Training Ground was bestowed by her Liege Lord.
There, until just a moment ago, Katarina had been exchanging fierce blows with the Illusion of the Pure-blood Vampire she had seen in the gate.
However, a corner of her mind was focused on the weapon her Liege Lord had brought out earlier.
A scythe as pitch-black as if the darkness of midnight itself had been melted down to forge it.
When lifting that weapon, her Liege Lord seemed to struggle just a tiny bit.
But the moment Katarina grasped that scythe herself, she couldn’t help but be astonished.
It possessed such an immense weight that she immediately dropped it to the floor.
She couldn’t make it budge even an inch, even after struggling for a long time afterward.
To lift such a monstrous weapon with only a “slightly difficult” expression.
And with such a small physique, at that.
Her Liege Lord was truly amazing.
“I am still far too lacking… I must become stronger.”
Katarina spurred herself on even more.
She had to train harder.
The one who created her. The one who bestowed a name and surname upon her.
So that she could at least reach the tips of The Esteemed One’s toes.
So that she could become a Servant who could at least be of a little help to The Esteemed One.
With those thoughts, Katarina drew out even more power and pressured the opposing Vampire.
It was right at the moment she was gradually seizing victory.
Suddenly, the back of Katarina’s neck turned cold.
'…?!'
A chillingly sharp scythe was suddenly resting right against the nape of her neck.
Of course, the weapon hadn’t actually approached her.
She merely felt an overwhelming bloodlust and Intimidation so intense that it created an Illusion of her head flying off.
“W-what in the World is this…!”
She couldn’t move a single hair.
Cold sweat poured down her entire body like rain, and even her heartbeat and breathing stopped.
For the first time in her life, Katarina felt a true Fear of Death.
Even though the enemy’s attack was rushing right in front of her eyes, her body was completely frozen and wouldn’t move.
But the sight that followed was even more astonishing.
Swaaaa - !
“Guaaaah!”
The Vampire screamed as pure white smoke began to spew from its eyes, nose, and mouth.
The enemy she had been exchanging blows with until just a moment ago withered into an ashen gray without even being able to resist a single strike.
It felt as if its life had been confiscated by someone.
“Ah…”
Only then did she realize.
This was never the concept of an 'attack' to begin with.
It was a 'harvest' that reaped life.
Fssss.
The Vampire turned into a handful of dust and disappeared into the air.
Only after that did the taut tension binding Katarina’s entire body snap away, allowing her frozen body to move.
“Haa… Haa…”
She heaved heavy breaths.
And slowly turning her back, she looked at the source from which that terrifying bloodlust had erupted.
Her Liege Lord was there.
Her Liege Lord, shouldering a Scythe of Pitch Black larger than her own body, was staring quietly in this direction.
Those eyes were so incredibly cold.
Eyes so devoid of any readable emotion that they almost appeared blank.
That signature haughty atmosphere.
Only a sense of ennui seeped out, as if the events unfolding before her were slightly bothersome.
At that boundless nobility, Katarina’s legs gave out without her realizing it, and she ended up collapsing on the spot.
“This is true status…!”
The moment she witnessed that unfathomable power and authority, hot tears couldn’t help but flow.
And it wasn’t just Katarina.
The emotions felt by the other Retainers were no different from this.
‘…If Master had merely made up her mind, not only the enemies but even we would have turned to dust. The fact that I am alive right now is Master’s mercy.’
Si-Yeon was blankly analyzing the situation.
‘W-waaah. Master’s bloodlust…! It’s way scarier than Lady Katarina’s…!’
And Riri, who was trembling and pale with fright.
They, too, were looking at their Master with awe, unable to even breathe properly.
* * *
'…Eh?’
I looked at the bewildering sight unfolding before my eyes.
Katarina, who had suddenly collapsed to the floor and was shedding thick tears.
Si-Yeon, who was frozen in place like a statue with only her eyes wide.
Even Riri, who was deathly pale and trembling, was there.
Of course, it was understandable to be surprised to see me suddenly use an Area-of-Effect Attack without a word, turning countless enemies into dust before their eyes.
But.
“K-Katarina is crying…?”
When even the always strong and cold Katarina was sniffling with tears, it seemed this wasn’t just an ordinary level of surprise.
Looking at it again, the expressions of the other girls were closer to fear rather than a surprised “Our Master is so strong, how cool!”.
'Gasp. Don’t tell me… did my attack affect Katarina and the others too?!'
They were definitely within the attack’s Range, too.
Of course, I didn’t have the slightest intention of being hostile toward my Retainers.
Because I had blindly unleashed it at Maximum Output without even properly knowing how to use the Skill, it seemed that bloodlust or whatever had reached them as well.
“I messed up…!”
If that was really the case, didn’t that mean I had caused a massive Area-of-Effect nuisance across the entire Training Ground.
This wasn’t an issue I could just feel awkward about internally and move past.
I had to seriously comfort them for startling them and make it clear that I had absolutely no intention of attacking them.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and opened my mouth with as much weight as possible.
“My Retainers.”
‘Don’t be surprised. It wasn’t an attack aimed at you.’
Filling my words with such apologetic and comforting feelings, I uttered a phrase as affectionately and warmly as possible.
“Do not be afraid.”
“…!”
“This power is not meant to harm you.”
At that, the girls flinched in great surprise.
Thud, thud.
Even Si-Yeon and Riri, who had been standing still, followed Katarina and knelt as if prostrating themselves on the floor.
'Huh?'
…This isn’t right? I just told them to relax, so why is everyone bowing?
However, the gazes of the girls looking up at me while kneeling were peculiar.
Sparkle, sparkle!
The fear that had lingered until just a moment ago was erased at some point, and their eyes were shining as if they had seen some incredible Savior.
“Ahem. Why has the atmosphere turned into one where I need to give a speech…?”
It was hard not to say anything in the face of those expectant gazes.
So I decided to speak further.
“Rather, it is to protect. Katarina, Si-Yeon, Riri, my three servants, do not be afraid and do not be startled.”
“…!!!”
But as my words continued.
Even Si-Yeon and Riri ended up with incredibly moved and overwhelmed expressions.
“Why have all three of them ended up with burdensome expressions like Katarina?!”
What do I do?
If I stay silent here, it’ll look too weird.
I have to wrap this up with something, anything cool…!
Ah, right.
There was a cool phrase I picked up somewhere.
I just need to say that.
Putting on a deliberately solemn expression, I looked down at them and declared.
“This True Ancestor shall always be with you.”