Chapter 76
Naturally Cecili-ah also saw the post in the Climber Community.
The True Ancestor commented directly on the Anonymous Post requesting rescue.
ㄴ True Ancestor) you hid yourself quite well.
ㄴ True Ancestor) found you.
“My goodness…!”
In Cecili-ah’s eyes, it seemed like nothing but a terrifying and gruesome Crime Forewarning.
Of course, a post like this was uploaded afterward.
[Title: True Ancestor-nim saved me T.T.T.T]
Poster: Anonymous
(Screenshot of the previous post)
I’m the person who wrote this post. Everyone, please don’t misunderstand!
True Ancestor-nim sent Retainers wearing a Wolf Mask and a Rabbit Mask to save me.
They even got me clothes and were really kind T.T
- so they didn’t go to eat them, but to save them?
- no, how did they immediately find and save someone hiding in a gate?
- just what kind of abilities does True Ancestor-nim have to make something like that possible ㄷㄷ;;
- huh? Rabbit Mask? Isn’t that from the Vampire Hunter post that came up before?
ㄴ I remember that too ㄷㄷ
ㄴ that was in Korea too.
ㄴ wow crazy, so the Vampire Hunter was the True Ancestor’s Subordinate?
…
The comments were divided into various opinions, but the public sentiment was relatively favorable toward the True Ancestor.
However
“No. I do not believe it!”
Cecili-ah shook her head firmly.
Due to the nature of anonymous posts, only the nationality could be confirmed, so there was no way to know if it was the real Poster or an impersonator.
Even if it really was the Poster themselves, the possibility that the True Ancestor had pulled a despicable trick like Brainwashing, just like in the previous sol-Peul-jeon-Sa incident, could not be ruled out.
Above all.
Recently, another Oracle has descended from the Great Light.
[The Bloody Calamity is expanding its power in the darkness.]
Once again, an Oracle related to the “Bloody Calamity” threatening the World has appeared.
Everything fell into place.
Vampirism is increasing globally, including in Korea.
And the True Ancestor’s recent actions.
Starting from the sol-Peul-jeon-Sa incident, up to the recent survivor incident inside the gate.
A Vampire can bite a person to turn them into a Vampire.
The True Ancestor was undoubtedly also bewitching and Brainwashing people to increase her Retainers.
She could no longer just stand by and watch the True Ancestor raise an evil Army.
“True Ancestor, I will stop you!”
It was only right for her, the Saintess, to go to Korea herself and face the True Ancestor.
“Prepare to leave for Korea immediately, and please deliver a letter to the Korean Government announcing an official visit!”
Thus, Cecili-ah postponed all her schedules and chose to head to Korea.
* * *
I sat cross-legged on the bed with both eyes closed.
With my arms crossed and my chin held high.
It was an incredibly arrogant posture.
“…Fufufu. Once again, this True Ancestor has achieved a great feat.”
Of course, it was the correction from [Exalted Dignity], but I didn’t bother holding back.
Because I was in a really good mood right now.
Let’s look at the results I achieved in just a single night.
I safely saved a person who was about to die.
I also found out about the Multi-level System known as 'Retainer’s Retainer'.
On top of that, I even successfully made a Scout Offer to ha-eun, who possessed A-minus Potential.
Thanks to her writing a good Review Post in the Community, my status went up another notch.
Fortunately, it was very clean, without any content that could cause strange misunderstandings like during the sol-Peul-jeon-Sa incident.
She did mention the Retainers wearing masks, but it wasn’t really going to be a problem.
Rather, it created a positive image that the Vampire Hunters were my subordinates, so there was nothing bad about it.
In fact, various speculations about my identity were actively circulating in the Community.
[Title: But if the Vampire Hunter is the True Ancestor’s Subordinate, what is the True Ancestor’s identity?]
Poster: Anonymous
Wasn’t the True Ancestor originally a Vampire…?
But why is it making its subordinates hunt vampires?
- there was no solid proof that True Ancestor-nim was a Vampire in the first place. It was just a Witch Hunt based on wild guesses.
- True Ancestor-nim is a Vampire, but maybe they’re like a Dark Hero who judges their corrupted kin for some reason?
ㄴ freaking cool ㄷㄷㄷ
- Haa, I want to be judged by True Ancestor-nim too…
ㄴ ugh, these Jinjo Faction bastards are starting again.
That I was actually an Awakener misunderstood as a Vampire, or no, a Vampire Dark Hero, and so on.
Well, misunderstandings like this were fine.
As long as it wasn’t too strange a framing, maintaining a sense of mysticism helped raise my value.
“Hmm. But why is the Apostle of Light so quiet?”
The comments I left this time could have easily been misunderstood as a murderous forewarning, so this person would normally have been the first to flare up and write a Warning Post.
For some reason, they were dead silent, without any comments or new posts.
‘Guess they’re busy with real life.’
I quickly accepted it and shrugged.
Everyone has their own busy lives, after all.
Honestly, the Apostle of Light and I felt like we had a somewhat hostile symbiotic relationship.
Whenever my image in the Community was about to be consumed as a meme, I would appear like a ghost to appropriately set the mood and imprint a sense of danger.
Anyway, based on the time difference and activity hours, they didn’t seem to be Korean either.
I would never actually encounter or clash with a faceless S-rank Awakener living in a foreign country for the rest of my life in reality, so it would be perfect if we just continued doing Cyber Pro-Wrestling like this in the future.
I smiled in satisfaction and closed the Community Window.
Enough with the idle thoughts; now it was time to focus on my main job.
I opened the Inventory.
The Mid-grade Blood that Katarina had earlier brought back as loot after hunting the Vampire in the gate.
I took it out and brought it straight to the egg carefully kept in the bathroom.
“Now, it is time to eat.”
As I carefully poured the blood over the egg,
[Unidentified Egg (???)]
[Status: About to hatch soon.]
“Oh!”
The System Message was newly updated.
My heart pounded with considerable anticipation at the thought that the egg would hatch soon.
* * *
Today was the day I slept with Katarina.
Lately, the Retainers had been taking turns sharing the bed with me, and this time it was Katarina’s turn.
“It is cozy…”
I was covered in a fluffy blanket and pleasantly in a deep sleep.
- click, clack.
A strange clicking sound from somewhere hovered around my ears.
“Mmm…?”
I rubbed my eyes half-asleep and sat up.
“Katarina, do you not hear a sound from somewhere?”
“I just heard it as well, Liege Lord.”
Katarina must have also felt its presence, as she already had her upper body raised and was Tracking the source of the sound.
The sound was coming from the direction of the bathroom.
I got out of bed and opened the bathroom door.
The first thing that caught my eye was this:
The sight of the large egg placed in the bathtub was cracking open.
My sleepiness completely vanished.
“It seems a new retainer is about to be born!”
When I crouched in front of the egg and spoke, the other Retainers, who had woken up from the noise, also flocked to the front of the bathroom before I knew it.
“Master, I heard a sound, so I came!”
“It seems the egg is finally hatching.”
“What kind of person will come out…?”
Riri, si-yeon, and even Sera.
All of our family members held their breath and watched the egg with eyes full of anticipation.
CRACK!
Finally, the eggshell shattered into pieces, and a small creature revealed itself from within.
Its identity was…!
“Keu-reung!”
It was a pitch-black Baby Dragon.
Glowing red eyes and small horns sprouting from its head. A pointy tail.
It even had cute little wings attached to its back.
It was still wearing a piece of eggshell on top of its head that it hadn’t taken off yet.
“Keu-reung?”
The Baby Dragon stared at me intently, then tilted its head.
It had the cool appearance of a black dragon, but its small size and behavior were incredibly cute.
‘It’s a dragon!’
I marveled and immediately opened the [Blood’s Grace] Interface to check its abilities.
[Mystery: Vampiric Dragon]
- a noble phantasmal species. It grows by the True Ancestor’s side and blooms Infinite Potential.
Wow! A Vampiric Dragon!
To think a dragon would become my Fifth Retainer.
I didn’t know its detailed abilities, beyond the fact that its potential blooms.
But first of all, it’s a gamer’s common sense that a dragon is a top-tier pet!
“But what should I name this kid?”
Until now, Katarina, si-yeon, Riri, and Sera either used their real names as they were or I appropriately named them, but this time I decided to ask the kids for their opinions too.
“I intend to bestow a name upon this child. Do you have any good suggestions?”
First, Katarina stepped forward with a serious expression.
“Befitting the Liege Lord’s majesty, how about “Apocalypse Blood Emperor Dragon”?”
‘That’s too burdensome! And it’s too long! Rejected!’
Next was si-yeon.
“Black Dragon-01. It is easy to call and intuitive.”
‘Hmm… This sounds like some test subject’s name. Rejected.’
Next, Riri shouted confidently.
“It cries keu-reung, so Keu-Reung-I!!! How about Keu-Reung-I?!”
‘That’s a name that sounds like it belongs in a famous children’s animation starring a penguin…’
While everyone was showing a completely unreliable naming sense, Sera carefully raised her hand.
“Um… Since it’s black, how about “Dark”…?”
“Oh, it is cool. Simple and catchy.”
Sera’s Suggestion was the most normal.
I nodded in satisfaction and stroked the Baby Dragon’s head.
“Good. From today onward, your name is Dark.”
“Keu-reung!”
As if it liked its name, Dark wagged its small tail and rubbed its face against my touch.
As expected of my retainer, it followed me very well.
After finishing the successful hatching ceremony, I returned to My Room with Dark in my arms.
I was still short on sleep, so I planned to lie back down in bed and try to sleep.
“You all worked hard, so go back to sleep.”
After sending the Retainers back except for Katarina, I lay in bed and turned off the stand light.
But the moment the room went dark.
Fwoosh-!
Suddenly, a soft white light began to leak out from Dark’s body, which was being held in my arms!
“…?”
I blinked blankly.
And immediately shouted.
“Retainers! Hurry and come back! It is a Luminous Dragon!”