As Sarka watched silently, Belial leaned back leisurely on the sofa and began to speak gently.
“When we made the Peace Treaty with humans, the ‘Esteban Empire’ didn’t exist yet.
The ‘Ain Kingdom,’ which became the foundation of the Empire, was the country located closest to the Miral Mountains, and it was also the country that most actively sent exorcist expeditions to search the Miral Mountains.
However, when several exorcist expeditions lost their lives in the traps and underground labyrinths we had dug without finding evidence that we had survived, humans gradually became reluctant to launch expeditions.
The humans of the Western Continent were slowly accepting the extinction of vampires. Even if a small number of vampires had survived deep in the Miral Mountains, it had long since become irrelevant to the lives of the people.
The exorcist expeditions gradually became corrupted, being used as a means to eliminate forces that irritated the royal authority.
The exorcist expeditions that departed for the Miral Mountains by the king’s command either lost their lives to attacks from wild beasts or ancient traps, or even if they returned safely, they were usually eliminated on various pretexts.
200 years ago, when the foreign knight Esteban was appointed to the 6th Exorcist Expedition, it was the same. Everyone knew that the incompetent King Höllington, jealous of Esteban’s overwhelming popularity, had driven him to his death.
Belial, who was repeating the story learned at Basic School, seemed to have decided to conduct mental education while Sarka’s body rested.
Belial continued calmly.
“The loyal Knight Esteban, knowing it was an expedition from which he could not return, departed for the Miral Mountains with the foreign knights who followed him.
All the people grieved, but there was one who rejoiced at the news. It was the king of the neighboring country who had always coveted the Ain Kingdom.
As soon as Knight Esteban left, the Ain Kingdom was invaded by the neighboring country, and the incompetent King Höllington, having lost the capital, barely escaped with his life and fled to the Miral Mountains.
When King Höllington finally found the Esteban Knights after great hardship, we were in the midst of fierce combat.
The upright Knight Esteban had revealed our existence by thoroughly analyzing the traps and had pursued us, and we, having decided to annihilate the 6th expedition, engaged them with full force.
In the midst of this, Knight Esteban, hearing about the capital’s situation from King Höllington, realized that he could move neither forward nor backward.
The vampire army waited ahead, and the invaders’ army waited behind. Death awaited in either direction.
To the despairing Knight Esteban, Knight Jung, who was his right-hand man, made a proposal.
To join hands with the vampires before their eyes.”
Belial smiled faintly.
“It was a radical but wise proposal.
We vampires had also suffered considerable damage from the battle with Esteban, and even if we survived now, there was no guarantee that the 7th and 8th expeditions wouldn’t threaten us again.
Until then, our numbers were too few and weak. As long as the humans of the Western Continent continued to suspect the Miral Mountains, extinction was only a matter of time.
Humans and vampires driven into a war with nothing to gain ultimately agreed to help each other and survive together instead of continuing to shed blood.
To stop the war that held only death, and to join hands with yesterday’s enemy.
Thus, a Peace Treaty was made between the two races.”
Belial spoke calmly and slowly, as if teaching a young child.
“Knight Esteban, with the vampires’ help, drove out the invaders and recaptured the capital, then eliminated the incompetent King Höllington and ascended to the throne himself, opening the Esteban Dynasty. Most of the citizens cheered at that decision.
King Esteban drove out the Hunters according to the conditions we set forth, and sparked a great reform by declaring the New Church, which prohibited vampire trials, as the state religion.
The New Church was explosively popular among the humans of the Western Continent who had suffered from the corrupt Old Church and the evil practices of the Hunters, and soon talented people from across the Western Continent began to flock to the Esteban Kingdom.
The Esteban Kingdom, which accepted and employed talented people regardless of status or nationality, grew at a terrifying speed, and before long, the allied forces of the Western Continent, feeling threatened, declared war.
King Esteban again requested help from the vampires, and the six Pureblood families resolved to participate in that war.
When the long war, later called the War of Expansion, ended, the ‘Esteban Kingdom’ became the ‘Esteban Empire,’ and established itself as a great power occupying the most vast land in the Western Continent.
And right at that time… vampire society began to split.”
Belial looked straight at Sarka and spoke slowly.
“The Coexistence Faction, which wanted to continue enjoying peace in this coexistence relationship, and the Pureblood Faction, which wanted to dominate humans again and reclaim past glory.
The six Pureblood families that had become the central axis of vampire society after the War of Expansion agreed to decide by vote after heated debate.
The valiant Leogrante, who had never retreated from battle, became the center of the Pureblood Faction, and the always cautious and taciturn Hütivras persuaded those around them as a staunch Coexistence Faction member.
In the end, with the Coexistence Faction’s voting rate taking precedence, vampire society remained as an allied nation of the Empire.
Even though the war hero Leogrante was far more popular at the time, do you know why most Pureblood families cast their votes for the Coexistence Faction?”
Sarka answered matter-of-factly.
“Because with vampire society’s military strength at that time, victory was uncertain.”
Belial nodded faintly with a smile.
“Correct. Until then, we had nothing established. We were simply hiding in underground labyrinths, primitively clinging to life.
Many vampires thought. We must wait while building strength until victory becomes more certain.”
Sarka remained quietly silent. Belial continued fluidly.
“After the Peace Treaty, vampire society achieved dazzling development in 200 years of stability.
The cities built by the six Pureblood families are magnificent, and the Pureblood population produced through strict discipline is stabilizing.
However, it’s not yet enough to face all the humans of the Western Continent and survive.
If war breaks out now, we might lose everything we’ve built and be driven to the path of extinction again.
That’s why many vampires still cast their votes for the Coexistence Faction. No matter how much the situation worsens, the approval rating of Serpine, the leader of the Coexistence Faction, never falls below a certain level.
But… someday, Sarka. Someday the time will come.”
Belial spoke quietly with emphasis. His red eyes shone with a calm and prudent light.
“80 years ago, I resolved that I should work to hasten that time.
So I left the Coexistence Faction and joined the Pureblood Faction.
Lady Lobelia, the leader of the Pureblood Faction who recognized my ambition, made me her eternal political ally.
I have absolutely no intention of rushing, Sarka.
Thanks to Lady Lobelia, I have sufficient time, and I intend to take my time building a tower very carefully and steadily—one that will never crumble.”
The ambition in his red eyes was calm and solid.
Belial turned to look at Sarka and smiled faintly.
“Until that tower is complete, the role of the Coexistence Faction is very important.
We must make humans continue to trust us and let their guard down.
Although Allend is a foolish fellow, in a way he is helping in that direction.
The fact that humans trust vampires enough to employ a Complete Pureblood vampire as a bodyguard and let them into the depths of the Imperial Palace is actually remarkable.
If you can inherit that role, my plan might become somewhat easier.”
The red gaze staring intently into those green eyes was persistent and eerie. Sarka tensed his body silently.
Belial looked directly at Sarka and whispered quietly.
“Allend is an irresponsible vampire blinded by a single human woman, who has cast aside everything like vampire society’s survival. Because of petty emotional games, he has abandoned honor and duty and turned his back on his own kind.
He’s barely functioning as a person only because he gained succession rights thanks to you, yet he treats you like this—who’s really the shameless one…
If he hadn’t lost Camilla, he would still be hearing ‘human’s dog’ and never able to return to vampire society… Tsk.”
Belial narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue with contempt. Sarka continued to remain silent.
Belial, who had kept his mouth shut for a moment as if calming his anger toward Allend, turned his head again.
Belial, who had softened his voice as if erasing his anger, spoke again in an affectionate tone.
“In any case, I intend to do my best so that you can be liberated from under Allend and establish yourself again in Hütivras.
Don’t worry about the small fry in Hütivras who keep you in check. Even they can’t be sure how many of them will survive the Wedding Duel.
If you succeed in obtaining a Complete Pureblood spouse in three years, you’ll set foot in the center of Hütivras in one leap. At that time, no one will be able to treat you carelessly anymore.
But if you get unnecessarily scared of their checks and try to bring in a spouse one or two grades lower, you’ll only be looked down upon.
You’re already easy prey. The moment you step back, everyone will see you as easy and try to tear you apart. Just like they mocked you by dumping you, a Complete Pureblood, at Esteban School, they’ll block your path for life and try to manipulate you as they please.
There’s no method but to break through head-on.
You must succeed in obtaining a Complete Pureblood spouse. That’s the fastest and surest means to prove your power and gain authority.”
Sarka swallowed dryly without speaking. Belial spoke quickly with a serious face.
“In three years, almost all of your female classmates from your Leogrante days will probably propose to you. Besides them, many women of childbearing age will covet you enough to cast out the Helpers they already have.
You proved your natural talent by graduating as valedictorian from Leogrante School, but you’ve been isolated at Esteban School and haven’t received duel lessons for five years. The shell is easy to crack, and the inside is a delicious fruit.
Moreover, you’re even neat and pleasant to look at, so as a Helper, you have the most optimal conditions.”
Sarka lowered his eyes. None of his words were compliments. Being appraised as prey was never pleasant.
Belial spoke with a careful expression as if checking strategy.
“Even at this moment, many women are probably researching ways to beat you in a duel. Dissecting the techniques you used at Basic School one by one, devising flawless strategies to crush you.
You need to completely change your fighting style, Sarka. You need a completely new method—enough to catch them off guard.”
Belial’s voice became sharp and serious. Sarka looked at Belial while swallowing dryly.
Belial met the boy’s eyes and added in a strict voice.
“I’m continuing to research, and fortunately you’re following along well.
However, there’s exactly one thing we’re absolutely lacking.
That’s time.”
Sarka pressed his lips together and hardened his face.
Belial looked straight at Sarka and pointed out sharply.
“Outings are once a month. We can only conduct lessons for a mere two days. Even if you come for all the one-week holidays that occur every three months and all the annual holidays to conduct lessons, the time is tight to face those girls who receive training all day.
Do you realize how carefully you must conduct yourself to secure your time, in addition to doing your best during my lesson time?”
“…I’ll keep it in mind.”
At the sharp reprimand, Sarka answered quietly and lowered his gaze.
Belial looked down at Sarka with a stern gaze and spoke as if scolding.
“Moreover, you’re prohibited from using supernatural powers at the humans’ school. The leg strength of someone who doesn’t walk gradually weakens. If you spend a long time without using your supernatural powers, your abilities will also gradually dull.
You need to be alert and develop the habit of using your supernatural powers whenever you get the chance. It doesn’t matter if it’s something trivial, secure time alone and develop the habit of using your supernatural powers little by little.”
“I’ll continue to be mindful of it. Thank you for the advice.”
Sarka answered quietly.
Belial, who had been quietly looking down at his face filled with tension and self-reproach, let out a light breath.
Slowly burying his back against the backrest, Belial spoke leisurely.
“…You don’t need to be too intimidated. You’re a child with excellent qualities.
I’ve heard plenty about your reputation of never losing your position as top student. In the past, I sometimes thought Camilla was excessive in bragging about her child, but now that I’ve taught you directly, I understand.
You’ve inherited Camilla’s talent without exception.”
Something like faint pleasure and pride seeped into his voice.
Sarka silently met his eyes.
Belial smiled gently and looked at the boy’s face with eyes full of affection.
“Even when I first proposed it, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try, but the more I do it, the more greedy I become.
You’ve met me only once a month and yet haven’t fallen behind in following my curriculum. Even compared to your classmates from your hometown, you’re not behind at all. Rather, I’m confident that if you were to face average Duel School students, you could still cruelly trample them.
However…”
The voice colored with pride and anticipation suddenly faded.
Belial narrowed his eyes. A hazy voice flowed out coldly.
“…Whether that will continue is another matter.”
Whoosh—the table that had been placed between Sarka and Belial disappeared.
Sarka, who instinctively turned his head, tensed his body upon seeing the giant black bear approaching.
Before he could even take a combat stance, hyenas and wolves began to surround Sarka from left and right. As soon as he realized he was being surrounded, Sarka immediately kicked off the sofa and rose.
Belial, who had risen silently, cleared away his sofa and spoke gently while stepping back.
“If you understand, let’s slowly start again.
Duels aren’t always fought in the best physical condition. The other side sometimes deliberately schemes and creates situations to worsen your physical state, and even if not, tension usually weakens most people’s condition.
So you need to learn how to overcome that too.”
Without answering, Sarka’s eyes, lowered in preparation for battle, turned red.
Instead of giving an order, Belial cleared away Sarka’s sofa.
Even before the sofa’s shadow disappeared, the beasts that had been hiding behind the sofa rushed forward at a terrifying speed.
Sarka deflected the first attack with telekinesis and leaped upward to escape the encirclement. The floor vibrated finely as the beasts’ legs jumped up together.
A spray of blood burst forth and the beasts’ limbs fell with thuds.
An intense battle began.
