Chapter 387
Chapter 387. Familiar and Identification
Well then, it’s Hero Alexander investigating with necromancy.
I summoned a bunch of souls.
Really, I managed to call forth an astonishingly large number of deceased souls.
And I did it…
The first to appear was a merchant who introduced himself as Liberto.
“Wha… I’m dead… No way…”
He was utterly confused right after being summoned, but after grasping the situation, he swayed momentarily as if he felt faint.
“I can’t be dead… I must not die!!”
He clung to me.
“Please, help me! I beg you! My daughter is about to get married! Please… I can’t die yet, I just can’t!”
He pleaded desperately, banging on the barrier with his translucent hands conjured by dark magic…
“You’re… already dead. There’s nothing to be done…”
I could painfully understand his feelings, but I had no choice but to say that… Liberto started to go half-mad and screamed, so I recited a calming incantation to prevent his transformation into an evil spirit.
“……”
The spirit of the man slumped to the floor with an expression of deep sorrow. It was a truly pitiful sight, but I couldn’t just sympathize and leave it at that…
“I’m searching for a vampire that I believe is lurking at Aulitos Lake. I apologize, but could you tell me what the situation was just before your last moments…?”
At my words, Liberto muttered, “Vampire…”
In his eyes—there flickered the flames of hatred—
What became clear from his testimony was that the vampire was likely part of a duo. They were hiding in the waters near the coastal Hamilton Principality from the city-state of Athetai. They appeared to be from the Demon Lord Kingdom originally.
“They… were celebrating thinking they could feast undisturbed on the Reiju Tribe… Damn it, how could they mock us… What’s this feasting nonsense…!!”
While Liberto didn’t recall their exact names, it was probably the Reiju Tribe. The vampires within the Demon Lord Kingdom relied heavily on the supply of humans from the Reiju Tribe, but since they lacked the financial means to purchase them, they often siphoned blood from near-death substitutes or corpses rendered useless by teleportation spells.
I heard various circumstances about vampires through Yavka as well, and it seemed they were treated like “food,” receiving charity from the demon race while being ridiculed, which made them quite resentful. Thus, some came willingly to the dangerous “all-you-can-eat” alliance…
How outrageous…!!
Moreover, they were indiscriminately ravaging the ships at Aulitos Lake, taking advantage of the weakened Holy Church. I can’t forgive them! I will absolutely slay them!
“I’m currently looking for companions to hunt those vampires. I’m ready to grant you the power to slay those dark ones in exchange for your soul.”
“Please! Grant me that power!! I’ll show those monsters what they’re up against…!!”
And thus, Liberto became the second Holy Spirit. Freshly dead, his ego and holy attribute output were quite strong compared to Martin.
“What did the vampires look like? I’d like to hear any facial characteristics as well.”
I asked Liberto, who now had a reinforced ego and reason, for more detailed information.
“Both of them were disturbingly pale. I remember them floating in the dark. The man had black hair and red eyes, with a light mustache—damn, a remarkably stylish guy wearing formal attire. The woman had bright brown curly long hair, dressed as if attending a ball, and she was also a beauty…”
“Hmm… Were they wet from the water?”
“No, I didn’t get that impression.”
“I see.”
That would mean they weren’t submerged but likely moving around on the water during night, shrouded in mist… If they were used to hiding under the water, they wouldn’t be wearing those annoying formal clothes during dives.
“Then, should they be easier to find?”
No—who knows? While it’s likely they are using land or islands as hideouts…
Well, it’s better than those who are hiding underwater. If they were misting around the coast to hunt for prey, their activity range would be limited. I might be able to set a trap using a ship as bait, drawing them in.
Liberto also shared various other insights, but he expressed a strong desire to “see his family one last time.” However, just like with Beatrice, I couldn’t grant that request.
Liberto looked utterly crushed, and it pained my heart. I’m sorry; I can’t afford to reveal all my cards to help just for that…
After everything is done, I can manage to send a letter to his family. I apologize sincerely, but that’s all I can offer…
After that, I continued to summon what appeared to be Liberto’s crew members and mercenaries one after another. When I confirmed with Liberto, they were indeed members who had been on his ship.
Some were consumed by anger and hatred as they were tortured to death by the vampires, while others were killed without even knowing what had happened. The latter’s souls were barely holding together, and they were sent back to the spirit world as they were.
…This is why necromancy is said to be an evil art. In the end, without strong ties—often anger or hatred—many souls do not retain their core.
Most of the crew members, with clear egos, desired revenge on the vampires and accepted becoming Holy Spirits. I would use their hatred like this… This is a forbidden art—a step further in necromancy that burns one’s soul…
“Ku fufufu.”
…Just laugh it off for me, Antende.
“Eh? Why… was I supposed to be killed…?”
“Ah… I’m sorry, but you are likely dead.”
“Eh?! That guy from the Lake Pirates!”
However, as I continued summoning, the causes of death were starting to change.
Of those related to Liberto, about half were killed by vampires, while the remaining half appeared to have been slain by pirates. Integrating their tales revealed that after the vampires finished their bloody feast, the pirates seemed to have boarded.
The surviving crew members were likely deep in slumber, and as half of Liberto’s crew was wiped out, they couldn’t resist and were killed easily…
What a double whammy… I can’t forgive those pirates!!!
If only they had been the ones drained dry instead.
“Damn those guys, I’ll kill them!!”
“Give us a chance for revenge!”
“O user of the forbidden arts, please!”
The crew who were killed by pirates all voiced their wishes, but as long as they remained human, maintaining them as undead would be difficult due to my magic.
Conversely, if I turned them into Holy Spirits, they could fuel their own existence to some extent, but they were filled with hatred towards the pirates—humans and beastmen. Holy Silver Magic wouldn’t accept them.
“Gyaaaaah!!”
One insisted and tried it by himself, but unsurprisingly, he burned up and vanished.
Thus, those who were killed by pirates would simply return to the spirit world. I recovered as much magical power as possible used to reinforce them, so in comparison to the living, it felt like inviting a frozen person into a warm room, giving them fur clothing, warming them up, then stripping them naked and tossing them back out into the freezing cold. They’d soon vanish due to the shock…
“Fufufufu.”
Laugh even harder, Antende!!
“It seems I’ve gained quite a few allies, or should I call them familiars?”
Barbara, perched upside down on the ceiling, murmured with her arms crossed, either sadly or ironically.
“Yeah… well, they’re only temporary allies.”
Now that they are Holy Spirits, their active time wouldn’t be long unless I made them inactive, and if we could defeat the vampires, they’d lose their purpose and inability to maintain their egos.
I hope their revenge can be fulfilled safely.
“I’ve gathered some pretty crucial clues. I should inform Arthur too…”
I’ll treat it as a result of that “fortune-telling.”
For now, I could confirm that those vampires were in waters near the city-state of Athetai just recently. They’ve probably moved since then, but they likely haven’t gone too far.
…Should I part ways with Arthur now and ride Leila to go take them down?
…No, that wouldn’t work. Even if we rushed there, we have no means to draw the vampires out. We’d need to utilize the organizational strength of the Holy Church somehow; otherwise, this hunting would be tough.
Sure, given time, we might find them ourselves, but with only the information of “around the city-state of Athetai,” the water areas haven’t been narrowed down enough… Unless by chance, if we’re continuously searching, by the time we find them, Arthur would likely also arrive at those waters…
In that case, it’s more reliable to keep cooperating, which would ultimately be more efficient.
Regardless, it’s wise to seek Arthur’s opinion, as he’s likely more knowledgeable about the geography. He might know of caves nearby that would be perfect for hiding the vampires.
†††
“Anyway, sorry for bothering you, but I came to report.”
“I see, that’s very helpful. Thank you for not holding back.”
Arthur, sitting on the bed, smiled.
Here? This is Arthur’s wife’s house in this town. A lively and energetic woman, her beautiful smile shows she’s nearing her due date. Looks like a baby is coming soon.
“The vampires are likely a duo, moving mainly on the water. The new victims appeared in the waters near the city-state of Athetai, targeting medium-sized merchant ships, huh…”
I can’t say I gathered information directly from the victims through necromancy, so I made sure to choose only important fragments. This should serve as a pretty big hint for Arthur, who has been trying to pinpoint the waters for some time now…
“…That was helpful, thank you. They might have multiple bases within a day’s travel distance…”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, otherwise, their range of activity is too wide. I wouldn’t know how far the movement ability of misting vampires goes without asking an expert, but we’ll talk about that later…”
“How tiresome…”
“Yeah, totally. Looks like we’ll end up using a ship as bait to draw them in…”
Of course, it would come to that…
“Oh, by the way, Alex…”
Arthur, lost in thought, suddenly looked up as if remembering something.
“I saw a more detailed map at the Holy Church earlier. You know, the one where we first encountered that water corpse?”
“Oh? What about it?”
“They mentioned that corpse’s hometown had a name with ‘Ka’ or ‘E’…”
I’m impressed he remembered so well.
“Right, or ‘Mu’ as well.”
“If that’s the case, it’s confirmed! There was a port town in the north with a name like ‘Kaemuran’!”
Oh, indeed, that fits the conditions. I should ask Martin later—
—When my chest pocket vibrated suddenly.
“That’s it—!!”
A silvery shadow leaped out.
“That’s it! The name of my hometown! Kaemuran!!”
Martin—the silver spirit shouted excitedly.
“……What?”
In mid-air,
In front of Arthur, who looked dumbfounded.
