Vampire Conference

The sun was high in the sky. While all the vampires were fast asleep in their coffins, Cain's day was just beginning. Inside the “Cave of Light.” Cain stood face to face with Dorian. “The basis of shadow swordplay is not strength, but ‘flow.’” Doria's voice was cold, but it contained the clear teachings of a master. "Just as light creates shadows, the stronger the opponent's power, the deeper their weaknesses become. We exploit those weaknesses." She moved like a shadow. Her dagger absorbed the light of the training ground, penetrating Cain's blind spot without a sound or form. Cain barely managed to block the attack with his reflexes using aura, but he had to sweat profusely every time. He was superior in strength and speed, but he was no match for his opponent's precision in “technique.” After a long sparring session, the sun began to set in the west. Cain, his body drenched in sweat, returned to his tower with Doria. In his room, the old servant Leo was pacing nervously, waiting for him. On the table in the center of the room was a crystal bottle containing a brilliant crimson liquid. “Second Young Master, this is a gift from Lord Casimir.” Leo said cautiously. “It came with a message celebrating the true victory of the coming-of-age ceremony and wishing to strengthen the bond of brotherhood.” “Bond of brotherhood?” A cold smile appeared on Cain's lips. As Leo stepped back, Doria spoke softly.

Her voice was as sharp as her dagger. “My lord. That is poison.” “I know.” Cain replied. “Not physical poison, but poison that tests the mind.” Casimir was testing him. How he would accept this “gesture of reconciliation.” If he accepted this gift without hesitation, he would remain a naive younger brother under his control. But if he refuses the gift or shows suspicion, it would be a clear declaration of war, making him his enemy. Cain lifted the crystal bottle. Kasimir's smiling face flickered in his eyes. This cunning serpent had thrown him his first choice. 'Will you stand by my side, or will you become my enemy?' Cain stared down at the crystal bottle pulsing red in his hand for a long time. His vampire instincts screamed sweetly, but his reason whispered coldly. This is a trap. “No matter which side I choose, I will end up playing in Kasimir's palm.” He stood at a crossroads, forced to choose between maintaining the humiliating status quo or rushing toward destruction. But was that really all there was? His gaze shifted to Doria, standing quietly in the shadows of the room. His first subordinate. The sharpest sword that moved according to his will. In that moment, a third option flashed through Cain's mind. A cool smile that no one could predict appeared on his lips. He held out a crystal bottle toward Doria. Doria's amethyst eyes were filled with confusion. She shook her head quietly. “My lord. This is...

too precious. Restoring your strength is the priority.” “No.” Cain's voice was low and firm. “This is not for me. It is for you.” He took another step toward Doria. “My brother, Casimir, wants to see my reaction. Then, I will simply give him an answer he never expected.” His eyes shone cunningly like a fox's. "I have no intention of refusing this gift and confirming his suspicions, nor do I intend to drink this gift and earn his scorn. Instead, I intend to use it very usefully. To sharpen my sharpest ‘sword’ into the most deadly ‘poison’ in the world." Doria finally understood Cain's intentions. Her eyes were filled with awe for a moment. This new master was not merely powerful. She no longer hesitated. She took the crystal bottle Cain offered and drank the chimera's heart blood inside in one gulp. Hwaak! Powerful magic spread throughout her body! The dark elf's unique shadow magic mixed with the chimera's blood and began to explode with amplified power. The darkness around her body writhed as if it were alive. Her shadow became much darker and deeper than before. She groaned in pain, but her eyes shone with joy. Her power was growing stronger. In fact, the Chimera's heart blood is like a drug to vampires. It has the excellent effect of amplifying blood mana and expanding the blood circle, but due to the nature of blood, contaminated blood causes mental confusion and addiction, making one crave more.

However, for Doria, who possessed the aura trait, it simply required a bit more time for blood purification, and there were almost no side effects. Cain watched the scene with satisfaction. Then he picked up the empty crystal bottle and called his servant, Leo. “Return this to my second brother.” Then he whispered quietly into Leo's ear. Leo tilted his head in confusion for a moment, but then bowed his head as if he understood and left the room. Cain's reply to Casimir had begun to be delivered. The west tower of the castle, Casimir's office. Everything there was the opposite of Cain's room. The floor was covered with the finest carpets, and a large map showing the political situation of the continent hung on the wall. The room was filled with a cool, orderly aura of power that reflected its owner's personality. Casimir stared silently at the empty crystal bottle on his desk. Cain's words of gratitude, delivered by a servant just moments ago, lingered in his ears. "... that his ‘sword’ had become sharper?" A cool smile appeared on Kasimir's lips. He stroked his chin with his fingers and began to solve the riddle his brother had thrown at him. “My sword... Was it just flattery, comparing it to himself? No, that can't be. The look in his eyes at the coming-of-age ceremony showed that he was not the type to flatter me.” “Then, did he really sharpen that stick wrapped in cloth? That doesn't make sense either.”

“Then... ‘sword’... a metaphorical expression. His servants, or assets...” The image of Doria, the dark elf who had stood like a shadow behind Cain on the podium, flashed through his mind. At that very moment, the deepest shadow in his office stirred and silently formed a shape. It was a member of the Black Night Knights, his servants. “Report.” “The Fourth Young Master had the Dark Elf who was traveling with him drink all of the Chimera's heart blood that was bestowed upon him.” The spy's report completed the final piece of Kasimir's puzzle. He understood everything. “Hah...” A low exclamation escaped Kasimir's lips. Then he began to laugh aloud. At first it was a small chuckle, but it grew louder and louder until it became a joyful roar that echoed throughout the room. “Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha! This is the real deal. It's truly the real deal!” He laughed for a while, then wiped away tears and muttered. "He uncovered the trap and fed the bait to his own men to strengthen his forces. And he responded with gratitude toward me, even pretending to maintain brotherly affection on the surface... Did he accomplish all of this at once?" There was no longer any contempt for his younger brother in his eyes. Instead, there was the pure joy of one who had finally discovered a new rival capable of playing the “game” on the same level as himself, along with an even deeper sense of crisis.

He walked to the window and gazed at Cain's Tower in the distance. “I thought it was just a fun toy... but it was a wolf cub hiding its teeth.” His smiling face froze instantly. “Then, from now on, it's not a ‘game’ but a ‘hunt’ that begins.” His voice was so cold it seemed to lower the temperature in the room by several degrees. “Hahahahahaha~!” Kasimir's laughter stopped. His face no longer bore a smug smile, but a cold smile of one facing an equal opponent. He looked out the window at Cain's tower and said softly. “I can't touch it directly. My father's eyes are watching.” He knew how foolish assassination or direct attack would be. Such actions were for the reckless Valerius, who relied solely on strength. Those with intelligence eliminate their opponents not with their own hands, but with the hands of “fate.” He gave an order to the Black Night Knight behind him, his shadow. “Tell the 7th Division Commander, Lian, to spread a ‘rumor.’” “What rumor?” "A rumor that the fourth young master's training results have been outstanding, and the count is greatly satisfied. And a rumor mixed with ‘expectation’ that he might soon be given the opportunity to gain practical experience, as it would be a pity to let such talent go to waste." This was a cunning plan to make Ryan accept the mission that would later be assigned to him by Cain as the “Count's test” without suspicion.

The shadow quietly bowed its head and faded into the room like smoke. Left alone in the office, Kasimir approached the large map hanging on the wall. His finger traced the most treacherous border region where the vampire's territory met human territory. “The Howling Forest.” A cruel smile once again curled his lips. “Yes... practical experience is an excellent justification.” The next night. Cain had finished his grueling night training with Lian and returned to his room. He sat on his bed, reviewing the training he had done during the day in the “Cave of Light.” The Circle of Light and the Circle of Blood. The two powers were still unstable, but he was slowly finding the key to their harmony. Just then. Knock-knock- A polite yet weighty knock sounded on his door. At this late hour, during the peak of activity, there was no one who would come to visit him. When Cain opened the door, there stood the count's personal servant. The servant bowed respectfully to Cain and spoke. “Master Cain.” His voice was imbued with an extreme politeness unlike any other servant he had ever encountered. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)