Chapter 15: Blood Banquet (3)
In the deep night, a black shadow ran swiftly through the dense trees of a thick forest.
Soon, five or six more shadows followed, chasing the one ahead.
While pursuing him, the attackers recalled the human they had just fought.
Despite being ambushed, he hadn’t panicked. Instead, his eyes had shown a fighting spirit and boldness.
That was not the gaze of someone inexperienced.
It was the look of someone who had survived countless brushes with death for years.
Because of that, no matter what the human said or did, they did not lower their guard.
And yet, right when the enemy stood before them, the human suddenly turned and ran.
The attackers fiercely chased after him.
While running, Leotiz occasionally cut down branches with his dagger to block their path, but as expected, it had little effect.
If only I had Lunatirum.
Lunatirum was a diluted drug made from refined mana stones, used by monster hunters when hunting magical beasts.
After taking Lunatirum, one’s physical abilities and combat power would temporarily rise to abnormal levels. Depending on the person, they could even rival high-class monsters like vampires.
Normally, he carried three or four extra doses.
Unfortunately, he had already used them all before his comrades were wiped out.
Even if he had some left, Leotiz had no intention of fighting them there.
Before leaving the banquet hall, Camula had hugged him and whispered quietly into his ear:
“If someone calls you outside, come to the back palace.”
Had she already anticipated this situation?
Or was it just coincidence?
Either way, this wasn’t the time to think about it.
All Leotiz could do now was run toward the palace as she had instructed.
Just as the attackers faithfully moved under someone’s orders, Leotiz also ran faithfully under his lord’s command.
But no matter how long he ran, the promised palace did not appear.
He was already quite far from the main palace where the banquet was being held, and darkness surrounded him.
Was this castle always this big?
To make matters worse, his stamina was reaching its limit.
He had already run more than twice his usual training distance, though normally that wouldn’t be a problem.
Maybe he had gotten soft lately from eating well, resting well, and living comfortably.
After running for quite some time, he finally saw the roof of the palace in the distance.
Seeing his destination at last, Leotiz pushed more strength into his legs.
At that moment, the attackers were right on his heels.
As the distance narrowed and they nearly caught him, one of them lunged forward.
Clang!
Leotiz quickly turned and deflected the attack with his sword.
The moment he stopped, the attackers tried to seize the opportunity and launch a full assault.
But then—
A gust of wind suddenly blew.
And Leotiz disappeared before their eyes.
The attackers quickly looked around in formation.
“You actually made it. I was worried you might get lost.”
At the sudden voice, all their gazes turned in one direction.
There, standing against the bright full moon, was a woman with jet-black hair flowing in the wind and crimson eyes.
Though she had a slender figure, she was surprisingly holding the human they had been chasing in her arms.
Smiling, she said:
“I knew betting on this place was the right choice.”
* * *
Meanwhile, when Camula did not return even after time passed, Blood and the elders eventually went to the palace.
But when they opened the door and entered, the place was already in ruins.
The room was in complete disarray, as if a violent struggle had taken place. Fresh bloodstains were visible on the walls and floor.
Robes worn by the maids were shredded and scattered across the ground, with piles of ash covering them.
Everyone was momentarily speechless at the unexpected sight.
The person who should have been there was gone.
Only a horrific scene remained.
It was enough to spark both shock and fury.
Cracks formed in Blood’s expression.
How dare they mock me?
Uncontrollable rage surged through his body.
His clenched fists revealed his anger.
“Impossible! There’s no one here!”
“We were tricked!”
“They escaped again!”
The elders shouted in anger, but Blood suppressed his fury and carefully examined the room before walking toward the wide-open window.
The maid assigned to Camula had been a loyal subordinate who had served him for many years.
Among the entire clan, she ranked among the top five strongest.
The other maids were also elite warriors he had personally selected and trained.
Their strength rivaled pureblood vampires.
Yet they had been turned into ash in an instant.
Did Camula do this?
Even though she had completed her coming-of-age ceremony and received her true name, this should have been impossible.
Does she have an accomplice?
If so, who helped her?
As questions piled up, a sudden gust of wind blew before him.
Right. That man was there.
That explained some things.
Impossible for others.
But that man he saw earlier was different.
Interesting.
To dare interfere with his plans.
If left alone, he would only become troublesome.
A countermeasure was needed.
At that moment, an idea crossed his mind.
Yes… that will do.
His rage-twisted lips suddenly relaxed into a sinister smile.
Blood turned away.
His smile was already gone.
“Lord Blood, what should we do now?”
“To run away before a sacred ritual! This is a disgrace to the clan!”
“We must capture her immediately!”
Despite the elders shouting, Blood said nothing.
He simply walked out silently, with the elders following behind.
“Lord Blood! Where are you going?”
At their question, he stopped.
“If something this serious has happened, shouldn’t we inform the clan?”
His coldest gaze fell upon them.
“Our precious pureblood has been kidnapped by a human.”
* * *
Camula was quite pleased, knowing she had made the right choice.
But the person in her arms did not share her feelings.
At first, Leotiz didn’t even understand what was happening.
One moment he was dodging an attack, the next his body floated into the air.
Then suddenly his back was supported and his legs lifted.
It was a princess carry.
After realizing the situation, Leotiz sighed deeply.
“Why are you sighing? You’re alive.”
Camula scolded him.
“I mean… could you put me down first?”
“Hm? Why?”
“Don’t you think the roles between man and woman are reversed?”
“Not really.”
That was her genuine opinion.
And his complaint was genuine too.
Never in his life had he imagined being carried by a woman.
Regardless of how she felt, he found it extremely embarrassing.
He was supposed to be the one carrying her.
He was sincerely relieved none of his comrades were there to see this.
Meanwhile, the attackers seemed surprised by Camula’s sudden appearance, but once they saw she was alone, they drew their weapons again.
“Hmm, you’re not surprised to see me.”
A normal vampire would have been intimidated by a pureblood like her.
But they showed no such reaction.
If anything, they seemed relieved she was a woman.
Behind Camula and Leotiz was a dead end.
If they surrounded them from the front and sides, escape would be impossible.
The attackers spread out in a semicircle, slowly tightening the noose.
Then Camula lowered her head and suddenly laughed.
“You think you’ve cornered us, don’t you?”
The attackers hesitated briefly but did not stop.
“But did you consider this?”
She raised her head with a slight smile.
“What if we lured you here?”
“!?”
Their movements froze.
At that moment, Camula casually tossed Leotiz aside and cut her own arm with her sword.
A red line formed on her pale arm.
Soon crimson blood began flowing down her skin.
The sweet scent of her blood filled the air.
The attackers froze in a trance.
When the blood of a pureblood entered their bodies, overwhelming strength filled them.
They had never felt such explosive power before.
The others felt the same.
They were itching to unleash it.
Leotiz looked at her in disbelief.
“Why are you making the enemies stronger?!”
They were already difficult opponents.
Now they were overflowing with power.
But Camula remained perfectly calm.
“My lord!”
“Wait.”
Without a trace of agitation, she quietly observed them.
Perfect.
The weather was just right too.
“My lord!”
Leotiz tried to step in front of her, but he was too late.
Just as an attacker’s hand was about to touch Camula—
CRACK!
With a gruesome sound, the attacker’s entire body twisted unnaturally.
He died instantly without even screaming.
Everyone was shocked.
Except one person.
“Why so surprised? Tonight is my banquet. It’s only proper to entertain my guests.”
Camula extended her arm toward them.
“Now then… who wants to dance with me next?”
A full moon night filled with blessings.
A banquet beginning with spilled blood.
Within it, her crimson eyes shone with brilliant madness.
