Chapter 36: “The Power of a Not-So-Lesser Vampire”
Ever since, Blanc would spend nights in the game grinding in the wild outside the castle. Whenever the sun was about to rise, she would return to the old castle and either logout—sleep—or chat with the count. That was how she spent her time in the game. There was a day when she couldn’t log in, and then the game officially launched. There weren’t any issues, though, since her virtual wallet was already linked to her account, so the subscription fee would be paid automatically. She barely glanced at the terms of service before agreeing to them.
Back then, after reincarnating, she selfishly refused the [Subordinate], like the original Masked Biker, expecting to get beaten black and blue, but that actually left a good impression on Count Habiland. He really respected how she chose to become a Lesser Vampire under her own will and treated her as a close friend, saying that she was free to use his castle as she wished.
“Had you become my servant before becoming a vampire, then I would be able to control you. However, since you became a vampire as a result of your own choices, I cannot easily bend you to my will.”
After one of the castle’s guest rooms was prepared for Blanc’s exclusive use, she got a system message saying that room was now her personal area. To put it another way, instead of buying land and building her own house, she was renting a room from a landlord.
That said, if she had the chance, she’d sure love to get her own castle or country one day. Blanc just meant that she wanted her own home, but the count took it literally and laughed while saying he’d point out a convenient country nearby that was ripe for destruction. Once she got stronger, she should try attacking it, stuff like that.
“So that country, on the official… I mean, uh, I heard before that it’s not a rich or poor country, but its national power is very stable, or something like that…”
“Mm. It is indeed often said that it is stable. However, for both man and kingdom, stability is but a delayed decay.”
“I see, I see… I think I’ve heard something like that from somewhere else, too.”
“Even still, that country has long since become stagnant. A country whose human resources have stagnated will start to rot. Eventually, while it may or may not completely fall apart, its central pillar will certainly crack. There is already a fierce faction war taking place in the shadows, so it is simply a matter of time.”