Wolves of Hader

Everyone stared blankly at the nighttime city.

It was worse than I had expected.

The capital had turned into a ghost town.

Only the Imperial Palace showed any light. The rest was total darkness. In the dead silence, the roar of a monster echoed from afar. Rotten corpses were scattered all over the streets.

"What happened?"

"Well..."

The squad leader let out a sigh.

He looked as if he didn't even know where to begin. The special forces looked utterly exhausted as well.

"The vampires have occupied the capital."

"There are that many of them to occupy the whole city?"

"Yes. They make up over thirty percent of the capital's population. The rest are either dead or have fled."

"Who's in the Imperial Palace?"

The squad leader sighed again.

"Madam Mien has become the queen."

"Queen? What do you mean, queen?"

"The day you and the others entered the devil's door, monsters and vampires appeared en masse at the same time. It was beyond control."

"So they've built a devil's kingdom or something?"

"That's basically it. There are nobles in the palace, but they all became vampires as well. Refugees have no idea, since the Holy Knights from the palace are out hunting monsters."

"So they're pretending to be saviors?"

"Yes. They're pretending to be human."

It was exactly as I had expected.

It wasn't the grand duke pretending to be the savior, but Madam Mien instead.

"What about the stronghold?"

"The stronghold is safe, but the situation is spreading in the east. Still, it's better than the capital or the center."

"They made it all the way there?"

"Monsters have appeared in the east, too, and vampires are increasing. Commander Russell was blocking the central gate, but finally went to Urada Fortress."

Eilin asked,

"What happened to Robe?"

"It's a similar situation for Robe. But it seems the young lady's father prepared for this, so he evacuated with the king to Dran's main city. The situation is the same in Tern."

All this had happened in just one year.

No, actually, it's long after the chaos began to spread. It seems the special forces have grown used to this world.

"Our members are safe?"

"Some were badly injured, but no one died. There was nothing serious at the stronghold."

The special operations captain spoke.

"It's thanks to the squad leader. When all this began, he told everyone to gather in the underground waterway, so we avoided major danger. After that, we only dealt with monsters in the sewers."

I nodded toward the squad leader.

I expressed my gratitude with just my eyes.

The squad leader bowed his head silently.

"Where is Lord Watts?"

The squad leader squeezed his eyes shut.

"He has died."

It was completely unexpected.

"Who killed him?"

"We still don't know. My guess is it was Art Syren."

"Do you know his whereabouts?"

"We have no idea at all. If we act rashly, our members could die, so I had to stop all activity. After that, our information network was cut off."

"You did well. Lives are more important."

The squad leader had made a wise decision.

Rather than gather intelligence, he chose to make sure everyone survived and waited for me.

"What about Lord Watts's sons?"

"No contact. It seems there were many vampires in the Northern Army. Within three days of battle, multiple legions were defeated, and we've heard nothing since."

"The Northern Army is in the palace now?"

"Yes."

Looking at the palace, I spoke,

"So we don't know about Lord Mals and Lord Parde either."

"That's right. I sent word telling them to evacuate, but I haven't received any reply. It sounds like Tris was attacked with similar intensity as the capital."

Would it even matter to retake the capital?

Even if we killed all the vampires and monsters, the grand duke or Art Syren would just invade afterward.

It's no different from a world destroyed by a zombie outbreak. The nation has vanished, the military disbanded. Survivors would have gathered in shelters, forming their own factions.

"Elder brother, it's me."

–Roger? You've finally returned?

"Yes. Is everyone alright?"

–We're fine. What the hell happened?

"I just came from a place where time flowed differently. I'll explain in detail when I return."

–Okay. Thank goodness, really.

"What about Lord Urke and the Eastern merchant guild?"

–They all went to the new territory. The knight order is guarding the stronghold, and the Eastern Army is stationed at the Eastern Mountain Gate, hunting vampires. Mouk is sealed off, too.

"Alright, let Elder sister and Russell know as well."

–Got it.

After ending the call, I spoke to the squad leader.

"Go to Tris with the Intelligence Division and special forces. We'll head there too after destroying the palace."

"Understood."

I headed for the Imperial Palace with my members.

All I had to do was take down Madam Mien. Kas went to hell, so if we captured the True Demon bloodline, the rest would be handled easily.

I instructed Nabak to go elsewhere. He would open the door of light on Madam Mien's escape route. I knew the palace layout well. There was no escape.

///

The palace gate was tightly shut.

I asked my members,

"Is the power you absorbed turning into magic power?"

"Yes. I think it'll all be magic power within a month."

"How strong do you think you'll get?"

Donnie looked at the others as he spoke.

"I think all of us will become Sword of Light users. Eilin will likely be, too."

That was my expectation as well. Most of the primordial power we accepted from light and darkness settled in Osu's tree. That power should convert to magic faster than before.

I said to Eilin,

"Now we'll be fighting vampires. Just because they look human, don't treat them like people."

"I'm prepared."

I nodded.

She needed to experience fighting humans herself.

Only then would there be nothing to hesitate over.

Kicking off the ground, I leapt onto the wall.

The others also climbed up in one bound, and even Eilin came up easily. She looked lighter on her feet than us.

"Can you give us some holy aura?"

"Yes."

Eilin activated various buffs.

We weren't getting buffed just to increase our combat power—her buffs included holy power intrinsically.

I immediately jumped down to the plaza.

At that moment, soldiers started shouting.

They must have been low-rank vampires.

"The enemy is attacking!"

"Block them!"

They were soldiers from the Northern Army.

As I expected, by their movements, they'd all become vampires. In the palace, spear-wielding ones were rushing out as well.

I dashed through the plaza.

Ignoring the vampires trying to jab with their spears, I blasted straight into the inner palace.

"Hans! Go to the Empress's palace with two others!"

"Yes!"

Hans and two members ran off toward the Inner Court. The rest of us dashed for the main hall. They wouldn't have expected such a sudden raid. Madam Mien was only now hearing the news.

Inside the main hall, there were Holy Knights.

We fought our way through the crowded hallway, mowing down Holy Knights as we went, heading straight for the Emperor's bedchamber.

"The devil worshippers have returned!"

"They're the ones who summoned the monsters!"

Donnie instantly chopped apart the shouting ones. It didn't matter if they weren't vampires—they were collaborators helping the devil.

As we headed for the inner chamber, very fast ones appeared—advanced-rank vampires. They surged out in droves, attacking on all fours like beasts.

Khaaak—

Vampires fell, bodies severed in unison. Only one managed to dodge and charged.

Puhk—

My saber lodged in the forehead of the one who flew at me. Hans's saber pierced its side as well. Kas's subordinates. Their bodies didn't get cut in half with a single blow.

Thuck—

Donnie then beheaded it, slicing through the neck, and the high-rank vampire's head came off. Seemed like a third-level one.

We rushed to the Emperor's bedchamber.

The deeper we went, the more Kas's underlings appeared. That meant Madam Mien was here.

We charged straight in.

I left the minions to the members!

Puhk- Puhkuk—

Cutting down the vampires lunging at me, I burst into the Emperor's quarters. A secret passageway was open.

I pushed through the vampires blocking the passage and entered. From below, a swarm of vampires came charging up. Madam Mien had already fled far ahead.

We'd fallen into a trap.

There was no way out now.

–Young master! They're coming!

"Did you open the door of light?"

–Yes!

Immediately, Donnie infused his ring with lightning magic power. As soon as the door of light formed, we jumped through.

It was the entrance to the underground canal that connected to the river.

From inside the canal, I heard sounds of fighting. Hans and the others, who'd exited through the Empress's palace first. Apparently, there were no vampires blocking their way.

–We're coming out now!

Just as Hans's voice rang out—

A new figure darted out quickly. In that instant! Donnie and I slashed him with our greatswords at the same time.

Puhkuk—

The two sabers struck the intruder's solar plexus and legs. The body toppled backward with a thud.

It was Madam Mien. As she struggled to escape, Donnie pinned her with his knee, twisting her arm behind her back. I drew my saber and raised it high.

"I'll kill you! I'll ki—"

Suk—

I cut off Madam Mien's head mid-scream. With a thunk, her head rolled away. Hardly any blood spilled, proof that she was a vampire.

"Kill all of Kas's underlings!"

"Yes!"

The members rushed into the canal.

Vampires pursuing the madam swarmed out, and a fight broke out inside the canal.

All Kas's subordinates were third-level vampires, and so was Madam Mien. She was a direct bloodline, so she had slightly stronger authority.

So, once we wiped out all the third-level vampires, any new ones they created would be weak. Most vampires in the capital and continent were like that.

"Is this woman the daughter of a high-ranking vampire?"

"Yes. Devil bloodline."

Eilin's suit of armor and sword were stained with blood. Not human blood, but the black blood of vampires. She probably wouldn't hesitate just because vampires looked human anymore.

I looked at Madam Mien's head.

Her face was frozen with eyes wide and mouth howling in anger. She must never have imagined she'd die such a pointless death.

"Even if Kas returns, things won't be as before. His authority won't compare to the young lady's holy power."

I nodded.

If Eilin made us an even stronger holy sword, we wouldn't need her presence.

"I've already made enough holy swords."

"You mean our greatswords?"

"That's right. For the last year, I've been continually imbuing them with holy power, just as you entrusted them to me. They aren't at the level of my holy sword, but the holy power is substantial, so they'll be effective."

Before going into the devil's door, I had asked Eilin to keep the Racrom greatswords. After a year of imbuing them with holy power, their effectiveness would be beyond compare.

I immediately opened the magic vault.

Donnie went inside and brought out the holy greatswords Eilin had made. Swapping out our old sabers, we put them in the magical handle. The greatswords shone with light.

"I need to test them."

"Yeah."

Donnie took the greatswords and went in.

What I witnessed while watching was astounding. The blades sliced cleanly through third-level vampires' torsos. There was no resistance at all.

The severed bodies gradually turned to ash and scattered, the holy light spreading through the wounds. If he used lightning too, their bodies erupted in flames instantly.

Khaaaa—

The passage echoed with the vampires' death screams.

This capital would be an ownerless land now.

At least until Kas returned.

The empire had fallen.

///

I arrived at Tris.

This place was just as empty. Most of the citizens had fled, and only monsters roamed the streets.

Following the squad leader, I headed for a certain building.

It was our family's safe house.

"You're finally here."

The people sitting inside stood up.

Count Mals. Count Parde. Kudo.

Kudo had been guarding this building.

"You went through a lot."

"Yes, truly, I could cry from relief."

"You and your members—only now do I realize how crucial your presence has been. Who would have thought the empire would collapse so easily?"

The two of them were in the eastern Tris evacuation shelter, guarded by some remnant troops. In addition, there are many refugee shelters along the eastern coastline.

"What about Merchant leader Barako?"

"Missing. Probably fell to the vampires."

"What happened to the Central Army?"

"Scattered to the winds. The Central Army's position is unclear; some are blocking the route to the eastern coast and Urada. General Brai is commanding there."

Kudo spoke.

"No one can live here in Tris anymore. I moved our business assets early, so we avoided major losses, but I doubt we'll ever return to our previous world."

Everyone fell silent.

I looked at Lord Parde and Lord Mals.

"Were you waiting for me?"

"Yes. Now there's no nation, no army. Monsters roam free—what else can we do?"

I studied the two.

Lord Parde had his knight order, so he must have something in mind. I was the unpredictable factor he had awaited.

"I'll say this to both of you in advance."

"What is it?"

Looking at them, I said,

"I intend to become king."

The two simply looked at me.

They swallowed dryly.

***

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