Chapter 61: Castlevania (2/2)
“So at one point, our prey will stop to hibernate, and we will catch them then.” Vainqueur relished the thought.
“Unfortunately, powerful vampires always have Renfields to protect them or transport their coffins while they sleep.” Knight Kia chuckled at everyone’s confusion. “It’s a term vampire hunters use to call mortal servants, alongside the ‘Bella’ fans. They also have stronger cousins called ‘Igors’, but they usually serve liches or mad scientist types.”
“A chief of staff,” Vainqueur said, looking down in contempt at the manling for ignoring the proper term.
“The easiest way to deal with a vampire is usually to turn their Renfields against them, since their Bellas remain unfailingly loyal; even if they seem to hesitate at first. Bellas are obsessed with their masters, but Renfields are usually motivated by fear or desire for power. If they see the opportunity for a better alternative than their current master, they will take it.”
“So make their minions my minions, and eat those who are not good recruit material.” Vainqueur nodded.
“This gives me an idea,” Manling Victor said. “But it may take time.”
“They can also use others’ crypts and tombs as alternate sanctuaries,” Knight Kia continued. “Have you checked your graveyard?”
“We, uh, we don’t have one,” said Manling Victor.
Knight Kia frowned. “You don’t have a graveyard?”
“Well, everyone who dies in Murmurin is usually revived as an undead, or turned into fertilizer.”
“Or eaten by me,” Vainqueur said.
“That too.”
“His Majesty leaves nothing to waste!” Red Ranger chirped. “We recycle everything!”
“Yes, we are the most eco-friendly government on Outremonde,” Manling Victor said with sarcasm, which made Vainqueur worry. Obviously the presence of Knight Kia disturbed him as much as it did his master.
“Then either they transported their coffins and move them around, or you missed a crypt or dungeon buried somewhere in the area. Considering their numbers, I find that part more likely.”
“I had every tunnel and hidden passage in the castle closed after we raided the Pyramid of Sablar,” Manling Victor said. “It’s a stratagem.”
“Good call, minion,” Vainqueur congratulated him, happy that he could distinguish pyramids from towers now. “Furibon will not retake the castle by guile, and my gold will remain safe.”
“Then they’re probably under the city,” his chief of staff continued. “The presence of a Hellgate would suggest dark forces operated in the region even before Furibon took it over. A pity he escaped, we could have asked him…”
“Which is your fault, minion.”
“Your Majesty, we will search the entire town for catacombs,” Red Ranger proposed.
“Good idea, minion,” the dragon said and nodded. “Until we can locate their nest, I shall return to my training and prepare to crush them.”
“You already have levels in [Witch Hunter] Vainqueur,” Knight Kia said. “Promoting it into [Vampire Hunter] should be child’s play. I could train you if we have the right tools—”
“Wait,” Manling Victor interrupted her. “Could you train groups in vampire hunting?”
“If they meet the stat criteria, yes, sure. We will need the right tools though. I have no idea why, but whips and crosses are required to take the [Vampire Hunter] class.”
A whip.
Vainqueur already visualized it. The perfect weapon to fight the most annoying creatures in the world: vampires, and minion strikers. Much better than the damn ax which annoyed him in Haudemer.
“I thought we should train our minions in the ways of new classes,” Friend Victor explained himself. “Since my [Monster Insight] can identify their infiltrators, I thought I should try to get more [Monster Squires], and if you can contribute, all the better.”
“You would teach us to become dragonly like you, chief?” Red’s eyes widened in envy.
“Teaching Kobolds how to become Vampire Hunters?” The idea seemed to entertain Knight Kia. “Can it even work?”
“It’s worth a try,” Vainqueur’s chief of staff replied. “Vainqueur may not gain a new level in that class, but learning the skills of one will help.”
“All of V&V must remain in top shape against this new threat,” the dragon declared. “I shall lead by example. Knight Kia, to prove yourself worthy of my niece, I shall allow you to serve me in that capacity.”
“So… you want me to teach you, but you do not want to word it so simply?”
“You shall learn to serve me,” Vainqueur clarified, before turning to his most prized lackey. “You too, Manling Victor. You have yet to learn more Monster Perks since we fought Furibon.”
“Because it involves me surviving the attack first, and it hurts!”
“Minion, have you not tasted death already? What is there to be afraid of anymore? I too suffered pain when Furibon murdered my hoard, or when Jolie let that…” Vainqueur glanced at Kia, his voice dying in his throat at the sight of that poor excuse of a minion. “Let her do the thing we shall not speak of in front of my other minions. Yet look at me! I remained as amazing as ever!”
Charisma check successful!
“Mmm… when worded this way… but I don’t know...”
Your Minion is seeing the wisdom of your words but remains unsure. Will you persuade him by:
A) Telling him he will become more powerful.
B) Remind him that suffering for you is the greatest pleasure a minion can experience.
C) Convincing him that he will have more opportunities to breed if he trains.
Clearly, all of the above! “Minion, by becoming more powerful, you will not only get used to the pain and learn to enjoy it for me, but you will become a more desired breeding partner!”
“It is true that high-level and fame improve your dating life, but it gets tiresome very quickly,” Knight Kia said.
“Really?” Manling Victor asked.
Charisma check successful!
“We live in a village full of monsters…” Vainqueur remained silent, letting Manling Victor make the words his own. “And since it’s getting harder to level up more, we should explore our existing abilities… For battle. For battle!”
“We will gladly teach you our attacks, chief,” Pink Ranger said. “So you can show us how to do them better!”
“You can learn the Perks of monsters?” Knight Kia whistled. “Nice! How many?”
“I dunno, I never tried to push this ability to its logical extremes.”
“You are my chief of staff,” Vainqueur cheered him up, “You can do anything.”
“I know I will regret saying that, but can Your Majesty…” Manling Victor struggled to spit out his demand. “Almost kill me?”
…
…
…
Ah. Finally.
Time to teach him the masterful art of firebreathing then!
“Say no more, minion.” Vainqueur inhaled and held his breath. “We will begin with the easiest technique: the wyrmling fireball.”
“Wait, wait, Your Majesty, I didn’t mean it right now—”
Too late.
Vainqueur unleashed the weakest fireball he could on his minion, creating a small crater while at it.