48 『The Hidden City』 (2/2)

Evileye narrowed her gaze on the female, it was another Vampire! Her eyes drifted towards Vertum, then back towards the girl. ”A vampire?” She almost moved into a defensive stance.

”I wouldn't try using any magic within the city.” Vertum turned his head and looked to her with a frown across his lips, it was a warning. ”This is Silva, one of the head Guardians of the City.”

”Guardians?” The Princess was curious rather than appalled at the idea.

Blinking at the woman's title, Evileye slowly returned to a more civil stance before walking towards them. Reaching up, she would slowly pull her mask from her face, revealing her red eyes and blonde hair as well as her youthful complexion.

Silva raised a brow at this, a small titter escaping her lips, otherwise keeping a stern expression. ”Hello,” her eyes traced over the young vampire who was about two hundred and something years old. ”Who may you be?”

”My name is Evileye...”

Silva creased her brows down as she heard this response. Evileye was not a name. ”That's not a name, that's the name of a creature...” She responded as she crossed her arms over her chest.

The small blonde blinked up at the other Vampire.

”What is your true name?” Silva asked as she leaned forward slightly, waiting for an answer.

Ninya looked to Vertum, ”Am I able to head down towards the water?”

”Yes, it should be fine,” Vertum responded with a light snicker across his lips. ”Just don't try swimming in it.” He added before looking to the Princess, then towards Climb who was beside her. ”I can send you back directly to E-Rantel if you'd like. Or you can stay here for a day or so.”

”I think it's worth a grand look around!” Laykus put in her two cents.

”Of course you would think so, Evil Boss.” Tina shook her head with a scoff.

”Spoil me?” The Princess seemed to lean towards Climb, trying to get him to agree despite the fact that he would agree with her anyways, without the pushing.

”Y-yes your highness, of course.” Climb dutifully nodded towards his savior, the one he owed everything to. His eyes trickled on over to Vertum however as he was walking away with everyone else in tow. It had happened so quickly, he hardly noticed it until everyone was already on the move.

The two of them were quick to catch up, and soon enough made it to the City Square.

Sounds emanated from the factory, things were being manufactured and built. And their current depth within the City seemed to expose them to more soldiers dressed in leather and metal half-plate armor.

”What kind of weapons are those?” Ninya asked as one of the soldiers were walking by with a blunderbuss holstered on their lower back, a rifle over their shoulder and a sabre at their hip.

”Ranged weapons for the most part, the rifle uses magic, the one on their back uses hard projectiles... They fire them at lethal velocities...” His eyes traveled over towards a warehouse which was being erected off in the distance. ”For anti-armor.”

”I heard from Gazef-dono that you used them to wipe out the initial wave of Theocracy Troops, is that true?” Climb asked as he walked up to him, wondering just how strong these individuals were. If that was true, it meant that if he learned how to use those particular weapons, it would make him strong enough to fight for his Princess without fail.

Vertum just looked at the boy as he asked this question. He could see the hard determination within his eyes, he nodded slowly. ”The blunderbuss tore Imperial armor rather easily.”

Pursing her lips, the Princess now could only assume that if he were to join them in the Annual War, then perhaps they would be able to invade the Empire. At the same time, she didn't want to. Invading the Empire meant putting Climb at risk as he was a soldier of the Kingdom, despite being favored by her.

”Silva,” he turned his head towards the Vampire, ”Please show our Royal and her escort around the City, while I entertain my personal guests.” Without expecting much of a response, he watched as his head guardian nodded.

Vertum's gaze turned towards Ninya and the Swords of Darkness, as the others were lead away. ”Would you like to see the interior of the Castle?”

Lukrut laughed a bit, he was excited to be here, if not more than Ninya. This place, it was bigger than any cave or cavern he had wandered into as an Adventurer. ”Would we!”

”It seems like we have one vote,” Vertum raised a brow looking at the others.

Humbling pitching her head forward, Ninya nodded as she rubbed the back of her head with her free hand. ”I've never seen a place like this...” She wanted to sit down and write about this, about him. This place was just amazing to look at, she could only imagine what was inside the castle.

”Two votes?” Vertum looked towards Dyne and Peter.

The Druid, Dyne, was rather mellow as he stood there with his weapon still holstered. ”I don't see a problem with it. We've been compensated for our work, but new experiences are good too.”

Peter agreed with his wise friend, and cheered, ”I'm already excited, let's get a move on!”

”Init.” Vertum snickered as he turned on his heel and lead them towards the front of the Castle, a place he called home for several days now, folding his hand behind his back as he did so.