“Why a servant?”
Rita looked at me with sparkling eyes as she spoke.
“I fell in love with your compassion and noble spirit, reaching out to the weak. Please, allow me to serve you.”
Next was Dekatank.
“I was captivated by the generosity of a sister who casually hands out such amazing weapons and armor. I’d love to be your little brother!”
Then came Ninshia.
“You not only saved our lives, but you also bestowed upon us such treasures. I wish to repay this great favor, even if just a little.”
Finally, Hermes chimed in.
“Honestly, it’s just scary.”
“““Hey! That’s rude!”””
Hermes was being bombarded with retorts from the others.
“Scary, you say?”
“…Well, considering I’m up against a monster who possesses a plethora of legendary weapons and commands a Kirin and a Nine-Tails, I have no choice but to surrender.”
“How do you know Fubuki is a Nine-Tails, though?”
“…I’ll just say it’s pointless to hide it. I possess the Magic Mirror Eye.”
“Oh, a Magic Mirror Eye. What kind is it?”
“It’s the Magic Mirror Eye. It has the ability to discern true forms and the power to reflect an opponent’s magic. Plus, I can share the abilities I read with my allies.”
That’s why Dekatank could instantly tell that the items I produced from the weapon shop were legendary.
“…Even with my Magic Mirror Eye, I can’t see through your depths. To be frank, you’re a dangerous opponent. Now that I know your secret, there’s a risk of being eliminated. That’s why I want to become your subordinate.”
It seemed Hermes was quite wary of me compared to the other three, and her reasons for wanting to become a servant were more negative.
“Even if I were to be eliminated, you wouldn’t die, would you, Hermes?”
“What do you mean?”
Hermes sighed.
“I’m a vampire.”
“A vampire…”
The classic fantasy trope. Though she wore a mask, she might be beautiful underneath. After all, vampires in fiction are often depicted as stunning.
“…Don’t stare at me like that.”
“Why not?”
“…I have severe burns underneath.”
According to Hermes…
Her family was killed by a high-ranking vampire, and as a cruel joke, she was given a portion of their blood. As a result, she became a vampire.
Before becoming a vampire, she suffered severe burns, and afterward, she became an immortal being. Thus, her face remained disfigured beneath the mask.
How tragic. I wonder if the Azure Dragon’s Water could heal her?
～～～～～～
Can the Azure Dragon’s Water heal Hermes’s injuries?
→ Impossible.
Healing powers do not work on vampires; instead, they inflict damage.
～～～～～～
It’s a common trope in fantasy that healing potions harm zombies instead of helping them.
So, there’s no way to heal her with potions or healing powers. If it were possible, she would have been healed by the time we arrived at the Dragon Vein Area.
“…What are you staring at?”
“I was wondering if there’s a way to heal that face.”
“…There’s no such thing. It can never be healed. This face, nor the curse of being a vampire.”
A curse, huh… Unable to walk in sunlight, needing to hide her skin, and… unable to die or grow old. It certainly qualifies as a curse.
Somehow, I feel sorry for her. I want to help her somehow.
“Hey. Would you… become my familiar?”
“I don’t mind, whether it’s a familiar or a servant. Do as you please.”
With her consent, I decided to look up how to do it using the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet).
“Saintess, what exactly are you planning to do?”
Rita asked me curiously.
“I’m going to lift the curse of vampirism from Hermes.”
““““Huh…!?””””
Even Hermes seemed shocked by this.
“W-What nonsense are you talking about? Becoming a vampire is an irreversible change!”
Irreversible, meaning it can’t be undone. Just like a boiled egg can’t return to being a raw egg, her body can no longer revert to human form…
At least, that’s what she believes.
“Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”
I first activated “Let’s Become Familiars.” I took a picture of Hermes.
It read, “Vampire Hermes Vlad Tepes.” This must be her real name.
She had already been turned into a vampire familiar. That’s why it said “vampire” on her head. This was the source of her immortality.
I erased the word “vampire” and replaced it with “Vampire Princess.”
“Ugh, ahhhhhh—!”
“““Hermes!?”””
Hermes suddenly began to writhe in pain. Steam was rising from her body.
She convulsed, and her mask fell to the ground with a clatter.
With red eyes and silver hair, she was a beautiful girl. Though her eyes were slightly slanted, her features were doll-like and perfectly arranged.
“!? E-Hermes… you… that face…”
Rita trembled as she took out a hand mirror to show her.
“!? N-No way… the burns are… healed…”
Hermes touched her face gently, as if confirming it.
“And I’m not burning even without the mask. My face… used to hurt intensely even in moonlight.”
The mask wasn’t just to hide her ugly appearance.
“Did… the curse of vampirism lift?”
“It seems so.”
～～～～～～
• Vampire Princess
→ An existence that transcends vampires.
In exchange for losing immortality, she gains immense magical power and the ability to use the skills of the highest-ranking vampires.
～～～～～～
I conveyed the information I found on the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) to her. Hermes plopped down on the ground, bursting into tears.
“I-I’m sorry… did I do something wrong?”
“No, it’s not that… I’m crying because I’m happy…”
Hermes laughed while crying. Her tears were incredibly beautiful.
“I’ve hated this body for so long. Even when I made friends, they would soon die… I hated being an immortal being like this.”
I couldn’t fully understand Hermes’s anguish. After all, I’m not her. But… seeing her freed from her suffering and filled with joy made me happy.
“Hermes…! I’m so glad…!”
Rita, Dekatank, and Ninshia were all shedding tears as well. They were all sharing in the joy of their comrade. What a wonderful team.
“Saintess… thank you so much!”
“I truly appreciate it, Saintess.”
“…You truly are a remarkable person.”
And then, Hermes, instead of making a distasteful face like at the beginning, smiled as she knelt before me.
“Thank you, Saintess. To repay the favor I received from you, I will serve you for the rest of my life.”
Her sudden change from a prickly attitude made me feel a bit uneasy.
“You’re welcome. You don’t need to call me ‘Saintess.’ Just act as you did before.”
“…Understood.”
Phew, that’s a relief.
“Thank you, Saintess. I’m grateful for lifting the curse from my dear comrade.”
“We, the Twilight Dragon, will now serve you, Saintess, and work diligently!”
Dekatank’s words made the three nod in agreement with smiles. It seemed they were genuinely willing to follow me, not reluctantly.
“Impressive, my lord.”
Fubuki, who had been watching the whole scene, spoke with admiration.
“To have the No. 1 adventurer party of Geita Niiga willingly follow you is no small feat. They will surely never betray you now.”
Though I didn’t intend for it to turn out that way.
Huh? No. 1 adventurer party?
“Wait, are these people really that amazing?”
“Indeed, they are famous as the finest party in Geita Niiga. You scouted them without knowing…?”
“Yeah, I had no idea at all…”
“Even with the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) skill…”
“Well, I just wasn’t interested…”
The Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) is indeed convenient. I can look up anything. But conversely, I can only know what I think to look up.
During my time in the Black Court, I didn’t have the luxury to research, and after my exile, I had no interest in the mundane world…
“If that’s the case, it’s even more impressive. You unconsciously selected the best party and made them your subordinates.”
Thus, I officially added the Twilight Dragon to my ranks.
【★☆I have an important request☆★】
If you felt even a little bit,
“This seems interesting!”
“I want to know what happens next!”
I would be grateful if you could give points from the 【☆☆☆☆☆】 below the advertisement!
The number of stars is up to your judgment, but if you could give me ★5, it would greatly boost my motivation and be the best support!
I sincerely ask for your cooperation!