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Chapter 322

The moon shone brilliantly, and the stars twinkled across the vast night sky.

The distant hooting of owls could be heard.

Close by, insects sang their chorus.

The cool breeze rustled the grasses and trees.

Rocks gleamed under the light of the moon and stars.

The breaths of sleeping animals and the movements of nocturnal creatures were all around.

In this quiet yet vibrant forest night, he was undoubtedly an anomaly.

His neatly kept black hair and wet-blue eyes suggested he was in his early to mid-thirties. He wore a simple gray cloak over a well-made black vest, white shirt, and linen trousers, a seemingly impractical outfit for a forest where monsters could appear.

His only apparent preparation was an old, well-used longsword hanging from a weathered belt.
But if anyone recognized this man, they wouldn’t worry about his safety. He was Dran Almadia Berlrest, the house steward of Bern Territory, which had grown into a nation in its own right, and the strongest magician of his time.

Dran had survived numerous wars, assassination attempts, poisonings, conspiracies, and curses without ever being injured. None of his close ones had ever been harmed either. He was now regarded as “The Untouchable,” surpassing even the Archwitch Merle, who was dubbed the “second strongest magician.”

「Hmm, from behind or above?」

Dran, now a mature adult, muttered his habitual phrase, pondering. The sound of metal scraping signaled his sword being drawn. The long companion he had wielded for over a decade felt like an extension of his body. With the dragon’s eye infused with the ancient dragon’s soul and its immense magical power, Dran’s vision caught the sight of a figure emerging silently from the darkness before him.

The one who stepped out from the embrace of darkness was a boy with hair and skin that shone whiter than moonlight. He was a beauty blessed by the night, never to be touched by sunlight. The boy’s attire—a dark blue coat over a black ascot tie, white shirt, and black vest—was just as impractical for a dangerous forest as Dran’s.
But the boy’s eyes revealed the answer. They shone with a vivid red, a color that only the most refined and compressed blood could achieve. He was a vampire, one of the strongest beings, blessed by the night and darkness, and would turn to ash in sunlight.

Dran’s encounter with a vampire was due to one reason. One of his companions, Dramina, was a legitimate heir of the Six Vampire Houses from a continent across the southern sea. Although peace had returned after the brutal conflicts between the houses, it wasn’t surprising that someone would seek the bloodline of a former ruler, whether to restore ancient order or create chaos for their benefit.

Was this boy an assassin sent to eliminate Dran to retrieve Dramina? His face, so beautiful it seemed miraculous, and his every move were works of art, yet devoid of life. His presence caused the forest creatures to fall silent, exuding an aura of menace.

「So, the answer is from the front. Do you desire a direct confrontation?」

However, to Dran, the boy’s ominous aura was no more than a breeze. Dran’s right hand, still holding the sword, hung loosely by his side, showing no tension. The boy, too, accepted this as natural.
The boy’s expression grew tense. Despite his otherworldly beauty, he knew he was facing Dran, an existence far beyond this world, lingering here by some anomaly.

「A surprise attack wouldn’t work on you.」

The boy’s hand gripped a curved longsword. It was clearly a superior weapon compared to Dran’s, its blade gleaming in the moonlight. The boy, aware of Dran’s capabilities from past encounters, seemed to understand that this was a hopeless diversion. Even without Dran, Dramina, Selina, Diadra, Christina, and the maid trio were all exceptionally powerful. It was unlikely anyone could capture Dramina.

The boy made the first move. He lunged at Dran with a longsword shining in the moonlight, aiming for his neck. The blade struck with a high-pitched clang as it was parried. The boy used the momentum to spin and deliver a second strike, aiming for Dran’s waist, but it was again blocked by Dran’s ancient longsword.

No matter how powerful the enchanted or cursed sword was, it couldn’t nick the dragon-claw sword infused with Dran’s magic. This was expected by the boy. He kept attacking relentlessly, moving around Dran, who remained unmoved and unyielding, his expression unchanging, a confident smile on his lips.

After fifteen attacks, the boy attempted a thrust from behind. Dran caught the blade between two fingers, and the boy jumped back, spreading his coat like bat wings. Dran did not pursue, waiting calmly for the boy’s next move.

Given the disparity in their abilities, Dran’s lack of urgency was understandable. His smile was not one of arrogance but seemed driven by another reason. The boy’s face tightened as he raised his sword to the sky. The surrounding darkness deepened, and the moonlight seemed to focus solely on his sword.

「Moonlight Slash.」

Vampires, created by the night and moon gods, are always favored by them. As the boy swung his glowing sword, numerous blades of moonlight shot towards Dran. Dran raised his left hand, spreading his fingers, and cast a spell without chanting.

「Celestial Javelin.」

Multiple spears of light formed above and rained down, shattering the moonlight blades. The celestial javelins remained unscathed, highlighting the vast difference in their powers. As the shattered blades dissolved into particles of light, the boy leaped, using the spears as stepping stones, closing the distance between them in an instant.

「Haa!」

With a shout, the boy delivered a vertical slash aimed at Dran’s head. The blade, sharp as his voice, sliced through the starlight. As their gazes met, the next moment, the boy found himself lying on the ground, looking up at the sky, not knowing how he got there. Dran had gently but firmly thrown him down, his left hand gripping the boy’s wrist, the dragon-claw sword at his throat.

「…That was my best shot.」

「It was a good strike, full of spirit. But I can’t go down that easily, Arkadra.」

Dran lovingly called his “son’s” name and helped him up. They sheathed their swords, and the tension dissipated. Despite the seriousness of their duel, it was clear no lethal intent had been exchanged. Arkadra, the boy—Dran and Dramina’s eldest son—smiled at his father with affection.

As a dhampir, the child of a vampire and a human, Arkadra could operate in daylight but was much more active and energetic at night under the moon. Despite having exceptional teachers like Dramina and Christina, Arkadra valued sparring with his father as a form of bonding.

「Children grow up so fast. I felt it when I saw you in the forest. Your stealth has improved significantly.」

「You must have seen through it all, father. I’m far from matching mother’s skill. Even if you praise me, it’s hard to accept it honestly.」

「Oh, a rebellious phase?」

「Hardly. I’m just constantly reminded of how high the wall is between you and mother.」

「If you can say that honestly, then you’re not too twisted. I may not be able to teach you much, but just being my child puts you at risk. We need to ensure you can protect yourself, or we’ll be worried sick. Fighting isn’t the only way to live, but I’ll keep training you for a while, Arkadra.」

In reality, anyone reckless enough to threaten Dran’s family would be at a divine level, but there were still strong individuals in the earthly realm. Dran and his generation preferred to let their children handle such challenges themselves, making training a precaution.

「I don’t mind sparring with you, father. It suits me well.」

「That’s good to hear. Some of your siblings don’t take to fighting as well as you do. I teach you how to live, but how you live is up to you. I’ll support you in whatever you choose, whether it’s being a merchant, musician, artist, poet, adventurer, or official.」

「Father, I think you’re a bit too lenient with us. I’m sure my siblings feel the same.」

「I was raised with love and care, so it’s natural I treat my children the same way. Don’t you think?」

「I appreciate it, but I often feel like I’m always being helped, making it hard to become independent.」

Arkadra shrugged, and Dran smiled, finding it amusing. His son was so competent it made him want to care for him even more.

「Arkadra, you’re quite mature for your age. Is it Dramina’s doing?」

「Mother is strict compared to you. But with stepmothers like Selina, step-sisters like Lenia, and others like Lynette spoiling us, many of my siblings do get spoiled.」

Arkadra’s thin shadow, a fraction of Dran’s, moved silently through the forest. Despite his vampire heritage, Arkadra’s shadow was thin, and his footsteps were silent. He inherited his mother’s features so much that, at a glance, no one would think he was Dran’s son.

「Hmph, I wish you’d stay with me forever, but I also want you to grow up and leave the nest. Parenthood is full of such fresh feelings. I’m curious to see what kind of future you’ll walk towards. It’s a mix of slight anxiety and immense anticipation. I can’t wait to see what you become.」

「I’m glad you have high expectations, but having multiple goddesses among our stepmothers is unique to us. It’s hard to put into words.」

Arkadra referred to goddesses like the Earth Mother Mylar, the Great Evil God Karavis, the Chief Death God Thanatos, and the Goddess of Time Chronomaze. Though Dramina was the strongest vampire, compared to true divine beings, she was somewhat at a disadvantage.

「Haha, if that’s the case, then think of it as a unique experience you can’t get elsewhere. Enjoy it.」

Seeing his father’s cheerful face, Arkadra smiled wryly. It wasn’t easy, but he didn’t dislike his father. It was a smile showing that at least.