Chapter 52: 52

Chapter 52: 032 . Imperial Prince is Attending a Banquet -3 (Part Two)

This guy’s nature was obviously clean and good, judging from the list Harman had compiled for me . Also, the way he spoke to me and also his reputation among the general populace implied that his traits should definitely align with all things related to kindness . I didn’t really need to use Mind’s Eye to know all that, but still, to be on the safe side…

[Name: Fomor Daia, count .

Age: ???

Traits: Blood sucking, dismemberment, black magic, currently in the ‘thirsty’ state .

Ah! Ah! I want so badly to behead every noble present in here and decorate them! Just how beautiful will the colour of blood be?]

Almost out of reflex, I injected divinity in my hand . But then…

“…??”

“What’s the matter, your highness?”

My widened eyes were now staring at Count Fomor . I then looked down at his hand with divinity still being injected inside .

There was no reaction at all . A hand of an undead that should’ve burnt away remained as it was .

“…Your highness, may I ask if something is troubling you?”

I raised my head and fixed my gaze behind Count Fomor, I then activated ‘Mind’s Eye’ once more .

I couldn’t get any reading on those buried deep among the crowd . It was the same story for those with their faces turned away from me . However, I could clearly see the information on those who were in a near-enough vicinity from me, as well as those who were facing towards me .

Nobles, servants, and maids…

The total number of attendees found on both of the banquet hall’s floors was about one hundred .

Out of those that I could see, the ones who possessed the trait [Blood Sucking] totalled five .

I returned my gaze back at Count Fomor . While smiling brightly, I let go of his hand . “It’s nothing to worry about . ”

“Is that so, your highness?”

“Ah, wait . Count Fomor, I heard that you’ve been taking a good care of my dear older brother . As a token of my appreciation…”

I reached to my side and grabbed a bottle of wine, then poured the drink on a glass . I also didn’t forget to inject some divinity in it to create an impromptu holy water .

I poured two glasses of wine; one for Count Fomor, and the other one for myself .

“Why don’t we share this drink?”

“It’ll be my honour . ”

The count received the wine glass from me . We clinked the glasses and then, he downed it .

I quietly observed him .

There was no disgusting stench coming from him . I also couldn’t pick up any demonic energy or the aura of death from him either .

However, [Mind’s Eye] was busy telling me that this dude was a bonafide vampire . A damn bloodsucker . Also, I was getting this feeling that he was the culprit of the murder I witnessed back in the streets of Laurensis too .

For one thing, the red hair I saw among the market’s crowd matched this guy’s head .

Count Fomor drank the wine permeating with divinity . With a loud ‘glug, glug’ noise, he emptied the glass in one go, his Adam’s apple visibly bobbing up and down .

He then shielded his forehead and shook his head as if a bout of dizziness was assaulting him . “Ahaha, please forgive this rude servant, your highness . I’ve always been weak against alcohol…”

I wordlessly smashed the wine glass on the table next to me . And without a shred of hesitation, slashed the count’s exposed hand with the broken shard .

The skin on the back of his hand broke as blood trickled out . Count Fomor looked stunned for real this time, and while grabbing his bleeding hand, he quickly stepped back .

“Your highness?!”

Harman was about to jump in, but I raised my hand and signalled him to stop . Charlotte was shooting a wary and alert glare in Fomor’s direction . Since she was blessed with quick wits, she must’ve realised by now that I found something was seriously wrong with this Count what’s-his-face .

I shifted my gaze away from them and stared at the vampire’s hand . Fomor ever so sneakily lowered his hands . It was as if he wanted to show me that the cut wound on the back of his hand wasn’t healing .

I stared at that sight for a while, before smiling brightly . “Ah, I’m really sorry about that . My hand slipped just now, you see . ”

“I beg your pardon? Ha, hahaha, no it’s… quite alright, your highness . ”

Count Fomor replied with a bitter smile and began backing away from me .

This sudden event caused the surrounding aristocrats to murmur among themselves .

The count looked around before bowing his head before me . “It seems that… I’ve managed to ruin the banquet’s atmosphere . Allow me to excuse myself, your highness . ”

“That’s fine, sure thing . As for that injured hand, make sure to get it treated properly . ”

Count Fomor exited from the banquet hall as if he was retreating from the place . At a casual glance, he really looked like a loyal retainer taking responsibility for ruining the banquet by making himself scarce from my view .

So, I simply smiled and waved my hand at him .

**

(TL: in 3rd person POV . )

Count Fomor walked along the imperial palace’s corridors with a gentle smile on his face .

He shared quick greetings with the aristocrats who gathered here for the banquet, while also encouraging the servants and maids to do their best and serve them professionally .

His expression didn’t crumble during all these exchanges . But that didn’t last for long; his complexion gradually paled, and he couldn’t do anything about the cold sweat that trickled down his body .

His previously-leisurely steps slowly quickened .

He dashed into the bathroom connected to his private suite in the imperial palace . And then, he locked the door firmly behind him .

His expression instantly crumpled .

Cold sweat poured down as this sensation of flames scorching his entire body wrecked him . That pain was accompanied by blue flames erupting out of his mouth .

“Ah… Ah… Euh… Ah…”

Count Fomor roughly covered his own mouth .

He knew that he mustn’t .

No matter how good the soundproofing of this room was, he mustn’t forget that this was the imperial palace . Someone might somehow latch onto even the smallest noise or actions he made . He must not leave any ‘traces’ of himself anywhere .

He hurriedly tore off the clothes he had on .

By using his sharp claws, he quickly sliced open his currently-burning abdomen .

He proceeded to cut out the oesophagus stained by the wine . He then realised that the holy water had already gone past the oesophagus and permeated into his stomach .

At this rate, divinity would spread out to the rest of his body .

‘I’ll cut out all of my internal organs!’

He then used his claws to cut out every single internal organ out of his body .

He sliced, diced, and extracted everything .

Blood spluttered and splashed, dirtying the floor .

The extracted organs were discarded on the soiled bathroom floor .

The rotting organs wiggled as they burned away . The blue flames enveloped them before they all turned into piles of ashes .

“Damn it… damn it…! That stinking trash of an imperial prince…!”

He hissed quietly through his clenched teeth .

By the time that disgusting, sickening aura dissipated from his body, the merciless pain had also subsided as well .

The destroyed organs began to regenerate a little by little .

Slowly, so very slowly, tentacle-like things enveloped the voids where the organs used to be .

Their speed was far too slow, however .

He didn’t have enough nutrients to accelerate his recovery . The fact that it was still daytime, with the blazing sun over his head, bugged him as well .

‘I-I need blood and meat . ’

What he needed was a fresh living human .

Knock, knock…

Count Fomor flinched at the sounds of knocking, and opened the bathroom door . He could hear the voice of a maidservant coming from beyond the suite’s door itself .

“My lord, I noticed that your complexion was poor earlier . Are you feeling unwell, sir?”

Since Count Fomor was well-liked among the servants and maids, she must’ve come to speak to him due to her worries . Judging from how she spoke in a familiar tone of voice, this woman must’ve been one of the maids assigned to serve him, so he thought .

Fomor quickly changed to a set of new clothes and opened the door .

The maidservant blushed a little when she saw him appear . “Are you feeling alright, sir? I hope that you didn’t push yourself too hard during the banquet…”

“Ah, I’m alright . Thank you . Please do come inside . ”

He stepped aside, and when the maid entered the suite, he locked the door behind her .

“Should I bring you a glass of water? Or…”

While saying this, the maid tilted her head a little . She could see the bloodied formal clothing, plus the piles of ashes through the ajar bathroom door .

“Excuse me… My lord, what could those be…?”

The maid turned her head .

She saw Count Fomor’s mouth split open so wide that his cheeks had been torn apart, with both of his hands raised up high towards her .

Crunch!

**

(TL: back to 1st person POV . )

The nobles were furrowing their brows .

They were busy spitting out various criticism-filled words aimed at me through hushed voices .

I utterly ignored them all and addressed Harman instead, “Hey, Harman . ”

“Please speak, your highness . ”

“Go and get me a pen and paper . ”

“I beg your pardon?”

He seemed deeply confused by my request . He probably couldn’t figure out how the discourtesy I showed Count Fomor earlier was related to an order to acquire a pen and paper .

“Your highness, may I inquire as to what you wish to write on the paper?”

“It’s obvious, ain’t it?”

I scanned the banquet hall once more with ‘Mind’s Eye’ active .

The Theocratic Empire was supposed to be clean and virtuous . However, I was wrong .

This place was…

“It’s time to ferret out the vampires . ”

…No different from a den of monsters .

Fin .