#198
White Giant (5)
The Kingdom of Talia had now entered the reign of the vampire clan union, 'Hybrid'.
The blood donation centers established everywhere had all resumed normal operations, and the people's confusion was gradually settling into a state of calm.
Now, there were even growing numbers of people praising them, saying life had become better than before, so one could say everything was flowing smoothly.
"...That concludes this week's domestic incidents and accidents."
But that didn't mean all problems within the kingdom were solved.
The citizens were still being incited by reactionaries, not to mention attempted terrorism targeting social infrastructure and blood donation centers, and rebellion plots popping up every so often.
Though they were nipped in the bud each time by the intelligence network laid out like a spiderweb, their methods were growing increasingly sophisticated, making it unavoidably troublesome in many ways.
'And to think I already have so much to do.'
Heinz II, who had been listening to the report quietly in the king's office, furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
"Hmmm, so the ones behind it are the three surrounding kingdoms after all?"
"That is correct. However, they are moving after destroying all evidence, so we were unable to secure concrete physical proof. My apologies, High Lord."
At his light remark, Mulro Brokoseullak, who oversaw all domestic and foreign intelligence, bowed his head deeply in shame.
Heinz nodded perfunctorily and skimmed the report enumerating the detailed matters.
'Still, it's decreased a lot compared to the early days. Well, we've crushed them that much, so those pulling tricks must feel there's no point in continuing like this.'
Be that as it may, Hybrid's control over the Kingdom of Talia was at a level beyond imagination.
It was only natural, as vampires possessing abilities far surpassing those of humans, incapable of even dreaming of betrayal or temptation, and absolutely loyal to their sovereign, were spread throughout every corner of the nation.
Attempts to shake them using ordinary citizens had happened once or twice, but each time they were shattered before anything could be done, so those willing to sympathize with them had nearly dried up.
'The chaos is only prolonged due to foreign intervention; this too won't last long.'
He could fully understand their position as well.
No matter how much the Church of the Lord God and the Saint had accepted them, it was inevitable that they would feel uneasy at the situation where vampires, whom they had regarded as enemies their whole lives, had devoured a neighboring country.
Wasn't Hybrid still gathering their kin from across the entire continent even now, increasing their numbers?
They would want to buy time to prepare countermeasures, even if it meant hindering them like this.
'Come to think of it, we're gradually eroding the underworld over there as well, so their concerns aren't entirely wrong.'
Heinz sneered coldly and placed down the report he had been holding.
For now, due to the eyes of the world, he had no choice but to remain quiet against their tricks, but he had no intention of enduring this forever.
'First, I'll have to start by gradually expanding my influence from the shadows.'
If he was going to do it, he would do it properly.
After all, the secret struggle in the dark was the vampire's specialty that had continued for ages, was it not?
"That aside."
Having paused his words for a moment, he picked up another document placed beside the report he had set down and opened his mouth again.
"This information... is it something that just came in?"
"Yes, that is correct. In fact, that could be called the core of this report. The moment we first received the news, realizing the gravity of the situation, we urgently collected and organized the latest data."
Mulro answered thus and began his briefing with confidence.
"Gigantic white giants have been appearing in various parts of the continent. Their size easily surpasses ordinary castle walls, and their strength and regenerative ability are also..."
All contents Heinz already knew.
But the subsequent information included things he hadn't known—
"Thus far, three entities have been observed. Two have been subjugated. One was immediately dealt with by the crusaders led by Saint Heinrich in the Resque Kingdom..."
It meant the giant that had appeared in this world was not the only one.
"Another rampaged through the western borderlands of the Azerion Empire before being slain by high-ranking officials including a Legion Commander. The sudden chaos caused such great damage to the military units that the entire legion blocking monsters in the west was said to have been shaken to its core."
Having fought that monster directly, he knew full well how difficult it was to handle.
Yet they had hunted another one somewhere else before he knew it; indeed, their capabilities were nothing to scoff at either.
'As expected of the Empire. The damage seems to have been great, but it appears they somehow caught it through their own strength.'
However, there was one pronounced difference from the giant Heinrich had faced.
"...It corroded its surroundings simply by breathing?"
"Yes, that is correct. It was said to have exhaled poisonous gas through the one nostril that had been torn open. Because of this, approaching it was itself a torment."
Yet the survivors of the unit that first discovered it testified that it lacked such an ability initially.
If so, there was only one conclusion.
'...As I feared, it must have grown stronger by accumulating evil karma.'
Certainly, compared to its overwhelming presence, the white giant's abilities had felt somewhat lacking.
Of course, it was already oppressive in itself, but the direction of its abilities had been excessively focused on survivability.
'Yes, that black seal was certainly ominous. If so, could it be that it deliberately sealed its abilities to emerge from the Abyss, then accumulated evil karma on the surface to release the seals one by one?'
With the newly heard news combined with the information on Hans's 「Immortal Heart」 and 「Forbidden Knowledge」, he could quickly assess the situation.
Of course, it was still regrettable that the true nature of the white giant remained unknown, but that was something to find out gradually from here on.
"And the one that wasn't subjugated..."
Even as Heinz was following this train of thought, Mulro's words continued.
"It appeared in the territory of the Principality of Rohan, dealt fatal damage to the defense army, and then fought the elites of the Church of the Lord God including Cardinal Pirey who arrived belatedly before fleeing."
In the process, the monster used monsters driven out from the mountain range to threaten the survivors of the defense army, so in the end the church party was forced to let the giant escape as well.
'...Monsters and giants are indeed hosts of the same madness. And on top of that, it has the intelligence to use them.'
At that headache-inducing situation, Heinz closed his eyes tightly and fell into thought.
Three giants had appeared, and one of them had been allowed to escape.
Wouldn't that escaped one become a major stumbling block later?
There wasn't even any guarantee that the appearance of the giants would end here.
If those that emerged were to flee like this one...
"The giant that fled is said to have hidden somewhere in the northern mountain range, but as the location is what it is, we were unable to uncover its subsequent movements."
At those trailing words from Mulro, Heinz opened his closed eyes and looked at him.
'Hmm? If it's the northern mountain range in the direction of the Principality of Rohan...'
But at that moment.
Kwaaang—!
There was one who entered boldly, opening the door to the office wide.
"Heinz! I'm back."
It was Briki, another Sacred Blood of Hybrid.
"Oh my, Mulro was here too? Lord... no, High Lord? This young lady has returned? Ooh-hoo-hoo—."
Briki put on an act of only just realizing her presence upon seeing Mulro, only then straightening her etiquette.
Given her abilities, she would have been fully capable of ascertaining who was inside beforehand, but this wasn't the first or second time she had shown such behavior, so by now he simply let it pass.
'She's my senior by a vast margin, after all. And an excellent source of labor at that.'
Besides, Mulro had once been her direct subordinate, so he could understand this much.
"...High Lord? You've suddenly gone into a bad mood again. I'm sure this happened before too; I wonder why that is?"
As expected, the sharp Briki furrowed her features and looked at him, but Heinz diverted the conversation with a calm expression.
"It must be lack of blood. I'll say this in advance, so pick a few from the processing center. More importantly, business?"
She too, though grumbling as if she had no choice, opened her mouth readily—
It was regarding the work of courteously inviting the vampire clans located in the Azerion Empire finally being completed.
Of course, it had been impossible to track down those thoroughly in hiding, but any force of considerable scale was bound to be exposed, so the number missed wouldn't be significant.
"The north is in shambles, so it seems unlikely any clans have remained there until now, and southern lands with barbarians are too troublesome for us to inhabit... so what remains is only the Jepia Republic in the east, yes?"
"Hmmm, is that so?"
Anyway, with this he had roughly grasped the current situation.
From the internal state of the Talia Kingdom to the existence of the white giant that could be called a variable, and to the Obaipo Clan of the east that could be called the last hurdle for the unification of the vampires.
'I suppose if I am to intervene aggressively in this situation, I will need to step further into the forefront.'
The 2nd Continental Summit happened to be soon.
Naturally, the Kingdom of Talia had also been proudly invited.
"Briki, Mulro."
"Mhm~?"
"Yes, speak, High Lord."
He had originally planned to send Count Bright as a proxy as before, but upon thinking again, this summit was the first international event since the 'New Talia Kingdom' system of Hybrid had been established.
Yet sending a proxy even in this situation would be rather unsightly, would it not?
"I shall personally attend this continental summit. You two prepare accordingly."
"...Yes! We shall prepare without fail, High Lord."
"Ugh, do I have to go too? Shouldn't one of us stay behind to guard the base?"
Perhaps because she had just returned from work and was terribly unwilling, Briki groaned.
But upon reflection, her words weren't wrong either, so Heinz readily nodded.
"...Very well, Briki. You remain here."
"Ooh-hoo-hoo— Yes, please leave this place to me and go, High Lord!"
Seeing her pleased at the thought of finally being able to rest, his heart welled with determination to load her up with plenty of work before he left.
'It's about time to make the name of Heinz known in earnest. And to serve as both warning and show of force to Obaipo.'
Thus at the 2nd Continental Summit, an existence unexpected by others personally attended.
The ruler of the New Talia Kingdom.
The High Lord of the Auterica Vampire Clan Union.
The vampire of the great Sacred Bloodline.
The Vampire King, Heinz Hybrid II.
***
Deep in the northern mountain range.
A mountain of yin in a shaded land surrounded by high and rugged terrain where an eerie atmosphere lingered year-round.
Kurrrrung—! Kwaaaang!
There, along with rough explosions.
[———!]
A heavy sound like that of a whale crying out echoed.
But that violent noise did not last long.
For on this spot right now...
[The Lord has commanded that all monsters approaching the vicinity be exterminated and made into undead.]
Death Knight Lord Karam and—
[How dare—! You attempt to violate the King's sanctuary with those filthy feet—! I shall imprint terror upon you—!]
Dread Phantom Pagos.
[...This meat, tastes bad...]
Ghoul Lord Fiona, as well as—
Unlike Dwell, who was weak in combat for an Archlich, the typical battle-type black mage Archlich Kelipa, and Doom Knight Drexler, a figure exceeding three meters in stature clad in full-body armor, among others...
New executive-class undead that had joined one by one over a considerable period were swarming here as well.
[———!]
Because of this, this white giant that had confidently stepped into the domain of immortality ended up in a state where its entire body was chopped to pieces in an instant, unable to put up any significant resistance, and was dragged along by its head alone.
Of course, the corrosive gas flowing from its single nostril was nothing more than a rather special perfume to those present here.
[Everyone has worked hard... This is indeed a monster I see for the first time...]
[It was no trouble at all, Olivia. But with the madness inside this thing and all, it doesn’t seem to be an ordinary monster, so I brought it for now. How do you think we should deal with it?]
[Hmm… I am not certain whether it can be turned undead, as it is clearly no ordinary living creature… But to be sure, it would be best to call Dwell and ask him…]
As Karam and Olivia were conversing—
Tuduk— tuk!
At the faint sound of something snapping, their gazes turned to the side.
The source was the mouth of the white giant, of which only the head remained.
The black wire-like things that had sewn its mouth shut were slowly corroding away, and its mouth was beginning to open little by little.
[Hmm? Does it still have a trick left? How troublesome.]
Shrrrng—
Karam stepped forward, once again drawing the great two-handed sword from his back as he raised black magic power like dark flames.
The same was true of several officers who had been examining the enormous head.
However, what the giant did when the last of the seals around its mouth finally came undone was not some special attack.
It merely uttered a few short words.
[The final destination of all life—. The fate of life, and its end point—.]
At the creature’s abrupt words, the officers of the Immortal Army exchanged glances among themselves.
[…What is this?]
[It is… speaking, it seems…?]
But no matter how they reacted, the giant’s head merely muttered to itself.
[The oldest impurity— proof of eternal loss— pooled at the very bottom of the abyss—.]
The giant’s head haltingly continued with incomprehensible words.
[Death—.]
[Could it be… that you are asking us to kill you…? If you wish it, I can do so at any time…]
Irritated by the way it seemed to be talking in circles, Olivia cut off its words.
And as if to show that she was absolutely not joking, dense black magic power and a chilling ghostly aura began to gather in her throat.
[The Immortal King— let me meet the Immortal King—.]
Only then did the white head get to the point.
[Hmm, I see.]
Though the words had come somewhat abruptly, the officers, who had also served the previous Immortal King, were able to roughly grasp the situation.
Apparently, this monster harboring “madness” was somehow connected to the abyss, just as the Immortal King’s “death” was.
Having understood the situation, Karam rested his sword on his shoulder and nodded leisurely.
[Hmm. I understand what you mean.]
[Then— the Immortal King—.]
[However.]
For an instant, black light flashed.
Whoosh— Fwaaaak—!
The enormous two-handed sword left a deep scar across the giant’s face.
[Ghhh—?]
[Who do you think you are, ordering our lord to come and go? How utterly insolent.]
[This… seems as though it will make quite an excellent sample… His Majesty will be pleased… I shall go call Dwell…]
Moreover, after serving the current Immortal King, Hans, they had come to clearly understand that he did not particularly like “madness.”
After all, wasn’t the very work they were doing now the slaughter of the madness-filled monsters in the vicinity?
[Do not worry. Even so, I will not let you die until you have spilled all the information you possess. Not until our lord returns, that is.]
And so, the loyal subordinates diligently gathered up the giant’s head and remains.
A unique test subject that had rolled in of its own accord was added to the undead research laboratory of the Immortal Castle.
All without Hans himself knowing a thing about it.