Chapter 113: The Blood Ball (1)
For countless years, she had endured innumerable storms before attaining the rank of Marquis.
To Gracia, this entire affair had been nothing more than effortless entertainment.
Whether she threatened him with a hostage.
Or tempted him with the opportunity to join the immensely powerful Redmoon Corporation.
She had been confident she could obtain his agreement.
But.
Her expectations had been wrong.
From beginning to end, everything had defied common sense.
Whoosh!
A Red Spider Lily shrouded in black flames.
Even for Gracia, the ability to erase existing laws and create a new domain was completely unfamiliar.
It was clearly an ability that used blood...
Yet it was impossible to fully grasp the structure of the blooming petals.
“What... incredible talent.”
The mockery had vanished.
Only admiration for this new ability remained in her now-serious eyes.
Then, she suddenly noticed something strange.
‘What is this?’
She sensed the power of the Red Spider Lily rapidly fading after reaching its peak.
The Black Moon gradually turned crimson once again.
The maple tree also returned to its original color.
‘I see now. So he used something to temporarily raise his mana.’
He couldn't maintain that peak indefinitely.
In other words, the level Kang Yohan had just displayed existed only for a fleeting moment.
Even so.
That alone was enough to prove his worth.
Fruit this enticing—
One didn't harvest it while it was still unripe.
It was far wiser to wait until it had fully ripened.
Until it was at its most delicious.
“I accept your proposal. Should you require assistance in opposing the Grand Witches' Assembly, we will lend you our strength.”
Gracia withdrew her mana.
The raging storm subsided, and the tavern fell into complete silence as though nothing had happened.
“L-Lady Gracia.”
“Your Excellency the Marquis! Are you truly serious?”
The vampires who had accompanied her cried out in shock.
“Do you have some objection to my decision?”
“N-No. That's not what I meant...”
“I will bear the responsibility. I shall personally explain this matter at the General Assembly, so there's no need to worry.”
Her tone clearly indicated she would tolerate no further objections.
And with that, the negotiations inside The Wolf and Spice came to an end.
“As payment for showing me something so interesting, I'll give you one piece of advice.”
As Gracia stood to leave, she added one final remark.
“The ring you're carrying is merely Count Pedro's Plan B.
No...
Perhaps it isn't even that.”
His true objective lay elsewhere.
That was what Gracia meant.
＊＊＊
What did she mean by saying the Ring of Divinity was only Plan B?
Even if he had asked, it hadn't looked like she intended to answer.
Still...
‘This doesn't sit right.’
Yohan remained deep in thought while putting on his tuxedo.
What was the one thing Pedro could use to strike him where it hurt the most?
Nothing immediately came to mind.
However, if Gracia had gone as far as warning him, it certainly wasn't something trivial.
The Redmoon Corporation and the Grand Witches' Assembly had also said they would leave the Hestia Empire after today.
Just then—
“Wow. Lord Yohan, it suits you so well. Can't you dress like this all the time?”
Scarlett approached with sparkling eyes.
Apparently, she was very fond of his black tuxedo.
However, Yohan was equally surprised.
‘Was she always this beautiful?’
She wore a white cocktail dress, her long hair draped over one shoulder, adorned with butterfly-shaped jewels.
Even among the exceptionally attractive vampires, she stood out.
“Ahem. So? Does it look good? I put quite a bit of effort into it.”
Scarlett spun around happily in front of the mirror.
“D-Do I... really have to attend...
A place like a ball?”
Unlike Scarlett, Vivian, dressed in a black gown, radiated a decadent beauty.
Her pale violet eyes paired perfectly with her signature maple-shaped ornament.
“Vivian, you look beautiful too.”
Since several people were watching, Yohan spoke differently than usual.
Perhaps because of that—
“……!”
Vivian visibly flustered.
She seemed incredibly embarrassed.
He didn't understand.
Was speaking casually really that shocking?
Then again, it probably didn't suit the image of an absolute being to say something like that.
“Kahaha! How foolish! Did they truly believe something like this could conceal this body's magnificence?!”
Ragnar Lodbrok, who kept tearing apart every outfit because nothing fit around his chest muscles.
“My goodness.”
“How can someone like him even exist?”
“I'd die happy if he spoke to me just once.”
Seo Changhee, who had already monopolized the attention of noble ladies and young maidens with his overwhelmingly handsome appearance.
“Evelyn likes it just like this!”
Evelyn, who ignored the dress code entirely and stubbornly wore her shark-shaped hoodie.
“Isn't there a heart lying around that I can secretly pick up somewhere?”
And Park Yeri, who had consumed every heart she possessed after losing Rabbit Foot.
The group was filled with members who would likely be thrown out immediately if the hosts saw them.
“Brother Yohan.
It's about time we left.”
Lagertha, draped in fur, pointed at the clock.
She was right.
If they left now, they would arrive at the ballroom on time.
‘I've made every preparation possible.’
Drawing upon the experience of a veteran, he had prepared for countless scenarios.
The rest would depend on adapting to the situation.
With Vivian, Seo Changhee, Sambok, and even the spirits by his side...
He had more than enough cards left to play.
About fifteen minutes later.
Following the garden path, they arrived at a ballroom of tremendous scale.
It was large enough to accommodate at least two thousand people.
Every decoration inside was extravagantly expensive.
Thus, the grand ball officially began.
Beautifully dressed men and women sought out their partners.
“May I have this dance, my lady?”
“It would be the greatest honor if you would dance with me.”
Naturally, the two most popular women at the ball were Vivian and Scarlett.
Their beauty ranked among the top five in the entire Empire.
Suitors flooded toward them like mad.
Of course—
“Begone.
You lowly creatures.”
“My, my.
You'd make wonderful fertilizer for a maple tree.”
After receiving those kind(?) words of rejection, the enthusiasm gradually cooled.
“Don't reject everyone so harshly.
Why not dance with someone at least once?”
They were nobles who had grown up in refined households.
Some of them looked close to tears.
“I'll dance with Lord Yohan as much as he wants.”
“I think...
I'd be willing as well.
But Miss Scarlett seems quite close to Lord Yohan.”
Vivian stared intently at Scarlett.
This felt...
Dangerous.
That look.
That tone.
She wasn't looking at a companion.
She was looking at an enemy.
Yohan didn't know exactly what had offended Vivian.
But instinctively, he knew that if this situation continued, things would become irreversible.
Fortunately—
“Are you all enjoying yourselves?”
Count Pedro approached with a gentle smile.
“Thanks to you, we've been very comfortable.”
Yohan returned the greeting with an equally fake smile.
“Haha. I'm glad to hear it.
Ah, bring it over.
Surely heroes deserve something better than mediocre wine.”
“Right away.”
At Pedro's command, the attendant standing behind him began distributing glasses.
The luxurious goblets carried an exquisite aroma of fine wine.
“Oh! That looks delicious!
Pour me one as well!”
“F-For you, Sir Warrior...
Please have this instead.”
The attendant, who had been about to hand a glass to Yohan, suddenly hesitated.
Instead, he stepped back and gave Lodbrok a different glass from the tray.
As though each predetermined glass had to be delivered to a specific person.
[This wine has been mixed with ‘Etoran Raspberry Juice.’]
Information revealed by the Eyes of the Prophet.
Unlike everyone else's wine, only Yohan's glass was approximately 2.3 degrees warmer.
Its color also leaned closer to reddish-brown than crimson.
As expected.
Had they chosen the simplest and most orthodox method?
“This is how we drink wine in the Empire.
Now, try pairing it with these.”
Pedro placed slices of blackened bacon atop aged yellow cheese.
Individually, both were harmless.
But when eaten together, they rapidly increased the amount of mana flowing through one's bloodstream.
Naturally, the Ring of Divinity would begin reacting.
After several more glasses, the surrounding area would be engulfed in White Flame.
However—
‘If that's all there is to it, this is too easy.’
Yohan ate lemons from the Atox region together with the wine.
Their unique acidity neutralized the ingredients mixed into the drink.
“Well?
How is it? Does it suit your taste?”
“An excellent combination.
I think I could drink countless glasses without any trouble.”
“Drink as much as you'd like.
There's plenty of wine.”
They chatted while laughing pleasantly.
Yet hidden beneath those smiles were sharpened daggers.
Damn.
At this rate, he'd end up choking before finishing his meal.
Pedro was even keeping count of how many glasses he drank.
One glass.
Two.
The pace at which Yohan emptied them increased.
Yet nothing happened.
“……”
A trace of irritation slowly crept across Pedro's face.
No doubt because the desired result refused to appear.
‘Even so, he isn't rushing.’
After emptying his fourth glass, Yohan quietly observed Pedro's expression.
By now, he should've grown impatient and made another move.
Yet surprisingly, he did nothing except calmly wait.
That only made things more unsettling.
From Pedro's perspective, this method clearly wasn't important enough to stake everything on.
At that moment—
Crackle!
White sparks erupted from the Ring of Divinity on his finger.
[Trait ‘Heart Insight’ has been activated!]
A Trait that determined whether its target was good or evil.
This was the Saintess's signature ability.
Don't tell me—
Yohan hurriedly tried to remove the ring.
Because he had finally realized Pedro's true objective.
But—
“It's been a while, Mr. Kang Yohan.”
The blonde woman appeared just a little faster.
＊＊＊
Saintess Joanna Siondarc.
The woman who had mercilessly executed countless people in Daejeon crossed the ballroom.
“Oh!”
“That lady is...”
“The Saintess of Light.
Has the angel of the Vatican come?”
Gasps of admiration erupted throughout the ballroom.
Although the Hestia Empire stood opposed to humanity, there was one exception.
The Vatican.
To an Empire that worshipped the God of Light, the Saintess, praised as the God's representative, was treated as an honored guest.
‘This...
Is troublesome.’
Yohan swallowed hard.
During the expedition, he had posed as a priest by using [Sacred Flame].
Through that, he had earned considerable trust.
He even remembered joking that he was personally acquainted with the Saintess.
And yet—
The very person herself had appeared before him.
Wearing a deeply ominous smile.
“H-Have you...
been well?”
Yohan greeted her cautiously.
“Of course.
I owe you quite a lot from what happened in Daejeon, Lord Yohan.
You helped me greatly, and we shared quite an enjoyable encounter.”
“It was nothing.
Without the Sacred Sword you summoned, Saintess, many more lives would've been lost to Gluttony.”
So far, the atmosphere didn't seem bad.
Judging from the warm smiles and polite conversation, it almost looked like things would end peacefully.
The Saintess stepped close enough that her breath brushed against him.
Then she gently wrapped both arms around his neck.
Yohan noticed flames practically bursting from Vivian's and Scarlett's eyes.
But this wasn't the time to worry about that.
Warm breath tickled his ear.
“By the way...
Someone told me that Lord Yohan might not actually be human...
But a member of an evil race of darkness.”
A peaceful ending?
Yeah, right.
As if that would ever happen.
Expecting such a miracle from a cursed-luck novel had been his mistake.
Back then, there had only been one person who could have said something like that to the Saintess.
Samuel again?
That bastard really managed to stick his nose into everything.
“I distinctly remember the Saintess personally witnessing me use Sacred Flame.
If I truly belonged to some race of darkness, my body would've burned instantly.”
“That's true.
Which is why I was rather conflicted myself.”
If she had possessed undeniable proof, she would've immediately used Night of the Catacomb to pass judgment.
The boundary had been frustratingly ambiguous.
Then, by chance, Count Pedro had told her about Yohan.
That was why she had arranged this meeting once more.
This time, after preparing a trap from which there was absolutely no escape.
“The truth is...
That ring bears a special seal secretly prepared by the Vatican.”
Commonly known as the ‘Mark of Judas.’
If its wearer had ever blasphemed against the divine...
Or even once joined hands with those opposed to the Light...
White Flame would immediately burn that individual.
The exposure of heretics.
That was the true objective.
Yohan slowly licked his lips.
‘I met Gracia...
Only a few hours ago.’
And simply remaining together with Vivian would also be more than enough to activate the Mark of Judas.
There was no escaping this.