Chapter 171: First Act 40: Hero's Arrival 3

"Hah!... there's just no end to them"

"Just focus on running let me handle them"

"Yeah, right you can't even handle the one that almost bit me just now"

"I'm trying my best..."

Although I said that most of these guys are being forced to attack us literally, they probably would rather escape and run around attacking other places if possible.

"Haaht...!"

I exclaimed breathlessly as we emerged from Estelle Hall, only to be confronted by an escalating onslaught of monsters. Initially, it was manageable, with low-level creatures that Euphemia and I could dispatch quite easily.

My sword and her potent potions made short work of the lesser foes, and for a moment, it seemed like we could carve a path through the chaos.

However, the tide of monsters surged, growing stronger and more relentless with each passing moment. The once manageable situation escalated into a full-blown onslaught, forcing us to come to a sudden halt.

Euphemia's potions proved to be unexpectedly effective, adding a surprising twist to our struggle. A bright orange potion she hurled at a creature lunging from her side resulted in a remarkable display of destruction.

The unfortunate kobold literally burned out of existence, leaving only a fading wisp of smoke in its wake. Even in the midst of chaos, the efficacy of Euphemia's potions offered moments of respite, allowing us to press on against the relentless horde.

"What was that?"

"Dragon fire"

Dragon fire? My mind raced with confusion. Since when was dragon fire something that could be harvested and utilized in potions? Was it possible that she had created something akin to draconic flames? No, that seemed implausible. Despite the potion's intense heat and its function of consuming anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its flames, I hadn't sensed any distinct draconic qualities in its composition.

"Did your family tame a dragon or something?" I inquired, seeking clarification. The idea of her family having a contract with a dragon added an unforeseen layer of complexity to our predicament. If anything befell Euphemia, the dragon, being connected to her family, would likely be aware of it.

Euphemia chuckled at my question, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"Ah, no. Though I call it that, it's not even remotely similar to a dragon's real breath," she explained, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

It became evident that she found my assumption quite amusing, considering it ridiculous to believe her family had tamed or contracted with a dragon based solely on the name she had given to one of her potions.

'But does she really need to laugh that hard?'

As much as I want to pinch her laughing face, I'll let it go for now....

.... I guess I got ahead of myself there.

After all matters involving dragons especially the true ones were a complicated task to handle.

"We're close right?"

"Yeah, I can't see clearly with all this rain and reddish fog... but we should be relatively close by now"

"Let's go over there...!"

Right now, Euphemia and I found ourselves navigating through the narrow alleyways, a strategic choice to avoid the relentless monsters that prowled the open spaces.

While occasional threats lurked even in these secluded paths, the majority of the creatures seemed more inclined to engage in open combat with the knights and mages or to terrorize unsuspecting individuals in their homes.

It was a stark reminder of the sadistic nature of the dungeon-born monsters we were dealing with.

In this chaotic scenario, Euphemia's unexpected usefulness and her unique set of skills proved invaluable.

Together, we skillfully evaded and dispatched the monsters that dared to challenge us.

The urgency of reaching Aria and Bella's location heightened with every step, the distant echoes of the teleportation spell acting as a beacon guiding us through the maze of chaos.

It seemed that our swift progress would soon lead us to the safety promised by the ongoing magical incantations.

Despite the apparent success of our escape, a nagging concern lingered in the back of my mind. Schwi, who had been tasked with handling the situation involving the bishop, hadn't provided any updates.

The absence of information left me in the dark regarding the current status of the bishop's confrontation with the demons.

For all I knew, Schwi could still be in the midst of a dangerous battle or possibly chasing after the wrong demon, unaware of the unfolding chaos.

Realizing the need to gather more information, I decided that it was time to slow down our pace.

Looking over my shoulder, I cast a concerned glance at Euphemia's face. Despite her inherent beauty, the harsh environment had left its mark – the bloody rain and the torn edges of her clothes bore testament to the unforgiving conditions.

She had consumed several potions with buffing effects, but the relentless impact of the blood rain on her mana was becoming apparent.

Attempting to wield the relic's power without the necessary connection resulted in instant incineration, a fate that befell even ordained priests.

Even Bishop Austin, an esteemed bishop and renowned leader within their ranks, would need to make a grave sacrifice, potentially burning half his body, to utilize the relic for just a fleeting moment.

Such was the staggering might encapsulated within the Tonatiuh.

"We need the power of the sun to cleanse this place of sin"

Bishop Austin declared with a face twisted in anger.

Though unable to unleash the full potential of the relic's power, the holy weapon still proved formidable in the bishop's hands as he wielded it against the monstrous entities before him.

Despite being unable to activate its divine abilities, the Tonatiuh served as a potent weapon, striking down the creatures of darkness and preserving the integrity of the church's sacred artifact.

.....

Schwi gazed skyward as Bishop Austin fled, abandoning his loyal paladins and priestesses without a backward glance.

The act was undeniably callous, but in the harsh reality of the world, it was a necessary choice.

The bishop, as the key figure, had to be saved first.

The scene stirred contemplation in Schwi's undead heart, making her reflect on whether her back had looked the same to her subordinates when she was still human – a puppeteer toying with lives, a trait she continued even after becoming a vampire.

"Was I that cold, or was I worse?"

Schwi pondered, her thoughts delving into the darker aspects of her past. Her introspection, however, was interrupted by Sasha, her ever-loyal maid, who was indulging in the vampire instinct of playing with prey.

Sasha continued to lick the neck of a handsome paladin, thoroughly engrossed in the macabre activity. Observing this, Schwi decided to regain her maid's attention by detonating a small blood bomb near Sasha's ear.

The sudden burst of blood drew Sasha's focus back to her master.

However, in the abrupt turn of events, the vampire maid inadvertently snapped the paladin's head off with the hand that had been holding his neck. Sasha, looking slightly embarrassed, stammered.

"I-I'm sorry, young lady. The food was just so enticing." Her tone held a mixture of remorse and an almost childlike innocence,

'Food huh?'

Schwi observed Sasha's transformation with mixed emotions, realizing that her once-human mindset was gradually evolving.

The vampire maid now showed no hesitation or remorse in killing people, not even flinching at the act of snapping someone's head off.

A conflicted blend of happiness and sadness washed over Schwi as she contemplated Sasha's changing mentality.

The vampire acknowledged that, as a former human herself, Sasha might have grappled with inner conflict when it came to directly killing others.

However, Schwi's expectations were surpassed, and Sasha seemed to have embraced her vampiric nature without reservations.

While Schwi herself was not innocent, having committed numerous crimes even before becoming a vampire, she had never directly engaged in such acts.

The notion of killing another being had always seemed despicable to her, and just a month ago, she might have embraced the same mindset as Sasha.

However, recent experiences had left Schwi longing for her lost humanity.

Despite the heightened senses and exhilaration that came with being a vampire, she found herself yearning for the simplicity of her human existence.

Resigned to the current circumstances, Schwi instructed Sasha to continue her attacks. "It's fine... just keep attacking that man from behind and guide him toward Master Adrian's location."

"As you wish, my lady" Sasha promptly responded, taking off into the distance, carrying the mangled head of the fallen paladin.

"What is she going to do with that?"

Schwi observed Sasha's peculiar behavior, wondering about her maid's intentions with the severed head she carried, she hadn't anticipated such behavior when her maid had transitioned into a vampire.

It seemed as though Sasha's long-suppressed emotions were erupting uncontrollably.

Sasha's taste for handsome individuals had inadvertently become a survival strategy. It was an unintentional twist in the ongoing chaos: the more aesthetically pleasing the victims, the higher the chance of Sasha sparing them from her vampiric tendencies.

This realization left Schwi both amused and perplexed. Was Sasha truly that infatuated, or was it merely a survival instinct manifesting in an unexpected manner?

'Is she that down bad?'

As Schwi pondered Sasha's peculiar behavior, she decided to help her loyal maid in her unusual pursuit.

Gazing across the tumultuous landscape, Schwi sought out a handsome man who might meet Sasha's aesthetic criteria, preparing to direct him toward Sasha's location.