A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 215: Chapter 171: Things Remain as They are, People Do Not _1

For Duanmu Huai and the others, the journey had been quite lively.

From a certain perspective, Bambi and Ann were quite similar, innocent and carefree, lively and untroubled. Moreover, she was also like Ann, full of interest in Greiya – especially that thick tail of hers.

By the way, although Bambi’s personality was indeed lively and cheerful, she was not totally clueless about fighting. In fact, when they encountered enemies along the way, Bambi would take action. However, as per Duanmu Huai’s observation, Bambi usually attacked with her magic power and by controlling bats.

Well, the latter had a somewhat of a vampire taste to it.

From Bambi, Duanmu Huai also gained a certain understanding and knowledge about the vampires of her era.

According to Bambi, the vampires at the time lived in a country called “Medebeigium”, a secluded country located on an island, largely unconnected with the outside world. Those living inside were all vampires like Bambi, characterized by not fearing sunlight, being able to eat like ordinary people, and sporting a pair of bat-like wings on their heads.

Truthfully, Duanmu Huai didn’t understand why the wings of this vampire race would grow on top of their heads. Generally speaking, shouldn’t vampire wings be on their back, at least suitable for flying? But growing on the head, what’s that about?

Not to mention that the “wings” are basically useless; they’re only slightly bigger than ears and look more like some kind of headwear.

Although the vampires of that era could also bestow their blood onto others, transforming them into vampires, this ability was totally different from the current disease-like ability. According to Bambi, a vampire could give blood to mortals and transform them into vampires, but not completely. For instance, humans would share the power and life of the vampires, constituting a kind of shared existence.

Moreover, a vampire could only transform one person. Unless that person died, the vampire could not transform anyone else.

Not only that, the death of a transformed person would cause great harm to the vampire, as they were sharing their life.

The relationship between vampires and humans back then was not necessarily good, either. However, unlike now where humans are treated as food, at that time humans desired immortality so much that they even deceived vampires emotionally to become transformed by them. It was also for this reason that vampires highly disliked humans, and why vampire nations also basically didn’t allow their citizens to go out freely.

If what Bambi described was correct, then the vampires of that time were not harmful to humans, but rather it was humans who might have been a menace to the vampires more.

But what happened for vampires to have changed into their present state?

Bambi had no knowledge of this. She only knew she had been invited by the queen to a banquet, and then after getting worn out from playing, she fell asleep. The next time she woke up, it was when Duanmu Huai and the others had opened the stone pillar.

As for the ancient scroll that Bambi was carrying, she had no recollection of it. At least according to the information revealed by Bambi, the queen must have given the ancient scroll to Bambi and then locked her inside the stone pillar. From this, it could be seen that something serious must have happened at the time, otherwise such measures wouldn’t have been taken.

By the way, the princess really had a profound sleep, which lasted five hundred years.

The answer to all these mysteries was just before their eyes.

“Look, there is the Bunranianya castle!”

Pointing towards the huge castle on the not-so-distant island, Bambi spoke with a triumphant look on her face. There was no denying that the castle was indeed huge, towering more than ten stories high. Its four corner clock towers featured Gothic-style triangular domes, and coupled with the gloomy weather, the howling lightning and heavy rain…

Without a doubt, this had to be vampire territory.

“However, it looks so desolate.”

Once they reached the shore and looked at the castle in front of them, Bambi’s face showed a puzzled expression.

“Is there a problem?”

Duanmu Huai stepped ashore and looked around. All he saw was desolation; apart from stones, there was nothing else on the ground. Even the trees were dead and twisted into a strange shape.

Isn’t this fitting for a vampire’s castle?

“Eh? There used to be a big garden here, it was very beautiful. Bambi used to love lying in the grass and sleeping in the sun.”

However, Bambi apparently disagreed; as she stretched out her hand to gesture, she began to explain.

Hearing Bambi’s explanation, the watchmen beside Duanmu Huai looked speechless.

“Why would a vampire’s castle have a garden…”

“Anyway, we will know once we go inside.”

Duanmu Huai held his war hammer tight and looked at the castle in front of him. Though according to Bambi, the castle should not be that dangerous. But Bambi’s memory was from five hundred years ago. There were no such vampires that treated humans as food back then, so…

“Bambi, Greiya, hide behind me and stay alert.”

While speaking, Duanmu Huai strode forward, and Greiya and Bambi followed closely behind. The guards took out their weapons and prepared for battle.

After passing by the desolate area, they arrived at the stone bridge leading to the castle’s main gate. A bloody, cold, and deadly smell hit them straight on. Even Bambi seemed to have sensed some danger, as she hid behind Duanmu Huai and grabbed onto the edge of his cloak.

“My, my liege, be careful, there may be danger.”

“I know.”

Duanmu Huai wasn’t a fool. The castle before his eyes obviously had the ambiance of a “final boss battleground”. His eyes weren’t blind; if this place wasn’t a tad suspicious, nobody would believe it.

However, as the group walked across the stone bridge and reached the entrance, the originally closed cast-iron gate started to rise with a “crash”. Then the heavy stone door boomed and slowly opened to reveal a dark corridor inside.

“…….”

Seeing this, everyone went silent. While Duanmu Huai who was stroking his chin, turned to look at them.

“You think if we turned back now, it would be quite insulting to the other party?”

“Ahahaha…”

Greiya wasn’t sure what to say to Duanmu Huai’s suggestion, so she could only offer a strained smile. The Watchman even more so, his face ashen, clutching his weapon tightly. From the beads of perspiration on his forehead, it seemed he was in no mood for Duanmu’s jokes.

“Then let’s go.”

Seeing that no one agreed with him, Duanmu Huai could only shrug helplessly. The truth was, he really wanted to do just that. After all, in the game, players must move forward, but how about in reality?

If the door was left open, would the dungeon boss die from frustration if they simply camped and had a barbecue outside?

“Speaking of which, should we start a fire here to grill some fish?”

“Sir Knight!!”

“Alright, alright, I got it……”

Seeing Greiya protesting with clenched fists, Duanmu Huai helplessly shook his head. If only Ann were here, she would enthusiastically agree and even volunteer to start the fire. However, Greiya was a more serious character, so she couldn’t really help it.

So, the group entered the castle. As expected, as soon as they were inside, the heavy door slammed shut, engulfing everyone in darkness.

Then, a light flickered to life, illuminating the previously dark space.

Duanmu Huai raised his head to look around. They were in the castle’s entrance hall. Looking up, he saw on either side of the balcony dozens of people dressed in lavish attire, looking as though they were attending a banquet. Each person wore a differently shaped mask, standing behind the railing, staring at the people below.

In front of them stood a man dressed in a black suit, dressed like a butler.

“……Who are these people?”

Bambi asked in a low voice, clutching Duanmu Huai’s cloak tightly, frowning in confusion. This wasn’t surprising, for Bambi, this was the equivalent of returning home to find the house filled with unfamiliar strangers. It was normal to feel insecure and puzzled.

“Please come in, everyone. The master has been awaiting your arrival.”

The butler in front bowed respectfully, then walked forward, with Duanmu Huai and the others trailing behind him to the front door. Then, the butler opened the door.

Upon seeing the scene inside, everyone’s faces momentarily changed.

Behind the door was an opulent dining room, with three long, rectangular dining tables arranged in the middle, two in vertical alignment, the third horizontal. Behind the tables sat more lavishly dressed nobles. If that was all, then this would simply be an ordinary banquet.

The problem was with the food displayed on the table.

It was humans.

Human bodies were arranged on the table, their veins cut open, their limbs severed and placed in bowls. The air was heavy with the smell of blood, just one glance making Greiya turn as white as a sheet. And the Watchman clenched his jaw, gripping his weapon tightly. They had dealt with vampires before, but never had they seen humans used like food.

“This is……what.”

Even Bambi stared in bewilderment, slack-jawed at the scene before her, unsure of how to react.

At that moment, a voice rang out.

“Welcome home, Princess of the Night!”

On hearing the voice, everyone raised their heads to see a middle-aged man wearing a black suit and cloak, looking just like a typical vampire, standing up.

“This is the feast I have prepared for your return. How is it, Your Highness? Are you satisfied?”

“No, stop this nonsense!!”

On hearing this, Bambi suddenly jumped up and yelled.

“What is this horrible thing! Who are you? Why are you in this castle? Where did the Queen go? How dare you do such outrageous things in here!”

“Ah……Your Highness……”

Hearing Bambi’s rebuke, the middle-aged man revealed a face of ecstasy. Even though Bambi’s voice was sweet and quite pleasing to listen to, wouldn’t this expression make him seem a bit too perverted?

“I am very sorry. As you can see, Her Majesty has disappeared. But rest assured, as long as we are here, the kingdom of the vampires will rise again! And vampires will rule this world!”

“You, what are you saying? Who are you exactly?”

Seeing the man’s fanatical, obsessed expression, Bambi anxiously gripped Duanmu Huai’s cloak, staring at him.

“Bambi doesn’t know you, or any of you! Who are you people? Where’s the Queen? Where have all the other people in the Bunranianya castle gone?!”

“They are all here, Your Highness.”

While saying this, the man revealed a triumphant smile and gently touched his stomach.

“They are all here, Your Highness. Unfortunately, you won’t ever be able to see them again……”