vampire are vampire.

This is the realm of the undead, mechanical in nature, a puppet bound by rigid, lifeless rules. However, it is precisely this structure that allows Valed to freely enter and exit the ancient Deckenhoff Castle at this very moment. Not only that, but by deciphering the family's arcane command over the undead, he has gained the ability to command the entire army of tomb guardians within the castle. Of course, in reality, such power is unnecessary.

"It's just a routine expedition. A small squad of guards will suffice," Valed muttered as he attempted to control the undead sentinels along his path. Invisible threads of magical wind gathered around him, connecting his mind with the gruesome undead soldiers, linking their wills together.

The controlled undead soldiers altered their course, breaking away from their patrols and forming a protective perimeter around Valed, flanking him from all sides.

Thus, as they reached the castle's grand entrance, a total of sixteen tomb guardians had gathered around him. At the core, four heavily armed soldiers with kite-shaped shields and long swords formed a protective circle, ready to raise their shields at any moment to block attacks aimed at Valed.

A further four undead soldiers surrounded them, with two carrying heavy crossbows and curved sabers, leading the way, while two more dressed in black robes, one holding the Book of the Dead in their right hand and a gnarled oak staff in the left, followed behind. Six towering long-axe tomb guards stood on the outer perimeter, their imposing forms a formidable sight. Ahead of the formation, two skeletal wolves cleared the path, their keen sense of smell acting as scouts to detect enemies.

This, then, was the temporary retinue Valed had cobbled together from the castle's army of tomb guardians—a well-balanced force capable of both offense and defense. Valed felt a sense of satisfaction, realizing that the military knowledge he had acquired in his previous life was proving quite useful.

Under the dim red moonlight, the main gates of Deckenhoff Castle creaked open just a crack. One by one, the disciplined squad filed out, surrounding Valed once more, protecting him as they advanced toward the desolate wilderness at the southern end of the castle.

Watching this unfold, a sentinel from the castle sprang into action, moving with the swiftness of an arrow, the grace of a butterfly. In an instant, it descended from the castle's peak and landed before Valed.

Unlike the simple-minded undead, this was a creature of exceptional intelligence—a black cat with crimson eyes. It puffed out a breath, then opened its mouth to utter a low, rumbling growl, a warning for Valed to leave and avoid causing trouble.

However, Valed was not new to dealing with this creature. He spread his hands to show no hostility, then casually tossed a small shard of magic crystal into the air. The throw was perfect, landing right in front of the peculiar black cat.

The cat leaned forward, sniffed the magic crystal, and once satisfied, opened its mouth and began crunching the shard as though it were a candy. After swallowing it, the cat nodded at Valed and moved off to the side to begin grooming itself.

Valed, relieved that his offering was accepted, felt a mix of curiosity.

"Do you always neglect your duties like this, Lady Cecile?"

"Meow?"

"Meow? Speak human language! I know you can talk!"

But the cat ignored him, continuing to groom itself as though it had no care in the world, its paw licking its face with the indifference of a typical feline.

"…Forget it," Valed shrugged, deciding there was no need to quarrel with a cat. He stood up and returned to the protection of the tomb guardians. A magical wind began to swirl around him, lifting him off the ground, sparing him the fatigue of walking while granting him a better view—after all, his body was only that of a six-year-old.

After this encounter, Valed continued to lead the undead force toward the southern wilderness of the castle. The black cat watched his retreating figure until it was too distant to see, then looked away, giving another huff before returning to its grooming.

The cat, an ally and guardian of the vampire nobility in this castle, had been residing here for centuries after being recruited by the Castan family. It was one of the few intelligent beings in the land who was neither human, undead, nor vampire. The vampires of the castle referred to it as Lady Cecile. Despite its appearance as a common black cat, Valed had once heard rumors that its power rivaled that of dragons, making it one of the most formidable magical beings in existence.

"Nothing will happen… It's just a child," the black cat mused, justifying its actions before strolling into the castle's nearby grass, likely hunting for mice to snack on.

In the land of Sylvania, there once stood a vast, prosperous empire, renowned for its monumental and grandiose tombs, built by the noble class as symbols of their power. The nobles often flaunted their elaborate burial sites, constantly one-upping each other by constructing even more massive tombs, with increasingly numerous slaves and warriors buried as offerings.

During the empire's golden age, the sprawling burial complexes rivaled any other architectural marvel across the world.

However, time passed, and the great empire crumbled. The population dwindled, the fertile lands fell into ruin, and the once-mighty fortresses, meant to defend against invaders, were abandoned and transformed into the homes of vampires. The grand burial grounds, once symbols of wealth and power, became essential recruitment grounds for the vampire armies. Perhaps from the very start, the vampires had chosen this place because of the vast expanse of tombs, which, for the average grave robber, represented hidden treasure, but for vampires skilled in necromantic magic, they were a valuable source of potential soldiers.

Initially, the vampire army found that a simple excavation of the grounds could yield tens of thousands of soldiers, mounds of gold, and even valuable magical weapons and spellbooks, among other rare treasures. With these resources, the vampires were able to repeatedly arm themselves and launch campaigns against the so-called "living nations" in an attempt to establish an eternal reign.

Of course, these efforts ultimately failed. No living beings desired to be ruled by the dead. The vampires' repeated failures only resulted in heavy losses, further burdening Sylvania. The once mighty undead empire had fallen into ruin, reduced to a second-rate power. Most of the sprawling burial grounds had been emptied, no longer capable of supplying enough soldiers for the vampires.

In desperation, the vampire nobility began to dig up bones from other regions, forcefully demanding the remains of deceased relatives from the people, or even resorting to grave robbing in neighboring nations. They also turned to trade, smuggling the bones of the dead through merchants in other countries to maintain their military campaigns.

Despite this, Sylvania's military forces remained stretched thin, especially with the bones obtained through smuggling—some merchants even dared to haggle over such illicit trade, a reflection of the terrifying monopoly in the trade.

The value of the tombs had greatly diminished, and they were now known locally as the "Wasteland of Graves," a mass burial pit. Yet, they still remained a place where treasures could be found. The pragmatic vampire nobility, casting aside their dignity, continued to search through the deserted tombs, finding useful items here and there. Whoever stumbled upon an undiscovered royal tomb from ancient times could strike it rich, discovering thousands of sacrificial remains, valuable relics, and rare magical artifacts—enough to turn an impoverished individual into a wealthy noble.

The Civil Assembly encouraged such private expeditions, granting adventurers full ownership of any discoveries. The Sylvanian government, which had a laissez-faire approach, lacked the resources and energy to continue exploring these tombs. Soon after, various vampire families declared that the tombs within their territories were their exclusive domain, effectively nullifying the Civil Assembly's policies.

Today, the Castan family, due to their geographic advantage, controlled the largest portion of the burial grounds—once a great boon, bringing immense wealth and countless soldiers. This influence greatly increased the family's power within the Civil Assembly, allowing some of its most capable members to ascend to the rank of Duke of Sylvania.

However, those days were long gone. As the value of the tombs continued to decline, the Castan family's prosperity began to fade. The vast tombs were difficult to manage and yielded little, leaving the Castan family in dire financial straits. After all, while the vampire nobility were skilled in combat and governance, they were unfamiliar with production, farming, smelting, and commerce—tasks that required the involvement of other races, particularly humans.