Reincarnated as a Vampire Who Acquires Skills Through Blood-Chapter 88 - At the Entrance of the Castle [2]
After hearing what the chief orc said—
"..."
Verc was completely speechless.
He stood there, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword, trying to wrap his head around what was happening. He had prepared himself for a life-or-death struggle against some strong monsters, and instead, they were calling him a Great Demon Lord.
The title was so unexpected that it actually confused him.
’A Demon Lord? Me? Since when?’
Verc thought, his brow furrowing as he looked at the kneeling orcs.
’I just built a house. I didn’t start a rebellion against the world.’
However, the lack of words from him was misinterpreted by the orc tribe. To the orcs, Verc’s silence wasn’t confusion— it was cold, calculating judgment.
After all, Verc hadn’t pulled back his threatening aura yet, and the [Dominion Aura] was still pressing down on their shoulders like an invisible weight. He hadn’t sheathed his sword back in its scabbard either.
In the orcs’ eyes, he was just standing there, looking down at them with a frown and a sharp blade in his hand. He looked like a ruler who was currently deciding whether they were worth keeping alive or if he should just execute them all where they knelt.
’W-What does he want from us?!’
The chief orc asked in his head.
He was sweating, his green skin turning a shade paler as the silence stretched on. He didn’t dare look up, so he turned his eyes slightly toward the elder, who was kneeling right next to him.
’I don’t know either!’
The elder was looking back at the chief with wide, panicked eyes.
The elder was just as confused as Verc and the chief orc. He had expected some kind of response— a demand, a laugh, or even a threat. This absolute silence was far more terrifying than any shout. It made them feel like they were nothing more than ants under the gaze of a giant.
As the seconds passed by, the tension in the clearing only got thicker. It felt like the air itself was about to snap. The other orcs in the back were trembling, their stone weapons rattling against the ground.
Then finally, the chief orc couldn’t take the pressure anymore. He needed to prove his sincerity.
BAM!
The chief orc smashed his head onto the stone ground with everything he had!
The sound was loud, echoing through the quiet clearing like a hammer hitting an anvil. The force was so great that the stone beneath him actually cracked, spider-webbing out from the point of impact. A small trail of blood began to drip down his forehead and onto the gray floor, but he paid no attention to it.
"Huh?"
The loudness of the bang made Verc snap out of his thoughts.
His attention shifted back to the chief, his eyes narrowing as he saw the orc’s head pressed against the floor. He realized he had been spacing out while these people were literally waiting for him.
Feeling the heavy eyes of the "Demon Lord" on him again, the chief orc opened his mouth and spoke with a voice that came from his very soul.
"WE PROMISE TO DO OUR BEST UNDER YOUR RULE, AND WE’LL BE LOYAL UNTIL OUR LAST BREATH!!!"
His voice was like a roar, shaking the entire clearing and even making the leaves on the nearby trees rustle. He was desperate, pouring every bit of his conviction into those words.
Verc frowned, he was feeling a bit embarassed hearing those words.
And by this time, he finally realized that the orcs really had no intention of harming him. They weren’t mindless monsters here to reclaim territory.
And so—
"Haaaah..."
Verc let out a long, tired sigh.
FWIP- CLICK.
He let go of the tension in his body and finally put his sword back into its scabbard. The sharp click of the blade locking into place was the most beautiful sound the orcs had ever heard. Seeing that gesture of peace made the entire tribe feel a wave of relief so strong they almost slumped over.
Verc also pulled back his [Dominion Aura]. The heavy, suffocating pressure vanished instantly, replaced by the normal, cool air of the forest night. With this, the intense tension in the air disappeared.
"..."
The chief orc slowly raised his head, his eyes cautious. He looked at Verc, who was now standing with his arms crossed, looking much less like a killer and more like a very tired landlord.
Verc looked down at the chief, his expression calm.
"Let’s talk inside the castle. Though, not all of you can come in at the moment. The interior isn’t finished. Just pick some representatives."
He stated firmly.
The chief and the elder orc were delighted to hear that. They hadn’t been rejected! In their minds, being invited into the "Demon King’s" castle was a huge honor and a sign that they were being accepted.
"T-Thank you! We are honored, Great One!"
The elder exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion.
The chief bowed his head again, this time more out of respect than fear. The two of them stood up, their muscular legs shaking slightly from the stress, and the other orcs followed suit, standing in a quiet, orderly fashion.
Then, in that moment—
CREAK—
The huge double doors of the castle, which were so large and heavy they basically looked like fortress gates, opened loudly. The stone scraped against the floor, creating a deep, rumbling sound.
And from there— TAP!
"Lord Verc, we heard some loud shoutings. Is everything okay here?"
Tatum and the other beastmen-vampires came out from the shadows of the hall.
The seven of them stood at the entrance, their eyes scanning the clearing. They had heard the chief orc’s roar and the sound of his head hitting the ground, and they had come to see if Verc needed help.
"Huh?"
The kids’ eyes immediately shifted to the unusual group of orcs.
The orcs were so large and green that they were impossible to miss, especially with fifty of them gathered in a neat formation. The kids stopped, their hands hovering near their own weapons, their vampire instincts flaring up at the sight of so many strong presences.
"...?!"
Feeling their gazes, the elder and the chief of the orcs froze on the spot.
Chills ran through their bodies again, even worse than before. They looked at the seven individuals standing behind Verc. These "kids" didn’t look like normal humans or beastmen. Their skin was pale, and their eyes had a certain sharpness that felt predatory.
Verc was a monster on his own— they already knew that. But the seven that had just appeared... they were not far below him. The orcs could sense the raw power coming from the group. To the orcs, these weren’t just followers; they were the Demon King’s elite generals!
"I-I can feel the dark energy from them as well..."
The elder orc muttered under his breath, his eyes wide.
Gulp-
The chief orc just swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
In the orcs’ eyes, the situation was now clear. Verc wasn’t just a powerful lone wolf; he was a full-fledged Demon King leading a group of powerful, high-ranking subordinates. The castle wasn’t just a house; it was the center of a new, terrifying power in the [Cursed Forest].
... ... ...
*****
Verc turned to the kids and quickly explained what had happened. He kept it simple, telling them that the orcs had apparently come here to pledge their loyalty.
After hearing it from him, the Seven just looked at the group of orcs.
From the story, they understood that the orcs were asking to be under the rule of Verc. In the mind of the Seven, they didn’t see a tribe of warriors; they saw a group that had nowhere to go. They remembered their own village and their situation as well.
’They’re just like us.’
Tatum thought, his eyes softening a bit.
Because of that misunderstanding, they felt a sudden sense of similarity and sympathy toward the orcs. They thought the orcs were lost and homeless. Of course, they were way off— the orcs were actually a stable tribe that was just terrified of being wiped out— but the sentiment was there.
The Seven relaxed their stances. They just greeted the orcs politely, nodding their heads in a friendly manner.
... ... ...
Verc let the kids handle the situation with the orcs.
"Lord Verc said to pick your representatives. After that, follow him inside."
Ashley announced to them, her voice clear and welcoming.
The orcs looked at Verc. He just looked back at them quietly for a second, his face unreadable.
TAP.
Verc turned around and entered the castle again without saying another word. He was tired and wanted to get this over with so he could finally train or meditate.
With him gone from the clearing, the orcs actually felt a bit more at ease. The suffocating presence of the "Demon King" was gone, replaced by the slightly less terrifying presence of his "Generals."
And so, as instructed, the orcs started picking their representatives.
... ... ...
Eventually, the orcs picked six individuals. The chief and the elder were included, along with four of their strongest and most level-headed warriors.
"We’re ready to enter."
The chief said to the Seven.
The kids were just waiting for them, standing by the large stone entrance. Tatum nodded his head, then he looked at Ashley and the others.
"Keep the remaining ones here company. We don’t want them to feel lonely out here in the dark."
Tatum said that with a genuine smile. He truly meant that they should be friendly and make the orcs feel welcome.
But for the orcs? It was a different story.
Hearing "don’t let them be lonely" sounded like a direct warning. In their ears, it was as if Tatum was saying, "The six of them can handle all of you if you try to do anything weird, so stay put."
Because of that, all the orcs outside became nervous again, standing perfectly still as if they were made of stone. They didn’t even dare to twitch an ear.
Anyway, the six chosen representatives just nodded, their faces grim.
"Please, follow me."
Tatum approached the six representatives and invited them inside with a polite gesture.
The six orcs looked at each other one last time. They took a deep breath, and with a resolute look on their green faces— like soldiers marching into a dragon’s lair— they started following Tatum into the dark, echoing halls of the castle.
The stone doors began to close behind them with a heavy thud, sealing them inside with the Pale King.
THUD!
