Villain's Harem Returns-Chapter 34: The Hidden Vampires

On a dark night, Draven sat alone on the roof of the palace in a cross-legged position.

It was a location he was familiar with from the time before his sleep, but he had been up there since waking.

There were two reasons why he took on this sort of meditation.

One was for peace. Looking up at the moon and feeling the breeze that was so rare in the south of Valhalla put him in a state of tranquillity.

The other reason was to replenish his blood.

Unlike most vampires, whose blood source required consumption to replenish, Draven would undergo the same process naturally.

He never knew why, though, of course, it was a property of his birth defect, The Malevolent Blood.

As he sat in a meditative position and focused on his blood, he could feel it multiplying itself.

Of course, his blood source was deep. Deeper than any other vampires that had ever lived, even his father, who despite not having the Malevolent Gene, was known as a mighty blood magic user.

So much blood...

And I’ve hardly had the chance to use a large portion of it.

He wondered who or what could force him to truly push himself.

Could it be The Mother?

His mind ran to the "science" that he had witnessed by the use of Odalys.

It was a wicked power, and the woman had said that her version was far from completion.

What could it be like once at its highest capabilities?

Draven, The Vampire Lord, thought about these things as he sat atop his palace, replenishing the power that made him the strongest in the world.

---

The next day, Draven was ready to leave and head east.

With him were the knights he had agreed to take with him.

Serena Noctaris, Maya Heart, Oprah Breaker and Sakura Noctaris.

All were dressed splendidly and carried their weapons on their backs as they walked through the estate and headed towards the exit.

"Now then. Draven announced. "Let us get going."

---

The vampires travelled west towards the location of the map.

It was a fast journey, and they travelled in the manner at which they usually did. With fast and long strides, dashing past villages and small towns.

However, after an hour of travel, Draven noticed something.

Sakura Noctaris was falling behind.

Being the twentieth-ranked Nocturnal Knight, she was physically less capable than the others. freēwēbnovel.com

Not only that, but she was a mage. Her physical abilities were already less than average.

Yet still, Draven, Serena, Oprah and Maya did not slow their pace.

She insisted on coming after all.

We can rest in a town once we’re closer to our destination.

---

After a while longer of travelling, they came to a town in the west named Vairbrick.

It was a multicultural town, which was a rarity in Velhalla, but such settlements could sometimes be found on the borders.

This town was home to Humans and Fairies.

It was a town built around a large forest made from red trees.

The forest was where the fairies would live, whilst the wooden houses were for the humans.

As the vampires walked through the town, they attracted the attention of many of its residents.

A group of kids stared and pointed at them, impressed by the colours of their hair and eyes.

Adults would quickly walk past as if the vampires were a threat to them.

Draven walked with his head high, and a slight smirk on his face.

"W-we do not have to stop travelling..." Sakura said between breaths, clearly exhausted. "We can continue on with your missio-"

"Yes, I know we can." Draven cut her off calmly. "But I believe I wish for a rest myself. And a drink."

The group stopped at an inn.

It was one of the largest structures in the small town, yet on the inside, it was mostly empty.

At its centre was a fireplace, surrounded by wooden benches.

A handful of people sat on tables spaced around the room.

Upon their entrance, they turned their heads to watch the large group.

But after noticing that they were clearly vampires, they looked away quickly.

Most humans were fearful of the other races.

Not all of them had been aided by The Mothers ’Science’, and we’re incredibly weak.

The man behind the bar was old and balding. He wore an apron and smelt of meat and wine.

"H-hello there." He said as nervously as all the other humans seemed to be. "What can I do for you."

Draven pulled a purse of gold coins out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

He didn’t know how much was in there, only that he was sure it would cover what he wanted.

Draven hardly cares about wealth. He had too much of it.

"Five of your best rooms please." He said, before noticing that Serena was shooting him an expecting glance from beside him.

Oh, my bad. She wishes to share with me.

"Sorry, make that four."

I have no complaints with that.

A drop of sweat began to fall from the innkeeper’s shiny face as he bowed his head.

"I’m sorry sir, but our best rooms are currently being used by a group of others. I-I hope you won’t take offence to this, but I believe you might be familiar with them."

This left Draven and the others completely confused.

"What do you mean?" Serena asked from beside him.

Draven focused his senses.

I can’t feel anybody’s presence, so they must be weak. Why would I be familiar with such people?

The innkeeper shook his head frantically and bowed once again. This time, so deep that his head was resting against the wooden bar that he stood behind.

"P-please! I meant no offence. It’s just that they seem to be vampires."

Silence hung in the air of the bar, as the group of Nocturnal Knights exchanged looks with each other.

Draven’s lips twisted into a smile.

It seems that our journey has been cut short.

Wasting no time, Serena drew her scythe from her back.

It stood as tall as her, and the black metal glinted in the lantern light.

Maya took her great hammer off of her back as well and hefted it in her hands. A weapon that seemed too large for her to use.

Oprah used no weapon, so instead prepared her arms to conjure up a blood spell if necessary.

Sakura was the last, and she fumbled for her staff clumsily. After finally managing to take it off of her back and in her grip, the tip of the weapon glowed with a faint red light.

The innkeeper backed away, smashing into the wall behind him and holding out his hands as if in apology.

"I’m sorry! Please, spare my life! I seriously meant no offence by what I said! I have a family. 4 kids and a wife-"

Draven picked up the purse of coins and chucked it at the old man, hitting him in the head and knocking him unconscious.

The man hit the floor with a thump, and finally, the room went silent.

The others who sat around the tables before had abandoned their meals and drinks, to run outside and escape the trouble.

Leaving only the Nocturnal Knights, and their lord Draven standing in the room.

Now then. Why am I unable to sense these ’vampires’.

He pushed himself harder, trying his best to see if he could feel the presence of any weaker beings in the area.

He felt the humans outside, going about their days.

It hurt his head to sense such weak people, but he continued.

Then finally, after pushing himself even further, he felt it.

It was not the presence of vampires, but rather something else.

"A Veil." He said, rubbing at his temples with his fingers to ease the pain.

"Directly above us, there is a Veil. Though I cannot sense what’s within it."

Serena nodded at him and readied her weapon.

Then, without hesitation, she jumped into the air and swung her scythe above her head in a vicious arc.

As it moved through the air, the blade began to turn red, becoming enshrouded with blood.

It sliced through the wood ceiling with ease, sending chunks of wood flying about the place.

A large hole in the roof was created, leading to the second floor, and blood splattered and rained down on them.

Serena’s scythe had struck through something.

Thud.

A severed leg fell through the hole.

"Ahhh! Fuck!" A cry came from above, followed by footsteps and hurried movements.

Serena’s strike had not only hit one of the vampires, but it had also struck through and shattered the veil.

Now, Draven could sense them clearly.

There was five of them, running from the room and hoping to escape.

And they were all Vampires.

Most of them were weak, but he felt a singular presence that stood out to him.

Interesting.

Sakura must have realised that they were trying to escape as well, as she quickly weaved a spell with her staff.

The air changed around her, and a mystical red aura began to circle around her body.

She closed her eyes, and a faint humming sound rang through the air.

Then finally, she slammed her staff down, and Draven felt a domain being placed around them.

It was a difficult spell to use, though, with a staff, a magic user’s ability to weave blood spells was enhanced.

The domain encapsulated the entire house, making it impossible for the Vampires to escape, unless they cast a spell of their own and broke through.

In other words, they were trapped.

They heard chaotic shouts coming from the floor above them, as the vampires realised what had happened.

The man who had lost their leg continued to scream in agony.

Draven spoke telepathically so that all vampires within the domain could hear him directly in their ears.

"Come on downstairs, and I might consider sparing your lives."

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