The First Vampire

At the summit of the Holy Mountain.

The prayer hall of the Holy Light Cathedral is grand and spacious, giving anyone within an overwhelming sense of their own insignificance.

On all sides of the hall stand statues of sword-wielding angels, their cold and stern expressions filling all those who regard them with awe.

The morning sunlight shines through the glass dome, bathing everything within the hall in a golden hue, filled with a sacred aura.

Pope Gregory presides over this prayer ceremony from the high podium himself.

In the hall, over a hundred aristocrats who have made a special trip here kneel on one knee, singing praises to the supreme Lord of Glory, who has granted them this miraculous victory.

After the ceremony, Pope Gregory was about to leave when he was stopped by a man.

“Marquis Garcia, is there something you need?” Pope Gregory’s smile appeared slightly forced.

After all, just a few months ago, this Marquis of the North Territory had mobilized a two-hundred-thousand-strong army against Dragon City, attempting to force him to abdicate the papacy.

Even though both parties had reached a settlement later, that was largely due to the pressure of the Orc invasion.

Now that the orc threat has been largely neutralized, the conflict between the North Territory and the Church naturally resurfaces.

What made Pope Gregory even more uneasy was that the man before him was the one who planned and aided in this victory.

Marquis Garcia, however, seemed utterly indifferent to the Pope’s impatience. He respectfully bowed and said,

“Your Holiness, may I ask for your assistance in my confession?”

Pope Gregory raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Marquis Garcia’s request.

He stared at Marquis Garcia for a moment, seeing that the latter was serious and not joking.

Could this be a sign of reconciliation from the North Territory?

Pope Gregory speculated about Marquis Garcia’s intentions.

However, faced with the olive branch extended by Marquis Garcia, even if Pope Gregory held scorn in his heart, he would not reject him outright. He nodded and said,

“Of course. Please follow me.”

The two then made their way to the confessional in the side hall.

With the door closed, Pope Gregory and Marquis Garcia sat opposite each other in the small, enclosed space.

A white crystal stood between the two of them. As Pope Gregory slowly recited the prayer, the white crystal gradually lit up.

“Garcia Saint Hilde, confess your sins. As long as you repent sincerely, the merciful Supreme Lord will surely guide you on the path to redemption.”

Marquis Garcia silently looked at the white crystal in front of him but did not speak.

Pope Gregory did not urge him, waiting patiently instead.

Muffled cheers could be heard from outside. That was Prince Harrison officially announcing the victory of the Luwal Battle on behalf of the Emperor to the citizens.

And he likely mentioned Marquis Garcia as well. Perhaps, from now on, the citizens of the Empire could finally forgive him for his actions at the Sky Breaking Mountain Range.

“I have sinned,” Marquis Garcia finally began, “In order to have the Imperial Allied Army withdraw from Westland, I deserted my troops in battle at Sky Breaking Mountain Range, resulting in the deaths of countless Empire warriors and Westland citizens at the hands of the Orcs…”

While listening to Marquis Garcia’s confession, Pope Gregory maintained a gentle smile on his exterior, but held nothing but disdain in his heart.

However, as the host of this confession, Pope Gregory dutifully told him,

“Repent, sinner, and offer your sincerest remorse to our Lord!”

Thinking about seeing his enemy confess his sins before his eyes gave Pope Gregory a sense of sinister pleasure.

However, Marquis Garcia did not act remorsefully or break into tears as the Pope had anticipated.

He simply stared blankly at the white crystal in front of him, his thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

The gentle Holy light shone on his face, soothing his already scarred heart.

Dong, dong, dong—

The melodious tolling of a bell echoed in his ears, and Marquis Garcia’s pupils gradually dilated, his consciousness beginning to blur.

Confused, it seemed as though he had returned to the blood-stained battlefield in the Sky Breaking Mountain Range.

After the Northern Army deserted the battlefield under his command, the human Allied Forces’ frontline exposed an enormous and devastating breach.

The berserk Orc army charged through this gap like a tide, creating waves of bloodshed among the human Allied Forces.

“Garcia Saint Hilde, you traitor!”

Countless faces of anger appeared before him, all yelling and roaring at Marquis Garcia.

…

“I have sinned…” murmured Marquis Garcia.

Before him, once again appeared the villages and cities reduced to ashes, mountains of skulls, corpses strewn all over, and rivers of blood…

“My sins are unforgivable…”

Pope Gregory frowned, complaining inwardly —

Why don’t you confess already?

Who comes to the confessional not sobbing and sincerely confessing, seeking the forgiveness of the Supreme Lord?

Who confesses like you, merely insisting over and over that you are sinful?

However, Gregory didn’t voice this. He just watched Marquis Garcia leisurely, understanding the pain in his heart.

Gregory greatly enjoyed the feeling of watching his enemies struggling in the abyss of pain, of course, he wouldn’t lend a hand to pull Garcia out of it.

“…only through death…can I atone for my sins…” Marquis Garcia’s eyes grew increasingly turbid, his consciousness increasingly blurred.

In the all-encompassing Holy Light spanning his vision, he seemed to see the figure of his sister, Queen Midela.

“Indeed, you deserve to die,” said Queen Midela. “However, even in death, you should make it more meaningful.”

Deep night, sparse stars.

Marquis Garcia seemed to have returned to the outside of Storm Fortress one month ago.

“That’s why I chose to go to Storm Fortress,” Marquis Garcia told his sister. “I will look for an opportunity to assassinate Emperor Reinhardt during the audience.

After his death, you can lead the Imperial Allied army to retreat from Storm Fortress and go to Luwal Valley… I have already told Colin the specific combat strategies, you can let him command the battle…”

“You really don’t have to worry about that,” Queen Midela flashed a confident smile, “I’ve arranged a more appropriate way for Reinhardt to die.”

Marquis Garcia frowned, looking puzzled:

“What plan do you have exactly?”

But Queen Midela avoided his question:

“Brother, if you trust me, don’t go to Storm Fortress. I have a better suggestion though.”

“What?”

“Holy Light Cathedral,” said Queen Midela indifferently. “Since you’ve resolved to atone with death, why not die at the place closest to the Lord of Glory?

Moreover, are you not planning to avenge Vera? After the war with Orcs, doesn’t the North Territory need a reason to wage war against the Church again?

Help us find one!”

Marquis Garcia was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement:

“Alright!”

…

“Alright with what?” Watching the absent-minded Marquis Garcia, Pope Gregory finally sensed something was wrong.

Marquis Garcia’s eyes finally focused. He gave the Pope a meaningful smile and said:

“Gregory, I may be unforgivable, but what about your sins?”

Pope Gregory furrowed his brows, snorted lightly, and said:

“Garcia, it is you who is confessing now. Please take this seriously. As long as you sincerely repent, the benevolent Supreme Lord will surely…”

His words abruptly stopped midway.

Because to his horror, he realized that dark, ink-like blood was gushing from Garcia’s eyes, nose and mouth.

“Garcia, are you alright?”

Marquis Garcia sneered at the corner of his mouth, gasping out the words:

“Gregory… your judgment… is about to come…”

Pope Gregory finally came to his senses. He was frenziedly casting healing magic, yelling:

“Garcia! Garcia! Don’t die!

Don’t die here!”

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