Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Noble Hero Jeong Seo-yul

Vampires.

They considered themselves noble and elegant, carefully considering reproduction, so their numbers were very few.

No matter how threatening each individual might be, as long as they couldn’t exert widespread influence, their treatment couldn’t surpass that of heinous criminals causing social unrest.

Even Jeong Seo-yul, chosen as a hero after coming to this world, initially thought so.

She continued to achieve results and eventually had the opportunity to receive direct support from the imperial family.

“So, are you Jeong Seo-yul, one of the most outstanding heroes in the empire?”

But when the situation came to confronting the leaders, the truth was shocking.

The leaders, who had previously sat on the throne looking down at the crowd and their vassals, were now bowing their heads to a single vampire lying in bed.

“A vampire, why would the royal family…?”

“Hehe, there’s no need to be so hostile. Although humans are nothing more than livestock to us, we acknowledge that treasures can sometimes emerge even among livestock.”

Livestock? Did even the royal family appear as such to that arrogant monster?

No, from when had they been bowing their heads to vampires in the first place?

Since the time they had summoned heroes? Or even before that?

Was humanity in this world always under the reign of vampires?

“And to excavate such treasures, even we who are confined must play a role.”

Although she felt herself losing composure at this revelation, the vampire continued speaking without caring about her reaction.

While trampling on the heads of the royals, who had lost their minds under his hypnotism, and ordering them to lick his feet as if they were truly livestock.

“What do you want from me…?”

The sight made Jeong Seo-yul lose even the minimum resistance she had left.

Serving the corrupt nobles steeped in decadence and luxury, pretending to mingle with idiots playing heroes, all to catch the eye of the royals and increase her social status.

To find out that the truth of the world she struggled in was like this—it was no wonder her enthusiasm waned.

“Didn’t I tell you? Special treasures sometimes come from livestock.”

But what was evident in the eyes watching her was curiosity.

“And you are one of those treasures found among our livestock… a gem worthy of being shaped only when it stands out in my eyes.”

“A gem? Am I not just another human you disdain? What makes you evaluate me like this?”

“Didn’t you strive for growth instead of being satisfied with your current position? Meanwhile, the other heroes were only eager to accept the excessive treatment given to them, like livestock getting fat on the feed provided in their pen.”

In his eyes, even the heroes endowed with special powers were no different from such livestock.

Upon hearing the vampire’s comparison, the first thing that came to Jeong Seo-yul’s mind was the vile behavior shown by those called heroes in this world.

“Did the heroes all turn into such beings because of your doing?”

In reality, the royal family was allowing corrupt rulers and reckless heroes to act without restraint.

“What are you trying to achieve by ruining humanity in this world like this?”

“I suppose you could call it ‘weeding out’ for the era to come.”

The vampire responded nonchalantly to Jeong Seo-yul’s question about his intentions.

“Weeding out?”

“Jeong Seo-yul, do you really think that all people deserve respect just because they are the same species as you? Can you accept that you, who have continued to strive and grow, unable to be satisfied with merely being praised and fed, are on the same level as those who have become corrupt pigs through neglect?”

“…”

“Yes, you must feel it too. This world is full of inferior people occupying positions they don’t deserve.”

She had thought about it to some extent even in her original world.

She just hadn’t expressed it outwardly.

The ideology that those who are not excellent or suffer from disabilities should be eliminated, called ‘eugenics,’ is never welcomed in modern times.

“In a world gradually crumbling, resources will be limited, and only a few will be able to grasp them. Even so, we hold up heroes as idols and say that those of higher status must sacrifice for the foundation of others. Isn’t that a terrible waste?”

And this logic was precisely why the vampires had secretly created the current society from behind the scenes.

They dream of creating a ‘utopia for the chosen ones’ by discovering individuals suitable in their eyes from the vast livestock of human society.

“Now, Jeong Seo-yul. Drink. You have the right to become one of us.”

She met the criteria to enter that utopia.

As she faced the wine glass filled with blood that was presented to her, Jeong Seo-yul swallowed and asked seriously.

“…What happens if I drink this?”

“You can become more special than anyone else. Of course, you can also leave here without drinking it. Even if you reveal the truth to humanity, it won’t be a problem for me.”

Even if revealed, the truth would be buried under the machinations of the vampires behind humanity, and the one who revealed it would be branded a fallen hero and turned into an enemy of humanity.

But he didn’t bother to mention such disadvantages.

“Instead, you’ll be trapped within the confines of humanity and live your life as nothing more than livestock.”

He was already confident by the time he had reached this point.

Even among the corrupt pigs, a woman with ambition would never pass up an opportunity to surpass her limits.

Yes, Jeong Seo-yul had always been hungry.

Even in her original world, despite living with excellent talents in an excellent family, the country she was born in forced her to return her talents and wealth to society under the name of democracy.

The reason she had to conform to such a trend was that no matter how much a person has, they cannot become a perfect being without the help of society.

But if one transcends humanity, there is no longer a need to maintain such patience.

Jeong Seo-yul realized this after becoming a vampire by accepting his blood.

Upon becoming a higher being, the right to be freed from all the annoying things that had bound her would follow.

“A dragon’s corpse… Quite tempting indeed.”

One day, as she continued her days as the confidant of the vampire who had given her such an enlightenment, Jeong Seo-yul was summoned by him, who showed interest in important news from the imperial family.

When he, who usually found all threats to humans trivial, showed unusual interest, it was something Jeong Seo-yul could not ignore.

“Is this something even someone like you covets?”

“It’s not just coveting. A dragon is a being at the pinnacle of this world, a small world with its own will and a part of the world itself.”

A being far beyond what mere noble birth could dare to compare with.

For someone who enslaved even the leaders of humanity to call it a world must mean that it was a being worthy of such praise and admiration.

“But it is troublesome. If the empire recovers it publicly, unworthy people will try to share its power…”

And to him, humans were just greedy, vile pigs.

Not wanting to use that power as a public good was something Jeong Seo-yul, who had been by his side for a long time, could immediately understand.

But what was more important was what followed.

“So if possible, retrieve that power. You need not worry about all the details, but the formidable magic held by the dragon’s heart should be enough for you to seize and monopolize, even on your own.”

“…Are you entrusting that task to me?”

“What’s the issue?”

Jeong Seo-yul couldn’t help but hesitate in response.

He knew she possessed ambitions of her own.

Even now, having transcended the confines of humanity, it was undeniable that she desired a relationship with him that surpassed that of mere servant and master.

“…If you don’t accompany me, I might attempt to monopolize that power myself.”

A chance to approach the very source of power that even she admired.

It was almost as if, given the opportunity to obtain that power, she could accept betrayal if it meant having it in her grasp.

“If you can handle it.”

He said, smiling as if he suspected it, but ultimately admitting that it was the right answer.

The fact that it wasn’t a lie was immediately apparent to her.

For vampires, their ‘aesthetics’ were more important than their lives.

Adhering to their own staunch philosophy was a testament to the luxury they possessed, born of a nobler lineage than anyone else.

“Jeong Seo-yul. My confidant. What I’m saying now is a covenant I’m making with my blood.”

So he did not lie for the sake of that aesthetic.

Furthermore, driven by a desire and respect for superior beings, he didn’t exempt even himself.

“If you were to attain a higher status than me, I would gladly lower my head to you.”

“Lower your head?”

“I will offer you the opportunity to use those like me, who consider themselves the noblest beings in this world, as tools at your disposal.”

If she were to truly monopolize the power of the dragon, even beings beyond humanity could be placed under her control.

For Jeong Seo-yul, who was always tormented by hunger for her origin, it was an irresistible temptation.

“What do you think? Will you try?”

“…If that’s what you wish.”

For that purpose, Jeong Seo-yul continued to portray herself as a hero for humanity, joining expeditions and quietly carrying out the task of subduing the undead at excavation sites.

When a hero died, she discreetly waited until the dragon’s heart was discovered, then made plans to assassinate any interfering heroes and disguise their deaths as accidents.

Jeong Seo-yul saw an opportunity in this, gathering susceptible heroes to carry out a concerted attack.

“Choose. Will you die obeying incompetent commanders and foolish nobles, or will you help us reclaim the dragon’s heart and dominate even the empire’s leaders?”

Some refused outright, fearing they would become corrupt or wanted criminals.

But at the point where they didn’t reject outright, there was potential for persuasion.

If necessary, she used the mesmerism inherent to vampires, inducing discord among them to make them fight each other.

And at the end, she assassinated the surviving heroes to eliminate all risks to herself.

Up to that point, it was a perfect plan.

But just at the moment the plan was executed, the undead came pouring in, and one of the Four Knights did not immediately enter this place.

“But that, too, was within expectations.”

The opponent was one of the worst calamities targeting humanity.

Nevertheless, Jeong Seo-yul was prepared to fight against him without hesitation.

“I will defeat that person and obtain the power of the dragon, placing even the rulers of humanity under my control.”

What awaited afterward was obtaining the power of the dragon and even placing the rulers of humanity under her control.

Jeong Seo-yul believed without a doubt that she would soon seize such a future, even in the face of impending calamity.

But…

“…Cough.“

In the midst of the ongoing battle, Jeong Seo-yul coughed.

At that moment, she felt not only her movements slowing but also her body breaking down.

It was a battle she was sure she would dominate.

Even though her opponent was a being claiming to be a calamity, she was the best among the heroes and had inherited the blood of a vampire.

Why was her body, which had attained such a transcendent state, deteriorating so badly?

“Are you done playing games?”

The White Knight of Plague, who had been watching Jeong Seo-yul’s growing confusion, rose to his feet, his decayed body sprouting new flesh from the spores embedded within it. Before long, his body restored to his pre-battle state.

His regenerative abilities had limits; she just needed to kill him repeatedly until he stayed dead, as long as she didn’t fall first.

“What did you do…?”

“Hehe, interesting… Coming all this way to find out something too precious to keep to myself. Even the hero hailed as humanity’s hope has transcended pure humanity. It’s pitiful that my brother still strives to save such humans.”

“Answer me, what have you done to my body…? Ugh!”

For the first time since becoming a vampire, Jeong Seo-yul’s knees buckled.

As the pain overwhelmed her, making her forget even the shame, Blight spoke in his characteristic mocking tone.

“As it happens, I didn’t need to do anything at the moment. What I planted earlier is already corroding your body, and I just gave it a little nudge.”

“Corroding… What are you talking about…?”

“The undead under my control spread disease wherever they go. If you’ve been in this area fighting the undead, of course, the disease carriers would have infected you.”

Indeed, she had undertaken undead eradication missions to maintain her hero facade.

But she had noticed nothing unusual at the time.

How could the disease that lay dormant in her body during those missions ravage her so quickly, merely upon encountering its source?

“If you had received divine power even once, you could have easily dealt with the dormant disease… Ah, right. Vampires crumble under divine power, don’t they? Hehe!”

As he said, vampires, like other undead, were vulnerable to divine power.

Fearing this, she had always declined the offers of priests who tried to heal her.

‘Blood, my blood.’

As a result, she witnessed the horrifying sight of her blood, blackened and pouring from every orifice.

Sepsis.

The disease of blood rotting away was the most lethal disease for vampires, who gained strength through the blood they ingested.

‘This… this can’t be happening…’

She felt the disease accelerating, breaking her down.

‘How far I’ve come, how far I’ve come…!!’

Recognized by noble beings who had humans at their feet, she had strived for even greater heights.

Yet now, on the verge of achieving her goal, she felt herself falling apart.

“Do you feel powerless?”

The calamity taunted her, closing the distance.

“Do you consider it powerless to dream of ideals with strength and effort, only to be thwarted by an unforeseen calamity?”

“Ugh, aaaah! Dieeeee!”

Driven mad by the provocation, Jeong Seo-yul charged.

Her blade carried the frustration and futility of her unfulfilled efforts and the desperation not to give up.

“We rose from the grave to face such a world!!”

But before a calamity, individual cries were futile.

Slash!

The calamity’s willful hand cut through the societal evil that preyed on humanity effortlessly.