Chapter 61: 037. Imperial Prince is Subjugating Vampires -2 (Part One)

**

Luan recalled what Allen told him before.

Count Fomor… was a Vampire?

Now that was a story he would’ve never believed. If he hadn’t seen Allen’s true ‘hidden’ self, that was.

But then again, he did notice some odd signs.

For starters, it was rather weird to see Count Fomor, who was supposed to be in the banquet hall, rush back to his side and speak of Allen’s violent misdeeds, goading him to take appropriate actions.

Upon looking back on things, the count was reporting on every little mangnani-like behaviour of Allen’s. And through his lips, Luan continued hearing the insults of ‘a low-born mother and her son’, allegedly spoken of by the others.

After pondering on it a little bit longer, it became rather plain to see that Count Fomor was trying to drive a wedge between himself and his younger brother, Allen. However, Luan still ended up believing the count, simply because the latter took good care of him since his childhood. Fomor was also the only person who comforted him from the sorrow of losing his mother.

To think that Luan was shielding such a man while not being aware of his true identity as a damn Vampire.

What a dumbfounding revelation this was.

That was why…

Luan abruptly recalled what Allen told him.

It was then, the creaking door was cautiously pushed open. The First Imperial Prince shifted his gaze in that direction and discovered Archbishop Raphael carefully entering the room.

The older man’s whole body froze up the moment he locked eyes on Luan. But the prince ignored this reaction from the archbishop and looked back at Allen once more.

‘Allen… just what are you? What can you possibly be that you can even bring about such an impossible miracle?’

Luan slowly covered his face with both of his hands.

Chaotic confusion and delirium tumbled in his mind. Even then, there was no way to disguise the unadulterated joy hiding among all these emotions.

This sensation of being born again – no, wait. He was ‘revived’, wasn’t he?

Luan Olfolse has now been completely revived!

A deep grin floated up on his lips.

“Indeed, Allen.”

Luan lowered his hands and placed them away from his face, only to reveal the frightening glare oozing out from his eyes.

“The task you wished to carry out, I shall finish it for you. Not only that, I’ll ensure that there are no loose ends either. I shall bet everything of mine and…!”

Unsuppressed hatred burned in his glare.

“…I shall hunt down all the insects that took away our mother from us.”

**

Luan quickly made his next move.

As his body hadn’t fully recovered yet, dizzy spells occasionally washed over him and he didn’t have much strength in his legs. Even then, there was one reason that continued to drive him forward.

…His desire to hunt down and kill the Vampires.

The very first thing he did was to grasp the current situation of the imperial palace. Count Fomor, Allen’s target, had now been summoned before the emperor. This could only mean that even Kelt Olfolse had figured something was up.

If that was indeed the case, then Count Fomor should no longer present any problems. All Luan had to do now was simply follow what Allen had told him earlier.

He directly went to see Harman.

The Paladin visibly stiffened on the spot after discovering Luan’s current appearance.

“Are… are you really his highness, the First Imperial Prince?”

He didn’t even bother to hide the look of shock on his face. But then again, this reaction was obvious since a man who previously resembled a mummy now stood before him as a brand new person.

“Any detailed explanation will have to wait for now,” said Luan while locking his eyes on Harman. “What Allen wished to do…”

“…”

“It was to hunt down the Vampires, am I correct?”

Harman clamped his mouth shut.

“Do not fear, Harman. Allen tasked me with the mop-up operation. If you want proof…” Luan pointed towards himself with his healthy finger. “Doesn’t a miracle stand before you now? Allen was responsible for this. If I say this is my proof, will you believe me?”

Harman’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He hesitated for a little while, but then eventually pulled out a list and presented it before the First Imperial Prince.

Ever since he found out that Allen Olfolse was responsible for summoning the holy undead, Harman didn’t doubt for once that the Seventh Imperial Prince would also be capable of pulling off a miracle on such a bizarre scale.

“Your highness, this is a list of the Vampires.”

It was Luan’s turn to be stunned.

He took the list and briefly scanned its contents. “All these names are Vampires? It wasn’t just Count Fomor, I see…”

“These don’t only consist of aristocrats from our Theocratic Empire, but also servants, maids, and even several nobles invited from other kingdoms, your highness.” Harman gritted his teeth. “Unfortunately, my authority was only good enough to stop these people from leaving the capital.”

The nobles who enjoyed a high enough standing in the hierarchy had already fled from the palace by now. As for those without the same level of power, they deployed their private armed forces all around their residences located in Laurensis. Then, they hid in there, quietly waiting for the commotion to die down.

Harman simply didn’t have the necessary authority to stop them. Even the force he had worked hard to gather was about to be dissolved too.

However, Luan lightly waved the list around as if he wasn’t even remotely concerned. “Ah, none of those will present any more problems.”

It was then, footsteps could be heard echoing in the corridors.

Figures covered in bird-beak masks and crimson robes were seemingly filling up the corridors of the imperial palace.

“Allen possesses the status of a Saint capable of bringing about miracles. In that case…” Luan looked at the gathered group behind him. “…Those that he says are Vampires, must be Vampires.”

The group kitted out in bird beak masks and crimson robes stood at attention before the First Imperial Prince, Luan Olfolse.

“Under the grace of the noble Theocratic Empire!”

The group that carried all sorts of varied and strange weapons, such as scythes, sickles, shortswords, and greatswords were…

“We obey the command of his highness, the First Imperial Prince, Luan Olfolse!”

…None other than Heresy Inquisitors formed solely for the purpose of hunting down heretics and monsters.

“The Heresy Inquisitors, the Order of Crimson Cross, has finished convening, your highness!”

The knights of the Crimson Cross, with their faces and figures hidden behind the creepy bird beak masks and blood-red robes, knelt down and lowered their heads before the prince.

Harman’s lips clamped shut even tighter while looking at them.

They were one of the top five armed forces that only someone of the imperial bloodline from the Theocratic Empire could command

Luan’s eyes surveyed the kneeling Inquisitors. “I thank you all for answering my call on such a short notice.”

The leader of the Crimson Cross was the only one to raise his head, as he looked at Luan Olfolse.

“I, the first in line to the throne of the empire, Imperial Prince Luan Olfolse, shall now issue a royal decree.” He pushed forward the list of names to the leader. “Hunt down all the insects written on this list. They are vermin that dared tarnish our Theocratic Empire, murdering my mother in the process. Judge them all without mercy in the name of our Goddess and the holy spirit!”

The corners of Luan’s lips curled up. Traces of madness dyed his eyes as well.

“If they resist, you’re given permission to kill them. Whether they be marquises or counts, none of it matters.”

They were the bastards that killed his mother and placed a curse on his heart, after all!

“Hunt down every single pest found on this list. And then, torture them.”

After all these years, he was finally given the opportunity to exact his vengeance.

“Pry open their chest and examine their hearts. Crack open their skulls and confirm whether or not the accursed demonic energy resides in their brains. Confirm whether they are Vampires or not, and then…”

Not only that, with his own hands and no one else’s too!

“Let them taste endless pain. Help them realise how vain their false lives have been!”

Luan straightened his back as an arrogant expression filled his face.

The knights of the Crimson Cross quietly waited for the last part of the command to come from the one inheriting the blood of their emperor.

“This… is a Vampire hunt! Apprehend them all!”

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