Chapter 19

◈ Chapter 19. It's Degrading (3)

- Inviting a demon into a ritual has two meanings.

The demon hunter Akrshan said.

- The first is a literal ritual, an act carried out according to established rules to vanquish a demon. The second needs explanation. If a demon is invited to a ritual, where exactly is it invited to?

Tap tap—

He touched his temples.

- Yes, it's invited into the demon hunter's 'ritual.'

.

.

.

I deliberately provoked Count Ascura.

"Why does a despicable vampire still claim to be a noble?"

Count Ascura, seething with murderous intent at my question.

I wondered if I should have added that last remark, but...

It was already spilled water.

Moreover, it was what I had hoped for.

'There's no point in dragging it out.'

Count Ascura's level is 430.

Not only that, but he had reclaimed all the powers I had given him.

His actual strength is beyond his level.

Facing such a monster at only 100 levels?

Even with [Natural Enemy] and [Magic], I couldn't guarantee significant damage.

But with the [Exorcism Ritual], things are different.

'Inviting a demon to the ritual.'

In simpler terms, it means bringing the demon into my mind.

In the past, when Arcana was just a game,

I had tried the exorcism ritual several times.

Looking back, I was really fearless back then.

The terrifying scenes that are a must during the exorcism ritual, which rival horror games, I watched without batting an eye.

Because of that experience,

I could act as I am now.

'The control of the ritual depends on mental strength.'

A battle of wills.

I'm confident in that one aspect.

'No temptation, deception, or trial of any demon can mar the noble pride of Granfel.'

So, it wasn't baseless confidence.

It was an action based on a solid foundation.

[I invite the vampire, Count Ascura, to the 'ritual.']

Count Ascura, invited to my, Granfel's, ritual.

I stared at him.

At this moment, how do I appear in those red eyes?

.

.

.

"!"

Ascura doubted his own eyes.

What was happening?

Clearly, the one standing on the stairs was me...

'What is this? Why?'

Our positions had switched?

He was looking down at me from the top of the stairs.

'How...!!'

How high up was he?

No matter how far back he tilted his head,

he couldn't even see properly!

Ascura shouted.

"You used a despicable trick, human!!"

Then a voice, calm and collected, replied.

"Despicable? What is despicable, Ascura?"

An attitude of arrogance, devoid of any tension.

Ascura felt a sense of unease.

'This is impossible...!'

He was sure he was radiating murderous intent.

A mere human should be terrified.

Yet, the other was unscathed.

Ascura spoke.

"...Yes, it's a trick. There's no other explanation. The switch in our positions, the inability to look up no matter how high I raise my head. It's all a cheap trick!"

Tap—

The sound of heels echoed in his ear.

Then the arrogant voice continued.

"Is that so? That's how it looks to you?"

"...?!"

...What, what does that mean?

What does he mean by that?

Ascura shouted inwardly.

'No, it's impossible. It's just a trick!'

My eyes can't be wrong.

It's just a switch in positions.

He must have taken advantage of a moment when I was distracted...

"!"

...No, I wasn't distracted.

I didn't let my guard down.

I was determined to tear apart the insolent one who dared to speak.

But when did he have the chance to use such a trick to switch positions?

In my own castle, no less.

"Then look, Ascura."

"...?"

"What does this look like to you?"

At that moment,

something blocked his view.

It was a rock, so massive its size was indescribable.

"...Dare to deceive me!!"

Rumble—!

It was actually a stone coffin.

The massive stone coffin was descending upon him.

Ascura summoned his magic power.

'Dangerous.'

Even if it was just a stone coffin, it wouldn't have much effect.

The problem was its size.

Even if it was just a regular rock,

at that size, it was dangerous.

"Vanish!!"

Whoosh—!

The magic power he shot at the stone coffin.

But for some reason,

it didn't even scratch the coffin.

Ascura was taken aback.

'What is this...?'

He had used more than half of his magic power.

Why couldn't he even scratch it?

His shock was brief.

The other's voice rang out.

"It seems you're in a serious state, Ascura."

...Unforgivable!

In an instant, Ascura's form disappeared into the air.

To be precise, he had scattered into hundreds of bats.

"Damn it!"

From bats to vampire.

Ascura, who had returned to his original form, panted heavily.

He had used his one-time escape ability, which he had saved for the last moment, because he couldn't avoid the stone coffin.

"Your rough breathing shows no dignity."

"...Shut up!"

"But this confirms it."

Tap—

The sound of footsteps again.

The other was descending the stairs.

Ascura smiled inwardly.

'Foolish human.'

It was an opportunity he had walked into himself.

Whatever trick he had used,

it was frustrating that he couldn't even see it.

'If he comes down those stairs, it won't be a problem.'

Ascura took a deep breath.

To seize the opportunity he had spotted.

He sharpened his fangs.

Tap—

When the sound of heels finally stopped,

Ascura lifted his head.

And he was shocked.

"...How, how?"

Clearly, he had come down the stairs.

They were standing on the same ground.

But why...

I was still looking up at him?

"What do you think of this new perspective, Ascura? Or, despicable vampire."

This is impossible.

This is my castle.

It's impossible to use tricks on me.

Did he read my mind?

The man said,

"Surely, you still think this is your castle?"

"What...?!"

"Look properly, vampire."

"...?"

At the man's words, Ascura looked around.

"It's... It's impossible. Why are the portraits...?"

Why are your faces on them?

The portraits of himself, hung everywhere, had all changed to the man's portrait.

Something was wrong.

Ascura began to sweat.

The calm voice continued in his ear.

"All of this is your fear."

*

Swoosh—!

The wind howled.

Jesse Hainess, clutching his hat, said,

"Wh-What am I seeing...!"

Snap—

The cane he was holding was almost broken.

Nothing happened to Jesse.

Level 397.

Ranked 4th among players.

His combat power surpassed the 2nd-ranked Rox,

and was comparable to the 1st-ranked Scall.

A great magician, Jesse Hainess?

No.

Absolutely not.

The opponent was a 430-level named monster.

A demon, no less.

An opponent so formidable that Jesse was tense just by his presence.

So, nothing happened to Jesse.

All thanks to the 'really amazing magic'!

"What is this! This overreaction!"

The 'really amazing magic'.

Yes, Horol had just erected stone pillars.

Just like when he faced Count Ascura's knights.

But Count Ascura's response was excessive.

'With that size, it wasn't necessary!'

Excessively focusing his magic power,

trying to destroy the stone pillars was strange enough...

But even that missed.

Boom—!

The castle crumbled, revealing the sky.

To avoid the collapsing stone pillars, he suddenly turned into bats and fled.

"And where has he been looking all this time!"

His gaze was also unstable.

Count Ascura had been looking at the ceiling the whole time.

Panting heavily, he even shouted at the air.

Later, he even panicked at the sight of his own portrait.

"...I've seen this somewhere before."

Why?

Jesse wasn't unfamiliar with the sight of the count.

After some thought, she finally realized.

"Yes! This is clearly an abnormal status, fear!"

.

.

.

I confirmed the message that appeared.

[Vampire, Count Ascura, is experiencing 'fear.']

...It was close.

I felt the level gap clearly.

Most of all, I felt Count Ascura's magic power.

'A single touch and it's death. This is.'

If I had rushed in relying only on the Demon Hunter class,

I would have been in the afterlife by now.

And it wasn't as if I could engage in close combat.

Count Ascura just waved his hand in the air,

and the surrounding objects were shattered by the aftermath.

In that sense, the long coat and suit were not a problem.

Even with armor, it would have been one hit, if I had brushed against that.

But that was my situation.

Count Ascura had no way of knowing my true condition.

Proof of this appeared in the messages.

-Hunt the vampire. (In progress) ▲

-Announce the start of the hunt. (Success)

-Make the vampire feel the fear of being hunted. (Success)

-Hunt the vampire. (In progress)

All that remained was to hunt the terrified Count Ascura.

"...You, you are my fear? N-no, that's impossible."

The vampire, having lost his will to fight.

He might seem like an easy target, but not to me.

Most of all, I lacked the confidence to finish Count Ascura in one blow.

I didn't have a spell or physical ability powerful enough.

'It's beyond my capabilities.'

Of course, I had tried to mimic the skills of players I had encountered.

But stats and equipment were the problem.

Even if it was a silver weapon strong against demons,

its absolute attack power was lacking.

'I resent my own weakness.'

An opportunity to monopolize experience points...

But I had to judge rationally.

I took out a silver dagger.

Then I altered its form, dividing it into four.

The silver dagger, now in the shape of stakes.

I didn't hesitate.

Swish—!!

Count Ascura, having lost his will to fight.

I sent the silver stakes flying at him.

Thud—!!

Dividing the already short silver dagger into four.

The stakes had to be even smaller.

"Aaah, nooo!!"

But Count Ascura, in his fear, felt differently.

It was as if he had been impaled by massive stakes.

Count Ascura began to convulse.

'But fear alone can't bring down an enemy.'

I didn't know how long this abnormal status would last.

So I said,

"I'll leave the cleanup to you."

It was the best I could do.

The hat twitched at my request.

"What? Leave the cleanup to me! After you've finished everything! To me!"

What should I say in response?

Honestly.

That I lack the ability.

It was impossible to answer.

Given Granfel's noble character.

If I died to Count Ascura, that would be one thing.

But confessing my lack of ability was impossible.

Fortunately,

"Oh! I'm sorry! I should have been more polite! Please forget my impertinence!"

The hat immediately began to chant a spell.

I watched.

Whoosh—!

The magic power condensed at the tip of the cane.

The golden hair flying.

The blue light in the pupils.

The air around changing.

The sky's scenery shifting in an instant.

"Heavenly punishment."

At that moment.

Crack—!!

A powerful lightning bolt struck from the sky.

The area shook from its power.

Boom—!!

The thunder that followed.

The sound was so loud it made my eardrums tingle.

'Is this the power of top players?'

A level of destructive power I can't even imagine.

Not just from Count Ascura, but from the player as well.

Why does today feel like a day of realizing the gap?

But I didn't feel discouraged.

Even if a powerful skill had cut off Count Ascura's breath, I was confident that my contribution to bringing him to this state was greater.

A message appeared, supporting this.

[Your contribution to dealing with Count Ascura is recognized.]

[Level up]

[Level up]

[Level up]...

[High contribution to the kill automatically grants loot.]

All of this was entirely justified.

There was no reason to be surprised.

I checked my inventory and was startled.

...Wait, shouldn't I be surprised here?