Chapter 59: Temple of the Damned
"Dr. Alucard, eh? Never heard of him before." Said Zeta as she conversed with Epsilon in a secret room within Mitsugoshi shop in Oriana capital city while sipping her tea.
"Indeed. And the way Duke Perv behaved while conversing with him is… strange." Epsilon said.
"How so?"
"At first Duke Perv behaved normally. As in, he was confronting a suspicious uninvited guest, ready to catch him. But as they conversed, Duke Perv immediately became compliant and left him alone. I saw Duke Perv walked away from him as if in a daze. Not responding to other people properly. When I turned to look at that Dr. Alucard again, he already vanished." Epsilon explained what she saw at the party.
"And the next day Duke Perv sent a Named Child and a bunch of 2nds and 3rds along with some workers to accompany this Dr. Alucard guy to some ruins." Continued Zeta.
"That's right." Confirmed Epsilon.
"I'll take care of it then. You should continue spying on the Perv faction." Said Zeta.
"You'll go personally? Isn't it enough to send the Numbers?"
"It's fine. We've greatly reduced the number of vampires around Oriana. Besides… I have a bad feeling about this Alucard guy. It's almost as if he has the same ability as Necromancer." Said Zeta. Her words caused Epsilon to gasp in surprise.
"Y-You're right! The same power that has turned King Oriana into a warmongering tyrant! Do you think this Dr. Alucard is connected to Necromancer!?" Exclaimed Epsilon.
"That's what I intend to find out." Said Zeta.
"What is this ruins…? It's not within the records of the Cu-" Muttered Maximillian, a gray haired young man dressed in Oriana military uniform who was assigned by Perv Asshat to watch over the suspicious scholar called Dr. Alucard who claims to come from Laugus.
Maximillian the Coldblooded was suspicious as to why Perv Asshat suddenly endorsed this expedition and sponsored the research of a suspicious individual. Assigning a Named Child like him on an escort mission? Suspicious. Although he's happier being out here than being assigned on that prison.
But upon seeing the unknown ruins that laid before him, he realized that Perv must have some plans when he sponsored the scholar. Perhaps there are hidden secrets that were lost to time here.
If I play this right, I will get more achievements than Perv… and I may even get recognition from Lord Mordred and possibly get ahead of Perv in the race for the 12th Seat. Thought Maximillian.
He gave the mysterious scholar in front of him a glance. The scholar is a young man around his twenties or thirties with white flowing hair, handsome face, charming voice and is well dressed like a noble. His ominous red eyes seem to stare at his very soul when he met the man the first time.
Maximillian noted that he had a mysterious air about him that Maximillian couldn't help but find creepy and he doesn't know why. It bothers him greatly.
Is this man part of the Cult? Is he from another branch that I didn't know about? Thought Maximillian.
"Fascinating ruins, don't you think, Mr. Maximillian?" Said Alucard as he suddenly appeared beside Maximillian, completely startling him, although he made no obvious reaction.
"Y-Yes, Dr. Alucard. Fascinating indeed. To think the existence of such ruins elude us for so long." Replied Maximillian nervously.
Since when did he get there!? I was sure I was staring at his back a second ago! Is he… faster than me and Kouadoi!? Thought Maximillian.
He then turned his attention to the ruins, a large old temple of unidentified origin filled with bat-like demon statues on every corner. Even with dim daylight shrouded by cloud it still looked creepy.
"Such a curious temple. One can only imagine what kind of demon is worshipped in here." Said Alucard.
"Yeah..." Replied Maximillian.
Is this temple connected to an early branch of the Cult of Diablos? Could they have truly worshipped the demon Diablos here? What kind of secrets and Artifacts lie within? Thought Maximillian greedily, already dreaming of possessing more rare Artifacts even though he already carried one on his hips courtesy of the Necromancer. Said Artifact gave him an edge against his rival Kouadoi, though he hasn't had a chance to utilize it yet.
"Shall we begin the expedition then?" Maximillian asked.
"Yes. Let us begin immediately." Said Alucard as he walked towards the temple followed closely by both guards and workers who were hired to help with excavation efforts. They all entered the huge ominous temple carrying lanterns and various tools such as shovels, pickaxes, etc.
Inside the temple, they marvelled at the ominous architecture of the temple, becoming creeped out as they feel as if they're being stared at by the demonic statues, found strange symbols and letters they were unable to read on the walls.
"What does the letters say, Dr. Alucard?" Maximillian asked Alucard while pointing at some foreign letters carved on a stone altar which has a stone bowl with a large ominous spike at its center.
"Welcome to the Temple of the Damned. Offer your blood and surrender your souls so that you may taste the darkness of eternity." Alucard read the letters, which were written in English, while grinning.
"Such ominous words…" Muttered Maximillian.
"This place is giving me the creeps! Let's get this over with and go home!" Said one of the workers.
"Yeah! I can't wait to-" Said another worker before being cut off.
"Huh!?" The worker whose words were cut off suddenly disappeared, leaving everyone else startled and bewildered as they looked around for said man.
"Where did he go!?" Asked a worker. His question was eventually answered by a scream echoing throughout the dark halls.
"GYAAAHHHH!" Zeta heard screams of men from inside the temple along with the scent of blood.
"Oh my. It seems that the scholar has led them into a death trap." Muttered Zeta.
"What should we do, Lady Zeta?" Asked 624, the green haired elf who is the leader of her squad.
"We wait until the voices quieted down. Wouldn't want to get caught into the traps ourselves." Zeta said.
"But there are innocent people there! They were just regular workers who—" Protested 625 before being cut off by her squad leader.
"625! You're overstepping your boundaries!" Scolded 624.
"I'm sorry…" Said 625 as she lowered her head down in front of Zeta in regret.
"Haah… I understand your hatred of nobles which stems from your father. And this kingdom's corruption certainly didn't help with your views of them." Muttered Zeta while sighing.
"My father… was a piece of shit nobleman who seduced my mother, who was a commoner, and then threw us both to the streets after he became bored of her…! We survived on the streets because my mother was forced into… prostitution. And then she died from overwork. And I… as if I haven't suffered enough… was Possessed… and then brought into that dreadful lab managed by that Marquis." Muttered 625 hatefully. 624 and 626 just watched her with pity.
"But did you know that Lord Shadow is a noble?" Said Zeta. The words shocked 625, who never met their glorious leader personally and have only seen him fight the Necromancer in the capital.
"Do you hate Lord Shadow too?" Said Zeta while observing 625.
"N-No! I would never!" 625 exclaimed fearfully.
"Lord Shadow hid his real identity from the world because he wants to use his power for good. He never asked for rewards. He put his life on the line several times and is prepared to become an enemy of the world… all for our sakes. And currently… he's suffering greatly because of Necromancer, his archenemy." Zeta said, making 625 realize just how selfish and self-centered she had been.
"There are good nobles out there, 625. Many of whom are now your comrades in Shadow Garden after suffering similar fate as yours. Remember that." Zeta finishes.
625 let a tear fall down her cheeks as she hugged herself in regret, finally acknowledging that she's not the only one who suffered. Then she felt the warmth of two people hugging her, comforting her.
"624… 626... I…" Muttered 625 as she tearfully accepted the hugs of her squadmates. They stayed that way for few minutes.
"Haahh… I'm glad this is sorted out." Muttered Zeta as she turned her attention back to the temple and noticed how despite the screams, no man escaped the temple after several minutes have passed.
"Hmm… We might need to take a closer look. Prepare to move out and be wary of traps!" Ordered Zeta.
"Yes, Lady Zeta!" The three exclaimed and they moved towards the temple as the sun begins to set and the red tinted moon takes its place in the sky.
Epsilon sneaked alone into Duke Perv's private office in her Shadow Garden hooded cloak and began searching for his ledger in order to track his financial expenses, from the party he hosted to the expedition of the old ruins.
She found the ledger and discovered a suspiciously large amount of funds being diverted into Dr. Alucard's expedition, further confirming Zeta's theory that Perv is being controlled by Dr. Alucard.
She frowned as she searched for other documents that might give her more insight into the expedition before being interrupted by a man's voice from behind.
"Suspicious, isn't it?"
"Huh!?" Epsilon turned but was unable to react as her torso was sliced by the man. The force of the slash slammed her against the wall behind her.
"That Perv would finance such a large expedition and failed to report to me about it. He even had the gall to send out Maximillian without my permission." The man who sliced her torso continued calmly.
"Ugh…! Who…!?" Muttered Epsilon as she leaned against the wall and beheld the man's form, a purple haired man wearing white armor with dark blue cape. His ominous eyes stared at her with great interest.
"The Knight Beyond Men and the 9th Seat of the Rounds, Mordred." The man answered while smiling.
"Tch…. Didn't expect a member of the Rounds to show up!" Said Epsilon while clutching her wound, covering it with her slime suit to prevent further bleeding.
"I also didn't expect a member of Shadow Garden to show up here. From the amount of magic power you possess, you must be one of the Seven Shades, aren't you? Heh heh heh. What a funny coincidence." Mordred said with a relaxed attitude.
"The scholar Alucard and the ruins he's investigating is interesting. But you are far more interesting to me right now. Be a good girl and surrender." Said Mordred.
"In your dreams!" Exclaimed Epsilon as she launched a long range slash with her sword towards Mordred, who dodged it effortlessly. The slash destroyed the wall behind Mordred.
"To think you can still do something like that even with such a grievous wound." Mordred said as he saw Epsilon escaping through the window.
"Lord Mordred!" Shouted Mordred's subordinate as he entered the room.
"Let's see… Maximillian is unavailable. Summon Kouadoi and send him to hunt down that girl. Make sure to bring her to me alive." Ordered Mordred as he walked to inspect the blood and the strands of clear springwater colored hair on the floor that was cut when he ambushed her.
"Yes, my lord!"
Author's Note:
Bringing some Web Novel content, which is Maximillian from the Prison Arc and also Web Novel Mordred, aka Chad Mordred. Both Maximillian and Kouadoi are speed specialists so I made them rivals here (although in the web novel Maximillian is faster).
Rhaveno: its a serious Alucard not the "Its a very enthusiastic walk" Alucard.
Answer: This is an Alucard with a fake Ph.D degree. ;P
Bolvar57: Busca la daemonculaba, es una efectiva manera de que el nigromante (Nagash), obtenga super soldados monstruosos y aumenta su malvada reputación.
Answer: He sort of has monstrous soldiers, which is his Possessed experimental subjects. So far only one has been introduced during the school terrorist arc. Will utilize them more later.
TheVirtualPug: I knew he didn't erase "Laura" on purpose. It's just such a classic Eminence in Shadow thing to happen.
Answer: Indeed. ;P
Yaldabaoth'sApprentice: I really hope this is abridged alucard cause i did not watch the original and any jokes based on it will go right over my head.
Answer: Nah. This isn't Hellsing Abridged Alucard, more of a Dracula-esque vampire. Might do some Hellsing Abridged references if I find a good place for it though.
Zero: Since cid doing a vampire hunter persona it only fair that Claude do a Dracula persona I recommend use Hellsing and Castlevania as template.
Answer: (Note that this review was sent during the Van Helsing chapter's release and the review was delayed for few days, which is why I only saw it today (20th December 2023 at the time of this writing)) As you can see in the previous chapter, I brought Alucard.
King0fP0wers: At this rate, those two chuunis are gonna recreate a famous scene from Alucard.
Answer: Which famous scene?