Chapter 41: Goblet of Transformation (2)
~silence~
"W-W-What did you just say?" It was the delinquent guy who broke the silence. I put on my humble and smiling face before repeating what I said.
"10x of the offered price of Butler Motia. That'll be 65,000 silver coins or 650 gold coins."
"Are you being serious?" Gramps looks at me in disbelief and almost drops his abacus. "Even if you have that huge amount of money, if you don't have it now, it'll be impossible for you to get the item at the moment. As I have mentioned, rules are rules." He firmly stated.
"Ha? Who said I don't have it now?" I open the bank on the system and take out the exact amount.
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
You have successfully withdrawn 650 gold coins.
Your current balance: 250,000,009,228 Gold Coins: 9864 Silver Coins: 996 Copper Coins: 250,000,000 Gold Bars
Check the 'Records' for Transaction History.
Check the 'Inventory' to get the money.
'Inventory'
I take out the pouch that appears on the free slot exclusive only for withdrawn money. The updated system really is cool!
I handed the money bag to the old man and he opened and checked it immediately. Shining gold coins greets him from the bag before turning to me.
"…it's real."
-*-
"This is the item, Sir"
I accept the box containing the said item before opening it. I bought it but I really don't know what the item is. 650 gold coins is a little too much but not for me. In front of me is an expensive looking cup, the glass has gems and silver designs.
*dingg!*
♤Item Information♤ Name: Goblet of Unholy Blood Classification: 4-Star Artifact (Rare) Attribute/s:
- Surprisingly, this item is valuable. The amount you offered matches the price of it. You do not lose anything.
- I know. What's weird is the old man himself, he praised the 2-star artifact but he doesn't know that his creation is more valuable than that.
"W-Why are you doing this?! B-Butler Motia won't let me off after this…! Hand it over!" The man try to snatch the box but I already shove it inside the inventory. I stuck my foot out, which causes him to land face flat on the ground. "Ugh! You bastard!"
Before he even stands, I bind him using the rope from the messy shop. Huhu. Do you think you could beat me? Dream on, sucker. You're just a 3rd rate delinquent just like in my original world.
"Gramps, do you have a cardboard and quill?" The dazed grandpa left to get the things I asked for, and when he came back I flashes my most evil(est) smile.
"Alright Gramps, we gotta go." I said while leisurely dragging the man behind me.
*dingg!*
♤Sub-Quest 2: Lull Cry-Baby John♤
In a Nestiary Workshop, Alba has a child named John, she is out for work so Baby John is left with his grandpa, but Grandpa needs to complete a product to deliver later. John cried in loneliness that distracted his Grandpa's work.
[CLEARED]
Quest Reward:
Unholy Blood (Rare) [item], Grandpa's Gratitude 100%, 10 Fame Points
-----
I happily hand over the man to the authorities/knights with an explanation letter before running off. Using my carpet, I drive at maximum speed to get to as soon as possible to Gabid Village.
Emergency Quest Alert 4!
Time Limit: 02:25:21
Tsk! I spent more than 20 mins. for that bastard. It should be fine... Yes, yes, even if I'm late it shouldn't be a problem, the Marquess and Keaton are both traveling with the knights and before I left earlier I saw them drink healing potions and stamina potions to travel-
'…wait. But weren't those potions only 3rd class and had side effects? Shit! What were the side effects again?'
'Inventory'
I take out one mid-grade healing potion: type A that was handed over by the priests and healers from the camp.
*dingg!*
♤Item Information♤ Name: Heilen Thirst Inventor: Arima Belial of Archusto Alchemy Tower Classification: Mid-Grade Healing Potion Time: 3 hours Type: A Difficulty: Moderate Effect/s: Replenishes lost health, 50% of the average health (100 HP), and 20% of the average stamina (100 HP). Wait for 10 minutes to take effect. Characteristic/s: Reddish-Pink, slightly thick, minty, and sweet fragrance. Side-Effect/s: Drowsiness, light-headedness, and numbness. Ingredient/s: Oak Tree bark, Blarossa, Milk-Starr Mucus, Oregano juice, Pine tree tea, Plum berry juice, Mirebean, Sejina Water, Wolfbane, Salamander's tears, Artrius' fiber. Description/s: A healing potion that can restore a drinker's health by 50% of an average person. Plus, it replenishes a drinker's stamina by 20%. A potion made for knights and adventurers during the Filgrade War against Demon Lord Michaiel Ross Sert Evi Dani's Rumpage on Archusto Empire.
Procedure/s: Put 7 liters of Sejina water in the cauldron, add 1kg of Artrius' fiber, ½ kg of oak tree bark, 1 cup of Mirebean, 2 Blarossa and 3 cups of Milk-Starr mucus. Set it aside for 30 minutes.
In a deep bowl, mix pine tree tea, oregano juice, plum berry juice, and 3 drops of Salamander's tears. Stir until it thickens.
Add the mixture to the cauldron and leave it for 2 hours.
As I thought. They won't be in a good condition to fight, especially unknown entities/men that will appear out of nowhere. And from what I remember, Marquess Trastius has high stats, so he must know how to fight but I don't expect him to beat everyone by himself.
While riding, I take out the box the old man gave me. I really can't believe he doesn't know the value of his creation. But what do you mean by the blood that will turn into a pill? It's disgusting to think that one will drink his own blood with a mix of someone else's blood just to take someone's abilities. But there's no doubt it is helpful.
- Why don't you try it?
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"Nah. You won't know if the blood has pathogens and I consider all blood without undergoing a proper test… dirty."
- It's not like you'll die if you try it once.
"It could kill me slowly by harboring diseases."
- I'm curious, just try it.
"Why don't you try it yourself?"
- I can't, I have no body.
"Then stop being curious."
- But I can't stop being curious.
"Don't think about it."
- But I can't stop thinking about it
"Just shut up."
- But I can't shut up.
"Dearby."
- But I can't- Yes?
"Shut up."
- But I can't shut up… just try it once, I guarantee you won't die. I'm curious, I'm curious, I'm curious. I won't shut up, I won't shut up.
"…Argh! This brat…! FINE! But I won't eat it! So can you shut up now?" I angrily said while massaging my temple.
I take the Goblet out while I scan through my inventory for blood. I remember the system rewarded me with something like that before. Then I found it.
'…High-Grade Vampire's blood.'
The thing I got after killing a Vampire back then. I don't really know the use of this until now, so it's an ingredient. The bottle contains about 25ml of Vampire's Blood. I poured half on the goblet and then I cut my palm for the same amount of blood. It fucking stings.
The two types of blood mixed together after the goblet glows a blinding light. After a minute, the light died down and on the goblet, it reveals three red pills.
*dingg!*
♤Item Information♤ Name: Vampiric Pill Classification: (Rare) Attribute/s:
'Three of these pills? Wow. But what's up with 'defective human'? This system's architect really needs a good beating'
- Eat one please, let's see how powerful you'll be after one pill.
"I said no."
From afar, flashes of bright light were shining, obviously, it was from the silver/steel sword's light reflection under the setting sun. Blood splatters on the ground and the fresh iron smell mixes with the air. The knights are fighting with a group of men in a black cloaks, but there's this distinct movement that all of them can do, fast movements, and they're careful not to kill their opponents. They only leave the knights unable to fight before proceeding to another.
"It started. I hope no one dies yet…"
The Marquess is actively fighting with the knights and has already taken down five of them (based on the unconscious men around him). Then I notice three of the men suspiciously moving in one direction… that's when I realize what they're aiming for.
'…They're aiming at the carriage.'
Like in the quest information, the failure of the quest indicated Keaton being taken, and that's what they're here for from the beginning. I assumed it was just a coincidence that they took Keaton a hostage after facing the Marquess' Wrath.
'Just what did Keaton do? This scenario never happened in the book. Why does the course keep changing? If this keeps up, my ace card (book) will be useless.'
- Those are Vampires.
- What?!
- Vampires, based on their fast and careful movements, it's most likely they're avoiding killing humans. It's in Human-Vampire rule so they must follow or else War will break out.
- W-Why would…? Was it because I killed a Vampire?! Holy Mother of Shits! Was it because of me all this time?! But I killed it because it's been killing humans as well, they're the first to break the rule, and it was self-defense on my side.
- Regardless, both humans and vampires broke the rule. There's only a matter of time before War will happen.
- …What should I do? I've been devising plans so that Wars can't happen or prevent at least, but here I am-
- Stop being dramatic. Eat the pill now if you don't want your family to die here.
- I won't eat it.
- …You know, that thing you call a 'system' is a wonder for me too, but as I spied through it do you know what my conclusion is? You don't have a skill. You've been tricking me all along by using that scamming ability. You do know that that won't affect those vampires out there nor do you have excellent swordsmanship techniques to match them, how do you plan to fight them then? You rushed out here without a plan, right? Or do you plan to just watch it?
- …You're annoying as hell.
- The feeling is mutual, human.
I eat two pills by forcing myself to swallow them. I wiped my watery eyes. I don't know where my anxiety about dirt and germs comes from, but bullshit, I need to move. This gives 30 minutes to use the ability of the Vampire named Remi. By rushing in like a shooting star, I instantly appears at the door of the carriage, landing with the carpet on the ground.
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
You ingested 2 Vampiric Pills.
Your defective blood and defective blood of the Vampire,
You acquired
Your 'Aura' will change into a complete High Ranking Vampire
The three men stop and look at each other like they didn't expect this to happen. They exchange gestures before looking back at me. Behind me is the still unconscious Keaton, he must still be in shock after that blow he received. Who wouldn't? When you saw a large hole in your stomach and blood leaving your body creating a pool?
With a serious glare, I said "What do you want from us?"
"T-This smell…!"
"Hey, what is the meaning of this, Berias?"
"I also have no idea, and stop calling me by my name, idiot."
"I-Isn't he a Vampire too?"
"Hey, you! Are you a traitor?! Why are you siding with humans?!"
'Bullshit. Did they just think of me as one of them? People on this planet must have a habit of judging people.'
The knights and also the Vampires stop fighting and look at the man who shouts at me. I gulped when I saw the Marquess had a stunned yet confused face staring at me. Now that I joined in, I now have a clearer view of the wounded knights, and among them are Commander Treso and Drio.
"What are you doing here?! Didn't you leave first?! Why did you come back?!!" The Marquess' angry voice reverberated.
"I'm sorry Marquess but could you save the sermons for later? They must have mistaken Keaton for me so I have to deal with them." I politely answered, I really need to be polite because I'll face his anger later. I'd rather face these Vamps than the angry Marquess. I did not imagine he will be this terrifying when he’s angry.
"Ha, hahaha… mistaken? Did you just admit that it was you who killed a high-ranking vampire?" The same man asked, it appears he was the leader. Then his eyes turned red "…you emit a vampiric aura, do you know the crime you just committed?!"
Just like I thought, this is about that Vampire I faced before. There's a glowing light above his head just like usual, but the panel did not appear automatically. Tch. How about the manual method…
'Window.'
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Due to the
Updating Progress… 93.451% (1,250)
Haa… It's still in progress. I have no idea how strong these guys are. Are they stronger than the Vampire I killed before? Goddamn system, when it is urgently needed that's when it'll act up.
The sun finally went down and the only light was from the lamps of the carriage and the dim road light. But surprisingly, I could see really well, it must be from the effects of those pills.
- Should I try solving this with words?
- Depends if they’ll listen. Goodluck.
- ...Tch.
"What did I commit? Didn't she slaughter humans as well?" I answered. "Leave."
'Yeah leave, I don't really want to fight sane Vampires'
"Lady Remi won't do that without a reason." Another man stepped in.
"Then I also did it for a reason."
'Bullshit! We were the ones who were in danger because of her.'
Heavy atmosphere wraps over everyone. Among the knights, Efren and Selek only understood the conversation. While I can see that Marquess Trastius also grasped a gist of it.
"Even if you're a vampire, you have no right to kill a high-ranking vampire. Lord Zevlin ordered me to bring you. We thought you were just a human noble so we planned the ambush. You must heed the order."
The man pulls out a restraining chain with his sharp, nailed hands. I knew right away how he'd capture me, that's why I preceded him.
In a flash, I appear in front of their leader and kick the most vulnerable part of a man. Even I winced because I can hear the cracking sound. Then I pull out the silver sword I used back when I was fighting a Wyvern, but from my hand, I can tell that I'm also affected by the silver sword, though slowly, my hand holding a sword starts to burn.
"Berias!"
"You bastard!" Two men attacked me, I thought I can't avoid it but due to the poor control of my body movements, I clumsily dodge their attempts.
"Tania!" The Marquess yelled. And starts fighting again along with the knights. The clashes of swords against the sharp nails of the vampires were again heard.
I feel a sudden heavy pain on my waist and it makes my body spin before I hit the ground, I realize someone kicked me in a flash, whoever that bastard got lucky to land a hit- No, that's not it, it was me who got lucky to dodge a couple of attacks, I just got a little cocky.
I'm not even familiar with their movement because Remi, the Vampire I killed, seemed mindless and moves recklessly at that time when we encounter her, it must be because of some poison. I remember because the system showed me Remi's Character window. The current time is very dangerous now that not only one but two vampires are trying to subdue me.
‘I hope I survive this’