These are the undead: meticulous and rigid puppets, like machines. Yet it is precisely this quality that allows Norton to move freely in and out of Deckenhoff Castle at this time. Not only that, by deciphering the necromantic control spell of his family, he can even command the entire crypt guard regiment within the castle. Of course, this is not really necessary.

“This is just an ordinary exploration activity. A squad of guards is more than enough,” Norton murmured to himself as he attempted to control each of the undead sentinels he passed. The invisible threads formed from the magical wind gathered around him connected Norton spiritually to these fearsome-looking undead soldiers.

The manipulated undead soldiers changed their marching direction, leaving their patrol units to surround Norton, protecting him at the center.

By the time Norton reached the main gate, sixteen crypt guards had gathered around him. On the innermost circle, four guards wielding kite shields and longswords surrounded him, ready to raise their shields to block any attacks directed at Norton in the event of danger.

In the outer circle were four more undead soldiers. Two undead archers carrying heavy crossbows and curved blades moved in the front, while two corpse wights, dressed in black robes, holding books of the dead in their right hands and oak staves in their left, followed behind them. Six tall crypt halberdiers equipped with long halberds walked on the outermost circle. Leading the squad were two skeletal wolves, acting as scouts, using the scent that lingered from their living days to detect enemies in advance.

This was the temporary escort squad Norton assembled from the crypt guards in the castle. Balanced in offense and defense, capable in both ranged and melee combat. This filled Norton with some pride; his education in military strategy from his past life was proving quite useful.

Under the dim red moonlight, the main gate of Deckenhoff Castle opened slightly. The efficient squad exited one by one, and upon reaching the open space at the gate, they gathered around Norton again, continuing toward the wilderness to the south of the castle.

Witnessing this, another guardian of the castle came into action—it was swift as an arrow, light as a butterfly, leaping down from the top of the castle, a height of dozens of meters, to land gracefully in front of Norton.

Unlike the simple-minded undead, this was a highly intelligent creature. A black cat with red eyes. The cat yawned and then opened its mouth at Norton, making a gurgling sound that served as a warning, urging Norton to return quickly so as not to cause trouble.

But this wasn’t Norton’s first encounter with it. He spread his hands, signaling he meant no harm, then tossed a small piece of magic crystal he had prepared beforehand, landing it perfectly at the black cat’s feet.

The cat leaned down, sniffed the crystal piece, and after confirming it was safe, began to chew it like candy, the hard crystal crunching under its teeth, before swallowing it. It then nodded at Norton and settled down beside him.

Seeing it accept his bribe, Norton breathed a sigh of relief, though he was also curious.

“Are you always this negligent in your duties, Lady Cecil?”

“Meow?”

“Meow nothing! Talk like a human! I know you can speak!”

The cat ignored Norton further, feigning innocence as it began grooming its paws and washing its face like an ordinary cat.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“...Forget it.” Norton shrugged, realizing it wasn’t worth disputing with a cat. He returned to the protection of the crypt guard. A gust of magical wind gathered around him, gently lifting him into the air, sparing him from the fatigue of walking and giving him a better view—after all, his physical body was just six years old.

With that, Norton continued to lead his undead troops toward the southern wilderness of the castle. The black cat watched him until he disappeared from sight, then returned to its grooming.

This cat was an ally of the vampire nobles of the castle and acted as a guardian. It had stayed at Deckenhoff Castle for hundreds of years after being recruited by the Castine family. It was one of the few beings in the realm that was neither human, undead, nor vampire. The vampires referred to her as Lady Cecil. Although she appeared no different from an ordinary black cat, it was rumored that her power could rival that of a dragon, making her one of the most formidable magical creatures.

“Nothing will come of it... after all, he’s just a child,” the black cat mused, finding a reason for its negligence as it calmly walked into the grass beside the castle, seemingly in pursuit of some field mice to snack on.

In the vampire realm of Sylvania, there once stood a vast, powerful, and prosperous empire. The aristocracy of this empire took great pride in their monumental burial sites, competing with each other to build grander tombs, replete with treasures and sacrificed slaves and warriors. During the peak of the empire, these sprawling necropolises rivaled any architectural wonder of other nations.

Over time, the great empire fell, its population dwindled, and its fertile lands turned to wasteland. Once defensive fortresses became vampire-occupied castles, and grand burial sites became crucial sources of military might for the vampires.

Perhaps it was their sheer size that initially attracted the vampires to establish their base here. To the average tomb raider, the deeply buried wealth was alluring. But to the vampires, skilled in necromancy, these served as potential reserve armies.

In the beginning, the vampires could muster armies of tens of thousands from the surrounding wilds with ease, reaping piles of gold and even valuable magical weapons, tomes, and other treasures. Armed with these resources, the vampires waged war against the so-called “realm of the living,” seeking to establish their eternal reign.

However, the efforts of their predecessors invariably ended in failure. As previously mentioned, no living being wishes to be ruled by the dead. The vampires’ campaigns only depleted their resources and weakened Sylvania, reducing it from a powerful entity to a secondary power in the Old World. The vast necropolises, now mostly exhausted, could no longer supply Sylvania with sufficient troops.

To maintain their forces, the vampire nobles were forced to dig up bones from other regions or compel the local populace to hand over the remains of their deceased relatives. They even resorted to grave robbing in neighboring nations or smuggling bones through trade channels. Despite these efforts, Sylvania's military resources remained strained, especially those obtained through smuggling, which became a commodity with those involved often demanding extortionate prices. The vampires resented these crafty smugglers but still had to welcome them with open arms, understanding the complexity of their situation.

The burial sites’ utility diminished significantly and were often termed wastelands by the locals. Yet, they remained a treasure trove. Adhering to practicality, the vampire nobles could still find valuable items among the emptied tombs. Occasionally, an undiscovered ancient noble's tomb would provide a windfall of valuable relics and bones, enriching an otherwise poor adventurer.

Civic assemblies encouraged such private explorations, granting ownership of all discoveries to the finders. This policy, however, was rendered ineffective when vampire families declared exclusive rights over the tombs on their lands, halting private excavations except by family decree.

Now, the Castine family, due to its strategic location, controls the largest section of the burial sites—a boon centuries ago, providing wealth and military strength, elevating the family’s influence in civic assemblies. Several competent Castine counts even ascended to become dukes of Sylvania.

But those were days of yore. As the value of the burials dwindled, the Castine family’s prosperity waned. The massive necropolises, difficult to manage and unproductive, strained the family’s economy. While vampires excel at combat and leadership, they are unfamiliar with productive labor. Farming, smelting, and trade require other races, particularly humans, to execute efficiently.