EPHS-Chapter 418 Kingdom of Darkness
Outside the thick fog, Tenraku and the girls waited for quite some time.
"Master, these guys are too slow. Should I clear them out so we can go in?" Raynare licked her lips with a bloodthirsty expression on her face as she spoke while emitting a trace of darkness from her very being.
Their expressions changed, and the vampires quickly distanced themselves from Tenraku and his group. They sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from the Fallen Angel.
"Patience, Raynare."
"Yes, here they come."
With a light laugh, Tenraku looked towards the fog. A group of people hurriedly emerged, led by none other than someone familiar to Tenraku— Elmenhilde Karnstein.
"It's really you!"
Upon seeing Tenraku, Elmenhilde showed some surprise on her face. Initially finding it hard to believe the reports that Kamiya Tenraku from the Phenex family had come to their Vampire territory, she decided to personally check, and to her amazement, it was indeed him.
"Elmen San, nice to see you again." Waving his hand, Tenraku greeted Elmenhilde.
"Why did you come here? Do you really want..." Thinking about Tenraku's words from before, Elmenhilde's expression couldn't help but change.
"Don't worry; I was just joking back then. We've come this time to take Valerie from Tepes. Elmen San, could you please take us into your territory? Although we can enter on our own, I don't want to have unnecessary conflicts with you." Understanding what the girl meant, Tenraku smiled and explained.
"Do I have the right to refuse?"
Giving Tenraku a disdainful look, Elmenhilde sighed in relief after understanding Tenraku's purpose. As long as he wasn't causing trouble for them, it was acceptable.
"Follow me."
As the next in charge of the Karnstein family and a favored servant of Carmilla Queen, Elmenhilde held a high position in the entire Carmilla Faction's Vampire. Following Elmenhilde's footsteps, Tenraku and his group soon entered the Vampire territory.
"Amazing, is this the world of Vampires?"
Roads, carriages, pedestrians... A mysterious Vampire kingdom unfolded before their eyes. Despite the barren primal jungle outside the thick fog, inside was a bustling European medieval-style city!
While Tenraku and Gasper weren't particularly amazed, Yubelluna and the girls were visiting the Vampire kingdom for the first time and they found it incredibly novel. It was a city filled with historical ambiance, something rarely seen in the outside world.
"Hehe, are you scared by our great Vampire kingdom? You are the first batch of Fallen Angels and Devils invited here in centuries."
"Haha, it's our honor."
Elmenhilde raised her head like a proud little chicken as she spoke, and Tenraku couldn't help but laugh.
Vampires, more than Devils or any other race, emphasized class distinctions. They strictly distinguished between pure-blood vampires, considered orthodox, and non-pure-blood vampires, or those turned from humans, who were forever servants or even livestock.
Vampires were bloodthirsty and revered power, upholding absolute orthodoxy and aristocracy.
Under the apparent prosperity of the city, there lay the bloody control of absolute power!
At this moment, a group of armored vampires approached them.
"Elmenhilde-Sama."
The leader of the vampires bowed to Elmenhilde, who nodded in return.
"Please get on the carriage. I will take you to meet our Queen."
"Meet your Queen?"
"I've already told you, Elmen San, we just plan to rescue our comrade from Tepes, not to meet your Queen." Tenraku frowned as he spoke.
Although what Tenraku said was accurate, Elmenhilde, upon hearing this, couldn't help but feel annoyed. "Damn you, you Red Dragon Emperor, do you think you're on anyone's turf right now?"
"Carmilla and Tepes are currently at war. Without the Queen's permission, no one is allowed to cross the border into Tepes' territory!"
Watching Elmenhilde's irritated expression, Tenraku couldn't help but chuckle. Despite her high and mighty appearance, this Vampire princess unexpectedly had a cute side.
Though it seemed a bit troublesome, Tenraku and his group were not in a hurry. Since they were in someone else's territory, it was better to follow their rules.
"Well then, let's go meet the Queen."
Tenraku gestured to Gasper and the girls, and everyone boarded the carriage. With Elmenhilde's permission, two Vampire servants snapped the reins, and the carriage slowly moved towards the central royal city.
Dozens of armored Vampires acted as guards on both sides. Instead of guarding, they seemed to be monitoring. Tenraku and the girls, understanding this, paid little attention to them.
"HāHāHā... Ile, look at those Vampires, they're so funny."
"Like fools. Let's tease them a bit!"
Leaning out of the carriage window, Ile and Nel bared their teeth at the Vampires on the roadside. In response, the provoked Vampires also revealed their fangs menacingly. The mischievous sisters found it amusing and continued playing.
"Tenraku Sama, please restrain your Peerage." With a darkened face, Elmenhilde, sitting in the carriage, gritted her teeth as she spoke.
"These two little troublemakers are a bit naughty. Elmen San, please don't mind them."
Feeling amused, Tenraku still managed to bring Ile and Nel back, making them sit quietly beside him.
The Vampire city was strictly constructed according to hierarchy. The closer to the central royal city, the more grand and majestic it became, signifying the higher status of its inhabitants among Vampires.
Along the way, Elmenhilde acted as a guide, providing a brief overview of the city's situation and some cultural aspects of the Vampire world. In her words and expressions, it was evident that the girl took deep pride in her race and this kingdom, even though many aspects were challenging for Tenraku and the others to understand.
Before long, with the grand opening of two enormous iron gates, the carriage carrying Tenraku and his group slowly entered the royal city.
Here, Tenraku and his group were about to face the True Ancestors of the Carmilla Faction Vampires and their most revered Queen...
To be continued...