Marie Rose

'What? What's this?'

Dong Pao was greatly confused.

The road from Rolling to the Vatican was originally very peaceful. The paladins regularly scouted, so it was difficult to find thieves, monsters and beasts. It could be called one of the few safe zones on the continent.

However, today the monsters popped out without any hesitation. Just like water pouring from a collapsed dam, the monsters swooped down and attacked Ash and Dong Pao.

"Pant... Pant... There are so many monsters in the vicinity..."

Thanks to that, Dong Pao was exhausted.

It had been less than a hour since they left Rolling, and they had already fought over 100 monsters without a break. His mana had been depleted a few times, making him drink mana potions. Now his stamina was going to be depleted.

"Pant pant! Strange! Really strange! I've used this road several hundred times, but it is the first time I've seen this! Pant pant!" Dong Pao couldn't accept the current situation. He struggled to use Heal on Ash, who was killing the lizardmen surrounding them. "Why are there so many monsters here... Strange!"

They needed to move 15km more to reach the point he was supposed to lure Ash. But monsters kept showing up, so it seemed like the two people would lose their lives before even reaching the target. How many people met and died from monsters in the safety zones? Perhaps he would be the first. How unfair and embarrassing was this?

Dong Pao despaired.

Then the source of this incident, Ash furtively took off his cloak.

'I currently have a healing shuttle... Unfortunately, it's time for a break.'

[Malacus' Cloak has been unequipped.]

Malacus' Cloak gave off a bloody scent that attracted all types of monsters hiding in the vicinity. As soon as Ash put the cloak into the inventory, no more monsters appeared. But Dong Pao was too busy to observe Ash properly, so he didn't realize that Ash was the source.

Ash dealt with the remaining monsters.

Kiyaaaaak!

[You have defeated a giant salamander.]

[Party leader 'Ash' has acquired the salamander's gallbladder.]

[Party leader 'Ash' has acquired the rare pearl.]

[203,000 experience has been acquired.]

[You have defeated an iran clan lizardman.]

[Party leader 'Ash' has acquired the Usable Scimitar.]

[Party leader 'Ash' has acquired a sapphire.]

[255,000 experience has been acquired.]

Dran Valley, where crystal clear water flowed!

The monsters here were much stronger than the monsters of Suaz Mountains. They had a minimum level of 190 and higher,so Ash is now enjoying gaining levels, plus he don't have to take care of his health as he has a healer with him.

Just 12 hours after leaving Rolling! Ash gained three levels while Dong Pao gained one level.

It was surprising for Dong Pao. They were hunting high level monsters with only two people, so their level rose quickly. It was better than hunting with a few high level parties. Like Ash, he wanted to stay in this place for a while to hunt. If he could do that, he could challenge becoming a ranker. But he was soon reminded of his original goals.

'Marie Rose is more important than levelling.'

Crime Forest.

Originally, they should've arrived here 3 hours after leaving Rolling. But it took them 12 hours. Dong Pao wondered if the assassins were tired and resentful from waiting. He felt anxious and urged Ash.

"Brother, let's take a break in that cave over there."

Ash turned his head in Dong Pao's direction and was able to discover the entrance to a cave. Then he nodded look.

'Is this that cave?' Ash thought.

"Thank you for your consideration."

Ash received Dong Pao's guidance and entered the cave. Then a notification window flashed.

[The Vampire Countess Marie Rose is sealed in this space.]

[Marie Rose's evil influence makes your magic power turbid. All types of spells and skills aren't available.]

[You have resisted.]

Ash smiled widely seeing this 'finally'.

"Don't worry. Marie Rose has been sleeping for hundreds of years since she was sealed by two of Rebecca's Daughters... She never wakes up. It isn't Marie Rose you should be worrying about right now." Dong Pao said without looking at Ash, as if he knew Ash will be bewildered by the sudden notification.

At the end of Dong Pao's words, three shadows appeared from the darkness. They were assassins who were with Dong Pao. They blocked the entrance of the cave so that Ash couldn't escape, and glared at Dong Pao.

"Why are you so late?"

Dong Pao explained, "Strangely, monsters kept showing up. We were forced to slow down while handling them."

The 13th ranked assassin, Sniffer didn't believe it.

"Monsters? If you want to lie, do it properly. Isn't it hard to find one wolf in the area, let alone monsters? This is why I hate the Chinese. You bluff every time you open your mouth!"

"It isn't a lie. If you don't believe me, check it out yourself later."

"Okay. I understand, so stop." The 11th ranked Kerb didn't want to waste any more time. He calmed down the situation and aimed two daggers at Ash. "Hey. If you don't want to die and lose experience, give us your money. Then we'll spare your life."

Assassins were specialized in assassination.

Their class change quest was assassination, and they received additional rewards depending on how many people were assassinated. The assassins steadily performed assassinations and gained a lot of experience fighting people.

Assassins were able to show off their unique presence in this place where all types of skills were suppressed due to Marie Rose. They also had numerical superiority, so Kerb didn't doubt that they could handle Ash.

On the other hand, Ash grasped the situation and asked Dong Pao.

" They are your partners right?" Ash 

"yes" Dong Pao smirked and replied.

While seeing Ash ignored him Shay attacked.

Shay was almost certain that he could win. Then he started the assault towards Ash.

Sakak!

The sword flashed in the darkness, while the golden longsword stood against it.

Chaaeng!

When the two swords hit each other, the dark cave brightened for a moment, as if sparks had been lit. At that moment, the beautiful appearance of the Radiance was clearly revealed. Shay remarked, "You seem somewhat capable, but...arghh" He wasn't able to finish his words as Ash fired Light Bullets at his eyes, and blinded him and then with a swift motion he used 40, 000 army killing sword and killed the two of the three assassins in one go.

Assassin's are speed based class but in front of Ash Haste spell their agility fell short and other reason was their lack of skill due to Marie Rose pressure but this does not apply to Ash, who is resistant to status effects.

"Cough, cough! Ugh! How...? How can you use a skill in this place?"

Shay's movements were noticeably slow. It was due to the debuff after being hit with critical blow.

"Dunno" Ash said as he killed the last surviving assassin.

Dong Pao once again checked Ash's level, since they were still in a party. 206. Ash had been level 203 the first time they met and he gained three levels on the way here to reach 206. Yes, a mere level 206 managed to beat the level 250 Shay and the level 2300 Kerb and Sniffer.

'Is this a hidden class...?'

It was his turn next. Dong Pao had tried to take money and kill Ash.

"H-Hik...!"

No one wouldn't want their experience to drop. Experience wasn't the only problem. In the worst case, a user would drop items when dying. Dong Pao wanted to avoid death, even if he needed to kiss Ash's feet.

"S-Spare me! Brother!"

Dong Pao bowed. Ash approached him and squatted, "How many people in this place have begged you with the same emotions you are feeling now?"

"..."

Dong Pao had never counted. Looking back now, he was able to realize the great despair that the people who had been harmed by him felt.

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I'm a bastard! Brother! I won't bargain over the lives of others again! I will never commit evil again, so please spare me!"

"What? It has nothing to do with me if you do this to anyone else."

"B-But didn't you just talk about how many people I hurt here?"

"I was just wondering... I am thankful for your earlier support. I was going to distribute the items obtained from hunting with you, but now you have lost that right. Yes?"

Dong Pao nodded. "That's right! Your words are correct! I am the trash who tried to deceive you in order to take your life and money! It doesn't make any sense for you to distribute the items to me! Of course Brother should keep the items. So please just spare my life...!"

Dong Pao begged for his life until the last moment. But he couldn't escape death.

Puok!

"K-Keok!"

Dong Pao's face lost a large amount of blood at once and he quickly became like a mummy. Ash wasn't the one who killed him.

"Don't tell me, you..."

Ash calmly watched. An unidentified woman appeared behind Dong Pao and sucked his blood like a vampire.

"Nice to meet you."

The woman smiled through a blood-soaked mouth. As soon as Ash saw her red eyes, many notification windows appeared in front of him.

[You have encountered Vampire Countess Marie Rose.]

[Marie Rose's evil influence makes your magic power turbid. All types of spells and skills aren't available.]

[You have resisted.]

[A vampire's gaze will subdue lower species. You will lost your willpower and control over your body.]

[You have resisted.]

[Marie Rose's attraction is absolute. Her charm is so high there is even high odds of both genders being attracted.]

[You have resisted.]

Ash maintained as large a distance from Marie Rose as possible, he isn't the protagonist , he still has to maintain vigilance against her. Then he carefully opened his mouth.

"Why did you suddenly wake up for hundreds of years when your seal isn't released? Were we being too loud?"

Marie Rose pointed to Malacus' Cloak.

"There is the blood of thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people soaked into the cloak you are wearing. Isn't that enough stimulation to wake me up?" 

Malacus, a priest of the Yatan Church, had killed countless virgins for decades. The blood of the virgins completely covered the cloak and was a great stimulus to vampires.

"But you, aren't you quite unusual? You don't have strong divine powers like Rebecca's Daughters, you do you have strong magic power like Braham, but still it isn't enough yet....my gaze and presence have no effect on you... How strange."

Marie Rose appeared to be in her early 20's. Her beauty was so unrealistic that it seemed like an illusion.

It was so perfect that Ash didn't feel any attraction towards her. He wasn't bewitched at all and could stay calm, he isn't a virgin.

"Isn't this strangeness interesting? Are you interested enough to keep me alive? I woke you up from your seal, so please do me this favor."