kscans

Chapter 46 - Incarnation of God? No, I'm a Vampire

""""…""""

The priests who emerged from behind the wall just stood there, staring at me dumbfoundedly instead of attacking.

"Uhm, why aren't you moving?"

""""!""""

The scene was so bizarre that I couldn't help but speak up, which seemed to snap them out of it.

"H-how?!"

"'How' what?"

"How are you still alive?!"

"…Huh?"

Wait, what? We were just having a massive battle, so there's no way they, on the other side of the wall, could have known who won. So why were they so certain that it was strange for me to be alive? It was as if they were completely convinced I had been defeated.

"What do you mean, 'how'? It's because we won, obviously."

"Impossible! No one can survive God's judgment!"

"God's judgment? What's that?"

"The lightning! The lightning that descends from the heavens is proof of God's judgment! It is the power of God that strikes down evil!"

Ah, I see, I see. So people in this world think lightning is God's judgment. And since lightning was striking all over the place just now, they must have misunderstood, thinking that on the other side of the wall, God was punishing the evil Vampire with lightning.

Come to think of it, people in ancient times used to think natural disasters were signs of God's anger and would offer rain dances or sacrifices.

"Answer me! How did you escape God's judgment?!"

"How? Like this, I guess. Thunder!"

With an exaggerated gesture, I made lightning strike at the feet of the priest in the front. This should make them realize I was the one who cast it, and they'll probably be really shaken up. After all, they think it's the power of God.

"O God, why have you struck us?!"

Or not. He thought it was God who cast it, not me.

"That was my magic just now. I used lightning magic to defeat the knights."

"Don't be absurd! As if a mere Vampire—no, as if any being in this world could do such a thing!"

Wow, he's really denying it.

"Lightning is a divine authority! No one but God can control lightning!"

Can't control lightning? Even with magic? But I was able to replicate it just fine.

"Hmm, maybe it's because humans and us use magic differently?"

Humans cast magic by chanting spells, but we Vampires are magical beings ourselves, our very existence close to magic. That's why a Vampire's magic manifests just by infusing an image into our magical power. So, just as I can create fire or ice, I can also wield lightning. That might be the difference between us and humans. Though I can't say for sure since I don't know much about how human magic works.

Ah, maybe it's also because of my past life's knowledge. I have a rough scientific understanding of the mechanics of lightning.

"But well, the fact is, I can do it. Thunder!"

I made lightning strike all around the priests with loud booms. And I did it in a way that was clearly artificial, not random, by making the lightning strike in a circle.

"See? A coincidence wouldn't make lightning fall like that, right?"

"…Impossible. Are you really the one doing this?"

The priests looked up at me with expressions of utter disbelief. Don't doubt me. In response, I made lightning strike right in front of the priest who had asked.

"This is my answer."

"…I-impossible. A Vampire using a divine authority! Are you truly a Vampire?!"

Well, if you're asking if I'm a Vampire or not, I am.

"I am a Vampire. But, well, maybe I'm not an ordinary one."

It's a fact that I have memories of a past life. In that sense, I suppose you could say I'm not a normal Vampire.

"So, what will you do?"

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Will you continue to fight me, who wields a divine authority? Or will you flee? If you run, I might just let you go."

I magnanimously offered them a chance to retreat.

"I-impossible. Impossible!"

Even as they said that, they were backing away. And once they had put a certain distance between us, they turned and fled for their lives.

I watched them until they were out of sight, and then…

"Haaaaah, they actually fell for it."

I let out a sigh and gently landed on the ground.

"That was close. If they had hit me with Holy Magic in that situation, I would've been done for."

I never want to feel that kind of heat again. I'm so glad they fell for my act.

"But lightning as the power of God, huh. Hmm, if I play my cards right, they might hesitate to attack me so easily from now on."

Having repelled all my enemies and won the battle, I pondered the future. As if to praise me, the light of dawn warmly enveloped me.

Sizzzzzzzzle.

"Gah, it burns, it burns, it burns!"

I'm burning! I'm seriously burning!!

"Uwoooaaaaah!"

Assaulted by the sunlight, I frantically dove into the ground to escape.

"Am I a mole?!"

Damn it, can't I ever get a cool ending? Another sun-related punchline!