kscans

Chapter 53 - So, What Do We Do with These Kids?

In the end, only a small fraction of the slaves had been under a forged contract.

"They likely used the rest, who were under legitimate servitude contracts, to hide their true objective."

I see. It's like hiding a single grain of poisoned rice in a delicious meal.

"I've compiled a list of the slaves' masters. Most of them only planted one or two key agents, but there were some malicious merchants whose entire retinue consisted of forged slaves."

Talk about being fully committed to betrayal. Not that the ones with smaller numbers weren't just as committed, though.

"For now, let's make an example of the most malicious ones and crush them. We can deliberately overlook the smaller-scale offenders to make them think we haven't noticed."

"Won't they suspect that we've already found them out?"

"That in itself will prevent them from making any rash moves. Besides, they are unaware that you can destroy magical contracts. As long as the slaves with embedded orders are alive, they will believe they still have a chance. To them, slaves are, quite literally, disposable pawns."

I get it. So the merchants who came here were also disposable subordinates.

"Alright, let's make an example of them."

"Yes. First, let's investigate thoroughly to see if they have any branch offices or hideouts."

And just like that, we decided to make an example of the malicious merchant... but.

"That aside, what should we do with those slaves?"

"Can we not just keep them as a labor force? Though providing you with meals is my duty, my lady."

"No, if I drink only your blood, Adolnel, you'll become anemic."

"I do not mind. I would not object to facing a life-threatening crisis at your hands."

This is bad, this is bad. This girl's sense of ethics and danger is completely broken.

"Getting back on topic, the residents of this country are all races that are either hostile to or have been hunted by humans, right? While you might be fine, Adolnel, I'm worried that if we keep ordinary humans around, they might get attacked."

"Ah, that is a plausible concern. In that case, why not simply drink their blood and make them your familiars?"

"Oh, right."

Of course. I'm a vampire. Humans were just food and a source of new undead labor. Adolnel is special. Her blood is just ridiculously delicious.

"I completely forgot about that because of the whole forged contract mess."

And so, to savor the slaves' blood and turn them into my familiars, I had them all gathered together.

""""...""""

The slaves looked on anxiously, wondering what was about to happen. Even though their slave contracts had been broken, this was still a den of undead and monsters. It wouldn't be surprising if they were killed at any moment.

"U-Um, what is it that you require of us...?"

The oldest of the slaves (though she was still young) mustered the courage to ask.

"Right. I'm going to need you all to become my meal."

""""!""""

Being told they were to be a vampire's meal—in other words, have their blood drunk—sent a wave of terror through them.

"We're going to die..."

A small slave child began to tremble, tears streaming down her face.

"That's right. I will drink your blood until you are dead. And then you will become my familiars."

"...Familiars?"

Despite being told they would be killed, the mention of becoming familiars made the slaves tilt their heads in confusion.

"Oh, I heard that vampires increase their numbers by drinking blood..."

Ah, it seems the fear that had gripped their minds was finally giving way to curiosity, allowing them to think again.

"Correct. Starting today, you will be reborn as undead. Naturally, you have no right to refuse. You will die here and become my loyal servants!"

I deliberately hammed it up like a villain. They were about to be killed and forced to serve me for eternity. The least I could do was listen to their grievances.

"...We understand."

But surprisingly, the slaves calmly accepted their deaths. Huh, that's unexpected. I thought they would scream things like, "No, I don't want to die! I don't want to become a vampire's thrall!" and try to run away or fight back.

"We were sent here as disposable pawns from the beginning. Even if we had continued to live, we would have eventually been forced to obey the order to betray our master, and we would have been killed as traitors."

That's true. If they had carried out the betrayal, even if I had forgiven them, the other residents would not have. Their deaths were a certainty. Even the slaves who weren't given the order to betray would have been suspected and likely killed anyway.

"So, if we are to die anyway, we would rather become undead and take revenge on those who entrapped us and made us slaves."

At her words, the other slaves began to agree. "Yeah, if we're going to die..." "Uh-huh, I want to take them with us." Their eyes were filled with a dark joy and anticipation. Hmm, so it's a 'if I'm going down, I'm taking you with me' kind of spirit. Not bad, I suppose.

"Alright. If you have that resolve, then when the time comes to dispose of the people who put you in this position, I'll let you do the honors."

""""Thank you very much!""""

Well then, time to eat!

Chomp.

"!"

The slaves' blood tasted like bittersweet coffee. A bitterness like cappuccino. It was as if their suffering had seeped into their very blood. But within it, I could taste a faint sweetness, like a small glimmer of hope in the midst of despair.

"Phew."

And with that, the slave whose blood I had drunk collapsed. Now, all that was left was to wait for her to rise as a Ghoul.

"...Ngh."

Slowly, the slave, now a moving corpse, got up and raised her head. Her eyes were filled with joy...

"Ah, so this is what it means to become undead."

...and she spoke with perfect fluency.