Conquering The Novel

As we made our way to the warp station, I gazed out of the window, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolis around us. The city was adorned with towering skyscrapers and flashing neon lights that added to its charm.

Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my view. I fished it out of my pocket and saw that it was Silvia's maid calling.

[Hello.] I answered.

[Good day, Sir Ares. This is Verena, Miss Silvia's maid. Have you completed your work in the abandoned kingdom? Would you like me to arrange a pick-up for you?] she asked immediately.

[Yes, I am done with my work. But you don't need to make any arrangements. I'm already on my way back to the academy.] I replied, politely declining her offer.

[I see. Your exploits have been all over the news, so I thought you might need my assistance with your travel arrangements.] she explained.

[No need to worry. My travel arrangements have already been taken care of.] I assured her before asking, [How is that demon brat doing? Did you notice anything peculiar about him?]

[About that...I have a slight problem to report.] she said, hesitating for a moment.

!?

[What kind of problem?] I asked, curious to know what had happened.

[It's about that demon child you tasked me to look after... he's disappeared.] she admitted reluctantly.

[What? How is that possible?] I muttered in disbelief.

[Y-Yes, he vanished suddenly after that massive energy wave that was most likely caused by the demon lord's death.] she explained.

[And you think he was also caught in that and obliterated?] I asked, seeking confirmation.

[I'm...not entirely sure, but it's a possibility.] she replied.

[Please forgive me for not being able to complete the task you assigned to me properly. I'm willing to accept any punishment you give me.] Verena apologized.

I already sensed that something was not quite right with that demon brat.

And I couldn't help but wonder if he had read Verena's mind and fled after sensing her hostility towards demons, or if he too was one of Pazuzu's followers and had been caught in the wave and eliminated in the aftermath of the demon lord's demise.

I weighed the possibilities for a moment before dismissing those thoughts for now and asked.

[What about Silvia? Has she not returned from her grandparents' place yet?]

[Well, things are complicated for Lady Silvia as well. Someone from the church has been investigating her, suspecting that she may be a vampire.] Verena replied.

'This seemed like the beginning of the end for the merchant association. The church was finally catching on, and it wouldn't be long before they discovered that the association was being run by vampires.' I thought.

[It's fortunate that Silvia is not here at the moment.] I said aloud with a sigh.

I was also curious about Silvia's meeting with the Shadow organization. She must have had a meeting with them by now. In the novel, she becomes a member, but I'm not sure if she will choose to do so now. I wonder what decision Silvia will make.

[...I also heard a rumor that a major conference is being organized by the Hero Association soon, and the Vampire Lord has been invited to attend along with other monarchs of different races.

Though it is still unclear whether it's a trap or not, but it seems that they want to join forces with the Vampire Lord to prepare for the upcoming battles against the demon race and demon lords.] Verena informed me.

"Huh?"

I was taken aback by Verena's news. While vampires might not be as strong as they once were, they were still a formidable force.

So, I doubted that Jessica would be foolish enough to plan anything against the Vampire Lord after inviting him to a conference.

Moreover, with the looming threat of the demon lords, it is imperative for all races to collaborate. We all share a common enemy, as the demons pose a threat not only to humans but also to other races, it would be wise to set aside our differences and work together to defeat this common foe.

However, like every other race, there are a few vampires who may choose to side with the demon lords.

'I recalled reading about a conference where monarchs from different races would gather to discuss countermeasures against the demon lords and sign a treaty.

The goal was to form a powerful team consisting of individuals from every race to protect the frontier against the demons.

But...that was in the distant future when more demon lords were unsealed and began wreaking havoc in every kingdom.

And as far as I knew, there was no mention of the Vampire Lord being invited to the conference or joining forces with the other races as well,' I continued to ponder.

[The Churches won't take kindly to it. Does Jessica really want to go against them?] I asked Verena.

[Yes, I think so too. I don't believe the churches will be pleased with her decision to collaborate with the vampires. I heard that the president of the Hero Association, Jessica, also invited representatives from the churches to attend the meeting.]

"...."

I paused for a moment, considering the implications of Jessica's actions.

She was being incredibly bold by openly opposing the powerful Churches, especially when they would undoubtedly play a significant role in the fight against the demon lords.

Each church served a specific constellation, and the person chosen by the constellation would play a crucial role in the battle.

"Everyone in the churches will obey the orders of the person their constellation has chosen," I mused aloud. "But the churches were created only for the most powerful constellations."

It was a delicate balance, and I wondered how Jessica planned to navigate it.

Although some constellations have already started to make their move and choose their desired avatar, it is still too early for other powerful constellations to do the same. Choosing an avatar is a crucial decision for them, as having a weak avatar who ends up dead would affect them as well.

'I exactly knew how the world will change when the chosen ones start appearing,' I thought to myself.

However, not every chosen one is supportive of their race. Some may even join forces with the demons, and there will be those who only care about their own benefits, without considering whether their actions are good or bad.

"I can see how fast things are progressing, and it's becoming more dangerous," I murmured to myself.

I need to master my new skills quickly and comprehend the extent of my constellation's powers before the chosen ones start swarming up and shifting the power dynamics of the entire world.

Plus, I still have no clue what kind of transformation I'll go through when using the constellation's power. And the most critical thing is that I don't even know who my constellation is.

[There's no time to rest now.] I said with determination.

[I agree, I'll try to get stronger as well.] Verena responded promptly.

"...."

[...Don't mind me, I was just lost in thought. But, it's good for you to get stronger and be of more help to Silvia.] I replied nonchalantly.

Verena responded resolutely, [I'll do my best to serve Lady Silvia.]

[Great, do your best.] I said, intending to end the call. But before I could, Verena spoke up again.

[Oh, are you planning on ending the call now? But what about my punishment though?] she asked.

'Silvia may have programmed her to be punished if she failed to complete my tasks,' I pondered when I heard her.

[...Don't worry about the punishment. Just try to find that demon brat and keep me updated if you find anything about him.] I instructed.

[Understood, I'll start my search immediately.] Verena replied confidently.

[Good. And one more thing, be careful not to reveal your identity as a vampire to anyone and try to keep a low profile for now.] I warned, knowing that the church might already be after her.

[Don't worry, Sir Ares. I know how to keep my identity a secret.] Verena assured me.

[Fine, and let me know if you hear anything from Silvia as well.] I added.

[Sure, I'll inform you immediately if I hear anything from Lady Silvia.] she replied.

[Alright then, I'll talk to you later.] I said before ending the call.

Tic—

As the line went silent, I let out a deep sigh and leaned back in my seat. The situation was becoming more complicated with each passing day.

The demon lords were being unsealed, the chosen ones were starting to emerge, vampires were making their presence known, and the churches were making their moves.

It was clear that a great battle was on the horizon, and I needed to be prepared for it.

Moreover, unknown to anyone, the demons were already hiding among them, disguised, waiting for the right opportunity to wreak havoc when the demon lords were unsealed to give them time to recuperate.

I closed my eyes as I continued to ponder.

...

...

...

"Master, we have arrived," Meira informed me as I rested my eyes on the journey.

We had finally arrived at the warp station, a large circular structure surrounded by a high-tech barrier. Meira skillfully guided the car through the barrier and parked in a designated spot.

I slowly opened my eyes hearing Meria and noticed that Irethiel had already transformed into her crow form, and Meira was glancing back at me from her seat.

!?

"Is there something on my face?" I asked, confused by her expression.

"No, that's not it. Your face is as handsome as ever," Meira said, gesturing towards Irethiel, who was perched on my lap. "I was just wondering if that crow is Irethiel?" she asked.

"...."