Camilla took a few breaths to rid herself of the last of her bad mood from her earlier encounter with the hooligans. Although she knew that such people were also a product of their environment and their circumstances, especially when she saw how thin most of them were, and how worn out the clothes they had on were, she still hated how they went about trying to fix that problem.
There were so many people in the slums in their exact same position. However, they worked to try and better their situation, often foraying out into the rest of the city to work odd jobs. On the other hand, these people…no, scum of humanity, resorted to robbery and extortion.
While she risked her life to fight for the betterment of humanity, what these people did went completely counter to her ideals.
She couldn’t accept that.
Not only did they rob outsiders that wandered in, they preyed on the people that were just as poor as they were. The people they stole from most were those in the slums that chose to work in order to live instead of fighting for it.
So what if ransom money from Kagriss could feed their gang for weeks? It was ill-gained money and it wasn’t as if the money went to feeding good people. Instead, it fed the dregs of society that would then use the new life breathed into them by the money to sink to even deeper levels.
Perhaps some of those gangsters had people relying on them, and while Camilla felt sorry for those innocent dependents, there was nothing she could do. At least, not before, when she was still a proper, human templar.
Now, there was no code binding her except her own moral code, and as far as she was concerned, the very existence of these dregs of society was detrimental to humanity.
In other words, these people were enemies to be eliminated.
However, it wasn’t time yet. She was still weak, both personally and in manpower. She’ll tolerate them for now since she had more things to do. Once she expands her power, she’ll begin her plan.
The first part of expanding her power was the procurement of funding. Pulling on the rope hanging from the ceiling in a specific pattern, Camilla let the person inside know that she was an old customer.
Soon, the door opened and a severely hunched old man standing just a bit taller than her walked out. Despite his small stature and unassuming looks, Camilla smiled cordially at him. Now that she was an undead, she could sense that aura of a high mage from him.
He was special.
The man wasn’t an archpriest, but he was a high mage nonetheless, being able to cast powerful holy spells. If Camilla hadn’t strong-armed Pavlor into healing Fleur, she would have hired this man to do it.
But his holy magic wasn’t what made him special. No, this man was one of the only people that Camilla knew who possessed a double affinity. Not only was he a high mage in holy magic, this man was a war mage with his fire affinity.
Despite his hunched back and thin limbs, Camilla knew that he could still beat a good portion of the Cloud Knights in single combat barehanded.
“Leland, nice to meet you,” she said, curtsying respectfully.
“I don’t recognize you. How did you know?” the old man asked, tilting his head slightly toward the string. If Camilla hadn’t been looking for it, she would’ve missed it thinking it was just the result of an old man’s failing muscles. “Did someone tell you?”
“No, of course not. It’s just that my appearance changed slightly as a result of some…circumstances.”
Leland snorted. “Of course it did. And I don’t suppose you can tell me now, eh? Inside later. Who’re the others?” he asked, glancing suspiciously at Kagriss and Lucienne. “New?”
“No, they’re just accompanying me. Kagriss is with me, and Lucy here is—”
“Hey! Don’t call me Lucy!” Lucienne interrupted, slamming her hand on the table before shrinking back while holding her hand in pain, tearing up.
Camilla winced. “That table is enchanted. I wouldn’t do that again if I were you.” She’s never made that particular mistake, but she’s seen others.
The templar didn’t answer her. She just continued to cradle her hand.
Shrugging, Camilla turned back to Leland. “As I was saying, Lucienne here is just to have fun. Well, Kagriss is as well, but I eventually plan on introducing her to you if things go right.”
“If things go right, huh? How right?” Leland asked, stepping on a stool and leaning over the table at her in interest. However, Camilla kept her mouth shut, smiling slyly.
“That’ll have to wait until later. First, we talk business,” Camilla said. She began to lift the bag containing the valuable bits from the stag when Leland held up a hand to stop her. She lifted a brow.
The old man pulled back her hand. “You do know the rules, right? You were told?”
“No, I really am…an old customer. The original one, or I used to be…”
“Yes, and I’m a young man. Anyways, it wouldn’t hurt to go over them again since they’re not particularly lo—”
Camilla interrupted him before he could begin. “I know, I know. Hard money only, half in advance to buy, full to sell. You dictate the price, no bargaining.”
In any other shop, Camilla would have walked out if no bargaining was part of the rules of transaction, but Leland was pretty much always fair when it came to pricing. He pretty much just aimed to break even with a little to spare to live a comfortable life, and as far as Camilla knew, it’s worked out pretty well for him.
Sometimes, Camilla even got unexpectedly good prices for things she wanted to buy and sell.
“So you were told!” Leland accused, pointing at her.
“No, I keep saying…oh, never mind.” Camilla gave up. Leland had a great memory and because of that, he’s got it in his head that Camilla was here after someone told her about the place.
Despite her respect for his strength, age, and integrity, he was still a stubborn old man. She’ll just have to convince him otherwise. Leland would be a great ally as well.
“Anyways, I know the rules. Can we begin?”
Although the old man scowled at her, he nodded. “I’m making an exception for you so this had better be good.”
No you’re not, Camilla muttered in her head, but didn’t voice out. Instead, she hauled the bag onto the table, undoing the drawstrings. The contents spilled out.
The huge skull of a stag. The antlers from the same creature. A complete though damaged pelt of, again, the same creature.
Leland’s eyes grew as big as coins as he beheld the animal parts. Camilla heard a gasp from Lucienne as well.
“Good heavens, where did you get this?” he muttered, picking up an antler, turning it around in his hands.
“We—Kagriss and I—came across it while out in the wild in the south. We tricked it into killing itself, so it was an easy victory. So, what’s your price?” Camilla asked.
Leland didn’t answer. He was too busy admiring the other parts as well, running his fingers over the bones of the cleaned skull and the surprisingly soft fur on the pelt. All the while, he muttered his observations under his breath, loud enough for all to hear.
“Amazing…lightning structures on the antlers. At least advanced magic. Quick absorption rate, maybe around third rank? And this bone! Pity about the shape, but resistance to lightning magic as well as…”
He went on and on while Camilla listened to his appraisal, forming her own idea on the cost. Leland went into depth about the condition of the materials, possible uses, and projected popularity among buyers, holding no information bad.
He did it as much for Camilla’s benefit as her own, so they were on an even playing field regarding information. Since his price could not be bargained, any seller’s only option if they wanted to affect the pricing was to contest Leland’s appraisal. As for Camilla, she had already long admitted defeat.
Every visit with Leland was a learning experience.
It was a while before Leland came to a stop, wheezing slightly from talking so long without even a pause. Finally, he took a deep breath, about to say his price. Before he could, Camilla cut in front of him.
“So in total, about forty thousand?”
“Forty-one thousand for all. Hmm?”
Camilla sighed, bumping her head against the table in defeat. Kagriss patted her on the back and hugged her to help her cheer up. Kagriss’s touch did indeed do much to lift Camilla’s spirits.
However, it didn’t change that once again she got the value wrong.
Not only did she get it wrong, she underestimated the value, which meant she would’ve gotten scammed had she taken it to another shop.
When she looked up again, Leland was staring at her, rubbing his beard. “You…remind me of someone.”
“I probably am that someone, or I used to be. Like I said, my appearance changed,” Camilla retorted. “Forty-one thousand is fine, but I also want to buy some things immediately if possible. But before that, we should go—”
A hacking cough from Leland cut her short and Camilla looked more carefully at him in worry. Was his age finally catching up to him?
Recovering from his cough, Leland straightened, or at most his bent spine allowed him to. “You damn youngs go too fast. Slow down, one at a time! So you’re selling, but you also want to buy. And then what?”
“Not then,” Camilla corrected. “Before. I want to have that talk inside you mentioned earlier. With Kagriss.”
At the mention of the name, the old man squinted as he looked toward Kagriss, no doubt sizing her up. He rubbed his chin. “Now you said she helped you take down a mana beast of that caliber?”
Camilla nodded. Leland only accepted the exceptional, so she had to make Kagriss sound as good as possible. As for Lucienne, who she had also brought along…apparently Leland didn’t see much in her.
However, Lucienne was still a young templar with a lot of room to grow, so perhaps one day Lucienne will come back here again by herself and be acknowledged by Leland, assuming the old man didn’t kick the bucket before then.
Finally, the old man sniffed and snorted again before he nodded. He walked over to the other end of the long table and lifted a segment of it up, rotating it on brass hinges.
“Come on over to the back, then,” he said, beckoning to Camilla and Kagriss. Then, he pointed straight at Lucienne, who was looking bewildered by everything this whole time. “And you. If anyone comes down, tell them to not bother me. Defend that string with your life.”
Then he followed Camilla into the room in the back, slamming the door shut behind him.
Thanks for the chapter.
Wow. Camilla has a whole plan for everything. It wouldn't surprise me if Moltrost becomes her city in no time. Then Victoria can gloat before Ismelda's mother that her daughter got a city first. And perhaps she'll have the Church wrapped around her finger.
Thx for the chap.
Another one to transform to subordinate vampire. He is way to good to his job for dying.
Well, at least he won't become a little loli if that's the case. One nightmare loli is already too much for the city of Moltrost to handle.
At least, not before, when she was still a proper, human templar. -> should this be “not like before” ?
holding no information bad. -> information back.
as much for Camilla’s benefit as her own -> as his own
Cool, nice to see Camilla still has competent old contacts like Leland she can use even now, and that she has plans to expand her power base
Given Leland’s age, I wonder if he might end up requesting to be turned into a vampire or undead so he won’t die of old age. It would suck to see such a cool and useful character die of old age when there are options to avoid it that aren’t horrifying or extremely dark/costly
After reading some of the comments i kinda want to know the finer details of turning someone into a vampire. What happens to their previous strength/magically ability? Was camilla having to regain some strength due to her dying and becoming a zombie or part of the vampire ritual
The vampire ritual was noted to weaken the 'parent' vampire for a time in order for the new vampire to bypass the lower stages and join the vampire nobility directly. Camilla was so weak originally because she rejected vampirism so strongly that the vampire nobility in her was suppressed, so when she was raised as an undead it was as a normal, basic zombie.
@Ranamga This be correct!
You could say that in game terms, although Camilla has all the skills unlocked right now, they're all still low leveled, whereas most other newly born vampire nobles start out with decently high level skills.
The previous physical strength is mostly replaced by a vampire's strength, while a blood magic attribute is added.
Not really happy with this chapter. Camilla's trend was to distance herself from humanity. To become less human and positive inclined towards humanity but now she wants to take on more of their problems? Not only the corruption in the church to close her human chapter but now also the thiefs in slums. And just in this city or does she wish to do it in every city? That doesn't fit anymore. Maybe when she just became a Vampire it would have fitted but now i can't really see her caring about it anymore(except that they are an annoyance for bothering her).
Already read in the other comments that Fleur and Anne won't travel with Camilla when they leave which is a good decision. Camilla tries to keep them out of things and not deepen their involvement.
Still these events will cause quite a few ripples within the human realms. So i think Camilla should lay low for some time now and maybe visit her mother in person.
It will be amusing to see how Victoria is going to traumatise her daughter when she visits in person. Etiquette, manners, high heels, makeup and more. Oh the horror Camilla is going to face and when she tries to run Kagris betrays her and brings her back to her mother so she'll become the perfect vampire mistress......
Hmm, this sounds true.
But I liked this chapter nevertheless. I believe that Camilla was going to sever her ties with humanity after she has met with Victoria, but before she got to the Amaranthine Point and got acquainted with Kagriss.
Of course, she was eager to help Fleur, but I think it is Kagriss who influences Camilla the most. Kagriss knows little to nothing about the human world and wants to learn more, and Camilla answers her needs with teaching her her way, even though she was a righteous person in her former life. But that's already more than enough for Kagriss, and Camilla looks like a decent teacher, I mean she definitely had teaching expierence in her old days as an Order Commander. I liked that scene when Camilla becomes an instructor and strictly asks Lucienne why did she not know basic things from the curriculum. :D
And right now Camilla looks like she just finishes what she can while she's at the human town she knows. I don't know where will they go next, but I doubt they'll stay at this town and other human for a prolonged time. Maybe they should travel to the vampire town, right.
I personally thought it fits, since while she considers herself a vampire now, she still has her own priorities. Just because she now has a new, fundamental change in allegience doesn't mean she can't satisfy some of her older goals that she never got the chance to accomplish.
Besides, the method she considered is actually quite bloody, something she never would've considered earlier.
Well it isn't that she wants to take care of these idiots. It's more the thought process of how once she got more influence she will take care of them. If she just killed them for bothering her i wouldn't have said a thing but she's already planning on entangling herself with humanity again. That's quite contradictory to her trying to finish her human chapter because she'll have to return for that.
And not only that but the thiefs will always be there. So she opens herself another human chapter that will never be closed.
@matze3
Not saying that that's how it is, but...
domination of the human territory
@TypeAxiom that would be a sad sight at this point. This story is great because it shows Camilla's slow change. Unlike other stories it isn't just bam..you turned into a girl/vampire, bam you got a girls/vampires mindset.
Now already planning for domination of human territory would be quite an escalation. Maybe some time later but atm it just feels as to much too quick
@matze3 Yeah, planning for dominance over the humanity would be too quick, but maybe in three years, having developed all necessary vampire skills... That may be good. :3
@Xobotun @matze3
Why are you guys taking me serious. You're all evil, hoping for the humans to fail!
@TypeAxiom nope just waiting for Victoria to drop the other shoe (female and vampire and granddaughter of queen/empress/whatever title) on Camilla. With Camilla's current behaviour acting like a noble lady will be pure torture. Let the mc suffer
@TypeAxiom Wait, so that's not in plans?
So, no forceful humanity complementation or cultural assimilation for the greater good? Looks like only Victoria's city is worth peaceful coexistence of all races, he-he.
@Xobotun Victoria's isn't the only one. A lot of the newer cities are peaceful while the older ones are full of geezers that hate the other races!
@TypeAxiom even old vampire cities? They have to have at least some other races there or they couldn't produce anymore vampire nobles.
How does that work with the other races anyway. Did the vampires just poach beiings to create new vampire nobles or how did they do it before the human dog came?
@matze3 Old vampire cities are actually full of pure vampires. They elevate middle vampires who are loyal/done good work as rewards.
For the longest time, conversions were the minority and rather rare. It's usually done to convert lovers, to convert powerful defectors from other races, or in return for huge favors.
It's only recently (a few hundred years) that nobles began poaching other races (usually consentually) for reasons like friendship or just cuz, coinciding with the peace that enabled the rise of multi-race cities.
@TypeAxiom Interesting. I thought they'd have plenty of other races in their cities for their blood. Feeding 10000 vampires needs a bit more than two or three hundred humans especially if they got different preferences. And if they wanted a successor they'd just poach an candidate they like from these blood "donators"
@matze3 vampires can feed themselves, not to mention they have livestock!
@TypeAxiom whut? They can just suck each others blood?
Well makes sense but i still think the rich/nobles would keep a different kind of "livestock" for themselves. As if they would ever be satisfied to eat the same food as those pesky lower vampires and thralls
@matze3 well don't think too much about the logistics~