With the party meeting and servant interview taken care of, I take another look through the fortress menu. I need some distraction, I don't want to think about what I have to do next. If I handle this poorly, I can lose a valuable ally.

Additional personnel... is limited to one extra because my title level is too low, great. We have too many wounded, so another nurse or doctor is a no-brainer. Other civil servant jobs have to wait until we have less critical needs. There, and done.

Can't order any building constructions, that has to wait until we've driven off the poor from the slums. There are currently no spots in the fortress left where we could build anything.

Upgrades for the fortress don't seem to be in our budget, I have no overview yet of how much we gain or rather have left each month and I want to lower the tax rate first anyway, so any data I have is useless. 70% in taxes is just inhumane. Not that a +0.1% increase in crop output isn't worth any risk.

Speaking of taxes... once I change the rate, I can't change it again for another year, so it has to be right the first time. I need more data on the current financial situation and then suffer through math.

"Hey, Justo, the upkeep without a lord was fifteen percent higher, right?"

The mansion spirit corrects me, "No, the difference is fifty percent."

"Oh, shit, did I misremember it that much..."

But isn't that better? Then I can lower the tax rate even more if I just want to cut even, right?

Let's see... we had 70% in taxes before, so if I remove that markup...

"So if I want to keep the same effective income... 70% divided by one point five... I guess 50% is close enough?"

"That doesn't account for the part of tax money that is just left over each month. That isn't subject to the upkeep penalty for missing a lord."

"Right... are there any other forms of taxes or only on pure income?"

"Only that one. You can try to add other forms of taxation if you feel like it."

"Maybe a tax on sales, properties, luxuries or savings... argh, too many options I don't understand, forget it."

"As you wish. Call me again if you wish for advice or just to talk. That is fine, too."

"Yeah, will do."

They always say that only death and taxes are certain, but if they were why do I have to wreck my head on this?

Urgh, math, I guess that can still wait for another week...

Laws... ah, fuck this, I'm not in the mood for those either.

sigh

No, this doesn't work as a distraction. Should I just go now and get it over with?

...but I don't want Lucia around for this. She wanted to try her hand at smithing again tomorrow. I just have to endure until then.

I guess I can just pass time by reading one of the books I borrowed from the library way back when.

But it just shouldn't be. This day just won't let up with meetings, planned or otherwise.

A few uninvited guests arrive.

Maria brings two women in, "My liege, there are two visitors here. They are here to see you about... a blood donation."

"You don't sound too happy about that. Did you already forget that you're a spirit created by a vampire? You have to get used to things like that."

"...yeah, probably. Can I bring them in now?"

"Yes, lead them in. And then fetch Lucia and Carl, they are needed here as well."

"Understood."

Maria brings the visitors in, then goes off as instructed.

One of them introduces herself, "G-greetings, my lord. I'm Alisa."

The other just bows.

"Ah, forgive her, she's mute. This is Naomi."

The mute girl nods.

"Alright.  So, you're here to donate some blood in exchange for a promised tax cut?"

"Y-yes."

"You two are shaking quite a bit. Are you certain you're okay with this?"

The mute one nods.

"I... to be honest, we don't really want to but we can barely afford to live with our meager means."

"...I understand, I won't pry any further."

"So, uh, when can we start?"

"You'll have to have patience for a few more minutes. My wife needs a portion of the blood as well and I would like to teach my servant a bit about how this should go from now on."

"R-right..."

I write down their name so I can sign them up for the tax cut later.

An awkward silence fills the room.

The mute girl, Naomi, twiddles her thumbs, she doesn't look happy to be here. I hope that isn't this culture's equivalent of flipping the bird.

I'm not good with small talk but just waiting like that is embarrassing.

"Aside from financial issues, do you have any other troubles in my fortress, Alisa?"

"N-no, I... can't complain."

"'Can't' because everything else is fine or because it is I who asks?"

She shyly admits, "...the latter."

"Then please talk freely if you want. No, I'm ordering you to talk. What is going on?"

"I, I don't know. It is just... I never expected the 'Lost One' to be a monster, least of all a scary one..."

"Oh, so you meant it literally..."

Maybe a little lie might help them ease their minds?

Not that it is entirely wrong.

"Okay, listen up you two, I'll let you in on a secret."

"I-I'm listening."

"Your god Jeff has screwed up his paperwork. That's the only reason why I am a vampire instead of a human. Aside from dietary needs, I'm a regular person. Got it?"

The two of them nod in a way that confidently screams 'yeah, I don't get it at all.'

Doesn't seem like they are less afraid now. Well, I tried at least.

The awkward silence returns.

Finally, Maria brings my wife and Carl.

"You called, dear?"

"Yes, Lucia. We have two volunteers for blood donations."

"And what do you want from me?", asks Carl.

"In the future I want you to handle the reception of such volunteers. So I want to take this opportunity to teach you. Alisa, can you assist me for a moment?"

"Uh, sure."

"Having your blood drained by a vampire is quite taxing on the body. So first, you should make sure that donors are healthy. Talk with them, use your intuition. Well, I guess using [Appraisal] is not an option for you. If something looks off, send them to a medic so they can check them properly."

Carl responds, "I guess."

"So, what do you think of the two?"

"They look nervous, but otherwise I think they are fine."

"Good, Carl. Also, don't worry about missing anything, I'll check with [Appraisal] before taking their blood. It is just to make sure they don't waste my time. Alisa, anything to add from your side?"

"N-no."

"Then step two, you need to give them an appointment. We don't know yet how often we'll get donors, so we need to spread them out a bit. If possible, one each for me and Lucia on Tuesday or Wednesday at least before our weekly dungeon trip and one afterwards on Thursday. But for this time, we'll do it right now since we're all here and haven't had blood in some time."

"Uh-huh. Got it."

"Of course, you need to take their names so I can sign them up for the tax cut."

"Got it. Miss, can I have your names?"

"Alisa and Naomi."

"Uh, got it. Now what, Jared?"

"Well, you would bring them to us when they return on the appointed date. That is all for you. Think you can do that?"

"Y-yeah, I'll manage."

"I guess the final step may be a bit much for you, so I'll let Maria handle it for now. Seeing how a vampire drains their victim is probably disturbing for you, I'll spare you from that until you're older. Aside from that, when we're done with drinking the blood, it is probably necessary for the donor to rest for a while. As I said, it is taxing on them. It may suffice if they just sit down for a while or it may be necessary to stay in a guest room for a while. Maria will handle that."

"Sure, got it."

"With that, you may leave for now."

"I, yeah, I guess I'll leave then, bye."

Lucia steps forward, "I guess, I'm up next?"

"Yeah, you know what to do?"

"Actually... no."

"Really? You just carefully bite into their neck and drink the blood that flows. Your vampire instincts should lead you to the right spot and aid you during the whole process."

"Alright, let me try."

Lucia walks over to Alisa, takes her in her arms, reveals her fangs and... just stops.

"Sorry, it seems the instincts haven't set it."

"Weird, I got all of them with my transformation. Alright, then watch me. Naomi, your turn."

The mute girl steps before me, trembling.

"You shake too much... look me in the eye."

"Still nervous?"

She nods, but she shakes a bit less than before.

A bare my fangs and bite her, then start drinking, just like I've done with all my previous victims.

I hope Lucia watches carefully.

I let go of the mute girl.

"That should be enough. Maria, can you bring her to a guest room to rest?"

"At once, my liege."

Maria takes Naomi away.

"Have you looked carefully, Lucia?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure I get it. And why did you charm her?"

"I wanted to take away her fear of me. Well, I partially succeeded."

"Sorry, Alisa", Lucia apologizes to the fearful girl, "since you'll have to be my first, I may hurt you a bit more than I must."

"I, I understand."

"Now, look in my eyes."

Lucia charms the poor girl then tries and fails to bite her neck.

I teach her for almost another hour before she gets it right.

Eventually, Alisa passes out of fear. It just goes swimmingly...

A lot more blood gets spilled than I expected but as if by miracle, Alisa survives the whole ordeal.

"That was certainly something... Maria, can you bring Alisa also into the guest room? Also, please keep watch over the two for a while, that was a more bloody undertaking than I expected."

Lucia is embarrassed, "I know I'm a failure..."

"Don't sweat it. That was probably just a side effect of your [Living Undead] skill protecting your mind from the vampire transformation, so you didn't get the basic instincts needed to live as a vampire. Just promise me that you don't eat without me. At least until I've made sure you've properly learned that."

"Yeah, I will."

"Also, since you didn't say anything, can I assume that the blood tasted okay?"

"Quite well, actually. I don't think I'll get tired of that taste anytime soon."

"Weird, you didn't get the instincts on how to drink blood but the taste adjustment did happen?"

"Seems like it."

"Okay, so the skill only stopped further changes but did not undo what was already changed."

"Maybe it didn't affect the sense of taste since that is a physical change?"

"Good point, that is also possible. So in the end, we learned nothing new."

"Not quite, we now know that... with some guidance at least... I have no problem with the required nourishment."

"Fine, I take it."

"Hey, Jared, can I borrow the Sun Cloak tomorrow?"

"Want to go somewhere?"

"Yeah, I want to try my hand at smithing some things. Mostly to see if my skills are still up to par. And if I can I want to make a special dagger for Iris as an apology."

"Sure, no problem. Let me first make a last trip to the gate with it."

"Yeah, no problem."

With a freshly filled belly, I go to nuke the flood monsters in the evening and again in the morning.

This is enough to push me to Summoner level 8, 361/5118 exp towards level 9, so about one-and-a-half to two days.

That was 37 more max MP, so it seems like it will take about five or six more levels before I can reach 3000 MP for three casts of rain per trip.

The Joker Core class choice again didn't update, so that isn't a shortcut towards that breakpoint. What is wrong with that item? Is the skill system finally breaking down?

I return home, hand my wife the Sun Cloak and kiss her goodbye when she goes to her blacksmith shop.

Now... I need to mentally prepare myself. What I'm about to do will irrevocably change things.

Don't mess this up, Jared. This is important.

...waiting won't make it better, I need to get it over with.

Just as I made my mind up to finally put my plan into action, a system message(?) demands my attention.

Of course, why would a day pass by without new headaches...

Who the hell was that? And since when are system messages usable for private messages?

I search through my menu but don't find a way to send private messages of any form... so was that an admin abusing his rights?

Wait, I thought the devas controlled the system? Why would they have someone working for them to produce Demon Lord classes? ...should've been more suspicious of them from the start.

Well, the three Title Cards appeared in my inventory exactly as promised. Do they hold anything useful?

Nope, still the same trash as before. Maybe I'll just use all three and take 'Title Holder' again, as in gaining nothing, just to increase the title level for free? Maybe the little brain bug has an idea for that.

Hey, if you want to chat with me, fricking tell me how to answer you!!

Also, when is this 'later'? Who are you even!?

So many questions... I want answers for a change!

And again, 'B', you forgot the most important part...

Wait, hold up. How does that even work? I thought the texts are just translated for my convenience, how does it know where to cut off exactly?

And just so you two freaks know, I do not enjoy being a pawn caught between two reality-breaking factions!

'B'uddy, you have to learn to get to the point. I don't know what your language is like, but nothing stops you from ONLY writing your name if it is so important to you.

...well, I can't deal with that now, my other plan has priority.