The name is... Gaval... I believe.
I suspect it was a bit longer than that, but...
Well, it hardly matters.
I’d prefer if you thought of me as a dashing fellow doing his utmost as the Vampire Progenitor. Though, since I’ve purged my own memories, I have no way of knowing if I truly lived up to that standard.
Now then, even a man like me was stunned by the miracle of a kinswoman actually bearing a child. I was so taken by the news that I found myself traveling to see the infant before I knew it.
There were many wonders to behold there.
The greatest shock of all was laying eyes on the form of the Creator God himself. My connection with the Village of the Great Tree began at that moment, and life has been quite stimulating and entertaining ever since.
I especially appreciate the fact that the food and sake are exquisite. There are plenty of games to pass the time as well. Lately, it has become a wonderfully comfortable place to foster ties with young Dos and the contemporary Demon King.
I would truly love to take up permanent residence there. However, I do have my professional duties to consider. A vacation home is likely the extent of what I can manage. Fortunately, I am not wanting for funds, so I shouldn't be a burden to the village. I’ll even volunteer to help with the harvest.
One day, the Village Head organized a Hot Spring Investigation Team to head north. Naturally, I tagged along. It sounded like it would be interesting.
That was my intention, at least, but...
Well, the Earth Rat attacks were manageable. They are troublesome pests, certainly, but hardly a threat to me. The other villagers didn't seem to struggle much, either. One of the wolf pups let its guard down and nearly got eaten, but the Village Head rescued it with such blinding speed that I didn’t even have a chance to intervene.
The real issue was that the village's own dragons were the catalyst for the Earth Rat swarm. Because of that, the Village Head bowed his head in apology.
Now, now, Village Head. A man in a position of authority over such powerful beings shouldn't humble himself so readily. It clearly made the Giants uncomfortable. Besides, while the dragons might have triggered the movement, they likely would have encountered those rats eventually.
Then again, perhaps that village only thrives because the Village Head is the kind of man who can bow his head like that. Thinking back, I recall many conflicts that started over nothing more than pride and prestige. To apologize sincerely when an apology is due—perhaps that is the mark of a true powerhouse.
Yes, quite.
After that, we had a banquet with the Giants. The entertainment was fascinating. That contraption that produced flour while simultaneously catching fire was top-tier comedy.
Wait... could it be? Was that a social commentary on the hardships of the common laborer? If so, that's incredible. To hide such a heavy theme behind what looked like a joke... the Mountain Elves are truly a force to be reckoned with.
The next day, the investigation team set out again. I assisted with our transport. Honestly, that particular magic isn't all that difficult.
We eventually split into two groups: one heading for the hot spring and the other for the hole where the Earth Rats had emerged. Personally, I wanted to accompany the Village Head to the spring, but I was worried about the dragons—specifically, Hakuren.
There was a simmering fury hidden behind her smile. She was clearly bothered by the fact that her actions had forced the Village Head to apologize. Rusty and the High Ogre maid... Ann, I believe? The one who is so gifted at cooking. She had noticed it as well. To notice such a thing is impressive, but I suppose it also speaks to Hakuren’s lack of emotional discipline.
Regardless, the Village Head seemed concerned, so I decided to keep a sharp eye on things.
As we descended into the hole, we found a tunnel. Given that the Earth Rats moved from east to west, the source should be to the east. But do Earth Rats really dig such perfectly straight paths? It looked more like a tunnel constructed under specific orders.
The groups were divided efficiently, and I joined Hakuren’s team heading east. In terms of raw combat power, it probably would have been better to put Hakuren and Rusty in one group and me in the other, but the dragons are the stars of the show here, so I didn't object. I simply followed the plan.
Suddenly, the dragons unleashed their fire. Using breath weapons inside a dungeon? What in the world were they thinking? Ann, the High Ogre maid, immediately scolded Hakuren. The dragon apologized sheepishly, but...
It was no use. Even after venting with a breath attack loaded with multiple magical effects, she still hadn't cleared her head. At this rate, I found myself praying that there was something deep in this tunnel for her to use as a stress reliever. Please, let there be something there.
"I’ve assigned the ceiling and the walls to Zabuton's children. I’ll watch our six. Hakuren, Ann—take the lead."
We set our formation and began the trek. About three days have passed since then. I’m certainly glad Ann came along; her meals were delicious. Zabuton's children did an admirable job with the logistics and transport as well. When we get back to the village, perhaps I'll teach them a new spell or two as a reward.
Eventually, we reached what appeared to be the Earth Rats' original nest. As I suspected, it was bizarre. A proper nest should twist and turn in every direction; straight lines are almost unheard of. Only the tunnel we had traveled through was perfectly linear.
Furthermore, we discovered a vast number of Earth Rat carcasses scattered about. They had been dead for quite some time—six months? A year? The cause of death was clearly slash wounds. From a sword.
A sword? This deep underground? Used by whom?
The answer arrived just as the questions formed in my mind. A knight in full plate armor. I doubted he would answer even if I asked which faction he served.
The knight was dead. A Death Knight.
They are far more vexing opponents than any Earth Rat. Physical strikes are usually ineffective, and magic has little impact on them. To make matters worse, their swordsmanship is often top-notch.
Now, how to handle this?
Before I could reach a conclusion, Hakuren’s knee connected with the Death Knight with an explosive crack. Wait, I just said physical attacks don't work—
She proceeded to stomp the fallen knight into the dirt, over and over again. The noise was horrendous, and logically, it shouldn't have been doing any actual damage to an undead spirit. However, the Death Knight was stuck in a state of total defense, completely unable to mount a counterattack. Even if she wasn't "killing" it, she was effectively neutralizing its ability to fight.
It wasn't a bad strategy, though a counterattack would surely come the moment she stopped.
And there it is... ah, she’s incinerating him with her breath. Yes, that will be quite effective. I suppose she could have just done that from the start, but... well, pointing that out would be uncouth.
A Death Knight, then. He was a troublesome foe, but it was hard to imagine him being the one to command the Earth Rats. A Death Knight lacks the nature to enslave living beasts. There must be something else further in—something capable of forcing the rats to dig with such precision.
The tunnel we had followed extended even further east, past the nest. I looked at Hakuren. She was clearly raring to go. I understood her sentiment, but I glanced at Ann just to be sure.
"We still have plenty of provisions," she stated.
So, turning back isn't even an option. Understood.
Let’s keep moving. I’m starting to look forward to seeing what else is waiting for us in the dark.