Journey of Vampire Lord
Copyright© 2025 by Vamp
Chapter 13
“Become an aide!? Me?”
Felid replied with shock, and Eugene nodded.
“That’s right. You are sixteen and have already had the coming-of-age ceremony. You can choose your own path even without the consent of a guardian.”
“Ah!”
Naturally, children of noble families seldomly decided their futures without consulting their parents or getting their approval. In fact, the nobles usually had set paths they needed to walk, and the children did not try to go against their parents’ wishes. Young nobles feared banishment from their family the most.
However, Felid was a boy who lived alone in a remote, mountainous village without his parents, or at least, until recently. He never even knew that he was the son of the region’s lord.
He would not be afraid of being kicked out from the Rose Castle.
“If you become my aide, I can order you as your master to stand by in the castle. I have that right. Your brothers will not be able to dispute it either. Besides, if anyone dares touch a knight’s aide when the knight is away, they would be openly provoking the knight. They would be picking a fight with me if they touch you.”
“...!”
Felid was an intelligent boy. He quickly regained his composure.
“I will do it.”
Felid nodded vigorously with determined eyes, and Eugene responded.
“Good. But I’m going to tell you beforehand. I do not intend to take you around with me.”
“I already know. Sir Eugene isn’t taking me in as an aide just because you’ve taken a liking to me and you want me to live ... right? Is there something you want from me in return?”
“You are quick to pick up on these things. That’s right. I do not know what it’s going to be, but you will have to do as I tell you to.”
“I will do anything as long as it doesn’t involve harming innocent people.”
“And do you have the power to kill someone right now?”
“W-well...”
Felid had spoken confidently but was forced to blush after hearing Eugene’s retort.
“No matter. It won’t be a bad deal for you either.”
“Yes!”
Felid answered vigorously after taking on a determined expression. But soon, he continued in an awkward voice.
“Well, sir ... shouldn’t we hold a ritual or something of the sort? Perhaps a swearing?”
“...”
Eugene stopped in his tracks.
The face of a man naturally crossed his mind.
“Hahaha! What a surprise! You are going to take in the bastard of the Tywin family as your aide? I’m fine with it.”
Galfredik burst into hearty laughter, then stood as witness to preside over the two people’s vows. After the ceremony was completed, he excitedly spread the news, and soon after, the two Tywin brothers rushed over to Eugene.
“Sir! What are you thinking?! How could you take in a member of our family as your aide without permission!?”
“It’s not so bad, is it? He’s already had his coming-of-age ceremony, so it’s up to him to decide his own future.”
“Brother!”
Camara seemed a little surprised, but he was rather accepting. On the other hand, Bertel was fuming.
‘So it was the second son.’
Eugene was convinced from the contrasting attitudes that Bertel was the one responsible for trying to eliminate Felid.
“Just as I do not involve myself in the affairs of the Tywin family, it is not appropriate for you, sir, to dictate who I decide to take in as an aide, is it? Or has another knight already taken Felid in as their aide?”
“...!”
Bertel’s frows wriggled with annoyance, but he could not refute Eugene’s remarks. Rather, it would have been appropriate for him to be grateful that a knight decided to take in a bastard son as their aide.
“Then sir, will you be taking our youngest into the dungeon?”
“I did take him in as my aide, but I could not bring an inexperienced brat to the opening of a dungeon. Especially when he has not even learned the basics of swordsmanship. I am planning to have him train until I return.”
“Well, it would be rather ridiculous and unbefitting to take him to the opening of a dungeon anyways. He’s been farming and rearing pigs his entire life. Anyways, congratulations. And on behalf of the Tywin family, I would like to offer my gratitude as well.”
Camara was genuinely pleased.
‘Doesn’t this establish a connection between the family and this knight? If the dungeon opening is successful, our Tywin family will be able to save face, and not just that Galfredik.’
Having a successful expedition led by a visiting knight and mercenaries was completely different from a successful expedition led by a knight who was also the master of the family’s son. Naturally, the latter was much more favorable than the former for Camara, since he would soon become lord of the territory.
‘Ha! Why didn’t I think of this earlier? Where did this golden goose come from?’
Camara held back a grin and spoke with dignity.
“Although we are born from different wombs, my younger brother has taken on a master. As the next lord, I cannot simply stand idle.”
“...?”
“...!”
Eugene took on a puzzled expression, and Bertel appeared shocked. Camara continued.
“Although I gave up on the path of knighthood due to lack of talent, my father had prepared armor and a sword for me. I need to pass down the sword as an heirloom since it was my father’s, but the armor will be fine. Please take it, Sir Eugene.”
“Brother!”
“I am grateful. I will accept it.”
There were no knights without steeds, but there were no knights without armor either. Eugene answered immediately and accepted the offer without hesitation, regardless of Bertel’s reaction.
“Haha! It’s chain mail, not plate mail, but it was purchased from Maren’s skilled craftsman for 30 silver coins, so I can guarantee the quality.”
“It’s reassuring to hear.”
Although he had Black Scales, he could never reveal them in public. No one could know. But if he was wearing chain mail on the outside, he would have an excuse after surviving an enemy’s attack. In the end, Camara and Eugene ended up serving as each other’s golden goose, even without any prior communication or discussion.
Unfortunately, one person was left in the dust and seething in anger.
‘Jan Eugene. What an unpleasant bastard. I need to get rid of him somehow after the expedition. Or else... ‘
He had no other choice. Bertel had a strong premonition that his grand plan would somehow be severely disrupted otherwise.
The morning of the dungeon opening finally dawned. Eugene and Galfredik were equipped with their gear, and they left the Rose Castle with mercenaries and porters. Although Camara was with them, everyone knew that the day’s protagonists would be Jan Eugene and Rowan Galfredik.
The fruits of the victory, whether the event was a monster subjugation or a territorial dispute, would be earned by the lord and the nobles, but it was the knights who climbed the trees to acquire the fruits with difficulty.
That was why the nobles exonerated and respected the knights – outwardly, at least.
That was also the reason why knights could be proud and boast.
The warriors marched on proudly, tasked with the future of the Tywin family.
Five hours later, the group arrived in front of a leafy oak grove. The gloomy forest was rumored to house ghouls and ghosts at night, and even herbalists rarely entered the area.
“Wow! What a nice place! There must have been one or two seniors who resided here in the past. I can smell it, oh yes, I can smell it.”
Mirian became excited and buzzed all over the place, perhaps at the joy of finally seeing a proper forest after a long time. Even so, she did not leave Eugene’s side, flying within a radius of four or five meters of him.
“Ah, let me show you the way.”