147 Chapter 77: Those Who Seek Something Part 1

Grisham: "What … do you mean by 'unbeatable'?!"

Asks The Reaper, unable to hide his shock at hearing that word out of this man's mouth.

Walter: "Exactly what it sounds like. You can't beat him."

With a grim look that helps his words instill despair and anxiety within the hearts of the two listeners, Walter Schmidt states so.

Dyne: "Oi! You can't be serious, right? If there's anyone in the world who can be called unbeatable, it'll be you-"

Grisham: "No."

Cutting off Dyne's words, Grisham says while looking at Walter with still eyes.

Grisham: "Even you, Walter Schmidt, are not unbeatable. Are you?"

Adding the question to the end, he makes sure that Walter replies to that. And though with some irritation and embarrassment, Walter does admit himself.

Walter: "Indeed. It is as you say. I'm not unbeatable. In fact, I have very recently suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of some rather unique but weak individuals."

Grisham: "The self-proclaimed third faction, huh?"

Muttering that to himself, Grisham realizes that he may have touched a sore spot.

As The Reaper, he obviously has heard everything about their mission on the Psychic Island. Therefore, he must have realized that saying something like that would hurt Walter's feelings. The fact that he couldn't realize it makes Grisham feel guilt and irritation. However, before any of those can be voiced,

Walter: "But,"

Walter continues.

Walter: "It is precisely because I know that I can be beaten, it is precisely because I know what it is that I lack that has, in the past, and can, in the future, lead me to defeat,"

Gritting his teeth, he says,

Walter: "It is precisely because I know what it is that I can tell, that man's doesn't have it. That one essential thing that anyone needs in order to be stopped, in order to be defeated, that man lacks that."

There is a shocking amount of horror in his eyes as he says so, and Spectre Dyne, who has known this man for so long and has come to know quite well about the strength of this man, just cannot ignore something like this.

Dyne: "That which is needed for one to be defeated. What are you talking about? What exactly are you talking about?"

Walter tries to answer but stops himself from doing so, knowing whatever he says will be beyond the Spectre's understanding.

It is understandable that someone who was artificially created as a powerful ghost and has never lived in any way that strayed from the preset rules set for all Spectres, would not understand a very human thing that Walter referring to.

Grisham: "Please, do answer, Walter!"

However, as he hears that voice, Walter realizes that this Reaper might be able to understand it.

Following that logic, he might be able to understand what Walter means.

Walter: "The strategist of the Vampire Kingdom, Bronzer, is a human who does not have any enemies."

Grisham widens his eyes while Dyne looks confused.

Walter: "Only an enemy would defeat a person. But he does not have any enemies, none at all."

Because he was defeated by the plans made by Ethan Kales, who is similar in that regard, he understands how terrifying someone like that can be.

Those people.

Those existences.

They, who do not regard anyone as an enemy, who do not hate anyone, will never lose to anyone.

People like them, when faced with those who want to kill them, merely smile and make cheeky arguments, with no fear of death.

But there is one big difference between Ethan Kales and Bronzer.

Because he has faced him, Walter knows that Ethan only tries to be that way. Sure, he doesn't hate most people and he can genuinely turn tables on most people. But, even so, there is someone that he hates. There is someone who he absolutely hates enough to want to destroy them. And because of that someone, he can't let go of his fear of dying completely as he doesn't want to accept an outcome where that someone is not defeated.

On the other hand, Bronzer hates no one. At most, he may have a certain level of disgust towards some people. But, he doesn't hate anyone. And so, nothing can ever consume him with rage. Nothing can really terrify him. He could mock the God and the Devil in their face when they come to take his life.

In other words, Ethan Kales, who was capable of devising a way to defeat Walter and Dyne, is just a wannabe Bronzer. Then, is it not possible that Bronzer will be able to actually pull of the many miracles that the Vampire Kingdom needs to win the war?

That's how Walter perceives the situation. And that's why he's horrified ever since he ran into Bronzer and that man mocked his power as if it amounts to nothing.

Grisham: "Hah!"

Seeing the complicated look on Walter's face as he waits for a response, Grisham sighs.

Grisham: "It seems to me that you have a unique way of thinking. I would not approve or deny it as I don't fully comprehend it but, all I can say is that I won't be intimidated by that man."

Walter: "…"

Grisham: "The Ghost Nation's greatest king was Abyss, the devil himself, while the Vampire Kingdom's greatest king was Dracula. While the Dracula was someone to be respected as well, he could, by no means, even compare to Abyss, could he?"

Walter: "… No, he couldn't."

Grisham: "And that difference between them has remained constant with every one of their respective successors. As you can clearly see, we have been better than them since then, for more than 1000 years now. Plus, we have powerful Dragon allies and the backing of Vermillion. Just one man alone would not change the fate of the Vampires, especially when it's already set in stone."

Walter does not respond. It is clear as day to see from just his expression that he does not agree, but he does not respond to Grisham's words.

This is because he knows that the pride of the Ghost Nation is well-deserved. It's because he knows that the Ghost Nation indeed has been far ahead of the Vampire Kingdom ever since the ruling period of Abyss slightly more than 1000 years ago.

Walter Schmidt knows all too well that nothing Grisham has said is untrue. Therefore, he gives up on trying to refute that statement.

Walter: "Well, if that's the case, then I have no qualms. I will put my trust in you and your qualities as a leader. And of course, I have a lot of faith in Spectre Dyne as well. Maybe it'll be fine after all."

He says those words he doesn't really mean, and even though Grisham can feel that those words aren't from his heart, he does not say anything about that.

Grisham: "Yes, it'll be fine after all."

Grisham plainly says so.

Grisham: "After all, this nation no longer is the place where mere ghosts live. Those living here are-"

Quite literally,

Grisham: "Angels and Demons."

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