Chapter 162 To The Abandoned Kingdom...

"...I can't see the adventurer, that I tasked with overseeing your arrangements?" Silvia's Maid, whose name seems to be Verena, asked as she drove the car and I sat on the seat beside her.

"You mean Howkins? I sent him to handle some other tasks," I replied.

"I see...and If I may ask, who is that demon child in the back seat?" Verena asked, glancing at Ark in the rear-view mirror, who was now asleep.

!?

"Hmm...? You can see through his disguise?" I inquired, intrigued.

As not even high-ranking adventurers from the kaldor Kingdom were able to see through the demons hiding among them using a disguise potion.

"No, I can't see through his disguise. I have a skill called 'Vampire Instinct' that alerts me to anything dangerous. My sense of smell is heightened and he has a demonic odor," she explained.

"So, what you're saying is that this demon kid could be potentially dangerous?" I asked, seeking clarification.

"I don't really know how to explain it, but I sense something ominous from him," she replied with a straight face and emotionless eyes.

Seems like Silvia had apparently hypnotized her into being a loyal servant without making her a mindless doll that couldn't interact with anyone. 'Though the latter method was much more efficient compared to trying to manipulate someone's thoughts through partial hypnosis and brainwashing.' I pondered.

"...I am now even more curious about that Demon kid's identity," I muttered, coming out of my thoughts.

I let him live because I wanted to know what made him special and powerful enough to make the Slave Contract fail.

I wondered if there was a character named Ark in the novel I had read. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recall anyone by that name.

'Maybe I've mixed things up and Ark is just an average demon with a lot of potential. Or... could it be that he's some dangerous character I've read about and "Ark" isn't his real name?' I considered the possibilities.

"You're planning to bring him into the abandoned kingdom?" the vampire Verena asked abruptly.

"No, I just need you to watch over him while I'm gone," I explained.

"So,... you want me to babysit?" she asked with a blank expression.

"Yes, can you do that?" I asked.

"I was instructed not to disobey your orders or displease you," she said hesitantly.

"That's good to hear. It seems like Silvia has already programmed you to comply with my requests. It almost seems as though you would have refused my request if not for her programming," I said with a hint of amusement in my tone.

"...Yes I would have declined your request, because I hate demons," she said flatly.

"I see. Is there a reason for that?" I asked, intrigued.

"They killed my parents and little brother when I was young," she said, revealing the source of her hatred.

But her emotionless delivery made the conversation feel awkward.

And I didn't try to preach anymore because I figured it was the same cliche backstory.

"...."

"...You appear to be an ancient vampire. Do you have any information about what I can expect in the abandoned kingdom?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yes, I can offer you a piece of advice," she said, pausing briefly. "When you enter the Abandoned Kingdom, don't be too ambitious and try to avoid venturing too deep inside."

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking at her with curiosity.

"If you go too deep, you will encounter fearsome monsters. And even if you manage to defeat them, it would be in vain as they will simply reappear from the gates," she explained.

"The Abandoned Kingdom earned its name for a reason. There was once a formidable alliance made up of heroes from various races who came together to reclaim the kingdom.

They cleared every gate in the kingdom in just a few months, but with many sacrifices," she continued.

"When they finally succeeded, a massive festival was held across the continent to celebrate their victory. It was called the Festival of Triumph.

Everyone was overjoyed... until the day after the festival, when the news broke that the gates had re-emerged, but this time with twice as many monsters as before," she added.

"...."

"So...not only their efforts were wasted, but the Abandoned Kingdom became even more dangerous than before huh?" I muttered, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Yes. That's why I advise you not to waste your time and efforts trying to clear the gates," she concluded.

"Yawn! That sounds like a pain in the ass," I said as I stretched my arms and let out a yawn.

"...You seem exhausted! Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you up when we arrive at the border of the kingdom," she offered.

"Alright, thank you. I think I will take you up on that offer," I replied with a grateful smile.

I was feeling quite tired after a long and restless night dealing with the demon colony.

...

...

After several hours of traveling, we finally reached the borders of the abandoned kingdom.

"Wake up, Sir Ares," she said, nudging me gently. "We're here."

I rubbed my eyes and stretched, feeling the kinks in my muscles from the long journey. "Finally, huh?" I said with a yawn. "It would have been more convenient if they had at least one warp gate near the Abandon Kingdom."

"Unfortunately, there are no warp gates near the kingdom due to safety reasons," she explained.

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean in case the monsters break out of the barrier and start using the warp gate?" I asked jokingly.

She simply nodded in agreement.

"...."

"That's a bit of a concern, don't you think?" I asked. "If the demons do break out, it would also take a lot longer for the reinforcements to arrive using regular transportation methods as there are no warp gates nearby.

It's like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted." I added.

She nodded, acknowledging my point. "The benefits and drawbacks of having a warp gate near the kingdom was always a topic of debate."

I shrugged. "Well, I guess there's no point in talking about it. I'll make Jessica create one here when I have complete control over her," I said with a wicked grin as I stroked my chin.

***