A Forgotten Hero - Volume 1 Chapter 18 Strange Child

Hmm…so after defeating these bulls, it will take a while till all the essence I didn’t absorb spreads to the environment and for there bodies to disseaper completely since they were quite strong. From how this essence stuff goes, I’m guessing it will take around 2 days for there body to dissolve.

It’s quite strange how the moment you extract their essence it will cause their bodies to disappear, so if you want to collect there materials like the horns then your not allowed to absorb their essence to strengthen yourself. However since I can’t turn it off, I always absorb the essence of the things I killed leading me to be unable to sell ANYTHING I kill. Truly a tough life.

With a wave of my hand, the ice that covered the bulls and trees break into energy and spread in the environment as little dots. I have already ruined this paths terrain, least I can do is destroy my ice but of course, it’s also to make sure that I won’t get complaints about this in the future, still barely knowing anything, what if they have some force to track environmental damage or people who don’t clean up after themselves?

Well, it’s starting to be noon, so I have around 6 to 7 hours. I heard they have a thing called a “watch” where it actually tells you the time instead of looking where the sun’s position is. I need to get one when I have money.

“HELP!!” Rang out throughout the forest.

I run towards where the noise resonated from to see a lady and child on the floor being surrounded by a pack of wolves. The lady was trembling while holding the child in sheer desperation while the child seemed to just blankly stare at the wolves with no signs of fear. The wolves notice my presence and a few from the pack attack me but with [flow control] I manage to pound them to the ground while killing them. The rest of the packs’ attention goes towards me and they charge in pure anger for killing their comrades. However, I didn’t care in the slightest and killed them all without much trouble. They should have just left me alone but they decided to be idiots.

After absorbing as much essence as possible which wasn’t much, I turned my body and was about to leave. But before I could leave, a hand clasped to my hand, I turn around to see the boy holding my hand looking at me. The lady also walked beside me, trying to take the child off my hand but with no luck.

“kid, let go,” I say coldly

“Please help us, we were taking a stroll until monsters attacked us. I took care of the stronger ones but I don’t have much energy anymore and my maid isn’t very strong” The boy told me with anticipation.

“I don’t have time. Goodbye” I reply and yanked my hand out of his but before I left, he grabbed my hand again!!!

“You…for a moment you felt human but now you’re a vampire, you must be very skilled to hide your true aura and even change it!” The boy said in high regard.

“uhh, what-”

“Since your a vampire, why won’t you help your fellow vampires?” The boy asked me.

“umm, younger master! You can’t just reveal yourself just because they are vampires! What if he is corrupted” The lady spoke anxiously.

Oh right! I still have Zurie’s bracelet so as long as I don’t use my strength, I will come off as a vampire to other vampires and people with high sense abilities to an extent.

But even though I did use my power, he thinks I am a skilled vampire…he must be young but he said “fellow vampires” so he is a vampire and seems to be important with that lady calling him “young master”.

With my curiosity intrigued I fully turn towards them to signal that I am listening.

The boys eyes shone “if you be our bodyguard you will be rewarded! I assure you our family is very rich and influential”

“y-younge master!” The lady spoke with deep anxiety

Guess he isn’t meant to say that.

“Don’t worry lilly! I can tell he isn’t a corrupted vampire or one who would wrong us without reason” The boy tells the maid named Lilly.

“i-i-if you say so young master but your father won’t be pleased”

“I’m sure father would be more glad that I get home safely then being mad about bringing a stranger and plus he is very kind to vampires that help us!”

Hmm…If I help them, the boy says I will be rewarded and I do NEED money….

“fine I will help as long as it doesn’t take too long. I have plans at night”

The boys eyes sparkle “Of course sir! It’s not too far that it would take a whole day”

“Well why don’t you take of your hoodes so I can see you properly?” I ask.

These two have had hoods that cover there heads and there robes cover there bodies so it’s hard to know what they look like.

“we cannot do that. Master says to be concealed when we are outside from the corrupt vampires and we are sorry but your not allowed to know young masters name as well.” The maid Lilly answers.

Sheesh this ‘master’ guy is very strict with the kid, I assume his son, of what he can and cannot do outside. Why do they keep saying ‘corrupted’ vampires? Before I asked them they started moving and gestured to follow them, which I did. This will all be worth it once they pay me!

“sir have you been facing a few strong monsters in the forest?” The boy asks me.

“Yes I have, around level 38 and above” I causally reply.

“Isn’t it strange…monsters like that wouldn’t be around this part of the forest, maybe way further away from the kingdom you would see such beasts but we are still considered close to the kingdom and the average here is around 20-35!”

“Quite odd” I tell the boy.

“We came across hordes of level 40 and above of different beasts which I managed to take care off but it has weakened me greatly as I haven’t fully awakened” The boy tells me in a proud tone but embarrassed at the end.

Damn..this child is quite strong if he is able to do that but what is this about ‘awakened’?

“Y-young master!!!” Lilly yelps after remaining silent for some time.

“Yea yea yeaaa Lilly, I KNOW I am not meant to say too much about myself but how am I meant to make friends if I always have to be quite!” The boys said while being annoyed at his maid.

He wants to be my friend? Thats a first where a vampire wants to be friends. Though this is probably because he thinks I am vampire, he probably wouldn’t do this if he found out the truth.

“Maybe they came around here because of you! Maybe your powerful aura attracted them. You must have noticed the phenomenon and weakened it right?” He asks enthusiastically.

I should probably pretend to be some powerful vampire like this child is imagining. Though he does raise a good question about why beasts of those level are somewhat near the kingdom and seeing the horde of bulls here is quite weird. With how they are, they mainly live in very hot areas. This area isn’t very hot so maybe some bulls would be here like 10 but not 50!

I just laugh it off without answering the child’s question and letting him interpret it in his own way.

His blue eyes sparkle…I guess he thinks I am the cause and is happy about it? What a weird kid.

While travelling through the forest, we came across level 35 to 38 beasts like vipers,insects like bees and sparrows. Of course since I levelled up to level 37, the battles between them were easy! However I was worried since I used my powers there would be my energy of a human and the energy of a vampire from the bracelet would confuse them and make them realise I’m a fraud.

Luckily they didn’t bat an eye. They child was just impressed and the maid didn’t have any input. I don’t think the maid is a vampire but even though the boy says he is a vampire, I don’t sense that at all. Either he has something that hides it or I am being tricked and lead to a trap.

Lets hope its not the latter cause that will really piss me off.

We have been walking quite far but not further nor closer to the kingdom. Damn, this forest is huge, hopefully I will be done soon. We have been walking for an hour or two!

“We are here!” The boy shouted enthusiastically and rushed forward!