The Great Vampire General is a Girl! - Chapter 94

Ithadurna still hasn’t bounced back from defeat. The citizens were still adapting, and discovering new things they could do apart from making weapons. Avalon’s weapons workshops were closed, sealed with heavy iron chains. Some were also destroyed, as Avalon was reluctant for Florentia to have them.

Florentia stubbornly refused to follow in the footsteps of Avalon who made that state a center for military workshops. Florentia wanted to get rid of Avalon’s strong influence in that place once and for all.

When Florentian knights like the jaguar team walked him around there valiantly—the humans were usually frightened. They were used to being ruled by Avalon. They had to be prepared for the deadly draw and go through their lives if today could be their last. Raphael was a little uncomfortable seeing the humans who looked down like frightened mice every time he passed.

Their eyes are bloodshot, usually pure-blooded Avalon knights prey on humans straight from their skin. They rotated their prey until their blood was drained. That was what happened in every area controlled by Avalon. Neither could they freely escape, as each and every one of them was being watched. Their supervisors were human too. If anyone escapes, then the supervisor would be the next prey.

The residents of Ithadurna were not used to it. Although the rules were different now. No one would consume their blood to death. However, humans still had to order their blood donation according to their turn. Their bodies might be covered in needle-stick scars on their skin, but they could still be alive.

Florentia may be more lenient to humans. But humans were still their prey. In addition, Florentia puts pressure on humans to be productive in exchange for their lifestyle. The tax paid was greater, they could not pay it in blood or sacrifice the lives of their children. Florentia was a vampire faction with an ambitious vision of the future.

They tried to create a world that was suitable for humans and vampires, but all that costs a lot of resources.

In a city called Galilee, there were many inns and shops. There the economy began to grow and the faces of the humans and vampires who inhabited it looked brighter. When they saw the florentia uniforms, they were calmer and entertained Raphael and his two companions well.

“Shouldn’t we go back to the Radcliffe mansion?” Edgar asked.

“It’s almost night, are we going to stay here? Horse riding at night is a bit dangerous, today isn’t a full moon and it’s a little cloudy so the horses can get lost,” Damian chimed in.

“Yes, we will find lodging here, I have to pick up Valerie. She finished her training early. I promised not to return to Acheron until I met her,” said Raphael.

“Ah, well do you need my help looking for her?”

“Perhaps, she didn’t clearly say where to stay. Where do vampires usually gather?” Raphael scratched his chin in thought.

“There’s a vampire bar over there, where else can vampires legally drink blood? Florentia has made new rules in this area..Valerie must be hungry and she paid a visit to the bar. I noticed the Galilee district only had one bar. Over there,” Edgar pointed.

When the three of them entered, a dim atmosphere greeted them. There were several human servants who sold their blood. It was legal in Florentia’s territory. However, their faces were a little pale. Maybe they drained too much of their blood. It was dangerous, but the bar owner didn’t stop them. Maybe because this was a new rule so there was no firmness about it.

“Raphael!” Before the commander could ask the barman about his wife, Valerie ran over and hugged him tightly. The beautiful woman showed a sense of relief and pleasure. Raphael returned the hug and patted her hair gently. Though he seemed to be modest when interacting with his wife as Edgar and Damian’s eyes were watching him. He didn’t want to seem too close with Valerie. Even though Raphael could barely control his own hands. He wanted to hug her tightly and carry her away from that place.

“Edgar! Damian!” Valerie let go of Raphael and turned to greet the knights.

“Well, lady Valerie, how are you?” Edgar looked awkward. Because Valerie used to be the Valor he always beat up. He didn’t know how many times Edgar had hit her in the face and bruised her jaw and eyes. It’s always a duel situation of course. But Edgar was a little angry with Raphael. How could he allow him to hit Valerie’s face. Even though the commander had known that she was a woman for a long time.

“You can call me Valerie, no need to be so formal..I am your junior, and nothing will change. I’m planning another duel with you and I’ll be mad if you give in to me later,” Valerie smiled as she said it. Edgar and Damian laughed.

The knights were worried about how they would treat Valerie. But the girl hasn’t changed much. She was still the cheerful Valor, the cry baby yet brave one who didn’t give up easily. He was the assassin of general Avalon and wielder of a cursed weapon. Damian and company would not underestimate her even if they knew that she was now a woman. Instead, her current status as a woman had increased their respect. Because Edgar and Damian knew Valor’s struggle was extraordinary, even though he was actually a woman.

Valerie had taken off the mercenary style clothes she was wearing and replaced it with the pastel yellow dress she had just bought. It was a dress that didn’t expand and was easy to move but still elegant. She tied her long silver hair in a ponytail and brushed light makeup on her face so she looked fresh. Even though she might have transformed into a formidable female vampire— she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her femininity. Being able to use Apollon without having to hide her female status made Valerie happier. Her aura radiated and affected those around her.

The four of them gathered and talked, discussing their past during the war friendly. The vampires drank human blood poured in crystal glasses. When in the barracks, human blood was not easily obtained so they almost always meet their blood needs with animal blood.

“So you’ve finished the training?” Raphael confirmed.

“Yes, I thought there would be another time to continue. But my identity as Gunther’s killer was exposed, so I guess Alex is having a hard time being nice to me anymore,” Valerie laughed but still looked regretful.

“It’s okay, you can continue your training with me,” said Raphael. He was a little happy, because that meant Valerie wouldn’t be away from him for long.

“Shall we return to Acheron?” Valerie asked.

“Yes, our house is almost finished. I also need your help to choose the furniture,”

Damian and Edgar who saw their interaction remembered that they were husband and wife. That was the strangest and most difficult to accept of all these changes. It was not because they’re an incompatible couple. But Damian and Edgar who already knew the two of them just never expected such a conversation to occur between the two of them.

“Alright, it’s time for us to find an inn, we’ll see you again tomorrow morning here, Raphael,” Edgar and Damian said goodbye with a bit of awkwardness.

“Where did you guys come from?” Valerie asked after the knights left the bar.

After they left, Raphael became more relaxed. He leaned against the circular wooden table they were sitting on. He saw Valerie who was close to his reach. Then his right hand grabbed her head, rubbing it while occasionally playing with her silver hair.

“Mount Rubera, there’s Florentia business,”

“Oh, I train there too. But why do you smell so bad? Like you’ve been wallowing in pig vomit,” Valerie held back a little laugh and seemed to cover her nose. She held her husband’s hand who was playing with her hair.

When she held it, Valerie felt a little strange. It feels a little hot and rough. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time and Valerie felt—even though her husband wasn’t supposed to be at his best—looking more attractive than she had last remembered.

“There was an incident, I fell in a ravine while exploring Mount Rubera, we found a large marble quarry,”

Raphael told the story while staring intently at his wife’s face. He had no intention of talking about Ivanka at all. He didn’t want to ruin his relationship with his wife. Although maybe Valerie wouldn’t find it a problem for her. Since she was an intelligent woman, she would know that Raphael was innocent.

“Are you able to communicate with Apollon yet?” Raphael asked, this time he shifted his chair and was closer to his wife. Although Alexander Gregovich was famous for his rigorous training methods— Valerie didn’t have any scars or injuries on her body.

“I think I’m starting to understand Apollon,” said Valerie half doubtfully. Apollon loves human blood. If Valerie wanted to become stronger— she had to kill more. She didn’t know if she could do it without losing her humanity.

“I won’t press you to tell unless you want to . . But if this thing starts to burden you, you can tell me and we’ll find a way out.”

“No, I think I can handle it,” said Valerie firmly.

Raphael didn’t really like her reaction. His wife still keeps a distance from him. She didn’t fully trust Raphael and thought she could do it all by herself. When Valerie becomes stronger, what if she no longer needs him? What if the Dubois family approved of her joining the military and decided to divorce? As the commander, Raphael should be happy. But he didn’t know if he would still be the same Raphael without Valerie in his life.

Valerie got up from her seat and asked Raphael to take her hand.

“Come on,”

“Where to?”

“I’ve rented a room, you need a shower,” Valerie said.