Volume 2 Chapter 46
46. Vampire
Gran’s expression became serious.
After all, the matter at hand concerned the safety of the Princess and had to be clearly explained.
“Speak, Gran, I’m listening,” Xia Yi replied.
“It’s actually about the Black Knight.”
“What’s wrong with the Black Knight? The summoning contract should have been successfully established.”
“Yes, but you can’t just summon the Black Knight at will right now,” Gran explained, “The Black Knight’s realm is much higher than yours. If you try to summon beyond your level, there will be an excessive consumption.”
“Is that so?”
Gran frowned, “What do you mean ‘is that so’? Your Highness, you haven’t thrown the knowledge I taught you into the trash bin, have you?”
“No, no, I just remembered! Indeed, there is such a matter!”
It wasn’t Xia Yi’s fault.
When Gran taught classes, it was almost like a big sleep spell; it was impossible not to feel sleepy.
It seemed there was indeed such a rule: if a summoner attempts to summon beyond their level, the magical energy consumption would increase manyfold for no reason. The summoner might not be able to maintain the summoned state for long and could collapse from overconsumption, which would be quite uneconomical.
Therefore, summoners only consider summoning creatures of a similar realm or lower than themselves, which is also easier to control to avoid backlash.
“You are currently at the third-tier realm. Wait until you enter the fourth tier before considering it. This is also for your safety. If you summon the Black Knight in the midst of dangerous combat, it would instead create an opportunity for your opponent. Moreover, the Black Knight itself is a summon that consumes a great amount of magical power,” Gran explained.
“Alright.”
Xia Yi felt somewhat regretful; her own strength was still insufficient.
“Black Knight, wait for me a bit longer. Once I become stronger and break through to the fourth tier, I’ll be able to summon you!”
The Black Knight nodded silently, obviously having anticipated this situation.
Then, Gran dismissed the Black Knight’s summoned state. The Black Knight left.
“Gran, I’ve passed today’s test, haven’t I?” Xia Yi asked.
“Test?”
Gran had almost forgotten.
Today was supposed to be a test for the Princess, mainly marking the end of the magical course phase and incidentally dealing with this mischievous little princess…
But somehow, he had managed to get a very powerful summon for the Princess at zero cost.
“Your Highness, this is a test for the magic course…”
Gran was somewhat troubled.
Apart from the Ice Magic Shield, the Princess’s performance in the test was simply bizarre.
It was a magic test, yet she insisted on slashing wildly with a sword!
“Gran, you said it yourself, just hold on for ten minutes, and I did!”
“That is indeed what this old man said…”
“Then there’s no problem! You never specified which moves and magic to use from the beginning, I’m not wrong. If you’re going to be petty here, then from now on I’ll hinder you every day… Don’t even think about getting a single magic fund approved for research!!”
“No, no, no!” Gran instinctively shouted.
Xia Yi was very pleased.
Gran could only announce: “Alright, alright, Your Highness the Princess, you have successfully passed the magic course phase test.”
“Yay!”
Xia Yi happily raised her hands and jumped up.
“Thank you for your teachings, Teacher Gran!”
“Sigh. If only Your Highness would be a bit more diligent.”
Gran was helpless but still smiled.
“Your Highness, during this old man’s absence from the Dragon Palace, don’t neglect your magic practice. When I return, I will have to check again.”
“Mhm, mhm, I will!” Xia Yi nodded repeatedly.
The test was over, and Xia Yi left.
Gran watched the little princess’s retreating figure, wanting to call out to her, but then he thought that what he had to say was just some nagging words, so he let it be, guessing that the Princess wouldn’t listen anyway.
After the search for the Black Coffin was over and he returned from Golde, it wouldn’t be too late.
By then, the teaching could advance to the next stage, and there were still many magics to teach the Princess, which could be done slowly.
…
A few days later.
Xia Yi sat at her desk, looking at comic books, delighted.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
She quickly put away the comic book, stuffed it among a pile of textbooks, and then immediately put on another serious expression, picked up a pen, and pretended to start writing homework.
That damn Gran, even before leaving, didn’t forget to assign homework, how despicable!
The course was temporarily over, but the holiday homework had arrived.
“Come in!” Xia Yi called out.
The person who opened the door was Sera.
“Your Highness, have I disturbed you?” Sera inquired.
“It’s fine, Sera, I’ve been studying for a long time,” Xia Yi put down her pen, “Actually, I’m quite tired. It’s a good time for a break.”
Sera walked over to the little princess, glanced at the desk, and probably had a good idea of the situation.
However, she didn’t directly expose the ruse, as there was important news to report.
“Your Highness, the Queen is looking for you.”
“What for?” Xia Yi asked.
“It’s something very important, I’m not sure of the details.”
“Alright then.”
Xia Yi stood up, hopping down from the desk.
She had intended to go directly to see Xia Lulu, but after a moment’s thought, she decided to change out of her casual clothes and dress up a bit.
“Your Highness, you’ve really grown up. Under the Queen’s guidance, you’re increasingly paying attention to etiquette,” Sera said with satisfaction.
“Ah? Ha! What are you talking about! I just feel that wearing this outfit outside might make others think my image is too cute, affecting my dignity! It has nothing to do with Xia Lulu’s teachings!”
Xia Yi quickly defended herself.
She had never truly accepted Xia Lulu’s education from the bottom of her heart; how could she possibly obediently follow her words?
“Of course, of course,” Sera said with a laugh.
Xia Yi couldn’t shake the feeling that Sera enjoyed teasing her. Was it just her imagination?
No matter.
She left her room to find Xia Lulu’s office.
Xia Lulu had already dealt with the mountain of paperwork.
“Good afternoon, Mother… ahem!”
Xia Yi initially intended to greet Xia Lulu with a bow, but she stopped herself halfway through.
True to myself!
Indeed, I haven’t fallen yet. I still maintain the soul of a Sword Saint, managing to control myself just in time to retract my gesture.
“Is there something you need, Xia Lulu? I’m quite busy, seriously working on my homework…”
Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Xia Lulu couldn’t help but laugh.
“Doing homework? Could it be that you haven’t really started and have been reading comics all along, daughter?”
“No!! I wasn’t reading comics!!” Xia Yi retorted excitedly.
Xia Lulu began to analyze, “Your reaction is very suspicious. I just casually mentioned it, and you get so agitated? If it wasn’t true, surely your reaction wouldn’t be so strong—”
Xia Yi quickly interrupted, “Xia Lulu, you didn’t call me here just for this, did you?”
“What if I did? I feel a bit lonely and just wanted to see my lovely daughter and chat…”
“Eh?”
Xia Yi hadn’t expected this at all, she thought it was something serious.
So Xia Lulu called her over just for this?
Oh.
So the Silver Dragon Queen just wanted to be spoiled by her?
Xia Yi looked at Xia Lulu.
“So it was just for such a trivial matter! Silver Dragon Queen, the idea of you being afraid of loneliness is laughable, no, but if you really think so, I could… accompany… accom… ow!”
Xia Yi bit her tongue.
The following words were a bit embarrassing for her to say.
She walked over to Xia Lulu and asked:
“So, where shall we go next… the back garden, or your room, or… mine…”
But at that moment, Xia Lulu couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.
“Xia Yi, I was just joking. I called you here today because there is indeed something important. It’s about representing the dragon race in international social visits.”
“Ah…?”
“What’s wrong? Xia Yi, you seem a bit disappointed. Could it be, deep down, you were really hoping I would act spoiled with you?” Xia Lulu tilted her head.
“No, no, no! I never thought about getting close to you like that!” Xia Yi denied vehemently.
“Oh? So the daughter has already thought that far, that’s quite unexpected.” Xia Lulu asked with interest.
Xia Yi realized that the damn Silver Dragon Queen was fishing for a reaction!!
Damn it, she’s been outwitted again.
The frustrated little princess knew that if she didn’t change the subject back to the serious matter, she would continue to be teased mercilessly.
“Let’s not discuss this anymore, Xia Lulu, talk about the serious matter! Otherwise, I’m going back to read comics… oh no, to do homework!”
“Daughter, I need to take you out of the Dragon Kingdom to visit other countries for official diplomatic activities. I think your recent performance has been very satisfactory, and you are indeed ready to start taking on these tasks.” Xia Lulu explained.
“That’s a given, I am very excellent. Diplomatic visits and such… are a piece of cake!” Xia Yi was very confident in herself.
Because during her time with the Schubert family, the Human Sword Saint was already being trained as the future head of the family.
Not to mention now, as a dragon princess, she had learned many royal etiquettes, each performed with grace and beauty, flawless in formal social settings.
Representing the dragon race in visits to other countries, she was absolutely confident she could do well.
“I will go with you,” Xia Lulu said.
“You’re going personally?”
Xia Yi was somewhat surprised.
After all, Xia Lulu’s trips were always for important occasions.
That meant that this country must be quite special, definitely a very powerful higher beings.
“Which country is it?”
“The vampire’s Crimson Empire.”
“Uh!?”
Xia Yi’s body shuddered.
“What’s wrong? Such a big reaction?”
Xia Lulu was puzzled.
Because since becoming a dragon princess, Xia Yi had always stayed within the Dragon Kingdom and hadn’t had much contact with other races.
At least as a dragon princess, she had only chatted with the vampires a few times at higher beings banquets.
But that was when she was younger.
For Xia Yi, the vampires should just be a rather unfamiliar higher being, not too well-known.
“Ah… no, nothing, just got bitten by a mosquito.” Xia Yi smiled stiffly.
Hearing about the vampires, her heart was in turmoil.
The vampires is also an ancient higher being on this land, with a long history, extraordinary strength, and a diet of fresh blood. They have a very long lifespan and strong vitality.
If the dragon race, as the strongest higher being, were to fall, the vampires would definitely compete for the title of the strongest higher being.
However, the vampire race also has its flaws, similar to the dragon race, they are not numerous.
The dragon race has low fertility, while the vampire race reproduces not through mating but through a process called the First Embrace, where they pass on their bloodline to the embraced individual, considering them as their offspring.
However, the vampires can only embrace a limited number of times in their life, focusing on quality over quantity, which means their numbers are not large. But this is still much better than the dragon race, which has significant issues with reproduction.
This method of progeny continuation is something Xia Yi finds incomprehensible and outrageous.
It’s just too strange.
The reason she reacted so strongly upon hearing about the vampires was that during her time as the Human Sword Saint… she had encountered a vampire and engaged in fierce combat.
The vampire was a young girl who expressed curiosity about the reputation of the Human Sword Saint and wanted to challenge him.
Beneath the girl’s impressive appearance, her strength was not to be underestimated, far surpassing Xia Yi’s own during her time as the Human Sword Saint, almost to the point of a one-sided thrashing.
That battle was one of the few life-and-death crises for the Human Sword Saint, and he was even drained of blood, nearly losing his life.
But Wright was a wielder of the Holy Sword, which has a special advantage against dark creatures, and the vampire is one of those.
Even though Wright’s strength was not much compared to the vampire girl, the Holy Sword gave him a fighting chance.
So, Wright chose to persevere, fighting tenaciously until daylight.
The vampire girl, seeing the sun rise, fled from the darkness that had yet to be touched by sunlight, and the Human Sword Saint survived.
However, due to the blood loss, he suffered aftereffects, leading to blurred memories, with most details forgotten.
This included the girl’s appearance; she couldn’t remember clearly, just that she was a very beautiful girl.
This is one of the vampire race’s special abilities.
Because Xia Lulu told her they were going to the Crimson Empire, it immediately reminded her of this incident.
She wouldn’t possibly encounter that girl again, would she?
No, no, no.
Xia Yi thought she was probably overthinking it.
Not all vampires necessarily operate within the Crimson Empire, just as some dragons choose not to live in the Dragon Kingdom but to survive on their own outside.
After all, she wasn’t near the Crimson Empire when she encountered the vampire.
How could there be such a coincidence?
The little princess quickly dismissed this unrealistic thought from her mind.
“No problem, don’t mind it, Xia Lulu, let’s set off for the Crimson Empire!” Xia Yi said with full confidence.