20. Trickery on the Throne

With the party now ready to fight, more and more vampires flowed out of the castle ruins.

Velmira stuck to support magic and large-scale energy attacks. Meanwhile, Yumino also stayed behind, sniping everyone with high-precision arrows he was learning to launch from an excentric ghost.

"That one too! That one too! Now do a 360! Now three with one! Woooooo!"

Busy trying to ignore the voices, Yumino found little time to analyze the fighting style of the others, but that didn't stop them from showing off.

Garron took out large numbers with his claymore through sheer strength, while Averin wielded the same weapon in a different manner. She nimbly danced between the attackers, delivering powerful strikes to everyone who escaped the smashing strikes of the giant.

Gavin ran inside the castle and filled it with pale miasma that oozed once he unsheathed the sword. The scared vampires ran out, where the other took care of them one by one.

The five of them complemented each other perfectly, and before it even began, the fight was already over.

Soon, the leader of the group was all alone. At first, he tried to pick out the weakest members. He cornered a distressed Averin, but it didn't take long for the other heroes to reach and surround him.

"Very well. I propose a duel!" the vampire said while pointing at Yumino, whose heart skipped a beat.

"You better back out of this. That guy is no pushover. No clear trajectory, no shot," Gauntmere quickly intervened.

"Woah! Hold up there! I'm the boss here! I'll take you on!"

Saved by Gavin's arrogance, Yumino escaped the dangerous situation, thanking the man through his gaze.

The fight between the two did not take long. The scared vampire tried to attack the hero, only to be cut down in one swift strike, leaving behind terrible screams that further proved to Yumino how Gavin's sword was one scary weapon.

After the short yet intense fight, the group entered the castle, taking a break in the throne room.

"I must say, Yumino, you've changed a lot from that fight with the drakes," said Gavin, patting him on the shoulder. 

"I saw no hesitation in you."

"I guess you can say that..." Yumino answered with a nervous laugh. "I don't know why, but when it comes to vampires, I don't feel as bad when I shoot."

"Haha! What's that about? Do you hate vampires that much? Is it because of what happened back in Veston with Nima?"

"As if! I won't hate a whole race for what happened because of some individuals. It's just... I don't know. It doesn't feel as bad."

"Hm, I guess that's how things are with undeads. They've been done in already, right? Maybe you're doing them a favor, especially being your kin and all."

For a second, silence fell over the hall. A silence that Yumino soon broke. It just took him a moment to comprehend the words he heard.

"My what?"

*****

"Gavin, can you repeat that?"

"Hm? About your kin? What's with that look on your face? Ah, is this a taboo between elves?"

"No... Why would it be?" Yumino played it off, trying to not raise any more doubts.

"Right? Humans or elves, zombies or vampires, they share the same relation if you think about it. Just as we look a tad bit different, so do the undead of both species. That's all there is to it, right? But I must say, vampires sure are way more powerful than the average zombie."

"Haha, you got that right... I guess it's got to do with our long lifespans..."

Yumino said so, but he had no idea what he was talking about.

"You guys go ahead and check the castle! I'll stay in the hall and catch my breath for a while..." he added.

"Want me to stay with you?" Averin offered, but the elf politely refused her.

"Come on, Little Averin, he fought pretty hard out there. Being here must be hard for an elf; let's trust Yumino for a bit and let him sort his thoughts. He can fend for himself."

Garron kindly intervened and grabbed the young girl by her shoulders. Averin took one more worried look at Yumino before nodding her head and going with the others.

"Yo, Yumino! Should I leave my sword with you?" Gavin asked jokingly.

"Don't you dare let that thing get near me!"

Yumino watched the others got lost through the halls of the castle. Once he made sure nobody was around, he took a seat on the throne.

He looked around the room. Large branches sprouting out in every corner shone light around the hall. 

In contrast to the perfectly white brick outside, the inside was painted in shades of green and brown, creating a foresty feeling even in closed spaces.

Out of the wooden throne, a tree belonging to an unknown species climbed out through the ceiling—the only place from which the large room was bathed in natural light. The same tree could also be seen from outside, casting its leaves above the whole castle as if protecting it from the merciless sky.

One look had Yumino captivated by the mystical place, but as luck would have it, he had no time to enjoy the view. Once again, his trust had been broken because of his ignorance, so he decided to do just as Garron said and "sort out" his thoughts.

"Gauntmere, come out!"

"Oh my! The hero is already taking his rightful place. I'm not one to pry into the mind I reside in, but a shining light kept screaming about 'wanting to become someone important.' I see you're acting on your wishes."

"Since when did your tongue start dropping that sweet poison? By chance, are you in so much trouble that your usual degrading glance can't save you?" the elf cut her off.

"My attitude depends solely on you, Yumino. I'll look down on you when you drink unlabeled potions from sadistic witches, and I'll sing you praise whenever you free tormented souls, just like you did in the last fight."

"Tsk, what a nasty personality..."

"As a witch, I take that as a compliment."

Over the course of the last days, the more he'd been tricked, the more bitter Yumino's heart grew. Once a kind and reserved man, he was now sitting on a throne he hadn't earned, looking down upon the shadow of a witch he didn't trust.

"Then skip the pleasantries. You've lied to me again."

"I think 'lie' is a strong word. I didn't deceive you in any way. I just kept from you information that could prompt you to act rashly."

"How is that any different?!" the elf screamed suddenly.

"Yumino, please, you wouldn't want your friends to rush back here."

After asking him to regain his composure, Gauntmere continued.

"The last hero—"

But before she could say anything, a vampire hiding in a dark corner jumped at Yumino.

The attack was sudden, but before the attacker could reach him, from behind the throne, branches stretched forwards, stopping the vampire's advance.

That gave Yumino enough time to react. He grabbed a small dagger from his belt and finished off the struggling vampire.

With his pulse having risen, Yumino took the dead vampire, looked at it, and screamed.

"Look! If not for the fangs and the pale skin, she would look just like any other elf! How can you keep this from me? How can you have me fight the very people we are trying to save? Make it make sense!"

"Unlike the day you met Nima, you've grown to like elves quite a lot—"

"Shut up!"

The next thing Yumino heard was not Gauntmere's response but the hurried steps of his allies.

"Yumino! I heard you screaming. Are you okay?"

Trying to erase the anger from his eyes, Yumino stared at the girl clad in heavy armor who had come to his rescue.

"Averin..."

He wanted to show her the ghost who had been tricking him, but before he could mention her, Gauntmere had already disappeared.