[Vol. 7] Chapter 123: The Bloodthirster’s Curse
Even though it wasn’t her intention, Violet had, in some way, brainwashed Selna and Mia. They now held an admiration, respect, and even affection for her that went far beyond what was normal.
To be honest, Violet didn’t quite understand it.
What exactly was this so-called "high-tier magic information flow" that affected them? And why did it make them, as vampires, completely immune to sunlight? At this point, it was no longer just "mental contamination". It was a force that directly interfered with reality itself.
According to Dawn’s memories, she had never encountered high-tier magic that could cause mental contamination in this way. As long as such power wasn’t intentionally directed at ordinary people, issues like this could be avoided entirely. In fact, back when Violet was in the Ancient Spirit Realm, nothing like this had ever happened to her...
Could it be that this world itself was different?
But that wouldn’t make much sense. Sethlin, another god-tier being, didn’t seem to have encountered anything similar either. That alone made the situation highly unreasonable.
Violet had previously avoided dealing with those affected because she found it too troublesome. She never had the time or patience to research it properly. But now that she had some rare free time, and two convenient test subjects, maybe she could finally look into it...
After all, the power of information was very real. She had witnessed it firsthand not long ago. At its peak, it became an invisible force so overwhelming that even true gods like the "God of Truth" struggled to withstand it head-on. If she ignored this problem now, it would no doubt become a massive threat in the future.
“......”
After a brief moment of thought, Violet raised her hand. A golden barrier expanded outward, enveloping the first-floor living room of the villa and completely isolating it from the outside world.
“It’s safe here now. Show me your true form.”
“Yes, Lady Violet.”
Being sealed in a confined space by an unknown power, alone with a newly assigned master on her very first day of work. This was a situation that would have made most normal maids nervous, maybe even a little flustered. The simple yet suggestive command only added to the tension, easily leading one’s mind to wander.
Yet, Selna showed no reaction.
With a calm and composed expression, she simply nodded, raised her hand, and removed the silver ring from her right wrist.
The magical item that altered her appearance lost its effect, revealing the girl’s true form before the priestess.
Her once human-like black pupils were now infused with an enchanting crimson hue, shifting into vertical slit-like eyes. A pair of sharp fangs, both menacing and strangely alluring, peeked out from between her lips. From the small, nearly imperceptible openings in her maid outfit, delicate bat-like wings unfurled from her lower back, fluttering lightly and stirring the air with a faint, intoxicating fragrance.
The change in her appearance was striking, but what truly commanded attention was the aura she now exuded.
Though she remained the same cold and expressionless girl, there was now a dangerous elegance about her, a mix of aristocratic grace and wicked charm. The contrast between her refined demeanor and the flawless curves outlined by her black-and-white maid uniform was enough to make hearts race.
Her long, slender legs were wrapped in smooth, pure-white stockings, their silkiness accentuated by the exposed skin of her back and her delicate, snow-like arms. A subtle yet undeniable allure surrounded her, like a rose blooming in the dead of night, dangerous yet impossible to resist. She radiated a presence that could make anyone instinctively want to kneel at her feet.
“Hm… This is exactly the kind of vampire I expected.”
Yet, despite her transformed appearance, there was still no visible clue as to why she was immune to sunlight…
Unaffected by the seductive aura that Selna unconsciously released after transforming, Violet simply smiled, nodding slightly as she examined the girl from head to toe.
Vampires were a forbidden existence. After all, they needed to drink blood. As their most cherished and essential source of sustenance, acquiring this "life force," which could only be taken from other living beings, was naturally their highest priority.
Drinking blood inevitably harms the victim to some extent, but vampires possess a unique ability to secrete a special fluid from their fangs that numbs the nervous system. This not only weakens the victim, making resistance nearly impossible, but also induces an intensely pleasurable sensation, one that can easily become addictive.
By taking advantage of this trait and carefully controlling the amount of blood they consume, vampires can feed without endangering their prey’s life, significantly reducing the difficulty of acquiring food. In fact, their entire culture and way of life are built upon this foundation.
Rather than focusing on combat prowess, vampires prioritize enhancing their physical appearance and personal charm. Their evolution has always been centered on winning over other beings, especially members of the opposite sex, through attraction rather than force.
Due to the limitations of their reproduction, vampires have always remained a relatively small population. Naturally, persuading someone to willingly offer their blood is far preferable to engaging in violent struggles for sustenance.
Whether it's the noble ranking system that defines their hierarchy or specialized professions like Selna’s role as a maid, the essence remains the same. These practices are deeply rooted in vampire culture.
Building upon this foundation, higher-ranking vampires also develop various innate abilities related to mind control, allowing them to influence, manipulate, or even completely enslave others. These abilities serve the same fundamental purpose, securing a stable source of nourishment without unnecessary conflict.
Vampires are notoriously "picky" when it comes to their food. The act of drinking blood is brief, but finding the perfect source often requires a great deal of effort. Meanwhile, for most creatures, blood is a renewable resource, but its regeneration rate is far slower than a vampire’s feeding demands.
In other words, maintaining a stable, one-on-one supply relationship is nearly impossible.
The thirst for blood is more than just a biological need, it is a curse. Not every vampire possesses the self-control to resist their cravings. Some succumb to their hunger, draining victims dry without restraint. Others, unwilling to let go of a desirable blood source that they struggled to find, resort to force, using their abilities to enslave or dominate their prey.
Throughout history, many vampires have brought disaster upon themselves and their surroundings by giving in to this temptation, eventually provoking hunters and extermination efforts against their kind.
Elegant, beautiful, yet mysterious and dangerous. This is the nature of vampires. Even though they have deliberately kept a low profile for nearly a thousand years, staying in seclusion as a whole, there are always a few who can’t resist their thirst for blood and cause trouble. Because of this, most other races prefer to keep their distance from them.
Perhaps for this very reason, Selna, Mia, and even Yulia all take care to conceal their true identities when out in public. While Sainz may not actively reject vampires, revealing themselves would still be an unnecessary complication.
“......”
Selna, now sitting on the sofa with her disguise removed, noticed that the black-haired girl across from her was quietly observing her. There was curiosity in her gaze, perhaps even a hint of analysis, but no hostility or rejection. That realization put Selna somewhat at ease, allowing her to push aside the faint nervousness she hadn't shown outwardly.
After all, she knew exactly what it meant to be a vampire. Clerics and priests, wielders of holy light, had always been the main force in hunting down vampires who turned to evil. And Violet, the most powerful priest Selna had ever seen, was practically the embodiment of holiness itself. It wasn’t impossible that she had participated in such purges before and might detest their kind for bearing the infamous title of "vampire."
But fortunately, just as Selna had hoped, Violet was a truly great being, compassionate and noble, treating all life with fairness.
As expected of Lady Violet… To be able to serve such an incredible person as a maid was something even dreams couldn’t compare to!
At that thought, Selna’s deep admiration and devotion grew even stronger. Her blood-red, slit-pupiled eyes flickered with a faint, almost imperceptible golden glow, as if something hidden deep within her soul had been stirred.
It was a mark, subtle yet profound, taking the form of a golden orb with three white and three colorless wings growing from its left and right sides respectively. However, the mark was so faint that without careful observation, its details were impossible to distinguish.
A moment later, Selna lowered her head expressionlessly, and the mark faded once again, disappearing entirely before Violet could take notice.
After all, maintaining proper composure before one’s master was one of the most basic qualities of a professional maid.