Chapter 104: A Clever Plan Backfires

“Executioner?” Liz covered her mouth as she looked at Lansel.

“You’re unbelievable!” Lansel was completely speechless. Were all heroic spirits defined by their combat prowess and cute traits? He was somewhat familiar with a few—like the gaming otaku emperor, Queen S Shining, and the gluttonous queen Tolia. Then there was the newly acquainted Vlad, who seemed naturally absent-minded, oblivious to Lansel’s desire to keep things under wraps. Vlad naively assumed that Lansel’s summoning meant the others could be trusted and proudly began introducing himself. Not content with that, he even revealed Lansel’s background without hesitation.

“Alright, I’ve basically laid all my cards on the table. I’m going to rest for a bit; you guys talk.” Lansel felt he was about to suffer a nervous breakdown if he stayed any longer, so he found an excuse and walked away.

Though all three wanted Lansel to stay, their attention was drawn to something more pressing. The man claiming to be Count Dracula might hold many answers, and their curiosity had been piqued since the start. Naturally, they intended to probe him first.

“Honestly, as heroic spirits, is there anything more delightful than our own legends?” Vlad said, sipping his drink in his usual absent-minded manner.

“What exactly is a heroic spirit?” Celica, unfamiliar with the term, asked first.

“Though it sounds boastful, every heroic spirit is a renowned figure from history. For example, I killed a fifth of my country’s population while alive.” Vlad spoke without any remorse, as casually as if recounting what he had for dinner yesterday. The three girls couldn’t help but be shocked by Vlad’s words.

“Ah, don’t mind that. It happened more than six hundred years ago. Those people were pests to my nation, and I killed them for the prosperity of the country,” he said with a hint of fanaticism in his eyes. If Lansel had been present, he would have scoffed at yet another person sacrificing everything for their country.

Though unsure if Vlad was truthful, the girls sensed he wasn’t lying.

“Then, why are you a vampire? Are there really vampires in this world?” Liz, who appeared strong but was emotionally fragile, asked with genuine concern.

“Me? I don’t know. At least when I was alive, I was just human. I don’t know who made up the story, but now I somehow possess a Noble Phantasm that leaves me speechless,” Vlad sighed helplessly.

“Noble Phantasm?”

“Oh, I haven’t explained. Noble Phantasms are legends or weapons from our lives that become extraordinary after death—could be armor, weapons, or even a special skill. Becoming a vampire was something granted to me later.” Despite this, he was clearly frustrated. Although his "Extreme Punishment King" was more powerful than his transformation, it came with great limitations.

“Then, what about Lansel? Why did you call him the executioner?” Asuna and the others were most curious about this—the key question.

“Him? Pretty much the same as me. The people he killed were mostly nobles within his country. I remember that even after a thousand years, his name still terrified those parasites.” Vlad laughed heartily, as if proud of Lansel’s ruthless purge of nobles.

“His own country? Is Lansel a lord like you? But he said he was a knight,” Asuna found herself more intrigued by the mysteries surrounding Lansel.

Vlad, despite his bloody hands, was fond of these young girls and answered every question, especially when their eyes lit up at his ‘knowledge.’

“No, he’s a knight, though never officially recognized. His status is arguably the highest in the country after their king.” Vlad sighed deeply, lamenting why his own king didn’t support him the same way.

He shook his head and continued, “Their king was a true knight, but as you know, every nation has its dark side. After consulting with his mentor, that guy took on the burden himself. He became a taboo figure within the country, known as the ‘Blood Knight.’ Even the gods didn’t want him to continue; he died young. I was in my forties when I died, but he was only twenty.” Vlad shook his head again.

“How did he die?” Though Lansel was in the next room, the girls couldn’t help but be curious.

“I don’t know. It was long ago. Most of what I know comes from the elders in my family. But I do know that for at least two hundred years after his death, no dark creature dared to step foot on Britain’s soil.”

“Britain...” They suddenly recalled Lansel’s name—Pendragon.

“So, does that mean his king was King Arthur?” Asuna barely dared to voice her suspicion, as it sounded incredible.

Vlad nodded directly.

“...” The three girls covered their mouths, stunned. They hadn’t imagined Lansel had such a background. They’d thought he was just a minor noble in Britain. It was strange for a great noble not to remain in his own country but to be here instead. Yet Lansel was not only a true noble but from the distant era of King Arthur.

“Vlad, how much have you told them?” Lansel returned and composed himself. Now, the priority was to prevent them from following.

“Apparently, Lancelot led the knights against invading Norse pirates, while Sir Gawain quelled internal rebellions. Lansel supposedly knew all the secrets of at least three nearby kings—who they met at night, even more than the local nobles...” Vlad’s words crushed Lansel’s regained composure. It seemed Vlad had spilled all his secrets.

“Damn it! Who cares about where those guys went at night!” Lansel’s greatest irritation. Though he was an intelligence chief, no one cared for such useless gossip. In Lansel’s eyes, King Arthur was an exceptionally noble king, admired for his chivalry—which ultimately led to tragedy. His chivalry made him forgive Lancelot’s betrayal, causing the Round Table to split. Yet Lansel’s arrival brought shadows beneath the shining sun, and before he left, Britain grew stronger.

“Alright, since Vlad has told you both our identities, you can guess how difficult our joint mission will be. So I hope you won’t participate,” Lansel said formally, sitting up straight and looking at the three.

“But...” Though shaken by Lansel’s serious tone, they couldn’t bear to see him go alone to such a dangerous place. Vlad had been ignored, after all.

“This is my lifelong request!” Lansel emphasized, hoping to sway them. In his mind, this was the most solemn plea he could make. Yet, what he didn’t expect was...