7 Vampire Settlement

Keith gazed at Rena with genuine surprise. He had never anticipated the depth of her selflessness, enduring the harsh conditions imposed by the vampires without succumbing to the cold and selfish tendencies that often prevailed in such a cruel world. Her resilience was a remarkable trait, something beyond the ordinary.

"Tell me, what else do you need? If it's within my power, I'll do my best to provide it for you," Keith offered, unwilling to let her leave empty-handed.

To his astonishment, Rena remained silent.

"It's just a few drops of blood, nothing much. You don't need to compensate me. This is part of my servitude," Rena replied in a subdued voice.

Keith was determined not to let her go without something in return.

"That may be true for everyone else, but you've always taken care of me. I want you to receive proper compensation. If you don't eat well, how can you provide me with blood when I need it?" Keith smiled at her.

Concerned for Rena's well-being, Keith, as her most loyal companion in the castle, felt a responsibility to improve her life. He wanted her to understand that he trusted her and that he wasn't merely using her as a source of sustenance. While he did require her blood, he genuinely wished for her to lead a better life, starting with proper nourishment.

The economic disparity between vampires and humans became evident in the limited food options available to the latter. Vampires, relying solely on blood, obtained their supply from humans who, in turn, cultivated their land. However, the scarcity of food restricted the number of cattle humans could raise. Consequently, the price of meat soared. Bread and cooked vegetables became the staple diet for most, often insufficient as they had to regularly donate blood to the vampires for consumption.

Rena seldom had the opportunity to indulge in meat. The daily meals for all the maids remained monotonous, with occasional cooked meat provided every couple of months. Confined within the castle grounds, she remained oblivious to the culinary delights beyond its walls.

Upon learning that Keith would require more of her blood in the future, Rena realized the importance of maintaining good health. If she continued with the same diet, she wouldn't be able to provide him with the necessary assistance. Aware that Keith didn't wish to deplete her strength, she recognized the need for a healthier lifestyle. He had shown restraint when he sensed that he had taken too much blood. She was determined to be in a condition to offer as much support as possible.

"I will eat better from now on, young master. Thank you for giving me the chance to assist you," she replied with a warm smile.

Keith handed her the coin, and this time she accepted it without hesitation.

"You can go now," Keith said, wanting some solitude to channel his blood qi.

Rena nodded and gracefully left the room.

Alone, Keith closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, channeling his blood qi throughout his body. He sensed his blood core responding, and he continued the circulation for hours. The blood core absorbed the blood qi gradually, accumulating in its core. As morning arrived, his body felt light and invigorated. Keith opened his eyes and rose from his bed. Today, Lex would explain the details of the inheritance process in the afternoon.

Contemplating a venture beyond the castle walls, Keith considered exploring the surrounding area. The former Keith, often frail and sick due to his disability, rarely ventured outside. Opening the window, Keith surveyed the landscape. The castle stood atop a small hill, offering a commanding view from its elevated position.

The rest of the colony sprawled across the plain surrounding the castle. Keith gazed at the horizon, bathed in a dim light that resembled pre-dawn, allowing the bright stars to glitter in the sky. The settlement remained active throughout the day, given that vampires, for the most part, didn't require sleep. The only time they would consider slumber was during hibernation, prompted by a scarcity of blood. Yet, such a circumstance had yet to occur here.

The settlement's lights shone in the dimly lit sky, akin to fireflies swarming the landscape. Keith gracefully exited his window, leaping down a considerable twenty meters. His landing in the castle's back garden was executed with ease. Navigating through exotic trees planted for decoration, he effortlessly shook off the attempts of carnivorous trees to ensnare him.

Moving across the garden, he approached a twenty-meter-high wall coated in pitch-black paint, adorned with numerous inscriptions. With his strength, climbing wasn't necessary. He thrust his legs into the ground, propelling himself skyward. Landing on the narrow, half-meter-wide top of the wall, he peered down to the other side, revealing a cliff with an estimated height of two hundred meters.

Despite his status as a baron, Keith couldn't take the fall lightly. A descent from such a height risked bone-breaking, and without blood for regeneration, the consequences would be dire.

Contemplating the drop, he used his hand to grab onto the wall. Circulating his blood qi, he carved a small hole into the wall.

'Hmm, if I can find something to hold onto before reaching the bottom, it should be fine.'

He released his grip and descended down the cliff. Moments before reaching the ground, he deftly caught onto something, but the tree branches proved insufficient to halt his momentum. Swiftly plunging his hand into the rock face, he carved into it, and as his hand firmly gripped the stone, he came to a stop a few meters above the ground.

Leaping down, he landed on the forest floor, surrounded by trees with blood-red leaves and black bark. The leaves reflected light, creating hallucinatory effects, but Keith remained unaffected due to the circulating blood qi in his eyes.

For a normal human, navigating this surreal environment might lead to a loss of direction. Keith walked through the peculiar trees until he reached a stone road in the distance. Descending the slope, he discovered numerous shops lining both sides of the curved road.

Observing his surroundings, he noticed that every shop was bustling with vampires — shop owners and customers alike. As he strolled down the stone pavement, he surveyed the various establishments, ranging from clothing stores and jewelry shops to restaurants and more.

His gaze lingered on the restaurants, where a plethora of blood-based dishes adorned the menus. The variety seemed strange to him, considering his past experiences with diverse cuisines as a human. Here, everything revolved around human blood, creating an uncanny atmosphere.

After exploring for a while, he encountered a shop that piqued his interest — a store specializing in fresh human blood. Eager to understand how he absorbed the elusive 'blood essence,' this seemed like the perfect place to conduct an experiment.

Despite a lingering reluctance, Keith found his vampire instincts taking control. Since attaining the status of a baron, his mind had settled, and the vampire nature within him began to overshadow his human side. While he still sensed his core identity, his body had undergone a profound transformation — he was no longer wholly human.

With this realization in mind, he stepped into the store.