Vampire's Slice of Life

"Don't fuck with me!"

BAM—!

A Giant, as tall as a boulder, delivered a forceful strike to another Giant's abdomen, propelling him backward with the impact.

"Kuuuh…"

Blood spewed out of the struck Giant's mouth, forming a crimson arc on the ground as he staggered while clutching his wounded midsection.

"Let this be a final warning, Cimir. Know your place."

Big enough to cast a shadow on a two-storey building, the attacking Giant, a man with black hair and gray sideburns, bellowed.

"…Ha… haha… hahaha…!"

Cimir, wiping off the blood from his lips, snickered with visible scorn.

A sharp pain surged from his abdomen yet he still cackled while looking at the man with gray sideburns, then turned to look at the colossal figure sitting atop a stone throne at the end of the hall.

"…See… I told you, chief… Malros… no, his entire faction… these brutes only know how to use their fists…"

Clenching his fist, Malros — the Giant with gray sideburns — had his face darken as he realized the scheme unfolding here.

'I fell for this accursed bastard's trap…'

Malros gritted his teeth as he glared at Cimir, who was not even glancing at him and still cackling while staring at the chief.

"Like I said, chief. These brutes are a threat to our society and the reason for all the infighting. You've seen enough proof from us, and Malros's malicious actions further solidify the claims. You be the judge, I rest my case."

Cimir did a graceful bow and had his lips curl in a sinister curve, despite the surging pain.

The chief, a figure appearing like a titan in front of the rest of the Giants in the court, had a sprightly and gentle appearance on his mature face.

His imposing, that appeared as if it could look through everything, sent a chill down the spines of Malros and his faction.

"I've heard you."

The chief's soft voice boomed in the room, causing the court attendees to flinch.

Leaning on the side and resting his face on his fist, the chief continued, "…We preach equality and justice. Attacking someone in the court cannot be overlooked. However, to keep everything as fair as possible, Marlos's faction will get a week's grace period to defend themselves. If there's nothing by then, all of them will be banished from the kingdom."

"Understood?"

The booming voice made everyone's robes flutter. Nobody had the courage to look the chief in the eyes. They simply bowed and bid farewell.

…..

"…And that is what happened in yesterday's meeting."

With a dejected look, Gunther said the lost line of words.

Everyone's face was ashen and under the table, they all had their fists clenched and seemingly thinking of something.

'They sure are in a pickle. No, it can't be they, but me.'

Lith's gaze fell on the sleeping beauty in his embrace as he thought that.

'Aunt brought me here at the last moment. In six days, Malros's faction, which is Gunther's dad's faction, will be banished. If that happens, things are going to be a bit problematic.'

Lith felt a headache coming.

'The original plan was to kill the chief. Get Gunther up as the new chief supported by his dad, and then have him be under aunt's rule. It was a simple plan, but it has crumbled.'

'If these guys are banished, the infighting will surely stop, but I won't have anyone who I can control or even willing to listen to me and place them under aunt's rule. There was a strict warning from her, stating that I can't use my status as a Prince to get things done.'

'How troublesome…'

All things in the world could be solved instantly with his status. It was not an exaggeration when Ojas mentioned the privileges, and it also wasn't something that Lith didn't know of.

The might of his status… it could be gauged by a few situations.

For instance, if Lith wanted to, he could crash any wedding in the world. He could sleep with the bride then and there yet still have her marry the groom and not suffer from anything as both parties were more than happy to have such a thing be done to them.

If that wasn't enough, he could point at any piece of land, any person, or anything he so desired, and he could get it.

All it would take is one command and the Giants would be forced under his aunt's rule whether they liked it or not.

'In any case, that's not happening. I need to come up with a new plan.'

Silence befell the room with everyone lost in their own thoughts.

Gunther and his uncle Kruger were thinking about the banishment while Ojas and Ji were worried about their information network getting found out and destroyed.

The silence was eventually broken when a certain dragon felt cold and in search of warmth, snuggled closer with a soft mumble.

'Is she really my aunt?'

Was this really the prideful dragon that overpowered Lith in every way and beat him to a pulp during training?

Some questions were better left unanswered as ignorance was bliss. With that in mind, Lith increased his body temperature and Mayzin's breathing became even as she comfortably slept in his embrace.

Lith could feel quite a few stares in his way as he did these things. Turning to look up, everyone was staring at him.

"What is it?"

Ojas gave a wry smile and asked, "Now that you know the situation, is there something you wish to do with it?"

There must be something, otherwise why would the Vampire Prince be here and suddenly interested in the Giant politics?

"Hm…" Lith did a slight nod. "I indeed planned to, but with how tense things are, would you want some external force to meddle in your matters?"

The question was not for Ojas, but the two Giants around the round table.

"There would barely be any difference." Kruger, Gunther's uncle, said with a sigh.

Gunther nodded in agreement and asked with a curious gaze, "Does the Prince plan to meddle?"

Lith leaned back on the chair and leisurely looking at the Giant, said, "Yes. I plan to. Do you want my help?"

Gunther, Kruger, Ojas, and Ji were bewildered.

Ji rubbed his ears and wondered if they were playing tricks on him or he just heard what he just heard.

The Vampire Prince was going to help them? THE Vampire Prince?

The four were having a hard time digesting this info.

"If I help… there are going to be consequences."

A bucket of cold water was poured on the four.

Right… why were they expecting the Vampire Prince to help them for free? Who even were they in his eyes?

Taking a deep breath, Gunther asked, "Can the Prince elaborate?"

With half closed eyes and while gently patting Mayzin in his embrace, Lith answered, "My help comes at a cost. I'll help your race, but you would need to submit to a Supreme Rank and be under them. Forever."

"…"

Gunther frowned while Kruger's expression darkened. Veins bulged all over his body as he tried to control the surging anger and not lash out.

'Submit, he said? Submit!?'

'To hell with the submit! If he wasn't the Vampire Prince… if he wasn't… then…'

The veins on Kruger's forehead and neck had bulged to a horrifying degree. They turned purple and seemed like they would burst at any moment.

Lith didn't care about their reaction. If they wanted to fight him, they were most welcomed.

He was no saint and he never came here with the intention of pure goodwill. However, he was still being kind by giving these guys an offer.

Whether they accepted it or not, he was still going to do what he was tasked with.

Gunther or not, the Giants would submit to the Dragons. Their fate was sealed the moment Lith stepped in their territory.

Ojas and Ji's hands were trembling under the table.

'W-w-what calamity did I just invite?' Ojas was sweating buckets. 'Life after graduation has never been smooth, but the situation right now tops all the predicaments I've ever been in.'

'I swear to the devil, I'll beat the shit out of this lizard Ojas after this discussion is over.' Ji, the envy demon, thought to himself. 'I really envy Sheng right now. That bastard fucked over his pride, but at least he's away from this place and breathing freely.'

Unlike Kruger who was trying his best not to burst and the trembling Ojas and Ji, Gunther had significantly calmed down and was thinking about this.

'Don't mess this up, Gunther. This is probably the last chance.' He thought to himself. 'Just six days are remaining and if nothing is done, our side will be fully dissolved.'

Had time not been a constraint, Gunther would've outright rejected Lith's offer. It wouldn't matter whether he was a bigshot Prince or not.

'Let's think this through. Say if we get banished, what will happen? The Giants will be alright? Definitely not. Those guys will force the teachings of Seia on them and cause widespread chaos.'

'But, let's say I accept this offer. The Giants would be put under a Supreme Rank. The leader would be completely changed and they would need to do whatever the leader asks them.'

No matter how the situation seemed, both possibilities were giving Gunther an ill omen.

Scratching his head and racking his brain, something finally clicked Gunther as he turned to look at Lith.

"If I may… can I ask who the Supreme Rank that you'll put us under—"

"Mmm… mouwar…"

A soft mumble cut off Gunther as a certain someone wriggled in Lith's embrace.

Lith didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this situation. Trying his best to ignore his aunt, he turned to look at Gunther.

"Can you repeat?"

Gunther took a deep breath and asked again, "Who is the Supreme Rank we'll be put under?"

"Oh, that." Lith smiled. He wanted to point at Mayzin in his embrace and say 'her', but he refrained from doing so.

"That'll be the Dragon Supreme. More precisely, the Star Dragon Empress."

"…What…!?"

…..

A/N: Forgive me. I don't intentionally put forced cliffs like this. The word count for the chapter is up, so I can't do anything but end it here. I'll try to frame the chapters better so as to not put cliffs like these.