Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level? - [Vol. 5] Chapter 246

[Vol. 5] Chapter 246: The Power Granted

“Go report to the Duke and tell him that enemies have invaded the ritual site!”

A young vampire who appeared to be the leader gestured backward, prompting another vampire woman in an elegant dress, positioned closest to the inner wall, to nod in understanding. She quickly turned toward a silver rune that had just lit up on the wall, disappearing into the glowing passage.

Clearly, this was an emergency escape route established within the ritual site itself. The vampire must have been operating here for a long time.

Violet didn’t try to stop her from leaving to report. Finding a vampire base in the western forest of Sarnos Province had been mostly an accident, but at this point, she wasn’t interested in playing hide-and-seek with them.

Judging by the surroundings, it was now evident that some vampires were collaborating with the Demon Lord of [Slaughter], leaving little doubt that they were involved in the appearance of the [Blood of the Inverted Cross] curse in the St. Bergen Mountains, a curse closely tied to experts in blood magic like the vampire.

Due to her connection with Edwinna, Violet saw herself aligned with the Holy Empire’s side, albeit casually. While she wouldn’t bother with those far beneath her level, if pests like flies or mosquitoes came buzzing around her face, she wouldn’t hesitate to swat them.

Perhaps out of caution, the remaining vampire stood close to the blood pool, staying on guard without making a move to attack. But Violet had no intention of wasting time on a standoff.

She gave a quick signal to the dragon girl by her side, who nodded and lifted her hand.

Just then, however, Sethlin suddenly stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the three girls.

“Let me handle this. These blasphemers of life should be punished by the [Goddess of Life] herself.”

“Huh?”

Although she didn’t say it outright, the Goddess of Life could naturally sense the looks directed at her from behind and the slightly puzzled tone of the white fox girl.

“Don’t worry. Although I’m just temporarily borrowing this child’s body, Theresa is not as weak as you think. She just doesn’t know how to utilize her power. In fact, she is more than capable of dealing with most lowly scoundrels.”

“Well, since you put it that way…”

After exchanging a glance, the dragon girl, who had been ready to act, could only retreat reluctantly.

“Thank you! Don’t worry, it won’t take too long.”

As she spoke, a faint aura of divinity began to emanate from the green-haired girl, an invisible intent seemingly spreading out around her, as “Theresa” raised her wrist.

Clearly, the vampires were not complacent due to the girl’s seemingly fragile appearance. Upon seeing her inexplicable movement, their expressions tightened, and they prepared to leap forward with their bat wings for an attack!

However, at that moment:

“Grow.”

The girl lightly snapped her fingers.

“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Five thick blood-red vines, as robust as giant serpents, burst forth from beneath the ground by the edge of the blood pool!

“What, what!?”

The vines, seemingly evolved from the roots of a blood-red giant tree, had become even thicker, more agile, and resilient for some unknown reason.

They surged like rampaging pythons, simultaneously wrapping around enemies in different areas, binding them, and then violently slamming them to the ground, even forcibly snatching their weapons away and tossing them far away.

Caught completely off guard by the attack coming from such an unexpected direction, or perhaps due to the overwhelming power of the blood-red roots now controlled by Sethlin, these obviously capable elite vampires found themselves with no room to resist. In an instant, they lost all ability to move and fell to the ground like rolling gourds.

“Wow!”

“Damn it, what kind of cursed magic is this!”

“Gah…! The blood tree has gone out of control?”

Filtering out the panicked cries of the vampire, the Goddess, who easily subdued all her enemies in just a few seconds, turned around, and on Theresa’s face, there was a playful smile.

“See? I wasn’t wrong, was I?”

“…You really haven’t changed at all.”

Violet finally understood.

The reason Sethlin rushed to act was, on one hand, due to what she had just said, and on the other hand, perhaps out of concern that a certain dragon girl would directly crush these “lives” into pulp.

Even as an enemy, the Goddess of Life still cherishes every life she faces, and the white fox girl once again experienced this firsthand.

“…You just toyed around with some weaklings. You’re full of yourself.”

In response to the dragon girl’s taunt, Sethlin did not act as if she heard it.

“Oh? You can’t say that, little one. While these enemies aren’t particularly strong, that’s only relative to us.”

“The powers I just used were entirely those of Theresa. In terms of her current level, she’s not much stronger than any of this group of vampire. My easy victory was due to the skills and wisdom accumulated over many long years, which is the key to overcoming even stronger enemies.”

“Hah? You really dare to say that! How about we have a match sometime?”

“Hmm, as for a friendly spar, I wouldn’t mind if the opportunity is right. I remember your master should have a space portal left on my side…”

“Stop right there!”

Seeing the conversation take a bizarre turn, somehow escalating to a duel over a minor disagreement, the white fox girl was puzzled by the sudden shift but quickly reacted, stopping the topic before they settled on a real “sparring” time.

“I think that’s enough! Can you please consider the occasion?”

The little dragon girl could occasionally be willful, but what was Sethlin doing? Why was she suddenly butting heads with her?

Noticing the strange look from Violet, the goddess merely shrugged innocently, wearing an expression that seemed to say, “I was just joking, don’t take it so seriously,” leaving the white fox girl at a loss for words.

However, the goddess soon reined in her playful demeanor, replacing it with the dignified air befitting a deity of life.

“Alright, let’s cut the chatter. We still have a problem to solve.”

Seemingly bothered by the noisy commotion of the vampire, Sethlin had already used her control to make the blood tree roots extend underground, wrapping around the group like dumplings and effectively sealing their mouths. They could only “mumble” at each other with wide eyes.

After a moment of thought, Violet approached the young man who had previously sent his companions to report, seemingly the highest-ranking individual among the vampire.

Without further ado, the white fox girl gently stroked the head of the pink-haired loli who had returned to her succubus form, holding her hand, and then pointed to the vampire on the ground.

“Little Yu, can you try to charm this guy like before?”

“Okay, big sister fox~”

Nodding obediently, the little succubus squatted down, her purple eyes emanating a subtle enticing pink glow as she made eye contact with the frowning target.

[Big brother, can I ask you to listen to me?]

“Hmph!”

In the vampire’s crimson vertical pupils, a faint pink glow was reflected, and for a moment, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

However, the blood light that suddenly erupted from the depths of his eyes quickly dispelled that confusion and even turned into a backlash!

“Ugh!”

As if struck by some intangible force, Eudora immediately wailed as she stumbled backward. Violet, having anticipated this, quickly caught her, and with her other hand, she reached into the space where their gazes intersected, crushing the invisible connection.

Watching the vampire youth unable to speak, yet his eyes revealing a hint of disdain, Violet pondered thoughtfully.

“Not bad, no wonder he can be the one in charge.”

“This is… the power granted to you by that guy in the back, isn’t it?”