Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

"T-The rumours were true......!"

In the western part of the province, scouts from the Arquell side were dispatched from the provincial capital of Volden. What they saw was the scene of a farming village on fire at dusk. The distance, the darkness, the flames and the smoke limited the amount of the information the witnesses could gain.

St. Gallen's army set fire to the village.

Charl laughed with amusement at the thought of the scouts who would be stirred emotionally by such a scene.

"Well, our master continues to think up the most outrageous things! I can't believe how effectively master had painted the image of an inhumane invasion from St. Gallen ......!"

"What do you mean? I refute. It is true that the St. Gallen army is inhumane. They have been robbing. The people of this country, killing people, and forcing women. To do things they don't want to do. Even if we add to that the suspicion of arson, and massacre of the village, it's not too excessive, isn't it?"

"Well, that's true, too! What do you call this kind of thing? If you want to hide a tree, do you hide it in the forest? Or is it ...... there's no smoke without fire? Pfft! It’s a joke, so you can laugh if you want. Just a joke."

"It's not funny at all. Is my opinion."

"Ohhh, Fem-chan, you're too stiff!"

Charl brought his crossed arms to the side of his face and twisted his body in an exaggeratedly reluctant manner. Fem's mechanical gaze followed intently to his motions.

He might look like a joke, but it was this man who had secretly attacked the village, wiped it out, and turned the villagers he killed into revenants. Of course, he was a vampire, the natural enemy of humanity, and if his existence were to be exposed, it would be a serious matter, so he was usually kept hidden underground. As long as he was acting above ground, there was no way he could be allowed to do so on his own will.

It was all at the behest of his master, Tullius Shernan Oubeniel.

"I'm very funny, though! No, I'm not talking about the boring jokes, I'm talking about this operation. The people in this province are convinced that the St. Gallenians are the ones who are burning down the villages and fields, even though we are the ones who are doing it under the Master's orders!"

"Please don't waste your breath. I request. This is not the laboratory. There is a possibility that somebody is. Listening in."

"Hahahahahaha! You're a worrier, aren't you, Fem? No traces of magical interference in the surrounding area. No sign of any living thing. Unless the person has an uncommon hearing ability like you, they can't eavesdrop on our conversation!"

"But we should be careful just in case. I suggest. This is an important operation, and we are at war. As long as there is a clear adversary, it is not a problem. To be too cautious."

"Yes, yes. I know~"

Shrugging his shoulders in amusement, Charl strode through the burning village. Then, stopping at a corner, he snapped his fingers.

Immediately after, the ground beneath his feet trembled.

Pushing aside the dirt, what appeared was a coffin. The coffin was made of thick iron, tightly sealed with thick chains, and even had a lock on it. Of course, it was a coffin that the vampire had summoned. There was no way that the contents of it would be a legitimate corpse.

—Knock, knock, knock!

As soon as the coffin was wrapped in the fresh air, violent slams came from the inside of the coffin.

"Well, it’s quite healthy, isn’t it......let's get on with the next task, shall we? You were called all the way back from the west for this, weren't you, Fem?"

"Yes, I affirm. Testing a new product, such as the S series, is one of the tasks. I was given by master."

While looking sideways at Fem's face, Charl wondered if there was more to it.

The golem was actually focusing on Charl. As a vampire and necromancer, his abilities were beneath that of this golem, who did not have a body of flesh and blood and thought with an artificial brain. Her job must have been to monitor his activities, and if he showed any sign of rebellion, she would take care of him. Master must have called her back from her position in the west for this purpose.

(You really are a horrible person, Oubeniel......)

The vampire made a small noise in his throat while trying to hide his inner fright with a clownish expression.

If you want to do something, go ahead, I'll take care of it right away, and I’ll replace you right away. If you don't want to be replaced, you're going to have to serve me with desperation......

His master’s intentions could be seen clearly, even without words.

(It's okay, Oubeniel, my master. You messed with my head to prevent that from happening, didn't you? I’ve sworn allegiance from the deepest of my soul so I can’t betray right? So, so, so stop it! D-d-don't get rid of me!)

"What's wrong, 04, I ask you. Your body is shaking."

At the sound of Fem's robotic voice, Charl came to his senses.

He made a smiling face and turned to her, wondering if his smile was too obvious.

"...... No, this is a kind of warrior's trembling, you know. After all, this is the first toy that Master has taken the trouble to give me to play with! I can't help but look forward to it, and I'm sure you feel the same, don’t you."

"I see. I'm certainly looking forward. To see the results of this operation. The only thing that worries me. Is that master seems to be a bit uncertain about it."

After all, this was a prototype of a prototype, and the raw material for the prototype was a waste product that had been reused. The reason it was being used for this mission was to acquire actual battle data while disposing of it. If they could manipulate the current situation by using this while doing so, all the better. The reason why Charl was entrusted with the operation of this was also to test him as well.

But that's why he had to use this test subject well. If he could lead a successful mission using this new prototype, his credibility in front of master would be greatly enhanced. If he could show that he was useful, he could avoid being discarded in the future.

Even if this prototype was meant to replace him.

As if to shake off his conflicting feelings, Charl Franz Schmidt raised his voice in an especially cheerful manner.

"Okay, let's get started! The sun is about to set, and it's time for the horror show! It’s too early to be relieved, yeah? Dear St. Gallerians!? ......hahahahahahahahaha!"