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The world continues to flow.

While the divided Romania Empire is busy keeping an eye on each other, big and small nations have been established and vanished in the gaps, unable to exert their influence.

If you exclude the two huge countries… it resembled an era of warring states.

Thanks to that, there were many conflicts, lots of wars, and numerous betrayals of alliances.

Looking down from a high place at the chaotic scene of large and small nations running amok… it felt just like watching a strategy game about capturing bases.

Like a game based on the story of a country split into three parts, or a game where a leader without a lifespan governs a nation from primitive times to nuclear war, or a game of total war.

The game that is closest to my current situation… resembles a game about developing civilization, though I’m looking at it from the perspective of a god rather than that of a national leader.

Well, a game is a game. Reality is reality.

Cough. I got sidetracked, but let’s get back to the story.

Among the many countries running wild… there was occasionally one from which news would reach my ears.

In the northeast of North Romania, a small country touching the barren plains.

With mountains to the north and a river to the south, this country acts like a gateway preventing the plains’ nomads from invading.

A small country named Wallachia.

The most intriguing rumor about this country was… that they collect taxes in different forms.

While ordinary countries collect taxes in silver coins, cloth, food, or mana stones, Wallachia supposedly takes a small amount of blood as tax.

Not from animals, but the blood of humans, from the taxpayers themselves.

They say you could pay taxes by drawing out just enough blood to not interfere with life.

Of course, there’s a rumor that only a draw of healthy individuals among the human population could enjoy such benefits… but such strange tales began to spiral through the mouths of various gossipers.

Someone said, since blood contains the power of life, the blood collected as tax is offered as a sacrifice to the Goddess of Life.

Another claimed that the King of Wallachia uses the blood to tame monsters for protecting the country.

Yet someone else mentioned that the King of Wallachia is not a human being, and that he enjoys eternal life by drinking blood.

These were incredibly absurd rumors, but the tale of blood tax — the idea of collecting blood tax — must have piqued the interest of many.

“It’s quite an exaggerated rumor. But there’s a kernel of truth hidden in there, so it’s interesting.”

I gazed at the scenery of Wallachia and chuckled softly.

“Truth?”

“Yeah. Truth.”

After Asherat’s vacation ended, I decided to take a trip around the world and rest while enjoying the sights, so I set out with Sia.

Well, even if it’s a journey, it won’t take long. Unlike me, Sia is quite busy.

Even if she can delegate work through her disciples, how can a god of magic and knowledge leave for a long time?

Unless she’s not making efficient pieces of herself like I do.

“On the surface, it looks like a peaceful country.”

“Hmm. It is peaceful.”

Even though this country is right in front of a plain teeming with raiding nomads known for their specialty in pillaging, this land is nothing short of peaceful.

“But the threat of the nomads is very real.”

The nomads of the plains are living fiercely.

Herding sheep, riding horses, struggling to survive with scarce food, raiding, and kidnapping others to boost their workforce — that’s their life.

To them, this small and peaceful country probably feels like an endlessly vulnerable warehouse.

“So isn’t it dangerous?”

“It is dangerous, but… it’s fine.”

“Fine, you say?”

“There’s someone protecting it.”

Strictly speaking, I’m not sure if you can call them a person…

“So this peace is maintained thanks to that person?”

“That’s one way to put it.”

Maintaining peace in a country through the strength of a single person is nearly impossible… yet the King of this country is doing just that.

That’s something to acknowledge as amazing.

“Alright. Shall we go meet them?”

“Go, where to?”

“To see the King’s face.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The royal castle of Wallachia. Compared to castles of other nations, it seemed like a small castle… or rather, a slightly large mansion.

You could say it’s humble, or maybe that it lacks funds. Anyway, there was a certain lack in what you’d expect of a castle.

Inside this mansion resided the King of Wallachia.

His hair had turned completely white, and his face was wrinkled from the traces of time.

However, the years he’s lived are likely much deeper than the wrinkles etched on his face.

“Hmmm… There’s already more than enough blood tax, but there are still many who wish to pay with blood…”

The Old King was dedicated to his small country.

“Running a nation requires a budget… it’s quite troublesome…”

How much money do you need to manage a small country?

He sighed once again.

Everything is lacking.

Being a small country, Wallachia has a low population and lacks notable resources to boast.

While they can produce enough food for self-sufficiency, and thanks to the dwarves who settled several decades ago, they can get quality tools… it hasn’t exactly allowed for a comfortable way of living.

In the end, what he could do was… tighten his belt and save.

“Then again, I can’t just eliminate the blood tax…”

For him, blood was necessary to keep this wretched body going.

For someone who has lived on, forcibly extending his existence for over a millennium, blood was an absolute necessity.

“If only my foolish son would return…”

In this bleak situation, all he could do was let out a sigh.

“If only I could just give up and toss this life away…”

The aged king muttered weakly, then shook his head.

Giving everything up might relieve him, but he couldn’t do that.

In this small country, his wife was buried.

He became king because he wanted to protect this landscape, which she loved, the very ground where she drew her last breath.

So—

“Living isn’t easy, is it?”

The old king spoke quietly to the one who was watching him.

“Well, that’s true. Life rolls out carelessly once you let it go, but trying to live well is endlessly difficult.”

A silver-haired girl with horns. While her form was slightly different from the one in my memories, she contained endless life within her little body.

The Dragon Priestess… no, the Goddess of Life disguised as the Dragon Priestess.

Simply put, that was me.

“I didn’t expect you to still be alive.”

I only realized it after coming to this country.

Honestly, when I first heard the rumors, I thought maybe she was just the descendant of that fool. But here she was!

“You indeed have a long life.”

“Right? It seems I’m stuck living.”

The old king chuckled softly, then opened his mouth.

“But living long isn’t only bad. Thanks to the many experiences, I could even guess your identity.”

“Oh? My identity?”

“Yes. You may appear like the Dragon Priestess, but aren’t you truly the Goddess of Life?”

“Well done. How did you catch on?”

At my words, the old king smiled gently.

“After handling the power of life for a lifetime, I’ve become quite sensitive to that force. Because of that, I can see the massive life force flowing through your body.”

“Oh… that’s quite interesting.”

The idea that he could see the life force within me was fascinating.

I then looked at the old king, who had leaned back deeply in his chair.

Once the prince of the first empire, cursed wanderer, and now transformed into an existence extending life through blood, he now stood as a frail old man ruling over a small country.

“If you’re really collecting blood tax, I thought it would be gone if it’s not from you or your kin.”

“Kin…”

He spoke in a faint voice.

“Besides my son, there are no kin remaining like me.”

“Son?”

“Yes. Unlike the lacking me, my son is overflowing with confidence and talent.”

His expression as he spoke bore a hint of sadness.

“Overflowing with confidence, he’s currently out there making a name for himself in this world…”

“What’s your son’s name?”

“Vlad. Prince Vlad of Wallachia.”

Vlad… Vlad… the name Vlad rings a bell. Is this okay?

Well, if I just keep it in mind, I might hear that name again someday. Let’s just store it in my memory.

“I’ll remember it.”

“To have my son’s name remembered by the Goddess of Life… how glorious.”

“Well, if that name doesn’t reach my ears over time, I’ll forget it again.”

At my words, the old king simply chuckled.

 

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