HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

"So you were the ones who called forth my presence?" Theresa sat upon the Blood Embrace, her fangs peeking from the corners of her mouth as she regarded the humans below with a serene smile.

Mages, knights, soldiers... Among them were several individuals of considerable power, yet none caught Theresa's attention; not one was worthy enough for her consideration—not even the elderly mage.

"You're the demon?" one of them ventured to ask, their voice trembling slightly.

The obese youth gazed at Theresa before him, seeing nothing particularly fearsome about her appearance. If not for that massive Blood Cross she wore, he might have even considered capturing her on the spot.

"Consider it done!" Theresa declared. "I am Princess of the Vampires... Theresa. Summoner, state your wish."

Perched atop the blood-red cross, Theresa looked down upon them with arrogant disdain.

If her goal was to establish herself as a renowned figure among vampires, then introducing herself by name was undoubtedly necessary.

"Princess of the Vampires..." The young man exchanged glances with the old mage and whispered briefly between themselves. Neither had ever heard of any such vampire princess; there were no records of her in their books.

The only vaguely similar entity they knew of was the legendary pure-blooded vampire race...

If this indeed pertained to those true vampires, then her power must at least rival that of high-ranking demonic beings.

As they observed Theresa standing before them, merely the oppressive aura emanating from the blood-colored cross suggested that this adorable yet terrifying vampire girl likely possessed the strength of a superior demon.

"O illustrious Princess of the Vampires," began the youth formally, "I am Cairthas, Prince of the Sovereign Duchy of Westrya Coast..."

As this portly prince continued his introduction, Theresa began to grasp the situation.

In the world of Reincarnated as a Slime, kingdoms were as numerous as hairs on an ox—countless and varied.

Setting aside the realms of other races, even human nations alone proliferated beyond measure.

Beyond the few powerful empires stood many more kingdoms, along with countless principalities scattered across the land.

These principalities typically comprised no more than a main city and several small towns. While larger compared to the countries in Inuyasha, they still represented modest territories.

The Sovereign Duchy of Westrya Coast was just one such principality among these many. Its remote location bordered by sea to the west and dense forests inhabited by magical beasts to the north and south further isolated it from others.

This forest wasn't the Great Jura Forest; rather, it was another woodland that never appeared in the original work—a reminder that numerous enchanted forests existed throughout this world.

In short, this nation remained far removed from most affairs, rendering diplomatic relations all but nonexistent. One could hardly expect any formidable powerhouses to emerge here either.

The kingdom was in utter chaos. The ailing old king lay near death, leaving his three children vying for power.

Among them, the young man who had summoned Theresa was the third prince. He had an older sister—the second princess—and an elder brother—the first prince.

Currently, the eldest brother held sway over court affairs, but those supporting the youngest son were still a formidable force.

A fierce struggle raged between the two princes, each determined to claim the throne at any cost. Only the second princess remained untouched by this power struggle due to her lack of supporters; she stood entirely removed from the contest for succession.

Until recently, victory seemed assured for the first prince. Even the king himself had begun preparations to pass the crown to him—a prospect that terrified the third prince beyond measure.

If his elder brother ascended to the throne, it would spell certain doom for him. Those backing the Third Prince grew increasingly desperate as they realized their cause was losing ground irreversibly. Their only recourse now appeared to be assassinating the first prince—an option fraught with peril given his constant protection by the realm's most powerful knights and mages. Even the nation's strongest adventuring group pledged allegiance to him, making such an attempt exceedingly difficult if not impossible.

In desperation, the elderly mage proposed summoning demons...

It must be noted that in this world, demons adhered strictly to contractual obligations—a fact upon which all parties relied heavily.

"Assassinate the crown prince? How intriguing. I can agree to your request, but as for compensation—a mere soul won't suffice." The charming Theresa leaped down from the Blood Cross, her back leaning against the Blood Embrace itself. She crossed her arms, gazing at the Third Prince before her.

A bold idea suddenly took root in Theresa's mind.

This remote principality—could it be the perfect gift she had been searching for?

"No, no," the Third Prince stammered, clearly startled by this revelation. "Great Princess of Vampires, my soul is not the price you seek; rather, I bring these..." As he spoke, he clapped his hands, signaling soldiers who emerged with over a dozen beautiful maidens in tow.

"These are our nation's purest and most lovely girls, Your Highness," the Third Prince said with a subservient smile, addressing Theresa deferentially. "I'm sure their souls will please you far more than mine alone."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Theresa turned to gaze at these young girls. Indeed, they were all remarkably beautiful—virginal, untouched by any man's touch.

As she looked upon them, fear flickered across their faces... Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

"System," Theresa inquired, "you mentioned earlier that among my rewards was the soul of the Summoner. Can I exchange his soul for crystals? Will it still be available even if I only agree to take those girls?"

In truth, Theresa held little regard for these maidens; they possessed no significant value in her eyes.

She needed crystals—the System's crystals, specifically. However, if obtaining the Summoner's soul was non-negotiable, there was no way the Third Prince would consent to her request.

Yes, when you complete a commission as the host, the Summoner's soul will be awarded to you. You can then use it to obtain crystals.

"That puts my mind at ease," Theresa replied softly.

-

Having reached an understanding, Theresa turned her gaze towards the Third Prince. "Very well, I accept your offer. The contract is formed. By tomorrow, the Crown Prince will not survive."

[Commissioned Task: Assassinate the Crown Prince]

[Task Requirement: Kill the Crown Prince before tomorrow.]

[Task Reward: 3 Crystals, Soul of the Third Prince]

-

After Theresa accepted, the commission task was generated.

The rewards seemed meager at first glance, but considering the standards of the Inuyasha world, they were actually quite generous.

All she had to do was assassinate a single prince—a mere warm-up act.

Once this mission was complete, both princes of that kingdom would be dead. Chaos would undoubtedly ensue...

One of her ongoing quests involved infecting all inhabitants of this country, transforming them into her own vassals. With this assassination accomplished, wouldn't it be one step closer to achieving that goal?

Moreover, given how remote this nation was, even if everyone became her vassals, no one elsewhere would likely notice anything amiss.

Theresa didn't view her actions as particularly cruel. After infection, there was no pain or suffering for those affected. Their meals simply changed from food to blood—yet they could still savor flavors much like before. Compared to others who couldn't afford proper sustenance, wasn't this a minor inconvenience? And should blood ever run short, the dense forests surrounding them teemed with magical beasts—an abundant alternative source.

For Luna Kindred vampires, feeding every two to three days was sufficient. This meant the common folk at the bottom rung wouldn't have to gnaw on wooden rations anymore.