There was a time—long ago—when one of my closest guild friends had nearly lost his mind over her.
He was rich in the real world. Absurdly rich. The kind of rich that made money feel like a game currency rather than something earned through sweat. And yet, even he had hesitated before making the decision.
Because to obtain her, he had sold nearly half of his company's assets.
The Vampire Queen was not a character anyone could simply create.
In Monster Legion, players could design monsters freely—demons, beasts, undead, abominations limited only by imagination and balance rules. But she was different.
She was exclusive.
A one-time character that appeared during a world-level event—an event so brutal and competitive that even veteran players struggled to survive it. Only one guild in the entire server could claim her.
And that guild… was ours.
Even now, I could remember the way my friend's hands had trembled when the system announcement appeared.
Unique Entity Acquired.
I could still hear his laughter—loud, almost hysterical—as he shouted through voice chat, over and over again, that it was worth it.
"Worth every damn credit!"
Those were old memories.
Ancient ones.
And yet here she was.
Kneeling.
Before me.
The throne room felt different with her presence. The air seemed denser, as if power itself had weight. Her long crimson hair flowed down her back like liquid fire, and the two elegant horns crowning her head only made her beauty more dangerous.
A slime.
A formless creature.
And before me knelt a being that once made entire servers tremble.
The contrast was absurd.
And unsettling.
For the first time since awakening in this strange new reality, fear crept into my thoughts.
What if this isn't a game anymore?
What if she isn't just an NPC?
I forced myself to remain calm.
I had played this role for fourteen years.
I would not break now.
My voice emerged heavy and commanding, the same voice I had used during wars that decided the fate of nations.
"Rise."
The Vampire Queen lifted her head.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
She stood.
Up close, her presence was overwhelming. Her beauty was not delicate—it was perfectly crafted, as if someone had refined danger itself into a living form. Every movement was controlled, elegant, and lethal.
Her crimson eyes met mine.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
I turned slightly, addressing the man who had served our guild longer than most players.
"Alfred."
The butler straightened instantly.
"Yes, Supreme One."
"Report. What is the current condition of the guild?"
Alfred paused.
Not long—but long enough for me to notice.
"There has been no change," he replied. "All guild assets remain intact. Territory control is stable. NPC forces are stationed at their assigned locations."
My thoughts raced.
No change…?
That meant—
The army still exists.
The base still exists.
Everything still exists.
This world hadn't reset.
It hadn't ended.
It had… continued.
A strange mix of excitement and unease twisted inside me.
"Survey the surrounding region," I ordered. "Report any anomalies. Immediately."
"Yes, Supreme One."
Alfred bowed and exited the throne room, his footsteps echoing briefly before vanishing into silence.
The doors closed.
And suddenly, I was alone.
Alone… with her.
The Grand Marshal remained standing, hands folded behind her back, posture flawless. She waited patiently, as if expecting further orders.
An awkward tension settled in.
For the first time in my life, I didn't know what to say.
This wasn't a battlefield.
This wasn't a strategy meeting.
This was a slime standing in front of a woman whose beauty could ruin kingdoms.
Pull yourself together, I scolded myself.
I cleared my mind and spoke, my tone steady.
"How long have you served under me?"
She blinked once, then answered without hesitation.
"Since the moment my Creator brought me into the guild."
Her words struck something deep inside my memory.
The Creator.
My friend.
The one who had sacrificed so much to obtain her.
"And before that?" I asked carefully. "Do you remember anything?"
She shook her head.
"No. My Creator gave me purpose. Before that… there was nothing."
I felt a strange relief.
Good.
That meant she didn't possess memories beyond the game's logic.
Still…
There was something I needed to confirm.
I couldn't ask directly.
Not without risking her reaction.
So I chose my words carefully.
"Your name," I said casually. "Your Creator gave you a fine one… didn't he?"
She nodded.
"Yes, Supreme One."
I waited.
"…Elizabeth," she continued. "Elizabeth Nightvale."
The name clicked instantly.
Elizabeth.
Of course.
I remembered now.
My friend had spent hours debating that name.
I exhaled slowly.
Good. Everything is consistent.
This world followed the rules—some rules—of Monster Legion.
Which meant…
I needed a final test.
Something undeniable.
I hesitated only for a second.
"Elizabeth," I said. "May I… touch you?"
The question hung in the air.
Her crimson eyes widened slightly.
She stared at me.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then—
She moved.
So fast that even my enhanced perception barely followed her.
In an instant, she was standing directly in front of me—so close that I could feel warmth radiating from her body.
"Yes," she said softly. "You may."
My mind went blank.
Her scent reached me—subtle, intoxicating, real.
Not a programmed illusion.
Real.
I extended part of my slime body forward. The gelatinous mass shifted, shaping itself into a crude imitation of a hand.
Slowly… carefully… I touched her fingers.
A pulse.
A heartbeat.
I felt it.
Not as data.
Not as feedback.
But as life.
My thoughts spiraled.
She's alive.
This world is alive.
Elizabeth's expression changed. Her calm composure cracked, replaced by something raw and unguarded. Joy. Overwhelming joy. As if my touch meant far more to her than it should have.
That frightened me.
I withdrew instantly.
"Enough," I said sharply.
She froze.
I turned away, regaining control.
"Summon all Marshals," I commanded. "Have them assemble in the Arena. Immediately."
"Yes, Supreme One."
She bowed deeply and left at once.
The doors closed behind her.
The throne room fell silent once more.
But this time, the silence wasn't empty.
It was filled with truth.
This was no longer a game.
And whatever this world had become…
I was its ruler.
Author's Note
Chapter 3 confirms that the world has retained its hierarchy, assets, and NPCs. The Vampire Queen, Elizabeth Nightvale, is revealed as a unique entity tied deeply to the guild's past. The MC's physical interaction proves that NPCs are now living beings, escalating the stakes dramatically. The chapter ends with the MC preparing to assess his full military power—marking the beginning of true action.