I Became The Vampire Progenitor
Chapter 191-1: A Hero’s Funeral, Carrying the Coffins Together (Part 1)

“Schools?” Harrison was slightly taken aback, then shook his head.

“Patriarch, schools aren’t yet a necessity for Dawn City at this stage.

There are still many tasks more important than education. I’ve already had City Hall set up evening literacy classes in the plaza. They’re held twice a week to teach the commoners how to read and write.”

[T/N: Changed Clan Leader to Patriarch.]

Li De shook his head.

“Schools are a necessity. They must be built in the future.

Education is a long-term project. Dawn City must produce more top-tier talent in the years to come.

But for now, yes, it should be pushed down the list.”

A strong nation depends on education, this was an unchanging truth. Most of Dawn City’s population consisted of lower-class commoners, many of whom couldn’t even recognize their own names.

Only by establishing a foundation of educated people could the city hope to produce more outstanding elites. This was a truth that no one could deny.

A farmer who can’t read simply couldn’t be expected to produce more talent than a Level 15 Grand Mage could.

But at this moment, it was indeed a little early to build schools. Many basic areas of development still hadn’t been completed.

At the very least, people needed to be well-fed and clothed before they had the energy to talk about education.

“The war is over. Dawn City must return to its development track.

We can’t let one war stall our momentum.”

A heavy glint flashed in Li De’s eyes.

“Tomorrow, we’ll hold a hero’s funeral. I want every warrior who died for Dawn City to receive the highest honors.”

At this, Harrison’s expression darkened slightly.

“Yes, Patriarch.” He was the only second-generation bloodline descendant among the vampires who hadn’t participated in this battle. While the others fell on the front lines, all he could do was wait for news in the rear.

In this moment, Harrison couldn’t help but question himself. Had he made the wrong choice? Was it truly right not to study offensive magic?

If one day the enemy reached Dawn City’s doorstep, would his only role be casting support magic behind the vampire lines?

He felt a pang of doubt.

Li De noticed the dimness in Harrison’s eyes and seemed to understand what he was thinking. He shook his head slightly.

“Harrison, not everyone needs to charge into battle.

With Dawn City’s governance in your hands, I’ve always felt reassured. What you contribute here is no less valuable than the strength of three Level 15 Grand Mages.”

And it was true. Without Harrison constantly handling the city’s administrative affairs, how could Li De possibly have the time or energy to do anything else?

Talent came in many forms. Some were business elites, others were born administrators. There were builders, blacksmiths who forged weapons, every role mattered.

A city that only possessed strong warriors was unbalanced and ultimately weak. Unless it was powerful enough to ignore all external threats, such a city would be like a lopsided creature hobbling forward.

Harrison nodded slowly. The dullness in his eyes began to fade, replaced by clarity.

“Patriarch, I think I understand now.”

War was always waged for greater survival space. That central theme had never changed.

And the fallen soldiers of every battle were always the ones who evoked the most pain.

As the residents of Dawn City integrated more closely with the Saintlight Vampires, the fear and distrust that once existed had long since faded, replaced by a harmonious bond.

But after this war, many residents came to realize that those vampires who had shared jokes with them just days ago were now wrapped in white burial cloths, sealed inside black coffins, and had left them forever.

Such sudden farewells were often the hardest to accept.

But there was no war without death.

And under the guidance of the Propaganda Department…

The following evening.

At dusk, the residents of Dawn City gathered spontaneously in the central plaza.

They wore black or dark clothing, white flowers pinned to their chests. Their expressions were solemn as they stood silently, eyes filled with complex emotions as they gazed at the neatly arranged coffins spread across the square.

Each coffin bore a magically painted portrait, a smiling face now forever frozen in time.

At the center of the array of coffins lay the enormous corpse of a Cyclops, as large as a small hill, resting in peace.

A long white cloth had been draped over its head, but the rest of its massive body, covered in dense scars, clearly told the story of its valor and sacrifice.

Twenty vampires stood guard, using magic to preserve the bodies and prevent heat damage.

Beneath the twilight sky, a faint golden light shimmered above, while below stood a sea of grieving people.

Grief is contagious. Even those who didn’t personally know the fallen vampires couldn’t remain unaffected in such an atmosphere.

“Lord Kachar is here.”

The whisper ran through the crowd. All heads turned in unison.

When they saw the figure in a black mage robe, also wearing a white flower on his chest, excitement lit their eyes.

“Good evening, Lord Kachar.”

“Lord Kachar!”

In that moment, even the heavy sorrow in the air seemed to lighten.

He was their king, the master of Dawn, a great deity and their savior.

Li De’s expression was solemn as he stepped onto the bluestone path, walking directly between the coffins, not taking a single detour. One step. Then another.

The crowd, all clad in dark robes and marked with white flowers, followed him with their gaze.

Black coffins. The body of the fallen Cyclops. The sorrow in the air was overwhelming.

As Li De’s gaze swept across the smiling portraits atop the coffins, his heart grew heavier.

These were Dawn City’s undisputed heroes. Their achievements would be etched into the city’s history forever.

Step... step...

The sound of his footsteps against the stone echoed low and steady as he ascended the platform.

Li De looked down from the stage, his deep black eyes scanning the silent crowd below. He could feel the heaviness hanging in the air and drew in a deep breath.