episode_0040

After exploring using each other’s exploration skills.

We were able to get to where Julian was supposed to be.

“There’s a strong nauseating smell coming from this direction.”

I too looked down the dark alleyway that gave off an eerie atmosphere.

‘Are you hiding in a place like this again?’

Julian… So, after he changed, whenever he was feeling down, he would often hide in dark places.

For example, when a child whose face you knew dies on the battlefield.

He spent all day crouching in a corner of the barracks with no lights on.

Even when I asked him why he was doing that, he just replied that his mind would calm down if he did that.

Anyway, this time too, it seemed like he was hiding out, looking for a place where he could collect his feelings.

“Eugene, what are you going to do?”

“Let’s go in. This is the most likely place where Julian might be.”

Even if I were to look for other places, I had to check here first.

As I answered Aria’s question, I was about to take a step forward.

“Wait a minute.”

A rustling noise from inside the entrance leading to the alley stopped the two women following me.

“Instead of hiding your body while showing off so fiercely, wouldn’t it be better to show yourself openly?”

As I gave that warning, a pale man walked out from inside the alley.

‘A vagabond? Or a simple citizen?’

But to say that was the case, I sensed blatant hostility and wariness from him.

“Are you thinking of going inside? If so, give up, the master’s orders are to not let anyone near… .”

While I was trying to determine whether the person in front of me was an enemy or not, the other person started making incomprehensible noises.

“Holy light, please dwell in me.”

At the same time, a beautiful voice was heard from behind.

Something brushed past me and landed on the face of a pale man.

Its true identity was none other than a mace.

“Oh, really! There’s dirty blood splattered! Be careful!”

Aria, who was next to him, was startled and asked out of the blue… .

Rather, the saint, Rene, who was the one who had made the request, responded calmly.

“You’re a picky sister. It’s not like I’m getting dirty, so why do you have to worry about all that?”

As I was watching the fallen man while the two were bickering, I could immediately tell the change taking place in him.

Chewy-!!

Smoke rose from his crushed head, showing signs of recovery.

One, a holy light rose from the mace that fell next to his head, as if to impede his regeneration.

At least one thing was certain: even though it looked like a person, it wasn’t human.

No matter how much resilience one has, a human cannot survive if their head is broken.

But the man lying on the ground convulsing was still breathing.

The two women also noticed what was happening to the man, stopped arguing, and hardened their expressions.

“… As expected, it was the seed of evil.”

“What, the skin color is unusually strange? I don’t know if it’s a corpse, but a living person’s skin can’t be that pale.”

“Ah, but I guess he was a human in the past. Well, he seems to be a completely different being now.”

In particular, the face of the saint, Rene, had an expression of contempt mixed with disgust and disgust that did not match her appearance.

“… Blood relatives who received the blood of vampires.”

“Huh? If they were vampires, didn’t they all go extinct in the past?”

“Well, it was announced that way for the sake of the stability of the people. In reality, the religious order was on the verge of extinction through vampire hunting.”

But a few seeds that were lucky enough to survive that time are still rooted in this land.

“I should have pulled out the root a long time ago… .”

Seriously, they are such a stubborn bunch that there is no way to save them.

In René’s voice, there was more than just a sense of duty as a saint not to forgive the seed of evil, there was also hatred.

But now, what bothered me more was the fact that it had popped out of the alley where Julian was supposedly located.

It would be nice if that thing, the vampire’s blood relative, happened to be here by chance… .

Assuming there are more of them inside, I’m worried about Julian’s safety.

I stepped forward and smashed the head of my blood relative, who was still struggling to recover from his wounds.

Phew-!!

Then he turned his gaze back and spoke to those accompanying him.

“I don’t know how many similar guys there are in front of this. Julian, I’ll look for them myself, so you two go back for now.”

But despite my advice,

“You’re telling me to go back while going to a place that might be dangerous? No, I’ll go with you no matter what happens.”

Aria frowned slightly, as if she was feeling uneasy, and jumped over the fallen man’s body and followed me.

“I appreciate your concern, but I’ll have to decline. Since the option to back out is gone now that vampires are involved.”

Rene also followed along, walking slowly, retrieving the mace that had been rolling around where the man’s head had been.

I finally let out a sigh, because I could see in their eyes a determination that seemed unbreakable no matter what I said.

“… Instead, stick close to me as much as possible.”

So we entered the dark alley.

***

Julia was being groomed by the maids with a stiff face.

“Miss Julia! The dress you’re wearing now looks so good on you!”

“I can’t believe I’m this pretty even with light makeup… I feel the importance of the original and feel ashamed.”

“Miss, would you rather have flashy or simple accessories?”

Whenever the maids spoke to her or asked her a question, Julia could only give the same answer.

“Ma, do whatever you want.”

Wearing dresses, putting on makeup, and adorning oneself with jewelry.

Surely, all of that would have been very familiar to her, as a noblewoman, and especially to the daughter of a count…

For some reason, today, I felt so awkward approaching you.

That’s why I had no choice but to leave all opinions about my appearance to the maids, and all the maids cheered with joy.

For them, making a beautiful girl even prettier just as she was was the only joy in their hard work.

“All done, Miss!”

Julia could only stare blankly through the mirror for a while at the finished product that had been made with so much care and effort.

Brown hair that reaches down to the waist, with each strand glossy.

Golden eyes, like the highest treasure, sparkling and shining like jewels.

From vibrant, moist pink lips to densely spaced facial features.

‘… This is me?’

Even though it was clearly an image of myself that I had seen every single day without fail, I was surprised at how beautiful it was and it felt unfamiliar.

‘Isn’t this prettier than that annoying Buddha?’

At that moment, a beautiful white-haired woman came to mind… .

The next moment, as if a thick fog had settled over my head, I forgot who it was.

What’s more, the sunflower-colored dress Julia wore made her look even more radiant and vibrant.

The accessories worn to complement the potentially boring parts created a restrained beauty that seemed to be both decorated and not decorated at all.

To that extent, Julia of today was a woman of great beauty, worthy of praise.

“Young lady, you are so beautiful! I wonder if your fiance will fall over as soon as he sees you?”

Julia blushed at the maids’ boasts and praise for the work of art they had created.

‘fiance….’

Because it reminded her of her fiancé, Eugene Eberhart.

“Is that really true?”

I hoped he would be surprised to see her all decked out as the maids had suggested.

“Of course! Okay, let’s go. Your fiancée arrived early and is probably waiting in the reception room.”

Julia opened her eyes wide, not knowing that Eugene would already be there.

The maids pushed her stiff, nervous back into the reception room.

dripping!

And then, after knocking on the door to the reception room on her behalf, he turned to look at her with a bright smile.

There was no way out of that situation, so Julia swallowed the dry saliva in her parched mouth and spoke.

“Yu, Eugene? I’ll go in!”

She opened the door to the living room, and what appeared beyond was…

“It’s been a while, Julia. I came to tell you something important today.”

Julia Dustin’s only fiancé, Eugene Eberhart, was there.