Ch.57Dummy Data

I arrived at a half-collapsed department store riding on Hwang-gu’s back.

Among the collapsed debris, many items were buried, but I figured crayons would be easy to find.

In fact, I had found crayons at a department store like this before.

“Let’s go!”

Hearing my command, Hwang-gu leaped into the department store.

The large wolf’s paws made tap-tap sounds as she moved quickly.

“Hmm…”

Considerable time had passed since the world ended.

Naturally, the items remaining in the department store couldn’t be in perfect condition.

The food section had obviously been cleaned out, and the clothing section was also stripped bare.

Some electronics remained, but even those were damaged from the passage of time.

Of course, these weren’t what I was looking for.

I needed something that could still be used despite the time that had passed.

Something people wouldn’t have bothered to take.

Specifically, crayons for my children.

“Hwang-gu, is there anything you want?”

“Woof!”

She answered energetically to my question.

It seemed she wanted something too.

I dismounted from Hwang-gu’s back.

“Go get it.”

“Woof!”

She must have known what she wanted was here, as she immediately ran off.

After some time had passed,

The sound of the large wolf’s paws tapping grew distant, then closer again.

“Huff huff…”

What Hwang-gu brought back was a dog food bowl.

“This is…”

“Woof!”

Hwang-gu placed the bowl in front of me and barked.

Why on earth did she bring this bowl?

Of course, since Hwang-gu liked it, I would keep it.

“You like this…?”

“Woof!”

She answered enthusiastically to my question.

Her tail began to spin vigorously.

She must really like the bowl she brought.

“Hmm…”

I’ll keep it, of course…

But will there ever come a day when we’ll use this bowl?

I pushed the bowl into the shadows.

After securing Hwang-gu’s bowl,

I found crayons to give to Yeppi.

The well-packaged contents were in perfect condition.

Of course, crayons weren’t the only things I found.

Various colored pencils and writing instruments.

I even found cute-shaped erasers.

This must have been the stationery section.

“Sniff sniff!”

Hwang-gu showed interest in a peach-shaped eraser.

Looking at the description, it seemed to have peach fragrance added to it.

“Good…”

I gathered up many crayon sets from nearby.

Since these were items we’d need to use continuously, I thought it would be better to give one to each child rather than collecting them one by one.

Hwang-gu also followed me with the eraser set she had been eyeing in her mouth.

As I was stuffing the eraser set into the shadows,

I remembered Aurel, whom I had forgotten.

I had prepared gifts for the subordinate children and Hwang-gu, but I couldn’t leave out Aurel.

If I returned like this, Aurel would surely be disappointed.

“What would Aurel like?”

After pondering for a while about what gift to give Aurel,

I wandered around the department store with Hwang-gu.

“Oh…”

Finally, I found a suitable gift for Aurel.

It was a small hairpin with a white lily decoration.

It didn’t look expensive, but it didn’t look cheap either.

“Would Aurel be happy with this?”

“Woof!”

Hwang-gu nodded at my question.

Good. This would be Aurel’s gift.

I put the lily hairpin in my pocket and climbed onto Hwang-gu’s back.

“Let’s go back!”

“Woof!”

Tap-tap-tap-

***

Tap-tap-tap-!

We arrived at the Underground Ruins on Hwang-gu’s back.

In the distance, I could see my subordinates busy hunting.

Since I couldn’t see Aurel and Firin, they must still be exploring inside the Underground Ruins.

I commanded Hwang-gu.

“Hwang-gu, find Aurel.”

With her excellent sense of smell, Hwang-gu should be able to locate Aurel immediately.

As I expected, Hwang-gu started running without hesitation.

Tap-tap-tap-!

Was she trying to avoid unnecessary fights?

Hwang-gu didn’t take the regular paths.

She used her high jumping ability to leap from building to building.

There wouldn’t be a wolf more excellent than Hwang-gu in the entire world.

I pulled on Hwang-gu’s leash and stroked her nape.

“Huff huff!”

Hwang-gu looked very happy.

“Oh!”

After running for quite some time,

We found Aurel and Firin.

Seeing them walking side by side with a map spread out, they seemed to have become quite close while I was away.

Hwang-gu jumped down in front of them without a moment’s hesitation.

“Woof!”

Despite the sudden appearance of the large wolf,

Aurel and Firin weren’t surprised.

“Charlotte! Hwang-gu!”

“You’re back?”

I nodded as I dismounted from Hwang-gu’s back.

Come to think of it, I didn’t get a gift for Firin.

If I had thought about it at the department store, I could have found a teddy bear that Firin would have liked.

I awkwardly smiled while touching my lips.

I looked around.

Since there were no clan members near Firin, it seemed they hadn’t returned yet.

“How was Aurel’s guidance?”

“She was super kind!”

“Did you see that vampire monster too?”

“That weird one? It looked dangerous! I should tell the kids not to approach it.”

I nodded at Firin’s answer.

There was nothing good about messing with an unidentifiable boss whose patterns were unknown.

Of course, I planned to subjugate it someday, but not right now.

Firin!

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice called from far away.

The direction of the voice was toward the large door of the Underground Ruins.

Turning my head, I saw about 20 vampires standing there.

It seemed Firin’s clan members had arrived.

“Ah, my kids are here. I’ll go see them for a bit?”

“Sure.”

Firin hurried toward her clan members.

After watching Firin’s retreating figure for a while,

I approached Aurel and handed her the hairpin.

“Gasp…! This…!”

“It’s a gift. I found it at the department store.”

“Gasp…”

Aurel, receiving my gift, trembled.

Judging by her unusual reaction, she must be extremely happy.

Gasping for breath, Aurel carefully caressed the hairpin.

“Try putting it on.”

“Um, Charlotte…”

“What?”

“Could you put it on for me…?”

“Me…?”

I hesitantly reached out at Aurel’s request.

It was my first time using a hairpin.

Which naturally meant I had no experience putting a hairpin in someone else’s hair.

I swallowed dryly and looked at Aurel’s hair.

She was slightly lowering her head to make it easier for me to pin it in her hair.

Well, if she didn’t like the position, she could adjust it herself.

I placed the hairpin in what seemed like an appropriate spot.

“D-done.”

“Hehe…”

Aurel raised her head and laughed lightly.

She touched the hairpin in her hair and smiled happily.

“You like it that much…?”

“Yes…! It’s the first gift from you, Charlotte! I’ll cherish it!”

I fidgeted at Aurel’s words.

If I had known she would be this happy, I would have found a better gift.

***

The Underground Ruins had room to spare even after inviting Firin’s clan.

Eventually, I invited other clans who had participated in the Fenrir subjugation to the Underground Ruins.

Since I planned to reveal this place to all vampires someday, I didn’t feel it was a waste.

After spending a week hunting in the Underground Ruins,

Most of my subordinates were able to reach max level.

Bbi-bbi, who started from level 1, only reached level 16, but those who had started hunting from level 15 achieved max level.

Of course, Aurel also reached max level.

Aurel, who reached level 20, invested points in the Daywalker skill.

She had now become a vampire who could be active under the sun.

“Woah…”

On a bright sunny morning,

Aurel extended her hand out the window to check her skill.

In the past, she would have screamed and rolled on the floor for such an action, but Aurel was fine.

“Look at this! Charlotte! It doesn’t hurt!”

Aurel waved her hand vigorously outside the window.

I frowned and pulled a thick blanket over myself.

“That’s amazing…”

“Ahem…”

If I had known this would happen, I would have chosen the Daywalker skill too…

But who could have known the world would change like this?

If I could find an item with the Daywalker skill effect, I too could overcome sunlight, but for now, there was no way to obtain such an item.

Just as I couldn’t overcome sunlight, neither could my subordinate children.

When they became my subordinates, their skill trees were fixed to one type.

The children, whose skill trees were forcibly changed to match mine, could only handle shadows.

“Hwang-gu! Let’s go out!”

Was she that happy to have overcome the sun?

Aurel grabbed the leash of Hwang-gu, who was curled up in a corner, and dragged her outside.

“Don’t go far!”

“Okay!”

***

“Wow…”

Aurel, who went outside with Hwang-gu, blankly looked around.

The blazing sunlight from the sky no longer damaged Aurel’s skin.

How long had it been since she enjoyed sunlight?

Aurel looked up at the sky and smiled with satisfaction.

There weren’t many vampires who could walk in sunlight.

Naturally, Seoul Station was empty.

Aurel wandered the quiet streets with Hwang-gu.

Of course, due to Charlotte’s request, she didn’t go far.

“Aurel… I’m sleepy…”

“Let’s look around a bit more!”

“Mmm…”

Hwang-gu whined sleepily.

But Aurel still wanted to explore outside more.

“Yap!”

Aurel overlapped her hands under the brilliant sunlight.

It was the shadow play she used to do when she was young.

“Wolf!”

Her small hands overlapped to create a cute wolf shape.

The next thing she created was a crab with ten legs.

“Now a crab!”

“This is an eagle!”

“This is Hwang-gu!”

Yap-yap-yap- After that, Aurel spent a long time playing shadow games.

Hwang-gu watched for a while before starting to doze off.

Unlike vampires who didn’t need sleep, Hwang-gu, being a werewolf, needed adequate sleep.

Aurel nodded with satisfaction.

She had done the play she most wanted to do once she overcame sunlight.

Having finished her business outside, Aurel pulled on the leash of the dozing Hwang-gu and returned to the house where Charlotte was waiting.