Chapter 171: Funeral (3)

“Does it suit me?”

“It’s pretty.”

I nodded. Taffy wore a wide-brimmed hat with a black veil to block the sun. Her gloomy, somber appearance, as if she were the main character of the funeral hall, suited Taffy well. Red eyes blinked from between the black fabric. The darker it got, the brighter Taffy’s pupils shone. I adjusted her hat and asked.

“Can’t you do something about the light from those eyes? They seem like they’d attract attention.”

“I can.”

Taffy blinked once, and the light subsided. In the dim shadow, her dark red pupils reflected the light. I chuckled at the sight, and Isabel looked at the two of us, asking with a worried expression.

“Evan. Will the two of you be alright? Why don’t you come with me, and we can put Taffy in the coffin…”

“If we carry a coffin into the capital, won’t we be suspicious? And if Taffy is inside the coffin, it’ll be even more suspicious. It’s better to go separately like this.”

Isabel still looked at me with eyes full of worry, but she nodded in agreement with my opinion. The carriage carrying Isabel then departed. We waved goodbye as we watched the carriage cross the town square and head over the hill. Taffy said.

“Us too. We need to hurry.”

“Right. Let’s go quickly.”

I nodded and looked for another ride to the capital. Since many carriages came and went from various places, we were able to find one heading to the capital soon enough. The merchant guild leader who ended up traveling with us struck up a conversation with easygoing familiarity, as if it were an honor to travel with me.

“Mr. Evan. The scenery is lovely.”

“It really is.”

As he said, the weather was clear today, and the sky looked beautiful. Taffy, bothered by the bright sunlight, pulled her hat down further and scowled. I accepted some of the food the merchant offered and listened to his stories as we continued on our way.

The merchant said.

“I hear nobles from all over the country are gathering for this funeral. As a merchant, I can’t miss an opportunity like this. It’s important for people like us to get at least a little face time with the higher-ups. In a way, it’s good he died. Didn’t he provide me with this opportunity? You’re different, Hero-nim!”

Funerals for prominent figures attract all sorts of desires. Depending on the situation, honest people like this merchant right before my eyes, driven by their own desires without any pretense of mourning, tend to latch on. Taffy faced the merchant with a look of displeasure.

I stroked Taffy’s head and said.

“Is that so? I don’t really know about those complicated matters. I’m just on my way to pray for the repose of Fabian-nim, who worked hard defeating demons in the north. I don’t like mixing politics into funerals.”

The merchant replied with a knowing smile at my words.

“Ho ho, everyone says that. But aren’t their inner thoughts different? Don’t you have something you’re hoping for from the capital’s nobles, Evan-nim? Are you trying to seduce the young lady next to you? Ho ho ho ho ho! Who cares about people from the north? What’s important is the money rolling right in front of you. Ho ho ho ho!”

“Hahahaha.”

I brushed it off with a laugh. Taffy frowned at the merchant, then leaned her head back against the seat and fell asleep. The merchant looked at Taffy and said.

“She seems quite tired. Falling asleep already, wouldn’t it be better to take off her hat?”

“She’s the type who can’t sleep if it’s bright. She always sleeps with the windows closed, even at home.”

“I see. Well then, since she’s asleep like this, I’ll be quiet too. Ho ho ho!”

The man said that and reclined his seat. I looked out the window, waiting for night to fall.

When the sun set and night arrived, Taffy’s time came. Having slept uncomfortably in the carriage all day, Taffy clutched her lower back, her face contorted. As if suffering from back pain the day after having sex with me all night, she staggered and hugged me tightly.

“It hurts.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll rub it for you.”

Saying that, I rubbed Taffy’s lower back, which she had stretched out behind her. Taffy nodded with a happy expression every time I massaged her back, and the merchant, rubbing his own shoulder, said to us.

“It’s already night. We have to depart tomorrow morning, so don’t overdo it, okay? I’m worried the inn might get noisy tonight because you two are ‘burning up’!”

Ho ho ho ho ho!”

The merchant said that and winked. Thinking he was definitely crazy, I said nothing. Taffy revealed her hostility quite openly and said.

“I don’t like him.”

“Taffy. You can’t just kill him, it’ll cause major trouble. We’ll be suspected.”

“I can kill him without getting suspected.”

“What about our carriage?”

We were currently riding in the carriage thanks to the merchant guild’s hospitality. If the guild leader died, we’d have to find another carriage, which would be a hassle. Taffy still said in a firm tone.

“We’ll buy horses and ride them. That’s better, actually. That guy. He’s doing business even after No. 5 died. He keeps talking about that. He’s clueless and annoying.”

I stroked her head and said.

“If that’s what you want, let’s do that. But you have to kill him quietly.”

“Okay.”

Taffy looked excited upon receiving my permission. As if her non-existent ears and tail were wagging, Taffy, wearing a bright expression, hugged me tightly, then disappeared into the shadows between the buildings, becoming a dark silhouette as she slipped into the room where the merchant slept.

“Hmm hmm hmm~.”

The merchant was in a good mood. He was confident that once he arrived in the capital, his devilish eloquence and excellent social skills would quickly make him the center of high society. The merchant’s subordinates always praised his sense of humor, and his acquaintances marveled at his reputation, praising him to the skies.

Therefore, the merchant was brimming with confidence. He planned to use his reputation to console the grieving and lift the mood at the funeral with his outstanding sense of humor. The bow tie he held in his hand was a key item to emphasize his dapper and elegant image.

“How dashing. So dashing.”

The merchant said that, admiring his reflection in the mirror. Praising oneself was a common sight among provincial merchants, but Taffy seemed completely unable to adapt to it.

“Ew…!”

Taffy, who had slipped into the room through the shadows, recoiled at his spontaneous self-praise just before she was about to grab his neck. The merchant whirled around, startled by the voice behind him, and Taffy, her eyes glowing red, clamped her hand over his mouth.

“Mmph! Mmmph! Mmmmmmph!”

It wasn’t long before the merchant struggled before Taffy’s mouth opened wide, revealing sharp fangs. She bit down hard on the merchant’s neck, then began to greedily drink the blood pouring from the wound in his vein.

“Ah…! Ahhhp…! Ugh…”

The merchant’s face began to turn pale. Taffy drank the blood repeatedly, counting the beats with her hand. The merchant’s plump belly shrank, and his greasy fingers shriveled. His fingernails dried out and cracked, and his thick thighs exposed bone.

“Done.”

Then Taffy wiped her mouth and lifted her head. She covered the wound with one hand and carved a mark onto the merchant’s chest with the other. The red inscription was carved deeply, but the merchant merely stared blankly at the wound, unable to feel any pain. His unfocused eyes stared straight at Taffy’s face. Taffy flicked her tongue slightly and said.

“Go outside right now. Go to a place with no people and plenty of sunlight. Go there, spread your arms, and wait. The sun will rise. Then take off your clothes. And die in the sunlight.”

“…..Yes. Taffy-nim…”

The merchant nodded and began to put his clothes back on. Taffy patted the merchant’s back before slipping back into the crack in the floor. The merchant, pale-faced, silently dressed himself, and the room remained quiet as if nothing had happened.

“I’m back.”

I chuckled seeing Taffy report her return while hanging upside down from the ceiling. Taffy also smiled in response, apparently finding it amusing that I was in my underwear with a toothbrush in my mouth. Taffy leisurely approached me while still hanging upside down. I spat out the mouthwash and rinsed my mouth with water.

As soon as I spat the water onto the bathroom floor, Taffy hugged me from behind.

“It’s done.”

“Did you kill him?”

“He’ll die tomorrow. He’ll disappear without a trace.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve done it many times.”

Hearing that she’d done it many times, I laughed again. Taffy hugged my neck tightly and said.

“Evan. Praise me quickly.”

“Good job. Yes.”

I hugged her head tightly and stroked it, like petting an ornament. She accepted my embrace while hanging upside down and smelled my body scent.

“Evan. Evan.”

“Yeah. Yes. Taffy. You did well. Bastards like that deserve to die.”

“Right.”

I stroked Taffy’s waist. If I moved my hand just a little higher, I could cup her butt. I reached out, stroking her legs, and asked her.

“But how are you hanging there?”

“I’m using telekinesis to float myself. Don’t you like it?”

I shook my head.

“No. Just come down a little like this.”

I have something I want you to try.