Chapter 73

Chapter 73

73: Blood Born After parting with Erszebet, we didn’t head straight to the inn. I went with Emily to the sewers, wandering around and taking notes on the information I needed. Emily tilted her head, watching me. “What are you trying to do?” “Make an escape route. I don’t think we can just waltz through the city gates.” Once the portraits are distributed and the search begins, there’s a limit to how long we can hide. If we stay in the city, we’re bound to get caught eventually, so we need to escape as quickly as possible. I wanted to take El out right away, but she adamantly refused. She said there was something she absolutely had to take care of. She didn’t say what it was, but I could roughly understand how she felt. Even though it’s a criminal organization, Blate had taken her in for three months. Seeing her rush into it knowing the risks, I could guess that she had a significant connection there. She’s only human, so she wouldn’t want to just run away, leaving behind people who might die if left alone. “We need to move fast today too. We need to make an escape route, buy some necessary supplies, and keep an eye on El to make sure she’s safe.” I didn’t give her a day just for the sake of it. Just as El had something to take care of, we had a lot to do as well. “Ugh, I guess so…” Emily nodded awkwardly at my words. // Most cities develop along rivers. The most essential thing for people to live is water, and without a sufficient supply of water, a city cannot develop. This was also true for the cities built in the Mesheen Great Forest. Therefore, most city sewers were connected to external rivers. The Kingdom of Kilkard, which could build walls cheaply thanks to the undead laborers, was obsessively fixated on walls and committed the atrocity of surrounding cities with massive walls. Going over the walls is out of the question, and even passing through the gates is dangerous. In the end, the only answer we could come up with was the sewers. “…What if the other side is thinking the same thing?” Emily asked me worriedly, but well, I don’t think that’ll happen. “It’s okay. Even if they thought of it, it would be difficult to put into action.” “Why?” The reason is simple. “El harmed a noble in the western part of the kingdom. On the other hand, this Mesheen Great Forest area is at the eastern end.” The noble factions of the Kingdom of Kilkard are largely divided into three categories. The western region facing the Necar Kingdom Union, the northern region facing the Astaltine Empire, and the eastern region bordering the Mesheen Great Forest. This division is so deeply rooted that even I, who used to be a prostitute in Lakers, know about it. Actually, you hear a lot of stories working as a prostitute. You spend the night with customers, especially travelers, and you hear a lot of things while sharing stories. “They’re not so bad that they’re fighting to the death, but they’re definitely not close either. In a case like this, they’ll only pay lip service and won’t offer much help. At most, they’ll assign a few dozen soldiers to the search, right?” If they were in the same faction, they would have clinked glasses and sent a Griffon Rider, but well, I doubt they’d be that friendly. A customer I had in the past said that these noble factions were all for strengthening the Kilkard royal family’s power, but it sounded like a common conspiracy theory, so I just found it amusing. “Wouldn’t a few dozen soldiers be dangerous?” “Maybe, but I think it’ll be okay?” Erszebet’s strength is by no means weak. She has mastered the martial art of sucking energy called Blood Absorption, and she is physically an adult. Just in terms of physical ability without using inner energy, she might be stronger than me. She got hit by me because she was caught off guard and took a counterattack, but if we fought seriously… Ah, but I think I could still win. Blood may seem easy to obtain, but it’s not always the case in peaceful places like this. I might be more advantageous in terms of martial arts training since I can seduce people and get their semen at will. I don’t know if Erszebet has spent a long time in a war zone where she could easily get blood, but it doesn’t seem like she has. “…Is that so?” I stopped my thoughts at Emily’s words and nodded. “Yeah. I can’t be completely sure, but probably.” If you only make plans based on 100% certainty, you’ll ruin things that could have worked out. We have very little information, but the same goes for the other side. A fight where we don’t know each other’s identities has to be left to luck. All we can do is hope that luck is on our side and prepare what we can. // Before we knew it, the sun was setting from the zenith. Watching the blue sky slowly turning crimson with the sunset, I hurried my steps. I was currently walking alone in the Nordic District. I couldn’t just blindly trust El and wait. Regardless of her skills or character, unexpected accidents can always happen. Especially in a complicated situation like this. The current situation is not simple. Tailon put out a notice to the guild, and some of the Blate members betrayed her. It would be nice if those two events were unrelated and separate, but there was a possibility that they weren’t. Besides, El’s pursuer might be able to get personnel assistance. I confidently told Emily that it would be fine, but unlike my expectations, there was a possibility that a Rider or Knight-level expert would assist instead of just soldiers. I can’t figure out the scale of the opponent at all. In the worst case, most of the criminal organizations and the Mesatria defense forces could turn against us. …Even so, that would be a bit much. Considering realistic possibilities, the most likely scenario is that criminal organizations groveling to the nobles and some guards will be mobilized to participate in the search. They wouldn’t need to make too big of a show of it.

-Thud, thud.

That’s why I decided to wander around near Blate’s hideout, as Erszebet had told me. First, I would walk around like this, and when it got dark, I would climb onto a building and watch. That’s why I deliberately brought a hooded cloak. And a mask, too. I can’t use them right now because it would obviously look suspicious if I walked around with the hood on. Of course, one person had to stay at the inn, so I left Emily there. If El arrived early, she would join us and escape through the sewers, and if not, she would continue to wait there and pass through the city gates naturally tomorrow. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.

-Clang, clang.

“…Tch.” As the sound of the scabbard rattling at my waist echoed, a few kids who were trying to approach me clicked their tongues and quietly turned away. They must have realized that I was an adventurer, despite my seemingly harmless appearance. Of course, being an adventurer doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe. The Nordic District is a slum, and it’s not a good thing for a woman, especially a seemingly young girl, to walk alone in the slums. Just like right now. “Hey, little girl. How much?”

-Swish.

Turning my head, I saw three men with greasy smiles coming into view. I would have dealt with them appropriately in normal times, but I don’t have the time for that right now. I took out the adventurer’s plate hanging around my neck and said to them. “Don’t bother me and go on your way.” Of course, they wouldn’t just go on their way just because I said it so nicely. They might even go crazy. Since criminal organization members live on bluffing, they wouldn’t back down quietly. As expected, the man standing in the center of the three burst out laughing and approached me. “Puhahaha, now that I see it, you’re quite a feisty young lady, aren’t you? Don’t be too scared. We’ll give you a good experience.” That does sound a bit tempting, but what a pity. Unfortunately, the timing is not good. I grabbed the sword hanging at my waist and quickly drew it towards the man.

-Whoosh!

The blade gleamed in the setting sunlight, and in an instant, the tip of the sword accurately touched the man’s Adam’s apple and stopped. The man stared blankly at the sword touching his neck, not even thinking of dodging. “….” Although I didn’t use inner energy, this level of skill is enough for the thugs of the underworld. But I couldn’t provoke them unnecessarily just because I subdued them, so I put on a smile and gently coaxed the man. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today, so I can’t entertain you. How about you come back another time?” Judging by the fact that he stepped forward first, this man is higher in rank than the other two. In this case, it would be troublesome if I provoked him and he used the ‘saving face’ skill that is unique to the bottom of the barrel, so I had no choice but to speak in the most humble way possible. Hmm, but saying lines like this is not bad. I wonder how I’ll deal with him if he really comes back next time. I wouldn’t be nice to him since I held a knife to his neck. Would he curse and try to crush me? Of course, I don’t plan to go, but it’s just imagination. It can’t be helped that my body warms up a little even with this kind of imagination. The man stared blankly at the knife touching his neck, then forced a smile with a stiff face and replied. “…Ha, young lady. You’re pretty good, aren’t you? I’ll remember this. And I’ll let you off today. See you next time.” Then, he turned around and headed back to his group. …Something about that is surprisingly pathetic. I did lead him on like that, but it was a truly admirable level of mental victory. My body, which was about to warm up with delusions, cooled down in an instant.

-Clang.

Anyway, after sending the thugs back, I sheathed my sword and looked around. “….” A guard was watching me from afar. Judging by the fact that he turned his head away, he didn’t seem to be suspicious, but I wasn’t comfortable. The fact that there was only one guard meant that it wasn’t a regular patrol, and I could only guess one reason for that. I was worried that the guard might approach me, but fortunately, he turned his gaze away from me and walked somewhere. Watching that, I let out a sigh of relief. I have excuses to make if I get searched, but it’s best not to get caught. I feel guilty for no reason. And now I should start preparing. //

-Splash.

Feeling the touch of cold water wetting her face, Erszebet slowly opened her eyes. In the blurry, distorted vision, she could see the shapes of several people. “Are you awake?” In the hazy world, a familiar voice pierced her ears. The moment she heard it, Erszebet realized what had happened to her. “…Lutian.” He is the leader of Blate, and the name of the man who took in Erszebet when she had nowhere to go. And also the name of the man she couldn’t abandon and tried to protect.

-Clang.

Erszebet tried to move her arms, but it was impossible. Cold, hard metal handcuffs wrapped around both of her wrists. The handcuffs, connected to a chain, were connected to the wall of the dark room, making it impossible to easily remove them. The moment she recognized that, Erszebet let out a hollow laugh. “…You tricked me.” The root of the problem was that she drank the wine he offered without any suspicion. No, since they shared the wine, it would have been difficult to notice it right away. There must have been some trick. Actually, that trick didn’t matter at all. What mattered was the reality that she had been betrayed. “Didn’t I warn you? In this world, you shouldn’t trust anyone.” The vision was gradually becoming clearer. Erszebet, who had mastered the Blood Shadow Demon Art, recovered quickly, and the rate at which the drug was detoxified was the same. And in the world that was becoming clearer, she gradually faced a familiar face. “…Yes, you certainly did.” She muttered in a bitter voice.

It wasn’t a statement directed at the man, but a mantra she repeated to herself. A mere three months. Just that insignificant connection. Unable to ignore it, she had ended up like this. “…Or, was it always destined to be this way?” Surely, their first meeting had begun with him doing that ridiculous vampire act. In that sense, the encounter might have been similar to her meeting with Seo-hyun. That’s why she felt she couldn’t let go even more. His voice, playfully seducing her, his attitude, seemingly frivolous yet sincere, the times they clinked glasses and laughed together. And even the moment when she forgot her own identity while looking at him, the first time she had ever been on the verge of wavering. She should have ignored it all. If she had, she wouldn’t be hurting this much. “…” Erzsebet lowered her head. What expression was he wearing now? She didn’t have the courage to look at his face. “You harmed a nobleman.” The voice that echoed in her ear was still calm. Having no intention of denying it, Erzsebet replied immediately. “Yes, I did.” “A knight from Gardisha came. Your face was on the wanted poster.” “…When you put it like that, I can’t even make excuses.” All that filled her chest was a bitter feeling. Who deceived whom? In the end, they had both deceived each other. The time they spent together was certainly not wrong. Only, the meeting itself was flawed. Erzsebet slowly raised her head and looked at Rutian. A man with handsome features and a sharp impression, unlike a boss of the underworld. Kindness and ruthlessness, playfulness and eeriness coexisted in that face, and she had once been mistaken. And, it was the same even now. “Are you going to kill me?” Even though things had come to this, she didn’t feel any resentment towards him. Only a sense of self-reproach for her own foolishness filled her. She wasn’t sure if her journey, barren of people, had made her long for affection, or if her heart had desired love. And now, none of that mattered anymore. Rutian looked at Erzsebet’s detached face and shook his head. “Gardisha will kill you, not me.” “…Why bother?” “You harmed the Count’s son, so you must pay the price.” Killing is simple. Simple and merciful. But they probably wouldn’t show such mercy. She would be dragged to the Count’s family and writhe in pain until she died. She didn’t want that. Rather than that… “Could you just kill me?” Erzsebet desperately pleaded with him, but Rutian shook his head again. “…You’re talking nonsense.” He turned away as if he didn’t want to talk anymore. However, his voice could still be heard from behind his seemingly sharp back. “My men and the guards of Mesatria have bound you while you were asleep. They are guarding this area tightly. I want to tell you that you shouldn’t even think about escaping.” “…?” Erzsebet tilted her head at the sudden words. Who tied her up, what did it matter? Before her, puzzled, something shiny flew in.

-Thud.

“I’m going to pick up the knight of Gardisha. When I see you next time, I hope you’re as feisty as before.” With those words, Rutian opened the door and left the darkroom.

-Empty.

As the sound of the door closing echoed, Erzsebet stared blankly at the object that had fallen to the floor. It was a small key, shimmering in silver. Seeing it, Rutian’s words floated like a phantom in Erzsebet’s memory. Don’t trust anyone in this world. Evil is hidden in kindness, and kindness is contained in evil. All of it is a lie. “…Idiot.” Erzsebet muttered softly and lowered her head. Just before putting the key in her mouth, she muttered once more. “Even so, it’s not cool at all…” Where those words were directed, even she herself didn’t know.