episode_0003

“Anyway, these days, I see people like that being accepted as adventurers, so it seems like they are in quite a hurry.”

“Okay… in the first place… the adventurer system itself… was created because there was a lack of troops to maintain security within the empire.”

Even as I pulled on the leash and walked with her neck tightened, Rubia continued the conversation.

‘Of course, when I played the game… that is, the adventurer profession did not exist during the time when the current emperor ruled the empire.’

As she said, the fact that a country as large as an empire does not monopolize military power and allows the private sector to wield that power is also proof that the situation is not so good.

Of course, given the nature of the fantasy world, we must also consider the fact that the amount of power that exceptional individuals can have is considerable…

‘Furthermore, thanks to that system, I, who was an illegitimate child kicked out of my home, was able to come here.’

“Well… Master, please loosen your grip on the leash – keekkeek… Thank you.”

Just before arriving at the market street lined with street stalls, Rubia, who was sighing in relief when I loosened her leash slightly, nodded and said.

“…Now, really, don’t cause any more accidents. Let’s quickly buy what we need from the market and return to Emma. Huh?”

“Hmm.. Yes. Master.”

In fact, she is a vampire and doesn’t need to breathe, so that squeak and the tears in her eyes were just a playful act, but I decided to trust Luvia one more time.

“Okay. Next… I guess I can buy some food to give to Emma as a gift.”

The market in this city was quite large, and the quality of the goods sold was not bad.

Thanks to this, I was able to get the items faster than expected.

“The owner is only too partial to Emma…”

“Unlike you, Emma doesn’t have accidents and is a good listener.”

“What about almost crushing your master on the bed with that big butt?”

“Hey, that’s…”

When Luvia mentioned the accident, I felt a headache and touched my forehead and closed my eyes for a moment.

I still feel embarrassed when I think about that incident.

“…Stop it and come here quickly. And don’t bring it up in front of Emma.”

If I was like this and she was secretly shy, it was obvious that I would fight with Luvia again.

“Hehe. Yes, master.”

I found it disgusting that Rubia was laughing at me for punching her, but I didn’t bother to tighten her leash again, so I just quietly headed to the next stall.

“Welcome. customer. What can I get you?”

“Okay. I’d like to buy some carrots and honey. The price is-”

“Wow!!”

Just as I was about to talk to the merchant, I suddenly heard the sound of Rubia retching.

When I turned my head with a stiff expression on my face, wondering if he was going to play a prank again, I saw Rubia bowing down and retching in front of the pile of garlic on the stand.

‘Oh, I made a mistake. Of course, I should have thought in advance that they would also sell garlic.’

“Ruvia, are you okay?”

“Woo-eup… Yes… Master… I’m sorry.”

Of course, a vampire like Luvia wouldn’t suffer as much damage as if she could barely smell the scent of garlic, but if other people start to doubt her because of this…

“Look here. Are you talking about that slave…”

As if it was a mistake to think about something, a passerby, an old woman, immediately started talking to us.

I quietly tensed my muscles in preparation for the worst and waited to hear what would come out of his mouth next.

“Are you pregnant?”

“…Is that so?”

I suppressed the embarrassment that was rising at the unexpected question and answered calmly.

Certainly, it would be better for Luvia to be considered a common symptom of pregnancy rather than being suspected of being a vampire.

“Looking at his appearance, he seems like a pretty expensive slave. I judge which medicines are good for pregnant slaves. Are you interested?”

“…I have already purchased something separately, so I will decline. Thank you for your concern.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t have enough money to buy medicine, but no matter how I managed to avoid the situation, I didn’t want to stay in this market for too long.

Despite my refusal, the old woman just responded without any sign of disappointment.

“Then take this at least. I’ll give it to you for free, so try it out and if you think it works well, come back to me.

I’m a pretty popular therapist in this city, so if you ask them, everyone will know.”

After putting a bunch of herbs in my hand, she quickly disappeared into the crowd of people in the market.

“Hehe… I’m happy to be able to have my master’s baby… Woooo!”

“The pace is not good. Let’s quickly get into the shade instead of continuing to say strange things. Rubia…”

After putting in the herbs the old woman gave me, I held her hand instead of the leash this time and started to leave the main street of the market.

——

“Did you convey it well?”

“Yes, ma’am. I did as you asked.”

The woman called Mistress bowed her head deeply and nodded.

The woman standing in front of the old man, her white hair cut short, was still young and beautiful despite the scars on one eye and all over her face.

Of course, the old woman thought that no one would dare to make fun of her scar anyway.

It wasn’t just that she had several sturdy adventurers loyally guarding her side.

The chain armor she was wearing and the ornate decorations attached to it, the smooth yet strong muscles that made her wear them as casually as if she were familiar with them, and the scars clearly showed that they were another medal she had earned on the battlefield.

Those who dared to insult her would first have to face her sharpened sword on the battlefield.

Even though she knew that she had no particular hostility towards her, the old woman was afraid to look directly into her harsh eyes.

“Good job. Let’s go now. I must keep this matter secret.”

“Whether it is…”

So, as soon as the old woman received a few silver coins in return for her errand, she bowed and mumbled her thanks and quickly left.

The woman, who quietly watched the old woman leave, soon asked the man who was looking closely at his own palm next to her.

“How about it? Do you think it’s going well?”

“Yes, Lilias. Now you know for sure where they are.”

Lillias saw the flower petals he was holding in his hand start to rise even though there was no wind as the wizard, who had been one of her subordinates during her legionnaire days, muttered words that she still had difficulty understanding.

Soon, the petals that turned into light were floating on the wizard’s palm with their tips all pointing in one direction.

“The man who loved his own reflection in the water so much that he died just looking at it turned into a daffodil…

Because those petals always try to point towards other daffodils. He is probably pointing to other daffodil petals hidden in the pile of herbs that the old woman gave him earlier.”

“Okay. Well done. Everyone, please check your weapons one last time.

Although it is said to be covering its body with a cloak, it must be an entity with considerable power, seeing as it can roam the main streets of the city in the middle of the day.

At the very least, it is the most powerful entity we have caught during the war… It is highly likely that it is a direct descendant of the Sanguis family.”

At those words, her subordinates, who followed Lilia from the military and became adventurers, held their weapons tightly with nervous expressions.

They were all former legionnaires who survived the war against vampires and the rebellion of the Sanguis family.

She read the fear in the expressions of her subordinates and continued speaking as slowly as before.

“Okay. None of us have forgotten that time. I swore I would never forget.

Traitors of the empire who, blinded by immortality and power, touched the taboo of blood.

The day one of the great cities of the Empire fell into the hands of those blood-drinking monsters.

The tragedy in which the subjects of the empire who lived there became food for monsters, or one of those monsters.

The pain of having to send a brave comrade who was bitten while fighting against them to our own hands while he was still human…”

She paused for a moment, closed her eyes, and reflected on what she had just said. Things she too swore to the gods not to forget.

The reasons why they left the Legion and became adventurers who focused on hunting such monsters.

“…And if we forget them… if we betray our oath… that tragedy may be repeated here too.”

At those words, the anger and determination on the subordinates’ faces drive away the fear that had stayed on their faces for just a moment.

“So take up your weapons again and prepare for battle. It cannot leave this city alive.”

After speaking, Lilias took her sword, shield, and javelin.

These were the weapons that took the breath away from countless enemies she faced, from the vampires during the rebellion to all the monsters she encountered as an adventurer.

The subordinates who still followed her were also veterans who had participated in countless hunts.

That’s why they were able to erase their fear and move together into the dark alley where their prey was headed.

Of course, it was still one of the most dangerous hunts among the many hunts they had experienced so far.

It is not simply because the vampires being hunted are strong.

This is because the place they are walking through is a battlefield that has no choice but to be advantageous to the vampires.

In fact, even when suppressing past vampire uprisings, the dark areas of the city were one of the places where legionnaires sacrificed the most.

Of course, when the sun disappeared from the sky, there was no place that was safe from them, but the back alleys of the city were the worst.

The darkness makes it easier to attack by surprise, and the complex structure of the back alleys makes it easy for prey to get lost and become isolated in the melee.

Many legionnaires were torn to pieces in this darkness by their teeth and claws, or, worse, were transformed into them.

Unable to handle the increasing casualties and enemy forces, the Legion’s solution was to burn the place down.

Nevertheless, the reason they had no choice but to choose this battlefield now was because if they hunted vampires on the main street, ordinary citizens could get caught up in their struggles.

Especially if its identity is discovered and it goes on a rampage and the vampire disease spreads again…

The nightmare of the past will be recreated in the present.

Therefore, as they silently carried their respective weapons and moved slowly through the dark alleys, they did not let down their guard even for a moment.

Of course, the wizard was keeping an eye on even the smallest details about the visible changes in the petals used for tracking.

However, if there is a lesson that they engraved on their bones and flesh as they survived on the battlefield, it is that too much preparation and vigilance is better than too little.

And this time too, the lessons they learned proved valuable.

The wizard, who was carefully observing the changes in the white petals, finally caught them with his fists as they tried to fly away from his grasp.

And immediately sent a signal to his colleagues as predetermined.

That meant that the petals were now so close to the other petals that it was difficult to tie them together.

As his companions responded to his signal and prepared for battle, the wizard opened his fist and sent the flower petals flying to find their mates.

The adventurers’ eyes followed the fluttering flower petals.

Their weapons are also slowly aimed along the line of sight, and the muscles holding the weapons are tense with tension.

But when the petals finally found their mates and fell next to them, their gaze still failed to catch the vampire.

The flower petals used to track vampires simply fell behind a building and piled up quietly.

Their expressions, which were full of tension, are filled with astonishment at the sight, which is completely different from what was expected.

And at that moment, a black shadow jumped from the sky.

It landed softly on top of the piled petals, fluttering white petals everywhere.

When they take off the hood they were wearing and reveal their faces, they are met with black hair that seems to embrace the beauty of the night and two eyes that shine red like jewels.

In the dining room, a beautiful slave was standing in front of them, shedding tears.

Of course she wasn’t crying now.

“Hello everyone?”

Her voice, as she greeted them cheerfully, was somewhat excited.

Her eyes, which were becoming increasingly red, were not filled with tears but only anticipation, and sharp fangs briefly flashed in her brightly smiling mouth.

What does she expect and is she happy about?

they knew Or I thought I knew.

“My name is Rubia. My master wants to talk to you, so please-”

Therefore, without waiting for her to finish speaking, I moved right away. Just as I had planned and practiced in advance, as I had done on countless hunts so far.

And they saw blood and shadows gushing from her.

“-Please observe some manners.”

Let’s hope that’s not the last thing they see.