episode_0004

He realized that the vampire he was chasing was being chased, and used that means to lure them in, and then showed himself at the moment they were embarrassed.

Nevertheless, the adventurers were able to immediately move toward the opportunity instead of being frozen by the embarrassment of having fallen into a trap, thanks to the fact that they had already maintained thorough vigilance based on lessons learned on the battlefield.

The adventurers immediately retreated from Luvia, widening the distance between them, and at the same time pulling back the arms holding the javelins and throwing javelins at her all at once.

One of the abilities that even ordinary humans have that is superior to that of any strong beast is throwing, so by making full use of that ability, a weapon has ended the lives of countless beasts and monsters throughout the history of mankind.

Even the highest-ranking vampire could not easily avoid the barrage of javelins that were already coming from all directions, as the seasoned adventurers retreated and threw javelins at the same time.

Therefore, Luvia decided to block rather than dodge.

As blood and shadows gush out menacingly beside her, her eyes flash completely red and she covers her entire body with them.

The red and black shapes melting into the fluttering cloak are condensed to the limit.

And the next moment, she, who had frozen for a moment, moves again.

He turns his body as if he were dancing, strikes away one of the spear blades with the back of his red hand, and swings his black arm to break one of the spear poles.

And a dark red storm followed her movements. The condensed blood and shadows exploded and swept everywhere.

“Kwow!”

Even the adventurers who had already secured a certain distance could feel the torrent of air created by the explosion.

They quickly duck and use their shields to hold on. Soon, the flying fragments hit the shield and the helmet of the head that had not been retracted in time.

As the storm subsides, the pieces of the thrown and shattered javelin fall again onto the scattered flower petals.

The being standing at the center of the storm seemed as if nothing had happened at all, still showing off his noble appearance and glaring at them with cold eyes.

“What on earth…”

Presumed to be a high-ranking vampire, even the adventurers who had expected her to be stronger than the monsters they had ever faced were astonished by her appearance.

A show of force that seems to break the fighting spirit of an adventurer or legionnaire with considerable experience.

However, Luvia also made a displeased expression as she looked at the back of her hand, where she had struck down the blade of the javelin.

When the spear blade was struck, the cut wound was burning and emitting smoke.

She made the right decision when she blocked the javelin properly instead of clumsily dodging it or trying to regenerate it after being hit.

If that were the case, and those spears had actually penetrated my body, there would be no way I would have ended up with only that much of a wound.

Moreover, looking at the weapons that have been thoroughly prepared to hunt vampires with regenerative abilities in this way…

Those who followed in her and their master’s footsteps were clearly veteran adventurers who hunted ‘monsters’ professionally.

‘Monster… Ira…’

Bitterness blossomed along with her self-deprecation, but soon gave way to anger.

She didn’t know if it was simply her instinct as a vampire or if it came from resentment over what happened when she was human, but she thought it wouldn’t matter either way, at least at this moment.

At least for now, I felt like that anger would be helpful.

By kicking the ground just once, the distance between the adventurers is narrowed again.

The first thing Luvia targeted was a wizard.

Not only did his role in tracking her down play a big role, but he also judged that it would be quite troublesome if he left her to use other magic.

However, to prevent her from rushing in, some of his colleagues quickly build a wall with the shields they were holding.

She tried to cut or cut through it, but the moment she hit the wall head-on, she knew she couldn’t do it.

They expertly banded together to withstand the impact and swung their swords straight at her through the gap in the wall.

Luvia kicked off her shield and spun around in the air to avoid the swords, then landed again and glared at the wizard hiding behind them.

He didn’t panic and was still calmly reciting the new spell. As if she was confident that her colleagues would definitely stop her.

‘We get along well with each other, and most of the weapons are the legion’s standard shields and swords… Are they retired legionnaires and adventurers?

Moreover, it looks like something has been done to those shields. If you look at the parts that hit, it’s quite bitter. At least those skilled enough to consider themselves experts in monster hunting…

If I rush in carelessly, I might get caught up and get hurt. then…’

Luvia takes another breath, pumping up the blood in her body even more.

As her momentum grows more ferocious, the adventurers become even more nervous and prepare for the next conflict.

But she didn’t rush this time. Instead, she picked up one of the relatively intact remains of the javelin she had destroyed.

The red blood flowing from her body covers the broken spear, and in an instant, a red javelin is completed.

Luvia let out a short laugh as she watched the adventurers’ expressions distort with shock.

In fact, she had no intention of killing the adventurers. It was also troublesome to see so many adventurers die in the city where her group stayed.

Above all, her owner would definitely hate it.

Of course, there would be no need to tell them that fact. It wouldn’t have been persuasive to say that while throwing a javelin anyway.

A shimmering red flash instantly shoots out from her fingertips and rushes towards the adventurers.

It was a fast and powerful attack that left no time to adapt to the sudden change in combat style.

Most of them suppressed their fear and panic and moved to block the javelin, but it was already too late.

The javelin was already on the verge of hitting the arm of the wizard she was targeting.

However, Lilias was different as she was a centurion who had to withstand the enemy’s offensive at the forefront even in an unfavorable battle.

As the battle began and she saw Luvia’s inhuman movements, the emotion she felt was not fear that she was dealing with a powerful enemy.

I just felt disgust, hatred, and anger toward the ‘monster’, and I was just putting them all on the tip of the spear with my cool-headedness.

Waiting for the optimal moment to kill it.

-Kwazijic!

Lilias throws herself with the shield she was holding and catches the red javelin with the shield.

The javelin, which was thrown with a force that was not human, pierced even the thick shield and shook her body with the force of the impact, but it did not reach her armor in the end.

The battle begins and for the first time, confusion appears on Luvia’s face. I guess he didn’t expect that the javelin just now would be blocked.

On the contrary, Lillias blocks Luvia’s javelin, immediately throws away the broken shield, and throws the javelin again, which pierces the vampire’s head.

The javelin, which was much heavier and faster than what the subordinates had thrown, flew towards the vampire’s surprised face in an instant.

Her expression distorted and she quickly turned around, but it was too late.

Even if you manage to avoid instant death, it would be a fatal wound that would tear half of your face off.

Either way, this was the last time she would ever see that disgusting face, Lillias thought.

-Kaang!

It certainly would have happened if another spear blade had not intervened and knocked away her thrown javelin.

Lilias’ eyes widened.

The man who suddenly ran towards me and swung his javelin at me was clearly the owner of the vampire I had seen in the restaurant earlier.

“Um, how are you all? I think we need to talk to each other.”

The man spoke calmly as he picked up the spear he had swung and aimed it straight at them.

“Do you have any business with my slave?”

—–

He said it calmly as if it was no big deal, but it was quite dangerous just now.

The woman who almost threw a javelin into Luvia’s face was definitely a person of great skill.

Although it was an unexpected surprise attack, Rubia, a vampire who would have surpassed human reflexes, was slow to react.

Judging by the ornate decorations on his armor, it was highly likely that he was a former centurion, especially an outstanding soldier who had accomplished many feats.

Even more so.

‘This Pilum… Is there silver mixed into the blade of the spear?’

Did they melt down the silver coins they received from their old salary or work as an adventurer and mix them to make a spear blade?

It’s not easy to pull out a javelin like Pilum once it gets stuck, but if the blade mixed with silver, which prevents her regeneration, gets stuck in her head…

“…I thought he was either unaware of his true identity or possessed by hypnosis…but I guess that’s not the case.”

She spoke in a voice filled with quiet anger as she accepted the spare shield and javelin handed to her by her subordinate.

“If you were hypnotized, you wouldn’t be able to show that level of movement. But this makes me curious about something else…

What on earth are you thinking, bringing a vampire with you?”

She questioned, aiming the tip of her spear at me and at Luvia behind me.

“….”

Should I reveal it? Anyway, since the matter had grown this big, it would have been pointless to hide it any longer.

Of course, I don’t think they will be convinced by that. Perhaps they are adventurers from the Legion who directly suppressed the vampire rebellion.

There would be no way for those who lost their comrades to vampires to back down so easily.

However, I don’t think you can avoid the conflict by saying nothing here… so there might be no harm in trying.

“In the first place, you know that walking around with such a dangerous species disguised as a human slave is a serious crime, right? Fulfill your duty as a citizen of the empire even now. Then your sins will not be confessed-”

“The reason I take her with me is because of Hwang Myeong.”

The emotions shown on their faces in response to what I said were varied.

Ridicule, absurdity, anger.

It’s a natural reaction because people will think it’s just a ridiculous lie to somehow escape the situation.

Soon, all those feelings are erased by the golden medal I take out from around my neck.

“Will this be proof of my words?”

Adventurers who escape guild management and work directly under the empire, a symbol of gold rank.

There were very few beings within the empire who could command and move those who possessed this symbol.

The powerful men of the Senate and the generals who commanded the imperial legions.

And the pinnacle of the empire.

emperor.

“…”

They were silent.

Staring at me blankly in a completely unexpected situation.

As I looked at that scene, I thought that perhaps I could make them back down with words.

“I cannot reveal the details, but the reason I am taking her is in accordance with the Emperor’s orders.

There will be no harm to the empire and its subjects-”

“…She?”

Until the woman who seemed to be leading those adventurers spoke again, until I could read at least a fragment of the emotion contained in her voice.

“I think I know who you are. Liber Catenis, from the Catenis family, glorious Venatores of the Empire. Golden hunter.

Of all the rare monsters in the Colosseum in the archipelago, you caught half of them and filled them, right?”

“…Rumors are bound to be mixed with exaggeration.”

Even if it were true, I didn’t like the last name or the second name, but I couldn’t just remain silent right now, so I answered that way.

But at the same time, even though I clearly know who I am, I don’t hide how I live…

I guess it means I can’t end this situation with words anymore.

“Okay. If ‘that’ was being captured by you and taken to the Colosseum, we might have been able to understand it.

If he was treated like a monster captured by the best hunter in the empire and taken away, if he was being treated appropriately…

But you treat that monster like a human being. Why? As far as I know, you too must have participated in the fight against the Sanguis family rebellion…”

She seemed genuinely curious. The problem is that he no longer seemed to have any intention of asking the question verbally.

Her next questions were on her and the adventurers’ javelins, ready to be thrown again.

“How can we trust a hunter who doesn’t know if he will release the beast.”

No longer needing to ask questions verbally, her next words were the conclusion.

And the adventurers who were with her probably followed her conclusions on countless battlefields and threw themselves into it without hesitation.

I sighed as I watched them try to resume the battle.

“Somehow things seem to be going wrong these days…”

Facing the barrage of javelins pouring down again, I raised my spear with a sigh.