episode_0005

The veins rose in the hand holding the spear.

The muscles, condensed to the limit, tremble to release the force, and finally stretch out in an instant, as if exploding.

I thrust and swung the spear loaded with the explosion of power, catching and cutting off the javelins flying at me like a bird of prey catching smaller birds.

In an instant, the sound of metal bouncing and wood breaking could be heard from all directions, but to me, who had already focused my attention on something farther away, the noise of the javelin breaking into pieces right next to me was insignificant.

‘The total number of members is 8… The composition is 7 warriors and 1 magician. All of them are at least the same level as Steel, and that woman who is the commander is also skilled at the Silver level.’

Unlike her subordinates who paused in surprise at the human inaction that recreated what they thought would have been possible for the vampire Rubiana, she calmly took out her javelin again.

Seeing her like that, the other adventurers were also quickly recovering from the shock.

She was the most threatening opponent here, not just in terms of force, but also in the overall flow of the battle.

He corrects the swing of his spear and aims it at her, moves his foot forward, bends down, and fires his body.

The distance is instantly narrowed, leaving behind the dust that scatters behind you every time you step.

An adventurer rushed towards me with his shield raised, trying to block the gap between her and me.

However, without slowing down my running speed at all, I stabbed the spear strongly with both hands at him.

-Kwazijic!

He was embarrassed when he realized that his shield had been pierced by the spear I had thrown at him, but like an experienced soldier, he quickly twisted his body to avoid the sharp spear blade.

The blade of the spear grazed the side of his armor, making a scraping sound and sparks flying, but he was able to dodge my spear.

However, because of that, I had no choice but to drop the shield from my body and lose my grip, which was just as I had hoped.

Taking a step closer, he pulled up the spear and snatched the shield that had pierced upward.

As soon as the shield disappeared, the space was completely empty. As the defense was completely pierced, I turned towards the opponent who was running towards me with my sword aimed for attack. I snatched the shield, turned my body in the same position as I had snatched it, and swung it as if I was sweeping the floor with my spear.

When the spear hit his left leg, the adventurer from the legion fell down with a groan, accompanied by the sound of flesh bursting and bones breaking.

As my colleague fell, the other adventurers glared at me with wide eyes.

But most of them couldn’t rush to me right away.

It wasn’t out of fear or looking for a better opportunity.

Because she started moving.

Luvia, who had had time to prepare herself as I entered the battle, was now showing off the magic she had been preparing.

She had now cast off her cloak, glowing red beneath it.

She is wearing a light, blood-red stola and a red veil that slightly covers her face.

The clothes worn by the red bride were pulsating as if they were woven from the blood flowing veins, and were emitting a frightening yet beautiful red light.

And she walked.

Luvia’s gait was light, as if she couldn’t see the spears and swords aimed at her, so she closed her eyes and leisurely danced along the path sprinkled with red flower petals.

The weapons facing those steps, those holding the spears, swords, and shields, began to tremble in front of him.

Fear and joy distorted the faces they hid behind their shields, and the tips of the spears and swords aimed at her scattered, lost in their direction.

She finally opens her red eyes.

The dance continues.

However, more cheerfully and with a smile than before.

play with

Every time she passes by, fluttering her beautiful red clothes, the adventurers let go of their weapons and fall to the ground.

One or two barely came to their senses, and the swords they swung and the spears they stabbed flew away from her.

I couldn’t tell whether it was because of her fascination and hypnosis that bloomed with the scent of flowers, or because of the vampire’s body and movements that transcended humans.

In front of the joke, except for Lilias and another warrior, the wizard was the only one who had not yet lost his mind and was desperately reciting spells.

In order to somehow withstand and release Luvia’s magic.

Of course, looking at him like that, Rubia laughed as if it was ridiculous.

In contrast to her, the female warrior’s face was distorted when she saw that almost all of her fellow adventurers had fallen.

Moreover, although the wizard barely withstood Luvia’s magic, almost all of the vanguard who would protect him had already fallen.

There was no way the wizard had a chance of winning in a physical fight with a vampire that could overwhelm even a decent warrior.

Moreover, it was obvious that if the wizard fell, it would be difficult to wake up the other adventurers who were currently on the ground, so she had no other options.

She tried to move quickly in front of him.

And I, who knew that she had no other options, read her movements clearly and rushed at her.

He lifted the spear still attached to the shield upward and jumped towards her.

‘Whoo!’

As I moved the already heavy spear with the large shield attached, the weight was clearly transferred to the muscles of my arms, but I was able to hold on.

It immediately turned diagonally in the air and brought its weight down on her with a burst of energy.

The moment she realized the danger and quickly rolled back, the shield pierced by the spear struck the spot where she was with a huge amount of mass.

Even before the roar and vibration created by the impact subsided, I ran forward again, holding the spear, and pushed her further back using the pierced shield.

She, who had been pushed aside due to the difference in mass, seemed not to have expected that she would be able to easily overtake me, so she gritted her teeth and jumped backwards to widen the distance, then charged at me, aiming the spear she was holding at me.

Even if they widen the distance for a moment, they are already too close to throw the javelin, so they try to pick it up and stab it.

However, the spear she hurled was blocked and broken by the shield that was still pierced by my spear, and at the same time, she rolled to the side and barely avoided my charge.

Having lost her last spear, she pulled out her sword instead, stood up again, and lunged at me.

The moment I was about to swing my spear again to stop him, I realized what she was trying to do.

For some reason, I thought I had wasted the last window in vain.

Her comrade was desperately clinging to her broken spear, which was stuck in her shield. Along with my spear, which is still tied to them.

While my spear was tied like that, she jumped at me and swung her shield.

As I tilted my head back and dodged the blow, it immediately lashed out the sword that was close to my body, almost as if it was firing, and came at me, whose posture was shaken.

‘indeed.’

What at first glance seemed like a desperate improvisation, was in fact a rough sketch for a bigger goal.

If I had let my guard down even a little, I would have been hit hard.

However, I have already learned that lesson at a high price a long time ago.

Holding the spear tightly with both hands, he twisted his body and kicked the shield with all his might.

As the spear falls out with a crunching sound, the opponent, who was holding on to the shield, suddenly falls backwards, unable to overcome the weight being placed on him.

I immediately turned my body as if I was falling backwards in reaction to the kick, and swung the spear briefly and powerfully, putting all my strength into my falling body.

When the blade of the spear hits the sword she was stabbing at, sparks fly, and her sword, unable to withstand the collision, breaks.

Just before the spear blade turns and hits her leg, she quickly throws away the broken sword and uses the shield on her left arm to barely block the heavy blow.

It was an attack with enough force to crack her shield, but she rolled over and landed, absorbing the impact as much as possible, and somehow stood up again.

However, it was impossible to say that her condition was good.

She avoided a direct hit, but judging from the strange sound of her breathing, it seemed like one of the bones in her body was cracked or broken, and her hand, which was holding the sword, was also bleeding from the shock transmitted through the blade and handle.

Besides the shield that was already cracked, there were no other weapons left or any companions left to help her.

Nevertheless, her persistence in continuing to fight even if she was alone, and the hatred and fighting spirit that still burned in her eyes, showed how deep her resentment against beings called vampires was.

But now, besides those things, something else was present in those eyes, albeit only slightly.

I have a doubt.

Soon the question was conveyed through her mouth.

“…Why are they treating us so poorly?”

She asked in a bitter voice.

“As I heard, the spear of the one called the Hunter of the Empire is amazing.

A large spear made entirely of alloy by dwarves, not only the blade but also the spear shaft.

If it weren’t for someone with incredible strength like you, you wouldn’t be able to lift it properly, let alone swing it.

However, with a spear that can shatter a shield with a single blow and tear off armor along with flesh, when it actually touches us directly, all we can do is control its strength and strike it away.”

“…Well… I think it will become difficult to control my strength if I keep fighting, so I’d like to stop at this point.”

I looked around as I spoke. Except for her, most of the adventurers are unconscious. The wizard also seemed to have been subdued by Luvia.

The outcome of the battle was already decided.

Nevertheless, I just hoped that her still burning fighting spirit could be put to rest through this conversation.

“Is it because you sympathize with us who lost our comrades so horribly? I can’t accept it, but I still understand it?”

“…and honestly, if you all die here, it will be quite difficult for us who want to move quietly.”

“I hope the reason is bigger. If not… it’s bittersweet to have to fight with such a good person…

I’m worried that you, a good person, may have fallen for that story.”

“Even at this point, you are so unnecessarily confident. No, are you shameless?”

Rubia, who roughly threw the unconscious wizard to the ground, silently joined our conversation.

“Ruvia…”

“Ah, master. Thank you for your help earlier. I almost had a hard time with some random things.”

At first glance, Luvia’s face seemed to have the same playful, happy expression it had before encountering them.

However, the eyes that were now glowing red were glaring at the opponent in front of them, spewing out a vicious murderous spirit with anger.

“Shameless… Don’t you think it’s a bit funny for you to say something like that?”

Of course, she, who was leaning against the broken shield and out of breath, did not avoid his gaze and continued speaking.

“I am Lilias, a centurion of the Empire’s 22nd Legion.

I still remember. What were the three cities in the south that you guys swallowed up like?

The people of the empire who drank your contaminated blood that spread through the waterways turned into the same monsters and bit their neighbors and family members.

Regardless of age or gender, torn, dried and twisted corpses were hung proudly on buildings along the roadside.

I cannot forget the teeth and claws of you who attacked me and my comrades in horror as we watched that tragedy in the darkness of the city, and the nature of the monster hidden behind that person’s skin.

But you, a member of the Sanguis family, the culprit behind all these tragedies, say such things while protecting your life by relying on the sympathy of the person who hunts such monsters-”

Lilias’ words could not continue. Because Luvia’s hand grabbed her neck.

Even though she was a silver-level adventurer, she was already exhausted from the fierce battle and could not easily shake off the vampire’s arms.

“…I’m so sick of it. Bitches like you who hold me accountable for things I didn’t do.”

Luvia was no longer smiling.

“..ke..gasp..”

“They don’t know anything about the truth and won’t listen no matter how much I tell them. I’m tired of just knocking it out and moving on.

If you guys see me as a monster no matter what I do, then why can’t I become that monster?”

The anger that she had kept inside for a long time was leaking out of her mouth along with the sound of heavy breathing.

“…I have a question. If I bite you right here and now and turn you into a vampire… When your companions come to their senses and wake up, will they hunt you down?”

Luvia bared her teeth as she pulled Lilias, who was becoming increasingly strangled and unconscious, closer.

“Rubia.”

By that time, I couldn’t just sit back and watch.

As he approached her, he carefully reached out and gently touched her shoulder and neck.

She was frozen and silent for a moment, but soon relaxed her grip and let go of Lilias.

Luvia’s eyes, which looked back at me as she collapsed and let out her blocked breath, were slightly wet with the red color fading away.

“…I’m sorry. I guess I used too much force. Thank you for stopping me from feeling…”

“It’s okay.”

I just said that and comforted her.

Just like I had at times ever since I first met her that day.

Unfortunately, it couldn’t continue like that. Because there was work that needed to be left to her.

“Ruvia, I’m sorry, but…”

“…I know. Master. Please leave it to me.”

I added one thing to her who looked a bit disappointed.

“…You worked hard. Let’s rest a little more alone before returning to Emma.”

“…Yes! Master!”

She answered brightly again and headed straight for the fallen adventurers.

“…Why are you leaving us alone? I’ll probably chase it until the end…”

Lillias, who had come to her senses for a moment, asked me in a dejected voice. Like you don’t understand what you just saw or heard.

Or maybe it was just because I wasted all my energy.

At that question, I am silent for a moment and then open my mouth again.

“…I have the means to stop the chase without killing you, and it’s not that I don’t have sympathy or understanding for your resentment, and if I kill you, there are a lot of problems…

The biggest reason I’m saving you all is… above all, for ‘her’ herself.

I hope one day she gets the apology she deserves.

It’s not that you and others like you die thinking of her as a monster until the end, or that she’s broken by misunderstanding and unfairness and truly becomes a monster.

I don’t want to kill you now because I hope you live to one day be able to properly apologize to her for all the misunderstandings and injustices.

Because she deserves to be treated like that.”

“…”

While I was talking, Rubia came back quickly. It didn’t seem to take long because most of them had already lost consciousness.

Now it was Lilias’ turn.

Soon she, like the others, closed her eyes.

“You won’t remember anything, right?”

“Yes, at most I will remember only the fact that I entered this alley. You won’t know why or what happened.”

After gathering the unconscious adventurers together, we quickly began to leave the back alley.

After the distance grew considerably and I heard Rubia’s confirmation, I breathed a sigh of relief and spoke.

“Thank you for your hard work. Rubia. And thank you for being patient. If you harmed or infected them earlier, there would definitely be an uproar-”

” Right? Did I do well?”

I looked back at her who interrupted me.

There was something different about her face and gaze than before.

Excitement and anticipation.

“Then… will you give me the award now?”