episode_0151

We entered the bar on the first floor of the hideout building.

The number of guests was smaller than usual.

Is that why?

The sight of those gathered on the side where the bartenders were was particularly striking.

“Oh, everyone’s here. Sylvia!”

“Brother Ilseong!”

Ray and I each shouted out Sylvia and Ilseong’s names.

Then, all eyes of those on the claim side as well as the guests turned to us.

“Oh… Looks like everyone was watching.”

I took a quick look around.

They were all watching what was happening in the North on their terminals or on TVs placed near their homes.

While I was doing that, Sylvia came over and caught me off guard.

“Chris, I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I told you I was okay!”

“Still, I can’t help but worry.”

That’s right!

As Sylvia hugged me tightly, I hugged her back.

“Let the baby listen slowly.”

“Yeah, I want to drink some blood first.”

“Johnny?”

“Sylvia Pido is also okay.”

“I’d like to do that too, but the situation is serious.”

“Ah….”

Well, it would be a problem if Sylvia, the office manager, were to suffer from anemia due to lack of blood.

No, wait a minute. It’s not like I lack self-control, so do I really need to worry about that?

While I was thinking about this and that, something cold suddenly touched my cheek.

“Eww!”

“Hahaha! Okay, sis. Take it.”

“No, just give it to me! And give me Ray too.”

“Ah.”

Johnny headed back to the fridge on the captain’s side.

Although it wasn’t as big as the refrigerator in the third floor house, there were spare vampire blood packs in the bar’s refrigerator for the vampire bartenders.

“Thank you for your hard work, Chris.”

“What hardship? Honestly, I didn’t do much.”

As Eslock approached with Lillian, he spoke.

Wasn’t the real suffering done by Oleg, who escaped the chaos carrying his brother’s coffin?

Or perhaps it could be said that those still fighting around the Crystal Palace are truly suffering.

Except for the unlucky 5th place!

“Hey, Chris.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Is there something strange on the back of your neck?”

“Huh?”

I quickly stopped drinking the blood in the pack.

I felt the back of my neck with the hand that wasn’t holding the pack, and decided to ask for help from someone else.

“Eslock, can you give me some instead?”

“Yes.”

Eslock’s thick, hard fingers touched my neck.

“Ugh!”

***

A sharp pain that comes immediately after.

“Chris, this was attached.”

Something red.

It wasn’t a mineral… but it seemed a little bit alive and it was very creepy.

“Huh? What is this?”

“It’s blood.”

“Vampires attach themselves to their opponents as if they were location trackers.”

A concise description of Lillian and Eslock.

“…Who would do something like this?”

“2nd place?”

Ray said as he received the blood pack from Johnny.

Next to him was Ilseong, who had come closer without anyone noticing.

“I think it would be better not to touch it carelessly.”

“Um….”

Despite Ilseong’s words, the thing on Eslock’s palm moved on its own.

“Wow!”

Suddenly, it started to grow bigger and bigger… and soon turned into a red bat.

“There are some welcome faces.”

“….”

Eslock and Lillian’s complexions darkened suddenly.

That’s understandable. The owner of this voice, who I know very well, is in second place!

“What the heck? When did you plant this in me?”

“I put it in insurance just in case.”

The voice was clearly that of the second place, but the actual appearance was that of a bloody bat flapping its wings.

“What is this? Is it a clone?”

“No, it’s not like I’m a clone. It’s just a little bit of blood that transmits my thoughts.”

Hmm. If you can convey your thoughts, one thing is clear.

It’s clear that the second place isn’t dead yet!

“So what’s your business?”

“I have a suggestion that might appeal to you too.”

Before hearing about the proposal.

I turned my head for a moment to check the expressions and reactions of the group.

Everyone’s expression was obviously suspicious.

“Legal?”

“There’s no way I can be sure unless I’m you.”

It’s not fun!

“What is it? Tell me.”

“I put the same blood on the saint’s neck as I put on your neck.”

“…Huh?”

Is 5th place still alive? I guess the outcome wasn’t as good as expected.

“Wait, so you’re not telling me to listen to you and deal with 5th place?”

“That’s right. You know a lot.”

Ugh.

Honestly, I wanted to deal with 5th place too. But I can’t just give 2nd place good things.

“Why should we do that?”

Sylvia, who was behind me, answered. Although I was left speechless, I just remained silent.

***

“The reason is simple. Right now, the situation is exactly what you wanted, but aren’t both me and the saint alive and well?”

“I don’t think that answers my question.”

“Then I guess I should say something that will motivate you.”

“….”

It seems he thought he couldn’t communicate with Sylvia.

The blood of the second person flew right up to my nose and continued talking. In the meantime, Ray started telling Ilseong and the others about the story of the saint betraying us.

“The saint is now one-armed.”

“What? Is this a metaphor? Or did you really lose your arm?”

“It’s not a metaphor. I was harmed, but the saint wasn’t safe either.”

The second place added that he would not be able to harm the fifth place unless he was officially expelled from the church.

A wounded saint outside the walls of the church.

But there’s one thing that bothers me. This bat has been talking too much for the number 2 I’ve known so far.

To be exact, the time I met the second place in this world was very short, but for someone who had met the second place quite often in the Dream City game, it was very unfamiliar.

“You’re in second place, right?”

“….”

When I asked him with narrowed eyes, the blood-red bat remained silent.

Silence is affirmation! I quickly caught the bloody bat.

“You’re not in second place, are you?!”

“…Yeah, no.”

The people near me showed various reactions to the bat’s sudden confession.

And gradually the bat’s shape changed into that of a slender woman.

“….”

Elder, she was clear.

The second adopted daughter and Lund’s step-sister.

It was very difficult to pretend to know each other these days when there were so many people around.

“I heard you know my identity anyway.”

Oh? Did the second place tell you that in that short time?

“Why did you have to try to fool me?”

“I thought this would be more effective. Since I’m caught, I’ll ask again.”

The elder, made of a small lump of flesh, knelt on one knee and spoke.

“It won’t be a bad story for you either, so please take care of the saintess.”

“Hmm.”

I was worried about what to do, but the worry didn’t last long.

“Okay, but there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

Something about her way of speaking feels just like my older sister’s.

“Tell me honestly about the 2nd place and the saintess’s condition.”

“…Okay.”

The elder said that the saint’s condition was not much different from what he had said when he pretended to be in second place.

“So the saint is missing an arm now?”

“Yes, it may be hard to believe, but his blood is enough to prevent the regeneration of the saint.”

A reason why a great person, such as a saint, could not regenerate her body. If it was due to the blood of the second place interfering, then it would be understandable.

“Who’s in second place?”

“We secured it, even though it’s not in good condition.”

Oh, that’s a bit too bad.

“What, did you get sealed or something?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Even if you were hit, you wouldn’t tell me.

***

“What is the saint’s current location?”

I projected the map of Magusfall as a hologram on the terminal for the elders to easily take pictures of.

The elder’s blood moved around here and there and finally pointed to one place.

“Not too far from the Sujeong Palace.”

“That’s right.”

Could this be called a golden opportunity?

The problem was that it was a golden opportunity not only for me, but also for the second place and the Lidocaine Association.

‘Lund will definitely object.’

Besides, I can’t call Lund back because he’s so busy.

What should I do with this….

“Just think about it for a moment.”

“It doesn’t matter, but the longer you delay, the higher the chance that the saint will survive.”

“Tsk.”

It was annoying, but it was true.

“Sylvia, where are you?”

After putting the elder on the table for a moment, he went to find Sylvia.

Ray and Ilseong happened to be nearby.

I shared what I heard with the three of them, and also with Johnny and Eslock, who happened to be the bartenders.

“You weren’t in 2nd place?”

“Yeah, but there’s a guy who’s the number two guy right below him. He’s Lund’s younger brother, by the way.”

“…The elder was Mr. Lund’s younger brother?”

Ray was quite taken aback by the news he heard for the first time.

“Yeah, that guy’s family situation is a bit complicated too.”

Let’s put aside the family relationship story for a moment and continue with the important story.

“What do you all think?”

“It’s a bit difficult to judge just by hearing the story.”

The first one to answer was Ilseong.

“Chris, I think… it would be better to deal with it this time.”

Ray said that the nuns who took care of the flying car we rode in were the ones who followed the saint.

Oh, I didn’t know that.

Of the forces that attacked the second place this time, the force that clearly shows the most hostility toward us is the church.

Among them, the saint is a dangerous person.

The elder’s words that it is better to deal with it outside the church fence came to mind again.

“But even if we move now, isn’t it already too late?”

“Oh, that’s not it. Sylvia.”

At Sylvia’s words, I showed the location of the saintess through the terminal just like I had done to the elder earlier.

“It’s okay if you fly away right now.”

“Then I guess it’s not time to worry.”

“….”

It would benefit the elders and the second in command, but there’s nothing we can do about it.

“Chris? What are you going to do?”

“I think it would be better to go.”

First of all, I have to take Midas with me!

Sylvia and Ilseong said they would respect my opinion. Ilseong even expressed his intention to join us.

“Huh, really?”

“Isn’t your opponent a saint? It would be more advantageous to have someone who isn’t a vampire.”

Well… that makes sense!

“Thank you!”

Without even the slightest thought of refusing, I welcomed Ilseong’s joining.

“Eslock, Lillian. You two, help us out for a moment.”

It was too early to call Lyra and Psylocke.

Me, Ray, and two vampires in Ilseong. And Midas too.

“What about Silla and Jang Gun-ni?”

“Well, that’s too dangerous.”

It would be sad for both of them to hear it, but it was true.

The means of transportation is a flying car that is airlifted from a company under my control.

Everything was ready when Ray hurried to the third floor to bring Midas.

Okay, Saint! Wait!