episode_0421

“That’s why I told you! The Black Palace is so big that you might get lost!”

I bowed my head to Lily’s words.

Because I never thought that even Lily would say she didn’t know the way.

I just ran blindly to chase Khan, and ended up in an unknown place.

“Mi, I’m sorry…”

“Whew… I’m an adult so I have to hold back.”

Lily crossed her arms and sighed.

I started walking aimlessly with Lily.

The endless black corridor was terrifyingly scary, but thanks to Lily by my side, I was able to walk through it without showing any sign of fear.

“But is it okay to just walk like this?”

“My mother will come looking for me later anyway. I’ll just go anywhere.”

“I see…”

Since Lily didn’t have a cell phone and couldn’t contact anyone, it seemed like we’d have to wait for Kelly to come find us.

I was able to put my mind at ease thanks to Lily’s words.

If there is anyone who is looking for it, they can now roam this Black Palace with an exploratory spirit.

Thinking about that, a smile returned to my lips.

“Why are you laughing? Jeff Yang has never done anything good.”

“Mi, sorry…”

I lowered the corners of my mouth at Lily’s words.

As I was looking at her with a gloomy expression, Lily smiled slightly and walked forward.

I walked down the hallway and looked around.

The sight of the hallway being the same, without any decorations, made me wonder if I was just going around the same place over and over again.

“Hey. Lily?”

“Huh?”

As I was walking forward, I suddenly noticed a door I had never seen before and stopped in my tracks.

It was a door that I clearly hadn’t seen until I passed it, but when I glanced back at the place I had passed, I saw that the door I had never seen before was right there.

“What is this door?”

“A door?”

Lily, who was also walking around, looking around carefully, approached me, questioning my words.

I looked up at the large door with Lily.

The tightly shut black door gave off an inexplicable, eerie atmosphere.

“It wasn’t there just now?”

Lily tilted her head as if she found it strange and walked towards the door.

The moment Lily reached out her hand in surprise at her actions, the door that Lily had touched began to slide open with a creaking sound.

It was like a scene from a horror movie, so I clung to Lily’s back.

“Yu, isn’t this the ghost room?”

“Jeff, there is no such thing as ghosts in this world.”

“Ha, but…”

Unlike me who was flustered, Lily stroked my head in a mature manner.

But if this room isn’t a ghost room, then what is?

It was a door that wasn’t there until just a moment ago.

In addition, the large door that seemed like it would open if Khan came and applied force opened as soon as Lily’s hand touched it.

It’s a ghost. It was definitely a ghost.

Contrary to my thoughts, Lily led me into the room as if nothing had happened.

“Excuse me, Lily. Can we wait outside?”

“My legs are starting to hurt. I’ll wait inside.”

I swallowed dryly at Lily’s words.

This time, Lily looked at me with a determined expression, as if she would not change her mind.

Eventually, I had no choice but to follow Lily into the room.

The room was dark.

So much so that you can’t see even an inch ahead.

“It’s too dark…”

As Lily spoke and looked around, the open door behind her began to slowly close.

I froze like ice as I saw it move on its own without me even touching it.

“Li, liliriri, lily!”

thud-

Eventually the door was closed.

At the same time, complete darkness fell on the room where the outlines had been faintly visible.

That was the moment.

Hwaruruk-

There was a sound of fire starting, and candles began to light up throughout the room.

Whack- Whack- Whack- Whack-

Candles that burn continuously.

And a decorated candle holder underneath.

In keeping with the antique design, the color of the fire was also unusual.

Blue flames began to illuminate the surroundings.

I stared blankly at the sight.

The continuous ignition was directed at one part of the room.

The light was connected along the path made of candlesticks, and in the center of it, a girl with white hair was sitting reading a book.

In a dark room like this, a book?

It was clearly not normal.

I confirmed that it was a darkness where I couldn’t see a single letter.

“Welcome.”

Lily and I became nervous at the girl’s softly flowing words.

Lily also tilted her head as if she didn’t know who her opponent was.

The girl sitting on the chair, as if she had been waiting for this moment, smiled brightly and jumped up from her seat.

“Welcome to my castle. I am the 13th head of the Vlad family!”

I looked around the room at the girl’s words.

It was a room that looked too shabby to be called a castle.

The dolls scattered all over the place were ruthlessly destroying the girl’s dignity.

“My name is CC Vlad!”

The girl, who introduced herself as Cissy Vlad, put down her book and strode toward Lily and me.

I whispered softly in Lily’s ear.

“Lily… Do you know who that person is…?”

“No… I don’t know. I guess I’m just a weird person.”

The girl who came closer began to look at me and Lily, then nodded as if she really liked it.

I couldn’t figure out what it was that I liked, but I smiled awkwardly and said to CC.

“Excuse me, CC? No, Vlad? Is it okay for us to go back now?”

“You passed. You are qualified to become a member of our family.”

Without even listening to what I said, CC, lost in her own world, ran to the corner with a happy smile.

The way he was running towards the camera looked like he was trying to take something out.

I grabbed Lily and dragged her towards the door.

And at that moment, I could see.

I mean, CC’s gaze, which had been running towards the corner, was turned towards me.

The moment her red-glowing eyes began to shine, I found myself approaching Cici together with Lily.

“Hot!”

I stepped back in surprise, and CC opened its mouth and furrowed its eyebrows in surprise.

CC’s silver hair glowed even in the dark.

It seemed as if it was not of this world.

“These days, kids have great mental strength!”

What CC took out were two pairs of small bracelets.

She came towards me and Lily, giggling.

She came over, moving her short legs hard, and handed Lily and me a bracelet.

“Okay. Take it. If you wear that bracelet, you will become a member of our family.”

I didn’t receive a bracelet.

The same goes for Lily.

“Why are you refusing?”

I frowned at CC.

The recipient will be even stranger.

What on earth is this girl’s true identity?

For a moment, he turned me and CC towards him.

Judging from her abilities, she seemed to be of the same psychic type as Lily, but judging by the fact that her barrier didn’t work, it didn’t seem to be that.

CC, who had been smiling and waving her bracelet, frowned when she saw my and Lily’s reactions.

“Seo, don’t you know me?”

“Of course I don’t know.”

“This can’t be happening!”

CC sat down in her seat as if shocked by my words.

The bracelets she had been holding in her hand were scattered carelessly on the floor.

“What the hell, what the hell have my efforts been for? I’ve been working hard for the Black Palace, but the new kids don’t know me…”

I exchanged a glance with Lily.

But as expected, Lily seemed unaware of this little girl’s identity.

Given the nature of nobles using surnames, it would have been natural to hear the family name, but Lily didn’t even seem to know that.

“Black…”

Finally, CC started to shed tears.

Sob, sob, sob.

It was unsettling to me to see the little girl cry.

I took a small handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped Cici’s face.

“Oh my… Thank you… It’s been a while since I’ve seen such kindness.”

What kind of life has CC lived?

Judging from the way he waited for guests to arrive and then lit a special candle, it seemed like he had not received a proper education from his parents.

Feeling sorry, I hugged Cici and patted her on the back.

“You, what is your name?”

Seemingly touched by my small kindness, CC asked me a question with shining eyes.

It wasn’t hard to tell my name, so I told CC my name.

“Jeff.”

“Jeff…? What’s your last name? What family are you from?”

“There is no surname.”

“Are you saying that you are not a noble?”

I frowned at CC’s words.

Even though I helped him, it seemed like he was trying to discriminate against him, saying he was not a noble.

The moment I was about to put the handkerchief back in my pocket, CC noticed this and grabbed my hand in surprise.

“Mi, I’m sorry! I was just, just a little surprised, so please don’t take this kindness away.”

This girl with her unique way of speaking seemed to be very hungry for the kindness of people.

A small smile escaped my face at the sight of CC rubbing her cheek against my hand.

“Hey, Mr. C. Can we stay here for a minute?”

“As much as you want! I’ll allow it as much as you want!”

So Lily and I ended up waiting for Kelly in CC’s room.

CC worked hard to bring us chairs so we could sit down.

It looked quite old and dusty though.

I dusted it off with my hands and sat down on it.

Lily also sat down on the chair.

A strange atmosphere was created by having a small table between them and a single candle.

Even the candles were blue.

There was an odd silence between me, Lily, and CC.

How much time has passed like that?

CC jumped out of her seat in surprise.

“Sorry! It’s been a while since you’ve been here, so I forgot to treat you!”

Cici ran shouting like that, but tripped over her own foot and fell to the floor.

Rolling and rolling, she disappeared into the darkness.

“I’ll have to ask my mother when I get back.”

He certainly didn’t seem like a normal kid.

And this room was also strange.

I thought it was just one big room, but it seemed like there was another room inside the room.

CC, who had disappeared into the darkness, has reappeared.

She came to the table with a large bottle of wine in her arms, her eyes shining with anticipation.

“Oh, this is something I prepared to drink when guests come.”

I looked at the label engraved on the wine bottle.

Judging by the unreadable characters engraved on it, it seemed to be a character used only in this area.

CC placed the bottle of wine on the table and went to the small shelf in the corner to get a wine glass.

It looked like it had been regularly maintained, and there wasn’t a speck of dust on it.

After everything was ready, CC grabbed the cork of the wine bottle and pulled it.

With a “pop!” sound, the moment the cork was pulled out, an incredibly sour smell filled the room.

The smell that hit my nose was like the smell of vinegar.