Chapter 02
In the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep.
A firmly closed window slid open without a sound.
Even though it was the fifth floor, the man slipped lightly inside.
It was movement no human could imitate.
Landing without a noise, he leisurely glanced around the small room.
“……”
His red eyes stopped on the woman lying on the bed like a corpse, unmoving, dead asleep.
“I have something I’m curious about…”
Cain whispered in a low, calm voice—as if Melony were awake and listening.
“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow, so I ended up coming.”
Silently, Cain sat on the edge of the bed beside her. The mattress didn’t even dip.
“But what is this, I wonder.”
His gaze deepened, a dangerous gleam flickering in his eyes. Without realizing it, he wet his lips with his tongue, then lightly stroked his own neck.
A sudden thirst burned down his throat.
“Earlier… did your armor come off and reveal what was inside?”
His lips stretched into a long smile.
Maybe he could take just a taste. While murmuring to himself, Cain’s hand slowly reached toward her neck.
Just as he was about to grab it—
Click.
Something cold and round pressed up against Cain’s jaw.
“Welcome.”
Melony had fallen into a light sleep—she’d been ambushed more times than she could count. And she was a light sleeper besides.
Even if Cain made no sound, he couldn’t hide the faint stir of air his movement created. From that, Melony sensed someone had entered.
“Illegal intruder.”
Bang—
Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.
“Your greeting is a bit rough.”
As if he had anticipated it, Cain sprang aside and dodged the shot with ease.
Tch. Melony clicked her tongue softly and sat up in one swift motion. She had already expected him to dodge. With an expressionless face, she pressed the muzzle of her gun directly to Cain’s forehead this time.
“What brings you here personally?”
“That innocent act you put on at Bloody Night—was that all just acting?”
“State your purpose.”
Ignoring his comment, Melony pressed the muzzle harder into his skin. Cain’s smiling face hardened into ice.
In an instant, the air in the room froze, a chill drifting through the space.
“Before coming in, I saw what you ate.”
Melony blinked slowly.
“Must’ve been imagining things.”
Her calm tone didn’t seem to work on Cain, who let out a quiet scoff.
“That was a drug made from vampire blood. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
“Creating filthy things like that is a hunter’s specialty.”
Even under Cain’s contemptuous gaze, Melony remained unbothered. She simply didn’t relax—she had no idea how he might act next.
“After seeing that, I got so curious about a hunter’s motives that I couldn’t sleep.”
“…Ah.”
Melony realized why things had gone so smoothly at the tavern earlier—Cain had moved exactly according to her plan.
But now she understood why.
He approached me on purpose, knowing who I was.
The realization that she’d been dancing in the palm of his hand disgusted her.
Her face twisted, and she was about to pull the trigger again—
“You came to hunt me?”
In a blink, Cain vanished from in front of her. His voice sounded close, but he was nowhere in sight.
Even so, Melony didn’t panic. Vampires possessed physical abilities far beyond humans—they moved in ways that defied common sense.
“It’s useless.”
She murmured, accustomed to tricks like this. Without hesitation, she fired at a specific spot.
Thud—
“Urgh!”
With a short cry, Cain’s body hit the floor like discarded trash.
A bullet was lodged deep in his solid thigh, blood dripping heavily. Grimacing in pain, he clutched his leg tightly.
“Damn it!”
He tried to get up, but the silver-infused bullet made it nearly impossible—his body only writhed.
Melony sat calmly on the bed, legs crossed. A sleek black gun rested in her hand.
“First time getting hit by a silver bullet?”
“You damned hunter.”
Cain bared his teeth, looking like he wanted to tear Melony apart for staring down at him so arrogantly.
Click—
Unmoved, Melony aimed again—this time at his other thigh.
“Don’t move. If you do, I’ll shoot the other one too.”
“Hah…”
Collapsed on the floor, Cain suddenly broke into hysterical laughter. Running a hand through his black hair, he covered his face.
“Hahaha! Ha!”
Then he lowered his hand. Melony watched him with narrowed eyes.
Has he gone insane?
She prepared to shoot the other leg and proceed with her next step.
“Hey, hunter. So? What’s your goal?”
Silver bullets held a divine blessing. Hunters used them to kill vampires.
A vampire who could withstand one wasn’t ordinary.
Even shot point-blank, Cain was only in pain—he could still speak normally. Melony couldn’t help admiring that.
Yes. He’s the one I’ve been looking for.
Her revenge had just made progress.
Melony shrugged.
“Cooperate with me.”
“…What?”
Given the situation, she clearly held the advantage. There was no reason not to cut to the main point.
“So I was your target?”
Cain sounded incredulous. Melony nodded plainly.
“In a way, yes.”
“Unbelievable.”
Lost in thought for a moment, Cain pushed himself upright and leaned against the wall. He looked slightly better.
Melony didn’t bother forcing him back onto the floor.
“You’re not an ordinary hunter.”
This time, she did not answer. No reason to reveal anything to the enemy.
She simply kept the gun trained on him.
“Ah… I see. That’s how it is.”
Cain muttered to himself, looking down at his thigh. The deeply embedded bullet had nearly paralyzed his leg.
“Not all hunters use silver bullets.”
Melony’s eyes widened.
Shockingly, Cain rose to his feet. He limped, but clearly used his uninjured leg to support himself.
“Is he insane?”
“You’re surprised by just this?”
He chuckled, then winced, pain twisting his face.
Melony merely observed him coolly.
Not only can he talk, he can move?
Ordinary vampires would be half-dead with one bullet lodged inside them—unable to move an inch. The weak ones died instantly from silver.
But the purebloods—the dominant class—were strong enough to endure it.
Just like the man in front of her.
Amazing. I really found the right one.
Cain stopped directly in front of her.
Melony lifted her arm, aiming squarely at his forehead once more.
“Among them, only one woman uses these bullets.”
“……”
“The one they call the Queen of the Mad Hunters.”
“Oh? Am I that famous?”
Bang—
Still speaking, Melony fired again without hesitation. The bullet grazed Cain’s right cheek.
A spark flared briefly before disappearing. Red blood dripped down from the wound along his jaw.
“Right. I bet there are plenty of vampires who want to twist your neck.”
Though he seemed fine, Cain eventually staggered, breath short, and collapsed to the floor again.
“Hey, Cain.”
Melony stood and walked over, pressing the muzzle to his head as he kneeled.
Two bullets left. That’s enough.
When she called him, he raised his head with only his lips curved in a smile.
“You’ve got two choices.”
His beastlike red eyes glared up at her.
“Let’s hear the options you think you can offer me.”
He looked ready to sink his fangs into her pale throat at any moment. Melony, in front of such a predator, wore an entirely calm expression.
Without a word, she pulled a black leather collar from her bag.
“And what’s that?”
Melony smirked and lifted her leg, pressing her boot onto his injured thigh. The bullet sank deeper inside.
Though clearly in agony, he endured it without a sound.
“One: wear this and cooperate with me obediently.”
Grit—
Cain’s teeth ground together, sharp fangs glinting between his lips. For a heartbeat, Melony’s brows tightened.
She casually looked away—no trace of the breath she momentarily held.
“Or two: die here.”
“……”
“So? Which one?”
“Both choices are garbage.”
Cain grabbed her ankle hard enough to twist it off if he wanted.
“As for the first one… I refuse.”
Melony’s eyes snapped to his hand around her ankle.
There was no time to hesitate.
Showing kindness was a useless mistake.
