Chapter 09
The inside was completely dark, so pitch-black that she couldn’t see a thing. On top of that, something was moving in there—enough to put anyone on edge.
She immediately shifted into attack mode, raising her gun and waiting for the unknown creature to reveal itself.
…Is that a person?
A human silhouette slowly came into view. Even then, Melony kept her gun raised.
From between the bushes emerged a woman with pale skin and violet hair. She looked perfectly human on the outside, but Melony realized the truth at once.
“…A vampire.”
The woman slowly nodded.
“Please, lower your weapon.”
Even at her polite tone, Melony did not drop her arm. Her indifferent golden eyes were sharp, as if trying to dig through the woman’s intentions.
Unable to withstand Melony’s gaze, the woman lowered her head toward the ground.
“Please… I beg you.”
At her earnest plea, Melony asked quietly,
“And why should I trust someone whose identity I don’t even know.”
The woman lifted her head again—but the moment she saw Cain standing slightly behind Melony, her eyes widened. Her lips parted as if she had something to say, but no words came out.
“Got distracted. Doesn’t look all that sincere to me.”
“N-no. I apologize.”
The woman quickly bowed her head.
But Melony caught it—the way the woman bit her lip as if her pride had been wounded.
Well, of course she’s offended. Bowing her head to a hunter…
Still, Melony kept the barrel of her gun firmly aimed at the woman’s forehead.
At that moment, the woman spoke again, her voice trembling faintly.
“I had no intention of attacking you. I merely… wished to confirm who the intruder disturbing this quiet forest was.”
“That so? Funny—you tried to kill me by using your subordinate.”
“N-no. Those children once lost someone precious to a hunter. Their grudge is… deep. That is why such a thing happened.”
Her hair now hid her face entirely. Melony stared at the lowered head, weighing her options.
Why would I lower my weapon?
A vampire who hasn’t done anything will never attack, no matter how deep their hatred runs. But the moment they bare their claws—she returns it tenfold.
That was the way Melony survived.
Which meant she should blow this woman’s head off right now.
But…
This woman was likely the Bishop-rank vampire Cain had mentioned.
“Mel, you can put that away.”
Hearing Cain’s voice, she turned left. His black hair swayed gently in the wind.
“She can’t attack you anymore.”
And why exactly should she trust that?
As if reading her thoughts, Cain pointed at the woman.
“She’s the one I’m here to meet. And…”
“…”
“She’s incapable of treating me as an enemy.”
In other words, the only person the woman could view as an enemy was Melony.
At least, for now.
Melony glanced at Cain’s throat, then finally lowered her arm. The expression on her face said clearly that she was doing it against her will.
“The dead subordinate can’t be helped. They attacked first.”
Melony spoke to the woman in a flat voice.
“I would’ve spared them, but they brought death upon themselves.”
The woman slowly lifted her head. Melony sensed hostility toward hunters—but the woman quickly erased it.
Melony caught the faint killing intent instantly, but said nothing.
“I… I see.”
The woman bit her lip again, unable to hide her rigid expression. After barely composing herself, she lowered her head toward Cain.
Her attitude toward him was nothing like how she behaved with Melony. It came from pure reverence—natural, almost instinctive.
Melony narrowed her eyes and watched from a distance, puzzled.
Why does she look like she’s… serving him?
The woman paid no mind to Melony’s stare.
“You said you had business with me.”
“Yes.”
“I will guide you.”
Cain tapped Melony lightly on the shoulder. She walked beside him.
“I heard you encountered the king recently.”
“…The real king?”
“Most vampires can’t distinguish him.”
“And you can?”
“Of course. I can.”
Cain looked down at her with a chilly gaze, then smirked.
“But Mel… aren’t you a bit slow today?”
She had simply been walking at a normal pace. Being told she was slow made her glare at him as if asking whether he expected her to run.
“There’s a faster way to move.”
Just as she was about to ask What way?—
Cain wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her as if she weighed nothing.
“…!”
She was so startled by the sudden contact that she couldn’t even scream. Goosebumps shot up her arms; she twisted instinctively.
“Hold still. Or you might fall.”
The words had barely left his mouth when he leapt into the air and landed atop a tree.
“You need to warn me before you move!”
Melony yelled, eyes wide. She slammed her fist into Cain’s shoulder as hard as she could—but he didn’t even flinch. Instead, he laughed.
“If you’d like to fall, go ahead and keep that up.”
Only then did Melony realize something—she was afraid of heights.
She had simply never been up this high before.
Not wanting to reveal such a weakness to Cain, she froze her hands and bit her lips.
This bastard…
Cain crossed from tree to tree effortlessly, as if stepping across stones in a stream.
The unprecedented experience left Melony speechless. She even forgot that Cain was still holding her by the waist.
Damn vampire. Treating me like luggage?
The scenery blurred past rapidly. Yet despite everything, the view from above was stunning—something she’d never seen from the ground.
Okay… this is actually kind of nice.
Before long, she adapted, and began observing the landscape calmly. Cain glanced at her with mild amusement.
“Mel, aren’t vampires the only thing you’re afraid of?”
“Who said I’m scared of vampires? Don’t assume.”
It was only muscle memory—trauma from her childhood. When a vampire touched her, her body reflexively froze for a moment.
But she now had the strength to kill them easily.
“Then what is it?”
“I just… hate them.”
“For someone who just ‘hates’ them, your reaction was intense.”
Swoosh—
The wind brushed past, scattering her silver hair. Cain watched her hair ripple like waves.
“How contradictory.”
“Mind your own business.”
“That’s exactly what makes me curious.”
“…”
Not worth responding to. Melony stayed silent.
Cain simply laughed—genuinely amused.
“Look down, Mel. A village.”
She obeyed and lowered her gaze. Sure enough, a vampire village lay below, clusters of homes gathered together.
A few more leaps later, Cain dropped down to the ground.
The moment they landed, Melony jumped away from him.
…This is actually pretty useful.
Maybe in emergencies, she should let Cain carry her.
“This way, please.”
The woman—who had arrived just after them—took the lead. Melony followed without a word.
She guided them to a two-story house on the outskirts of the village. Inside, she motioned toward a room. Melony did not move, unsure of the intention.
“Mel.”
Cain chuckled and pointed at her umbrella.
“You used a lot of holy power while playing around with me, didn’t you?”
“You—how do you even…?”
“You switched to regular bullets at some point.”
No telling how long his business would take. And she needed to replenish silver bullets as well.
Annoyingly sharp bastard.
He was right. Annoyingly right.
If anyone here realized a hunter was inside the village, Melony would be in serious danger.
Of all things, he had to notice that…
With no other choice, Melony sighed and set her belongings down by the wall.
“I’m Bella. If you need anything, please call for me.”
The woman—Bella—introduced herself, then left the room.
Melony stared at the closed door before turning. She headed toward the bed, but Cain was already lying across it, tapping the space beside him.
“Bella may be grieving her subordinate, but she’ll still cooperate with me.”
“Because you’re both purebloods?”
“That’s right.”
Ignoring him, Melony sat at the small table in the corner and rested her chin on her hand, staring at him.
“Cain, now it’s my turn to ask something.”
Melony didn’t trust Cain.
His identity was too unclear. She had assumed he was a Bishop, one of the king’s elite guards. But Bella’s demeanor toward him made her think otherwise.
Is there some hierarchy even among Bishops?
Or maybe—
He’s the fallen king… or perhaps the king’s other self.
Cain’s lips curved, as if he had predicted exactly what she’d ask.
“What do you want to know about me, Mel?”
“Are you… by any chance…”
