Chapter 34
Meloni put down her fork.
After mulling over Glenn’s words, she let out a cold laugh.
“Don’t tell me—was that story about Sir Eric being sick a lie?”
Glenn averted his gaze with a look of oh no. In his excitement, his lie had been exposed.
“Senior, you’ve gotten good at lying. You used to be terrible at even the smallest ones.”
“…Haa.”
“I was fooled, so it really was perfect.”
After downing the rest of his beer, Meloni ordered another. She was too irritated to stop now.
When the new beer arrived, she gulped down nearly half of it in one go.
“I fell for it because of the last image I had of him.”
“…He really was injured.”
“Now that it’s all out in the open, talk straight. Where?”
“He broke his leg not long ago.”
“Ah.”
That much was nothing unusual for a hunter. Even ordinary humans broke legs from time to time.
“Then what about that weak, lifeless look I saw years ago?”
“He’s fine now.”
“Scammer.”
“Ugh.”
Meloni glared at Glenn, then sighed.
He said he wouldn’t use a lie like that just to bring me along.
And yet she’d fallen for it. The Glenn she’d seen after so long had turned into a legendary con artist.
“If even Cain would fall for it, that’s impressive.”
“Stop mocking me.”
“Leave tomorrow. Immediately.”
Clack.
Meloni set her glass down sharply and muttered like a warning.
“Before I get so angry I start shooting you.”
“Wait, Meloni.”
As Glenn grabbed her in a panic when she tried to stand, he glanced around. Everyone in the tavern was too busy with their own conversations.
He sat her back down and whispered.
“The temple’s movements have been suspicious lately.”
Five years as a saintess—years when she’d been called a rogue saintess—flashed through her mind.
“I haven’t been cooperating with Clovis recently.”
“…So?”
“I need your help.”
When a saintess steps down, her holy power usually fades gradually, passing on to the next one. After all, there can only be one saintess at a time.
Yet Meloni’s holy power hadn’t diminished—if anything, it had grown stronger. As if she were the only saintess in existence.
“You’re the only one who truly knows the temple, Meloni.”
“Ahh. So you tried to drag me to headquarters because you knew I’d refuse if you said that outright?”
“Yes.”
Since everything was exposed, Glenn nodded honestly.
“I thought you’d listen if it was Sir Eric.”
“No matter what Sir Eric says, I refuse.”
“You say that, but your actions say otherwise.”
“Don’t act like you know everything about me.”
She raised her glass and slammed it down on Glenn’s hand. It had to hurt, but he swallowed the pain.
Feeling satisfied, Meloni snorted.
“Great acting. Really enjoyed it.”
“Ugh, ngh… Meloni, please. Everyone’s counting on you. I came because I’m your partner.”
“I figured.”
Resting her arms on the table, Meloni fell into thought.
After losing her parents right in front of her to monsters, she’d been so traumatized she couldn’t speak for months.
In that state, she became a saintess. Naturally, she couldn’t perform her duties properly.
Five years in name only—she’d truly worked as a saintess for just a few months.
Inevitably, former saintesses whose power was nearly depleted had supported the empire. Or they’d borrowed power from saintess candidates.
The only reason Meloni had lasted five years in that chaos was one thing: her power was the greatest of any saintess in history.
“I’m still pissed you lied to me.”
“I’ll buy the drinks. Okay?”
“That’s a given.”
“Then… what else can I do for you? Just say it. Your big brother will do anything.”
“Stop calling yourself my big brother.”
“Bleh.”
Meloni pretended to gag, then grinned as if she’d thought of something.
“Let’s put it on hold. Later, you’ll grant me one request.”
“…What kind of request?”
“No idea. But I’m sure I’ll need it someday. Might as well secure the opportunity.”
She pulled out her watch and checked the time.
“Let’s head back. I’m tired.”
“Ah—yeah. You haven’t been sleeping well lately, have you?”
“I’ll probably have another nightmare. If I have another episode, come wake me.”
“Okay. Trust me.”
Meloni exited the tavern first. With alcohol in her system, a yawn slipped out.
Even if she slept, she’d wake up soon anyway. She didn’t want to sleep, but the body craved rest.
Can’t be helped.
Until Cain returned, she’d keep suffering from nightmares. Annoyingly, the only solution was that vampire.
As she headed toward the inn, fighting off drowsiness—
Thump.
She bumped into someone completely wrapped in a cloak.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“……”
The cloaked figure bowed slightly, as if to say it was fine.
That’s when Meloni saw them grin—just for a moment. At first she was going to pass by, but something felt off.
She saw sharply gleaming fangs.
“Senior. The person I just bumped into—doesn’t seem human.”
Meloni’s instincts were extremely sharp—and accurate.
At her words, Glenn hurriedly pulled an hourglass from his pocket.
“Damn. Looks like you’re right.”
It wasn’t an ordinary hourglass. Inside wasn’t sand, but a vivid red liquid.
Vampire blood.
When it encountered its own kind, it vibrated and shook—and it was doing so now.
With a glance, the two of them sprinted in the direction the cloaked figure had gone.
“It’s definitely a vampire.”
Sometimes vampires hid among human towns, skillfully avoiding surveillance.
Or sometimes they slipped in with a specific purpose.
Just like I deliberately went to a vampire village once.
Once spotted by hunters, they had to be driven out of human settlements.
But the vampire was too fast. They lost them, and in the end had no choice but to return to the inn.
“We’ll report it tomorrow.”
“Yeah. Go in.”
“Meloni, don’t worry. I’ll hear everything from the next room.”
“Okay. I’ll try not to fire my gun.”
“You really scared me earlier.”
A hunter’s habit of keeping a gun within arm’s reach couldn’t be helped. Whenever someone approached, she instinctively raised it and aimed.
Back in her room, Meloni surveyed the cramped space. The window was untouched—no intruders.
Guess Cain isn’t back yet.
Given how unpredictable he was, she’d checked the room just in case.
Or maybe she’d hoped he would be there.
“…What am I expecting?”
Annoyed at her own thoughts, she scratched the back of her head and sat on the bed.
As she’d said, Kinaz had been waiting quietly and slowly slithered over.
“Oh no. I forgot your food.”
She should’ve wrapped up some leftover fried chicken.
Kinaz’s bright eyes dulled. Its drooping head looked pitiful.
“Kinaz.”
Even so, at her call, it eagerly lifted its head.
After a brief hesitation, she pulled out a dagger and nicked her fingertip, drawing blood.
“Here.”
She’d given Kinaz blood before. Since it was a vampire’s familiar, she’d been told blood would work the same.
After that, she hadn’t given it blood again, instead feeding it other things—mostly human food.
She’d forgotten today, and since it’d been days, she had no choice.
“Looks like this really is your favorite.”
The snake’s tongue gently wrapped around her finger. The sensation was still unfamiliar, sending a chill down her spine.
It felt different from giving blood to Cain.
He’d rush at her like a starving beast, baring his fangs, desperate for more.
In contrast, the blue snake was extremely careful, acting as if asking whether it was truly allowed. In a way, it was almost gentlemanly.
“Have more.”
When the snake pulled its tongue away, Meloni offered it again.
“You only eat when I allow it.”
Only then did Kinaz flick its tongue a few more times.
“Kinaz, if I have another episode, you have to wake me.”
The snake obediently nodded its head.
Even though Cain wasn’t here, looking at Kinaz made it feel like he was. That slight sense of relief let her lie down as usual, placing her gun under the pillow.
“Good night.”
Kinaz came right up to her face and curled its body.
The smooth, python-like patterns were becoming familiar now.
As Meloni’s eyelids grew heavier, she blinked a few times before closing them completely.
After she fell asleep, Kinaz opened its eyes and stared intently at her face.
