Chapter 61
I suddenly found myself moving around with two vampires.
One was already inconvenient enough, but two made it even harder.
“Mel. You’re not thinking of giving him blood, are you?”
Cain asked, as he briefly draped Kinaz around his neck like a necklace, something I had momentarily forgotten.
“Ah, Kinaz. Sorry.”
As soon as Kinaz saw Melony, he pressed his head against her hand repeatedly, looking pitiful. Melony, who had been smiling faintly, gently stroked Kinaz’s head with the other hand.
“I’m not giving it. I never said I’d feed you. You alone are enough.”
Cain took the hand that had been stroking Kinaz and bit his fingertip. A drop of blood formed where his fangs grazed her skin.
“That’s more like it.”
“Bite properly if you’re going to bite. What is this?”
“Kinaz’s meal.”
“….”
Knowing she wouldn’t refuse, Cain smirked mischievously, licked his finger, and quickly let go.
By now, Kinaz had crawled down Melony’s arm and was flicking his tongue, licking the blood.
“It tickles.”
“By the way…”
Cain suddenly spoke as if he had remembered something.
“Your power, Mel—it’s snake-shaped, right?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You were surprised when you first saw Kinaz.”
“Why is that?”
“A light snake… doesn’t it seem out of place?”
By now, Kinaz had stopped licking, and the blood had ceased flowing. The snake settled back on Melony’s shoulder and closed its eyes.
Melony cautiously got up and climbed onto the bed.
We had stopped by a nearby village because it had gotten dark before we could reach the mountain. Superbia was staying in the next room, and I ended up sharing a room with Cain.
“That’s none of your business.”
Truthfully, she had also been surprised to see the light snake—it was the first time she had truly witnessed her own power.
Why, of all things, did it have to be a snake?
Perhaps noticing her thought, Kinaz flinched. Feeling guilty, Melony stroked him on the back of the hand.
“You know, right? Snakes are the minions of vampires.”
“So?”
Instead of answering, Cain climbed onto the bed.
He lifted her chin and examined her face from every angle. When Melony’s expression started to turn sour, he quickly let go.
“No matter how you look at it, you’re human.”
“What did you do?”
“I was wondering why it’s a light snake. Turns out… isn’t it a vampire thing?”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll rip your tongue out.”
“You’re scary.”
Cain raised his hands and quickly lay down on the bed.
“Ah, I’m tired.”
“Get lost.”
Melony nudged Cain’s back with her foot, then kicked him harder. He pretended to roll off but landed safely.
Not stopping there, he insisted on taking up half the bed.
“Haa…”
There was no sofa in the inn, so the only places to lie down were the floor or the bed.
She didn’t want to lie on the floor, but she also didn’t want to share the bed with Cain.
“Think carefully, Mel.”
Cain nudged her side mischievously.
“Choose: the floor or my side.”
She wondered what kind of logic this was—she was paying for the room herself, after all.
‘Maybe the room with Superbia?’
No, that would be worse.
Just thinking about it made her stomach churn.
“Just… die already.”
Melony lay down next to Cain, keeping as much distance from him as possible, and placed Kinaz in the middle.
“Don’t climb on me anymore.”
Closing her eyes, Melony turned her back to him.
“Hello.”
When she opened her eyes, a woman with green hair appeared.
“I didn’t use holy power, so why…?”
“I connected to your dream path.”
“Haah.”
Cain and this woman were both so self-willed. But having gotten used to Cain, it didn’t feel so troublesome.
Melony lowered her hand from her head and calmly looked at the woman waving at her.
“So? Why did you call me again?”
“There’s something I couldn’t say last time.”
“Say it now. And don’t call me again after this.”
“I still have many things to do, so that’s a bit difficult.”
Which meant she would have to meet this woman several more times.
“Oh, right.”
Suddenly, Melony guessed the woman’s identity—and it worked out well.
“Your name.”
“You found out?”
“Lilith.”
“……”
“The first saint of Arcadia, Lilith. Right?”
The woman didn’t answer, but her lips curved into a smile.
Maybe she couldn’t intervene because she was told not to, like last time.
“I can’t say it myself… but I won’t tell you it’s wrong either. If it’s correct, I won’t answer.”
“You’re completely self-willed.”
“What can I do?”
Lilith shrugged, smiling widely.
“Can you tell me the real reason you called me?”
“Oh, right.”
Clapping her hands, Lilith got up. Melony, who had been lying down, also rose.
“That’s why I called you. Normally, you’d have to use your holy power for this, but I pushed it a bit.”
“……”
“Your holy power is unstable, right?”
“It’s true I can’t control it.”
“I want to teach you how to control it.”
“…What do you mean? You can do that in a dream?”
“Of course.”
Lilith pointed to the castle behind her.
“Inside here, it’s possible.”
“What is this place?”
“……”
Lilith remained silent, which meant she couldn’t answer.
Exasperated, Melony sighed deeply.
“Why can’t you intervene? Because you’re already dead?”
“Oh, that, but also…”
Suddenly, Lilith’s face darkened, as if she might cry at any moment.
That must be a boundary not to touch. Melony decided not to ask further.
Anyway, she would teach her how to control her holy power.
“Lilith.”
“Hm?”
“Will I ever find out what you can’t answer?”
“Yes.”
Lilith answered. Surprised, Melony blinked and opened her mouth, then closed it.
No need to ask now if she would find out later.
“Then, teach me now.”
“Unfortunately, today ends with just delivering the purpose!”
“What?”
Lilith smiled beautifully and pushed Melony lightly.
Again. A strong force pulled Melony from behind. It felt like countless hands were trying to drag her away.
“Lilith, you!”
“I told you. I can’t intervene. That’s why there’s a time limit.”
“What kind of nonsense is this!”
“Well then, Melony. See you next time. Goodbye.”
Lilith smiled teasingly.
‘Now that I think about it, she kind of resembles Cain.’
And just like that, the thought completely vanished.
“Mel.”
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a snake looking down at her and a handsome man.
Blinking, Melony sighed deeply.
“Kinaz is sad. He sighed when he saw your face.”
Opening her eyes again, Melony lifted Kinaz onto her stomach.
“He sighed because of you.”
Pushing Cain’s forehead aside, she sat up, holding Kinaz firmly so he wouldn’t fall.
“Wake up properly.”
“Mel, it seems you slept soundly after a long time, so I didn’t want to wake you.”
“But?”
“Look outside.”
Rain was pouring down—violent, as if it could sweep everything away.
Melony got off the bed and opened the window to take a look.
The villagers were avoiding the rain, sensing the danger.
“This is just great.”
Water from the rain splashed onto Kinaz. He hissed and hid in Melony’s arms.
Clicking her tongue, Melony closed the window.
“Can’t help it. If we climb the mountain in this weather, we might die.”
Melony placed Kinaz back on the bed and took a pouch from her bag.
“I’ll extend the lodging, so stay put.”
She stepped outside and went into the next room. Superbia was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside.
“Superbia.”
He slowly turned his head.
“It’s raining too hard to cross the mountain, so we’ll stay one more day.”
“I see.”
“You’re a vampire too, so do you need blood?”
“That would be nice, but human food is fine too.”
“Oh, right. Wait a moment.”
Cain only wanted blood, but the king’s clone seemed different.
Melony extended her lodging and collected food from the inn. She handed one portion to Superbia and took the rest back to the room.
“Mel.”
Cain immediately approached.
“Did you stop by the next room?”
“Yes. Had to let them know we’re extending the stay.”
“You didn’t give them blood, did you?”
“I gave the same food as I ate.”
She didn’t understand why she had to justify herself, but she got tired of thinking about it and gave up.
Sitting at the table, Melony started eating. Cain rested his chin on his hand, watching her.
“What are you looking at?”
Cain narrowed his eyes and smiled.
