#Episode 34
***
A late-night visitor, Vasha, visited Albert and, after accomplishing her goal, returned to the inn. She then rambled to Todd about her achievements.
“It seems like your suggestion of using cognitive distortion worked well. Although Albert appeared to be suspicious at one point, fiddling with the holy relic… If we hadn’t prepared for the relic, we could have been in big trouble.”
Todd, who was quietly listening to Vasha’s words, frowned and asked.
“So… even though you did nothing, did he say you passed?”
“Yeah. As soon as we met in the hallway, he said he wanted someone like me.”
“Did he really just look at your face?”
Todd muttered quietly. Realizing Vasha had heard him, he blushed and made an excuse.
“Honestly, your appearance does stand out… Being attractive is one of the characteristics of a vampire. I was just stating an objective fact.”
Realizing that it was useless to deny it any longer, he admitted it readily, unlike the last time. However, as he continued to speak, his explanations became increasingly pathetic.
‘Strong denial is a strong affirmation…’
Unaware of Vasha’s thoughts, Todd mumbled as he tried to guess Albert’s intentions.
“Anyway, if he chose you based on your looks, it means there’s something he needs your face for. Did he ask you for any specific favors? Like seducing the Count…”
“I heard the Count is now seventy years old.”
“Isn’t he younger than you?”
“That’s true.”
Vasha nodded indifferently. Having lost her memory, she didn’t know her exact age, but she guessed it was much more than seventy.
Pouting, Vasha complained.
“But judging by appearances, I look like the Count’s granddaughter’s age. In fact, Albert looks older than me.”
“Your age isn’t the point here. Even an old man would fall for a beauty. No one dislikes beautiful people.”
“You too?”
“…Stop twisting my words!”
Unable to hold back, Todd finally snapped. Vasha, stifling a laugh, returned to the main topic.
“Well… I don’t know what he expected from me, but it seemed like he wanted to win the Count’s favor. He mentioned it would be good if I could take the Count out for a walk since he’s been sick and confined to his room.”
“Such a shameless excuse.”
Todd sneered. From his words alone, it seemed like Albert genuinely cared about the Count.
However, choosing Vasha revealed his ulterior motives. Vasha’s face was too striking to be a mere companion for an old man.
‘No matter how you look at it, her appearance isn’t suitable for keeping an old man company.’
Yet, Albert chose to pair Vasha with the old man. Todd clicked his tongue and tapped the table with his fingertips.
“His real goal is to lure the Count out of his room, not to help him recover. The Count’s room is too heavily guarded, so he might be planning to drag him outside to assassinate him. Was there any other request?”
“Not directly to me.”
Todd didn’t miss Vasha’s subtle tone.
“Which means he said something else behind your back.”
“Exactly.”
Vasha grinned. She shrugged her shoulders, revealing her efforts.
“Coincidentally, the holy relic wasn’t working, so I took the opportunity to dig a bit deeper.”
Although Albert consistently welcomed her, Vasha sensed hints of deception in his words.
It wasn’t outright lying, but it felt like important facts were being hidden or distorted. Vasha had a knack for sniffing out such deception.
So, as soon as the interview with Albert ended and she left the mansion, she immediately climbed up the wall to the second-floor balcony. Pressing herself close to the wall, she held her breath and eavesdropped on Albert’s monologue from beyond the library wall.
<Good, that old man will be shocked when she shows up. Of course, that fussy and irritable old man won’t change his decision, but it might be enough to make him leave his room for a while. If I can steal the key in that moment of distraction…>
Thanks to this, Vasha could roughly figure out Albert’s intentions. Reflecting on Albert’s words, Vasha disclosed what she had found out.
“While I’m out with the Count, he plans to search the room and steal the key.”
“A key?”
“It seems to be the key to the annex at the villa. Do you think there’s treasure in the annex?”
Vasha tilted her head in thought. Anyway, without visiting the Renfield Count’s villa in person, there was no way to know.
“Well, we’ll find out tomorrow. He said he would pick me up in front of the inn.”
Judging by her light tone and demeanor, Vasha didn’t seem to take the trip to the Renfield Count’s villa too seriously.
But they were headed to a noble’s mansion.
Hadn’t Albert also carried a holy relic? Though Vasha had managed to neutralize Albert’s relic, there was no way to know what dangers might be lurking at the Renfield villa, making it impossible to prepare adequately.
‘I wish I could go with her…’
It was worrisome to send Vasha alone, but there was no choice. Todd clicked his tongue anxiously and warned her.
“You’re after something in that mansion, aren’t you? Besides whatever reward that Albert or whatever his name is offering.”
“Did you catch on?”
“You didn’t even try to hide it.”
At Vasha’s sly question, Todd snorted.
“What are you after?”
“Hmm… something big.”
Vasha smiled slyly, holding her thumb and index finger close together. Seeing that Vasha had no intention of revealing more, Todd sighed.
“Anyway, whatever you’re after, don’t do anything reckless. It’ll only make things dangerous. Got it?”
“You talk as if you’re not coming.”
Blinking in surprise, Vasha asked curiously. Todd, also taken aback, looked at her wide-eyed.
“I’m going too?”
“Of course, you have to come.”
Leaving her young familiar behind? Vasha doubted he could even properly feed himself without her. Firmly, she stated.
“Albert seems willing to meet almost any condition, so I said I wanted to bring my younger brother. He said it was fine.”
“………….”
Upon hearing the mention of a younger brother, Todd’s previously tense expression softened with a hint of relief. Noticing this, Vasha mischievously tousled Todd’s curly hair.
“You don’t want to be apart from me, do you?”
“It’s not that! I was just worried you’d do something reckless on your own!”
Todd brushed off Vasha’s hand, glaring at her as if to dismiss the notion.
But Vasha, who was well-acquainted with Todd’s usual antics, caught the subtle affirmation in his demeanor.
With a sly smile, Vasha ruffled Todd’s hair once more.
“Oh, really? You were worried?”
“Ugh, seriously!”
***
Early that morning, Lenny, having finished her work, knocked on Vasha’s door. Vasha opened the door slightly to greet her.
“You’re back?”
“Yeah. Here, I used the necklace well.”
Lenny returned the necklace to Vasha. It sparkled like a jewel in her palm.
“And this too.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s nothing special, just an apple. I got it from the kitchen. I’m giving it to you as thanks for lending me the necklace.”
“Why bother with this?”
Since Vasha had her own reasons for lending the necklace to Lenny, she felt embarrassed to receive a reward.
Before Vasha could refuse, Lenny shoved the paper bag with the apple into her chest. The bag felt heavy. Vasha smiled awkwardly.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
Lenny smiled with satisfaction. Vasha, noticing Lenny’s demeanor, hesitated as she began to share today’s story.
“Actually, about this evening….”
She debated whether to tell her. Although Lenny had suggested Vasha go for the interview, she was unsure if she would be pleased to hear that she had actually been selected.
Even if she kept it a secret, it wasn’t like she would have many more encounters with Lenny after this.
But she wanted to tell her for some reason.
“…I got selected.”
“I knew it, Vasha! I knew you would be!”
Unlike Vasha, who was cautiously revealing the truth, Lenny jumped up and down with joy as if she had been selected herself.
