#Episode 77
There was no end to nitpicking. There was still insufficient information to make any definitive conclusions.
Either way, it was safest to avoid anything that might involve awakening the Vampire Lord. Even if it was an opportunity to regain lost memories.
‘It’s not even certain that I’ll recover my memories…. It’s better to just reject the trial.’
Vasha glared at Rasa with a suspicious look. However, as if mocking Vasha, Rasa displayed the rewards of the trial.
[Reward: Promotion to 【High Vampire】]
“What? Already?”
The reward Rasa presented was too significant to decline. Vasha blinked in disbelief.
[Will you accept the trial?]
As if taunting her refusal, the letters glowing on the parchment radiated a sense of smugness.
Vasha quickly examined the contents of the trial. It seemed difficult for a vampire like Vasha to attend an auction, but since the instructions didn’t explicitly state she had to attend herself, it seemed manageable.
It wasn’t a particularly challenging trial. If she could be promoted to 【High Vampire】 with something as simple as this, it was almost like getting it for free.
In that case, she’d accept this trial and reject any subsequent ones. Vasha swiftly shifted her stance as easily as flipping her hand.
“Accepted!”
***
Meanwhile, Bernardo and Matteus successfully entered Noctiluca, but that didn’t mean they immediately located the vampire.
The vampire must have moved around frequently because the compass needle constantly spun toward various points across the slums.
“Why are we wandering around like this…? Could it be that the vampire has been feeding on people here to gather strength?”
The people in the slums weren’t cooperative at all. If they even looked like they were about to ask something, the residents clammed up and avoided them.
Eventually, they arrived at a shabby inn. Thinking the innkeeper might be less unwelcoming, they approached the owner.
“Excuse me, we’d like to ask you something.”
Matteus, with his easygoing manner, approached and struck up a conversation, but the innkeeper only cast a cold glance at them and said nothing.
However, Matteus paid no heed and continued speaking.
“Has anyone suspicious stayed here recently?”
“…Among the drifters passing through a slum inn, how many do you think wouldn’t appear suspicious or transient? For all I know, you two look just as suspicious.”
The innkeeper’s sharp and defensive demeanor remained unchanged, prompting Matteus to hurriedly reveal the insignia of the Lamphas Order.
“We are Paladins of the Lamphas Order.”
But even the mention of the Lamphas Order failed to impress the innkeeper. If anything, hostility gleamed in his narrowed gaze.
“Ha, it’s not as if you noble types are finally gracing us lowly folks with your light. Clearly, something troublesome has occurred among your kind, and now you’re sniffing around like hungry dogs. I have no business with you.”*
The innkeeper waved them off dismissively, his tone filled with annoyance.
Matteus clicked his tongue in frustration.
As much as he wanted to mention that they were pursuing a vampire and that the people at the inn weren’t safe either, he couldn’t recklessly bring up the presence of a vampire. Chaos would only add more variables.
So instead, Matteus softened his tone, attempting to pacify the innkeeper.
“This has nothing to do with any noble matters. We’re simply searching for a kidnapper who took a child.”
“A kidnapper?”
The innkeeper’s defensive stance wavered for a moment. Detecting a hint of recognition on the innkeeper’s face, Matteus seized the opportunity to ask further.
“Yes. Has anyone brought a child here?”
The innkeeper, who seemed on the verge of saying something, fell silent once more.
It’s always more infuriating to have something dangled in front of you only to have it taken away. Unable to contain his frustration, Matteus’s voice rose unconsciously.
“Someone brought a child here, didn’t they? Who was it? When and where did they go?”
Matteus pressed the innkeeper relentlessly, but the innkeeper refused to respond. At that moment, Bernardo, who had been standing back silently, intervened.
“Let’s go.”
“But, young master!”
“Look around.”
Bernardo’s whispered command, as he pulled Matteus back, prompted Matteus to cautiously survey the inn. It was then that he noticed them: people who had appeared silently, glaring down from the second floor with sinister eyes.
The individuals, likely residents of the inn, were a diverse mix in appearance. Yet, the chillingly hostile gazes they directed toward the two Paladins were eerily identical.
It felt as if a flock of crows perched on a fence were staring at them. Their unwavering gazes made Matteus’s throat dry and his body stiffen.
Bernardo dragged Matteus out of the inn. Only then did Matteus exhale heavily.
“Haah… haah…”
“Let’s stop trying to gather information here.”
Matteus, regaining his composure belatedly, shook his head in disagreement.
“But, young master, they’re definitely hiding something…. If we just slip them some coin like in Haidus…”
“They would’ve become angrier. It’s clear they have no intention of talking. Even if we stayed for hours, it’d be the same.”
“But…”
Matteus reluctantly glanced back at the inn. Through the curtains of the inn’s windows, he could see people still watching them. Startled, he quickly averted his gaze.
Feeling the multitude of piercing stares directed at him sent chills down Matteus’s spine. His voice trembled as he asked,
“Are they… minions?”
“No, there was no trace of magic. They’re all ordinary people.”
“But they’re not reacting like ordinary people…”
Recalling the chilling stares, Matteus mumbled hesitantly. Bernardo pulled out his compass and quickened his steps.
“It’s the residual effect of being in contact with a vampire. Those who are connected to vampires naturally avoid the aura of Lamphas.”
Vampires radiate magical energy around them, and those accustomed to it feel uncomfortable in the presence of divine power. The locals, who seemed disinclined to welcome the Lamphas Order from the start, were now openly displaying hostility.
“Then aren’t they heretics? Shouldn’t we interrogate people like that…”
“They likely didn’t even know their contact was a vampire. You can’t hold them accountable for that.”
Bernardo clicked his tongue and summoned his divine power. The compass spun again, pointing in a new direction.
“In any case, nothing changes. We just have to follow the compass as we’ve been doing. At least the vampire doesn’t seem to have settled here, which is a relief.”
“You’re quite pleased despite the fact that we’ll be wandering the city again.”
At Matteus’s grumbling, Bernardo chuckled heartily.
“For the first time, we’ve gotten close to a vampire’s trail instead of chasing illusions. We’re almost there, so why wouldn’t I be happy?”
The magical energy lingering around what appeared to be a lower-ranked vampire wasn’t significant. The fact that the energy still remained suggested the vampire had left not too long ago.
Though they might have to wander for a while longer, they were now much closer to the vampire than before.
Thinking this gave Bernardo renewed determination. His eyes, holding firm resolve, gleamed as he gripped the compass.
***
The trial, while easy in difficulty, wasn’t something Vasha could accomplish alone. She had no choice but to seek help from others.
But there was a problem.
‘Sigh… Todd keeps avoiding me…’
Ever since she told Todd to be more open to others, she hadn’t seen him even once.
Todd was so adept at sensing her presence that he would vanish the moment she approached him, even by chance.
Still, leaving Todd out of this wasn’t an option.
Todd wasn’t just someone who had a contract with Vasha as her familiar, the entire trial was designed to help Todd retrieve Van Drake’s belongings and earn Todd’s favor.
‘At least if I explain the importance of this through Laurus, Todd might show up…’
It was a relief that this trial gave her a reason to summon Todd. Without it, all she could’ve offered was an invitation to share an apple pie, which Todd would’ve ignored entirely.
Summoning Todd and Laurus, Vasha nervously headed to the study.
🍓; In this context, ‘sniffing around like hungry dogs’ is a metaphor that implies desperation or eagerness to uncover or obtain something, often in a prying or intrusive manner. The speaker is criticizing them, suggesting that they are searching for something they urgently need, possibly in a way that seems undignified or out of character for their status.
