Chapter 59
[Title: Why have vampires increased so much in Seoul lately?]
Poster: Anonymous
“Huh?”
My heart sank for a moment.
Is this about my Retainers?
I had been sending the kids to gates to farm the blood needed for Weapon Crafting frequently lately.
Of course, they hid their identities well with Katarina’s [Night’s Veil].
Wondering if they had caught the eyes of other Hunters while wandering around, I hurriedly clicked on the post.
Feels like I see these Vampire bastards once a day in Seoul lately.
They go around attacking people and sucking their blood, and the people who get bitten turn into the same monsters, so their numbers keep growing.
Thanks to that, I’m dying out here, unable to sleep because I’m patrolling and subduing every night T_T
Are there any Koreans in the Community right now?
How does it feel for you guys?
“Aha.”
After checking the main text, I let out a sigh of relief.
‘So it’s not about my kids?’
My Retainers obviously don’t attack innocent civilians to suck their blood.
They drink Korean Beef Blood Sausage or Aged Monster Blood elegantly.
Besides, judging by the reactions in the comments, it didn’t seem to be a problem exclusive to Korea.
- I’m Korean and fr there’s been a lot more lately.
ㄴ right fuck, it’s not just me feeling it, right?
- It’s not just Korea. Other places are worse. An Access Ban was issued completely for the back alleys of New York yesterday. I heard it’s a mess there because Awakener Gangs got infected en masse.
- I’m in France, and it’s the same here. Seems like vampires have suddenly increased globally these days.
ㄴ At this point, shouldn’t the Association make an Official Announcement soon?
ㄴ Yeah. I think they’re planning to do it once this situation calms down a bit, but at this rate, it seems like it’ll only get worse…
“Hmm.”
I tilted my head.
Just like mosquitoes run rampant in the summer, did Vampire Monsters suddenly multiply because it overlapped with some kind of breeding season?
The Anonymous Poster who wrote this was probably a High-rank Hunter in Korea, and it seemed they were suffering quite a bit from patrolling every night.
Especially since it’s a summer night, it must be hot and sticky.
“Hunters really have an extreme job.”
I felt newly grateful for my situation, lying on a soft bed while enjoying the cool air conditioner breeze.
However, my absentmindedly scrolling finger stopped right at a specific comment.
- But isn’t this timing a bit creepy?
ㄴ What is?
ㄴ Vampires started running rampant all over the World right after the True Ancestor appeared.
ㄴ gasp, you’re right OMG
ㄴ That’s why people keep saying the True Ancestor is actually connected to vampires, yeah
ㄴ Scary;;
‘No, I’ve just been in my Home Base, so why is it my fault again?’
Seeing a swarm of agreeing comments piling up under that one made me feel thoroughly displeased.
It seemed misunderstandings kept arising because an Awakener named True Ancestor was making headlines by setting new records in the Tower, right at the time when vampires were a global problem.
Talk about a coincidence.
So this was why the Apostle of Light kept taking shots at me.
But it’s unfair.
Far from causing harm to the World, I’ve actually only provided beneficial influences.
Feeling offended, I stuck my lips out in a pout.
“Hmph. Why is that my fault? They’re just complaining without even knowing that I’m helping them.”
But this wasn’t something to just stay displeased about.
“Wait. But if vampires are scattered all over the night streets of Seoul…”
It was annoying to be subjected to strange misunderstandings, but thinking about it the other way, it was a pretty good opportunity.
Vampires were High-tier Monsters.
Their Blood Grade wouldn’t be bad, and they would bring in a decent amount of experience points.
I had just handed Sera a Magic sword. Riri was in the middle of making animal masks, and there was still some time left before entering the Tower.
This was the absolute perfect timing to send the kids out hunting.
‘Killing two birds with one stone, protecting our country’s public order, and gaining blood and experience points?’
I had no reason to go out anyway, so I just needed to send my Retainers.
Then I should check exactly where those Vampire bastards are gathered the most.
Hehehe. Is it time to use my Information Search Skill from my Dark Gamer days for the first time in a while?
I scoured numerous places like the Hunter Gallery, the Dark Web, internet cafes, and Awakener communities.
Through cross-verification of where Disappearance Incidents frequently occurred and which areas had frequent late-night dispatches of Hunters, I identified the most likely Vampire Hotspots.
“Got a rough estimate. Shall I send them out hunting starting today?”
* * *
That night.
“Master! Riri finished making them!”
Riri came running with the completed Animal Masks.
Just as I ordered, they were masks in the shapes of a wolf, a cat, a puppy, and a rabbit.
I lined up my Retainers and bestowed a mask upon each of them to match their images.
Katarina was the wolf, Si-Yeon the cat, Riri the puppy, and Sera the rabbit.
Receiving the masks, the Retainers knelt or bowed their heads in their own ways, expressing their deep gratitude.
With my hands behind my back, I spoke in a deliberately solemn voice.
“I hear that foolish lumps of blood who dare to sully the name of Vampire are roaming around Seoul. Go forth and clean up those lowly creatures.”
“I shall heed your command, Liege Lord.”
“As the Master wills.”
“Riri will scold them all!”
“Y-Yes! I will do my best…!”
This time, I decided not to send the kids all together, but individually.
Sera and Riri had also become somewhat accustomed to modern geography and culture by steadily going in and out of gates.
It didn’t seem like there would be any major problems with them acting individually, even without Katarina leading them.
Above all, Seoul was incredibly vast.
Scattering and searching would yield a much higher probability of encountering vampires.
“If things get dangerous, I can use the [Book of the Dead] or the Death Scythe remotely for them. Nothing to be scared of.”
And so, I dispatched the Retainers.
Now then. It was time to relax and watch.
I brought out a LocknLock container filled with cold Korean Beef Blood Sausage from the fridge.
Holding a spoon, I sat cross-legged on the bed and turned on the [Sight Sharing] Skill.
Four split screens floated in the air like holograms.
“Nom nom nom… The taste isn’t bad.”
While scooping up the blood sausage, which tasted even better today perhaps because it was a late-night snack, and alternating my gaze between the screens, I ate.
How much time had passed?
“Huh?”
A suspicious figure was captured in Sera’s vision.
A back alley in a bustling street devoid of people.
A man tightly wrapped in a thick hoodie was standing with his hand against the wall.
“Keugh, ugh…”
The way he twitched and let out pained groans made him look undeniably suspicious.
Sera, perhaps drawing on her experience from her days as a Knight, instinctively killed her presence and hid behind a trash can.
I immediately used [Appraisal Eye] on the hoodie guy through the screen.
[Race: Blood Fiend]
“Found one, a Vampire!”
It was just as expected.
I was about to send a message to Sera to catch the guy right away.
But at that moment, someone came walking into the alley from the opposite side, step by step.
“Hm…?”
* * *
Choi Min-Seok is a thirty-two-year-old man this year.
He was a Skilled Hunter who had Awakened with an A-Rank Class, specifically the “Sword Master of Wind” Class, which belonged to the upper tiers.
He was also a Noted User who had built up his own recognition by being active in the Hunter Gallery under the nickname “Active A-rank Hunter”.
He had been maintaining his position as an Upper A-rank for several years, enjoying quite a lucrative income and honor, but he too had his own hidden grievances.
‘It’s an ambiguous position to be in.’
In the Hunter Gallery, people might revere him for being an active A-rank.
But Choi Min-Seok knew of the existence of the Climber Community.
There, he was also just one of the Anonymous Users.
Compared to Registered Users or monsters like the True Ancestor who recently appeared like a comet and shocked the World, he was nothing more than an ordinary person.
Although he was an Upper A-rank, he lacked the talent to overcome the S-rank Wall.
But the Association wouldn’t leave him alone to just live half-heartedly either.
‘Tch. That damn Association can’t even squeak at the S-ranks, but it just rolls around the easy-target A-ranks.’
Since vampires recently started running rampant in Seoul, he hadn’t been able to sleep properly because he was patrolling every night due to the Association’s conscription.
He received a suspicion report today as well, and dragged his heavy body to the scene.
As he entered the dark back alley, he saw the back of a man wearing a thick hoodie, leaning against the wall.
“It seems… that bastard is the one.”
It perfectly matched the description of the Vampire Suspect provided by the Association.
He carefully approached with his hand resting on his sword.
“You there. I’ll be conducting a brief inspection. Could you look at me for a second.”
At his voice, the hoodie guy whipped his head around.
“Grrrrr…!”
Bloodshot, crimson eyes. Bloodstains around the mouth.
He had already lost his reason; his eyes rolled back completely in madness.
“Wow, this is a severe case.”
The battle began the moment he clicked his tongue and drew his sword.
“Kaaaaaak!”
Blood surged from the Vampire’s entire body, quickly transforming into the shape of a sharp whip and flying at him.
“…?!”
He hurriedly drew up his mana.
[Gale Sword Art]
The wind-clad sword strike met the Blood Whip head-on.
However, instead of being cut, the whip flexibly wrapped around the blade and slid past, deeply scratching his thigh.
“Keuk…!”
Along with the burning pain of tearing flesh, his stance collapsed for a beat.
The creature didn’t miss that opening.
Opening its bloodstained mouth hideously, the Vampire closed the distance instantly and swung the claws of both hands haphazardly.
Clang, clash! Claaang - !
Claws as sharp and hard as a beast’s.
Every time the sword and claws clashed, Choi Min-Seok’s body was helplessly pushed back.
Even though he was using mana to block, a shock strong enough to numb his wrists was transmitted with every exchange.
“Keugh…!”
It was far stronger than expected.
Even if vampires were High-tier Monsters, their strength and speed far exceeded that of a typical A-rank Monster.
“This makes no sense! Against me, an A-rank, like this…?”
Taking advantage of his panic, the Vampire launched a surprise body tackle.
“Keuk!”
Crash - !
With a tremendous impact, he was thrown onto the cold ground.
The Vampire mounted his chest, flashing its fangs as it tried to bite into his neck.
“You bastard…!”
He barely managed to hold out by striking the creature’s jaw upward with the flat of his blade.
But due to the difference in physical strength, the blade was gradually being pushed down toward his neck.
The sticky saliva dripping from the Vampire’s mouth wet his face.
At this rate, he was going to be killed.
In that desperate moment, his breath was caught in his throat and his vision was fading.
Slice - !
A gruesome sound of friction was heard, and hot blood suddenly poured over his cheek.
“…Huh?”
The right arm of the Vampire pinning him down had flown into the air.
“Kkyaaaaak!!”
The creature with its severed arm let out a painful scream and tumbled backward.
With dazed eyes, he looked up at the Savior who had rescued him.
It was a girl with a petite frame, wearing a grey hoodie pulled down and a Rabbit Mask on her face.
In the girl’s hand was a longsword emitting an ominous red light.
“Wh-Who…?”
Before he could even finish asking, the girl in the Rabbit Mask kicked off the ground and dashed forward.
“Kuaaaak!!”
The Vampire, having lost its arm, raged and shot dozens of Blood Thorns with its remaining left hand.
He naturally thought she would dodge or deflect them with her sword.
But the girl committed a crazy act.
Stab, pierce!
The thorns mercilessly pierced the girl’s shoulder and thigh.
It was a fatal wound that would have a normal Hunter screaming and rolling on the ground.
But far from slowing her steps, the girl rushed in ruthlessly.
As if she felt no pain at all, she fiercely dug in with the sole intention of cutting down her opponent.
Choi Min-Seok’s eyes were dyed with shock at that tough and reckless Combat Style.
‘N-No…! That’s dangerous!’
He freaked out and hurriedly tried to get up.
He couldn’t bear to watch his benefactor, who had come to help him, die a dog’s death fighting in such a near-suicidal manner.
However,
“Huh…?”
What in the World was going on?
Even while allowing such attacks, the girl showed no signs of exhaustion at all.
Rather, as the battle continued and she cut her opponent, it felt like she was getting faster and stronger.
Before he knew it, the girl had closed the distance right under the Vampire’s chin.
“Haap!”
A short shout rang out from behind the Rabbit Mask.
As the girl swung her sword widely, a massive crescent-shaped red slash cleaved through the air.
And then.
Pukwaaak - !
Fresh blood poured into the air like a waterfall.
The Vampire’s upper body was blown away from the waist up, leaving only its lower half standing alone.
“C-Crazy.”
The Vampire that had pushed him to the brink, was gone in a single strike.
Sitting slumped on the ground, he stared at the sight, at a loss for words.
“…”
Having finished the battle, the girl silently sheathed her sword and slowly turned her head to stare at him.
A single ray of moonlight was shining through the back alley.
Beneath it, an Unidentified girl wearing a pure white Rabbit Mask and holding a sword as red as blood.
The A-rank Hunter Choi Min-Seok could only blankly swallow dry saliva, unable to control the goosebumps breaking out all over his body.