Volume 3 Chapter 97 The Swamp Adventure II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
’I cannot speak… my apologies.’
Kian furrowed his brows.
”You mean, you’ll be cursed if you talk?”
’……’
”Or maybe you’re the one who’ll trigger a curse by speaking?”
’……’
”Glasses… I… Look, I’m only saying this once. I want to believe in you. I like you, and I want us to build a deeper relationship. For that, I’m willing to take some risks, even if it means contacting that merchant.”
’Curiosity killed the cat. Don’t be a fool, Kian.’
”Only you can stop this, Glasses.”
Kian’s gaze pierced through ‘Glasses.’
”If you won’t say anything, I’ll just take the lead. If you don’t want me to die, I’d appreciate it if you could share some details. How about this? You answer my questions with yes, no, or silence.”
’Hmph, um…’
”I’m not trying to dig up all your secrets. My goal is to get information about the abnormal situation happening up north. As a compromise, can’t you at least give me that much?”
’…You’ve become quite the negotiator, Kian.’
”It’s all thanks to you. If I hadn’t taken you on this adventure, I wouldn’t be here now.”
’Glasses’ took a breath as if struck in the chest by Kian’s words.
She pondered for a good 30 seconds (all the while, the ceaseless ring of Sword Cain echoed from afar), before finally letting out a sigh of resignation.
’You would believe in me?’
”I can’t say for sure when I’m wearing you on my face, but at least I want to believe in you.”
’Would you listen to my whims?’
”Depends on the whim.”
’Understood. Then, let’s head further north from here. If we keep going north, we’ll reach an old fortress at the base of the Dacia Mountains. Now it’s just a small fortress with its outer walls collapsed, uninhabited.’
”We’ll talk about everything there?”
’Yes, no, silence. But I have a condition.’
”How is it?”
’You’ll move according to my instructions within the fortress. Q&A time comes after you’ve fulfilled my desires.’
”Hmph.”
’I won’t let you come out empty-handed. The fortress houses rare equipment, including vampire gear. It’s all yours.’
”Got it. Just make sure you keep your end of the deal.”
’Aye.’
”Do you know the exact location of the northern fortress?”
’Indeed.’
”Good. Then, this conversation ends here for now.”
The conversation with ‘glasses’ is cut off.
Kian reaches to put ‘glasses’ back on again ── but then, he tucks it away in his pocket.
He thought that once he put on ‘glasses,’ he might change.
He might end up berating her with heartless words, or threatening her to forcibly extract information.
He knows himself best.
The fact that such a dark side exists within Kian is something he can no longer deny.
He can’t overlook how his brazen self might decisively destroy his relationship with ‘glasses.’
’Glasses’ is the only partner, the sole accomplice, who knows and understands the Kian that neither Natra nor Christy knows.
* * *
He spent 2 hours collecting the belongings of the surrounding victims.
It seemed the lower-rank Bloodsucking Kind feared Kian’s presence, as they had moved their flock to a different location.
Kian decided to wrap up the collection work past 3 in the morning and head back to the village.
Nerea lay in a gruesome state, her head severed, and he couldn’t bring back proof of her defeat, but he managed to gather the belongings of about ten victims, including the Wolfmen warriors.
He might earn some coin if he spoke to the tavern master, who intermediates requests from the village head or the mercenary group.
The remains of the lower-rank Bloodsucking Kind had to be left behind.
The thorned monsters had been defeated, so the natural scavengers would come to deal with their flesh.
The swamp, of course, is off the town streets, so it’s unlikely anyone coming to feast on the dead meat would be attacked by the ghouls.
On the way back, Kian had sent a bat to inform Serena of his return, and she was waiting for him at the village entrance.
Covered in the stench of swamp mud and monster blood, he was relieved he didn’t need to go all the way to the tavern.
”Welcome back, Kian.”
”Sorry I’m late, Serena. Where’s Ms. Ninini?”
”She’s waiting at the tavern. Kian, I prepared a bath for you by the river. Take off your armor, and I’ll help you clean it.”
”Are you sure?”
”I haven’t been able to do anything for you lately. Let me do this much.”
Serena took Kian’s blood-stained gauntlet and led him, saying, “This way.”
”What about Sarah?”
”I got a message. Want me to read it?”
”Sorry. I can’t exactly unfold a letter with these hands.”
Besides, though the sky was starting to lighten, it was still too dim to read the letter properly.
He didn’t want to use his vampire vision.
Using his vampire abilities would awaken his predatory instincts, making him want to attack the woman.
Especially now, with his magic power significantly depleted, he felt a strong craving for a woman’s life force.
If he lost control and violated Serena, he couldn’t complain even if she cut ties with him.
”Ms. Sarah is on a ‘Storm Herd’ request, hunting the Bloodsucking Kind that’s been appearing in the southeast. She intends to extract information about Mr. Rean and Ms. Vestacia from the ‘Storm Herd’ warriors accompanying her.”
”I see.”
”This way. I’ve lit some insect repellent incense. I’m glad you’re safe… It was a fierce battle, wasn’t it?”
Unaware of Kian’s inner turmoil, Serena helped him remove his armor.
Each time Serena’s touch brushed against his arm, his groin reacted, but he suppressed it with iron will.
(Tonight──or rather, today──I need to find some woman and have s*x.)
The state of depletion he was experiencing after a long time was intense.
What had started as fatigue in the beginning had turned into sexual starvation──frustration──because his brain had memorized the pleasure of sucking essence.
(I’d need to recover enough to wield the Windsong Blade properly.)
But his energy drain from the magic armor ‘Silver Ice’ isn’t nearly enough.
(Who should I persuade? Seducing a village girl won’t get me much magic power.)
Kian cast a quick glance at Serena, who was diligently wiping down her chainmail.
”Huh?”
”No, it’s nothing.”
”…? I see.”
Kian wasn’t looking at Serena because he was planning to attack her.
No, he’d stake his pride on saying that.
But then──one idea sparked in his mind as he looked at her.
The Storm Herd──a mercenary band made up of wolfmen families.
They form bloodlines, traveling from battlefield to battlefield with women and children.
So maybe… infiltrate their territory and persuade a suitable woman?
If sneaking in isn’t an option, then maybe hitting up a prostitute visiting their camp──though risk of disease makes that less appealing.
”Hey, Kian! Look over there!”
While washing himself with soap and lost in thought, Serena, pouring water over her armor, pointed to the sky.
The silhouette of a bat, wings spread against the rising sun, soared towards them.
It was Kian’s familiar.
A tiny cloth was tied around its foot.
”Message from Sarah.”
Using his clean, heated hand, Kian untied the cloth from the bat’s foot and quickly scanned the brief note.
Turning back to Serena, he spoke.
”They’ve found Rean’s whereabouts. It looks like he’s being held captive at the Storm Herd’s camp.”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply