Chapter 60: 10th Floor. Vampire Princess (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60: 10th Floor. Vampire Princess (3)
Throughout her life, Eldiria had never allowed anything but crystal-clear water and fresh blood to pass her lips.
She had been taught that consuming anything with a solid form was beneath her dignity—least of all, food prepared by a human. She had never doubted that such things were vulgar and hideous, firmly believing that only pure liquids were fit for her consumption.
And yet, what was this?
Eldiria stared blankly at the empty bowl. She had just finished an entire pot of food prepared by human hands.
Kang Jun-hyeok watched her with a faint smile.
‘She’s exactly the same as she was in the past.’
She had a voracious appetite. It wasn't an exaggeration to say it was one of her defining traits. Even amidst the fierce battles against the Victors, she had always made sure to eat every meal possible.
“I’m glad to see it was to your liking.”
At Kang Jun-hyeok’s words, Eldiria snapped back to her senses. She was overcome with embarrassment—so much so that she wanted to run away and hide. As if sensing her turmoil, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke in a calm, reassuring tone.
“You are currently exhausted, Princess. You have never experienced such hardships in your life. You simply needed something to focus on to distract your mind.”
“……Hmph. It is as you say.”
Eldiria nodded quickly, seizing the convenient excuse. Kang Jun-hyeok finished tidying up and looked at her.
“You are planning to head to the secret location for your Coming-of-Age Ceremony now, correct? It was the Forest Stained with True Colors, if I recall.”
“……Indeed.”
Eldiria was quietly shocked that this human even knew the location of her ceremony, but she gave a nod of affirmation.
“In the heart of that forest lies an Ancient Altar hidden among blue leaves. Only the blood of a True Ancestor can open its doors. I must go there to complete my Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
“I understand. Do you know where it is located?”
After a brief silence, Eldiria replied.
“I do not. I only know that it lies to the east of here.”
“I see.”
Kang Jun-hyeok looked as though he already knew the way.
In truth, she didn't know the exact location of the Coming-of-Age Altar. Because of that, the primary objective of the 10th Floor usually involved wandering aimlessly in search of it. That process typically took at least three months—in some cases, it could take nearly a year.
‘The problem is, I don’t remember the way either.’
The standard progression of the 10th Floor involved being dragged around as Eldiria’s emergency food supply. He knew what the destination looked like, but he didn't know the specific path to get there. It wasn't just him; no one from his past life remembered the exact route. Naturally, the current Kang Jun-hyeok didn't know it either.
However, there was still a way. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke up.
“Since you said it’s to the east, let’s use the sun as our guide for now.”
“……Very well.”
Kang Jun-hyeok took the lead, and Eldiria followed behind him. As they pushed through the thickets, Eldiria silently glared at Kang Jun-hyeok’s back.
She still didn't trust him.
While his words didn't seem to be lies, she had been hunted for days after losing everything. She couldn't bring herself to blindly trust a stranger who had suddenly appeared—especially not a mere human.
Above all, she had lived in the Vampire Kingdom—a sanctuary where humans were forbidden to enter. And yet, her father had secretly raised a human? And as her personal guard, no less?
It was unbelievable. She couldn't trust him.
Her wariness was evident in the distance she kept. Seeing her follow from as far away as possible, Kang Jun-hyeok struggled to suppress a laugh.
‘This is a new side of her.’
In his past life, she had been perfect. She was noble, solitary, and possessed an innate grace. Though she could be emotional, she always carried an undeniable aura of majesty. He had never seen her look so awkward and unsure.
The Master of All Weapons seemed to feel the same, letting out a dry chuckle.
[To think I’d see her like this. I suppose if you live long enough, you see everything.]
Bound by this strange dynamic, they continued through the forest. As Kang Jun-hyeok moved forward, he brushed against the bushes and disturbed the ground. Eldiria watched him with suspicion.
“What are you doing?”
“I am erasing our tracks so the Werewolves cannot follow us.”
“What meaning is there in such trivialities?”
Doubt clouded Eldiria’s eyes. She thought Kang Jun-hyeok was simply wasting time.
Kang Jun-hyeok asked casually, “Haven't the Werewolves been catching up to you every few hours until now? Even though you were doing your best to hide and stay in stealth?”
Eldiria flinched. “……That is true.”
“I am erasing our traces so they can no longer do that. Just watch and see.”
Eldiria fell silent.
Surprisingly, just as Kang Jun-hyeok said, several hours passed without any sign of the Werewolves. For the first time in a long while, she was able to walk the path in peace. She couldn't hide her astonishment.
“Is this truly because you erased our tracks?”
“A forest leaves more traces than one might think. You likely did your best, Princess, but there are bound to be things you missed.”
‘Though it’s a bit of a shame from my perspective.’
Since fighting Werewolves provided proficiency and experience, he actually wanted to leave traces on purpose. However, the quest condition was to guard her to the best of his ability. He couldn't afford to be sloppy just for his own gain.
‘Still, there’s something to be gained from this too.’
[You have acquired the Passive Skill: Trace Erasure.]
[Passive Skill: Trace Erasure]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: E
• Effect: You can skillfully erase traces that have been left behind.
Combined with the skill’s effect, the Werewolves didn't appear for the rest of the day. As night fell, Kang Jun-hyeok found a spot to set up camp.
“Sleep is unnecessary for me…”
“You are still young, Princess. Fatigue has likely accumulated, so it would be best for you to get some rest, even if only for a moment.”
Eldiria fell silent.
Kang Jun-hyeok cooked for her, then activated Digging. In an instant, the ground was hollowed out, creating a hole that resembled a grave.
“I’ve tried to make it as similar as possible to the coffin you used to sleep in.”
“Hmm.”
The princess cautiously lay down in the excavated ground. It was surprisingly cozy—a world of difference compared to her usual rest, which consisted of curling up on the bare earth.
“I will stand watch, so please sleep peacefully.”
At his quiet voice, her eyes slowly drifted shut.
* * *
They continued their journey for several days. During that time, Eldiria felt a level of comfort that was incomparable to her previous struggles.
Thanks to Kang Jun-hyeok constantly erasing their tracks, the Werewolves hardly appeared. At most, they encountered them once or twice a day—less than a quarter of the frequency before. In the process, his proficiency in Trace Erasure reached Rank E.
Kang Jun-hyeok handled the Werewolves that occasionally found them, which resulted in a level up.
[Level Up.]
[Stamina +10]
[Strength +1]
[Internal Energy +1]
Kang Jun-hyeok happily looted the Werewolves' belongings. Eldiria watched him with a look of discomfort, clearly finding it undignified, but she didn't say anything.
When they rested, Kang Jun-hyeok stood guard. Thanks to him, Eldiria was able to close her eyes and get proper sleep. His cooking suited her palate perfectly. Though she tried to deny it, whenever it was time to eat, she would stare at him expectantly like Pavlov’s dog.
Each time, Kang Jun-hyeok would suppress a smile and prepare a meal for her. Through this process, the distance between them closed, if only slightly. There was still a gap, but it was a clear change from the beginning.
And finally, they emerged from the forest and reached a road. At the end of that road sat a fairly large city.
‘It really is here.’
Kang Jun-hyeok looked toward the city. Its appearance was similar to what he remembered. Eldiria’s face contorted in a frown.
“A human city.”
“So it seems.”
“How filthy. Turn back at once.”
“Unfortunately, that is our next destination.”
“What?” Eldiria’s eyes widened. “You mean to enter a city of humans?”
“Yes.”
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded. Hostility instantly flared in Eldiria’s expression. She backed away, her eyes turning a deep crimson.
This man is finally showing his true colors!
As she looked ready to attack at any moment, Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly.
“You do not know the way to our destination, Princess. If we head out with only the information that it lies to the east, it will be a long and aimless journey. We will lose our way and wander. It will take a very long time.”
“……And you are saying that entering a human city will solve this?”
“Humans have vast networks. They travel the world and gather information. They exchange that information and create maps. We need that information and those maps. Above all, the Werewolves cannot attack us inside the city. It can be considered safe.”
Eldiria thought it over. She realized that Kang Jun-hyeok’s words were logical.
“Of course, there will be other types of risks, but it seems like a burden worth bearing. If you refuse, I will find another way. What would you like to do?”
“No. I shall follow your lead.”
She slowly lowered her hand. Kang Jun-hyeok looked as if he had expected this. She was, after all, a very rational person.
“Before we enter, we need to prepare. You are quite beautiful, Princess.”
“To suddenly offer such obvious praise… are you trying to curry favor? I am well aware of my own beauty.”
“It’s not that. I’m saying you need to hide that beauty to some extent. Your appearance could cause quite a stir.”
“……How troublesome.”
With a look of annoyance, Eldiria flicked her finger. Blood surged forth, forming a robe that covered her entire body. Kang Jun-hyeok stared at her robe. She frowned.
“What are you staring at? Do you find it regrettable now that I am covered?”
“No, it’s not that. Could you make the robe look a bit more… high-end?”
Eldiria blinked.
“It’s clean, but it lacks a certain elegance.”
“……Humans, always failing to appreciate the beauty of simplicity.”
Eldiria muttered under her breath but changed the appearance of the robe nonetheless. Only then did a satisfied Kang Jun-hyeok reach out his hand.
“Then, please forgive my insolence. May I take your hand?”
“Why?”
“We have to pass through the city gates, and we need to look as inconspicuous as possible. Right now, you are far too wary of me. We don't look like a group traveling together.”
“……”
She realized that her wariness was completely transparent. Kang Jun-hyeok said with a smile, “I understand that you still don't fully trust me. But since this is necessary, I hope you can understand…”
“Enough.” Eldiria cut him off and reached out her hand. “Since you are fulfilling your role as my guard, I shall play along with your scheme. Take it.”
[Proficiency in Acting has increased significantly.]
[Proficiency in Persuasion has increased significantly.]
“I am honored.”
Kang Jun-hyeok took her hand, observing the etiquette of a vampire. Her skin felt cool and soft to the touch.
‘If the version of her from my past life knew about this, she’d probably try to kill me.’
Pushing the thought aside, Kang Jun-hyeok began to walk. They headed toward the entrance of the city.