The Vampire's Shadow
Whoosh—the strong wind buffeted my whole body as Mae sped toward our destination. But there was one difference from usual: a human clinging to the massive hawk's ankle. That human's name was Private Jeong Seunghwa, the guy I'd just been chatting with.
I watched him through the penguin statue hanging from Mae's neck. He gripped on with just one hand, unflinching against the fierce gusts. Impressive. His huge frame matched his monstrous strength.
"That's some amazing gear," Seunghwa said, staring intently at the penguin statue. His admiring gaze made my shoulders twitch up involuntarily.
"Right? Got it from a new ability not long ago."
"A druid using ice powers is pretty surprising."
"Didn't you see the penguin earlier?"
"Haha, I did. Guess druids and penguins don't really match up."
Fair point. The typical druid vibe was wolves or bears, right? Mine: cat, turtle, hawk, penguin. For a druid, my lineup was pretty hipster.
Anyway. Why was Seunghwa hitching a ride on Mae? To understand that, we need to rewind a bit.
While I was resting, Seunghwa suddenly approached with shocking news.
A humanoid monster that could talk had appeared!!!
For folks who might think, ? What's so dangerous about that? Allow me to give you a special Apocalypse history lesson. Sure, it's only been a little over two months—almost three—but I'm basically an expert here.
Question! Why did America fall?
Answer: A monster called the Night Goddess showed up and wrecked it! Clap clap!! Full marks, shopkeeper!
It happened shortly after the gates opened. A girl appeared, claiming to be the monsters' big boss. The monsters actually obeyed her orders and halted their attacks, so everyone had to believe her.
She proposed negotiations to humanity. America accepted. But mid-real-time chat, she crushed the US president's head with one hand and revealed her true colors: Monsters came to kill humans.
Anyway, talking monsters were always top-tier bosses among their kind—insanely strong and cunning. Priority one to avoid.
Of course, they vanished once awakeners started appearing... or so I heard. A few stragglers remained.
One of those dangerous bastards shows up near my house? Gotta check it out. So I sent my special correspondent Mae with Seunghwa aboard, while I stayed home.
"It's farther than I thought."
"Almost there—we'll arrive soon."
No sooner had Seunghwa spoken than thick black smoke rose in the distance. That must be the battlefield.
"We should head to the outpost first."
"Got it."
We descended slowly following his lead, landing at the outpost. It looked hastily set up: right in the middle of a mountain path, with just a few large tents. Barricades blocked the approach, soldiers armed and on guard ahead of them.
Not rifles, though—various weapons. Kinda odd.
"Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing how the military operates."
I'd been trading for a while, but unlike Haven, I'd never observed them up close. Today I'd get a rough idea. Stronger than Haven? Seemed disciplined, stricter—no Haven-style free-for-all. Tense, rigid atmosphere.
But the second they spotted the giant hawk and its passenger, chaos erupted.
"Welcome back!!"
Lieutenant Kwon Sua emerged from a tent, greeting them warmly.
"Hayun brought you herself?"
"Yes. And she wanted to see the site personally."
"Oh? Then take a good look and head back safe! Cute hawk!"
True to her beast tamer roots, Sua approached Mae friendly-like. Before the flustered hawk could retreat, she hugged him tight. Not your average move.
But in that embrace, the penguin statue got wedged between her breasts. The screen filled with that heavy heft, and I couldn't help staring.
Then, a perfect prank idea hit me. Mischief bubbled up.
I deliberately lowered my voice, making it sound like Mae speaking sternly.
"I have come to inspect this place myself. Report the situation."
Sua jolted back in shock.
"What?! Did I just hear the hawk talking?! Did my level-up help?!"
She beamed with pride while the other soldiers exchanged Do we tell her? looks.
"...I heard it too."
Sergeant Park Hyunwoo appeared behind her, eyeing Mae with his usual cold gaze. But it shifted to the penguin statue.
"Seems communication's coming through this. I sense something unusual."
Busted instantly. He'd detected invisible Mae before too—sharp senses.
Hearing that, Sua despaired.
"For real?! I thought I heard the hawk."
"But the voice was the druid's, wasn't it?"
"...Yeah?"
She grinned sheepishly. Time to end the prank.
"Can you hear me? Everyone?"
The soldiers around flinched at my voice from the penguin statue.
"Hayun's voice for real? Wild!"
"...New skill?"
I nodded. "Pretty cool, right? From my new companion!!"
"Awesome! Mine don't have special tricks like that."
"But you can command tons of them."
"True, but..."
Clear difference between beast tamer Sua and me. I handled a few elite animals; she commanded hordes. Last time she unleashed hundreds of rats at once—shocked me. Mine was empathetic bonding; hers was strict orders. Worlds apart.
"Here to see the situation yourself?"
"Yeah. It's near my place, after all."
"Smart. We were in a meeting—join us?"
"Sure."
I shrank Mae to a manageable size and headed into the tent. Inside: situation board with maps, chairs absent from the table.
Sua took the head seat, Hyunwoo stood beside her, others filled the rest. Notably, besides Sua, all were privates. No other officers or NCOs—dead? Curiosity piqued, but too sensitive. They'd tell me someday.
"Briefing from the top."
"Please do."
A soldier stepped to the board. New face: Corporal Choi Minjae per his nametag.
Choi started from the beginning.
"We're scouting other units' locations to secure supplies and check statuses."
He pointed with a long stick. Tiny outposts unmarked on civilian maps dotted it.
"You sure it's okay showing a civilian this?"
"Desperate times—close enough!"
Sua smiled, so I kept listening.
"Most bases fell to strong monsters, but supply depots were intact, so we grabbed what we could."
Heard gates hit military and political spots first.
"The problem spot's this division's key supply and ammo hub nearby. Expected heavy monsters, but..."
He pulled a small photo from the board corner, placing it before the penguin statue. Old-school analog shot.
A gaunt, pale human. But something off: claws dragging the ground, bat wings unfurled from its back.
I recognized it instantly.
"A vampire?"
"Yes. One's in that facility now."
Vampire. Humanoid monster. Appeared sporadically early apocalypse. Could mesmerize humans into familiars.
"But don't vampires just gibber nonsense? You actually talked to it?"
"We thought so too. After scouting, we moved to reclaim and eliminate... "
Then—a massive thud, ground shaking violently.
Boom!!!
"...?!!"
"What the hell?!!"
Soldiers panicked. Hyunwoo bolted outside; others followed fast.
"Mae, special correspondent—what's happening?"
"Unclear, falconer. But an ill omen stirs."
Last out, Mae saw darkening skies.
"What? Already night?"
I rushed outside. No—sunset nowhere near, clear blue sky. Lunch was recent.
What the...?
"Falconer, the winds rage fierce."
"Penguin statue's shaking—I'm getting motion sick. 3D nausea?"
"Fly up and check!!"
"...No need."
"Why?"
I saw why immediately.
"...Wh-what?"
I couldn't even speak.
Vast horde descending the main mountain road. Red crystals embedded in their left chests—vampire familiar marks.
Familiars were zombie-like, obeying the vampire utterly... or so I thought.
"H-help!!"
"My body won't listen!!"
"Soldiers! Kill those monsters quick...!!"
"Mom... Dad..."
The descending humans weren't mindless. Sane, alive, screaming in horror. Not your standard vampire.
Soldiers hesitated, facing living familiars—attack or not?
"......"
Hyunwoo up front aimed countless swords at them but held fire.
"So weak-hearted..."
A creepy voice echoed. Multiple layered tones, like otherworldly things mimicking humans. Chills ran down my spine.
From the thick shadows, the monster leaped out. The vampire from the photo, descending leisurely step by step.
"Like last time, you humans cherish your kin so dearly."
It sliced the nearest human's throat. Screams filled the air as it savored the blood.
My body shrank instinctively.
"The wait ends. I'll devour you all and reclaim my true power."
"Can't let that happen."
Hyunwoo redirected swords at the vampire. But it ducked into the familiar crowd.
"Heh, now what? Can you really strike?"
"......"
Hyunwoo clenched his fist. The vampire sneered.
Powerless. All we could do was watch.
Confident Hyunwoo wouldn't attack, the vampire scanned the soldiers like a chef eyeing ingredients, licking its lips.
Then its gaze hit Mae.
Its smirk vanished.
"...Why is XXX's hawk here?"
The word censored like the world accelerated. Face like it'd seen a ghost, it stepped back.
Reacting to Mae?
...No. Its eyes pierced the screen—to me.
Boom!
Suddenly berserk, it blasted familiars aside, charging Mae. Blinding speed.
Hyunwoo fired swords desperately, but it barreled through, flesh tearing, leg severed, head half-lopped—claws still aimed at Mae's heart.
Squelch.
Claws pierced flesh. But not Mae.
"...To harm Mae, you must pass me."
Private Jeong Seunghwa, his massive bulk shielding Mae, blocking the claws.
Not perfectly—sharp tips protruded from his back.
"All units, open fire!!!"
Attacks poured on the vampire. It melted into shadows, fleeing.
"It's running!!!"
"Familiars following!!!"
Vampire and horde retreated. But irrelevant.
A red crystal formed on fallen Seunghwa's chest—familiar conversion starting.
"You okay?!"
"Damn...!!!"
"Call Jihwan!! Now!!!!"
Chaos. Everyone clustered amid the shock.
"No big deal. Glad Mae's unharmed."
"Still..."
"Even as a familiar, you'll come save me, right? I'll wait."
Heart-wrenching even through the screen. Sua hugged Seunghwa, sobbing. Others vented on the dirt.
Far off, Hyunwoo glared at the fleeing vampire, fists balled.
Yeah. This was the apocalypse. Survivors clinging in a gate-wrecked world.
Seeing Haven thrive contrasted with this raw defeat soured my mood.
But watching from afar, something odd stood out.
"Why'd the vampire run, nyang?"
"Uncertain. It oddly named Mae earlier too."
"Waaah... my tears are freezing...!!!"
Ignoring my companions, I racked my brain.
One conclusion: The vampire fled because of me.
"...Mae, special correspondent."
"What is it, falconer?"
"Bring Seunghwa here."