Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Junni
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“Leave.”
Gamal said suddenly.
Ivan wasn’t surprised. The “others” didn’t share their space with anyone else. In a world where surviving alone was hard enough, they were thoroughly solitary—at least Gamal wasn’t, but selfish all the same.
The real surprise was that she’d let him stay by her side for a full two weeks already.
Ivan packed his things without hesitation and stood.
“Take care.”
Gamal held out her pouch.
“Here.”
He took it and peered inside. It was full of flowers—so many it seemed like everything she had.
Ivan asked,
“You trying to die?”
“No. I won’t die.”
She said it with utter certainty, like there was no need to even think about it.
“I don’t deserve to meet Mati and Tawa.”
He didn’t know the names, but he guessed they were something like parents.
Ivan looked at Gamal’s resolute face, as if she’d made some grand decision, then blurted out,
“Who’re you running from?”
Gamal flinched.
He’d figured that much long ago. She showed every sign of a fugitive. But she wasn’t on the run from some nation’s criminals—whenever humans or uniformed soldiers passed through the forest, she actually seemed relieved.
So it had to be some individual chasing her.
“Marry me, and I’ll protect you.”
It wasn’t that she suddenly looked like a woman to him—it was that she was the first “other” he’d met who actually made sense to talk to like this.
Gamal looked at Ivan. Her eyes were steeped in deep, dark despair, the kind that had already drowned in itself.
“Then you’ll die.”
With that, Gamal turned away.
“Promise me. Don’t come looking for me. That person will find you. And they’ll find me.”
“You live a harder life than I thought. Just kill the bastard and be done with it.”
“Taking a life is God’s work. If humans try to do God’s work, God will punish them.”
Ivan looked at the flower pouch.
“Haven’t you been punished enough already?”
Both of them, the moment they’d ended up like this.
In any case, she’d turned down his offer, and there was no reason to linger. Ivan spoke and turned.
“Good luck.”
Gamal’s mouth twitched open in a spasm for a moment before she clamped it shut. She stared at Ivan’s retreating back, then asked,
“What’s your name?”
Ivan turned. Gamal’s face was composed, but whether she knew it or not, she looked just like a puppy being abandoned.
“Alexandros.”
It was his real name, one he hadn’t told anyone in ages, but somehow it felt okay.
Gamal stared into space. She wasn’t entirely sure, but there’d been a king with that name in the not-too-distant past...
She’d been hiding from Kunis in places devoid of human presence, so she was out of touch with the world. But that king had been all over the news, conquering nearly everything, impossible to forget.
And as far as she knew, he’d died young. Around thirty...
Gamal looked at Ivan, who appeared to be in his early thirties.
Ah, I see.
He’d been discarded too, from the life he’d known and taken for granted. Just like her, and so many other “others.”
“You?”
Ivan asked. Gamal turned as she replied.
“Gamal.”
Then she vanished into the brush. Ivan chuckled and turned away. For some reason, he had a feeling they’d meet again soon.
***
“And that’s the first time I met Gamal.”
Ivan finished his story. But no one jumped in right away. Finally, Ivan looked at Gamal and asked,
“You’ve lived on that island the whole time?”
“Yeah. No, not really. I was asleep in a cave. A typhoon woke me up.”
Ivan said with an intrigued look,
“Your way of talking hasn’t changed.”
“I’m good at Latin now. But modern languages are still tough. But... is Kunis really in prison?”
“Yeah.”
Gamal fell silent for a moment, then asked,
“Is he hurt?”
Doyoung’s forehead twitched faintly on one side. Almost imperceptible, but Tora knew it was a sign of serious discomfort.
The mere fact that Gamal was asking must have rubbed him the wrong way.
“He lost both legs.”
Rex answered in his usual emotionless, businesslike tone.
“But the Grand Duke racked up more casualties than we can count on two hands running his terrorist group.”
Gamal’s face took on a guilty look, as if she were the one responsible.
“I heard about what Kunis did...”
Much later, when Ivan finally faced Kunis, he instantly knew what the “bad dream” was that Gamal had been fleeing. It had the exact same face as her. And the guy was such a piece of shit that Ivan couldn’t miss how he was the source of Gamal’s PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder.
And really, he didn’t even need to play twenty questions; the guy admitted it himself.
“You’ve lived a ridiculously long time. Ever seen a female vampire who looks just like me? Her name’s Gamal.”
Ivan let out a long sigh.
“Her disappearing didn’t make that guy any better. If anything, he rampaged even more trying to find you. Built up his power in the process and ended up as the head of a terrorist cell.”
“I...”
Gamal stammered.
“It’s not Mati’s fault.”
Tora cut in angrily.
“Mati did the best he could at the time. Are you saying he should’ve died back then?”
“That’s not what I mean. He should’ve asked for help from others more actively instead of just hiding.”
Doyoung said it in Ivan’s place, with a tone of exasperation. Tora accepted it easily, like the vein-popping rage from moments ago had never happened.
“You’re right.”
“He was probably trying not to drag anyone else into it.”
Doyoung added indifferently, and Gamal looked at him with eyes touched by gratitude, like he’d understood her heart.
“Doyoung.”
Everyone but Tora turned to look at Doyoung, then at Gamal, sensing something off. Doyoung regretted the slip and changed the subject.
“You should rest for now.”
Rex said.
“I’ll have a room prepared.”
Yeonha stood first and left. Her movements somehow bristled with anger, leaving Gamal puzzled, while Ivan sighed and followed.
Voices drifted in faintly from outside.
“That was before you met Rex.”
“I know.”
She said she knew, but Yeonha’s heart wouldn’t settle.
“But who else did you say that to? How many women...”
“You’re the only one, Gamal.”
Suddenly Gamal grabbed Yeonha and said,
“Alex was lonely back then. That’s all it was.”
Yeonha looked at Gamal.
“It’s not Alex. It’s Ivan.”
Gamal smiled and nodded.
“Yeah. Ivan.”
Yeonha suddenly eyed Gamal with suspicion, like a thought had struck her.
“But why are you talking so casually to him?”
Gamal blinked at Yeonha blankly.
“I’m old.”
“Even so, you just met...”
“You do it too.”
The moment Gamal said it, Yeonha jumped in like she’d been waiting.
“Fine, I will.”
Doyoung rolled his eyes.
“Idiots.”
He turned to go, and Gamal said to Yeonha before chasing after Doyoung in a fluster.
“See you later.”
Yeonha watched them, then glanced at Ivan with a hunch.
“That’s...?”
“Seems like it.”
Ivan sounded surprised too, and Yeonha couldn’t hide her stunned expression as she stared in the direction Doyoung and Gamal had gone.
“What the hell did the captain do?”
Meanwhile, Doyoung headed down the corridor to the deck as the sun set. He suddenly turned, fixing Gamal with a steady gaze. No playfulness in his eyes.
“Why didn’t you marry the Director? You wouldn’t have had to live on that island all this time.”
Gamal fidgeted with her fingers and mumbled.
“Ivan felt like Mars.”
Doyoung felt a vein throb in his temple.
‘This bitch?’
Then Gamal shook her head and added seriously.
“But he’s not my type.”
Doyoung crossed his arms and leaned against the rail cockily.
“So what is your type?”
The breeze tousled his shower-damp hair, fluttering his clothes. The horizon glowed deep as the sun dipped below. It added a strange glint to his grayish-blue eyes, making them seem even darker.
It was odd. Doyoung was human, inherently weaker than any vampire, but the thought that he was weaker than any of them never crossed her mind. Instead, he inspired this weird conviction that this man wouldn’t die.
Knowing full well how futile that belief was, Gamal couldn’t help holding it in the face of the overwhelming life force radiating from Doyoung.
Plus, he was handsome.
She’d never realized she was so face-oriented before. Sorry to Lantu and Adaui, but that explained why they hadn’t drawn her in.
Sure, no one could top the almost unreal beauty of Rex or Ivan, but that carved-ice-sculpture perfection didn’t stir her heart.
“I have a type.”
Gamal mumbled. Doyoung sighed long and uncrossed his arms.
“I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”
He started walking. But as he neared his assigned room, he noticed Gamal still following and turned.
“Why are you following me?”
“You said you’re sleeping.”
“So?”
Gamal pointed at him, then herself.
“We sleep together.”
He’d half-expected it, figuring she planned to do like on the island. Doyoung said in disbelief,
“Not here.”
“Why?”
Gamal looked genuinely baffled. Doyoung sighed.
“I’m a man, and you’re a woman.”
Gamal tilted her head.
“Wasn’t it like that before?”
“This is the civilized world.”
Only then did Gamal realize they couldn’t share a bed, and her face soured.
“No way. I’m sleeping with Doyoung.”
Doyoung beckoned and turned. Gamal followed obediently. He stopped at a room and said,
“Go in.”
Gamal stepped inside as he gestured.
“Sleep here?”
“Yeah.”
Then Doyoung, still outside, hit the close button.
“Good night.”
He turned and walked off. As expected, Gamal didn’t know how to open the door, and thumping came from across the hall.
Let me out!
He heard it the whole way to his room, but ignored it and entered his own. As he went to take off his jacket, a massive boom shook the ship.
Doyoung jumped. Alarms blared next.
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep.
Chaos erupted in the distance, footsteps pounding as people rushed by. Then his door flew open, Gamal burst in, and tackled him in a hug. The force sent him staggering into the wall.
“You...!”
“I’m sleeping with Doyoung!”
Gamal clung like a koala, yelling stubbornly. People outside stared at the commotion, then started whispering.
The rumor would spread through the whole ship before dinner was over.
Doyoung thought blankly,
‘Oh Lord.’
Now he knew exactly why Tora had said, “It’s a waste of effort.”
That’s exactly how it felt. Like a super-strong mad dog that wouldn’t obey anyone.