Castle of the Vampyre
Angelica's attack, aimed to kill me, ended up fizzling out under the dark full moon. It was Gwak Do-cheol.
"Hahaha. I got a good look at Jeongha's Black Moon Tyrant Sword. Flawless technique, not a single thing to nitpick."
"How dare you...!"
Angelica's face, twisted in a chilling smile moments ago, crumpled in rage. I'd already recovered an additional 100 souls by then. No need to rush.
"Thank you, Do-cheol."
"Now I reckon that life debt's paid in full."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"But let's talk later. For now—"
"Agreed!"
Gwak Do-cheol pushed Angelica back with his sword.
"Aaack!"
No real damage, but she let out a hysterical shriek anyway. I'd absorbed 400 of her souls, weakening her just a bit. Madric Blood followed up immediately.
I left Angelica to Madric Blood and focused on my own task.
"Kim Hansu, Heejeong. You two rest."
"...Got it. Take care."
They'd pushed themselves too far already. Kim Hansu looked like he'd bleed from his eyes if he used his ability again.
"I'll lend a hand."
"Yes."
Gwak Do-cheol couldn't really damage her spirit body, but he could herd them my way just fine. I shouted to the other hunters.
"Everyone, just hold the line! I'll clean up all these illusions!"
"Ooh!"
"We trust you, Section Chief Kim Jeongha!"
"Just subdue anyone trapped in hallucinations!"
I dashed across the battlefield, slashing at Angelica's spirit bodies with my sword whenever I saw them.
-Stop it!
"No way!"
10 souls.
-It hurts!
"That's the point!"
30 souls.
-Mommy!
65 souls.
-Go to hell!
"I'm already living in hell, and I'm legendary at it!"
90 souls.
-A pathetic human playing at being a vampire!
If she sensed my Blood Cycle, she had sharp eyes. Anyway, that made 100.
Sealed Souls: 1.5/3
The remaining 0.5 was obvious where it'd come from. I stroked the half-filled gem and made a vow.
"I'll send you back to your father's arms."
I moved in close to Angelica to assist Madric Blood.
"Aaaaaah!"
Madric Blood already had the upper hand. With half her souls absorbed, it was no surprise. Safety Planning Department piled on relentlessly, and Angelica soon went down.
"Give me back my soul, you damned human brat!"
"Can't do that."
True fact. Sealing was one thing; releasing wasn't up to me. I shrugged.
"You know that already, don't you, Angelica?"
"Eeeeek...!"
Madric Blood answered for her.
"Of course. You sealed Father's soul in that sword, after all."
"Grraaah..."
Angelica was pinned by the Director's blood spear, unable to move. The Director looked at me.
"Hunter Kim Jeongha. Please... let me finish this with my own hands?"
A tragedy of kin slaying kin. Madric Blood wanted to end it herself. I handed her the Sealed Sword without a word.
"Thank you. I'll repay this debt."
As she approached, Angelica started thrashing.
"Ah... Aaaah! Why me? Why does everyone pick on me? Why does everyone hate me? Die! All of you, go to hell!"
Madric Blood spoke in a tone of resignation.
"Fine. See you in hell."
Stab!
She drove the blade into Angelica's chest and continued.
"Though it'll be a thousand years from now."
She planned to live another millennium, apparently. Blood seeped from the split flesh around the blade, something translucent wriggling within.
"Heh... Heheheheh..."
Angelica burst into mad laughter, spewing every curse under the sun. That was her death rattle.
And so, Underground Floor 11—the Castle of the Vampyre—was cleared.
Good news, but no one was celebrating. We just waited for Madric Blood to move.
After standing dazed for minutes, she held out the Sealed Sword to me.
"You did well. Father's sword... you can have it. You have the qualifications."
Her eyes were sad, but her lips smiled—a contradictory expression.
"Yes."
I nodded in response.
News outlets and internet media inside Hunter Stock Company were abuzz with talk of the Safety Planning Department—no, Safety Planning Agency now. They'd overtaken the long-dominant HR Department in the rankings, with stock prices skyrocketing.
"Ms. Madric Blood, what was Underground Floor 11 like?"
"One word on your thoughts!"
"The department's being promoted to agency—what's your vision going forward?"
Madric Blood took the microphones from the reporters on stage. I glanced at Hunter Net reactions.
I smirked at the live chat.
"Humans, am I right."
All sorts from every world. A true melting pot of humanity.
"Man, huge crowd. Was our Director such a big star?"
Choi Heejeong's question.
"Every department head here's a famous hunter. I looked 'em up on Hunter Net."
"Ah."
She nodded, then asked me.
"So what're you up to now, Jeongha?"
"Heading back to my quarters to check my loot."
"Got it. See ya."
I made my way to the dorms.
Sitting on my bed, I stared at the Sealed Sword.
Sealed Souls: 2/3
"So the incantation must be..."
I recalled slowly. Circulating my Blood Cycle, I infused qi into the Sealed Sword.
Vmmm.
The sword vibrated sharply and briefly. Focusing my mind, I spoke.
"Lubrid, Angelica. By the authority of the master of sealed souls, appear."
Vrrrrm.
The sword resonated in response. I braced for what came next.
"Should be showing up..."
But nothing happened after waiting. Then—
-What? Where the hell is this? What'd you do to me?
A sharp female voice echoed—not through vibrating air into my ears, but straight into my head like telepathy. I called her name.
"Angelica?"
-You! Y-you!
"You recognize me."
No response from Lubrid, but I'd successfully summoned Angelica. Half-success, though. No materialization.
Guess low stats were the issue.
-You redheaded bastard! Where am I? What'd you do!?
Remembered me by the red hair, huh? Or maybe just noticing now. Didn't matter.
"You'll remember what you did to yourself."
-R-right! I got stabbed by the Sealed Sword and...
She choked up, then whined.
-Damn it all.
"Situation clear now?"
-Clear my ass! Send me back!
"How?"
-Get me out first!
"Impossible. You know how the Sealed Sword works."
-Aaaah! Whatever!
Tricky spirit to handle. I decided: time to make conversation easier. Training room first.
-H-hey, where we going?
"Seeing is believing."
I brushed her off and entered the training room. Gwak Do-cheol spotted me.
"Oh, Jeongha. Come for more?"
"Ah, you're here too."
"Haha. I drop by whenever. Can't go half an hour without a sword or my mouth itches."
"Same reason I'm here."
"Good man. Master the fifth form of Black Moon Tyrant Sword, then we'll move on."
"I'll train diligently."
"How about a spar?"
I shook my head. Sword arts mattered, but bonding with the sword's spirit came first.
"Appreciate it, but spar later."
"Hm, something important, eh?"
"Yes. Need to chat with my sword."
"What?! Already reached Sword Sound Realm?"
"Sword Sound Realm?"
"Hearing your sword's voice. Requires true sword mastery."
"Nah, not that. Complicated story."
Gwak Do-cheol nodded.
"Ah. Gift-like thing?"
"...Yeah."
I fudged it.
"Got it. Won't interfere. Train hard."
I stepped away from Gwak Do-cheol, held the sword horizontally, and steeled myself reverently.
-W-what are you planning!?
"Etiquette training."
-What!?
No ego sword defies its master—better off without it. I started smacking the flat of the Sealed Sword.
Clang! Claaang! Ching! Thwack!
-Kyaaah! What the hell!
First time wielding it myself. Wasn't sure it'd work, but it did. She felt pain inside the sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal clashed repeatedly.
-Stop right now!
I paused and spoke.
"Repeat after me exactly, and I'll stop."
-What?
I whispered close to the sword.
-Wh-what? You think I'd say that!?
"Until you do!"
I smashed it down without hesitation.
-Kyaaah! Stop, you idiot dog-shit-asshole-sea-anemone-seaweed-stem-motherfuc—
Looks like it'd take time.
Now the ego sword 'Sealed Sword The Angelica' trembled. Felt like I'd smacked it thousands of times over two hours. Mixed in some Black Moon Tyrant Sword forms too. Tougher than expected.
-How dare you treat me like this, you lowly human!
"Right, you were a Vampyre."
-So what!
"Didn't like being looked down on by vampires?"
-Hmph! You couldn't imagine my suffering.
"Yet here you are, scorning me as human. Total hypocrite, huh?"
-...Urk!
I smirked slyly.
"Won't hold it against you. Everyone's got that side. Vampyres too, apparently."
-...Grrrh!
"Ready?"
-No! Screw that.
"Then I'll jog your memory."
I raised the sword high. As I swung—
-W-wait wait wait!
"Yes?"
-I'll say it! That do it!?
"Get on with it."
-...Huuu. To my great and wise master, Kim Jeongha, I, I, I...
"I?"
-You filthy bastard!
Clang! (x100)
Finally, her weak voice.
-To my great and wise master, Kim Jeongha, I pledge my loyalty and service.
I smiled satisfied.
"Good."
-Grrrr...!
She shuddered again. Took time to break her, but inevitable. No hands or feet—no resistance.
I could guess why she submitted so easily(?). Her split soul reunified, restoring her lost humanity.
Worked in my favor. She had jobs for me now.
"Angelica."
-...
I raised my hand again; she jumped.
-Yes, Master.
"You learned Blood family techniques, right?"
-No. Lowly Vampyre like me couldn't touch such nobility.
"You self-taught some. Felt the Blood Cycle in you."
A girl who sealed her own father for the throne.
-Speaking of, Master, how'd you learn Blood Cycle?
She sensed my energy too.
"Later. And your illusion and hallucination curses? How'd you learn those?"
-Innate Gift. You can't learn it, Master.
Sounded like a Gift for hunters. No point pursuing the curse.
-What'll you give if I teach you techniques?
"Won't hit you."
-...
Didn't teach? Get hit. Short but intense battle of wills—I won.
-...I'll teach you Vampire secret arts.
"Vision ability, huh."
Not direct combat needed. Already learning Black Moon Tyrant Sword from Gwak Do-cheol.
-Circulate Blood Cycle, condense qi in heart, split and focus half to eyes.
I followed. Blood Cycle stores in heart normally, but human version gathered in dantian.
Hot qi flowed to my eyes. Sharp pricks stabbed the back from inside.
"Eyes feel hot and stinging."
-Normal for weak human body.
Endure it. Not too bad.
-Never dreamed I'd get sealed by such a shady, frail human. Face is decent, only silver lining...
I ignored her mutters, focusing fully.
-Hmph, no use. Without advanced Blood Cycle...
I snapped my eyes wide. Vision shifted.