Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Departure and Ambush
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Chapter 5
The next day.
Though he didn't particularly need sleep, Eugene closed his eyes for a couple of hours just in case before rising at dawn to pack his belongings.
As a vampire, Eugene had no need for human food or rest in the first place.
Thus, he simply bundled a few changes of clothes, the gear scavenged from the dead mercenaries, the hides from hunted beasts, and a simple tent, slung it all over his back, and left the cabin.
Even so, the load was considerable—enough that from a distance, he might have looked like some traveling peddler.
‘Will I ever return?’
A flicker of reminiscence passed through Eugene's eyes as he gazed at the cabin he had once thought he'd live in forever.
He had toiled for nearly half a year to build it, and now that it was time to leave, the feeling was oddly bittersweet.
“This place isn't bad, but as a vampire, you ought to live in a proper castle. With a few brides in tow, slaves at your beck and call. And hey? Once you reclaim your real name, you can even command familiars, right? Just smash every fool who comes hunting you with those. Vampire Lord Eugene! Blood Count Eugene! That's how they'll call you once you make it big!”
Mirian instantly shattered the melancholic mood, drawing a chilling glance from Eugene.
“You said you only lived in the swamp, yet you know so much. Where'd you learn all that?”
“Ugh, I told you. Spirits all live in the spirit realm before claiming their domains. Sure, it's just us hanging out laughing and chatting, but every now and then, seniors who've made it big in the mortal world drop by? They shared tons of good advice—turning bone to flesh, mana and all.”
“And you forgot most of it?”
“I only remember the stuff that interests me.”
“Not because your head's empty?”
“It's not!”
Mirian made a pouty face before ducking back into the leather pouch.
“As if you know anything. Ptoo! Ptoo ptoo ptoo! Kaaack~ Tweedle!”
Eugene capped the leather pouch, unsure if it was sulking or brewing water, cast one last look at the cabin, and set off.
* * *
“I'm Pellid. A pleasure, Sir Eugene.”
The boy, who looked about sixteen, bowed politely to Eugene.
“I'm Yan Eugene. Pleasure's mine.”
With his unkempt brown hair tied back tightly, Pellid was as handsome as described.
Still young, he had the makings of a fine-looking man, but to Eugene, it was simply that his features were well-balanced.
And that balanced appearance was Eugene's standard for "handsome."
‘He kinda looks like that knight, Bertel Tiwin.’
Pellid seemed softer overall, but the stubborn set of his mouth was strikingly similar to the young knight of the Tiwin house.
It must have been a trait of the Tiwin bloodline.
“Here it is.”
The village chief handed over the letter for Lord Tiwin and bowed deeply.
“Then farewell, Sir Eugene.”
Eugene nodded to the chief, who seemed utterly convinced he was leaving for good.
“You take care too.”
“Yes. Please look after Pellid, er, young master.”
“I'll send word once we arrive, Chief.”
“Oh! No need for formalities. And to the lord... please put in a good word.”
“Of course. This place is like a hometown to me. I'll make sure to mention it.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you so much.”
Convinced it was a stroke of luck they hadn't driven out Pellid and his mother when they arrived eight years ago, the chief bowed repeatedly.
“Pellid bro! Safe travels!”
“Write back! Don't forget you promised to take me as your squire when you become a knight!”
Leaving the village kids shouting their lungs out behind them, Eugene departed Broadwin Village with Pellid.
Unlike his previous life, he wasn't fleeing from pursuers—this was his first step into the world of his own volition.
* * *
After walking nearly half a day, Eugene finally spotted a proper village.
The settlement visible over the ridge was incomparably larger than Broadwin.
“We're almost there.”
“Yes.”
Hardened by grueling farm labor, Pellid followed diligently without a single complaint.
To be precise, unless Eugene spoke to him, he followed in complete silence.
“Wow, you're one thing, but that kid's personality is seriously weird too.”
With Pellid right behind, Eugene ignored Mirian and kept walking.
“How can someone be that quiet? Didn't he live in that village his whole life? First time out in years, and he's not even excited?”
“Shut up and make some water. Before I toss you in some pond.”
“Yep.”
“Did you say something, Sir Eugene?”
He'd tried to speak softly, but Pellid had heard.
Eugene slowed his pace slightly and addressed him.
“No, just talking to myself. Anyway, that must be Brams Village ahead?”
“Yes. I saw the signpost earlier—it matches.”
“What? You can read?”
“Yes. My late mother taught me.”
That was surprising.
Most knights were illiterate, let alone a country boy who'd rolled into Broadwin as a child and never left.
“Was your mother nobility by chance?”
“No. She said... someone she loved in her youth taught her. So she taught me too...”
From Pellid's sheepish words, Eugene deduced that "the one she loved" was Lord Tiwin.
“I see. Lucky break, then. You'd have needed to learn as Lord Tiwin's bastard anyway. Oh.”
Something occurred to Eugene, and he turned to Pellid.
“Could you teach me to read?”
“Pardon? Me? Teach you, Sir Eugene?”
“Yeah. My family fell when I was much younger than you, and I had to flee in hardship. Never learned letters. Picked up fighting, though.”
Lies flowed smoothly now.
The innocent Pellid took it at face value, his face falling in sympathy.
“Ah, I see. But I heard knights can rise high without knowing how to read.”
“So, is that a no or a yes?”
“I-I'll teach you. If I'm good enough.”
“Good. Teach me when we camp later.”
“Yes.”
Pellid nodded vigorously, feeling he'd grown a bit closer to the laconic knight.
‘This feels weird.’
It wasn't hot, but on this mild day, Pellid eyed the tall knight's back—clad in dark clothes and even a mask.
The "Red-Eyed Monster" living in the mountain cabin was infamous among Broadwin kids.
Adults strictly forbade approaching the cabin, and every couple of months, he delivered beasts hunted for the whole village.
A mysterious, fearsome unknown: the Red-Eyed Monster, or rather, the knight Yan Eugene.
And now, that very man was escorting him to Lord Tiwin's castle.
Pellid could scarcely believe it, almost as much as the possibility he was the lord's son.
‘Should I talk to him? No. The chief said knights all have foul tempers—never let your guard down.’
He recalled the chief's warnings from that morning before Eugene arrived.
Not just the chief—his late mother last year, and the occasional visiting merchants, all said the same.
- Think of knights as wild beasts nine times out of ten. Never defy them, and if possible, don't even meet their eyes.
‘But maybe he'll go easy since I might be Lord Tiwin's son? And Sir Eugene seems different from the knights I've heard about.’
Pellid swallowed dryly, staring at the tall knight's back—straight-backed and striding effortlessly despite the thick stacked hides in his pack.
‘A knight like that can't be ordinary. No needless talk for now—just get friendly bit by bit.’
“Hey hey, he's giving you a funny look.”
“......”
“Where've I seen that face? Oh yeah! Back at the pond, those naked swimmers splashing around had the same look! I don't know about the others, but those ones got chomped good by baby crocs...”
Eugene halted abruptly.
“S-Sorry!”
Mirian hastily retreated into the leather pouch.
But with no reaction, it peeked out, gauging his mood.
Eugene's eyes gleamed coldly from beneath the mask—not at Mirian, but straight ahead.
“What, what is it?”
“Pellid, step back.”
“Yes, sir. Sir Eugene.”
Hand on the sword hilt inside his robe, Eugene advanced a step.
The short sword from one of the dead mercenaries was in the best condition among his weapons.
“State your business.”
At Eugene's words, figures slumped near a large boulder stirred to life.
“We got business. What else would we be doing out here?”
“Hand over everything you've got, and we'll let you live.”
The five highwaymen grinned, swinging clubs and maces stained with old blood.
“Hey, what gives? Make it quick so we're not all exhausted...”
Swoosh!
Eugene moved with blinding speed.
Far faster than the bandit had demanded.
Closing a dozen paces in an instant, he slashed with the short sword.
Schluck.
The lead bandit's head severed, blood spraying as he wobbled with his wooden club.
“Tha—”
“Take thiiis!”
Shwaaak!
Two more who tried to shout had their heads and half-necks cleaved, blood gushing.
In the blink of an eye—literally twice—three men lay dead.
The silence was brief.
“Gaaah!”
“Help! Somebody!”
The remaining two petty thugs panicked and bolted madly.
But clad in Black Scale Mail beneath, plus thick dark clothes, the sunlight-immune vampire's physical prowess outstripped theirs several times over.
“Gurk!”
Two slashes: heads and chests holed, bandits crumpled.
Eugene twirled the short sword lightly, inspected the corpses, then checked the blade.
‘This was the best of the lot, and it's still crap. Need something better.’
A long sword like Yung Dirhit's was out of reach, but at least a usable weapon, he thought, sheathing it.
“What's wrong?”
Eugene tilted his head at Pellid, whose face was ashen and trembling.
But Pellid couldn't respond.
No questions asked.
Just one "state your business," and in broad daylight, he'd slain five men outright.
Pellid's eyes held terror and relief.
Terror that Knight Eugene was more beast than beast—and relief that this monstrous knight was his protector right now.
(To be continued next time)