Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Stormy Night Hunt
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"Nimi-rel! That bastard didn't get fucked up, did he? Or maybe he lost his mind over the silver mine and joined them."
It was entirely plausible, just as Galpredic said. It wasn't some small village—it was a silver mine, worth risking your life for.
"If he's gone mad wanting to die, maybe. But I don't think that guy's stupid enough for that."
"Agreed. It wasn't like he put up a decent fight and got defeated. He got utterly crushed by you, my lord. No one that brainless would do something like this."
Partek, who had a good eye for people, cautiously offered his opinion.
Galpredic scowled fiercely.
"Then maybe he got taken out by that Balmong guy? Could've even been captured."
"That's what I think too. Looks like he wasn't even up to Ludrian's level."
"Or maybe they outnumbered him."
"Hmm."
Eugene furrowed his brow. Either way, it meant Balmong and his hunting dogs might be more formidable than expected.
"If he got captured, we have to assume he spilled everything about our forces. Ludrian's no real knight, so honor means jack shit to him. That means we need to rethink the plan for a nighttime raid."
'Yeah... probably should...'
As Eugene was thinking that, he suddenly looked up. A cold smile crept across his lips.
"No need for that."
"Huh?"
The three men blinked in surprise.
Eugene pointed at the sky with his finger.
"Doesn't look like the moon's coming out tonight."
"......?"
They all looked up at once. And realized.
No wonder it felt darker than usual—it wasn't just sunset; thick storm clouds were rolling in from that direction.
At that moment.
Rumble...
Thunder growled in the distance, and soon fat raindrops began to patter down.
"Lord Eugene, this is bad. Looks like the rainy season's started. That astrologer said something about heavy shoulders on the way back this time."
Beron's face darkened.
Climbing a mountain full of bandit traps and pitfalls on a rainy night was practically suicide.
"Not at all."
"Pardon?"
"Wait 30 more minutes. If they don't show, we move out. Galpredic, get ready."
"Heh. Got it."
Beron grew even more confused by Galpredic's response—his eyes gleaming as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
No way they're planning to climb the mountain in this downpour tonight?
"Oh, you two don't have to come with."
"Pardon...?"
Beron was even more shocked by Eugene's words.
"Everyone knows I have elf blood, right? I'll signal when it's time—then come up."
"Uh......"
Sure, elf lineage means good night vision, but what kind of signal, and how?
"We'll follow your orders, my lord."
"Yeah, got it."
Partek shot him a look, and Beron hurriedly nodded.
But his face was still a mix of worry and confusion.
"Alright, then. Dig good drainage ditches and keep watch tight."
"Yes, my lord!"
Beron and Partek left Eugene's tent.
"Partek, are we really just doing what we're told? Just the two lords? It might rain all night—what if we have to hit those bandits on that treacherous mountain?"
"Tsk tsk. Still don't get it? Just don't think—just follow orders."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"If Lord Eugene has a way, he has a way. Just do what you're told."
"But even so—"
"Beron. Know what Lord Eugene's greatest strength is?"
"...Insanely strong? Big balls? Or handsome like a theater actor?"
"Figures you don't know either."
"Then what the hell is it?"
Partek grinned at Beron's frustrated expression.
"Lord Eugene's greatest strength is that he asks questions to his subordinates when he doesn't know something."
"......?"
"Think about it. That's why he's doing this now—he knows the answer. If he wasn't sure or didn't know, he'd have asked you or me."
"Ah......!"
Beron's mouth fell open as he recalled everything he'd seen of Eugene so far.
Come to think of it, yeah.
The knight he'd sworn to serve had asked a ton of questions from the start.
- Heard this area's dangerous—is it something I should worry about?
- Toll? What if we don't pay?
- Yeah, figured.
And all those who'd been on the receiving end of those questions ended up dead or smashed.
"......"
Beron made up his mind.
If Eugene decided without asking questions, shut up and follow.
* * *
Thirty minutes passed, and Ludrian and the scouts didn't return.
Braving the strengthening downpour, Eugene and Galpredic mounted their horses.
"Mark, Raban. Guard the camp well."
"As you will, Master."
"Leave it to us, my lord."
The two lads, around the same age and bummed about missing the action, bowed their heads.
"Everyone, move out."
The troops in dark cloaks swiftly followed behind Eugene and Galpredic.
After trudging through the muddy path for about 30 minutes, they reached the base of Mount Nadir.
Crash!
Water cascaded down the mountainside everywhere from the torrent. The troops' faces showed dismay.
It was so dark they couldn't even tell which way to climb.
"You lot wait here. Come up after the rain stops if there's no signal."
"They're really going up alone?"
"Wow... what incredible knights."
Ignoring the murmuring troops' astonishment, Eugene and Galpredic, lightly armed with crossbows slung on their backs, began ascending the mountainside.
* * *
Whoosh!
The intensifying rain blurred their vision.
But the vampire's eyesight pierced the sheets of rain, pinpointing the clear path where people or beasts had passed.
"Whew! Not that way, milord."
"......?"
Whether from the rain or just gorging and sleeping lately, Mirian looked a bit plumper than before. He haughtily pointed to one spot.
"That's an old stream bed. My judgment says left, toward those rocks—that's where the human path should be."
His speech was annoying as ever, but Eugene followed the water spirit's words.
"Galpredic, this way."
"Got it."
Marveling anew at his reborn vampire strength and stamina, Galpredic trailed Eugene.
Pitch-black darkness and pouring rain posed no issue.
Releasing his vampire abilities openly even invigorated him differently than daytime.
'Now I get why he said just us two. Heh!'
Whether Ludrian betrayed them or got captured, they had to assume Balmong and his dogs knew about them.
Two plate-armored knights and dozens of veteran troops.
They'd be on high alert, fully prepared.
But not on a night like this. No preparations or tension needed.
In rugged mountains during a storm, no one expects an assault.
That's for normal humans. For vampires, it was a whole different story.
'Real lucky bastard, huh?'
Galpredic chuckled, recalling Eugene's habitual line.
Luck is skill.
For a knight, luck might as well be divine favor.
And it was one key divider between average knights and those whose fame echoed through the world.
'A vampire blessed by the gods. Interesting.'
Maybe his master was some absurdly huge deal.
Whatever it was, it was too damn fun, so Galpredic kept grinning.
"Galpredic. Think I've found them."
Eugene halted the climb, crouching low and whispering.
"Saw something? I don't see shit."
"Not saw—sensed it. Up there, on that peak. Faint heat, and human scent."
"Hmm. Huh? Yeah, really."
Galpredic couldn't smell it, but he felt the heat clearly—and was shocked at himself.
"It works."
"Focus, and it'll get better. Anyway, don't kill—subdue them."
"Leave it to me, Master."
Baring his fangs, Galpredic bit down on a rondel dagger and advanced.
Grabbing trunks like a gymnast, he scaled the sheer slope with feline stealth and agility.
The rain drowned all noise anyway, but Galpredic stayed cautious, reaching the cliff-like incline, then gripped the dagger in his hand.
A minute after he vanished, the sharp tang of blood hit, and Eugene climbed without delay.
Conquering the slope faster than Galpredic, Eugene entered the small tent leaking faint light.
"Urk!"
Three lay sprawled, spurting blood from necks and chests. The sole survivor, gushing blood from his mouth, rolled his eyes at Eugene.
"Tried to scream, so I cut out his tongue."
"What? Then how do we interrogate him?"
Eugene frowned, but Galpredic stayed relaxed.
"No need for chit-chat. Nod for yes, shake for no. Too slow by a second? Ends up like them. Right, you?"
"Urk! Uh!"
The tongueless bandit nodded frantically, clutching his mouth.
"See? Told ya."
"......"
Eugene silently agreed, thinking he had more to learn from Galpredic's combat skills and experience despite absorbing them.
* * *
"Tch. Knew it—captured. Weak-ass Ludrian."
"Outnumbered or trapped, right? Yeah?"
The bandit's head bobbed up and down again. After bleeding for five minutes, his face was ghostly pale.
No treatment meant no survival.
And Eugene had zero intention of letting live those who'd dared attack and capture his man.
Shink.
"Gulp!"
The dagger pierced his throat; he died without a scream.
"Go now?"
"Yeah. Oh, right—you didn't get much monster blood back then? Drink up."
"Huh, true. Heh!"
Galpredic, who could control his bloodlust, lifted the fresh corpse, eyes glowing red.
Gulp gulp!
Draining the neck's blood freely, he tossed the body aside.
"Kraa! Human or monster, no big diff. Tastes like shit—fitting for trash."
Pure vampire talk from Galpredic.
But Eugene knew his energy was fully restored.
'Cause he's a familiar? Weird.'
"'Bout thirty of 'em—wanna charge in together?"
"No. I go first. Handle any runners."
"Huh? Oh......"
Galpredic got it and nodded.
Until recently human, he'd been thinking of tonight's fight in human terms.
"Heh. Right. Just us—so not a knight's battle."
"Exactly. This is..."
Turning his face in the endless rain, Eugene growled low at the mountain peak pulsing with bandits' blood and life force.
"A vampire's fight. Grrr!"
The two vampire knights' eyes flashed with killing intent, eager to cut loose after so long.
(To be continued)