EP2. The Vampire's Castle
[EP2. The Vampire's Castle]
Congratulations!
An S-rank Red Dragon has been born due to the mana infusion amount!
The summoned beast that hatched from the egg was none other than a dragon.
Its scales shimmered with a luxurious red hue, and its small face resembled a baby lizard at first glance.
Miyuu?
The baby dragon peeked out from the egg, spotted the vampire right in front of it, and snapped its head back inside with a jerk.
A child's voice echoed in his head.
"What?"
Was this dragon the one talking?
The Red Dragon glared at the vampire once more, then flapped up onto Jae-jun's shoulder with a flurry of tiny wings.
Miyuu—
Tiny flames flickered from its small mouth with every breath.
"No way. A dragon? They were all supposed to be dead!"
The vampire trembled so violently at the sight of the dragon that his hands shook uncontrollably.
He muttered to himself, struggling to accept the situation.
"I have to kill it before it grows. Otherwise!"
As if he'd made up his mind, black lightning began gathering in his hands once again.
Why did it keep saying it was full?
Then another system window popped up.
Mana infusion amount has exceeded the limit!
The summoned beast is expelling mana!
The Red Dragon's mouth opened wide.
And it expelled the mana it had been holding in the most powerful way it could.
Breath!
Kwaaaaa!
The vampire had no chance to dodge the flames pouring right in front of him—he took the full brunt with his body.
A deafening roar assaulted the ears as azure flames exploded from the dragon's mouth.
The blue flames incinerated and destroyed everything in sight.
"Gaaaaahhh!"
The vampire's agonized scream echoed from within the azure blaze.
In an instant, he turned to ash and vanished into the air amid the blue flames.
Fwoooo—
The baby dragon's breath finally ended.
All that remained where the vampire had stood was a trail of blood.
Urp!
Having expelled all its mana, the baby dragon shuddered a few times and let out a massive belch.
Jae-jun's mouth fell open wide.
...Incredible.
The vampire had vanished without leaving behind even a corpse in a single attack.
You have defeated the low-rank demon Vampire Taros.
His head rang with the dizzying chimes of level-up notifications.
"Haa."
Jae-jun let out a sigh of relief.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor.
If the summoned beast hadn't hatched right then...
If it hadn't been an S-rank Red Dragon...
The bloodstain on the floor would have been his.
It had been a razor-thin victory.
Hunt the Vampire!
🎁 Reward: You can designate a demon kin.
Designatable kin slots:1
He could designate a kin?
But seeing the vampire's kin—the ogre and gargoyles—made Jae-jun hesitate to do so right away.
He'd try it if the chance came later.
Once the vampire vanished, the ogre and gargoyles turned to dust and disappeared as well.
They must have been tied to the vampire, not ordinary monsters.
The red barrier enveloping the department store faded, and light streamed in through the windows.
The brutal traces of battle were laid bare.
Jae-jun struggled to his feet.
Now that the fight was over, pain surged from his broken left arm.
Miyuu—
The baby dragon nestled into Jae-jun's arms.
It was nicely warm.
...I would've died without you.
Jae-jun stroked the baby dragon's chin with his finger.
The dragon purred contentedly, eyes closed.
You can name the summoned beast.
What would you like to name it?
Jae-jun gazed down at the dragon for a moment.
Hmm.
A name, huh.
Its round, cute face tilted up at him inquisitively.
After a brief ponder, a good idea struck Jae-jun.
Your name is Hestia! Hestia it is!
It was named after the Greek goddess of hearth and fire.
Will you name the summoned beast 'Hestia'?
Yes!
Miyuu—
Hestia seemed pleased, letting out a cry and rubbing her face against him.
Jae-jun wanted to get out before people crowded in.
He had no desire for attention.
I look like hell.
His shadow robe and ogre armor were long since shattered or torn.
Even the clothes he wore were ripped and bloodied.
Hoo.
No helping it.
Jae-jun picked up the Frost Blade from the floor first, then unsummoned Hestia.
I'll call you out again at home later.
Miyuu—
Hestia rubbed her head against his chest regretfully before vanishing into subspace.
As he headed down to the first floor through the hole in the floor, something shiny caught his eye.
It was near where the vampire had burned away.
An item?
Jae-jun approached and reached for the light.
Yes.
He'd check the item later.
For now, Jae-jun stored it in his inventory and descended to the first floor.
Rescue teams were already checking on the survivors.
Park Dae-gi was there, and Maru was clinging to who seemed to be his mother.
"Jae-jun-ssi!"
Yoon Mi-kyung, who had been sitting nearby, ran over when she saw him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Yoon Mi-kyung came close and inspected him all over.
But Jae-jun just wanted to get home and rest as soon as possible.
"Hoo. I need to head home and rest."
Yoon Mi-kyung looked a bit disappointed but nodded.
Jae-jun bowed his head slightly and slipped away from the scene.
—
Not long after Jae-jun left, people from the upper floors made their way down to the first.
Hunter Association staff and hunters were thrilled at the surprisingly high number of survivors, but they also had questions.
Were there not many monsters?
But the massive hole in the center of the department store and the monster corpses scattered everywhere made that unlikely.
Someone took down the boss!
That was the Hunter Association's final conclusion after questioning survivors.
No one from the top floor had survived to witness the fight directly, but the remnants told of how perilous it had been.
And every survivor mentioned one person.
The one who saved them from the ogre and gargoyles.
But it had been too dark to see his face clearly.
Then someone claimed to know his name.
Jang Gil-san and Hwang Dong-su went to him directly.
"You know the name of the one who saved you?"
He was the politician who had yelled at Jae-jun over the badge on his chest.
He had just regained consciousness moments ago.
"Ahem! How many times do I have to tell you...! I heard it myself."
The politician started to rage but swallowed his anger upon seeing Jang Gil-san's massive frame.
Jang Gil-san glanced at Hwang Dong-su, who quickly cleared the area of onlookers.
"Mind if we ask his name?"
"It's Hwang Dong-su!"
Hwang Dong-su, who had turned away, whipped his head around.
His face twisted in fury.
"Hwang Dong-su?"
Jang Gil-san, on the other hand, looked amused.
The corners of his mouth twitched upward.
"That's right! Hwang Dong-su! I heard it clear as day. What do you want with that punk? He some kinda criminal?"
Jang Gil-san chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Ahem. Anyway, that Hwang Dong-su punk—I'm filing a formal complaint with the Hunter Association!
Daring to swing at a Republic of Korea politician's neck?"
Jang Gil-san slipped away, leaving the fuming politician behind.
He couldn't stop grinning at Hwang Dong-su's rare change in expression.
"It's definitely that Choi Jae-jun guy. Not many know my name."
"...Probably. Ahem."
The politician's angry voice trailed after Jang Gil-san as he left.
"Hwang Dong-su! Tell that punk to watch his back!"
And Hwang Dong-su's face crumpled even more.
—
Department store 7th floor.
How much time had passed since Jae-jun escaped through the hole?
The bloodstain where the vampire had stood began to writhe.
Most had evaporated from the extreme heat, but the remaining droplets clumped together.
barely one drop.
The blood droplet slowly headed for the hole.
Then it slid down a protruding rebar and fell.
Drip.
The droplet landed on someone's crown.
The woman who had been talking to her killer just moments ago.
Yoon Mi-kyung.
The droplet rolled slowly toward her eye.
"Hm?"
Yoon Mi-kyung felt the odd sensation on her face and reached to wipe it.
But the droplet was faster.
It seeped into the corner of her eye, burrowing deep inside her.
Swish.
At that moment, Yoon Mi-kyung's head twitched, her expression going slightly blank.
An absolute voice echoed in her mind.
Hide and wait until your power returns.
"Yes. Understood."
Yoon Mi-kyung nodded.
The battle wasn't over yet.
—Author's Note—
Thank you.