Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Neck
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She's one hell of an obsessive woman.
Coming all this way just to slit my throat.
Selena was the biggest reason I fled west to escape her.
She was why I managed to get out of the village in the first place.
And now, she's right outside.
How the hell did she find out I was here...?
Never mind how she learned it—why did she come?
I couldn't wrap my head around her coming all the way here herself just to find one person.
Selena, the big shot of the underworld—would she really show up in person?
She could've sent underlings, but this seemed too big for that.
- You really don't know anyone named 'Anderson'? Find him, and I'll leave.
Sure enough, it looked like Selena had come west because of me.
She shouted his name loud enough for me to hear.
I clamped my hand over my mouth.
Her ears were sharp; better safe than sorry.
The one silver lining was that she didn't have a travel permit.
Those were issued only in the capital.
I'd gotten a free pass thanks to the Hero, but really, Kyle's letter of recommendation had made one unnecessary from the start.
Her arriving in the west this quickly meant she'd bolted the moment she pinpointed my location.
Where the hell did she get that intel?
No way it was that bastard Florian again, was it?
Either way, no travel permit for her.
She had no grounds to enter the gate right now.
Matching permits to entrants was my job, but without one, she couldn't even get through.
That was a relief, at least.
Selena wouldn't just slit the soldier's throat at the entrance.
That's when a knock came from the door behind me.
"Lord Anderson, lunch!"
It was Hans's voice.
He was knocking on the exit door to let me know food had arrived.
Regular soldiers called me Gatekeeper, not by name.
Usually some grunt brought it, not Hans... why him?
'And why the hell right now!'
The bustle at the entrance suddenly went quiet.
Noise from the exit wouldn't normally carry that far.
But for an elf like her...
"......"
I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed she hadn't heard.
Even elves have off days with their hearing, right?
Then Selena's voice drifted from the entrance again.
- Hmm... no permit, so nothing I can do.
My prayers must've reached the heavens; her voice sounded deflated.
She didn't hear...?
Tension drained from my body.
Then a voice whispered clear as day right in my ear.
"I'll be back in a week."
Goosebumps erupted all over.
She must've spoken against the door—her words pierced straight into my ear.
This fear dwarfed what I'd felt around the Hero.
Dying was one thing; knowing I'd died once before was another.
Her silky voice striking my ear directly choked me with terror of the death I'd been hiding from.
Is this what a death threat feels like?
The heavens are merciless, throwing another trial my way.
I gritted my teeth.
Her "week" froze my thoughts.
Things were finally going my way, and now this...
The commotion died down, footsteps fading away.
Probably heading to the capital for permits.
I pulled my ear from the door and backed away slowly.
Then uncovered my mouth.
Air rushed in, but my breathing wouldn't steady.
Heat rising in my body made my throat sting again.
Irritated, I scratched at the sore spot hard.
"Ha... fuck."
Nothing ever goes right.
How had I survived this long...?
The Hero, who I shouldn't have even met, bound me with a contract.
Under surveillance, some psycho—Envy or Mel or whoever—sliced my wrist.
At least those two were MIA now.
I never wanted to see them again.
The gate was supposed to be just me, but now the Saintess was here too.
I couldn't even do a proper body search whenever I wanted.
Worried she'd wake and watch like last time, it was hard to focus.
And finally, Selena.
Thinking of her tensed the hand scratching my neck.
I'd half-expected her to figure out who I was.
That's why I ditched the village to evade her.
But somehow, she knew I'd headed west.
The shady guys in the village were the Hero's soldiers, for sure.
Which pointed to one culprit.
Florian. Sold me out to the Hero and got me shipped west.
That bastard would pay dearly by my hand.
All my knowledge, all my quests—I'd use everything.
All I could count on now were my abilities and two ongoing quests.
Even those weren't enough to save my neck.
Too bad this world played like a gatekeeper sim.
No Hero-style rampage powers.
All I could do was manipulate people or procure special non-weapon items.
And most needed the right timing and quests aligned.
Could the Saintess protect me?
But if Selena told her I was a slave?
I'd be arrested and done for.
- Bang.
The exit door flew open with a crash as I thought.
"L-Lord Anderson, you okay? No answer, so I used my key."
Hans must've worried and unlocked it.
Lost in pale thought, I hadn't heard him calling.
"Sorry, didn't hear. Lunch? Thanks."
"Your neck..."
He started to say something, but I snatched the wooden bowl from his hands and slammed the door.
I didn't want to hear his voice right now.
Not that I hated him—the situation just pissed me off.
Even if he hadn't called my name, Selena would've gotten a permit and returned.
Showing up once meant she had solid info.
He was just delivering food now.
No fault of his.
"Ha..."
But the timing sucked.
Immature, sure, but I'm human—irritation hit.
The wooden bowl had neatly arranged meat and bread.
No appetite, so I tossed it on the desk and flopped into the chair.
Strength ebbed from my body.
"Oppa... you okay?"
A voice came from beside me.
The Saintess was awake.
Oh right, forgot to close the cradle door.
In this mess, I'd disturbed her sleep again.
The Saintess rubbed her eyes as she sat up in the cradle.
How to even explain this?
Her expression after waking was odd.
I'd expected yesterday's irritation, but worry overrode it.
"Ah, sorry. I left the door open by mistake..."
"Not that—your neck."
Neck?
I finally touched it with my hand.
"Ah..."
My hand and neck were smeared in bright red blood.
That's what Hans meant.
The wooden bowl even had my handprint in blood.
Meant I'd been bleeding a while.
My uniform was stained too.
"Oppa, self-harm is bad."
"Sorry."
Probably scratched too hard.
The Saintess got out of the cradle and unwound a bandage from her own neck.
"Sorry for waking you again."
"It's not that bad..."
Her face flushed slightly.
She looked exhausted, like she hadn't slept a wink.
This made me feel awful.
Second time already.
Just a scratch—did I deserve her healing?
As she bandaged my neck, she swallowed hard.
Hungry?
"If you're hungry, it's my lunch—want some?"
I pointed at the wooden bowl with my index finger.
The gate smelled of tasty bread and meat.
"N-No, that's not it..."
Drool trickled from her mouth.
Her stomach growled.
Definitely hungry.
"I-It's fine~ Really."
She finished bandaging and stepped back.
Then I realized it wasn't the bread or meat she craved.
Her gaze fixed on my neck and hands.
To her, my blood probably overpowered the lunch aroma.
"Want some?"
Felt bad just taking.
She was awake now, so she'd control herself.
Fair trade, even a steal for me.
Even major injuries fixed with one blood donation.
"Eh? Uh... no. I don't drink blood."
"Didn't you last time?"
First time hearing a vampire say no to blood.
Especially after nearly dying to her bites twice.
Not buying that excuse.
"Always just taking makes me feel guilty."
"Mm... uh... no..."
She refused verbally but sidled right up to me.
Her lips twitched.
Vampire body was honest.
"Just checking—gonna cut off my arm this time...?"
"N-No. I do that usually... but meat near the mouth's gross. Can't do that to you."
Worried from her past words, but she really ate like that?
Thought she was joking.
"Th-Then... can I really drink as much as I want?"
"As long as I don't die, please..."
Lunchtime—few people around.
If any came, say I'm eating.
She fidgeted at my answer.
Her eyes darted between my hands and neck.
Smile wouldn't fade from her lips.
She hesitated, then grabbed one hand with both of hers.
The one with bloodstains from scratching my neck.
Must've looked tasty.
I closed my eyes, bracing for the pain.
But the sensation differed from expected.
"Hm? Saintess?"
"What...?"
- Lick.
She lapped at the blood on my hand like sauce from a bowl, savoring every drop.
Very thoroughly.
"Not sucking it out?"
"Later. Can't waste this."
Her soft tongue swept over my hand.
Blood vanished bit by bit.
My hand grew slick with her saliva.
"Oppa, stop staring. It's embarrassing..."
She pushed my chin up with her index finger.
But I had to look when she licked her finger.
A bit erotic...
Cute girl licking my hand made the scene steamy.
Couldn't look away.
Palm to fingers.
Between knuckles.
She was meticulous.
The gate filled only with the quiet sounds of her licking.
"...Heehee, delicious. Vampires have different tastes too."
How much time passed? She finished all the blood on my hand.
"Now for the main course."
She smacked her lips, wiped my glossy hand on her clothes.
I offered it for easy access, but she unwound the bandage from my neck.
Vampires prefer the neck, huh?
She stared blankly at my now-healed neck.
Then her eyes sharpened.
"Ha... can't hold back anymore. Hands up, oppa."
"Pardon?"
"Up."
Her sudden demand flustered me, but I raised both hands while seated.
Her glare left no choice.
- Plop.
"There."
"S-Saintess?"
"No seat."
She swung her leg over and sat on my lap.
No seat? Not here?
Like when she fell asleep before, she straddled me.
Difference: she was wide awake, looking down.
Felt like a huge pudding on my thighs.
Her body was impossibly soft, as expected.
Drool still dripped from her mouth amid it all.
She wiped her lips and said,
"Sigh... you told me to."
Her lips slowly approached my neck.
